Beautiful isn't it. No idea where it originated from. I've seen it everywhere lately.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
I must admit that while I hate the shovelling, driving in bad weather and frigid temperatures, snow can be quite pretty. I woke up this morning and despite icy conditions I was struck by how beautiful the trees looked. No time to stop and take pictures however, but I've decided to be less negative with the white stuff this year.
Profile: Alisa of 33 Shades of Green
This is one talented woman. She seems to do it all. Cook, decorate (she has the nicest little condo), sews like a professional, takes lovely pictures and is a loving daughter, sister and friend. She has her own garden plot and regularly showcases the produce in healthy recipes. Don't worry there are a few decadent ones thrown in as well. I admire anyone who can cook something amazing and photograph the end results and process and still make everything look mouthwatering. Lighting seems to be my issue whenever I try this so I don't bother - not to mention that I'm still mastering this fine art and trying to get the timing down is tricky for me. How does she keep her kitchen looking so spotless? When I cook ... well let's just say that the kitchen could be a declared a disaster area when I'm done. My sewing results aren't worth mentioning ... oh yeah, this isn't about me.
Tasty Tuesdays showcases so many great recipes that I never know where to begin. It's an opportunity for everyone to submit recipes and her following is so big that I could spend hours clicking on all the links. Check out her blog I'm sure you'll find something there that really appeals to your appetite.
Tasty Tuesdays showcases so many great recipes that I never know where to begin. It's an opportunity for everyone to submit recipes and her following is so big that I could spend hours clicking on all the links. Check out her blog I'm sure you'll find something there that really appeals to your appetite.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Whole Life Challenge - Day 141 - I'm Done
I’m done the program now and feel much better. Time to move onto another goal...
Well I stuck with it as best as I could. I didn't lose as much weight as I'd like, but I definitely cheated as anyone following this blog can attest. I can't say I enjoyed all of it, but I really like the reflection parts which forced me to look at myself and my life periodically. I think everyone can benefit from it. The dog certainly enjoyed the walks and jogging. I feel physically better but I will give a word of caution. At the beginning while in the detox portion I really suffered. So much so that I visited my doctor to find out why I was having so many problems when I was eating so healthy. Many tests later and a uncomfortable colonoscopy and I discovered that I have irritable bowel syndrome - and not the one that is benefited by more fibre. Hence my suffering. She suggested that I continue the program but tweak it to fit my current health situation. That made things a lot easier and I began to enjoy it again as I customized it to my needs. So I'm going to continue incorporating the items I enjoyed and continue tweaking until I find my best fit. I recommend everyone should do the same.
Thank you Whole Living Challenge for putting together a well balanced and well thought out program. Next time I won't be so slow or drag it out so long.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Classy and Fabulous Courtney
I think Courtney can read my mind sometimes and just knows what I need. All characteristics of a great personal shopper.... just thought I'd throw that out there.
Designer Profile: Kelly Hoppen
All photos from Kelly Hoppen
Kelly Hoppen – London Designer
“Kelly Hoppen is a world renowed British designer who has pioneered a simple but opulent style that has permeated interior design at every level, and has resulted in her work being featured in newspapers and magazines across the globe. As well as designing apartments, houses, and yachts for an international list of private clients, she also undertakes commercial commissions including hotel, restaurant, office and aircraft interiors.”
Saturday, December 3, 2011
More Christmas Inspiration
Somewhere along the way I appear to have misplaced our wreath. Looks like I'll need to look for another one this year.
Image Source unknown
Ralph Lauren - Rue Royale
Another wonderful home collection from the Ralph Lauren worlds...
Really I’m not associated with Ralph Lauren at all. I’m just a great admirer of his work.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Putting up the Tree
We're putting up the Christmas tree this weekend. My son loves this part of Christmas the most and reverts from teenage mutant to my little boy again as soon as we get started. Looking forward to that this year.
A Pretty Christmas Table
Camille Styles recently completed a Christmas table shoot in the colours sage and silver. My favourite holidays combinations this year.
Stunning.
Living with a Teenager
Important words to live by when living with Teenagers...
KEEP IN MIND - The teenage years may transform your delightful child into an alien being. Agonisingly self-conscious, sullen, lacking all social graces, angry, mind-blowingly self-centred…these are the teenage traits we have all come to dread. Enslaved by riot of hormones, stressed by exams, sexually self-conscious, desperate to break free from over-protective parents - being a teenager isn't easy. When you're the 'victim' (i.e. parent) of a typical teen, you'll find it hard to focus on your own embarrassing memories of teen trauma, but it's very important that you do just that. It will help you deal with all the garbage that your teen is lobbing at you.
Don't be fooled by your teen - they may be doing their utmost to project themselves as ultra-cool rebels without a cause, but they're still young kids. They need lots of positive feedback, compliments and affection.
Give them a bit of space - they'll probably spend hours microscopically examining their acne in the bathroom mirror, or trying on hundreds of different outfits, or experimenting with hair gel and make-up. Just live with it. Banging on the bathroom door, demanding 'what are you up to in there?' will enrage them. Let them have their privacy.
Teens want to be different, and will enjoy shocking you. Piercings, tattoos, weird and wonderful hair colours, bizarre clothes - this is all ammunition in the 'shock the parent' game. Don't rise to the bait until things get really serious.
Don't be scornful of teen culture. Nothing is more provocative than a parent whose knee-jerk response to music, clothes, films, games and all the other paraphernalia of teenage existence is contemptuous dismissal. It's your teenager's world, and you don't have to embrace it (that would come across as embarrassingly 'cool'), but at least respect it.
Accept that normal teenagers are just differently mannered and swallow your distaste. Hail their occasional appearance during daytime hours with good grace, welcome every grunt as if it were the Sermon on the Mount and use humour to chip away at the seemingly unscalable wall between you and them.
Above all, listen to what they're trying to tell you. It's all too easy to fall into the outraged parent mode, hectoring and haranguing, convinced of your superior wisdom, intent on pointing out the errors they are making. But growing up is about making your own mistakes and learning from them - it's painful to watch a much-loved child go through this agonising initiation, but you can't do it for them.
Don't be fooled by your teen - they may be doing their utmost to project themselves as ultra-cool rebels without a cause, but they're still young kids. They need lots of positive feedback, compliments and affection.
Give them a bit of space - they'll probably spend hours microscopically examining their acne in the bathroom mirror, or trying on hundreds of different outfits, or experimenting with hair gel and make-up. Just live with it. Banging on the bathroom door, demanding 'what are you up to in there?' will enrage them. Let them have their privacy.
Teens want to be different, and will enjoy shocking you. Piercings, tattoos, weird and wonderful hair colours, bizarre clothes - this is all ammunition in the 'shock the parent' game. Don't rise to the bait until things get really serious.
Don't be scornful of teen culture. Nothing is more provocative than a parent whose knee-jerk response to music, clothes, films, games and all the other paraphernalia of teenage existence is contemptuous dismissal. It's your teenager's world, and you don't have to embrace it (that would come across as embarrassingly 'cool'), but at least respect it.
Accept that normal teenagers are just differently mannered and swallow your distaste. Hail their occasional appearance during daytime hours with good grace, welcome every grunt as if it were the Sermon on the Mount and use humour to chip away at the seemingly unscalable wall between you and them.
Above all, listen to what they're trying to tell you. It's all too easy to fall into the outraged parent mode, hectoring and haranguing, convinced of your superior wisdom, intent on pointing out the errors they are making. But growing up is about making your own mistakes and learning from them - it's painful to watch a much-loved child go through this agonising initiation, but you can't do it for them.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A Little Christmas Fun from Brooks Brothers
I couldn't resist passing this along. It's cute, but even my teenage son liked it so I figured why not.
You've just got to love these little guys. Check it out - Brooks Brothers Christmas
Go on - Share the Sheep
Go on - Share the Sheep
Basic Black
This bathroom spoke to me immediately. I've been thinking about painting my powder room a really dark colour. I'm not sure I could do all black, but I love this look.
The entire house is beautiful and there's more images on Paloma's blog - check it out. It's a really stunning home.
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