real beauty: everyday superheroes

This is super off topic, I know. But this blog is a place where I post things that are awesome and beautiful, and this week I can't think of anything more awesome and beautiful than this woman:

and these warriors:

It's been such a beautiful week for autonomy. And equality. And determination. And LOVE. I just had to recognize.

I'm not saying that things are perfect - far from it. There were some pretty shady goings on to try to keep these victories from happening, and both of these battles are far from over. But we are still so much closer - and stronger - this week than the last. And there is nothing more beautiful that that.

Have ridiculously gorgeous and amazing weekends ladies - I promise to have my mind back on fabrics and frills once Monday rolls around!

xoxo

wallpaper weekly: mally skok just blew my mind

I know it's not technically wallpaper. It's upholstered walls. But it is CRAZY how much don't care. Cuz when Erin posted this to Instagram yesterday I just about lost my shit:

I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any better than that. Nope, scratch that, I'm positive it doesn't.

The house apparently belongs to Mally Skok, who is also responsible for designing this . . .

{via}

. . . and who I'm now so in love with that someone ought to be concerned. No really.

Y'all should know me better by now than to think I'm kidding about this shit.

P.S. thanks so much for the birthday wishes loves! You guys are all the sprinkles a girl could ever need.

xoxo

in which i turn 30

So it's finally happened: I've left my 20's behind. As of today, I am officially an adult. Officially supposed to know what I'm doing. Officially supposed to have my shit together.

I can assure you none of this is the case.

While I've spent the last couple of weeks in some sort of panicked last-ditch effort to change my unhealthy ways, I'll still always be the girl who eats brownies for breakfast. Out of the pan. With a knife.

I just might pair it with a green smoothie now.

Last year I posted about struggling with turning 29, and I have to admit that in some ways that hasn't changed - I'm definitely not where I thought I would be by this age - but in some ways it's night and day. Things may not be perfect, but they're a helluva lot better than they were two years ago. Or even just that one. For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful for the years that lie ahead. For all the stuff still left to do and discover. For the amazing things I'll be able to accomplish and for the adventures waiting just around the corner.

If every year keeps being better than the last, then aging . . . well aging is a gift.

While looking for a pic for this post, I happened upon another blogger's thoughts on turning 30 (while single) that pretty much sum up every last little thing I feel about this birthday. I honestly couldn't possibly say it any better myself, so I'll let her do the rest of the talking. As for me, I'll see you beauties tomorrow, definitely one day older, hopefully one day wiser, and probably more than a little hungover.

xoxoxo

{image via Style Me Pretty Living}

summer living: the magic of outdoor curtains

I'm playing hooky again today (that's two Fridays in a row if you're counting!) and Monday is a holiday here, so I'm gearing up for a lovely, lazy long weekend. The only thing I have on my mind is some serious back balcony lounging, with an icy cold smoothie in hand and the latest issues of Lonny and Rue on my laptop!

For a 4' by 9' space, I gotta say that my glorified fire escape makes me pretty darn happy. I've managed to squeeze in an outdoor loveseat, a mini bbq, a little side table and some plant pretty, and even went so far as to cover the grotty concrete with some wood deck tiles. Too far for a rental? Maybe. But I looove it.

The only problem is that it's directly attached to my neighbour's balcony (no separation at all), and his side is - in the absolute kindest of words - an eyesore. It has me dreaming of outdoor drapes like you wouldn't believe! I've always loved the look and now it's the only thing standing between me and perfect relaxation...

{1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9}

Would this make me seem like the unfriendliest of neighbours in the history of time? Should I care enough to keep staring at his mess? Oh, how does one choose between the polite and the pretty...

Have a beautiful weekend loves! Here's hoping the sun is shining no matter where you are!

colour pop: painting door edges

This morning Cassie of Look Linger Love Instagrammed a sneak peek of a project she's working on with Land of Nod, and in it they were doing something I'd never seen before: adding a bright pop of colour to just the inside edge of a door. I always love a hit of unexpected, and this edge just so happened to be pink, so you KNOW I was all over it!

A quick search showed me that other peeps have done this before, so am I the only one who'd never heard of it? I'm in love, and thinking I might be tackling every door in my home this weekend . . .

Seems like reds, pinks and oranges are the way people are going, but I think this could be awesome in chartreuse as well. The best part is that it would be an absolute cinch to pull off, and to get rid of the minute you tired of it or your room decor changed!

So what do you think lovelies? Are you loving this bold stroke as much as I am?

{images: 1/2/3/4/5} 

wallpaper weekly: galbraith & paul's lotus

This week's wallpaper weekly is brought to you by this insanely good bedroom - designed by the incompa-rable Grant K. Gibson - that's been setting Pinterest ablaze like wildfire:

There is so much I love about this space, not the least of which is the unexpected colour combo of rich plum and gorgeous golden mustard pulled directly from one of my fave wallpapers - Galbraith & Paul's Lotus. 

As you can see though, all the colourways of this gorgeous paper are awesome, awesome, awesome . . .

It never, ever fails to tug at my heartstrings. Here are just a couple more applications I think you'll love . . .

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I can't even decide which one is my favourite, and with pink as an option, that's saying a lot!

Happy Tuesday lovers xoxo

all things demijohn

I've been in full-fledge search mode for some vintage demijohns for a couple of months now. I've always been a huge fan, but my desire to have one for my own has grown by leaps and bounds since recovering the pendant light in my kitchen in palm print. To make the space cohesive I've been adding more and more green into my adjoining living room, and there's a spot beside my media unit that is just crying out for one of these ladies. Or, you know, maybe even two. . .

If you're unconvinced of the awesomeness of these huge glass jugs - originally and often still used to transport wine - then maybe this'll change your mind . . .

{1/2/3/4/5/6/7}

Yesterday I was perusing West Elm's new offerings (in anticipation of the Montreal store opening), when I came across this number . . .

. . . and realized how easy it would be to take the glass drilling technique I used in my mercury glass pendant light tutorial and d.i.y. this beauty up!

A quick search gave me a great tutorial on just how to do it, and some more beautiful eye candy to inspire...

{1/2/3}

Gorgeous right?

If you're feeling extra bold (and can figure out how to really secure the light kit in the bottle's neck), you can even take it one step further and create some serious ceiling eye candy . . .

{1/2}

If you're looking to find one and are super impatient like me, I suggest checking your local craigslist or kijiji. If you can wait, the flea market is by far the best place to hit up. When it comes to demijohns, I say the older, the more patina'd, the more misshapen, the better. Wouldn't you agree?

Til' tomorrow luvs!

a sunday post for my father

When I left my ex almost three years ago, my dad made it pretty clear that he disagreed with my decision. He felt strongly that I was making a mistake I would come to regret, and he tried, unsuccessfully, to convince me to reconsider. Eventually, it became clear that he wasn't going to be able to. And so instead - as though he believed in it with all of his heart - he set about making sure the path I had chosen was the best it could possibly be.

This is how my father shows his love. By going to get my things from my old apartment when I can't bring myself to do it. By driving a U-Haul in a snowstorm so that I don't have to hire movers. By building custom shelves and reconfiguring my shower and fixing the jagged edges of my countertop. When he knows that everything is hard, my papa makes sure that the things that don't have to be, aren't. When he knows that everything hurts, he makes sure that the things that don't have to, don't.

Time and time again, my father has shown me that whether he agrees with my choices or not, he will always, always have my back. Right or wrong, he is on my side. I know that I can count on him no matter what, because at the end of the day, all he cares about is that I'm happy. That really is it.

I cannot explain how much I love this man.

So here's to you daddy. I feel blessed - every single day - to have you as my father. I may not always listen to you, and I definitely don't always agree with you, but I promise to always, always have your back. No matter what.

Oh, and to make you breakfast when you visit next weekend. That too ;)

Love you papa,

E

you liked it! so now help me change it.

First things first: all your ridiculously sweet comments on my Sadie & Stella guest post yesterday had me blushing so hard I honestly didn't know what to do with myself. I'm so incredibly happy that you guys liked it, because it's the closest I've ever gotten to being done with a room, and I'm kinda into it too!

But see that word 'closest'? That's still a looooong way from donesky. Since taking those pics I've added a nightstand to the other side of the bed and topped it with a gorge gold articulating light (I'll insta that baby once I have a second to tidy), and also decided that the art wall above my dresser needs a bit of an overhaul.

It either needs to be more cohesive - meaning the picasso sketch in the upper right hand corner has to go, cuz one of these things is not like the others - or more varied. Or I could just add to it. Cuz, you know, it wouldn't kill it to be a bit bigger. In the land of gallery walls, bigger is definitely always better, amiright?

So this is where I ask you to weigh in beauties. Would you stay on the abstract express, swap a couple out for other styles, or just keep building? I've already started scouring etsy for new pretties to add - and am going to share some of my fave etsy artists old and new with you next week! - but I'd LOVE your input. Ideally I'd pick build, but doing that slowly is tough because you have to make it work at every stage.

The last thing I was hoping to do is bring some yellow into the dressing area to pick up on the shots of it on the bed side . . .

. . . and while I was originally thinking I'd spray the black lamp yellow and change up the shade, I was never really sold on that idea. What do you think? Should I just try to do bring in the yellow via the art wall as well? If so, anyone know some amazing yellow based pieces they wanna share with me?? I so wish there was a "more like this" button on Etsy. GOD that would be awesome.

I won't be around tomorrow because my bestie is coming up for the weekend and I'm playing hookie, so have an AMAZING weekend luvs! And welcome all new readers via S+S, I'm ridiculously stoked to have you!

xoxo