a brand new blog

hello happie readers!

today is the beginning of the end for this blog. 

whaaaa?

i've actually decided that a fresh start was in order and have moved the blog over to it's *the price is right voice*  brand new home.

i hope you'll come on over and be a part of this new adventure.  i am super excited about this.

i appreciate all the love and support i have received here and hope you will continue to be a part of my online life.

here's to new years, fresh starts and new addresses.

http://www.mydearwatsonblog.blogspot.com/

happie christmas

don't drink {cold medicine} and blog

i have come down with a stomach bug that has left me on the couch with aches, chills and a very short attention span. 

i started to give the blog a makeover with "festive" as the theme and somehow, somewhere went to a place that i don't really like. 

so... sorry for my {hopefully temporary} ugly blog until i can get back and track and choose a theme that says more "chrissy" and less... um, not "chrissy"? 

it's time for a nap.

she's crafty

look at what i made!

do you know what they are?

here's a hint....

two coasters and one BIG coaster.

{i am told it is called a trivet, not bigasscoaster.}

you will need:

mod podge

tiles

{we got ours in the clearance section at 'the home depot'.  one million tiles for about five dollars.}

sharp craft knife

fancy paper

paint brushes or spongy things pictured above

spray sealant

also recommended are the little stick on rubber things for the bottom so they don't scratch your table.

cover one side of your tile with the mod podge.  we discovered by trial and error that it is a case of 'the more, the better'.  place your pre-cut paper on the sticky modge and then do another layer of modge over.  then you wait for it to dry and have jenn's amazing boyfriend spray them with the sealant for you. stick those rubber feet thing on the bottom aaaannnnddd... done.

we got to spend the afternoon with jenn's boyfriend's tween nieces who actually enjoyed crafting along with us.  they got really creative and did cut out shapes and layered different patterns.  age appropriateness is a good thing.

super fun, super easy.

happy crafting!

pew! pew! giveaway win from lexylevin

i am in looooooove with my giveaway win from my girl thursday and lexylevin.  the space cadet no 05 necklace from lexy's self-titled etsy shop got me tons of compliments when i wore it to work the other day.  {and with every compliment i got to make the pew!pew! noise complete with finger guns.}  i am a girl who loves cute jewellery and ray guns.

lexy was also sweet enough to send along this adorable painted wooden heart pin which was promptly stolen by my loving mother.  thank you so much, lexy! {seriously.}  thanks a lot, mum!  {sarcastically}

LexyLevin

blog

etsy

let your freak flag fly! giveaway win from brandy-son zen master flash

two things i have learned this week:

1. i am still riding high from winning my girl thursday's november giveaway.

2. my mother is the world's worst photographer.

i checked the camera only to find crappy photo after photo of my boobies that didn't really show how awesome this necklace looked on a real person.  {hence the reason my mother is not allowed to assist me with fashion posts anymore.}  i hope these photos will suffice to show how unique and comfortable this piece really is.  thanks so much, brandy!

brandy-son zen master flash

blog

etsy shop

life happens. in a good way.





soooooo....

i've been a little m.i.a.  i haven't had a chance to come by some of my favorite blogs and visit.

i miss it.

didn't plan to be gone so long.

just got a little busy.  you know, trying on cute hats at forever21.

life happens in good ways sometimes.

but i'll be round to visit soon.

probably wearing my cute hat.

he really loves me

last week i got to open my birthday presents a bit early so that boy and i could spend the night enjoying a whole buncha x-men, wolverine, harry potter and some more wolverine {there can never be too much wolverine, amirite?}

does this boy know me, or what? 

now i just need a girls day road trip to ikea for one giant ass frame for that awesome poster.  any takers?  dollar ninety-nine breakfast is totally on me.

thrift

it is very unusual for me to bring something home from the thrifts and not already have a purpose or a place for it in my mind but last week i surprised myself by bringing home these little baskets.  at one dollar for the pair i couldn't leave them behind! 

the trouble lays in deciding what to use them for - organizing, displaying, linens, papers, books, canned goods, closets, desks, pantry...  the possibilities are endless.

help me put these wire baskets to good use.  what would you use them for in your home?

twip #0037

 {clockwise}picked out some thrifty novels for a birthday gift; apples in a christmas-sy bowl; filling boy's stocking up; tea biscuits have replaced all other things as my new addiction

creamy coffee in chipped diner mugs go perfectly with banana pancakes; visiting the post office to get the international cards out on time

{clockwise}mid-day snacks should always include something toasty; sunday evening comfort food on a tuesday; loki kittie helping set up the tree at mum's; a better shot of the thrifted christmas bowl {it's a brian gluckstein, for those into label whoring - i am

on a cold day i went with a cafe mocha and a hot apple pie instead of the egg nog milkshake - now i can't get the shake out of my head; a pretty snowy surprise when leaving work

happies not pictured: peppermint tea, mini kit kats and jukebox oldies to set up the tree with mum {i respond well to food bribes}

unhappies not pictured: getting physically caught in the middle of an argument you have nothing to do with... awk-ward!

i don't usually do recipe posts for a reason

one of my favorite meals during the winter season is stew.  it's so hearty and comforting.  my favorite recipe goes like this:

step one: have the man you love prepare an amazing sunday meal complete with potatoes and gravy.  you can help by opening the canned vegetables.

step two: throw all leftovers into the slow cooker.  turn on the slow cooker.

step three: put the contents of the slow cooker into a bowl and eat.  it.  all.  up.

rachael ray ain't got nothing on me.

currently obsessing over...

...this room found in the december 2011 issue of canadian house & home magazine.

the whole house is pretty freakin' amazing but this one room in particular keeps stealing my eyeballs and won't let go.  i think it's the striped bedding paired with that adorable horse print.  and don't even get me started on how much i am coveting more vintage camping blankets.  swoon!

i keep thinking of the things i would change {like that ugly lamp or the huge horse face print that, although awesome, doesn't really fit this room} but i keep coming back to it for inspiration.

proper links are almost impossible to hunt down so the deets are as follows;

story: continental drift

text by: barbara sgroi

photography by: michael graydon

making the most of it

we dont' have a ton of space in our little home to do much holiday decor but i'd like to think we make the most of what we have.  tiny ornaments for a tiny tree, cinnamon and peppermint scents, childhood memories in gaudy frames and some collected nature treasures.  small collections mean editing for items that mean the most.  sometimes the tiniest things contain the biggest memories.

{who knew pine cones could be used as photo holders.  not i.  necessity as the mother of invention, and all that...}

you say 'hipster' like it's a bad thing

have you ever found yourself with unaccounted for time in your day? 

what are the chances you spent said time making hipster cartoon versions of yourself?

if you are me, those chances are pretty darn high.

chantilly, you are the linky queen.

even more awesome birthday thrift

i always seem to have great thrifting luck when i go looking to choose a little something for my birthday.  i mean, i could ask for something totally practical {a new vacuum?} or i could throw caution to the wind and come home with some new-to me pyrex from boy's mum, a lovely hand-stitched quilt or even a amazingly adorable genital switch lamp.

i choose to throw my caution.  who needs a new upright, anyway.

i spotted it and my mum purchased it for me as this year's birthday gift.  i could think of so many uses for this amazing wire basket but went with using it as extra blanket storage, making room in the linen cupboard for more awesome thrifty finds.

whaddaya think, huh?  nudge nudge.  what would you use it for?

 **i also linked up to 'her library adventures' flea market finds

thrift {the birthday edition}

each year boy's mum and i spend the day together having a birthday lunch and doing the thrift circuit to look for the perfect and unique gift... for ma birfday.  *sing-songy voice*

this year we found a little something that made me one happy birthday girl.

it's authentic pyrex in my favorite kitschy avocado green.  my little collection is growing and now this piece will always hold special birthday memories for me.

 **i also linked up to 'her library adventures' flea market finds

twip #0036

{one}

{two}

{three}

{four}

{one}boy brought home a foody surprise - bean tacos and fries supreme.  love me some border sauce!  {two}cheating on my favorite foundation by trying something new  rebellion!  {three}coffee and browsing the book store with my girl on a rainy evening  {four}setting up our christmas decor

{five}

{six}

{seven}

{eight}

{five}i am officially old!  hot hamburger lunch  {six}another little foodstuff surprise from boy  {seven}chinese for lunch with boy's mum on our thrifty-day date  {eight}took a deep breath and chopped all my hair off



{nine}




{ten}




{eleven}



{twelve}

{nine}kickin' it cozy style during some down time  {ten}opened some birthday cards and presents early  {eleven & twelve}catching up with friends and family at a surprise engagement party