Fabulous Find Friday Mia Nicole Design Co.

I am back after a long hiatus but hey its a fresh start, and there is lots heading your way :) So before I introduce the Fabulous Find of the week, I have to tell you a little story.

I have been married for 19 years and yet I never know what gift to get my husband. Be it birthdays or our anniversary, its a constant struggle to find something for him. The guy is exasperating!! He has no strong likes or dislikes. He is not into clothes, cars or gadgets. The one thing that brings joy to his life is Travel. He loves to go on vacations and therefore is forever planning our trips :) I should not be complaining.... but seriously he is obsessed about exploring the world. As a result, he works and plans vacations and has little time for anything else :) You cannot even imagine what a long, and neglected list I have on the home front. It  simply never gets done :)

We are also budget conscious travelers so that requires even more research and hard work ! For my anniversary this year in August,  I got him this delightful adventure fund box. I  had it personalized and it looks amazing. For those of you, who might say, that that piggy banks are for kids, have not seen my hubby dear grinning ear to ear when he opened his gift.  He absolutely loves it :) We have found a nice spot for it in our family room. As of now, we are filling it up with currencies from around the world :)

For me, our decor style is very personal. Over the years our home has become a canvas to showcase our personalities. My family room is a collage of things we love and the memories we cherish and this box fits in perfectly. Thank you Mia for creating this for us. 

Here's introducing Mia Nicole Design Co in her own words 

" I started Mia Nicole Design Co. , a hand lettering business, as a creative outlet after I quit my full-time graphic design job to stay home with my kids about 3 years ago. Creating is a necessary part of my life. So when I had the opportunity to stay home with my kids and continue to use my artistic/graphic design skills, I couldn’t resist! My business has evolved quite a bit from the beginning but the thing that remains the same is my passion for creating unique one-of-a-kind gifts. It makes me so happy when a customer tells me how their loved one was moved and so thrilled by the gift they received. It is so incredible to be a part of something that brings joy to others and will be a keepsake for years to come"

For those of you who are local to the  Greater Seattle area, you can find her at the Great Junk Hunt in Monroe from November 1-3. Mia also ships her products, so you can connect with her via Etsy or Instagram and Facebook.

Here are images of a few images from her collection. 

I adore these  cute globe ornaments :)

Mini Adventure Fund boxes for kids.

Hope you liked my Fabulous Find pick? Have a wonderful weekend and see you back here soon :)

Image 1 and 2 Copyright My Dream Canvas.
Image 3, 4, 5 and 6 Copyright Mia Nicole Design Company.

An Apartment Tour : At Home With Arundhati and Aditya

Hello there. I am delighted to be back here after a hiatus.  Today I am thrilled to feature a home that's personal and close to my heart. I had a lot of fun preparing for this post. 

There is nothing ordinary about this New Jersey apartment, which is the home of my sister in law Arundhati and brother Aditya, or the assortment of treasures you'll find inside it. Overlooking the impressive New York skyline, their apartment is dreamy with a layered, yet, laid back perfection that is usually hard to achieve. My favorites are the stacks of worn novels and leafed through magazines that add charm throughout the home.

If the objects inside a home tell a story, then this home is a master storyteller with few equals. For me, their home is undeniably chic with an element of fun thrown in. I told my SIL, during a visit to their home last month, that finally after 19 years of living in the states, I have a second home:) Take a peek into their cozy apartment, and you too shall be enveloped in the warmth it exudes........

Arundhati is the writer in the family so I asked her to describe their home. According to her:

"Home. One measly word containing four letters but what a difference it makes to each of our lives. A warm corner to call your own and the realization that you are privileged to have a place you can call home, for the sight of the homeless languishing on the streets leaves little rents in the heart every time you set eyes upon them. 

The first home Adi and I had was in the town of Leicester in the UK. Now here's a fact. Everyone feels sorry for you when you live in a city like Leicester, yet it was where we started together our journey together as husband and wife in this lovely two-bed apartment. We have come a long way from that first nest of ours where we owned nothing, by which I mean the entire paraphernalia of furniture and tchotchkes. Just four suitcases and a truckload of books (because books are the center of my existence). 

Our decor has been since then influenced by our travels throughout the UK and Europe. In the coastal town of Tintagel in Cornwall, we picked up our first metal tin sign. This was the beginning of a significant period of madness so that today we have amassed an intimidating pile of tin signs from all around. And magnets. Our refrigerator is crawling with them. While it is not be the prettiest sight, it gladdens us to the cockles of our hearts to see these reminders every day. Each item that we own has a back story and I could tell you all day about them. The chirpy yellow wooden bird perched upon a tall stand that came from a store in Lisbon, the memories it brings back of that hot springs day of loitering around the hilly streets of the Portuguese city; the huge photograph canvas of St. Michael's Mount propped up above our bed that caught our eyes in the narrowest of alleys in the fishing village of Polperro in Cornwall; the pyschedic pink lantern I fell in love with in Bergen, Norway; a local French artist's painting from the streets of Monmartre that a Parisian hotel's concierge helped ship to  New Jersey, all for the vast sum of 26 Euros. These are just some vignettes from our nest which is essentially everything about our journey together.

Now, time to rein myself in before I hear tiny little snores and then a crescendo"

Thanks Arundhati for sharing your home with the readers of MDC. Trust me, there is not a snore to be heard for miles :) This home is where the couple have combined their aesthetics and creativity to build their little haven. I seem to notice that my darling brother is rather house proud as well and quite the shopaholic when it comes to knick-knacks for the house :) 

Arundhati and Aditya kudos to you both and I shall be back to visit you guys soon :)

Here are some images from outside the apartment. A picture of the stunning terrace where you can get amazing views of New York City.

The Hudson River by sunset.

Views Galore and in the distance the New York Skyline.

Autumn hues 

I would love to hear from you. I know that I have been missing in action for a while. I am back now, so hit me up with all your news:)

 Images: Copyright : Arundhati Basu and My Dream Canvas. Please do not use without written consent. 

A Spring Palette

Hello there....

I am usually not good with remembering quotes, but this one has always stuck with me! "Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer." Anita Krizzan

Spring is the season for renewal don't you think ? These happy and cheerful spaces epitomize the season for me.

Are you getting a daily dose of MDC by joining me on Instagram ? That is here we post daily , so make sure you join me there :)

Which is your favorite space here and why? Do drop me a line and let me know.

Images via and subject to Copyright.

Trends Coming this Spring: Unique Wooden Watches by JORD & A Giveaway

Hello there! I have noticed off late , how much I have been drawn to natural elements. Wooden accents in particular seem to be dominating my home. My new dining table is made from reclaimed wood. I love the grains on it and the cracks and crevices. 

 JORD a company which makes authentic wood watches that are both handcrafted and sustainable reached out to me, I was certainly intrigued. JORD  watches are one-of-a-kind. Handcrafted from natural wood and sapphire crystal glass, they are beautiful, strong and totally unique.

I have been admiring these sleek wooden watches for a while on social media and so I am thrilled to own one now. I chose the Frankie Zebrawood and Champagne style watch.  The design is minimalistic and the watch looks sophisticated and elegant. The best part is that I feel that the watch can be worn by both men and women. JORD  (pronounced Yode) is based in St. Louis, where they we are constantly developing new designs. The watches are are a sophisticated mix of natural, and largely re-claimed materials, combined with quality movements and components.

I was curious to know more about the materials used to create this timepiece. The wood used in my watch is native to West Africa. Zebrawood offers a striking grain contrast and exceptional finish. Although the growth rings are very pronounced, the wood occurs naturally with both large grain and fine grain patterns. Zebrawood is considered to be a luxury hardwood!  Exciting :) I find these details fascinating as its so much nicer when you know the origins of the product you love!!

I really like the craftsmanship of my watch. I am pretty sure this is going to become one of my favorite accessories. While there are many watches out there, the wood used in all of JORD's watches makes it so eye catching.

Here is some more information about JORD's watch collection:

• Most watch backplates can be engraved!
• All Cedar humidor presentation boxes are engravable, as well!
• The watches may be sized for the owner
• Most watches have additional options for customization -- mixing and matching faces and woods!
• Every watch comes with a one year warranty and options for return and exchange
•  Free worldwide standard shipping.

I cant wait to show off my new watch :)  For all those of you looking for a new watch or the perfect gift for any occasion make sure you stop by and check out JORD

There is a fun surprise Giveaway for you as well, so scroll down to the end of the post for details :)

 
Now here is the real treat for all my lovely readers!

GIVEAWAY TIME

ENTER HERE for a chance to win $100 towards your next JORD watch. The winner will receive a $100 gift code toward the purchase of any watch in their collection! The best part....this Giveaway is open to readers worldwide!!

The winner will be emailed in a month (after the contest has concluded), provided all the conditions have been met.

Everyone who enters the giveaway form will get a consolation 10% off gift code. Yay :)

Good luck! 

In full disclosure this post is a partnership with JORD Wood Watches, however all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own."

Wooden Wrist Watch