a seaman's catch

Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel | Photography Blog

2012-01-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

While we were in Colorado Springs, we stopped at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel to check things out. Not only was the view from campus breathtaking, but the architecture of the chapel was absolutely stunning. Surprisingly enough, I was allowed to use a flash inside the chapel, which was alight with colors on the pulpit and ceiling.

I’ve got one more set of pictures to share from our September visit to Colorado, and they’ll be up soon.

The Broadmoor | Travel Photography

2012-01-04T21:19:00.001-05:00

This September, (yes, as in four months ago) we visited Colorado Springs for a wedding at The Broadmoor. I didn’t capture as many images as I normally would or could have, for which I blame a pretty packed schedule mixed with a small reaction to the altitude. And maybe a few drinks mixed in there too.

The ones that did make it onto my memory card are just wonderful, and I just LOVE the last one. The resort, the weather and of course, the wedding, were all stunningly beautiful.

More images from our trip to Colorado Springs are coming soon!

Merry & Evan | Engagement Photography

2011-12-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to shoot my friend’s engagement pictures. Merry and I have been friends since college, and she is one of the sweetest, most caring individuals that I know. I’m so happy that she’s found Evan!

Merry & Evan, I had a great time during our session. Thanks again for letting me share this special moment with you two – I can’t wait for your wedding in July :)

A Bridal Suite | Wedding Photography

2011-11-28T21:33:00.000-05:00

Over Columbus Day weekend, I was in my cousin’s wedding. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a wedding at a vineyard. Here are a few of my favorites from the hours before the wedding in the bridal suite.

Sigh, I love weddings. Stay tuned for an Engagement Session!

First Look: Barley’s Puppies | Puppy Photography

2011-05-11T21:12:00.000-04:00

I know it’s been forever, but I finally got my act together and edited the pictures of Barley’s puppies! Barley’s girlfriend, Chubba, had two boys and one girl. While the two boys (both with black coats) have were sent to their forever homes last week, we will probably continue to visit the girl (tan coat). Our “grandpuppies” were around four weeks old here.

Never fear! “Grandmommy” has more pictures coming soon of these adorable little french bulldog nuggets :)

Fridays with Barley | Dog Photography

2011-04-29T08:35:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, Rusty and I hosted an Easter brunch for our families. It was Barley’s first Easter! He got so many treats and scraps that fell on the floor, there were tons of people to pet him and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Barley could have stayed outside all day…

Fridays with Barley | Dog Photography

2011-04-22T07:52:00.000-04:00

I know this may look like our sweet, little Barley, but it’s not! Please meet Barley’s sister, Mary Rose. Unlike their other sister, Cora, Mary Rose looks, acts and sounds just like Barley.

Barley’s Nephews | Dog Photography

2011-04-20T09:18:00.000-04:00

Meet Barley’s three nephews! We were lucky enough to meet them a few times before they went off to their forever homes. When they were first born, they barely even looked like dogs. Now look at those ears! They are most certainly French Bulldogs (and adorable ones at that).

On the Boardwalk | Beach Photography

2011-04-18T21:38:00.000-04:00

This is the last installment of pictures from our December trip to Florida. Promise.

The “Caves” | Beach Photography

2011-04-14T14:12:00.002-04:00

Part II of our December trip to Florida...

We happened to visit the beach during low tide, which afforded us the opportunity to walk around a very large rock that’s normally submerged during high tide. The surf must have beat the hell out of it over the years, because it was almost like walking in a series of small caves. Extremely cool.

A Walk on the Beach | Beach Photography

2011-04-13T21:03:00.002-04:00

Even though my parents' house is not really near the ocean (they’re on the golf course), Rusty and I make a point to visit the beach at least once during each trip to Florida. Here is Part I of our December visit to the beach.

Fridays With Barley | Dog Photography

2011-04-08T06:24:00.001-04:00

I have to ask. How can this be comfortable?

From October 2010.

See the Birds | Bird & Wildlife Photography

2011-04-06T08:16:00.005-04:00

During our March trip to Florida, we took a fan boat ride and saw a ton of different birds – from osprey to ducks, herons, egrets and more. Of course, I didn’t miss a chance to snap a billion frames. Below are some of the best bird photos from our adventure.

A Few of the Course | Photography Blog

2011-04-04T06:09:00.001-04:00

Rusty and I have been to Florida twice since December. Needless to say, I took a generous amount of pictures during both trips. So, since the weather in Boston is still (much) less than what I was hoping for at this time of the year, I'll be sharing some of the images I captured in sunny, beautiful, Florida for the next few (or more) posts. Hope that's cool with you.

That being said, here are a few from a round of golf in December.

Fridays with Barley | Dog Photography

2011-04-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

So far, I think that this just might be my favorite picture of Barley and Rusty together. Happy Friday!

(Not So) Brief Hiatus

2011-03-30T21:57:00.001-04:00

So….I seemed to have taken a small hiatus from a seaman’s catch. Live just really caught up to me. From starting a new job, beginning a new year, trying to survive this terrible Boston winter and all the stuff in between, I haven’t found much time to sit down and edit pictures. I have, however, been taking pictures – and lots of them!

Please bear with me while I get back into the blogging groove. If there is one.

For now, I will leave you with one of my favorite shots as of late. Please meet one of Barley’s nephews!

Baby Blanket | Craft Photography

2010-12-28T10:07:00.001-05:00

It’s taken me forever, but I finally finished the baby blanket I’ve been crocheting for the past year or so. (Before you even ask, the baby has already been born – in June. Whoops!)

I am pretty proud of how it came out, especially since it was my first attempt at crocheting something as large as a blanket – even if it is for a small little baby. I was even more proud that I actually finished it. There were some people (including myself sometimes) who thought that it was never going to be completed. I hope that my little cousin likes it!

The next project is a sweater for little Barley. He is so little and he gets so cold in this freezing New England weather. Hopefully, I’ll be able to complete it before he turns 5 years old…

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T21:15:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays from our small family to yours!

Photo taken by my awesome brother, Cliff.

Our Christmas Tree | Photography Blog

2010-12-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Our Christmas tree has been up since just after Thanksgiving. I’ve been meaning to share it, but life has just been so busy! Sorry. I promise that I’ll seriously try and be a more consistent blogger in 2011.

This year, we opted for a fairly small tree for a few reasons. First and foremost, it was the only size that would realistically fit in the house without us moving a bunch of furniture and without the living room seeming cramped. It is sitting on one of our coffee tables! Secondly, we didn’t want little Barley lifting his leg on the tree…or the presents (there is only one there now) living beneath it. Lastly, it’s much less of a hassle in terms of needle maintenance. I don’t think that I’ve had to vacuum any needles up yet! Perfect.

When we took all the ornaments out of the storage cubby, I discovered that we had just enough for this little tree. Can you see the “angel” on the top? My grandmother bought it for me years ago at a church craft sale. I absolutely love it, but Rusty completely detests it. This might be her last year out on the tree, as she’s kind of falling apart, she doesn’t really sit on the top of the tree that well and the man of the house doesn’t like her. Sad face.

P.S. I absolutely love this out-of-focus picture.

Barley’s Holiday | Dog Photography

2010-12-19T21:29:00.000-05:00

Barley is all ready for Christmas. His bags are packed and he will be going on a long journey to visit Rusty’s family while we visit my family in Florida. We will miss him so much!

Pre-Thanksgiving Party | Photography Blog

2010-11-22T22:44:00.001-05:00

This weekend, Rusty and I attended our first Pre-Thanksgiving party hosted by some friends in the South End (you can get to know them here, here and here). Not only was it an excuse to share my mother’s candied yam recipe with everyone, but it was also a chance to meet new people, eat fantastic food, drink wine and be a total creep with my camera. Awesome.

I wanted to share some of my favorite shots of the evening (more images can be found here).

Brian, Andrea and Arestia – you three are fabulous hosts and we were very honored to be included in the fun this year.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Fridays with Barley: Lighthouse

2010-11-05T08:48:00.002-04:00

I think that Barley is going to miss the warm weather as much as I will (and already do).

Industrial Portsmouth

2010-11-03T17:42:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Rusty took Barley and I to Maine. We walked around Portsmouth with Barley and had a delicious seafood lunch. Even the more industrial sections of Portsmouth have beautiful views. It’s easy to see why people live and work there.

I just adore the last shot.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

2010-10-31T20:08:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I tried my hand at making some cream cheese-stuffed muffins in honor of Cassie & Steph’s visit, since they love any and all things pumpkin. While I was surprised at how easy they were to make, it ended up being a pretty time-consuming process since I only have one muffin pan. They turned out to be more like cupcakes than muffins, but everyone seemed to really like them (I hope). I will probably make these again soon, but I definitely need to get another muffin pan first!

Recipe from Annie’s Eats.

Fridays with Barley: It’s a Party

2010-10-22T08:22:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday we threw Barley a small birthday party and invited all of his doggie friends. While I snapped many pictures, I think that this shot of Barley & Kane is my favorite.

Marblehead

2010-10-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, my brother and parents came to town for a business conference. While they were here, my cousin and I joined them on a bus tour of Salem & Marblehead. The name of the tour was “Bewitching Seaports”, which led us to believe that we would be getting lots of information about the Salem witch trials as well as the history of both towns. However, we instead visited the Peabody Essex Museum and took a guided tour of two different Chinese exhibits, had a buffet lunch and quickly walked around a scenic waterfront cliff view in Marblehead. Even though it wasn’t quite what we were expecting, the five of us had a great time anyway. Here are some shots of our quick jaunt through the scenic waterfront cliff view in Marblehead.

Duplicity

2010-10-17T18:46:00.002-04:00

I love this picture of my cousin, Monica. I took it while we were waiting for the rest of the family to finish viewing some exhibits at the Peabody Essex Museum. Stay tuned for more shots later this week!

Fridays with Barley: It's My Birthday...

2010-10-15T13:06:00.001-04:00

...and I'll look stinkin' cute in this party hat if I want to.

Happy 1st birthday, Barley!

Fridays with Barley

2010-10-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has met Barley will tell you that he loves to lick your hands, faces and yes, even feet. Maybe it's because he has a really long tongue?

Or maybe it's because he loves to give kisses!

GPOYW

2010-10-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

Taken at the Peabody Essex Museum by my lovely cousin, Monica.

Fridays with Barley: Cousins

2010-10-01T08:35:00.001-04:00

Maddie is my cousin's Havanese. I guess that makes her Barley's cousin too!

Sunset

2010-09-28T19:32:00.000-04:00

The sunset as seen off the back of my parents deck in Mattituck, NY.

Through the Window

2010-09-26T15:51:00.006-04:00

When I traveled to Eastern Europe in August 2006, I loved taking pictures through windows. Not only did they provide some of the best views, but the window became an excellent frame for the shot. This is one of my favorites from Prague.

Kane the Boxer

2010-09-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

Our former next-door neighbors have a boxer named Kane. He is absolutely gorgeous - inside and out. I'll often stop by their house when walking Barley to see if Kane is playing outside.

When Barley and Kane first met, they weren't the best of friends. However, the more they interact, the friendlier they're becoming. YAY!

Berries

2010-09-22T18:00:00.000-04:00

Along our walk this weekend, we came across a tree that was growing some sort of berries. Does anyone have an idea of what this pretty tree might be?

It makes me sad that fall (and winter) are just around the corner. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the warm weather of summer!

Namaste

2010-09-21T18:00:00.000-04:00

My friend, Carly, is a yoga master in training. She was nice enough to allow me to take pictures of her practicing her yoga moves on the beach a few weeks ago. We couldn't have selected a better day - the weather was beautiful and the light was gorgeous for the entire shoot.

Carly, you make it look easy.

Pillars

2010-09-19T21:11:00.011-04:00

On Saturday, our small family went for a long walk along the Neponset river. The water was fairly dirty, but the rocks and pillars lining the shore were beautiful.

Fridays with Barley: A New Friend!

2010-09-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

Barley met a new friend on Monday: Ruby the Boxer!

Love It

2010-09-01T21:07:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why it is, but I absolutely love this shot of Rusty water skiing in Maine.

1st Floor Bathroom

2010-08-31T21:00:00.003-04:00

Here's a view into our almost finished 1st floor 1/2 bath. It's really just a large closet.

Fridays with Barley

2010-08-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

I've decided that I'm going to start sharing a little bit of Barley with you on Fridays. I don't know about you, but I think this drool bubble is adorable. Maybe it's because he's my little nugget....?

The Last One

2010-08-24T08:46:00.000-04:00

This "little" guy couldn't hide from the master first mate fillet-er. It's my favorite picture of our fishing expedition, and it definitely deserves it's own post!

Seaman Fishing Expedition

2010-08-22T18:52:00.014-04:00

While we were visiting my parents on Long Island, my father chartered a fishing boat. There were five of us on this adventure: my father, Rusty, myself, my grandfather and my brother. The captain and first mate of the Black Rock were fabulous. We ended up catching at least 200lbs of fish: 11 striped bass and 3 blue fish. I caught a 25lb-er and my dad caught a 30lb-er!

The first mate filleted all of our fish right on the boat. He could make perfect fillets out of each fish in less than a minute. I told him that he should compete against the other mates in the harbor - he would definitely win.

The charter was supposed to be from 4pm until 10pm, but we had caught our quota of fish legally allowed within a few hours, so we headed in early - completely exhausted and totally satisfied with the experience. The sun setting over the boat was the perfect end to an awesome trip. I love fishing!

Through the Weeds

2010-08-18T22:00:00.002-04:00

Taken on Fire Island, NY

GPOYW

2010-08-18T08:49:00.001-04:00

Barley and I snuggling on the couch after a long day of hanging on the beach

A Pug & A Puggle

2010-08-11T21:01:00.014-04:00

While we were in NY, Barley met my Aunt's dogs: a pug named Putter and a puggle named Daisy. For such a cute puppy, Barley doesn't have many doggie friends (we think it's because he isn't yet neutered), but all three of them seemed to be having a wonderful afternoon playing (and in Barley's case: napping) together.

What Kind of Puppy Are You?

I am a French Bulldog Puppy

You are a snuggly little French Bulldog puppy! You like to lounge around, cuddle, and eat treats. You should get a French Bulldog puppy if you want companionship and laughter.

Movie Trivia: Marley & Me
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Plum Island

2010-08-10T21:59:00.002-04:00

Sunsets

2010-08-05T10:38:00.003-04:00

Rusty & I will be traveling to Fire Island, NY this weekend. I used to spend time there almost every summer when I was younger, but now that I've moved to Boston I only get to visit once or twice per year. The sunsets are still some of my favorites :)

Little Sebago Lake: Part 2

2010-08-02T10:08:00.001-04:00

Even though I didn't get much of a tan, the weather was perfect for boating, grilling and being outside.

Little Sebago Lake: Part 1

2010-07-28T20:59:00.001-04:00

This past weekend, Rusty and I headed up to Maine to hang out with some of his buddies from high school. Other than a day trip (maybe once), I've never really been to Maine, but it almost exactly how I imagined it would be: beautiful.

Barley the French Bulldog

2010-07-27T20:20:00.004-04:00

He's the new addition to our family! Rusty and I adopted him on July 10th, 2010 from a breeder in Boston. He's 8 months old and is the cutest little puppy! We call him our little nugget...

Taken with my Canon PowerShot SD400

My Father's Kayaks

2010-07-08T18:55:00.001-04:00

A Little Decoration

2010-07-07T18:51:00.002-04:00

Even the wine glasses at my parent's 4th of July party needed a festive touch.

Fondu-du

2010-07-06T18:15:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Bethany had us over for a Lia Sophia party that her mother was hosting. They made us fondu(-du), mango margaritas and delicious desserts. Everything was so tasty and all the girls had a great time (and dropped a good chunk of coin). It was not only my first fondu(-du) experience but also my first Lia Sophia party. I can't wait for their new line to come out in the fall so I can host my own party! Yay!

Phish Tour 2010: Part II

2010-07-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, NY: 6/19

Instead of driving from Hartford straight to SPAC and hanging out in the lot, we rented a house in Saratoga Springs and spent the entire afternoon before the show grilling, drinking and playing washers/cornhole in the sun. The house had a beautiful backyard complete with a tall fence, small garden, swing set and lots of rather large trees. The weather was absolutely fabulous and I think that everyone had a great time (and obviously the show was epic).

Taken with my Canon PowerShot SD400.

Phish Tour 2010: Part I

2010-06-30T18:04:00.000-04:00

From the lot of the Comcast Center in Hartford, CT: 6/18

Taken with my Canon PowerShot SD400

Before & After

2010-06-29T18:06:00.000-04:00

This weekend, we bought a new grill: The Big Green Egg. It needed a place to live, so Rusty spent his Sunday building a home for our (read: his) new toy.

Before:

After:

Yes, we now have 2 grills (for the time being).

Eggfest 2010

2010-06-28T19:15:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, Rusty and I headed up to New Hampshire to attend the 3rd annual New EGGland Fest to not only eat a ton of amazing BBQ, but also take home our very own Big Green Egg!

Now, we're officially "EGGheads". Sweet.

Garden Update

2010-06-27T17:29:00.013-04:00

Has it really been 2 weeks since my last post? I swear that I've been taking pictures, but have been too busy (read: lazy) to post them. Sorry. So, to make up for my lack of sharing, I'll be posting as much as possible this week. YAY!

To start, here is a short garden update: we have had an official vegetable sighting! While there are a few plants that are flowering, we have 2 little Italian roaster peppers growing on one of our plants. It looks like they're almost doubled in size since yesterday, which is amazing! At this rate, we're going to have some fresh veggies to dine on in no time (hopefully).

Dinner with MmmmMollyMac

2010-06-14T21:44:00.018-04:00

On Sunday evening, we had MmmmMollyMac, her bf, Mike, and our mutual friend, Gretchen, over for dinner. Rusty and I were in charge of meats, Molly in charge of sides and Gretchen was all over dessert.

We had an absolutely fabulous meal consisting of teriyaki chicken, mustard chicken (my mother's recipe), bbq pork loin, greek pasta salad, tomato avocado & feta salad, freshly-made salsa and peanut butter m&m cookies. I had a serious problem with both of the salads...I couldn't stop eating them!

Gretchen: Thanks for letting me keep some of the greek pasta salad for lunch this week. I plan on eating that deliciousness tomorrow. Your peanut butter m&m cookies also hold a special place in my stomach (and I may or may not be eating one right now).

Molly: You're a fabulous salsa and feta, tomato & avocado salad-maker. Even though I don't like cilantro (I swear I'm allergic), I would eat just those items for any meal, anytime. Thanks for coming, and we should definitely do this again soon!

Favorite Meal

2010-06-09T20:47:00.005-04:00

The other night I made something that I absolutely love eating, but rarely do: salmon and spinach. I usually wrap the salmon in foil and bake it in the oven with lemon, salt and pepper. This time I added some cut up grape tomatoes. All the salmon needs is a little side of spinach cooked with garlic and grape tomatoes and I've got a delicious dinner that's pretty dam healthy too.

Lanscaping Finale

2010-06-08T22:20:00.000-04:00

After over a week of not having Internet, I'm excited to finally share the pictures of our new yard! While the landscapers put down hydro seed (which we've been watering twice a day) and planted a rhododendron as well as a dwarf evergreen tree, the carpenter's put in the fence. We're still missing our font gate, but hopefully that will come soon.

As for the vegetable garden in the back, the solar lights and marigolds along the front walkway, the hostas and azaleas in the front....that was all Rusty and I. We're awesome landscapers, obviously.

For our vegetable garden, we planted a variety of different plants including: basil, rosemary, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, watermelon, many different hot peppers, green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, zucchini, squash and cucumber. According to the tags that came with the plants, we should be able to harvest some fruit in as little as 50 days! Here's to hoping that we're able to keep these little plants alive....

Weather

2010-06-07T19:00:00.000-04:00

Taken in Florida with my Canon PowerShot SD400.

Gardening

2010-06-06T16:18:00.010-04:00

On Memorial Day, Rusty and I put on our gardening gloves and planted some lovely things in our yard. I've never done any sort of gardening before, so I must say that I'm pretty proud of our accomplishment!

More pictures of the entire yard to come soon...

Little Feets

2010-05-24T21:31:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Truffles

2010-05-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I made chocolate truffles (recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma) for the series finale of LOST. I first made them for Easter and they've sort of become my "specialty" since then.

It's kind of ironic how I chose a recipe that calls for half the truffles to be coated in powdered sugar and the other half in chocolate (if you're a fan of LOST, you know what I mean).

Landscaping: Day 1

2010-05-19T18:00:00.001-04:00

Not a terribly large difference, but any little bit is better to me! The landscapers took out most of the weeds, making it look more like a yard and less like a jungle.

It Used to be a Jungle Out There...

2010-05-18T18:37:00.007-04:00

Today was the first day that the landscapers came to work on our property. Oh, the excitement! Until this morning, we used to have quite the variety of weeds growing in our yard (which will hopefully soon be replaced by flowers and grass).

My Mother's Piano

2010-05-10T20:52:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I went to see my parents new house in Mattituck, NY. Since their house and property are so gorgeous, I was snapping pictures like crazy. This shot of my mother's baby grand piano is my favorite of the set.

GPOYW

2010-04-28T09:00:00.003-04:00

Rusty and I after escaping torrential downpours in Florida.

Taken with my Canon PowerShot SD400.
(GPOYW = Gratuitous Picture of Yourself Wednesday)

Sandhill Cranes

2010-04-26T20:15:00.008-04:00

While we were playing a round of golf in Florida a few weeks ago, this little sandhill crane family just walked right in front of our cart. It was amazing how close they ventured to us!

Taken with my Canon PowerShot SD400.

Bentley vs. Pace

2010-04-25T22:24:00.009-04:00

This afternoon we watched Rusty's brother (Tom) play on the Bentley lacrosse team vs. Pace. They won 12 to 8 - yay!

Reminds me of the beach

2010-04-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

This potpourri that's in multiple rooms of our house not only smells wonderful, but also makes think of summer (and the beach) every time I see it.

What reminds you of the beach?

Rusty, I apologize

2010-04-21T22:46:00.008-04:00

Sorry Rusty, but I had to post the pictures of the Red Sox Cake...even if you're a Yankees fan (and I root for the Mets).

TYSON!

2010-04-14T22:29:00.001-04:00

My favorite pug ever.

What's their name?

2010-03-31T16:02:00.001-04:00

Update: The mystery is solved! They're pansies :)

My mother bought me these pretty flowers when she came to visit last weekend. I admire them every time I walk in the house, but I have no idea what they're called.

I'm trying the best I can to give them the light and water they need, but I have a hard time keeping an aloe plant alive and healthy, so who knows how long they'll last. I hope it's for a while!

Guinness Cupcakes

2010-03-29T20:33:00.007-04:00

Last night I made Guinness cupcakes (yes, like the beer) with a cream cheese frosting.

They came out tasting more like chocolate than they did Guinness, but they were still pretty tasty. It was my first time making any sort of frosting on my own and I think I hit the nail on the head (thanks to the new stand mixer that my mommy bought me)!

Golf

2010-03-22T22:01:00.001-04:00

This weekend was so warm, that Rusty actually got to play golf on Saturday.

It reminded me that I'd better start thinking about my golf game soon as well, considering that I just got a whole new golf wardrobe in addition to a new set of clubs for Christmas this year...

Sneak Peak!

2010-03-15T21:07:00.014-04:00

Here's a few of my favorites from a recent shoot I did for J. Newbury.

They have the softest (and coolest) shirts ever, and yes, each shirt is drawn, designed, packaged and sent by the founders, J. Spencer & Peter J.!

Buy your ass a shirt here
Check out their blog here

More pictures - and hopefully more shoots - to come soon!

My Two Favorite Models

2010-03-08T22:13:00.011-05:00

Rusty and I headed up to Stratton this weekend to try and do some snowboarding for only the second (and probably last) time this season. Our old roommate, Tom, met us there along with my two favorite models - Rusty's cousin Cassie and her friend, Steph.

Instead of snowboarding on Sunday, Cassie, Steph and I journeyed to Stratton Village and then Manchester for a little coffee, window shopping and another small photo shoot/adventure. They must have bought at least $80 worth of Vermont maple syrup and maple syrup products, which is probably more than I could consume in 10 years.

Even though I only boarded one day this weekend, and only twice this season, I had a great time and can't wait for the next time Cassie & Steph come to play! YAY!

It's Official

2010-02-16T21:28:00.005-05:00

Rusty and I are finally home-owners!

Lilly Pads

2010-02-08T21:43:00.003-05:00

Here are a few lily pads to take my mind off of the impending snow storm that's supposed to hit on Wednesday....

Taken at the Atlantis in the Bahamas, May 2008. I wish I was back there now!

An Old Favorite

2010-02-01T22:23:00.003-05:00

Austin, TX 2008

Pendant Lights

2010-01-24T21:54:00.005-05:00

I love the two pendant lights that hang over our kitchen breakfast bar!

2nd Floor Bathroom

2010-01-14T21:07:00.007-05:00

It's still a little dusty, but we absolutely love our new second floor bathroom.

It even has a toilet now!

It also has a shower, but I was standing in it to take the picture.

Puerto Rico

2010-01-12T21:03:00.001-05:00

At around 9pm on a Friday evening in January 2008, my dad asked me if I wanted to go to Puerto Rico. At 10pm, I was calling my boss to get days off and booking a my plane ticket to fly out at 6am the next morning. It was such a last-minute trip, but it was so worth it.

We stayed at a resort on the ocean, and although I've been to Puerto Rico many times before, this was the first time that I was able to stay and enjoy it's beautiful beaches.

Lasagna

2010-01-10T21:41:00.009-05:00

On Sundays, Rusty and I usually like to cook a big, gluttonous meal while watching football/baseball/basketball/(insert Sunday night sports game here). Between Christmas, New Years and the new house, we've been so busy that tonight was the first time since early December that we've had time to cook our standard Sunday meal, and we decided on lasagna.

I absolutely love lasagna, but have never made it myself - until tonight. It was fairly easy to make and we are both pretty happy about the way it turned out. Of course it was only Rusty and I eating dinner, but we made an entire tray of it anyway. I know that I'll be having a lasagna lunch for the next couple of days, but is anyone down for a leftover lasagna dinner party?

First Floor Built-in

2010-01-04T22:21:00.005-05:00

It's almost complete - just waiting for some more decorative trim around the edges and a big 'ole 50" plasma mounted right in the middle. Now we'll have room to display all of the books that have been living in the basement for the past 2 years.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T16:05:00.003-05:00

From Florida!

Houston, we have a kitchen

2009-12-20T21:08:00.007-05:00

Sort of. This past week our granite counter tops and kitchen sink were installed. I really love the way that the light granite contrasts with the dark cabinets!

The plumbing is scheduled to be hooked up this week, as are the heat and light fixtures.

Men at work...

2009-12-15T09:18:00.005-05:00

in our new master bathroom!

Can't wait to start using that jacuzzi tub come January!

Christmas Tree

2009-12-14T21:21:00.006-05:00

We got our Christmas tree last week and I'm super excited about it! This year it's living between the TV and the fish tank. Rusty hates the large, colorful lights from the 80's that break when you touch them. There's only 1 strand left and only about 5 or 6 of them actually light up. I think that we broke a few while hanging them this year.

Sitting on the top of the tree is our "angel", which my grandmother bought for me at a church craft fair years ago (she's made out of a tin can). I absolutely love her, and even though Rusty doesn't like her much, we'll be keeping her until we have a real angel to put on top.

Most of the ornaments that we have are hand-me-downs from my parent's old tree, with the exception of a few. Even though they're old, it's still fun to hang them on the tree because they hold a lot of childhood memories. I look forward to our Christmas tree every year!

Home Sweet Boston

2009-12-10T21:55:00.013-05:00

About a month ago, Rusty's cousin (Cassie) and her friends (Steph & Mary) came to visit us in Boston. I happily followed Cassie and Steph during their Freedom Trail expedition and was their personal tour guide/paparazzi (even though their map was more helpful than I was).

I have never walked the Freedom Trail before (and I've lived here for over 5 years now) and I didn't realize how many graveyards there were along the route and how eerily beautiful they are.

The journey was more strenuous than I had imagined. Next time I'll definitely need to stretch or something - and I only walked half of it!

After all that walking we did during the day, we ended up in Faneuil Hall for dinner, drinks and the tree lighting.

By the end of the weekend, I was exhausted, sore and totally worn out...but I had an absolutely fabulous time and can't wait for their next visit!

Thanksgiving in Florida

2009-12-07T21:53:00.012-05:00

I know it's a little late, but here are some shots from our Floridian Thanksgiving.

The menu included all the usual: 1.5 turkeys, candied yams, mashed potatoes, corn pudding (my absolute favorite), green beans, Brussels sprouts, both apple and pumpkin pie and a ton of wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages.

Everyone came hungry and left full - and we got to eat Thanksgiving dinner for the next four nights! I love Thanksgiving.

Mow Cake

2009-12-06T14:42:00.006-05:00

Bethany made this cake for Lauren's joint birthday surprise party with her mother.

Mow sat on top of the cake and looked just like she does in real life.

I really loved the pink beading that bordered the bottom of the cake. It was so cute!

Thanksgiving...

2009-11-19T11:00:00.002-05:00

In exactly one week, it will be Thanksgiving. I'll be in Florida eating delicious meals, playing golf, fishing, going to the beach and getting a tan. I can't wait!

Colorado

2009-11-16T20:45:00.006-05:00

I've only been to Colorado once, and I had such a good time that I'd love to go back. I've never seen such vast skies and such brilliant colors in the landscape - it was absolutely gorgeous!

10.24.06

2009-11-16T19:53:00.014-05:00

When I was in college, I liked to take my little point and shoot camera down to Fresh Pond in Watertown, MA to take some pictures of the ducks, trees and overall scenery (and to get away from campus). These are from way back in the day - October 24th, 2006. I really loved the way that the fall leaves contrasted with the sky...

Reading Area

2009-11-12T21:41:00.011-05:00

We have a "reading" area on our second floor landing that's basically the result of excess furniture when we moved in 14 months ago.

The table is home to a small turtle lamp, a small turtle statue, a small trinket-y game, and some fake flowers.

I don't think I've ever sat in that yellow chair once since we've been in this house, but I really love how the colors brighten up the hallway.

Firenze

2009-11-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite shots from Florence (October 2008):

Besides Venice, Florence is my favorite Italian city.