DE-STRESSING!

I know it has been a while but we have been very busy with a major bathroom renovation...  Here are a few pictures of the work in progress

We decided to take some of the square footage from our bedroom to allow for a walk-in shower which will also include a stand alone bathtub.  The new bathroom will be stunning but for now, this is the room in all it's glory...

Winter in Quebec has been absolutely horrible this year with temperatures in the -20s F.  To survive this devastating weather, I've started a few design projects, including a "de-stressing" activity...  It all started with a small table given to me by my mother many years ago which had a funky green finish:

I used some of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White (btw... I LOVE YOU ANNIE SLOAN!!!!) and proceeded to paint, wax (with Annie Sloan's clear wax) and distress... And de-stress...  I love these design projects where my mind can just take a break and not think about work, chores, schedules, appointments and obligations.  I enjoyed every minute of it and I am very happy with the final result.

I am currently working on another piece, a beautiful dresser which will be painted in Annie Sloan Paris Grey shade.  It should keep me sane until March!

PUNTA CANA

We decided last September that we would travel to the Dominican Republic for the Christmas holidays.  This was our third time to the island but our first to Punta Cana.  We stayed at the Ocean Blue and Sand by H10 hotels.  The hotel is beautiful with a grandiose lobby area, an impressive pool and very well maintained grounds.  The rooms are spacious and clean.  There are many excellent restaurants, especially the steak house and the buffet offers a wide variety of dishes.  We really enjoyed ourselves and had a great time.  The weather was simply fantastic... And so were the sunrises!

Ocean Blue and Sand hotel

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

My daughter and I decided that this year, our Christmas cookie would be the shortbread.  We love to bake sweet treats and offer them as gifts to our friends and family.  In previous years, we've made orange peels dipped in chocolate, candied pecans, meringues and many different kinds of cookies which are always fun to bake.  We used Ina Garten's easy recipe and made batch after batch of buttery, sugary and simply delicious shortbreads.  We dipped them in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and sprinkled them with sugar.  We created many beautiful varieties. 

Ina Garten's shortbread cookies

SAMANA

We travelled to Samana for the 2012 Christmas holidays.  We discovered a very beautiful region of the Dominican Republic located on the Atlantic coast in the Northeastern part of the island.  The landscape can be described as being very pure, wild and authentic since tourism is not very developed in that region. I anticipate that this will soon change with the opening of the new El Catey International Airport, in 2006. The drive from the airport to the resort is magnificent and driving through the mountains while admiring the coast lined with palm trees is just extraordinary, something to be seen.