I recently discovered Dots & Loops Handmade, a super cute store in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, selling all kinds of handmade goodies - including a wide selection of products made by Canadian and Nova Scotian artisans. If you can't make it to the store in person, you can still visit them online and I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a holiday gift or two (or maybe something for your own wishlist). Here are several of my favourites:

Chelsea and Maria scarves
Flowers card
MAASAI necklace
Triangle earrings
Hand printed bracelet (made in Nova Scotia)
Chevron necklace (made in Nova Scotia)
Your new boyfriend sticker set
Blue + white lace tea towel
Zipper case
Amethyst soap rock (so cool!)

P.S. I wasn't paid or perked to write this post, I just like sharing good stuff!

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For awhile now I've been obsessing over Canadiana items - my love affair with plaids, moose, beavers and vintage blankets is quietly making an impact in my shop and, in my home. (surely you've noticed my hoarding of wool plaid blankets on my blog) I don't think I'm the only one in love with this theme. The Drake General Store has a whole section of their shop dedicated to Canadiana items and the Bay is constantly expanding their collection of what their iconic stripes are on - an obsession that has rolled into social media and hashtags like #StripeSpotting are now trendy. Maybe it's the winter weather that is approaching that sparks the desire for items that remind us of cabins and being outdoors.

I think being at my cottage this past weekend - that is far from fancy and has orange and brown shag carpeting, made me want to decorate even more with kitsch and "cabin" themed items. Anyhow, here is a roundup of some of my finds that I think make a pretty fun collection. (I'm especially loving that Wasaga Beach flag!!) How cute would that be in a bedroom?

See more of "Canadiana" finds on Etsy here. 

*Affiliate links used in this post

NOTE: This is kind of a long post and the first few paragraphs are dedicated to why I decided to write about re-doing our rental in the first place. If you feel like it'd be beneficial for you to know...start right here. If not, just scroll on down to get some cool tips on how to shop smart for your temporary home. I promise...I won't be offended!

 

 

Okay, guys...here we go. You've heard me talk over and over again about our rental and how...well...I am not so in love with it and have wanted to change it and make it OURS since we've been here. The truth is...it's not ours. It will never be...and I am learning to be okay with that.

 

We moved to Seattle two years ago this past August after my husband and I decided that, for our family, it was time to establish some stability and leave the military life. He served faithfully in the US Air Force for 10 years which meant that we moved from state-to-state every three years or so.

 

If any of you out there reading this are military or live in a temporary residence, you will surely relate to what I am about to share.

 

Because of our nomadic-like patterns, it became very clear to me that whenever we did finally land somewhere, I had to plant my feet quickly and get to the business of making our house a home wherever we were no matter how big, small or old the space was.

 

To be candid and super honest, by our last duty station, I was done. I didn't want to decorate or stage a thing and we lived on base which didn't make for much of inspiration in the way of home design.

 

After praying about it and agreeing that it was time to go I began to hold on to the promise of a brighter future in a permanent space that we could truly call our own and that I could put my personal stamp on! Yippee!

 

Well fast forward almost three years and we are here...living in a rental space that is quite a bit older and could use some maintenance in key areas. Our family has since grown from our original five to six and we have truly outgrown the house. BUT, we make the most of the space, our kids love it here and have made some wonderful memories.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I know we are blessed to have a home that is more than cozy for us...we lack for nothing. Not a thing. For that, I am eternally grateful. But, you see, I am holding on to a promise...God is faithful, I just need a little cheering on every now and then...to remember that promise.

 

Insert the day that the hubs came home with grave news {grave, I tell ya}...we would have to stay in the rental for a year more than we had planned to ensure we have just the right amount of funding necessary to get the home that we really want to have. Sooooo...{insert tears here}..yup, I cried. Not really sure why and to be honest, I really felt like a whiny baby...an ungrateful one. So, what did I do? I pulled my "big girl panties" up and decided to make the most of it...I thought...we are going to fix up this place as much as we are allowed until we leave.

 

Most people wouldn't even care to take the time to do this for a home that didn't even belong to them...but all of you creatives out there will understand exactly why I went straight into this mode. I. Just. Can't. Help. It.

 

I really didn't mean to be SO longwinded with the backstory here but I felt like you all needed to know {especially all of my new friends} why I was sharing this in the first place.

 

So, on to my plans for this place for the next few months:

 

 

See all of those goodies up there? These are my picks for our living and dining spaces.

 

There are lots of patterns, textures, colors...well, not really colors but since, at the current time, we are SUPER neutral...those yellow curtains up there...for me, are a TON of color! I am totally a neutral girl! You can see that here. Honestly, with all the patterns there's just really more personality than color so it adds a bit of a fun element to the space. I like that. Layered rugs, modern pillow mixed with Southern charm. Yes, please. Again...I digress...forgive me.

 

The home we live in is a late 1950's Rambler style home. Which, lends greatly to a more modern, industrial, contemporary feel. Those styles, while amazing, are typically not something I have ever been interested in. I am Southern. Not that that means I can't like contemporary things but the heart of our home will always have to be cozy...not cluttered. Cozy.

 

I do, however, love industrial and modern elements so in this redo, I will attempt to bring that in with the help of accents, trims and décor.

 

So how do you save money while you learn to love the space you're in yet still add YOUR touch to the space? Here are a few tips:

 

TIP #1

Don't spend a lot of money on doo-dads and whatnots.

If you're like me, you love all the decorative accessories. And if you're even more like me, your taste and style preferences change often as well. These days, there are too many outlets on the web to score the perfect accent for that nook or cranny in your space.

Just a few places to sign up for and find great deals:

Antique Farmhouse

Décor Steals

Last Call

HomeGoods 

{online shopping not currently available}

and so many more!

 

 

Like these lovelies from West Elm. They are actually more on the high end of what I would normally pay, but I am in love with them. And since this post is REALLY about shopping smart, these won't break the bank at $29.00-39.00.

 

 

As you know, I've been SO into gold lately and these add just the right touch of character and personality. I think I will place them on this little sidetable/etergere from  Overstock.com.

 

Which leads me to...

 

TIP #2

Shop online closeout and discount websites. Frequently.

Now, I know some of you may be turned off by this one but tune back in. You'll be happy you did. Did you know that sites like Overstock.com, Wayfair, Joss and Main and so many others offer high quality, brand name furniture, décor and so much more at a fraction of the cost? This is not because the items are damaged but because so many companies out there over promise and under deliver. Who wins on that one? Well, you do, of course!

 

And I am loving everything about this simple, monogrammed pillow. Southern girls like Southern things...and what's more Southern than a monogrammed pillow? I am in love. This one was easy. And even better, a seamstress friend will be making this one for me! Yes!

 

TIP #3

Support handmade, local artisans whenever you can.

 

via Etsy

 

If you take a look at the inspirational mood board image above, most of the pillows I plan to purchase are from Etsy. Once again, do not misjudge...Etsy has a bazillion wonderfully talented designers who make high quality goods for the home. Whenever I can, I like to support them. Can I make pillows? Yes. Realistically, will I have the time? No. One tip for Etsy though...shop around. Since there are so many people offering their goods, there is a lot of competition for pricing. Be sure to take your time to find the best deal for what you need for your space.

 

 

TIP #4

DIY.

Do it yourself. And if you can't, I bet you have a friend who can!

Can you paint a piece of furniture, sew a straight line, use a hammer and nail? Then, chances are that in your decorating process, you can make a few things to not only add a personal touch to your home but save money at the same time. As you know, DIY is all the rage right now and if you don't know how to do it I am pretty sure you can find an online video or blog tutorial on how to make it happen. Let your fingers do the walking and make Google {or Bing} your best friend.

 

 

 

TIP #5

Be Patient.

Rome wasn't built in day and neither will your home.

{Ha, if I'm not preaching to MYSELF on this one}

I am SURELY preaching to myself on this one. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even believe I typed it. It's like someone was controlling my fingers and I was totally out of control. Imagine that. Seriously, even though you're in a rental, take the time to think through what projects are most important to you.

What spaces does your family spend the most time in? What room is the most used?This is probably where you want to begin your planning.

 

Are you ready to go on this rental redo journey with me? Sure hope so! And I would love for you to share your redo stories with me!

 

Persian style rugs at Ikea. Yes. Ikea.

My Mom has been searching for two carpets for her master bedroom for over a year. If anyone has tried to find the perfect rug for a home - you'll appreciate the frustration in trying to find one.  It took me three years to decide on one for our living room and even then, I ended up going custom.  Mom wasn't looking for broadloom, but instead a persian - It ties in with the rest of her decor and would give a beautiful warmth that the room was needing.

We went to Elte back in April, and although there were many gorgeous rugs- the prices were sad to say, way out of budget. Mom had already decorated her entire home, and is at a point where the bedroom she doesn't want to spend a great deal on it - but at the same time, the rug had to fit with the rest of the house and style. Rugs - especially persian rugs, are just right off the bat expensive. But I kid you not when some rugs are over ten thousand dollars. We found some online or at consignment stores but the trouble is we're pretty particular with colour - rugs can change depending on a room, lighting, and whether you're looking at it straight on, or lying down. I founds a few awesome ones on sites like Etsy* like the ones below - but it was pretty hard for Mom to commit if she couldn't return one...

For this room we stayed away from rugs that were final sale or online finds. Which kind of cuts out a lot of rugs. But I thought I'd point out the ones above because the prices are ridiculously good. I've debated purchasing a few ones that I've seen on Etsy, but we don't really have that disposable income to take chances with. (And I'm so picky with colour)

Fast forward to last week, and Kay posted a picture of a beautiful rug that looked like a Persian rug on Instagram and when I asked where she had gotten it she said Ikea. (That was the last place I expected her to say) Mom and I scooted over to Ikea to look at their rugs and found one that was pretty gorgeous. Priced at $1,000 it's not inexpensive (especially for Ikea!) but it's one of a kind, and - reasonable for the size. If you've ever searched for Persian rugs you'll know that the price actually was pretty fair. So, we wrapped it up and brought it home and Mom seemed happy enough with it. (You can see some of the Ikea pricing on their rugs on this page)

The trouble was, Mom needed a second rug to coordinate with the one from Ikea. In her bedroom you take a few steps down to a dressing room that is off her bathroom. (She is a lucky lady). So we needed two rugs that would work together as both are visible at the same time. They didn't need to match but they did need to work together. So the hunt was officially on for a second. A few days after the Ikea purchase, Mom randomly went to a little carpet store at Yonge and Lawrence and found not one, but two carpets that were contenders that could have worked with the Ikea one. However, once we got the two carpets into the bedroom, it was obvious that they were way nicer in her room than the Ikea. So my brother and I rolled up the Ikea one and put it back in the car and these two are now hers.... Sooooo jealous.

The two winning carpets from Eclectic Home (Toronto shop)

As you can see the two rugs she went for are totally different but work together. They look like they have been there all along and add a gorgeous warmth to the room. I'm a firm believer that sometimes you do have to splurge on the right pieces - I would say that about our kitchen countertop (I have yet to regret paying more for quartz after seeing red wine spills and strawberries left out - and yet no staining!) and also for us, having gone custom. Mom did the same thing - she waited and had a set budget on what she would spend. Anyhow, I thought because of the varying sources of rugs, others may enjoy this shopping experience and the few tips on where to find rugs.

No. 1 Custom Rug - See our carpet that we had made in this post
No. 2 Ikea - Check out their rug department for the oriental rugs
No. 3 Etsy - If you can stomach not being able to return something, the prices on some rugs pretty awesome
No. 4. Eclectic Home, 3275 Yonge St., 416-322-0080. Mom dealt with Mostafa Tehrani and he was very helpful!

*Affiliate Link 

Last week I heard the news that Joe Fresh was had started an ecommerce site - with free shipping on orders over $50. I wasn't too excited at this news as I had never personally worn Joe Fresh. I know. I think I'm the only Canadian woman not to have worn anything from their line. Although I hadn't worn their clothing, Oscar has grown up wearing their stuff - so I was a little bit intrigued to see what I could get for him for the colder weather that is around the corner.

As you can likely tell from the photo above - that little visit to the Joe Fresh website last week became less about Oscar and more about me. I saw a number of pieces and before I knew it I was checking out with more items for myself than for Oscar. (You can see how big the order was from this Instagram pic) I thought that for sure I'd end up returning some items but after trying it all on, I kept it all. I bought this skirt and LOVE it. These two silk shirts (this one and this one) and also got this striped shirt which is sooo reasonable. I'm so happy with the quality and the styles.

I cannot compliment their online ordering or selection enough - the delivery came 1 day after I ordered  and I returned a few pieces that didn't fit Oscar to my local Joe Fresh department without hassle. Such a great experience so worthy of sharing. Loyal shopper now.

I'm wearing in that awkward photo of myself in my super messy living room -  Stripe Merino Skirt / Silk Pop Over / Necklace 
Oscar's hat / Slouchy Skater Hat (that is not really slouchy on him, but whatever)

I've been a little obsessed with checking out the thrift shops lately - if you follow me on Instagram you may have caught on to this obsession. It's crazy what you can find! Some days are a hit, and some days a miss but for the last few weeks I've always come home with something fun.

Above is a set of three marble candlestick holders. They were five dollars for the set if I recall correctly. I found those when i was on that coffee date with Debra last week. Love them. And I kind of love Debra for not fighting me for them. (Thank you Debra) You can see that I had them lit in my living room last night in this Instagram shot. 

I'm still obsessed with vintage blankets and have scored a few more. After a number of washes and hanging them to dry they are going to be wonderful additions to the home and to our cottage. Above is a pretty masculine one that I found yesterday, and below are some reds that I found last week...

Check out the tag - A piece of Canadian History.

Most of the blankets sit in a basket in our TV room for chilly nights when we curl up on the couch. Oscar loves pulling them out to sit with when watching TV.

I almost passed the jug below but on a second look the green and the straight lines won me over. The one thing I love about our all white kitchen is that I can bring crazy colours like this into the room and it totally fits in. But I can also take it out when the colour starts to get on my nerves.

Anyhow, those are some recent finds. Do check out your local vintage shops and go in without any reason whatsoever. You'll be surprised at what you find. :)

All Summer I was on the lookout for a great stand for my iPad.  I spotted a number of gorgeous ipad stands Etsy but I didn't really want to invest in a fancy at this time seeing as I knew a certain three year old was likely going to be carrying/banging it around. Last week I was at the dollar store and spotted an art easel that was $1.50 and I did a little jig.





It was the perfect, and I mean perfect, solution. I bought a few and brought them home and ta-da!! An ipad stand for under $2.00. One sits in the kitchen so I can prop up the iPad if looking for a recipe or, to play some music. And I can now watch Orange is the New Black comfortably in bed. :) So grab one (or two) of them the next time you're at the Dollar store. :)

As we transition to fall, I've been dressing Oscar in a few new pieces that I've picked up from the GAP when they have their 40% off sales. (They are having a sale now too, so check it out) If you have a little man in your house, you have to grab this little sweater/cardigan. It is SUCH a awesome piece. Oscar is a three year old but I bought the size 5 - it's a little big but will wear well through the fall and winter.  Also a a shout out on their pajamas - Gap Kids has the best pajamas. Since Oscar has been potty trained (yippeee!) I've avoided the footed sleepers as it's impossible for him to get undressed (quickly) if he has to go to the washroom. So I've stocked up on their 2 piece pajamas whenever they have a 40% off sale. I bought the Skull & Cross Bones style and a few others that are in the store but not showing online. Anyhow, just a little compliment on the styles offered at The Gap for boys. xo Linds

Ps., I'm kind of obsessed with The Gap & Banana Republic as they know how to do "classic" really well. I'm not one for pattern or crazy colours, so I am really loyal to these stores because they consistently offer classic looks with some style. If you find this come back in stock, grab this dress. I tried this dress on the other day while I was at Banana Republic and it sadly looked like a bathrobe on me. Booooo. I bought this dress online from Old Navy and love it. Yes. I like black. Don't judge. 

Tonight I got to have a fun night out and went to Yorkdale to check out the new Zara Home - A store I had been, up until recently, 100% in the dark about. I'm was pretty familiar with Zara for their clothing, but the the Zara Home stores I was totally clueless about. (For the record, I'm in the minority. I think everyone but me knew about this stores existence.) Anyhow, I was definitely curious to see what all the fuss was about. Want to see what they have in store? See more photos of the new Zara Home that opened at Yorkdale. Not in Toronto? You can shop online at www.ZaraHome.ca

Ps., An open letter to Aubrey - if you're looking for something for Christmas for me - or my half birthday, the "hotel" style tableware I've shown above I drooled over. ;)

Every year I try to fit in a few trips to my favourite antique spots around our cottage. Is it fair to say antique shops when sometimes it's really just old stuff hidden among junk? What is the right terminology?  Anyhow - for the sake of this blog post we'll go with the term "antiques". ;) Going back a year I did a pretty extensive roundup of my favourite antique spots to go hunting in the Kawarthas. Red Rock Antiques (pictured above) is still a huge barn filled with a TON of stuff but some pieces were now listed at Toronto retail prices which takes a little fun out of the hunt. I'm sure it leaves room for negotiation. Even with what I observed as raised prices it's just a fun place to visit.

My Coboconk stores never disappoints me. I love the people who run them, the love the atmosphere and how they restock often by going to auctions. Pricing has seemed to rise a bit - perhaps due to the popularity of the locations. But I scored the gold bar cart above for five bucks. So that makes up for some items I paid a little more for. ;) Score! (Ps., The bar cart is going to Tim, who I knew was looking for one - the joys of technology, I just texted him a photo and within a few minutes I got a "Yes!")

I also bought this brass planter for a few dollars....

I'm on a little bit of a brass planter kick. (I'll do a post in a few days on why I've been bitten by the brass planter bug - but if you are also digging brass I found a few brass planters over on Etsy)

I know the summer is almost over but if you're looking for any Fall road trips definitely hit up some of the shops listed here. I've updated the list with 2013 observations. :)  (Such as Argyle isn't as awesome a location as before) I'd like to make it into other areas outside Toronto to go hunting but it's pretty hard with a three year old in tow. Any spots you recommend around Toronto? And do chime in on your opinion if this is really truly "antique shopping". ;)

xo Linds

I'm obsessed with gold these days. I'm trying to become a bit more "stylish" or "current" with my accessories now that Oscar isn't pulling at my jewelry (as much) when I wear it. A trend I've noticed I have liked is gold in accessories and I've been itching to have a gold watch - I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my wallet so I decided to spend it on a new watch and settled on this new Fossil beauty.  It goes perfectly with my relatively new necklace from Joe Fresh and this bracelet I bought from Etsy that is remarkably similar to one at J.Crew that I had been eyeing. :) I love Pinterest for helping me visualize things I like.

My gold kick isn't just arm candy. I picked up this brass bad boy (above) by our cottage last week and I adore it.  PS., If you're looking for some good antique spots to visit in cottage country visit this post.  :)

Bracelet  from Top Pop Jewelry on Etsy / Necklace via Joe Fresh / Fossil Men's Watch  / Bucket, Vintage
Ps., You can find more of my jewelry obsessions here. 

Cookbook recommendation! My Mom made me home made pasta for my birthday and revealed that it came from one of her favourite cookbooks. Sharing the Table by Amanda Stine and Mary Garland. Amazing. Also available at Amazon.com

If you're on my shop's e-mail list you would have heard that I brought back calling cards to my shop and about the crazy sale of 50% off that ran all last week. My calling cards been absent from my shop for almost a year while I searched for the perfect paper for the cards - so to celebrate their return we hosted a pretty awesome sale. Since it was so popular of a sale (and because a lot of the orders we did last week were for bloggers) I thought you may like to see the new designs and take advantage of the pretty crazy savings too. The sale have been extended until Friday - be sure to enter SAVE50 in the checkout and get 50% off the calling cards.  xo Lindsay

I was invited to attend the West Elm media preview last week to see what's new in the store. I adore this store. I feel like everyone in the store is friends, and have a soft spot because I was invited to take part in this event in 2011. Here are some shots of items I loved during my walk through...

I just really loved the typography and how fun these glasses were.

I should have really picked up this honey jar (above), I've been coveting it for a year. But we don't use a lot of honey - but I still can't stop loving the design of it.

I actually got giddy when I saw that they had a HUGE collection of succulents in the store. I've been obsessed with making a terrarium and West Elm has everything you need to make one. As in dirt, stones, plants and obviously pretty stylish vessels. I may have also felt like I won the lottery when they gave me the following terrarium to take home...
 

Not an awesome picture but it's a selfie of me and my terrarium. :) It actually ended up staying at my Mom's (I was still living with her at the time of the event) and I thought she'd like it so it's living with her. But I'll be heading back to the store to get some more items to make my own for my house. Maybe one of these? 

I think I saw in an article once that if you're a blogger you need to have either a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree or an array of succulents so I figure I've got both almost covered now. ;) Are you into the succulents?

Like Baker's Twine? I'm obsessed. My new favourite colour is black - it goes perfectly with kraft wrapping paper. I thought I'd post about a sale going on in my shop for this week only - when you buy 1 roll of twine, you can pick a second roll, free. Buy two rolls, you get an additional two rolls free ... and so on, and so on. Anyhow, this won't happen again anytime soon so I thought I'd post here because it is such a fun promotion. Click here to read more about the sale. xo Lindsay

I still love to shop on Etsy even though it has grown so huge that it sometimes is pretty daunting to find the cool little shops. I often browse people's favourites to find neat new items, so I always love doing posts like this. So anyhow, here are some of the newest items I've added to my favourites lately.

Top Row / Necklaces / Bowls / Vintage Pull Toy / Middle Row / Octopus Coat Rack / Mouse  / Gold Ring / Bottom Row / Lionel Ritchie Milk Container / Green Tartan Pillow

Ok - so HOW CUTE is that little mouse? And that Lionel Ritchie Milk container!? It appears to have sold since I favoured it but maybe more will be added.

I am working away over here on orders for the shop, so sadly no more progress on the bathroom design to report on. :(  Anyways, I needed to make up some buttons for a project and they turned out so sweet. I have some available in my shop but I would love to give some away. If you would like one, just comment below - I will hold a draw and pick ten winners. I know it is a super small giveaway but I thought that they would be sweet to send to some people. Anyways, comment below if you would like one - maybe tell me what the weather is like where you are, or just say hi. No pressure. I will draw ten people randomly on Friday. xo Linds

P.s., Did you know my shop as a facebook page? Well, if you like my shop I would love a follow over there! xo

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I adore wood toys - They give off a warmth and feeling that packaged toys from the toy store just can't seem to replicate. I especially love wood toys around Christmas - it makes me think of Santa and his workshop of elves. Because my heart skips a beat when I see beautiful wood toys I decided to do a roundup of some of my favourite from Etsy. Should you be looking for the perfect baby gift, something that will surely be a keepsake - perhaps the above may inspire you.

Ps., Food is my next favourite gift!
P.Ps., I'm considering buying #1 for myself as I'm slightly obsessed with how cute it is.

I wasn't going to post again until next week but I was itching to post these. I get a a lot of daily "sale" e-mails from shopping sites. With the exception of some scarves recently at Zulily I've never jumped at buying something. What I love most is that I'm introduced to new product lines I may not have known about. Here is a roundup of the e-mails I get daily and what I'm kind of loving enough to come out of hiding to post this for the weekend (because these sales are limited runs)

Read more »

The Bay kindly invited me to the preview of their Christmas Street at their flagship store in Toronto today. It's an invitation I accepted right away.

I have fond memories of going downtown with my family to meet up with my Dad after work so that we could walk to see the Bay Christmas windows. Although it was cold and dark out, the windows lit up and were magical with moving toys, and sparkly lights. That tradition continued through to when I was a young adult -  although it didn't happen every year, they are occasions I will cherish.

Later on when Aubrey and I celebrated our first Christmas together we went to The Bay to find our special first ornament. Aubrey (who is Jewish) was introduced to the excitement of finding the perfect ornament for the tree that year at the flagship store.

Walking into The Bay today to see "Christmas Street" was a very special moment for a variety of reasons, many of which I mentioned above. At the core of it all Christmas wouldn't be complete without The Bay.

The preview was amazing - the ornaments are gorgeous, the collections are HUGE (candles, stockings, ornaments, vases and wreaths) Perhaps another huge moment was finally getting to meet Brian Gluckstein who was a true gentleman. His collection is truly magnificent and the attention to detail is stunning.

So thank you to The Bay for inviting me this year - It brought back fond memories from Christmases past. If you are by a Bay, I highly recommend visiting their Christmas collection when you are going to look for the perfect ornament as I do every year.

xo Linds
Ps., I met up with my Mom for coffee after the preview - so it was a pretty awesome morning. :)