Autumn

October offered a string of rainstorms. Thankfully, November has ushered in a string of crisp, warm days. While they certainly won't last, I've cherished every moment, including the delicious cheesy black pepper pasta Greg and I experimented with this evening (minus the sink full of dishes we faced afterwards). Images via This is Glamorous.

Party

We're holding a little pre-nuptials party this weekend to introduce Greg's mom (who arrives tonight from Vancouver) to some of my family. I'm excited for bunches of white balloons, pink champagne and seven layer lemon cake.

Also, this is my new wedding inspiration. Image via Lolita.

Bridesmaids

I'm intrigued by the option of selecting a colour and intensity, say medium to dark blues, for the bridesmaids' dresses and then asking each lady to select her own dress that broadly fits that description. Perhaps they might even be able to find a dress that they already own to fit the bill. These dresses from BCBG Max Azria make me seriously consider the idea. Don't you think they look great together? I enjoy the idea of showcasing separate personalities, and matching colour and fit to each woman's body type.

November 21 update: Today, after a second afternoon of scouting dresses in our wedding colour of choice, we walked away with three distinct dresses in hues ranging from eggplant to violet. The ladies look beautiful!

Reception

Right now we're trying to decide between two venues for our wedding reception. One is an upscale, local restaurant and the other is a lush atrium at a nearby hotel. The restaurant (which now has a dark purple and plum decor instead of the red, yellow and blue above) offers separate dining and dancing spaces, and the opportunity to design our own menu from scratch. The hotel offers a view of the harbour and a beautiful dining space. Both carry similar price tags and equal proximity to our church and home, so making the decision is difficult. For those who have married, how did you make your decision on venue?

Images via Live Wire Events, Fairmont, and Doleboy.

Halloween

Last evening, Greg and I ate carrot and coriander soup (whose orange hue was fitting for the season) and answered the door to a string of sweet trick or treaters. Our stoop played host to Dracula, fire fighters, princesses, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and bunnies. We even met neighbours with the same name as us (yes, Greg AND Katie) and their four children under the age of five. The meeting was foreshadowing to say the least.

Mid-evening when the kiddos' bags were stocked to the brim with sweets and the door knocker stopped knocking, we headed off for some adult Halloween fun at a friend's costume party. Quite fittingly, we decided to go as a WWII navy officer (Greg in his grandfather's uniform) and his war bride-in waiting. They were last minute costumes to say the least, but we had a fun time nonetheless and couldn't resist the temptation to take a photo shoot by the fitting 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster in our living room when we retired home for the evening.

Playroom

Sarah Richardson's rule is that children need stimulating, not juvenile, places to live and play. Dos Family has created just that. I love it. I feel ready to make a multi-stacked ice cream cone from playdough, set up a toy train and build a tower of tinker toys just from looking at this space. Aren't the cloth garlands delightful? They seem like something the other Katie would endorse. Photos via Desire to Inspire.

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Great interior light, huh? Image via Charla.