November Already....Let us Remember

I have had such fun this past month decorating, organizing and compiling photo shoots of my home that I can display and share on my blog!  In the meantime, I have also taken on 2 other design projects....a full basement renovation and a complete kitchen redesign.  Am hoping that I can also share the transformation of those spaces on this blog as well.  

I am spending this Remembrance Day long weekend at the lake with my Mom and Dad, sister and her 2 beautiful children.....my nephew and niece whom I absolutely adore.  My own children are with their Dad this weekend and I am missing them.  The snow has created a blanket over the northern prairie ground here and it has truly become a winter wonderland.  I took the following photos on my walk this morning as I reflected and thought about what I would like to share on my blog today.

This weekend is always a time of reflection for me.  My maternal grandfather, my Papa, was one of the first Canadian soldiers to arrive in Groningen, Holland, as he was a Canadian Liberator.  I am not sure that I will ever be able to fully comprehend just exactly what he saw, experienced and how it affected him.  Although he was never able to share many of his memories, as I suspect he found it simply too difficult, I learned very much from my Papa during our very special times together.  I was blessed to be the oldest grandchild and because my Papa was only 43 yrs old when I was born, we shared many wonderful years together.  In fact, all 3 of my children enjoyed a relationship with him as a loving and supportive great-grandfather which is so precious in this day and age.  

On this weekend in particular, I find myself reflecting on the influence that my Papa has had on my life.   It was my Papa who took a particular interest in teaching me to drive.  Our visits always included a driving lesson whether it be to the local corner store for orange crush and Old Dutch potato chips, to KFC for a bucket of Champs Chicken as he referred to it, or through the prairie countryside for a leisurely drive.  As my mind wanders back to those special times, I remember the lessons learned from him.  And yes, while he was teaching me to drive, I can see now that the lessons weren't all about driving a vehicle.  His stories, comments, suggestions, insights and encouragement were related to driving safely through life...navigating through the challenges, hills, valleys, roadblocks and detours of life.  At the time, as a young teenage girl, I didn't realize the importance or significance of these lessons.

As I look back over the past few years, one of the most difficult of life's challenges that I have had to "drive" or navigate through, include death.  At this time of year when we bow our heads in honour of Remembrance Day, and reflect on the lives lost and sacrificed through death, I think of some of those lessons taught by my Papa.  One of his most important messages to us was: 

The past is history,

Tomorrow is a mystery,

Today is a gift.

Death is part of life.  And it comes in many different forms....it could be the end of a life, the end of a relationship, the end of a work term, the end of a project or the end of living in a certain place or time. How we navigate through these deaths is what creates the depth of our character.  As Papa said, we can't change the past or control what happens around us.  All we can do is be responsible for our own actions and celebrate the day we have before us because we don't know what is going to happen tomorrow.   Just as in driving a vehicle, we can't know what the drivers around us are going to do, we just need to be ready to be responsible for our own vehicle.

One of the most difficult deaths that I have had to deal with is the end of my married relationship and ultimately divorce.  Sometimes, you have to allow yourself to let go of the wheel.... and unfortunately, sometimes the result is fatal.  You don't see it coming necessarily, as you can't control the other driver.  All you can do is take responsibility for your own actions and navigate through it as best you can.....trying not to create any more fatalities in the process.  And, as in all deaths, there is rebirth.  The debris clears, the ground thaws and before you know it, new life emerges.  And the life that does emerge is more meaningful and more beautiful than you can ever imagine.  It takes sacrifice, and letting go of things that you realize aren't important at all so that you can fully enjoy and appreciate all that is important in life.  The transformation of my little house on the prairie is an example of just that.  The creation of a house into a home that reflects the values and life that  I wish to create for myself, my children, my extended family and my friends. In my home I wish to share this journey of life with those who "drive" and navigate through the challenges of life as my passengers. And I trust them to take the wheel.  

Papa, I miss you.  I appreciate your lessons more now than I have ever have.  You taught me it is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice.  That it is more important to give than to receive.  That there are some things that money can't buy like manners, morals and intelligence.  Because of you, I think to myself, what a wonderful world.  

xo Your Princess

Fall is Here!

After taking a bit of a hiatus over the past couple of months, I am pleased to be back and excited to display the transformation of my house!  The interior project of the house is complete....from top to bottom and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. 

Now my focus turns to the outside of the house. I am undertaking some landscaping work which includes some stonework, decorative rock and shrub plantings.  As it is already October, exterior painting will have to wait until the spring.  

Off to shoot some photos....stay tuned!

Thinking about that quote from my previous post. Small houses...fewer walls to separate the noise, the interaction, the discussion, the hugs, ultimately the love.  A home is a place where all members of the family should find peace, contentment and restoration  How do we do this?  Think about the needs of your family and while we all require our own individual spaces, comfortable family gathering places are equally so important.  

Think about family activities.....we enjoy watching movies, playing cards and board games.  We are also a family that enjoys campfires, ping pong tournaments, and picnics on the beach.

I love my family.  We belong together and together our whole is greater 

than the sum of our individual parts.  

I love this quote!!!

First impressions can have a lasting impact.  The curb appeal of a home can be enhanced by many factors and sometimes it can just be the small touches that make all the difference.

One thing that I always love to do is decorate my front door with a wreath.  I change them seasonally for interest and fun to recognize the holidays!  A square red rose wreath for Valentines, a pastel easter egg wreath for Easter, an apple blossom wreath for spring.....etc.  Tied with a bow of pretty ribbon, or burlap as in this photo below, I think it really makes a statement. 

In this photo, I love the contrast of the matte black front door with the gorgeous hydrangea blooms....and the burlap ribbon just adds that touch of texture and interest.  Who wouldn't want to walk through that front door!!

I was recently working with clients in choosing paint colours as they prepare to move into their new home.  This is a very interesting process as people approach colour in so many different ways.  Some are influenced by their view and reactions to certain colours based upon a previous relationship with a colour, others get hooked on the name given to a colour and some people just have an emotional reaction to a colour they see....positive or negative.  Colour is such a personal choice yet so important as it sets the tone for the function and feel of the room it is used in.

I quite like the colours that we chose for this home.  I have to admit, I have not used any of these before and the process did take a while....but I am so very excited to see paint colours on the walls in the rooms of this house.  

For the daughters room..... Benjamin Moore Peace and Happiness 1380.

It is a very pale cross of pink and purple that simply casts an aura of blissful happiness.  The perfect colour for a little girls room!

For the sons' room....Benjamin Moore's Winter Solstice 1605

This is a lovely soft grey which resembles early evening shadows on freshly fallen snow.  Coupled with a palette of dark blue furniture and accessories, it contributes in creating a handsome room for a young boy that he can continue to grow into.

For the main bath....Benjamin Moore White Rain 708.

This is a timeless and elegant colour which is part of the Benjamin Moore's Classic Colour Collection.  With a hint and touch of green and hues of the sea, it contributes to a spa like feel to the bathroom which offers a feel of relaxation and rejuvenation.  

I look forward to seeing these colours at play in this home and will share the end results on this blog!

Summer is here and the living is easy and breezy.  White slipcovered sofas, hardwood floors, seagrass carpet and crisp white trim....the perfect summer palette.  

Changing accessories seasonally adds to the feeling you wish to create for your home.  With the addition of fresh green plants, fresh flowers, decorative glass jars with shells and touches of white porcelain, the whole feel of a room can be recreated! 

To me, this is the perfect summer living room.  Fresh, bright, clean and so inviting.  Can't you just envision enjoying a lovely glass of chardonnay in this room?!

Cheers!!

Heading into the weekend and thinking about what a home means......

This sums it all up for me which is why I so enjoy taking a house 

and creating it into a home for my family. 

I am still at the lake...Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park to be exact.  It has to be one of the most beautiful places in Canada.  Rolling hills, mature pine trees, historic log structures....including the oldest log movie theatre in north america, one of the cleanest and clearest lakes you will ever see, a quaint downtown shopping and restaurant area, a top notch tennis club......I could go on and on.  

We are so fortunate to have a family place here and my children all have summer jobs here.....teaching tennis, scooping ice cream and working at the movie theatre.  It is a wonderful and safe 

community full of families who are all after the same thing....time to enjoy one another and create memories of a lifetime.

A very good friend of mine has a lovely home decor and gift shop here.  I have been very happy and honoured to have had the opportunity to help out at the store organizing, merchandising and displaying her wonderful finds.  Tomorrow evening I am so proud to be co hosting a private shopping event there with an intimate group of clientele where I will feature a list of "Lisa's Top Picks"! As with any gift shop, there are many hidden gems and this is no exception.  Her taste is exceptional and I am finding it difficult to narrow down a list to only a limited number of items!

However, carefully chosen items and accessories are the final touches that complete the overall feel of a home. Baskets, candles, trays, linens, greens.....all contribute in there own way to the overall style of the home you wish to create. 

Looking forward to tomorrow evening....with friends, wine and shopping.  What could be better!!

At the lake, we really enjoy al fresco dining.....that is dining outside with simple, fresh, locally grown foods.  We enjoy dining at the table on the deck, gathering around the fire or packing a picnic to take out on the boat where we enjoy swimming in the beautiful clear water or taking in a gorgeous sunset. Our favourite picnics are those with food we have prepared ourselves....

Fresh bread that has just come out the oven.....(I shared this recipe in a previous post), my Dad's homemade dills with the cucumbers and dill he grew in his garden,  rhubarb cake that Mom has made from the rhubarb patch in the garden...all so healthy and so tasty! 

And of course, presentation is also so important.  Packed in a wicker tote and presented on a wooden cutting board, it makes the experience all that more special.  And isn't that what life is all about....turning everyday moments into special memories! 

Life on the prairie is all about gathering together particularly outside in the summer and what greater enticement to gather around is there then a fire!  It is the place where stories are told, songs are sung, marshmallows are roasted and memories are made.  For our family, it has become a tradition that we all look forward to.  There is the initial "welcome to the stuga fire", the "family weekend fire", the "lets not cook dinner and roast hotdogs fire" and the "farewell fire".  With many more in between!

There are chairs for everyone.....and child sized sized chairs for all of the grandchildren too!  With a backdrop of beautiful mature pine trees and a gentle prairie breeze, it is the perfect place to gather...the warmth of family and fire.  There is nothing better. 

Back at the Stuga!  Stuga means "vacation house" in Swedish, which is our family's heritage. It is a gathering place for us all that my parents have created for our family's enjoyment. I am here for most of the summer along with my children who have summer jobs here. My sister and her family will join us for several weeks and my brother and his family will travel from the United States to be with us for a long weekend as well.  

We have had some wonderful times here over the years and created memories that will last forever.  Wonderful family meals, special times on the boat, picnics on the beach......so many memorable experiences.  What makes this all work so well is that we all contribute and do our part.  Having 5 adults and 7 children.....all under one roof...albeit with a bunkie...can have present its challenges.  I must admit that I do take after my father and rather enjoy a clean and tidy environment.  Others in our family....well, not so much.  I am so grateful to have discovered this fabulous product.....Lysol wipes!

In no time at all, I can have the bathrooms and kitchen completely cleaned and disinfected.  It makes life easy and keeps everybody happy....particularly the ladies with 6 men using a toilet! If everybody does a little and contributes in their own way, we are all able to relax and enjoy our time together.  Lysol wipes help me do my part!  They disinfect and leave a fresh and clean scent that lingers. And the best part is that everybody thinks I have cleaned all day....so I get to enjoy extra relaxation time! 

Drove home today from the lake to check on progress.  The basement is completely drywalled now which really allows me to envision the end result.  Now time for me to think about the finishing touches as the rooms become complete....

I am so happy with the Ikea vanity I purchased for the second floor bathroom that I am using the same one in this bathroom but in the dark brown stain:

Next decision is fixtures.......for sink and shower.  While perusing the aisles at Home Depot, I stumbled across these beauties.  

I love the modern and clean lines of these fixtures which will perfectly suit the functional tone of this bathroom.  Simple, elegant yet perfectly appropriate for a well used bathroom.

Now back to the lake....

Faith

Taking on any renovation project can be quite overwhelming. let alone renovating an entire house!  While the first and second floors are 90% complete, the basement is still a construction zone.  The drywall is up and the next step is taping and sanding which is very dusty and very messy.  So, the kids and I, along with our dog, took off for the lake and I left my contractor in charge.  I am feeling a little nervous about not being on site but I have faith in my contractor and I believe in this project.  

I came across this little quote that helps me remember to believe in my abilities and the choices I have made with respect to this project.  So far, everything has evolved exactly the way I had envisioned and I am confidant that the basement will be no different.  

Summer is here!

We are in the midst of a heatwave here on the prairie.  Fortunately, while having the electrical system in the house completely updated, I also had a ductless air conditioning system installed in my house.  Typically, options can be limited in an older house with a boiler system to noisy window air conditioners.  This system however is quiet and is mounted on an outside wall between the first and second floor......it keeps the whole house cool and comfortable!

The compressor unit is installed on the outside of the house and the tubing is hidden and housed in eavestroughs for a neat and clean appearance.  

It is a great system and a terrific option for older homes with radiators and boiler heat.  

Believe it or not but my kitchen sink, which is under mounted, actually separated from the counter top and fell out!  This was part of the kitchen that I hadn't renovated but apparently it hadn't been properly attached to the countertop with clips or bracing so the silicone just couldn't do the job on its own.  Unfortunately though it meant that not only did I have to have someone come in to properly secure the sink but the guts of the plumbing all had to be replaced as well.  So, being one not to dwell on the negative aspects of the situation, I decided to take the opportunity to replace the kitchen faucet to something spectacular!

I am just so pleased with this beauty.  It compliments the stainless appliances I introduced to kitchen and looks so professional yet is so very functional.  It completely elevates the whole feeling of the kitchen while at the same time proves to be so useful!  By the way, in the background is my new Caldrea ensemble which can be found at the newly opened Target here! Presented in a stainless steel stand is beautifully scented dish soap, counter top spray cleaner and hand soap. A completely natural blend of essential oils that is so fragrant and completely biodegradable.   So lovely! 

Now that the rain has subsided and the sun is shining, I have been enjoying tending to my garden and improving the curb appeal of my front porch.

With trimmers in hand,  I enjoyed bringing back to life the beautiful pee gee hydrangea in my front garden and did away with the dead branches that were a distraction.  Some weeding, a few bags of cedar mulch and voila......a new garden is born!

With the addition of faux boxwood topiaries in black metal urns on my steps, I am quite pleased the the overall look.  The beauty of going with these is that while I am at the lake over the summer, I need not worry about watering.  And I think they would work year round!

Now to tackle those peeling steps....

Friday!!!  Family!!!  Friends!!!  Fun!!!  Food!!!

My family is my home.  Wherever that may be. I have many friends whom I consider family. They are my family by choice.  I am blessed....with a wonderful family and wonderful friends.  

And that is LOVE!!!

So as my dear friend Alix says, "Happy Weekend"!!!!   

Enjoy your family and friends with fun and food this weekend.  

Tulips....my absolute favourite flower.  With a strong green stem and delicate petals, it seems to represent the ideals of the person I wish to be.  Strong foundation, delicate being. It is a spring blossoming flower and my birthday is in the spring.  It is perennial and so am I!

I have some beautiful tulips adorning my home.  They are in beautiful clear vases and look like they are real...but they aren't!  In fact, when I have guests over, they like to remind me to water them or put pennies in their vases to promote them standing straight.  They are shocked when I tell them that they aren't real! Check out the Garden Room on Academy Road in Winnipeg....they are the source!!

Muskoka Chairs....the essence of summer relaxation.  I bought 2 white ones today which will find their home on my front lawn.  A perfect place to perch while watching my kids play soccer, enjoy a morning coffee, an evening glass of wine or just watch the world go by.

So here is my tip today.  Superstore has them on sale for $60!!  They are wood, fir in fact, available in an array of colours.  Those who know me will understand I would pick none other than white!

What a week....kids writing exams, more renovation delays, crazy weather, unreasonable people, family functions, a sick dog, soccer games at places in the city I have never heard of......I could go on and on.  But I found this photo and it sort of sums what my week has been like.....a prairie storm!!

Am going to enjoy a spa day with my daughter tomorrow who is always a ray of sunshine despite the weather.  Happy Weekend!

I absolutely love the look of this front entrance.  The combination of the black front door, the black iron lanterns and the boxwoods planted in those lovely urns create a feeling of elegance.  I am inspired to recreate my own urns at the moment as soccer balls coming from my sons' kicks seem to have destroyed my petunias currently planted in them. 

The stone walkway and steps are also stunning.....a project I also plan to take on with my house although that will have to wait for next year.  In the meantime, I will do my best to create an elegant entry to my home.  Off to source some beautiful boxwoods.......

For some reason, I always think of potato salad once the nice weather arrives.  And, the fact that I cooked up some new potatos on saturday night as I roasted a chicken, I intentionally made extra so that I could make a potato salad with the leftovers on Sunday.  I love making new meals from leftovers!

I wanted to try something new so I took a few different recipes that I had used before and then came up with my own.  It was delicious.  In fact, I was told that it was the best potato salad that one of my guests had ever had! Now that is high praise.

So, here is the recipe I came up with:

1 dozen new potatos cooked and blanched, cut in half

3 eggs hard boiled and diced

3 celery stalks diced

Whisk together 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon grainy mustard, 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, splash of white wine vinegar, dash of salt and pepper to liking.  This is the dressing.

In a bowl, combine halved new potatoes, diced eggs and celery.  Then fold in dressing so it is mixed thoroughly.  Sprinkle with chopped chives and paprika.  Let the salad chill for at least an hour to allow the flavours to absorb.  Enjoy!

P.S.  I also love adding thinly sliced radishes to a potato salad....alas, I just didn't have any on hand. Not only do they add a burst of flavour but also a very colorful addition! 

Today, as we head into the weekend, I want to share some of my favourite messages about Motherhood.  It is my most important and cherished role.....I love being a Mom and in particular,  to my wonderful 3 children who teach and inspire me everyday.  They make me want to be a better person.

To my children.....I love you more than you know.  Forever, and Always. xo

Construction in the basement is moving along and now that it is framed it is easier to imagine what the space will look like when completed. I had the boiler and hot water tank moved to a location that allowed me to design a more functional floor plan.  And in moving the boiler, all of the plumbing was updated as well which actually resulted in the system working much more efficiently.

 

I also had all of the exterior walls spray foamed and they are now being insulated. 

 We will be toasty warm! I am also having many pot lights installed so it will be a nice and bright place to spend time.  Ultimately my goal is for it not to feel like a basement.  Apparently my contractor thinks I will have the best basement in the neighbourhood!

A friend sent this to me recently.  I had seen it before but didn't ever really reflect on the words and their meaning at the time.  It seems to be more poignant these days.  

Decorating a home, decorating your soul...it stems from the same premise.  Determine your values, and what your purpose is.  What do you want to teach and what is that you want to feel good about at the end of the day.  Whether it be creating a home of warmth and welcome, or a person of integrity and grace, we all learn the lessons we are meant to learn.  Embrace and be strong! 

Hooray!! Summer is here!!

Thank goodness for sunshine, nice weather, green grass, blossoming flowers and spending time outside on the deck or patio.  This is what summer is all about!

This deck is fabulous.  Southwest exposure, it is a sunny and warm place to enjoy nature sheltered from the wind.  It was here when I purchased the house so besides some landscaping, I really didn't need to do anything besides buy some deck furniture.  Again, I bought these wood loungers from Ikea along with the cushions and they have proven to be so useful....whether sitting out with a friend sipping wine or my kids lounging together bantering back and forth, or listening to music.  It has become another room in the house now which we use quite frequently.  In fact my daughter and her friends had a little picnic out there the other day!

With the addition of hurricane lamps and candles, it becomes a cozy place to enjoy a beautiful summer evening as well.  Cheers to summer! 

The first week of June.  My kids are writing exams and it is time to eat well, exercise, drink plenty of water and ensure we are getting enough sleep.  It is also time to prepare for summer sundresses, swimsuits and shorts....maybe not in that order! I am always looking for new and interesting ways for my kids to drink water.  Keeping ourselves hydrated and replenishing particularly after exercise or activity is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

Try this recipe for water.  I keep it in a glass carafe in my fridge.  Very refreshing and it helps to flush out toxins and maintain a flat belly!

Detox Water: 2 lemons sliced, 1/2 cucumber sliced, a few mint leaves and 3 quarts of water.  Infused it creates a natural detox helping to flush impurities out of your system and also helps the immune system against illness.  Simple yet so powerful! 

Take a break this weekend.....

I know I am!!!!

Trays are a wonderful way to organize items and contain clutter.  Whether they be silver, wicker, wooden or any other material, they provide a decorative way to display in the bathroom, the laundry room, the kitchen.....wherever!  Here are some wonderful examples:

I am inspired to find new and creative ways to use trays in my house to contain the clutter.....which can be quite a challenge with 3 teenagers and a dog!!