"Save the Date" Photo Shoot in the Forest

Since my engagement in January, I've gotten a great deal checked off my wedding to-do-list: booked our venue, selected vendors, and begun to make decorations with our display coordinator… although the dreaded guest list has proven to be arduous. Last weekend we took our Save the Date photos (in the forest of course)! My sister Jasmin is a phenomenal photographer, so up the mountain and into the forest we went (in hobbit and elf manner). Here are a few of my favorite outtakes along with the chosen photo. Can you guess which one we selected?

xo Brittany

Montréal: Old World Charm

Hi, starlings!
Yet again it's been a long while. Life's been uncannily busy. A great deal of family came to visit over the past few months, two of my cousins got married this summer, and I took a few trips, including one to Montréal. 

Before I catch up on posting photos from my previous trips, here are a few highlights from the picturesque Canadian city:

Montréal is quite the charmer. The city possesses an unmistakable European feel due to its deeply rooted French origins and stalwart old-world architecture. Our apartment was juxtaposed to one of the city's leading universities, McGill university. We also walked past the hauntingly captivating architecture of Royal Victoria Hospital every morning on our daily walks from our apartment to Parc du Mont Royal. 

Royal Victoria Hospital

The main attraction no visitor should miss out on is Old Montréal's Basilique Notre-Dame. I've seen my fair share of grandiose cathedrals all across Europe, but the interior of this basilica just may be one of my favorites, second to (duh) La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona which rivals nothing else. 

Endless  Oos & Ahs

O

Of course, in accordance with its French roots, Montréal is abundant with bakeries and cafés, and I couldn't resist my daily croissant and latte. If you ever find yourself wandering the streets in Montréal, be sure to stop by my favorite café on Boulevard Ste-Laurent: Café Martin. 

The Old Port is frequented by locals and tourists alike. You'll find food trucks, water activities, and festival grounds.  Below is a photo of my me and my niece zip-lining over the Old Port.

Wheeeeeeeeee

If shopping is your game, I suggest spending an afternoon or two on Rue Ste-Catherine and Rue Ste-Denis. I especially enjoyed weaving in and out of the little boutiques and trendy restaurants on Denis.

Pink hydrant to match my shirt

One of the best afternoons we spent was at Jardin Botanique de Montréal. This botanical garden boasts 190 acres and is one of the most beautiful I have ever been to. You could spend an entire morning and afternoon wandering the grounds, picnicking, writing, reading, taking photos, and just lying in the grass pondering life and purpose.

Dad and Mom

Ignore my ignorant hands. I obviously don't meditate much.

And with that I bid you au revoir and leave you with this breathtaking nighttime cityscape taken from atop from Parc du Mont Royal.

xo B

Oui, Ja, Yes

It's been another month and half since I've last blogged. I'm sorry for the inconsistency, but I'll update more often, I will! Anywho, since I've been away, you've not missed much except for that… I got engaged! 

And I said, Oui! 

On Saturday, January 17, 2015, Anil took me to one my favorite places here in L.A.-- the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. I did think it was a bit odd that he seemed so keen on going, since usually I have to repeatedly ask him to take me. (He's more of a beach, soccer, snowboarding kinda guy. ) However, I didn't even have to wake him up in the morning to get ready to go-- he was up even before I was! I eyed him and thought, Wow, he's quite eager. That's a first! But I'll take it.

We began our day with a warm butter croissant and a cup of hot tea at the cafe, then made our way to the Rose Garden, which is usually abundant with roses of all colors, but to our (mostly his) dismay, nearly all of the bushes were desolate! No leaves or roses-- they had chopped them all off. Decapitated Roses! (I'm sure the Queen of Hearts was to blame.) It is January, so I suppose that's the norm for this time of year, but apparently Anil had been planning to propose to me there in the Rose Garden. (I was wondering why he looked so disheartened at the time.) We found a corner area of the garden that still had a decent amount of roses in bloom and a beautiful magnolia tree juxtaposed, so it was still magnificent. He took a video of me twirling around the magnolia tree, as I tend to do since I'm a bit mad ("All the best people are."), though I had no idea why he was recording me and my questionable whimsical tendencies.  

From there we spent the next few hours meandering through the paths and trails of the Huntington Gardens and gawking at paintings in the museums. But for some reason he insisted on returning to the bleak rose garden. So finally we made our way back to what was left of the roses, and there, between the rose ration and the magnolia tree, he asked me to marry him! Here are a few pictures from the day:

Hope you enjoy! I sure did.

Yes in every language.