Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Calling all Carolina Experts!

Tim and I are planning a trip to the Carolina coastal area for relocation research and vacation.  We're planning on visiting Wilmington and the Charleston area.  Any tips on places to stay, things to see and do?  Especially in the Charleston area.  There are different areas and it's confusing.  Help!

Thanks!

~Dining Diva

A Picture Perfect Wedding

... it's a shame that my camera battery was dead!  But I think I'll be able to "borrow" some photos from the bride's facebook page.  But let me just tell you that the entire event was amazing!  It was this past Saturday and the weather was absolutely perfect for the outdoor wedding.  The venue was breathtaking and it overlooked a gorgeous lake in the wine country of New York State.  The ceremony was beautiful.  I cried several times throughout it.  The groom was Jewish and the bride was half Jewish/half something else.  The ceremony was performed by the town justice so it was religion neutral...but it was all about love and very moving.

The reception was immediately after the wedding and at the same venue.  We didn't leave until midnight and the party was still going.  It started around 4 p.m. ... That is a long reception.

Here are some highlights:
1. gorgeous view and venue
2. the groom was sassy and wore a pin striped white suite with an orange/pink (matched the bridesmaid dresses) bow tie.
3. Open bar with themed beverages, including a "something new," "something blue," and "something borrowed" alcoholic creations.
4. A delicious appetizer spread, as well as passed hors d'oeuvres.
5. A girl that I lived with my freshman year of college was also at the wedding and we randomly reconnected. (See picture below.)
6. My swordfish dinner was delicious! (There was also beef and chicken.)
7. A band and DJ
8. Two photographers! Then they split up and one handled the photo booth! Yes.  A fabulous photo booth, complete with a treasure chest of fun accessories and props.  The pictures are hilarious. (See some below.)
9. A carved piece of ice which became an ice luge. Totally brought back college days and it was so much fun. I even saw one of the grandmother's do it.
10. The candy bar.  All of the candy matched the colors of the wedding.  You could fill your goody bag with candy and there were also toothbrushes for the taking.  I thought this was a cute idea because the newlyweds are both dentists.
11. How fabulous is this?  Around 10:30 p.m., pizza, wings, celery and blue cheese was wheeled out for everyone's "late night snack" cravings.  Timmy LOVED this.  So did I.
12. The cupcake bar.  Instead of cake they did a variety of tasty cupcakes.


And everyone was so friendly.

Here are some photos from the photo booth.
 The lake is behind us and you can seek some of the white chairs.  That's where we sat to watch the wedding.
(*All of the photos are copyright John Larkin photography.*)

Really made me want everything and I know it had to be a pricey wedding.  But it was so nice! A very wonderful wedding #5 for Tim and I! Oh, it's so nice to dream.

~Dining Diva

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Summer Silence

July was a busy month.  It was also a glorious summer month.  I took a break from blogging. I am still in a funk and so sick of staring at this damn computer screen all day long at work.  In fact, I'm in a working funk.  Summers always make me wish I was a teacher.  Anyone else?  I know I need to be thankful for my job, and it's a very good job, but still, I'm kind of over it. So what did I do during July?  Here's a quick re-cap:

1. Fourth of July get-together at my parent's lake house with my friends from college and their significant others.  It was so much fun and I'll actually be seeing both of the lovely ladies this weekend in Pittsburgh for Domestically Deficient's bridal shower/bachelorette party weekend! I'm really excited!

2. Wedding number four in beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY for one of Tim's friends.  Pictures to come.  

3. Relaxed on the weekends on the lake and soaked up as much sunshine as possible.

4. Still trying to workout or exercise on a daily basis.  By exercise I mean rollerblade, run, power-walk, etc ... no heavy  lifting at the gym.  I really do need to get in better shape. If I could just give up chips and dip and ice cream, I think I would be in such better shape.

5. My friend Jess and her boyfriend of six years broke up this month.  I've mentioned J&J in previous posts and the fact that they live in my apt. complex and we hang out often.  So that's sad and I've been trying to be a good support system for her.

6. Had friends over to our apartment for dinner.

7. Enjoying living with Tim.
And the exciting part is that we have recently been briefly discussing what kind of engagement rings I am interested in.  That is really exciting and I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I actually have no idea, so I obviously need to start doing some research. But the fact that we might be taking a giant step in our wonderful relationship sometime in the near future (well, I would say at least six months) is so exciting.  I love him oh-so-much.

8. Now it's August and I am taking a half-day on Friday to get a head-start on my drive to Pittsburgh to party it up for Domestically Deficient's special weekend!  I hope to have pictures for you upon my return!

Happy Summer!
~Dining Diva