Prince William & Ms. Kate!

The day has finally come!!  I thought today I'd highlight the wedding of Prince William's parents and the lovely couple themselves!

I hope you're all not too sleepy today. I think the tiredness is well worth it!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Wedding Flowers

I can only begin to imagine (for 1 more day) how luxurious and amazing the flowers are going to be at Ms. Kate's wedding. From roses to peonies, it will be spectacular!

Here are some floral arrangements to get us thinking about tomorrow!!

Aren't these lovely from Fos Decor.

I love the vases and the flowers too of course. From Blooming Trends 2.

In honour of the flowers Lady Diana held on her wedding I thought I'd show a bouquet with a similar idea.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Cake or Cupcakes?

Have you decided what you're doing for desert? I am a big fan of cupcakes but worry that a sea of cupcakes will look overwhelming. I think it's safe to say Ms. Kate will have a fabulously large and grand cake at her wedding. Here are some pictures of my favourite wedding cakes and cupcakes.

This is The Silver Dragee Cake by Bobbette and Belle.

This is the Cherry Blossom Sky Scraper from Bobbette and Belle.

These are Monogram Mini Cakes from Bobbette and Belle too!

I hope these made your mouth water as much as mine!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Cinderella's Glass Slipper

My second favourite thing about my wedding, my wedding shoes! I bought them this Christmas and I cannot wait to wear them. When I first started thinking about my wedding shoes I so badly wanted to the "Something Blue" Manolo Blahnik shoes. Unfortunately, when I tried them on, they hurt my feet.

I thought I'd suggest a couple pairs of shoes that Ms. Kate should consider for her big day!





How stunning are these Christian Louboutin shoes. They're to die for if you ask me!

How about this classic white Jimmy Choo shoe. Stunning, right!

Which ones are your favourite? Did you love your wedding shoes?

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)



Happy Royal Wedding Week!

Since the wedding of the decade is on Friday I've decided to dedicate all my posts to weddings this week! So far my favourite part of planning my wedding has been dress shopping and saying YES to my dress so I thought I'd start off today with wedding gowns.
With all the speculation around what Ms. Kate will wear I've decided to suggest a few gowns for her from my favourite designers.

The first dress is from my favourite designer and the designer of my wedding gown, Ines Di Santo. From the moment I laid eyes on her gowns I knew I wanted to wear one on my wedding and I'm fortunate enough to be doing it! So here's my Ines Di Santo pick for Ms. Kate.

Solange Gown from the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection



The second gown I've picked for Ms. Kate is from Monique Lhuillier, my second favourite designer. I realize this gown is probably not one she would wear but I love it!!

Rafaela Gown from the Spring 2011 Collection

Romona Keveza Collection

My third pick is a Romona Keveza gown.

What's your favourite gown of the three and who's your favourite bridal gown designer?

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

Recipe Friday..... on Thursday

Being that tomorrow is Good Friday and a holiday I thought I'd share the recipe today. I thought I'd share a delicious lamb recipe since it's Easter weekend!

Michael's cousin Anna had us over for dinner a few weeks ago and made us a delicious dinner, the best part, the lamb. I wasn't a huge lamb fan before but let me tell you, this recipe will make anyone fall in love with lamb!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 (convection will cook faster)
2. Rub Dijon mustard all over the lamb
3. Take Italian seasoning bread crumbs and cover the lamb.
4. If you have a pan with a grill at the bottom so the lamb does not touch it, it is better because it will drain the fat away. If you don't, no worries, it will still be good!
5. Add some water to the pan so it does not burn the bottom.
6. It usually takes 20-25 minutes per pound to cook.
7. Cover with foil. Try not to let the foil touch the lamb so use tooth picks if possible.
8. Put it in the oven with a cooking thermometer if you have one. Again, if you don't, don't worry!
9. Uncover about half way through.
10. Once it's cooked slice it up and make your guests happy they came over for dinner!

I plan on making this the next time we host a dinner party with veggies, salad and a fabulous bottle of wine and I'll be sure to share a picture when I do.

I hope you all have a fabulous long weekend!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

Easter Table Settings

To keep with my theme from yesterday and gorgeous table decor I thought I'd suggest some great Easter table settings. Being that the weather isn't looking too hot this weekend we'll need to find other ways to warm things up.
I was just browsing around the HGTV DIY Decor section and found these fabulous Easter table settings that I think are to die for. Michael and I are super excited to start hosting family events at our new house and all of these pictures make me even more excited and anxious!

Brunch Bunny

Glam Bunny

Mod Bunny

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Spring Table Decor

I, like many of you, am a big fan of gorgeous, seasonal table decor. Being that spring is here I thought I'd dedicate today's post to spring table decor.  I found some great pictures on the Country Living website that I thought I'd share.

Can't you see yourself doing this for Easter, Mother's Day, a bridal shower or just a Sunday! I love them!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

The steps to throwing a great party!

Sorry for the delay in posting this, I had a very busy weekend and an even busier Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend even though the weather was crappy. Michael's birthday is on Easter Sunday so we decide to celebrate it this past Saturday with all our friends. I had a big party for him at my place and it was a lot of fun, if I don't say so myself!

Hosting this party made me think about organization and some of the steps to throwing a great party, which leads me to my next few points. Some of things I like to do to stay organized and stress-free when throwing a party are the following:

1. Make lists: I am a big list person, it helps me stay focused and organized. Friday night I sat down, got myself organized and planned out, point by point, what I had to do on Saturday. From grocery lists to what times things were going in the oven, I had everything written down.
2. Do some work ahead of time: Friday night I set up the bar and cleaned the house so on Saturday I could dedicate myself to shopping, cooking and having time for a manicure :) After grocery shopping I prepared all the food as much as I could that way when I went to put everything together all the tough work and mess was done.
3. Ask your girlfriends for help: Thanks to some fabulous ladies in my life, I was able to rely on them. Caitie made some delicious chocolate chip cookies; Kiira picked up the sushi tray; Stephanie picked up the cupcakes; Julie made a delicious dip and Laura brought strawberries and chocolate sauce!
4. Leave some time for yourself: Try and find 40 minutes to treat yourself. Whether it's a manicure or a blowdry it's always good to sneak out and de-stress before the big event. I myself, snuck out for 40 minutes to get a manicure!

I hope some of these tips help when you're hosting your next event!

Recipe Friday.... Cupcakes!

I am a huge lover of cupcakes. I'm not a big dessert person but cupcakes get me every time. This past Sunday I was at a baptism and the centerpieces on the tables where cupcakes and it was super cute and trendy so I thought I would highlight them today!

Here's a Vanilla Cupcake Recipe, my favourite kind.

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 egg whites from large eggs
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, shortening, milk and vanilla  in a large mixing bowl.  Mix at low speed for 2 minutes.  Scrape bowl.  Add egg whites and mix at high speed until fluffy and smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
Fill liners 1/2 to 2/3 full of batter.  Do not overfill.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes in pans then remove from pan, and place on wire racks to cool completely.
Frost and decorate your vanilla cupcakes as desired

 

Here's a picture of the cupcakes from the baptism, isn't it so cute!!

 

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

 

 

Gardening

Something I am beginning to become interested in is gardening. Michael and I don't have a garden to tend to just yet but the idea of it intrigues me. I like the idea of working on something and having the best garden on the block.  Being that I don't know much about gardening I thought I'd post pictures of beautiful gardens to inspire myself and all of you. I got all the pictures from Canadian Gardening. I hope you enjoy them and they make you want to host a fabulous garden party!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Restaurant Suggestions

Friday night my sister and I went to a fantastic new restaurant at Bay & Richmond called Black Moon Bar & Lounge. The food, atmosphere, ambiance and crowd were all trendy and upbeat.  The menu is a sharing / tasting menu and we loved it. We ordered scallops, asparagus, steak and mushrooms. I highly recommend Black Moon to anyone looking for a fantastic night out!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Patio Cocktails

Saturday afternoon my girlfriends and I had a fabulous time enjoying the great weekend weather sitting on the patio at the Black Bull on Queen Street.  Sitting on the patio had me thinking about healthier cocktail options for the summer that I want to share with you.

1. Champagne: I know this may not be your first choice on a hot summer's day on a patio but a glass of champagne only has 60 calories.
2. Vodka, Soda & Lime: This may be more up your alley while sitting on the patio and it's only 57 calories.
3. Molson 67: Why not enjoy a cold beer and not worry about all the calories your guzzling. Molson 67 is only 67 calories.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Let's get beach ready!

My weekend was very fun so I thought I would highlight one of the unique parts of it.  On Saturday I had an appointment at Clarity MedSpa for a Freeze Body Contouring & Skin Tightening treatment.  The freeze treatment is a body contouring treatment using heat to target new collagen production.  It also shrinks fat cells, amazing, right?!
The treatment takes 30 minutes and the results are great. Stephanie, the spa therapist, measured my waist before and after and I had lost almost 2 inches, incredible!! You can be sure I will be doing this treatment a lot over the summer and closer to the wedding.
The treatment feels like a hot ultrasound and doesn't hurt a bit. I did the treatment on my stomach but you can do it on other areas of your body, inner thighs, arms or any other problem area.
To book an appointment at Clarity MedSpa call 416-990-2222 or email stephanie@claritymedspa.ca.

Here are some pictures of the spa.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Recipe Friday....Summer Salads

I am a huge fan of salads and different kinds of salad so I thought today's post we could tackle salads!

I found a ton of Summer Salad Recipes on Canadian Living (click here) that I think you'll enjoy. Here's my favourite:

Summer Vegetable Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette and Canadian Asiago Cheese

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Summer bbq ideas!

While everyone is wishing for the warm summer weather I thought I'd give us all some hope with some delicious bbq ideas. Instead of throwing a bland hamburger or hot dog on the grill while not spice it up this summer!

1. Rosemary Lamb Chops: I'm a big fan of lamb chops. They're delicious, fun and you don't require a knife and fork (a big deal to me when hosting). This recipe calls for them to be broiled, however you can definitely throw them on the bbq too.
2. Grilled Lamb, Beef or Chicken Spiducci: Trying to please the men in your life, why not bbq some delicious meat on a stick. Again, it's easy to eat and everyone will enjoy it.
3. Grilled Corn on the Cob: One of my favourite summer foods is corn on the cob. I don't like corn when it's not on the cob, weird right! Instead of cooking it on the stove why not grill it on the bbq, adds a delicious flare to any meal.

Hope these put you in the summer spirit!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Why not bring Rome to you....

I know I wrote about theme parties last week but I thought I'd share some details about the party I hosted this past Saturday.  My parents threw their dear friends 50th birthday party and asked Lipstik Events to help for the evening.  My mother took care of the cooking, a delicious Italian inspired meal and I took care of the rest. From bartending and cleaning to plating the meal and making sure everyone had fun, Lipstik took care of all the details.  I thought I'd share a few pictures of the evening for everyone to see.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Making a house a home!

With the wedding less than a year away there is a lot of planning and house decorating on my mind...all the time! A big deal to me is not living in house but making it a home. I want our home to resemble us, our tastes and not just a few pieces of furniture.
I thought I'd share some of my favourite stores and items right now that I'm trying to encorporate into my our future home.

Excavated Pot from Anthropologie

All-Clad Cooper Core Cookware Set fromWilliams-Sonoma



Francine Placemat from Crate and Barrel



What pieces are you adding to make your house a home?

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Recipe Friday.... Pizza!

My apologies for my tardiness the past few days, it's been hectic! This should have been posted on Friday but I wanted to post pictures with it so I waited.

Here's the Bigioni family white pizza recipe that I've tweaked a bit!

• Depending on the size of your pan, use 1 or 2 doughs. I've used two with mine.
• Spray you pan with Pam and then drizzle olive oil on the pan. Make sure you rub the oil all over the pan and don't forget the corners.
• You want to spread the dough hours (I say minimum 4 for best results) before you're ready to cook it so it rises enough.
•  To spread 2 doughs place one dough ontop of the other. Drizzle a little oil ontop and begin needing it. It will continually shrink into the middle of the pan, that's ok. Spread the dough for 2-5 minutes.


• Cover with a piece of Parchment Paper and let rise. If you're in a rush and have a gas fire place put it in front of the fire for a couple hours, it helps the dough rise faster.
• Here are the ingredients that I usually use for my white pizza: Onions, Pitted Black Olives, Bocconcini Cheese, Rosemary, Oregano, Salt, Pepper, and Olive Oil.
• When you're ready to dress your pizza here's the order using the above ingredients:
  1. Pre-heat your oven to Convention Bake or Bake at 475 degrees.
  2. Cut up the onion and bocconcini cheese
  3. Drizzle olive oil on your pizza and spread around with your hands
  4. Place the onions, cheese and olives on the pizza (I forgot to buy olives so I didn't use any this time)
  5. Sprinkle a little bit of salt, rosemary, pepper and oregano

• When your oven has pre-heated put the pizza in for 16-18 minutes depending on your oven and watch it so it doesn't burn. To make sure the bottom has cooked lift up a corner of the pizza with a spatula. Once the bottom is a nice golden brown colour your pizza is done.
• Take you pizza our and let it cool for a few minutes before cutting it.
• Make sure you cut your pizza with scissors and not a knife to ensure you don't scratch your pan.

• Serve warm and your guests will love ya!

I love serving this as an appetizer or as a meal with a salad. If you have any questions please email me.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)