flowers.. just because

The apartment smells so wonderful right now. Jeff came home with some beautiful 'just because' flowers, which was super sweet. Of course, that meant I had to pull out a macro lens and take a couple shots!

food and family

I hope you had a wonderful holiday yesterday! I was able to visit three separate places (but only two meals.. I don't know if I could handle three Thanksgiving meals!). It was nice seeing so many people and catching up. I snapped a couple photos as I went along but mainly I was chatting and eating!

The table was so nicely set and I think that salad may qualify as one of the most beautiful I've ever seen! I actually made the bread below it and it seemed to go over well. 

We're pretty low key at my house, especially given it was only the four of us this Thanksgiving. While we had dessert, Jeff and I went though the many black friday fliers to see what was in store. I can't believe how many stores were open at midnight!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving! We're up early to start off our fully scheduled day with lots of warmth, food and, of course, family.

(I love the way the frost sparkles in the morning!)

Thanksgiving prep

My mom and I were doing some prep work today for our meal tomorrow. It'll be a busy Thanksgiving with Jeff and I making multiple stops so we wanted to get as much ready as possible.

engagement rings

Lately, many of the blogs I follow have been posting photos and links to some beautiful and unique engagement rings, like this post on Lovely. I'm just amazed at the artistry and beauty of some of these bands. These are a couple of my favorites so far:
Anna Sheffield
Rust
Hon Ngai

Are there any awesome rings you've seen around on a friend, online or in stores lately?

apple place settings and a wedding tree

My amazing friend, Ashley, was married to a wonderful man, Dave, on October 1, 2011. It was such an honor to be asked to be a part of their day as a bridesmaid. I was able to help with planning for the wedding. (and of course for the bachelorette party!)

I'm a bit late putting up photos, but I wanted to share these cool name settings that Ash had for her Fall wedding. She grew up next to apple orchards and embraced the fall staple as a clever part of her day.

First, baskets of apples were picked locally. Then we sorted through them to find the best of the bunch. After cleaning each of them up, a stick was stabbed into each apple. (You had to be super careful with that part.)

Then a leaf, one with each guest's name and their table, was glued to the stick of each apple. The tables were named after types of apples, 'Gala', 'Pink Lady', etc. And once guests had found their place they could take their apples to the 'Dipping Station' where you could choose a candy or caramel coating! Once the apple was dipped, there was a plastic wrapping provided to save the treat for later.

I loved this idea! It was interactive and a a great way to incorporate the name settings into the fall theme, even better that the apples were local and super fresh! 

Another way Fall was incorporated was through their guestbook and wedding tree to Ashley and Dave, my wedding gifts to the couple. To give them everything they wanted with a 'guestbook', I designed to pieces for them, a guestbook of their engagement photos as well as 'wedding tree' acrylic painting.

A wedding tree is a guestbook alternative that can be nice if you're looking for an item to display as art in your home after your wedding. I painted a large square canvas to match the colors of their home with a leafless tree in the center, their initials painted within a heart as carvings in the tree. Guests were able to write out a personal message in their guestbook saying everything they wanted to the couple, all of their love and advice for the future. 

Then, guests added their finger prints to the painted canvas with one of the Fall themed colors of ink we set out and signed their name under their 'leaf'. Below is a photo of the canvas before the reception with just the bridesmaid's prints added onto it. 

What are some of your favorite creative wedding details? Have you had or seen great original guestbooks?

Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to my two raffle winners, Katie Osowiecki and Kaitlyn Hanlon! You've both won free Engagement Sessions with a print credit!

happy halloween

We're a little late with our Halloween fun this year due to the storm but it was still nice to see a few trick or treaters! You can understand a couple of those trick or treaters being just a bit scared to walk up to our door, imagine a scary halloweeny type groaning from the figure below as you walk up our steps.

Yesterday's Bridal Expo!

I had such an amazing time meeting all of the soon to be brides and grooms and their friends and families! I also love meeting and talking to all of the other wonderful vendors that were at the expo.

A HUGE Thank You to all the people who helped me put this together.. my patient and amazing family and boyfriend who've helped me with planning, setting it all up and then the quick breakdown, my talented Uncle who constructed a beautiful wall that was easy to work with and CJC Events for putting on the show and answering all of my questions! Here's my booth all set up!

Western New England Bridal Show

Tomorrow is the Western New England Bridal Show at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield MA. I can't tell you how excited I am to be showing at a booth this year! If you're attending, I'd love it if you're able to stop by my booth to say Hi!

I'll have some updates and photos of the event (and some of the prep work that has gone into getting ready) for you later this week!

my amazing uncle

My Uncle is an an amazing carpenter. You offer him a problem and he has a knack for figuring out a great solution. My problem was a professional, portable (aka an easily dismantled and not insanely heavy) wall. I am absolutely thrilled with what he was able to build! I can't thank him enough.

big apple pancake

While the guys were still out shoveling the snow from the big storm and we were warming up, my mom and I made a couple of 'Big Apple Pancakes'. It was was pretty easy, as long as you don't over cook it by 15 minutes because you misread the recipe!

Big Apple Pancake

Ingredients: 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1 large sweet apple (peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges), 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 4 eggs, 3 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp salt, confectioners' sugar

Preheat: 450 F

Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, then transfer 1 Tbsp to a blender. Add apple wedges to skillet and cook, turning once, until they start to soften (3 to 5 minutes). Arrange apple wedges around the edges of the skillet. Meanwhile, mix milk, flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt with butter in the blender until batter is smooth. Pour over apples and transfer skillet to oven. Bake for 15 minutes or until pancake is puffed and golden. Dust with confectioners sugar and serve!

damages from the October snow

Here are a couple more photos of some of the damages we passed today. Sadly these aren't even the worst of it.

Snow Storm in October

The snow storm on Saturday evening was record breaking and terrible. The trees couldn't support the weight of the wet snow and leaves and there isn't a street that I've been on today that doesn't have obvious damage along it. I feel fortunate that we have kept power. I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and warm.

These are a couple of photos I took on Sunday morning. It was good to see the sun out.