Our Foyer Makeover

Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 

Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 

Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 
Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 

Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 
Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 
Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 
Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 
our-foyer-makeover
 
 
My husband and I can’t agree on anything easily when it comes to home décor. We haven’t actually decorated our whole house yet, and we have lived there for almost 5 years. We have actually redecorated some rooms more than once, and some we just can’t agree on so absolutely nothing has happened in them décor-wise.

I think that because it takes us so long to make decisions, we end up redecorating in the meantime! Our front foyer was decorated once when we moved in, then we were selected to be in a makeover feature in Style at Home Magazine where they redecorated a few rooms in our home including our front foyer, and now our tastes have changed again and here we are again with a new room!

You can take a look at our old front foyer in these photos below!
 
 

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We loved the way our old foyer looked, but decided we needed a change so we collaborated on ideas for what to do. Collaboration is actually code for “it took us many months to agree on everything”, but the good news is we are still happily married and our foyer is complete!

The old foyer had a light blue paint, so we decided to lighten it up with a grey called The Plaza by CIL (50GY 72/012). Not only did it have the perfect name (we decided to paint around the time I was heading to New York and I had The Plaza Hotel on my mind!), but I really liked how it brightened up the hallway.

Thank goodness my husband is a handy guy! He is great at taking antique pieces and refinishing them into something fresh and new. We picked up the hall table at a barn and were told it was made in the 1920’s. I loved the detail on it, so I asked my hubby to sand it and paint it black with CIL’s Smart3 for Furniture and Cabinets.

Next up we needed a sturdy bench for our toddler to get his shoes on in the morning before we head out the door, so we picked up this great bench at Bouclair. It fit the wall we placed it on perfectly, and it’s a solid bench that doesn’t move or shake at all.

I LOVE Homesense as you will clearly be able to see once I tell you where the rest of the foyer’s look came from! It didn’t take one trip to Homesense – probably 7 or 8 before I put together everything else I was looking for.

We picked up this rug at Homesense and I LOVE it! If they had two I would of bought it in case this one gets destroyed as this is a high-traffic area. The pattern is really fun and different. The frames on the table, the faux antler, and the tray are all from Homesense.

I picked up these great mirrors from Homesense for only $39.99 each which was great deal because mirrors can be so expensive! The pillow on the bench was also from – you guessed it! – Homesense for only $29.99.

These stools are my favourite part of the room. I saw them at Homesense, went home to think about them, then ran back to the store around 8:30pm where I found another couple sitting on them! Luckily there were four in total, so I politely waited until they decided which two they would take. I gently suggested the other two I didn’t want, and I went home a happy girl.
 
 
Our-Foyer-Makeover
 
 

The heads on the wall were all purchased from Homesense, but a couple had hooks on them, and they were all different colours of silver or brass. My husband cut off the hooks and painted them all silver except one that he painted in an aqua colour. Every room in our house has one piece that is aqua, so we decided to choose one of the heads to be that colour.

Existing items in the room included the light fixture (from – you guessed it – Homesense) and the windowpane which was brought in by the Style at Home team which we love as a divider between the foyer and the living room.

I truly didn’t realize how much Homesense was actually in this room until I started writing. I thought I had curated everything from different stores, but the majority ended up being from Saturday morning trips to Homesense with the family in tow, and a Starbucks in hand. Actually I would be a pretty easy person to stalk because I’ve just realized this is my Saturday morning routine, so if you are looking for me because I borrowed a sweater from you or something you can catch up with me there.

What do you think of our foyer makeover? Do I need more to fill the room up, or have I decorated it with just enough pieces? Let me know in the comments – suggestions are welcomed!

 
 

Xoxo Mandy

 
 

Taste Testing Nordica’s Smooth Cottage Cheese

Taste Testing Nordica's Smooth Cottage Cheese

 

 

I don’t discriminate when it comes to shopping. I love all kinds of shopping equally, and grocery shopping is included.

Every time I step inside a grocery store I start with a renewed hope that I will put together healthy snacks and dinners, and as I approach the check out I try to shed all of the extra chips and snacks I added to my cart along the way.

Last week I tried out Nordica’s Smooth Cottage Cheese, and luckily it fits into the healthy snack category!

I LOVED the Salted Caramel flavour! So good. The texture wasn’t lumpy at all like regular cottage cheese, and each serving has 10g of protein and only 110 calories.

I’m usually a pretty big fan of Greek yogurt, but Nordica’s Smooth Cottage Cheese actually has 25% more protein than most leading Greek yogurts.

So it tastes good, and it’s good for you! Anything that is flavoured Salted Caramel and is good for you is a no-brainer – you must try it.

 

 

Taste Testing Nordica's Smooth Cottage Cheese
 

 
Taste Testing Nordica's Smooth Cottage Cheese
 

 

My husband is a creature of habit, and has told me repeatedly that he hates cottage cheese. Hate is a pretty strong word, but those are his thoughts on the subject. He was likely the most difficult person to introduce this new product to since he hates cottage cheese, but I thought I might as well go big or go home and trick him into trying it.

I got a little sneaky – not completely dishonest sneaky, but the kind of creative sneaky where I only describe SOME of my shopping spree purchases while omitting the ones that made more credit card damage. I asked my husband to do a taste test for the blog, not letting him know what he was trying, and taped his reaction.

Here was his reaction when I convinced him to try “something” for the blog!

 

 

https://youtu.be/K1gpFhLDfSw
 

 

He was a good sport, and his reaction was genuine – he really liked it!

Nordica’s Smooth Cottage Cheese is available in Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel and Lemon flavours. We tried Vanilla Bean as well and it was also very good. Lemon wasn’t in our grocery store, but we will give it a try soon as well. So far this product is available in Ontario only, at most major grocery stores.
 

 
Taste Testing Nordica's Smooth Cottage Cheese

 

 

For more information on Nordica’s Smooth Cottage Cheese, visit their website here!

 

 

Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Nordica Smooth Cottage Cheese Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

 

 
Xoxo Mandy

 

A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!
 

 
A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

 

 
A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!
 

 
A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!
 

 
If there are two things I love, it’s the colour pink and a lot of sparkle. When they are combined I’m pretty much sold on whatever the item is. Based on that, this sweater I’m wearing is now one of my favourites on rotation in my closet.

Pink Blush is an online shop full of clothing that makes me squeal a little when I see what they have to shop. There are so many “must have’s” that it’s hard to decide what to choose. This is a good problem – too much to choose from is never a bad thing (unless your credit card bill is addressed to your husband).

I thought pairing this Pink Sequin Accent Sleeve Knit Sweater from Pink Blush with white jeans and heels would be a great way to dress it up, but still keep warm in these frigid Canadian temperatures! I was freezing when we took these photos, but that’s to be expected for where I live.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, this pretty pink sweater makes me think of putting together the perfect outfit for the big day with the help of this sparkly sweater.

Pink Blush also has a phenomenal maternity line. I really wish I knew about it when I was pregnant, because this would be my go-to shop. They have some really cute and stylish pieces.
 

 

A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!
 

 
Pink Blush and Pink Blush Maternity have free shipping to the US, and super cheap shipping to Canada – only $9.99!

I am so glad I have a new and affordable place to buy clothing from that has items I won’t find in a shopping mall. They have a wide selection, and everything really seems to match my personal style.

To shop Pink Blush yourself, visit them here, or better yet do it with the gift card you can win on the blog!

To enter, all you need to do is like and share this post here on my sparkleshinylove Facebook page. Liking and sharing the post will earn you one entry into the contest for a $50 gift card to Pink Blush. The contest begins at 10:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 and ends on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 at 10:00pm EST. One winner will be selected at random, and will be contacted that evening. This contest is open to both US and Canadian residents.

Good luck, and happy shopping!

 

 
Xoxo Mandy

 
 

 

Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories

Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories

 

 
Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories

 

 

Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories
 

 

Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories
 

 
Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories
 

 
Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories
 

 

Jeans – American Eagle | Sweater – Dynamite | Pumps – Call it Spring | Scarf – Louis Vuitton Monogram Shawl | Handbag – Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 Damier Canvas Bag

 

 
I wear white jeans year-round which is wrong in terms of traditional style rules (no white after labour day!), but I think that is why it looks so good!

Practical it is not (I’ve actually shed a tear over ruined white jeans that I wore on a rainy, muddy day), but if you have the right weather and the right style they look amazing.

I think in the winter they look so great because the sky is so dull – white looks so clean on a dreary day.

The other thing not condusive to a white outfit is having a toddler. Mine has an uncontrollable addiction to both mud and ketchup, which is the perfect storm for an outfit disaster.

This look is new except for my Louis Vuitton scarf and Louis Vuitton speedy bag.

I don’t discriminate when it comes to shopping for outfits – I’ll wear anything from affordable brands like Forever 21, Zara, and H&M, to more mid-range like Aritzia, Club Monaco, and sometimes I splurge beyond, but not often.

When it comes to accessories, that is when I splurge. I always have a short list of 2-3 items I’m saving for over the year to add to my accessories collection, and because these items are more high-end, I tend to stear towards the classics.

Although I often love limited edition collections from designers, their price point can be difficult for me to splurge on if I know it’s so trendy it’s only going to be fashionable for a few seasons.

This Louis Vuitton scarf could never go out of style. The classic monogram pattern is timeless, and the colour is neutral enough to layer into almost any outfit.

I really love it as a stand-alone piece as well. It’s so gorgeous it deserves the spotlight.

My Louis Vuitton Speedy Damier canvas bag also follows my style rules of being a classic piece that won’t fall out of style over the years.

Hope you are having a great week!

 

 
Xoxo Mandy

 

5 Things You Should Know About Monster Jam!

5 Things You Need to Know About Monster Jam!

 

 

Having a boy has exposed me to a whole new world filled with weekends reading books about trucks, playing trucks on the floor, and talking about trucks. I spend many of our car rides looking for cool trucks to point out to my son so he gets a glimpse at one of his favourite things.

I had never been to Monster Jam before, but my son was incredibly excited to go so it was really a no brainer. I have to admit – it was pretty fun!

I know it sounds obvious, but the trucks were HUGE! I had never seen one in person before, so I was surprised how massive they were!

 

 
5 Things You Need to Know About Monster Jam!

 

 
5 Things You Need to Know About Monster Jam!

 

 
5 Things You Need to Know About Monster Jam!

 

 

 

We had a really great time, and if you are thinking about going to one of the upcoming shows, here are a few things you should know!

1. Ear plugs are a must! The show is extremely loud, so we bought some great ear protectors for my son at Walmart for $20, and we also heard that Princess Auto had them as well. Even when I was in the bathroom I had to keep my earplugs in – it’s that loud. Definitely bring some sort of ear protection with you.

2. There is a lot of enticing merchandise for kids at the show. They even have what looks like monster truck tire ear muffs at the show, but please note these are not actually ear protection – they are just for fun (thanks Steph for pointing that out to me!). There is everything from t-shirts, to snowcones in collectors cups, to toy monster trucks that all of the kids were going crazy for.

3. Monster Jam is not just for boys! As I said, I actually had a great time! It was really entertaining. There was a lot of action happening at once, and it was fun to watch. The girls in the crowd were going crazy for the lone female driver on the course.

4. There is a Pit Party before the main event. We missed out on tickets this year (they were sold out when we tried to get our hands on them), but we have heard it’s really fun and a great way to get up close to all of the featured trucks. Families can see the trucks up close and check out the track before the show. Buy early or you will miss out like we did. Normally the Pit Party is a few hours before the show, with a two hour break in between the Pit Party and show start.

5. Worried about a smaller child sitting through the show? If you have a small child or one that has a short attention span, note that the show is approximately 2.5 hours with an intermission. If you are worried about the length of the show, it’s good to know the first half is where all of the monster truck racing happens, and the second half is just for the monster trucks to do a freestyle of the course. If you are concerned about your child sitting through the whole show, you could just pick the half you would rather see and still have an amazing experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monster Jam is likely coming to a city near you, so make sure to check out the show and see when you can attend it yourself!

For more information about Monster Jam, visit their website here!
 

 

 

 
Xoxo Mandy