It's My Tea Party

All images are from Country Living.

Forever,
Amber

Back to School

So I have been on an unintentional hiatus.  I'm in the third year of my Bachelor of Commerce at Ryerson's Ted Rogers School of Management and I recently made a last minute decision to go back to university full-time versus accepting a one-year contract at my job. I am still working three days a week as an administrative assistant for a team of finance professionals, so I have been super busy with things. 

If you're wondering how I can focus on entrepreneurial finance and marketing metrics when I all really want to be doing is making things look lovely and sharing them with you--- I  made a bribe with myself this morning.  I told myself that if I read four chapters of my textbook then I could update my shabby chicanistas, and work a bit on the novel I'm writing. After reading what seemed like three thousand pages on food retailers ... here I am ... happily posting away! 

Anyway, remember that wrought iron table frame I loved so much? Well, I tried a little DIY project to make it fully functional in time for my return to school, but it just didn't turn out the way I wanted. I ended up getting a different table to replace it and I have to confess: my new table is from IKEA.  Well, it's made by IKEA but I purchased it at Goodwill. I actually really like it--- and it was only $15!  You don't have to be a business student to figure out that fully assembled for a sixth of the price, plus no trips to IKEA equals fantastic value!

I've tried to shabby chic-afy it in an effort to create a study space where I'll gladly sit for hours on end studying away. Being back in school has made me realize that I have the attention span of a two-year old who just ate a pint of Häagen-Dazs for breakfast.  That was one of the major problems with the other table--- I kept hitting my shins on the metal carriage underneath every time I'd cross and uncross my legs (which is like every five seconds).   

Anyway, I really want to keep writing but I have to go study. I'm trying to think of ways to combine what I have to do and what I want to do so I might do the occasional post on the things I'm learning about in school. A lot of the stuff I learn is really just common sense that could be applied to life and relationships just as easily as it could be applied to running a business. Stayed tuned for installments I think I'll call The Business of Relationships. I promise there will still be lots of pretty pictures though. :)

Pretty and Functional = The Perfect Combination

Cup from Beijing. So Beautiful!

Wine Goblet Paper Clip Holder

Wm. A. Rogers Pencil Cup

Mason Jars ... Perfect for Storing Things!

Capodimonte-style Vase Made in Italy

What my next three months look like!

Forever,

Amber

Flower Row

There are a string of flower shops on Avenue Road (at Davenport) that I like to call Flower Row.  As you can see, there are tons and tons of flowers to choose from (albeit lots of duplicates within each store), and although the quality is sometimes inconsistent, the convenient location and low prices make these shops a must-stop!  

The owners are friendly and straightforward about telling you if the bouquet you're about to buy is likely to last a week or a day.  Even better, they usually have reductions on the ones that are dying, which can be an inexpensive option if you just need a couple arrangements that only need to last an evening or two.  

Forever,
Amber

Hi Gorgeous!

So here's a picture of my beloved sofa.  It was hard to get a picture that reflects its true colour, which is a soft (but not dull) grey.  I still need to find some pillows for it, but haven't decided what color I want to go with yet.

When I first saw this sofa I fell in love with it immediately and bought it on the spot.  I was so excited, in fact, that I didn't even think about measuring it --- and it's HUGE ---L89 x D39 x H36.  

I didn't think about measuring it, until I called a friend to tell him about the purchase I'd just made, and he uttered those three very sensible, but unwelcome, words --- "Will it fit?" 

"I don't know," I answered.  My voice filled with panic, as I thought about my over-sized sofa and average-sized doorway.  Of course it will fit I thought to myself.  It has to.  I  borrowed a tape measure from someone in the store, measured the sofa, went home and measured my door frame.  It was clearly too small.  

But "denial ain't just a river in Egypt" my friends, it runs deep up here in my neck of the woods.  I pushed all thoughts of defeat from my mind (a tool I find usually works quite well for me) and marched back to the store.  "It's fine.  It's going to fit."  The small group of shoppers and employees I had been consulting with seemed happy to hear this.  The movers, however, did not, as it was one of the biggest snowstorms of the winter.

Despite their better judgement, with a little cajoling, they arrived within minutes, and off we went.  As they started to haul my incredibly heavy (but gorgeous) sofa out of the back of the truck, those nagging words were once again repeated, "You're sure it's going to fit, right?"  

I responded without lying, "Yeah, I think so."  I did think so, even though it went against all logic.  My motto has always been, "Where there's a will there's a way."  And trust me, for me, this is not just some cheesy cliché.  When I have my mind set on something, you do not want to be on the wrong end of it!  

 

Well, as you can see --- it did fit.  However, this story has a very sad and unexpected (at least to me) twist.  After close to an hour of trying it this way and that way ... we ended up having to saw the back legs off (the front ones twist out).  

I bet by this point in the story, you're actually feeling quite attached to my sofa, as was I, when my neighbor, whom I like very much, went into his apartment and got his saw.  (As an aside, I was so upset I wasn't even concerned that my neighbor, who works in an office,  has a hacksaw in the entrance of his apartment).  

And I realize that as far as real problems go, there are way worse ones I could have had, but as I watched the first leg fall to the ground, I burst into tears.  In front of three grown men, no less.    

Manufacturer - Southern Furniture Company

 

But even after all that, I am supremely happy with my purchase!  It's traditional and classy, in a color that goes with almost everything, and it's big enough to sleep on (which I will never do) but is convenient for friends visiting from out of town.  

The original plan was to reattach the legs but one split down the middle, as we had first tried to remove it with the back end of a hammer (I'm cringing just thinking of it).  So for now, my sofa, who I often greet in the mornings with a, "Hi Gorgeous," is propped up on phone books.  Not exactly ideal, but like I said, where there's a will there's a way!

Forever,

Amber