OMG
I AM still alive. This may surprise some of you.....
Right about the time of the last post I started working full time on the tv show once upon a time. I'm one of four buyer/assistant types. I love my job but apparently it leaves me exhausted. To exhausted to post on my neglected blog.
This Friday I was the last on at the office and by last one I don't just mean in my department. I mean on the whole show. doing my also neglected petty cash.
I've dubbed myself Snow Bright as one of my jobs is dressing the dwarves. I love them!!!! I would never wish to have seven children though as it is exhausting!!!! I can't imagine having to find clothes @for them 7 days a week.. (don't get me wrong - they aren't children, they are grown men and super sweet and easy to work with, there is just a lot of them)

Life is good though. As I said I love my job. I'm still super happily married to the wonderful dictator - 6,months!!!!! Minou and birdie are as goofy and loving as ever.

Now that i've remembered my password perhaps I'll try and do better over the coming weeks. Was going to add a photo but I'm on my iPad and apparently I can't do that... Poops!

Saskatoon Berry Perogies

My mom spelled it "Peroku" on the recipe - German???
No photos yet - too busy eating them to upload any - besides they really aren't very pretty. Doughy mounds. BUT OHHH SOOOO GOOD. My grandma used to make them. Not sure if it was a Mennonite thing or a Saskatoon thing. I can tell you I haven't met very many people who have had them over the years - most people don't even know what the berries are.....
We always ate them as a meal. Not a well rounded healthy meal but one us kids gorged ourselves on - there was never enough perogies..... I don't remember any side dishes or anything. Maybe I just couldn't have been bothered with them. Unfortunately my Grandma isn't around to ask anymore.....
Anyways.
The recipe...

Dough
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup warm water
1 egg, well beaten

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Place on floured surface and knead well. If you are the proud owner of a standing mixer this is MUCH easier. I just got one as a wedding present (thank you mom and sister) I dumped the ingredients in and let it go for a few moments and voila! LOVE IT.
Roll into ball. Let stand in warm place for 1/2 hour to soften and rise a little.

Fruit
4 cups Saskatoon Berries (I have never tried this with any other fruit - that would be sacrilege)
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp flour

Mix together

Pinch off dough in apricot sized pieces. Roll out into circles. Place some berries and sugar mixture on top. Fold in half and seal edges with fingers dipped in flour.

Bring a pot of water to boil with 2 tsp salt. Boil a few peruko at a time 5 - 7 minutes. Drain.

Serve with melted butter poured on top.

Now I'm not sure if I'm not shoving enough berries in my perogies or where I have gone wrong but today I am doubling my dough receipe in order to use up all of the berries I have left. The perogies are HUGE and I honestly don't feel like I could shove anymore berries in them without worrying about them exploding... The trick with these is to not have them open up in the boiling water. If you do the juice all drains out and they become dry - not as much fun. I only had one open on me this time - my first time I was not nearly as successful...

I'll stick a couple iphone photos in here later. I'm telling you they are NOT pretty. I also do not photograph food very well. But they are so so tasty.

I'l share another little story here before I go. Hubby is out golfing and I'm waiting for the dough to rise...
I LOVE saskatoons. Saskatoon is my favourite pie and as far as I am concerned the only pie worth making/eating. But it is really hard to get saskatoon berries in BC - well where I am in BC. So I have to wait until they are ready and then our local grocery store gets a few in. Only once. That's it, All year. And I'm lucky I get that. Most grocery stores don't bother with them since no one knows what they are out there.
So I knew it was time this year and kept checking the grocery store and annoying the poor produce guy. Everyday for a week he was saying maybe tomorrow. I'd get up at 8:00am go straight to the grocery store (unemployed last week!) only to find out they didn't come....
This Tuesday - after a full week of checking everyday - I got a call to work. I forgot to go to the store on my way home to check and only remembered Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday night I got off work at 9:00pm - the store was open until 10 so I ran in to check.
THEY WERE IN. BUT THERE WAS ONLY 2 CARTONS LEFT. That is enough for maybe 2 pies. That is it. I was soooo sad. I like to freeze them so I can have them all year. I bought my 2 cartons and asked if there would be anymore but the guy didn't sound hopeful.
I came home and slowly went down the stairs to the kitchen. I was so upset with myself for forgetting on Tuesday, I turned on the light in the kitchen and screamed.
My husband (I love calling him that!) had been to the grocery store and bought ALL OF THE BERRIES. He bought 10 cartons leaving the 2 I bought behind. I now had a dozen cartons!!!!! I was sooooo happy!!!!!! They took up the entire kitchen table.
It took me awhile this morning to wash and freeze them all but I am happy to say I have enough berries to make one pie a month until Saskatoon berry season next year. There was even a few left over from that so I made a few pies to take to work this week and the perogies today..... Now we ration the remaining berries.....
Happy Saskatchewan girl stuck in B.C.

My dough must be ready now. Back to perogy making...

I want to try this....

From design sponge

I Made my Dress.

From Our Wedding Part 1

From Our Wedding Part 1

From Our Wedding Part 1

From Our Wedding part 2

From Our Wedding part 2

Yup.
And I love it. Why haven't we started a tradition that requires you to wear your dress every other week after you are married???
I started it in January after meeting with a talented cutter who's words of wisdom were to start immediately and get a mock up done by the end of the month.
I tried. It proved to be far more difficult then I had thought. Said cutter also told me not to make a bustier style top as the cups would be difficult. She was right, they were extraordinarily difficult. I made 14 of them. Big, small, crooked, flat, etc etc etc.
Meanwhile the skirt was no easy feat either. I knew I wanted silk tulle before I had even decided what the final style would be and when I saw Vera Wang's (insert name I can't remember here) dress and tried it on I was in love. I almost bought it. But the top wasn't flattering on me and it didn't have any leopard print! As subtly as I could I examined the layers in it the second time I tried it on.
Layer 1 - silk charmeuse with a crin around the hem
Layers 2 & 3 - silk organza
Layers 4 & 5 - silk chiffon
Layer 6 - silk tulle
Layer 7 - silk tulle cut in narrow strips
Mine didn't end up being identical but it did exactly what I had hoped in the wind on the beach and looked so like and airy. And the grosgrain belt was to DIE for.
I was worried the whole time I was making it that it wasn't going to turn out - it would be to wacky, or inappropriate. Part of me wished I had started it sooner so I could still buy one f I had too.
My amazing friend Ellie dyed the belt grosgrain for me and my amazing friends Petra and Cathy were always available to help with fittings and phone calls.
At the beginning of April I finally finished it. That included the embroidery I put on the inside. Right on my tummy. I didn't hem it though. I thought I could treat myself and pay someone to do that for me. I'm so glad I did - what a nightmare it would have been. I also discovered I had to quit dieting as it was starting to get too big and I did not want to deal with the cups again if I got any smaller. (I had to sacrifice a favourite bra that wasn't easily replaceable as it was to make them work hence the weirdness on the inside view in that area - it is my bra that I covered in matching fabric and sewed in by hand)
I'm so happy with the way it turned out. Sorry to go on and on about it but it really was a dream come true. And the fact that I can say it was all me - no one else has ever had that dress - makes me even happier......

A few little facts about it:
cost - who the crap knows! If I included labour it would easily have cost more then the Vera Wang dress, just materials maybe around $2000. There was a few 'miss-purchases' shall we call them.
amount of fabric in dress - well for just the top two layers there was 21 yards of tulle.
hem width - the bottom of each layer was about 8 yards around making it more then a full circle skirt
ivory or white? - both! I would buy the wrong shade and say screw it and use it, it's all mixed up
the leopard print - it came from a local fabric store and was a cheap acetate fabric. I actually used the wrong side of the fabric because it was a little softer then the right side
grosgrain - was hard to find a 3", ended up ordering online from a new york company and had to buy the whole roll, and as I said my friend dyed it for me
something old - my grandmother's sewing label sent to me from my sister, and hiding in the hem is a doily she crocheted.

Now I have plans to make a shorter sleeker version of the skirt so I could possibly wear it again one day, maybe as a guest at someone else's wedding??? I still have lots of the leopard print for a matching pencil skirt as well... In the meantime it hangs in my closet. There are still bits of sticks and plants in it from Mexico that I don't want to remove.....

Our wedding video (yup again)

Got the NEW version with the songs I like. You can hear our vows this time!!!!
YAY!!!

The REAL long version of our wedding from Angela Bright on Vimeo.

MISSING SUNGLASSES

MISSING AS OF MAY 21 2011
ONE PAIR PURPLE BETSEY JOHNSON SUNGLASSES
LAST SEEN BOOGIE BOARDING ON THE BEACH IN TULUM MEXICO
IF SEEN DO NOT TRY TO APPROACH BUT REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO ME

From These are not the missing sunglasses

Yah. I lost a few pairs of sunglasses in the ocean. But the betsey johnson ones were my favourites. A few other pairs tried to go missing as well but somehow eagle eye Cathy was able to spot them sitting on the bottom a few waves later..... There was also a few sets of keys. (You'd think we would have learned after the first pair of sunglasses!)
So if any of you find them - not sure how the currents work down there - maybe they'll show up on the east coast of Canada? :)
Oh and I also lost a brown hair elastic - just saying...

I'm getting our photos from our photographer today! Here is the last set of sneak peeks!

From Our Wedding

I'm pretty sure we are laughing at my dad with the waiter in the headlock in this photo..

From Our Wedding

Luc and his ladies

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

Me and my dad before I walked down the aisle

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

Can't wait to see the rest later today!

Taking over the world....

I have a plan. It involves bridal wear. And I decided next time I was between films I would get to work on it.
Well it has been a week and I have been doing 10 hour days on it and i have nothing to show for it! Seriously I don't work this hard on my real jobs. My problem is I'm not quite as talented as my imagination would have me believe. Stupid imagination.
My plans is starting with patterns for various bodices and skirts that could be wedding dresses (or bridesmaids dresses) I'm been working on one bodice all week. I'm still tweaking the actual pattern never mind the sewing instructions. It takes me forever. I've made it 4 times this week already. I still have to try and figure out the other sizes too or right now I will only be able to sell sz 10's as that is my mannequin size.
It looks good though non?

Taking a break from this bodice today though - trying a skirt....

And the groom wore Alexander McQueen

I know I know. You all think Kate Middleton did it first but I had purchased some of the Dictator's clothing long before she even announced she was engaged! HA!
I few months before Xmas last year I spotted this tie while working. (did I mention I work as a buyer for tv shows and movies - it is a dangerous job) (it's got tiny skulls on it!!!)



We had already bought a plain black tie but BORING. I was wearing freaking leopard print - my groom needed some pizazz.... It was a little pricey though. I didn't buy it.
Christmas approaches (ok not christmas exactly but the idea of christmas - more like october approaches) and it is still in the store. DARING me to buy it. Well. I little tie doesn't scare me. I bought it and under the Xmas tree it went. My over the top tie purchase now disguised as a Xmas present. HA HA HAAAAAA....

Jump forward another month or two and my groom still doesn't have a shirt! He has everything else, vest, shoes, ring, BUT NO SHIRT. I tried to get him to go shopping with me to no avail. So I start looking while I'm at work again.
And look what I accidentally found - I didn't even know there was an Alexander McQueen section in the store!




I wanted something with a bit of personality, lightweight, some stretch, not to big of a collar..... It was all those and my favourite designer. It was WAYYYY too much money so I bought it and told the salesperson I would probably have to bring it back - but asked him if we could cut the price tag off in my attempt to get the Dictator to like it.
I took it home and showed it to the dictator.
He smiled. Then he frowned - "where did you buy this?"
I lied "zellers" he totally knew I was lying but he liked it.
He tried it on - a perfect fit.
Sigh.....

So yes. My groom wore Alexander McQueen...

It's the long version of our wedding video!

The long version of our wedding video from Angela Bright on Vimeo.

first set of photos are in from our trash the dress session!!!

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

Why have I never heard of this blog before? IT IS CRACKING ME UP!!!!!! I think my goal of not taking off my sweatpants today may actually be acheived if I just sit here and keep reading...
I particularly like the cat waterbed post and of course the giant metal chicken....
And that's only the first page....
I'm trying to add it to my links on the side but it isn't working right now....

I did two 15+ hour days at work this week. Monday I started at 8:00am and finished at 2:00am. Can I just say that is a brutally long day. Then we only had 8 hours off before we came back and worked until 3:00am???? Needless to say I am all out of whack. I have four days now to get back to normal - well as normal as I ever am.....

Love this video...
So disturbing and hilarious all at the same time....

Well... My canuckcakes 'drinking' game SUCKS.

A) I don't think Luongo had ANY saves
B) He got pulled from the game.

So those keeping score NO CUPCAKES FOR YOU.... Is it too late to become a bruins fan??? I want more cupcakes in my life...
At least you'll have lots leftover to drown your sorrows with...

CanuckCakes - like a chocolate cupcake only better....

I used my grandma's one bowl chocolate cake receipe for these. Super easy and quick - and literally only one bowl!!!!
1.5 cups sugar
1.75 cups flour
.5 cup cocoa
1 tsp soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
mix in your one big bowl then add:
.5 cup soft margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1.5 cups milk

For the mini cupcakes I bake at 375 for 13 minutes....
I found a random buttercream icing that I made blue and then added green stripes in the icing bad. And yes that is supposed to be a white hockey stick.... I'm no pro...

Thought of a new 'drinking game' too - every time Luongo makes a save you eat another cupcake. Being he is doing so well you will need at least 20+ cupcakes per person - that is ALOT. And I suggest some big glasses of milk.... You could eat one everytime the canucks score but with these low scoring games that won't be much fun....

One of my favourite souvenirs from Tulum was a bottle of perfume.

I went for a manicure at a spa down the beach from us called coqui coqui. While I waited i sniffed their perfumes and put a little paper with the coco perfume in my purse. The next day when I still wanted it I went back and bought it. I am horrible with scents but it smelled like coconut and reminded me of the sun and the fabulous time I was having...
I've been wearing it everyday and now and then I will put my wrist up to my nose and take a big sniff. Mmmmm.....
It was a beautiful spa on the third floor of this little hotel with windows overlooking the ocean and a thatched roof. I wish I had splurged a little more on some of the other spa treatments - they sounded wonderful and the spa manager was so sweet.... Next time.....

I bought this amazing necklace to wear on my wedding day from my amazing friend Bridget. I kept buying jewelry for my big day and nothing seemed right. I finally realized I wanted a pendant but couldn't find anything I liked. I have a small heart I wear everyday from Bridget and one day I remembered she had a bigger pendant. PERFECT. I called Bridget and picked it up that day.

When I read the description for the Big Laughing Heart it feels like it was definitely the perfect choice for me.

Grandfather Fire resides in Big Laughing Heart. The playful elder is the keeper of stories that connects us to the heart as gravity connects our body to earth. The Big Laughing Heart resonates love and helps to transform the mundane to high spirited frolic and fun.

I was surprised to open my garter from my bridesmaids A and discovered one of Bridget's vertebrae charms hanging from it. I'll post photos when I get some!

I adore Bridget's work....

From Churros!!!!

I used our new mixer today to make churros - AWESOME. I used the receipe from allrecipes.com. It worked just fine once I figured out the oil temperature which is significantly lower here at sea level. (Receipe called for 375 but it looked like it should be more like 225 for me)
YUMMY. At the wedding they were served with warm caramel sauce for dessert. I left mine half eaten to go cut the cake and when I came back they were gone!!!! so I've been wanting more ever since. Luc had them bring me some more but I was so stuffed into my dress at that point (I ate SO MUCH FOOD) I couldn't even attempt to eat more....
Tonight Virgin Pina Coladas. Or the drink we had at Le Zebra called the full moon - coconut, pineapple and fresh mint. SO GOOD. I miss Mexico so much already.

From Our Wedding

From Our Wedding

A sneak peek from our Trash the Dress Session with Vicki. As we had to due it a few days BEFORE the wedding we had mini me outfits to wear!
BTW I had never had a real coconut before and was shocked at how horrible they taste!!!

We're Married!

We're Married!!!!

Have I mentioned I've been coveting one of these for well over 5 months. It's shocking I haven't purchased it already.

I love that his name is Patrick.

Sharing this wedding favour I had done for the big day just because the picture is so cute... I'm packing up all the finished decorations and favours to ship down to Mexico this weekend. Thought I would take pictures of things to hopefully make instructions easier in case I'm not involved in set up.
Birdie had to check everything out and make sure it was ok....
Quality control.
We can all sleep easier tonight knowing she has sniffed EVERYTHING.
And now time for ice cream...

Just saw this tea on tv. And it sounds so good I ordered some....

Want!

From hipstamatic on the iphone

Since the countdown to the big day is less then two months now all my free time is being consumed with finishing all my DIYs - including my wedding dress..... I haven't had alot of time off work so perusing the internet looking for cute things I think I need. So I thought I would share some of my wedding projects - no sneak peeks of the dress though - forget it! And I'll give spoiler alerts for those of you that are coming that want everything to be a surprise.

This first one is no surprise though - it's the invitations. They went out a few months ago (wanted to give people lots of time to look at their $$) and the rsvps were due yesterday. We are still missing quite a few - but I gave myself lots of time for latecomers - I know I am one of those types. I'll send out a little email reminder next week.
In keeping with our destination wedding in Mexico and our love for Nacho libre it features a mexican wrestler! Woohoo! No flowers and curly qs for me.





I did it all in photoshop and illustrator. The final version was printed out on watercolor paper (I desperately wanted letterpress but could not afford it) at least the weight of the paper would be nice if not the print job. I had hoped to take it to printers to have it done but they wouldn't print on heavier paper so the Dictator and I spent an entire weekend feeding paper through the printer, cutting it to size, putting more ink in, repeat, Ang screws up, throw out 10 pages, buy more paper, buy more ink, repeat..... What a process... Once the pages were assembled (there was 6 in all double sided including hotel information etc) they were wrapped in tracing paper and tied with a little piece of hemp and a Mexican Milagro. I have no pictures of this. Oops.! I really should be documenting things better...

A friend just sent me this:

I'm working on my wedding dress and got a blood stain RIGHT ON THE FRONT of course. Her suggestion if I couldn't get the stain out was to put a bird on it.
Well I might just do that...

I'm a little slow. I've just started watching 30 rock. I didn't realize it's been on so long already. Way behind. I loved the episode with Paul Reubens.. Loved it.. Where can I get myself a little white hand like that - just to freak the dictator out. heh heh.....

I was feeding this little guy in the backyard this morning. his little tiny tongue tickled my hand...
ok I wasn't.
but it is freaking hilarious non?
You can get it here.

Heard about these movies on CBC last night. Love them!

Pee Wee and Mr. T??? It's too much!

This is sooo amaing! I have to finish my socks before I can even pretend to start it...

Best Wedding Photographer Ever.

I'm not saying - I'm just saying.