The Cutest DIY Paper Bags!

Just in time for the holidays, my friend over at Make Something Everyday has shared her DIY secrets to the cutest little gift bags...just in time for the holidays.

I love them so much I had to share them with you. Try making your own this season!! 

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

The roads are busier, the malls are crowded, people are starting to put up their outdoor Christmas lights....ahhh, the holidays are here. I love the holidays personally. Every year I get really excited to decorate my house just the way I like, to throw our annual Christmas party with our closest friends and family, to bake unreal amounts of high calorie goodies and start new traditions with my husband and daughter (this year being my daughter's first Christmas makes it even better!) All that, with a little Sinatra in the background- life can't get better. Well, maybe with some Baileys.

So keeping with the holiday spirit, here are some of my tips to get you through decorating- without blowing your budget

1. Take Inventory

Look at what you already have in storage. Every year it seems that with new trends and really well done retail displays we can get caught up in buying new items that we feel we MUST have, when in reality, we don't. I think vintage ornaments are not only beautiful but chances are they tell a story. Maybe one you could share over while entertaining...

2. Pick a scheme and stick with it.

It only takes a few minutes to take a step back and plan out what you would like to see this year; both indoor and out. Whatever you dream, stick to just a few colors and make sure they all fit the same theme. For example, if you are going for a traditional, country Christmas...keep accessories and decor within that theme. Don't place every item you have in storage out just because you have it. 

3. Think outside the traditional box

Sure, Christmas is primarily traditional, but that doesn't mean you can't be creative. When making your festive wreath for example, step outside your comfort level and try something unexpected. Pretty much anything in a smaller scale can be wrapped or strung along a foam wreath. Try flowers, oranges, herbs...anything that might give your guests the 'wow, that's unusual' factor as they walk into your home.

4. Christmas isn't all red and green

A lot of  people try gold, silver or blue, but there is a full spectrum of colors to try. This years' popular colors would be purple which is making its way into Christmas, naturally. Same goes for bright green or pink. I might try orange this year...why not?

5. Relax, it's the holiday's after all.

Nobody like a host or hostess running around, trying to be Joan Cleaver. Relax. Take time to plan out what you would like to accomplish this season, and be reasonable about it. Things pop up in life, people stop by. Try to do as much as you can in advance (this includes baking, which can be frozen) and make sure that you enjoy yourself this year. Your family and friends will not remember how your house looks, just the memories of a great holiday. 

That's what it's all about right?

Happy Shopping!

Completely In Love With

Ballard Designs! I have just discovered the beauty of Ballard Designs- a US based retailer, and I have to say that I could eat every piece of their collection up!!

How gorgeous is this Waldorf chandelier?? With a whopping 12 lights...how could you resist?

Or the lovely Louis Daybed. I have always been a fan of daybeds- for their functionality, but this piece in particular has so many uses. I would work in almost any style or space.

And MY personal fav:

The Chesterfield Loveseat. I have been on a Parisian kick lately and this would fit perfectly in my home. To me, it's a perfect balance of history and sophistication with a modern feel. Love, Love, Love it. And want it....who wants to buy it for me?? Huh? Huh? ...any takers??

I have to say that everything Ballard Design has to offer is beautiful. They have everything from furniture, to accessories, to linens and seasonal items. I just wish they were available in Canada.

Bigger and Better! Sima, Naturally

I am so sorry that I have been away from my blogging duties for what seemed like forever- but I can promise it was all in the name of design and even bigger and better things to come!
I am excited to announce that this blog is growing- and with it the scale and content I will be covering. Although this blog is and will always be focused on design found and available to Haligoians, I will be broadening my horizons to include much much more!
I will be now covering everything to do with design (naturally), fashion, events and anything that catches my creative buzz. I am so excited that this blog can continue to grow and change, and with it - myself.

So stay tuned cause I have a lot to discover! xo