Bling Bling Bubbles

With Easter just ending, and spring just beginning we got our first bout of warm weather since... well... September. I love winter, naturally being Canadian I think you almost have to, unless you like to complain for 8 months of the year. But this one felt longer than normal. The warm weather came as a wonderful surprise, and with this warm weather I knew I had to take advantage of it. So what did I do? I decided it was high time to paint that frame solid gold baby! And add some bling bling to the apartment.

So I taped... and I taped...

And I taped some more. The frame was pretty tarnished, dinted and scratched so I put on a lovely primer prior to starting my experiment... While spray painting I fell in love with the gold, it was lively, a lot more potent and I liked the overall texture of the spray paint. It just turns out the spray paint didn't love me:

 

 

Because it started to bubble all through the frame. Sad by the not so successful first time I was boggled and searching for answers on the internet. Turns out, there was a good chance that it was too cold to apply the spray paint. My excitement for summer has blinded me. So I placed it on the wall as is for now until some warmer weather comes up and all is well again in the world. Of course after such a travesty happened I decided to go on a bit of a shopping spree to ease my pain. I purchased most of the frames for the wall and some wonderful decorative accents.

 

So this is what it looked like before:

 

 



And this lady's and gents is progress:

 

 



If you're anything like me this is the "eeeeee" moment, when you realize that you can start to see the finished product. But also if you're like me then you really want to finish it now (really, you want to finish it tomorrow) But I shall be patient.

Hip Hop... Hibbie to the hip hop.. you can't stop easter

For me Easter has always symbolically meant that spring is right around the corner, which means that it's not only time to start thinking about putting those old heavy and moth eaten sweaters away, but that it's a great time to start planning your balcony!

At the peak of the summer last year I was wonderfully surprised at how our own balcony had turned out:

And now, a chilling winter later it looks something a little like... were plants go to die.

Not to worry! As spring has now officially been thrust upon us some wonderful things await the balcony! This year we will be focusing more on plants, getting this bad boy filled up with an Eden of our own (Another wrap song may come out 'Eden of our own' good ring to it.

That all being said we are still working hard away at the wall of frames. I've went to every possible thrift store, and homesense, every IKEA and Wal-Mart looking for on sale white frames.... and I've come to a conclusion. Purchasing all these frames in 2 weeks will be quite a challenge! Not to worry, while I haven't added much in 'frame value' I've been working away fixing up the frames to new and wonderful glory!

 

 

I taped some paper on that bad boy painting and have started the spray painting process to bring out some new colours! I'll hopefully have that all finished tomorrow, but until them we'll just have to wait for the paint to dry and some soon to come after pictures!

The Upside Down Kitties

Now that all the rooms have went from being chaos to organized cleanliness, we can start focusing on getting this show on the road. One of my favorite things about decorating is the possibilities, the fun things you find, new ideas you locate on the Internet or even just an old vintage family picture that makes you smile. So two weeks ago our living room/hallway was looking a little something like this:

 

 

 

Please don't mistake me, this isn't how we really live, this actually is the cyclone that followed my purge of everything (Thank Goodness for Tupperware containers) It was one of those mornings where everything feels like it's closing around you, that the chaos has escalated to a new level. So in a heated moment of decision (and a very understanding roommate) I pulled everything out, took everything down, un-hid everything that was in secret stashes and we one by one, item by item decided to answer that age old question.... "Will I ever use this again".

 

After this much needed step was completed, I started sketching possibilities. I looked at that shelf for hours, wondering how I could give it that designer flair... and believe me I've come up with a great idea. I had to break this project down into three groups. I've been trying to live off a budget the past few weeks so that I could have a savings again. Part of this meant that I not only had to be more frugal... but that I had to try a bit harder to squeeze every penny.

 

1. Pictures and Picture Frames

2. Shelves and Organization Options

3. Style Shelves

With my first quest in mind, I trolled every Goodwill, Home depot and anywhere I could think of that I could make frames. Everything seemed out of my range, 80-100$ for large frames. Then one day as Rhys and I had went to go to a new Goodwill we have never been too and I found this:

 

 

With every intention or re-painting the frame to it's former glory, it wasn't far off from the following few adding themselves in.

 



Please note the shelves are almost not cluttered! Can I get me some snaps? And then we are now at what I like to call the "Upside down kitties". This had started when I found a picture frame that was about the perfect size for 7$ at good will which was currently inhabited by Kitties.

 

 

It was an old brown colour, which wasn't my favorite so I took some leftover paint that we had sitting around and painted that bad boy. The problem was that I had originally tried to take out the glass which didn't work so I simply removed everything while I was painting and then placed it all back in when I was done. That's when this happened:

 



Yes ladies and gentleman (and computer using kitties) I placed it in the frame, upside-down. At fist being slightly perfectionist.... I wanted to correct it, however, it was a pain to put that frame back together and with the print only a week away, I decided to leave it. Which has thus far led to comments like "The Upside Down Kitties are watching me"... "You're making a kitty statement"... "What would the Upside Down Kitties do?" ....

 

 

So as they perch in the now white frame, upside-down.... in all their beauty. I await for the vintage prints that I purchased online to clean that messy look up a bit (and the jokes). If you scroll to the top you can see the progress on the shelf going from GAH to ahhh... to ouuuuuu (yes, you can say it out loud for fun I won't judge). So here we are still searching. I think I've got a good 3-5 frames left to get, but once that's done we will be well on our way to a happy hallway!

Hallway to Heaven!

It's been a while since I've had a moment to sit down and share some of my exciting new challenges with you. As I sit here, sipping my red, looking at the lovely flowers Rhys has just got me I can't help but think of the possibilities of my two upcoming challenges.

Before we jump right in, It's always good to have a price set in mind (As to minimize overspending) So I have declared a 200$ Budget. For what? Our Hallway:

Slightly outdated, disorganized and a harbour for... well pretty much just about anything. The goal, is to attract a colour pallet that is both friendly and warm. So what's that mean Mr. Fancy Pants? I've been thinking of using this awesome program called photo effect ( Click here to get there! ) to make the pictures from Europe something like this:

The answer is yes I am into yellow. So with that being said I went frame shopping! I searched high and low to find some wonderful frames to decorate with! Slowly it's been coming together and I've started painting. While repeating the same thing to myself over and over again I will not drip on the floor.... I will not drip on the floor... I will not drip on the floor. So far my chanting seems successful.

So deep Breath! Let's design!

The Christmas Table

T'was the night before Christmas, the table setting was prepared and linens pressed. The pudding was on a low simmer on the oven top while the crust was warming in the oven below. The night before I had prepared a delightful arrangement of roses and fresh pine and polished the fine crystal... so what was left to do (besides making sure the pudding didn't burn?) fill every inch of our wonderful home with Christmas!

I wanted to share with everyone the delightful idea I had come up with on a budget for this holiday table! I remember when I was young, my mom would have the most distinguished table setting, traditional settings, with large chandeliers gracing things table delightfully playing in the candle light. I think as we all get older Christmas fades from being about gifts and what we give or even what receive as being replaced by the Christmas dinners with family and friends. The conversation of a year well done, the amazing travels or life experiences that we have encountered. The things I remember the most of my moms home was the warmth of Christmas spirit - A combination of candles glowing, music playing and a extra heaping Christmas plate. As we've gotten older I've also began to see my dad open up and begin to tell the stories of our Christmas's past or of our journey to Canada from France.

So what was the budget for the table? 50$ (or less... preferably less) Drum roll please! 16$ ribbon, 21$ flowers, 15$ Table Cloth, 5$ tea lights! If my Christmas math is correct it was a total cost of 57. Not too shabby.

So without further hush hush, I'll show you the first place setting before I went all out!

Are you ready for the big finally? I sure was! After ironing the table 5 times washing it then ironing it again 5 more times, I think that me and this table cloth don't have "The love" but finally after hours at the iron, my grandma had shared some pressing secrets to a tidy table cloth!

Then I had to quickly bustle lover to the store nearby and grab some flowers so that I could make a perfect setting.



So here we are, waiting for our friends and family to arrive, to sing and laugh. But until then, I'll still be here... pie simmering with some candles lit and Judy Garland saying the most wonderful words "Have yourself a merry little Christmas now".



The Perfect Peacock

With the holiday season blooming, the Christmas shoppers bustling I always like to take a moment to sit down and refect on this years blessings. Christmas presents nestled under the tree, cookies baked, Christmas cards sent. All for what I call the perfect moment. Andy Williams Christmas vinyl playing, the sweet aroma of pine flowing freely in the air lighting the warmth of the Christmas spirit all around you. Friends new and old gathered sipping on a beautiful red. Perfect.

I was lucky enough to get a bit of a Christmas challenge this year! Rhys Mother was looking for a tree change (and I don't mean the upside down Christmas trees!). She was wanting to have her total tree revamped. Rhys and I had wanted to do something special for his mom, something with bright colours (she loves peacock green and blue). And with a more modern twist for her lovely new condo. Lets take a peek at what we have to work with!

Before:

We were given the sky as the limit for colour choices and styles with a budget of 60$. Now, I will say that under normal circumstances.... and those of you who decorate your Christmas trees splendidly, 60$ can be a bit of a tight pinch. But with Michael's, coupons, some left over peacock feathers from his moms wedding this past year we were able to pull a little Christmas miracle of our own.
After:

Some really cool things we did to cut corners and get more bang four our buck: that tree skirt underneath? It's not a tree skirt at all, we actually thought on a sixty some dollar budget that a twenty some dollar tree skirt would just eat up way too much of what we had to spend so we went out and got a window panel and wrapped it around the tree for 5$! I find to get that beautiful "full" tree look, the easiest thing is to use outside fillers, twigs, branches, flowers, ribbon, feathers. Fill that tree to express who you are. Care to take a closer look at the topper!?

Well! With the snow falling down as I sit down here at my home, the home made hot chocolate warming on the stove, the cookies freshly baked I look forward to a visit from Santa.

Wishing you a happy holiday season :)

Christmas Fever!

Here we are again, three hundred and sixty five (or so) days from where we were last year when the anticipation for Christmas would begin to build. I remember as a child I knew that Christmas was about to begin when we would get a beautiful parcel from SEARS in the mail, the wishbook. I would take it everywhere with me, school, home and bed that catalogue would be my new best friend for several weeks. Of course as any child, I knew the selection of the gift I’d write to Santa for was of utmost importance. Not to mention careful thought had to go into how good I was this year.... good enough to get remote control car... or perhaps only good enough to ask for a GI-JOE? After all if anything, growing up with 3 brothers I had a clear understanding of how Santa rated my overall kindness throughout the year.

Christmas hasn’t changed much for me over the years. Previously it was gifts and St. Nick, now my mind is ravished with gestures of kindness, gatherings with friends and soul food. But nothing has ever warmed my soul (In Canadian winters sometimes we need a little warmth!) as the day we would put up the Christmas tree. I’m about to share with you some family secrets of how to get that tree perfect and prepared for the holiday season.

STEP 1: Let there be light! – Did you know that one of the most common mistakes is lack of light? The rule of thumb for lights is 100 Lights per foot (7ft 700 lights) it’s what gives it that mystical glow, not to mention the warm feeling that draws you towards it.

 Or the view from my bed as I wake up (yes I get up turn it on and run back into bed and pretend towake up! Don't lie, you do it too)

STEP 2: Bigger is Better! – I myself have fallen victim to the “awww... look how cute that ornament is” only to bring it home and realize that it’s the smallest ornament I’ve ever seen. To get that department store look, it’s a must to grab some larger ornaments. We place these on the tree first, evenly apart so the tree doesn’t look to cluttered on one side.

STEP 3: Medium and small: Now I grab hand full’s of the small or medium ornaments and spread them out over the tree working top to bottom, just keep in mind you will need more as you get closer to the bottom. Keep them spaced apart but don’t be afraid to have some close together. Clutter in the right amount and spots can give the tree a charming feel.

STEP 4: “La Tree Topper”: I’m going to tell you what most people don’t like to hear, I’m not a fan of angels or stars. Tradition tree toppers have their place and can be quite stunning, but I’ve always felt doing something more personal can really add that zest you’re looking for. In a majestic mood? Add some Peacock feathers... Feeling childish? How about placing a teddy bear on your tree? Want something more modern? Add some sparkle with strands of mirrors! The key to a stunning topper is make it you!

STEP 5: Ribbons!: Get depth by adding ribbon, strands of beads or stuff your tree with branches, flowers and twigs. Remember there is no right and wrong way with how you’d like your tree to look.

Here I am November 12th ready and waiting as always for Santa, friends and the perfect moments that come every Christmas. Let's decorate!