Dream home inspirations

Now that we're getting closer to our move-in date, my nights have been filled with dreams of how to decorate my first home. Unlike all the rented apartments I've lived in, this new house will be the first place that I've had utter control over.  Oh yeah, and I guess Mr. Artist gets some veto power too.

Thank god for Pinterest as I've become obsessed with pinning inspirational decor images and useful DIY tips.  Here are some of the latest looks I'm mulling over from my Pinterest:

The basis, or foundation if you will, of my decor will be this palette of greys.  After living in all stark white homes all my life, I've had a dream of living somewhere with more color.  Unfortunately, Mr. Artist wasn't quite as onboard with the technicolor dream-coat train as me, so I opted instead for these soothing greys.  I think in the end, he made the right call; grey is such a relaxing and versatile color to serve as a blank canvas for any style.  I want our home to be our refuge and somewhere we can rest ourselves after the stresses of work and this palette will do just the trick.

I loooove this kitchen. Absolutely looove it.  The combination of robin egg, white and shiny grey countertops and steel appliances paired with the rich wood floors just all come together in a look that's modern and relaxing.  Minus those horrible stools and that light fixture and this kitchen is just an airy paradise.

On the other hand though, there's something about this darker kitchen that really draws my eye.  I love cozy homes with a cheery amount of clutter and this kitchen has that perfect balance of order and clutter.  A home without clutter is not a home in my opinion and I want a kitchen I can wear ratty Asian-mom slippers in.  I love the deep country style double sink and the butcher-block like counters.  The blinds are a nice touch as well, offering function along with no-fuss style.

For the living room though, I want a mix of comfort and elegance.  The living room is where you host your guests, but it also has to host your family.  I think this living room above is almost at my ideal look with its soft grey walls and splashes of color.  I'm not sure that I'd want yellow as my accent tone, but it's definitely inspiring to see how color is being used in this room. 

When choosing living room decor, I also always have to imagine whether our dog would fit with it.  Anything with fancy embellishments or easily scratched material is a no-go. Couches and chairs have to be sturdy and rugs need to be hair resistant.  Has anyone else ever had to design their furnishings around a pet?

Finally, the funnest thing to shop for when it comes to home decor, are the interest pieces.  Just as in a good outfit, it's the accessories that really make an outfit shine and show off your personality.  I'm really drawn lately to displays made up of similar, but different, pieces like this group of glass vases and re-purposed bottles.  I love the organic feel that the glass, water and branches bring together.  Just sprinkle in a couple tea lights and this look would easily look fantastic in the evening as well!


I hope you've enjoyed my home inspirations!  If you know of any good home decor pinners I should follow, please let me know in the comments!

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Get ready for Summer with Almay Cosmetics!

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited as Sheila's +1 to the exclusive Almay Summer makeup preview, which was held at a charming tea house tucked away in the heart of downtown.  Situated in a Victorian-era house and surrounded by gorgeous Prince Albert teacups, colorful macarons, warm crumpets and delicate smoked salmon sandwiches, I felt like I was surrounded in a giddy cloud of girliness.

As always, the wonderful ladies of Almay know how to host an amazing party and the entire store was split into various stations with attentive hosts eager to tell you about the various products arranged on each table.  There are a ton of new products coming out to Almay this season, from an amazing CC cream, to a rainbow of gorgeous lip colors, shadows, liners and mascaras.  Like every Almay product, they are all formulated for sensitive skin and designed with the modern, no-fuss woman in mind.

Here are a couple of items I'm super eager to try:

These new Color + Care liquid lip balms are part gloss, part moisturizing lip balm.  Available in 9 shades, these glosses contain hydrating avocado oil and vitamin E. Both Sheila and I tried on the purple-ish shade (second from the right) and found it looked natural and very different on each of our lips - on Sheila, it was a natural but better, color, while on me, the purple showed up much more in a mauve-pink tone.

Although not exactly new, Almay's Intense i-color shadows are perennial favourites with their specially customized palettes designed to make your eye color pop.  I've always wondered why brown eye palettes always had purples as I'm much more of a brown shadow fan, but after seeing the Almay MUA work her magic on Sheila with the purples, I'm convinced to try purple for daytime again!

Other highlights from the preview include:

• Intense i-color voluminizing mascara - this mascara contains eye-brightening crystals to brighten and awaken tired eyes
• Intense i-color defining liner - similar to the mascara, this liner contains ice crystal pearls and a built-in line smudger on one end.  I've tried out this black liner already and I love it!  The sparkles are subtle and really do make your eyes look a teeny bit brighter compared to matte black
• Smart Shade powder bronzer - available in 3 shades, these bronzers contain multiple shades in one to provide a more natural glow
• Smart Shade CC cream - I'm SUPER excited to try this one.  This cream works as a primer, color corrector, tightens pore, diminishes fine lines and promotes a smoother complexion with salicylic acid

Be sure to check out all these products in your local drugstore this summer!

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Girls night out with eShakti

With the warmer weather finally arriving, women everywhere are shucking off their leggings, boots and sweaters for light, springy dresses filled with color, volume and pattern.  I've been eagerly awaiting some decent weather so I could wear out my new spring dress c/o online clothing store, eShakti.

If you like vintage, florals, or retailers like ModCloth, then you will love eShakti's wide selection of dresses, blouses, skirts, and wedding wear - all at very affordable prices.  The really special thing about this online store though is that you can customize each purchase any way you want!  

I've never bought custom-made clothing before, let alone bought custom-made clothing online, so when I was offered the chance to try out the eShakti service, I wasn't sure what to expect.  After perusing the spring dress section, I finally settled on a green number with a braided waist and A-line skirt.  

Once I selected the dress, I was shown the various options I could choose to customize my purchase:

Besides the dress length (I chose knee-length) and neckline (I chose the wide scoop), you can also select whether you want your dress to have pockets, which of course I did! I LOVED how all the options allow you to really make each dress your own, so that even if you and a friend bought the same one, you could make each really unique to you.  Shipping was a breeze with the dress arriving within 2 short weeks all the way from India no less, and the dress quality is a durable, soft cotton.  The color was also true to the photos as was the sizing.

Now to the night out.  My dress was a perfect mix of fancy and casual, which was ideal for a Friday night out eating and strolling the shops with girlfriends.  On this particular night, we had some wonderful Japanese ramen at Santouka.  If you ever come to have ramen in Vancouver, then a stop at Santouka is a must - the special pork here literally melts in your mouth and the food is beautifully presented, which is difficult for what essentially is wet noodles in soup.

Photos by me

After all that salty goodness, we were all craving something sweet, so we finished it off with warm Japanese-style crepes and outfit photos!

Thank you Sheila for the photos!

So what are you waiting for? Go check out eShakti now! Plus, they are having a buy 3 get 1 free sale!

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Getting my banjo on with Mumford & Sons

Although I would never call myself a music nerd, I have to confess that there's just something about music that really really captures my heart, in yes, a completely cheesy way.   I tend to go through phases of brief madness where I will listen to a single band, album, or even song repeatedly until like a bad fever, it subsides and I am free again.

The latest object of my obsession? UK band, Mumford & Sons, a quartet of folksy Englishman fond of waistcoats and I imagine, expensive whiskies.  Mumford & Sons is a mix of bluegrass, folk and catchy pop hooks blended with alt-rock influences.  And best part of all? The excessive use of banjo.

For whatever reason this twangy, hillbilly instrument instantly transports me into a sepia-hued vista of nostalgia and is the clincher for why I've fallen in love with this band. Maybe it's because the combination of gritty vocals, earnest lyrics and soaring banjo makes every Mumford & Sons song remind me of long summer grass,  pine trees and hazy twilight evenings spent stumbling in the semi-darkness with friends, or whatever boy I was with at the moment.  Maybe it's because music like this reminds me of growing up in a small(ish) town where days spanned centuries, beer was cheap and tasted like ass, but conversations were meandering and filled with talk of being anywhere but here.

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Must have: Mel x Forever 21 Jelly Sandals

Last week while reading one of my favourite blogs, I spotted the extremely cute new jelly sandal collection at Forever 21! In a collaboration with Brazilian sandal brand Mel, this capsule collection of 5 offers shoppers a rainbow of fun, jelly goodness and of course all at Forever 21's awesome price point.  If you never wore jellies as a kid (shockingly), don't be worried about whether these will be comfortable and unscented.  Jellies are not Crocs.  According to commenters, Mel jellies are super comfortable and very breathable so your feet won't sweat, even after a day of walking!  Plus, they are 100% recyclable so if they do make your feet stink, you can just chuck them guilt-free!

Check out all the jelly fabulousness online and here are my favourites below:

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Indulge with Anjolee Fine Jewelry

I am a firm believer in the power of jewelry and that the right accessories can always elevate your look.  As with your wardrobe, it's always good to have a mix of high and low items in your jewelry box.  Investing in classics that you can wear when you're young or old and to formal or casual occasions are worth the price they may deem.  Similarly, padding your collection with more affordable trendy pieces guarantees you always look fresh.

When jewelry brand Anjolee contacted me to see if I'd like to try one of their pieces, I was thrilled.  I'd read about Anjolee on other blogs and had always admired their fine craftsmanship, elegant designs and the good reviews of their service.  Based out of San Diego, Anjolee began in 1977 and boasts over 35 years of jewelry making experience among its craftspeople.  If you're in the mood for diamonds, Anjolee should be one of the places you visit as they have a massive selection of diamond bracelets, ring, pendants and earrings; plus Anjolee only buys certified ethical diamonds as a follower of the US Kimberly Act.

After carefully perusing my options, I have to admit I was a little stumped as most of the rings Anjolee was offering were rather "wedding" focused, but eventually I decided to throw caution to the wind and get myself a faux wedding band which had caught my eye.

A scant 2 weeks later and I had received my ring, the Devoted Channel Set Eternity band, in cubic zirconia of course!  Upon opening the package I was immediately impressed with the quality of the box that Anjolee had provided with the ring.  It's really those little touches that always make you remember a brand and the pretty mahogany colored ring box Anjolee gave was just so perfect, I kinda felt like I should get down on one knee and propose to myself!

Now to the ring itself.  This beautiful eternity ring has a very simple and classic design, with a single row of stones ringing the band and bordered in a channel setting.  Even with just cubic zirconium  the ring glittered, so I can only imagine what a stunner this would be with diamonds.

This ring is available in a variety of yellow and white gold, as well as platinum and can accommodate up to 1.73 ct diamonds, which would be HUGE on my teeny fingers.  For the purposes of this review, my ring was silver.

Since this ring is very reminiscent of a wedding band, I knew when I wore this out I would want to "rough it up" a bit so that it wouldn't look so formal.  I often like to layer my rings as I think it gives an edgier look and also because some of my rings have gotten too big over the years so layering helps secure them onto my fingers!  I decided to pair my new stunner with a simple silver ring that is a favourite of mine:

So pretty right? Now you too can also get yourself a fancy sparkler from Anjolee with this special discount code just for Just J readers!  Simply enter MP591 at checkout to receive 5% off!

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36 days left of me time

I've been hemming and hawing about whether to say anything about this, but I feel I shouldn't be afraid to share the good news in my life, so I'm just going to say it!

I have a home.

You see, for the past few months Mr. Artist and I have been quietly house hunting!  It all happened back in late fall and we were walking the dog together when Mr. Artist grabbed my hand and swinging my arm like a little kid, he said, "We should get a house together!"  and that was that.

Finding a home certainly wasn't as easy as saying we should get a home.  There were some ups and downs along the way and frustrated moments when we were both just discouraged.  Although buying in Vancouver has become more affordable than in recent years and it was no longer necessary to buy a place sight unseen, the market was still one of the highest in the country.

Yet we persisted weekend after weekend and after seeing countless open houses, to the point where I couldn't recall which ones I'd visited or only viewed online, we finally found it.  Our little green house on a tree-lined street.  It wasn't perfect, but we could see it being home.

On real estate shows, they always make it seem like the most nerve-wracking part of the process is submitting the offer, but in reality it's not.  For me, the most nerve-wracking parts were all the parts after getting the accepted offer, such as getting the inspections done and figuring out all the financing.  I literally couldn't sleep for a week after putting in our house offer and would call up Mr. Artist in the middle of the night frantically punching calculations into our budget spreadsheet and hyperventilating.  These were the moments that I really appreciated his steadiness, although sometimes it also infuriated me that he wasn't freaking out too.

Finally though the deal was done.  Now could come the fun part! Kind of.  The next month will be a whirlwind of renovations, cleaning and moving.  Oh yeah, and I'm taking school while working during this too.  The next month is sure to be a fun ride, but it is one I'm eager to jump on, at least 95% of the time.

While visiting Ikea and discussing back-splashes with Mr. Artist is endlessly fun, a part of me is saddened to lose part of my independence.  I love living on my own and the freedom it brings.  I love coming home to a quiet night just to myself.  I love being able to go out as late, or have anyone over whenever I want.  I love being able to eat marshmallows for dinner if I want. Now that's going to end.  The benefits outweigh the bad for sure and I know this is a necessary change to get the future I want, but still.  I'm really going to miss those nights of Real Housewives marathons and painting my toe nails.

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