lovelee honeybee

A gallery wall

2014-04-06T17:43:00.001-04:00

I am the worst for letting things pile up. Laundry, dishes, paperwork, home projects, etc. Thankfully I've matured and now pay all my bills on time.

So, I am happy to say that we recently checked off our most recent home project from the list: creating a gallery wall in our den.

Over the past few years, Derek and I have been collecting pictures from the different cities we've visited together. And with the addition of a few gifts from family and friends we had the perfect amount to create our gallery.

But then I needed frames. And it seemed like a big investment to purchase 10+ frames. So I sat on the project for another year or so, when finally I mentioned shopping for frames to a friend of mine.

She said "FRAMES?! I've got frames for days!" And I went over to her house where she proceeded to pull out 2 large storage bins full of picture frames and I had my pick! I'm one lucky girl, I tell you.

With no more excuses, and renewed enthusiasm, I started out by framing all of my pictures in the various black frames. And then I played around to create some type of an arrangement that I liked.

I have never done a gallery wall, so I found the layout idea below the easiest to work with. Just create an imaginary horizontal line through the gallery of pictures and then hang the frames above and below the line. It still has that casual look, but with some symmetry.

I am super happy with the way it turned out, and I like how the arrangement will allow me to add more pieces as time goes on. I think some non-frame additions like a a gold W from Chapters would look awesome, for example.

As for tips and tricks on hanging pictures; I've got none.

Basically I measured how long the gallery of pictures would be and tried to leave the same distance open on each side. I tried to follow some instructions on hanging the frames, but they didn't work. There are at least 2 nail holes for every picture I hung.

My friend Lisa would cringe.

But it doesn't bother me. They are hidden. And if they're coming down it's because I'm painting and hanging something new. They can be fixed at that point.

If you are looking for tips, check these out. And if you're looking for gallery ideas check out a ton of templates and layout ideas here.

Here are some more detail shots for fun!

The painting is one Derek's uncle did year's ago. And the kissing orca whale picture was a gift from my sister.

Here's a map of Maui we picked up at a market while on our honeymoon.

Neither of us have our degrees framed, but my aunt and uncle, Marie-France and Jacques, gave me the personalized picture above which has different buildings from Acadia University and the details of my degree.

I'm so happy we finally completed this project. This is the wall that stares back at us every time we open the front door to our home, so the fact that it now has some colour and personality literally makes me giddy.

Going forward I think I would like to add a sleek floor lamp for reading and a cozy rug with a small ottoman or coffee table.

My whole30 experience

2014-03-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

If you work with me or ate a meal with me between January 6 and February 4, 2014 you will know that I participated in the whole30 challenge.

Maybe you've seen the term floating around the internet or discussed it with friends. I won't get into the details, but if you're interested, I encourage you to check it out here.

The gist of the whole30 is to eat healthy, natural food that comes from the earth. This includes any type of protein (ideally of the highest quality), tons of veggies and a good amount of fruit, nuts, seeds and oils to get some healthy fats....and basically that's it. Oh and coffee. I was allowed coffee. Thank god.

Now for what I wasn't allowed...sugar, any type of grain (even quinoa!), legumes, white potatoes, dairy, soy, alcohol or anything processed.

I was excited to begin the whole30, especially after the Christmas season. Those 5 weeks of celebrations and social gatherings really did me in. Also - last year I was wearing my wedding dress on NYE...that meant no stuffing, let alone seconds.

Come January, just felt off. My clothes were uncomfortable. I needed to get back to feeling like myself and I knew I wanted to do something more serious than just telling myself to eat healthier.

I began the whole30 January 6, which was the same week I began a 12-week kettlebell jam session with Jackie at the Fitness Fusion gym I go to. If I am working out I'm more likely to eat healthier and vice versa, so it just made sense.

What I called "the weekend before day #1" was a good one. I had to finish all that cheese, wine and chocolate leftover from celebrating our anniversary! I also did a lot of food prep - my number 1 piece of advice if you want to succeed.

Here are some of my favourite recipes:

mini frittata muffins - awesome for grab and go breakfasts or before/after workouts
Thai red curry chicken
stuffed peppers
I also loved making my own trail mix with coconut flakes, raisins, cashews and almonds

I recorded my journey in this pretty pink journal. I enjoy keeping journals to write down my goals, successes, failures and feelings. It's never been something I've done consistently, but I will say that I loved sitting down to write in my journal every morning or evening.

Throughout the 30 days I felt great because I was so in control, plus my food and exercise choices were making me feel so great. I usually sleep pretty well and have a good energy level, but on the whole30 it was even better.

I was rarely hungry - you can basically eat as much as you want. I tried my best to eat 3 meals a day plus a couple healthy snacks. I found this easier to accomplish weekdays when I was in my routine. I am all over the place weekends so my only rule was that when I did eat, it had to be whole30 compliant.

Also, I experienced zero PMS. Derek and I were thankful for that :)

Not every part of my whole30 experience was positive though. It was emotionally tough when I couldn't eat a piece of my bff's 30th birthday cake or ~~sip~~ gulp a celebratory glass of champers. I usually love eating out at restaurants, but it can be pretty boring when the choices are so slim. It got boring. But on the flip side I was forced to spend more time in the kitchen and came up with some great new recipes. Speaking of the kitchen, we became close. There's a lot of food prep and cooking involved - it's required if you want to succeed. Unless you're Oprah and have a personal chef.

We don't have a scale, so I didn't weigh myself. I didn't take measurements out of laziness, but I did snap before and after photos. I was inspired to do this by Jessica at What I Wore. Although numbers have an impact, there's nothing like a good before and after.

Although I didn't take measurements of any kind throughout the 30 days, I knew I was progressing just by the way I felt at the gym and the way my clothes fit.

Side note: it's way more fun getting dressed in the morning when you are comfortable in your clothing and are pumped about your outfit. Another fact: the whole30 may result in my clothing shopping.

Now for what I'll call "the month after day #30". The plan was to reintegrate the foods I had been restricting one at a time, recording any side effects and generally just being aware of what I was eating and how it made me feel. Well things didn't really go according to plan. My first meal included wine, pasta and chocolate. Oops!

I had made some good habits that I wanted to keep too: packing my lunch every day, drinking more water, portion control, no late night eating, always eating an energy packed breakfast. Although some stuck, others didn't.

So after 30 days "off" I'm hopping back on the whole30 train for another go. I think the timing is perfect because it will bring me to the end of my kettlebell jam session. I'm also running the 1/2 marathon at the end of May, so dropping a few LBs isn't a bad idea either - the lighter you are the easier it is to run.

I'm heading into the "weekend before day #1" and I'm pretty excited. I've already savoured some red wine and ben & jerry's. Sunday is dedicated to food prep, so I've been having fun researching recipes. I've also been announcing my plans to my colleagues, friends and family over the past week. I find it's as important to get other people as emotionally psyched as yourself!

So wish me luck and stay tuned for a spring edition of my progress/success!

Speaking of spring...we have to keep in mind that it doesn't officially arrive until March 20th. So in the mean time I guess we can look forward to more of this.

that's our St.Patrick's day garland, btw

Have a great weekend everyone!
xo

Winter wonderland

2013-11-27T22:45:00.002-05:00

If you live anywhere near Ottawa you've no doubt seen the winter wonderland pictures on facebook, twitter and instagram. Along with the appropriate #hashtags obviously. #snowday!

Here's what I woke up to this morning.

Personally; I love the snow. I've been getting excited for Christmas over the last couple weeks, so this is just the ~~cherry on my ice cream~~ whipped cream on my hot chocolate.

I do realize that our weather poses some challenges and can be annoying, not to mention dangerous. However, I also fully embrace the fact that I live in Ottawa, and this is my reality. I love the changing seasons, especially the first snowfall.

There is something so magical about being surrounded by white, fluffy snow. It quiets city sounds, forces us to move a little slower, and also makes for a great playground!

There is also nothing more romantic than being in a cozy restaurant with your lover, while big fluffy snowflakes fall outside the window.

I may be biased, but I don't think this moment would have been as romantic without the snow!

Ok, enough with the sappiness. Even though you know I love it. Let's chat about winter, the activities I love, and how the 4+ months of snowy weather can actually be fun and enjoyable. Not to mention magical and romantic. #Obviously.

One of my favourite aspects of winter is that I get to revisit some of the restaurants I've been ignoring during the warmer months. I'm all about ambiance and some places are just better certain times of year. Prime example: the New Edinburgh Pub, our neighborhood watering hole. Amazing roof top patio with great views for summer time. But I try to avoid its so/so indoor dining room in the winter.

A couple of our favourite winter spots include:

Chez Lucien. This is the perfect French pub for a rainy afternoon bowl of soup, or any meal during the winter. It's dark and cozy with lots of wood decor.

Ahora. The obnoxiously bright decor in this Mexican restaurant is enough to warm you up. But the margaritas and delicious food is even better.

Of course winter time is also the perfect time to eat-in while sharing the perfect bottle of red wine...with your lover. #Obviously.

As for outdoor activities, the list is never ending, but my all time favourite is skating on the canal. For one, it's FREE! And free things are the best things. Secondly, it's an excellent way to get fresh air and exercise when were spending so much time inside.

Skating parties are the best birthday parties!

Since Derek and I both have offices downtown, we often go skating right after work which is super convenient. Stopping for a well-deserved bite to eat and drink at one of the restaurants mentioned above makes for a perfect winter evening in my books!

We are also really close to the Gatineau Park, which is full of trails that are open for snowshoeing, hiking, cross country and downhill skiing in the winter. I will admit, we've never done anything except enjoy a couple evenings of night skiing at Fortune. It's less convenient, plus the activities are either more expensive or require equipment we don't own.

That's not to say I don't have ambitions to get up there every year. This year I would love to try cross country skiing.

And if the weather is just a little too harsh, or you've had enough fresh air all summer, inside is fun too! Beware though - cabin fever does exist and will come out of nowhere. To avoid this, try changing up your scenery while still keeping toasty and dry. Here are some options:

Visit the library or Chapters in search of a new good read then hit up your favourite coffee shop once you've found it!
Take in a museum or art gallery.
Go bowling! This may sound lame, but Derek and I went bowling together last week and had a blast. We spent an hour playing a couple games with a pitcher of beer - perfect winter indoor activity.
Learn something new. Check out the small businesses in your neighborhood - they may just offer more than you know. Wabi Sabi, a fabulous yarn shop in Hintonburg, offers many courses on knitting, sewing, felting and more!
Plan a trip. There's nothing more exciting than planning a trip. Derek and I spend hours researching and planning many trips, almost all of which aren't realistic. It's still fun to dream. But it's even more fun if you're counting down the days!
Treat yourself at the nordik spa. This is something that everyone must do once in their life. It's amazing and wonderful and I can't say enough good things. Just go and experience it for yourself. It's open year round, but the winter is a very unique experience.
Plan a party and invite your friends over. It's better to suffer the cold together, right? Choose some delicious cocktail recipes and get tipsy.

So there are a few of my suggestions. If all else fails, turn up the Bob Marley and dream of summer. Time goes by so fast these days that it's basically right around the corner.

Tell me - how do you spend your winter months? Hibernating by the fire, or braving the elements? Let me know!

Kitchen organizing or "I wonder what's behind the ketchup?"

2013-11-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

The other night I had my girlfriend over for a sleepover (true fact: I love sleepovers.) At one point during the evening, it dawned on me that I needed to share my newly organized laundry closet. I was so proud of the clean-up I had done a few weeks ago.

Let's just say she wasn't as excited as I was. For one, the closet isn't much to write home about, as you can see here:

I tried to explain how bad it had been (and it was bad), but she said that she figured it had always been organized. She never would have thought differently.

I guess that's the beauty of closed doors. Even though I know the disaster that lays behind them, my guests have no clue.

I've been slowly gaining motivation to organize different areas in our home. Most recently I tackled 2 of our kitchen cupboards.

Here is what I started with:

Let's get a little closer shall we...

And we can't forget the upper cabinet.

So these 2 cupboards basically make up my pantry. I just got used to pulling out the few items that were in the front, and then balancing them on top of the mess when I put them away. I had no idea what was even in the backs of my cupboards. So bad. Makes me cringe.

First step to organizing...make another mess!

I tried to sort food as I removed it from the cupboards. My main piles were breakfast food, snacks, canned/bottled food, baking items and carbs (quinoa/rice/pasta/beans).

During this process I realized I had doubles of several types of food - both of which were opened. Food I didn't even know I had. This is the cycle that unorganized cupboards cause. You end up buying things you already have thus creating more clutter. You also waste money.

Since my "pantry" isn't very user friendly I tried to add some functionality to the space, and the first group of food I tackled was the baking items. Who knew I had all these baking ingredients? I didn't! Maybe I'll actually try baking something now...

I had this cute little striped canvas basket that was actually storing Derek's CDs. I think the CDs are at least 10 years old and we need to host a throw back party. DJ Derek can provide the jams.

I was able to coral all my baking supplies here, keeping them together - perfect!

Next step...get all those carbs together. The carbs that will be feeding us through to the spring I might add.

The cupboards are pretty deep (which is nice!) However it makes it difficult to get to the items in the back. Enter this cute wooden crate my mom bought me.

I even lined it with some pretty napkins I had on hand.

I stuffed all that food in there so that it's easy to just pull it out from the back.

For the upper cabinets I just tried my best to just keep like items together.

I had an extra tin which I used to store things like chia seeds, flax seeds, nuts, and oatmeal which I use to make my new favourite breakfast: overnight oats.

In the end, it was pretty great because I actually gained (almost) one whole empty shelf!

My baking supplies along with a basket of tea towels and dish cloths are stored on the microwave cart right beside the kitchen.

*side note: I've since tossed the dirty flower water and actually changed the Christmas art that has been hanging since December, 2012.*

This whole process took about an hour and a half and I'm so happy I finally took the time to do it. It also felt as though I was going shopping in my own kitchen. I honestly had no idea I had all this food. I'm hoping the systems I've put in place are easy to maintain and that my cupboards continue looking this way.

Next up...the front hallway closet. Which isn't actually too bad, and has some good storage and organization systems going on, but just needs a refresher.

And because who doesn't want to look at beautifully designed and organized spaces, here's some inspiration I have for some areas of our home.

I love the shelving and lighting this closet offers. The shelves are pretty bare, but some baskets and clear containers are all I would need to organize our laundry closet.

This type of industrial shelving would work well as an alternative to customized wooden built-ins which are what I'm really dreaming of for the laundry closet.

Using the door (and vertical space) is always such a great idea. I've never done anything like this. I'm always worried about the caddie not being secured properly and having it bang around. I also love the idea of painting (or wallpapering) the inside of the door.

What are your organizing tips? I'm always looking for great storage solutions for small spaces!

A special day

2013-08-27T19:26:00.000-04:00

I wanted to write a blog post today because today is a special day; my birthday!

First of all, let me say that I had a fabulous weekend celebrating. Friends and family made it out to a picnic in the park hosted by my lovely husband (I helped with details of course!) The weather was beautiful, guests brought delicious food to share, we played games, drank mason jar mojitos and just had a great time.

My friends and family spoiled me with lovely gifts, and I was so touched to receive little items donned with honeybees!

I got adorable honeybee thumbtacks...a honeybee mug....honeybee measuring spoons and even a hive soap dispenser.

It seems as though the honeybee has really become my signature logo!

Over the last few months, while this blog has been steadily collecting dust, although never completely forgotten, my friends and family have been asking me when I'll be writing again. I just smile and say I have lots of ideas and not a lot of time. Which is true (I have SO many ideas!) but we all know about those hours during the week spent on facebook, pinterest or watching tv that could be converted into doing something more productive.

So, because it's my birthday, which also happens to mark the beginning of the last year in my twenties, and the fact that I love making fresh starts this time of year (must be the back to school feeling), I've decided to prioritize blogging once again.

It's something I love doing, but I realize it's also something my friends and family really enjoy too!

I've obviously got a whole list of priorities for my last year as a twenty-something-year-old that I plan on sharing, so stay tuned!

In the mean time, I'm off to enjoy this lovely Tuesday evening with the man of my dreams (who even sent me flowers to work today!)

Wedding invitations and registries

2013-05-15T15:35:00.000-04:00

Do you remember when we discussed the evolution of wedding invitations?

After reading through your comments, and discussing the idea with friends and family, we decided that the wedding website route was perfect for us.

And here's why:

1) Everyone we were inviting to the wedding used email (even Derek's grandmother is on facebook);
2) I had some extra information I wanted to provide about our wedding events, and to do it all via paper invites would have been bulky/expensive;
3) I love blogging, and for me, putting together the website was like working on a second blog!

Since I agree with the fact that it's fun to receive something other than a bill or flyer in the mail we did send postcard style save the dates to our wedding guests. We used one of our favourite engagement shoot photos and purchased them save the dates through an Etsy vendor, Wedding Paper Genie for about $100 plus the postage.

We were very happy with how they turned out. The message was simple and to the point. I think having the calendar on the back helped remind people that our wedding would take place on a Monday night, which was a detail people tended not to think about.

Although it may not have been extremely obvious, we included our wedding website at the bottom, indicating that it was where you could find the "formal" invitation. Most people got it.

Feel free to check out our website. I am really happy with the way it turned out. It was super fun to put our "love story" into writing, and share some details about our friends and family members in the wedding party. I even slightly hinted to guests about a dress code. And like I said before, everyone looked smashing!

You can also visit the honeyfund registry we put together which was our gift registry towards the honeymoon. I think everyone enjoyed looking through the items to see where we were staying and things we were planning on doing in Hawaii. I especially liked that I could include links so that when guests clicked on the item they were re-directed to the actual hotel/restaurant/snorkel rental website.

As for my feedback on wedding.com; I found it very user friendly. I was able to track the RSVPs easily and send follow-up emails through the website. I received positive comments from our wedding guests and only had to follow-up on a few RSVPs, which I hear is normal anyways.

I was happy we skipped the formal paper invites and thankful we decided to send the postcard save the dates so that people had something to hold on to as a "keep sake".

We also had really great success with honeyfund.com. Although it wasn't free, like our wedding website, since we paid the $40 to upgrade our site with pretty pictures, it was still worth it.

I would highly recommend both sites to anyone interested in putting together a wedding website or setting-up a honeymoon registry.

So what are your thoughts on wedding invitations? Do you prefer the more traditional invitation or are you getting on board with the online trend?

Wedding details - hotel guest welcome bags

2013-04-25T16:20:00.002-04:00

I knew that I wanted to do a little something special for our wedding guests who had booked rooms at The Arc for the night. Just a little "thanks!" for making such an effort to celebrate with us!

A hotel "welcome bag" seemed like the perfect idea, and The Arc was great and agreed to hand out a bag to each guest as they checked in.

I purchased the bags from Pritchard Packaging, the same place we got our coffee bags, and picked up 50 for 49 cents each!

As for what I included in each bag:

-a couple "Christmas" oranges

-chocolate covered blueberries/cranberries

-biscotti

-mixed nuts

-chocolate liqeur

-an itinerary for the night and a little thank you note

*other items I considered/wanted to include were: individual packages of Advil/Tylenol, a water bottle, mini bottles of booze and a can of pop to make a cocktail....

My mom found the cute "Happily Ever After" ribbon and couldn't help herself.

This is also one of those projects in which I enlisted the help of my MOH, Ashley (thanks for sharing your Costco card and setting up such a great assembly line!), and my brother and sister who put the finishing touches on the bags by adding tissue and ribbons.

I apologize for the creased bags. These are photos of our leftover bags which have been crumpled in my closet until only recently. Thank goodness the Christmas oranges only turned rock hard instead of stinky and moldy. (which explains why they didn't make the photo)

As for our little thank-you note, it read something like this:

Thank you so much for joining us on our wedding night to celebrate!

Please make yourself at home, enjoy a little snack and prepare yourself for the night ahead!

We can't wait to see you at the wedding,

Love Meaghan & Derek

I also included the itinerary for the evening along with details on the New Year's Day Brunch.

This was a very small detail that didn't require too much prep, organization or money. I probably spent about $100 on packing 30 bags. And even though people may not have eaten all the snacks, I would be a happy lady to know that one person devoured the chocolate when they returned to their hotel room that night (early morning), or rolled over and grabbed the orange to quench their thirst on New Year's Day.

I always notice those seemingly little things that people do to make me feel comfortable and welcome when I am a visitor. And in the end I just wanted to provide one more little thank you to our guests, who really made our wedding night so memorable and fun!

Dining (and kitchen and living room) lighting

2013-04-17T16:46:00.003-04:00

The title of my post implies that when we add something to the "dining room" it's actually also in the kitchen and living room.

This is one of the major bonuses of decorating a small space, in my opinion!

I may or may not have mentioned that our dining area is equipped with a light socket, and after months of saving up our ZONE gift cards (thank you friends and family for the birthday, house warming and wedding gifts!) we had enough to purchase a ceiling light!

Originally I was really excited about this guy:

And after receiving approval from friends and colleagues that it was the right choice it was time to introduce Derek to the amethyst pendant. He really liked it, but also wanted to look around for himself, which is when he stumbled upon this guy:

Even though it was not my first choice, I really liked it (not to mention it's fun when Derek gets involved with decorating). What I liked even better was the fact that it was 40% off, which meant we would have leftover gift cards that we could potentially put towards these amazing stools.

Meet Bill:

I love the white leather/wood combo and the chrome base. The best part is that you can adjust their height, which I think is super convenient for different counter/table heights and personal preference.

Before making the lighting purchase I wanted to make sure it was the right size. I knew there was information out there regarding what size your dining light should be based on the size of the room and table and after a little research here I learned that:

A dining light should be no wider than the width of the table minus 12 inches (this is a general calculation for all table sizes FYI).
Although the dining light is a great focal point, you don't want an overbearing fixture over your table.

The dimensions of our table are 63 X 35.5 inches and the light is 20 X 20 inches. I am just 3.5 inches away from going over the size limit based on the general calculation rule, and definitely don't think it will be overbearing. Success!

I was quick to pop into ZONE a couple days later and placed my order for our new light.

Derek and I have never installed a light before (a reason we're probably still alive) and we would also like to install a dimmer switch. I think the plan is to invite over some handier friends who have this experience and offer them a nice dinner with wine in exchange for their skills and maybe a tutorial for the next time (read: our bedroom ceiling light). I will let you know how the lighting installation goes!

As for those stools; they are next on our home purchase list. But at $165 a pop X 2 we will need to save a few more pennies.

It felt great to knock off a purchase from the list I put together all about showing our home some love (especially since I got to use gift cards!) I'm looking forward to moving forward with a few more projects and updates, especially now that the weather is getting warmer and I can move out to the balcony do get stuff done (not to mention set it up for outdoor use which will be a project in itself!)

Even though I spend less time indoors during the summer, this weather is inspiring me for home decorating. Is it just me or is this fresh air energizing?!

Wedding wear

2013-04-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

Wedding attire was a huge deal for me when planning the wedding. I loved researching the trends, colour pallets and styles. Once we decided on our New Year's Eve date and confirmed our venue, I knew that a combination of metallic tones and formal holiday style would be perfect.

With 5 bridesmaids, living in cities near and far, I decided that having the girls choose their own dresses would be best. I gave them creative reign with a few specifics to work with:

cocktail length
any metallic tone (gold, silver, bronze...) or a festive holiday colour

I wanted the girls look like they were dressed for a festive, New Year's Eve, cocktail party. I also wanted a combination of colours, so basically first come, first served with colour/tone selection. All of my bridesmaids are beautiful women who each have their own unique and personalized style. They always look gorgeous and I had no doubt they would look their best the day of their wedding.

And what is one of the most important aspects to looking good? Feeling comfortable in what you are wearing, I say. It made me happy that everyone wore a dress she loved and felt amazing in.

The end result, and the process of dress buying, went very smoothly. Lisa decided to wear black dress she already owned and splurge on shoes instead. Ashley and Jenny scored amazing consignment store deals, and Danielle and Sacha went the classic department store route, finding their dresses at The Bay and Nordstrom.

Check them out in order from left to right: Sacha, Jenny, Lisa, Danielle and Ashley.

It was a perfect combination. And I love that Ashley's stood out with the brightest colour as Maid of Honour.

Aren't they amazing!? Eeeek! It makes me excited just looking at these pictures!

And here are the girls....such beauties.

A little shoe shot.

All the dresses complimented each other and matched with mine perfectly.

I love how our matching red lips and classic hairstyles pulled all of our looks together.

The boys and Derek looked smashing. We decided to go with black suits (everyone just wore their own) and as a gift we purchased a tie for each groomsmen to wear at the wedding. We provided their last names to my dad's kilt maker, and she got back to us with all their family tartans, so they each wore a unique tie which added to to Scottish theme. I also think combining tartans is so Christmas-y!

We also included a little bit of Derek's personality and his obsession with socks...or maybe it's my obsession since I'm the one buying them.... Each of the groomsmen wore some funky Moxy Maus socks that we purchased from Stroked Ego, a favourite men's store of mine.

Derek looked great in his three-piece suit from Indochino which we ordered online for a great price.

And here's everyone together now!

Our families fit right in with their sparkle and tartan. They all looked fabulous!

Derek and I spent some time downtown and on Parliament Hill for about an hour before the wedding. It was one of my favourite times of the whole day. We were giddy with excitement, and I definitely had butterflies knowing that we would be officially married in a couple hours.

It was busy downtown - a Monday during rush hour - everyone leaving work and the tourists visiting the Parliament Buildings were congratulating us and wishing us well. It was a really surreal experience and just such a happy moment. I loved that Derek and I were able to share this time together, just the two of us, during our busy day. This is one of the main reasons I am fully on board with the First Look.

As for our outdoor outfits, I switched from my Kate Spades into my Sorrels and added a faux-fur stole (rented for $40 from Rag Time, a vintage clothing store in Ottawa) with long leather gloves. So fun!

I am very happy with how all of the wedding ensembles turned out. Everyone looked great, and the clothing really fit the party. I may be biased and still have honeymoon coloured glasses, but I think we all look very classic and timeless.

Here's hoping I don't cringe in 20 years when showing our children our wedding photos!

*all photos are courtesy of amazing photographers, Steph and Neil from Stem Photography.

Special touches and DIY details

2013-04-02T20:15:00.000-04:00

I had so much fun brainstorming and coming up with all the little details for our special day. I wanted to make sure all the elements were personal; really allowing mine and Derek's personalities to show. I also wanted to keep things as simple as possible, without breaking the bank.

Here are my top 3 tips regarding wedding details:

Tip #1 Keeping the small details to a minimum creates more of an impact. You don’t want a million little things everywhere, or else people won’t really take-in anything.

Tip #2 If you would like to add personal details to your wedding day either through signage, decorations, signature cocktails, programs, etc, whatever you do – get a head start on the projects. There is so much going on during that last month before the wedding and you don't want your projects to lose priority when things get hectic.

Tip #3 Don’t be afraid to enlist friends, family and your bridal party to help! If you have an A-type personality and are controlling by nature, you may need to let go a little bit, or else things could be very overwhelming. I understand that this can be difficult if you have a very specific vision in mind. Either give very detailed instructions or find someone who is an even bigger perfectionist than you are! You will rest assured the job will be done right!

Here are just a few of my favourite elements of our wedding and the DIY projects I included:

A welcome sign for guests to see as they walked into the wedding venue. We decided against programs, but I really wanted to highlight our wedding party and family members names, as well as welcome our guests to our big night! I found a cheap piece of framed art at a thrift shop and then just painted over the glass with black paint. I used a chalkboard marker to write my message so that I didn't have to worry about the chalk rubbing off during transportation. I love how it turned out!
Signature drinks which were served during the cocktail hour before the wedding. Derek and I each worked with a bartender from The ARC to come up with a Bride's drink and a Groom's drink.
Cute chalkboard signs around the rooms. I used the same technique as the welcome sign on faux-silver platters that Ashley and I found in thrift shops around town. It was just a nice way to provide instructions and information to our guests.

We needed to include some details that paid homage to the date of our New Year's Eve wedding. I displayed a few clocks around the coffee and at 11:30PM hats and noise makers were "served" on trays to our guests.
Card Box and Guest Book. These weren't details I stressed over too much, however I'm super happy with how they both turned out! I purchased our card box at the Great Glebe Garage Sale last spring (and wrote about it here), and then all I did was create some bunting with red felt, twine and press on letters. So easy!

I used our engagement photos to make a guest book through Blacks'. And I even used our engagement photo props as extra décor which was super cute and brought our photos to life.
Coffee Wedding Favours. Derek and I are both coffee lovers. Who isn't, really?! We are lucky that my mom is an devoted supporter of local vendors at the Metcalfe Farmer's Market and she has introduced us to Poppa Bean Coffee. Poppa Bean is a small business owned and operated a lovely couple, Sarah and Paul. I knew their coffee would make the perfect favour for event. We purchased a bulk order and packaged it ourselves using bags from Pritchard Packaging and I purchased the labels from Etsy.

The label read: The Perfect Blend and included our names and wedding date. Guests chose from a dark, medium or decaf roast of coffee.
Personalized vows. This was always very important to me and thankfully Derek was on board with the challenge. It was amazing to share our truest feelings with each other out loud, in front our friends and family. I believe our vows, and ceremony in general, really personalized our wedding, while adding romance as well as some humour too!
A dessert table. I love the look of styled dessert tables, and since there wouldn't be much décor, I thought it could also work as the centrepiece in the room. The lovely Melissa from the flour shoppe set-up our sweets the day of the wedding and it looked amazing. I created tags simply by writing the names of the desserts on white card stock and sticking them in sparkly pine cones which I actually already had as Christmas tree ornaments.

Melissa even plated some of my mom's homemade butter tarts, which are a family favourite! I actually posted the recipe here when I made them for a Christmas dessert exchange.

It was fun to have easy to grab desserts like mini cupcakes, cookies, and pretzels, which gave our guests the energy they needed to dance all night (and they did!)
A bag piper. A must! Our piper, a high school student who lives in my parents' neighbourhood, was amazing! The ARC restaurant isn't very large, so the pipes were loud! It was awesome!

When I start writing all the details down like that it seems a little overwhelming. Please know that I was not the only person responsible for organizing details - I had so much help from our friends, wedding party and families. It wouldn't have been possible without their help.

And although I took care of creating the decorations and little details, Derek was in charge of transportation and execution the day of the wedding. I left everything in his trusty hands (with detailed instructions) and he made sure everything was where it was supposed to be, all the while I was enjoying my wedding morning at my parents' house with the ladies. It was great not to have to worry about anything the morning of the wedding.

Derek and I are both very happy with the way everything turned out. And even though there were a few glitches on the way (like a venue change mid-planning phase) and at the last minute being told the bridesmaids couldn't walk down the aisle with sparklers like we had originally planned, it didn't matter in the end.

The end result was an intimate, upbeat and happy celebration. I think the special touches we added really represented our families, personalities and our relationship, which was my main objective.

Pinterest challenge complete!

2013-03-05T18:46:00.000-05:00

First of all, I apologize that I am one day late posting my project. To be honest, the project was complete on time, but the uploading of the images/writing of this post just didn't seem to happen. Ooops!

So, as you know, I was in love with beautifully styled medicine cabinets and pinned a few as eye candy. I took it as a sign when Sherry and Katie announced the winter edition of the Pinterest Challenge to get my butt in gear and beautify my own medicine cabinet.

And so I did! And it was so easy! And cheap!

Here is what I was working with. Our teeeeeny tiny bathroom with zero counter space, but thankfully a handy built-in medicine cabinet.

As you can see, the contents of this cabinet are not pretty, organized, bright, happy, inspiring or anything really! It could only get better from here.

My game plan was to ensure we only had things in our medicine cabinet that were used on a daily basis. And of course, I tried to make sure things looked good.

As I got going, I didn't feel right ignoring under the sink. Which was actually in way worse shape.

All I can say is Yikes! We basically packed up our bathroom supplies in that bin when we moved and then just shoved it under the sink to be ignored.

I got started by pulling everything out and organizing things into groups.

I purged duplicate items, almost empty bottles, and expired drugs. I had so many hair products that I NEVER use.

Now before I started this project I did take a trip to Dollarama and made some great purchases, all for under $15.

Before hitting up Dollarama at Train Yard's, I stopped into the Solutions store which is basically an organizer's heaven. They were selling drawer dividers like the ones above starting at $8. I couldn't believe it. So I left, saddened, but then walked into Dollarama which is right next door and found basically the exact same things for 99% less. Craziness.

Oh, and I made some labels too.

In the back of our cabinet I organized a first aid kit, my "feminine hygiene products" (ps - isn't that the worst term? Let's just say it, they are TAMPONS!) There is also a little basket for Derek's year-long supply of contact lenses and glasses cases.

The green bag in the back contains our summer essentials (sunscreens and bug spray). But what I'm really excited about is the HIS and HERS baskets. It is so much easier to stay organized!

In the middle goes all those extras (soap, creams, bubble bath, hair products) - basically another, larger, HERS basket.

Eventually I would like to incorporate a shelving system, but for now this is a HUGE improvement!

I realize I've gotten off track with the under the sink madness, but I just wanted to save the best for last! So after organizing everything and sticking labels on obvious containers I was ready to beautify the medicine cabinet.

I went to Michael's and purchased 4 sheets of scrap booking paper and some sticky tack. Then I simply tacked it up against the back of the cabinet. I didn't even use a ruler, take down the shelves or measure a thing. And it took less than 10 minutes.

Tada! I think it may have been beginner's luck. But I'll take it!

I'm not going to lie. When I was finished putting up the paper I squealed with delight and stared at it for a good 5 minutes.

Then came to returning our items to their home.

I must say, I'm super happy with the final result, and absolutely LOVE the paper I chose! I am hoping to move forward with the rest of the bathroom design with that colour/pattern in mind.

Just in case we didn't know where to put our teeth care products back, I thought a label would help. Half of me thinks labels are hilarious and unnecessary and the other half is obsessed.

There you have it! My Pinterest challenge complete, and something to cross off our list of showing our home some love! Feels good!

Did any of you participate in the Pinterest Challenge? If so, what did you do? And what about your bathroom storage situations? Our's was pretty bad, but I find having pretty containers and labels motivates me to keep things organized. Not to say that I don't get lazy, but I think the key is to make sure your organization systems are user friendly and to not be afraid to change them up as you grow and change.

Now onto the next area of our home. I am hoping it's the light above our dining table. And I will be looking to you for advice!

Showing our bathroom some love

2013-02-24T15:19:00.000-05:00

As mentioned in my last post, my first goal in a series I will dub "Showing our home some love" will involve organizing our little bathroom.

And what better way to get motivated than by a Pinterest Challenge!

I've definitely pinned some beautifully organized bathroom spaces and prettied-up medicine cabinets. So now is the time to stop starring at those pins and start moving my butt.

BTW, this challenge has been organized by Sherry from Young House Love and Katie from Bower Power. You can watch the cutest video ever of their little ones announcing this year's winter edition right here.

Here are some photos I'm using as inspiration. Wouldn't it be amazing to be greeted with a bright, fresh and organized cabinet every morning when you go to grab your tooth brush?

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So with those inspiration photos in mind, I'm all set to accomplish phase-1 of showing our bathroom some love: organizing and styling our medicine cabinet. I may also get down under the sink as well.

I plan to be back here next Monday, March 4th to give you an update. Hopefully I will have beautiful before and after photos to share!

Wish me luck!

Showing our home some love

2013-02-15T09:45:00.002-05:00

The title of this post was inspired by non other than Young House Love's book that my sister gave me for Christmas.

Now that our wedding is a lovely memory I day dream about almost daily (totally true), I am excited about putting some of our extra time and money towards other areas of our life. Yes, Derek, don't worry - that includes saving and paying off debt if you are reading...

If it was up to me I would put all of our disposable time and income towards decorating our condo. I’m pretty obsessed with moving things forward, but just can’t seem to find the time or energy. Well and the obvious big kicker, the budget. Anyone with me?

The money part is not going to stop me from getting started on my plans though, since there are a lot of things I think we can do for little money or even free! (i.e. organize the closet, purge clothing, hang art work we already own...)

One of the reasons I love my blog is that I can treat it like a diary and write down my plans and goals. And they say that if you write things down you are more likely to accomplish them. They also say that sharing your goals with others is a good way to put the pressure on.

Bonus: creating a list means you get to cross things off! Crossing things off a list is like my favourite thing in the world. Sometimes I write lists of things I’ve already completed just so that I can cross them off. I knnow that is sort of cheating, but whatever. Makes my heart sing.

So here it is, a breakdown down of what I would to love to accomplish in each room of the condo. The list is long and will probably evolve over time, but at least I will have put the first draft out there. I've also included an estimated budget for each item. I have no idea if this is accurate, but it will at least give us something to work from.

I've also included some inspiration photos so you can see where my head's at!

Bedroom

I am very happy with the bedroom furniture that we have (it’s the pieces we are missing that bothers me). I have a vision for this room that includes moody gray walls, with purple and dark wooden accents.

Walls: choose paint colour and decide whether or not to do an accent wall behind the bed (I’m thinking stencil, wall paper, or grass cloth). ($250 for supplies if we paint ourselves)

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Clothing storage: we need to organize our closet, purge items and purchase a dresser for the room. This may be a top priority, as I’m starting to go bananas from our disorganization. I’m thinking something tall and slim for the corner of the room where our mirror currently leans. ($300)
Lighting: we have a ceiling outlet without a fixture. I would love to find something soft and romantic with a dimmer, mostly for mood lighting. I am totally in love with capiz chandeliers. ($100)

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Artwork: there is nothing on our walls. I would love to have a few of our wedding photos blown up for above the bed and then go from there. ($150)

Total budget: $800

Bathroom

Firstly, the bathroom is pretty tiny and there is no counter space. Any impact that is going to made must come from the wall colour or shower curtain – there is hardly room for artwork or accessories!

We need a new, longer shower curtain that doesn’t make our shower look like it’s wearing Steve Urkel pants. ($30)
I don’t like the placement of the towel bar which is above the toilet and would like to remove it. I think we can hang a few hooks behind the door as a replacement. ($15)

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Under the sink: well this is kind of a disaster. I need to figure out an inexpensive way to organize our toiletries. ($20)

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Medicine Cabinet: I love that we have a built in medicine cabinet and I am totally inspired by these photos. I want to make it pretty, colourful and organized in there so that it puts a smile on my face every time I open the door. ($15)

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Colour: because I’m not ready to paint yet, I’m going to try and add some colour through hand towels and maybe some art. ($40)

Total budget: $120

Kitchen

I’m pretty happy with how the kitchen functions. With our book case on the opposite wall I feel as though we have ample storage. We do however have extra items that are never used and take up precious space. This calls for a de-clutter.

Stools: we would love to have some stools for our island; we just need to find the time to hunt for them! ($200)
Accent Wall: I would love to do something with our little wall at the end of the island. Chalkboard paint, a bold colour, wall paper? ($40)
Shelving: I think some shelves on the kitchen side of the accent wall will add interest and storage. I like the industrial look, and these IKEA shelves. ($60)

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Total budget: $300

Living/Dining Room

This is where we spend the majority of our time. The good news is that we love the big pieces of furniture we already have and are just missing a couple items.

TV Situation: I believe I’ve mentioned before that the TV set-up is temporary. In my dreams that wall would house a midcentury modern console, adding a warm wood tone to our space while hiding away all those pesky wires. ($500)

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Walls: we like them white for now, but maybe one day a soft gray would be nice. (no idea? This is a ways away)
Artwork: we love our California collage above Cedric, but now that our new table has finally arrived it needs some love too. We can’t decide what to do, but thought a wood framed mirror would like nice. ($100)
Lighting: our floor lamp is awesome, but we still have a ceiling outlet above our dining table that needs a chandelier. We have a few gift certificates from ZONE that have added up over the past few months so we thing there would be a great place to start looking and so far I've found one I really like. ($150)

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Area rug: I want one bad! Not only to ground the space, but to add some comfort and softness to the room. I love how a Persian rug looks in a modern space, but I don't know if Derek is sold. ($300)

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Curtains: I can’t decide if I want to hang panels just to soften the space and add colour/pattern. ($100)

Total budget: $1260

Den

I really need some inspiration for this room. Its main use is to hold junk and our laundry. It is where our friends sleep when they stay over and our future plan is make it a (very small) nursery with built-in storage.

Artwork: my goal is to create a gallery wall above our futon by spring! I have almost everything I need; I just need to get my act together. YHL actually just posted a tutorial on how they hung a gallery wall, so I think I’ll follow that. ($50, mostly for the frames)

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Total budget: $50

Entrance

We don’t have much of an entrance, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create impact in this small space (along with some organization).

Closet: this is a huge closet, and although it’s not terrible right now, I think we can purge some things. I would love some pretty, matching baskets with labels too J (free)

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Bench: a place to sit when we put on our shoes and also act as a semi divider for the den would be nice. If it included storage – bonus! ($150)
Entry table: we have a little guy who has been serving us well. We’ve got a spot for our keys and loose change, but I would love to get some drawer dividers and add a mirror on the wall above it. ($15)

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Total budget $165

Balcony

This is a small space that won’t take much to spruce up, but once the warmer weather hits I do want to make good use of this extra square footage.

Outdoor rug: we had one at our old place and loved the pop of colour it added! ($75)

Plants: I would like a tall palm plant of some sort along with some flowers boxes. ($50)
Storage box: I keep my soccer bag on the balcony in the summer time – it would be good to have a storage box to hide it (along with any other random sports equipment) away in. ($30)

Total budget: $155

Woah, things add up quickly, eh!? Almost $3000 for all the little improvements I would like to make. If we put away about $170/month over a year and a half I will have enough money to do everything on my list. So, maybe I will make that a goal: save a little bit each month, and work away as the time goes by, beginning with the smaller things first, while saving for more expensive changes.

You heard it here folks: Meaghan has put together a budget!

So, how do you guys do it? See a piece of furniture you love, put it on your credit card and pay later? Or do you save your pennies until you have enough to pay in full? It can be hard to wait sometimes, especially if you see something you LOVE! But then it can be hard to justify large purchases too. Especially since we haven't saved up for other priorities like an "emergency fund" (I had no idea this was supposed to equal approximately 3 months salary). Not to worry - we will get there!

The Great Glebe Garage Sale is coming up in the spring and this year I will definitely be creating a detailed list and taking the shopping very seriously. Derek - be warned!

My goal is to tackle the bathroom organization first. I actually stopped at the dollar store and picked up some storage containers that I love. I can't wait to share that with you!

Happy Friday everyone!

Some wedding dish: the dress!

2013-01-24T19:41:00.001-05:00

I'm back from my hiatus! It has literally been 2 months since I've visited my blog myself. In some ways time has flow by, and in other ways 2 months seems like forever ago.

So much has happened! Most importantly you can now officially call me Mrs. Wright!

It was so difficult to hold back sharing details during our wedding planning. Of course I wanted to keep some of the mystery alive for Derek and our wedding guests. But now that all is said and done I can tell you all about it! So exciting.

Let's begin with the most important (and maybe the most secret) detail. The dress!

I feel as though I was lucky when it came to dress shopping. Since I knew I wanted a short dress, and Ottawa has limited stores that carry the style, I didn't have many options. I know that I would have had a more difficult time choosing a dress if I had a larger selection, so the fact that things were automatically kept simple was good for me.

We threw around the idea of travelling to Montreal for a day trip, but again, I lucked out and found exactly what I wanted in Ottawa.

I am so happy to say that I purchased my dress from Luxe Bridal Boutique on Dalhousie Street in Ottawa. It was such a pleasure working with the owners Madeleine and Lisa.

Here's a pic of them from their website where you can read all about them.

They made my dress shopping experience so enjoyable. First of all they have impeccable taste and have stocked their boutique with amazing designer dresses; always keeping a variety of styles on hand. Their store is stylish and pretty without being prissy or making you feel like you can't touch anything. Lisa and Maddy are down to earth and even have a dessert table with homemade cupcakes for clients to enjoy.

Luxe was really the only store I shopped at, since they offered the largest selection of short wedding dresses. When calling around other boutiques to inquire whether or not they carried the style I was looking for, most people I spoke to assumed that because I was looking for a short dress, I wanted something casual and suggested going with a bridesmaid dress in white.

Not the case. And Maddy and Lisa understood that.

So without further ado, let's take a look at the dresses. Photos are compliments of my lovely Maid of Honour, Ashley.

First off we have 3 dresses by Dolly Couture. Dolly Couture specializesg in short, vintage inspired dresses and the great thing about her designs is that you can customize them any way you like.

Dress #1

Quite a lovely dress, in my opinion. I loved the lace detail at the bottom and I think the sleeves are great for a winter wedding. It just wasn't glitzy enough for New Year's Eve and it sort of made me feel frumpy.

Dress #2

Cute, right?! We liked it so much we added the belt and bird cage. Let me just tell you - once I saw the belts and tried on the bird cage I had to have one! This one was a top contender.

Dress #3

Doesn't the belt add so much?

Dresses #2 and #3 are the same style but with different finishes and details. We all agreed that we liked dress #2 better.

Dress #4

When I started my fitting I told Maddy that I would try on every short dress she had. Even if it looked like lingerie! Doesn't this look hilarious on me?! You can even see Maddy in the mirror of the first photo having a little chuckle.

Sorry, I don't remember the designer.

Dress #5

I actually can't believe I'm sharing this picture. Isn't that the most unflattering dress you've ever seen? I look like a sad kid on Halloween, wearing a costume 5 times too small. So bad. But I had to try on at least one longer style and this is the one my mom chose.

Again, I'm not sure of the designer. I undressed and threw it out of the fitting room too fast to see the label.

Oh, and maybe I should confirm: no, I was not pregnant.

Dress #6

I had looked at this dress by Amy Kuschel before and had really fallen in love. I loved how soft it was, and in all the photos I saw the tea-length hem looked just beautiful. But the style just wasn't for me. Maybe the fit had something to do with it, but we just couldn't envision it, even with the tailoring.

On the other hand, I actually know a girl (another Meaghan) who wore this on her wedding day and it suited her to a tea!

Dress #7 (the one!)

This is my very excited face!

I was so excited when I found this dress, you can't even imagine. It was the most perfect New Year's Eve wedding cocktail dress. I fell in love immediately. The fact that it had straps was a huge bonus. The fact that they were beaded was a dream come true.

Here are a few photos from our wedding. We had some alterations done like lengthening the hem line and adding crinoline to the skirt to keep the bubble hem's shape.

I'm only slightly less excited about my dress than I am about marrying Derek.

As for the specs on my dress. It is by Eden Bridal, style number 1405. The total cost was $400, my belt, by Kitty Chen, cost $250 and alterations were just under $180, bringing my total dress costs to around $1000 including the taxes.

Now this doesn't include my accessories, however I feel that they need a post all to themselves. I will do a budget breakdown then.

Now a question for you: should I dye my dress? I would love to wear it again, but don't think there are any occasions in my future for a wedding dress (even though it isn't traditional). I think it would look beautiful in midnight blue or a silvery gray. I'm going to do some research on the subject. It is satin, which I know can be dyed. I think I'll probably sleep on it for a year or so first.

I am looking forward to finding a dress to go with my belt though! Something black and sexy perhaps? I'll keep you posted!

I'm looking forward to sharing more wedding details with you and I hope you are excited too!

Happy 1-year bloggiversary to me!

2012-11-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

November 24^th marks the 1 year anniversary of this little blog of mine. I don’t feel as though this is a huge, monumental occasion or anything, but I do see people write about their “bloggiversaries” so I thought I would join the club. If nothing else, it is an opportunity to reflect on the past and set goals for the future.

Do you think I should suggest Derek get me a 1 year bloggiversary gift? Or maybe I should just get something for myself. I love any reason to give and receive gifts (especially when I’m giving them to myself!)

So a lot has happened in my life since November 24, 2011. Here are some events that stand out in my mind:

we said au revoir to our little bachelor(ette) after 2 and a half years of sharing 475 square feet, and moved into our condo

I survived “the summer of weddings”
I was spoiled at the most lovely bridal shower
my bff married the man of her dreams!

my other bff got engaged to the man of HER dreams!

Derek and I traveled to NYC
I started a new job
I participated in my first try-a-triathlon (and it will not be my first and only!)

some amazing women brought new people into the world (summer 2012 could also be dubbed "the summer of births"!)
my dad is successfully recovering from hip surgery
Derek survived his 10 day bachelor party in Myrtle Beach

It's been a really positive year. And even though I stressed over having such a jam-packed (and expensive) calendar at times, it was filled with awesome events and celebrations. So I am taking this time to reflect on how lucky I am to have so much good in my life.

As for my blog, I am happy where I am and what I’ve been able to accomplish. Through writing I’ve learned that it’s something I really enjoy! I always loved keeping a journal while growing up and this feels very similar. I never put too much pressure on myself to spin out a certain amount of blogs per month (although 1 per week was an unofficial goal), and I don’t think I ever forced a post if I wasn’t in the mood. I tried to be as honest as possible in my writing which was one tip I read multiple times when researching about starting up a blog.

So I do hope that you, my readers, find my writing to be honest, enjoyable, sometimes informative and never too heavy. I hope to make you laugh, too!

I love my little blog and the fact that it’s so simple keeps me from feeling pressured. But I would like to see improvements and upgrades in some areas.

I haven’t put much effort into learning html or the tricks of blogger.com. I don’t want to be a programming genius, but simply knowing how to make a nice banner with my own photos would be nice!
So I like arts and crafts, I knew this. And I think I’ve mastered the glue gun (I hardly burn my fingers anymore). But I think it’s time for me to tackle some bigger projects. Maybe get to know my power drill a little better so that I’m not so intimidated when I see that it’s needed for a certain project. With our wedding date approaching; putting some love into our condo is going to become a larger priority and I would like to tackle some more involved DIY projects. And of course share them with you!
I need to keep it real. I know I just said that I’m honest and myself in my writing, however my posts are mostly positive. Not to say that my life isn’t mostly positive, because it is! But I am going to try to be less shy about sharing mistakes, learning experiences or topics that make me feel queasy (budgets and money for example).

And before I forget, I would like to thank anyone and everyone who has ever read (or even just skimmed) through my blog. I think it’s so cool that people I don’t even know, not to mention friends and family, take the time to read what I write. If I could make you all yarn wreathes and my mom’s butter tarts and send them to you in a beautifully wrapped parcel, I totally would!

So there we have it. My first bloggiversary post! I wonder how many more there will be. Maybe one day I will be famous like Sherry and John Petersik of YoungHouse Love! But probably not. And I’m totally ok with little lovelee honeybee remaining as my online journal. It's my nice little place where I can keep track of and share special events, pictures, learning experiences, and accomplishments.

But I do secretly want to be just like Sherry Petersik. She has mad power drill skillz. I'm just sayin'.

On white walls

2012-11-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

Interior design (like weddings nowadays) is so personal, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. There are many spaces that I see in magazines, for example, that I love but wouldn't use in my own home. The most important thing to keep in mind is that although we may like to follow trends or make our guests feel at home, we should really decorate our spaces for ourselves - the people who spend the most time there!

A few weeks ago, I was at an event hosted by the amazing Hive Girls, which was centered around home décor. One of the presenters, an interior designer, suggested that everyone take a look at what they were wearing which would provide a sense of what our unique design style is.

I thought that was interesting, especially since my girlfriend was wearing a soft knit sweater with jewel toned accessories. She just happens to live in a cozy wood home, complete with a wood burning stove and is drawn to warm tones. I was in a straight cut black and white dress which I feel was a good indicator of our condo’s modern, classic decor.

Which leads me to the topic of this post: our white walls.

It’s so funny. One of the first things people ask when they come to visit our new place is “so are you going to paint!?” Maybe you think the answer would be an obvious “yes!” but Derek and I both actually enjoy our white walls. For some reason though, I felt self-conscious telling people this. Maybe they will think we are lazy and that’s why we aren't painting. Or that we have bad taste or are boring and bland.

I casually stuck a paint chip I had on hand by one of our light switches - the universal sign that you are at least thinking about painting - just so I wouldn't be judged. SO silly, right!?

After over three months of living in our new condo I've decided to take down that paint chip and own the white walls. To us, they don’t feel cold or sterile or unfinished. They feel warm and clean and keep our space feeling open and bright.

With our all white kitchen cabinets and appliances, having white walls helps create a continuous view which creates the illusion of space (although maybe one day we will be looking for contrast). I think the dark floors and counter tops help ground the space, while the pops of colour I’ve added with accessories like pillows, vases, kitchenware and art keep things happy and playful.

We are happy to say that we are owning our white walls and love them!

Here are some inspiration photos that I referred to, and further down are some updated photos of our own place!

I think the gallery wall behind the gray couch looks awesome here. This is the look I would love to have above our couch in the den.

This entrance looks so fresh and sophisticated. The white/gray walls feel anything but unfinished in my opinion.

I love this white kitchen and how casual yet clean it feels. The art, bright fruit and fun little chalk board really pop against the white walls.

This room feels fun and colourful. I think they achieved this by layering textures and adding pops of colour through their accessories. The room feels casual and inviting with the leaning art and cushions on the cozy looking rug. I'm really loving the long shelf above the french doors. What a perfect place to display vases. I think grouping them by colour and style keeps it from feeling cluttered.

And now for our own white walls!

I had my girlfriends over the other weekend and along with taking care of some wedding crafts we also put up some art! Talk about a productive sleepover!

When our dining table finally arrives I am going to look around for a large scale mirror for that wall.

Here's our entrance. I was getting tired of our fall display and so this is how it looks now. I'll keep you posted on any improvements!

I love how everything I add to the kitchen really pops against the white base.

Here's what you see when you walk through our front door. It's our den, a little Canadiana inspired with my Bay blanket and matching pillows. I think a gallery wall would look great above the couch!

To keep it real, it realy is a tiny little space that usually looks like this:

You see, that closet holds our washer and dryer, so our den has inevitably become our laundry room. But it also acts as a good guest room. And call us crazy, but one day we plan to stick an infant in there.

The den got some loving too with this cute little bee mail holder. It was a very thoughtful wedding shower gift.

So cute, right?!

Our last little piece of white wall that got some love was right in the entrance. We had the perfect piece to cover up the ugly fuse box. Perfect, no!?

So there you have it. A little over-due somewhat-of-a-house-tour and my thoughts on our white walls.

How do you feel about white walls? Stark and unfinished or clean and crisp?

Playing catch-up

2012-10-19T18:50:00.001-04:00

How was everyone’s Thanksgiving? I am not late on this post due to death-by-turkey. More like death-by-dessert! There were about 8 dessert options at both (yes there were 2) Thanksgiving dinners Derek and I attended. And since I didn’t want to hurt any of the hard working chefs’ feelings, I had to try them all!

We had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend, aside from Derek and both having a slight cold. We enjoyed the outdoors and beautiful fall colours by hiking the Luskville Falls Trail, I visited the Vanier Farmer’s Market, and we spent time with our wonderful family and friends. Thanksgiving may be one of my favourite holidays.

Here are some pics we took during our hike. I don't think I've seen the colours so vibrant!

Like I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I really wanted to get our home feeling seasonal, and I am happy to say I accomplished just that!

Project #1: frame leaves
Project #2: yarn wreath

It is easy to be inspired by our beautiful view.

Friday, on my way home from work I collected leaves like a 7 year old in the park across from our condo. This was a lot of fun, actually; choosing the most pretty colours and patterns. Then, once Derek left for a late hockey game I got my crafting on. To make myself feel better for staying home, doing crafts on a Friday night, I made sure to enjoy a couple Coors Lights. This may or may not have increased production time...

I drew inspiration for my wreath colours from this really pretty piece of scrap booking paper I found at Michael's. With all the yarn and felt choices available (there are seriously aisles and aisles at Michael's!) I think having a pattern helps decide on a colour scheme.

Following the lead of Tanya, Danielle and Yvonne I wrapped (and wrapped and wrapped) yarn and spun my little pieces of felt to create my wreath. I would love to add a welcome bunting using stencils and pretty fabric one day like Myra.

At the beginning my wreath was looking just like Ashley's wedding colours!

It took a while to get the hang of creating these little rosettes. But once I made a few they started looking more like flower buds.

I strung my wreath up using twine I had on hand. One condo-living bonus: I don't need to worry about my door décor being damaged by the outdoor elements. Downfall: jack o'lanterns don't really work.

Our door is looking extra nice compared to our neighbour's accross the hall! Maybe it's the beginning of their Halloween décor? Just kidding...no one has moved in yet - it's still under construction.

I also framed my own pressed leaves and put together a little fall vignette in our entrance. When Derek got home around 1:30am I was just finishing up. The yarn wreath took a while! But it was totally worth it. I would love to create one for every season and maybe give them as gifts to my craft-loving friends and family members.

Also - I've decided that our little microwave cart near the entrance is going to be like the mantel we'll never have. We can dress it up depending on the season. One day I think I will paint it. Maybe stain the top so it's nice and glossy and paint the base white?

I am also thinking of painting that wall in black chalk board paint. I think I mentioned this before. I would be able to add to the seasonal décor with messages and chalk drawings. I'm still mulling it over...

Framing the leaves was a lot of fun too (and they are still looking fresh!) I used scrap booking paper as background.

And here's a little gebera daisy in my honey tin on our dining table.

Are you into seasonal decorating? I love bringing the outside in, especially in the fall. And I loved making my wreath so much I'm already looking forward to doing one for Christmas, which really is not that far off! Which means either is the wedding! EEEK, I better get to the gym! Kidding, it's Friday, that's not happening...

Happy weekend!!!

The most lovely bridal shower

2012-10-17T21:56:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday was my bridal shower, and it was better than I ever could have imagined. My bridesmaids, maid of honour, family and friends did such a wonderful job organizing this event, not just for me, but for all the guests who attended. I heard from more than one person that it was the best shower they've attended! (I must say, in all fairness, they did not attended Ashley's shower which I organized. Just kidding! hehe)

The theme was Perfect Pairings of Wine and Food. I'm not sure if these were the exact words they used, but this is the theme I took away from the event.

My mother's BFF, Marie-France, is a Sommelier, and played a huge role in the shower. With the help of my and bridal party, she lead my guests and I through a fun, interactive and informative wine tasting.

Each wine was paired with the perfect appetizer which included cheeses, smoked salmon baguettes, bruschetta, mushroom tarts, fruits and nuts. All the food was homemade with lots of love. And even though we were pairing our wines with quite fancy appetizers, Marie-France said we should really just eat whatever we like with our wine. Even if it's potato chips and champagne!

Here are some of the people who made my day so special:

Ashley, my MOH, and the ring leader of this fabulous event, with Jenny and Lisa my bridesmaids

A nice group shot, with Sacha my sister in law to the right

Here I am with June, Derek's mama

And receiving a nice toast from my own mama

I am lucky enough to have a second mother in law - here's Heather with my cousin Dean

The work put into all the little details was so sweet. Upon arriving, guests were greeted by an nontraditional guest book. Everyone wrote an encouraging message on a piece of paper and slipped it into this wine bottle which is meant to be opened by Derek and I on our 1-year anniversary. So sweet!

Here are the adorable wine charms Ashley made by hand. On the reverse was a number which was used to draw a prize.

There were also 2 quizzes for guests to participate in. One was based on the information we learned throughout the wine tastings. And the other was how well everyone knew me.

Dessert was delicious: lemon and lime cheese cake tarts, fresh fruit and cake. All home made and to die for.

It was an overwhelming day filled with my favourite people, delicious food and so many generous gifts. I know everyone had a really great time, and I did too. What it did make me realize is how fast time flies when you are the guest of honour at these types of events. It's something I hear time and time again from brides about their wedding day, and I experienced it a little bit at my shower. I couldn't believe how exhausted I was by the end of the day, even though I felt like I hardly did anything. Socializing is hard work I guess!?

So again, a big thank you to everyone who attended and all the work everyone did. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

xoxo

Autumn inspiration

2012-09-27T11:43:00.000-04:00

Fall has arrived! That glorious season that catches me by surprise every year, and then leaves (pun intended) much too quickly.

I love fall for many reasons. Fall fashion for starters, is awesome. Boots, scarves, sweaters, tweed, leather and rich colours. I always have a craving to shop for new clothing this time of year.

The weather is also the bomb. That perfect feeling when the air is crisp, but not enough to see your breath, and the sun is still warm on your face. It makes for the ideal afternoon patio weather to sit an enjoy a pint of beer or a pumpkin spiced lattée.

And speaking of PSLs, I have yet to enjoy one this year. I usually indulge in only one, and it has to be the most perfect setting. A perfect fall afternoon (hopefully it's the weekend), ideally with my bff out for a day of shopping in the market, and it helps if I'm wearing a cute fall outfit to complete the experience.

As a lover of décor blogs, I have been enjoying seeing how everyone has been infusing fall into their homes. There is nothing more charming than a front door seasonally decorated to greet guests, or a lovely mantel re-done in fall colours.

Here are some of my favourites....

Kate, from Centsational Girl, hits the mark every time, and didn't miss when sprucing up her mantel for the season. See, it's as easy as clipping a few stems to bring the beauty inside.

My girl, Sherry, from Young House Love has also displayed some fall foliage to give her dining tablet that fall feeling.

I love the idea of decorating with dried, pressed leaves. I remember hunting for the perfect maple leaf to press and save when I was a kid - so much fun. Apartment Therapy shares some ideas and the easy steps to doing it yourself. My favourite is the leaf garland.

Better Homes and Gardens reminds us that fall decorating can be as easy as filling up a bowl full of apples!

If you prefer to streamline your fall décor with the rest of your home, take Suzie Harris' cue by spray painting faux (or real) gourds and pumpkins to match your colour scheme! Très chic.

Stay trendy and take some inspiration from Pantone's Fashion Colour Report for fall 2012 when adding a new throw blanket or accent pillow to your home.

Loving this pillow from etsy.

And these pretty throws by West Elm.

Now lets head outdoors...

Last year Ryan and Laura from Smith & Ratliff featured some fun seasonal front steps from their West Village neighbourhood in Manhattan. I'm so jealous.

I love the DIY yarn wreath trend that's been popping up. Living in a condo doesn't allow for that charming front step decor, so I may have to give this a go. Tonya from Love of Family shows us how nice it can look and includes a tutorial too.

So, have you begun your fall decorating yet? So far, I’ve only been inspired, and have yet to actually DO anything. However with the month of October (and Thanksgiving!) quickly approaching I’m determined to make the first fall in our new condo a beautiful one, and I’m happy too, that I’ve come across a few free ideas!

My goal is to share a post next weekend showing you all my hard work, and also how our amazing view is changing colours!

Happy autumn everyone!

On my way to wedding day shape!

2012-09-12T15:31:00.002-04:00

There are one hundred and ten days remaining until I marry the man of my dreams! Slash until I have to look super hot because a million pictures will be taken of me which will last a life time.

Yippeee!!! Slash EEEEK!!!

I am beginning to look forward to all the different tasks and events that will surround our wedding, including getting into wedding day (and honeymoon) shape.

As I've mentioned, I've had quite a busy summer, which has unfortunately led to my diet and exercise being placed on the back burner.

I was not completely stagnant; I did play soccer twice per week and volleyball once a week, but this exercise schedule combined with over celebrating (i.e. over drinking and eating too much party food) didn't cut it.

So, with the new month of September came my search for a new fitness program.

We do have a gym and a pool in our new condo, I have a bike and running shoes and we are surrounded by nice paths. The practical and economical choice would be to make use of my surroundings and condo fees. But I just. can’t. motivate. myself. I’m seriously like the WORST! I have to either play a sport where my teammates are counting on me to show up to games, or I have to spend money on a membership which pushes me to attend in order to get my money’s worth.

Here’s what I was looking for in a fitness facility/program:

Motivation – I love classes, loud music and someone who can really pump me up!
Good location – the location needed to be within walking or cycling distance from work/home
Convenient schedule – I like working out right after work or early in the morning if it’s close enough to home
Personal and friendly – I hate that feeling of being intimidated or really feeling like the “newbie” in class
Affordability – I still have fees for soccer to pay for and I am not a millionaire, so I needed to find a gym around $75/month (my goal is to attend 4 classes per week, which works out to under $5/class – dynamo!)
Results – obviously! I like to participate in a good combination of strength training, cardio and stretching classes to keep my body and muscles from getting familiar

So, do I sound picky or what? I thought I did, but lo and behold, through my research I was able to find the most PERECT fitness facility: The Fitness Fusion Studio!!!

The Fitness Fusion Studio basically met ALL of my criteria!

Jackie Gravel, the Owner and Manager, is the most lovely lady I’ve ever met. She is so friendly, but when it comes to instructing classes she kicks it up a notch and definitely doesn’t let you “cheat” your way through. She has the ability to make a workout extremely challenging yet fun at the same time. Also, I feel like I gain muscle just by looking at her – her body is ripped!

They offer, on average 4 different classes per evening between the hours of 4PM and 9PM.
Their location is basically right in the middle of my home and office, making it a convenient stop on the way home from work.
The variety of their classes is amazing! You can do anything from Zumba, Pilates, Kick Boxing, Kettlebell, Yoga, Boot Camp (which is outdoors until November!) and other classes with names like "Sculpt Your Body" (ummm, yes please!) and "Total Core Conditioning" which is a quick 30 minute class that focuses on strengthening your abs and lower back! There are even some outdoor classes which are as simple as a 5km speed walk across the bridge to Quebec and back.
A major bonus, the cost is $199 (plus tax) for 3-months of unlimited classes. Right in my budget!

I registered for their 3-month program last week and so far I’ve totally loved it. Everyone there is super friendly and encouraging. I do kind of feel like the new girl, but not in a bad way. People recognize that I haven’t been to a class before and offer suggestions, personal experience and help me with things like choosing the best size of weight for a certain exercise.

After attending only 4 classes I can feel a difference. Jackie was excited to hear that I will be getting married this NYE and I trust that with her kick-ass classes I will wear my wedding dress confidently.

But more importantly I would love to rock a bikini in Hawaii!

So for anyone looking for a new fitness program, I would definitely recommend The Fitness Fusion Studio. It's located on Cumberland at York in the ByWard Market.

Soaking in the last drops of summer

2012-09-04T20:13:00.002-04:00

I hope all of you enjoyed your final summer long-weekend! Derek and I did our best to soak up as much summer as we could. And I think that knowing cooler temperatures and busy weekends are on their way helped us appreciate it a bit more.

We kicked-off the weekend by participating in The Canadian, Saturday at Mooney's Bay. It was a jam packed day full of various types of races and events. Derek ran an 8km and I did my first try-a-tri. We both really enjoyed ourselves, did pretty well for first-timers, and will definitely participate again.

Here's a photo of Derek stretching it out before his race.

And here I am prepping for the first leg of my tri: the swim! Super attractive, I know...and this is before the nose plug and goggles!

On Sunday we spent the day at Lac La Peche in the Gatineau Park. Derek had read an article earlier in the summer about this specific lake and how it was not as busy as others in Gatineau Park. It is an awesome lake and beach, but a little farther from the city, so I can see why people may not make it all the way out there.

The lake is really big, with a nice cordoned off swimming area with lifeguards. You can rent kayaks and canoes for a reasonable price, parking is only $10 per car for the day, and I don't think it's ever very busy!

It was the perfect setting for a relaxing Sunday. We enjoyed a picnic, some wine, canoed around the lake and discovered little private beaches.

That's me! The water was so warm, and I loved it after having craved a swim in a fresh water lake all summer.

Completing our little Canadiana outing, was the discovery of a huge beaver dam and a pair of loons!

Derek and I will most definitely be taking another trip back to Lac La Peche, maybe even this autumn to take in all the changing colours from a canoe! Seeing as it is only about 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa, it is the perfect day trip destination for family outings, romantic picnics or a get-together with a bunch of friends.

What did you guys do over the long-weekend? Anyone participate in a race or other type of outdoor activity?

Finding the light

2012-08-29T15:35:00.000-04:00

I am loving the way light streams into the condo during the day time. Our bedroom, living room and kitchen always feel so light and airy. Except when the sun goes down, that is.

Now that the days are becoming shorter, and the sun is setting earlier, it's getting pretty dark in our main living area. Since we have yet to install a ceiling fixture in over our dining table, there are no lights at all in the living/dining room. Unless you count the blue glow coming from the television, which is not ideal for painting my nails. Or reading. Or doing anything, really.

At the moment, we don't have any side tables, or a proper console/hutch for the television, so a table lamp isn't an option. Which leaves a floor lamp as the answer. This is very exciting to me, since I am in love with so many of the different styles of floor lamps these days!

This STUDIO floor lamp from ZONE is one of my favourites!

But since our floor lamp needs to take up as minimal space as possible, a small base is what we need. I picture it squeezing in beside/behind Cedric, next to the window.

And based on the available space, I think something along the lines of these styles will work best...

The big dipper arc floor lamp from CB2 ($229)

The ALBI floor lamp from Zone ($218)

The BAROMETER floor reading lamp from IKEA ($69.99)

The NYFORS floor reading lamp from IKEA ($79.99)

The FLEX floor lamp from ZONE ($186)

I obviously like the IKEA lamps' price tags better. However, we do have a $200 gift card for ZONE which has been burning a hole in my wallet for a few weeks now. Right now, I am really liking the last lamp, Mr. FLEX with his traditional shade.

To keep you in the loop, here are a few pictures depicting the current status of our main living space.

You can see our new dining chairs, tucked between Cedric and the kitchen, which we love! Our table, however, has yet to arrive and we've actually be notified by Phillip Van Leeuwen that it won't be delivered until December of this year. Yes, that is almost a year of waiting after we made the purchase over boxing week in 2011.

Basically they manufactured the wrong one, which delayed the process along with a host of other reasons. They've been pretty sympathetic about it all and will be sending us a $100 cheque (not store credit, actual money) and will be delivering and assembling the piece for free.

Here's a reminder picture, as I assume you've forgotten what it looks like (we have!)

Until then we live with this random wood table hidden under whatever tablecloth I have on hand!

The next picture below shows how we really do need a proper hutch for the television. Although our swivel stand for the has served us well, I can't stand how all the cords and wires are visible in the back. Which is why I've used baskets and urns to try and disguise them!

On a side note, the beautiful teal and brown urn you see in the front of my vignette is from my dear friends Christine and Vanessa. They always give the most thoughtful birthday gifts!

This is the type of hutch I am on the look-out for. A beautiful mid-century teak piece, with clean lines, timeless style and loads of storage. I've seen them advertised on kijiji and craig's list as well as in antique shops anywhere between $150 and $1000.

I think between the old craig's list trunk we're using as our coffee table and a nice mid-century hutch, we'll be able to balance the very modern finishings of our condo to create a more eclectic, lived-in and well-rounded style. While still taking inspiration from "coastal modern" of course!

Painting laminate furniture - project complete!

2012-08-27T11:27:00.002-04:00

Ok, now that the summer of weddings has ended, I've found some time to complete my book shelves.

Remember how our old laminate book cases went from this:

to this:

Huge improvement, right?

Too bad the painting fairy never showed up over the last 4 weeks to finish my project, though. I still needed to give the back of the all-white case one more coat of paint as well as paint all of the shelves (4 per book case).

Once I ~~realized said fairy wasn't showing up~~ found some spare time in my life, I finally tackled the rest of this project.

I took the same steps painting the shelves, as I did with the actual book cases. It took one afternoon to paint the shelves and then another 2 days for them to sit out on our balcony drying.

Without further adieu, here are some photos of the final result!

I love how the blue back turned out. I think the white pieces look really fresh and the colourful accents keep it feeling playful and not too serious. I'm sure the shelves will be ever-changing because that's my idea of a good time :)

I'm happy I decided to keep the book chase in the living area solid white. The plan is to move this book case to another room once we eventually purchase a proper hutch to use as a television stand. So the fact that it is all-white will make it easier to match with other things.

I like adding colour by layering framed art at the back of the shelves. We have a few pieces that still need to be framed. Can't wait to get on that!

In the end, this project probably took me a total of 10 hours and cost roughly $140. Overpriced, probably. But I'm totally happy with the result and the fact that I didn't have to spend money on brand new book cases. So, I say to all of you wondering if you should paint your brown laminate pieces of furniture, go for it! It's amazing what a coat (or four) of paint can do!

And 10 points to those who noticed my blue ikat pillow! I sort of made him centre stage in the last few pics :) It's a new purchase from Home Sense this weekend for $24.99. I love their pillow selection, and I think it ties in with my colours wonderfully.

Next on the condo décor to-do list is hanging bedroom curtains. I purchased some black-out curtains from Bouclair Home last week and am dying to mount them. Our bedroom never seems to get too dark with the city lights at night time and bright sun in the mornings.

So, I know there isn't a painting fairy, but do you think there is one who hangs curtains???

My best friend's wedding

2012-08-20T10:30:00.001-04:00

My best friend forever got married this past weekend! It was such a whirl wind of excitement, planning, emotions, anxiety, fun and most of all love.

I am so happy for Ashley and Matt, who are now taking a well-deserved "mini-moon" together, to relax after this big event. They are planning a larger-scale honeymoon to Italy next May.

Ashley had a beautiful garden party style wedding in her Aunt and Uncle's backyard. Her colour scheme was gray and yellow with accents of white and green. It was so fresh! The wedding was complete with the big, crisp white tent, lanterns, lush greenery, a bathtub of beer (yes - bathtub!), white twinkle lights and an in-ground swimming pool that some guests (and the groom) may or may not have jumped into later in the night.

To keep it simple - it was perfect. Ashley totally blew my mind by executing the most beautiful backyard wedding I could have imagined. I say she blew my mind because she was never one to day dream about all the details of her future wedding or go crazy with a wedding pinterest board before (or even after) she got engaged. Unlike me, her best friend, who awkwardly purchased wedding magazines without an engagement ring and who basically had a wedding planned for every season so that I would be prepared.

Ashley went into her wedding planning with a fresh pallet, free of any preconceived ideas or plans. And I think that is great.

Her concept was that she wanted to DIY as much as possible, keep the cost low while filling everyone up with the love her and Matt share along with delicious food and lots of beer and wine. She didn't want things to feel stuffy, overly formal or too "planned out". Kind of like a fancier backyard BBQ with a wedding to kick things off.

And she succeeded in doing just that. The wedding reflected her and Matt perfectly. They are a very down to earth couple, who focused on the important aspects of the wedding without getting caught up in the silly details which is so easy to do.

Here are a few pictures of the wedding venue, so that you can have a small appreciation for all the hard work Ashley put into her special day. All while looking amazingly beautiful, I might add!

And here are a few action shots during the ceremony which was held in the front yard.

In the limo, on our way to the wedding! These are Ashley's beautiful sisters on the left.

And the bride, herself, who could not have looked more stunningly beautiful. Matt's a pretty lucky guy!!!

The photos above were taken by me and a few of the wedding guests. Here is a sneak peek from Ashley's amazing wedding photographer Tiffany Richard from Photography by Tiff.

Congratulations Ashley and Matt! I wish you the all the happiness in the world as you grow together in your marriage!

xoxoxo

Painting laminate furniture

2012-08-07T15:36:00.001-04:00

How was your long-weekend? I hope it was a nice combination of fun in the sun, socializing with friends and family, topped with a generous dose of (insert favourite beverage here)!

We had a great weekend - my first weekend spent at the condo actually! It was nice to wake up and enjoy our new space instead of having to rush off to work. I still sort of feel like I'm on a vacation, living in someone else's home.

Although we were quite busy socializing with friends, I did find the time on holiday Monday to tackle a portion of my painting project. And for my first attempt at painting furniture, I think it went pretty well.

Saturday, Derek and I decided to shop local and we hit up the Benjamin Moore paint store on Beachwood for our supplies. After leaving there having spent almost $140 we decided that it probably wasn't the most economical store for our project. Live and learn, right?!

We purchased all the necessary supplies that any beginner requires...

a small foam roller
an angled foam brush
paint tray with disposable liners
a large plastic drop cloth
sanding block
paint

The nice lady at the store suggested we go with their Aura Interior Paint. Maybe because they claim that it is the finest paint they've ever made, "offering the most advanced way to bring colour to life", but probably because it's the most expensive. Either way, she hooked us.

One gallon of decorator's white (CC-20) cost us $73. (GASP! That $!@% cray!) We went with the satin finish. The good news is that it's a great colour (can you call white a colour?) and I plan to use on other pieces of furniture. It also comes with a built in primer which meant I could skip that step. The website insists that "Aura paint covers like no other, with even the deepest shades never requiring more than two coats." My project actually required three coats.

For the accent colour in the back of the cabinets we chose Pool Blue (2052-50). It came to about $25 for a quart of the Aura in satin finish. We both loved how refreshing it felt, and it really reminded me of my inspiration photo:

Monday arrived and Derek helped me set-up on our balcony before leaving to play golf. I'll admit, it was a little crowded out there, but I managed. Condo living = learning to deal with tight spaces!

Before I got started I was pretty nervous, having never tackled such a project. But I remember something I read recently about how beginner DIY'ers shouldn't be scared or hesitant and need to just DIVE IN! So that's what I did. Without thinking about it too much, I got to sanding and painting right away!

Here's a little timeline of photos for you....

After one coat.

After two coats.

Three coats! I actually only did two coats on the back since I would be painting it in pretty pool blue.

After one coat of pool blue:

Digging the blue!

And they are in! I had to cut my painting session short to head out to my soccer game, and I was only able to finish one coat of blue paint on the one unit. We still need to paint all the shelves too. Over all I'm pretty happy, and I think once the shelves are up and they are styled it will look more "coastal modern" and less "little boy's room".

As for how I edged around the inside with blue paint, I actually sacrificed one of my eye shadow brushes. The angled foam brush the lady at Benjamin Moore suggested just wasn't doing the trick and since it was a holiday everything was closed.

A few other things I learned:

wait the complete hour and a half before applying your next coat
watch out for drips and catch them as soon as you can
light, smooth coats are better than thick ones

Although I may not have used the best painting techniques or overspent on supplies, I'm glad I decided to just dive right in. Even if they are not perfect, I think it's a great improvement from the dark brown laminate we started with!

Do you agree?

Derek actually commented that the inside of our condo is beginning to resemble the colour scheme on the outside of the building! Maybe we were subliminally inspired by the outside design!

I am itching to finish painting so that I can style my book shelves! Derek said he might tackle the rest of the painting which would be nice. I will keep you posted on how it goes!