MarkessaXO.com

Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T23:07:00.000-08:00

I let Aliyah stay home from school today to share a moment that would be forever written in history. As we sat glued to the TV, I tried my best to give age appropriate explanations to what was going on. It really made me wish I retained some of the stuff I learned in junior high social studies, stuff that every American should just know - eek! Aliyah was such a great sport. We set our alarms to wake up at 6 something in the am to make rally posters for the parade. She took notes the whole time and later wrote a report/journal entry on what took place and how she felt about it. I was totally impressed.

I can honestly say that I have never been so hopeful, so inspired, and so PROUD to be an American. And though I realize it will not be change overnight, I am optimistic and confident that we are definitely taking a step in the right direction.

{{{SQUEELS!}}}

2008-12-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

I just got an {early} christmas gift from the hubs! It's something I have been wanting for a long time.

{{{MORE SQUEELS!}}}

to be continued...

Obsessed...

2008-12-01T00:09:00.000-08:00

...with Twilight... in the same manner a 14 year girl would be... my apologies to all.... i honestly can't help it... in the same manner a 14 year old girl can't.

Turkey Thoughts

2008-11-28T23:47:00.000-08:00

I love thanksgiving for the simple fact that it is probably the only holiday which has remained somewhat un-commercialized. Sure you spend loads of time at the grocery store the days before but that's different because you're buying food for family dinner. Thanksgiving is about spending time with people you care about and people you are thankful for, and my thanksgiving was nothing short of that.

Holidays are BIG in my family, so we make a BIG deal out of them. If not for holidays, every day would be the same as the next so we make it a point to celebrate each and every one of them, to create memories that serve as milestones in our journey through life.

A lot of thought went into this year's dinner. My sister and I spent weeks putting together a menu and envisioning a set up that would qualify this year as the best thanksgiving EVER.
Here are some pics of our table. (We prepped for 19 people this year! whew!)

This holiday also marks the beginning of my most favorite time of the year! I absolutely LOVE the holiday season and everything about it! Hope you all had a blessed thanksgiving :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-11-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Andrea from Hula Seventy, recently made a "list" post called 100 things in the world i love. It was such a delight to read that I thought I'd make my own list. I tried to leave the fam out of it because I could have listed 70+ things that were all husband/family related! They are the real loves of my life!
Anyways, here they are... 100 things in the world i love ♥

1. New York City
2. pajama pants
3. scavenger hunts
4. tupperware
5. custom closets
6. pretty stationery
7. travel guides
8. peanut butter
9. No. 2 Pencils
10. transition words
11. baby hands and feet
12. candles
13. diaries
14. photography
15. family traditions
16. bargains
17. the blogosphere
18. holiday decor
19. county fairs
20. planners and calendars
21. wine glasses
22. well traveled luggage
23. water balloons
24. gift wrap
25. postcards
26. hair spray
27. potlucks
28. little black dresses
29. sequels
30. dryer sheets
31. cultural dance
32. chopped fruit
33. lip gloss
34. decorative pillows
35. library books
36. Jon & Kate plus 8
37. thrift stores
38. catalogs
39. excel spreadsheets
40. pool loungers
41. layered clothing
42. massages
43. athlete-inspired commercials
44. pearls
45. reusable shopping bags
46. calligraphy
47. dioramas
48. pizza night
49. pinatas
50. jump ropes
51. rollie pollies
52. bobby pins
53. photo booths
54. road trips
55. piggy banks
56. picnics
57. throw blankets
58. collages
59. jackets
60. email
61. greeting cards
62. white out
63. interior design
64. scripture
65. twinkle lights
66. lace
67. playing cards
68. golf carts
69. flavored water
70. fabric scissors
71. museums
72. file folders
73. fun facts
74. craft projects
75. paper towels
76. business cards
77. the swiffer mop
78. moisturizer
79. bottle caps
80. backpacks
81. children songs
82. winter
83. hair dye
84. home videos
85. baked goods
86. worn in jeans
87. postage stamps
88. gift registries
89. garment bags
90. double stick tape
91. passport stamps
92. social studies
93. classic movies
94. paper clips
95. semi-homemade cooking
96. new wallets
97. baseball games
98. photo albums
99. post its
100. making lists

Man, I just realized how quirky I am! I closed my eyes and thought about it for about 30 seconds before starting and then it took me like a whole 2 minutes to write this. I could've easily written a couple more hundred! YIKES!

Stand Up, Speak Up, VOTE!

2008-11-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

Don't let the threat of rain or long lines shy you away from one of the most important elections in our lifetime! Today is the day to stand up and make you voice heard! In California you have till 8pm tonight to vote. Check with your local registrar of voters for info on where to vote and approximate wait times. Here is the link for the Orange County registrar's site.

See ya at the polls :)

Cupcakes score BIG TIME!

2008-10-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Uh... YES PLEASE!

These perfect looking football cupcakes that we ordered for my nephew's football game easily made Kelly from Once Upon a Cupcake one of my new favorite people! It is not my first experience with them and it definitely DEFINITELY won't be my last!

I honestly can think of endless reasons to gift someone with these delicious treats but if I ever am lacking on creativity, I can just turn to her blog full of eye candy and drool worthy gift ideas. Kelly bakes out of her home in South Orange County. She can make cupcakes for all occassions, including weddings! Check out her blog for more yummy details :)

IT'S HERE!

2008-10-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the logo below to check out the new V3 Wedding & Events Blog with pictures from our most recent wedding! And stay tuned the launch of our new website premiering later this week :)

I will still be blogging personal entries here and wedding related posts on the V3 blog.

xoxo,

Vanessa ♥

Vanessa 3.0

2008-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Today is my 26th birthday. I woke up early this morning on a mission to complete something I absolutely could not put off for one more day. It's been over 4 months since we got married and I had still not changed my last name! And while the social security office and the DMV might not be the most glamorous place to celebrate a birthday, I am thrilled to report that I am now officially Mrs. Vanessa Valenciano Vazquez, or V3 as my husband calls me. (Longest name EVER!) But at least today when people ask me how it feels to be 26, I can say that I feel accomplished :)

I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog posts but I have so much good stuff coming up in the very near future so please stay tuned. I am so excited for this new year! So much is in store for the 3.0 version of me :)

Seriously.

2008-10-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Probably my biggest pet peeve is when people don't vote. One of my very good friends does not want to vote in this election because she "does not follow politics" (GRRR!) but I cannot stress to her enough, that its the issues they may or may not represent which is most important! With all that is abruptly going down these days, it would almost be a crime NOT to vote.

The deadline to register to vote in California is just one week away. Voter registration by mail must be postmarked by October 20th. You can visit this link here to find more information about how to register in your state. Wherever you stand on the issues, make your voice heard! If you don't want to listen to me, maybe you will listen to Leo and friends ;)

Say Hello to My Not-So-Little Friend

2008-09-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Confession: I didn't even want a dog. It wasn't that I don't adore the four legged friends, but Mark and I weren't even living together yet and I knew I would get stuck taking care of one, feeding it, potting training it, parenting it. Truth be told, I wasn't ready to be a mommy. Mark, on the other hand, couldn't live another day without one. Every night he would come over and research the heck out of different breeds and post pictures on my desktop. This is typical of my husband when he wants something.

One day he actually got me to agree to just "go look" at one with him. If you are smarter than I am, then you know what happened next. It was a classic story of girl meets puppy, girl can't put puppy down, puppy has found himself a new home. Yes, I am a sucker, but this is what I was up against...

He stole my heart in such a way that if I couldn't have him, a piece of me would have just died right there. But luckily, this was all in Mark's master scheme and we were actually not just there for a visit, but to pick up our new puppy and take him home! He was so so tiny! Here we are on his first field trip outdoors.

Though the first few days/weeks/months were tough and chaotic, Diezel (named after Mark's favorite basketball player, Shaq Diezel) brought so much joy to our family and became a much needed playmate for my nephew's dog who was also living with us.

Fast forward 3 years later and you would hardly recognize my little lap dog. Diezel is... uh, well, here's Diezel...

Clearly, he has grown. And so has our relationship. I would describe our current relationship like that of a big sister and her pesky little brother. He gets in to all my stuff, wants whatever I am eating, and follows me all around the house to the point where I am constantly tripping over him. Just like a little brother, he can be quite a little nuisance, but just like a little brother, I love him. We always celebrate this day every year because this is the day we became a party of 3. Happy anniversary Diezel!

A Birthday Gift from Disney!

2008-09-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

While I might have to argue whether Disneyland is indeed the happiest Place on Earth, I will not argue with their current promotion I got in my email this morning. Between September 18th and an undisclosed date (just do it now!), visitors can sign up to receive free admission to one of the Disney theme parks on your 2009 birthday! I read through the FAQs and the offer seems pretty straight forward. Anyone can sign up; I just registered the hubs and I and thought you guys might share in my excitement! Check it out HERE :)

It might not be my #1 happiest place, but I sure do look geekishly happy the last time I was there!

*Yup, thats me... the 3rd Minnie ears from the left!

Bittersweet Goodbye

2008-09-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year. Time to unload the beach mats out of my trunk, time to properly cover and store the pool loungers, time to say goodbye to Summer. I went in to full comptemplative mode today when I realized that this may be the last summer in our "family home." (We are currently selling my mom's house.) While there are great things in store for all of us, I realized that this home houses the pool that each of my nieces and nephews learned to swim in. Every summer I have had the pleasure of witnessing their progress, their fancy dives, and their innovative pool games, and I am pleased to report that even the youngest of the bunch now jumps in the water without hesitation. (It is quite a sight to see a 2 year old with no fear what so ever of the deep end; its actually a little frightening!)
Here is my final farewell to summer and the pool that has harmoniously brought so much joy to our family...

Today marks the first day of autumn. While it is hard to say goodbye to the long, sunshine-filled days of summer, I have to admit I am a huge fan of fall! I love everything about it and though I will miss our pool days, I welcome the change of the season with open arms!

Tagged!

2008-09-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Andrea, has blog tagged me! I was told to fill out the questions below and then tag 4 other people. Game on :)

4 things I did today
*Had lunch and a therapeutic brain dump with my wonderful husband
*Paid a little visit to one of new favorite people, Kelly at Once Upon a Cupcake (separate post with details to follow!)
*Got invited by Kerrie to the Ceremony Magazine party next week!
*Cleaned out my email *If you emailed me at the markessaxo domain earlier this week, I just got it today for some reason. I believe I have answered all emails so if you didn't get a reply, please resend! Thanks!

4 things on my to do list
*Bridesmaid dress shopping for my cousin's wedding :)
*Get a desperately needed haircut
*Launch my website
*Plan our next vacation

4 of my guiltiest pleasures:
*Checking my blackberry/email
*Snacking when I'm not necessarily hungry, BAD habit!
*Jon & Kate Plus 8! reruns
*Spoiling my nieces and nephews

4 random facts about me:
*I am a total wimp when it comes to horror movies. I won't even watch the previews. I think the last scary movie I watched was the Blair Witch Project and it gave me nightmares for days :(
*I have never purchased a lottery ticket. I almost did the day before I got engaged, but just wasn't feeling the moment. I want to be the girl who gets "a notion," buys her first lotto ticket at a hole in the wall liquor store or maybe even an airport (they sell them there right?), and wins big!
*I am a hybrid mix of Filipino and Puerto Rican. I think I get asked this question more than anything.
*I research the heck out of my purchases; I rarely make impulsive buys. I do lots of online window shopping and read every review available. So this means you will not find me at a mall or out shopping unless I know precisely what I am looking for. The exception to this would, of course, be shoes ;)

4 people I tag!
*Jen M.

*Tiffany from I am style-ish
*Nita
*Natalie Williams

XOXO

Jewelry is NOT this Girl's Best Friend

2008-09-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

For the last couple weeks, my engagement ring and wedding band have been sadly neglected in my jewelry box while my poor, naked ring finger has been battling some sort of allergic reaction. This picture does not even do it justice...

I guess it doesn't look that bad but it is itchy, annoying, and seemingly here to stay. I hadn't worn it in over two weeks and the rash appeared to be healed, but I wore it out to dinner last night and it flared up again. I immediately googled "allergy to wedding ring" and the results were abundant. Here's what I learned on DermaDoctor:
It can happen a day after your spouse puts the ring on your finger, a month later, a year later, even several years later. Suddenly, one day, you notice that the skin beneath the ring becomes red, itchy and irritated. The bad news is, your skin might be allergic to the metal in the ring. All metallic jewelry still contains some small percentage of nickel. Purity is a pretense. There simply is no such thing as pure gold jewelry. While no one is surprised if they break out to their $9.95 pair of earrings, they are horrified when it happens with the real thing. For finer jewelry, prolonged contact with the object is typically required to cause the rash. Gold and sterling silver molecules invisibly wear away over time allowing nickel to come into contact with the skin. The longer that you wear a good piece of jewelry, the more the microscopic "good" metal molecules are worn away, exposing the nickel molecules to the skin. This is how you can suddenly become allergic to an object worn “forever”.
We joke that maybe my ring finger has expensive platinum taste! hehe :)

I read of many home remedies and did some research on hypoallergenic metals. A test at the dermatoligist could reveal specifically what is causing the allergy - exposure to nickel or the gold itself. I've always had to buy hypoallergenic earrings and can't fall asleep with any costume jewelry or I get little red rashy bumps and the area gets infected. I just didn't think it would be the case with my most expensive bling. Total downer :(

***Update 9/19***

Thanks for all your comments guys. But I am pretty sure it is an allergy. I haven't worn the poor thing in weeks, because it almost immediately flares up when I do :( I think we will get it re-dipped for now and then perhaps consider another metal in the future! ;)

05.25.08 Celebration Time, C'mon!

2008-09-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Our first dance...

...followed by a series of heartfelt speeches...

I am so glad we hired a videographer, because to be 100% honest I cannot recall what anyone said (with the exception of the exceptionally memorable words of our best man)

This is me getting ROASTED by our best man! It was pretty bad!

He always has this effect on me <3

A few of my favorites :)

It all just flew by. If I could give any piece of advice to brides to be - make sure to take a step back to take it all in. When I think about our wedding I don't immediately think of the flowers, the favors, or our seating chart, but I do recall noticing my mom's hand slightly trembling as she came to hug me just before the ceremony. I remember smiling at my brother and him saying "oh my god" right as we began to walk down the aisle. I picture my sisters making faces at me during our first dance and I recall my nephew not leaving that dance floor all night. And then there was my husband... hugging me so tightly during the last dance, fighting off tears while whispering vow-like utterings in my ear. It is all so firmly engraved in my memories.

Thanks for letting me share the details and pictures with you guys! :)
XOXO, Vanessa

Photo Credits: Sarah K Chen & Jonilyn Photography

Passport to Love

2008-09-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our invitations. These babies were nearly the death of me, but we so wanted to do something unique and play on the travel theme. They were printed on Stardream paper by the lovely Pixies at Prim and Pixie. The assembly was probably our most labor intensive DIY. It was a painfully, frustrating process but after all is said and done, I love the final product and I think it got our guests excited about our day.

BTW, I've been asked quite a bit about the calligraphy on the envelopes. In spite of what the experts at Paper Source told us, we were able to print on stardream envelopes. I patiently hand fed the envelopes (purchased from envelopemall.com) into our regular, old laser printer and the hubs sat there with the embossing gun and carefully dried each one. We were told that the ink would not stick to the paper but the intense heat from the embossing gun remedied that problem. Note: Leave it on a second too long and you'll be left with a burnt envelope and a cursing fiance.

And I don't think I ever shared our save the dates on this blog. So here is a picture of the postcards I designed and had printed through vistaprint....

05.25.08 Details, Details!

2008-09-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Photos by Jonilyn Photography
Our easel directed guests to their seats. The tables were named after places that Mark and I have visited or hope to someday visit. The backgrounds of each card doubled as our table signs and as the vintage postcards that guests signed for our wish board.

Floral Initials - an idea borrowed from the uber talented Mrs. Pootiekins,
CLICK HERE for DIY directions

Our wish boards - click here for more details on this project

Tablescapes - Florals by Flower Allie

I love this aerial shot. I have seen Jonilyn do it at a few weddings now and I think I may even call it one of her signature shots :)

Maui was our sweetheart table, and our honeymoon destination!

Aren't candles completely mood altering?! We wrapped each of those bad boys with ribbon, so we were thrilled that they successfully added to the elegant ambience of the night.

Sarah later had some fun with the candy and took my two favorite ring shots

We opted to serve our guests bite size desserts in lieu of cake. Each table was treated with one of these dessert trays. The grand piano is the Madison's signature piece - made of chocolate, filled with creme brulee and berries! DELISH! This picture was taken by one of our guests...

I have to take a moment to praise the wonderful staff at the Madison. I cannot be more grateful for all the guidance and flexibility was offered to me from their staff. Patrick, the owner, was one of the biggest selling points of this place. He is perhaps the sweetest man you will ever meet and everything we requested was met with his infamous line "my pleasure." We could not have had such an amazing day without him. Christina, their coordinator, was a doll and was willing to do anything day of to make sure the details looked fabulous. Both were present the whole time during the wedding, making sure everything was flawless. Seriously, if you are venue shopping still - I recommend this place without any hesitation at all; it does not disappoint. And if you haven't eaten there, I HIGHLY recommend it! The food is exceptionally fantastic. I'll even go with you! ;)

That's all for now. I am going to attempt to take some photos of our invites to share with ya'll.

Stay tuned for the finale, coming up next!

05.25.08 Mr. & Mrs.

2008-08-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

If ever two people were so obviously on a natural high, it was most definitely us!
Our coordinator, Kerrie, from Platinum Weddings by Kerrie, found this park while she was running (literally running) back and forth from the church to the Madison. It looks as if we are standing in some secluded, enchanted spot but really we are surrounded by the massive buildings and madness that is downtown Long Beach. While our guests were making cozy with our reception venue, we gladly took our time frolicking around the city, posing as newlyweds :)

If it's not obvious, Sarah worked her butt off to get these fab shots! Have I ever mentioned how much I love her?! I have so many fabulous portraits to pick from, but since I am quite certain that you are sick of looking at our smoochy mugs (i kinda am!), I will leave you with these.

Coming up next: Reception details galore!

Have a safe and relaxing long weekend :)
XOXO

05.25.08 SHOWTIME!

2008-08-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

SHOWTIME (FINALLY!)

The girls, all lined up and ready to go...

I was escorted down the aisle by my older brother. Total paparazzi pic!

My nephew flawlessly read a passage from 1st Corinthians. He was so cute, we were so proud!

High Five! j/k

Our hand ceremony:
As an expression that your hearts are joined together in love - will you please face each other and hold hands,

so that you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you,

that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours,

still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Our prayer for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true.

MARRIED!

The reason we won't be having children anytime soon!

I love these anonymous shots!

COMING UP NEXT: Our Newlywed Portrait Session!

05.25.08 The Big Reveal!

2008-08-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

As non-traditionalists, Mark and I opted to see each other before the ceremony, and I am so glad we did! Not only did it give me us a chance to shake off our jitters, but our photographers were able to take tons of pictures beforehand while the lighting was precisely perfect.

I was a little emotional, but so happy to see my soon to be husband!

Ahhh... I call this my "exhale" moment

Now off to the ceremony! We all decided to walk since it was just a few blocks away.

I think it built excitement and made for some fun pictures too!

The church courtyard was a great backdrop for photos

From here we parted our seperate ways to wait for our ceremony to start. For me, it was the waiting game. The upstairs bridal suite at the church overlooked the church parking so I was getting anxious and excited seeing guests arrive.

My anxious-excited look

Mom, giving last minute hugs and advice

Patiently waiting

Meanwhile, the guys didn't pass up the opportunity to strike a pose as they greeted guests outside the church...

Our boarding pass programs. Inside them we listed the ceremony order, wedding participants, and a personal message from us.

Even the aisle looks eager!

Photos by Sarah K Chen & Jonilyn Brown

Coming up next: SHOWTIME!

05.25.08 Groom Headquarters

2008-08-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I was a little jealous to see the ease and casual-ness of the guys' getting ready process!

He kinda looks anxious ;)

My brother helping his little man get suited up

And that would be Mark's BFFs doing each others hair! Um, yaa....

My darling nephews...

And 10 minutes later they were ready! lol

All photos courtesy of Jonilyn Brown

COMING UP NEXT: The Big Reveal!

05.25.08 G'Morning Sunshine

2008-08-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

"G'Morning Sunshine" was my wake up text from Mark. The girls and I had spent the night in the hospitality suite while Mark bunked with his Best Men. The morning of our big day was very easy going. I remember everyone was looking at me trying to figure out if I was OK. Truth was, I was perfectly fine... like way too fine. But that all caught up to me later! In spite of everyone questioning us, Mark and I ate breakfast together in the concierge lounge. It was really nice to sit down alone and kind of reflect on what we were feeling. Mark had a charming aloofness to him and was more quiet than usual. I, on the other hand, could barely eat because I was all bouncy. This demeanor pretty much continued throughout the day. I returned to the suite and this is when my wedding day really began.

Girls Getting Ready

Photos by Sarah K Chen

I think it was right around this time when Liz, our makeup artist, says to me "Oh, you totally just switched over." Before I could figure out what she meant, I realized at that very second that not only did I not hear anything that was happening around me, but I had not said a word for a good ten minutes. I TOTALLY just switched over, and that surreal feeling was slowly but surely seeping in. When I explain this I am going to sound like such a loony but whatever... its like you see the day in third person. Mark described it this way and I knew EXACTLY what he meant. It was honestly like a movie.

We used every last minute we had getting ready. This is due to a minor (OK fine, not so minor) hair dilemma. At the end of the day, its not worth mentioning. But this would explain why we I don't have many posed shots with the girls. Oh well, c’est la vie!

Wait till you see the casualness of the groom's quarters! COMING UP NEXT...

05.24.08 Some Slumber Party!

2008-08-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

Rewind for one second - I forgot to mention some important things about this night. I just have to include the following because its too darn funny.

Post rehearsal dinner, I stood in the hallway with Tanya totally unamused by the other girls' plans to "party." I, um, kind of had some important stuff to do the following morning so I wasn't feeling it. I walk into the room to find that they had opened bottles of alcohol I had tucked away in one of my many boxes. These were actually gifts for the groomsmen. I think my stank eye relayed my disappointment, l0l. GIRLS!
Despite their big plans to relive moments from the bachelorette party, both Em and Linette fell asleep. Correction: they passed out! I mean - PASSED OUT! Like we were violently jumping on their beds and they still couldn't stop drooling! HAHAHA The other two troopers wanted to try on their dresses and march to processional music. Now this was my kind of fun! lol
Late into the night we finished wrapping wedding party gifts and stuffing the kids' goodie bags, all while making predictions about who was gonna cry, fall, or dance down the aisle ;) Priceless!

One last thing... I havent slept in the same bed with my sister, Tanya, since we got our own seperate rooms in the 5th grade. Imagine my surprise when she tried to cuddle with me! Like, no joke, CUDDLE in spooning position, legs entwined and all. I cannot stop making fun of her - it was so creepy weird! hahahahaha!

05.24.08 The Last Supper

2008-08-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

The day before our wedding had to be the shortest day of my life. I had big plans for my down time that day, only the down time never showed up. The rehearsal went well, despite the fact that both Best Men showed up 2 hours after it was over...grrr! ;) I only have one picture that my cousin snapped during the rehearsal and it is a really unimpressive one. Why we didnt think to take any pictures is truly beyond me. I think my brain was on a different wave length that day. For months I had been telling myself that once today came, all that can be done had been done. It was time to let it go in the hands of our trusted vendors. And with that thought, I was free to just enjoy the weekend.

Pictures from our rehearsal dinner in the downstairs vault room at the Madison...

The private room was perfect! It was so nice to spend some extra quality time with friends and family.

OH WAIT - I almost forgot...

Earlier that day, actually the minute we stepped foot in the hotel room, Linette noticed that Mark had not found the time to go get a manicure. For Linette, this was simply unacceptable and she insisted that she had all the tools to hook him up, and to no one's surprise... she did.

Mark in the girls' suite, getting pampered. I love this picture!

05.23.08

2008-08-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

Since I have to start my wedding recap somewhere, I figured I would begin with the less amusing stuff and work my way up from there. I'll start with Friday cuz from what I recall the beginning of the week was pretty much business as usual.

Friday, May 23rd
It was like the calm before the storm - minus the calm part. I am almost embarrassed to admit some of the things that kept us on our tippy toes, but for keepbook's sake...

I woke up that morning and did my usual bride-to-be routine: chase our fat pug around the backyard, check emails, and stared at my big fat checklist of To Dos. Why were there still legible items on there?! Pssshh whatever... I needed a manicure.

What eventually proved to be the World's Worst mani/pedi was actually very relaxing.
I was so excited to tell my nail salon friends that the next time they saw me, I would be spoken for - something they mutually were excited for. Then they yelled at me for cutting my own nails too short, a totally miserable habit of mine. I think I was there for almost 2 hours. I stayed an eternity after they were done to make sure I didn't scuff my polish, another miserable habit of mine.

I had left my phone in the car to ensure maximum Me Time, and when I returned there were close to 129035 missed calls and equally as many voicemails making sure I didn't go AWOL. OH... and as I was backing out I hit a shopping cart, HARD. I nearly forgot because, uhhh well, I never told anyone! hahaha YES, Mark, I hit a shopping cart in the Orchard parking lot. Even worse - when I got home, I dropped a bag I was carrying out of the car and broke our toasting flutes. The newly engraved sentiments were shattered in a million pieces in my driveway. I could only stare at them and shrug.

The majority of the afternoon I committed to tweaking our seating chart display. It was more like fine finishing so don't judge me.

At around the time most people indulge in happy hour, I started to develop buyer's remorse about the Choos I had bought :( Even if I could get over their outrageous price tag, it still didn't help the fact they were hella (yes, hella) uncomfortable for all day use. And this is coming from a girl whose feet ache at the sight of flats. I can go to war in my heels but could I survive our wedding day in those Choos? Shamefully not, so off to Macy's (for the 4th time that week) to buy me some comfy Ninas.

I came home to a very unhappy fiance. It was very hard to break his spirit that week so it had to be bad. [WARNING: very few will relate to trauma of this intensity...] We had an insufficient amount of candy for our candy buffet (ooooh, big deal huh?) Well, it was at the time. Especially when you've reached the point where all you want to do is get married, but you didn't come this far in planning to have such a detail see its final resting place only days before. I had emailed with Bulkfoods all week questioning my missing shipment and they kept assuring me it was on its way. Yet, at 9:38pm on Friday we were still candy-less and running around town picking up the mess of their broken promise. It was such a fiasco, but looking back I picture Mark and I at every 24 hour market in town, frantically purchasing every pink, white, or brown confection we could find (in bulk!) It was quite comical. People were looking at us like we were high and we were like "ya, we're getting married in less than 48 hours" like that made them think anything differently of us. haha

We took lots of over exaggerated deep breaths that night as we packed up the monstrous corner of our house that had become a wedding cyclone. We were exhausted, anxious, and slightly overwhelmed but I remember lots of laughs (and yawns) being shared that night. Adjacent to us, my mom and visiting family talked Life as they so expediently finished tying programs. I went to bed that night entirely humbled not only by that day, but by the entire experience of planning this wedding. No other period in my life had been so emotional, trying, and loving and I am so incredibly thankful for that.

One last gawk at the pair that got away. RIP Jimmy Choos.

Lifelines

2008-07-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

They are my sisters, my confidants, my mentors, partners in crime, my long time bffs, my new found friends, my shopping buddies, my favorite dining companions, even my blogger pals - I call them my lifelines, and without them I would be a boring little gal. I was reminded this weekend of how important it is to have girlfriends. I have several networks of girlfriends that I feel so outrageously blessed to have in my life and I am just flat out grateful for each and every one of them.

The Usual Entourage

My Most Trusted Advisers

Sisters

Friends Forever

The Fabulously Fierce

BFFs

And of course, my favorite gal pals

It is so important to have friends that get you, support you, slap some truth into you, inspire you. I LOVE my girls :)

Someone's Got a Case of the Mondays

2008-07-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

I am not quite sure what's my deal lately but it seems like the last few days I have had a case of the Mondays! Although it was a glorious sunny weekend, I was kinda just, well...just blah. Perhaps I need to do a little therapeutic brain dump:

1. I can't keep up with laundry. It seems like each time I finish, there is another load and half to do. It's frustrating cuz this was my trade off chore - I gave up cleaning the bathroom and never having to take out trash for laundry duty. But that's because laundry never sucked so bad when I only had my own to do. I really don't understand how the man goes through that much clothes, its out of this world crazy. *Typical wife vent*

2. I really want to buy a new Macbook. We went to the Apple store this weekend and I got the stamp of approval from the hubs but I still am hesitant about making the switch from PC. I need to make a decision soon, while there is still funds in my wallet! Mark, on the other hand, desperately wants the new iphone. New phones or new macbook??? Help!

3. Mark's schedule is really bumming me out. He works ALL THE TIME! Seriously, he is only off one day a week and it is never the same day. It's making it pretty hard to find couple time or any sort of consistency with our schedule. But he tries really hard. I should do something to let him know I notice that. Even when he is totally tired he makes a commendable attempt at pillow talk.

4. I hate my hair and need to go shopping. (For clothes, not hair - sorry that was two random thoughts mashed together)

5. We got our wedding photos from Sarah! The beautifully packaged CD is loaded and I mean LOADED with photos. I am sifting through them for you and will be posting soon :) Here's a little preview of one of my favorites...

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer this evening :( I am determined to snap out of it ASAP and make something wonderful of my week! I hear it's gonna be a HOT one; stay cool!

Our "Wish Board"

2008-06-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Photos courtesy of our photographer, Sarah K Chen

I have received nearly a dozen of emails this week about this DIY detail so I am thankful to Wedding Bee blogger, Miss Cupcake, for posting a detailed "How To" for making these boards. For her carefully thought out directions: click here

We loved the idea of signing postcards vs. a traditional guest book; it all tied in to our travel theme. We named our tables after places we have visited or hope to visit.This was our sweetheart table:

Photo by Jonilyn Photography

I made the table cards by googling images and then photo editing them so that they would all have the same antique-looking tint. Then after adding the text using Powerpoint, I got a little carried away and traced over the letters with an embossing pen and powder to add some dimension to the paper. Like I said, I got a little carried away! Since I already had the saved images from those table numbers, I resized the pictures to make 3 x 5 postcards for our signing table. Originally, I had planned on guests putting the postcards in a mailbox or vintage suitcase but I had opted for something more visual to entertain guests during the cocktail hour and that's when the wish board idea was born.

I cannot take credit for the labor of it though. It was my dear uncle who took this idea and created the beautiful boards you see in the photos, and with less than 24 hours till showtime ;) Huge thanks to Uncle Rolly and his family for coming all the way from NY to share our day with us and for lending a hand and their talents when we needed it most!

"Do Something Creative Everyday" - Paper Source ;)

All Smiles

2008-06-20T17:24:00.001-07:00

Courtesy of Jonilyn Photography :)

Makeup by Liz ♥

He looks kinda nervous... too cute

CHEERS BABY!

The absolute cutest picture ever! The "mini-me" version of my brother -

My Bouquet

This is my anxious look...

I swear I was walking my bro down the aisle and not the other way around.

He was probably more nervous than I was!

With this Ring, I thee wed...

WOOO HOOO!!!

Newlywed portraits

DETAILS...

Time to GET DOWN! And YES, that is my mom in the middle picture getting low with one of Mark's friends! hahahaha

Jonilyn's work is so impressive! She works tirelessly to get the most priceless shots. We are so pleased to have been able to work with her and even more happy to call her a friend.

Jonilyn, THANK YOU for capturing the very heart of our day! We love you! ♥

*** CLICK HERE to see the full post on Jonilyn's blog ***

Back to Reality

2008-06-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Everyone said I was going to be the poster child for post wedding blues since I was so deeply entrenched in wedding details. I swore that would not be the case. Yet sometimes in the calmness of all this new found down-time, I quietly find myself freaking out. Wait - am I a victim of PWDS? Post Wedding Depression Syndrome?! ME? NO! But I may have a mildly severe case of withdrawals. Let's examine...

Upon arriving in Maui for our honeymoon, me and the hubs found ourselves at the bookstore looking for a new read since he proudly finished his last book on the plane. As he skimmed the back covers of autobiographies, I wandered off to the forbidden magazine rack. You know what kind of magazines I'm talking about - Bridal Mags! I'm sorry but I can't help it! I am addicted to letter pressed stationery, color palettes, and tales of uncooperative bridesmaids. I didn't buy the magazine, but I [cringe] wrote down a bridal website to check out later.

Our honeymoon was bliss, but the plane ride home was a little disturbing. As I watched Maui disappear beneath the clouds, I thought of all the things I wanted to do when I got home. In fact, I made a list... hunt down wedding photos, re-inventory our wedding items, pick out songs for our wedding video, write wedding thank yous, wedding this, wedding that, check, check, check, check, DONE. Wait - done? Then what will I do?! Mark looks over at what I'm writing, sees the panic in my eyes, and pulls out the peanut m&ms. The daunting thoughts slip far from my mind, at least momentarily.

I arrive home and check my email, expecting there to be an overwhelming amount since I hadn't checked it in over a week. But the emails I was expecting weren't there. Neither were all the calls I had anticipated in my first week as a newlywed. Hello out there?! I'm back! Where is everyone??? Then it hit me. It hit me like a freight train..... I am no longer a bride to be. No one is calling me to see how I'm feeling or what I'm working on. My 15 seconds of fame and glory... over. WAAAAAA!!! HAHAHA I know that sounds depressing, pathetic, and shallow but it is actually kind of comical to me the way the whole cycle works. And its even more funny learning that I had fallen victim to it! As with every addiction, there is always some sort of lull after a high, a state of nostalgia. Think about it... as a bride you spend months (years) planning your weddings and during that time there were lavish celebrations in your honor, people were extra sensitive about your feelings, your very best friends even elected to wear monogrammed robes with your initials on it. It is the one time in your adult life where blowing up pictures of you and your honey is not ridiculed (well, not to your face) or viewed as narcissistic or creepy. Oh yes, it was good times :)

I thought that post wedding blues/withdrawals had something or everything to do with not being happy with your new married life but I discovered that's not it at all. I think what is plaguing me is the absence of strategically planned tasks and the sudden freedom of time. And ya know, its not like I have LOADS of free time, but there are moments where there is nothing that needs to be done right then. Those moments are so awkwardly foreign to me. And its not even like I don't have anything to do. But finishing 3 loads of laundry, bathing the dog, and organizing the medicine cabinets is not really as satisfying or rewarding as flawlessly embossing your RSVP cards or discovering the joy of satin charmeuse fabric! whatever.

Point of the story - I am back to reality. And I am not a bride anymore. BUT - I am a wife ;) And that, my friends, is a completely different high.... one that lasts not a moment short of forever. And it doesn't hurt either to have someone who, everyday, throws his own mini celebration in your honor ♥

Cheers to the narcissists in us :)

[ Left: At our rehearsal dinner ] [ Right: Posing with our marriage license. ]

A woman after my own heart <3

2008-06-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Really?! Only a thousand?! Are you sure about that? Because when I saw these I could've sworn more than a thousand came to mind!

They also say that all good things are worth waiting for. I might have to agree with them on this one; in fact, they very well may have been referring to the uber-creative work of Sarah K Chen. If I haven't said it before, I am in absolute awe of this woman. If it possible to take a feeling/a moment/a memory and capture it in the click of a camera, this would be Sarah's specialty! I already had a lot to look forward to this weekend so you can only imagine the squeels that came out of me when I saw an email from Sarah that we had officially been blogged! If I called you at almost midnight last night, this is why! Sorry!

It is very hard to pick favorites since each and every one really pierces the very heart of me but here are a few that nearly brought me to tears (tears of joy, of course!)

My dress - My "Must Have"

Getting dolled up by Liz - a juicy shot of our bouquets

The girls applying some last minute touches

Our precious flower girls

The very fact that someone considered my love affair with shoes makes me swoon BIG TIME! I may have to frame this one.

Playing dress up ;)

I call the one in the middle! hehe On a side note... Seriously - How COOL is Jae?!

Yes, they are kind of ridiculously good looking! If you think those bridesmaids are cute, you should see their sister ;)

Just moments before the big show...

Anxiously waiting in the bridal suite -

If only you knew how I feel about this little man, then you'd know why this picture's an obvious favorite for me.

I did. He did. We did!
Photo taken by Sarah's 2nd shooter, Thuan of Fotografiablu Photography - a truly talented man!

These types of shots always make me smile.

JUST MARRIED!!!

This shot alerted authorities - literally! One of a few lucky shots we got before Homeland Security banned us from shooting on a public transit platform.

Though most of the night just whizzed by, I actually can still recall precisely what I was feeling at this moment!

Feeding the bridesmaids - is that weird or something?! haha It's sort of a little tradtion we started. (And to answer my own question, yes it is a peculiar little inside joke!)

YUMMY on so many levels!

And finally... MY MOM - The Dancing Queen...

Sarah simply does not disappoint! Do check out her blog post for a few more photos and commentary. She took some HOT photos of the girls as well as some fabulous detail shots which I am saving for their own post.
Sarah, thank you again for being on our dream team!

iHeart the iPhone

2008-06-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

I don't have an iPhone and it may very well be obsolete by the time I can afford one, to which end I am bitter and I loath its existence. Wait - that's not what this post is titled. woops

iHeart my brother's iPhone at this precise moment, for these precise reasons...

He soooo made my day! I mean, it's no SKC ;) but not bad. And just for the sake of comparison/fairness - here is a shot from my sister's blackberry...

Thank God for the camera phone.

WARNING: Serious teaser photo in post...

2008-06-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

So I have spent the last 24 hours stalking online albums, myspace accounts, blogs, the entire www in search of some teaser pics from our wedding. So much of my life and well being relies on the satisfaction, inspiration, and evidence I draw from photos and I am dying to see what really happened and what everything really looked like that day. Mark and I attempted describing to each other what we recall from the wedding and both agreed that we had a severe case of bridal vision - a condition where everything races by and then leaves cloudy, blurry memories to sort through. It's hard to explain. That morning, I tried to convince my girls that no one would be able to tell if I kept my camera in my cleavage but my plea was sadly shot down, leaving me desperately squirming for other sources of documentation. You don't understand - NEVER do I leave the house without my camera. It's a rotten, annoying habit but the thought of not capturing a significant moment/thought/or detail I run across, just eats me alive. I mean... what if I find the most delicious pair of shoes EVER or what if someone breaks out in song at the post office and I have nothing on film to prove it?! So sad.
You could only imagine how ecstatic I was to find our "Money Shot" posted on Sarah K Chen's blog!

Forgive my lack of modesty, but how perfect is this photo?! And I'm not just talking about that handsome dude with that very lucky girl - but check out the softness of the lighting, the framing of those leaves, and the sweetness of that kiss! Sarah, BLESS YOU for posting this! It so leaves me itching to see more but it is positively the fix I was looking for. And many, many thanks to our coordinator, Kerrie of Platinum Weddings by Kerrie, for finding this treasure of a park to shoot in! You are the best!

My Hubs and his cigars

2008-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Mark's ritual of commemorating...
He lit this one as we sat on the beach the last night we were in Maui. And then bought another Hawaiian cigar to light up on our first anniversary.

He's totally scruffy faced, since he also took a week long vacation from shaving, but for whatever reason, I still love this picture.

Cloud Nine =)

2008-06-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

Friends, I am officially back from our honeymoon and am officially a married woman! Needless to say, I am still teetering back and forth between reality and Cloud Nine - a place I have become quite enamored with the last couple of weeks. I feel.... Incredible!

Our wedding weekend was nothing short of magical. I fully intend to blog all about it, post pictures and reviews, and recap as much as I can recall - but since a piece of me is still thinking flawless sunscapes and serene beaches, I am going to post our Maui pictures first.

Aloha From Maui!

Picture taken from our Lana'i (balcony).

The Sheraton in Ka'anapali does not disappoint... It is gorgeous! I 100% recommend it for honeymooners. Even with its 6 buildings, we still felt the intimacy of a resort and never was it noisy, crowded, or congested. Then again, I was informed that May and September are the slowest months in Maui. This was evident everywhere we went. You will notice that nearly all the pictures were taken by us and that's because for the most part, there was no one else around. Imagine having a whole island to yourself - Bliss! The Sheraton's backyard is the fine sand stretch of Kaanapali beach that's adjacent to Black Rock. Every night at sunset, you can watch the nightly ritual of Lele Kawa (cliff diving).

Legend tells us the last chief of Maui, Kahekili (Thunderer), proved his spiritual strength by leaping from sacred Pu’u Keka’a to the Pacific. With sunset painting the sky, a young cliff diver honors his heritage each evening by re-tracing footsteps in the sand on Kaanapali Beach. A chant of old Hawai'i begins the progression of our warrior; the echo of the conch shell announces his arrival. He leaves a trail of glowing torches surrounding the lagoon as he makes his way to Black Rock. Upon reaching the summit, he offers his torch to the ocean below, casts his flower lei into the sea; and finally takes the breathtaking dive from Black Rock into the rolling surf below.

At Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina...

YUM - the best coconut shrimp ever!

Under the famous Banyan Tree in dowtown Lahaina

Kelly gifted us tickets to the Old Lahaina Luau
This was said to be the luau to go to in Maui. We had heard so many people rave and brag about their experience and now we can rave and brag about ours! From start to finish, everything was TOP NOTCH! We arrived early, received a lei greeting, and then walked the grounds to view the imu where the pig was cooked, watch young Hawaiians make hand crafted souvenirs, and of course, visit the open bar ;) Everything was all inclusive, yet the quality was in no way sacrificed. The staff there is exceptional and the show was authentic and flowed well. I can think of nothing but good things to report on it.

One of the first few days we were there, we decided to take the advice of many and do the sunrise bike tour of the Haleakala crater. This required us getting up at the ungodly hour of 2am (while on vacation!) and meeting our tour providers, the Haleakala Bike Company.

They took us up to the summit of the crater, over ten thousand feet above sea level to view the sunrise at 5:38am. I am sure that, at the time, all Mark was thinking was "where does she get these stupid ideas sometimes?" because all I was thinking was "where do I get these stupid ideas sometimes?!" I was praying to God that it would be the most spectacular thing we had ever seen or Mark will never let me drag him out of bed before sunrise again!

Here I am just before the glorious sun made its arrival. I am freezing cold as always (hey it was 40 something degrees!) and as my luck would have it, our camera battery died out on us right before the big show...

Some have described this sighting as the 8th wonder of the world. I may have to agree with them. One minute I was telling Mark how I have never seen so many stars in my life, and then the next moment the light starts creeping in and you suddenly realize that you are standing ABOVE the clouds with nothing but glorious sunlight smiling at you. It was positively a little slice of heaven. And I was no longer sad that my camera had failed me, as I know my photo skills (or lack there of) would have never been able to capture the spectacular light and feeling.

Next, they pack us back into the bus and stop at about 6500 feet, where they give us our bikes and gear and we intently listen to their directions on how to get back to their shop, a thrilling 28 mile, unguided bike ride. Left-Right-Left-Right-Right. That's the only thing you needed to remember to get you safely back to your car in Haiku, right?! Um, sure... I was actually thankful that we opted for the self guided tour; it gave us the freedom to go at our own (sluggish) pace, instead of having to keep up with the clan. Shamefully, I haven't been on a non-stationary bike for years and never on a mountain bike! And never down a volcano! But with great pride, I can now say that I did. And I didn't even fall, though I supposedly caused Mark's brief encounter with the asphalt. A great benefit of marriage: you now have someone to blame stuff on! haha JK!

Some not to shabby pictures taken on my blackberry...

Afterwards, we headed to Kihei for a nap on Wailei Beach, then a drive thru tour of South Maui.

The Road to Hana - Hands down, our favorite thing we did in Maui! With the exception of our picnic lunch and ABC store snacks, this was truly a priceless adventure. The fact that every turn out and trail was a new adventure really did it for me. Never before have I hiked through a unpaved trail of bamboo, or made walking sticks to navigate upstream through boulders of rocks, in search of waterfalls, nature pools, and the most amazing views ever. Any other day, if Mark tried to convince me to take my motion-sickness-prone-self onto a one and a half lane, 40 mile highway- unguided to the point where we could scream at the top of our lungs and no one would hear us - he would probably have little to no success getting me to willingly come along. But being a firm believer that there is a first time for everything - I popped a Dramamine, putting every last ounce of faith in my new husband's driving skills, and ventured way beyond my personal comfort zone for a journey that I will never forget.

We made a series of stops, or should I say a serious amount of stops that were described in our Maui Revealed book. I will talk about this lifesaver of a guide later.

You will notice that mainly Mark got the "me-under-a-waterfall" pictures. The water was too COLD for me so I happily volunteered to photograph him :)

We stopped so much to hike, swim, picnic, and frolic that it took us nearly 8 hours to get to our last stop, the Seven Sacred Pools. Instead of posting more water pics, I will share with you the incredible view above the falls. It is a landscape that, prior to this moment, I could have only dreamed of...

Again, notice how in every single one of these pictures we are completely alone - it was so tranquil and serene. Have you ever seen the movie "What Dreams May Come?" I would imagine that this would be my heaven.

Everything about our honeymoon will long have me dreaming of moments like this...

Some Misc Maui/Honeymoon advice:

Don't skip your honeymoon! A week before our wedding, Mark and I nearly cancelled everything since we were worried about where we stood financially. However, our philosophy is this... there will always be money to be made, and only one shot to do this the way we had always dreamed of. Even if you put off your big trip for a later time, take a mini-moon. You don't have to go for very long or very far, but trust me... you need this time together more than you realize, more than I realized!
SPF & Bug Spray! Mark would be glowing red right now if it wasn't for his SPF Sport; the sun is way more intense out there. And unless you want to end up like me, with a collage of insect bites plastered all your legs, get some bug repellent! I forgot and am paying for it! You have officially been warned.
Maui Revealed (Author: Andrew Doughty) - If you forget everything else, remember to bring this book! It is jammed pack with unbiased reviews and info. I had it in my bag everywhere we went and referenced it for maps, food finds, tips, phone numbers, everything! I promise you will find it invaluable.
Stock up. I can't calculate an exact number off the top of my head, but I imagine we saved a pretty penny by purchasing snacks, drinks, etc at the grocery store. If you are in staying the Lahaina/Ka'anapali area, the Lahaina Cannery is a good place to stop early in your trip. We made the mistake of going to Safeway first, only to find that Longs Drugstore carries lots of our items for significantly less. Prepare yourself for island prices - everything costs more! But we stocked our hotel fridge with water, cheese and crackers, sandwich stuff for our picnics, fruits, etc. You know how it is when you get back to your room from the beach - your typical options would be $16 hotel nachos or to starve. I rest my case.
Other fabulous finds:

Roy's in Kahana - Our meals were flawless! Macadamian Shutome, Filet, & Chocolate Souffle'
Leilani's on the Beach - Best drinks, inexpensive too!
Gazebo Restaurant, Napili - Pancakes & a view to die for!
Kahuna Kabob's - One hell of a meal for less than $10!
Warren & Annabelle's - We didnt eat there but it can be a dinner show. By far, the most funniest magic show I have ever seen. Warren will leave you in awe for days. I would definitely recommend this show!

Lastly, do not have a life or death itinerary. This is coming from a girl who lives for itineraries! Maui is just not the place for it, especially if you are honeymooning. I would think of a few things you absolutely want to do and book those well in advance. But leave lots of down time in between to have the freedom to just kinda go with it. It was this adaptation of easy going-ness that made this vacation so different for us; we pretty much made it up as we went. For example, one of my favorite favorite moments was getting ice cream at the mall and then on the way home just deciding to pull over on the side of the road to eat it. We sat on rocks that neighbored the ocean and just soaked up the view, ate our ice cream, and then practiced skipping rocks... all the while, enjoying the whatever-ness of it all. It was so simple, yet anything but ordinary for us. I loved it. The abolute best thing about Maui is that it can be anything you want it to be... relaxing, adventurous, a shopping mecca, a foodies paradise, expensive, cheap... really whatever you make of it. Maui moves at a much different pace then what you are probably used to and if you try to rush it or plan too many things, you are more than sort of missing the whole point. Take it easy & have fun, you won't regret it!

For more pictures and videos from our Maui honeymoon CLICK HERE

A Long Overdue Update!

2008-05-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in (what feels like) years... shoot me. No seriously - shoot me! I so desperately use this blog as a personal outlet and the thought of not keeping it current makes me die a little inside :(

I have been a girl on a mission. Proudly stated, this Bride to Be is doing things ;) And while this blog has been nursing cobwebs, I have been raising a child of sorts. This wedding is my baby... it has been a more than full time job, the source of most major headaches and breakdowns, the reason for sleepless nights followed by physical ailment, my labor of love, my pride & joy, and ultimately the first day of the rest of my life. What a joyous thought...

I am down to the wire with a little over 2 weeks to go. Everybody keeps asking me if I'm ready. Am I ready to be married? Heck YES!!! Am I done with everything for the wedding? Not nearly. And if I was, then I'm sure I would find more things to do anyway. Leave it me to always feel the need to take things to the next level. It's such an inate tendency. I am currently consumed with all the little things. And any bride will tell you that its those little things that get the best of you in the weeks that preceed the wedding. I admit... I really just need to chill (or take a nap, as Linette so frequently reminds me!) Much easier said than done.

On the other hand (and I've said it before but I'll say it again), I Love it. All of it. If ever someone was meant to plan a wedding, you're looking at her. Whether that's lame or heartwarming, I leave to you to decide.

And this next part should really get its own post but it seems appropriate to add...

Subject: Mark. Honestly, you will not meet a more patient and supportive guy. I realize my take on him is bound to be biased, but I'm pretty sure he is The Cure on earth for any and all anxiety, doubt, fatigue, or frustration. This is going to sound weird but sometimes he makes me not care at all about the wedding. I know that's totally contradictory, but what I mean is that all this can go away (and it will) but in the end, its just me and him. And really, nothing matters more.

Kind of not what you would expect from a girl who claims to be born to be a bride, right? It is very hard to put into words and a little too mushy for my taste but its the truth. Every last detail is inspired by our love for each other, which can marvelously be described as "simply elaborate." I am lucky to find something everyday to remind me of this.

Bridal Beauty: The Fun Stuff!

2008-04-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

There are a bazillion things I could report right now but everyone keeps bugging me about my hair preview so I thought I'd share some pictures...

On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting with Sherry & Marilyn from On Location Beauty. Marilyn will be doing my hair for the Big Day as well as my super attractive entourage's. These ladies are so much fun to chit chat with - we talked about everything from celebrity baby names to wedding inflation to traffic rants - basically it was like sitting down with good friends - it was comfortable :)

I went in there still unsure of what I wanted to look like walking down the aisle. I have had this debate with pretty much everyone who has an ear - keep it down, fun, and young looking or carry a timeless pulled up look that scream elegance? The verdict was always mixed answers... Mom loves the classic bun, Linette can't stand the thought of not showing off the length, Tanya is more practical and was concerned about the ability to sustain my thick, heavy hair in any sort of contraption.... they all had very strong, valid arguments. What's a girl to do?! I'll tell you what this girl did - left it to the professionals. Upon presenting my case, Marilyn & Sherry somewhat effortlessly (cuz thats how the pros do it) produced the best of both worlds.

From the masterminds of On Location Beauty...

I love it! An infusion of all my thoughts and a solution to my many concerns- a 'do that is strategically pulled together but in a most carefree and "messy" way.
[side note: Tanya often digs herself into an ever-growing hole as she desperately tries to explain to me how this idea of strategically "messy" is my signature look! ya, thanks Tanya - I get it! Maybe don't to use the word dread lock next time, ha!]

Over the weekend, I was inspired by a set of photos I found on Jasmine Star's photography blog during my usual blog stalk. So now, Marilyn is going to take the style above and (once again) strategically pin it up during the ceremony for a more formal clean look. Then I will have it down in that somewhat side ponytail for the reception portion. The photos below are just to help you get the idea. I played around with it this weekend so this is my amateur creation, far from how it will result once the magical hands of Marilyn do their thing...

To see more of Marilyn's work [click here]

P.S. YES, I received my dress! And NO I won't post pictures - Mark secretly lurks on here! I just know it!

Missing In Action

2008-04-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A. lately - I haven't blogged, returned emails, or returned phone calls as religiously as I usually do. I promise promise promise that I will only be in hibernation for another 24 hours at the most. My (super late) top secret DIY (p.i.t.a.) project is soon to be revealed ;) Along with all the latest stuff going on - lots & lots of good stuff! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! ♥ xoxo, Vanessa

Never a dull moment

2008-03-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

I hope that anyone who is anyone in my life would know that I am Big/HUGE on family, particularly my kids. And by "my" kids I am referring to my 5 nieces and nephews who breath life into me every time I even think of them. I am entirely crazy about them. awwww, cute huh? Ya cute, but that's my disclaimer! haha

Today my valliant mom and I herded all the kids over to Moa Children's Boutique in Santa Ana. The goal: Buy suits for Jae, Andre, & Tyree. Keyword here is BUY - not look for or consider, but get-it-off-my-checklist-now, BUY! As with most things that involve the fab 5, it was a rather amusing experience...

I will start with the bad - Shopping with 5 kids. 'nuff said.

[Wait no, that's not all. I would like to sincerely apologize to any parent or caregiver that I have ever given "that look" to. You know... that look when your kid is screaming/running/hiding in clothing racks/laying in walkways/throwing things/etc... that "geez lady, control your kid" look. Seriously, I get it now and I'm sorry. Really sorry.]

The wonderfully good news: Mission accomplished! All kids suits purchased for a fraction of what it would have cost to rent- Moa is awesome! They have a notably large selection of children's formal wear at Markessa friendly prices. Though virtually impossible, I made it a point to not look at any of the girl dresses because here and there I would catch a glimpse of some fabulous little pieces, dresses I would have before considered. However I am still convinced that the flower girl dresses posted previously were specifically made for my girls to wear; they are perfection. Going back to topic ---> The Moa staff is really patient and a whole lot more accepting than I am of copycat tantrums and impatient 2 year olds. We were so pleased with everything and thank God for that, because when mom & I are on a mission, it can get pretty intense.

For all the reasons above, I was unable to take a picture of the little ones but here is Jae, the oldest, pictured in his impressive, high quality suit and of course his new found coolness...

And just to elaborate on how cool he is, I ask him what kind of tie he wants me to get him - brown or champagne? and he says "I was thinking more like that light pink" Holy smokes, he's way cooler than me! When I asked him if we should buy the suit, he asks me how much it is? I give him the quote & he checks his pocket and says he only has $9.00 but more at home and he'll pay me back. So cute! But here's the best part - later in the car he asks me again how much it was. Making it clear that he has been thinking about it the entire time, he regretfully informs me that I might need to talk to his dad about that debt. Hands down - the coolest kid I know!

The Latest & Greatest

2008-03-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

OK OK so I have not at all been keeping up on my posts. I'd like to say that its because I have been such a superstar bride to be, but I'm afraid not. The truth is I have spent a significant amount of time lately worrying and stressing, as oppose to being productive. The stress has worn me out - literally. Tonight, while being sick in bed is nowhere on my check list, it has made its presence known :( Consequently, this update would be the only thing I have accomplished in the last 24 hours - eeek!

*First and foremost - our honeymoon plans are official! We will be honeymooning in Maui! We had gone back and forth about the idea of taking our honeymoon right away but finally decided that this is a must. We had some airline credit that we had to use before it expired and during our hotel search we found a God Sent Deal! Soooo looking forward to this!

*Accomplishment #2 - Get ready to "oooohhh & awwwww!" Here is a picture of our flower girls in their beautiful dresses~

How ADORABLE are they?! You would never believe that they were less than $50 from Burlington Coat Factory! They have tons of kids' formal wear, especially since its easter time.

*Lastly, I am SO thankful we sent out those save the dates since I have not sent out my wedding invites yet. (Bad bride!) But I am going to make a personal guarantee that they are so going to be worth the wait ;) More to come on that soon...

Tanya took one look at my to do list on Sunday and graciously offered to handle our slide show and another detail project, which I eagerly handed off. I nearly forgot what a creative perfectionist she was till she emailed me what she had so far - amazing! Sadly, she did more wedding related stuff than I did this week.

Oh I really really hope I wake up tomorrow feeling better! Saturdays are my "girls night in" nights with Linette, otherwise known as our "craft extravaganza/weekly therapy/how did I get myself into this?!/man, we are old" nights. HA!

Before the Theraflu kicks in, can I just offer one piece of advice to anyone planning a wedding... DON'T PROCRASTINATE! Everything, seriously EVERYTHING takes longer than you think it will! Start early, especially if you are on a budget! When you are down to the wire, you don't have the luxury of doing a full on price comparison and you have to start making some quick decisions, maybe not the greatest ones. So plan ahead! - Or - You can just test the ability of your entire well being and stretch yourself way too thin and end up like me - Sick. In bed. On a Friday night. With an ungodly To-Do List awaiting your recovery. G'night ya'll ;)

The Wedding Chicks

2008-03-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated. I have been so busy with wedding projects! I will blog about the latest later tonight but I had to share this - the most delightful launch of the Wedding Chicks site, brought to you (and me!) by photographer Amy Squires and Jocey of Joceybella Invites. The site is jammed pack with great reads for all those who are wedding planning! It features tons of uber fabulous pictures, vendor links, and articles written by some of my favorite bloggers :) Be one of the first to check it out by clicking below...

Groom Gear

2008-03-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

We finally found the time to head over to the Men's Wearhouse to check out tux rentals. I will preface by saying that we are huge MW fans; their service is exceptional. However we were disappointed, to say the least, to find that they only had fabric swatches in stores. The process is as follows: make your selection from a catalog picture (lame), get measurements taken, place non refundable deposit, and then pray to God it looks good on you when you pick it up 2 days before the wedding. (preposterous!) Basically it is no more helpful than ordering something online. The MW website has some nice customizing features, but is still not nearly as satisfying as seeing something in person. Our plan B was AfterHours formal wear, but Men's Wearhouse has bought out AfterHours and they do not have the sample tuxes in store either :(

This compelled me to do a full on search only to find that a) there is a serious lack of tux rental options in Southern California, and b) the no samples thing is pretty much a norm in this line of business. Leave it to the male species to not object to such a practice; I can assure you, the whole "take measurement & cross your fingers" approach would never work in a female targeted arena!

THE EXCEPTION: While Friar's tux generally operates the same as above, they additionally offer a FREE Groom Try On. This is a no obligation opportunity for the groom to try on all the styles you're interested in. You just have to preregister your wedding with them, select the styles you want them to order for you, and they will have them in your size for your Groom Try On appointment! Thank you, thank you, thank you Friar's Tux! Practicality and Peace of Mind makes us happy customers :)

Some possible options:

The Vera Wang of the group

2008-03-02T01:57:00.000-08:00

Saturdays have naturally become "project" days. My wonderful bridesmaids are all about tackling the to do list! And I don't even need to ease them into projects; as long as there is wine in the fridge and something sweet to tempt them with, they come ready to work! lol Tonight it was all about ribbons and votives. We are wrapping all the votive holders and cylinders in satin ribbon that matches our color pallette. MAJOR bridesmaid points goes to Miss Dania Carolina who crafted our design scheme in a matter of minutes and on her first attempt, if I may add. Here is what she came up with:

Aren't they fabulous?! I think they hint Vera Wang - clean, delicate, fem, elegant, classic! All words I would use to describe Dania herself! Dania is a fashion designer so when I'm running low on inspiration, I know I can always count on her to save the day with her totally luxe sense of style. Thanks girls for your dedication! (You should've seen their faces when I told them there were 84 cylinders and 250+ votives! Definitely gonna need more wine!!!)

Home Sweet Home

2008-02-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

While my days are currently occupied with finding the perfect ribbons and scouting honeymoon location potentials, Mark and my mom have began our hunt for our new home! As a total surprise to me, Mark & I will be relocating (locally) after the wedding madness has subsided. My mom is ever so graciously helping us build our new life together and I am so overwhelmingly grateful and excited (and spoiled!) :)
One of my post wedding resolutions is learning to let go and trust others. You may have known this forever but I just learned that I am a total control freak! hehe SO as my first practice, I am trusting this decision to the expertise of my knowledgeable mom and totally considerate and practical fiance. I know they will do a fabulous job hunting and finding the house for us to call home! Wish us luck! <3

Quality Time Captured

2008-02-28T17:57:00.000-08:00

Our engagement shoot was one of my favorite things that we have done since getting engaged. Besides the fact that we got some fabulous shots, we got to spend an afternoon together doing our favorite things - laughing, eating, exploring. Jonilyn, our photographer, was such a pleasure to hang out with. We were totally nervous at first but she encouraged us to just do our own thing, and act natural. Picking our favorites was hard since there were so many funny ones, but here are a few that are absolutely frame-worthy...

To see more pictures, visit our flikr album ~ Click here

Blessed

2008-02-24T22:27:00.000-08:00

The role of the mother of the bride has undoubtedly gotten a bad rep - deservingly in some cases, but not in mine. Throughout this whole wedding planning process (throughout my entire life actually) no one has been more essential and supportive than my mom <3 Knowing when to let go and when to stand ground is a skill she has so eloquently embraced (and something she has taught me I clearly need to work on!) Whether is it attending countless vendor meetings, finding the perfect lace to match my dress, or even just listening to me rave or rant about this and that - she willingly and lovingly accepts the madness and craziness that is me.

I've always suspected but was recently reminded about how a lot of the joy of a wedding is in the planning and not just the Big Day alone. Really, while it feels like you are doing all this stuff for everyone else, it is everyone else that is equally excited to witness and celebrate (genuinely celebrate) your joining in marriage. How beautiful is that?! I am positively overwhelmed with the amount of help I have been offered from family and friends. Mark and I feel incredibly blessed to have their support!

If you have people like this in your life, I encourage you to just express this to them, even if they already know; everyone just needs to be reminded of it now and then... To my beautiful mother, I owe a lifetime of gratitude. I love you mom!!!

A Hairy Decision

2008-02-23T00:11:00.000-08:00

Hair classically up? or half down?

Please help me make a decision - place your vote!

Note: My hair does not hold curl well. Unless it is a very tight curl which is not the look pictured here :( But on the other hand, we all know I have the heaviest hair and it is very hard to pin it up and expect it to stay (especially since I plan on cutting some rug on the dance floor!!!) HELP!!!

**Click on the collage to enlarge**

Yes, that is my dress in the first collage and I am getting the mantilla veil pictured in the center of the 2nd collage :)

On a side note, look how long my hair is getting!

It's so tempting to cut it to my shoulders but I need the length for the wedding.

Click on the comments link and tell me which is your favorite! Thanks XOXO <3

Weekend Warriors

2008-02-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

It has occured to me that we have hit that stage of planning where there are suddenly 592384 little things to do. All major vendors have been booked and the weeks/months ahead are full of all these mini projects. It sounds heavenly but its these "mini" projects that are proving to be the most time consuming, and yet convienently the easiest to put off. What I really need to do is sit down and gather all the post it notes and (mental notes!) and make a huge to do list (if you know me, you know that these sort of checklists are the very being of me, its what i do, its what excites me, its MY LIFE! haha omg - creepy - ) Because I am certain that anyone who is reading this is not even half as thrilled as I am about this list, I will spare you from sharing what I need to do and instead share what I did do this weekend...

Linette (my sister from another mister) accompanied me to the previously blogged about Paper Source wedding event. -WAIT- Rewind... when I told Linette what the event was all about, her reply was: "wait, what? you want to check out paper? huh?" Upon further explanation, she basically laughed at me and called me names and advised me not to share my love of paper with anyone else... ya too late. This is important to the story because within only seconds of entering my ridiculed favorite store, I lose Linette to the lure of patterns, textures, and vibrance of - you guessed it - PAPER! If you could only see us prancing around the ultra packed store squealing, "OMG look at this! Try this!" We are so embarassing! And then we make a bee-line for the do it yourself craft table and like 7 year olds (no offense 7 year olds), we grab all the flourish-y stamps, metallic ink pads, & glitter tubes like we were on some distinct mission NOT to share the good stuff. We learn the art of embossing from the totally unimpressed sales staff, and hours (yes hours) later we leave with our new rubber stamp kit, our embossing tools, and an enthusiastic passion for handmade craft products. We thought we were sooooo cool with our new found knowledge and lingo! haha what a bunch of nerds! I would post a picture of what we made but I know for a fact, my photography skills would just not do it any justice :( but all I can say is if you dont have one of these, your missing out on some serious Saturday night fun -

Its an embossing heating tool... DUH!

So that was the Paper-Source event. After that we went to Michaels, Tall Mouse Crafts, & Joann's Fabrics to look for ribbon to decorate the centerpieces - no luck whatsoever, not even close. I get Linette every Saturday though, so you can expect to hear more about this. Yay for you!

Sunday - On Sunday, Mark and I thought we would start to tackle our Bed, Bath, & Beyond gift registry. This was after much debate if we even register at all because the truth is we dont really need anything. As it is, we have way too much stuff and no place to put it. But then we took a look around our room. Cozy as it is, there is a black tv stand across from me, a light colored desk adjacent to the bed. We dont own one set of matching towels and we have "aquired" table settings. It is one beautiful disaster and has been functional thus far but we realized that as we are building a new life together, we should take advantage of everyone's willingness to generously help us build a home together. So there we are at BBB - Me with the clipboard, Mark with the scanner (how fun!) working our way down the "suggested checklist"

The Suggested Checklist... hmmm how do I put this? Cherry pitter, hands free apple pealer, beef jerky maker. 'nuff said.

The results - 2 1/2 hours later we were physically and mentally exhausted and entirely overwhelmed with the massive selections. Even me, the disturbingly obsessive shopper, was like "eh whatever, just scan it" I know some major damage control needs to happen but its yet another task that will have to wait for now. I figure we are much better online shoppers anyways and BBB has a great website.

SO that was my weekend - very small baby steps but its a start...

Man, I'm good at starting stuff ;)

The Way to this Woman's Heart...

2008-02-15T22:57:00.000-08:00

...is definitely through my stomach! Feed me well & I rarely will find anything to complain about... Sad, but oh so true!

Tonight Mark, Mom, & I "sampled" 11 appetizers, 3 salads, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts at the Madison. Before you label us oinkers, know that we did it all for you, so that your wedding selections will be only the finest - and markessa approved ;)

I would love nothing more than to elaborately describe the results of our tasting with you, however this may be one detail that I leave to the element of surprise. Me? Keep my mouth shut? About food? Ya ok, we'll see how long that lasts!

Hate is kind of a harsh word :\

2008-02-14T17:55:00.000-08:00

It's not that I hate Valentine's day. I just cannot support a day that makes single people miserable and pressures those who are coupled up to be spontaneously romantic. Even more aggravating, I am annoyed by the ridiculous sky rocket of retail items and the commercialized idea that spoiling your significant other somehow dictates your love or worthiness of that person. Call me a scrooge, but Mark and I are entirely anti V-day. And call me a show off but everyday Mark and I put our best efforts into showing our love for each other. True, some days we score better then others, but the intentions are there ;)

I am not bashing anyone who makes friends with the hallmark holiday. Nor do I shy away at the offer of a delicious not-good-for-me chocolate. But yes, I am urked that everywhere I turn there are flowers and I LOVE flowers but not overpriced ones on February 14th. And I am slightly peeved that none of our favorite places will do a takeout order, which probably means I am eating Mac n Cheese again tonight. And I am irrate that I could not find a parking space at Target because your men are desperately looking for a last minute card!

Ok maybe I do hate Valentine's day just a little...

Productivity

2008-02-11T19:48:00.000-08:00

I have a really bad habit of over-researching. This has plagued me all my life and has been the most time consuming part of wedding planning. I spend way too much time attempting to see everything that is available and not available to me, and take the longest time making the most simple decision, even the obvious ones. I promise I'm going to work on this (starting after the wedding, he he!) TO make matters worse, I am an avid blog stalker! Honestly, I feel like I know people because I follow my favorite blogs so religiously. I even find myself genuinely concerned when they dont post for days without warning. LOL You guys, its bad! You should be genuinely concerned for me! haha No, but seriously...

I guess, on the bright side, one good thing that can be said about me is that when I make a decision it has been thoroughly considered and I get a great deal of satisfaction from this. I booked my florist today and I couldn't be more pleased and excited to work with her! Not only because she was my first choice and I have admired her work on many knottie bios, but because she has challenged me to be more decisive and creative. Stay tuned for some of my ideas for my do it yourself vases/candle holders. IN the meantime, check out the inspiring floral creations of the ever so popular and equally talented, Flower Allie. [click here to see her blog]

The Aisle File

2008-02-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

As if I didn't have anything else to do, I decided to make a bridal party newsletter last night and was up ALL NIGHT finishing the damn thing. Roll your eyes at me all you want, but it's is informational and you know it, Gino! lol I happen to love it and I also am very well aware that I get so crazy- hung up on side projects sometimes. (sometimes? haha!)

There is another page missing but it wouldnt upload for whatever reason. I basically included a who's who page (that SOB took me forever!) , important dates, accomodations info, and then some updates on the bm dresses for the girls, and attire guidlines for the guys. I thought it was a great way to give everyone a heads up on what's going on and whats coming up.

DIY: I really used a little of everything - some Pages templates on my mac, and then just played around on MS Publisher, & MS word.

GaGa for kiddie wear!

2008-02-07T00:08:00.000-08:00

I love the sensible concept of children's formalwear rentals . I did a quick google search and found Gagas.com - a website that rents special ocassion formal wear for both girls and boys. This is especially nice for the our lil ring bearers who are 2yrs old and will not likely be able to wear their little tuxes/suits again since they are growing so darn fast! They have a great selection, really reasonable prices, and a rental period of 3 weeks! Oh and I also read that if you want to purchase instead or rent something you are dying to keep, most items have a purchase option on it. The flower girls will most likely get their dresses off ebay or the garment district but for the little guys, $17 spent on Gagas sounds about right to me :) Now I just got to decide on the style. What do you think of these?

Paging Dr. GreenThumb...

2008-02-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

What the %@*$?! Mark just got me these yesterday. Why are they all over the place like that??? What am I doing wrong? :(

He he, if you look closely in the background that's Diezel's little head strategically posing!

For the Love of Paper

2008-02-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

Since the beginning of time, I have had an overwhelming obsession with all things paper. When I was little I used to "collect" stationery (I know, I was a real wild child!)

I have a drawer full of cardstock, scrapbooking paper, & notecards, both blank & embellished. So please don't be too weirded out when I send you a "thanks for carpooling" or "sorry I lagged" card. I was probably just looking for an excuse to use my cute stationery!

One of my favorite places to kill an hour is roaming the displays at Paper Source. I browse the paper walls, admire the latest letterpress projects, and start up craft related venting session with the sales girls "just cuz." You can only imagine my excitement when I saw the flyer for their upcoming wedding paper event in a few weeks. This one day workshop will feature live demos & inspiration for do-it yourself gals (& guys!) and best of all it's F-R-E-E! The South Coast Plaza location will be hosting their event on February 16th! You can bet I'll be there with my craft bag (and camera) in hand!

Click on the banner for more info...

Markessa Monograms

2008-02-03T00:13:00.000-08:00

These make me smile :)

To design one yourself, watch this video for the Power Point directions - DIY MONOGRAM

La Luna de Miel

2008-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

That's spanish for Honeymoon. How beautiful does that sound?!

Just for the sake of fun facts (my maid of honor loves fun facts), I researched a little about the history of honeymoons and this is what I came up with...

From Wikipedia:

The Merriam-Webster dictionary reports the etymology as from "the idea that the first month of marriage is the sweetest." A honeymoon can also be the first moments a newly-wed couple spend together, or the first holiday they spend together to celebrate their marriage. In many parts of Europe it was traditional to supply a newly married couple with enough mead for a month, ensuring happiness and fertility. From this practice we get honeymoon or, as the French say, lune de miel.

My darling fiance and I have not found an answer yet when people ask us where we will be going on our honeymoon. This is entirely because we are concerned about the amount of mead we will have, or not have, post wedding day. We had planned on postponing this until a later date, but the more intense this is all getting, the more I think we will want to take at least a mini vacation afterwards. The thought of some relaxing alone time after the sweetest day of our lives sounds heavenly. So if I can convince the fiance to hop up on cloud nine with me, where should we go?

Neither have us have ever been to Hawaii...

This bride is always down for a NYC trip...

Also contemplating Costa Rica, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta...

REALLY want to make my way to Thailand or Malaysia, Mark wants Rome & Italy but all those last ones will have to wait till a later anniversary...

Passport to Love

2008-01-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

Ok so I mentioned before that we are trying to include an underlying travel theme into our big day. In our beginning stages of planning, I quizzed my bridesmaids on what's the one thing that Mark & I love to do - two of them said travel, the other two said go to New York... all the same to me! And it's true - whenever we have "extra" money (non existent at this point) or consecutive days off at work (also unheard of these days) - Mark, being the history buff that he is, and me being a devote culture junkie, seek out near and far places, anything pleasantly unfamiliar.

[end of tangent]

For our wedding we have planned subtle and not so subtle details incorporating our love for travel. Most of the paper products and favors will carry this theme. For example, I am attempting a Do it Yourself Version of this passport invitation...

(From Marsupial Invitations)

Please note the word Attempt. Though I find myself becoming quite the little graphic designer these days, these passports look like they might take some time and headache to perfect. I mean I'm not that techie, or at least not yet. Stand by for results....

Best Wedding Dance EVER!

2008-01-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

I know it's been around your web ring several times already, but I am still no less impressed watching it for the umpteenth time...

Friends, I know you are thinking that is soooo Markessa! But Mark's reaction was, "but my grandma will be there" He He I guess no Big Butts routine for us. Like I would really tell you anyway... ;)

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Tour

2008-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

Mom & I just signed up to volunteer at the Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale, made possible by the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. I am so excited for the tour to make its stop in Anaheim, CA on February 15th & 16th. The event give brides the opportunity to peruse and try on over a thousand designer and couture dresses available for purchase at generously discounted prices. Best of all, all proceeds allow the Making Memories Foundation to grant one last wish for a man or woman losing the fight against Breast Cancer. I love the cause and the concept. My mom and I will be helping dress brides on Friday; if you stop in, come say hi!

*Click on the flyer for event details & more info

Oh the Places You'll Go!

2008-01-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

Whenever I feel discouraged or unmotivated, I look at this Dr. Seuss book next to my bed - a gift from my wonderful fiance'. Shown here, it's kind of long but well worth the read! I'm also posting some pictures of some our favorite places we have been. If Mark & I could do only one thing the rest of our lives, it would be to travel. I'm not sure if I had mentioned before but our wedding also has an underlying travel theme. I will post some of our travel related wedding projects later. But for now - Enjoy :)

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets.

Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say,

"I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any

That you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen,

Don't worry. Don't stop.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.
Oh! The places you'll go!
You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers who soar to great heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.

You'll pass the whole gang

and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't.

Because sometime, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so but sadly, it's true

that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.

You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.

And the chances are, then,

that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump,

you're not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
You will come to a place

where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted.

But mostly, they're darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And if you go in, should you turn left or right...

or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Or go around back and sneak in from behind?

Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper

to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you'll start to race down

long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace

and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come,

or a plane to go or the mail to come,

or the rain to go or the phone to ring,

or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a yes or a no

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite

or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake,

or a pot to boil, or a better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants,

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.
No! That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying.

You'll find the bright places

where Boom Bands are playing.
With banners flip-flapping,

once more you'll ride high!

Ready for anything under the sky.R

eady because you're that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you'll go!

There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don't.

Because sometimes, they won't.
I'm afraid that sometimes

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win'

cause you'll play against you.
All Alone! Whether you like it or not,

Alone will be something you'll be quite a lot.
And when you're alone, there's a very good chance

you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.

There are some, down the road between hither and yon,

that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul.

On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up manya frightening creek,

though your arms may get soreand your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike and I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know,

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft,

and never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you'll move mountains!
So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixy or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places! Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!

Say CHEESE!

2008-01-24T00:04:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Cheesyphotobooths.com

The reception photo booth - What a ultra fun crowd pleaser!
The increasingly popular photo booth is a simple concept. Guests can take individual, couple, or group photos that will print out in minutes. The prints make a priceless favor for guests, and additionally, most companies offer cds of all the proofs and/or double prints. Put it next to the guestbook table and have your guests make you a unique, fun scrapbook using their pictures!

This idea, unfortunately will not find a place at our wedding. And I mean that literally - as it is, we are already experiencing a hair pulling space issue (growing guestlist to blame!) and I know our friends well enough to know that the traffic jam at the photo booth will be an all night occurence. Still, it is too entertaining of an idea to not pass along. Here is a picture of me and bridesmaid, Linette, taken by Cheesy PhotoBooths (that's their name, isn't is cute?)

Here's an idea: Have your photographer set up a similar station like photographer, Jonilyn, did for this rehearsal dinner party! Click to view slideshow

A BIG FAT Checkmark!

2008-01-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

All Bridesmaids dresses have been ordered! Thank heavens!!!
Tanya beat me to making the collage - * 2 Stars * ;)

Click on the picture to see enlarged version

The 4 of them will wear the 4 dresses pictured here, all in the chocolate mink color. Dresses were ordered from Net Bride.com - While I will refrain from my reviews until their dresses arrive, I can say that the customer service thus far has been exceptional. Every email I sent was replied to promptly and every question I had has been given above & beyond explanations/answers. I am very confident about our order, but don't take my word for it. Here are the perfect reviews I read on Project Wedding: http://www.projectwedding.com/vendor/show/1323

Fat Kid Creations

2008-01-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

My sister, Tanya, & I have always had this exclusively secret club we refer to as Fat Kid Creations. It is the result of our love for all the taboo things we were not supposed to eat frequently and definitely not combined all at once.

Let me give you a few examples [WARNING: Not for those with weak stomachs]...

Cheesy rice - a delicious ENTREE (yes, entree) simply combining spanish rice and melted, grated cheese mixed together to form a sticky like texture. The key to this concoction is more cheese then rice. (Dont judge me!)
For a sweet tooth, we would recommend dipping milano cookies in uncooked (i know, i know) brownie batter. This same concept works wonderfully with nutella hazelnut chocolate spread and rice krispie treats.

I know it is awful but this is coming from 2 little girls who wanted to buy shares in Country Crock Margarine when they were little (we were obsessed!) If it makes anyone feel better (it makes me feel better) we rarely eat like this anymore. In fact, we try not speak of it at all in public. But then I come across the drool-worthy photo below, at a time when words like "fat" and "cupcake"have been exiled from my everday vocabulary.

Cupcake in a Jar from Fat Daddy Bake Shop

This might call for a mini rebellion/Fat Kid Creation Reunion!

http://www.fatdaddybakeshop.com/ is a fully licensed bakery in Chicago. See their website to select from their huge variety of flavors, available for shipping nationwide. The Packaging makes it a super cute, delicious option for wedding favors, bridal showers, and all occassion gifts!

Teasers!

2008-01-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I dragged Mark out of the "OC Bubble" to the busy and festive streets of downtown L.A. Dressed in our finest (compliments of Nordstrom Rack - we LOVE that place!) we met up with the uber-talented, Jonilyn Brown of Jonilyn Photography. We started at the Union Station, an appropriate location to represent our love of travel, and then headed to Olvera Street, which made for a fun, culture filled afternoon. Jonilyn posted a few teaser photos on her blog.

A few favorites...

My Favorite <3>

Thank you Jonilyn for being so sweet & patient! We cant wait to see the rest of the photos :)
To visit Jonilyn's blog, go to http://jonilynphotographyblog.com/?p=32

More Pictures Coming Soon...

What could I possibly complain about now?!

2008-01-17T22:02:00.000-08:00

Glad you asked! lol

For the love of all things bridal, can the USPS please make a postcard stamp other than the blue panther one they are featuring right now?!

I FINALLY finish addressing 100 save the date postcards and they are ready to go, pending postage. So as a proud bride, I lined up at the post office (quite an adventure of its own!) , waited nearly 20 minutes only to find out that this is the only 26 cent stamp the USPS is printing...

Nothing about this stamp screams wedding, vintage, love, markessa, nothing! The thought of placing them on my color coordinated stationary simply kills me. Here are my options...

Zazzle - zazzle.com is an awesome sight that allows you to create your own custom stamp or purchase one that someone has designed. This is real US postage and they ship free overnight but its gonna slice a good $60 off our bank account. It's not too terrible unless you compare it to the incredible price of $9.99 which we spent on the postcards (I love VistaPrint!) And I was so stoked on my savings...
Option 2 is to buy the cool looking 41 cent stamps at the post office and use it on our 26 cent postcards. Mark hates this idea and can you blame him?!

I asked around for some second opinions and the general concensus was that I should just get over it. And I promise, I swear, I did try! But unfortunately, if no one in the world notices but me... that is usually more than enough reason for me to do the irrational - in this case, purchase the unneccesary po$tage for the postcards. PEOPLE, it took me 2 days & 3 different stores to find the perfect pen I should use to address the damn things! [ I recognize I have a problem - Im hoping its just wedding related, but truthfully I know it's not :/ ] Mark, if you are reading this I bought the 39 cent ones instead of the 41 cent ones if that makes it any better. I already know what you're going to say, just like you already knew how this would end. Another reason I adore you :)

I can easily be called a lot of things at this point but I think every bride has moments like this. Maybe it's not postage, but everyone gets caught up on something. I hate to end on a negative note so I will find the positive in all this..... give me a minute.....

I guess the positive would be that if this is the only thing I can think of ranting about, then I'm doing alright. I am laying in my warm bed, amused with my obsessive compulsive behaivor, and I can hear Mark in the shower singing "holla back girl" - Life is good :)

You say Taffeta, I say Ta - FETA!

2008-01-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

However you say it, the bridesmaids and I decided that it was pretty much the biggest upset of 2007...

Realizing that it is all a matter of opinion, I cautiously warn you not to fall in love with a brown palette taffeta. Wait, that's not fair... How 'bout DO NOT fall in love with any dress you have seen only online and not in person. Unless of course, you are looking to be disappointed when all of your bridesmaids pick out dresses online, only to find out that their choices would be comparable to that of a paper mache do it yourself project. Thankfully, this truth was discovered before we had ordered but still, I should have known better.

My next piece of advice... I hate to break it to you, but you DO care what they wear. You may think you don't, but you do; Trust me on this one. It's not that I blatantly didn't care - I just wanted them to pick out their own dresses & wear whatever they feel amazing in. I honestly thought this was the simplest way to do it. SHA-RIGHT! Fast forward 10 weeks later and I think we all have learned that all brown dresses are not made equally, in any sense of the word. Lesson learned: if you are going to go this route, do the research before throwing your bridesmaids to the wolves. I would recommend nailing down the designer, fabric, and color beforehand so that you have seen the dresses they are picking from before they even start searching. Ok I'm getting off my soap box now...

Good news - GREAT news actually - 2 of 4 bridesmaids have chosen a dress! Thank you Bari Jay for making a chocolate brown charmeuse that looks like chocolate brown charmeuse :)
They are going to be smoking hot in these...

Woo hoo! Just 2 naked bridesmaids to go :)
(oh and 2 moms, 2 flower girls, 3 ring bearers, 4 groomsmen, and a groom - *sigh*)

2008!

2008-01-01T23:26:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for this year!

The only thing more exciting than our upcoming wedding,

is the thought of being married to my bestest friend in the whole world!

I am anxious of what the new year holds for us and our future plans.

Happy 2008 Everyone! :)

Cupcakes by Mark!

I have a dream...

2007-12-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

...or more like a vision! And a clear, consistent one for that matter! I met a potential florist today and you have no idea how excited I was when I showed her the ideas and pictures that I had been putting together for months, and she said that I have a very consistent vision for our wedding! No one is more shocked (and proud) than I am! Having experience in the special events industry has been both an advantage and a disadvantage during this whole planning process. On the bright side, I have been exposed to so many ideas, wonderful vendors, different styles, etc. BUT this has also created chaos in my own head because I have been exposed to so many fabulous ideas and I obviously cannot throw it all in one wedding! It would look like a nightmare tornado hit the wedding scene!

But going back to my story, I am so excited that someone else "gets" me. Someone thinks my madness makes sense. And from this I have drafted the following inspiration boards, composed from my super stalking blog skills and my favorite girls on the knot :)

Florist Update: Coming Soon...

Go ELF Yourself!

2007-12-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

Mark & I did!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1470377720

Merry Christmas & have a safe and Happy New Year!

xoxo, Markessa

Speaking of "If onlys"

2007-12-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

Puggy in a tux

If only my dog did more than just look like this dog

*sigh*

My puggy who wouldn't be caught dead in a tux

If only I got paid to plan! $$$

2007-12-11T01:34:00.001-08:00

Ya I strongly feel like there should be some sort of PAID wedding leave, similar to that of maternity leave! Wedding planning is a full time job! And Im not talking a 40hr, 9 to 5 kind of job. I am constantly wedding planning - at work, before bed, on the weekends, in my sleep...! If only I got paid to plan, then maybe I could afford these -

PuraLopez $300.00 shaa-right!

Truthfully, we all know my god given clutziness would never permit me to wear these day-of.

As Promised...

2007-12-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Pictures of the church

FUN FACT: This church is actually featured in several movies but most recently, "Liscense to Wed" with Robin Williams & Mandy Moore. I actually got Mark to watch it w/me!

6 Months to go!

2007-11-27T19:46:00.001-08:00

Today begins our 6 month countdown... 180 days to go, and still so much to do! But today Mark and I secured our ceremony location. We decided to go with a traditional church wedding right around the corner from the reception venue. During this whole wedding process, Mark and I have figured out that we both are very old fashion in a lot of ways and we both want a wedding rich in traditional customs... kind of not what everyone would expect from the two of us! Anyways, the church itself is beautiful - dark wood with stained glass windows and an amazing organ which we will most definitely utilize. I will try to post some pictures later.

So what's on my immediate to do list? I am working on getting my save the dates out really soon! We are meeting with a florist this week, videographers next week, and I am still anxiously waiting for my dress to come in! I am finding inspiration in absolutely everything and our vision for our big day is become more and more clear. I feel accomplished... at least for tonight. Tomorrow I will step back into my chaotic state of mind :)

XOXO, G'night!

My Pain in the Arse "Must Have"

2007-11-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

My Dream Dress Nightmare... Before I even looked at a wedding dress I had described this exact dress to Tanya - "spanish inspired, vintage, glamour" After my initial unsuccessful hunt, I came across this dress online and its a Maggie Sottero - budget friendly and easy to find right? WRONG! While its thankfully in myprice range, it is part of the Spring 2008 line and will not be available as a store sample till late January/February so the soonest I could get it would be possibly early May! *Really cutting it close to the wedding! plus I would not have the opportunity to try it on before buying* Everywhere I called told me I could purchase the dress but had no sample to try. Buying a dress before trying it on = not a markessa policy!

After many many calls (I even called shops in AZ and NY - I'd use any excuse to go to NYC!), I finally got a local bridal shop to order 1 of the 4 dresses the designer had in stock (one of them happened to be in my size). These are not samples but an actual "turn key" model that would be available for purchase as soon as it arrives. The owner took mercy on me, as she did not require me to make a commitment to buy (we all know how indecisive I am). This no pressure sales quality may ironically be a huge selling point for me! Anyways, here she is... lets hope I am still in love with her after I try it on Wednesday!

Dress Update: These pictures don't even do it justice. The dress is a thousand times more breath taking in person and I am happy to announce that it has been purchased and should arrive early April, thanks to Mariposa Boutique. If there was only one bridal shop left on the planet, I would hope it was this one. Kacey, the owner, is beyond helpful and her vision of providing affordable dresses in an aesthetically pleasing environment is a rare find. The customer service is top notch and biased as I may be, I will forever sing their praises!

Photographer BOOKED! :)

2007-11-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

Ok so I dont have a ceremony location yet (eeekk!) but at least I booked our photographer and she is AMAZINGLY TALENTED! I am so happy she was still available and I cannot wait to work with her! Check out her new website and blog...
http://sarahkchen.com/

Thanks to the wonderful MRS. Catherine Tang for the referral ♥

SAVE THE DATE!!!

2007-11-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Our Wedding Date and Location have been set! Please Save the Date...
MAY 25TH 2008!

Here are some pictures from the Madison in downtown Long Beach,

where we are holding our reception.

(Click on picture to see full screen!)

Ceremony location TBD

Bridal Party Luncheon 10-28-07

2007-10-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Pictures from when I asked my Bridesmaids at our first bridal party lunch, & pictures of the do it yourself gifts boxes I made them :)

*Click on picture to view full screen*

Bridesmaids
*Tanya (Maid of Honor "MOH")
*Emeraude
*Linette
*Dania

Dont worry guys, Mark plans on having a groomsmen outing soon! ;)

Welcome to my bridal blog!

2007-10-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

I completely realize that this blog may be more for me than it is for you and I happen to be ok with that ;) Wedding planning is such a crazy, fun, emotional time. Already, I have learned so much about the industry, myself, my fiance'. It also provides the invaluable experience of learning how to research, budget, understand/negotiate contracts, make decisions as a couple, compromise, etc etc so forgive me in advance for I have a feeling this blog will be a record of this growth bumpy growth period. I love everything about it though -(even the times when I feel like pulling my hair out or crying at 2 in the morning!)

Secondly, I want to make something very crystal clear... While I engage in this love affair with our Big Day, my future hubby is still my first and only love. Everything is nothing without him and he is the reason all of this means what is means to me.

Some pictures from our 3 Yr Anniversary when we got engaged in NYC!...

(click on photo to view full screen)

Oh and the ring, of course!

Mark + Vanessa = Markessa! C'mon people, duh! j/k