DIY Burlap Framed Art

I have recently developped a small obsession with burlap.  It's textured, it's cheap and it's oh-so-trendy right now for home decor.  After seeing multiple DIY projects involving burlap, I hit the fabric store and got myself some for my own DIY. 

This is so simple, so quick, and so awesome.  All you need is a hot glue gun, a frame, a small piece of burlap (to fit your frame) and some sort of embellishment (a coin, ribbon, a bead, a button, etc.  Be creative!).

{ burlap, $4/metre }

{ thrifted frame, $3 }

{ I pulled this 'coin' off an old candle }

Cut burlap into size of frame's window (mine is 3x3)

Using your hot glue gun...

... Attach your embelishment to the burlap

Insert burlap square into frame

Voila!

Our Engagement Photos

Our photographer friend LT offered to do our engagement shoot as our wedding gift and we jumped at the chance.  We were going to hire her anyways, and this really is the gift that keeps on giving.  She brought us to a small town outside the city where they have beautiful scenery and great ice cream.  She spent over an hour shooting us, and the locations she had scouted out were amazing.  She's truly talented and we are so excited with the end result.  I've already blown up two shots to hang in our house.  Thank you so much, LT!

They're Here!

Photo Credit

They're here!  My wedding shoes have arrived!  I'm ecstatic.  They fit, they are amazing, and I'm so excited!  Yes, they are the ones I said I was getting close to.  Yes, it panned out and yes, I'm so relieved and happy.  I'm keeping it top secret (to surprise my future hubby), so you will have to wait another three weeks or so.

Girl's Best Friend

Gap dress (thrifted), H&M tank (last seen here), Urban Behaviour belt, Aldo pumps (last seen here),

Le Chateau bangle & Suzy rings

...And you thought I was going to talk about diamonds.  Had a little outting with Peanut the other day.  She's such a curious thing, you can not take her off the leash - unless you never want to see her again!  She would take off immediately, especially if she hears kids (she loves kids).

Meet M

I've been getting a few questions about my fiancé and some interest in him, and hey, he is my 'better half' so who can blame you.  Thus, I thought I'd put together a little introduction post.  I know you've seen a few snippets of him here, here & here, but that may not be satisfying your curiosity craving (it wouldn't be satisfying mine - ha!).

So let me introduce to you my fiancé.  He's tall, dark and handsome, loves sports (especially football), is a great cook and is super patient (especially with me).  He fully encourages my shoe addiction, is very stylish, and treats me so good.  Love you, babe!

8 Questions ~ 8 Answers

The lovely Emily of Emily Loves tagged me to answer some questions.  Since I'm always up for some blogger tagging, let's go:

Do you like your height? Would you rather be taller/shorter/stay the same? 
I don't mind being 5'11, but would ideally like to be a little shorter so I would receive less flack about wearing such high heels all the time!

Most daring thing you've ever done?
Cliff jumping

Are you more of a cold weather or hot weather person? 
Hot weather, all the way.  While I can't handle extreme heat very well, I do not enjoy the winter (despite being a snowboarder)

Do you like doing makeup on others or just yourself? 
Just myself.  Make-up isn't a super strong point for me, I can do it, but don't have a huge interest (clothes and shoes are more my thing ;)

Celeb crush? 
T.I.

Have you ever broken a bone? 
Yes - my head (car accident) and right wrist (snowboarding), and I'm right-handed :S

Favourite personality trait in yourself? 
Caring - I always try to go above and beyond for my friends and familly.  I hope they feel the same!

Team Edward or Team Jacob? 
I've never seen Twilight (sorry Em!)

The Harley Room

Winners top, Sirens bandeau, Mexx skirt (last seen here),

Aldo wedges (last seen here & DIY), thrifted belt,

Swatch watch (last seen here), Ardène necklace,

MK bracelet & unknown animal-print bangle

My parents are bikers.  And I don't mean cyclists, I mean Harley riding bad-ass bikers.  Well, not that bad-ass I guess, but my Dad sure does look bad-ass all suited up.  Before heading out to a surprise birthday party for a family friend, I asked my Dad to snap a few pics in their, 'Harley Room' - this is a room that is fully insulated in their garage that my Dad built - it's pretty sweet.  Complete with mini garage door and regular door to enter through, it serves a great purpose as a home to both their bikes.  It's also decorated very nicely with tons of Harley memorabila and all their riding gear.

{ Dad's bike }

My (surprise) Lingerie Bridal Shower

Gap dress, Club Monaco belt & sister's bracelet (thnx June)

You know what happens when you  have the best sister and most amazing best friend?  They throw you an amazing, surprise, bridal shower with all your closest and favourite friends and tell them to only buy you lingerie.  That is exactly what happened on Friday night and I'm still totally in shock, awe, amazement, and so thankful for it and them.

So before the wedding inviations went out, and long before the wedding party meet-n-greet,  my BFF, sister (MOH), and I booked the evening of July 23rd to get together and meet on wedding stuff.  Stuff as in, 'It's a month before the wedding and we need to make sure we are on track' kind of stuff.  Turns out, not so much.  These girls have been scheming since we booked that date to give me the most wicked bridal shower ever.  And they did just that.  And they thought of everything. 

I arrived at my sister's new place shortly after 7:30pm, in jeans and a top (but I had just worked a day in this outfit and didn't feel exactly 'done-up') to a house full of women yelling, 'SURPRISE!'  And that I was!  My bff and sister knew I'd be worried about my apparel and they actually had already been to my house, picked out two outfits (in case I didn't like the first one), and brought along undies, a bra, accessories... yeah, I wasn't kidding when I say they thought of everything!  Within minutes I was upstairs getting changed into my white dress (everyone else wore black, at their request - love that!!).  The spread was amazing, we played some fabulous games, and of course I opened up so many gifts my head was spinning at everyone's generosity (thank you!).

Thank you to everyone who came, you made the night so much more enjoyable than it would have been if you hadn't been there, and thank you so much to my incredible sister and the best friend a girl could ask for.  I'm so blown away by your generosity, thoughtfulness and initiative.  I had such an amazing time and am so grateful.  I couldn't have better friends, I love you.

{ cake by my sister / L.A. Sweets }

{ that's a one-piece ... for real }

{ "The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex" }

   

{ THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING MOVE:  remember these pom-poms? }

{ the best hostesses ever }

{ cutting the cake }

{ THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING MOVE:  they strung a clothes-line to hang up all the lingerie I received }

{ sisters }

{ my favourite ladies & the best hosts }

{ thank you ladies!

-including the ones who had to leave before this picture was taken- }

* PS - I can't show you many pictures of the lingerie I

received because I need to keep these things secret until

the honeymoon :P but rest assured, I did extremely well.

Bridal Shower I

Bridal Shower II