Wednesday 30 March 2016

Wedding Dress Shopping 101!

Can dress shopping be THIS relaxed and laid-back? Armed with the right information, it sure can!
Via matrimonialmeg.blogsot.ca

Happy post-Easter, lovelies! I hope you and yours have an amazing long weekend filled with all the usual suspects - good times with family and friends, good eats and GOOD TREATS! Dinner, for me,  is just a means to an end because dessert is my jam. It's my favourite food group, my favourite meal, just my favourite, full-stop. But this year we did our Easter dinner a little differently, and instead of a 'traditional' dinner with roasts, ham or turkey, we had an English pub-style dinner of bangers and mash with champ (aka green-flecked mashed potatoes) mushy peas, mashed rutabaga and cabbage. Believe me, it's food you can tuck into with almost no guilt, owing to fact that you're eating your vegetables; they just happen to be drenched in rich gravy fortified with love. And beer (my own twist on the classic, I braise the sausages in beer to make the gravy even more slurpable!)  We washed it down with bowls of chocolate lava cake topped with ice cream, and we were feeling pretty fiiiine by Sunday night, and I will forever be grateful to my Gap jeggings for allowing me to enjoy this bounty with my family by providing freedom to look stylish and freedom from too-tight pants cramping my carb-flow. Amen!

After all this food talk, we're going to make a smooth transition to wedding dress shopping. Of course we would! It seems only natural to begin a wedding dress shopping/fitting conversation with sausages, heaps of mashed potatoes and cake by the bowlfuls!

Via imoviequotes.com

And while the movie 'Bridesmaids' taught us one very important lesson - NO PRE-SHOPPING LUNCH IN A SKETCHY PART OF TOWN EATING WEIRDLY COLOURED MEAT! -  we know that dress shopping is a unique experience for every bride, and as such, will be approached differently by each lady. But if ever there was a cheat sheet, I think we've found it!  This article from Fashion magazine is amazing because it offers a little bit of everything, from when to go, where to look and how to dress when you meet your dress (hint: think nude!) and if you're going to be embarking on the Quest for Dress, take a couple minutes to read this article..... And maybe forward it to whoever will be going shopping with you so that your posse is on the same page (and keeps you there too!)


Happy shopping!

Wishing a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April

Thursday 24 March 2016

#TBT - Elizabeth Taylor Edition

With husband #5 (and 6) Richard Burton...if only their time together was always this carefree and sunny
Via theredlist.com

We're kick in' it real old-school today! When I think of Dame Elizabeth Taylor, I think of her tireless philanthropic work to shine a light on the importance of AIDS research through the creation of amfAR and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.....

Via classicmoviehub.com

.... her fragrances, she was the first celebrity brand that blazed a trail for future perfumistas like Britney Spears and JLo.......

Via alux.com

....her beautiful violet eyes ....

Via colourmecontacts.com

......and of course, her love life!

Even though she had eight marriages - one of which left her a widow, another which was to the husband of her best friend, and her very first walk down the aisle being to Paris Hilton's great uncle - the relationship that was all-encompassing, passionate, decadent and ultimately toxic led to not one but TWO marriages. She met Richard Burton and her life would be changed forever. This era in her life was followed closely by paparazzi and entertainment writers and was the stuff of legends. There hasn't been a celebrity couple since that comes close to matching Liz and Dick and the intensity the union brought, or the salacious gossip.  We're talking all of the juiciest, smuttiest things rolled into one couple - adultery, passion, knock-down wars of words, grand gestures, sex, extravagant gifts of jewellery, alcoholism and a love that was ultimately the best/worst thing for them.  The closest modern counterpart would be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie but apart from their eyebrow-raising beginnings and their African adventure in 2005, and despite the media and public fascination with Brangelina, they haven't been anywhere near as tempestuous, torrid and turbulent as their gossip predecessors! Taylor-Burton>>>>Jolie-Pitt.


Via theredlist.com
Via theredlist.com

Today, we look back at the many marriages of Elizabeth Taylor! Eight weddings from one bride, and she was a knockout in every one of 'em!

*~Here comes the Bride... Rinse and repeat...and rinse and repeat once again....~*

Dame Elizabeth, proof positive that anything worth doing is worth doing FABULOUSLY!

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Peek-A-Boo....'Eye' See You!

Via columbiaeyeclinic.com

Glasses are so cool these days. I'm going to date myself as a cranky ol' broad, but glasses were never this cool back in my day!  Let's be real, they are pretty damn fashionable nowadays, fearless in their silhouettes, styles and colours. They've gone from corrective medical device to fashion statement! And on the technical side, lenses have become so advanced that instead of coke bottles, a high prescription doesn't suffer from fish-eyes or, worse, raisin eyes. I speak from experience; I started wearing glasses when I was 8 years old and by the time I was 13, I was wearing a strong enough prescription that my eyes were shrunken little marbles, and my frame? It was a (non)beauty - clear plastic with red, white and black embellishments. Viva the '80's!!!!

Very similar to my glasses, aka the reason I NEEDED contacts!
Via forsythiahill.storenvy.com

After a solid five years of honing my spectacle-wearing skills, I begged my folks to let me get contact lenses. I was beyond ecstatic to finally be rid of the monkey on my back (or in this case, my face!) and in the days leading up to my contact lens fitting and training, I fantasized about the eyeshadows I could wear, the blue mascara that would make my eyes pop (Blue mascara = Viva the 80's? Yes, but don't laugh too hard because guess what's on-trend for makeup this spring 2016?  It's all about being BLUE; blue eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, BLUE MASCARA!)  I dreamed of the simple things, like walking indoors from the rain and not having fogged-up glasses, and no more indents on the bridge of my nose.  But the reality was, I hadn't really thought of the mechanics of the thing, ie - getting those teeny silicone freedom-discs onto my eyeball.

Reality bites. For serious.

It took me over an hour to get them in under the ever-patient and encouraging watch of my contact lens guru (this was after she put them in and took them out, just to give me A) a point of reference when it came to having a lens inserted into/removed from my eye; and B) a motivational glimpse of crisp vision with none of the pesky plastic affixed to my face. I left the office, triumphant in my eventual success and believe me, it would all come crashing down when left to my own devices later that afternoon at home when I had to remove them under my own baleful glare and no help* if I needed it.

(* - ok, my mom wore contact lenses and would have helped me but at 13,  who wants help from mommy.... Especially if she's not the most patient)

This ever-so-challenging dance of pry on/pry off continued for two weeks before I was able to pop those babies in and out under 15 minutes and this process was my first real lesson in the truth behind the saying 'pain is beauty' because my learning process?  Such a pain in the arse!

Years later, I would find myself working with optometrists, and one of our services was contact lens fittings and teachings. The doctors did the fittings and we assistants would do the teachings. It was always exciting  to do teaches for people who were ready to take the plunge and jettison their bespectacled ways, ready to embrace them as a visual necessity in sports, teenagerdom, just life in general, but my favourite - and most stressful - teaches were brides and grooms-to-be who wanted to leave  the glasses at home on the biggest day of their lives. They were my favourite because we knew that our students would eventually get the hang of the whole thing, and they would walk down that aisle with their heads held high.  But the stress came in due to time constraints (usually decided within a month or two of their wedding date)  and folks underestimating just how the whole process works.  Dr. Angela Yoon is an optometrist who works in Toronto and here, she details what factors go into determining if a person is a good candidate contact lenses:

*~Are they in or out (of the question) for your eyes? ~*

She also outlines the importance of the fitting and evaluation of contacts here:

*~You've been accepted to the Contact Lens Club: This is your initiation!~*

If you are thinking of contact lenses for your wedding day,  remember that they are secondarily an amazing vision option, but primarily a medical device that needs to be matched to your individual eye needs and measurements, for proper prescription and safe fit. If you're a candidate for them, don't be afraid at all  - just be prepared! As your wedding day approaches, you might start to feel stressed the closer you get to the ceremony. That's a rough time to throw in learning how to be cool with poking around your eye sockets! So set aside time for yourself at least a few months prior to your walk down the aisle to get the process rolling, become a pro at insertion and removal, and of course, get in practice with all the great makeup you'll be able to wear unhidden by your specs!

 #bluemascaraforyouamdme

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April





Monday 21 March 2016

Fitness Motivation: Working It Out!

Via theblabbermouthblog.com


I have a love/hate/love relationship with working out. I love the idea in theory; I kinda hate the  actual activity mid-workout, when my legs feel like jelly and I'm positive I couldn't possibly do another shoulder press, much less twelve more!  But then, once I'm done, I feel the love again - I can honestly say that I'm glad that I do go to the gym. Even when I bribe myself, mostly with treats.

Via musicfeeds.com.au
My fitness goal is not about achieving a 'beach body' (can't ANY body go to the beach?)  or looking Victoria Secret runway-ready -  it's stress relief with benefits. I calm my mind when it's racing or decompress after a tough day, and a nice bonus is that I'm fitter and stronger.  But the love/hate thing can be hard to navigate, you know?   I think half the problem is that sometimes, I don't want to leave the house; it's not that I don't want to workout, but I wish I could get my sweat-on a lot closer to home, ie - IN my home.   The other half of the problem?  The thought of my machine circuit (the same-ol' rotation of DOOM!) feels a little boring and I NEED to shake things up and try something new to keep things exciting and stay motivated.  Fitness-pros will tell you incorporating change will avoid work-out plateaus, and I'll be honest, I do feel a little less 'hate' when I'm trying something different.  I was pretty darned stoked to see a Buzzfeed post that seemed to address both of my issues. They rounded up a veritable treasure trove of workouts and channels to keep anyone on their toes - from the comfort of their very own living room!  From HIIT to dancing, spot training and yoga, the options are staggering, the combinations to create a power-workout are infinite and for anyone, much less a bride/groom/bridesmaid-to-be who is juggling a full plate AND an upcoming wedding, could use these workouts as a personal mind-and-body strengthener and stress-buster. I had to share this with everyone because no matter what your motivation, you can never go wrong when you get moving or cultivate your Warrior pose. It took me a looooooong time to come to this realization, and if I could go back in time and change one thing, I'd go back a *few* years and tell my 20-year old self to get active and be mindful of the overall benefits of challenging myself physically! 

My new challenge - try at least one workout from each channel! Are YOU up to the challenge?!

*~A grab-bag of workout WIN!~*

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April

Thursday 17 March 2016

#TBT - Mick Jagger + Jerry Hall Edition

Via theredlist.com

When I think of models and rock stars, there are few iconic couples, but one of them has GOT to be Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall.  Mick Jagger is an example of the ultimate woman-magnet rock star; the guy might not be much to look at (in my opinion, because I know a whole lotta women would strongly disagree!) but he collected lovers and models like no other!  He met Jerry Hall in 1976 (while he was married to Bianca Jagger; the two would divorce in 1979) and by the following year, they were inseparable and became an exclusive couple.


Via theredlist.com


In 1990, they exchanged vows in a Hindu ceremony in Bali and during their time together, welcomed four children. Unfortunately, they welcomed a lot of salacious gossip and eagle eyes watching their every move - and Mick did not disappoint, with a string of not-no-secret affairs (one of which took place with model Lisa Barbuscia within months of returning from Bali; there were others to follow, even a vacation with yet another model, Carla Bruni (former First Lady of France) but the straw that broke the supermodel's back was a fling with model Luciano Morad which led to news that she was expecting his baby. The divorce proceedings took an unexpected turn when a judge ruled that their marriage was void and null because they never filed the paperwork to make it legal and therefore recognized as such,  thereby making their entire marriage invalid.

Via youngandbeautiful.dirty.ru

(Sidenote: Umm, 21 years and 4 kids? If not a legal marriage, they had a common-law marriage! Unfortunately the annulment was a financial lifesaver for Jagger.  For all intents and purposes, in my mind  they were an ol' married couple!)

Via hippierefugee.blogspot.ca

*~Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall marry under a Bali sky~*

Post Mick, Jerry just got married to billionaire Rupert Murdoch.  This is her first legal marriage, but to us, it feels like her second marriage, and we wish her nothing but happiness (and decidedly less drama!)

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April


Wednesday 16 March 2016

Small Plant, Big Appeal

As pretty as a picture!
Via homeandheart.com

2016 is the Year of the Monkey (Chinese calendar), Year of the Comb-Overed Idiot (you know the one, dominating US politics right now) and now, the Year of the Succulent!

Behold, the succulent, the new horticultural star. She's the wedding hero we didn't know we needed! She is super hardy, which means that a centrepiece won't wilt or fade away as the midnight hour approaches.

Via potting-shed.com

She is SO incredibly appealing, visually speaking - so many shapes, sizes, colours and tones to play and experiment with.

Via ameliabaxterinteriorarchitect.weebly.com

Despite being a member of the plant family, she takes her cues from her flower cousins and wows us with shades that are watercolour tones of pink, turquoise and purples to rich oranges and burgundy.

Via blackgold.bz
Via anythingology.blog.blogspot.ca

Succulents are no one's shrinking violet - she can stand alone and SLAY!

Via topaztiestheknot.com

Via sayidosucculents.com


Don't believe us? Check out some truly eyecatching and exciting ways that succulents can weave their magic on your wedding day!

*~Everything's coming up SUCCULENTS!~*

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April

Monday 14 March 2016

(Re)Setting the Late-night Bar!

Cookies, fries, hot dogs + grilled cheese = late night mandatory food groups!
Via hyattmccormickplaceblog.com

Good times and good food are a match made in heaven. Think about it; when we're having a great night with our family and friends, when we're enjoying a cocktail or two, maybe dancing our you-know-what's off, doesn't everything taste amazingly good?  This is why late-night stations at weddings have huuuuge line-ups and repeat visits! At my best friend's wedding, late-night food nirvana arrived by way of a porchetta and poutine station, and I tell you, I'd never had such good poutine! The fries were that perfect combination of fluffy and crispy, I would have loved to drink the gravy like hot chocolate and I wasn't alone in my poutine-lust because the lineup was constant and like me, insatiable!

Via cateringserviceflorida.wordpress.com 

Late-night pizza stations are always a good, solid, quintessentially munchie-friendly option, but what else could you tempt your wedding guests with? Because a late-night veggie station might not open up to a roar of approval, here are some options that are big on variety and even bigger on appeal!

*~Covering all the late-night snack-station bases!~*

Mac and cheese.... soft pretzels.....mashed potatoes..... TACOS!?!?! I'll take one of each, thanks! And to wash it down, I'll take a crepe (or two)!

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April



Thursday 10 March 2016

#TBT: Nicole Kidman Edition!

Via raredelights.com


Once upon a time, there was a girl with fiery red curls who caught the eye of one of the biggest actors in the world. He cast her as a neurosurgeon opposite his portrayal of a race car driver and they married the following year. They made two more movies together, adopted two children and were Hollywood royalty.

Via coolspotters.com

Via firstpost.com

Then they shocked everyone when they announced that the marriage was over.  After they divorced, he became the unofficial ambassador and defender of the Church of Sciento.logy, fervent armchair psychology critic and enthusiastic couch-jumper.  She would continue acting and building up a solid body of work, and can be considered instrumental in facilitating the phenomenon known as Brangelina.....

Nicole Kidman was half of a super couple, and together with Tom Cruise, she ruled red carpets and box offices.  Post-marriage, she faced criticism over her (alleged) plastic surgeries; I mean, Entertainment Weekly unapologetically wrote all about her face for all to see.

Courtesy laineygossip.com


She has had her relationship with her adopted children scrutinized at every turn and speculation is that she was (again, allegedly) branded a 'subversive' person and while the Church denies advocating cutting off people deemed submersives, lot of ex-members will tell you otherwise.  And if this wasn't juicy enough, she was intially supposed to be the 'Mrs' in 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' but instead the role when to Angelina Jolie and the rest is history!

Kidman would go on to date producer Steve Bing and Lenny Kravitz.  She admitted in an interview that she was secretly engaged, but hasn't revealed to whom.  But, she met Keith Urban in 2005 and hasn't looked back.  The romance was off and running and they got married the following year. The couple had a rough start - Urban would enter rehab shortly after the wedding but he credits her with helping him get the help he needed.  They've welcomed two children and this year are celebrating ten years of marriage.

Via thefashioncurve.com

Via tomandlorenzo.com

Via celebitchy.com 


Here's a look back at their wedding!

*~Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are married!~*

Here's hoping that the next ten years and as good as their first ten'

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April






Wednesday 9 March 2016

Wednesday Wedding Whoa!:The Paper Edition

Via we-are-scout.com

"It is only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me"

"Paper Moon" is one of those old-timey songs that almost everyone is familiar with or has heard. Whether it's the Ella Fitzgerald version or the Nat King Cole version, this song always makes me ridiculously happy. And never has a paper moon or a cardboard sea -heck, any paper product for that matter!-  ever been so romantic! Well, until now, that is!

Via eco-beautifulweddings.com


Inspired by the Floral wall decor pieces from this past Monday that are so new and exciting, I started looking around at other fresh decor ideas and there were some eye-catching gems made from - you guessed it - paper! And the absolute best part? They were all DIY pieces!  Think of the effects that are possible using different papers and techniques;  texture and dimension ....

Via apracticalwedding.com

Via johannanb.wordpress.com

fluttery and delicate....

Via thelittlecanopy.com

multi-hued, coloured and brilliant .....

Via heyweddinglady.com

Via belleandchic.com

The article that really captured the possibilities featured a 3D wall piece that could showcase the colour palette of the day, gorgeous florals blooming in both arches and framed wall panels and my absolute favourite piece, an arch that featured a collection of folded paper cranes. It was so, so lovely, not just in its aesthetic, but also in its tip of the hat to the symbolism of cranes. Long held as a  Japanese symbol of luck, cranes were believed to live for a thousand years; fathers would give a thousand origami cranes as a wedding gift to wish the couple endless good luck and well wishes. Imagine getting married under a sea of cranes, in the midst of a harbinger of good luck and positive energy!!

Take a look at these paper ideas! Here is the post in its entirety:

*~DIY wedding gold made from paper!~*

April made a whole army of assorted paper florals a few years ago.  They were part of staging we did for a bride's home using both both curated and hand-made items; we draped the staircase and it was not only beautiful in person, but it photographed a DREAM!  We've  seen first-hand how paper can hold its own against traditional decor, if done right! So if you're looking for ideas that are off the beaten path, you could be pleasantly surprise - or completely enamoured - with a little help from paper!

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April



Sunday 6 March 2016

Wedding Decor Wow - The Floral Effect

Via scarlettweddingsblog.wordpress.com

Whether you want to be surrounded by them, or you want them in small-but-impactful doses, there's a good chance that your wedding will feature florals.  Lush and fragrant, clean and elegant, or romantic and ultra-feminine, there is a floral treatment for every bride and every space.  From bloom-embellished chandeliers -

Via bellethemagazine.com

to floral table runners -

Via projectwedding.com

flowers and blooms can find a way to add texture, colour and dimension. But one of the newest and freshest decor trends making a huge impact?

Behold the flower wall!

Via bridaltweet.com

Walls and backgrounds go organic in a variety of looks, ranging from framed presentations....

Via bellethemagazine.com

...floor-to-ceiling panels....

Via powerscourthotel.com

....and ceremony spaces with blooming appeal....

Via southboundbride.com

THIS is a truly gorgeous way to take flowers to the next, unexpected level!  And the trend isn't limited to living, breathing specimens; paper flowers are alive with possibility, as seen below.  
Via 128southevemts.com


Via pancakesandglueguns.com

Recently, Wedluxe showcased a wedding that was big in flowers and even bigger on impact. The floral wall segments are a stunning example of the living wall trend:


But wait, there's more! Even more eye candy pulled straight from the garden and brought to life inside the reception spaces!


Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April

Thursday 3 March 2016

#TBT - Neil Patrick Harris + David Burtka Edition!

Via cinemacao.com

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are legen - wait for it! - DARY. Their personal style could cut glass;



Via bellomag.com

their family unit is sooo cute and heartwarming that when I ooh, ahhh and squee, it's audible to only my dogs;

Via celebrityinside.com




Via thestylepressco.com.au

and I'll be honest,  I am jealous of their Hallowe'en steeze.... It's better than any other family out there. Their costume flair is epic:

Via missopen.com

Via hotmomsclub.com

Via hotmomsclub.com

NPH is a fixture from my childhood. He got his first role opposite Whoopi Goldberg in "Clara's Heart" and from there he seamlessly moved between big screen, television, stage, even the web.  He's done voice-over work in movies and video games and is the quintessential song and dance man, with serious comedic chops balanced with a serious side. He is so, so much more than just  Doogie Howser, MD.  He transcended the child star curse that his so many of his contemporaries, and is a man of all mediums.

After being open about his sexuality and relationship with David, they became the very proud parents to twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace in 2010. In 2011, after the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, the pair announced their engagement and in 2014, they tied the knot in an intimate Italian wedding.

*~Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are officially married!~*

As far as couples go, this one? Pretty darn hot! And one of my favourites. My official patron saints of Hallowe'en, and more importantly, living your most authentic life! Isn't that the best life you CAN live?

Wishing you a day as limitless as you are~
Lisa and April