Ode to a Long Weekend!

Morning All! 

Since I've been too busy lately to blog about my home, and so much of my summer includes trips up north, I thought it only fitting that I write a post dedicated to this time away from the home.

Listed below are my must-have items for the ultimate cottage getaway...

The Perfect Weekender Bag

Everyone needs a bag big enough to hold clothing for any variety of crazy weather that can hit you over the course of three days.

My Cynthia Rowley gem here holds everything I need--bathing suits, a towel, sarong, sweater, sleep-mask, K-Way, flip flops, runners, sweats, sunscreen, bug spray, book, gossip mag, hat, sheets, phone charger... you name it, I've packed it.

Best of all I bought it on sale at Winners for just $49.99! Totally worth it.

The Go-To Meal Contribution

This summer I've signed us up for breakfast duty at every cottage we've been to.

Due to their awesome make-ahead quality and popularity with most crowds, I've learned to make some killer quiches, if I do say so myself!

Made of store-bought crusts (don't you judge me), the usual eggs, milk, and spices, then topped with shredded Tex-Mex cheese, I also fill them with diced pimento pepper, and either shopped broccoli or zucchini ribbons.

Serve these bad boys with toasted English Muffins, bacon, tomato slices with fresh basil, and huge chunks of juicy pineapple.

Mmm...

The Things People May Thank You for Later

• Coffee--because you just can't gamble on others remembering it
• Classic crowd-pleasing movies in case it rains--I'm prone to Jaws and Meatballs myself
• Gravol and/or Tylenol--for those who think s'more vodka is just as good as the real deal around a bonfire
• Any type of can opener/corkscrew 

So there you have it! If you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, mystery solved.

Besides working and the odd day by the pool, I've been packing and unpacking this stuff over and over again to trek up north.

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Wishing you all a safe and fun-filled long weekend!

KLI | NofW

Life is Good!

Morning all! It's been over a month since I've last posted, but here I am, back again!

I didn't plan to take these few weeks off from blogging, I've just been super busy lately, and to be honest it's done me good to squeeze in a little downtime.

I'd like to say I've been doing lots around the house, but that would defeat the purpose of taking a break, now wouldn't it?

No, instead I've been taking advantage of this beautiful summer by swimming, doing pilates outdoors twice a week, and spending plenty of time with friends and family.

Yep--life is good!

Even with a little more time on my hands, just keeping up with our small household has felt like a huge job--one that'll only get harder to manage with a few weekends away throughout the rest of the season.

The one thing I did do to better the look and function of our little home was to replace our makeshift "cubby" bookshelf/drawers with a huge and very blue, eight-drawer Hemnes dresser from Ikea that MLo and I built a few weeks ago!

BEFORE

AFTER

You like? 

It looks small from this angle, and I'll likely replace the hardware down the road, but what an improvement, eh?!

This piece provides much more storage than we had before and it suits our space perfectly.

It's hard to believe we let a "temporary" solution like that cubby last just over two years in our bedroom, but that's what happens when you have a modest budget and what seems like a million more pressing things on your list to tackle!

Since I've left more than a couple projects undone over the last little while, I'm hoping to get back on track and also write posts more regularly again. So stay tuned--there's more on the way from the Nook of Wellington! 

KLI | NofW

Quickie Backyard Update

Since I've been super busy at work (and coming down with something as a result), I haven't had much time to write, but I wanted to at least offer up an update on our little backyard...

On the Sunday of the gorgeous Victoria Day long weekend, MLo and I picked up our flowers from Home Depot and got right to work!

Last year I found I really regretted the purple and white geraniums we planted, which were a little on the dull side, so this year I tried to choose hot pink, orange and red flowers, exclusively.

Check it out!

We've got a beautiful hibiscus tree, dahlias for the floating flower boxes on the back fence, and some impatiens with tall grass plants--for the life of me, I can't recall their real name--to add a little height!

What do you think?

The hostas are enormous as ever and the vegetable garden is starting to mature a bit too, with the help of Marc's green thumb, so I'd say we're off to a good start! It's not even June!

How are your gardens coming along? Do you plan a colour scheme for your flowers or just wing it like I normally do?

I'm off work tomorrow for a little R&R, so to the rest of you with still one more day to go, hang in there and have a great weekend!

Cheers!

KLI | NofW

Garage Sale Glory... Guest Post by Nicole Panacci

It's been a while since my last guest post, so I thought I'd invite one of my best friends--construction maven, event planner, and blogger extraordinaire--Nicole Bigioni Panacci of Adding the Finishing Touch to swing by the Nook!

Read on to find out how Nicole and her wonderful husband Michael are making a home of their new house, without breaking the bank!

*   *   *

Thanks so much for having me Krista, this is such a honour!


When Krista asked me to write a guest post for Nook of Wellington about my garage sale finds I was thrilled.


Being newly-married and a first-time homeowner, we don't have the money to run out and buy everything we need for the house right away. Instead, over the last year or so, I've taken a liking to scoping out garage sales in my area to furnish our new house.


Thankfully, I've been lucky enough to find some great pieces at even greater prices...

This piece has been in my family for a while. My uncle bought it when he was in university and it's been passed down since then. It's going to take a lot for me to give this up!

I bought this trunk for $70.00 last year at the Christie Antique Show. I am in love with it. We're using it as our coffee table. All we need is a fabulous area rug!

I bought this old sewing machine table at a garage sale for $5.00 last year. Definitely a great steal! I'd love to eventually change the hardware.

These jars where super cheap at $1.25 each! We don't actually use the coffee or pasta, they're just for decoration.


Last but not least, the newest addition...

I was out for a walk a couple weeks ago and saw this table at the end of someone's driveway. I gave it a quick inspection and carried it home. It needs a bit of loving but for now it will do!

Now tell me, don't you love a good garage sale? What's your greatest find or favourite 'found' piece in your home?

Thanks for having me, Krista!

- Nicole

*   *   *

Thanks for sharing, Bigiones! Amazing finds, all around!

I look forward to a solid sleepover or two and garage sale-hopping visits in your neck of the woods sometime soon! :)

Both Nicole and I will be attending the second Blog Podium conference this weekend here in Toronto, and I know I speak for both of us when I say we're so looking forward to it!

Like I said in my post following the inaugural event, Blog Podium is the perfect place to interact with fellow design and lifestyle bloggers--offline, for a change--and I'm sure there will be lots to report by all of us who attend.

Stay tuned!

KLI | NofW

Mother's Day & My Hosting Marathon

Happy Tuesday all!

How's everyone's week shaping up so far?

This past weekend while MLo was in Vegas and I was on my own, I tossed my lengthy mental to do list aside and opted to entertain not once, not twice, but three days in a row!

Friday, I hosted a little pre-drink with the girls before hitting Williams Landing in Liberty Village; Saturday, an impromptu barbeque, which included my first attempt at caramelized onions and bacon bit toppers for the burgers; and finally Sunday, a Mother's Day Brunch for my beautiful Mum and sisters.

Here's the menu I ended up with:

• My first ever homemade quiche with sautéed onions, bacon, broccoli and shredded marble cheese
• A quinoa salad with red and yellow peppers, soya sauce and a little spice
• Spinach salad with diced pear, dried berries, walnuts and a maple balsamic dressing

Add a little champagne, some pink lemonade (Mama's favourite!), and strawberry-banana frozen yogurt popsicles for dessert, and there you have it! Brunch of champions!

Sure I was pooped after all was said and done, but doesn't it feel good to flex that hosting muscle every now and again? I might wait until later in the summer for my next turn--what's your next big event?

KLI | NofW

P.S. Nook of Wellington is in the top three running with two other bloggers for the Blog Podium & EQ3 Mood Board contest!  A big W is in reach, but I need your help to get back in the lead!

Please CLICK HERE to comment on or like my mood board, and please feel free to forward it to anyone who may be interested.

Thanks again for your support!

XOXO

And There Was Light!

As everyone should know by now, our kitchen is tiny and without natural light. Ugh.

For this reason, I've kept my eye out for a stubby but cute little lamp to tuck into the corner of the counter top and beneath the cabinetry to brighten things up.

After what's felt like ages of settling for an old Ikea lamp (that I accidentally cracked months ago), I finally found exactly what I needed at Canadian Tire this past weekend!

Well, almost exactly what I needed...

This little guy was the right height, had a decent shade, and a great base, but for some unknown reason this came in this unfortunate brown colour. Booo!

Since we were in the right place, and the lamp was the right price at $19.99, I thought what the hell--nothing a little spray paint can't fix, right?

Hours later, here's what I ended up with!

Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Unfortunately, the task isn't quite finished yet, as I still need to paint the cord white to blend in better--but I think it turned out pretty well!

What do you think of the Bahama Sea blue? What have you spray painted to suit your taste a little better?

KLI | NofW

P.S. Did you comment or "like" my mood board yet? 

If not, PLEASE CLICK HERE and help Marc and I win an incredible mid-century modern sofa! 

THANK YOU!!!!

Blog Podium Mood Board Contest!

Hello there!

I can't be anywhere near as long-winded as I normally am, as I'm just on my lunch hour, but I have a big favour to ask...

I've entered a mood board into a contest that's being held by our good pals at Blog Podium and EQ3 and I'll need YOUR HELP to win!

As an attendee of the upcoming Blog Podium conference later this month in Toronto, my fellow bloggers and I were asked to create and submit mood boards that included EQ3 products of our choice, which would then be posted to Pinterest.

Now that the organizers have started posting the entries online, I have to rack up a bunch of comments in order to win the item of highest value in my mood board.

So here's where you come in...  

By clicking right here and leaving a comment about my mood board, the colours I chose, or really any thoughts about the pieces I've included, you'll be bringing me one step closer to winning this beautiful EQ3 Reverie Sofa!!!

You can comment today through the contest end on May 17th, 2012 so please please please do me a solid and help the Nook of Wellington get a whole lot prettier!

Thanks a million!

KLI | NofW

Krista Illies, Canadian Picker

Greetings all! Hope everyone is off to a good week!

My weekend ended up being much busier than I thought it would be, but we got to visit lots with our families, which was great.  An unexpected highlight came after dinner with MLo's family on Saturday, when I found what I considered to be buried treasure!

After dinner was over and it was time to head back downtown, Hazel-a close friend of the family-suggested Marc and I swing by to see if he wanted her old sewing machine.

Off we went and within minutes Hazel was giving us the grand tour of her little bungalow.

Everywhere we turned our eyes widened and jaws dropped-the very sight of sideboards, old toys, lamps, clocks, and more made us feel like we were on Canadian Pickers or Cash & Cari!

Seeing all of this and having a glimpse into Hazel's very full life was really interesting, but the one thing that made me stop in my tracks was... wait for it... a vintage telephone table!!!

Isn't she pretty?!

Once I spotted it, I ran right into the next room to share my discovery with she and Marc (who knew the exact degree of my excitement), and God lover her, Hazel immediately told me to take it home!

At first I said I couldn't possibly, but when she told me she had no luck trying to pawn it off on her own family, and that it was literally collecting dust, I seized the opportunity and took her up on this generous offer!

Those who have followed NofW since the beginning know that I've had a major crush on telephone tables, also know as gossip benches, for quite a long time.

Check out my earlier post about them here! 

Sadly, our apartment hasn't magically doubled in size since that post, so we're going to have to do a little shuffling around in both the living room and entry way to see where this piece would fit best.

I'll also have to freshen it up with a light makeover, but nonetheless, I'm absolutely thrilled to have my very own telephone table, years before ever I thought I would, and I owe Hazel a huge THANK YOU!!! XO

Have you ever received a surprise hand-me-down like this? What's your experience been like mixing vintage and modern pieces? Leave a comment and tell me all about it!

KLI | NofW

A Micro Office of One's Own

Morning all! I'm back!

Don't ask me why, but life has felt particularly busy these last few weeks, and I haven't spent nearly enough time writing. It's hard to believe how much I've missed it!

While I could certainly benefit from some extra free time, and perhaps a bit more self-discipline, I really think a little workspace to call my own would help me stay on track.

via

It seems laughable to admit, but unless I'm sitting at our dining room table typing (like I am right now), I do the better part of my writing on my iPhone while commuting!

These aren't unbearable conditions for the creative process by any means, but with distractions like the hustle and bustle of the city or the TV on in our combined living/dining room, I wouldn't call either of these scenarios 'ideal'.

Often I come across photos of nooks and crannies that people have converted into desktops or 'micro offices' like these ones below, and I'm completely enamoured.

via

via

via

via

via

How cute are these?!

I think creating a workspace like one of these would be such a fun DIY project, and not at all hard to do, but I honestly just don't have the space for it with our current floor plan and layout.

While they're not necessarily used to their fullest potential at the moment, the only two spots that might do the trick in our place are already very much spoken for...

There's the front entry way "closet", which is essentially a crawl space hiding behind my West Elm sheers, and the laundry nook off the washroom.

But who feels like writing in a windowless space, squished between storage shelves and a stacked washer/dryer set?

Not this girl! 

via

Perhaps one day I'll make something of this daydream, but for now I suppose I'll just have to make do!

Have you created a home office for yourself or a special space to hide away for a little R&R? How did you make it work?

More importantly, how did it make you work?

KLI | NofW

My Next Project!

via

From what I've heard around the blogosphere, I'm not alone in my tendency to leave bedroom items at the bottom of my design wishlist.

Well, that's not exactly true...

I have plenty of ideas and items on my to do list for this room that I'd love to see through, but seeing as any guests we have over generally stick to our other rooms (all three or four of them!), those spaces seem to take precedence.

One thing that I have been pining for over the last few years is an honest to God nightstand.

via

It took me a while but I've finally succumbed to the fact that MLo has absolutely no intention of to relocating or repurposing the little shelf he's long used as his bedside table.

In other words, I must accept that a matching set is not just not in the cards.

Having said that, I now have the luxury of choosing whatever I want for my side of the bed, no ifs ands or buts about it. Not a bad trade off, if you ask me!

via

Since I haven't quite fallen in love with any particular piece yet (and certainly not their prices), I've thought a lot about restoring a garage sale find or giving a makeover to a nice second hand piece.

This would be significantly cheaper, give me a project to tackle and hopefully add a unique dimension to the room.

via

Then as luck would have it, our friend announced he was getting rid of all kinds of furniture and housewares before relocating to China, including some modest end tables and I jumped at the chance to claim one for myself! 

Making the time to actually get to this project is the hard part, so stay tuned, but for now these are a few photos I'm looking to for inspiration as I gear up for the this DIY project...

via

Obviously I have some varied taste when it comes to bedside decor, so I'll have to give it some more thought before I get to work.  

While I continue to brainstorm, tell me, do any of these pieces stand out to you? What do you look for in a nightstand? Storage, style or something else altogether? Do tell! 

KLI | NofW

* The Return of the Backyard *

Throughout this normally frigid month of March, Toronto has been blessed with a few days of absolutely gorgeous and unseasonably warm weather.

In fact, those of you who follow me on twitter may already know this, but we actually had temperatures last week that were comparable to Maui's... that's right, as in Hawaii.

Unbelievable! 

This glorious, albeit short stint of amazing weather has been a great break from the cold, but it's also given me an unusually early desire to spruce up the backyard.

After a long winter of hibernating inside, having access to our yard essentially adds another room onto our little home.

And since we haven't exactly got unlimited space here in the Nook, extra room is definitely cause for excitement!

Mid to late spring, when the time and especially the weather is right, Marc and I wipe down all of our outdoor furniture, clear out whatever has blown around the yard throughout fall and winter, and head out to stock up on flowers, herbs and vegetable seeds.

Even for a teeny tiny piece of land like this, "opening" the yard makes for a long day of hard work and fresh air that is absolutely exhausting, but always worth it once we start seeing the fruits of our labour...

In addition to colourful blooms,  over the last couple of years we've grown tomatoes, peppers, basil, chives, and more lettuce than the two of us could ever keep up with.

While these plants quickly get taller and wider than the cedar garden box Marc built for them - and we end up losing some of the space we just reclaimed - it's a small price to pay in exchange for the fresh food we pluck right from the garden, mere minutes before dining!

We'll likely plant the usual suspects again this year, but there's not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to the flowers we've chosen thus far...

Growing up, my mum let my sisters and I pick our own colour of impatiens that we'd tend to all season long, so that's my one personal must have, but beyond that we really just pick up whatever catches our eyes as we poke around Kensington Market and Home Depot.

Do you have big plans for your yard this year? Any indoor gardens already on the go for you apartment-dwellers?


Outdoor furniture and patio sets can get pricey, but that's definitely something I'd like to look into this year... when the weather permits, anyway :)

KLI | NofW