The stuff that the life is "made" of!!!

The whole business of organizing my home or as a matter fact others gets my stomach churning. The way I see it, there is two type of people in this world: the ones who have stuff and the ones who don't. Or should I say the ones who choose to collect stuff and the ones who don't. After all as hard as it is to admit it is a choice. We all making a life choice every time we buy a gift for a birthday a year away, or new glasses just because I like their great shape, despite the lack of space in my cupboard. We all meet or heard of people saying "I don't have anything in closet that I haven't worn in more than a year"! A year? I have blouses that there older then my kids(not many) but still. My biggest problem right now is to understand how people can change, like the ones that they used to be bears of stuff and then have a mind change after someone like me organize their homes. No talking about closets only...like the entire home style. They usually ask people like me who are doing this for living to load up everything including their grandmother's teacups without any fuss.
Intellectually I get it, the idea is unbelievable appealing. It's no different than talking to a friend who works out everyday and tells me who great she feels. Of course she feels great-she makes perfect sense.

So why I don't we all do it then? I guess our intellect isn't always the part of the one that makes decisions of what to do. I'm a magnet stuff. I collect stuff. For me getting rid of my stuff would like getting rid of my memories and passion, I don't mind sorting, packing, unpacking, clean out and reorganize every season. It brings me comfort and something to look forward.

I know I'm not alone and a dear friend of mine told me that letting go stuff is like your mind says -Yes- but your heart says -No-
So true!!!

Love to hear how your dealing with organizing and get rid of your stuff..feel free to email me back.

Until next time-M
xox

My favourite interior designer tips:

1.If your buying new furniture,measure your room and the furniture.Scale the room&furniture on cutout newspaper 1feet=1inch and see if the furniture are proportionate to the room. Make sure there is space to walk around your furniture.

2.Feel free to mix&match different style,like contemporary with oriental pieces or traditional with a modern piece.Just don't over do it. The mix helps give your home drama.

3.One way to beautify a room even if the walls are white is by putting moldings and baseboards.

4.If you want to make a room look bigger, use mirrors that give you an illusion of more space.Colors also affects the illusion of space. Similar colors with different shades (monochromatic color scheme) like off withes, cream and beige will give you the appearance of more space in the other hand colors like red,yellow, will give you an impression of smaller space and colors like green&blue will give you openness appearance.

5.I like to use more daring colors on hallways or staircases places that you just pass by and don't really stay as often like your bedroom.

6.Install your pictures on the wall at the eye level,by putting them up your ceiling seems lower.

7.If your putting rugs on your floors to make your room cozy, make sure to rotate your rug once in a while to even out the wear and tear.

8.When choosing a new color for a wall paint a section of the wall and observe it for few days.It is good idea to paint one shade lighter than your sample,because almost always the color on your sample looks brighter on a big wall than on a small swatch.

9.Consider wallpapering for a big impact but if you c to choose to wallpaper the bathroom make sure you use vinyl wallpaper and not paper.

10.Use a neutral colours scheme for a major furniture pieces, add colour with painting throws,and cushions that are easy to change out.


Your home should reflects you-your personality. You can hire me or any other interior designer or decorator but in the end it should be about you, and your family.Go along only with suggestion that is pleasing you and your family.

I hope this list was helpful and if you have any question feel free to email me.
Thank you for stopping by till next time,

XO
Magda

My family indeed had a great summer filled with all sorts of amazing times but our family vacation is one of our special times. We're a family that likes to explore and try new things and do a lot of stuff.


It was a great vacation...we absolutely loved everything about our time together! The trip down was fun, we stopped to visit some friends in Portland, we had an awesome time in Napa Valley, we loved the beach, the weather, the amusement parks(yes, we loved them as much as the kids).
California is one of my fave US destination after Maui no doubt whatever it's a family trip or a romantic getaway is always something for everyone.
We been waiting for this vacation for quite sometimes, and I believe that vacations are necessarily to help clear the mind, and rejuvenate the body by just taking a break of the routine. It works for me!
In vacations we are a family that needs a lot of space, so that always require time to book our time share spot or like this year we decide to use Air Miles so with not knowing what they can offer we booked anyways, we stayed at a beautiful hotel where we had a excellent hotel experience.
The staff had a incredible knowledge about everything,and they recomanded us great places, they made the reservation for us, and they try their best to make our vacation one of the best. The rooms had impressive bathrooms-not too shabby for someone that can live in a bathroom.
My older son was so happy to see the first class fitness-centre where he spend every morning more than an hour.
A glories two weeks (well perhaps, not every minute was glories- we did get a little tired and Nate got sick)

In my last day of vacation I always say to myself; Which is harder: getting ready
for a vacation or returning home afterwards?

As I sit silently next to Mario staring out on my side of the window on the way home I was not ready to be hit the reality of life...BUT- We are home now!

As you read this I am helping my son making his last minute shopping and all the planning for his exciting freshman year and his move in a door room.
I wrote him long list, filled with practical lessons. Many are things I am confident Brendon has learned.
We are not thinking about dinner in Malibu, or lunch in Santa Monica, not carry shopping bags, not laying in the sun on the sandy beach in Newport, we're not longer swim in the beautiful pool...WE ARE HOME NOW!!!!!

Time to balance the chequebook, empty the luggage, laundry, check the messages, admire my tan,find my camera... start getting Brendon ready for his big moving day,and trying to finish my home reno and moving back to normal,and getting Christine and Nate ready for school, soccer already started so I start feeling like normal just a bit. Not talking about work or the work that my house require in organizing department.

There is a time for vacation, and time for work, but.. no matter what, the most important is where your heart is, to do what the Lord prepares for all of us, in good times and hard times-God gives and takes away, but His always faithful to us.

Until next time,
XO

Road trip!

I'm leaving on a road trip..And I can hardly wait! I'm heading off on a much-deserved and needed vacation with my family.

I've been preparing for weeks, booking places, reading guide book, and reviews, mining restaurants recommendations from friends and clients and most important, perfecting my packing.
For those who know me well can say I'm a bit a crazy packer(well.. well I might say it back to you, is because I have three children)it all started with them...
There is a difference between packing for a road trip and packing for any other because, I'm not one of those people who throws everything into a bag two hours before we leave, I actually start laying everything out a week before I go.

I like to pack a lot of things with me just in case I might need them -It'd be easy to bring everything -but the kitchen sink.My hubby told me that I cannot fit the entire house in the car so for this I have to come up with a very sweet and short packing list.
I create this packing list and I crossed many things off with the help of my hubby of course, who doesn't like my way of packing. Really?

So what can I say my family road trips usually leads to one serious headache: when to put that endless pile of stuff that I love packing.

With a "little" effort on my part, packing light was easy, not really but I will try to do my best.
But this trip is not all about packing is about taking our kids on the road no matter the extra effort on my light packing.... is really worth it!The special memories we'll create and the fun times that we will have. I know-I know,
we have teenagers and when you've got teens,you've got a different set of challenges, but we are ready to face them and we are all looking forward to deepen our relationships with each other and were excited for a wonderful family experience.

XO
Magda

Friendship is the bond for every other love and the foundation of every healthy relations. God created us to need each other! We need friends..

Today I was invited into my circle of true friends to celebrate my belated birthday. I was amazed at how much we share, and the connection that we have. I have wonderful, amazing, beautiful and gifted girlfriends.One of them has a contagious energy, other one has a humble spirt, other one is very gracious, and all them there empowering women's that live a very loyal life with unconditional acceptance and love.

I been blessed with great and amazing girlfriends, there is something special when women connect. Yes, it helps to have something in common, Jesus...Jesus placed great value on relationship.
Friendships have many levels, there are friends that we see occasionally, and then there are soul mates with which we share everything.There is a place for both in our lives. The bible tells us that He spent times with few-not crowds.
His teaching are filled with practical suggestion for us on how to be a friend and how to have healthy relationship.
I'm very blessed to have really good girlfriends, not only the chi chat friends, but soul bearing girlfriends. \
It's hard to make these kinds of friends, It takes time,it take effort, it takes history....It's an emotional investment. But they are sooo worth it!!

Here are several actions that I take and still do to work in building strong friendships.

1)The traditional monthly or weekly lunch or coffee, a special shopping trip to your favourite mall or dinner or a movie or celebrating each other birthdays. Traditions builds memories that builds friendships...

2) Gifts, are wonderful actions to take in friendship. All kinds of gifts. The gift doesn't have to be big or expensive. It's simply a symbol of time, energy and thought given to a friend.
It could be a cute note, or a funny card, or even chocolate(yummmy).But the greatest gift that I ever receive is a friend itself- favours done back and fourth, helping one other in times of needs, or just a phone call to say "hi".


3)Words are so precious to me....words of a real friend are filled with acceptance. Acceptance says"" I Love You" when we find someone who accepts us just as we are... we have found a true friend.
The words of real friend are words of encouragement, sensitive words. Paul tells us in 1Thel 5:11 to encourage each other to build each other up" and my girlfriends give me courage to face the next day in time of troubles. We all need to look for reason in building each other, to praise God and to deposit courage in one another life.
We pray for each other, we hug each other, listen to one other and always been there for each other.
God didn't create us to exist alone but to first need HIM as a friend, the bible says that He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friendship with him make every other friendship possible. We all need friends and we all need to learn how to be a true friend.

My prayer for me is to let the Lord help me to be a faithful friend, who take time and effort in every relationship.
Thank you friend for your everything you done and do in my life!!!

Love,
Magda

My weekend birthday!

Yes, tomorrow is my birthday...I am turning 41 and actually I wake up this morning excited that tomorrow is my birthday. I am not sure why but I have never been one of to be fearful of getting older actually I am quite the opposite....I love it each year... it gets better for me, I love more, learn more, serve more and live more. I wasn't a big fan of my younger years, but I have gotten older in life and is gotten better and better. I have sooooo much to be thankful for!!!

So my present to me is to write down things I am about to do or do at this particular moment or day in my life;So here it go!!!

Right now I am about enjoying the summer with my family and trying to slow down a little

Right now I am about renovating our house and turning my house into my home

Right now I am trying to not miss a day in my summer devotions

Right now I am happy for my older kids, and grateful for their love and respect they have for me

Right now I am about praying a lot that we will make it back in our home soon

Right now I am about organizing, organizing, organizing


Right now I am about being grateful that my hubby supports everything I do and his a great friend

Right now I am about enjoying little thing in life, instead of worrying about the big things that I have no control

Right now I am thankful for the friends that God bless my life with

Right now I am loving the fact that my 7yr old still loves to snuggle with me

Right now I am about enjoying turning 41 and what the Lord has in his plan to offer me in the year ahead!!!!

I would love to hear what you thougths are about where you are at right now too so please free to share with me...

XO Magda

We all have been l-o-v-i-n-g summer here...in my house summer is loaded with fun days, full of great food, sleeping in, having friends over, beach days, swimming, and water fights in the back yard. I know that summer also brings its own challenges -new schedules and new routine. My kids loves to sleep in, and they also enjoy lazy days,not as much as their boring days..ha ha!
The new baseball gloves were purchased and when the sun is shining Nate loves to play with his dad, and his very excited about his summer camp,Brendon got his second job- he went shopping and he got approached to come for an interview, nice hm, so his shopping now more then ever, working at Hollister allowed him to have a great discount and his not letting that pass by him, Christine is away for a week camping in Osoyoos having fun...Mario and I were working hard to finish our home and also I'm loving every second of working on planning our vacation.
We have few fun things that I planned for our family vacation. For me one of the ideal place to take my family is California. California family vacations are great because they are so much to see and do. We can combine beach time with theme park there is something for everyone.
I'm very blessed like many of you whom live here,to call this place home. Vancouver is one step away and is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Looking for a spot vacation make me realize one more time how much I love sunny spots.I looked at the top North American beaches and guess what one of our beaches are on the third place- Kits beach is one of my fave and I also like Jericho Beach. I think is fair enough to consider Kits beach one of the nicest places, all the beaches are located in chic cosmopolitan cities, from LA to New York to Miami to Vancouver. I love everything that's around a beach, the romance, the peacefulness, and most of all the cocktail of sand, sun and sea.
Yes...friends we have the good fortune to have some of the best beaches in our backyard so to speak.

While Mexico,California and South Florida are obvious destinations for the natural splendor,simmering heat and beach paradise, but in the other hand we have the sea, the forest and the mountains.
We live in a place that offers us beaches like Kits and Jericho with delightful restaurants, parks, jogging trails, interesting and beautiful boutiques and electic stores.Let's enjoy our beautiful city!
I will post pictures of the top beaches, I been blessed enough to visit all of them; #1 is South Beach,Miami, Florida
#2 Main Beach, East Hampton's, Long Island
#3 Kits Beach, Vancouver,BC
#4 Laguna Beach, Orange County,California
#5 La Jolla Cove, San Diego,California
#6 Kanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
I can't wait to update the blog with pics and stories from my summer and from my vacations. For me is all about the B-E-A-C-H!!!

The mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.Issaiah55:12

Love,
Magda