a gift

Hi friends. I've been a little quiet on my blog lately as it's been a tough week. On Wednesday, my mom called me in the morning to let me know that my grandma was in palliative care and that our whole family was gathering that day by her bedside because things were looking dire. Her eyes were already closed and she was breathing very heavily as we took turns holding her hands and having our own private moment with her. I was the last to leave her room as I found it extremely hard to walk away. I kissed her cheek, told her how much I loved her and told her it was ok if she had to leave. I cried through the night, positive that I would never get to see her again. The next morning my mom, my aunt, my daughter and I went to her room to check on her. I, for one, was surprised that she had survived the night. She had looked and sounded so horrible the night before. When we walked in, she was sitting upright, reading British tabloid magazines. The nurses told us that she had gotten up in the night and walked down the hallway, without her walker. She has not walked without her walker in 10+ years. Mom and I looked at one another in absolute disbelief. How was this even happening? She asked the nurse for a snack and motioned for me to sit beside her. I held her hand and she stared into my eyes. She smiled at me and said, "I'm going to be okay". She had not been talking coherently for days but managed to get that sentence out. I didn't know if that meant she's feeling better or if it meant,  not to worry, that she's okay with dying. She wanted me to hold Stella beside her so she could kiss her cheek. I felt like every second of our visit that day was a gift. It all felt like extra time that I never believed I would get. Extra time to look deep into her eyes and convey my love for her. She's 101 and still hanging in. It's remarkable to me that she was here for the first year of my daughter's life. I love how their paths crossed, these two big loves of mine: Ruby and Stella Ruby.  

bright nights at Stanley Park

i couldn't love her more....

gift ideas for your special lady

As soon as my feet hit the floor, I reach for my robe. A beautiful, spa-quality robe is the coziest way to start your day. Restoration Hardware has a nice selection. Partner it up with beautiful bath products from l'occitane.

How about a weekend bag? I love how a weekend bag is a gift of promise: she can look forward to being whisked away. To make it extra special, you can book a getaway somewhere to go along with it.

Here's a few bags at Roots, lululemon & Coach.

A sleek cuff bracelet makes a funky addition to a holiday outfit. I'd choose silver or gold for the most day to day versatility. Check your local department stores. 

How about a French theme to spark a little romance? I love this pillow from Urban Barn. Why not wrap it up with a bottle of wine, a copy of the DVD Midnight in Paris and Julia Child's beautifully written biography: My Life in France. 

If your love is hooked on the Food Network, how about a stack of new cookbooks to try out? Toss in a few packs of post-its so she can mark up her favourite recipes to try. If cooking is not her thing, then how about packaging up a night on the town: You can put together a gift certificate to Blo so she can get her hair styled for your big date, a gift certificate to one of the hottest restaurants in town and a night at a swank hotel.

Happy shopping! xo 

Gift ideas for your mom, mother-in-law or beloved aunt

A cozy blanket to curl under when they are on the sofa watching a show or in their favourite chair reading. Check out this one or this one. Or, if you know of a book they want, wrap the gifts together.

How about a new teapot and some funky big mugs to go with it? Or partner it up with some fresh loose leaf teas. You can find the one pictured above here. Check these out for a variety of styles and colours. 

You can go for something a little more sentimental, by filling up a collection of frames with family photos, like this great all in one piece from the Urban Barn. Or how about creating a photo calendar or photo book using simple user friendly software found here or here.

I love giving an experience as a gift. Does your mom like to golf? Buy her a round at a fancy course that she'd never treat herself to. Does she love to cook? Buy her a French cooking class at a local school. Does she enjoy the theatre? How about tickets to an upcoming play? Does she enjoy a little pampering? How about a spa gift certificate? Or, my favourite, a weekend getaway somewhere. 

A purse is a very personal choice, but a smaller clutch is a fun accessory that makes a safe gift choice. I'd add a perfume rollerball (like one of these ones) as a little gift inside. A new wallet is also a good bet as most of us are pretty rough on ours throughout the year.

*image courtesy of gorgeousworld.net

Happy shopping!

images from the weekend

Happy Dec. 1st!

Hello friends! I just wanted to drop a super quick line to wish you an amazing weekend! Can you believe that December is already upon us? I'm putting together a few gift guide suggestions for those of you (like moi) who haven't begun shopping yet. And for those of you who are already finished, you are some kind of organized geniuses that I both worship and fear. I'll likely post my gift suggestions on Monday as this weekend is jam packed. Just to be clear, these are gift suggestions for your loved ones, not for me. Although if my husband happens to see the list, he can feel free to interpret it as a gentle guide. What's on your line-up this weekend? We have a birthday party this afternoon, a dinner party tonight, a brunch tomorrow and a birthday dinner tomorrow night, and breathe. Don't you find as soon as December hits the calendar goes into overdrive? I secretly love it. It can get a little hectic racing around but I love getting a chance to catch up with everyone. Have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends. After all, time together is what life is all about. xoxo