Shabby Chic Christmas

Merry Christmas to me! 

So my Christmas tree is coming along! This is my first year doing a shabby chic tree, and even as I write that, I have no idea what that means. I couldn't find many images that I liked, so I just winged it and went with my gut. I think it looks really good so far. It just needs some garland or something because it's lacking that "wow" factor. 

My roommate has been helping me decorate it, and God love her, I think she's been getting into the sauce cause she's been putting like items together. This whole roommate situation has made me realize I'm a total control freak when it comes to my environment. I have to keep reminding myself to focus on the joy we're both getting out of decorating the tree (instead of following her around and separating things). It occurred to me that if I ever have kids, I might be the kind of mother that tucks little Jimmy's home-made Christmas decorations in the back of the tree where nobody will see them. 

Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about it. ;)

I love the IKEA LILL lace curtains! Can't lose for $4.99/pair.

Living room is doubling as a bedroom while my roommate is here! 

Where my presents at??

Score! White balls!! K ... that sounded weird. :)

Butterflies at the top ... my star was too heavy.  :(

Forever,
Amber

Sofa Love

Hello Gorgeous!

Is it bizarre that I'm in love with my sofa? That was a rhetorical question in case you were thinking of posting some smart alecky response about how yes, it is in fact bizarre that I am in love with my sofa. You might even go so far as to say that I have formed an unnatural attachment to an inanimate object ... but I swear, I've never liked something so much before. Okay ... so that's not true, but honestly, sometimes I really feel that way! I cannot believe I had to cut the back legs off it to get it through my front door. I've mentioned this story before, and I swear, I still get chills when I recall the gruesome scene.  

Anyway, this story might have a happy ending after all, because I actually really love the caster-style leg featured on the sofa below (the sofa that looks very similar to mine, but you can probably see this one coming ... I like mine better).  

One of the things I love about my sofa is that it is so big! L89 D39 H36 to be exact!  It's three feet tall  and almost 7.5 feet wide which means  I can sit on it with another individual, and it's basically like we're in different area codes. No uncomfortable brushing of the legs, or not-so-subtle hints about personal space invasion. Nope.  Over here we sit comfortably apart.  

Also, I love that for it's width there are only two seat cushions. I absolutely hate multiple cushions where it seems like everywhere you sit the cushions are separating beneath you. I also love the tufted style arms and back ... oh, and the colour! Grey! Can you imagine a more perfect colour for a sofa? Another rhetorical question.  I know, I know, now that's just not fair.

Still needs some throw pillows. 

Sofa from The French Bedroom Company 

Similar colour and material to mine.

Pretty! 

Forever,

Amber

Christmas Shells Are Ringing

Blue spruce with seashell decorations

It's definitely not traditional, but I think this seaside-inspired Christmas tree by Martha Stewart  is really pretty! And apparently quite easy to put together. All you need is some seashells, glitter, a glue gun and a dremel drill (whatever the heck that is) and you're off to the races. Not that I'll be doing that. However, if you feel so inclined, click on the link above for instructions, and tons of other Christmas decorating ideas! Oh, and hey, just for fun try this tongue twister:

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

She sells sea shells by the seashore.

The shells she sells are surely seashells.

So if she sells shells on the seashore,

I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Huh?  I don't follow the logic ... :)

Tree Topper

Forever,

Amber

Roommate Italiano

Perfect for breakfast? Umm ... I think not!

So my roommate is lovely! She laughs at my jokes, cooks brilliant pasta and shares her espresso with me. What more could a girl ask for? Well maybe someone who cooks low-carb, but beggars can't be choosers.  

I knew we were going to hit it off immediately when, as I was showing her the kitchen, I told her that I didn't have a coffee maker, and she was like, "It's okay.  I have one."  In her suitcase. She brought her tiny little espresso maker all the way from Italy. Anybody who is that dedicated to anything, never mind their coffee, I know I'm going to like right away.

So we get along swimmingly, but one thing I noticed immediately is the difference in the way we consume things. I've always been a "more is more" kind of gal, and I think she takes the less is more approach, which has never really struck a chord with me.

For example, she has the bedroom that has my old double bed in it. When I slept in that bed I had five pillows on it. She has one!  And that's enough for her apparently. I keep saying to her, "Are you sure you don't need more pillows?" and she always looks at me like I'm crazy and says, "No, one is enough." I'm thinking, "How can one be enough for you, and five isn't enough for me?" Uh-oh.

Another thing is the size of dishes she uses. I have a stack of small china plates that I bought to use as coasters for drinks, plants and vases. She picked up the tiniest one of the bunch, and was like, "Ahhh ... perfect for breakfast."  I was thinking, "Maybe if you're having a cracker!"  

And don't even get me started with her coffee mug! Until she bought the little glass one in the picture below, she was using a teacup. The smallest one I have, of course! When it comes to coffee, I more often than not find myself saying, "Don't I have anything bigger?" In her defense, the espresso she makes is incredibly strong, so realistically you wouldn't really want to drink a big cup of it, but I still think it's cute that she uses such a small cup.  

Baby Cup (hers) and Mama Cup (mine) 

Take that Starbucks!

The left plate has a smaller surface.

Forever,

Amber

Neighbours Without Boundaries

One of these things is not like the others ...

Can you tell which thing is not like the others?

When I look across at my neighbour's window, and my gaze is met with a Will & Kate flag, that song from Sesame Street rings out in my ears, "One of these things is not like the others.  One of these things just doesn't belong.  Can you tell which thing is not like the others by the time I finish my song?"  Click on the link to the video above and picture me demonstrating to my neighbour how the Will & Kate flag is not like the others. Funny, right?  I'd be like, "If you guessed this one is not like the others.  Then you're absolutely, right."

Likeness of flag placed in neighbour's window

So this got me thinking that I might embark on a little mission I think I'll call "Neighbours Without Boundaries." Unlike Doctors Without Borders, Neighbours Without Boundaries, will not serve the purpose of assisting people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe.  Nope.  Neighbours Without Boundaries will be created for the sole purpose of assisting my neighbour (who is actually quite lovely) with the purchase of a new blind.  You see?  I'm really a humanitarian at heart.

I've already thought of a couple ways I could do this. She already knows we have the same blinds, since she's the one who originally told me where to buy them, so I don't think it would be that weird if I just acted like I had a spare one lying around my apartment (which I don't).  I could knock on her door, blinds in hand, ready to mount.  She'd answer, a friendly but questioning expression on her face. "Hey!" I'd say and flash her a big smile. "I forgot to tell you I bought I an extra blind when I purchased mine a year ago. Here. You can have it!" Not giving her time to answer, I'd push past her and make my way into the kitchen. I'd touch the Will & Kate flag and say, "Don't you think this would look better somewhere else?"   Not adding, "Like the garbage." She'd start to reply, but I'd act quickly, pulling the blind down. She'd rush over to me, but I'd have already pulled out a chair and affixed the new window shade, saying, "See.  Better, no?"


So obviously, this could go one of two ways. She could look at me like I am crazy, but realize that indeed, the white shade is far preferable to the Will & Kate flag she had come to love or she could call the police. I can see the headlines now, "Neighbour Incensed Over Will & Kate Flag Has No Boundaries." The news, unsympathetic to my plight, would interview me, trying to get me to admit my behaviour was egregious, but I'd stay strong, showing them pictures, saying, "But you can see how that one's just not like the others, right?" 


Okay, so let's get a couple things straight because I'm starting to think that you might be thinking that I am few sandwiches short of a picnic, and while that might be true, I would never actually force my way into someone's apartment, rip down their Will & Kate flag and replace it with a new proper window fixture. I would just daydream about it as I'm sitting at my kitchen table, staring at it while writing my blog. :)


Let me also just say that my neighbour is great! She's close to my age and very likable! I know I've made a big to-do about ripping the blind down, but I actually kind of like it because it adds character. Having said that, I might just throw out, "Hey I have an extra blind if you need it," in passing, the next time I see her. 

Our amazing window shades can be bought at Home Depot. If you need blinds but don't know how to put them up ... this is your answer! They're totally genius!  They just stick to the top of your window frame. Can you think of anything better than blinds that don't need to be assembled or mounted with tools?  Holy smart thinking!


Forever,
Amber

French Friday's - Carolyn Quartermaine's French Home

Happy Friday! These beautiful and colourful pics are from the french home of international and worldwide textile designer Carolyn Quartermaine.

Forever,

Amber

Christmas in Paris

What would you say if someone who lived in Paris asked you to switch apartments with them over the Christmas holidays?  My answer would normally be a resounding YESYESYESYESYES --- a million times yes!  Sadly (for me), this is not just a theoretical question --- this actually happened to me recently.  I say sadly, because as some of you may know I left my job in October to return to university full-time and a trip to Paris is just not in the budget. 


So how did this amazing almost-trip almost happen?  I was helping a friend of a friend with her resume and she mentioned that her husband's parents live in Paris (right in the city) and are looking to do an apartment swap over Christmas.  She asked if I'd be interested.  My first line of thinking was "Oh my God.  I have to do this.  What can I sell?  My soul, perhaps?" 


I had visions of myself in a beret and striped tee, with a red scarf tied around my neck, piling the basket on my bicycle full of cheese and bread.  I could see myself climbing up a narrow staircase to a cozy Paris apartment with a balcony just big enough to fit me and my laptop.  I'd give it all up to stay in Paris and write.  I'd become fluent in le francais and live the life of une artiste.  How romantic!

More like, how not realistic. I came back to reality rather quickly when I realized that it's just not in the cards for me at this point.  Even if I could afford it, school takes a lot of mental energy and once you're in the zone you want to stay there.  Anything that diverts my attention is dangerous --- especially things that I really want to do!  


Surprisingly my realization didn't even sting as much as I would have thought.  That's the really cool thing about having a purpose.  When you have a purpose or a dream (for me, it's finishing university) it's easier to accept these small sacrifices.  I have been given a gift by returning to university at this point in my life.  A gift that better keep on giving ;)


So would I love to go to Paris over Christmas?  Of course. Do I feel resentful that I can't?  Not at all.  I feel grateful that I could have had the opportunity, but I feel even more grateful that I have the opportunity to finish something that is really important to me ... my business degree.


Now, in all honesty, this story may have turned out differently had the apartment we're speaking of looked like the one below :)  I found this amazing website Haven in Paris that has tons of incredible Paris apartments, and I will definitely be featuring more in the upcoming months.

Not actual apartment ... thank God lol

 

Forever,
Amber

Pretty Vintage

I know it's not a fashion blog, but I saw this beautiful vintage dress in the window of The Cat's Meow Couture and I just had to snap a couple pictures.  The belt is absolutely gorgeous!  How pretty would this be to wear on a romantic, summer date?  Stunning!

Belt buckle on another dress in the window!

The Greatest Moments In A Girl's Life by Harrison Fisher

So the idea that a woman's greatest moments are all connected to the man she marries is more than a bit old-fashioned (and nauseating), but I still thought this set of original Harrison Fisher postcards that I found at Goodwill was romantic!  I personally have not had any of these moments in my life yet (yikes!), but that doesn't mean I don't have my very own set of special moments and memories.  Unfortunately, just not any that could be shared on a set of postcards for someone to mount in their front room ;)

The whole series

The first three moments ...

... the last three moments

The Proposal

The Trousseau

The Wedding

The Honeymoon

The First Evening In Their Own Home

Their New Love

Forever,

Amber