wedding update

{ picking up my dress from Sash & Bustle }

We're less then 8 weeks out until our wedding day!!! I can't believe how fast it's sneaking up on us! It's bananas to think how quickly our engagement has flown by. I have so enjoyed being engaged, I can only hope being married is even half as sweet!

With February 25th fast approaching, we're down to the details and trying to make sure everything is lined up ahead of the wedding (as best we're able...). There comes a point in planning, where you realize that the final day and design outcome lies in the hands of your vendors and you really just have to hope that things turn out as close to perfect as you've envisioned! Luck for us, we've put together a fabulous team and I have zero doubt they will pull everything off without a hitch!

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Most recent updates...

Welcome Gifts: We're making welcome gifts for all of the hotel guests. The kids will be handed small backpacks filled with treats and games by reception when they check into the hotel - I know they'll all be bursting with excitement, and almost wish I could be there to see them open them!. And since we're not having a big rehearsal dinner the night before, we've made a personal local guide to favorite restaurants and bars for family and out of town guests.

My Dress: I picked up my dress last week and am so in love with how my look came together. I've been exercising lots and working hard at toning up and was happy to see my hard work has paid off. After a 3 hour seamstress appointment, my dress is well on it's way to fitting properly and looking amazing. I also love how my shoes and earrings tie together the entire look!

Paper Goods: There are a few things that have to wait until you have a final guest count (which is almost killing me), like menus, place cards, seating chart and ceremony programs. We're hoping to get designs started soon, so that they are ready to go once we have a final guest count in the coming weeks. As you know, I'm paper-goods obsessed, so the design process of this part of the wedding is something I'm really looking forward to.

Bridal Party: Still have a few details to settle for a few bridal party members (maid of honor dress + groomsmen shirts/ties), but we're well on our way to having a fabulously dressed bridal party and two gorgeously dressed sets of parents!

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Things I'm most looking forward to... 
In the coming weeks...
:: Having a final tally of who will be joining us on our special day
:: My Bachelorette trip to Miami which is coming up on the 19th
:: Continuing to work on our ceremony and vows (it's emotional, but really special)
:: Seeing D in his made to measure suit
:: The rehearsal dinner with our bridal party and parents at one of our favorite Roncesvalles restaurants

On February 25th...
:: Our 'first look' (I already have excitement butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it!)
:: Walking down the isle with my parents
:: Seeing the reception space for the first time all put together
:: Getting to walk around to each and every guest and say hello as husband and wife
:: Dancing!!! (the band we chose is supposed to be phenomenal, and I cannot wait for the party to be in full swing)

highlights + what's to come

I've been noticing lately that the internet seems to have an overwhelming opinion that 2016 was a crappy year... Welp, not for me - I simply cannot relate!... 2016 was certainly one for the books, and I wanted to share some highlights and photos from the past year as well as a few things I'm looking forward to in 2017!

:: Highlights from 2016 ::

- (obviously) getting engaged and all the fun celebrations!

- wine tasting in Kelowna

- running my first 10km race

- celebrating a bachelorette in Vegas 

- learning to surf in Costa Rica (bucketlist, check!)

- seeing the Lumineers live at an outdoor concert 

- beginning to (genuinely) love pilates

- trying the 14 course tasting menu at Buca Yorkville

:: Looking forward to in 2017 ::

- getting married!!! (I cannot wait to see D's face when he sees me in my dress)

- figuring out a new exercise routine (ClassPass is changing things up in March)

- lounging on the beach in Barbados with a husband (!)

- meeting a friends baby who is due in the summer

- trying new recipes at home with D

- eating poke in Hawaii (we're going in November!)

 

 

 

 

hello 2017

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe 2016 came and went so quickly. Even though time seemed to fly by, it was one of the most memorable years for me and I have a funny feeling 2017 is going to be the best year yet! It was our only holiday as 'fiances' so we tried to soak it all up over the holidays. 

My sister and her boyfriend returned home from Australia just before Christmas and it was so great getting back to our holiday traditions and spending time with family and friends. I had some time off work and took full advantage of being able to sleep in, relax and spend time with D and my sister!

We went for Mexican food on New Year's Eve and rang in the new year at home with champagne and a game of darts! I loved every second.  

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday and happy new year!

xx

wishing you the merriest

Wishing you the merriest Christmas filled with the following:

- time with family & friends

- good wine & great meals

- fun in the snow

- a little something special you've been wishing for

This year has been so exciting with life changing milestones and I can't wait to see what the New Year has in store. xx

sweet dreams

We recently stocked up on some household basics during the infamous pre-Christmas mega sales. We bought huge, cozy bath towels for half-off, replaced our old suitcases with easy-to-wheel hard case models and splurged on hotel-quality, luxury bed sheets.
D has discovered, much to my delight, the fun of on-line shopping and suggested we try ordering Brooklinen sheets. They've been reviewed in Vogue, GQ and Apartment Therapy, they come in various colors and designs, plus they were on sale!
We went with the Luxe Hardcore Bundle and chose the duvet cover in classic white, the flat and fitted sheet in the Smoke Stripe, and the extra pillow cases in the Bedford Smoke Stripe.

We received the sheets a few weeks ago and got around to washing them this weekend and slept in them for the first time last night. Holy moly! They are crisp and light and super soft. I had such a comfortable sleep and can't wait to get back into bed tonight. We're already talking about ordering a second set so we can have them on rotation. They're a little bit of a splurge once you add shipping and duty, but even after only a single nights use, worth every penny.

happy weekend

{ cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs }

Can you believe next weekend is Christmas?! It truly feels like this year has just flown by. Wedding planning has served as somewhat of a distraction from my normal holiday enthusiasm, but we've been keeping busy and enjoying the holiday season. 

I had my work Christmas lunch yesterday then treated myself for a mani/pedi afterwards. I now have bright red polish to last me through the holiday season. We have a holiday party, brunch with a friend and a cookie swap this weekend - so the festive spirit will be in full swing!

Have a wonderful weekend (it's the last weekend to shop before Christmas!)

Here are some photos from recent days if you care to see... xo

{ D's famous dollar pancakes }

{ wrapping necessities }

{ our winter mantle set-up }

{ couldn't resist coffee with baileys at the Ritz Bar }

{ tacos + margaritas at our favorite local spot }

{ annual Christmas tree haul! }

{ the sweetest little visitor,  our friends new puppy Wilbur }

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Here are a few links from around the web... 

Upcoming decor trends

'Research' for this weekends cookie swap (I actually think I'm going to try peanut butter fudge!)

I'm looking to tone muscle a bit more, a friend suggested I try these protein cookies to eat after my workouts.

Obviously being in the thick of wedding planning, I have a new perspective on certain topics - I loved this article on 'plus-one' etiquette + these tips for winter weddings! (Thankfully, I think we've managed to navigate as per Vogue's suggestions ;)

Holiday beauty help for simple eye make up looks

I love this list of movies (that are family appropriate) for enjoying over the holidays (we once made the mistake of watching The Hangover with my Grandma on Christmas morning... she was not very impressed!)

Happy to hear Glossier is working on International shipping! And they they have a showroom in NYC now too!

polished

{ Herbivore Coconut Oil Body Polish, $38 }

In an effort to achieve radiant, glowing skin for our wedding day, I've been exfoliating, moisturizing and over analyzing every step of my skin care routine for the past few months.  I have a pretty good handle on my facial products at the moment but realized I needed to up my body-beauty game. With the winter months having officially arrived, my skin is more parched then normal and seems to drink moisturizer. I love everything Herbivore and knew I had to try this body polish after reading the raving reviews on the Sephora website. The polish isn't too harsh of an exfoliant, so it does the job of getting rid of dead skin without leaving your skin red or irritated. And the coconut oil also leaves your skin sooo soft. I'm trying to keep myself from using it during every shower to make it last, but it's addicting! I even have D hooked. During these dry winter months - this stuff's a gift from above. 

my one of a kind finds

{ cookies from the Teeny Tiny bakery }

I look forward to the One of a Kind Christmas show every single year. It's always at the beginning of the holiday season, so I hold out on gift shopping knowing that I'm bound to find some great presents for the majority of recipients on our list. There are always vendors that I look forward to going back for each year and this year there were a ton if new artisans, which was so great to see. I usually plan two trips on weeknights, since I usually am so distracted that I can't get through the show in one evening. I love chatting with the artisans and learning more about their work. Here are some of my treasure's from this years visits::

{ candles scented like places across Canada }

{ fun stationery for friends }

{ the sweetest baby leggings }

{ a handmade mug for a secret santa gift }

{ one of my favorite vendors, Hoi Bo } 

{ a couple of friends are lucky enough to be getting gifts from this year! }

{ handmade stamps for gifts and cards }

{ wardrobe additions: a cotton tank + a silky blouse + a faux-suede turtleneck }

{ for personal beautification :: brightening + exfoliating face mask w/ applicator brush }