Dan speaks.

He's alive!

It's been forever (seriously) since I've posted anything on here and I figured that it was finally time to check in and say 'hi' to those of you who keep logging on...hoping that I've posted something...hoping that I've done something to indicate that I'm still alive.

Well have no fear! I'm alive and kicking (and from time to time, also screaming...)!

Awhile back I felt like I needed to take a break from the whole blogging thing...take some time to figure out some personal stuff. Focus in on a couple of things - take some time out to explore, be creative in new ways, refresh myself and hopefully come back to you ready to bombard your in-box with a gazillion new posts.

I'm almost there!

The thing is, I've realized that as goofy as it might sound, I'm not the same guy that I was a couple of months ago. Hell, I feel like I'm light years away from the guy who first started this blog last year. A lot has happened over the past little while that's made me stop and review and access pretty much everything in my life. From my career, to friends, to the music that I'm listening to, to what I choose to do with my free time, to where I see myself in a couple of years, to the type of guy I want to be, etc, etc, etc (the list really goes on and on).

Anyways, as such, I really don't feel like Dan Mitchell | Style is reflective of who I really am. I'm kind of feeling like I've been fronting on y'all. Like I was trying to portray some exaggerated version of myself who needed everything and anything to be perfect. Some guy who got worked up and overly excited about silly projects and pillow covers. 

The thing is, that's not me.

Well, okay. So maybe there were parts of me that enjoyed treasure hunting and finding neat things, but at the same time, that's not all that I'm about. And frankly, it took way more energy than it should have to be excited about posting different write-ups...finding pictures, etc. It became a chore. Like something that I felt like I needed to do because I'd hyped things up to friends, family, etc. 

So while I don't necessarily want to write about paint (I still haven't finished painting my living room...), or pillows or brick walls, I do miss rambling. I miss some of the cool interactions that I've had over the past year with individuals that have stumbled across me. So here I am...back here...with some new ideas, a fresh perspective and hopefully enough ambition to pull everything together and get this project back to the point where it's 'fun' and not a chore.

I'm not saying that the magic is going to happen overnight. I've got a few ideas for where I'd like to take this puppy. Perhaps a change of name...loads more variety, me being a lot more personal (and perhaps candid and blunt), but hopefully just as fun for you to read and explore.

I'm thinking music. Life. Books. Adventures. Relationships. Stupid things I've learned or uncovered. Food (that other people have prepared...I hate cooking). Random pictures & articles on issues and things that have caught my attention. Me being frank and discussing some of the ish that I'm dealing with in my own life.

I'm sure that some point along the way you'll end-up seeing another post where I resort to showing you pictures of brick walls or galvanized stools....but am I actually obsessing or fawning over 'whitewashed brick walls'? No, probably not. Chances are the first time round I was feeling lazy but felt obligated to post....which is not something that I want to do this time round.

So here we go.

Rested. Relaxed. Fresh perspective. New interests. Still Dan....but no more fronting or stupid BS about how exciting pillows can be (I could care less).

It's not going to be perfect. It might be a bit too candid or blunt for some of you, but at the same time I think it's the route that I need to, and want to go.

That is all.

D-

Word up.

No, I'm not being immature, I'm having fun. You should try it.

-Anonymous

Bu-bye stuff & other randomness.

I've had an interesting couple of weeks to say the least.


And by interesting, I mean awesome!


I've been wicked busy both personally and professionally. So much is going on around the office...sometimes I come home and feel like my head is spinning...but I'm getting better at leaving work at work. They're only paying me to work a certain number of hours - anything out of my norm is my time! Time for me to not be preoccupied with random emails, goofiness, office politics and Chinese imports.


Personally, the month has been full of fun adventures and discoveries...good times with friends and breakthroughs of sorts. And while most of my tales are too personal to share, I've got one that I do want to discuss with yah.


Awhile back I'd mentioned how I'd been going through my 'stuff'....cleaning out the 'crap' that really wasn't serving any purpose. At the time, I managed to take a pile of bags to Goodwill, and while I did some damage, it still felt like there was a lot of randomness that I needed to figure out. 


This past weekend, I ended up at home with the most wicked of wicked colds - and not being one of those guys that likes to mope around when I'm sick I figured that it was time to tear back into my 'stuff' to see what else I could get rid of.


It might sound goofy, but as I started to go tear through cupboards, closets & my storage room everything started to hit me. Suddenly it was like "why do I own all of this shiz? Seriously. Why?" It was then that I decided that instead of just "cleaning" that I was going to full out purge. Like serious. PURGE.


Over the course of two days I was pretty ruthless. To the point where I was opening up totes and boxes in my storage room, looking in them, realizing that I hadn't gone through them since I'd moved into my place 3ish years ago and decided then and there that "everything goes."


I also kind of realized that you can have too many serving plates, kitchen gadgets, that just because you can own a French press doesn't mean that you should own a French press and that the Mexican pottery that was a pain in the ass to get home without breaking on the plane is actually useless when it says "not safe for use with food" on the back. 


Much sorting, tossing, packing, lugging and filling my car later, Goodwill ended up with two carloads of my stuff. The collections that I'd worked so hard on a few years ago. The projects that I'd started but never finished, the trashy and depressing paperbacks that I'll never read again...all gone!


It was also then that I kind of realized that maybe, just maybe I was using my 'hunting of treasures' to escape and forget about some of life's randomness that I wasn't overly happy with. Like hunting down a random salad bowl was going to fulfill some sort of goofy need. Hmm...


To be completely honest with yah, I haven't been thrifting forever - and really have no desire to. Seriously. There's no burning desire for me to scavenge through Value Village for something that I can 'magically transform' into something 'amazing.' 

Obviously I still have some collections (as you can see in the above pic), and I'm sure that at some point I'll want to add some new pieces, but right now I'm more excited about the idea of coming home after work and reading a good book, hunting down some new tunes, trying out a new recipe. Or perhaps getting out and hanging with friends, grabbing drinks and chillin' with peeps. Why spend so much time looking for more 'stuff'...?

And there yah have it. That's where I'm at right now.

I really haven't figured out how my new found discovery / epiphany will affect this blog...at some point it will all make sense. But until it does, I'm totally going to enjoy what is, in some ways, a new found 'freedom.' That's a goofy word to use, but in some ways, it kind of feels like it is...so I'm gonna roll with it.

Cheers,
D-

'Different'

A while ago, I decided, unofficially of course, that I was going to do things differently this year. I was laying in bed one night when I had this crazy brain wave where suddenly it was like "I need something different."

It was then that I decided that I was going to make 2012 the year of adventure, growth, opportunity and fun. 

And you know what? 

So far, so good!

At first, I wasn't sure what my definition of 'different' was going to be, but I'm slowing figuring things out as I go along. I've realized that 'different' can be something as basic as ordering something 'different' off the menu when I hit up my favourite coffee place, or trying out someplace 'different' when meeting with friends for lunch. It can also be as 'different' as trying something so outside my realm like yoga...only to realize that I love it.

I've got a buddy to thank for this new found love. He'd stumbled across a two week introductory pass to a new studio that opened in the city and was like "hey, let's check this out together," and I was like "hey, that'd be 'different'...I'm in." (Or something along those lines...) 

So, skip ahead three weeks, and I've come to love yoga. Who'd of thunk it. Not this farm boy. But sure enough, this new and 'different' adventure has been exactly what I've needed and craved for awhile.

While I enjoy the gym (from time to time) I'd been finding that I really wasn't into it. I'd go, I'd end-up on a treadmill or elliptical and rather than being about to zone out and focus on working out, I'd find myself thinking about the office or thinking about stuff around home, or thinking about family, friends, loved ones, et cetera, et cetera....I was really lacking any sort of mental clarity or focus.

As I've been exploring a number of different forms of yoga - ranging from Ashtanga and Restorative to a couple different variations of hot yoga, I've found that a) I've been able to really get into the physical side of things...that I'm pushing myself more than ever to see what I can get my body to do & b) that I've been able to go to class and completely zone out. To focus in on what's important at the time - to meditate and focus in on what's important in my life. Which is completely 'different' for me. My mind's always in motion...I generally find it impossible to turn things off.

I may have kind of abused my two week unlimited pass. I think that they expect you to go a few times a week, see if you like it....not attend 15 classes in a two week span. That said, for being so 'different' and out of my usual whelm of interests, I'm hooked enough that I invested in a full month pass....at the regular rate. Let's see if I can abuse that!

I'm curious to see where this 'different' adventure takes me. Slowly but surely the movements are making a bit more sense, I've been able to bend "that much more" and I've found myself leaving class with a smile, and a cleared head....allowing me the chance to crawl under the covers at night not worrying about what happened that day, or what's going to happen tomorrow. Basically, it's all good. Sure I come home a bit sore sometimes, but hey, no pain, no gain.

Where am I going with this posting? I'm not really sure. This could be turning into one of those rambling posts...so I'll wrap it up by saying that 'different' can be good....and worth exploring. 'Different' causes one to think outside the box and discover fresh and new energy. Sure, there will be a few adventures that will be one-time-only, but hey, isn't it worth trying something 'different' from time to time? 

How's that sound?

And you know what? Do you want to know the best part of my quest for 'different' adventures and opportunities? It's only the beginning of March. I've still got over nine months of 'different' to explore!

Xo,

D-

Crap.

We all have it. 

Regardless of how much we pretend to be organized and neat as can be, we all have that drawer, that closet, or that storage room filled with random odds and sods that for some reason or another we have difficulty letting go. Old t-shirts from college. Ratty paperbacks with embarrassing titles. Letters from old friends and lovers. Horrible party pictures that should never have been taken. Birthday cards from people you can barely remember. The remains of some sort of stupid crafting project gone wrong (anyone want a set of knitting needles tangled in a ball of yarn?). Or if you're me, it could be the red plastic fireman's hat...which I don't remember buying - yet it's lived in my closet for years.

And while I'm definitely one of those guys that likes to be surrounded by his stuff, there comes a point when that stuff becomes crap. Useless, stale, space and energy consuming crap. Those $250 college textbooks that seemed so important five years ago - not so much anymore. The shirts that I'll never get into again - or the ones that I'm hanging onto for stupid sentimental reasons...the movies and CD's that I haven't watched or listened to in years have slowly been taking over my place....all crap.

To say that these past two months has been a roller coaster of sorts is definitely an understatement. The end of a relationship. New adventures. New outlooks on where I'd like to see myself in a couple of years. A fresh perspective on what's really important vs. what's just consuming negative energy - and in this case space. I've really found myself really focusing in on 'me' lately to say the least...and by clearing random 'crap' per say, be it physical or otherwise, I've been able to better focus my energies into what drives me, motivates me and in the end, what makes me happy.

Slowly but surely I've spent the past couple of evenings weeding through my place...something that I like to do every couple of months. However, this time, I found myself being ruthless. If I hadn't worn it in the past six months, into the Goodwill bag it went. If it had been hidden under my bed for the past year, into the Goodwill bag it went. 

And you know what - 

It felt great lightening my load. Getting rid of some stuff. Some crap. Stuff that once meant so much that had served its purpose, or never found a purpose around my place.

I've still got a ways to go. There's a storage room waiting for me...but I think that I'm on the right track.

Two evenings, a gazillion songs, some random Dan dancing and prancing around later I've ended up with this - 

Four bags of stuff for Goodwill. Four bags of my useless, meaningless crap. Stuff that I'm not going to miss. And let's not forget about the two bags of random garbage...old papers, magazine clippings, ratty t-shirts and other crap not worthy of being donated.

I feel lighter. I feel satisfied. I can see open my closet again without having a mountain of jeans falling on me. It's all good....and it's just the beginning!

I might need to buy some more garbage bags!


D-


PS. Anyone want a silver tea set? It seemed like a good idea at the time...that or who's up for coming over for tea...using my stupid tea set? I might even make some 'brony' inspired cookies to serve with the tea! :)

Around the office.

Holy shiz! 

How fast have the past couple of weeks gone by!?! I can't believe that we're already into February....and I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted! Wasn't the goal for 2012 to be a better blogger....grow this site? 

Let's just say that January was an uphill battle of sorts filled with a gazillion adventures and emotions - both planned and unplanned. I think I kinda finally feel like a grownup. 

Anyways, it's a new month filled with new adventures, lots of potential & opportunity...and so far, so good!

I've been crazy busy around the office as of late! Seriously - I'm like the Tasmanian Devil when I get into work. I've got a million different projects on the go right and sometimes feel like all I do is spin in circles throwing files around. However, slowly but surely, everything is starting to make sense.

A lot of time has been devoted to arranging for the arrival of 60-ish containers of spring and summer fun. I've got loads of amazing seasonal pieces coming from overseas and I'm excited for them to arrive! You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to seeing the bright colours that come with summer (Winnipeg's looking pretty bleak right now...)! 

I received confirmation this morning that my first couple of containers arrived and were being un-stuffed this afternoon....exciting stuff! I can't wait to share some snaps once everything is set-up and looking great! Did I mention that I'll be broke after buying one of everything that's coming off the containers?! I'm especially excited for my Vietnamese pottery....bright turquoise! Lots of reds! Amazing ceramic garden stools! Can't wait!

And while I'm uber excited for spring to arrive (for personal and professional reasons), professionally I'm already looking ahead to this coming fall - I've spent the past couple of weeks reviewing upholstery swatches, granite colours, wood finishes and quotes from what seems like every second factory in Asia...

It can be a little bit overwhelming at times...I've got some tight deadlines and a lot of numbers to figure out, colours to pick, etc, etc, but at the same time it's pretty damn exciting! I mean, not that many people get to play with fabric swatches or see the actual factory cost of pieces (before the retailers throw on their markups....). It's a pretty neat process. Plus there's fabric swatches (I mentioned those already didn't I?)!

At some point I'll dig myself out from under the stack of catalogues and brochures that's starting to fill my office (I guess that's what I get for posting a couple of inquiries onto LinkedIn....), will figure out which fabric swatches make me the happiest and will hopefully resume activities at a somewhat normal pace....at which time I'll begin looking for summer seasonal pieces again - for 2013. 

At some point I should invest in a couple calendars so I can remember what month I'm actually in vs. which month's purchases I'm reviewing....

But until then, I'm gonna keep exploring, digging, uncovering and investigating all of the different puzzle pieces that make my job as exciting and interesting as it is! 

What's exciting and motivating you around your workplace? I'm curious to know!

Don't be shy! I wanna see what you have to say!

D-

PS. At some point I'll get around to putting my newly repainting living and dining room back together - the colour looks awesome & I can't wait to show you what I've done!

2012, my year.

How excited am I for 2012? I think that this picture pretty much sums it up -

Okay, so while the facial expression might be a bit (a lot) goofy - I am looking forward to all of the different ideas / goals / plans / dreams / aspirations that I have for 2012. I've decided that this is going to be MY year.

And while I'm not going to spill everything that I'm thinking of for the coming year, I do wanna share some of my plans with you.

So here it goes - 

1) Different wheels - while the trusty Alero has treated me well over the past couple of years (with the exception of that new transmission, four tires and rewired security system), it's time to trade up! I'd love to find something bigger - something that that I could throw a random furniture find, a bike or a couple friends into.

2) Volunteer - I've spent the past couple of years being so wrapped up in everything that I juggle at work, etc, that I really don't have any volunteer experience under my belt. I haven't figured out exactly what I'd like to do yet - but after talking with a couple of buddies this past weekend I've got some ideas!

3) Attempt camping - I've only ever spent one night in a tent....which I really don't think counts as camping. I'd love to pick a weekend, find some friends, buy a tent, pack up the new wheel and get on the road in hunt of some adventure! That's not to say that I won't try to glamp it up a bit...none of this sleeping on a rock business. I'm talking blankets and soft air beds, stainless steel martini glasses and blue cheese burgers...

4) Explore - Whether it's in or out of the city I want to explore! I've lived in the Peg for over three years, but it really doesn't feel like I know the city! I want to find new restaurants, check out shows, investigate festivals, discover hiking / biking trails, et cetera, et cetera! Beyond the outskirts of the city, I'd love to do some travelling this summer - maybe a road-trip or two?

5) Pick-out a new bike - If I'm going to be discovering biking trails wouldn't it make sense to have a bike to ride on them? I love biking, but for random reasons haven't had one in the city. Whenever I'm at my rent's I'll dig out my old bike from when I was a kid and go on the most random of excursions - finding old bush trails, riding from the farm into town, riding down to the lake to dip my toes in the water - wherever, it really doesn't matter! The old wheels aren't exactly city worthy so I can't wait to see what I can find...(it's a no to tassels and a basket....but a perhaps a yes to a bell....ooooh!)

6) More BBQs - Right before Christmas I found a gigantic BBQ book...to add to my collection of other BBQ guides. While I managed to use my grill a few times this past year, I want to take full adventure of using it this year - good food, fun drinks, great friends! Who could want more?

7) New digs - I'm not sure about this one, but there's a part of me that would like to explore the possibility of finding a different flat. Something closer to work, perhaps with a bit more character, high ceilings, a big balcony, a second bedroom wouldn't hurt...maybe within walking distance of some good eats & drinks (who wants to cab it across the city when you can just walk?), closer to friends....who knows! It's an idea....but a fun one!

There yah have it! I'm not going to share all my goals...a guy has to keep a couple of secrets!

While we all have that list of things that we want to achieve in the coming year...what's on the top of your list!

Cheers,

D-

Life is a roller coaster...

...just gotta ride it.

http://pinterest.com

How many of us have read or heard that saying before? Probably almost all of us at one point or another. Whether I've seen it splattered across a website like Pinterest, as lyrics to a song, or in passing conversation - it's been one of those sayings that has just stuck with me.

It's also one of those lines that's never been more truthful to me than right now. The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster to say the least...there have been some ups, lots of downs, a few unexpected twists and turns, tears, maybe even a bit of shouting and at the end of everything, that strange feeling where you're relieved, a bit shaken and unsettled, but at the same time you're glad that you've experienced the ride. 

I'm not one to ramble on about my personal life here, but know that I'm still around, that I'm doing okay, that I'll be able to sleep tonight and that at some point I'll figure out how to get the paint out of my hair (another story...but hey, a guy has to distract himself somehow). 

That and no more roller coaster rides....at least not the ones where you feel like you're gonna lose your cotton candy afterwards.

xo,

D-

Nesting.

January. Cold. Bleak. Blah.

Though it's only the 2nd, I know most of you are looking forward to the end of this month. After all of the hype surrounding Christmas and the New Year, I'm sure that I'm not the only one that's dreading falling back into the daily grind. 

And if you're me, January also means returning to the city and being away from family, cold weather (this is 'Winterpeg' after all), dark nights, and little motivation to spend time outdoors for fear of freezing my poor fingers or toes.

It's easy to get down during this time of year - which has lead me to do whatever it takes to stay upbeat and motivated until spring (or a vacation of some sort) appear.

I've decided to go into nesting mode -

http://pinterest.com/

The best part of my own nesting mode? No baby necessary.

All I want to do right now is tackle some projects around my place to make it feel that much more cozy and comfortable - a haven of sorts from those cold nights when all I want to do is make a b-line straight to my car from my office...driving home as quickly as I can. And what better time to create that haven than the month where I'm most likely to be inside the most?

And the best part? I think I can do everything on a budget. Or rather, I think I can tackle everything for little coin....I loathe the word budget...

I haven't figured out exactly what I want to accomplish yet, but I've already started to put together a bit of a list -

(before any of this goes down, I make sure that my iPod is charged and loaded with new music...)

-Paint bedroom

-Come up with an inexpensive headboard solution (it's time for a 'grown-up' bedroom)

-Scour the thrift & junk shops for another nightstand that I can refinish to accompany the one that I picked up this past summer

-Artwork for above my couch...something fun and different than the collage of frames that I'd previously had on display

-Possibly (depending on extra coin) repaint my living & dining room (again)...I made the mistake of buying cheap paint when I did everything earlier this fall...it's impossible to clean and in some spots is already marked up & looking nasty...which is why I haven't 'reveiled' what I did.

-Sort through totes of old college textbooks, notes, paperwork

-Arrange new filing system for bank statements, important documentation

-Par down the contents of my linen / tool closet - give away unused and older pieces, sort through tools...do I really need what seems like 90 paintbrushes or varying quality and size?

-Sort all holiday decorations before packing back up. How many Christmas balls do I really need? Anything that's old or past it's prime will take a hike.

-Organize kitchen cabinets...come up with a storage solution for spices / baking supplies...besides just throwing everything in the cupboard.

-Hunt down some inexpensive flat sheets that I can sew into curtain panels.

Whew.

And that's just what I came up with off the top of my head....I'm sure that with a few more minutes I could come up with a gazillion more ways to shake-up and improve my nest!

That should keep me going through January....and perhaps through February as well.

And of course I'm going to drag you along for the ride!

I honestly can't wait to get started! My place is like my haven from the busy world - why not make it that much more of a haven?

Where to begin?!

D-

What solutions and ideas do you have to combat a case of the 'January's?'

The year in review.

2011 you rocked my socks!

Well, almost.

It's crazy to think that not only has Christmas come and gone, but that we're on the cusp of a New Year! 

And while I'm not one to want to make huge plans for the evening of the 31st, I do like taking a couple of minutes to think about the year that has been and to look at the events that have shaped me and affected me throughout the past year. So much has happened that I don't want to bore you with all the details...but know that it has been a crazy year! A year of firsts and lots of adventures and changes - more travel than ever, the beginnings of this blog - which has been one of the best creative outlets ever for me, adventures and projects galore and a new job which has never seen me more happy professionally! What's not to love?!

Speaking of this blog, who'd of thunk that I'd still be plunking away, still coming up with posts. Not this boy! Over the past eight months I've grown this project - the result of me being too bored in the office one afternoon, into one that I love. I've discovered and conversed with some great individuals online, shared a lot of goofy thoughts, some neat ideas and even vented a little (okay, a lot for a few months...).

While time will only tell what the events of the coming year will bring I do want to say thank you for reading my ramblings and for sharing them with your friends! I had no idea what was going to happen when I keyed in the first of many posts to come eight months ago, but this has been an awesome experience! I definitely have some ideas rolling around in the back of my head for 2012 and can't wait to see them unfold.

Now, enough of me rambling - let's take a look at some randomness from the past year!

Most read in - Canada, USA, El Salvador & Russia

http://www.exploratorydesign.org/russia/

How cool is it to know that the ideas that you're reading about are being read by individuals on the other side of the world! Mucho love to those of you abroad who are finding me and are searching me by name! Makes a guy feel kind of special!

Most read post - It's a tie! You're loving two of my favourite posts - Framed and Dan wants to move into a school house. (I know, I know....the title of the second).

www.countryliving.com

Most searched terms - Dan Mitchell Style, Picture Frame Wall, Dan design blog, Sarah Richardson's Ass (I kid you not...), danmitchellstyle

http://meganleiter.wordpress.com

My favourite (and your most read about) project - remember when I played fairy god father to a nightstand back in July? It's still one of my favourite furniture pieces that I've redone...who'd of thunk that a Goodwill cast-off with a case of the uglies could turn into something so sexy?! Seriously. I swear, I'd be the perfect guy for an HGTV gig, haha.

Before if you'll remember -

And after some Dan lovin' -

My favourite Pinterest shot that I've posted -

http://pinterest.com

Everything about this picture is magic to me. This year has been all about new adventures, changing directions and trying to figure out how to navigate my own 'Game of Life' board. This year has had its fair share of twists and turns...and while some of them are bound to follow me into the coming year, I'm excited to see what happens and where I land.

Fave pic of mine that I've posted -

There's a pretty long personal story that goes behind this picture, but it's one of my fave shots ever - sometimes it the cloudiest, gloomiest and most depressing of days that can generate a shot this beautiful and awe inspiring.

See it's been a fun year!

And though I could go on all day sharing the things that I've loved, discovered, shared or been introduced to over the course of this past year, I'll let you sleuth through my posts at your leisure. You won't be disappointed! I promise.

Here's to 2012! The new, the familiar, the scary and the unknown! I can't wait!

Now let's go find some good wine...

XO,

D-

Tree trimming time!

So I've made you wait long enough! Here it is a week from Christmas and I've yet to share this year's tree with you! I've had the tree up for a couple of weeks now...but in between all of the holiday fun, craziness in the office and chocolate eggnog drinking (that's right I found chocolate eggnog!!), I haven't had a time to tell you about the crazy fun that is my tree.

Since November I've been giving you sneak-peeks of some of the ornaments that I've picked up along the way....and also told you about how I've randomly picked up different pieces on my way home from the grocery store over the course of a few weeks (seriously - I swear I was just going in to pick-up more chocolate eggnog and bananas....).

Decorating was reasonably easy...it was putting up the stupid tree that took forever....I'm one of those anal guys that needs to make sure that the lights are perfect - we're talking about taking three and a half hours to wrap lights around each branch as I'm building the tree...it turned out looking pretty spiffy though, so I guess it was worth it in the end!

After finally deciding on going with a blue and silver theme this season, my goal was to make my tree look kind of fresh and exciting, but at the same time make it look cozy and 'Dan like'...if that makes sense. A bit of bling, a bit of glass, a bit of fun and some burlap....(I don't get how the burlap makes it 'Dan like'....maybe it has to do with me coming from the farm....hmmm....).

After getting a bulk of the decorations onto the tree over the course of a couple of evenings (tying fishing line onto ornaments takes a long time....), I still didn't have a tree skirt to complete the look. In the past this fact hasn't bothered me....but in past years I've been a bit more on my 'A Game' having wrapped my presents early....this year that hasn't exactly happened....so there I was left not knowing what to do, not wanting to drop anymore coin on a skirt, and apparently not ready to wrap everything up. So out came the burlap!

Not too bad huh? Actually....the pic doesn't really do it justice but my $3.99 roll of burlap that I picked up at work looks pretty snazzy - it's so simple and the complete opposite of everything else that's going on....but it seems to make sense! No sewing, just a lot of fluffing....

And here you have it! The big unveiling! It might not look like something you'd find in a showroom or in a swanky design magazine, but I love it! It's goofy how much I find myself sitting with the lights turned out just admiring the tree....a couple glasses of wine (or chocolate eggnog)...some people do yoga & meditate...I look at my tree. What are yah gonna do? 

There yah have it!

Stay tuned for a couple more shots!

D-

Where did I snag everything from?


Tree - Value Village (Martha Stewart)
Silver owls - Walmart USA
Frosted & sequin balls - Zellers
Tin press birds / stockings / snowflakes - TBS! The Bargain! Shop
Standard-sized solid coloured balls - The Bay / Walmart Canada
Sparkle 'Merry Christmas' - Walmart USA
Swirled blue glass ornaments - Walmart USA
Over-sized coloured balls - PC Home Collection for Superstore / Loblaws
Rolled burlap - McDiarmid 
Christmas lights - Target 

Chinese fun and games.

To say that I've been a busy boy around the office lately is a bit of an understatement. And though I like to think I've got everything under control and somewhat sorted I'm pretty sure that I'll endup going gray prematuraly. Bring on the Just For Men touch-up kits...

Anyways, as busy and hectic as it can be, it's a lot of fun. I basically get to spend my days shopping! Well shopping, creating packaging, sorting out containers, arguing with factories about minimal order quantities, translating, working with graphic artists to develop packaging, et cetera, et cetera. And while I love all it, it's the thrill of the hunt and finding something new that excites me the most.

It's awesome stumbling across factories half way around the world and uncovering some of the cool pieces that they're producing. And though I can't necessarily show you what I'm currently buying (yet...I will when it arrives this spring) I want to show you some cool pieces that I just found!

I love how I can be trying to hunt down something like flooring or lighting and suddenly I've stumbled across the most amazing assortment of product. Case in point, I was looking for heaters and ended up with these AMAZING furniture pieces on my screen...

Aren't these pieces cool? Even though they're pretty much the last items in the world that I'll ever be importing (with this company anyways)...I'm in love with them! I've already mapped out homes for everything in my place.

This brings me to the question - how do I convince work to bring in a container of this stuff? Remember I work for a hardware retailer...not a furniture retailer.

Knowing me, I'm going to have these pieces on my mind for the next couple of days and will go to bed this evening coming up with a goofy plan on how I'll get them over here and into my apartment. Something like "ooooh....the factory makes garden tools. Let's buy a bunch of shovels for the stores...and oh yah, throw this, this and that in the container for our review."

Then again, maybe I'd be further ahead wandering down to Homesense to see what they have.

Hmm....

D-

Mr. Mitchell Decorates.

My mind has officially been blown.

No Seriously.

Today is the first day of December. Seriously. Where did this year go? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was heading to the beach with Mister and our friends? Non?

Oh well. I guess if anything it means that we're just that much closer to Christmas! And to help get me feeling festive I dug out the last of the decorations, hit up the shops (yet again....we won't tell Mister how much I've spent) and starting spreading the fun around my place.

And while I've got a ways to go, I figured that it would be fun to give you a sneak peek of what I've been up to.

As this is the one and only holiday that I really get into, I figured that I have no excuse not to go all out. This year I started out with greenery above my kitchen cabinets. I figured out that I could hide a cord behind the cabinets - therefore letting me go with a pre-lit garland, which I dressed up with a mix of vintage glass and new unbreakable balls. The way the glittery balls hit the lights makes me swoon....no, for reals. When it comes to Christmas, I don't mess around.

Though my tree is up and lit (we won't discuss the three hours it took to get there....), I'm waiting until this weekend to decorate it with Mister. And while I thought I could wait until the weekend, I found myself NEEDING TO DECORATE something. So away went the shells and postcards that filled my urns and vases and out came the buffalo snow and balls in every shade of blue I could find, complimented with silver and white.

Isn't this reindeer the cutest little guy you've ever seen? I picked him and his brother up from Superstore right after they put their decorations out. He's basically the reason that I decided to go all out with the blue and silver theme this season....we won't go into detail about how I when I was in the States last month I bought a pile of red stuff (I swear....I'll use it next year).

And while I'd like to show you everything else I've done, I'm going to make you wait! I wanna unveil the finished project sometime this weekend! I'm hoping to spend part of tomorrow evening getting the tree wrapped up and then I've got a couple of other DIY projects that I want to tackle....that is if I can find the missing pieces! 

I found a couple of those pieces on the way home from work this evening....

Are you getting curious yet?

Hmmm.....

Back to the fun & eggnog!

D-

Looking ahead.

So here we are, November 24th, and I'm wondering - where did this month go? Seriously. Where did it go? Weren't we just enjoying Halloween like last weekend? It's almost the end of November and I don't have a single Christmas decoration up yet...I might be slipping!

I've been a busy boy to say the least! Work and life in general have been keeping me on my toes....and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I like a little bit of chaos. Or rather, organized confusion....

Work has been a lot of fun (who'd of thunk it?), I'm currently trying to piece together the last of my summer seasonal stuff for next year - I've been booking patio furniture and outdoor decor left, right and centre - I can't wait to share some pics of everything when it arrives. As of this morning, I was trying to navigate my way through a sea of fabric options for throw cushions and lounger pads...where's a guy to begin?

Throw in the stacks of catalogues of garden decor items along with catalogues of vanities, area rugs, lamps, bi-cast leather furniture and Christmas merchandise for the second half of 2012 and I'm not lacking any work!

On the home front, I'm feeling a bit like a bad parent for neglecting this blog! It hasn't been on purpose - really! My place is probably feeling the same way you guys are - I still haven't finished painting my living and dining room....it needs loads of touch ups and I have to finish the trim up. Someday.

The only thing that I've been successful at is tackling the monstrosity that is my bedroom closet. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little bit of a clothes horse....at times my bedroom looks like a clothing store that threw-up all over the place. I'm come to the conclusion that I own more dress shirts than any guy should have - whether he's gay, straight or otherwise....(is it wrong to bring in the gay thing to justify buying more shirts?).

After some serious digging and sorting Value Village ended up with four garbage bags of clothes that I'd either gotten bored with, outgrown, were too big or that I'd forgotten about all together. It's funny how getting rid of a pile of "stuff" can make a guy feel lighter and in some goofy way, happier. That and I found a couple shirts that I bought this summer and forgot about...tags still intact. Oye.

Looking ahead, work's only going to get crazier as I try to figure out how the hell I'm going to pull my seasonal projects together. And as we head closer and closer to Christmas things around home are also going to get nutty with dinners, parties, shopping and hopefully some Dan-pretending-to-be-crafty sessions. I'm hoping to yank some stuff out tonight...we'll see what happens. Regardless of how much, or how little I accomplish, you'll see the (hopefully not scary) end results!

Now, bring on the eggnog!

D-

PS.

Did I mention that I'm planning on becoming an eggnog snob this holiday season? Stay tuned.

Baby it's cold outside.

Monday evening.

It's dark. It's snowing. It's cold.

What's a boy to do besides throw on his sweats and crank up the heat?

Watch some bad reality TV? Iron his work clothes? Flip through magazines? Nah....how about something a bit more exciting.

Say something like coming up with some ideas for my future digs...

Let's start with someplace that looks like this - room to roam around in, but still cute, cozy and full of character.

http://pinterest.com

Lately, I've had this thing for baths. I'm usually a shower guy, but with the cooler weather I've been finding myself wanting to just soak in a big tub. The thing is, I'm still living it up in my rental, which has a tiny tub, it's basically the opposite of a soaker tub...so, when the time comes, the papers have been signed and the moving truck has been unpacked, I'm digging out my sledge hammer to knockdown walls and make room for a freestanding soaker tub. I'll take the below bathroom please....

http://pinterest.com/pin/364186568/

Not bad huh?

What else is on the wish list?

How about a couple of Lucite 'ghost' chairs?

http://pinterest.com/pin/356055931/

As impractical and uncomfortable as they probably are, I'm in love with Starck's classic design. Perhaps they'd look great in my fictitious dining room, or in the front entry...or better yet, put to use in a study. 

And because my future digs will have plenty of storage room, I'll have a pantry off of the snazzy kitchen - complete with uber-fun wallpaper and floor to ceiling shelving for all of my serving pieces, extra bar ware and whatever I bring home on a random whim.

http://pinterest.com

Speaking of wallpaper - I don't think that I've ever discussed with you just how much I love and adore wallpaper. I don't get why people are terrified of it. Maybe it has something to do with childhoods filled with spending the night in a grandparent's guest room - complete with the ugliest of orange and pink floral prints (or ferns in the case of my Grandma's place....).


That said, times have changed and now there are amazing styles to suit every taste. I've got a couple of different ideas. Perhaps something completely out of the box like this map print (....erase those memories of the ugly map wallpaper murals that you used to see in the Sears catalogue when we were kids....) - 

http://pinterest.com/pin/253279428/

Or maybe something a bit more classic like this awesome birch print - I can totally picture doing this along side my beloved HBC blanket and a big overstuffed duvet!

http://pinterest.com/pin/249119742/

What else have I been dreaming about you may ask?

Well, I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to have a home with an attic! I know nothing about attics - really. Apparently they're cold in winter and hot in the summer, but that's all secondary! I want rooms with dormers and slanted ceilings! That and all of the cool storage spots and built-in cabinets for music and books! Swoon!

http://pinterest.com/pin/410953789/

That or what about an attic dressing room? How much fun would this be? I went to a Birthday party when I was young where the kid's Mom had an attic dressing room....nowhere near as glamorous as this one, but still....I want! (A toned down version that is....this is a bit too Liberace for me.....but still!!)

http://pinterest.com/pin/367267149/

Bathtub. Chairs. Closet. Attic. Pantry. Wallpaper obsession. What else?


A kick-ass custom designed outdoor kitchen.


Since picking up my BBQ a couple of years ago, I've developed a love of grilling - it might sound a bit nutty, but I find it relaxing. And while my little red BBQ will keep me going for a couple of years yet, I dream of the day when I can build (that's right....I can use power tools) my own outdoor kitchen. It's a little known fact that I did brick and stone work for six months out of college (secret skills!) would love to create something of my own. Something like this - 

I'm also madly in love with this set-up! Imagine coming over and having me make you my signature tequila lime chicken on this bad boy!

http://pinterest.com/pin/178927424/

Hmm....also a must - some snazzy art! 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm6FEFOin7xR5igM9BwYvXg45ZjwaGFsVvz0gpY_TcxEWZTQ-4XdVK_id0A6YmQAyDQ2QDe0HwLe8vD5V3jQ-KGSHzIiOi134WgjnrbSWu39jVo7F7mqUb7xfp8epvrY90uHxWBXYjdyw/s400/artwall.jpg

*Snazzy art does not come from the home decor aisle of Target or Homesense. Rather, snazzy art is discovered during travels, on random Sunday afternoons while wandering around markets and country auctions. Snazzy art can and may possibly include beautiful photography of far-off exotic locales.

http://houseandhome.com/blogs/suzanne-dimma?page=1

Not a bad list of ideas huh? It's going to take awhile to get there...quite a while. So before any Lucite, wallpaper, picket fences or custom grills maybe I should start with two things that I can actually afford without blowing the bank - 

and also

That's right - a blank journal, a pen and a glass of whatever I've got kicking around....ideas and doodles don't cost anything. Why not let my imagination run wild. While I'm at it, I may as well consider what I'm going to be parking in my future garage - do I go for the Land Rover in black with tan leather or in black with black leather. Hmm.....

I've shared some of what's on my wish list. What's on yours?

D-