Top Ten Projects of 2010

                            

In keeping with tradition, I have created a line-up of my favourite projects (decorating or personal) that I tackled in 2010. I didn't do as many hands-on projects this year, which I think is a reflection of the fact that we have been in this house longer than any other home we've had AND my having spent so much of the year in front of my computer...working.

Here is my list:

1.  My $65 bathroom make-over, inspired by the funky wallpaper, above.

 

2. My new "office", Les Nessman style: 

 (above photo, courtesty Matthew Mead)

3. Well, not so much a project, but still something new. My new Ikea chair, which my three cats haven't managed to ruin yet:

 

4. A little Halloween craft: 

 5. My dining area make-over. (Trying to get in touch with my more youthful side ;-)

With my new light from Ikea:

 

6. Decorating Sophie's playhouse for Christmas...why didn't I do this before now?

7. The free $10 light I made for my sister:

8. Christmas snow globes:

9. My Murphy Bed, built by the handyman!!

10. And last but definitely not least, I am so proud of my part in this:

I wrote a large number of the articles, tended the blog, tackled the many letters/emails and questions we received, and had so much fun on the photo shoots I was involved with here and here, and the many other duties that came with my position. Stay tuned to our blog for an exciting announcement (coming soon) about what is coming up next.

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Thank you for following along with my decorating and family adventures in 2010 and I am so grateful for your kind comments, emails and friendship. That is what truly makes blogging a gift.

My Murphy Bed...

I just realized I forgot to share the photos of my new Murphy bed the handyman made for me. With both our families living away, we really needed to eke out some sort of guest room and with no extra space hiding out anywhere, well, a Murphy Bed was our solution. Using the hardware kit from Lee Valley, the handyman loaded up his big a*s truck with wood and started working his handyman magic. I had shown him some photos of beds I liked, but he said he had it "all under control" and with the fancy pieces of moulding I saw poking out of his stash, I figured he just might.

Well, he worked away and before I knew it he was standing in front of me with a paint can and brush, passing off the proverbial handyman baton (he doesn't do paint), and with a sigh and a shuffle, off I went. I painted the outside, but the inside will have to wait. Also, I plan to wallpaper the area behind the bed, just to be all fancy-like. But I was too lazy to do it when I should have. Besides, Christmas shopping was calling to me, and would you rather paint/wallpaper or shop?

So here is the inside of the bed, in the "down-right" position:

 And this is how the bedding stays in place:

 And 2/2 guests report it is comfortable!

Christmas Wishes...

 

 Okay. This is supposed to be our Christmas card. Except Shutterfly failed to deliver (on time, as promised) so I won't be sending any out until AFTER Christmas. : (

Regardless, I think I have pretty great kids to pose for this photo. And it wasn't even my idea. This year, their father came up with the idea and I was SURE they would revolt. But, they know it is pretty much all I ask of them at Christmastime, so I am still amazed that this one goes down in history as the easiest Christmas card shoot of them all.

Go figure... 

Our holiday table:

Oh, and I know you have all probably heard me bemoan my camera and the lacklustre quality of the photos it produces. Well, this year the handyman gave me such a surprise! We, who normally don't exchange much in the way of presents, actually surprised each other. I made a photo book for him commemorating his Ironman achievement and he gave me this sweet beauty:

So, after many hours trying to figure out how the heck it works, I should be able to shoot some better quality images for this old blog.

Just remember, I'm a slow learner, so don't expect too much too soon!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. 

And for your listening pleasure. This one gives me chills:

Christmastime's a Comin'...

Christmas is nigh...

And I am as ready as I will ever be. Because, really, all of the little things we do are just extras, right? We don't have to attend every party we are invited to, bake at least five things, get gifts for everyone whose paths we might cross during the week of Christmas, or wrap gifts that look like masterpieces, do we?

I don't know if it is because my children were off for a full week before Christmas or if it's because I choose carefully that which I do to celebrate, but I find Christmas just getting easier somehow. And please don't hate me for saying that...it has just been about choosing what is worth doing and discarding the rest.

Basically, I choose not to try new, complicated (albeit impressive) recipes. I rely on everyday favourites, those which others have shared with me, or those which I know won't see me slaving over a stove for hours. This year, the only thing I baked was a batch of tiny chocolate cupcakes that were supposed to have a ganache-type icing...except I messed it up somehow. (Have I ever told you how much I hate baking?)
So what did I do? I simply dipped the cupcakes in the too-runny icing and sprinkled crushed candy canes on top. Who cares? I have better things to do (basically anything is better than baking!)

(our invitation: sparkling cider with personalized invitation labels found here)

As for our Christmas eve fare, which we share with our closest friends, I stuck with the old adage (but with a twist!): Something old, something new, something borrowed...comfort food!

The old: our annual offering, seafood chowder - chock full of lobster, scallops, salmon, clams and cream.

Something new: meat pies, made from my mum's recipe. easy, hearty, nothing fancy, but delicious all the same.

Something Borrowed: a recipe I haven't made in years, but shared with me by my good friend, Elizabeth, back when the boys were small. Chicken lasagna, made with hollandaise sauce, asparagus tips, mushrooms, and Mozarella cheese. Yum!

Comfort food: good, old-fashioned macaroni and cheese, from Tasha Tudor's cookbook. I am not a cheese lover, but the handyman loves it so this is his specialty (he doesn't put a crumb topping on his).

We (I) also make homemade egg rolls, which get gobbled up by the boys in no time. I rarely deep fry anything, so the good old "chip pan" is resurrected for this recipe. (Here is a great photo tutorial on making your own: Egg Rolls

As for today's celebration, friends will gather, we will eat and "make merry", head off to a candlelight service at our church, and arrive home in time to see Santa drive up and down our street atop a vintage fire-truck. If I remember, I will hide a pickle in our tree (which our eldest ALWAYS finds, which causes big fights), and go to bed too late only to awaken before everyone in anticipation of the kids opening their gifts. Does anyone else do that? I always tiptoe out before everyone else to turn on the tree lights, the Christmas music, and get the video camera ready. I leave our outdoor lights on all night so that Santa can find us and I marvel that no one else does the same! As soon as we begin opening gifts, Jack, our funniest cat, finds a box to curl up in and Ollie, the youngest, will be put out that his spot beneath the tree is no longer available. Other than cooking dinner (which of course is no small feat!), my biggest plans are to have a bubble bath and read a book I have been saving just for this occasion. We wear our comfiest clothes and go nowhere until Boxing Day.

Because aside from the shopping, Christmas can be made simpler. Maybe our family makes it too simple, but to us, it just feels right. 

I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas. I hope it is all you wish it to be and that contentment alights in your soul.

Merry Christmas!!!

Wrapping Things Up...

 (my sweet sister in-law, posing for Holiday with Matthew Mead...and holding some "dummy" gifts)

 Do I have all of my gifts wrapped?

Hah!  I wish!

But I'm working on it!

In the meantime, you can read my thoughts on the topic (and get some wrapping inspiration) here , where I am guest posting today.

Now, back to wrapping...

 ~Sigh~

All I want for Christmas...

 

Snow softly falling...

 When life hands you rain instead of snow at Christmastime , there's only one thing to do. Create a snowy environment on your own. My holiday decor includes many shades of whites and cream and lots and lots of glitter. Glass icicles hang from my tree and I stacked mounds of faux snowballs in my outdoor urns and hung snowflakes and icicles from my porch.

 
But perhaps my favorite snowy finish of all this year is the craft I made with my mum, sister, niece and (of course) Sophie.

 

During our annual crafting session, we focused on crafts the girls could handle making largely on their own. We all share a love of glitter and whimsy so Martha Stewart's snow globe project seemed perfect for us all. I purchased miniature Schleich toy fawns and bleached the colour out of a bag of bottle brush trees, using the tiny ones for our snow globes. The tutorial is here, but basically all you need are some jars, distilled water, some glitter, and glycerin. And of course some tiny treasures to place inside! Sophie and I both used the sweet little fawns, but we have plans to use some more Schleich toys to make more globes. It was fun, easy, and something we have wanted to do for a while.

(the boys helping themselves to a snack while the girls work away)

We also made some other pretties, which I will share later, but here is a pretty wreath project the girls tackled. 

It is from Babiekins magazine, which also features the most adorable Winter Woodland Party, produced by my friend, Debra Norton, of Vintage Paper Parade.

Here is my niece Ella's interpretation of the craft:

Although some accuse me of being "crafty", I really am not. I simply like to do a craft now and again for each of my favourite seasons. Four or five crafts a year hardly qualifies one as a crafter, now does it?

Here is my mum working away:

and my sister:

And here are the other finished snow globes. We think the one with the girl inside looks like she is drowning and pleading to be rescued. Not exactly the effect we were going for:

Just to be sure, mine is on the far left. 

It is okay if you think mine is the best...

Now, get crafting! You will have fun!

I promise...!

All is Calm...

 This is my final week before the kids begin their Christmas vacation. I have lots to do, so the time will be precious to me. I so look forward to everyone being home, no lunches to pack, and staying in our jammies far too long. Hopefully, soon the snow will blow...making all of the Christmas lights in my town even more magical. Before you know it, it will all be over - so take the time to really experience the season and all of its joys. 

In essence, be more like this guy, who has a good handle on avoiding holiday stress...

Free Lighting...made by me!

 This year, I resolved to make many of my gifts - at least the ones I could - and this gift is my favourite yet!

My sister recently did a make-over on her kitchen and eating area but decided to wait until she found the perfect light. I know what kind of lighting she likes, so I decided I would plan a way to make or buy her what she wanted. 

 While on a walk with a friend recently, we were discussing lighting and she told me she had seen an HGTV (I think) feature on how to make your own sphere-style light. She told me it involved a beach ball, some glue and heavy string. Well, she lighted a fire under me and I vowed to make one for my sister. It took me several weeks to finally gather all of my supplies and take the time to make it but it is now complete! Remembering her brief instructions, I used an exercise ball (one I had used when in labour with Sophie), some sisal twine and fabric stiffener.

 I purchased the twine at the Dollar Store and had some fabric stiffener kicking around. So, for less than five dollars I made a replica of this beauty from here (retailing for ~ $160!):

 I also used a light kit I had from one of those paper lanterns, so the cost to me was literally next to nothing! I do wish I had bothered to Google the instructions, though, as I found out later on you should run the sisal through a dish of glue or stiffener as you wrap it around the ball. I didn't do that so I slathered the stiffener all over the ball and hung it up to dry for ~ 36 hrs. Mine isn't perfect, but I think it is pretty good for the price!

I will also assure her she doesn''t have to hang it in her kitchen if it isn't what she had in mind, but I think it will still make a fun light for another area in her home. 

Because I love my sister and LOVE making/buying her things!

O Tannenbaum...

 

Remember when I vowed to recreate this beautiful tree garland from Pottery Barn? 

Only I wanted to do it for a fraction of the cost? Well, I have been on a bit of an organizing, decorating, crafting frenzy and made them. They are not quite the quality of the Pottery Barn version...but they only cost me the price of a spool of ribbon: $4. One difference: I stamped out the verses from The Night Before Christmas:

(Oops! I think I forgot to add the word through!)

 

I have also been up to some other creative endeavours. I made something really great (at least I think so) for my sister's new kitchen and I will show it to you after I gift it to her on Friday. Again, it was a very budget friendly remake of an expensive find from a well-known store. As long as she can look past imperfection, she should like it!

I am having a lot of fun changing up my decor this year. 

I decided to go with a vintage Santa theme in the dining area this year. 

Because Christmas should be fun...and appeal to kids of all ages!

And when I look at that last photo, I wish I could ask Santa to bring me a decent camera!!

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Head on over to Kate's to see what others are crafting!

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