I LOVE tv!

I'm sure if you like reality TV, then you already know that TLC has a new show all about weddings. Wedded to Perfection centers on Fete Events owner, Jung Lee and her husband Josh Brooks. Jung designs over the top weddings, but her dedication to detail can give even the most budget conscious bride lots of ideas. Plus, it's fun to live in a fantasy for an hour...and isn't that what reality TV is all about? You might remember Jung Lee from another wedding reality show, Who's Wedding Is It Anyway.

Tune in...you'll love it!

Some new wheels!

How AWESOME is this bicycle?! I'm totally into these type of bikes lately. On my Savannah vay-cay, I had the chance to ride my mom's way cool bike, but I think I might like this one much better. I could probably stick my nephews in the back and take them for a ride. They would think it was fab (though, that might be some type of "safety violation", as little G would say...). Check out this link to have a chance to win a free Madsen bike for yourself.

DIY Fabulous!

Can you believe that this is a DIY project?! The cider was hand pressed and the labels were made by the couple. And all of this for about $2.00 a bottle. What a fabulous favour for a wedding. Check out the post at 100 Layer Cake.

I'm a sucker...

Regardless of how much my dog would enjoy this food...I would totally buy this. The packaging is awesome. As we all know, I'm a total sucker for packaging. You could literally sell me garbage, just as long as the package looked nice!

p.s. I love the colour combos...sometimes you need to look in an unexpected place to find inspiration for your wedding!

:: from Dieline

Beautiful DIY

Check out the instructions for this WAY cute cakestand here.

:: image from Once Wed

AMAZING!

Please check out Kelly & Chris's wedding over at Style Me Pretty. I'm literally drooling....

link here, here, and here

uh...hold the phone!!

I think everyone in university probably had a papasan chair. They are probably the most comfortable chairs ever, but they have never been particularly attractive. Well, look what I found at Pier 1...an outdoor papasan chair! With cool cushions!! They have all kinds of colourful patterns, like stripes and florals, and the chair looks like wicker, but is actually plastic. To top it off, it's on sale...LOVE it! I am totally going to pick one up. Combined with one of their very nice outdoor carpets, I will have the perfect reading spot outside. And, BTW, Pier 1 has come a long way...no longer are they wicker furniture and Indian print fabrics...they had a lot of nice tableware, pictures and cushions. Definitely worth a stop!

Spring Flowers Wall Art

Motion Wall Art

Rethink the bouquet?

I just picked up the latest issue of Canadian Gardening yesterday. The hanging basket on the cover really caught my eye. I love the colours. I LOVE the fact that you don't have to water it very much even more! That's perfect for me, because though I'm very enthusiastic about gardening at the beginning of the season, a few weeks in I get kind of bored.

Wouldn't these colours be perfect for a wedding...and florals combined with succulents would be very elegant! So, I did a search on some pictures for inspiration, and here we go....

boutonniere from InStyle Weddings



succulents wedding favor from Martha Stewart



pretty purple centerpiece from Martha

I'm thinking a burlap table cloth, and maybe antique silver or antique gold accents. Here is a colour palette for some inspiration:

Cinco De Mayo

It's May 5th, and that means it's my sister-in-law's birthday, but it also means it's Cinco De Mayo! And seriously...is there anything better than a cold margarita and some guacamole?? I never used to think that I liked margaritas (you know, sometimes that tequila brings back bad memories), but then, on a trip to Arizona, I had the most amazing margarita at the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale. Now, we're not talking the frozen blender kind..we're talking on the rocks, and it was DEE-LISH! And wouldn't you know it...the Four Seasons also had the most amazing guacamole that they served with blue corn chips. Needless to say, for that one week, everyday at about 4pm, we noshed on guac and margaritas and it was the best time ever. Not that any of this has to do with Cinco De Mayo..but the day just got me thinking of the perfect cocktail hour!

Garnish me happy!

Throwing out some link love today.....

Garnish has wooden berry boxes in stock, and I'm thinking of the millions of ways I can use them! At 50 cents each, they are a steal. Check out this blog post for a really cute idea!

Shop Scad!

As I mentioned before, I just got back from a Savannah vay-cay. Besides going to the beach, I managed to get a lot of shopping in! Savannah has some great shops, with unique finds. One of my faves is the SCAD shop. This store is run by the Savannah College of Art and Design. It stocks the talented works of current SCAD students and alumni...and you can always find something amazing! This week, they launched a new and improve website...and you don't have to travel all the way to Savannah to pick something up.


I bought one of these puffy frames (dog not included!)...not sure what to do with it, but I know I'll find a place. It's from Working Class Studios.


I fell in love with this painting by Tiffani Taylor. My parents have a few of her paintings in their house, and they are SO gorgeous!


And I thought this was kind of cool too...though I'm not sure where I would put it. Jessica Knapp is the artist.

My perennial favorite store is Paris Market. I always find something there...often too much. And a new favorite is the Gray Horse in Sandfly...which is close to Skidaway Island and the Isle of Hope.

So be sure to take a look at Shop SCAD's new website...I know you will find some treasures of your own!

totally off topic....

Have you seen this commercial yet? I was dying...it's HIGHlarious!! This is the extended version, and has the words karaoke style. LOVE IT!

Spring Sales!

I'm embarrassed to even look at how long it has been since the last post! We have been busy with Avocado Kiss stationery projects, travel and life in general! M just got back from Las Vegas, and I just got back from a family vay-cay in beautiful Savannah. Oh how I miss the green grass. We are still stuck in a very dreary spring...I can't wait until I can see the lawn come to life, leaves on the trees and break out the convertible for the season!

Even though it's a bleak spring day here, there is still good things to be had. You see, every once and while, I check out Home Depot's website. You know, they sell WAAAAY more stuff online than they do in the store (in Canada, anyway). I got some nice topiary trees (fake...'cuz otherwise I'd kill them!), all my patio furniture, my dining room rug and all of the outdoor lighting. Well wouldn't you know it, when I checked today, they were having a sale. Check out these great pieces from Skyline Furniture.

slipper chair in "Esprit", on sale $263


upholstered ottoman, on sale for $287.20

The chairs and ottomans come in so many different patterns, I'm sure you'll find one to fit your style. They also had some great upholstered headboards, fun things for the kid's room and some really cute stools for the bathroom. The sale is on until May 6th....I'm beginning to feel that Spring fever already!!

moss

Ballerina Yarn Necklace with a silver chain and removable brooch

$18.00

SnipSnap on Etsy

Hydrangea Pomander

$45.00

Emily Wootton on Etsy

Moss Covered Monogram

(attached to a wooden letter design)

$30.00

SimpleSweetDesign on Etsy

Vintage Key Necklace

$49.00

BionicUnicorn on Etsy

I was doing a little reading on landscaping recently because I am thinking retroing (is that a word?) our yard. To be honest I am a perennial person simply because they require very minimal amount of work and if I can incorporate that ease into a beautiful looking yard and deck - all the better. One thing I found really interesting is that moss is a very eco-friendly alternative to planting grass because it holds more moisture opposed to blades that have a waxy finish. It is also easy to keep weed free and really requires barely any mowing...PERFECT!!!

It led me to do some research on Etsy (of course) and thought that glass dishes of moss for decoration or incorporating that element/colour into your wedding day would be so pretty. I found these pieces online...

Head of the Class!

I know, if you read blogs, you've already seen Ban.Do. Still, they are so pretty, I felt compelled to post a few of my faves here. And don't just think of them for the Bride...I'm seriously considering buying one to wear to a wedding I have in August. I just need to figure out the hair thing, but I digress. Here are a few lovelies!






:: images via Ban.Do

dress inspiration

I feeel like looking at fashion today.....here are some dresses that tickled my fancy today!

Valentino Sposa

Pattis

Carolina Herrera

Augusta Jones

::photos via The Knot

ciao bella

I was checking out this really great line of skincare and haircare products by Davines, an Italian company, that I first noticed in Real Simple's April issue.  I have to say that the first thing that inspired me to look into this company online was because of how it looks and we all know that C and I are big into packaging and labels.  This company provides about 10 different high end lines to indulge yourself with while maintaining their philosophy around being eco-friendly and sustainable.  They also are responsible for the Comfort Zone spa who have a really cool layout on their website.  It's definitely worth checking out.  These are some pictures of their products...

spring ahead!

I know it's supposed to be Spring, but it's actually snowing where I live today! I'm so eager to see green grass and some tulips. And, of course, Spring got me thinking about shoes, which lead to this post.


This bridal ensemble was inspired by these Christian Louboutin shoes. Coincidentally, they come in both heels and flats. So, whether you are having a a more formal wedding, or something at the beach, either pair would work. The dress is a simple design from J.Crew...so a fabulous necklace would compliment it perfectly. (Incidentally, I just came back from a Caribbean vacation and at the resort I was staying at, there were many weddings...if you can do it, totally the way to go!)


These amazing orange Jimmy Choos were the jumping off point for this rehearsal or shower outfit. The dress is metallic linen from J.Crew and the bracelet is something I found at Nordstrom.

Now, I know the shoes are crazy expensive, but if they are out of your price range, there are so many less expensive options out there. Think of these outfits as inspiration for your big day!

:: Louboutins via Neiman Marcus
:: Jimmy Choos and bracelet via Nordstrom
:: dresses via J.Crew

keep your head in the game!

I just came across Sara Gabriel's headpieces in the new InStyle Weddings issues. I love the photography, and her designs! She has everything from elaborate veils to the most simple hair pins. If you are still looking to complete your bridal ensemble, pay a visit to Sara's website for some inspiration.

Pretty

I was browsing through the J. Crew website and saw these two teal dresses.  I thought that they would be really pretty for a bridesmaid.  Typically going with the non-traditional, I find these completely perfect for this summer or for a tropical wedding.