Mint Melange

REVIEW: Christmas 2007

The how-to-decorate-in-30-seconds-advent wreath:

Window decoration:

That year's Advent calendar was absolutely delightful:

"Nikolaus" gifts from MisterT:

Our gifts. T's gifts to me were the beginning of an upcoming series of surprises which then resulted in a suprise proposal later next year!

At my sister's place:

I made "Gingerbread Man" earrings from salt dough and the kids loved them!

Our turkey back home:

On NYE i could not leave home and drink alcohol until 10pm because of my on-call duty that day. So we made some Raclette and went down to the harbor later to see the fireworks. That turned out to be an awful idea, the place was terribly crowded of course, but also awfully smokey after everyone set off their fireworks. We could hardly breathe or see anything after only a couple of minutes. Never again!
Back home we drank champagne and ate our usual stuff:

Inspiration: Black & White Wedding

Black & White is a wonderful color combination that makes every wedding look extremely elegant, even on a small budget and with very little effort.

The coordination of black and white items is less time-consuming and nerve-wrecking than browsing hundreds of color options, trying to find the perfect match.

A black and white wedding theme is classic and timeless and matches every season and style.

Stationary by Allanah Rose

Photo via Martha Stewart

Clutch by Etsy Seller angeew

Photo By Ann-Kay Design


Black Silk Flower Boutonniere, Photo by Martha Stewart

Groom Socks by Oriental Trading Company


Dessy Bridesmaids Dresses Style LR100, LR111, 6584

Cake by My Sweet&Saucy, Photo by Jasmine Star

Photo by Images by Berit via Style Me Pretty

Photo by Moore Photography via Style Me Pretty

Image by Martha Stewart

FREE Damask Votive Candle Holder Template by I Do It Yourself

Puzzle Cake Topper by Perfect Fit Weddings

Lillian Rose Collection Luggage Tags via Amazon

REVIEW: Christmas 2006

Christmas 2006 wasn't spectacular at all, photo-wise.

I made a christmas wreath:

And our advent wreath:

I can't remember if i made a calendar for MisterT that year, but i think we shared the one he bought for me:

My sister's living room and weird christmas tree:

My mother ringing the bell:

And our new years eve:

MisterT hiding:

And an incredibly ~~terrible~~ amazing firework picture:

Introducing the "Reviews"

This is my online diary and i want this to be a place to keep some memories from the past and present, in addition to the thousands of photos on my computer.

I wish i could have started this earlier but when MisterT and i met, in 2005, nobody knew what a blog was. We didn't spend much time in the internet. So i have to catch up A LOT and the next 20 or so upcoming blog posts are probably ging to be extremely boring for those of you who read my blog.
My dear 3 followers, thank you so much!!! (does anyone else read my blog??)

It's going to be an unspectacular series of "events", e.g. how we spent christmas/ new years eve, how we moved and renovated, and our vacations. All the wonderful things we did as a non-married couple, captured in terrible photos, and then some wedding pictures eventually.

I will add one new post every day but i might edge in a few craft tutorials as well.
And once i'm done with my reviews ( hopefully in two or three weeks) i will primarily focus on our "new" life as husband and wife and my DIY stuff.

Beginning of Fall

Fall has officially begun and it is the time to bring out pumpkins, cosy coats and my scarfs! Most women are addicted to handbags but i am addicted to scarfs. I would buy them all, if only i could!

Fall is wonderful, but am i in the mood for rustic decoration? No, I am totally in christmas spirit already and even caught myself singing "Jingle Bells" this morning. I can't wait to hang stockings, fill our advent calender and decorate the tree! I want to listen to christmas songs all day long, light red candles and eat all those delicious christmas treats that can only be bought once a year.

So far i haven't done any fall decoration, the only thing that matches the season ( somehow) is this bouquet in our bedroom:

It is one of the paper flower bridal bouquets that i made for my Etsy Shop, but ~~nobody buys my stuff~~ i like it so much that i decided to keep it. The colors are just perfect for our bedroom.

So, should i just skip this season and concentrate on christmas crafts instead? I'm still undecided.
I guess i should go for a walk, collect leaves and chestnuts and hopefully see some squirrels...

cute squirrel taking a nap in the birch tree in front of our house

MisterT's Project: DIY Toothpaste Tube Squeezer

MisterT is a very handy and talented man. He has has built some extremely good constructions within the past years and i always admire his ability of drawing detailed design sketchings and his knowledge about how to make exact calculations of materials, up to the tiniest screw.

We complement each other perfectly despite him not being as passionate about crafts and DIY as i am. We are both good at improvising and creating little things that make our life easier; he finds a solution when i am lost and struggle with a project and vice versa.
Yesterday i complained that i was too weak to press out the remains of my beloved Crest Cinnamon toothpaste and that a tube squeezer would be great but it did not want to waste money on buying one.
Today MisterT surprised with this construction:

A DIY squeezer made from wooden skewers and some tape at zero costs :)

It's brilliant and works perfectly! Thank you MisterT!

Inspiration: French Country Garden Wedding

One of my dearest friends is getting married next summer and since her fiance is french the wedding will be held in France. Sound awesome, right?

I have seen some photos of their amazing venue and that place is incredibly neat: a charming old farm in a tiny town deep in the countryside, with super cute and cosy little guestrooms. Double awesome!

And on top of that: they tie the knot at an outdoor garden ceremony and the reception will take place in a barn. Not a wooden barn but a half open stable with rustic brick walls and timber beams. Swoon! Absolutely perfect!!

This is going to be the most amazing and most romantic event ever!
I'm uber-excited and happy for my friend and her “Frenchman” and can't wait to attend this wedding!

I had this idea of creating an ispiration post here on my blog and then reread it next year after the wedding. I'm sure it's fun to compare our ideas and different interpretations of the same theme.

I already know her dream dress because I was the one who discovered it and she fell in love immediately.

It is Style "Telma" by Manuel Mota from the 2011 Pronovias Costura Collection

Screenshot from the Pronovias Website, Photo Courtesy of Pronovias

The Groom probably won't be wearing a black suit or even a tux but rather an earthy tone and maybe a striped shirt or a funny bowtie. Or how about a tweed suit?

Image by Men of Habit via Elizabeth Anne Designs

The couple has a little son who will be almost two years old then. The little munchkin has to be the ring bearer, in a darling outfit of course!

Photo by Luna Belle Boutique

And i'm sure my friends nieces will be flower girls in flowy dresses with lovely details.

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

A bridal bouquet containing a variety of wild flowers in a wide color range:

Photo by Melissa Munding

A romantic setting including a "Love Letter & Wine Box" ceremony:

Image via Style Me Pretty

Image via The-Oaks.com

I envision pretty little delicacies and plenty of cheese, wine and a cake & dessert buffet. Overall and elegant yet laid-back and merry atmosphere, lots of lovely details and everyone is going to have a wonderful time.