12 Days of Giveaways: Day 9 with The Home Depot

He always seems to find something new to fix and make better in the home and many Saturday mornings you can hear him clanging away in the garage on yet another DIY project. Because there's no way he's paying someone else to do something he can do better, right? Right.

The Home Depot has become like a second home to me after my husband and I bought our first home a few years ago.  Prior to my recently discovered love for DIY Projects, it use to be considered a place of sheer monotony.

It wasn't until I began helping my husband out on small projects around the house and becoming a home owner that I realized how fulfilling it was to complete something for your humble abode... all on your very own!

It saves you tons of money too.

Have you seen my Bathroom DIY's I completed this past summer with The Home Depot?

You can view my Master Bath Project here and Powder Room Project here.

That was a lot of fun! A tad intimidating at first since I've never ripped a vanity off (or anything off a wall for that matter) and of course, I wanted to do the best job possible.

I can't think of a better thing to gift that "handyman/woman" on your list that enjoys DIY than the gift of "More Saving; More Doing."

The Home Depot offers gift cards if you fancy that or an array of awesome products at reasonable prices.

Two products that would make them happy are the HUSKY  18" Rolling Tool Tote and the HUSKY 111-Piece Mechanics Tool Set.

HUSKY 111-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, $49.68

The Husky Mechanics tool set is EXCLUSIVE to The Home Depot and has a lifetime guarantee. Featuring two full polish ratchets, 70 sockets, 22 bits, 14 hex keys and more, these tools are complete with professional chrome finish, providing corrosion resistance and easy cleaning. Sockets are equipped with Surface Drive contact points virtually eliminating the rounding of fasteners and ensuring a long lifespan for your tools. A case for easy storage and transportation makes this multi-use tool set the perfect gift for the handyman or woman in your life.

Husky 18" Rolling Tool Tote, $69.99

Durable and water-resistant with special designated tool compartments, the Husky rolling tool tote is the perfect storage solution to transport, protect and organize your top tools. With seven internal and 11 external pockets, everything can be conveniently stored in one place. Plus, with accessible carrying handles and rolling wheels, this kit can be easily toted from project to project.

Courtesy of The Home Depot, Day 9's winner will win a HUSKY 18" Rolling Tool Tote and a 111-Piece Mechanics Tool Set! I can think of a few folks on my list that would LOVE this! Can you?

To enter, leave me a comment telling me what your next DIY project is below.

Open to Canadian Residents only.

Ends 12/12.

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A Gourmand and Hostess' Affair in Toronto: Delicious Food Show

Indulge in delectable delights, learn some tips on entertaining and cooking and meet a few of your favourite Food Network Celebrities and Chefs.
Food Personalities include a few of my personal favourites such as David Rocco, Michael Smith and Chuck Hughes plus many more!

Among the famous faces, there will be an array of exhibitors, booths and shows to help you get your creative juices flowing in the kitchen and home.
There's something fun for everyone at the Delicious Food Show! That includes your little ones too!

Kids will learn how to make pumpkin shaped shortbread cookies, Gluten Free Veggie Rice Wraps and their very own chef’s hat at the Petits Chefs Academy.
Dates:
Friday Oct. 25th 4-5PM, 5:30-6:30PM, 7-8PM
Sat. Oct. 26th 12:30-1:30PM, 2-3PM, 3:30-4:30PM
Sun. Oct. 27th 12:30-1:30PM, 2-3PM, 3:30-4:30PM
*Visit Booth #561 for full workshop schedule and to sign up!

More exciting and must-see special features at this years Delicious Food Show include:

The Food Network’s Celebrity Kitchen presented by The Home Depot Canada will feature a stunning Martha Stewart kitchen with beautiful appliances by GE Café.

On Saturday, the Delicious Food Show orchestrates an epicurean pre-battle, leading up to Mount Sinai’s renowned fundraising event, Chef’s Challenge, in early 2014. Of those raising monies for the hospital’s ultimate culinary showdown, the highest fundraisers-to date are divided into two teams, each headed by a fierce celebrity chef, to compete for unbelievable prizes at the show. Notable culinary stars will judge the competition, examining dishes and selecting an ultimate DFS Mini Chef’s Challenge winner! For more information on how to get involved and to register for the main event in 2014, visit www.chefschallengeforacure.com.

Toronto and Vancouver’s Video Restaurant Guide & Online Lifestyle Magazine, View the Vibe, takes over a 1,000 sq. ft. area replete with lounge seating, wine, cocktails and an HD video wall showcasing the vibe of the city’s best restaurants.  Ten of Toronto’s top restaurants, like burger sensation Holy Chuck and hip pub fare joint Habits GastroPub, join the section to serve up signature bites of bliss for DFS attendees.  A perfect lounge to stop in, enjoy some delicious food, sip on great wine while getting a glimpse at Toronto’s best restaurants.

How amazing does that all sound?

This isn't even half of what the Delicious Food Show has to offer attendees this year.

Ticket Prices: $20/each, Adult | $18/each, Senior 65+ | $10/each, Student (13-17 yrs old) | $15/each, Group Admission (10+ People).

To learn more, visit www.deliciousfoodshow.com.

Make sure to follow along on Twitter @DeliciousShow and Facebook too!

See you there!

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Stylish Fall Décor Inspiration

Image by Magnificent Mayhem

Taking my son on a walk to our neighborhood playground, the first bite of Autumn's crisp cool air grazed my  cheeks and looking around it finally starting hitting me -- Fall is definitely in the air.
I enjoy the warmer months but I have to admit, I LOVE Fall! It's my favourite season. What's not to love about it? Warm bevvies by a fireplace, fuzzy blankets, the beautiful colours of the changing leaves, abundance of fresh apples waiting to be picked and eaten, Fall Fashion and of course Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Being an interior design enthusiast, you can always tell what season it is just by looking at the decor inside and outside of my home. With the changes of the season, comes the transition in style pieces. It's easy to change up your home's seasonal style by just changing up a few things and adding some key seasonal ornaments instead of changing anything major.
Pillow covers, throw blankets, flowers/branches in vases, candles (colour and scent of candles) are just some examples of items in the home that can be changed to accommodate the change.
So what am I loving this year for Fall Home Décor?

I know it's part of fashion, but it's also super cool to incorporate into your Fall décor: Ombré!  
I am loving these ideas! (Although they do sort of remind me of candy corn. But that's OK right?)

Ombre Wine Vases: BRIT + CO | DIY Ombre Glowing Hurricane Glasses | Ombre Lamp | Ombre Pumpkins

Feeling inspired yet?

Check out this collage of my absolute favourite 2013 Fall Décor.

I am loving white pumpkins (a favourite since last year); burlap is always the perfect fall decor addition; candles add an instant warmth - perfect for Fall (get them in fall colours scented with vanilla, cinnamon and pumpkin!) and I really admire large lanterns in different sizes filled with small pumpkins and candles.

White Pumpkin Vase | Wheat in Vases | Burlap Table Runner

Happy Decorating!

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Master Bath Facelift DIY with The Home Depot: The Reveal!

Waking up in the morning, one of the first things I see before I start my day (aside from my Keurig) is my Master Bathroom.
Walking into the white room of bore up above, a zombie mom with zero caffeine in her system is bound to fall even more tired, wouldn't you agree?
I'm sure you already know about my small projects #CACBathroomDIY in collaboration with the wonderful folks at The Home Depot (Check out my Powder Room Reveal here!).

We started in August (began to receive the supplies end of July) and even in between our hectic day-to-day this summer, was able to complete all these small projects in a very short time.
I would never have known it was that easy to do prior to tackling this DIY project because as you may have already read: I was not the DIY-type of gal.

For our Master Bath, I wanted to transform it into a space that would create not only warmth but vitality. Positive and bright energy with a touch of elegance.
Our Master bath is the first thing we walk into upon waking in the morning and getting prepped for the day ahead -- it only makes sense that it's a space that will give you that boost of vigor and happiness first thing in the day.

Aside from everything being white and boring in our master bath, there was just way too much congestion for the small space it already is.
There were also a couple of items in the bathroom that were situated in the wrong place.
On top of that, everything was outdated -- the lights, the vanity, sink and faucets and even our shower head was showing major signs of wear and tear.

More boring white! And plastic! 

It does not take much to completely revamp and convert any space in your home.
We did not change the tub, toilet or tiles on the floor and shower walls but WOW you will see what a big difference some DIY can do.

Paint is always an extremely important part of a space transformation.
Our old walls were a dingy grey and coupled with the white, did absolutely nothing but amplify the dreariness of the bathroom.
I love teal! It happens to be one of my favourite colours so when I saw the Teal Ice paint colour using my Behr Color Smart Mobile App, I knew it would be the perfect match for my Master Bath!

We love Behr's Premium Plus Ultra 2-in-1 with Primer plus it's mold-resistant which is perfect for bathrooms where it can get moist often.

The first things we changed while we allowed the paint to dry for a day were the items in the shower/bath.

What a difference just changing our caddy made! It looks much nicer and I have more storage for all our bath products. I even got a small separate corner caddy in chrome for all the kids bath stuff. Perfect!

The Delta Lahara In2ution Two-in-One Shower head was the one both my husband and I instantly agreed upon.

I love how it elegant and sleek it looks but most importantly, I really love the integrated shower head and hand shower! The separate hand held is so helpful when bathing the kids and also cleaning out the shower walls and bath tub. Learn more about the Delta Lahara In2uition Two-in-One Shower here.

The light fixtures and mirror were the first items we replaced. They were items that we selected to bring the touch of elegance we wanted in our master bath.
For the lights, I selected the ML Traditional Vanity Fixture in Brushed Nickel which went perfectly with the lovely Cosmopolitan Byzantium Mirror in Crystallized Silver.

The other two most important items that made a world of a difference in our master bath was of course the Master Bath Vanity and the Vanity Top/Sink.

Although online it looked much darker to me, I had to see it in person at our local Home Depot (which I highly recommend you do instead of relying on online photos alone when making purchases).
And once I did, I knew it was the perfect Master Bath Vanity!
I loved the dark chocolate colour of the Haven 36" Vanity.
So much that I had to get the matching Haven Wall Cabinet.

You'll notice it in the reflection of the mirror located on the opposite wall. That wall use to be empty and really was wasted space. Because there isn't as much traffic in that part of the bathroom, I thought it was the perfect spot to place the wall cabinet.

Because of the darker brown of the Haven Vanity, I selected the Pegasus 37" Granity Vanity Top with Bowl in Beige. A perfect match!

Reducing congestion and clutter in an already small space was crucial when picking items to replace the older ones in our master bath.
I knew that the wall cabinet hanging over the toilet had to be replaced. It was just overcrowding the space where the toilet, the bath and the vanity mirror met.
I know it's a normal location for wall cabinets but I found a much better replacement!

Having the gorgeous, solid sculptural and functional Kohler Purist Towel Shelf over the toilet next to the shower was an absolute MUST for me.
I do hotel reviews often and one of the things I notice in many of the beautifully designed hotel bathrooms is the towel shelf.
Its design and functionality in that particular spot of the master bath worked perfectly -- it just screams "Come in and take a nice warm bath! Oh and here's a fluffy towel for you!" 
I love it!
Learn more about the Kohler Purist Towel Shelf here.

The final item that really brought on the "Oooh's" and "Aaah's" was the stunning Moen Banbury 2 Handle Wide Spread Bathroom Faucet in a Chrome Finish.
So refined and luxurious - such a beauty!
You can learn more about it here.

Once you're done reveling in the allure of a faucet, check out this cool item that I consider a must-have in every bathroom.

The Zenith Sliding Vanity is perfect for hidden storage space in your vanity! Reducing visible clutter in an already small space is essential so this piece would be a great addition!

Our paper holder, towel ring and towel bar were all from Stockton in a Brushed Nickel finish.
You can check them out here.

All items featured in #CACBathroomDIY are available at The Home Depot.
Visit them at: www.homedepot.ca.

Without further ado, here is the After Reveal of our brand new Master Bathroom!

And here is the comparison.

What do you think?
I am loving our new Master Bath and I am very grateful to The Home Depot for working with me on this fantastic and refreshing DIY experience. They've made a DIY-er out of me!
I'm also thankful to my readers for following me on this #CACBathroomDIY journey and your support throughout. It was a lot of fun!

Now that summer is coming to a close and the cooler months are approaching with the kids back in school, wouldn't you say it's a good time for some DIY?

If you haven't had a chance yet, please make sure to enter my Get Your DIY On contest for a $200 Home Depot Gift Card. There's only a few days left!
Click here to enter!

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Powder Room Face-lift with Home Depot Canada + #Giveaway

Prior to being a home-owner, I honestly was far from being the "hands-on" type.
I had zero patience for reading instruction manuals and assembling things and God forbid I ever had to touch a power drill.
Carol + Powerdrill = Not a safe combination.
I'm not a "girly-girl" but I was not a DIY type either.
The easier and quicker things could be done for me, the better.
Even if that meant spending more money on more pricier items and of course the added (and most often costly) expense of hiring help (contractors, painters, electricians, etc.)

Okay, maybe even after being a  home-owner I still felt the same; however a lot has changed in the last 2 years.
Having 2 growing children and being a work-from-home-mom with really only one steady income in the home, we started relying heavily on doing our own mini-projects around the house to help cut costs.
And that it did.

Doing your own renovations, whether they are big and small, can significantly reduce your overall spending.
Yes it may take some more time, but if you invest the time and some money on some good tools, perhaps even seek the help of some family and friends, big and small projects can be conquered and most often done with more care from you than from strangers.
After all, you want the best for one of your biggest investments and the place you call home, then DIY (Do-It-Yourself)!

Of course with some heavier projects, there may be some requirements for professional help especially when dealing with electric or plumbing but that's not a problem.
The majority of the work can be done from you.
Take it from this non-DIY type girl that just completed my very first small project, my powder room.

We moved into our humble home last year and right away I knew there were many things I wanted to fix in the house, the washrooms being one of them.
The powder room is on the main floor and used quite frequently for family and guests.
It's not big, well it is a powder room, and when I walk in it I find it to be quite boring blah-zay.
Being a woman of good taste and an eye and passion for design,  every single room in my home matters. I want people to walk in each room of my home and see our taste and style even if it's as little as the powder room.

So I teamed up with the home hardware shop we love and that we frequent (and in my opinion the best), Home Depot, and decided to conquer this small project DIY on my own (with the help of my husband of course!).
It's the summer and there's no better time to dust off your power tools than now.

My main issue with the power room was that there was absolutely no life to it.
I wanted to give it a chic and contemporary face-lift.

Here is the before shot.

It's amazing what paint and few items can do to completely change an entire look.
Below are the items we used to give our Power Room a nice little facelift.

• TANGERINE MIRROR CO: The Beverly Mirror (24x36")

Features a 1 inch beveled inside and offers a traditional and contemporary look fit for any decor style.

I loved this mirror instantly when I saw it. I knew right away that this would be the perfect one to offer the contemporary yet elegant look I was aiming for.

ARV $79.98
Link: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/the-beverly-mirror-mirror-frame-style-24-inches-x-36-inches/916864

• MAGICK WOODS: Dark Chocolate 2-Door Vanity with Square Sink

2 door Dark Chocolate finish vanity base with Chrome hardware with new space saving square White porcelain sink. Also available in Matte White. Vanity base (with top): 24In.W x 12In.D x 34In.H. Faucet not included. Vanity top pre-drilled for 4In. faucet centers.

ARV $156
Link: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/dark-chocolate-2-door-vanity-with-square-sink/913178

This vanity not only offered us storage for toilet paper, hand creams, hand soap, etc. hidden from the public eye but it actually saved us space than when the pedestal was in!
The square porcelain sink offering the contemporary style.

Along with the sink, we included a Delta ADDISON Single Handle Lavatory Faucet with Touch2O.xt™ Technology.

It's the perfect faucet to use for a powder room where there's a lot of traffic and where we usually wash our hands coming into the house from being outdoors. It's especially genius having small children! It's easy for them to use (plus they find it super cool that it turns on and off on it's own) and decreases the spread of germs.
Featuring both Touch2O® Technology AND Touch2O.xt™ Technology you can activate the flow of water by just moving close to the faucet - it senses your presence anywhere 4″ around it or or activate the flow of water by touching anywhere on the spout or handle.
I also love the graceful curves that provide a delicate beauty that adds a romantic touch to the sink.

It's also a PTPA Winner! And you know how much I trust that handy Seal of Approval.

• MARTHA STEWART LIVING: 3Lt Skylands Vanity in Brushed nickel with frosted glass

This classic modern vanity fixture was the perfect addition!
It was very easy to assemble and install and installation hardware is already included. Plus depending on your style, you can either have it installed with glass in up or down position.

ARV: $89.98
Link: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/3lt-skylands-vanity-in-brushed-nickel-with-frosted-glass/959123

• AMERICAN STANDARD: EverClean Elongated Slow Close Toilet Seat in White

On top of being loud and startling, a slamming toilet seat or lid also poses a hazard to small children. The good news is that American Standard’s innovative slow-close toilet seat hinges eliminate lid and seat slamming altogether. Plus, the hinges feature a tool-free lift-off design that allows for quick and easy cleaning.

- Elongated plastic slow close toilet seat with cover
- Convenient Slow-Close features prevents seat from slamming
- EverClean surface inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew

ARV: $66
Link: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/everclean-elongated-slow-close-toilet-seat-in-white/954086

• MOEN: Stockton Chrome Pivoting Paper Hold

I loved the pivoting feature. Makes changing toilet paper much easier (and ladies we know our men could use that additional assistance...)
plus it's pretty!

ARV: $21.23

• MOEN: Stockton  Chrome 18 Inch Towel Bar

ARV: $34.00

• BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA Interior Satin Enamel Paint & Primer In One

There is nothing that changes the look of a space more than paint.
We love Behr products and have always used them with no issues.
I absolutely love the Behr Premuim Plus Ultra line with Paint & Primer In One which reduces the time painting and it's quicker drying!
I like that the smell doesn't stick around for long (perfect with little ones).
Our old powder room's paint colour was a really boring and unattractive cross between a yellow and light green and I was not a fan at all.
We went with the Gentle Rain which is a in the Blue colour family and a nice subtle light blue-grey colour. It's calming and neutral.

ARV: $33.98 

It took us only a day and a half to get the powder room done and I am in love with the final look.
I just added a couple of small decor pieces (wall art and flowers) that I picked up from Homesense (another favourite store) to add some more character and boost of colour.

It was that easy and what a difference it made.
Our family and friends have commented and love the change as much as we do.

Here's After shot of our new and improved Power Room:

Our little girl loving the new Powder Room! "It's pretty, mommy!"

Check out the comparison! What do you think?

Big thank you's again to Home Depot Canada for collaborating with me on this project!
Next up is the Master Bathroom and I cannot wait to share the results!
Stay tuned!

To keep posted on updates on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, watch out for the #CACBathroomDIY Hashtag.

To get you started on some DIY, the good folks at Home Depot Canada is offering one of my readers a chance to win a $200 Home Depot Gift Card.
Open to Canadian Residents only. 
Contest ends Sept 9th.

1) Leave a comment below telling me which room in your home you would love to DIY first! (This is mandatory to be eligible)

2) Enter via rafflecopter below for additional entries.

Good luck!

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