Toronto Interior Design Show 2011

I enjoy attending the Interior Design show in Toronto and sometimes I even enjoy this with my family , I made it clear that they were going to enjoy it with me this year as well , my husband was game but my dear daughters wanted to just stay home .....well no I don't think so, I can imagine many dreadful calls from home interrupting my fun at the show , so after laying down the law the girls were so thrilled to join us.

See the happiness...

My fun girls , seriously they are crazy and fun , and we did enjoy our time there or at least the first hour was fun , then I had the barrage of are we going ?, can we leave ? started, what fun .....I always love to see how much Mason loves the ultra modern design , and what was up with all the fire it was simply hot in there ?

It is always fun to walk through the mock up rooms , this one was so magical , notice the ceiling full of paper cranes , what poor soul's had to install all of those...?

Of course the Sarah Richardson rooms were inspiring, done with her brother ....

I think I have found the perfect colour for my dining room which happens to be a Sarah Richardson colour called Lichen , I think its perfect.

Up Country had a very appealing booth , I loved this dining table and benches .

The girls thought I should buy this painting of the blue chair .....I loved it for sure.

But I was drooling over these tiles , so gorgeous don't you think so too.

I hope I could share with you a few fresh photos of this years IDS I know there are many blogs sharing their photos too , it as always was a great and inspiring show, cheers!

*I had to edit this because I just weighed in and I have lost 10 pounds , 2 extra pounds over the weekend...

FYI on the weight loss front I have now lost 8 pounds , yeah me , things are getting loose which is so nice , off I go to workout now , again .

Fine travel around to Spain

Empire of Spain is a country and part of the European Union situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. 

The Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) is a section of the Andalusian coast in Spain facing the Atlantic; it extends from Tarifa in the south, along the coasts of the Province of Cadiz and the Province of Huelva, to the mouth of the Guadiana River. A popular destination for vacationing Spaniards, in recent years the Costa de la Luz has become more popular with foreign visitors, especially the French and the Germans. Aside from the beaches and the sunshine, there are ample opportunities and facilities for leisure activities, like fine dining, golf, kite surfing, boating, and other water sports.

Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador), in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment. It is often called a blood sport by its detractors but followers of the spectacle regard it as a fine art and not a sport as there are no elements of competition in the proceedings. In Portugal it is illegal to kill a bull in the arena, so it is removed and slaughtered in the pens as fighting bulls can only be used once.

Trying something new

I recently ordered these Disc plate hangers , I thought they were such a great idea , however patience is required, they are easy to use , just wet the back and use your fingers to mix the glue a little wait 5 minutes for the glue to get tacky , apply and wait over night for the glue to set. You can find Disc hangers at www.dischangers.com I like them because you don't have all those little hanger clips and sometimes just putting a plate in one of those spring loaded hangers can be dangerous , do you use plates to decorate ?, I have been using them for as long as I have been decorating .

I have been moving things around , I get bored you know ... what I would really love in here

is a lantern , I want to tone down the feminine look a little , I think it is getting s little too girly... and its bothering me .

I have moved some corbels and shelf into the dining room for now, I added some more plates for a new look .

I think I am bored and ready to change the wall color in here ...more on that later.

I think I am tiring of looking at a lot of the same things for too long ...time for change , maybe its just this time of year, too much time stuck inside.

I am really longing for spring , how about you , are you in a deep freeze too ? , I know I'm not alone.

Organizing feels so good

A fresh start and a fresh coat of paint always starts things off a new, but an organized streamlined space brings so much peace to me.

I finished putting in the tower of shelves and added two drawers , so handy for mitts, hats and scarves , some baskets to hide things and some wire baskets too along with a little folding stool to reach things. To the left of the tower I opted for a row a sturdy hooks to hang longer less used coats .

I wouldn't dare show you how badly this closet functioned before , along with a door full of mismatched hooks and way too many of them , the door hooks are so necessary but now streamlined to 4 hooks , one for keys one for dog leash and two for the girls book bags.

Before ; I tried the wire shelving , now I hate wire shelving , never again , I plan to make custom organizers for the master closet this year at some point too , well maybe , check in for more details.

Coming soon , a wall of applied wainscotting in the front living room to about 7 feet high, finally we have come up with the perfect design , just need to wait for the weather to improve , today it is -32 c with the windchill.....now that's cold maybe that is -10 f , looks like this may even have to wait till spring.

Like Mother like Daughter

Well I think we can blame it on the Food Network , the show Cupcake Wars actually , Mason has never taken interest in cooking or baking at all, until recently , she dreamed up a cupcake that she wanted to make ... vanilla chocolate chip cake with strawberry frosting with choc dipped strawberries , ambitious.

She took to it naturally , and was a pro with the piping bag .

My first cupcakes probably didn't look this good .

Of course she decided to make cupcakes when I am dieting and counting every calorie and for the one day I did low carbs too , but I did try one this morning I didn't want to offend, and they were devine , she brought lots to school to share with her friends , she isn't even a big fan of cupcakes , hah!

Organizing

I know I haven't been around much lately , truth be told I have nothing much to share , however I did decide to do something about or front hall closet , as you can see I tried to make the most of it a few years ago with this wire organizer , yuck , it sucks , so I ripped that out yesterday yeah that was fun...

Here was my clean slate , I have put in a narrow storage tower so far and added a couple of drawers and two runs of hanging ...it is a work in progress , I need to paint and add some more hanging .

Good news on my get fit journey , I have lost 6 pounds so far , this is a big deal for me , I have had trouble in the past losing , after eating right and working out it was difficult to not see changes in the scale which has lead to giving up at times , however there is no giving up this time there is no option to fail this time 40 is just two years away for me and that is a huge motivator for me , I must look good at 40 .... this time I am using a weight loss aid , Slim quick which I have used in the past and which I had great success with , and so far so good , I am using the Slim quick drinks , which aid in appetite control, added energy and the best part is that it makes me drink more water which I am really bad at , this along with my fitness pal app on my iPhone is proving successful for me .....good old fashioned calorie counting ....it's just math ...

I am trying to keep this image in mind , because 6 pounds is no small feat , now how to fast forward through the next 31 pounds I need to lose and all the hard work and balancing that will entail.... but I know it is worth it , I can see my prize.

Enjoy the comfort visiting Koh Samui Resort

Koh Samui is an Island, which is full of natural with pleasant appearance and attraction. The place is filled with white sand beaches and clear water. It’s an ideal place to spend for holiday vacation in the lap of a clear and calming nature. There is vast number of hotels and the sightseer’s will find no difficulties in searching the right ones. The Koh Samui resorts are the wonderful place for living and enjoying the trip.

The vacationer will get different types of resorts in Koh Samui with full console and luxury. The resorts are forever waiting to welcome the tourist with warm and friendly greeting. A lot of couples decide Koh Samui as their wedding destination. Many resorts assist the couples to have a wonderful and consoling wedding.

Zazen Boutique Resort and Spa help out the couple to get prepared for their wedding in Koh Samui. Garden Villas at Zazen is an additional well known resort in Koh Samui with full comfort and there are abundant facilities meant for the tourist to take pleasure in their trip. The resorts have spacious rooms with flourishing green gardens. The place is very popular among the sightseer’s.

Another well-known resort in Koh Samui is the Peace Resort Bophut Beach. This hotel is embedded with air conditioning, safe deposit, and telephone cable tv, hot and cold water facility and lots more. The hotel organizes distinctive Thai tours and there are unique amenities for the honeymoon couple.

The eatery of the hotel serves classic Thai and Western cuisine for the tourists. There are different types of rooms available in the resorts and tourists can able to decide from the hotel’s website. 

The passage Samui Villa and Resort is another well known resort there. This hotel mainly attracts the tourist by there extraordinary spa facility. It consists of 50 Villas and they are well furnished, comfortable and luxurious.

The hotels have different types of accommodations and room services. Many recreations are arranged for the tourist. Koh Samui is just superb place to trip at least once in life time. Sightseer’s can enjoy the trip to this place with full of comfort and entertainment.

Temples in India-A symbol of Indian culture Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Location: Varansi
State: Uttar Pradesh
Principle Deity: Lord Shiva (Vishwanath)

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is located in the heart of the cultural capital of India, Varanasi. It stands on the western bank of India's holiest river Ganges. The Kashi Vishwanath temple is the center of faith for millions of Hindus. The Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, is enshrined in the Kashi Vishwanath temple, considered as one of the holiest temples of India. In Hindu religion it is believed that a simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and Bhakti (devotion). A single darshan of Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than the darshan of other jyotirlingas, scattered in various parts of India. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living picture of the timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts Hindu devotees and other visitors not only from India but also the world over. Lord Vishwanath is considered the supreme repository of the spiritual truth and strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood. Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore built the temple in the present shape, way back in 1780. In the year 1785, a Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple at the instance of Governor General, Warren Hastings. In 1839, two domes of the Temple were covered by gold, donated by Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, the ruler of Punjab. The management of the Kashi Vishwanath temple rests with a trust.

The Vishwanath temple opens daily at 2.30 A.M. for Mangala Aarti and between 3 to 4 A.M. ticket holders are permitted to join. The timing of general Darshan is from 4 to 11 A.M. The timing for midday Bhog Aarti is from11.30 to 12 A.M. Between 12 noon to 7 P.M., general devotees are free to have Darshan. From 7 to 8.30 P.M. the Sapta Rishi Aarati is held after which Darshan is possible again till 9 P.M. At 9 P.M. the Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts and after that Darshan is possible only from outside. Shayana Aarti starts at 10.30 P.M. and the temple closes at 11 P.M. Most of the offerings at the Kashi Vishwanath temple are given to poor.

Finished slipcover

I completed the little slipcovered chairs , see how I added the little ruffle, this slipcovered required 2 yards of fabric, so cute.

Exotic Empire State Building in New York City

The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City and New York State.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and confirmed by the New York City Board of Estimate.It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In 2007, it was ranked number one on the List of America's Favorite Architecture according to the AIA. The building is owned and managed by W&H Properties.

The Empire State Building is the third tallest skyscraper in the Americas (surpassed only by Chicago's Sears Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower) and the 14th tallest in the World. It is also the 4th tallest freestanding structure in the Americas and the 12th tallest in the world.
source information from wikipedia

Slipcovering a chair

I really haven't been up to too much lately , but here is what I am currently working on for a client of mine , it is a little arm chair for their little girl.

Not an easy thing to do , many hours of fiddling to make slipcovers but I am happy it is turning out well.

I have been steadily working on my new years resolution to shed many excess pounds I have gained over the last few years, some may refer to this weight as blogger butt , anyway however it got here it needs to go , I am living in my exercise wear so that when ever it hits me or at least twice a day , I will workout on my elliptical machine. So far so good I have lost 4.5lbs already, which normally takes forever but thanks to my new iPhone app "my fitness pal" I am keeping very accountable, I can keep track and it is really helping me . One good thing is that I have a whole closet with a full array of sizes of things I love that I will be so thrilled to fit into again .

Mai Chau- a beautiful sightsee location

Are your eyes drained to behold the view of the hectic city with the high-rises all around that leave a slight space for the sky and greenery? Is it a long time ever since you had a trip and you are in fact craving to be in the lap of Mother Nature for some time? 

Well, to fulfill one such aspiration of yours, Mother Nature has gifted a place with all her gorgeous manifestations such that you can rest and take pleasure in yourself lost in the loveliness of her greenery soothing your eyes, mind and ultimately in your life too.

Three and a half an hour drive from the Hanoi will land you in the Northwest region of the Vietnam City; covered with layered of greenery the place is called as Mai Chau.

While driving in the car you will get the beautiful sight-see of trees, fields and hills all green in color and if you are thinking the gorgeousness here exceed all other, and then give pleasure to hold your opinion till you reach Mai Chau.

Once you are in Mai Chau you will understand why I have asked you to grasp your opinion. Some of the best-looking scenic beauties of green which you may have seen during your tour worldwide have all come here together as if to make an exhibition of pretty greenery here in this place.

The other inducements of your sight-see here will be your reside with the Tai hill tribe family in their stilt housing. They are not simply friendly and cordial but are always more than enthusiastic to enlighten you on their family and culture. The cultural show which they will organize for their privileged guest and that’s you will make their culture come into lives before your eyes.

Even though if you are not interested to know about their culture just enjoy their dance and performance. To have an extra feel of tribes living their then do not miss their meals, for sure have a delicious dinner with your host family with the local cuisines served into your plate.

Well don’t think you have come to an end to Mai Chau trip, the next morning after bidding farewell to the host family do have trekking around the city and make your return to Hanoi climbing over the Mai Chau. The Natural masterpiece which you will sight-see is going to be a treasure all for your life. Also don’t forget to take this view back for your family with your camera.