DIY Window Bench

My Glamour BENCH

So we have this huge Bonus Room, and I couldn't find a chaise or anything as wide as my window.
We decided to DIO Do it our self.

Analyse Requirements:

Find out what you need, we needed a storage bench, measured our area and research your options.

Find the measurements, and buy material:
We bought sanded and exact sized wood at Home Depot, and bought hinges and espresso paint stain.

Implement

Added screws, and created a box. You can see any tutorial see below

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-build-a-window-bench-seat/page-2.html

Painting time

Clean the bench or sand as needed, and paint all the sides except the top, I did good 3 coats. And a satin finish spray in the end.

Upholstery

Bought fabric, foam for padding, & staple gun. You will need someone to hold the fabric tight. See this below http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-upholster-a-bench/page-2.html

NOTE: DO THE CORNERS in the end.

Test and Enjoy

Added hinges, did quality check by laying wildly and placed  my pillows.

Tadaaaaaaaaa

And then next day more pillows.....we store the pillows in the storage...

next season I will change the upholstery to something different and am thinking of adding something to the front wood..so stay tuned....

How to create Modern Bohemian Style

In the fashion world, bohemian, or boho, refers to a a state of mind regarding fashion that is individual, romantic, and free-spirited.

iN my fashion worrrld, bohemian pieces are my all seasons here in Canada. Will give you few tips on getting there....

Start to develop your own way of looking at fashion, mm do get inspirations but do as you wish....

Wearing peasant skirts and flip flops, and messenger bags or buying Indian earring won;t give you that look of individuality. Find your own personality, try not to wear something that suit others but might not be your thing...

Bohemian style is basically following your own inspirations, and actually any fashion is pretty much how you carry it. Find out who you really are and go with the flow.


For example, airy peasant blouses or  ruffly skirts (long or short) in eclectic patterns. Long maxi dress to show carefree your nature.

For heavens sake, Do NOT overdo

Yes please don't  you dare do it and come read my blog after, its a disaster and as I say fashion police do EXIST, (they are out there).....

Mary Kate Olsen in lots of unnecessary, non-flattering layers.
Year 2005. Via theinsider.com.

Start with safer basic Bohemian colors i.e. Earthy tones

You won't go wrong with basic brown, army green, black, greys, but do add layers gradually one by one until you feel over layered.

Experiment with couleurz and accessorize

Take risks, but remember to try it on first...try lots of different couleurz, and check out all sorts of jewellery. Remember not to mix match too much.....Also there is no time frame in this fashion, go in the past, find your granny stuff and dip in....
Braided hair band, or you can braid hair....keep dry hair waves..
Gladiator shoes, or slippers...or fur boots would do
and oo feather earrings...
Light on the makeup.....

  

Cuff from Winners

 

my top, shoes, and umbrella

 

and did I tell you my obsession with this umbrella

Find a Bohemian Guru for inspirations

keeping your dressing taste in mind, dont follow ANYONE including me blindly...

Where to buy stuff

You dont have to find all things at one place, buy a piece here and there

Look at Forever 21, Urban Planet, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitter, Farmers Market, Flea Markets, Antique markets, Winners, Indian Stores...or oh Gypsy stores etc......

OOh and I got my braided hairband at Sephora....

My purse for summer

Remember Bohemian is relaxed style so bring that attitude in you and dont worry too much.....

Pieces for my Home Entrance

I know no one missed my blog but what can I say we are so used to saying sorry.
A stranger bumbs into us on the street by mistake and we say sorry, its as if we are on this auto pilot Sorry ass mode...

Anywho I have been busy lately with my health and my entrance and sorry (here you go again) for the delay but I will let you know my entrance piece story....

Lamp with wrinkles

So remember my entrance glass table, yes that one we finally found a lamp for it.
Guess where we found the lamp at HomeSense, (priced at $40  but I found the shade had wrinkles in the fabric so we got it down to $30) yay..So later may be I will cover the shade with new fabric will keep you posted...


Then just so you know my entrance outside is small porch so we needed only one chair, which I found on Kijiji IKEA PS GULLHOLMEN original priced as $70.00 (I got it off used from kijiji for $25.00.)

Ikea Rocking Chair

And since my home exterior is more brown so, picture below speaks alot... I bought espresso paint and cleaned the chair with a dry brush.
Painted wearing a mask to protect from chemicals in my garage...ehm the mask I found at the doctor for free ( I did not steal it, I had cough then)

And then this bench goes right next to our entrance table, its more vintage and very nicely embroidered wood bench ( Note: Sign up for your favourite store promotion emails)

And thats it for today, I have so much to do and tell you...But until then take care oh and remember never to take anything in life for granted be it your youth, family or friends...or a sale at your favourite store....

Shade of purple in house

Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue.

In human color psychology, purple is also associated with royalty and nobility (stemming from classical antiquity when Tyrian purple was only affordable to the elites).

It gives us peace of mind, and we need a lot in our homes too....

Below are my favourites from my idea book, thought you might like them too... some inspired designs for a purple home.

via

Lurve the sequined carpet...purple and pink have been in the same family and truly a good match.

via

Remember to add one color at a time

via

Sometimes we buy things that we like right away not knowing what chaos will it make in out home decor (Me aaaah, don't worry I buy, see if it looks good in home and return the same day or next)

Most of us try to try to mix and match the wall color, furniture, drapes, couch, accessories, wall decor etc etc.... it depends of what each of us likes what colour touches our soul that we choose to add to our homes.....

via

via

 Loving the vintage wallpaper

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Purple pillows, so elegant with shade of creme

via

Dark purple comforter, with mirror side table

via

Silver and purple are used a lot together, check out how motifs are playing this setting brilliantly

Play with colors, be daring but try not to use alot of colors in one room, focus one main area. Think of it as not having too much going on, and purple will work like a charm.....

Until then you be purple and play safe.....

How to make label tags

Last year I made these tags for a friend's party that can be used for food labels, name tags for weddings or whatever DIY. Its affordable, people loved it and I thought of sharing it with you...

You know we all have people who love us, or our work that we love. I don't know why I am saying all emotional stuff;(check out how lame and cheesey I get below)
I haven't blogged for few days now and today when I saw a member added, I thought that a life is waiting for me to be inspired. Or there's someone who I will make happy by writing this post today.... Or may be someone will read it and think what an idiot blogger.....
Now I know why a mother lives to see her children grow in front of her eyes, as she lives her life off others....O whats wrong with me today....


Anywho lets make labels.....

Food Label tags

• Find a template like this online, or create one on your computer, can also use a nice scrap book designed paper
• Cardboard or old business cards cut same size as you label
• Traditional flat wooden lollipop sticks
• Tea Light Candles or any weight to hold the sticks, rocks is a good idea too
• Glue
• Marker or type it on computer

Flat sticks

Online Template Design

1. I took this template on photoshop, you can use MS Word and add alot of labels on them side by side to be printed all together on an A4 size paper (Note: Skip this step if not printing)
2. Now add food name text with a calligraphic font on each label, if doing manually then use your pretty handwriting that adds more of a personal touch.
3. Print the sheets, cut each label precisely.
4. Now take the label and glue it to cardboard (I used my former job business cards, you can glue the label on both sides of the cardboard)
5. Glue the stick at the back of the label card
6. Skip next step if using rocks or any weight to glue with the sticks.
7. Burn tea light candle for a minute, so wax is soft when you insert sticks inside, let the candle wax dry.
8. Ensure the tags can stand on there own.

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......You have pretttty labels.

Cookies with tea

I can't really do much physical work but I had a craving for cookies so I made these Gluten Free cookies today...

Finger Print Cookies

Do streches shake your body while you  mix:

1/4 cup -  sugar (I took less and adjusted in the end)

3/4 cup -oil  (I use melted purified butter for my allergies)

Now add:

1 or 2 - eggs and  mix well.

In a separate bowl mix below ingredients:

2 - cup plain flour ( I used Gluten Free bake mix flour a blend of rice and potato starch),

1 - tea spoon cumin seeds (you can use crushed almonds, peanuts, coconut, or anything you like  instead),

1.5 - tsp salt,

1 tsp - baking powder and mix well ( I did not use baking powder since my Gluten Free bake mix has starch and I am out of it too)

add these dry ingredients to the egg mixture and dance while you mix it.

Taste the mixture, to adjust salt or sugar, cumin seeds or whatever you used

Roll the dough 1-2 mm think on a greased surface, shape them using cookie cutter
(I used my hands, made small balls and pressed them flat using my fingers on the baking tray).

You can use all this dough or leave some like I zip locked remaining dough in the fridge for next day....

Put on the parchment paper on your baking tray and bake at 180 C (350F) for about 10-15 minutes or until light brown (after 10 minutes I turn them around sides, total 14 minutes after I turn off the oven and leave them inside until golden)

While you wait, do read my other posts and prepare your tea. Run the laundry and dishwasher....
Call your your friends and tell them what you did today... If not then tell you mom about your domestic accomplishments like baking cookies.....
Or just lay on the couch and snore....

Transfer to a wire rack, take a bite..burn your tongue and now let them cool for a while....

Enjoy it with your tea.... I had herbal tea mmmmm......

How to feel better with Couleurz

Each moment has so many expressions that we may associate with colors, we don't realize what this one color can do to us (no I don't mean retail therapy) like there are days when I feel blue (mostly this month), or there are days that just pass in black n white....or I am green with envy when I see her wearing pink Jimmy Choo shoes ....

Fight with the dark

A dose of couleurz for today, a lot of things help me in my recovery and may be they might help you too (at least I hope)


So if your having a bad day, or are sick, or blue or green or pink or red, or was yelled at or feel nobody loves you, or you think you want to feel better then find something positive to do that brings you back to life....

^ I think painting is my therapy, for some its music, reading, sewing, sports, cooking, writing, biking, sleeping, and etc etc..... or working with colors, fabric, pencils, crayons, fruits, vegetables, words, sand, water....

Each of us is special in our own way, we try what satisfies our souls, as if we have achieved something, for me working with colors help me feel alive...

Moods that I put on canvas, sometimes dark sometimes light and colourful they say its spiritual development....doesn't has to be fancy it can be a sketch on paper, crayon marks anything;
like I just throw colors on canvas without thinking anyone will ever see them again....

I don't know what it does deeply but this is what artistic therapy is all about,
in plain words its holistic approach towards healing or say it makes us feel better.

I will quote art therapy according to an artist “Traditionally the rainbow and the rainbow-colours have always played an important part in anthroposophic painting therapy. But one must remember that the rainbow always comes into manifestation between the light and the darkness: There is a dome of lightness on the inside of every rainbow and darkness on its outside, the darkness of the clouds against which it appears. The rainbow is a beautiful image of the human being: Its seven colours can be looked upon as the purified human soul, the light and darkness on either side of it stand for the spiritual creative polarity that calls it into being. In the human being the polarity can be found in the light of consciousness and the darkness of the living organism in which creative and destructive processes are continuously at work”. (Liane Collot d’Herbois)

From what I read above about light and dark is not in context with good or bad, its more like our consciousness and warmth; both should be balanced. Art therapy helps people with so many illnesses, or emotional issues,
I will not go into the details of this but ask yourself what your inner color is like ....

Hope

“Therapies that restrict themselves to the confines of the individual soul can help resolve a neurosis, but if they do not call on the patient’s ego and thereby initiate a period of personal development, they can have no lasting effect. Nor can they truly heal”. Treichler, 1989, P334

Blue

Don't stop yourself from doing positive things that make you happy...below are few things that might keep me on the go:

^ Like when I wake up each day and think what I chose, happiness or grumpiness…

^ I don’t really care if I am not where I want to be in life yet...(at least not now when they are giving me heavy dose of painkillers so no pain in life at all, always drowsy)

^ Like how important I am to someone family and friends...(I personally think its until I get better on my feet again, then who knows what they make me do)

^ Like I don't have to do anything to make myself happy...(Oprah says it comes from within but I think its my drugs doing it for me)

^ Looking at Flowers and my arrangements on bedside

^ Candles only this flavour Tuscan Olive mmm I really wish you could smell through this blog

^ Off course mom made soups for the time being...

^ Like watching fairy tales and laughing like crazy (why did we ever like them)

^ Hugs and care from loved ones...

I wish you find this and more, may you find that something to keep you alive and happy....


Until then you be safe and creative....

How I found my Anthropologie Dress Coat

This is my favorite dress coat that I was dreaming of all my life.

The cut, fit, hooks, design, couleur, fabric all was made for me. It keeps me so warm, mmm. Once upon a time, two months before last Xmas I saw it at Anthropologie, and fell in love; however the regular price that day was $300 something so I left it in the hope of a better day.

  On right, taken from Anthropologie 2011 catalog





So as per my Anthro shopping analysis, I kept going to the store every week. I would go around the store, my heart aching each time they moved the rack spot.

One fine day when I went in the store, couldn't find the coat anywhere on racks; so many things haunted my mind.

 a. What if the stock was all sold
 b. I am an idiot, should have bought that first day
 c. Should have bought, so what if I have to live on bread and water for a month...
 d. Will they still have my small size...

But then I said a silent prayer * always works, and I saw Sale Room door from the corner of my eye. I should have ran but I kind of just walked fast towards that room.

Side Note: First time when I revealed Anthro to my friend, I made her promise to keep her eyes closed when she enters Anthro, no peeping and open them only in this sale room. I did this to save her from going bankrupt.

My eyes started searching for my wonderful woolen coat on the racks everywhere.

Skirts, nope

Weird tops aa nooo

Jackets jackets where are you, pants…no

Coat- stay focused

Up Close with my coat

 And O my gosh I found it, hurry look now for the size; I kept looking for any possible fabric or hook damage in it. The price tag said 40% less. I knew that the price would go further down for Xmas sale; but I couldn’t bear to keep it away from me even for a second.

So I bought it, and took home my precious coat

 Oh and it doesn't end here, a week before Xmas there was a huge additional sale on these items, I had a bad migraine but that didn’t stop me from my hunt for the best bargain. So just to make myself feel better I begged my girlfriend to go store if my coat was further discounted. When she didn’t call me back in an hour I got concerned so I called Anthro store and was put on hold million times.

But I am so pleased to announce that all the outerwear were sold that day or else I would have been shedding blood tears right now. Anyways this was my story of finding an affordable Anthro garment, tell me how you found your dream dress or garment.

Until then be safe and creative…..

Home and Garden Show review

Two months ago, we got tickets to the Home and Garden trade show. It was last day of the show and we were late but it took us 3 hours to go through most of the booths (selective walking).

A friend told us to buy things that we like at the show and not wait, but I have to read reviews, before spending my hard earned mula....

I was wearing my best winter 2012 dress coat (will give you details of my Anthropologie jacket later) but let me start with the best part of these shows,

we had this yummy twisted fries on stick fyi we tried alot of flavours. There were other food booths too but I love my fries.

I was so into my fries that I forgot to take photo but below one is what I found online

I know I know...should have taken more pictures but then I wasn't a blogger, so below is like pretty neat booth for signage like ranging from $20 above and no I did not buy any sign.

Cool Signage

Its hard to find comfy shoes ever, or may be my feet are sensitive; so I use insoles and we found this amazing insole that I actually bought, it has this bubble in it that massages your feet while you walk. I tested it for few minutes and bought this amazing insole with guarantee image below...

Massaging Insoles

Then I came across this neat hook booth, you can hang like anything on these hooks even heavy garage stuff on different surfaces, so I bought 1 of this to try for $20.00. Will show you next time what I am using it for right after my recovery.



Reusable Hooks

There were many blinds, landscape stuff, appliances, massage chair booths that I passed by. Alot of home builders, jewellery, few interior design companies had great packages too. Almost everyone was carrying this cool broom or mop that I did not buy.

Stopped by HomeSense booth, had few themes set up here. Btw I am a regular customer. You can design your entire home from there products which are also affordable. Its like Century 21 of Canada.



HomeSense Theme

Keep in mind the vase with white flowers in above photo, have a treat for you in coming blogs.....

HomeSense Theme

There was this cookware booth, products used by Chef Gordon Ramsay, I loved the demo...

Basically it was a non stick pot that the sales lady kept burning with milk and after it turned black she used a kitchen towel to wipe off in a second. It was too expensive and I wanted to check reviews first so I left it there.

Forgot to mention this cool new vibrator speakers they were using pizza box for demo (pretty neat idea but I did not buy them)
There was so much more to see, but overall I enjoyed the show. Got free stuff like parchment paper, reusable green bags, bbq burger recipes, etc etc...

ahh I am drowsy on painkillers, but hey can't complain so will get back to my rest... Until then you be safe and creative ....

Tell me about your trade show experience or goodies.....

Wellwishing Flowers arrangement

Two weeks ago I had a surgery, am on bed rest under recovery. (Details will make you sad so I will skip all that part for some other day, me on morphine and asking nurses how I look right before anasthesia...lols)
In short we moved into our new home 4 months ago. Lots too do in so lil time and I am so ill. So guess what I did yesterday( hardly can stand up) but decor must go on....
My wellwishing flowers were dying, I cut them short and added a dollar store bowl, they look so preeeeetty ...

Placed this setting on my favourite entrance glass table, and snowhite oval shaped (mirror mirror on the wall)

I am so happy with all the wellwishing flowers that I get everyday. Added lily with roses on my bed side table...

I have so many bouquets, running out of space at home...