Seasonal Songs to Sing To

I recently had a fun buying spree on iTunes as I set up a Christmas playlist. I get that going, put my fire on the TV, turn on the Christmas tree, drink some generic brand Irish Cream on the rocks and it starts to feel pretty darn festive up here in the sky.

Here are some of the tunes I am (badly) singing along to this year.

KT Tunstall - Sleigh Ride

I saw KT Tunstall live at the V Festival in England a few years back and she was fantastic. I love her rendition of Sleigh Ride, here sung live. Her rendition of Mele Kalikimaka is also pretty great (Christmas Vacation fans know that one!)

Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson - Winter Song

I first downloaded this song a couple of years ago, and it has become one of my favourite seasonal tunes. Sara Bareilles is of course best known for her song "Love Song" and more recently for being on the judging panel of The Sing-Off.

She & Him - Baby It's Cold Out There

The whole She & Him album has a quirky and vintage sound. I like how on this song, they added a modern twist. I have loved Zooey Deschanel's voice ever since she belted out a festive song in Elf.

Michael Buble - All I Want For Christmas Is You

I'm not ashamed to admit that Mariah Carey's now classic ditty is one of my absolute favourite Christmas songs. And I'm also not ashamed to admit that I also like the Buble's slower, more melancholy version. I stumbled across him being interviewed and performing live in the Eaton Centre a few years ago, and I have to say, in person, the Buble has got the it factor going on.

Dave Matthews Band - Christmas Song

I'm not much of a Dave Matthews fan, even though he was one of the bands of my generation, but I do really enjoy this song.

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Finally, I can't share a Christmas playlist without mentioning the classic Fairytale of New York. In fact, just today, this melancholy tune was named the most played seasonal tune of the century in the UK ,yet it's not really played that much if at all in Canada.

Trust the Brits to embrace a song with the following lyrics:


You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

O Christmas Tree

My Christmas Tree is up!

It's tiny. I have put a full sized tree up in the past (usually from Ikea), but decided to go small this year for a few reasons:

1) I will be at my parents' for Christmas and then in Montreal for the New Year, so wouldn't get to enjoy the tree during the Christmas week.

2) Darcy peed on a friend's tree not once but twice last year. I thought a small raised tree would help disabuse him of the notion that I had conveniently brought a peeing post into the house for him.

3) The small size means I can undecorate the tree and take it to my parents' place, where it can be enjoyed for a longer period of time.

4) And finally, I'm not having a party this year, so all the work of putting up a big tree for only me (and Darcy) to look at seemed like too much work!


An international tree...

I realised a few years ago that a Christmas decoration is one of the best souvenirs you can buy. It doesn't clutter your home year round but then once a year, when you pull the decorations out, you can remember all the wonderful places you have been to.

I traveled a lot while I lived in England a few years ago, but sadly didn't start the decoration trend right away. I guess that means I just have to go back to places like Spain, Budapest, Scotland and Ireland to pick up my souvenir ornament!

Below are some of the decorations I have managed to accumulate that brighten up my tree every year.

Hand painted folk eggs I bought from the Czech Republic and Poland.

Blue penguin from New Zealand.

 Kangaroo from Australia. I also bought a parrot like bird while I was there.

Two elephants from Thailand. One was an actual decoration, the other was a keychain I converted into a decoration.

A santa from Brazil. I didn't actually buy this one (even though we were in Brazil over the holidays), but a friend kindly got it for me when she was there.

This is a llama from Peru. Sadly I haven't been to Peru, but my friend went and gave me this, so I think of her trip when I put it on the tree!

A little pottery house from Cancun, Mexico.

A round Santa from Tallinn, Estonia. I was there in November last year and it was like visiting a Christmas town out of a cartoon. The historic centre is so picturesque and had the cutest Christmas market with a huge Christmas Tree. I loved it.

The iconic Vegas sign from, you guessed it, Las Vegas!

And finally, I realised I don't seem to have a decoration from England, which is crazy as I lived there for over 3 years and am a Brit Canadian! I did however have some British soldier pegs, so put one of them on the tree.

Here's the little guy all lit up and up on a table suiting a table top tree.

Finally, for scale (and cute) purposes, here's the D man posing for all he's worth.

The Art of Music

I don't have a lot of space to hide electronic devices in my condo, so it's ideal if my functional items are both attractive and useful.

For the last few years, the only source of music I have had is an inexpensive clock radio in my bedroom, my iPhone and iTunes on my laptop. I would like to be able to listen to music from my iPod as well as the radio in my kitchen and living room, so have put a couple of stereo options on my Christmas wish list. I appreciate good music, but am definitely not an audiophile. I just want a decent sounding player that is easy to use.

Below are some of the high style iPod speaker options I have come across during my research (from low to high). All prices are in Canadian dollars.

West Elm Ceramic Pig Speaker, $52.18

This pig speaker is all over blogland, and with good reason - it's adorable! I love how when it's not in use, it's just a cute ceramic item. The downside for me is that it doesn't contain a radio and it's apparently on back order until March, so won't be sitting ready and waiting under the Christmas tree.

Tivoli Model One Table Radio, $149.99 (on sale)

The Tivoli Model One is a radio first and iPod speaker second. The iPod (or other mp3 players) can be attached to it via a wire. I love the retro look of it and it gets good reviews for its reception capabilities and audio quality. This one went on the wishlist. The only downside is the fact that the iPod power will drain as it plays - I do like a dock that also charges. The Tivoli comes in a number of colours.

Crosley Ranchero Radio, $180.89

The Crosley Ranchero Radio looks like it comes from another time - perfect for that atomic vintage home. Unfortunately, it doesn't really get great reviews for its sound, but if looks are of the utmost importance then I think this one is a definite contender.

Vers 1.5R - Natural Walnut, $235

The Vers 1.5R is attractive to look at and apparently has good audio quality. While I like the fact that it is a clock radio, it's not something I really need, as I will be using it in the living room. This went on the wish list as well, but I am guessing I'm more likely to receive the less expensive Tivoli. The Vers is available in a number of wood types, including Bamboo.

Geneva Model S, $249.99 (on sale)

The next step up is the Geneva Model S, which is the entry level Geneva model. It's a radio and iPod dock with some cool features like a dock that is usually hidden but rotates into position when needed. It can be supported by the silver stand as shown, or small feet (my preferred look). This is on my list as the "if Santa is feeling generous" option. The Geneva is available in white, black, red and silver.

Geneva Model M, $650

Finally, there is the Geneva Model M, which is one of the higher end Geneva models. It looks good, and gets great reviews, but is not for me. I'm not enough of a music appreciator to need quite such a high end option, but I can certainly appreciate its nice and clean design. The Model M is available in white, black, red and walnut.

Bathroom: Before and Current

I recently mentioned that I have been having itchy feet and wanting to change up my bathroom. There's nothing wrong with my bathroom now, it's just that after 4 years I'm finding it a bit boring and am ready for something new and exciting.

As I am still doing a lot of thinking and not much actual doing when it comes to my bathroom redesign, I thought it would be fun to visit how it looked in the past and how it looks today.

My entire condo was pretty depressing when I first purchased it, and the bathroom really reflected the overall lack of care and design that permeated the space. The blue walls were too dull in a window free space. The shower curtain consisted of only a stained liner. The bath tub had tiles with a random stripe pattern. The sink unit was dated and the doors didn't shut properly. And the floor tiles were the cheapest of cheap with absolutely no dimension to them.

Bathroom - Before

My initial thought was to completely gut the bathroom and start from scratch, but then reality hit. I was already doing pretty major renos throughout the rest of the space, including the kitchen. and none of it was particularly inexpensive. So I took a step back and considered how I could do a revamp without entirely starting fresh.

In the end, I decided a new sink unit would be a big improvement and would also add much needed storage. I purchased a new vanity from Dupont Plumbing and a new sink and taps from Home Depot. In a happy turn of fate, it turned out that the laminate counters I was purchasing for my kitchen were costed by a standard length, and the amount that would remain was the perfect size for the bathroom counter. The counters came from Triplast Manufacturing Co.

Funnily enough, the colour palette of my new sink unit was very similar to the old sink unit, but the new look really updated the space.

Bathroom - During

The bathroom also had a terrible large mirror, ugly "dressing room style" lighting and a cheap and nasty medicine cabinet.

Bathroom - Before

Until I looked at the picture above again, I had forgotten about the unusual red and black tiger striped wall outlet covers.

Bathroom - Before

I replaced the mirror and light with an inexpensive silver framed mirror from Home Depot and a cylindrical over the mirror fixture from Union Lighting.

I also replaced all the hollow apartment style doors in the condo, including the bathroom door, with shaker style mdf doors that I found at the Discount Door store and brushed satin handles from Home Depot. The doors were heavily discounted due to minor cosmetic imperfections that were easily filled and painted over.

So after all that updating, here's the current bathroom.

Bathroom - Current

It's fine looking, I just find it a bit blah and grey. The wall paint is Benjamin Moore Abalone. I painted most of my condo in shades of Silver Fox and Abalone, so I just painted the bathroom a colour I already had to hand as I had extra. The shelf came from Target. The towels are discontinued Pottery Barn. The shower curtain is the Hotel Collection Waffle from The Bay.

Bathroom - Current

On the opposite wall are some touristy art prints I bought while I was in Australia to remind me of some of the sea life I saw while snorkelling. They are in Ikea Ribba frames. The towel bar is a discontinued Umbra style.

Bathroom - Current

What you can't see is the lack of baseboards. When I first moved in, the bathroom had ugly small black tile as a baseboard. We quickly and easily ripped them out, and I had the intention to replace them with wood baseboards, but it hasn't happened yet. It's only been 4 years.

So hopefully my next bathroom update will show some progress. I would love to rip out the tub, wall tiles and floor tiles but sadly that's not (yet) in the budget. A change in paint and art is what I'm thinking, I want to make it a little more fun and funky looking without being tacky. The only thing I am pretty sure of right now is that this art print will make an appearance.

Deep - Lisa Congdon

And we'll see where I go from there!

A Bed of Sweet (Green) Dreams

I decided earlier this year that it was time for me to invest in my first ever bed purchase. I was still sleeping on my university bed, which was uncomfortable foam and only 3/4 sized (so not even the size of a double!) I kept waking up feeling sore and grumpy and figured it was time I take a big step into being a grown-up at the ripe old age of 30.

The biggest decision I made regarding my bed was that I wanted it to be as green and organic as possible. As we humans spend a huge chunk of our time sleeping (about 1/3 of our lives!), I wanted to minimize any potential off-gassing from the mattress or bedding components. I definitely paid more for taking the green route, but the hopeful pay-off is a longer lasting bed and better sleep.

So here's the parts that make up my bed:

1) A Green Sleep Vimala Mattress and foundation. Mattress research is tedious and confusing. For every good review and testimonial on a certain mattress, I found another bad review and testimonial. The most glowing reviews came for latex, so I decided that was the material I would go with.

I found a Toronto based store called Soma that specializes in "green" sleep products. After trying out every bed there on two separate occasions, I decided the Vimala was the one for me. I liked that I could customize the layers and that the layers could eventually be replaced if needed. The mattress is a cover with individual pieces of latex inside.

I also ordered the matching foundation, as latex needs to breathe properly and also needs proper support.

Green Sleep Mattress and Bed Frame

2) I got a good deal on the Natura Wool Comforter when I ordered the bed. Wool is supposed to be the best year round, breathable substance you can have for a comforter. I have used it for almost a year now and have found it to be the perfect weight in my rather warm condo. I can't say how it would do in a chillier space.

Natura Wool Comforter

3) I decided on the West Elm Organic Matelasse Duvet Cover and Euro Shams as I liked the off white colouring and overall quilted look. It didn't hurt that while the duvet top side is matelasse, the underside is the softest cotton I have ever felt.

I love the weight and quality of this duvet cover. The only downside I have found is that it is very heavy. I have to wash it on its own and it needs quite a bit of dryer or air dry time.

West Elm Matelasse Duvet Cover

4) The next element I added to my bed were latex pillows, specifically the Z by Malouf Pillow (ordered from Amazon.com to our friends in the US). This is probably the least "green" element to go on my bed, even though it is latex. I decided on these pillows due to the outstanding reviews on Amazon, and the fact that I have ongoing neck and back pain.

I ordered a high loft, firm and high loft, plush as I am a side sleeper. I use the plush exclusively as I find the firm pushes my head too high and leaves my neck at an awkward angle. I like these pillows but can't say they have changed my life in the way that some people on Amazon gush about. One warning I would put out there is that they have an initial smell that does go away with time (contrary to my whole no out-gassing philosophy!)

Z by Malouf Latex Pillow

5) My most recent addition to my bed set-up are the Coyuchi Wisteria sheets and pillow cases.  I had looked at these sheets when I initially bought my mattress, but decided they were too much at over $100 for a single fitted sheet. So when they came up on clearance on HomeSav*, I quickly added them to my list of bed elements.

The jury is out on these sheets as I have only slept on them a few times. But, unfortunately, my first impression is that they are rough and not very comfortable (after washing them once). Visually they are attractive, but they don't really have that whole sliding into a comfy bed feel. I will update the review once I have owned them a little longer, but right now all I can say is that I would be annoyed if I had paid the full price on them, and my hunt for comfortable yet green/ organic sheets may yet continue.

Coyuchi Organic Wisteria Sheets

* Homesav is a Canadian flash sale home website, where you can get up to 80% off the retail price. I have been a member for months now but my Coyuchi sheets are the first purchase I have made, and I was very happy with my purchase (beyond the fact I find them scratchy!) The transaction was easy and the sheets arrived quickly. That said, I recommend doing due diligence on every item of interest and making sure the regular retail price is really accurate (so make sure you really are getting items for a good price).

In the interest of full transparency, the link I have posted is a referer link - if you join through that link, HomeSav will give me $15.00 dollars when you make your first purchase, and you will also get $10.00 off your purchase. It's basically a win-win. :)

The Power of Paint

I'm a huge paint fan. I love how a can of paint and a week-end of labour can completely transform the look of a room and take it from blah to rah. I actually ran one of those student painting companies one summer during university. It was a horrible experience, but at least I learned how to paint a straight line.

I'm currently thinking up ways to jazz up my bathroom, and as a result have pinned lots of images that show creative ways to use paint to really boost the look of a room.

Split Wall

I really like the split wall look, with or without wainscoting. Paint the top or bottom half of the wall a bright colour and the other half a more muted tone. This would work great for bold colours that might overwhelm a room if painted on the whole wall..

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Colour Band

The colour band adds some visual interest to rooms otherwise lacking in features. I like how these photos show the bands on different parts of the wall, and how many of them are used to draw the eye to features such as hooks or wall art.

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 I especially love this look and how it works in a high ceilinged room.

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Stripes and Chevrons

Finally, I can't do a post on the power of paint without mentioning stripes and chevrons. Some of the rooms below are so creative and show that they sky really is the limit when it comes to how you can use paint in the home.

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