Canada Vs. U.S.A. - Olympic Men's Hockey.

Canada  3.

U.S.  2.

If you can't beat 'em,

join 'em.

A Canadian Home Tour. (In Arizona)

The Canadian Home Tour continues.

I showed you the Young Canadian's bedroom here.

Now, let's proceed to some other parts of the house.

Upon entering this Arizona home 

you will be greeted by an eclectic mix of 

antique furnishings,

wonderful photographs,

ethnic accessories,

gold, silver, and bronze finishes,

dark/light woods,

 and various textures,

all brought together by the artsy eye of 

The Canadian.

She moves furniture and accessories around constantly.

Last time I visited, 

which wasn't that long ago,

the bookcase was not part of this grouping.

There are new lamps sharing the space with old pieces.

She is a major fan of lamps in the home and

 has influenced my lamp purchases a time or two.

The dining room is home to this antique buffet, along with the dining table and chairs,

which displays more family heirlooms from at least 3 generations past.

This was the centerpiece on the day I stopped to say "hi."

It's highly likely it won't be the same centerpiece the next time I drop in.

In this room, guests are transformed back in time.

There's a big comfy bed,

a dresser and a vanity to satisfy any guest's needs for relaxation.

After a long day of shopping I'm sure this is a nice spot to rest.

Shopping,

 is a favorite hobby of most of the Canadians that have come to visit.

(My kind of people)

Shopping and hockey.

But, 

don't get me started on the hockey.

One of my favorite reasons to love this home,

other than the people,

is that most pieces of furniture,

accessories, photos and art

have a story to tell.

Take this picture for instance.

It hangs above the guest bed

after making it's way through three generations of Canadians

and their bedrooms.

Here's the laundry room,

complete with suitcases,

at the ready,

should immigration come a knockin!

This is above the kitchen cabinets,

and in the hallway, 

  a rack holds walking sticks, 

hand carved by the Canadian's dad,

Joe.

Even the outdoor decor is unique.

This mermaid beauty basks in the Arizona sun.

 I've shown you some of my favorites pieces in this home but the one thing I like and am drawn to the most is this tissue dispenser.

  

Every time I visit I always take it into account.

They may find it missing in the new future.

For now,
their going to need it, 

because you just know,

he has been working overtime since the 

U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team

beat

Canada

5-3!


Have a GREAT day, eh!

A Young Canadian's Retreat

Did you happen to watch the Olympics last night?

More specifically,

did you happen to watch THE hockey game?

You know, 

the one where the U.S. Men's team beat Canada?

I don't mean to rub it in, 

but WOW!

I have many Canadian friends,

 not many after this post,

that are singing the blues today

 because of their loss to the U.S.,

in hockey, 

not to rub it in,

or anything.

Today,

because of their loss,

I'm going to share a Canadian house tour with you.

Maybe this will help raise them up out of their sorrow,

because their team lost to the U.S.

In hockey.

This bedroom belongs to a young, 13 year old,

 Canadian, living in Arizona.

The Young Canadian's room is a mix of young and old.

Vintage and new.

It's feminine.

She has an antique nightstand and lamp 

which has been past down from generations before her

 and recently made it's way across the border and into her bedroom.

Legally, of course.

This is Arizona, after all.

The Young Canadian loves to sketch, 

doodle and write

 so she stacks her journals and notepads within arm's reach.

Here's another anique piece. 

I love the hair accessories on display in a delicate bowl.

Britney Spears' perfume bottles on the right.

Who knew?

The Young Canadian's grandmothers,

Elaine and Granny, 

always see to it that their girl has the finest bedding EVER.

Her bed has a nice mix of pillows

from Marilyn, 

to chenille,

to teen idol,

Taylor Lautner.  

A dress form graces her room with strands of long pearls and small lights.

You can't see the lights in the picture but they're there.

So sweet.

Speaking of sweet,

this picture hangs in the Young Canadian's room.

Mother and Young Canadian.

I love it.

Lastly,

this adorable chair takes up a corner in her room.

Isn't it adorable?

The Canadian,

and I were out thrifting and found this little gem.

It was $9.99.

She debated whether to get it or not and I sealed the deal by offering to clean it.

I'm a giver like that.

Here is the chair before.

Really, it was more dusty than dirty.  

I vacuumed it,

 then cleaned it up nice and fresh with an upholstery cleaning machine.

I'd like to thank the Young Canadian for letting me share her room with you today.

I love your bedroom,

it's cozy,

it adorable,

and it's unique,

just like you!

A Birthday Party Plan

My daughter will soon be celebrating her 9th birthday.

She has asked to have a real birthday party,

you know the kind with friends, 

and not her brother's,

in attendance.  

Didn't we just have a birthday party for you 3 years ago?

When will the requests ever end?

I asked her to write an outline of her party plan. 

Too much to ask?

A little harsh?

Let's see what she comes up with. 

She came back to me with a theme, 

activities,

menu suggestions,

gift bag items,

and a guest list.

There were illustrations too.

She did her homework, 

and

now I've got my work cut out for me.

I love birthday parties,

especially when they're for me,

and parties for little girls are always the best.

My neighbor, 

Linda,

 hosted a

 Tea Time Birthday,

for her daughter Jamie,

so cute,

so fun.

I must share. 

Pretty hats,

beaded necklaces and feathery boa's

were on display for each girl.

Girls, 

being girls,

wasted no time getting ready for their tea.

The Birthday Girl

wore blue.

The table scape was so sweet.

Each place setting had

 a name card,

fine china dinner plate,

cup and saucer

and a sweet little teapot.

Even the seating was prepared for a fine time.

Mini croissant sandwiches

and

fruit kabobs were served. 

There were mini heart, butterfly and tulip shaped p.b. & j sandwiches,

 they were perfect for little fingers. 

Bagel bites,  

Got to have the bagel bites.

Very popular.

Tea (lemonade) was poured.

Sweets were on display.

They're mandatory.

The chocolate fountain,

the finger lickin' chocolate fountain,

was a big hit.

yummmmmm.

The hats, beads, boas and the sweet little teapots all went home with each girl.

What a cute Tea Party,

don't you think?

Carley's party plan isn't "Tea" themed but 

I'll let you know how her Birthday Plan 

transforms from paper to a reality. 

Next time she has a party request,

I'm having her set it up as a Power Point Presentation.

She is going to be 9,

 after all.

A Tufted Headboard - Before & After

My Daughter's Bedroom Makeover.

Part 553.

Welcome to another installment of 

Popcorn Design,

on the cheap.

When we moved a full size bed into my daughter's it didn't have a headboard.

I scoured the Internet 

and found this one,

With prices for headboards starting at $150.00

 and up,

I was starting to think that maybe she didn't really need a headboard after all.

Then I saw this one.

I loved everything about it.

The height,

the black frame,

and the tufts.

The day the Cuban came over to recover my daughter's chair.  I told her about my desire for a tufted headboard.

"Oh, I can help you make that."

"Really, you will?" (me)

"Sure, it's easy." 

She always says that 

and then always makes it look easy.

(Sometimes I just want to punch her,

then run away.)

A week had gone by, 

I still hadn't gone to get the materials for the project,

 when she called from a local thrift store.

"Listen, 

 I found a headboard for you.

It's $19.99, 

do you want it?"

"Can you measure it, just to make sure it's the right size?"

 I asked.

Not only was it the exact same size I needed,

it was $19.99,

padded,

framed in black

AND

tufted.

As if locating the exact style of headboard was not enough, 

Ana threw the headboard on her luggage rack and delivered it

the same day.

The planets were in alignment for me that day.

This is the what the headboard fabric looked like straight out of the thrift store.

I gave it a fresh coat of black paint

 and the following week

 Ana,

 and her assistant,

 Guadalupe,

 came over to start the project.

She took the headboard apart piece by piece.

She recovered it in a black,

 suede microfiber fabric,

 I purchased at a local specialty fabric store.

Here she is admiring her handy work.

This is where her lovely assistant comes in...

Guadalupe,

 recovered the buttons in a white, 

soft cotton fabric.

Ana installed the buttons,

and lined the back to give it a finished look.

When the project was complete,

the ladies insisted on carrying it upstairs to my daughter's room

to set it up.

Who am I to say no?

They installed the headboard,

made the bed,

 and tidied up the place.

Again,

who am I to say no?

Here they are posing with their masterpiece.

The finished product.

Up close and personal.

                 My headboard inspiration.

My daughter's new headboard

 for less than $50.00!

No kidding,

 Ana can make a padded headboard.

When you're a high profile,

Olympic sharp shooter 

and have the courage to flee your Communist homeland, 

Spanish your only language,

and you're facing a new life of freedom alone,

everything else is child's play,

especially a padded headboard.

Head on over to:

Miss Mustard Seed.

Turn the phone off,

pop some popcorn,

and plan to stay awhile,

like 5 hours.

There is some MAJOR decorating going on.