Thanksgiving Day: In Pictures

I mentioned yesterday that we had my family in town for the weekend.  One of my Sister-in-Law's requests was that I take some family photos of them as they hadn't taken any since Phoenix was born, three years ago.

 

The weather was pretty windy on Sunday so we didn't get to take them, and then Monday we got a late start with things and then were running out of time as they had to get on the road.  However, we all had to make a pit stop at my dad's, so weren't we lucky that he just happened to have some beautiful colored foliage and leaves in his yard!

 

While the wind started to pick up and Phoenix decided he didn't want to cooperate with looking at the camera or smiling in general, I did manage to snag a few good ones!

 

Here are my faves:

 

 

I love that she's not looking at me in this one, but at her sweet boy!

 

 

Little boys will only look at the camera for so long....

 

 

The dump truck was a big prop for this fall photo session and it was a big hit filling it with leaves and dumping them !  :)

 

 

Of course Auntie had to get in on the fun and get a smooch from her favorite boy!!

I wasn't planning on being in any of the photos so excuse my sweats and 2nd day hair.... 

 

 

 

It took a lot of convincing to get the rest of us in here, but she wanted one of my parents, my brother, Phoenix and I so we begrudgingly obliged.  It's not the best photo, but we're all there, and almost everyone is looking at the camera, so it was still a win of sorts!

 

 

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving was filled with family, friends and LOVE! 

 

 

Entertaining with Ease: Powder Room/Bathroom

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!

I hosted my family's get together this weekend, which is usually pretty stressful for me.  My place is pretty small and I have a tendency to feel overwhelmed when my space is a mess or there are things out of order - as is the case when you have a house full of guests!  This year, I decided to try and minimize stress for myself and made things super easy by going super minimal, and you know what?  Everyone had a great time!  They had everything they needed and they were a lot more comfortable and that in turn, kept me calmer.

While I am no Martha Stewart, friends and family often comment that I am a great hostess, so I figured I'd share the tips that made this year the easiest for me.  Today, I'm sharing on how to keep your Powder Rooms & Bathrooms ready for guests!

1.  Keep it simple! 
This is undoubtedly the theme I went with this year.  While I LOVE  a home that is decorated to the nines for a holiday, I quite frankly just don't have the space to create all sorts of amazing looking vignettes, so I kept things super subtle décor wise.   Plus, it isn't overwhelming for my guests!

In the powder room, all I did was pop this gold Target pumpkin on the counter and swap out the plates on my Partylite Lantern to the Harvest plates and called it a day!

 

It was hard to get a picture of the illuminated lantern since I use flameless candles that flicker, but the image is super pretty...

 

Other than that, there is little else in the way of tchotchkes or anything cluttering my washrooms. 

 

2. Stock up on essentials!
Even when I am not entertaining, all my washrooms always have more than enough towels, toilet paper, soap and any additional necessities a guest may need.  While I am not typically a fan of having everything out there in the open, I keep my cabinets organized but in a way that a guest wouldn't feel obtrusive about opening a cupboard door to find what they need.

 

 

This is what the powder room cupboard looks like AFTER my guests were here for 3 days.  Still tidy, but you can see that people helped themselves to items!  I like this under the sink organizer for to help maximize space!

 

 

 

The top shelf keeps extra towels, toilet paper and a basket of candles.  You can see, there's only one roll left (usually I put about 3 or 4 here) and people are able to grab a fresh towel if they need it!

 

 

The lower portion houses cleaning products and various air fresheners, extra hand soap, candles and a basket with feminine hygiene products for guest use. 

**Not shown:  I also keep a clean plunger in here. There's nothing worse than being at someone else's house and having any sort of washroom emergency and having to ask/bring it to someone's attention -  some people might disagree but I know as a guest I've appreciated this!!

 

 

My powder room also has a weird alcove next to the cabinet, so I found a cute little shelf thing for rolled towels and guests can help themselves!

 

 

In the upstairs bathroom, I put out stacks of bath towels for people to use.  As there were 4 people sharing this washroom, I found it helpful to put non-matching towels so that people weren't worried about whether or not they were using someone else's towel.

 

My shower stall always has a shampoo, conditioner and body wash available for guests who have forgotten their own.  Full admission:  Sometimes I buy a product that I just don't care for - it gets relegated to the guest bath for other people to use up!  :)

 

**Not shown:  My medicine cabinet is also in the guest bath.  They can help themselves to first aid items and general "medications" like antacids, anti-histamines, cough drops, Pepto Bismol , pain relievers, etc.  The basket under the sink also holds extra wrapped tooth brushes, cotton pads (so eye makeup removal doesn't end up on my towels) and other toiletries.

 

 

 

3. Leave it to the Guests!  

 I don't use the powder room or guest bathroom when I have guests.  I have my own washroom in my bedroom, which I prefer to use.  Plus, this keeps it free for my guests. 

I also ensure they have counter space to put out their belongs if they choose to do so.

 

 

4.  Pop in 2 - 3 times a day to see if anything needs assistance! 

I usually try and sneak a few minutes when my guests are out or busy, to pop in quickly and assess the situation.  Empty the garbage, stock any toiletries that are running low, quickly tidy the counter/mirror/toilet and swap out any used towels for fresh ones!

  

 

Thankfully, always ensuring my washrooms are fully stocked and cleaned, meant the only thing I did this weekend was swap out the towels!  Using a wet towel is just one of my pet peeves so I always make this a priority.  I didn't have a single request for any washroom related item, so that's always a good sign in my books!

 

What special things do you do to make your guests stay more enjoyable?

Wantable Intimates: Subscription Box Review

Well it was an exciting week for me!  Another one of my new Subscription boxes arrived! 

Today's box is from <a href="http://wantable.com">Wantable</a> .  They have 4 different sub boxes: Intimates, Accessories, Makeup and now Fitness Wear.  Cost is $36 CDN per month with a subscription (or you can purchase a one time box for $40.00) plus $6.00 shipping to Canada.  You'll get 4-5 items ranging from socks and tights to loungewear, lingerie, underwear and bras. Items are selected for you based off of your profile.  

I have to admit I was a little thrown today. I had originally signed up for Intimates and then a week later, decided I wanted Accessories too and signed up for that as well. So when I got the mail and saw the size of the box, I thought they had sent the Accessories first! 

The box was super cute and sturdy.  If you read about my first Splendies experience yesterday, you'll know I much prefer a box to a plastic mailer! 

When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised to see a sticker indicating this box was personalized for me!

Here's the Welcome card and on the back, they even had some cute little tips for photographing your items! This was a nice little surprise! 

I was then shocked to see not accessories,  but in fact the correct box of Intimates afterall.  They sure do know how to maximize space when packing a box! 

Here's a look at my profile. You are more likely to get items you Love; some that you Like and shouldn't ever get ones you "Dislike". I don't dislike anything but had heard reviews that it's wise to update your preferences regularly to keep your box intune with what you are hoping to receive. Here's a look at my profile for the month:

I don't really wear hosiery or socks often and so I opted out of those since I knew they'd be popular given the time of year. The accessories I've seen in other boxes aren't for me, so those were a no.

So let's take a look at what I got:

NikiBiki Racerbank Tank in Pewter

This tank is so soft, super comfy and light weight. I was a little worried that it might be too small ( I went with a Medium since I've not been to the gym in a while...), or too tight and uncomfortable since it looked so small, but it was super stretchy and a nice fit! The Pewter color is a nice grey with a brown undertone and suits my fair skin nicely! Since it is lighter than black, this will be a nice neutral layering piece for under sheer blouses. 

Valued at $22.00

"Real" Underwear Seamless Bandeau in Coral

I've actually never worn a bra like this before and wasn't sure how I'd like it, since since I'm not typically a fan of soft bras. I really like the coral color and the fit is nice and comfortable. The fabric is soft and the cups are lightly padded for some shape. While I'm still very much a structured bra fan, it is nice to have another option, especially for wearing with casual clothes.  

Valued at $14.00

"Real" Underwear  Daphne Thong in Eggnog

This mesh and lace thong is super cute and looks nice and comfy. I like the mesh front and the lace sides are a nice touch. This is something I would have picked for myself, probably in a brighter color but I often find myself needing more options for under lighter colored clothing, so definitely a WIN! 

Valued at $12.00, however my invoice listed it at $18.00 so I'm not sure where the discrepancy is but I'm using the tag price of $12.00 for comparison

Isadora Black Abstract Circle Leggings 

These patterned leggings are once again super soft and comfy. While the pattern is a little Morrocan and busy, the neutral black, grey and white color scheme toned it down. I tried them on with a black tunic and really loved the look. Perfect for work or weekends! Happy with these for sure! 

Valued at $18.00

Overall, I was very pleased with my first Wantable Intimates box! I had heard so many good things and knew this would be a good subscription. Everything fit, was super comfy and was either something I would regularly pick for myself or something new to me that I am happy with. The items were valued at $66.00 and I paid $36 before shipping, so that's almost double the cost! It was full of some nice, basic pieces and I will get good use out of all of them.

A few things I might change for next month: My wardrobe is missing any sort of cute loungewear ( I mostly wear big, baggy t-shirts from ex bfs and sweats around the house...) so I'd like to see more of that so I will most likely play around with my settings to see if I can steer them in that direction. Also, I will be changing my color preferences so that neutrals aren't a Love and maybe a Like or Dislike, so that I can get some brighter colors this time around for review purposes and to see if I prefer them. 

I'm super happy with this box and looking forward to the next one already!! Not to mention the Accessory box that should be coming soon as well! If you're interested in signing up for your own box, please use <a href="https://www.wantable.com/invites/9Tvp7sn0LKs">this referral link</a> . 

I'd love to know what subscription boxes YOU get! Do you subscribe to Wantable? If so, I'd love to know how your items compare? Share!!! 

Splendies Subscription Box Review

I've been seeing subscription boxes everywhere lately! They have a box for pretty much anything you can imagine. I used to subscribe to a few beauty boxes about a year ago, but then when my credit card expired, I just never signed back up. I might have to re-subscribe...

But for the meantime, I thought it might be kind of fun to get a different kind of subscription as it's always nice to get a little surprise in the mail!! So of course I did a little research and found a few that I think will be a good fit for me. The hardest part is always finding one that delivers to Canada, and at a reasonable rate. I'll be posting their reviews as part of my monthly posts. I signed up for three different subscriptions (so far- I'm sure I'll be signing up for a few more), so keep watching for those!

The first one to arrive was <a href="http://splendies.com">Splendies</a> , which is a cute little underwear delivery subscription.  Every month, you get three surprise pairs of underwear delivered straight to your door! How fun is that? For me, the best part is I have no idea what they are going to send me! 

Subscription: $12/mth (I got my 1st mth for $8 using a coupon code). Shipping is free in the US, but I think about $7 to Canada.

When I saw the little plastic mailer bag in the box, I knew right away what it was. I have to say that I was a little disappointed these weren't packaged in a box, especially since my package had a rip in it. 

But I'm sure that it helps keep costs down, especially to Canada, so I was willing to overlook this. 

Everything was wrapped up nicely in tissue paper, which I was thankful for since it kept them protected.  One thing I did note was that there was no Welcome Card or any little note inside, not a thing other than the underwear...As this was my first parcel from them, it would have been nice to get a quick hello, thank you and maybe a little blurb on what's to expect or maybe some info on a theme or why the items were chosen for me.  Something...

However, I get that I am paying for underwear and not marketing, so I'll let that slide. Once again, I'm sure it keeps costs down, and that's always a good thing!! Okay, so let's get to what's inside! 

Disclaimer: this post contains photos and descriptions of "unmentionables".  In the  past, I've had some upset comments from readers who found underwear "offensive" and were quite upset I would post such a thing?! While I apologize and never intend to upset anyone, this is MY blog. I post what I like here and certainly don't find underwear posts offensive. The blog is about "pretty little things" in my life and pretty panties certainly fall under that scope. As well, I'm reviewing a service that I like and that I feel others might too, so I think it's useful information.  So read or don't read, but I'm posting about it here!! 

Okay, with that out of the way, on to the fun stuff. Here's a first look:

I was pretty pleased with the first look! It also appeared the selection did have a theme: Pink!  Perfect for me! I love this

Color for underwear. 

Pucker Up Black Lace with Hot Pink Trim

This pair is super cute and kinda sexy.  I love the pink little bow accents! These were priced at $12, so already this makes the box worthwhile! 

Pucker Up Seamless Polka Dot Thong

I have actually never tried one of these seamless pairs so I am looking forward to this! The fabric is super soft and it's a fun print! Very cute. This one is priced at $9.00.

Floral and Dots Bikini 

While the bikini style isn't my fave, I like them for working out and casual sweat pants days. Plus, underwear is underwear and these are pretty, so all good! Eventually, if I get these a lot I might advise them I'd prefer none, but for the price, it's not urgent.  The fabric is super soft, so again, another win! There was no price listed on the tag so I am estimating these to be approx $5.00. 

Overall: I'm really happy with my first "box". I like the look of all the pairs and I appreciate that there is a variety of styles.   They're all super cute and I would probably have purchased all of these myself, with maybe the exception of the bikini, but definitely the sweet floral pattern! Based on the tagged priced of each pair, I'd say the box was valued at approx $26 dollars (one pair was not tagged) which is fantastic considering I paid $8.00 plus shipping.  I will definitely be continuing this subscription! 

I also got a sneak peek for next month. Apparently all November subscriptions will feature a "Big Bang Theory" themed pair of underwear. While not a fan of the show, they all look pretty cute! 

I definitely have my eye on one of the ones with the cats on them, in particular the pink ones!! 

I should mention, my package had super fast shipping! I placed my order on the 30th, received an email on the 3rd it had shipped and got it on the 7th!! Very impressed with how quick this was! 

If you're interested in this service, let me know and I'd be happy to send you a referral link, I'm just waiting on it!! Does anyone else subscribe to this or any other great boxes your recommend? 

Chalk it Up!

Most people don't know this  about me, but I have an aversion to chalk. As such, even though I've loved the look of chalkboards, I've never actually jumped on the bandwagon and added one to my space. Until today...

Lately I've been thinking of adding one, in some form, to my home. I even went out and purchased a can of chalkboard paint last week. But I wasn't exactly sure where or what I wanted to "chalk board". 

I was planning on maybe making my own with some scrap lumber from one of our construction sites. Then I happened across this little beauty at Winners.

It was everything!! The sweet little size was not too small that you wouldn't see it on the porch,  but small enough that it wasn't too big to use on a table too!  It was sandwich board style, which was great cause I wouldn't be limited to where I mounted it! The perfect turquoisey blue, chippy paint on a sweet vintage looking metal frame. Complete with a fleur-de-lis! 

I had visions of using it everywhere!! It would work in any room, on the porch, in the garden!!! 

But of course, there's the aversion to chalk... So I set out on a mission to find me some chalk markers. I managed to luck out at <a href="http://michaels.com">Michaels</a> and picked up a white one and a multi pack in muted fall colors. While the markers are obviously wet and make using chalk a lot easier, I'm not gonna lie, I still cringe a little while using them... But as long as I keep the tip fairly fluid, I make do. 

( they look dark here but they are muted mustard, rust, sage and eggplant) 

I went with a super simple message, a few doodles and a pretty maple leaf:

I really love how it's adding a sweet little message and some personality to my porch! 

I can't wait to change up the greeting over and over for the seasons/holidays and moving this beauty around. 

Since I had picked up the chalkboard paint last week, I practically jumped for joy when I saw this empty frame sitting in the clearance section at HomeSense. A former mirror that had apparently broken, they were selling the frame "As Is". It was the perfect grey/blue/whitewashed color and I thought it might be cool to paint the wall and then hang the frame atop. 

Now that I've found something else and of course seen actually how big this thing is inside, I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do.  However I'm sure I'll find something and I couldn't pass it up at such a great price! 

Any ideas on what else I should do with it?

Fall Porch 2014

Howdy!

The weather cooled down quite a bit this week so I finally got around to setting the porch up with a little bit of a "Harvest" theme.  I'll admit that I really struggled with putting it together this year. I had a vision of what I wanted things to look like, but really couldn't find what I was looking for to put things together.  I've decided to create a running list, so I'll be looking for some great vintage items throughout the year to hopefully get it down for next year.

Also, it's a bit too early for real pumpkins and gourds (they have them in stores but I think they'd be gross by Halloween, so I am delaying buying them until late October). 

Anyways, here's what it looks like now. I'm certain things will change up a little bit, from now until I  I bust out the Halloween additions, but I think it looks welcoming so it's a nice start!

(excuse the dirt all over the walk, I had some rolls of sod sitting there last week and was a bit too chilly to want to get the hose out today)

 

First up, I added a little potted mum to "Hootie" the planter, as he had been a little lonely since I transplanted his roses.  Home Depot had these 6" pots for $1.99.  I like that the colors were very muted jewel tones.

 

 

Some of my summer planters are still hanging in there so I only picked up one big potted mum to add to the stairs.  It's just starting to bloom, so should fill out nicely over the next couple weeks and be proportionate in size to the other planter.  I tucked Solomon the Scarecrow into one of the pots and he sways around nicely in the wind.

 

 

I brought the battery powered lanterns from the back deck up front as I like the steps to look full.

I left them dirty and I like that they are starting to rust a bit.

 

 

 

 

I needed something larger for the bottom step to keep each side balanced so I popped my white  faux pumpkin in an old basket that I'm sure once contained Hickory Farms goodies :) and like the simplicity of it.

 

 

I picked up this neat Liv'n Lantern plant today from Home Depot and absolutely LOVE it!! As I was walking to the til, I had about 3 people stop me and insist on touching the little papery lanterns.  they are quite the show stopper.  This one also has a cute little Welcome scarecrow. 

 

 

 

I typically prefer a more muted color palette, but these were just too cute to resist!

 

For the actual porch itself, I kept the chair and little table that are always out there and just swapped out the items.

 

 

The little basket of faux mini pumpkins, gourds, berries, burlap and leaves is probably my favorite thing.  I did it last year and had to recreate it again.

 

I wrapped a garland of faux leaves from Michael's around the railing for a nice subtle touch. 

The basket on the floor holds another gorgeous pot of mums and is originally from Ikea and has weathered to a nice patina. 

 

 

 For the table top we have the lantern that's out here always.  Another pot of mums, this time in a gorgeous purple was popped into a metal bucket I quickly sprayed black.  I think I will be adding a coat of chalkboard paint to this later this week so I can write a sweet message on here.  The paper mache pumpkin I created last year makes another appearance!

 

 

I've felt the wall space above the table has been lacking something for quite some time.  I've been toying with the idea of either a big chalkboard, mirror, sign or something but hadn't made a decision.  I found this old piece of wood in the garage and just leaned it up there for the meantime.  I really like the dark rustic wood (its all banged up and worn) and think I might make it into a sign (maybe chalkboard...?) and officially hang it.

 

 

Of course, my favorite fall wreath is back in action.  I'm contemplating painting the front door chocolate brown.  It was supposed to be painted by the builder before we moved in, but the door was back ordered and swapped out twice, so obviously got missed.

 

 

So far, I think it's looking nice.  Things will change as the summer flowers die off and I have to move some stuff around.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you've enjoyed my porch tour!