weekend pics

the highlight this weekend was reconnecting with old friends, a sweet and fun loving couple.  it was like no time had passed and, as per our tradition, the men prepared dinner, we indulged in wine, and good conversation and company was had.  

the only difference was that they are now a family of four with a darling baby and playful dog in tow.  and, omg, aren't leo's cheeks made for pinching!  kai and bole had such fun - and i mean, laugh out loud giggles!  bole, their hungarian pointer, is hyper yet so very gentle.  seeing the two of them play ignited my need for a dog.

although all of the dinner was executed perfectly - herb rubbed chicken, pea puree, roasted pepper salad - my favourite was the strawberry soufflé.  a gorgeous light dessert that i would happily consume again anytime soon.  so much goodness was to be had saturday night.



individual appetizer plates were served!



 





bole wanted in on the dessert action :)





the rest of the weekend was pretty quiet.  stefan made the most flaky and beautiful flatbreads, kai's ban on video games was temporarily lifted, and i read the new conde nast traveler - amazingly redesigned by pilar guzman - and bon appetit magazines cover to cover.  such pleasure.

 



 

i hope there was some goodness in your weekend too.

i covet... (hint!)

now that i have a xmas tree, i have begun to imagine the presents underneath it.  here are some things i am coveting...

perhaps you can use it as a gift guide that may inspire what you choose to wrap and place under the tree; a gift to self or that special someone in your life (your mom, your sister, your girlfriend, your partner, etc.).



i like the idea of personalizing this bracelet with kai's birthday or a secret message in latin









pyjamas always make a great gift; these are pretty nice but any will do...





blue sapphire earrings; my favourite gem 





a tripod for my iphone... so clever!





i recently tried on this blouse in green; blouses from aritzia always fit nicely



moccasins like these ones from free people



this photograph from 20x20; one print left!







clarisonic, a cult hero, for my aging skin







moroccan inspired blanket from here... loving the pops of colour



 



this juicer so i can make spinach and berry smoothies every morning





ugg slippers for around the house







this cozy kitty sweatshirt in a medium please :-)





a subscription to this magazine







egg cooking spoons for the perfect boiled egg... i almost never get it just right







a blow-dry... so i can have gorgeously styled hair for a night out





a dog please. pretty please? with a cherry on top?

 

kinfolk + gatherings

images from volume 5

growing up, my my parent’s backyard would be full of our neighbours and friends.  spontaneous gatherings eating watermelon in the backyard or whatever my mom happened to have on hand.  it’s a lovely memory.

 
when i came across kinfolk magazine, it happily reminded me of those childhood memories and sadly reminded me that nowadays such gatherings are far and few with people leading 'busy' lives.  i would love to make a commitment, at least in my little abode, to gather with our friends more often with a cozy meal, game playing, and conversation.  i love when it happens and i would love more of it our life.
 
now a word about kinfolk... it is a magazine that celebrates small gatherings and the joy of cooking and eating together.  read their manifesto here.  there is something so amazing about this magazine. it is full of gorgeous writing, photography and inspiration; really soulful and artful. it makes you think.  it makes you daydream.  it makes you hungry too! 

although the fifth volume is ready for purchase, i am patiently awaiting the online version.  i think i might have to break down and purchase a subscription... it's not a cheap magazine but because it comes out with the seasons i'll have time to save my pennies.

it really is the perfect read.

finally, domino is here!

i nabbed domino magazine's special issue today.  i have posted about domino before, here and here.  i hope to find a couple of hours this weekend to read it from cover to cover while sitting in my armchair and sipping tea.  can't wait! 

have a lovely weekend.

magazines

i love the ritual of reading a magazine.  when i see a new cover of my two favourite magazines, living etc. and martha stewart living, in the magazine section of any store, i get excited.  i purchase it without even leafing through it. 

once i get home i flip through it, just a quick scan.  i savour what i glimpsed and calculate when i will have some time to read it thoroughly cover to cover.  it usually requires an hour of time to slowly read each and every page. yup, every single page.  i love it when it happens this way.  cover to cover in one sitting, beautiful and relaxing. 

unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. sometimes, i must return to the magazine a few times.  this is okay, like savouring a really good novel that you don't want to end. 

i hear people talk about getting magazines on their ipad but i don't think the ritual would be quite the same.  i dog-ear pages i want to save to later rip them out and add to my growing collection.  it's fun to leaf through the images i have saved over the years and most of the time i still love them.

some other magazines i purchase, but not always, are house and home, elle decor, and marie claire.  i really miss domino and cookie.  but guess what?  domino has a surprise coming - an issue coming out in april!  i. am. ecstatic.  i can't wait to get my hands on it.  you should too.

have a lovely weekend!  you can bet i will crave out some time to sit with my magazines.

matchbook magazine

i recently came across a new (since january 2011) online magazine, matchbook: field guide to a charmed life.  its main purpose is to inspire women to lead a life they adore.  it is an inspiring site, do visit and let me know if you agree.

this month they featured kate spade and her home which is located in manhatton.  it is a colourful and happy looking home.  exactly what i would expect from kate spade.  one day i will own one of her purses, one day!

   

      

   

 

 

 

pretty. colourful. domino.

these rooms are perfectly pretty and i particularly love the use of colour in these images. in my own home, i use accessories to bring colour in.  i have never felt the need for a theme or to coordinate accessories.  i think anything goes as long as we love it.  i say 'we' but mostly me because stefan lets me do my thing in the house (thank you!).  i think colour impacts our mood for the better and although i love white and wood and earthy colours, over the last few years i have been drawn to more colourful items, especially in art.  i think kai influences my decisions too, i want our home to exude happy. 

have you ever thought about colour and its impact on you and your home? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

all images above once graced the pages of domino magazine (i still have the cutouts of a few of these images in my design folder), the magazine folded in 2009 along with many other design magazines such as wish and blueprint. sniff, sniff.