The Triple Threat

Hi all Glamourites!

I figured after all this time I should finally post some of my own pictures from an event I recently held.  I must also give my Mom a lot of the credit (food & decor purchasing) for this particular party but we work well together throwing fun gatherings for friends and family! For this evening we went with the “Triple Treat” theme being WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE. How can you go wrong with that? Here are some pictures of our food table and decorations. Hope you enjoy and are inspired to do some entertaining of your own  xx Glamour Planner

I have seen this done in magazine’s and on Pinterest of course…using wine bottles as individual vases for flowers. I wanted to spray paint them but ran out of time and in the end, I like the natural uniqueness of each bottle. It also suited our “Wine,Cheese & Chocolate” theme.
Loving the bling bling wine stopper <>
If you haven’t tried BRIX chocolate, I highly suggest it! IThis  specialty chocolate is made for pairing with wine… yum yum.
A party is not complete without matching theme serviettes.
Table close up ~finishing touches of the table with some strings of pearls and our many books on Chocolate & Cheeses.
The entrance: one of THE most important parts of an event. This is where your guests get the first impression of what they have to expect and also what will stick most in their mind. We found some adorable chocolate/dessert paintings, more books on chocolate and fun accent gift baskets to line the staircase as our guests entered the house.

Get CoZy

Hello Glamourites!

I hope everyone is having a fun start to your weekend! I’m at my cottage for the weekend and can’t wait to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. What’s especially nice at the end of a long day of watersports and sunbathing is to cozy up in a bed full of pillows or soak in a nice warm bubble bath. It a calming way to wind down after a long week or a particularly busy weekend. These inspiration pictures remind me of the perfect spot just to curl up with a good book or take a cat nap. Go find your cozy spot this weekend xx Glamour Planner

This large “L” couch looks like the perfect corner area to snuggle up with a blanket and watch a movie.
The detailing in the window moulding reminds me of an old Victorian home with the large drapery curtains. A perfect space to spend an afternoon daydreaming.
I don’t think there is anything more classic than a big bed with white sheets, white pillows and a gorgeous headboard. I wish I could run and jump into these bed for a pre-dinner nap!
ahh…what could possibly be more calming to chase all your stress away than a nice warm bath, with candles of course, and flower petals; this room has it all!

Refresh

Hello Glamourites,

Lately I have been trying to find extra ways to keep myself nice and cool with the heat of summer. Although don’t get me wrong I LOVE the heat! This recipe I found I must give credit to the Broken Bread blog at http://the-broken-bread.com but I have tried my own spin on it and you can use other fruit or ingredients you have around the house. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine xx Glamour Planner

STRAWBERRY LAVENDER LEMONADE

~ Yields 5 Cups ~

· A Handful of Strawberries ~ about 7, plus a few extra for garnish

· 5 Tablespoons Raw Honey

· 2 Tablespoons Dried Lavender

· 1/2 Cup of Lemon Juice ~ about 6 lemons

· 5 Cups of Water

1. Mix water and honey into a sauce pan and bring to a boil, and stir until the honey dissolves.

2. Once the water is boiling add in 2 tablespoons of dried lavender and remove from heat.

3. With the lid on, let the lavender steep for about 10-15 minutes.

4. While the lavender is steeping, place strawberries in a food processor/blender and puree till smooth.

5. Combine the lemon juice and strawberry puree into pitcher.

6. Pour hot water through a mesh strainer into the strawberry and lemon mixture.

7. Let lemonade chill for up to 2 hours before serving, or until cold.

8. Drink up!

DELICIOUS HEELS~

Short ShortS

Hello Glamourites!

Hope you are all having a nice start to your week and the weather is as beautiful as it is for me! The sun is shinning and the birds are singing (well in my mind they are). I am also noticing a ton of stores having great sales on already for their summer collections, so a great time to get some deals and stock up on some summer clothing! Because of the heat lately I am loving my shorts, although I don’t have many, and have put these ones on my favourite list. Hopefully I will be able to expand my shorts wardrobe with these sales around. Hope you like my picks  xx Glamour Planner

I figured I should put my all-time favourite at the top… I NEED these. Yes need. The colouring is amazing and the added studs makes it a fantastic duo.
These denim shorts I like because they look a little baggier which makes them comfy to run around in or for a casual event. Also being a little high waisted and circle studs makes them unique.
White shorts are the classic summer fashion. Great for a beach afternoon, BBQ or shopping downtown.
For a more formal attire you can go with a tweed material which feels more classy. Gold is always a solid choice for colour as you can always match it with whatever else you are in the mood for.
Lastly another denim, good old basic short. I thought the square stud detailing on the back was very cute and can be made casual or even higher fashion with some heels and a fun top.

Back in the day….

Back in the day when a tea break meant a major house production with fresh table linens, 5 piece cutlery, the finest of baked goods, and of course, your prettiest afternoon gown. While watching my new favourite show, Downton Abbey I am surprised how everything is taken very seriously and carried out with such perfection! That sort of formal attention to detail doesn’t seem to exist now-a-days and often the little things are not given the same consideration they used to.  For instance, when one of the gentlemen from the show wore the wrong dinner jacket for supper, it was evident that this was a faux pas. Sometimes I think I would enjoy that attention to detail; ensuring that every little piece was picture perfect when preparing a meal, setting the table, making a bed or even shining the silver. This show puts me in the mood to go back in time and experience it all first hand, which I realize is obviously not possible! However it does inspire me to try and accomplish the feel by throwing a Downton Abbey tea or dinner party! Here are some picture inspirations I found that may help to recreate a similar atmosphere.

Let me know if you give it a go. xx Glamour Planner

I only wish I could eat dinner like this every evening: silver candelabras, 4 different drinking glasses, individual salt and pepper, and of course, the delight of being served so graciously! I could go on!

Here is some fashion inspiration from Lissa Alexandra Photography on a shoot for vintage weddings but these dresses would also be adorable for an afternoon tea.

Making simple pretty additions, such as custom name coasters or name tags for place settings makes it feel that much more important.

I couldn’t resist posting theses adorable “Downton Abbey” style sugar cookies, I can’t image the time it took to make them but they would be ideal for an afternoon tea!

This elegant table display looks just perfect if you are thinking of hosting your own garden tea party. The floral runner down the centre of the table and draping over to hit the ground adds a unique piece.
Some more fashion inspiration from the Downton girls themselves! Nothing says classy more than white dresses, hats, gloves and of course, your pearls.
A dramatic and stunning place setting for a formal dinner party. Loving the gold and black with the white accents in the roses and initialed serviettes.
Downton Abbey Manor.

Crumble Delight

Hello Glamourites,

Well I enjoyed putting together my first “Delicious Heels” edition the other day so I wanted to give it another try! I made this recipe yesterday morning for breakfast and it was most definitely delicious! I would recommend you all give it a go whether just for yourself or if you’re planning a brunch with the ladies. It was very straightforward, fairly healthy and the perfect little breakfast item. Let me know what your favourite breakfast recipe is.

xx Glamour Planner

DELICIOUS HEELS~ Blueberry Crumble Muffin with Stiletto Blue Heels

Blueberry Crumble Muffins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned blueberries (I used fresh berries)

For the crumble topping:

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon (I added this in for my own taste!)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a muffin tin by lining the cups with paper muffin/cupcake cups and/or lightly spraying with a non-stick cooking spray (I do both).
2. In a large bowl, beat the milk, oil, and egg until well mixed.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until a batter just forms (it will be lumpy). Gently fold in the blueberries using a large rubber spatula.
4. Divide the batter even among the 12 muffin cups (a scant 1/4 cup of batter in each).
5. Prepare the crumble: use a fork, pasty cutter, or your hands to “smush” together the flour, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon into a crumbly mixture.
6. Sprinkle the crumble over the batter in each muffin cup.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before unwrapping.
9. ENJOY

Mmmm….these would also be a great picnic snack to pack for a sunny afternoon trip too!

Knock Knock

Hi Glamourites!

I feel that choosing the right door or threshold for a home gives your guest an impression of what style to expect or possibly captures their interest for what lies beyond. A door can be incredibly personal, especially these days as you can choose so many different colours, styles, shapes, materials and much more. It is the first step in creating the excitement of coming to a new house, observing the doorway and imagining what is behind, piquing the interest of what the interior will look like. Doors can be all about creating a welcoming and beautiful entrance to your home.

xx Glamour Planner

DOOR KNOB: the first thing you will most likely look for on a door as well as touch. This beautiful rustic gold knob against the teal coloured door creates a fantasy vibe that makes you excited for what is ahead!

 That TIFFANY blue…how can you not like it!?! The door and hardware provide a very classic look for a fun family household and with the diagonal detailing adding some extra interest.

DOUBLE DOOR entry makes for a stunning entrance for any home, particularly  with a grand lobby such as this. Using glass as the main material for this door is a little more of a daring move but will pay off in the end! They are a little more upkeep with cleaning but it creates gorgeous ornamentation.  If you are wanting to have something completely unique this is a great option! This door is completely glass but a mosaic of all different colours creating a beautiful array of colours reflected in the entrance.
Yes, I am a girl who loves her PINK. Guilty. Truly though this door is the perfect colour between obnoxious hot pink and a too subtle pale rose. Of course the handle accessory is a masterpiece of its own.

Raspberry Burst

Good Evening Glamourites,

I have had some extra time this week and been saving some recipes and am hoping to make in the next couple days. This particular one is at the top of my list! It looks like the perfect light and refreshing dessert along with giving you your sweet tooth fix. Let me know if you give it a try!

xx Glamour Planner

Vanilla Raspberry Layer Cake

Prep Time: 3 hours

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes

Yield: 16 slices

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1-2/3 cup low-fat milk
• 1 cup low-sugar raspberry jam
• 6 oz fresh raspberries

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 10-1/2 oz (1-1/3 pkg) low-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 6 cups icing sugar, sifted
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and line 2 9-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into butter mixture alternately with milk, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of milk. Pour into prepared pans and bake in oven for about 30 – 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove cake from pans and let cool on rack completely.

For the cream cheese frosting:

In a bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla.

To assemble cake:

Slice each cake in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Spread 1/3 cup of the jam over one of the layers. Spread 1/2 cup of frosting over top of second layer; invert, frosting side down onto first layer.

Spread 1/3 cup jam over top of stacked layers. Spread third layer with 1/2 cup of the frosting; invert, frosting side down onto stack. Spread remaining jam over top.

Spread remaining layer with 1/2 cup of the frosting; invert frosting side down onto stack. Cover entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Cover cake with remaining frosting.

Decorate cake with fresh raspberries before serving.

The shoe-aholic in me and food lover has created a new inspiration called DELICIOUS HEELS 

Credit for the recipe to The Fit Housewife blog and finding it through http://foodgawker.com/ ~My FAVE recipe go-to site!

THE outfit

Hello Glamourites,

After all this time I can’t believe I have yet to do a post on Weddings! So here it is, my first post related to my ultimate dream job -wedding planner. I thought to myself today what is more important than the bride’s wardrobe and how she looks on her wedding day….well nothing! This is dedicated to everything the bride  is wearing as well as her accessories. Enjoy xx

THE DRESS ~nothing can top this so we’ll start there..

This glam show-stopping gown is fit for a fairy queen. The intricate gems and beading on the bodice draws the eye upwards towards the bride’s face as well as creating a sleek cinched in waistline. The ballgown skirt makes this every girl’s dream dress.

DREAM TRAIN! Especially if you are having a simpler dress in the front or top portion, having a dramatic train is a gorgeous aspect. When walking down the aisle, this dress makes a real statement after you have passed them on your way to the altar. A ruffled train, almost mimicking the look of large rose petals, creates the ultimate drama!
Another important item that you don’t want to overlook is the bouquet holder as it compliments the thought that has gone into the flowers themselves. This sparkly gem will show off the flowers and appear like glitter in the bride’s hands.
We cannot of course forget about the shoes….after you have chosen your stunning, yet comfortable heels, it is fun to add a little pizzazz. These clip on broaches can be added on later for the ceremony if you have an alternate dress and want to show off the shoes!
If you are going with a more understated dress it is exciting to chose from the variety of fabulous veiling they now have available. This particular veil is interesting how it is bunched to one side and now balanced creating an alluring effect.

Now I know this may not be the bride’s decision but I can’t help but post this stunning ring!! The ring of course completes the wedding day’s outfit.

Do you Ombre?

Hello my Glamourites!

My obsession with ombre started last fall when I decided I wanted to try something new and different with my hair so I tried the dark to blonde ombre. I loved it too – it was fun and I found I could do many styles with it to transform my look. Naturally I am now drawn to ombre inspiration detailing or themes which leads me to this party idea of ombre! It’s more unique then just picking a colour or two to stick with but using one and playing on the different shades and adding more dimension. Hope you enjoy these pictures and maybe give you some guidance for your next party.

xx Glamour Planner

How easy would this be, grab 3 or 4 different shades of balloons and place them in a fading order around the party. Adds a new element to just boring balloons.

A beautiful ombre cake….can’t go wrong with anything that pretty and yummy!
Here is a much simpler ombre cake version that you could even make at home yourself if you didn’t want to spend a ton of extra money.

Of course you always have to have a party dress that fits the occasion! This gown is stunning with the fitted top and ruffling down into lighter shades.
You can order this hanging tissue decor here: http://www.etsy.com/au/?ref=so_home Or make something similar yourself with leftover tissue paper.
Especially an outdoor summer party there is nothing better than a refreshing popsicle! You can make this homemade (kid friendly or not) using different type juices to get the ombre effect.