[ 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

[ road trip to al ain ]

I ALWAYS love a road trip and yesterday we decided to take a drive out to Al Ain, about 120 km south of Dubai. Also known as The Garden City for it's lush greenery, it's the birthplace of the first president of the UAE and has the highest number of Emirati nationals. Weather in Al Ain is less humid making it a popular destination for many people escaping the coastal cities in the summer.

With its tree-lined streets and many opulent villas, it's a very pretty place to visit...

It's always interesting to see the traditional bits...

and the new Tim Hortons was a welcome sight!

One of the main attractions of Al Ain is Jebel Hafeet mountain so we decided to drive up it to see what all the fuss was about...

It didn't seem very big from below but driving up the 8 degree winding road was quite fun...

There are a few lookout points along the way so you can stop and admire the view...

The mountain straddles part of the border with Oman. At the foothills is the Green Mubazarrah, where hot springs gush up in little streams and form a lake ~ a popular tourist attraction.

We continued our drive up past various signs ~ not sure if they were warnings or welcomes...

... and finally reached the top.

At the top is a hotel, a private palace, a snack bar and a parking area with 360 degree views...

There were a lot of people there and some got into the weekend spirit by cranking their car stereo and dancing in the parking lot...

After admiring the endless view, we grabbed some snacks and headed back down...

We had a great day and now that the temps are hovering around the 40C range, a road trip in air conditioned comfort is a great way to still enjoy the sights.

lisa

[ hello! ]

I'M BACK! Gosh, it sure feels like I was gone a long time! We were talking about that in the cab from the airport how it felt like we had been gone from here forever.

We had a great trip back to Canada and it was so nice to see the folks and the siblings! Unfortunately we didn't see any cherry blossoms ~ everything's having a slow start this spring. The weather was pretty crappy ~ I think any rain we may have missed living here in Dubai, we made up for on our trip. But we still enjoyed the fresh air and sights.

Well, back to real life. Now to unpack and start the laundry...

lisa

[via naturesdoorways.tumblr]

[ hippity hoppity ]

WE ARE headed to Canada to see our folks and take a little break. I wonder if the Easter Bunny will find us there?

Have a wonderful Easter!

lisa

[ antique breadboards ]

WHILE rearranging my display cabinet after all the holiday bits and bobs were put away, I realized that I hadn't shown you my little antique breadboard...

I've been on the lookout for antique breadboards and I've found that they aren't always that easy to come by. I picked up this one while roaming around the big Paris flea market...

Of course my guy just rolled his eyes in disbelief that I was going to lug around an old chunk of wood with me all day and bring it home in my suitcase. But that's me and I do those kinds of crazy things!

I just love the warmth and character they give to a space, especially a white kitchen...

For now I have it displayed with a couple of my little jugs but I'm looking forward to giving it a spot of honour in my next white kitchen.

Do you love them as much as I do?

lisa

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[ the aran sweater ]

MY GUY just returned from a business trip to Ireland and brought me back this lovely Aran sweater made from soft 100% merino wool...

so that I can look as cute as this {note the denim shirt underneath}...

It's funny because we lived there for 4 years and I never bought myself one!

Aran sweaters ~ aka fisherman sweaters {or jumpers as they're referred to in Ireland} have been around since the 19th century and originated on the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland at the mouth of Galway Bay. Originally they were handknit by the wives of fisherman from undyed, unscoured wool which retained its natural lanolin oil and made them water resistant. 

The sweaters are distinguished by their complex stitch patterns and each have a significance: the cable is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing, the honeycomb is the symbol of the hard-working bee, the basket stitch represents the hope for a plentiful catch, and the diamond a wish of success, wealth and treasure.

Eventually island women began producing these sweaters not just for their families but as a source of income.

These sweaters have seen a resurgence in popularity and have become a fashion must this year, a true wardrobe classic.

The Aran Sweater Market since 1892 on Inis Mor, the largest of the 

three Aran Islands

Looking for a genuine Aran sweater but no plans to be in Ireland anytime soon? Try the Aran Sweater Market online shop!

Of course you can always try to find an imitation at places like LLBean, JCrew, Brooks Brothers, ASOS.com. etc. Either way, you'll still look fashionable...

How about you? Do you own an Aran sweater? Will you be adding one to your fall/winter wardrobe this year?

lisa

[via aransweatermarket; LLBean; models.com; nichollvincent.blogspot; lolobu.com; chictopia.com; stylezen.net; swandiamondrose.tumblr; michaelkors; dailycrush.net; trendymadness.blogspot]