decor: spring decorating tips

Canadian House and Home and I are bosom buddies on Facebook. A little while back they asked all of their online friends to send in tips on spring cleaning and seasonal decorating. My tip involved using books (of course!) as part of your spring decorating. You can peruse all of the tips here.

One thing I like to do every spring is change out my chocolate velvet curtains with linen ones in a lighter colour.  And I like to buy heaps of tulips. I honestly believe that yellow tulips have the power to bring pep to the step of even the most curmudgeonly of people.

What do you do to freshen up your home when the seasons change? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Dajana  :)

p.s. Sorry for the sporadic posting as of late. I'm in Costa Rica with the boy taking a much needed break. Will be back soon!


  

literary lady: secret daughter & february

576 pages (phew!) of American Wife are behind me and I'm now on to my next two reads - February by Lisa Moore and Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. 

February is our next book club title while Secret Daughter was recommended (and lent) to me by a fellow book clubber.  I've read and enjoyed Moore's Alligator - we'll see how well my foray into February goes.  The Globe and Mail reviewed it and so did Quill and Quire.

As for Secret Daughter, I will admit that I don't know too much about it, other than it's an international bestseller, the author is Canadian and it's being translated into seventeen languages. The Globe and Mail reviewed it too. Last summer. Yipes. I'm a tad behind in knowing what's hot in the literary world.

Have you read either of these titles?  And on another topic, have you heard of Goodreads?  My friend Sheri recently told me about this social networking site for book lovers.  You can share what's on your reading list with other book loving peeps while keeping track of your own titles.  I think I'm really going to like it. You can check it out here.

Happy reading!

Dajana  :)


Yes, my copy of February is from the wonderful EPL! Yay for libraries!

 

eat: waffle-y goodness!

Waffles + lazy Sunday morning = my kind of bliss.

Grandma Wild's Famous Waffles

recipe compliments of my ladyfriend Christine who blogs over at just bella

• 2 eggs (yolks separated from whites)
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 1/3 cup of vegetable oil

Separate egg whites and beat in a separate small bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

In large bowl, combine all other ingredients.  Mix until smooth.

Fold in egg whites gently with a spatula.

Oil up your waffle iron, cook and enjoy!

For choco waffles....instead of 2 cups of flour, use 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of cocoa. Add a tbsp or two of sugar too.

Christine suggests serving the waffles with Aunt Jemima (LIGHT - trust me, it tastes better - she says), butter and/or Summerland Sweets Fruit Syrup.

I took C`s advice and used Aunt J`s light syrup which I mixed with delish Dalmatian fig jam. You can find it at Safeway & it also tastes amazing with brie cheese but be warned - it`s got some powerfully addictive qualities.

Happy waffle-ing!

D.

p.s. Props to my parents who bought us our belgian waffle maker for Christmas. Love it!  It`s got extra deep, syrup catching pockets and it's so easy to use and clean. Check it out here.  Christine`s motto is that deep pockets = good waffles. And they take waffles veeeerry seriously in her family, so you`d better listen up.  :) 

etsy's emerald isle

Etsy came into my life a while back and what can I say other than j'adore. My most favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon includes perusing the lovely and the quirky housed in its multitude of shops - tea mug in hand and still in my pyjamas.



Vintage Emerald Green Earrings via dreamyvintage



Fern Stemless Wine Glasses via marywibis



Emma by Jane Austen Mr. Knightley's Proposal Brass Cuff via JezebelCharms



Hand Drawn Map of Ireland via kzieglerdesign



Natural Linen Tea towel via PonyandPoppy



Irish Cufflinks - Irish Harp / Rabbit Coins via qacreate



Green foliage cotton scarf via JANNYSGIRL

 

Kelly dress via MichelleTan



Organic cabled wool collar via tortillagirl



Golden Chandelier Earrings with Emerald Blue Glass via thestellabluegallery





Chimneys in Dublin via artquirk



St. Patrick's Day beanie with bow via Swifferkins

 
 Happy St. Patrick's Day! Lá Fhéile Pádraig!

 Dajana  :)

save the date: clinton kelly's coming to the prairies!

Pinch me people. Style sage Clinton Kelly from TLC's What Not to Wear and author of the recently released Oh No She Didn't, is coming to Calgary on June 18.  Can you say road trip!?!

The affable and cheeky Kelly will inspire, entertain and impart his ‘Fashion Do’s and Don’ts’, personally advising attendees on what not to wear.

Stay tuned for details peeps. We're in for a style treat of lifetime!

Happy Tuesday!

Dajana  :)

drink: lady beer

Recently, a friend mentioned a drink she had enjoyed at the Bothy Wine & Whisky Bar.  The bevy was a mix of Crabbie's Ginger beer and Castle Lager.  This was music to my ears since Crabbie's is one of my choice drinks of the summer!  Mind you, I'm not a beer drinker at all.  Mojitos, bellinis and martinis are more up my libation alley.  Yes, I'm a wuss when it comes to alcohol. 
 
I added Scottish-made Crabbie's to my bevy roster (John Crabbie began the company in 1801 with his Original Scottish Green Ginger Wine) because it`s so refreshing, especially when served chilled with lemon. It's got a crisp gingery-spiciness. If you like ginger, this is a must-try!

This got me thinking about two of my other favourite lady beers - those I dream of enjoying outside on a balmy sunshine-filled day...which may be a long, long wait for us here in Alberta. For now, my living room will just have to do.

First up is, Liefmans Fruit Beer. It's a light, fresh Belgian beer made with strawberry, raspberry, cherry, billberry (similar to a blueberry but smaller) and elderberry juices. 

It's a highly drinkable little brew with a delightfully sweet aroma and taste. A rich dark chocolate dessert would be its perfect partner in crime.

And lastly is, Früli - a Belgian white beer blended with strawberry juice.

Früli is liquid strawberry jam. A delectable dessert beer. A tangy taste sensation. It`s good drinking.

Did you know that Früli received a gold medal at the International Beer Competition 2004? And that it took the title of Best Fruit Beer at the 2009 World Beer Awards?  We got ourselves a real winner here.

I purchased all three of these beers at the amazing Sherbrooke Liquor Store - which boasts (and actually has) the biggest and best beer selection in the city. Over 900 kinds!

And if it's a hot day, they'll let you bring your dog in to the store instead of having to leave them in the car to swelter. These are my kind of people.

Have you tried any of these three bevies? If so, which is your favourite? And if not, what's on your beverage roster? I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Happy Friday friends!

Dajana  :)

fashion is where you find it: joe fresh leopard print skirt

I'm a big fan of Joe Fresh. The clothes are affordable and fashion forward and where else can you grab a carton of milk and a cute outfit at the same time?

One of my favourite finds as of late is this leopard print skirt that model Arlenis Sosa rocked in the January 2011 edition of Flare magazine:

The skirt was also featured in the Joe Fresh winter lookbook:

Here's how I wore it to work:



And this is my frolleague Val wearing it:

Did you notice that we're all wearing our skirts in combo with another Joe piece? Model Arlenis is wearing a Joe denim shirt, the two lookbook ladies are wearing Joe sweaters, I'm wearing a Joe blazer while Val paired her skirt with an embellished Joe shirt. Fashion really is where you find it.

And guess what? I was at Superstore recently and noticed the skirt was marked down to $9! Did I mention it's lined and has pockets? Cheap and chic! 

Don't you just feel like heading out for some groceries right now?

Dajana :)

p.s. Joe Fresh has taken inspiration from street style blogs (like The Sartorialist) and now has its own haute new Tumblr blog. Regular peeps like you and me will be featured wearing Joe. Love this!

Happy snapping! And shopping!

loving: korean tea

Meet Willa. She's my frolleague. Friend + colleague = frolleague. And a very sweet one at that.

Willa is holding something I've been loving lately and which she introduced me to... Korean tea.

Don't know what that is? That's okay, I didn't either until recently.

Korean tea is definitely not your Orange Pekoe.  It's a thick, marmalade-like syrup and is considered a tisane. The idea is to mix a few tablespoons into a cup of hot water. Easy peasy and delish!

On the left is citron and on the right, pear ginger. In Korean: yujacha and saenggang cha (cha meaning tea).

And no, citron is not a fancy-schmancy way of saying citrus - which is what I thought at first. Heh. It's actually a tangerine-sized citrus fruit found in east Asia.  It's also called yuzu, or yuja in Korean, hence the name of the tea, yujacha. I love learning about new fruits. 

  

Yuzu isn't usually eaten whole because it's quite sour. Instead, it's used like a lemon and
can be found as juice, vinegar, paste, powder (dehydrated rind) and of course, as Korean tea.

While reading about yuzu, I learned that during winter solstice in Japan, people throw in a bunch of whole yuzu into the bath so it releases its lovely aroma, which in turn, is believed to bring about a sense of wellbeing. I just love the Japanese. What a super idea! Got extra lemons in the house? Throw them into your bath peeps!

And I'm not sure if you noticed but my frolleague has the cutest lil' baby bump hidden underneath that awesome Anthropologie Southward Stop Dress she's wearing. Yes, she's with child! Yay! :)

Lately, Willa's been really digging the pear ginger tea, because it eases, as she calls it, her "morning, afternoon and evening sickness."  Poor lady.

Y'know, Willa isn't just cute, in the pudding club and my frolleague. The girl is also really flippin' talented.

Check out her knit veggies. The eggplant rocks my world.

Wanna read more about Willa and her crafty skills? Take a gander at her blog, the disheveled designer.

And if you're looking to try Korean tea, don't take my word for it, head on down to your local Asian supermarket to taste it for yourself. If you live in Edmonton, try T&T Supermarket, 99 Supermarket (99 St. & 107 Ave) or Lucky 97 (97 St. & 107 Ave).

Happy cha time, friends! Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Dajana

anthropologie: outfit of the month & end of austerity program

My self-imposed austerity program is officially over friends! I did it! 68 days without any retail therapy. And it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Now that it's over, will I make a mad dash to the nearest shop once today's work day is over? Nope. I'm going to hurry and go over my lunch hour instead. Haha!

Joking aside, three super things about my shopping ban is that (1) I've worked on my impulse control, (2) I've saved a crapload of money and (3) I`ve rediscovered favourite old-ish items in my cupboard. It's almost as fun as having sparkly new things! Almost. ;)

To celebrate this very auspicious occasion, I wanted to share with you my favourite Anthro outfit from February.



Thanks to Ayesha for taking this anthro-at-work pic!

Why yes, those are foxes running across my legs!

• Dress: Anthropologie Reed Shirtdress
• Belt: Linea Pelle
• Tights: Anthropologie Foxy tights
• Boots: Feet First

I love this navy blue cord dress because it's versatile, warm, highlights my small waist and covers my European child-bearing hips. I also like the swishy-ness of the full skirt and I feel very Mad Men in this number.

The tights on the other hand, look whimsically lovely but are constricting as all heck. They have NO give at all. I wish I had read the reviews before purchasing them. I had to make like a kangaroo to get them on in the morning. The boyfriend thought I had lost it when he found me jumping around like a mad woman.  I was determined to get those dang things on, one way or the other. And I did.

Do you have a favorite work outfit that makes you feel pretty and professional? Do tell.

And guess what lovelies? The March Anthro catalogue is now online for your viewing pleasure. Yay!

Happy 1st of March! Only 19 more days until spring. That's even more reason to celebrate.

:)  D.

p.s.  Did you watch the Oscars? What was up with Anne Hathaway's seven dresses? Overall I didn't fancy any of her gowns much - with the exception of the cream-colored Givenchy Haute Couture gown.

These are the ladies that I think rocked the red carpet:

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Haute Couture. Effortless, elegant and modern.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab. Lovely lavender hue, lace and grosgrain ribbon detailing - what's not to like?

A glowing Natalie Portman in Rodarte. Deep saturated colour and a baby bump. Perfection.

Wouldn't it be fun to get all glammed & gussied up for a night (or two)? Sign me up! :)

Ciao for now!  I'll be back soon with another post.