Traveling to…Lake George

“Life is for deep kisses, strange adventures, midnight swims and rambling conversations.”

I stumbled upon this quote this morning and it instantly spoke to me. Life, especially summer, is about carefree adventures and relaxing days surrounded by people who make you happy. I had such a wonderful weekend in Lake George with my best friend and her family, as always. It wasn’t an adventure-outdoorsy weekend, but it was relaxing, filled with laughs and great conversations, plus some good bonding over wedding plans. It is just so absolutely breathe-taking being completely surrounded by the lake no matter where you turn. I can see why so many people from different parts of the country travel here to take it in, and how if you were fortunate to grow up here you don’t want to be anywhere else. I decided that in my future life, one of my goals is to have a summer home in Lake George, days on the lake, fresh food eaten outside and nights of stargazing by the fire with loved ones. Yes, it is the beauty of nature that draws me in but it’s also the fact you can walk outside and do so much. You don’t feel pressured to look or act a certain way, but yourself.

Girl’s night in watching True Blood with red wine in hand and delicious Italian food from Victoria’s family restaurant, Giuseppe’s. The perfect pairings for a night in with your best friend. It’s the simplest days that are the most comforting.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo…one of my absolute favorite shrimp dishes. Light sauce, slightly spicy, garlicky with a burst of freshness!

You know we’re European with our glasses filled with red wine and olive oil mixed with balsamic to dip our freshly baked, still warm, Italian bread.

Tortellini with shrimp topped with a lemon francese sauce…so light!

We visited several potential venues for the wedding and decided with The Franklin Plaza. It was a historical bank, but the inside dripped with a timeless beauty. We walked inside and immediately felt regal. This was the first thing we saw when we walked in…the detail is impeccable. It’s going to be an absolutely beautiful wedding, and I cannot wait to embark on this journey and be a part of this day with my best friend.

Crystal chandeliers hung from dreamy sky painted ceilings throughout the venue.

 Old bank vault used as the modern coat room

I just loved the architecture of this ceiling..the peeling color, the detail…just stunning!

The Bride and Groom’s chair at another venue we visited…fell in love. I need this in my home!

It’s so unique seeing these historical rooms being converted and used now. This vault was located in Key Hall, part of the Proctor’s Theatre. There’s something so magical about old-time theaters that bring you back to another era.

Our growling stomachs led us to a cobblestone street with small vintage and speciality shops, including this one filled with gourmet tasty treats from all over the world. Shops like this make me happy, you see such unique items, whose manufacturers pride themselves on using local products. You know the food is always delicious in places like this, including my Goat Cheese and Mushroom flatbread with Roasted Red Peppers and Reduced Balsamic Vinegar. I was so hungry I didn’t manage to capture of picture of this heavenly lunch before. I also picked up Chardonnay White Wine Peanut Brittle, can’t wait to try it!

The day ended with a visit to Villa Italia Pasticceria, a bakery that brings you to Italy, even with an authentic scooter showcased in the window. Custard filled pastries aren’t usually my favorite but the Sfogliatelle {usually known as a Lobster tail} was luring me, I couldn’t resist and I’m glad I didn’t. The puff pastry was light and flaky, and the custard wasn’t too heavy, just the way it should be! I also picked up a little chocolate custard filled tart, perfect chocolate and vanilla combination.

One of the most spectacular moments of my weekend was watching the bright orange moon rise over the mountains as we ate our dinner over the lake. Just beautiful!

The travel home was filled with rain, thunder and traffic..very similar to the moods we were feeling in the car, but it was still a great weekend for all. This upcoming week is going to be a busy one, and I’ll be making some important life decisions {I’m hopefully embarking on an exciting new journey in my life} but at that very moment the colors in the sky filled me with courage, peace and happiness!!

{diana}