Cure for the Common Klutz

Ask my husband, mother, sis or anyone close to me what you can count on in any outfit of mine on any given day and you’ll probably be told: hints of pink, feminine details and most definitely a stain. I’m quite certain the first ‘task’ or chore I learned as a child was how to pre-soak my clothes before it went into the washing machine. From popsicle drips to pen marks to mud, you will almost always find a stain on my clothes. As an adult, the stains have now progressed to lipstick, my morning misto or wine – and my hand-eye coordination only seems to be getting worse!

My mom was an avid OxiClean fan growing up and would swear by its magical powers to remove any tough stain me and three other kids could throw at her. When Adam and I did our first big grocery shop after moving into our new place, I told him the OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover was a must have in my laundry room cabinet. I find pre-soaking my clothes with a few scoops of this mixed with cold water in a plastic bowl works wonders for lifting and removing stains. Yes – even the tough ones like pen marks, wine stains or salt on clothes. I also love using this method to soak my Converse sneakers and keep them bright white.

Since my stains aren’t always limited to my clothes, we’ve also used the product on our area rugs, carpet and even our white couch for little mishaps.

If the stain is less severe or I’m in a rush (as per us), then the OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Pre-Treater Spray is my jam. I simply target the stain, let it sit for 5-minutes and then toss it in the washing machine.

So, while I continue to Rosé All Day, I’m happy to know that OxiClean has my back or as I should say, the stains on the front of my shirt as well ;) You can find laundry room details here and my dress here.

Thanks to OxiClean for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Nordstrom Sale: Home Finds

Regina Andrew Jack | Tassel Pillow | White Wash Mirror

Pom Pom Basket Set | Stripe Blanket | Marble and Wood Cutting Board

Monogram Catch All Dish | Pink Recycled Vase | Stripe Pouf

Marble Trash Can | Grey Patterned Rug | Voluspa Candle

With only a few days left to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I wanted to share some last minute finds for the home front. I feel like I’ve been cheating on fashion with furniture since we moved into our place and I’m trying to create a coastal-feel with lots of linens, whites, neutral colours and pops of blue.

I actually have one of these Regina Andrew Jack’s and love that it always finds a new home in our home from bookcases to kitchen counters to books on our coffee table. This cozy blanket is giving me all the fall feels and I can’t help but think of being curled up with it on the couch. Since storage is limited in our house, I’m all about storage baskets lately. From magazines to blankets or even shoes by the front door, I’m crushing on this Pom Pom Set for our place. Last but not least, catch all trays are a must have in our house. This monogram option is not only chic but would work great on a bedside table, on a console table for keys or even in the bathroom for holding dainty jewelry.

Don’t forget that prices go up August 6th so be sure to snag items while you can. In case you missed, I did a major round of finds here and my favourite under $100 finds here. I also shared what I bought at my local Nordstrom store and how I reworked pieces 2 ways.

Happy Shopping!

Laundry Room Project Reveal

Let’s be honest with ourselves: there’s no chore anybody wants to do. But say you happened to ask me which one I liked the least… I might himmm and haw over vacuuming, scrubbing toilets, wiping down the baseboards and then quite quickly, I’d land on laundry. I have no problem getting the energy to start doing laundry, but it’s the process of moving items to the dryer, knowing which items have to air dry, waiting for the clothes to dry, folding and then my favourite – putting them all away – that just does me in.

Despite there only being two of us in our household, I feel like we churn through an awful lot of laundry. Almost every other night you could hear the rumbling of our dryer either tackling Adam’s work clothes, towels, sheets or something I likely spilled on and of course – needed it for tomorrow’s business presentation! I also strongly believe that the prettier a space, the more likely you are to want to spend time in it and keep it clean. To give you an idea of what I was working with, this is our old laundry room as of early January:

A poorly lit space with no windows, ugly green tiles, a plastic wash-bin, no storage and a washer and dryer that weren’t exactly living up to the challenge. Can you blame a girl for not wanting to hang out in here?

We’ve lived in our house for three years and have tackled the kitchen, master bedroom, foyer, powder room, ensuite, backyard and more but for some reason we kept putting this project on hold – till now. The teams at Home Depot Canada and LG Canada approached us and asked if we’d be interested in testing out the TurboWash Steam Washer and Electric Steam Dryer. Wanting to reply with an instant, YES, I couldn’t help but realize my second thought: my laundry room is soooo not Instagram worthy. So with a little convincing, planning and organizing we set a date to kick off a renovation in our laundry room.

We literally stripped this room down to nothing: swapped old tiles for marble floors, ripped out the baseboards, added a new coat of paint, installed cabinets, a counter, updated the plumbing and added the finishing touch: the TurboWash Steam Washer and Electric Steam Dryer.

While we’d consider ourselves DIYers, this was the biggest project we’ve ever tackled. I can’t stress enough how helpful the Home Depot Canada team was at our local store in helping us sort through what seemed like the impossible (How do we even begin cutting tiles? How do we make these cabinets grey? How do you tile around a corner?). To say this was a huge accomplishment for us is the understatement of the year. I’m so proud of the work we were able to accomplish in this space and for the finished product.

Floooring:
We tore up our old green builder tile and replaced it with these Hexagon 2” marble mosaic tiles. I love the subtle pattern we get in the floor but it’s also a refreshing change from the dark hardwood we have running through our hallway upstairs.

Cabinetry:
This entire set is from the Home Depot Canada’s Eurostyle collection. It’s typically in stock at most locations and you can piece together what bits you need to create a space that works best for you. The Orange Apron associates at the store were awesome at helping us organize how to put which cabinet where and maximize the space as best as possible. The cabinets did come in white originally but always up for a challenge, we decided they should be grey. We used melamine-based paint from Behr (the shade is Silver Bullet from Home Depot Canada) and got to painting (no sanding required!). I LOVE how they turned out. We also added crown molding across the top to create that custom cabinetry look without the price.

Backsplash:
Since we were working with a farmhouse-inspired space, a white backsplash seemed like a no brainer. While I wanted to use a dark grout, the team at our local Home Depot gave us the tip that using a light grey shade would be best since this was our first time cutting tile and a dark grout would highlight any imperfections. Sold!

Counter:

Don’t get me wrong – this girl loves her marble – and there were plenty of options at Home Depot but sometimes you have to keep your budget in check. I had often loved the look of butcher block but could never bring myself to use it in the kitchen so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to introduce it to our space. We also found it very easy to cut and install.

Plumbing & Sink:

Fun fact – I actually used to work on the Delta brand in a previous career so selecting a faucet with Touch2O (the hands-free technology) was a no brainer for me. I often hand wash delicates, designer jeans and more, often finding my hands covered in product so getting to simply tap the spout with my wrist to turn the water on and off was genius for this space.

Another budget debate for us was the sink. Truth be told, I really, really wanted an apron front sink. Unfortunately, the budget just wasn’t there. After debating on our options, we decided that a drop in white sink was our closest bet to creating that farmhouse aesthetic without breaking the bank.

Paint:

Phew – something we knew a thing or two about. We’ve used Behr paint in other homes we’ve painted in the past so this was a no brainer for us…. or so we thought. I’ll be honest, this room was first painted white (too white!), then we debated a wallpaper but it didn’t jive with the subway tile and then we landed on what would have been original choice: the perfect greige shade of paint. The colour used in this room was Dolphin Fin.

Washer & Dyer:

I think the biggest and most notable improvement of all in this space is our new LG TurboWash Steam Washer and Electric Steam Dryer. Talk about night and day! I mean the immediate change for us was the upgrade in capacity: at 5.2 cu. ft. (washer) and 7.4 cu.ft. (Dryer) – I’ve already cut out 1 load a week from our previous pair, which is craz-eh! The TurboWash Technology also helps us save up to 20 minutes on our normal laundry loads – it’s like hitting fast forward on the television as you watch it zip through a load.

I also love that the washer incorporates Steam while cleaning to work hard at tough stains or allergens so you really do get a deep clean. And while certain ‘types’ of cycles are already labeled on the device (Towels, Delicates), you also have the option to tap the LG Smart Laundry app and find customized cycles (cough, cough that red wine stain on your white dress) that are tailored to your needs.

I had mentioned this in my stories prior, but due to the lack of space and only 8-foot ceilings, we needed to use what room we did have for cabinetry and counter space for folding and sorting through laundry. This meant we had to part ways with the concept of the LG TWINWash System ™ – bummer! The TWINWash ™ system includes Sidekick pedestal washer, which not only add height but also allow for the option of a secondary laundry load to be washed at the same time as a regular one – below the main washer. A secondary pedestal drawer is installed beneath your dryer and is a great storage unit where you can keep detergent, hangers, clothespins or other accessories for the space.

And guess what! I’m giving away a full LG TWINWash™ system that includes a front load washer, electric dryer, Sidekick pedestal and regular laundry pedestal on my Instagram channel right now! makeover. Keep an eye out for my post later today and enter for a chance to win and get started on your own laundry room makeover.

Overall, these new appliances are game changers for the way we do laundry. We can conquer more laundry, save time and cut back on our water bill at the end of the month – a big win in Adam’s books.

This project was not for the faint of heart but so worth it in the end. Ask me now what my favourite chore is and I’ll probably tell you laundry. I literally find myself just hanging out in the laundry room perfectly folding t-shirts, organizing accessories and snapping the odd shoefie pic on my new marble floors.

Got questions about our project or looking for tips/tricks? Ask away! In the meantime, find all details below:

Eurostyle Cabinetry: c/o Home Depot Canada | Cabinetry Paint: Silver Bullet by Behr c/o Home Depot Canada | Richelieu Cabinetry Hardware: c/o Home Depot Canada | Butcher Block Counters: c/o Home Depot Canada | White Porcelain Subway Tile: c/o Home Depot Canada | Delorean Grey Grout: c/o Home Depot Canada | White Over-the-counter Sink: c/o Home Depot Canada | Delta Touch2O Faucet: Available at Home Depot Canada | White Floating Shelves: c/o Home Depot Canada | Marble Hexagon Floor: c/o Home Depot Canada | Delorean Grey Grout: c/o Home Depot Canada | Behr Eggshell Paint in Dolphin Fin – XX c/o Home Depot Canada | LG TurboWash Steam Washer: c/o Home Depot Canada | LG TurboWash Electric Steam Dryer: c/o Home Depot Canada

Photos by Carlous Sousa | Florals by Bloom Scout

Things I’ve Learned from Being a Home Owner

Adam and I have been homeowners for over 9 years now and looking back, there are certainly things I would do differently but I’m also appreciative of the lessons we’ve learned over this time.

We bought our first semi-detached home as an engaged couple and bought it on a bit of a whim. Being a newly built home, we learned you had to jump fast to secure the lot prior to building as entire developments often sell out within 24 hours in the Greater Toronto Area. Were we excited? Sure! Were we nervous? You can’t imagine. We were 21 and 23 and had never lived on our own let alone in our own house.

Fast forward 9 years later and in our second home, we’re certainly more familiar with the process of purchasing a new home and what’s involved. With home ownership being a favoured topic on the blog, I thought I’d share 5 tips that we’ve learned over the years.

Beads | Candle | Pom Pom Pillow | Fuzzy Pillow | Similar coffee table

1. Save, save, save.
I’m sure you’ve read this 1,000 times and if you’re considering a new home, this isn’t new news. But I can’t stress it enough. When we bought our new homes twice, we sunk almost every last dollar we could squeeze into our down payment. This meant sacrificing vacations, furniture, remodeling plans and more but it also meant we’d build a stronger equity stake for our future which we’d appreciate down the road.

We also carefully considered our mortgage options and always shortened our amortization period to as small as we could feasibly make it to ensure we were paying down the most amount of money to our principal rather than our interest every month. We also got into the habit of increasing our mortgage payments whenever one of us received a raise in our careers to ensure our new disposable income didn’t just go flying out the door.

Urchin Decor | Tray

2. Buy with Selling in Mind

Unless your first home will be your last, you’re likely going to be selling your property at some point or another. We always like to do our research on the area we plan to move into and seek out information like average age, income, job, family situation, etc. This helps put into perspective what kind of ‘buyer’ we’ll be selling to down the road.

If the area is home to young families for example, consider a quiet street for children to play or, read up on schools in the area (even if you don’t have children of your own) and be sure that the layout of the house has family friendly features like a laundry on the second floor.

3. Sweat Equity

Last year was the first time we’d ever hired someone to do work for us within the house. And to be honest, it wasn’t an easy decision to make but with busy schedules and the house in desperate need of landscaping, we decided to pull the trigger. But being a new or existing homeowner, there’s something to be said for pride and for one’s bank account with sweat equity. Whether it’s painting, landscaping or a remodel, consider if it’s a project you can take on. We’ve saved thousands over the years thanks to YouTube tutorials, classes at Home Depot or calling on friends and/or family in trades to lend advice on how to complete a job.

4. Invest in your Home

If there were two rooms I’d sink all my money into, it would be kitchens and bathrooms. And if I had to prioritize it between those two, the kitchen would take top choice for me. Kitchens have become communal areas in the home. They’re the new living room, dining room, homework area or photoshoot location ;)

When buying new, we always invested the most of our dollars into upgrading features such as our flooring, cabinet quality, cabinet height, countertop material, extending an existing island (if there is one), cabinet hardware, layout and the pantry.

While your new home is likely the biggest investment you’ll make, it’s comforting to know that this investment comes backed with a trusted warranty. Thanks to Tarion, Ontario new home owners can have the peace of mind that their investment in kitchens, bathrooms (and even extending to the entire house) is covered under Ontario’s new home warranty program. With the buyer in mind, it works to ensure that the house is built and designed to meet codes that ensure efficiency, quality and durability.

5. Always have a 5-year plan

As I mentioned above, we always buy with intent or strategy to sell. I understand that this mentality isn’t for everyone, but for us personally, we know that the business of real estate will produce profits for us we would have never been able to make from our careers in the same 2-3 years.

By buying and selling our first home and recently understanding the value of our current home we’re always keenly aware of our current financial situation and ready to make another move if need be. Living in limbo isn’t always fun but we hope to do this at least 1-2 more times before settling in our ‘forever home’.

Pillows: Caitlin Wilson Design | Similar Chairs | Rug

On the Homefront: Patio Project

We moved into our house about three years ago and it feels like it’s taken forever to get the interior to a point we’re happy with and things feel settled. The backyard, however, was a whole other beast to tackle. We waited until halfway through last summer to have stonework laid in the backyard and since it didn’t wrap till late September, we offset the patio project into this year.

Combine weeks of travel, a horrible spring and a zillion other things on the go – we kept putting off the project until it dawned on us how fast summer was approaching. With no excuses left, we’re officially ready to tackle this project once and for all. I’ll be honest, investing serious money in a home that we know isn’t our ‘forever home’ is a hard pill to swallow. This is definitely one of those times when we dig up gift cards we may have forgotten about, keenly watch for sales at local stores and use the Membership Rewards points on our American Express card that we’ve earned from our travels abroad (Hawaii, Miami, Charleston… ok there’s a lot) and day to day purchases like groceries, gas, clothes and more!

Image credit: Pinterest

To be honest, I never pay much attention to the points we accumulate, but when we kicked off the project, I was looking at how fast we earned points from our online statements and I was super impressed on how much value we’ve earned for this project.

With the stonework already laid, we have a general idea of what we’re working with in terms of layout. We bought a patio set last year that we don’t love, but figured with the right cushions, new umbrella, placemats and décor, we can spruce it up! I’ve already made a trip or two to my local Home Depot, Home Sense and thankfully, our friends at Wayfair have also offered to contribute a few items to help with the completion of the project.

Image credit: Pinterest

We do plan to add a conversation set, fire-pit, area rug and fun décor items like floor poufs or garden stools to really bring the inside outdoors. This is where we plan to entertain friends, dine al fresco or spend work from home days and I want it to be cozy, comfortable and inviting.

Since we’re out in the suburbs and in a new development, we have five neighbours, so adding some trees and shrubs for privacy will also be on the agenda. I’m actually cleaning the dirt out of my nails as I type this lol! I’ve pulled some inspiration images that I love in terms of décor, colours or even ambiance for a backyard feel. Ours certainly won’t be looking like these, but magazine tear-aways, mood boards and good ol’ Pinterest always helps me bring my visions to life.

Image credit: Pinterest

Got a project on the go or looking to redeem some of your hard earned American Express points? Simply charge any eligible purchase to your card, like those shoes you HAD to have, lunch at a fab restaurant or pillows for your next patio project, then log on and simply apply your points towards your next statement as a credit. We personally love doing this on-the-go with our American Express app and within 48 hours our points are deposited and our credit has been applied!

Here’s an idea of what we’ve got planned for the backyard:

Umbrella: Wayfair | String lights: Canadian Tire {also here} | Conversation set: Wayfair | Lanterns: Target | Firepit: Wayfair | Moroccan throw: Joss & Main | Garden stool: Joss & Main | Pineapple tumbler | Diptyque Citronella Candle: Net A Porter | Linen pillow: Serena & Lily | Gold dipped planter: Joss & Main | Gingham Pillow: Caitlin Wilson Design | Floral pillow: Caitlin Wilson Design | Wicker basket: Indigo

Stay tuned for the before and after reveal coming to you shortly!
This post was sponsored by American Express Canada. The views and opinions expressed in this blog, however, are purely my own.

Best Before Bed Practices

One of my resolutions for 2017 was to not only put in place but actually carry out a better routine before bed. As much as I love climbing into bed after a busy day, I often find myself struggling to sleep, as it’s also the first time I’ve often had to even remember about that email I forgot to send or that errand I still have to run. By taking some me-time before bed – even if it’s just 10 minutes – to relax, I’ve felt so much more relaxed and ready for sleep.

What have I added to my routine? Jotting
down notes from the day. Whether it was things I accomplished, work completed
towards personal goals, errands, to-do items or more – I find the process of
writing things down to be very therapeutic. I’ve also started drinking herbal
tea and we’re trying to be better with no iPads, iPhones or TV at least 30
minutes before lights out. Lastly, my evening skin care regimen is another essential
part of winding down that I wanted to add to my routine.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to check that
off my list after testing out the new Lancome Visionnaire Progressive NightPeel. This complementary liquid formulae is actually a dual phase product where
you use the Phase 1 serum for the first 14 days followed by Phase 2 for the
remaining 14 days.

The product is a progressive intensity peel
that gently works to exfoliate the skin and boost penetration of its active
ingredients (AHA) while Phase 2 involves increasing the concentration of active
ingredients (salicylic and glycolic acid)
to improve your skin’s overall look and feel. This dual combo works to rescue
pores, smooths skin, events out your complexion and soften wrinkles or fine
lines.

My favourite part about this product is
that it’s a non-rinse solution. Simply apply to your carefully cleansed skin
and voila – you’re set for the evening. I also love that the brand recognizes
this product isn’t’ something you’ll need everyday, all year round. They
recommend using it up to 6 times at most in one calendar year to improve the
look and feel of your skin.

So how did my 28-day test drive go? While
my bedtime routine could use some work, I can definitely speak to the benefits
of the Lancome Visionnaire Progressive Night Peel.

My skin definitely felt smoother and there was a healthy glow to my complexion. I can’t say that my fine lines vanished but they did appear to be soften.

Being a low-commitment product, I can
definitely get behind a routine such as this especially given the amazing
results. I do suggest trying out the Progressive Night Peel for the next 28
days. And if you’ve got any perfect tips to ease that before bed routine – I’d
love to hear them!

This post was created
in collaboration with Lancôme Canada.

Manic Mornings

To say that Monday’s are a bit manic panic
in our house would be an understatement. Every year I tell myself I’m going to
wake up early, hit the treadmill and be at work before 9am but that never, ever
seems to happen. It’s more like sleep in till past 8, run around like a mad
woman doing my hair and makeup, throw on an outfit you probably wore a few
times on the weekend, grab a coffee, check emails and bolt out the door.

I’ve finally come to the conclusion I’m better
off embracing our crazy start to the day and trying to find products that fit
within our lifestyle (so regretting the blender we got assuming we’d make fresh
smoothies every day before work – HA!).

The one part of my routine I won’t bend on
is the need for at least one cup of coffee before I dash out the door. The Nespresso VertuoLine machine has
definitely become one of those must-have items that makes getting out the door
on time a cinch. Me being a coffee drinker and Adam being an espresso man, we
always look for a coffee machine that can suffice both. Something else rarely
considered but oh-so important is ease of use. Dinner parties or brunch can get
a bit busy at times and having a machine where guests can help themselves (and
figure it out quite easily) come in hand for a busy host. I also love that you
can accommodate different preferences in a cinch.

What impressed me the most about this
machine is how intuitive it is with your coffee. It knows how to read the
barcode on the capsule you put into it and adjusts the brewing parameters to
make sure you have that perfect breakfast blend or espresso to go. I’m almost too scared to tell you how many of
the Solelio
and Giornio
capsules I’ve gone through this week alone ;)

We’ve only begun to scratch the surface
with the machine but have our sights set on the Aeroccino
– the perfect frothing assistant – for our weekend cappuccinos. With ease of use and versatility, the Nespresso VertuoLine is definitely a must-have
for those manic Monday’s or slow start Sunday’s.

Thank you to Nespresso for partnering with me on this post.

Nordstrom Anniversary Favs: Decor

So happy to be sharing some of my favourite decor picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. There are so many amazing items they’ve got in store for fall – tempting enough to make me want to completely redecorate! The sale is now open to the public so if you were holding out on snagging some items, be sure to see my beauty and accessory recaps here. Happy shopping :)

Morning Grind

Coffee plays a MAJOR role in my morning. Many people often refer to ‘rules of the house’ and in our house, the first to get up is the first to make the coffee before we both head off to work. What’s sad is I am normally two coffees into my day by the time I sit down and start to tackle emails. I’ve been drinking pod cup coffee since I was in university (I actually don’t know how to brew a pot – eek) and while it wasn’t always the best tasting, it did the trick to jolt me into my day. In recent months however, Adam and I both noticed our go-to Starbucks orders were evolving to latte’s, cappuccino’s and other coffee-drinks that our pods just couldn’t replicate. Enter the Saeco GrandBaristo coffee machine :) Total game changer.

Despite offering 16 coffee options and featuring two coffee grind trays, the unit is sleek and blended in well with the rest of our kitchen decor (a definite must-have for us). And yes, set up was shockingly way easier and user-friendly than I had expected – bonus!

A cappuccino or macchiato are the two drinks I typically opt for. I also love that the milk carafe easily pops in and out so I can use Almond Milk for my drinks and Adam has a second for his whole milk (recommended for frothy drinks). The machine also uses ceramic grinders which consistently grind the beans and avoid over-heating the coffee. We’ve both been able to personalize our own settings so the perfect coffee for you really is just at the touch of a button.

I’ve had this art print forever and I’m so excited I finally have a coffee nook to display it in :)

The best way to ease into my morning: macchiato and fresh scones.

Overall, the GrandBaristo has been a pleasant addition to our morning routine and has certainly made our house rule a lot easier to follow ;)

Thank you to Saeco for partnering on this post. Thoughts and opinions are my own.