Are You A DIY Diva?



So you all know I love a good DIY, especially when it’s taking something that can be transformed into something oh-so-fabulous.

For example my Nana’s chair. It had been in her house and her mama’s house for eons. It sat in the “parlour” and I can only imagine the stories that were told from the chair. However, the seat cover was really damaged and let’s be honest, I just wasn’t diggin’ the red corduroy.

Between Google and Pinterest you can essentially “DIY” anything out there. Whether you’re being crafty or repurposing old furniture, you can get your DIY on anywhere.  Last week I was checking out UsedEverwhere.com… and took their “What’s your BIG deal personality?” quiz.  It was a quick quiz that spit out my DIY personality. Yup, DIY Diva is what came out. Hmmm, well if it’s going to call me a diva, a DIY diva isn’t so bad ;) I do love a good DIY challenge!

Have you ever posted anything on sites like UsedEverywhere.com? Mr. Fix-It and I have had great success selling off stuff and buying stuff on there. Some of the BIGGEST deals are found there. One person’s junk is another’s treasure right? The perfect spot to find your next DIY for a steal!  

What’s your BIG deal personality? You’ll find out here.

Keep It Beautiful.

A little this and a little that

Hey everyone!

Hope you had a really nice weekend! We decided to stay in the city, got lots done around the house, hung around the park, walked the neighbourhood, had a delicious Saturday night with great friends and just enjoyed the summer weekend.

I don't have anything specific for you today. Just a little bit of this and a little bit of that to tell ya.

Stay tuned for a little series I'm putting together this summer called "Cottage Living". You know how much I love to be at the cottage and all it has to offer.

So our friends Suzanne & Jack had us over for dinner on Saturday night. Oh my Lord, we love when Suzanne cooks because she's one of the best cooks I know. Amazing!! If you are looking for delicious recipes to entertain friends, here is what we had on Saturday night and it's definitely a crowd pleaser! The flavours are amazing!

Grilled Bread Salad w Sweet Peppers and Onions

Smashed Fingerlings with Jalepeno

Grilled Rib eye with Paprika Vinaigrette

I picked up this pallet sign in town while up at the cottage a couple of weeks ago. I'm loving pallet signs right now. Pinterest has lots of "how-tos" for making them yourself but I spotted this little gem in a store filled with cute signs and sayings. It's found a spot on the side of my fridge. A fuzzy warm greeting in the morning...

I have a few projects coming up this month that are pretty fun. One of them is using chalk paint. Heard of it?

I also have a client that I've been working with the past few months and her house is looking oh-so-great. We just chose this fabric for the set of roman blinds in the kitchen. So pretty eh?

Have any big home decor projects planned this summer? Would love to hear all about them. Send me an email or let me know in the comment section below.

Have a great Monday!

Keep it Beautiful.

Summer Finds on Etsy!

Hey everyone!

So ready for the weekend yet? I know I am. I'm always on the hunt for cool stuff and one of my go-to spots is Etsy! Love, love, love it. I know most of you know all about Etsy, but if you haven't you should definitely check it out. You can find the coolest stuff that you definitely won't find at the mall. I thought I would share with you some of my favourite things that made me smile on Etsy today.

Having a backyard party? These chalk labels are very cute.

Personalized cutting board

Have you seen these before? As your baby grows, you put them beside your babe and take a photo each month they get older. Cute eh?

Ummm total cuteness for summer!

Who wouldn't want a customized phone case?

This is pretty...

Just a few things that caught my eye today. Etsy is a great place. One more day till the weekend.

Keep it Beautiful.

Wednesday Yummies: Chilli Coconut Chicken Salad

Hey guys,

I've got something oh-so-yum to share with you. Do you love salads in the summer? That fresh, crisp lettuce just tastes so much better when it's hot outside.

Having a big yummy salad for dinner is one of our fav summer meals, however I often find that if the salad isn't "hearty" enough then Mr. Fix-It and I are often wandering down to the kitchen for a bed time snack. I've got a salad for you today that will keep your tummy full until bedtime and keeps your kitchen cool because we're using the BBQ!

I've told you before about some of my fav products from Blue Dragon. I've used them for planning and making a Chinese New Year feast as well as whipping up a date-night menu for Mr. Fix-It and I. Yum. Today I've got a salad that I think you will want to make tonight.

Here's What You Need:

- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (I used 2)
- Blue Dragon Chilli Coconut Stirfry Sauce
- Skewers
- Lettuce
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Mango
- Crutons
- Fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
- Lime
- Oil & Vinegar

Here's What You Do:

1. In a small dish, pour the Blue Dragon Chilli Coconut Stirfry Sauce over the chicken. Let that marinade and chicken be happy as long as you can. Mine hung out in the fridge for most of the day. I know this photo doesn't look super appetizing but since when does raw chicken look delicious?!

2. Cut your chicken into chunky cubes and thread them on your skewers. I used wooden skewers so I gave them a soak in a glass for about 20 minutes before hand. This prevents them from burning on the BBQ. Place the chicken skewers on your grill. It should be on medium heat.

3. While your skewers are getting toasty, make up your salad. Cut your lettuce, dice up your mango, add a good handful of cherry tomatoes and your crutons. Make up your dressing....literally oil & vinegar. How easy is that?

4. Once your chicken is done, lay one across your salad, sprinkle your chopped cilantro and squeeze out a little lime juice from your lime. You now have a fresh.fabulous.sophisticated summer salad that has heat from the chilli coconut sauce, Asian flavor, it's healthy, filling and no need to turn on that stove. Sounds like a great dinner for a Wednesday!

Blue Dragon Canada is still running their awesome contest on their Facebook page. They're giving away a package full of Blue Dragon products to 5 winners. Yum! You should check it out!

 

Keep it Beautiful.

 



“Disclosure:I am part of the Blue Dragon Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada

and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Adding Texture To Your Space!

Hey everyone!

Texture. It's one of the secrets to design success. A room without layers of texture is flat and boring. I'm going to give you a few tips on how to add texture to your space. Texture doesn't mean creating "busyness" to a space, it's about adding depth to make your room lift.

Here are a few tips from me:

ACCESSORIES:

You've got your furniture in place. Now what? Think glass, metals, sticks, geometrics. The sky is the limit. By adding a blanket behind a throw pillow, instant depth is born. Everything doesn't need to be the same. Wood can mix with glass, gold can mix with silver.

RUGS:

Rugs create cohesion. I've talked a lot about rugs with you. I love what they can do to a room. You can go au natural with a wool rug or synthetic. Regardless of the material, the world is your oyster when it comes to pattern. I have both neutral and non-patterned rugs in my home, this one is in our tv room.

WALLS:

Take those walls and doors up a level. Stripes, wallpaper and wainscoting give depth and texture to any space. This is our patio door off our master bedroom. Painting it black gives a relatively boring white door major impact at the end of the hallway. Try it, I promise you'll love it!

WINDOWS:

Adding texture to windows can be done through blinds, drapes, shutters. For added dimension, add a blind (roll down or bamboo) to your window and layer with side panels. Oh so fabulous! This no-sew roman shade was one of the first DIYs I shared with you.

PATTERNS:

Don't be afraid to add pattern to a room. You'll see in my living room, I have damask, stripes and solids all mixed together. Patterns add life to a room.

 

Do you feel like a room in your house is too flat? Think about layering patterns, accessories, wall and window treatments to the space to give it texture and it will look fresh.fabulous.sophisticated.

Keep It Beautiful.

Fabulous Friday: Warm Your Heart!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share something with you today that warmed my heart when I saw it. As you know, I work with lots of brands and companies to talk about great products and share information with you. When working with companies, I'm very particular in who I work with and what their values are. I've turned down a number of brands that I don't believe in, because I want to ensure that I am giving you my honest opinion. When I saw this video that Telus put out, my heart smiled. To me, this is what good companies are about. They value and appreciate their customers. What more can you ask for?

You can learn more about Telus Give-Where-You Live by clicking on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRaa7nTfNA&feature=youtu.be

If you could do ANYTHING for one day, what would it be? Would you race a car with a professional race car driver? I bet our big guy would pick that! Would you play a sport with your fave athlete? Or would you like to go to a spa and have a chef cook you dinner at home?

 

“Disclosure: I am part of the TELUS Grand Gestures Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this campaign.  The opinions on this blog are my own.”

The Mantle Goes Summer!

Hey everyone!

How was your Canada Day? I took Monday off from the office for an extra long weekend. We had a big party at the cottage with lots of family and friends. We had a blast, played a lot, ate a lot, laughed a lot and partied a lot. Many of the adults stayed up into the wee hours. Yup, just call me a rebel ;) I think I pickled myself by staying in the hot tub all night! Good times.

With the hot weather here, our mantle décor needed a pick-me-up. You know how much I love the beach, the sand, the lake, the cottage and anything white. I collected a few things from around the  house, re-arranged them and voila...a summer mantle.

That shell came from my parents' garden. I snagged it before they moved. I love that it's been outside and all weathered. The white milk glass vase was my Nana's and I found the beige piece of coral on one of our sunny trips South. The grey coral is a fake and I found it hanging on the shelves of HomeSense a couple of years ago.

 

The house needed a few extra touches of fresh, summery love...
I picked up this green topiary at the Great Glebe Garage Sale in May. It found a perfect home in my Pottery Barn vase in front of the mirror in the breakfast room.

 

My Dad made this sailboat tray in shop class when he was a kid. Makes for a little summer vignette.  Remember, think in odd numbers when grouping items together.

I picked up this cool bowl made of sticks. It looks very au natural and nautical. Makes for a perfect centerpiece on the dining room table. How easy is that?

 

These milk glasses were also my Nana's. They add a little summer whimsy to our kitchen sink window. And, of course, "life is better at the lake".







Look around your home. I know you have items tucked into cupboards, down in the basement or arranged in a different way that can be transformed into fresh.fabulous.sophisticated summer décor.

Keep It Beautiful.