Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which means it’s time for extra hearts to join our lives. Here are some hearts that have grabbed my attention.
Celebration
What are your holiday traditions when it comes to advent calendars? Are you a classic chocolate lover? Do you opt for something else for you and/or your loved ones? I usually pick up a delicious chocolate calendar when I see something that looks delicious. The variety of calendars available in the marketplace seems to have exploded in the last several years. Now, there are calendars with beauty products, food items, ornaments, toys, and more!
Here are eight advent calendars that look unique. The Chanel calendar is quite the luxurious splurge at $825USD!
I am generally not very into Halloween, but I now live with candy addicts who love just about everything about Halloween – pumpkins, carving, dressing up, spooky movies, and, yes, candy! I think I’m the only one though who cares about tasteful Halloween decorations, and nobody should be too surprised to see a few black and white decorations – instead of orange – pop up at my house this month.
Grace Atwood’s (The Stripe) 40th birthday party looked divine. I absolutely love the orchids down the middle of the table for this Roaring 20s theme party.
All images via Grace Atwood. Photos by Anna F Duncan.
Well, there aren’t too many places to shop in person this month, so I’ve put together a list of 10 Mother’s Day gift ideas that are easy to pick up from the grocery store. It’s the one place that I know forsure will be open (although I know there are plenty of curbside pickup spots and online shops, too)!
- Food. Pick up all the ingredients you need to spoil your mom with a great meal (perhaps one that you’ve perfected over the last year of lockdown).
- Flowers. Ideally, you’d buy flowers from a local florist, but if you can’t get to one, consider the flowers and plant options from the grocery store. An orchid is always a winning option, for example.
- Candy, chocolate, and ice cream. Choose her favourite flavours. Who can ever resist some sweets?
- Card. Don’t forget to send your mom a card!
- Coffee. Grab a few and bundle them together in a coffee-themed gift basket (reuse a basket you own or get creative with packaging).
- Magazines. My mom loves magazines, but she only has so many subscriptions, so it’s nice to treat her to magazines she doesn’t subscribe to every once in a while, too.
- Cake. Check out the baked goods in the bakery section of your grocery store. You could get a cake with a personalized message in icing on it.
- Spa products. Check out the beauty section of the grocery store. You might just find some nail polish, a loufah, or her favourite moisturizer. These days at-home spas are all the rage. 🙂
- Picnic ware. If a quick backyard visit is your only option, buy some paper plates and pick up a pizza to share.
- Cheese and charcuterie. Pick up all the delicious cheeses and charcuterie you mom would like, arrange it on a wood cutting board (which you can also pick up at many grocery stores), and gift her a delicious easy meal.
Reminder: Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 9th.
While I have already shared some sweet Valentine’s Day items recently, today’s love themed curation is from local shops. Even though we can’t visit the stores in person quite yet, these Ontario shops are offering easy delivery and curbside pickup options. Have a browse and buy what you love!
The Art of Home (Cambridge, ON)
Gifted (Waterloo, ON)
Wills and Prior (Stratford, ON)
Hue La La (Burlington, ON)
Lofthouse Living (London, ON)
Welcome to the Friday Five – Valentine’s Edition! Here are five lovely things to read over the weekend.
1.This article about handwritten Valentine cards.
2.This list of 10 date ideas.
3. The book Love Sense by Sue Johnson.
4. I Like You – a classic (now vintage) book about showing you care and developing lovely friendships and relationships. Brain Pickings noted it as an illustrated ode to friendship. So sweet.
5. This article about how love is good for us.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
What’s a celebration without some sweets? I made these sweet heart sugar cookies for friends and colleagues this week.
Martha Stewart’s sugar cookie and royal icing recipes are my recipes of choice, and I use this package of Wilton food colouring. I generally use a piping bag or piping pen, but this time I opted for the ol’ ziploc bag approach.
I’ve had heart eyes for these two artists for a long while now.
Kerri Rosenthal is an artist, interior designer, and stylist based out of Connecticut. Her work is happy, graphic, and colourful (but there’s also plenty of black and white!).
Monica Ajenjo is a hyper-realist artist based in Madrid. Her pieces look so real and three dimensional, but she’s only using paint and wood. Incredible. I have previously featured her bows, but today I’m focused on her hearts.
I have always liked Valentine’s Day. As a child or as an adult, whether I’ve been single or in a relationships, I’ve liked February 14th. Why not take a day to spread love as far as you can? Why not take a break from the dreary February weather to eat a chocolate (or several)? Seems like a good idea to me!
When my mom had her flower shop, I used to work with her on February 14th, and I packed countless boxes of roses and flowers over the years. We heard all sorts of stories of love. We saw teenagers come in to buy a single stem for their sweethearts, we helped husbands pick out bouquets of flowers for their wives, and we chatted with little kids who wanted to pick out a special treat for their moms. Love was all around! And I always got flowers of my own at the end of the day!
So this week, let’s spread some love! Stay tuned to a full week of Valentine’s posts!
I want those heart eyeglasses, but my prescription is too strong!
I think the one of the easiest ways to add a little spooky flavour into your decor is by adding bats to your walls. Wall bats are an especially easy decor option if you’re on the last-minute decor train (like me…I don’t even have a pumpkin this year!). This is an inexpensive decor strategy as you can DIY bats from black construction paper using this Martha Stewart template. It’s also not as messy as pumpkin carving. And the bats – paper or plastic – are easy to store and re-use in future years. Finally, these bats are suitable Halloween decor for inside or outside the home.
If you’re not so into bats, perhaps these skeleton flamingos are your thing. I still think they’re the best bit of outdoor Halloween decor I’ve seen this season.
Although Halloween isn’t my favourite holiday, I think it would be fun to host a party and decorate in white and black.
If you’re looking for more Halloween decor and costume ideas, have a look at these posts from years past.
Well, it’s October, which means that fall decor ideas are in full swing! I’m nearly ready to give up my geraniums on my front porch, but since I don’t love mum plants, I’m looking for alternatives. I may end up with a whole bunch of white pumpkins scattered on my front steps and porch, but I may also end up with skeleton flamingos.
One option is to take the classic plastic pink flamingo lawn ornaments and transform them into skeleton flamingos with a bit of paint.
The second option is to buy them ready-made.
These skeleton flamingos make me laugh! And I think they would look fun on my front lawn.
Well, the day is here! It’s a big one, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with family and friends all (long) weekend. I’m so very grateful for everyone’s love. As I head into this new year (and new decade), I can’t help but reflect a bit on life.
I’ve enjoyed an incredible, adventurous, and curious life so far, so I thank my parents for all that they’ve done to encourage me and to ensure I’ve had fun experiences along the way (with a side of strict discipline). They instilled a love of travel and learning, for which I’m forever grateful. I’m also determined, responsible, hard-working, confident, and loyal because of the lessons I learned from them.
My sister and brother-in-law have been great guides along the way, too. Sure, my sister may yell at me when I’m being ridiculous, but both her and her husband have provided me with so much valuable advice about work, education, opportunities, relationships, and more. I’m sure one of the highlights for them had to be when I set up a Tinder profile (when it was first launched!) sitting around their dining room table in Manhattan. Let’s just say that I didn’t have much control over my swiping that night. My highlights of our time together, on the other hand, has been the birth and growth of my three nephews and niece. These kids are the cutest and provide us all with much entertainment! Since I don’t see them in person often, I appreciate our FaceTime chats.
I am lucky to have developed friendships with so many great people in all the cities I’ve lived in and traveled to. My friends have welcomed me into their homes and made me feel like family. Going on a family trip with a bestie or being called an “honorary cousin” means so much to me. When I’ve been far away from my own family, my friends have made me feel right at home. I am indeed grateful.
My cousin has had the following quote in her email signature for years, and it’s the quote that has been by my side as I think about this next year and decade.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw
This quote is a nice reminder to celebrate happy days, make room for fun, not stress the small stuff, and be grateful for what life holds. And with that, I’ll leave you today with this collection of fun vintage photographs. I hope they make you smile.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Although the weather isn’t a great indication, we are nearing the end of the school year. When I was an elementary school teacher, I was definitely tired and done by the time June rolled around. I was itching to enjoy lazy days of summer and finally take a vacation. The work that teachers do is admirable. And I am happy to shine the spotlight on them today. Daniela’s gift guide is well-researched and perfectly varied. If you’re looking for a teacher’s gift, read on!
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Hi everyone!
Many of us are trying to find that perfect gift for our children’s teachers this month. Since I struggle with what to buy my daughter’s preschool teachers, I took to the streets and asked a number of teachers both in elementary and high school environments about favourite gifts they have received. I have to tell you I was hoping for creative answers from them, but I got a whole lot of “I’d appreciate a gift card” responses.
The number one gift request by all of my teacher friends and acquaintances is a gift card. Most of them had these stores as their most coveted: LCBO (and, yes, they prefer a gift card to a bottle of wine), Starbucks, Dollarama, Indigo, and The Keg.
Because I really love buying and receiving tangible gifts, I pushed my teacher friends to give me some things they would like, and I have listed them below.
Consider a personalized item. People love having something with their initial or name on it. For this, I recommend Minted. Independent artists design all products purchased from Minted.
Ready to hang art or an inspirational message are great for their classrooms and have a personal touch.
Karisa Marley’s piece called “I can†would be fitting for a teacher who has truly inspired your child.
Does your child have a teacher who is always wearing a nice scarf either as a fashion statement or because they are cold? Add to their collection!
Nice pens are another great idea for teachers. After all, they do a lot of marking and writing! Having a nice pen to do that with is always welcome by teachers!
Read about why this pen is the best.
This fun set of pens not only write well, but they even have fun sayings on them!
Does the teacher in your life carry her ID and keys on a lanyard? If so, one of these products would make a great gift.
There was a big divide on teachers who absolutely hate getting a mug or insulated water bottle – and those that love this gift! Insulated bottles not only keep teachers’ water or cold drink cold, but they can also keep a tea or coffee hot for hours. If you’ve read my other gift guides, then you’ve seen this next brand already. I am once again recommending my favourite Canadian insulated water bottle company Green’s Your Colour.
Almost all the teachers I spoke with mentioned the best part of a gift is if it comes with a personal message in a card. These meaningful cards written by students is the best part of the gift, so make sure whatever you decide to do with regards to a teacher gift, write a thoughtful note in the card! It’s a must!
I hope I made your teacher gift shopping a little easier with this gift guide! In the end, you can never go wrong with a gift card!
Happy Shopping!
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Thanks, Daniela! These are useful gifts for teachers, but they’re also great for friends and loved ones, too!
Father’s Day is around the corner (ahem…Sunday, June 16th), which is a nice reminder for us to get prepared. My own dad is pretty easy to shop for – a bottle of wine – something he likely wouldn’t buy for himself, preferably with the letter B on it somewhere (for his name). And if I can’t find such a unique bottle of wine, I just buy him something that I think he would like, and he seems pretty happy. If you’d like to spoil a dad in your life with more than a bottle of wine, read on! Daniela has yet another excellent gift guide for us all!
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Dads are hard to buy for, so I hope this gift guide takes some of the stress off as you shop for the father in your life.
Whether dad is king of the grill or of the kitchen this awesome apron will be a sure hit. What makes this apron unique is it functions as a knife roll when folded. Also, by purchasing this Sorichetti apron, you are supporting a father daughter duo that designs and manufactures their products in Toronto, Canada! How cool is that? Read more about Sorichetti.
These sneakers are sleek, go with almost anything, and are made in Italy. And as we all know, the best shoes are made in Italy! Best dads deserve the best shoes
Next up…Why not engrave a sweet message or initials on these classic cuff links by Canadian company Birks ?Â
This unique vintage inspired watch is great for a watch enthusiast or the dad who could use a new classic watch.
Available at a registered Stihl dealer, this next gift is perfect for the dad who has a lot of trees on their property, or if you just want to make outdoor work easier for dad, then this gift is one to get! The Stihl backpack leaf blower is the best leaf blower on the market. I know my husband would love to receive one of these one day.
Is your dad a golf enthusiast? If so, I am sure he would appreciate one or both of these for Father’s Day.
First, keep dad safe from the sun and stylish with this hat
And then make sure he is at the top of his game with this wedge
Is the dad in your life a big yogi ? Then this mat is for him. It’s durable and made so well that it will likely last a lifetime.
Practical dads who always pack their lunch will think of you everyday when using this useful gift. This is an insulated lunch bag that’s easy to use and hand washable from one of my favourite Canadian companies – So Young.
And with that, I have reached the end of my gift guide. I hope you have a fantastic Father’s Day!
Happy Shopping!
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Don’t you think Daniela has a talent for gift giving? Her gift guides are so well curated, and I’m thankful she spends time creating them for us all! I see, too, that she’s included some of her favourite Canadian brands like The Well.ca, So Young, and Birks. This guide has sparked a few ideas for my own shopping…maybe I should expand on my traditional wine gift for my dad this Father’s Day!
June is Pride month, which means all the colourful rainbows are in full force in cities, communities, and homes around the world. Rainbows are one of the most recognizable symbols of gay pride. You might see them on pedestrian crossings, flags, and on every piece of clothing item. Today, I’m sharing two more minimalist rainbows to raise awareness for the rights of all citizens.
Do you celebrate Easter? Do you decorate your house? Do you organize an Easter egg hunt? What are your plans?
Growing up, Easter was always a low-key holiday. Like many Italians, the holiday included a big family lunch. Beyond that, my parents gave my sister and me one big chocolate Easter egg each. You know the ones…massive, wrapped in colourful foil? They’re big in Italy, and the tradition carried over here for immigrant Italians, too. I still love them, in fact. Last year, I switched things up, and I gave one to each of my parents. They’re good for sharing! Hint. Hint.
Beyond the big chocolate egg, a nice family meal, and egg colouring (of course!), I don’t have many Easter traditions. I don’t redecorate my home, I don’t bring a stored collection of bunnies out from hiding, and I don’t host anything at my own home.
If I did decorate, I’d keep things white (of course) as I don’t love pastels. A cute bowl or two would be easy to incorporate into my existing decor. And I’d fill them up with chocolate! Here are some of the bunnies that caught my eye around the online marketplace.
It doesn’t matter if it’s Galentine’s, Valentine’s, or just a regular ol’ Thursday. There’s always a good reason to release some hearts out into the wild! Am I right?
Happy New Year!
Jillian Harris – via Style Me Pretty Living
Wishing you and your families a happy, prosperous, and healthy 2019! Here’s to more days filled with balloons, bubbles, and florals, too!
I have to say (again) that of all the celebrations, Halloween is not my favourite. I’ve appreciated some of the simpler decorations that have come up in recent years much more than the traditional black and orange decorations, but I still don’t decorate beyond (maybe) a pumpkin. But that’s just me. Maybe you do! If you do, then this post is for you. Here are five ways to decorate for a white and black Halloween.
1. Include bats everywhere.
2. Add white pumpkins.
 
3. Add skulls.
4. Paint branches black.
5. Bake something spooky.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
After a weekend in Grey County with friends (#WhiteCabanaGoesToTheCountry), I’m enjoying a day in Toronto with family. Life is good. There’s a lot to be thankful for. Yes, even with all the not-so-great stuff that life has thrown at us, I am thankful. I hope the same is true for you.
I’m thrilled to share that I have already raised nearly $650 for the Canadian Cancer Society (see my personal page to donate). I’m grateful for family and friends who supported my 5K Run for the Cure and who continue to donate. I am appreciative of everyone’s generosity.
My #WhiteCabanaWearsPink series continues today. Since it is Thanksgiving, I’ve curated a collection of pink Thanksgiving table settings.
Christofle mood gold 24-piece canteen
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today’s a day to put work aside. Today’s a day to celebrate!
Rebekah Cheng (ice cream + candy floss = wow! See more at Milk Train Cafe)
It’s my birthday week*, which means a higher intake of sweets and many days of celebrations!
via The Pretty Blog
 * I don’t know about you, but my birthday extends beyond just a day…I’m a Leo after all!
One historical meaning of the rainbow flag is peace. Nowadays, the rainbow flag is a symbol for the LGBT social movement. The rainbow flag was created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker who was an American artist and gay rights activist. Each colour of the flag represents something: red – life, orange – healing, yellow – sunlight, green – nature, turquoise – magic, violet – spirit. In Baker’s original version, two additional colours appeared: pink – sexuality and indigo – serenity.
Tattly rainbow skateboard temporary tattoo
I’m happy to bring a little #loveislove to the blog today in support of Pride Month.
A few things on my mind.
1. #MBALife
As of yesterday at about 5pm, I became an MBA grad. Wild. The last four years have been a lot of work, but I learned so much, and I met so many great people, so the lack of free weekends, the never ending hours of group work, and the stress of exams were worth it.
2. Ann Arbor, Michigan
I was in Ann Arbor at the beginning of this week for a conference. You can see a few photos at #WhiteCabanaGoesToAnnArbor, but I have a full post in the works, so stay tuned for that.
3. Books
Audio books. Amazing. I have been doing quite a bit of driving lately, and I’m now keen on audio books. I finished Elena Ferrante’s Book 2 over the weekend, and I’m eager to start on Book 3. Bonus: I have been getting my audio books for free from the Waterloo Public Library.
4. Father’s Day
It’s Father’s Day this weekend. Did you see Daniela’s Father’s Day gift guide? She’s a brilliant gift giver, and I’m grateful that she took the time to share some gift ideas.
5. TV
Sherlock. I know I’m late to the game, but I watched Series 1 this week. Oh, yes, it’s good.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
With Father’s Day right around the corner (this Sunday), Daniela is back with an awesome gift guide.
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Hey everyone I’m back with a Father’s Day gift guide that is sure to impress the father or father figure in your life. I’ve included gifts at a variety of price points, and I hope you find something special for the dad in your life.
If you haven’t read the story behind the company The Ridge, you should. It started as a Kickstarter project by a college kid and his dad (see The Ridge Story). The original wallet comes in aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Here, though, I am featuring the aluminum version. This wallet is perfect for the person who wants a simple, lightweight option for the cards and money he carries. You can choose a money clip or cash strap option. In addition, the wallet holds up to 12 cards and has a lifetime warranty.
Aluminum – Raw, $65 USD, The Ridge
Next up is this versatile, casual woven cotton belt that can easily be worn on dress down Friday’s at the office or a night on the town.
woven belt, $92 CAD, Nordstrom
Lamy pens are timeless and have been around since the 1960’s. The Lamy 2000 is German designed and manufactured. If the dad in your life does any writing day to day, this is a perfect gift for him. Add a personalized journal (complete with a photo, perhaps) to go with his pen.
super dad notebook, Minted
I love David Yurman and his jewelry designs. I am lucky to have a number of special pieces courtesy of my husband and daughters. My picks for a great Father’s Day gift from David Yurman are two bracelets – the classic spiritual beads in riverstone and the sleek white hex cuff bracelet.
Why not give the golfer in your life the best golf balls on earth? These are used by Jordan Spieth as well as many other top golfers. Even if these balls don’t help dad with his golf game, he will definitely be proud to show them off on the golf course.
A classic gift for dad is an everyday watch. I have a couple of brand options at two price points. Tissot is a well known household watch name made by Swatch. The Tissot Quickster Chronograph T-sport is a great casual watch.
Tissot Quickster Chronograph T-sport, $495 CAD, The Bay
The Farer Stanhope is a modern timepiece that can be dressed up and down easily for a formal event or a casual day out. This is an automatic watch designed by the British and made by the Swiss. Farer is a newer watch company designing quality automatic watches.
Stanhope, $1175 USD, Farer
Next up – the bbq enthusiast. I love this “bbq” apron. It’s awesome for the “king of the grill” in your life. This leather apron comes with deep pockets great for all the bbq utensils.
leather apron, $50.84, The Well
Happy shopping, and Happy Father’s Day!
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Thanks, Daniela! You’ve shared a lot of wonderful gift ideas with us today.
From the couple to the dress to the flowers to the music, the Royal Wedding was beautiful.
Ben Stansall – Getty Images
source unknown
source unknown
via Harper’s Bazaar
These are just a few of my favourite photos.
I have a loaded work week, so I’m taking the rest of the week off from the blog. Enjoy a wonderful week, everyone!
I’m thrilled to welcome back Daniela to White Cabana today. You may remember her amazing gift guides from the holidays. She’s a very thoughtful gift giver, and we are all eager to meet her second little one this May. I’m grateful that she has taken time to share this impressive list of gift ideas for Mother’s Day with all of us. Take it away, Daniela!
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Hey Everyone, I am back with Mother’s Day gift ideas. As I anxiously await my second child arriving early May, I have definitely catered to the “new moms” you may be buying for in your life, although I have to say I think many moms would love the items on this list.
First up is this looks-like-butter romper. It’s from a Canadian company – Smash + Tess – that definitely knows what days are like with children. The variety of rompers not only exude comfort but also ease. They’re great for when you need to relax but also feel put together at home. They’re also great for when you need to run a few errands or are worried someone may come to the door after a sleepless night.
Smash + Tess’s The Sunday Romper looks like it would be the perfect every day outfit for a new mom – or any mom. It’s a Sunday Funday and what better way to celebrate than being comfortably chic? Oh… and maybe another round of mimosas. You know what they say: “a Sunday well spent brings a week of content.†Mission accomplished with this romper. In a Midnight Black rayon from bamboo and cotton blend, this romper needs no zipper, no buttons…it’s that fabulous! It’s spacious, stylish, and fits in all the right places. Looking for a new staple item? Look no further.
The Sunday Romper, $119 CAD, Smash + Tess
As you may recall from my holiday gift guides, I am definitely a coffee lover. I also find that I need the right mug each morning to go with my “mood”. Here are a few mugs that I’d definitely love to add to my collection.
Super Mom mug, $21.99 CAD, Amazon
#MomLife mug, $12 CAD, Chapters Indigo
On a note about beauty, I recently discovered Maison Apothecare, and I’m hooked! This is a Canadian company with both online ordering options as well as stores in Toronto, Niagara, Guelph, and Oakville. The company has skin care lines and cleaning lines all made from 100% pure plant derived extracts. As a mom, I think it’s important to really take care of yourself, and these products really are about taking care! They’re void of harsh chemical components, and they are sure to compliment the mom in your life’s beauty regimen or lack there of (moms don’t always have time). Here are some of my picks from their lines for the special mom in your life.
Facial Charcoal Brush, $15 CAD, Maison Apothecare
Facial Gift Set, $140 CAD, Maison Apothecare
Lavender & Sea Salt Soap, $8 CAD, Maison Apothecare
Exfoliating Soap Bag, $5 CAD, Maison Apothecare
Now onto the luxury gift in my shopping guide! When a mom finally gets to put her head down after a long day, what better way then to sink into the most luxurious comfortable sheets? That is where Soma Organic Mattresses comes in. Their full collection of St. Geneve bedding is lovely. For this post, I am featuring my wish list sheets – the Nico Organic Cotton sheet set. I have never felt anything like them and definitely know they would be an incredible investment (or gift) to a better luxurious night’s sleep! If you are in the Toronto area, the sales team at Soma is well-versed on everything “bedding,” and their service is top notch.
St. Geneve Nico Organic Sheet Set, $302 CAD, Soma
Finally, for the mom on the go with toddlers or school age children, this bag not only keeps mom fashionable but is also great to keep mom’s hands free while on the go this spring and summer. I wouldn’t suggest this for a diaper bag, but it is a great bag to carry everything you need for a day out with children while ensuring your comfort, too.
Rebecca Minkoff backpack, $276.50 CAD, Saks Fifth Avenue
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Yes. As predicted, Daniela spoiled us with a wonderful selection of gifts. I have had my eye on St. Geneve linens for quite some time! They are indeed luxurious! Thanks, Daniela!
These two Easter table settings caught my eye. I absolutely love the simplicity of each style.
 
It’s February, which means the world is full of hearts, lips, pink, red, and anything and everything that has “love” written on it!
Valentine’s Day – or Galentine’s Day as some like to call it – is just two weeks away. Does anyone have plans? I’ll likely continue my tradition of wearing my heart shirt (seen here and here), and chocolate will definitely be on the day’s menu.
The marketplace is full of hearts at the moment, but I think the love-ly items that we see in stores now are great for any time of the year.
Comme des Garcons shirt, heart pasta, Love Moschino shirt, heart cookie cutter, heart bag, XO earrings, heart notepad cube, love letter pin, lip stud earrings, heart dish, heart frame, heart wine glass, pajama set, heart backpack
Dear Readers,
I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope you and your loved ones enjoy happy times together, laugh as much as possible, eat delicious food, and think about all the things you’re grateful for.
Thanks, as always, for making time in your day for a little White Cabana.
Jordana
Here are five festive things to add to your to do list this month.
1. Set a pretty table for you and your guests.
2. Make a gingerbread house with little ones in your life.
3. Wrap presents in a signature style.
4. Enjoy an evening by the warm fire.
5. Bake up something delicious to share with family and friends.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
There’s one house in Uptown Waterloo that is particularly spooky at this time of year. Even though I know exactly where it is, and I know it’s coming up when I go for a walk, it still spooks me. Every time. I hesitate when I walk by – part of me picks up the pace because I’d rather get by it quickly, but the other part of me is so darn curious that I want to see every creative detail!
The homeowners have quite the skeleton collection, and they’ve placed them in amusing – and spooky – positions. They also have a yard full of tombstones (or RIPs as my nephews used to call them), and bats are flying around the property, too. These homeowners have certainly got Halloween under control!
Imagine the total opposite of this yard…and you’ll get my house. I have my candy ready to hand out to the kiddies (or, more like, one for you, one for me!), but I don’t even have a pumpkin!
Happy Halloween!
It’s all about balloons today because it’s my birthday! Yipee! Hip hip hooray!
via Wit & Delight
I’m taking the rest of the week off from the blog because I like to really make sure my birthday extends for as long as possible!
Canada is celebrating its 150th birthday tomorrow, and cities, towns, villages, and hamlets are all preparing to celebrate with food and fireworks. Red and white is dominating stores, squares, and supermarkets, and Canadians are eager to celebrate!
Since the maple leaf is one of Canada’s most prominent symbols, I’m sharing five versions of it from five Canadian companies.
diamond maple leaf brooch, Birks
maple leaf bookends, Chapters Indigo
Canada – True North art print, Penny Paper Co.
Canada bucket and shovel, Canadian Tire
pure silver coin, Canada Post
I hope all my Canadian readers enjoy a wonderful long weekend! Happy #Canada150!
It’s always fun to look at old family photos especially when it’s your parent’s birthday. Yes? Today is my Dad’s birthday, and I am amused by all the photos we have of travel and food in our family albums.
Dad and me in Italy (eating gelato) circa 1982
Dad and me in Italy (eating Nutella) circa 2016
Happy Birthday, Dad!
With Mother’s Day around the corner – on Sunday, May 14th – it might be time to start thinking about how you’re going to spoil loved ones in your life. Mother’s Day for me usually means a trip to Toronto to spend time with my mom doing everyday sorts of things – a garage sale perhaps, a trip to the mall, or just lounging around at home reading magazines. Mom and I enjoy many of the same easy-going activities. Heck, I’m sure we’ve even spent the day doing DIYs together! Mother’s Day is also a day to celebrate other moms in my life – my sister (mom of 4 cuties!) and friends, and to reflect on relationships I’ve had with other strong women who are no longer with us like my aunt and grandmothers.
In terms of gifts, I think moms appreciate any token. A card, a phone call, an email, a text, or a material object lets your loved ones know that you’re thinking about them. I like to spoil my mom with flowers because I know she appreciates them so much!
If you’re looking for some Mother’s Day gift ideas (and if you’d like to spoil yourself at the same time), you might want to have a look at Urban Barn. This Canadian retailer offers up-to-date items for your home – from big furniture pieces to smaller accessories. I’ve been to the Cambridge location numerous times, and there’s always something in white that catches my eye.
Today, I’m sharing five items from Urban Barn’s current collection that would make great gifts for loved ones.
Here’s an affordable container for a new plant or bouquet of flowers.
murl planter large, $19
Another place for flowers…or sangria…or water…is this pretty little pitcher.
Little bowls like this one are perfect for candies, jewelery, or keys.
If your mom needs a bedroom makeover, this dresser looks like it would be a great piece to add.
parker dresser, $1499
This bench would be beautiful in a garden. There’s also a full patio set, too.
piazza folding bench, $399
Many thanks to Urban Barn for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
New Year’s may have happened a few months ago, but champagne is always a good idea.
via Style Me Pretty
Regardless if you celebrate Valentine’s Day, I think these two for Tuesday items are good to have year-round!
Grace boudoir sham, Biscuit Home
red hearts cup, Target
If you’re looking for ways to spread a little love around your home and wardrobe this month, I’ve done a little sleuthing to round-up some really special and pretty items.
Bisou vase, arrow tray, XOXO pillow, kiss kiss dish, arrow love tray, femme vase, Vivetta hearts shirt, Chiara Ferragni hearts t-shirt, Saint Laurent sunglasses, Love Moschino wallet, heart print robe, pajama blouse, journal, coin pouch, mugs
It’s February 1st, which means love day is right around the corner. Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Do you buy yourself an extra little treat? How do you spread love this month – and every month – in your home and in your community?
With all the chatter about banning and borders, wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just get along and be nice to one another? How is something so darn simple so difficult to achieve?
via Lynn Knowlton
heart and arrow measuring spoons
Heartla wrap sandal, Loeffler Randall
