Another new year is upon us – welcome 2016. 
So…..any resolutions for this year?
I resolve to ignore resolutions and live life with balance.
EAT MORE CAKE!
‘Cake’ being code for what makes you happy.
Life should be happy!
Find more love, 
Spend time with your BFF’s, 
Let pent up emotions go. Chill out. 
Find beauty in simple things, 
Take time to reflect, 
And definitely take time to eat cake! 
All images created and photographed by MODMISSY
Design by Modmissy
December 1st marks the start of winter for me.
Black ice and whiteouts, 
Snowed in and digging out, 
And ice storms, 
The hazards of winter. Get ready. Be prepared.
But fortunately December also marks the month of celebration – Christmas!
When ‘whiteouts’ are beautifully decorated white Christmas trees with ornaments, 
‘Snowed in’ is a birch bark inspired decoration for the fireplace mantle. 
And ‘ice’ is only found in a bold black ice bucket or whiskey glasses. 
The first 3 photos are my snaps taken over the last few winters and the celebration photos were taken this past summer when I attended the PC Home Holiday Preview.
Yup…..Christmas in July! (Actually it was August)
I could not and would not mention Christmas in sweltering August to you but today I officially can.
And next time you are in your local Loblaw’s or Real Canadian Superstore® check out the stunning holiday products that will have you jingling all the way home.
And this year enjoy your HO-HO-HOsting and entertaining!
Cheers
All images photographed by MODMISSY
We have a candidate sign for the upcoming Federal Election on the front lawn of our home.
My son wanted to make a political statement so it was his doing.
Bravo I say, be involved.
Of course not everyone will agree with the ‘colour’ of our sign.
Different political party, different colour.
Unfortunately, someone in our neighbourhood disagreed with our choice and hung a bag of dog poop on our political sign.
I say…..Freedom of choice has gone to the dogs!
Imagine if we all chose the same colour whether it was for our political party or the colour of our homes décor.
Where would the individuality be?
Given the choice my recent clients have all chosen grey sofas for their living rooms.
Beautiful I say.
But my living room sofa is not grey; in fact nothing in my home’s décor is grey.
However that did not make me want to place dog poop on my clients’ heads.
When working with my clients we choose what makes them happy! 
So on Voting Day get out there and vote. Choose your color and make your choice!
Images via MODMISSY Sofas by http://www.jonathanadler.com
Image via MODMISSY
Mother Nature has it in spades when it comes to design.
She is unequivocally the best ‘exterior Designer’ bar none!
And that fact was no more evidenced than on my recent holiday through the Rockies and Western Canada.
Colour, Composition, and Detail; Mother Nature has created the most beautiful landscape.
Mile after mile I witnessed breathtaking views.
Although I’ve seen it before, Moraine Lake, Alberta is still an “OMG!” moment. The colour of the lake is awe-inspiring. 
Benjamin Moore may have possibly captured the colour in its paint Dream I Can Fly 
Nothing makes a statement like a black-and-white colour palette adding sophistication and drama to a natural setting.
And this rock’s black-and-white Yin-Yang pattern I found on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia demonstrated that philosophy even further. 
Sometimes it was the many shades of grey that Mother Nature revealed that made me stop and reflect. Vancouver, Canada
When it comes to composition, Mother Nature is a true Master.
Layers and layers of sweeping views. 
Brandywine Falls, British Columbia is Mother Nature’s remarkable ability to create yet another powerful statement.
From a height of 70-metres (230 ft.) water crashes down into a cavern that was formed from lava flows occurring from nearly 34,000 years ago.
It was all the water dropping perfectly into a tiny little pool below that had me mesmerized.
A stunning feat indeed. 
Of course Mother Nature thinks of all the details by providing comfortable seating for one to rest as they descend Whistler Mountain, British Columbia. 
Outstanding design abilities and creativity.
Mother Nature, please…..take a bow!
All Images via 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
Today is Earth Day.
A day when over a billion people in more than 192 countries give thanks to our tiny orb and demonstrate awareness in support for the environment.
This year my nod to Earth Day occurred on my way to the recycle box.
In an “OMG” moment I realized that something I had barely used I was throwing out. Truly a blatant waste of the earth’s resources! Sinful right?
The item plaguing me with guilt was a fabric sample brochure from Keilhauer; a company whose corporate goal is to be ‘environmentally benign’. Far be it for me to mess with a company Mission Statement!
Surely I could think of some way to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’.
Back in the house I went with brochure in hand.
And got my creative juices flowing.
I started with this,
I really liked these, 
Tried this, 
But then was inspired by this, 
Came up with this, 
Which finally ended up looking like this, 
Let’s all try to make the 3R’s part of our daily lives.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
All images via 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
Recently my hubby and I met friends, Jane and John Doe, for a fabulous dinner out at a local bistro.
The bistro had a very relaxed rustic-chic décor and served French-inspired cuisine and locally inspired fare.
Of course as one always eats with one’s eyes first our appetizers did not disappoint – there was colour, height and texture.
Sounds amazing right?
When our mains were delivered Jane and Hubby had meals that did not disappoint. They were ‘beautifully delicious’.
Unfortunately, John and I who ordered the same item were crestfallen. Our meals were delivered and they were ‘void’. There was no height, no texture and no colour.
On a white plate, we were served a white parchment wrapped package, and inside was a piece of white fish on a bed of white onions.
White was not what I expected.
Although there is nothing more beautiful than white,
White orchids, 
White linens, 
White mirrors, 
White woodwork, 
White accessories, 
And even white snow, 
But on my plate, served in a French bistro is not where I thought I would see white.
I ordered chocolate cake for dessert. It did not disappoint!
All images by MODMISSY
MODMISSY 