A Polished Goodbye.

Sorry for the delay in posts this week. I guess I’ve been avoiding the reality that I have to share the news about this decision: Yep, it’s time to move on.

It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve decided to close our little beloved blog, A Pair in Pearls.

We’ve had so much fun writing and chatting with our readers. I personally can say that I’ve connected with people all over Canada, the U.S. and even a few people in England, about our shared passions and interests.

Best wishes to Megan who will be taking on the role of mama in late May. I can’t wait to meet the little one and to see her transition into this new chapter.

Some exciting news on my end is that I will be starting up another little pet project, a blog (and maybe more) called Life in a Peachtree. Please email me at kristamonet@hotmail.com so that I can notify you (later in the spring) when things are up and running. Fear not, I will pick back up and share news on certain items that have rendered specific interest; a trip to London and my struggles with crochet in particular!

With polished wishes and thanks,

K.

What do you mean, crochet is hard?

So admittedly, I’m not all that crafty and yet the funny thing is I could spend HOURS in craft supply stores. I’ll browse and marvel at the depth of stuff available, but I’ll only walk out with some stationary or a package of invitations, or some kind of seasonal decorating item.

I guess the issue is that I’ve never invested too much time into learning anything properly, you know, thoroughly. And by anything, I mean knitting, sewing, card making, beading, stamping (which I’m particularly drawn to) and the like.

However, given my desire to be a well rounded gal with a knack for old fashioned lovelies,  a few weeks ago I made the decision to sign up for a crochet class. When I called to enroll, the woman on the phone sounded super friendly and sweet. She took away any and all hesitation I had.

SO – the first class went down last Sunday… and boy oh boy did I suck. Honestly, I totally sucked.

I think part of it is because I’m a lefty and everything in the world is still designed for right handed people (especially crafts that were invented eons ago when everyone had to be right handed). And part of it is because I’m just not good at stuff that has to be so precise (hence my usual avoidance of complicated baking).

How do you hold the yarn so that there’s tension? Which way do you scoop the yarn around the hook? Saying “yarn over” doesn’t tell me WHICH WAY I go over – there are 2 ways to go over the hook! How do you double up (or whatever it’s called) so that you can get going on the second row’s fabric? It all just felt too foreign and confusing.

It didn’t help any that I was the only one in the class who couldn’t get it. When the teacher sent us off with our homework to make a granny square, I was still working on my first row of chains. It was bad.

I need help because at the moment I’m contemplating missing the second (and final) class next weekend to stay home and make something that comes more naturally to me; a big pot of squash and pear soup. I’ve been craving it for a week.

Challenges aside, the place where I’m taking the class is wonderful and if you’re in the east end of Toronto, you should check it out. I’ll post a photo of my progress soon.

Who Am I?

I may have the career direction thing semi-figured out, but I sure need to get clear on where I see myself hanging my hat. The trouble is, I have always battled with two very strong sides of myself. Last weekend, it all came to a head.  

On one hand I’m a happy urban dweller who loves to walk to restaurants and shops. I enjoy the buzz of constant activity and the interest that comes from living in the city with endless amenities at my fingertips. I love the fashion and diversity of people who live downtown. I love that city folk don’t get shocked by much and that parallel parking doesn’t throw me into a frenzy. The realism/grittyness of it all just makes me feel more tapped in.

On the other hand, I crave a slower pace. I want a sun filled porch, a garden full of hydrangea and a long winding driveway (or any driveway at all). I want a big backyard to build a home studio and a leisurely main street nearby. I want to do my summer shopping at the farmers market and have enough space to set up Sunday night dinner for 10 around a big ol’ reclaimed wood table.

If you took a look through my magazine basket, these two sides would be fully illustrated. I have this month’s copy of Toronto Life, an issue of Town & Country, and the last 3 months of Fashion Magazine sitting next to endless copies of Canadian Home & Country and HomeMakers. I’m a demonstration in opposites, equally evident by my ipod play-lists where jazz sits next to bluegrass, Chris Botti next to Carrie Underwood.

So imagine my stress when I stumble upon the most dreamy house last weekend… in Unionville… off Main Street… on the same street that my grandparents once lived long ago (talk about history).

Okay, now I know Unionville’s not exactly the country (anymore) but it’s certainly not the urban neighbourhood we were thinking of moving to. What happened?   

Hubby and I aren’t aggressively looking to sell our place but it’s sort of on the brain, which might be crazy in a slow market and shady economic times. But there’s also an upside to buying when things are soft (selling on the other hand might prove too difficult).

All of a sudden I was thinking about rocking my babies to sleep on the veranda, being able to feel grass under bare feet, the sound of crickets on hot summer nights, and having a giant backyard party while all the kids run around the playset (yes, even though we have no kids I loved that the house had a big wooden playset thingy). I could see us living there for years on end – it was most definitely a retreatful home.

But then I instantly grieved the proximity of my friends, the urban parks that I adore and the fun that comes from living less than 10 minutes from major theatre, top notch wine lists and the St. Lawrence Market. I instantly missed the calm I feel among the crazy noise; the paradox one experiences with city life.  Would that feeling pass?

Oh dilema. The agent wants to know if we’re coming through it again this weekend. Do we stay or do we go?

I know! I need a weekend home. A country retreat that can satisfy my desire for rural bliss while allowing me to keep my place in the urban jungle secured.  

I’d better get on that.

Good Goop

The jury is out on whether Gwyneth Paltrow’s little baby named Goop is the seething, in your face, cold, pretentious blog that haters are saying it is.

Those who are against it are citing that she comes off as too perfect; that they hate how she showcases being friends with celebs like Madonna and Stella McCartney, all the while claiming “my life is so normal and typical of what you experience too.”

I admit to being a fan of Goop, mostly because it has great photography and she runs incredible fashion and interesting perspectives on topics like travel, family and faith. Her content is organized under the simple headings of, Make, Go, Get, Do, Be, See. And I’ve actually printed out a couple of the recipes she’s featured.

Am I a die hard fan? Gosh, no. But I don’t understand people who poop on the creative endeavours of others just because they don’t fall into the same tax bracket. It’s not like her blog is all that different from this one, or others out there, really. She’s simply showing us her lens on the world.

Now, when that lens landed on Louboutins in a “Get” focused newsletter before Christmas, I knew (for me) they were only a dream. But I could afford the belts and dresses from Topshop that she wore with them. I appreciated that piece, regardless.

I know there are lots of reasons why you could choose to hate her, but I’m choosing to read and to get a new recipe for Sunday night dinner or to be inspired to try a fun pair of tights with my little black dress. I’m not taking it too seriously. I’m not offended because she’s showing snippets of her atypical life. I’m not going to bash her because she’s able to afford an expensive post-baby trainer or because she list an $1800 Hermes watch as a great gift to give someone special.

Sometimes we all just need to keep things in perspective.

If you’re interested in signing up for her weekly newsletter, check it out here. If you’re like me, I think you’ll actually enjoy it.

Getaway with Anthropologie

For those of you lucky enough to be jetting off to a balmy location this winter, I envy you. Although I truly can’t complain much… I do have a fantastic trip booked to London the first week of April (more on that later).

Still, I get totally excited when I see getaway collections in stores and on line. Even though I’m not going anywhere warm, it gives me a little piece of something sunny to think about for a few minutes…  and then I can put my wallet away and be happy that I didn’t need to blow $500 on stuff I’d only wear for a week.

But insert the getaway collection from Anthropologie, and I’d change my tune pretty quick.

From amazing tunics to cute dresses and new takes on the jumpsuit, this stuff literally has me thinking about where I’d plunk my beach chair in the sand. They’ve also made shopping online from Canada easier, with an automatic currency converter so you see the price of things in our dollar (which isn’t always a good thing).

I adore this feminine eyelet top with ruffle sleeves ($190) and orange milk glass necklace ($60). I’d pair it with this very vibrant tote ($320), which could transition into my summer bag at home. And just for kicks, I’d go for this incredible one-piece with a burst of coral red ($230).

Yep, this store definitely has me and my imaginary vacation wrapped around its finger.

Crafting it Better

Carrie Bradshaw did wonders for so many things.

She threw recipes for cosmos into overdrive. She made us crave a wardrobe the size of Manhattan on a budget the size of a columnist’s shoestring. And for some of us, she made us wonder what it would be like to be with a man who could make something other than a dinner reservation.

Yes, my friends, I was most definitely a fan of Aidan Shaw.

But here we are in the real world and for better or worse (mostly better), I married a mix of Mr. Big’s affinity for fine living and great suits, Aleksandr Petrovsky’s quirky moods, Jack Berger’s gentle sensitivity (shy of the Post-It note incident), and a big dash of Steve’s sweet, boyish charm. I love each and every bit of him, but no where in there lies even a bit of Aidan’s craftiness.

So I get my fix elsewhere.

And most recently, I have fallen for a man named Jack behind a woman named Kimberley.

Nestled along a quiet stretch of Queen St. East, Jack Fice is the craftsman behind Kimberley Jackson, a shop for lovers of a handmade home. It’s rustic through and through, but in that perfect, vintage, cleaned up kinda’ way. An amazing selection of cabinets, vanities, sideboards, and so much more awaits – it’s the sort of stuff you can imagine living with for ever.

If you’re looking for an interesting piece that probably has a story to tell (think storage benches that have been fashioned out of old church pews) then stop into this amazing shop. They even do custom work for you, or as a commissioned gift.

Aidan would be proud. The only thing it’s missing is a dog named Pete.

Tall, green and handsome

Well, I did it. Thanks to an afternoon of sampling margarita recipes, I managed to shake myself free of January’s gloomy hold. In the process, I landed smack in the middle of a sunny February afternoon, feeling much better about life in general.

First thing’s first; a good margarita is no easy feat. I tried 3 variations in all and completely surprised myself when I fell for a recipe that called for Limeade and beer, and that didn’t call for a salted rim. Who’da thunk it?

Let me present to you, this very simple recipe for a yummy margarita that tastes just as exotic and escapist as the ones you’ve had with your corn chips on the beach. I’ve long preferred my margaritas on the rocks instead of frozen, but I’m sure this recipe could be tweaked for a blender if you’re a fan of the slushy drinks.

Ingredients and How To’s

1. Mix up the Limeade as instructed on the can.
2. Get out a second pitcher or mixing container and pour in 1 can of the Limeade juice; 1/2 can of tequila; 1/2 can of light beer (I used Coor’s Light but I think it would have been better with an authentic light Mexican beer);  and the juice of 1 lime.
3. Stir and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. Pour in a glass over lots of ice. Enjoy.

And since the groundhog predicted another 6 weeks of winter, I know I’ll be making this recipe again soon!

Okay, January. You Can Go Now…

Seriously, this winter is killing me. Last year was bad, but I really thought it was a fluke and because of that, I didn’t mentally prepare myself for another January like this.

The arctic temperatures combined with truckloads of snow and no parking (oh yeah baby, we have permit parking on the street) are causing me anger issues. I’m not sure how many more mornings I can stand to brush off my car while the biting wind chaps my chin and cheeks (thankfully my forehead is covered by a very cool winter hat – the Mariouche hat below is available at Sporting Life).

At any rate, ESCAPE is a word I think about daily.

Will it ever be possible to walk out my front door wearing anything less than 17 layers of bulky clothes? Will this deep freeze ever end? How is it possible that all this snow will melt? When I look down the street toward an endless sea of snowbanks, I can’t believe that it’s ever anything but winter here in Toronto.

I would put money on the table that I’m not alone in feeling this way. How many times in the last 2 weeks have you wondered whether you could be happier selling suntan lotion on a beach? How many times have you raided Expedia to see if that dream vacation has dropped in price? At this time of year, so many of us suffer from the winter blues, where life feels more like a chore than a gift (note to self – I must remember to coordinate conception of my first child with a spring or fall birth, you know, since we can control it and all).

I need to get out of the January jail, and fast.

As usual, my mind goes to food and drink. Oh sure, I still love comfort food but right now I want something that tastes like a vacation. I want mango and pineapple, or shrimp with cilantro and black beans all wrapped up in a grainy corn tortilla. I need to wash it down with a real margarita – one that’s not full of fake bar mix but real, freshly squeezed lime juice. In fact, that will be my mission this coming weekend. I will learn how to perfect the margarita and I will blog about it early next week. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, here are a couple shots from a long weekend getaway we had in Florida to see the in-laws before Christmas. I thought I’d post them to remind myself that I HAVE seen the sun in the last 6 months. So go ahead and whip out those old photo albums of yours and enjoy remembering the sunny vacations you’ve taken, while you down a cold, beach worthy cocktail.

Hang in there pearly readers. We’ll make it through.

The Importance of Clarity

Pearly Pete, my Uncle whom I have referenced in other posts, has long talked about the importance of clarity. That is, the need to be honest, specific, and pointed in what you want and how you feel. It’s also the sense of calm and peace that results from doing something that is “meant to be” or that the Universe has been guiding you toward. Yes, I know – this is getting a little heady.

I, like many people, have struggled with finding clarity in certain areas of my life. It’s not because I don’t know what I like or how I feel, but rather, the challenge of wading through the noise or competition (as I have come to call it) has been my issue.

But the more time I’ve allowed myself to sit alone and be quiet, the stronger my filter has become. I can now filter out directions in life that just don’t make sense for me to explore. I am strong enough to commit to what I really want; to realize that hard work, dedication and sacrifice are necessary to achieving dreams. For the first time in my life, the reality of that doesn’t scare me… at least, not enough to back away from it.

In thinking of all this and wondering what part of it I could focus on for the blog, I decided to share a picture that has helped me. It’s a simple shot of a home office that’s been gussied up. To me, it inspires creativity and focus in my life. Why? Quite honestly, because it embodies a certain element of what I’m working toward.

Sometimes crafting the perfect description of what you want is hard. There’s too much else that works to throw us off track. So if you’re looking to get out of a routine and are finding it hard to know where to start, try and find a picture of something that can say it for you. Keep it somewhere visible and look at it often. And when you think you can’t get there, take just one element of it and achieve that first (baby steps work wonders for accomplishing bigger dreams). Slowly, your ability to feel the change and to commit to it verbally (the scariest part) will happen. It’s not a proven method, but it’s working for me.

Pearly Pete was right: Clarity really is the ticket. And once you have it, there’s really no turning back.

Paint Colours for a Nursery

Seeing as I am currently a full five months pregnant, I think it’s high time that I started to plan the baby nursery.  From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I knew that the nursery would be a challenge for me.  My love of interior design has inspired me to be the Sarah Richardson of my own house.  And for the record, interior design is not as easy as it looks.

My first challenge is that we don’t (and won’t) know the sex of the baby.  We are holding off to keep it a surprise.  In theory this is a darling idea, but when it comes to baby room design it’s a nightmare.  My next big road block is selecting a theme.  Instead of being inspired, all I know is what I want to avoid like the plague.  I don’t want baby duck yellow or mint green.  I don’t want something too pink or too blue.  I don’t want primary colours or cute monkey designs.  I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m picky.  

A colour scheme is going to be my starting point and when surfing the web for inspiration I was delighted to discover Serena & Lily.  Serena and Lily are a match made in heaven. One is a textile designer and artist, and the other previously owned an antique baby shop.  When it comes to nursery design, it is a perfectly polished combination.

Below is their collection of paints that are truly inspiring.  Chambray is exactly what I was looking for!   Now, if they only made strollers in these colours!

Shell Hydrangea Juice Punch Lilac Bluebell Dove Air Pool S&L Blue Chambray Paddleboat Navy Sunshine Citrine Sprout Grass Oatmeal Saddle Chocolate Cotton Vanilla