gift ideas = wine please!

Trying to think of a bridal shower gift to give the couple that has everything? I was recently asked to look into this very gift idea... found it here.

There are poems that are attached to each bottle, that the bridesmaids read as they present the gift to the bride.

Wedding Night
The night you have dreamed of is finally here
The future surrounds you with hope and yet fear
You’ve wanted so long to find your perfect mate
Sip this wine and toast this perfect date
The night is meant for you to share
Enjoy each other – a perfect pair!!

First Fight
When fights occur and tempers get hot
Pour a glass and be thankful for what you’ve got
If you always agreed it would certainly be a bore
And by asking for Krissy’s hand Bernie is surely
in for more!

First Anniversary
Been married a year, where did the time go?
No longer newlyweds, now you are pros
Hope the days found you in good health and
good spirit
Keep saying I love you –
one always needs to hear it!
Now toast this first date, it’s certainly not the last
And as you build your future don’t ever forget
the past!

First Dinner Party
Open your home to entertain and eat
Catch up with old friends and new ones to meet
When the night is over share this bottle of wine
But don’t sit down yet – it’s clean up time!!

Christmas Eve
A wise man said wine is better than beer
And now is the season for lots of holiday cheer
So pop the cork and relax a bit,
And when the night is through,
Kiss goodnight, close your eyes
And Santa will be good to you!

First Baby
The news that a baby will soon share your life
will make you a mother, not only a wife
You’ll see it through good times and sometimes
through bad
______ the loving mother
and _____ the dearest dad
Sadly _____ (groom) must drink this one alone, and _____(bride) with an empty glass
Sit back and relax – nine months will quickly pass!

(photo via MarthaStewart.com... also check out her great tips on storing wine!!!)

yellow polka dot

I need me a very "Fun Friday" people!
Diggin' this cover art by Mickey Paraskevas for Dan's Papers...

Enjoy your weekend..., and wishing you all some unabashed fun.
Tell us what YOU have planned!!!
-Kelley

down home in niagara

Happy 4th of July... visit here for some "Country Living" ideas.
Wedding or just for everyday!

(BTW: Anyone planning on a Niagara Falls Honeymoon? Just curious...)

sorbetta

(via)

Lemon, Strawbery + Orange. Yum!

I wanted to give my Aunt (from Michigan) at taste of Long Island. I think I have found it here. Sorbetta!

Some of these "artisnal cocktail" recipes sound divine! Can't wait to try some, and hope Auntie likes them!

Happy Fun Friday Everyone, and please be responsible... (You know the drill!)

In tribute to this new family of Spirits, Dale DeGroff has created the following series of Sorbetta based cocktails:

Springtime
1 1/2 ounces Sorbetta Strawberry
1 ounce Hendricks Gin
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce egg white
Preparation: Shake all the ingredients well and strain into a short Highball glass over ice. Garnish with strawberries and mint sprig.

Lanai Cocktail
1/4 ounce Pimm#1
1 1/2 ounces Sorbetta Orange
1 1./2 ounces Lillet Blonde
Half orange wheel
Preparation: Season and old-fashioned glass by coating the inside with 1/4 ounce Pimms #1 toss out the excess. Fill the glass 3/4 full of ice and pour in the Lillet and the Sorbetta Orange and stir. Garnish with half an orange wheel and serve with short straws.

MÈNAGE Á TRIOS
1 1/2 ounce VSOP Cognac
1 ounce Lemon Sorbetta
1/2 ounce Cointreau
Preparation: Prepare a cocktail glass with a sugar frosted rim. Assemble the three spirits in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well and strain into the prepared glass. Flame an orange peel over the top of the drink and drop the peel into to drink.

Beaumont Cocktail
1 ounce Sorbetta Orange
1 ounce Mount Gay Extra Old
1/4 ounce homemade cinnamon syrup*
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice.
Orange or grapefruit zest garnish
Preparation: Assemble all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake we’ll. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange or grapefruit zest or both.
*Cinnamon Syrup: 1 cup pure water, 2 cups granulated sugar, 12 cinnamon sticks. Assemble all the ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Turn the heat down to simmer and simmer for 2 hours covered. Cool. Strain and bottle for use.
NOTE: Cinnamon Syrup is available commercially but the homemade is so easy to make and so far superior to the commercial product I encourage you to prepare your own.

Punch Primavera
1 Liter fresh Watermelon juice*
500ml bottle Sorbetta Orange
4 ounces fresh lemon juice
2 ounces honey syrup (two parts honey dissolved into one part pure water)
24 mint leaves
Mint sprigs for garnish
Preparation: Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Serve over ice with Lemon Wheel and Mint sprig garnish
NOTE: The punch is wonderful by itself , but as you will see from the drink below it is VERY mixable. Make a batch and tuck it away in the fridge and try with your favorite spirits.

Apertivo Primavera
5 ounces Punch Primavera
1 1/2 ounces Aperol
Lemon wedge
Mint sprig.
Preparation: Fill a wine goblet three quarters with ice cubes. Add the Aperol and then the punch primavera. Squeeze the lemon wedge into the drink and drop it in. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Pimms Suffolk
Ingredients
1/2 ounces Cointreau
1 1/2 ounces Sorbetta Strawberry
3 ounces Long Island Blanc de Blanc Sparkling wine (Suggest Shinn Vineyards)
1/2 Strawberry with greens
Generous mint sprig
Preparation: Fill a goblet 3/4 full with ice cubes. Add the Cointreau the and Sorbetta. Top with the Brut Rose sparkling wine and garnish with the strawberry and mint sprig.

pumpkin eater

(via)

I wanted a simple garden...
One I didn't have to work on...
I let my son choose one packet of seeds...
He picked pumpkins.
(we are going to be eating & carving & giving away many pumpkins this year!!!)

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
Happy Belated Father's Day, Daddy.
Love,
Kelley

like my wedding (only cooler)

My favorite newlywed from The Netherlands has posted her photos! They look like they belong in a magazine! I have asked her to share some tips and fun stories from her wedding...

I cannot wait to hear what she has to say!

birthday girl = baby

One of my favorite blogs is Birthday Girl..., and one of my favorite Inspiration Boards ever is the one she did for an Alice in Wonderland theme (last year, before all the new movie hype!)

Well, please visit her blog and wish her well, because she is gonna be a busy momma soon!!!

Happy Fun Friday everyone! I can't think of a more "Wonderful" way to start my "Girls Only" weekend!

See you soon.

"Eat" or "Drink?"
(you choose, but responsibly, please!)

Oh, and WHO IS GONNA BE MY 200TH FOLLOWER????

real simple cleanup

(via realsimple)

"Cleaning House" was never more satisfying!!! Anyone ready to Spring Clean their INBOX??

I just "Unsubscribed" myself from like 15 different stores/organizations/publications, etc!!!

I feel cleansed! And I didn't even have to pick up a sponge!

Happy Spring Everyone!

(Oh, and don't get me wrong..., I LOVE the realsimple magazine and will continue to read it faithfully each month. I just can't keep up with it all in my inbox! Now I have to go and delete all the stuff I've collected the last few years! Another day...)

You can check out their awesome tips on cleaning your actual house. They are great! Anyone have tips of your own to offer??? Time Savers? Unconventional cleaners?

We want to know!

raccoon

via Love From Sweden

My husband's nickname for me is "Kelley Raccoon." My sunglasses tend to leave their mark while out in the sun...

I think this sweet little raccoon is a reminder to me to wear a higher strength sunblock on my face. (Or a bigger hat!)

Enjoying the lovely weather here.
Hoping you are too.
Don't forget the sunscreen everyone!
-Love,
Kelley Raccoon

greetings

(via 13bees)

Wait a minute! Do I really care if there is snow in Vermont right now??? Nope!

Girls weekend coming up soon.
Read. Shop. Eat. Drink. Adult Conversation.

Well! Greetings from Vermont!!!

lazy margarita

(via lemondrop)

Happy Fun Friday's Everyone! I am feeling a bit lazy today... maybe even lazy enough for the laziest margarita!? How fun is the cat in the hat too???

The My Island Wedding Inspiration Board contest is still on, but due to technical difficulties, the submissions have not been posted yet! There is still time to submit yours... have a great weekend!
-Kelley

greyson + his piano

(via)


I NEED to learn the piano...

Greyson Michael Chance will be on
'Ellen' tomorrow...

I also, NEED to see the show!

To all those talented people, all my best...
Treasure your talent, do not waste it.

the urban bride giveaway

The Urban Bride Giveaway! Looks awesome and it's from such a fun blog too... Check it out...,

...and don't forget to enter the My Island Wedding Inspiration Board Contest... Deadline has been extended, so there is plenty of time!!!!

w.a.m.

Happy Mother's Day Mummy.
Such great memories here for us all...

-Love, Kelley

(Worcester Art Museum)

Have you told your Mom you loved her lately?

fun + colors = happy

I posted this fantastic Inspiration Board last year on this date!!! It still makes me happy to look at and reminds me that our new Wedding Inspiration Board contest is in full swing, so hurry up and submit yours!

Thanks Brenda's Wedding Blog for this fun + colorful combination of images..., and Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

WedAlert

It's official! My friends at WedAlert.com have asked me to be a guest blogger for them. There is a wealth of information to be found for any couple planning their wedding, so if you haven't already, go on over and check them out.

Since they have also invited me to showcase the Wedding Inspiration Boards for our newest contest, I have extended the deadline. (Date to be announced...)

Still, the earlier you get me your boards, the longer they will display on My Island Wedding and on WedAlert.

May the best board win...!

WedAlert.com
WedAlert Blog