Some of My Favorite Things

While taking the tree down & putting all the prezzies away I thought, I might share some of my favourite gifts that were under the tree.

This William Sonoma cutting board was #2 on my wish list & I love it!
It has been used a lot since Christmas Day & my counters are very thankful!

Mr. Ford is now living on my coffee table.

Although these are some of my favourite gifts. The best gift is, our trip to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico for some much needed relaxation & family time. It's been 3 years since we have all been away together on a "relaxing" holiday.

I think my husband needs this more than anyone, he works hard so I am able to stay home with the kids & "do my thing!" Our little peeps will enjoy the Kids Club while the Mr. & I sip margaritas & Coronas under a grass umbrella.

What are your plans for when the clock strikes 12?
We are planning on sticking close to home this year & going to our friends for games & drinks.
It's sure to be a good time!

Hello It's Me...

Hi Friends, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to relax & enjoy all the season has to offer, friends, family & the yummy food!

We had a lovely Christmas despite my being super duper sick. Today is the first day that I actually feel good. A second trip to the walk in clinic & an adjustment to my meds is exactly what I needed! 

This Christmas was fun! B & O were in the Christmas Eve play. B was a Sheep & O was an angel.

The kids were really into it & the belief in Santa Clause was very real.

 Their excitement on Christmas morning was priceless. Santa got them what they wanted & they thought that was pretty amazing!

Today I'm to de-christmassfy the house, I love when it all goes up, but after a few weeks I love to see it go away! It all begins to feel too cluttered for me. 

I may also tackle the master bath art too.

Wish me luck!

A Few Birthday's & Christmas Wishes

Last Sunday my babies turned 5. 

I have no idea where time has gone, but I do know that it's been a fun ride!

We've gone from this.

to this.

I will be taking the next week off to spend some time with the family & to get over this horrendous cold that's really got me down. You know the kind of coughing that has your eyes watering like a leaking faucet, your ribs, chest and tummy muscles hurting  from the constant hacking & the raw feeling in your throat - yup, that's where I'm at & it's not fun.

I have visions of me in bed on Christmas with the Mr. & kiddies off to my mother in laws for Christmas dinner. Not to mention my family gathering at my home Christmas morning!!!

I want to wish you all a wonderful Christmas & I hope you embrace all that 2014 has in store for you!

I also want to thank you for hanging in with me while I get this whole blogging thing down. It makes it all worthwhile knowing I have your wonderful support behind me.

Pillows

I had a reader contact me through my shop & she asked for my help in choosing fabric for some pillows for her living room.

She sent me a few pictures of the room. 

The sofas are grey & this photograph by Karissa Van Tassel will hang above one of the sofas & she already has some David Hicks La Fiorentina Magenta/Wine pillows that will be staying.

 Here are the 3 pillow combinations I assembled.

What do you think?

O Turns 5 - Lego Party

We bravely has 10, 5 year old boys to the house for Oakley's birthday.
Bricks4kidz came for 1 hour, with all of the Lego kits & together with the instructor Mary Ann they created operable conveyor belts!
 The boys concentration was amazing & they were pretty quiet too!
Once the 1 hour of Lego time was over the little gents came upstairs to enjoy some Lego coloured food & cupcakes.

On the Hunt for... Bathroom Art

With the impending photo shoot happening of my home, I'm trying my darndest to finish off some areas in specific rooms. Here's the kicker...the budget is tight & I will not sway from it. It's going to be a challenge, but I am determined that it will happen!

I love the master bath since Ensuite Evolution happened earlier this year. You can see it here.

I have since moved the 2 Leigh Viner prints to beside the vanity, so the wall space above the toilet needs some love.

I have decides to paint my own piece inspired by this. I just want to keep it black, white & graphic.

via

Jessica over at The Aestate posted these feather photographs on handmade paper & I love them.

via

Until Tomorrow.

B Turns 5 - Under the Sea Party

As I told you on Friday we were very brave & would be hosting both the kids birthday parties on Saturday. 

If you have gotten a glimpse of my Instagram it was very apparent that I dove into these parties head first!
B wanted a Disney Princess Party with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, but I'm not so good at the literal theme party! With that being said we chose an Under The Sea theme & Ariel would come for a visit.

So B picked out this sea shell ombre cake & I loved its colour scheme, so I ran with that.
B also wanted to do a craft & give away magic wands.

Here is the recap of B's Party in pictures & how I took the ideas & these inspirational images & turned them into reality for my magical 5 year old! 

The girls nibbled on cream cheese & cucumber starfish sammies, veggies & dip in tiny pails, fruit kabobs & sea creature crackers & sipped pink lemonade.
The table was playful decorated with seashells, crystal gems, coral candy & each place setting was finished off with a gold coin.

I also picked up some small picture frames, sprayed them in our sea foam colour & created name places.

The dreams of the ombre cake was not to be (none of my cake making sources were available) so instead we make chocolate cupcakes & topped them off with lots of whipped cream, pink flakey sprinkles and some white chocolate shells & starfish.

When it came time for the craft, the girls wanted nothing to do with the toilet paper roll octopus, so instead then drew & bedazzled under the sea mermaids pictures.

Being a total surprise to the girls, Ariel arrived!
I have never seen a group of kids so mesmerized. They played games, sang, danced, got their nails painted, had a little make up.
Then B was crowned an official princess! To top off a great party B told me it was her best party ever & she is already talking about what she would like to do next year!

I love putting together ideas, menus & decor ideas for a party, I've been thinking that I might need to add this to my repertoire. There is such satisfaction seeing it all come together.

Make sure you stop by again tomorrow, I'll recap Oakley's Lego Party!

Christmas Wish List item #13 - The Last & Most Important!

So this is the last item that is going on my Christmas Wish list & it's not anything that anyone can buy or give to me.

It's more like a gift to myself.

Here is a round up of all the other items on my wish list.

yoga mat / prada marfa pohotograph / sophia light / ring / handbag / Time & Tide
clutch / KW stationary / gold stick sculpture / Tom Ford book / cutting board

 But in the end all I really want & need is my families health & happiness, all the rest is just icing in the cake!

We have a busy weekend.

 Tonight is the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

I made mine & it's a cape really made from a tree skirt I got at the dollar store.
A hot glue gun, a string of gold beads, lots of balls, a few bows & about 1 hour & you could have one too! Were going for a white trash vibe & we all have to bring a tacky apply, I'm going to whip up some bologna & cheese sandwiches!

Saturdary we are hosting both kids parties, one after another here at the house.
I'll give you a recap Monday of the festivities. We are expecting  a lot of snow tomorrow & even as I'm writing this, it's like a mini blizzard outside. Here's hoping all the kids show Along with the entertainment!

Sunday we are off to have one big birthday celebration for my 2 sisters in law, nephew, my 2 kids & my birthday. 

Have a great weekend!

Under the weather, but the show must go on!

Good Morning.

The kids & I are all feeling under the weather so they are home today "resting" while I also try to rest & get some client work done.

The next few days are busy, busy & to top it off, Saturday we are having the kids birthday parties, so needless to say magic wand making & loots bag assembly are in full swing.

I mentioned a little while ago that I have some changes happening in my business. A website & branding is underway. I have also booked a photographer to take some real professional interior pics for my portfolio - so I have been scheming and very slowly crossing things off the "Get it done before the shoot" list. The painter has been booked, so the staircase is going to be painted in early January. I'm so excited to see it's transformation.

A Gift Guide for the Gals

Happy Sunday!

I hope you are enjoying you weekend so far. This is the first weekend in a long time that we have no plans, so it' been nice to relax & spend some well deserved family time.

Yesterday I stopped by to share my Gift Guide for the MR.'s,  here it is again if you missed it.

Today I'm sharing some of my Gift Guide for the Gals.

 watch / pitcher / phone case / hand cream / headphones /
book / wallet / necklace / pillow / boots

Enjoy this chilly Sunday maybe curled up by the fire, sipping on some marshmallow filled hot chocolate & watching a movie.