The really important stuff!

I am finalizing all of the details of my trip to Arizona to meet NieNie and her family. All of my work material is organized and packed, passport tucked away safely and US dollars organized by presidents in my wallet. (You really need to colour coordinate your money like we do...it's so confusing! ;-)

I can always hear my mother's voice in my head, "Now Linda, be sure you aren't handing over a ten instead of a one!!" I can always count on her for sound advice

On my recent trip to Bangor, I picked up some pretty clothes. Lots of ruffles, soft colours and even a fun pair of gladiator sandals that don't make me look like I'm clinging to my youth too much, I hope.

Here are some of the pieces coming with me:

Two white skirts and an embellished t-shirt from Target:

And from New York Company (Bangor Mall...I know, I'm fancy)

This sweater is even prettier in real life. Very Anthro and I should have gotten one in another colour, too.

Dumb...dumb!

I bought it to go with this dress:

Now, I know what you are thinking: I will look like a mad fool in this dress. But remember, I am 5 ft 4" and am wearing the above sweater (which really does match) with it. So it is not too short and is actually very pretty together; I know this for certain because my mother told me so!!

I also bought this pretty top, which looks great with my white pants and the silver, ruffled flip flops below:

And these sandals in cream. They are very comfortable and not high enough that I feel like Kate Gosselin, either. Because I am NOT a fan of her shoes!

I also bought a very pretty sundress and light sweater at The Gap, kind of nautical, but not so much that it screams Farewell to Nova Scotia. Because, you know I try to be a good ambassador to Canada when I travel. No embarrassing everyone!

...bring May showers.

A scorcher of a day on Monday led me to uncoil the hose, hook up the sprinkler and sit back and laugh at the squeals of (cold) delight as my girlie and her pals tiptoed not through the tulips, but the woman-made showers that mothers everywhere know are pure bliss.

Summer...

Bring it on!

Back Deck Make-over!

Short on time (much gardening and more painting to do), this is the Cole's Notes version of my deck make-over:

Dull and in dire need of some sprucing up, I set out to brighten and whiten with what felt like forty coats of paint with a solid stain and one (yes one!) coat of a beigey stain on the deck floor. Why? Sheer laziness and nothing the purchase of a great outdoor rug (on sale for $31 at Zellers!) won't mask...

The handyman took the old top off his original table (and employing old Singer sewing machine legs he found in the woods many years ago). I spray-painted the legs silver for a change and he built a new table, which I promptly painted.

He also built new space-saving benches to replace our bulkier metal chairs and I picked up some great bright yellow chairs at Winners ( = T.J. Maxx/HomeGoods).

Moved everything around, bought a new barbecue cover for our start-of-season-new-purchase of one and re-used the stripey umbrella, now five years old.

Other details: cork placemats from Walmart, vintage blue vase from the Meads, and tulips bought for myself from the grocery store.

And that's that!

Revealing some Secrets...

As some of you know, I am filling the role of Executive Editor for the upcoming HOLIDAY with Matthew Mead magazine, launching in October 2010. Let's just say, there is a whole lot more to do in that role than there was in my role as Editor-at-Large of Flea Market Style, so I have hit the ground running and am learning along the way. I juggle many hats on this project and feel challenged in ways I never imagined. It is exciting and busy and so much fun!

I also have a few secrets to reveal, so head on over to Holiday where we have a few exciting developments to share on the blog today.

We are busy, but happy!

10 Rooms That Are Designed Around Televisions

A lot of people predicted in the late 90s that televisions would be completely outdated and replaced by personal computers within a decade. Well, this is the year 2010 and we can still say it hasn’t happened yet. Sure, televisions of today are quite different from what we had back then. During those days, interactive television had not taken off yet and sets were incapable of Xbox entertainment or YouTube streaming (no YouTube back then. ). Even though the lines have really blurred between TVs and PCs today, we can still say TV maintains the image of being a “laid back entertainment device”. Unlike the PC experience, TV viewing is all about laying back and relaxing in a comfortable environment with the user taking no active role in the proceedings. Wait, are we sounding too much like a tech blog? Better not keep you waiting any longer then.

Let the Sunshine in...

We finally had a warm, sunny day and I felt like the race was on to squeeze everything I could from it.

You know how a good cry can make you so very, very tired? Well, I didn't cry but I have that same feeling of tiredness behind my eyes. I think it was the sun...and the little bits of the day that reminded me that you should tackle a day head on and enjoy it to the fullest.

My sunny day included:

This morning I received the nicest letter from a friend, which made me feel appreciated and valued.

I went for a nice, brisk walk and enjoyed a good chat with my walking buddy and enjoyed scanning the streets for "treasures."It is Spring clean-up week and folks are allowed to leave (basically) whatever they want out for pick-up. Didn't find anything of interest, but got rid of some big items, myself!

I went to the hardware store, driving the handy-man's big a*s truck, and picked up some deck stain. It was interesting trying to jump down from it while wearing a skirt! :-)

Painted my new chairs and my new benches. Yep, my neighbours probably cringe when they see us dragging the saw-horses out onto the lawn..which we do a lot during the warm months.

My chairs are now look just like this:

Came in and made the most delicious chicken wrap (chicken, lettuce and hot sauce!) and drank one of these while sitting on my porch swing.

Hung a nice line of clothes out. They dried wrinkle free!

Cuddled a six-week old kitten while at the vet. Is is possible to be a foster mother to kittens? Because I could eat them up they are so adorable!!

Back home and painted my deck walls white. SO much better! Sadly, it took entirely longer than I thought it would and I am going to be a few more days at it. Tell me it is worth it, right?

The handy-man came home and took one look at my efforts and declared that he would make dinner for me! Yay!

Barbecued hamburgers...heavenly!

Now getting caught up on HOLIDAY work. Only two more weeks until we head to Arizona for NieNie's shoot. I can't wait to give her a hug and tell her how inspiring she is. And squeeze her baby's cheeks, of course. Though, if he is anything like my baby boy at that age, he might give me a slap!

And that is that. Bone tired, I tell you. I gave my best to that old sun and now I have a face full of new, summer freckles...oh, there are so very many. I get so many, in fact, that I have to use this to prevent a freckle moustache:

 Because once I get one, it doesn't go away until winter!!

So, what did you do today?

A Corner Blooms

Fleur McHarg, renowned floral designer & event stylist, can take a simple bunch of beautiful blooms, & turn it into a stunning artwork. She has just opened her divine new boutique store in Armadale, Melbourne, aptly named "Fleur". As one of Melbourne's key floral artists, Fleur caters not only to private clients & corporate events, but the annual calendar events on everyone's social agenda. Not only is her new village store a very welcome addition to the gorgeous Rose St/Beatty Ave village traders & clientele, but also for the residents who delight in visiting on their daily walk, on their way home from work, & on a Saturday morning amongst the weekend cafe activity.

Her expertise in working with fragrant blooms, unusual foliage, seasonal favourites & what makes the perfect gift is in every arrangement she creates. Integral to this destination location, Fleur is now catering to children's birthdays, creating parties full of fun, colour & activity delight. In fact, many mothers are already asking if she can recreate birthday luncheons for them, perhaps not with with baby pink cupcakes but something equally divine fitting for their own celebration! Fleur is passionate about her work & her clients, & her stunning array of beautiful blooms entice you from every corner. The fragrant & aesthetic appeal is sublime, & really, who needs a reason to enjoy such a divine experience?

FLEUR

13A Rose St.,

ARMADALE VIC 3143

T: 03 9804 3522

F: 03 9804 3722

E: fleur@fleurs.com

Open: Tuesday - Saturday

Dichotomy...

This photo pretty much sums up my days lately, with a few little differences.

I am painting chairs and benches blue and tables white for my current deck make-over project.

And thinking of all things HOLIDAY, which doesn't feel as strange as you would think it would.

Problem is, once Christmas finally arrives, will I be thinking of summer?

(photo source: Country Living)

Changing things up!

I haven't had time lately to do many home improvement projects (nor have we had the weather) but I decided to do a mini-makeover here and there. I picked up an old map a couplemof years ago and loved it for its colours and its chocolate bar origins. I took down the shelf, etc. in my dining area and replaced it with my new/old map.

What do you think?

I am thinking I now need to change out my light to something more modern and casual. Maybe my current fixture can go in my bedroom.

(The handyman is NOT going to be happy!!)

I am strongly considering this:

(source: Ikea)

Oh, and I got some new chairs for both ends of my dining table!

These (except I am painting them, if we ever get a nice day):

I could stand to shake things up!

A No-Fail recipe!

I had a great Mother's Day.

Except it wasn't a day and I wasn't anywhere near my kids.

What kind of mother am I?

I have come to realize -or remember - that I am a daughter, too; and shouldn't I be spending Mother's Day with MY mother?

So, every Mother's Day weekend (and it should be an entire weekend, because we work HARD!), I head south of the border to go shopping with the women in my life, who are inclined to feel the same way.

Because isn't eating great great food, laughing at our own jokes, and shopping till we (literally) drop a winning combination?

(Yeses only, please...)

And while I'm away, my brood entertains my mother-in-law and they partake of lobster (which I hate) and take her out for Chinese food and eat all of the pies she brings along. Really, it is a win-win situation.

And while I am away, I send text messages and reminders to make me heart-felt home-made cards (teen-agers and all) or ELSE!! And they do, because they are good children.

And when I get home, I bring in my parcels, collect my hugs and cards, and eat the left-over Chinese food they save for me.

And that is my version of a no-fail Mother's Day!

5 Drop Dead Gorgeous Bedrooms Design

We recently traveled photos plucking room. And while they have fallen. Not literally, but fell in love with some of these wonderful when we met. Each room is also below has a different story to tell. Turns you into the Victorian era, another takes you on a stroll through the rooms of a house in a deserted street. Some are bright, some have even simple blinds in his favor. Some sound design are quite dramatic, others subtle. We even threw in a pool! Fundamentally different from each other and we love this kind of hodgepodge of design. I hope you would too.