Jessie’s Girls

My bridesmaids blew me away a couple of weeks ago by throwing me the most creative and original stagette ever! An homage to my early days as a rock’n’roll enthusiast, they planned an amazing night taking me on a crazy trip down memory lane.

Starting with a clever dinner with a menu named for some of my favourite bands over the years (awesome examples: “Linda’s Killers Caesar Salad” and “Macaroon5’s”), we gathered at my sister Marlie’s condo, which had been plastered with pictures of me in my band-crazed days for some fun and games.

No detail was spared with the presentation and decor - they even had special cupcakes made by the Duchess of Dough!

After dinner, donning t-shirts printed “Almost Married”and tattoo sleeves, we boarded my very own tour bus with and armfuls of inflatable guitars ready to visit special landmarks my maids chose to mark my indie rock days. Each one was a surprise and was preceded with a hysterical poem about its significance.

Once on the bus, they took it one step further by making me change into my super embarrassing token concert outfit that seemed cool to me in 2003. Yikes!

One of the stops was the Opera House, my most favourite venue ever,  and I don’t think I’ll ever live down wearing a veil and sash while watching thrash metal in the sound booth!

Another stop, Stone’s Place, was a festive dance party, where we boogied to an amazing playlist that had us working up quite the sweat! 

Thanks girls for an incredible bachelorette! I’m so lucky to have such an amazing crew who worked so hard to throw me such an unforgettable night!

Sweet on Sweet Tables

Inspired by the Amy Atlas interview in Style At Home’s July issue, I put together a sweet table for the latest SAH episode of CityLine. (If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out Amy’s site for amazing inspirational tablescapes and dessert styling- she is quite the talent!)

Our table for CityLine would of course not have been possible though, without the awesome companies who donated their sweets to our segment, including Cake Opera Co. (obvs they had to be included) and Oak Leaf Candy. Their to-die-for cake centrepiece and other decadent treats had everyone in the studio drooling over their beauty! Crate and Barrel and Shop Sweet LuLu were also kind enough to provide some killer containers for the table as well-  how awesome are the straws and little glass jars!

Watch the clip here for some tips on creating your own sweet table!

Latest Dispatches

Thanks to Vancouverite Barbara for including me in her So Canadian, Eh? series on her blog, Hodge:Podge. Her lovely compliments are much appreciated and I hope you enjoy the interview!

Also fresh online is part 2 of my apartment makeover post on the Style At Home blog, which details my before and after furniture makeovers.

In Defense of Million Dollar Decorators

When it premiered last week on Bravo, Twitter feeds would have had you thinking that Million Dollar Decorators was a blasphemous show that shamed the design industry and literally made fellow design professionals want to barf with disgust.

one of my fave Mary MacDonald rooms

The gossip had me chomping at the bit so when I eagerly tuned in to W network on Sunday night when it debuted here in Canada, I was pleasantly surprised but more so confused why there were so many haters. In fact, I was so enamoured I just had to chime in and stick up for the show.

one of my fave Martyn Lawrence-Bullard rooms

First of all, people were chattering away by how insensitive to the economy the show is and how they throw around such large numbers. Newsflash! It’s called Million Dollar Decorators. Not decorators who work on projects with healthy budgets. Not decorators who manage to make a living. The used the word “million” for a reason. These people are the best at what they do! They have books and brands dedicated to their style and the clientele to afford them. I know we all have different ideas on how 25 k can be better spent than on a been there done that damask rug, but it ‘aint your money and the concept is decorating for the rich and famous in LA - so don’t get all shocked when they throw around the big bucks. The show is definitely playing with the fantasy element here, where us regular folk are catching a glimpse into what its like at the top, so take a chill pill and enjoy the escapism.

one of my fave Nathan Turner vignettes 

People were also calling out the diva personalities and chutzpah of the five designers. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m pretty sure the majority of successful designers I know are pretty out there, loud and quirky. Creative genius often goes hand in hand with eccentricity.  It’s what makes them interesting and the best part is waiting to hear what will come out of their mouths next (I’m just happy I’m not at the receiving end anymore). I know 99.9% of us would never dream of reacting like Mary did to her client getting a divorce and selling her dream project, nor would we be charmed by Martyn’s incessant name dropping and his calling a Barcelona chair an Eames, but it’s a reality TV show on Bravo. Do you think they were looking for quiet hum-drum humble folk?

one of my fave IRELAND vignettes 

Maybe I’m jaded after working at a high end firm and being a part of a reality-TV production, but honestly, I think it’s a riot.

Canucks can tune in this Sunday at 9pm to catch episode two and see what all the fuss is about.

Smile You’re Engaged!

A popular option most couples opt for these days is to take engagement portraits with their wedding photographer. It not only offers a chance to work together prior to the big day so you can iron out any kinks, but it also lets you get comfortable in front of the camera with your fiancée. For my portraits, I always knew I wanted to part with the usual hum drum jeans and white shirt sessions you see everyday and try something fun and different. Luckily Dave put on his accommodating hat again and indulged me and our photographer Storey Wilkins!

We started in the apartment where the setee got some cheeky action (and lucille snuck in there too!), and then moved outside into our neighbourhood to hang out by a blooming cherry tree I had scouted. (Storey and I timed the shoot in May to take advantage of the gorgeous blooms)

But the real fun began when we unleashed the mammoth bunch of balloons I had ordered (inspired by the whimsy and plain old prettiness of the Miss Dior Cherie ad that Sofia Coppola created)

We had a great time and are thrilled with the end results.

Thank you Storey!

(all photos by Storey Wilkins)