In Any Events

A Homemade Christmas

So one of the Christmas traditions I think is important is that of homemade Christmas gifts. The amount of effort and time that goes into each homemade gift I have ever received has always meant a lot to me and it's something that I would like to pass along to those that I love. So this year I am holding "Liane's First Annual Homemade Christmas" for my closest friends. Some of them were not so keen on the idea of making gifts for each other but as the date draws closer to the party I am amazed at what I am seeing being made by my friends. I knew they were talented but they are going above and beyond what I thought they would... it's going to be a great night!

Of course the problem with being the hostess of the Homemade Christmas party is that I  feel like my gifts have to be completely stunning, I'm going for the "You made that?!?" reaction when they each open their gifts....it's a tall order when you are as picky as I am.

So I have been searching around the internet looking for some fantastic ideas and here are the two finalists. I won't reveal what I made until after the party as I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for the girls, and knowing me I will change my mind at the last minute and make something completely different than the original plan. PS if you click on the links for each item the original blog post with instructions will appear.

1. DIY Luminaries

I found this idea on Hip Hostess and absolutely love it. I think they would be so pretty all glowy on your  coffee table. Pretty time intensive I think but well worth it in the end.

  

2.Hot Chocolate on a Stick!

I found this recipe over at The Givers log and think it would be lovely in a package with a Christmassy mug and some homemade sugar cookies!

  

 

 

 
  
 

Happy Thanksgiving to our American Neighbours!

I found this ridiculously cute recipe on Hip Hostess who in turn found it on the Party Blog and I knew I had to post them as I will be doing this next year with my niece and nephew for sure! It will keep them busy and be delicious what a great combination! For an easy shortcut you can always use store bought sugar cookie dough or follow the recipe below.

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Vanilla frosting
• Green fruit leather
• M&M's or Reese's Pieces candies

Instructions

1. Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.

2. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Working on a floured surface with one part at a time, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a knife, cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes or just until the edges brown. Let the cookies set on the sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Frost the cooled cookies. Next, use kitchen shears to cut husks from the fruit leather to fit the sides of each cookie. Press the husks in place atop the frosting, with the tips down a bit. Now fill in the middle with candy kernels gently pressed into place. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies

 

Holiday Cards!

I received my first holiday card of the season today and it made me wonder what kind of cards are out there this year. It also made me realize I need to write mine out and get sending them!

So enjoy whats on offer from Etsy this year in holiday cards, I know I did!

This Reindeer pop up card can be found by searching for Tracy Chong's page... it's adorable!

 

Tracy also does Hannukah cards and any holiday appropriate snowflake cards

                          

                        

  

These two can be found by searching for PaigeStanton's page

  
  
 

You can find these ones by searching Studioflowerpower and they're Canadian! I love these they are so different!

 
   
 
   
  

And I would be oh so pleased to receive this card in the mail from Capturingcreativity!

 

I truly feel the holiday season is officially kicked off now so stayed tuned for many many more holiday themed posts!

 
 
 
  

Tracy and Kristin August 22nd Eggspectations

So it's time to post some of the weddings that we were so lucky to be a part of this summer! I will be posting them over the course of the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

I wanted to start with Tracy and Kristin as I have already posted their wedding video. They held both their ceremony and their reception at Eggspectations on Bank Street and they were the very first wedding held there! I have to say that Tracy and Kristin and their friends and family made the day so special for us. I have never experienced such an open and loving environment with people who were so ready to help to make sure that the brides were happy on their special day.

There are so many pictures I want to share with you I don't even know where to start! Most of the photos are done by Josh Brown with a few thrown in from Tracy's very talented cousin.

The pre-wedding photo shoot was done all around elgin street and the market including the Outlook where the brides first met (they were so on time they even got to have a drink there!).

 

 
  
  
   
  This is my favourite wedding party picture of all time!
  
 
    

Team Green!

 Team Ireland!

The ceremony was held in the lower level of Eggspectations in front of the glass doors, emotions ran high and beautiful words were spoken.

 

 
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  

   
 

And then on to dinner and dancing upstairs!
 

 

Love this photo the glass as a backdrop is stunning!
 
   
 
  
  
 
    

And finally the party!

  

  

  There is one picture that I want to bring special attention to. Kristin's mother Laurel made a very touching speech and lit a candle and I wanted to share both the picture and the speech with you all.

 

Four and a half years ago our Prime Minister, Paul Martin, stood only blocks away from where I stand today and spoke in support of the federal Civil Marriage Act. He stood in front of our parliament and asked his colleagues to extend the right to marry to all Canadians regardless of who they love. “This,” he said, “is an important day.”

Well today is an important day too. Today both of our families have grown and been strengthened to include a new member. Today, I have the honour of welcoming my new daughter into our family. Our daughter-IN-LAW, Tracy. And I am proud that Tracy and Kristin are able to marry with all of the legal rights and privileges that many of us take for granted. But as we welcome Tracy, we must also remember that this is not a universal right. Many people in this world are not able to legally marry the people they have chosen to share their lives with. So today I would like to light a candle in their honour. In the hopes that someday soon those laws will change and love, whatever form it takes, will be universally respected and celebrated. As I light this candle I invite all of you to join me in making this wish for equality. 
 

We're ba-ack!

There are lots of changes coming up for this little blog but while I work on them I wanted to share this wonderful video of one of our weddings from this summer.

Tracy and Kristin were lovely to work with and their day was filled with love and friendship, everything a wedding should be filled with. They were the very first couple to have their wedding at Eggspectations on Bank Street and I have to say it was a stunning venue.

The video was done by C'est Bon Productions and in particular Shannon at C'est Bon. I highly recommend her as she was truly professional all throughout the day!

Enjoy!