The Friday Five: Squirrels

September 8, 2017 | Leave a Reply

I’m really trying to hold on to summer, but with lower-than-10-degree weather, back to school week, and colour changing leaves (it’s happening!), it’s really hard. I’m sad to see summer go because it’s my favourite season. Not only that, but I know that once the cool weather arrives, it’s here to stay. For a while. A long while. And even though I try every year to like something about winter, I’m definitely opposed to it. But I digress.

The real point of this post is to feature some lovely squirrels. It seems as though I have some strong memories of this little, wild animal.

When my French exchange student came to live with me and my family when I was sixteen, one of the first things she commented on were the squirrels. She couldn’t believe how many were jumping and climbing around in my parents’ backyard. At the time, I didn’t even know the French word for squirrel (un écureuil). It was fun to watch her excitement about an animal I barely paid attention to.

Of my mom’s Swarovski collection, the squirrel has always been one my favourite figurines (see below). Its curvy tail got me!

And the other day, on my walk home from work, I saw the tiniest baby squirrel. I had never seen one so small before. I was too slow with my camera, so I wasn’t able to snap a photo, but, trust me, it was teeny! And it was moving pretty quickly!

squirrel dish, Urban Barn

squirrel match strike, Jonathan Adler

squirrel figurine, Swarovski

squirrel dish, 1st Dibs

Are squirrels abundant where you live? Do they annoy you? Are you fond of them?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Marketplace: Playing Chess

January 27, 2016 | Leave a Reply

Do any of you know how to and regularly play chess? My dad taught me how to play chess when I was a kid, but I rarely play. Heck, I don’t even have a set, so how could I play? It’s too bad because I think chess is quite a good game. Maybe if I had one of these gorgeous sets, it just pull you in?

Scacchiera chess board by Rosa, $940

Kelly Wearstler dichotomy chess set, $17,000 (yes, $17K!)

Jonathan Adler acrylic chess set, $795

Furniture: High / Low Comparisons

August 12, 2015 | 2 Commentaries

One of my favourite features in magazines like Style at Home is the high / low spread. Essentially, the magazine styles up two very similar versions of a room and leaves it to the reader to guess which version is expensive / affordable (before revealing the true prices on a later page). Anyway. I love this feature and I get sucked into the guessing game every. single. time.

If you love this as much as I do, go ahead and read on. I have prepared a similar high / low challenge for you.

Beds

1a.

1b.

Lights 1

2a.

2b.

Dressers

3a.3b.Benches

4a.

4b.Lights 2

5a. 5b.So? How do you think you did? Check the prices (and see the sources) below.

Answers:

1. a. Parallel bed in walnut and leather, $5800; b. Piper wood panel bed, $1149
2. a. glass ball mini pendant, $69.98; b. Soneca frosted pendant light, $229
3. a. matching Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin white lacquer chest of drawers, $3800; b. Malm six-drawer dresser, $199
4. a. Jennifer Taylor white Mongolian fur bench, $550; b. Jonathan Adler Mongolian lamb bench, $1595
5. a. 1-light pendant fixture, $23.90; b. Greene pendant large, $595

Marketplace: Piggy Banks

January 15, 2015 | Leave a Reply

Now that Christmas spending is over with, I can start saving for my next vacation! Are you saving up for anything special? Do you use a piggy bank to help reach your goals?