Online beauty time: Yea or Nay

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Tree Week: Tinsel Trees

With Christmas in just 26 days (ahh) tree season has arrived!

This week I am going to explore all the creative ways of using trees for the holidays.

We use a variety of trees around the house, but a new one last year was the addition of tinsel trees.

Now, these have always seemed a bit "Vegas" to me, lumped into the category reserved for flashing multi-coloured lights and trees covered in copious amounts of gold and red.

But last December, after venturing into the holiday section at Wal-Mart,

the kids came running, each with a different color of tinsel tree in their arms.

"PUH-LEASE, Mum!"

And so off we went, me eyeing the trees dubiously, the kids discussing (quite seriously)

how each of them was going to decorate their new tree.

They've always had their own small tree in their bedroom, you see,

and I give no input as to how the lights/decorations/trim go on -

it's their project, and the kids love it!

Sunday they got their trees up, and I thought you may like to see what they came up with :)

Natasha has gone for silver and white, with bits of turquoise peeking through.

It's a snow theme, I was told.

She created the pompom (snowball) garland this year, which I think is adorable.

This delicate fairy makes it up just about every year, despite the theme.

The girls figure skate, so of course the skate ornament (she bought at a craft sale) is up.

Many years back I made a bunch of sequined/beaded balls, so Natasha tried her hand at some.

Pretty, isn't it?

Coco's tree is, of course, pink.

Every year the girls and I attend The Nutcracker Ballet in Toronto,

and Chloe adores it.

The first years she asked for a ballerina decoration at the ballet, but last two she requested a Nutcracker.

And then saved her allowance and bought an entire set!

The blown glass flowers are part of a set from the year she wanted a "garden tree".

Cameron's tree is quite dark - green with red lights.

I couldn't get pics without the flash going, so sorry for the glare :)

Cam refuses to have a tree skirt - "boys don't wear skirts, Mum"

but I think one of the girls placed those Mardi Gras beads underneath!

One year the Christmas crackers had these little wooden ornaments inside.

When everyone saw how excited Cam was to have a decoration for his tree, they all gave him theirs!

There is also an elf he bought at a craft sale (see a trend here?!!)

a puppy ornament he has had since he was wee,

and of course, his beloved blue disco balls :)

This Nutcracker was part of Coco's set, she gave it to him because "everyone needs a nutcracker, Mum".

As a finishing touch, Cam removed this tinsel streamer from a ball, and popped it on top!

It's fun to watch these tree's evolve and change as the kids do.

They are so proud of their creations, and everyone who sets foot in our house this month

will get pulled up the stairs to see them!

Don't know if I would put that much tinsel anywhere else in the house, LOL.

Would you?

til next time..

Yea or nay: The "Resto" Look

Reading the newest House and Home over the weekend

(the hard copy, I still love flipping pages..)

and was reading about Linda Reeves love of the "Resto" Look.

We know she is all about neutrals, so that is not surprising.

This refers to Restoration Hardware's current offerings:

pale linens, pale distressed woods,

architectural elements and industrial elements worked into furnishings.

I love the textures and patinas,

but what strikes me is the fact that their entire store is working from the same palette.

Everything on the grey side.

I have never seen a retailer so fully commit to one look.

They just had a sale on, and I went down and ordered new dining room chairs.

If you remember I found a set on Kijiji, but, let's just say that D. will never work as a furniture inspector!

It's not in the condition to live in the dining room, but I've found a spot for it, more on that later :)

These beauties will sit around our round glass/cast iron table,

for which we will order a larger top.

Did not order the pillows.

Going to find a to-die-for silk of heavily saturated color (thinking sapphire or emerald)

and make some of my own..

I'm not independently wealthy, and don't redecorate my entire home, at once, ever.

Like most, we add as we go, it's an ever-evolving process..

Yet, I'm sure some people have been led to fill their entire home with this trendy style.

So what happens in 3, 5, years when the aesthetic has worn itself out - redecorate?

I would never want a client feeling that way 3 years down the road.

Just wondering whether anyone is feeling resistance committing to this very distinctive,

albeit restful and beautiful, look..

til next time..

Yea or Nay: Monograms

We recently attended a wedding.

One of the guests was telling us how she had ordered the happy couple

a complete set of (unrequested) monogrammed bedlinens.

I happen to know that this particular couple prefer a specific type of sheet set,

because I helped my friend choose her bedding a few months ago -

and it wasn't monogrammed :)

Some people love the look of monograms,

gleefully embroidering their intials on everything from pillows to purses,

while others find this practice pretentious..

I am interested to see which camp you fall into!

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Yummy colors! Monogrammed luggage tags transform functional into stylish.

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Monogrammed towels - hmm.. pretty, but why exactly would you require a monogram on a towel?

If it lives in your loo, it's likely yours - yes?

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Handsome monogrammed stationary is a classic must-have..

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I would adore these monogrammed matchbooks at a wedding.

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While these plates are not a major investment and have an air of impishness..

but setting a whole table with your own intials?

(They're fully customizable, and I'm thinking of ordering some for Christmas brunch,

with bits like HOHOHO and MERRY on them)

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These are not inexpensive, and have a distinct air of formality about them.

Sometimes monograms can be subtle..

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So what do you think?

While they are charming at a wedding,

do you include monograms in your space - or a clients?

til next time..

Yea or Nay: Beds Under Windows..

As a compulsive re-arranger (that's another post!)

this weekend I shuffled around our master bedroom..

and the bed landed under the window.

this is a room in progress, so please do not judge me by those awful lamps :)
I haven't found the exact right ones yet and so we are living with
old-shades-plunked-on-too-small-not-as-old lamps..
I have learned the hard way to wait and buy the perfect lamp or I will just be replacing them yet again..

The bedside table are the right height for our enormous bed,
but are going to be receiving a bit of a makeover in the coming weeks.
On a side note, we just added the orange sheets.. which is what started this rearranging madness..
aren't they a little bit of happy?
I have thoroughly enjoyed waking up to them the past couple of mornings..

But I digress.. beds under windows - it seems I'm not alone

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I've never placed a bed under a window before, or recommended it to anyone for their own space.

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there's the draftiness issue..
although I've been known to crack our window open in the dead of winter for lack of oxygen

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and the majority of the textiles then live in the same spot -

so no curtains, or the curtains must complement the bed..

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then my husbands cousin seriously informed us this weekend placing your bed under a window lets bits
of your soul escape while you are sleeping, which seems rather unpleasant ;)

of course that goes along with the Feng Shui principles as well, which advocate placing your bed solidly along the back wall to the right of the doorway..