Restyled Home

By the Seashore...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 03:05:00 +0000

This past summer, Matthew and Jenny Mead came down to visit me and we took to one of the beautiful beaches in my area to shoot a sea-inspired story for the current issue of the Holiday with Matthew Mead series, Recycled Style.

We all schlepped bundles of props down a verrrryyy long boardwalk, amidst the incessant biting of some very hungry mosquitoes.

It was all worth it in the end, as Matthew and Jenny got some gorgeous shots, resulting in an even more gorgeous story that I had the pleasure of writing.

I snapped all of these behind-the-scenes photos, including some impromptu acrobatics from my energetic girl:

Sophie brought a good friend along, and she is also featured in the story.

Hermit crabs were plentiful, albeit a bit camera shy...

Oh, how I love this girl:

Sophie's 12th Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:46:00 +0000

As my not-so-little- anymore girl turned 12, I decided to embrace the fact that she still wanted me to plan and execute a "pretty" party for her and her friends. I kept it simple, with old stand-bys like the shopping game, a homemade cake, and pound cake dipped in melted candy-coating. I trolled Pinterest for ideas, and found the cake idea, whcih was quite easy to do. I simply baked a cupcake along with the cake, inserted it into an ice cream cone, frosted it, and set it upside down atop melted chocolate chips. It was a hit with her friends, and now that they are getting older, they actually ate most of it up. Because this year's Christmas concert season saw her school presenting a sweet version of The Nutcracker, I used cupcake toppers in that very theme for the cake bites.

Sophie and I set up a photo booth in her room and filled a basket with felt props: some which we made using small dowels and others that I ordered via various Etsy shops.

Speaking of The Nutcracker, here is my little ballerina performing in her Christmas concert:

Not sure where she gets her flexibility!

Lightening Things Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:31:00 +0000

(Graduation time: I promise I wasn't his date!)

So to say it's been awhile would be putting it mildly and it's always boring to go on about that, so let's move on, shall we? It is crazy to think it is mid-summer already and I have managed to get through my eldest son's graduation from high school, helped write TWO magazines (watch for news about our upcoming Matthew Mead Halloween and Holiday issues), and a myriad of other milestones and projects (including renovating our basement family room and also renovating a down-on-its-luck and not-yet-finished home across town that I will share about when it is complete). With the purchase of a new pool heater, we have confirmed to ourselves that we are staying put in our home for another couple of years, at least, and we have enjoyed beating the very welcome heat in it nearly every day--a welcome change from previous summers when the water was too chilly to dip a toe in for more than a few weeks out of the summer.

Moving on, as I mentioned we renovated our basement and I had fun incorporating some more youthful style --which is perfect, as the room will mostly host my pre-teen daughter and her friends when they hang out at our place. We ripped carpet put from the stairs and the family room, replaced it with a gray weathered-wood-look laminate, and painted the room a fresh coat of warm white.

And then I added in some pieces and accessories like this (from my Olio board):

Actually, the map never made it into the room in the end (I did a fun gallery wall of all of the great photos and art I have collected over the past two years from Etsy), and I debated over wallpaper and other little details for a very long time, but I can finally say that it is finished. I still have not taken any proper photographs yet (there is only one proper window in the space, so it is not an easy room to "grab the light") but I will share the before and after photos soon.

(My little family...when I look at this, I can't believe how big my kids are getting!)

I hope everyone is having a GREAT summer. We have the good fortune to have our German exchange student visiting us for a three-week holiday, so we are heading out soon to view the Tall Ships at the Pictou Harbour.A trip to the beach is on the docket tomorrow. We are working away on crossing off the things on Sophie's summer list!

How are you planning to enjoy your weekend?

Our first real vacation...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:57:00 +0000

(warning: this post is to chronicle my memories of our trip, therefore it is very lengthy and likely a bit boring to anyone but me or those who are planning a similar vacation.)

Did I ever tell you I was planning a big March Break vacation? Probably not; I am not a big fan of letting the internet know when I will be out of town/my house is empty. Gavin DeBecker would tell you that is not the best way to honor your instincts.

We have always been the ones to sit back and listen to others' vacation memories and scroll through Facebook photos of friends and family sunning themselves by crystal-clear, blue ocean waters. Every year, Sophie would come home before March Break and tell us of the number of children heading off to vacations in the sun. Often, it was shocking how many actually were going away somewhere exciting. Seriously, we are not sure how others manage to tuck enough away to fund annual trips that extended beyond camping or the occasional night at a hotel in a nearby town.

This year, after much saving and planning, we decided we would take the plunge and go away for our first big vacation with the kids - before our eldest graduates and heads off to college next year. Because of the reality that this would probably be perhaps our only big vacation with the five of us, we decided a cruise would be the ideal way to see as many places as possible and be as stress-free as vacation planning can be. We got a great deal on a family cabin (a "Quint" cabin) aboard the Carnival Dream, and we booked our flights with the cruise line. We heard many reports that this wasn't the best route to go, but after price comparing with Travelocity and Kayak.com, we found they were giving us a better deal - one which included all transfers from the airport to the hotel (which was also included in the rate) and the ship.

I poured over online descriptions of excursions, tempted of course by dolphin encounters, an idyllic afternoon spent at The Blue Lagoon, and snorkeling excursions on glass-bottomed boats. In the end, we decided to forgo big ticket excursions and head out and explore on our own (and save money!).

We headed out on the Friday before March Break and had a brief stop-over in Toronto. As we flew into Orlando, I was a bit disappointed to see that it was dark outside (8pm). In my naivete, I thought that because it felt like summer, it would be light outside, like summer. Our shuttle took us to the Marriott Orlando Airport Hotel where we happily dropped our bags (they gave us two BIG rooms!) and ordered Chinese take-out.

After devouring the feast, we headed down to the indoor-outdoor pool, separated only by clear flaps to swim through. The water was gloriously like bath water (literally!) and after a day spent on airplanes, the warm water felt wonderful and soothing. The next morning we enjoyed a delicious, huge breakfast buffet and swam in the pool until it was time to be picked up by the Carnival shuttle.

Before we headed out though, we did manage to see a "real live" alligator along the bank of the water that bordered the hotel grounds. With signs that said Do Not Feed The Alligators, we had doubts we would be fortunate enough to see one, but we were! It was a highlight for us all.

Embarkation went quickly and smoothly and I cannot stress enough how wonderful Carnival is with regards to customer service and friendliness. We felt well-cared for at all times.

After a delicious (and fancy!) lunch, we found our room (the beds are sooo comfy!) and toured the ship. It is MASSIVE! We were exhausted from trying to find our bearings and every night we (Sophie, Paul, and I) found ourselves in bed by 9pm, sometimes even missing out on the towel animals. The boys made their way home much later, as they enjoyed the teen Club O2 (below) and the late night buffets.

Sophie was too shy to go to the activity club for her age group, so she had to hang out with her old fogie parents. Together we hit the hot tubs, comedy shows, gift shop, and played mini-golf.

We did find the motion of the boat bothersome at times. On the second night, the ship was very rocky due to high winds, and we all rushed through dinner and retreated to our beds by 7:30 pm, after I fed them all a Gravol. Things settled down the next day, thankfully, as we landed in the Bahamas for our first port of call.

Because we only had about six hours in the Bahamas, we decided not to spend any real money on an excursion. We followed the crowds along the main street and set our sights on the free beach, Junkanoo Beach.

We sipped Bahama Mamas and ate the snacks I had packed, in between swimming in the beautiful water. We felt the Caribbean vibe from the music that was playing from the concession stands (and all of the gorgeous white sand and blue water!). Of all three ports we visited, it was also the only one where we were left unsolicited by beach vendors, which made it very relaxing. We headed back to the ship for a hearty lunch and anticipated the (amazing) dance show that is the highlight of the ship's entertainment line-up.

Our next port of call was St. Thomas. We boarded a bit of a sketchy/scary ride aboard an open-air shuttle that careened around the curves of the mountains a bit too quickly, and I instructed everyone just to look straight ahead. We arrived at Sapphire Beach, ate the lunch which we had ordered via room service from the ship, and swam the afternoon away.

Sophie had her hair braided by a friendly island vendor who also sold us both a pretty sun dress.

The next day, in St. Maarten, we headed out on the one "excursion" I had planned. It was more of a tour, but to us, it was the highlight of the trip. St. Maarten was our absolute favourite place that we visited, and it would be an absolute dream come true if we could ever return there. I cannot say enough good things about our tour, via Bernard's Tours, which I had found online a few days before our trip. It was a professional, well-organized, FUN tour on an air-conditioned, clean, mid-size tour bus. Our tour guide/driver went by the name "Sexy," and he passed out unlimited cold canned pop, beer, and the most potent rum punch I have ever tasted. He was funny, friendly, and knowledgeable and we discovered a lot about his beautiful island during our chats.

Our many destinations included a stop at a property that hosted lots of iguanas, a small beach where we were able to see sea urchins, star fish, etc., an approx. two hour stay at Orient Beach (which on one side is nudist...old, wrinkly saggy nudists...ugh!) where we ate lunch and jumped the most amazing waves. The water was sooo warm!!

Later, we stopped in Marigot, the French capital of St. Martin, where we ate delicious French pastries from a popular patisserie, Sarafina's. This was our view as we ate at a bench near the open air market:

We then headed off to Maho Beach, the small but beautiful beach that is best known for the jumbo airplanes that fly in just 20-30 feet overhead beach-goers heads (as they descend upon the runway of the Princess Julianna airport). That was definitely the most exciting part of our trip!

As you can imagine, the waves are incredible, and once I figured out to go far enough out so that I could ride the wave without being slammed into the sand and dragged back out (I may or may not have been tossed around like a crab while frantically tugging at my bathing suit top and bottoms to protect my modesty), I had a blast.

Maho Beach is a must-do if you visit St. Maarten. You will never forget it!

To see what I mean about this popular destination, check out this jumbo plane (Air France) landing:

We took the scenic route back to the ship and marvelled at how gorgeous the island is. Seriously, can you beat this?

Our ship, in front:

Back on The Dream, we spent the last two days swimming, having fun on the gigantic water slide, and basically eating like gluttons.

The food was wonderful, the decor a bit garish and over-the-top glitz, the entertainment a bit cheeseball, and the service excellent. On our last night, we dressed up a bit for dinner and snapped some photos.

Verdict: We had an amazing time, and we totally get how people become hooked on vacationing. If we are ever fortunate to take another trip, it won't be on a cruise ship, but it will be somewhere hot and beautiful!

Cheers!

Easter around our house...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Happy Easter, everyone!

It is a quiet one in our house this year. With no guests to entertain, we are having a quiet meal.

Sophie decorated some eggs and a white chocolate treat on Good Friday and we even found some adorable egg sleeves (the ones you slip over eggs and then place in boiling water for a second to adhere. She loved this one of little cats that look like our kitten, Rosie, and couldn't resist taking a snap shot of her "holding" it.

This year, I found the most wonderful online Canadian source (A Bit Of Home.ca) for English and Irish chocolate. I was thrilled to find my childhood favourite Flake bars (we called them Flakies) inside a Cadbury Easter egg. I was even more excited when I discovered they even sold Malteser/MaltEaster bunnies, which taste just like the real McCoy, little malted balls of perfection.

(For those of you who like Whoppers, Maltesers are ridiculously better. I do not like Whoppers...too sweet....so just take my word for it that Maltesers are superior!)

As an Easter surprise, we awoke to blustery snow this morning. Luckily, I had planned our Easter egg hunt for indoors, using clues I had written down from last year's hunt. Everyone is enjoying a lazy day tucked up inside away from the cold.

Enjoy your own traditions this Easter, and count your blessings!

Cheers!

The Blogging Buzz....

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:23:00 +0000

Well, because I get a few emails here and there asking for my advice on how to do a number of blog-related tasks, I thought I'd pop in to share the website of two of my favourite blogging pros and friends. Sarah and Lyndsay of The Blog Guidebook are THE go-to resource for those of us who want to navigate the inner workings and design of our blog.

From learning how to install social media icons (I just added mine this evening, using their tutorial!) to making your own blog button, adding a custom signature (see mine below), how to link Facebook to your blog, and more! I am only touching on a few of their tutorials and they also have a wonderful directory of blogs that you can add your blog listing to: a great way to find and connect with other bloggers!

Sarah and Lyndsay are so approachable and knowledgeable; but before you send them a question via email, be sure to check out their resource archives, search their tutorials, and their collection of blogging Tips and Tricks. Chances are, they have probably already addressed your question/design dilemma before!

Happy Blogging!

The Comforts of Home...and friends!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000

(vintage kitchen at Memory Lane Heritage Village)

Today I feel like taking a trip down memory lane and introducing you to a special friend from my past who has recently started blogging, and in doing so, has filled me with sentiment for the early years of mothering and homemaking. Elizabeth, of My Frugal Farmhouse, was my best friend in the little village I lived in as a newly wed young woman. I met her at a play group I was invited to when my boys were just babies/toddlers. As we sipped cups of tea and quietly chatted (as our little ones made their acquaintances), I soon realized she was a kind, conscientious mother who shared a little of my germaphobia, my obsession with the proper use and installation of car seats, and a strong desire to feed my children only healthy, home-cooked meals. I was still in the blissful, idealistic young mum role, and threw myself into each and every aspect of parenting that I could. Elizabeth, a few years older than me and with a few more years of mothering under her belt, was a kindred spirit from whom I could seek advice, comfort, and companionship and we quickly bonded, much like our little boys.

(me and my boys, 1997)

On long days, when the toil of being stay-at-home mothers with few to bounce our children off for respite (my family lived seven hours away, so I was IT), one of us would bundle up our children and inadvertently end up at the other's house where we would enjoy chatting to someone who didn't drool as they spoke or dissolve into tears of frustration when a favourite toy went missing. In the evenings, we chatted on the telephone as we washed our dishes (neither of us had a dishwasher) and shared recipes, gripes, laughs, and worries and felt a little less alone in the world (or at least I did).

(Callum, age 2)

It was Elizabeth who introduced me to the bread machine, which I still use today to make my family's favourites like pizza dough, French bread, Challah bread, regular loaves and rolls, and she also advised me to NOT bake the bread in the machine but, rather, place it in a parchment lined loaf pan and bale it in the oven. That way, you can fool everyone and they will think you made it from scratch! Hah!

(some of Elizabeth's beautiful bread loaves)

Elizabeth is a wonderful baker, baking something (many things!) every day. I laughed to read on her blog the following piece of advice I had for her in my infinite twenty-something wisdom: "My friend Linda once told me when I was lamenting how I couldn't stay on top of my housework, 'it's all that baking you do, that's your downfall'. She was joking but she was so right!!" It is advice I still swear by.

You can't do it all. I have a pretty consistently tidy house but I rarely bake! Personally, I think her kids were happier with a little mess in the kitchen but a solid supply of baked goodies, and I never got any compliments from my little boys on how tidy my house was!

Elizabeth is fairly new to blogging and her posts are from the heart, full of great money saving-homemaking and decorating tips, and just an enjoyable read for those of us who love our homes and taking care of our families. Please take a moment to stop by and welcome her and follow her blog (I know she will be thrilled by that!).

And thank you Elizabeth for writing such a sweet post about me and our friendship (you can read it here)

Valentine's, Shmalentine's....

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Image from my favourite paper supply shop, Vintage Paper Parade.

I love holidays. I am definitely that mum who goes a little extra with every holiday. Whether I feel like it or not, I will blow the dust off my baking pans and make something for Sophie's class.

Because I will take accolades however I can.

But Valentine's? Not so much. For it, I am in the pessimist's group who view it as a commercial holiday. I also kinda finds hearts really tacky (I think it is left over aversion from the eighties hearts and ducks version of country decorating). Red is also not my best color, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates I do not covet.

Still, I am not that much of a scrooge, and I will use any excuse not to cook dinner. So, my gift to my kids this year was take-out pizza for dinner, followed by a homemade cake covered in jelly beans. I made chocolate-covered strawberries for Sophie's class and accepted my hero status with grace.

And look at these two sweethearts:

Doesn't that just say, "I love you"...?

Mother of the Year and other short-comings...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:01:00 +0000

Wow! It has been a while since I have checked in! I keep asking myself why that is, especially when I did so well to update almost daily for so long. I could blame work, life...all the usual distractions that eat everyone's time. I could blame it on my role as "Mother of the Year," which I call myself around these parts -- sometimes sarcastically, other moments literally, and I remind my children of it often (see the meat pie photo above, my self-imposed title poked out with a fork).

But I think my lack of sharing boils down to several things:

1. I have run out of projects to do in my home. I am now at the point where I should just commit to selling or start making over rooms, which seems kind of frivolous, considering they are perfectly fine. Also, the things I would like to do really require starting over. They are more costly changes (in time and $$), so I hang back and wait.

2. I also have concluded that I've become a bit intimidated by the "blogging photography challenge." While I have a pretty decent camera, I haven't taken the time/conquered the fear of mastering it. Therefore, my pictures seem so poky and horrible when I upload them onto my blog. So many bloggers have seriously gorgeous, quality photos and when I consider the time and effort they go to to set up, edit, and watermark each photo, it just makes me feel that my photos fall pitifully short.

So, I have decided that for now, I will write for myself and try to meet only my personal standards (I apologize in advance!). Things are quietening down around these parts: our German exchange student has returned home (we miss him!) and my eldest son has decided what he would like to do next year (he graduates high school this year) and all applications have been sent out. We are planning a family trip and are now just down to the final, little details. I am enjoying the slower pace.

I have also finished up my work on the latest Matthew Mead publication: Flea market Finds with Matthew Mead. I am so excited for everyone to see it as it is truly beautiful and filled with so many great projects using items everyone can afford! I will share the cover with you as soon as I am allowed. It will be on newsstands in April but the expanded keepsake edition can be pre-ordered via Amazon here.

As for home projects? In or out, overdone or not (I think neither!) I am seriously entertaining the idea of a large chalkboard wall. I have a few ideas for updating the look and now need to just set to work and pick the perfect spot. I have also been slowly picking up frames for all of the fun photos and artwork I have been collecting via Etsy. Both projects sound manageable, don't they? Something that even a Mother of the Year would have time for, right?

(chalkboard photos via pinterest.com)

Christmas 2011...in pictures.

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

*************************************************

And the last few days with our elf:

(decorating his tree...)

(haniging with JB...)

(reading the Night Before Christmas!)

And to all a Good Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

The Elf not on the shelf...Week Three!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:54:00 +0000

Hitchin' a ride...

Making a snow angel:

Just back from a trip to the North Pole with his buddy, Buddy (my niece's elf, who was visiting for the weekend)!

Getting his text on...

Peeping Tom?

Only two more days till Christmas!!

Aren't you excited?!!

Christmas Craft Time...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:58:00 +0000

Every year, we girls gather to do a little crafting and sprinkle a little glitter. This year, the little girls made this craft, shared by my friend Matthew Mead here. It was the perfect craft for them to do and they turned out so cute! Mum and I worked on some glitter houses that needed some prettying up, and my sister made a shadow box, much like the ones I made here.

The next day, my mum and sister and I headed to Halifax for a fun and relaxing day doing the fun kind of Christmas shopping/browsing that doesn't include a mall or crowds.

We browsed thrift shops, specialty stores, and beautiful decorating shops like Hen House, Bellissimo, and more.

(Bellissimo)

Then we went for a delicious meal here where we shared a scrumptious ginger cake topped with fresh cream.

I am so lucky to have such wonderful women in my life and I know the importance of cherishing this special tradition with them!

Happy Christmas!

Signs of Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Right now I should be writing a story for the spring issue of Holiday with Matthew Mead (you can check his website to hear more about that next week). But as I sit here admiring my Christmas lights and tree I just have to take a teensy break and share my holiday decorations. This serves a two-fold purpose: it is my version of inviting you all in for a virtual cup of tea, and it allows me to look back next year and remind myself what I put where and if it looked good or not.

So here goes a quick tour:

A little village scene in my bathroom:

My holiday mantel (which I just noticed was on this website today):

A little close up of the details:

My holiday tree:

Simple wrapping paper adhered to my glass cabinet doors (to hide all of the Christmas clutter!):

My little kitchen tree, which I put up last night at midnight! I felt like I had better incorporate some coloured lights for my eldest son who loves coloured lights!

Some adorable little deer and toadstools that I purchased here:

Now....back to work for me!

(You can see my outdoor decorations here)

The Elf not on the shelf...Week Two!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Our little elf has been busy. So busy, he forgot to move himself around the other day. Luckily, Sophie rolled with that and made him do a load of laundry. She's cool like that.

Check out his shenanigans this week:

Retro roller-skating!

Babysitting:

Casually hanging out beneath the mistletoe...

Looking through the kaleidoscope!

Doing a load of laundry, like a good, little elf!

Sending his Christmas list to Santa:

Playing an arcade game...Galaga. Do you remember it? It was my husband's favourite.

And that was his week!

How was yours?

Glass houses...for Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:34:00 +0000

As many of you probably know, I have a very talented friend who is a professional in the world of style and creates amazing things each and every day. Matthew Mead, of Holiday with Matthew Mead made me this adorable "snowman under glass." He knows how much I love shadow boxes: I made some myself a few years back.

Knowing how much I love easy-peasy projects, Matthew took some behind-the-scenes photos of just how easy it was to create this gorgeous project:

1. Start with a lantern of any size:

2. Gather your supplies: small collectibles like this little snowman, artificial snow and snowballs from the craft store, faux or real cranberries, or whatever festive embellishments you have on hand.

2. Line the bottom with a layer of sheet moss:

3. Fill a small glass jar filled with your favourite greenery or clippings (add water to prolong the life of the greens!) and nestle the jar into a corner of the lantern:

4. Set the scene by nestling in a favourite holiday ornament:

5. Add your own dash of style with a dusting of artificial snow, tiny "real" trees (I also love to use bottlebrush ones), cranberries, and display on a mantel or table. You could even "light it up" by tucking in a small strand of mini-lights - but if you do so, just don't use the real greenery and water!

Isn't is sweet?

Thank you, Matthew!

If you haven't already picked up a copy of Holiday with Matthew Mead then you are missing out on so many great holiday ideas just as easy and imaginative as this one. Find HOLIDAY on newsstands just about everywhere or by clicking here.

O Christmas Decorating...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:37:00 +0000

I am officially done decorating, save for a few little spots inside. I snapped this photo last evening at dusk, and I have to say my favourite element is the faux fireplace on my porch. I tucked some red lights in behind it in lieu of flames.

I love having a handyman!!

Oh, and did I tell you a little kitten has joined our family? She looks a lot like Ollie, our little cat that died this fall, and she is utterly lovable. She has taken a shine to our big boy, Jack:

She snuggles up to him to sleep and grooms him any chance she gets! She is a little mother and has brought a lot of laughs into our home.

(don't worry, the berries are faux!)

And...we are also happy to have an exchange student from Germany living with us until the end of January. We think he is pretty great, too, and are looking forward to incorporating some German traditions into our holiday plans!

Happy Decorating!

Dashing into December...and The Elf not on the Shelf!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:24:00 +0000

It has been a busy last few weeks, hasn't it? I think everyone is dealing with the busyness of their lives, which seems to be especially ramped up at this time of the year, naturally. I have been in a race with myself to "get everything done" and taking little time to just enjoy things, which is always a recipe for disaster. I vow to change that (I hope!).

Sophie turned eleven on December 3rd, which left me feeling a teensy bit blue. There are not many toys on her list and I am having a little trouble swallowing that. She seems to be more interested in clothes lately, which is fun, but not FUN!

Her cake started out as a fail, when I ended up making the icing a weird orange instead of a pale pink. That will teach me to read labels. I salvaged it all with some pretty pale aqua thingamadoos that you put on top of cakes to cover up mistakes that real humans make. Those and a whole lot of pretty candles cover a slew of flaws, right?

We had a sundae bar, played the shopping game, and ate pizza. I kept it somewhat simple this year!

Well, I have hopped onto the Elf on the Shelf craze, although I have given mine a bit of a twist. Sophie, being 11, is a bit old for the book and too old smart to be entertained by my simply moving the little guy around. PLUS, I found (to quote my husband) a "wicked" deal on a little elf without the book. He is actually a tree ornament, almost the same size as the original, and just as bendable/fun! And he cost me under $10, compared to the $35 they were charging at the store (and including the book).

Okay. So here is my take on week one of The Elf on the Shelf!

(clockwise from top left: "elfing" the family, checking out what is in the fridge, cuddling with the cat, and making Sophie a birthday card.)

(Vacuuming the stairs and enjoying some milk)

(Awaiting cake, served by a genie. The seven dwarfs aren't elves, but I think they all seem to be getting along.)

Sophie is loving this; she bounds out of bed every morning to see what the elf has been up to. She gets a kick out of it and I think it has made the build-up to the big day more fun!

What are you doing to kick-start the holidays?

Will you take the time to remember?

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:11:00 +0000

I am reposting this entry from last November 11th. I think this song and video is the best nudge I know of to remind us all to take a break from our lives today and remember why we should be grateful to those who serve, and have served, for our country. It is our duty, our privilege to remember: Attend a Remembrance/Veteran's Day service, read a newspaper article about their experiences, talk to a veteran, say a prayer, watch a video like the one below.

But do something in memory and gratitude.

Like it or not, Christmas anticipation is all around us. But as Remembrance Day (Canada) and Veteran's Day (U.S.) are marked today, I hope that we all will honour it with the respect it commands. I want to share my favourite Remembrance Day reminder via this video, produced by singer/songwriter, Terry Kelly, who resides in Nova Scotia (my province) but is a native of Newfoundland. Please read the following background of the video before watching it. This song, its message, and the video itself puts such a lump in my throat and after watching it, you will be moved to truly remember those who have fought for our freedom and who continue to serve in battle and peace-keeping missions.

(From Terry's website - originally published in the Globe and Mail and written by Roy MacGregor):

It is a song that was intended as a rant, a little "venting" by the blind singer-songwriter concerning an incident he overheard seven years ago this coming week in a Shoppers Drug Mart in Dartmouth, just across the harbour from his home in Halifax.

He was in the store the morning of Nov. 11, 1999, when an announcement came over the public address system that the store would be following the legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative and fall quiet at 11 a.m. to honour those who had fought, and often died, for their country.

At the 11th hour, the store went quiet. Clerks stopped stocking shelves. Cashiers stepped back from their registers. Shoppers paused and lowered their heads.

Except for one man.

He was there with his young daughter, and he was in a hurry.

He demanded a clerk's attention. He insisted on going through the cash. He was loud and obnoxious and destroyed all hope of reflection for everyone within his sound range.

When the man completed his purchase, he hustled his little girl out the doors, but not before Terry Kelly - whose superb hearing compensates for his lack of sight - picked up her plaintive "Daddy - that was embarrassing!" as the doors swung back closed and, finally, allowed the store to fall quiet.

Outraged, Kelly went home, sat down with his guitar, and slowly worked out a tune and words:

"They fought and some died for their homeland
They fought and some died now it's our land
Look at his little child, there's no fear in her eyes
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?
"Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time . . ."

In the song, Kelly unleashed his anger ("God forgive me for wanting to strike him") and celebrated the Canadian soldier, from those who sent letters back from the Great War to those who today send e-mails home from Afghanistan. He sang about the swift passage of time ("May we never forget our young become vets") and about the significance of that small moment we mark at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Please watch this video. I promise you it will serve as a profound message that you will never forget:

Happy Halloween!!

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:30:00 +0000

No, I haven't headed over to The Dark Side and entered Sophie into a Glitz Pageant (or any kind, for that matter!). Sophie and her friend gussied themselves up "Toddlers and Tiaras" style for Halloween this year. We got the skirts at The Christmas Tree Shop, the shoes at Payless, and made the sashes ourselves after a very disappointing attempt to get them via Etsy. :-(

(Only my second bad experience with an Etsy transaction, so I will remain a faithful Etsy addict!)

The boys dressed up with friends for a party Saturday night:

(Dog the Bounty Hunter and ???)

We carved pumpkins and ate lots of soup with friends on Sunday night:

And as Sophie sums it up, "Our costumes are perfect...we look PLASTIC!!"

Rollin' On...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:29:00 +0000

Fall has been good to me. It has been busy and unexpected at times, and full of clarity. To start, we took our home off the market after only six weeks. The market (in our price range) was fairly dead and I didn't feel like allowing people in any longer just to hear they don't want a pool. What the heck? Sure, realtors tell you that all the time: pools don't sell. But, WE wanted one...so surely someone out there will too? Anyway, it is a moot point; we will not take it down nor do we want to move in the winter, simply to languish in a crappy rental somewhere (do great short-term rentals even exist?). We will (we think) place it on the market next spring and I will continue to gather ideas for our next foray into house-building.

In the meantime, I think I am going to paint a chalkboard wall like this:

(image: via Pinterest)

I found some paint in a pretty pale blue; so although it isn't an original idea, it will be an unexpected colour for a chalkboard!

***************************************

So that leaves plenty of time just to experience life as the parents of two teenagers and one little girl. And raising teenagers well is a challenge we are focusing our undivided attention on this year as our eldest is in his graduating year. I have already had several very anxious dreams where I abandon him in various states of need, which (of course) is a direct side-effect of my struggle to accept that he will be heading off to university next fall. I honestly already feel like I am going to DIE with the stress and anxiety it will bring. Dramatic, I know, but I just love having him around.

(the boys)

In my attempt to shrug off things that just don't matter in the long run, I agreed (and persuaded his father) to let him get a tattoo. It is just a small one (the Chinese symbol for loyalty) and I accompanied him and photographed the event and offered up moral support along with his group of about eight friends. And they are good friends. I will even miss them next year, popping in and out of our home, and feeding them breakfast on various Sunday mornings.

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We are ready for Halloween. Well, sort of. Sophie has her costume all planned (it's a funny, tongue-in-cheek one!) and while we still have to carve pumpkins, toast the seeds, and get the candy, we have decked the halls to Sophie's standards...so all is well in her world. She creates Christmas (and birthday!) wish lists on a daily basis and reminds me how much she would like a new kitten to fill the void of losing Ollie. And I would also like to thank all of you who wrote us such heartfelt comments and notes after losing him so suddenly. I read every single one to Sophie and they helped so much.

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image: source unknown :-(

And I, in my usual habit of rushing seasons and holidays, am daydreaming of the Christmas season. I have purchased my latest "A Christmas Story" ornament from Hallmark, started Christmas shopping, and scheme as to how to find a Charlie Brown-type Christmas tree like the one below (without my family saying I am ridiculous).

And lo and behold, I discovered this Woman's Day special holiday issue on display at my local grocery store's checkout aisle:

My holiday home is featured on page 56-59 and I am so excited! Photographed by Matthew Mead, it brought me back to the excitement of the original shoot and how surreal it seemed back then. (I still need to be pinched, really!)

And now I just have to find this magazine on the newsstands:

We all worked incredibly hard on this magazine and I so hope I find it soon. There is also an expanded, keepsake issue of this magazine for sale and you can buy a copy here. Have any of you seen it yet?

And so, that's my life lately. What have you been up to?

Cheers,

Sweet Dreams, Ollie...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:48:00 +0000

Today was a sad day.

Sophie's little heart broke in pieces.

Her beloved Ollie is gone.

We discovered he had cancer after a very rapid deterioration which took us all by surprise.

He was only two years old.

I am sad, too.

We all are.

He was, in a word, sweet.

And little.

He never grew very big.

We used to joke that he must have been the runt of the litter.

Our sweet-natured, gentle little runt.

Sophie worried that we didn't take enough photos of him, so this is for her. I hope she will like it.

Goodbye Ollie.

We (especially Sophie) will miss you.

California Bound...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:14:00 +0000

I have been invited to attend a spectacular creative event in February, 2012:

I am so excited to share that I will be heading to the R and R conference held (on Feb. 10-11, 2012) in San Diego. Lyndsay Johnson and Sarah Bradford of The Blog Guidebook have teamed up with my favourite jewellery designer Crystal B. to host this wonderful creative weekend event. I am honoured to have been asked to speak at the event and am looking forward to experiencing some sunny California weather during what I am sure will be one of our typical snowy Canadian winters!

In a nutshell, The R and R event is a two-day creative gathering featuring guest speakers (Matthew Mead is also on the docket), fashion advice from stylist Reachel Bagley, great food, an evening of music from Sarah Sample, photography lessons from Wendy Whitacre of Blue Lily, a jewelry making class, led by Crystal B., a cooking class, led by Hollywood chefs Denise DeCarlo and (Season Two Top Chef's) Betty Fraser, and blogging tips from the pros, Lyndsay and Sarah...plus a whole lot more!!!

The deadline to register is October 15th...and we all hope you will join us. I am so excited to meet so many new people and I hope YOU will be one of them!

Register HERE.

Home, homey, homely...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:21:00 +0000

(my dining room, photographed by Matthew Mead)

The deep thoughts were flying today.

I am going to have a very large yard sale very soon: as in, sell anything and everything I don't truly love. Although our home is not yet sold, I am preparing for that day and going through each and every cupboard, drawer, and bookshelf and purging. My new criteria for each item is, "Do I want to pack it?" and more often than not, the answer is no.

Over a cup of coffee today, I told my husband, "You are going to be so surprised by how much I will get rid of." He stared back at me with a dubious grin, though I am fairly certain there was a glint of true hope in his eyes.

Later, while digging through the trunk at the end of my bed, I came across my collection of prints and paintings that I have been slowly acquiring via Etsy. Saving them for my next house, I envision a fun and quirky art wall, not-so-strategically hung to reflect my growing desire for spontaneity in decorating.

Which got me to thinking how admitting to an obsession/desire for decorating can sometimes get you pegged as, perhaps, a bit shallow. As in, sure, we all want our homes to look nice but do we really want to admit that it is a passion?

Then I went and checked my email, answering those that required direct attention, then casually filtering through my junk email folder. And then one caught my eye: it was from Cobi Ladner's Club Cobi newsletter.

Cobi Ladner was the genius editor of Canadian House and Home for many years but resigned from her position several years ago, much to my dismay. As much as I loved (and still love!) the beautiful photos and stories in its pages, I loved her editor's letter even more. Every word was genuine, interesting, and always filled with personality and tales of her home and her insights, rather than fluff. Cobi is no snob, and even flirted with the whole decorator vs designer debate with aplomb and her typical down-to-earth style. Can you tell I love Cobi?

Anyway, as I read her letter I was struck by a quote she shared (from design icon Iris Apfel):

"Self expression is the most important thing in life. If you don't have self expression you're all bottled up and you choke!"

And it is true. Everyone has a need for expression. Some write, paint, design, decorate, garden, compete, dance, sing, exercise, Tweet, blog, comment on others' blogs, etc. We all seem to have a need to express ourselves, to be heard, even if it is in a quiet way.

Which brings me back to my deep thought of the day: Will I be able to exercise restraint in my new home? Create a blank canvas, selecting furnishings, fabrics, and decor after long, thoughtful deliberation? Or will the empty spaces on the wall call out to me...begging me to fill them quickly so the house will feel like home? Will I be able to feel at home in a restrained environment? Will such a place feel homey (or homely, as the Brits like to say it!)...or barren?

Time will tell. As I am discovering lately on many levels, the need for patience is being imposed upon me. Certain things are beyond my control and I must wait to see how they unfold.

I wonder what Cobi would say?

Let's Get Moving...

noreply@blogger.com (Restyled Home) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:42:00 +0000

Happy September!

Swim, swam, swum...

I cannot believe that summer is drawing to a close (well, the kids are going back to school, right?). I am going to miss the little buggers, but I am really looking forward to getting back to my routine and not cleaning up the kitchen 48,569 times a day. It is one of my parenting shortfalls: I am terrible at getting my kids to truly pitch in; I am a bit particular and my kids play dumb when I try to explain how I want things put away, soooo...I usually wind up doing things myself.

Which kind of gives me license to be a martyr now and then, but most of the time it just makes me feel stupid.

Well, there are lots of things going on around these parts, one of the biggest being that our house is on the market. Anyone who has ever put their house up for sale knows how much fun that is, right? Don't you just looovee all the questions you get from people about number of showings, your reasons for selling, and what you are going to do once you DO sell? It is kind of like being in your final weeks of pregnancy when you feel like giving the stink-eye to well-meaning inquiries, but instead you just summon the same, practiced reply.

So, to answer the obvious question: we decided to put our house on the market because it just felt like the right time. We always knew we had roughly a five-year expiry date with this house, to coincide with making a bit of money for upcoming college tuition for our teenage boys. New reasons have popped up to reassure us it is the right time to make our move, so we are happy we "got off the pot."

(And no, I'm not talking about illegal substances!)

We have a tentative plan to build a new home; but with us and our penchant for spontaneity, I never commit to a plan of action. So, what will transpire is a bit of a mystery, even to me.

My eldest had a birthday in July, and I can't believe how quickly my sons are becoming young men:

As for the rest of our summer, August was a bit kinder to us, weather-wise. We did experience some high winds, courtesy of Irene, but she didn't hit us like she did others, for which we are grateful. I hope you and yours stayed safe, if not plunged into darkness for a wee while. All of my fellow East-coasters were on my mind.

Scratching away at The List, I also hosted a Fear Factor party for Sophie and a few of her friends a couple of weeks ago, which was fun. They did cold water stunts (our pool is unheated!) and had to eat some pretty yucky food (a "choice" of olives, dulse, or big dates). I was kind, though, and relieved their palates with some french fries and flower pot ice-cream cakes. I'm not cruel, after all....

She has a mouth full of crumbled Oreos, not dirt!

I have been having fun finding inspiration from many of you for my new home. I do know one thing for certain, I am going to be buying myself one of these gorgeous lights for somewhere in my new abode.

Have you ever seen anything so awesome?

I found it while perusing one of my favourite sites for design inspiration, House and Home. It is also, coincidentally, one of my favourite Canadian design magazines. If you have never picked up this magazine, you are seriously missing out. It just keeps getting better and better. I still deeply miss Canadian Home and Country, though Erin McLaughlin is doing a fabulous job transforming Style at Home to incorporate some of the winning elements of CH&C. I wonder if she still misses the magazine as much as I do?

I am also very proud to report that we have completed both Autumn with Matthew Mead (sold on the website) and Holiday with Matthew Mead 2011, which will be sold on newsstands throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is so exciting for all of us involved, and for the loyal readers who have supported us from the get-go. I hope you check out both issues and let me know what you think!

So, good-bye summer!

(But let's not make it official...you can hang around as long as you like!)