Eat.Live.Shop.: December 2009

Favourite Style Ideas of 2009

I'm always a fan of getting 2 completely different looks from one piece. Click here to see these jean shorts in 2 looks.

I have a serious obsession with my bikes, but it is a bit tricky dressing for a good ride sometimes. Click here to check out my 2 bikes and for some cute bike outfit ideas.

I love playing with textures and I had a blast putting together these 2009 holiday looks.

2009 was a great year for me filled with lots of changes and learning experiences. I want to thank you all so much for supporting Eat.Live.Shop. through my first year (our one year anniversary is quickly approaching)! Have a fabulous New Year's Eve celebration and I will be back in 2010! xo

Favourite DIY's of 2009

Steve and I made a door into a table and it was featured on Design*Sponge!

I'm still in love with Kaitlin's bow sweater and I will make one for myself in the near future!

Alex's message board is such an easy and practical project!

I'm really happy with the way my Champagne and Cupcake party turned out and I can't wait to design another event soon!

Favorite Recipes of 2009

So I know I said I wouldn't be back until January 4th, but I couldn't end the year without doing a few posts of the Eat.Live.Shop favourites of 2009 (and it feels weird being away from the blog for so long)! The next 3 days will be a collaboration of my favourite E.L.S recipe, DIY and style posts from this past year. Enjoy!

These soft chewy ice-cream sandwiches are absolutely delish!

This strawberry shortcake is a perfect light summer dessert.

Steve's famous guacamole is the best I've ever had!

This brie appetizer is always THE favourite at every party-I swear!

Happy Holidays!

Finally as promised, here's a full picture of our little Christmas tree! I was hoping to have my vintage bus ticket ornaments ready as well as a homemade garland, but we ran out of time. There's always next year!

I wish you all a very merry holiday season filled with lots love and joy! I'll be taking a few days off from blogging to spend time with family and to have a little R&R, but I'll be back January 4th.

xoxo, Renee

Recipe: Hazelnut Truffles

Every year I make these Hazelnut Truffles and they're a hit every time! They make great holiday gifts...who doesn't love to receive homemade baked goods?!

1 cup of milk chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups of nutella
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 cup of icing sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa
1/2 cup of ground almonds

1. In a microwave safe bowl, mix together chocolate chips, condensed milk and nutella. Microwave in 30 second intervals for 2 minutes, stirring the mixture every 30 seconds.
2. Add the vanilla and mix well.
3. Refrigerate for a least 3 hours until firm.
4. Shape into 1 inch balls and then roll in either icing sugar, cocoa and/or ground almonds. Store in an airtight container in a cool place until ready to eat. Enjoy!

Holiday Ideas: Christmas Tree Ornament

For our first Christmas tree, Steve and I decided to do a homemade/rustic/vintage theme to keep the cost down and to fit with the style of our home. We made a few ornaments ourselves, used items around the house, and used vintage pieces that we found on Etsy. Here are some of our ideas:

We used vintage rusty bells that we found in a little boutique on Queen St. W and looped string through it to hang on the tree.

We bought a set of vintage keys from Etsy's Imagine Art 7 and put sting through it to hang on the tree. We also ordered some vintage London bus tickets from the same seller that I plan on doing something cool with to hang on the tree. If I can get it done this week I will post pictures, but if not it'll have to wait until next year-sorry!

We used the champagne corks that were left over from the Champagne & Cupcake party as ornaments. Steve simply drilled holes through them and we hung them with ball and chain.

If you have any cool holiday decoration ideas that you would like to feature on Eat.Live.Shop., please feel free to email me at eatliveshopblog@gmail.com.

Pick Of The Week: Art Wall

I'm completely smitten with a new website that has an incredibly creative concept called Art Wall. Art Wall is a visual display space similar to an online gallery featuring work from independent artists. The art is showcased on an 'art wall' in a virtual living space (entry way, family room, living room, studio and more to come). When you click on an art piece that catches your interest, you will be taken to another page that will tell you the details about the piece and it's creator. If you would like to purchase the piece, you simply click 'Purchase Here' and then will be directed to the artist's web page. Art Wall's prices range from $5-$500 and new art walls will be added each month. It's so refreshing to see this great new concept!!

via decor8

Guest Blogger: Holiday Make-up from Fashion Bananas

I'm so excited to share with you this make-up tutorial from Delmy from Fashion Bananas! I'm a huge fan of Fashion Bananas and Delmy is THE make-up pro, so it was only natural that I went straight to the expert for some help with my holiday make-up look. Thanks Delmy!

DIY: Paper Teardrops

I stopped by my friend Alex's house last week and I found her sitting on her living room floor surrounded by a million paper teardrops! I immediately got her to show me how to make them and I became hooked! I spent a good chunk of my afternoon on Saturday making these paper teardrops and I have to warn you they're addicting!

Materials:

-paper that is either the same colour or print on both sides

-scissors
-double sided tape or a glue gun depending on the thickness of the paper (I ended up using a glue gun for my medium weight paper)
-ruler
-pencil
-hole punch
-string or ribbon

Instructions:

1. For medium size teardrops cut your paper to 5"x 5" and fold in half to form a triangle. Fold in half again into a smaller triangle.
2. Draw lines on your triangle 1/2" apart and then cut along each line keeing a 1/4" space from the folded part of the triangle.
3. Open your triangle and starting in the middle begin gluing or taping the cuts together. Once the middle ones are together, flip your paper over and secure the next set of cuts. Repeat this step until all cuts are secured together.
4. Punch holes in the top of each teardrop and thread through string or ribbon to make a banner.

Christmas Tree Teardrop Ornaments

I also decided to make smaller teardrops (beginning square 3" x 3" and cuts are still a 1/2" apart) and then used ball and chain cut to size to hang them on the Christmas tree.

Tree Topper Teardrops

To make the tree topper simply make a small cone using your paper. Using 5 of the small teardrops, glue each bottom part together like a pinwheel and secure to the cone.

I hope you enjoyed this fun DIY!! Many thanks to Alex!
If you have a cool DIY project that you would like to feature, please email me at eatliveshopblog@gmail.com.

Style Idea: Affordable Accessories

It's a busy time of year, but even more so it's an expensive time of year. Sometimes we just can't afford that sexy beaded number that we've had our eyes on for weeks...the one that would be perfect for all our holiday parties. So instead, we have to rely on super cute accessories to jazz up the pieces we already have in our wardrobe! Any of these accessories would look great paired with your current LBD (little black dress) or for more casual affairs, your skinny jeans, blazer and white tee.

PS. Please don't wear all of these at once though...a little bit of sparkle or lace or metallic or colour goes a long way!

From clockwise from top left:
1. Lace tights from Urban Outfitters $14 USD
2. Fringe earrings from Aldo $20 CAD
3. Beaded knit gloves from Anthropologie $41.44 CAD
4. Electric blue clutch from Aldo $40 CAD
5. Deco-jeweled handband from J. Crew $36.50 USD
6. Beaded clutch from Urban Outfitters $48 USD
7. Beaded necklace from Aldo $29.98 CAN
8. Studded suede platform shoe by Steve Madden $39.98 USD

Getting Your Hands Dirty

Work by Roland Tiangco via all the mountains.

DIY: Holiday Wreath

I love this DIY wreath from CB2! The modern twist and vivid colours make this the kind of wreath that I would be proud to display on my loft's front door!

Click here for the full instructions.

My weekend was full with holiday parties, lots of dancing, yummy food and an abundance of champagne. How was your weekend???

Pick of The Week: Fobots

Illustrator Amy Lynn wanted to fill the time in between jobs, so she decided to combine two of her loves: shopping and making things. Amy hunts down cool junk in scrapyards, auctions and flea markets to create these one of a kind Fobots. Each one is numbered with a copper plate (which they call a butt tag) with the word 'Fobot' inscribed in it along with its individual number. I'm truly in awe of these sculptures and am definitely placing this on my wish list! And do keep in mind Amy does custom orders!

www.ifobot.com

via Peacock Feathers

Holiday Gift Guide

I'm always on the hunt for cool stuff, so I decided to put together a mini gift guide of some really unique items that I know I would love as a gift! The gifts range from $30-$200+ and there's something for everyone!

1. City Scape stamp set by Yellow Owl Workshop $30 USD
2. Vinyl decal wall chalkboard by Spell It Out $30 USD
3.Galvanized heavy gauge steel table/stool from CB2 $149 USD
4. Retro two toned wood radio by Magno $271.72 CAD
5.Walnut tape dispenser by tinted mint $35 USD
6. Pencil crayon rings by Maria Cristina Belluci
7. Mixed metal circle necklace by ken & dana design $195 USD

Style Idea: Holiday Looks

These are my perfect holiday outfits! I love the mix of textures in each outfit (sequins, gold metals, satin, velvet, lace, leather, patent, and beads) and the simplicity of each look. Tip: Mixing textures will always work if you keep accessories and colours to a minimum.

New Years party look:

Holiday Texture by eatliveshop featuring Tory Burch shoes

Items in this set:
3.1 Phillip Lim | Silk sequined T-shirt dress | NET-A-PORTER.COM, $895
Tory Burch Mairin cross-over sandals, $400
Temperley London Ophelia Evening clutch, $1,350
Brass plate necklace, 470 GBP
Juicy Couture Opaque Tights at Zappos.com, $44

Office party look:

Holiday Texture 2 by eatliveshop featuring Alberta Ferretti

Items in this set:
Alberta Ferretti Sequined tulle top, $795
Alice + Olivia Cocoon paneled silk blazer, $525
SILK TROUSERS, 177 GBP
Steve Madden Merriee - Black patent, $60
Stella McCartney Zebra-print wool clutch, $309

Family party look:

Holiday Texture 3 by eatliveshop featuring Elizabeth and James dresses

Items in this set:
Elizabeth and James Luna V-back dress, $375
H&M Shop Online Shoes
KARA ROSS KH1727 BLACK&GOLD LIZARD/VELVET 2139, 384 GBP
Yves Saint Laurent Bolt-link necklace, $650
Zappos.com - Juicy Couture Lace Tights

Alternative Christmas Tree Ideas

Even though I just got my cute 4 foot scrawny fake tree (that`s a mouthful) which I do love because it`s the first tree of my own, I couldn`t help but swoon over some of these alternative Christmas tree options. I`ll definitely be keeping these in mind for feature years!

Two dimensional tree via Sugarcasa.

DIY ladder tree via Curbly.

Handmade wood tree by PossibiliTree via For Me, For You.

Block shelves via Apartment Therapy.

Girly tree idea via i suwannee.

Eco-friendly tree by Buro North via Dezeen.

DIY beer bottle tree idea.

Boutique Spotlight: The Drake General Store

This past Saturday marked the opening of The Drake General Store`s second location in Toronto`s Rosedale area. I got a sneak peak at the store last Thursday and it was like being a kid in a candy store. Not only is the store jam packed with tons of goodies, but the decor and displays are amazing! 1890`s barnwood is used for the shelving and displays, along with vintage furniture and fixtures. They even have a vintage hotline phone that connects directly to The Drake's hotel and restaurant reservations line.The General Store has everything from jewellery, to body care products, to Ontario maple syrup (yum!), to vintage dolls and a million other delights!