image by Scobey Photography

image by Scobey Photography

We recently were asked by one of our favorite bloggers (Jacin, of Lovely Little Details) to participate in a bridal event at her family’s local store on the shoreline of Connecticut in Guilford.  They are super excited to be announcing the launch of their gift registry services, and we are bringing together some industry friends for a night of wedding inspiration. For all of you local brides & grooms this is a great place to set up your registries, I couldn’t believe the volume of product throughout the store!  You can register for everything from kitchen appliances and ovens, paint, lawn mowers, to small items, like kitchen tools.  We hope you can join us for this fun event!

About the Event: Sample food, cake, and drinks while gathering inspiration for your special day from local vendors. Brides will leave with DIY project ideas (Erin from Sparkle and Hay and I are teaming up to demo a fun DIY project) and suggestions for unique touches to add to any wedding. Grooms can relax in our Groom Cave to learn about grilling, power tools, and home hardware.

Complete Inspiration Cards by visiting all the vendor stations and enter for a chance to win a Cuisinart Mixer! Be sure to do the gift registry to! Any couple who schedules an appointment to come back and register will receive a $25 gift card to the Guilford Food Center.  If you register by march 31st you will receive an additional gift card for $100 to Page Hardware.

RSVP by February 24th and be automatically entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to a Clarke Showroom chef series cooking class in Norwalk, (a $170 value) for you and your honey. Please email the names of those attending to ame@pagehardware.com by February 24th to qualify for the prize drawing. Walk-in attendees are also welcome on the day of the event.

Wedding Inspirations at Page Hardware

Where & When: Page Hardware (Guilford, CT) - Tuesday, February 28

Time: 7-9PM

Participating vendors:

April Rose – wedding & bridesmaid dresses, custom jewelry
Bill Miller’s & La Luna – event venue & catering
Frank’s Package Store – wine, beer, & spirits
Guilford Greenery – floral arrangements & bouquets
Hana Floral Design – floral trends
JA2M – acoustic music
Jennie Fresa Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie – makeup
Kiernan Photography - alternative wedding photography
Lulu’s – lingerie
Ritual Spa – full-service spa
Royal Printing – custom invitations
Sparkle & Hay – DIY inspiration
Stargazer Travel – travel agency
Take The Cake - wedding cakes
True Event – Event planning & design

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Wine of the Week

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel

$9.97

Today is the first time in weeks that it actually feels like winter and I think I might have even seen a flurry or two so I thought I would kick off the weekend with a bottle of red.  Bogle wines are some of my favorites and this one definitely does not disappoint.  It is perfect for a January night and a great price point!  Happy Friday!

Cheers.

Tasting Notes:

The nose had a strong cedar aroma, like opening a cedar chest.  There was also a bit of blackberry and plum on the nose. The mouth feel is very full and satisfying.  The palate has big blackberry and plum flavors.  It’s a bit jammy, but not too much so.  A little walnut is also in there and there’s some mid-palate chocolate.  A super spicy finish that makes this quite enjoyable.  -Tim Lemke

Filed under: Friday Wine Tasting, Uncategorized

After escaping for a week to the Outerbanks, running in the NYC marathon, hopping on a flight to Grand Caymen for Engage 11, it has been a hectic few weeks.  I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is in two days, I don’t know where this past year went.  I keep wishing that somehow the days will slow down.

I woke up this morning in a panic, still not sure about my Thanksgiving table design (We host Thanksgiving at our house for 14, bringing both our families together) So on my run I let my mind wander and as I ran by the lake and through town, I was so inspired by the colors of fall, good old New England fall, deep reds, orange, yellows and greens.  Last year I went more modern and sprayed pumpkins and gourds gold and played with metallics.  This year I decided I am going rustic/traditional.  Can’t wait to share pics with you of my final table design.  Would love to hear about what you all are planning this year.

Thanksgiving Inspiration/ Rustic/New England

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All images by Leila Brewster Photography

All images by Leila Brewster Photography

This has definitely been a memorable week for me as I look back on some of the images that my dear friend Leila Brewster captured of sister and I as we made our way to the start of the NYC marathon last Sunday on Staten Island.  We were so lucky to have been welcomed to stay at a really good friend’s families’ house just two blocks from the start; everyone that has run NYC knows that the waiting before the start is the worst!! Thank you so much to the Abbate family.

I asked Leila to take pictures because I wanted to document the day, which was extra special knowing it most likely was my last marathon with my sister, and was so lucky to have her with us from the minute we got up that morning until we made our way to the coral.

I first met Leila when she shot Abby & Andrew’s wedding last summer at the Ocean House.  Not only is she the most genuine, kind hearted, laid back, person you will ever meet but she is also so incredibly talented!  Leila I can’t thank you enough for this special gift of pictures documenting for me a day I will never forget. Happy Friday Everyone!  Cheers to the weekend.

Friday Wine Tasting….

Bogle Petite Sirah Port Clarksburg 2006

$19.95

Now that the colder months are upon us I must say that I have become a huge fan of a glass of port.  It just warms my soul on a cold night and is the perfect compliment at the end of a meal when you are craving something sweet but don’t want to indulge in a dessert.  Alot of ports are super expensive so when I discovered that one of my favorite vineyards had released a port under my $20 price point I was so excited.  This is one you will want to try, add it to the Thanksgiving wine list.

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