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
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
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
The unofficial rule states that summer ended on Labour Day and wearing white post-LD is gauche.
The white rule is so ingrained in my brain (my Mother’s decree) that I do make a conscious effort to refrain from donning white.
I have written many times about white; white accessories, white art, white food.
I even wrote about the decision of choosing the ‘right white’ when it came to paint colours. I stated that “sometimes climbing a mountain is easier than choosing a paint colour” and of course I included a photo of myself and hubby climbing Cascade Mountain in Banff, Alberta, Canada. 
Fast forward 25 years, hubby and I were once again climbing Cascade Mountain. 
(Different jacket, same colour. And surprise, surprise…..it’s orange!)
But this time we climbed that mountain with our son. 
This past August we took a road trip with our son through Alberta and British Columbia, Canada and returned to those wonderful mountains. 
We hiked and biked, biked and hiked, then biked and hiked some more! If there was a mountain we climbed it. If there was a pathway we bike it. 
And oh look….glacier white.
A truly breathtaking holiday. More to come!
All images via MODMISSY
Image 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
“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
I love this foyer. The simple but striking red and blue striped runner creates a strong presence amidst the white backdrop. Bold but elemental in design; a real show-stopper.
Right? Wouldn’t you agree? 
Actually it’s not a foyer and it’s not a runner but rather the powerful vertical painting, Voice of Fire, acrylic on canvas, 1967, by Barnet Newman hanging in the National Gallery of Canada. 
I visited the National Gallery this past weekend and had a chance to sit in Gallery C214, where this 8 ft. x 18 ft. painting hangs. The walls in this gallery soar to almost 40 feet high toward a room-length skylight and when the National Gallery was built in 1988 it was decided that an “assertive anchor” was needed for this space.
Assertive indeed! When the painting first appeared in the National Gallery it created huge controversy. “How could 3 simple stripes cost $1.8 million?”
And many asked, “Is this really art?”
After viewing this painting I headed towards the area of International Art where the Old Masters paintings hang. I came across this painting by Nicolas Poussin, The Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus, 1628–1629. 
This oil on canvas painting with its ‘forceful diagonals, rich colours and strong light effects’ definitely has history as it is almost 400 years old but I ask you, “does disembowelment make for art!!??” (Yes I’m talking about the ripping out of a person’s intestines. Yikes!)
Voice of Fire may be controversial but isn’t The Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus offensive?
So I ask you “what is the definition of art”…..????
It’s all about interpretation I suppose.
And oh by the way Voice of Fire is now valued at more than $40 million!
PS. If you find yourself in Ottawa check out the National Gallery of Canada and see for yourself.
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
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
MODMISSY 