Happy Second Anniversary, Odi et Amo!

{If I could give you each a Sprinkles cupcake, I would!}Today marks the completion of my second year as a blogger. 2010 was definitely an exciting time for this little blog as I saw my readership quadruple over the course of the year and my focus -- and my voice -- shift slowly towards the more personal (but I suppose pregnancy will do that to you).Last year at this time, I featured a roundup of

Guest Post at La Dolce Vita

Today I'm over at La Dolce Vita guest posting about my dream home. Be sure to stop by (click HERE) and say "hello" and check out my indulgent design choices for decorating my ultimate fantasy home. Thanks again Paloma for giving me the opportunity to participate in your new series!

In High Spirits Part 1

We are high-spirited going into the first week of the New Year and what better way to celebrate than with some whimsical décor inspiration? A touch of whimsy can be achieved by doing something surprising and unexpected with your décor – whether it be an eclectic mix, adding in humour or being creative and playful...something that will raise an eyebrow or two!

Try using garden accessories such as tin watering cans to place flowers in or outdoor lanterns hung above the island unit/dining area. Are you a culture junkie? Show off your travels with items from different corners of the Earth – a Chinese paper lantern, Moroccan mosaic tiles as a back splash and a large African drum as décor – whatever floats your boat!

Also popular with barstools and dining chairs, is having a mixture of styles but all painted in white for a more cohesive look. If you have come this far, why not highlight this whimsy with some interesting lights above the island unit – think about industrial lights in a country kitchen or the use of tinted bulbs. Add splashes of exciting colour to your rooms by choosing brightly coloured and patterned rugs in every room, including the kitchen – it's surprising what a 'lift' adding cheap rugs can do!

Image: House of Turquoise

Nursery: Progress Report

Over the course of the holidays, despite plenty of company and my growing fatigue (and belly!), I did manage to get a good bit done in the nursery. When we last left off, the spare bedroom was essentially our storage room, which meant the first task was clearing it out. After several trips to Goodwill, we managed to empty the room and get cracking. Dave's big task was to remove the light and

My new lamps

I picked up my new lamps a few days ago.  Aren't they gorgeous!!