Pulling Weeds in the Later Afternoon Sun - Fooooour!

Spring.

Probably my favourite season for flowers. Coming out of the winter funk, smelling the sweet scents and looking at the bright colours always lifts my spirits.

Here are a few lovely pictures for inspiration. As always, check for availability in your area. Also, please note that there are regulations in certain areas. For example, in Ontario dogwood is in bloom but since it's the provincial flower, florists are not permitted to sell it. If you want dogwood, look for a beautiful silk :)

Allium

Anemone

Apple Blossom

Billy Buttons

Celosia

Cherry Blossom


Daffodil

Dogwood

Freesia

Iris

Liatris

Lilac

Lily of the Valley

Lisianthus

Narcissus

Peony

Quince

Ranunculus

Snapdragon

Sweet Pea

Tulip

Violet

Waxflower

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Your Eyes So Blue So Bright

So I'm addicted to Etsy. That's not news. And because of the long weekend I'm overdue with my weekly bridal Etsy finds. I'll get to that as soon as I can.

I found something even cooler though. Well, it's amusing me right now, that's for sure.

Etsy :: Colours


You move your cursor over the page, find a colour you like, click and Etsy will automatically search it's database for any items listed that have that colour.

How AWESOME is that?!

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There's a Land That I Heard Of

I made a funny realization the other day. No, not that I'm not a big Judy Garland fan (see blog title). I was thinking about favourite movies and how much of a movie snob I am. I think we had just come home from The Dark Knight and were tearing it apart. Even though I loved that movie, I thought about all the others that were just okay in my books.

I'm a bit off my point though. I was thinking about my favourite movies.

My two most beloved flicks were made in different decades, have very different actors and draw very different viewers. Yet they make perfect sense to me ... and I only last week realized they are both (loosely) about the same thing ... weddings! More specifically, weddings to the wrong people. Don't let that keep you away from these movies though.

The first one is a movie most of you know, have scene and hopefully love. The Princess Bride. I don't think I need to really explain this one too much as I see couples add pieces of it to their own weddings (the below isn't me but I'm guilty as charged, too).



If you haven't had the opportunity though, sit down with it and be ready to laugh :)

My most cherished movie of all is one that not many people would suspect of me nor have many heard of. In fact, it gets mixed up all the time with another movie that is nothing like it. Then again, there is nothing like this movie.

The Philadelphia Story.

It's an old black and white flick with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart that I could put on repeat and watch over and over all day long. Honestly, I don't want to say anything about the movie other than FIND IT. It's not for everyone but even if I could convert a dozen or so people over to the splendor of the witty dialog, my job is done ;)

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Closing Time

The call for entries in the .: BLOG CONTEST :. is now over! All of the judges have some heavy reading and deciding to do. We're hoping to have a decision on the finalists within a week so stay tuned. For a full list on additional prizes, keep reading ...


Additional Prizes have been added!

* In-Studio Boudoir Shoot With .: JBSmith Photography :.

* Engagement Session: $225 (includes a $75 print credit)
- 2 hours of photography in a location of your choice.
- online proofing and slideshow
Courtesy .: Irina Photography :.

* One Free Updo on location in her salon with .: Hair By Gera :.

* .: Vivian's Decoration & Design :. is offering half pricing on a Head Table/Cake Table/Receiving Table Combo (regular price $400, now $200)

* .: Serendipity Crafts :. is adding to the prizes with a donation of a personalized wedding tile + a $20 gift certificate to Serendipity-Crafts.com *OR* a souvenir plate.

* A Trash-the-Dress session (value $250) from .: SugarTree Photography :.!

* One Hour Performance by the talented .: Derek Macrae :. ... valid Mon-Fri so perfect for a rehearsal!

* .: MGX Productions :. is offering 25% off any of their Video Packages

* How about a cake? .: Kake Kreations :. is offering $250 off of a cake valued at $500 or more. I can attest her work is YUMMY!!!

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From the Minute You Saw It

Time for the weekly Esty finds!

This time I thought I'd go with a theme ... all about the bride herself. Weddings are one of those times when we can shop for ourselves and other people don't think we're incredibly selfish ;) Here are some things that might catch your fancy!


This is a great start for brides-to-be when they first get engaged. If you're not the type of person that likes to carry a big binder around, this recycled notebook by ivylanedesigns a great compromise.


What a great novelty item to simply indulge in! String it on some black leather or a chain of your choice. Brought to you by BubbaAndDoodle.


bouquetcreations has something for the bride who doesn't really want flowers. Instead, why not walk down the aisle carrying this lovely bouquet made of pearls? They even have other works of art with leaves and snippets of ribbons.


I have been struggling with which tiara to post for quite some time. I think I'm going to devote an entire post to them one day. This one is elegant yet funky enough for the bride who wants to stand out a little bit. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifmerrittgade has a few dainty designs that show off that lovely 'do'!

AND ... my favourite of the week ...


Yes, something eco-friendly was bound to make my list. This beautiful bamboo wedding dress by isadoraclothing can actually be worn different ways as you can twist and tie certain sections. And what makes me like it even more??? The seller is from my hometown of Victoria, B.C.! Woohoo!

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How Bizarre, How Bizarre

Never in my life did I think I'd be blogging about this. Then again, I didn't think I would own one of the following. But I do. And I'm glad.

For my birthday this year, my wonderful grandmother tucked one of these in her care package for me. At first I thought it was kind of odd but I decided recently to grow it ...


Right now I'm in about week two of this little plant. And by golly (yes, golly), it's growing! I'm not sure how long it will last or what it's supposed to do but here's a quick rundown ...

In the package you receive a pot, 'soil' and a bean with a message. You simply put a bit of 'soil' in the pot, place the bean in, add more soil, give it some water and watch what happens. For those having troubles visualizing it, here are some more lovely web pics ;)

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Pulling Weeds in the Later Afternoon Sun - Third Installment

For all of you winter brides, here is my quick guide on flowers to look for. As always, ask your florist if they're in season in your area!

Amaryllis - yes again ;)

Daffodil

Ginestra

Hyacinth

Mimosa

Paperwhite Narcissus

Star of Bethlehem

Tulip

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Baby, What a Big Surprise

Fantastic news while I was shopping today. Not only did I successfully find what I was looking for but I came across a postcard with some exciting information! For anyone in the Durham region that might be tired of going to the big grocery stores or looking for those local markets only to find out they're closed, there's a new solution ... durham Organics!

They put together bins of fresh, organic produce from local farms and deliver straight to your door. You can choose from four different levels, each one with it's own benefits. The produce does not travel more than 100kms, when delivering they use their efficient Hybrid van, they commit to carbon offsets ... the list goes on.

Check out the website. I'm hoping this leads to more organic caterers in the area, too ... perfect for events!

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To a Valley in the Spring Time

Last year I stumbled upon an amazing little flower that has quickly become a favourite. In the GTA you can find it in late summer/early fall (or at least I did) but to be honest, I'm not sure what's seasonal. It is grown commercially in in South Africa but a florist would have to help me out with what happens here.

The thing that was most interesting to me to find out? It's common name is Blushing Bride :)

To see more pics and read up on some info, click on 'Keep Reading' ...

Here's a great link that explains a bit more about this mysterious flower ... Protea - Blushing Bride

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Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!

Congratulations to ... us!

The crew at Moments That Shine was ecstatic to find out that the blog has been selected by Best Wedding Blogs as one of the only THREE Canadian blogs currently listed on their site!



Many thanks to all of our guest authors that make this an exciting place to visit and to Stacie at Best Wedding Blogs for adding us on! :)

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A Slice of Advice

Choosing your wedding cake should be one of the most enjoyable aspects to planning your wedding. Here are a few details to consider before you get started:

Be prepared:

Before booking your appointment, you will need to spend a little time researching not only cake designers, but designs as well. Find out from recently married friends who they would recommend, get referrals from your other vendors, search wedding forums and blogs. Word of mouth is often the best way to find your ideal cake provider.
To help you figure out your design, search the Internet & clip pictures from magazines. Get a good idea of what you like and what you don’t. Make sure you bring along any images you find so that your designer can see what style of cake you are wanting. Also bring along any fabric swatches that you may want to coordinate, dress images - basically anything that inspires you. Your ideal wedding cake should not only reflect you as a couple, but should also reflect the theme and feeling of your wedding.

Know your limits:

Weddings can be expensive, and staying on track with your budget can be difficult. Make sure you have a budget in mind before meeting your cake designer. Designer cakes will cost designer prices. Our cakes start from $6.00/serving and can go upwards of $20/serving. Our average cost for cakes that serve 100 people is between $600-$850. If your budget is an important issue, make sure you discuss that with your cake designer. Then they can provide you with some options in order to try to reduce costs.

The Bait & Switch:

One note about saving costs: getting a smaller display cake (be it real or fake) and having additional kitchen cakes for the extra servings does not always save on costs despite what the magazines state. A kitchen cake still needs to be the same in appearance as the main cake (ie: same number of layers - it's not simply a single layer sheet cake like you can get at the wholesale food stores). Most private bakers only supply kitchen cakes when there is the need for the additional servings above and beyond what the main display cake will yield, and in most cases they will not supply the additional cakes if the main cake serves 100 people or less.

It’s all in the details:

Order your cake as early as possible. Anywhere from 6-9 months or more in advance is preferred. Some months are busier than others – prime wedding season will book up early – so plan ahead!

Know how approximately how many guests will be attending and be sure to have a good idea as to how you will be serving the cake: as the main dessert or later with coffee on the sweet table. These details are important to determining the size of the cake.

Think about how you will be displaying your cake. Today the cake is seen as the centerpiece of your reception, so proper display and placement should be considered. Most cake designers do not include table arrangement, decoration or design in the costs of the cake. So if you want something special for the display, be sure to consult with not only your decorator and florist, but your cake designer as well so that the ideal presentation can be created on your wedding day.

Decide if you want to save the top tier. This tradition was fine during the days fruitcake was the common wedding cake choice. But with today’s butter cakes, buttercreams, and other finishes, the idea of saving the top tier has become less important. If you still want to keep with tradition, make sure to tell your cake designer. They will need to size the cake accordingly.

Be prepared to pay a deposit once you decide upon your cake designer. This is necessary to guarantee your date. Due to the amount of time involved with custom wedding cakes, many cake artists will only take on a few bookings per month, so they book up early. If you want a custom and unique wedding cake, be sure to book early!

Make sure to find out if there are any delivery fees, set up costs, or other additional fees. Delivery fees are common, especially if the baker needs to travel a great distance from their studio. Set up fees are sometimes needed when the cake design is one that must be set up on site. Additional fees would pertain to cake stand rentals or other display materials that must be secured with a deposit and returned. Please note that in Ontario, there should never be any taxes applied to the sale of your wedding cake. Therefore you should not be charged either G.S.T or P.S.T on the sale of any whole cake in Ontario.

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Shut Up and Drive

Something that's fantastic for those of us who live in urban areas but don't have cars ... ZIP CARS! The basic philosophy is that you take out a membership with them, reserve your car, pick it up and then drive away. You don't have the worries involved with owning a car but you have the ease of getting around where public transit won't go.

Zip Cars are all through North America and in your particular area there are sure to be many pick-up and drop-off locations. What I also love about this is the company's green statement ...

"As the largest car sharing company in the world, we have learned through extensive research about the significant, positive environmental impact of car sharing. There are three major effects:

Members shed cars. Over 40% of our members decide against purchasing a car, or end up selling their car.

They drive less. Car usage of individuals is reduced by as much as 50%.

They use other transportation. Members use the most efficient means of transportation for the task — walking, biking, public transportation, taxi or Zipcar.

With each Zipcar replacing over 15 privately-owned vehicles, we're changing the urban landscape.
Older cars are replaced with new ones that have more stringent pollution controls.

Green space is preserved as fewer parking spaces are required to meet the driving needs of the same number of people.

Less strain on urban parking infrastructure — saving businesses, governments, and universities money.

Lower fuel consumption means fewer greenhouse gas emissions and particulates.

And yes, less congestion on the roads.

Zipcar is a critical element of the transportation network of many cities and universities, enabling residents, students and businesses to get rid of their cars and still meet their transportation needs.

At Zipcar, we also take pride in the fact that we promote a deeper sense of community as members within a small geographic area share a common resource and the money saved, reported by members to be over $5,000 per year, gets spent locally."

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You Light Up My Days

Are you planning on burning candles at your event? Actually, as a 'typical woman' I love candles just around the house. Something about candlelight makes everything look better ... softer even.

What many people don't know is there is actually a more planet-responsible candles everyone can buy. The average candles most people buy can contain nasties like soot, formaldehyde and lead. Any way you slice it, those things aren't good for us to be inhaling over a romantic dinner! But don't fear ... there are some simple things you can do ...
To keep soot emissions to a minimum, keep your wicks trimmed and place the candle away from any kind of draft. To cut down on possible chemicals, avoid buying any scented and gelatinous petroleum candles. And with the lead dilemma, here's a tip from Health Canada ... test your wick by peeling apart any fibre in the wick and seeing if it has a metallic core. If it does, rub it on white paper. If you see a gray smudge, it's probably lead so you're best to toss it.

This may leave you wondering what to buy!

North American-made candles normally do not contain lead nor do products from IKEA. If you want to be really safe though, look at replacing your candles with those made of beeswax or soy. Not only are they better for you but they're often longer-lasting! You can find many of these products in stores now (in Toronto check out places like Organic Lifestyle and Grassroots) and even online.

Happy hunting,

Susan

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Look at that Green

Woohoo! I stumbled upon the news of this book tonight and can't wait for December! Check out the description ...


The Green Bride Guide is a comprehensive, easy-to-access resource for anyone interested in planning a green wedding. It provides readers with general advice and specific eco-friendly ideas for making their wedding more beautiful and more sustainable. The Green Bride Guide emphasizes elegance, ease, individual taste, and the sense that there’s no need to give up a treasured ideal of a wedding in order to lessen its impact on the Earth.

Using a simple chronological structure, The Green Bride Guide makes planning a green wedding easy. Chapter topics include: Engagement, Location, The Eco-Chic Bride, Greening the Groom and Bridal Party, Green Save-the-Dates, Invitations & Wedding Websites, Sustainable Flowers, Transportation, Guest Comfort, The Green Ceremony, The Green Reception, Green Food & Drink, Green Music & Memories, Green Gift Giving and Receiving, and Green Honeymoons. Each section offers low, medium and high end ideas, with resources and web links in each category to help you plan a green wedding on any budget. The Green Bride Guide is an invaluable reference tool for any environmentally conscious pair looking to start their lives together in a way that is consistent with their values and beliefs.

Available in December 2008.

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On the Boulevard

My first purchase from Etsy has arrived!!!!!!! Many thanks to the wonderful peartreeri in making it a fabulous experience that has since addicted me ;)

To view what I bought, keep reading ...

My husband and I recently bought the home we had been renting for a couple years (long story). It's funny because as soon as the papers were signed, we immediately saw all of those little things we wanted to change. Our house number was one of those things. It used to be one of those boring faux-gold things that just didn't let people know anything about our style as soon as they pull up in the driveway. Well, now with our purchase, I think guests will be greeted beautifully!

Oh ... and if you ever come over to my place, the number below isn't my actual address number ... this picture was just better ;)

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