Planning Update

Bryan took this picture in Sausalito during our recent trip to California.

So, this week I had a chat with the caterer at Sweetwater Branch Inn and made our menu selections for the reception! We also sent out the save the dates and publish our wedding website- check it out here.

I also recently had my first dress fitting. The story of how I got my dress is so amazing. Thanks to this organization, I was able to get my wedding dress for free!! It's a sample Lazaro couture gown from 2004 and it is beautiful! Although it needed to be altered just a tad ;) Sylvia is the lady at the store where I am having my alterations done and ordered the bridesmaid dresses. In order to permit me breathing during the wedding, we have to have the back of the dress restructured (more details after the wedding because to be honest, Bryan reads this). I am very excited about it and about the work they are doing on the bustle. I go for my next fitting on October 8th!

Other notes include purchasing my shoes and working with a calligrapher in Gainesville to create the invitation suite (very, very excited about this) and figuring out how to get them printed.

Bryan and I are spending a spontaneous weekend together just relaxin' and watching the Gators beat Kentucky (although we are still trying to catch our breath after that whole Tim-Tebow-laying-on-the-ground-motionless-injury-ESPN2-cutting-to-commercial-thing).

More to come!

Maryel

Goin' back home to the west coast

Bryan and I recently returned from a trip to Northern California. The purpose of our trip was that Bryan was a groomsman in a wedding of our dear friend Matt and his lovely wife Emily. Bryan and I both love California. I swear I feel pure bliss when I am in California. The weather was beautiful, although it is crazy hot during the day and quite chilly at night in Davis, exactly what you would expect from north-central California.

We started the trip with lunch in Sausalito with Clarissa. She and I have been friends since the first grade and since she lives in San Francisco, I only get to see her every three years or so. It was so good to see her again! We had a wonderful lunch (and ice cream of course), and spent most of the time reminiscing about our times together.

Matt and Emily live in Davis. Matt was in ROTC with Bryan and me at Florida and Bryan and Matt were roommates when Bryan was stationed at Beale. The first night we were there, we had In n' Out Burger (a California highlight, trust me) followed by gelato in Davis. It was delightful.

On Saturday, the Gators gathered at The Graduate in Davis to watch the Florida/Tennessee game. It wasn't the prettiest win, but a win is a win. The top picture is at Matt and Emily's rehearsal dinner at Il Fornaio in downtown Sacramento. It was a delish italian restaurant with a patio with white twinkly lights.

Sunday was wedding day. Matt and Emily had an absolutely beautiful ceremony and reception at the Putah Creek Lodge in the UC Davis Arboretum. Their ceremony was underneath a huge tree that had two hearts carved into the trunk. The whole afternoon was filled with such joy and love and it was a blessing to be a part of it.

Tennis, Baseball, and Football, oh my!

Bryan came to visit for Labor Day and we had an amazing time. We spent Friday taking the 7 train from Manhattan to Queens for the day session at US Open Tennis and a Mets v. Cubs game at night. Both venues are at the same subway stop so it was quite convenient. I have never been to a tennis tournament before. It was awesome. We got to see Serena Williams and Andy Murray at Arthur Ashe Stadium. THe weather was beautiful!! The Mets game was pretty great and I love Citi Field, but the day was so long we ended up leaving the game early.

On Saturday we went to the Apple store and got Bryan a MacBook Pro!! Now we just wait for his cell phone contract to expire so we can get him an iPhone! After the Apple store we headed to the Philadelphia Gator Club to watch the Gators beat up on Charleston Southern. It was quite enjoyable. We Gators take our college football very seriously.

On Sunday, after church, we had our first pre-marital counseling session with the rector at my church here in NJ. Since we won't be able to get to Florida more than once between now and the wedding, we are able to meet with my church up here instead.

Monday, we went to Six Flags, but we both got sick on our third ride... so we went home early from that.

We had planned to get some wedding stuff done but we were exhausted from all of the sports... next visit for sure.

More to come!
Maryel

Random Acts of Homemaking

So each time Bryan comes to visit, I try out a new dessert recipe and let him try it. For his last trip I made a peach custard pie which he says he liked, but I am not sure I believed him :) For his Labor Day trip I made an Apple upside-down pie. You can find the recipe here. Of course what I made looks nothing like the picture, but Bryan ate it up. The recipe said to fold the crust over the sides, but as you can see in the picture that creates a crease all the way around, so I think next time I make it, i'll bring the bottom crust up over the top one (which ends up being the bottom once you flip it, does that make sense?).

I seem to practice homemaking in manic spurts. I'll pick a recipe, prepare it, and then while whatever's cooking is cooking, I do laundry, clean the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room- whatever else needs to be done. My back usually ends up killing me by the time everything is finished, but I feel accomplished! I am just trying now to learn and cultivate the skills i'll need for later ;)

More to come!
Maryel