Tag - You're It!

I'm up for a challenge always. KOS tagged me in a game of blog-tag so here I go!

If you get tagged, you:

a) Answer my questions to you on your blog in the form of a post.

b) Ask 5 questions of your own.

c) Tag some people. No minimum. No maximum. Just tag!

d) Come back and comment in this post below with a link to your blog post once you've tagged someone else so I can see what you wrote.

1. What are you looking forward to this summer?

Getting my front garden and garage organized. The garden is currently in a sad state because I've neglected it. I'm having too much fun with Olivia. The garage organization is mostly K's Father's Day gift. He's getting a cool work bench and some much needed storage. For me I hate cob webs everywhere and I love the way organized stuff looks. If I could only find a way to keep organized.

2. What's your all-time favourite summer recipe?

I love a good bbq, and a fresh salad. I think my all time favorite is my vegetable orzo salad. I could eat this stuff in large amounts. I think I will make some this week and come back to blog about it.

3. What was your best vacation and why? My best vacation...hmmm there's a tie.

6ish years ago K and I went on our first vacation together to Aruba. We sat on the beach, took an island tour and para sailed for the first time. I also looked great in my bathing suits (pre wife/mommy). The best part of this trip was half way through it realizing that I loved K and he was going to be the man I married.

The second vacation would have been 2 years ago when K and I joined our best friends to go backpacking in Thailand for 2 weeks. Yes I had a hard time with the bugs and lizards, but the sites and experiences were amazing. We got to ride elephants in the jungle and swim with tropical fish. I got some great photos.

4. Who do you call [on the phone] the most?

I'm not a big phone person. In fact I would rather text/email then talk on the phone. I would rather be in the company of the person and have our conversations face to face.

5. What is the most recent book you read? Did you enjoy it?

"What to expect when you're expecting" - didn't enjoy it

"The mother of all pregnancy books" loved it, so helpful

"The mother of all baby books" again, Canadian and helpful

"The Baby Whisperer" helped me get Olivia on a feeding and sleeping routine, not a schedule.

Currently " The Baby Book" by Sears and Sears. Great book, so reassuring of the choices K and I have made so far

Now for my 5 questions:

1. Where do you go for decor inspiration?

2. Something you've learned this past year?

3. What inspired you to Blog?

4. If you could live somewhere else in the world, where would it be?Why?

5. Name something you wish you had more time for.

Okay so I've answered the questions, now for the fun part - Tag you're it!

Laura Elle on Safari - my cousin and her new blog. She hasn't posted yet, just started on Sunday

Chris Just Beachy - I love this local ladies DIY attitude

Wanderluster Rambling Renovations - Adventures in reno, decor and a sweet little daughter

More Mommies than you can shake a stick at!

Congratulations to the two newest expecting mommies. One being my friend Dawn who just announced last Friday that she is expecting her second baby this June.

Another congratulations goes to Katie over at Bower Power.

I now know a handful of expecting mommies or new mommies and decided to give them their own shout out and created a new blog roll in my side bar just for mommies. I might even add some great mommy websites that I frequent.

G&D

MoonPie Designs

Rambling Renovators



Making it Lovely

The Stamford Wife

Am I crazy for trying???

Jacob's Coat Quilt Along

Okay, I know I have a lot on my plate right now. In fact my BF keeps telling me to relax and enjoy my pregnancy. I have to say every moment of this pregnancy has been wonderful. I was lucky enough to not experience morning sickness. I did have some eating issues. Like not knowing what I ever wanted to eat, plus the smell of food making me feel ill. There have definitely been some good times and some rough times, but I know that in the end I will have a precious child in my arms and it will all be worth it.

So I have been a little over the top with lists. To Do list, Registry List [4 pages in excel] and now the 30 Before 30 List. I guess it helps me deal with everything I put on my plate when I have a list and I check things off. I even swapped the calendar function in my Blackberry for the old fashion paper planner and highlighters. I like the feeling of writing things down and then crossing them off when they are done. I guess it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I think there's a name for that compulsive behaviour...hehehe

So here's the why I ask "am I crazy for trying" ever since I have been blogging I have wanted to participate in a quilt-a-long. In fact quilting is what got me into blogs in the first place. I have admired many quilters and their blogs for years now. I can finally say with several quilts under my belt, and the intention to create a quilt for Bunny I have decided to join a quilt-a-long.

Some of you may wonder what a quilt-a-long is. Well the short of it, is that a blogger post tutorials and guidelines for creating a quilt. They set goals like "create a block every day / week" and post about what the next step should be. Some bloggers even keep track of everyone who is following along and they link to their blogs or Flickr accounts where photos of their work can be seen.

So I have joined Don't Look Now's Jacob's Coat quilt-a-long. Wish me luck. Hopefully by the time our little Bunny has arrived I will have a quilt for them :)

Fabric and Thread Inspirations

I haven't been quilting for very long. Infact my first quilt I ever made was a small doll quilt for my niece for Christmas a little over 2 years ago. Since then I have made a second doll quilt for my other niece, a baby blanket for a friend, a queen size quilt for my nephew's birthday and most recently a baby blanket for my best friend's unborn baby (just a few more days).

I don't know when the quilting bug bite me, but I must say there is no better satisfaction than seeing the quilt you've worked so hard on be appriciated so much. I've been part of the blog world for almost 3 years now and have come to love decor blogs as well as some sewing ones. Below are some of my favorite quilters. I take a lot of inspiration from them and challenge myself to learn new tricks when creating my own quilts. Hopefully tomorrow I will upload the pictures of my best friends quilt and show you what I mean.

Octopus Baby Quilt (Oh Fransson)

First is Oh Fransson. The applique work she does is fantastic. I always seem to love her fabric selections. Maybe the next quilt I make will have more intricate appliques like this octopus.


Stacked Coins Baby Quilt (Crazy Mom Quilts)

Crazy Mom Quilts is another favorite that I have been reading for a while. This stacked coin blanket was the inspiration for one side of my best friends quilt. This lovely lady really creates some fantastic quilts. Again her vibrant colour selection and creative patterns are a real treat to look at.

Pretty 'n Pink (Don't Look Now)

Now hold on to your socks! Even thought the title of this lovely ladies blog is "Don't Look Now" you really must look now! The detail used in her quilts are mind boggling. It was here that I discovered free motion quilting. Her creative inspiration encouraged me to buy a free motion foot for my machine and really learn a new skill. At first it was frustrating, but with practice and some advice from my local quilting shop I figured it out. I used this technique on my best friends quilt and was really happy when she asked "how did you do that?" I have even had more quilt requests because of this technique.

Mendocino Zigzag (A Quilt is Nice)

Her quilts are always nice. I think this might be the next pattern I try. This talented lady has even got the tutorial up so that you can learn to make the quilt. I love how simple the pattern really is, but how amazing it looks when all is done.

Baby Wonderland (Film in the Fridge)
Last but not least is Film in the Fridge. I'm not sure where the blog name comes from but boy does she have a lot of wonderful quilts to choose from. I love this little baby quilt. I think this might also be one I make soon for another friends new bundle. Another simple pattern with beautiful results.

Thanks ladies for all your inspiration, hopefully you will continue to inspire from my post today.

Holy Play House!

Thanks to Wanderluster for posting about this amazing house! This is the attic, with home theater, pool table and yes even an indoor playhouse!

More Online Window Shopping

I'm not sure what it is, maybe the thrill of spring around the corner, the need to organize and finish decor around my home, or just plain old window shopping, but something has me searching online shops to see what's new and what's on sale. This post is full of items found at Urban Outfitters.

Here's a neat quilt. Would look great in a kids room, or maybe on the back of an outdoor sofa. Can't you just picture spreading it on the grass and lying in the sun to read a book [ SPF protected of course]. Too bad we have frogs in our backyard, I'm not a fan of sharing my blanket with them.

Next up is a lovely little jewelery stand. "Hoo" cute are those little owls?

This little, or not so little bird is preety cute too. For some reason I want to call it a partridge.
Oh and those lovely hooks in the shape of branches, I love these. If only I knew where to use them, maybe in the master bathroom for towels?

I have a cute soap dish at home that I use to keep my wedding ring and chain when I am not wearing them. This ones is pretty cute too.

New Blog followed - Nuestra Vida Dulce

Today I stumbled upon a new blog that I absolutely love - Nuestra Vida Dulce. David and Joi, well more Joi, blog about their everyday life. I love her home decor style. It's very similar to my own. Take a look at her family room and guest bedroom below.

I love the furniture arrangement in the family room, not to mention those gorgeous pillows. I saw the same ones at HomeSense this past weekend.

The guest room is done exactly how I would like our to look. We not exactly, I want the space to feel the same way. Like you are in an actual room in our home. Not that I put you in the spare room with a bed, some boxes and an ironing board. I want our guest to feel special when they spend the night. I would definitely feel special here. Heck if the food and company was good I might not ever leave.

On to the master bedroom. Joi often will decorate a space and re decorate it. Like her master bedroom, which used to be brown before. David and Joi repainted in this soft blue grey. She added some new pillows and gave the room a completely new look. I think that's what is happening in our bedroom. There's just to much brown.

I can't even describe how hard they worked on this chair. Originally a thrift shop find, they repainted and reupholstered it. Click on the link to see how they did it.

Way to go Joi and David. I will be tuning in regularly to see what else you do.

Pardon the Organizing Drool

If you love organizing and repurposing, take a look at Chez Larsson. She has wonderful tips and tricks on keeping everyday clutter organized. Here are few of her ideas.

For more great ideas click on her "organizing" category. I could spend all day reading her organizing ideas.

Changes...

I'm making a few changes to my blog layout. I still would love to know how to make the sidebars a pattern. I'm not that great at html. I also need a new blog header which I hope to do today at work. My work computer has all of the fancy design programs. So stay tuned for more changes and more post today.

Take care,
Lisa

Wow, It's amazing how some of us can look into a space and see so much potential. Like my blog friend Meg. Take a look at the fabulous transformation of her kids playroom. If you have never been to her blog you must visit. She is a wonderful mommy to 5 kids and a great photographer. Her everyday life seems so fun and full of happiness. Reading her blog makes me smile. Especially all the funny stuff her youngest daughter Annie comes up with.

Things to blog...

Okay since I have been away for a couple of weeks I am very behind on my blog updates. So here is a list of things I need to blog about. (How sad am I that I need to write a blog to remind myself to blog???)

1. Bedroom wallpaper and Candelier (yes they are done)
2. Glass mosaic tile backsplash, thought we'd never finish
3. Chrisite's wedding shower
4. Office moved to a new space at work and I have a great view now
5. Mint green baby blankets and bibs for friends baby shower

things to come....
Garden in front of house
Finish storage room in basement

Blog Title block

Okay all my artsy crafty friends out there...how on earth do you make and post a pretty title block? I know how to use Illustrator and Photoshop, but I don't know what size to make it and how to post it on my blog....Help please, what do you do?

creating drafts

Yesterday I added 2 pictures to a post from home. When I got to work to write the blog I was super busy and didn't get the chance. Later on I was able to get the post up about my Gran and my new camera. I had also created one using some picture for a blog titled 'how uninspiring'. Today (Feb 8) I went back to the draft and finished it. Funny thing, when I published the post it slid inbetween the 2 post from yesterday. I guess the date that you begin the post is the day assigned to it. So scroll down a bit to see the post about my workspace.