It's Legal!

September 2, 2012 was the best day of my life, thus far. It was the day that I can only describe as “perfect” for lack of a better descriptor (&/or the space to list everything I loved about it).  It was the day that Ben and I made the most important promises we’ve ever made.  It was the day I married my best friend and celebrated with our favourite people.

I feel like I’m still riding the high that comes from having that much joy and love in one place. In case you were wondering, yes: I’m a walking cliché.  

I struggle with the words to express the gratitude we feel towards our family and friends who celebrated with us and the team who made the day so special.  I’d like to bottle up this feeling and save it so I always remember how I feel right now. I’d also like to figure out a way to sufficiently thank everyone. Words just aren’t enough.

Where have I been? After the wedding Ben and I traveled to Tofino with Bauer for several nights of relaxation, amazing seafood, and a view so beautiful we found ourselves just staring off the balcony in silence for minutes at a time. It was wonderful.  We returned to Vancouver to celebrate Ben’s cousin as she married a wonderful man and have since witnessed two of our dear friends tie the knot here in Kamloops. Paired with the amazing weather we’ve experienced in the last several weeks, September has been pretty amazing.

to my followers: thank you for your patience as this blog and I continue to grow and transform. I owe a lot to this blog and my faithful followers. This little corner of the Internet is about to grow and become more consistent with posts. The transition back into my creative groove has been slow (I needed a couple of weeks to just be); however, I’m feeling so inspired by the projects I’m currently working on. I’m also excited to share all of the wedding details and DIY projects I neglected to post before the wedding as well as the details and memories created the day of. 

First up: the string globes we hung over the dance floor.

Our amazing photographers just posted a sneak peek of our wedding images! You can find them here. 

We're Getting Hitched - this weekend!

Well the day has come: B and I make it legal this weekend! This morning we travel to Kelowna for a long weekend of love & laughter with our most favourite people in the world. I. Can't. Wait.

I'm extending my impromptu blog break by another week; however, I promise I will have lots to say when I return. In the meantime, if you'd like to follow along, find me on twitter and Instagram (username: @cstarevents).

Cheers, friends!

(photo by Adrian Photography).

Give 'em something to dance to...

Stat holiday or not, our made-up-long-weekend girls getaway requires a dancing / sing-along soundtrack. Here are twenty tracks that we'll be playing while gallivanting through the California desert. Watch out, Palm Springs!

Enjoy!

1. Primadonna Girl - Marina and The Diamonds
2. Going to California - Led Zeppelin
3. Diet Mountain Dew - Lana Del Rey
4. Spectrum (Say My Name) Calvin Harris Remix - Florence + the Machine
5. Mama Do the Hump - Rizzle Kicks
6. Turntable - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
7. Feel the Love - Rudimental Feat John Newman
8. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - Pink
9. Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones
10. Titanium - David Guetta & Sia
11. Free - Graffiti6
12. You Make My Dreams Come True - Hall & Oates
13. Princess of China - Coldplay & Rihanna
14. Wild Ones - FloRida feat Sia
15. Go Outside - Cults
16. Hot Summer Night - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
17. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
18. Jenny Don't Be Hasty - Paolo Nutini
19. Nightcall - Kavinsky Feat Lovefoxxx
20. One Thing - One Direction (don't judge - they are adorable)

Keep it spinning... find more playlists here. 

the golden flamingos have taken flight

Remember this post? The day has finally come. This morning I am heading south of the border to Palm Springs to spend three sun-filled days with my gaggle of golden flamingos to celebrate friendship (& a party B and I are throwing in September). I am blessed to have such amazing women in my life and I am so looking forward to catching up with them poolside. This weekend also marks the two-week-countdown to our wedding day which is crazy exciting.

Happy weekending, all! If you can, take a moment to celebrate friendship with your favourite lady bird(s). After all, "no one looks stupid when they're having fun" (Amy Poehler quote).

Rifle 2013 Cities Calendar

As a long-time fan of Anna Bond's paintings at Rifle Paper Co., the recently released cities 2013 calendar makes me very happy. Considering the fact that B and I are planning a 2013 Euro-trip, I'm quite certain this baby belongs on a wall in our kitchen. Bonus: the hand painted maps would make great prints (to keep or gift) once the month passed.


(images courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.)

elopements are underrated.

You'll likely agree with me after viewing this intimate Californian wedding (see also: here, here, and here). Lovely.


(photo courtesy of Max Wanger).

stamp happy {3}

I love using stamps, especially unexpectedly (the recipients of our wedding invitations can attest to this); therefore, I'm always on the hunt for new, clever/ funny/ awesome stamps to add to my collection. Ann Marie Loves Paper is right up my alley.

My favourites: noted (I say this several times a day), this is how we do it (for obvious reasons), and love it (which I say upwards of 100 times a day). There are many other gems in her shop, as well. See: here + here.

... and if you STILL haven't had enough, there's more stamp inspiration can be found in stamp happy instalments one and two.


Images courtesy of Anne-Marie Morris (etsy shop).

August long, go!

This long weekend's playlist - some old, some new - should help you soak up the gorgeous sunny weather we're slated to have, province-wide. I plan on enjoying a few of these patio favourites at the cabin this weekend. Check back next week; I'll be featuring a brilliant party idea and a few wedding updates!

Until then, enjoy!

1. Long Time Ago - Current Swell
2. Any Day Now - Jon and Roy
3. Robots - Dan Mangen
4. Still - Great Lake Swimmers
5. King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men
6. Janglin - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
7. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
8. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine
9. There Goes the Fear - Doves
10. Nightcall - Kavinsky & Lovefoxx
11. Oh! Sweet Nuthin' - The Velvet Underground
12. Dance, Dance, Dance - Lykke Li
13. Mind Eraser - The Black Keys
14. Pyro - Kings of Leon
15. For the Summer - Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs
16. Sleeping Ute - Grizzly Bear
17. Airplanes - Local Natives
18. Take Care - Beach House
19. She's So Mean - Matchbox Twenty
20. Backseat Lovers - The Last Royals

If you enjoyed this compilation, make sure you check out the May long & Canada day mixes. 

Showered with Love - the details

I haven't experienced the overwhelming sense of love that I felt at my shower in a very long time. It is difficult to express how special this group of women is to me. I was absolutely touched by the efforts that were made to make my day special. I am grateful and blessed to call each and every one in attendance family. thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Now, onto a few of the many details from this Sunday afternoon fete. Many thanks to my sister/ MOH Jenn and beautiful friend Angie for snapping these photos; what a treat to have the day documented.

{Lyla, Sarah, and the Congratulations bunting made by my bridesmaid Angie}

{helium balloons dangled photographs documenting my fashion highs & lows}

{a vintage sterling silver tea set & an eclectic collection of vintage tea cups - pinky's up!}

{tissue flowers made by Angela & cupcake liner garland made by my sister/ MOH Jenn} 

{everyone played bridal shower bingo, even Lyla!}

{the desserts, the drinks, and the food... yes, I requested jalapeno poppers at my high tea. I'm bad ass like that.}

{the happy, happy, bride.}

Watermelon Mojitos

Mojitos, my cocktail of choice, are refreshing and delicious. This is especially true when they are prepared with mint grown in your very own garden.

A few weeks ago (while working diligently on several wedding projects) my friends Sarah, Amber, and I experimented with a variation of this favourite summer drink and added watermelon. The result was near perfection.

I've had several requests for the 'official' recipe and with the long weekend approaching I thought it was the right time to share it!

Watermelon Mint Mojito

1 oz white rum

0.5 oz cane sugar syrup 

this can be purchased or made yourself

a handful of mint leaves

the juice of 1/2 - 1 lime

4-5 cubes of watermelon

club soda

ice

rip mint leaves in two and place in bottom of glass;

squeeze lime juice into glass and add several smaller slices of lime;

muddle ingredients together;

add 0.5 oz of cane syrup, 1 oz of white rum, and ice cubes;

pour soda water over ice, stir, enjoy. 

CHEERS!

Bar Cart Love

Ben and I recently acquired this gorgeous vintage bar cart at a thrift store for a whopping $19! Although the brass needs some love and we're having mirror cut to cover the ultra chic faux wood trays, it looks like we'll be able to make our little cart over for under $100.

I am currently infatuated with bar cart styling and have flagged this article (featured on glitter guide last week) for when ours is ready to be put to use.

If you have a bar cart in your home what do you store on it?

wedding projects [four] + [five]: table numbers + photo booth backdrop

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to enlist the help of my crafty friends Sarah and Amber to complete two wedding projects. We crossed “table numbers” and “photo booth backdrop” off the to do list while sipping on watermelon mojitos (my new favourite summer cocktail) in the Kamloops sunshine. I’m so pleased with the results and would love to share the details with you. 

details [table numbers]:

Although I initially received a few funny looks when I uttered the words "string art," my helpers were good sports and followed suit. We started with 2x6 lumber that we (literally, I mean “we”: it was a group effort) cut into pieces approximately 9 inches in length. The wood was then sanded and stained “ebony.”

We printed off each number in Gill Sans Ultra Bold font, placed the paper on top of the wood, and hammered nails along the outline. The paper was ripped off, leaving a nail ‘skeleton’ that we wove the yarn around, creating a 3D number. They turned out so nicely and I love how each one looks like a piece of modern art.

details [photo booth backdrop]:

Sarah, Amber, and I had a great time at the fabric store, throwing bolts of clearance fabric and remnants around to compile a palette of colour and texture that was just right. As fate would have it, our selections paired together perfectly; I don't think I could have envisioned a better final outcome. I'm also rather pleased to say I had no part in the assembly of this project: kudos goes to Sarah and Amber for their fabulous cutting, ripping, and knotting skills. Bravo, ladies: you are welcome back for craft time at your earliest convenience.

up next:

The table runners are finally finished (expect a post later this week) and I've completed a couple of smaller, fun projects that I'll share shortly. I also haven't posted the progress on the "string globes" that three-fifths of my bridal party helped me with last month.

The last big wedding project is the menu board; however, it is 'on hold' until I can transport the pile of salvaged wood from its current home in Delta at my dad's place to my house in Kamloops.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5... Go!