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I'm a huge fan of bamboo. I love the way it smells, looks, is durable ... everything! And you know I love it most of all because it's eco-friendly :) I decided to make this week's Etsy post all about bamboo. Some items are completely made of it and some are just pretty because they have bamboo on it ;)
Believe it or not, this is a bamboo pillow. I kid you not! Contact .: tinydecor :. for more information. The cover is 100% organic cotton, too!
Something we can all buy to help the environment *and* our wallets ... bamboo cutting boards. They're wonderful ... less splitting than wood and they actually don't scuff! This one is by .: ADrauglis :.
Look familiar to anyone? This awesome keepsake plate is made by friends of Moments That Shine. .: SerendipityCrafts :. not only does neat designs like this but they have wonderful personalized plates making perfect gifts.
.: diprimadesigns :. is on here twice this week! Not only do they make funky necklace tiles from bamboo but they have some special breast cancer awareness designs right now ... perfect for the month of October!
No, it's not here ... yet. But when I saw this design, I couldn't resist sharing. .: smockpaper :. prints their designs on bamboo paper and it doesn't stop there! They donate a portion of proceeds to the environment and package everything in biodegradable products. Way to go!
And my favourite of the week ... had to be something pretty :)
Check out this necklace by .: Janaration :. All I can say is I'm in love.
October 24, 2008
I Have No Missionary Zeal
October 23, 2008
top 5 things you can cut from your wedding decor! Part III
When you start planning your wedding, most brides have a pretty good idea of what they think their wedding should look like. This is perfectly normal. But then that very very bad evil EEEEEVIL budget gets in the way of your totally awesome day. Stupid budgets...
As I've mentioned in my 2 other posts (say no to chocolate & to sash or not to sash, the little things can certainly eat up a lot of your precious budget.
Another area where you probably can cut from your wedding decor budget are those fancy dancy napkins and tablecloths you picked from the banquet hall's book. Yep. The damask chocolate brown napkins and the pintuck taffeta tablecloths they flew in from Italy via China.
Nothing wrong with these items. I certainly appreciate beautiful table linens just as much as the next decorator (and I won't discourage you renting them from me either! But if you're skipping 
mortgage/car/osap payments because of the fancy dancy napkins and tablecloths, let me help you out.
Use what the hall includes! Most halls include basic white or ivory napkins and tablcloths with your package. Some might even include coloured napkins and/or tablecloths.
Of course, if you rent a hall that has tablecloths that don't touch the ground or is is BYOE (bring your own everything), then you probably have this built into your budget. If not, using what the hall currently provides can save you hundreds of dollars.
If you want to add colour to the tables, overlays or runners are a perfect inexpensive alternative. It adds that perfect splash of colour and doesn't hurt your Coach wallet! (I have a thing for them...sorry!)
Next week, *cue x-files theme music* chair covers.
October 22, 2008
We've Got Stars Directing Our Fate
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Ever have one of those days where you just want to dig into a big dessert? Some of us experience that more than others (just look at my waistline) but I think I'm pretty save in assuming you've all been there.
For some reason I started craving a certain dessert today. Not sure if it's because I dearly miss my friends who introduced me to it or if I subconsciously thought of the taste and now want it. Either way, it got me thinking about making a blog post (perhaps to stop me from making one). The dessert I'm talking about is an Australian and/or New Zealand delight called pavlova. Not many know it over here but when they discover it, there's no going back!
The best way to describe pavlova is a cake-sized meringue with fruit and cream on top. It's light, fluffy and perfectly sweet. In fact, the first time I had it I feared my teeth would instantly fall out :P
The reason I bring this up in the blog is because if you're not sold on the whole wedding cake idea or you are unsure what to have as a dessert, think outside the box. You don't have to have a traditional fruitcake with marzipan. Look at other places around the world for inspiration.
Have fun with this part of your event ... it really is sweet!
PS ... if you would like to try it out, .: HERE :. is a pretty good recipe :)
I'm going to let her shine!
I just want to congratulate Autumn Bride. Hurray! You're a Mrs!
May your forever together be happy and healthy!So it's done? no more planning? no more stressing or dreaming about it, the big day happened! Woot! Congratulations to you and your new hubby.
As for my own stuff, well... it seems appropriate to just leave this post as a celebration of this honeymoon week for Autumn Bride. This is her time
My fiance and I are taking a bit of a break from wedding planning, after having made the tough decision to move the wedding date back (again!) to accomodate friends who are deploying overseas after MM gets back.
So I'm now a May 2010 bride.
I'm still going to be here though, no worries. I still love all things wedding and I'll be back in full force quite soon.
Hip Hip Hooray for brides, new and old, newly married and those like me dreaming and scheming about The Big Day in a somewhat distant future
October 20, 2008
with apologies and lots of photos
It’s been a very busy wedding season for us at Periwinkle, so much so that we haven’t been able to post as often as we wanted, but to apologize we thought we would share with you a wedding in full- with photos!
Late this summer we worked on a beautiful wedding for a lovely couple here in Toronto. Their reception was at the Design Exchange building on Bay Street. The theme was coppery orange and brick red and we created the bouquets with full open roses, mango callas and mokaru orchids. The wedding preparation begins for us on the Tuesday of the wedding week, when we first receive the product and begin processing and coaxing-
Centerpieces are started on the Thursday. This wedding had three different centerpieces-each in a short pyramid vase (in a nod to the architecturally amazing Design exchange venue we chose something with an unusual shape). The first is mass of leonidas and milva roses, with beargrass swirled inside the vase and small tufts of greenery. The second design was all orange and red dahlias with beargrass in vase again, but no greenery( love love love these) and the final design was all mokaru orchids (again with beargrass in vase and no other greenery-this one was the brides favourite so we made sure this is what sat on the head table)
Friday was spent working on the personal flowers – bouquets for bride and bridesmaids and boutonnieres and corsages for the rest of the wedding party. I really love the boutonniere choices.
Saturday is game day- here’s the truck ready to head out on delivery. First stop is the church at University of Toronto to drop off the bags of boutonnieres and corsages for groom and family (no ceremony pieces for this wedding, but honestly they weren’t needed as the trinity chapel is divine all by itself) and then on to the hotel to drop off bridal bouquets and such. Next stop the venue. The staff here are super helpful and make unloading a breeze. Only the tables are up with linens only but as I work the wait staff are arriving and beginning to prep for the night.
One final check over and after touching base with the event coordinator on site I head out, well ahead of guests.
October 17, 2008
When I Get Home I Float Around My Whole Livingroom
Autumn_Bride is getting married tomorrow!!!!! After a year of planning, Kelly & Chris are about to say their I-Do's ...
Everyone at Moments That Shine wishes you both the most beautiful of days filled with memories that will make you smile until your faces hurt ;) We can't wait to be there tomorrow!!!
October 15, 2008
top 5 things you can cut from your wedding decor! Part II
Believe it or not, chocolate can be your worst enemy. Okay, maybe not yours, but it can certainly be a decorator's not-so-welcome-buddy. Chocolate not being a decorator's BFF can mean $$$$ for your wallet (you know, the one you were going to buy yourself at the Coach outlet in Buffalo as a "IMGETTINGMARRIED!!!!!" gift...
So what does chocolate have to do with it? Here's the breakdown: You have a receiving/gift/signing table. The decorator will do it up pretty as per your specifications that you drew on a post-it during your meeting at Tim Hortons (this actually happened!. But what you may or may not know is in most banquet halls, your receiving table becomes your sweet table. 
That's right the pretty table with your guest book and place cards will end up full of cold cuts, sweets and *GASP* a chocolate fountain.
So this is where you can save money. Most decorators charge to decorate this table. The hall already puts either a floor length table cloth on the table or a plain white skirt on the table. Use what the hall provides!
You can still dress up the table, but it's less expensive to dress it up with accents that sit on the table - like pictures of you and hubby, scatter rose petals on the table, make a mini candy buffet or just leave it plain.
This way your table still looks pretty, but you saved $$$ doing it.
If you still want to really dress up the table, ask for a simple organza draping for across the front. Still less expensive AND your decorator isn't grumbling at the end of the night because there's chocolate all over her lovely white material. and everyone lives happily ever after!
I'm off to Chicago to visit my honey and do a wedding - yes, I do weddings in Chicago. I always mix business with pleasure. :O)
Be sure to tune in next week for Part III - Use what your mama (or the banquet hall) gave you.
What happened to that sweet girl?
Wow…. I guess anything is possible during a stressful time ;)
Yesterday, I officially became a bridezilla. I had to pull her out to get results, as I was being challenged by a vendor (well, 3 vendors to be exact) against what our contract/agreement was. I was a little embarrassed at first because I have prided myself on being a fairly easy-going, relaxed bride, but when people start nickel and diming me, or not following through with their agreement, quiet little Autumn Bride morphs into a red-eyed, fist pumping, adrenaline-induced ‘zilla.
You know what? It worked.
Certain people were quite stunned when I temporarily flipped from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, but hey, a bride has to do what a bride has to do.
My fiancé actually ‘high-fived’ me for handling one of the situations the way I did, and for getting our vendor to ‘suck it up’ and agree that they in fact were in the wrong, and provide the service as was originally agreed upon in our contract.
Only 3 more days, then I can once again return to being the sweet little Autumn Bride... er... correction.... Autumn Wife. 
Then next week I'll be lying on a beach, where my most difficult decision will be 'What do I want to drink next?' ;)
October 14, 2008
Express Yourself
It's an important day, everyone!!! While our friends to the south are still campaigning, it's our turn to get out there and have our voices heard today!
I won't influence anyone's line of thinking today but please make sure you exercise this important gift we have. Get out there and VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Okay, you can't vote three times but you know what I mean ;)
October 12, 2008
If You Call, I Will Answer
I've decided to add a new feature to the blog that I hope you'll all join me in taking part in! I'd love to invite you to find a ... 
Do you want to know how to coordinate your linens and flowers? Perhaps you need some help in finding a tactful way to talk to a certain bridal party member. Send any event planning, wedding preparations, enviro-savvy questions to me at inquiries@momentsthatshine.com and we'll start tackling those big and small problems you're experiencing. The intention is to turn this in to a regular feature so that others can also benefit from the free advice and have their lives made that little bit easier.
So come on and send those questions in ... I'd love to hear from you!
Oh, and if YOU have some advice for ME, I'm definitely game!!!
Cheers,
Susan
above graphic courtesy Abundant Private Practices
October 10, 2008
How To Purchase Earth Friendly Invitations
As I settle in to write my guest post, let me first thank Susan for giving me the opportunity to do so. I love checking in to see what everyone has been writing here and I'm honored to be in such good company.
As you may or may not know, I run the online invitation boutique, EarthlyAffair.com, where we create beautiful wedding invitations in the most earth friendly way possible. Today I'd like to share some of the things you should look for when purchasing environmentally friendly wedding invitations and I'd like to show off some of our own as well.
The Alcazar Invitation at EarthlyAffair.com
First, it's more than just recycled paper. Sure, buying "recycled" paper is good, but what you really want is 100% post consumer recycled paper. This type of paper is created from consumer products, usually retrieved from curbside recycling, and averts waste from landfills. There are also other eco-friendly options, such as FSC certified paper, which guarantees the fibers in the paper come from responsibly maintained forests, and tree free papers, such as bamboo and hemp.
The Pinwheel Invitation
Second, inquire about printing methods. This is where it gets a little tricky. There are four common types of printing for wedding invitations: offset printing, letterpress printing, thermography (raised printing), and digital and inkjet printing. I could rattle off a page long list about the benefits and drawbacks of each, so let me keep it short and simple: Talk to your invitation provider about what environmentally friendly methods they implement first. Digital printing is typically better for the earth than offset printing, but that doesn't always mean it's the better choice. You may have a local print shop who offers to print your invites for a great price, but perhaps they don't recycle (you'd be surprised how many don't). While Crane & Co. utilizes offset and thermographic printing, they work hard to minimize their carbon footprint by investing in pollution prevention strategies and tree free paper.
The Shade Invitation.
Third, inquire about business operations. Environmental awareness shouldn't stop at the invitation. There are so many other things a company can do behind the scenes, such as recycling, investing in renewable energy, and simply turning off electronics when not in use.
Well, that about wraps it up! If you've made it this far, then I sincerely thank you for reading my post!
October 8, 2008
It's Her Daylight That Gets Me Through
I hear a lot of talk from brides about finding *THE* dress. Some are the incredibly lucky ones ... blessed with a great figure, grand budget or perhaps just being in the right place at the right time, they can buy their dress for $100 off the rack at the first salon they walk in to (true story and yes, you can read bitterness in there). Others ladies take a long time and start to panic because they've gone to salon after salon and haven't found anything. Whether it be disdain for meringues, nasty salespeople, small budgets or just plain finicky taste, it can be challenging. 
As you may have guessed, I was one of the latter brides-to-be. I went to a bunch of salons with my Maid of Honour and was completely ignored. Annoying doesn't begin to cover it. I had a pretty hefty budget so that wasn't a problem. I wasn't particularly picky (other than not wanting to look too princess-like). My biggest problem was there was nothing out there for my body type. I longed to feel sexy, pretty, comfortable and glowing (if it's possible for a dress to make you look like you're glowing). I gave up. I stopped going to the salons and I went to a little shop that I had longingly peered through the windows at before ... I went custom. After three hours of being in this store just looking at the dresses and getting a sense for what I wanted, I made my consultation appointment and was ready to get 'er done. I went to my consultation the following week with sketches, photos and a sense of preparedness. Just over six months later the dress was complete and I walked out with ......... something completely different than I was expecting. I'm not upset though. My dressmaker was the expert and together we designed something that was much more suited to my shape. And let me tell you, best wedding decision (besides the groom) I made.
This post was actually meant to be an Etsy post as I cruised the site looking for wedding dresses. I wanted to make it a bit more personal though so those lovely ladies out there who are having a tough time know that there's hope ... and that there are alternatives! You don't have to go to the 'factory' bridal shops. You don't have to go custom. You don't have to wear your mom's dress (but you can!). Use your imagination and think about alternative places where you can buy dresses. And check out these Etsy designs ... varying prices and tremendous styles ...
You can actually go custom on Etsy, too. This dress by .: CustomBridal :. has beautiful detailing along one side of the bodice. Lovely!
You can also find dresses from sample sales like this one entitled The Golden Goddess. Details can be found from .: LondonDemimonde :.
This can be used as a prop for photos or even as an alternative-style wedding dress. The sale is for the skirt only (400-500 yards of tulle, people!) but use your imagination to find a matching top. Skirt by .: AllieJDesigns :.
Now for something a bit more simple. This bohemian look is affordable and definitely unique. Contact .: colorada :. for more details.
For the classic look, check out Audrey (yes, named after Ms. Hepburn). Designed beautifully by .: abstractpretty :.
Not looking for white? Or perhaps you're looking for something more dramatic. This dress by .: btrousseau :. is sure to delight!
Stunner alert! I have four picks by this next designer. One of the dresses is so spectacular that I had to include a couple photos.
The designer's name is .: joanshum :.
It was difficult to narrow down a favourite as I love all of these dresses. This one in particular is so regal ... love it! Entitled 'White Dahlia' ... breath-taking.
Next is 'Madmoiselle'. The length and bodice detailing is retro and simply divine!
'Bella Tea' takes all of our lace dreams and bundles them up into a dress so many little girls will grow up wanting to model.
And last but not least from .: joanshum :. is 'Love In The Mist'. There are so many aspects of this dress that I love. Check out the detailed tulle skirt. And a dress with sleeves! And what's awesome the dress can be strapless if you so choose. Love it!
You'd think that would have been my favourite dress of my Etsy finds. Nope. For me, this incredibly simple design by .: LondonDemimonde :. takes the cake. The plunging neckline is the focal point and everything else is so soft. If you like it, contact the seller quickly as it's sold out before!
Hope you've enjoyed this trip into the world of dresses. I know I enjoyed looking for new designs and sharing my story with you :)
