EEK!

Do you know this man?

That's right! It's Tommy! He, who will be the keynote speaker at the Canadian Design Bloggers meetup on June 25, 2011! I have loved his and Sarah Richardson's work forever on HGTV. Truly I think I saw every pair of shoes this man has owned for the last 10 years and I know I have gone through every baby-bump Sarah possessed through the same time period.

Per the CDB website:

Tommy Smythe has worked alongside Sarah Richardson as an integral member of her design team for over nine years, through several award-winning HGTV series including design inc, Sarah’s House and Cottage and Sarah 101. He has proven himself to be Sarah’s indispensable confidant, friend and design partner in crime and returns to HGTV Canada this fall with Sarah’s House 4.

Tommy’s passion for design extends to pulling back the curtain and letting the viewer get an inside peek at how it all comes together, from the early stages of planning through to executing and staging every room in the house. Born and raised in Toronto, has spent the past 12 years honing his appreciation of fine art and antiques, and managing numerous entire home renovations. With Sarah’s influence, he has come to appreciate the more contemporary approach to design and has even begun to embrace the notion of hunting for a bargain now and then! In addition to his off-camera decorating work in Canada, the US and the UK, Tommy is a regular contributor to both Canadian House and Home and Style At Home magazines and has been featured on numerous design blogs.

We are thrilled to have Tommy speak at our event, and can't wait for inspiration and lots of laughs to follow. See you all there! And thanks to IKEA for putting us in touch with Tommy!

also by

 

EEK!

How fun is that news?

You are the apple of my eye!

After much chatter and much more ado.....I introduce these gals back into the blogosphere! They got a few new coats of Rustoleum's "Heritage White" and a splash of apple green oddly named "Dill Pickle" from Benjamin Moore. The wallpaper was a special order from Benjamin Moore, it was a bit expensive ($30) and I have a lot left over so expect to see more of it :)

And here is the buffet in his new nook, finally the view to the familyroom is impeded a bit! Open concept is awesome when your kids are small but as they start to grow and blot out the light, well.......they lose their appeal....lol

Here is my niece and partner in this painting crime, Maya. She rocked this out with me. She dares to try....just like her Auntie. We're a good team.

What the corner looked like before. Don't hate me for my bad IKEA and my husband's "working outside flip flops".....

hey, we take care of the important things around here.......

The OWL is for all those bloggers addicted to them. I bought "Frederick" as Maya calls him for 50 cents at a yard sale this morning on the way back with the kids from a charity pancake breakfast. Spraypaint and away he goes.....right to centre stage. He is turquoise for Sunny at Life in Rehab and Pam at Becolorful....cause I promised some damn turquoise! Muah!

So what do you think?

BEFORE BUFFET:

and AFTER:

BEFORE CHINA CABINET:

AFTER....ma lovely.......who made it to the big time y'all!

I am registered!

The next Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup is on June 25, 2011. I am so excited to see and re-meet all those talented ladies again. I need a break, some wine spritzer (yes I'll spritz it so I don't run off at the mouth) and a looksey at what these amazing people are up to now. The event is being sponsored by IKEA and that four-letter word always makes me giddy :)

I am working hard on that buffet and cabinet and should have something to show for it here on the blog in a few days (GAWD willing).

I lost a friend over the weekend to cancer and it has been a busy time. Between work, just getting back from a week at University, Carolyn's passing and the regular day-to-day stuff.....it's been a bit of a whirlwind. Did I mention I have a term paper due in 30 days from today?

Send inspiration vibes for a 3500 word term paper on service amalgamation at the local government level. I know, exciting huh?

Mercy.

I can see clearly now......

Finally, the sun is shining in Ontario, Canada. Gawd, this has been a long winter. Due to space constraints and general lack of my regular joi de vivre.....I haven't done squat lately. Here, there or anywhere. But spring is finally in the air and that means PROJECTS my loves so meet the brothers Grimm that I will be making over soon :)

I'm thinking apple green with turquoise insides and a lovely lively paper along the back of the shelves. All of which of course is inspired by the lovely Pam at Becolorful! Her obelisk rocked my world, y'all! I know, I know.....I could paint it white and have it be all charming and stuff.......but we colorful chics, we don't roll that way do we?

Did I mention I found these guys on Kijiji for $75? I know. Hate me now.

Is Traditional a Dirty Word?

If I could sip cocktails with you I would want to do it here:

Check out the new partnered online magazine at LonnyMag.com called TRADhome. It's a mix between the same old fab we expect to see from Traditional Home and the online zip of LonnyMag!

A good question posed for readers is "How do you define traditional?" I always defined my style as "eclectic" which is Dharmaese for:

I have no money or
My kids would tear that apart in 3 days or
My Gramma doesn't live here or
Who says I have to put that there? or
All of the above.

But as my style actually emerges now that I am aware of the choices I am making in my home and as I have a bit more to invest....I find I am drawn to a bit more of a traditional style than I thought I ever would be.

Enjoy the pretty pictures ma' Lovelies!

Why I Don't Drink Wine Wednesday #8

You may not know this about me, but I'm a tad blunt.

No, really. Ask anyone that knows me.

That being said, this condition (which is kind of like having your "ladylike filter" removed for all time) has gotten me into a myriad of hot water over the years. Not including the times where I have frustrated bosses/ kids/ husband/ lovers/ family members etc. to the point of stammering and yelling at me, I can say resolutely that I have brought some people to a stalk, silent standstill. This condition is fueled to a degree of nuclear proportions when I drink.

When I drink wine, it can be epic to be in my company. No, really. Ask my sister.

It would stand to reason then, that being my friend or relative would entail keeping an eye on what I am consuming. How much and how quickly. I know, I know, I should be doing that for myself, but hey, I'm a social gal and I talk a lot (insert eyeroll from my BFFs here) and I have had a tendency to lose track in the past.  You know, when I was younger. LOL

So, when out with me, when you see me on white wine #5.....this is the SOP (standard operating procedure) that my friends and family have devised.

1) Start the car.

2) Extricate Dharma from the direct vicinity of the person she is speaking to/ at. Like, now.

3) Grab all of Dharma's belongings.

4) Hand off Dharma to (hopefully present) other BFF/Sista and explain that we are at CODE WHITE!

5) Return to person/people spoken to and apologize profusely giving them a fake name for the person they just got away from....

6) Call Greg and explain that we are going out for a late night coffee.

7) Coffee stat.

This procedure has been adhered to with mostly acceptable results. Except when the person who got to be the focus of one of my white wine fumbled-interventions turned out to be a future co-worker who would have recognized me anytime and anywhere. Thankfully she had the ladylike filter and did not bring this up while I waited next to her desk at the interview.

She did however ask me why my resume said Dharma and not Susan ;)

Kudos to my sister for being the most effective wingman in history. Triple kudos to her for keeping me on beer for most of the evenings we have gone out together. You are so wise.

You are the best, babe! Especially at 10:25 a.m. - ummm I have to figure out that damn camera!

Attention: Co-Workers

An email I sent out today....cause Jaysus! What adult acts like this?

Sent: April 1 (NOT an April Fools Day joke)

It's that time of year again. Time for a reminder about being considerate and conscientious
about our mutual work environments.

A) Please remember that conference rooms are shared by all Town staff and various outside Committees etc. When you leave your meeting, if you were the host please remove all coffee & food/drink paraphernalia, straighten the table and push in the chairs for the next group that will be utilizing the room.

B) If you are the person who left the sour cream container in the 2nd floor coffee fridge for over 5 months, you may want to go out to the parking lot to watch it crawl out of the dumpster. It wants a ride home.

C) I have had to clear the counters and under cabinetry of interesting glass and plateware again today. If you are particularly attached to something that has gone missing lately out of the sink because it sat there for 3 days and started to talk on it's own begging for dishsoap, it can be found in the smelly box under the sink.

D) Unless you buy a particular staff member a Mother's Day card every year, no one else is responsible to tidy up after you. Please be kind and clear your mess!