Birthday party design can be a challenge, especially for kids. They tend to be set in their ways and only want what their friends like. So even if they have been to 20 Princess parties, there are some little girls who just want a princess at their party too. Well not this little girl! {I mean mom...} Our son's birthday is half a year away from his little sister's, so they each begin planning as soon as the last guest has left their sibling's party. So Mid-October, someone decided "Fashion" was the theme this year. Up until the planning of the actual event, she was pretty set in her theme. When we got down to what a "Fashion Birthday Party" meant, we had a slight difference of opinion. Theme and Inspiration
Invitations With a more concrete idea in my head, I start to work on the elements of the event. First, the Invitations. They were inspired by backstage passes that I found but I kept it simple and monochromatic. After all they are really more for the enjoyment of the parents than the children who can barely read. Handwritten names in calligraphy gave the invitations a sophistication. I used a variety of white and black patterned papers on the front of the invitations, that I planned to carry into the decorations. The back was straightforward; when, where and a little what to wear {added to prevent princess costumes}. Decorations
Once the photos were hung, the space began to look more like a studio. Curtains were hung in an archway for the show with a red "carpet" for the girls to walk down. A photographer and mommy "paparazzi" were given a space at the end of the carpet. The Main Event Little girls were whisked behind the curtain and their makeovers began. From a little sparkle added to their cheeks and lips, to accessories to spice up their look. We basically turned out dining room into a very large tickle trunk and let the girls play dress up. {Snacks were available throughout} The stations that were set up behind the curtains to get the girls red carpet ready became part of the decor of the event so we kept them to theme in mostly black and white. When they were ready, we sent them out to the red carpet and the awaiting paparazzi. {Make sure to take the parents' emails to send photos of their child}. Once the girls were fashioned out, we moved onto the traditional birthday party schedule of events. Presents, cake, and optional craft. The craft was coloring black white drawings of dresses from different eras in fashion. Final Touches Thank you gifts were filled with cookies and cream cake pops covered in white chocolate and a small square of temporary tattoos {the tiniest bit of Frozen}. They were then individually wrapped in white tissue paper with black ribbon. I really like the idea of a small Thank you gift and wrapping them makes them that much more special. This isn't an event for 30 kids but I would still try and do something special if it were. Thank you! While most of the items were handmade by Rose, we are grateful for the help from the moms who helped make the girls glamorous. As with anything many hands make light work and I think that the adults enjoyed the party as much as the girls, which made it a success in my books.
Big Thank you to Genevieve Goyette Photography for the photo shoot and the action shots at the event. I have been wanting to have a juice bar in walking distance for almost 10 years. Yes, we have a juicer and a high speed blender but I like to have a healthy option when the family is out and about. Plus, as with anything, it is easy to get into a rut of making the same juice or smoothie all the time. Well, my dreams seem to have come true! Le Webster café culinaire has opened on Rue Webster in Saint Lambert. Suddenly my little suburb has a much more metropolitan feel. Coffee, juices and smoothies, baked good and specialty items from two vegetarian restaurants are all available starting this morning. As always, details matter to me, so I loved the coffee cup lights, the hooks under the tables for your purse or bag, and the salvaged wood counter top. In addition to a variety of Kale chips, Coconut spread, and handmade granola, there were lovely and unique gifts with a culinary theme. Whether you are stopping by before jumping on the train or extending mommy time after drop off, this place is going to have a lot of fans very soon. So if you are in the mood for a green smoothie, a good cup of real coffee, or a quick bite for lunch, then check out Le Webster. The staff is lovely, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the food is very good.
I would recommend that you try it out before the line gets too long! People do a lot of crazy things when they are about to turn 40. I had just had my annual checkup and a warning from my doctor about high blood pressure. I had migraines, was sick all the time, lacked energy, and all the rest. I was at the end of my rope. So I visited a holistic nutritionist and put her to work. CleanseHer prescription was 3 months, vegan, gluten-free, no sugar, no alcohol, no caffeine. No problem, right? Did I mention that we started in October? Friends and family were convinced that I was ripping all the joy out of the holiday season. And no one believed me that it was REALLY NOT THAT BAD. In fact, I was feeling great and it took almost no time to be completely hooked. Added benefit - no after Holiday bloated, guilt-ridden, angst-laden resolutions. Pistache even came up with some awesome recipes. Some were twists from new found authors and bloggers, others were made up on the spot. Maybe we will put together a book. Truth be told, it was painless. Except for eating out {which was mostly a big diappointment} we were very successful. What I did notice was that the options for "vegan, gluten-free, etc" eaters was not nearly up to standard with our usual foodie palates. Obviously, our food was outstanding {no inflated ego here} but there was a real need to up the flavour quotien in a lot of recipes. Still GoingI have to admit that when I started the cleanse, I had no intention of continuing. In December I was already discussing how to reintroduce foods. Yet when the end was in sight and I was feeling anticlimactic because there were not a lot of foods that I wanted to bring back into the regular rotation. Which brings me to the reason we are still eating mostly vegan. It tastes awesome! I definitely have more energy, there is no crash at 3:00, and my mind is clearer. Getting through the Holiday season and sticking to our cleanse was a real confidence booster as well. I realized that I didn't need to overindulge to appreciate the holidays. In fact, when you are eat less and drinking less, there is more time for conversation and connection. At the moment, I am still on the Cleanse 90% of the time. Breakfast and lunches just became habit. Dinners are flexible 1 or 2 nights a week. When you lose refined sugars from your diet and go to just eating vegetables, there is a period of adjustment. Yes, you need to embrace herbs and spices. Yes, you need to lose your fear of the green things. But you in no way have to give up on taste. Pistache's Curry in a Hurry was a hit, full of flavour and textures. If you like the recipe, I will ask him to write down more! Curry in a Hurry
Saute onion in oil until translucent; Add curry and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes; Add Zucchini and saute until almost cooked through; Add Haricot verts, chickpeas, potatoes and currents. Saute for 3 minutes or until heated through; Add Coconut milk and banana. Bring to a simmer; Season with Salt, pepper and honey. Add extra coconut milk as needed. Garnish with nuts and herbs of your choice. We like Cashews and Thai Basil. ResourcesIt's true that both Pistache and I have culinary backgrounds but we did not just turn on the stove and wave our magic foodie wands to make delightful dishes appear every night. I found some amazing chefs and authors who gave me inspiration and who I would recommend you check out, whether or not you want to be totally vegan, paris vegan, vegan before 6, or whatever. Here is the list.
Oh she glows Joyous Health Nutrition Stripped It doesn't taste like Chicken If you are in the Montreal area and are looking for a similiar Cleanse. I recommend the following wholistic nutritionists Kassandra Kernisan of EnVie Natural Health Solutions Sandra Power of Sandra Power, Nutrition, Mind Detox, and Mind Calm I must also note that Vegans on Instagram are Awesome! Check out the hashtags #vegansofig #gourmetvegan #veganfood and #vegansofinstagram They are a very supportive bunch and there is a lot of inspiration out there. I hope that you enjoy exploring vegetable dishes as much as I have. Please let me know of any recipes or sites that I should check out! And don't forget to follow us on Instagram to see more vegan dishes! |
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