C'est ahhhhhh, c'est ahhhhhhhhh

LOVE.

Want to see my color scheme?

My fiance (eee) and I were 100% in agreement that these had to be our colors. When I showed him this color board from 100 Layer Cake, he told me: "I can't believe you were thinking about anything else!". Then he came up with a million and a half ideas for our wedding that were actually good, and put most of mine to shame.

What's not to love?

AS one of the planet’s most diverse cities, Toronto is oddly clean and orderly. Sidewalks are spotless, trolleys run like clockwork, and the locals are polite almost to a fault. That’s not to say that Torontonians are dull. Far from it. With a population that is now half foreign-born — fueled by growing numbers of East Indians, Chinese and Sri Lankans — the lakeside city offers a kaleidoscope of world cultures. Sing karaoke in a Vietnamese bar, sip espresso in Little Italy and catch a new Bollywood release, all in one night. The art and design scenes are thriving, too, and not just on the bedazzled red carpets of the Toronto International Film Festival, held every September. Industrial zones have been reborn into gallery districts, and dark alleys now lead to designer studios, giving Canada’s financial capital an almost disheveled mien.

~NY Times

{Little (well known, just ask me) fact: I'm Canadian}

Imagine

A slate blue sky just after a brilliant red-orange sunset and a carmine dusk. Breathe in, feel happy.

I dig those mellow kicks.

{From Sunday Girl}

A jive-talk phrase guide? Yes please. Happy Friday!

Challenge: Use 5 of these phrases successfully this weekend.

Gustav Klimt's Judith

Yes, yes I know. Liking Gustav Klimt's work means that I am one of the masses, but his Judith is exquisite.

A bit of background history: Judith was a Jewish widow, who (according to the Old Testament) saved the city of Bethulia from siege by the Assyrians by entering the Assyrian camp to gain access to their leader, Holofernes. Holofernes, attempting to seduce Judith, invited her to a sumptuous feast. Judith, taking advantage of Holofernes's drunkenness, decapitated him and returned to Bethulia with Holofernes's head on a stick.

Klimt however, decided to portray Judith as a Viennese femme fatale (of course). Her expression of cruel triumph (or lazy-eyed pleasure), has led to her being confused with Salome, who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist to satisfy the vengeful spirit of her mother.

And that's Judith (the deadly temptress, hah!).

Also, I think this painting is great for some wedding inspiration.

Muse of the Moment

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld
Via The Selby

Friday Inspiration

{Via Design*Sponge}

Happy Friday! Have lovely weekends.

How is this still okay?

{PC: NY Times}

"NEW ORLEANS — Earnest Hammond, a retired truck driver, did not get any of the money that went to aid property owners after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

He failed to qualify for one federal program and was told he missed the deadline on another. But he did get a trailer to live in while he carries out his own recovery plan: collecting cans in a pushcart to pay for the renovations to his storm-damaged apartment, storing them by the roomful in the gutted building he owns.

It is a slow yet steady process. Before the price of aluminum fell to 30 cents a pound, from 85 cents, he had accumulated more than $10,000, he said, almost enough to pay the electrician. But despite such progress, last Friday a worker from the Federal Emergency Management Agency delivered a letter informing him that it would soon repossess the trailer that is, for now, his only home."

~NY Times

How is it that this is still happening? Progress on renovations of houses have been slow, and temporary housing is running out for Hurricane Katrina victims. FEMA keeps on saying that it has done everything it could to help those in temporary housing, but agency clients paint a different story.

I feel like I don't have to point out the fact that the people who are suffering the most are at an economic disadvantage. I remember thinking this when I traveled down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to do aid work a few months after Hurricane Katrina had hit. We need to do a lot more work to help repair the aftermath of Katrina. This article proves it. Read it here.

I have a present for you!

As you all know by now, I recently celebrated my 25th birthday. I had a great time, received lots of presents and heaps of love.

WELL, it may have been my birthday, but I love giving gifts, so I have one for you, my readers! Sticky Candy is teaming up with the members-only shopping community, ideeli, to give you a free membership offer!

To join, sign up with your email, use the the special code stickycandy, and you'll be all set. Enjoy!

Oh, and if you don't want to sign up, ideeli has a new and fabulous blog that you can check out instead.

Happy shopping!

Errant thought of the day.

I would like to bring back the word "gay". You know, in the 1930's sense.

Who's with me?

Wedding design inspiration

{Pics from Brooklyn Bride and Ink + Wit}

Seriously, how am I ever going to choose wedding invitations, save the dates, and a cake design?

Considering that traveling is a very big part of my life, the old school Par Avion save the date envelope and Air Mail tabs would be perfect.

As for the black and white simple designs from Ink + Wit, this is exactly what I imagine for my wedding invitations. Simple, but lovely.

And the cake? I mean, look at it. How could I not love it? It inspires me to make a crown of wildflowers and feast on strawberries and cream.

I really need to start making an inspiration binder instead of just talking about making one.

Tell me, what designs inspire you?

Birfday

25th birthday in Central Square, Cambridge
FUN.

Hello!

{PC: Saipua}

Hullo, been a bit M.I.A., but will be back soon with birthday photos, tales of wedding dress shopping, silly facts, and a great giveaway! Until then chickadees!