... Speaking of Freshening Up...

While i'm on the topic of Freshening things up (see this morning's post)... I wanted to ask. Who do you recommend for redesigning blogs, for a good price! This space needs some sprucing up as well and I think I'm finally ready to pull the trigger to pay someone to help me out! I need any all suggestions that you have - so leave 'em below and I'll be checking them out and sending emails to inquire!

All of your help is SO greatly appreciated! 

In Need of a Little Refresh...

No... not me. Lately I've been thinking that my blog could use a little refresh. I love the header that Brittany created for me last spring, but I'm starting to feel like this space needs to be spruced up.

{via}

Maybe some better organization to help readers find what they're looking for... and to help me keep track of things I'm posting on as well. Really, sometimes I feel like it could use a LOT of help, and I just don't know where to start....

So with that in mind, I turn to you. I must ask...

- What kind of organization do you find most helpful on your own blog?

- How do you break up and organize your blog content? (i.e. DIY projects, before and afters, etc.)

Of course, I also have some important questions in regard to content. With a wee one on the way, I'm sure everyone knows there will be some content about tiny people - however, I in no way intend to stray away from what I originally wanted this blog to be about when I started it almost 2 years ago. I'd like to stick with my design/decor/DIY theme... and continue to throw in some of the more personal content you see here and there.

- What would you like to see more of around here? What will keep you coming back?

Any and all advice from my blogging friends would be greatly appreciated. I think it's part of my nesting instinct but I'd like to take care of and organize this little blog while we continue to do so on the home front!

Also, as I make changes to the blog, my little blog rolls will be getting a refresh with some blogs that I read every day and have never added... If I'm missing you from this list and you know it, leave me a comment and I'd be glad to add your little blog to my blog roll! :)

Don't forget, if you missed it, make sure to enter my Ramsign giveaway for a chance to win one of their custom Porcelin Enamel signs! Find out how right here!

#JapanQuakeTO

I know everyone is looking for ways to donate to the relief efforts for Japan. Last week, I met with a friend of mine for lunch and she was telling me about how she was taking part in planning a fundraising event right here in Toronto. I asked her to send me along the details so that I could share with all of my readers. Even if you cannot attend the event in person, there is an option to donate online).

On Thursday, March 31st an event will be held at Tattoo Rock Parlour on Queen St West, with all proceeds from the event being donated to the Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund with the Canadian Red Cross.

To find out more about the event, you can visit the official website here. To purchase tickets online, become a sponsor, or to donate to the event, you can do so right here.

I know we're all looking for a way to help, and this event sounds like a great time. There will be dancing and drinks and some prizes will be raffled off as well. Even if you can't make it, it'd be great if you could help spread the word of this worthwhile event!

An Exception to the Rule

In our home, I'm always getting on B about his massive collection of T-Shirts (I think it's a guy thing, right?). Every few months I try to get him to take a look and see what he can donate, or move to the "rag" pile... and I usually scrutinize his T-Shirt selections when we go out shopping. However, today I went out on a limb and ordered my man a new T-Shirt....

I'm sure you've all seen this floating around throughout the internet. We're all well aware of the devestation in Japan... no one needs any reminding. It was just my way to do a little something for those people who need help most right now... and a way for us to always remember what has happened.

You can get your own "Army for Japan" T-Shirt right here. 100% of the proceeds of this T-Shirt go directly to the Salvation Army relief efforts in Japan.

Check out Designwali today for a selection of beautiful artwork that is also available, from a number of talented artists, with proceeds going towards relief efforts...

It's A Jungle out There!

Just wanted to spread the word to my readers and fellow bloggers. I just received and email from someone claiming to work for a company called MSO Marketing. The whole wording of the email was a little off, which had me googling this "so called company" immediately (as I do normally anyway... you can never be too safe!). The email read;

Hello,
I recently came across your blog:
http://first-time-fancy.blogspot.com/


I have a few questions about you site, please get back to me when you get a chance!

Thank you!
--Elyse
--Elyse
Elyse Mallone
Research Analyst
MSO Marketing

The things that set off the alarm bells for me? Listing my blog... I know my blog, thanks, no need to share the link with me. Second, if you have questions, why not ask right away? Third, why is your name signed three times? Seriously scammers...

Anyway, when I googled I also came across a blog post done yesterday over at plain & fancy living. So word is getting around, and I do think it's important that we keep each other in the loop on this stuff. Who knows what exactly this person is looking to get, but how about we just don't try and find out and leave it be!?

Play safe bloggers... It's seriously a jungle out there!

Burn Baby, Burn...

Yesterday as I was trolling through some of the usual blogs I haunt, my eye was once again caught by this photo from desire to inspire...

Want to know what it was that caught my eye? That fire screen! I'm officially adding one to my list of things we must get for our home. I started a search to see what I could find along the lines of city scape fire screens. The ones that popped up most often, were these ones created by an Italian design company, depicting London and Rome...

I found these here, but unfortunately every link I found to the company that produces them, no longer exists! Then I found it... the one from the photo...

Source

Apparently it was designed by Prince Carl Philip of Sweden (that's him in the picture), and depicts Tre Kronor, which was demolished by a fire on May 7th, 1697. It sells for 13 500 SEK, which in Canadian, is almost $2000! Just a tad more than I was looking to spend on a fire screen, I think.

Have you seen anything else like them out there? What do you think of these very different, and very cool fire screens?

Recruiting Your Help

Alright, time for me to ask for your help with another search. You may remember that back at the end of June I shared my plans to help my friends decorate the nursery for their new baby. Part of the moodboard that I shared was an adorable little leather hippo, that our mommy-to-be fell in love with instantly. Shannon, was so kind and shared with me the company that produced a similar little hippo (the one on my moodboard turned out to be one worth hundreds of british pounds... no thanks!). I was thrilled and instantly began my hunt for the fantastic little Zuny Hippo bookend!

Cute, right? According to the Zuny website, their little collection of animals are available at Chapter's and Indigo stores across Canada. That's it! I figured it couldn't be that hard and have stopped at every Chapters / Indigo store that I have passed since late June. This past Sunday when we were out shopping, the Chapter's we stopped into turned out to be the flagship store and the manager told me they carried the whole line, so my precious hippo is probably discontinued. NO!

After poking around a little more today, I realized the hippo is from their Classic line, and the only "Classic" bookend I have come across in stores in the Teddy Bear. So I need to ask - has anyone come across the Zuny bookends, and if so have you found a hippo? In store or online? ANYWHERE? Can anyone help in the search? I know that our Mommy-to-be would be beyond happy if I could deliver one at the baby shower in a few weeks time! Thanks for any help or advice you may be able to offer!

*UPDATE*: I'd received a comment (which won't appear) from Kristine, letting me know that CB2 had the Zuny Hippo paper weight... and also that they will ship to Canada! It's pretty close to the bookend, and also cute... so my request for international shipping has been submitted and I will keep you posted! Thanks again friends... and thanks to the mysterious Kristine! Appreciate your help!

*UPDATE #2*: I heard back from CB2... and it's going to cost almost $20 to ship, and take 2 weeks to get here. It would probably cost me less to drive across the border and get it. I also do not have 2 weeks. Do I give up?

Searching...

Okay... I absolutely fell in love with the table in the pictures below. I stumbled across it while getting my daily dose of Desire to Inspire yesterday, via this post.

Yes, the table in the foreground of the photo... with the wooden legs! Seen anything like it!? Know where I can get it? I'm looking for the perfect round table for our little living room... and I'm pretty sure this is it.

(The whole apartment is pretty incredible... go check out that blog post!)

Choosing Chair Fabric

Some of you may remember, a while ago, I posted a list of projects I would like to complete around the house in 2010. One of those projects was to refinish an old chair to use in my laundry / office / craft space in the basement. Even though the room itself is not 100% completed (baseboards, storage & work area need to go in), I already have a vision of what I want my chair to look like. Thankfully, we were out a few weekends ago at a second hand furniture store, just down the street from us, when I happened upon these two lovely chairs:

Okay, not so lovely right now... but the shape and quality of the chairs is excellent! I was able to snatch both for $40! Not a bad deal!

My orignal plan was to finish one for my own little space, and refinish the second a little differently for the basment living area. However, as time has passed and I have thought about what I want to do with the chairs, I think I would prefer to finish them both to look the same. Since my craft / office area is a small room off the basement living area, it would be nice if the two chairs matched and could both be used as extra seating.

My vision is to sand down and paint the chairs a glossy white to freshen them up. I'd also like to add more cushioning to the seat, and of course change out the orange tweed for some new fabric. After scouring the Designer Fabrics website today, I came up with a few ideas for the fabric I would like to use (In the order in which I am considering them):

I know they vary quite a bit, and I REALLY love the first two fabrics the most! I'd just like to get some input on what others think. Below is a picture of our upstairs bathroom - the paint colour is the same colour that we have used in the laundry room.

It's an incredibly pale blue, and I think looks fantastic with some really bold colours next to it. So I'm putting it out there readers - what fabric would you choose if you were in my shoes?

An "AirFare" to Remember

I don't know if anyone has heard of it, or seen it - but Homemakers.com is hosting a contest called "I Knew It was Love When...". They are calling for entries on when you knew you were in love with your significant other. The winning couple wins a romantic trip for two to the Grand Cayman Island for 7 days and 6 nights. How sweet is that? So, I entered our story! :)

This is where I ask for you help! Right now they are accepting entries and ask people to get as many views and comments as possible (I believe they are also monitoring where your views are coming from - so how many places online you are sharing your story!). All entries need to be received by February 14th and from there 10 finalists will be chosen based on popularity. The final winner will be chosen based on the most votes received out of those 10 finalists. Right now I'm just asking for your help to get the word out about our story! Comments would be great, but even if you can visit whenever you remember, and share our link with friends and family - we'd really appreciate it.


I know most of my readers know what it's like to be on a tight budget when working on home renos. Of course with everything we have planned for this year, there will be no money for a nice long getaway this year - so winning this contest would be great!