We Interrupt This Lack Of Blogging To Bring You

Ridiculously adorable gingerbread houses perched on hot chocolate mugs! I mean seriously, I need to make these right. now. Except my Christmas craftiness is just about out and with the big day only four days away what is a girl to do?



I guess I will just have to file these away for next year and hope I remember in time. So many projects! I just might have to start around Halloween to really get it all done...

'A tiny gingerbread house made to perch on your mug' brought to you by Not Martha

I am still here, promise.

Has it really been nearly a month since my last blog post? Wow, it certainly hasn't felt like that long to me! I have been busy, to say the least. Lots of people inquiring about wedding invitations, which is awesome! Lots of last minute projects at work to get done before the new year, not so awesome. And of course getting geared up for Christmas! (my personal favorite holiday)

So, hopefully as the holidays wind down I will find myself with lots of spare time to blog away. With the temps getting down into the single digits here already, I won't want to spend much time running around outside anyway.

In the meantime check out a shout-out to all the Vermont Etsy artisans on All Things Simple. Lots of great shops to bookmark!

100 Posts! And A Special Offer

Today marks my 100 post! I can't believe I made it! There were times I wondered if I could really keep up blogging on a regular basis (and still times where I find it hard to fit it in). But I have really made it, and it feels so good.

I hope there will be lots more, and my goal is to do more than 100 posts next year! Keeping my fingers crossed I will have more time in the New Year to devote to Truly Noted and blogging.


In the meantime, head over to Before The Big Day for some special deals (including one from little ol' me!).

Glitter, Glitz and Glam

{a glimpse of my table at the show}

The VT Vows Wedding Affair last Saturday was amazing! The theme was Marie Antoinette, which I wasn't sure how they would pull off, but basically it looked like we were on a set from the movie. Pink, glitter, glam, and more pink covered everything at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. People dressed in period dress waltzed and walked through the aisles while a musician played the piano in the front room. There was a fasion show, a cigar lounge for the boys, and champagne and martinis for everyone (that was of age, that is)!

{top: the goodie bags that each bride got to take home- worth over $100! middle: the make-your-own candy apple bar, bottom: the make-your-own potpourri bar}

It was a great crowd and everyone seemed to be having a great time. No one left hungry or without ample inspiration for their big day. I wish I could have taken more photos, but since I had to attend to my table it was hard to get very many. Here are some of my faves from the evening.

{clockwise from top left: a fanciful cake from one of the vendors, a bright pink pom-pom, an array of colorful vintage dishes on display, the spa room, a sparkly 'dream' sign greets the guests as they arrive}

Wedding Affair Winner!

I will email the winner to figure out all the details! Thanks everyone for entering and I hope to see you all at the show on Saturday!

Let It Snow!

***Time is running out to enter the giveaway for 2 FREE TICKETS to the VT Vows Wedding Affair this Saturday! So enter now!***



I just finished working on a new snowflake design! It occurred to me that I didn't have anything very wintery available in my shop yet, so I set out to create something elegant and classy.



Looking around it seemed like most winter themed invitations were red and black, dark, rich colors with a heavy, almost depressing sort of feel to them. But (and maybe this is because I grew up in the Northeast) Winter is something different to me. It is fun and magical- light and airy. Where every branch is encased in glassy ice that makes the whole world sparkle in the morning sun.



Something whimsical and fun was what I had in mind and I am very happy with the results! Now available in my Etsy store.

Put A Stamp On It

{Don't forget to enter the giveaway for 2 FREE TICKETS
TO THE VT VOWS WEDDING AFFAIR SHOW!}

A recent client of mine was telling me about these fabulous custom Save The Date stamps that he purchased online, so I had to check them out for myself! I found several different websites that offered custom stamps in hundreds of designs, and not just for Save The Date cards. They do cost a bit more than just buying the regular stamps at the post office, but I think it's worth the extra cost just to add that little personal touch to the package. Everyone loves to receive beautiful things in the mail and custom postage can make your envelope shine against regular, old boring mail.

For custom stamps check out Zazzle and Perfect Postage



Another great idea that is growing in popularity is using vintage stamps to add some interest to your invitation packaging. You will need to use several to make up the correct postage amount, but it's fun to mix and match different designs to create a totally unique look to each envelope. Just make sure that you take your invitation to the post office before adding the postage to have them weigh it so you know exactly how much you need. (I would recommend this whether you are doing vintage postage or not.) And if you can find the stamps at face value then it won't cost any more than buying the current stamps!

Check out local antique and coin and stamp stores or score some on ebay or Stamp Wants online. (Just make sure they are unused!)

The Wedding Affair - A GIVEAWAY!!

When I was planning my wedding in 2006 I went to most of the greater Burlington area bridal shows, but none could come close to the elegance of the VT Vows Wedding Affair. It is the only show my husband-to-be accompanied me to, and I am so glad that was the one he chose! He started to wonder what he had been missing, but really he didn't miss anything because that show was it. Champagne and hors d'ouvres being passed around everywhere, a live band and dancing lessons, Fiori Bridal wedding gown show; it was definitely the who's who of the talented wedding professionals in Vermont.

So I am incredibly excited, and oh so grateful, that this year I will be going to the Wedding Affair again, but this time as a vendor. With my own dupioni silk covered banquet table and tons of samples for all of you to see and touch. And most importantly I get to meet all of you face to face and talk to you about your weddings, which really is why I got into this business to begin with!

If you are engaged, even if your wedding is in a couple of months and most of your details are already figured out, I urge you not to miss this incredible event. And I am hoping to help make sure one of you gets to go by giving away two free tickets to the event! Tickets are $25 so that is a $50 value!

All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen on Friday morning and I will leave the tickets in your name at the registration table at the show!

For more info on the Wedding Affair check out their website.

Chelsea & Andre

Chelsea and Andre were special clients of mine- Chelsea was a good childhood friend of my brother-in-law, so I had known them for a while. I was absolutely thrilled when Chelsea contacted me to do their invitations and when I saw the photos from their amazing wedding, I had to ask to share them with all of you.


Their ceremony took place at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, VT and they took a cool vintage car to their reception which was held at Chelsea's parent's home in Jericho. They have a beautiful view of the mountains from their property and even though the morning was a little overcast, the sun came out for some great photo ops later on.


I love the photo with the umbrellas! So fun and colorful. There were so many good pics to choose from, it was hard to decide on just a few to share. Congratulations Chelsea and Andre!

All photos are by Raiden Shine Photography.

Fall Wedding Details

Many months ago I got to create some Engagement Party Invites for Jenn and Jason, so I was thrilled when Jenn contacted me recently to do her wedding elements. Above is a sweet sign (ha! pun was so intended) for the candy bar.


Here is the menu, which sounded delicious bytheway. It's hard to tell, but around most of the signs and the menus was a great textured paper that looked like the bark of a tree.


A fun sign for the apple cider and donut pre-ceremony gathering.



The programs were one of my favorite projects that I put together for Jenn. A rich chocolate background with white reverse type, then rolled and tied with satin ribbon in a cranberry red.

Tom & KK

I just finished these gorgeous Wedding Announcements for Tom & KK. They got married in a small ceremony on Prince Edward Island and wanted something to send to all of their friends and family. The text is printed on vellum overlayed over their picture and secured with dupioni silk ribbon.


I love the bag piper in the background. So lovely.


One of my favorite Robert Frost poems. Love the fringe on the ribbon.

Flowers, Candles, and Embiance

I wish I had more photos of the flowers at my wedding. I poured over many Martha Steward Wedding magazines and I had this great Wedding Reception magazine I found in the grocery store one day, that gave me all of the inspiration for my flowers. I was so happy when I found A Schoolhouse Garden, in Waitsfield, and the talented Nancy who made all of my flower ideas come to fruition.


I knew I wanted a big wreath hanging above the barn door welcoming people in, and big hurricane vases with candles on wrought iron stands at each post inside the barn. On the tables, instead of floral centerpieces I wanted to showcase the elements of the season- red and orange maple leaves, slender stalks of wheat, and plump berries on branches. These were encased in more glass vases with candles.

It was the perfect balance of rustic and elegant that I wanted to my wedding to embrace. When I first met with Nancy I could tell immediately that she 'got' my vision and then she ran with it.


Everything was so beautiful, I wish the flowers, heck I wish the evening, would have lasted forever. I am bummed the photographer didn't get a picture of the wreath that was outside- nor did I think to take the wreath home with me! The night just went by so fast and everything was such a blur I forgot details like that until many months later. It's true what they say- it really does go by in the blink of an eye. So make sure you try and stop and enjoy the moment!

Food- The Most Important Part Of The Wedding! (no, really it is)

Clockwise from top left: The Antipasto board, selection of fruit, Artichoke & Spinach dip, Stuffed Chicken Breasts, the amazing Mashed Potato Bar (everyone's favorite), and Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

The one thing that both my husband and I really wanted for our wedding was amazing food. We had been to a lot of weddings where the food was sub par, at best, and we figured if you are going to spend thousands of dollars on a wedding and people were coming from thousands of miles away to attend it then the least we could do was feed them (and us) a decent meal. It was the one thing we were prepared to splurge on.

I can't even remember how many caterer's websites I looked at or if I even talked to anyone else before I contacted Spice of Life catering. That's because as soon as I tasted their food everything I had ever eaten before immediately was forgotten. Yes, it was that good. We met with Matt and Maggie, the husband and wife team behind SOL, at the Ethan Allen Club in Burlington where they were in charge of providing dinner. It was a little strange since the Ethan Allen Club is a men's only club and so I was the only female in there, other than Maggie. But they set us up in a secluded corner and just started bringing us out sample after sample after sample. And we just kept eating and staring at each other in a hazy food coma wondering how each thing could possibly be better than the last.

So we booked them- right then on the spot. Then the fun part of browsing through all of their selections came. It took us a long time to narrow it down to just a few items. And everything we picked was so amazing. All night long all we heard was how great the food was. My Mother-in-law personally thanked them and immediately started recommending them to all of her friends. In fact, a couple of years later when my brother-in-law was getting married she hired them to cater the rehearsal dinner (having abandoned the idea of cooking all of the food herself, again, as she had done for ours).

They did not do the cake, but I couldn't do a food post about our wedding and not include a picture of our wedding cake, could I? Ashley Woods, based in Waitsfield, made our cake and it was another item that I was intent on being amazing. Wedding cake sort of has a bad rap as being pretty to look at but not so great to eat, and I wanted to make sure our cake didn't fall into that category. Ashley really delivered and the cake was amazing.


The bottom layer was chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis filling, the center layer was white cake with a lemon mousse filling, and the top layer was the chocolate again. The frosting was just a simple buttercream and Ashley put a monogram of our initials on the front and our florist put a cascade of flowers on the top. It was exactly what I envisioned.

Three Years Ago

Three years ago I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I was fretting over the fading foliage, the weather forcast, and shoot! we totally forgot to make signs for the road so people knew where to turn! Yes, that's right, I was mere hours away from my wedding day.

The days preceding my wedding are a blur- filled with last minute details and finally letting go of the idea that I could do it all. (Maybe hand-stitched hankies was going a little overboard?) My relatives were starting to arrive and my phone was ringing off the hook with questions and concerns. My parents had arrived and were each fielding requests from their families. My soon-to-be in-laws were also welcoming house guests and shuttling grandparents to and from the hotel. It was chaos. It was pandemonium.

That night, of October 13th, 2006, we all gathered in my in-laws home for the Welcome Dinner. I have no idea how many people were there, but we were spread out on every seat in the whole house. My soon-to-be Mother-in-law and her sister had prepared all of the food from scratch. It was amazing.

After dinner my father called everyone out to the back deck then he set off the most fantastic firework show feet from where we all stood breathless. The bursts of green and purple filled the sky above our heads and the booms and bangs were so loud we all expected the police to show up at any moment. My friend Tara's four month old baby slept through the whole thing. It was almost the best night of my life.

Except the next day I got to do this:

Gorgeous Travel Themed Wedding

One of my favorite bloggers, Holly Burns of Nothing But Bonfires, recently got hitched in idyllic San Diego and not only was her wedding detailed on her own blog (for months, really, but I gobbled up every post), it was also a featured wedding on Style Me Pretty. It's not surprising, either, when you see all the awesome handmade details that Holly and her new husband Sean put together for their special day.



Holly is a travel writer and has lived in many different parts of the world and her and Sean have done extensive traveling. Plus their friends are so widespread that most of their guests traveled from far away to attend their special day. So it just made sense to do a world-travel themed affair and everything they did was so creative and charming! From the 'Where in the World Are You Sitting' seating chart to the vintage map lined lanterns on the table, every detail was perfect.

Check out all four installments here, here, here, and here!
All photos are by Erin Hearts Court.

Awesome Give-Away!

If you are not already familiar with the blog This Little Life of Mine by the wonderful Talia, then you should definitely head over there right now! Especially since she is hosting a great give-away with goodies from some of my favorite fellow bloggers and Etsyians!


I am especially drooling over this adorable wallet from Your Wishcake that I have to bookmark on Etsy so that even if I don't win (fingers crossed though!) I can get one anyway :-) But this is just the tip of the iceburg for this give-away. There is a total of NINE items up for grab, including a bonus $10 Starbucks Gift Card. Yum- I can taste a tall skinny mocha with almond syrup shot right now.

Sorry I've Been Away

I was doing so great with this regular blogging thing! So what the heck happened over the last couple of weeks? Well it was a combination of being overwhelmingly busy with life, getting horribly sick for four days, and not having a whole lot to blog about. Which probably has a lot to do with the being busy part. Coming up with something to write about was downright exhausting to think about, so I took a little hiatus.

Now it's time to get back into the thick of things! Thankfully my schedule is a little less jam-packed and with Winter right around the corner I should have plenty of time, snuggled up in my house and not wanting to go anywhere, that I can devote to blogging.

So thanks for your patience!

Because Winter Is Right Around The Corner

I am totally digging this photo from Martha Stewart Weddings right now. The ironwork on the door, the long-sleeved dress, the bride's wistful look out into the distance, and the deep evergreen bough in the bouquet. All of it makes me wish for soft, pillowy snow to drape across the landscape! I can just see her wrapping up in a fur shawl and hopping into a horse drawn sleigh.

Photo from the Green Bouquets photo gallery.

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

It has been a while since my last post, and I apologize for that. We jetted off for a fabulous long weekend to visit relatives in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and the days preceding and following were a little hectic. But I finally feel like I am back on schedule and ready to go!




One of the things that has been occupying my time was trying to decide if I wanted to participate in another wedding show. I finally came to a decision to just close my eyes and jump in head first. Part of my reason for deciding to go ahead was the sad news that Scribbles was closing. A downtown staple for years in Burlington, they were also one of the largest invitation resources around here as well. So, I decided that with them gone it was the perfect time to stick my neck out and let the world know I am here! Or at least the greater Burlington area- hehe.



What is the show you ask?? Well I am glad you did, because it is THE wedding show to attend around here. And of course it is put on by none other than VT Vows. It is called The Wedding Affair and it's more amazing every year. Last year was a Moroccan theme and they had elaborate beds adorned with gorgeous linens and big hanging lanterns and colored glass candle holders. There was a potpourri bar and a candy table to make your own goodie bags, and of course there were tons of great vendors to check out.



Even though I had a small basket of cards in their Wedding Resource Library last year, I think that having my own booth will be better exposure. I found being able to talk one on one with the brides was a great experience. And being a vendor also means I will get a couple of complimentary tickets to give out. Which means I will be having another giveaway! Look for it in the next couple of weeks for your chance to win tickets to go to The Wedding Affair!

I Heart Thursday

This past weekend I went to visit my grandmother in Plattsburgh, NY and was lucky enough to make it over to Target! I haven't had a chance to go over there since it opened a few months ago. That and I hate the idea of spending $22 to go over on the ferry and back just to go shopping. Now that I have been there, though, I might change my mind!

It was awesome and I got lots of great stuff, including a case of this Izze Fortified Sparkling Juice. I got the Sparkling Pomegranate and it is all I want to drink now. Not only is it super tasty, but apparently it's good for you too! It doesn't have any added sugar and contains pure fruit juice. I think my case of 8 is not going to last me very long.

Catch The Spirit

On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of dining on the Spirit of Ethan Allen dinner cruise on Lake Champlain. I have lived in the Burlington area for almost a decade but had never made it on any of their famed cruises. Lucky for me, my work decided it was the perfect retreat for a sales conference and we were all invited to come along.

We lucked out and it was a gorgeous day- sunny and yet mild compared to what the temperature had been lately.



The Spirit of Ethan Allen does a nightly dinner cruise, with a different theme each night, but you can also book space on the cruise for a wedding or function and have them cater an entirely different menu. I was excited to see what it was like and to taste the food and check out the interior of the ship.


You can choose whether or not you want to have your ceremony on board the ship as well as your reception. If you do book the boat for your reception than a ceremony is included, free of charge, in the package- so it is something to consider. Also, there are many decks on the boat that offer stunning panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains that would make for a breathtaking ceremony. This is a pic on the forward deck of the boat, which is normally outfitted with tables and chairs and has a casual bar feeling to it.




We had dinner on the lower deck of the boat, which is where you initially come into after you board. There were several other rooms above that were reserved for special parties, that I am sure would be where a wedding event would take place. The walls were all windows which allowed for amazing views all around of the water, boats passing by, and the mountains.




The night that I dined aboard The Spirit was Italian Night, or Mangia Mia as they call it. For appetizers we had an Antipasto plate with pickeled and roasted veggies, several different kinds of cheeses, and some bread. We also got some flatbread pizza topped with fresh mozzerella, black olives and cilantro. It was all very tasty! For dinner we had the choice between four entrees. I got the Frutti di Mare which was an assortment of scallops, shrimp, calamari, and white fish in a tasty tomato based broth with potatoes. To finish the evening we had some Tiramisu which was really good- light and fluffy with a perfect balance of chocolate and espresso.


Of course the real reason the Spirit of Ethan Allen makes a great choice for weddings is the views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, especially at sunset. We were lucky that it was the perfect evening for viewing the sunset, and I happened to be seated on the right side of the boat next to a window! I got so many amazing views of the sun setting behind the mountains.

For more information on booking the Spirit of Ethan Allen for your wedding, or Sunday brunch buffet (which I hear is amazing- gotta check that one out next!), view their website here.

The Shred

Due to an abundance of great local micro-brews and amazing restaurants, I have been feeling a little more round and soft in the middle lately. I have been ignoring the signs for a few months, trying to brush it off as nothing more than a few vigorous hikes could take care of, but when most of your wardrobe starts to feel tight and more than one pair of pants loses a button in a week, it's a sign. A giant, red, flashing sign that something must be done. And fast.

Since I can't afford to get a whole new wardrobe I decided to suck it up and try the 30 Day Shred - you have probably heard of it as it has been all the buzz on the internet lately. It is an exercise plan developed by Jillian Michaels, the head trainer on the show The Biggest Loser, and it follows the formula of 3 minutes strength training, 2 minutes cardio, one minute abs. The workout is only 20 minutes and there are three levels that get progressively harder as you go on.

Sounds pretty straight forward right? 20 minutes sounds like a piece of cake!

Today was my second day on The Shred and let me just tell you, it totally Kicks. My. Butt. I am sweating harder after that 20 minutes than I do hiking up Mt. Mansfield for two hours. Jillian Michaels is crazy. My arms are incredibly sore, walking down stairs makes my legs go weak, and both mornings I did the workout I thought I was going to puke right after. And I am only on level 1. But no pain, no gain (or loss), right!?

In order to stay motivated I thought I would chronicle my journey here, that way I know I have to keep up with it!! And I imagine that some of you Brides-to-be are planning on doing some sort of weight loss regimen in preparation for the big day and could benefit from an in depth revue of this popular video. In addition to doing the 30 Day Shred, I am also trying to modify my diet to be a bit healthier. I have cut out drinking for the most part (I still have a glass of wine every so often, but that's it) and I am eating low-fat/low-carb as often as I can. For breakfast I am drinking Slim Fast chocolate shakes made with Soy Milk- it's a super fast and easy option for me since I don't have a lot of time in the morning to make something.

So there it is- I plan on doing regular updates on both my diet/work-out progress and what changes I see in my body. Wish me luck!

My Favorite Part Might Have Been The Chocolate Fountain

This thing of beauty is what I got to gaze at all last night at the Burlington Evening Bridal Show. The smell permeated the entire floor I was on and it was all I could do to not abandon my table and go scarf down some Rice Krispie Treats covered with warm chocolate.

But seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better neighbor than the 'Chocolate Fountain Girl', as I liked to call her. She was incredibly generous and offered up all of the left-overs after the brides had filtered out to the prize drawing on the first floor. Yum.

I had a fabulous time at my first real wedding show and I felt like my table turned out better than I had hoped and I didn't feel out of place amongst the more seasoned professionals around me. I also got to see Echo for the first time and I was really impressed by the space! We were on the third, or top floor, of the building and right next to the outdoor terrace.



Here is the main part of my display with my fabulous new banner I just had made! My table came with a white tablecloth but I also brought a chocolate brown cloth to put over the top to create some interest and depth of color. I think it worked out great!



Here are my inspiration boards- unfortunately one of the easels I brought was missing some key parts and wasn't usable, but Dorothy, my awesome Mother-In-Law, came up with this stool-covered-with-an-extra-table-cloth and it worked out great!



Here is a close up of the table. I had originally thought I was getting a six foot table but it ended up being five, but even if it had been a six I think I would have had enough stuff to fill it. There were several invitations that I wasn't able to display. And to think I was afraid I didn't have enough stuff?! Pshaw! You can also see the great roses that she picked up at Costco to brighten up the display. I can't even tell you how many people asked us if we did flowers! They were so amazed when we told them we got them at Costco! (Hopefully the florist set up diagonal from us didn't mind)



This was another one of our vendor neighbors- The Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruise. They had some pretty tasty treats to give out, but I didn't get a chance to sample much.



Right next to us was Fiori Bridal, my favorite wedding gown shop of all time! They also had some models walking around with different gowns on- a sort of walking fashion show. They were all gorgeous! I kept thinking, what a fun job to wear amazing wedding dresses all night- how do you get that gig?



Down on the first floor was my friend Calais with Stowe Mountain Resort! It was great to see some familiar faces. Her display had these great hurricane glasses filled with some dark grains and white candles.



This was a jeweler on the second floor. Her stuff was really pretty, but I didn't have much time to look at everyone elses stuff.



These cupcakes were on display on the table next to Calais. I was so tempted to take one before the show even started! But I was good and left them for the brides.



Last, but certainly not least, is this little cutie pie who was hanging out at the DJ's table. He is a Sheltie and was born blind and deaf, but he was the sweatest little thing. He hung out on the table during the whole show with these headphones around his neck! He was a definite hit with the ladies and everyone that went by had to stop and pet him. I am thinking this might be a good marketing tactic, perhaps I should bring my dog Nova to my next show? Ha!



Here is the view from the terrace on the third floor. This is part of the space that you can rent at Echo and a lot of people have their ceremony out there. It was a gorgeous view and I imagine on a clear day at sunset it's just magnificent!

So there you have it, my first wedding show! It is still a little early to know if it was a success or not, but I handed out more than half of my info cards and I got three full sheets of email addresses from brides. I also had someone make an appointment with me right there on the spot! Since most of the brides were planning for Summer 2010 weddings I am not sure how soon they will be looking to purchase invitations, but hopefully I will have the opportunity to do some more shows to really get my name out there.

Now I am super tired after staying up to finish a rush invitation order so I am going to bed!