{happy thanksgiving ... }

Happy Monday and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadians! I hope you are enjoying the day off and getting to indulge in some yummy food :)

With an extra day to get things done at home, I actually found time to tackle the pumpkin-painting project that I blogged about last week! I really loved the inspiration photos that mixed matte chalk paint with glam & shiny gold. So I took these lovely mini au natural pumpkins:

 

And gussied them up like this!

 

 

How fun! And best of all it was a super quick project. I chose to keep it simple with 2 colors and 1 pattern: I had Liquitex acrylic heavy body paint {in iridescent bright gold} lying around from a past project, and I used the FAT Paint Company's chalk paint in a gorgeous smoky 'Bella Blue.' The great thing about the FAT paint is that it's thick, goes on super easy, and drys very fast. And I love the matte & shiny combination! I placed the pumpkin's in this rustic bamboo bowl from IKEA, it looks perfect for a fall table.

 

 

Below you can see that my polka-dot pattern is quite far from perfect, I just went for it! But I'm sure you could find a tool that would do the trick to get it just right.

 

 

I think they look cute on a crystal cake platter too ... a little something non-traditional for your Thanksgiving table ...

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your day with family, friends & food! I know I will, I'm going to stuff myself with stuffing, it's my favorite!

 

Apologies for the lack of posts last week, something I haven't shared with you yet is that I got a job! It's keeping me busy but I am so blessed, I'm teaching part-time at a local university and part-time at a local college. It's definitely a start. If you remember this post several months ago, I was feeling pretty sad and nervous about getting out into the world after graduation. I'm so thankful that God has a plan for me, and even when I try to take matters into my own hands and get all panicky and anxious, His plan is WAY better than anything I could try to figure out on my own. And for that I am truly thankful this weekend.

 

{kelly deck for aya kitchens: idswest 2012}

Happy Monday! We're back in action, and boy was this past weekend a ton of fun! The IDSwest 2012 show has come and gone in here in Vancouver, and what a great show it was. I took in all of the booths on Opening Night this past Thursday, and I got to enjoy the sights with fabulous blogger friends Meesh of i dream of chairs, and Rosa of flutterflutter. They are both talented photographers, and the images I'm sharing today were all taken by them!

I'm sharing with you my MOST favorite booth from this year's show. AyA Kitchens collaborated with local talented designer Kelly Deck to create a stunning beauty. Feast your eyes:

via i dream of chairs

 

Ok, there is A LOT to love here, but some highlights: the brass range {oh my}, the brass hardware, the incredible slab of marble ... I could go on. You may be able to tell that the beautiful hanging light fixtures {visible in the first photo} create a twinkling shimmer on the marble backsplash {see below}. The mix of the warm wood tables, the comfy chaise's, and the sleek {but super comfy} stools created a very inviting and relaxing zone.

 

left via i dream of chairs; right via flutterflutter

 

What I also loved was that the wall and back counter was slathered in marble, but the working surface on the center island was a more durable man-made product from what I could tell. I've always thought that is what I'd like to do one day, as I'd be so paranoid about ruining a gorgeous marble countertop on such a frequently used surface in the kitchen.

 

via flutterflutter

 

via i dream of chairs

 

My new obsession: putty colored cabinets!! It was so much warmer than white but still crisp and bright. I LOVED the putty combined with the natural tones in the marble and the warmth of all the brass. Amazing combo.

 

via i dream of chairs

 

Don't you think I look like I belong in this kitchen? Can't you see me cooking Canadian Thanksgiving dinner for my family next weekend in here?? A girl can dream!! This is probably the most stunning kitchen I've physically stood in and I won't soon forget it, Kelly Deck and her team knocked it out of the park.

 

Thank you to Meesh & Rosa for the photos!

{my trip in photos: italy 2012}

The final installment of my trip to Europe! Boy, it took me a long time to finally get through my photos for this post, I'm behind on so many things! On that note, please forgive me if you are waiting for an email reply from me, I've fallen behind on way to many fronts but I promise I'll get there :)

Italy was amazing, and after coming home and looking through my pics I realized it was all about beautiful history and incredible architecture every which way you turned. We spent most of our time in Rome, plus a day at the Vatican city, and ended off with a day in gorgeous Florence {a definite must-see}.

First Rome; the Colosseum and surrounding ancient ruins are remarkable! I would highly recommend a tour guide, it's a great way to take in the history to the fullest. We learned more about Rome in one day than I probably learned in all my years of schooling!

{35 degrees and sunny every day, just the way I like it!}

{Left: Me at the Trevy Fountain; Right: I wanted to take home those gorgeous trees!}

Florence is truly picturesque, the cobblestone streets, churches and charming shops atop bridges were a sight to drink in.

Oh, and shopping for genuine Italian leather wasn't so bad either! Don't you think the shop owner resembles George Clooney?

Not only in the Vatican city, but everywhere you turned it seemed a glorious intricate church could be found. We got a few great shots so my mind started turning & thinking about creating an oversized version like one of these:

Willilam Abranowicz

 Raji Radhakrishnan

I love the look! Here are a few of our shots I might consider, do you think one of these could work?

What a trip! One I definitely won't soon forget. Thanks to everyone who gave me tips on what to see and do before I left.

And just in case you missed it here are my recaps of London & Paris. Have a great Wednesday!

{my trip in photos: paris}

Finally the second installment of my trip! It's taking me forever to get through all of the photos we took. Here's a look at my first time visiting the city of lights and love {hopefully may more trips to come}. From the cobblestone streets, to the fresh baguettes, the magic and allure of Paris will surely bring me back again and again!

We stayed in the 13th arrondissement, a largely residential area, which was neat because we really got the chance to see how the French live! At only a 5 min walk from the Metro, Villa Lutèce Port Royal was a wonderful boutique hotel. A bonus? The fabulous bakeries along your way to catch the train :)

And what's that in the bathroom ... Fornasetti tiles?? I was in love!

Because this was my first trip, I had to see all the sites and monuments. Seeing them in person was quite surreal! Some of my favorites:  Arc de Triomphe,  Eiffel Tower, Eglise de la Madeleine,  Louvre, Opéra Bastille, & the shops on the Champs-Élysées.

Arc de Triomphe

Eiffel tower at night; Laduree

Had to stop in to a Laduree of course! My macaroons were scrumptious. A shout out to Norma of My Beautiful Paris, her website was so valuable to scour before my trip. She recommended visting the Ladurée Bonaparte on 21 rue Bonaparte in the Saint Germain-des-Prés district which is a lot quieter and less busy than the other two! Do be sure to visit her site and well as this post {via this is glamorous} if you are planning an upcoming trip.

Besides yummy macaroons my favorite thing to eat was the delicious fresh baguette sandwiches. I will probably never forget the buttery brie, cucumber, and tomato delight I had at Le Quasimodo Cafe just outside of Notre Dame Cathedral.

We attended Sunday morning mass at Notre Dame, and though I couldn't understand the French sermon, the music and the atmosphere was heavenly.

I loved to see a touch of my Egyptian heritage in London, Paris and Rome! The gold-capped Luxor Obelisk below was a gift to France in 1829 and dates 3,300 years back.

Getting lost in the Louvre was wonderful! I could spend ages in there. A must see within the museum was the Napolean Apartments, luxury and grandeur at its finest.

Dinner for you and your closest friends, perhaps?

I had the chance to visit the original Chanel at Rue Cambon. Coco Chanel lived at the Ritz in Paris but worked and entertained within walking distance at Rue Cambon. There are four floors: the Chanel store is at street level, haute couture dressing rooms are on the second floor, her apartment is on the third, and her workshop is on the fourth. And there's that famous faceted mirrored staircase where she watched her models flaunt her collections. Maybe a classic 2.55 purchase the next time I'm in town? :)

And my trip ended on a high note, a magical day immersed in the history of Versailles. A definite must! The palace was wonderful, but if I go back I will spend more time in the amazing gardens, and the quarters of Marie Antoinette.

Tips on things to pack: a trench coat {the weather changes every hour, and rain is nearly inevitable at some point}, scarves and more scarves {helps to keep warm and feel chic amongst all those super chic French women}, an adapter for your hairdryer and straightner, & comfy ballet flats.

Now that I've done the tourist route, I'm excited to go back and explore. Please do share your experiences of Paris in the comments, and let me know what I NEED to see the second time around! I already can't wait!

{my trip in photos: london 2012}

Happy Monday! Hope you had a marvelous weekend and are ready to face a new week ...

This weekend I finally began to sort through my photos of my European getaway, and I thought I would break up my posts by city. So here first is my view & list of must-see's in London-town, merely two weeks before the festivities of the Olympics began {all images taken by me, my dad, and brother - it was a family effort!}

A view of Big Ben - did you know the name actually refers to the BELL inside of the tower, and not the clock itself?

We stayed at the Lancaster Gate Hotel pictured below. A very picturesque & safe area, I would definitely recommend it. I loved that everything was black & white, with pops of red from flowers, to shiny buses, to the iconic and oh-so-charming telephone booths.

I'd recommed bringing along a classic trench coat, and as many pretty scarves as you can pack {layering is key in a city that experiences rain, wind, and sun all in a matter of hours}. I kept a small umbrella tucked in my purse at all times! Couldn't risk that flat-ironed hair getting wet after all ;)

Buckingham palace is a sight to see with all of it's grandeur and opulence! I loved all the little details. You can catch the changing of the guards every morning in the summertime.

A hit of neon in the streets ...

The newly iconic London Eye is the perfect high viewing point to capture a photo or two of the historic Parliament building and the great River Thames.

And speaking of history, another must-see ... Westminster Abbey. The details are nothing short of glorious! Everything is on a massive scale, the pictures can't quite do it justice.

Getting prepped for the games: I felt lucky to be there in a time when excitment could be felt in the air!

Another recommendation: book tickets ahead of time to watch a Shakespearean play in the open-air replica Globe theatre {Something I wish we could have done but I didn't know about ahead of time!}. It's been made to the exact specifications of the original playhouse, and it's the only remaining thatched roof since the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Oh, and of course it was also fantastic to simply roam the streets and take it all in, especially in a place where even the street-lamps are elaborate and glamorous!

Have you been to London recently? What a beautiful place filled with history. Anything else to add to this list? I'll recap Paris & Rome this week as well; each place was so different & so wonderful in it's own way.