[ happy new year! ]

IT'S HARD TO believe that 2010 is at its end! Despite a few ups and downs, it's been a pretty good year overall with many things to be thankful for. I don't typically make New Year's resolutions but I will make an effort to enjoy the little things, always be kind and appreciate the people around me. If I can do that, 2011 will be a very good year.

So whether you are painting the town red or watching the ball drop on TV, kick up your heels and ring in the New Year with a bang! Have a great weekend and I'll see you next year (aka Monday!)

lisa

[via thisisglamorous]

[ happy weekend! ]

TODAY I'M so happy - my guy is flying back from Dublin for the holidays and so I'm off to pick him up from the airport. I've been counting down the days and feeling like I'm 3, asking "how much longer?" Not long now! Hope your weekend is just as happy!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

WELL, Christmas is quickly creeping up on us and this is it, the last full weekend of shopping before the big day. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up on Christmas morning to this?

Hmm...what might Mr. Snowman have in that Tiffany bag? Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[via itsnotalwaysrainbowsandbutterflies]

[ from none to LOTS! ]

A DAY OF snow squalls, whiteouts and about a foot of snow! Looks like winter has arrived! Have a great weekend!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

IS IT REALLY the weekend again? Is it just me or did this week go by really fast? No concrete plans here - maybe eat out on a patio somewhere, figure out some art for my guy's office walls... maybe hang some curtains in my reclaimed "studio" room.

I'd love to have a big chalkboard in my studio. Speaking of chalkboards, isn't this one great painted on a door? I think this would be great painted on an entrance closet door - easy to remember all the things that need to leave the house with you.

What's on your agenda this weekend?

lisa

[decorpad]

[ happy weekend! ]

WHAT are you doing to be happy this weekend?

lisa

[via pink-pearls-boatshoes.tumblr]

[ vroom vroom ]

ONE OF my guy's favourite things is checking out cool cars so this weekend we went to the Dubai Motor Show. If money is no object and you're looking for the latest and greatest, Dubai is the place to see it…

Or if you can't afford to buy one of your own, why not join the Dubai Police and drive one of their fleet cars…

I saw a few things I wouldn't mind like these rugged wheels they don't sell in Canada {perfect for cottage country}…

…but my dream car would be something like this…

What would your dream car be?

lisa

[ under the weather ]

WELL, I guess it's always bound to happen - a prickle in your throat turns into difficulty swallowing, clogged sinuses and aches all over your body. Yup, I've been hit by something that feels a lot like a truck. Looks like I'll be spending my weekend a bit like this...

Hope yours is a lot better than mine! Stay healthy xo

lisa

[ lounging ]

I'D LOVE to be lounging in a cozy spot like this today...

I love the carved daybed and the enlarged letter on the wall. And the lace curtains add a little bit of romance. The chandelier is charming too.

Sundays tend to be laundry/grocery day around here. We went to see Skyfall on Friday ~ I enjoyed it, although to me, it kind of felt like something was missing from the usual Bond films I enjoy. Have you seen it? What have you been up to this weekend?

lisa

[via ullamaijahanninen.net]

[ happy weekend! ]

THIS WEEK seems to have flown by, despite being without hot water for an entire week! Let's just say that things move very slowly in Dubai and thank goodness cold water here isn't cold - it's slightly warmer than room temperature so a week of cold showers could have been worse.

I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend - maybe some leisurely shopping, sleeping in and a hot shower! What have you got planned?

lisa

[via beach house living]

[ got fleas? ]

NOT ONLY WAS yesterday Halloween, it was also Dublin Flea Market day! Held the last Sunday of every month, The Market has grown into one of Dublin's most loved markets. It's got everything you would expect from a flea market from vintage clothes to retro furniture and random odds & ends to an organic food store, homemade falafels, waffles and greek food. And with stalls inside and out, it was buzzing!

The thing I love about this market is that for each month, a poster is designed by a different well-known local artist and are available for sale at the market, with the profit going back to the artist. I love the various styles and knew I would be going home with one to frame for my studio. After choosing a couple that were sold out (no wonder, they were great!) I chose this one which I love in both style and colour:

What a fun way to spend an afternoon and I'll definitely be planning to go again next month!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND IS finally here with pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! Hope yours is spooky chic!

lisa

[sweet paul]

[ sending love ]

THIS WEEKEND I just want to send out some love...

To all of you...
for taking the time to stop by and leaving such sweet comments ~ I love you!


To my guy...
for celebrating the anniversary of our first date in high school ~ I love you!


To my sister and her lovely family...
for their loss and grief ~ I love you so much and wish I could be there with you.

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

IT'S A long weekend here in Dubai for Eid. No concrete plans for us ~ just some relaxing and maybe a movie and a lunch or breakfast somewhere nice.

Whatever you're up to, have a good one!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

SO... you'd like me to come visit your little cottage on the lake this weekend? And stay in this charming room? Well, I don't mind if I do!

Happy weekend! How will you be spending your weekend?

lisa

[via little emma english home]

[ happy weekend! ]

I'VE DECIDED to be a bit of a tourist this weekend and explore some parts of Dublin I haven't been to yet (at least not with a camera). Do you have any special plans this weekend? I hope whatever you do you take a moment to enjoy your surroundings. See you Monday!

lisa

[ happy weekend! ]

IT'S HARD TO believe it's already weekend time again! I'm looking forward to this weekend - I'll be attending a very lovely annual breakfast event on Sunday at the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel. I've been dying to see what this hotel is like and I'll finally get the chance. If I can sneak any pics while I'm there, I'll be sure to share with you on Monday. Got any special plans?

lisa

[ updates and such ]

I THOUGHT I'd post some little updates as to what's been going on around here.

1} Remember that gorgeous Pottery Barn jug I scored for $25 on clearance {see post here}? Well, I couldn't help but go back and pick up a couple more! Check out the deals I got on these babies...

Of course my guy just rolled his eyes ~ I know, these things do have to ship from Dubai at some point. But I love them grouped together with my vintage little bottle collection. I think the three big ones will look fab on a big dining room table someday with a few cherry blossom branches.

2} Remember the post about unknowingly wearing mom jeans {see post here}? Well, after being absolutely horrified at what my butt might be looking like in the jeans I had {and believe me, once I tried them on, a couple pairs did get shuffled into the emergency wear only pile}, I went on a hunt for a new pair...

Keeping in mind the importance of pocket size and placement, I found these Red Herring jeans at Debenhams for only $38! {which was great since I really wasn't too keen on spending on designer jeans}. Thank goodness for fitting rooms with three-way mirrors!

3} Remember how I mentioned meeting up for coffee with a fellow blogger who just moved to Dubai? Well, I'm happy to report that she's settling in nicely and we've been able to meet up for a couple of breakfast dates...

4} I'm still reading Casual Vacancy and am only about 1/3 of the way through so far. It is definitely not an uplifting book so far and it does touch on some pretty disturbing topics and human behaviour. But having not read Harry Potter, I'm not comparing it in any way to her other writing so I think that might be a good thing since most reviews can't help but make the comparison. It's definitely not a book for kids, even though teenage characters play a big role. I'll keep you posted.

5} Remember my post about the popularity of brogues {see post here}? Well, I finally found some after quite a long search here in Dubai. These lovely leather ones I picked up at Topshop...

So that's about it in terms of updates!

One thing I'm loving right now is Adele's new song Skyfall for the upcoming James Bond 007 movie...

Have you heard it? I think it's classic 007 and her voice is so perfect for it. I just wish they'd bring back Pierce Brosnan as Bond.

We're still waiting for the weather to turn here in Dubai to something cool enough to get outside for some fresh air. Temps are still 100F (38C) and humid but I'm hoping within a few weeks we'll start seeing them drop a bit. 

I'm really missing my gorgeous autumn Muskoka river view...

I hope to someday have something equally as beautiful.

Happy weekend everyone!

lisa