Restyled Home

Take a Bow Tuesday...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Let me tell you, it's never a problem fiding five bloggers to feature.

...And we're off!!

As you know, I'm well into the early holiday spirit. So, of course, some of my features are going to reflect that:

Check out this adorable Christmas ornament idea that you can make for pennies...pennies, I tell you! I think even those of us wanna-be crafters have these supplies floating around in a cluttered drawer somewhere. I think it would be a great craft to do with kids. But I'd have to get my little girl to make the hats...I am terrible at rolling paper into a cone!

Okay. Your jaw is going to drop with this one. First of all, it takes patience; secondly, guts; and last of all, absolute vision. I won't even say more. Go on...have a look. But I will warn you, your jaw will drop onto the keyboard!

Need a little girl's gift idea? Well, I've got one for you! Head on over and see this felt project that (dare I say it?) even I could manage!

Always happy to support my fellow Canadians, check out this beautiful Etsy shop, where you can find all things vintage and pretty...

What you can do with a couple of unloved chairs and a little bit of wood...Be sure to check out this great DIY bench project over at Room Remix.

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Over and Out!

A five minute make-over...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:00 +0000

As I've professed before, seasonal decorating is one of my favourite things! Because it is not officially winter - yet I am done with the fall colours (inside, of course!) - I decided to give my master bedroom a teensy refreshing, finally accomplishing what I vowed to do recently. I chose a creamy palette for the bedding because, of course, bedding is the easiest change to a bedroom you can make! I call this my five-minute/twenty dollar make-over:

I owned the white matelasse coverlet and toile shams (I'd like simple, cream shams...but that would put me over budget!) and I picked up this beautiful blanket (at Walmart!) which reminds me of tiny snowballs.

I was inspired by this beauty - over at Anthroplogie:

And while mine isn't as decadently beautiful (or expensive!), it makes me happy all the same!

Forgotten Treasures...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:16:00 +0000

Well, lookie here! While going through my uploaded photos (and trying desperately to organize them) I found this photo I had forgotten I took. Those who have read any of my previous Christmas posts know I am a loyal Seasons of Cannon Falls fan. Their recent run of glittery holiday confection draws me in like a magpie and I am helpless to resist. This is what I found at the after Christmas sales last year, where everything was at least 50% off. Because the handyman and I don't usually exchange gifts, I don't feel too guilty about picking up some Boxing Day sales treats like this. Now I remember packing this loot up to display this year.

Oooh, I can't wait!!

Another angle for your viewing pleasure (notice the mostly subdued shades...):

Isn't it fun when you rediscover what you bought, after having forgotten you did?!

It's kind of like finding five bucks in the pocket of a coat, isn't it?

When the light makes it loud...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:11:00 +0000

I think I have developed adult-onset sensitivity issues. What do I mean? Well, over time, I seem to have become overly sensitive to clutter: real, visual, colourful...you name it. My disorder has real signs and symptoms to go with it, though it needs a name. Here's what I've figured out:

Diagnosis: unknown
Signs and symptoms: agitation, restlessness and a feeling of crankiness when surrounded by harsh stimuli such as excess colour and decorations (i.e. holiday decor like pumpkins, black glittered objects, and empty Halloween candy wrappers).
Frequency and Duration: As long as one is exposed to excess stimuli, symptoms will persist.

Cause: It is thought that surrounding oneself in soft colour (as I have in my house) contributes to the development of this condition. One gets used to the serenity of pastels, whites and a neutral palette and develops a resistance to bolder hues and plentiful accessories.
Complications: People who share this affliction tend to run into difficulties and relapses because they may continue to be drawn to more vibrant colour and can also be prone to collecting too many objects. These individuals tend to notice an intensity in symptoms near the end of a holiday like Halloween and Christmas.

Treatment: Symptoms subside when one pares back the clutter and/or extra colour and accessories and returns to a more soothing colour palette. Also, visual therapy, like gazing at the following images often proves comforting:

Considering my love of colour and accessories (I never said I didn't like it!), I will still fill my home with them and feel that same uneasiness come New Years.

Some people never learn!

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(image sources: top, unknown. All others: www.coastalliving.com )

What about you, do you embrace colour and the excess of the holidays; or do you suffer from my un-named affliction?

I know of a give-away!!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:52:00 +0000

My Friend, P.J., of the blog, Seens from the Backs of my Eyelids (isn't that a clever name?) is having a give-away and asked me to share the news. Considering we should all get a start on our Christmas/holiday shopping, you just might want to get yourself on over there and enter your name in the draw!

Good luck!

Take a Bow Tuesday

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0000

It's that time again...Take a Bow Tuesday. What more can I say? The pickings are just soooo good!

This blogger might as well be a permanent feature. Honestly, she astounds me with her creativity. She is out of my league and I am happy just to sit back and enjoy the show...

Mrs. Limestone gives whole new meaning to Halloween decorating. I mean, honestly, I am shaking my head and drooling on my keyboard. Oh and check out her interior shots and the invites to her Halloween party. My Halloween get-togethers consist of chips and beer. I am such a juvenile...

The lovely Serena, resident Farm Chick, is someone I had the pleasure of meeting at the Junk Bonanza back in September. I cannot say enough nice things about her as she really is as sweet as she seems. So, instead I am going to share some of the Christmas "goodies" she has featured over at her blog. And no, you cannot eat them! I am still kicking myself for not buying one of the vintage Santa pendants she had with her. I really must remember to order one from her in time for the holidays. Someone remind me, will you?!

The super talented Lauren, of Pure Style Home recently shared her kitchen make-over. Lauren has mad design skills and this makeover will astound you! My last house had a similar colours for the cabinetry. If I can remember to dig the photo out to prove it, I'll post it as evidence.

Only hers is nicer...

Paige is one of my favourite bloggers, and we have been "following" one another for some time. I always love it when she gives a peek into her gorgeous home (which isn't enough, Paige!); so I bookmarked this older post when I discovered it. A hint: it is a Christmas post that is destined to put you in the festive spirit, no matter how resistant you might be!!

Annicole @ Our Suburban Cottage is a enterprising girl after my own heart. I love a good cheap and easy make-over, and truly believe a good coat of lipstick can get you out of a decorating ugly phase. To prove it, she offers up advice about painting your shower door surround. Sheer brilliance!!

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It occurred to me that I forgot to mention two lovely mentions I received recently. Honestly, where are my manners??!!

One of my favourite design magazines, Canadian House and Home, listed my blog in its "little black book" of Canadian blogs to check out. You can read about it here. Thanks to Trish Snyder for the honour!

And Ohdeedoh featured our fairy door on its site the other day. It is always a thrill to receive a mention over there. Ohdeedoh is a favourite of mine!

November calling...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:59:00 +0000

While I do love the holidays, I think November might be the sweetest month of the fall/winter season. Not too cold, the malls aren't too busy yet, no hectic Christmas concert and holiday schedules, my house is decoration free and gloriously uncluttered (except on weekends!), and my birthday falls smack dab in the middle of the month...the perfect excuse for Chinese food!

(photo source: BHG.com)

Today, I took a break from writing a magazine feature to check out the Winter Wonderland at a local hardware store: a beautiful display of Christmas decorations and ideas which always kickstarts the season for me. Although I did buy a couple of things, I exercised restraint.

I wish I could say the same for all the Halloween candy lying around...!

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What about you: which month is your favourite?

Old-School Halloween...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Back when Halloween was about dressing my babies in adorable, silly costumes, I even channelled my own silliness and donned a costume or two. My kids thought it was fun and no eyes were rolled (well, maybe a few adults'). Check out these old photos of my cuties when they were little... and game for whatever their mummy would encourage them to wear:

Sophie, aged two: Aren't her curls wild?

A nerd and a ninja:

And their foolish mother. I felt really silly in this get-up, and cannot believe I thought this was a good idea.

Of course, it's probably not a good idea to resurrect this photo, is it?!

~Sigh~

Times were simpler in the old days...

Happy Halloween!!!

She Said: On the Menu...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:54:00 +0000

Every friendship has its traditions and quirks. Inside jokes, the ability to be yourself, and the knowledge that you will be told when you have lettuce in your teeth. In my opinion, these are the measures of a true friendship. Equally important is the sharing of information and the bouncing off of ideas from one another...from the sharing of weather forecasts to recipes.

What would be the benefit of being friends with Matthew Mead if you can't get the odd recipe or entertaining tip now and again? It would be silly to not take advantage of such an "in", wouldn't it? In a funny twist, a new tradition has made its way into our friendship lately. Most days, around 4pm (my time) Matthew will email me from his studio to ask, "What are the MacDonalds eating for dinner?"

I think the ritual began after Matthew and Jenny visited me this summer, and due to our crazy schedule, I ended up feeding them the same meal (seafood chowder and Mulligatawny soup) twice in a row. Worried that the entertaining guru himself might get the impression that was the extent of my culinary repertoire, I casually emailed him one day, boasting of the fancy dinner I had just made for my family.

And so the tradition began...

Usually it is Matthew, asking what I am dishing up, but sometimes it is me, looking for an expert opinion. Occasionally, Matthew sends me a photo of a delicious meal he and his team cooked up (and later, enjoyed!) for a photo shoot. Then I am inspired, and toss the frozen pizza box back into the freezer with guilt. Because Matthew and Jenny are so busy - working late and then faced with the prospect of cooking when all they feel like doing is collapsing - I think they live vicariously through me and my current state of domesticity. My cooking is borne from the necessity of feeding a growing, active family who return to me each day in various states of hunger...who are still entrenched in the nightly supper ritual. Matthew and Jenny's girls are grown and living independently, so their need to return to their nest and rustle up dinner has abated. I think my sharing of my family's dinner menu is more an offering that serves both to spark their appetite and their memories of feeding their own family.

photo: Matthew Mead Style.com

Sharing such seemingly trivial parts of our day is fun and light-hearted and has even begun to inspire me to cook better...plan more and serve more thoughtful meals. After all, when you are reporting in to the likes of Matthew Mead each day, a hotdog on a stick is not going to win any rave reviews!!

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To read Matthew Mead's take on our tradition, head on over to the Flea Market Style blog for the He Said alternative entitled, Whatcha Got Cookin'...?

A House, a Home and a Give-away...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Head on over to House and Home Magazine's website to see the Princess Margaret Hospital Sweepstakes Showhome in Oakville, Ontario, designed by House & Home. Each week they've been unveiling a new video tour of a different room. The house is quite spectacular and designer Lynda Reeves shares great design tips and secrets in every video. Those in the greater Toronto area can walk through the house in person (tours are free, here's the address and map). Those in Toronto will enjoy their cover gallery: if they upload a photo taken at the house, they can see how they'd look on the cover of the magazine! They've also included a detailed source guide for the house, which will be featured in the April 2010 issue of House & Home. Sweepstakes tickets are on sale until November 26th.

Also, be sure to check out The Design Girl's latest give-away.

She’s giving away a free photo blog makeover over at her blog and all you have to do is become a follower to enter! Sounds great to me!

And that's that!

Take a Bow Tuesday...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

This week was easy. Everyone seems to be in creative overload.

I suppose it's that fall itch - everyone feels like nesting more and the kids are back to school - and, of course, the upcoming holidays.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad; and so will you be when you catch sight of these great ideas:

Even the title of this blog is creative: High Heeled Foot in the Door. Doesn't that just make her sound young and hip? If I was naming my blog like that I'd have to go with reasonably ugly sensible shoe in the door or something like that.

I digress...

Because she is young and hip, of course she'd have to be creative, too! Check out her oh-so-fun and practical folding chair make-over! I like this lady...she doesn't pick up a sewing needle the entire time!! My kind of girl...

Lisa of Moore Minutes proves you can never see enough great beadboard installations. Here she added it to her dining area and it took it from good to great...heck, even fabulous! You know how we decorating types like to use the word fabulous...well Lisa's new dining room makeover is definitely worthy of that title!
Behold my final fall project feature: Stephanie of the Whispering Creek House made the most beautiful fall pumpkin chandelier! I love the simplicity of it and how naturally festive it is. Why is it my last fall craft project? Because I am Canadian, and after Halloween is over, we get to move right into Christmas!

The benefits of an October Thanksgiving...

Amy, of Whisperwood Cottage (another whisperer!) completed her master bedroom with the addition of a barn-style door to her master bath.

I. LOVE. IT.

I have always wanted to install one of those; now I have found someone who I can ask the how's and where's of the project if and when I ever get the opportunity to add one to my home!

Of course, that would mean building again...

And last but not least, Kim, of Twice Remembered, has me absolutely and totally obsessed with finding a vintage gumball machine for my kitchen! We love gum in this house, so I have been casually searching for one to use for the obvious reason. However, after resting my eyes on Kim's round-up of wonderful ways to trick out a gumball machine, I am driven by a newfound passion: must find gumball machine!!

Just in case you were wondering, my birthday's coming up. Feel free to send me one as a gift. I'd be happy to take it off your hands...!!!

Now, take a bow ladies!!!

A Handmade Christmas...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

(photo: Bethany Lowe designs)

I know this is the countdown to Halloween, but I am in serious Christmas shopping mode (and please don't hate me!). I have decided to absolutely make all my "extra" gifts this year. You know the ones - the gifts for teachers, friends, the women in my life who share my likes - basically the gifts for everyone but my children and the testosterone charged!

In fact, I have challenged myself to the $5 gift exchange: which, in a nutshell, is me making gifts for that dollar amount that look like they cost a whole lot more. What is in my arsenal? Well, glitter, of course, and trinkets from the Dollar store (which you will see later), natural elements from the outdoors, and repurposed flea market finds and junk items (of course!). I might even make a few meals to freeze as gifts, though I doubt I will bake anything as gifts. I draw the line at that. I can bake, but I don't have a love of it...

So, that pretty and sparkly glittered candle is the perfect project for me. In fact, as soon as I come up with the rest of my planned projects, I am going to host a link exchange where anyone who wants to take the $5 gift challenge can take part and share their frugal Christmas offerings. Start thinking about it, and we will aim for mid-November!

Are you in?

In The Houzz....

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Will someone please pinch me? The ever inspiring Adi, of Houzz.com, has featured me and my home over on the gorgeous site. I am beyond flattered and thrilled, as I love the homes and ideas found there, and Houzz.com is a wonderful place to glean inspiration and design ideas for every type of decorating style. I am in good company, with Adi having already featured many of my blog favourites...

Oh, and if you head over and leave a comment, you will be eligible to win a Pottery Barn gift card.

And isn't it the perfect time to win such a thing?!

Time Passages...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

It occurred to me today that I feel like making a few changes around these parts. So, knowing I cannot spend very much (i.e. next to nothing), I think I will try to root out new/less traditional shades for my lamps and even some warm white bedding to make my bedroom seem more wintery - in keeping with the chilly weather - and perhaps sew (go ahead...laugh!) some new pillow covers.

Please don't hold me to that sewing bit...I just smacked some sense into myself!

Also, I would love to have new velvet curtains for the living room window to add warmth to the room and put the boots to summer for good...since there is no hope of warm weather returning it seems! Because my money will tied up with Christmas shopping and basketball trips over the coming months, I think I found a manageable option at our local Wicker Emporium...$14.99/panel. We'll see.

That is why I love November.

It is a month of quiet before the whirlwind of the holidays begins and it's the perfect time to carry out easy home projects. Seasonal decorating at its finest!

What's on your list to tackle before the holidays?

Am I Normal??

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Is it normal to be daydreaming about Christmas wrappings, Christmas design schemes (especially exterior), and Christmas card photo shoots...all before I have even bought Halloween candy??????????????

I didn't think so....

Take a Bow Tuesday

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Take a Bow Tuesday is baaacckk! So many great things to feature and so many great bloggers to profile. Here is my humble attempt this rainy Tuesday:

Karen, The Graphics Fairy, is a favourite of mine. Yesterday, she gave a tutorial for the most adorable transformed furniture knobs. You MUST check them out!!

Over at this beautiful blog, I found a link to one of the most lovely felted wool Etsy artists I've ever come across. I love that you can frame her work and I love how sentimental some of her work is...!

Not every Tuesday feature has to be for making something or decorating something. I have said before that some of my favourite blogs are not chosen by me just for the great photos and ideas, but for the writing. One of my top favourites is Piece of Cake, where you will read one of the most beautiful and heartfelt posts ever. Laura is the blogger who makes me laugh, snort, nod my head in agreement and in this case even shed a tear. Essentially, she's a funny girl with a big heart...

Eleven more days until Halloween! Do you want to avoid the mess of carving out your pumpkins this year? I'd never get away with it, but you might! Check out Mindy's Pumpkin Fest where she and her crew junked up some pumpkins with panache!

Layla of The Lettered Cottage and her hubby toiled away at stripping and rejuvenating an old door for their bathroom. If you have something like this on your to-do list, Layla provides an excellent step-by-painstaking step (my words, not hers!) tutorial of the process. Can you tell I'm too lazy to ever tackle paint stripping?! And what did they end up with? A beautiful, solid door that will continue them on in their journey of preserving and adding beautiful style and character to their home.

I'm at the Party! Are you?

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Today, over at the Flea Market Style blog, I am visiting those who joined our inaugural I'm a Flea Marketeer blog link party. Because I am going to be pretty busy doing that, I am offering up this previously posted link to some of my favourite flea market/thrift shop treasures. To see everyone else's, head on over to the Flea Market Style blog and join in. Pretty please? You don't want us to be sad because no one showed up to our party, do you? To sweeten the deal, we are even giving away something really good...

So, off you go to the party!!!

Sunday, Sunday...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:25:00 +0000

Sunday.

A day of rest?

Well, I suppose so...

I love Sundays, though I didn't always. As a child, I found them too quiet and boring, especially because I spent much of my childhood stuck in the boonies. But, that's another story. Now, I love the quietness of the day and take advantage of the lull to clean out a cupboard, weed the garden, catch up with friends, or call a family member to chat. Oh, and of course there is always the ritual of Sunday dinner. Nothing beats a good Sunday dinner!

What's on the menu tonight?

And for dessert?

Do you really think we need anything after that?

A good cup of tea will do, I'm sure.

So, what are you having for dinner?

Need something to do this weekend?

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Are you on the East coast, specifically in the Long Island, N.Y. area? Me neither; but if you are, you must check out this wonderful sale hosted by Tricia Foley (former contributing editor at Country Home magazine). If you are familiar with her incredible style, then you know a trip to her fall sale (october 17-18, 10-5 pm) will be well worth the trip.

Want more details? Go here.

A Mixed Bag of Tricks!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

When I upload photos from my camera, I invariably find random, funny shots that I did not take. The culprits: my kids, of course! Still, seeing what they find photo-worthy always gives me a chuckle.

Here, Sophie had her brother snap this one to demostrate her remarkable skill of blending a variety of patterns and colour. She actually went to school like this! Someone fire the stylist!!

Here sits "Cuddles" whose name I always forget, much to Sophie's irritation. What irritates me is the cost of those stupid Build-a Bears and their fashion!!

Next up is her big brother, who lives and breathes basketball:

Now, her beloved new kitten. At least he's not in her baby doll sling! Still, she is attempting to feed him water using a medicine dropper. He must have rejected a bottle!

Ever the food stylist, she snapped a few pics of her felted doughnuts and fake goodies.

This one her brother took. He thought the cat sleeping in his favourite chair looked cute. It's not so cute when she gets up and the chair is covered in white fur!!

This one is a real dud! Not sure why it was deemed photo worthy, but it shows that I keep a messy car. And I don't care!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

Be sure to hook up to our Mr. Linky party on Monday, over at the Flea Market Style blog.

Halloween Crafting Party...Matthew Mead style!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

When Matthew Mead sent me his newest Halloween magazine, a few pages in and I was already planning a Halloween crafting party for my daughter and her friends. Sophie loves to create, and although I always do a seasonal craft with her, I could always stand do more. When I pull out the craft supplies I also like to keep it simple. Same day Sally is definitely a good moniker for me. There will be no quilts or knitted sweaters in my future...

What I love about Matthew's ideas are that they really are quite simple and utilize supplies and ingredients you can find readily. In fact, for this party, a quick trip to the supermarket and Dollar Store rewarded me with all I needed to get the party started. On Matthew's suggestion, I baked cupcakes for the girls to decorate using some of the fun ideas in his magazine. Living in a fairly small town, I realized finding fondant would be an obstacle to making some of the cute toppers Matthew molds for his cupcake projects. Initially fretting, I could hear Matthew's calming voice in my head reminding me to improvise, which is a tactic he embraces and encourages his readers to practice when need be. So, a quick scan of the junky candy at the Dollar store gleaned some gummy mummies which rested nicely atop the girls' cupcakes. We also attempted to re-create the bats atop them that Matthew made using black squeezable icing (again, couldn't find the recommended black gel!). The icing didn't work so well, although it was done by a little girl - if I had done it, it would have looked way better...I have a real knack for icing!

Here are our improvised gummy mummy versions:

Then I gave the girls some polished black stones ($1/bag), some chalk to write spooky words on them -again, one of Matthew's wonderfully simple ideas -and a black shadow box style frame which we glued plastic spiders and flies into. Again, it was a project straight out of the magazine!

Behold some works of art:

Matthew also embellishes some of the beautiful embossed Petit Ecolier chocolate biscuits. In the magazine, he piped an icing mask onto the young man, but we didn't have the skill to execute such intricate detail. Instead, we completely changed the tactic, with mixed results:

Mine turned out much better (it's always rewarding to compare oneself to eight and nine year olds). I used more junky bone and pumpkin candies to mimic Matthew's more refined icing versions:

The main thing is that the girls had fun, right? On my own initiative, I also made them Halloween necklaces with scrapbooking charms and bought them a trick-or-treating bag to tote their loot home. Thanks to Matthew and his can-do inspiration, I can go carve another "good mother" notch onto the mantel.

Now go buy Matthew's magazine and earn yourself some kudos!

Matthew, are you proud of me?!

A centerpiece...and I'm a guest blogger!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Is it vain to report that the Thanksgiving turkey I cooked yesterday was the best I ever ate? Of course it is, but I think lying is a bigger sin so I am taking the vanity route! I treat holiday turkey dinners with reverence, and will not eat turkey in between Thanksgiving and Christmas (that's a span of more than two months here!) because I want the taste of the meal to be special. Because the handy man and I don't really exchange gifts, our gift is the meal!

We're simple people...

Remember I said I was going to attempt to replicate the holiday centerpiece found here? Well, don't compare too closely, but here is my version (with the assistance of my girlie). If you don't like it, you can go ahead and blame her. I'm all about blaming the children...

Somehow things didn't look this pretty when we were all finished...

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Now, if you want to see what other crafting I've been up to, just head on over to

Mrs. Limestone's where I am guest blogging today. While you're there, be sure to take the tour of her gorgeous Brooklyn Limestone. Be forewarned: you might be a teensy bit depressed after!!

Bountiful table...

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Before you ask, this is not my house...though I am making a similar centerpiece for our holiday meal!

It is Thanksgiving here in the Great North. A full month ahead of our U.S. friends, Thanksgiving in Canada finds us tucking in to a delicious turkey dinner while the leaves still cling to the trees in full colour. Pumpkins are literally being harvested and you can take a disoriented turn through corn fields masquerading as mazes. Pies are made from apples newly plucked from the trees, and sweaters are warmth enough for an after dinner stroll - designed to create room in our bellies for the desserts heaped on tables heaving from prosperity. Which brings me to the essence of the holiday: giving thanks for the people, the blessings, and the nourishment we are so fortunate to have before us.

My motto for this holiday, and one I try to remember each day, is the one found at the bottom of my blog:

If you haven't got all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don't have, that you don't want.

-unknown-

Winner, Winner, turkey dinner!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:04:00 +0000

I have drawn the winner of the free fall blog banner give-away I hosted for my blog designer, Danielle. Also known as The Design Girl, Danielle very generously offered the prize to a lucky reader, and that reader is..........................................................................................................................

Betty Ann, of Langley Girl

Congratulations Betty Ann! You will love your new fall banner!!

For the rest of you, Danielle has graciously extended her discounts. Remember, you will save $10 off a standard blog design and $15 off a deluxe design, She is also offering a 25% discount for any digital scrap item to my readers over at her scrapbook shop. Just use the code, restyledhome25, so she will know I sent you!

Now, I am off to peel veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!!

Miniature Garden...check!

linda@restyledhome.ca (Restyled Home) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Remember this?

Well, stop the presses, I actually completed a project I said I would. I have been a bit too antsy lately to pin myself down to create, but I did manage to try my hand at my own version of a miniature fall garden:

With the help of Sophie...

Next up, throwing Sophie and a couple of friends a little "do" to try our hands at a few of the fabulous projects from Matthew Mead's new Halloween magazine. Stay tuned!

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Be sure to check out my give-away with the Design Girl...wouldn't you like a new fall banner?