Excerpt – Sip & Shop 2025

Our 5th annual Sip & Shop felt like a celebration of friendship and tradition. This year my longtime friend Traci joined us—someone who’s been part of our lives since we first moved to Canandaigua nearly 30 years ago. After a long, laughter-filled brunch at Simply Crêpes with boozy coffees and mimosa flights, we wandered downtown, visiting every boutique and giving a little business to each shop we passed. The day was less about shopping and more about honoring the rituals and friendships that have carried us through decades of adventures

Kindred Spirits - A magical storybook-themed baby shower filled with joy, warmth, imagination, and family — a celebration that felt like stepping into the first chapter of a new life.

Kindred Spirits - A Halloween getaway to historic Gettysburg — Gettysburg at Halloween feels like stepping into a historic ghost story wrapped in small-town fall charm — atmospheric, playful, and quietly magical.

A joyful Quebec family reunion on Lake Baldwin, where Bailey met the whole extended family for the first time. We spent the day kayaking, swimming, playing games, enjoying a pig roast, and reconnecting — then took the long scenic route home through Vermont and the small towns we once loved.

A spring getaway to Hershey and Gettysburg — staying at the historic Londonderry Inn, meeting Trace and Shayna for dinner, exploring downtown Hershey and the Gettysburg Battlefield, hosting a cozy Indian takeout dinner with friends, and celebrating Jai’s birthday in a meaningful, relaxed gathering.

Sip & Shop – A Cozy Winter Tradition With Friends

A whirlwind double-wedding weekend: hosting Trace and Shayna’s backyard wedding after a summer of renovations (and a last-minute plumbing disaster), losing and miraculously finding a cherished family necklace, dancing late into the night — then driving to Saratoga Springs the next morning to celebrate Kevin and Meredith’s elegant golf-club wedding. One long, unforgettable celebration of love and family.

Cape Cod Weekend & Meredith’s Bridal Shower — Jul 2024

A girls’ weekend on Cape Cod with Diane: staying at the Lighthouse Inn, biking the Cape’s beautiful coastal trails, cocktails with Meredith’s sisters, and celebrating her bridal shower before a fun night out. A perfect blend of friendship, celebration, and seaside adventure.

Shayna’s Tea Party Bridal Shower — Canandaigua, NY - June 2024
Hosted an Edwardian-inspired tea party bridal shower in a historic home with floral dresses, fancy hats, antique tea cups, a high-tea menu, and a costumed fortune-telling medium. A whimsical, elegant celebration welcoming Shayna into our family with love.

Holidays at Home — Our First Christmas With Shayna

A quiet, cozy Christmas at home with Trace and his fiancée Shayna — cooking, movies, games, gifts, and the beginning of new family traditions.

A Halloween Night on the Hill — Costumes, Hayrides, and a Porch Party

A festive Halloween with Trace, Shayna, her mom, and our friends — costumes, a haunted hayride at Lincoln Hill Farms, and a cozy porch party full of laughter, dancing, and fall magic.

Diane’s 60th Rodeo — A Saratoga Celebration

A cowboy-themed 60th birthday in Saratoga Springs — complete with a glam makeover, rainstorm laughter, family joy, and the unforgettable moment when Diane learned she would soon be a grandmother.

Fourth of July on Canandaigua Lake — Our Annual Floating Family

Our long-standing July 4th tradition at Kershaw Park and on Canandaigua Lake — boats, floats, food, and a whole community of friends celebrating summer together.

We spent a beautiful spring weekend in Boiling Springs, PA with Shayna for her first wedding dress shopping trip, and we turned it into a full luxury getaway. We stayed at the Allenberry Resort—an unexpected gem that I’ve returned to many times since—complete with peaceful grounds, an onsite spa, and incredible dining. After brunch in Carlisle and a joyful morning of dress shopping, we indulged in massages and facials for a full spa party. It was a relaxing, meaningful weekend filled with good food, laughter, and the excitement of watching Shayna begin her wedding journey.