HALLOWEEN PARTY

halloween is all about them treats lets be honest. everything bad for you is free range, zero calorie goodness on that day, am i right?!  this year we are the first time in a long time headed out for halloween eve and so i scoured the Pinterest pages to find something spooktactular to make and take.

welcome young frankenstein. 

i openly admit this idea was not my own original thought (wish it was), but what i didn't anticipate when i blocked off a whole evening, dawning my best sweatpants and ponytail to make these, was how quick, easy and little mess it would be.

What you need: All of which i sourced at Michael's, however a good place to go is also your local bulk barn or bake shop.

• medium size marshmallows

• green candy melts 

• edible eyes

• black icing gel

• edible pen in black and red

• bbq skewers

How to do it: Melt your green candy melts following directions on the package (for me with no microwave, i did this by placing the candy in a glass bowl and placing it over a pot of simmering water). Be sure that your candy is well melted and stirred with no clumps. Next place a marshmallow on a skewer and then roll it in your melted green candy, making sure it is well coated. Then place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, or stand it up using a vase to allow the candy to cool slightly. When the candy is still fairly soft, place the eyes on, pushing them into place. I suggest doing all your "bases" for as many as you plan to make now as you will need to allow the candy to cool fully for about 20-30 mins before moving on to the next steps. Once the candy has cooled fully, take your black icing gel and fill in the top of the head creating the hair. Using a toothpick, pull sections of the gel forward at the front of the face to create the look of the hair. Place a dab on either side of the face for the bolts (or ears). Finally draw on the mouth and stitches with using your edible pens.

Why not give it a shot tonight or this weekend if you need a last minute edible conversation starter this halloween.

click here to view the pinterest original post

Happy Halloween

*boo*
happy halloween!!

stumped for last minute halloween costume ideas? read this!

Cocktail Hour - Moscow Mule

i don't know why, but for some reason i always thought a Moscow Mule cocktail was made with milk or cream. perhaps it's because when i hear the word Moscow i think, Russia, cold, lots of white snow and furry parkas. but the other night i tried my first Moscow Mule (after an exceptionally rough day i have to say) and low and behold it wasn't creamy or milky at all. in fact, it was very refreshing and delightfully tart! 

i'm hooked. this is now my new cocktail delight while the days are still a little sunny in the evenings and relatively warm. it's the perfect post work pre-dinner light sipper. this weekend try making your own version and let me know what you think!

ingredients

• 1 oz Vodka
• juice from half a lime
• 1/2 oz organic pomegranate juice (you try other juices to play around with flavours)
• 1/ginger beer
• crushed ice

add the crushed ice to your glass, and follow by adding all the ingredients in the order listed above. Give everything a gentle stir and then add some mint or a lime wedge as a garnish.

Cocktail Hour - Double Berry Gin

images via oomph.

does this cocktail look pretty or what? sometimes you want to add a new spin on an old goodie and sometimes you add that spin with some fruit. this weekend, try pairing this pre- dinner sipper with a selection of savory shortbread cookies, like the Gorgonzola & Pistachio ones from the Coach House Shortbread Company. 

The What:

• 1 highball glass
• 1 oz gin
• muddler or fork
• 1/4 cup blackberries (a few extra for decor)
• cranberry juice
• tonic for topping up
• 1 bay leaf for visual appeal

throw your blackberries in the bottom of your highball glass and use your muddler or fork to crush the berries. next measure out and pour in all the ingredients listed above . then place a few extra blackberries on a skewer and top with a bay leaf. now sit back and enjoy!

for more fun recipes, click here!

Cocktail Hour - The Grapefruit Spritz

for as cute as this cocktail looks, i can tell you it tastes even better! this is the perfect sunny  afternoon girls date cocktail, or a pre-dinner sipper. there is nothing quite like a freshly squeezed citrus cocktail. all you have to do is measure out and pour in the ingredients below. then give it a quick swirl and start enjoying!

The What:

• 1 oz Campari
• juice from half a grapefruit (and a slice for the side)
• sprig of rosemary for decor and scent
• prosecco or champagne to top up the glass
• 1 oz simple syrup*

* for more a simple syrup recipe, click here! & for more fun recipes, click here!

How to Plan Someone a Suprise Trip to Paris

Step 1 - Have a mom who is having a milestone birthday

Step 2 - Add a family who loves to travel

Step 3 - Call her boss and secretly book her a few vacation days off work

Step 4 - Book a flight and hotel in Paris, France

Step 5 - Plan what and how you will pack a suitcase without your mom knowing

Step 6 - Pre-book a black unmarked limo to pick your mom up at work

Step 7 - The day of the surprise give your mom a note on her way to work & mark it 
                                                                                                         not to be opened 
                                                                                                                    until 1:30 pm that day....

a few weeks ago my lovely mom has a milestone birthday. it was important to us that we help her celebrate in style. my momma plans everything for everyone. she is the most caring and giving person when it comes to planning surprises for others, but this time it was for her. so for a few months my dad, two sisters and I planned what would be best birthday present. you see my mom LOVES Paris. love, love, lovessss Paris. so after some secret researching online and clever planning we decided we wanted to surprise her with a trip. One she wouldn't know anything about. 

momma on the plane sipping her first cocktail!

What To Pack for a Surprise Trip to Paris ...

as a rule of thumb, when packing for someone else always air on what i like to call "the over packing model." here is a sampling of what was we packed for our momma for this special birthday trip. just a few things we knew would go perfectly when paired with a Paris vacation. easy to pack items like collapsible black flats and multifunctional accessories are key. since Paris in the late fall can be a little chilly a wool coat (or two) is best, then mix and match some beautiful scarves (click here for different tying options for a simple scarf) and some leather gloves for a very Parisian look. always keep the basics black and colorize with easy layering options like sweaters and shawls. next throw in a Coco Chanel perfume along with a collapsible Longchamp bag. finally, adorn your suitcase with a Monet luggage tag and you are good to go!

once the bag was packed on the big day we all rushed over to the airport to greet the black unmarked car that was carrying a very confused looking mom. after some hugs, laughs, and yes excited tears, we explained that she was off to Paris for a few days, as she literally jumped up and down. she had NO idea! on a scale of 1-10 i would say that this surprise birthday trip was an 11. it was a milestone birthday of a lifetime as she would tell you and we are so very glad she loved every minute of this memory. age is is only a number if you still let yourself feel young and full of adventure.

The Hip Hostess Guide

during the holidays we often head off on little day trips to see family and friends for pre-or post Christmas celebrations. along with the visit we love to take something small as a  hostess gift. choosing something creative for a lad or lady doesn't have to be pricey and in fact some of the most cherished ones have been homemade.  here is a list of my 2013 favourites that we will surely be gifting this season!

1// A Rosemary Tree

2// St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur

3// Copper Milk Warming Pot

4// Homemade Fresh Artisan Bread (recipe here)

5// Kate Spade Notebook & paired with a gold pen

6// Beeswax Candles

7// Homemade Fire Fragrance Log (recipe here)

The 12 Cocktails of Christmas

like me, i am sure that many of you are currently in the throws of bouncing between busy holiday parties and/or holiday hosting planning lists. well, to help make things easier, here are 12 fantastic Christmas cocktails to get everyone in the festive spirit, or at take the edge off any busy running around. heck, you could even taste test one a day until Christmas if you so desire! enjoy and happy holidays!

(from top left to bottom right)

                          1// Champagne Velvet                        2//Apple & Ginger Burbon

                          3// Spiced Eggnog                                4// Burnt Karamel
                          5// Simpleton                                         6// Triple Berry Moijtos
                          7// White Mulled Wine                       8// Candy Cane Cocktail
                          9// Cranberry Champagne Fizz     10// Boozy Hot Chocolate     
                        11// Baileys Chai Swizzle                    12// Calvados Maple Cocktail

Easy Last Minute Costume Ideas

1 via, 2 via, 3 via, 4 via,5 via

if you haven't figured out a halloween costume yet and you know you might need one, why not try one of these very simple ideas. any of the ones you see here will get you in the trick or treat spirit, or ready for some last minute halloween shindig plans.

1// Little Red  - get a bit of red fabric at your local store (or use an old red sheet if you have) and attach two strings to create the draped look of a cape with hood, then throw on a red outfit, red lips and add a basket
2// Holly Golightly - using any sleep mask you can find, paint it a bright blue, then throw on a man's white dress shirt and some slippers
3// Rosie the Riveter - for this one all you need is a bright scarf or bandana for your hair and a simple jean shirt – oh and maybe some muscle
4// The Bat - using garbage bag cut out the size and shape of your desired bat wings, next staple them to an old black shirt. make some simple pointy ears out of black paper and hot glue them to a headband
5// Angry Cat - this one is likely the easiest of them all since it's just make-up. replicate this look above and to go the extra mile by throwing on a white turtle neck

Traditional & Modern Turkey Day Tablescapes

pic 1 via, pic 2 via

i'm hosting thanksgiving this year, which is really our first big attempt to have a bunch of family in our still relatively new home. we've also decided to test our culinary skills and barbeque the bird (all 17 pounds of it!). ok i'll admit i'm a little worried it actually won't fit on our barbeque, but at least that clears out my oven for other things. growing up i watched my mother take such great pride in setting the dining table for holiday family gatherings. as i got older i got more involved in helping her pick out the china and linens, and design creative centerpieces with flowers and gourds. sure some of this seems like fluff to some people, but even as i get older i still love that feeling of dusting off my handed down silverware and crystal glasses. i  believe that setting a festive table shouldn't be something that adds stress to your day, or even costs a whole lot. there are so many creative ideas  using what you already own in different combinations. but, to help anyone planning a thanksgiving feast this long weekend, here are two suggestions that include a traditional mix & match tablescape, and a more modern minimalistic option, both of which  won't break the bank!

pic 1 via, pic 2 via

Picnic Party

right now it is perfect picnic weather in the city. toronto has finally gotten a bit of a break from the melting heatwave making it actually enjoyable to frolic outside. this now makes me giddy for a picnic. the idea of dining alfresco with close friends, or my handsome better half, kicking off our shoes, eating brunch foods - which should always include glorious cheeses – while sitting under a tree sipping a minosa, is. the. best. i highly recommend making some picnic plans before the fall arrives. if you don't already have picnic fever, then here are a list of essentials to help you pull together the perfect picnic party. luckily you really don't need much and some of this you might already have. but,  if you want to do it in style, then here are a few pieces to get you feeling inspired.

1. Vintage Wicker Basket - Local Value Village

2. Tuffo Water- Resistant Indoor/Outdoor Blanket, Bed Bath & Beyond

3. Retro Fondue Plates, Etsy

4. Lighthouse Carafe, Drake General Store

5. Paper Straws, Urban Outfitters

6. Distinctly Home Printed Cloth Napkins, The Bay

7. Crosley Songbird Radio Speaker, Urban Outfitters

8. Colour Block Picnic Utensils, Anthropologie

Movember Madness

 

It's officially that time of year once again when the moustaches come out to shine. It's Movember Madness everyone! For anyone who doesn't already know about this rapidly growing event,   it's a time that most men get a little excited about not shaving (and no, it's not playoff hockey related ... not this year anyways...) and allow their inner macho ego to step out while raising funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate cancer research. If you are anyone who knows me and knows me well, you'll already know I love the moustaches. I think they are absolutely hilarious and should be admired on the best of occasions – I mean check out my 30th birthday shindig for example. 

To all the non-stache growers out there reading this, let's get ready to show our own support and encourage participation this November. Inspire guys to get involved! Help everyone globally raise not only awareness but funds in an effort to fight nasty cancer. For Mo Sistas, get into it by sporting your own little stache in the form of a key chain, necklace, ring, or even temporary tattoo. There are some great finds on Etsy for items like that. Heck, throw a fundrasing stache party with staches on sticks. Regardless of how you do it, it's a good time to do something that shows we care about our guys and these growing issues that affect them. 

So, to all the men out there ... let the games begin.  

Recycled & Restyled

With a bunch of summer birthday's, upcoming weddings and friends having babies, I'm constantly gift wrapping lots of little goodies, but lately I've decided to make more of a conscious effort to upcycle instead of buying wrapping paper, and cut back on my environmental waste. My always clever thinking boyfriend fiance (ever since I have known him) has more often than not wrapped my gifts with old newspapers, picking the fun sections that he knows I like. This idea here using magazines, is not so different from that. 

Start by selecting a few publications that you no longer need, then tear out a number of pages and trim the edges. Often times, I tend to select pages that relate to the gift I am giving. Depending on the size of your item, tape together the appropriate number of tear pages that will give enough coverage. In the gift you see here, I needed four pages to wrap a set of six steak knives. Since some magazine paper is thinner than others, I suggest using a little tissue paper or kleenex around your item as padding to help avoid any tearing of thin paper when wrapping. Add a homemade bow, or colourful card and you're done! Get inspired and also try using old poems, maps, CD covers or posters. Take brown paper bags and stamp/paint on a metallic pattern, or wrap it with colourful tape. Try making bows, puffs, or other decorative pieces out of recycled items to add on the top of your gifts. There are so many options and none of these will hurt your wallet. For other ideas, check out Furokshiki or Wrap It Up: Holiday gift giving

Vanilla Iced Tea

 

A perfect park lunch date recently with two lovely ladies stirred up an old love for homemade iced tea. Needed: big mixing bowl, 4-5 cups of hot water, 2 tbsp honey (I like local honey as it helps with my allergies), 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice, 5-6 slices of peach (a few extra for serving), 2-3 tablespoons of loose leaf vanilla tea and a strainer.

How To: Grab a small pot and boil the cups of water until it is nice and hot. Then remove from heat and add your loose leaf tea stirring only gently once or twice. Let the tea steep for about 2-3 minutes, or depending on how strong you like the flavour. Take your bowl and either place or hold your strainer over top while pouring the pot of warm tea over straining out the loose leaf. While the water is warm stir in your honey. Next add your lemon juice and peach slices. Allow the mixture to cool on the counter for a little while. If you are making this last minute, you can add a few ice cubes to help it cool faster. Once it has cooled pour into a glass jar and store in the fridge. When ready, pull it out, pour over ice cubes in a glass and garnish with an extra peach slice. 

Our Engagement Party

At the end of June we celebrated our engagement with a party. It was a great chance for both sides of our families to mix and mingle in a fun and semi-formal way! There was lots of bright colours, handmade pasta, balloons, red velvet cake and DIY decorations. The day was filled with overwhelming generosity and love. We are both so very blessed to have such lovely people in our lives. We now cannot wait to decorate and use some of the fantastic items we received in our new home! Now with the party being over we are even more eager for the upcoming partying that will take place at our wedding. To everyone who made that day so memorable – a HUGE thank you. To go along with this post listen and enjoy the new playlist in the player! Ps. I decided to post this on our very last anniversary as a "dating" couple, before the adventure begins. Happy 9 years to you babe! I could never have found anyone better than you.

O' Canada, Eh!

Why not add a little Canadian patriotism feel to your wardrobe this weekend to show a little love for Canada Day. Here are a few excellent fashion finds to help you do just that, paired with perfect accessories to boot. Red Safari Shirt by Zara, Amazing Grace Eau de Parfum Spray by Philosophy at Sephora, Etsy - Small White Silk Knot Bracelet by Brinkle, Lomography La Sardina Flash DXL Analogue Camera at Urban Outfitters, Etsy - White Silk Chunky Pyramid Necklace by Brinkle, Chanel Rouge Allure Excessive Lipstick, Pique Short by Zara, Shepard Fairey X Incase iPad Case at HomeOutfitters and Kaari Dress by Marimekko. Enjoy whatever you may get up to this weekend, whether it's camping, glamping, bbq's, beach time, fireworks or some much needed quiet r & r! xoxox.

A Watermelon Keg

Full photo credit and idea comes from: http://prudentbaby.com/2012/06/entertaining-food/how-to-make-a-watermelon-keg-and-agua-fresca-too/

Sometimes you come across an idea that makes you literally fall off your chair, and this one is one of them. The second I saw this concept I had to share it, and immediately started to pen down other large fruits, and even some vegetables, to try. The possibilities appear to be endless. With that being said, full credit for this entire post goes to the lovely ladies of the Prudent Baby blog. Even the photos used are entirely theirs (I just added my own captions on top). With the Canada Day long weekend approaching most why not plan a little backyard party just to test out and throw this delicious idea into the mix. Wow your guests and play around with different drink mixes that work with the watermelon flavour. It even makes an interesting party table decor should you need to bring the good times indoors for any reason. For a full step-by-step how-to of this project visit the Prudent Baby Watermelon Keg post. If anyone does try this, please post a comment or share a photo!

Mexican Moustache Fiesta: Hello 30's

Now that March has arrived the offical countdown to my 30's is on and what better way to kick off this new age, then to throw a Dirty 30 Mexican Fiesta & Moustache party! It was a killer hilarious evening with great friends, mini-sombrero's, spicy salsa, guacamole, homemade sangria, mini-cupcakes, pina colada's, moustaches and more. A memorable and fantastic way to get pumped for this new age. I was also able to check off one to do item from the Napkin List (section of the blog). Check out the hilarious party pictures below and throw yourself your own mexican or moustache party!

 

 

What a great night! It's funny, but lately people ask me if i'm worried to leave my 20's, but the truth is, I actually think that's such a silly question. Getting older doesn't scare me, the idea of not living each day to the fullest does. Instead I choose to focus on continuing to learn more about myself, understanding how to stay young at heart, learning how to be a better person, checking more items of my bucket list, travelling the world and always surrounding myself with great friends and good laughs. I think my 30's will be a great time and I can't wait to see what else is coming. Thanks to everyone for coming out that night! xoxo.