Life, Love, & Everything Else

The Coaster Project

2011-08-09T14:42:00.000-04:00

The coaster project began when Michael and I decided to make coasters as our wedding favors. The first thing we did was look for slate that we could acquire freely or cheaply. We were successful and found a Craigslist posting for old roofing slate from a home in Altamont, NY. We drove there on a snowy, winter day and bought a large amount of the slate. Once he (the seller) heard what we were using it for, he gave us an awesome deal.

Roofing slate in the back of Michael's pick-up.

The next major step was Michael's job. He rented a wet saw for the weekend from a local hardware store and got to work cutting the slate into 4 x 4 inch squares.

Michael cutting roofing slate with a wet saw.

Michael cutting slate.

The slate tiles beginning to pile up.

I washed each square and shaved off any loose pieces and checked each square for soundness.


Washing and shaving slate in kitchen sink.

I used 2 different stencil designs (from Jo-Ann's) and 2 colors of metallic, acrylic paint (coordinating with our wedding colors) and painted each square.

Fleur-De-Lis stencil on slate tile.

I used various clips to secure the stencil to the slate tile.

Medallion stencil done with metallic orange paint.

After the paint dried, I sprayed polyurethane in a thin layer to seal-in the paint and make the coasters water-resistant.

The polyurethane spray I used.

I purchased (online) felt circles with adhesive backing in a "stone" color and affixed 4 to the bottom of each coaster. The adhesive backing wasn't as strong as it could be, so I super-glued each felt circle.


Felt, circular, adhesive dots.


Letting the super glue dry.

I painted and completed a little over 100 coasters. Originally I wanted to make a set of 4 for each wedding guest. As the wedding got closer, I settled for painting a set of 2 coasters. But I quickly became realistic and had to settle for painting 1 coaster per guest.

Yes, this took months.

Here is a finished coaster at our wedding.


If you look carefully in this photo, you can see that the champagne flutes at each person's place-setting have been placed on their slate coaster.

The Coaster Project continues...

My Favorite Wedding Songs

2009-10-08T14:55:00.005-04:00

Processional: Bach - Sleepers Awake

Recessional: Mozart - Ode to Joy

Our First Dance:

Eric Clapton & B.B. King - Marry You (~ a little awkward to dance to (tempo-wise), but when you're in love, can easily pull off...)

Great Reception Songs (that I can remember):

Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had the Time of My Life (from Dirty Dancing)

Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

Michael Jackson - Beat It

My Awesome Bouquet

2009-10-01T15:50:00.002-04:00

Married :-)

2009-09-29T09:43:00.003-04:00

As photos start coming in, I will post them and tell you about them.

Wedding Hairstyle Inspirations

2009-09-17T14:13:00.009-04:00

There will be Tiger Vanda Orchids in my hair on the big day. My friend, Rachael, is a hairstylist and will be doing my hair and make-up at her salon, Carolyn's, in Albany.

It's Happening

2009-09-13T11:46:00.001-04:00

Always Time For Nature

2009-09-08T22:38:00.005-04:00

Michael, Shadow, and I climbed Sugarloaf Mountain in the Catskills on Labor Day. It was perfect weather and an awesome workout. There was no view from the summit, but there were some other interesting sites to see.

Tuxedo Measurements

2009-08-31T08:48:00.002-04:00

My Father, Brother, and Michael were measured Friday night for their tuxedos. Michael's Sister's Husband's Father (whew) owns a Tailor/Menswear shop in Gloversville, NY. Here is Ralph measuring my brother Greg:

Hello Gentlemen

2009-08-28T09:51:00.003-04:00

The groom has chosen this tuxedo. I think it's very stylish and suitable for our wedding. Mike, the five groomsmen, and my Father will all be donned in this beauty:

Calvin Klein: Infinity

Bridal Shower: √ (check) !

2009-08-25T13:25:00.010-04:00

My Bridesmaids threw me a wonderful Bridal Shower. It was, as Veruca Salt (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) would say, a "bean-feast"! Check out the awesome sugary spread:It was at the lovely home of my Matron of Honor, Katie. There were 23 ladies in attendance, total. I received so many great gifts. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Just because most of the presents were not a surprise (since they were off our registries), doesn't mean I didn't have an absolute blast opening and receiving them! Thank you to everyone who helped out, cooked/baked something, provided their house, brought something, attended, cleaned-up, and made the afternoon memorable and fun. Here is a photo of me and the wedding party in attendance:

Camping Vacation

2009-08-25T11:09:00.006-04:00

Michael and I went on a 4-night camping trip to Letchworth State Park last week. We choose to camp at Letchworth because it is close to Geneseo (my alma mater) and since I had spent so much time there in college running the trails (Geneseo's home cross country course is there), I wanted to fully experience the rest of the park. Unfortunately, all the sites at Letchworth have electric hook-up, which means it's an ideal place for people with campers and RVs. We were practically the only tent campers in our loop. It's okay, we made the best of it and "tented our hearts out". It was very hot last week and we slept with the rain fly off for two nights and could watch the stars. There was a 'boil water advisory' the whole time we were at the park from the Village of Perry who supplies the campground's water. Let me tell you, buying bottled water at the camp store was not cheap and with 90-degree heat, an unexpected expense. We were saving a pack of delicious bacon to cook over a campfire on our last morning. On our last night, I woke up just in time to see a raccoon snatching the bacon from our cooler. He took some ground beef too. Of course he left the fruits and vegetables and beer. We went to a diner in Dansville for breakfast instead. Overall, our trip was a nice break from it all.

Invitations Mailed: √ (check) !

2009-08-25T10:44:00.008-04:00

Phew, that was a close one. Yes, I did wait until the last minute. I thought I could finish assembling everything before Mike and I left for our vacation last week. But, no such luck. The invitations just had to wait until we returned. Well, the post office received them yesterday and they are in motion. Even with everything printed and purchased, it still took approximately 8 hours for assembly. Thank you Bridesmaid Kelly and my Parents for helping in the daunting assembly/postage calculation process. Because the invitations contain vintage stamps, and the stamps are in several different denominations, it took some time to calculate and divide the proper postage. I left that job to my Philatelist Father and he was stellar. Here's a sneak peek at the vintage postage stamps:

Milligan & Miller Wedding

2009-08-13T12:48:00.006-04:00

Last month was the wedding of Kristi Milligan and Liam Miller in Saratoga, NY. It was a perfect day, warm and sunny. The ceremony and reception were both held at Longfellows. Here is a photo of the first time we all met Kristi, when Liam brought her on a rafting/camping weekend in the Adirondack's. (Yes, we all loved her!) We rafted down the Indian and Hudson Rivers and camped at Lake Durant in the Adirondack's. That was in 2006.

Oh, how far we have come.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Miller! We can't wait to hear about your honeymoon in Aruba.

Honeymoon Postponed

2009-08-12T08:33:00.008-04:00

The stars finally aligned for a bit of good luck regarding our honeymoon. Back story: A few months ago, when we became a primarily one-income household, we were forced to spend the money we had saved-up for our Belize honeymoon. Now that Mike is going back to school, and will be a full-time student this fall, it would not be good for him to miss 2 full weeks of classes. So, we decided to postpone our honeymoon until January 2010. Mike will be on a school break and hopefully we will have some money saved by then. Cancelling or changing a flight is an expensive ordeal, especially when you purchase tickets through a third-party website, such as http://www.cheaptickets.com/, like we did. However, when I finally sucked-it-up and called them yesterday, the outcome was surprisingly good. We were given a full refund on our tickets! The reason for this is because one of the airlines made a flight change after our initial booking that would have resulted in us missing a connecting flight. Because the airline initiated a change like that, they could (and should) (AND DID) offer the option of a refund instead of just a flight change. The agent at cheaptickets.com was extremely helpful and even called the airline for me to obtain the refund. If that scenario had not played out, we would have owed an extra $500 in fees plus the fare difference (which is probably higher around the holidays). Now we wait for 45 days for the refund to process. Then we can start from scratch and book a new trip. Two thumbs-up to cheaptickets.com too!

Shacking-up?

2009-08-08T08:49:00.005-04:00

The bride and groom have chosen a hotel for out-of-town guests and anyone else who may want the convenience of not driving after the reception. We have arranged for a shuttle to bring people to and from the wedding/reception, which is 5 minutes away. We have reserved a block of 20 rooms at the Best Western Albany Airport Inn for Friday and Saturday nights of the wedding weekend. You must call to make your own reservation and make sure to tell them it's for our wedding so that you get our fixed rate. They will only hold the rooms until the first weekend in September, so don't delay!

Registry Links and Info

2009-08-05T10:16:00.004-04:00

Here is our wedding registry information.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Under the "Give A Gift" category, enter either my or Mike's first and last names. If you enter my first and last name, our registry will come up as the only option. If you enter Mike's first and last name, you will get nine choices. Of course select ours with the NY location and the correct wedding date.

Macy's

Under the "Give" section, enter either my or Mike's first and last names. If you enter my first and last name, our registry will come up as the only option. If you enter Mike's first and last name, you will get five choices. Of course select ours with the NY location and the correct wedding date.

Blue Shoes Acquired

2009-07-27T11:09:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I bought a pair of the previously featured Bandolino Wishnas in Medium Blue Nubuck. They fill almost all my wedding shoe aspirations: comfortable, flat, sandal, blue, and room for the rosettes (they already have a flower detail but I think I want to replace it). Even though I now have satin, ivory rosettes, maybe I should get blue ones instead. The eBay store I bought them from offers them in royal blue. The ivory rosettes are 2" but I can purchase rosettes in 3" too. What do you think: keep the flower detail that came on the shoes, replace with the 2" ivory rosettes I already have, purchase and replace with 2" royal blue rosettes, or purchase and replace with 3" royal blue rosettes???

New York State Bird = Wedding Colors

2009-07-24T11:28:00.004-04:00

I'm embarrassed I never noticed before (since I work for the State's Dept. of Environmental Conservation and all...) but our state bird has the same colors as our wedding. [Lately I've been seeing the world through blue and orange glasses.] The Eastern Blue Bird is the official bird of New York State - and what a beauty! The legislation adopting the bluebird as the official state bird was signed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller on May 18, 1970. I noticed a large photograph of it in the lobby of our building. If I could, I would invite a few to our wedding just add ambiance!

The Shoe Saga Continues

2009-07-22T10:26:00.009-04:00

I can't find what I'm looking for: ivory or off-white, flat or very-low-heel, satin sandals or flip flops. I brought two of my new ivory, satin rosettes shoe-shopping with me last weekend. I checked every shoe and department store in Colonie Center (I've also looked extensively at Crossgates Mall which includes DSW). I did purchase a pair of metallic, blue, flat sandals from Payless Shoes as a "back-up" pair (they were only $7). I'm now considering "dyeable" shoes. They have a few options I would consider. I really like this top pair of flip-flops except for the rhinestones...
Picture all these shoes (in ivory) with ivory, satin rosettes attached.

Ribbon for Invitatons

2009-07-21T08:03:00.006-04:00

Last week I ordered ribbon (from eBay seller "dreampartycreation") to tie around the invitations. I wanted to find a color as close to the periwinkle bridesmaids dresses as possible. I chose "antique blue". I'll see when it gets here whether its a match.

New Shoe Plan

2009-07-14T15:18:00.008-04:00

So, I'm back to the idea of attaching rosettes to a pair of shoes/sandals I like. The 'perfect shoe' I posted two weeks ago is available for overseas shipping. However, the shipping costs almost as much as the shoes! I've decided it's too risky (and silly) to purchase shoes I haven't tried on that cost that much money and would be quite difficult to return if they didn't fit or were uncomfortable. Remember the post where I said that I wanted to try and make my own rosettes? I received the book, "The Artful Ribbon: Beauties in Bloom" by Candace Kling. I have looked through it and read several parts of it. I've decided that I'm not ready to take on the pressure of trying to make/sew ribbon rosettes. They look quite tricky and take a lot of practice and time is running out. So, I found a great seller on eBay who makes her own double-faced, satin ribbon rosettes: Rosemary's Cottage Boutique. I bought these lovelies:Now I must find a pair of shoes. I'm leaning towards fancy flip-flops. The Shelley George ivory, satin flip-flops I featured on this blog post are not available in my size (they only come in size 5, 6, & 7). Maybe I'll get nice flip-flops that aren't ivory. Well, I'm getting closer. Now I bring my rosettes with me shoe shopping. I like the elegant simplicity of these two pairs of J.Crew flip-flops (that also happen to be on sale):

Flower Girl Dresses, Adults Too?

2009-07-09T21:50:00.004-04:00

I found this ladies dress online and I can't help but think it looks babyish. Or is it just because I knew the dress first for the flower girls? What do you think?

The Perfect Shoe!

2009-07-03T15:28:00.004-04:00

Now, if they would only deliver overseas.... I have contacted the company and am awaiting a response. This is a UK-based shoe/accessory company.

Faith Aroseb Ivory Satin Flat with Rosette

Seating Assignments: What Medium?

2009-07-03T09:16:00.022-04:00

I've heard that the inside of the Buhrmaster Barn could be breezy and that therefore, some things will need to be held down effectively, like the place cards on the place card table. Since the place card table will be covered with real grass, the cards could be "stuck" into the dirt. Here are some ideas for card holders: Or, I could make my own wire holder (with needle nose pliers) like this:

I could also scratch the entire place card theory and put guests' names on garden markers or craft sticks like these:

Grass-Covered Place Card Table

2009-07-02T14:27:00.032-04:00

My Florist, Douglas Koch, will be placing grass sod on the surface of the place card table at our reception. This is by no means an original idea, it is a current fad in the industry. I've seen photos in magazines and on websites and it looks great! One variable of our barn venue is the wind. I've been brainstorming ways the "place cards" (or other naming medium) could be arranged on the grass without the risk of blowing away. Take a look at some photos of grass-covered place card tables I found on the web:

Photo: Stacy Marie Photography
Wedding of: Amanda Esko

http://www.blacktieblog.com/

http://thepreppywedding.blogspot.com/

By: Georgianne at Monday Morning Flowers

Photo: Millicent Wong

Floral Design: Stephanie McCready at Muscari

http://timelesseleganceweddings.blogspot.com/

Next post: Name cards or something different...? I have some ideas.

Bride's Wedding Ring: √ (check) !

2009-06-27T14:42:00.008-04:00

My fiancé is wonderful (I knew that already). He surprised me yesterday with the wedding ring I've been eyeing for weeks now. I stopped into an Albany jewelry store (Roman Jewels) last month to ask about rhodium-plating my engagement ring. While I was there, I asked if they had any affordable (under $200), carved, white gold wedding bands. They showed me some rings they had in their 'estate jewelry' case in the back of the store. There was the perfect ring in our price range. It fit perfectly (size 6), and was in great condition. It is circa 1900, white gold, and hand-carved. Mike bought it for me and placed it on my ring-holder without me knowing. When I went to put on my engagement ring Friday morning, there it was sitting there. Surprise! I love it. Only 91 more days until I can wear it!

Rosettes - Taking the Plunge

2009-06-24T13:04:00.005-04:00

Due to my recent love of 'anything containing rosettes', I've decided to try and make my own for my wedding shoes. You've probably seen some of my older blog posts with photos of shoes containing rosettes. However, I couldn't find any shoes containing rosettes in ivory, only white. In order to have the "perfect" pair of wedding shoes, I've decided to purchase a simple pair of shoes (probably fancy flip-flops, yet TBD) and add my own handmade satin/silk, ivory rosettes. I've ordered a used book from Amazon.com called "The Artful Ribbon: Beauties in Bloom" by Candace Kling. I'm hoping this book will provide inspiration and detailed instructions for making ribbon rosettes/flowers. I will let you know. If interested, check out Hometown Girl's blog post on homemade rosettes.

Invitation Preview

2009-06-08T22:46:00.007-04:00

Envelopper Inc.

Match.com & Our First Date

2009-06-07T21:47:00.007-04:00

Michael and I met through match.com. Michael's screen name was "Mike1807" and his 'dating headline' was "Why wonder when you can know for sure." My screen name was "camp_n_fun" and my 'dating headline' was "Adventurous gal seeks guy to challenge limits". He first e-mailed me in January 2007. I was able to read his e-mail, but couldn't respond since I wasn't a paying member at the time. A month later he tried again. I happily read his email and set it aside for when I would be able to respond. On Valentine's Day night, (after a few cocktails) I was finally convinced by my Aunt to suck-up the $25 and join so that I could respond to Michael's emails. I did and the rest is history. Mike and my first date was on March 6, 2007 at the Albany Pump Station. We first met at the bar for a drink (I guess just in case one of us wanted to bail out before any significant time commitment). Well, we both knew right away we would sit down for dinner. After dinner we lingered at our table while the waitstaff started cleaning up around us (they were closing). We knew we needed to go someplace else or the night would end. I suggested Mahar's (beer bar in Albany) and Mike agreed to follow in his truck. We stayed at Mahar's until they closed around 1 AM. It was an awesome first date. We fell in love shortly thereafter and now we're getting married. Yay!

Preview: Engagement Photos

2009-06-01T15:45:00.008-04:00

Our talented Photographer, Keira Lemonis, posted these on her blog today. Check out her blog for more of us and Keira's other work.

All photos by Keira Lemonis

Engagement Photos

2009-06-01T10:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday Michael and I had our engagement photo session with our Wedding Photographer, Keira Lemonis. We chose Catskill Point Park as our location. She used the commerce building and beautiful waterfront as a backdrop for numerous pictures. In just a few weeks and the shots will be ready and we can chose one to send to the newspapers for our engagement announcement.
The wedding invitation paper arrived. It's really pretty.
I found a beautiful, antique wedding band at a jewelry store in Albany. It's within my price range (under $200) and quite lovely. It's 18 kt gold, hand engraved, and circa 1900. We'll see...

Invitation Paper

2009-05-25T10:38:00.006-04:00

I finally "pulled the trigger" and ordered paper for the invitations. I purchased pre-cut cardstock/envelopes in varying sizes from Envelopper Inc. in the three colors: Stardream Flame, Stardream Gold, and Crest Solar White. The Stardream paper has a metallic shimmer. The website offers free shipping and no sales tax. Now all I have to do is figure out the wording, font, times, and meal selections. Ah!

Update: Dinnerware, Registries, Flower Girl Dresses, & Invitations

2009-05-23T10:22:00.011-04:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Between house-showings, college enrollments and course registries, and NYS Dept. of Labor correspondence, Michael and I (mostly me) have excitedly continued down the wedding-planning-path. Please allow me to update you. :-)

Our dinnerware pattern has changed! We are no longer registered for the Lenox Batik Dinnerware. There are three reasons why: 1. The Lenox Batik Dinnerware does not have a complete line of serveware or accompanying pieces. 2. I discovered that this dinnerware is on back order at Macy's. 3. It was more expensive than the alternative...

Mikasa Pure Red Dinnerware

With this new dinnerware comes a new registry: Bed Bath & Beyond. This store has generally lower prices than Macy's and more availability and selection. We have not completely abandoned the Macy's registry, but we did switch many products from the Macy's registry over to the Bed Bath & Beyond registry because they were cheaper there. The Mikasa dinnerware has so many accent pieces and accessories. Fun!

The flower girl dresses have been selected and are in the process of being acquired. The lovely Rebecca and Adelaide will be donned in the champagne satin bubble dress with double rosettes.

Bridesmaid/Sister-of-the-Groom, Loren, will graciously be printing and assembling our wedding invitations. I have spent a lot of time browsing through the paper and envelope selections on LCI Paper and Envelopper Inc. So many choices! With our blue and orange elegant rustic theme, there are infinite ways to design and express that in creative and personal invitations. I hope to order the paper this weekend (but I've said that the last 2 weekends too).

Envelopper Inc.'s color index

Adorable!

2009-05-13T16:00:00.007-04:00

So, I haven't been 8 years old in a while. But, if I was, this is the dress I would want to wear (to be a Flower Girl). This dress is very affordable, ranging from $40 to $55. It also comes in several colors. And, have you noticed the coolest part? ROSETTES!

Fancy: Flats or Flip-Flops?

2009-05-12T15:49:00.023-04:00

Browsing for wedding shoes online is so much easier. However, some of the shoes I like don't seem to be available anymore (like they're last season's model or out-of-stock). I think it's risky purchasing shoes before trying them on though. The website Piperlime has free shipping and free returns - so they eliminate that risk. I am currently drawn to two distinct styles: satin flats or fancy flip-flops. I am also drawn to two distinct color schemes: color (preferably blue) or not (ivory to match the dress). As I've said in a previous post - I love rosettes! There are sellers on Etsy that can custom-make rosettes in any fabric or color. So, if I decide on a pair of shoes without rosettes, I can still add them if I want to. Here are some awesome shoes I like:

Aerosoles

Pazzo Mimosa
XOXO

Shelley George

Forever21

Miss Me Lacey

Jeffrey Campbell

L.L.Bean Deficiency

2009-05-05T13:18:00.005-04:00

I'm astonished! L.L.Bean does not offer a gift registry service [or even a wish-list function]. Michael and I had finally agreed on the retailer to register for all our sheets, towels, and various outdoor equipment. Nevermind. I even called customer service to ask about a work-around or some secret service I might not be aware of. Nothing.

I love L.L.Bean's flannel sheets! I've been sleeping on them (and them only - even in the summertime) since 2002. Hmm. Well, I'm sure Macy's sheets and towels will be soft and durable too. As for outdoor things, REI and Campmor do have registries. New decisions to make... Our Macy's Registry is a WIP (work in progress).

Rosette Obsession

2009-05-02T11:31:00.003-04:00

Shoes are fun. I seem to be drawn recently to shoes/sandals with rosettes attached to them. I know it's the latest trend - but I don't mind being outdated in a decade. Check out these two beauties:

Bandolina Wishna

Rampage Ramira

Whoa Nelly

2009-04-30T08:49:00.008-04:00

The last 5 days have been a blur. In the short of it, Michael is no longer employed and has decided to enroll in college full-time (yay!) For economical reasons, we just put our house on the market today. We're going to move into an apartment closer to Albany as soon as possible. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Luckily most of the wedding planning is complete. Here are some of the things left: invitations, entertainment/music, shoes, beauty, and hotel accommodations for the guests. I know there's more. Here are 2 fairly affordable invitations from the website InvitationConsultants.com that I like:

$194 for 100

$217 for 100

Honeymoon Airfare: √ (check) !

2009-04-22T08:26:00.006-04:00

Our plane tickets have been purchased - there's no turning back now (without substantial fees, of course). Michael and I are going to Belize for 12 days, 11 nights for our Honeymoon. We opted to pay a little more for airlines that can get us to and from Belize within 1 travel day. We're flying out of Albany and must make 2 stops each way: Chicago and Houston down, Houston and D.C. back. Our destination city is Belize City on the Caribbean coast of Belize. The capital of Belize is Belmopan. We have some time now to think about which cities and attractions we would like to visit before we reserve accommodations. The airlines we chose are United and Taca Airlines. Continental Airlines would have been about $95 less per ticket, but we would have a long, overnight layover somewhere in which we would either have to sleep in the airport or get a hotel room. So, convenience and timeliness beat cost this time. We're leaving for our Honeymoon 2 days after the wedding and returning just in time for Columbus Day Weekend. We'll each be taking 2 weeks off of work. Belize is going to be awesome!

Somebody To Marry Us: √ (check) !

2009-04-21T09:01:00.003-04:00

This is a big one. After months of thinking and consideration, we choose an affordable option. A "Marriage Officer" from the Town of Colonie will be marrying us for a reasonable $75 fee. So many of the Officiants I contacted wanted to charge hundreds of dollars for customized ceremonies. Mike and I want a short, civil ceremony. We couldn't justify the expense for an online Minister or 'professional' Officiant. I tried contacting the Town of Durham Judges to inquire if one of them could marry us (since it's Mike's hometown) - but I was ignored (from my resident Town, great.) I called the Town of Colonie Justice Department and was informed that the Judge who performs wedding ceremonies will only do so in the actual Courthouse. However, it was at this point I was told about the "Marriage Officers" that the Town has employed. I was put in contact with one and the rest is history. He has already emailed me a pdf of the ceremony. I think it's perfect. We can add, modify, or delete parts of it if we want to. He will wear a black robe during the ceremony.

Cake: √ (check) !

2009-04-20T09:32:00.005-04:00

This weekend's double cake-tasting ended well with a cake design/decision and bakery booking. Michael and I started at J & S Watkins on Route 9 in Clifton Park. We had a 10 AM appointment with the cake-maker. She was very informative and professional. We left with a "sample cake", which was a box with a slice of every cake flavor they offer. Mike and I already knew we wanted carrot cake, but then we started considering having more than one flavor to offer our guests. We brought the "sample" cake to my Parents' house and tried the carrot cake with cream cheese filling and white cake with lemon filling with my Mom. Yummy. Then all three of us went to Coccadott's on Central Ave. in Albany for an 11:30 AM appointment. We tasted their carrot cake and lemon cake. We were able to try both butter cream frosting and fondant. (Fondant isn't that bad folks, it's marshmallowy) Their lemon cake was awesome! It had a raspberry filling and was so flavorful. After some discussion on the price and the details, we decided to go with them. We found both bakeries to be pretty similar in their pricing. Here is our final decision:

A 4-tier, hexagon cake, bottom two layers carrot cake with cream cheese filling, top two layers lemon cake with raspberry filling, entire cake frosted in butter cream, smoothed out, beaded frosting around the base of each tier, periwinkle frosting scrolling decoration banded around each tier, room on the top for the cake topper that our florist, DK, will be providing, made to match the wedding flowers. Yay!

Flower Girl No. 2: √ (check) !

2009-04-13T08:50:00.004-04:00

Adelaide, daughter of Bridesmaid Lydia will be Flower Girl No. 2. Adelaide is another little girl who has kept no secret in her desire to play the role. She gladly accepted and immediately retrieved her old, white shoes from the closet to see if they still fit. She was the Flower Girl for her Mother's wedding a few years ago. Adelaide and Flower Girl No. 1, Rebecca, will make terrific Flower Girls. They are the same age.

Simple Wedding Bands

2009-04-09T20:44:00.008-04:00

$240
$600
$245

$175

Dinnerware Find

2009-04-09T19:35:00.011-04:00

I found 2 more dinnerware sets that each fall into my interest categories. This is by notNeutral and is called "Season" and is made of porcelain. The designer offers registries from the website and they have several other things things for the home.

This is CB2's "Morocco" pattern. CB2 is Crate & Barrel's modern, more affordable version. Maybe I'm being too modern...

Dinnerware Comparison

2009-04-02T18:47:00.013-04:00

My latest Internet ~~obsession~~ distraction is dinnerware. I plan on registering... somewhere. My Fiancé doesn't share my advocacy of registries. He has warily given me sole decision-making authority in our registry since he wants to remain in opposition to its existence. I've begun browsing dinnerware online. I figure I'll start with dinnerware and choose a place to register based on that decision. I've looked at the the following websites: Crate & Barrel, Macy's, Sears, Kohl's, Pottery Barn, Pier 1 Imports, Target, Boscov's, JCPenney, West Elm, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Have I missed anyplace that I should consider?

There are two dinnerware 'themes' I've been drawn to so far: a natural tree/branch design and a sort of damask design. I've found a high end and low end version of each. Check it out:

The set on the left is Porcel's Tree Porcelain Dinnerware 5 Piece Place Setting costing $95. The set on the right is Target's Autumn Branch 16 Piece Dinnerware Set for $54. BIG price difference.

Here's another:

The set on the left is Target's Medallion 16 Piece Dinnerware Set for $45. The set on the right is Lenox's Batik 4 Piece Dinnerware Set costing $100. Again, BIG price difference. I understand that the materials and quality make all the difference, but still...

There is a 12 place set of family china that my Mother and Aunt split but are considering passing down to me. It is Syracuse China's "Beverly":
So, the other dinnerware I'm going to register for would essentially be for everyday use. How many casual place settings should one register for?

Roberto Coin

2009-04-01T16:31:00.002-04:00

Roberto Coin Stack Rings

Dresses Galore!

2009-03-21T12:47:00.005-04:00

It's been a big week. I tried-on and officially took ownership of my wedding gown on Tuesday. It's still at the store (Yvonne's Bridal Gallery). I figured their storage was safe and convenient. It fits pretty well. It will need to be hemmed slightly. The tummy is a little tight but I can keep working at losing a few more pounds. I still have 6 months to go so I'm not worried yet. The bust area will need some alterations or added padding.

The bridesmaids dresses also arrived yesterday! What a pleasant surprise - 6 weeks early! Neatly packaged in a cardboard box came 6 periwinkle dresses with sunset orange sashes from Aria Bridesmaid. They are the perfect color. The periwinkle is more blue than purple, which is what I wanted. Soon I will gather the girls to distribute the dresses. Exciting!

Back From Vaca - Wedding Planning Commence!

2009-03-13T13:12:00.019-04:00

Michael and I had a great mini vacation. We visited Albuquerque, Taos, and Santa Fe. We even stopped at 4 New Mexico breweries. We returned late Tuesday night and now it's Friday already. One of our favorite attractions was the Albuquerque Zoo. Here is a photo of us in front of the flamingos:While we were in Taos, I made sure we stopped by Artwares Contemporary Jewelry. I knew they carried K. Brunini Jewelry and I wanted to see if they had anything in her "Twig" Collection (see blog post from 12/26/08). They did not. But they did have another ring I was fond of. The designer is Roberto Coin. Here is what it looked like: As far as wedding planning goes, there has been progress on the floral front. I met with Floral Designer, Douglas Koch. I first met him at a wedding show in Catskill in 2008. A few weekends ago, we met for several hours at his home office in Athens, NY. I loved his ideas, his breadth of knowledge, and obvious experience. Since then we have been negotiating and tweaking a proposed contract. I will keep you posted. The highlights of the wedding and reception floral design are: hydrangeas, roses, grape vine, and burlap!

Time For A Break

2009-03-02T16:03:00.007-05:00

Wedding planning is progressing nicely. However... it's time for a break. Plus, winter is lasting way too long (like it always does). Mike and I are going on a 5-day mini-vacation this Thursday to New Mexico! I've never been to the Southwest before. We're flying from Albany, NY to Albuquerque, NM. We will be renting a car and driving around Albuquerque, and then Taos and Santa Fe as well. Although Albuquerque will be much warmer, the other two cities won't be much better since they have higher elevations. I plan on keeping my eyes open for jewelry stores and galleries that might contain the perfect wedding bands for me and/or Michael. But that's the extent of any wedding anything. Yesterday I went to a bridal show in Saratoga called the 'Star and Moon Bridal Show'. I went with my good friend who is also engaged. It was a bit overwhelming, but fun nonetheless. I was mostly in search of entertainment, probably a DJ. There were many at the show and I made an effort to meet and talk to each one. Whew! I also OD'ed on cake.

Save-The-Dates

2009-02-23T16:07:00.007-05:00

As I said in a previous post: "I quasi-designed, ordered, and have already received the save-the-date postcards from VistaPrint. VistaPrint is a huge online print shop that enables self-service design, proofing and ordering via the web<-- how easy is that? They were fun to make, ridiculously inexpensive and ready for distribution after the Holidays."

...after the Holidays... I finally sent our save-the-date postcards last week. I used the latest available postcard stamps: Tropical Fruit! I think they went very well with the fun theme of the postcards. I contemplated printing the addresses on labels, but decided to hand-write them instead. After I mailed them I felt a wave of excitement and officialdom. Here is what the front of the postcard looks like:

Not that it is at all obvious, but Mike and I went for a 'water' theme with the photos we chose. The first photo is of me at Lake Taghkanic State Park at our annual Fall Camping Trip this past October. The second photo is of Mike and me on Venice Beach, CA during sunset in November 2007. The third photo is of Mike preparing a hook while fishing in Canada Lake at our friend's camp this past August.

My Father's a Philatelist

2009-02-03T15:23:00.009-05:00

A Philatelist is a specialist in Philately: one who collects or studies postage stamps. My Father has been a Philatelist since his adolescence. It is a major hobby of his. It was not his career, but it probably could have been. My parents' house even has a "stamp room". Well, with such a special talent in my immediate family, I wanted utilize it somehow in the wedding. I've seen a trend in bridal magazines and wedding blogs for the invitations to be mailed using vintage postage stamps. I asked my Dad if he was up for the task and of course he gladly accepted. He is in the process of acquiring old 'Love' stamps. I can't wait to see what he gets! Here are some inspiring photos of wedding invitations with vintage stamps:

Wedding Shoes

2009-01-31T16:24:00.011-05:00

Today I began to think about what I want to wear on my feet for the big day. I googled "wedding shoes" and within 2 minutes I was bored. They all looked the same to me. I've noticed a trend these days in brides wearing funky or colorful shoes. I presume that 99% of the time the shoes are covered by your wedding dress and nobody can see them. The way I see it, the shoes' biggest job is to provide a photo opp and to give comfort and confidence to the bride. You might know by now that my favorite color is blue. What about a pair of blue shoes? They could also fill the role of "something blue" (if I even pay attention to that, we'll see). The other consideration I must keep in mind is my height. I'm already a tiny smidgen taller than the groom, so I'd prefer not to wear heels. I also thought about the weather and temperature on my wedding day. Late September could still be sandals or open-toed weather - but it doesn't have to be... So many considerations! Don't forget that blue is one of the wedding colors too. Well, I found a few pairs of flat, funky, blue shoes on eBay that all caught my fancy. What do you think?

Betsey Johnson AFD

Jessica Simpson

Mia

Style & Co.

Back On Track

2009-01-28T15:57:00.009-05:00

The bridesmaids dresses have been ordered. Whew! After months of browsing, researching, looking, asking for advice/opinions, thinking, searching, imagining, and visualizing, I have made my decision. My bridesmaids will all be wearing Aria dresses of their choosing. Here are the 5 dresses that the 6 ladies decided on:

The color of the dresses will be periwinkle and the fabric silk shantung. Each dress will also have a removable sash in sunset gold. I wanted to ensure that the sash is detachable so that if they ever decide to wear their dresses again, a clashing orange accessory wont hinder them (I mean, come on, blue and orange?).

We're ahead of schedule. The dresses take about 3 months to be custom-made and shipped. Sometime in May we will all get together to try-on the dresses and determine if any alterations are needed.
Aria dresses are made in the U.S.A.! In all my research, I have found the Aria dresses to be the most affordable custom bridesmaids dresses available. The aria website is easy-to-use and very informative. My favorite part of the website is the album of real weddings and all the bridesmaids that have come before us.

Dress Distraction

2009-01-27T16:03:00.005-05:00

I bought myself a new dress. Why? Because sometimes I can't pass-up a J.Crew final sale and all this looking at bridesmaids dresses has made me yearn for a fun, formal dress for myself (wedding dress not included). I will need a nice, summery, formal dress to wear at a wedding this July. So, this was perfect! Can you tell I'm just trying to justify my purchase? Plus, my Matron of Honor hooked me up with her sweet teacher discount to further reduce the dress price. The dress has arrived and it fits perfectly (and looks great too):

French Silk Twill Vionette Tank Dress in 'Key Lime'

Regular Price $295. Andrea's Awesome Acquisition Price $73.

Bride Wars

2009-01-20T15:26:00.009-05:00

On Sunday night I went to the movies with 2 of my girlfriends. We saw 'Bride Wars' starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. It was certainly a wedding-themed movie, and I enjoyed it given my current state of mind.

Yesterday I ordered new curtains for the Living Room from West Elm. They are called 'Medallion Window Panels' and I got the colors Flax and Ivory.

New Lights!

2009-01-19T10:57:00.013-05:00

I discovered a great website for buying lighting: CSN Lighting. It is part of CSN Stores, an e-commerce company based in Boston with over 200 online stores. Yesterday I spent several hours browsing and selecting the perfect new lights for our house. The search and browse functions on the website were extremely helpful and easy-to-use. I don't think I've ever had more success finding exactly what I'm looking for online and at prices I could handle. It started out with just a new light for living room and quickly expanded to new lights for both bathrooms and the kitchen. I got free shipping and there was no sales tax! Check out our new lights:

Kenroy Home - For the Living Room

Progress Lighting - For the Upstairs Bathroom

Progress Lighting - X's 2, For the Kitchen

Maxim Lighting - For the Downstairs Bathroom

Caterer: √ (check) !

2009-01-14T09:40:00.006-05:00

Tuesday we booked Nicole's Catering for the Reception. Woo-hoo! That's a biggie to cross off the list. As it stands now (and we can still change our minds), there will be a cocktail hour and a sit-down dinner. Dinner will be in the barn. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be in the "birch area" outside of the barn. If it's raining on the big day, we can do everything in the barn: ceremony, cocktails, and dinner.

This is just a fun photo I came across on the Internet

Flower Girl No. 1: √ (check) !

2009-01-12T14:40:00.009-05:00

Your first question is probably 'No. 1?' Yes, I say 'No. 1' because I anticipate 2 to 3 Flower Girls. Details to follow. You see with Flower Girls, you need parental approval. Her Mother was present and agreeable to the proposition. So today I officially declare Rebecca Boyle (cousin of the groom) to be Flower Girl No. 1. It was no secret to me that this little girl was interested in the position. She recently sent me a stack of drawings depicting bridesmaids, flower girls, and even a ring bearer all adorned in the wedding-appropriate orange and blue attire. Here is my favorite:

Drawing by Rebecca

Chandeliers

2009-01-08T21:31:00.009-05:00

Here's my new excitement: chandeliers! No, not the crystal, sparkly, grandiose kind... the antiquely-looking, barn-appropriate kind. Yesterday's blog-post with the photo of the decorated barn features such chandeliers. Here are some more inspiring photos:

I've asked one of the caterers we're considering to find out about pricing and options. Does anyone have any ideas on how we could borrow or rent antique chandeliers (without breaking the bank)?

Barn Decorated

2009-01-05T22:31:00.004-05:00

So, the Buhrmaster Barn could use some fancying up. Here is my favorite photo of a barn decorated for a wedding:

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T23:01:00.001-05:00

This is the year we get married! Happy New Year! Happy 2009!

Wedding Ring - Yes or No?

2008-12-26T14:45:00.018-05:00

Before I was engaged, I never imagined having more than one ring. And since I have an extraordinary engagement ring, how could I ask for anything more? When Michael and I went to the Jeweler about a year ago to have the engagement ring made, I told him that he could place the prongs of the diamond all the way down the sides of the band since I would not be wearing another ring next to it. This design keeps the diamond lower so that it doesn't stick up and out too far. This also means that a wedding band/ring would never be exactly flush next to the engagement ring. I don't want to wear two rings on one finger. I feel that in doing so, neither ring would get the proper attention that it deserves. Plus, it would be a bit bulky I think. However, I'm not opposed to wearing my engagement ring on one ring finger and a wedding ring on another ring finger. Currently, I wear my engagement ring on my left ring finger, as tradition dictates. I'm thinking about moving the engagement ring to my right ring finger after I'm married and wearing a wedding band on my left ring finger. My loving fiance thinks I should stick with my original plan and just wear my engagement ring on my left ring finger forever. I'm really drawn to these rings though - they're so natural, simple, and organic looking (and affordable).

K. Brunini's "Twig" Collection

Beth Cyr's Love Knot Tree Bark Ring

Beth Cyr's Tree Bark Ring

X-Mas Is Over, Now It's Time for Bridesmaids Dresses

2008-12-26T12:31:00.012-05:00

J.Crew has "extra 20% off final sale" sales frequently, and they're having one right now. I thought I had definitively made up my mind that I was going to get the bridesmaids dresses from Aria Dress, but J.Crew keeps tempting me otherwise. One of the biggest challenges I have found so far, is finding bridesmaids dresses in both blue AND orange (or variations thereof). Aria Dress has over 50 silk shantung colors to choose from, including several blues and oranges. I had Aria Dress send me fabric swatches. I have 'Periwinkle', 'Light Blue', 'Sunset Gold', 'Burnt Orange', 'Royal', 'Midnight', and 'Paprika'. My two favorites are 'Periwinkle' and 'Sunset Gold'. Aria Dress dresses are also made in U.S.A. (That's hard to find in the wedding industry). They are also reasonably priced. Today, at J.Crew.com I found these:
These dresses are called "Berry-trim Strapless Nathalie Dress" and "Berry-trim Nathalie Tank Dress". These two awesome colors are "deep persimmon" and "bright peacock". I can imagine my bridal party wearing any combination of these 4 dresses and looking spectacular! Of course since these dresses are on sale, their sizes and quantities are limited. I don't know about any of you, but I've had problems ordering from J.Crew's website because they don't seem to keep their availability up-to-date. About a month ago, I ordered myself a party dress from J.Crew.com. I put in my credit card info and the order went through fine. 24 hours later I received an email notifying me that my order had been cancelled since they didn't have the dress in my size. I went back to the website and sure enough, it was still listed as available. <-- What's up with that?! That's my hesitation with J.Crew...
What do you think?

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T11:51:00.004-05:00

Last night for Christmas Eve, Michael and I rented a couple of movies: 'Elf' (one of my FAVORITE Christmas movies) and 'Step Brothers' (since we were already in a Will Ferrell mood). We made a boboli pizza and snuggled up on the couch watched movies for hours. Today we are just hanging out at home. Unfortunately we ran out of propane. I had just enough hot water for a quick shower but now we have no hot water or use of the stove until tomorrow. Bummer. I have the TV on in the background with 24 hours of 'A Christmas Story' on TBS playing. We will go over to Mike's Mom's house in a little while. I hope you are spending this day just the way you want. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party Success!

2008-12-22T12:25:00.020-05:00

Saturday was our Christmas Party. Approximately 30 of our friends came. Mike and I served 2 out of 3 batches of our homebrew. We weren't satisfied with the 'American Red Ale' since it lacked carbonation. The 'German Lager' was well-liked and the 'Hop-Nog' appears to be gone too. People drank several varieties of wine, Bailey's, gin and tonics, rum and cokes, and many different beers that the guests brought. There were lots of great snacks, sweets, and dips. Most people dressed according to the "semi-formal" dress code I instilled. This was my 5th Christmas Party, and every year the majority of people love dressing up. Here is a look at the party through history:

2003

2004

2005

2006

No party in 2007 [I lived in a studio apartment.] :-(

2008

Thank you friends for coming. We both had a great time and we hope you did too! Merry Christmas!!!

Photographer: √ (check) !

2008-12-15T16:44:00.005-05:00

Keira Lemonis will be our wedding photographer. Her work is fun, creative, and artistic - just what I'm looking for (i.e., there will be no mid-air shots of me and my bridal party jumping).

NOT a photo by Keira Lemonis

I must admit I pondered the photographer selection for several weeks, but I'm confident and excited to have Keira booked. Mike and I will even have an engagement photo session, probably in the spring.

I called Yvonne's Bridal Gallery last week to check on the status of my dress. It is on schedule to arrive in late February 2009. I will do a full review of Yvonne's after I get the dress in my possession.

I quasi-designed, ordered, and have already received the save-the-date postcards from VistaPrint. VistaPrint is a huge online print shop that enables self-service design, proofing and ordering via the web<-- how easy is that? They were fun to make, ridiculously inexpensive and ready for distribution after the Holidays.

Crimson Christmas Dress

2008-12-03T14:25:00.009-05:00

I decided several weeks ago that I would buy myself a new semi-formal dress after I could no longer fit into three of my old favorites. One of the old dresses I gave to my [smaller] friend Lydia while the other two ended up at the church thrift shop. So, now I only own one semi-formal winter dress and I just wore it to our friends Paul & Kelli's Wedding last month. Therefore, I needed something new [that fit me] for the upcoming Christmas Party Mike and I are hosting later this month. I have been looking at dresses online for weeks and was close to acquiring a new one from jcrew.com. But, 24 hours after I placed my order, J.crew cancelled it and claimed they were sold out. Then I found a dress I liked at anntaylor.com. But, since I've never bought/worn/seen a dress from there, I was hesitant about taking the risk with an online order. I even browsed some department store websites like JCPenney, Sears, Macy's, and New York & Company. Last night I went to Colonie Center to browse. I wanted to check out a couple of dresses I saw online at Sears and New York & Company. The Sears dress was in stock, available in all sizes and drastically on sale. I tried it on. It fit. It looked nice. It was missing something. It was missing oomph, va-va-voom, glamour... Here it is:I decided to keep looking. If I didn't find anything better, I would come back to Sears and buy it. I went to Boscov's next. I did try a few dresses on but they were all too old-looking and frumpy. Next I went to New York & Company - one of my favorite stores for buying work clothes. They aren't known for having or selling many dresses, but they do feature a few each season. Sure enough, they had a killer, red dress on a mannequin near the front of the store. I thought to myself "Those dresses always look better on the model or mannequin than in real life, but what the hell?" I tried it on. "Whoa, can I pull this off?" was my first thought. The strapless dress had some difficulty staying up with my modest chest. But I figured with a couple of small alterations and the right bra, it was doable. Other than that, it fit me well and I grew fond of it. I pretended to greet my imaginary guests in the mirror of my dressing room. It worked. I loved it. I bought it. It was on sale AND I opened a store credit card in order to save an additional 20%. Check it out:

Where are the Leftovers?

2008-12-02T11:48:00.019-05:00

The turkey was delicious; no children cried; nothing was broken; the messes have been cleaned-up by the dogs' tongues = Thanksgiving Success! The weirdest part of the day for me was rubbing the raw turkey. Mike and I ate leftovers on Friday and Saturday and now they're practically gone. I always imagined we would be cooking/eating turkey for weeks after the big Holiday, but no dice!

Mike and I both had Black Friday off from work. My Mom, Dad, Aunt, and Friend came down from Albany to tour our house and we all went out to lunch in Windham. We ate at "Michael's Diner" (no relation - coincidence). Yum! On Friday night, Mike and I bottled our German Lager and transferred our I.P.A. to a secondary fermenter. Confused? (We're homebrewers.) On Sunday we started a batch of American Red Ale. Come to our Christmas Party and you can try all three!

On Saturday, Mike and I moved into our new bedroom. Now we slumber in the house's master bedroom. We celebrated by going to Albany and boosting our struggling economy. We bought a love seat at Old Brick to match our living room couch. Unfortunately, it probably won't be here by the party. We picked up a new beer kit and fermenting supplies at Hennessy Homebrew Emporium in Rensselaer. We got curtain rods for our new bedroom at Target. We bought white fabric at Jo-Ann's for curtains. Mike's Mother is currently sewing them for us. We bought several hardware supplies at Lowe's. The evening ended with a fun, delicious hibachi dinner at Hiro's Japanese Restaurant on Central Avenue in Albany. Mike and I were seated at our very own, private hibachi table. We both had shrimp and lobster hibachi. Mike drank a sake martini and I had a Kirin Ichiban (beer). Our hibachi chef was friendly and entertaining (as always). We had a great time.

On Sunday, our friends Kristi & Liam came over with their dog, Kody, for a play-date with our dogs (mostly Daisy). We also watched the NY Giants football game and chatted about our upcoming nuptials. Despite a few scuffles (between the dogs, not the humans), we all had a fun time.

Phew! The long, active weekend is over and I'm tired.

Thanksgiving Eve

2008-11-26T12:22:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I will be cooking my very first turkey. Michael and I are having his Mom and Sister (Loren) and her Family over for Thanksgiving Dinner. Our modest dining room will hold 5 adults and 2 children. I have done extensive online research on turkey roasting. I chose a recipe from the Food Network website. For the main seasoning, I acquired 'Herbes de Provence' from the Albany Co-Op. Mike will be making the mashed potatoes and I will be preparing the frozen corn and Pillsbury crescent rolls (whoopty-do). I keep worrying that our turkey will turn out like the one in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Oh dear.I'm sure it will turn out fine. Just in case, I have plenty of beer and wine to numb the void. At least there will be Rice Krispies Treats for dessert (my fav!). Mike is very excited at the thought of leftover turkey and all the things we can make from it. For that reason, we got a large, 16 lb. bird. Good luck to everyone out there who is cooking - may your turkeys be moist and your families sane!

Hide Your Children

2008-11-20T14:46:00.012-05:00

No, I don't have any children, but a friend of mine does... muh-ha-ha-ha! Luckily my good friend Lydia (or BFF for short) has no misgivings in my interaction with her children. I always have fun with them and I think they have fun too. A couple of weekends ago, Lydia and her daughter Adelaide came over for part 2 of our Anne of Green Gables marathon. We watched 'Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel' on DVD. Lydia and I shared tears by the end of the movie. Adelaide sat in between us and gazed up at each of us wondering why we were crying. We ate chips, pizza, and ice-cream and all slept in the living room. It was a blast!

Adelaide and Me

Here is a photo of Filo and me at the 6th Annual Fall Camping Trip in October at Lake Taghkanic State Park. [What a great influence I am.]

Me and Filo

Interview with the Photographer(s)

2008-11-18T15:58:00.005-05:00

Even though I'm not done with the the caterer vendor selection, I'm ready to start the next vendor selection - photographer(s)! There are so many to choose from! Luckily I have recommendations from friends and the photographers' creative websites to browse through. My former roommate, Nicole, got married a couple of months ago and absolutely loved her photographers. They were Paul Grupp & Brenda Tompkins of Upstate Photographers. I met them last night at a local Starbucks and discussed with them my vision and plans and options and budget. They told me a little bit about themselves and their philosophy. I find their work beautiful and perfectly aligned with my vision. I love how they photograph all the wonderful details of the day.

Tonight I will meet Kiera Lemonis of Kiera Lemonis Photography at a local Panera Bread. Her website is very creative and fun and the work she has done so far looks great! I do not know anybody she's worked for but I'm sure she can provide references if I ask. stay tuned.

Higgins & Roche Wedding

2008-10-27T14:22:00.008-04:00

This past Saturday was the wedding of Paul Roche and Kelli Higgins in Skaneateles, NY. It was a perfect day, sunny and brisk. The ceremony was held at St. Mary's of the Lake and the reception was at the Skaneateles Country Club.

Paul and Kelli actually met at my Pimps and Hos Party in June 2005. Oh, how far we have come.
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Roche! Enjoy your honeymoon in Arizona.

Couple Time

2008-10-14T11:47:00.039-04:00

Ahh. The holiday weekend is over and it was a great one! Michael and I got a lot done and had tons of fun too. Friday night we rented a DVD and ordered a pizza. We watched M. Knight Shyamalan's "The Happening". I would describe this movie as an apocalyptic thriller, borderline horror film. IMBD states, "It's a paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity." We both really liked it. I knew it affected me when I had a nightmare about it Sunday night. Freaky.

Saturday morning I slept in. It was glorious. Then I went outside and took photographs of the dogs frolicking in the backyard. Check it out: The top dog is Shadow. The middle dog is Tyson. The bottom dog is Daisy.

Saturday afternoon, Mike and I went to a 50th Birthday/Housewarming party at Mike's Accountant's house in Round Top. Mike and the company he works for helped build her brand new dream house. This party was extravagant! It was catered by Mod Gourmet Cafe in Catskill. There was a chocolate fountain, a pumpkin-painting table, luminaries lining the long driveway, open bar, a huge heated tent, and flower arrangements in big pumpkins. I even indulged in the "Bouncy Bounce". We were some of the last guests to leave (who can blame us?). One the way home we spontaneously decided to stop at the Blackthorne Resort for a beer. Well, of course we had to go to the Massacre Mansion while we were there. The Massacre Mansion is the on-site haunted house that the Blackthorne Resort hosts every year [since 1997]. This was my fifth straight year attending. My group of friends used to go to the Massacre Mansion and the Blackthorne Resort during our Annual Fall Camping Trips (in the three years we went to North South Lake in Haines Falls, NY). Although we don't go as a group anymore, I've been able to attend since I now live 10 minutes away. "Michael the Irish Bartender" was there and all three of us downed an "Irish Car Bomb" [for old time's sake].

On Sunday, Mike and I arose early (much to my hangover's dismay) and drove to East Rutherford, NJ for the 1:00 PM New York Jets football game. We arrived several hours early and tailgated in the parking lot. Mike successfully negotiated with a T-shirt vendor in the parking lot: a tie-dye T-shirt of Brett Favre (for me) for a sausage sandwich, a beer, and $7. This was my first Jets game. Mike was giddy with excitement at seeing his favorite NFL team. The New York Jets beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-14. Yay! Check out the progress on the new stadium.

Monday was a packed day of household chores and errands. Mike and I went to East Berne and Greenville and drove through Westerlo too. The foliage was at its best. I gave Tyson a trim and bath in the afternoon. I also drove up to the Windham area to get water from a mountain spring. I brought home 9 gallons. I took a relaxing bubble bath. Then I drew a bath for Mike and he did the same. As we ate an omelet dinner, we started to watch the New York Giants game. After some police presence on our street regarding our neighbors, we went to bed.

Caterer Interview

2008-10-08T10:31:00.022-04:00

Yesterday I met for the first time with a potential caterer. I brought my Mom with me and we drove to the caterer's office/facility in Albany. Although we had to wait almost 15 minutes past our appointment time, we were offered (and gladly accepted) cold drinks (apple juice and diet soda). I had prepared a list of questions based on online guidance and personal preferences and concerns. Our planner, Kathy, was polite, knowledgeable, and patient. This catering company has done many weddings at the Pruyn House before and Kathy was very familiar with the layout and grounds. She had many good ideas and advice for us. For the purpose of Kathy preparing us a detailed proposal, my Mom and I picked-out specific menu items and food selections. This caterer, if hired, would be able to take care of the tent rental, linens, dining supplies, and even the cake. To check out Classé Catering, click here.

Now I am waiting for them to prepare our proposal and e-mail it to me. I'm prepared for a high price. My parent(s) and I plan on meeting with a few more caterers to fully research our options.

My old apartment-mate, Nicole, married her long-time boyfriend, Pat, two weekends ago here in the Capital District. From the photos I've seen (and I've seen hundreds!), it looks like it was a beautiful day and lovely event. Check out Nicole's blog for photos and info.

I love Nicole's choice of hydrangeas, roses, and seeded eucalyptus.

Photo by Upstate Photographers

Girls' NightS Out

2008-09-29T08:16:00.017-04:00

I have one weekend to go in the 3-week streak of fun, girlie weekends. This past weekend was Kelli's Bachelorette Party and the weekend before was the New Kids On The Block concert in Montréal, Canada.

The trip to Montréal to see the New Kids was awesome! Katie and I drove up the Northway and picked up Kelly in Keeseville, where she left her car at a friend's house. When we arrived in downtown Montréal, we checked into the Residence Inn and strolled Peel Street for a few minutes before choosing our dinner destination. We ate at Carlos & Pepes, a Mexican Restaurant and Bar. Delicious.

After a good night's rest, we spent the day shopping. We covered a lot of territory with street shops and the underground mall system. Each of us made a purchase (or two or three). At afternoon's end we headed back to the hotel to relax before the big show. Katie and I went to the grocery store and bought beer and brie to enjoy back at our room.

We did a NKOTB mad libs in my old activity book and pinned old NKOTB buttons to ourselves. We were ready for a nostalgic night of pop music and screaming. We reached the Bell Centre right at 8 PM. We had just enough time to grab a beer and find our seats when Natasha Bedingfield came on stage as the opening act. She sang well and was a fun performer but our anticipation was growing stronger and stronger for the quintet we know and love. Finally the New Kids came on stage. Their entrance was dramatic and exciting. We screamed our heads off the entire show. To read a great review of the concert from a Montréal newspaper, click here.

This past Saturday night was Kelli's Bachelorette Celebration. Like the chic woman she is, the night mirrored such a theme. Seven of us met out on Lark Street and had dinner at "A Taste of Greece". After a delicious meal and several bottles of wine, we crossed the street to the "Wine Bar & Bistro". We sat outdoors on their back patio surrounded by dim lights, fountains, and foliage. There we enjoyed several more bottles of wine (and candy necklaces). One of us had to leave and then the bar closed, so six of us then walked down the street to DeJohn's. We ensured Kelli always had her favorite drink in hand, Bombay Sapphire & Tonic. Kelli briefly indulged in adorning herself with the silly bachelorette accessories we offered her. As the time approached closing hour, Kelli and her friend called it a night. Then, the four of us scurried to the Lionheart where we had to beseech for one more drink. Even though we missed "last call", the bartender gave in to our polite and persistent request for "one more". By 4 AM we were quickly finishing our last drink and being corralled towards the door.

There will be more girl fun this weekend when several of us head out to the Finger Lakes Region of New York for Kelli's Bridal Shower and wine tasting this weekend.

Wedding Dress: √ (check) !

2008-09-19T10:36:00.011-04:00

[In spite of a possible copyright infringement...] Last night I "said yes to the dress!" After weeks of grueling shopping (not really, it was fun!), I have made my decision. I choose the 2Be Bride dress from Yvonne's (it's not currently on the Designer's website, so you won't be able to see it). It was a tad over my originally intended price range, but (prepare for the cliché excuse now) "hey, you only get married once." I love this dress! It has no beads, no sequins, and no lace. It's a mermaid cut and it's symmetrical. It's exactly what I wanted. It will take several months to arrive so I can relax awhile and move onto other wedding matters.

This weekend I'm going to Montreal, Quebec with Katie and Kelly (also in the bridal party), to see a reunion concert of the New Kids On The Block (NKOTB). When the NKOTB were in their prime, we were in the 5th grade and at the perfect age to gush over these semi-talented teenage icons. This concert will be my first NKOTB concert (I was too young in 1990(according to my parents)). Tomorrow night will be a blast from the past and a riot! I predict the boys will sound even better than I remember (especially after a few tasty beverages). The concert is at the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. We reserved a hotel room for the weekend and will be sure to spend "girl time" shopping, dining, drinking, and giggling.

Dress Shopping Part IV

2008-09-15T16:03:00.010-04:00

I'm sure you're pretty tired of reading about my dress shopping by now. [I know I'm tired of going dress shopping.] So I'll be brief. This past Saturday I went wedding dress shopping with my future Mother-In-Law, Dawn. We went to a local shop called Hillary's Bridal Boutique in Cairo, NY. They did not have any dresses that fit my criteria. I still tried-on a few dresses anyway. I browsed their selection of bridesmaids dresses as well. We stayed for about an hour and even chatted with the owners for awhile (who were very nice).

On Sunday, my Friend/Bridesmaid, Lydia and her Daughter, Adelaide came over to watch 'Anne of Green Gables' on DVD. We had been meaning to get together and watch it for almost a year now. Adelaide had never seen 'Anne of Green Gables' before and Lydia and I were super-excited to show it to her and see if the magic we experienced as little girls would be bestowed upon her. Maybe she was still a little young for Anne, but I think she will fondly remember the sweet story of the little red-haired orphan girl in Prince Edward Island. We only had time to watch the first movie of the trilogy, 'Anne of Green Gables' (almost 3 and a half hours). Next time we'll watch 'Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel', and then 'Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story'.

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe

'Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning' premieres at the Boston Film Festival tonight. I can't wait until it airs on US television!

Dress Shopping Part III

2008-09-11T13:28:00.008-04:00

This past Saturday I went wedding dress shopping with AnnMarie. One could say this was her first official duty as bridesmaid. I made an appointment at Annette Bridals Inc. on Central Avenue in Albany. AnnMarie and I arrived at 10:30 AM and were given instructions on how to proceed. We looked through several tightly-packed racks of dresses and pulled out the ones I wanted to try-on. Then AnnMarie took her place out in the front room on a chair while Annette and I went into a dressing room. Annette assisted me in putting on each gown (which were all several sizes too big) and adjusted the size with clothes pins to try to make the dresses fit better. I then came out into the front room to look in the mirror and have AnnMarie snap a photo (which was allowed here). Most of the dresses I tried-on were just too big to properly visualize how they would really look when the correct size was ordered and the proper alterations made.

Now is a good time to tell you what my wedding dress criteria is (and has been) since I began dress shopping a couple of months ago. "No beads, no sequins, no lace." I have stated this goal in every store I've been to. The reactions I've received have all been a little different and amusing. Mind you, I have been and are quite willing to try-on dresses that do contain one, some, or all of these characteristics. But, my initial hunch was correct that I prefer the dresses without. After trying-on a few different shapes of dresses, I knew pretty early that I also preferred a "mermaid cut" (aka "trumpet cut", aka "fishtail cut"). My last [and most ridiculous] criteria is that I want the dress to be symmetrical. When I first realized this, I remembered saying the same thing to the jeweler who was designing my engagement ring. [This also goes with the "even distribution" trend I aspire for while cooking and eating.]

Now back to dress shopping. AnnMarie and I lost track of time at Annette's and politely made our exit after 2 hours! I think Annette would have just kept bringing more and more dresses for me to try-on until I eventually bought one (or at least said I would). She was the most pushy of all the bridal shop consultants I've dealt with so far. She stated several times while we were there that she has "the biggest selection" of dresses in the area. And that she could order or alter any dress that way I wanted it (i.e. without crystal appliques or beading). She had a unique personality that mostly amused me, but one would have to be patient and open-minded to appreciate and patronize her store.

After Annette's, we rushed up the Northway to Juliet House of Brides in Latham for a 1:00 PM appointment. The parking lot was empty and the store was deserted. We were in and out in 10 minutes. I told the sales woman what I was looking for (with the caveat that I was still open-minded to other possibilities) and she basically told me that they don't have any dresses for me, but that we could look anyway. Their dress selection was much smaller than Annette's. I tried on 3 dresses in just a few minutes and was told to come back in January when "the new line comes out." [Yeah right, like I'm waiting until January!].

After our dress shopping extravaganza, AnnMarie and I went to My Place & Co. on Delaware Avenue in Delmar for a late lunch.

After three seperate dress outings and five different stores, there are two dresses that I have found that fit all my criteria. The first dress I tried-on from David's Bridal and the 2Be Bride dress from Yvonne's. I like the 2Be Bride dress a little bit more...

My Bridal Party is a Sextet

2008-09-08T08:36:00.012-04:00

I'm pleased to introduce you to my Bridal Party:

AnnMarie Hess is a Bridesmaid. She and I met in 1995 at Albany High School. Katie Meislahn is the Matron of Honor. Katie and I met in 1998 in our first year at SUNY Geneseo. Kelly Fuller is a Bridesmaid. Kelly and I met in 1998 in our first year at SUNY Geneseo. Loren Iorio is a Bridesmaid. Loren is Mike's Big Sister. She and I met in 2007. Amanda Boyle is a Bridesmaid. Amanda is Mike's Little Sister. She and I met in 2007. Lydia Pray is a Bridesmaid. She and I met in 2007 at the NYS Department of Civil Service.

I will feature a small biography on each lovely lady in future posts. Stay tuned.

Sports Fans Rejoice!

2008-09-05T15:02:00.010-04:00

Blue and Orange... our wedding colors. Most folks associate these colors with a popular sports team. We choose these colors simply because they are each a favorite of ours. Andrea = Blue. Michael = Orange. It's still too early to tell exactly which shades, hues, tints, and versions of each color will be used. Coincidentally, the City of Albany's (the Bride's hometown) colors are blue and orange too.

Tomorrow I'm going wedding dress shopping with Bridesmaid AnnMarie. Stay tuned for "Dress Shopping Part III".

Bridesmaids Requests

2008-09-02T12:49:00.011-04:00

I had Decadent Designs custom design and hand make these special bridal party cards for me. The designer/owner, Lynsey, used our wedding colors (blue and orange) in the creation of these beautiful cards. Her shop specializes in handmade invitations and correspondence that is not premade nor mass produced.

Outside: "Will you be my Bridesmaid?"

Inside: "My wedding day will be perfect with you by my side."

This morning I mailed these cards. Hopefully in a few days I will have my bridal party happily confirmed.

The Lucky Love Frog Worked For Me

2008-08-29T09:55:00.009-04:00

On February 14, 2007 there was a huge blizzard in the Northeast, especially in Upstate New York. I trudged home from work that day (Albany) in several feet of snow. I had planned an informal 'singles' outing at a local bar that night, but the snow cancelled the event. Instead, I was stuck in my apartment on Parkwood Street, with no Valentine. After a few hot cocoa and Bailey's cocktails, I ended-up calling my dear Aunt in Syracuse for a minor pity party. A few days later, I was very fortunate to receive this gift from my Aunt in the mail.

The tiny charm came with an explanation. "THE LUCKY LOVE FROG: This lucky frog charm will help you find the perfect man who's smart, handsome, and kind. Keep him close to your heart any day or night until you find your prince charming or at least Mr. Right!" I've always been a fan of frogs, so I receive frog-related gifts often. However, none have been so powerful and wonderful.

Michael and I met about 3 weeks later.

You can purchase your own 'Lucky Love Frog' at www.frogstore.com.

15 Breweries in 7 Days!

2008-08-27T11:23:00.011-04:00

I knew we could do it. My fiancé and I took a week-long vacation and leisurely travelled through 3 New England States (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont), visiting as many breweries as we could. We camped in State Parks every night but one, when we got a hotel room instead. The smallest brewery we visited was the Italian Oasis Restaurant & Brewery in Littleton, NH. The largest was Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack, NH. Mike's favorite stop was Milly's Tavern whereas mine were Anheuser-Busch and Mt. Washington.

Here's a list of the places we visited (in chronological order):

Maple Leaf Malt & Brewing Co., Wilmington, VT. This establishment no longer brews their own beer (so we didn't count it in the # of breweries).
Elm City Brewing Co., Keene, NH.
Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal, ME.
L.L.Bean Flagship Store, Freeport, ME.
Shipyard Brewing Co., Portland, ME.
Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub, Portland, ME.
Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME.
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant, Portland, ME. This is where we each ate a lobster dinner.
Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME.
Chiangmai Thai Restaurant, Portsmouth, NH.
Portsmouth Brewery, Portsmouth, NH.
Red Hook Ale Brewery, Portsmouth, NH.
Pawtuckaway State Park, Nottingham, NH.
Anheuser-Busch, Merrimack, NH.
Milly's Tavern, Manchester, NH.
Riverbank Motel, Lincoln, NH. This was our mid-week break from the great outdoors.
Woodstock Inn Brewery, North Woodstock, NH.
Mt. Washington Auto Road, Mt. Washington, Gorham, NH.
Italian Oasis Restaurant & Brewery, Littleton, NH.
Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT.
Otter Creek Brewing, Middlebury, VT.
Gifford Woods State Park, Killington, VT.
Long Trail Brewing Co., Bridgewater Corners, VT.
Seven Barrel Brewery, West Lebanon, NH.
Harpoon Brewery, Windsor, VT.
Madison Brewing Co., Bennington, VT.

We had such a great time. My gas-friendly Civic only needed fill-ups 3 times. I fed a worm to a huge frog. I tasted my first 'Pumpkinhead Ale' of the season. Mike caught 2 fish. We brought home a nice sampling of fine, craft beers and quickly divvied them up in the fridge. You see, I haven't had a beer in days. I've instilled a sort-of "detox" for myself. I'm almost back to 'normal' (whatever that is).

Calligraphy Course

2008-08-15T15:42:00.007-04:00

I have registered for a Calligraphy Course at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, NY. It starts in mid-September and meets once a week for four weeks. I've always been sort of interested in calligraphy and now I have a legitimate excuse to learn it. My potential skills could have a myriad of uses in the wedding world.

An interesting update on the country-of-origin of the 2Be Bride dress: I contacted the designer directly and inquired if the dress was in fact "made here (New Jersey) with foreign material". The answer is "no". It is made overseas. I'm trying to remember exactly what I was told at the bridal boutique since I was led to believe otherwise...

I'm off for vacation now for about 9 days. My fiancé and I are going on a brewery/camping tour of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. So, I won't be posting anything new until the week of August 24th. Stay tuned.

Dress Shopping Part II

2008-08-11T12:35:00.008-04:00

Saturday I went to the 'Bridal Gallery by Yvonne' (Latham, NY) with my Best Friend, Katie. This boutique was more upscale than the previous two I visited. We had our own room with a couch and changing area. My consultant, Linda, is a DEC retiree (for those of you who don't know, DEC = Department of Environmental Conservation = where I currently work). After a brief chat about my dress aspirations, Linda disappeared into a back room and emerged a minute later with a few dresses she thought I might like. She hit the nail on the head with the very first one. I loved it! It fit my stringent criteria perfectly and looked great. I tried on the rest of the gowns but then put the first one back on. That's when Linda brought me out of the room and into the boutique and put a veil on me. The other store employees gathered round and "oohed and ahhed" over me and the dress. (This is standard, they do this at every bridal store.) The price discussions ensued and I now I have more to think about.

After Yvonne's, we decided to go to David's Bridal right there and then and see if I could try on the dress from last weekend. I did. I still love that dress too. Now I love 2 dresses. Yvonne's doesn't allow photography. So, unfortunately I can't refer back to anything. The only picture of the dress I can find is on the designer's website (2Be Bride) and it is too small and doesn't really show the dress or its details well.

The country of origin is a factor in my wedding dress decision and other aspects of our wedding. I was told by Yvonne that the 2Be Bride dress is made domestically with some foreign material. I'm still researching where the David's Bridal dresses are manufactured...

Dress Shopping

2008-08-04T09:01:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I went wedding dress shopping for the first time. I was terrified. I thought I was going to feel unnatural and out-of-place. I was also afraid I wouldn't like any of the dresses. Boy, were my fears silly. I had a blast! I liked several dresses and loved one in particular. My future sister-in-law, Loren, was nice enough to accompany me and act as my advisor, photographer, and friend (Thanks Loren!).

We began our journey by fueling our bodies with lunch at the Wolf Road Diner. Then we went to David's Bridal in Albany for my 12:00 PM appointment. "Becca" was my "wedding services coordinator". She was very good. Loren and I picked out six dresses and the journey began. First, David's outfits you in a tummy-covering bra (that they of course want you to buy). Then I began trying on the dresses one by one. With no mirrors in the actual dressing room, you're forced to come out, stand on a little stage and display yourself for all to see. That's okay though. There are plenty of mirrors and people's faces to tell you how you really look. David's also outfits you in the appropriate slip. Then they put a veil, shoes, and jewelry on you. It's so cool to see how you might actually look on your wedding day (minus that special hair-do and make-up).

There was one dress that I loved! I had noticed it months ago in the catalogue. There are a couple of options for customizing/personalizing it for myself. I suppose I can't tell you much more or else it could ruin the surprise. They let me prance around in it for about an hour while trying on the different options and accessories and such.

After David's, we headed up the Northway to Saratoga Springs. We went to Danielle's Bridal Boutique. Their selection was not as vast but I still tried on several more dresses. There were a couple nice ones that I took note of. My skin was itchy and I was hot and tired by afternoon's end. I have a dozen or so great photographs to refer back to and lots to think about.

After a junk-food stop at the gas station, I dropped Loren off with her family and headed south to go home. I was so beat when I got home that I had to take a nap before dinner. Needless to say I was up late last night busily working around the house. My wedding dress journey is far from over. I must continue to see what's out there and weigh all my options. Where should I look next?

The Proposal

2008-08-01T13:47:00.015-04:00

On the morning of Tuesday, April 29, 2008, Michael proposed to me. I was getting ready for work, in the bathroom, putting on my make-up. He simply walked into the room and asked me to marry him. I said "yes," and he gave me the ring. It was wonderful.

Ahhh.. the ring.

Some history:

My Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother's Tombstone in Fulton, NY

The original ring was given to us by my Mother and Aunt. It was my Great Grandmother Margaret Hartnett's Anniversary ring. It contained an Old European cut diamond and was set in a simple 14 Kt. gold band. We decided to have it re-set into a new setting.

The original ring from my Family

I saved the photo below from a Catskill Mountain Region Guide from 2004. The top ring in the photo was my inspiration. We choose Hummingbird Jewelers in Rhinebeck, NY to make the ring because that was the jeweler who featured these rings.

The inspiration for my Engagement Ring (top ring), photograph by Hummingbird Jewelers

The new custom made ring is 18 Kt. white gold, centering the round Old European cut diamond weighing 1.72 ct., I color, VVS1 clarity, set in a 4-prong fishtail setting with channel set diamonds, G color, VS1-VS2 clarity, .30 ct. total weight, and sapphires, total weight .50 cts., alternating 2x2 with a double milgrained edge and hand engraved sides.

Ta-da!

Mark Your Calendar Folks!

2008-08-01T09:37:00.001-04:00

I think it's safe to say that our venue and date have been finalized. We are getting married on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Buhrmaster Barn on the grounds of the Pruyn House in Newtonville, NY - in the Town of Colonie. It's been a grueling search and it feels so great to have this decision made.

Buhrmaster Barn, Photo from the Town of Colonie Website

The Pruyn House is a beautifully restored home situated on 5 ½ acres that was purchased by the Town of Colonie In 1982. It was open to the public in 1985 as a historic and cultural center. There are ten outbuildings including the Buhrmaster Barn reconstructed on the grounds in 1987 and the Verdoy Schoolhouse which arrived in 1996. Other structures include a smokehouse, a potting shed, a woodshed/privy building, a carriage house, wellhouse and restroom facility. The lovely herb and flower gardens maintained by two garden clubs are a focal point for this site.

Gardens at the Pruyn House, Photo by Mike Carey

The Buhrmaster Barn was originally located along the Mohawk River where it was rebuilt in the late 1800's following a fire. Displaced from its original spot in 1911 when the Erie Barge Canal was built, it was moved to Troy-Schenectady Road. When condemned at that location in 1987 by the Federal Aviation Administration, it was moved to its present home at the Pruyn House. The barn features double doors, and is a lovely site for a summertime party when the gardens and the grounds are at their best.

Buhrmaster Barn, Photo by Mike Carey

To visit the Town of Colonie's website and read more information on the Pruyn House and Buhrmaster Barn, click here.

My First Blog Post

2008-07-31T15:58:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to my brand new blog. As this is my very first blog post, I will not inundate you with anything thought-provoking or controversial. I discovered blogs only a few short months ago when I became engaged. I stumbled upon countless wedding blogs and soon branched out to other subject blogs. I find blogging to be like a snow ball rolling faster and faster downhill and growing larger and larger. Enjoy!