Archive for November, 2010

« Older Entries

Alison’s favorite things (vol. 21)

Monday, November 29th, 2010

I first discovered my next favorite thing, Mountain Ash Designs, on Etsy 2 years ago and I simply had to have an apron made from recycled and repurposed fabrics.  I love the shabby-chic style of  Sarah O. Green’s designs.  After my husband and I finished setting up a wedding at The Round Barn in Waitsfield this fall I found the cutest cargo apron (which has been perfect for my on-site wedding work and easily keeps my clippers and ribbon on hand!) and a beautiful skirt at Artisans’ Gallery which I simply could not manage to resist.  The other day I stumbled upon another skirt while checking out her website (that I also could not manage to resist!) so I went to the craft show at Union Station in Burlington to officially make it mine!  So…I guess you could say I have a nice little collection of sustainably handmade designs.

I’ve enjoyed Sarah’s work both on her blog and as I wear her designs in my daily life, but it was especially nice to get a chance to meet her in person the other day.  Sarah had seen my website so when we met at the craft show she told me a little bit about her experience with destination wedding guests.  As an artist at Vermont farmers’ markets and craft shows she sees firsthand how out-of-town guests seem to be, as she described it, “taking it all in” while they explore and sample their way through the weekend.  I think Vermonters tend to maintain an ability to “take it all in” and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us and it’s nice to see others taking time to enjoy the scenery, the fresh local products and the people who create and cultivate those items.  As a wedding vendor who is so proud of all that Vermont has to offer to our couples and their guests it is especially great to hear Sarah describe the blissful state in which she observes these destination wedding guests wandering around!

Click here to see an array of fabulous skirts, aprons, scarves, belts and quilts for yourself or as a gift for someone you really, really love!  I already got the first thing on my wish list this year!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Alison's favorite things, Local Love, Vermont products | Comment on this post »

Simple candlestick holder DIY

Thursday, November 25th, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!  So your turkey’s done, the side dishes are taking turns warming up in the oven and you’re ready to set the table.  To create a candlestick holder in a pinch I used dried mung beans in tiny ball jars to hold these beeswax candles in place.  You can use any dried beans you have on hand or pick something pretty from the bulk section of your grocery store (split peas, black beans, white beans, whatever ya like).  Try a mix of different colors if you want.  You could probably even use rice if you don’t have dried beans.  I left the metal rim on the ball jar to make it look a little more finished.  You could also use a small shot glass or brandy snifter if you don’t have jars.  

What are your last-minute DIY holiday table tricks?

Tags: ,
Posted in DIY, holidays | Comment on this post »

Wonderful Wife Tip–Thanksgiving dessert recipe

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

I recently heard someone say, “Thanksgiving is not about perfection.”  I think that is such an important thing to keep in mind while you are knocking yourself out in the kitchen.  Whether you will be hosting your first Thanksgiving or are looking for a dessert to bring to dinner and I’ve got the perfect pumpkin cake recipe to share with you today.

This Pumpkin Crumb Cake with Pecan Streusel is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Veganomicon.  It is simple, delicious and I think it’s a great substitute for pumpkin pie if you don’t bake that much or are simply intimidated by the idea of making your own pie crust (like moi for example!).  It is a vegan recipe so practiced bakers may likely have all the ingredients on hand to whip this together…especially if your pantry is already stocked up for the holidays.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl mix together the peacan streusel:  1/4 cup all-purpose flour (I’ve used whole wheat and it’s good, too.), 3 Tablespoons of brown sugar or granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground allspice, 1 Tbl. vegetable oil (I use safflower or sunflower oil) and 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans.  Mix with your fingers or a fork until crumbs form.  Set this aside to top the cake.

In a large mixing bowl combine:  1 can (15-ounce) pureed pumpkin (NOT pie mix), 3/4 cups soy milk (or regular milk if you’re not going vegan), 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 3 Tablespoons light molasses (As a Vermonter I use pure maple syrup instead!), 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and mix well with a fork.

Then, add and gently mix by hand: 2 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (add about half of the flour at a time as you mix it in), 1 Tbl. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg, 3/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. ground allspice, 1/8 tsp. ground cloves. (I find that cinnamon and nutmeg alone will work nicely if you don’t have the other spices on hand.)  Be sure not to over-mix the pumpkin batter or it may get gummy.

Pour the batter into a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan and spread it out with a spatula.  Scatter the streusel on top as evenly as possible.  Bake for about 45 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool and cut into squares to serve.

I made this last Thanksgiving for my family and both my grandmother and my mother asked me for the recipe.  I’m happy they enjoyed it and I hope you will, too.

Do you have any recipes or wonderful wife tips you want to share?

Tags: ,
Posted in holidays, Wonderful Wife | Comment on this post • 4 Comments »

November Wedding at Sleepy Hollow Inn

Friday, November 19th, 2010

It was an unbelievably beautiful (like mid-50′s and sunny kinda beautiful) November day for Annie and Andrew’s wedding at Sleepy Hollow Inn in Huntington, Vermont.  Perhaps the weather took a cue from Annie’s floral choices of irises for a spring-like minimalistic feeling–an unexpected palette for a “fall wedding”.

The bride’s color choices were rooted with her love of the color of blue irises and her bouquet included both blue and white irises, yellow spray roses, lisianthus, yellow callas, delphinium, freesia, green gladiolus and bupleurum with a green silk dupioni ribbon.

The bridesmaids (including the bride’s sister who was one of my brides 2 years ago!) wore black and carried bouquets similar to the bride.  I love bridesmaids in black dresses.

The barn at Sleepy Hollow has huge windows and a great view!

It was mid-November, but the weather was warm and beautiful.  This is what Camel’s Hump looked like from inside the barn at Sleep Hollow.  A great backdrop for an indoor ceremony!

The air was warm, but you could still find snow on the ground where it was shaded from the sun.  I snapped this shot of the bouquet just before bringing it to Annie.

The wooden chairs in the barn have a rustic and clean feeling.  Potted rosemary in little galvanized sap buckets lined the aisle and also served as centerpieces.

The bride and groom grew the rosemary themselves…a truly noble DIY effort!

Customized pint glasses designed by the groom were their favors.  I Love ‘em!  They also made homemade peppermint bark.  Yum.

Here are a few more details from Andrew & Annie’s big day.

Susanna’s Catering created a serious sushi display which we accented with submerged irises.

Congratulations to Annie and Andrew!  No one could have predicted what a perfect day you’d have for your wedding.  I hope it was all you dreamed it would be.  Your DIY details and minimalistic, yet elegant touches complimented the rustic setting perfectly.  It is always a special privilege to work with more than one sibling in a family and I am so glad we worked together on your big day!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in DIY, Feature Weddings, Vermont Weddings | Comment on this post »

Wedding Planning Tips part deux

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Last Wednesday I posted the first 3 things I think you should determine when planning your wedding (# of guests, budget and location to boil it down for ya!).  Today I am adding to this list to help keep you prioritized and on-track so grab your wedding binder or a file folder and get planning! 

Cross these off of your to-do list 8-10 months before the big day or sooner if you can:

–Invite friends and family members to be a part of your wedding party.  Budget tip:  A smaller wedding party can be a bit more budget-friendly than a large wedding party.

–Hire a wedding planner if you plan to do so.  You can do this before exploring wedding venues or after you’ve selected your location depending on how much help you think you’ll need.  You may book a site that has an on-site coordinator who can help you with many of the day-of details, but keep in mind this is different than a wedding planner who will offer a more detail-oriented service and see you through additional aspects of the planning process.

–Interview potential florists, photographers, videographers, bands, DJs, bar services and caterers to get an idea of how pricing and personalities will match up.  You should hire vendors as soon as possible to ensure your first choice is available, however you shouldn’t feel rushed into your decisions either. 

I suggest you start by interviewing 2 vendors in each category if you don’t already have one clear choice in mind.  Sometimes the first person you meet will be the right fit and other times you may need to explore 3 or more options to find your match.  The important thing is that you feel comfortable with the vendors you choose.  If you need a referral ask the vendors you think are the most talented who they like to work with.

What’s the been the biggest/best decision you’ve made for your wedding so far?

Tags: , ,
Posted in engaged, Tips | Comment on this post »

It’s Engagement Season! It’s Duck Season.

Monday, November 15th, 2010

It’s officially hunting season in Vermont and while it is neither rabbit season nor duck season around these parts I cannot help but think of Bugs Bunny & Daffy Duck when I hear wedding magazines & websites say that it’s engagement season.

It’s true that many couples will get engaged over the next few weeks or months, but I think calling it a season takes a bit of the romance out of it.  It’s the holiday season that fills you with a warm, fuzzy-feeling and adding an engagement to the mix makes it that much more special.

The opportunity to share your engagement with your family around the holidays brings an added charm to the experience.  Dave and I announced our engagement to our families over Thanksgiving weekend 8 years ago and although we had been engaged for months we felt that doing it in person was much more fulfilling than saying it over the phone.

To the newly engaged couples, Congratulations!…and good luck with all of your planning.  If you are just starting to plan your wedding then check out these DIY Tips, 3 steps for smart wedding planning and get a few tips for brides & grooms from my blog.

When did you get engaged?  Do you have a romantic proposal story?

white, yellow and pink wedding flowers

Tags: ,
Posted in engaged, Musings | Comment on this post »

Honeysuckle in Alison’s Garden

Friday, November 12th, 2010

OK, so there has been a frost…well, quite a few of them…and it’s November, well, mid-November at this point, but my honeysuckle vine is still hanging onto a few final blooms.  I noticed this pop of pink as I was headed out to my compost pile yesterday and was amazed to see the honeysuckle triumph over the cold.  It’s one of the first plants we planted in our perennial garden 6 years ago and while it wasn’t an impressive bloomer this summer its late-season blooms seem noteworthy to me.  There are many different varieties of honeysuckle (about 180 varieties!) that grow as shrubs or vines.  You’ll know honeysuckle by its sweetly scented, trumpet shaped flowers.

Do you have any late-blooming flowers in your garden?

Tags:
Posted in gardens | Comment on this post »

Wedding Planning Tips for Newly Engaged Couples

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Newly engaged couples who are planning a Vermont wedding have lots of details and decisions to consider.  Whether you are hosting a large event or an intimate affair most aspects of the wedding planning process pertain regardless of size or budget.

You can find a lot of “timelines” and “checklists” out there, but here are the first 3 things I suggest you take care of asap (or about 1 year before your wedding):

1.  Determine how many guests you want to invite since this will influence several other decisions (including budget and venue which are #2 and #3 on my list!).

2.  Agree on a reasonable wedding budget.  Again, this clearly affects other decisions you will make.

3.  Find a location for your wedding and reception.  You might want to start by selecting a date to get married, but depending on the site you select and the time of year you’ll be wed your options may already be narrowed down for you.

These are your first and biggest decisions that will shape your wedding.  Other timelines might suggest you find a wedding dress, pick your date or select a venue first, however in my experience you may find that you have a dress for the wrong season or a venue without enough room to accommodate your guest list.

More wedding planning tips will be coming your way next Wednesday!  Do you need planning advice?  Feel free to send your questions my way!

Tags: ,
Posted in Tips | Comment on this post • 1 Comment »

Vermont Wedding Affair at Shelburne Farms

Monday, November 8th, 2010

On Saturday afternoon Vermont Vows Magazine presented the state’s most gorgeous wedding show at Shelburne Farms.  The carnival theme at the Vermont Wedding Affair was both fun and charming. 

I presented the first seminar of the day on Budget Savvy and DIY Planning Tips along with Nancy of NJoy Events.  I think every good wedding has at least one DIY project, but I always caution brides against doing your own flowers (see my post about why not here) and get a few helpful tips on DIY wedding projects here.

Daria Bishop Photographers had one of my favorite booths and posted some super fun photos from the day.  Check them out!  I am sure there will be many more posts to come and I look forward to seeing the professional photos from David Seaver.  Even Zoltar was there–yes, fans of the movie BIG, Zoltar.

Below is an arrangement I made for our display filled with hydrangea, ‘Patience’ garden roses (which have the most gorgeous fragrance), spray roses and variegated pitt for texture. 

The Coach Barn was filled with smiling faces of happy brides, grooms, moms and bridesmaids.  There is a lot to see when Vermont Vows and some of Vermont’s best vendors pull out all the stops to both inspire and inform.   As always another impressive event designed by Krista Washburn and her team. 

Did you attend the Wedding Affair?  What was your favorite part?

Tags:
Posted in The Wedding Affair, Vermont Vows Magazine, Wedding Vendors | Comment on this post »

Happy 1 year of wedding blogging to me!

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

I have been blogging for one year…since Nov. 4th 2009!  Happy Anniversary to me!!..and it’s been so much fun to hear people say, “You’re blogging?!” or even better, “I’ve been reading your blog.”  I smile and think to myself, “You subscribe to my feed?  You like me.  You really like me!”  Soooo…as an aw schucks, thanks for reading gesture I am giving away a Floral Artistry Logo T-shirt this week when you share some of your thoughts with me.

I’ve been sharing “Alison’s favorite things” with you (we’re 20 favorites deep so far!) and now I want to know what some of your favorites are.  Submit a comment below or send me an e-mail with one (or as many as you want to share!) of your favorite things either from Vermont or your home state or anywhere in the world and I will select one oh-so-lucky t-shirt winner on November 12.

Please remember to include your t-shirt size (most sizes available).  My organic cotton shirts were printed locally in Burlington at Amalgamated Cultureworks on American Apparel T’s.  You can view a sizing chart here.

Brandy new organic tee's

Tags: , ,
Posted in Alison's favorite things, blogs, Musings, Vermont products | Comment on this post • 4 Comments »

« Older Entries