Indie Holiday Box (Spoiler!)

WARNING: Spoilers!!

Hey guys! I recently came across enough funds to purchase a month of the Indie Box! It was a pretty exciting day when I realized that. It was also just in time to receive the Holiday box. I'm pretty happy with it and will definitely be using the items in there. I've already almost burnt out the candle!

Have you received an Indie box?

xo. Nicole

Thursday + Christmas Crafting

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! I hope your bellies are full of delicious food :) Our Canadian one was last month, and oh boy, I can't wait for Christmas dinner now.

Today included being shaken awake at 9:15am by a man who hadn't slept yet, and wanted to go for a walk. We compromised and went for breakfast and then a walk through Stanley Park. 

Last night, I got off work at 6:30 and came home to make Christmas gifts! I was totally in the creative mood and finished 4 gifts!

After walking through Stanley park on little sleep, it's time for us to relax until work tonight.

Hope today is wonderful and full of thanks!

xo. Nicole

A Giveaway Review!

A little while ago, I won a giveaway on Alex's blog, Second Thoughts, and I was so excited! I'm pretty sure it was the first giveaway that I won (where the prize actually got sent to me) and I couldn't wait to receive it :)

The amazing designer of this tote bag is Kim! I am so happy with it and it's been so durable :) I know it looks folded, but I had used it for a little while, folded it in my purse, and started using it again. It's an excellent shopping bag! 

You can check out Kim's blog, What Peggy Said and her beautiful shop here!

xo. Nicole

What's In My Bag?

I've carried around so many purses...but really, not so many. When I find a bag, I usually hold on to it until it breaks or falls apart on me (usually in the most inconvenient places at the most inconvenient times). I always fall in love with one. The past couple have been messenger bags, that go over the shoulder. 

I went over to my mom's on Sunday and we made some Christmas Ornaments. After we were done those, she let me raid her closet of purses, haha!

I'm always carrying everything with me. I've got a reusable shopping bag from Urban Outfitters in Seattle, a peppermint halo wand from Sage for my migraines and headaches, lip gloss, hand lotion, a pen, my passport (never know if we'll ever have an impromptu states visit!), headphones, and even some hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. 

What's in your bag?

Also, I've decided to go on a Pinterest Strike. I am no longer letting myself look at wedding ideas on Pinterest as I'm getting too overwhelmed with ideas. Anyone else have that happen? I'm still going on and repinning a ton of Christmas gift ideas and such, so I'll still be on there :)

xo. Nicole

November Package Swap! - The Reaping

(Don't you just love that Hunger Games reference? I do.) Anywaaaayyss, the November Package Swap is underway! There are only a few tributes this month, and that's perfectly okay :) There were a few hiccups during the October Swap, but those are expected to happen and November is always a little better than October (HELLOOO Christmas is only a month away?).

You can see what I got by clicking here (still so in love with everything)!
Sam received hers from me and you can see that by clicking here!
Megan received hers as well and it's alllll here!

This month our tributes are:

Nicole F 

from A Broke Bride

Nicole V

from The Gypsy in Jasper

Amanda E

from Little Lady Little City

Megan O

from Mind Wide Open

I picked the names the exact same way as last month's (except in a bowl, not a basket) and this is what happened:

That seriously worked out perfectly. 

I am so excited!

So, if the picture didn't load or it was hard to see:

Amanda is sending a package to Nicole F (@nicloemax)

Nicole V is sending a package to Megan (@MeganOakley14)

Megan is sending a package to Amanda (@amandagoesmeep)

Nicole F is sending a package to Nicole V (@TheJasperGypsy)

Yay!

xo. Nicole

The Inspection

Oh my goodness! My dress fit so nicely that I didn't want to take it off. Ever. I did notice that I need to cut down on the hash browns and add in a couple push ups every day, but that can happen. In the picture above are my Maid of Honor and one of my bridesmaids. Another bridesmaid, my sister, showed up a little bit later. We were waiting outside The Bridal Gallery (where my dress was) until they opened, and we weren't alone. There were two or three other groups of women waiting who seemed just as excited as we were! 

After we were done ogling my dress, confusing ourselves with styles of bridesmaid dresses, and deciding carrots would be what we would have for dinner, we had some Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch. I was in love with yesterday because I got to spend it with three of my favorite people doing one of our new found loves - planning the wedding. 

When everything was done and I arrived back in Surrey, my mother-in-law and I went to go check out the Chateau Cargill as a potential venue. We realized that the campground would just be too much planning and too much money after everything, so we're looking for something a little easier and cheaper. Apparently, this place is haunted (a couple reported faces appearing in their photos and the staff had plates thrown across the room), but it's an amazing deal for the ceremony. The only thing is that they charge ridiculous amounts if you want your guests to eat and drink and have fun at the reception. So much thinking!

One of the things about planning a wedding that I'm not fond of so far, is the stress. Why can't things just work out? Why can't I have enough money to hire a wedding planner or enough time to just do it all myself? I tell myself that it will all be worth it in the end. That's what I hear most brides say anyways. 

;)

I have another viewing of a potential venue in Langley tomorrow morning and it's girls night at one of my bridesmaid's apartment. I'm so excited!

xo. Nicole

Pinterest Finds + An Update

So, there really isn't "Pinterest Sunday" anymore, as Sundays were usually taken up by my new job. That's changing because of a few really stupid things that I really shouldn't go in to on the internet for fear of those people in higher power finding this blog, but I've got time today!

Tomorrow, I'm going with 3 of my bridesmaids to New Westminister (which I have to take the Sky Train to get to) (and I don't want to because they've found 2 pipe bombs on the tracks in the past 2 weeks) to go and find their dresses! The wedding is now less than 8 months away, people! It's almost serious crunch time. Serious crunch time will happen a couple times over the next couple months, so right now isn't THAT serious. I plan on documenting our adventure tomorrow :)

After I'm done searching for bridesmaid dresses, I've got an appointment at the Chateau Cargill in Surrey, to check out their rooms for a ceremony and a reception. I know what you're thinking! ("HOLD UP! Didn't you say you're getting married at a campground?!") Yes, we did. We thought about it, calculated it, thought about it some more, and realized that getting married at the campground will just be extra planning and extra money to find everything we need, and to rent everything we need. I'm already stressed out enough as it is. This Chateau comes with everything, like tables and a microphone. The Chateau is also a LOT cheaper in the grand scheme of things. 

The only thing that happens if we book the Chateau is that our wedding date will have to move from June 15 to June 16. They've booked the Saturday already and getting married on the Sunday there is a whole $700 cheaper (there's no question). It looks like a castle on the outside, so bonus on the pictures!

So now my brain is all scattered with different decorating ideas, but I'm still going to try and go with the same rustic theme. But here's a bunch of scattered ideas for you!

Wouldn't having these on every table just be amazing?

I've been looking at bouquets and this is amazing!

Eeee! I love this idea!

This is going to happen.

Such a good idea!

I've wanted to do a photobooth since the beginning and this doubles as a guestbook!

xo. Nicole

Sunday Funday

Yeah. You see that? How am I supposed to get in to my vehicle now, Mr. Red Truck? At first I thought it was the red truck, and then it turns out that it was R who parking super close. I was all mad and then I wasn't mad.

xo. Nicole

A little late on the draw...

Here I was thinking that October would be a better blogging month! Turns out that it doesn't really matter what month you're in, time still goes by super duper fast. The past couple days have been awesome, though! I got around to finally using the Crock Pot that I invested in and made some Cinnamon Apple Pear sauce. It definitely didn't turn out 'post-worthy' but it's tasty. I keep forgetting to pick up some vanilla ice cream to go with it...

Last night was Halloween, and my Maid of Honor came over when I was done work. We decided to ice some red velvet cupcakes and watch Magic Mike. The night went perfect and we were up until 4 in the morning just talking and enjoying each other's company. That's the perfect Halloween for me :) She even brought over an old Christmas tree that her mom wanted to get rid of. We now have one stuffed in our closet until November 12! I can't wait to start decorating everything!

I had to work last night until 11pm and I was over the moon that my coworkers decided to dress up. I hate being around people who are so "blahhh" about the holidays. Why not have some fun?! So it was noon yesterday and I still didn't have a costume. It took me some time but I figured I had the supplies to make my own zebra costume!

I didn't document how I made everything, but it's pretty straightforward. I used an old headband and some felt fabric to make the ears. I cut the shape and sewed them on. The nose took a little time, and it looks more like a cow nose (haha). All I did there was cut a square piece of felt, cut 1 cm from each corner and sewed the corners back together. After that, I folded half of the 'box' down and sewed it so that it would lay flat against my nose. To keep it on, just loop some string through and tie behind your head!

Out of all the customers who took a guess at what I was, only a police officer got it right and I gave him his coffee on the house. I guess you could say I was a "Starbucks Zebra", eh?

What did you do for Halloween?

Just a reminder that the super exciting November Package Swap will be starting soon! Click here to find out more :)

xo. Nicole