We all know how much I love 'Sex in The City' but what I haven't talked about yet is how much I enjoy Carrie's apartment. It's rare to find a series set so realistic looking and...well thought out. Really - there's something I like about each of their apartment but Carrie's is the one I like the most. I'm not sure exactly why because the colours are a bit muted for my taste and it's a bit too random - but the random-ness is also why I like it. I like that it's not matchy-matchy. I like that it looks lived in. I like that you can tell what kind of person lives there by the way it's decorated...someone who loves the written word (as evidenced by tons and tons of magazines & books(?)) and loves fashion. Family & friends are important too as witnessed by the photos on the fridge. I like that it looks like it was decorated on a budget - with some splurge items (Aidan's chair being one of them!). Big style in a small space with a small budget - now you're talking my language!

It's also a practical apartment. The chair by the side of the bed - perfect place to stack books or to sit while you're putting on some heels or pantyhose or something like that. Console at the front door - perfect to display photographs/artwork/books and to drop your keys when you get in.

The apartment is a perfect L-shaped live/sleep/eat layout. Plus, there's a walk-in closet to boot! If I ever move to New York, I dream of renting a cosy studio apartment in brownstone walk-up in Harlem. I know Carrie didn't live in Harlem but I'm allowed to make some modifications no?

view from the living room into the bedroom


view from the bed into the living room

sitting in the bed - view to the left into the walk-in-closet



books, magazines, books, magazines, books...love it!

Now, if I can just continue to avoid all the spoilers in magazines and on t.v. I'll be fine :) So far, so good.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you all! Enjoy the day with family, friends & your loved ones.
If you're wondering what to watch on t.v. today why not watch/rent/buy one of these?

Probably my all-time favourite Christmas movie. I think it's so cute & funny & just really well written. It is what it is, you know? A fun, holiday movie great for kids.
One of my favourite scenes in the movie:

Kevin: Everybody in this family hates me!
Kevin's Mom: Then maybe you should ask Santa for a new family.
Kevin: I don't want another family. I don't want any family. Families suck!
Kevin's Mom: Just stay up there. I don't want to see you again for the rest of the night.
Kevin: I don't want to see *you* again for the rest of my whole life. And I don't want to see anybody else either.
Kevin's Mom: I hope you don't mean that. You'd feel pretty sad if you woke up tomorrow morning and you didn't have a family.
Kevin: No, I wouldn't.
Kevin's Mom: Then say it again. Maybe it will happen.
Kevin: I hope that I never see any of you jerks again!

LMAO. The tone in his voice as he talks back to his mom is priceless!

Rankin/Bass holiday special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
(a childhood favourite - though, admitedly, I haven't watched it in a few years...)

I got myself an early Christmas gift. I'm soooooo excited. It's something I've been thinking about getting for a while. I'll get it  on Thursday or Friday - after Christmas. What is it? I'll reveal soon (it's not a mac laptop!).
:)

I've read over and over that one of the best ways to get people to read your blog consistently - is to update frequently.
I've been bad at updating this week - thought it has been my best month yet. It's been a crazy busy week for me (past two weeks actually). I've been working insane hours, going to various holiday parties (mostly work related), while trying to get my Christmas shopping done (halfway there)...I can't wait for the long holiday weekend and the extra days off from work next week.

Here are a few photos I came across in magazines that I like that show decorating for the holidays. I think this time next year when I have my own apartment (God-willing) I'll implement a couple of the ideas. I realize it's probably too late for you to use any of these ideas - unless you're putting the final touches on your home decor...but still. Enjoy.

branches as decoration - simple & nice

                    
           more branches - this time white - plus the addition of xmas balls
that match the pallete...again, simple & nice.           

                                                      
L-O-V-E the mantel!

...When it snows
ain't it thrilling
Though your nose
gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play
The Eskimo way
walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Here in Toronto we got over 30 cm of snow for today. And that was earlier in the afternoon - it's still snowing....
:)

I'm hoping to get some feed back on these recent finds.

Recently on flicker I came across photos belonging to sfgirlbybay, a design blog I visit regularly. Her photos are absouletly stunning but I really liked the photo of her dining area  and have been keeping my eye open for similar looking chairs to perhaps recreate a similar look/feel. Her's a photo of hers (and if she comes across my blog and wants me to take the photo down I totally will - but I've been sure to include a photo credit!).

Now, use your imagination, but I recently came across these chairs and wonder (minus the super ugly cushions & perhaps the addition of chrome silver spray) if these chairs would give me a similar feel to the above? What's your opinion?

photo credit: www.sfgirlbybay.com

Now, use your imagination, but I recently came across these chairs and wonder (minus the super ugly cushions & perhaps the addition of chrome silver spray) if these chairs would give me a similar feel to the above? What's your opinion?

I thought it would be interesting to gather together some of the things I own that reflect my style. Everytime I see these things, even on their own, I'm inspired. Whether it's by their colour, texture, personal meaning...You know the show 'Dress My Nest' that I blogged about recently? Well, instead of an outfit - if I had to give Thom some items that told "who I am" and "reflected me" - in the hopes that they would translate into my room/space/home - these are the items I would probably give him. Allow me to walk you through the photo...

1. Playboy Magazine Cover
I went through a phase where I wanted to collect vintage magazines for their covers. Magazines covers that have been deemed 'the top' or 'newsworthy' for some reason. Actually, I think I'll put this back on my list of things to collect...Anywho, I read about this magazine cover and knew I had to  have it. Here's the description of it as per magazine.org. where it ranked #29 (tie) out of the top 40 magazine covers over the last 40 years.
Playboy October 1971
Photographer RIchard Fegley took this photo of model Darine Stern sitting on a Playboy bunny chair for the October 1971 cover of the magazine...stern became the first African-American model to grace the cover of Playboe and the cover has become a classic for the magazine.
The first African-American on Playboy! Like I said, I had to have it. So I called Playboy and I think they said they had something like 25 copies left for sale (no more would be printed). The price? A whopping $250! Can't afford that for a magazine! So I headed out to a used book/magazine store in the hopes that they would have it and - voila! Well not voila since it was at the 3rd store I went to...anywho - cost? Under $10. I hope its not 'used' - ewww-lol. But it did come sealed in plastic.

2. 'Sex in the City' DVD Set
I LOVE 'Sex in the City.' I can, and do, watch the episodes over and over again and always laugh. I love the colour and texture of this box set...I think my love of hot pink started right around the time I bought this box set....

3. BOOKS!
I LOVE books and love to read. I read a variety of books by various authors but try to read African-American authors frequently. 'Roots' is one of my all-time favourite books. Note - the photography book and book on Egypt (in the stack on the right). I'm teaching myself photography and I have a mild, okay major, obsession with Egypt.

4. Camera
Okay, I don't shoot with film cameras but I like the look...

5. GOLD!
As you may know, I like gold. It's my metal of choice. All of my jewellry is gold. If you look right under the nose part of the sunglasses you'll see a small pendant. That's my favourite piece of jewellry. It's a pendant I got in Egypt that has my name in hieroglyphs - I watched them make it - so cool! I also pride myself in buying high & low. The gold bracelets - $2 each. The sunglasses - Roberto Cavalli...

6. White Vase
It kinda looks like an Adler but it's not. I got it for like $7 at the groccery store. I like the simple shape...and the fact that it looks like an Adler. I think I'll invest in a real one soon. Perhaps Ebay will come through for me there...

7. Big Chunky Black Necklace
I like the bold simplicty of it. I get tons of compliments when I wear it. It dress up the most basic t-shirts.

8. Dark Wood
Note the dark wood vase to the back right (it's a mangowood vase) and the dark wood dresser that all of these items are displayed on. I prefer dark wood.

8. Music
Note the cd's (Lauryn Hill & Mariah Carey) directly under the camera. Love music.

So how would I translate this photo into a room/home (which I plan on doing)?
Netural colours with dark wood, pops of colour and gold accents. (dvd, vase, jewellery)
African-American artwork, global accesories and accents (books, pendant, book on Egypt)
TONS OF BOOKS!
Bold, but simple, pieces (necklace)
Sexy (dvd colour, necklace, jewellry, music)

Is this a safe translation? How would you translate this into a room? What items do you currently have in your own home that reflect your style?

Okay - we all know Ebay is great. There are great deals to be found on...everything you can think of. But, I have a problem with Ebay. You see, I can find great furniture pieces on there at really, really affordable prices - but the seller either (a) doesn't ship to Canada or (b) the shipping to Canada is SUPER EXPENSIVE. I'll admit it - I'm a bit jealous. I read tons of design blogs belong to others who are decorating their home and injecting it with style and most of them find really great finds on craigslist (craigslist toronto...not so great - but I continue to search everyday...) or on Ebay. And with the Canadian dollar doing so well you'd think that shipping would atleast be reasonable! But no! literally an arm and a leg. Well, not literally but...you get it. It frustrates the crap outta me - honestly. Take for example these items I've spotted recently (which are all tres affordable!!!!):

the perfect night table: sleek, with storage - love the wood grain!

Aren't these great? *sigh* I guess I'll just have to continue my search and continue to be patient...one of these days something is bound to pop up that ships to Canada for a reasonable cost...or is actually IN Canada. No? What have you scored on Ebay that you're particularly proud of? Or on Craigslist? Damn you people with the good craigslist's!
:)

I've had my dell laptop for about 6 years which, in computer years, is the equivalent to a gazillion years. I've been thinking about upgrading and getting something new for a while now but finally decided that yes - i indeed to want something new - about a week ago. (This is partly because I'm taking a writing course in the new year and want a new laptop to do my work on). Anywho, I was confronted with the BIG decision - PC or MAC? I'm a PC gal myself (work, school, home) but have always loved the look of the MACs...yes I'm THAT superficial. Plus, whenever I visit the graphics department at my place of work the MACs always look so...cool. Plus, I've heard it has great programs for creating videos (using your digital pics) and other fun applications; I fancy myself an amateur amateur photographer (I use that term VERY loosely) so I'm excited about that as well. And I've never really heard negative things about it - I always hear the same thing: easy to use, great design, you won't regret it. So - I think I'm going to take the plunge and get the new MacBook in black...isn't it goregous? I'm so excited. Hopefully I'll have it in time for the new year - quite possible, maybe, sooner :)

So, I've decided that I'll resume my apartment hunting in Spring...April/May. I mean, who wants to move in the winter? Plus, I figure it will be easier to get family and friends over to visit when the weather is nice. Plus...I just feel like spring will be a good time for a change. BUT that does not mean the blog will stop. Nope. The blog will go on. Although, I must get better about blogging more frequently.

Although I don't have my own apartment yet I still have tons to blog about. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect pieces for my apartment-to-be including: a fantastic vintage credenza to use as an entertainment centre, the perfect artwork for the fabulous frames I bought...plus I still have various projects to complete - I have more accent cushions to sew, I want to reupholster a chair and I plan on creating my own 'word' art. So, you see, there will be tons to blog about.

And, hello, how thrilled was I to open the new issue of Domino Magazine (Dec/Jan 08) and find the feature 'A Touch of Gold' in the So Right Now section! I LOVE gold and plan on having it be my accent metal in my apartment (as opposed to silver/chrome). As elegant and beautiful as silver looks - it can look cold. That's why I love gold. Besides being my metal of choice for jewellery, it's warm - and has a certain old world elegance and bling factor that I LOVE!

Yay Gold!