Wedding Song

With my wedding less than 6 months away I am in full wedding excited mode! Today I thought I'd tackle something I have yet to tackle for my wedding, the first dance song. I thought I'd post a few songs that I really love for a first dance. Let me know what your favourite is!

So which song is your favourite? What song did you use for your first dance or would you use?

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Recipe Friday.... Cool as a Cucumber

It's Friday! Today's recipe is coming at your from Rachel Ray's website. I am always looking for fun, new drinks to try and I think this one sounds delicious. It's the Cool-As-A-Cucumber-Sparkletini - doesn't that sound delicious?!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cucumber, peeled, seeded and cubed

1/2 cup ice water

1/2 cup Skyy Infusions™ All Natural Ginger Vodka, chilled

1 cup Lipton® Sparkling Diet Green Tea with Strawberry Kiwi or Lipton® Sparkling Green Tea with Strawberry Kiwi, chilled.

Preparation:
Puree the cucumber with water in a blender. Line a strainer with a wet paper towel and strain the cucumber pulp over a bowl – about 20 minutes. Gently squeeze to reserve the cucumber liquid; discard the pulp.
Stir the vodka and Lipton® Sparkling Diet Green Tea with Strawberry Kiwi into the reserved cucumber liquid. Serve in a chilled martini glasses.
For a non-alcoholic version or this recipe, substitute 1/2 cup Lipton® Sparkling Diet Green Tea with Strawberry Kiwi for vodka and add 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Tonight I am prepping for a big event we have next weekend and tomorrow I have a wedding to go to.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Margaritaville Party!

This past Saturday Lipstik helped host a 60th birthday and the theme was Margaritaville! There was a margarita station, Jimmy Buffet Music, bright clothes and lots of fabulous food! Check out pictures from the party below.

The host hired a street meat vendor to cook dinner right out front of their home!

Don't you love the blue granite?!

Preparing dinner

Margarita Station / Bar

They live right on the water which made for a fabulous view!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

Design Inspiration

I wish I could spend everyday finding images and ideas that inspires me for the decor of our new house. Unfortunately I need to spend everyday working to pay for the new house! I was recently browsing the May/June 2011 issue of Lonny Magazine and came across these great inspirational pictures.

What image is your favourite??

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

DIY Wedding Idea

I am not the best DIY'er but I so wish I was. I do plan on attempting 1 DIY project for my wedding and I will definitely be reaching out to all of you when that time comes. In the mean time, how cute are these chalk table numbers. I'm a big fan of unique table number ideas and think these are super cute!

I found the image and instructions on Style at Home, one of my favourite sites!

Instructions
1 Set up your spray booth and drying areas.
In a well-ventilated area or outdoors, lay down newspaper or a drop cloth two to three times the size of your cardboard box. This will be your spray booth. If you’ve enlisted a friend to help, set up a second spray booth. In a separate area, cover a 3-×-3-foot work surface with newspaper. This will be your drying area.

2 Paint the vessels.
Wearing rubber gloves and a face mask, place a vessel in your cardboard box. Spray it with chalkboard paint, tilting and rotating the vessel as you go to get an even coat of paint. Set it aside to dry. Apply a second touch-up coat if needed. Repeat for all vessels.

3 Write the table numbers.
Condition the chalkboard paint on each vessel by rubbing chalk all over it, then rubbing it off with a damp sponge. Once dry, write the table numbers or names on each vessel using chalk

Variations
Colored chalkboard paint, available at select hardware stores, makes this project adaptable to many different styles and palettes. You can also make your own following the simple instructions below. You will need:

• Bucket or container, for mixing
• Unsanded tile grout
• Colored latex-based paint
• Paint stirrer
• Sandpaper

Mix 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout per 1 cup of paint, stirring with your paint stirrer. Once dry, sand with sandpaper.

• Girly Romantic Consider using pale pink paint. Or write your table numbers in script or calligraphy.

• Happy Graphic Use bright red, yellow, cobalt blue, or gray paint. If desired, use a different color for each table, and colour code the table numbers and escort cards, too.

• Found Use found and recycled vessels, such as recycled detergent bottles, olive oil cans, large jars, or milk jugs (cut a larger opening if needed with scissors or a can opener).

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

The House

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I thought today I'd share something very excited, OUR HOUSE! The construction began a couple weeks ago and we're thrilled. It is schedule to be ready 2 weeks before our wedding which is just under 6 months away!

Here are some pictures of the construction thus far. I know it's not much of anything but it's exciting to us.

I know, I know, a pile of dirt, but it excites me!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

Recipe Friday... Cilantro Citrus Grilled Chicken

Hi friends! Anyone else super glad it's Friday?!

Here's your recipe for the day from The Food Network - Cilantro Citrus Grilled Chicken.

Ingredients

Cilantro Citrus Grilled Chicken

• 2 boneless chicken breasts

Marinade

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro/coriander, chopped (basil will also do well)
• Juice of 1 orange, 1 lime and 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup white wine (optional)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions
Marinade

1. In a large bowl combine marinade ingredients and add the chicken.
2. Marinate the chicken either for at least 2 hours (more is better, up to 24) in the fridge.
3. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature before cooking. Gently flatten the chicken breasts so that they are of even thickness. This allows for better cooking – you won’t get the "one half too dried out and the other side not quite done" effect that happens because the breast is thicker at one end than the other.
4. Of course, I choose barbecuing even in the winter, but you can pan grill, use an electric Griddler or your broiler. It usually takes 5 minutes or so per side depending on the thickness of your chicken. You can tell it’s done when the juices run clear and the meat is no longer pink.

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)

Theme = Colour

Instead of coming up with a traditional theme for your party this weekend, why not make a certain colour or two the theme. Check out these pictures below, aren't they amazing?! I found them on Style at Home!

Hope you're as inspired as I am!

Enjoy the Party,
Nicole

Be safe when it comes to the SUN!

Everyone these days needs to be careful when in the sun. I myself, at 25 have noticed sun spots and it freaks me out! Here are some great sun blocks recommened by The Kit Magazine to help protect your body.

1) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 60.
2) Clarins UV Plus SPF 40.
3) Nivea Sun SPF 30 Lip Balm.



Stay safe from the sun everyone!

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole

Entrance Ways

I have a big love for entrance ways and am constantly pondering what to do with mine. Side note, construction of our house has BEGUN! The hole is dug and the forming began yesterday! I'll be sure to give a picture update shortly. Ok, back to entrance ways.... I thought I'd show you some pictures from House and Home that I think are gorgeous.



Are these all not fabulous. Which is your favourite and why?

Enjoy the Party,

Nicole :)