The Brooch Bouquet

I have had quite a few people ask me about my wedding bouquet. How did I make it? What is it made of? What made me think of making it? So I figured I would share that with everyone.

As most of you know, I got married recently in Turks and Caicos. If any of you know anything about Turks and Caicos, you know it is EXPENSIVE! To order a wedding bouquet with simple white lilies was going to cost me $600. Well that just wasn't worth it for me. I opted to give my guests a private bar at the reception with that money and I decided to make my bouquet.

I thought it would be a walk in the park.... I was wrong.

First thing I did was I went on a search for broaches. I guess a "traditional" brooch bouquet is made up of only broaches, but I decided that I would incorporate any type of jewellery as long as it was gold, silver or blue. I got some jewellery from my mom, my husband's mom, my grandmother (who passed away last April), some of my close friends.... I incorporated a piece of all the people who are close to me into this project. I went to antique stores, jewellery stores and flee markets across the city. It took me about 3 months until I gathered what I thought would be enough pieces to make my bouquet. I had 60 pieces in total.

After about 30 attempts to make this bouquet in a bunch of different ways, I found what was going to work for me. I purchased a foam ball from Michaels and some pretty turquoise ribbon. I pulled out 3 pencil crayons and jabbed them into the ball to make a stem. I then duct taped the three pencils together to make a solid stem. I hot glued the ribbon so that it wrapped all the way around the foam ball and down the stem covering everything so it was all hidden by the blue ribbon. I then began attaching the pieces to the ribbon. I ripped off all the pins on the broaches and hot glued each piece onto the ball. I bought myself a pretty pearl necklace and glued some pearls where I thought there were holes between the broaches to make the bouquet look fuller. That's really about it...

Once I figured out an easy way to actually assemble it, it really wasn't that bad. I received so many compliments and it is a great original idea for a wedding bouquet.

The only thing I wish is that I had some bridesmaids so I could have made them each one as well. Here are a few idea for anyone who is looking to make a broach bouquet.

Thanks for reading,

Danielle

Oh Marilyn!

Every woman can relate to Marilyn Monroe. Behind this breath-taking beauty who I believe to be one of the most stunning women who ever lived, stood a person whom we could almost see a part of ourselves in. Maybe we just wanted to see a part of ourselves in her.

Let's face it, as women we can sometimes be erratic. I sure know I can. And I know that Marilyn was probably the most erratic of them all. But one thing Marilyn said that I can relate to most of all is:

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

How many times have you not been at your best and someone just isn't having it? They ignore you. They bring you down. They make you feel worst. But when you are happy and everything is great, they are you're best friend? I think we have all been through that. I sure know I have. Who gives them the right to pick and choose when they want to be your friend? Of course it's much easier when everything is great. Even I will admit that. But it's the ones who stand by you no matter what that really matter. That person who's love and affection never wavers, never changes, no matter what you may be facing.

Don't surround yourself with the people who only want you when you are at your best. It's those friends, lovers, family members, who stand by you through the highs and low that really matter. The people who lift you up in your time of need, those are the people who really love and care for you.

Do yourselves a favour, don't settle for less than that. No one is perfect. Everyone has their moments. Everyone has their ups and their downs.

Don't give anyone who can't handle you at the worst of times the very best of you.

Thanks for reading,

Danielle

What is three years?

Anyone who knows me, knows that drunk driving sickens me to my very core. It is the most disgusting and selfish act anyone can do. My blood boils just thinking about it.

The other day, my husband and I were coming home from a friend's house after a little visit. We noticed a van driving all over the road. I figured he was texting. When we sped up to pass him, he was not texting at all. So we drove ahead of him to minimize the risk of him hitting us... Well, when we went to turn off toward our house, he came within inches of hitting the passenger side of the truck, where I was sitting. That's when we knew for sure this guy was drunk. I got on the phone and called the police to report him while my husband followed behind him. Realizing he was being followed he turned into a residential area. We figured that the police know, so we will just go home and leave it in their hands. We turn around and head towards the house but who almost hits us again?! That same van! He stops at the Mac store so we follow him into the parking lot while I call the police again. Anyways, after all this, the police showed up at the Mac store. We gave them our statement and went home. I am so proud of the both of us, because by getting this guy off the road, we may have saved a life that night. Thank goodness, we will never know.

Although I have never lost anyone due to drinking and driving, many people have. 42% of all motor vehicle deaths are due to alcohol. 42%!!! Why is it that people keep drinking and driving? Don't they see the pain and suffering this act can cause?

The punishment for drinking and driving is laughable. The punishment for drinking and driving causing death is an even bigger joke!!!!

Last February, a 23 year old girl was killed by a 27 year old drunk driver. 23 years old! She had at least another 60 years ahead of her. She never got to graduate from her Pharmacy program, never got to get married, have children and experience all the gifts being alive has to offer. Her life is over. Her family will forever feel the void of loosing her. Can you guess at what this 27 year old drunk driver was sentenced to? ... 3 years! ..... 3 years?! Really?! She robbed a young woman of 60 years.

The "accident" affected her boyfriend, her friends and her family! 3 years?! High school is longer than 3 years! Completing a degree takes longer than 3 years! The Olympics don't even come around every 3 years! What is 3 years?!

What kind of punishment is that? You get behind the wheel and kill someone, and you go to jail for 3 years, when the other person is punished for life! I just don't get it!

Regarding the new drinking and driving law, the expectation is that it will keep drunk drivers off the road. HA! Who ever thought of that is not too bright. Drunk driver's are not going to care if the alcohol tolerance is 0.05 or 0.08! This is not going to stop the drunks who are on the road killing people! It will stop people like me from having a glass of wine with dinner for a fear that it could put me at a 0.05 limit. I'm not too worried. I'll have my wine at home, or my husband will drive. But the drunk driver's who are out there driving are not going to care!

Drunk driving is 100% preventable! Why take the risk in the first place?! Call someone, anyone for a safe ride home. Don't risk the lives of innocent people for your own damn selfishness. There is no excuse!

Thanks for reading,

Danielle

The Shock Factor

Why does my husband try so hard to get a rise out of people? And why is it almost always at my expense?

Just to give you a little example, a few months ago, we were walking through the mall. He was walking so fast and I almost had to jog catch up. Finally, I slow down to walk at my own pace and let him walk a few steps in front of me.... What a mistake!! He takes it upon himself to turn around and yell "Quit following me!!" at the top of his lungs!!! Everyone just starred at me... And I was mortified.

I am constantly wondering what he is going to say or do next...

We were visiting with friends the other day. Everyone is having a good time. We are laughing, joking, telling stories... Someone offers me a glass of wine which I graciously accept. Next thing I know, I feel someone's eyes on me. I look over at my husband who is eye ballin' me! What the heck? Obviously, everyone else notices too!

"Ya?" I ask.

Without hesitation, he says to me: "Are you sure you should be drinking?"

Oh my god! Everyone is staring at us with a question lingering in all of their brains! I am so shocked I can't even speak! After a minute or so, I jump to my own rescue telling everyone that I am not pregnant.

Well the next day, I wake up to 3 or 4 text messages saying "Congratulations!". My husband, of course, thinks that's the funniest thing in the world. Sigh...

What's next?

Thanks for reading,

Danielle