Bit by the Festive Bug!

With a bit of a push from some inspiring parents, I got in the holiday spirit!

Thanks to my Mom for keeping me company while shopping, my Mother-in-Law for pointing me in the right direction, and my awesome Pops, who let me raid his overflowing Christmas decor boxes (he had un-open garland from White Rose!!!  White Rose!!  LOL)

TAAA DAAAA!

Amazing how he inherited my love for Dogs!  Especially Marley.  Melts my heart xoxo

Heard some rumbling in the bushes and found this little feline not so happy. 

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Decorating for Christmas - No Thanks!

Want to see my house all decked out for Christmas??  Get ready, it's pretty magical.

Yup, that's it.  (errr, and it kills me to post a picture of my house with that horrible pink brick.  I WILL be fixing that in the summer... paint, stucco, siding.  I dunno, but it will be gone!!!!)

Anyway, I went through all of my old stuff and wrapped my white and blue lights around my tree, but then I took them down because they looked dumb.  Then I bought a ton of white icicle lights and put the around my portico.  Took those down too.  They looked dumb.  Now all I have is some junky white and blue lights in my tiny bushes, and my old twig boughs on my doors.

I really want to put the white icicle lights along my eavestrough, but it's so damn cold I don't want to climb on the roof or bust out the 30ft latter. 

I also wanted to hang a green wreath with a red bow in each of my windows, but that means I'd have to buy 9 wreaths.  Home Depot had some on sale for just $6 bucks, but I got there too late and they were all gone.  Meh, forget it.

I've also been shopping like crazy for some nice new wreaths for my front doors, but seriously, I can't find a single one that I really like for a decent price.  I am too picky. 

So, I apologize neighbours, but unfortunately this is as good as it gets this year.  Hopefully I'll be a bit more inspired next year.

I think my problem is 2 things.  One, I've moved so many bloody times that I have never been able to fully decorate a house for Christmas.  Therefore I've never added anything to my Christmas decoration collection.  I had to throw out all of my garland one year (when we were on McCurdy crt.) because it was full of mouse poop.  Last year I didn't even have decorations on my tree because we were in the Jarvis house waiting for our Waterford house to be complete.  We've never been settled in a home long enough to really want to be festive.  ~~tear~~

And, two, the exterior of this house still irritates the heck out of me and so I am so not inspired to decorate it.  I really need to do something about that pink brick.

Next year folks, I promise.

On a happy note, here are some inspiring homes all decorated for Christmas.  Me = Jealous.

Favourite Finds Friday

Some girls like diamonds, some like shoes.  Me?, I like fabric.  I become a gitty mess any time I step foot in a fabric store.  Or, dare I get a 25% off coupon in my inbox for fabric.com.  You should see my basement - filled with boxes of fabric!!!

I found this fabric at Ikea this week and fell in love with the colours.  It's a mix of ikat and watercolour...  So pretty.  I wonder if I could do Grace's room in this fabric.  I could do curtains and cover that chair I got!  and, and, and....

Malin Cirkel Fabric.  IKEA $4.99/m

I fell inlove with this Michael Miller Zoology fabric this season.  Thank goodness Auntie Kitty loved it too, and I was able to get my niece and nephew their Christmas presents in this adorable fabric.  I promise to share the surprise after Christmas!

Could the colours in this print be anymore beautiful??  I am such a sucker for a large scale print!  I would cover a head board in this fabric.  Imagine??  errr, beautiful!

Tonicliving.com

And BTW, tonic living is by far, my most favourite online fabric shop!!!

#2, is fabric.com

I would take some Robert Allen fabric over any piece of jewellery any day.   Bahaha, I'm such a loser!!!!

But look... can you blame me?  it's stunning!!

Recreating an Inspiration Room

Rememeber this from last week?

"Have you ever looked at a designer room and thought "I want that!" but are too intimidated to attempt it yourself?  Well, there is no reason to be afraid!  Everyone is capable of creating the home of their dreams within a reasonable budget.

All you need to do is break down the room's elements, and piece your space together, while working with what you already have and new pieces within your budget.  I'll show you how, with my new weekly post called "Recreating an Inspiration Room""

On to Week 2....

I love a beautiful dining room!  This one has such a luxurious and romantic feel.  I'd live here!!!

Ellen Grasso & Sons

 Let's recreate this room!  First thing is to break down all of the elements in the room, recreate them and put them back all together.

Always start with the paint!  I LOVE this colour!  I'd use it in every room of my house ;)

Benjamin Moore, Palladian Blue

Next go to your light fixture.  In a dining room, your light fixture can be a piece of art.  You can never be too over the top or dramatic.... although don't forget, the more drama, the more moula!!

Dauphin Chandelier (shown here in antique white.  picture shows gold), Curry & Company. $4700(approx.)

Even for Curry & Co., I can't imagine spending $4700 on this fixture!!!  And you know what, you don't have to.  In this room, the key is colour and scale.  The gold in the fixture is creating a dramatic colour story, and the size of the fixture is really making a statement.

Go shopping!  Find something grand, in a similar colour.... and make sure you like it!  Don't buy a light fixture just becuase it "goes".  But it because you like it!!!

Platinum Rings Chandelier.  Shades Of Light.  $999

6 Light beaded chandelier.  Union Lioghting.  $859

5 Light Contemporary Chandelier.  Union Lighting  $949

Dining room tables can cost a fortune.  Before heading to the store to purchase a new one, take a look at your current piece.  Can you restain it yourself?  Could you hire someone to restain it?  Consider painting it black.  Also consider looking on sites like Craigs List and Kijiji for a new table.  Buying a used one and refinishing it can save you hundreds or even thousands.

Or just buy a new one ;)

Pedestal Table by Hooker Furniture.  Stoney Creek Furniture.  $1407.99

Curved Upholstered Chairs.   West Elm.  $208

In a room like this, there is no way you'll be able to find ready made curatain panels long enough.  You'll have to by fabric by the yard and sew them yourself, or have them sewn.  

Robert Allen Linen Duck Natural.  Fabric.com.  $11.98/yd

However, the bamboo shade are available everywhere these days.  Check Bouclair, Lowes, or Home Depot.  The'll cut them to size for you.

Bamboo Shades.  Overstock.com.  From $32.99

The floor mirror in the inspiration shot screamed "Home Sense" to me!!!!  Can alway find floor mirrors there for $100-200.  But I love this one from Restoration Hardware.  Simple but stately.

Mirror, Restoration Hardware.  $850

  If you have a room that you'd like me to recreate, email me!!!  You can even send me a picture of your current room that you were thinking of redecorating and I can help!  And, I can feature you on this blog! :) Cait

DIY Fabric Covered Magnet Boards

I purchased these magnet boards from Ikea a few years ago, and have been meaning to hack them for a while now.

Here's what I did!

First, collect all the stuff I need!

- Glue gun, scissors, fabric, and magnet boards

I got my fabric from Ikea for just $8.99 a meter.  I only needed one meter for this project, but I bought 2 incase I was feeling crafty in the future!

I lay out the fabric to decide how I wanted them to look.  I wasn't sure if I wanted them to be all vertical, horizontal or diagonal.  I decided on a little mix and match!

Then I cut the fabric to size

I busted out my duck tape before my glue gun.  I figured I could just eyeball if the lines were straight.

Once I had the sides duct taped to where I wanted them, I just glued the fabric down with my hot glue gun.  No science here, just a straight line of glue.  And don't worry, after the first burn, the rest don't hurt that much - I got my finger good!

When you get to the corners, just pinch them like this...

Put a bead of glue on each side of the pinch and then push down

Ta Da.

Yup, there's Marley.  He's the "Where's Waldo" of my blog.

A lot of my decor and craft supplies are in the toy room closet, so I like that I have a little display board of my own for paint samples and whatever else.  Too high for the kiddies to reach.  Haha.

Favourite Finds Friday

Everyone knows I've got a thing for clocks.  I would do anything for my very own cuckcoo clock.  Look how chic these ones are.  James loves them too!

Cuckoo Clock by Pascal Tarabay.  Unica Home.  $323.00 and up

I think I may have to order this for the toy room.  What a steal at just $24

Book Clock.  Uncommon Goods.  $24

It's a guitar, pendulum clock.  So tacky, yet so cool.  I must have!

Guitar, pendulum clock.  Guitargifts.com.  $29.95