A VALENTINE'S DAY MANTEL

Where did the weekend go? How is it Monday already?! It was the first week of Winterlude here in Ottawa where the canal is freshly groomed, the snow slides are slick and it's an Ottawa party. Goodtimes. If you've never been, you must try to get to it sometime. Winterlude is always the first three weeks in Feb. 


I did get in a little V-day decorating...

I don't usually do much except give the mantle a little shake up. The kids love it and why not spread the love? I used the red dogwood branches I had from Christmas and picked up this garland and rose balls at the dollar store. Honestly, it can't get much easier.

Did any of you make the door hearts I shared on the weekend? Easy peasy. You can also make a "love box". Again, it's easy, inexpensive and the kids adore it. Think I'll add a small little prezzie in there for Mr. Fix-it too. Warm hearts is what Valentine's Day is all about. Oh and heart shaped pizzas. Cute!

Keep it Beautiful.

DIY VALENTINE DOOR HEARTS

Hi guys, I don't normally do a Saturday post but wanted to get this one out to you in case you wanted to think about it over the weekend. Who doesn't love getting a Valentine's Day card? Remember when you were kids and hoped for a love note from your crush? While I don't have DIY Valentine's for you, I do have a cute idea to do for your mini Valentine's at home.

Door hearts are so easy and your Valentine's will love it. All you need is construction paper, markers and tape. Every day, write something you love about your little valentine, or something they are good at. Each day they can look at their door and see all the messages of love just for them. Easy, cute and spreads the love.

I went to the dollar store and bought a pack of construction paper and while I was watching tv one night, I cut out hearts for each of my kids and wrote the messages. 

You can do as many as you want really, whether you start now or a few days from now. Each night before you go to bed, just stick a new heart on their door for when they wake up. You'll make their hearts smile :)

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I like to add a few touches here and there so I'll show you my V-day mantle on Monday.

Keep it Beautiful.

Easy Valentine's Day Ideas!

Happy Fabulous Friday everyone!

It's love day tomorrow. I've been celebrating Valentine's Day since I can remember. I've shown you this pic before...classic.hilarious! My poor dad...what a sport! And mum's hair?!?

You don't need to make a huge deal of Valentine's Day but it's nice to recognize the ones you love by doing something. Tucking a chocolate kiss under your partner's pillow, leaving a note in their lunch or buying your friend a coffee...it's just nice. Mr. Fix-It and I don't give each other anything big but we try to do something. This year, I'm going to give him a gift card to his fav coffee store (Starbucks) and pick up a pound of coffee to go with it (I know he's out of it at the office and drinks a whole lotta coffee at work!). Easy, but nice. Right?

My kids are super excited for love day. Here's what I did this year. It's super easy and you can still run out and pick up a few things to make your own love box.

I picked up a bin at the dollar store along with some small toys, crafts, chocolates for the kids. Wrapped them up, labeled them with their names and tonight the kids are going to decorate the outside of the box with stickers. Easy peasy. They are dying to bust open the box and open up their little treats.

Here are more ideas that I've done in past years. You can click on the highlighted link to take you to the post.
Turn your pizza dough into a heart! Click for my fav homemade pizza dough recipe!

Easy DIY Valentine's Day envelope craft

Easy Dry-Erase Message Frame

Have a wonderful weekend and happy Valentine's Day tomorrow. Spend some time this weekend with someone you love and if you are far away from your loved ones then treat yourself. Who says you can't buy flowers for yourself? or treat yourself to a fabulous meal :)

Keep it Beautiful.

Looking Back & Ahead!

Happy New Year! Did you have a lovely holiday? We had a great Christmas and really tried to take it easy and chill with our family and friends. We had lots of jammie and hanging around days. I think we all really needed the time to decompress and be together. The kids were adorable at Christmas, I wish I could package up their excitement and pure belief in Santa on Christmas morning. Feeling their joy, filled our hearts with warmth. Total cuteness.

Before jumping into 2015, I thought I would take a look back at 2014 and the posts that you seemed to like the best (according to my bloggy stats).

January 2014
Valentine's Day Envelope & DIY Dry Erase Frame (this one went viral on Pinterest!)

February 2014
How To Choose the Right Rug Measurements

March 2014
10 Things You Need From the Dollar Store

The Overwhelmed to Organized Series was a popular one, especially the dreaded...linen closet!

April 2014
5 Ways to Welcome Spring to Your Front Steps

A Perfect Cupcake for a Perfect Baby Girl

May 2014
I'm a Mom...And A Runner!

A Beautiful Soul

June 2014
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

 

Adding Texture To Your Space

July 2014
Chilli Coconut Chicken Salad

Mantle Goes Summer

August 2014
Cottage Living - Adirondack Chairs

DIY Refinishing A Hall Table With Chalk Paint

September 2014
Fall Mantle

A New Playroom For the Minis

October 2014
Mason Jar Series

Halloween Mantle

Fruit & Veggie Wash

Our Home Paint Colours

November 2014
Mason Jars Go Trendy!

December 2014
Christmas Home Tour

 

2014 has been an interesting year around here. I worked really hard to grow my blog and it has opened up many exciting doors that I never thought was possible the day I sat down and wrote my first blog post in 2012.

I returned to the office full time in April after my third maternity leave, which has been a big adjustment as I haven't been able to dedicate as much time to my blog as I was when I was home. However, I love being in the office and working hard on totally separate issues and files.

In May, I struggled deeply with losing my girlfriend Robyn. Losing her, hit me hard.  Two weeks after Robyn died, I ran the Ottawa marathon. It was that race where I hit bottom. Every step I took was an unraveling of my emotions about Robyn's death. It took me awhile to realize that it wasn't about my crappy race that day, it was about her and my anger at why such a beautiful woman was robbed of life.  Since that race, I ran a 5km with my Mum but haven't officially put my running shoes back on to hit the pavement. I'm just not ready. However, I'm determined that at some point in 2015...I will.
2014 has also been a huge year of opportunity. I was invited to be a guest on Daytime Ottawa and since that show, I've been asked to be a regular guest, appearing monthly. SO FUN! It's also been a fab year for my family which has been amazing.

Did you make resolutions for 2015? I don't typically decide on anything too serious, but I do have a few goals:

1. Be Organized: I believe that you have to live in the present! But if I can do it being more organized it just may make it a little more sane...especially with three kids :)
2. Be Realistic: I love a good challenge. LOVE IT! So, it's hard for me to say no. My goal is to be realistic and only (well try to) take on a realistic amount of stuff.
3. Get Back the Bod: My bod is begging me to get back to the gym. I'm not ready to get back into running so I thought I would switch it up and try the gym. I haven't been a gym girl since University so I'm looking forward to a new workout. Mr. Fix-It and I have a little health challenge going on so I'm game!

I have lots of ideas for Keep It Beautiful Designs this year and I can't wait to share them with you. The first one is a little reno happening on the blog. Stay tuned for a new look :) Woot! Woot! I'm also going to be broadening my scope a little bit. While home design is my passion, I'm also a mummy, a wife and a lady who loves fashion and travel. I want to share these passions with you.

By the way. Want to know what the colour of 2015 is? According to Pantone, the 2015 colour is...

MARSALA - earthy wine, red. Like it? Get ready to see it everywhere in fashion and home design

 

I want to thank you for your loyal readership and supporting this little corner of the internet with me. Whether this is your first time here today or you've been reading since 2012...thank you. Without you, this blog wouldn't be here. I also want to thank my fabulous clients. I have loved creating beautiful spaces with you! I wish you all love and happiness in 2015. I'm always excited to hear your ideas and can't wait to share mine with you. xo

Keep it Beautiful.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day my friends! We're celebrating this special day on the beach this year but wanted to send my love your way.

And maybe give you a laugh today.  My mum found this doozie of a picture, I had to share. Did we really wear those hats? Nice hair mum!
Love this!

Happy Love Day!

Keep it Beautiful.