Crazy weekend and it isn't over yet...

What a weekend!! My little man Weston turned the big 4, it feels like yesterday that we were eagerly awaiting his arrival, it amazes me how fast time is going by.

 

I am almost afraid to blink...I don't want to miss a thing.

 

We did have a birthday bash for the boy this weekend. Unfortunately Mother Nature wasn't into what I had planed. We woke up Saturday morning to snow and it continued all day long. After a bit of stress, help from fab friends, and a shot of vodka we got plan 'B' underway. 

That included a bounce house in the basement...

An amazing clown/magician/face painter extraordinaire (I think the 'big' kids had more fun with the face painting than the little ones did). If you are in or around Calgary send me a note for her number...she is such a talent & the children loved her.

  

Our boys were not into getting their face painted...Rob & I made up for it.

 

Today I am getting all geared up since we are leaving for our cabin first thing in the morning. Packing, packing, and well packing are my priorities today!

Can't wait to decorate the home that we have spent the last 2 years renovating. But most of all, we are looking forward to relaxing on the dock, in the sun, with an ice cold drink in my hand...see you there soon! Mel :)

Fridays Favorite

Love, love, love Juliska. My love affair started when I was registering for our wedding way back. The ceramics are classic and the glassware appears to be as delicate as an icicle. Here are a few of my favorite pieces...

This pewter 5-piece place setting does remind me a bit of a mid-evil times them but I will admit that I adore it, it retails for $129.

 

A beautiful place setting with a classic color and design, retails for $129.

How funny is this one with the monkeys, sure to bring a smile to any face when plated, retails for $129.

The glassware is just beautiful, here are 2 of my favorite designs. Each glass retails from $45 - $68.

And the vases, every home needs fresh cut flowers and they should be displayed in a beautiful container. The vases retail from $35 to $525.

   

Hope you have some fun plans for the weekend, I am off to see Sex & the City tonight with some girls...and a cosmo or 2!! Mel :)

Art for the floor...

Seriously, how fun are these rugs from Anthropology?!?!? Some are almost to pretty and fun to use on the floor, they are pieces of art.

Love the muted colors to this rug, such a cute little critter that lobster is!

 

This is reminiscent to Mexican tiles, makes me want to grab a margarita (on the rocks with salt) and rub my toes on it.

Why hello pretty bird, I love your golden pattern at the bottom, but I think I want you framed on my wall rather than on my floor.

Now, I wouldn't mind putting some furniture on top of this lovely, fun colors and design that wouldn't be lost with a table on top.

Summer fun with these bold and bright colors!!

Another bird rug, a bit more on the formal side but the fun yellow flowers add some funk to it.

Simple with a twist, this come is red and charcoal as well.

I just think this is so quirky and fun!

Love the colors and design to this one as well, it would work with furniture placement and has a Moroccan vibe to to.

This reminds me of a POST that the lovely Marianne from the Haven & Home blog did a while back talking about the power of repetition in deign. The third image is a collage of paint by numbers paintings, every time I look at this rug I have to go back and check that image out...I just love it!

 I will admit that all of the rugs I do have in my home are simple natural sisal rugs. Boring yes but with my ever changing style they continue to work. I am tempted with these for the the next home though! Happy Thursday, Mel :)

Curved appeal...

Curved staircases are dramatic and can define the space. The stairs in your home are not just there to get you from one floor to another, they are there as a focal point at times and should be designed to work with the space in your home.

Here is the entry to our current home, the curved stairs going up and down are the central focal point when you enter through the front door. The layout for the next home is very similar, but I am thinking about adding some wainscoting to it and shaker style paneling detail to the underside of the staircases.

Image my own

While looking through Houzz I came across the design firm Austin Patterson Disston based out of Connecticut, here are 3 beautiful curved staircases that they have in past projects....

Images via Houzz

I love the natural light flooding this stairwell with the bow window that mimics the shape of the curved staircases.

Image via Team 7 International

Mid week already. I am meeting a new client later today for consultation on a kitchen remodel that her and her husband are doing in their older home. Excited to meet them and get the project going. Enjoy the day. Mel :)

Mellow Yellow...

Yellow is the color of the sun, it brings warmth to your soul, and it is always a chipper cheery color. Here are some beautiful examples from Mizz. Martha.

A great magazine and a cup of tea here please...

So cozy, not too much or too little, the amount of color that is...

Waking up every morning to splash some water on my face here, perfect...

I would love walking own this hall every day, enjoying the memories of times past put together impeccably...

White walls, neutral sofa, and pops of yellow in the drapes and pillow, the perfect spot for me to curl up with my laptop and blog...

Another beautiful sitting area. Reminds me of a spot in a nursery with the white breadboard walls, sweet and innocent...

My favorite thing about this room, besides the ridiculously sized stuffed tarpon above the sofa is the darker paint on the ceiling, something I am going to do in a few rooms in the next home...

If the sun isn't shining where you are I hope this post brings some rays of light to your day, enjoy it! Mel :)

Enamelware, not just for camping...

We are leaving for the cabin in about a week and I am getting more and more excited as each day passes, I am looking so forward to being able to entertain for my family and friends! I would love to be able to use some of these great finds, explore with me the charm and updated look of enamelware, it is not just for the camp site anymore!!! 

Here is a simple set that you can get through Pottery Barn, they have great serving pieces as well.

 

During my hunt I came across the Golden Rabbit, a site with the best selection of beautiful enamelware dishes including this one. Now I have been known to buy sets of dishes for a specific party, so I am sure if I mentioned it to Rob that I wanted to have a crab bake and use these he wouldn't be surprised. But the cabin is in Missouri not Main, so I think I will hold out on this set...for awhile.

 

 

Now I adore this simple line, it really reminds me of my formal dishes from Arte Italica that I featured HERE. This line is also available through Golden Rabbit, be sure to check out the great serving pieces and the other colors that it comes in, including red, brown, and swirl patterns.

Talk about fun & trendy enamelware! Now this could possibly make me go camping...I did say possibly though, so it is not guaranteed. It is available through the Golden Rabbit as well.

I completely envision this vintage French body pitcher sitting on my island full of beautiful wild flowers. It is available HERE on ebay for $72.

Love the turquoise color on this large paella pan from the 1950's, but it is the shape of the handles that got my attention. It is available on Etsy for $55 HERE.

How fun is this little red kettle?! I can see this looking great in a crisp white kitchen, a great way to add a pop of color. It is available on e-bay for only $5 HERE.

Hope your weekend was fantastic and safe, now off for another Monday. Mel :)

Fridays Favorite

Maybe I should make this a new Fridays Food post...I noticed I keep posting recipes. I do love to cook, after all, it is one of my favorite things!

 

This week I want to share an insanely yummy cookie recipe that I have from Planet Organic. It is gluten free and can be made for the vegans in your life if you wish. Now, I am not a health food junkie, especially when it comes to baking, but these are seriously so yummy your head will spin. Hope you enjoy!!!!

Cosmic Cookies

Yields 24 cookies

Ingredients

2 1/4 C Quick cooking oats

2 C. Spelt flour

1 C. Sunflower seeds

3/4 C. + 2 T. Pumpkin seeds

1/2 C. Shredded unsweetened coconut

1/4 C. Flax seeds

1 C. Sugar

1 T. Cinnamon

2 1/4 t. Sea salt

1 3/4 C. Dark chocolate chips (Carob chips for vegan)

1 1/4 C. Raisins

1/4 C. Water

1/4 C. Blackstrap molasses

3/4 C. Canola oil

1 C. Soy milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients, everything from oats to raisins. In a separate large bowl combine wet ingredients, everything from water to soy milk. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix slow at a low speed or by hand until just combined. Do not over mix.

3. Portion cookie dough using a 1/3 C. measure and place onto lined baking trays. Gently flatten and shape cookies before baking. Bake for 24 minutes or until lightly browned.

They are huge, they are addictive...but they are healthy, so it is alright to eat a few. They also freeze really well, so if you are lacking some willpower pop a bag into the freezer as soon as they are cool.
Enjoy your weekend!!! Mel :)

Adirondack or Muskoka, you decide...

Up north we refer to them as Muskoka Chairs & down south they are referred to as Adirondack Chairs. All I know is I cannot wait to sit in ours by the fire when we are at the cabin. There is nothing better than relaxing after a day out in the sun with good friends and family, by a bonfire sitting in a comfy chair, and enjoying the conversation and company.

 

Image via Shannon Lafferty

You can get them pretty much everywhere and made out of pretty much everything, from cedar, teak, recycled material, & plastic. Last year we found a great deal on ebay, they were unfinished fir for around $30 each.  I had Rob paint them in the same color as the trim the we used for the exterior of the home, Pratt & Lambert Lambswool, one of my faves, it is a simple off-white and a great contrast to the stained cedar siding on the home.

Image via Bombippy Photos

They do look so lovely in fun funky colors as well, a great way to add a pop of fun to any space...

 

 Image via Flicker

Or you can keep them in a natural wood state for a more earthy calm look...

Image via Southern Living

Whatever you decide you will love the feel of them, but most of all the memories that are made while you are sitting in them surrounded by great people!

 

Image via Superstock

Have a fantastic Thursday and enjoy the sun! Mel :)

BTW, HERE is the link for the seller from ebay that we purchased ours through, they are a bit more this year but if you order as many as we did (12) then you will get a deal I am sure.