[ jet-setting ]

WELL I'M off again across the pond! Bags are packed, iPod loaded and mags are ready. I'm getting pretty good at this last-minute packing thing. It's only been a couple of months since I came back from Ireland but it feels like I've been away forever - I wonder what the weather is doing there...? Anyway, I'll see you all from Dublin on Tuesday for a very special day!

lisa

[ my nice jugs! ]

I'VE ALWAYS been a huge fan of ironstone jugs displayed on shelves and country hutches. There's just something about their shapes, feminine handles and details that look so pretty grouped together.

[ country living, better homes and gardens, good life of design]

So when I came across an assortment of jugs at Homesense, I immediately loaded them into my cart. At $12.99 and $9.99 each, I could afford to pick up a few and start my own jug collection on my vintage hutch. Though they're not antique ironstone, they're a good start to a collection and I can keep adding to them as I find pretty ones in my travels.

For now they occupy the top shelf and I think they look cute mixed in with my other pieces. Hopefully someday my entire hutch will be filled with fabulous jug finds.

lisa

[ little bits of pretty ]

FEELING LIKE winter will never end? How about tackling a handicraft to make the winter go by faster? I love that all of these charming projects have intricate individual pieces of pattern and colour.

some lovely grannies...

some charming embroidery hoop art...

 

or some intricate cookies...

I love each one of these and while my cookie icing skills may not be up to snuff, replicating them as little square canvases with paint is definitely doable. How about you? Are you working on any craft projects to distract you from winter?

lisa

[ step right up ]

LOOKING TO add some pizzazz to your stairs? How about injecting some pattern? If you're a little bored of the typical carpet runner, these staircases show that a little time, creativity and paint can transform them into show-stoppers. I wish my home had a second floor!

lisa

[frenchbydesign; happilynested; kate spade]

[ feeling all white and I'd like to thank the academy...]

I'VE GOT A THING FOR pretty accent chairs and I love how this white one could be used anywhere - a bedroom, living room or even a bathroom. I also love the use of black frames for punctuation and the alphabet board is so charming (for some reason it reminds me of the old Ouija board we used to have as kids.)

[meandalice]

I've also been feeling pretty popular over the past couple of weeks - I've been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by not one but 4 fellow bloggers (!!!) and I am beyond flattered! Thanks to Janell, Meeling  Anita and Chania:

The rule of accepting this award is to share 7 things that people may not know about me and pass the award along to other lovely bloggers to do the same. So here we go...

1) I don't like to separate my OREOs. 2) I used to sew doll clothes when I was little and taught my friends how to make them too. 3) I always make my bed as soon as I get up. 4) I once had a summer job at a mine site cleaning men's change rooms and doing their stinky laundry. 5) I preferred the job I had selling cosmetics. 6) I used to move my furniture around a lot as a kid [which may be an indicator as to why I love decor so much!] 7) Shania Twain bought one of my bags last summer and Hello Canada magazine mentioned it in an article about her [I almost fainted!]

I'd love to pass along this award to these lovely bloggers whose blogs are always a fun and inspirational visit:

Simone at Beach Vintage

Will at Bright.Bazaar

Janis at Pinecone Camp

Kellie at Ada+Darcy

Suze at Dwellers Without Decorators

Sarah at Flourish Design + Style

Anna at In Honor of Design

Thanks again for the honour and if you haven't yet met these bloggers, be sure to stop by and say hello! 

[Don't forget to check out my 40% off sale I've got going on here.]

lisa

[ 40% off sale! ]

HAPPY MONDAY everyone! I hope you had a lovely weekend! We had a great time at the party - the music was awesome so we really busted some moves on the dance floor! (or at least we thought so!)

I've got a 40% off sale going on in my shop this week so be sure to stop by here or here and snag yourself a great one-of-a-kind bag at an amazing price! Happy shopping!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

CAN YOU believe it's already Friday again? This week feels like it's flown by. This weekend we're going to my guy's post-holiday staff celebration so it will be fun to get all dressed up, eat a fancy dinner and boogie the night away. What do you have planned for the weekend?

[And as for the Louboutins - a girl can dream!]

lisa

[ thrifting for bottles ]

OLD BOTTLES are so charming - I love their shapes and colours and I often imagine the stories of what they held inside and who used them. Occasionally I come across pics of old bottles displayed in various ways.

While I was out rummaging through my favourite Habitat for Humanity Restore, I came across a few grungy bottles and decided to give them a new home. Some were pretty filthy with dried up soil inside so I knew they'd need a bit of a sprucing up before I'd be displaying them anywhere. 

But after a bit of scrubbing, I think they look pretty great. For now I've popped a couple of blooms inside and they add a cheerful little hint of spring even though we're still in the depths of winter.

lisa

[1, 7 me and alice; dreamywhites; house of turquoise; whatnot; 

living etc; chic coles; 8, 9 lisaroy]




This post is linked up to Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground.

[ rise and shine gorgeous! ]

I'VE BEEN DOING some thinking about how we can update our bathroom and when I came across this beautiful room, it stopped me in my tracks. I love everything about it - how they worked around the window and still managed to fit in double sinks, the gorgeous mirror and trio of sparkly pendant lights. The fresh palete and those incredible sinks and faucets... how could you not want to greet this stunning room every morning?

lisa

[inredningsbloggen]

Be sure to stop by Janell's blog Isabella & Max Rooms to enter to win this gorgeous set of Ikat bowls from Anthropologie!

[ more snow means a reading day! ]

SO OUR FRIGID temperatures have now warmed up to bring on more snow - at least 6 inches so far overnight and it keeps coming! Mother Nature is a funny gal! Good day to stay in and curl up with a book.

I picked up this new coffee table book after the holidays and I'm loving it! The simple, relaxed style feels comfy and easy - just the way a home should feel. Nothing trendy, just pretty classics that never grow old and a sprinkling of vintage. I never tire of relaxed cottage style. How about you?

lisa