Personal : 7 Things on My Mind

November 30, 2017 | 2 Commentaries

These seven things have been on my mind lately.

1. Slippery Stairs

I had tears in my eyes from laughing so much from watching slippery stairs videos.

2. Starfish Baby

This video of a baby starfish made me laugh, too.

3. Food & Drink Magazine

LCBO’s Food & Drink magazine – holiday edition – really gets me in the spirit. The recipes look just too good! I don’t yet know what I want to try making, but it’ll be something!

4. Pine Sol

Do you take the advice of your favourite bloggers? I do. And if Erica Cook of Moth Design puts her stamp of approval on something, I especially take note. She has discussed cleaning on her blog in the past, and most recently, she sang the praises of Pine-Sol. So what did I do? I added a jug on Pine Sol to my shopping cart the last time I was at the grocery store. For the first time in my life, I bought Pine Sol.

Now, I normally mop my floors with hot water and white vinegar. This has worked out well in my opinion, but I’m always happy to try something new. So I bought the purple Pine Sol and gave it a try. I was pleased. The scent was pleasant, and my floors looked clean. I also took Erica’s suggestion and put a little bit of Pine Sol down all of my sink drains, and I feel like this small effort makes a difference for my pipes” overall cleanliness.

5. Nashville

I’m going to Nashville soon. I have barely done any travel research! Any recommendations? As per usual, my go-to spot for a guide was Design*Sponge. I just love the city guides that Grace and her team review and post. (Side note – Did you know I wrote one for the Waterloo region?)

6. Barre Workouts

A friend and I recently signed up for barre workout classes. These sessions really prove to me that I’m not a delicate ballerina. Ha ha. They’ve been fun so far, and it’s been nice to have something new to do (as if I needed anything new in my life right now!?).

7. Taylor Swift

Am I too old to listen – and enjoy – Taylor Swift’s music? Nope. Don’t think so. I have had Reputation on repeat.

Gift Guide: Tweens and Teens

November 29, 2017 | 1 Commentary

I’m thrilled to welcome back Daniela to the blog. She’s at White Cabana with a 4-part gift guide series. Her first guide was all about babies and toddlers. Now, she’s back with plenty of great gift ideas for tweens and teens.

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I always find tweens/teens a difficult age to buy for as these kids come into their own and develop their own taste/style and hobbies. However, this year, I am seeing some great go-to gifts to make that child/tween on your list smile.

Here is a selection of my favorite finds.

New shoes! The tried and true converse from even my childhood still remain a fan favorite and are great for all ages & come at a great price point.

Converse, $39.99 CAD, Sporting Life

Have you been seeing a lot of Unicorn items lately? Well you are not alone. Almost all retailers are incorporating some type of “unicorn” item into their shops. On that note, who doesn’t love a new pair of slippers? Check out this great cozy pair from Justice — a favorite store for children aged 8-12.

unicorn slippers, $19.90 CAD, Justice

If budget isn’t a concern, this hot “tech” items for the tweens in your life is all the rage. This year, it comes in an awesome white with orange accent.

Nintendo, $199.99 CAD, Best Buy

The all-natural ingredients of the Rocky Mountain Soap products make them great for all ages, but with this seasonal candy cane scent, it’s an extra win. Plus, who doesn’t love a bath bomb? This is sure to be a hit with the children in your life.

vanilla candy cane gift set, $40.95, Rocky Mountain Soap Company

Here’s a fun gift for the person you have no idea what to buy/ This is the mini version, and it’s great for a desk/work station at home or to put outside a bedroom door.

mini cinema lightbox, $29.50 CAD, Indigo

Roots! Who doesn’t love a roots hoodie? This makes the perfect cozy gift for someone on your list.

hoodie, $39.99 CAD (on sale), Roots

hoodie, $48 CAD, Roots

Lego is a gift that never gets old. This special collection of Lego friends lets you build a village one box at a time. Here is a great addition this year with a winter feel.

Lego snow resort ice rink, $39.99 CAD, Indigo

For the Star Wars enthusiast in your life…this may become the hot seller this season.

Star Wars playset, $179.99 CAD, Amazon

And pjs! These should be on all your lists for every age. They’re always a welcome gift. Masala Baby is a NYC-based company, and these organic pjs will please whoever is on the receiving end.

organic pajamas, $44, Masala Baby

Happy shopping!

– Daniela

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Thanks for sharing another awesome list of ideas, Daniela. I know my nephews and niece can’t get enough of Lego, so it’s one of my go-to gifts, too!

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Two for Tuesday: Eyes

November 28, 2017 | Leave a Reply

How many times have I posted about eyes? A lot! But there’s always room for more, right?

eyes frame, $12, Chapters Indigo

winky embroidered pillow, $39, Urban Outfitters

Gift Guide: For the Little Ones

November 27, 2017 | 1 Commentary

I’m excited to welcome my cousin Daniela to the blog today. She has a 4-part gift guide series to share over the next couple of weeks, and I hope you’re eager to see what she has in store for us. Today’s gift guide is all about the babies and toddlers! Take it away, Daniela!

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Hey everyone. As an avid shopper and someone who prides herself in finding just the right item for the many children on my shopping list, I am here today sharing with White Cabana readers some of the best items in my opinion for the baby and toddlers on your list this Christmas and yes…they are white or almost all white!

A hot item given the focus we are seeing today on mindfulness, self-care and starting this at a young age is the tee pee. This awesome gift not only looks great in any room but gives the child a place to have some quiet time, read a book or just enjoy some imaginative play.

teepee, Pottery Barn Kids

Make the base of the teepee extra cozy by adding this:

rug, Ikea

This special doll is perfect for children 18 months and up. In fact, my 2 1/2 year old daughter still prefers this to all her other dolls. It is the perfect fit for small arms and mimics a real baby which is wonderful for play and imagination.

doll, Mastermind Toys

Not only made from superior organic cotton but also Canadian made, these pjs are sure to become your toddler’s favorite. Do you have a future doctor or ballerina in the family? Then surprise them with a pair of these this Christmas.

pajamas, Playjamas

Want an extra special outfit for that special baby girl in your life? Let her sparkle in one of many options from Canadian company Little Lush Boutique. Although most of the store’s items cater to the little girls in your life, it carries awesome diaper/tie duos great for your next photo shoot that can be worn by both genders.

dress, Little Lush Boutique

Now for my favorite children’s Canadian clothing company. Their staples may be priced a bit higher than the norm however the wash and wear ability of this high quality clothing is far superior than many brands on the market. The organic cotton feels like butter, and you will find that whoever you buy these clothes for will want to wear them the second they are out of the wash. Again and again! Here is a selection of some of my go-to staples from Mini Mioche!

long sleeve tee, Mini Mioche

the ball tee, Mini Mioche

the biker romper, Mini Mioche

long sleeve ballet dress, Mini Mioche

Now for that extra special gift, check out this classic car:

vintage car, Indigo

Happy Shopping!

– Daniela

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Thanks, Daniela, for sharing all of these goodies with us, today! You’re definitely a thoughtful shopper and gift-giver, so we’re lucky to have your input for the little ones in our lives!

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The Friday Five: All About That Swag

November 24, 2017 | Leave a Reply

Did you follow the One Room Challenge this season? I barely had a chance to follow any of the designer or guest participants’ makeovers, but from what I did see, people really worked hard to transform rooms from drab to fab in just a few weeks.

I did follow The Makerista’s 7-week room transformation of a girl’s bedroom, and it was just one beautiful piece of art/furniture/detail after another. I love the spray-painted beds she used as well as the sweet chest of drawers.