My secret boards...

So I love the ability to have secret boards on Pinterest. I created two different secret boards (and they aren't really even a secret), but wanted a place where my photographer and I could pin inspiration for photo ideas at the wedding (Wedding Photography Board), and an area where I could pin inspiration of outfits for our honeymoon (Style By Lu Honeymoonship Board). 

Above is a glimpse of my wedding photography board. I really want to make sure that our photographer (who is awesome by the way!) captures real moments from the day, and not just posed photographs. I want to have pictures of people talking, laughing, dancing, and who knows what else! I want the pictures to be fun, creative, and a bit editorial. The wedding day seems to be quickly approaching and now that I have finally nailed down my inspiration for the day - and have the best vendors on my side - I'm feeling really excited and can't wait to have all our friends and family for two full days of wedding fun!

I cannot wait for our honeymoon. Some time away from all the craziness with my new husband and I. We are really good travelers together. We like and dislike the same things. If we could travel together 24/7 - we probably would! When I think about my honeymoon style I already know a few items are a must:

• denim cut-offs
• lots of white
• silk dress shirts
• statement necklaces
• loose fitting t-shirts
• cute dresses for both day and night

Planning a wedding is actually really fun. I'm used to planning other people's weddings and really happy that I am now on the other side and able to experience the various emotions that come along with planning.

What I have learned so far is that before all else, you and your fiance need to be a team. You need to stick together and make decisions together. When you get push back from family about a certain decision, having you both as a united front is best.

I've also learned that securing the right vendors is key. Find the best of the best, a vendor you feel comfortable with and one that has similar vision to yours. This helps eliminate a lot of back and forth and enables you to be able to have confidence in their abilities and trust them wholly. 

Let people celebrate you. People get really excited about a couple who are ready to tie the knot - so let them be! 

{DIY} The Cottage Firestarter

This weekend my cousin who is uber crafty came to visit from Sudbury. Friday night we roadtripped up to the cottage for a full weekend of family, DIY, photoshoots, and great eats.

Today, I am going to share with you the first of two DIY projects we did this weekend. It's called "The Cottage Firestarter". I don't know about you, but sometimes starting a fire can be tricky - especially if you don't have kindling. Well, fear not fellow cottagers, these firestarters will be exactly what you need to always get that fire started!

This a great craft to do with the kids.

Enjoy! {Lu's Take}

Step 1: Hunt around your cottage or house for pine cones, bark, tree bits, & get the lint from your dryer!Step 2: Melt old or new candles over a fire (or oven).Step 3: Get a muffin tin, muffin liners, and utilize your material from your yard/cottage to fill each muffin spot up.

Step 4: Once the candle's have melted - pour the wax over each muffin spot to hold the contents togetherStep 5: Top off with your excess materials while the wax is still melted and hotStep 6: You can package them up as a gift to fellow cottagers or keep displayed nicely for your bonfires or wood stoveMaterials Needed:

• Muffin Tin
• Muffin Liners
• Candles
• Tin Pans or old pots to melt wax
• Outdoor Material (pine cones, pine needles, lint, bark, etc.) 
• Gloves (the wax can be hot)

 Once you have followed the steps above, next time you start a fire, start with one of these "the cottage firestarter" first and you will have a successful fire each and everytime!

DIY Cottage Dinner

This is my favourite picture from my DIY Thanksgiving Dinner at Whiskey Pines (my cottage). If you don't remember where the inspiration for the table setting came from, click here & here. Happy Friday y'all!

Give Thanks

I cannot wait for Thanksgiving this year - it will be the first Thanksgiving at our cottage - Whiskey Pines! I'm super pumped to have all my family around to join in the festivities. I thought I would share my decor inspiration for this weekend - what do you think? I'm going for the more DIY look - and very cottagey. What are your plans for the weekend? Remember to give thanks and be thankful for all that you have!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Lending Clothes

 "When to lend or not lend your clothes/shoes to friends, family, coworkers?"

 Here is what I base it on:

1. Person [aka Friendship Status]: I think, 'how well do they take care of their OWN clothes?' 'Have I lent them something in the past and they returned it in the same condition that I lent it to them in?' 'How do they wash their clothes?' 'Where are they going to be wearing this item to?' 'How close am I to this person?' 'Do I trust them?' 

2. Cost: How much does the item cost? How rare is the item? If the person was to wreck or lose the item will they be able to afford to buy you a replacement? Are you even able to replace the item?

 3. Location: How far does this person live from you? This will determine when you can expect to get the item back. Is the store that you bought it from in the same city or country that you live in should something (god for bid) happen to the item? Are they wearing the item around a group of friends that you haven't worn the outfit in front of yet?

The criteria above is what I base a lend on. I know it may sound silly to think of all these different scenarios when considering to lend an item of clothing; but if you take pride in the clothes that you buy and spend your hard earned dollars on key pieces--then you should take who you lend to seriously!