Image - Pottery Barn
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Trying to Get Motivated
My mom went out of her way to make Christmas special for her kids and grandchildren. Without her this year we all feel her absence. I'm trying to get motivated to decorate the house from top to bottom like she did but I'm finding it hard to get going on it. I'm doing a little bit every night rather than all at once so Christmas images will be appearing here in my desperate attempt to get into the Christmas spirit.
Beacon Hill Babe by Barefoot in Boston
Courtney has come up with another great outfit that I love.
I absolutely love the boots. I could use a stylist like Courtney to put me together in the morning. Of course, I need the budget to go along with it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Are You Ready?
Are you ready for Christmas? I'm so not getting into it this year and I'm posting Christmas images to force myself to get motivated. Hopefully I'll find the time to get into it soon but when the weather gets dark so early around here all I want to do is go home and snuggle up in bed or in front of the fire.
Whole Life Challenge - Day 135
Create your own cookbook...
Actually I’ve already done this. I’m constantly adding to it and whenever I post a recipe to this blog, I print them off for the book. I’ve found this more personal and basically stopped buying cookbooks altogether, although I do have a few that I can’t part with. However, this seems like an even better idea and it might be a really good Christmas gift idea for my family who have been commenting on my sudden improved cooking skills.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Whole Life Challenge - Day 134
Rest today...
Today I’ve decided to skip yoga, running, walking and everything else and just go to bed early. I’m tired out with everything that I’ve been trying to do lately.
Image Source Unknown
A Seaside Christmas Inspiration - Part 2
I've got a seaside theme going on this Christmas for some reason. Strange. I so want to curl up in front of this fireplace today. I'm feeling the need for soft lighting and a cozy fire for some reason.
A Lady
In today's society with declining morals, fallen role models, reality TV and a depressed economy, it's getting harder and harder to find a good role model of a modern lady. The old definitions don't seem to fit anymore. So what is a lady today? I threw this out with some of my female friends lately and we were stumped. None of us had really given it much thought and we were hard pressed to find someone that we could all agree on. Names were bandied about - Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, but when we tried to come up with a modern day version that's when things slowed down. Despite giving this some thought I'm no further ahead, but here are a few of our observations on the type of personal characteristics we've admired in others.
Image Source - Domino Magazine
SHE IS A LADY. Elegant, chic, sophisticated. Well dressed in a classic style. A well maintained wardrobe of classic, good quality clothing. Fully groomed from hair to shoes. Clean and fresh with a soft scent that isn’t overpowering. Always appropriately dressed for whatever the occasion may be. She has excellent taste with a sense of refinement. Classy sexy. She never wears or does anything boring or dull.
Graceful, she seems to glide when she walks with her head up - never in a hurry. Time seems to move around her. She carries herself with good posture at all times - sitting, walking, standing.
Comfortable with herself and who she is, she's not afraid to be alone.
She's well read and reads all types of books regularly. She's well versed in the day's events.
Intelligent with a relaxed and calm demeanor. Professional and confident in her abilities and not easily intimidated. She's flirty in a subtle intelligent way with a gentle teasing manner. She's kind and compassionate when needed, considerate of others feelings. She has a beautiful smile which she displays frequently to others. Feminine, but strong.
She's toned and slender. Has a relaxed comfortable morning routine so she's not rushed in the morning. Graceful in everything she does.
She's a good cook on weekends, but sticks to healthy low fat fresh foods during the week. Drinks plenty of water and always drinks from a glass whenever possible. She never drinks to access, doesn't smoke or partake in drugs.
She's a good mother who treats her children with respect and insists they follow in kind to herself and others. She's aware of the niceties of society and the proper etiquette of the day. She refuses to do anything that she's not comfortable with.
She's knowledgeable about books, music, social events, world events, history, the classics with a wide range of personal interests.
She has hobbies - such as photography, cooking, painting, reading, writing, etc.
She's well traveled, collecting souvenirs wherever she goes.
She keeps a clean organized tastefully decorated home, but isn't too concerned if things aren't perfect. She's organized and keeps clutter under control. She maintains herself, her ideals and her home, relationships, etc. with dignity and respect.
She listens to others when they talk, doesn't interrupt and then only takes away from it what she feels is relevant. She discards the rest and refuses to dwell on it. She knows how to keep her mouth shut if she feels it isn't beneficial to others, but will speak her mind and tell the truth if asked for her opinions. She refuses to gossip or cricitize others as much as possible. She never rushes through anything if possible.
She's not vain and will wear reading glasses, comfortable shoes when needed. She looks good even taking out the trash.
She sticks to her budget and pays bills on time whenever possible. She doesn't allow credit cards to get out of control, but never allows a good deal to pass her by when it 's right. She refuses to spend money on anything that doesn't fit her life's values.
No swearing at all and refuses to yell unless absolutely necessary. She doesn't like confrontation unless she feels it's beneficial to clear the air for all concerned. She respects her elders and treats everyone with the dignity they deserve.
She speaks clearly and precisely.
In conclusion - WOW – I think we have our work cut out for us.
The end result was that we realized in order to be this person we'd have to have a ton of money, help, self control, self respect, great physical looks and a team of professionals to help us out. Otherwise, we'd need to work so hard to maintain this life that we'd never have time for our families, work, sleep and everything else that sucks up so much of our time. So in conclusion we all agreed that we've been way too hard on ourselves and should cut our imperfect lives some slack. In the same breath we also all admitted that we could all afford to pull up our socks a little in a few areas.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Decorating Outside
Yesterday would have been perfect for this but I was too busy working on other things. So I'm going to try and decorate the exterior for Christmas this weekend in between the rain drops. Wish me luck.
Designer Profile: Munge Leung Design Associates
I would be remiss if I didn't include great Canadian designers, as such, I'm going to profile one of Toronto's best designers.
Previously with Yabu Pushelberg, they went on to create their own boutique firm which has grown to 30 employees already. I love the clean aesthetic of these images although they're just a bit stark for me personally but I could get used to it I think. Enjoy.
Munge Leung Design Associates
171 East liberty Street, Suite 290
Toronto, ON Canada M6K 3P6
416-588-1668
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A Seaside Christmas Inspiration
I absolutely love this wreath. Simple, classic, casual but at the same time elegant.
Image source unknown
Aerin Lauder in Aspen
Speaking of Aerin Lauder... Her Aspen, Colorado vacation home was recently profiled in Vogue. It's stunning and epitomizes the sort of ski lodge look that I would like for my vacation home someday. You know ... when I win the lottery.
Profile: Aerin Lauder
Not overshadowed by her grandmother, she’s a force to be reckoned with on her own...
Children of parents that have made the family name enjoy the benefits and frequently loose themselves, becoming known purely as someone’s daughter, niece, granddaughter, etc. Aerin has taken her grandmothers company and kept the ideals adding lots of twists of her own.
Aerin Lauder
Now she's going out on her own and I have no doubt she will be a big success. She has impeccable taste.
In her office at Estee Lauder.
I love the private collection fragrances.
I believe these images are from the Estee Lauder site at some point.
“Simplicity is the purest form of luxury and elegance.” – Aerin Lauder
"This exquisite fragrance combines the rich essences of precious Tuberose and exotic Gardenia. It was originally created by Aerin Lauder for herself and her closest friends."
"The sleek bottle features a cap embedded with natural semi-precious gems including aventurine, yellow and green jade, citrine, lemon and mustard stones. The shapes of the stones on each cap are different, making each cap unique."
I believe I read somewhere that the cap design was based upon a brooch once owned by Estee Lauder herself.
"Find what you love to do and do it well." – Estee Lauder
Friday, November 25, 2011
Brook Street
For some reason I see Cary Grant in these rooms. Not really sure why. There's something tailored and masculine about these rooms and I could see him living here comfortably.
Figured it out. In the movie "The Bishops Wife", Cary Grant puts on a scarf belonging to the bishop (David Niven), the print is very similar to the polka dot runner on the table above. Boy do I have an eye or what.
Starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. The film was adapted from the 1928 novel of the same name by Robert Nathan, and was directed by Henry Koster.
Excerpted from Wikipedia
Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young in "The Bishops Wife"
This is one of my favourite Christmas movies. Schmaltzy yes, but what good Christmas movie isn't. Cary Grant and David Niven are two of my all time favourite actors and I love the character actor Monty Woolley as Professor Wutheridge. It's a sweet, fun Christmas movie with a nice message and that's what they should be.
I'm off. I've got some serious shopping to do.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Romantic Tiffany's
Every girl wants one of these someday.
If you're not ready to think about Christmas don't view the rest of them.
That's right it's only one month away. Ahhhhh.
If I need to explain what it is then we have nothing in common.
Basically I'm a romantic at heart so you can image how much I love the Tiffany's advertising campaigns. Check out some of my favourites.
If you're not ready to think about Christmas don't view the rest of them.
That's right it's only one month away. Ahhhhh.
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