Monday 30 January 2012

Dress it up!


Easy. Comfortable. Simple. These are usually the 3 things my clients want when it comes to their wardrobe.  Not surprisingly, the majority of my clientele are mothers.  If given the choice between more sleep or more style, sleep would win hands down.

So here is my number one tip to looking put-together without putting in a lot of time or effort. Trust me, it's doable... grab a dress!  It's not as crazy as it sounds. I promise.  Really, there is nothing easier than throwing on a dress in the morning.  It can be worn loose fitting or belted. For a night out with friends or picking up the kids from school.  It can be worn with jeans, leggings or tights. Heels, flats or boots.  Add a necklace or scarf and you are good to go!

     Night Out





Easy. Comfortable. Simple. Chic!

Friday 27 January 2012

say yippie!

I am constantly amazed by how many mom bloggers are out there!  All working hard to find balance between family life, work life, the pushes and pulls of being a mom, friend, daughter and wife.  I am also extremely impressed with how creative moms are. Definitely putting my crafting abilities to shame!  But it does inspire me to do more. Try more. Learn more. Create more.

One of these mom blogger extraordinaire happens to be a good friend of mine and the source of inspiration for me to start blogging.  Jillian Murphy is a mom of two, wife, Naturopathic Doctor, artist, foodie, crafter, health enthusiast, DIY'er and business owner.  Yes, she does it all!

I have no doubt that Jill's blog, say yippie, will also inspire you. So what are you waiting for? Go grab a cup of coffee and check it out.


say yippie




         

Friday 20 January 2012

Cold weather essentials



I am a firm believer that when you look good, you feel good.  But I also know that it may be tough when the temperature plummets!  However, I still try to make an effort especially when I leave the house. So here are 4 items that I deem essential if you want to stay fashionable yet warm during the winter months.

The Scarf - They do a lot more than just keep you cozy and warm.   They also act as a statement piece on even the simplest of  outfits. 

I am currently coveting this scarf from Etsy.  Happy Fox Scarf

Knit Cardigan - Knit cardigans are ideal items of clothing to own in our climate, and are great for heating up any winter outfit. There are lots of options out there to choose from when it comes to colour, style and fit.  For a whole range of colours and styles check out The Bay.  I can never seem to get enough of the open cardigan. 

I love the pattern on this one by Ralph Lauren.  wrapped in style


Boots - Lots of women struggle to find a boot that can brave our weather and look good at the same time.  Here are my 3 picks for warm and stylish boots. 
Sorel Sorelia Earhart 
Pajar  Laverne boot
Merrell Oslo-WTPF 





Bold BottomsThis winter is also all about bold colours. While we usually associate winter with dark shades of greys, blacks and navy's, a great way to break out of the cold weather blues is to add a punch of colour!  Look for it in jeans, leggings and trousers. If you are really daring, go for these pink trousers at H&M.
 touch of pink


So there are my tips to keeping warm and still looking stylish, and I would love to hear what item you can't live without this winter!

Sunday 15 January 2012

When jack frost attacks

I love days like today.  Winter has really just been thrust upon us, and although I am already longing for warmer weather, I must admit I do find comfort in these kinds of cold days.  We move at a slower pace it seems. We are in no hurry to get anything done. The laundry can wait. The cleaning can wait. And there will no hectic trips to stock up on groceries.  And best of all, the heat emitting from the fire place has miraculously turned my girls into sweet and cuddly sloth like creatures. 


Then the reality of this freaking cold weather will eventually hit me in the face like an unexpected snowball. I will be wakened tomorrow by my two Tasmanian devils, to piles of laundry, a messy house and empty cupboards.  




But I won't worry about that right now. I have better things to do (or not do)!







Thursday 12 January 2012

Tie one on!


I love scarves.  They can be worn all year long. Indoors and outdoors. Come in a variety of fabrics, colours, styles, lengths, patterns. Are inexpensive. And best of all, will always fit you no matter what! Now let's hear it for the scarf!! 

Many people are afraid to experiment with them since finding ways to wear scarves creatively can actually be a bit intimidating.  We have all been there. Standing in front of the mirror, trying to figure out how to toss it, wrap it, drape it or tie it, puzzling over it like it was game of Tetris, yes, Tetris - surprisingly simple, yet surprisingly difficult!


Lucky for us, there are several websites that demonstrate the art of scarf wearing.  One of my favourites is www.scarves.net  All scarves, all the time.  Who knew there are so many cool ways to tie a scarf?!


Love this one!


Now excuse me while I go tie one on!





Monday 9 January 2012

Monday mealtime rant

Suppertime. Just the act of writing it down makes me want to crawl into bed and assume the fetal position. I know that I am not alone when I say that suppertime {shiver} is stress inducing.  I think the main ingredients in a nuclear bomb is tired, picky kids and an exhausted mom!

Now, getting my girls to the dinner table is the easy part. Keeping them there is virtually impossible.  Tonight was no exception. While plating their dinner, I was thinking to myself 'I have got this in the bag!". And just as I place the plates down on their respective personalized placemats, chaos ensued!  They start grabbing food from each other's plates,  they go from sitting down to standing up to sitting on the table.  There's yelling by them; "I'm not hungry!" "This is yucky!" "That's not my favourite!". And then there's yelling from me "Sit down!" "Andy leave your sister alone!" "It IS your favourite!" "You asked me to make this!" "Just TRY it!!".

In the end, some food gets eaten, some food will be found in various nooks and crannies tomorrow at bath time, and the rest of the food is camouflaged in the carpet eagerly waiting for me to find it with my freshly laundered socks on.











Thursday 5 January 2012

Crafts - for crying out loud!

I am always trying to find fun things to do - that entertain my girls for longer than 30 secs, and that don't require a massive clean up afterwards!  Keeping in mind that I have 2 fairly young girls on my hands, I feel my options are limited.  Ok, so what you need to know is that I really love tapping into my creative side, I find it quite therapeutic. BUT...when I attempt to do crafts with my girls, I feel I need therapy when it's all done.  Take yesterday's project for example.  One of my less inspired ideas, necklace making.  I know, what was I thinking, small beads in tiny hands - and mouths - not to mention our old home has a slant to it. [At least the beads all roll to the same spot on the floor]

The plan: The girls would sit happily and make their own necklaces, while I would create personalized aprons for them with iron on transfers. We would laugh, sing songs while we crafted and it would be a great bonding experience.
Reality: Beads on the floor, the girls fighting over beads, and lot's of "MOMMY I MEED[sic] HELP!", "Mommy, MOMmy, MOMMY!!". I promptly looked at the clock.  Sadly it was too early to pour myself a glass of wine.

We all pushed through, picked the beads up off the floor, wiped away the tears (mine included) and finished the necklaces together.  While they were enjoying their new jewelry, I was able to finish making their aprons. Yes it was chaotic, yes it was loud, and yes it was fun (just look at their faces).  

  Here are some pics from our crazy crafts!

"Is it just me, or do these crafts stink?"

"I gave up my nap for THIS?"


The final product!
Before
After


The final product!