The Duchess of Cambridge’s style always grabs my attention. I love just about every outfit she has been photographed wearing.
Her recent look in a floor-length Self-Portrait dress amazed me. She looked stunning in the white gown.
Duchess Catherine in Self-Portrait
Here are some other beautiful white Self-Portrait dress in case you’re looking to channel your inner Duchess sometime soon.
Self-Portrait white roses gown
Velvet has been everywhere in the fashion world this fall, but I think we’ll also be seeing it invade some of our home designs on both a small and large scale. While some may opt for rich jewel tones when it comes to velvet, I would encourage you to also think about how creamy velvet can warm up and add luxury to your home and wardrobe.
pair of channel-back art deco club chairs in cream oyster velvet
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche velvet skirt jacket
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Around this time for the last few years, I’ve ordered my Christmas cards via Minted. With Minted, I can personalize my message, have my return address printed, and use my saved recipient address list (free service!) to ensure my cards are perfectly addressed.
I have been a fan of Minted’s collection of art and stationery for years. And each year, I’m impressed by the new additions of artistic cards. While I do appreciate photo cards from my friends and family, I opt for the classic card.
Here are some of the cards that made my short list:
 joy
One of the things that I really like about ordering my cards at Minted is the personalized printed message options. Last year, I decided to go all-out with the everyone-gets-the-same-message, and I ended up mailing my cards out without a personal message or signature. Let me tell you – these did not go over well. On my end, prepping my cards was very time efficient. Some of my honest friends and family members, however, were quick to inform me that they didn’t like the lack of real-live ink. So, this year, I’ve toned the automatic-standard-everything down a notch. I’ll be picking up my pen to add notes of well wishes.
Minted cards are printed on high quality paper. Its Signature paper is thick and luxe. I just love how the cards look printed…they’re so pretty and professional. And here’s hoping my friends and family enjoy the design I ordered this year!
Thanks to Minted and BlogPodium for this partnership opportunity.
Let’s reflect on great design today.
Ewen Style mirrored coffee table, $699, Mobilia
mirrored vases, $98+, Anthropologie
Last weekend’s fall back for daylight savings time really made for a productive Sunday. Did anyone else feel this way? I could have slept in, but instead, I got a jump start on my day’s to do list, and it was great. So darn productive!
So, speaking of time, I noticed that One Kings Lane is currently selling gorgeous vintage watches. My wishlist has just grown.
Rolex Oysterquartz Datejust, 1979 (I think I should own this one since it’s my birth year!)
IWC pocket watch conversion, 1924
Longines chronograph caliber 13ZN
Cartier Tank Must de Black dial, 1990s
They’re gorgeous watches, aren’t they? Check out the complete collection at One Kings Lane.
It’s all about glass accessories for today’s two-of-a-kind feature.
cut glass drawer pull, $8, Marks & Spencer
Cobistyle cut glass jar with lid, $85, The Bay
Nantucket’s Greydon House is today’s hotel-to-home destination. The rooms are traditional and bright.
Here’s my interpretation of the Greydon House bathroom:
mirror, washstand, toilet, basket, basket, towels, shelf, sconce, soap, faucet
Read more about Greydon House in this recent Architectural Digest feature.
Along with marble and bows, scallops are a recurring theme over here. Today’s two-of-a-kind feature dainty scallops.
ripple side table, $859, One King’s Lane
scallop duvet set, $95+, One King’s Lane
Today’s #WhiteCabanaWearsPink theme is all about the superhero!
flying superhero costume, Etsy
Wonder Woman postcard, Etsy
superhero printable download, Etsy
Princess Power Super Sparkle Barbie
***
Every Monday in the month of October, pink will be taking over White Cabana. This month, #WhiteCabanaWearsPink to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Read more about #WhiteCabanaWearsPink.
I don’t have any need for new light fixtures at the moment, but a few unusual ones have caught my eye, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to share them with you.
Urban Cottage – DVI lighting (see it here)
Have a great weekend, everyone!
In one of my various online surfing adventures, I came across Spartan Shop and fell in love with just about every product in its inventory. One more beautiful than the next. Let’s just say I lingered a little while on the site.
Look at these beauties:
Gabriela Artigas two-tone infinite cuff, $270
Scosha brass double opal cuff, $225
takara jade coron necklace, $275
spotted door mat, $80
clam lab pointed spout pitcher, $290
marble spice grinder with brass ball, $150
As you know, #WhiteCabanaWearsPink every Monday this month to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
Today, we’re talking about mixing pink into your wardrobe.
First, some inspiration from Blair Eadie of Atlantic Pacific:
I love how Blair beautifully styles all-pink outfits. It’s easy to think about a monochromatic look in black, but pink? It’s not the colour that usually comes to my mind for a head-to-toe look. She also wears every shade of pink – blush, rose, bubblegum, and vibrant pinks, too.
Here are some pink pieces that have me staring.
Adidas tubular defiant jersey and suede trainer in halo pink
Ray-Ban mirror hexagonal sunglasses
Baublebar pinata tassel earrings
Note: Affiliate links to products have been used. The more you click, the more that I can donate! Get click happy!
***
Every Monday in the month of October, pink will be taking over White Cabana. This month, #WhiteCabanaWearsPink to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Read more about #WhiteCabanaWearsPink.
Who else thinks that skeletons are creepy?
Jean Pierre gold skeleton, $675, One Kings Lane
party skeleton platter, $41 (on sale), Pottery Barn
life-size skeleton, $55.68CAD, Target
skull and crossware holiday invitation, Minted
skeleton stud earrings, $4.17CAD, Amazon
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Cavo Tagoo in Santorini, Greece is a stunning hotel. The rooms are modern and bright, and the views of the ocean are exactly as you’d want them to be!
copper sink, faucet, quilt, shams, mirror, silver mirror, monstera leaf art, bed
It was a great mail day when I spotted Decorate for a Party in my mailbox. The book by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring is full of beautiful images and great ideas for party decor. I read it from front to back on my first sitting (while eating cookies, of course!).
The book begins with a white-themed fest which obviously caught my attention. 
One of my favourite DIYs of the book are these candles (see photo below). The calligraphy is delicate and pretty. These candles can be personalized with sayings, guest’s names, or table numbers for a party.
The book is organized by theme – modern, simple, colourful – and each theme has a little guide that goes with it. The checklist includes colour schemes, inspiring elements, and a playlist. I love it when these decisions are made for me! 
I’ve been following Holly Becker’s Decor8 for years, and it was nice to see how she collaborated with Vancouver-based photographer, blogger, and DIYer Leslie Shewring on this book. The duo worked wonders, and they teamed up with other creatives to set up and style these party ideas! The book is full of inspiration, so if you’ve got some celebrating to do (who doesn’t?), grab a copy!
See more beautiful images of the book at #decorateforaparty.
Thanks to the team at Quarto Group for sending me a review copy of Decorate for a Party. Photos by Jordana.
It’s only a couple of weeks until Halloween, which is about the time that I’m ready to start thinking about it. Today’s two-of-a-kind has a Halloween flavour to it.
diamond spider necklace, $7895, One King’s Lane
spider pillow, Target
Etsy sellers have so many cool things to offer, wouldn’t you agree? Here’s some of the neat things I’ve come across in my recent browse session.
Sculpture in Design – ceramic dish set
Craftsman Stoneworks – carrara marble card holder
Natalie’s Wunderland – white evil eye bracelet
Note: Affiliate links have been used. All income generated from affiliates and sidebar ads in October will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as part of my #WhiteCabanaWearsPink fundraising efforts. Get click happy (and buy, too, if you’d like)!
Today’s all about pointing in the right direction.
arrow cocktail stirrers, $16.25, Oh Happy Day
shooting arrow silver earrings, $100, Pamela Love
How many times in a day do you say “OK”? Would it be better to save the speech and wear a tee or pin instead to express your opinion?
Okey Dokey DIY tee, via Almost Makes Perfect
OK pin, Maria Ines Gul
I’ve written about Toronto’s Opelle two years ago in this post, and I’m coming back to it because the collection of handbags is stunning. Co-owners Amy Malcolm and Beth Nicholson Crago have a beautiful aesthetic and their designs continue to catch my fashion-loving eye!
Vanda, $261 (on sale)
Botanist, $253 (on sale)
Roberta Sling, $195
Lotus, $485
I really like how Milton-based blogger Sabrina Smelko has styled the Lotus Weekender two ways in her recent post. Here’s a peek:
via Sabrina Smelko
Oh, readers, I love my Peugeot. I have been riding my new-to-me, restored, vintage, white Peugeot bike for a few weeks now, and things are going very well. The bike rides smoothly, the cork grips are soft, and the Brooks seat is very comfortable. I look back at the before photos, and the new silver brake handles and white cables also improve the bike’s sleek design. I’m still impressed by how a bike can be made over (see the Peugeot makeover post). The restoration wasn’t cheap, but over the long-term, it’ll even out, and my bike is pretty darn unique (and how can you really put a price on unique, right?)
After I got my bike back from the Berlin Bicycle Café bike repair shop, I knew I needed to protect my investment. Locking up a bike is really a necessity when doing errands around town. Friends-in-the-know – as well as some online reviews – recommended the ABUS Bordo 6000. ABUS locks are an investment, but they appear to be well worth the cost as they’re tough, tough, tough! ABUS bike locks come in a variety of designs with varied security levels.
The five types of bike locks and their features are:
I read up on each of the lock types on the ABUS website (which was very informative, I must say), and settled on the ABUS Bordo 6000 as per (mostly) the word-of-mouth recommendations. This bike lock configurator quiz was also helpful.
Thanks to the fine folks at ABUS, I’ve been able to securely lock up my bike (and seat for that matter) with the Bordo 6000. Here’s what my ABUS Bordo 6000 looks like in action: 
Here’s the Bordo 6000 up-close. It reminds me of these rulers which I loved playing with as a kid.
I attached the lock to the top bar for the photo, but I’ve generally carried it in my backpack, put it in my bike basket (which I have now installed), or attached it to the back rack. The velcro strap is convenient for easy installation and removal.
In the photo above, you can see that I used the Bordo to lock up my seat, helmet, and bike when I was doing errands around the city. I was so pleased when I discovered that this was possible!
A couple of weeks with my lock, and I couldn’t be more pleased. It does the trick, and it does it using advanced technology and super strength materials. I guess it’s good to trust a German security company for these types of things, eh?
Many thanks to ABUS for sponsoring this post. I’d also like to thank Greg H. All opinions are my own.
For as much as I talk about lucite on this blog, it’s surprising that I actually don’t own any lucite pieces. Strange, eh?
Havenhurst etagere, $1239US, One Kings Lane
Clarity Pouch Large, $36USD, Truffle
By now you may know that I adore Calgary-based blogger Erica Cook‘s style. It’s her recent kitchen sneak peek that has inspired today’s marble-clad post.
marble on marble in the kitchen, photo by Erica Cook
marble and metal canisters, Food52
As you may recall, I’ve been on the lookout for a new bike. Waterloo (the city and region) is quite bike friendly, and it’s so easy to get from Uptown Waterloo to Downtown Kitchener on one of the paths. Biking around these parts is convenient, doable, and safe. My pinkie is a good bike, but it’s a mountain bike and heavy. It’s also not as cute as some of the retro bikes currently on the market.
I looked at quite a number of hip bike companies online as I was doing research (e.g., Public, Linus, Tokyobike) as well as some of the traditional go-to stores (e.g., Canadian Tire). I didn’t pull the trigger on a bike purchase until I learned about a vintage Peugeot on the ol’ Kijiji. Oh, Kijiji.
I was even slow to decide about the Peugeot as I knew it needed some work, and although I’m really good at envisioning before and afters in home renovations, I really couldn’t wrap my head around a bike makeover.
In the end, I couldn’t pass up on a bike that was made in France in the 1970s that was white, gold, black, and, did I already say French? Oui, oui! So I bought the darn thing. And it was dirty. And I wasn’t even certain it could be “renovated.”
Here are the before photos:
I started the cleaning process on my own just to see what I was dealing with. (Side note: do not mix cleaning materials such as stove cleaner and CLR as you might end up with slight chemical burns. Oops. #DIYfail #thankgoodnessIwaswearinggloves) 
Anyhoo – fast forward a few weeks, and I’ve learned quite a bit about bikes. What I’ve learned (correct me if I’m wrong), is that just about everything on a bike can be replaced. If the frame is good, then you’re off to a perfect start. Some people buy vintage bikes just for the frame, in fact.. Does that make sense? With encouragement from others, and a bunch of online searching, I was convinced that my white Peugeot had major potential.
As I knew I needed some replacement parts (um, did you see the rusty chain?), I threw (gently but not gracefully) my made-in-France vintage Peugeot into the back of my Rav4, and I took it on over to the Berlin Bicycle Café (it’s a cafe and repair shop, by the way) for some TLC.
I had Joan’s vintage Peugeot in my mind as my ideal end-result bike, and I even started a Peugeot Pinterest board to store my bike makeover ideas. Graham and his team at the Berlin Bicycle Café took good care of my bike and found parts that suited the style, made the bike functional, and were well-made (hello German tires, I’m looking at you!).
When I picked up my bike last week, I was pleased with how it all came together. Have a look:
My Peugeot now has made-in-Germany Schwalbe tires, new tire rims, silver brake levers, white cable cords (so so nice!), a Brooks England B67 saddle, cork grips, and a fantastic totally-reminds-me-of-Euro-bikes kickstand. Oh, and a gold bell. Can’t forget the bell!
The Berlin Bicycle Café team also shined up the fenders and handlebars, so the bike (for a 1970s bike) looks just about brand new. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
I picked up a pair of Converse while I was in Florida last month as my black ones got too worn out and needed to be replaced. I opted for an off-white dainty Chuck Taylor,and they’re working out well so far. They’re great to slip-on for a bike ride, or a walk around town. The slimmer version also means they’re lighter than the original Chuck Taylor’s, and I think that they’ll be a nice change from my last pair of laceless slip-ons.
All this to say that my new kicks have inspired today’s two-of-a-kind post.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low-top, $50 USD
And here’s a bonus room that includes the white backdrop and red piping details:
Recently, after a delicious BBQ and a couple of drinks with Tim and Chris, my friends and I agreed to sign up for a triathlon relay. As you do, right? As none of us felt prepared to complete a full triathlon on our own, but each of us had skills in one of the required areas (swim, bike, run), we figured a relay was the way to go (we’re calling ourselves #TeamCHI). And by doing the relay, we are able to join our one friend (Chris) who is doing the full triathlon; it’s going to be a day of adventure for all of us! This will be my first triathlon relay experience, and I’m excited!
On my relay team, I’m in charge of the swim portion – 750m in a lake. A lake! 750m! I was slightly nervous a couple of weeks ago when I first jumped in the pool for my first length swim in several many years and felt out of breath after 300m. Since that first swim though, I’ve built my endurance and I’m now good for 1000m (900m crawl + 100m breast). Now that I’m feeling more confident about my endurance, I’m reading up on how to mentally prepare. I’m not actually nervous, but more icked-out by swimming in a lake. The water is going to be dark, and I’ll be swimming alongside fish. Um. Yeah. Just slightly icked-out.
Chris – the full-tri guy – is mentoring and encouraging me as he’s completed several triathlons in the past. He’s let me know that a wet suit is a must because not only will it help with the ick-factor, but it’ll also help with buoyancy in the water which will help my swim speed. Awesome.
So, naturally, I turned to my favourite athletic swim company – TYR – to check out their triathlon gear. I’ve collaborated with TYR in the past, and I’m thrilled that they’ve agreed to sponsor Chris and I in this triathlon. I’ve been wearing TYR since my lifeguarding days way back when (and probably even before those days when I was swimming and taking lessons as a kid). To prep, I’ve been swimming at my local pool* wearing my TYR athletic bikini and my trusty TYR swim cap, so all I need to add now is the wetsuit.
I’m new to the wetsuit market, so I did some research before ordering through TYR. There are sleeveless and sleeved wetsuits:
women’s hurricane wetsuit cat 1, $174.99
women’s hurricane wetsuit cat 1, $124.99 (on sale) Isn’t the back fantastic? I love that sleek silver panel.
men’s hurricane wetsuit cat 5, $499.99
women’s hurricane wetsuit cat 2, $349.99
women’s hurricane freak of nature wetsuit, $1199.99 (instant abs on this one!)
men’s hurricane wetsuit cat 3 (detail), $549.99
I was convinced to go with a sleeved suit after speaking with some other people and reading various triathlon guides. Each of the TYR wetsuits are specially designed to be super sleek and flexible. The wetsuits are also designed with triathletes in mind (e.g., the Category 3 wetsuit, for example, has quick release ankle cuffs to ease removal), and various panel designs in the suits assist the swimmer’s buoyancy. Very neat.
Once our suits arrive, Chris and I are going to take them for a test swim in the pool. Wish us luck as we squeeze ourselves into these sleek suits. I think I’m going to feel like I’m a superhero once mine is on!
Does anyone have any experience swimming in a wetsuit? If so, please share! I’d love to learn from you!
*Another reason I love living in Waterloo – I have a 50m length pool within walking distance. This makes swim training really convenient!
Thanks to TYR for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Do you get a new agenda at the start of the new year or the start of the school year? Since I’ve been a forever-student/forever-teacher, I’m in the habit of buying one in August, so that I’m ready to go in September.
When I was in Florida, I picked up this gold agenda from Target.
Sugar Paper agenda, $10.78CAD
It was inexpensive, small (3×6″), easy to throw into my purse, and has both the weekly and monthly schedule pages. So far, I’m happy with it.
Here are four other agendas that caught my eye:
weekly simplified planner, Emily Ley, $52CAD (on sale)
mini Day Designer agenda, $67CAD
Sugar Paper monthly/weekly planner, $20CAD
daily design love planner – blush, $50
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I thought I’d go up in the air for today’s hotel to home – as in an actual airplane! I have yet to experience anything but economy class in my years of traveling (last time I tried to upgrade to a nearly-empty business class on a Copenhagen-Toronto flight, I actually couldn’t. As in, noone would help me process the upgrade. Story for another day…), so my jaw nearly dropped when I had a peek into Singapore Airlines’ stunning suites and first class cabins. Yes, I said suites…with actual doors! On an airplane! Want to see what I’m talking about? Read on.
via FlightFox
So how do you create this look at home? With a simple colour palette, of course! Here’s what I’ve got in mind…
white bedding with brown trim, storage bin, tray, champagne flutes, mirror, coasters, headphones
Online retailer UncommonGoods recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in shopping for some unique items. I’ve known about UncommonGoods for a while now, but I hadn’t ever ordered anything, so I thought I’d give it a try to learn more about what this company is all about.
It won’t take you long to recognize that the collection of items at UncommonGoods is just that – uncommon. Out of the ordinary. Unique. Different. Interesting. Soon after this initial thought, you might notice that the product selection and variety is large. Luckily, the search filters are effective and specific, so if you’re searching for something specific (e.g., gift for a kid), then you’ll get to that area of the site in no time. The site has a ton of cool gadgets for hard-to buy loved ones, birthday gifts for her, for him, and for kids, and the all-so-popular personalized gifts (isn’t this personalized family art adorable?).
As I often do in sites that have a large product line, I search by colour (white, obviously). This narrows things down easily and really helps me to focus my search. From there, I might expand to other colours (black, stainless). Alternatively, I search by need (e.g., kids, food, art). UncommonGoods search bar and filters really did work well for me, and I found items that suit my style (personal and for gifting!).
All the Palm Trees in Florida, $251.61CAD (I also like All the Taxis in New York)
olive oil, $34CAD, (US shipping only)
shave box set, $78.88CAD (US shipping only)
men’s organizing travel pack, $62.56CAD
women’s organizing travel pack, $65.28CAD
mealtime stacking set, $59.84CAD
empanada fork, $27.20CAD
UncommonGoods was founded in 1999 by Dave Bolotsky, and since then, he and his team has been devoted to connecting makers of unique items to consumers in an easy way.
I placed my order, and I was pleased to see that the taxes and duties were calculated before check-out. This means that there will be no extra payment surprises once my items arrive at my door. I’m sure other Canadian shoppers will appreciate this checkout option as well. Finally, when I had a question about shipping, I contacted customer service, and I received a reply within just a few minutes. I was very pleased about this, too!
Thanks to UncommonGoods for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Let’s go for sparkles today! How about that?
La Cornue is one of – or the – top of the top in the oven department (this one is $9,500 USD at Williams-Sonoma). The appliance is substantial and as gorgeous as a massive appliance could ever be.
Just look at how great it looks in these rooms.
via CocoCozy
via House to Home
via Style Me Pretty
via Lori Paranjape
via La Cornue
via Yale
Learn more at La Cornue.
I’m currently vacationing in sunny Florida! It’s super hot in Florida at the moment, and my friend Shannon and I have agreed that we should stick to a grueling schedule of beach-pool-beach-pool with some meals in between. Tough, yes. That’s how we roll when we’re in Florida! Of course, though, there’ll be days and nights of shopping trips, and we’re looking forward to a trip-within-a-trip to Sarasota. Oh – and we’ll be seeing two concerts while we’re here – Gwen Stefani and the Dave Matthews Band. Very cool. Good times ahead!
I’m a decent packer, and I generally have a good sense of what outfits I may need while I’m on vacation. That said, I sometimes pack more than I need and I don’t like lugging around useless weight. For this vacation, I wanted to pack light – absurdly light – because (a) I don’t wear much more than bathing suits while I’m here, (b) it’s too hot to wear more than a bathing suit, and (c) I’m hoping for a few sales which means I’ll be returning with a heavier luggage on my way home. I’m so good at supporting the American economy when I’m in Florida that I should really get a prize.
I’m (almost) ready to challenge myself to stick to a very strict colour scheme this trip. I’m starting with two navy/white bikinis that I picked up in Copenhagen last month from H&M. Most of my packing for this trip revolved around navy/white (quite a departure from the usual black and white, I know). Here’s what I considered (and just about ended up following through on) packing for this vacation (very similar items, not necessarily the exact items).
sunglasses, sun hat, watch, dress, bikini, kaftan coverup, flip flops, white tee, white denim shorts, purse, navy shorts, dress, tank top, striped bikini, sneakers, sweatshirt, pajamas, sandals, sports bra, sports tank, running shoes, running skirt
What do you think? Could you spend two weeks in Florida with these 22 pieces?
I bought my dinnerware soon after I moved into my new home. I love the white china, and I’m glad I went for a simple design (Royal Worchester Serendipity). I bought 12 place settings which included the dinner plates, side plates, small bowls, larger bowls, mugs, and teacups. I went all out and my cupboards are full because of it. I love having matching everything, and I know the pieces will serve me well in years to come.
If you’re in the market for a new set, I’ve rounded up five great collections at various price points.
Bennett 20-piece set, $445CAD, Crate & Barrel
Pillivuyt 20-piece set, $403.95USD, Williams-Sonoma
Jasper Conran 32-piece set, $839CAD, William Ashley
Kate Spade 12-piece set, $150CAD, Hudson’s Bay
Finsbury 5-piece set, $101.99CAD, Royal Doulton
Hope you enjoy some delicious meals this weekend!
Shall we take a little trip to Singapore today? Yes, let’s.
I would love to travel to Singapore in the next few years. While I was there when I was very little, I definitely don’t remember a thing about it! I’d love to see the sights, take in the architecture, and observe how people live (so darn curious, I am!).
I came across so many lovely hotels in my online travel dream research, but for today, I’m taking a closer peek into a room at Lloyd’s Inn.
In the Skyroom, you’ll notice that the bathtub is outside. This is the case in other suites as well. I love it. How exotic and luxurious!
Here’s my take:
Kohler tub, tub filler, plants, plant pot, bed frame, window, Frette duvet cover, bed pillow
How many times have I featured polka dots on White Cabana? Too many times to count, I’m sure! I just love the happy pattern, and I can see many polka-dotted posts in the future. I hope you don’t mind!
Here are today’s two-of-a-kind.
queen silver dot sheet set, $175.69CAD, Land of Nod
larabee dots flutes set, $50USD, Kate Spade
Months and months ago, I received some gorgeous polka dotted fabric from Minted (remember when I was deciding between these two colour options?), and a month or so ago, my chaise was finally reupholstered. It’s about time I share the dramatic before and after photos on the blog!
Here’s the dreary before photo:
before
Drum-roll, please…
after
Cute, right? The grey and white polka dot fabric (organic dot by Itsy Belle) really lightens up this part of my living room. It’s amazing how dark furnishings just sucks the light. (Note: The background of the fabric is a true white rather than the greyish colour that seems to show up on the Minted site on my computer. I much prefer the fabric in real life than in the online swatch version.)
Thanks to Minted for supplying the fabric for this makeover. All opinions are my own.
I’m not sure if today’s really about stripes or straps. You be the judge.
aviary pendant light, $39.97 (on sale), Land of Nod
low v-neck top, $382, Alexander Wang
Hello again dear readers! Welcome back! I hope you didn’t mind the break. I meant to come back to the blog yesterday and share news about Copenhagen, but I was having issues with my photos, so my posts remain in draft form at the moment. They’re not quite ready to be published. Thanks in advance for your patience and I battle jet-lag and get my life reorganized after by 2+ week holiday. (Tough life, I know.)
For today, since it’s Tuesday, I’ll share two they’re-so-much-alike items. And since it’s summer (my favourite season), and the beach is nearly always on my mind, I thought I’d bring some scallops to the web pages of White Cabana.
scalloped linen blouse, $55 (first spotted on The Neo Trad)
I haven’t yet bought a new bike, but I have continued to think about it, talk to people about them, and learn more about different brands and styles. As such, I’m rounding up another list of hot bikes that I’ve been researching.
Bisou, $695, Tokyobike
Dutchi 8, $829, Linus
LC21 Legend, 329 Euro, Peugeot
M7 Mixte, $599 (on sale), Public
step-through classic 3 speed, $729, Simcoe
Craighton Pure, Achielle
I like the step-through bikes a lot, but I think I like the straight lines of the Tokyobike and Public bikes better.
What do you think? Do you have a bike? What kind?
For as long as I can remember, summer has been my season to travel. It’s probably because I’ve been in school all of my life, I’ve been a elementary school teacher, and now I teach at a university. In my life, it’s always been a tad tricky to take time off during the September-June months. July/August has been much more convenient. And I’ve always tried to take advantage of the downtime to escape the city and regular life and have an adventurous or relaxing holiday.
This summer is full of travel for me, and I couldn’t be more happy. I feel so very fortunate to have such travel experiences, and a job that affords me to escape for a couple of weeks.
I’m ecstatic to be in Europe, touring Italy with my dad, then heading off to Copenhagen for a few days. I thought it was fitting, therefore, to share with you five of my essential items for my carry-on luggage.
1. Sleeping eye mask
I absolutely do not care how ridiculous I look when I wear my sleeping eye mask. It offers complete darkness and definitely helps me get to sleep in the ol’ economy class. I usually bring this mask with me, but I quite like the look and feel of a fancy silk one, too.
2. Notebook
I don’t think I really go anywhere without a notebook. I’m always jotting down ideas (all kinds) and to do lists, and when I don’t have my notebook, I feel slightly out of sorts. A notebook is a must of the plane so that I can write down things I want to see/do, review my itinerary, etc.
3. Water
I never find that the flight attendants provide enough water for my flights, and I know it means more bathroom breaks, but I like to stay fully hydrated during my flight, so I always bring my own bottle and fill it up before I board.
4. Face and hand cream
I know some people mist their faces on a flight, but I tend to apply moisturizer to avoid the feeling of dryness. I don’t pay much attention to brands, I just need creams that come in carry-on friendly containers.
5. Socks
I rarely sleep with socks on, but on flights, I find they’re necessary. I take my shoes off as I get to my seat (on short or long flights), and I don’t like putting my bare feet on the airplane carpet, so socks are a must. I find them especially cozy on long flights when I’m trying to get in a decent sleep.
What are some of your must-haves for short and long flights?
It’s all in the eyes for today’s two-for-Tuesday!
winking eyes umbrella, Kate Spade
flirting t-shirt, Chiara Ferragni
Here are two extremely similar night stands, but their price tags vary greatly…as in by $2930.
1950’s Paul McCobb Planner Group Nightstands, $3000, Consort
Hemnes nightstand, $69.99, Ikea
Which one do you like better? Which one would you buy?
As some of you may know, I have declared that this year is the #YearOfMyBed.
I bought a gorgeous (really gorgeous) antique French bed a month or so ago and added a set of night stands soon after that (after some DIY attention, they’re looking just perfect with the bed if I do say so myself).
But, what’s a bed without a mattress?
Until recently, I’ve been sleeping on a double mattress inside a queen frame. It’s been fine, but it was obviously not the look (or sleep) I was going for.
To complete the #YearOfMyBed, there was obviously one thing that I really needed to do – buy a new queen mattress set. This purchase has been on my mind for a long while, but I’ve been putting it off because, frankly, I found it a bit daunting. So many mattresses, so little time? Yeah, something like that.
In the end, I headed to the sleep experts at Sleep Country Canada. I figured that it was a one-stop shop that would have helpful and knowledgeable staff who could guide me through the process. Thankfully, I figured right. (This is not a sponsored post, by the way.)
So how did I find a perfect-for-me mattress? Let me tell you!
First, I sang the Sleep Country Canada jingle.
Jokes. Jokes. I didn’t. Okay. I did. I mean, what Canadian doesn’t know Christine Magee or the Sleep Country jingle?
Moving on…
After I headed to my local Sleep Country, I met with a sleep expert (Hi, ES!) who asked me how I sleep (side, mostly) and what type of mattress I like (more firm that soft). I told her that the brand wasn’t one of my concerns, but I did want a really good mattress that would be super comfortable (who doesn’t, right?). She narrowed the beds down for me, then told me to try everything out. What? Pretend sleep on the mattresses in the store? It felt a bit weird at the beginning, but she encouraged me to just go for it. I went back and forth between the narrowed down mattresses and “slept” on them. Feet up and everything!
I was a bit resistant at first – Would I actually be able to tell the difference between mattresses? What’s the big deal about the pillow top? – but I got into it. I did actually notice a difference between mattresses, and some were easy to take out of the running (e.g., too soft, too hard).
I narrowed down my options to two – a Kingsdown and a Serta. In the end, I opted for the Serta (shown in the two photos above), and I was hoping that it would be just right! (As I’m writing this, it seems that I’ve turned into Goldilocks.) I honestly think I would have been happy with either the Kingsdown or the Serta, but the Serta was slightly more firm, which I liked.
here I am learning about the coils (coils, coils, coils) and the details of the Serta mattress set; it’s a pillow top mattress, by the way
Still a bit nervous, I was told about Sleep Country’s amazing sleep country guarantee. If I don’t like the mattress, I can actually exchange it for another one. Isn’t that amazing? It’s a win-win situation if you ask me!
My mattress arrived this past Saturday, and I’m sleeping soundly so far. It did take a couple of nights to adjust to it, which I think is completely normal. I think I’m happy with it, but it’s also comforting to know about the comfort guarantee.
Tell me, dear readers, have you bought a mattress recently? How’d you do it? What features did you look for?
Thanks, ES, for your help!
One of my favourite car brands is Audi. I grew up with my dad driving an Audi 5000 that he shipped over from Germany when we were a young family of travelers. That car took us to Florida every summer, and I learned to drive standard on that car. When I grow up (if ever?), I’d love to have an Audi. After my obsession with the Fiat 500 came to an end a few years ago, I began to develop an interest in the Audi Q7 (and the Q5, too).
I’m totally not a car girl. I could live a life without a car and be perfectly happy (as long as I could walk everywhere that I needed to…I don’t love the lengthy commutes of public transit). But the Audi Q5 (it’s a better size for me) – oh, I just love it!
Anyway – so when I heard that the classic camera-brand, Leica, partnered with Audi for a special edition, I had to investigate.
The Leica M Edition “Leica 60” is a beautiful piece. It celebrates 60 years of the Leica M and was created in collaboration with Audi Design.
photo via DesignBoom
Isn’t it lovely? It combines old-school style and the photography needs of the future. I just love it.
It’s bicycle season!
cyclist in Vienna, Austria, photo by Design Maze Tim
Yet another reason why I enjoying living in Waterloo is that it has quite a good trail system. I can get from my place in Waterloo to Victoria Park in Kitchener via the Iron Horse Trail (with only minimal road riding). Last year, I rode (slow but steady) from Cambridge to Paris, Ontario on a trail beside the Grand River. It was beautiful (and mostly flat).
While I have a decent mountain bike that functions well (although it is heavy), I have my eye on a few of the retro bikes that have been on the market for a few years now (also known as The Miss Piggy Bike in my family). Maybe once my bank account recovers from a few upcoming trips and my bedroom makeover, I may invest in one of these beauts.
Real step-through bicycle, $1200, Martone Cycling (why oh why is this out of my budget?!)
Kent 700c hybrid bike, $189, Walmart
Huffy Arlington, $248, Walmart
Schwinn signature series cruiser, $849, Canadian Tire
Schwinn hybrid bike, $199, Target
Do you have a bicycle? What kind? For what purposes? Do tell!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Okay, dear readers, I have majorly fun news! Major! Ready? Are you sitting down? Okay. Here it is…
I’m going to Italy! In. One. Month.
For a traveler like me, this is really really really exciting. Italy is my jam. My people. My food. My fashion. I haven’t been in 5 or 6 years, so you can imagine how thrilled I am. In fact, there are even more reasons for my enthusiasm. I’m heading over with my dad who is going to reunite with his highschool friends once again (remember how he reconnected with them via Facebook after 50 years?). Now I get to reunite with them, too. It’s wild. Meeting people who knew my dad when he was 16? That’s nuts! Right?
And on top of all of this, the incredibly generous folks at Expedia.ca are sponsoring my trip! Yes! Yes! Yes! As in the Expedia.ca. The same Expedia.ca that I have been using for years to book my trips. The same Expedia.ca that finds me the best possible prices for flights, hotels, and cars. Yes, it’s that Expedia.ca!
Me? Excited? Yeah, excited is an understatement. Going on this trip with my dad means so much, and the fact that Expedia.ca and I are collaborating is just the bees knees!
I’ll have many posts to share, so I hope you’re eager to follow along. I’ll share with you news of my trip planning, my packing list, my hotel stays, my city explorations, and, of course, I’ll give you the low down on what it’s like to go on a father-daughter trip (not our first, in fact)!
For now, I bet you’re curious about where I’ll actually be going.
Soon after I had learned about Expedia.ca‘s sponsorship, I got to work planning the vacation. My dad (let’s just call him Dad) had already booked his flight and sort of finalized his travel route with his friends, so I had to touch base with him to learn more about his itinerary.
First off, I researched flights, and I was able to get on the same flight as Dad had already booked. As anyone who has used Expedia.ca knows, the search function is pretty darn awesome, and you can limit your flight searching options in so many ways – by departure/arrival time, number of stops, and airlines, to name a few.
Normally, I search flights by number of stops and price. In this case, however, since I had my dad’s flight information, I searched by departure time and airline. I wanted to see if it was feasible to get on the same flight to Bologna that he was on. It was. Easy. Done. At the same time, I debated a few return options and saved them using the “My Scratchpad” feature while I thought about how long I could stay in Europe.
I find the “My Scratchpad” quite a handy addition to Expedia.ca. It basically houses a record of your searches, and when prices change, you can request to be notified. I think that’s pretty darn magical. I think you have to be logged in so that things are saved, so be sure to do that first.
You can see that I took this screenshot after I had booked my flight because of the extra ticker line advertising up to 51% off hotels in Bologna!
You can also see up my the Expedia.ca logo that I’m currently sitting at “blue” status in terms of the Expedia loyalty program. As a blue member, I am eligible for things like member-only pricing, extended price-match guarantee, and earning 2 points for ever $1 spent. I have a few sleeps in hotels to go before I reach the next status level (silver). Read more about Expedia.ca rewards if you’re interested.
Are you waiting to learn more about our travel itinerary? Well, let me tell you, it’s a good one!
Dad and I have arranged our trip so that he can visit with his highschool friends in various parts of the country. We will fly into Bologna, then we train it to the beach town of Rimini for a couple of nights, attend his yearly highschool reunion lunch (I’ll have to brush up on my Italian between now and then), drive to Bologna for a few nights, drive to Florence for a few nights, and then visit my relatives for a few nights in a small town near Milan. After this, Dad will travel back to Toronto, and I’ll be heading for a little weekend getaway in Copenhagen. #IFeelSoDarnLucky
Seems like a pretty good route, doesn’t it? Dad is pretty excited, too, since he’ll get to introduce me to his highschool friends, and he’ll get to treat me to gelato (many, many times!).
If you have any recommendations or post requests, let me know!
Many thanks to Expedia.ca for sponsoring this trip. I am thrilled to be working with such a well-respected company. That said, all opinions are my own, and I am committed to writing honest reviews.
My parents recently gifted me a Dyson vacuum cleaner, and, oh my goodness, I ADORE it! I didn’t think I could actually like vacuuming. The Dyson is incredible. It sucks everything up, it’s easy to maneuver, and it’s lightweight to carry up and down the stairs. Beyond this, it is so smartly constructed. The extension hose hides away in the handle area/back spine of the vacuum, and the container empties with a simple push of the button. How have I never owned one of these? Living in a house that has wall-to-wall carpet – gosh, it is changing the way I feel about my most disliked chore!
Dyson has recently launched its first hair dryer. I want it. I don’t know much about it, but I want it. I just feel that it would make my hair look so darn good!
A colleague and I recently had a conversation about the fabulousness of Design Within Reach (aka DWR). DWR is an amazing place for furniture enthusiasts as it carries designs by faves such as Harry Bertoia, Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, Achille Castiglioni, and Frank Gehry. The designs are top-notch (and the prices reflect this).
My recent DWR-focused conversation sparked a much-too-long session of online browsing (and dreaming and wishing) which has now led to this blog post.
Here are a few of my current faves at DWR (prices are in USD).
Platner coffee table, $1567
Saarinen tulip arm chair, $1840
tripod floor lamp, $395
Jehs and Laub lounge chair, $3100
Sonno Versa mattress, $2595
(I don’t know anything about this, but mattresses are on my mind a lot these days. I like this one because “sonno” in Italian means “sleep”)
And for outdoor living, here’s what caught my attention:
Walter Lamb chaise, $1650
Luau portable lamp, $199
Frank Gehry left twist cube, $299
Thanks to SL for inspiring this post!
This Jenny Bird necklace available at Chapters-Indigo has inspired today’s two-for-Tuesday feature.
CornuFé 110