{serving dishes}

I was browsing through Crate & Barrel and came across these lovelies!!! I recently acquired this 3 part square glass dish




---I LOVE it, it is replacing the one that cracked while taking it to a function. That's the only thing I find difficult---precious dishes that get chipped!!! it's so sad! I try my hardest to not chip anything but the inevitable always happens! If only there was a magic bandaid for that! or when you lend something out & it gets chipped---oh that's even harder!!! what do you say??? Anyhow, checkout these pretties....I think I could look at these all day long!!!

{taking it for granted}

...so i go every few days for a walk down to Bath & Body Works ( the store is on level one pretty much beneath my store!)...how lucky am i? i think that when i got home the other day and saw how my little stash is growing ..."for a rainy day"...i realized i had not even put my new babies on!!! how terrible of me!!! so here i post in my sweet shea infused fluffy socks! they are the best after a long day at work! ahhhh!!!!
These are the latest scents i've bought...they smell amazing: Island Nectar,Passionfruit & Guava and Pineapple Orchid....ooohhhh!!!

{pearl}

this is the most elegant bracelet, I really want it! it's found here.

{Lisa Leonard}

I'm totally loving her work & designs...especially the little pearl attached to the necklaces....hmmm..must pass this one along! Check out Lisa Leonard here!

{on ETSY}

so i was blog browsing a bit tonite & landed on etsy...i knew about it, but really haven't bothered to look thru it, as I can sew & make just about anything...i know, bragging isn't attractive, but i really liked a few things that weren't "sewn" rather knitted or handmade jewlery.... i really liked this "cross my heart wrap" in the above pic. how cute is that??? V-E-R-Y !!!

{pillow, anyone?}

...i'm on a sharing streak tonite! (killing some time before i have to run around & pick up kids, etc) i just found the most ridiculously cute pillow....check it out here ! not sure if i'll get it, it's only "starting at $134 dollars"... seriously , who would pay such a ridiculous amount of money...I predict you will see replicas of this in the near future~ yup, i'm psychic ~

{please be mine!}

okay, that didn't take me long! i just found something i want for Christmas, for all those of you that have me on your list, all 3 people who read my pathetic blog! hahahaha, so here it is! the Butler Bag! Oh my goodness, I almost fell off my chair, I love an organized bag & I am continously cleaning mine out of clutter, oh, this is fabulous!!! let me go back & look at it {and drool}...

I just added the red one, oh my, i'm in love!

{Sur La Table}

...it was one of the first french phrases i learned in school! i felt so "french" when I'd say it! silly, i know! A new & exciting site for me, is it new for you?..sur la table.. so what is it about an american store that is unaccessable to canada that i find so intriguing? (you know, PB & WS)....and then they grace us with their presence years later when they get wind that canadians WANT them!!! is it about the ...the grass being greener on the other side syndrome??? anyhow, this is a great site and they have a new baking blog also that you can check out....enjoy!

Update: {Barefoot in tha house!}

Looky @ what was in my email inbox today!!! A new show & a Christmas Special!!! It was as good as Christmas morning for me!

Dear Paula,

It's that time again! My new book, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics is coming out on October 28th. I think this may be my favorite book yet - it's all about how to get great flavor from simple ingredients.

When I'm writing recipes, what really interests me is how to get the most flavor in a dish. How can I make chicken taste like the best chicken you've ever eaten? What can I serve with this pear to bring out it's sweetness? What can I add to chocolate (like coffee) that will give the chocolate great depth of flavor? Each recipe in this book has that secret process or ingredient that will make your cooking the best ever.

In addition to my new book, I have a new TV series on Food Network - also called Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics with lots of great new recipes and some exciting parties. Don't miss Saturday, December 13th when my friend Susan Stroman and I give a party for the cast of her hit Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. It was such fun!

If you'd like to order signed books, get a recipe from the new book, or check out my upcoming book tour please go to BarefootContessa.com

Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Love, Ina

...Bath & Body Works

YES! it was good for me!!! I sprayed every new scent around our home last night, trying a new scent in every room!!! I even smell good thanks to my new lotions. I wondered if I would feel weird going in there ( for those who don't know, I was offered the General Store Manager position at B&BW@ WEM ...long story) or feel jealous...but I didn't! thank goodness! I thoroughly enjoyed the store, found it small for the demand there is for it & missing product lines but overall a beautiful store. There are many stores to be built in western Canada in the next 2 years...so they are coming to your city soon!!! Above is my collage of new products I treated myself to!!! It was good for me....it was pure pleasure...yes, i'm talking about lotion & sprays!!!

SU.....

so i've been going through the new fall Stampin' Up! Catalogue (which you can download here) and there MANY beautiful stamps there. i think when things slow down with shooting weddings i might consider becoming a demonstrator. i've never considered it with any other company but I am becoming more fond of this company & their style. It does get a bit "cookie cutter'ish" but I try to keep my cards fresh & different. Once you look at one demo's cards & another's, they seem to look all the same, that's the only thing i don't like....maybe they are trying to appear "similar" to the catalogue....i dunno...anyhow, i love the variety & uniqueness of their stamps....but i still luv my stickers more!!! which do you prefer?

it's a crock...

I just went to a fab store! It's A Crock Country Store and they have a new furniture showroom : A Chip off the Old Crock I'll take one of each, thankyou! I have a few friends that would love these stores- you know who you are!!! It made me look forward to all those Fall events that are so much fun...Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Corn-busts, Fall BBQ's & most of all--Back to school!!!hahaha! I look forward to the decorating & the parties, don't you???

ikea...

...so I'm done perusing through my ikea catalogue, it now has lots of post it note tabs for future referencing. i made this inspiration board to keep for future reference. did you notice it's all white? this is my fantasy craft room! i'd love to one day have a room whose sole purpose is CRAFTING. I would have it be all white. i think that all the card stock & paper needs a white background. From the top left: Love the white bookcase with clear glass doors, love the white desk with white accessories and small white cabinet on wheels. Third photo has same white desk acnhored by 2 bookshelves that's stunning! another option for a desk would be the glass top desk...hmmmm.... i had to sneak in this white dressing table for my bedroom! and my final wish would be to have a white sofa & coffee table to take breaks in my craft room sans kids!!! ahhhh...i luv this catalogue!!! now back to reality....what's your favorite page in the catalogue? you can see the entire catalogue at www.ikea.ca

about IKEA....

did ya get yours????