Toscana Diaries

One is it!!

2010-09-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

okay okay...I have decided I don't want to manage two blogs... Final days for this one...

www.meganbaecker.blogspot.com

New blog, only blog :) :) ha ha ha!!

Megan

Back in Action!!

2010-06-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

Wow... Here I am! Returning from the pits of the real estate course...just have to tackle that exam now and whew finished. So I just have returned from a two week European visit; I feel rejuvinated and pulsating with creativity. Thank goodness! I must say that the batteries are over flowing!

Favorite things from Paris:

Scarves!! Oh my...sigh...Love them on Men, Love them on Women and yes I even saw one on a dog! Ha ha ha!

Painted Doors! Fabulous colours on neutral palettes... I am almost ready to pass off my blacked entry but hmm...that's a lot of sanding.

Old and New! Mixes of the old a new absolutely everywhere. Colour punched in to antique spaces and neutrals resting in modern vignettes.

Favorite things from Germany:

Kitchen Gadgets: Alessi of course...everywhere, shiny and oh so lovely! Garbage sorters that are to die for and so compact under the sink! Vac u Vin! Yes I have heard of it, read about it but NOW I HAVE IT! ha ha ha This is great...my wine will be chilled in but moments and my champagne bubbles will never die!

Hand held Hedge Trimmers! What?...yes light weight, adorable, rechargable and well let's be honest, perfect boxwood balls are to be mine!

Castles! Sigh...wish I was a princess... but alas I must settle to be but a fair maiden...knee slap!

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Clear Out!!

2010-02-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

Whew... It's a clear out! EVERYTHING IS BEING TAGGED AND MARKED TO THE BOTTOM!! I absolutely love it! I find it invigorating and well...FUN! How can one not love the bargains...yes, a home decor loving girl like me LOVES DEALS & STEALS and it is so exciting. I think somewhere I am supposed to feel sad but it just hasn't happened yet...still to come in an overwhelming cover yourself with a duvet quilt type of way! I will take that day...just not right now. So I am enjoying this and I must admit... the prices are crazy crazy good!! yahoo!!

So here I am about to go run and get myself a coffee...I hope this does not aggrevate too many people...but my luck with coffee makers is GONE! I have sucessfully broken every one I own and the one I own in the back of the shop too!! ha ha ha!! So funny!

Valentine's Day...sigh

2010-02-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Okay... Honestly...I do not LOVE Valentine's day. I found that it is definately a holiday that is commercial, full of unfufilled wishes, subpar expensive dinners (if you can get a reservation) and well...for new lovers(yes, your brain may think "man alive...she is cynical!!) If you have a partner that makes it all that!! Then well...I am jealous and more than willing to eat my words just for you!!! ha ha ha But seriously... has any other fresh flower loving girl ever noticed that roses jump from 12.99 to 39.99!!! I am not naming any names but shame on you grocery store!! So what's a girl who loves to decorate & celebrate do?? I've now officially made it a family holiday! For the last few years I have been decorating and cooking my heart out for those that mean the most to me, my handsome husband, darling daughter and adorable baby boy!

This year...It's chocolate and pale pink! Yes!! pink, pink, pink, and more pink! I am going to have to go outside and snip down the plum blossom's for a dynamic centerpiece...hopefully warm water will start the bloom! I have the most adorable chocolate and pink striped/polkadot ribbons to wrap on my chocolate linen napkins. Little gifts are purchased for all my loved ones and will sit in adorable bags on each place setting. I am so excited!! The menu is planned... we will begin with smiles and laughter then move to lamb shank and creamy calorie filled mashed potatoes with roasted garlic, butter and whipping cream...then on to a lovely heart shaped chocolate cake stuffed with whipped cream and raspberries and drizzled with chocolate ganache...Yum!! So here it goes!

Pictures...Martha Stewart of course...more to come when I am all set up!!

Paint the town....White???

2010-02-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Okay... so the big scene I am seeing every where is WHITE...A little parisian chic but mostly hot, modern and lovely white! I am inspired and feeling refreshed everytime my eyes rest on this loveliness!

Hot hot hot...Mix it in with the pieces you have and WOW Fresh! I have always liked white but I have never never thought that I would be craving it in this dimension. Currently the shop is being filled with my favorites...white, cream, black, white and well bold hits of green. Lovely painterly modern art and sigh...let's face it... it's dreamy when mixed with cream and subdued shades of weathered grey, and subtle beige.

And...well I am also loving florals...I mean LOVING!! How can this possibly be? I cannot seem to get enough of garden pictures...I have planted a side garden bed with rows upon rows of white tulips...the heads are up and hmmm...I can barely wait for the results!

www.designersguild.com
www.eighteenkarat.com

Sigh... As the world turns...my head spins!

2010-01-08T13:07:00.001-08:00

Sigh...it's a dismal January and I am typing surely to explode some life into this monotone gray world.

(photo...India Hicks,Domino Magazine)

Toscana is sadly not sold...wishing some one would carry on this fabulous Toscana Girl legacy...I love what the shop stands for "Decorate with what you love!". Surely I have never been one to follow trends and everything in my home does indeed collect memories and is truly part of my soul. So as I looked at my house now void of all Christmas decor...I quickly whipped out my fan deck of colours and voila...have picked a few new additions... the spackle is drying as I have filled all the dents and numerous picture holes. That's it!! My gloomy downstairs hallway is going a creamy white and yes...I think the trim will remain white...but those doors...well... I am working up the confidence to paint those bad boys a muted shade of black. I have discussed this with my husband a few years back and received a NO! Now...he thinks the idea is close to brilliant! Thanks Canadian House & Home Maganzine for actually showing the idea last month. Now...to address that issue of storage...I am trying to come up with something...wish me luck.

(photo elle decor...I want this look!!!How FAB)

As for the rest of the house....I NEED FLOWERS!! Yup I have decided a couple of yellow and red flowers might just rock my world (but let's face it...I always bring home white! *wink*)...not too mention the re-instating of my favorite ochre cushions and vases. The next thing is to explode a little white and french moments into my family room.

(photo not sure this one but wow...HOT)

Whew...Here goes project central. Watch out January...I am going lighten and brighten you like never before!

Santa Baby...All I want is some sleep... oh...and some trinkets from Tiffany's ha ha ha!!

2009-12-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

So maybe I am kidding about the Tiffany's trinkets...maybe not...but definately I would love some sleep. I am sure that I am not the only girl out there that is just wishing for another set of hands, another hour to run here and there, some spare time to just cuddle the kids and hubbie and maybe one minute to say whew!! So here I type the inevitable necessary next thing on my little brain...Table settings! Fantastic...one down...three more to go! So how does my little brain work. Food plan check, groceries check, drinks check, table top...hmmm...

Some of my favorite ideas that are well may I say fun fabulous and frugal???!!! (seriously at no time did I mean to have them this way but I like to spend every dime extra on weird things like...FANTASTIC FLOWERS!!!)

1) Using Everyday Items: I love juice glasses or tea cups lined down the table as vases and t-light holders. Fill them with cranberries, fresh greens, full headed blooms....oh lovely!! I also love silver or white or assorted tea pots for a fun twist as vases. Try setting every medium and small glass vase you have down the middle and fill with fresh greens and flowers, throw some tea lights down and wow...I promise the abundance of the flowers might just make this your favorite moment of "pulling it together" :) *wink*.

2) Out Side of the Box: No seriously!! I have used wrapping paper, tree ribbon, and once fancy paper from Michael's to line my table with a decorative fabulous table runner. Use them the short way, long way, weave them or just pull out the pinking shears and layout some fabric. I promise with tea lights and candles and flowers...all the options look fabulous and refresh the everyday white table cloth. Don't forget to use the paper to make matching place cards...ribbon will work as napkin rings too!!

3) Something Natural: I love bringing in pine cones to use as place card holders and adding a few to my juice glass flower arrangements. I try to make each place setting special...(this year I sadly have omitted but promise to do it again on New Years) with a small note to each person or something nice written about them. My absolute favorite is adding fruit to glass vases or as placecard holders (around stem). Apples and pears are unbelievably sweet.

merry christmas!!
toscana girl...megan
pictures are from www.bhg.com, www.marthastewart.com

Holidays, musings on a few lovely things

2009-12-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

It's officially the Holidays! Yahoo! I am excited every morning! Seriously! Don't groan... I know that my husband does..can you imagine waking to my exhuberance every day...seriously I give him credit. Okay. Back to the topic. I love the crisp air, the lights and the scent of greenery.

I love watching the Christmas decorations slowly dwindle down in the shop and getting to come up with new exciting displays! So I thought I would take the time to share a few of the most inspiring ideas I have seen this year and well a few timeless faves that I can never tire of looking at. So yes...this is yet another tribute to Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/ and Better Homes and Gardens http://www.bhg.com/ .

Can a girl not love the white stockings and delicious bows. I actually ripped this idea off this year and cut up some ivory toile fabric I had kicking around and made bows! They are now in my tree, and on my outside door wreaths (this year I just took my tired fake wreaths and tucked in fresh greens and tied huge droopy country bows. FABULOUS), up the stairwell railing, and on every mantle. Aaahhh.. A little country chic! I have always wondered how I was going to work the Toile in, I will be so sad to take it down...but hey...I still have hmm...about 24 days. So the basics of the bows are...cut long strips about 3 inches long and cut with pinking (I think that's what they are called) shears to prevent too much fraying. Keep the scraps to add to presents. I am on the hunt for white wrapping paper to ensure that I can wrap bands of the toile fabric over white fabric and garnish with a bow in gold and some tucked in greens. Worse case I will have to use gold paper and white ribbon...hmm.. any suggestions for where to find the paper email me at toscana8@telus.net I am always on the hunt for the best deal! :) Okay on to the next batch of lovlies!

Wrapping! So every year... I like most women I know, I like the wrapping to match my tree. Well maybe....only I do this...It can't be so! So the next picture is close to my heart but unfortunately does not match a thing I do! http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/wrap-it-up#slide_13 up#slide_13 for the link to the computer templates. Love that computer printer! I am thinking that one could just wrap and print the letters on stickies?? Maybe in a little chocolate?? Or...I will have to store in the idea bank and wait for my white and red tree with black satin bows that exists in my imagination. ha ha ha...honestly...I can see the tree and the packages in my family room but don't tell my husband...He'll see it next year! ha ha ...knee slap! On to the gallery of my faves! Happy Holidays!

My next blog will be table setting! MY FAVORITE THING EVER!! Ho ho ho!!

Decking the Halls!

2009-11-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

Tis the season...hmmm...drat those flyers! One came in the house and with glee my angel clasped her hands together and exclaimed "It's Christmas Mama!! Let's put my tree up!". How can one refuse...her tree is small. I thought not a big deal. Let's do it!

Sure enough the baby was in diapers showing me where he thought the tree should live and voila!! ...next thing I know the big tree is out and the lights are being strung!

Oh My! The world is being bedazzled, well as fancy as this rustic girl gets!! So here it goes... decorating with chicklets...can I even remember how it is supposed to go? Well...first Mommy rule...help unpack the stuff! So there we are...Tate got prepared and dug in...throwing around every ornament he could get his little grubby hands on! Whew. Good news is that we only lost one of the beautiful amber balls and his decision to chuck pine cones at the tree actually ended up looking good! ha ha ha. My darling Emma of course added her bits including her hand crafted ornaments. I think the toilet paper roll is my absolute fave! Some people are going to cringe but honestly I think its beyond fabulous!! This year she has very carefully drawn angels on three rolls and they are placed with great care in the family room on the mantle. Did I mention how close one has to look to see the angels? You walk in the room and ta da!! Toilet paper rolls...new trend?? ha ha ha.. knee slap!
Of course I had to keep going so the PJ's were place on the babe, no more naked decorating...too chilly even though man I love watching chubby little bodies get into trouble! So we tackled my front entry urn and Emma set up all the lovely trees we have. She did a great job! I was so very pleased. I am no where near finished this year so stay tuned for more and more!

Desperately missing my decorating partner in crime, Ulli...I am seeking a gorgeous glass of champagne and some seriously creative inspirations! My next blog and pics will be me tackling the front door...hmmm I have a picture in my head! Is it wrong to paint the door just for the holidays...unfortunately yes... I think it is!

The art of the Boo!

2009-10-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's hallowe'en and I am feeling at a loss for decorating...much more interested in the upcoming holiday season. Can we say...ah-choo! Sparkles galore! Yet...one must not forget my favorite past time of doing incredibly time consuming silly things when I have much much more important things to do! So... here it goes... Do what every girl does faced with endless hours of NO FREE TIME! (yes..holiday pricing and planning at Toscana...hmmm...where can I get my hands on peach envelopes for the sale mailer...is black wrong?? ha ha ha okay I digress) So a girl with no free time hits http://www.marthastewart.com/ and walmart/dollar store for spider webs in a bag.

Pumpkin Carving! Who doesn't love to carve pumpkins? Ahh...back to my youth and volunteering (the days of "for fun" not for the sake of networking, does one really understand the networking component at 20? Was it really appropriate for me to swill martini's while being interviewed by Malcom Perry?? Hey..really I didn't know the magnitude of "who" he was then!) for the Vancouver Art Galleries Black and Orange Ball! We had a blast creating pumpkin lanterns en masse! Carve 60 pumpkins...how...hmmm... The beauty of the drill bit! Yes multiple sized holes drilled all over pumpkins creates the most beautiful lanterns a girl has ever seen! Can you believe that the VAG let us light those things? ha ha ha. Thank goodness for Martha Stewart even then! (Honestly...back in the day I kept my Martha love very quiet. Not sure that the power suits surrounding me would understand the little girl in her first "real job" spouting "Martha"ism's) So get creative with your pumpkins..just be sure to do as I do... just the basics and let the kids go crazy! It's much more fun and hmm..yes I let the chicklets pick where there pumpkins live then I casually throw my glistening lanterns around! hmmm...I am definately crazy!

Decorating the Easy way! Yes the easiest decorating possible ...The White Sheet! Ironing is optional (ha ha ha). So deck your side board with a few cake plates or shoe boxes and cover that bad boy with a sheet! Set up pumpkins and gords on top of your little boxes with the kids. Add a vase full of sticks from the garden! Strew your sticks with the spider webs and wow...spooky has hit your house and I promise the kids will think they are the most fabulous decorators!

Lighting it up! So if you are like me you normally invite people over for a few bites and for the kids to go treating with friends...(this year some one actually invited me over to there house whew! Highheels and a costume here I come) Funny thing...I don't really like ghouls, nor goblins so I told my daughter that Hallowe'en is a neighbour hood party. Hmmm...Well if I can keep the television off this week it might actually prevent nightmares! Set up the tidbits early and light candles in the kitchen...why...hmm I am not sure but it looks cool and it does get dark early! Light up the porch and dining room with pumpkin lanterns Voila... If you like to get a little more crazy check out Martha's chandalier idea...personally a few cobwebs and the chandalier on dim works too!

Okay! Hallowe'en is done and I can move on to the scary part....Christmas! Eeeeek! All pictures are from Martha Stewart's website.

Pies in a Jar?? Had to try it!

2009-09-30T12:19:00.001-07:00

So my world has been turned upside down lately and not too sure what to do with myself... as sleep is not really coming easy...I decided to do what every girl who loves being homey does... I tried my hand at baking... but being me...hmmm... I tried making pies in jars...Gotta Love that "not Martha" blogger from Seattle...So I pulled out my canning jars...a can of cherry pie filling (no way was I trying this with hours and hours of pie filling effort too!) and my no fail "basic pastry" recipe from John Bishop's Cooking at Home cookbook. One day I will take a picture of this book! It is my kitchen diary for everyday cooking and is written all over by both myself and children's scribbles *wink*

The fabulous idea: Making individual pies in jars that you can freeze, remove top and bake with dinner for fresh individual pies for the kids at dinner... Sounded like a winner.

The reality: I whipped out my pie crust recipe and started! Whew... A little mixing, a little rolling, a little chilling & voila! Pie crust. I only made enough for two crusts... one total top and bottom pie. I would suggest doubling for all the effort. I then artfully opened the can of cherry pie filling Ah ha! Eureeka...tasty stuff! Man alive, I am fabulous! ha ha ha Then for the tricky part... Assembly!... Honestly.. I gave up trying to figure out how to get the dough into the jar artfully and just eyed a circle...cut out triangle wedges in four opossite corners to limit the amount of dough I was failing trying to get in the little jars. Well... it worked. I then lidded and sealed with a top crust with little shapes cut out and then sealed with the lids and froze... to be tasted another day... I used the extra filling in tart shells from the freezer so the kids could enjoy while my experiment was under watch. The end... I threw the opened jars in the oven at 375 for 22 minutes and then... The adorable things came out PERFECT! They even just slipped on to the plate in the perfect little jar shape! FYI... Use oven mitts... I am definately not brilliant when excited! I even could flip the adorable pies to be right side up! FANTASTIC! I will be repeating this crazy exercise soon!

Next... Here I come...bacon cups! Yes you heard me.... That "Not Martha" girl is one smart cookie! But I must add the ultimate final word... I LOVE MARTHA STEWART!!! *wink*

Wow....Did I really just go Camping & Miss a Fabulous Jewellery Party?

2009-08-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

So my handsome husband and I packed up our tent and babies and went camping...

I actually closed the shop for a weekend...aaahhh!! Wow is that ever scary! Huge amounts of product arrived Wednesday afternoon & Thursday Morning... I stayed up painting and wall papering the shop to 5am just to get things completed....I was so excited that I left 4 boxes from my many new boxes unpackaged and left at exactly my promised exit time. Never have I ever left the store with unpacked boxes (I even missed a very promising jewellery party that sigh.. I was craving an enamelled bracelet from) See the gorgeous picture.. only downfall was that I wanted to see it in person and try it on my bony big wrists. The line is Stella & Dot.. TO DIE FOR!! Sigh... only available at house parties...hmmm...maybe I should have one at Toscana...if you can't wait... www.stelladot.com/scarlett

Camping... it was a 4 hour drive to the "sunny" okanagon...which by wrong exits & turns took us about 6 hours to drive... full of chuckles for me the passenger and I am sure now amusing to my handsome driver in a past tense kind of way! It was a drizzly damp miserable weather experience that did not bode well for my gingham, wildflower bouquet and tied cutlery with bows moments for which I had packed & carefully planned. Yes, in my silly world I had cutlery wrapped in bows and matching my "NOT WATERPROOF" tablecloth and a vase packed for those "wild flowers" and candles and matching tealights. How silly it seemed while we cooked in the pouring rain...but truthfully...the napkin wrapped and bow tied cutlery was FABULOUS and handy when grabbing and running for cover.

Our carefully planned dining menu was adjusted to the quickest items which we could cook and eat while huddled in our tent. It was lovely to laugh by lantern light and infuse our souls with the presence of pure family. The morning light came bringing sunshine and sigh...we headed home.

Designer Feature - Thomas O'Brian "the art of Living not staging"

2009-07-09T10:22:00.001-07:00

Okay.. I am in "crush" I would say love but I'm still in the intense moment that preceeds true love and well... it's not with my husband, nor a man per say... it's with a "STYLE". Through the archives and design magazines I scour; I have been collecting tidbits here and there and unbeknownst to myself they have all been from one designer! I am serious... I have a picture of a chair that I have taped to the back door at the shop & a pillow and a living room and a kitchen, all collected seperately and wow... they are all creations of Thomas O'Brian.

Yes! He is cute, but he is better than that! He transcends the "decorated feel" and creates true living spaces. Ones in which I would kick off my shoes, grab a book from the coffee table and puruse it while cuddling my children. I imagine my husband happily making us lunch in the supurbly outfitted kitchen that has no snobbery only a collection of the beautifully useful. side note... I am on mission to slowly (as finances allow) create this style of kitchen and well whole home.

I wish for us all to live in spaces surrounded by couches that cuddle back, fabrics that feel like a caress, books who tell the lovliest stories and items that whisper memories. I think we should all be surround by that which we have collected over a lifetime of living. Items such as books, rocks, found shells, dishes and art which constantly remind us of where and with whom we've shared our moments. Yes I am flowery and sentimental today, but I truly admire spaces that don't feel too "Designed or decorated". I like things!... most would call them junk and the kinder people call them accessories but they fill my cupboards and when I bring them out they warm my soul.

I am sure that in this world us Toscana girls are not the only ones whom crave the creature comforts of life while surrounded by beauty. This man has created spaces that are in my absolute favorite pallette of white, cream and my passion Chocolate! Other spaces are layered in charcoal, black, and white completely Toscana girl Ulli! He has also blended the feel of modern style with traditional elements to a level that is beyond both looks yet still tangible and real. His storefront Aero, in SoHo New York, exudes high style carressed by a slight glimpse of a human soul.

Thomas O'Brian's website is http://www.aerostudios.com/ . He has created collections for both Bloomingdales and Target. Wow! Talk about real and fabulous!

Pictures are from Country Home, Domino, Elle Decor, and all scoured from the many websites paying this man hommage.

http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/inside-design/inside-design-thomas-o-brien/a/1803 for more information about Thomas O'Brian!

Picture of O'Brian by Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Summer!

2009-06-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

It’s summer and that means time to freshen, brighten & lighten up our homes! Toscana girl Megan is having an “in love moment” with green, hmm better yet lets call it Chartreuse. The shop is decked out in lush hues of green!

Top 5 Hot Summer Ideas:

One: Dress your deck up with a formal white table cloth and use planters for center pieces. Got an old table? Throw a formal white table cloth over it and cover the top with assorted clear juice glasses filled with tea-lights! Ta da! Gorgeous! Try tying inexpensive light weight white drapes to your arbor outside… Another fabulous white fabric moment, we promise!

Two: Tis the season for Lemons & Limes. Forget flowers! Fill your favorite large glass vases and bowls with lemons and limes! Use just one, or mix them up!

Three: Utilize your Garden! Use Hosta leaves as coasters or underneath food when serving on platters. Fill multiple vases/juice glasses with garden greens and any garden flowers for wild country bouquets. Group them together on your mantel, coffee table or dining table. They will be lovely!

Four: Colour Surge! Pick one colour, any colour. Take that colour and mix it with white. Start placing it throughout your home. Green is simple and works well with any décor. Follow the next steps with your chosen colour. Try fresh white flowers, our faves are Casablanca lilies or cannas lilies in the dining room and on the coffee table. Splurge on green cushion covers to go you’re your existing pillows. Change all candles to bright white. Place our some strategic white porcelain/ceramic accessories. Fluff out the white towels in the bathrooms. Wow… Summer Fresh…Did we mention… Megan is loving green right now?

Five: The box & bucket run! Where did we get that name from? Well… as the sun streams in Megan’s dirty windows (side note: in the entire time Megan has known Ulli, she has never seen a dirty window or surface at her house) she runs around with the bucket full of dish soap/squeegee & a box. Windows are washed and all knickknacks/cushions are stored in the box (let’s be honest…then transferred to the dining room table, Megan has a lot of knickknacksJ). At the end only a few are put out in new spots. Invigorated and soul satisfied Megan is surrounded by clean lines and sparkling windows. Aahhhh!

Pictures are from Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/ .... of course!! :)

The love of a Party!

2009-06-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Sunshine is filtering through my windows... a soft glow is infusing my soul! Summer time! I love the sunshine, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the way my feet get slightly damp from the dew in the morning while I water plants.

But my favorite part of summer is visits from friends and of course "It's the perfect excuse to have a party!" Every summer I convince my husband that a party is a necessity to celebrate life! I pretend each time that it will be "easy" and not a "big deal". This year I decided the party needed to be sooner rather than later and I would try to keep to the "no big deal" promise. The upcoming weekend it will be! I have my annual German guests visiting and I am a crazy person....figuring out the perfect food, theme and making my mile long to do list. Best time to have a party... when everyone is available! ha ha ha.

So....Theme!! hmmm... It's always better to start with a colour and I think red is going to be it for me! Red always is best either super modern or country.... That's it baby! I'm going country. I have sorted through my linen closet to find the perfect red & white check table cloth and black and white floral cushions. Quickly, I searched my favorite blogs and websites for an insipiring picture and ta da! Instantly the email invitation was born and a Country BBQ theme is perfect for the easiest party ever... Potluck! Yahoo! I nicely convinced my handsome husband to make us oodles of homemade sausage.(very popular with our friends and yes, fresh, natural and no preservatives or unpronouncable additives) Is it just me or do you hate eating things that you cannot pronounce too?

The decorationg ideas are running all over my brain: White lights in the trees, terracotta pots for flowers and sand tea-lights, hanging paper laterns in white, candle light everywhere, Raffia bows on all the pots...ooohhh even the cutlery, red napkins, white dishes and serving plates, dining room table outside! Wow! Whew... Where is the ice going to go? Am I doing a signature drink? hmm.. nope...beer and wine will suffice for country... right???

The luck of the.... Toscana Girl!! Must be the new saying! Seriously! Driving down the road I looked to the right and there they were! 14 small terracotta pots with a little sign saying FREE! hmmm.... AWSOME! One less trip to hunt for the little guys! 14... I'll make do! ha ha ha. I purchased some sweet little red roses and tied on a raffia ribbon. I love THEM! On the eve of the party... I managed to finish all the items on the to do list but the clouds threatened rain. Yipes! But the luck continued! I went to work; the rain did not come and my fabulous guests and husband tackled the party set up. Out went the dining table, up went the paper lanterns and twinkle lights. I came home shocked and delighted as they laid the linens! They did an awsome job! If I had known they were going to surprise me I would have sneakily left my Journal out with my diagrams and party wishes! ha ha ha! sigh... next party I will get all my cast iron out to light up the night too!!

The evening was a success as there was plenty of amazing food and people! Should I say that the other way around? Hmm.. a great big thank you to my fantastic family and friends. Without them... who needs a party!

Pics from Martha Stewart of course!!

The Guest Room - A little something special!

2009-05-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I was over at Toscana girl Ulli's house tonight helping set up her guest room for her first European visitor and I realized!! AHHH!!! It's that time of year! My favorite German visitors will be on my door step in less than a 3 weeks. AHHH!! With the birth of my son I converted my guest room into a nursery (whole other topic not for today) and sort of did a dual guest/office room in my office. Honestly, the space is not working for me so I am about to re-vamp the terror that is my guest room/office. Give me strength! I must organize & purge! I have about a gazillion decorating magazines, books, fabrics and paint samples...not too mention actual paperwork too!! It is tucked away, but alway I pull it out and strew it everywhere while I piece together my design plans.

So here I am, taking stock of what "makes" a guest room. I need the space to be special, unique and still budget wise. With much pondering an tonnes of web surfing, and magazine flipping I have decided that the top five Toscana basics are: bedding, lighting, storage, ambiance, and a welcoming touch.

The bedding is always a funny thing with me. The first time I slept over at Toscana girl Ulli's house I was in heaven as I slipped into the sheets. What was so special ? The trillion dollar bedding? The gorgeous toss cushions? The touch me delicious throw? NOPE! She irons her sheets! I discovered that any sheets ironed are fantastic!! The absolute best feeling in the world...but of course I am a mommy of two and already have a pile of ironing that challenges the leaning tower of Pisa! (this is my Tuesday night chore as my friends know I always invite them over with promises of decadent treats, and or strong drinks. I can't understand why they always refuse! Who wouldn't want to watch my crazy ironing binge? So as always I am alone and with iron in hand can be found watching HGTV and that naughty Housewives of Orange County...it's definitely addicting to watch how horrible girls can be; but I digress) So I have learned to cheat! Wash your favorite guest sheets and take them out of the dryer still damp. Pop the fitted sheet damp on the bed and lightly spray or sprinkle with your favorite linen water/H2O mixture. It will dry on the bed as crisp and fresh as an ironed sheet with none of the effort. That only leaves ironing the top sheet and pillow cases. Fold the top sheet in half and iron one side while spraying linen water/H2O mixture. Open and remove ironed crease....you don't have to if you remember to fold the top half over the bottom half not side to side. (did that make sense??) Then proceed to starch and iron the pillowcases. Set all aside and do a quick cheat iron on the top of the duvet cover. Tip: If you use a heavy weight duvet cover the ironing is less. I prefer white sheets always! They just seem to go with every type of toss cushion and duvet that you can throw at them and they are super easy to clean. My favorite places to purchase linens are: Winners, Superstore, Zellers, and Homesense. I love a deal on sheets and duvets. Then I feel that I can always justify the toss cushions to co-ordinate.

Lighting is key as it helps to energize your guests and also allow them to create a cozy space for "down time" Overhead lighting is for everyday and lamps beside the bed are perfect for reading. If the room has natural light all the better. A night light in the hall or bathroom helps guest find the loo without harming themselves.

Try to have some storage for your guests belongings. A dresser is perfect for them to tuck away clothing, and to put personal items on top. Make sure that your closet also has room for them to hang clothes...Subtle way of me saying "don't have it chalked full of your winter wardrobe". Try to put out an extra chair so that your guests have a place to sit other than the bed.

I always need inspiration to begin creating "ambiance" and the pictures I have chosen here will be my starting point. Try something out of the ordinary that you love! Pull out your most colourful bedding and add a triage of colourful pots on top of the dresser. Paint a crazy picture for a headboard. Layer cozy items in the room, cushions, throws and a scented candle. I love to place fresh flowers and mist a little room spray.

It is important to me that my guests feel welcome. I do this by providing a tray filled with towels, soap, mini shampoo's and conditioners. (Yes, I do take these from hotel rooms on the rare occasions I am in one. Not too mention I do NOT want to share soap or body scrub with people other than my children and husband...maybe not even the husband ha ha ha!) If they are staying more than one night, I like to add a snack food, water glasses and bottled water for them to have. This let's them know that I like food...no seriously it keeps them from laying there at night thinking....man I am hungry! I could have a little snack but where oh where does she keep them??

So with my top five in hand I will be sitting in my guest room trying to piece it all together. I will need to get extremely creative this time round. The best thing for this constant procrastinator is to just tackle it! The only question is...how long to ironed sheets stay fresh?? ha ha ha.

I picked the pictures because they are random & lovely!! Pictures are from, Serena and Lily, Brocade Home, Anthropologie the store & designer Andrea Schroeder.

http:/www.serenaandlily.com http://www.brocadehome.com/ http://www.anthropologie.com/ http://www.andreaschroeder.com/

Sustinance for the Soul - The Power of the Family Dinner

2009-05-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day... one that I will not be forgetting soon... My wonderful husband acquired us a new family car to fit our growing family. Off to get coffee for the Soccer game, me and all my sweeties were happily driving along when wham! We were in a messy car accident. Thankfully THANKFULLY my intact little family emerged. We were shaken and somewhat bewildered. Did this really just happen to us? On Mother's Day? On the way to Starbucks? Down a regularly travelled street?

My hero of a husband checked each of us carefully, called his father and had us whisked home to safety. In my mind a cape was on his neck billowing in the wind, while he stood there completely composed and offering comfort to all around...even the other driver.

Our little shuttle arrived home. My adorable baby was oblivious to the accident and immediately began to run around...but my bruised and very upset little girl looked up at me and said nothing but... Can we still have our family dinner tonight? My mind instantly registered her need for Mother's Day to continue to establish normality. Not surprisingly this need centered around the most constant factor in her life..."the family dinner". Our regular Sunday dinner consists of the kidlets, my husband, mother-in-law/business partner, father-in-law and myself. Of course this must be continued, no matter what.

After a few cuddles and loves both kids were keen on offering their advice for the menu and added touches for decorating the table. (The baby's contribution included pulling all the items off the table, and my daughter offered advice for creating the salad) My husband made a lovely meal and Toscana girl Ulli showed up with a homemade apple pie. We sat down to a fantastic dinner. At which both my daughter and my son ate heartily and laughed alot.

Me... I just looked around and was so very thankful to have such love around me. Yes... my husband is my hero and I let my daughter have left-over apple pie for breakfast today, it just seemed fitting.

oh please!!! Gimmie Spring!

2009-03-27T16:44:00.001-07:00

I whole heartedly hope that gimmie gimmie does eventually get! Where is SPRING?? The primroses have been bursting in my urns for weeks and now I am terribly frightened that they will not survive the cold weather. Yes they have invaribly bursted into huge blooms... fantastic! The yellow petals are like liquid honey against the rain, fog, snow... hmmm. snow??

I can wait no longer and have thrown hits of blue, green, yellow, red & navy into the shop just so I can pretend! Spring Spring Spring. We have now a lovely assortment of colourful outdoor cushion covers and a little sample of lovely starfish and coral branches! Hello Hampton's beach resort at home! I think those Home Heist guys have mesmerized my brain patterns with their over the top wall paper selections. Maybe just that hideous bad taste brooch the blonde always pins on is wearing me down.

If the lovely little items had not happened soon I would be found wall papering large scale scandalous all over everything.

Please sunshine Stay!!

Pic is from www.bhg.com :)

Toscana Girl Megan !! :)

Valentines... our quiet holiday... shhh...

2009-02-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is the simplest and maybe lovliest holiday in my home. We make decorations, set a beautiful table, and have a lovely family dinner in front of a roaring fire.

Every year my daughter (and now one year old is helping) cuts pink, white or red hearts with her fancy sissors and decorates them to hang on our "holiday" tree. The holiday tree consists of curly willow coming out of a large black urn and base in my entry. It's a show stopper against the white wall but my favorite part is that my children get to be creative and "show off" their crafts. The best is every morning I walk down the stairs and smile. This year the biggest grin is over a small turtle drawn in the tip of a heart, "just because it belongs there" says little Emma.

We make the evening special by setting the coffee table in the main living room for dinner. Last year the theme was morrocan. We decorated with lanterns and used a lovely jewel toned patchwork throw as the tablecloth. This year we are going for a lovely white and pink theme. We will drape the coffee table with a lovely white on white damask table cloth, silver chargers, white dishes, old teacups with saucers, and the best idea I found on www.marthastewart.com ... cut out paper hearts in pale pinks to decorate the table. We will have to find lovely pink flowers to use as a center piece. Light the tea lights and we should be set. I will try to post a video of us setting up for good humor. Emma often will add paper scraps...and yes I let her! ha ha ha.

This year's menu is still unplanned as I need to create something that I can quickly finish as I work all day. I am going to have to hit www.epicurious.com to find a fabulous easy do ahead menu. They already have the planner up for Valentine's Day. Last year I made John Bishop's lamb stew with dumplings, and a beautiful flourless chocolate cake with coffee granita and raspberry coulis. It was easy and lovely.

So we will sit down for a late evening in front of our fire and celebrate Valentine's Day. We will be cozy and enjoy each other ,not dressed up, not out to dinner... just as we are.

Inexpensive & Chic!!

2009-01-16T09:17:00.001-08:00

All the holiday decorations are down and my house seems empty! With the media shouting economy downturn I am in dire need of a pick me up. What can one do? I have scoured the web and magazines looking for great ideas on a dime. I feel that many must be feeling the same so here are my top five inspirations:

Paint! I have picked up a new pot of paint and will be transforming my master bedroom from boring grey to a creamy white. My master will get a lick of beige and an inexpensive pop from dollar store art canvas's painted in a fantastic stencil of black and white... maybe with a kick of orange, blue or green. ( I just cannot decide)

CushionséFabric! As I already have more cushions than one girl rightfully needs; I have picked up some inexpensive cushion covers (Toscana has some right now) for my family room and living room. I am playing with fabrics I never would normally use like florals and stripes. They are making me feel really happy every morning. Fantastic!

Florals! Forget the traditional florals... and really who feels they should be buying fresh florals every couple of days in this economy.(though my favorite are grocery store roses in orange or pink this time of year) I have purchased some beautiful white sticks and have placed them in the largest glass vase I own. It is right smack in the middle of my dining table and I love it! It brings a natural sexy ambience. Large branches from your yard will do the same thing.

Features! Why not use what I have here and create a big new feature! I have stripped my walls and shelfs of pictures and created one wall filled with them. It is fresh and fun. Family pictures a funky mirror, a few pen drawings and voila!

Now some web sites for inspiration:

Living Rooms:

http://www.kainternational.com/ambientes.php?language=1

Master Bedroom:

http://www.serenaandlily.com/Rooms/Tess_3

Have fun!

Overview: Trend Watching for 2009 Part One

2008-12-16T20:52:00.001-08:00

It is of course that time again. Trends will be reported from every angle. I have decided to ponder them one glossy shiny magazine spread at a time. I love to ponder every layout, and choice then pick my favorites. Sometimes I am blinded by loving the most impractical trend, still I always find one inspiration to help change my existing decor.

the basics:
Every year Canadian House & Home features what they have selected as the new trends. They broke their selections down into the following 10 catagories.

Industrial - Loft meats commercial lines
Nomadic - Ethnic accessories
Modern Craft - Handhewn artistry with clean lines
New Byzantine - Think details, curves and lilac, with metallics. Arabian memoirs.
New Romantic - Punchy bohemian
Bleached - Beachy creams and whites
Iconic Collections -statement pieces
All-Out Decorating - over the top and into the details. Velvet, pattern and all professional.
Bold Blues - Hues of dark blue and vivid blues every where
Made-to-Measure - Focus is on the custom/ personal touches

least favorite:
I have to be honest I love to look at the rooms in magazines and my fingers ache to touch the fabrics. I admire the talent it takes to make each room perfect but at this stage of my life I can honestly say I would not want an All-Out decorated room. I love mistakes and the juxposition of items by accident.

favorites:
As I am always searching for new ideas and pondering the many home decor magazines, websites, blogs and books... I have to say this year House and Home covered the main angles. (they always do) I honestly am in love with the New Romantic. Though my house is mainly living in the realm of beige, white and chocolate brown. I have been coveting Anthropologie's home collection for about two years and must admit that in my linen closet amongst the white and beige bed sets one may find patterns featuring orange, dark purple, ochre and green. Maybe in a little time I will find a home for the colour....hmmm.

As one must always state the obvious.... the best trend is none. Follow your heart and pick items that you love.

Megan

Shaking it all Up

2007-12-28T22:15:00.001-08:00

Whew! Wipe the brow all of us Toscana Girls are almost out of the trenches. We just need to forge through New Year's Eve and we are finished! (Round of applause for you, me and all the entertainers of the holiday season)

I must admit as I am the pregnant Toscana Girl I am hosting a very small and intimate dinner for just my husband, daughter and myself. The other Toscana Girl will be preparing a feast for dinner guests. Still, the both of us are trying to think what would be a great idea for the table setting, the special cocktail (I think mine will be something pink and non-alchoholic for me and my little girl), and something...hmm well that shakes it all up! It's the new year for goodness sake... what better time to pull out the stops and do something a little different, maybe even silly. This still requires more thought. Can you make people dress up and insist no BLACK, no WHITE, no BEIGE or the like? Can you imagine... a table of people dressed in (goodness no!!) COLOUR? Sure would make a black & white table look great in photos hmmm.. ha ha ha ha

We wish everyone a very happy new year! Stop by the shop and a Toscana girl will help suggest fantastic fun table setting ideas!

A whirlwind and a bizarre happening...

2007-12-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

The weeks are flying by quicker than we can imagine and us Toscana girls are in a whirlwind of activity. New merchandise, keeping the store fresh and tidy, excitement over the holiday and family visits as for everyone it is busy busy busy! But we love it in some bizarre way.

Unexpected new merchandise is hitting the floor... we scratch our heads... weren't these lamps supposed to be for January? YET... we can't resist putting them out! They are in gilded gold with burnt chocolate shades, creamy porcelin beige spotted and topped with luxe vanilla shades and decadent silver creations with pleated satin nougat shades. The look better than even the best box of holiday chocolates! Ooh la la! They are definately a must see!

Something bizarre is in the air.... both Ulli & I have been adding, changing and moving our holiday decorations around. What is going on? Just today I have decided that I need to add glass icicles and a few glass balls too two of my vignettes at home and to change my front door decorations. hmmm... is it the frost in the air?