Etsy Monday: Phrenology Skull Light

Photo Credit: shavingkitsupplies

If you ever study Communications, Psychology or Sociology you will most definitely learn about Phrenology. It is a 19th century neuro-scientific theory which hypothesises that personality traits can be attributed to the shape of the skull [to describe it quickly]. I always enjoyed contemplating Phrenology and linking it to more current theories regarding personality traits, so when I hopped onto Etsy today, I was delighted to see this adorable skull lamp with a "Phrenological-twist" made by shavingkitsupplies.

These would be amazing as Halloween party decorations, wouldn't they? Then, after the holiday is over, it would make for a conversation-starting decor piece at any time of year in your home.

What do you think of this unique piece?

Tasty Tuesday: Pumpkin Cranberry Loaf

Photo Credit: FoodTv.ca

For Thanksgiving I tried out a recipe I'd never made before. I'd bought these cute little loaf pans from Michaels, but unfortunately they were more novelty than practical and the dessert I made in them didn't exactly turn out exactly as I'd hoped. Of the three I made, only one turned out, but apparently it was delicious which made me quite proud. So without further ado, here is the yummy recipe for pumpkin cranberry loaf!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 egg
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• zest of one orange
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup orange, juice
• 1 1/2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
2. Sift together flour, baking soda and powder, salt and spices and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir in pumpkin purée, orange zest and vanilla. Stir in orange juice. Add dry ingredients in additions and blend just until incorporated. Fold in cranberries.
4. Spoon batter into loaf pan and bake in center of oven for 60 to 75 minutes until a tester inserted into the loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool before slicing.

I did mine in a small ceramic loaf pan and it took slightly longer than the indicated cooking time here.

What dessert did you make for Thanksgiving?

As seen on the Food Network show Sugar.

Wedding Wednesday: Dance Down the Aisle

I was pointed to this youtube video today by the hand of the amazing Mix Mingle Glow blog. Would you ever do something like this?



I admit I teared up a little as I waited for the bride [though her dance moves made me wonder if she'd even practiced] but the heart in this display of love is just huge and this couple is lucky to have this memory!

Wedding Wednesday: Vendor Hiring Guide

Photo Credit: Blue Orchid Blog

As soon as I saw this post come through my Twitter feed yesterday, I knew it would become my Wedding Wednesday post. Blue Orchid Designs is a wedding planning firm based out of Arizona, New York and DC and their blog is chock-full of useful information and inspiring images and ideas. Owner Liene Stevens also fronts a wedding industry social media consulting company called Splendid Communications with a great blog for vendors called Think Splendid. It is definitely some of my fave blog-candy around.

Yesterday she posted a compact little guide for brides on her blog to help them hire the necessary vendors to make their day a success. It is a compilation of posts from a series she authored over the course of a few months all neatly packaged together as a printable e-book. The Wedding Vendor Hiring Guide has useful information for hiring your wedding planner, florist, DJ, officiant, caterer, photographer and more. It covers some basic and not-so-basic questions to remember when interviewing your vendors and serves as an excellent jump-off point for your wedding planning if you are just starting.

Enjoy your free download!

Etsy Monday: blackbirdfashion Sock Monkeys

So one of the perks of being an auntie is to be completely and utterly over-the-top on gift giving occasions, right? My [basically] sister's baby Jackson just turned 7 months old a few days ago, but I am already hunting down the perfect theme for his First birthday in December. I've been throwing around ideas like 'Jackson in 'One'derland', Vintage Circus and Alphabet Blocks. I bought a Sock Monkey a few weeks ago at, of all places, Shoppers Drug Mart, in hopes that I would find more adorable items to complement this theme and create an amazing birthday party out of it. The first thing that went through my head when I saw it on the shelf was 'Our Little Monkey Turns One!', how cute would that be on invitations? I turned to Etsy for some more inspiration...

Photo Credit: blackbirdfashion

blackbirdfashion on Etsy has given me a decidedly large push in this direction. Just take a look at her beautiful sock monkeys and 'socktopi' [yes, she makes something called a Socktopus!]. All of these little monkeys are giving me incredible inspirations- they are all so cute, especially these Siamese twins, 'Julius' and 'Edsel'!


She has some 'baby' monkeys that are smaller and are actually made from sweaters and sport a pattered 'fur' like this striped cutie below.



I will keep you updated on the theme that is ultimately chosen for Jackson's First Birthday, but this is a clear frontrunner to me. Do you like Sock Monkeys? What theme do you think should be used for Jackson's party?

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Relaxation

Photo Credit: MyCamdenWedding.com

Weddings are stressful, no bones about it. Leading up to the wedding, you can go through a range of emotions that you didn't even know existed! You may be dealing with budget issues, guest list anxieties, trouble securing suitable vendors, DIY projects up to your eyeballs - all on top of your regular life which can cause stress. Your stress can lead to unwelcome visitors like neck and back pain, anxiety, fatigue, raised blood pressure and a number of other symptoms that don't lend themselves well to your wedding-glow.

Since I am going to the spa today with my sister to get a massage, it started me thinking about brides [and grooms! and bridal parties!] getting a stress-relieving massage on their wedding day or the day before. I have been working on a number of different events lately that have me working at all hours of the day and a massage is definitely what I need to help melt away some of my tensions. I am getting headaches more frequently and I know that even just a few minutes on the table make me feel infinitely more relaxed... I am looking forward to it, needless to say! The same can work for brides on their wedding day. It doesn't have to be a full body 90 minute rub-down, even just an upper back neck and shoulders massage for 15-30 minutes can ease the stress and prepare you mentally for your big day. It can be a wonderful group activity for the key members of the wedding party so that everyone has a clearer head and is a little more zen. You deserve to be pampered on your wedding day, so why not look into bringing a masseuse or massage team in for a treat? Many spas offer bridal and group packages, so be sure to inquire about the different rates available.

Photo Credit: GreenBliss EcoSpa

Bridal Yoga might also be a cool way for you to bliss out and connect with yourself just before your wedding. Inquire at your local yoga studio to see if you can arrange a private gentle yoga class the week of or day of your wedding for you and your wedding party.

Are you planning any relaxation treatments on or just before your wedding day?

Tasty Tuesday: Corn on the Cob

Photo Credit: stevendepolo

Is it weird that the boy's parents and my parents haven't met yet? We've been together for nearly two years, but Saturday will be the first time they've ever formally "met" each other. We are a little nervous, but I know it will go great. His mother is making a wonderful big meal for everyone which will include a roast and corn on the cob. Do you like corn on the cob? I was never much a fan of it as a kid, but I grew to really like the sweet crunch and hot juiciness of the delicious kernels. Smothering it in butter is my favourite way to enjoy the summer delight, but there are dozens of alternative toppings that you can try.

Canadian Living Magazine rounded up some interesting flavours to sample. Here is one I might try:

Provence Butter:
1/4 cup butter, softened; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; and 3/4 tsp herbes de Provence.

How do you like to eat corn on the cob?

Etsy Monday: wevegotpaper Letter Set

Another cute party favour find for Etsy Monday, wevegotpaper 's sweet little Swirly Ivy letter set. These would look great in a gift basket for your bridesmaids! They would also be a perfect 'last-minute' hostess gift to have at the ready for impromptu visits to a friend's. Bonus points" wevegotpaper is Canadian!

Frugal Friday: Will Anyone Notice?

There are hundreds, even thousands of ways to reduce the cost of your event. One great way to cut back? Ask yourself the following question whenever you find yourself coveting an upgrade or detail that you are having a hard time justifying: "Will anyone notice if we don't do/have this?". I recently had a meeting with one of my clients and we were discussing menu options from a list from our caterer. She was undecided between entrees and wanted to choose two different ones to satisfy everyone, even though she knew mostly everyone would be happy with the one [cheaper!] option. So I said to her "Your guests will enjoy this option very much, and if you don't offer them this other choice in addition, how will they know any different? They will simply enjoy the meal that they are served.". Needless to say, she nixed the idea of the second entree and stuck with only one, saving over $500 on catering costs.

Of course it is fun and fulfilling to work on small details of your event to make it your own and exactly as you envisioned it, but it is realistic to know that some guests probably won't notice or appreciate as much as you had hoped. If you have a budget to accommodate as many details large or small as you wish, then by all means, go crazy with as much as you want! But if you are looking for ways to trim your budget, give this trick a try and see how many things, when you take a step back and rationalise, really won't matter to you in the long run. Remember that events are about you and your guests having a great time and anything that will cause you stress or financial woes is not worth getting in the way of that goal!

everyone loves cupcakes: Canada Day Edition!

As promised, here is a picture of the patriotic cupcakes I made for Canada Day. I wish I had more pictures, because they were so cool! They were vanilla cake with a red icing injection inside. I used this method to "fill" the cupcakes with my sweet surprise. They went over great!