Wedding Weekend Activities

Good morning! I hope everyone had a nice weekend! Despite the rain here in Ottawa, I had an amazing weekend, which centered around wedding related activities on both Saturday and Sunday. The weekend kicked off with my wedding shower, followed by the Wedding Palace Bridal Show in Ottawa on Sunday, where Ryan and I picked up lots of goody bags and signed up for plenty of contests!

The spread! Beautiful and delicious!

After moving some furniture in preparation for our move at the end of the month, I headed to Kingston with my mother-in-law, her sister, and their mum to attend my wedding shower. Even though driving conditions weren't ideal, it was a really fun car ride, both to and from Kingston!

My mum planned the event for weeks and put so much love and attention into every little detail! We arrived right on time and headed into my parents house to join the party. The spread was fantastic and the house was perfectly decorated for the shower. I had such a wonderful time chatting and catching up with everyone in attendance. There were plenty of fun wedding shower games and prizes to be won, and everyone had a really great time! 

Cutting the cake!

The party was such a whirl of excitement that it felt like it all went by so quickly! The cake was beautiful but with everything else going on, I barely had the chance to have more than two bites of it! 

Beautiful women: My mum, aunt Rebecca, and aunt Linda

I tried to spend a bit of time with each guest, and it was so lovely to be able to see so many wonderful people. I am so appreciative of everyone's love and support! It's so easy for life to get in the way and make it difficult to spend time with family and friends, so being able to see so many people, some of whom I hadn't seen in years, was a really special treat!  

Oldest and dearest friends! Me and Jen!

Thank you to everyone who came to the wedding shower, and also to those who were unable to make it but still sent their love! I am so grateful to have such incredible family and friends and I love you all dearly! I will cherish these memories (and your insightful wedding advice!) for many years to come!

Married!

I am officially a married woman! 

After finishing work on Thursday evening, I headed downtown to meet up with my aunt and Ryan for a late dinner and to pick up a few things that my mum had sent ahead with my aunt. We ended up choosing D'arcy Mcgee's, primarily due to it's great location right by the Parliament buildings, and near both The Lord Elgin and The Chateau Laurier. After dinner we headed back to our respective hotels to rest up for the wedding on Friday morning.

Ryan and I both woke up fairly early on Friday morning, so we had plenty of time to relax and get ready at our leisure. Since we were staying at the beautiful and very swanky Chateau Laurier, I certainly wanted to make the most of it! Ryan had picked up a bottle of champagne the night before so we got to enjoy a glass (well, two for me!) before heading over to the courthouse to meet our families.

The civil service was just lovely, and our officiant was so kind! She did a wonderful job at relaxing us both with her funny sense of humor! The room was just the right size to fit in both our of parents, and four brothers. After we said our vows we had our mothers act as witnesses and that was it! We were officially married!

Since we had about an hour and a half before our lunch reservations at The Lord Elgin, we all headed over to the park across the street to take some photos. We were joined by Ryan's grandparents and two of my aunts at this point. 

About half an hour into taking pictures, I realized that in all the excitement, I had completely forgotten to bring my bouquet! Luckily, the hotel wasn't too far away, and our brothers all volunteered to go pick it up for me. Once they returned, we were able to finish taking pictures..this time with the beautiful bouquet! 

Just before noon, we all walked over to The Lord Elgin for lunch, where they had set up a private room for us. The decor, service, and food was amazing! I had the butternut squash ravioli and Ryan had the duck poutine. We heard lovely heartfelt speeches, followed by a fun game of "He Said/She Said", and got to enjoy lots of quality time with family! After our main courses, Ryan and I got to cut the cake as tradition dictates. 

We had dessert and coffee, and then it was time to thank everyone and say our goodbyes for the day. After everyone headed home, Ryan and I went back to the hotel for one more night before checking out on Saturday morning. Everything was just perfect and we are so thankful for everyone's love, support, and generosity! 

Throwback Thursday

Happy Thursday! I hope everyone is having a nice morning so far!

I don't have a huge selection of old photographs on my computer, but when I came across this one, I knew I wanted to post it! As you can see, the picture was taken on the gangway of an NCL cruise while it was stopped in Barbados back in 1997. What I love about this picture is that it has three generations of the women in our family in it (myself, my mum, and my nanny). It's been quite a few years now since my nanny passed away, and I still miss her everyday. I am so thankful to be able to have pictures like these to look at whenever I miss her most! The women in my family are so strong, intelligent, beautiful, and compassionate. I can't help but feel proud when I see little me, standing there with two of the most inspiring women I know. 

Weekend Recap: Birthday Edition

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! 

I turned 24 on Sunday, and got to spend it celebrating with my family and friends in Kingston! Ryan and I left Ottawa first thing in the morning on Saturday, and arrived at our destination just before lunch. We were only there for 2 days, which flew by far too quickly, but we still had a really great time! I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and loving family. 

Ruby with her stick!

So after we had lunch at my parent's house, we got a chance to stretch our legs a bit more when we took the dog for a walk. Ruby isn't the first dog my parents have owned, but she's far and above my favorite! I just love her so much! 

After having a quick dinner, we all headed out to see Jurassic World, which premiered on Friday. Oh. My. Goodness. It was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole film! I don't want to give up any spoilers by discussing the movie too much, but let me just say, as a devout Jurassic Park fan, you will not be disappointed by Jurassic World! It has been, by far, the most entertaining movie I've seen in a very long time! If I get my way, Ryan and I will hopefully be seeing it again before it goes out of theaters.

On Sunday, Ryan and I woke up fairly early to make bacon and eggs, and have some of the raspberry danish at my aunt's house. After getting ourselves organized, we walked over to my parent's house, and then headed downtown to one of my favorite Kingston restaurants, Phenom Penh. I had number 19, which is a tofu and rice dish with a mildly spicy peanut curry sauce. My other favorite is number 10, which is a mildly spicy dish with shrimp and chilies. From what I saw and sampled of Ryan and my family's selections, you really can't go wrong with anything you choose! 

Unintentional coordinating outfits + a beautiful pink centerpiece! 

After eating, we headed back to my parent's house for a bit of down time, while I met up with two of my oldest friends, Jennifer and Patrick. We got free drinks at Starbucks (completely unexpected!), and spent an hour walking around downtown, catching up, and talking about my engagement and wedding plans. It was so great to see them, and I really cherish our continued friendship after so many years!

My mum had the table set up beautifully in pink and gold (the color scheme I'm leaning towards for the wedding), with a lovely rose and peony centerpiece. We had chicken, sausages, mashed potatoes, and salad. Generally speaking, I tend to prefer pie instead of cake, so we had three options for pie: coconut cream (my mum's own recipe!), lemon meringue, and my current favorite, strawberry rhubarb! My aunt Elizabeth also brought a really decadent lava cake that everyone thoroughly enjoyed! We also got to enjoy a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, courtesy of my aunt Brenda! After dinner and dessert, I opened my gifts (all so lovely and thoughtful!), and spent the rest of the evening relaxing and spending time with family. As it was a Sunday night, we didn't stay up too late, especially since Ryan and I had to catch the train back to Ottawa first thing Monday morning. 

Thank you to everyone involved in making this weekend so wonderful, and to all my family and friends across the world who shared their love and birthday wishes!

Feature Destination: Prince Edward Island

It won't be long until summer is finally here, and along with it, sunny days and warm weather! For some families, summer also means vacation time, as kids aren't in classes all day long. Since my mother is a teacher, we were very fortunate to be able to take a number of lovely trips most summers. One of my favorite trips, was when my parents rented out a beach-front cottage in Prince Edward Island.

We actually visited PEI on two separate occasions, the first time being in August 1999, and then again four years later in 2003. The first year we were there, we stayed in French River. I remember we took the scenic route by taking the train to Moncton, and then renting a car the rest of the way. My brother and I were amazed at how incredible Confederation Bridge was! While in PEI, we visited Kensington, Cavendish, Summerside, Tignish, and Charlottetown. One of my favorite memories from our trip was when we happened upon Rainbow Valley, in Cavendish. Unfortunately, it's since been closed, but I still remember how much fun we had at the family theme park. 

My parents took us to Dalvay By the Sea, the hotel where Road to Avonleigh was shot. The hotel is a beautiful Queen Anne-style Victorian, with a grand tea room that overlooks the water. We also went to a smaller, but quite charming tea room called The Blue Winds, as well as the Kitchen Witch Tea Room, where my parents had their tea leaves read. 

While we were staying in Summerside, my parents bought both me and my brothers "PEI Dirt Shirts", which have a distinct color from the red earth soil of Prince Edward Island. Having never seen anything quite like it, I remember being fascinated by the red earth! I think my brother and I thought we had gone to Mars! 

Aside from the various attractions (Anne of Green Gables being a major one that I really couldn't leave out!), PEI is a natural beauty with lovely scenery and quiet beaches. The people are kind and friendly, and the atmosphere is welcoming. It's been quite some time since I've last been, but I certainly hope to visit again! 

Throwback Thursday + Lately I've Been..

Good morning! It's a bit chilly here in Ottawa today but compared to the intensely hot, humid weather that's sure to be coming our way, it's quite refreshing. I'm kicking off today's post with my Throwback Thursday photo of the week, followed by my take on the survey "Lately I've Been..", which I got from fellow blogger Julie!

Despite the bright glare from our life-jackets, it's still possible to make out four people (my dad, myself, and my two brothers) standing in the doorway of a cabin. Since my mum isn't in the shot, I think I can safely assume that she's the one taking the picture! Every cruise requires all passengers to participate in a lifeboat drill at the beginning of the trip (for obvious safety reasons). It might not look like it, but those life-jackets are surprisingly bulky! I'm not a very big hockey fan now, but I think the hat I'm wearing has a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on it! Clearly we all really liked ball caps back then! Oh, and I guess I missed my baby brother's memo about socks and sandals! As silly as we may look, going on cruises with my family was a lot of fun and always an adventure! I have so many wonderful memories together from our vacations!

Now on to the survey, "Lately I've Been.."

*Making: Lists. I am a "list girl" and it's kind of my hyper-organized way of managing things! 

*Cooking: Slow-cooker pork. It's so tender and the flavor is phenomenal! I've been doing a lazy version lately by just using a combination of original and honey dijon Diana Sauce.

*Drinking: Coffee. Lots of coffee. 


*Reading: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. I read this back when I was in grade 9 but it's such a classic that I enjoy it even now. 


*Wanting: So many things! I guess if I had to pick one right now, I would probably say another cup of coffee! 

*Looking: Forward to going to Kingston with my boyfriend to visit family for my birthday in June!

*Playing: The Simpsons: Tapped Out. My boyfriend got me into it last year and now I'm slightly addicted! 

*Wasting: Too much time watching Mad Men! I'm only starting it now so I've been binge watching lately.

*Wishing: We could go on vacation! I really want to go to Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA. 

*Enjoying: Everyday with Ryan! 

*Waiting: For our lease to end in September so we can move into a new apartment downtown!

*Liking: Sunny days! 

*Wondering: How great Jurassic World is going to be..awesome or SUPER AWESOME! We're planning on going with my family in Kingston once it's in theaters so I'll be sure to review it!

*Loving: My family. They are always so loving and supportive. I feel incredibly blessed everyday. 

*Hoping: I'll actually remember to set aside time to paint my nails today. They are definitely in need of some TLC!

*Needing: To start going on walks with Ryan more often! We had a good routine for awhile but we need to get back into it. 

*Wearing: Right now? Pajamas. Don't judge...it's technically still the morning.

*Following: Lots of foodie blogs lately. If you're looking for something incredibly delicious and aren't too worried about calories, Michelle has got some pretty amazing recipes! Check it out here!

*Noticing: All the beautiful flowers and blossoms. The trees are green and the birds are constantly chirping! 

*Knowing: I have so much to be thankful for and lots to look forward to! 

*Thinking: About doing some self-directed learning. I've been really interested in learning more about different animals so maybe I should start there!

*Feeling: Happy and hopeful for the future!

*Bookmarking: Lots of DIY projects! I'll share them once I give them a try!

*Opening: My mind to new things and new ideas! 

Feel free to share some of your answers to the survey in the comments below! 

Ottawa Tulip Festival

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! My aunt was visiting from Kingston so we got to spend some quality time together. Sunday was an especially nice day with lots of sunshine and warm weather. After having lunch at Montana's, we headed over to Dow's Lake, where we encountered crazy traffic and huge crowds of people! Once we finally found a parking space we were able to get out and walk around the lake area where all the tulips were being showcased. There was a carnival for kids so the event attracted a lot of young families. After walking around for a while, we stopped to get some fresh squeezed lemonade from one of the vendors along the pathway. It was definitely the best lemonade I can recall having and it was really refreshing! 

Me + Ryan on the boardwalk 

We took some pictures of the many varieties of tulips they had on display, but it wasn't too long before we all decided we needed a break from the crowds. Thankfully, we simply had the cross the street and walk along the boardwalk for a slightly less busy stretch along the lake. 

Since the weather had been so cloudy and rainy last weekend, we felt really blessed to have been able to enjoy such a beautiful sunny day! I hope you all had a nice weekend too! Feel free to share in the comments below!

Mother's Day Lunch in Ottawa

Happy Mother's Day! 

Despite cloudy skies and a bit of rain here in Ottawa, today was absolutely lovely because my parents and youngest brother came to visit. We went to the Lord Elgin for a special Mother's Day lunch where we got to enjoy huge cups of coffee (seriously, they were more like small bowls!) and a huge buffet spread that included bacon, eggs, roast beef, smoked salmon, and flambéed fruit! 

The Lord Elgin is a beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown Ottawa, so we were able to walk around and see some of the sights after lunch. After stopping by to see the changing of the guards at the War Memorial, we walked down Sparks Street so my dad could pick up a fleece sweater since it was pretty chilly out. Once it started raining we all piled into the car and drove to the Glebe, where we took a short walk along the canal. Had it been a bit warmer and less rainy, we probably would have extended our walk, but considering the weather, we just did a quick tour before getting back into the car and driving to the apartment. Even still, we were able to see some beautiful flowers and trees along the water. The tulip festival is currently going on here in Ottawa so there were plenty of brightly colored tulips on display all around the city.

After our walk we headed over to the apartment for some tea before my parents had to drive back to Kingston. We had a really lovely visit and are so lucky to be able to get together more often now that we live (relatively) close to each other. I hope you all had a lovely day too and happy mother's day!