CLOUDS FOR KIDS ROOMS!

Clouds never seem to go out of style in kids' spaces and I love a shape that stays fresh from the baby room stage through toddler to big kid room. Clouds infer dreaming and anything that could possibly help any baby or kid sleep more soundly sounds like perfect decor to me!

Dreaming of more sleep, I've rounded up six of the sweetest finds in cloud decor to add to any space. I love that the Lorena Canals pillow is washable...perfect for little ones with allergies or asthma. 

1.// Cloud Rug, NuLOOM; 2.// Nightlight, Land of Nod; 3.// Cloud Shelf, Land of Nod; 4.// Bed Linen, Target; 5.// Wallpaper, Zara Home; 6.// Washable Pillow, Lorena Canals.

KAIA & NOELLE'S 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

My twins turned five a few weeks ago. Five years old. For some reason, this hit me hard! My tiny preemie girls are ALREADY FIVE. Gasp. Deep breaths. How does the time go so fast?! 

Kaia and Noelle are two of the most social, crowd loving kids I know. They love people and being around them. They wanted a big party, with lots of their friends, music and lots of decorations. They also LOVE exploring, walking and playing in the forest (thanks to having this at our doorstep in Vancouver). We decided on a forest party, at Stanley Park’s Ecology Society, where a space with beautiful natural light and lots of room to run around was available. For an hour, they take the kids (and parents if they want) into Stanley Park for a forest discovery walk, where the kids were fully in awe and happiness discovering all the creatures the forest has to offer. If you are looking for an amazing party venue in Vancouver, this one is perfect for so many ages! 

These simple DIY fairy and elf crowns added a little fun for the kids and got them into the mood for the outdoor part. 

After some simple instructions, our girls and thirteen of their friends headed into the forest for a little exploration and learning (did you know a woodpecker wraps its' tongue around its' brain to protect it when pecking?!...I had no idea!).

The kids loved the forest; where they learned to identify a few birds by sound, use magnifying glasses to see what lives in trees, went on a bug hunt, explored different smells in logs and trees and played a couple of games. After lots of fresh air and outdoor exploration, they came back for lunch and the most beautiful and delicious cake (thanks Butter Bakery!) surrounded by these lovely Gypsy Petal flowers (so excited to be able to reuse these over and over again!).

After lunch, we kept it simple – music, lots of balloons and a balloon tent, which ended up being the least expensive and most fun thing ever for a party. The kids ran in and out, danced and threw balloons. Overall, I'd say it was a success.

Happy Birthday beautiful girls! You have added so much magic to our lives over the past five years. We love you!

Styling by WINTER DAISY
Photography by Jo + Bo Photography and Melissa Barling

If you were wondering how to achieve the same look, here are the sources!

01.// Party tent; 02.// Fig leaf plant; 03.//Mylar number 5 balloon;  04.// Giant blush balloon; 05.// Fairy crowns DIY; 06.// Helium balloons; 07.// Hydrangeas; 08.// Paper straws; 09.// Kid size table and chairs; 10.// Dot napkins (similar); 11.// Paper plates (similar).

WINTER DAISY PICKS...CANOPIES FOR KIDS!

There is something so whimsical and fun about canopies in kids' rooms. As a child, I fondly remember finding a little space, curling up and daydreaming or reading books. There is something about a small space that is just, well, comforting. 

After the baby stage, the toddler room doesn't always require a huge change and a simple way to add a fun and cozy nook is to use a canopy! I love how this Numero 74 canopy looks in Ella's room and love hearing even more about the special time spent reading books in here.

Do you love canopies as much as I do? Any amazing ones that I haven't included in the round up here? 

1.// Silver Canopy, Land of Nod; 2.// Pink Canopy, Numero 74; 3.// Large Canopy, IKEA; 4.// Bed Canopy, Amazon; 5.// Dreamy Canopy, Restoration Hardware; 6.// Star Canopy, Wayfair.

* If you love these WINTER DAISY picks, see more here!

GET THE LOOK! (ELLA'S GIRL ROOM)

After so many inquiries about the products in Ella's room, I've decided to share the sources for some of the key pieces. As I'm sure most of you already understand, sources to rooms that designers create are not typically shared. As they are paying for the full-service design, finding unique and special items is part of the service. Luckily for you, this particular client of mine is happy to share with you all where the items for Ella's room are from! So, here are the items that I have been asked about the most with links below to where you can shop them. The bed linen, wicker baskets and dresser have all been discontinued. If you have questions about anything else, please leave them in the comments here and I'll do my best to answer them! 

01./ Pink Canopy; 02./ Feather Light; 03./ Gold Mirror; 04./ Ella sign; 05./ White Crib; 06./ Star Cushion; 07./ Shimmer Rug (flipped over!); 08./ Gold Lamp.

5 WAYS TO...FRESHEN UP FOR SPRING!

After a long and rainy winter, I think it is finally fair to say that Spring has arrived! What better way to bring it in than filling the house with some fresh life. I've rounded up my top five ways to freshen our kids' spaces and home for Spring.

1.     Fresh flowers: There is something about bringing flowers into the home that clears the air and makes the room feel new again. These ones from Landeau are a total indulgence (they were a gift!) but a table can even be transformed with flowers that you have picked along a walk and kids LOVE helping to put them into vases, especially in their own rooms.

2.     Fresh pillows: I love changing out the throw pillows in the kids' rooms and adore these ones from Anthropologie! Swapping out simple accessories like pillows makes the room feel new again.

3.     Fresh air: Once the outdoor temperatures are well above zero, open up the windows to let in some fresh air, even for 10 minutes. This boost clears the house of stagnant air and makes the whole place feel fresher. 

4.     Fresh linens: Flannel sheets are cozy for wintertime, but once spring arrives (or even before), change to light weight cotton in a fresh print to give a new lease of life to the kids beds. This new Jamie Kay blanket is perfect; 100% cotton and so cozy! 

5.     Fresh art: Sometimes all it takes is swapping out the photo in the frame. A few new prints can go a long way in making the kids feel new inspiration for play in their rooms or playrooms. These ones from The Animal Print Shop will always be some of my favourites; they were the ones I loved most for my son Xavier's room and also because I've never met a child who doesn't love animals!

What are your favourite ways to freshen up for spring?