I see Dharma on the House & Home website!

OK, on one of their blogs then. Picky.

Gwen McAuley, H&H blogger has put together a post about the Canadian Design Bloggers meetup from this past Saturday night and if you refer to the crowd shot, 4th one down....to the extreme right, the woman going into the fray with the blonde hair and big hobo bag....

THAT'S ME!

This post shows off all the guests, and a few of the "crashers". I'm looking at you Glen :)

Annnnddddd if you wanna see me getting my prized Touch2O faucet set (you know you do) here is me trying not to Tebow!!

Man, I gotta get my pics organized, hey? Dharma wanders off.....

I think Kirby and I are "going out"!

It's an honour just to be nominated, right? Kirby over at Kirb Appeal has nominated me for another award. This time it's the Liebster Blog award which is passed along to those of us who have not broken the 100 followers mark.

I have always marvelled at the fact that even 60+ human beans out in the Universe like to read what I put out here. That being said I have a few really cool chicas on my own blogroll that put out some good shiz and I am sending you there way to see if they make you as dizzy/happy as they do me :)

So my list of lovelies includes:

Cul-de-Sac Chic
- I mean who makes a dog kennel out of an end table? Who? Janet, that's who.

Rambling of an Ophelia
Christie is an Alberta gal making her dreams come true, funkifying furniture along the way.

Wicked & Weird
Lisa is a local T.O. girlie who sees beauty in a way we all should.

Take a bow and your award ladies and link on back to share the love :) It is almost Valentines Day!!

Canadian Design Bloggers - Meetup #3

Oh my. Where to start.....well, I could start with pictures but mine are still on my camera :) Hopefully our hostesses-with-da-mostesses have quicker/ better pictures than moi!! I could start with a deluge of gush regarding the awesome speakers but their pics are in the same cycle :(

How about a teaser then?

What if you met this person? Would you know who he is?

Check out Brian Gluckstein here:



video by otimamediaproductions.ca



What if you WON this? Would you too skip back to your hotel singing "We Are the Champions"???

Badee Badee Badee....that's not all folks! I'll be back soon with those pics and links to all the fabulous sponsors we had at the event, show you the best sneak-attack photo I took of the night and tell you why I am in love with this woman.....from coco & kelley

Oh, and I'll tell you how I ditched the boys for all of it. Tata for now!

Check it out here for some pics to tide you over!

Whaz up?

I am always amazed that someone will nominate me for anything, let alone (given my ridiculous absence here) a Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks Kirby. Kirby and I are newly formed buds in blogland, she writes a mean blog herself called Kirb Appeal and I love her humour. Must be an Ontario thang :) I love blogging but sometimes the pace of my life precludes any consistent additions in this little space in the cyber-Universe. That being said…. I will jump right in and answer a few questions and happily accept my award!

So part of this dealio is answering a few questions posted by Kirby.....I know you're dying to know all this stuff so....


1. What was your favorite class in school?

English Literature. Hands down. I have loved reading and writing my whole life. Not that I am at all good at the latter, but I do try. Blogging is my outlet for that I guess. Mr. Kelley, my Grade 12 Lit teacher, told me I was “talented”. I hang onto that for dear life.


2. If you could have someone from "Top Chef" make your favorite meal (as opposed to someone like me, who would burn it), what would that meal include?

I’m a meat and potatoes gal. Happiest Dharma is full of steak, potato salad and corn on the cob.

3. Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Lots of coffee. Gallons of coffee. On Mondays. Be afraid. Even my boss makes a pot before I come into the office, he knows which side his bread is buttered on.

4. Do you like to read? If so, do you have a favorite book or author?

I love to read. Mostly, I read blogs and Facebook (I’m a troll…teehee). I do and have read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Kind of like 8 times in a row now waiting for the final book. I’m such an Outlander nerd I even have the Outlandish Companion book to refer to as a sort of Outlander encyclopedia. Geek.

5. What vacation spot would you visit again?

Dominican Republic. Greg and I vacayed there about 5 years ago and I loved the white sand beaches in Punta Cana. I am however looking forward to at some point in my family life to being able to leave my kids without a babysitter and 911 already speed dialed into the landline. Then it is off to Europe!

6. Is there any sports team you particularly care about? Or are you more of a 'figure skater' type?

I am by default a hockey wife. I know way more about hockey than I care to admit. That being said I am a Vancouver Canucks fan, again by default. It’s safer that way at my house.

7. Frozen yogurt or ice cream?

Ice Cream. Black Cherry. All the way.

8. Is there any television show you simply cannot miss?

I am soooooooooooooooooo looking forward to the return of the Game of Thrones series on HBO. Really, all things HBO float this chic’s boat. True Blood, Boardwalk Empire… it's all the guts, sex and drama. I never got over being a goth chic.

9. Who is your favorite "James Bond" actor?

There is no other Bond than Sean Connery. Over and out.

10. If you had a day when you are snowed in with absolutely no one else in the house and you can do whatever you like and you haven't lost your electricity, what would you do?

Turn up the hifi as loud as my neighbours could stand it, dance and karaoke in my living room for my dog’s benefit. In my gonch.

So as far as I understand it, I must nominate some other blogs that I admire and ask some questions for them to answer. Here goes:

1. Who do you wish you could be for one day? Alive preferably :)
2. Worst Valentines Day gift ever?
3. The Bachelor. Horribly fascinating or just horrible? Discuss.
4. Favourite smell?
5. Favourite cuss word?
6. When you reach the pearly gates, what would you like God (or your diety of choice) to say to you?
7. Dog or cat person?
8. Vocation? Job? Passion? Which of these describe where you go to make money?
9. Are you a first born, middle or baby in your family birthorder?
10. Where do you want to be 10 years from now? Literally?

I am sending this little award onto a few blogs that blow my skirt up on a regular basis...check these out, yo!

Sue at Beach Bungalow


Pam at Cherish Toronto



Kelly at Eclectically Vintage

As for Dharma, she will be attending the Canadian Design Bloggers meetup on Saturday, Jan 28th. Lots of pics and details to come. I will be hauling my manthings with me to Toronto to take in some sites and a meal. Have a great week everyone!!!

Moi

2011 Redux!

Everyone on every blog I've been looking over this past week is having some sort of *year in review*. Well, I cannot for the life of me come up with an entire year of events or projects that would make you want my life....but I do have a bit to share about what "blew my skirt up" this year in 2011!

Starting into 2011 I completed a few really cool projects on Greg and I's newly renovated master bedroom. Man, are we enjoying that space. Truly, knocking out a few walls and creating a haven for me and the big guy was a HUGE plus!

Going from this

To this!

I did manage to get to rub elbows with a few celebs....OK, one. But I had so much fun at the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup in June and meeting Mr. Tommy Smythe was a highlight!

I finished a really cool project and redesigned my kitchen space to include a wholly new cabinet and buffet my neice and I toiled over during some of the hottest days of summer....

....and we did manage to put in a little something for the boys this year, thanks guys, you may now nominate your parents as *Mom and Dad of the Year*....considering we had over a month of 40 degree+ weather, I'd say we rock! Behold, the May to September bathtub at my place!

We threw a humdinger (does anyone say that anymore??) of a Halloween bash for the kids this year and then I got right into my new project....the one that has languished in my living area for months now. This has been stalled not because I am lazy (PERISH the though) but because I cannot seperate myself from my new toy long enough to get it fixed. The radio works so well, the sound is so lovely....you should come and dance in my livingroom. We do it nightly now :)

But I will have this refurbished and then watch out....painting will ensue.

I have made a resolution to not make any resolutions, so that takes care of that for 2012. I think I'll continue to roll along. Kind of like a boat on the sea, just catching the waves as they come. Being surprised and enjoying the high spots and avoiding the lows...

Happy New Year to you all, my lovelies....thanks for diving in at the Mermaid throughout 2011. Your comments and support throughout the year is why I keep swimming back here...don't forget to feed my fishies before you leave!

Hairy Christmas!

I am getting ready this week to steal some remaining time off that I am owed. Down to the dregs of work hours and I am pretty proud of myself. Shopping for gifts, groceries and odds & ends is complete. Running around on Friday afternoon (on my lunch hour) to get the groceries into the house under the wire was worth every harrowing moment. I had pretty much all weekend to tidy and fluff the house getting ready for guests and friends.

My Dad will be flying in tonight and the family is super excited to see Gramps for Christmas. It's been at least 20 years since I had a Christmas morning with the old guy so I might be a bit excited too :)

I will admit that I have let up this year on the usual "cavalcade of junk" that makes my family room look like Santa's sleigh threw up....it's a smaller pile this year. As the boys get older the gifts seem to get smaller and more expensive and we have decidedly cinched the belts as well. Yo, we have a pool to pay off, right? Merry Christmas boys.

I am loving the milder winter weather we are enjoying, it's made driving around decent and errands don't seem like a scene from a horror show! Not being a "strong winter driver" means I have taken great advantage of the clear roads to get everything ship-shape prior to the snow flying.

I took the boys to the mall on Friday night, which is a 40 minute drive for us. I was amazed at the lack of whining and thoroughly enjoyed shopping for Dad with my guys. They always surprise me with what they get for one another. It really is sweet, and their gift ideas are so well thought out.

Here is wishing you and yours a lovely holiday. Hairy Christmas, yo!

It's my PARTY and I'll blog if I want to!

Yah, I know. If I didn’t show up here once a month, you would think I had run off and you’d have lost all faith in me. Never fear….

So today is my 42nd birthday. No, I’m not fishing for compliments. Although you can tell me how wonderful I look if you choose to do so…

It has been a process, accepting the fact that I am now in my 40s. This was a rough ride….one that took 2 years to master. I think I’m in tune with it all now though and I’m ready to accept and move on to better and brighter futures ahead. I’m a little embarrassed to admit I’ve spent the last 2 years bemoaning my 30s and trying a little too-hard, if you know what I mean.

So, there it is. 42….I’ve looked at it, turned it over and inspected every inch and I’m finally OK with it.

Cause, in reality this chic and I are the same age….

and I bet she gets asked if she’s Dharma all the freakin time! Right? lol