Cleaning the Cobwebs from my mind...

I had the best day.

I know I am about to paint myself as a veritable lunatic, but my happy day was all about cleaning. Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. My fridge is suddenly empty after ridding it of all its spoils. I surprised my muscles by lugging and pushing beds over carpet to vacuum up long-lost popcorn seeds, cat hair, and foil wrappers from tiny Easter eggs. I did endless loads of laundry, washing all of our winter coats and mittens to pack up nicely for next winter. Speaking of winter, our cold weather wardrobes were finally purged, and tossed unceremoniously into plastic storage bins. I soon realized I have a pretty empty closet that requires a bit of shopping to add spring colour.
As I rotated load after freshly laundered load on my clothes line, I felt my mind actually clear of the kind of stress one can control. Because it's not just about having a clean house or "getting things done". It's about controlling the things we can in this crazy world. We can't control what's going on outside our own insular worlds, but we can take care of our families, ourselves, and create a home that makes us feel safe, warm and calm when we are tucked within. And that is where my satisfaction came from today. I cleared the cobwebs as I cleaned, both in my home and in my mind. Worries were pushed aside as I scrubbed, heaved furniture, and hung out clothes. My mind worked through what problems it could as I laboured, and the physical work quieted the rest.

And then I hung out with my family.

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photo credits:

top photo: Katrin Cargill.com

second and third photo: Toast.uk

No Ordinary Boler...

If you are at all familiar with my blog, you know I am a big fan of camping. Each summer, I fuss over my little tent trailer/pop-up like it was a real vacation home. I have recovered the cushions, picked up fun accessories, doctored what I could and daydream about what else I can do to make it prettier. While the Airstream remains the coup of all campers, a close second would have to be the lovable, vintage Boler. As any Boler fan would tell you, owning a Boler puts one into a very select group. Pride of ownership shows for most every Boler that has been rescued and renovated, and seeing them bob happily down the highway brings a smile to any camping lover far and wide.

Typical Boler layout (above).

Both photos, above, found here.

I am happy to report that the Boler is a Canadian invention, as many great things are! With such vast, untouched wilderness and ocean access, camping is a very Canadian past time. Wouldn't we all enjoy camping in such great, portable summer homes?!

Shaggy, Velma? Can you believe this Mystery Mobile? You just know camping with these folks wouldn't be boring...!

Scooby Doo Boler photos source (above): Flickr.com

This Boler looks like a very fun, creative family bunks within:

Boler photos above: source, Flickr.com

Although I love the juicy orange of this Boler, if I had one, it would most definitely be painted in Robin's Egg Blue! Would you expect any less?

Orange Boler photos, source: Flickr.com

I love this vinyl flooring that these Boler owners are contemplating for their Boler:

Photo source: Flickr.com

Want to see more?

Check out this link to great Boler photos on Flickr!

Read the history of Bolers, here, or here! If you are thinking of joining the inside world of Boler owners, this site is a must see! Also, click on the links beneath each photo to be taken to the actual Flickr site.

Do you love your camper?

The View from the Couch...

Today, I am supposed to be in Halifax (our nearest city) spending quality time (shopping) with my two teenage boys. There is not a whole lot of mutually agreeable activities to do with boys of their age, as I am not very good at "Shaq-ing" basketballs, don't care for BMX biking, doing sweet jumps, and couldn't navigate a video game controller even if world peace depended on it. So, shopping for spring/summer clothes is something I can do with aplomb, and if I feed them a take-out meal I will be a reasonably cool mum, indeed.

Then, the dreaded stomach flu reared its putridly ugly head and took up residence in this little girl:

Hopefully, she is on the tail end of it all, as her best friend is having a birthday sleepover tonight. So, I have one very anxious little girl who pitifully moans, "But what if I can't go to the party?" as she clings to her "bucket" in full need. Desperately thirsty, she crunches on a "medicine freezie", aka Pedialyte frozen treat, and offers up one question or observation after another. Apparently, the stomach flu hasn't affected her well-trained vocal chords:

she: "Mummy, don't say maybe, or 'I don't know', but are we ever going to go to Florida?"

me: "Oh, maybe someday. Yes, definitely we might someday." (I am so good at stalling...)

she: "What about someplace tropical? I want to go someplace tropical"

me: (thinking to myself, um, nooo...have you heard the news about Mexico?? The highjacked plane in Jamaica?), " Ask Daddy, sweetie. Ask Daddy..."

Everyone who knows him, knows he just loves to spend large amounts of money on travel!!

To sum it all up, no bonding over shopping, and no travel to tropical places. I am disappointing everyone today!

Let's Play Matchmaker!

You all know I am a huge Matthew Mead fan, and am sorely missing Country Home and Matthew's regular features. Happily, I am still able to see his work in other magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and most recently, Victoria magazine. I know many of you are also huge Victoria fans, so wouldn't it be wonderful to help further this beautiful new relationship between our favourites? Kind of a win-win arrangement...

Speaking of winning, Matthew has very generously offered up one free subscription to Victoria magazine. To enter the give-away, head here and leave a message that Matthew can pass on to the publishers of Victoria, lettting them know that you would like to see more features by Matthew Mead in their magazine. So head on over! Not only will you have the chance to enjoy your favourite magazine on a regular basis for free, but you will also help ensure that one of our favourite style leaders graces the pages of Victoria with his wonderful ideas for many issues to come.

More Ohdeedoh...

Although I've sent you there before, for those of you who've never checked out one of the most popular (and amazing) websites for inspiration when designing kid's spaces...check out Ohdeedoh. A (little) sister site to Apartment Therapy, it has more inspiration and fun in every post than you could ever hope to find! I was lucky enough to have Sophie's playhouse featured there in December, and now Sophie's bedroom makeover is among the front and center today.

Thank you Carrie!

What's new?

Life is very busy at the moment, so projects around the house have taken a bit of a back seat. I do have lots of plans for the outside especially, including pouring our own concrete driveway (which is a bit intimidating), a revamp of my back deck area (repurposing our patio table, some paint, more atmosphere/accessories), landscaping Sophie's playhouse area and adding to our other flower beds, building a change area on our pool deck, and a few other bits and bobs that I always manage to dream up.

In the meantime, I have picked up a few new fun things, or have received them as gifts, so I thought I'd take a few snaps to share.

new pillows...now I need some more. Such a cheap, easy update!

I love my polka dots...

spring tulips


new Ikea (Ottava) light fixture

spice organizers

Ultimately, I need to get to my favourite thrift shops. That's where my heart lies.

What about you? What are you on the hunt for?

Looking for free advice...

photo source: Garnet Hill.com

My family and I are planning a camping trip to the Portland, Maine area this year, and I need your help. We are looking for some vacation advice from those who have vacationed there to ensure we have the best vacation we can have, and avoid the pitfalls of vacationing somewhere we have never been before.

photo source: Doug's Vintage Trailers.com

We are looking at staying at the Paradise Park Resort campground in Old Orchard Beach. It is on the pricey side, at about $75 (US funds), and I am wondering if any of you have: a) stayed there before, and your impressions or b) know of another campground in the Portland, Maine area that is comparable, but less expensive. Our Canadian dollar is not as strong as it was last summer, so we really take a hit when we travel south of the border. Also, any advice on theme parks or suggested side trips/destinations would be welcomed. We are strongly considering taking the kids to Funtown/Splashtown USA in Saco, Maine, and would love to hear your opinions on that particular park. We are also planning to take the Amtrak into Boston, so anything we should check out in the downtown Boston area would be great to hear about. We are travelling with out two teenage boys and eight-year old daughter, so recommendations of activities that wouldn't make them whine and complain too much would be much appreciated. We are all very excited to go; and any shopping suggestions, travel tips geared to the area, or fun places we haven't considered would go a long way to making our trip more enjoyable and, hopefully, more affordable. This is our family's only real trip for the year, so it is important that we all enjoy it as much as we can.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to hearing your suggestions!!

April Showers...of a different sort!

As I sit beside a hot fire, actually getting too hot, I am warm for the first time today. Spring has been a big dud so far, and the temperatures have sorely disappointed with the sun copping out and doing a miserable job at warming things up. So, to lift my spirits, I am going to indulge in some serious summertime daydreaming for a moment.
Although we finished most of out outdoor projects last year, given that our lot is quite small by most standards, I do still toy with the idea of adding an outdoor shower to our pool deck. Although my childrens' daily chlorine baths seems to substitute for proper dips in the tub during the summer, if I had an outdoor shower at the ready, I really wouldn't have to nag and quiz them on their state of summer cleanliness. I mean, come on...wouldn't one of these look so pretty in my pool area?
In all likelihood, the handyman (aka, my husband) will not go for it, for a variety of reasons, but I will not rest until I have a changing area on site. There is nothing worse than having wet bathing suits drip all over my wood floors, only for me to slip and fall on my creaky bones, which I have been known to do.


What could be more nautical than bold stripes? This is a great use of the area under the stairs. I am thinking these showers service a pool a little grander than my above ground model...

Last but not least, I love the whimsy of this outdoor bathing area. I personally wouldn't be caught dead soaking Al fresco like this, but for those of you a little more proud/brave than me, I say go for it! Looks wonderful, doesn't it?!

all images, Coastal Living.com


What's on your outdoor to-do list this summer?

Easter...in photos

It was a good Easter. Everything about it. Some of my family came to visit, and I am worn out tired... but filled up inside from their company, good laughs, good food, and a healthy serving of chocolate.

Back to regular programming on Tuesday, but for now, I share my Easter in photos. Stick around if you like!

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Easter, too.

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Toni was so kind to feature Sophie's playhouse on her blog, and if you want to see her Design Dazzle website, you will find heaps of decorating inspiration for children's spaces...bedrooms, play areas and more! Anyone looking to decorate kids' spaces needs to check her out!!

No boring head board...

photo source: Coastal Living.com

I have often thought that a headboard is the crowning glory to a well-made bed. Absolutely, great bedding is important, but even a bed layered all in white can look interesting if the bed itself is worthy of the spotlight. Naturally, a great antique or custom-made bed rich in character fits the bill, but can you frame your resting spot using less notable pieces?

Absolutely! Who says you need traditional bedroom furniture? In fact, I am a huge proponent of mismatched, less predictable pieces in a master bedroom; and nowhere is that more fun to do than in the master bedroom, with a unique and unexpected headboard.

Among my favourite options for unique and beautiful headboards:

Bookcases - but please, please don't place just anything on the shelves. Make your selections interesting, uncluttered, important. Showcase your favourite collectibles, and remember that the bed should be the focal point, not dozens of family photos!

photo source: Country Home.com

Screens - select with care. If a screen as a headboard is your choice, be true to your style. If your bedding whispers french country, don't place an Asian inspired screen just because you have it left over from your college days, or because it is all you could find.

Paint - one of the most economical options is to paint an area as a headboard in a colour that compliments both your bedding and the main wall colour in the bedroom. Framed or not, the right colour will be a worthy choice as a backdrop to your comfy nest.

Mantels, doors, and salvage - take a quick trip to the nearest salvage shop for an outstanding alternative to the tried and true. There are more than worthy doors languishing in garages and barns everywhere just waiting to be pressed into service as beautiful headboards. Just turn it on its ear, so to speak, and install securely.photo source: www.bhg.com

Other great options include iron pieces, such as iron gates, although I am not sure they would be so comfortable to lean against... As for mantels, check out these gorgeous examples.

(photo source: www.bhg.com)

Need I say more...?

Wallpaper - remember the wallpaper feature that I added behind my sofa? The same treatment can be given to the wall behind your bed. In this case, a frame is a requirement, and the wallpaper option provides a wonderful way to introduce pattern and texture to your master bedroom. And because you need very little, you can go ahead and splurge on a very special paper that you might otherwise leave behind due to budget restrictions

photo source: www.bhg.com

Panel detailing - installed at "headboard height", a wall treatment such as this can be the perfect alternative to a typical headboard. I particularly love this example, which incorporates a simple shelving detail: photo source: Katrin Cargill.com

Upholstered, hand made headboard - It's as easy as layering foam and fabric over a piece of plywood or MDF and stapling away! For a quick tutorial go here.photo source: BHG.com

Even easier? Try this option of simply hanging fabric panels from a curtain rod. Cheap and easy!!

Artwork - what could be easier than hanging large-scale framed (or not) art over your bed, all the while displaying what you love and reflecting your great style? Your imagination is all that limits you, and even simply wrapping a favourite fabric over stretcher frames will be beautiful. For a great example of art as a headboard alternative, check out this great room.

Decals - Urban Outfitters offers up a great headboard decal for an even better price (check out the link). Want something even less expensive? Why not stencil or freehand such a design?!

There are other options, for certain, but hopefully this will inspire you to accept the notion that affordable options exist for furnishing your bedroom. With a little elbow grease, imagination, and/or combing yard sales or salvage yards, you can create equally impressive alternatives to owning fancy furniture. Don't allow your budget to hold you back. You will sleep better knowing you have exercised creativity and good financial restraint when decorating your home. I know I do!