Sweetie Pie : )

I am kind of a nerd, and on my days off I really like to stay home decorating, organizing/cleaning, and most of all, watching all of those morning TV shows like Regis & Kelly. I always like to watch them because they make me laugh, and I always learn fun things like new recipes and decorating or fashion advice. : ) Today was especially one those days after having such a busy weekend with two of my very favourite people, but I know you will hear more about that later. ; )

This morning I was watching Rachael Ray, and I learned of a helpful (and probably very tasty!) recipe called Candy Pie.

I should probably mention that I love to bake pies, so I might be a little partial. Owl and some of our other friends can make the most beautiful and delicious cupcakes, but pies have always been my favourite thing to bake. : ) I have mastered classic apple pie and peach pie (I know it is awfully sweet, but I bake them for my dad - he likes peach pie : ), but there are still lots of pies I'd like to master such as cherry pie (for my mom), strawberry-rhubarb pie (for me), and butter tarts (for my dad again, hehe), because they are just like little pies, right? : ) As well as some fun pies, like this one. I am a little embarrassed that this idea never occurred to me before, because it is so simple, but I know of it now, and that is all that matters, I think. : )

Candy Pie

Any kind of candy you'd like (chocolate bars, peanut-butter cups, M&Ms, etc.)
1 pie shell (you can make one or buy a frozen one).
Milk or white chocolate, melted.

Put in any candy you'd like into the pie shell (if you are using lots of chocolate, you may want to pre-bake the pie shell for 10 minutes), and try and fill it to the top. It can help if you have stickier candies, such as ones with caramel, to make it all melt together better. Then, melt milk or white chocolate by putting chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds, rotating the bowl every 10 seconds. Bake the pie for 30-40 minutes. While the pie is baking, make a "pencil", where you pour melted chocolate onto a piece of parchment paper, and roll the paper up. Then hold the rolled-up paper like a pencil and drizzle the melted chocolate over the pie when it comes out of the oven.

Although I love any reason to bake pies, I also like this pie because it is the perfect way to use up leftover Halloween candy. If you are anything like me, extra Halloween candy is just trouble, hehe. Have you ever seen the movie Waitress with Keri Russell where she bakes pies and gives them cute names? Well, if I were to give this pie a name, it wouldn't be "Candy Pie", it would be "All of This Candy is Goin' In, So I Don't Get a Big Butt Pie". It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? : )

With the warmest Halloween wishes!
xoxo

BOO

Did I scare you?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

This weekend was really awesome. Spent time with my girls, did some super fun crafts, ate tons of delicious sushi, bought some vintage items and had an overall much needed dose of girl time. I will be back tomorrow to let you know what I got/made, and further details on what we did.

Some delicious cupcakes the girls and I made over the weekend. Spooky goodness!

Prettiest Halloween decorations I've ever seen.

Hope you all have a spooktacular day.

Tata for now
xoxo

Artsy Fartsy

So I am having a girl's get together this weekend and I am uber excited about. We are going to be doing all the regular girlie things - watching chick flicks, eating junk food, going out for brunch and sushi. Needless to say, I am s-t-o-k-e-d! We're also going to fit in some other fun stuff like going to our favourite antique market, baking some cupcakes and doing some DIY stuff.

My lovely friend is hoping to make some Christmas decorations, I know it's early - but really, it's less that two months away (YIKES!). I, on the other hand am hoping to make a DIY art piece. I know that I want something for the living room, but I am not sure exactly what I want yet. I've got so many inspiration photos pinned on Pinterest, so I'll look there for some inspiration. Currently I am trying to decide between:

1. Minimalist Striped Art - I love the contrast in this, but I might want to look for something with a little more colour for the living room.

2. Black and white word art - Again, love the contrast of the black on white canvas, but I might need a little more colour. I do love this though.

3. Modern Art - Splash some colourful paint on a canvas and call it a day. I think that this might be my favourite one. I love the different textures and strokes of this. Hopefully I can recreate something just as rad.



Be back on Monday with a finished project. Hope it turns out :)

Tata for now. Can't wait for Friday!

xoxo

Campaign Dressers

I am in love with campaign dressers. The style, the elegance, the beauty - oh my. I have been on the look-out for one for some time now, but have never been able to find one. Damn you thrift gods, why won't you listen to me?!? Anyways, since I can't find one, I have decided to DIY my own campaign dresser. Similar to this one here:



Sigh...isn't she pretty? Found via

Ikea has a great line of untreated solid wood products that you can pretty much do ANYTHING you could ever think of with. I have already made over one of these bad boys into my nightstand which looks similar to the one below, and I just love it.

Similar to my DIY nightstand, only I used lion head drawer pulls. She's a looker :)

For this project however, I'm going to need two of the RAST bad boys, perhaps bolted together (not sure yet whether I want to do that or not).

So here's my recipe for a gorgeous campaign dresser of my very own:

1. IKEA Rast dresser @ $39.00 buckaroos - that's a steal. Of course I'll be using two of these

2. I am going for a dark blue/ light navy colour for my campaign dresser. It is just such a moody, delicious colour and I have always wanted to paint a piece of furniture this colour.

3. Various hardware pieces to spice this lady up. I've got gold and silver both pictured there, but that's just because I couldn't find a gold corner plate, please excuse :)

Be back with some photos after I've completed my project. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Tata for now! xox

Gliteratti

Inspired by one of my new favourite shows, Ringer, I have created a little outfit that would be prefect for these cool Fall days. Not only is this show full of intense drama, mystery and fashion, it's got one of my favs Sarah Michelle Gellar. I am so glad to see her back on TV. There has been a hollow feeling in my heart ever since Buffy the Vampire Slayer stopped playing...I am a loser, I know :) Anyways, I hope you enjoy this little ensemble I put together.
 

1. Via 2. Via 3. Via 4. Via 5. Via 6. Via 7. Via

1. Chase away those dark storm clouds with this awesome sequin skirt. Layered under a black knit sweater with some opaque tights allows this skirt to be transformed for a swanky day look.
2. This cozy, chunky knit sweater is perfect for the Fall. The textures of the skirt and sweater mix for a very interesting layering effect.
3. Keep those legs warm in these textured knit tights.
4. I chose these cute, lace-up flat booties - just because that's what I prefer,but this outfit would look just as awesome with a pair of platform booties.
5. This long, dangly gold necklace breaks up the black and adds a splash of interest up top.
6. A beautiful statement piece like this Michael Kors rose gold watch is a must-have. Perfect for everyday wear with a mix of bangles.
7. This bag is AWESOME! I really love how the fur adds another textured element to the outfit, without being too over the top. And the gray is a prefect contrast to the black and gold of this outfit.

Hope you all like this. What do you think about Sarah Michelle? Glad she's back, or is she old news?

Tata for now. xoxo

The Emerald City

Have you ever seen something and realized you kind of liked it, even though it is something that you normally wouldn’t? This happens to me from time to time, and I think it might have happened again… : )

The culprit was this emerald dress from Elie Saab.

Elie Saab, Spring 2012

It first caught my attention while I was looking through the Spring 2012 designer collections on Style.com, and the second time was a charm when I saw it again on one of my favourite blogs, This is Glamourous.



As much as it surprised me, I just think this dress is very pretty. It is very dramatic, but with a simple design and lines, it is not over-the-top.  I’m afraid it has made my wish-list along with this softer dress from Elie Saab.

Elie Saab, Fall 2011 Ready to Wear

Despite the attraction, I don’t think I would ever be brave enough to wear a dress as bold as the emerald dress, but  there is nothing wrong with dreaming, right? : )

xoxo

Globe-o Collecto

I am always on the lookout for old, antique globes when I'm perusing the aisles of thrift stores, at flea markets, on etsy, or anywhere else I can find em. I just love decorating with globes. I think it adds so much interest and culture to a room, especially when you have your collections grouped together.

I've so far amassed two globes for my collection. One is from my younger years - my parents bought me a globe for Christmas one year, and the other is a mini bank globe similar to this little guy that I found at a flea market for 5 buckaroos.

Just check out these amazing rooms with globe collections. The make me want to do a little happy dance :)



All photos can be found via my Pinterest board: Make a House a Home



If I could wrap the globe, I would give you the world. - J Cole

Have a great weekend everyone! xoxo

No Jute About It

I am absolutely in love with jute rugs. I am currently in the market for one now, and am having some trouble deciding on the colour. For those of you who don't know what jute is: jute is a plant fiber that is extremely durable and renewable. You can read more over at Front and Main where they did a lovely feature on jute rugs.

With so many different variations, colours and options for jute rugs - it's hard to decide what exactly I'm looking for. One thing I know for sure...I am buying a jute rug and doing some carpet layering. Mmmmhmmm, check out these fantastic rooms with rug layering galore.



Lauren's super, cute apartment (from Live Happy Inspired) was recently featured on Apartment Therapy. I just love the layered rugs. Brings so much dimension and fun into a room.



Jute and zebra. Yes please!



I might have posted this room already, but I just can't get enough!

Le sigh. Until I can find the right fit, I'll be daydreaming of my perfect jute rug. One day we will be together, I swear it - a little dramatic? no....

Tata for now :)

P.s.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your day is filled with family, friends, food, and very full bellies. : )

All the Pretty Horses

Being Thanksgiving, I thought I would write about something that is both very Fall, and very all-American Canadian. ; ) Riding pants. Joining blazers and riding boots, riding pants are the most recent addition to the category of equestrian wear as every-day wear.

With not-so-humble beginnings, equestrian clothing was a member of that elite class of trends made iconic by Jackie Kennedy, who would come to her classes at Vassar in her riding clothes.

 In his homage to everything classic, Ralph Lauren then solidified equestrian clothing as an American staple.

Practical and stylish, I think riding pants should join riding boots and blazers as a fashion staple... At least they will in my book. : )

xoxo

Gobble, gobble, gobble

It's turkey time!! I am so ridiculously excited about eating TWO turkey dinners this year for Thanksgiving. Sunday night at the boy's parents and Monday at my dad's. I'll be fasting all of tomorrow, just so I can be sure to get my fill on Sunday and Monday night. I can't wait!

The boy's mom asked me to bake some pumpkin spice cupcakes for dessert on Sunday night. I made the cupcakes last night but still need to ice those bad boys. After just tasting the batter though, I think they'll will be pretty tasty :) Recipe to come.

Thought I'd leave you all with some Thanksgiving inspiration on this lovely Friday afternoon :)



Super sweet & rustic table setting

  



I'll eat this whole thing...dare me, I dare you ;)



I hope mine look half as good as these delicious looking morsels

That's all for now folks. I'm off to throw on some sweat pants and get ready to stuff my face until I can't move - HA!

Reporting for Duty, Sir

Anyone else absolutely psyched about Fall nail colours. This year it seems that everyone is jumping on the army green band wagon which I am A-OK with. I cannot wait to start sporting some moody blues, army greens, sultry greys and deep purples on my nail-skis.



OPI's new fall collection (half of it) - my favourite pics are in this line-up.



I am uber excited about Fall and everything that comes with it (including my birthday...coming up very soon)! What do you all think of the new fall colours? Dark and sexy or too much?

Gloomy Tuesday

Rainy, gray and drab - that pretty much sums up the day today. Thought I'd share some of my favourite things to do on a rainy day at home.

1. Curl up and have a True Blood Marathon. Anyone love Eric as much as I do?

2. Enjoy some homemade fondue. Recipe here.



One of my favourite fondue recipes with chipotle and tequila. YUM!

 3. Cross something off your to-do list. I know mine is about ten miles long. I could sure use a rainy day at home to get some stuff D-O-N-E!




Via Apartment Therapy

 4. Host a board game party. Here's one of my favourites - gets a laugh every time :)

5. Light some candles. Here's one of my favourite types - Frosted Cupcake from Bath & BodyWorks. num num num, smells like Heaven.


And that's just a few things to get you started on a rainy day :) What do you like to do on gloomy days? Curl up and relax or get stuff done?

Just a Little Hello. : )

Although we wrote a general introduction to the blog earlier, I thought I would just write a little message to introduce myself and say Hi. I am the other half of this blog, but you can call me Fawn. ; ) As my name probably shows, I am a little more shy than my partner, but thankfully, our blog is about fashion and decorating among other things. These are two things that I love so much that I think I can find a few things to say. : )

I thought, when making an introduction, to start with a posting about something that is pretty synonymous with me, something I have and always will love: The colour black. One of my oldest and dearest friends, black has always seemed to be the perfect choice for every occasion and has never disappointed me.  Although I do still wear other colours, I will always remain loyal to my very favourite. Relying on it as my go-to colour, choosing it more often than not when clothing is available in multiple colours, and defending it when anyone says it is boring or just an easy choice. Classic and understated, it is the epitome of simplicity, versatility, and timelessness, and to me there will never be a “new black.”

J.Crew Lady Day Coat

Herve Leger Racerback Bandage Dress

J.Crew Mona Suede Pumps

Tory Burch City Bag

It's so nice to meet you! ; )

xoxo

Birthday Bonanza

The end of September/beginning of October is a busy time for me. It starts with the boys birthday, then comes Fawn's birthday, then it's my dad's birthday and to round it all up is my stepsister's birthday. And all these fall within a week of each other. Whoowee...now that's what I call a birthday bonanza!

For the boy's birthday, I went all out this year. I cooked him a delicious meal, got him tickets to his fav hockey team (score - his favourite team is playing his least favourite team, extra points for the best gf ever!!), and planned a Beerfest type birthday party for him over the weekend. More on the birthday feast later.

For Fawn's birthday, I got her an awesome present that I think suits her to a tee. Can't share that yet because I haven't given it to her, but we'll be back with details later. We are also planning a trip to New York soon. Our birthdays are less than a month apart - so excited for that!!

Since I live in another city as my dad and stepsister, I will have to send them a sweet card in the mail, call them to sing "Happy Birthday", and plan a visit to see them soon. I'm thinking Canadian Thanksgiving will be a good time for that. I am still trying to decide what to get for my stepsister. I've got a couple ideas for her below. She's a cute, quirky individual, so I want to make sure I find something just right.

All items found at Urban Outfitters

I just love birthdays! I really like making people feel special on their birthdays. Whether it's making a glorious feast, picking out the perfect present, planning a party, or going out of your way to do something nice for them. How do you like to celebrate birthdays? Is it a big affair or more of a quiet celebration?