Post-Christmas Peace

OK, I have to admit that I am sitting here a bit stunned.  Has Christmas really come and gone in a flash?  It was such a mad rush around here getting ready for visitors, decorating, finishing up school, and putting the basement back together; then wrapping, stuffing, eating, unwrapping, eating, and more eating!  

The basement was finished in the very nick of time - I was doing the final clean of the bathroom when my in-laws drove in, exhausted from 6 days of driving here from Alberta.  So I haven't had much of a chance to sit back and enjoy it yet, but I look forward to doing just that, and snapping a few photos.  The next day I enjoyed a rousing Sing Along Messiah at Massey Hall (so much fun!) and was home in time to chat with my parents, who arrived at my brothers' after a 2-day drive up from New Brunswick.  

Christmas Eve we celebrated here with the Petriks, enjoying an amazing salmon dinner in the Czech tradition.  The next morning my folks stopped by to watch the boys open their ridiculous number of gifts and we had a yummy strada for brunch (my mother-in-law truly spoils us with her cooking!).  Later that evening I made my way to my brother's for our traditional turkey Christmas dinner and it was nice to hang out with my family. We all headed back to Malcolm's (my brother) for brunch the next morning, and he served up delicious hand-made beignets (a tradition my Dad started when we were little of having New-Orleans-style beignets on Christmas morning!).

Now Chris is back at work, his folks are out for lunch with a friend, and the boys are ensconced with Max and Ruby.  I am enjoying a relative moment of quiet and feel like it must have all been some vivid dream!  How lovely though to sit peacefully with a cup of tea, the Christmas lights on, and a blanket of powdery white snow outside.  Always nice to have the simple moments give meaning to the full and festive moments, and vice-versa.

I hope you all enjoyed the peaceful and the festive over the last few weeks.  Here are some photos I managed to grab of our home this year - I went for a little more gold and sparkles this year, and pulled out lots of my thrifted brass treasures!  The boys and I were a little sparkle factory here as well doing our Christmas crafts - I think we will be finding them around the house 16 years from now.

So friends, did you have a nice holiday? :)

Shopping for a good cause: Invisible Children

Invisible Children and its campaign against Joseph Kony attracted a huge amount of media attention earlier in the year, not all of it positive.  In my mind, it was a powerful and effective use of social and traditional media to not only bring specific African atrocities to light, but also to successfully engage and mobilize people in a 'new school' grassroots effort to make change happen.

The organization continues to work hard towards its goals, and this holiday season it has launched an online store selling artisanal African goods, including beautiful jewellery, bags, scarves, and shoes, with 100% of the profits going towards supporting Invisible Children's mission.  100% - astounding!  Now, having worked in many a non-profit organization, I know that there are many ways to explain the distribution and allocation of funds, and it is easy to nit-pick a claim such as this.  However, it beats the pants off buying pink nail polish and having 2% (or sometimes 0% - see "pink-washing") go towards fighting breast cancer.  And the products are both gorgeous and affordable!  I call that a win-win-win.  Now let's look at the pretty:

So many beautiful things - I don't think there is one thing on there I wouldn't love to have (with special love for bracelets).  The scarves, bags and shoes are equally awesome (and the shoes are produced in collaboration with Canadian-based Oliberté Shoes).  So if you have anyone left on your holiday list...start shopping!

To Caftan? Or not to Caftan?

Updated bohemian from twonewyork.com

Not to rub it in, but I have been spending a fair amount of time lately on the beach.  For modesty and comfort sake I have been making use of my favourite caftan/beach cover-up - a Virginia Johnson tunic I got at a sample sale with a cute elephant print (I am slightly obsessed with elephants, in case you haven't noticed).  It is nice, light and comfortable, and I have managed to convince myself that it doesn't scream Golden Girls.  I found some more that I love, and many of them have me daydreaming of cocktails on the beach, or in the backyard!  However, even on a tropical island I am not sure I could rock them in public.  What do you think - is there ever a place for caftans that doesn't involve sand... or Florida retirement homes?

Stunning Emersonmade.com

Grecian goodness from twonewyork.com (cute babe gratis)

Lovely caftan from etsy seller Georgia Williams

Long caftans from India-based etsy seller JustCottons

Mara Hoffman Number

SOOO lovely at LemLem.com

Have I mentioned I love lemlem.com?

Queen of Caftan Project Runway winner Anya Ayoung Chee

PS - Google Golden Girls.  The photos are hilarious.  It seems they mainly wore dressing downs, but Dorothy (Bea Arthur) seemed to like caftans over blouses...yikes.

I'm over at Recreated!

My lovely blogging buddy Lindsey at Recreated is home in NB and asked me to guest post while she is away.  Of course I had to do a New Brunswick-inspired post!  Check it out over here - I will include a little tease for you. :)

An Orange Dress

It is a really good thing that I already had my wedding - there are just too many beautiful ideas and photos out there. I think I would be even more overwhelmed and indecisive than I was when I planned it in 2003.  For example, I didn't even realize that I wanted needed an orange dress until I saw THIS gorgeous number.  It reminds me off that orange dress in Frederic Leighton's Flaming June, a poster of which hung in my room in university.

I love how it illuminates the grey weather of the wedding day, and the bridesmaid dresses and bouquets are no less vibrant.

Plus, I would have to invite all these people to the wedding, because they look so damn cool, which would put me WAAY over my 80 person cap.  Yes, it is a good thing I am already married.

As featured on Green Wedding Shoes (find more gorgeous photos and the whole story there). Photos by Christine Pobke, Wedding Dress: Aurelio Costarella, Found via A Few Things From My Life.

I Need Something Icy

Holy Hannah it is hot around these parts.  This thermometer in my car read 39 yesterday afternoon.  Add in that muggy humidity and it starts to feel like the heavy heat is actually pushing down on you.  Ugh.  We are fortunate to have one window unit in our otherwise un-airconditioned house, along with 5 fans. Together, they have made the days bearable, although nights are another matter.  But enough whinging.  Inspiration comes in many forms, and the oppressive heat lead me on a search for pretty, cold blue, icy things.  Even the model's look is icy cold.  (Sadly, it also meant getting Vanilla Ice stuck in my head... sing it with me: Ice, Ice, Baby....)  I hope this cools you down!

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6


Photo # 1 by: Grazia France

I Got A New Bathing Suit

Bathing suit shopping = evil.  The downward fluorescent lighting, the translucent skin, the socks... all conspire to make one wonder why the hell you were looking forward to summer.  Best way to kill any small, frightened, and defenceless glimmer of self-confidence. Also best way to feed the beast of self-loathing.  But I digress...

Despite all of the above, I managed to find this number recently.  I think this has to be one of my most favourite bathing suits I have ever bought.  The twisted top gives the illusion of a bust (work with me...), there are straps to keep me from embarrassing myself, the ruching on the sides (and tummy control technology) sucks it all in, the bottom provide ample coverage and the side can be pulled down over the hips to look like a 40's pin-up suit.  And it is red with polka dots!  Old Navy, my friends.  They had some awesome suits, many on sale.  Just because I'm on a tight budget doesn't mean I have to hide under a towel all summer!

Tempting Under Wraps Robes on Etsy

When it comes to robes, I seem to be a fickle fan.  Certainly in University, when showering meant padding down the hall with your basket of supplies in hand, robes were essential.  Since then, however, I don't find much use for them. There just aren't too many opportunities to lounge around in a robe at our house (yoga pants are another matter...).

My mother, on the other hand, uses them a lot, especially when she goes down south during the winter.  They make perfect sense in that warn humid climate, as pjs tend to be light and mornings lazy.  Get up, throw on a pretty robe, and enjoy a restful morning.  (umm.... why do I not visit them down south more often???)

These pretty robes by Etsy seller Under Wraps Robes out of San Francisco have me re-thinking my morning routine.   Who needs to hit the park first thing?  Or wait - I've got it - weekends!  Hubster can pack the kids off for fresh air shenanigans while I lounge about with a latte and my blogs on the iPad.  Oh gosh that sounds lovely.  Now to pick the perfect robe!  Any recommendations?  I think I like the top one...

Now PJ bottoms - these are my weakness.  Combine it with a camisole for sleeping and throw on the robe in the morning?  Perfect!

They would be great bridesmaid gifts too, especially if you have a girl's spa day planned.  Or Mother's Day?  I dare you to peruse Kate's shop and not try to come up with reasons to get one!  At $85 they are more than reasonable.  Which would you choose and for what occasion?