A New Home!

So, it is official, I have moved! I apologize for the absence of posts lately, but most of that has been due to the overly hectic schedule of packing up my old place, major reno's and unpacking at the new place – and a mix of traveling with my job. I feel like I've been living out of boxes and bags for weeks now! However, for the most part, it is finally starting to feel like home! If you asked me if I feel settled, I would still have to say no, but slowly and surely the boxes are getting unpacked one by one and the trinkets are finding their homes. Keeping in mind that I moved from a very, very small downtown apartment to a beautiful big home in the burbs, much of the house is empty due to an overwhelming lack of furniture!

So, with a new home, next will come all the vintage furniture hunting. October is the perfect month to do just this! Slowly strolling through the local flea markets on the weekends downtown or uptown garage sales. Some of the best finds can be found with just a little digging and fall latte in hand. I am so looking forward to locating a few treasured retro pieces that with a little elbow grease and perhaps some spray paint can be transformed into modern conversation pieces for our home.

Top 10 : Summer Lovin'

Today the weather is dreamy. Perfectly puffy still summer clouds, warm fresh breeze through thin curtains and bright soft sunshine shining down. Now that it is officially summer (though with the heatwave it has felt like summer for weeks), I am craving a mash of bold bright patterns, textures and shapes, both inside the home and on the body. Oh ... and beach hair. That pure fresh out of the water, towel scrunched, air dried, wavy hair – pure bliss! With all those desires in mind for this season, here are my top 10 summer style recommends.  1.  Watercolour fashion print 2. Missoni pillow 3. Watercolour art by Chantel de Sousa   4. Bold and beautiful wallpaper  5. Zara's pretty polka dot silk top   6. O'Clock white watch  7. Statement stemware  8. Antropologie Atom Art bowls  9. Missoni blanket  10. Soraam Big Bow pillow. Enjoy the weekend ahead! Me and the fiance are off to celebrate at our engagement party with family! xoxo.

D i Y: Summer fresh buds

Now that summer has basically arrived (hello mr. heat), it is time to add a little more vibrant colour to our living our spaces. I recently took an old 25 cent bud vase from a second hand shop and added some new razzle dazzle to it. I love the result. It is much more colourful and an item that can be used to house flowers on a table, make-up brushes in a bathroom or pens at the office.

What You Will Need: A glass vase of any size (personally I like to collect lots of little bud to have around the house), acrylic paints, masking tape, ice cube tray,  two paint brushes, small amount of mod podge.

The Process: Start by cleaning your glass vase so it is nice and fresh and rid of dust. Next decide on the pattern you want to paint and mark it off with tape. If you are doing lines, be sure to try and get them as evenly spaced as possible. You can also try cutting out dots, or various shapes on paper and then tape the paper to the vase much like a stencil. Next decide on your colour choice, or try mixing various colours and shades. I like using ice cube trays when pouring and mixing paints. It keeps the colours seperate from mixing and are very easy to clean afterwards. Once you have your colour being to paint and be sure to put a nice thick layer. While the paint is still wet pull off the tape slowly to ensure nice clean lines. Then set aside and let the vase dry (I recommend leaving it over night). Once it is fully dry take a little mod podge and apply a thin coat over the painted area by hand to give it a  final seal.  Then just add your items or flowers like these homemade craspedia.

Mexican Moustache Fiesta: Hello 30's

Now that March has arrived the offical countdown to my 30's is on and what better way to kick off this new age, then to throw a Dirty 30 Mexican Fiesta & Moustache party! It was a killer hilarious evening with great friends, mini-sombrero's, spicy salsa, guacamole, homemade sangria, mini-cupcakes, pina colada's, moustaches and more. A memorable and fantastic way to get pumped for this new age. I was also able to check off one to do item from the Napkin List (section of the blog). Check out the hilarious party pictures below and throw yourself your own mexican or moustache party!

 

 

What a great night! It's funny, but lately people ask me if i'm worried to leave my 20's, but the truth is, I actually think that's such a silly question. Getting older doesn't scare me, the idea of not living each day to the fullest does. Instead I choose to focus on continuing to learn more about myself, understanding how to stay young at heart, learning how to be a better person, checking more items of my bucket list, travelling the world and always surrounding myself with great friends and good laughs. I think my 30's will be a great time and I can't wait to see what else is coming. Thanks to everyone for coming out that night! xoxo.

Home Style: Jewellery storage

This weekend I am seriously purging! I don't know if it is that I am slowly getting ready for winter, or that I finally have some much needed down time, but either way, it's time to pack up the old and donate it to the needy. While I plan to be knee deep in donation bags today, it also becomes a good time to reorganize.

Now, I LOVE jewellery. I love accessories, bags, hats and I mostly love my little hidden space that stores all these objects.

(Check out the photos to your left of my little dressing room! My amazing boyfriend even made shelves for all my shoes ... what a guy!)

Now, while our collections continue to expand over the years, I find, as I'm sure are you, that I am looking for new and interesting ways to store and showcase my gems.

In my searches, I have found a few DIY suggestions to try:

1. Vintage Tea-cups - These are easy to find at any second hand shop, or even in the back of any cupboard. You can do mix-matched or a monochromatic, depending on your finds. Line your draw with the cups, or place them on an old platter. Also, be sure to use both the tea-cups and the saucers for maximum storage options.

2. Cookie Cooling Racks - These are also easy to find at any second hand shop. Place two nails in your wall at each corner of the rack at your desired height. Or use a picture hanging kit, to attached a wire and hook. The gridlike shape will allow you to easily hang a ton of earrings.

3. Covered Cork Board - Purchase or reuse an old cork board and cover it with a new fabric. Select your desired, pull it tight across the board and then staple or hot glue the overage onto the back Use regular tacks and as many as you need.

4. The Grater - This option is great for on top of a dresser or in side of a cabinet, as a small storage option for a few earrings. Find an old or unused grater and spray paint it in an interesting colour. You can also add interest legs to it, to raise it up if you so desire.