A Fancy Fine Bedroom

duvet_03The home of Ashley Ording has always been of great inspiration to me. Not only is she an amazing fashion stylist – both personally and professionally – she also has an incredible interior design eye. Ryan and I have been doing a spring clean and reorganizing our apartment, so I’ve been spying homes that make my mouth water with interior styling delight. If you are ever in need of colourful and quirky inspiration for your home, Ashley is the girl to look to. While her walls and majority of furniture in her bedroom may be white, the pops of colour paired with interesting furniture and playful decorative pieces make for a clean, aesthetically pleasing home that has a ton of character. You just know when looking at this bedroom that a boring gal liveth not here.

*all photos taken from Ashley’s blog, Fancy Fine.duvet_01duvet_02duvet_08duvet_04duvet_06If you want to see more interiors that have been catching my eye, you can follow me on pinterest.

Haul / Beauty & Housewares

Maybe it’s the refreshing feeling Spring brings, but I’ve been on a bit of a beauty/houseware kick lately. It seems I am getting more excited about buying makeup and skin/hair care products rather than clothes, and organizing/cleaning my home and welcoming cute wares into our abode. So I thought I’d share a few things I picked up recently.
I recently picked up Kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado from the Kiehl’s store in Yorkdale Mall (a big ol’ mall in Toronto). I have a tough time justifying a more expensive purchase for a skincare product if I haven’t heard a recommendation or haven’t tried it myself (ie, a sample), but I had heard some good things about this eye cream, and I was looking for an under eye treatment product, so I picked this up and I love it. It may be a little pricey, but it will last a long while, so, well worth the money in the end. I’ve only been using it a few days now, so I don’t have much to report, but I do love using it as a morning product. The avocado sort of helps wake me up, and it’s a nice base for my under eye concealer.
Value Village is one of my favourite places to find houseware goodies. Sometimes there is absolute shit, and other times there are some real gems. This time I found some gems in the way of 4 little colourful bowls and this adorable teapot/kettle hybrid. I actually don’t know what it is (which is embarassing), the wooden handle confuses me. I originally thought it was a kettle, but then when I got home I thought maybe it’s a teapot. To be honest, it’s making me feel like an idiot that I don’t know what it is. Someone, if you know, please enlighten me! LOLA new makeup bag!! I had been using the same disgusting (read: old) makeup bag for quite a long while. So while I was waiting for a prescription at the drug store to be ready, I walked over to H&M for a wee browse. Now I don’t really like many of the clothes in H&M, at least, not the way I used to, but I do get quite excited about their accessories and this makeup bag immediately caught my eye because of, you guessed it, pink! There isn’t much to it, just a zipper and the inside, but it’s pink, it’s clean and it’s new, so I’m a happy camper.
While Ryan and I were in Yorkdale Mall, we also headed into Bath and Body Works to pick up some wallflower fragrances because our home was starting to smell of big stinky dog breath (ie, Beans). Bath and Body Works is a dangerous place for me – scents and candles everywhere! This body wash/bath foam immediately caught my eye. I swear, anything that says stress relief I’m like a moth to a flame. If you know me on a personal level, then you know how stressed out I can become (I sometimes talk about it on here), so anything that says it will help with stress, even if it is a stupid gimmick, I’m usually intrigued by. This body wash is with eucalyptus and spearmint, which sounds like soothing properties. I’ve used it a few times now and so has Ryan, and we both quite like it.You might be shocked to know that I really don’t use any products in my hair, like at all. I shampoo and condition, and that’s it. But when I was in MTL, Kristen had the Fructis Marvelous Oil in her cabinet, so after I washed my hair I gave it a go and the silky difference in my hair was so apparent I knew when I got back to Toronto I had to buy it. And buy it I did. I also picked up Fructis Triple Nutrition Double Care which I spray on my hair while it’s damp and it helps with tangles. The downside to having long hair is it tangles so easily, like dreadlocks style. I’m loving both these products. The oil helps my hair dry faster and leaves it feeling silky and the spray helps to make brushing my hair a less painful experience.
Candles!! Bath and Body Works has amazing smelling candles. I really like the Lemon Mint Leaf one and Ryan liked the Eucalyptus Mint, so I got one of each.There is a vintage/antique shop called Ransack The Universe really close to our home, and the last few weekends we have walked passed it on our way to get donuts and coffee from TBC Vegan Bakery. They usually have some furniture strategically placed outside on the sidewalk so as to force you to look at all the neat stuff they have without even having to go inside. Well, each time I walked passed I noticed a little light blush pink end table that so perfectly matched the colour of my kitchen table. So after about the 4th time of seeing it, I finally gave in and headed to the shop on Monday to see if it was still for sale. And now here it is, looking lovely as ever in my livingroom. I’m especially excited about it because our livingroom is very “Ryan”, which is fine, but it’s nice having some girlyness added to it.
I actually picked up this perfume oil while I was in MTL 3 weeks ago. My usual scent is Daisy by Marc Jacobs, but I ran out of it and I’m looking to get a Chloe perfume next, but when Kristen and I were browsing a shop (which I can’t remember the name of now) we found these perfume oils by Dot & Lil and I fell in love with the vanilla scent. I’ve never used a perfume oil before, but I quite like it. It seems longer lasting and I can also get whiffs of myself throughout the day, which I like. It’s also an added bonus that this perfume oil can be used in a diffuser in the home, so you could also have your home smelling of delicious vanilla – double whammy of goodness.

Home Sweet Home / The Spences

DSC_4279As I mentioned in a previous post, my parent’s have been redecorating their home for the last several months. Their shared love for antiques and vintage has created an almost entirely different looking home than the one I grew up in. I couldn’t really get down with that home, but I’m definitely down with this one. In the early days of this blog I photographed some friends homes (and this one), but sort of got lazy at continuing that series, but I’d like to bring it back. So here is my parents home, filled with antique wood, amish tools, tea pots, collectibles, antique crocks and more – it distinctly reminds me of an old country home, which I do hope one day they are able to actually have a country home, something they have desired for awhile now.

DSC_4283DSC_4285DSC_4287DSC_4288DSC_4290DSC_4293DSC_4294DSC_4297DSC_4298DSC_4306DSC_4309DSC_4311DSC_4315DSC_4318DSC_4319DSC_4324DSC_4326DSC_4329DSC_4333DSC_4337DSC_4339DSC_4343DSC_4347DSC_4348DSC_4350DSC_4353DSC_4368DSC_4365DSC_4358DSC_4360*dont forget to enter my giveaway with Ellen Face Vintage!

Two Thousand & Thirteen

Since I shared some of my favorite outfits from 2013, it got me thinking about sharing some moments from the year that I previously shared on here. So here goes. 2013, you had some cool times.

024_24Meaghan and I started Larkspur. While we no longer work together, I could not have started Larkspur without her. She taught me a lot and she’ll always be a part of it in my heart.

0x700 (1) 0x700 (2) 0x700larkspur-9241Kira shot Larkspur’s very first lookbook. We had been bouncing back and forth between ideas for a theme, when the lovely Kira came up with the idea of having a shoot inspired by Wes Anderson films passed. It was such a fun day, modelling with three of my very best friends.

wimberley1wimberley10I was lucky enough to be given a trip to Austin, Tx as a Christmas gift. We rang in the New Year listening to country music, drinking $2 beers and hearing people actually yell “Yeehaw!” Such a magical city, full of amazing people.

kiraDSC_0632I shot photos of my best friends beautiful apartments. It was fun to play around with my camera, and also get to share how amazing my friends are. Still to this day they are two of my most popular posts.

DSC_0016Spent the summer outdoors with dogs and dear friends (and these two got married! The Cronins!)

DSC_0447DSC_0420-1Larkspur participated in our very first Pop-up shop in Mtl, hosted by Penny Lebo. It was such a beautiful and fun day.

0x700 (4) 0x700 (3)Kira shot our second lookbook in Niagara Falls. The day started off pouring rain, so our original plan of heading to the Scarborough Bluffs got kiboshed. Once again, Kira saved the day and we headed to Niagara Falls, the sun came out, and it was the most spontaneous & fun photoshoot. We pulled over wherever we saw something cool and just let the road trip vibes take over.

DSC_0043I spent my birthday swimming (and getting sunburnt) at Elora Gorge with some beautiful pals. We finished the evening off with some beers and a bonfire at Garbage Beach. I felt so full of love and happiness that day.

DSC_0564DSC_0648DSC_0655DSC_0745DSC_0665wg6s29s10Matt and I went on many camping trips in the summer. We visited the Bruce Peninsula, The Grotto, Greig’s Caves, NY State, Tobermory, Flower Pot Island, to name a few. I saw and got to hike in so many beautiful places. I realized just how much I love hiking, and don’t think I could go a summer without it from here on out. It’s my happy place.

DSC_0794Did my first solo pop-up shop with Larkspur at the Parkdale Flea. It was pretty stressful since it was so last minute, but totally worth it.

PK19pent15I was given my dream camera, Pentax K1000, as a birthday gift. I made pretty good use of it during some of my trips, and planned a couple fun photo shoots. It was so nice to finally work with analog again, digital just cannot compare.

DSC_0786DSC_0743I went to visit Farm Sanctuary, which was such an amazing experience. This place holds such a dear spot in my heart. I went on and on about it in my post on this place, so I won’t do that again (you’re welcome.)

F1000016Annual Niagara Falls visit. I don’t know what it is about this place. Probably just that it’s ridiculously kitschy and makes me smile.

s34Spent some wonderful days at a cottage celebrating Lindsay’s birthday with some great friends. The weather wasn’t exactly choice, but we made the most of it.

DSC_0807DSC_0795I shot some photos at Coriander Girl, which I ended up being pretty proud of. This remains one of my favorite posts I put together this past year.

DSC_0150Adopted my sweet little girl Gertrude aka Gertie aka Trudy aka Rude Trude.

DSC_0342Moved into a place I can finally call home (well it’s actually been 2 years, but 1 year in this particular apartment). The Everglades, forever and always (okay maybe not for always).

Home Sweet Home / Lindsay

DSC_0632

I have always loved Lindsay and Duncan’s apartment. It feels like you walked into an eccentric grandmother’s home, full of unique antique and found objects. It’s cluttered in the most organized way, which I think very few people know how to pull off. It has almost an eerie feel to it, what with animal skulls and even a scythe (!!!), while also being a place where you can curl up under a blanket and feel at home. With every turn of your head there is something fun to look at, which I think really represents these two. I’m telling you, these two have an eye for finding the best things and decorating in a way that cannot be taught.

lindsdunx2lindsdunx3lindsdunx4lindsdunx5lindsdunx6lindsdunx7lindsdunx8lindsdunx9lindsdunx10lindsdunx11lindsdunx12lindsdunx13lindsdunx14lindsdunx15lindsdunx16lindsdunx17lindsdunx18lindsdunx19lindsdunx20lindsdunx21lindsdunx22lindsdunx23lindsdunx24lindsdunx26lindsdunx25lindsdunx27Thanks to Lindsay, Duncan, Oliver and Rollins for sharing their home with us!

Posted and photos by: Alex