Archive for April, 2011

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What Marriage Means to Me

Friday, April 29th, 2011

In a week where I’ve read the words fairytale wedding and princess more times than I can possibly count I started thinking about what being married really means.

The other night I was dishing leftovers into a tupperware while my husband watched a basketball game and as I glanced over and noticed his eyelids were closed with the remote firmly in hand I thought to myself, “I am going to do this countless times in my life”, and I felt really, really good about that.

The mundane moments of life and marriage can cause us to debate whose “job” it is to take out the trash or unload the dishwasher and I think that’s a trap that’s easy to fall into.  I figure if I were livin’ life solo I’d have to take out the trash and do the dishes myself anyway so I’m not sure why I sometimes feel that my husband should be doing it for me.

Partnership should be a privilege, not a chore.  And trust me, my husband has heard more than once that he could do a few more tasks around the house, but the point is that after the fairytale wedding day is over it takes some work & commitment to live happily ever after.

What marriage means to me is that we’re in this thing together; we’re on the same team and share the same goals.  Remember this after the fanfare and excitement of your wedding is over.  There’s a lot of every-day to live–be good to each other.

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Happy Birthday Ella!

Monday, April 25th, 2011
[Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie,...

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Today is Ella Fitzgerald’s birthday and I think she deserves a shout-out.  Maybe a scat-out?  Anyway, Ella was amazing and her voice is out-of-this-world gorgeous.  Her vast collection of songs and albums speaks for itself, but you only have to listen to Ella’s voice to feel her power. 

You’ll find Ella Fitzgerald on i-Tunes here and you can become a fan on Facebook here.

If you don’t own some Ella get some already, would ya?  And if you’re gonna sing Happy Birthday, swing it!

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Earth Day, Easter, Passover, Birthday

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

First, it’s Earth Day so do something!  Pick up a piece of trash you might otherwise ignore, skip the plastic water bottles for a week and ditch the paper coffee cup for a reusable travel mug.  Practice a random act of gardening.  Do anything.  Just be earthy. 

On a holiday note…it’s Passover and Easter and my birthday this weekend so we have a few big celebrations over the weekend and in the weeks ahead (as well as a big girl business seminar in NYC that I am pretty darn psyched about) so April and May are busy, busy. 

It will be a few weeks until my next Vermont Weddings post.  (I’ll tell you that this couple has a super awesome style in store for you…Jackson Pollock cake is all I will say here!)  So stay tuned for more real Vermont weddings in May.

Have a great weekend!  Do you have special plans for the holiday?

I made this centerpiece of purple roses and tulips with lavender for our Seder dinner tomorrow night.  I think it’s a perfect centerpiece for Easter brunch, too.

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Purple and White Spring Wedding in Vermont

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

When spring weddings begin in Vermont I tend to see purple and white flower color combos.  On this April day it was cool and windy with a threat of rain, but for an indoor wedding at The Old Lantern the weather was no problem.

The bride loves lilacs and I was happily surprised to see that my supplier could get his hands on a nice bunch for me even though they are not in season yet.  The bride’s bouquet included white roses, purple lisianthus, lavender spray roses, tulips, lilacs and purple & white ‘Picasso’ callas.  Her seven attendants carried hydrangea, roses and stock with dusty miller to complement their eggplant dresses and birch containers completed the rustic, country feeling for the reception. 

I like the white, purple and lavender color palette for a spring wedding.  It is sweet and classic with a definite Vermont, country feeling represented by the lilac.  What do you think of this color palette?

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No Apologies

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Today’s post is short and sweet for engaged couples out there.  

You do not have to apologize for being “new” to wedding planning. 

You are supposed to be “new at this”–it’s a wedding, not a test of your party-planning skills.  So, no apologies needed.  Your vendors should understand that you’re new at this!

I love what this couple came up with for their place cards!  Not bad for a couple of newbies!

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Purple Hydrangea

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Clients sometimes ask me which flowers are the most expensive and in truth the price of many flowers will vary depending on the time of year.  It’s not as simple as “local flowers are less expensive” and there are certain unique or exotic flowers (like orchids and callas) that many people don’t mind paying a little extra for.

Hydrangea is one of those blooms that can range from “reasonable” to “wow, what did I just pay for that hydrangea?!”  When I picked up these lavender-purple hydrangea for my wedding this weekend it definitely brought a higher price tag than usual.  It is so gorgeous, healthy looking, fluffy and the perfect shade of purple–not blue.  Sometimes when you want the very best you simply have to pay for it.  (And sometimes you actually get what your money’s worth.)

The frilly, blooms are so classic and perfect for a rustic, Vermont setting with a touch of elegance.

I’ll have some pics from this purple, lavender & white wedding for you next week!  Have a great weekend y’all.

 

 

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How to be a good wedding guest

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

It’s been said that florists make the worst wedding guests, but I think there is a rising trend in rude wedding guests.  From arriving late to the ceremony to talking & texting through the vows to stocking up on asprin courtesy of the amenity basket in the ladies’ room; I think wedding guests could use a few reminders when it comes to modern-day manners.

A few tips on How To Be A Good Wedding Guest

♥RSVP on time please…pretty please!  (That’s what the SVP stands for after all!…it’s French for please.)  Don’t force the couple to call you to ask if you are coming to their wedding.  Don’t make anyone wonder whether or not you are coming.  This thing is not about you.

♥Put your cell phone on silent before you even walk into the ceremony so you won’t forget!  Interruptions by the sounds of crazy ringtones in the middle of the ceremony is an epidemic that has overtaken the “baby screaming through the vows” of yesteryear.

♥Arrive on time.  No, arrive a half hour early.  This is an important day for someone who cares about you enough to invite you to their wedding.  Show up.  On time.  Or a little bit early.  Consider this part of your gift to the couple.

♥Be nice.  Say hello to the other guests around you at your table or during the cocktail hour.  These are not just random strangers on the subway; you have a mutual friend (or two) in common.  Ask, “how do you know the happy couple?”  Say hi to grandparents and maybe let them cut you in line at the buffet.  Compliment someone’s fabulous shoes or make a new friend on the dance floor.

♥Don’t raid the bathroom amenity basket.  It’s not a shopping spree.  It’s for everyone.  When someone catches you stocking up on hairspray and lint rollers you might be embarrassed.

♥If alcoholic beverages are served before the ceremony, limit yourself to 1 drink.  Manners people.  Manners.

♥Sign the guest book or participate in whatever “sign in” ritual the couple has chosen.  Sign the book or plate or picture frame, leave your recipe for love and happiness, offer your best wishes…whatever it is just find it and sign it.  They’ll be so glad you did.

♥Say hello and congratulations to the couple’s parents.  It’s a big day for them, too.  A little, “Thanks for inviting us,” or a compliment on how beautiful the wedding has been wouldn’t hurt either.

Do you have any tips for how to be a good wedding guest?

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Maple Sugar On Snow at Butternut Mountain Farm

Monday, April 11th, 2011

So this post is going to start out with a confession:  I’ve lived in Vermont for almost 15 years and just attended my very first Sugar On Snow event.  OK, I’ve admitted it.  I feel better now.

My husband, David, works for Butternut Mountain Farm–The Vermont Maple Sugar Company, and we attended the company’s Maple Sugar on Snow party at their sugarhouse on Saturday.  Butternut Mountain Farm has always been a family business so it was particularly nice to see many of the employees’ families gathered on a beautiful 60 degree day!

Maple sugar is deeply rooted in Vermont, not only through trees and soil, but through traditions full of integrity & pride of process and most importantly, the final product–pure maple syrup.  Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing, baby!

A familiar sight for Vermonters–a tap and sap bucket hang from a maple tree.

In March-April in Vermont you know this much smoke means there’s a sugarhouse boiling.

Plastic tubing has replaced the traditional sap buckets to collect as much sap as possible.

There are different grades of syrup from light, fancy syrup to darker grades with a strong maple flavor.  Grade is not related to quality, rather it’s a reflection of the color and flavor.

Warm maple syrup drizzled atop snow=Sugar on Snow!

How much fun is this?!

This is where the sap comes into the sugarhouse via the miles and miles of tubing.

The tubing runs downhill and enters the sugarhouse.

Maple sap collects in huge tanks before being boiled down to syrup.

Steve is pouring syrup back into the evaporator to reverse the flow and prevent the build up of niter.

Reverse osmosis purifies and separates the sugar from the water and any impurities.

If you look inside the evaporator you’ll get a face full of steam.

The syrup has been very light & fancy so far this season.

Maple butter on donuts…yummm.

The owner’s granddaughter knows the tricks of the trade already–sap right from the tap.

Her dad could tell this moment was a keeper, too!

A view of the sugarhouse from up the hill.

It was April 9th, but there was still plenty of snow in the woods and plenty of mud, too!

I’m a huge sugar on snow fan and the shots of warm maple syrup are at the top of my list, too.  Do you have happy Maple Sugar on Snow memories?

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Alison’s Favorite Things: Bequet Caramel

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Sweet Clover Market in Essex, VT is the source for my new addiction and hence today’s favorite thing.  Bequet Gourmet Caramel is oh-so-good.  Sweet Clover has a nice display on the counter filled with these babies and I simply cannot resist once I reach the register.  It is hands down the best caramel I’ve ever tasted.  They are soft, sweet and soul satisfying.  So give them a try and you can blame me for your next cavity.

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Springtime Weddings in Vermont

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

Spring means melting snow, followed by some freshly fallen snow, the maple syrup is a-flowing and a-boiling, and ultimately, it is mud season in Vermont.  As our friends and neighbors tap their trees and welcome their newborn lambs, the sunsets suddenly seem more beautiful and the Vermont wedding season begins!

Springtime in Vermont offers couples crisp days and wet feet in April followed by flowering trees and magnificent lilac displays in the middle of May.  Local, in-season flowers won’t be found in abundance other than some greenhouse grown blooms.  By the end of May as lilacs are fading away (and sometimes not until the very beginning of June!) we’ll start to see the delicate (and beloved by me!) lily of valley.  I have a fantastic supply right outside my front door!

Springtime weddings in Vermont are not necessarily for the faint of heart.  Much like our late-fall couples you can expect snow at any point during the first month of spring so planning an indoor ceremony and reception is essential.  By the end of May we are starting to see signs of summer and weddings move outdoors!

Here are a few pictures from my garden in early April…

Tulips have started leafing out only to later be covered by snow, of course!

This is what my coral pink peony looked like on April 3.  They’ll be blooming in mid-June.

The fuzzy, serrated leaves of poppies bring a promise of summer.  Blooms pop in early June.

Your florist can get a large variety of fresh flowers no matter what season you select, however when you are looking for “local, in season” flowers in Vermont you’ll find the largest variety available from early July through August.

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