Kitchen Dreams

For the new year, Jesse and I decided to completely re organize the house, with the main focus being on renewing all our kitchen stuff. So, naturally, I've been browsing the internet and falling in love with everything.

  Of course, these are all want things, not so much need things. We need a cutting board, it doesn't have to be heart shaped, but if something can be heart shaped, then why wouldn't you want it heart shaped, am I right? // These little storage bowls would be perfect for pre-chopping veggies for salads and snacks. // I just need a cactus oven mitt, okay? // Honestly though, how cool with this fire escape shelf be for storing a little herb garden? I know, it's pure genius. Now that I'm getting my family into better eating habits, this immersion blender would prove very useful for soups, smoothies and sauces. Now that I think of it.. I need a juicer too... // Who doesn't love a good panini? This panini press comes with different plates; a griddle, panini grill, even a waffle press! This would be a perfect edition to my kitchen. // I already have a KitchenAid Stand Up Mixer, but I could use a second one, to be honest. Plus this one is a gorgeous aqua - swoon!

I find I am constantly updating my bake ware due to the continuous use mine always get. This colourful set would be extremely cute for photography or serving. // White plates are boring, yes. But, again, for some one who takes a lot of photos for recipes, having white plates is better for contrast. Plus I'm just so gosh darn sick of my olive green plates. Maybe I'm just getting old, but white is crisp and clean, and I dig it. // We need tea towels so bad, and I think I may go with some quirky sets this time instead of solid colours. Also, the owl set matches my favourite mug! 

Did you make any goals this year for your home? Anything you've been swooning over in the housewares department? Let's discuss :)

xo Amber
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Our Awesome Autumn List

Growing up, we didn't get many opportunities to go on adventures, not like anything that's available in our area now. So now that we're parents and have the means to do our own thing, we think it's very important that we help Josie experience as much as possible, and have the childhood every kid deserves. Sure, Summer and Winter in our town are utterly gorgeous times, but the best time to be in Bruce County is Autumn. All the Fall Fairs, pumpkin patches, apple picking, etc. It's 100% my absolutely favourite time of the year, and favourite thing about life. All the colours and smells and Halloween and bundling up. I can't wait to get started! Here is a list I've compiled of things I hope to accomplish with my family before Winter:

♥ Find Josie the ultimate Halloween costume
♥ Attend the Tiverton Fall Fair
♥ Take a family bike ride along the trails when the leaves change
♥ Parent & Tot Skate as much as possible
♥ Bake apple and pumpkin everything
♥ Get family photos taken
♥ Host an awesome Thanksgiving
♥ Discover at least ten new geocaches
♥ Start Christmas shopping
♥ Take Josie apple picking at Smith's Apple Farm
♥ Enjoy Pumpkinfest again (because we can do all the kids stuff haha)
♥ Go to the corn maze
♥ Pick pumpkins and squash at Hi Berry Farm
♥ Make fresh apple cider
♥ Decorate the house for Halloween
♥ Build a leaf fort

What are your plans for Autumn? xo

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Style // Rocks & Stripes

One of the best parts about my home town, is that were one of the oldest ports on the Bruce coast and has been rated countless times as having the best sunsets in the world (even National Geographic thinks so!). Unfortunately, the sun wasn't showing when we decided to take these photos, but I still get to show you the beautiful view our harbour has to offer.
We went for a bike ride trying to decide where to take photos, and for some reason ended up here. We thought it was a great idea, despite the weather. Leave it to me to bike in high winds with a mini skirt haha!

Another cool thing about our beach is Chantry Island (the small island you can see behind me in the distance. Its home to one of our light houses and is now a bird sanctuary. You can take tours out there and learn about the Long Dock and other important details of our beaches history.

Top // Modcloth Skirt (from last year) // Forever 21+ Cardigan // Modcloth Belt (Off another skirt) // ASOS  Shoes // Ardene Necklace // Modcloth
I don't know why I feel need to nerd out to you guys about the history and landmarks of my town. I suppose I'm just really proud of where I come from. I don't really like it right now because I swear the tourists have multiplied this summer, but I shouldn't complain, I know. Autumn will be here before we know it. xo

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Photos // Spring Flora

I feel like I've been waiting years for my garden to bloom again. There's nothing more satisfying then sitting on my patio and seeing all the flora perk up when the sun peeks out of the clouds after a fresh spring rain. It's like you can almost hear them singing. I can't wait until the lilies, peonies, blossoms and dahlias bloom. Yay for gardens! xo

signs of spring

Well, I think it's safe to say Spring has finally sprung. The snow is finally melting away and greenery is starting to peek out. In May, it will be a year since we moved into the house. It's funny how time works, when I first started my blog, the first few things I wrote about were the snow melting and the flowers peeking through the messy, leafy backyard of the cottage we used to live in. And here I am talking about it again.

The worst part about Spring is how dirty and gross everything got under the snow. The streets are filled with sand and the leaves are either dead or mucky. I'm really excited to clean up and redo the entire yard and garden this spring/summer. But, for now I'm enjoying the pretty purple crocuses and the beginning of our gorgeous tulips. We also have this stink plant that comes up (pictured above), that stops animals and bugs from eating our garden. It sounds gross but when it blooms its quite beautiful.

Happy Spring everyone! xo

CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET

If you've been reading up on my blog since I began (almost one year ago!), you know that 2013 was my year to give my wardrobe and style a major face lift. I had so much closet envy for girls who had a large selection of colours and patterns. Most of all, I just wanted to be a girl again. I started to live in tights and a band t shirt. Which is okay, I mean, who doesn't like a good band tee? But I just felt like I really lost touch with my feminine side. I also looked and felt so frumpy. Not anymore. I always feel comfortable in my outfits now and feel confident when I step outside. 

There are a lot of locals that come up and ask me what the heck I'm so dressed up for, if I wear something like this:

Yeah, I live in a somewhat close minded town, so wearing a dress with tights means I must be either going to someone's wedding or some other type of event (This summer I was told I looked like a hooker for wearing this outfit). Nope, just wearing a dress! Maybe people are just used to my tomboyish looks. 

Anyway, my closet was a flipping mess. I had so many clothes that don't fit me, and for some reason it appears I became a box hoarder (probably from many years of moving every few months). I looked through all my clothes and gave most of what was still cute and in good condition to my friend Carrie. She loved it all! It's always nice to give away clothes instead of throw them out or sell them. The boxes were all broken down and put away in our storage room. I can never throw out a good box. It took me most of my afternoon to clean and organize it but I am quite proud of the outcome.

I can finally see just how much I've put into my new wardrobe! All you see here is pretty much new from last year and none of it is band tees (those are in my drawers, because who throws out band tees? Not this girl)! I have (count 'em) 20 dresses now and a pretty nice cardigan collection. 

Next on my project list is to try and make my own dresses and skirts. It's been a long time since I've done a new sewing project so I'm pretty anxious for my fabric to come in so I can start. 

What projects have you started so far in 2014?

HOME // NEW BEDROOM WALL

We moved into this house in May and have been procrastinating decorating the bedroom since. The only nice thing I ever had for my bedroom was my duvet cover. So, for Christmas I decided to get some decorative things to pretty up our bedroom. My favourite thing by far has to be our new polka dot wall! I put it together last night and just couldn't wait to show it off!

The lighting in my house is horrible, and my camera hates it. Especially without a wide angle lens. This is when it's a good time to use my iPhone 5c because sometimes, the camera on that thing is just way better quality.

• Polka Dot Wall Decals // Urban Walls
• Stamped Scallop Duvet Cover // Urban Outfitters
• Sheet Set // Winners
• Throw Pillow, Lamps, Vase // Walmart
• Owl Vase (similar) // Modcloth
• Antler and Jackalope Jewelry Holders // HOTTT (Jackalope also available at Modcloth)
• Honey Cardigan, Necklace // Modcloth
• Navy Tank // Forever 21
• Sewing Machine Plugs (similar) // UK Custom

Been awhile since I've showed my face here, but I'm hoping to do some outfit posts soon. Maybe once my face isn't so swollen. Speaking of which, I'm off to my sister Dawn's for the night and my dental appointment is tomorrow. Finally the beginning of the end of this terrible pain I've dealt with for way too long. Never thought I'd be so happy to see a dentist. Wish me luck!

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Today (so far) In Pictures

The last flower on my Mom's christmas cactus. And for some reason the rest of her plants are dying. What a slacker.

Josie right after breakfast bubba in her sweet nerd bunny pyjamas.

Dexter, never willing to get out of bed.

The pom pom mobile I made for the nursery. An easy tutorial I would like to share with you later on. 

On this day (1995) in Pearl Jam land...

An Introduction

My name is Amber. I am 24 years old and I live in the small town of Southampton, Ontario with my childhood sweetheart, Jesse, our 4 month old baby, Josie, and my beautiful mother, Nancy.

In May we are moving into a new house. One that isn't seasonal - yay! We live in cottage country so it's very rare when you find a house to rent that isn't somebody's summer cottage. I am very excited to move and to decorate the new house the way we want it.

Most of my time is spent with Josie, but when I do get time I love to sew, bake, cook, watch movies, attend concerts, do my nails, exercise, and above all, I love to listen to music. Some of my favourites include but are not limited to: Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Incubus, Alexisonfire, Bon Iver, Black Keys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Led Zeppelin, Brand New, Ben Howard and, if you couldn't tell from my blog/shop name, Alice In Chains. Of course that list is forever changing.

Aside from all the blogging i'll do about recipes, tutorials, cool objects, product reviews, etc. I will be talking a LOT about Josie. She is the best thing ever. So I may as well introduce you to her now. She was born on December 11th and has been my entire heart and soul ever since her eyes met mine. She loves her Nana and the colour blue. She sleeps all night long and loves taking long walks.

And the last member of our family, but definitely not the least, Our Boston Spaniel, Dexter. He's 3 years old and there is never a dull moment with that boy. He has way too much energy. I have a hard time deciding whether he'll have a hard time keeping up with Josie or if it will be the other way around!