Love This: Braided bracelets

I love these braided bracelets that I found on Etsy!

They are fun, they are colourful, and they remind me a bit of the friendship bracelets I used to wear back in the day.  Of course the ones posted below are the “adult-way-more-stylish” version of the strings that hung around my wrist as a kid.

The first three are by Jurates Jewelry, followed by a bracelet by Rimon by Tamar, and the last one is by Bearandco.

Hope you are having a great Thursday.

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Caramel Sweets

I am getting married in August and the “real” countdown to the event seems to be setting in these days.  The closer I get to the event, the faster I have to turn my ideas into reality.  One of the most incredible sources of inspiration for me has been the handmade items on Etsy.com.  I am purposely trying to purchase goods and services from smaller, less mainstream designers and vendors for decor and event details.  My secret goal is to create an environment entirely furnished by the hard work and amazing products of Etsy designers so I know my money is going to support small business enterprises.  Keep checking back throughout the summer as I reveal what I’ve chosen.

On a Skype call with my mother, who had just returned from a bridal lunch for her ex-colleague’s daughter-in-law to be, she excitedly showed me the bridal lunch favour she received: Two macarons bundled in a cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon.  Seeing how much I love macarons, if  macarons did not have to be eaten fresh, I think she would have saved them for me for a month until I returned for a visit to Toronto in May.

Our conversation got me thinking further on the topic of appropriate  favours and gifts to thank the people who have put in so much effort and time helping us plan from abroad.  How do you choose?  What is the protocol?  What is appropriate?  I’ve seen gifts and favours across the spectrum from “nothing” to “over the top” and it can be a confusing process narrowing down what to buy.  I have made some inroads on this topic and I a’m not about to go publicly disclose the gifts I have chosen and spoil the surprise for my bridal party, as some of them follow this blog however, I am happy to share some neat and interesting things that I have seen while browsing the web, that might also be of interest or inspiring for you!

First off- I love caramel anything. I tried making caramel once for a chocolate caramel tart a few years back which  I think I have to try again, but hats off to those talented caramel makers who are showcasing their goods on Etsy.

I am particularly fond of the caramels from Cheri’s Calabasas Candy Co.  Cheri, from Calabasas, California, is both an artist and a chef which is quite obvious from her amazing looking caramels below!!

Photo: Uncut Dark Chocolate Caramel

Photo: Fleur de Sel Caramel made with Madagascar vanilla

Photo: Uncut Vanilla Pecan Caramel

Photo: Lavender Fleur de Sel Caramel

Rubber Stamps

I am in the market for some rubber stamps to use with my wedding invitations but don’t know which to choose! There are so many exciting designs, shapes, patterns and colours, I am not sure how I am going to make a choice.

I love that stamps have gotten so creative.  There are as many stamps as stationery choices.  Mind boggling really.  Fortunately Etsy makes it super easy to find someone to work with!!

Photos via Etsy 1, 2, 3, 4

Monday, Monday

The weekend flew by in a flash and for those of you reading in North America, you’re lucky that you are still enjoying your long weekend today!  My weekend was great.  I went to see my first concert in Prague that was quite the unforgettable experience.  I tasted my first dessert with quark, (tvaroh in Czech), a fresh cheese that tastes like ricotta, cream cheese and sour cream mixed together.  Quark is a new discovery for this Canadian living in Prague, but quite popular around Central and Eastern Europe (it goes by different names depending on the country).  I am looking for recipes to test out a dessert in my kitchen some time soon, so stay tuned.  Made a delicious lamb tagine with rasins, almonds and honey from an Epicurious recipe, and tested out the Rose Bakery’s banana bread recipe.

Finally, I caught up on reading through my favourite blogs.  Last week was so hectic with work, my eyes and brain could not bare to be in front of the computer for one more instant, but I am back and recharged after a nice weekend.

First up, I love this cake.  It is covered in, what looks like to me, M&M’s without the m’s.  You could apply this technique to the outside of a cake with any candy really, like Skittles, or Smarties, but as far as I am concerned, this is a bit of monochromatic cake heaven.

via act on inspiration

Next up, as I was catching up on my blog reading this weekend, I stumbled upon some terrific new sites from around that world that I am loving right now.

Etsy:  Just Believe by Belinda Bracelets, DNTX Handlebar Bag in Blue and White Stripe and Just Potters porcelain tabletop platters and dishes

Blogs:

Paul and Paula’s adorable finds for kids.  I know when I return to Toronto in May there will be at least three new babies in the world and I am already scoping out potential gifts!  Have I mentioned how fabulous kids clothing is in Europe? Particularly Berlin?  Trust me, this is coming from someone without kids and I’m already melting looking at the stuff.

via Paul and Paula (noe & zoe line)

79 Ideas, a fellow Prague based blogger, has some beautiful photography and a great line up of home accessories and tabletop ideas on her site.

Get in touch with your inner Italian baker with Pane, Burro e Marmellata.  It’s going to take me a while to comb through this site of stunning food photography and baked goods, but I am determined to give one of the recipes a shot!

Anything and everything from Paper Eskimo, a stationery and partyware company from Australia, whose colour accessories are certain to liven up any party.

via Paper Eskimo

Finally, if vintage is your thing, I think you’ll really like Shabby Style, an online store and blog from Germany that carries charming accent pieces for the home.

Etsy Pop-Up Shop @ West Elm (Liberty Village) tmrw

If you’re an Etsy regular and you live in Toronto, tomorrow is going to be an awesome day. 

West Elm is hosting a pop-up shop tomorrow (Saturday) from 1-6pm at it’s store in Liberty Village.  Story was first seen on Toronto Life’s blog, The Goods.

Invitation via Empirella