Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out in blogging land.

A very special Mother's Day wish goes to my beautiful, wonderful, creative, talented, camera-happy mum. Thank YOU for all that you do.

I count my blessings everyday that YOU are my mum!

xo Kate

A Few Last Details...

New drapes from IKEA

Venetian mirror

French nest

Message Board

Ralph - I'm 25 and he still travels everywhere with me

I've had a busy couple of months, and thought I would drop a few lines from the nest...

The condo is starting to look more and more like "home" - I recently had all of my friends and family over for a housewarming and it was nice to show off the nest to everyone! I'm so happy with the way everything turned out, and couldn't possibly have finished it without my mum's decorating flair and dad's mastery of all things carpentry/plumbing/electrical - related.

All that is left now is the back splash - I'll post pictures in a few weeks of the finished product!

Happy Birthday, Mum

Beautiful sepia image from Dawn @ The Feathered Nest

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Happy 50th birthday, mum. Thank you for being not only my mother but my best friend, mentor, confidante, and partner in crime. I love you.

Love, Kate

Happy New Year!

Douggie

Angelo

It is hard to believe 2010 is already upon us. I began putting a few of the Christmas decorations away today, although I can't quite bring myself to take the ornaments off of the tree as of yet. I also thought it was necessary to dress the boys up in their Christmas costumes before they were packed away.

The Ginger Boys and I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings you all much love, laughter, happiness and inspiration.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

These are a few little gift baskets I put together for friends that I'll be handing out this weekend. One of my friends loves baking and cooking as much as I do, so I put together a retro-inspired basket to help get her started in the New Year. It is complete with bistro-style apron, cupcake liners, green melamine measuring cups, cute cardboard coasters, baking essentials (whisk, spatula), recipe cards and a retro canvas for her to hang up in her kitchen which I hope will bring her good luck while she bakes!

The other two baskets have the cutest little teapots inside - one with a funky 60's pattern on it, and the other with a blue bird - both are filled with herbal teas.

I was spoiled rotten this year...I guess I must have been on the 'good girl' list ;-)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that Santa brought you everything on your wish list!

'I'm a Flea Marketeer' Party

I recently visited one of my favourite blogs ~Flea Market Style~ and was thrilled to hear that the 'flea marketeers' were hosting their inaugural 'I'm a flea marketeer' party!

Being a huge fan of flea markets, antique shops and garage sales, I have acquired some beautiful junk over the last several years. So much 'junk' , in fact, that I was able to fully furnish the condo I recently bought this past Summer.

The cats and I are settling in to our new 'French Nest' quite nicely.

Here are a few sneak peaks of some treasures that have found their way into my nest ...

Happy Birthday Ginger Boys!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Douggie (GiGi) and Angelo (LouLou),

Happy Birthday to youuuuuuuuu.......

This past Monday my dear, sweet, ginger fur-babies celebrated their 3rd (Douggie) and 2nd (Angelo) birthdays, and they celebrated in style! Although I managed to sneak birthday crowns on both of them while they were sleeping, they both woke up just as I turned the camera on and immediately threw them off their heads in horror just at the thought that I would even THINK of putting such a girly item on their boyish frames! So, alas, I wasn't able to snap a picture of my adorable boys in their celebratory crowns. I don't blame them, really...all I had left to make the crowns out of was some leftover pink paper, lace and rhinestones...and boys are never thrilled at the idea of having to prance around on their birthdays in crowns for photo-ops.

I bought lots of their favourite treats, made them a scrumptious birthday dinner of grilled salmon and bought them a felt mouse that, upon pulling its tail, runs around the room, enticing the 'hunter' in my ginger babies.

At school, I feel like such a 'mom' - I brag about them, share stories about their antics, show off pics (I have the accordian-like wallet filled with their pictures)...I really am a proud 'mom'. I am so lucky to have these boys in my life!