showered with love.

by Crystal

I usually try not to bring up the conversation of Eric and my upcoming wedding. Usually because, if I wanted to, I could talk about it for hours. So when people ask me about it, I just let them know plans are coming along, and I always make it known that I'm just excited to be marrying such a great guy.  (The one caveat for that is with my bridesmaids. I have leaned on them to help make multiple decisions that I'm probably supposed to be making on my own, but am too indecisive. I think we all emailed each other about 20 times just yesterday. No joke.)

But earlier this month, I flew to Chicago for a dual celebration of my sister's 21st Birthday - woo! legal! - and a couples wedding shower. It was beach-themed, and it was awesome. My mom, cousins, and aunts pulled it all together. Eric's mom flew in from Florida. People drove hundreds of miles for this. We really did feel a ridiculous amount of love. I couldn't believe all of these people were gathered for us!

Now, I must tell you I'm a little uncomfortable with having ALL the attention on me. So this day was a bit of an adjustment for me, since all of the focus was on us and our relationship. I tried to make it known how much I appreciated everyone's support, but tend to cry when I am extremely happy/excited, so I saved everyone the awkwardness and kept my gratitude speech very short. Thank you cards are being mailed, so I can appropriately thank everyone, and cry in the privacy of my own apartment while doing it. No one feels awkward that way...right?

I also want to send a big internet THANK YOU to everyone who was there, including my two fellow bloggers :). It was an awesome day, that made me even more excited for THE day.

And now, I must share pictures (Obv). Enjoy!

I mustache you a question.

The Newlywed Game / Almost Wed Game

...when asked what was our favorite vacation that we went on together.

...when asked what he would change about me. OK, so maybe I don't flush the toilet every time. Love it or hate it, I'm saving water and saving the planet, people!

Awesome, luggage friendly, gifts!

My cousin Bria was gracious enough to host this at her house!

BYE!

Weekend in food (and then some).

by Crystal

Hey everyone. How was your (last) weekend? Do you even remember it? I know, I know. It's a new weekend. That whole, "out with old, in with the new," thing. But I absolutely must share with you what happened to me last weekend.

Mine was phenomenal. And I don't use that word very often - phenomenal. I also don't italicize words very much, so please notice the emphasis. For my Birthday a few weeks ago, my wonderful fiance told me I'd be flying to go visit the one and only Katie (the "cheese" of the bunch, since she's in WI), and her gf Katie. That in itself was enough to make me cry with excitement!

I had a lovely time experiencing a day in the life of a dog walker; we walked probably over 7 miles, only to find out that was a slow day! Crazy. And tiring. About an hour after I had fallen asleep, I get a knock on my bedroom door to find Anita and two of our very good friends who drove up from Columbus, OH! That's not a short drive, my friends.

The next morning, while our lovely friend Angela was cutting my hair (huge advantage to having a friend studying at Aveda), in walks my mom. MY MOM. She drove up from IL to spend the morning/afternoon with us. Seriously? I found out E had been planning it for a few months. Needless to say, I was on Cloud Nine. And crying. I cry on either end of the emotional scale. That's just me, folks.

Since our weekend involved a lot of great food (and drink), I thought I'd share with you some photos we snapped of the deliciousness.

And now for the "and then some..."

It wouldn't be an occasion without jumping pictures, y'all. Has anyone else played Farkle or The Game of Things? A lot of fun (especially with a splash of wine).

Have passport (and money). Will travel.

by Anita

At the Port of San Diego - Cruise Day 1

Let's backtrack a few weeks, beginning of March when I went on my FIRST cruise, where I traveled for 9 days with my boyfriend and 2 other couples along the Mexican Riviera. We ported out of beautiful San Diego, CA and had a few days at sea, elegant nights, spectacular ocean view, divine cuisine that never ended and memorable excursions.

For anyone who is a bit hesitant to get on a huge vessel that travels the sea that you would never want to be stranded in especially if you are oddly scared of sharks...I mean, I am ODDLY scared of sharks, as in, I still believe that hidden below a swimming pool is a secret gate where a swarm of sharks are just maliciously swimming back and forth waiting for me to swim to the bottom of said pool to have me as a tasty snack... I digress. 

No Sharks Allowed!

Let me assure you that after all the news reports before we left for our cruise about boats tipping over in the coast of Italy and guests being held up by gun point while on a paid excursion, I still was all gung-ho to set sail. The Carnaval cruise was the BEST VACATION EVER!  

Macaws in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I (unlike Crystal) am quite the planner and I get giddy when there are events mapped out for me to coordinate what I shall wear, what I shall eat, and what dancing I can do. Luckily, there was a daily agenda with a plethora of activities and lounging to partake in along with a towel creature every night on our bed.

A turtle towel creature

Yes - That is succulent lobster tail and finger licking shrimps!

A cruise is quite the operation and there is little planning that you have to do if you want to lounge, EAT, drink cocktails, play some put-put golf or watch Broadway type shows, then you can do all or some. 

 

 A few of the highlights from our 4 stops in the Mexican Riviera were in Manzanillo sitting on the beach and taking in the view (and being bombarded by vendors), in Puerto Vallarta we swam with dolphins and got kissed by sea lions, in Cabo San Lucas we toured a secluded beach and snorkeled with a bonus trip out to the Pacific to see 2 lovely Hump Back Whales swimming, and in Ensenada we had a cultural city tour and stopped to shop at La Bufadora (Blow Hole) market where I received a beautiful Sterling Silver ring from my charming boyfriend.

I really did swim with the dolphins 

Lover's Beach and snorkeling in Cabo

Love birds in Cabo...get it? 

Sterling Silver ring with Alexandrite and white Topazes from Ensenada

Now I am ready to plan my next cruise and believe me, I have a passport ready to get some more worldly stamps pressed in it to show off one day. Perhaps the Mediterranean 12-day cruise is something I should put on my MUST-DO list for 2013. Hold me to it!