Grilled Pizza

Pizza is one of our staple meals during the winter months. Now that it’s warmer outside, we prefer to cook outdoors on the BBQ so our pizza consumption has slowed. According to craft lovely, we can still have our homemade pizza while satisfying our desire to cook outdoors! I’ve put the Dr on the case and will report back on our results.

{via}

Paul Smith

Happy Socks = Happy Feet. Discovering these made my day.
Available from Gravity Pope. While you're there make sure to check out the shoe selection.

My wishlist is growing
{via}

Ornaments for All Seasons

I've been coveting the Kate Spade Festive Peacock ornaments for quite some time. They are the kind of decorations I would keep out all year round because they are too beautiful to pack away. To further tempt me, the Kate Spade website has the newest Holly Heights Ornaments on sale - 50% off.




Decisions decisions decisions ... I'll just have to add both of these sets to my wishlist!

Scone-tastic

Since moving into our new home last December, the Dr and I have been buying scones at our little neighbourhood bakery. Our habit was getting to be quite expensive so last weekend I bought a bag of white chocolate chips and decided to try and make some of my own.

These little gems are perfectly flaky and full of white-chocolate and cranberry goodness. If you are fan of scones, or just want to try something new, here's the recipe -

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or pieces
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons half-and-half or light cream

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• 2. Mix together butter, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
• 3. Add cranberries, white chocolate chips, beaten egg and cream. Mix until dough forms.
• 4. Knead dough for 2 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
• 5. Roll into a log (desired thickness) and cut 8 rounds with a sharp knife
• 6. Transfer the rounds to gently oiled (cooking spray works best) baking sheet
• 7. Bake 14-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe makes 8 scones - 271 calories, 13g fat, and 1g fibre each.

Fashion Friday :: Splurge 5

Who: Malene Birger
What: Chartreuse Justinas Coat
Where: Feather & My-Wardrobe
When: Unfortunately sold out
Why: The perfect addition to my cute coat collection

My favorites from this week -

• If only it was this easy
• Google Maps typography
• Who said birds were passé?
• I want a one of these like this
• A heartbreaking photo essay
• Pre-order 1001 rules for my unborn son
• Cutest. Family. Ever
• Silhouettes - Nature Style
• Diana Camera's take GORGEOUS pictures
  

Working on my night cheese...

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Best. Picture. Ever

{Comment with your best caption}

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Welcome home Max!

Meet Max. He is the newest small addition to my parents house. This is a big deal considering my parents have always been BIG dog people.



Here is the most recent video {from the breeder} of the puppies playing. Max is the little brown dude with the black face {a puggle to be exact}. He's the cutest thing since sliced bread! I wont get to meet him until he's a little older and they bring him to visit but I've already started to accumulate some toys for him to play with.

Since we're talking dogs, here is a gratuitous shot of our little beast. He will be 4 years old in just under a month. He always has a birthday party because yes, I am that girl.


I wonder what he will think when he looks at Max considering they are almost identical?

Manhattan :: 2nd Edition

Last year I was lucky enough to visit the big apple for the first time. We were there for three days and we planned our itinerary absolutely full of neat places to see and things to do. It was fantastic and I came home feeling like somehow, I had managed to see the entire city {minus the Alice in Wonderland statue which I’m still slightly disappointed about} and more! The Manhattan print by Jim Datz reminds me of the trip and all the good fun the Dr and I had.

{via}

Vote!

Round 1 voting has started on the AT Small is Cool Contest!  This is the first year that I’m participating in the voting and I can’t wait to see if my favorites are your favorites too!  I have my fingers crossed that this entry will make it to the finals. 

Isaac for Liz

I giggle every time I see this ad from the new Liz Claiborne collection. I love that Isaac Mizrahi has a sense of humour when it comes to fashion.

It is inching closer and closer to spring here in the capital and I can barely contain my excitement. This weekend we painted our backyard benches and the Dr worked on building planter boxes to hide the retaining wall around the patio. It won’t be long until our backyard is complete and we can properly entertain. I can’t wait! When it is all complete I will take photos to share.

Fashion Friday :: Splurge 4

Who: Eley Kishimoto
What: Monster Skin Sun Dress
Where: via Love It A Lot and Eley Kishimoto website
When: Spring Summer 'Little Devils' 2009 Collection
Why: I love layers!

Here are some of my favorites from last week -

• Oh so adorable vases by J. Mendicino
• Sneak Peaking Meg Crossley & Sarah Harthill
• Mary Poppin's inspired photo shoot in NYC
• I was the inspiration behind this infamous SATC clip
• Valentino stole my dog for these photos
• I'm thinking about copycating the copycat
• The Dr and I have matching lunch bags {black!}
• I am not alone! Read Victoria's admission here
• My digital subscription finally arrived
• Nie is back!
  

Blog Break

Today I'm at home getting ready for the weekend. The Dr and I are off to visit our families and devour all the homemade deliciousness they can throw at us. I had planned to start packing last night but our friends invited us out for a delicious Vietnamese dinner. We both had the vermicelli with chicken and beef (note to self: get pork and beef next time!) peanuts and a springroll, and bubbletea for dessert. We all lead busy lives but isn't it wonderful to have the kind of friends who will call you up at a moments notice to hang out?! It just feels so genuine to receive a spur of the moment invitation.

I'm going to be taking a bit of a blog break while we are gone but I promise to be back by Tuesday with more lovelies to share!

Here are some of my favorites from the past week or so-

• I must get a bike after reading Alicia's blog this morning
• Easily one of the most touching journals I've ever read - thank you for sharing Phillip!
• She makes me want to take a sewing class!
• The houseguest has returned
• Fashion + Weather = Feather - Brilliant!
• I am sensing a road trip - Montreal Design Guide
• If it were up to me this one and this one would win
• I'm going to have to clean my purse so I can participate

Happy Easter! - Happy Passover!

Fashion Friday :: Splurge 3

I won't be near a computer tomorrow so I'm posting my third installment to the Fashion Friday series today instead.

Who - Marc by Marc Jacobs

What - Miss Marc tee - Also referred to as the "Easy Tiger" tee.

Where - Sold out at most retailers

When - Spring 09 collection

Why - It makes me smile and everyone should have ONE fun tshirt

{via :: Nordstrom }

Tulip Festival

Tulips are such happy flowers. There is just something about how quickly they bloom and the range of gorgeous colours they come in that make them my favorites. So when I saw pictures of these Dutch tulip fields, I couldn't resist posting them here.

I have always wanted to see the tulip displays at the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. The 2009 festival runs from May 1 to 18th and according to the website, there is a lot more to do than just look at flowers. There is a carnival, circus school, an acrobatic show, lots of seminars and more.

These are just a few examples of the different kinds of Tulips you may see at the 2009 Tulip Festival. Click here to read more about the annual gift of tulips from the Dutch Royal Family to Canada in memory of the late Queen Juliana.

photos here & here

Kristen Davis for Belk

Remember the SJP Bitten line? It seems that now it’s Kristen Davis’ turn to be designer. Kristen has been quoted by CNN as saying that everything coming down the runway is something you would see the stylish Charlotte York wearing and can be labeled as “sexy secretary.” Davis’ line is made up of dresses, shoes and swimsuits that are versatile enough to look good on every body type. The Belk website is not showing many options for the line so I’m curious to know if anyone has seen these pieces in person? The brocade dress is adorable, especially with the bow detail at the waist but I’m curious to know more about the quality and fit.

A Davis fashion tip: Green. "It's THE color" she says.

Kristen Davis Collection :: Sleeveless Brocade Shirtdress (on clearance for 16$ from 138$)

Etsy Finds Décor

Etsy is my kryptonite and since I discovered the Finds Décor feature {posted on Sundays} I’ve had to put my credit card on lock-down. Check it out for yourself here, but don’t say I didn’t warn you first. I’ve got dibs on the next fab 50’s hairpin leg bench that comes up – I only narrowly missed this one from fabulousmess and I’m still pouting a little.

Two-Cents Tuesday

Anyone who reads this blog knows by now that I’m obsessed with dresses. Give me a dress and I can make it work, give me a closet full of skirts and tops to choose from and I fail miserably. I have found through experience that many my friends shy away from dresses because they initially cost more. While this is true, if you purchase a versatile dress, you can wear it no matter what the event or occasion. While the dress may be expensive, you can easily pair it with inexpensive cardigans, vintage accessories and cute shoes and look like a million bucks. With so many lovelies to choose from this season, I’m going to feature my favorites, along with my two-cents every Tuesday in hopes that I can inspire other people to give dresses a try.

Unfortunately net-a-porter doesn’t give the length measurements on its website so keep in mind that when you are looking at these pictures that these dresses are shown on a form that is a size 6 and 5’11 or 5’12 tall. Depending on how tall you are, the dress may hit much lower on your leg.

Dress 1 – Marc by Marc Jacobs Habotai ruffle-front dress. The colour of this dress {Parisian Blue} is absolutely breathtaking. The dress itself, while it appears to be dressy, can be worn casually with a quick change of the shoe, the addition of a t-shirt or tank, and a pair of flats. Overall the ruffles keep the neckline proper and also add emphasis to your upper body which is great if you are a slight pear shape. The waist is a self tie which means you could swap out the sash for a structured belt to give it a completely different look. Depending on the length, this dress would look fantastic paired with gold accessories and sandals/flats for the office. If the dress sits more than an inch or two above the knee, you’d have to leave this in the closet for weekend and occasion wear only - but don’t let that scare you! This is a perfect dress to wear for a spring/summer/fall wedding / on vacation with a tank top or over your bathing suit if you are out and about / for a casual stroll to the market and brunch with your family & friends / or, my personal favourite, and as the colour suggests, in Paris strolling along the Seine.

Dress 2 – Juicy Couture Strawberry Print Mini Dress. Make sure you enlarge this picture to see the full details {yolk, front pleat, belt, eyelet detail} of this dress. This is a perfect addition to any vintage-lovers closet – and unlike vintage, you can reasonably guarantee this version will fit! While this dress does have a belt, it is still relatively unstructured {yolk neckline / front pleat} making me question whether it is best suited to someone who is quite slender, or petite. That said, I urge everyone to try things that are maybe a little outside their comfort zone before they rule them out completely {thanks TLC’s What Not To Wear!} This dress is more seasonal and less dressy than #1, and the pattern makes it more memorable. That said, it works equally as well for work attire with a jacket and heels as it does with a jean jacket and flats for the weekend. Again there is no measurement given so the same rule applies when it comes to length.

*The style of sandals paired with dress #1 would work equally as well for both dresses and make for easy walking on the weekends or to the office. I have something similar to these are on my radar come summer.

DIY :: Egg Carton Flower Lights

I just found this great idea on Apartment Therapy and I just had to share. I ♥ twinkle lights so I'm always interested in ways to incorporate them into non-holiday design.
I'll have to start being a little more selective of the carton when I am buying eggs so I can replicate this although it looks to me as though the carton and the wires were painted. What do you think?

How To: Egg Carton Flower Lights - Be sure to use LED lights!

2009 Small Cool Contest

One of my favorite things about Apartment Therapy is the Small Cool Contest they run every year. While I no longer live in a home that is considered small by these standards, I still enjoy looking at the entries and trying to incorporate the very resourceful ideas that are featured. Last year AT broke entries down by geographical location but this year the entries are broken down by size {ranging from teeny-tiny to small and international} and include a thumbnail picture. This new breakdown is much more user-friendly and I can’t wait to see the finalists.

Click here to see the Small Cool 2008 entries and the winners by rank {1^st place}{2^nd place}{3^rd place}{4^th place}

Entries for the 2009 Small Cool Contest are being accepted until 4/13.
{via Apartment Therapy :: Small Division #02}

CupCakeCamp

What is better than enjoying one cupcake? How about spending an entire afternoon at CupCakeCamp (US) and CupCakeCamp (CDN)! CupcakeCamp was originally founded in San Francisco as an event for cupcake lovers to unite and share recipes, bake, judge and eat cupcakes {it has since spread across the country, and to several Canadian cities.} All proceeds from the event are donated to charity so you can walk away feeling good about yourself for indulging in all the cupcake deliciousness!

You do not have to bring a cupcake to taste a cupcake, you just register as a cupcake baker/judge/taster or pay a small admission at the door and sample as you go.

Stay tuned for updates from CupCakeCamp v 2.0. Watch for this event in a city or town near you, or click here to organize your own

Monday Madness & Weekend Recap

I have a busy week coming up at the office but I will be posting between assignments and meetings so make sure to keep checking. We had a lovely weekend full of BBQ meats, wonderful friends and open houses. The Dr and I saw two houses that fit our criteria; the first was recently remodelled but had a substantial amount of water damage in the basement so we quickly crossed that one off our list. The other was the sweetest 50’s style bungalow in an established neighbourhood that needed a few updates but nothing a hammer and a few cans of paint couldn’t fix. It will be a few more months (read: 6-12) until we are ready to commit to signing our lives on the dotted line but it never hurts to scout out new neighbourhoods and see what is available.

Mother Nature is threatening to unleash more of the dreaded white stuff on our nation’s capital so we’re trying to make the best of a winter that just won’t quit. I’ve been meaning to post this picture {but never got around to it} so the threat of more snow makes today the perfect day to share.

I hope your Monday and your weather is turning out to be warm and sunny!

{via Beau Bergeron}

Fashion Friday :: Splurge 2

Rick Owens Washed leather biker jacket via Net-A-Porter

Holly Farrell

I had to look twice to be certain these weren't photographs. One day I would love to own a Holly Farrell original... Until then, I will have to settle for these lovelies via her website

Holly Farrell via Love It A Lot

Hump Day

A pretty picture to help brighten your day! Recently I’ve been seeing old card catalogues everywhere. I love how this one has been repurposed to hold books and plants, and the vignette on top with the antique birdcage and fan is just my style. It’s the perfect addition to that empty corner every home seems to have.

It’s been an absolutely dreadful day at the office. It doesn’t help that it is hump day and it’s terribly dark and wet outside. I’m planning to go home and make a nice warm dinner, hit the gym and cuddle up in bed beside the Dr and the dog just in time to watch LOST.

via: Poetic Home

Cupcake Containers

So cute you could almost eat them! I spotted these back in November at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and then again in Domino magazine. Designed by Barbara Thompson, these sweet lacquer bowls would be the perfect addition to any office or landing strip, or used as the sweetest sugar bowl ever. My personal favorites are Lagoon (teal), Strawberry, and Lemon.

The large wooden version is sold out, but these cuties are still available from Rose and Radish in San Francisco, and the MOMA

via: Rose and Radish