fun ideas: chalkboard paint

A few months ago, I painted an entire wall in our apartment with chalkboard paint and I love the look.  Before, it was pretty much just a boring white wall that stretched from our front door to the living space (I guess you could call it a hallway, of sorts?).  The black colour gave the whole area depth and interest, and we like to write little messages to each other on it, and draw little portraits.  It’s also so fun for parties… we threw a joint 30th birthday party back in April, and our guests ended up scrawling hilarious pictures and messages all over the wall.  And whenever my nieces come over to visit, they really enjoy scribbling on it as well… keeps them busy (while us adults enjoy a nice glass of wine).

Speaking of wine, why not dip (I am apparently a dipping enthusiast) the bottom of your glasses in chalkboard paint?:

This is great for a party, then everyone can jot their name down onto their glass and keep track of which one is theirs.  (Although not chalkboard-related, I totally love these wine markers: MINE.  I have these and these already… I’ve been known to host a few wine & cheese parties in my time.  Wine markers are essential to my life.)

ah… autumn.

This is one of my favourite times of the year.  I’m not a fan of extreme climates, and here in Toronto, it is very, very hot in the summer and very, very cold in the winter.  As a result, I love autumn… the temperature usually lands somewhere right in the middle, between a warm breeze and a brisk chill.  I love dressing for this kind of weather; a long sleeved shirt or a light sweater will usually do.  And don’t get my started on fall jackets.  I love me a good trench.

Here’s an outfit that I think would be quite ideal for a lovely afternoon stroll (I’m coveting so hard right now):

 

 

1.  Polka dotted scarf, with subtly multi-coloured dots.

2.  Cute, cute, cute acorn necklace.

3.  No autumnal stroll is complete without a nice warm beverage in hand.  And nothing says “fall” more than a Starbucks pumpkin spiced latte.  I actually don’t drink these, as I tend to stick with my tried and true soy latte… I’m a creature of habit.  But you always know the season has arrived when these (amongst other autumn-inspired drinks) start showing up on their menu again.

4.  Super adorable peter pan collared long sleeved tee (with silk trimmed cuffs – fancy!).

5.  I like to mix varieties of dots at the same time, and I especially would like to do that with that scarf and this clutch.

6.  These moccasins sure do look like they’d keep your toes cozy.

7.  As I said, I love trenches and I’m due for a new one.  I like this shorter version.

8.  I tried these jeans on recently, and I’m relatively certain that I need them.

And you might notice I included a good number of Madewell products… that’s because they’re offering free shipping (even to Canada, although us poor saps will still likely need to pay duties) until October 24th.

And to my fellow poor saps, happy Thanksgiving Monday!  Enjoy those food comas.

 

how do you take your tea?

I take mine with a little soy milk and a spoonful of honey.  And a naked lady, when the mood is right.

Seriously, I want this skinny dipping tea cup.  Want, want, want.  By a Dutch illustrator named Esther Horchner, which makes complete sense: no one is more delightfully quirky than the Dutch!  (My mom is Dutch, so I feel authorized to make this statement.)  Isn’t this just the cheekiest thing you’ve ever seen?  Here’s a few more pieces from the set:

This is soooooo going onto my registry.  If you’d like, you can buy it (for me) here!

travel tuesdays: for the flight

My apologies for being MIA last week!  I was actually out of the country, presenting a paper at a conference.  I like to travel as light as possible, so I didn’t bring my laptop along but instead packed my iPad — and I haven’t quite mastered the screen-keyboard, so it would’ve taken forever to type up a post.

Sunday was a very long day of traveling… two hour flight, two hour stopover, two hour flight, two hour drive home + a myriad of other delays (queuing for shuttles, etc.).  Totally exhausting.  But at least I was prepared: lip balm, moisturizer, comfy clothes and a bounty of magazines.  Here’s what I usually have (or would like to have) in my carry-on and/or on my person while I sail through those skies (and wait in those airports):

1.  LOVE this luggage tag — hands off, folks.

2 & 3.  Muji is THE place to go for all things travel-related.  I have variations of both these things, and the greatest part about them is how soft they are.

4.  Keep your pucker soft with C.O. Bigelow’s lip balm.  Especially if you’re meeting someone special at the arrivals gate…

5.  Cozy, cozy.  Cotton-knit blends, you are a savior at times like these.

6 & 7.  I love to bring scarves on the plane — not only do they polish up your airport attire, but they also serve double duty as blankets if it gets chilly on the plane.  Be extra prepared with both wool AND cashmere ones.

8.  I really like solid perfumes.  They won’t get you in any trouble getting through security, and they don’t take up much room.  Plus, they’re not all that strong so you won’t be imposing on your fellow passengers.  Just rub a little onto your pulse points (neck and wrists) to keep yourself feeling fresh.

9.  Travel-size lotion:  a necessity.  This one from John Masters Organics is nice and lightweight… and bonus, scent-free.

10.  This Herschel Supply duffel would be a great weekend bag, and would store easily under the seat in front of you — no fighting for overhead cabin space!

11.  Cute earbuds, from Vers.  Will definitely help drown out annoying seatmates.  (These ones are designed to completely block out exterior sound, which is a superb feature.)

12.  And… even better.

l’amour, l’amour

Since my last two posts were about Paris and my engagement, I thought this might be a good way to end the week:

You know it’s going to be good when the video warns from the start that this record was once banned by the BBC (in addition to the Pope!).  Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, singing/heavy-breathing “Je t’aime… Moi non plus,” which The Guardian called the sexiest song of all time and incidentally, was written by Gainsbourg for French actress Bridgette Bardot.  (Love the commentator’s remarks at the end: “[Birkin] obviously must’ve been running for a marathon.”  Cheeky Brits!)  One of the most glamorous couplings to have ever existed, Gainsbourg and Birkin first met in Paris; he was already a legendary star in France (and a bit of an enfant terrible), and she was a stylish young actress hoping to win a part in one of his films.  (A musician mostly, Gainsbourg also dabbled in acting.)  In a recent interview, Birkin describes the beginning of their romance:

“Pierre Grimblat, the director, organized a dinner for us. I was left with Serge, whom I expected to be very arrogant. I was so surprised when I pulled him onto the dance floor and he said, “No, I don’t know how to dance!” Then he walked on my feet, and I thought it was so charming.

He took me to a Russian nightclub where he got all the musicians to play the violin for me on the sidewalk. We went off to another nightclub, and he played with Big Joe Turner. Later he took me off to the Hilton Hotel, and we went up to the top floor. When I came out of the bathroom he was fast asleep, which gave me enough time to go buy the record that we’d danced to. I pushed it between his toes and crept off back to my hotel. It was the most romantic of evenings.”

I’ll say.  They were together for thirteen years, in which time they made two things together: music, and a child (Charlotte Gainsbourg, now a talented musician and actress in her own right).  Gainsbourg called Birkin his muse, and he was her rascal.  They were effortlessly cool.

See?

Birkin eventually left Gainsbourg and although she never fully explained the reason, many speculated that his heavy drinking and philandering factored into her decision.  Still, they remained friends until his death in 1991.

(Oh, and if Birkin’s name sounds familiar: she was the one who inspired Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Duman to create the leather weekend bag now famously known as the Birkin.)

Happy weekend!

engaged!

… and I couldn’t be happier!  My boyfriend Robin (now fiancé) proposed to me on Sunday evening, as we sat on the beach watching the sunset.  It was perfect.  (Except that I said a very timid “okay” instead of “yes” — I was so nervous!)

We haven’t really come to any decisions about the wedding yet, but I’d love something small and intimate.  I did a quick sum-up in my head of a potential guest list and we’re already at 90 people, so this might be hard!  I’m so looking forward to planning this wedding… but most importantly, I can’t wait to marry this amazing person.

Funnily enough, I was never pro-marriage until recently.  I never had a problem with the idea of matrimony, but could never visualize myself doing it.  Sometime last year though, Robin sorta casually mentioned that he saw us getting married in the future.  And I melted.  Still not sure if we’re going to follow all of the traditions though — we’re both not religious (or really all that spiritual), and we like the idea of getting married at City Hall, with the reception to follow.  I’m also not sure about the whole wedding dress thing… it’s just so hard to picture myself in one!  But, we’re definitely going into this whole thing with an open mind (and big, full hearts).

Here’s a view of the ring, if you’re interested:

I absolutely love it.  It was my grandma’s engagement ring, which my sister inherited.  My sister (the most generous person in the world, it turns out!) gave it to Robin months ago, and he’s been hiding it in his sock drawer — just waiting for the right moment.  Isn’t the box so amazing as well?  It’s the original.

happy happy love love!

travel tuesdays: paris, france

Today’s travel post is dedicated to l’amour, in honour of something very exciting that happened on Sunday (more on that tomorrow!).  And I don’t think there is a place in the world that inspires romance more than Paris.  I’ve been twice, but have yet to go with the man I love… so the City of Light is definitely going back on the list.  Strolling through the winding streets of Montmatre, picnicking by the Seine (with a baguette, some stinky cheese and a bottle of vin, of course!), sipping rich hot chocolate (soup) at a cafe while people-watching.  Have you ever heard the old adage that “a bad day in Paris is still better than a good day anywhere else”?  There’s just something about this city that makes every moment feel so much MORE.  (I can understand why the Parisians are said to have a superiority complex… I would too!)

So why not bring a little bit of Paris into your every day life?

Clockwise, from top left:

Ubiquitous striped shirt, a must.  Macarons!  The ones pictured here are the famous ones.  (But if you live in Toronto, I can vouch for the ones at Daniel et Daniel.)  Adorable cards from Rifle Paper co.  And how lovely is this fabric?  So graphic.  I also find this really cute.  And I can’t believe I’ve lived so long without a bag especially designed to carry my baguettes home.

I suppose this isn’t particularly French, but I would also really like to own one of these — to help me scoot around town, of course.  Not just because it’s so pink and lovely!:

But alas, a girl can only dream.

I’m so excited to share my news with you tomorrow!  Until then, au revoir!