99 days to go... eeep!

A few days ago my office mate was kind (?) enough to add a countdown to the calendar in our office. Just 99 days to go until Steve and I get married!
There are so so many things to plan for a wedding, and while we've finished the big things, it feels like we still have a gazillion things to do.
The more decisions I have to make, the more I just default to throwing the coolest party I can imagine.  I am excited about some of our choices so far. 

Our caterer will be Barque - a local smokehouse BBQ restaurant.   I mean...ribs!  

We booked Dallas Curow as our photographer. She has such a great eye for light and for capturing genuine moments.  I'm really excited to see what she captures from the big day.  

Isn't this gorgeous?

I sent out save the dates in November, which I designed and then made with custom stamps and blank coasters.  I have another DIY project planned with the coasters for the wedding itself, so stay tuned!

I half have my dress.  I bought the fabric for it when we were in Vancouver this past summer and am getting my neighbourhood seamstress to make a dress for me. 

We are going for a monochromatic blue colour scheme, so my lovely bridesmaids will be choosing short blue dresses.  I've been pinning all the blue dresses I can find :)

Invitations are at the top of my to do list for this weekend.  I'll be making them myself and need to design them stat! 

On that note - I should get to it! Talk soon!

A Mad Men Party - Finally!!

I can't believe it was the summer of 2007 when I first saw AMC's trailer for the upcoming Mad Men series.  One look at the costumes and set design and I was hooked.  About 3 minutes later I wanted to throw a Mad Men theme party.  Fast forward a while... I finally squeezed in a party on the night before the finale.

We also got a new couch a few months prior, and it fits the bill pretty perfectly. 

I had a lot of fun making the food for this party.  I have a small stash of vintage magazines, so I used recipes straight out of the 60's .  Change is a good thing - especially when it comes to avocado based dips.  No that is not guacamole! It is avocado and mayo and it was a sad waste of a delicious perfectly ripe avocado.  *sob

The deviled eggs, cheese ball and french onion soup dip were fairly classic.  But on the sweet side were these gems: pineapple rings surrounded by Jello, and ambrosia salad.  

Steve spent a solid chunk of time mixing drinks.  

We offered Tom Collins, the Blue Hawaiian, Old Fashioned and Mint Juleps.  

These fake ciggies were absolutely worth the effort.  They're the breadsticks that come in Handi-snack packs, dipped in white chocolate then red sprinkles and served in a thrifted ash tray complete with ash made from sugar crystals.  They were delicious and also added that extra element to everyone's photo poses, haha.

One of the things I love most about my friends is their willingness to participate.  Maybe my prize for best costume would have influenced things, but there were some great outfits.

It was a great night and I'm so happy! Better late than never!

Engaged!

I'm a little late with the news (waaay behind my Instagram) but on July 1 Steve and I celebrated our 7 year Anniversary and he proposed under the lights of the Torontk skyline.   His intention was to ask under the Canada Day fireworks but for some reason the Harbourfront fireworks were on "Canada's eve" in June.  Either way it was lovely and of course I said yes!

Now comes the big complicated but fun to do list.  And wedding crafts!!! 

I'm really excited to marry Steve and we are both looking forward to a personal, relaxed and small wedding.  

We have our date and our venue booked for the spring.  Check it out!

And it's in midtown Toronto a short walk from where we live. 💖

I can't wait to spend a weekend hanging out there! 

There are a thousand decisions to make and I am the queen of indecision, so it may take me a while to narrow things down.  Pinterest is not really helping...

But we're leaning toward a mid century modern BBQ in that Victorian mansion.  Haha.

What was your wedding like? Or what's the best thing about the best wedding you have ever been to? I can talk weddings all day right now.  😊

5 years ago.

5 years ago today Steve and I arrived in France for our biggest adventure yet. 

It was an incredible experience that I'd highly recommend to anyone.  

I miss the salty smell of the Mediterranean, the very mild winter, the friends we made and unending varieties of pastries, wine & cheese!

Here's hoping our future adventures only get even better - I'm pretty sure they will.