Going Beyond Green with Reusable Bags

I was referred to the blog This Time is Now by Emma's Design Blogg, and what an amazing blog it is! One of the posts Transformed reminded me of a project that Commercial Drive does. Commercial Drive is a vibrant neighbourhood in Vancouver with great initiatives. There are street banners hanging from the lamp posts, which eventually get retired. However instead of throwing them out, they 'transform' them into reusable shopping bags.


Because the banners are always colourful and festive, the bags inevitably are bright and cheery. And if the colour doesn't cheer you up, then the thought that you are saving 1.77 tons of CO2 emissions a year, or that all the proceeds from the sale of these bags are re-invested into the community to build new green spaces might!

Baking Bonanza

As I posted before, while I was at home I did some baking... Here are some real - non -studio shots of what I made....
The back piece is that Ginger Almond Biscotti. On top of that are the Holiday Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachios. In the front are Peanut Butter Balls.

From the feedback from family and friends I here are my comments: The Ginger Almond Biscotti was easy to make and had a great aroma, however next time I would make sure to not bake them too long and probably make them for myself or some fall gathering - not Christmas.

The Holiday Biscotti with the Cranberries and Pistachios was a huge hit. I tried some before dipping them in the white chocolate and I thought they were pretty good, but after the white chocolate they were dynamite! They do take quite a while to make and a day between baking and dipping so they are a lot of work. I would also increase the pistachios and slightly decrease the cranberries.

The Peanut Butter Balls were the big winner. Tasty, easy to make and very holiday! I will probably double the recipe next year!

Easy Eco Mondays - Learn to be Green Gifts

Do you still have a few people that you still need to buy Christmas presents for? Why not an inspirational eco book. Pack it up with organic healthy baking, or some home-made cleaning supply and voila, an inexpensive eco present that will hopefully have a ripple effect... If you give this present to multiple friends in the same group, buy them all different books and then you can all share them!

Here are some books that sound good to me...

1. Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information Products and Service in Canada by Adria Vasil


2. David Suzuki's Green Guide by David Suzuki ad David R. Boyd


3. The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems by Van Jones and Ariane Conrad

4. 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating By Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon


5. True Green: 100 Everyday Ways You can Contribute to a Healthier Planet by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin

White Layer Cake

I haven't posted about weddings before, and I don't really spend much time dreaming about them. However this dress from Beka and Jesse's wedding that I found on The art of love just blew me away! I absolutely love the structured top, and the layers. It is romantic and flowy yet long and elegant. And the hem line at the bottom being just above the ground gives the dress a crisp and modern feel to it. I would buy that dress is a heartbeat if it was another colour!

I absolutely love her hair too! Can someone show me how to do a flowy up do?

All images are from The Art of Love

And check out how she altered the dress, with the sash and taking off many of the layers. I stand corrected, if this dress came in a different colour, i would buy it!

Via Snippet and Ink

100th Post!

Wow, this is my 100th post. I can't believe how fast it has gone by since my first post! Who would have thought that I had 100 things to post about? I must admit this has been a great outlet for me, even if no one ever reads this, it's the ability to express my creative thoughts is more than enough of a reason to keep on posting. I have found myself, several times, referring back to old posts, either laughing at them, agreeing with them, or even just reflecting on what I was feeling that day.

So what do the next 100 posts have in store? Well more of the same. I would like to incorporate more DIYs that I actually do, and a little more local content... Hopefully once my work term up here in the north is over (End of January) these things can come to fruition! But until then I will keep on cruising the web for inspiration!

What an inspiration board!

John Bessler via Desire to Inspire

Tableoration

I am still dreaming of wonderful winter parties...and the table settings....

Make it bold and original Laurence Pasquier

Do a casual breakfast buffet Jocelyne Beaudoin

Or keep it simple and modern. Adrian Briscoe

But nothing over the top.... not this year!

Holiday Helpings

I'm back at work, so my holiday party season has come to and end, but that doesn't mean I can't dream... dream that in the next two weeks I will be attending some fun and festive parties, and maybe even putting on one of my own!

If I was throwing a holiday party this year I would pull some decorating inspiration from Chris Everard.....

I love the use of gold here...

And this girl is so precious!

Sugar Rush

Tim Evan-Cook

I parted with my Christmas baking this past weekend, and now I hope my friends are enjoying it this much!

Biscotti

I am so lucky that I have been able to do some Christmas baking this season (ah the joys of having days off!) This year I concentrated on Biscotti - I made two different kinds: Holiday Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachios and Ginger Almond Biscotti. I am totally in love with the Holiday Biscotti, although it was a lot more work than the Ginger one. Our apartment smelt like wonderful ginger for several days. It was so festive! (And perfect for that cup of tea I have been craving these days!)

Epicurious

You're Looking a Little Green...

Jennifer Ward via Design Sponge

I am feeling a bit under the weather but have a really busy day, so I'll be dreaming of bedrooms like this while I run around town getting errands done! This bedroom has all the elements I am lusting for: The art on top of the bed is so striking (and re purposed), the bedspread is simple yet interesting, I have been pining for a globe and a mannequin for ages and the chandelier is totally awesome and unexpected! Now, if I can just reproduce some of these elements in my room!

Black at it in the bedroom

I spent some time decorating my bedroom today - it's actually (and finally) starting to come along! My decorating spurt was inspired by this image, which I just came across in the depths of my computer memory.  I can't tell you where it is from, I just know that it's inspiring me today!

Using The Oven As My Heater

As Apartment#34 stated almost two weeks ago, fall (and winter now!) is a great time for cooking and baking. Here is where I would like to spend now that I have a few days off....

Country Living

Making things like this... (both the flower arrangement and the pie!)

Having time for some tea and finding inspiration with seasonal fruit.

Both of the above are from Keller and Keller

Changing Angles

I've become soft. This whole Christmas season all I have wanted to do is look at warm, cozy images. Everyday I ask myself if today will be the day I can curl up beside the fireplace and read my book with a tea in hand and some homemade cookies not too far away.... definitely not my usual character, especially since I don't even have a fireplace!

So, I was ecstatic when I came across these photographs by Adrian Briscoe. They are beautiful, crisp, sharp and clean! (And the white kind of makes me think winter....)

I just love the paper airplanes, a great mix of child, crisp, fun and engineering (however small!) What would you do if you had to decorate with paper airplanes?

Winter Clothing

To follow up yesterday's post I thought I would show some street style images from Stockholm, a place that is getting equally as cold as us! (all images from Stockholm Street Style)

The bigger the scarf the better...

They love their fur! I hope it is faux...

How lovely!

And for those of us where winter equals rain....

Winter warmer

Since it is the first day of December (and World Aids Day) I thought I would share some warm cozy images with you from Living Etc! Snuggle up friends - It's going to get chilly!

Now all I need is a cup of tea and a good book!