Change is in the air

It's that time again. Change. For a while now things have been the same. I open the shop, Kerri joins me to work away on weddings, Urban Harvest has been here renting out the back of my store to sell their amazing plants and seeds. They're both leaving. Kerri and her fam are off to Hamilton where they bought their first house and Urban Harvest, well, it's a pop up shop for them and so soon comes the end until next year. I've gotten used to having Colette and the gang here. They are all so lovely and very quickly have become like family. For each of them, change is happening in their own lives. Thea is off to school out west, Carl starting a new job at Beretta farms and Jordan also starting a new job working with kids in High Park. I feel like I'm on the last episode of Party of Five. How do you say goodbye to people you adore? How do I go on without Kerri? Kerriander Girl. She is everything to me, not just my employee but my friend too and a huge part of Coriander Girl's success. She has been with me from the beginning, before I even opened. We met in the stairwell where we both lived at 193 Dowling Ave.  I said, "I just rented a shop down the street, I'm going to sell flowers." Her mouth dropped open and she said, "Really, wow, do you know anything about the flower industry?" I said, "no I don't really just that I love them."That was her cue to say, "Best of luck!" Instead, she took me under her wing and taught me everything I needed to know and more and quickly became my right arm. Do you know that in the three years she has worked for me, she has not sat down. Literally, that woman never sat down not even for tasks that would be more comfortable while sitting. She worked so hard and set the bar impossibly high. I can never replace her and I won't try to. For the last few months I've been asking her, "Who's gonna laugh at my weird jokes? Who's gonna blast punk rock music, real punk rock music? Who's gonna tell me what I was just about to do or what I was just doing? Who's gonna remind me to eat? Who's gonna do wrist corsages? She just laughs in the best laugh you've ever heard with her blue eyes sparkling like western seas.
Here's to Kerri Peters.  Truly an amazing human being, an unbelievably talented florist,  an incredible mother, and a darling friend.
There are no pictures of Kerri Peters as she does not like having her photo taken, so I'll ask you to imagine a ravin haired beauty with edge, porcelain like skin, a smile that you could see from the moon and eyes that make you feel like you're home.
You're one in a million kid. And for the record, you'll never be a soccer mom.
Go smoke those roller dirby bitches.
Al xoxo

Short dance break!

 Light up light up...

Gosh I love that song.  Go put on your favourite song and lose yourself for a few minutes.

Alison xo

Happy Fathers Day!

The Coriander Dad continues to amaze me. Thank you dear dad for being so incredibly wonderful. For being by my side during wedding season and pretty much all year whenever I need you. Your love for me and the enthusiasm for my business reminds me of how lucky I am when I get overwhelmed by the details. You are so joyful and positive and I feel so blessed to have you. My heart goes out to all my dear friends and family who don't have their dads anymore, it makes my heart ache for them. To all of them and to you I send my love. I send my love to Pop(love you so much!) and to my brother Josh and to Tyler's dear dad Bill Hogan, all amazing fathers.
Thank you dear diddy for simply everything. You taught me how to find beauty in every moment and how to drive like a muther f@%#er. ; > "Pedal to the metal diddy!"

Alison xoxo

The shop at night

Wedding season is in full swing. My nights are usually spent here in the shop working. When I flip the sign to say CLOSED, truly it becomes a magical place. Cartoon creatures circling my feet, I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Alison xo

How about some flowers for a change?

A few bouquets I've been meaning to share. They're all from this year and they make me smile. Enjoy!

We've been doing them for a while now but the flower gift box of love remains my favourite thing to deliver to unsuspecting folks. The look on their faces at the flower gift box of love... well, it's something to see and the only reason I insist on doing my own deliveries STILL. It's all for that one look and if I can get a chin wiggle, well, that just takes it to a whole other level! I hope you're all having a magical evening with your loved ones. I'm off to the church for a couple of days to recharge my weak little battery. See you next week with full bars! Alison xo

HoneyLuna

A few more pics from our wee holiday. After Rome we headed for Tuscany, Sovicille to be exact, just outside of Sienna. From this central spot we were able to tour around the surrounding Tuscan villages. Thanks to Antonella and her incredible team at Borgo Pretale for making our honeymoon so magical.

San Gimignano was my favourite village, they call it the Manhattan of Italy.

A day of wine tasting with the loveliest Australian couple, Lyn and Paul. 11 hours later and a very solid buzz and an invitation to Australia!

We'll never forget Mario from Ardenga winery in Montalcino. He was so dear.

The next night back at Borgo Pretale and another wine tasting.

This picture is blurry but I like it because it perfectly describes how I felt after all that wine, 3 hours later!

And finally the last night at our Tuscan retreat. We haven't really told anyone this but the day before we went to check out and they told us we still had one more day! Hilarious.

We decided to sleep at the airport the night before we flew out, an experience we won't soon forget. Thanks for reading! I'll be back next week with so much shop news, it's gonna blow your socks off! Alison xo

To my darling Tyler, I'll never forget the warm Tuscan days we spent together in April of 2012.

Where have you been?

Oh it's me? I've been missing! Well, the honeymoon was a dream, that is after I recovered from the black plague! 3 days in Rome hunched at the mouth of a toilet cursing, "get this demon out of me!" Clearly my body wanted me to rest so we headed for the Tuscan hills, thanks to "Hotels.com!" We planted ourselves in a two storey stone villa overlooking olive groves and cypress trees. Truly it was the most romantic place to be for our "Luna dei Meille!" Honeymoon! And when you say that to people they pour Grappa down your throat! Ah-mazing. Tyler can tell you all about his Grappa experience. Let's just say it kicked the 'crappa' out of him. Oh my sweet doodle. Below are a few pics from the trip! Happy mothers day today sweet mamas! Much love!! Alison xoxo

Our apartment overlooked the Trevi fountain. 4am, still awake and had the city centre to ourselves. We walked for miles that night, kissed in doorways, danced down cobble stone alleys, laughed for hours and not another person in sight. However this picture was taken by a human cop.

Then I got sick. We passed this fountain a few days later when I finally started to feel better and I said, "honey, it's me!"

Then we found the botanical gardens and it all changed, the curse was lifted!

The flowers made me swoon and dream about the garden I'd like to have.

Borgo Pretale was like something out of a movie. A true Tuscan Villa.

Narona and Lu Lu kept us company most days, we all layed about purring happily 'Under The Tuscan Sun.'

Morning, afternoon and evening espresso was a must! A few more pics to come tomorrow! Thanks for reading dear friends! Alison xo