It was two years ago that I married HandyMan in a beautiful courtyard on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I could not have envisioned the fantastical journey the last two years have been. When I said I do, there were many things I hoped our life together would be. And it is! My life is full. My heart is full. You HandyMan and Chloe make it so. Happy Anniversary, love.
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You can read more about our wedding from these past posts here, here, and here.
The internets are abuzz with word that Pier 1 will be closing its doors by December 2009. I'm not sure if this true of all stores in the US and Canada, nor if this is true at all, but for sure I'll be popping into my local store soon to see if there are any deals to be had. I haven't bought too much from Pier 1 but find its one of those places that occasionally has hidden gems if you look hard enough. A few things I've spied in their online catalogue:
This tufted chair would be lovely as an accent chair in a bedroom. Or pair six of them around a dining table. I like how there is a coordinating damask fabric on the back.
These chairs have a wonderful, colonial type feel. A nice chair to have in the kitchen.
A sparkly mosaic shell mirror. This would be divine in a washroom. Love the gold tones in it. Did you know gold-tone faucets are coming back in vogue?
This leggy console table would look fab in an all white room.
Love this bamboo chair in black. I'd pair it with a bright floral print cushion and put it in the sunroom. If I had a sunroom :o\
I am crushing on four poster beds these days. This one is so versatile too, and I like the simple shaker design.
A nice lounge chair in ikat fabric. The green and brown is a lovely combination. I like the curvy feet too. Two of these would look great in a living room, alongside a roaring fireplace.
Mmm, nailhead trim. Love that detail. And the tight back. Love that too. This sofa could work in a traditional or contemporary setting.
And the winner is...
Lisa at Just Over The River! Congratulations Lisa. Send me your address at ramblingrenovators@gmail.com and the issue will be on its way to you!
It's not only me connecting the dots. It's all of us.
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Have you entered to with the Canadian House & Home Makeovers giveaway? Contest ends tonight!
Leah's post made me smile. And so did this.
Baby Chloe, Baby John & Baby Aiden
Time for a giveaway here at Rambling Renovators! I just picked up this magazine for myself and have another one to give to one lucky reader. Canadian House & Home is my fave home design magazine and some tout it as "the next Domino". You'll have to judge if that's true, but here's a few pics to whet your appetite. This is one of their special publications, "Makeovers", so I'm pretty sure its only available on Canadian newsstands. 
How to win: Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favourite design magazine is. Contest closes Thursday, August 20th, 10pm EST. The winner will be selected using random.org and I will announce on Friday. Good luck!
A funny little thing has happened in my part of the blogging universe. It started with this chance meeting. HandyMan and I came face to face with someone, a stranger, who had read our blog. And over the last few weeks, the strangeness has continued. I've made some new blog friends and in fact proved true to my house-stalking tendencies and showed up at some of these blogger's houses ready to take a peek at their torn down walls and borrow some of their decorating ideas. And they welcomed us in (hi Jen & Dave!). And they've brought over their little kiddos to meet Chloe (hi Lisa!). Remarkably, as blogging has made my world bigger... by exposing my home and style and point of view to many others... it has made my world smaller... by introducing me to people in my own back yard.
I guess that's the power of "social networking", as they call it. Via this little blog, I've picked up design clients for my new interior decorating business. I've learned of new sources for tiles and toilets, discovered useful renovation tips, and received helpful reader feedback. I've virtually met blog friends in a similar state in life - old house, newly married, starting a family. For me, the line between virtual and reality is becoming increasingly blurred. I kind of like it.
The spiritual side of me says that there are no coincidences and there are reasons things are happening here and now. As a new parent, I find we're giving our life a bit of an overhaul - making new couple friends, new mommie friends (I'm sure many of you other parents have done the same?). As well, I'm trying to build a new career, one that will allow me to stay at home with the little one. So, I take these things as signs of moving in the right direction.
Or maybe I'm just overthinking these things and who knows, I could have encountered these people and made these connections just by bumping into them on the street. Whatever it is, things are feeling rejuvenated here at the HandyLuster household.
I so love Amy Butler. I have a Baby Hawk carrier, a nursing cover, and a stroller blanket with some of her whimsical designs. And now they feature her designs on rugs! How beautiful are these...
They would look perfect in a nursery or a tween girl's bedroom. I would love this one below in my master bedroom. The colours are so serene. It would provide the perfect hit of colour in an all-white room.
Found via Ohdeedoh.
Most times when we buy things for the house, HandyMan and I weigh if its a "want" or a "need". We don't want to accumulate too much stuff and for the most part, we're pretty good at filling our home with things that fill both criteria. Rarely do we buy something just because of its aesthetic beauty, just because we have to have to have to have it. 
Well, sometimes you just have to give in to that urge. We bought this totally-cute-but-totally-unnecessary hot air balloon for Chloe's room. For now, it sits hanging from the window shelf where Chloe can watch it as a soft breeze sets it swaying to and fro. Yes, I know that it will be many years before my little one can appreciate the prettiness of this thing. But sometimes mom and dad have to be a little indulgent ;o).
We found the balloon at the cuuuutest store, Little Lola. The store focuses on vintage toys and natural organic and wooden products. Its worth a visit if you're looking for unique and meaningful gifts for children.
I mentioned in this post that I was considering painting Chloe's chair a robin's egg blue. Here's a pic I came across which shows exactly that look. Hmmm, not sure if I like it or not. It seems a little trendy, though I do love the colour.
Image from Room Service, found via Elements of Style
When I read this post over at Habitually Chic, I was troubled by it. Blogging takes some time and effort so when someone else blatantly steals your words, its disheartening and deflating. And then I found out the offender was Canadian, and a respected Canadian designer I had on my blog roll no less! Well, she isn't on my blog roll anymore. No real point to this post other than I think that's a horrible thing to do to another blogger.
Now for some good Canadian bloggy content, feel free to check out the new widget on the left. I've listed some great Toronto reno and design blogs. Some of these bloggers actually live in my neighbourhood... so they shouldn't be surprised when they catch me peeking in their windows to see what they're up to ;)
It's a long weekend here. We plan on spending it doing some of our favourite things... road tripping, window shopping, people watching, lazy breakfast eating and Saturday morning paper reading. Yesterday, we took a walk by the beach to get us geared up for all this activity. What a wonderful way to start a summer weekend. Hope yours is just as enjoyable.
