a designer obsessed with pretty things, beautiful spaces, interesting places and...handbags!

[ online mag eye candy ]

2012-02-02T01:40:00.000-05:00

HAVE YOU read the new issue of House of Fifty yet? I love that along with great decorating, this issue also includes organizing tips, recipes with gorgeous food photography, book reviews, intros to blogs... everything but the kitchen sink {oh, right, there are a few of those too!}

Janell and her team have delivered another great issue! Check it out here.

lisa

[ 2 year blogiversary! ]

2012-02-01T02:53:00.000-05:00

SO, 2 YEARS ago today I started this blog {read my first post here}. I had no idea what I was doing, if anyone would read it, how it would evolve or if I would even keep it up. I was embarking on a new chapter in my life, having shelved my magazine career. I was determined to look forward, pursue other interests and live a happier life.

And so I created my first post. And then another. I soon discovered that blogging would become a bit of a scrapbook for me ~ to share decorating ideas, travel photos, recipes, diy projects, all the things that I was about. And eventually, something happened along the way... I started to love it.

Over the past 2 years, I have made some wonderful blogging friends. Full of encouragement, laughs and generous compliments. So many people still look at me blankly when I say that I have a blog and just don't "get it", but that's ok. Posting that first post was the best thing I could have done. I took a leap and it opened up a whole new world of friends, inspiration, positivity and joy.

Thanks for sticking around and becoming such wonderful friends. Bopping around as an expat isn't easy but all of you have made it a little easier and I've come to depend on you for your support, kind words and just being there. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Here's to another year of fun posts!

lisa

[shakti space designs]

[ diy hoop art ]

2012-01-31T01:18:00.000-05:00

I FIRST became smitten with embroidery hoop art on my visit to Purl SOHO in NYC back in 2010. When I walked through the door...

and saw this...

... I knew I would be creating my own little hoop wall somewhere {if you're planning a trip to NYC and you are a knitter or love to sew, it's a must-stop}.

I had an existing hoop art piece done by Lucky Jackson that I picked up at the Muskoka Arts & Crafts fair {read about it here} that I wanted to include in my grouping. I then purchased some embroidery hoops of various sizes.

First, choose the fabric {a great time to use up scrap pieces or buy some little quilting fat quarters for this}.

Cut them roughly to size and press out any wrinkles.

Although you can simply stretch the fabric on the hoop and trim, I decided to use some white glue to hold them in place and make trimming easier so they wouldn't shift around.

I found the best way to do this was to stretch the fabric over the hoop and press the top hoop over top to hold it, but don't press it down all the way. Then apply a line of glue on the back side between the inside hoop and the fabric. Push down top hoop completely and tighten.

Let them all dry.

Trim off the excess close to the hoop.

Done!

You can hang them each with a small nail or use some double-sided adhesive foam tape.

I love how cheerful they are and it makes me smile every time I walk into my studio.

It will be fun to continue to add to the grouping and perhaps create some embroidered pieces to mix in.

lisa

[ come on in ]

2012-01-30T00:04:00.000-05:00

WELCOME TO a new week! I've always loved a pretty entry. Unfortunately I've rarely been blessed with a spacious, pretty space to welcome guests and set the tone for the rest of the house. Here are some swoon-worthy entrances to start the week...

I love that these all vary in size and style but every one has a lovely feel. I just noticed that none of these doors are solid ~ they all have windows ~ perhaps that's the key? Are you lucky enough to have a fantastic entry?

lisa

[houzz; hookedonhouses; vartNyaHem; kmldesign; countryliving;

jeffherrphoto; houzz; housebeautiful]

[ happy weekend! ]

2012-01-27T09:12:00.000-05:00

SO WHAT do I have planned for the weekend? A little bit of...

movie going...

Timmie drinking...

and bookstore browsing...

What about you?

lisa

[ pretty IKEA room ]

2012-01-26T06:03:00.000-05:00

THE THING I love about this room? When you take a closer look, you realize that most of this room is done with a trip to IKEA. White Billy bookcases for some shelves, white frames for the gallery wall, all the storage boxes and mag files, the charcoal grey desk, white wicker chair, white slipcovered chairs and ottoman, sheepskin throw on the chair, white metal side table.

You obviously don't need to spend a lot to create a very pretty home office space. What would we do without IKEA?

lisa

[decorpad]

[ diy french runner ]

2012-01-25T04:09:00.001-05:00

I'VE LOVED french linens for as long as I can remember and not only the popular grain sacks, but the hand embroidered tea towels and table linens.

{I've even been lucky enough to find a couple of pieces with my actual initials!}

But they are not always easy to find, and when you do, they can be pricey. Inspired by Chania at Razmataz and the pretty runner she made from tea towel yardage from the fabric store...

... I decided to pick some up in the blue colour to make my own. Then I decided to try my hand at embroidery to personalize it and create my own French runner.

I picked up some yardage {enough to make a very long runner to use later on a long farmhouse table} and some embroidery floss to match. I've had this embroidery booklet I had picked up at a yard sale for a couple of years but hadn't used it yet {you can google to find stitch instructions online as well}.

I searched the internet for some free antique alphabets that I could use as my pattern. I printed it out and transferred it to my linen by tracing it with carbon paper.

ok, now for the fun part! I chose the simple stem stitch to outline the letter...

then filled in the wide areas using a satin stitch...

It really wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be. It took a couple of hours but not bad for my first attempt...

Because I only have our small round table for now, I doubled it over {it would look better on a table with a square edge}.

I think this runner now gives our place a French seaside feel. Two of my favourite things!

This was a fun project for an afternoon and I admit that now I'm kind of hooked on monogram embroidery. I have a feeling there will be more monograms in my future!

lisa

[dreamywhites; simplyfrenchvintage; laManche; razmataz]

linking to Good Life Wednesdays

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

[ chic apartment living ]

2012-01-24T06:07:00.000-05:00

THINK YOU need to own a big space to live chic? Nope! And this gorgeous light-filled apartment could easily be a rental.

Just because you don't own it doesn't mean you can't live in a beautiful place. It's all about what you choose to put in it. Everything in this apartment can easily travel to a larger home down the line but for now, this apartment feels anything but temporary.

lisa

[micassa]

[ dubai: a visit to the souks ]

2012-01-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

IF YOU want to experience a bit of traditional shopping in Dubai, the souks in Deira are the place to go. Souk is the Arab word for market and here you can find anything from spices to utensils, pashminas, shoes, perfume, textiles and most of all, gold.

We wandered around the narrow streets and laneways in this old part of town on Saturday.

Need a big pot?

...or restock your spices?

Delivery workers are ready to load up...

But the most impressive souk of all is the gold souk...

Dubai sells a lot of gold, most of it 24 carat, out of this souk. Some estimates say that there are 10 tons of gold here at any given time. Gold by the inch, elaborate Arabic and Indian designs or diamond jewelry, you can find it here and haggle for a good price.

After wandering and haggling in Deira, you can take a stroll along the wharf and watch the old boats from neighbouring countries unloading their goods...

Then take an Abra across the creek to the textile souk in Bur Dubai...

It was so interesting to experience this more traditional side of Dubai. It feels like an entirely different world from the glitzy shopping malls Dubai is now known for.

lisa

[ weekend wisdom ]

2012-01-20T08:50:00.000-05:00

HOPE YOUR weekend is a happy one!

lisa

[via pinterest.com]

[ 5 min lampshade update ]

2012-01-19T04:17:00.001-05:00

I BOUGHT a couple of Pottery Barn lamps when we moved into this place last June. And although PB does have some pretty patterned lampshades available, I'm a bit of a commitment-phobe when it comes to pattern and didn't want anything that I would tire of easily so I opted for their simple off-white shades.

A bit blah, huh?

I looked through my ribbon drawer and found this pretty linen ribbon I had picked up somewhere {Ireland I think} and thought the muted blue stripes would be perfect.

Out came the glue gun and this literally took 5 minutes...

I held the glue spot until it was set, then pulled the ribbon taut around the shade, clipped it to the proper length and dabbed another spot of glue...

No need for glue all the way around and this way, it's easy to switch out later on if I want a new look...

Even though I had enough to add a line of ribbon around the top and bottom, I like the simplicity of the single stripe. It adds some pizzazz without drawing a lot of attention to them.

Have you dressed up any lampshades with ribbon lately?

lisa

linking to Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

[ a new pillow addition ]

2012-01-18T06:59:00.002-05:00

NOW THAT I shuffled things around and placed my big beach art over my console, I had to find a new home for my big painting. I decided that over the storage bench in the entry would be an ideal spot. Once it was hung, I realized that it was crying out for something...

I didn't want anything too obtrusive since we go in and out of that bench constantly {we hide a ton of shoes in there}. So I thought one long pillow would be perfect to fill the spot and make it feel less bare.

Off to my fabric stash...

I found a piece of this pretty Amy Butler Nigella fabric leftover from a handbag I had made and thought the colours would pair nicely with the painting. I bought a cheap pillow form for about $8...

found a bit of fabric for the back {since I like the option of flipping it around for a different look} and some buttons for the closure...

a bit of white piping and I was all set! {I love finding everything I need right in my drawers!}

It didn't take long to put it together and I love how it turned out...

A little flip-a-roo...

I think it does the trick! A little bit of pattern and personality to an otherwise bare spot. Now I can cross that off my To Do list!

lisa

linking to Good Life Wednesdays

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

[ january blues ]

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

FEELING A little blue? Why not make the most of it in this cozy bedroom with blue panelled walls to wrap you in warmth?

I love panelled walls and while my favourite is usually white, this gorgeous shade of blue is so welcoming. Paired with the white ceiling, linens and drapes, the feeling is still crisp. And who wouldn't love a walk-out like this?

lisa

[house beautiful]

[ happy monday! ]

2012-01-16T04:38:00.000-05:00

HOW WAS your weekend? Mine seemed to fly by. First I'd like to thank all of you for your sweet comments on my big beach art! I guess I'm not the only fan of these big beachy prints! It's fun taking a close look at all those people working on their tans - it was only after I picked up my canvas that I noticed a girl on the left lying there topless! I guess it shouldn't come as any surprise - the beach was in Nice afterall.

I'm planning on continuing with my To Do list and hope to have some progress to show this week. But for today, how about a little bit of fresh romance?

I love that this bedroom could easily be in a beach house or a pretty, traditional home. I could just plop onto those pillows right now!

lisa

[better homes and gardens]

[ my big beach art ]

2012-01-13T08:09:00.002-05:00

I'VE BEEN seeing some fabulous big beach art in spaces...

...and so I decided to create a bit of beach art myself using a pic I shot in Nice on our trip in August.

Rather than frame it, I decided to have it printed on canvas {since it will eventually need to be shipped when we move}.

I gave it a slightly "washed" look in Photoshop and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I think it will form a good basis for the beach gallery wall project I'll be tackling on my "to do" list.

lisa

[stevegambrel; luxeandlillies; abodelove;

amberinteriordesign; houseandhome]

linking to Good Life Wednesdays

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

[ bob's antique museum ]

2012-01-12T05:38:00.001-05:00

TODAY I visited the most fascinating place - The Antique Museum, known as Bob's after the lovely man who runs it. Not a museum at all, but a vast, dusty warehouse of tiny passageways overflowing with treasures from across the Middleast and Asia.

Looking for an enormous camel or elephant? Bob's got it! A pretty Turkish lantern? Yup! Handcrafted table linens, curtains, pillow covers, bowls, tribal drums and masks, unique carved furniture, inset boxes and nesting dolls... it's a treasure trove of goodness!

And though you may be rummaging around in a jam-packed warehouse, you are greeted by friendly staff handing out a sturdy bag for shopping and presenting drink refreshments on a silver platter to keep you hydrated during your hunt. Step through the heavy carved doors into one of many dark, overflowing rooms. You could easily get lost in this place but a lovely man escorts you from one large room through to another and another.

Photos weren't allowed so I don't have much to show but I will share the treasures I went home with...

Once we were finished and were ready to pay, we were all shown to a comfy Arabic sofa to wait, given wet wipes to clean our hands and treated to Arabic tea, biscuits and dates. Definitely the most hospitality I've ever experienced in a warehouse! Needless to say, I'll be seeing Bob again!

lisa

[ getting sh*t done ]

2012-01-11T04:14:00.000-05:00

OK, SO it's that time of year when we're all trying to get our act together, right? For me, finishing up projects I've had on my mind is a biggie. And rather than have these thoughts rattling around in my brain, I've decided to make a list and hopefully by writing them down and crossing them off as I go, it will help keep me motivated and on track.

And so far I've already gotten started on a couple of them! How about you, do you have a project list?

lisa

[ antique doors ]

2012-01-10T00:50:00.001-05:00

I CAME across this lovely exterior door installation on Home and Harmony and I had to share. This is a "new" antique door they have installed as the entry of their farmhouse and it was instantly love at first sight.

The detail on it is incredible and painted in that beautiful Coventry Gray (BM), it really makes the entry feel so welcoming.

I love the idea of refurbishing an antique door for an entry and we did just that on our old 1850 stone home back in 2005...

The front door when we bought the home was in pretty bad shape, completely deteriorating along the bottom and in desperate need of replacing.

Rather than just pick up something from Home Depot, we went on a hunt at architectural salvage places for a "new" door that would be in keeping with the age of our home.

I don't have any before pics {this was before blogging} and this isn't the greatest after pic either, but you get the idea. It was a door from an old home in the late 1840s and we stripped it down, resized it a bit, filled in all the gaps and holes, sanded, primed, painted and fitted it with antique hardware. It was a lot of work, but it became my favourite feature of our home {I especially loved how the warm red really popped}. I want to do this again on our future home - it gives the entry such personality and I love to wonder who owned this door before and what kind of life they lived.

If you don't want to go through all the effort of installing an antique entry door, how about using one inside to inject some vintage personality?

as an entry mirror...

a pretty backdrop to a vignette...

or as big art to fill an empty corner...

Have you used any antique doors in your home?

lisa

[first pic: homeandharmony; last three: fixingitfancy; houzz; flickr]

[ happy monday! ]

2012-01-09T02:10:00.000-05:00

MONDAY mornings are tough sometimes, aren't they? Why is it that your bed feels so much cozier on a Monday morning than any other day of the week?

Well, to kick start this week, how about a pretty room?

I love the aqua walls paired with that citrus colour of the chairs and drapes. And the little hit of fuschia in those flowers is like a pretty dab of lipstick.

I think having a room like this to welcome me every morning would make Mondays much more doable ~ how about you?

lisa

[via stylebyemilyhenderson]

[ holiday stop: phuket part 2 ]

2012-01-07T03:44:00.000-05:00

THERE ARE so many things to see in Phuket and we decided to take in a tour of Phang Nga Bay, on the north-east side of Phuket. After a short bus trip, we boarded a tour boat and set off.

The bay holds some beautiful scenery, with spectacular islands and massive rocks rising from the sea.

We made our way to see the most famous Thailand island, James Bond Island ~ the distinctive spot where The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed.

The area is surrounded by caves that you can travel through on the boat {very cool} or rent canoes from floating boat rental locations on the spot.

After we squeezed through one of the caves {it was high tide so it was a little tight}, we made our way to the old village of Koh Panyee.

Built over 200 years ago, this village was built entirely on stilts on the water, likely during low tides when water levels would be shallow enough to stand in.

Fishing has been its primary industry but tourism here has picked up and many of the buildings hold handicrafts made by the locals.

But look past the craft stalls and you will see the everyday life of the residents.

We travelled by bus back to Patong Beach and took in a bit of the sights along the way...

shrimp farms...

grand gateways...

shops and food stalls...

motorbikes and tuk tuks...

What I loved about this stop was that it was filled with bits of interesting everyday life in Thailand. Definitely a trip to remember.

Thanks for following along! Have a great weekend everyone and see you Monday with something pretty.

lisa

[ holiday stop: phuket ]

2012-01-05T06:32:00.003-05:00

A SMALL island off the southern most tip of Thailand, Phuket is famous for its gorgeous beach resorts and became world-renowned when the tsunami hit in 2004. Patong Beach is the most popular and was hit hard but has managed to rebuild itself since the disaster and the beaches are beautiful once again.

But aside from the gorgeous beaches, Phuket is a fascinating place to visit. 95% of the population is Buddhist so temples and buddhas can be seen everywhere.

We visited the Buddha Cave Temple {Wat Suwannakuha}, also known as Monkey Temple since there are monkeys everywhere.

Speaking of monkeys, coconuts are a huge industry in Thailand and did you know that most are picked by monkeys? Monkeys are captured and sold to farmers who send their monkeys to monkey school where they are taught how to pick ripe coconuts and load them into trucks. Seriously! They receive a diploma when they graduate and go to work in the farmer's coconut plantations. They work for several years and then the farmer cares for them through their retirement.

Another thing I found so interesting were the Spirit Houses that could be seen outside every building, business and home.

Thais believe that there are spirits, or celestial beings who would otherwise reside in the heavens and could cause problems if not appeased. They believe that by providing a shelter for the spirits, they will watch over them and protect them. Regardless of the size or style of the dwelling or business, in Thai culture, it is imperative that one is erected and many people light incense every morning and ask the spirit to watch over them.

Next stop: Phuket part 2 ~ Phang Nga Bay

lisa

[ holiday stop: langkawi ]

2012-01-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

IF YOU are looking for a romantic beach vacation in an area of natural, unspoiled beauty, Langkawi could be the place.

Langkawi {meaning reddish brown eagle} is a cluster of 99 islands off the mainland of Malaysia. Only 4 of the islands are inhabited. Traditionally thought to be cursed, in 1986 the Prime Minister decided to transform it into a tourist resort area.

It was a lovely place to take in the gorgeous views and beaches, with the feel of a completely authentic Malay experience ~ not built up like a typical tourist area.

Of course I had to pick up a memento and this is what I got...

...some traditional handcarved wooden sandals {perhaps not the most comfortable shoes I own, but they'll look cute displayed in a shadow box}.

Next stop: Phuket, Thailand

lisa

[ holiday stop: kuala lumpur ]

2012-01-03T08:37:00.000-05:00

THE FIRST stop on our mini cruise was Kuala Lumpur. The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur means the confluence of 2 rivers where miners landed to open tin mines in the 1850s.

The architecture ranges from modern to old colonial, to moorish, tudor style and any old buildings in the heart of the city cannot be demolished - they must be refurbished to keep the character of the city.

It is the cultural and shopping hub of Malaysia and along with its 66 shopping malls, the Central Market and China Town are among the most popular spots for local handicrafts.

How about a relaxing fish foot treatment?

It was fun strolling around the heart of town to take in the buzz of daily life.

Kuala Lumpur was such an interesting, colourful city and I really loved the mix of influences from the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians.

Next stop: Langkawi

lisa

[ show and tell: my holidays ]

2012-01-02T05:02:00.002-05:00

HAPPY first Monday of 2012! Does everyone feel refreshed and renewed? Or do you need a holiday to recover from the holidays?

We certainly had a very different Christmas holiday this year ~ our first one away from our hometown in Canada ~ no snow, no Christmas carols, no toy commercials, no Santas in the malls. Christmas is certainly low-key here in Dubai. Since we only had a few days off, and not enough time to make the huge trek across the world to see family, we planned a little getaway...

We started in Singapore and took a mini cruise up the Malasian coast stopping in Kuala Lumpur, the island of Langkawi and Phuket, Thailand.

This is a part of the world I never dreamed I'd get to visit since it's quite the distance from Canada but when you're already in Dubai, it's close by.

First stop: Singapore

To be honest, the majority of time our time in Singapore was spent shopping. Named one of the world's 5 best shopping cities, Singapore is definitely where you'll get your fix. And if you stay at a hotel on Orchard Road, everything is right outside your door.

And what did shopping Santa bring me for Christmas? This lovely Kate Spade bag in the most delicious shade of warm red {thank you Santa!}...

The food in Singapore is amazing and the mall food courts alone had me intrigued so I'll share a bit of what we saw...

Everything handmade right in front of you from the freshest ingredients...

My lunch... chicken ramen, gyoza dumplings and a chocolate "fish" waffle pancake filled with banana custard for dessert...

Singapore definitely puts typical food courts to shame ~ my lunch was delicious!

Next stop: Kuala Lumpur

lisa

[ happy new year! ]

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

IT'S 2012! Can you believe it? Didn't 2011 go by incredibly fast?

While the New Year is always a time to reflect back, I'm looking forward to what 2012 might hold ~ hopefully success, good health and continued happiness ~ everything we all strive for.

Cheers to all of you and may 2012 be the best year ever! See you Monday and I'll tell you how we spent part of our holidays. And I can't wait to reconnect with you and hear all about yours!

lisa

[ happy holidays ]

2011-12-20T13:48:00.000-05:00

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is the perfect time to enjoy some downtime and recharge for the New Year. Despite the crazy-busy year it has been, it's been a good year with so many things to be grateful for.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for following along, leaving such lovely comments and well wishes, offering encouragement and often a good laugh. Your friendship has truly touched my heart.

May your Christmas stockings overflow and all of your wishes come true. Happy Holidays! xo

lisa

[via homegrownhospitality.typepad.com]

[ spicing things up a little too much ]

2011-12-19T03:22:00.001-05:00

AFTER YOU have had your fill of turkey during the holidays, a pot of chili is a great way to feed a crowd and is great comfort food on a cold winter day. Have you ever made a pot of chili and realized that it is much too spicy to eat? What do you do?

Well, this happened to me recently even though I was following my usual recipe to a T. Little did I know that the chili powder and cayenne pepper I stocked our kitchen with here in Dubai were much more potent than those I had in Canada or Ireland so quantities should have been adjusted.

Well, with my mouth on fire just from taste-testing a spoonful, I quickly researched for a way to salvage my chili without having to start again from scratch.

Try one of these:

1 add a spoonful of sugar

2 add a tsp of baking soda

3 add a drizzle of honey

4 add a spoonful of smooth peanut butter

Any one of these should take down the heat. I had to try all 4. Finally, with the peanut butter, it was saved! I had to add a bit more salt afterwards but managed to get it back to being edible. whew!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-12-16T04:30:00.000-05:00

WELL, Christmas is quickly creeping up on us and this is it, the last full weekend of shopping before the big day. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up on Christmas morning to this?

Hmm...what might Mr. Snowman have in that Tiffany bag? Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[via itsnotalwaysrainbowsandbutterflies]

[ in the red ]

2011-12-15T05:18:00.000-05:00

SOMETIMES just one hit of colour can say it all for the holidays. In this case, red ribbon.

I love how the red really pops with all the white around it. Amazing what just a bit of red ribbon can do.

lisa

[inredningsbloggen]

[ pretty gritty ]

2011-12-14T03:38:00.000-05:00

EVER THOUGHT you can't mix industrial with girly? How about this?

A coffee table made from a simple palette and big castors somehow feels right at home with the girly settee and pink touches in cushions and blooms. What do you think? Would you go for this mix?

lisa

[via little emma english home]

[ dubai film festival ]

2011-12-13T02:18:00.000-05:00

DUBAI HAS been abuzz with the Dubai International Film Festival this week and the preview screening of Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Tom Cruise has been the highlight of the Festival by far, signing autographs and attending the screening of the latest MI film that finds Tom doing his own stunts swinging from the Burj Khalifa.

[The Hollywood Reporter]

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it opens in theatres here. One of the Canadian expats I've met here auditioned for a part as a extra last year and they filmed a few scenes. We're anxious to see if they kept her in - how exciting if they did!

lisa

[ turning everyday into holiday ]

2011-12-12T04:51:00.000-05:00

ONE OF MY favourite ways to decorate for Christmas is to give the everyday a festive feel. And this home does just that.

By simply combining fresh chartreuse patterned bedding with a couple of raspberry pillows, and hanging up a simple boxwood wreath, a holiday feeling is implied without a Santa in sight. Remove the wreath after the holidays and in a flash, the holidays are over.

Gifts wrapped in simple chartreuse paper with the addition of red toile bands, feel festive even though there's nothing distinctively Christmas about them.

And this tablescape feels festive, even though no holiday-motif patterns are used. Again a simple boxwood wreath and Christmas tree add the holiday feel, but come January, ditch the tree and the wreath and this tablescape would work any time of year.

How do you decorate for the holidays? Simple festive touches to the everyday or all-out Santa theme?

lisa

[style at home]

[ my one bowl chocolate cake ]

2011-12-09T04:10:00.000-05:00

IT'S MY guy's birthday tomorrow so it's time for his usual chocolate birthday cake. I thought I'd share my recipe because it really is a heavenly cake that you won't be able to resist. And everything is done in one bowl which makes it really easy.

Lisa's one bowl chocolate cake
This is a delicious, moist, fudgey cake - it doesn't rise up super high since it's a bit denser than those ultra fluffy boxed mixes. But once you've tried this, you'll never make a mix again.

what you need

1 3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water

how to

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 2 9" pans.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer.

Stir in boiling water. Batter will be thin.

Pour evenly into prepared pans.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to a rack to fully cool.

Rich chocolate frosting
Time to frost! If you are tight for time ~~or lazy~~, you can always use some store-bought icing. But this icing is super good so it's worth trying:

what you need

1 cup butter softened
4 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk {or maybe a bit more}

how to

In large bowl, cream butter. Gradually beat in icing sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Add enough milk until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Makes plenty for a 2 layer cake. The longer you beat it, the creamier and fluffier it gets.

Frost and decorate as desired. If I'm not writing on the cake, I'll often put a few chocolate curls on top by running a potato peeler across a chocolate bar.

Yum!

lisa

[ traditional arabic coffee ]

2011-12-08T07:17:00.000-05:00

ARABIC COFFEE is all about tradition, hospitality and ceremony. It's a sign of welcome and marks the beginning and end of a guest's visit. Recently we were presented with a lovely gift of a traditional brass Arabic coffee pot called a Dallah.

The Dallah is an important symbol in the UAE and even appears on their dirham coin.

Not to be confused with the thick, dark Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee is called Khaleeji, is paler in colour and is served in a small cup with no handles called a Finjan. It is traditionally ground with cardamom and prepared by adding cloves, saffron and rose water.

The coffee is served and received with the right hand. The host serving the coffee fills the small cup only half full so it cools quickly. As soon as the guest drinks it, the cup is refilled continually until the guest gently jiggles the cup indicating he has had enough {it is customary to take 2 to 3 cups}.

Sugar and milk are never added but it is often served with dates, an extremely popular sweet here in Dubai. Emirates Airlines also serves Arabic coffee and dates on its flights.

Arabic coffee can be served anytime at home, at social gatherings or business meetings. I've only tried it once and found it quite strong and bitter {I enjoy sugar in my usual coffee} but perhaps I'll develop a taste for it now that I have my own Dallah.

lisa

[mine, via camerasandcucumbers, 2, 4 via arabiczeal]

[ hey cutie ]

2011-12-07T02:04:00.000-05:00

JUST A BIT of holiday cuteness with donuts! Perfect with hot chocolate after a fun afternoon.

lisa

[via creativeholidaygiftideas]

[ a little cottage charm ]

2011-12-06T04:38:00.000-05:00

DON'T YOU just love the simplicity of this kitchen? The white beadboard walls and ceiling add texture, the plate rack adds charm and the old window and pie cupboard create a pretty vignette. I love the rustic pot hook on the end of the island for those everyday necessities. I'm guessing there's an entire wall of appliances and the sink which allows for the big island for prepping. Definitely something I'll bookmark for my future beach cottage {I can dream!}

lisa

[via lilla blanka]

[ my seaside christmas ]

2011-12-05T02:14:00.001-05:00

DECORATING for Christmas this year is different to say the least. Not only is our tree and all of our decorations in storage, we're also enjoying summer temperatures here on the Arabian Gulf. So it seemed fitting to have a bit of a seaside theme this year.

My freshly painted console seemed like the perfect spot for a Christmas vignette. I pulled together items I had around the house, bought some berry branches and a cloche {I found one!}.

first up, some simple homemade shell ornaments....

my antique bottles hold up ornaments under a cloche...

some coral and a shell on a glittery plate...

my cake dome acts as another cloche...

some fake snow and a pretty sparkly bird...

more old bottles and a glass bathroom jar with shells and silver balls...

little metal stars dress up the knobs...

a starfish and 3 baby ornaments in a silver-leafed concrete bowl as a simple centrepiece...

I'm enjoying this simple vignette with just enough sparkle to add some holiday spirit.

What colour scheme are you decorating with this year?

lisa

linking to Where Women Create

[ homemade chalk paint console makeover ]

2011-12-02T02:06:00.002-05:00

REMEMBER THIS console we shipped here from Muskoka?

Well, I've been meaning to give it a facelift for a while now and was really excited to hear about Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint {partly because the results are always so pretty, and because you don't need to sand or prime first - ~~I'm lazy~~}.

Well, my excitement fizzled when I discovered that no one in Dubai carries it and no one will ship it to me here either. :(

Plan B: homemade chalk paint

I stumbled upon a couple of suggestions on how to make your own so I thought I'd give it a try.

I had some pretty Duck Egg paint from Laura Ashley and decided to use that {eggshell finish} 1/2 cup and mixed it with 1 tbsp of Plaster of Paris.

The best part is chalk paint requires no prep ~ just start painting.

I chose to do 2 coats. The paint dries fairly quickly.

Once the second coat had dried for a couple of hours, I distressed the edges a bit with some coarse sandpaper.

I wiped it clean to remove all sanding dust and then it was time to wax.

I chose Lundmark Clear Paste Wax. Why? Because that's all I could find in Dubai. I was hoping it would be as lovely and soft to work with as Annie Sloan's Wax is supposed to be.

This wax was awesome! I applied it with an old cotton sport sock on my hand and it went on smoothly in a nice thin coat. After about 10 minutes of drying time, I buffed it with a clean sock.

Some new knobs to add some sparkle.

All done! Can you see the lovely sheen the wax gave it?

You can add a coat of a brown wax over top if you want to add a bit more age. Since I couldn't find anything other than my clear wax, I left it as is.

I'm so pleased with how it turned out. The homemade chalk paint worked like a charm and was so cheap. My favourite part was the waxing - it was quick and it gave the perfect sheen.

Now what else can I paint?

lisa

[ how to get what you want for christmas ]

2011-12-01T02:03:00.000-05:00

JUST FOLLOW these simple steps:

lisa

[via convoy-tumblr]

[ my simple snow white wreath ]

2011-11-30T00:27:00.006-05:00

YOU MAY have seen this style of wreath before but I thought I'd share my version I whipped up yesterday. So super easy and the supply list is short: a wire hanger and fabric! {a lifesaver since finding crafting supplies isn't easy in Dubai}.

You can use any fabric you have on hand or whatever you find on sale. {I used an extra curtain panel I had picked up on clearance at Pottery Barn. It ended up being about 2 yards of 54" wide fabric}. I washed my fabric to soften it and did not iron it {wrinkles help make it look cuter}.

Measure out 4" wide increments and tear into strips.

Untwist your hanger and form into a circle shape.

Then start poking the hanger through the strips of fabric, folding like an accordion as you go {I spaced my pokes about 2" apart}.

When you've poked it all through, use some pliers to form a loop at one end of the hanger.

Push all the fabric towards the loop and feed the other end of the hanger through the loop.

Snip the hanger and form a loop so that the ends interlock. I positioned the loops on the side of the wreath and adjusted the fabric to hide them.

Use a scrap of the same fabric to create a loop for hanging by tying it to the hanger between the folds.

Give the fabric folds a bit of a twist to create fullness and make them look more random.

And voila!

You can stop here if you like, or add a ribbon, or decorate it anyway that you'd like.

I chose to hang an ornament in the center for Christmas...

I simply pinned the jute string to the back of the wreath for easy removal later.

I love the simplicity of it and think it looks pretty against a pale wall or the dark wood of our entrance door. And once Christmas is over, off comes the ornament and I'll hang it in my bedroom.

Happy wreathing!

lisa

[ free amy butler holiday patterns ]

2011-11-29T00:56:00.000-05:00

LOOKING TO do a bit of crafting before the holidays? Then head on over to Amy Butler to download some free pdf patterns!

Here's a sampling but there are others too!

Happy crafting!

lisa

[ a catamaran around dubai ]

2011-11-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

HAPPY MONDAY! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and hopefully those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving are out of your turkey coma by now!

We had an awesome Saturday afternoon on a big catamaran around Dubai. The weather was incredible and it was so nice to see Dubai from the water and get a different perspective.

I thought you might like to soak it in...

...we happened to be out when the Traditional Dubai Dhow Sailing Race was taking place...

...we anchored for some swimming...

...then continued our journey back...

... we watched the wooden dhow boats being towed back after the race {they only go one way}...

...and saw a helicopter land on the Burj Al Arab...

...what a relaxing way to spend an afternoon ~ gorgeous sights, fresh sea air and a pretty sunset... ahhhh....

lisa

[ in honour of black friday ]

2011-11-25T23:55:00.000-05:00

JUST SOME perfect black finds...

Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[emmasblog; 2, 4, 6 convoy; chanel; apunchofcolourdesign]

[ gobble gobble ]

2011-11-24T00:02:00.000-05:00

HAPPY Thanksgiving to all of my American friends! Hope your holiday is filled with family, laughter and lots to gobble!

lisa

[beachhouseliving]

[ kaleidoscope ]

2011-11-23T04:23:00.000-05:00

DO YOU suffer from pattern phobia? Like the thought of combining too many will make your head spin? Well, this should cure you...

A kaleidoscope of pattern! And yet for some reason, my eyes aren't scrambled looking at it. I wonder if I could do this in my own home... could you?

lisa

[via myblackbook.free.fr]

[ my day so far ]

2011-11-22T07:25:00.000-05:00

OK, REMEMBER when I was going on and on about missing fall? Well, for today, I take that back.

I decided to enjoy a lovely leisurely breakfast today on the terrace of my favourite place, Paul. The view overlooking the Burj Khalifa was beautiful...

After 6 months of sizzling heat, this is finally possible!

And check out this continental breakfast ~ baguette with jams, apricot pastry, latte and fresh squeezed oj....mmm carbs!

And how did I top off that wonderful breakfast experience? A bit of shopping of course!

I found these super comfy suede flats and decided to treat myself. After 4 years in rainy Ireland and not being able to wear suede, I can finally wear them without ruining them in the rain!

I love the neutral stone shade that will go with everything and the soles that are like running shoes.

How's your day panning out so far?

lisa

[ sweet sweet monday ]

2011-11-21T04:11:00.000-05:00

EVER JUMP out of bed so fast that you give yourself vertigo? That was me this morning. My guy left early for work but no sooner had he left, he returned with a package in hand! What a great way to start off the week!

My dear bloggy friend Janis at Pinecone Camp sent me this lovely package - I won her giveaway back in June and can you believe it took 2 attempts to get this to me? The first package disappeared into obliviion {or it was too darn cute that someone helped themselves to it?}. So you can imagine my excitement when this one actually fell into my hands!

Oh, the anticipation....

the cutest little package with a custom notecard attached with fancy striped tape...

a lovely handmade fabric pouch....

containing the most beautiful recipe cards I've ever seen...

recipes printed on the backs....

The photography is so mouth-watering gorgeous, it makes me want to run over and preheat my oven stat!

If you haven't discovered Janis' delicious blog, check it out here. Janis is an incredible photographer who shoots for numerous magazines and every week she bakes up some delectable treat, and most are even healthy! {no excuses not to try them!}

Thank you my sweet friend! I will treasure these recipe cards and think of you everytime I bake up one of these delicious treats. xo

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-11-18T12:09:00.000-05:00

IS IT REALLY the weekend again? Is it just me or did this week go by really fast? No concrete plans here - maybe eat out on a patio somewhere, figure out some art for my guy's office walls... maybe hang some curtains in my reclaimed "studio" room.

I'd love to have a big chalkboard in my studio. Speaking of chalkboards, isn't this one great painted on a door? I think this would be great painted on an entrance closet door - easy to remember all the things that need to leave the house with you.

What's on your agenda this weekend?

lisa

[decorpad]

[ you can ring my bell {jar} ]

2011-11-17T01:45:00.000-05:00

SOME MAY call it a bell jar, others a cloche, but I call it a charming decorating accessory. Originally intended to shield plants and seedlings from harsh winds and cold temperatures in the garden, cloches have become increasingly popular in decor.

Have a special treasure you want to highlight? Or a few things you'd like to group into a display? Perhaps you need a cloche...

I particularly love how they look when decorated for the holidays {and we all know they're just around the corner!}...

I think I need to go on a hunt for one. Do you have a cloche? And if you do, what do you use yours for?

lisa

[google; the decorated house; houzz; bluecreekhome; frenchfarmhouse425; weareallinthegutter; minnamerckeschmidt; the236; cox&cox; better homes and gardens; google; meredith; urbanfarmgirlandco; the decorologist; martha stewart]

[ gold glam ]

2011-11-16T06:09:00.000-05:00

THIS ROOM has glam written all over it. So, what makes it glam?...

...just enough gold sparkle from the pillow, lampshade, side table, picture frames and round mirror.

Gold is back in a big way and reminds me of all the golden finishes I had in my first home in the early 90s. And as it went out of style, I replaced every frame and accent with silver or aged bronze finishes. Have you embraced the return of gold?

lisa

[lonny]

[ oar decor and my oar makeover ]

2011-11-15T00:57:00.005-05:00

I'VE BEEN coming across quite a few examples of oars being used in decor and I love the casual, seaside feel of it.

I was hoping I might stumble upon an old oar somewhere but was sure it wasn't going to happen in Dubai. Until, Pottery Barn was having their summer clearance sale and I scored this one for only $13!

I wasn't crazy about the navy colour but I knew that I could easily give it a fresh new look.

And here you go!

I love the cottagey look and the pale turquoise is always a favourite colour of mine. I'm not sure if I'll hang it or not, but for now, I'm happy with it leaning in the corner.

lisa

[lydia christensen; house of turquoise; decorpad; knockoffdecor; blueclearskies;

houzz; via shorely chic; newenglandprepster.tumblr; coastal living;

whiteironstonecottage; mysweetsavannah]

[ happy monday ]

2011-11-14T05:14:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU so much for all of your get well wishes - your sweet comments definitely helped get me back to my normal self {or at least to 80%!}. I certainly wasn't feeling {or looking} my best this weekend but I've managed to get myself together to try to start the week off right.

How about some $5 grocery store roses to add a pretty start to the week?

Despite feeling awful, the one thing I did do this weekend was ~~get dragged to~~ go to the Dubai Motor Show. I promised my guy that we would go so he could decide on a vehicle.

Luckily we went early in the day so it wasn't too busy yet - I don't think I could have handled a crowd with my 500 lb head.

While searching for a practical vehicle was ok, I was more excited about the idea of a cute car for me...

like maybe a new Mini SUV...

or this Aston Martin {I could look cute driving that}...

or how about this sexy Bugatti {perhaps the world's most expensive car}...

There was no shortage of luxury vehicles at the show, but judging from the assortment of Rolls Royces, Ferraris, Bentleys and Porches parked in our underground parking garage, there must be a market here for them!

Ah, to dream...

lisa

[ under the weather ]

2011-11-11T03:05:00.000-05:00

WELL, I guess it's always bound to happen - a prickle in your throat turns into difficulty swallowing, clogged sinuses and aches all over your body. Yup, I've been hit by something that feels a lot like a truck. Looks like I'll be spending my weekend a bit like this...

Hope yours is a lot better than mine! Stay healthy xo

lisa

[ crazy about crochet ]

2011-11-10T02:06:00.000-05:00

AREN'T THESE pillowcases charming? I came across these at a lovely blog called rose hip and I was instantly smitten. The crocheted trim really adds the finishing touch to these pretty patterned pillowcases and would be equally as cute on some plain ones.

You can pick some up in Beata's Etsy shop here or try your hand at crocheting some of your own with this tutorial at You Go Girl.

I remember learning to crochet granny squares when I was a kid so this is probably something I could tackle. Do you crochet?

lisa

[ gather 'round the fire ]

2011-11-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

ONE OF MY favourite things about November at our place in Muskoka was when the weather would become blustery - listening to the wind howl outside, that cold rain lashing at the windows and all the while, being all warm and cozy in front of the fire. The flicker of the flames, a warm cocoa in hand and a cuddly throw... I can't think of a more comforting spot to be.

And while we are now having the summer you all enjoyed a few of months ago, I miss our place. I know, I must be crazy! But I miss cozy sweaters, warm socks after months of flip flops and snuggling in front of that fire.

lisa

[via: theselby; housecrush; belgianpearls; hgtv; stylebyemilyhenderson;

seejaneparty; sea cottage; better homes and gardens]

[ I'm over here today! ]

2011-11-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

THE LOVELY Marianne of Style for Living is featuring me today in her ABC's series! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be included amongst the other fantastic bloggers she has featured.

If you're not familiar with Marianne, she has her own design business {Marianne Simon Design} and her blog is always oozing wonderful design eye-candy. If you have a moment, check it out here! xo

lisa

[ all bottled up ]

2011-11-07T06:23:00.002-05:00

HOW WAS your weekend? Hot water is back up and running! Slept in, made pancakes, went to see The Help which finally arrived here {loved it} and shopped around for a few things for my guy's office. All in all, everything a weekend should be. Oh! And it RAINED! The first time in the 6 months I've been here - too bad I slept through it!

How cute is this display idea? Using clear wine bottles to display antique photographs! I love the addition of the book pages tied on with jute string on the bottle tops. Have you seen any creative ways to display photos lately?

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-11-04T06:28:00.000-04:00

THIS WEEK seems to have flown by, despite being without hot water for an entire week! Let's just say that things move very slowly in Dubai and thank goodness cold water here isn't cold - it's slightly warmer than room temperature so a week of cold showers could have been worse.

I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend - maybe some leisurely shopping, sleeping in and a hot shower! What have you got planned?

lisa

[via beach house living]

[ a case for bookcases ]

2011-11-03T11:03:00.000-04:00

I'VE ALWAYS loved bookcases in a family room - there's just something about them that makes the room feel cozy. I would love a wall of books but after moving around quite a bit, I have had to part with a lot of books. But even without an extensive book collection, these bookcases add warmth and really show off the personality of the people who live there.

Are you one of the lucky ones with a wall of bookcases in your home?

lisa

[better homes and gardens]

[ get your cable on ]

2011-11-02T03:32:00.000-04:00

I WAS browsing around on Etsy and found the most adorable shop! Based in South Africa, Lynn Garrett of BiscuitScout, knits up the most amazing aran cable knit items for your home.

How about a chunky cable knit slipcover for your armchair? Or your IKEA ottoman?

If you're looking to add some fall coziness to your decor, a slipcover or throw from BiscuitScout may be just what you need.

I'm smitten. Have you found any fun Etsy shops lately?

lisa

[ shisha ]

2011-11-01T06:01:00.001-04:00

ONE THING you will encounter in Dubai are a cornucopia of smells. Strong cigarettes, pungent incense, heavy perfumes and shisha. If you've never heard of shisha before then here's a little introduction.

Shisha is a herbal tobacco which is smoked through a "hookah" water pipe. Shisha cafés are popular here, especially now that temperatures have cooled and more people are spending time outdoors. Most Arabian restaurants also offer shisha on their patios. Shisha consists of tobacco fermented with molasses and fruits and the sweet odour conceals the natural smell of tobacco tar and nicotine.

Smoking the hookah pipe is thought to have originated in India back in the 1500s by a Persian physician who thought that allowing the tobacco smoke to pass through water would purify it, thus lessening the harm of tobacco smoking. It soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.

In the Arab world, shisha is part of their culture and traditions. Shisha cafés are a social thing, much like pubs might be to Ireland & the UK and coffee shops to Canadians. Shisha is as popular with women as it is for men and many tourists will also embrace the experience of smoking shisha while they're here.

The perception is that smoking shisha is a healthier alternative to cigarettes with its aromatic smoke produced by fruity flavours like strawberry, cherry, apple and grape and it's attracting young adults who may not usually smoke cigarettes. However, a shisha smoker may inhale as much smoke in one session as a cigarette smoker would with 100 cigarettes.

So while it may be seen as socially cool, I don't think it's something I'll be embracing anytime soon. And with my highly sensitive nose, it's just another smell I have to learn to tolerate in this highly fragrant part of the world.

lisa

[all pics: google]

[ picking favourites ]

2011-10-31T03:24:00.002-04:00

SINCE MY guy and I were celebrating our little first date anniversary this weekend, I decided to make him a present {don't you love it when someone takes the time to create something?} So I thought I'd make him a painting of our favourite saying.

This would have been a lot quicker if I had one of those fancy Silhouette machines, but nope, my method was totally old-school!

1. paint a background colour on a canvas {it may take a couple of coats so it's best to use a pre-mixed colour }

2. plan your layout and type out your words

3. print them out and piece together with tape, then position them in place

4. Lay a piece of carbon paper underneath and start tracing around each letter with light pressure {be careful not to rub your hand across as you go or you will dirty your canvas with carbon underneath}

5. start painting in the letters {take your time - put on some tunes and make an afternoon of it - you may need to go over them with a light second coat}

And voila!

I know what you're thinking... why pink?

Well, I already knew where I wanted him to display it {is that bad?}... on his side of the bed!

So does this make you want to grab a brush and paint someone a compliment?

lisa

[ sending love ]

2011-10-28T13:37:00.000-04:00

THIS WEEKEND I just want to send out some love...

To all of you...
for taking the time to stop by and leaving such sweet comments ~ I love you!

To my guy...
for celebrating the anniversary of our first date in high school ~ I love you!

To my sister and her lovely family...
for their loss and grief ~ I love you so much and wish I could be there with you.

lisa

[ taken with transferware ]

2011-10-27T09:16:00.000-04:00

THERE'S SOMETHING about transferware that brings to mind simpler days and old-fashioned goodness. I think many of us have grown up with transferware at some point - whether a platter for the turkey, grandma's pie served on dessert plates or maybe that special teapot for afternoon tea.

Not only do I love the idea of a wall of these beauties on display, I also love the idea of using them everyday just to add that little bit of pretty to the table.

Do you have any treasured transferware? If you do, what colour do you have and do you use it?

lisa

[via pinterest; maisondecor8; country living; rosegardenromantic; unknown;

warrengrovegarden; theinspiredroom; birchandbird; acountryfarmhouse; leah-theinsidestory]

[ a fab find, my painting and my console ~ for now ]

2011-10-26T04:38:00.001-04:00

I WAS out browsing and came across this fantastic Jones & Sons jug. I immediately loved the burlap label and metal bands. So of course, I had to take it home. I thought it would be an interesting addition to my little collection of antique bottles.

I don't have a lot of display space in this apartment but I do have my console that has been crying out for a pretty display over it.

I decided to lean a painting I created a few years ago after our cruise trip to Venice.

I snapped this pic from the ship by zooming in as we passed by...

I loved how the photo became a bit grainy from zooming in so much and decided it would make an interesting painting.

After lots of intricate work, I think I managed to capture it quite well. Now, over my console, it adds a bit of colour and interest to a large blank wall...

My plan is still to create a large gallery wall on this wall but until then, this will do just fine {and it's nice to finally display my painting somewhere}.

Doesn't my new little jug look cute?

lisa

linking to A Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesday

[ urban country mix ]

2011-10-25T02:50:00.000-04:00

I'M A huge fan of mixing up styles in a room - it keeps things interesting, fresh and current. I love the mix in this room - the white slipcovered settee paired with the classic Louis chair and modern white leather Barcelona chair are an unexpected combination. Add in some great cushions and billowy drapes and I think it's a fun mix.

The reddish walls add some punch but you could choose any wall colour and it would look just as fantastic. The shiny ottomans probably wouldn't be my first choice - I would likely go for one larger ottoman or glass coffee table.

What do you think of this look? Do you have a mix in your home?

lisa

[house beautiful]

[ so sweet ]

2011-10-24T03:09:00.000-04:00

THE LOVELY Carolyn at Sweet Chaos Home has passed along the versatile blogger award to me - thank you!

To accept this award you must thank the person who awarded it to you and include a link to their blog. Then choose 15 fellow bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly to pass the award along to and share 7 things about yourself.

So, since I don't want to be a party-pooper, here are 7 things about me you may or may not know...

1. I was born and raised in Canada but my family is Finnish with a pinch of Swedish thrown in for good measure.

2. My favourite car is the Mini Cooper and I used to own a cream one before moving to Ireland. I called it my little rocket.

3. Chocolate cupcake or vanilla? Definitely vanilla. It reminds me of birthday cake and we all need birthday cake more than once a year.

4. Shania Twain and I are from the same hometown.

5. I grew up playing the piano and played the saxophone in highschool.

6. My favourite TV shows are Modern Family and Mad Men.

7. Beach cottage or ski chalet? Definitely beach cottage - someday I want to retire by the sea and wake up to waves lapping the shore.

I'd love to pass along this award to a few of my favourite fellow bloggers - they all have lovely blogs that I always look forward to visiting...

Fern Creek Cottage

Strickly Simple Style

Plain and Fancy Living

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Dreams on 34th Street

In Corners of My Mind

Happy Monday!

lisa

[all pics: Google]

[ my thoughts on guest posts ]

2011-10-23T02:58:00.000-04:00

GUEST POSTING is popular in blogland and it's a fun way to connect and discover other lovely blogs. However, not all guest posts are created equal.

Have you been bombarded lately with requests from companies to post guest posts on your blog? Well I have! And I just had to share my thoughts on this practise {please bear with me if this post gets long!}

To me, guest posts by companies are an entirely different ball game. They are like advertorials - those special advertising features you see in magazines - like when Scotties tissues runs a spread showing various bathroom decorating ideas, all the while, promoting their newest tissue box designs. And in magazines, placing those advertorials costs money.

While some people may feel flattered that they've been approached by a company wanting to post a guest post on their blog (their emails gush with compliments on how great your blog is), I feel differently. These companies should be paying you to do so. These posts are exactly like magazine advertorials but in blogland. Why should they be allowed to target your blog readers for free? They're YOUR blog readers - people kind enough to tune in regularly to read what YOU have to say, not to read what is essentially an "ad" by some company. {Unless of course they want to offer a fabulous giveaway - then that's a different story}.

I've been approached by lighting companies, real estate companies, vacation rental companies, design companies, clothing companies... all wanting to put up a post on my blog with no benefit to me or my lovely blog readers. No giveaway. No discount. All of them wanting links back to their company website. One company even said they'd do it at NO COST TO ME! Gosh, really?

Rather than purchase a sponsor ad in your sidebar, they take the approach of offering up some original content for your blog ~ they'll do all the work and all you have to do is post it. To me, it's sneaky and a free way for them to get traffic to their websites through you, if you fall for it.

What are your thoughts on these types of guest posts?

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-10-21T12:12:00.000-04:00

SO... you'd like me to come visit your little cottage on the lake this weekend? And stay in this charming room? Well, I don't mind if I do!

Happy weekend! How will you be spending your weekend?

lisa

[via little emma english home]

[ look familiar? ]

2011-10-20T05:07:00.000-04:00

OK, I ADMIT, I watch The Real Houswives of New Jersey. I know. Well, imagine my surprise when I saw my ottoman on the set of their reunion episode!

So... should I be tickled by that or embarrassed?

lisa

[ nook love ]

2011-10-19T03:19:00.000-04:00

A KITCHEN nook is often one of the most-used spots in a home and I fell in love with this one. Rather than a large kitchen table, the space is divided into 2 functional areas...

a cozy spot for watching tv (or blogging!)...

{how fantastic is that fabric and the built-in shelving for cookbooks, a tv and serving dishes?}

and a little spot for brekkie...

{wouldn't that orange table make you smile every morning?}

Not only is this nook pretty, it's so practical too - high shelves over the windows carve out extra storage but keep the space feeling open.

Even if you only had space for one of these areas, how fab would that be? Do you have a kitchen nook?

lisa

[country living]

[ what's new pussycat? ]

2011-10-18T03:09:00.000-04:00

LEOPARD is one of those patterns that just never seems to go out of style. I think every wardrobe can use a touch of leopard - it goes with everything and always looks chic.

I've been on the hunt for some leopard flats and finally found the ones! Cushy comfort and pretty tortoiseshell detail makes these Coach flats a winner. They may have cost more than I was intending to spend, but to me, they're a classic and worth a little bit of investment.

It seems that leopard flats are popular with the celebs too...

What do you think? Are you sporting any leopard this fall?

lisa

[ burj al arab ~ a tour ]

2011-10-17T08:12:00.000-04:00

WHEN YOU THINK of Dubai, one of the images that comes to mind is of the sail-shaped 7 star luxury hotel that juts out into the Arabian Gulf. Burj Al Arab is an all-suite hotel that dominates Dubai's skyline and has consistently been voted the world's most luxurious hotel. With personal butlers, a Rolls-Royce fleet and helicopter transfer, it is the ultimate in pampering for the rich and famous.

I was so excited to attend a breakfast event there yesterday so I could get a look around {since an overnight stay isn't exactly in my budget!}

I managed to snap a few pics of the areas I saw so here is a peek...

I would have loved to see the rooms, the restaurants and the spa but it was fun just to get a taste of what this incredible hotel has to offer.

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-10-14T05:54:00.000-04:00

IT'S HARD TO believe it's already weekend time again! I'm looking forward to this weekend - I'll be attending a very lovely annual breakfast event on Sunday at the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel. I've been dying to see what this hotel is like and I'll finally get the chance. If I can sneak any pics while I'm there, I'll be sure to share with you on Monday. Got any special plans?

lisa

[ my fatboy balcony ]

2011-10-13T04:23:00.000-04:00

TEMPERATURES are finally starting to cool and soon we'll be able to enjoy some time out on our balcony. Remember our Fatboy beanbags that acted as our temporary seating until our sofa arrived? {see post here}. Well, they now have their new home out on our balcony.

The snap-together wooden tiles we laid down give the space a nice cozy feeling...

with just enough space for our 2 big Fatboys for lounging...

and enjoying the 180 degree view...

to watch the skydivers come down behind the welcome sign...

see if anyone is at the pool...

or how traffic is doing today...

I think we'll be spending a lot of evenings out here {and I'll be reading a lot of blogs out here in the afternoons}.

lisa

[ black halloween ]

2011-10-12T06:37:00.000-04:00

NOTHING SAYS spooky like black on Halloween. I came across these easy DIY decor ideas at Sweet Paul and thought they were definitely worth sharing.

painted pumpkin
What could be easier than painting a pumpkin with flat black paint and sitting it on an old chair? Instant spooky!

embroidered noises
Write some words with a white pencil onto black fabric (or paint some burlap with flat black paint), then embroider with white thread. Frame in some cheap frames and rough up the edges.

creepy animals
Paint some plastic animals with flat black paint and use pushpins to create the eyeballs. Simply remove the heads off the pins, glue onto animals and add a pupil with a marker.

I think the flat black is what really makes these spooky. Have you spookified your home yet?

lisa

[ today's inspiration ]

2011-10-11T03:52:00.000-04:00

lisa

[via riazzoli.blogspot]

[ individual turkey pot pies ]

2011-10-10T06:53:00.001-04:00

LOOKING FOR something to do with all that leftover turkey? How about making these individual pot pies? They look great for serving or freeze them all for future meals. You can use ramekins that go from freezer to oven or little disposable foil containers - just assemble everything, top with crust and freeze.

Individual turkey pot pies

This is a great recipe for cleaning out your fridge after a big Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. Use up leftover turkey and veggies. The crust is delicious - or save time by using frozen, prepared pie crust from the grocery store. You can substitute chicken instead of turkey for any time of year.

what you need:

for the filling:

3 tbsp butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 large potato peeled and diced (not a baking potato)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper diced

8 oz button mushrooms, diced

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

leftover cooked turkey (or a rotisserie chicken from grocery store)

1 - 2 cups frozen peas and carrots (or any leftover veg you would like to add, diced)

for the sauce:

8 tbsp butter

1/2 cup flour

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

dash of hot sauce

salt and pepper

for the crust:

16 tbsp cold butter

3 cups flour

10 oz cream cheese, chilled

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 large egg

how to:

filling:

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and potato to the pan and saute for about 5 minutes. Mix in the garlic, bell pepper and mushrooms and cook for about 15 minutes more, until the potatoes are tender. While the veggies are cooking, shred or chop the turkey (or chicken) into bite-sized pieces. Once the veggies are finished cooking, turn off the heat and mix in the chicken and frozen peas and carrots. Stir in the red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste.

sauce:

Melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the chicken broth and cook over medium heat until it thickens to the consistency of a cream soup (don't overcook). Mix in the heavy cream, hot sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sauce will be thick. Pour the sauce over the turkey and veggie mixture and stir to combine. Spoon the mixture into 6-8 individual ramekins or foil containers.

crust:

Cut butter into 16 pieces. Pulse together in a food processor with flour until crumbly. Add the cream cheese, salt and pepper. Continue pulsing just until the dough forms a ball. Transfer dough to slightly floured surface. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out dough rounds to be about 1 1/2 inches larger than the diameter of your pot pie dishes.

Lay the dough rounds on top of the individual dishes and pinch along the edge. Beat the egg with a whisk and brush the dough tops lightly.

If freezing, wrap in foil and place into freezer bags. Do not bake before freezing. Frozen pies can be baked straight from the freezer. Remove foil, place on a baking sheet, and bake in a preheated 375F oven for about 60 minutes.

If baking, place pot pie dishes on a baking sheet. Place in a preheated 375F oven and bake for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

2011-10-08T01:01:00.000-04:00

AND TO my fellow Canadians out there, Happy Thanksgiving!

Even though we don't have all the beautiful colours of fall here in Dubai, we'll still be celebrating Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings {including pumpkin pie - I found pumpkin here! see my recipe here}

No big family gathering. But to me, as long as I've got my guy at my side, I'm truly grateful for that.

However you'll be celebrating, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And to all of my non-Canadian friends, I'm wishing you sunshine for a lovely fall weekend!

lisa

[sylvia's simple life]

[ hanging on ]

2011-10-07T01:12:00.000-04:00

TODAY I'M loving this charming backsplash. Not only is the white subway tile a classic favourite of mine, but how cute is the way the utensils have been hung? A branch simply inserted into the shelf brackets - no installation required. Brilliant!

lisa

[kjerstis lykke]

[ a sad day ]

2011-10-06T03:11:00.005-04:00

TODAY MARKS a very sad day. I first used a MAC back in design school in 1988. Since then, I have owned many. In fact, everything I've accomplished in my graphic design career of over 20 years is all thanks to the tools that Steve Jobs helped to create. So to me, he has had a huge impact on my life.

Thank you Steve Jobs for your vision, innovation and dedication. You are a true genius and you will be missed.

lisa