{ sick snuggle bug }

My sweet Grant is feverish today. Poor thing. He just wants to lay quietly with Leo, the lion, and his favorite blanket.

Jack, thank goodness, is healthy  He's chosen "sick" as the word of the day.  He's really into writing on his little chalkboard. My sick little bean would rather catch up with Elmo.

Hope your word of the day is something much better like "Awesome" or "Chocolate" or "Giggles". ;)

{ perfect day for pancakes! }

Hotcakes, flapjacks, johnnycakes - whatever you call them, there's no better day than today to dig into a yummy stack because it's National Pancake Day! Are you celebrating with a big, fruit-filled stack?

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We're off to celebrate with a very special family breakfast. 

 I  hope you are too.  Can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning! :)

{ i am loving... }

Old Navy these days!  Check out these very Anthro-esque lovelies they've got going on right now-a big departure from their usual basics.  I am digging these quirky, small scale prints.  I picked up the coral canine number.

birds,  kittens&dogs

Oh, and I'm pretty much drooling over all of these fun frocks.

flowers&butterflies,  dotty pleated chiffon

These are all marked down now too! Yippeeee!

{ good enough (for now) gallery wall }

You know how you have a project that seems to just drag on and on, even though it seems pretty simple to complete?  Well, I have WAY too may such projects happening at pretty much all times, so I've taken to a new philosophy regarding such matters.....

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Finished is better than perfect.  Isn't that just wonderful?!  I LOVE it.  This really resonates with me because the perfectionist in me has a tendency to obsess about every minor detail when doing any project, and sometimes I let that get in the way of actually finishing a project.  It's not fun, and I'm not going to let that happen anymore!  Because, if you ask me, FINISHED is better than perfect.

So here's my finished (for now), but not perfect, kitchen gallery wall.

It was sorta just half finished for months and months.  I kept overthinking what to put on this wall.  But, one day, I decided to just take 30 minutes (I actually set a timer, because I'm strange like that) and dig into my pile of  'things to frame some day'.  I got to framing and hanging, and after 30  minutes, a wonderful thing happened: I was FINISHED! ;)

It's bright and cheerful, and it has a lot of personal elements, and art prints that really capture who we are as a family,
which is all that really matters to me.

Here's one more photo that shows where everything came from.
 Some of my goodies were FREE ;)

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  Whew!  Dang, it feels good to actually finish something!  I'm now on a mission to turn virtually every wall in our house into a fun wall like this one.  I've gathered some great ones for inspiration right here.

h  a  p  p  y     w  e  e  k  e  n  d  !

{ making me smile...}

this impossibly charming "love birds diorama"craft from House of Humble.   It's meant to be a Valentine craft, but I think it's a wonderful way to welcome Spring too.

      Could it be any sweeter?!  Check out the how-to right over here.

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                  I want to make about five of these cuties!

{ frilly friday }

I've done some shopping this month, and upon taking inventory of my newly acquired goodies, I noticed that I purchased several similar-looking feminine, frilly, icey-pink tops.  Oops.  I didn't even notice until I saw them all hanging in my closet together, like a little trio of sisters ;)

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I can also recall a time in the past when I bought four navy striped tops in one week. When I get on board with a trend, it seems I really get on board.  Does this ever happen to you?

                h  a  p  p  y    w  e  e  k  e  n  d  !

{ kisses, hearts, and giggles }

               Wishing you a day filled with kisses, hearts, and giggles.

{ craving color }

I think I'm just really craving Spring, to be honest. This weekend was especially cold with a dose of the white stuff.  And although it was sunny, it was a brutal reminder that Spring is still awhile off, at least in these parts. I want to see flowers blooming out my front window! That's not happening anytime soon, so I'm going to just have to cultivate some colorful things right here...

This space is getting the job done. This booth by Canada's Style at Home magazine at last year's Toronto Design Show is UN-BELIEVE- ABLE.  I've had these images saved in my 'eye candy' file for over a year, and I could still look at them pretty much all day.  Their use of happy, bright hues and the mix of patterns is downright smile-inducing.

This is a trade show booth, people!  I want to move right in and never leave. Who needs a fourth wall and a ceiling? ;)  Love this tablescape.

Check out the incredibly ingenious use of paint can lids.

How great are this paint cans-turned-pendant-lights? Oh, and those fantastic stripey floors have been copied time and again since this show.

A view of the third wall. Love that bold green.

I think this mural is really quite lovely.

* Style at Home booth at IDS Toronto 2011, designed by Margot Austin in collaboration with Beauti-Tone Paints. painted mural by Alanna Cavanagh

              I hope your week is off to a colorful start too!

{ the love list... }

...also known as the goodies I wouldn't mind receiving for Valentine's Day.

Are you reading this, Mr. P&P?  Ha, probably not! ;)

1. Cupcakes. Oh, cupcakes. Can you ever go wrong with them?  

I'm thinking nope.

2. An indulgent, aromatic, spa pedicure - complete with exfoliating scrub treatment, hot towel wrap, and a paraffin dip.  

Oh, and  bottomless mimosas.

3. A candlelit dinner. Preferably somewhere warm, wooded and enchanted like this action above.  Heck, who am I kidding?  I'd settle for a dinner at a restaurant without high chairs. 

4. Ranunculas.  My hubby scores extra points with me every February 14th by choosing these romantic lovelies over the very expected roses. 

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h  a  p  p  y    w  e  e  k  e  n  d  !

{ chair change - ups }

I know I've professed my insane obsession for chairs in the past. Well, the love affair continues, my friends. Lately, I've been head over heels for all the amazing thrifted chair makeovers I've been spying.

I mean, just look at these fantasticly modern "afters". 

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This one is my all time fave.

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      I've been scouring Craigslist for a couple of wingbacks in need of some LOVE. Wish me luck in my hunt ;)

{ color combo crush - red and pink }

Every time February rolls around, I seem to develop a crush on vibrant reds mixed with pinks - both light and bright.  I just love these deliciously cheerful images.

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        These colors are just so HAPPY together, doncha think?!

{ bow wow (7th!) birthday }

My favorite Boston Terrier is seven years young today!
 We celebrated with a very special doggy cupcake (recipe here).

You know I love a cute birthday hat. 

 Couldn't resist making one for the puppers.

I love it!  But somebody was not really a fan.

The pupcake passes the sniff test!

And it didn't stand a chance!

After reading this tragic story this week, I was

 inspired to make this little, doggy love print.

This Roger Caras quote is one that I hold near and dear.

 Oh, and I made some to share too ;)

(click on the pic below to download and print your 

own 5x7, in the color of your choice.)

We love you, Georgia!

                       Don't furry friends make life so much sweeter!?!       
  

                        h a p p y   w e e k e n d !