Happy New Year!

Wishing you a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful 2008!

Photo ex Shoot Factory

For me, I hope this is a year of calm and peace after all the storms in my recent life.

I hope to quietly continue to seek a direction for my creativity, to figure out who it is I am meant to be, what exactly my gift is. I am still unsure. But I am okay if it comes quietly.

I intend to live an even cleaner, healthier life with more care for my body (which is a temple)!

I want this to be a year of less worry, more joy, less clutter, more space! I will buy fewer things of better quality and meaning and reduce and re-use and re-purpose more.

I want to continue to create a beautiful home as a haven for us at the end of the day.

I want to be silent more, listen more.

I want to be more of me and less of who the world thinks I should be.

I want to find the peace that comes with being content with where you are on your life path, while you still strive to improve each and every day.

Blessings to you and yours and thank you for being there. I appreciate each of you for all the love you show a total stranger (me!).

You are good, good women and I am blessed to know each and every one of you. I wish you the happiest of days to come...

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! God Jul!

A lovely Christmas to you and yours...from me and mine! Tree with presents
My presents for David (mostly cooking things...)

Christmas Preparations & Random Acts of Kindness

Our front door with boxwood wreath

Today we shopped for some final Christmas things - some specialty goods from a lovely gourmet store called Sunterra, some flowers, and a perfect boxwood wreath from a shop called Paper Trail & Brittania Flowers.

*

There is a little story behind the boxwood wreath. I decided I wanted one for my front door early in the season, but I phoned and visited several florists and there were none to be found fresh, except in a square shape, unless I wanted one custom-made ($$$)! The only round ones available were plastic. I love the bright colour and texture of fresh boxwood, but I declined having a wreath made and just put up my old (but still nice) artificial wreath from last year.

*

Today we were browsing in a flower shop in a neighborhood I rarely visit and the shopkeeper was selling off his...you guessed it....round boxwood wreaths! For $15 each! But since it's two days before Christmas and I'm done spending money, I decided I wouldn't buy one, but I did tell the florist the whole story, laughing and saying next year I would give them a call first! To my total surprise, at this point he scooped up a wreath, and told me I could have one!!

*

So the lovely boxwood wreath adorning my door just in time...two days before Christmas... was a random act of kindness, which makes it all the more lovely!

Last minute Christmas flowers on our sideboard

I also bought these simple green flowers, very cheap. The florists at the grocery store were dismantling huge arrangements that didn't sell and were selling off the parts! I bought this bunch of bright green flowers for $4. That's my kind of price, especially in winter!
*

The other photos are last-minute decorations, plus photos of the three pretty banners I made this week!! Notice the JOY banner...in the reflection you can see the cat (lower left corner), sitting and staring out the living room window...his favorite spot to watch the world go by!

*

I also love the metal floral art with the ribbon...it was on sale today also and now hangs in my front hall. Thank goodness for ribbon!

*

The wee ice skates I bought a couple of days ago since we were supposed to go ice skating over Christmas but my foot is still too sore. This will be a fond memory, I hope, for next year. I will buy new skates after my foot heals a bit more, as it's still a little swollen and tender and I didn't feel able to try on skates today!

*

The little tree with the star atop is a tea-light holder. It looks so pretty all lit-up but I forgot to light it for you!

*

Tonight I will start baking and tomorrow clean the house! Merry Christmas!
Sweet little JOY, YULE, and NOEL banners I made this week
Lovely metal art
Dancing deer
wee ice skates (wooden)
Tea light holder tree (and pretty floral plate)
White things

Noel

I made a banner this week! In fact, I made three! I bet you didn't know I'm a closet crafter! I was inspired by a lovely banner I saw in a Vintage Christmas book from the library, so decided to make my own. I spent about an hour at the craft store figuring out what I'd make, since the options are endless, but once you have an idea, you can never find the right supplies!

Since I took this photo, I've made two other banners, including "Joy" and "Yule". I am running low on vowels, since the box set of letters came with only two of each letter, so there are no more "e" and "o" options.

Sorry the photo is dark. I took it late in the evening and should have taken daylight photos this week, but we've had problems with our digital camera so I didn't take any more pictures and I wasn't able to upload until today, at my office.

I've also included photos of our wee tree (decorated as I preferred) and the big tree, decorated more as David preferred, with coloured lights. I like it also as it is more sentimental with all the personal ornaments, and it was so much fun to decorate. There are a lot of temporary balls as space-fillers until we can buy more special things. This photo really doesn't do it justice as it's a lovely-shaped tree and is very pretty close up with several vintage ornaments and mementos. Note the cat. He has been keeping a very close eye on the proceedings.

Tomorrow I'm going to buy myself a pair of ice skates (from Mom for Christmas), since we have a private lake in our neighborhood (which is why we bought here!), and they prepare it for ice skating in winter! It's been nice and cold lately, so the water should be frozen hard making it safe to skate. We were hoping to go skating on Christmas day or boxing day, but the other concern is my injured foot. It still hurts like crazy. I saw my doctor yesterday and he sent me for an x-ray and said I either bruised the joint and tore some ligaments or worse, broke a bone! He said he thinks it may be a stress fracture (crack)! I'm awaiting results and wearing flat shoes and praying a lot in the meantime. The pain is pretty bad and it kills to walk on it. I'm taking handfuls of Ibuprofen and have driven to work the past two days so I can park close to the office and not have to walk so far to and from the train. Parking costs $18 per day in Calgary!

Just when I was planning to start back to the gym and start a running program in January. Ugh...

On the weekend, I have some last minute things to buy, including groceries, wine, and fresh flowers. Sunday I intend to spend the day baking squares and cookies and maybe cupcakes (which I adore!). On Monday I want to bake a Cranberry Pumpkin upside-down cake for Christmas dessert. David wants something traditional, like a Christmas pudding, but I've already made this cake before and it's gorgeous. When you take it out of the pan and flip it over, it's a pretty orange pumpkin cake with this delectable red cranberry-pecan and brown sugar topping, which runs down the sides. I make it in a funnel pan so it looks elegant.

Have a lovely holiday weekend. I will try to post again before the big event. Boy, I will really miss Christmas when it's over. This has been so much fun!

My Style

Over the past 18 months or so, I've immersed myself in the interior decorating world, mostly in preparation for buying our new house last December. I've pored over magazines and blogs, did the rounds of all the shops (more than a few times), and visited countless virtual retailers and boutiques. During that time, my tastes have evolved and my preferences have changed, if ever so slightly. I always knew what I liked and still do. But what's worse is that I've found myself liking disparate elements of various styles. It's worse than when I started!

Sometimes I wish I could be one of those people who has a clearly defined style! I keep changing my mind about the looks I love most. I've always loved the classics, but one day I want one of those tranquil, spare all-white rooms with a fluffy duvet and maybe a soft blue pillow, and the next I fall for a fussy traditional room with a lot of pink toile and dark wood. What's my problem? I'm clearly a woman who cannot settle for a single lover.

I visit your blogs and websites and see women whose tastes seem to fit into neat categories (I'm sure they really don't), gals who have whole stores and styles devoted to them (think Shabby Chic, Vintage, and those hard-core Traditionalists!). I see people who've at least managed some conviction when it comes to colour - they do patterns and rich colours like there's no tomorrow, while some stick to a whole house full of pale watery hues. I'm sure these women are never decor-conflicted.

I'm vaguely envious (in a lovingly kind way, of course) because while my tastes have basically remained traditional in their roots, and I've always loved historical, weathered, antique and rustic things - there seems to be no name for my style. Eclectic isn't right, nor is Pared Down Traditional (or whatever you call less-busy traditional looks), nor is Rustic nor Modern Country. The Belgian and French categories don't cut it either since I'm not a fan of roosters and wrought iron, though I love almost everything else! I'm not a shabby girl either because slipcovers annoy me in their disheveled-ness (although they look so soft and inviting in pictures!).

I love the simple Scandinavian looks, especially their use of white and visually calm interiors. Country-styles often make me happy, whether they are modern or cozy, because they often involve worn, well-loved things...and hey, I'm a sentimental kind of girl (who was raised in the rural woods, I must add). I like the sweetness and warmth of country looks, even if they are spare.
But I also love a starkly elegant interior, an old-money kind of home. You know, with traditional elements like brick and stone, expensive millwork and high baseboards, window sills and ivory walls, dark wood floors, traditional fireplaces, chandeliers and expensive rugs with runners tacked up the stairs, four-poster beds and armoires. And of course, in this house, everyone is wearing wool sweaters and grey slacks and has great heads of thick hair (like in a Ralph Lauren ad). Basically I can't make up my mind. So I maniacally flip through magazines and decor books (which I bring home, en masse, from the library), and browse blogs and online shops looking for photos that I can point at and say "okay, that is ME." I often find bits and pieces, but it's rare that I find an entire spread, an entire retailer, or a single blog that is perfectly up my alley.

I admire your homes and politely covet some of your things. For example, I want Linda's Wendy Addison Advent tags (and many other lovely things in her delectable house) and tasteful Sara's Christmas decorations and many rooms in Melissa's Christmas house (especially that wreath on the bedpost) and Poppins' lovely Swedish home and Aina's impeccable taste. P.S. I could spend hours visiting those Swedish blogs with all that simple and classic white!!

But don't feel left out, because there are things I love about you too! It's like that saying about "don't frown, because there is someone who loves your smile...". Well, I admire many of you from afar, for the way you adorn your homes to the way you turn a phrase or bake a cherry cookie, or make me feel loved!

God bless you all this holiday season and Happy Decorating!

All photos from

Riviera Maison, a Dutch retailer who, sadly, does not appear to ship abroad.

A Christmas Weekend (Not to Remember)

This was supposed to be a typical pre-Christmas hectic weekend. I never imagined I would end up with a broken foot (okay, it feels like it), two pieces of broken glassware, non-functioning digital camera software and a heap of chores and baking that didn't get done. Here goes...

*

On Friday night, we attended David's Christmas party. I would include a photo but we didn't take one because David was freaking out that we'd be late. Give me a break. I left work early and made it home by 5:10pm and was ready to leave at 5:40 for his company's ridiculous party which started at 6pm! Duh...spouses have jobs too!

*

Despite the rush, I summoned my inner diva and looked lovely (if I do say so) in a gorgeous black silky skirt with elegant ivory flowers on it and a little velvet jacket over a sparkly black tank. I also wore 4 inch heels (maybe 3.5") which is about 2 inches taller than what I usually wear (just for reference). My feet hurt!

*

His party was pretty fun (except for the vulgar go-go dancers his red-necked oil company organizers hired to "dance" while the band played. YUCKO! No class). I felt grossed-out until I noticed that all the fat oil-industry bastards and their trophy wives seemed to be eating it up. At which point I gave up. I clearly don't fit in a world that thinks half-dressed go-go dancers are appropriate for a Christmas party. Ugh! Actually, three of David's colleagues or wives commented that it was inappropriate. I agreed, but I am not permitted to grind my axe on this subject in front of David (he's heard it all before!) :)

*

All-in-all, it was a fun party and the food was pretty good, with a delictious chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Yum! And we chatted with many lovely people, including a fireman who told us some fascinating horror stories.

*

Last night we attended my team Christmas party at one of Calgary's best restaurants, where the food was more upscale and delicious. My company parties are always good because I work for a generally classy non-sexist company that takes us to nice places. Of course, there's always the odd off-colour joke by a drunk manager who thinks he's being funny. The group was much smaller, about 50 people, compared to hundreds and hundreds at David's company party. At the end of the evening, we had a gift swap and I brought home the crystal bowl I'd bought, which made me happy since it was the nicest gift there. And did I mention, I also wore stupid high heels?

*

All's well 'til now, then everything went downhill.

*

First of all...I didn't sleep all night, last night. One of the handsome waiters at our party was a moron and clearly gave my caffeinated coffee instead the decaf I requested. I always sleep well and never have insomnia (unless I have coffee and then I lay awake all night...this I know from experience). So I laid awake from 1:30 when we put out the lights, until 6:30, after which I dozed until 10am when David's mother called (as usual, waking me up...I wish she'd stop phoning in the morning every bloody weekend!!!!)

*

So, to add insult to injury, when I got up I was unable to walk on my right foot. It feels like my foot is broken. The pain is terrible and my foot is swollen on top out towards the toes, where my bones were jammed into those ridiculous shoes I wore Friday night.

I never understood the female shoe-lust thing, but I bought a killer pair of party shoes and wore them anyway, assuming all those raving lunatic chicks who talk about "you have to suffer for beauty" were right. Well, they aren't right. Four-inch heels are for hookers, not normal intelligent women who should know better (and can use other skills, such as wit and charm and IQ to lure a man). :)

*

Luckily I'm seeing my amazing chiropractor tomorrow at 5pm (for my back, which, have I mentioned, has been out for 2 weeks??). I must have him examine zee foot, if I am capable of walking the 10 blocks to his office!

*

So I started today on about 2h sleep with a painfully aching foot. I went to tidy up the kitchen and throw out some of the enormous pile of paper recycling and clutter accumulating on our counter top. As I was moving papers, I picked up a crystal serving plate I'd just bought to peel off the label and wash it. When I lifted it, it fell right out of my hands onto the counter, smashing into a million pieces. An hour later I was ready to officially re-start my day!

*

So I went to the mall, bought some Christmas craft goodies and groceries, groaned and moaned with my excruciating foot pain (and headache from lack of sleep), and finally made it home. Once here, I made a lovely NOEL garland Christmas craft project and took some pictures to post, when I discovered my stinking digital camera won't upload. I don't know what the problem is, but since I'm the resident computer expert, I have a feeling I won't have the patience to deal with re-installing whatever the hell needs re-installed until a VERY LONG TIME FROM NOW when I don't have a blistering migraine, dark circles under my eyes, and a broken foot, for example.

*

So, after that fiasco and not being able to post craft photos for you to see, I decided to make lemon cookies. As I hauled out the food processor, I knocked a coffee pot out of the cupboard. In slow motion I watched the glass carafe come spiralling out and onto the floor. Another million pieces of glass. So I spent another good 30 minutes cleaning up glass, sweeping, and then vacuuming, all the while shooing the cat away and dying from foot and head pain. Suffice to say, I didn't get the cookies made. And my dining room table is covered with half-finished crafts, and it's 11pm and I should've been in bed an hour ago.

*

Such is my glorious, quiet, childless life. I hope tomorrow is better. ; )

~ L O V E ~

Glacier wreath

Perhaps I have been living under a rock, but I just discovered a very lovely UK retailer called "The White Company". The company specialises in supplying a wide range of stylish home accessories and clothing, principally in white! Although their website isn't clear, it appears they do ship abroad (as they say).

They note that "although some signature colour pieces are introduced into the range to add seasonality, the core product range remains in timeless and impeccably stylish white".

I could not agree more with their concept! I love the dreamy, airy perfection of white and its soft-spoken cousins (those pale blues and creams, taupes and pinks).

Airy blue quilted bedding

I was just mentioning to David the other day that I would love to start an "all white" gift shop, one in a long series of gift shop concepts I've daydreamed about starting...still, isn't this one heavenly?!

Speaking of heaven...check out the tasteful and reasonably-priced product line. The stunning Deco chandelier was the first thing that caught my eye. It is so refined and so unusual and I adore it! Time to start my order...Art Deco chandelier Pearl runner (I'm considering this!) Lotus shade (rather expensive, but divine!) Simple white candles and fine wire-crystal holders "Inuit" slippers Neat laundry box

Little peg board Soft friends Brighton wall mirror

Christmas

Here are some photos from around the house.

David and I had a busy weekend, preparing for Christmas and also for dinner guests Monday night (David's brother's birthday party). Besides shopping most of Saturday, today I cleaned the house, baked a birthday cake and made a pan of squares for Christmas. Plus, I went for a walk , talked to both Moms, changed the bed, and did laundry! David ran errands, put up some lovely blue LED Christmas lights outside and made us a lovely supper (jerk chicken and smashed potatoes! yum!). All in all a marvellous weekend, but boy, am I ready for a vacation!

I bought the gorgeous pink poinsettia (above) this weekend and adore the colour. I want 10 more! I don't want this colour to ever go away!

I decorated my own wreath (above) using a wonderful-smelling (and very sticky!) plain pine wreath, to which I added ribbons, a little bird-in-nest, and several pearl balls. I like it kind of spare like this.

The pine cones (above) were stolen from a neighbour's tree, and are stationed in my guest bathroom, next to a pretty pale green photo I adore. I like the muted grey colour of the pine cones, which weren't brown like I thought they'd be.

Also above is a picture of David's night table, which has suitable boy decorations (mini-antlers and blue pot). Plus, a snowflake ornament I strung in my bedroom window...

Below is a photo of the bookshelves in my spare room, where I have some little green pottery and a couple of vintage postcards plus a new decoupage box which is sort of vintage-y. This is my vintage corner, in progress. Also a vintage Santa in my guest bathroom, below. I included another photo of the decoupage box (sitting on the table). It was made by Melanie from Carolina Cottage (a sweet Etsy seller), and I love it!

Also below, a new strand of pink and green "pearls" to hang in my window. This strand was from Honey B's, a vintage store here in Calgary where I also bought the vintage Santa hanging (below).

H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S!!