The Search for the Perfect Duvet Cover...

OK, I really want a new duvet cover! Something a bit more light and calming than what we have had for the past couple years.
Here is our bed now (LOVING the new box spring by the way- totally beats sleeping on the floor!)I have been surfing for ideas and here's what I came up with so far- I seem to be drawn to soft neutrals or whites, and nothing too modern or trendy. One accent wall in our bedroom is a sage green colour, the rest are white, and the bed frame is wood- as you can see.

This first style is from IKEA. Not sure if the colour is right but I love the pattern!This colour would go really well in our room.

I am a sucker for paisley! This next set is made by Nautica, but it might have too much blue for my liking.

What can I say, it's an obsession! this set below is from Williams-Sonoma Home.


Or I could just be boring and go with clean, classic white.
Pros: easy to clean (Bleach if needed), can accessorize with different throws, pillows, etc.
Cons: Black dog hairs would show reallly easily! too boring!(?)

What do you think?? Any other ideas?

Rain, Rain....

It's been raining all week! Luckily today it appears to be breaking up and the weekend forecast is looking good :)

The poor weather gave us a chance to get some stuff done around the house. We finally hung our hard-earned University degrees and some artwork in the office:


I brightened up the kitchen with these lilies from the garden- aren't they pretty!?

And now I am waiting for the split boxsprings to arrive (our queen sized boxspring wouldn't fit up the stairs...) Last night we assembled the bed. It was given to us by Ben's parents, who received it as a wedding present 34 years ago!!! It's made of barnboard from their family farm.. cool, huh? There is even a light behind the headboard for a retro 70's feel...

Here's where we had to sleep last night. It will be nice to finally get off the floor!
PS- I am in the market for a new duvet cover... any suggestions for colour/ style??


OOH! I think I hear the delivery truck!!

Garden Update

First off- we have eavestroughs!!! Should help keep the basement nice and dry, especially with all this rain we've been having lately..The skies aren't looking too friendly this evening...
My Lady's Mantle is just starting to bloom. Not the most showy plant, but that's ok- it was one of the plants that "came with" the house!


Guess what!? It turns out I have Japanese Tiger Lilies! They just sprouted these little stem bulbils- that's how you know they are the "real thing"- I can't wait to see the blooms, but it might be a couple weeks yet.


In the meantime, I have these pretty Asiatic Lilies blooming- this one stalk alone has 11 blooms on it!

The Purple Asters are becoming a deep purple- so pretty.

And the Thrift is just starting to bloom- tiny delicate white flowers.

Finally, the sunflower seeds I planted a couple weeks ago are all starting to sprout! Hopefully they will be able to flower before first frost!

I'm Baaaaack!

I'm back after a short hiatus involving a trip to Thunder Bay for one of my best friend's Bachelorette. Lets just say there was a falic cake, bull riding, and a biker bar involved... soo much fun!!
I also managed to squeeze in some shopping while there (naturally), and my new favourite store is definitely HomeSense!!
Here are some of my best buys from the trip.... also too boring to show: white bathrug, floofy new pillows for Ben and I, a garden hose reel that leaks like craaaazy (and is being returned), soy sauce, curry paste, and dog food!! HAHA.
Anyways- on to the good stuff!
First off- tomato plants that my dad lovingly started from seed! I better not kill them! I put them in the sunniest spot in my yard (basically in the middle of the backyard) and they seem to be doing fine... so far!

Next- some pretty Delphiniums my mom bought for me at the greenhouse. Both her and my dad are coming up here August long weekend with a trunk full of perennials and we are going to make a new flower bed out front for them! I'm really excited!

Below, a herb planter that my mom put together for me, don't you just love how it sits on the railing?! Now if I only knew some recipes that used fresh herbs. At least they are a nice smell at the front door!
I picked up these Adirondack chairs from Canadian Tire for under $20 each. Always looking for a bargain! They will be put to better use once we build a deck.

Molly showing off my new outdoor mat, and beautifully practicing "stay" :)

Love love LOVE this purse from Walmart... another bargain at $10!

And the mother of all bargains- a FREE handmade desk courtesy of Kijiji!!! Its a bit wobbly so we will have to add another crossbeam at the back. But hey, the price was right! And it almost completes our office- only thing left to do is hang artwork and Uni degrees!

Cute laundry hamper from Home Outfitters- looks kinda retro but I love that the liner is removable!
And now for the not-so-great buy of the trip, a pair of microvelvet chairs from HomeSense. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but as soon as we got them in the house we knew they weren't the right "fit". They are going back, and the hunt continues! (Something with arms as per Ben's instructions!)

Indian Night!

I made a really delicious Indian-themed meal tonight: Butter Chicken, Coconut Rice, and Spicy Chickpeas. Super easy... here's how!

In your trusty rice cooker, combine 1 can coconut milk (make sure it's not light), 2 cups Jasmine white rice, 2 cups water, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp sugar. Turn the rice cooker on after you start cooking your chicken.

For the butter chicken, I used a prepared Butter Chicken sauce from a jar- all I had to do was cook the pieces of chicken, then add the sauce. Easy peasy!

Now, for the chickpea recipe (which I am obsessed with right now and could probably eat it twice a week for the rest of my life)
You will need:

1 x 14oz. can of chickpeas (AKA Garbanzo Beans)- drained.
1/2 cup cilantro (lightly chopped)
1/4 lemon juice (fresh is best!)
1/3 cup purple onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. tumeric
1/2 tsp. cayenne (depending on how hot you want it)
2 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground corriander
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. fish sauce (or soy sauce)
1tbsp. water
2 tbsp. oil for stir frying
optional- 3 to 4 tbsp. coconut milk

I start off by chopping everything up, and then combining the fish sauce, water, and all dry spices (except pepper) in a bowl at the side.

Then heat the pan and stirfry the garlic and onions for about a minute.

Add the spice mixture.
Stifry briefly
Add chickpeas
continue stirring until chickpeas are covered and warm.
Remove from heat. Add lemon juice, black pepper, cilantro, and coconut milk (if desired)
Do a taste test. Adjust salt levels by adding more fish sauce if not salty enough, or more lemon juice if too salty. Serve with rice, ENJOY :)


The finished product. Quick, easy and OH SO delish!!!

Happy 4th of July!

We are having our housewarming party tonight! I baked up some Herb and Garlic baguettes, and this yummy hot artichoke and spinach dip- can't wait to try them out!

I have been puttering around the yard and gardens the past few days. We are lucky to have inherited some (very grown over) perennials with the house. I think I have ID'd most of them, with some help from people with greener thumbs!

oh, and this spider (ew) seems to be the only critter who is using my hummingbird feeder so far!

Thrift
Someone is obsessed with the hose!!

Either Carnation or Dianthus

Some variety of lily

Another Lily... they are going to be spectacular once they bloom!

Purple Aster

pansy (they are scattered all over the yard! I felt bad when I had to cut the grass!)

Shasta Daisies about to open up

Lilacs

Happy (Belated) Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone! Hope you enjoyed it and were able to relax and enjoy your country :)
Molly and I made a trip into Dryden (1 hr. away) to try our hand/ paw at Flyball! It was in an arena with a ton of other chaotic things going on (clowns, Shriners, noisemakers, kids parachute, rollerblades... you get the idea) but Molly did really well, picked it up super fast!Next week is outside, that will be much nicer!