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!

Canadian Design Blogger Meetup: share the news...

Canadian Design Blogger Meetup: share the news...

SUPER Exciting news for all us GTA-ish gals. Are you coming out?

Come lay across my BIG brash Bed!

Remember this BEFORE picture right after we renovated the two teeny-tiny bedrooms on our second floor into a new master? Remember how excited I was about the new bed? $100! Well, turns out my husband and I cannot sleep in a queen size bed. You know, I knew better....I just didn't want to believe it ;) We're huge! OK, maybe not "Heavy"-on-A&E huge but we are not little people, so that lovely cottage-style bed is now in Liam's room. Meh.

So here are some updated pics of the room in progress. I'm not in love but..... if it buys me dinner and is nice, I might let it get to 2nd base.

We had to move the MONOLITH king sized bed back into the room. Of course this presented huge issues with nightstands and being able to get out of bed but a bit of scrounging at my local Salvation Army may have saved the day. I'm still debating what colour to paint the stand on the left.....nope, not keeping the baby pink.

There is also something missing in this photo. The footboard was almost as freakin' high as the headboard and was a major player in putting the squeeze on the space so....ummm I had Greg cut it off. I have no idea why we had not done this 10 years ago when we bought this thing! Instant update. I think I'll still paint it white (the headboard and frame that is). I really liked that white headboard :(  I ordered a sand coloured bedskirt from Sears that should be here in a few days.....I am so uncommitted to a colour scheme in here now....HELP!

Because of the unusual slanted entry, I have moved both dressers to the one side of the room. This also sets us up to mount the TV and have a place for the PVR unit. That's right.....a flat screen in the bedroom y'all. I like staying married. This of course rules out drapery so I think I'll be making some awesome DIY roller blinds in amazing fabric :) Once I decide on said colour-scheme.....GEEZ!

I don't like this chair. Nothing personal chair....but you're teeny. Plah!

I did find something to do on that weird slanted wall for now though. I love this pic of the boys in Daytona Beach and hey, a gal has to read.....

Comments? Suggestions? Offers to intervene? Bring it Babies!

And now on with the show....

So, if you are one of my legion of fans, you know I've been down. I've been out. That however does not mean I haven't been bossing everyone in my house around and getting things done.

Exhibit A:

The front hall after our master bedroom reno. The door was eliminated and I got to look at this everyday for 3 months when I walked into the house or when I hauled my crippled butt to the bathroom while I was laid up.

After Greg painted out the hall (yes. he. did.) I got to work on what I hope is the start of a truly beautiful "wall of shame". This rogue's gallery will eventually take up the whole wall. So, if it seems off center to the eye from the front entrance.....ummmmm it is. On purpose. I know. HGTV's Police squad is coming to take me away! Best part? Not a dime spent.....yup, I shopped the house, babies!

AFTER:

I am especially fond of this pic....grainy I know. It's of me and Greg, just weeks into our new romance.....ummmmmm a few years back. ;)

Did I mention that I also got him to paint all the SPINDLES? This boy loves me.

Told ya I'd be back.

Showing off at French Country Cottage
and over here at The Inspired Room