GBD HOLIDAY GUEST BLOG - ADVENTURE COCKTAILS

I love having guest bloggers, especially when it's my sister because she has such great taste and her posts are super cute! She's a landscape designer with a super cool Scandinavian design style (runs in the family) that's all about bringing the indoors, outdoors. Essentially the concept of extending your living space outside.

In the new year you'll be seeing a bit more of her, me, my other sister, lot's of Hugo etc as I ramp up my blogging to include a bit more of a lifestyle component. 

Enjoy! 

GBD'S HOLIDAY COCKTAIL MIX

As we all gear towards the holidays and are hosting parties for family and friends, it’s always nice to stumble upon a unique cocktail recipe. Going hand in hand with our belief in encouraging people to get out and enjoy the outdoors, we wanted to create a fun and dual-purpose holiday punch that could play a part. 
  
Start your night with your guests indoors, with a chilled, boozy punch. Later in the night when it’s time for a change of scenery, turn your chilled punch into a hot beverage to take outside! Start a campfire, take a quick jaunt around the neighborhood, or if it’s February in Ottawa –go for a night skate on the Rideau Canal! Which ever you choose, grab a thermos and take your GBD Holiday Adventure Punch with you.

INGREDIENTS:
2  (200 ml) Ginger Beer
2  (200 ml) Ginger ale
2 1/2  (1L) Perrier Original
1  mickey Jameson Whiskey
4  tbsp. Grenadine
2  lemons
2  oranges
2  cups frozen cranberries
1  bag Ice
6  Cinnamon sticks
Rosemary Sprigs, for garnish
2  cups apple cider 

INSTRUCTIONS:

CHILLED PUNCH

1.    Turn on the song ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ from the Christmas Vacation soundtrack and put on repeat…. It just feels right for some reason 

2.    Pour all liquids into punch bowl except for Grenadine & Apple cider and stir.

3.    Squeeze 1 full Lemon and 1 full Orange into punch bowl. Slice up remaining Lemon and Orange and add to top of bowl along with frozen cranberries.
4.    Pour in Grenadine and stir

5.    Add ice

6.    Ladle into ice filled punch glasses and garnish with Rosemary sprig
 
 

HOT PUNCH

1.    Pour contents of punch bowl into pot and place on stove top on medium heat
2.    Add cinnamon sticks and Apple Cider and let simmer for 5-6 mins. 

3.    When punch is heated to your liking, pour into mugs or thermoses and head outside!
  
Enjoy!

-The GBD Team

LAURA KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY INSTAGRAM TAKEOVER

Last week the Queen Bee of light and airy wedding photography took over our Instagram and flooded it with gorgeous pictures and hilariously genuine advice. If you missed it - Your in luck! 

Here is what you missed....

heyoooo instagram people! 💁🏼 if this voice sounds a little different to you, then you'll appreciate knowing that this is not, in fact, elise from toast events. I'm laura kelly, owner of laura kelly photography as you might imagine, and I'm pretty stoked to be taking over the @toastevents instagram today! 🙌🏻 5 things you need to know about me -- 1️⃣ I'm a mama of two little babies 👦🏼👧🏼 (#coopkelly and #jillykelly) and a wife to my high school sweetheart 💋 (@therealrkells). 2️⃣ I am beyond obsessed with rosé. I feel like if you're going to drink wine, it might as well be pink. 3️⃣ I am a lover of all things graphic design and typography.  🖊 4️⃣ fourth, I have a minor to semi-serious fear of old people. 👵🏻 also garbage. 👎🏻 5️⃣ last but not least, I have been photographing weddings for over 6 years, having started when I was only 21! 📷 it's my passion and I feel blessed every morning when I wake up and get to do my dream job. I plan on keeping it SUPER real today during the #laurakellytakeover, so settle in and keep checking back! #guestblogger #laurakellyweddings #ottawawedding #ottawablogger
 

forget the article called, "what to ask your wedding photographer." 👌🏻  you don't really care what flashes your photographer has in their camera bag. instead, here are a few things you should be looking for during your consult. 1️⃣ the photographer presents their business to YOU, not the other way around. a professional photographer will run the show and answer all of your questions before you even ask them. 2️⃣ this is the person who will be spending the MOST time with you on your wedding day, other than your wedding party. do you click? do you want to hang out with this person on the best day of your life? if not, NEXT! 3️⃣ this is a purchase you should be excited to make. does booking this photographer make your heart sing? because it should. 💜 the same joy and excitement that happens when you put on the perfect wedding dress, that's how it should feel to sign your name on the dotted line of the photography contract.  #guestblogger #laurakellyweddings #ottawawedding #ottawablogger
 

〰 my absolute favourite topic, what to spend on and what to skip when it comes to enhancing your wedding photos. ✔️ 1️⃣ your bouquet is the biggest statement piece from a photographic standpoint. it'll be featured in almost every part of your day, whether in the background during your getting ready shots, in your hands during your portraits, or as the centrepiece at your head table during photos of the speeches. invest in this beauty! you'll never regret it. 2️⃣ a vintage car for the bride and groom is way more special in photos than a stretch limo. if you're on the fence, I'm siding with vintage! 3️⃣ your ceremony backdrop is critical. it will make you fall in love with your "I do" shots and frame your first kiss. 💋 and of course, the elements from your backdrop can be translated for use at the reception! now that's a pro-tip and @toastevents would approve 💁🏼
 

if your fiancé asks how much you're spending on your bridal heels, lie and say $50. then spend exactly as much as your heart desires. they're your WEDDING SHOES, girl! 🙌🏻 #guestblogger #laurakellyweddings #ottawawedding #ottawablogger #shoes #badgleymischka #shoelove #bridalshoes

a moment like this looks effortless, but the truth is there's a tribe of people in the background who make it possible. one of my favourite portrait session tips: make use of your bridesmaids! 👯 you chose those girls for a reason; they're the wind beneath your wings and they're there to make sure you look and feel your best. you'll always appreciate having one of your girls holding the bouquet for shots that don't feature it. plus, one girl should always be on the lookout for a potential lipstick re-application moment. 👄 I would also really recommend having a couple of the groomsmen on drink-duty. scotch for the groom and white wine for the bride? perfection. 👏🏻  #guestblogger #laurakellyweddings #ottawawedding #ottawablogger

all good things come to and end, and sadly, my amazing @toastevents friends, this is my last takeover post. 🌿 I hope you've enjoyed a few tips, a few tricks, and are starting to crave an ice cold glass of champagne right about now... 🍾 I'm leaving you with this beautiful photo and a message of inspiration: trust your gut, don't be afraid to make waves, sleep an extra 15 minutes whenever you can, marry the right man, and never stop looking for great friends. #laurakellyOUT. 👊🏻  #guestblogger #laurakellyweddings #ottawawedding #ottawablogger