Artemis and Apollo

Time to get organized....once and for all

2013-04-08T14:04:00.001-04:00

I used to be so organized, in all aspects of life, home, fitness, meal planning, work and play, but a new house and two kids later and I have no idea what happened. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Well this is it, I am taking my life back. No longer will I be a slave to household chores. I am sick and tired of constantly tidying up and not having time for the important things in life! It is so upsetting to everyday wake up knowing that the house is in total disarray and that the majority of my day will be spent putting things away. I would rather be spending my time with my husband, and two sons, rather than worrying about the state of our house.

So I have decided enough is enough. I am giving myself a 30 day challenge to get this house organized once and for all. It is a very daunting task which consists of every single room in our house, so I have decided to break things out into smaller task that are more manageable. For example instead of organizing the entire kitchen I have broken it out into the following tasks;

1) Island Drawers
2) Cabinets
3) Drawers
4) Pantry
5) Fridge and Freezer

It is much easier to just focus on one item get it done and move on. I plan to complete 1 or 2 items on my list every day until my house is completely organized. They say as long as there is a specific spot for everything, keeping your house in order is that much easier.

I started off by listing each floor of the house then break each area down into smaller tasks. I have included my list here, as you can see the list is quite extensive, but totally achievable, especially if you can get you husband and kids to help out it will be that much easier.

Here is the new moto for our household, by these things are house should always be in order.

Well there we go this is my plan to get out house in order. Next on my plate will be working fitness and proper meal planning back into my life. One thing at a time.

Organization Made Pretty

2013-03-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

Target is finally open in Canada, WOOO HOOO! The store closest to us opened last week I couldn't resist going. I felt as though I was going on a trip to the States without the long drive...it was awesome. I am happy to say the wait was well worth it. Everything in the store is unique to Target, I could have spent a fortune on clothing and home items, but I resisted.

I just love finding different ways to use things, other than how they are intended. While I was at Target I picked up these really awesome food divider trays, and thought they would be great for organizing other things as well. See some of my ideas for them below. The colours are amazing and the cost couldn't be better at only $2.39 a pair.

Until next time....

DIY placemat pillows

2013-03-27T13:54:00.001-04:00

I love placemats! I never use them, but I just love the look of them, they are full of wonderful patterns and designs. So the other day when I was out shopping I came across some placemats that I fell in love with. I resisted buying them cause I know I use them once then get annoyed with them on my table and put them away, never to be used again. Then it hit me! I can make pillows out of them and enjoy them every day!!!

This is a great pillow DIY project as placemats can be very inexpensive, the placemats I used were only $2.49 each. Can't get much cheaper than that! I used a coordinating fabric that I had for the back, but you can always buy an extra placemat and just use that for the back. Below is my placemat pillow DIY. Have fun creating your own!

The first step is to select your placemat and coordinating fabric of choice.

With right sides together cut the coordinating fabric to the size of the placemat. Pin the placemat and the coordinating fabric together, then sew together leaving a space large enough to turn the fabric right side out.

Cut the excess fabric off, then turn the pillows right side out.

Fill the pillows with stuffing (you will require more than you think necessary to make them quite plush, as you can see below).

Once pillows have been filled with stuffing you will need to hand sew the opening that you left.

Viola you are done, a beautiful pillow to accent your room.

Until next time....

14 Free Fonts

2013-03-25T11:51:00.001-04:00

I love fonts and I love FREE! So with that being said I have put together 14 of my all time favourite free fonts. Enjoy!

Click the name of the font below to direct you to the download.

Champagne & Limousine

Vanessa Loves You

Yummy Cupcakes

Ribbon Happy

Until next time....

10 Easter DIY ideas

2013-03-22T12:59:00.001-04:00

Easter is almost here, and hopefully the Spring weather is not far behind it.

Here are some neat DIY ideas to help celebrate Easter with family and friends.

1) Bunny Pouch
2) Peep Smores
3) Easter Bunny Onesie
4) Tattoo Easter Egg Decorating
5) Bunny Bait
6) Peeps on a Stick
7) Bunny Present
8) Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt
9) Bunny Boxes
10) Pastel Deviled Eggs

Until next time....

Lampshade DIY

2013-03-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

Like most crafters I have a ton of fabric at home. I see fabrics that I love at the store and buy them even though I am not sure what I will be doing with them. Don't judge...I am sure there are a ton of you out there that do the same :).

So anyway, I wanted to revamp the lampshade in our living room so instead of heading to the fabric store I decided to look through my fabric stash, and I ended up finding exactly what I was looking for.

This was a quick and easy DIY. All you need is a lampshade, your fabric of choice, a glue gun and scissors.

Check out the end result.

Until next time....

DIY postcard art

2013-03-19T14:24:00.004-04:00

I wanted to share with you a quick and easy Art DIY I did.

All you need are the following items:
1) Canvas - I got mine from the dollar store
2) Paint & Paintbrush (optional) to paint the canvas in your colour of choice
3) Double Sided Tape
4) Postcards - I got mine from IKEA for about $5.00, but you can use ones that you got while on vacation, received from friends and family or even pick up some vintage ones from an antique shop.

It is very simple project but I think it looks pretty nice - simple and clean. Also since I used double sided tape, I can change out the postcard anytime I please.

Until next time....

Nursery Reveal

2013-03-15T10:13:00.000-04:00

We are happy to announce the arrival of the newest little addition to our family. Parker Stone was born on February 10th at 9:45pm, weighing in at a healthy 7lbs 12 ounces. We couldn't be more in love and blessed to have two adorable, healthy and amazing little boys!

Parker's nursery has been done for quite some time, however things have been very busy around here as you can imagine with a newborn and a 4 year old, so I am just getting to share with you his nursery now. All I can say is I am thrilled with the results of our hard work. Pretty much everything in his room is a DIY. From the flooring to his crib bedding to the art and mirror on the walls. It was a real labour of love. I will have some follow up posts which show the DIY process of some of the items in his room.

Here is the list of DIY's in the room
1) Crib bedding, matching pillow and change pad cover
2) Sweater pillow on chair
3) Thrift store clock turned into mirror
4) Painted dresser
5) Closet makeover
6) DIY paper owls
7) Baby name art
8) Lamp makeover
9) Wall flowers
10) Over the crib art
11) Flooring

Until next time....

New and Improved - Blog Revamp

2013-03-11T11:27:00.001-04:00

Welcome to our new and improved Blog!

We have made our blog more user friendly and appealing to you our readers. Please take your time to check out our new layout and browse prior content and feel free to let us know what you think.

Special thanks to Designer Blogs who worked hard to make our new look possible!

Until next time....

Nursery Makeover - Closet Sneak Peek

2012-11-23T08:09:00.000-05:00

Why hello there Folks!

D day (delivery day) is getting closer by the minute, and I have been making some headway into our nursery makeover, so I thought I would give you a little sneak peek of the closet! There is still quite a bit to do in there, but here is how it looks thus far. I hope you like it as much as I do :) Let me know what you think!

DIY Crochet Scarf

2012-11-21T12:21:00.002-05:00

In a previous post I admitted to you my new obsession with crocheting. Well I thought I would share with you my first two creations...albeit they are the same design, I am quite proud of them, and I especially love the fact that you can wear them multiple ways. I didn't use a pattern, as I am not that advanced to even know how to read them properly, but that will come with time. All I know is that it was fun and rewarding. Maybe it will inspire you to pick up a crochet hook and start a new project or obsession of your own :)

Enjoy.

DIY - Decorating with Feathers this Christmas

2012-11-19T09:44:00.001-05:00

Feathers are EVERYWHERE this season for Christmas decorations. I have seen everything from full size Christmas trees made entirely of feathers, to small ball ornaments with feathers. Now let me tell you these new decorations are gorgeous, yet can be quite costly. I found a beautiful round clear Christmas ball ornament, however it was $10.00 for one! Now I don't know about you, but I don't want just one ball on my tree, so I thought, this would be simple enough to make myself. So I headed to the crafts stores with idea in hand, and was able to find a pack of clear plastic christmas balls. The Christmas balls were $3.97 for a 6 pack, and the feathers I actually had on hand, I don't think I paid more than a few bucks for them at the time.

You simply remove the silver topper and place the feather(s) of you choice inside, attached the topper back on and voila! Couldn't be simpler! So basically for 70 cents, yes 70 cents you to can have a beautiful feather Christmas ball of your very own.

Also since the particular balls I purchased were plastic, this is a fun craft to have your little one join in on. Check out one of the balls my little one created :)

HAVE FUN!!

Nursery Makeover Part 1

2012-11-12T20:16:00.001-05:00

In case you don't already know, my husband and I are are pregnant with our second child, and our newest little one is set to debut on February 6th. So with a new baby comes and the excuse to renovate/redecorate a room :) It has been a long and drawn out process...or so it seems, but we are finally done repainting and laying the new floors!

First off, I must show you the HIDEOUS purple colour that this spare room has been for the past 2 years, I honestly can't believe that this wasn't the first room we painted. It must be because it wasn't the most offensive colour used in the house.

OK, so back to how it looks now.

We painted the room in Universal Grey by C.I.L. Realife, and I must say what a difference it makes. The room looks so much fresher and cleaner. The flooring that was there was just a plain beige cream carpet, a standard construction grade I assume, cause it wasn't that spectacular. We decided to go with a vinyl hardwood flooring in a beautiful grey. It is simply stunning, it almost looks as though we have barn board in the room with how wide the planks are and the texture in the product.

This was the first ever home renovation project that my husband and I worked on together and I am happy to say we both survived...it was...actually...FUN!!! Do I see more flooring projects in our future...YOU BET I DO :)

Here are some of before during and after pics of our painting and flooring portion of our spare room turning nursery makeover! Come back soon to see the progress I make on the room as I go.

The Finished Product

Remember

2012-11-11T12:53:00.000-05:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Secret Pinterest Boards

2012-11-09T12:46:00.002-05:00

For those of you not in the know yet, Pinterest is introducing "Secret Boards"! What are secret boards you ask, well they are boards that you can post to and keep private from other people. Right now Pinterest has created 3 private boards in your boards page for you to start pinning to. Whether you are planning a surprise birthday party, pinning present ideas, or trying to keep the news of a new baby under wraps, there are plenty of reasons why these secret boards are so useful.

I think this is absolutely AWESOME! I know that when we were first pregnant, I ended up creating a new Pinterest account so I could start pinning nursery ideas for our bundle of joy on the way.

There are a few things I am not sure of, like if you repin someone else's pin will they still see that it was repinned, etc, I am sure after doing some private pinning I will soon find out! But kudos to Pinterest for incorporating this into their site, I just hope it is something that will stick around!

Holiday Parties - Maternity Dresses

2012-11-01T12:41:00.001-04:00

Holiday season is fast approaching and that means parties and get togethers!

I love this time of year, when you get to dress up and be all fancy.

So even if you aren't able to "drink and be marry" like me, cause you are pregnant, it shouldn't stop you from going out and partaking in the festivities and look great too!

I hit Asos Maternity online to help me find some maternity fashions that I could wear for this years Christmas parties. With prices like these you could afford to buy a dress for every party you plan on attending...why...because you deserve it darling!

Crochet Addict!

2012-10-27T10:13:00.001-04:00

It all started with a hat I ordered off Etsy for our new bambino and has transitioned into a full on obsession with crocheting!

What a fun craft to get into. All you need is your yarn and a hook. It's easy to start up and stop at any time, which is fantastic for a mom with a little 4 year old that pulls your attention away from anything you attempt to do that doesn't involve them. In 2 days I have crocheted 2 button scarfs and it couldn't have been more relaxing, fun, easy (well once I got the hang of it), and rewarding! It is so neat to see that you created something so intricate with just a hook, ball of yarn and your hands!

Now all I want to do is learn new stitches and different things to make! Crocheting and knitting have endless project possibilities. Not only can you make items for yourself, family, friends, and baby, but you can make awesome items for your home too, and I am not talking about blankets and tea cosies here folks! Check out these amazing crocheted and knitted items for your home which are simply stunning! I wonder what my next project will be...

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Days of Wine and Roses

2012-10-21T11:07:00.000-04:00

Some beautiful florals to brighten your Sunday!

Enjoy.

Decorating with Pumpkins

2012-10-18T17:48:00.001-04:00

Wow...has it ever been a long time since I updated our blog. The reason is not because I don't care, it's because we are expecting our second child, and the past few months have been pretty rough! Now I must tell you my first pregnancy was a breeze, I didn't have one second of morning sickness whatsoever, however this pregnancy couldn't be more different. I started having morning sickness week 4, I was also dealing with low blood pressure which was making me extremely light headed and fainting spells! Now that I am in my 6th month I am feeling so much more like myself, albeit quite a bit larger in the tummy :) But I am happy to tell you that I am back and will continue to update our blog on a more regular basis! Thanks for sticking around, if you did :)

Now onto today's post!
I am not sure where you are located in this wonderful world, but where we are from, Ontario Canada, Fall is in full swing! The leaves are changing colour the breezes are brisk and the pumpkins are ready to harvest. There is no better way to decorate your homes indoors or outdoors, than with nature. Branches, acorns, pine cones and of course PUMPKINS. Below I have put together some Fall decorating ideas that use a variety of pumpkins and squash.

Enjoy!

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3

There are endless options when it comes to painting your pumpkins. You can do any colour and also incorporate stencils, ribbons and anything you have on hand to make a pumpkin look extra special.

Hollow out a squash and use it as centre piece.

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Put a pair or panty hose or patterned nylons over your pumpkin. This has to be the easy way to add elegance to your pumpkin!

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Try twine, rope, yarn etc, to add a decorative element to your pumpkins

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Why not use the endless number of buttons that you have collected over the years.

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And of course there is always the option to add GLITTER to your pumpkins...a girls best friend!

Summer Must-Have: Cambridge Satchels

2012-07-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday Folks,
Well today is another scorcher of a day in my part of the world! With the heat outside, it got me thinking about fun summer bags that can carry a large bottle of water and all the other stuff I love to carry....which is a whole lot of stuff :)
I have always been a fan of The Cambridge Satchel Co. handbag collections as they come in a variety yummy colors, at a great price point, can be engraved and are made of genuine leather :) So though I say that this find is a summer must-have, it really is a classic accessory for your year-round wardrobe. Be sure to check out their online store.

(Source)

**Where to Grab One**

The Cambridge Satchel Co. - $74.00 UK Pounds

The Cambridge Satchel Co. - $105.00 UK Pounds

The Cambridge Satchel Co. - Limited Edition Pastel - $105 UK Pounds

The Cambridge Satchel Co. - Limited Edition Pastel - $105.00 UK Pounds

Have a fun day everyone!!!!

The Monday Blues - N°14

2012-06-11T13:07:00.002-04:00

Now that patio season is here, and seems as though to stay, I thought to share with you some blue inspired patio designs!

Enjoy!

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Neons go to the Tropics!

2012-06-08T20:04:00.003-04:00

Check out these neat and fun ways to wear neons. These colours remind me of tropical seas! What a fun way to wear the neon trend this season!

Neons go to the Tropics! by shannon-haughton-jordan featuring slim jeans

Long evening dress
$46 - tobi.com

Volcom v neck t shirt
$25 - tillys.com

Elizabeth and James tuxedo jacket
$395 - barneys.com

CIMARRON slim jeans
€79 - placedestendances.com

Supra high top shoes
$110 - suprafootwear.com

H&M peep toe heels
£20 - hm.com

Versace clutch handbag
$1,187 - net-a-porter.com

Converse digital watch
£65 - debenhams.com

Casio watch
€60 - colette.fr

Bracelet
$7 - hottopic.com

Kara Ross blue topaz ring
jewelry.1stdibs.com

Straw hat
£34 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Uniqlo trilby hat
£20 - uniqlo.com

Beauty Is Life matte eyeshadow
$25 - barneys.com

Shimmer makeup
$12 - occmakeup.com

Pop Beauty nail polish
$10 - nordstrom.com

House Gawking - Connecticut Farmhouse

2012-06-07T15:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Thursday All!

Hope the day has been going great thus far...Just wanted to share with you this amazing farmhouse in Connecticut. I absolutely love the use natural tones throughout the home and the ever abundant windows, adds a touch of comfort with a light breezy feel. See for yourself...enjoy!!

All Images Courtesy

Shawn Henderson Interior Design

Take Flight with these Looks!

2012-06-05T13:03:00.003-04:00

Birds of a Feather featuring leather boots

Butterfly Kisses by featuring 80s pants

GLOSSYBOX

2012-06-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

It came, it came, it came!!!

I am soooo excited to share with you this awesome find!

I was doing some searching online a while back and came across a company called Birchbox. What it is, is a subscription based program that you enroll in and they send you samples of new and neat cosmetic products. Well to my dismay...of course they didn’t offer this outside of the U.S. :(

However just the other day while perusing a magazine I came across a Canadian based company that does the same thing!!!! I practically dove to my computer to sign up! The company is called GLOSSYBOX. You sign up for $15.00 per month and they will on a monthly basis send you a GLOSSYBOX filled with 5 high-end beauty samples (and a surprise 6th item could show up in your box at any time!). The items you receive will be based on a simple questionnaire you fill out i.e. skin type, type of hair, what type of fragrances you like, etc.

The packaging is gorgeous, quite apropos for its name and the products inside are new, niche beauty brands as well as timeless classics. I can’t wait for my next GLOSSYBOX to arrive, I will be frantically waiting by my mailbox....it is like Christmas morning with each box!!!

So just to let you know how amazing of a deal this is...I received $55.75 (plus taxes) worth of quality products for only $15.00!!! Awesome find, if I do say so myself!!!

Artemis and Apollo

Time to get organized....once and for all

Organization Made Pretty

DIY placemat pillows

14 Free Fonts

10 Easter DIY ideas

Lampshade DIY

DIY postcard art

Nursery Reveal

New and Improved - Blog Revamp

Nursery Makeover - Closet Sneak Peek

DIY Crochet Scarf

DIY - Decorating with Feathers this Christmas

Nursery Makeover Part 1

Remember

Secret Pinterest Boards

Holiday Parties - Maternity Dresses

Crochet Addict!

Days of Wine and Roses

Decorating with Pumpkins

﻿

Summer Must-Have: Cambridge Satchels

The Monday Blues - N°14

Neons go to the Tropics!

House Gawking - Connecticut Farmhouse

Take Flight with these Looks!

GLOSSYBOX