Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging

Thinking of purchasing any major appliances in the near future? If so, I've some important information for you that may impact your decision and budget!

I was speaking with my account manager where I have a trade account on major appliances. I was told that every single appliance manufacturer was going to be putting up their prices in about 2 month.

The price increase is the same for all manufacturers and it is a whopping 8%.

I just purchased a 2009 refrigerator. The 2008 model, which is now sold out, retails for $3000 CDN. The retail ticket price for the 2009 model...with no change to the refrigerator, is $3500. That is almost a 16% increase in price!

I'm fortunate, I have designer trade resources not available to the public so of course I don't pay retail. For those who do pay retail or manage to haggle a $200 or $300 discount...I feel bad.

Contact Toronto's 2 Hounds Design ASAP if you are considering purchasing any major appliances. With some exceptions, 2 Hounds Design is happy to pass on our designer discount to clients.

This evening I felt an overwhelming desire to tell you every thought that entered my silly head. The computer was not on...who wants to wait for a computer to start up. I didn't.

I had so many questions, so many concerns too many to consider. Then at midnight rather than turn out the lights and go to bed I turned on the computer. I lost my 'life line' on Octobre; my 2 hounds (actually pit bulls) but tonight, I turned on the computer and am posting to AR rather than going to bed. A question...are you, yes you reading this post; are you my life line?

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We (Canada) how selfish of me, we. 3 families, Canadian families, lost their beautiful young boys. As a mother, as a Canadian I claim these young men. How selfish of me for what have I lost but tears?

CNN will only tell you 3 NATO casualties were lost. If CNN reports it at all. The last time I have found CNN reporting the facts about the casualties of Canadians in Afghanistan was Thu July 5, 2007. As my family in the U.S. has told me: "When a Canadian dies, it is reported as a NATO casualty" so it doesn't hit too close to home.

I'm here to tell 3 soldiers were killed and many more injured in a deliberate attack in Afghanistan. They were ARE Canadian.

Today I also learned that 61% of Canadians polled believe we should withdraw from Afghanistan due to high casualties and the high cost to maintain troops. I am so assamed of my fellow Canadians. If you ask the Canadian troops, individuals who are or have been on the ground in Afghanistan, they are certain their mission is true, has value and IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Canadian's like every other country don't want to see their young men and women coming home in boxes. But Canadian's used to hold their heads high and stand for something. Think of France, Holland what would they be without Canada?! Ask their students who maintain our soldier's graves!

I am ashamed of my countrymen who would demand a government pull out because they don't like to see young men and women return home in boxes.

61%, look to these Canadian HEROs: to pull out when these HEROs have given their livesto ensure another mother's sons & daughters lives are free, in a country where they don't look or do things as we do...listen to the deeds and words...and honour them. They believe. Why can't you show some faith in what they've died for?

Cpl. Andrew Grenon, 23

Cpl. Mike Seggie, 21

Pte. Chad Horn, 21

killed when Taliban militants attacked their LAV III armoured personnel carrier. They were all due home shortly.

"Why We Fight:" - Cpl. Grenon 2006

"I've often asked myself why we are here. Why my government actually agreed to send troops to this God-forsaken place.

"There are no natural resources. No oil, gold, or silver. Just people.

"People who have been at war for the last 40 plus years. People who want nothing more than their children to be safe. People who will do anything for money; even give their own life.

"I look into the eyes of these people. I see hate, destruction and depression. I see love, warmth, kindness and appreciation.

"Why do we fight? For in this country, there are monsters. Monsters we could easily fight on a different battlefield, at a different time. Monsters that could easily take the fight to us. (emphasis added).

"Surrounding these mud walls and huts is a country in turmoil. A country that is unable to rebuild itself. A country that cannot guarantee a bright future for its youth.

Rest in Peace beautiful boys who grew to be heros from a mother with undying love and gratitude.

If you are depressed to see the days getting shorter, schools back in and the knowledge of the approaching dreary GTA winter is starting to get you down...get out of town!

This weekend there are a ton of great things to do:

• Durham Region(Orono) Annual Fall Fair- Sept. 4 - 7, 2008 - Orono
• Wine Tasting Fundraiser - Saturday Sept. 5, 2008 - Markham Museum - Wine!!
• 24th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair- Sept. 5 - 7 - Harbour Front Centre - Perfect! Wine makes me hungry.
• Art & Antiques in the Park - Sept. 6 - 7 - Markham Museum - These people are busy!
• Shaw Festival - Niagara-On-The-Lake - There are 3 plays to choose from this weekend. Stay at an in and get the spa treatments...a little wine tasting tour. Make a weekend of it!

Just some ideas to get you thinking. Now get out there and enjoy the end of the summer...I'll live vicariously through you so please let me know what you did on the weekend!

It is that time again for annual community fall fairs! Can you believe it is September?!

Orono, just north east of Bowmanville is hosting their annual Fall Fair the weekend after Labour Day beginning Thursday September 4th and running through the weekend.

I go for the horse shows, to check out the farm animals and to people watch but there is also the tractor pull (I should mention these are MODIFIED tractors!)

Of course if you like things 'stock' there is the farm class tractor pull

Bluegrass music for those, like my parents who love the music (?! sorry, I don't) Here is Home Sweet Home who have played at the fair in the past...I'm not sure if they will be there or not this year

If you see me at the fair be sure to say hi!

As you likely remember I prepared my house for sale. There were numerous upgrades we put in but the one job we did is the most time consuming as well as providing the most $ROI.

We painted the entire house...well I painted the entire house. Since we were selling I went the cheap route and colour matched a Benji colour using Behr.

What a disaster! The computers can never get the same formula even over 3 cans. Home Depot's paint manager gave me the low down:

1. After a product (ex. latex flat emulsion base white) goes on the big box shelf the paint manufacturers update the product on an ongoing basis. Therefore you can get a can with an 'older' (last months) formula and a can of the 'new' formula. The cans will look exactly alike; the manufacturers have simply 'tweaked' the formula which will alter the colour outcome!
2. Each manufacturer has their own 'white' base to which colour is added. So when you take a Benji or Restoration Hardware or C2 sample in to colour match you will never get the same...because they are formulated using a different white base.
3. The colour matching done at the big boxes are not done by the eye only the computer. At least at specialty paint stores when they colour match they will take the computers 'match' and then tweak till they feel it is right. This can take a whole day of them playing around, a few hours or few minutes. If you listen to them as they do it you will find out how complex the C2 colours are to colour match!

Here is what happened when I tried to touch up some spots with a different can of paint which was purchased at the same time as the original wall colour:

BTW, I went back 3 times trying to get the colour fixed...many many cans later I actually spoke with a paint manager. I got my money back for the original paints.

I will never again colour match at a big box.

I wish I could say I'll never colour match again but C2 is to damn far away...so Abernathy's in Bowmanville will be doing my colour matching of C2 they take their time and will not release the paint till it is a match!

However, and the point to all this rambling: I used Ben Moore's Aura paint. Despite the cost of a gallon of Aura you actually use much less than you would of the big box paints.

1. max 2 coats with Aura (just like C2)
2. self-priming (OMG!!!)

New drywall or patched? Just paint it one coat with Aura and you are done.

I had already done 2 coats everywhere...then the touch up fiasco and then repainting in Aura. Thankfully I only had to do 1 coat and no priming any patches!

Now that is a lot of time to relax and enjoy the job!