Today I am relaxing and spending time with my family. Oh, but I have to get my presents wrapped! A tradition for my sister and I do wrap them together, spending time laughing hysterically at the tags we write, and eating lots of yummy baked goods. More to come tomorrow. Cheers and enjoy!
I finally had a few moments to put together some photos from my birthday trip with my two awesome girlfriends, Amanda & Anna to Quebec. {hey girls!} This trip definitely got us in the Christmas spirit a little early, with a tun of snow starting with our plane landing, complete with snow plough trailing beside it. Let's just say, none of us were really prepared for that and we all ended up having to buy some serious snow boots! Nonetheless, it was an amazing trip and SO relaxing. All we did was eat yummy, yummy food {mostly crepes and pastries}, espresso and lattés galore. We also didn't stop laughing! The little cobblestone streets and old shops in Quebec were beautiful and I couldn't get enough, and this was definitely a trip to remember...thanks so much to both of you!
I have literally had Christmas songs in my head for days. It might be that I am so busy, that I feel the constant need to push the Christmas spirit from my head into my heart...OR there's just those sweet tunes everywhere I go. Regardless, it makes me feel like a kid again! But for a moment, I need to relax and remember the reason for this season. It's not the crazy bustling about or the presents galore, but the time spent with family and the memories made. Take a time out, make yourself a hot beverage, watch this super cool video and relax!
I read this amazing article by Garance Doré this morning and it definitely gave me some inspiration and the little push of happy thoughts I needed to get through this busy week. I know that there's a little bit of something difficult in every job, but sometimes being in the creative industry pushes you over the edge emotionally, and you need to be reminded of why you do this every day. Those little moments of joy that make it all worth while...
Christmas! Toronto has had it's first official snowfall {the kind that actually stays on the ground} and everyone is hustling and bustling about...including me. I'm sorry my dears for the delay in posts. After an amazing weekend in Quebec City with two of my best girlfriends, {hey ladies! Photos of our winter adventure to come shortly!} I was also happy to settle in back to my cozy apartment and start the holiday festivities. Buying gifts, finishing all the home made presents and my favourite...the holiday cards. However this year looks a little different to me. While I did manage to settle back into my cozy apartment, work has taken a turn for the business and is leaving me with stress headaches and a knot in my stomach the size of, who knows what! So here I am feeling super distracted and just not myself. If only I had time for more yoga, or bubble baths, or shopping...if..if..only! But I will stay optimistic as best I can, and see what next week has to offer.
Please stay tuned for the winner of my Anniversary prize! I was supposed to draw last week, but with my birthday trip and such, I got totally distracted. I will draw a winner this week though...and have a surprise bonus to throw in with my little bird card. So excited to see who the lucky winner will be!
My wonderful friend Melissa gave me this song for my birthday today be Devendra Banhart, {hi missy! you're so sweet!} so I thought I would share it with you! It definitely shows how I'm feeling today. Not doing anything crazy special today, just taking it easy, but somehow I'm happy nonetheless {and kind of feel like skipping about...}.
The BIG event is this weekend, as I'm headed to Quebec City with my rockin' girlfriends, Amanda & Anna. I can't wait! I know there's going to be lots of laughs and leisurely walks on the beautiful cobblestone streets. More on that tomorrow... For now, I'm just going to enjoy the rest of my day. How old am I you ask? I'll never tell...
I'm sick. It never fails, almost every year at this time I get sick. Even though I know that, and prepare with taking vitamins ahead of time and keeping active..it still catches me. What's even worse is that last night some rambunctious pigeons decided to fight constantly on my windowsill throughout the night and coo loudly into the wee hours of the morning. I definitely have a pout on my face,wrinkles in my forehead, and wish I could be in my pj's reading a good book. Alas, I have to be at work and must find a cure for this pitiful beginning to a day. Perhaps a Starbucks treat this afternoon will be my medicine!
Now is the time to get all sappy and say a big THANK YOU to all my readers that have followed my antics over the passed two years. At first I wanted this blog to be all about design, but over the years it has turned into somewhere that I can vent, share and inspire others out there in the blog world. Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads it, or cares, but when I see your lovely comments and reader stats, it puts a smile on my face! I know lately I have been neglecting FDS a little, as life gets busier, but knowing you're all reading it, encourages me to keep going, even throughout hard times.
To go along with my complete gratefulness, I want to give a special reader a little taste of my holiday collection I've been working on over at Short & Sweet Paperie. This little black bird paired with a royal blue envelope is my favourite print from the collection.{launching very very soon!} All you have to do is leave a comment {along with your email so I can get in touch with you!} on this post about what you either like or don't like about what I feature on FDS, and what you'd like to see this coming year. I want to make this next year the best one ever, and I can't do it alone!
I will be choosing a winner on November 25th...exactly one month away from Christmas. {Can you believe it?}
Look forward to hearing from all of you! And please, enjoy this lovely sunday. Hope it's full of relaxation and happiness...
xoxo
Sandi
Photos from ffffound & myself – Short & Sweet holiday 2010 collection {coming soon!}
I am sometimes so thankful to be in the publishing industry. With my two awesome friends {Hey Amanda & Justin!} tomorrow night, we are headed to The Sound Academy as we are on the guest list for an awesome show with opener Charlie Winston and the main band...Bedouin Soundclash! I love free guest list access...Plus, what a way to start the weekend, right? The music and venue are going to be so fantastic! Can't wait...
Plus! Stay tuned for a special For Design's Sake anniversary post this weekend...with so much gratitude to all of you, my dear readers – there might be a giveaway!?!
I have always wanted to live in an old house, with those little details that just make all the difference. Nooks and crannies, cute windows and curved walls. When I came across these photos in Design*sponge, I had to grab them for my own inspiration. I love the peach colour, and usually chair rails only go up halfway, not three quarters up the wall. Quite a beautiful detail I think, and it makes the ceilings seem higher...which is always a bonus!
So as of this afternoon, I am off for the weekend! I'm headed to a little place called Niagara-on-the-Lake for some country inn atmosphere, wine tours and good food. I can't wait! I brought 2 lenses for my camera, and am hoping to get some great shots to share with you. The weather is supposed to be sunny and just brisk, so a wool sweater, tall boots & scarf should do the trick!
I will be gone for a few days, but in the meantime, check out this new design blog I came across via Green Shoes. It's called Swiss Cottage Designs. Boy, do I LOVE her custom wedding maps. Hope you enjoy, and have a great weekend!
With being super busy at work the past little while, an idea suddenly sparked in me after an awesome halloween weekend, that no matter how busy I become, what will make me very happy is to still plan special weekends, and get togethers with my closest friends and family, along with being super creative on personal projects. I'm hoping November is the month to be filled with not just a day job, but lots of other fulfilling fun-ness. This quote is the perfect kick start to a kick*ss month!
Well, production is almost over! Today is our last shipping day for the December issue. {I know, crazy right?} So while we're looking at Christmas ribbons and festive dinners on the computer screen, the beautiful wind is blowing and leaves are falling outside. I can't wait to have some days off to enjoy this perfect sunshine and really get into the fall spirit. Oh...and figure out my Hallowe'en costume!
I haven't forgot about you lovelies! It's production week at work which sums up to late nights at the office, tired eyes and not so many smiles...But don't worry, I'll be back soon...promise!
In the meantime, feel free to peruse my blog roll!
Lately I have been busy busy with crafts and hunting for the perfect Christmas gifts. Every year I get a bit more creative than the last. First it started with the wrapping and slowly made it's way into the actual gifts. This year, I took an awesome class at The Workroom and have been spending WAY too much time on Etsy, getting in touch with crafters and sellers, but I just can't help it, Crafty is my middle name! And even though I so want to show you everything I have found and made so far, I can't risk my family seeing it on here {yes, they are so supportive and read my little blog, hey guys!} But I do promise you that after the holidays are over, I will share every little custom gift, and maybe it will inspire you to make a few things or put a little more effort into the perfect gift. Sure, I start early, but the end results and the looks on their faces is an amazing feeling, and well worth the work...
And don't you just love the little workspace above? It's not mine, but I like to pretend it is...One day!
Photos via Design*Spongeof Jen from Cabin 7's loft
Happy Thanksgiving to all those readers in Canada! It's a gorgeous and beaming sunny day where I am, and I bet you're also smelling a turkey that's cooking in the oven, and hopefully spending time with the family & friends around you. I am so thankful my parents are close so I can come home and celebrate with them, and though this year my sister or boyfriend aren't here, we are thinking of them ever so much. For those of you in other countries, this may be a teaser to your Thanksgiving coming next month, {turkey, stuffing and pie, OH MY!} or just a reminder to take a moment this season to be thankful for what you have. Cheers!
I spotted these just in time for fall! How adorable are these little gems from LanaOCrystal. She's got a great mix of vintage looking pieces, to modern, more simplistic styles. I could definitely wear any of these everyday or mix and match with other necklaces I already own. I have to say my favourite is the leaf that drops into a locket...and how great would these look for a fall bride? Swoon...
...and for those of you in Canada, happy thanksgiving weekend! Stay tuned for hopefully some yummy photos of my thanksgiving feast with the family. Pumpkin pie here I come!
What I wouldn't give to have these old vintage colour wheels & palettes framed and on my wall. I love how detailed things used to be, and I can only imagine the amount of time it took to render these. Gorgeous! It actually gives me a great idea for some cards including watercolour, or maybe I'll use a hint of it on my Short & Sweet Paperie blog re-design! Don't you love how something as simple as these prints grows into an amazing idea?
Speaking of getting creative, I had almost a full bag of pistachios hanging around my kitchen for a few weeks and felt like making something yummy out of them today. I searched and searched online, and finally found an amazing pistachio muffin recipe! I tweaked the recipe slightly {I always do that with baking..teehee} and added some almond extract to make these extra nutty...They turned out beautifully! Here's the tweaked recipe below, and enjoy!
Pistachio Breakfast Muffins INGREDIENTS 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1/2 cup pistachios, finely chopped 1/2 cup butter 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped for top of muffins
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare the muffin tins by greasing them well. 1. Combine the dry ingredients including the zest and finely chopped pistachios in a large bowl. 2. Cream the butter and sugar together, and beat the eggs, one at a time, into the creamed mixture until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. 3. Starting with about 1/4 of the dry mixture, alternately add part of the dry ingredients and the milk, briefly mixing after each addition. Do not over-mix the batter. 4. Scoop the batter into the prepared tins. Sprinkle the tops with the coarsely chopped pistachios. Place the muffins in the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 375 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes or until the muffin tests done. {with a toothpick!} After the muffins have cooled for 5 minutes, remove from the tins to cool on a wire rack. Makes 10 large muffins.
Hope you're all enjoying your saturday so far! I have been so enjoying my few days off from work and taking a lot of time for myself, doing things I've been wanting to do but just haven't had time. One of those things that I am excited about is that I finally have time to work on my holiday line for Short & Sweet Paperie! I have been neglecting my little stationery for quite some time now and with so many ideas in my head it's hard to take the time to sort through them. {excuses, excuses, I know...} With the new fall season here, and now that I'm settled into my new job finally, I've been wanting to re-organize and update the blog, and just give it a look that screams Short & Sweet Paperie. I like simple and clean but with a twist of girly or pretty...
So with that said, you all are the first to hear that something amazing is headed your way! {and get a sneak peak above!} Short & Sweet Paperie will keep the same blog address, but will have a new look and a new small collection of holiday cards and I'm hoping a few little jewellery pieces for every day wear. So stay tuned!
It's been a busy couple weeks, and I finally have a few days off! What do I do when I've had crazy work hours and my brain is fried? Amazing friends and food. {oh yea, and wine doesn't hurt either...} Tonight with two of my fantastic girlfriends {hi ladies!} we had THE BEST pizza and wine at L'il Baci in Leslieville. These are the nights that make me fall in love with the city. And as I lay me down to sleep, I can't wait for more new adventures this week...
I'm at work on this sunny, fall sunday morning. I wish I wasn't, and I wish I was somewhere far away. I wish I was taking a stroll with my family on a late summer evening...Wishin' and hoping the work day rolls by fast...sigh
...and thus begins the first day of fall. I can't believe it's time to bust out my chunky sweaters and overflowing collection of scarves already! {and isn't that paisley dress above just decadent?!} I am bound determined to embrace it this year and will enjoy every moment of those crisp evening walks and the warm comfort of cocoa and apple cider. Not only is it the start of so many wonderful food possibilities, but also of family gatherings and traditions. Here, here fall..Bring it on!
I am a designer with a love of all things beautiful. I live in a tiny studio apartment in the city. I enjoy typography & coffee and my favourite colour changes every day. Enjoy!
" For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. " - Audrey Hepburn
