Marketplace

Marketplace: Soda Stream

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When I was in NYC last month my sister introduced me to the wonderful world of Soda Stream – an at-home soda maker.

Corie’s Soda Stream

Corie and her husband are big-time cola fans and so they decided to invest in a Soda Stream so that they could (a) save money and (b) stop carrying cases of cola on their walks home from the grocery store (along with their 3 boys, remember?). It’s been working out brilliantly for them so I thought I should give it a try myself.

my white Soda Stream, $150

I am happy to report that the Soda Stream has been working out quite well for me too! I set it up in less than 5 minutes (it would have been faster if I didn’t take so many photos), the instruction manual is written in a multitude of languages (which makes this linguist very happy), and the design is sleek and white (although many colours do exist).

snapshots of my Soda Stream

So how does it work? Basically you fill the Soda Stream bottle up with water (I use the tap – woah!) and then you screw it on to the Soda Stream machine, pull the trigger a couple of times, unscrew the bottle, and then add a cupful of your flavoured syrup. That’s it! It’s less than a 1 minute process and the end result is perfect.

So far I’ve only made sparkling water and diet cola but there are many more syrups to try. I’ll be putting it to good use at my next party, that much I know (I think the pink grapefruit will be great for punch)!

A variety of Soda Stream machines are available from retailers around the world. The carbonator cylinder (which is the secret to making the bubbles) can be easily replaced via Soda Stream. Price per bottle works out to anywhere from 30 cents to 88 cents.

Many thanks to Melanie K. and Soda Stream for providing me with the Soda Stream Starter Kit.

Marketplace: 2013 Agendas by Julie Joliat

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Each year around this time my sister Corie and I become semi-competitive. Why? Well, because we’re each on the hunt for the most perfect agenda for the upcoming year. Last year Corie found Sarah Pinto‘s colourful agendas on a trip to San Francisco. One year she bought me a most beautiful agenda with a cut-out cover from Japan. A few years ago she settled on a fun Lilly Pulitzer while I opted for a plain Letts of London.

This year, I know I have won the agenda search competition!

You see – a couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon the work of Zurich-based graphic designer Julie Joliat. O.M.G. I could barely contain my excitement when I saw what was on the computer screen in front of me. White. Graphic. Swiss (you know how attached I am to Switzerland!). The most-perfect-for-me 2013 agenda! Corie was on vacation at the time so I couldn’t call her to brag so I had to keep calm (I mean, people might think I’m really nuts if I went on and on about my discovery, right?). I went ahead and placed an order for both of Julie’s designs because, well, I just had to!

 

above photos by Julie Joliat

I have rarely seen so many extra useful pages of information in an agenda book which makes me additionally happy with these ones. Weekly and monthly calendars are followed by several useful pages which details things like laundry symbols, clothing size conversion, vintage French red wine chart, and cooking ideas (possibly my favourite guide).

above photos by Jordana

So, if you’re anything like Corie or me and you are in need of a 2013 agenda, then let me please strongly encourage you to get one of these designs. And place your order asap as both are limited editions (300 copies).

20 Below: Holidays at IKEA

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Ikea is making it pretty easy for us to bring a good Jul (holiday season) into our homes this year (and every year, right?) what with its super selection of holiday items that are less than $20. For a very special edition of 20 Below, I am featuring not one but five great white decor items from Ikea that can be used during – and after – the holidays.

STRÅLA  7-armed candelabra, $19.99

BLOMSTER lantern $19.99

JULKUL pastry cutter, set of 6 $4.99

STRĂ…LA floor lamp, $16.99

JULFINT mug, $2.49

Images courtesy of Ikea.

Pop Up! – Christmas at ABC Carpet & Home

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Last week we went to visit Santa with the boys at the beautiful ABC Carpet and Home. For those of you who don’t know – it is one of NYC’s most stunning shops! The visit kick started the Christmas season for us and I long for all-white Christmas decor thanks to these inspiring vignettes!

photos by Corie

Friday Five: The Thomas Sabo Collection

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Hello Friday! We’re ending the week with some bling from the Thomas Sabo collection of jewels.

Thomas Sabo bracelet, $219

Thomas Sabo special addition sterling silver ring, $359

Thomas Sabo sterling silver bracelet, $139

Thomas Sabo classic sterling silver wing earrings, $164

Hope your weekend sparkles!

Images courtesy of Thomas Sabo.

Animals we love

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Decorative sculptures are especially special when they come in animal shapes. There is something lovely and magical about a fox on your bookshelf or a bowl in the long lean proportions of a Dachshund. We’re talking about classics that appeal to all ages and add personality to a space.

Jonathan Adler has really taken the animal sculpture to a whole new place by carving out a collection of pieces that are cheerful while beautifully echoing the geometry and symmetry in nature. I know that Jordana has a thing for these lovely creations, too. I think I can hear the roar of her lion!

Here are the new additions to Adler’s menagerie now available on his website:

Bear, $98

Owl canister, $75

Monkey, $198

Marketplace: The Trinsic by Delta Faucet

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My parents’ renovation is ongoing (I think it’s been almost a year now!?) and the most recent improvement has been completed in the laundry room. A while ago they installed this faucet in the laundry room…

but as you can see, the spout is much too curved and the water sprayed everywhere rather than directly over the drain. Well, our friends at Delta solved this problem for us! They generously sent over a Trinsic Pull-Down with Touch2O Technology and my dad installed it just a couple of weeks ago. It is working like a charm!

The Trinsic Touch2O faucet by Delta is a much better fit for this laundry room sink. The sink and faucet need to be a highly efficient work horse for my parents and they are really enjoying the convenience of the Touch2O technology. No turning on the tap with this one – just touch to turn on and touch to turn off. Simple…and extremely useful when your hands are full!

And one more thing – my dad – who is very capable when it comes to plumbing and electrical work – was so impressed with the clarity of the installation instructions. He made me look at the details on every page (yes, Dad, I was definitely interested!). He actually did say that it was one of the best installation instruction guide he’s ever used!

Many thanks to Farah and Delta for arranging this for us.

The Friday Five: MoMA Store

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The MoMA store is one of my favourite places to visit online and in person. It is an inspiring shop full of affordable (and some not so much!) art pieces for the home. Here’s a round-up of what has recently caught my attention.

Ryan McGinness to-do list calendar, $24.95

Netzwerk bowl by Hedwig Rotter, $45

button magnets by Ikuko Nakazawa, $25

Switch salt & pepper dispenser by Chetan Sorab, $14

espresso set by Fellina Sok-Cham, $65

Have a wonderful weekend!

Marketplace: EQ3 – Proudly Canadian

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EQ3 is a Canadian furniture and home decor design company that strives to offer well-crafted and highly attractive products which are (mostly) made in Canada. I think EQ3 has a lot of great things to offer in terms of their inventory as well as in its design aesthetic and business philosophy. While you discover EQ3’s collection, be sure you don’t miss out on the work by some of my design favourites – Marimekko, Vitra, Alessi, and Herman Miller.

EQ3 Oblong Lamp

EQ3 Mini Table Lamp White

Marimekko Lumimarja Pillow Case

EQ3+ Vitra Elephant White

Images courtesy of EQ3. EQ3 locations.

20 Below: Nanoblock

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I’m not entirely sure if and how Nanoblock is related to Lego (can anyone with kids explain this to me?) but when I saw this white terrier at Chapters-Indigo, it made me laugh. And then it reminded me of all the things I used to create with my Lego blocks when I was little (a house was my favourite – go figure!).

Nanoblock white terrier, $11.95

I know kids still play with Lego but do they create their own sculptures or is everything already pre-built for them?

Marketplace: Animal Cutting Boards

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It’s no secret that we have an interest in decorating with fake animals in recent years. Remember my growing menagerie? I love the quirky appeal of these animal cutting boards from Quebec design company Brut Design. They would make perfect hostess and birthday gifts, don’t you think?

polar bear cutting board, $60, Brut Design

white beaver cutting board, Brut Design

These and other Canadian-made products are available for purchase at Galerie CO.

20 Below: Porcupine Candle

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Our thoughts are going out to our family and friends on the east coast today who continue to deal with the effects of hurricane Sandy. It’s a good idea to have a few extra candles on hand…especially the whimsical ones…in case you experience a power outage during this stormy weather!

porcupine candle $9.50, Indigo

Stay warm and safe dear readers!

 

Friday Five: Halloween at West Elm

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West Elm is still quite well-stocked for Halloween and so if you waited this long to purchase Halloween decor items then you’ll now be able to benefit from the sales!

skull mask, $2.04, West Elm

hanging skeleton people, $10.23 each, West Elm

skull candle, $10.23, West Elm

bone bottle opener, $6.14, West Elm

teeth bottle opener, West Elm

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

The Friday Five: Turkey Platters

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Who is eating turkey this Thanksgiving weekend?

HIC turkey platter, $25

Gibson turkey platter, $29

Martha Stewart turkey platter, $22

Oneida Kitchenware turkey platter, $14.99

Bamboo Studies turkey platter, $17.25

For the third year in a row I will be cooking up a Thanksgiving feast (with the help of Martha Stewart, of course). Wish me luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Charity: 1:Colour 1:Cause 1:Face

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On Monday October 1st, the 1:Face project will begin changing the world one watch at a time. How so, you say? The money from each colourful watch sold goes to various charity organizations. Each watch represents a different cause – hunger, water, AIDS, breast cancer, environment – and the money raised from the 1:Face movement will certainly spread goodwill to those in need.

illustration of the 1:Face watches; each watch is $40

The white watch below, for example, will feed 16 children in Africa through the assistance of the 1:Face partner organization, One Days Wages.

I received the watch representing water. With the sale of 625 of these white and yellow watches one well will be built in Rwanda via the assistance of the non-profit organization Charity Water. Not only will you want one of these watches to show your support and spread the word, but you will also love showing off its sleek design.

1: Face watch – changing the world one watch at time & it tells the time too (with the touch of a button)

So what are you waiting for? On October 1st, join the movement here. And in the meantime, follow all the 1:Face news and updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Many thanks to Mizra Minds.

Update: You can also follow and support the 1:Face movement at Indiegogo.

Tea for (f)all

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I drink tea all year and I actually like a hot cuppa even during the summer months. As a coffee-in-the-morning kind of gal, I find that making an herbal tea after lunch is a great alternative to caffeinating my thoughts all day long.

With the rise of tea`s popularity in recent years, there is far more variety and easy access to unique blends from far-away places than ever before.

Today I`m showcasing a few mugs that make tea time that much more quaint. These are also really easy to get your hands on (!) since they`re widely available at Chapers-Indigo and make a perfect, random, `thinking about you`gift for a friend, colleague or parent. They make a really sweet add-on to an online book order for curling up on quiet weekends this season.

Stoneware mug made in Portugal, $12

Scrabble mug, $12

Forest stoneware mug, $8

Owl mug, $16.50

Textured zen mug, $8

Aegean mug, $8

Monogram mug, $8

And now this is fantastic- the mug with a perfect-fit filter for loose tea (below). The lid doubles as a filter holder for when steeping is done. I have one of these and I love using it at the office.

Mug with lid and filter, $20

Design: It's Hip to Be Square

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The square has escaped elementary mathematics class and has landed in the world of fashion and design!

Sparkle & Fade cage back cropped tee, $24.99, Urban Outfitters

Paul Smith Jeans white check shirt, $144, ASOS

down duvet, $109-$129, Urban Outfitters

via Benita Larsson

via Dwell

via Desire to Inspire

Update:

More squares:

– these amazing Balenciaga shoes

– this kitchen backsplash

– this backpack

20 Below: Penny Paper Co. Packaging

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The Penny Paper Co. is a Toronto-based stationery supply company owned by Lindsay Stephenson (of Little House Blog and BlogPodium fame). I’ve had my eye on her custom stamps for a while but I have only recently noticed these sweet cream-coloured drawstring bags.

large cotton drawstring bag, $6.25

Use them plain for wrapping small gifts or personalize them, fill them, and use them as party favours. Time to get crafty!

The Friday Five: Lights

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Today I’m featuring five very different but very interesting lighting options. I am loving the form of each one of these beauties.

Aki light by Studio Dreimann at Leucos USA

Raak Holland Saturnus lamp, $693, 1stDibs

Tahir Mahmood “Girgit 8” ceramic lamp, $475, Caviar20

Rare Neal Small white molded acrylic three-sided table lamp, $3650, 1stDibs

Parisian surgical light, $15,000, 1stDibs

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Marketplace: West Elm + South Africa

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If you can’t make it to South Africa…

photos by Mathilde

photos by Corie & Jeff

but crave a South African vibe in your living space…

via

then West Elm’s recent collaboration with South African designers and artisans might be just for you! The collection of ceramics, textiles, furniture and home accessories has been growing in popularity since it hit the marketplace just a little while ago. Some of my favourite pieces are white (duh!) and they are simple, structural and functional.

Mick Haigh oversize serving bowl, $63.09

Potter’s Workshop napkin set – black shields, $21.39

Ceramic Matters candleholder, $63.09

Anthony Shapiro pillar candleholders, $84.48-$105.87

Source dining chair, $212.81

Pedersen + Lennard hooks, $12.81

Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars. Some items are not available for international shipping.

Many thanks to Mathilde, Corie and Jeff for allowing me to use their photos from their trips to South Africa.

Marketplace: Sir Jack's

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I recently came across Boston-based men’s shop Sir Jack’s and I just love it! The creativity of the collection and the quality of the goods make this shop a definite winner.

Albert Thurston White Moire Brace, $75

Benson & Clegg Race Car Cufflinks, $260

D.R. Harris & Co. Arlington Soap on a Rope, $21

Kiel James Patrick Cape Knot Hitch Bracelet, $38

Mauviel Hammered Aluminum Oval Champagne Bucket, $300

Oliver Peoples O’Malley Beige Crystal, $350

Sir Jack’s Ox Horn Cups, $110

Terrapin Stationers Embossed Skull & Crossbones Stationery Set, $20

Images courtesy of Sir Jack’s.

20 Below: Pillows

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What kind of pillows do sleep on? How much do you spend on pillows? I’m asking because it seems that I buy a new set of pillows every other month. I don’t have problems sleeping yet I haven’t really found a pillow that I find truly comfortable. I usually buy my pillows at Home Sense (I seem to be drawn to Ralph Lauren or Laura Ashley pillows) but is this really the go-to pillow place for people? IKEA carries a variety of pillows at different price points (and several below the $20 mark). Perhaps I should give one of them a try. What do you recommend?

Gosa Pinje pillow, $17.99, IKEA

20 Below: Swim Goggles

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I almost forgot that today was Tuesday. Oops. I guess I was still in long weekend mode!

Yesterday I learned that there’s a 50m outdoor pool just a 15 minute walk from where I live. Yeah – how did I miss that one, right? (I mean, I knew it was there but I assumed it was a regular 25m pool.) So last night I ventured out and I’m so glad I did because I had a great swim!

One of the things I love about the sport of swimming is that it is quite an affordable sport – all you need is a swimsuit and goggles. These are lightweight and require minimal storage which is an added bonus in my opinion. These look like my goggles except mine are navy (gasp!).

Speedo Hydrospex swim goggles, $19.99, Sport Chek

Another thing I learned – there’s an entrance fee for the public outdoor pools in London, Ontario. I wasn’t expecting this because I’ve always taken advantage of Toronto’s free access outdoor pools. How about in your neighbourhood? Are outdoor pools free of charge?

Giveaway: Evoke & Imagine

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Artwork these days isn’t just about landscapes and portraits. We are seeing more and more inspirational words and sayings used as artwork in living rooms, offices, and bedrooms around the world.

via Stylizimo

via Made By Girl

via 365 ting jeg liker

Toronto-based Evoke & Imagine offers a good selection of inspiring art prints. They also offer a custom option where you can decide form, colour and quote and they’ll print it for you.

Happiness

Life Goes On

Love Never Gets Lost

Everything Will be Alright

How Far You’ve Come

custom prints

The kind folks at Evoke & Imagine are offering one lucky reader an 11×14″ print of their choosing (including the custom design option). To enter this giveaway leave a comment telling us what your favourite print is. It’s as easy as that! Winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends Friday July 6th 12pm (EST).

20 Below: Clearly Clean

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I’ve just added this new Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy shampoo & conditioner set to my rotation. So far so good.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, shampoo & conditioner, about $5 each

Personally, I like to have a decent rotation of shampoos and conditioners in my bathroom (but not actually in my shower – that’s too much clutter for me!) and I don’t usually rely on only one brand (I wonder what hairstylists would think of my approach). Are you a one-brand-only kind of person or do you like to switch things up?

Heidi Klum endorses the Clear product line so I figure it’s got to be pretty good. She’s got great hair, right?

Note: It’s kind of ironic that the liquids are actually kind of a shiny sparkly purple rather than clear. Hmm…

Many thanks to Liane L. for passing these items my way.

 

The Friday Five: Mugs

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Do you have set criteria for the mugs you use? Do they all match? Or are they random? Does size matter? Colour? Shape? My mugs have one thing in common – they’re white (or mostly white). Surprised?

white and black J mug from Anthropologie

white and black J mug from Chapters Indigo (thanks Shannon!)

white mug from GlucksteinHome (thanks GH Team!)

black and white mug from Gstaad (featuring a scherenschnitte design)

black and white mug from Beauty’s in Montreal

I hope you all enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea!) in the summer sunshine this weekend. Enjoy!

Note: You can see I’ve been enjoying many meals and tea breaks on my balcony except for one day when it was raining.

Photos by me.

Celebration: Father's Day at Urban Barn

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Although Urban Barn is advertising their Belvedere recliner as the perfect Father’s Day gift, I’d say that more than just dads would like lounging in something like this.

Belvedere recliner, $1199, Urban Barn

If you’re interested in a chance to win a recliner (or an Urban Barn chair of your choice), go ahead and “like” Urban Barn’s Facebook page and share your story about why your dad is number one.

Photography: IKEA Patterns Revealed

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Yesterday I posted some up-close photos of patterns I spotted on IKEA products. Did you guess what the products were? Take another look before scrolling through this post to see the answers.

Pekannot plant pot, rattan, $39.99

Glimma unscented tealights, $3.99/100 pack

Sparsam low-energy spiral bulbs, $8.99

Alina bedspread and 2 cushion covers, $99.99

So – were your guesses correct?

Photos by Jordana.

Photography: Patterning at IKEA

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On Mondays I love to head over to Jacquelyn’s blog because through her Scenes from My Weekend series, she shares interesting photos from her weekend activities. It is not as though she does something grand every weekend but the subjects and composition of her photos are so lovely. She has a great eye for detail and her honesty comes through in her posts. I encourage you to click on over and check out what Jacquelyn has been up to.

Today I thought I would try out a super mini scene-from-my-weekend Ă  la Jacquelyn. I was in Toronto on the weekend doing an assortment of things, one of which was a trip to IKEA (I needed to stock up on crackers). I took some photos of the interesting patterns I saw. I wonder – can you name the four products in the photos below?

I’m such a fan of repetitive forms.

Photo by me using iPhone + Instagram + Pic Stitch.

Garden: Urban Barn Plant Pots

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I mentioned on Twitter a little while ago that I was trying to grow herbs (from seeds) for the very first time. While I ended up killing a lot of the small plants when I tried to transplant them (I thought I was doing them a favour by spreading them out), a few of them actually survived and are slowly growing. While I don’t have enough basil to make pesto and if I break off some parsley for garnish I’d have nothing left, I’m excited to have even just a teeny tiny bit of fresh herbs on my balcony.

But that’s not all! I have also decided to grow tomato plants. I know, I know. Who grows tomatoes on a balcony? Well, I thought I’d give it a try and even though I have yet to see even a smidgen of cherry red, the bit of greenery compliments my herbs quite nicely.

And lucky me – Urban Barn recently sent over some amazing white plant pots (en français) to support my cause! Bye bye terracotta, hello white!

my small-but-mighty tomato plants – in Urban Barn’s Le Jardinier pot

Gloxina plant (I think) – in Urban Barn’s Le Jardinier plant pot

There is much more to the Le Jardinier (which means gardener, by the way) collection than the two pots in the photos above. I’ll soon be transferring my herbs into some of the ones below and hopefully they’ll have a growth spurt soon!

Le Jardinier Planter – small : $12.00, large: $22.00

Le Jardinier Handle Pot – small: $7.00, large: $14.00


Le Jardinier Handle Pot – set of 3: $12.00

Photos by Jordana and courtesy of Urban Barn. Many thanks to Robbyn W. for arranging to have these pots sent my way.

Note: If you would like tips on growing herbs indoors, read this article by Sharalee on Chatelaine.com.

Marketplace: Beverage Dispensers for Summer Entertaining

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It seems to me that a good-looking beverage container is one of the most coveted items for summer entertaining. Here are two that I saw at Sablétine last week in Waterloo, Ontario.

beverage dispenser at Sablétine, photo by Jordana

beverage dispenser at Sablétine, photo by Jordana

Is a beverage dispenser like one of these on your summer shopping list? What would you fill it with?

metal beverage dispenser, $19.99, Target

vintage glass beverage dispenser, $24.99, Target

glass beverage dispenser, $20.79, Target

ceramic enamelware beverage dispenser, $197, Williams-Sonoma

water bottle beverage dispenser, $136, Williams-Sonoma

beverage dispenser, $121, Williams-Sonoma

beverage dispenser, $64, West Elm

Books: Blurb + Giveaway

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I have been raving to my friends about Blurb ever since I wrote my first book for my nephew’s second birthday. For that book, I illustrated pictures of fruit, scanned them to my computer, and then uploaded them to a Blurb template. I then wrote the vocabulary to match (in three languages of course – that’s my academic side coming through!), finalized a few details, and pressed publish. In a matter of weeks, my first Blurb book arrived in my mailbox and I spent quite a bit of time showing it off before I handed it over to my nephew.

a preview of my first Blurb book – a multilingual book about fruit

It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that I have since published a few other books for each of my nephew’s birthdays. I am pleased with how each of them has turned out (and I think my nephews are too) and Blurb has been an easy company to work with.

customizable copyright & dedication pages

sssshh…this one still hasn’t been opened…it’s for Reef’s second birthday next week

here are my nephews reading Duke’s third birthday book about shapes

While I have not made my books available to the public, this is definitely a possibility with Blurb and something to pursue if you have written something that you want to share with others. On the other hand, if you’re at a loss for words but you want to compile photos from your last vacation, then consider Blurb the place to do so. The company offers quite a few design options, page templates, and bounding possibilities.

Want to get started? Well, look no further! Blurb is offering one lucky reader a $35 promo code to use toward a Blurb book. To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment and tell us what type of Blurb book you would like to create. And do it quick – this contest ends on Thursday June 7th, 2012. Winner will be chosen at random.

Note: Contest is open to Canadian residents only.

Photos and books by Jordana.

The Friday Five: Knobs

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Okay. Does anyone else go into Anthropologie, browse through all the knobs, fall in love with half of them, want to buy a bunch, then wonder what the heck to use them for, and walk out of the store empty handed? This is what happens to me. Every. Single. Time.

black & white stripe knob, $8

deco block knob, $10

squirrel knob, $10

linen flower knob, $12

molten spectrum knob, $8

The knobs are so pretty but I really have no use for them. Do you?

Images via Anthropologie.

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