Christmas Dessert #1

I'm on dessert duty for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. Usually I opt for an appetizer but lately I've been really keen on making decadent desserts that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Since I'm working up until Christmas Eve and we have church tomorrow night, I'm going to get started on Friday's dessert tonight: a white chocolate tart with raspberries. I made it once last year and it was so fabulous, I can't wait to do it again!

photo credit: LCBO Food and Drink
The last time I made this dessert it actually looked just like the photo above. I'll remember to take pics as I go and post a step by step guide to making this fabulous dessert.

Stocking Stuffers

As December draws nearer I am reminded that I need to get started on my Christmas shopping, which immediately makes me think of all the things I would like to find in my stocking and under the tree. I really like high quality stocking stuffers versus gifts under the tree. I'd rather have a few great small things than one or two expensive gifts that someone stressed over trying to buy, wondering if I would really like it.

Here's a few things I think would make perfect stocking stuffers for me or any other twenty-something jcrew/chapters/kate spade/anthropologie/allthingsculinary-loving girl:


Kate Spade Wallet (on sale right now!)


JCrew hat


The World of Gloria Vanderbilt, available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.


JCrew belt


Anthropologie necklace


Holiday cupcake stencils, Williams Sonoma


What's on your Christmas list?

All Dogs Go To Heaven...

...and last night our family dog Daisy got to go too.

I woke up this morning to the news that my mom and step dad had put Daisy down last night. On Sunday my step dad brought her to the emergency animal hospital, not sure of what was wrong but knew there was definitely a problem, as she wasn't her usual tail-wagging, face-kissing, crooning-at-the-squirrels self. Turns out her little puppy kidneys were failing and the outlook wasn't good. I'll spare you any details, but after a night of treatments she wasn't doing any better. Last night my sister, mom and step dad went to hold her giant bear-sized paws and say goodbye.

Just a couple of my favourite photos of the pup:


At my bridal shower, summer 2009.


Christmas 2008.

You were a good dog, Daisy. I'm going to miss walking up to the house and seeing you waiting for us in the window. I hope you're having a blast in doggy heaven!

How I'm Spending My Halloween Weekend

I am too excited for words so I will make this brief. This weekend I am embarking on my first big DIY project at our house and I am ecstatic! I will post before and after photos when it's done, but let's just say that I get to use my palm sander for the first time AND painting supplies :)

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween!

TGIF

This has been one of the longest and most stressful weeks in a long time. I'm so glad it's the long weekend. We're heading up to the cottage with our good friends Mel and Jay tomorrow morning until Monday. I'm really looking forward to some solid reading/wine drinking/catching-up time with friends.

I also really love this BlackBerry smartphone case that is just so conveniently made for the 9700, which I currently use. The price point isn't bad either, at $25 and free shipping.


What are your long weekend plans?

It's the Little Things...

...like replacing my old bulky computer mouse with this flashy new wireless pink one, that makes coming back into work after one day off to 125 new emails not so bad.

A Year In Review

This past weekend Brent and I celebrated the one year anniversary from the day we said "I do." To commemorate this milestone we planned a long weekend away up North in Muskoka at The Rosseau. It was a beautifully relaxing (and much needed) vacation away from the craziness of our every day lives and a chance for us to spend some quality Renee and Brent time.

While on vacation we exhanged our gifts to one another. We decided a few months ago that we would stick with the traditional anniversary gifts (year one: paper). Brent proved (yet again) to be a super observant husband when he surprised me Sunday with incredible tickets to see Wicked in November! I've been wanting to see it since it's last Toronto engagement and he was obviously paying attention! For Brent's gift, I knew how much he wanted to golf at Grey Silo here in Waterloo, so I surprised him with a round. His reaction was equally as awesome as mine.

One other tradition we decided to start was inspired by one of my favourite blogger couples: John and Sherry at Young House Love. Each anniversary they take a picture together that displays the year they're celebrating and then display the collection in their home. When I mentioned the idea to Brent I half expected him to give me the cute-but-not-happening look, but to my surprise he was all for it! So, on the terrace of our suite at the JW this past weekend, we took our first photograph of the collection honoring our anniversary:



Our first year of marriage has been incredible. We've purchased (and moved into) our first home, taken a few trips to great spots like here and here and (Brent) started a new job. With all of the adventures we've had over the past 12 months, I can't wait to see what the next 12 are going to bring!