Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Gift Guide ~ Uncommon Goods.

It's that time of year again! Christmas was a month from yesterday, which means if you haven't already, it's time to start making your gift lists and shopping for those special people in your life. It still seems so far away but I'm sure I'll be decking the halls before I know it, so I want to get going on my shopping so I can sit back and enjoy it all!

If you're like me, you want to find gifts that are fun and unique. The kind of gifts that make giving so much fun! The last couple of years, I've done a lot of my shopping online and this year is no exception. You can take your time and scour the web all in the comfort of your own home.

The holiday gift guide from Uncommon Goods has all kids of great ideas for everyone on your list. Here are some of my favorites!

Every little one needs a cozy pair of slippers to wear on Christmas morning! 
These adorable handmade wool shark slippers would make anyone giggle.



I have a thing for flavor infused water lately. Have you tried cucumber? So refreshing!
This water bottle would be great for those on the go.


A one of a kind Kantha blanket is such a special gift. 
I can think of many women in my life who would love to have one and would appreciate the workmanship.


I gave my sister one of these scratch maps last year. 
Fun for anyone who loves to travel and wants a stylish way to keep track of their adventures.


It's no secret that I have an affinity for using ceramic animal heads in my decor. These modern cardboard ones are an affordable option and would be perfect in a kid space.
I think I may need the moose one in my classroom!



A popular and always welcome gift are scarves and mitt sets. 
This Deer to be Different set made with recycled cotton is sure to warm up someone's holiday.


Traditional toys and games for kids that encourage creativity are always winners in my books.
The Make Your Own Family craft kit is sure to keep the little ones busy on Christmas day.


Check out the rest of the Uncommon Goods holiday gift list here. You're sure to find something for someone on your wish list. And yes, they do ship to Canada!

Disclaimer: I was compensated by Uncommon Goods but the opinions are all my own.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Weekend Getaway.

Today is a Professional Development Day for teachers so I'm heading out to spend the day learning how to maximize the use of my Interactive Smart Board. I'm seriously thrilled. After interviews and report cards and a demolished bathroom, it will be nice to take a bit of a breather today to learn and interact with other teachers.


After that, Stephane and I are off to Halifax on a little weekend getaway! We've booked our hotel downtown and have chosen a couple of restaurants but the rest of our time we plan to stroll around, drink good coffee, do a little Christmas shopping and mostly have no plan at all. I can't wait.


To be honest, I'm really looking forward to having a good shower! Being away from our partially demolished bathroom for two whole days will be a bit of an escape itself! I'm also thinking that being in the stores will put me in the holiday spirit! Everyone else is thinking about Christmas decor and I've got bathrooms on the brain!

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Demolition & Inspiration.

Thanks for your comments yesterday on the reveal of our one lone bathroom and the good news that it's finally going to be renovated! Many of you swear that you have a bathroom that rivals mine on the ugly scale and I'm sure there is lots of doozies out there! Feel free to send along photos.. I'd love to see them!

I neglected to mention the fact that this is going to be complete diy project by us (Except possibly tiling. We'll decide when we get there). And by us, I mean Steph does most of the work and I pick out all the finishes. Kidding.. actually, I've been pulling my weight! Going up and down the stairs with 10 gallon buckets full of debris and out to the dumpster has to count for something, right?

We still have a toilet!


We are currently still in the demolition phase and have come across lots things that leave us scratching our heads. Pink plaster with a carved brick pattern? A random pipe jutting out of the wall behind a piece of trim? A box that looks to have been a recessed medicine cabinet.. for someone 7 ft tall? A big hole in the floor under the tub? And the list goes on..



The fun part for me is going to be picking out all the finishes and fixtures. I've pinned a lot of photos on my Pinterest board of bathrooms that I find inspiring for one reason or another but I have yet to make many decisions.

Here is what we know for sure:

  • We have to put in a tub/shower combination. There is no other option considering resale of a home with one washroom. There certainly isn't enough room to do both separately.
  • I really want a rain head and a handheld. Lindsay's post leaves me hoping I can have both..
  • Choosing the right tub was important to me. While it's not set in stone, this is the one we're going with. I love the modern flat apron and square inset. 

What we don't know is:

  • Can we change the footprint? Crossing our fingers on this one and won't really know until the demo is finished and we see what we are dealing with.
  • Should we do a glass door instead of a shower curtain?
  • What are we using for tile? I'll all over the place on this one.
  • How on earth are we going to add storage in that tiny space?
  • Will I have to go with a pedestal due to space restrictions? I'm not a fan.
So many decisions to make! In one sense, it makes my head spin but in other ways I very excited for the challenge! For now, I'll leave you with some of my favorite bathroom renovations from some of my very favorite bloggers. Keeps my eye on the prize:)




Aren't they beautiful? So inspiring!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

My Dirty Little Secret.

Did that title get your attention? Almost sounds like I have some juicy gossip news to share with you. It's not really that juicy..

Dirty? ok, yes.... Little? definitely yes. Juicy? Not so much.

It's actually a little detail that I've neglected to mention on many occasions, in the last few years since I've started this blog. Something that I like to call:

The tiniest, ugliest bathroom in Canada.

No joke. I beg you to find a worse one. Seriously, I dare you to even try.

I've shared the humble beginnings of each room and their transformations over the years but somehow always managed to leave out the bathroom. It seemed easier to forget that tiny space that burned me eyes every time I entered. Over dramatic? Maybe, but just wait. You haven't seen it yet.

Before I share the before photos, here are a few last thoughts.

  • There is only one bathroom in this house. It's crazy tiny (6 X 7) and there is absolutely no borrowing space from somewhere else. We've looked at every angle and alternative. Our reality is simply making the most of the space we have currently.
  • Since there is only one bathroom, renovation means bathing elsewhere. Hi Mom and Dad!
  • I used to clean it a lot. I felt that at least if it was clean, it wasn't so bad. That got old fairly fast. Cleaning a bathroom isn't fun on the best of days. Cleaning the ugliest one in Canada? Enough said. (embarrassing) I can't wait to clean a new one. I wonder how long that will last?
  • I used to secretly pray that when people came to visit they wouldn't need to use the washroom. If by chance they had to go, I'd offer a million apologies before they entered. If they didn't go, I bid them farewell, grinning over my stroke of luck!
  • Our toilet runs, occasionally. Seems to happen in the middle of the night, just after you've gone back to your cozy bed, only to have to get up and flick the handle. 
  • When I sit on the toilet, my knees almost touch the tub. Enough said. Thank goodness we aren't particularly tall.
  • Steph loves taking baths. I really don't know how he does it. 

So... Are you ready? 

I actually can't even believe I'm putting this on the I.n.t.e.r.n.e.t! And if you can believe it, it's actually worse in real life.. what do they say? Pictures don't do justice. This is very true in this case.

Here is when I moved in.  Look at that marble!.. I actually don't even know what it's called, except that it's glued to the plaster. In other words, total mess to remove.

I made very few updates other than replacing the window, adding a roman shade and painting the door. 
As you can see, the holy sh*t handles stayed.

Makeshift rough wood shelving. I also never got around to painting the trim around the new window. oops.

You have to love that light box above the window and the toothbrush holder!

The ceiling is the most embarrassing part. I cleaned it with bleach from time to time but the peeling paint and mildew kept coming back. Gross.


More gross ceiling.

Rusty rad. It has to go.

Before you call me crazy for having lived with that hideous space for five years now (five years!), hear me out.

  • I had originally planned to renovate right away when I moved in. I ended up tweaking the budget allocation a bit and putting in new windows instead. In retrospect, a good decision. This house is cozy warm and I love having new windows.. that actually open! I also had no idea, at that point in home ownership, what kind of finishes I wanted in a bathroom. I feel much more prepared now. Thank you Pinterest!
  • When you only have the one bathroom, renovating it will temporarily turn your life upside down. I wasn't ready for the inconvenience.
  • Bathrooms are expensive!

So all this to say, it's finally official! Operation #ugliestbathroomreno has started! The dumpster arrived on Monday, Steph is in demolition mode and for now, I'm frantically running around trying to keep the dust at bay. We currently still have a tub, so we can take baths but are brushing our teeth at the kitchen sink. Oh, the joys!

I've been looking forward to this for a long time and I must say, I cannot wait to have a relaxing bath in my new tub. By the looks of things, that could be a little ways off but the thought is keeping me going.

I'll be posting updates along the way here and on Instagram. Follow along, if you like!

Monday, November 18, 2013

A New Project!


Today was an exciting day at our house! This big dumpster was dropped off for our next project. 
If you follow me on Instagram, you may already have an idea what we are up to!

I'll be back soon to share the dirty little secret I've been keeping for the last five years. 

If I don't chicken out between now and then... It's really pretty embarrassing.

:)

Friday, November 15, 2013

Weekend Links.


This little guy pulls his bed in front of the cast iron rads and snoozes the day away. What a life! I'm so happy it's Friday. Looking forward to a quiet weekend finishing up of my report cards and doing some yard work. 

Here are some of my favorite links of the week!


  • I wish I had read this when I was 20. 
  • Looking forward to filling my home with one of these natural gorgeous scents.
  • Speaking of scents. You must by this candle. It's Christmas in a jar.
  • A fun, unique idea to add to your Christmas decorating.
  • Love this DIY gold leaf garland. 
  • I'm thinking of ordering these boots after an exhaustive search for the "perfect pair". Any Canadians have experience ordering from Madewell?
  • I haven't stopped thinking about Danielle and Buddy all week. Keep little Buddy in your thoughts.

Happy weekend everyone! Anyone doing any Christmas preparations? Seems early but it will be here before we know it!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

My Home Tour on Danielle Oakey Interiors.

I'm thrilled to have my home tour featured, along with a short q & a, over at Danielle Oakey Interiors today. 

She's one of my favorites so it's a true pleasure!



Click here to head on over to Danielle's blog and see the feature. While you're there be sure to check out the other 3 tours she featured this week. Two of them are the homes of fellow Canadian bloggers and the other is a new one to me that I'm thrilled to have found!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Shelf Re-styling.

This weekend, I gave my kitchen a good clean and decided it was time to restyle the floating shelves above the island. I like the arrangement that was there but it all needed to come off so that I could wipe down the shelves and what's the fun in putting everything back in the same place?


That's the only photo I could find that showed how the shelves were styled before. Simple but in true Jane fashion, I crammed a lot of stuff on those shelves, which made it heavy! I sometimes worried it would all come crashing down.

I started with blank slate. Those who follow me on Instagram would have seen this photo.



And arrived at this shortly after.


It ended up being a mix of blue and white. Completely unintentional but I'm not complaining. They do seem to be a common theme for me, without even realizing it.


I love my golden owls but I also can't wait to put them away and add a little bit of Christmas decor into the mix. As a rule, I don't generally put up any decorations until after Remembrance Day. Now that that day is gone, I'll still wait a little longer. I think I'll start seeing what I have after I submit my report cards next week!


Not only does it feel a little more simple, it's also more practical since we actually use the items on the first shelf rather than simply using it as display. Now what other shelves can I restyle?

Sources:
white canisters and teapot ~ PC Home
blue glasses ~ Ikea
Blue jay print ~ custom watercolor by Eastwitching
bowls, plate, jug and golden owls ~ Home Sense/Winners

Thank you to those who took the time to read my post about my grandmother this weekend. She was quite special to me!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

My Lil' Gram.

Today, were my grandmother still with us, she would be 100 years old. We celebrated her birthday last year when she turned 99 as she began her 100th year of life. A couple of months later she passed away, peacefully, surrounded by her 14 children who sang to her, held her hands and whispered loving words.

Imagine living a hundred years! The things you must learn, see, experience! I`ve always considered it a gift to be able to spend time with someone who has so much time to live and to love. We have so much to learn from them.


I know that most everyone has a special fondness for their grandparents and I would be no exception. Although she had 14 children, 58 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, she had more than enough room in her heart for all of us and for everyone else in between. When you were the lucky one to sit and chat with her, she would squeeze your hands, look into your eyes and hang onto every word that left your lips. You felt as though, you at that moment, were her favorite. The most important, the most loved. It was her special gift.

Over the years, my dad and his brothers and sisters have shared many photos and things that she wrote throughout her life. This piece remains my favorite. Although it is her reflection on old age (at the age of 92), I feel there is something to learn from it for all of us. I believe she wouldn't mind me sharing some of her wisdom with you.
_____________________________________

Old age - I’ve decided is a gift. I am now at a time in my life when I can really feel God watching over me. My body, I despair of: the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, the sagging breasts-what an old lady lives in that mirror! But I would never trade any of these aging negatives for such a wonderful family I have, good neighbors and friends-a wonderful life!

I’ve become more kind to myself, less critical of myself. I’ve become my own best friend. I don’t scold myself for eating that extra chocolate or cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly gizmo that someone has later to unclutter me of-I am entitled to overeat, to undereat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon before they were able to enjoy the freedom that comes with age.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play solitaire until 4 am-and then sleep till noon? Sometimes, when I need the exercise and fun, I will dance around the house to the music of Angele Arsenault and shout her words of song, even if Romeo (her son who lived next door) may, by chance, hear me. 

Sure, over the years my heart has often been broken - how can your heart not be torn to pieces when you lose a loved one to the Lord, one time or another, when a very close relative or friend becomes very ill, when you are desperately lonely for a dear one? Even when a dear pet gets run over by a car, and another just fades away on your living room couch. But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn grey/white and my wrinkles show. I have both laughed and cried. I have also had the opportunity to walk, to dance, to swim, to ride a bicycle, a car, a 4 wheeler. Above all, I’ve been able to pray to God for myself and for each one of you and or all whom we wished were with us and for all who are hurting in this turbulent world. 

So-I love being 92 years old-and while I’m still here, I’m enjoying my little Heaven here in Souris. And I pray that you will all reach Old Age and have your own little Heaven wherever you are. 


My grandmother, Clarisse Gallant, sitting on her mother's knee almost a century ago.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Wrapping Up the House Tour.

Are you tired of seeing my home tour yet? I've shared the kitchen, dining room, living room, hallways and master bedroom. I also shared some before photos that I honestly can't stop looking at. I'm so glad I was able to see the potential when I bought my home but holy moly it looks so incredibly different now!

I've updated the house tour page of my blog with link to each individual post if you wish to see them all at once. That is, if you aren't sick of it yet! Time to get on to some new projects Modern Jane!

In all the photos that were shown, a few from the photoshoot got left out so I'm sharing what's left here today.


Beaufie sneaking into a shot. Poor thing was a big of a wreck that day. We also did our engagement photos and made him take part. Too much in one day for this little guy!


I swear that matching purse and pillow weren't intentional!


Why didn't I unplug that cord? So annoying..



These photos are of our cozy little den that is decorated with a mishmash of things that get dumped there from around the house. We recently moved our living room light into that room and it feels extra cozy now and I keep saying I'm going to hang out in there more often. 


I keep my parent's wedding picture tucked in my bedroom mirror. Rachel thought it was sweet and snapped a photo. Love my mom's cat glasses! Meow:)

Speaking of my mom, tomorrow her and I are off to see Jian Ghomeshi and a dinner out! So looking forward to spending the evening with her.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Our Engagement Photos.

Yesterday Steph surprised me with the sweetest pair of earrings, informing me that it had been six years since we met. I'm terrible with dates and it hadn't even crossed my mind, which makes me love that he remembered even more!

This leads me to my next point! I haven't shared our engagement photos with my readers. They were taken in our backyard this summer by friend Rachel Peters. I don't love having my picture taken (who does?) but I can't think of anything that makes Steph more uncomfortable than a camera. Rachel was so relaxed and within minutes she had him loosened up. Thank goodness.


 

Rachel encouraged Steph to take out his motorcycle which I think was all part of her master plan to get him on board.. :) We got a few fun shots on the bike but more importantly wasn't the light just perfect?

 

I think we can go as far as to say that Beaufort was not pleased to be part of our photos. He looks clean terrified in each one. However, he humored us and we got a few cute ones with him!


He's seriously cute. And scared:)



There are a pile more but those were our favorites! Such a nice memento to have. If you are looking for a photographer, she's your girl!