Blog Awards – Tags and Other Things

I really love blogging. It offers a totally different outlet to talk about things I like with a bunch of relative strangers. And for that same reason, I tend to shy away from sharing too much personal information. Don’t get me wrong – I want readers to learn a little about me and my life… But I draw the line in the sand with sharing too many personal details about my private life (work, family, friends etc.) because I just think we sometimes forget how public the internet is. I am also highly cognizant of the fact that what I share will exist online forever… Long gone are the days that you could put something online (think mIRC & early day 1990′s websites) and it doesn’t exist anymore (thank God!). Technology and logging has come a million miles since then… I love reading personal blogs that others write and really enjoy some of the fun and interesting facts that are revealed via questionnaires and award games that others share on their blogs.

Top 4 Blog Awards   Tags and Other ThingsI love this photograph that my mom took.

So blah blah blah me. Some others have been super nice and nominated moi for several of these different awards including April from Money Pit Love, Heather from Interior Groupie and Sheila from SZ Interiors.

I am incredibly honored that they thought of me and the Row House Nest – but wasn’t sure if I was going to complete any of the questions as I felt hesitant about sharing information online. I know it’s silly and just fun… But what I thought I would do was to combine the three different questionnaires into one (allowing me to pick and choose) and go from there!

So here it goes…

April nominated me for a 7 x 7 award. I am suppose to share 7 facts about myself..

  • I talk too much.
  • I grew up in the Queen West neighbourhood in Toronto – beside Trinity Bellwoods.

Top 64 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

  • As a child, I had imaginary friends named Jewel and Diamond (obviously…how luxe are those names?).

Top 97.BMP Blog Awards   Tags and Other ThingsSweet fashion sense. One should not compromise just because it is cold outside.

  • I have been chased by a herd of angry Irish cows.

Thanksgiving 2010 048 1024x768 Blog Awards   Tags and Other ThingsSaid Highland Cows. Hi. Again. I like when there is a fence between us. 

  • I have had the same personal email address since I was 15 (a long ass time).
  • I already have my ‘next’ few dogs names  picked up. Crazy like that.
  • My friends sometimes call me ‘mom’ because I tend to mother people.

Now I am suppose to put some of my blog posts into certain categories…

Most popular: A Teal Romance – this was because a pseudo-English celebrity tweeted my link and lots of her followers came to visit me.

teal romance 1024x445 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

Most Pride Worthy: Orderly and Snug – it’s a little more recent and I feel like I am starting to learn how to use my DSLR camera….a wee bit anyways.

orderly and snug 1024x428 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

Most Helpful: hands down, DIY Headboard Tutorials – peeps LOVE this post.

Some awesome blogs (I decided to post only blogs that weren’t mentioned in the other bloggers posts!)   

 marion house blog Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

 house pretty Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

happy interior blog 1024x280 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

Okay… Now Heather and Sheila hosted a similar Q & A – but it took the form of ‘tag’…Again I am going to take a few ideas and share them here.

1. Salty or sweet? SALTY all the way. Am not a big sweets person at all….

2. How would you describe your ideal Sunday morning? Sleep in, coffee, long walk with the dogs (in mild weather of course), quality time with my gent, making a big fun dinner and enjoying a few drinks…

2012 01 15 13.01.38 2 768x1024 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

3. What are your top 3 must have make-up items? Boots cucumber face wash (from the UK/Ireland), MAC blush and Bare Escentuals mineral bronzer.

4. What is your dream job? I have my dream job. Truly. I am one of the luckiest people in the world.

5. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? I have to preface this advice with why it means so much to me. I am incredibly indecisive and have a tendency to worry about how my decisions will affect other people… That said, the best advice I ever received was: make a decision and be committed to it a 100% – if you make a decision and am confident in it, others will follow suit and support you. So moral of the story? I learned to commit to a decision that suits me – and realized that people will be okay with it as long as I am.

6. What gets you out of bed in the morning, keeps you awake at night? My dogs get me out of bed (I hate the idea of them holding their pee for me)…. I am kept awake at night by work.

7. If you could pick anything on any menu, what would it be? I would likely recreate a meal B and I had in Sorrento, Italy two summers ago. It was the perfect meal. We still talk about it. Funny side story – we got to the restaurant via the dishwasher picking us up in his old Volvo, madly driving up the village and propping us out at some random restaurant. Sharing delicious red wine, Caprese salad, mushroom pasta and veal. Topped with more easy drinking red wine. We may have had antipasto, can’t remember that bit.

On a related note but not…This is some pizza we ordered one night in Sorrento. I thought this pizza box was the best.

Italy 2010 331 1024x768 Blog Awards   Tags and Other Things

8. What’s in your closet that’s seen better days, but somehow you just can’t let it go? My jogging pants are hideous and embarrassing. I pray daily that no one will see me in them. *If you have seen me at the dog park – please never share what I look like*

9. If you inherited an antique piece of furniture, would you modify it in any way? Where would you draw the line? Nope. I can’t bring myself to change inherited furniture for the most part….I updated chairs of my grandmother’s by recovering them. That’s all I could bring myself to do….

10. What is your most cherished family tradition? Camping in Algonquin Park…. And celebrating my birthday together – my birthday is everyone’s favourite day – St Patrick’s Day! Love heading out for a few Guinness…And yes – I love Guinness. It’s not thick, like soup or ‘a meal’. It took me years to realize that people that describe it as those things have never had more than a sip. I actually drink Guinness when I want to have a drink but not feel having something too boozey….

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Long Weekend Monday

I discovered Polyvore yesterday and was testing it out… I created my perfect Long Weekend Monday outfit….

long weekend Long Weekend Monday Sources for items: denim shirt – Style Bop, heart – Paul Smith, Sunglasses – Ray Bans, Scarf – H & M, knot ring –  Couture Candy, bracelet- rockabella jewels, purse – j.crew, rope necklace – Lanvin, large ring – Wallis UK, feather earrings – far fetch, shoes – Frye.

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News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster Dog

For all the none-dog-lovers out there, maybe you should just leave now. It’s true – there is a new hound in the house! So last week you may have noticed that I have been a little distant from the blogging scene recently (or did you?)… I knew I would be busy last week because Trooper arrived at my house on Sunday… Trooper is a Bluetick Coonhound who needed a home while his rescue organization found him an adoptive home.

DSC 3728 1 News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster DogMy family is big on rescuing dogs, everyone has a dog from a shelter in their home right now! So although I am no expert at rescue dogs, I do have some experience with them. I can say confidently that Trooper is one of the best rescue dogs that has ever walked into my home.

He is a total gem.

DSC 3723 1 News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster DogI wanted to foster a Coonhound to see what they were like. It’s a win-win situation for me. I love hounds. They are so lovable and Trooper is no exception.

us News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster DogMe with my new pony friend. He has been a total pleasure to have here – and I am finally getting use to his size. I feel like I am walking a celebrity around my neighbourhood…We get stopped on a daily basis. He is a real beaut.

DSC 3763 News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster DogExhausted.

IMG 20120215 WA0004 News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster DogWith his “cousin” (who he somehow dwarfs!)

2012 02 13 11.11.56 768x1024 News: The Hottest New Home Decor Accessory: A Foster Dog
I love him…. and know I am going to bawl when he gets adopted (there is a family who already wants him!)

Speaking about coonhounds – I love this blog: Maddie On Things

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Anxiety Reducing DIY’s. The Roundup

Okay so you all know I do the psychology thing {yes I can read your mind!* I use to get asked that a lot surprisingly}, so I feel like a lot of my time recently has been teaching people about using strategies to reduce their anxiety day to day, or at least manage it… Oddly enough, I find myself gravitating towards integrating some of my own strategies into my life to feel calmer…

desk Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupThis was Einstein’s desk. Lovely. But anxiety inducing. Spotted on Life.

Note. I don’t think these ‘ways’ are just for staying creative. I think they are good for you general. We should all strive to do more of these activities to keep our brains and fun activity up!

33 ways to stay creative Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSource unknown.

Day to day this comes in the form of lists, reminders, documenting, setting goals and making time to ‘catch up’ instead of always running around (I sometimes feel like a chicken with my head cut off at work). When I was trying to conceive of my next DIY roundup I thought ‘Why not some things that would help us all feel calmer and more organized’? Bandaid solution? Maybe but I’ll take it.

I love this idea of making a colour coded organization system

color coordinated files Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on Cupcakes and Cashmere (along with a few other great ideas)

Recycle old jam jars into supply holders

jars Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on Real Simple

By painting boxes (of similar size or varying sizes) all the same colour, it creates an organized, clean look

same color boxes Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on good old Martha Stewart

Feeling super lost and like you are getting anything done or remembering events?

clothes pins Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupBetter Homes & Gardens is on it with this clothes peg idea.

Use hoops to get your junk organized at the front door. Pick your favourite fabric. Viola.

hoops Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupPretty Little Studio makes these hoops and sells them on Etsy.

If this doesn’t make you want to whip your paperwork and office supplies into shape at home, I don’t know what would.

organized Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupFrom Real Simple Magazine but images on Deliciously Organized.

I am not sure if this next image makes me feel more or less anxious.

organized week Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupWow. By Life’s A Journal. She also created this day version

daily notebook Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on the Life’s a Journal Esty Shop.

Everyone feels better after a little labeling…

decals Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on the Painted Hive. PS – I love that they are called ‘magic’. Always a good thing in my mind.

We all need pretty push pins, they help anxiety levels.

push pins Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupSpotted on Sally J Shim

Sticky notes make me happy. They aren’t a DIY project but they deserved some attention

sticky notes Anxiety Reducing DIYs. The RoundupThis chalkboard stickynote chart makes me feel calmer instantly… From the Freckled Nest!

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