It's all about the little things

Anthropologie

I just found out the best news. Anthropologie is opening a new location in Oakville! Yes, you read that right, Oakville!!

I can't believe it, and haven't been able to wrap my head around how they are going to generate enough revenue to keep their doors open, but either way, I am a happy camper.

If you aren't familiar with Anthropologie, they are owned by Urban Outfitters and they carry amazing house wares, books, clothing, jewelry, etc. The new location is right downtown on the north side of Lakeshore. They have gutted an old bank and are in the process of converting the new space now. 

This is just another reason why I love living in the "ville". I am now saving up my pennies for opening day:)

Interior Design Show

I can't wait for this weekend! Stoph and I are trucking downtown to go to the 2012 Interior Design Show.

It was after this show last year that we became serious about starting our renovation designs. There is so much inspiration, it is exactly what we need to get our ideas flowing for the Den. Are you going?

howdy!

A big hello goes out to those of you who have stumbled upon my little blog recently and have taken the time to look around and or comment. It means alot!

And a big thank you goes out to Lyndsay from little house blog. Lyndsay is a Toronto blogger who covers interior design, lifestyle, their house, and their little guy Oscar. And Lyndsay was sweet enough to mention our Kitchen in a recent post!

She was actually sweet enough to mention me awhile back as well when I featured how my best friend Laura had designed her son Charlie's nursery.

I'm not gonna lie, Laura and I freaked when that happened:)

So thank you again to everyone who visits and shows my little blog some love! 

Patterns

So I am about to send a quilt top out to be quilted for the very first time and I need some help! Here is the quilt top:

It is going to end up either in our new living room, or at the end of our bed. It will depend how much I like the final product. Here are my pattern choices:

I am either going with grey or white thread so the end pattern won't be too noticeable and the fabric will stand out more. Let me know which one you would choose if it was yours. Thank for the help!

Instagram

I was the lucky recipient of an ipod touch for Christmas. My fav thing about this new device is the instagram app. I can't get enough of it. It allows you to take photos and add a filter to it. Simple but fantastic. Instagram users are rampant around the blogsphere. I had to get on the bandwagon. Here is a view of a few of my first shots.

To check out more visit me here.

As I mentioned before, even though we just finished up a huge renovation, we are already dreaming of our next project - the Den. This will be a much smaller under taking than the main floor was, thank goodness. We need to tackle:

1. flooring

2. fireplace

3. open storage shelving

4. main hallway that connects with the den

5. furniture (we are still using Stoph's parents hand me downs in there)

We are slated to start this until this October but we all know how time flies. Can't wait!

all images from my pinterest account

Resolutions

I know I am a little bit late to the game here, but better late than never right??

1. Budget - I have created a monthly budget and I am sticking to it! I am embracing this one with open arms and so far, it isn't half bad. Tough but necessary.

2. Health - Very generic but overall, I am just looking for a commitement to take better care of myself. More doctors and dentist appointments, eating better, exercising more. You know the drill.

3. Work Smarter - 2011 was an extremely busy year when it came to work. 2012 is looking very similar so in order to not burn out, my goal is too work smarter, not harder. More time management, leaving the office at a decent time. Being smart with my time. This will most likely be the hardest off all of my goals this year.

4. Document - I am not committing to anything formal here, I just want to get back to keeping a journal, writing down my thoughts, keeping lists, those types of things.

5. Create - I really didn't do much in the way of creating in 2011 and that doesn't suit me well. I am always much more happy when I have a project on the go and am flexing my creative muscles. This may mean more sewing, quilting, collage, etc. Whatever it is, there needs to be more of it.

And that about sums it up. Wish me luck!

You have waited long enough!

Here is the finished product.

Above and below is the view you have when you walk through the front door.

Below is the view from sitting on the couch.

A close up of the waterfall feature for the island. The quartz material goes to the floor on each side of the island and those cabinets open up for extra storage.

I love how the IKEA cabinets turned out. I am very glad we didn't spend the money to go custom. I don't even think we would know the difference.

Below is a good shot of the covered fridge which Stoph made on his own. We hired someone to install the cabinets but Stoph was the one who figured out how to build the custom cover. He is a keeper:)

The backsplash matches our front entry tile.

Do you think our walls look a little bare? Artwork is next on our to do list.

It feels amazing to be living and enjoying this space (now that we know how to work the new appliances). 

I'm not going to lie, even though Stoph was exhausted from all of the work, we are already secretly plotting the next project:) 

Sarah Richardson look alike

Is this not the funniest thing you have ever seen??

My staff framed this photo and gave it to me on my birthday last week. If you know anything about Sarah Richardson the famous Canadian Designer, you will know that this is a promotion for her new show. And the good looking fellow to the right is Tommy, her right hand gay man.

I honestly laughed for 5 minutes straight when they presented it to me.

Makes me want to lose 30 pounds and buy Stoph an extra tight white dress shirt and some black rimmed glasses:)

Luv my staff!!!!

Counter tops

These are just cell phone pictures but it gives a good idea of how it is all coming together.

I absolutely love that Pheobe is in almost every renovation picture I post. You'd think she was trying to get credit for all of Stoph's hard work or something:)