Ahhh yes, blogging………

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Am I the only one who blogs, that sometimes wonders why am I doing this, really what do I have to offer that is new? It is true, I really have nothing new that is earth shattering, but for me blogging has given me my own little place to be creative, every now and then ;) So thank you all who keep popping over to visit my little space, I really appreciate it!

This past while has been rather busy, a prelude to summer I guess. Chloé had her first ballet performance.Ballet2

BalletWe also just enjoyed a long weekend here in Canada. We packed up the family and enjoyed a day walking around Capilano Regional Park and the Cleveland Dam. As usual I got a little distracted by the small details.

Ferns1LadybugFern2WildRoseFern3DaisiesSometimes it is just the little things…..have a great week!

My new Little Friend

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Oh Target Canada I sense you are going to become a problem!

Target opened it’s doors only yesterday, and I have already been both days. I am sure the novelty will wear off a bit, but so far I am super impressed. It is great to finally have items available here that I used to have to go to the States for. Today I found something I have been on the look out for…..the perfect garden gnome.

GardenGnome3Who doesn’t love a touch of quirky….

GardenGnome

and really what is more quirky than a garden gnome?

GardenGnome2

Here is my only problem….

GardenGnome4I am torn between putting him in the garden or keeping him inside. I sense a new collection coming on ;)

White

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This spring I am all over white.

We recently painted our dining room & kitchen white (once I get it just how I want it to look I will do a post – that may take awhile ;) ) I am loving the crisp, bright airy feeling a white room gives. So it is very fitting that my white Snowdrop Anemone’s ~ Anemone Sylvestris are blooming with great vigour this year!

White4White1I love their delicate, papery blooms and sweet scent. An added bonus, they make great long lasting cut flowers and are easy to grow.White6As we head into a new week, which promises to be a warm one here on the West Coast, I thought I would share some white rooms that have inspired me….whew I have a lot of tweaking to do until I get my white rooms even close to these, but hey I guess that is half the fun…dreaming ;)

White5Old House Online

White2Style Me Pretty

White3Sea Cottage

White3Piazzan

Have a fabulous week! 

Spruce Collective – A Real Gem

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SpruceCollectiveFrontI have been wanting to get out to Spruce Collective for so long ~ I finally made it out to this gem and it did not disappoint! Here are a few Instagram shots.

SpruceCollectiveMushroomsSpruce Collective has a great relaxed atmosphere chock full of vintage finds, fun vignettes, stationary, home goods & linens, even handmade jewelry.

SpruceCollectiveWallYou can also rent from their amazing collection of antiques or sign up for one of the various classes they offer.

For more info on rentals check out - Trove Vintage Rentals

For more info on classes check out – Spruce CollectiveSpruceCollectiveDuoI was so excited to find this vintage sheet from an old bank calendar and an old map of Maine. My hubby spent many summers at Old Orchard Beach in Maine, so he was pretty thrilled with my find.

SpruceCollectiveS

Spruce Collective is open daily and definitely worth the trip!

website ~ www.sprucecollective.com

2622 Montrose Avenue, Abbotsford British Columbia, Canada

604-855-0506

Mother’s Day Gifts

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Mother’s day is just around the corner, so I thought I would round up a few gift ideas.Mother'sDayG1: Handcrafted Gardening Tool Set – Etsy  2: Seed Tape – Etsy  3: Hunter boots – hunter-boot.com  4: Jubilee Gardening Gloves – Ethel Gloves  5: Vintage Gardening Books – Etsy  6: Ceramic Garden Markers – Etsy  7: Glass Cloche Terrarium – Chapters Indigo  8: Hand Cream – Crabtree & Evelyn
MothersDayP1: Who can resist a vintage camera – Etsy  2: Camera bag that still looks stylish – Kelly Moore Bag  3: Laptop decal – Etsy  4: Vintage Inspired Camera Stamps – Etsy  5: Quirky pencil sharpener – Urban Outfitters  6: iphone Case – Etsy  7: Lens Cleaning Cloth – Etsy

MothersDayDesigner1: Handmade Sketchbook – Etsy   2: 7 Year pen, which comes in so many fun designs – Chapters Indigo  3: Arne Jacobsen Type Cup – Finnish Design Shop  4: Little Book of Lettering – Chapters Indigo  5: Stendig Calendar pre-order now for 2014 - StendigCalender.com

Patty’s Guatemalan Salsa

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I am surrounded by foodies! I get excited when my new design or gossip magazine shows up in the mailbox, for them it is Bon Appetit. They whip up random & new recipes like nobody’s business (are your ears burning yet Patty, Tania, Auntie Sandra…. ;) ?) So when Patty’s son was studying Guatemala and she whipped up this salsa, I knew that I had to share it with you all.

GuatamalanSalsa

  • 3 Green Onions (which for some reason I forgot to put in the picture….oops!)
  • 12 Medium sized Tomatoes
  • 1 cup Corn (frozen works)
  • 2 Garlic Cloves crushed
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 Lime – juice only
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro
  • 1/2 seeded & minced Jalapeno Chili
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

GuatemalanSalsaDone

  • Place whole tomatoes & corn on a cookie sheet and broil on the lower rack for about 10 minutes (or until the corn is golden and the tomatoes are soft and peeling)
  • Chop green onions
  • In a bowl, combine whole tomatoes, chopped green onions and crushed garlic – break up tomatoes
  • Add olive oil, lime juice, grilled corn, cilantro, minced jalapeno chili and salt & pepper
  • Serve warm over grilled chicken breast or cold with chips, crackers and add a dollop of sour cream

Here’s to a spicy week ;)

Special Camellia’s

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Camillia2When my dad’s father passed away in 2004, my parents were given two Camellia bush’s from friends, a total coincidence that they not only got two of them, but they were both pink. My parents knew that they wold not be staying in their house for much longer so they gave both my brother and I one of the bushes.

I planted my Camellia and it bloomed like crazy, so when the time came to move of course it was made very clear to any potentiel buyers that the Camellia was not part of the deal, it had to come with me.

When my brother and his little family packed up and moved to Calgary :( we inherited his Camellia bush as well. So to make a long story short I now have two beautiful Camellia’s, the problem was the poor little guys were so shocked by the transplants that they hadn’t bloomed………until this year!!! There are only a few blooms on each tree, but I am excited that the fresh dirt and fertilizer applied last fall seemed to do the trick!

CamelliaCamellia3Happy Friday – have a great weekend!

Quirky Blocks

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QuirkyBlocks1When I stumbled upon these XYZ Blocks from Fred during a recent trip to Chapters, I had to have them.

So what if they are meant for kids to play with, I love quirky and these would make a very fun vignette. Better yet, I had been saving up my Plum Points for something just like this. (If you don’t know about Chapters Plum Rewards click here)QuirkyBlocks2There are so many blocks that I love I can’t really pick a favorite, but I will say I love this one, family be warned….there should be no confusion on what my mood is each day ;)

QuirkyBlocks4QuirkyBlocks5QuirkyBlocks6I will say the kids love these (no real surprise there), so I may have a hard time actually keeping them in the old Coke crate that I have them displayed in.

QuirkyBlocks7These wooden blocks made me so happy, that I just had to share them with you. As I already said, I love quirky and I love quality and these little guys have all of that in spades.

My Little Twist

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Last spring we planted an ornamental cherry tree in our front yard called Little Twist. I love cherry blossoms, and I have throughly enjoyed documenting it awaking from winter.

CherryTwist1aCherryTwist2CherryTwist5aA good watering and in full bloom.

CherryTwist6CherryTwist7CherryTwist8Special Features: tight clusters of white flowers with dainty pink centers on twisted stems. Bloom Time: Spring ~ Exposure: Prefers part shade to shade ~ Soil Type: Well-drained, moist soil ~ Average Size: 6′x6′ ~ Spacing: Plant 5-6′ apart ~ Growth Rate: Moderate Hardiness: Zone 5 ~ Watering: Once established water deeply & less frequently ~ Pruning: Remove damaged or yellowing branches. Prune to control.

Now, if only the rest of my garden looked as pretty as this tree….whew I have a lot of catching up to do!