It's all coming up weddings

Okay, well it's not ALL coming up weddings, but I am attending a few lovely nuptials in the near and distant future, along with all the requisite stagettes, showers, and tea parties.

Last summer, my brother and my cousin both got married (a week apart) and I had the honour of being in both wedding parties. It was such a joy to share those days with two such amazingly calm and level headed brides, and thank God something did go wrong, otherwise we all would have been standing there at the end of the day waiting for the other (or any shoe) to drop.

My experiences from both those weddings makes me look even more forward the ones I have coming up!

I've already attended one this year, and I was honoured to even be invited as it was a very small civil ceremony held in their living room with only their nearest and dearest in tow. This particular couple was meant to get married last October, but because of health issues the wedding had to be post-poned. Earlier on this year they decided they wanted to be married, and neither hell nor high water (nor illnesses) was going to stand in their way.

The happy couple signing the marriage certificate

The ceremony was held in their living room, the officiant gave a lovely talk, and there was plenty of glasses of wine and cupcakes afterwards to feed a village.

The next wedding coming up is one I'm very excited about!

Boo's proposal

My oldest friend, who I lovingly refer to as 'Boo' (can't remember where that one started), is getting married on May 4th. The ceremony is being held in our childhood church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where we met at the tender age of 9.

Before the big day though there are the obvious requirements: Stagette and Bridal shower!

The potluck bridal shower is this weekend, and I'm already planning my deviled eggs, I just need to decide on a flavour.

The stagette is not long after, and despite my shoulder being injured, I'm still going to go along for the pole dancing lessons, and then enjoy a delicious downtown dinner, and some awesome 90's music dancing! I can't wait!!

In late May, my mom and I will be attending two marriage ceremonies for another couple.

The first ceremony is the going to be for the grooms religion. It's going to be some kind of Hindu (I believe) ceremony. I'm quite looking forward to it, but we're waiting to hear back from the brides mother as to what we should wear. New outfits may be in order!

The second ceremony is for the brides religion. I can't remember exactly what they are, but I'm pretty sure it's a Christian ceremony.

'Moose'

I've been told there will be copious amounts of delicious food and drink at both events! I can't wait!

I have a bit of a break for a while then, and September brings another wedding of a dear friend (Whom we refer to a 'Moose'. I completely remember where that one comes from, but that's a story for another day). She had one of the cutest proposals I've seen in a while (or at least one of the most picture worthy), and I can't wait to see what that wedding day brings, or even better, what calamity ensues during the stagette! I'm not sure yet if the party is going to be in Vancouver or Victoria, as she recently moved to The Island, but either local will be great I'm sure!

It says 'Will you Marry me?'

The last wedding I have on my calendar for 2013 (so far), is the Wiccan ceremony and reception for the first wedding I went to. The first couple who had their legal ceremony a few weeks ago will be having their 'handfasting' Wiccan ceremony in October. It promises to be a very interesting experience, and I look forward to seeing it! I already know what the dresses look like, as my mom and I are making the bridesmaids dresses and doing the alterations on the wedding dress.

Before that the big day in October though we have a bachelorette and bridal shower for that bride (well now wife technically). That party promises to be a very interesting event, as those group of girls have their own fascinating and awesome definition of fun! Pictures to follow if they are appropriate and PG.


Living in Vancouver and having such a diverse group of friends and extended family, I feel so blessed to be a part of these upcoming weddings, ceremonies, receptions, bachelorettes, tea parties, bridal showers, dress fittings, and luncheons! This year promises to show me some diverse and fascinating nuptials, and I can't wait!! Pictures and posts forthcoming.

    living a life surrounded by love
          Anna Felicity

A different kind of ombré nails

So I saw something the other day, and Lord helping me if I can remember where, but I just knew I had to try it!

I've done ombré with nail polish layering, but this is way more fun!

The idea is: you add black and white to whatever colour you choose and create an ombré effect acorss all your nails.

What you'll need:
A coloured nail polish
White nail polish
Black nail polish
A paint brush (suitable for painting your nails)
A palette, or a piece of wax paper ;)
Nail polish remover

Here's how you do it:
Each nail needs 4-5 drops of nail polish.

The middle nail you can just use the polish by itself. Do both middle fingers at the same time.

Next nails (ring finger) mix 8 drops of the colour, and 2 of black on your palette. Be sure to mix the two throughly, or you'll get streaks of the individual polishes instead of the whole colour. Paint both ring fingers at the same time.

Next for your pinky fingernail, add four more drops of colour and two more of black. Paint both pinkies at the same time.

For the index finger and thumb do the same thing but with white. The black polish I found you didn't have to add much to make the colour darker, the white took a little more to lighten up, but I suppose it would depend on what colour you use.

Of course these aren't hard an fast measurements. Add more colour or white or black to make it right. The polish will dry a little lighter than it looks when you're mixing it. Work quickly so the polish doesn't dry before you can get it on your nails.

Remember to thoroughly clean your brush after so it doesn't harden up and become useless.

and of course, remember to top coat and enjoy your awesome nails.

I think they look pretty:

     designing a life more shaded

          Anna Felicity

P.S. Besides trying this new technique on my own nails, I couldn't help myself over the holiday weekend, and I painted some adorable nail art on my mom's fantastically long nails!!!

The bunny and chick are my favourite!

Poutine anybody?

My ever so lovely sister-in-law posted about a Poutine Festival today!

The presale tickets have already sold out, but rush tickets are available at the door for the afternoon and evening events an hour an half after doors open.

I think as a Canadian it's my duty to try to get in. I'm aiming for Sunday afternoon (So 1:30 on Sunday I am there!).

Who wants to join me?

While we wait for this glorious event to happen, please enjoy these photos of delicious, delicious poutine, and a photo of my enjoying some delicious but VERY hot Poutine in Quebec City

The VERY hot poutine culprit!

Is that a pork chop?

Bacon? Egg? Chives? Really not sure whats happening here?

Guacamole and Salsa, Great idea or blasphemy?

The Classic!

     designing a life with a much higher caloric intake

          Anna Felicity

New Year Joys

Well, here I am 18 days into 2013, and while I've already had some ups and downs, on the whole, this year is going pretty freaking well.

I started at BCIT (one class, don't panic), and I'm at total loss for what I want to do. Essentials of Marketing is a staple for many BCIT programs, and I've been told declaring a program bumps you up on the list when registering for classes, but tying myself to one thing right now seems like the worst thing I could possibly do!

Maybe I'm being overly dramatic, but Nobody puts Baby in a Corner! (too much?)

Moving on.

I'm looking forward to a lot of things in 2013. I'm not the type to make resolutions, as I never understood the rational behind changing your life on one particular day. If I'm going to change something in my life, I just should.
None of this:
     "At exactly 12 Midnight, I will - be a better person - drink no more - lose weight- kill less puppies - watch what I eat"

February 11 - Celebrating one year with pretty fucking awesomesauce boyfriend  I really am quite a fan of him, and have decided to keep him. I must apologise to all the women in the world who are looking for an 'awesomesuace boyfriend'. I have taken one off the market. Go find your own!

March 17 - 5K Fun Run, For St. Patty's day. Run - Run - Run - Eat Lucky Charms - Drink beer. Our team name: Fiddle Dee Dee My Potatoes, said in my patented Munchkin voice. [Edit, I can't actually run in this, becasue it's actually on March 16th, and I have to work, but the team name continues, and I'm buying the team some green hair spray]

April 20/21- Fan Expo in Vancouver. I decided on my costume, now to make it. I am SERIOUSLY looking forward to it, but researching and making a hoop skirt, and getting just the right shape of skirt is going to interesting.

June - My 26th birthday. Okay so it's not a noteworthy birthday, but birthdays are fun despite, and I hope I never dread growing 'another year older'. Possibly a trip after that up to the lovely but small Kaslo, BC to visit a friend on her Rural practicum for [essentially] teachers College.

July-ish - My Annual trip up to my uncles cabin on the shorelines of Adams Lake. Oh, a week with nothing to do, nowhere to be, sunshine and drinks, boating and hiking, waterfalls and swimming, and endless Ceasers.... *sigh* if I must.

September - Start more course at BCIT, and slowly Take Over the WORLD!

October - My second Halloween at my work (this Costume Shop). I will be much more prepared this year (hopefully), enough to enjoy myself a little too. I may even reuse my hoop skirt somehow

That pretty much beings it full circle for 2013, and I hope to go to the same or equally fantastic New Years party to ring in 2014. Every year in another year I want to live, love, and laugh my way through  and I for one am looking forward to all the planned events, as well as those adventure that blind side me and keep me on my toes.

Happy 2013 everyone.

Next blog Post, making that freaking costume...




          designing a life that's more
                    Anna Felicity

Cookies for all!

I was inspired to post because I came across an awesome looking pin, and through some digging I found out the pin was traceable back to an on-line newsletter from DVO.com, a company that sells a recipe organizational software... Wow, what a world we live in! I still prefer my hand written, flour covered papers.

Here’s the article:
http://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2010/november/tabletalk4.html

Note: I made mine without the benefit of this, because I rushed in full speed ahead, without researching where the image had actually come from.

TIME:
Making dough - 10 minutes
Chilling dough - 3-4 hours
Cutting out and baking and cooling cookies - 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME:
4 ½ hours

INGREDIENTS:

For the sugar cookies, I used the ‘rolled cookies’ recipe from my old standby Joy of Cooking

Cream:
½ cup butter
½ cup white or brown sugar (I used white, but I think they would have been better with Brown)
Add:
2 eggs
1 tbs vanilla (or any flavour extract of your choice)
1 ¾ cup of flour
1 tsp salt

Food Dye, I used liquid food dyes, and the colours came out distinctly pastel. Next time I think I will use gel or paste food colours to get those rich autumn tones.

EQUIPMENT:
Kitchen Aide Mixer
Separate bowls for mixing in the colours
Resilient arms

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make the cookie dough, just barely combining in the flour, as the dough will be get very mixed up when adding the food dye.

Separate the dough into four (Or however many colours you want, but I think 4 should be the max, otherwise it starts to look messy) parts.

Add the food dye to each part, the dough will get VERY soft and warm during this, and chilling the dough is a necessity.

Chill the dough in the fridge for 3-4 hours

Remove dough from the fridge, and let it soften a bit on the counter.

Preheat oven the 350C.

Do not roll out all the cough at once. Take a small (1-2 tbsp) portion of each colour of dough for each cookie. Roll it out flat, making sure the colours are all joined but not too mixed together. Use a lot of flour to make sure the dough doesn't stick to the counter, so you can just pick it up and roll it again, instead of having to scrape it off like I did (I ended up mixing the colours more and more together into a dull beige).
For each of the few cookies, roll out more of each colour.

I rolled my dough out to about 1/32 cm thickness.

Cut out whatever shape you like. I used little bears, because I didn’t have a leaf cookie cutter, but I think a leaf one would have been the best.

Place the cookies onto a pre greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool on the cookies sheets.

REACTION:
I like them!

They would have been better if I had researched the pin instead of just guessing.
They would have been better with gel dye.
They would have been better if I had rolled out the dough in parts instead of all at once, resulting in a beige gray-ish mess by the end.

But at the end of the day, they were still seasonally themed sugar cookies, and they look really adorable! I am going to pull this little trick out for easter with my chick shaped cookie cutter, and some real pastel colours!


VERDICT: Pin-Win, but I think only for the recipe, not so much my execution of the colour sections.I’m eating some as I write this post. They are a seasonally themed food item, and now that I’ve worked out the kinks, my relatives can look forward to many more sugar cookies, all the colours of the rainbow (and maybe even some rainbow ones)!


          designing a life more delicious
                    Anna Felicity