Marketplace

Marketplace: Costco Favourites

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We got our Costco membership soon after we moved in together. I wanted to see if the Costco experience would help with our food budget Overall, I think it has. It’s quite a task to shop there as it’s definitely more time-consuming than a trip to a small grocery store, and loading everything in to the car and then out of the house is a workout. Because of these reasons, I try to limit my trips to every 6 weeks or so, and then I stock up on our favourites. What are they, you ask? Read on!

CeraVe moisturizing cream, coffee, chorizo, paper towel, toilet paper, sparkling drinks (whatever is on sale), canned whole tomatoes, parmigiano (not the full wheel, but you get the idea), sweet and spicy nut mix, pita bites, cheerios, vitamins

I also tend to pick up beef, chicken, frozen shrimp, Balderson cheddar, Rao pizza sauce (a new addition), spices, and Cascade. I look for sales on other items we might need like canned tuna and olive oil.

We’ve also bought random things like a wet/dry vac (how’d we live without one?) and my hydrangea plants. One of my favourite Costco purchases of all time has to be my retractable hose.

I’d love to know your Costco recommendations, so please share a comment.

p.s. This was not a sponsored post. But maybe it should have been!

Design: Shining the Spotlight on Lighting

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I have too many tabs open on my computer right now. Most of them are related to lighting, specifically lighting products and lighting guides. So instead of keeping all the tabs open for much longer, I’m going to do a photo dump in this post, so we can all benefit from some of the pretty lights that are floating around the marketplace right now.

I came across J.D. Lighting in Tillsonburg, Ontario in the newest issue of House & Home magazine. They carry a lot of items – both in lighting and home decor – that I’m drawn to. Much of what I’m sharing here is also approved by my beau, so that’s a bonus!

flush mount, $255CAD, Mitzi via J.D. Lighting ($164USD at Mitzi)
pendant, $236CAD, Hudson Valley via J.D. Lighting
pendant, medium, $389CAD, Hinkley via J.D. Lighting
flush mount, $279CAD, Hinkley via J.D. Lighting

Mitzi has a cool collection of lights. I like a lot of them, but not all of them suit our house. This modern chandelier stands out to me.

Hikari chandelier, $650USD, Mitzi

Burke Decor in the United States also has an interesting selection of lighting and home decor items.

Artiste chandelier, $1997USD, Currey & Company via Burke Decor
Bardolph pendant, $677USD, Currey & Company via Burke Decor
Beckham Modern chandelier, $1130USD, TOM by Thomas O’Brien via Burke Decor

The primary goal at our house is to find a chandelier for our dining room before the one-year anniversary of our move-in date in June. My secondary goal (my beau only sort of knows about this one) is to replace all the fixtures in the house soon thereafter…starting with our front hall.

Design: How to Organize a Pantry in an Antique Armoire

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By now, many people know that I’m collecting antique armoires for our new home. I have a beautiful Italian armoire in my office that I use as my bookshelf. In the kitchen, we recently added a large French armoire (one of the ones that come apart…a knockdown armoire) to use as our pantry (which replaced an open bakers rack that came with the house). This very old piece of furniture has travelled from France to Switzerland to Guelph and now it has a new home with us in Waterloo.

It brings me joy.

You know what else brings me joy?

Organizing it!

After a bit of inventory analysis, I stocked up on supplies at Homesense (yes, this kind of organization system is an investment of time and money). I opted for white plastic baskets to house categories of items (e.g., pasta, crackers, tea & coffee) and OXO Pop containers for decanting items (e.g., flour, sugar, oatmeal). Then, of course, I labelled everything!

yes, I know, we have a lot of vinegar and oils

On top of all of this goodness, we have made friends with the previous owners of this armoire. What joy!

Marketplace: The Bentgo Lunch Box

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When I learned I was going back to the office, one thing that I knew forsure was that I wanted to get rid of my massive lunch bag filled with individual Tupperware containers. I really dislike washing so many little containers by hand, and they never seem to stay upside down in the dishwasher (meaning they fill up with water!). With my return to work, I opted to upgrade my lunchbox, and I’m happy to share that my Bentgo is working out quite well.

I like that it is slim, and there are five compartments. There’s room for all of my lunch, and the food doesn’t move around. The lid is tight-fitting, and it’s dishwasher safe. Although the company claims that the Bentgo is leak-proof, I have not found this to be true, which means that things like salad dressing go in another container (unfortunately). The Bentgo is well-made overall, which means that it’s not cheap.

It’s also been kind of fun (kind of) to put my lunch together because it looks so organized. Here are a few “lunch inspiration” photos if you’d like to see.

Can you tell I’m in a cucumber phase? I can’t seem to get enough of them!

Marketplace: This and That

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I have been spotting very similar designs in my travels online. Look at how closely these items resemble one another.

This…

dining table, $2998USD, Lulu & Georgia

and that…

Ronin table, $1759CAD, Rove Concepts

This…

bouclé ball pillow, $58USD, Lulu & Georgia

and that…

sphere pillow, $49.50CAD, Indigo

This…

side table, $898USD, Lulu & Georgia

and that…

side table, $239CAD, West Elm

This…

colour crate, $16USD, Hay

and that…

crate, $20CAD, Well.ca

This…

Valence sofa, $3298CAD, Casalife

and that…

Zaha sofa, $2698USD, Lulu & Georgia

Marketplace: Happy Hearts

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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.

heart mobile, $119CAD, Crate & Barrel
heart pillow, $53.99USD, Target
Fortnum & Mason tea infuser, $129.95, Williams Sonoma
necklace, $29.99CAD, Devitt House
embroidered brooch, 18Euros, Macon & Lesquoy
candle, $14CAD (on sale), Wills & Prior
heart marble board, $66.95CAD, Art of Home
white heart soap, $8CAD, Lethbridge Lane

Fashion: Black and White Workwear

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It’s back to work week! Oh my goodness – I can barely believe it. I haven’t been on in a classroom in two years. And I haven’t worn real workwear in just about that length of time, too. While at the beginning of the pandemic, I was mostly wearing jeans, pants, and a nice sweater, in recent times, I’ve succumbed to leggings and joggers paid with a nice top. It’s been awful. I have felt lazy and not put together. I wear makeup, perfume, and jewelry every day, but don’t remember the last time I blow dried my hair!

And now, I’m going to slowly get back into wearing workwear. I’m excited, but I also feel like I’ve lost my style over the last two years, so I’m not really sure what I’ll be putting together for my daily #WhiteCabanaStyle. I’ve cleaned out my closet several times over the last little while, but I haven’t really replaced too many pieces. Here are some outfits that are providing me with inspiration because (a) they’re effortless and (b) I already own many of the items.

Fashion and Style
Stylee
Nordstrom
Banana Republic
Banana Republic
Hugo Boss
Banana Republic
Hugo Boss

Of course there’s a lot of black and white in my style inspiration files. Black pants (or jeans) pair easily with a white shirt, cream sweater, or black cardigan. Cream/beige pants pair well with a sweater of a similar tone or a white shirt. A LBC (Little Black Dress) goes a long way and is comfortable for all-day wear. A pattern coat or dress breaks up the solid black and white. I think items like the ones will be in heavy rotation for me from now until spring.

What about you? Are you back at work? Has the dress code changed since 2019?

Design: The Bubble Lamp

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Our front hall currently looks like this:

White Cabana

Are you surprised to see so much colour? Me, too! Thankfully, the walls in our house are bright white, which is the perfect backdrop for some new additions in our furniture collection. To break up the traditional elements – the sideboard and the rug – I knew I wanted to add white accessories. I started with a pair of bubble lamps – super fun if you ask me!

Soon after I posted the above photo on Instagram, I received direct messages of other bubble lamps.

Here’s Kelly Wearstler’s version (perhaps the original bubble lamp?):

Kelly Wearstler Linden medium lamp

And here are some other bubble lamps (brands unknown), including a DIY version, too.

Grace Atwood
Kristie McGowan
Carly Brandon Designs – DIY lamps!
Sarah Richardson Design

Health: The Stability Ball

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As I mentioned in my 2022 goals post, I’m making my back health a priority. I’ve had a sore back for a little while now, which I think was a result of sitting in a not-so-ergonomic chair at my desk all day staring at a computer. As steps to improve my back, I’ve been going to physiotherapy regularly (which always makes me feel better), practicing daily yoga (18 days straight…hooray!), and sitting on a stability ball at my desk.

Everyone, I already feel so much better! I can barely believe it!

this is the exact Gaiam stability ball kit I bought from Amazon

While I’ve been going to physio for a few months now, I really think the 18 days of yoga plus the stability ball chair have really sped up my sore back recovery. I was skeptical that either would help, so you can imagine my surprise when the combo of both (or all three changes, in fact) have helped me.

So now I want to buy every Gaiam product out there and continue to build my strength and stability by doing every day things – like sitting at my desk!

I do have an ergonomic chair on its way, but I think I may end up alternating between the chair and the ball throughout the day or week.

Fashion: Cozy Slippers

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Who else is dealing with a major snowfall today? On blistery, snowy days like this (when I don’t have to leave the house), I love staying extra cozy with a great pair of slippers. If you’re like me, and you hate having cold feet, then you may enjoy browsing the online shops for a new pair of slippers. Here are several that I’m considering as my next slipper purchase.

faux shearling slippers, $34.50CAD, Indigo; Sorel faux fur slippers, $64CAD, The Bay; faux fur slippers, $29.50CAD, Indigo
Eberjey slipper socks, $46.20CAD, The Bay; Vero Moda slippers, $29.40CAD, The Bay; Ugg slippers, $99.99CAD, SoftMoc
Smoko heated slippers, $48USD, Urban Outfitters; Sherpa slippers, $58CAD, JCrew; plush slippers, $65CAD, Knix; teddy slipper, $23CAD, Everlane

I’m leaning toward the UGG gold ones because, well, they’re gold, and I do love gold shoes!

Christmas: Jingle Bells

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Here’s another Christmas decor idea in case you’re looking for one – jingle bells!

These seven bells are from Canadian home decor shops that I’m sure you’ll love.

rustic Christmas bell, $14CAD (small), Monika Hibbs Home; set of three clay bells, $44CAD, Wills & Prior; rustic brass bells, $75CAD, Monika Hibbs Home; angel bell ornament, $8.95, Art of Home; sleigh bells cluster, $28CAD, Wills & Prior; terracotta bell ornament, $29CAD, LD Shoppe; gold hanging bells, $18CAD, Wills & Prior

Christmas: Fa La La Decor

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Up to now, I have featured white Christmas stockings and white Christmas trees. among other Christmas-themed posts like decorating with garlands. And today is all about fa la la decor. Don’t these items just want to make you sing as you deck the halls? (See what I did there? :))

fa la la ornament, $18USD; fa la la mini spatulas, $14.95CAD (set of two); falala ornament, $6.95CAD; fa la la garland, $15USD; fa la la mug, $12USD; fa la la gift wrap, $6.99CAD; fa la la sponge cloth, $6CAD; fa la la mug, $5USD; tee, $19.99CAD

Christmas: O Christmas Tree

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I have said for years that one year, I would forego all of my treasured ornaments from my travels in favour of an all-white Christmas tree. Each year, though, I can’t resist decorating my tree with my colourful ornaments. A cowboy boot from Dallas mixed in with a mini Vespa from Rimini with a side of clover-leaf angels from Ireland…how could I keep these sweet ornaments packed away?

That said, there are plenty of other opportunities to decorate with white each year. Wouldn’t a collection of white Christmas trees look festive on a sideboard or a fireplace mantel? Or even spread throughout a house? These 12 Christmas trees are delightful!

Christmas tree cookie jar, $98CAD, Pottery Barn; glass tree, $84CAD, Pottery Barn; tree serving bowl, $70CAD, Pottery Barn
white glitter tree ornament, $3.95CAD, Crate & Barrel; tree place card holders (set of 4), $42CAD, Pottery Barn; decorative ornament tree, $54.60; West Elm
tree candle, $14.95CAD, Crate & Barrel; bisque Christmas tree ornament, $5.95CAD, Crate & Barrel; glass tree, $19.95CAD, CB2
large bottle brush tree, $31.95CAD, Art of Home; 16″ fluffy tree, $35.96CAD, CB2; cone tree, $26.95CAD, Art of Home

Marketplace: White Christmas Stockings

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Have you started to decorate for Christmas? I usually wait until December 1st, but we took advantage of some warmer weather a few weeks ago to decorate the outside of our home. We may get our Christmas tree this weekend, which would be lovely. A month of decorations suits me well.

Today’s round-up of Christmas stockings are all available at Canadian retailers.

velvet snowflake stocking, honeycomb faux fur stocking, boucle stocking, velvet tree stocking, cream plaid stocking
faux fur cuff stocking, fa la la stocking, hope love faith stocking, snowflake stocking
linen stocking, faux fur pom pom stocking, snowflake stocking, cable knit stocking, pom pom stocking, faux fur stocking

I really quite like the Fa La La stocking! Do you have an instant favourite of this bunch?

Marketplace: Mortar & Pestle

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I have never owned a mortar and pestle, but in recent months, I’ve been finding and trying recipes where a mix of spices would benefit from a mortar and pestle spice smash. This little kitchen gadget seems to always be in stock at places like The Bay and Homesense, which is handy. Alternatively, there are a lot of great options in online shops, too, including pricey designer versions as you see below.

Sophie Conran mortar & pestle, $37.19CAD; mortar & pestle, $40CAD; mortar & pestle, $54.95CAD; mini mortar & pestle, $10.95CAD; mortar & pestle, $54.99
tondo mortar & pestle, $245USD; Tom Dixon mortar & pestle, $285CAD

Do you have and use one? How often do you put yours to work?

Design: Modern Pendant Lighting

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I am gathering inspiration for lighting…again. I am currently strongly drawn to modern, unique, unexpected lighting to mix into our historic home. I am dreaming of a home with a mix of pieces that we love rather than maintaining the Edwardian style throughout.

Zeppelin chandelier, $703USD; concert pendant, $190USD; ray pendant, $138USD
laurent collection, $205USD; vesanto chandelier 100cm, $430USD; Acaba chandelier, $238USD
Gino Sarfatti light, $4173CAD; Robert Abbey light, $745USD; libra quad light, $726CAD
Artcraft one light pendant, $306CAD; Franca chandelier Aerin Lauder, $3719USD

The Gino Sarfatti and Aerin chandeliers are especially striking.

Design: Table Lamps

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While we don’t currently need any table lamps, I seem to be collecting images of ones that I like. For some odd reason, it’s been much easier for me to find and save images of table lamps that I like rather than ceiling lights and sconces. Why is that?

If I was in need of a table lamp, all of these six would be on my wish list.

black tassel lamp, $176.99 (cream is currently out of stock); Snoopy table lamp, $252USD
ribbon table lamp, 149€; Nessino table lamp, $249CAD
Antony by Serge Mouille, $2963CAD; Basie table lamp, $2177CAD

Marketplace: Advent Calendars

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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!

Bonne Maman, Chanel, Rheo Thompson, Williams Sonoma, Oui (via Indigo), Nota (via Indigo), Meri Meri Nutcracker Theatre, Lego (via Costco)

Fashion: Sandro Paris

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It looks like I’m heading back to in person work in January, and I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear! I have a closet full of clothes that I haven’t worn in two years, and frankly, there’s a lot in there that I don’t feel like wearing. A full closet edit is in order, and I’d like to buy a few pieces that will be comfortable and stylish for long days of teaching and commuting.

One of the clothing stores that I love is Sandro Paris. The dresses are lovely, and the fit is great. I have a few Sandro dress, and they’re among my favourite clothes in my closet. (They’ll survive the closet edit forsure!)

cardigan dress, printed silk dress, dress with two tone ruffle, houndstooth jacquard dress
wool and cashmere dress, tweed dress,short sleeved dress with contrast trim, pointelle knit dress

And, yes, it’s true…after nearly two years of working from home, I’m still drawn to black and white dresses for work!

Marketplace: Striped Rugs

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One of the rug options that I have strongly been considering for my office is Ikea’s Stockholm rug in black and white. It, however, has been out of stock in Ontario for a long while now, so I’m considering other striped options.

Ikea Stockholm rug, Ruggable stripe rug, Ruggable broken stripe rug, Wayfair striped rug, Wayfair striped rug, All Modern striped rug

The ones I’ve shown here all look pretty good online, but I’d much prefer to feel the rug in person pre-purchase. Have you ever bought a rug online? Were you pleased?

Marketplace: Games

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Cool, rainy, dark fall days have arrived, which makes me want to bury myself in blankets, stay warm, and play games. Bananagrams continues to be a favourite, and I have a goal to learn Backgammon this season. Beyond these, here are some good-looking – and fun – games to try. (Luxe, too!)

Scrabble luxe edition, domino set, ghost cube puzzle,stacking game
backgammon set, marble tic tac toe, acrylic four in a row

Marketplace: Fancy Mirrors

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So it seems that I’m on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji every day. You, too? Please tell me I’m not the only one who browses these sites so frequently. One of the items that I’m the lookout for is a mirror…or more than one, in fact. I have some idea of where one (or several) may end up, but I’ll know more as soon as I see one that I love. Over the last few months, I have bought three mirrors at a fraction of what they might cost at a store and, more interesting for me, they’re all antique (and unique!).

Here are some mirrors that I’ve come across lately (in Ontario) on Facebook Marketplace.

antique mirror, $40; black mirror, $150
mirror, $135; mirror, $250; mirror, $450
large antique mirror, $4500; mirror, $70; standing mirror, $120
beveled mirror, $75; square mirror, $45
Venetian mirror, $975; Venetian mirror, $1200

Marketplace: St. Jacobs Antiques

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I feel lucky to live so close to St. Jacobs. It’s a charming area in the Waterloo Region. The village has cute shops and excellent food. The Saturday market is vibrant and fun…with excellent food vendors. The Mennonite community is so unlike other areas of the region (e.g., the university sectors, the tech community). In addition to all of these great qualities, the antique markets are full of interesting items, and if you’re a collector of just about anything, I’m sure you can find something to add to your collection here.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a look around, and I’ve enjoying observing what’s “new” in the world of antiques.

I noticed white and non-white collections of:

  • wood dough bowls
  • felt pennants
  • cake plates in every material
  • Cloisonné
  • figurines
  • teacups (do these every go out of style?)
  • pottery (including a lot of crocks)
  • quilts
  • portraits
  • and more!

Design: Round Tables

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Having a bigger house means having more rooms to furnish. It’s completely fun, but it’s also overwhelming and a slow process. We also have a lot of furniture to begin with, so some of our furniture needs mean upgrading to pieces that suit our style and new home. It’s a tough problem to have, I know. We are lucky to have such problems! In other rooms, however, we are starting from nearly a blank slate. We have designated one room as our study/games room, and we are in need of a good set of table and chairs. As such, I’ve been on the lookout for an interesting round table at just the right size. I’d prefer a pedestal table, I think, with chairs that tuck completely in. I think this option would be best for the room and how we want it to function.

Here are some tables that have been inspiring me and the design for our study.

marble dining table, CB2; black base dining table, CB2; glass dining table, West Elm; white dining table, CB2; dining table, Casalife
round table, 1stDibs; round table, 1stDibs; black round table, 1stDibs; dining table, Anthropologie; dining table, Anthropologie

Part of me wants something quite sculptural without chairs, but I know that wouldn’t be practical. Darn!

Marketplace: Native Union

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I recently received excellent customer service from Native Union after I encountered some issues with one of our charging cords. Their cords aren’t cheap, but they are very effective. The weighted ball on one end of the cord is surprisingly handy!

We replaced one of our old cords with this 10-ft charging cable.
key cable
smart hub bridge
travel essentials
belt cable

Native Union‘s collections come in a variety of colours, but Zebra is my favourite.

Celebration: 10 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas from the Grocery Store

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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)!

  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. Candy, chocolate, and ice cream. Choose her favourite flavours. Who can ever resist some sweets?
  4. Card. Don’t forget to send your mom a card!
  5. Coffee. Grab a few and bundle them together in a coffee-themed gift basket (reuse a basket you own or get creative with packaging).
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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. 🙂
  9. Picnic ware. If a quick backyard visit is your only option, buy some paper plates and pick up a pizza to share.
  10. 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.

Design: Monika Hibbs Home

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Monika Hibbs wears and has worn many hats – doctor, blogger, influencer, designer, author, and shop owner. Based out of British Columbia, her namesake homewares shop is absolutely lovely. She has some really beautiful pieces in stock currently, especially in the areas of lighting and decor. Here are a few of the items that caught my eye (but are definitely not in my budget…sigh).

carnegie table lamp, $874CAD; vedra table lamp, $1050CAD; desmond table lamp, $1311CAD
bryant chandelier, $1249CAD; coco magnolia pendant, $3148CAD
eloise pendant, $1225CAD; eldridge pendant, $1428CAD; keil swing arm, $700+CAD
laurel pot brush set, $76CAD; bread tin, $89CAD; marble container with lid, $75CAD; calley dipped vase, $198CAD; copenhagen pot and saucer, $65+CAD; egg board, $135CAD

All product images via Monika Hibbs Home.

Marketplace: The Belt Bag

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I have been using a version of a belt bag/waist pack/hip pack/fanny pack/bum bag for years for walking and jogging. Most of the versions I’ve owned over the years have been in the athletic realm, but more recently, I invested in this stylish belt bag (if you’d even think to consider belt bags stylish!) from Toronto-based Ela. I’ve used it on walks when I need something that’s big enough to fit more than my keys and ID and when I want to do hands-free errands like grocery shopping. Overall, I’m a fan of any version of the belt bag.

Here are 10 belt bags at various price points that you might consider if this is a spring bag (and look) you’d like to invest in (Note that many of these come in multiple colours).

The Rest is Written belt bag, $58CAD, Lululemon; Fast and Free run belt, $38CAD, Lululemon; Herschel Supply Co. fifteen hip pack, $27.99CAD (on sale), Hudsons Bay; convertible waist bag/cross body, $91.28CAD, Kipling; waist pack, $58.21CAD, Kipling; belt bag, $88CAD, Ela; easy commuter belt bag, $45USD, Le SportSac; belt bag, $445USD, Sanreve; quilted belt bag, $119CAD (on sale) Michael Kors; belt bag, $1680CAD, Gucci

Thanks to J.M. for suggesting this post.

Design: The Great Outdoors

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We had a few wonderful summer-like days over the last couple of weeks (interspersed with rainy, cold April days), which seemed to put everyone in a happier-than-usual mood (on account of Ontario’s 3rd lockdown currently in place until at least the end of April…ugh!). The trails were busy with walkers, joggers, and cyclists, and it felt great to get some real vitamin D!

I’m eager for outdoor living and entertaining this summer. (Yes, back to entertaining…I’m thinking positively!) I’m thinking casual gatherings with easy food and drinks. I want to be outdoors and maskless with friends enjoying good food, music, and games. I want people to feel comfortable to come inside to use the bathroom or to grab another drink. It’s not too much to ask after 1+ years of lockdown, right? Right?!

What do I need for outdoor entertaining? While I take stock of my current inventory of furniture, tableware, and games, I’ll also look around the online marketplace to see what’s new and fun.

Chapters Indigo: wine goblets, $24.50CAD; orb LED lantern, $24.50CAD; octagonal firepit, $989CAD; outdoor stool, $249.50CAD sunbrella pouf, $99.50CAD
Hauser: firepit and cover, $2889CAD; firebowl, $1459CAD; air xl arm chair, $149CAD; lake chair, $489CAD; bayfield teak folding chair, $499CAD
Crate & Barrel: melamine platter, $24.95CAD; melamine dinnerware, $10.95+CAD; bocce, $219CAD; 2-in-1 bean bag toss, $209CAD; dining chair, $449CAD; acrylic glass, $7.95CAD

Marketplace: Toss Designs

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I need this champagne nightshirt for my next birthday!

Look at the other cute products from San Francisco-based Toss Designs.

champagne nightshirt, $76USD
champagne pyjama set, $76USD
pink truck champagne nightshirt, $76USD
hump day water bottle, $24USD
pouch, $22USD
water cooler art, $160USD

If anyone knows how/where to get these items (especially the champagne pyjamas) in Canada, please share!

Marketplace: Terrain Home Goods

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I enjoy browsing the beautiful items offered at Terrain, which is an America home goods (and plants and beauty) store part of the Anthropologie family. This ruffle marble bowl caught my eye on my recent browsing adventure, so I had to take a moment to see what else was in stock. Here are some favourites.

ruffled marble bowl, $48USD+
16″ ceramic pot, $498USD
beech wood watering can, $26USD
teak lounge chair, $288USD
pedal waste bin, $128USD

I really just look at Terrain from afar since it’s in the US. Have you ever bought anything from Terrain?

Design: Bathtubs

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What are your thoughts about freestanding bathtubs? Do you have a favourite brand or design? What criteria do you have for the perfect bathtub?

I can count on one hand the number of baths I’ve taken since I moved into my house nearly eight years ago. Maybe if I had a more ideal design (rather than a massive corner jacuzzi tub where the water gets cold by the time it’s filled), maybe I’d take more baths. This is one of my hopes as I plan my bathroom reno.

These are the styles that I gravitate toward, but I haven’t seen any of them in person (and prices are way out of budget for some of them, so I need to find other options). Since my bathroom is so square, and the shower will be rectangular, I’m thinking a curvy bathtub would be best.

Styli, $3645USD, Waterworks; Saxby $3863USD, Waterworks; Arcos, $11250USD, Waterworks; Studio S, $3126USD, American Standard; Serin, $2668USD, American Standard; Kipling, $2215USD, American Standard;soaking tub, $1199CAD, Wayfair; soaking tub, $999CAD, Wayfair; Aura, $1399CAD, Tubs; Estelle, $1299CAD, Home Hardware; Juno, $1043CAD, Home Depot; Santry, $5565USD, Waterworks

Fashion: Fancy Slippers

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All of my shoes will be so out of style by the time I need to wear them again. Slippers are where things are at now (and have been for the last year). But what price do you pay for a nice pair? Would you, could you, spend hundreds of dollars (or a thousand?) on a designer pair like the ones I’m featuring here?

Vibi Venezia slippers, $275USD; Sleeper slippers, $290USD; Rag & Bone slippers, $375USD; Aquazzura sandals, $980USD; Roger Vivier slippers, $1295USD; The Row slippers, $815USD; Balenciaga slippers, $695USD; Tod’s slippers, $575USD; Neous slippers, $615USD; Cult Gaia slippers, $330USD; ; Porte & Paire slippers, $215USD; Aquazzura slippers, $1050USD

Marketplace: Love Local this Valentine’s Day

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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)

Jellycat amusable brie, $28.50CAD; amoroso cushion, $49.95CAD; mug, $10.95CAD; tea towel, $10.95CAD; wild heart bowl, $35.95CAD; alabaster stone heart, $8.95CAD; white heart doormat, $28.95CAD; you me oui card, $6.95CAD;prayer beads, $14.95CAD; shop in the name of love sign, $7.95CAD

Gifted (Waterloo, ON)

card, $5.95CAD; headband, $10CAD; card, $6.95CAD; ring dish, $12.50CAD; cookie cutter set, $16.50CAD; bath bomb, $8CAD; Shower Whip body wash, $15CAD

Wills and Prior (Stratford, ON)

panama tote, $31CAD (on sale); brass tray, $12.95CAD; wine tumbler, $8.95CAD; honeycomb throw, $89CAD; small pendant, $298CAD; cloth and tea towel set, $22CAD; handmade stoneware vase, $89CAD; art, $139CAD; hand cream, $24CAD; door mat, $35CAD; soap, $10CAD; perfect match card, $7.95CAD; card, $4.95; to my valentine card, $7.95CAD

Hue La La (Burlington, ON)

mortar & pestle, $12CAD; heart earrings, $26CAD; ring dish, $7CAD; flamingo card, $6; ornament, $7CAD; so sexy bathmat, $45CAD; embroidered pillow, $52CAD; soapstone heart, $6CAD; keychain, $12CAD; bracelet, $32CAD

Lofthouse Living (London, ON)

mug, $20CAD; mohair throw, $130CAD; dish cloth, $7CAD; heart bottle stopper, $18CAD; deviled egg tray, $45CAD; card, $8CAD; vase, $24CAD; velvet heart pillow, $45CAD; tote, $10CAD

Marketplace: Happy Hearts

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I love when all the heart items hit the market around this time of year. I wish hearts (and stars) would stay year-round. Heart pyjamas are my favourite, but they’re not always easy to come by (especially at a reasonable price). I also think adding a heart tea towel is an easy way to bring (more) happiness into the kitchen.

Valentine’s Day platter, $23.95CAD; Valentine’s Day mugs (4), $51.95CAD; cupcake mix, $24.95CAD; cookie cutter set, $44CAD; marble heart coasters, $37.95CAD; hearts towel, $16USD; raffia heart baskets, starting at $59CAD; heart picture frame, $275USD
Peanuts hearts pajama, $104CAD; heart stud earrings, $72CAD; heart print top, $14CAD; heart print peplum top, $15CAD; heart beanie, $8CAD; heart earrings, $56CAD; sweetheart necklace, $252CAD
kisses pajama, $59CAD; bib, $17.95CAD; Love sweatshirt, $11.87CAD; heart pocket top, $7.90CAD; heart print tunic and leggings, $50CAD

Marketplace: Rose & Rex

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Rose & Rex is a marketplace for educational, well-designed toys and games for kids. Their toys promote imaginative play, and I think there are so many great items to spoil your kids…and to give them a break from virtual classrooms.

Milk truck, $43USD; Bobby snuggle bunny, $26USD; Origami bath boat, $17USD; Classic white pedal bike, $349USD; Look mini guitar, $79USD; Cross-body bag, $45USD; Rubber duck, $15USD; Modern Blocks alphabet set, $65USD; New York skyline block set, $40USD; Cactus light in white and gold, $110USD

Marketplace: American Standard Bath Collection

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Over the holidays, I received a press package from American Standard. I thought it was timely, clever, and well-designed. Essentially, American Standard’s message is to flush 2020.

American Standard Press Pack

Beyond the press information I received, I had a browse on the American Standard website to learn more about its bath collection. Here are some of the interesting things I learned.

The Spalet Bidet Toilet is a new release, and I know I’d love it. I became appreciative of these types of toilets after my 2019 trip to Japan.

Advanced Clean 100 SpaLet Bidet Toilet, $5100

The price tag is high, yes, but American Standard some bidet seat options at about half the price of the toilet.

Here are some other items that caught my attention because of their functionality and design.

Boulevard Collection one-piece toilet
Townsend shower base
Kipling Ovale freestanding tub
tub faucet
undercounter sink

Personal: Memories of a Backpack

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In preparation for an upcoming post, I came across this (non-white) backpack.

Invicta Jolly III Vintage Backpack

Why am I sharing it here if it isn’t white? Well, it’s because this is the exact backpack I used throughout my childhood, and it brought back happy memories. I had the red version, and my sister had the yellow one. They were from Italy and from an unknown brand to all of my Canadian friends. Invicta. That was a cool Italian brand back in the day (and now, too), and my backpack (the one you see here!) was The Best! The pockets were perfectly placed and functional, and the drawstring for the interior opening made sure all of my supplies stayed in place. Also, I loved (loooooved) the top flap’s plastic closures. I thought they were so unique. Our Invicta backpacks are still at my parents’ house, so I see them every time I open a closet. And now, this model – the exact model from the 80s – is available for purchase once again. How very cool.

Am I the only one with fond memories of a childhood backpack? I have similar memories of pencil cases, too. Who is with me on this?

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