Cute -but too expensive!

these are both images of sinks and vanities from one of our large big box stores!

I must get you the contact for the second hand store I shop at-- actually many of the items are brand new! Note the 929.00 price tag on the first item that does not include the counter/sink or the taps! I pay about $500.00 for cabinets, sink, counter and taps at two of my finds.

If you want a custom paint look-simply paint over the standard issue.

I will get you the names- best if you live in Edmonton and are trying to save money!

Pumpkin Soup

Soup in pot- sorry we got so crazy forgot to take a picture
of the soup in the gourd-- but I prefer to wait until serving
time to sprinkle the colourful red peppers on top- so none in yet!

Serve the soup in the empty gourd! (then still

save it for more use!

I just scoop out what I need from the gourd- so I can then serve it in the gourd--- and then simply rinse out the gourd with water, pat dry, cut into a five star shape,rub with oil and put face down in the oven to soften the rest of the 'meat' and harvest that for homemade pumpkin pie! You most likely will have more meat than you need for one pie- so simply let the moisture drain off- more about that in another post- and freeze the 'meat' you do not need for your pies!



Yes, pumpkin soup! We all have to be as frugal as we can-while being stylish!
Pumpkin soup is a silky, easy to make elegant take on simplicity!
While I was young, I was very poor at times and seemed to eat soup every day-so for years I would not even look at soup- peasant food! I have since grown up and have learned to love 'peasant food'-- now called comfort food!

This can be a spicy dish if you add enough ginger or Curry--- or a tame version to simply tease your tastebuds before a more elaborate feast. I make mine rather mild- as the 'boys' in my house do not like too much spice- and also with turkey dinner so not to confuse the tastebuds before the main course-- and also so as not to outshine the homemade stuffing- with fresh herbs of course or the velvet smoothness of perfect gravy smothering the buttery whipped potatoes!

A good pumpkin soup recipe is a necessary thing when fall comes around. Hallowe'en reminds us that pumpkins are the very symbol of autumn, and Thanksgiving celebrates the fall harvest. What better way to take off the chill than with a rich pumpkin soup with warm spices?

Many pumpkin soup recipes call for typical "pumpkin pie" spices, like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. These are great in pies, I will agree, but there is a more savory and spicy option that I think works better in a main dish or starter soup. You can adjust the spiciness in this recipe to suit your taste.

4 Tbsp butter or olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, chopped2 tsp garlic, finely chopped or minced6 cups of roasted pumpkin
5 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy (35%) cream
Cayenne pepper to taste, or red pepper flakes
2 tsp curry powder or more to taste
ground ginger to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
1. To roast your pumpkin, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds (put them aside for later). Coat the inside flesh with a bit of olive oil and salt, and place in a roasting pan or on a cookie sheet open side down. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.
2. Heat oil or butter in soup pot, add onions, garlic and salt. Cook on medium low until onions become soft.
3. Add roasted pumpkin and chicken stock
, bring to a slow boil, and reduce heat. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. Use an immersion blender (hand blender) to puree the soup.
5. Add remaining spices and cream. Bring back to heat, and allow to simmer for a few more minutes to let the flavors mingle.
6. Taste the soup, and add more curry or cayenne if you like. If the heat is too much you can add a bit more cream or brown sugar to take the edge off.

Maggie Walt and Wine !

Thursday is our monthly, after-work mixer, we call "Maggie Hour". From 5pm – 8pm we invite you, and perhaps a friend or two from the office, to join us for a glass of wine and a little socializing with a bit of fashion and shopping. Our theme for Thursday is Office Wear & Day Wear. We'll feature some of our best ideas and specials will be announced during the evening. Please join us on Thursday. We look forward to seeing you then…
11217 Jasper Avenue(780) 482-1238

These are amazing glittery sheers!

A week of fabric!
check out these crazy colours. In a gauzy, glittery sheer material!

Can you see him?

Can you see him? He reminds me of my scraggly long-haired chiWOWah. Not that they are the same breed just the little face! ONE SHOE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE- CINDERELLA

Thanks to Jennifer Garant for this great idea!

Bisque from lobster 'bones'

I understand this may sound silly- when we are all trying to save money- but lobster bisque is fantastic. Please though, I splurged in August and held my annual Lobster party. I had left over bodies, a tail (which my son ate before I could add it to the soup) and some claws. Rather than throw all this away I froze the left-overs and just made some bisque. Re-use don't throw out!
This winter my family will be eating roasts and full chickens- then soups and stews made with the bones and left-overs! One must save money!
The recipe...... sorry I am not that great on measuring. Which brings me to the cloves- I did not realize there was no little holed cap on the spice jar and there is more cloves in this soup than there should be- and it is fantastic!
'Bones of three lobsters'
I smashed the bones, tore apart the bodies and threw them all in a big pot, one container of chicken stock, one onion, three bayleaves and too much cloves!
I kept the meat on the side
Simmered the bones and the chicken stock for half an hour- drained the stock.
1/4 cup of butter melting in pot, 1/4 cup of flour- heated until dissolved add 2 cups of milk and brought to a light boil stirring to ensure no lumps.
Then I added the reserved stock, and the meat and slowly heated for about 10 minutes.
Voila- lovely silky smooth bisque that really did not cost me anything!

Budget decor

Most of us these days have to watch our budgets-- ughhh! However, for the next few weeks I will be posting budget ideas, to-dos, am doing, and have done projects.

In addition, I will show you some of the great haunts I have discovered for budget products!

In decor, like most things in life- we have to choose when to splurge and when to save.

Marble floors for one client was a splurge- I do believe though in spending on the main elements of a project...... lighting can be a splurge or a save.

Furniture- again splurge or save- repurpose.

Drapery, well I have to admit here I think store bought tab drapes always look like store bought tab drapes and I am a big fan of splurging here- the splurge can be relative though- big or small splurge?

After much deliberation and seeking out fabrics I think we will go with a white silk for a bedroom I am presently working on. The window is small, faces north-east so not too much sun will hit it- as silk 'rots' under heavy sun so this must be considered before splurging on this type of window covering- but sometimes only silk will work!

Stay tuned!

Perfume cabinet from mirrored dressing area.

Debbie Travis Get-away!

WOMEN'S TUSCAN GETAWAY SEPTEMBER 2009Debbie Travis, home decorating icon, wants to share her success with other women. Not for an hour in a stuffy conference hall, but a week in a magnificent location under the Tuscan sun. When the retreat begins, each participant will receive an ANICHINI robe as a special gift from Debbie. These luxurious robes are the perfect lounge wear for idyllic relaxation.Travis' success spans numerous television shows, 9 best selling books, a syndicated newspaper column, a 60MM$/yr home product line, 2 television production companies, and a design/branding studio.Her unique retreat takes place in southern Tuscany at a luxurious ancient villa.For more information, click here.

Repurposing, Ikea and thrift shopping

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/your-thoughts-on-the-ethics-of-shopping-cheap-089653#commentshttp://

This article could not of come at a better time. While I love browsing the web and the magazines I am addicted to, I have always had a belief that we should buy and re-purpose our things.

I was raised to believe you buy 'slightly' better quality items that have long term use that you can afford- but the catch is these items are be used for the rest of your life. These items are the items your children inherit.

Well made furniture, china ( if you are not lucky enough to inherit some) silverware, crystal never seems to last long in our family so perhaps a cheap on this.

My home is a collection of hand-me-downs, second hand and a few investment pieces I have purchased.

Often, a client will want a new look- and I worked this way before it became 'chic'. I always went through what they had, what they liked and what we could move from one room to another, what we could refinish and recover. In the past my style ethics were considered odd by some.
People had a misconception that 'decorators' just wanted to spend all their money and put a 'stamp' of professionally decorated house on theirs.

I do not believe in this 'overly stylized' concept. A home should reflect the people that live in it- not the decorator. The home should have elements that have been gathered over the years, objects of 'heart' rather than just art objects.

Decor is like style- just because you have masses of money does not mean you have style.
Style is making a look your own not following the masses.

Interested in your opinions

Ryan's Room

Simple space for a young man to sleep and study.

I had all the walls skimcoated, removed the popcorn ceiling and had new drywall installed for a nice sleek look and a new fan.

New buys were only the desk, chair and desklight-- and of course the closet organizer.

Basically a budget redo- but much improved!

Ryans New Room- Closet- One of the Saves!

This is the new closet- doors are not in yet- but are coming!

I had quotes from a few custom closet companies and sorry $3,000- $4,500 was not in my budget for the interior of his closet. I had enlarged the closet by removing the built-in desk that was on the far side of the closet closest to his window-- and the price for custom closets was simply too much.

The dilemma then- as I personally hate those Rubbermaid wire organizers, and also do not think they would hold up under the rough and tumble style my son has. I needed strong, durable, good lookin', and a product that we could reconfigure as needed.

Voila, store display systems. This is a store display system that is stand alone (needed no installation) is sturdy, durable, cost effective and he can take it with him when he moves out! There is a storage shelf on the top- hidden behind the wall header area that is safely storing his childhood memorabilia - out of sight!

This was an excellent solution for us- flexible, room for shoes, clothes, long coats, and sports equipment!

In addition, I needed space for his clothing items that formally lived in his dresser, as we did not have room for a dresser and a new desk in this space. Solving that issue with the blue pull out storage containers that now house his socks and other personal clothing items.

All at much less the original quoted prices for custom closets, Ikea inserts, Rubbermaid solutions!

This is one of the 'saves' in this room! Would of loved to splurge on a custom closet but not in my budget!