Just popping in to wish everyone a big TGIF!!! I am getting so antsy to share our closet which we have practically been living in for the last few days as we finish painting the beadboard ceilings, walls and crown mouldings. The floors are all done and we are just about to add the baseboards which is a relatively fast and easy job, then comes the fun part: putting in hanging rods and using it!!!

Sean has a great tutorial on installing beadboard ceilings planned for next week, sharing his tips and tricks after doing it for the second time (check out our first experience installing it here). It is such an easy and cheap upgrade for any room, but it can be intimidating to figure how to match up the sheets so I think you will appreciate his learnings!

Now I am off to ladies night while Sean is running daddy daycare, but I will be back tomorrow.

Ciao Bellas!

Color Splash

Today I am am battling the same cold that Wren was suffering from last week. It has been a long 4 or 5 days since it started since I am positive my immune system is still in shock after having my appendix removed in December (when I consequently also caught a virus during my hospital stay). I was having a bit of a blue day yesterday (cold weather+head cold= one cranky momma bear) until I saw these photos from the Style at Home booth at Toronto's design show. Despite my long-lived love affair with white and grey it had my heart at hello.

The theme of the booth was paint and everything from the paint can light fixture, to the beautiful floors and furniture feature amazing uses for paint!

You'd think so much color would make me dizzy, but it just seems like a super fun hang out and I desperately wish I was lounging on the velvet settee right now.

Their choice of colors work in perfect harmony.

I think I forsee a few brighter projects in our near future with this much inspiration!

And while yesterday may have been on the blue side, today I am smiling from ear to ear as our closet is in the final day or two of work! Sean is laying the hardwood floors and I am hoping to have all our rods and organizers hung by the end of the week. It's been a long road, but SOOOO worth it when I see how much space we've gained (if you forgot, or missed how our closet adventure began click here).

Here's hoping your day is sunny!

Mod Tots Give Away!

I was so excited when Megan from Modern Bird contacted us to share their new line of children's art, aptly named ModTots. Like their Modern Bird creations, each piece is custom made.

"It is time for some clean, modern, and minimalist art for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers that is aesthetically pleasing to both parents and children. Welcome to ModTots by Modern Bird! Each ModTots design starts as an original illustration by artist, Gregg Deal, and is created with a combination of digital, hand, and painting processes on an Oak composite, much like the original Modern Bird Studios pieces. Each piece is handmade, one at a time, with love and consideration going into every one. "

They have a large selection of animals, robots, and are in the midst of creating both monsters and dinosaurs. The best part is that you can choose the colors in each piece to match your little ones room!

A fun fact: ModTots thought it would be fun to allow the first person who buys a specific design to name it after his/her child, like Harrison the Fox who was named after a social, mischievious, intense, charming little boy.

To celebrate their fabulous new site Megan and Gregg want to give one lucky reader a $100 gift certificate! This contest is currently only open to US and Canadian residents.

*To enter simply leave a comment on this post before Saturday, February 26, 8pm pacific time.*

and because Megan and Gregg are so generous, they want to give you 2 more chances to win!

For the first additional entry become a follower of ModernTot's Twitter feed (leaving an additional comment here)

And for a second additional entry like them on FaceBook (leaving another comment here)

But if you can't wait to see if you win, Megan and Gregg have graciously offered a 10% discount to all Life in the Fun Lane readers. Use code FUNLANE for your discount (expires on March 5th).

Good luck friends, and a big Thank You to Modern Bird!!!!

Antique Vanity

Day to day I don't wear a lot of make up, but I would happily become a glamazon if I sat at this vanity every morning. Originally, it was a beautiful piece of furniture that had seen it's fair share of use.

But I think a fresh white pallette is much more appropriate for playing with a rainbow of eyeshadows and lipsticks.
The original brass hardware is so beautiful that I wouldn't consider replacing it, and the lovely old mirror is perfectly aged and mottled. Not enough to make it difficult to work at the vanity, just enough to make it interesting.

Poor Wren has been under the weather this week (notice those rosy cheeks!), but being the sweetie she is has been entertaining Mom and Dad non-stop!

Cuddling in bed is one of her favorite activities at the best of time, but over the last few days it has been where she spent all her play time, reading time and laughing time.

Thankfully she is on the mend because Mommy and Daddy can't handle many more restless nights!!

Old Country Cabinet

Remember when I promised that we would have before shots on any new items? I lied.

(for those of you who have been asking about our chandelier, this post has all the goods)
Looks like this one slipped through that phase unnoticed, but I can assure you that it was bad 70's teak all the way! But now it channels an old cottage with lavender sprigs drying from the rafters.

I am gaga over open shelving so this one had me at hello! And the arches aren't too shabby either.

It was on the brink of boring so we jazzed it up with just a little contrasting grey paint on the doors and arches.

I am totally infatuated with the height, and if I didn't already have BIG plans for one wall in our kitchen reno, I would be trying to find a way to include this.

And on a very touching note, if you have a moment today please stop by a lovely reader named Angela's Blog. They are hosting an auction to help raise funds to adopt an orphan from Taiwan and can use all the support they can get. Good luck Angela!!

Salvation Pottery

Sometimes you leave a thrift store and feel so thrilled with your purchases that it completely makes up for the dozens of trips that you leave empty handed. I had just such a trip to the Salvation Army recently when I spied a set of faux-moss covered potts, all for only $5. It is not a subject I think we've address yet, maybe just touching on it briefly, but I have a love affair going with old urns, pots. The older (looking) the better. And these had my heart all a flutter.

So far I have only put one to good use, but I am sure the other one will find a permanent location once I pick up some spring bulbs.

In closet news, Sean has been working full time the last few days after it came to a screeching halt after my surgery in December. I am totally impressed by the progress he has made and it is shaping up really quickly (I will let him give you the grand tour soon!). It is amazing how much work gets done when you make it your full time job, right?

We hope you were both of these things yesterday! We are a day late and a dollar short, sharing our day with our sweetest Valentine, Wren, instead of blogging. We spent a family day together at an indoor playground and had a blast.

But of course, romance was the focus! And the word romance always brings back memories of our small wedding. Which Anthropologie's new bridal line, BHLDN, was also a day late and dollar short for. But a girl can dream, and in the event I am in the market for a romantic, bohemian gown I know exactly where to look now.

In the spirit of Valentine's, Weddings, and all that jazz I decided to have a little daydream and go on an imaginary bridal shopping spree.

This dress would make me feel like a goddess, and if it weren't in poor taste to wear white to a wedding it would definitely be in my shopping cart!

This is probably as close to a dream-gown as I have seen. I LOVED my wedding dress, but boy would this have fit perfectly as well. The burnished top makes it just interesting enough that maybe I can get away with wearing it somewhere else (or maybe I am just a tad eager to wear another wedding dress)?

If you are looking for something out of the norm, a veil with tiny birds clinging to your face probably fits the bill.

But I prefer a sweet and glamorous headband, complete with slightly messy updo.

On the far-more-likely-to-occur end of the spectrum, I am loving these bridesmaid dresses. And you could probably get away with one even if you aren't a bridesmaid...

I don't think I will survive the summer without this one in my almost finished closet! Seriously, it will be mine.

It has to be.

If you need a little more daydreaming material I highly suggest heading over to take a peek at all the other beautiful items BHLDN has to offer.

February Candle of the Month

Romance is in the air! Since Valentine's Day is just a few days away I wanted to go with an ultra floral scent this month. There is nothing more romantic than weddings and one of my favorite wedding dress designers is Vera Wang (check out our wedding day here) so I looked to her classic Floral Bouquet Candle for inspiration (9.5 oz, $34).

The simple glass jar features her elegant "love knot" signature in silver. The silver plate it sits on was a clearance purchase from Bath and Body Works a few years ago, but I think this may be the first time I have used it.



The description of the scent is "modern and fresh with notes of lily of the valley, gardenia, blossoming damask rose, leafy greens, and watery nuances" which brings back wonderful memories for me because lily of the valley was featured in all of our wedding flowers.

With 60 hours burn time I think we will be feeling the romance all month long!

If you love floral scents this is an extremely fragrant candle! If you are a little sensitive to strong fragrances I would either skip this one or just light it in small intervals since it is subtle when unlit, but really releases scent fast and strong when burning.

What is your favorite floral scent/candle? Any big plans for V-day?

Missed our previous Candle of the Month features? Click Here to catch up!

Cottage Cabinet

Just thought I would share our latest transformation. It is an antique, handmade cabinet that is a really unusual size compared to today's modern furniture.


It was a little plain so Sean jazzed it up with some wood appliques which we painted grey, along with the back panel. I LOVE the way the plates pop off that dark grey!



The beautiful, wide glass door would perfectly display everything from plates to books to a collection of old cameras.


And I PROMISE that this is the last item that Sean forgot to take 'before' shots of, so the next round of transformations have documented proof of their hideousness.


TGIF friends!!

My new Mane Man

You already know that I impetuously decided to chop off my hair yesterday, but the scariest part wasn't actually the decision to cut it but that I tried a new salon and stylist! I am really particular about my hair (as I think most of us are) and I felt like I wanted a fresh take on it so I went online to yelp.com. It was helpful to see what other local ladies said about different salons and stylists, and surprisingly how popular one local salon is. So I called, begged, and pleaded for them to squeeze me in before I changed my mind and they did!

It was the first time a guy has ever cut my hair, but it will not be the last because he was an absolutely amazing stylist and totally got me. He listened to what I wanted, how I wear my hair and styled it in a way that I can easily replicate at home, which I already have after washing my hair today. He is definitely a keeper and I will be back!

I highly recommend MUD salon to anyone looking for a salon in the Edmonton region and have nothing but rave reviews for the whole experience (10% off my first visit, $25 gift card to use next time, and fabulous treatment were a few highlights).

And if a fabulous guy by the name of Blair happens to read this one day, THANK YOU!!!

I love it.