So a few days after I arrived home in Nova Scotia, I had a special birthday party to attend to. My sweet Auntie Z. was celebrating her 65th birthday and her family had organized a party for her at the local community center. The party was a fully catered meal for about 70 guests, and my job was to lend my hand to the decorating. Because I had only arrived in the province 4 days before, my plan was to keep the decorations simple….white tablecloths, a cheery, happy yellow accent colour & fresh flowers. I shopped for white tablecloths & Read More »
Our Seaside Vacation in Nova Scotia: Week 1
So last week the children & I boarded a plane and left for a month long vacation in my home province of Nova Scotia.We have been here a week already and it still feels like we got here yesterday! Here is a peek through the first week of our vacation. I just cannot get enough of my Mom’s cooking! Here are her homemade seafood crepes & salad: We celebrated Canada Day on July 1st: We met up with some dear friends at a local Farmers’ Market: Visited my 78 year old Grandmother at her apartment. We haven’t seen her in 2 years: Read More »
Vacation Memories Shadow Box Keepsake
For the first time ever this year, our little family went on a warm winter vacation to somewhere semi-tropical…Florida. We have always been too busy with our winter sports seasons to book ourselves this kind of vacation, or we just didn’t have the extra in our budget. But with the realization that our daughter will soon be off to University in 3 short years, we decided this year would be the year. We had an amazing vacation….lots of wonderful, slow down-time on the beach. No schedules. No early mornings. No practices. No homework. It was peaceful & rejuvenating. When I got Read More »
The Perfect Picnic Sandwich {Oh Yes It Is!}
This is one of our all time favourite recipes ever. Our all-time yummy-always-a-hit picnic sandwich. I love it because not only is it a fabulous sandwich, but it is the ultimate in ‘make ahead’ food. It tastes better the day after it’s made….after the flavours have had time to mingle. It makes 8 sandwich wedges and each piece is very filling and satisfying. This sandwich requires a filling, some meat & cheeses and a round loaf. Step 1: The Filling. 5 seeded & chopped plum tomatoes 1 cup chopped red, orange or yellow peppers 1/4 cup chopped pitted black olives Read More »
10 Great Camping Recipes & Tips To Get You Through Camping Season…
With camping season upon us, I thought I would share 10 recipes & tips to help make your camping excursions easier. We love camping! It is one of the rights of passage of summer for us! We are campers in the true sense of the word…. we sleep in sleeping bags in a tent under the stars {or rain} to the sounds of nature’s music. Our camping kitchen is outside…it consists of a picnic table, a campfire, a table top barbeque & portable kitchen set-up with a sink and the our cooler of food. I find one of the things that make Read More »
Reviving a Kitchen with Paint & Decor…
I have shared on this blog before how my husband & I purchased our home on a short 5 day house hunting trip. It was stressful to say the least, and we ended up buying a house that was our 3rd choice. Below is the kitchen on the day we purchased the house. It is not a big or remarkable kitchen. Just a normal run-of-the-mill kitchen…nothing fancy schmancy. Take note of: The boring colour on the walls. The lack of personality. The dumpy appliances…{the appliances were included but we said no thank you}. The vinyl floor coverings. Not very inspirational at all. Read More »
Chicken Clubhouse Pizza
Can I just say first…oh my word Blogger…have you been giving me headaches over the past 2 weeks! There were some days that I couldn’t even log into my blog and post…it reduced me to tears of frustration! And I couldn’t comment on many of the blogs I love because it kept saying “anonymous” or wouldn’t register my comment at all! And some days my followers list would not show. I know lots of others have been having the same problems… so I know that it is a blogger problem. But jeepers! It was raining here yesterday and I really Read More »
I {heart} this frame from Pier 1 Imports…
This frame at Pier 1 Imports had me at “hello”. I love how it has a real crafty aspect with the clothespins and wire. I have seen lots of these around blogland made by talented bloggers, but I already have a long list of projects I am working on, so I chose to purchase this instead. It was 35% off when I picked it up… which was really helpful. Since I picked up this frame back in March and Easter was around the corner, I decided to fill it with pictures from Easter from 2003 when my kids were much Read More »
A Mantel for Summer…
So as part of my 6 week blog break, I had fun spring cleaning and freshening up some things around the house. I happened to be in Homesense looking for nothing in particular…just browsing around…..when I spotted this really fun mirror for only $29.99. {Can I say it again…that darn Homesense!} I fell in love with it’s shape and it’s crisp white look. I decided to bring it home with me and try it above the piano. I also added Mr. Owl vase. I love the pop of white for summer. This is how the ‘Mantle’ looked after Valentine’s Day. Read More »
Colour Blocking A Bookcase….
I have always loved this image from Style At Home as an example of a perfectly styled bookcase. I love the colour blocking of the books in particular. When I spring cleaned my office area….I decided to give colour blocking a try for organzing the books on this book shelf…which has to hold books, photo boxes and scrapbook albums. I don’t own a ton of books anymore since I purged many that I knew that I would never read again and gave them to the kids’ school for their annual book sale. I only kept the books that I absolutely love. I also had Read More »
Extreme Couponing: Extreme Crazy?
Has anyone see TLC’s new show, “Extreme Couponing”? I have happened to catch it a couple of times. I wanted to watch to see if there was anything I could learn about saving money. And let me tell ya….there’s a few things in that show that made me scratch my head. Never mind that in Canada our grocery game is a little different. But I will get to that later. I love how these ‘extreme couponers’ use little pieces of paper to save so much money. Saving money always makes sense, right? But here are a few things that make me wonder. Extremely Harmful Products: Read More »
Beautifully Organized Living…
Hello There! Did you think that I was never coming back? I occasionally take a break from blogging. And the computer. I find that it helps to renew the spirit and refresh my perspective! And also another project has been demanding my attention. I have decided to dip my toes into the world of professional organizing. I have been taking courses, creating a new site, designing business cards and writing my mission and goals for this new career path. It seemed like quite a good fit for me as it combines my two loves-organizing and decorating! I have been fortunate Read More »
A Little “Easter Chick” Party for Little Girls
The first spring that we lived in our new city, Hunter was in grade 4. She was always a little girl who loved to bake & make crafts, so we decided to host a little “Easter Chick Party” with a few of her new little friends. I shopped at Micheals for craft supplies….Wilton candy melts, lollipop sticks and terra cotta pots to make edible flower pots and wooden eggs, google eyes and wood hearts to make little easter chicks. It was so fun…and I really miss these ‘bake & craft’ days with my little girl who is a big girl now Read More »
On vacation…
with my family. Somewhere warm and sunny! Have a great 2 weeks!
New Pillows for Spring
You know you have a problem when you have to sneak shopping bags in the house when your husband is not home. Strangely, he notices shopping bags coming into the house…but he doesn’t notice new pillows on the bed that he sleeps in. It’s like he has ‘decorating’ blindness. But who am I to complain? That darn HomeSense…if only I would learn to stay out of that store. Last week, I spied these Amy Butler pillows. I tried to resist them. I went home without them. But they kept calling my name. So I went back to get 2 square Read More »
Photo Tray Project
Last week I took a break from blogging as one of my very best friends from Nova Scotia was spending 3 glorious days with us. We spent our time together visiting, lunching, shopping, crafting and chatting until 1 am each night. {Phew, was I tired! This ol’ gal isn’t used to late nights anymore!} We first met through scrapbooking more than 12 years ago, where we formed a scrapbook group 5 friends and we called ourselves “The Layout Ladies”. Over 3 years, we enjoyed several eveningsof scrapbooking together, shopping trips, eating out and retreats until I moved away almost 6 years ago. So last week Read More »
Organizing a Laundry/Office Space for a Busy Mom of 4…
A busy Mom of 4 who knows of my love for organizing asked me to help her with her laundry/office space. Being the freak of nature that I am….a person who loves disorganization and mess because I see it as my playground….of course I said yes! Here is what the space looked like when I arrived. The 4 boxes you see on top of the cabinets house the keepsake items of the 4 teenagers in the house. The cabinets hold laundry supplies and office supplies. Below is how it looks after we purged, sorted and organized. Much better! The keepsake items of the Read More »
My Super Fun Day with Laura from “I’m An Organizing Junkie”…
I did something a few Saturdays ago that I have never done before. I met a fellow blogger in real life. Yes I did! I was so happy and super thrilled to meet Laura Wittman from “I’m an Organizing Junkie.” I have been reading her blog for over 3 years. And we have been corresponding by email for the last few months. When I learned that she was coming to my city to Chapters for a book signing for her new book, “Clutter Rehab”, I asked if she would be interested in meeting for lunch. And then she invited me along to her book Read More »
Perfect Corn Chowder
I had a craving for a nice bowl of homemade corn chowder after I read Laura’s meal plan for Menu Plan Monday a few weeks ago over at her blog “I’m an Organizing Junkie”. So I decided to make corn chowder for our family. My hubby, although he loves soup, is not a fan of chowders, {Gasp! A Maritimer who doesn’t like chowders!} so I tend to make chowders when he is travelling for work. I expected the kids to bawk a bit at the mention of corn chowder for supper….but surprise, surprise…they each ate 3 bowls! I love when Read More »
A Boy’s Room Makeover That Scores The Goal…
Can you tell that this boy loves hockey? It seemed fitting that his room should reflect his love of hockey and the importance it plays in his life. I think every child should have a room that reflects their personality and interests…despite the decor of the rest of the house. So last week I left you with this picture of the unfinished room. The hardwood floor needed to be finished and the room needed decorating. Here is this 12 year old boy’s new room now. The wall colours were chosen by this hockey-loving boy with the help of a designer. It paired a Read More »
The Next Room Makeovers…
Tomorrow {Thursday} and Friday I will be working with a dear friend to put these 2 rooms together. This is a boy’s room. It has been newly painted with new hardwood floors installed. This room will have the boy’s furniture with new bedding, lamps and bedside tables. New ikea shelves will be installed over a desk area. This is a sewing room that has been newly painted with new hardwood floors installed. The sewing room will have newly installed Ikea desk, island and bookcase. I know that these rooms will turn out great…and I can’t wait to share them!
Spring Decor & The -23 Temp Outside…
So while I try to inject a little tiny bit of Spring in our house…. my weather app on my iphone brings me back to reality. I will spare you the pictures of the snow that go with it. The print comes from Mrs. Limestone. I just love her stuff. I hope you are having a wonderful Spring in your corner of the world! This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch Spring Fling @ This Blessed Nest
A Little Girl’s Room To A Sophisticated Young Lady’s Room…
I am so excited to share this project with you. All of my friends know how I love to organize and decorate…it’s a true passion of mine. I was asked by a very good friend to help take her daughter’s room from a little girl’s room to a sophisticated young lady’s room. This project was scheduled as a birthday surprise for a young lady turning 14. The birthday girl would come home from school to find her room transformed. We talked for weeks about plans for this room. The transformation day was scheduled for January 17th. Here is the result… Below is the BEFORE picture. Read More »
A Living Room Corner & Thoughts on Decorating…
I was paging through digital pictures the other night when I found some pictures from our living room update from 5 years ago. I happened upon this picture from our living room as it looked in 2006. Back in 2006, we hadn’t lived in this house for a year yet and we were still working on changes to make it our own. We painted the entire main floor in Benjamin Moore’s gingerroot. Ron had removed the old carpet from the living room and was in the process of laying new floors and installing new baseboard. I took this picture of the living room in Read More »
Organizing Photos: Part 2~Options for Digital Photo Storage.
When I wrote my original post about how I organize photo negatives… and how I store printed pictures… I mentioned that one thing I had to tackle this year was the organization of digital photos. I had mentioned wanting to try this system: Well, Laurie from Handy Man, Crafty Woman left a comment that her family was using an off-site service for storing their digital photos. This was an option that I had never researched and I thought this suggestion was brilliant….. for 2 reasons. 1-If your computer crashes, your digital photos are safely stored off-site. 2-If a house fire should ever Read More »
Tales of The Changing Tablescapes of the Piano…
Decorating the top of the piano has frustated me for years. For years, I had nothing on top of it because I was never satisfied with whatever I put there. But after many years of playing, I think I finally have the ‘knack’, if you will, of dressing the piano in fun outfits. Today I just dressed her in a very clean look. She has been dressed in frilly outfits for months now…it was time to take a break. Today she is wearing just a round mirror above…to break up the boxiness of the piano shape. Some books for interest. Two silver Read More »
I L.O.V.E. when new decor magazines arrive in the mail…
So I opened my mailbox today and found these… the March issue of Canada’s Style At Home AND the March issue of Canadian House & Home. Here are some of my favourite images from Style At Home this month: {I really have a thing for desk spaces.} Isn’t this little dining nook sweet? And I adore this image from Canadian House & Home: Aren’t those white lamps fantastic? Wish I still had a little girl in the house for a space like this! I have a date with my jammies and these magazines tonight. And oh yeah. Sarah Richardson’s new Read More »
Happy Valentine’s!! What Is On Your Menu For Today?
Here at our house, the traditional meal for Valentine’s Day is homemade heart-shaped waffles with strawberries & whipped cream and bacon. Last year, Valentine’s Day was on Sunday and we enjoyed our special meal for brunch. This year we are having our heart waffles after school at 4 pm before the troops scatter for hockey and skating practice. Both my kids asked if we were having our waffles and whipped cream and bacon yesterday, so I think it’s a tradition they look forward to. {The picture is from our brunch last year.} Do you have a family tradition of a Read More »
Cookies In A Jar for Valentine’s Day
So tonight I am invited out for a girls’ dinner and a scrapbook evening. {smile}. I wanted to make something for little hostess gifts…and this is what I came up with. Homemade cookies in a pretty package. It really looks like a jar of preserves…but surprise…. cookies.I have been saving these jars to use for some kind of food project. I could use canning jars…but I like to save those for canning. These jars are free. I peeled off the labels and washed them with hot soapy water and an SOS pad. It took a little elbow grease…but I Read More »
The Absolute Easiest Way To Track, Pay & Organize Your Household Bills…No Filing Involved!
For years, I kept our household bills filed in file folders in a file box….. just like hundreds of other people. Let me also confess that I have gone through periods in my life where bills were ‘filed’ in a grocery bag hanging on the back of the bedroom door. Yep. Sad but true. I have seen many examples of how to organize & ‘file’ bills around blogland lately. But I want to share with you a different way. Two years ago I switched to this method…and I like it much better. And here’s another dirty little secret about me….although I love to organize… I HATE, with Read More »
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