got to get busy making...

a whole lot of these...!

via

I have my wire and tools ready, now just need to go and pick up about 2 boxes of simple, clear canning jars.  Original plan was just to have candles inside, until I saw the photo above!  Now it's a mix of the two!
  I love the idea of seemingly floating blooms hanging there amongst the candlelight!  And as it turns to dusk! 

How pretty, right?

So yes, I have to get disciplined! as I am at that point of the planning of a wedding. The hands-on, roll up your sleeves part, the not nearly as fun part as say, the sourcing for inspiration photos!

For the flowers inside the jars,
any thoughts on ones that will shine in a sweet jar display?


 

Friday finds from Etsy

Happy Friday everyone! 

Sharing a few things that I am loving this week...

treated myself today to these gray cable gloves! ~

isn't this a charming way to say 'hello' ~

would love this tablet in the kitchen for little grocery items ~

pretty little brooch pin ~

a sweet pair of dove earrings ~

Enjoy your weekend lovely people!

and it's monday, again

Always comes fast, doesn't it?

Stopped in for a play at the school park on Saturday afternoon to see if the new play area was being built.  Boys are sitting on the play structure that is scheduled to be taken down and replaced.  I don't know, it seems to me like it's got lots of life left in it still?  It's completely solid, in good shape, and kids enjoy playing around there.  If I remember correctly though, it's early retirement has something to do with pressure treated wood, which I admittedly know not much about. 

It was a nice afternoon, warmer and brighter than when compared to our gray, damp morning.

And a new necklace that my three boys gave to me on my birthday.  I.love.it! 

Turquoise always catches my eye, but particularly in the summertime.  The designer of the necklace is Leah Alexandra, she lives in the popular, beach side area of Vancouver called Kits Beach.  I love her jewelry, and thanks to my thoughtful guy now seem to have a growing collection of her pieces! 

And our visit to the florist went great!  Better than expected!  Her name was Maggie and she was such a pleasure to work with.  It is a fascinating thing to see someone who is so good at what they do, no? 

We showed her just a couple photos that we were using as inspiration for the wedding, talked a bit about color palette, then she excused herself to put something together from the cooler.  She returned with the prettiest bundle of flowers that was spot-on to our ideas.  It looked undone, in that beautiful way, and polished at the same time.  In pretty shades of pinks, plums, and blues, it looked like it had been picked from an English country garden. 

It was lovely! 

We fine-tuned the colors, removing any true-blue flowers from the mix and adding a bit of creamy white, and we were done.  One more thing to cross off the 'to-do' list! 

To steal a quote from Jacqueline, done and dusted!

Friday finds from Etsy

Looking forward to the weekend ~ although if today is any indicator it looks like it might be a wet, gray one.  Husband will be working nights, so it is
date night tonight for me and my boys.  We saw that Netflix has
'The Great Outdoors' so we will put that on later, and cuddle up with some pizza and popcorn.  Both my boys find good old fashioned, slap-stick humour hilarious, so I'm sure the bear scene will be a hit!

Off to the florist tomorrow to order flowers for the wedding.  We have purchased a lovely collection of milk glass bud vases and aqua blue mason jars that are waiting to be filled!  We have a general idea of the flowers we would like to have,
~ hydrangeas, cabbage roses, dahlias, snapdragons ~
and would love to have them in abundance, so here's hoping we can make that idea and the budget marry wonderfully together!

love the print and silhouette of this dress



aren't these pretty? I like using doilies and kraft paper for wrapping gifts

vintage classic Coach leather bag

'the lost button' necklace ~ charming idea!

a gorgeous hand carved pendant lamp

Wishing you a nice weekend!  Hope it's filled with some happy times!

sweet pea and parmesan crostini

It's July, which is my favorite month of the year, hands down.  For me, July signifies sunny weekend days spent at the beach and warm, late night casual dinners on the deck, all accompanied by the wonderful anticipation of my upcoming summer holidays. 

July also means that it's our local fresh pea season! 

I love fresh peas, and when they are in season, we gobble them up around here.  Shelled and tossed into salads, or standing in Granny's garden and eating them as fast as I can while fighting off my brother, I'll take them any way I can get them!

Here is an easy, delicious recipe to utilize those summer peas that I made last summer when fresh peas were in abundance.

~ courtesy of Chatelaine magazine ~

8 thinly sliced pancetta rounds

2 cups (500 mL) shelled fresh peas

1 lemon

1/2 cup (125 mL) freshly grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup (50 mL) shredded fresh basil

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

Generous pinches of salt

16 toasted baguette slices

Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook until crisp, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel. When cool, carefully slice in half.

Meanwhile, bring a partially filled pot of water to a boil. Add peas. Cook until very tender, 5-15 minutes. Drain well.

Place peas in a food processor. Squeeze 2 tbsp juice from lemon and add to peas along with parmesan, basil, oil and salt. Pulse until smooth. Taste and add more oil and lemon juice if you wish. To serve, top each baguette slice with a dab of pea purée, then a piece of pancetta. Spread more purée over top.

For easy baguette toasts, cut baguette into thin slices. Lightly brush both sides with olive oil. Bake on a large baking sheet at 500F (260C) until golden, 1 to 3 minutes per side. Cool before using.

Hip Hip Hooray...

...it's my birthday today!

I don't know about you, but

I

LOVE

BIRTHDAYS! 

I just feel like a kid again on my birthday, right from the start when I wake up giddy and excited!  I look forward to it all ~ the phone calls from my family, the 'hey, happy birthday!' from friends, the cake, the love, the card in the mail from my sweet Granny, all of it! 
I don't know, I just feel different on my birthday.

 I'm guessing by the hushes and rustling of paper going on behind closed doors that there may be a present, and perhaps a handmade card or two! 

And we're leaving this evening to go camping for the weekend at a really lovely spot by the ocean, called French Beach.  3 nights, a sunny weekend (that's me sending out hopeful energy), some friends, and a birthday!

Am I alone in this birthday department?  Do you love your special day, or do you like it to come and go with out much fuss?

Happy early weekend to you!  Hope it's a good one!

Friday finds from Etsy

Happy Canada Day!

It's a long weekend for the Canadian crowd,

as we celebrate our country's 144th birthday today.

There's much happening around the city of Victoria this weekend, with markets, kids activities, music performances, and of course,
fireworks downtown in the Inner Harbour.
Not sure yet what we'll make our way towards, but it will be
a weekend of celebration to be sure!
~

this pretty rainbow of pillows just makes me happy! ~

I want this dress, that hat, and a warm day to go summer market shopping ~

these playful pinwheels have me smiling ~

love the deep plum color of this cotton & lace camisole set ~

some cute straws for summer entertaining ~

 a gorgeous lilac amethyst & gold bangle

Happy weekend to you!