I wanted to post an update note.  I have been blogging, just not here. Instead, I’ve been writing lots of great strategy and online communications documents over at Civic Footprint.  Civic Footprint is a really interesting and inspiring program designed to bring awareness to one’s impact on his or her community, through Giving, Volunteering and Participating.  I’d love for you to take a peak at the blog and let me know your thoughts on our Cloud Computing model - it’s an interesting approach (to be “in the cloud”) and I think aligns so nicely with an innovative non-profit leading in the tech space.

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After flipping through links and being inspired by the Wedding 2.0 article in ITWorld - (that this blog is quoted in!!) I found this adorable video:

This is the way first dances should be.

Uncategorized Published, Wedding 2.0, YouTube

I had to write about the adventure the Fiance and I undertook by attempting duck for dinner for the third time a couple weeks ago.  The first two times I made duck, I overcooked it to the point of well, death.  It was entirely inedible.  I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to get this meal right - after all, I roast chicken on a regular basis!  As a result of the wasted meals, I’ve been afraid to go to all the effort to pay for, prep and serve duck. What’s the point if it’s something I just can’t do? With the support of my lovely partner though, we tried it once again.  This time served with an orange, honey and kumquat sauce.  It was unbelievable!!! I wanted to post about the amazing duck experience as a lesson to a) not give up on an entire food source out of fear and b) to remember that practice clearly makes perfect.  Doesn’t that duck look scrumptious?

Now, I still think duck is really fatty and quite heavy, so it won’t be a regular protein in this household.  It is a special treat, and one that made us both step back and say - whoa, maybe we can cook.  It also was a good lesson about cooking together as a team.  We carefully prepped the whole duck, worked slowly on the sauce and discussed our approach to the sides.  Another tip, we saved all (and there was a lot) of the leftover duck fat, and made duck fat french fries to accompany the leftover peach chutney duck sandwiches on rye. The leftovers were almost more amazing then the original meal.  Duck was affordable, local, and a fun way to revisit something I vowed never to make again.

Just a little post to say duck isn’t a mystery after all…  it just takes a little effort, and the right attitude.

Who knew?

Uncategorized Add new tag, Foodie, Sunday night cooking

In my process for planning a wedding geek-style, I thought I’d provide a quick update on some of the ways I’d really like to bring a little geek to my upcoming wedding.

Twitter feed?

First of all, would a Twitter feed be too much?  I suppose the first question is really related to whether or not Twitter will still be “The tool” in a year.  Yes, it will still be around, and I think the tech community will continue to embrace it for some time - will it be something that some of our guests will get a kick out of or just a source of confusion?  Maybe it’s too complicated of an idea, but the idea of an #A&SWed hashtag is just too cute to pass up.

So we’ve got to have a projector or TV screen with a Twitter stream of common terms that interest us, a slideshow is a given, and the wedding hastag is a possibility, what about a live stream of the ceremony?

I’m still working out the logistics of web cam / proper sound / some type of internet connection at our ceremony site, but I think providing a live stream of the ceremony would be just awesome for out of town friends and family that couldn’t make it to the live event.  Don’t you?

Back up plan: If a live stream of the event won’t work - a YouTube video on our wed site homepage is a must!
Guest generated content

I am looking for ways to embrace the online collaborative world, bring it into our wedding and invite guest generated content.  We know our friends and family will be taking pictures, some with their phones, filming short clips, and likely changing their Facebook status updates to wish us well. I think it would be a great idea to collect all of that online buzz for our wedding and showcase it via the wed site, or maybe even ask our MC to pull some live quotes to read at the dinner.

Coffee theme - totally geeky?

The coffee theme is three-fold:

1. Brown is a key colour element of the wedding. What better prop than espresso beans?
2. The fiance and I are coffee fanatics, so it’s only appropriate…
3. Yes, coffee addictions are a geek stereotype, but we really do live for a constant stream of coffee and I think it plays well into “this is a tech wedding” theme… don’t you?

So that’s the current roundup of wedding planning the geek way - what are your thoughts on our strategy?

Any suggestions for other geeky wedding elements?

Uncategorized Twitter, Wedding

It’s not news to announce that this is the Wedding Prep season. Many, many bridal shows are in swing, and it’s the time for spring editions of magazines to line the shelves. It’s also the time for many ‘09 brides and grooms to put the last details on their summer weddings.

I’ve been thinking a lot about wedding planning and the overwhelming amount of wedding information available in print, online, at venues and through word-of-mouth. It makes me think; could I plan this wedding entirely (or almost entirely) online? Wouldn’t it be so very new media, web 2.0 friendly, of me to at least try? Well brides-to-be I’m here to say YES! The web 2.0 wedding can happen, and if I have anything to do about it, it WILL happen!

Where to start?

Online Research
Obviously lots of wedding information can be obtained online. A great place to start is Theknot - it’s a one-stop shop for all wedding information, and there is location-specific information. Yes, this site is US heavy, but there are lots of Toronto pictures, venue and dress information. I’ve been using The Knot for colour theme and centerpiece ideas. The great thing is you can create an online scrapbook to store ideas you like - then come back later for them when you actually need them. Great for planning ahead!  Also, for local Toronto information, try Toronto Brides.

Deals, Deals, Deals
I’m a fan of the online contest - I like to believe that since the web contest is so ubiquitous with almost every TV show, magazine and major event, the odds are not bad that I might actually WIN something! The same is true for wedding related contests. There are contests for the chance to win a free honeymoon or dress, but there are also smaller opportunities, like free entry to the National Bridal show. Every little bit of savings helps!

Also, I don’t know about you, but searching for beautiful wedding gowns for an affordable price is one of my favourite new weeknight activities! (Inner geek seeping out).

Just one tip though: create an email address just for all your online wedding planning, and use that one when broadcasting your information in contests; weddings = money, which also means SPAM!

Venue planning
So far, I’ve done all my venue research online. I recognize that eventually I will have to actually visit the venue where I wish to hold the big party, but for now I love the opportunity to read reviews, check out many pictures, and break down costs for large and small Toronto venues before I spend all day long visiting venue after venue. Bonus! Many venues (including my - top - 3 choices for our venue) include full party package information online, so you can get to the bottom of taxes and hidden fees prior to the tour or meeting - great for the budget hunter!  It also helps to be ready with questions and prevents being blindsided.

Online Shopping
There are some great online deals to be had - if you can find a site offering free shipping or reduced rates (especially during off-seasons, like now!) you can purchase favours, cameras, and keepsakes for often MUCH cheaper than in party stores. TheKNOT has a deal on wedding cameras right now!  They also have some really cute small favours, many for $1 each or less

Wedding Website (aka the Wedsite)
This was the FIRST thing we decided as a couple (after saying YES!! of course). A wedding website is a great way to compile all of your wedding details online. It cuts down on the number of repeat questions (can I change from chicken to fish?), you can provide a clearly legible online map (how many times have you received the itty-bitty map attached with the RSVP card?), and links to your gift registry. My favourite part of our wedding website? The online RSVP! Our plan isn’t to send out stamps at all - why bother? Everyone can RSVP online, save some trees, and a few extra pennies for our wedding budget (that means more yummy FOOD!).

Where do you start with a wedding website?  I personally think designing your own template then attaching it to a wordpress blog is the way to go, but you can also find many free wedding website templates if you’re not feeling particularly geeky.

Wedsite bonus points:  Create an online photo album of photos of the couple, but use it after as a place for guests to upload their pictures from the wedding - that way everyone can share memories from the event, even the out of towners who couldn’t make it.

Come to think of it - maybe we’ll live stream our wedding… would you watch?

Entertaining, Uncategorized, Web 2.0 Add new tag, Being Orgainzed, Entertaining, Shopping, Web 2.0, Wedding