It Is Easily Overlooked....

"It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.."- Tony Visconti


I love to thrift. Thrift stores, yard sales and roadside garbage retrievals give me a thrill. Records, old furniture, vintage dresses and costume jewellery are among my favourite things! Classic pieces have grace and class that is hard to find these days and nothing, I mean notta, was made of rinky dink press board back in the day. Solid wood baby, dove tail joints and scrolly details unparallelled. I guess I am just an old fashioned kind of girl.

I often make a point to make runs to the "Sally-Ann" and yesterday after very little post night shift sleep, I bombed off to value village with a plan to make some cake plates out of vintage dishes. Nothing spoke to me; that is until I was paroozing among the costume jewelry. A couple of vintage broaches caught my eye and at three for five dollars, I really couldn't leave them there. I had to bring them home and make good use of them.

After a glass of wine and a tiny bit of not-so-careful consideration, I gathered some crafting hair clips and some Goop (seriously the BEST adhesive on the face of this earth, that shit will make anything stick forever and ever amen..). I used my badass wire cutters/pliers to snip and pry the pin backings off of the two lovely vintage broaches. Then I decided where to place the clip on the back considering how to keep them from eyes view as well as which direction I would like the broach to sit in my hair. Using Goop (with the windows open, that stuff is stanky), I adhered the clips to the back of the broaches and allowed them to dry overnight. It was exactly a five minute and six dollar project. Quick and dirty but yielding adorable results that have an unexpected quirky flair. They give my short crop a little bit of feminine edge and I will be keeping my eye out for more in the future.

Happy upcying!
m

ps. You can use anything, buttons would be equally as adorable as would broken pieces of vintage tea cups and saucers (that will be my next project!)

If Bad Decorating Was A Hanging Offence...

"If bad decorating was a hanging offence, there would be bodies hanging from every tree..."- Sylvester Stalone

First of all, I think it is hilarious that when looking for quotes about home decorating the one that stuck out to me the most was one by Sylvester Stalone. Who would have thunk it that good old Rambo, Rockie-the-guy- next-door was so versed and opinionated in home decor.

The thing about home decor is that everyone has their own taste. That is what makes it fun. You can do whatever you want with your space and not have to worry about what anyone else may think. You are into bold wallpapers, go for it. Love country kitchen and roosters? Well the world is your oyster, cover your entire house in roosters if you so choose.

I have an eclectic taste to say the very least. I like character and have penchant towards objects from yester years. I love to parooze for old records, furniture and knick-knacks at antique shops. I love cast iron rads, old mouldings around windows and I truly believe that no hardwood shines as bright as vintage hardwood when it is well taken care of (not to mention you can't hurt it). That said I also love modern colours, modern light fixtures and graphic prints. I believe in my own little world modern and old world charm can live harmoniously together. At least that is what I keep telling myself. My dining room has bold vintage feeling floral wallpaper but it also has an extremely modern light fixture. It works for me!

When I first moved into my house, I found myself desperate to fill up the walls. I wanted everything new and fresh. I wanted it painted and renovated and "perfect". It took a bit of time but I eventually realised that if I bought stuff just to have it instead of waiting for the perfect pieces I would soon be unhappy with them and would just pay to replace them. I have done a lot around my house in two years (I find it hard to believe it has been two years) but I have a list longer than I am tall of projects to be completed. No matter how creative you get, renovations are expensive and the thing about home ownership is something will always come up!

I waited two years to buy something to hang on the main wall in my living room. I couldn't find what I wanted and to be honest, I don't think I really knew what I was looking for. When I moved in I hung the prints that I had bought for my first apartment on my own. They served me well for eight years but they were a little tired and worn. Then one day a few weeks back I came upon two printed canvases that sort of spoke to me. They were in muted greens and blues and were modern, graphic prints . I was surprised that I liked them as much as I did since they were so modern and to be honest...skylines of NYC really aren't my thing (over done and almost kitchy). I hmmed and I hawed and decided to buy them. I knew they were big but I was shocked when they wouldn't fit in my hatch-back. I have had entire hutches in my trunk, as well at front doors and tables and chairs...but these prints were no dice (turns out they are four feet by four feet!). I borrowed my aunts truck and lugged them home. I love them, even though they are not what I thought I would ever want, they are great. They are massive and pack a big, bold, punch in a room that is full of the mismatched rejects that I love. At just under fifty dollars a piece, I would consider it a job very, well done.

I also recently finished my mini gallery wall with the recent edition of a new graphic print that I can't get enough of. I love local artists and am very proud to say that three of my six prints on the wall are all products of Halifax artists and printed here in our beautiful city. One my mom picked up for me on a trip to Saint Johns and the last two are a picture I took sailing and a card from my beauty of a little sister I framed years ago. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Good things are worth waiting for!

Pics below, please excuse my beige couches. They are sooooo comfy but I just haven't found exactly what I am looking for to replace them! Happy decorating all!

PS. Isn't that Queen print the absolute best? I can't get enough of her turquoise hair or her lumber-jack jacket! 
-m

                   Before....

                       After.....

Herbs Deserve..

"Herbs deserve to be used much more liberally"- Y. Ottolenghi

It's kind of a long story, but I ended up with some fresh basil. A lot of fresh basil. I had picked it up for a recipe that I had not read through very carefully (surprise) and regretted to note that it called for a "garnish of fresh basil leaves". Instead, I brought home a bushel, as in a few shrubs of fresh basil leaves. Fresh herbs don't keep well and basil doesn't like to be refrigerated (which is why I can never find it with all of the other green sprigs). Basil likes to reside in the tomato isle, next to the very vine-ripened tomatoes it compliments so well.

This long story ends well. That fresh basil, the basil that I over shot on, it was pulverised with some garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, parmesan and lemon. What resulted was the tastiest pesto that I have ever had. I totally winged the recipe but wouldn't change a thing if (I mean when) I make it again. Best part is that it was so simple to make, my food processor did all of the work. It was a very happy mistake that provided a very tasty supper.

Pesto in general is the bomb and is one of the most versatile sauces to keep around your kitchen. Some ways to use it include...

• Tossing a little on some cooked pasta (with a cherry tomato or five)
• Mixing with a little heavy cream or even cream cheese for an even more decadent pasta topper
• Use on pizza instead of boring old pizza sauce
• Marinade chicken or fish prior to baking or barbecuing (with some lemon...nom nom nom)
• Mixed with mayo, pesto can take your sandwich or panini to new heights
• Pesto is even delicious in am omlette!
• I am sure this list can go on and on....

Recipe and pics below!
-m

Basil Pesto

•  ~3 cups of fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup or 2/3 cup (whatever you got) pine nuts that you have toasted. To toast them brown on medium heat in a dry frying pan tossing often until they are a light golden brown.
• 1/2 cup of finely grated fresh parm
• Juice from 1/2 a lemon
• 1 or 2 cloves of garlic peeled and roughly chopped
• ~1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil...or more to thin out sauce depending upon the consistency you are looking for.

In a food processor, combine garlic and pine nuts and blend until paste forms. Add lemon juice and add basil leaves through the top a few at a time. Continue to blend until combined. Add parm and slowly add oil until consistency preference is reached. Spoon into jar and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!