HOLT

I went to Holt Renfrew on Friday. They have a lot of beautiful things at HR it reminds me of shopping at House of Fraser in the UK and is the only place that I know of in the city where I can pick up Bobby Brown Cosmetics.

 When I met Steve almost 5 years ago, he invited me to join him in Ottawa while he was here on a business trip. He mentioned skating on the canal and I booked my flight that moment. While he was in meetings I stopped at parliament for Obama's visit and then went to HR for the first time. Bobby Brown was fairly new to Canada at that time or at least we didn't have it in Halifax.
The BB sales manager at the time offered to do my makeup; it looked amazing when she was finished. I bought everything she used and since that day I've been a loyal customer of Bobby Brown. I might cheat on mascara here and there but everything else in my makeup bag in BB. In England I splurged a lot more because the price point seemed cheaper but here 3 items could run you over a hundred dollars. EEeek!

I had another great customer service experience at Holt, although not like my first time there, they took E for a little walk around the store while I got what I needed which made us both happy. One thing that I talked about with my Mum this weekend that is frustrating about cosmetic companies is that when you find something amazing, like my foundation, they change it every 5 or so years. This time I was lucky, I got the last stock of my usual foundation- only having to change the color slightly. The new foundation is in a smaller case but cost the same- hmmmm not great for us loyal customers that know the difference but I'm well aware it's not the only retailer doing this. Disappointing all the same.

After our stop at BB we went into Tiffany's to get my engagement ring cleaned up (boy, does it sparkle again) and then popped into Links of London to get my world locket charm. I love the girls at Links- they always remember me and are super sweet.

A perfect Friday spent shopping in my favourite department store. It's a good thing I don't go to the city that often!

IN LIEU

In lieu of my cake decorating class this weekend here are some tasty treats I found online.

Love these guys!

MADELINE

While we were at  Jenn & Martin's for dinner one evening, I fell in love with their dinnerwear. When I asked where she bought them; her answer was "I bought them in Paris for a steal!"  She also mentioned that the store did not deliver to Canada because she had wanted to order a few more. The hunt began....

Since that evening I've been looking for something similar and I found these beautiful Madeline dishes at The Bombay Company. Leave it to me to find dishes at one of the most expensive shops in town, this girls got good taste. After plenty of thought and a few sales I checked on them last week and decided to buy them. Besides being beautiful they are small which helps control portion size.

When husband saw them he asked what we would do with his old blue fish dishes... My humor:  " flush them, as you do with dead fish"   We ended up putting them downstairs for now which made him happy. Men always seem to have trouble parting ways with things- but I'm slowly getting rid of it all. *wink*

I called my Mom excited to share my find and she told me she had just bought some as well. ( great minds think alike) Mom loves Bombay furnishings and I have grown up surrounded by it.

Now that we are purchasing a few home items Bombay will be on the list. You can find some great deals after Christmas and most importantly it's timeless. I already have a wish list.

Here are my beauties. I can't wait to have people over! xo

OUTDOORS

Euan and I are tuckered out!

With all warm weather we have had the past week we have been spending a lot of time outside.

While I cleaned up the front yard, raked and bagged all the dead leaves and grass Euan practiced walking/getting up on the uneven grass. We spent some time on the swing and slides at the park and went for a spin in his brothers wagon which he loved. Off to Busy Bees we go...

Happy Thursday!

SPRING WELLIES-WW

LOVE THIS

CALORIES

WILTON'S CLASSES

Steve asked me last night as we were scouring through pictures of Connor for a baby album, "what day is it today?" "Sunday I'm afraid  my dear." Just like that our weekend was over, and what a busy weekend it was.....

On Friday evening I met Dawn at Aperitivo for Appy Hour and then we headed off to the movie theatre to see G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Yes, girls night out and I picked this movie to see which caused quite a stir with our husbands. ha ha. I'm not sure Dawn was super impressed with my pick but I LOVED it for what it was- a violent action adventure flick with lots of muscle!

After having friends over for a waffle breakfast Saturday morning, Steve and I put Euan down for his nap and tuned in to watch the Grand National. Not my year, but Husband picked 3 winners including Cappa Blue a horse that he had picked in a previous years race. Our friend Kate also won on Cappa Blue and told me that they had a pretty intense day of fun and were in bed early- The 5 hour time difference between us always amazes me.

My cake decorating course started this Sunday and our first week's project was decorating cookies. Why cookies everyone asked- just a small transition project on our first week while she went over a lot of the course material. If I haven't mentioned it before, I have a pretty awesome husband. He stopped into Michael's for me and picked up my kit and baked me cookies for my class while I caught up with a friend and helped her with a business project she is working on. ( something I'll be sharing with you in the coming weeks.) Candace and I had a very successful brainstorming session. I'm pretty excited for her future endeavors.

Back to cake decorating- My first class was awesome and I actually might be able to pull this off. We made icing in the different consistencies and then practiced using it. I iced a few cookies but didn't get a chance to take a picture before the boys devoured them. Here is one I saved - it's the start of a baby carriage- just missing it's wheels!

Happy Monday! xo

FEET UP FRIDAY

WIGGLES & GIGGLES

Only a few days late welcoming April...

It's a new term and with it new programs for Euan and I. This week we started Busy Bees, Music Tuesdays and Wiggles & Giggles. Sundays E swims with his Dad. I am getting anxious for warm weather, we've all had enough of winter. April showers bring May flowers- yes please!  My little bug is toddling along confidently now. I can't wait to get him on the soft grass and show him how to run, jump & climb.

I start my cake decorating classes at Michael's this weekend. It's going to be a very busy month but I'm happy to have lots to do.

Have a fabulous weekend!

GRAND NATIONAL WEEKEND

Forty horses will line up for the world's most famous horse race. It's Grand National weekend at Aintree. Where there's a horse race there is plenty of great hats on parade.

I got an email from my friend Kate yesterday reminding me about the race this weekend and what a great time we had together last year- they did very well! My picks this year would be Seabass, Viking Blonde, What A Friend & Colbert Station.

Good luck to all the horses and betters.. leave me a comment on your favourites for this weekend.

MOMS