Truly Blessed

This blog post is going to delve into my personal life a bit, something I don't do often on this blog. While Christmas is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving is right behind it and to me it truly marks the start of the holiday season. I love this time of year, it's the time that I count my blessings more than usual. This year I feel exceptionally thankful for all the wonderful things in my life. Just last week my youngest son had spinal surgery and as you can imagine, the last couple months have been a blur since we found out it was necessary. As much as I tried to stay busy to not think about it constantly, it was there in the back of my mind.

We're very fortunate to live where we do, so close to an amazing hospital where people from all over the world go to. But even though I had 100% faith in the doctors at Children's Hospital, it was by far one of the scariest experiences of my life. One of the hardest things for a mother to do is put the fate of their child in the hands of someone else. Seeing my son in pain and not being able to take it away was horrible. The only thing I could do was hold his hand, talk to him and try to calm him down all while trying to hold back the tears from feeling helpless. The surgery itself went great but he had some other issues arise during his hospital stay that luckily resolved themselves and we were able to come home on Monday.


I'm happy to say that now, only a week after surgery he is doing remarkably well and we are back in the comfort of our own home. So this year in addition to everything I'm normally thankful for, I"m also thankful for the amazing doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital Boston. It truly amazes me what modern medicine can do and how wonderfully they treat the patients and families. Liam managed to touch the hearts of everyone he met there, something he's done pretty much since he was born. At just 5 years old, he amazes me with his strength.

So tomorrow as I'm with my family I"ll be sure to count my blessings twice, if not more. I am so fortunate to have such amazing family & friends, 2 beautiful & healthy children, a business that I love and colleagues that started as business acquaintances and have blossomed into wonderful friendships. They all have been so unbelievably supportive throughout this. Their kind and encouraging words, prayers and genuine concern were what carried me through when I was feeling weak. It was probably the longest week of my life but wit the help of my family & friends, I got through it.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you're able to spend it with your loved ones. If you want to share what you're thankful for this year, I'd love to hear it.

Wedding Websites Worth Checking Out

I love surfing the web and coming across websites that are just super cool for one reason or another and being able to share them with all of you makes it fun.  In my opinion the following 5 websites fit into this super cool category.

Use Your Words Decorative Lettering creates vinyl lettering that can be easily applied and easily removed.  When I first saw their blog I loved what they had done for weddings!  This is a great, inexpensive way to ad a personalized and elegant touch to your day either on the linens, the dance floor, a window behind the head table or pretty much anywhere else you can think of.  Actually their designs are so versatile they can really be used for anything, just look at some samples of their work and you'll see what I mean. 

HCC Custom Wedding Garters are another great find!  Whether you plan on tossing your garter, keeping it as a memento or getting two so you can do both, you really need to check out this site.  If you're looking for something that you love and that really suits your personality, this is the place for you.  Whatever your thing may be you're sure to find it here, as there is just such a vast range of themes.  I was amazed at just how many there were. 
The next two websites are actually geared towards the groom.   After all, they're getting married too and perhaps they have questions of their own. But I'm sure they'd rather hear from other grooms versus go on a site that's dominated mostly by brides so here are a couple of safe havens for them.  The Plunge and Groom Groove are two great sites that have a variety of information for the groom being sure to cover pretty much any question they may have.  From picking out the ring and proposing all the way up to the wedding day itself, the answers to all their questions are here.

Lastly, and this is actually more for after the wedding, Frame the Date is a great way to turn a memorable date into a work of art.  You simply choose your frame, your numbers and add your images and that's it!  Very simple and so creative, it's sure to look amazing in your new home together.  These are also a great idea for babies or any other memorable occasion such as an anniversary or a graduation.

Add a Unique Touch with Carved Pumpkins

If you're looking to add a unique touch to your Fall wedding, baby shower or other event, carved pumpkins are a great way to do so.  Whether they're carved with your names, a monogram or a design, they make a great additon to any event.  They make a beautiful touch for the card table, the bar area, the entryway, or anywhere else you think it would look amazing.  Below are just a few of the ones I've done and I'm always willing to try something new and play around with different fonts and styles.  If this is something you're interested in having at your wedding or event, give me a call or send me an email, I'd love to talk to you! 

Back to Reality & Some Exciting News!

I'm getting back into the swing of things after a very relaxing, much needed and amazing family vacation to York Beach, Maine.  Every year we rent a cottage overlooking the ocean and within walking distance to downtown, the beach and the zoo.  This year was probably the most enjoyable one yet, perhaps because both of our families came up for a few days or simply because the older I get the more I realize how important it is to take time to unwind, just enjoy family and soak up these moments as much as I can.  It was also the first year that I did the absolute bare minimum where work is concerned, I actually let myself have a vacation. 

We did so much while we were up there, we shopped, went to the beach, the zoo, Fun-o-rama, mini golfing, bowling, a Red Sox game, walked around downtown and got ice cream at Brown's (if you haven't had it and you're ever at York Beach, you must get it! It's near the Nubble Lighthouse, between Short Sands & Long Sands Beach).  Overall the weather was great, there was only one day where we had a few showers but they were over quickly and didn't stop us from doing anything. 

It has been a really wonderful Summer and as sad as I am that it's coming to an end I am looking forward to Fall, the cooler weather and all that it brings - sweaters, boots, the changing leaves, apple & pumpkin picking and so much more.  It also means school is starting back up, however this year it's not just the boys that are going back to school, I am as well!  That's my exciting news.  This Summer I decided it was time for me to embark on a new journey, one that I've been wanting to do for awhile but the timing just wasn't right.  Well now it is.  I'm going back to school for graphic design which is something that has been an interest of mine for quite some time.  I love the versatility that graphic design brings to everything and I'm really looking forward to using it in many of the custom designs I already offer which will provide a much broader spectrum of options. I can't wait to offer some great new features, and as I go along and learn I'm sure I'll be playing around and sharing bits and pieces so stay tuned!

July Recap

I realize I'm way behind here, but the important thing is that I am in fact "here".

Last month, on probably the hottest, most humid day of the month, I coordinated a wedding at the Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence Rhode Island. Since I live in a town where we have a pretty great zoo, I've never actually been to the Roger Williams Zoo therefore didn't even know about this great venue. It's always nice to discover something new!

The ceremony took place in the bandstand behind the casino and overlooking a great pond with ducks swimming along. Luckily by the time guests were being seating for the ceremony, the sun was behind the trees leaving the bandstand mostly shaded. After a lovely ceremony, the guests headed into the Casino where the cocktail hour was being held on the main floor. Once inside the door they were greeted by a great summer drink, a Mojito, at the signature cocktail station. I'm sure the guests found it rather refreshing given how hot it was. While the guests enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, the wedding party took photos around the scenic park grounds. So they didn't miss out on the deliciousness that their guests were receiving, I brought a plate full of appetizers out to the bride, groom and their wedding party to enjoy.

Once the cocktail hour was over, the guests moved upstairs to the main ballroom for the reception where they enjoyed dinner and music. I really loved the architecture of the Casino. If you're big into architecture and relatively close to Rhode Island, be sure to check out this venue for an upcoming event. Here are a couple pictures of the Casino which I found on the website for the city of Providence:

Also in July was the annual cookout for my Dad's business which was under the pavilion at the Myriad Ballroom. The patriotic theme was great and everything tied together nicely. For the tables I made runners by sewing red and navy bandanas and alternating the colors on each table. The centerpieces were simple, white and red carnations, blueberries as a filler for the blue and a yellow ribbon around the vase to tie in the "Support the Troops" portion of the theme. The candy bar was a huge hit with the little kids, big kids and adults alike. Everything was in red, white and blue and the scoops had yellow ribbons around the handles. The candy bar included salt water taffy, twizzlers, jelly bellies, m & m's, gummy sharks, swedish fish, gummy stars and a couple different mints. Guests were able to fill up small, clear acrylic take out boxes with whatever they chose.

Usually my mother and I make a large assortment of finger pastries and desserts but this year we opted to keep it more simple making brownies and cupcakes and instead having a "make your own sundae" station instead. This too was a hit with everyone and much easier for Mom and I. In between the meal and dessert guests enjoyed a ride on the lake in the pontoon boat, courtesy of a family friend.

The best part of the day was that Jake was able to make it. I posted before about Jake and how he influenced the "Support the Troops" part of our theme. Fortunately he was able to stay in town, attend the cookout and talk with everyone before leaving the following morning. We were all happy he was able to make it.

One Busy Month

July has been one busy month and I have to say I'm a little relieved it's over, I need a break! Well what I really need is to get back to my normal, every day activities like blog reading, getting on twitter and posting here! I'm almost afraid to look at google reader and see just how many blogs I have to catch up on. This week alone has been a bit of a whirlwind which has kept me from getting on here. My older son needs minor surgery tomorrow so my mind has been with him and not many other places. But once things settle down with him which is supposed to be early next week I can get back on track. I have lots to share! There was a wedding I coordinated at the Roger Williams Casino in Providence Rhode Island, my dad's company cookout and all sorts of other goodies! I'm thinking I may try to bring my laptop and see if there's a slight chance I can get online @ the hospital while I wait, maybe I can catch up on all my blogs!

Beautiful Summer Wedding

Saturday I coordinated a beautiful outdoor wedding reception at a private home in Hopkinton. The yard of this home was gorgeous complete with a school house inspired barn, a quaint pond, a pool and covered pergola. The first time I met this couple I fell in love with them, they were so sweet and just an all around great couple. I knew the bride would be stunning and she was, her dress was beautiful and she was glowing.


When I arrived on Saturday to get everything set up I noticed this great swing hanging from this enormously fabulous tree in the side yard. My first thought was JoAnn had to sit on that swing for a picture, it was too perfect to miss. Everything went very well, the slight breeze while it felt amazing did cause a little issue blowing the linens around but in the end everything looked just as the bride wanted.

The food was catered by J & L Catering who I absolutely adore to work with. They're food tastes phenomenal but they're also just a total blast to be around. The guests were pleased with the buffet menu which included chicken, steak tips, baked potatoes and a seafood station consisting of a traditional New England Clambake of lobster, steamers, mussels and corn on the cob. I actually heard one guest say "Did they just walk by with an entire lobster?! Awesome!"

Since this was a backyard wedding the couple wanted signs that clearly indicated where things were such as parking, the ladies room and the men's room. They wanted something nice, not just a paper sign, so I got the supplies needed and made these signs for them. They came out very nice and the bride loved them.

Weddings are a lot of work, no one will argue with that, but when you have clients as wonderful as these ones were it just makes all the work that much more fulfilling. The weather was perfect on Saturday, something we were all a little worried about given the recent weather trend. I don't have any doubt that JoAnn & Rick will have a wonderful life together, I wish them all the happiness they deserve. I can't wait to see the pictures that the photographer took, they're sure to be amazing!