Summer Wedding Trends 2009

Summer 2009 is the time to shine! All things flirty and fun are fabulous for this season’s weddings. Colou rs close to nature like soft mosses and coastal waters mix with metallics and pearls to create a truly fairytale experience.

Creativity is freely flowing this year. Personal touches on gifts and favours are easy on the budget and bring an intimate feel to a regal event. Bridesmaids designing and making their own jewellery, hand made place cards and locally grown flowers are all trends that have blossomed from necessity into ‘must haves‘.

Sexy is warmly welcomed back in dresses for both brides and bridesmaids alike. Draped fabric and an abundance of elegant embellishments are in full force. You may even detect a slight homage to Bollywood with large broaches and paisley rhinestone detailing. This is the season you will find bridesmaids dresses that - dare I say it - can be worn again!

Food, following suit, is all about freshness and detail. Chef Maria Honeychurch (www.blackcreek.ca) describes the recent trends as, “getting back to basics”. She adds, “Traditional meals are very popular. Keep things simple and focus on your ingredients being fresh, local and substantial.”
“And vegetarian meals?” I ask.
“Whole grains and beans are both filling and delicious. Try lentil dishes and buckwheat crepes for some variety and make a green salad pop with a great home made vinaigrette.” Chef Maria stresses that you can’t beat the freshness and value of our local farmers and wineries, so buying local is key.

When it comes to dessert, expect the unexpected. Buried little treats like candies and fruit are a popular way to spice (sometimes literally) up the classics. Keep a look out as well, for cocktail-inspired cupcakes and pastries.

Hungry for more? Book a free consultation with Samantha and Lisa Marie to incorporate any of these ideas in to your Big Day! lotus_events@hotmail.com

Written by. Karen Allington

Purse Swap Party Review

Who Doesn’t Love an Old Bag?

With women representing every genre from the arts to international travel, a similar aspiration gelled us all. The mimosas, candles, cucumber sandwiches and great music put us all at ease right from the doorstep. Although unnecessary (our cackles could already be heard across the street), the “Ice Breaker” was a hit! We sure do recognize the features of our influential women. Congrats to Florence who won herself a $25 La Senza gift card!

And then the swapping began! We were all thrilled to see such big names like Channel and Fendi up for grabs. Ladies #1-3 had to deal with some exuberant screams of objection coming from the crowd (ahem, Lisa Marie) every time they ventured to the left side of the table, but with such great designs to choose from, everyone had a fantastic “new” bag to fill with their tricks.

Raffled off to lucky winner June, was a great hemp bag from Toronto fashion handbag retailer Adwoa Adu. Her visionary designers actively promote fair trade and socially conscious values. Proceeds from her shop, Arm Candy Casa, are used to help build communities, support women globally and the crafts they produce. Visit

www.armcandycasa.com frequently as fresh handbags and accessories are available bi-weekly.

When the swapping, shopping and posing was complete, the extra purses were generously donated to the Salvation Army. We are blessed and excited to be able to pass on our fun and fashion.

Lisa Marie and Sam then took centre stage and confessed their ulterior motive for our gathering, by introducing Lotus Events; a company with a new flare for invaluable services, based on commitment, hard work, unity of women and friendship. Their philosophies on how great parties are created rang true for us all. I think I even heard an, “Amen!” when they raised the sentiment of having to passionately follow what you enjoy. We are energized and anxious to use their full services which include invitations, themes, catering and beyond.

Saturday’s Purse Swap turned out a brilliant success. Big Thank You’s to all the ladies who attended and kudos to the magicians, Samantha and Lisa Marie, who sure know how to turn a room full of old bags in to inspiration and memories!

Stay tuned for pictures from this event!

Written by: Karen Allington

Eco-Chic ~ The Fashion Paradox

From movie sets using only recycled and compostable flatware to the hippy at the market with her home made hemp jewellery, everywhere you look is green. Is eco-chic just another movement by retailers to cash-in on our sympathy for the environment? Maybe... but it's brilliant. Finally our greed is being used for good.

Green is being pushed as the new black, and a certain amount of pride can be seen in our step as we prance around in our organic threads, but how long will it last? Trends can be both time consuming and expensive to keep up with... if you let them. Rest assured, there's some great ways to keep your fashion forward on a budget that's more copper than green and will make sure the changes you make stick.

3 tips to make 'eco-chic' work for you...

1. Are they who they say they are?
Read labels and ingredients. Don't be fooled by a green box.... inside a green box... wrapped up in a pretty green box.

2. Make some else's trash your treasure.
And vice versa! Check local free classifieds and make your own postings. There's always a gem to be found at a price worth showing off. Waste not, want not.

3. Don't forget your common sense.
A classic white cotton blouse will always be just that.

Whether you're buying in to eco-chic because it's 'in' or because you suffer from unused bluebox guilt, keep it up! Wear those $4 hemp shorts you got on Craigslist with pride!

Written by: Karen Allington