Life: Designed

Friday, January 25, 2013

Help Build 20 Homes in Fiji!

Hello my lovely readers! Guess what?! Out of 100 students, I've been selected with 14 others to partake in a new initiative with my school, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Habitat for Humanity!

I've never really heard London calling my name...until now.

I was at HomeSense a few days ago and saw a white washed wood chest with a faded Union Jack on the lid. I spent about 5 seconds dreaming that I could afford it.

And then when I was hunting for arm chairs for a recent client, I came across Made and spent some time dreaming I was living in London purchasing furniture.

Here are some goodies I have fallen in love with:

Mint Chocolate Brownies/Cupcakes

My dad's favourite ice cream is mint chocolate chip so in honour of him, I decided to make mint chocolate brownies for Christmas dessert!

I've made brownies before in my very distant past but never mint chocolate brownies! Sounds delicious right?

Life Designed

A Christmas Menu

I've turned into a domesticated woman this holiday!

That's right...I've been cooking/baking a storm.

Reuse Bath + Body Works Candle Holders

I love candles.

So much in fact that in high school, my church youth kids joked that I was goth. I suppose the mood lighting and incense didn't help...

Soon "goth" was replaced with "witch" when the kids discovered a broom in my closet. It was a prop from a church play...I promise! =)

Source Unknown

Lately my love for candles has made a roaring comeback so a couple weeks ago I went to Bath and Body Works. I've actually never purchased candles from BBW but I was curious to see what they had.

Nathan's Doljabi Raffle

The baby of our family is turning 1 this Friday! It's so bittersweet...I wish I had the power to freeze time.

His cousin Mia, who's 6 weeks older, had her dol (a baby's 1st birthday) at the end of September. The Korean doljabi raffle was a big hit at Mia's dol so I reused the pink jars to make Nathan's dojabi raffle.

Mustache Mug Party Favours

What is more fun than a mustache mug?!

I love candy bars but I feel like we need to switch it up. I'm pretty sure we've had candy bar favours for the past 6-12 parties. Change is good, no?

So for my nephew's upcoming 1 year little man mustache party, I came up with a different idea for favours.

His party will be right after Halloween so kids (and parents) will be candied out- another reason why I love this idea!

Life Designed

Mia's 1!

So as I mentioned, my little niece turned 1 a couple weeks ago!

Life Designed

Here are some decor pics that our friend's daughter shot. At 16 years old, she's a budding photographer!

Today I turn 31... say what??

Since I've been in school for the past 4 years it feels like time has stopped. That might be because I'm surrounded by a bunch of young'uns. In my class of 19 guys and gals, I'm the 3rd oldest. Is there something wrong when my closest classmates are a decade younger than me? But to even it out I also have a close classmate that's a decade older than me.

When I first started this program I remember thinking, "Wow, I'm going to graduate this program when I'm 31!" That sounded so old back then... but alas, here I am and... I don't feel a day older. I think my nephews keep me young. I'm pretty sure they think I'm their age.

It's hard to explain. I don't "feel" older but I know that I definitely am.

Dior Ad

This upcoming year will be an interesting year...some transitions will be happening and I have no idea how it's all going to play out.

Mustache Photobooth Fun

I love photobooths! But renting a photobooth is about $1,000 so for my nephew's little man/mustache bash birthday, we're going to set up a makeshift photobooth with these props I made:

Life Designed

Li'L Man Banner

Well my niece's 1st birthday has come and gone and now it's time to focus on my nephew's 1st birthday party coming up! With 4 little ones, there's never a dull party decorating moment!

A friend's daughter took a ton of pics of the cake/candy bar table on Saturday so I'll post those as soon as we get them.

In the meantime...let's switch gears for a little man's 1st birthday!

The theme is "mustache bash" so I'm in the middle of make a little banner that will look something like this:

Life Designed

I was originally going to use onesies, but then I'd have to iron a mustache on or draw it which did not appeal to me. I'm not a fan of iron on transfers ever since my epic tie t-shirt fail.

Baby's 1st Year Timeline Frame

Happy 1st Birthday Mia!

My little niece is one today and for her party tomorrow, I've put together her monthly pictures in a large frame.

Life Designed

DIY Mid Century Bench

My friend's boyfriend bought a condo over the summer and to go with his mid century modern decor, my friend and I built a dining bench inspired by this AWESOME mid century bench by Salvage Love:

Salvage Love

Isn't that gorgeous?!

1st Birthday Party Target Haul

In addition to my little niece turning 1 in just one week, my youngest nephew, Nathan, AKA Chubbs, AKA Butterball, is celebrating his 1st birthday in the beginning of November!

So I'm simultaneously making decorations for both parties in addition to studying in my last year of design school... It's going to be a busy fall.

Back in August, I had gone down to the States to hit up Target and Joann's for some party supplies and I wanted to share them with you!

Korean Doljabi

A huge Korean tradition at a child's 1st birthday is the "doljabi". This is where the child is presented with various objects that represent something ie. money = wealth, yarn/string = long life. It's said that whatever the child chooses will determine their future.

Of course it's silly and superstitious. We don't believe in any of it but it's a fun little tradition that everyone in our family has participated in. It's a way to have all the guests gather and give their full attention to the birthday child.

Life Designed

The is an opportunity to have a raffle where guests predict which object (and therefore which profession/future) Mia will choose. They take a tag, write their name on the back and drop it in the appropriate can. After Mia participates in her doljabi, a "winner" will be picked at random from the chosen can and awarded a prize.

DIY Large Art Quote Canvas

I made this large quote canvas as part of my friend's birthday present:

Life Designed

This quote is practically my life's motto!

DIY Korean Dol Towers

I can't believe my niece is already turning 1 in a couple weeks!

This is a pretty big milestone in almost every culture and it's certainly a big deal in the Korean culture where we have certain traditions attached to this big day which we call "dol" or "doljanchi".

If you google Korean dol/doljanchi, you'll see people go all out with decorations for this day. A typical modern day decor piece is the dol go im (dol tower):

Life Designed

Best iPhone Case Ever!

I've wanted an iPhone for YEARS. And for years, I patiently waited for the right time to get one. A few months ago, it was finally time.

It's probably one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Haha!

After I got the phone, I struggled with what sort of case to get. Yes, it's a horribly difficult decision, isn't it?

For a while I thought maybe I would just make do without a case.