[ family room before and after ]

TODAY I thought I'd give you a little peek at my family room. This is the BEFORE when we viewed the house with the seller's furniture...

As you can see, their taste was quite traditional. But it's a great family room addition that they added on and the windows on three sides flood the room with such beautiful light. {It's amazing how big this room looks in these realtor photos ~ those wide angle lenses they use are deceiving!}

I started out by painting over the yellow walls with Benjamin Moore Cloud White CC-40 ~ a warm white that provides just a bit of contrast from the white trim. In some photos, it almost looks the same as the original walls but trust me, that yellow is GONE! My thought was to paint the room more of a pure white, but then we bought this new slipcovered sofa that was a bit more of a warm white so that dictated the colour {it's also the same colour I painted the kitchen}...

I absolutely love this Rowe sofa ~ what a difference from the Laura Ashley fiasco we purchased in Dubai and I didn't have to sew my own slipcover for it! Bonus!

Here is how the room looks now {without a wide angle lens!}...

It's been fun unwrapping our things from storage and combining them with items from Dubai and a few new pieces. Those of you who have been around for a while will recognize bits and pieces. We spend most of our time in this room and so far are loving how cozy it feels, while still feeling fresh.

We picked up two of these gorgeous chairs from Muskoka Living in Port Carling...

I love how they fit in so well without being bulky, still have the slipcovered look and add warmth with the wooden frame. They're down-filled so they're super comfy. Because the sofa is big in this space, I'm glad I didn't choose the matching slipcovered armchairs ~ it would have felt too heavy and crowded.

Now we just need to address the fireplace situation. We decided to put the tv above the fireplace since there really wasn't any other logical spot for it. I think I may want to frame it out somehow so that it doesn't look like a big black rectangle on the wall.

But first, the biggest question is... should I paint out the fireplace in the white trim colour?

I'm leaning a certain way but it's always fun to hear what you think!

lisa

[ boxes boxes everywhere! ]

IT'S moving day! And we're drowning in cardboard!

With 3 separate truck deliveries, checking off box numbers and directing boxes to the correct rooms has me wiped out, especially when some items won't be ending up in the same rooms they came from. It's tiring trying to decipher what the Dubai movers wrote on the boxes ~ lamp covers are lampshades, office side tables are filing cabinets, soft table is an ottoman... Luckily everything is in and tomorrow is reassembly/unpacking day ~ hopefully I can find a spot for everything! But when in doubt ~ into the basement it goes!

lisa

[ house keys! ]

TODAY is the day! After spending a couple of months in hotels, we finally have the keys to our new home! Our container of furniture from Dubai will be delivered tomorrow along with everything we've had in storage for 3 years ~ gosh, I don't even remember what we've got! It's going to be a busy week but I'm so excited to start settling in to our new home and start decorating! Stay tuned!

lisa

[ a new home! ]

WE'RE excited to say that our home inspection was successful and the sold sign is now up! Now we just have to wait until mid July to get the keys!

We love this home - an original tudor-style home built in the 20's with a couple of additions added on over the past 12 years. It has some really lovely details...

Older homes always have such lovely character that is difficult to replicate in new-build homes. And the current owners have done a great job of marrying the newer additions with the older home, making even the original red brick exterior and inlaid wood floors blend seamlessly. Their love for this home is evident.

I think it will be very easy to settle in and feel right at home. This truly feels like my dream home and I can't wait to get our things moved in and start decorating! 

lisa 

[ oh canada! ]

SO WE landed safe and sound and pushed a bit of luggage through customs to last us until our shipment arrives...

It's been great being back to the old stompin' grounds we left in 2005. Of course one of the things on the must-do list was getting my guy a decent hotdog and we knew just where to go ~ to see Jimmy at his hotdog cart outside of the Canadian Tire store...

Jimmy hasn't changed a bit and neither have his hotdogs ~ still $2 and loaded with bonus pieces of sausage. No other hotdog cart can compare...

We've also been house hunting and my goodness, prices are just not what they were 9 years ago when we left this city! I called up the agent who sold our house back then and he toured us around to some really cute ones. There's one that really stood out amongst the rest...and....we already put in an offer!!

It's on a pretty tree-lined street...

Just a home inspection to do this week and then hopefully it will be ours! {well, in a month or so}. I didn't expect to find one that we loved so quickly ~ maybe it was meant to be? Fingers crossed it all goes well!

So that's what we've been up to the past few days ~ busy! So happy to be back!

Happy weekend! And Happy Father's Day!

lisa

[ goodbye dubai ]

AND goodbye to expat life. It's been swell.

lisa

[ one week! ]

I CAN'T believe that we've only got one week left here in Dubai! Time is flying by and we'll be boarding the plane in no time. It's incredible how many odds and ends there are to wrap up ~ hours spent sitting in utility, municipal offices and banks to make sure that everything is closed off properly, money is wired home, letters obtained stating you owe nothing, etc. I thought arriving here was complicated but leaving is just as involved.

Amongst all this running around, it's given me plenty of time to dream about some of the little things I'm looking forward to back in Canada...

1. Normal street addresses ~ buildings with numbers, streets with names, giving and getting directions without having to think of a landmark

2. A decent hotdog, real bacon, good pizza with real pepperoni

3. No more bad B.O.

4. Walking through a mall without the heavy stench of incense burning through the corridor or people trying to spray you with perfume from every storefront

5. Target and Walmart ~ silly how you take these things for granted until you don't have them

6. Fresh fruit and vegetables that don't require a mortgage and stay fresh for longer than an hour

7. Shopping in a store without a clerk following 2 paces behind

8. No more converting dirhams to dollars in my head

9. A postal system that works and will actually deliver a package to me and not disappear

10. Customer service ~ whether in person or on the phone, someone who understands what I'm saying and can actually provide an answer  

11. Normal driving ~ no one riding your bumper and flashing their lights for you to move, or backing up on the highway because they've missed their exit, or driving in the middle of 2 lanes

12. Being in the same time zone as our friends and family

13. Nature ~ breathing fresh air, the smell of grass, trees, 4 seasons, even a thunderstorm

14. Friendly people ~ a smile from a stranger

It's certainly the little things that make all the difference. And in seven days, my dreams will all come true.

lisa

[via laurenconrad.com]

[ room with a view ]

SO OUR temporary digs are working out quite well ~ we're in a hotel apartment until we fly back to Canada for good in June. We've got some good views...

...and conveniently located right on the metro line for me to get around...

Of course living in a hotel apartment has its quirks... living out of a couple of suitcases is a bit of a challenge for an extended period of time ~ I think I'll be pretty tired of the clothes I've got in rotation right now. Our room has a gas stove, but the oven has no temperature controls at all ~ it's just either on or off so cooking is a bit of a challenge, but I suppose it's better than only having a microwave ~ I just need to keep a close eye on things. We've got 2 English TV channels and 3 English movie channels {the rest are assorted Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, German, French, Iranian} so TV watching is limited but there is a huge gym so being able to exercise inside while temps are 40C outside is a nice bonus.

Thanks for all of your sweet comments on our move back. We are super excited and I can't wait to have some new home buying/decorating topics to blog about!

lisa

[ life's decisions ]

HOW OFTEN have we all had to weigh the pros and cons of a major decision ~ is it the right choice? Is it a mistake? What does our gut tell us? Sometimes that's all we can go by ~ our gut. Taking a huge leap of faith that everything will work out the way we hope.

Well, we've reached that time ~ time to close the chapter on our expat adventures. It's been 7 1/2 years since we first moved overseas, first to Ireland and then to Dubai. Making that first leap was the hardest and I still remember the knots I felt in my stomach as I boarded the plane to what would be my new home for 4 1/2 years. I was excited and terrified at the same time. Adapting to a new country, trying to fit in, learning the lingo and hoping to make a friend ~ leaving behind everything familiar, friends and family, my comfort zone. I think we all imagine at one time or another what life would be like living in a foreign country and we certainly wear rose-coloured glasses thinking of how incredibly glamorous it would be. But I think only fellow expats can ever truly understand what it's really like and how incredibly difficult, stressful and lonely things can be at the same time. Living somewhere as an expat isn't like being on a holiday and while you are trying to settle into your temporary digs, life goes on back home ~ parents get older, nieces and nephews get bigger, friends make new friends.

We don't regret the leap we took ~ we have been able to experience different things and meet some interesting people. We've seen places we may not have seen otherwise {I certainly don't think we would have ever visited Dubai if we hadn't lived here!}. But we've also been on the receiving end of emails informing us of medical emergencies back home and undergone major surgeries ourselves with no support system to help us through. Those are the ups and downs of this type of life. If nothing else, being an expat has given me an entirely new appreciation for where I'm from and I'm excited to go back.

This has been our weekend ~ getting packed up and our container loaded for the slow boat shipment back to Canada. In 6-8 weeks we'll see our things again, hopefully ready to set up into a home we'll have for a while. We've got 3 weeks or so left in Dubai to tie up loose ends, do those last few things we haven't done here yet and say good-bye to some friends. But my world traveller days are over and I can't wait to be a Canadian resident again {and to shop for a home!}.

lisa

[via weheartit.com]

[ happy weekend! ]

SO THINGS are coming along ~ I've got most boxes unloaded, still a few piles of things to find a spot for {don't you hate how every place has different storage spots and somehow what you have just doesn't easily find a home?}.

Anyway, this weekend I'm hoping to get my guy to install some curtain rods {hopefully our neighbours haven't had too much of a show so far!} and maybe planning where to hang my art. I do enjoy starting again with a clean slate and mixing things up a bit from the apartment. I'm glad it's down to the fun part of moving now ~ the decorating.

Whatever you've got planned, have a great weekend!

lisa

[via sarahcatherinedesign]

[ we're in! ]

I'M happy to say that we are moved in! 9 guys showed up to pack and wrap our furniture on Saturday and had us all moved and furniture reassembled by 4pm!

Although they would have unpacked everything as well, I decided to let them do a few things and leave me with the rest to sort out on my own {sometimes it's just easier to figure out where things are going}. I'm buried under lots of cardboard but hopefully I'll be coming up for air soon!

lisa

[ moving week ]

I CALL it moving week because it's incredible how everyday seems to require something to be done prior to us moving in this coming Saturday....

deliveries...

our new fridge {before we switch the handles around}...

our new stove being assembled...

gas cylinder delivery for our stove...

... and making sure our water and electricity is on. It's been a hot few days and unfortunately our patch of grass in the garden is showing it ~ we're trying to water like crazy! Luckily there are many gardeners in our neighbourhood who ride around on their bikes with their rakes who pop in through the back gate to help water, cut the grass, rake up fallen blossoms and keep things tidy. Ours is named Abid.

I thought I'd share what our living room/ dining room space looks like {it's one room} so you can see what I'm working with...

I've never lived in an all-tiled space but it's the norm here {unless the owner has installed laminate over the tile like we have in our apartment}. I love the marble stairs...

most likely our tv wall?...

As you can see it's not a large room, but at least it's one rectangular space which should make fitting in our big dining room table fairly easy. Rooms always look deceiving without furniture ~ we'll see how we manage to fit everything in without looking cramped. I'm still trying to envision the furniture layout. Hopefully I'll have a good idea of where I want things to go without driving the movers crazy.

Anyway, that's where we're at for now. AC downstairs needs repairing {it's been 44C/111F this week so that's a priority!} but that should be done on Sunday. At least it's functioning upstairs so we can sleep on Saturday night. :) We'll be without tv/internet for a couple of days but hopefully we'll be up and running quickly!

lisa 

[ appliance shopping ]

ONE OF the cons about moving to a villa in Dubai is that you need to buy appliances {most apartments come with appliances included ~ at least kitchen ones}. I wasn't too thrilled to learn this, as it's just another expense for a temporary home.

I've been keeping my eye on Dubizzle, hoping that I can score a great deal from someone who may be moving away. But so far, I haven't really come across any worth the hassle of seeking out a guy with a truck to pick up and deliver for a fair price {plus, I don't know any guys with trucks and pick-up truck rentals here are non-existent}. So, plan B ~ buy new.

Actually, one of the pros about buying appliances in Dubai, is that they are strangely economical, at least compared to any we have bought in Canada. However, once we started looking, we realized a couple of things:

A: a standard electric stove like in Canada aren't common here and if you do find an electric one, they are very expensive
B: the space for the stove in most villas is wider than a standard stove and
C: everyone uses gas stoves since they are so inexpensive {even though gas comes in cylinders like this which are typically stored in a cupboard outside and piped in ~ which does freak me out a little bit}...

I'm not opposed to gas stoves ~ we've had them before and I do love cooking on them. Baking, on the other hand, is not my favourite with gas so I decided to opt for an electric oven if possible.

This is the one we ended up choosing...

...a stainless La Germania made in Italy with gas burners and electric oven. This looks like the high-end industrial type of stove you would buy in Canada but this is what typical stoves look like here. And while this would sell for about $4000 back home, here it's a quarter of that price! Like I said, strangely economical.

Choosing a fridge, we had to find one a little narrower than standard and so we chose this beauty:

...a stainless Liebherr made in Germany, counter depth with a bottom-mount freezer and reversible handles {which we need in order for it to open the correct way}. And again, for a mere fraction of what you would spend in Canada! I'm seriously loving this whole appliance shopping thing here!

Throw in a dishwasher and those babies are on their way to the villa next week. And, we get the keys tomorrow ~ can't wait!!

So, that's what I'm up to over here. Now if I only knew what length of curtain rods I need...

lisa

[ sorting things out ]

SO, it appears that we have sorted out our moving dilemma. We have had to find another villa to move into {disappointing}, but the good news is that we were able to find something. It's not an end unit anymore surrounded by trailing flowers and pretty park area, but it does have a little yard that backs out onto the walking trail to the community pool/park {not too bad}.

I suppose the upside is that we will have possession of the property sooner so our move-in date is only a week and a half away! So it may be looking a bit like this around here...

Let the chaos begin!

lisa

[boxes pic: via hightouchmoving.com]

[ rollin' with it ]

IT'S NO secret that life is full of ups and downs. And sometimes when things seem too good to be true, they probably are...

It seems that we may have hit a snag with our upcoming move and all the plans we've made could all be up in the air. I've never had to learn to be as patient and flexible as I have here in Dubai. Nothing seems to go smoothly ~ there's always some kind of glitch or frustration ~ something to throw a monkey wrench into the plans. I'm learning to roll with it but it isn't always easy. 

And so our weekend will consist of trying to find some way to get things back on track. Wish me luck that we can get things sorted out! 

Hope your weekend rolls smoothly! Have a happy one!

lisa

[ house hunting ]

WELL, judging from your comments and emails, it's a tough choice between an apartment or a villa. Believe me, I have agonized over it.

But we've made a decision... a villa!

I think it ultimately boiled down to a simple thing, really.... what can I control and what can I not? And the answer was pretty simple ~ I can't control other people ~ not their habits, lifestyles or cuisine. And knowing how my sanity has been stretched to the limit with neighbour noise and odours, I just couldn't risk moving into another apartment and potentially dealing with the same thing all over again. Most places require you to pay for an entire year of rent upfront and sign a lease, so it's not an easy situation to get out of here in Dubai. So it's a gamble. And one that I wasn't willing to take again, no matter how much I love the convenience and location.

And so, after hitting the streets and touring some neighbourhoods, we've decided on Arabian Ranches...

...a large gated community about 20 minutes from the heart of downtown Dubai. It's got quite a nice vibe to it with a lovely community spirit. Driving around reminded us of our visit to Scottsdale, Arizona ~ you almost forget you're in Dubai...

It's divided into smaller enclaves, with homes varying from huge villas to attached villa/townhouses. The developer has done a nice job of including plenty of park space, community pools/tennis courts and a few man-made lakes with walking trails. It really does feel like a little oasis in the desert...

We were only out looking at the layout options, but happened to view one where the owners were looking to move out at the end of June and it was perfect ~ an end unit, backing onto a park with a pretty little backyard...

... and all for less than what we would pay to rent our current 2 bedroom apartment in the same building we're in now with the hike in rental prices. I think the sound of birds chirping instead of traffic and construction noise clinched it for me.

I know I'll need to work out the location situation ~ that's the biggest Con on my list. But I think it will feel a lot more normal for us to live in a villa since we've never really been apartment dwellers. I'm ready for a change. I can't wait to feel the grass between my toes and have a solid night's sleep!

lisa