The Home and Garden Show

Gayle's garden - one of my favourite places on earth!

The month of March is ending on a happy note for me - Gayle is taking me to the 'International Home and Garden Show' in Mississauga today. Guaranteed to be fun. What can I say?  Our Cajun and Latino roots are a match made in heaven, and without the shadow of a doubt she is the best cook and gardener I will ever know.  Mes amis, it's time you meet (drums please!) - my mother-in-law!

Meet Gayle

I have to introduce her because we're always up to something, and if I write about it on my blog you can be sure she's shared valuable feedback! We've tackled a million jobs as a team.... intense gardening, extreme painting, radical cleaning, outrageous decorating, you name it.  We get a kick out of creating dinner menus, operating machinery (you have no idea), discussing the best blog post and shaking our heads at the latest home magazine disaster. She fills me in on what I've missed on the home channel, and her latest exotic trip, I fill her in on what 'The Sartorialist' and the kids are up to. We complain to each other about our mishaps with paint and marine varnish (don't ask) and get a chuckle when.... well, I'm sorry I can't tell you that!!

Gayle in her beautiful garden
with Mimi-la-fleur

And so I'm off, excited as can be to know that I'll come home with a ton of new ideas to share with you and try around the house.  Something tells me my beau has planned a stop at our local wine store before coming home today, and probably reminded his dad to do the same...they might as well.  Life is good.

One wrap vest - five different ways

Are you having the closet blues yet?  Here's a quick post on reinventing a simple wrap vest - five different ways. The idea is to illustrate how easy it is to reinvent the same clothes by using different accessories and how versatile my vest turned out to be (should I add I paid $9.99 for it? Of course, I should!).  I've kept the examples very (very) simple, but you could really have a ton of fun combining a simple garment with accessories you own but never think of using!

The accessories make the look as they reinvent the top!
The flower....
Here's my homemade pin-flower made with recycled leftover materials (including buttons) found around the house.  If you are craftier than I am, go to the Creation Corner. I guarantee you'll find some amazing fabric flowers perfect to embellish just about everything you own.  Some projects are remarkably simple to make and you might like to invite your kids to join in. 

If the craft business is not for you, then please take this amazing opportunity to dig up accessories gathering dust in your drawers and put them to good use!  Think: scarves, vintage bling, tights, belts, necklaces and earrings, shoes, boots and of course...purses!

Ready or not, here we go!

I'm wearing neutral tones, and clothes I know can easily work with this chilly weather. All that's left to do, is to have fun playing around with the wrap and make it work! 

From scarf, to tied-up vest, to pinned-up top,
to straight vest, to belted wrap!

Tied-up vest.  Necklace by Eme Al Cuadrado (Argentina)
Handmade 'Sodalita' stone pendant mounted on silver.



Pinned-up top

Straight vest

With a belt

That was easy! What do you think?  Still have the closet blues?  What are you reinventing in your closet today? Please be nice and share with us!

**  All pictures by Emma P. Slater, merci ma chérie!!



And the winner is....

What lucky soul won the pair of tickets to go to the Spring OneofaKind show in Toronto courtesy of 'Fancy Pants Kids', you wonder?  The announcement was taped in studio (my very own kitchen).  I think we will refer to this location as "VSN" (it would appear the 'OWN' acronym is already taken).

But seriously (I'm sure there's a better word), here you have the announcement.... uncut, uncensored, and of course unedited. Many thanks again to 'Fancy Pants Kids' for the tickets, and all the participants who entered the contest!

 

In case you rather skip my self-taped video debut, the winner is... Anne Bigras!  Bravo Anne, amuse-toi bien et surtout gâte-toi!  Laisse-nous savoir ce que tu auras choisi au show!   

One last thing.... Be sure to follow VSp's blog for more exciting changes, content and yes.... another contest.  I will be giving away another great prize very soon.  Have a good night, everyone and thanks for playing along!

Win tickets to the OneofaKind Spring show in T.O.!

Make sure your name is in the HAT!!!

Happy Friday!!  Wanna go to the Spring 'OneofaKind show' in T.O.?  Of course you do!!

Leave me a comment and your name to enter the draw, and you could win 2 tickets to the show courtesy of Fancy Pants Kids. Be sure to visit their booth at the show, their accessories are fantastic and it's not just for kids... you could finally get your very own grown-up superhero cape ('cause I don't like sharing mine). 

Speaking of superheroes... would you be able to find 'Veronica Slater presents - VSp's page on FB and click 'Like'?  If you do, that earns you an extra entry.  Nada mal.

Many thanks to Gretel from FPK, I just love her work!

The lucky winner will be announced on Monday, March 28th.  Who's in??!!  Hurry... get your name in the hat!!! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!  I'm off to do some more cyber spring cleaning!

I should be blogging....

.... but I'm not.  

Clean-up time!

Pourquoi, you wonder? 

I'm in the middle of doing some much needed "cyber spring cleaning". As you know, new and exciting things are happening at my end, notably my upcoming weekly contributions to le Boréal Express - Chaîne première, Radio-Canada as of April 4th. Truly, I cannot think of a better time than Spring to renew, refresh, and refocus! So let's get going!! 

What does it mean? 

It means you should be on the lookout for...

• A refreshed VSp website
• A polished VSp blogger space
• A brand new VSp Facebook page

Before signing off, I must say a BIG Thank you, Merci, Gracias for the lovely comments and messages you have sent my way in the past few days.  Here's a little thank you in the shape of a tulip, a much needed spring touch in this part of the world!

You say hello, and I say.....

Recycled wool hat, snow wasn't included.

'Excusez-moi, there's a mistake.... I thought you had departed!'  But no.  It's back, and it's white, and it's.... fine.  Tout va bien.

Recycled wool, perfect colours to go
with just about everything I own!

Bonjour madame la neige!  It's snowing in this part of the world, and I'm glad because I thought I had missed my chance to show you the pictures I took last week-end of some great Myco Anna goodies I got on their online store with next season in mind.  I just discover the link on Facebook.  Lucky me, I get to wear my beauties sooner than I thought!

Yes, it's real - recycled - fur!

In the end, les amours, there's always something perfect to wear no matter what mother nature brings upon us.  If it happens to be unique and ethical, designed locally and stylish to boot, then we have something to celebrate!

No, it's not.  Just synthetic fur this time with recycled wool!

I like to remind myself that positive people cope with any type of weather gracefully. The trick is to prepare for it, dress accordingly, and survive it (minus the whining).  Fancy boots, gorgeous winter coats and delicious accessories such as these always do the trick for my Latino soul!  Look out for Myco Anna's spring goodies... talk about delicious, and eco-friendly!

**Pictures by Eloïse C. Slater

Drums, s'il-vous-plaît.... we're about to board le Boréal Express!

Hello there!  Happy Spring! Bon printemps!  I've been neglecting my blog while working and completing two projects, getting a haircut and to be honest, juggling life in general (read March Break) but guess what? I have great news! 

My new tête de radio, what do you think? 

Drums, s'il-vous-plaît....

As of April 4th, I will be contributing regular chronicles to l'émission 'Boréal Express' (CBC/Radio-Canada, première chaîne) every Monday at 3:45 P.M.   I am excited and grateful for such wonderful opportunity, and look forward to weekly conversations with Maude Rivard, son recherchiste Steeve Therrien and the rest of l'équipe! 

To go along the radio show contributions, my plan is to continue blogging about fun lifestyle trends, ideas, practical tricks and life in general.  I'm happy to include whatever interests you personally so please remember that comments and suggestions are always welcome.  Feel free to send them along! 

Could my Spring 2011 have begun on a better note?  I think not.  Here's to an exciting adventure as we board le Boréal Express! 

Kissing My Winter Garden Goodbye

   

March is here, and Spring is within reach.  I don't know about you, but I love anything that has to do with change, especially when it involves warmer and longer days.... How about an early spring this year, Mother Nature? Is that too much to ask? Did I just jinxed it?  I hope not.  Thing is, mes amis, I'm not much of a winter gal.  No excuses, I'm simply Latina, and that's that.  When Fall comes around and it's time to put my garden to bed  it's always bittersweet for me.  After all, hibernation equals losing access to my outdoor rooms and that's tough.  This winter, I discovered that a garden can be enjoyed all year around.... Even if it's from a distance and thru a window. What's the trick you wonder?  I got help from a friend.  Read-up!

Back in the fall and just before completing the job, I got ideas and tricks from my friend Jennifer's blog post on her lovely garden, where she shares some of her Mom's wise advice while putting the garden to bed.  She was basically suggesting keeping 'stuff' and let me tell you... It sure isn't easy to resist my natural urge to chop away, trim back (I'm such a happy clipper!), and bag just about everything standing.  But (just for this once) I listened.  I stayed away from the clippers and even tied-up my lillies.

When I was done, I didn't fall in love with my garden's new 'Fall look'.  It seemed to me that some parts of the space looked messy and quite 'dead', but as it turns out, I'm sure glad I turned my back and let it be because as of the first snow fall, the plants I kept have offered beautiful colour, contrast, height, and have provided us with visual diversion resulting in a much nicer view from my kitchen. Just brilliant advice, Jen! Am I the last gardener to figure this out?  Do you have winter in mind when you put your garden to bed in the Fall?  Probably, but if not I'll be sure to remind you to do so come the Fall.

Irises, tall grasses and hydrangeas look pretty fantastic in earthy tones.  Jenn and her Mom really know a thing or two about gardening, and some exciting Fall plans are already taking shape in my head. I will be looking at keeping more plants next fall and continue to improve my wintery kitchen scenery (note to self: read up on this before you kill well-established plants, and remember to plant some: Rudbeckia, Echinacea and Japanese Anemone!!)

I'm signing off for now, but there will be more soon on how to kiss your winter jacket goodbye and transition into 'Trench Rage' to welcome Spring showers!  Not ready yet?  Fine, I won't freeze you to death just now.  I'll start with March Break, and Mompreneurs' work I'm crazy about. 

Until then, I plan on indulging my Latino DNA with a good dose of wintery peace, a warm room with a great garden view, and a tall latte.  Nada mal, me thinks.