A Table & Chairs

Well - we've been busy bee's around here. In just over a week we have FOUR house guests coming to stay with us - two for one week, and the other two for two full weeks. All four will be staying here for the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday so we are doing our best to have a mostly functioning dining room for the occasion. So what have we been up to?

Let's start with the table situation, shall we? When Halle and I arrived back to BC last Monday, B had our dining room table "mocked up" in the garage. As in, he had most of the pieces cut, and clamps holding it all together so I could get an idea of what the finished product would look like. I was thrilled, but there was still a lot of work to be done. So on Thursday evening last week, after dinner B headed back outside and spent a couple of hours  cutting a few more pieces and getting the base assembled. 

Unfortunately, that one night did not complete the table. B mentioned that night he had a lot of sanding ahead of him, and that he may even need to borrow a plainer to get our table nice and smooth and pretty looking. 

Even with an unfinished table, new furniture has made it's way into the dining room. Let me start from the beginning.

The week before I arrived back in BC, I had been online looking at different dining chairs. I somehow ended up on Cost Plus World Market and fell in love with the Plaid and Teal Green Wes Dining Chair. It immediately reminded me of a number of chairs we had seen in Scotland and loved, and as a bonus, it was on sale! I sent the link to B, commenting on how great it was. Turns out, he thought so too because he arrived home on Tuesday last week with two of them for either end of our dining table! True love people! He apparently ordered them almost immediately after I sent the link and then drove to our mailbox in Washington State after work to deliver them home for my birthday! I married a good one!

Two down, 10 more to go. (Yup, this table is going to be a BIG one!). 

... Now to start preparing the guest rooms! What did you get up to this weekend? 

Recent Garage Sale Scores

Like many other bloggers, hitting up garage sales and thrift stores is one of my favourite ways to furnish and decorate our home. We've found some really great pieces over the years, and it's a fantastic way to find unique pieces that reflect your personality and stye. Since moving into a much larger home, we have found that there is a lot we need but we just don't have the money to spend at the moment. Thanks to some recent garage sale finds, we're slowing piecing together a few more spaces in our home. Check these out.

Last month one of our friends sent me a few text messages with pictures of furniture her neighbour was selling at her yard sale. Unfortunately, B and I had been across the border for the day and I didn't get her messages until after the sale was done. One of the pictures she sent was of these beautiful little chairs, and the lady was only asking $1 a piece for them. As soon as I saw them I shot our friend a message letting her know that if her neighbour hadn't sold them, we would gladly take them off her hands. Lucky for us, no one else (aside from our friend) had seen the potential in these beauties. They are now resting in our garage, waiting for me to show them a little TLC. 

I plan to paint them and upholster the seats. I'm hoping I can find some fabric in my collection to use, so as not to shell out too much money for them.

On the long weekend, our garage sale effort ended after our first stop, but at least we came home with something. I was just about ready to walk away from the sale when I spotted these three floral prints in IKEA frames resting on an old dresser. 

I thought that they would look nice in our guest room, so B asked the lady about much she wanted for them. She said $12 for all three... then talked herself down to $10. We figured one frame alone was worth that much so it was definitely worth it. Home they came, and now they are also sitting in our garage. We need to work on hanging more artwork inside before these are added to our space, but they will find a home soon. (They also need to be cleaned off. Note to those hosting a Garage Sale - PLEASE dust off your merchandise before you set up shop!)

There's still a lot we need, and we're scouring Craigslist as well as working on plan to build a few pieces of furniture. It's fun piecing together a place that we can finally make feel like our own. Have you stumbled across any great finds recently, either at a yard sale or on Craigslist? I love hearing stories about successful treasure hunts!

A Big Girl Room for Baby Girl

Happy Tuesday Friends! I had a bit of a disappearing act yesterday. I know it happens rather frequently, but we've been busy catching up and showing B's parents around. They arrived on Sunday, so things have been pretty crazy (in a good way) around here. BUT, today I am back with a bit of an inspirational post!

Recently, I've been dying to spruce up Halle's room here. I loved how everything fit and worked in her old space in Toronto, however, here, things just aren't working the same way. My mind has been spinning and I'm already starting to dream about what Halle's big girl room will look like. I'd like to inject just a little bit of pink into the space - something in a bit of a rosy colour. Since she's not ready for a new bed yet, I thought a good place to start would be with some accessories. Here's some of the artwork I've been eyeing to add to her wall...

1) "Let Her Sleep For When She Wakes, She Will Move Mountains" Print - $20.00 by Yellow Button Studios: I think this print is sweet, from the words to the colours it is exactly what I would like to add to her little space! The price isn't too bad either, in my opinion.

2) Assorted Girlie Dog Set - $18.00 by Rifle Paper Co. - Alright, so they aren't prints, but these sweet little dog cards would be perfect to frame in Halle's room. There are two of each card in a pack, so four can go on her wall, and four can be saved for stationery. I just knew, as soon as I saw them, they would be the perfect addition to a room for our dog loving girl. 

3) H is for Happiness art print - $25.00 by Evajuliet - I shared this print before on one of my Fancy Friday Love posts. As you can tell, I do really, really love it. It can also be personalized, so I think I would have it changed to H is for Halle. What a perfect piece our baby girl could keep forever!

Accessories will probably be the easiest way for me to begin the transition. While I start on the walls, I will continue to look for the right throw cushions, curtains and other pieces. As much as I love all of the sentimental pieces in her room, I just think I need a change. We're in a new place and Halle is growing so quickly, into quite the girly girl. Don't expect a huge makeover, or major reveal - but some little tweaks here and there as I find the pieces I love for a great price.

Are you planning to make some small switches or adjustments to any rooms in your home for the coming season? 

Fabulous Fall Finds

We're halfway through August, which normally would mean that I'd be itching for fall to arrive. However, since summer was late to arrive on the west coast, I would happy to soak up the summer sun a little longer than usual. Regardless of how I feel, autumn is well on it's way, which means that fashion and accessories for the new season are quickly filling up stores and that always makes the changing seasons easier. As I've been scoping out what different stores have on offer for the fall season, I was particularly struck by some great finds over at Indigo (of course). Here's what I would love to add to my own shopping bag:

1) Antique Burgundy Tapered Vase - $14.50: Who doesn't love have an abundance of little vases laying around for accessorizing your shelves, or displaying pretty blooms? In my books, you can never have too many vases and this price point makes this one perfect. The colour is great for every season, and I'd love to see it on a guest room nightstand, along with the other great finds I've included here.

2) Bird Alarm Clock - $54.40: At first glance this birdie doesn't look like much, but if you take a peek on the back you'll realize it's a functional alarm clock. Not only is the clock sleek and small, but it wakes you to the sound of song birds. Great for everyday, or a special treat for guests stopping by!

3) Sweater-Weave Basket - $39.50: I love the look of a chunk weave basket, and how the texture can really warm up a space. Add this basket with some fluffy blankets to any room for instant coziness!

4) Moss Stitch Throw - Ivory - $65.00: Much like vases, you can never have too many fluffy warm throws. Add them to your couch, in a basket, the back of a chair or a basket. You'll love it, and guests will always appreciate a cozy blanket to wrap themselves in.

5) The Perfect Vase with White Crackle Finish - $34.50: It's a vase, and it's white and the shape adds a bit more interest than your basic round vase - what's not too love. Just imagine it full of some gorgeous tulips, peonies or hydrangeas.

6) Gorgeous Cabbage Rose Pillow - $59.50: One thing I really love about Indigo's pillows, is they come with their insert. Perfect! Recently I'm big into vintage looking florals, making this pillow right up my alley. The pink, green and gold in this cover are so versatile and can be used most seasons.

Autumn also calls for long lazy mornings of lingering over breakfast, and enjoying the company of family and friends. Instead of the usual dinner party, why not round up your favourite people for a warm autumn brunch?

1) Maple Syrup - $12.00: What's a warm comforting breakfast without Maple Syrup? Want to really please your guests, warm it up and put it in a pretty pitcher to ensure everyone's pancakes or waffles stay nice and warm.

2) Rustic Mug - Dijon - $16.00: Nothing says fall like this warm mustard tone. It's one of my favourite colours and makes me think of the Mum's that you see everyone in this cooler season. Just add your hot drink of choice.

3) Stasis Raspberry Preserve - $10.00: Autumn just screams for yummy canned fruits and veggies, and nothing is better (in my opinion) than a delicious raspberry preserve. Put some out in a pretty ramekin for your guests to add to toast, pancakes or waffles.

4) Retro Milk Bottle - Large - $32.50: I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that the way's in which we all purchase milk these days are far from attractive. Want to impress your guests? Put your milk, or creamer in this pretty vintage inspired bottle and instantly pretty up your table setting. 

5) Pumpkin Spice Pancake and Waffle Mix - $11.00: Nothing says fall quite like some pumpkin spice! (I'm sure many of you instantly thought of that ever popular Starbucks drink). B may not be a fan of pumpkin flavouring, but I for one and longing for all of those delicious pumpkin flavoured goodies, and I would be more than happy to add this mix to our breakfast arsenal. 

After browsing through Indigo's site, I am so ready for fall, and I'm also itching to put together a fantastic brunch party with guests. Are you in fall mode yet? Any stores that have you lusting at new decor for the coming season? 

*I was in no way compensated by Indigo for this post. I simply visited their website and fell in love with each and every one of these items.

Around These Parts...

I was MIA yesterday for a few reasons. It was mostly a combination of working on some projects that have been laying around, and enjoying my time with Halle. We managed to get out for a nice long walk yesterday afternoon to enjoy the weather, and while we were out I popped into our local Chapters. If you didn't already know, every time Canada wins a medal at the Olympics, the following day you can double your plum points! That was exciting, but the big red "SALE" signs were even more exciting for me. Of course, I picked up a few things...

The Striped Box: I've been talking about getting one of these great little boxes from Chapters for quite some time now, but something was stopping me from making the purchase. Turns out, it was the price. This box is a great size from the outside, but is actually rather shallow. The perfect spot to keep letters, cards, etc. Normally $29.50, marked down to $10!? SOLD!

The Guest Book: Loved this! Quite some time ago I remember Christine posting about the little guest book they had in their home for friends and family to write about. I thought it was a cute idea, but honestly, we didn't have a ton of visitors coming by our place in Toronto. Now that we are living on the West Coast, it appears to be a different story (more on that in a moment). So, when I saw this little book was marked down to $11, I couldn't leave it behind!

The Little Tray: I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've had that tray sitting in my cart online, but never purchased it. Well, today's deal was too good to pass up! Marked from $14.50 to $3.20, I had to bring it home to sit on my bedside table. It's the perfect colour and a great little piece collect small items like rings and such. I love it!

Everything is already being put to good use around here - with the exception of our guest book, but all of that will change soon. 

I'm really starting to feel motivated now that August is upon us. It feels like I only just got back to B.C., and already I'm preparing to head back to Toronto for a wedding and Halle's final birthday party. Shortly after we return, B's parents will be flying out to spend some time with us and from there we are booked up with visitors right through to the end of September! I kid you not! I think we have a grand total of 5 days in September when we won't have visitors staying with us... and I'm so excited about it!

With that being said, I have a big long list of things I'd like to accomplish in the days that I have here in B.C., to prepare our home for our parade of guests. I have furniture to paint, artwork to hang, and of course a ton of cleaning. I plan to cross a lot off of my list this weekend, and put together a number of posts to share with you while I am back home visiting with my family.

In the meantime, I need to know - what do you do to prepare your home for guests? What are some of the things you love having people do for you when you go and stay with them? 

Treasure Hunting

Ummm - hello gorgeous weekend! Okay, I guess I should be saying "good-bye". So sad to see it go, but really it was fantastic! From the moment I got up on Friday morning and saw the sun shining, I knew that it was going to be great. The type of weekend that I just had to devote a post to, especially with all of the fabulous treasures I brought home.


Halle and I started off Friday with a trip to our local HomeSense. We popped in and were able to take our time strolling around (yes, she will usually handle this pretty well) and looking. Though we saw a few things I would love, right now I need to focus on things we need, so when I spotted two lovely glass table lamps, for $39 each, they had to come home with us...

They are perfect for our bedroom, colour shape and everything! The textured white shade is exactly what I wanted, and the coloured glass is subtle enough that it doesn't compete with our colourful West Elm duvet cover. Now we just need to find some nightstands.


The rest of the day was spent playing, taking a nice stroll, and then enjoying dinner on a patio not too far from home. I LOVE that it's still daylight here at 9pm, so that on gorgeous days we can enjoy the views of the mountains. Seriously - LOVE IT.


Saturday morning we woke to another gorgeous day. B was off bright and early to his softball tournament and Halle and I left shortly after to make the drive out to Abbotsford. It was a beautiful drive, and so worth it to pay a visit to Scout Vintage & Handmade Market. Halle and I arrived just before 10am (opening time), and I am so glad we did... there was a huge line already waiting for them to open, and I know why. The finds were incredible! I had a very small budget for my first trip ($60!), but I came home with some pretty great things. 


I broke the ice with these 3 sweet cupcake stands, from raggygirl vintage, for $20! So cute, and I knew they would be perfect on our mantel and/or our entertainment centre to display things. Love them. 

My next stop was a quick visit to Victoria of Edin Home & Co. She was one of the lovely ladies out here who welcomed me warmly and invited me to stop by and say hello to her. 

We did a bit more wandering, which included taking in the lovely sights of twig home's booth - I seriously wanted to bring that gorgeous map home with me (along with numerous other items of course)! 

Our next purchase was from Crystal Clear Boutique...

What did we get? The most adorable turquoise bow headband for Halle. She actually picked that one herself when I gave her the choice of pink or turquoise... smart girl. Look how sweet it is...

My next stop was a HUGE success. Right across from Crystal Clear Boutique was the lovely set up of Red Wicker...

Monica was the sweetest, and I was happy to take this lovely mirror off her hands, as well as the sweet #1, that I plan to use for a shadow box of Halle's first year. I was smiling ear to ear when I left her booth, and definitely could've walked away with way more, but my $60 budget helped to keep me in check! 

Our final stop on the way out (Halle had, had enough of the crowd) was at delish magazine and general store. I picked up some striped and polka dot straws for Halle's 1st birthday party! So cute...

Aside from these fabulous booths, there were so many incredible treasures that I wish I had, had more time to dig through! Lily & Rachel, of Birch + Bird, did such a fabulous job pulling this event together - I couldn't say enough good things about the whole experience! Everything was worth stopping to look at, and I had to tear myself away from all of the booths with tasty baked goods (as I knew I had a yummy Raspberry Truffle Tart waiting at home for dessert that night). This whole experience made me feel so happy about coming out West! Though I was sad to leave behind so many great and inspiring women from the blogging community back in Toronto, I have been welcomed so warmly by the talented ladies out here (big thanks to Barbara for helping make the transition easier on me! She's the best!). 


So there you have it. Despite some continued fussiness from our (we assume) teething babe - I loved, loved, loved this weekend! I have also just about finished our bentwood chairs, and plan on sharing them with you tomorrow - so make sure to come back and check out the final product! 


What fun things did you all get up to this past weekend?

A Blogger Afternoon Out

Yesterday Halle and I packed up and headed to Liberty Village to meet up with Brittany and pay a visit to westelm. It was so great to get a chance to finally meet Brittany, and we had a lot of fun. We started off at Starbucks, grabbing something to drink and chatting a bit... while Halle greeted everyone who walked in with a squeal and the odd wave.

{via pinterest}

We then strolled over westelm to check things out. Let's be honest though, from the moment we walked in the door, I probably could have bought every single thing we walked past. Slowly but surely, we made our way to the back where all of the bathroom goodness was. Let me just add that I would gladly outfit our new bathroom totally with accessories from westelm if I could. In particular, I'm looking to add a punch of colour to the bathroom through accessories - here are my favourites...

The Gallery Stripe Shower Curtain in Citron is perfect! Even B likes it, and Brittany and I agreed it would be a nice way to help the bathroom colour scheme flow with some of the other rooms in our home. I'm definitely glad that I saw it in person before I saw it online though - the pictures do not do this curtain justice at all. 

The Hammam Stripe Hand towels are divine. The quality is great and I would love to add some in citron and plaster to our bathroom. These aren't an immediate need though... so we can wait a bit before we jump on the hand towel wagon.

I'd take a Modern Stripe Tumbler in either colour... or maybe one of each! I'll take the yellow and B can have gray (sadly the yellow is on backorder at the moment). 

To break up all of the stripes, I'd choose the Pleated Stripe Bath Mat in Slate. I also love the texture of it, and the dark colour. B and I both agree we are not a fan of white bath mats anymore, so this would be perfect for us!

That's not it though. There were so many more items in store I would've loved to take home, but at the end of the day, I only left with this... for Halle...

It was on sale for $0.97 - the perfect piece to add for future Christmas traditions with her! I love it, and the price made it a no brainer. 

Have you been on any fun shopping outtings recently? Maybe you've picked up a new piece for your home that you're excited about? I always love hearing about people's favourite shopping spots and good finds!

One of a Kind Shopping

If you read this blog regularly, than you already know that I'm a big fan of the One of a Kind Show, which happens twice a year here in Toronto. (If you've missed my past reviews of the show, you can check them out here and here) Well, something exciting is going on with One of A Kind that means you have a chance to shop some of their fabulous artisans more than just twice a year. Yes, my friends, One of a Kind currently has an online shop up and running until September 19th.


The shop includes one piece from 10 featured artisans. Only 25 of each piece is available and everything is priced under $100... not too bad, right? Here's a look at my favourites from what's available...


I wrote about the work of Lesley-Anne Green in my Spring show review. I adore her work and this adorable felted lion is no exception!! Cute, right?

I love anything that represents this wonderful city I live in, including this silk screened journal cover. 

This leather pouch is just gorgeous, and I think any girl would love to carry this! 

This shop is such a fantastic idea to get shoppers ready for the One of a Kind Show. Now that I'm seeing the work from more of the artisans who will be there, I'm even more excited about this year's Christmas show!

Will you be attending the One of a Kind Show this November?

... and another reminder to check out my MyMemories giveaway from this past Monday! Make sure to check out my post and enter for your chance to win a copy of MyMemories Suite 2! Contest will close on Sunday.

Online Shopping - Designer Picks

I was hoping to share a new project with you today, however, it's taking a little longer than planned (I guess most things do when you have a baby, huh?). So, you'll have to come back on Monday to see what I've been up to.


Today, instead, I want to share with you a new monthly sales event that is being introduced by HomeSav... TODAY! These monthly Designer Picks events will feature a selection of products and brands, that will be selected by a guest designer. 


Today's guest designer is Karl Lohnes, whose collection is focused on Autumn trends (fitting after my post from yesterday), and must-haves for 2011. I'm pretty excited by the colours he's picked - here's a sneak peek for you...

Adore this sofa and it's shape! Wish it was in our budget to purchase a beautiful new sofa...

Gorgeous sunny yellow! Would look beautiful on the charcoal couch... 

Beautiful, right? - So what are you waiting for? Head on over to HomeSav and start shopping... and of course sign up if you haven't yet! They always have great items on offer for 30 - 80% off retail - what's not too love?

Fabrics to Fall in Love With

I have some new project plans, as well as a brand new project to share with you later this week, but on this lazy Monday after a nice weekend with B and Halle, i just wanted to share some pretty picks with you...

Tonic Living has to be one of my favourite fabric stores! Not only is it Canadian, but the customer service is always great, shipments are fast, and their selection is fantastic and fun! Of course with our little peanut here, I haven't had much time to stalk their website recently. So, the other day when it was drizzly and overcast, I thought what better thing to do than look at some pretty fabric!?


Here are some of my favourite picks...

Bunting Scallop Retro - $9.95 per yard

How cute is this bunting fabric? Would look so fabulous in a nursery, kids room or even a playroom! I'm actually already brainstorming a project that will allow me to add this to Halle's nursery!

Gazebo, Cloud - $21.95 per yard

This one is just so soft and beautiful. I love the light blues and greens in it... I actually think my garage sale chair from last spring might look gorgeous in this... we'll see. 

Pierre, Confection - $9.95 per yard

It's gorgeous and the price is fantastic. I'd love to see a nursery done with this fabric - that gorgeous pink and the hint of green! Perfection... and a bonus that it's such a steal of a price!

Colette, Marseille - $9.95 per yard

A beautiful floral with a fantastic combination of blue and pink... and some pretty little birdies! Again - a fantastic price!

Chevron Remix, Bermuda - $9.95 per yard

Another fun and colourful design! This would look so great in a kid or teens room - maybe even a fun project for the student who is off to university and needs to spruce up their dorm a little bit! I know we would've loved some fun window treatments back in our day! 

Finding any great fabric designs or sources around these days? Where is your favourite place to shop for fabric? 

Etsy Love - trafalgar's square

While catching up on on my blog reading recently, I came across this post from Jenna Marie of design sparrow, and had to browse through her search for elephant artwork. As I browsed, I couldn't help but fall head over heels for the artwork from trafalgar's square! Such a variety of adorable prints and reasonable prices! How cute are these for a nursery, kid's room or playroom?...

Trafalgar Rabbit Catch Archival 5x7 Print - $8.00

Bunny Hug Print Archival 5x7 - $8.00

Baby Mine 8x10 Archival Print - $17.00

Bunny Parade in Bubblegum Pink 8x10 - $17.00

Golden Slumbers 5x7 - $8.00

This is a seriously small selection of the adorable artwork that is offered in this wonderful little shop! Make sure to head on over and check out more of what they have!

If Halle had a larger room, with more wall space I would gladly scoop up a whole bunch of these prints to hang in her nursery. Unfortunately, we don't even have room for a playroom for her... so these will have to remain on record as something to purchase a little further down the line. I just knew I HAD to share with all of you...

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?