Living the Dream

My heart beat a little faster when I saw these photos of this sweet little vintage Airstream trailer that has been lovingly made-over on Kara Paslay Design's blog.  I wanted to make sure you saw them so I've done  a recap here.


Any one else have a secret desire to ditch it all, buy a trailer, and travel for a year or so?  Well that's just what Tiffany and her husband have done.  They purchased a 1973 Airstream, refurbished it, named it Eddie, and are travelling around the southwestern US right now.  You can read about their adventures on their website.

The Airstream was in need of a makeover, both on the inside and the outside.  

Here's how it looked before.  We usually think of Airstreams as being silver, but for a time in the 70s they were produced in this cream colour with green trim.

They repaired and repainted the exterior a glossy white,

and added a gray and white striped awning.

The interior was also given a white-over.  Here's how it looked when they bought it.

They've repaired, and painted, and recovered, and decorated and now it looks just plain incredible inside.  


New laminate flooring was laid down to add some classy warmth to the space.

Here's how the bed at the end of the trailer looked when they started.  

It was a pullout couch, which they chose to make into a permanent bed with lots of cushions for day use.  I adore the crisp white walls and fresh bedding and cushions.

The kitchen area also received a makeover including installing a red stove, 

and a metallic strip on the wall to hold the useful (metal bowls) and adorable (felt animal heads).

They also added a new larger sink with a goose-neck faucet and butcher block counters. 

The end of the kitchen cabinets was originally particleboard which has now been replaced with hardwood and then decorated with a laminated photograph of their favourite piece of art done by a friend.  What a perfect way to take along some personal art in such a small space.

Opposite the kitchen is a bench that was recovered to rid it of its icky 70s foam and fabric.

They are presently working on the bathroom and will have before-and-afters on their blog when it is completed.


I don't know about you, but I have completely itchy feet and would love to be out travelling in a sweet vintage Airstream!

Help Needed

As many of you know I will be away for most of the summer traveling to and working in Bangladesh (you can read more about it here and here).  I've been pondering what to do with my blog for the seven weeks I will be away.

I'm hoping to be able to upload photos and write some posts while I am on the road and teaching.  However, I can't guarantee that I will have electricity, internet access, or time and energy to do regular blog posts.  Thus I'm coming to you, seeking volunteers to write some guest posts.

I would encourage you to consider being a guest blogger as it is a good way to find other blogs and have other people find yours.  I thought it would be fun to have the guest post give us three glimpses into your home, along the following lines:

• the oldest thing in your home
• the favourite thing you have made (or made-over)
• the favourite room in your house and why

I will need to have the post sent to me by the middle of June so I have time to upload it and it is ready to publish before I leave.  If you think you would be interested in volunteering to be a guest blogger this summer please drop me an email at aliasgracie@gmail.com

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
XOXO

Irish Soda Bread

Since today is St. Patrick's Day I made Irish Soda bread for dinner.  I used a recipe from Canadian Living (which you can find here).  It turned out really well and tasted great with our soup.

I loved all the shades of white from the flour on top,

to the flaky crust, 

and the soft creamy inside.

Yum - just one more slice!  I like mine with butter and honey.  How about you?

Linked to Friday Photo Challenge (White) at Razmataz
and the St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl at Cuisine Kathleen

March Break Up-date

We are having a busy crazy March Break this year with appointments and sickness and 'to do' lists.


Speaking of crazy - someone I know has crazy hair, badly in need of a haircut.  Also speaking of crazy - someone I know put a green St. Patrick's day bow on their dog and made them pose in their new suitcase.  Right before they went and had some surgery too!  Yep a little St. Patrick's Day surgery to remove some lumps from her belly.

Speaking of new suitcases, I've been meaning to show you my new thrift store find.  I think hubby thought I had finally lost my marbles when I brought this home, but the kids like it because the latches make a very cool and satisfying 'clunk' when you open them.

Did you notice the initials on the top - yep this suitcase belonged to ...

Mary Poppins!  How cool is that!


I wouldn't have bought it if the inside was gross, but it is really clean and pretty.

In other news ... today we introduced an acoustic guitar into the family.  I hope it gets along with the electric guitar and mandolin already living here.

In other other news... I finally got around to hemming three pair of pants that have been waiting to be done.  Just so you can fully appreciate how amazing that is, hemming one of these pair of pants was on my 'to do' list last summer (you can read the list up-date here). Yah me!

Up-date:  Juno did well in the surgery and is just waking up.  She's a trouper, that little one.

Is It Wrong to Decorate with Beer Bottles?

Decorating with beer bottles really is a win-win situation.  Hubby is happy to drink the contents and then I soak off the label and put some pussy willows in the empty bottles for the mantel.  

Aren't the bottles lovely with the St. Peter's Brewery seal pressed into them.

I love watching pussy willows emerge in the spring.  They seemed just the thing to put out on our mantel right now.

Linked to Countdown to Spring Party at Domestically Speaking
and Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
and Spring Mantel Party at Women Who Do it All