Mummy Maggie Chronicles

Kidlets Winter 2013

2013-03-19T06:22:00.000-04:00

On Remembrance Day, 2012 we had a photo shoot with the kiddos. The pics were supposed to be our Christmas cards, but we didn't receive the photos until this week! The photos are super adorable, so I can't help but share a few of our favourite pics.

Living Room Addition - a Teaser!

2013-03-18T06:55:00.000-04:00

I love my new house. We've been in for about 10 months now, so we're settling in more and more everyday.

What I don't love about my house is the lack of storage. Or at least my perception of a lack of storage. Or maybe it's just that I've always dreamed of bookshelves flanking the fireplace in my living room, so my storage complaints are a big rouse to make that dream a reality.

Whatever the real story is, the built-in bookshelves in the living room are happening! We asked my interior design friend and Ikea Guru to help us figure out a custom look on a big box store budget.

We figured that customized built-in bookshelves would probably cost us about $8-10K, especially in Fort McMurray. But incredible Ikea "built-ins" {comprised of various kitchen cabinets & drawers!} came in at just a fraction of the cost -- even with having to rent a pick-up truck and drive 5 hours to Edmonton and back. And we are always up for a good ol' DIY project!

An Instagram shot of ALL the bazillion boxes that will make up our built-in bookshelves! It literally filled the whole back of the pick-up truck!

The update would not be complete without a tile installation! We picked up the carrera marble skinny subway tiles at Home Depot! Yay for the "The Depot" as EZ calls it! Affordable and awesome!


I'm really excited about the cool veins of gray in these tiles. It's going to be fabulous! Especially because we're tiling them vertically for an unexpected twist!

It took awhile for Big A to put the cabinets and drawers together. Ikea stuff, even as awesome as it is, is notoriously annoying to put together. Especially with two little helpers in the form of small children who want to be extremely involved, the process can be a wee bit tedious. But Big A has persevered and everything is almost installed!

Stay tuned for our latest living room updates!

My 2nd Article in YMM Magazine!

2013-03-16T09:09:00.000-04:00

The latest issue of YMM Magazine is out!

Be sure to check out my article on the YMM Online Edition!

Let me know what you think!

Life Update - Winter 2013

2013-03-15T23:51:00.002-04:00

Okay. Seriously. Where does the time go? It's been TWO WHOLE MONTHS since I last updated. Like everyone else on the planet, we're a busy family with lots going on. And frankly, after a working all day long and the hours-long drama of putting kidlets to bed, updating the blog late at night is a lot less interesting than vegging out with the Real Housewives of wherever.

But I miss blogging. I miss recording our adventures. So here I am :)

Here's a bit of an update of the last two months:

DIY Home Projects:

We're making GREAT progress on the built-in bookshelves -- but I guess you don't even know about that, so that's a blog post in itself!
Remember this post from back in October about "Paint it Black"? I've been waiting for TWO months for wallpaper samples to finalize our choice because our bedroom is GOING BLACK! It'll be a huge master suite transformation that will include our room, ensuite bath AND our closet {but don't tell Big A that just yet!}
In the Spring, we're embarking on a play room makeover too. With space being a premium in our home, we need to make better use of that space :)

Family Life:

On top of my full-time work, my yoga teacher training, and motherhood -- I've decided to add GRAD STUDENT to my plate. Yep, that's right. I start my graduate studies on Monday! So excited!
Kids are wonderful -- they are growing up so fast, and they deserve their own post.
It's still FUH-REEZING in Fort McMurray - like it's -29 degrees celcius + windchill. And it snows almost everyday! We're really looking forward to Spring!!
Big A and I ventured to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico sans kiddos for a week back in February. It was as fabulous as you can imagine.
Yoga is now part of my life, not just something I do on weekends, and I couldn't be more grateful for the magic and power of Yoga in my life. I see it's effects rubbing off on my kidlets so I couldn't be a more happy swami mummy!

So there you have it -- a brief overview of our busy life in #YMM. I am so incredibly grateful for our new life here in Fort McMurray. We're coming up on our one year anniversary of moving to #YMM. It was the best {albeit the CRAZIEST!} decision we ever made. Our lives have completely changed. We have met amazing people, had wonderful experiences, and have been blessed with more opportunities than we dreamed of -- and it's only been a year!

EZ turns 4!

2013-01-13T15:57:00.000-05:00

So my little guy is 4 years old now! How did that happen? Where does the time go?

We celebrated his big day yesterday with family and friends. He chose the theme for his birthday - Octonauts. Do you know how hard it is to find Octonauts stuff? Thanks to Etsy, we did ok for decorations and had a fantastic little party for EZ.

We kept decorations and food relatively simple :)

EZ was thrilled to have his little friends over. They played so well together. EZ loved opening his prezzies too. His friends and family know him well -- lots of Cars stuff, Hot Wheels, Kinnex, a new Burton snowsuit from Mummy & Daddy, and new snowshoes from Little A! {The whole family also got snowshoes too! Happy Birthday, EZ!}

One of the most timely and hilarious gifts was from my brother and family -- A "Keep Calm & Gangnam Style" t-shirt! This is bar none EZ's FAVOURITE song! As soon as he opened the gift, he screamed, "Oppa Gangnam Style!" He quickly ripped off his buttoned-up collared shirt, threw on his Gangnam tee and started dancing. Even Little A started horsey dancing when she saw it! What an awesome gift!

The birthday celebrations didn't end at the party. EZ asked to go to the "box truck restaurant" {AKA the family-friendly local "Montana's" restaurant}, where we had meal and this happened.

EZ was hilariously annoyed throughout our dinner when other birthday celebrants were sung to by the Montana's staff. He pouted and said it was his birthday, and not anyone else's. We asked him to be patient and sure enough, after dinner, the staff congregated at our table with giant antler headgear {do you think they clean it after each use? shudder...} and ice cream!

Not to be outdone in ridiculous cuteness, Little A figured out how to eat her ice cream without using her hands. It was adorable to watch her figure this out, through trial and error, finding the best seat placement, head angle and speed.

My Word for 2013

2013-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

The blogosphere is abuzz this time of year with chatter of resolutions, and there appears to be a trend to choosing a word that will define your year to come.

After much deliberation {actually, not true since the Universe pretty much SMACKED me in the face with this word repeatedly over the last week!}, my word for 2013 is...

WILLINGNESS

More accurately, the my phrase for the year is...

I AM WILLING...

I am willing to make time to achieve my goals.

I am willing to embrace a more yogic lifestyle.

I am willing to release my fear of swimming {so I can go surfing in Hawaii!}.

I am willing to let go of my diet soda addiction.

I am willing to eat well to increase my endurance, health and wellness.

I am willing to do what it takes...

See? I am willing to do many things. And being willing doesn't mean deprivation or despair, nor does it mean immediate perfection is required.

To me, WILLINGNESS is all about an attitude of optimism and serenity: humbly surrendering your ego, your need for control, allowing you to give yourself permission to become who you really are. Willingness isn't about succeeding {or failing!} at short term resolutions; it's about having an open heart and an open mind -- making room for you to succeed beyond your resolutions. In fact, it's a REVOLUTION.

So spill it, friends. What's YOUR word for 2013?

PS: Here's a link to my 2012 Simple Revolution Post :) I think I did quite well. I love kale, I love sweating {almost!} everyday, and now I'm even training to become a yoga teacher! Goal setting is SO important!

Welcoming 2013 with Rainbows

2013-01-02T21:40:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

Who else is excited as I am for 2013? I love fresh starts and new beginnings.

To be honest, I spent most of New Years Day in my new Anthropologie pyjama pants, lounging, napping and watching guilty pleasures on TV (hello Mob Wives!).

I dragged myself out of bed when I realized it was ABOVE ZERO degrees celcius! I had to go out and soak in the warmer weather. I enjoyed a beautiful walk in the sparkling snow, listening to my new audiobook of my guru, my girl Gabrielle Bernstein's new book, "May Cause Miracles". Self-indulgent awesomeness.

Then I looked up and saw this beautiful sky -- the gorgeous lavender, gray and pink sky punctuated with a HUGE rainbow. I realized how I blessed I am to live in this beautiful community, so close to nature, so I could really soak up this amazing scene.

This is the most wonderful way to ring in a New Year! Thank you Mother Nature!

My Top 12 of 2012

2012-12-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

What an amazing year we've had in our little family. From moving to the near-North Pole {aka: Fort McMurray, AB}, to buying a new home, and thriving in our new lives here in the West, it's been an awesome 2012.

I thought I'd kick off the end of year wrap-ups with my favourites of 2012. These are the things that made my life happier, healthier, easier and/or more stylish in 2012.

Without further ado, and in no particular order:

1. Michael Kors Purse

{Hamilton with Rose Gold Accents}

I tried to find a pic with the rose gold hardware, but I couldn't find one. Trust me, they are not an urban myth -- they exist and they are truly fabulous! I haven't had a black purse in several years, but this purse is special.

2. Nike Fuel Band

I've had my eye on this little bit of fitness technology ever since my sister got one at SXSW last year. I scooped mine up in Vegas, then I found out that they were coming to Canada 10 days later! I love it. I wear it everyday and it tracks my steps, calories burned and Nike "Fuel". It's so fun to challenge myself with this little band of cool, and it's easy to use. Just slap it on your wrist, then sync it to your computer or iPhone at the end of day :)

3. Manitobah Mukluks

These are AMAZING. Cozy, comfy and so pretty. These mukluks are made by an Aboriginal-owned company {yay!}, Manitobah Mukluks. I have a few pairs of winter boots, but these are very special.

Though not necessarily built for slushy conditions, they are created to protect from the harsh winter chill which we have plenty of here in Fort McMurray. I decided on the tall Metis Mukluks because I am Metis {!} and I love the pretty flower beading.

*I am told Santa may be bringing me a 2nd pair of mukluks for Christmas*

Big A thinks I'm crazy having so many winter boots, but it's winter here for about 8 months, so it's not like one pair will do!

4. Life-changing Movies

There are four movies that changed my life this year. I still haven't fully changed my lifestyle, but they have shifted my paradigm -- my understanding of health and wellness. Especially during this Holiday Season of excess and indulgence, I hope you find the time to catch one {or all!} of these health-documentaries.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

The title of this movie is catchy, but the content is seriously awe-inspiring. The movie follows two average guys who go on green juice fasts to reboot their systems -- they end up releasing tons of weight and healing themselves of serious diseases too.

Food Matters

This film shows you that you truly are what you eat -- if you want rich, vibrant and lasting health, what you eat truly matters. It delves a bit into Gerson therapy, healing from cancer and other diseases, and the importance of vitamins and raw vegetables. LOVE this movie! I still watch it all the time and always find some new info that I didn't catch before!

Hungry for Change

This documentary is a essentially an indictment of our modern-day diet industry. It's not about what you eat, it's about what's eating you. It's info-packed, but in a really accessible way. Definitely check out the 20 minute trailer on their website. You'll be inspired too!

May I Be Frank

This is another movie about an average guy's transformation. Suffering years of drug & alcohol addiction, violence and self-hatred, Frank allows the servers at a raw vegan cafe he frequents to help him change his lifestyle and hopefully his life. It's an inspiring movie.

5. Breville Juicer and Vitamix

Ever since watching all the amazing movies above, I was inspired to try to adopt some of lessons of healthy living I learned :)

The Breville Juicer is AWESOME. It's got this amazingly powerful motor that that juice a full apple in seconds. It's relatively easy to clean, and nothing makes my cells happier and more vibrant than sipping fresh green juice in the morning.

I've been waiting for the Vitamix for a long time, pretty much ever since I became a veganista in the summer of 2011. Though I've let my strict vegan lifestyle lapse a bit, I've found the Vitamix to be extremely handy for making the *BEST* smoothies and soups. Seriously, this is the most amazing appliance you will ever own.

6. Lululemon Yoga Mat

Lululemon calls this "The Mat" and with reason. It's cush-y and thick and amazing to practice my asanas on :) I got it in white so it takes a little to keep it sparkling clean, but I would highly recommend it if you're in the market for a new yoga mat.

7. Coach Rose Gold Necklace

This necklace is truly a stunner. It's well-priced for a LOT of bling. And y'all know I like my bling. I wear it with everything, and the best part is that it's long enough to wrap around twice if you want a shorter necklace.

Here's a close-up of the rhinestone disk. The other side has the classic Coach "C's". Totally chic.

8. Mini Keurig

This is one of my splurges this year, especially because I don't even drink coffee! It makes the most delicious hot drinks, and it's so easy to use.

You have to buy little K-cups and add water, and two minutes later you have a warm mug of perfection. I like the mint hot chocolate, spiced apple cider and herbal chamomile tea. I loved my Mini Keurig so much that I got one for my office too :)

9. Neti Pot

Totally life-changing. Get one immediately. I use a 1/4 tbsp mix of sea salt and baking soda, then add warm water. It's part of my yoga practice called Jal Neti. I wish someone would've told me to start using this earlier!

10. Tiny Devotions Mala Beads

I've blogged about my love affair with Tiny Devotions all year. I absolutely adore these mala beads, to be used for meditation or Japa Mala. They are well made and positively lovely, and simply make me feel happy when I wear them {which is every day!}.

11. Guess Watch

I blogged about this watch already, but I totally love this watch, so it bears repeating. I get compliments on it every time I wear it, and people often mistake it for a higher end watch. It's sparkly, bling-y and in that rose gold tone which is all the rage now.

12. My Gurus: Kris Carr & Gabrielle Bernstein

Ok, these ladies have figured it out -- life that is.

Kris Carr is a wellness warrior and is my health guru. She's a cancer survivor {you may have heard about her amazing documentary called Crazy Sexy Cancer}. Her books on insightful and accessible, with a fresh writing style that wins you over. She just released a new cookbook called "Crazy Sexy Kitchen", and it's on my Santa list!

Gabrielle Bernstein is my spiritual guru. Oprah named her one of modern gurus for our generation on her OWN Network show, Super Soul Sunday. She is a teacher of a Course in Miracles, and like Kris Carr, has a unique, "hey girlfriend" style of writing that makes deep and heavy content easy to understand and relate to.

I'm Published!

2012-11-26T05:55:00.000-05:00

I'm so thrilled to introduce you to the latest magazine to hit Fort McMurray:

YMM - Your McMurray Magazine

{image via here}

...featuring an article by lil' ole me!

Yep. I'm published. Click here to read it :)

My column is entitled DIY-MM or "Do It Yourself, McMurray!"

My article for this edition was my easiest decorating and interior styling tips to make a house a home. So often in the #YMM, people don't take the time to really settle in and enjoy their home. Unfortunately, some people live here with one foot out the door, thinking they are just here to make money for a few years, then back to wherever they are from.

But more often then not, a two year plan evolves into a 10 year stint, and they are still using Rubbermaid totes as side tables! My article is all about creating a warm inviting space wherever you are NOW.

I hope you check it out. And please read the ENTIRE magazine too. You'll get to know a lot more about this amazing place I'm now proud to call my HOME.

Fort McMurray, AB - The #YMM

Pop of Yellow - or Thank You, Internet!

2012-10-17T06:30:00.000-04:00

I've got to admit that as much as I love Fort McMurray, options for affordable and hip home accessories are minimal.

{I miss Homesense and good thrifting options. }

So to compensate, I've been increasingly turning to online shopping, mostly Etsy. I've neglected the awesomeness of Etsy for too long. But I'm a convert once again.

Etsy is a long-distance shopper's best friend.

I'm excited to share with YOU, my amazing readers, my recent Etsy lovelies for my home! They aren't "installed" in my home yet, but at least I can share my good finds with you.

I know online shopping can be scary...but it's not 1997 anymore. Online shopping, especially when you are living in a remote location, is the best way to bring goodies to you. You do not have to live on Wal-Mart accessories alone {not that there's anything wrong with Wal-Mart, they do have some cool options}.

{image via here}

I think these pillows are absolutely AWESOME. I love the chevron {as you know!}, but the yellow felt flower is just beyond. This pillow hits the mark, so I ordered TWO! They have other colours and combinations, so definitely check out the shop called Bed Buggs Boutique!

{image via here}

I got these two amazing pillow covers for $26! Seriously! I'm using them as outdoor pillows since the fabric is really durable. I love pattern, and the mixing of these two modern fabrics makes me swoon. Yay Designer Pillow Shop -- check them out!

{image via here}

I'm saving the most exciting purchase for last...I'm getting these very cool yellow ikat pattern curtains for my living room! I've had satin nickel grommets added, as well as a liner, so these drapes should be a stunning statement to my living room. Definitely head to Sew Modish for stylish, yet affordable drapes!

So, enough about me...what amazing online finds have you bought lately?

Our Basement...Photos!

2012-10-15T06:30:00.001-04:00

When we bought this new home, we decided to finish the basement. To be precise, we decide to pay the builder to finish the basement for us.

One of the perks of owning a home in Fort McMurray is that there is an amazing rental market, with prospective tenants willing to pay large sums of money for basement rental suites. We decided to take advantage of the crazy market anomaly and rent out our basement. Really, we'd be crazy not to. It's like throwing money away, otherwise.

The builder just finished our basement in mid-September, and our {very awesome!} tenants moved in on October 1st. But before the arrived, we snapped some photos of what our basement looked like before and after!

BLACK: Dreadful or Dreamy? But definitely BOLD...

2012-10-12T22:51:00.002-04:00

I'm in a bit of design rut lately. I need to get "un-stuck".

I feel the itch to do something bold. Something crazy. Something I've wanted to do for awhile. Something that is VERY Mummy Maggie-like, but you would never guess.

But before I actually *DO* anything, I promise to let this idea marinate for a bit.

So here it goes...spilling my design dream...

{I want to paint my bedroom...BLACK.}

I adore my current bedroom "Modern Moroccan" style and colour scheme -- a mix of pewters, silvers, white and cream. But I'm just kind of tired of looking at it. It's too safe. Too expected. And I'm simply over it.

BLACK IS BOLD.

BLACK IS DRAMATIC.

It definitely wouldn't be ALL black. That would be too cocoon-ish. I love the classic combination of black and white. I'm thinking like a black and white Hollywood Regency style bedroom, with lots of moulding, metal, sparkle and glam.

Just so you get an idea of what I'm thinking, here are some Pinterest images that captured my attention. You can follow my "Black Room" Pinterest Board here :)

{image via pinterest via here}

I know *most* people would never dream of ever painting a room BLACK, but frankly, I think it's kind of awesome. Yep, it's a bold, but I think if it's done right it could be totally amazing.

The Awesome-ness of New Dishes

2012-09-03T06:02:00.000-04:00

When Big A & I got married, we got new dishes, as is the custom. We kind of bucked tradition and didn't get a fancy place setting. Instead, we were "cool" and got an everyday set in a mix of white, chocolate brown & robins egg blue. We got married in 2004, so those were the "in" colours then.

Those dishes were good to us, and yes, we did use them faithfully everyday. Over the last 8 years, they were chipped and scuffed, and simply not that pretty to look at.

So for our fancy new house, we decided to splurge for fancy new place settings. Okay, not like "Versace-fancy", but like "Crate & Barrel-fancy." I decided to get all white, to not only keep it simple, but so we could add to our collection over time.

I choose the "Essential" dinnerware from Crate & Barrel. I like it because of its simplicity. I can easily add a charger plate for interest, or add square plates/bowls to change it up.

{via here}

Again, one great thing about these Crate & Barrel sets is that the white porcelain material is always the same, so you can add different pieces to your collection over time. The other awesome thing about these dinnerware sets is that they are not that expensive.

We also picked up some small & large serving dishes, salad bowls and the like, all in the same white porcelain.

I am so glad we treated ourselves to this new dinnerware. I feel like a grown-up when I'm eating now, and I'm not always apologizing for my mismatched, scuffed up and "tired" dinnerware. I love to open up my cupboards and see my all-white, matching dishes :)

Upgrading your dinnerware is an easy {and somewhat affordable!} way to beautify your kitchen and simplify your life.

Everything is coming up Rose-y :)

2012-08-29T20:04:00.000-04:00

I'm not a "gold" person at all. I sometimes wear some gold in my jewelry, but it's "ghetto gold" as Carrie Bradshaw would say.

{Doesn't it all come back to Sex & the City?!}

However, there's a growing trend I've been noticing lately, which I'm kind of loving, despite myself.

Ok. Here it goes...

My name is Maggie. And I'm a ROSE GOLD addict.

I absolutely adore rose gold - especially for Fall. It complements every skin tone because of the warm pink undertones.

Don't get me wrong, I'm STILL NOT a GOLD fan, but this rose gold is something special. It's modern, it's fresh, it's fabulous.

I hadn't actually delved into the rose gold realm until this week when I splurged on a new watch.

{via here}

I loved this rose gold Guess watch right away. The crystals are really bling-y and go well with my new diamond ring :) {yes, you read that right. I'm on a diamond jewelry kick right now too -- but ONLY if it's on SALE!}.

So, are you on the Rose Gold Train yet?

Backsplashes are Installed :)

2012-08-21T06:50:00.004-04:00

In a matter of a few short hours, ALL of the backsplashes were installed. And we didn't have to do it!

It probably would've taken us a week to do it in our free time, so it was so lovely to have it all done on a Saturday morning when we were out playing :)

New Kitchen Lights - Even More SPARKLE!

2012-08-20T08:36:00.009-04:00

Like many other things in our new home, the light fixtures were just ok. They're by no means icky, just not as awesome as they could be.

To be honest, I think EVERYONE thought I was bananas for changing the light fixtures. But I adore cool light fixtures. They totally change the feeling of a room - from ho-hum to "happening".

**I also convinced the builder to buy back ALL the light fixtures from us to put into another house -- just like I did with the tiger tail granite :) Yippee!

Needless to say, I'm having fun buying all new lights!

Here are our kitchen lights!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I bought these on our first trip to Edmonton. We had about 10 minutes at the amazing light store, appropriately named "Best Lighting", before the showroom closed. I saw the light over the kitchen table first and was smitten. The light was even on sale! Totally meant to be :)

I scoured the store for pendants and luckily these gorgeous orbs were in stock. These chrome beauties were exactly what I was looking for. And they were only $100 each!

I'm so incredibly pleased with how they transformed the room from boring to brilliant!

New Backsplash Tiles!

2012-08-18T20:16:00.000-04:00

When we purchased our home, it was still under construction so we had *some* say in how a few options were finished.

One of these options was the backsplash tiles for the kitchen & bathrooms. The builder had picked out a decent beige-y oversized subway tile. It was okay, just not FABULOUS.

And seriously, when you're paying what we're paying for this house -- you want JAW-DROPPING AMAZING. Ok, that may be overkill, but you want something special.

And, let's be honest, I wanted something SPARKLY!

One of the best things is that the builder offered to put in whatever tiles we chose! How amazing are they?!

I sourced some alright options at our local shops, but they were expensive and they did not "sing" to me. So just before we put down cash on some fancy tiles, I decided we should go to Edmonton to check out what the city had to offer.

The first place we went was to Lowes. We arrived around 10:15am {on a Holiday Monday - one of the perks of Alberta is that the shops are open on stat holidays! SCORE!} and they had JUST put out a new line of tiles that very morning!

I LOVED EVERYTHING! And it was so affordable {like under $20/sq. ft. compared to the $40+/sq. ft. I was looking at locally}.

Since there were so many stylish options, I decided to do a different tile for every room. Here's what I came up with!

Main Bathroom: Modern Mix of Cream, Putty & Stainless tiles

{These are a cooler & more modern version of the tiles I had already picked out! WIN!}

Master Ensuite: White Carrera Marble

{I've always eyed carrera marble but I never wanted to commit to it because it stains! This is a perfect alternative and will go perfectly with my new sparkly quartz countertops!}

Powder Room: Stainless Steel penny rounds

{I've ALWAYS wanted these so it was a treat that Lowes carried them!}

Kitchen Backsplash: Sparkly white glass, marble, gunmetal & stainless steel

{These are almost exactly the same as what I sourced here in Fort Mac - but I liked these much more - so much lighter & brighter!}

Getting this kitchen tile was a CHALLENGE. They had 100 in stock but they couldn't find them. They asked us to come back in a couple of hours so they could look for them. When we returned, they said they needed more time. We had to drive back to Fort McMurray {a 5 hr+ drive}, but waited another few hours. I couldn't leave this amazing find behind.

We waited until after 5pm {remember we got there at 10:15am?!} and they STILL hadn't found it. They said they'd call when they located the tile, but we HAD to leave for Fort Mac since we both had to work the next day. So we left with only a faint hope they'd call.

But, true to their word {YAY LOWES!}, they did call 3 hours later. They had stayed late to find them for me!

Luckily 3 days later my brother happened to be driving through Edmonton and picked them up for me! Thanks bro!

UPDATE: The tiles went in today. Wait till you see them!

{More!} New Specs for Mummy!

2012-08-17T21:39:00.000-04:00

One can never have too many pairs of glasses.

At one time, glasses were only perfunctory for me and I *only* wore contact lenses. I still love my contacts, but I enjoy the spectacular fabulosity that comes with styling around your glasses.

And when glasses are so affordable, thanks to Clearly Contacts, a girl's gotta have a few pairs. Or FIVE {with the hopes of adding more to my collection!}.

Here are the new additions to my collection:

I LOVE these chic transparent rectangular glasses. They are cool, but are sophisticated for a professional environment.

I couldn't decide between these raspberry coloured or cotton candy pink coloured, but since it's going to be Fall soon {REALLY SOON here in Fort Mac!}, I thought I'd go with the jewel tone colour. I love the retro cat-eye styling.

West Elm Surprises

2012-08-13T19:30:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Big A went back to Ontario for a wedding. While he was there, I *made* him go to West Elm.

Fort McMurray is awesome, but its shopping {especially for home stuff!} leaves much to be desired. I am desperate for an infusion of West Elm style.

Upon arrival at the store, he called me and I hopped onto the internet to guide him through the store with my wish list. That's when he informed me that he only brought a CARRY-ON!!! No room in his luggage for my wish list :(

So I had him look around and surprise me with a few cool things that he'd think I'd like.

I think he did a great job :) I'm a lucky mummy.

First he got me this cool Pop Phone. It's a retro-look phone that plugs into your cell phone. And it's awesome in YELLOW. My favourite colour!

{via here}

---------------------------

He also got me this super cute owl candle - "Owl" love it forever :)

{via here}

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Lastly, he picked up these cute kitchen accessories for me. Elephant oven mitts & an apron -- in my favourite colour combination!

{via here}

I heart West Elm. I see that they're now shipping to Canada, albeit only on a limited scale. Hopefully that'll change soon :)

Update & Sparkly Countertops

2012-08-12T21:30:00.001-04:00

We've been in our new home for just over a month, and it's definitely been a whirlwind {hence the lack of posting - sorry peeps}.

We didn't have internet or phone until 10 days ago, but I guess it's been 10 days, so that's not a good excuse!

Anyhoo, I am absolutely DELIGHTED with the way our new house is becoming a home. We moved into the brand new house in a brand new neighbourhood {hence the lack of availability of phone or internet despite we live in the 21st century. And we still don't even have a proper postal code, let alone mail delivery service!}, and it's slowly become our home -- or "Mummy Maggie-fied", if you will.

I'll show you the changes we've made so far in various posts. In this post, I was telling you about the tragic tale of the tiger tail granite. Specifically, how much I hated it :) I'm told by many people that this granite is expensive and fabulous, but I'm sorry, it just didn't suit the house nor did it fit into my vision of how awesome this suburban house could be.

So we had it removed. And replaced. The day after we moved in. All for the price of a small car.

But it is WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Here's the BEFORE:

Here's the AFTER:

We chose Cimstone quartz in Lapland. The colour on the screen really doesn't do the quartz the appropriate justice. It's gorgeous bright white with tiny gray and mirror flecks, giving it that sparkling look.

This is a close up of Lapland:

I am absolutely thrilled with the final results. The change is massive. The house is so much brighter and the richness of the wood is really highlighted. We changed the granite in all the bathrooms to this white quartz as well. I can't wait to show you the rest! We've been busy around here!

Urban Barn Finds {psst...we have a new sofa!}

2012-06-20T01:00:00.002-04:00

So you've probably figured out by now that we really love living in Fort McMurray - the only downside is {or is it a plus for my finances?} that there is not a whole lot of local home decorating retail therapy options.

I'm sure you recall my penchant for HomeSense and other retailers, like Urban Barn. I used to go to various locations a few times a week when we lived in the GTA. But now that the closest store is a 5 hour drive, I've resorted to shopping online and hoping for the best.

But even online, I still live by my home stylist motto --

BUY IT & TRY IT.

So -- I bought a sofa from Urban Barn WITHOUT seeing it in person. Crazy yes, but one's perspective of crazy decorating choices changes when one is so remote.

Without further ado, here's our new sofa - the XANADU - I {heart} the name, so joyful and fun! We purchased the floor model colour - Savvy Smoke!

{via here}

Big A saw it on a recent trip to Edmonton, and said it was comfy! It is a cool grey, so hopefully it goes well with our Smokey Gray hardwood!

I am also completely smitten by this amazing lamp {the Kelso table lamp} - it is HUGE & fabulous! I don't have a spot for it yet, but like my motto says - BUY IT & TRY IT!

{via here}

Isn't it just cool! Maybe that side table would work for us too!

A long time favourite of mine {that we recently put into my mom's house} is the Reflection Round Mirror. I think the clean lines make this mirror simply super chic. I think I'd like to put it in the powder room.

{via here}

So we definitely have a lot to do to style our new home. I'm so excited for the challenge. Luckily I have Urban Barn to help me!

PS: This post was not endorsed by Urban Barn or anything. I just simply ADORE their stylish and affordable stuff and wanted to share :)

Yogic Decorating

2012-06-10T14:24:00.002-04:00

Since moving to Fort McMurray I've been doing a lot of yoga. Between the breathing {pranayama} and movements {asanas}, yoga is transformative. You cannot escape the calming, healing power of yoga.

Sitting in the stillness, I am able to see the stresses in my life differently.

Image via here

One such stress has been this ugly tiger tail granite situation in my new house. I decided last week to take a high road with the builder, but since then {and after receiving super expensive quotes to replace the countertops with quartz!} I've had some time to really consider what I need {not merely just what I want} and gain some true perspective.

First - I'm lucky to have granite at all. I plan on decorating around it, and not with it. What I mean is, the current granite's colour scheme will not interfere with my decorating plans. I'm going ahead with my plans, and when the time & money is right, the countertops will change.

Second - There are MANY important and NECESSARY projects that will precede the replacement of the countertops. I hope Big A doesn't see this, but we have to:

Get window coverings for the ENTIRE house!
Redesigning Little A's room - since she's now out of a crib {so we need a bed, dressers, lighting, etc}
Design/Furnish the guest room/nanny's room
Get an outdoor swingset for the kidlets
Paint EVERYTHING - like every room, every closet, even the stair railings
Get new living room furniture & figure out
Buy new TVs, a VitaMix, a Kitchen Aid mixer
Change some light fixtures
Buy mirrors for every bathroom
There's probably MUCH more, but I can't think of it now

Third - It's only a countertop. Who cares?! There are many things in my life that require my full attention, and this granite situation has been unnecessarily distracting and negative. I choose to see the light and know that everything happens for a reason.

So that's my current feeling about the tiger tail granite. If we get a reasonable quote or we come into a lot of extra money, perhaps we will change the granite. But that change should not precede the basics like covering our windows so we're not exhibitionists :)

So thank you YOGA {and family and friends too!} for helping me gain the appropriate perspective on this stressful and disappointing predicament.

Ommm...Ommm...Ommm

Countertop Decisions

2012-06-06T09:50:00.001-04:00

Thanks for all your great feedback on yesterday's post. I'm happy to hear that my friends & followers agree with me.

Frankly, I haven't met a person that liked the granite. It's hard to explain design & decorating to a builder who thinks any granite is awesome because it's granite. Even tiger tail ugliness.

I guess some people would buy a house because it has granite, regardless of what it looked like. For me, it's a major turnoff if it doesn't go well with the other finishings.

Anyway, I digress because today's post is less about complaining, and more about DOING.

We are seriously considering replacing the tiger tail granite with a white quartz. Although the quote we got yesterday made me seriously reconsider if I could live with tiger tail. It's expensive to begin with, but then add Fort McMurray prices. Let's just say it was a 1/3 of my salary from my first law job!

Here are a few options we're looking at. What do you think?

Ice Snow - warmer white with some tiny flecks to add interest

Image via here

White Shimmer - this looks amazing in the ensuite!

Image via here

Silestone Lyra - quartz's answer to Carrera marble

Image via here

The Tragic Tale of the Tiger Tail

2012-06-05T01:08:00.002-04:00

Remember when I told you we bought a new house? Well, clearly it's under construction. And we came in late in the game, after all the colour/product choices had been made.

One of the most important things to me is that the big ticket items {cabinets, flooring, countertops, etc.} are decent. Everything else I can DIY-ify into something awesome, but if you don't have good bones {and a lack of cash flow}, my cool customizations would be lost.

So immediately, before we even thought of offering on the house, I needed to see samples of cabinets, flooring & granite. The builder was SLOW to get back to us, but we eventually received some bad sideways cell phone photographs purporting to be our finishings. One of these was the granite the builder chose.

Here was the photo they sent:

{See...its black with gray & white swirls with a touch of gold. Not my first choice, but workable}.

Here's what was installed last week:

TIGER TAIL ICE CREAM GRANITE

It's ALL dark greeny-black with giant ORANGE swirls and about 1% white.

You can imagine how disappointed I was with this granite. Like, we almost walked away from the house because it didn't AT ALL look like the photos. I understand that granite is a natural stone, so there's bound to be variation, but it doesn't look similar at all.

And to top it off {and I know we all have different tastes}, but I DO NOT like this granite. It's hard enough dealing with the dark cabinets, but you'll be pleased to know that I'm embracing them!

It doesn't match the cabinets THEY chose, nor does it go at all with the tile flooring THEY chose. And did I mention that this granite is EVERYWHERE -- kitchen, powder room, ensuite & kids bathroom -- The Tiger Tail is EVERYWHERE!

The long story short is that I complained loudly {I used to be a lawyer, I can't help that!}, but alas nothing was to be done in the end. The builder won't change it. The builder tells me this is top of the line granite. It's still ugly and not what I was promised. Boo.

I'm stuck with the tiger tail granite :(

Unless I change it up...

White Quartz anyone? But that's another post for another day.

Our {latest!} Fort McMurray Real Estate Adventure...

2012-05-27T01:27:00.000-04:00

So...ya...we bought a house.

Well, I'm probably jinxing it because all the conditions haven't been met yet, but it's *thisclose* so it's probably going to happen. And we're too excited to keep quiet about it anymore!

Obviously it's a new build, so we hope to move by the end of June. it's close to being done. Part of our contract is that the basement be made into a legal rental suite {EVERYONE does that here in Fort McMurray to offset the RIDICULOUS house prices!}.

Getting to the point where we actually purchased this house was quite the adventure. We saw no less than FIFTY houses of all sizes {1200 sq ft to 3300 sq ft in vast range of prices}.

You KNOW that I love real estate, so I've been perusing MLS since Big A was offered the job here. I got the know the Fort McMurray real estate market pretty well. On the very day when we qualified for our mortgage, we set out to buy a specific house that day, only to realize it SOLD... that very day! It had been sitting on the market for 5 months and it SOLD the day we want to offer on it!

Unfazed, because I truly believe all things happen for a reason, we found another perfect house. We wanted to sleep on it, so we held off putting an offer for a day, only to find out that it too had SOLD within that short window! Of all the luck!

Soon we found another house -- which was going to be an exact replica of the first house I set my heart on. But for some reason, I just wasn't sure I wanted to put an offer, so we slept on it again.

The next morning, my amazing Fort McMurray real estate agent {and now my soul sister!} texted me that she found the PERFECT house for me, in the neighbourhood I wanted, for a much more reasonable price. No catch. Seriously.

As soon as we saw it, we knew THIS was the house. It was in the middle of construction, with only dry wall and a few doors, so we had to use our imagination. To make it more challenging, ALL the finishings had already been chosen and I had no real idea what they were. So once we got clarification on what the big ticket items looked like {cabinets, countertop, tile, etc.}, we took the plunge.

We are so glad we did. Look what we discovered when we came back from Ontario this week! The tile floors and kitchen cabinets are in!

Luckily, our builder is AWESOME and agreed to let us choose the hardwood, carpet, backsplash tile and basement flooring & countertops. It's so exciting to be able to customize this awesome house on these important aspects of our home.

And wait till you see what we picked! We're taking a bit of a risk, but I LOVE it! It's GORGEOUS!

One thing that we really love about buying THIS home in particular is that it isn't ALL done. We're not paying for someone's design/decorating/customization.

We are going to be able to really make this house OUR HOME.

Bring on the DIY! Did I mention the garage is HEATED?!?!?!

Stay tuned for our more updates on our new home!