It's Valentine's Day, and I guess that merits a post. I have some issues with the "holiday". I think that picking one day out of the year to truly express how you feel to your significant other, or to go out of your way to do something special, is a little ridiculous. Shouldn't we be doing this everyday? Anyway, I don't want to be a downer, I just needed to say that....though, if the Husband wanted to give me diamonds, I won't resist! Be sure to check out the history of Valentine's Day here. So in honour of the day, here are a few of my faves...
photograph from Alfred Eisenstaedt, VJ Day 1945
Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
My older sister had this poster in her bedroom, and it was always my favourite! Photograph by Robert Doisneau.
Enjoy Valentine's....but try to remember to tell your special someone how much you love them every day!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
will you be mine?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
and we're back to green!
Again...our inspiration colour from the Spring 2008 Pantone colour trends. Here are a a few favour ideas from Beau Coup.
I know this wedding dress has nothing to do with the colour green, but it's so beautiful that I couldn't resist...after all, what's wedding talk without the dress!
This beautiful creation is from Elie by Elie Saab Collection.
I must digress for a moment
For those of you who live in Canada, you may already know this...but for those of you that don't, I feel I must share with you the wonder that is Shopper's Drug Mart. It started out as a drugstore, but has become so much more! I haven't been there in a long time, so I thought I would pay my local Shopper's a visit today. Where have I been?! They have some amazing new products, and like I said before, I'm a total sucker for packaging, which they do a really great job of! Did you know that Rubbermaid makes garbage bags for their large trash bins on wheels? Apparently, they only sell them at here! Shopper's store brand, "Life", has some awesome new stuff as well...like their version of the Method brand I'm so fond of, but a lot cheaper. They have this yummy smelling dish soap that smells like freshly peeled oranges. Life also has a new brand of face products, that are like a fraction of the price of anything else on the shelf. Finally, they have what they call "European Soda", like flavoured sparkling water, in flavours like pomengranate and blood orange. Really, I could spend hours in there just browsing the shelves, though I did manage to leave with 3 bags full of stuff today. The highlight, I saved $10 by cashing in some of my Shopper's Optimum points (you collect them with every purchase). Anyway, just thought I would share....now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
today is sponsored by the colour green
We are using this colour swatch, from the Pantone Spring 2008 colour trends, as inspiration for today. We'll try and post a few different wedding elements that pay homage to this fab colour. Our first is about flowers...
courtesy of Martha. Keep checking back for more...
bridesmaid dress from Jenny Yoo.
invitations from East Six.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
what's a guest to wear?
This is usually my dilemma when I receive a wedding invitation. What am I going to wear? I could wear something that I already own, but chances are, I'm invited to this wedding with the same people that I always go to weddings with. One of the hazards of the tight knit Italian community we have going on here. I know that these people don't remember what I wore to the six weddings I attended last summer, but I do, and I'm not okay with that. If it's a wedding that I know no one, I will break out something I already own...I think I'll be able to do that for one of the weddings I have this summer, but for the other 3, I need something to wear. I feel I must also mention that where I live, you wear something different to the ceremony than you do to the wedding. This was new concept to me when I moved here (though, I'd really only ever been to like 2 weddings before that). I guess it's because the ceremonies usually take place around 1:30 and the reception isn't until 6, so you've got lots of time to go home and change. Is it like this where you live?
I have a few criteria that the dress has to have. #1) it has to be comfortable...I've worn enough uncomfortable dresses to know the true merits of a comfortable dress! #2) it has to be totally fab!! #3) it can't be too short, because when you sit down, everything rides up. #4) it still has to look fab after eating a 3 course meal, and not make me look like I just swallowed a beach ball. #5) it can't be so low cut that when you sit down, everything hangs out. I must emphasize that when buying a dress, sit down in it, it all seems fine when you are standing up. Such was the case with my favorite dress I wore last year (a pashmina wrap does wonders!). Finally #6) it must showcase the most important part of the outfit...the shoes! I really don't believe in spending a lot of money on the dress...you might only wear it once...but the shoes, you will wear again, so think about those! Here are a few that I'm loving, they are from Dillards. Oh yeah, I like shopping for dresses at department stores, tons of selection and sizes, and they are always on sale!
I LOVE this 'Maria' dress from Gianni Bini (I'm pretty sure this a brand only available at Dillards). It's got sleeves, alway a plus, not to short, and roomy enough for that 3 course meal, but not too much so that I look like I'm wearing a tent. Not to mention, it will look great with these shoes...
...and I just happen to own them, they are from Tory Burch. I swear, despite the height of the heel, they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn....seriously!
This Maggy London silk chiffon dress is also a great choice. I know, you're thinking that black is boring, but I beg to differ. Black really looks great on everyone, this is a forgiving silhouette, and you can wear any colour shoe! I like these...
They are from Nordstrom, and they are so fantastic!! They are the REPORT Signature 'Amelie' pump in the most gorgeous purple.
I'll be on the search for some more dresses for this summer, so I'll keep you posted. If you find something you think is amazing, send me the link...I'm open to suggestions!
Monday, February 11, 2008
speaking of Target
Did you know that Target sold wedding dresses!!! That Isaac Mizrahi, always thinking. So if you feel that spending $3000 on a wedding dress is not your thing, you can pick one up at Target fo $129. And why stop there...there are wedding veils, jewelery and bridesmaid dresses. All the bridesmaid dresses are under $50, so really, if they never wear it again, it's not a huge loss. 
What a great idea for a destination wedding. Less money on the dress, more money on the idyllic beach location! I'm pretty sure that the wedding dresses are available on-line only, but Target has a great return policy, so you have nothing to lose. If anyone has seen one of the dresses in person, please let me know, I'm interested to learn more!
tooting our own horn!
So I believe it's time for M and me to give ourselves props for our creativity. We are total suckers for packaging...if you can make it look cool, we'll buy it, we don't really care what's inside. This generally happens to us when we shop at Target...they have a lot of great brands with awesome packaging. Anyhow, I digress...back to our creativity. For Superbowl, M had an awesome party, and of course, packaged it all up to look way cool. She served food that included my two favourite ingredients of all time, cheese and potatoes...how can you go wrong?
M made her own "bits n' bites" mix and caramel corn
the table all set upThis past weekend Husband and I hosted a Sunday brunch for some of our friends...we've managed to work our way up to 16, too many for sit down meal at the dining room table, so it was eat wherever you could find some space. I packaged up some treats for everyone to take home (which made me realize that all our friends have Italian last names) and a little something for the kids.
cookie decorating kit for the kids
