The Real Deal

So often, Valentines Day becomes a day of disappointments when a lack of originality abounds. Ditch the $300 lingerie, the prix fixe menu at a restaurant that is “supposed” to be the best of the best, the contrived fallbacks that put less emphasis on the individual and more on commercial expectations. Valentines isn’t about how much you can spend on someone, it’s a day to be creative and celebrate with your partner.

Via The Vancouver Sun

This Marjolaine Devine slip is $369.95 alone! Imagine what you could do for someone at that price? If you plan it right, that can be a whole weekend away. Does your partner even enjoy lingerie? I’m not saying you should skip all the conventions, and you don’t necessarily have to go into super saver mode, but how about some high thread count sheets that will last a lot longer and be used far more frequently than a few inches of chintzy silk and lace?

Valentines doesn’t have to fall on the same day as everyone else’s. Get double the roses, luxury goods at a fraction of the cost, less crowding, and more convenient timing by celebrating the day after or even the next weekend. This is really what breaks my heart about when friends tell me how broke they are after the “holiday,” it is so avoidable! After all, it’s about you and that special someone, not anyone else. We’re just talking about a day that makes us pause and remind each other how beautiful life is with each other in it.

Via YumSugar

Use thoughtfulness to your advantage. Better to have a great moment together in the comfort of your own home than spend too much on a romantic breakfast/brunch out that limits your possibilities for the rest of the day. Try something simple that can be procured ahead of time, sans banging pots in the kitchen. To surprise your loved one, especially a beloved light sleeper, invest in some top of the line pastries. Get the best you can find in the city! Less likely to break the bank than the swankiest brunch spot in town, you can get a nice bottle of champagne, some orange juice, and presto! Baked goods and mimosas sets the tone for the rest of the day.

I once had a beloved, old bench refinished for me on Valentines, and a window box full of flowers planted right above it. That was something I had been meaning to do for so long, and my partner taking the time to listen and go the extra mile meant so much more than any fancy carriage ride or orchestrated afternoon. Try doing something that your significant other would love but can never find the time to do themselves.

Also, don’t be afraid to be silly! Go out and take a lesson in something both of you know nothing about! Cooking classes are always great, but you can also learn the two step, or even a new sport! Try something completely unfamiliar, and laugh and learn together. It will give you something to talk about all evening and provides more food for thought than a massage. Also, stay simple. Picnics, home cooked dinners, and nights in are nothing to sneeze at. You can even go dancing afterwards at a romantic venue if you are craving some social interaction. Just remember not to break the bank doing something that perhaps won’t be memorable. In the case of Valentines, it’s really just a matter of knowing your partner and putting some thought into things.

Tags: champagne, cliche, commercial, cupcakes, flowers, ideas, love, meaning, pastries, romance, valentines

Style Loves

Via Devonlane 129

A layered, romantic, bohemian look has always been a love of mine. Chunky jewels, crochet and lace, socks above slouchy boots, draped knits, and flowing fabrics – it’s a comfortable style that’s surprisingly affordable. Virtually every piece can blend with one another and be mixed and matched to create a whole array of looks

I try and keep within a creamier, earth tone color spectrum so everything can be matched. Turquoise, rich browns, burnt orange, cream, gold, brushed silver, jewel tones, wine red, dusty rose pink. It creates a natural yet eye catching palette and allows you to experiment with different combinations without breaking the bank. I like to invest in great quality pieces that can be combined over and over without getting repetitive and mixing them up with different stockings, or eye catching chunky wool high socks in varying colors worn over nude fishnets.

Via Young Shields

Via Rusted Revolution

I also like to incorporate a “fur” look, faux or whatever you like, into my style – it adds a richness and luxury to an intentionally dressed down feel.

Via Young Shields

Shearling coats are great as well, I own an asymmetrical cut version almost every day over various outfits. A great alternative to a more conventional look.

Via Young Shields

I absolutely love my slouchy mukluks when I want comfort without the bland UGG look. They look great with thick socks underneath, with little shorts, or a mini dress. When worn with tights or a garment that is fitted to your legs, they can be very slimming since they are so exaggerated and chunky.

Dreamlike laces and crochets are always beautiful and make quite the statement. You have to be careful to capture their whimsical quality versus go overboard granny-style.

Via MANITOBAH-MUKLUKS BLOG

Via MANITOBAH-MUKLUKS BLOG

Via Devonlane 129

Via Devonlane 129

When you have to wear more conservative attire for work, but still want a sharper version of a natural, flowing look, just keep it simple and classy. I often go to meetings in toned down, retro, Annie-Hall inspired numbers.

Via Her Name Was Lola

Via Young Shields

Top your romantic style with an equally romantic hairstyle…

Via We <3 It

Via We <3 It

And you’re ready for a bold, different, beautiful foray into the world of romantic, bohemian, urban attire. Have fun!

Tags: bohemian, boots, chunky, crochet, draped, fashion, flowing, gem tones, hats, knit, lace, mukluk, Ray Bans, romantic, scarves, shearling, sheer, urban, whimsical, wool

CANOE

If you eat at one place while in Atlanta, eat at Canoe. This rustic yet sophisticated restaurant is my favorite in the world. From Italy to South Africa to England to New York, I must say, Canoe tops them all. With impeccable service, it seems the waiters wrote the menu and are truly passionate about the food.

Everything is top notch quality, and a substantial bit of the produce used comes from the garden you can stroll through with a drink and a sweetheart before or after your meal. Located right on the Chattahoochee River, the views are first class and the ambience is simply magical.

Via 10 Best

The culinary quality of the menu is breathtaking – every option is simply world class. The Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Yuzu Dressed Cabbage Slaw doesn’t have an ounce of “fried” quality – light, expertly seasoned, tangy, and the best kind of sophisticated comfort food, it is sure to impress. Yet my favorite appetizer is the House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake with Vermont Goat’s Cheese.

Via Star Chefs

I can’t describe it, it’s just something you need to experience. Also, if you can handle eating rabbit, the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard – Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce is pretty unbelievable as well.

Those are just some of my favorites, check out the full menu here. For the absolutely gourmet quality of the food, the prices are wonderfully reasonable.

An absolute must, Canoe is perfect for celebrating huge occasions and has a warm, country, eclectic elegance that lends itself to a cozy, romantic vibe. On one of my various visits, I saw a wedding reception set up in the garden and it suited the celebratory, pastoral feeling of the entire establishment. Check it out!

4199 Paces Ferry Road, SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

http://www.canoeatl.com/

Tags: Atlanta, Canoe, celebratory, excellent service, fine dining, food, GA, garden, gourmet, local produce, organic, quality ingredients, romantic, rural, rustic, sophisticated

Problem Pooch?

When I first got my hands on little Stella, she was feisty to say the least. Behavior wise, she was a total nightmare given what an intelligent little muffin she is. She was a master of manipulation with her furry little tactics. I went to an endless amount of trainers in LA, to no avail. Finally, I decided to come back to Vancouver and go to the best of the best – Mary Chaloner-Blair. Good humored, kind, firm, and most importantly, staggeringly knowledgeable. Here’s a taste of her qualifications from her website, www.acapabledog.com.

• Graduated from the North American Guard Dog and Training School in Langley, British Columbia with credentials as both a certified obedience trainer and a certified protection trainer
• Owned and operated one of Vancouver’s most successful boarding and training facilities for 10 years
• Head animal trainer for the popular TV show Animal Miracles. Mary was the head trainer in over 80 episodes and appeared on camera several times as a stuntperson …..”This work taught me such incredible respect for all animals (we worked with alpacas, cats, bears, cougars, pigs, snakes, alligators, and horses), but the dogs awed me continuously with their willingness to please”
• Mary gives frequent seminars on the topic of K9 aggression and is often the resource used by other trainers when they have a particularly aggressive or difficult case
• Competed in CKC obedience trials – CD, CDX
• Mary was one of three animal trainers recently (May 2011) invited to speak at the Vancouver Aquarium’s  speaker series titled “The Psychology of Training”. 
• Competes in Schutzhund – (Schutzhund is very demanding dog sport originating in Germany which tests dogs in obedience, tracking and protection)…… I am looking forward to training my new puppy in the highly disciplined and demanding sport of Schutzhund and my goal is to compete in the World Championships for Canada. I have a lot of work ahead of me.”
• Mary is a certified explosives detection trainer and handler both in the US and Canada. Mary completed her accreditation as an explosives detection trainer at Vom Kaiserhofe training center in Kansas and then again in Canada
• She has successfully trained a number of dogs who have been certified and are currently working explosive and narcotic detection dogs
• Member in good standing with the NAPDWA (North American Police Dog work Association) – She just returned from a work shop in the US which included K9 handlers from The Pentagon, The Department of Defense and The ATF
• Recently Mary has been in Quebec working with an enforcement agency in their highly specialized explosive detection canine unit ……”My decision to return to the West Coast stems from my longing to return to the beauty and opportunities within this province. I missed the people, the landscape and even the rain.
• Validated Explosives and Narcotic K9 handler (2011) through the Justice Institute of BC and the RCMP
• “I am passionate about my work with dogs and hopefully my education, experience and hard work ethic will be of interest to you and allow us to work together”

Stella went from a problem pooch, snapping at kids and adults alike, making a total scene when guarding objects like shoes, and hung up on protecting me at all times, to a far more civilized dog with a great comprehension of obedience. Mary tackled unique issues like Stella traveling in her carrier, being on set, and her worst issue – greeting people in the home. If you want your dog to go to the best of the best, I would highly recommend Mary, she’s my personal hero and dog whisperer. She really gave fantastic insight about what was causing Stella’s behavior problems and got to the root of them through practical steps even I could master.

Check her site out, she has a fantastic program for dogs that need serious hands on training that takes place while they are boarded at her facility as well as great basic classes for general obedience!

Tags: A Capable Dog, dog trainer, lifestyle, obedience

Quick Link

Via Perfect Little House

A really wonderful little resource, Perfect Little House sells plans for small homes, cottages, guest cottages, and studios through their site. Take a look at some of their beautiful little designs! Click here!

Via Perfect Little House

Via Perfect Little House

Tags: blueprints, cottage, design, guest cottage, home improvement, house hunting

From Dated to Darling

Via The Lettered Cottage

Now one of my favorite design blogs, The Lettered Cottage  has the most insane fireplace makeover for under $100. The whole site is riddled with techniques that save money and make the house look like a spread in Southern Living.

Look at this BEFORE!

Via The Lettered Cottage

And take a look at this AFTER!

Via The Lettered Cottage

To see the step by step of how the heck they managed that for $82, click here!

Tags: cottage, decor, fireplace, home improvement, makeover, mantel, on a budget, shabby chic, style

Down With Nerves

Neurotic by nature, I have learned to calm nerves since I was ten years old. I travel all the time, an experience traumatizing in itself these days, I used to have a terrible time sleeping, and exam times always triggered near nervous breakdowns. I have learned over the years how to minimize worry and maximize actual productivity. I’m no expert but I have a bit of insight on the matter.

1. If you’ve worked hard all week, and you’re exhausted, let yourself rest. Sometimes your body is just telling you what it needs. Don’t pressure yourself to get up and make busy work – if your responsibilities can wait a day, or if you need a night to just be by yourself, don’t feel guilty. Reward yourself every once and a while.
2. If you’re hitting a wall coming up with a solution for something, nine times out of ten, sleep will bring a fresh perspective.
3. Be in a clean environment – tidy your house, light a candle, surround yourself with order so you can focus on the task at hand.
4. Take a hot bath before bed so your body can relax completely. Physical rest is hand in hand with mental rest.
5. Make a list – things are easier to tackle one at a time. When you break it down, oftentimes things aren’t so bad. If you have a whole whack of things to deal with, just start with one. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.
6. If you have some time after a productive evening, reward yourself – watch an episode of your favorite series, read some more of your favorite book, or whatever else you get a kick out of. I used to watch a movie after studying for an exam for the evening, and I ended up on the honor roll!
7. Tackle a task right when you get it – procrastination is your worst enemy, when you take care of things right away, it frees your mind for the important stuff. Being afraid of thinking ahead only leads to more stress.
8. Remember everyone is flawed and human – you’re allowed to be imperfect, and you’re allowed to make mistakes. Laugh and love your quirks, because then you can create a routine that accommodates them.
9. So what if ____ doesn’t turn out exactly as planned? What’s the use of worrying until you know the reality of the situation?

Hope that helps, take a deep breath and have a great week ahead.

Tags: anxiety, calm, exams, procrastination, school, stress, stress management, work

Scary or Inspiring?

I showed this to a number of people, and the reactions were mixed. Some of my more “granola” friends who can’t stand more than a Blu-Ray player with Netflix and an occasional peruse of their cell phone were terrified of the lack of connection this kind of technology would encourage in the home, and some of my Facebook addict, iPhone loving, technology forward friends were excited by all the possibility. Personally, it’s hard enough to get a group of people at the dinner table off their phones, and that makes me a little nervous considering the family dinner is already endangered. I don’t have cable in my house, but use my cell phone for social networking and watch many a television series via Netflix. I also have internet and use my e-mail quite a bit, not to mention get glued to my blog every once and a while. But the thing is, I actively take steps to cut technology out of my life at times – I leave the cell phone plugged in and don’t carry it around, I tear myself from my favorite series and ask a friend over for tea, I switch off all the distractions and head to the garden. What do you think of technology being everywhere, incorporated into everything? I rarely can talk to an ear-bud clad, iPhone toting, distracted fellow citizen as it is, wouldn’t this just put everyone into a “bubble” of sorts, getting tons of “virtual” contact but lacking human interaction? Studies show we get so much from touch, watching others react and smile, and sometimes say things we don’t mean or lie easier when we’re communicating in the cyber world. Some say the handshake has lost all meaning, especially in a lot of these kinds of internet based business environments. Sure, it enables us to experience things we would otherwise never be able to experience, but does that cause us to neglect our own realities, our own backyards? Is this kind of technology a gift or a curse?

Tags: advancement, Facebook, glass, human contact, internet, networking, opinion, technology, Twitter, unengaged

Dream Dessert

Via The Food Network

Okay, so you think you know Panna Cotta? Think again. This isn’t your average, watery, Greek yoghurt infused, bland dessert. This is the dessert my mom’s dinner party guests begged for all through my childhood and a sure bet at any function. Easy to present, simple, rich, half-way between fluffy ice cream and the richest pudding you’ve ever had, I’m obviously a fan, as I hope you will be too!

What you need:

• 1/4 cup (50 mL) cold water
• 1 pouch unflavored gelatin (1 tablespoon/15 mL)
• 2 cups (500 mL) cream (10% M.F.)
• 2 cups (500 mL) milk (2% M.F.)
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean

What you do:

Put cold water in small bowl. Sprinkle with gelatin; let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large heavy saucepan, combine cream, milk, and sugar. Slit vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape seeds into cream mixture ; whisk to blend in seeds. Add vanilla bean halves.

Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.

Add gelatin mixture; stir until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a heatproof bowl.

Put in refrigerator until mixture begins to thicken slightly, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard vanilla bean halves; whisk cream mixture to distribute the vanilla bean seeds.

Pour an equal portion of cream mixture into each of 8 dessert dishes. Cover each dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

I promise you, you will enjoy this one. Top with a raspberry sauce, which is easy to make – combine 1 cup frozen raspberries and 1 cup sugar and reduce down to the consistency of jam. Put a dollop on each finished, cooled Panna Cotta and serve! Voila!

Tags: cooking, dessert, dinner party, italian, panna cotta, raspberries, recipe, simple, vanilla, vanilla bean

Little Gypsy, Toasty Suitcase

Via Conmoto

This made me laugh and I thought I’d share – the Conmoto Travelmate portable fireplace can be moved anywhere around the house… actually, even outside the house. Here’s write up for this little “briefcase” from the Conmoto website.

The travelling fire. The technology of smokeless fire combined with a weather resistant powder coating offers one thing in particular – releasing the fire from being in a fixed place in the home. TRAVELMATE makes it possible to set up an individual, full-value fireplace and source of heat that really sets the mood, with no complications and wherever you want it: On the carpet, on the dining table, next to the sofa, on the terrace, or in the garden, now the atmosphere of the fireside can be enjoyed anywhere. The formal design as a stylised suitcase unmistakeably conveys the notion that this is an item not bound to any fixed location. A cheerful fire blazing in the unit completes the concept of a fireplace that really wants to be free of its shackles. The glass pane, which is held on with magnets, is only removed in order to light the fire. Once the glass pane has been replaced, the fuel tank can be opened and closed, using the stainless steel slide at the front of the fireplace, thereby allowing the flames to be regulated from the outside. Now the glass pane once again protects the fire.

Now that’s something I’ve never seen before!

Tags: briefcase, Conmoto, fireplace, home decor, lifestyle, modern, novelty, portable, suitcase, travelmate