[ show me a sign ]

TODAY I decided to create a sign ~ a sort of mile marker sign from our old stomping grounds. Nothing fancy but easy...

I started with a thin piece of wood 24"x4". I gave it a coat of flat white paint. After typing out what I wanted it to say, I printed it out IN REVERSE on my inkjet printer and taped the pieces together.

To transfer the text to the wood, I used a Prismacolor Colorless Blender pen {picked up from the art supply store} and a spoon...

I just taped the paper to the wood printed side down and coloured over each letter with the colourless marker ~ it transferred the inkjet ink onto the wood...

After each letter while still wet, I rubbed over it with a spoon to make sure it transferred...

Once all letters were transferred, I painted over them with a paint pen {or you could use a small paintbrush}...

I wanted the letters a little bit faded and the sign to look slightly weathered but still quite white overall. After some sanding, a tiny bit of ageing with brown around the edges and some touching up with white paint over top which I rubbed on with a damp rag, here it is...

I'm not sure where it will go for now, but I think I'll add it to our future gallery wall {I know, I'm still talking about it but I swear I'm planning it out for when we move into our new apartment in a few months!}

Have you worked on any little projects lately?

lisa

[ mint skies ]

I'M in love with this gorgeous kitchen! I love the warm white cabinetry and all the beautiful details...

...that vaulted mint ceiling (BM Windy Sky) and oversized lantern over the island...

...the hood fan hidden behind gorgeous millwork and cabinetry that feels like furniture...

... the sconces and honed marble countertops...

Definitely a kitchen I could live with forever. How would you describe your dream kitchen?

lisa

[canadian house & home]

[ beachy keen ]

IT'S NO secret that retiring to a beach house someday is always on my mind. What makes the idea so appealing is that beach houses are simple and laid-back, typically not very big, are usually filled with painted furniture and panelled walls, and are all about the view. Like this one...

But until then, we can always plan our summer holidays. Maybe rent a beach cottage again somewhere this year.

What about you? Could you imagine a beach house life someday?

lisa

[house and leisure]

[ new bits ]

THERE ARE a couple of new bits around here...

first, some new GAP Skimmer Legging Jeans...

I love how they look and how comfy they are {don't let the word "legging" scare you ~ there's nothing I dread more than tight white pants and these are anything but}

pretty in other colours too...

second, a new Crate & Barrel Ibiza Raspberry pillow...

I thought it would add a lovely punch of colour with my white/aqua/navy/linen colour scheme...

AND... West Elm is open!!!

Gosh, I wish they had been open when we first moved here and I needed to shop for our apartment! But I'm sure I'll be finding something to buy!

What's new with you?

lisa

[2, via jseverydayfashion.com; 3, crate and barrel]

[ juicy fruit ]

THERE'S something about this crazy pairing of watermelon walls and tangerine rug that grabbed me. It's not a combination I would typically think of but there's just something about it that I love.

How about you? Could you pair these juicy fruits together in your home?

lisa

[via ruthie sommers]

[ happy weekend! ]

A FEW wise words for the weekend...

Have a good one!

lisa

[via piccsy.com]

[ from curtain panel to...? ]

OK, I've kept you in suspense long enough. I know you're dying to know what I did with that curtain panel.

Well, I think most of you know that I'm a huge fan of a pretty tunic top. Looks great with white jeans or linen pants in the summer or skinny jeans in the winter. So much cuter and prettier than a t-shirt. I really can't get enough of them.

And so, here it is!

Isn't it cute? I love the casual peasant style of it and it's so comfy...

I wanted to add some beads to the velvet ribbon drawstring just for detail but I didn't have any on hand. Instead, I sewed a button on the front and back of each end and I think it does the trick!

This is the pattern I used for it...

It's a downloadable pdf pattern purchased from Sew Mama Sew. The great thing is you just print out the pages you need for your size, which style of sleeve you want {straight or bell}, tape them together and you're off and running! 

There are cutting lines for various lengths so you can make it as a shirt, tunic or dress. The best part is that it's a very easy pattern - no fussy fitting of sleeves or complicated facings ~ just the way I like it! And when I discovered that a single curtain panel or twin size sheet has just the right amount of fabric, that was even better {saved me a trip to the fabric store}. I love to repurpose things and this worked perfectly. {tip: use a very thin cotton}

So what do you think? A good use of a curtain panel?

lisa

linking to Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Somewhat Simple

[ the perfect pasta salad ]

LOOKING for the perfect pasta salad recipe? I think this is it! Some pasta salads are so bland, especially after refrigerating {why is that?} but this one really seems to keep its flavour. You can leave it plain, or add diced chicken, bits of cooked bacon or tuna like I did here...

lisa's perfect pasta salad

what you need:

2 1/2 cups uncooked shell or spiral pasta

1 small carrot, diced small

1/4 cup diced green pepper or cucumber

1/4 cup diced celery

1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 hard cooked egg, chopped {optional}

3/4 cup fresh broccoli florets {optional}

dressing:

1/2 cup light Hellmans mayo

1/4 cup prepared ranch salad dressing

3 tbsp milk

1 tbsp dried minced onion

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp dried parsley flakes

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp yellow mustard

how to:

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and rinse in cold water.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, veggies, cheese {and egg if using}. 

In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients; pour over top and toss to coat. Stir in chicken, bacon or tuna if desired.

yum!

Oh! And my favourite tuna to use...

...super flavourful with the added benefit of olive oil which I probably don't get enough of in my diet.

lisa

[ weekending ]

SO WITH my guy back in Canada for a week, I'm having a quiet, relaxing weekend just puttering around.

Yesterday after walking to the Marina Mall, I decided to take a load off and enjoy a ride back on the water bus...

for only 2 dirhams {about 50 cents}, I saved myself a 25 minute walk and enjoyed a 5 minute boat ride from the mall right back to my apartment...

mr. bus driver...

it's fun to see the buildings from the water...

and I'm home...

My guy is enjoying some of the things that we always miss being away from Canada and like the brat that he is, had to email me a pic of his lunch yesterday {one of my favourite things}...

What was I having? Well, I decided to whip up my perfect pasta salad and threw some tuna in it. My guy hates tuna so I had it exactly the way I like it {I'll post the recipe this week}...

I also did a bit of sewing which I haven't done in a while. You'll never guess what I transformed this into...

You'll have to stayed tuned for the reveal {I know, I'm such a tease!}

So, what's your weekend been like?

lisa

[ worry wart ]

I ADMIT, I always worry when my guy leaves on a flight somewhere. But watching Good Morning America only to find out he's flying into the Monster Blizzard of 2013, it doesn't make it any easier.

Hopefully flights are landing in Toronto today and he'll get there safe and sound. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE: couldn't land in Toronto due to weather - diverted to Washington. Not a great start to his business trip. :(

UPDATE: he's finally in Toronto. that was one long 23 hours on that plane! At least he's safe! 

Thanks for your good vibes :)

lisa

[via emirates247.com]

[ compact cuteness ]

NOW THAT I've been living in 2 bedroom apartments as an expat, I've developed a total appreciation for small space living ~ that is, how to do it and not feel cramped.

This 550 square foot Manhattan apartment feels so big and airy - more so than our space does at double the size!

I think this is a great example of how pale colours can really help to expand the space and bounce the light around. With little contrast between walls and furniture, big pieces just blend into the walls and help to make the space feel surprisingly large. I also love the pale pink, although, there's probably a bit too much of it for my guy to live with. Maybe a pale grey or pale aqua with the white...?

Do you live in a small space? Do you have any tricks to make it feel larger?

lisa

[style at home]