There is no need to have a love affair with shoes for craving for a well-organized way to store your footwear. From the ultimate shoe closet to the simpler show racks hung on the walls, having a place where to store each pair of shows keeps them looking new longer but more importantly for the busy women, it enables us to quickly find the best pair to complement our outfit.

The March 2010 issue of Living etc. has an article that an shoe lover will not want to miss.

+ Photos: Living etc.

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After the game console controller cookies, the latest newsletter of Style at Home gives me the occasion to introduce cookie recipes that everyone can bake. I selected two stylish classic cookies that are crowd pleasers. Do not hesitate to serve cookies for dessert at a brunch. If people are less hungry, they will enjoy more one cookie than a piece of cake.

+ Lemon spritz cookie recipe – Photography by Aran Goyoaga
+ Flourless chocolate cookie recipe – Recipe by Francois Payard and Anne E. McBride

SOURCING:
+ Chocolate Epiphany: Exceptional Cookies, Cakes, and Confections for Everyone by Francois Payard with Anne E. McBride $25.20 CAD on Amazon.ca

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I am looking for a place to eat breakfast this morning before we head to the IDS. The current issue of Where Toronto that I found in my hotel room featured a Best of Brunch article. Cool!  Sadly, one suggestion that interested me, the Brassaii Bistro Lounge is closed for renovations. The Drake’s Corner Café seems like a good option that feels hip.

+ Finds more restaurants on the Best of Brunch from Where Toronto

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At first impressions, I really like this digital magazine version and its device. As a blogger, we can learn from how people digest and browse the articles. A digital magazine saves paper and is handy to carry around with us. I am looking forward to the day it will become an everyday object.

In the meantime, I invite you to watch the video to fully grasp the concept developed by Bonnier R&D.  Grab a cup of coffee and get a glimpse at the future of the print industry.

+ via: BERG blog
+ photo from the video from Bouvier on Vimeo

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I read on the New Times this morning that Condé Nast plans to announce that it will close 4 magazines: Gourmet, Cooking, Modern Bride, and Elegant Bride.

I told you last January about the fact that Condé Nast will need to consolidate its cooking magazines into one. With the current status of the magazine industry, Condé Nast could not afford to support both Gourmet and Bon Appétit. At the time, speculations were that Bon Appétit will survive. Lately, a lot of people speculated that Gourmet, with his richer history, would stay.

Honestly, there are many cooking magazines than are more inspiring than Gourmet. My faves of the moment are Delicious, Donna Hay, and the French Saveurs. The biggest problem for Condé Nast was that I typically did not feel buying their 2 cooking magazines was worth it. Plus some months, Gourmet and Bon Appétit talked about similar topics. Which one between Gourmet and Bon Appétit did you buy on a regular basis? For me, it is Bon Appétit. Therefore, I am glad and sad at the same time.

+ Bon Appétit
+ Gourmet
+ via New York Times

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From what I have seen, the August 2009 issue of Living etc is still about how to get the best out of summer. I am looking forward to their ideas for alfresco dining and outdoor decorating. Here are a few pictures that you can see online on their outdoor space gallery.

They talk about trends for bedrooms and showers. They round up the best coffee tables and wardrobes plus bring you 25 ways to use mirrors to create illusion of space.

Living etc showcased clever space saving solutions for outdoor and indoor rooms. Students living home to go to college or university can find good design ideas for their bedroom. Fashionable rooms continue to be filled with bold colors or soothing pastels. Have you noticed how pastel hues often replace white on rustic or retro style kitchen cabinets?

+ Flip through a preview of August 2009 Living etc – see the magazine for the photographer names – rights reserved pictures

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I met and chatted a little with Grace of Design*Sponge last February when she sat on the Design Bloggers panel at IDS 09. She is a sweet girl.

Canadian House and Home wrote a two-page story on her. Grace told us to check the work produced by contemporary Australian and Mexican artists. She loves the way contemporary artists of both countries are informed by their indigenous culture. It results in vibrant color art pieces that feel fresh.

Canadian House and Home also asked Grace to select her favorite products and homes of the moment. You can admire 10 rooms that inspired her.  Grace is into vintage wallpapers. She shown us the vintage floral wallpaper she selected as the place setting for her wedding. I share her love for Thomaspaul pendants and lamps.

Grace currently favors Sherwin-Williams Verdant 6713. I included a picture of a green that is an easy to live with. When selecting a wall color, check what it looks like under the lighting conditions of your room. Select a color that could cheer you up during the day and be sophisticated at night for your dining and living rooms.

SOURCING:
+ Thomaspaul – Trees 3-Shade Pendant Lamp $550 – $595 USD
+ Vintage Wallpaper nr 64 50 € at wallpaper.be
+ Grace Bonney’s 10 Favourite Homes
+ June 2009 Canadian House and Home magazine

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I recycle or gave away my magazines after one year. This means I lose many recipes. This is where MyRecipes.com comes handy as it gave you the chance to find recipes from the back issues of specific magazines. You will find past recipes and menus from Real Simple and Sunset, which I read a few times when I visited California.

MyRecipes.com features Time Inc. magazines and cookbooks. Besides Real Simple and Sunset, you get input from Cooking Light, Southern Living, Health, Coastal Living, and more. The site has the typical functions like shopping lists and bookmarking your favorite recipes.

Now, you can gave away your old issues to school so they can make craft project like a papier maché version or a collage on wood letter of the misprint word I shown you yesterday.

Easter Menu Ideas

I gathered four recipes from My Recipes.com that you be great for the traditional Easter family get-together.

• Apricot and Sherry-Glazed Ham from Cooking Light, November 2007
• Deviled Eggs from Real Simple, June 2002. For more deviled eggs recipes, check out this post by Hostess with the Mostess
• Rosemary-Crusted Rack of Lamb With Balsamic Sauce from Cooking Light, November 1997
• Triple-Berry Crisps with Meringue Streusel from Cooking Light, July 2002

Do not worry, MyRecipes.com keeps up to date with new recipes. Last month recipes are also on the site but I thought it would be fun to revisit recipes that were published 5 or 10 years ago.

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Many of you are fans of Canadian House & Home magazine. I will make it an habit to share my top 3 stories on each issue. At last, the stories are toned by warm sunshine. My favorite stories for April 2009 are:

+ The cover story is the house tour of Richard and Rana Florida who moved to Toronto in 2007 from Washington, D.C. I am fond of their idea of converting a working garage into a pool hut. The French doors on the side provides a direct access to the pool and a view to the ravine. Photography by Michael Graydon

+ Simple Abundance highlights 7 tricks to infuse a modern makeover to a 90-year old English-style cottage on a budget. The home of associate designer Catherine Radciffe at Riesco & Lapres Interior Design is beautiful. Her valuable tips can be applied on any home.

+ This is the type of the freshly cut branch season at the florist. I love the simplicity of blooming branches. This tablescape is the simplest you can design. Yet it is very elegant. Look how they put a group of three single bloom flower vase with flower or foliage as the center of the table. This way, they do not compete with the long branches.

Every month on Canadian house and Home, you can get a FREE preview of their latest edition. It is a partial edition.

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In the News

First, Deena Waisberg interviewed me a few months ago about women blogging. Her article is published in Reader’s Digest. Deena introduced the world of blogging through the eyes of a few Canadian bloggers.

She asked me if she could interview one of my readers. After asking permission, I referred her to Sabina DeShazo of Barefoot in the Orchard. I wish to thank both for their collaboration.

Session at PodCamp Toronto 2009

I posted my session on the wiki. It will be a follow-up to the session I did in Montreal. Last time, I did an introduction to the world of women and mom blogs. Now the scope will be an Updated Look at Women and Social Media.

The core of the session will be on what is happening in the world of women and mom marketing and blogging. We will look at the latest metrics. See how blogging and social media enhance the life and the daily activities of modern women. I will share great initiatives but I also want to hear about yours. So if you are in the Toronto area, I wish you will come.

• What: PodCamp Toronto 2009
• When: February 21 and 22, 2009 (a weekend)
• Where: Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
• Cost: Free!

PodCamp Toronto is made possible by the generous contributions of our sponsors. Visit podcamptoronto.org for more information and Free Registration.

MORE:
+ The Feminine Side of Blogging in the Reader’s Digest
+ PodCamp Toronto 2009 blog

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You probably heard the news today about the closure of Domino magazine. We saw a good number of home and decoration magazines disappeared over the last couple of years. It is true that the industry was crowded with titles. But it is sad to see the end of a popular magazine we like.

In Canada, December 2008 was the last issue of Wish magazine. From Blueprint (that I liked) to O at Home and In Style Home (I never bought either) up to the more traditional Home & Garden and Cottage Living, no magazine styles seem to be spared.

May Not Be End

The demise of magazines may continue as advertising revenues are going down. I predict a harder time for expensive magazines. For example, I enjoy Donna Hay magazine but I am not willing to pay $10 for each quarterly issue. Are you?

Many speculate that Condé Nast will decide to consolidate its cooking magazines into one. Gourmet is named more often as the one to be folded. I hope not since I buy one or the other depending on their stories; sometimes both.

I renewed my subscription to Canadian House & Home yesterday. I am guessing they are doing well since they launched a French edition this month.

With this announcement, we have even fewer magazine choices. On the brighter side, we will have more time to blog.

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More couples decide to stay in the city after they gave birth to kids. It is far from the norm but we begin to see more examples. In fact, two families amongst my friends opt for city life instead of moving to the suburb. They did not want to endure the long commuting to go to work.

Some parents go as far as redefining the concept of a family house. Canadian House and Home January 09 house of the month features one of this amazing home. The owners are the architects Christine Ho ping King and Peter Tan of Studio Junction. The couple lives their two pre-school children. They converted a warehouse in a back lane. They minimize the demolition of the building which results in an unusual design.

Here are ideas to steal from Christine and Peter’s home design:

They incorporate a main courtyard and a second floor terrace that both serve as playrooms and art studio for the kids during the summer. The rest of the year, these spaces bring the outside in.

Christine and Peter place their home office next to the living quarter to be closer to the kids. A small studio the across the courtyard provides more privacy.

The storage is integrated into the walls to reduce the clutter and to create the illusion of space. In a home without a basement, every inch counts. They insert seamless drawers into the stairs. Integrated wall storage is what I wish for if we were designing a new house.

To fully appreciate the house design, watch the 2-minute video interview with the owners.

In the same Canadian House and Home issue, top designers are predicting that houses will go back to more manageable, human scale. What do you think?

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ Courtyard House by Studio Junction – photography by Rob Fiocca

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