LESSONS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Modmissy

Today marks the 32^nd year of my Mother’s passing.

I’ve lived longer without my Mother than with my Mother.

But her memory still lives on.

She may not be with me here in person but her words of wisdom, her style and her inspiration will be with me forever.

Through example I learned:

The Lessons My Mother Taught Me:

Buy the best you can afford and use it.

Always look your best.

(Hence buy the best you can afford.)

It’s a sin to use the word H. A. T. E.

Never use the word H. A. T. E.

Be kind.

Be gracious.

Don’t be wasteful.

(Hence buy the best you can afford, use it and buy no more.)

Make a tidy house look effortless.

Take pride in your work.

Always think before you speak. Saying less shows greater wisdom.

Stay active.

Keep smiling.

Find your spiritual self.

Love your family.

But the number 1 lesson my Mother taught me was,

Life’s too short to be unhappy.

LIFE SHOULD BE HAPPY!

Hole In One

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Modmissy

I have been remiss in not writing.

I apologize.

Over the last few weeks I had sunk into a ‘hole’ as far as ideas and writing goes.

Although I have been busy, I just had nothing interesting to tell you.

But today I had to write as this day marks a momentous occasion.

Forty six years ago today on June 11, 1969, my Mother (R.I.P.) scored her hole-in-one on the golf course.

Beating the odds of about 1 in 12,000 my Mother ‘aced’ the 6th hole.

I still remember her recounting the play-by-play details of her proud achievement.

My Mother loved golf.

I do not follow in my Mother’s footsteps as I am not a golfer, although I do own a pair of golf pants made from the most outrageous fabric. Very mod indeed! Interestingly I am currently staging a home for sale of which the homeowner is an avid golfer.

Hanging in his home office is a 4 ft. X 4 ft. framed picture of the winners of the Masters Golf Tournament from 1934 to 1997; Tiger Woods being the 1997 winner. Have a great weekend and may all your shots land exactly where you want them!

All images via MODMISSY

Bedside Reading

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Modmissy

Years ago while being interviewed for a pharmaceutical sales job I was asked “what books was I currently reading”.

I paused, thought and then answered, “the dictionary and the thesaurus”.

I did not land that job.

(I wonder what book would have gotten me hired!?)

I was single at the time and the idea of sitting indoors by myself and reading a novel or a lengthy piece of non-fiction was just not on my (very social) agenda!

But the truth was I really was reading the dictionary. A great big lexicon was always open, sitting on an antique hutch in the apartment I shared with a girlfriend. Actually it was part of our humble décor.

Any interesting word we happened to stumble upon in that dictionary was written on a scrap of paper and taped to our brown fridge. Roomie and I then tried to incorporate these words into our vocabulary. (true story)

Fast forward to today; I am an avid reader.

And once again I was recently asked what books I had on my bedside table.

To be honest I don’t place books on my bedside table. Its clutter. For me.

And the few chosen books I do keep in my home often do dual duty. They must be a good read and look beautiful.

So right now I am reading, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO COCO CHANNEL from my stack of beautiful black coffee table books.

I also just finished a John Grisham novel that someone passed on to me. It is a beautiful mint green and chocolate chip coloured hardcover book. Definitely a keeper to be used as a prop for my home staging business.

Along with Coco Channel I am reading OF MICE AND MEN by John Steinbeck. This is the first time I’m reading this 1937 classic novel; I realize there is no time limit on being current! This book also makes it as a beautiful staging prop due to the lovely lavender colour on the cover.

Of course I always have close at hand my cherished copy of MARILYN by Normal Mailer. It is a beautiful linen coloured hardcover book full of wonderful photos of Marilyn Monroe; although far too special to be used as a home staging prop.

So…..what are you reading? Or decorating with?

All Images by MODMISSY

Gotta Run!

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Modmissy

“Gotta run!”

The catch phrase of today.

Everybody is on the move. Go, go, go!

Subsequently multi-tasking has taken on a whole new meaning. Eating on the run, driving and texting, walking and talking on a cell phone and even applying makeup or shaving while driving.

Unfortunately in many people’s haste the once beautiful ceremony of drinking tea (or coffee), has been reduced to drinking from a paper cup while ‘on the run’. And the worse part of reducing this historical ritual to a “gotta run” activity is the random placement of finished cups.

So today if you can take time to smell the ~~roses~~ tea/coffee. And please don’t litter!All Images via MODMISSY

Lost But Never Forgotten

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Modmissy

Today is my cousin’s birthday.

Paul, the ‘cowboy’ as seen in this photo below, circa 1980’s, always had a big smile on his face. Unfortunately we celebrate Paul’s birthday without him as sadly his life ended a few years ago. But our lost loved ones are always in our heart!

Paul was ‘my brother from a different mother’ as he was my mother’s identical twin sister’s son. And when you have 2 mothers that are so identical their offspring are bound to be close. And Paul and I were.

Paul had a passion for antiques and the 2 of us were often attending antique auctions together. In those days I had a penchant for antique furniture (yes it’s true!) and we would load up my car to the brim with all the great finds.

But none was as memorable as the time we purchased an antique cast iron wood stove that weighed over a ‘million’ pounds. We loaded that behemoth beast into the back of my hatchback and drove it all the way back to the city. Let’s just say that we were quite the sight driving down the highway with the front tires barely touching the road. I sold that car soon after!

That wood stove still holds a big place in my heart as it is the focal point of my cottage. It withstood the recent renovation, And now holds pride of place in the cottage.

Thanks for the memories.

Rest in peace Paul. xo

All Images via MODMISSY

A New Year, A New Beginning

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Modmissy

Welcome 2015!

A brand new year is upon us. Fresh and full of opportunities.

Anything and everything lies ahead. It’s exciting!

So instead of writing about binding New Year resolutions I thought the year should be about encouragement and breaking free or as Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked,

Be unique. Create your own.

Climb great heights,

Reach for the top,

Make your space sing with colour – choose a colour that’s outside your comfort zone,

After all, 2 of the industry leaders in the world of colour, Pantone and Benjamin Moore, announced their Colour of the Year 2015 – total opposites on the colour wheel. So anything goes!

Find your balance,

Take time to smell the roses,

Find your happy! (a ’66 Chevy Impala)

But honestly, at the end of the day it’s all about finding your peace,

Here’s hoping that 2015 is a stellar year.

Cheers!

All images via MODMISSY

Canada Flag Pillow

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Modmissy

Last summer I wrote about being inspired by a pillow I saw in the July issue of Canadian House and Home magazine and decided to design and sew my own version. I wanted my pillow in neutral colours to match the cottage décor so I used linen and canvas. See here.

This summer, my son requested a Canada Flag pillow for his bed at university – in the “true north and strong” colours.

So I started with this,

And cut and sewed,

And ended up with this,

I frayed the edges,

And used a striped fabric for the backing,

Love it! And my son is thrilled.

All images via Modmissy

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Modmissy

Yesterday was Mother’s Day – a day of celebration worldwide.

While being a Mother is the most important job it is also the world’s toughest job.

The job requires excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Ability to wear many hats – degree in medicine, finance and the culinary arts.

Work in a chaotic environment while keeping up a happy disposition.

This is an all-encompassing position. Working 24 hours a day 365 days a year. No breaks, no holidays.

And by the way there is no monetary payment.

But it is the best job!

Yesterday my son surprised me with brunch at the water’s edge.

My #1 set up a bistro table and 2 chairs complete with tablecloth and glass plates at Lake Ontario overlooking the Toronto skyline which by the way is the location where I shot the photo for my blog headline picture.

The view was sensational, the menu was delish, and the company was perfect!

To all the Mothers worldwide I say thank you.

Colour of the Day – Olympic Passion Red

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Modmissy

Have you been glued to your TV watching the Olympics?

I have.

So many of the sports seemed to be based on speed – death defying speed!

Athletes barrel down the mountain on skis or sleds at speeds upwards of 95 km/h (150 mph) and 152 km/h (95 mph) for luge.

Speed skaters can attain speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph).

And figure skaters while moving at high speed jump or are thrown into the air!

Crazy right?

Do you find yourself holding your breath while watching?

So what drives these athletes to do what they do?

It has got to be PASSION!

So in honour of ‘passion’ I thought ‘red’ should be the colour of the day.

PS. Remember to breathe!

Alvar Aalto Flaming Red Vase

Alessi Grater with Cheese Cellar

James Hallan Acrylic Red Chair

Wave Bookcase in Red by Vidame Creation

I thought these red items looked like they could ski, skate or slide.

1. Modmissy 2. www.iittala.com 3. www.alessi.com 4. www.jameshallam.com

5. www.greeen-store.com

M.I.A. – But I’m back now!

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Modmissy

Wow…..it’s been a while.

Lost my momentum – but I’m back on now.

A lot has happened since I’ve been ‘missing in action’.

Autumn colours, the massive ice storm of 2013,

Christmas (I did put up a tree), Pantone’s Color of the Year

Home renovations and lots of other stuff that I will write about in the coming weeks.

I’ve also been busy working on some really interesting client projects.

One project is a client’s basement that had to be totally gutted due to flooding. Definitely a silver lining of an awful situation. Check out the wallpaper that was in the basement bathroom that was probably hung in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Love it! And why wouldn’t I – same ‘mod’ colours as the back of my business cards!! And finally the Olympics – 17 days of excitement and passion.

The power of each of us comes from all of us. Whether it’s your team or your country the power is the unity of the world. Here’s to everyone!

All images via Modmissy.

MODMISSY

Design is Everywhere

Category Archives: Style

LESSONS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

Hole In One

Bedside Reading

Gotta Run!

Lost But Never Forgotten

A New Year, A New Beginning

Canada Flag Pillow

Happy Mother’s Day

Colour of the Day – Olympic Passion Red

M.I.A. – But I’m back now!

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