A SPRING PURGE

I'm in the midst of a Spring purge. Clutter seems to accumulate too easily in our small house and so it is time to take decisive action. My spare moments have been dedicated to purging our home of things we no longer need or use, from household items and clothes to shoes, bags and books. I'm moving from room to room at a slow pace (after all, my spare time is limited to Monkey's nap), but gradually the large garbage bags are stacking up, ready for the donation box. It is really quite an invigorating process.

I just finished purging my closet. I was a bit ruthless, but my clothes now have space to breathe and be seen. There is a wealth of tips online to get you through the process -- here are a few easy tips that helped me ...

One year rule: If you haven't worn a piece of clothing in one year then it's time to let it go. This one is a bit hard, so start with a two-year rule if that works better for you.

Be stoic: Try really hard not to feel emotional about getting rid of your once prized and favourite piece. If you no longer wear it, then it should go so that someone else can create fond memories with it.

Avoid duplicates: I tend to hoard some wardrobe basics (white t-shirts, white shirts, black turtlenecks, black leggings, etc.). There is no need to have so many duplicates because I only wear one at a time. I tossed all the worn pieces so now all of my basics look crisp and neat.

Try stuff on: Take the time to make sure the clothes you keep fit you well and make you feel good. If you really love something that doesn't fit properly, a trip to the tailor can be your saving grace.

Next up on my task list ... Spring cleaning!

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AN OLIVE TREE FOR YOU

Have you ever dreamed of having a little bit of Italy to call your own? Well, look no further. Nudo Italia is a collection of small olive groves along the eastern coast of central Italy that allows you to adopt an olive tree for one year. First, you choose your tree among the small groves. Then, you reap the rewards of the year's production of olive oil. And, you can even visit your tree if you travel to Italy during the year-long adoption. The adoption package is set up so that you can easily give it to a loved one too (we just gave this to my dad for his birthday).

Wouldn't this inspire you to follow the Mediterranean way of eating?

BOOK CLUB: THE IRON BRIDGE

My last book club read was Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger. It was an in-depth look at the intense culture around high school football in west Texas. The story was interesting, but I found myself more intrigued with the back story behind the little town of Odessa (politics, socio-economic factors, demographics, etc.) than with the second-by-second account of the football games. The author's writing felt a bit sensationalist, but perhaps that was needed to truly capture the emotion and spirit of the town, its people and its football team.

Our next read is The Iron Bridge by Anton Piatigorsky. This book is a collection of six fictional stories that recount the childhoods of some of the world's most notorious dictators from Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler to Rafael Trujillo, Mao Tse-Tung, Pol Pot and Idi Amin. It sounds compelling.

STREET STYLE INSPIRATION

This outfit has everything that I love about Spring style ... a full skirt (with bare legs!), cropped jacket, embellished shoes and beautiful scarf for layering. Now, if only the weather would warm up so I can shed my winter parka.

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GAME: CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY

Have you heard of the party game Cards Against Humanity? Our friends recently brought it over and it was hilarious to play. It's a simple, uncomplicated game perfect for playing after a dinner party. For each round, one 'question' card is played, players then choose one of their 10 'answer' cards to put down, and the funniest answer wins that round. There were times I laughed hard, and there were times I squirmed in my seat. Prepare to be amused, shocked and disgusted when you play.

The game is available online or you can download it for free right off the Cards Against Humanity website.

DESIGN INSPIRATION: MAP WALLPAPER

Oversized map wallpaper, whether it is of the world or a city, definitely makes a statement in any room. This is design inspiration and travel inspiration working together -- just imagine the adventures you could dream up! I'd like to put this topography map on one wall in Monkey's room.

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FAVOURITE BOOKS

Monkey loves a good story. It is gloomy and grey outside today, so we're cuddling up with some of his favourite books ...

1. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld
2. Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman
3. Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton
4. Fox's Socks by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
5. The Runaway Hug by Nick Bland and Freya Blackwood
6. Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

And, here are more of Monkey's favourite books.

EVERLANE [MIGHT BE] COMING TO CANADA!

Everlane is an online shop known for creating amazing wardrobe staples at ridiculously good prices. The Everlane team creates the designs, sources fabrics from around the world and coordinates production with highly-skilled factories (the very same ones that produce designer labels). There are no middlemen, so you get designer goods for a fraction of the price. T-shirts made of the softest jersey sell for $15, luxurious silk blouses are $100, and fine cashmere sweaters are $150.

Right now, Everlane only sells in the U.S., but it just launched an online campaign to raise funds and awareness to start shipping to Canada. Check it out at #CrowdFundCanada ... there are perks to participate!

CURRENTLY LOVING: K-WAY JACKETS

Spring officially begins this month ... March 20 to be exact. What symbolizes this transitional season more than the K-WAY jacket? It's waterproof for rainy days, and it can be packed away in a little pouch for sunny afternoons. It makes me feel a bit nostalgic as I remember the red one I wore when I was a kid. This year, I have my eye on a navy one for me and a green one for Monkey.