Last week at the thrift store I picked up a bunch of great finds to host my first "girlfriends picnic". I scored some beautiful pink and peach glassware, a wicker wine purse, a floral bug net and an old blue cooler drink dispenser. Everything sort of matched except for the bright blue beverage dispenser. Which is why I was excited to partner with Rust-oleum on their Spray New Life campaign. I had a vision for this cooler and Rust-oleum made it happen proving once again everything gets better with a little love and attention (haha am I right mamas?)



Since my theme centered around a girls picnic I knew I wanted to incorporate their Rust-oleum Champagne Pink spray paint and their Pure Gold spray paint. Honestly, this project turned out so much better than I expected (I’d chalk it up to my great technique but it’s more likely the great quality spray paint). Rust-oleum’s Universal line offers one coating spray on a wide assortment of surfaces and comes in 5 different finishes, how could you go wrong?



To upcycle this drink dispenser I followed a few easy steps. First, I thoroughly cleaned the inside and out with soap and warm water. After that was dry I sprayed the entire exterior with a light coat of primer and let dry. Next I sprayed my first colour (champagne pink) and let dry. Finally I taped off the areas I wanted to protect and sprayed my last colour (pure gold).


After everything was dry I set up my girlfriends picnic table. I found all these fun elements at the thrift store and I couldn't help myself. Lately I've been loving pink or peach glassware so I loaded up  because I know I'll continue to use them plus they pair so well with my valentines day dishes I scored earlier this year.




Can you believe I found a wicker wine purse (well that's what I'm calling it) at the thrift store!? It's so cute I can see myself carrying this to my next party and them some.


I also snagged this cute bug net, total impulse purchase but I really like how pretty it is as well as functional. This set up is so cute I can't wait for my friends to see it - bring on the rose!



I love the way this project turned out and I couldn’t have done it without Rust-oleum. Honestly, if you’re a DIY’er you know the sense of accomplishment a spray paint project can provide.


And be sure to check out all the other #SprayNewLife projects. There are some great before and afters.

My family and I are planning to spend more time at the beach this summer. My husband loves our local beach and we're even thinking about renting a cottage for the whole summer which is why I knew a father's day gift centered around the beach would be the perfect fit. He's a great dad and deserves a little pampering here and there. As part of the Modern Handmade Home Series, myself and the other 3 bloggers partnered with Personalization Mall to select some Gifts for our Husbands and Dads. Here are my 5 Personalized Father's Day Gifts for the Beach Lover:


1. Embroidered Beach Towels
We are planning to spend more time at the beach this summer so I tried to tailor these personalized father's day gifts for the beach. Like these great personalized towels. I had them embroidered with "The Legend" and "The Legacy". Their great quality and size are perfect for those long days in the sun.

2. Embroidered Cooler 
This collapsible party cooler is the perfect container to keep your drinks cool while at the beach, cottage or golf course. Have it embroidered with your Dad's name or just a cute saying. It is sure to make any Dad smile plus it comes with beer bottle opener.


3. Monogrammed Bath Robe
Nothing feels like luxury like a plush terry cloth bath robe.  This has always been on my husband's list but it has always been a nice-to-have rather than a need. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he open's it.

4. Personalized Magnets
My husband loves magnets (for some reason), I'm more of a "clean fridge" gal but alas it's Father's Day and I want to make him happy. I figure if I have to have magnets on my fridge I might as well make them cute so I personalized them with beach photos from our last vacation.


5. "Nuts about Grandpa" jars 
Every year I ask my dad what he would like for Father's Day (or his birthday) and he often says nothing or "I just want my kids to be happy" (which just makes me want to get him a gift even more). The older I get the more I realize gifts don't need to be extravagant they just need to be thoughtful. My dad (and father-in-law) love nuts so when I saw these "nuts about grand-pa" jars I knew they would make the perfect gift for the kids to give to their grandpas.




Happy Father's Day to my dad and my husband. It is wonderful to have such great men in our lives to set the example for the little men in our lives.

I made the movie screen by simply tying two knots at the top of a king bed sheet and hooking on some bungie cords that were wrapped around a tree. It worked out perfect. This could work anywhere really, you don't need a huge backyard to make it happen (plus you could always just pull your TV outside if that's easier). For added comfort and ambiance I layered a few outdoor rugs, pillows, blankets and hung some outdoor lanterns.


For the snack bar I picked up a few southwest melamine plates and platters from Kitchen stuff plus, (so on-trend, affordable and durable!) I decided on a semi-camping, semi-movie menu; popcorn, s'mores, cookies, milk, you get the idea (and I threw in some fruit for good measure). The kids loved it.





One of my favourite things were these old fashion milk glasses and metal straws and my boys loved them too (although they did get spilled a few times lol). We eventually used these acacia wood serving trays to act as tables while the movie was playing.





Special thanks to Kitchen Stuff Plus for helping me set the scene for this magical moment, my boys loved this DIY outdoor movie night. I have a feeling we'll be doing it again real soon. PS - we watched Minions but I couldn't get it to show up in the photos lol.

Whether it’s a hanging planter filled with faux geranium foliage, or succulent centerpieces on your patio table, decorating with artificial plants outdoors is a big trend this season. I jumped on this trend during my One Room Challenge reveal last week, all the plants on my patio are artificial - can you believe it? Today, in partnership with Décors Veronneau, I’m excited to share a few ways you can incorporate faux plants into your outdoor space.


Consider using a privacy fence panels, covered in artificial foliage to create the perfect privacy screen! These trellises can be installed right on your fence, or even on an outdoor banister. Since they’re expandable, you can adjust their size to your needs. Growing your own living wall or privacy ivy could prove to be challenging but this fence panel is the perfect alternative to get the look without the maintenance. In my space, I used this fence panel to add texture and greenery to the walls of my patio and adorned it with a few empty frames.


Hanging arrangements are another great way to incorporate artificial greenery into your outdoor space. Often real hanging plants can be finicky and can get scorched by the sun. Faux hanging arrangements are the perfect alternative, all the beauty without the stress. Pro tip:  weave some twinkle lights through the artificial hanging plants to create a cozy, romantic atmosphere.


Lastly, using faux arrangements on your table is a great way to have greenery outside without the insects that may be attracted to the real thing. Perhaps a succulent centerpiece or something more colourful, the possibilities are endless. And while real outdoor plants usually require a lot of nurturing, artificial plants only need a bit of sunblock spray to keep them looking like new all season long.


Adding the finishing touches to your outdoor decor with outdoor artificial plants is sure to be a hit this season and for years to come!

This post is in partnership with Décors Véronneau. All expressed opinions are my own.

Reveal day of the One Room Challenge Spring 2019 is finally here. My patio makeover is complete and I love it. It has just enough cool to make it fun and just enough cozy to make it comfortable. The weather during the last 6 weeks of the ORC hasn't really been on my side, let's say there have been more spring showers than flowers. In any case, I got the space done but there were a few things that had to be put on the back burner (e.g. painting the cement pad). If you like this space be sure to check out the featured designers rooms reveals and the guest participants makeovers, there is so much inspiration!


If this is your first time hearing about it, the One Room Challenge is a design event that takes place twice a year (Spring and Fall), where designers have six weeks to makeover one room in their home and blog about it along the way. I have participated in the One Room Challenge four times, one time as a featured designer and three times as a guest participant.

So let's take a look at what this space looked like prior to this makeover.


While this makeover was far less work than some of the other makeovers I've done in the past, it was all I could manage right now because we are renovating a new house and selling our current house.  Here was the original plan.
You can look back on the progress of this space with Week 1 (The plan), Week 2 (Top 5 Outdoor Trends) and Week 3 (Thrifting Tips). In a nutshell, we painted the fence and posts, thrifted a few pieces of wall art and picked up some great artificial plants from my sponsor Decors Veronneau. They have great hanging arrangements and expandable privacy fence panels that are a great way to add greenery and privacy to a patio. Another item that really makes the space shine is the Sol Daybed from Article from their Boho Westcoast outdoor line of furniture. I can't wait for the weather to get better so I can use this space more often.







Special thanks to the event sponsor Better Homes and Gardens and to my brand sponsors Article and Decors Veronneau and to Linda of Calling It Home for creating this event.

Now that I am a mom I can really appreciate everything my mother did for me. Not only the things she did for me but the things she gave up for me. When you become a mom you really learn to juggle your “me” time and it very often happens after the kids are in bed. Every Mother’s day I feel like I can’t do enough to show my thanks to my mom. Today, in partnership with Décors Véronneau, I’m sharing a few Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.



1. Faux Fern
My mom has an antique plant stand that has been passed down through the family. It sits in a dark corner in her dining room and every year she tries to nurture a fern to life but the conditions are not ideal. She ends up with a continual shower of dried up fern leaves no matter what she does (and she has a green thumb). So this mother’s day I decided to gift her a faux fern. The ferns from Décors Véronneau have all the beauty of a real fern without the added inconvenience of messy fern leaves. If you’re weary of buying an faux plant be sure to check out my tips for selecting an artificial plant.
2. Lots of Pots
Indoors or out, you can never have too many pots. As our parents get older and down size they may not have the lawn/garden they use to have so a bunch of pots can be a great substitute for a full garden plus you can move them around for the perfect conditions or look. Check out the pot selection at Décors Véronneau, such great quality and variety.


3. Fun Decor and More
If you’re looking for more ideas to spoil your mom or to give hints to your husband be sure to check out the Mother’s Day gift guide online at Decors Veronneau. So many cute ideas, such as cactus ring holders, candles or faux arrangements. Plus their shipping is fantastic so you don’t need to worry that they won’t make it on time.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there. Saturday Night Live said it best last year “Thanks for pretending it was easy”.


This post is in partnership with Décors Véronneau. All expressed opinions are my own.