Okay Kay* breath, breath, breath...Here are some screen pictures (hence the kinda crappy quality) I got from the NEW 'Sex and The City' trailer. I can't wait until May 30th! Click here to watch the new EXTENDED trailer (not the teaser trailer I posted here) but WARNING there may be a spoiler or two!!!!!!! I just HAD to watch it though! And I didn't take it as a spoiler so much as a "OH MY GOD!"

What do you think? Are you going to see the movie? Are you as excited as I am?

NO Steve NO - Say it aint so!!!!

I know this blog is about the decorating of my first apartment, from scratch, but would you allow me to digress for a moment? How many times have you been invited to a formal or semi-formal event...or even just felt like wearing something pretty when you go out - but had nothing to wear? For work I get invited to quite a few social events but ususally the standard dress code for these are nice jeans, great heels and a sexy top. BUT every now and then I'm invited to a wedding or a party and want to wear a dress...and always spend FOREVER trying to find the right one. As it stands, right now I have 1 dress that I would wear if invited to something formal. That's right. 1. And while it's very pretty it's a bit casual. Which means I'll eventually have to buy another.

What if you could buy one dress that would fill all your going-out needs. The dress that you wear to a wedding but also to your company christmas party. The dress you wear to the summer BBQ or to a girfriends birthday party at a trendy restaurant. The dress that you wear to church or to work paired with the right accesories...

I think I've found that dress.

    

    

    

At $270-$290 this dress by twobirds Bridesmaid could be the perfect dress. It's 1 dress that can be worn - about 10 ways and comes in a 10 colours! Yes, those images above are infact the same dress worn different ways. Yes, I'll wait as you take a second look.

Genius! Why didn't I think of that??? Technically, it's marketed/positioned as a bridesmaid dress - and if I were getting married this would definitely be the dress my bridesmaid's would wear. Think about it - you have a handful of girlfriends with different body shapes but on your big day you want them to all kinda look alike no? BUT you still want the dress to be flattering to them - for them to look and feel hot! This dress will ensure that (I think). 

                        

 
   

    

The website is also pretty fantastic - complete with step-by-step how-to's on how to wrap the dress in various styles.
Isn't it wonderful? I think I may buy one...

Check out the twobrides website to see more pics.

Ha! the title above ryhmes! nice.
Today, I picked up my vintage, teak desk and...I love it. I'm so happy I got it. I've given it a once over with danish oil and it looks fantastic...I even stopped and picked up some pink tulips to complete my vision...I just couldn't resist :) However, the space I have to store it in for now (until I move) is really not doing it any justice...at all. I just have to keep telling myself - when it's not in a corner of an unfinished basement, when it's surronded by crisp white walls and positioned near a window that lets in lots of light...it will be perfect. And it will.

got it down the steps and into the basement


this corner of the basement does NOT do the desk justice...
trust me - it's fab! {love my tulips}


I also picked up a circular, vintage teak tray...not quite sure what I'll use it for just yet...but I'm sure I'll use it some how.


vintage teak tray - 16" - very nice

I also spotted a fantastic, slightly ornate mirror that is...GOLD! You all do remember how much I love gold...don't you??? In higher end shops they usually sell for a pretty penny..but the store owner was giving me a pretty good price. I think I may go back and get it...and try to talk him down a couple of bucks :) Oy! I'll have to move soon - my bedroom can't hold all of these finds!

These items are so perfect not only for organzation but also for a small space. Don't you think?

It's a home office, display space, and bar...all in one!

 

I adore this small space solution.
Perfect in an entrance way if you don't have room for a console table or a hall closet.

And HUGE congrats to my friend (real-life friend) and fellow blogger Jessica - aka.Jess :) Jess' blog The World According To JessicaClaire, though less than 2 months old, has already caught the attention of some rather popular design blogs out there! Today, Jess' fantastic-ally chic bedroom makeover was featured on DesignSponge...very cool! Here's a quick look but to see more pics visit her website.

Congrats Jess!

       
before 

 

after

I'm lucky to work at a place where we subscribe to almost every single magazine known to man. Well, maybe not every single one but a lot. The March issue of 'Flare' (Canada's Fashion Magazine) arrived yesterday and intrigued by the gorgeous Alicia Keys cover and some headlines I took a quick flip through. I was immediately drawn to the interior of Carainn Buchalter featured in the magazines 'living' section. While it's more white than I'd do - the space is fresh, modern, slightly eclectic and very chic. Just as the headline suggests - it's polished...with a pop (of colour that is!). The space was designed with the help of design firm Lloyd Ralphs Design. I'm having trouble finding their website but I've seen there designs several times on design shows and in magazines. They are known, at least to me, for loving white interiors. Lots and lots of white. White everywhere. I've included some photos of Carainn's home below. Overall, it's a pretty good issue of Flare this month - I'd suggest you pick it up if you can.

 

love the black laquered chair with a pop of colour...
what a neat idea for above a console!






very cool

the smores I made didn't look quite this delicious :)

Well, it's back to work after a nice long weekend (Monday was a new holiday here in Ontario 'Family Day' and I took Friday off). Here's how I spent the past 4 days off:

• Slept in...which I barely get to do any more...especially since Howard entered my life...
• Spent tons of time with Howard. My new bichon/toy poodle puppy! I haven't mentioned him on 'Decorating From Scratch' yet because it's been a BIG adjustment becoming a pet owner - and to be honest I wasn't sure I was going to keep him. But...I hung in there and it's gotten much much better. I'll show his pic soon!
• Went to some vintage shops and fell in-love with a teak, mid-century desk that I will pick up later this week
• Cleaned my room
• Did some laundry
• Made an absolutely delicious dinner with my brothers and tasty smores for dessert with the younger brothers (made in the oven...still super tasty!)
• Really got started on an exciting project. Sorry! Can't give any more details. I know - I hate a tease too ;)
• Got familiar with my new MAC
• Formed a band with my brothers and rocked out on the super -addictive game 'rockband'
• Watched a lot of television
• Ate a lot of valentines chocolate. Oy.

I took the day off today (for an extra-long weekend since Monday is a holiday) and finally had the chance to visit a neighbourhood that has a couple of vintage stores I've wanted to visit. Normally, because they close at 5 or 6 p.m. I can't visit them after I leave work. Anyways, in one of the stores I saw this fantastic teak desk from the 1960s in pretty good condition overall. I've been looking on craigslist for a desk like this (teak, clean simple lines, built-in under desk storage...and preferably a slide out drawer) for some time but haven't really come across anything - though I've come kinda close.

But this - this meets all of the requirements. It could be perfect. Just what I'm looking for. But, as I normally do when I spend more than $100 on anything (this desk is just under $400), I'm debating the purchase of it. I'm thinking "is it worth 400?" "could I find it cheaper?" "what if I see something else that I like next week/month?"... aaaah! so frustrating. I called my sis and showed her the pic - "buy it" she says. "its a nice desk and I thought it was kinda cheap when you told me the price," she says (keep in mind my sis and I have VERY different thoughts on spending money/cheap vs. expensive...she thinks I'm frugal. I think she's crazy to spend $350 on a kitchenaid blender).

If I think about it too long I know it'll sell. What should I do? What would you do? WWJD? (lol - had to throw that in).

I picture my new MacBook on top with this lovely white Jonathan Adler vase holding some hot pink tulips. And when I'm trying to be super tidy I can slip my MAC into the drawer right below.

How lovely.

Lately I find myself very into, among many other things, fabric. I was on Apartment Therapy (one of my favourite interior design blogs) sometime last week (or perhaps it was the week before) and saw a post about new fabric at Ikea. For some reason, it had never really struck me to check Ikea for fabric. So this past weekend I headed to Ikea and found tons of great fabric. Unfortunately, not many had the accents colours I'm looking for (on a sidenote, if you're colour scheme includes blues and greens you are in luck!). I ended up leaving with two fabric patterns - one in black & white (because you really can't go wrong with a black & white combo can you?) and the other is orange on white. I know, I know. Orange isn't a colour I'm really planning on using much of (though I was into it a few years ago) but I loved the pattern so much I had to get it. I figure it'll add a nice unexpected pop of colour somewhere.

In other non-related news we here in Toronto were treated (and I say that sarcastically) to yet another snowstorm. I've lost count but I think this is the third in about 10 days. And I'm not talking a bit of snow...I'm talking tons and tons....witness these photos taken one week ago after the second storm: