Wedding Dress

Though I ultimately loved the dress I selected for our wedding, making that choice was certainly an education in what looks good and what certainly doesn't.

Lesson #1: V necks are not flattering despite always assuming I'd wear one.

Lesson #2: Taffeta is heavy and overwhelms.

Lesson #3: Champagne gold dresses can be surprisingly flattering on a pale woman with pink undertones.

Lesson #4: Far too many designers are adding the "hurricane" to the skirts of ball gowns.

Prior to making the ultimate purchase though, I did seriously consider...

this v-neck dress (ultimately I came to the same conclusion about the neckline as mentioned above)...

and this restrained mermaid (which was thisclose to being THE dress).

Wordle

My blog, Horizontal Stripes, as depicted by Wordle. Fun!

Vinaigrette

Found: the most delicious salad vinaigrette! I've been experimenting in the kitchen recently (with much success) and this (albeit simple) red wine vinaigrette is one of my greatest successes.

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

3 tbps lemon juice

2 tsp honey

1 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste (at least a few twists of your salt and pepper mills)

Combine all ingredients in a container with a spout and mix with a spoon. Pour over mixed greens topped with cranberries and fresh Parmesan. Delicious.

Garden

Today, we're continuing to work to make the above look more like this.

Party

I'm off to do some last minute grocery shopping for a mini dinner party ce soir! This helps temper my party planning desires. Images via Style At Home and The Guardian.

Album

Today, our wedding photo album arrived, and I couldn't be any more thrilled. I literally jumped up from my desk and almost hugged the FedEx delivery man when it appeared in my office this afternoon. If you're curious, you can view our photo album virtually.

Dialect

I think people often say "accent" when then real mean to say is "dialect". I'm not terribly proficient in imitating dialects, but I think my version of a Harlowite is spot on. If you think you're a master dialect impersonator, you must visit the speech accent archive. For fun, you can listen to various dialects to see how close they come to your interpretation.

The site compiles the way people from all over the world recite this English elicitation paragraph (which contains most of the consonants, vowels, and clusters of standard North American English):

Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store: Six spoons of fresh snow peas, five thick slabs of blue cheese, and maybe a snack for her brother Bob. We also need a small plastic snake and a big toy frog for the kids. She can scoop these things into three red bags, and we will go meet her Wednesday at the train station.

Give it a try. I'm inclined to record myself and submit it to the site, so that a true, not stereotypical, Newfoundlander can be on record. Illustration by James Collins.

Stars

I'm loving Stars. Thanks again for introducing me to a new (to me) band, Gregory. Image via Youth.

Parties

I love playing hostess and am starting to feel a very strong urge to graduate from the typical BYOB college-party with chips and punch, to themed parties. We held a cheese party for our housewarming last fall, but I'd like to take our next soiree a step further.

In giving it some thought, I'm now bursting with ideas for event-themed parties (think a Kentucky Derby or Ladies Day at the Royal Ascot event with hats!), food-themed parties (maybe a wintertime party with pink champagne and gingerbread, a port tasting, or a cookie swap), seasonal parties (such as a pumpkin carving post-Pumpkinfest at Lester's Farm) and competition-based parties (perhaps a soup-off, a macaroni and cheese tasting, games night or a staring contest). So much fun to be had! So many events to plan! Image via Sara's Party Perfect.

J

Greg and I are go-out-to-eat-on-Friday-night types - date night, we like to call it! But last night we broke routine and headed out for a mid-week date night. I highly recommend the minor switch that has reinvigorated our week. I think we'll spend this Friday night at home, making pizzas from scratch and working in the garden. Bliss.

Also, check out J on Duckworth for Korean food, if you haven't already. It's delicious and the perfect mid-week (or week-end) date haunt with a fantastic proprietor to boot. Image via The Scope.

Ballet

Today, I ended my 18 month (I cannot believe it has been that long!) ballet hiatus and celebrated by purchasing a pink skirt! Despite the fact that I'm 26 and most ballerinas peak before they're 30, I'm super excited to start classes at a school in my neighbourhood at the end of September. Image via Beyond Robson.

Nectarines

I love three-ingredient recipes, particularly the prosciutto-wrapped nectarines I made last week. Yum! Found via Real Simple.

Cartoons

Cute cartoons to ponder over a hot chocolate in the am. Via xkcd.

Smile

A message to my beloved husband. Images via Le Love.

Sailing

I'm thinking that next summer's pursuit should be sailing lessons! Image via bigsnit.

Skerwink

This past weekend, we took a little road trip to Port Rexton and discovered the most fabulous walking trail - the Skerwink Trail in Trinity East! Do you like hiking? Hiking is the perfect remedy for a gal like me who disdains gyms and longs for exercise that's also entertainment. Image via incogkneetoe.

Maps

If you love geography and maps, but find traditional atlases constraining, these maps might be just the solution. I'm particularly smitten with this blog, because it is one of the few that I've come across that mentions my home province, Newfoundland and Labrador (though Labrador's missing from said entry), and its thought-provoking while fun.

This map argues that there are nine nations in North America, not three countries. You can read their descriptions here. (As a Canadian, I am entirely annoyed that all suggested capitals for these "nations" are in the US.)

This map is a cartogram of the world's population distribution by country.

This map renames each US state to a country that has a similar GDP. For example, Texas is now Canada.

Indie

A friend shared Dress 911 with me this evening, and I'm already lusting after these three dresses. The fact that such a purchase would leave a minimal dent in my pocketbook is very appealing. Thanks, Amanda! Dresses are by far my favourite type of garment.

Roving

Everything showcased on These Roving Eyes makes me hungry. My must-cook list in the next few weeks includes coconut curry shrimp dipped in marmalade, endive and smoked salmon with chives, and double-baked egg potatoes with aged cheddar. Somehow each course presented seems so lush and delectable, yet attainable (perhaps due to the fact that no recipes are cited online!). All photos via These Roving Eyes.

Icon VI

Henri Matisse painted himself in a red striped shirt (a garment I've been scouting for ages). I think this Sandro one might be the perfect splurge.

Bookshelves

Though made for little kids, I love these bookshelves! Via Dwell.

Cartoon

I've made a promise to myself to indulge the lust for shopping I've currently been experiencing by blending it with my desire to get back to reading one novel per week; I've made a plan to purchase one novel each week from my neighbourhood book shop, Sweet Relic and The Bookery. My first splurge: The Impostor's Daughter - a cartoon novel! I've read only a few pages, but I already recommend it.

If you're keen to read more cartoon novels (a guilty pleasure of mine), I recommend French Milk as well.

Supper

I love dinner parties and am excited to get moving on a party we're planning later this month with a Sunday Suppers-inspired menu plan and decor inspired by Ashley Meaders. Image via Sunday Suppers.

Door

I love photos in red doorways (clearly!). Via My Style Pill.

Hair

I'm standing in a wedding this Saturday for my cousin Doug and my dear friend Lesley. In preparation for their day, and to complement my teal boat neck dress (it is so fab!), I'm thinking of an Audrey Hepburn worthy up-do. I'm also getting make up inspiration from this YouTube video! Image via The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn.

Cottage

Now, if only the window was above the sink, this would be our dream summer home (and it looks a lot like our current bedroom)! Found via Emma's Blogg via Poppy Talk. Photo by Anette Aberg for Hus Och Hem. I think even a little ramshackle cabin like this one could be made beautiful with these design touches.

Florence

This song is my blogging tune right now. Image of Florence + The Machine via Panic Manual.