Alexandria's Little Corner of the World

The royal baby boom wrapped up this month with the arrival of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia's little girl, Infanta Sofia born today at Madrid's Ruber Internacional Hospital at 16:50 p.m. The little girl, who is named for her maternal grandmother, Queen Sofia (born Princess Sophie of Greece) weighed 3.310 grams and 50 centimeters.

The Prince of Asturias's first phone call was to his father, King Juan Carlos, to announce the arrival of the King's eighth grandchild. Queen Sofia was in the air, flying from Moscow (returning from the funeral of Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich) to Madrid, but congratulated her son via a text message (how thoroughly modern!). Infanta Cristina, who was with her husband Inaki Urdangarin attending a tennis match received a call on her cell phone during the middle of the game. Infanta Elena was also contacted about the arrival of her niece.

Princess Letizia's mother, Paloma Rocasolano, was present at the hospital when her granddaughter was born.

Tomorrow, Infanta Leonor will meet her baby sister.

Labels: Royalty, Spanish

On Monday, the world got its first glimpse of the newest addition to the Danish royal family when Crown Princess Mary left the hospital with the "lille pigen," Danish for "little girl," a nickname Mary revealed to the press since the baby's name will not be known until her baptism (July 1).

Looking much more like a mommy this time around than when she left the hospital, Mary looked relaxed and well as she carried her newborn daughter in her arms. At Fredensborg Palace, Prince Christian joined the presentation, completing the family of four.

Labels: Danish, Royalty

Today, a new picture of Queen Beatrix with her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Crown Princess Maxima with their three children, Princesses Amalia, Alexia and newborn Ariane. They were taken at Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar, where the Crown Princely family make their home.

Isn't little Amalia adorable snuggling up to her Grandma Trix like that? It could only be more adorable if Grandma Trix had her arm around Amalia, too! Little Alexia seems to be more somber than her big sister, though, looking a bit more serious.

And because I'm me, I only wish that Maxima had worn different shoes with that outfit. They don't even match!

Labels: Dutch, Royalty

Scrapbooking Quotes From Teresa

Just as pieces stitched together in a quilt warm our bodies, scrapbooks bind together memories to warm our hearts.

When life gives you scraps, make something with them.

Keep some souvenirs of your past, or how will you ever prove it wasn't all a dream?

The album we've made is much more than a book.
It's worth even more than the time that it took.

Labels: Quotes, Scrapbooking

A note via e-mail from a co-worker.

Message of the Day ...

Life is short,
Break the rules,
Forgive quickly,
Kiss slowly.

Love truly,
Laugh uncontrollably,
And never regret anything that made you smile.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

Labels: Quotes

I've had this idea for several years now, ever since I started using scrapbooking paper to cover my journals. But the other day on Apartment Therapy, I saw my idea realized into reality. My idea was to buy scrapbooking paper and frame them as cheap art.

A look through my scrapbooks would make it obvious that one idea I love over and over again is the idea of a wall with three or four rows of framed images in a grid pattern, usually four rows horizontal and three framed images across.

The draw of scrapbook paper would be (aside from it being only 50 cents a sheet) that it could be easily changed depending on the season, or if you redecorate, or if you find other prints that you like. The person who has done this at Apartment Therapy seems to have done this with random sheets, but I would have mine in a common colour palette of pinks and greens, so that each one would pick up on a colour of the previous one and there would be a "flow" of colour from one frame to the next even if the graphic or print were very different, such as a floral print to a geometric one.

Labels: Art, Home decor, Scrapbooking

Today, while a wee little princess was being welcomed in Denmark, 81 years ago another wee princess was being welcomed across the pond in Great Britain, with the arrival of Princess Elizabeth of York. Today, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Canada, celebrated her birthday quietly and without much fanfare. THe real party will take place in June during Trooping the Colours.

Happy Birthday to Her Majesty!

Labels: British, Royalty

This week was a busy week for the Norwegian royals.

The big event of the week was the visit by Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer and his wife, Mrs. Margit Fischer, from April 17 to 19. The agenda was culturally heavy, with visits to the Museum of Design and Industry, the National Gallery and the Munch Museum. Other activities included lunch at Akershus hosted by the Norwegian government, the Lærøy fisheries, Norsk Hydros Research Centre and the city of Bergen.

During the state banquet the first night, Queen Sonja donned a recycled evening gown, but one of her better ones: A smashing red gown with a round neckline and layered sleeves. Her daughter-in-law, my favourite, Crown Princess Mette-Marit didn't fare so well, even in a new gown. The hunter green and navy gown was fussy and unflattering to Mette-Marit's figure. Her hair, even with some soft curls, was far too plain and did nothing to show off her diamond tiara.



Meanwhile, the King and Queen's son-in-law, writer Ari Behn turned designer, debuting a line of china and crystal entitled "Peacock" he designed for Magnor Glassverk. The china collection, which includes dinner and breakfast plates, bowls and coffee cups, to salt and pepper shakers each bears peacock feathers in vibrant shades of green and blue. The crystal meanwhile includes such pieces as wine glasses and champagne flutes, as well as beer glasses, a wine decanter, whiskey tumblers and candlestick holders.

The design isn't super original -- anyone who has read a design blog or magazine in the past few months has seen the peacock motif at least once or twice, but the placement of the feathers on the plate off to one side is nice. The crystal however, is much nicer. It has a nice masculine look to it with the thicker stems and winder base.

My only gripe: Ari, you're the centre of attention on this day yet you can't get your hair trimmed? You're going grey, okay, some men go grey prematurely. But can't you get your hair trimmed, run a brush through it and go easy on the hair product? You don't need to use half the hair gel bottle, you know. You can save some for tomorrow.



Meanwhile, on Thursday, Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the opening of an art exhibit by photographer Candida Höfers at Henie Onstad Art Center at Blommenholm. The Crown Princess looked a wee bit dressed down for the occasion and uninspired even considering it was an art exhibit and it was a chance for Mette-Marit to look creative. But the blouse was sweet, with the two bows a the side of the sleeves, and her hair looked simple and shiny.

Labels: Norwegian, Royalty

On the invitation of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain made a visit to Luxembourg this week, from April 16 to 18. Their last visit to Luxembourg was in July 1990. Among the activities were a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, Betzdorf's Castle, a concert by the Luxembourg Philharmonic, a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, and a visit to the University of Luxembourg.

Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa donned some beautiful outfits as hostess of this visit. Her daytime wear was particularly lovely, especially the turquoise suite she donned on the first day of the visit and the fuschia suit on the second day of the visit. A highlight: the Grand Duchess donned the late Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte's favourite tiara for the first time.

Labels: Luxembourg, Royalty, Spanish

This morning (well, here in Toronto it was morning anyways), Crown Princess Mary of Denmark gave birth to a daughter at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen (4:02 p.m. Copenhagen time). The little girl is the second child for Crown Princess Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik, who have an 18-month old son, Prince Christian. The newborn girl is the first Danish princess to be born since 1946 -- the year that Princess Anne-Marie (now Queen Anne-Marie of Greece) was born to King Frederik IX and his wife Queen Ingrid. Queen Anne-Marie is the newborn princess's paternal great-aunt.

The little princess's birthday has a special royal significance: She was born on Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, the former commonwealth sovereign of her mother's birthplace, Australia. (I wonder if Elizabeth might be part of the baby's name then?!)

As per Danish tradition (well, religious tradition, actually), the baby's name will not be revealed until her baptism. So, now the name guessing can begin! Some possible contenders: Margrethe, Elisabeth, Louise, Alexandrine, Ingrid, Thyra, Ingeborg, Dagmar and Maria/Marie.

Likely middle name choices will be Henrietta (for Mary's late mom) and Ingrid (for Frederik's maternal grandmother, the late Queen Ingrid).

When meeting with the press today, proud new papa Crown Prince Frederik said that his daughter has a full head of dark hair and dark eyes, and that when he held her for the first time he wasn't as scared as when he held his son for the first time. He compared holding his newborn son to a set of Flora Danica (china), and he said that he was more secure and comfortable in holding a newborn the second time around.

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik also made a visit to the hospital this evening to visit with Mary and their newborn granddaughter. The Queen said that her new granddaughter was "a sweet and lovely girl," but had no opinion on whom the baby resembled, saying only that "babies are very sweet, but look like, well, babies."

Tomorrow, flags will fly in honour of the new baby as will 21 salutes from the Sixtus Battery on Holmen in Copenhagen and from Kronborg Castle in Elsinore.

Labels: Danish, Royalty

Last night was finally a new episode of Gilmore Girls, after a five week hiatus, during which time there were re-runs being aired in the U.S. on the CW Network, but here in Canada, Global was running other shows. Bah humbug to this! Last night's episode was entitled "Hay Bale Maze," a nod to the maze of hay bales that Taylor builds in lieu of the town's annual Spring Fling. The maze takes up the entire town, blocking Luke's Diner, and even the town gazebo is removed.

I will go straight to my commentary on this one since not much happened in the show plot wise.

I don’t know what to make of this episode exactly.

On the one hand I liked that the townies were back in full swing. Miss Patty with her little dancers dressed up as bulbs to perform the dance of the daffodils was cute, Babbette and Morrie’s salty nuts stand, Gypsy wanting to know when she would have a booth so that she could start squeezing her lemons, Taylor having spent all of the budget on the maze and then later complaining about hay fever season, Kirk dressed up as whatever creature then walking on stilts to man the maze, Michele and Sookie fighting over where to place the programme for Spring Fling, the troubador being back, plus Paris and Doyle’s argument about whether or not he was lactose intolerant and the reasons why Paris has 6 types of milk in the fridge, etc., there was a lot going on with the townies, which I always like.

We also learn the name of Zach and Lane’s twins in this episode, but in a very offhand, casual manner. There was no mention of how the names (Steve and Juan — or maybe it was Kwon, which is a more Korean name and would make sense) came to be. I am also disappointed in the names. I expected more of rebel Lane and her laxadaisical husband to choose more offbeat or musically inclined names for their kids. Or to take a page out of Sookie and Jackson’s book and decide to give their second child (who was supposed to be their last), all of the names they liked so that she has like 10 names that belong to both boys and girls. I have a friend who comes from a very conservative Chinese family. But even still her older sister just named her first daughter (and the family’s first grandchild/niece) Bowie, for David Bowie, because she and her husband are that big of fans. I expected something like that from Lane, to name at least one of her sons after a member of The Ramones. Not something run of the mill like Steve.

But on the other hand there was something not right with the “rhythm” of the show. It made me think of when I first started learning to drive a standard vehicle — lots of jerky movements, lots of stop and go that didn’t lead to anywhere particularly.

This was especially true of the relationship between Lorelai and Rory, which has always been the focal point of the show. Last night it felt off. I can’t pinpoint if it was just that it had been about 5 weeks since the last episode or if it was the bad writing, though. Like when Lorelai told Sookie that she didn’t feel like it was her place anymore to intervene in Rory’s relationship with Logan. Maybe this would be true in another show that a mother wouldn’t intervene or offer up her opinon about her grown up daughter’s relationship, but certainly not on GG. The crux of this show has always been that Lorelai and Rory tell each other everything and are first best friends then mother/daughter. Lorelai even says this in an episode to her mom when she wonders why they can’t have the same kind of relationship. Then the awkwardness of Lorelai coming home to find Logan cooking in her kitchen — it looked and felt like Lorelai was a stranger in her own home. Not to mention when Lorelai made separate beds for them in her room — this from the mom who knows that Rory had sex for the first time with Dean in that bed and who surely isn’t stupid enough to think that while at Yale the most Logan and Rory do is “make out.”

Then there is the Lorelai/Luke relationship. So we see the awkwardness of Luke and Lorelai when they run into each other at the town meeting. Okay, so clearly the writers are committed to continuing to slowly get the couple back together. Fair enough. But then fast forward to their run in in the maze and from that awkward moment at the town meeting to a few days later Lorelai’s suddenly apologizing in five words or less for sleeping with Christopher? It seems to be a bit of a leap for me.

Where I found the Palladinos writing to be subtle, I find the writers this season do one of two things: They either hit you over the head of the obviousness of things or they put something in that apparently should be obvious but isn’t. The maze thing to me was the former. It was clear that the maze wasn’t just some fun Stars Hollow thing, but that it was supposed to symbolize the maze of feelings and obstacles Luke and Lorelai went through from the beginning of their relationship and at the end when Lorelai apologizes and then Luke gives her directions out of the maze, that the “maze” of their love was over and that they could finally walk a straight line together.

And on another level, the maze symbolized Logan coming out from his family’s thumb and finding hiw own way, and making his own path.

After last night’s episode, I hope that this will be the last season. Especially with this lot of writers. More episodes like this and I will stop watching my beloved show, which is now a ghost of its former self. (This is something I never thought I’d say! But the hiatus really hurt it and then the bad writing didn’t make things better or remind me anymore why I like the show so much.)

Labels: Gilmore Girls

... because I don't know how to say what I really want to: that the people you love can surprise you every day. That maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it. -Anna

Labels: Quotes

On Wednesday morning, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander presented his newborn daughter to the public at Bronovo Hospital. During the meeting with the press, the proud new daddy said that he didn't mind in the least being the only man in a household of four women. He also said that his daughter was a "perfect" baby, having slept through the night except for one feeding.

Wednesday morning, Crown Princess Maxima left the hospital, less than 24 hours after having gone into the hospital to deliver her third baby. In (low) heels and smiling broadly to boot, the Crown Princess wave to the assembled photographers as she was leaving the hospital. At home, her eldest daughter Princess Amalia allegedly checked her mommy's belly to reassure herself that the creature in her parents arms is what had been in her mommy's belly the entire time!

Then on Friday morning, her husband went to the town hall to "register" his new daughter, where he announced her names: Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Ines. Ariane is a name that the couple liked (and is in fitting with the theme of "A' names for their other daughters), Wilhelmina was the name of the Crown Prince's great-grandmother, Máxima for her maternal great-grandmother (and not for her mommy) and Ines for her maternal aunt. On Wednesday when the Crown Prince presented his wee daughter they already had a name for her but he would not say it, and even Amalia and Alexia didn't know their new sister's name until that morning as the Crown Prince was afraid that his daughters would "slip" with the information before it was officially publically known.

I like the name, even if it's not a particularly royal or regal name. My only "objection" to the name is that her name isn't Ariana with an "A" at the end like her sisters: Amalia and Alexia. But it is a sweet name for a sweet girl.

Labels: Dutch, Royalty

As is tradition, the entire Spanish royal family celebrates the Easter holidays in Palma Mallorca. This year however, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia and Infanta Leonor will not make the trip due to the advanced state of Princess Letizia's pregnancy she has been advised against flying. The Prince and Princess of Asturias will be spending Easter in Madrid instead, hopefully with Princess Letizia's family as it is the first holiday without her sister Erika, and it would be nice for Erika's daughter Carla to be surrounded by her family.

Here, the family poses in front of the Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca before the traditional Mass of the Resurrection. (Simoneta Gomez-Acebo's (the niece of the King) daughter Maria Fernanda, seems to have joined the family, too, finding a spot for between Infanta Cristina's two youngest sons, Miguel and Pablo Urdangarin.) It seems that new hairdos were the order of the day for the Infantas. Infanta Cristina got bangs and Infanta Elena wore her hair down instead of the usual braid (and occasionally ponytail) she usually has. Victoria de Marichalar looks adorable in her green skirt and white sweater with matching stockings.

As the King and Queen and members of the family arrived a few days earlier, they participated in various Easter processions and enjoyed some time at the park and around Palma Mallorca. Little Irene Urdangarin especially had fun at the park with her mom.

Labels: Royalty, Spanish

One of the best things about scrapbooking is that you learn a little something about yourself. You realize how subconsciously you gravitate to the same things over and over again, no matter how many magazines you look at and how different the publications or where they come from. Whether it's a Canadian or an American magazine (not much difference usually trend wise), British or Australian, the same ideas prevail over and over, albeit in different forms. And over and over again I find that I have ripped out the same page or clipped the same idea.

While working on my latest spurt of scrapbooking, I've realized that lately I am loving something new: open kitchen shelving. Simple wooden (and sometimes metal or steel) planks that showcase your wares. It can be rustic, charmingly country or cozy cottage kind of shelving with raw, unfinished wood or painted white. It can be polished suburban with dark-stained shelves. Or it can be city chic with metal or steel shelves.

However it's done, it serves both a practical purpose as well as an exhibitionist one. On the one hand such shelving usually takes up valuable cabinetry space, so the shelves contain items that otherwise would be in the cabinets. On the other hand, housewares are so beautiful these days and we spend so much money on them that they should be shown off and displayed in all their beauty and glory like fine museum pieces.

Below, a few examples of open shelving in the kitchen. Some are more practical than others, while others are clearly for show and the serving platters and glasses may just be gathering dust.




Number 3 is my favourite. It takes up a lot of valuable room for sure, but the mixing bowls and salad bowls of different materials and textures are artfully displayed.

Number 4 seems very British to me. I don't know why, but it feels like something one would see in a British cottage. I love that a matted photograph has found its place in the kitchen. This kitchen also keeps its harmony with the appliances, countertop, cupboards, shelving and dishes all in white and glasses and the cakestand in clear glass.

Number 6 is a bit different. No open shelving but cabinets with glass doors so that you can see what's inside as well as you could see them if they were displayed out in the open. A good alternative.

This also marks the first of my "Alex Loves" series, something I hope to add to in the future as I discover more things that I love.

Labels: Alex Loves, Home decor

With it being a long weekend here and Easter being relatively low key celebration-wise for my family, I had lots of time to work on my scrapbooking. I spent last weekend ripping pages out of magazines and yesterday I spent it cutting and trimming my clippings. And today I spent the afternoon gluing my clippings into my books.

It's amazing (and surprising) how quickly time passes when you're scrapbooking, whatever the task, whether it's ripping pages, cutting clippings or gluing, you can settle down with all of your supplies around you, the music blaring or the TV on for company, and when you look up next, a few hours has zipped right by!

That was the case this afternoon. I settled down on the floor of my living room early this afternoon with the curtains thrown back to let the sunlight in and to watch the flurries outside (yes, it's snowing in spring -- it's Canada afterall). I turned the TV onto the Food Network and started filling in those empty white pages of my scrapbook. This was shortly around 1 p.m. When I looked up next it was nearly 3 p.m.!

Getting ready for my afternoon of scrapbooking with my current book in progress (Volume 7), my cutting board (to trim those pages that hang over the edge of the book page), and my little red caddy of "tools": my orange scissors, two pairs of edged-scissors (one in the shape of scallops and one in a curvy border), an x-acto knife, a rule (to make sure those edges are straight), a gluestick and the basket to hold scraps of cut paper for the garbage.


Midway through the afternoon: Scrapbooking, it can be a messy hobby! All my clippings spread out all around me in a semi-circle. Thank goodness I live alone and don't have pets. A dog (because if I had a pet, I would more likely have a dog than a cat since I am allergic to them) would jump all over me and my stuff while scrapbooking and I wouldn't be able to sit on the floor and work on my scrapbooking. And well, other people, they would just disturb my "scrapbooking zen."


I finally stopped when I reached the end of the gluestick, which surprisingly happens to me a lot. There isn't a lot of glue in those gluesticks! So I ran out to get more gluesticks and will be back at it this afternoon, because despite the few hours I put in this afternoon, I still have a lot more to glue into my book.

Labels: Scrapbooking

My Food Network boyfriend strikes again with a delicious recipe, this time from an episode called "Blue Collar BBQ," where everything was grilled from the entrees to dessert.

One recipe particularly stood out for me:
Mini Moroccan Lamb Burgers on Brioche Rounds with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
Yield: 6 servings

For the lemon yogurt sauce:
1 pint plain Greek-style yogurt, preferably full-fat
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
Kosher salt

1 loaf brioche bread

For the mini burgers:
2 pounds ground lamb (preferably shoulder meat)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
About 20 grinds fresh black pepper
2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 small head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, trimmed and torn into small pieces
4 ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch thick rounds

Make the sauce:
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and lemon zest and juice. Season, to taste, with a couple pinches of salt. Sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to use. Bring to room temperature before using.

Cut the brioche into about 1/3 to 1/2-inch thick slices and then use a small glass to cut out as many circles as possible, about 3 inches in diameter, from each slice. Place the bread "buns" in an airtight container until ready to use so that they stay moist and soft.

Make the burgers:
Preheat the grill.

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and work together until they are fully incorporated. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the mixture into little balls about 1 to 1 1/2 inches big and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking pan. Using your hands, flatten burgers to about 1/2-inch thick and just a couple inches in diameter.
Once the grill is hot, place them on the grill and cook, about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until fully cooked through; cook time varies based on how hot your grill is.

Place the cooked mini burgers on top of the cut brioche and add a piece of lettuce and a tomato slice. Top with a dollop of the lemon yogurt sauce and serve.

Labels: Food, Recipes

Yesterday afternoon while trying (and failing) to make the clock tick faster so that the long weekend could finally start, I was procrastinating by reading one of my interior decorating blogs, decor8, I found my mothership. I found kinfolk just like me. People who meticulously cut images that they love from magazines and glue them into scrapbooks. Or inspiration journals as they call them.

Here is what some of their scrapbooks look like (I just love looking at other people's scrapbooks, seeing what inspires them -- especially when I see something that I've included in mine, too!):


Here is the post about inspiration journals:

Journals As Inspiration

Victoria does it. I do it. Marieke Berghuis is huge into it. Irina Troitskaya makes her living from it. And Jason constantly blogs about it and even creates the goods to do it. So I ask you, do you journal?

I maintain several. One is a written one, a "diary" of sorts that I've actually been writing since I was 7 years old. Then there are the more artistic journals where I draw and paste words and images that tell a story of what I'm feeling at that moment. These are a bit more personal, so I don't share them with everyone. Finally, there are my inspiration books that contain hundreds of clipped pages that inspire me or my work. These I freely share with anyone that is interested.

Aside from being an amazing spot to catch all of your thoughts, dreams, fears and I-can't-believe-I said-that moments, journals give you an outlet to plug into, a place to collect everything that you 'see' in your head and translate it into the pages of a book through words, images from magazines, photos, stamps, ticket stubs, fabric and paint swatches, wrapping paper, anything that can help you tell a story or create something to inspire you. You can create books according to category, i.e. bedrooms, baths, living rooms, outdoor spaces or by object, like art, chairs, or whatever it is that you are passionate about.

I encourage you to start a journal of your own. You'll absolutely love doing it. If you don't like to write, and many people don't, then go for more of a visual journal like some of those shown above. It's quite relaxing to sit down and cut + paste your thoughts into books. You'll be surprised by how much you'll learn about yourself. If you'd like to get started, click here for a DIY guide on how to create your own Look Book.

Have fun, explore, enjoy, JOURNAL! posted by decor8 @ 4/05/2007

The DIY guide is a bit much for me however. I mean, everyone who has seen my scrapbooks thought I was obsessive. But they have obviously never met these people, who are meticulous down to the kind of scissors that are being used:

DIY Project: Look Book How To

It's time to have fun with this little DIY project that I've pulled together for you. All you need is a book, adhesive, scissors and plenty of clippings!

If you're getting ready to renovate a space, compiling a book like this (also known as a 'look book') before you throw yourself into a design project will help you pull the process together. It's also fun to simply create these books to inspire you and pull you out of that occasional design rut.

Step One: Locate an artist's notebook - something spiral bound and thick with pages measuring at least 8.5" x 11" (bienfang is good). You can use one book per room (i.e. living room inspiration), or you can divide one book into sections for each room in your house. My books have everything thrown together, however I'm soon to begin working on new ones that will be organized according to room. must. get. organized.

Step Two: Purchase a good pair of scissors. I use a standard pair of Fiskars with the typical orange handle. I like the ones with the micro tip for trimming those pesky edges. Pay attention to how you clip - pretend you are laying out a magazine page. Make it look pretty, not clunky. Make sure what you're pasting fits the pages, you don't want to close your book and see clippings sticking out everywhere. No, no!

Step Three: Avoid using a glue stick, they'll give your pages the bubble effect. Instead use my favorite, Tombow mono-adhesive. You can find these online or at your local craft store. They are more expensive at craft stores, so unless you have a coupon for your local craft emporium, purchase them online. Order 6-12 at a time. I know it sounds like a lot, but these little guys go fast. (I suggest shopping at Dick Blick and Charette.)

Step Four: Cut and paste, baby! Scour magazines, catalogs, books, or even online (blogs!) to find things that you know you'll want to refer back to again and again. If you find something in a blog, simply print it out in color, trim, and paste it into your book. You can add articles that you enjoyed, quotes, ads, fabric swatches, paint chips, pretty business cards, font styles you like, stamps - get creative and have fun with it. No one is going to grade or judge your book, this is your personal space. You can even doodle on your pages and add handwritten comments describing why you like something you've pasted - these all lend a personal touch.

When it's time to renovate, you can refer to your books as your guide since they'll assist you throughout the decision making process. Something so visual will most definitely pick you up when you're feeling stuck in a design rut - you'll have your trusty look book to turn to, it will get you back on track!

Before I consult with clients, I always ask them to pull together a folder of clippings that define their design style. I'm often so surprised when I meet with them and they pull out spiral bound notebooks stuffed with articles and clippings that they've collected for me. They always remark how grateful they are that I gave them homework because it helped them to pinpoint their design style. It also helps them to better communicate their vision with me because it's easier to express personal style on paper than through words. At least for most of us.

I hope you have fun with your look book, and if you you'd like to send me a photo of yours, I'd be happy to post your book so we can all have a look.

So even if I am not as obsessive as they are, I do adore having had the opportunity to peek at their books and seeing what makes them tick, where they draw their inspiration from and what ideas they may have that I can draw from.

sfgirlbybay's Inspiration Books (in her own words)
If you have happened to have followed sfgirlbybay for a while, you'll know that I have kept inspiration journals for the past few years. I used to let the many pages I pulled from design and shelter magazines pile up to ridiculous heights. Sometimes I'd actually organize them into individual folders; fashion, recipes, craft ideas, interior design, photography etc. and then watch them collect dust. But one day an old boyfriend of mine shared with me his journals. Hundreds of scraps of newspaper and magazine clippings, personal thoughts, ideas and anything that ignited his passion. In his case, mostly entrepreneurial, cultural and political observations. His journals motivated me to finally glean through my gluttonous stacks and cut and paste my images into my own journals. I use blank white sketch books because I like a plain white canvas. I like black & white images, sometimes bright and modern, occasionally sweet and sentimental. Whatever makes me happy and puts an idea into my head. And now, I flip through them for reference all the time. It's always creatively motivating. Here's a glimpse into some of the many pages that inspire sfgirlbybay.

Labels: Home decor, Scrapbooking

In Washington, DC (and in Japan), it's cherry blossom time. The time of the year when these delicate pink buds bloom in abundance on trees, perched on their branches like a billion snowflakes ready to descend upon the skies. (Snowflakes isn't such a strange thought three weeks into spring. Since Wednesday evening it has been snowing. Not very much, but a fitful of flurries periodically and just enough to coat the grass with a thin veneer of powdery white sugar.)

This year's Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington is extra special because it marks the 95th anniversary of the gift of 3000 cherry trees from the people of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC.

How amazing it would be to stand beneath these trees and look up into the sky at them! What a beautiful feat of nature!

Labels: Life

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia surprised royalwatchers with a special appearance at the Faunia Wildlife Park, just outside of Madrid today. With them, adorable little Infanta Leonor in a furry white coat, pink(!) pants and shoes and little pigtails -- but because of her curls she looked a bit like Princess Leia!


Can you see the difference? (Alternatively, if Felipe and Letizia ever need a costume idea for Leonor at Halloween time ...)

Labels: Royalty, Spanish

Anyone who knows me and my television habits will tell you that the Food Network is my go-to channel. When nothing else is on TV but I need the white noise or company of the TV, my fingers automatically turn to channel 56. As part of my Sunday routine (more on that another time), I have the TV on in the morning while I catch up on e-mail, visit The Royal Realm and, currently, see what's new on Facebook. The Food Network, which has apparently revamped its schedule this weekend, was of course, on while I caught up with things on the internet. Fortunately for me, two new shows were on that I had never seen before. The first was Jaime Oliver's new series, Jamie Oliver At Home, where he cooks from his own kitchen. Someone had mentioned this series to me (for which, despite all my Food Network TV viewing I had never even seen a commercial for) but I didn't actually know when it was on. So I was glad to see it.

The second was called French Food At Home (I wonder if this is the "At Home" hour on the network?). It is hosted by a Canadian named Laura Calder, who actually began her career in journalism and public relations, but who trained at The Dubrulle Culinary Institute in Vancouver, Canada and at L'École de Cuisine LaVarenne in Burgundy, France.


Today's episode was called Stand Alone Salads, featuring salads that can be served on their own or as accompanients to other lunches and dinners. I was captivated by not only the simplicity of such salads but also by how rustic the presentation is. Calder's point starting up the show was that because salads are so "bare" and presented in their natural forms, you have to choose the freshest ingredients since the flavours of the ingredients aren't masked by much.

Endive Salad With Beets, Walnuts and Blue Cheese
Yield: 6
(This salad was my favourite, and which I will try first. Calder also had a good tip for not getting stained hands from the beets: Covering your hand with a plastic bag when holding onto the beets to cut them.)



A Summery Salad
Yield: 2

Labels: Cooking, Food, Recipes