A Bit of Brilliance - BC Day, Best Idea Ever!

It feels like I've had about 15 minutes of down time this week... I've been working a ton and could really use a long weekend (BC Day, you've always had perfect timing). 

This post will be short and sweet (before I fall asleep at the computer!) and I'll be back on Tuesday - unless the weather is nice and I choose to tan instead of blog...

Grocery shopping has fallen off my growing to do list and with so much running around and nothing in the fridge I am starving - probably not the best time to peruse recipes but...

Ice cream sandwich cake via Pinterest

When I'm super tired I tend to get a bit giggly - needless to say I found this rather entertaining

T-Rex via Pinterest

I saw mugs like these last weekend in Vancouver and fell in love - I used to have a Little Miss. Bossy shirt. I decided to look for them cheaper on the internet and guess what? Found em!

Little Miss Mug  via Pinterest

Once it's out there you find it showing up in random places at not-so-convenient times...

Poster via Pinterest

This is just a genius summer art project - that I NEED to try!

Crayola Art via Pinterest

Enjoy!

Calli

Colour Palettes

I've seen enough Sarah Richardson and Nate Berkus to know that designers often work off of one piece when designing a room (be it fabric, furniture, art...).

I've also seen some really great colour palettes like these floating around online. What I love most is that any photo can be inspiring and the colours make so much more impact pulled out of the image...

via Pinterest                                 via Pinterest

One of my favorite websites that regularly features an inspiring image and coordinating palette is Creature Comforts developed and curated by Ez. Seriously, it's amazing, go check it out!

I've read that you can use photoshop to make colour palettes, however if you don't use photoshop - or, like me are still learning your way around it - there are some colour palette generators out there too! Simply upload your photo and it does all the hard work for you.

Since I am trying to better my photoshop skills I Googled for a tutorial and got to work following the directions and backtracking to fix my mistakes. Far from perfect, I'd like to practice putting the colours on white space to the side, here is my first attempt. 

So clearly I have figured out how to paint with a large circle tool directly onto the picture. I see more online tutorials in my future so I can learn how to make professional looking colour palettes.

I've talked a lot in the past about my spare bedroom - the infamous spare bedroom, will she or won't she ever paint it? I'm really hooked on the idea of painting is a soft pink, rose colour and I know that this could be very girly but I keep envisioning a soft, romantic, room. I think that this skirt photo is along the lines of what I want... 

Images: Bridesmaid dresses via Pinterest; Chandelier via Pinterest; Pink skirt via Pinterest

I'll keep you posted on my progress... I think I might try an online colour generator to see if it can give me some paint colour options for that second bedroom.

Until then, anyone know what I'm missing or how to do it better? Please, please, please share!

Enjoy!

Calli

Some Nerd Love

I am in my early(ish) 20s and like Harry Potter. I'm not ashamed to admit it, and while I'm on a roll... 

• Two years ago I dressed as Prof. McGonagall for a HP Halloween Party.

• I adore the Twilight books and have a signed Robert Pattinson 8x10.

• I enjoy lipsmakers lip balm, especially Dr. Pepper.

• I listen to Taylor Swift and am going to her concert in September.

Now that I've adequately convinced you that I am a complete nerd... It seems that with the 7th and final movie out people are more Harry crazy than ever before. Check out this killer HP stuff I've seen online lately...

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Is it wrong that my favorite might be the Snape cards? I know I'm supposed to love/hate him but I will admit to shedding a tear or two in the 7th movie - unlike my friend who was full on sobbing...

If you aren't a fan all I can say is go on and give it a chance - if I hadn't taken a leap of faith I might never have discovered that I really do hate Lord of the Rings...

(and love sushi!)

Enjoy!

Calli

Starting the weekend with a laugh...

A few (of my favorite) engineers at work have a word making game that they use each day to create the word(s) of the day. It's quite simple - two stacks of (mostly inappropriate) words on a coil that you randomly select and then combine to make one word. 

At first the rule was that you had to use the newly created word three times during the day. Then, we discovered just how rude, offensive, and hilarious the words were and quickly abandoned the notion of saying them out loud. 

On a side note: My favorite word created to date - cooch waffle!

Anyways, I received an email the other day with words created for a contest and a few were so hilarious - or fit perfectly with my life - that I really had to share. If this isn't your cup of tea, I apologize and promise to return to my regular post topics after the weekend!

Assmosis: the process by which people seem to absorb success and advancement by sucking up to the boss rather than working hard.

Salmon Day: the experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.

Ragequit (verb) : to become angry and quit a game or other activity

 

Boomerlang: words popularized in the ’60s and ’70s by Boomers that never seem to go away but continue to be used (groovy, out of sight, far out...)

Blamestorming: sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

Seagull Manager: a manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
  

Dilberted: to be exploited and oppressed by your boss. Derived from the experiences of Dilbert, the geek-in-hell comic strip character. "I've been Dilberted again. The old man revised the specs for the fourth time this week."

 

Apocalypstic: the little smudge I came home with on my collar that makes my wife act like it's the end of the world.

Polarvoid: the state of having no baby pictures, a condition that usually befalls the second-born child.

 

Giraffiti: vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

Hipatitis: terminal coolness.

 

Karmageddon: end of the world due to a build up of bad-vibes.

Glibido: all talk and no action.

Dopeler effect: the tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

 

Bozone (n.): the substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

 

 

For more laughs you can Google or check out these links...

http://www.techkings.org/comedy-central/18621-new-words-2011-a.html

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~shameem/neolog.html

http://www.lifeaftercoffee.com/2007/01/18/new-word-contest/

 

Enjoy!

Calli

A Bit of Brilliance - Pinch of Colour

Although I can respect a lovely monochromatic room, nothing really captures my attention (and heart) like a pinch of colour. 

Here are a few of my favorite rooms that perfectly mix natural neutrals and a pinch of colour!

I first fell in love with this room in Style at Home magazine. I love the triple chandeliers, lightly graphic wallpaper, clear acrylic chair, and bright punchy purple rug...

via Pinterest

This would have made me stick with piano lessons - at least for a month or two longer... The coloured keys jump out because the piano is neutral slate black. Love, Love, Love!

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I love how they use colour in this house! This top picture really makes my heart go pitter patter... I love the dark blue chaise, hints of turquoise, and green stools - all colours similar in tone and feel that work so well together!

via Pinterest

A Rustic colour gem - the mix of wood and plants with colourful rugs and bedding works wonderfully! 

via Pinterest

This yarn storage is brilliant and lovely to look at! I may need to move the wine somewhere else and take up knitting...

via Pinterest

Hopefully this colour can make up for the less-than stellar weather we've been experiencing this summer...

Enjoy!

Calli

Sweet Succulents

Sometimes I joke that my house looks like an old Italian couple's greenhouse. In a space of just over 1100 square feet we have at least 22 plants (that's one for ever 50 feet!). Although they are mainly my boyfriend's responsibility (and true love), I will admit that a space just doesn't feel like a home without them (and art on the walls!). I'm not saying you need 1 plant per 50 feet of house (that's a little obsessive, no?) but one or two can make a big impact.

More and more studies are coming out that promote plants as a natural way to clean the air and cool a room by a few degrees. Most of our plants are cacti and succulents so I'm not sure if they are better or worse at this but the little cuties are really growing on me!

I'm going to risk hurting my other house plant's feelings and say that the succulents are probably my favorite - unlike cacti, succulents (or the ones I've seen) don't seem to bite. But, weather you go for succulents or cacti, I really love them all. They are low maintenance, can go without water forever (almost), and tend to just sit on the window sill and seem content.

I've been spotting succulents and cacti all over the place lately and I really hope they stick around!

Gorgeous entrance via Pinterest

Succulent table number via Pinterest

Huge cacti via Pinterest

Colourful succulents via Pinterest

Hate the lights but the cacti are great! via Pinterest

succulent boutonniere via Pinterest

Cacti garden via Pinterest

Have I convinced you yet? Cacti and succulents are definitely the way to go when it comes to house plants. The only issue we've had is getting them enough sun in the winter - but we don't have an east facing window so I clearly chose poorly when buying...

Enjoy!

Calli

A Very Lovely Weekend in Vancouver

Sorry I've been away for a couple days - if it makes you feel any better I was having a splendid time in Vancouver with my friend Kelsey (she blogs over at The Uncreative Girl - go check her it out!)

The drive down Saturday morning wasn't very sunny but it didn't rain which was wonderfully unusual. I am always awestruck by just how beautiful the drive from the Interior to Vancouver is - even though I've done it at least 1,942 times. I think my favorite part has to be the Coquihalla Summit to Hope - the snow capped mountain peaks are so lovely it's sometimes hard to focus on the road.

My first stop is always at IKEA - right after the Port Mann Bridge. Although I could literally spend an entire day wandering the displays I cut my visit short because I had to get to the PNE grounds to pick up our soccer tickets for Monday. One thing I did see that blew my mind was this light fixture suspended to act as a side lamp. I've seen this once before with a disco ball and fell completely in LOVE!

I picked up a couple necessities (a cutting board, scissors, and veggie peeler) and a couple cacti for my boyfriend. Nothing too exciting, except a little piece of art to bring home as well!

I love how cacti and succulents seem to have a personality!

Now I just need to decide if I want the art it in my dining room or master bathroom...

After IKEA I made a quick stop at Winners/HomeSense - even though we have on at home. I didn't get anything but I had a really, really, hard time walking away from this little white owl!

Kelsey was gracious enough to let me stay with her for the couple nights - she lives in a really nice area (and within walking distance of Starbucks!)

On Sunday we went down to the Athlete's Village, created for the 2010 Winter Olympics, for a walk and lunch. It is actually a nice little area, and quite quiet...

Vancouver and my hair and NOT friends!

We also snuck in a little window shopping - mostly vintage and antique furniture stores. My favorite was full of Scandinavian designs - wood dining sets, recliners, mirrors - it's my first stop when I win the lottery!

On my last day in Vancouver, after a lovely brunch with two amazing friends, I went over the the PNE grounds and Empire Stadium for the Vancouver Whitecaps - Manchester City soccer game. It was beautiful outside, the stadium is in a really pretty location, and I wasn't cheering for either side - a win-win all around!

It was a late drive home Monday night, we didn't get home until the wee hours on Tuesday morning. Luckily I had planned ahead and took Tuesday off as well. But all good things must come to an end and it's back to work - at least the week is short!

Enjoy!

Calli