I wanna hold my honey!

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

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Good Morning!

These days, I’ve been using honey a lot more as sweetener to try to reduce my use of refined white sugar. And I always buy the regular plastic containers from the grocery store. As it is used over and over it gets sticky and gross which annoys me. Then I though to myself, silly girl, why don’t you just get proper honey jar? So I channeled my inner Winnie the Pooh and rounded up some very cool honey jar options to share with you today.

1,2,3,4,5,6

I think my favourite is the second one with the wooden top, although the glass angular one is pretty cool as well.  Perhaps too cool for me.

Which ones do you like?

XO,

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Last Week’s Loves – April 21st to 28th, 2013

29 Monday Apr 2013

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Good Morning!

Looks like spring has finally hit the Toronto area, and it is about time! The weather was great this weekend and I loved it! As for today, since it has been a couple of weeks since I’ve featured my week’s loves, I’m back at it today. There were some great posts around the blog world this past week and here are a few of my faves….

1. I thought this Corrine coral sea fan sculpture featured by Designwali last week is so cool. Part organic, part modern, and totally great. (available at Horchow).

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2. Design*Sponge featured the Vancouver based company JustPotters, which is part of the JustWork Economic Initiative that employes locals with physical or mental disabilities, those dealing with homeless or addictions and refugees as well as low-income single parents. Their work is awesome and supporting them supports such a great cause!  So happy to learn of such a great Canadian company.

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3. French Connection has a home decor line?  Um, ya they do!  So happy that Decor8 alerted me of this fact this week. Of course it’s not in Canada yet (shocker), but you can peruse the lovely merchandise here.

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4. With spring finally here, I’m very excited for a wider selection of fresh flowers.  And what better way to use fresh flowers that this fun flower garland I found on Oh Happy Day this week?

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 5. When Coco & Kelley featured the wallpaper of Wall & Deco this week I was blown away.  It is some kind of awesome, let me tell you.  How awesome you ask? Well, what you see below is NOT lovely aged tile, it’s wallpaper! How crazy is that?

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Have a great Monday!

XO,

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Sunkissed, not Sun…pissed?

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Just for Fun

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Good Morning!

My exciting news this morning (but not exactly new) is that I booked my first trip to Vegas!

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Yes, I’m a Vegas virgin.  I’m heading there in a couple of weeks with two girlfriends for a weekend of lounging, gambling, eating….and perhaps some outlet shopping.  More on the trip later….but since I’m all of sudden going to be pool-bound before bathing suit “season” has started here in Toronto, I’m thinking about my pasty white ass in a bathing suit. I know it’s vain, and I can admit it. I’m concern about blinding the other patrons at the hotel pool. I also don’t want that beacon of white light to attract attention to me in a bathing suit. I don’t want to look like this…

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Soooo, I’m looking for advice on fake tanning.

At the beginning of every summer, before I am able to get outside (with my 45-60 SPF), I usually use a self-tanner on my arms and legs, etc. The best one I’ve found for my fair skin is Clarins Radiance Plus Glow Body Lotion.  You apply daily and it’s a gradual effect and I don’t look orange. The problem with self-tanner is that I live alone so I can’t get all the hard to reach places that are visible in a bathing suit (my back) with these daily applications. So, I’m actually considering spray tanning. But I have huge reservations, because I don’t want to look like this….

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What I want is a subtle glow like this….

or this

both via

So, all you fairish skinned ladies, have you every tried spray-tanning?  Is it possible to get a nice glow sans l’orange? Any advice would be much appreciated.

XO,

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Creative Outdoor Planters

25 Thursday Apr 2013

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Good Morning,

As you might have heard through Twitter, at the end of March my landlord who lives in Calgary decided he was going to sell the house I live in. I was very sad because knowing the market in my neighbourhood, the chances of a new buyer keeping it as rental units was extremely low and I was likely going to have to move. The good news is that the guy who lives upstairs decided to buy it (and keep it as rentals)!  So, I get to stay!  Woohoo!

When I was faced with the possibility of moving, I was most upset because I knew I wouldn’t find the same beautiful backyard space somewhere else (at least not for the rent I’m paying). But now that I get to stay I’m vowing to use my outdoor space at every opportunity this spring and summer.  I’ve started my garden and recently I’ve been thinking about planters.  You know a I love a good old to new story, so today I’ve rounded up some great upcycled planter ideas!

1,2,3,4,5

Pretty great, huh?  I thought the shoe hanger one was particularly ingenious because it is space-saving and could easily work on a condo balcony or hanging from a fence.

Cannot wait for my little seedlings to grow to full size so I can get planting :)

XO,

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Cool Space: Maine Summer Home

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Amazing Spaces, Decor, Design

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Good Morning!

Today I’m sharing the Maine summer retreat of designers John Knott and John Fondas.  They transformed a former hotel in Maine into a space that I would describe as classic nautical on crack….and I like it! (The space, not crack….) Bold toile and ikat fabrics and eclectic wallpaper are combined with classic furniture and sea-inspired accessories to bring a bold, yet comfortable, feel to this summer getaway.

All photos via House Beautiful (Bjorn Wallander)

Interesting space, no?  I’m a fan. If you want to read more about this space from the designers you can read the interview in House Beautiful here.

XO,

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Stacking or Spinning?

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Inspired by Fashion

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Good Morning!

I am in the market for a ring. For as long as I can remember, I have regularly worn rings. Sometimes the same one for a while, sometimes I’d change it up, but I seemed to always have a ring in rotation. But for the last few years, I haven’t been wearing rings at all.  And I want to change that. I discovered my love for stacking rings when I was in NYC at ABC Carpet and Home.  They have GORGEOUS jewelry which I raved about in this post. The great thing about stacking rings is you can change the look so easily. But recently I’ve noticed a few “spin” rings that I like.  They incorporate the look of stacking rings but combined into one. I haven’t quite made up my mind which way I’m going to go but here is a round-up of some great options.

Spin and stack_edited-1Stacking Rings via 1,2 (unknown original),3,4,5

Spin Rings via 1,2,3,4,5

Which look do you prefer?

XO,

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Recent Discovery: The Uniform Project

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Inspired by Fashion, Just for Fun

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Good Morning!

Last Friday I went to the Green Living Show and just happened to catch the main stage presentation on The Uniform ProjectTM and Little Black Dress Runway Show featuring Tara St. James.  I’m so glad I did. Tara is the founder of the sustainable womenswear label, Study New York and the creative director for The Uniform Project. I was fascinated by this project, founded by Sheena Matheiken in 2009. And I can’t believe I haven’t heard about it before!

Tired of the culture of over-consumption in fashion Sheena decided to wear one little black dress for 365 days in order to encourage a more sustainable fashion industry and to support the Akanksha Foundation— a non-profit organization providing education to underprivileged kids in India. Using only vintage, handmade, reused, or donated clothing and accessories Sheena reinvented this dress every day from May 1st 2009 to April 30, 2010.  She posted dailies on the project’s blog featuring her outfits and asked people to donate to the cause.  People started donating their used clothing and accessories to the project for her to use in her outfits it grew from there. Here are some examples the great outfits she came up with.

Such a great idea. You can watch the 365 Picture Book video here (so fun, I would recommend the watch).

Once the year was over, all the accessories she used were auctioned off on Ebay. In addition they reproduced a limited run of 365 replicates of her little black dress for sale (using sustainable fabrics and practices). The organization now designs other limited run dresses for sale…all with the idea that you can do a lot with one little black dress.  All these profits go to the Akanksha Foundation as well as the other causes they support.To date, the organization has sent 287 children to school in India.

I have to say this has made me re-think how much I purchase in terms of clothing. I have too much in my closet that I don’t wear and I make far too many impulse buys. I also haven’t ever thought too much about where my clothes are coming from and what is being made to use it.  I’ll be honest, I doubt I will ever convert to strictly sustainable clothing but I think the point of this project is to make you think more carefully about what you are buying how much you are buying.  I know that when I finally dig out my spring/summer clothing, I’m going to try to be more creative and stretch what I have as best I can, and be a little more conscious about what I buy new. Check out the website and see how you can get involved!

XO,

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Sad Day

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

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I would say good morning, but given the recent events in the world, I can’t really say that.  A terrible tragedy at what is normally a joyous event in Boston has me wondering what the world is coming to.  However, as we have seen in many other terrible situations, the worst can also bring out the best in people.  My thoughts are with all those affected by yesterday’s events.

I also need to remind myself that these types of horrific events are daily occurrences in so many countries around the world, and that while yesterday’s events are scary and sad, we still are so lucky to live in North America.

Here’s hoping for a stop to senseless violence in every part of the world.

XO,

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Family Cottage Porch Design: Inspiration Board

12 Friday Apr 2013

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 Good Morning!

Despite looking out the window and seeing rain mixed with hail, I have summer and cottages on the brain.  Specifically my family’s cottage in New Brunswick.  My parents have asked for me to help them refresh the enclosed porch area of the cottage. It is all windows, 15 of them I believe, so it is light and airy.  But the decor and furniture is dated, and it lacks a cottage-y vibe. Alot of browns and beiges and heavy fabrics.  As a starting point they have picked out a sofa bed from IKEA (for extra bed for guests) which will be a dark blue and they have already purchased a nautical inspired pendant fixture. My mom loves soft blues and greens found in sea glass colours, so those will be the main colours along with some grey and yellow.   I’ve put together a board with some fabrics, colours, and inspiration photos to get me started. 

(Disclaimer for Mom: I know everything here doesn’t GO perfectly together (she is drawn towards things that are very matchy-match), but it’s just an idea board, all of it won’t be necessary make it in the final design)  

Cottage Inspriation board_edited-1

I will be starting the actual design soon and will keep you up to date as I progress.  Also, now that I think about it, I haven’t been given a budget on this project yet :)

 

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Spring Showers?

11 Thursday Apr 2013

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Mornin’ sweet readers,

You can hardly call what we are experiencing in Toronto today, “spring showers”.  More like spring cold rain mixed with snow and ice pellets. In the words of my friend Lindsay from Little House Blog on twitter this morning “Go home Mother Nature, you are drunk”.  So, I’m focusing my thoughts on different showers today, with a round-up of some fabulous bathroom showers.

1,2,3,4,5,6