Black & White

 oh yea, hi! It's been awhile. No excuses, just pure laziness. And busyness I guess.

My favorite part of the year is coming to an end. Oh, how I will miss summer.  And wearing dresses and not having to deal with wearing tights and heavy winter jackets. No matter how hard I try, I can not for the life of me find a happy medium between stylish and warm winter clothing. I much rather wear dresses, but as the temperatures get cooler I find the need to cave in and wear pants and tops. Of course, I always find I don't have enough items in this department so I did an little bit of online window shopping this morning at F21 Canada. Apparently, I am liking black and white this season.

xo,

melissa

the IKEA hack continues...

As I mentioned in my last post about my couch I love mid-century furniture but my budget does not allow me to buy a new couch in that style.  The ones I have seen are somewhere in the 1799$ and up range.  Enter the IKEA hack! I purchased this inexpensive couch from IKEA in January and so far it's working out great.  Of course it's not as comfortable as my previously overstuffed-styled couch, but I love this one much more! Especially now that I swapped out the chunky, light coloured legs for sleeker mid-century ones that I had custom made from a wood-worker in the United States.  It's a small change, but I think it made such a huge difference in the look of the couch.  Next up is tufting the back cushions, unfortunately I am having a hard time getting my hands on some pillow covers in the same material to cover buttons.  Soon, I hope! 

Couch: Ikea Karlstad Pillows: Walmart Legs: Uncle Bobs Workshop

xo,

melissa

brighter is better...

 (sorry for the poor quality of these iPhone photos!)

I'm finally getting around to posting the changes that I made to my kitchen and dining room.  Not a huge change, as it was just a new paint color, but man did it ever make a difference!!

I went back and forth with colors for this room.  White wasn't my first choice and I struggled with making the leap but I am so glad that I did.  The white on white on white just makes it so much more fresh and bright! I can not believe that I lived with that horrible yellow/tan color for as long as I have.

 The dining room is looking pretty plain thus far, I have my eyes peeled for some artwork, or maybe a collection for the wall opposite of my buffet/bar.

I can't decide which room I should paint next..sunroom, bedroom or bathroom! So many more improvements to make!

happy friday!

xo,

melissa

a fun birthday wishlist...

This Bernie Dexter Dress

So, tomorrow I begin another year in my thirties...hitting the big 33.  I'm pretty excited about it! I have a lot of challenges in my 30's thus far, but I've had a lot of fun too along the way.  

This birthday wish list is really for no one outside of my own entertainment but it's some fun things that I have been loving lately and wanted to share!

Two-tone watch from Kate Spade

 This totally fun toilet tissue roll holder!

 Ben Howard's latest album on vinyl.  I've been obsessed with this one since I saw him perform live last summer.

 Utterly obsessed with this black and white beauty.

 Love these hanging geometric shapes and totally want them in my bedroom

 Would love to have this clock in my dining room.

 This duvet cover set that I've almost purchased at least five times...

 This oh-so-yummy Chloe perfume

 I've been loving midi rings lately and would love to have this cutie!

 This lovely bernie dexter dress! Eeek! So pretty!

 This chair that I've been lusting over FOREVER...and I think it would go fantastically with my new makeup table!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xo,

melissa

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New couch phase one...

Ikea Karlstad Sofa

When I moved from my old house to my new house I did not take a lot of furniture with me. Instead, I've been picking up pieces here and there.  Mostly second hand finds aside from a few new things like the lamps in my living room and now this new sofa.  I have been searching for a long time (as Jana can attest to) for a new sofa that was within my budget yet fit my style.  As you already might know, anything that has a mid-century modern styling (new or old) can be pricy.  Enter IKEA, known for it's streamlined, budget friendly furniture.  Somewhere in cyber space I found this couch from IKEA that a few people have 'hacked' to make it look even more like a mid-century modern piece. 

This Karlstad sofa hack from My So-Called Handmade Life is my inspiration for my sofa.

I already ordered the custom, tapered legs from Uncle Bob's workshop (in Early American stain) and they should arrive in mid-February.  Next up with be attempting some faux tufted buttons for the back cushions.  But first I need IKEA to get the Karlstad pillow cover back in stock so I can use the fabric to cover the buttons. 

Hopefully this all goes to plan and I will have a semi-custom mid-century piece at a fraction of the cost of any of the ones that I have been drooling over online.

In the meantime, I think it looks great as is!

Ps. IKEA online shopping tip: IKEA will ship anywhere in Canada or the US (the closest one is about eight hours from me), but the shipping can be pricy.  I think the standard truck delivery rate for my area was 129$.  It's definitely worth the wait to order a few things at once so you can save on shipping.  I also ordered a makeup vanity that I will blog about later.

xo,

melissa

Fooooooooooooood!!

I love to cook, and I defnitely do not get to cook as much as I would like to.  Most of my meals are quick dinners because I find it so rushed after work as we only get home at 5 pm and Avery goes to bed at 7 pm. Rush Rush!!  I also don't really follow recipes.  I find inspiration or think of things that I would like to put together and basically just make it up as I go along and do everything to taste. 

Above is chicken skillet supper.  Whole Grain Rice, diced chicken breast, corn niblets, salsa, a variety of veggies, topped with cheese and finished off in a skillet in the oven.

 Maple Glazed Salmon with whole grain rice and asparagus.  The glaze is soy sauce, minced garlic and maple syrup.

 Jalapeno burger in a lettuce wrap.  Added jalapenos (de-seeded) to ground beef along with onion powder and garlic salt. SO SPICY! I want to try a turkey burger version of this.

 Sweet Chili Shrimp and veggies over rice noodles.  I sauteed up a variety of veggies and shrimp and then added steamed broccoli.  Cooked rice noodles according to package instructions and then added to skillet to warm up.  Add to bowl and tops with sweet chili sauce.

 My made up version of fish tacos.  Baked sole with a sprinkle of salmon seasoning in a whole grain tortilla, broccoli slaw, a squeeze of lime juice and a small dash of sriracha sauce.  Side garden salad with homemade dressing (fig & date balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, olive oil and lime juice).

Those are a few yummies that I have been enjoying lately!

happy hump day!

xo,

melissa

Newest Challenge...

 

My resolution in 2013 was to lose the fifteen pounds that I gained in 2012.  So, yea, I suck at resolutions and that didn't happen.

I didn't reach my goal of losing fifteen pounds.  I did well for awhile and dropped ten pounds.  Over the summer I was carefree lazy and gained back about five pounds.  I'm awesome at gaining and losing five pounds over and over again.  Anyone else see a pattern here?

From October to December I completed Shaun T's Insanity program. Which was exactly as described.  INSANE. I loved it, I hated it.  I laughed, I celebrated and I cried before, during and after most workouts.  It was HARD.  I still can't believe that I actually completed it.  And not to be totally unmotivating, but I feel scarred for life now.  Hahaha...If someone mentions a PLYO movement I flinch!! Okay, maybe not that bad.  I did purchase the second part to Insanity (The Asylum) but I am not quite ready to take that plunge just yet.  While I didn't lose many pounds on the program, I did shred a lot of inches! I saw lot of changes in my body that I haven't seen with any other fitness or workout activity that I tackled before.

Yesterday, I started Beach Body's newest program P90X3, and I'm pretty excited to take this 90-Day Challenge.  I'm already loving the variety of workouts.  Within the 90-Days you get a huge variety of resistance workouts, power workouts, cardio workouts and core/flexibility and balance workouts.  All within a 30-35 minute workout.  It so much more doable and a hell of a lot less daunting than waking up at 4:30-5 am to face INSANE cardio.  I am really looking forward to the next 88-days and seeing my physique improve!

I love how Beach Body gives you an absolute money back guarantee, but if you stick with the program you are absolutely going to see results! All it takes is you: If you can make that committment you can do anything.  I'm not just saying that to motivate you, but also to motivate myself.  When I slack off, I regress and backtrack.  Moving forward is the only way to go!

Thanks for helping me be accountable!!

(a few progress pics)

PS: if you would like to me to help you work towards your lifestyle or fitness goals, check out my website at team beach body!

xo,

melissa

For the love of red...

I never really wore red before, but since Spring '13 I've been a little obsessed with it! Today definitely felt like a red type of day.  I may have went overboard with red, but that's okay! Red makes me happy happy!

Dress: Pull up a Cherry Via Modcloth

Cardi: Dream of the Crop Cardi in Red Via Modcloth

Shoes: Pie Contest Wedges (Similar) Via Modcloth

Hope you'll had a great weekend and Happy MONDAY!!

xo,

melissa

Intergallatic...

Every time I wear this dress I feel like a flight attendant from the future.

As I had a dream last night that I was flying to Hawaii, I thought it would be fitting to wear this today.