... 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! 

Freshen Up!

You all already think we're a bit crazy over here, with how we tackle projects all over the place and create huge to-do list's for ourselves. So, I figure I'll just be straight up with you and tell you I'm ready to add something else to our list... I'm planning on doing a little "refresh" project in our living room. Just something to make me happy until the day that we finally get to renovate...

This is the (disaster) of a room that you see when you step in from our lovely, renovated front entrance. It's also where I spend a lot of my days now. Playing and talking to Halle, blogging and reading blogs, and relaxing with B and Halle when B first gets home from work.  So yes, I am tired of it looking like a mish mash of stuff and want to make it feel more pretty, airy, and maybe even a little more organized. My plan is...

1. Paint the walls

2. Reorganize / style our bookshelves

3. Style the mantle

4. Make a new fireplace screen

5. Find new window treatments that are not too small

6. Paint and change the images in our hooks over the armchair

7. Make some new throw pillows for the couch (from fabric I already have)

8. If possible find new slipcovers for the couch and chair and a new floor lamp for a good price

That's "the plan"... we'll see how well it comes along, and what I am able to accomplish. I hope to get this all moving along rather soon, and back with an update before the end of the month! Wish me luck!

Do you have any rooms in your home that are just screaming to be freshened up?

Our Weekend and.. A WINNER!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you enjoyed this weekend! I most definitely did. When B got home from work on Friday, we buckled the munchkin into her stroller and took a quick jaunt down the street to enjoy some delicious lobster bisque and grilled swordfish...

Halle was apparently a little scared of B's bisque. Regardless, she was a good little girl (despite wanting to be held the whole time we ate). We rounded the night out with some cuddles after Halle went off to bed at 10... and slept until just before 6am the next morning! Glorious!


Saturday morning we headed off to check out the new Lowe's in our hood to price out a few things for the bathroom reno. Afterwards, B was on his way to my brother's bachelor party while Halle and I headed out to my parents. She spent the night hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa and I enjoyed some girl time with my very soon to be sister-in-law, my cousin and a couple of other lovely girls. The two of us spent the night at my parents and the munchkin was so great for me!

Can't believe she's 7 weeks old already!

So, why am I boring you with weekend details? Well, because I planned on taking updated pictures of my parent's guest bedroom... but I got a little distracted and completely forgot about it until we were on our way home again! Next visit I suppose!

BUT for those of you who entered, I have a winner for the MyMemories Suite 2 Giveaway! The winner was randomly selected using random.org and is....

Katrina from Chic Little House! 

Congrats - Katrina I'll be sending you an email with all of the details to collect your prize!

For those of you who didn't win, and would like a copy of your own, visit MyMemories.com and use the code below to get $10 off your own copy of MyMemories Suite 2, plus a $10 credit to use at the MyMemories online store! AWESOME!

STMMMS43778

Remember...

Can you believe a whole decade has passed since that day? Ten whole years, of a world that just becomes more different by the day. 


I was a junior in high school, and I remember going in to school that morning and me and one of my closest friend's excitedly discussed how two weeks to the day we'd leave on our school trip to New York City (the day of my 16th birthday). Crazy, right? 


When the first plane flew into The World Trade Centre, I would've been in my Media class - however, I wouldn't hear about the whole horrible incident until I was in my religion class that afternoon. I didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation until I sat down in my History class at the end of the day, and we discussed it with our teacher (she was so great for that stuff). Then, finally seeing it on TV when I arrived home that night, it was so hard to believe that all of it was real, and I cried. I cried for all of the people who lost their lives and their families. I cried because I knew the world would change forever... and not for the best.

That night our trip was cancelled, and we never made it to New York City. It took me 6 more years to make that trip... which I'll share with you later this month. 


Today is such an important day to mark, and such an important day to remember. It may have happened in the United States, but it affected and changed the world forever. 

I learned so much in the years following those terrorist attacks. I was lucky to be taking World Religions that year, and learn a lot about Islam. The true Islam that is about love and peace, and not this extremist version that the world has become so familiar with. I learned things that I will share with my daughter, and I hope she will take in.

Where were you on that morning, ten years ago, when the world changed forever?

One Last Reminder...

Happy Saturday friends! I don't know about you, but it's gorgeous here in Toronto... so yes, I will be enjoying some of it a little later. Just wanted to pop in and remind you that the MyMemories giveaway closes tomorrow!

Be sure to pop on over and enter the giveaway here. Winner will be announced on Monday morning!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Fancy Friday Love

Friday once again... and I do hope that your short work week flew by! Time itself is flying by and we have a busy month of September ahead of us... so I just know the whole month will whiz right past us. So, before time starts flying too quickly, let's reflect on the greatest bits of this past week...

I'm sure that none of you missed it - but how fabulous were the after shots of Amber's office, which she shared last Friday!? Adore it!

A scrumptious banquette in a to-die-for kitchen, designed by Tobi Fairley and featured on House of Turquoise last Friday. This is the kind of house that makes me want to up and move (not that we could afford that right now...)

Shannon had the lighting installed behind the screen in their garage and it looks so fabulous! I think she needs to have a blogger get together at her place! Cocktails in her gorgeous new backyard (non alcoholic for the lady of the house of course)!? :)

A dreamy cottage escape for the autumn months from Verdigris Vie...

I'm not too sure if it's the chairs, or the wall that makes me love this space, from a life's design, so much. Maybe it's just everything?

I would gladly travel across country in this home away from home designed by Rachel Horn, and featured on 79 ideas. 

An adorable DIY bird mobile on Ohdeedoh - tutorial from Eighteenth Century Agrarian Business...

While in H&M last week, I spotted this jacket and it was lust at first sight. Would love it for this fall... but even a $70 jacket is not in the budget right now as we prepare for the bathroom reno. 

The always talented and lovely Rhiannon from Hey Gorgeous shared this pretty little DIY Paint Swatch Chandelier. She's so creative and executes these DIY's brilliantly! 

B's off to my brother's bachelor party this weekend so Halle and I will have some girl time... and family time! Only the first of many very busy September weekends for us! What do you have planned for this lovely September weekend?

ALSO - if you haven't already, make sure to enter my giveaway to win a copy of MyMemories Suite 2! The giveaway will close this Sunday and the winner will be announced on Monday morning! Enjoy your weekend!

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.