Date Night and Mind Games

Jason and I got a much needed date night the other night and we went back to the scene of a crime: The First Date. Oh yeah baby! Our first date (!!!!!!) was five years ago and he knew one of my favorite meals was a Shrimp Po' Boy and this was the only place in town to serve one. How amazingly cute is he?!? Unfortunately, we have not been since because it is right in the middle of downtown Williamsburg and a tourist trap to boot. If you are in the area GO. It is just awesome. So awesome that I got distracted by delicious mussels and beer and I forgot to even get a picture of my date. Whoops! 

They have these cards on each table that are mind benders and conversation starters. Seriously such a cool way to get to know someone ;) 

Yum. Need I explain this? Beer is good. 

This pic is probably blurry because I was shaking from excitement. Mussels, tomatoes, mushrooms and parmesean cheese on bruschetta. Yes. Please. 

We had a great evening and for real needed some time together. He is just a fun guy to be around period. I love his face. 

xoxo

Pearl

{The Inspiration Behind} Our Ceremomy and Programs

Ill be honest. I am having a freakin' blast planning this wedding. There is something to be said for having a long engagement, no lie. Hats off to those who plan in short timeframes.


No matter how fun it is to plan the reception, we have not lost track of why we are doing this in the first place. When planning how our ceremony was going to go, Jason and I knew we wanted three things....short, intimate and fun. This was the beginning of our marriage and lives together! So I started brainstorming on how to make the short ceremony reflect the best of us, individually and as a couple. I did research on how to break down ceremonies and the best way to lay them out. Thankfully my sister Shelly had given me a few books from when she was planning her wedding and they helped out a ton. As much as this may not give enough credit to themeaning of the ceremony but it is a performance in a way. You have to make sure it flows and keeps the "audiences" attention and most of all tells the story. We wanted our story to relate express us. Give our family and friends an inside view into our relationship and whyit is we love eachother. Honestly you can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors of any relationship but hopefully our ceremony will give a peak on how we communicate and love eachother. I dont want to give out too much of the actual ceremony and be a spoiler so I will give some fun hints for the atmosphere we are picturing.......

• Pinwheel Boutineeres
• Bali wedding flags
• Ribbons, Ribbons, Ribbons!!
• Mousse in wedding attire. Nuff' said.
• The entire bridal party in a sea of blue..might be my favorite detail so far
• James River in the background.
• BOATS and more BOATS!
• Toes in the sand.
• Love in the air!
• Tying the "knot"...wink! wink!

How FUN is this!? Doesnt it make you think of a DMB or Jimmy Buffet concert? <3 it.



Why do kids have to grow SO quickly!??!?!



October 2010




How cute are they?!?!? (I love how Claire is clapping haha!)




This was the last time I saw Kate! (Februrary 2010) Can you believe how big she has gotten?!?!




I was lucky enough to see Claire and Shelly in May this year! (That face just kills me)




I LOVED that she was able to be there when I tried on my wedding dress... :)

These girls are just amazing and I love have been able to watch them grow. Being an aunt to them is probably about the coolest role in my life. I think about them all the time and I wish I could see them every single day! We are lucky that they will be here for Christmas this year :) I get kinda emotional thinking about seeing them on Christmas morning...the innocence of children this time of year always gets me.

Wedding Inspiration

I have seen these profiled here and there throughout blogland so i decided to make one for Jason and mines wedding because i have a SERIOUS amount of pics that i have copied and pasted into my computer to keep my creative juices flowing for the wedding. Looking through all those pictures, I realized that I have had a ton of ideas for this wedding and only have a few stuck around. Which made me realize thatI have learned a few fun things over the past 8 months of being engaged (!!!) so i though i would share them:

1) With long engagements, you tend to change your mind alot with the miles and miles of information at your fingertips for wedding planning. Def. not a bad thing because you are just throwing your ideas around at first. When we first started planning I had a image in my head of the wedding. The image is the same now except i have more colors (im not a matchy-matchy kinda person and well, Jason? He is lucky if he gets a shirt on without holes in them so he could care less) and we are just doing what we want without wondering if people will "get it".

2) One of the first pieces of advice my Mom told me when we first got engaged was "ITS YOUR WEDDING. Dont try and make anyone happy but you and Jason. Do what you want and everyone will love it." Ive heard this advice before and Ive read about it in magazines and blogs and it hasnt really sunk in until recently. Jason and I wanted this wedding to be a party. Be FUN. Reflect both of us, not only individually but as a couple. So that is our mantra for the whole thing. We are doing it because we want to and we think the whole thing is gonna be a blast.

3) family, family, family. When it comes down to it? That is what is ALL about. Jason and I consider our friends a part of our family too so its all the same. When doing our guest list we carefully considered who we knew would be a part of our lives for a long, loooooong time. When we were done with it and looked over the list, i realized that every name i saw typed out was our family and who we wanted to experience the coolest day of our lives with. (Jason looked at it and said "looks like a kick ass party to me!") The most important thing isnt the colors of the dresses or what kind of "cake" we are gonna have but its about celebrating the choice that Jason and I made to spend our lives together. That is pretty awesome. Who better to surround you than family?

4) MUSIC. Seriously. The playlist is hard. I was going to include in the RSVP a section to where all of our guests can put down a song or two that they wanted to hear but I quickley vetoed that once i realized that just between Jason and I, we have almost 250 songs on our playlist. Its only October! We have many more months of hearing songs and going "OH OH! I LOVE THAT SONG!" or Jason texting me after a few bud lights telling me to add Children of the Sun to the list. So I have decided what the hardest part of this entire wedding is going to cutting down the playlist. (Either that or have a 10 hour reception....hmmm.)

5) I have learned that being engaged is just awesome. I love everytime someone asks me to see my ring and tell the story behind it. I love annoying Jason with how many days until our wedding (232). Most of all i love thinking about the feeling i will have once i can actually call him my husband. Its so cool. <3

have a GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!

xoxo

PEARL

Why hello June...you kinda surprised me!!

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. Its basically June already. (And 356 days till our wedding...what? who is counting?) Already so much has happened this year and as much as I am excited for the next 6 months of 2010, I am trying to not wish it away too quickly bc I tend to do that when I am really excited about things. We have so many friends and family getting married this summer, Jason and I will begin building our garage/loft on our land in the next few months, my Mabecca's 75th bday CRUISE with our family is in August, and then we will be enjoying the holidays once again. Whew. Looking back this year I met my niece Claire for the first time, got engaged to this kinda great guy, went to Arizona and saw the Grand Canyon for the first time, I was published in a national DJ magazine, saw Jasons best friend James get married to his amazing now-wife Lauren,  and both Jason and I have been training for a bike race that I have no idea if I am ready for or not. (MS 150 is NEXT weekend. 150 miles in two days on a bike. Pretty exciting...if exciting means kinda scary? Also I will call Jason out on this...he hasnt trained at all. He is one of those get on a bike and go. Ugh.) So its been a great start to a great year. Cheers to the next 6 months!! 


A few photos that make me happy :)

Mousse chillin' out in my car...that dopey face just melts my heart.

This is my Mabecca on her 75th birthday! We surprised her and told her we were all taking her on a cruise in August. Can't wait!

Meet Sampson. My familys' cat. He is getting kinda old so my parents have to shave him every now and then. He looks like a little lion, I just laugh everytime I look at it. I love animals with personality and he takes the cake for cats with personality. Know of a well-known grumpy cartoon cat? Well. Sampson might have well been his twin. 

I just dont need to explain this photo. I cant look at it without laughing out loud. (Left to right: Jason, me, Laura and Gwen)

My family knows that I enjoy milk. A lot. When I was younger my dad joked about getting a cow out back so I could at least be semi-satisfied. That craving has not gone away and it excites me that my cousin Tyler (T-man) enjoys it as well. For  my familys' bdays we all go out to dinner at a place of that persons choice then we do a "washdown" at Outback Steakhouse. For my parents its Baileys and coffee, for my Aunt Carla its Crown Royal and coke, Jason has the good ole bud light, Uncle Dan and Sarah switch it up and for me and Tman...its milk in a tall frosted beer glass. Genius. 

This is a group shot of all of us at James and Laurens wedding in MA last weekend. I love this group of people. Pure and simple, they just are amazing. (Left to right: Anu, Kevin, Ryan, Pam, me, Jason, James, Lauren, James bro in the back peeking up, Rob, Gwen, Amy and her daughter Charlie, Chuck, Tiffany, Dan and Ashley.

This is my family at Cheeseburger in Paradise for my Dads bday a few weeks ago. (Before our washdown) (Left to right: Tyler, Sarah, Aunt Carla, Uncle Dan, Dad, Mom, Me and Jason)

This is the motley crue aka The Southeastern Chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association. This was the night I got to sit down with them and have a few and get to know most of em. Robbie Britton (red shirt up front) was the speaker at the meeting that evening. He knew some pretty fly bar tricks that he taught us. Oh and that guy in the blue shirt across the table in the front? Thats AC. He got me into DJing when I was 15. Pretty much my big brother and a hell of a great guy. 

HAHA. I love his face expression. 

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Boat Karma

Last night, Jason and I were getting last minute things done before we left for Arizona and around 11:30 p.m. his cell rang. It was a family friend of ours calling to ask a favor from Jason. Being the amazing guy Jason is, he says "Of course! Whats up?" The guy's son was stranded on his boat out on the James River! The battery died or something. Without skipping a beat we hopped in the truck and headed down to the Marina to head on out. Even with the complete trust and confidence that I have in my husband-to-be, I was a little scared. I mean it was DARK. The spotlight on the boat was controlled by a little lever that he was moving back and forth. So I had to put my big girl panties on and be brave. We strolled along keeping a look out for channel markers and crabpots and we finally saw the guys boat. We loaded up and towed him and his buddy back. Jason calles this "Boat Karma". Given that he didnt think twice about helping a friend out, it will show this kid that one day you might have to do the same. I just think life is like that in general. Its just really cool to be able to help people out when you can. On the way back, with the boat securely in tow, I took a second and looked around. The sky was so clear and the air was warm with the perfect breeze. It was one of "those" moments. I always love those kinda moments where you just take everything around you in and remind yourself not to take anything for granted. I also realized as we were pulling into the Marina that in almost a year, we will be at our wedding SO that of course got me excited!!


Jason and I are on our way to Arizona as I type. I cant wait. i have never been to Arizona before! I am gonna miss the Mousse man though. He wont even realize we left bc he is at Jasons parents house. Run around the yard all day? Yes please!


(I also might be going to the grand canyon....but shhh. I cant get my hopes up in case it doesnt happen but if it does? The pictures will be AMAZING)


xoxoxoxo

Love is like a dumpster

With our anniversary last week, we wanted to do something but trying to watch the money to be honest. So we thought that a impromptu business trip was just the ticket to getting away for the night. Jason had recently bought a trailer and several dumpsters from this guy in Long Island and he needed to go up to get them. So he booked a room in Westhampton, NY and we figured we would grab some good seafood and there you go! Makeshift weekend getaway! We drove up Friday morning and it was just gorgeous outside. I will admit it killed us a little bit to not do something else on such beautiful days but you know, gotta do what you gotta do. We ran into traffic in all the places we expected too but the scenery didnt let us down!

We got there around 7:30 or so, checked in and went on a mission to find a restaurant that was even open, much less served good seafood. The town was a little fishing village and had on-seasons and off-seasons so the odds werent good. We just about gave up when we came across a place called Magic's Pub and it was perfect! After driving all day we just wanted to sit down and relax with a few beers and some good food. They had filet and crabcakes on special so of course I chose that and Jason chose the famous cheeseburgers that they serve on english muffins (very good apparently) We split a New England clam chowder because you cant get any fresher than that. It was sooo tasty.

(Horrible pic I know...my Blackberry chooses its moments)

It was a great night at dinner but we knew we had to get to bed early because we had to get up and load some dumpsters up first thing and get on the road home. We got to the dumpster yard at about 8:00am and was ready and raring to get going...well Jason was, I just chilled out in the truck. Jason told me that it would only take about an hour to load everything up. Well the guy didnt have anything ready that he should have so 3 1/2 hours later, we were pulling out of the yard ready to make our way home. We got a few miles up the road and as we approached 35 or 40 mph, the trailer started to fishtail really bad! I looked in the rearview mirror and the tires on the trailer were going up and down in the air. I was FREAKING out. I didnt say anything because I knew Jason was already stressed out because it had taken so long but this was just crazy. The whole time he kinda doubted the trailer was gonna make it because of several reason but that was icing on the cake. So we turned around and called the guy back. They took a dumpster off the top thinking it was too high and re-arranged the ones inside to adjust the center of gravity. (This is all what I was hearing...im not the brightest person when it comes to this stuff so basically I hope this makes sense.) So another hour or so later, we were on our way again! We made it to I-495 this time and made it on the ramp with no issues...however we got up to about 45-50 mph and sure enough....Jason felt it start to swivel again. So. Turned around yet again. Long story short? We came home with no dumpsters/trailer. I felt so bad for Jason and he handled it so well because I know I would have just flipped. I thinks that really helps us out in situations like that because you dont need two people freaking out haha! After all was said and done it was 2:00pm before we got back on the road. I offered to drive all the way home so he could chill out. I didnt mind because I was on a mission to make it home when my GPS lady said we would. We did :)

Anniversary = full of good food

You will begin to realize that its always about the food with me and Jason. If we are not eating it or making it then we are thinking about eating it or making it. (Well maybe that is more just me haha) Last Thursday was our 3 year anniversary and we had a gift card to Opus 9 Steakhouse. Why not? Opus 9 is a place we ventured to a few years ago and while the food was decent the tab was NOT worth it. Either way we were pretty excited to get semi-dressed up and go enjoy some delicious fancy food on the house. I got the filet and he got the ribeye. So good. My favorite part of the meal was the appetizer though! It was described as "New Orleans Style Barbecue Shrimp". It came out on a plate with this thick sauce and has brichetta on the side....OH MY GOSH. AMAZING. I of course had to take a picture...

Just delicious. Im determined to figure out what was in that sauce....It was kinda spicy and definitly had rosemary in it. (Isnt he so cute?!?!)

Class all the way for us two.

My world

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

I could stare at this picture all day....it makes my heart melt and laugh at the same time.

(Such a hard life, I know Mousse)