Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Marriott Resort & Spa

Lucky me - I was treated to a weekend away with my girlfriend at The Marriott Resort & Spa on Lake Rousseau www.jrosseau.ca and enjoyed our time in Spa Rousseau.www.sparosseau.com . Wow... it is so relaxing and beautiful everyone should do this at least once. The location in one of the most desirable resort areas of Halliburton takes your breath away. This resort has taken customer service excellence to another level. Everyone is on the same page and you are treated as though you are really welcome and they want to do whatever it is to make your stay wonderful. There are so many activities you should check out the website at www.jwrosseau.ca.

A welcoming entrance

 This waterfall is at the main entrance and there is a fire pit where guests can have drinks while enjoying the fire and roast marshmallows



A view from the back of the resort
 The lake beyond



The Spa was the main draw for our weekend getaway and it is absolutely fabulous.  I have never been  pampered so much.  We spent Saturday lounging, reading and relaxing in the whirlpool to be followed by the best massage and then off to the notable Robin Barker Salon www.robinbarker.ca for a new hairdo.  Robin's salon is know in Toronto's Yorkville area and will soon be opening up in Oakville at Dundas & Third Line.
Dinner in the both The signature Teca Restaurant was another delight as was the grand breakfast buffet the next morning in The Cottages Restaurant.



Below are some photos of the public spaces within the resort - lots of room to relax.....





One of the nicely appointed guest rooms

Monday, June 20, 2011

Spin Cafe

The new Spin Desert Cafe  www.spindessert.com opened its doors recently and it was the place to be.  If you love a little savoury and a lot of sweet then this is a must. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and after theatre fare.  Spin Cafe is located at 2177 Yonge Street, Toronto - 416-322-SPIN (7746) and is extra special as it is owned by two of my favourite young men - Steven & Kristofer Rusk.  I remember these guys when they were just little boys and now (where did the time go??) - they are all grown up and running their own business.

CONGRATS GUYS!!

The place was abuzz and wonderfully crowded.  Make it a point to stop in next time you are in the big smoke as it is called.

Check out the website and be inspired to indulge!!  www.spindessert.com



                                       
 
 
 
 

            
 




An outing to Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery

Rosewood Winery in the Niagara Region was the place to be June 4.  Hockey Icon, Johnny Bower was on hand to meet fans and sign the Johnny Bower Merlot wine release.  Wineries throughout the region had events and tastings along with appropriate food pairings going on throughout the weekend.
Of course as anybody who knows me, knows I LOVE wine so I had to be there!



Johnny Bower ready to meet his fans and sign some vino

 I also am a pushover for cake - this was a tasty version of the famous cup

Unique to Rosewood are the 3 apiaries located in what is known as 'the Bench' in Beamsville with additional land located in Jordan.  With the honey produced here and the wine making skills of the estate, Rosewood has created an innovative handcrafted honey wine or mead making them one of the most unique wineries in the Niagara Peninsula.

            
Luscious grapes for making delicious wine....

    

 


  Busy little Bees.....



Barrels full of wine just waiting to be bottled and drank.

Sheridan Graduates - Awards Night

Being that I am very involved in CDECA on several fronts, I was once again off to Sheridan College.  As one of the Ambassadors to Sheridan representing CDECA, I had the privilege to present the CDECA Scholarship Award to a very deserving student from the program -Ocito Balleta .  Following the presentation of awards we were treated to refreshments and had the opportunity to view the students work.  Wow!! It was fantastic and I was impressed with exceptional detail, skill and creativity of the students.  There is definitely a great number of talented students graduating from Sheridan. Well done!!

Here I am presenting Ocito with his award.

SOFA Spring Vendor Showcase



I,  and many other decorators attended the SOFA Vendor Showcase which focused on all of the wonderful fabrics, wall coverings, paint, blinds and much more offered by the many great vendors located at SOFA  www.visitsofa.com in the International Centre, Mississauga.
Just seeing all the great products gets the wheels turning as to how you can implement them into the next design project.  We had a nice catered lunch and then enjoyed the guest speaker - Karl Lohnes.  Karl is a Canadian Television & radio personality, newspaper columnist, magazine editor who covers home decor & lifestyle topics for CTV's Canada AM, Style at Home magazine, Metro News and Chum FM.
        To quote Karl 
 Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Karl and he was gracious enough to pose for photos after as well as talk with individuals about design. Of course I never miss a chance to be photographed with design celebs!

Walls of Hope doing more great work in the community....

Once again Walls of Hope,  www.wallsofhopecanada.org have done a remarkable job in helping in the community.  At the end of April the Halton Trauma Centre was taken over by volunteers led by Sera Mansueto, the founder of W of H.  It is Sera's belief that your environment makes such an impact on our lives.  The Halton Trauma Centre is a unique and specialized community-based agency providing clinical assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents and families affected by child abuse.

Established in 1983, and treating over 300 families per year, Halton Trauma Centre has come to be widely recognized as a leader in the field of childhood interpersonal abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional).

HTC was selected because of the positive impact they have with children, the contribution they provide to the community and because HTC’s needs met and exceeded our selection criteria requirements.  Here are some of the wonderful photos from the makeover.....










Spring has sprung.....

I think it is here - Yes not only has spring sprung but we are now entering Summer.....

You can see by the way we walk with a lift in our gait and a smile on our faces.  Yes it is finally here and the birds are tweeting, and the flowers are trying to emerge.  So let's get out there and enjoy!  After the long winter we all want to be outdoors and cherish the time we have to enjoy our short lived warm weather.  Why not make it a pleasing place to be.   The transition from inside to outside should be simple and coordinated.  We often bring the outside in so why not take the inside out.

Having a comfy and functional outdoor space is quite simple and not all that expensive.  There are so many choices for every price point.

Decks......





 The first thing one should do is to take a good look at your outdoor space and decide how you want to use it.  Do you want a cooking/dining area; or perhaps a place to sit and lounge?  When you have made that decision, you then purchase the appropriate furniture and some king of sun protection, be it an umbrella, gazebo awning or whatever. 
Covered spaces.....




Outdoor Kitchens.....



Accessorizing your outdoor space can be so much fun and this is where you can go a little wild and try things you may not be ready to do inside. This is where you add some interest.  You can be starting fresh or simply adding to what you already own.  The accessories are what really finish the space and can be the most inexpensive way of refreshing your décor.
You can go for the bright colours for a fun look; or go with natural colours for a calm look.  There are so many options.
Throw cushions are a great way to add some colour and the fabrics that are intended for outdoor use these days are fabulous.  There are so many patterns to choose from.  It is also a good idea to add a throw for cool evenings.
Dinnerware is another way to add some colour and fun to your space.  The great acrylic pieces are so much nicer than paper, and much more eco-friendly.


Garden décor such as ponds, fountains, statues and sculpture create drama not to mention the relaxing mood while listening to the trickling water.  Outdoor art and mirrors really add some interest and can make the space appear as a continuation of your indoor space.


Fireplaces, pits and outdoor heaters are another way of increasing your use of the short lived summer season.


Of course lighting is a major piece of this plan – lanterns, garden lights, candles all add to the complete picture.
The final and most important part of our outdoor spaces is the plants – whether you are living with a large garden or with a small balcony, you can have many wonderful bushes, flowers and trees all displayed throughout your space.
When planning and creating your outdoor haven, using colours and a style that is similar to your inside décor will give you a cohesive look.  Also important is to keep in mind the style of your home when selecting your furniture and accessories.  Generally extremely ultra-modern would work better with a contemporary style house while more traditional would work with an older style home.
So….. Get out there and have a wonderful summer!