20 Degrees Celsius

I may have seemed slightly out of mind back in February as I loaded outdoor chairs into the trunk of my car during a snowstorm, but I was certainly well prepared for today's first hit of spring weather. Thank you, Mother Nature, keep 'em coming!!

Here are the results of today's 5 minute balcony makeover:

Before

After

The What & The Where:

Outdoor Chairs, Pier 1 Imports, www.pier1.com
Outdoor Rug, Kitchen Stuff Plus, www.kitchenstuffplus.com
Moroccan Drum Table, West Elm, www.westelm.com
Moroccan Lantern, L'Atelier, 1224 Yonge Street

A Real Beauty

It's ALIVE!!

High Hopes

I'm not much of a horticulturalist, and most of those who know me will tell you that I can kill a cactus in the bat of an eye. And yet I try, try again. The latest specimen is a Ranunculus, and I have high hopes that this is the one that will bloom & grow and prove that all those that passed before were just inferior breeds...

...Good luck, little one!!

Modern Day Conveniences

Most people who own dishwashers (including myself) will tell you that they normally wash the pots & pans separately by hand, since they require extra scrubbing. The problem I have with this is that I hate to do dishes more than anything else in the whole world!! As I scrubbed the tube pan that had been sitting in the dishpan for a week and a half, I thought about how thankful I am to the person that invented the dishwasher. Her name is Josephine Cochrane, and she received the patent on her invention in 1886. Thank you Josephine!!!


I couldn't live without my dishwasher, and it got me thinking about all of the other modern day conveniences that make life so much easier.

These are my Top 5 "Can't Live Without" items:

apple iPod touch

It's a photo album, a web browser, a calendar,
a clock, a notebook and, oh yeah,
it holds my ENTIRE music library...

Harmony Universal Remote Control

I can control all of my electronic devices
(TV, Cable Box, DVD Player, Stereo)
with just ONE remote - amazing!!

SONY Digital Camera

Remember when it took 6 months to finish a roll of film?
Then take it to the store to have it developed...
...only to find out your eyes were closed in every photo?

SONY Laptop Computer

It's my lifeline to the outside world!!

Tassimo Beverage System
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso,
cappucino, latte...
...just touch the button.

What are your top 5?

Design Details: Bedding

After reading through the reviews my home received from voters in Apartment Therapy's Small Cool contest, I noticed that many people commented on the bedroom duvet cover. It's true that since the focal point of a bedroom is almost always the bed, it's important to choose great bedding. This selection sets the colour scheme for the room, and can also create a mood.

Last week on Sarah's Cottage, the East guest room had a bright, sunny feel, while the West room had a cooler vibe. Notice how the colours in the bedding set the scheme for the entire room:

East Room

West Room

Finding the perfect bedding can be difficult - I found mine at Quilts, Etc. It's called Sienna, by Carlingdale:


I also like this Pearlized Sequin Duvet cover from Simon's (only in Quebec):


A classic pinstripe from Restoration Hardware always looks crisp:


This orange tile print from Pottery Barn could inspire a Moroccan theme:


With so many options, it helps to know what colours you like and what the kind of mood you want to create. Most importantly, choose bedding that you love!!