Anna Eleni Pontikis

Trouble committing

2012-01-20T17:50:00.003-05:00

I'm having a very difficult time committing to a light fixture for Kieran's bedroom. I love the top hat pendant light but I worry I may become bored of it after a while. Although I have plenty of time to decide on a light fixture, I like to plan and budget these things. Here is the other light fixture that I'm considering at this point. I placed it in the same inspiration board as before just so that you can get the whole picture. Please send any thoughts or ideas you may have my way. A note though, I hate black chandeliers, so that is not an option.

Today was a windy but dry day and Kieran and I spent our afternoon at the park. On our way home I browsed through one of my favourite local boutiques, Casa Fina while Kieran took a little cat nap. I will have to take photos of my purchases once we've moved into the new place because they are perfectly bubble wrapped and boxed. But I found a lovely pair of glass candle holders, large and small glass jars with lids and a beautiful mirror for either Narinder and my bedroom or the washroom.

The staircase/hallway light fixture arrived in the mail today (so quick!), as well as a sweet package from my Aunt (Godmother) in Canada. She has given me an ornament on Christmas every year since I was a child (I have quite the bauble collection at my parent's house.) I always look forward to this tradition and was pleasantly surprised when I received a beautiful bauble in the mail today along with a lovely outfit for Kieran. Thanks Thea Kiki!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!
xoxo, Eleni

Zigzag

2012-01-20T06:23:00.001-05:00

If I could lay any hardwood in my home it would be herringbone. It's so rich and beautiful.

Wish I could give Kieran a room like this!

Crystal clear

2012-01-19T19:38:00.005-05:00

I can't express how excited I am for the move. It feels so wonderful to know that I am finally able to put my mark on a place. When I rented in the past I never painted, hung photographs or art work. I never did anything significant to my space, other than add some furniture and linens to represent my style. I cannot wait to (slowly) fill our space with pieces we (I) love, now that we own.

I purchased the prints for Kieran's bedroom today and will be picking up the mirror over the weekend. I am going to wait to order the light fixture so that I can have it shipped to our new address. The rug can also wait (until we lay a new floor) and we will pick up the bookshelf once we are moved in. Unfortunately we have to purchase wardrobes, which are costly. I would much rather have existing closets. I am tempted to price how much it would cost to install closets in each bedroom. There is the space for them, so we'll have to see.

Here are a few purchases I made today for the new place:

A pendant chandelier for our bedroom, three glass light pulls for the washrooms, and a clear glass beaded chandelier for the hallway/stairway. Thoughts?

Kieran's bedroom

2012-01-15T18:26:00.002-05:00

First inspiration board for Kieran's new bedroom... thoughts?
We own a few of these items already (the crib, dresser, blanket and moon lamp.)
I will probably make my own wall letters (the ones from Anthropologie are too expensive) but I like how the silver letters compliment the silver in the light fixture. I love the prints, they are "so Kieran" it's ridiculous! I've been dying for a bookshelf to put away all of Kieran's books, toys and treasures. Our place is a mess with all of his things at the moment. I have been wanting that chevron rug for Kieran's bedroom for far too long now. And yes... that IS a top hat pendant light!

Side note: there will be colour - all of his toys are very colourful! This is just the base of the room that I'm working with now. I would also like to hang a growth chart and what would I give for this one or this one?!

"Cheeky little monkey"!

2012-01-04T18:03:00.004-05:00

What better way to start the new year than with a post of adorable photos of the little one!

I hope he continues to be as happy as he is now.

Lately when Kieran knows it's getting close to breakfast, lunch or dinner time he sits a group of his animals and bear on top of the table to "eat" with us. It's really adorable.

Happy 2012 everyone!

xoxo, Eleni

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-28T12:47:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!

Santa came and left many wonderful things for the little one in his beautiful Christmas sack.

Number, animal, colour, shape and alphabet flash cards

Rob Ryan "Other planets cannot be as beautiful as this one" enamel plate

Cath Kidston vintage cars food tray

Five learning books

Three puzzles for tiny hands. Kieran just loves Thomas and Friends!

"The Little Prince", Auntie Maria will approve

A red finished, Blue Moon ukulele! A gift for Mommy or Kieran? I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

I'm guessing that this year or next will be one of the last years Narinder and I will be able to have a large say in what Kieran gets from Santa, at least until he starts writing his own wish list or vocalizing what he'd like. At 16 months, there isn't much Kieran needs right now. He has so many toys, books and clothes. I was lucky to have been able to think up the above. Obviously the ukulele is something he will be able to use in a few years... but I cannot wait to learn his favourite songs and lullabies. I adore the Rob Ryan plate. I have already started using it and it puts a smile on my face every time I see and read it. Here's hoping Kieran eats everything off of his plate so that I can. Plus when he eats well, that too puts a smile on my face!

It was bittersweet opening the package that my parents sent us from Canada on Christmas morning. One of Kieran's gifts from them was a football (and by football I mean an American football), which he played with the rest of the morning while Narinder and I got ready for our trip to Birmingham.

We had a great time with Narinder's relatives on Christmas and Boxing day, but nothing beats Christmas dinner at my grandparent's house. I missed the company of my family and the natural flow of the day (eating a lovely meal, desert, coffee, and tea and then opening presents under the tree - first the children, then the adults.)

We had a nice Christmas this year, don't get me wrong, but I have made the decision that we will be spending Christmas with my family in Canada from now on no matter what. I miss the traditions, my family and the country and I want nothing more than for Kieran to experience Christmas there with them.

I don't think that's asking much, considering I would love for him to experience LIFE there with them.

I am so sad that Kieran isn't growing along side his big cousins, Reide and Royce. They have been like big brothers to Kieran since the moment he was born. They are so sweet, patient and gentle when they play with him. There is no question that Kieran is missing them the most!

Many tears, I love you all.

Saying that I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in May is an understatement!

xoxo, Eleni

Two more days!

2011-12-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

Note to self: In the future do not slouch, get more sleep (bags!), powder your nose, and wear less bronzer... yikes!

Luxe Box by Loose Button

xoxo, Eleni

Some fresh air

2011-12-21T06:32:00.013-05:00

I haven't used my camera much since I've been in England and yesterday was the first day I actually brought it out of the house! Shameful. I usually just carry around my point and shoot because it's so lightweight and I'm always lugging around so much already with Kieran. Yesterday though, I thought I should get some photos of Kieran enjoying playtime at the park, definitely one of his favourite places! There's also a shot of a couple of the ducks that live in the canal behind our place. We try to feed them bread daily, another one of Kieran's favourite things to do!

I love using Kieran's Cath Kidston cowboy food tray for his lunches and dinners!

Happily spotting an airplane in the sky (another favourite!)

Spotting another airplane.

Sweet dreams xo

My first haul video(s)

2011-12-20T14:00:00.020-05:00

Here is my first haul video on purchases I've made over the last week (plus one purchase from when Maria was visiting in November.) Many apologies for the abundance of videos for what is supposed to be just one haul video. I had to stop filming a few times to tend to Kieran and at a couple points my video camera cut me off. I had edited the videos to create just one (and then again to create three separate videos) but there were some issues uploading the edited version in full quality. Web streaming quality didn't allow the details in the fabrics to show and overall everything looked very pixelated. And so I have just uploaded the videos straight from my camera to YouTube with no editing. Eventually I might reupload the videos once I figure out this glitch. (Here's hoping that my sisters are the only ones watching them!) I just got my YouTube account and currently cannot upload videos any longer than 15 minutes (which is why I had edited the videos in three parts.) The total film time was approximately 35 minutes! I guess I need to learn how to cut down on the chatter or just apply for more time! I am by no means a natural vlogger. I apologize for the length, if the flow of the video is annoyingly interrupted and if I happen to repeat myself frequently throughout the videos.

Enjoy!

xoxo, Eleni

If only in my dreams...

2011-12-19T11:47:00.017-05:00

I can't believe Christmas is a little less than a week away!

Kieran and I have been in England for two months now and this will be the first year that we won't be spending the holidays with family in Canada. I'm all for change, having a family of my own and creating our own traditions... but spending Christmas with my family back home has quite honestly always been "the most wonderful time of the year". I will miss spending Christmas Eve with my dad's side, Christmas morning at my parent's house with my sisters, having a feast made with so much love at my grandparent's house (mom's side) on Christmas day, and the smiles on my little cousins' faces when they open their presents. I would love for Kieran to experience all of that. Along with being away from family for Christmas, what has made this Christmas feel, well, less Christmasy, is that Christmas in England doesn't seem to be as "grand" as it is in Canada. I miss seeing rows and rows of homes covered in lights and decorations, Santa Claus parades, radio stations dedicated to playing Christmas music, shops filled to the rim with every type of Christmas decoration known to man, etc. It's been near to impossible to find a beautiful tree skirt, star, stocking holders, velvet bows, etc. all of which I can easily go without, but would be so easy and inexpensive to find back home.

That being said, have I mentioned how blessed I feel to have a tree up and a beautiful baby boy who eagerly waits for me to turn the "twinkle stars" on every morning? I am a very lucky mommy.

Naturally if I could wish for anything this Christmas it would be to be in Canada for the holidays or, better yet, that Narinder was able to find a good and secure job back home. Instead here is a "realistic" Christmas wish list for Santa:

What do you wish for?

Private

2008-06-16T12:00:00.007-04:00

I may make my blog open to the public in the future...