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ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 1: AN EPIC PLAYROOM
It's that time of year again, where designers, design enthusiasts, and anyone with enough design loving gumption to complete a room in 6 weeks, participate in the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. This challenge has helped me complete several spaces in my...
ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 1: AN EPIC PLAYROOM
It's that time of year again, where designers, design enthusiasts, and anyone with enough design loving gumption to complete a room in 6 weeks, participate in the One Room Challenge hosted by Calling It Home. This challenge has helped me complete several spaces in my...
MY #CASACANNING BEDROOM REVEAL!!!!
The time has come! My bedroom in my new Florida house (affectionately called #casacanning) is complete and I am THRILLED. I feel like grown ups live in this space. I am so grateful. This space began with this incredible wall decal called Bohemian Palms by Urban Wall ...
ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK 6: I AM AN INTERIOR DECAL-ATOR
My husband came up with this pun- and I love it. Short and sweet post over here- working hard on finishing off our master bedroom for the One Room Challenge and I am in LOVE. At the very last second we decided to put a sofa in the space so now I'm on the hunt for a...
#CASACANNING MASTER BEDROOM: PARALYSIS IS REAL
it's week three of the One Room Challenge, a fun initiative put on that encourages designers and design enthusiasts alike to transform a room in 6 short weeks. I am tackling our master bedroom in our new house in Florida this time, and you can catch up here and view...
#CASACANNING MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE
Well my friends... it's that time again! It's the time when many of us design obsessed / deadline obsessed people jump on to a fun activity called the One Room Challenge. I have participated a few times before, including my Florida living room, my Toronto home gym,...
SELF QUARANTINE TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR MOMS
Let's keep it real. Having kids at home all the time during this unprecedented time of self isolation due to the Coronavirus can be really stressful. How will you get your own work done? How will you keep them from fighting? How will you keep them entertained? How...
MEET BABY COLLEEN!
2020 has been an incredibly eventful one, let me tell you- and it began with the early arrival of this gorgeous human: Colleem at 10 minutes old! Colleen made an early arrival on January 3, 2020 (she wasn't due until the 20th, making her another Canning to make a...
#MAKEITANDKEEPIT 2020 GOAL CHALLENGE
2019 was the year I finally released my book The Possibility Mom: How to be a Great Mom and Pursue Your Dreams at the Same Time. But fun fact: I signed the contract for the book in 2017 and it took me 2 years to write. And this is not because I am a slow writer- read...
MY FLORIDA LIVING ROOM REVEAL!
We did it! In 6 short weeks (well, technically four as today officially marks one month of living in our new home in Florida) we have transformed our empty main floor living space into a gathering spot for my family of soon to be 8 kids. Here is the before to jog your...
HOW TO DECORATE AT 28 WEEKS PREGNANT
I have done the One Room Challenge, a friendly competition of sorts where designers and design enthusiasts alike are challenged to transform a space in 6 short weeks, while pregnant before. I mean, it's like nesting in hyper drive. And this time is no exception. We...
THE PROS AND CONS OF SELLING EVERYTHING YOU OWN
If you've been following along, you know that I have recently moved my family to sunny SW Florida from Toronto Canada- and we sold almost EVERYTHING in the most epic of moving sales. We came down to the States pulling a 6' x 12' trailer that held essentially almost...
HOW TO DEAL WITH OVERWHELM DURING A BIG MOVE
Well, we did it! We have successfully moved our family of soon to be 8 kids to our new home in Florida. I write this from a mattress on the floor because as you know if you have been following along, we sold almost everything we owned and are rebuilding piece by...
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING
If you have been following along, you know we are setting up shop at our new home in sunny SW Florida! I has been a wild experience, and I have decided to document it all here on the blog by participating in Calling It Home's One Room Challenge! Read last week's post...
WE ARE MOVING TO FLORIDA!!!
Well hello there- as I type this, we are literally 2 days out from moving our family 7 (soon-to-be-8!) kids from our home in Toronto Canada, to our new home in sunny South West Florida. If you have been following me for a while, (and a big welcome to those of you who...
HOW TO QUIT MOM GUILT FOR GOOD THIS FALL
The fall season means all kinds of new habits for moms and kids alike – and if you are already feeling like you need a little help not constantly feeling overwhelmed and burdened by mom guilt, here are my favourite tips and products to get you through this season of...
WHY CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS ARE SO WORTH IT
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am a little obsessed with window coverings. I really do believe they are an area of the home that too often gets treated as an afterthought, but when done well, they can really make a space feel like a million...
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TIME IN YOUR CAR
One of the most commonly asked questions I get about having 7 kids is what kind of a car do you drive?!? When we were looking for a car, I wanted something with all the bells and whistles- a car that was modern enough to handle my active family's lifestyle, but still...
BEHIND THE SCENES OF HOME AND FAMILY
Earlier this month I had the amazing opportunity to appear on Hallmark's daytime show Home and Family. This is a channel we don't get up here in Canada, but it is a wildly popular one in the US- and it was amazing to spend time with the hosts Cameron and Debbi and oh...
HOW TO CREATE A DEPENDABLE LAUNDRY ROOM
As a mom, a lot of people depend on us. And this couldn't be more true for Alison, a firefighter and mom of 5-year old Gwen, who I recently had the pleasure of working with to totally overhaul her laundry room. At work, people depend on Alison to help...
TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR BUSY MOMS
A few weeks ago, I was so fortunate to speak at The BabyTime Show (now called The Baby and Toddler Show) here in Toronto. It was so much fun. I had an amazing weekend where I partnered with a few brands for my booth / live stage presentation, and I connected with...
HOW TO BE A GREAT MOM AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
The juggle, that is motherhood, is real. Between laundry, dishes, diapers and nap times, how do you fit in a date night, exercise, or anything else without losing your mind?!? We as moms juggle so much! But what I have learned in almost 11 years of business, and seven...
HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE AS A WORKING MOM
Hello my friends! I feel like it's been a while since I have shared what is going on in my family, so today I am sharing an update on what it is like to be a working mom of 6, and share a tool that has been really helpful in navigating through life as a mom on the go...
CHANGES COMING SOON!
Very excited to announce new changes coming to the website- while I will continue to offer select interior design services, I am changing things around here to reflect my love of helping moms uncover and experience their most authentic life. Stay tuned for more! To...
WHAT NEW MOMS REALLY NEED TO KNOW
She's here! She's here! I am so excited to share with you all that 2 weeks ago, we had our 7th baby, Phoebe Margaret! She is incredibly sweet, and so far the adjustment has been pretty amazing. The older kids have been champion helpers and my little...
HOW TO CREATE A MODERN PLAYROOM- MY FULL BASEMENT TOUR
My friends, I did it! It's done! This is the third home tour in a series I did of my #canningcabin, a new home for my family that I have spent the last 4 months renovating and decorating (all while pregnant with our 7th child LOL). You can check out my main floor...
HOW TO CREATE A LUXE BEDROOM WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK
I don't know about you, but in all the houses I have lived in, I have always left decorating my bedroom for last. I'm not alone, right? I find its pretty common that people spend lots of energy, effort and funds decorating more public spaces, or...
HOW TO DECORATE A RENTAL LIKE IT’S YOUR OWN – MY CANNING CABIN HOUSE TOUR!
You're here! We made it! We have at long last put the finishing touches on our #canningcabin, our brand new (to us) property that we moved into 4 months ago. As many of you know, we sold our house earlier this year for a few different reasons, and we've spent...
HOW TO INCORPORATE A HOME OFFICE IN A MASTER BEDROOM
When you are an entrepreneur, work happens everywhere- in the car, at the kitchen table, even in your bed! But there eventually comes a point when it is time to create a dedicated office space for everyone's sanity and productivity- and that is exactly what I did...
MAY LONG WEEKEND FAMILY FUN ESSENTIALS, AND MY PATIO DESIGN REVEAL!
It is the May long weekend here in Canada and I am excited for some REST and RELAXATION at home with my family! To do this, I have given my back deck a bit of a much needed makeover, and I am sharing some fun products that are going to help save me time and allow me...
WHAT I WISH ALL MOMS KNEW
It's Mother's Day, and I have been reflecting a lot on my journey as a mom. Oh my word, it has been a journey full of ups, downs, pivots, spins. There are so many things that I know now, after 9 years of experience, and almost 7 babies later, that I wish every...
GUILT FREE ME-TIME FOR MOMS
As a busy working mom of 6 (soon to be 7!) children, time out times are really important to me. Taking moments to myself (even if they are just a moment) are so important to me as they allow me to recharge, and provide the attention and energy necessary to give to my...
MEET ME AT THE BABYTIME SHOW!
If you've been following along on my Instagram, you know I've been talking quite a bit about coaching and life design lately. In fact, I am kind of obsessed! I am obsessed with the concept of moms designing their lives around what matters most, and helping...
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME RENOVATIONS SAFE & SNEAK PEEK AT MY MASTER BEDROOM DESIGN
As I shared previously, we recently moved our family from a 2000 square foot semi-detached home to a 6000 square foot cabin in the woods (that is walking distance to a Starbucks)! I still cannot believe we have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful space. We are...
TOP RELAXING SPOTS FOR TIRED MOMS IN TORONTO
Self-care has been big time on my mind as we have been recovering from moving houses- and I am soaking it in in all forms! As a mom of a bunch of small kids (and pregnant on top of it) I must say I need to sit down at least ten times a day! In my pursuit of my...
HOW TO SURVIVE A MOVE WITH KIDS AND NOT LOSE YOUR MIND
I recently moved my family of 6 kids from our 2000 square foot home that we lovingly renovated from top to bottom, to a 6000 square foot cabin in the woods (but steps from a Starbucks just ten minutes north of where I was before at the north end of Toronto,...
CREATING THE ULTIMATE CRAFT ROOM
I wouldn't exactly call me a crafter (my lifestyle of 6 children and a business means I am more of a DIFM than a DIY-er), but I might change my ways after creating this space for my most recent sponsored makeover! I partnered with some incredible brands to...
6 WAYS TO COPE WHEN YOUR SPOUSE HAS DEPRESSION
#BellLetsTalk is this week here in Canada, and this event, which brings awareness and raises funds for mental health initiatives in Canada, was what first got me talking about my husband's struggle with depression and anxiety (you can read my previous blog posts here...
DAY IN LIFE: BALANCING WORK AND BABY
My life as an entrepreneur takes me to all kinds of interesting places, and can put interesting demands on my time. And with 6 kids at home, fitting everything in can be a logistical exercise to say the least! So today on the blog, I thought I would share with you how...
WHY EVERY BEDROOM NEEDS A FIREPLACE
Where I live in Toronto, Canada, we have had an incredibly cold winter. Like minus 30, freeze your toes, can't feel your face cold. And these cold temperatures have got me craving everything spring! But until then, it's cozy scarves, fur blankets, and doing...
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2017
A very happy new year dear readers!!! I hope the holidays were restful, meaningful, and full of joy. As I sit down to write this blog post, I am surrounded by boxes as we prepare to move our family into our brand new home! 2017 was a year of adventure and change, and...
DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS WITH KIDS OF ALL AGES FEATURING THE NEW BUGABOO DONKEY2
I love Christmas, especially the decorating part! But involving a bunch of little people, of all different ages and abilities, without too many tantrums or feelings of being left out can be somewhat of an interesting challenge. Today I am teaming up with Bugaboo to...
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM
Laundry rooms are on of my favourite spaces to design. I'm not sure if it's because they are often dark and dingy neglected spaces where storage items go to die (anyone remember what my laundry room used to look like?!), or if it's because it's an area where so much...
HOW TO SIMPLIFY HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE
When I was a child, I dreamed of what my life would look like as a grown up. I dreamed up what kind of a house I would have (a red brick house with a white picket fence), the kind of car I would drive (my dream car when I was 12 was a pink convertible), and of course...
DO YOU NEED A BREAKTHROUGH?
Hello!!!!! First of all, big time apologies for the lack of blogging over the last little while. As I have shared over on Instagram, my family is going through a brand new transition, and that has occupied quite a bit of my time. We are moving. And our decision to...
HOW TO FIND YOUR FAMILY’S UNIQUE INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE
Interior design to me is so much more than beautiful things. If you've been following my adventures on YouTube, you know how passionately I feel about families thriving at home, and how your home sets the stage for lasting memories. But how do you actually do that?...
TRANSITIONAL KITCHEN REVEAL: A TALE OF TWO HOUSES
If you have been following me for a while you know I have taken part a few times in Calling It Home's One Room Challenge. I have completed my home gym, and my laundry room in this mad dash challenge, and just this past spring I completed this amazing modern...
WHY EVERYONE NEEDS A MENTOR
I've been running my own business for the last ten years. (Sidenote: I honestly cannot believe it has been ten years. I feel like I have literally blinked and it happened). In the beginning, I had no idea what I was doing, Literally no idea. I just kept chugging...
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING GUIDE
My friends, I did it. As I shared recently on the blog, I was really determined to not leave back-to-school shopping to the very last minute. In years past, I was the mom staring at empty racks of school uniform clothing, going to multiple stores to try and find Bento...
IS A CRUISE RIGHT FOR YOU?
We recently returned from a week long Caribbean adventure on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. The ship was spectacular and my children had a pretty epic adventure. In my son John's words, "it was literally the best thing ever!" My husband and I, while we enjoyed...
BACK-TO-SCHOOL WITH PLAY-DOH
I literally cannot believe I just typed the words back-to-school [SUMMER DO NOT LEAVE ME], but if I am really honest, this is the year I finally learn from previous years mistakes and actually buy back to school stuff EARLY. [Side note: don't try to buy school...