Indigo - Yes!

Those who know me, know I have a bit of obsession with Homesense. I just find the greatest things there and love the prices. Well, I may have to share that obsession with one of my other new favourite spots for home decor - Indigo! Yes, the bookstore. The secret is out on this place for a while and all it's wonderful home accessories, but what is even more exciting is the amazing sales they have. Seriously, 75% off some fantastic items. I had to share a recent example. Here are a pair of pillows I picked up there for $5 each! Yes, people, it's true and get this - that included the insert! Below are my new pillows along with some other great Indigo items I'm lusting after right now. Hmm...might swing by there after preschool drop off this morning? Enjoy!

Gold, sparkly beauties :-)

Love

And the circles go with my 'circle motif' in the dining room - totally intentional (ya right!:-)

Okay, I think this is on sale for around $6 - come on!

That spot of colour is great, love this one

This one is $3 - yikes!

 So cute

Perfect with the yellow one above :-)

Wallpaper for Powder Room

I posted a while back how it was on my 2012 "to do" list to redo our main floor powder room. I really don't like anything about it - the floor is so dark, the vanity is so ugly, the taps are dated (can you tell I don't like it!). All that being said, I haven't taken much action to change it but I noticed that every time I have someone over and they use the powder room I think about all it's "ugliness"- a sign for change! I received a bunch of wallpaper samples - which is a must! Looking online and seeing one thing can be quite different once you see it in person. Anyway, this is the one I'm leaning toward. It's fresh and fun and will allow me to accent with any colour. What do you think? Enjoy...

Our Craft Room - Slowing getting there...

Feels like forever since I've posted. Maybe it's this crazy Vancouver weather we're having (rain, wind storms, snow) that is making me feel unmotivated? To satisfy my need for a creative outlet I have been working on a few things but completing them is a different story. Without any cleaning, organizing or staging I have decided to show the progress we have made on our new craft room. This idea came from my idol, Sarah Richardson. I love the idea of having a space my girls can use for crafts, projects, homework and play dates (not to mention a good spot for me to get a little crafty myself now and then). All the major stuff is there it just needs a wee bit of "sprucing." Here is a shot of how it was looking today. Once it's all pretty I'll share some more photos. This is now my motivation to get it in gear. I will say, it's been fantastic so far. My daughter loves it in there and even better - no paints, paper, crayons (aka - art mess) in the kitchen anymore! Enjoy...

As you can see, it's already looking well used. The tables with the rolls of papers have been the best thing ever!

What's a craft room without pipe cleaner!

Places for all the 'tools'

Art work hanging to dry and on display for all to see :-)

6 Month Love!

Lovin the 'Girls Trip!'

When my little Presley was born we were ecstatic to hear Isabella would have a sister! I'm pretty much a girly girl and one of my immediate thoughts to now having 2 daughters was all the fun "girl trips" we can do throughout the years. Dreaming of a little NYC, some San Fran, Seattle and going to plays, the ballet (you get the idea). Well, they are only 3 years old and 5 months but we had our first 'girl trip' to Palm Desert with their grandma (my mom). Honestly, travelling with 2 babes is a bit exhausting but they were both very good. We did lots of shopping, bird watching, swimming and even managed to get in a few happy hours! Here is a snapshot through Instagram (love that program!). Can't wait for many more "girl trips" in our future - my 3 year old is hooked on this idea! Enjoy...

Getting kids to both look? How is it done?

Grandma and Isabella enjoying the zoo

ahh again, they both are looking down :-) Beautiful sunshine and scenery - I miss it!!

All dolled up for dinner out. Thanks to my friend LD for the adorable dress!

Sitting in a stroller without carseat for first time. This was perfect for those 'happy hours!"

Lots of sister lovin! My 3 year old is an amazing big sis - I'm so proud

Kids Art - LOVE this idea!

Yesterday my girlfriend was over for a playdate with the little ones. Both our oldest kids are in preschool and we are amazed at all the "art" that is coming home - and were discussing what the heck to do with it all!? I'm in the midst of creating a craft room (more on that later) and have a couple ideas for all my beautiful kid art but nothing that was too exciting until I saw this idea! Designer Jan Eleni has done the most brilliant thing. She took pictures of all the art and then shrunk it down to fit in one large frame/piece of art. It looks so fresh and is a keepsake you could pass down to your children. Now, the logistics of it all I will have to work on but this is going on that long to do list of "projects." Here's how it looks. Fantastic heh! Enjoy...

Jan Eleni

Isabella's New Painting!

This past Christmas, Isabella and Presley's grandmother gave them paintings she had done. They are both beautiful. Isabella's is a horse and Presley's a bouquet of pink flowers. I thought about hanging them in their rooms but since they are both so young to really appreciate it yet, I decided to display them in the living room. Here is a shot of where Isabella's beloved horse has now found a home. Presley's is being hung on an art wall which I will post later (if I get around to actually hanging the pics this weekend!?). Enjoy...

This has nothing to do with my post but my first use of instagram. My girlies this past weekend. 

A Few New Items!

It wasn't a resolution, but with all the spending that happens in December I wanted to try to at least hold back for January. It's actually hard to do with all the sales out there! I have been doing okay but then there was today. Hmmm. I haven't been into the online shopping sales in a while but this one caught my attention this morning and I scored three items - each over 70% off the original price!! Always, a bit risky when you can't try it on, but the price was worth the risk. Okay, so I'm now not going to buy anything else this month (we'll see?). Enjoy....

Thought this would make a great spring coat - less than 30 bucks, come on!

I have seen this coat in person, it's a beauty, and only $36!

Nice spring top with animal print - very hot for the season and ready for this - $22!

clothes BB DAKOTA

Candice Olsen and her use of space...

It's Friday, though not the Friday I was hoping for. I have two little gals under the weather and my 4 month old had a fever last night and was waking up pretty much every hour! Thank goodness for coffee. The day was planned for lunch/playdate with a girlfriend and afternoon at the park, well scratch that, it's all about getting well today. Anyway...back to my post.

I am a fan of Candice Olsen. She is a designer in Toronto, Ontario. She was recently on a local talk show and discussed the idea of designing for a space you will actually use. Instead of your typical living and dining room she likes the "lounge" approach. Have a space that you can entertain in and may suit a lifestyle of more casual gatherings and well, lounging. I love this idea. I have a more formal living and dining space, which I do adore, but the idea of having space where people can put there feet up, take a seat in the corner to eat some food and generally relax in a cool atmosphere is very appealing. She combines the function of a room in an unexpected way. I've often thought of adding a desk to my living room area as it seems like it would be an inspiring place to sit. Here are some examples I found of her work and how she has combined function with fantastic style. Enjoy...

Love the banquet. Can't you see this area as the perfect place for a cocktail party!?

White and blue...love.  What a great space -  sitting area, desk, window seat.

Again, she's made the eating area almost part of the living room, so cozy.

What a great space!

Okay, this one is not really like the rest but I have basement/playroom ideas on my mind and like the feel of this...

A New Year - A New Powder Room?

I love making goals and resolutions. I used to basically write a book, with yearly goals and then break them down quarterly, monthly, weekly etc. I wee obsessive some might say and it actually caused me a bit of angst. The past few years, I've kept the goals much simpler and have been personally focused - you know things like start doing yoga again, learn to meditate etc, etc. Along with my journey of personal development are a few projects I'd like to get done around our home. One of these is re-doing our powder room. I have always disliked it's dark feel and want to create something that reflects the rest of the house. My hubby says he can do some of the labour (hmm...we'll see?). So, I've started on a bit of a search for inspiration. I'd like wallpaper as I think it's a great space to do something a little bold. I'm leaning toward a simple pedestal sink as we don't really need storage and a definite is going to be some great sconces. Here are a few pics that have caught my attention. If you know of any great powder rooms out there, please let me know! Enjoy...

Bold wallpaper, simple mirror

Kinda digging the black

This is my favourite so far. I love the wallpaper and sconces

Could go with a more ornate mirror

This is Sarah Richardson and I love anything she does. Like the idea of a little pedestal table.

Calm feel to this bathroom

Thinking about this wallpaper - nice calming colours but still bold?

Images via pinterest