Personal Blab, Ink & Reverie, Wish List Wendesday and Art

A few things.

1. I feel like I owe you all a little explanation as to why this...

...has been on a little bit of a hiatus.

At first, I had planned on keeping my personal stuff related to this pause as just that, personal but after a week has passed, I feel like I somehow owe you at least some explanation as to why I haven't been talking #projectdreamhouse as of late.

The long and depressingly short of it is that my husband lost his job last week.

It blows...in every possible way.

Mostly because this was the job my husband has been waiting years for and he loved it...he was so so happy and seeing him that way, made me happy.

Because he's literally the most optimistic person on earth, he is taking it all in stride and I'm trying not to let my personal devastation over the ambiguity of what's going to happen with the new house business cloud his sunny outlook.

He swears the new house is still happening and I so want to believe that it is...I'm trying...really, really hard.

For now, we're looking at different options...the most likely one is that we keep renting the existing house on the lot out until things get settled and then make a decision.

I've learned over the years that most times things happen for a reason and one of the potential thoughts on this track is maybe that lot wasn't perfect for us after all...when hubs a new job as he always does (because PS, he's the hardest working amazing sales guy in the universe...PSS, the roller coaster ride that is working in the telecom industry makes me want to blow my head off) we're talking about the possibility of building a 'spec' house on that lot and then selling it, along with our current house so that we can afford a bigger lot that makes more of my dream house possible.

So...there are options but I really have no fucking idea what one will end up happening...or when...or how.

For now, I'm trying not to stress about it and just really attempting to face each day as it comes.

The sun will come out as they say.....

As a silver lining to this whole things, sweet man is at home with us and it's really so so nice to have him here (don't get me wrong- I need his ass back to work but in the meantime, enjoying the help and company) - partly because it's allowed me to focus alot of my own jobs.

2. On that note, I'm SO excited about what's just around the corner for this blog...I'm re-branding folks...in a large way.  

Stay tuned because thanks to Erika, things are about to get pretty swank around these parts:))

3. Also, I've been doing tons and tons of design work lately, which is super duper awesome.

4. And because I have more than 5 minutes to rug together with an extra set of baby entertaining hands near by, I've been doing lots and lots of painting.

#projectnordic is about to see this 36x48 lady arrive at her door...

Excited about that one.

Also, a fabulously sweet client named Shannon emailed me a picture of one of my pieces in her home...

...which totally made my day.

5. And speaking of day makers, my Stephanie Vovas photograph arrived and well....

...smitten doesn't really cut it.

OBSESSED.

6. Now...and still on the topic of art...and because it's Wednesday...

...first, I'd like to add this SV to my collection of one...

If you haven't already guessed, I luuuuuurrrvvvvv her work.

Next, I posted this picture on instagram a few days ago...

...and was inundated with questions about the artist.

I did some research and found this guy...

...aka... Thrush Holmes Empire.

He's a local Toronto artist and holy Mother tits Therese...LOOK!!!!

NEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD ONE/ WANT ONE....SO BAD IT HURTS.

An employed husband would help.

Finally, I was reading MFAMB yesterday as I do everyday and was blindsided in the best possible way by Jenny's newest work (which you can buy here...if your husband is employed...or you are etc...but crap, just checked and these are all sold out- no surprise there...lots of other brilliance up for grabs though) ...

I can't even...

These are just too good...almost makes me angry...and frustrated...and jealous.

Mostly they make me sky high though- stunning artwork right there.

And I think that's it for today.

As always, thanks for reading and making it to the bottom of my often long winded posts.

You guys truly light up my life.

Real styles.

xo

Obsessed and Video Proof

A few weeks ago, I took part in my friend Hollie's series, '25 Things You Don't Know About Me' and in case you missed it, here was my list...

1. I used to be a grade 3 homeroom/art teacher...and before that I wanted to be a psychologist

2. I was born on the 7th day of the 7th month and weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces...consider 7s super duper lucky

3. Our family has 6 members...you now know how I like 7s...pretty sure my husband will divorce me if he reads this

4. I have slight OCD tendencies- can't leave the house with the beds unmade or things lying around on the floor...a sink full of dishes is totally acceptable to my brain though

5. I was born in Vancouver (and lived there twice,) grew up mostly in Ontario but consider PEI to be the place where my heart is the happiest

6. My eldest daughter Natasha was actually my student way back in 2002...I was her teacher the year her mother passed away...a few years later, her dad took me out to thank me for all the extra time I had spent with her and shortly after that, we got married...I legally adopted my sweeet big girl shortly after that and now, we're one big happy family

7. I'm pretty sure that I've been dehydrated for at least the last 20 years...my daily drink routine basically goes coffee, decaf coffee, sip of something, glass of wine

8. Watching streamed TV on my computer is basically my life

9. I have weirdly small hands and feet- people are often surprised that I can balance on the nubs I call toes

10. I had red hair until I was about 7...so hoping my daughter's actually stays put

11. Chocolate has to be stored in the freezer as far as I'm concerned...frozen white chocolate Lindor balls are responsible for at least 5 of the pounds I want to loose

12. I hate zoos...the caged up chimps always make me feel like humans suck

13. The only thing I hate more than zoos is guns...loathe everything about them with a fiery passion

14. Speaking of hate, I hate the word hate...and the word moist for that matter...love, love, love comeuppance though

15. I've never really been religious but have been in the room with both my Nana and my mother-in-law when they passed away and am pretty damn sure that when you die, you really do float away to a better place

16. A caricature artist once asked my husband to  list all of our common interests and we literally couldn't come up with a single damn thing- we are total and complete opposites

17. My daughter recently bought me a N'espresso machine and I now literally fantasize about my morning coffee as I'm drifting off to sleep...before getting the machine, I thought instant coffee was totally awesome- my friends almost dis-owned me for this

18. Kelly Wearstler is my number one giant girl crush...everything she touches is magic sauce in my eyes

19. I haven't traveled nearly enough...which probably has something to do with the next point...

20. I absolutely adore being bored

21. I'm supercalafragalistic sentimental

22. When drying my hair, I always close my right eye- so weird

23. I have wicked awesome control of my top lip...have a bunch of party tricks related to my ability to snarl well

24. I envy artists who can really draw/paint more than anyone- so jealous of other people's artistic talents

25. My family is like 8th generation Canadian, which I find pretty awesome...unfortunately, this lineage also 

means that me and the kids have skin that's so white, it pretty much glows in the dark

I'd like to draw you attention to a few of these at the moment just cause I'm in the  mood for a relatively pointless post that is hopefully slightly entertaining;)

#8...I'm currently in the midst of a Million Dollar Listing NY marathon....for any of  you who watch it, can we talk about the 'marble house'...holy shizzle...EXACTLY what I want for #projectdreamhouse...only I'd like the pool outside thank you please.

I clipped a photo of the staircase and railing to show my architect...black spindles, brass railing, marble stairs...want, want, want...

...sorry for the blur.

And speaking of want, I spied this action on Jeff Lewis and Mary McDonald's new show Property Envy...

...and am now lusting large over the idea of a covered/pillared porch dripping in Wisteria...

#9...I was at pilates last night and the instructor finally believed me that my toes seemed to have no bones int them so asked me how I was able to walk and then proceeded to crack/break all of them...speaking of having a hard time walking...not cool teacher, not cool.

#18...I'm more obsessed than ever and my ever growing list of Kelly Wearstler wish list items just keeps getting longer and longer...at present, I'd jump up and down like a 4 year old in a bouncy castle for each and every one of these supreme delights...

...want it all large styles.

#23...I have drunken proof of said lip control...

Ha...how's that for a party trick...can you tell I don't get out much these days;)

xo

Some Excuses and If You Want It, Black Rooster It #4

Hi all.

I have to apologize for my unplanned blogging hiatus...was totally out of my control.

Monday was spent in emergency with my little big guy...after skinning half his body on Sunday morning thanks to a new pair of 'go fasters' that went waaaaay too fast, he accidentally whipped a bucket of sand in his face and ended up with a nasty eye infection and scratched cornea...so not fun.

And on top of that, I found myself admitted at the same time with some eye craziness of my own.

I suffer from chronic migraines and they're not fun or typical...they seem more like tension headaches because I sort of have them to varying degrees all the time...except when I'm preggers...they magically disappear then, which is part of the reason I adore being knocked up...anyhoo...the stupid things came back about a week ago and I'm not a happy camper to say the least. Part of what I get is weird eye disturbances like sensitivity to light and different sized pupils...on Monday, just before taking dude to the hospital I had a crazy ass aura and it scared me half to death because I've never had one before...the only way I describe it is to say it was like my right eye on acid and decided to put on a magic drug induced light show just for fun...zig zaggy neon lights striping across my eyeball...I seriously thought I was having a stroke or something...my hypochondriac tendencies drove me into an anxiety pit that had self-diagnosed brain tumours, hemorrages, and bleeds happening at lightening speed...again...very much not fun.

Thankfully, the doctor put my mind pretty much at ease and assured me it was a classic migraine aura and not to worry.  The strange thing is though, I never get a classic migraine headache...it's more like constant face aching and my eye with the funny pupil feels strained.

Anyways...it sucks but could be worse so I'll try not to whine about it anymore...any of you peeps ever have something similar?  Safety in numbers as it were;)

So, that was Monday's excuse.

As for yesterday, I woke up to find my internet down...silly Bell disconnected our network by mistake when updating our plan so I was without computer goodness for about 24 hours...let me just say that being home all day with kids and without the internet is ICE-O-LAY-TING...

I did not enjoy it.

Thankfully, we're back in gear and just in time for Wednesday's edition of...

...and since I gave you nadda for 4 days, I figure I should probably make this one good so I'm going with this classically loved living room as inspiration...

...and here it is Black Rooster styles...

You'll notice that I made the console table woody instead of black...wanted to make sure I got that organic element in there...and for behind the settee, I used two benches that definitely have the same artisan flair as the original...also, the ceiling fixture is definitely different but gives the room the same colour tones as the original and adds the same hit of drama.

All in all, she's pretty close and proof again that most any space can be put together with one stop Black Rooster shopping.

Go here for the goodies:

Barcelona inspired daybed 

Zebra Hide

Chair

Chandelier

Acrylic coffee table

Arabic tables

Vintage sofa

Console table

Lamp

Artwork

Mirror

I'll be back tomorrow with news on a new project I'm working on...I'm doing a little design down-under so stay tuned:)

xo

My Preggers Pictures

As promised, here is the photographic proof that I am indeed with child;)

Now you know I was very nervous about getting my pictures taken...also slightly concerned that I'd end up with weird half naked shots of my belly...of course, I should have known that with the insanely talented Jodi Renee taking the photos...

...all would be aces...

I could not possibly be happier with my pictures ..they truly capture the emotional landslide that seems to be swirling crazily around my heart right now...they perfectly showcase how I'm feeling at once, a constant rush of overwhelmed joy and next, a soft/quiet peace, in such a profoundly special way.

The photos make me so incredibly happy and I know I'll treasure them always.

I know Jodi would love to hear your feedback on her facebook page and if you are looking for an incredible photographer who PS, will travel and works all over Canada/NA, you simply must get in touch with her...I promise with every bone in my short and very round pregnant body, that you'll be intensely happy you did:)

And with that, I'm off to buy some furniture with only 2 weeks of preggers bliss left and then...it's baby time folks!!!

My hospital bag is packed and staring at me so the countdown is definitely on...holy sweet like honey hell batman.

Exciting times:)))

xo

#projectgetroomsreadyforkids , a Bedroom Moodboard, a Preggers Shot and a Winner

This has been a loooong week in my books.

The basement is a total disaster zone and is stressing me out maximum like....after ripping down some walls, we've discovered that our original plan is mostly not possible...structural walls abound everywhere, even where they're not at all necessary so...it's likely going to be more of a prettification sort of deal, rather than a major reno.

The revised layout looks like this...

....and I'm actually very happy with it, even though the new laundry room no longer happens.

I like that the bathroom gets to be bigger and now has access from the bedroom.

And I enjoy how this plan is just easier, faster and MUCH friendlier on the  bank account.

But...it's still making my brain hurt...there is a new baby coming soon and I have to make soooo many decisions soooo quickly...it's mucho stressing me out.

Right now, I'm majorly torn about the built in situation and am sort of leaning towards not doing them at all...instead, I might focus on adding furniture that I can take with us, should we decide to jump ship and do the dream home thing.

Having said that, I've found these lucite bad boys online and a pair of them WILL happen.....

...and that makes me happy.

Also, the bedroom.

In the original plan, it was going to be a real office/sleeping combo but now the room is just to small to double duty it so I'm making it a sleeping room only, which means the black built in thing isn't happening.

Instead, I've come up with this...

...keeping in mind that it will mostly be used by my big girl when she's home from uni and will also serve as a guest room for the odds and sods visitor that comes by.

I figure I might as well embrace the cave like nature of the room and go dark...why not right?  The Flat Vernacular wallpaper is sort of the tone setter for the space now and I thoroughly enjoy it...again though, trying to sort out the whole invest vs move thing and well, you can't take paper with you so I don't know.

CONFUSED...

{via}

VERY PREGNANT....

PS...this is another of my shots from the AMAZING Jodi Renee...I'll be doing a full 'reveal' post of my session on Monday:)))

For now though, I've got a winner to announce so congrats to...

...Nancy at Powell Bower Home...the Chinoiserie pillow is yours my friend!

Happy almost weekend reader pals.

xo