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

Homage to: The Farmers Market

I think it's about time that I mention a staple here in Halifax: The original Farmers Market.
 Such an amazing place that really speaks volumes to  what characterizes this city. The old, historic buildings feels so right for this space. A space where every Saturday morning you can literally roll out of bed, grab your re-usable tote bag and venture down to Mary's breadbasket- grab a coffee and a delicious Cinnamon bun and wake up in history.

It's so nice to think that once upon a time (and still to this day) this building was the Alexander Kieth's' brewery. In a time when Halifax was starting to recover its architecture, people would travel here to get their beer (something us maritimers know like the back of our hands), we now go to get fresh, locally produced and organic fruits, veggies, meat, soap, ...the list goes on. This place truly is amazing.

This is my favorite 'room' of the entire venue. In a space that seems to go on forever in twisty-turvy paths, this is the center hub. The same patrons park their stands and set up their veggies every week. Walking into this soaring room makes me feel so Halagonian every time. I can just makes me feel like we're in the old-world again. The old, exposed brick and the factory windows are all original. Beautiful. 

A hot-spot of tourists, and a weekly favorite for yummy Chinese food for breakfast, this market also features brilliantly crafted items from local artists. You can purchase jewelery, wood works, clothing, and art all from local talent. Its a great place to get a piece commissioned, say. 

There is now a new, more modern, second Halifax Farmers market opened. It catches the overflow from this busting location, but I still prefer this one. This will always be my Halifax staple. 

images: http://sharleystudio.blogspot.com

tripadvisor.co.uk

New! Technology in the Home

My husband is obsessed with finding the newest gadgets andtechnologies around which got me thinking about our future. What will our homes be like with the ever-evolving technology world?
 I keep having flash backs to Tom Cruise in 'Minority Report'- with all the futuristic touch computer screens, the chip cards that replace CD's and DVD's....holograms...the whole nine.

Will our homes really be that futuristic??
To me, that seems a bit cold. Sure, it's nice to have the luxuries that home technology has brought, but there has to be balance. I think as a designer, it's our job to marry the two: home with technology. We need to find that balance where you can still come home after a long days work and feel you're at home....just maybe greeted by a voice as you walk through the door, that has already turned on your lights for you (just the way you like it) as soon as it detects your thumb-print on your fingerprint deadbolt.

Today, there are hundreds of products already available to improve your home life, but where is the future going? The media is directing us to a couple main directions: green,  social networking, 3D, and touch screen technologies.

 Green design is no new concept to 2010. By all means, there is no acceptable reason why homeowners and builders should not choose to do business with a green and sustainable attitude. For example, Green Concrete  is one new product that Technology Review has named as one of their Top 10 items that could change our future. This new concrete dramatically reduces the amount omissions during production, trumping the competition. 

This product, the HRHC mirror technology, is available on the market now...along with numerous competitors, all promising the ultimate luxury- watching TV while brushing your teeth! Seriously, the streamline installation does impress me. I am not really a fan of visible TV's in a bathroom but this is nice. Not only can you watch TV but some brands will even update you on the latest stocks, weather, your daily calender..whatever you want. There are also touchscreen mirrors available as well.

Toshiba has hit it out of the park (literally) with their ZX900 series cell TV...it has amazing technology all around with the added bonus of 3D home television! So get your glasses...a good Blue Ray 3D and enjoy the thrill of the theater at home. A big trend hitting everywhere...including your mobile device...coming soon.

Lastly, a big trend that researchers are leaning on is the ever-complicated and saturated Social Networking. Everything from Facebook to Twitter is all being sold to large search engines like Google, for example, to become broken down information for real-time results in you're next search query. What does this mean to you're home? Well basically, that your gadgets get cooler. Check this out!

This flexible, stretchable touchscreen mobile phone is our future (in concept now)

Click here for more!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.







Breast Cancer affects millions of women and families across this country. Living in the Maritimes, we have one of the highest cancer rates in Canda. In honor of this amazing cause, do yourself a favor and get to know your Ta-Ta's!!

Photo by  sarahsnodgrass.com 

There are so many great opportunities within our beautiful city to raise money for this much worthy cause. And for the entire month of October, this city is lined with pink! Try to get out this month and do your part in the fight! Love the pink- love your boobies!! To help show my support here are a few of my favorite designs showcasing Pink (of course!).

I love this over-the-top pink kitchen!! What do you think?

I also love this "Mom-cave" posted by Made by Girl, designed by Elaine Griffin.  Every woman should have a space to call their own. This space is full of Girl Power- perfect for this cause!

This is my very own beloved "Girl Land"

If you don't like 'all that' pink, there are thousand of products available in nearly every store on the market that donate a portion of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Research. 

For example:

French Laundry

Kitchen Aid

Locally, one of my favorite charitable events, Titz-n-Glitz is happening October 15th at Alderney Landing. Click here for more info!