Historic Series: Mill Pond Park

19 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Historic Places

Tags

animals, bellmore, bellmore patch, ducks, historic, history, lake, long island, mill pond park, nassau county, nature, new york, patch, photography, swans, trees

When I first starting writing for the Bellmore Patch, I wanted to write about a place with hidden beauty. I ventured out to the water in hopes of getting some nice views of the East Bay. I am sure anyone from Bellmore can understand my frustration when I realized those views were only blocked by private homes. I drove around for almost an hour and decided to head back. On my way home I passed Mill Pond Park. I stopped immediately.

Being that it was a nice day, I was excited to check out the lake and capture some nice shots. It was around 4:30 p.m. and the sun was just starting to set. The light that glimmered off the water and against the trees was really beautiful. The park had a sense of peace, which I found appealing. I found it interesting that when I turned back I could see the many cars that passed on Merrick Road yet I felt like I was in another world. This 54-acre preserve seemed like a nice place to walk, sit, read or just simply appreciate what mother nature has given us.

I slowly walked up the path to the right of the lake and fell in love with the trees. One of my favorite characters of nature, trees carry such knowledge and warmth. They see everything before them and hear the sounds that surround them. The detail on some of these particular trees were captivating. History was telling its story right in front of me and I was taking it all in.

Ducks, geese and swans call the Mill Pond home and they are such a delight to be around. There was a small group by the path I had to capture with my camera. They were so calm and comfortable that it almost seemed they were unaware of their surroundings. I soon realized that they noticed I was there and kept an eye on what I was doing.

On the other side of the lake it was slightly a different story. There must have been almost 100 ducks in the water and although they weren’t loud they were much more active. At some point they made me laugh because of their silliness. I find it amusing how they communicate and play. Just another reason to visit Mill Pond Park.

From what I have learned, this pond has been there for more than 100 years. After looking at a 1914 historic map, it seemed it was owned by the Brooklyn City Water Works like most ponds in the area. New York City received most of its water from these ponds during this time. Although the Brooklyn City Water Works is not there anymore, you can still visit the small pumping station northwest of the pond.

A 1927 map of Nassau County has it marked as Jones Pond. That, I assume, was named after S. J. Jones considering his name was listed on the map next to the pond. After some time it was also named after Thomas Jones. It was later acquired by Nassau County in 1967. Thanks to Clarence Anspake, president of The Historical Society of Bellmore, all my findings were confirmed as well as learning some new and interesting facts about the area.

As you look at my photos, try to imagine that this is the first time you are seeing the park. Take your own inspiration from what my lens has captured and gain a new appreciation for what it has to offer. A little peace and quiet is not all Mill Pond Park is good for. With its naturalistic beauty and a setting far from reality you can surely find a new and improved sense of self and unique view on the world around you.

Festival Favorites from Mag Rouge

13 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

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Alma Photography, Annabella Charles, antique, australia, Benjamin and Elise, Braedon Flynn, Brumley and Wells, Calamigos Ranch, california, fabric, floral, flowers, Flowerwild, Haute Horticulture, Jose Villa, Kate Holland, Leaf & Honey, mag rouge, Mindy Rice Floral Design, nature, pastels, Ruby and Willow, rustic, Sutherland Kovach Studio, Tanja Lippert, The Piccadilly Flower Company, vintage, weddings

Yesterday I was in awe as I looked through the fourth issue of Mag Rouge. What a beautiful collection of festival goodness, nature inspired weddings and stunning florals. If you are planning a wedding then Mag Rouge is a great resource for inspiration as it never lets you down.

With the collaboration of Kate, Jasmine, Hannah and Judit, this production is a well designed mag with unique inspiration, awesome resources and superb wedding submissions. This team of highly talented women are some of the best in the industry I have seen, and I look at a lot of wedding material and websites. It’s not often I get impressed with events or ideas but every time I open the new issue of Mag Rouge, I get inspired. Here are my favorites from the current edition. I hope you love them as much as I do.

{You can view this issue on the Mag Rouge website}

Floral Arrangement by Kate of Flowerwild | Photography & Styling by Jose Villa

This next event was held at the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, the wedding of Jane and Steve. I fell in love with their vast array of pastels and amazing location. It seems they had the most wonderful weather as well. What a stunning event.

Photography by Tanja Lippert

Photography and Styling by Brumley and Wells

Besides a lot of other things I love about this next Australian wedding, the bride and groom showed a sense of endearment for the Earth and made sure this event reflected who they both were.

Photography by Alma Photography

Photography by Benjamin and Elise | Florals & Styling by The Piccadilly Flower Company

My favorite thing about this next formal California wedding is how they used the black in their decor. Besides showing a timeless elegance, the pops of the dark hues played off the white and pastel florals nicely creating a dramatic yet not overdone look.

Photography by Braedon Flynn | Florals by Mindy Rice Floral Design

I adore this Mag Rouge shoot filled with ideas on how to use fabric in your event. Nice inspiration for colors and styling as well.

Photography by Sutherland Kovach Studio | Styling by Ruby and Willow

Bouquet by Leaf & Honey

Photography & Styling by Kate Holland

Photography by Annabella Charles | Floral Stylist, Haute Horticulture

Fall Colors in the Home

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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autumn, brown, color, cream, fall, home, house, interior design, nature, neutrals, purple, red

Well it feels like fall is officially here. It’s a season with tons of inspiration, especially its colors. How can you not love the many hues that are showcased by nature? It truly is a beautiful time. It’s also a great time change it up a bit in your home. Besides having fun decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, try sprucing up your interior space with fall colors and inspiration.

Here are some great examples I found on Better Homes and Gardens’ website of how to use this season’s colors to create warmth and coziness in your home while still having a designed feel.

Using the neutral tones of nature such as browns and creams with a pop of color like red, gives a sophisticated but fun look to a space. Bring in high contrast elements such as the mirrors and lamp and you add more dimension and a way for light to reflect its shine. This helps make the room lighter and airy.

This nature inspired space showcases all the neutral tones of the season with a few brighter colors for interest. You can see there is a nice even feel to the room. This is due to the different browns and yellows that are used. Everything flows nicely and the space is cozy despite the high ceiling. All the wood textures help as well.

I love the texture in this room. The linen wallpaper adds so much warmth and interest and plays as a nice backdrop to the deeper colors in the space. From the dark brown wicker chair to the taupe couch, the amount of different tones allow the eye to be carried around with ease. The pops of red and orange are nice, especially since they aren’t bright. Everything has the same tone which gives the space a sense of cohesion.

This next room proves you can use an array of shades of one color and still have an interesting space. Doing this allows a feeling of warmth and relaxation. The creams help break up the darker browns in a subtle way.

Creams and browns will always give a space a sophisticated look while creating a cozy feel. I love how this space is airy and open but warm as well. The rustic elements such as the chandelier, beams and textured wood chosen for the door, truly add a woodsy yet elegant style.

When pairing dark colors together such as this eggplant purple and brick red, its important to remember to include brighter hues and reflective elements to help break up the space.

For more inspiration, check out more successful rooms on Better Homes and Gardens.

Our Vintage Farm Wedding

07 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Real Weddings, Weddings

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Tags

animals, antique, barn, country, dancing, dr suess, earth, eco friendly, farm, flowers, garden, hitherto, ivory, lord of the rings, may, natural, nature, new york, organic, queens, queens county farm museum, rust jewelry, spring, vegan, vegetarian wedding, vintage, vows, wedding, winnie the pooh

Daniel and I shared our vows on May 20, 2012 on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Our wedding was held at The Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park where the surroundings are natural, rustic, earthy and filled with beautiful animals. This farm was close to our hearts as we fell in love with it the minute we saw it. Not only was it the backdrop for our wedding but a main character as well.

I had put so much time and work into this day. You see, I designed and created everything from the decor to our bouquets and pretty much planned it all out with Dan by my side. This was my chance to put together an event that was 100% Danny and I and you can bet I was excited. Even though we didn’t have a large budget, I felt our style and my aesthetic truly shined and us as a couple were represented flawlessly. We both give thanks to our families who helped make it all happen and our friends who happily accepted to play a part in our special day.

Our wedding was very much thought out and all the details clearly show that. We made sure our natural lifestyle and love for the Earth was a main focus. From the recycled paper I used to print the invites, programs and table charts to the favors which guests could plant, we chose to be good to the planet. Our vegetarian menu expressed that as well. We both felt it was important our wedding represented who we are as well as creating a beautiful and organic environment for our guests to enjoy.

The morning of, Dan and I along with my best friend and maid of honor, Meg, arrived at the farm bright and early to set up. Although there were a number of complications and less hands than we planned, we did our best to get everything situated as fast as we can. Since the venue was 45 minutes away from our house we only had a few hours to finish up.

Well, a few hours turned into more hours than we thought and the morning was very much rushed. Let’s just say we all sped home way past the speed limit and got ready like clockwork with Dan heading off to his parents and Meg and I taking turns getting our makeup done. My hair was being curled by my Grandmother and Meg at the same time while my friend Jen was creating my flawless face. Meg wasn’t even done when we left because we were going to be late! Due to time, we couldn’t have our first look shoot at the house either which was a bummer. But off we went determined and anxious.

As our guests waited outside in our ceremony space, which was adorned with burlap and vintage fabric I had purchased on Etsy, the girls and I got dressed inside the barn. My mother wore a garden inspired dress from Anthropologie while Meg looked beautiful in a navy dress from JCrew. My flower girl and Meg’s daughter, Leona Faye, was absolutely adorable in her plaid dress and sandals, showing off a french braid done by my mother. I wore a Hitherto ivory sweater and ivory lace skirt along with Lulu Townsend heels. Azaara earrings graced my ears showing a little shine, a crystal bow and my love for pearls.

Then it was time to walk out and meet my future husband. As we stepped out of the barn and began our little journey over to the pavilion, I was taken back by the visitors that surrounded me, it was surely a busy day at the farm. I had great excitement to finally share our vows before our dear friends and family.

My good friend, Hernan Feraci, played an original song he wrote for us on guitar as I walked down alongside my mother. My eco-conscious bouquet was mix of pink peonies, white and pink daises and button mums, held together with ivory vintage lace and the vintage key Dan gave me during our engagement. Meg’s bouquet featured hydrangeas along with the same as mine while Leona sprinkled dried pastel hydrangea petals down the aisle.

{These were the only natural elements we used that were taken from the Earth so I made sure they were whole trade and eco certified}

The groom wore gray plaid pants from Banana Republic with a wool plaid bow tie from JCrew and gray suspenders while the best man, his brother Nick, wore all gray with an ASOS vest and a JCrew wool plaid tie. Those are two handsome guys!

As our officiant, Mona Gulino, proceeded with the ceremony, we shared teary eyes, smiles and laughs with our guests. Filled with personal readings, chosen quotes from Winnie the Pooh and Dr. Seuss and a small dedication to my mother, aunt and grandmother, it was pure joy to stand by Dan and vow to love him forever. We shared custom vows typed on vintage paper and before we knew it we were husband and wife!

Proceeding the ceremony, everyone joined us in the barn for cocktail hour. We wanted to have light and healthy food served before dinner because it wasn’t long for meal time. Our guests found their place by the table charts I created and each were greeted by an earth friendly favor they could plant anywhere they chose. The tables featured various mini garden centerpieces I put together, each adorned with twine and a vintage key. Vintage fabric was used throughout the space on all the tables and all of the jars and birdcage where items from our collection.

We had natural soda pop as well as iced tea and lemonade as refreshments. Wine and beer were served table side along with the yummy food before dinner.

Dan and I danced to Under the Milky Way by The Church which spun into Two of Hearts by Stacey Q to get everyone up and dancing. We both handpicked the playlists for the event to make sure the music we loved was a character as well. Our DJ, my friends brother Joey, filled the room with good vibes and bangin beats. There was a mix of 80s, dance, some goodies from the 90s and instrumental tunes. Our favorite bands were showcased gloriously. And as you can see I was very excited to get the party started!

From there, we all danced, ate and had a great time. We had an open buffet of vegetarian italian options along with salads and breads, all served on bamboo plates. The weather was perfect and I was so happy to see all our guests explore the farm grounds. This venue is truly a playground for love, joy and happiness. Dan’s brother gave a great speech, which I missed while in the bathroom!, and everyone loved. Good thing I was able to watch it on our video thanks to my good friend Craig who filmed the whole reception.

I was also thrilled everyone attacked the cupcakes which we ordered from Georgetown Cupcake. They are the best! We also set up a little candy bar and served fresh fruit and italian cookies for dessert.

Although the day went by so fast, I will always cherish the special moments and all our friends and family who came and became a big part of making it a success. It was surely a day to remember. Now my best friend is my husband and 3 months later I can look back and say we created a fabulous day full of love. What more could a girl ask for 🙂

Event Details:
Makeup by Jennifer Lombardo
Officiant – Mona Gulino
DJ- DJ Ello, Joseph Mondello
Catering by Buona sera
Cupcakes by Georgetown Cupcake, NYC
Filmed by Craig Webb, What! Productions
Photography by Lauren Elle
Wedding Bands: {Melissa} Rust, England & {Dan} official Lord of the Rings ring