Packing light for LA

The four of us (my husband and two boys) are going to LA for a week!  I have never been to LA, I've never seen the pacific ocean, cheers to first times!


I like to pack light (I LOVE the bragging rights it gives you!)...and it seems I am always in a competition with myself...so every time we go away, I try to take less than what we packed previously!  Here is what I am bringing:

In the suitcase:
- bathing suit
- sheer floral sleeveless + tank for underneath
- black bunny tank
- jean shorts
- sandals
- underthings and nightshirt
- a million beauty products (cleanser, toner, serum, oil, moisturizer, sun screen, makeup, deodorant, razors, body soap, sea salt spray)

On the plane:
- grey tank
- green jeans
- teal cardigan
- coral flats

I wanted to go with white jeans instead of green jeans because white is more summer...but I am worried about them getting dirty too fast.  I think green can take it.

I built my outfits around this bag, from Zara. 

I will pack light for the boys too.  The kids get 3 bottoms, 3 tops, sandals + airplane outfit. My husband gets 1 bottom, 2 tops, sandals + airplane outfit!  Everything should fit in one bag easily!

A cucumber a day

At dinner the other night, I ate a whole cucumber. Well, most of one. I sliced it and put it on the table to share, but I was the only one who was eating it.

Then at the grocery store today, I thought, I should get another cucumber - it was so yummers the other day.

As I was walking home, I googled "eat cucumber everyday," and, wouldn't you know it, there are people on the internet who say it is a good idea!

I got home, ate lunch, and puttered around for a while. Then I went into the kitchen and pulled my cuke out of the fridge. I wonder if Olivia Palermo eats cucumber everyday. Or that Emma Stone. Or Charlize. Or Annie...Chop chop chop...better take some photos for the blog. I brought the bowl with me upstairs to the office as I tried to list off in my head everything I was supposed to do today.  Mail a package for Etsy, buy some razors, drop off the DVDs to the library, start the laundry... Then I sat down at the desk and mindlessly ate the entire bowl of cucumber while reading blogs.

How do I feel?

I have a tummy ache.

I ate a whole avocado (mashed with lime juice) with a few strips of chicken breast on two wholegrain wraps for lunch (in other words, two avocado and chicken wraps). I guess I deserve this uncomfortable overstuffed feeling.

I am about to google "I ate too much treatment"

The photo wall keeps growing!

The wall of truck photos in my son's bedroom has exploded now that my 4 year old is the one taking the pictures. He uses my iphone. It makes going to fetch some groceries or the walk to Starbucks more interesting for him. It also prevents me from zoning out, checking my emails or texting as I push them around in the stroller. 

I just printed another 33 pictures for him the other night. THIRTY THREE!  And all of them are his favorites!  We have a bit of space left for more...

Apple - Tree...substitute pyrex (or books, or milk glass) for trucks, and what do you have?

Photo Winner

The winner of the photo is Robyn

Robyn please send me an email with your mailing address

Thanks everyone who left a comment and shared their story!

One of the best deals on used books in the city!

I recently heard about Book Ends, the used book store run by the Toronto Library.  They have two locations. I went to the one in the reference library (Yonge and Bloor) today.

I picked up 8 books for $11.50.

Deal!

I can not wait to get all the books up on the shelves...tomorrow, right?!

(In the meantime, I should put away all my paint supplies and the ladders!)

New light fixture from kijiji and new haircut

You guys know about the Listings List Tumbler, right? It's a round up of Toronto area Kijiji and Craigslist items. I know I wouldn't have bought this vintage bronze beauty if the Listing List didn't exist. I can't help myself when it comes to lighting! 

I love this fixture!

I was thinking the nursery. We bought the existing pendant at a nothing-special lighting store.  We settled. It was impossible to find decent affordable lighting.  Our necks were getting sore, and I recall getting headaches, because we spent so much time walking around every lighting store in the city, looking up at the wares. The white honey bee hive pendant was an upgrade over a boob light, but I always thought we could do better.

Anyways, I also cut my hair into a bob. I am VERY happy with this cut. Why didn't I do it sooner?* 

*Ok, I know why...about 1.5 years ago I was a little obsessed with top knots...because all the cool cats were doing it. So I needed the length. Except I couldn't pull off the length and wear my hair down...a bob is much much better for me! It's funny how I was influenced by other bloggers for a while. Why then? Why not now? I think being locked in the house with babies was part of it. Also being a weight I wasn't comfortable with (insecure)...and, well, sometimes they make stuff look so damn good.  I don't think I am as easily influenced now, but it is hard to say.  It is much easier to look back than to be aware of what is going on right now!     

ps. went to the same salon I have been complaining about. Paid WAY too much for a cut...but since I am happy with my hair, I don't mind!

Moved the books downstairs, let the milk glass spread out

I have room to collect more!

ps. the giveaway for the photo of the garden will be open for a few more days!

When do you take off the painters tape?

Earlier today, I finished painting the living room bookshelves.*  The prep was a bit slow, but painting (with a 4" roller and a brush) was a breeze.

I protected the walls by inserting heavy card stock in the corners (cut up file folders) and green tape along the edges.

Except, I couldn't figure out the best time to take off the painters tape.

- If I left the tape until after the paint dries, when I pull it down, it rips apart and I have skinny little pieces of green that stick to the shelves. I need tweezers to get them off.

- If I removed the tape as soon as I was done painting, I risked bumping my knuckles along the freshly painted shelf.

I couldn't win. I went with removing it as I go, only because if I accidentally splattered on the wall, I could clean up the mess with a wet paper towel (once the paint dries, I am screwed, at least, I think I would be...I am a paint novice)

Oh, and because I did two coats, I had to prep the wall with tape twice, instead of leaving it there until I was completely finished.

Anyways, what do you do?

ps. painting them before they were installed would have made my life easier, but I was putting off buying the paint. I needed to colour match the existing trim, which is oil-based and has yellowed. I had no idea how simple it was to request a custom colour matched can. I removed the painted hinge from my dining room swing door and brought it in to Maple Paints at Bathurst and St Clair. They mixed the ca, then rubbed a little on the hinge to make sure it was correct. It was a little on the pink side. So they mixed a new can, and it was a perfect match. 
pps. Happy dance that it's done! 

*How long should I let them dry before I can bring down the books? 24-hours?

UPDATE: I am going to wait another week, or maybe two, before putting the books up...to be on the safe side! 

Getting ready for 11th or 12th or 13th annual street sale

We making invitations for the street sale to deliver to every house on the block.

I don't mind organizing the sale. By 'organizing' I mean setting the date, doing a bit of advertising and crossing my fingers. I can never tell if people are interested, but it is too much work, or if they are just hoping I forget so that they don't have to feel guilty for not participating.  

Turn out was horrible last year.  
 

Coat hooks by the back door

I can't decide if this is a good idea. Will it help clean up a mess, or will it seem like a mess?

Only two holes (with anchors) in the wall...should I give it a whirl?

ps. rug from ebay

UPDATE: BETTER IDEA! In the cloak closet for the umbrellas!