That Much Closer To Spring

The Audra Slipper Chair ~ a blank canvas waiting for you to dress her up {from Pier 1}.  Or as I’m seeing it ~ like the snow covering my yard.

Here’s what I want my yard to look like ~ right now, please!  A short skirted slipcover with some lovely flowers and multiple ruffles.  The promise of Spring.

A long skirted slipcover ~ a flirty toile ensemble.  This one makes me think of my hydrangeas when the flowers dry.

I am so ready for Spring!  Meanwhile, I will content myself by looking at all the new Spring catalogs coming out and pretty pictures online.

Kathy

Slipcover For My Ottoman

I have an ottoman in our sitting room/closet/changing area, which is basically one big open area.   I got a white slipcover last year from Ikea for one of our Ektorp chairs, which is in this area.  Love it!  For $25.00 what’s not to love?

The ottoman is on wheels and the fabric has a green stripe.  Very soft and comfy, but I wanted to tie it in with the chair. 

Browsing on the Ballard Designs website I came across this ottoman slipcover.  I couldn’t resist for $45.00!   It’s a little bigger than my ottoman, so it’s going to be more of a “loose” slipcover look.

For the money, I think it’s an update that will work!

Kathy

proof whisky, gerrard india bazaar, Vol. 17

Do you suddenly feel the impulse to escape to a warm and exotic place even though it’s logistically out of the question? At this time of year it’s normal to want to jump a plane with a one-way stub in your hand. Good news – there are many creative ways to satisfy these urges without ever leaving the tarmac. This is our focus today. Thursty Thursday, take me away! (much like Calgon) To learn more about our brand visit www.proofbrands.com. Become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proof-Brands/181641835185326 and Twitter http://twitter.com/proofbrands to get last minute updates on all of our tastings, parties and events.

Warm up in the land of coconut trees and spices with this hot drink.

Chai toddy

Ingredients

1 teaspoon honey

2 oz proof whisky

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 chai tea bag (or 1 tsp loose tea*)

hot water

1 cinnamon stick

Add the honey and lemon juice to a tea cup and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until the honey becomes very runny. Pour boiling water into the mug and add the chai tea bag. Leave the bag to infuse for 2 minutes, before gently squeezing against the side of the mug with a teaspoon and removing. Add proof whisky and stir well. Serve piping hot with a cinnamon stick.

*Directions for steeping loose chai tea: Fill infuser with 1 tsp loose tea. Drop infuser into 6oz cup of boiling water and let steep 5-7 minutes - remove infuser & add all ingredients.

Chai tea: The foundation of chai tea is, of course, black tea. This tea has the full flavor that most people prefer. Black tea is tea that has been dried, rolled, and then allowed to oxidize.  After the tea has turned black, it is heated in an oven to stop the oxidation process.  Once it comes out of the oven, it will be ready to be stored. Chai tea originated in India and was introduced there by the British in the 19th century.  As India is the land of spices, it is not surprising that the Indians immediately began to experiment with ways to augment the flavor of the tea.  One of the most common spices added to chai tea is cinnamon. Besides cinnamon there is ginger, cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg and cloves added to most.

We visited the Tea Emporium for some loose tea. (www.theteaemporium.com) 

“Our adventure started in 2000 after living in Germany - we fell in love with specialty tea shops in Europe and kep scratching our heads at why you couldn't find a good cup of tea in Toronto. In a land that had embraced specialty coffee and placed value on quality - how was it possible that finding good tea meant playing detective and hunting it down? So...we decided to take the matter into our own hands - and grow a business. A business whose purpose was to introduce people to the wonders of tea - teach about the fascinating nuances of tea - and first and foremost - provide a quality product with quality service.” Tea Emporium

Matthew introduced us to a wonderful Kashmiri Chai (partial organic) Full-bodied black tea blended with exotic cardamom, cinnamon, cloves mint, nutmeg, tellicherry pepper and black tea.

This may sound a little cheesy to some, but every month we throw a theme-night dinner party for friends. Normally, as a rule, you should never experiment with new recipes for guests, but this can be a great way to play with flavours from different cultures while keeping your company entertained. Just make sure to invite close friends and not your boss and his wife. (oh and serve lots of drinks, making sure that everyone is cabbing it) You can take the theme as far as you like by playing themed music, decorating and um, wearing costumes? Okay, this might be taking it too far, but it’s fun. Just pretend you’re on a cruise ship.

For years, we have made several successful trips to The Gerrard India Bazaar in search of sarees, posters and ganesha figures for occasions such as these.

“Gerrard India Bazaar is the largest marketing place of South Asian goods and services in North America. With over 100 shops and restaurants which represent regional diversities of South Asian culture, food, music and products, this slice of the Indian subcontinent offers a wide selection of services and products exhibited in an exotic display of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas. The array of merchandise available here helps South Asians maintain ancient cultural and religious traditions, and keep in touch with the contemporary lifestyle of the Subcontinent.” (www.gerrardindiabazaar.com)

While there, enjoy the buffet at Regency Restaurant (1423 Gerrard Street East, 416.778.7366 www.regencyrestaurant.ca) or at one of the many other establishments.

A wonderful addition to your cookbook collection is Phaidon’s ‘India Cookbook’ written by Pushpesh Pant. This book offers 1000 authentic recipes, which take you through the various regions of India. The recipes are clear, and the design and photos are exquisite. They have cleverly designed it to look like a sack of basmati rice, which makes it a great coffee-table book as well. (www.phaidon.ca/store/food-cook/india-9780714859026/)

You can leave your home AND learn more about the history of India by visiting the AGO:

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts brings to Canada for the first time more than 200 spectacular works of art created for India’s great kings — including paintings, furniture, decorative arts and jewellery. These magnificent objects chronicle the many aspects of royal life and celebrate a legacy of cultural patronage by generations of maharajas, both in India and in Europe. (www.ago.net/maharaja-exhibition)

If you have no desire to leave the snow, there are many winter wonderful things happening around the city this weekend.

WinterCity Festival started yesterday and runs until February 8th. Check out the city's website for list of events. (http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/wintercity_blurb2.htm) Winterlicious: Take advantage of the incredible value and exclusive prix fixe menus offered at 150 of Toronto's top restaurants. (for list of restaurants http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/se/restaurants.nsf/Winterlicious?Openform) Interior Design Show: Starting today and running all weekend (www.interiordesignshow.com)

Finally –  Don’t forget to join us for a drink at the Richmond Hill LCBO. We will be sampling proof whisky cocktails from 4-8pm. (8783 Yonge Street. Visit our events page for more details www.proofbrands.com)

Weather Forecast:

Saturday: Scattered flurries and a high of - 4 degrees

Sunday: Scattered flurries and a high of - 5 degrees

New In Etsy & A Snowball Fight

Really quickly, I just want to mention that I just listed these frames, with prints, in my Etsy shop.  This first one is for blog lovers, like myself.

This second one pretty much expresses what a lot of us are doing lately.

As for the snowball fight, I was thinking that many of us have been hard hit by snow in recent weeks.  Some of my bloggy friends are seeing untold amounts of snow in states that don’t normally get snow.  So to keep our sense of humor, I thought we should have a snowball fight!

Rather than do it as a swap, I’m thinking you pick five of your bloggy buddies; maybe someone who needs a pick-me-up.  Make a snowball out of your choice of material {mine will be made with styrofoam balls} and mail them out.   Include with your snowball that the person should write a blog post about it with a link to you {so you might want to choose people that you know will do a post for sure}.  Don’t let them know ahead of time that you are sending them a snowball ~ it has to be a surprise, just like being hit with a real snowball! 

In a few weeks, I’ll do a post and set up a linky and we can see everybody’s snowballs.  Feel free to take pictures of the ones you make before mailing and link up. 

What do you think?  You in?  I’ll be doing it either way, so you better duck ~ I’ll be throwing my snowballs out there soon!

 

Kathy

 

Clearance Frames

When I made my trip to Michaels this past weekend, I also visited the clearance section in the back.  I found these great frames, which were most likely mistakes from the custom framing area.

The larger frame is 16 5/8 x 25 7/8 and the smaller one is 13 3/8 x 18 1/4.  I like the color {they are both the same color} and the detailing on each.

I’m thinking chalkboard for one and bulletin board or magnetic board for the other.  Although, I could even do a magnetic chalkboard.   Price: $8.00 each!

Two more projects to add to the “to do” list!

Kathy

Redo Of A Redo

On my first trip to Goodwill ever, one of the items I found was this decorative urn/pot.  I didn’t keep a picture of it in its original state, but it was a white with some gold detailing.  I spray painted it black.

Hated it!  I put it on the side until I felt like spray painting it again and figured out what color to go with.  I finally decided today was the day and I went with Heirloom White {basically back to what it was when I bought it!}. 

I used up my Michaels gift card today and was looking for some greenery while I was there.  I saw a Maidenhair Fern, but it was too green, not quite the right green.  Then I thought boxwood, but all they had was boxwood garland.  I bought it anyway  thinking I’d figure out a way to use it.  Kind of like the beauties I bought from Polly at Make Mine Beautiful, which I shared here.

I snipped and placed pieces into some foam that I placed in the pot and I am kind of liking the way it turned out.  I still wasn’t crazy about the design on the pot, so taking another cue from Polly, I got some ribbon and hot glued it over the design.  It’s a pretty brown and cream color.

And then, because it needed a little bit of bling, I pulled out this earring I had purchased at Goodwill.  These were clip-ons.  I snipped off the clip part and hot glued that to the part where the ribbon ends met.

Ta Da! Done and I am liking it so much better.  I have also learned that not everything I get at Goodwill needs a paint job!

Linking up with:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Boring to Better at Savvy Southern Style

Kathy

Frilly, Feminine & Fabulous

When I was at Goodwill this past weekend, I did have a specific item {or items} I was looking for.  Amazingly enough I found exactly what I was looking for!

Gorgeousness in tulle and cream!  The detail is just as lovely.

Here is another one in white.  A satin and tulle confection!

The skirts are what I’m really interested in.

The last one.  Not as “fluffy”, but the right color and enough skirt.

If you’ve stuck with me this long, let me assure you that this is not turning into a fashion blog.  {Although, I do love that first dress and it just happens to be my size}!  Enter a plain, old decorator table that I have had stored in the basement.

My daughter wants a “ruffley” table to use in the baby’s nursery area of their apartment.  I had the table.  A tablecloth like she envisions can cost a lot of money; store bought or custom. 

And so, my outside-of-the-box idea was born. 

This is the first dress pictured above.  Our favorite so far.  As the other two are white, I told my daughter we can work the two of them into a crib dust ruffle.

Of course, a little cutting and sewing is involved {and some hot gluing and stapling, I’m sure}.  That lovely bodice will have to come off and will either be saved or reworked into a flat tabletop piece.  The little floral embellishment my daughter would like to work in.

Fluffy and feminine!  All for $16.99 for a Nine West dress from  Goodwill.  Gotta love it!  I can’t wait to show it to you all done.

Kathy