YAY!!!!!! :)
I KNOW cognitively that I'm getting married today, but I'm still so strangely calm. Except for the first couple of days when I first moved back home and was faced with the enormity of work we still had to do for the wedding, things have been (surprisingly) pretty much stress-free! Even on Thursday, production day, when we made and put EVERYTHING together, the mood was light, energetic, and cheery! ... and now it's here! I am so thankful for today and the many blessings that have led up to this day! I can't wait to see all of you! And for you to enjoy all the details that went into planning this event! I hope you all have fun (and that I remember it! I hear from so many brides that the day is such a whirlwind that it becomes a blur).
See ya'll soon!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
BYOB
Breathing Yucky Onion Breath?Baking Yummy Olive Bread?
Bathing Your Outer Body?
Bring Your Own Beer?! YES!
We will have a bathtub full of ice with sodas and beers for all of our guests, but feel free to contribute to the community stash. It's going to be a nice, warm evening, so the more drinks, the merrier!
Oh! And if you know others who are going to the wedding, please feel free to spread the news!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Yee-Haw!
For all you twinkletoes, here's a simple line dance for you to learn! We'll be dancing this one for sure during the reception!
What Did I Sign Myself Up For?
Four days until the wedding... and there is still MUCH to do! Last night, I had a slight internal panic attack as my sister reviewed with me how much ingredients we'll need for the cupcakes and brownies that I so wanted to make (and thought I had so much time to make!) for the wedding. Just cocoa alone, I will need about 35 cups, and sugar, more than 30 pounds!!! Really... why did I do this to myself?
Thank goodness there's Costco...
I guess I'm getting my wish about opening my own bakery!
Thank goodness there's Costco...
I guess I'm getting my wish about opening my own bakery!
Directions to Boaventura Winery
Just a quick reminder: the directions to BoaVentura are listed on the right-hand frame, linking you to directions on google maps ==>
If you've got a keen sense of direction, here's the short on how to get there:
1. Get to Livermore on I-580.
2. Exit Vasco Road and go SOUTH until it ends at Tesla Road.
3. Go EAST (left) on Tesla Road.
4. You're getting REALLY close when you encounter a fork in the road (Cross Rd)...stay to the RIGHT on Tesla Road.
5. The address is 9309 Tesla Road, and there will be a sign that says, "BoaVentura Winery". Don't be detered by the "closed" sign underneath; go ahead and drive through the open gate.
6. If you reach Reuss Road, you've gone too far.
Please be there promptly! You may not be able to drive into the parking lot once the ceremony begins, so be there or be square!
If you've got a keen sense of direction, here's the short on how to get there:
1. Get to Livermore on I-580.
2. Exit Vasco Road and go SOUTH until it ends at Tesla Road.
3. Go EAST (left) on Tesla Road.
4. You're getting REALLY close when you encounter a fork in the road (Cross Rd)...stay to the RIGHT on Tesla Road.
5. The address is 9309 Tesla Road, and there will be a sign that says, "BoaVentura Winery". Don't be detered by the "closed" sign underneath; go ahead and drive through the open gate.
6. If you reach Reuss Road, you've gone too far.
Please be there promptly! You may not be able to drive into the parking lot once the ceremony begins, so be there or be square!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Buon Giorno Principessa!
The scene in "Life is Beautiful" where Guido (main character) finds an unattended intercom mic in the concentration camp and broadcasts a message to his wife, who has been separated from him and their son, to reassure her of their safety and remind her that he loves and thinks of her constantly, is my favorite part of the movie. "Buon giorno Principessa!" (good day, Princess) is his special greeting to her, and each time I watch this scene, it still moves me to tears.
After watching this movie with a group of friends our freshman year, I gushed and raved about it all the way home, especially my favorite scene! That night, Wayne decided to surprise me the next morning with a note that read "Buon giorno Principessa" that he would surreptitiously slip under my door while I was sleeping. From his building, he could see my window and he waited until my light went out. One o'clock, my light was still on. Two o'clock, still on... three o'clock, STILL on! He finally decided to go to bed and wake up at 5am to groggily dropped off his note before returning to sleep for the rest of the morning.
Poor Wayne had no idea that while he was on his dutiful watch, I was actually sleeping soundly in bed—after forgetting to turn the lights off! Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the little note I received in the morning, and was even more touched by his effort, considering, as many of you might know, he is NOT a morning person!
Wayne says that each time he hears the song, "Buon Giorno Principessa", he thinks of me... and his sleepless night! And so we thought it would be fitting to choose this song as the song I walk to down the aisle... :)
After watching this movie with a group of friends our freshman year, I gushed and raved about it all the way home, especially my favorite scene! That night, Wayne decided to surprise me the next morning with a note that read "Buon giorno Principessa" that he would surreptitiously slip under my door while I was sleeping. From his building, he could see my window and he waited until my light went out. One o'clock, my light was still on. Two o'clock, still on... three o'clock, STILL on! He finally decided to go to bed and wake up at 5am to groggily dropped off his note before returning to sleep for the rest of the morning.
Poor Wayne had no idea that while he was on his dutiful watch, I was actually sleeping soundly in bed—after forgetting to turn the lights off! Still, I was pleasantly surprised by the little note I received in the morning, and was even more touched by his effort, considering, as many of you might know, he is NOT a morning person!
Wayne says that each time he hears the song, "Buon Giorno Principessa", he thinks of me... and his sleepless night! And so we thought it would be fitting to choose this song as the song I walk to down the aisle... :)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
much better!
The right equipment is essential (youtube instructionals are helpful as well)! I could also use a star tip... but I kind of like the cow pie look!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Going to the Strip Mall and...
...we're gonna (or well, we could) get married!
The other day, Cecilia and I went to get our marriage license at the County Clerk's office. Since they had appointment times available, we drove out to Fair Oaks (waaaaaaay out in NE Sacramento) to officially register and order the license. As we approached the destination, I kept my eyes peeled for official, government-like buildings, but didn't see any structures that matched the image in my head. When I made a U-turn to scope out the other side of the road, Cecilia caught a glimpse of the word "COUNTY" inside a strip mall. As it turns out, the Clerk's office was located INSIDE the strip mall.
So if you're ever in the situation where you need to get some gas (Shell), buy some groceries (Raleys), purchase a new video game (Gamestop), stop off at the back (Wells Fargo), relax to some recreation (Funcoland), AND GET MARRIED, check out the Madison Mall in Fair Oaks.
The other day, Cecilia and I went to get our marriage license at the County Clerk's office. Since they had appointment times available, we drove out to Fair Oaks (waaaaaaay out in NE Sacramento) to officially register and order the license. As we approached the destination, I kept my eyes peeled for official, government-like buildings, but didn't see any structures that matched the image in my head. When I made a U-turn to scope out the other side of the road, Cecilia caught a glimpse of the word "COUNTY" inside a strip mall. As it turns out, the Clerk's office was located INSIDE the strip mall.So if you're ever in the situation where you need to get some gas (Shell), buy some groceries (Raleys), purchase a new video game (Gamestop), stop off at the back (Wells Fargo), relax to some recreation (Funcoland), AND GET MARRIED, check out the Madison Mall in Fair Oaks.
The Cowboy's Folk Tale, Part I: Love at First Sound and Sight
During the summer of 1999, there was this rumor that there were no "good-looking" Asian girls at UCSD. As an incoming student, I didn't want to believe this silly rumor until a student in my orientation group from Fresno asked the Orientation leader about the truth of this matter. I figured that if someone from a completely different city heard the same rumors that I did, then it must be true!
Lucky for me, it wasn't. :)
I'd be lying if I didn't say I was looking for a significant other from day one, but my focus was to find a church and fellowship and to aggressively seek out new friends. I had never been as open and forward to meeting new people in my life and I praise God for giving me this new sense of strength. I was able to meet many people during those first few weeks, and surprisingly, I was often the one to initiate the introductions. However, by the third week, I grew tired of being the one to start the conversations and was slightly disappointed that I hadn't found anyone that I was interested in.
Then came the Harvest Scavenger Hunt. I walked to Peterson Hall, where the on-campus kids were picked up by their rides. By this time in the fall, the sun had set and the darkness of the evening had crept in, so it was difficult to see faces. So it was a pleasant surprise when, for a change, an energetic and excitable voice introduced herself to me with, "Hi! I'm Cecilia. You must be Wayne!" (or something to that extent.) So with that short exchange, we had met for the first time...and without ever getting a clear look at Cecilia, I had a very positive sense of her.
(side notes: I believe it was Samuel Chu who first told me about a pretty cool girl who was going to Harvest who lived in Tioga Hall next door...and the picture on the right is Clark playing a part of the proposal night...and what better place to kick off the festivities than where Cecilia and I first met!)
A few days past and I didn't really think much about this first encounter. Then one Sunday morning, I found myself seated in Samuel's Christian Education classroom, trying to awaken my senses by taking off my glasses and rubbing my eyes. As I was placing the lenses back on my face, I glanced at movement by the door and there she was. Not quite believing that a pretty young lady had walked into the room, I quickly shot head back in the direction of my wife-to-be (about nine years down the line) taking a seat on the other side of the room.
And the rest is history...
(though, considering I'm a big fan of long, drawn-out historical anthologies, the word "history" has a different meaning to me than most others...)
Lucky for me, it wasn't. :)
I'd be lying if I didn't say I was looking for a significant other from day one, but my focus was to find a church and fellowship and to aggressively seek out new friends. I had never been as open and forward to meeting new people in my life and I praise God for giving me this new sense of strength. I was able to meet many people during those first few weeks, and surprisingly, I was often the one to initiate the introductions. However, by the third week, I grew tired of being the one to start the conversations and was slightly disappointed that I hadn't found anyone that I was interested in.
Then came the Harvest Scavenger Hunt. I walked to Peterson Hall, where the on-campus kids were picked up by their rides. By this time in the fall, the sun had set and the darkness of the evening had crept in, so it was difficult to see faces. So it was a pleasant surprise when, for a change, an energetic and excitable voice introduced herself to me with, "Hi! I'm Cecilia. You must be Wayne!" (or something to that extent.) So with that short exchange, we had met for the first time...and without ever getting a clear look at Cecilia, I had a very positive sense of her.(side notes: I believe it was Samuel Chu who first told me about a pretty cool girl who was going to Harvest who lived in Tioga Hall next door...and the picture on the right is Clark playing a part of the proposal night...and what better place to kick off the festivities than where Cecilia and I first met!)
A few days past and I didn't really think much about this first encounter. Then one Sunday morning, I found myself seated in Samuel's Christian Education classroom, trying to awaken my senses by taking off my glasses and rubbing my eyes. As I was placing the lenses back on my face, I glanced at movement by the door and there she was. Not quite believing that a pretty young lady had walked into the room, I quickly shot head back in the direction of my wife-to-be (about nine years down the line) taking a seat on the other side of the room.
And the rest is history...
(though, considering I'm a big fan of long, drawn-out historical anthologies, the word "history" has a different meaning to me than most others...)
Tell Me I'm Not the Only One
I know it's supposed to be faux pas to use wedding presents before the wedding, but I just couldn't help it! I was so excited about this hand blender, and I had all the ingredients for a fruity smoothie... I caved. And I figure I can at least partially redeem this social taboo by writing up a product review!
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender. This sleek, attractive, and affordable model boasts a 220-watt motor that whips, blends, and purees at the simple touch of a button. I found it very powerful and sturdy and extremely easy to use and clean! Because of it's size, it's perfect for individual soups and smoothies, especially when you don't want to lug out the regular-sized blender. The Smart Stick also comes with mixer and food processor attachments, but I say don't bother. I borrowed a friend's one time, and the thin, weak wires of the mixer attachment wouldn't even cut through the frosting I was preparing. Instead, stick to just the Smart Stick.
Thanks, Jacki--I LOVE it! :)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender. This sleek, attractive, and affordable model boasts a 220-watt motor that whips, blends, and purees at the simple touch of a button. I found it very powerful and sturdy and extremely easy to use and clean! Because of it's size, it's perfect for individual soups and smoothies, especially when you don't want to lug out the regular-sized blender. The Smart Stick also comes with mixer and food processor attachments, but I say don't bother. I borrowed a friend's one time, and the thin, weak wires of the mixer attachment wouldn't even cut through the frosting I was preparing. Instead, stick to just the Smart Stick.
Thanks, Jacki--I LOVE it! :)
how embarrassing...
Sam and I did a cupcake test run today, and these are the initial results. I need serious frosting help.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Burning the Midnight Oil
It's 1:30am, and I'm still up... first, I was learning country line dances on youtube. And now, I'm searching for edible sugar flowers online. Oh, the life of a bride-to-be... must sleep...
Saturday, July 05, 2008
$10 coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond
I'm always looking for a deal...
$10 off any purchase of $30 or more at Bed Bath and Beyond
Also, keep your eyes peeled for the 20% off coupons that come in the mail!
$10 off any purchase of $30 or more at Bed Bath and Beyond
Also, keep your eyes peeled for the 20% off coupons that come in the mail!
Pardon the Construction
It's been brought to my attention from several people that our registry is very repetitive. I apologize for the 3 food processors that were on there, 3 garlic presses (!), 3 sets of silverware, 2 coffee makers, and so on. I just love cooking and having LOTS of company over--3 garlic presses worth! No, the reason for the duplicates is that when Wayne and I were first filling our registry, we used it as a "cart" to hold everything with the intention of sorting through it later... and then you know how it goes. Anyhow, we've gone through and cleaned it up some. Thanks for your patience! Direct links to our registries can be found to the right.