Guest Post with Harley: 'The Table'

When Harley first showed me the broken rusty table he had found on the side of the road I was happy that we both shared the passion for treasure hunting and I figured it could work in a shabby chic sort of way if he could do some repairs but it did seem like quite the undertaking. I had no idea he would TRANSFORM it into such beauty! I'm so impressed I asked him to share the story of  'The Table'.  Here it is...

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So I’m walking home one night from the farmer’s only daughter’s husband’s brother’s place. As I recall the walk was more than a walk. My limbs were heavy and my eyes were just plain bad.When I finally reached the top of Brock and Dundas I could feel my bed getting closer. I safely crossed the street to find a dark rectangular shadow staring me down. So, naturally I put on my most craziest look and sauntered towards it. Luckily it was just a table, a round table! I knew we were going to be friends. I said "hello", we exchanged titles, I picked up the pieces and went home. In the morning I woke up sick and sweating but I knew there was work to be done. I looked at the table for a long time to decide if this was, "the shit" or just "shit". Regardless, the first step was to clean all the shit off the surface. Already it was looking better than my current kitchen table.

After this was completed it revealed a dark grain similar to the smear of my needy throbbing brain. Then all it needed was a good sanding. I went to the Big Duff to get some supplies. Overall: about 30 dollars cost in sandpaper, epoxy, stain and polyurethane. After a full day of sanding I applied the stain - "Red Mahogany". It started to look similar to how I envisioned it that drunk and dreary night. 

After the stain dried, I applied the first coat of varnish. When that dried I sanded with 220 grit to get out any minor imperfections, then repeat with the varnish and sanding until I had 4+ coats on.

 Then the final step involves some of your closest friends and family, some dominoes, good music and dark beer.

 Eureka!

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Thanks for sharing Harley, very inspiring!  If anyone wants more details on how to salvage old wood I'll be sure to pass your questions along to the master..

Thanks for reading!

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Birthday with Bacon!

It was my little brothers 21st birthday yesterday....He's not so little anymore (taller than me, that's for sure!) and as much as I want to do a slideshow showcasing his growth into manhood while gushing about how proud I am, I will spare him the embarrassment and only share my awesome birthday meal and manly birthday cupcakes.

We started with a Jamie Oliver special that worked out just like he said...
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/perfect-roast-beef

And then I busted out the cupcakes... How do you make a cupcake manly you may ask?  You put bacon on it of course!

(Verdict: Not bad...It tasted exactly how you'd expect...so if you like bacon, you'll like these. ) 

Thankfully we didn't have any vegetarian's in the crowd!

Thanks for reading folks...

Love Desiree

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Inspire Me Thursday

Guess what day it is?  That's right, it's Thursday!

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Hope you're having a great week...

Thanks for reading!

Love Desiree

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Halloween: A Night Out As....

The 1%!  

'The Military Industrial Complex'

: ) Not bad for a thrown together costume idea!

Have a lovely Sunday!

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Goodbye Brookfield!

It's the end of a month, the end of a season, and for me it also feels like the end of an era.

This weekend we say goodbye to a house that made Toronto feel like home to me from the very first day I moved here... I never actually lived in it, but it housed a good portion of my 'urban family' and if it wasn't for them, I really don't think I could have hacked it up here in the big smoke for long.

It was a rainy spring day 7 years ago when I took a Greyhound bus to Toronto with James to find ourselves an apartment together.  I had already landed a job and it started in a week, so I needed to find a place ASAP.  All I knew was that Sarah and Ron (my new best friends)  lived near Trinity Bellwood's Park, so when I came across an ad for a basement apartment across from that park while reading the classifieds in a dirty Subway restaurant, I called the number immediately and went to see it. We took it right away, signed the lease and were official Toronto residents. (note: the rental market is NOT so easy anymore)  We called Ron and Sarah from a Coffee Time I will NEVER again go to and they invited us right over.  We were cold and wet from walking in the rain and they welcomed us into their warm cozy home with open arms.  They would continue to welcome us through those doors for the next 6 years, and that house would continue to be a home base for all of us.  Apartments came and went, but Brookfield was the 'constant', always there and  boy did we have some times!  If those walls could talk....

So saying goodbye to this house is like saying goodbye to an era, a pretty awesome one.  We're  welcoming a new one that I'm sure will be equally wonderful, but it's still bittersweet.

So thank-you house, it's been my pleasure.

xo

A few shots from over the years...

(It used to be a dairy farm way back in the day)

Sniffle, sniffle....

Thanks for reading...

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Pumpkin Carving!

We had a great little pumpkin carving party the other night... I tried to be all Martha, but James definitely takes the prize on this one...what a pumpkin!

Hmmmm and then the pumpkin seeds....my time to shine...

I wash and dry them the best I can and lay them on pizza sheets.  Then I season them and cook them on 525 or broil for about 5-8 minutes, until they're golden brown.

Seasoning Mix:

Olive Oil

Garlic Salt

Soya Sauce

Montreal Steak Spice

A little bit of sugar

Hmmmm...tasty.

Such wholesome fun!

Thanks for reading....

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