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There isn't really a more important time in one's life than when having a baby. And when two people you absolutely love and adore announce that they're becoming first-time parents there isn't a more exciting time as a friend.
Reem and Craig dropped by for a visit one weekend last summer and right before they left, Reem gave us the good news. Besides instant jubilation, my Planner Brain started in full force and the next nine months (yeah, I refuse to do weeks) flew by. After all, I don't have a sister, my brother is a mere fifteen years old and almost all of my close friends with babies are far from me. This was my opportunity to become an honourary aunt!!! It's all about the baby though, right? ;)
I'm not sure how it started or why but I decided to call the baby 'Sweet Pea' ... and it kind of stuck. Every month I would package up some kind of a Sweet Pea related gift and mail it off to Reem. Hopefully it was as fun for her as it was for me!
Christmas rolled around and Reem was VERY pregnant. What better gift than a portrait session with .: JBSmith Photography :.? I picked up a gift certificate from Jessica and then made sure Reem arranged to have the session when I was planning her top-secret Sweet Pea baby shower! There were quite a few hiccups but we managed to get all of her friends here for the day before the session for a nice surprise. Before I go into the shower itself, I'd love for you to tune in tomorrow to read Jessica's post about the portrait session. Perhaps backwards but it works ;)
Tomorrow is Baby's 120th day with all of us so we'll continue this story then ...
June 26, 2009
Forever Isn't Far, It's Coming Soon
June 25, 2009
There Is A Town In North Ontario
This week I went on a hunt for cool finds either in Toronto (or the areas closeby) or things about Toronto. I found a great assortment!
Sam the Record Man was an icon in Toronto and is sadly now gone. Thankfully there were photographers such as .: digitalkangaroo :. around to document the landmark. 
.: allthingsjenuine :. comes up with great paper art! The Etsy shop may be closing soon so also be sure to check out the website at .: THIS LINK :.
Hot weather is here and we all need a little relief. Spice up your wardrobe with a shirt like this from .: PrettyRaccoon :.
.: greavesdesign :. wants you to add some colour into your wardrobe with these great cuffs!
If you're looking for a gift for the newlyweds in your calander, how about some beautiful ceramic bowls by .: lurearts :.? I know I use mine all the time!
I was fortunate enough to meet .: kateszabone :. at Christmas last year as she hand-delivered a gift I had made for my best friend. Lovely woman and her jewellery is outstanding!
A bit out of the way of Toronto but I had to feature this next artist anyhow. .: jellybeans :. does these colourful paintings sure to brighten up anyone's room :)
.: bananastrudel :. has dug up something very close to my heart. And old-fashioned map of where I grew up. I just may have to bid on this one myself.
.: gotamago :. has come up with a perfect case to carry all of your travel documents in!
My favourite of the week ... something I'm kind of conflicted with since I'm not a big fan of the TTC ... but this necklace by .: storybeads :. is so innovative, colourful and FUN that I *had* to share it :)
June 24, 2009
In That Second Of A Shooting Star
Autumn and Mat's wedding was nothing short of a page out of a fairytale. From getting married in the church at the historic .: Trafalgar Castle :. to celebrating with those they are closest to at .: Deer Creek Golf Club :., everything about the day was perfect. Even the windy, cold, gray weather didn't dampen spirits. The day was particularly great for me as I was able to work with some vendors I love ... our very own Kelly from .: Makeup In Motion :. did Autumn's makeup :)
The fabulous Jenn of .: 360 Photography :. documented the day and was kind enough to share the pictures with me. In turn I'd like to share some of them with you!
Autumn and her lovely ladies in hot pink
A beautiful shot of the chapel.
Mat and his men ... waiting ...
The star of the show and ring bearer ...
Beautiful décor by .: Annie Lane Events & Décor :.
Guests were entertained right from the get-go by the band Autumn & Mat found.
.: Orbit Sound :. provided the timely recorded tunes.
Check out Autumn's change of dress for the reception.
Mat's dad delivered a moving speech and also presented Autumn and Mat with a special gift ... signed by all the guests.
Deer Creek knows how to do dessert.
The most decadent of cakes ... made by Autumn's aunt! 
Jenn was kind enough to snap this photo of my amazing colleague, Chrystal and I.
All in all, a beautiful wedding with nothing to worry about. A dream for this planner! Congratulations Autumn & Mat. May this be the start of a beautiful chapter in your lives.
June 22, 2009
You Closed Your Eyes, You Made A Wish
Completely stealing a blog post today. It's a great one from .: The Knot :. though. It's also giving me a chance to post some cakes from one of my favourite artists Anne Heap from .: The Pink Cake Box :. Enjoy! :)
Visions of wedding cakes dancing in your head? First figure out the difference between fondant and marzipan. Here's what you need to know when it comes to cakes.
Step 1. Finding Your Cake Mate
Which baker is for you? You want someone who is open to your ideas and capable of delivering what you're looking for within your budget. Your caterer will most likely have relationships with a few bakers, and it's a great idea to meet several (every baker has a unique style) in order to make the best decision.
Before setting up appointments, do a little research on each baker by checking out his or her website. At the meeting, discuss time and place of the wedding; degree of formality; colors; what your gown is like; and any other important details. Feel free to bring pictures of cakes or swatches of fabric you like. If you like a particular photograph from the baker's portfolio, make sure it represents work done by current staff. When you think you've met your match, book the baker to secure her services (often a deposit is required at this time). Locking in your cake maker should be done as soon as you can before your wedding -- some top bakers book up to a year in advance.
Step 2. Getting Personal
Now for the fun part -- devising a style. Ask yourself these questions: What is your reception space like? What are your wedding colors? Do you want something extravagant? Or do you want something playful, whimsical? Are you classic types? Or is your couple motto The simpler the better? How do you want to personalize your cake? Your baker will take this information and come up with a sketch of the proposed design, and you just might find her zeroing in on a piece of lace or the beading on your wedding gown to use as a key element.
Cakes featuring sugar or buttercream interpretations of feathers, draping, monograms, and embroidery are popular, as are more modern, squared-off cakes with different shapes on different tiers. Have a sculpted cake constructed in the shape of your home, dog, or even your car! When you're working with a talented pastry chef, the sky's the limit.
Step 3. A Matter of Taste
The biggest misconception about wedding cakes is that they are designed to look good but taste less than fabulous. We've taken the taste test from several top bakers (lucky us) and beg to differ. Far from the cake being just a showpiece, it's what's inside that counts. You'll taste lots of samples along the way (forget the diet -- this is "research"), and you might be surprised to find this isn't average chocolate cake because of the...fillings! Yes, interspersed between layers of moist cake, you could find fresh fruit, custard, or ganache (a fancy word for a concoction of chocolate and heavy cream). And once cut, each piece -- with horizontal layers of different-hued flavors and fillings -- makes a dramatic statement on the plate.
Don't be confused by insider cake talk. Learn the basics, so you'll be sure to ask for exactly what you want. When it comes to icing your cake, you'll have a number of delicious and gorgeous choices. Buttercream, made from butter and sugar is smooth and creamy, and it stays soft so it's easy to cut, color, and flavor. It's also easily shaped into swags, borders, and flowers. Fondant, another popular option is made of sugar, corn syrup, water, and gelatin, and is rolled out with a rolling pin before it's draped over the cake. It makes a smooth firm base for decorative details, and it has a porcelain finish. Other icing choices include marzipan, a paste made from ground almonds, used in sheets like fondant; whipped cream, a sweetened whipped heavy cream (great with fruit fillings); and ganache, a rich mix of chocolate and cream.
When it comes to the details of your sweet tower, the options are numerous too. Here are a few ornamentation techniques you're likely to encounter: Gumpaste, made of sugar, cornstarch, and gelatin and used to craft lifelike fruits and flowers; cornelli is an elaborate piping technique that yields a lacelike pattern; pulled sugar is a technique in which boiled sugar is manipulated and pulled to produce flowers and bows; and dragees are edible sugar balls coated with silver or gold.
Step 4. So Happy Together
Top designers are seeing a trend for more complex flavorings such as coconut-key lime, blood orange-mango, and chocolate hazelnut-mocha. (Are you drooling yet?) Your selection of flavors may be based on the season, with heavier combinations like chocolate cake with mocha praline filling perfect for winter weddings and lighter sponge cakes with fruits, curds, and preserves more ideal for a summer affair. Some flavorful combinations we especially like: chocolate-banana cake layered with custard and brushed with banana liqueur, white cake with raspberries and cream, and almond cake with apricot preserves brushed with rum.
Step 5. The Price Of A Slice
Be prepared to pay anywhere from $1.50 all the way up to $20 a slice. If this gives you a bit of sticker shock, realize the more complicated the cake, the more you'll pay. Fondant icing is generally more expensive than buttercream, and if you want elaborately molded shapes, vibrant colors, or handmade sugar-flower detailing, you'll pay for the cake designer's time and labor. A good cost-cutting option is to order a cake for half of the head count -- guests are served "half-servings," which you can supplement with ice cream or fruit. Or have the cake of your dreams made on a small scale for a price you can comfortably afford, and then order sheet cakes of the same flavor to be cut in the kitchen (some but not all designers will do this). Though it sounds like a classic "bait and switch," no one will know the difference because the taste will be the same as the original -- delectable.
Step 6. It's Showtime
Just as you would with a fine painting, once your masterpiece is a reality, you must make certain that great care is taken transporting it in one piece to the reception site. Most cake designers prefer to deliver the precious cargo themselves, and we think paying the extra delivery fee is worth the peace of mind that the cake will arrive in top form. Make certain that the baker has a contact person at the reception site so he or she can give the catering manager or event planner any pertinent information on handling it -- it might have to be refrigerated or stationed in a cool, out-of-the-way location in the reception room. Most importantly, don't forget to marvel at the culinary tour de force before taking a cut -- those delicious details will surely be your reception's icing on the cake.
-- Colleen Brewer
June 17, 2009
Funk To Funky
I caught a glimpse of something on Etsy this week that was green ... so I decided to do a search for that colour. Hours later, I came up with a few I wanted to share ;)
Fun felt cake topper by .: EmilieFriday :. 
Local artist .: Maylui Designs :. put together these ultra fab earrings.
This vintage piece by .: PenelliBelle :. adds a splash of colour that no one can resist.
This necklace by .: Adenangier :. was too incredible not to share!
As well as this fabric design by .: Mollusa :. ... perfect for bridesmaids!
This is a great idea that may help you with your organizing skills. .: CutTheCakeDesigns :. has put together a filing system for your guests to add their addresses on to ... making thank-you cards that much easier! 
Paper-embellished votive holders add pizazz to any reception area. These designs are by .: Gamiworks :.
Scroll invitations are simply awesome. .: Artful Beginnings :. will create just what you're looking for.
.: Paper Platypus :. has come up with a template for a paper bouquet! Perfect for destination weddings, rehearsals or even the wedding itself.
And my pick of the week is actually an artist instead of a product. .: AprilHilerDesigns :. does some amazing things using all natural materials. Just check out the monogram, mini-lantern and ring bearer pillow. Love love love them!!!
