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Posted on June 29, 2016 by Vanja

Suburban Oasis

"The overall vibe of the backyard is meant to reflect the interior theme and feel like an extension of our home. With bright whites, beautiful turquoise accents and monochromatic plants (white and green), our backyard feels exactly like our indoors – bright and beachy."

For most of us living in a large city, finding that place where we can unwind and relax is often a feat in itself. With prices of homes going up but the actual space available decreasing, it’s a real struggle to be able to create livable, functional and beautiful spaces that we can enjoy when we do have a little time. While our townhome is not large (approximately 1500 sq ft), we got really lucky with the size of our backyard, considering that most townhomes in the GTA either have balconies above garages or backyards so small that you can fit four people max. (more…)

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Vanja

Dreaming of Dalmatia

"From spending countless hours on the beaches of the Peljesac Peninsula, enjoying local seafood delicacies, learning the Dalmatian dialect (significantly influenced by the proximity to Italy and former Italian occupation of the region), to most importantly feeling a complete sense of freedom and joy, which have been hard to recapture and emulate since. Little did I know that after we escaped from war-torn Sarajevo, we would be lucky enough to live in Dalmatia for almost two years before we immigrated to Canada."

It’s funny, when people ask me where I am from, for some reason I am always caught of guard, despite the fact that I have answered this question countless times. The answer usually goes, “how much time do you have” or a giggle with “well, it’s complicated.” How should one answer that question? Is it the city I was born in? Is the ethnicity of my parents? Is it where I grew up? Is it where I’ve lived the longest? Is it where my heart is? But, what if the heart is torn? See, the answer is truly, very complicated! (more…)

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Vanja

Exploring coffee traditions – East meets West

"My earliest memories of coffee take me back to when I was barely three or four years old. On a daily basis, whether with guests or within the family, I witnessed people gathering and spending time together to enjoy this aromatic drink. There were jokes and laughter, tears, stories of my grandparents’ childhoods, stories of love and loss and everything in between."

I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker – partly because the bitter taste did nothing for me and partly because it can lead to, how shall I put this, frequent trips to the ladies’ room. In the last few months though, I couldn’t help and feel that I am missing out on one of life’s simplest yet apparently most enjoyable pleasures. So I decided I was ready to give it another try and embark on my coffee discovery adventure. Now, let’s make it clear that when I speak of coffee I am not referring to the watered down North American version, a double-double or some fancy, concoction from Starbucks. I am talking about Turkish coffee. (more…)

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Vanja

Light and Airy Baptism

"My son’s baptism was a simple and intimate family get-together where we celebrated this new beautiful soul and the gift of family and faith."

I never pass up an opportunity for some fun event planning even if it’s for a small family gathering. There really is something thrilling about creating unique entertaining experiences that celebrate daily joys and moments. My son’s baptism was a simple and intimate family get-together where we celebrated this new beautiful soul and the gift of family and faith. (more…)

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Vanja

#momlife

"As I look back, I realize that my little Bubby has given me the greatest gift of all – humility. I now understand and appreciate how hard, messy and unpredictable being a parent is. Becoming a mother made me realize how much my mom has done for me. How hard she fought for our happiness, and us every single day. How selfless she is and how much she loves us – since unconditional love is the only way anyone can survive the job that is parenthood."

I don’t know why I always romanticized the idea of being a mother. Not sure how or why I imagined that it would all be love and roses and most importantly that it would come easy. My first pregnancy hit me like a lightening strike, I felt like I was dying, could not eat, could not move, I looked horrible, I was tired and developed adult acne that has left me with scars to this day. In addition, to all the physical difficulties, people tended to say the most wonderful and supportive things such as “you have a burgerface” or “your skin doesn’t look good, you must be having a girl, they steal your beauty”. Oh, OK, thanks for those kind words guys, just what I needed to hear! (more…)

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Vanja

Monochrome magic nursery

"When my husband and I purchased our home, I couldn’t have been more thrilled about the opportunity of having a blank slate that we could turn into our light and airy oasis. Fast-forward to three years later and with the pending arrival of our now 4-month-old son; with great joy I set my sights on his nursery."

There is nothing in this world that gets me as excited and fills my heart with as much joy as being creative. I come from a very creative and artistic family. My mom discovered her painting talent in her 40s, my aunt is an architect, my grandfather was a skilled carpenter and wood carver, our cousin Virgilije Nevjestic was one of Croatia’s most famous and prominent artists, and my brother was practically born with a pencil and paintbrush in his hand. (more…)

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Vanja

Do what you love

"So here I am – ready to lead by example and ready to finally do something I love. Light and Airy has been my dream for a long time. Is it meant to be the place where I get to share with others the things, people, places, stories and ideas that inspire me and bring joy to my soul."

My whole life I have been waiting. Waiting for the war to end. Waiting to grow up. Waiting for love. Waiting to be a mom. Always waiting, for that next thing, experience, that life might throw my way. This way of thinking was probably a direct result of my less than typical childhood growing up in the middle of a war in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s. The psychological pressure of not knowing if you will live or die, or if you will have something to eat or drink the next day, definitely took its toll on my life. I always approached life and its multifaceted experiences with more than a dash of fear: afraid to make mistakes, afraid to get hurt and afraid of change. So I just waited. (more…)

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