love

I saw these images over at Oh Joy and swoon! Hurry up summer so I can get on the tennis court in this cute outfit!

Waking Up is Hard to Do

I used to be a morning person. I used to wake up bright and early, rub the sleep out of my eyes and bounce out of bed. Then again…I was a child and there were cartoons on. These days I feel like I have to drag myself out of bed. I hit snooze a trillion times and it’s only until I turn on the light that I actually get up. Intro the Philips Wake Up Light. I’m going to buy it tonight. It may be a steep price for an alarm clock ($188) but it’s had rave reviews. You set this baby for half an hour before you want to wake up and it’ll simulate sunlight and get brighter and brighter until light streams through your bedroom and you awaken to the sound of birds chirping – content and refreshed.  Seriously. I’m expecting euphoria here.  I’ll let you know tomorrow just how refreshed and revived I feel. In the meantime, see it in action here and here.

lazy libby

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my dog? She’s the happiest little creature I’ve ever met.

Everything is New

{Jetkat}

I missed you dear readers! I’m sorry I’ve been absent for so long. I got absorbed in the loveliness of Christmas holidays – wolfing down festive chow, putting my nose in a few good books (including my new favourite!), and kicking back. But the new year is upon us and I’m back into the swing of things. And with that – my new year’s resolutions (or things I’d just really love to do in the coming year).

• It may be cliché but I want to lose weight. I’ve already lost over 30 pounds but I’d like to lose 35 more and get down to 140. I haven’t been that weight since grade eight! Come on over and read my weight loss blog at Make Me Mini.
• Be able to run for an hour straight (current status – 15 minutes).
• Toy around with my new digital camera (I got a Canon S90 – pretty suave stuff) and create some pretty artwork for my home.
• Finish my thesis once and for all.
• Take tennis lessons this summer.
• Solve my problems without stuffing my face or immediately picking up the phone to vent.
• Dial down my swearing.
• Make sure my VISA bill reads $0 every month.
• Take care of my soul more.
• Learn how to make my favourite meals healthier (hello Ina Garten, goodbye butter).
• Keep my home neat and tidy.
• Finish decorating my bedroom with curtains, new lamps, a desk and chair and a bookcase.
• Date – good guys that is.
• Embrace my inner Jillian Michaels and exercise four times a week.
• Throw two parties.
• Quit wandering aimlessly through Blockbuster and watch all of Meryl Streep’s filmography. Guaranteed not to disappoint.
• And of course, blog more.

What are you hoping to do in the coming year?

winter wonderland

I would love to be invited to this party. Apartment Therapy likened it to a snowstorm and I think that’s pretty bang on! And what a blizzard the design students of The House that Lars Built whipped up!

taking a walk on a snowy evening

It snowed in Ottawa today. The first snowfall that stuck. Libby loves the snow so we got out and she hurried along the sidewalk all in a tizzy.

a christmas radio play

Every December, my Poppy would dust off the record player and play Orson Welles’ A Christmas Carol. He’d sit in the middle of my sister and I (if we let him), grab our hands and shake at the scary bits. This year is our first year without Poppy. But I don’t think he’s really gone when we celebrate him and our traditions. Tonight my sister and I hopped in my car and cruised around our hometown scouting out pretty Christmas lights (although this year we found a lot of ugly blow up Santas – blech). We usually dance around with A Charlie Brown Christmas on full blast but this year we listened to the radio play. It was lovely. Thanks for the memories, Bec – new and old. If you’d like to check it out, you can listen to it here.

advent calendar roundup

I personally love the good ol’ german advent calendars. They might be lacking in chocolate, but the sweet pictures you open every day brighten your mood. But these diy calendars just might change my mind!

{Saganaga}

{Ali Edwards}

{Mermag}

{Mayalu}

{Martha Stewart}

And one for Miss. Libbyloo:

{ejwines2}

the day of the tree

O’ Christmas tree, o’ Christmas tree. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a tree. So I put up mine on the 1st. And I had plenty to live up to. I saw this photo from Canadian House and Home magazine last December and fell in love. Sarah Richardson is a design goddess to me. So…how’d I do?

Here’s Sarah’s tree:

And mine:

eggnog

I love eggnog during the holidays. It’s pure bliss. But since I’ve started my uber diet, eggnog no longer has a place in my Christmas  traditions. Or does it? Intro  Philosophy’s Eggnog shower gel. I’m telling you this smells exactly like the real thing. Who knew a whiff of this could satisfy my cravings!?