NYC 2011

 A little late in updating but I had a GREAT time in NYC with my friends!  The adventure home was a little ... crazy but overall we had a great time!  It was nice to not have a real plan and just explore the city and do what we want!  A few highlights! 
Getting to see Oiane and Ludi!

Birthday Dinner with Katie, Ludi & Oine at Haveli in East Village! YUM!



CUPCAKES at Magnolia Bakery with Brandon and Ludi! 





Top of the Rock! - View of the Empire State Building! I got a good chance to play with my new camera - but here is one of my favorites! 

New York, here I come!

Happy Birthday to me!  I seriously have the best husband ever!  We realized a few weeks ago we couldn't afford our mini vaca to the big apple.  SO he is 'letting' me go by myself Wednesday and Thursday. I wish he could go but we just couldn't afford two plane tickets, hotel for a few nights, baseball games, food etc.  SO my friend Katie is putting me up on her couch! (THANKS KATIE!)   I am going to see my good friend Ludi!  Ludi and I were exchange students when we were in high school and have remained close friends! She is from France but currently lives in Italy via Reunion Island. I can't believe we have known each other for over 10 years! She is in NY for a Beach Tennis Tournament! I need to brush up on my French!


I don't have a photo of the first time I went because I don't have them digitally! 
Let's see, I went in 2001, She came in 03 (don't know where those photos are either right at the moment).  
So here are a few photos of us over the years
Ludi and Baptiste came 05! -- Photo of me, Ludi, Baptiste and my cousin Amber.

Amber, Chad, Ludi, momma, Baptiste @ the beach in 05:

She came to NYC for NYE with a friend in 07: 



In 2008, I went to Reunion  to visit her! 



Two pictures here because that place is paradise!



Can't wait for our next adventure together! New York City 2011! 

I.Hate.Lung.Cancer.

What a week this has been!  Busy to say the least.  On Monday I went to visit a good friend Renee, one of our organizations lung cancer survivors. I remember the first time I met her, barely any hair but her eyes and smile lit up the room. She always looked so good!  She became active with the NC Lung Cancer Partnership and a part of our close knit circle.  She walked in the Free to Breathe Raleigh and was a great inspiration. Unfortunately her cancer returned around Christmas but boy talk about a fighter. I have gone to see her regularly but I learned this morning she lost her battle with lung cancer last night. I am so glad I went on Monday. 
Renee with other Survivors leading the pack, she is the one with the red gloves. 





Unfortunately stories like this are far too common. My heart is heavy this morning but I am so glad to have had Renee in my life. She is a special lady.  Thank you Renee for touching my heart and being an inspiration.  You were a fighter and I appreciate your friendship. Love you! 
Tomma, Renee, Me and Amy with Santa Bob at Christmas! 

Kahlua's Photo Shoot

I have a new toy! I have been wanting a DSLR camera for quite a while.  My point and shoot is okay but it doesn't zoom far and the quality is just ok.  I wanted something to take better photos as we travel, eventually have kids etc and I wanted one with 'real' video capabilities. Not to mention for my work at the Partnership we needed someone with a nicer camera because there is always an occasion to take a photo! So being on a 'budget' we got the Cannon Rebel T2i.  It's a good 'beginner' DSLR camera and does real HD video which will be great for Focused Videography.  We decided to use the money we got from our recent wedding booking deposits to purchase the camera.  


Now learning how to use it.. .
Here are a few photos of Kahlua dog -- my first 'good' photos. 

My favorite:

Sad puppy: 

a little cross-eyed but i think it's cute (i think i had the flash on on this one) 

Thanks to my beautiful model!

Garden to Plate

Bo & I got a late start on our garden due to wedding festivities but we are pretty proud of the progress it is making!  We have a tomato plant, bell pepper plant and about 7 or 8 jalapeno plants...Bo 'raised' the jalapenos from little seeds so the fact that we almost have peppers is pretty cool. 


Our tomato plant - looking a little droopy but doing well - 

We even have a tomatoes!

Our Bell pepper plant! 

Our Pepper and Jalapeno Plants!  No Jalapenos yet but I think we will have a 

ton pretty soon!

Saturday we picked the bell pepper: 

We had gone to the farmers market earlier that day and I decided to make shrimp and veggie

 stir fry for dinner! YUM! We ate our little bell pepper! 

Tada! 

It was very yummy!  Can't wait for more veggies from our little Garden!

#5 - Washington Nationals & DC Trip

We spent July 4th hitting up our 5th Major League Baseball stadium.  The Washington Nationals!

 Our goal is to go to ALL of them.  No real timeline for this but the goal is to go all 30 together. 

Washington Nationals Stadium Highlights: 

- Free Washington Nationals Hat! (their 4th of July Promo)

- Happy Hour - the Miller Light booth had $5 16 oz beers until the first pitch!  Being that most beers are $8 each that is a great deal! 

- Easy to get to from the metro station - about a 5 min walk. 

- Lots of family friendly entertainment including a kids batting cage and playground (Bo with the Giant Bobble-Head Abe Lincoln) 

- There are huge over-sized presidents that race around the bases. 

Some other photos from our DC trip!

Dinner out in Georgetown

The National Zoo - Mini Review: Although hearing the Tiger roar/meow? and seeing the giant Panda were both very cool I was not overly impressed with the National Zoo - BUT after going to the San Diego Zoo this just couldn't compare.  The first 5 animals we tried to see were not in there and their habitats were not as 'natural' as San Diego. HOWEVER it was FREE so at least there was nothing to loose - Great family cost efficient activity and you can even bring your own picnic into the park! 

The Natural History Museum - apparently the entire city of Washington thought this was also a good idea - again FREE!- but go on a weekday if possible! 

What trip to DC would be complete without a photo or two of some monuments?!

Top 10 Wedding Highlights!

It's over. Life can now resume as normal.   But what a beautiful day!!  Did everything go as planned - Of course not... but did you notice the difference?  Did I do a mental debrief of the event like I do with work?  You betchya.   But overall an amazing day and I am married to the love of my life.  I have an amazing husband who understands me, tolerates me, loves me more than anything.   I am one lucky girl.

Top 10 Highlights
1. My flower girl ... Ms. Hannah is my cousin Katie's daughter.  She is 3 years old and SO smart.  She did an awesome job and was just plain adorable.  (I have been to a lot of weddings and she was one of the cutest flower girls I have seen).  I mean honestly look how cute she is. -- more pictures coming soon! - My favorite story - after we cut the cake -- before the rest of it was cut, she took me by the hand and told me we needed to go get some cake... she was pretty convincing.  I hope she got a piece of that yummy cake!

2. Carson - My nephew and ring bearer - My favorite Carson Quotes of the weekend... and he always has some good ones... he is 7 by the way
"I have a girlfriend, she is in high school and her name is Roma.  She is going to babysit me." -  at Rehearsal dinner
"You just look so beautiful" - When seeing me in my dress for the first time. Heart melting!
"When can I get married?" - After the wedding while taking pictures.
"Bo, Your my uncle now, wanna dance?" - At the reception



3. Oldest Couple Dance - Photo & Video coming soon - We did the dance where all the married couples start off dancing.  Then we started eliminating couples based on how long they had been married.  Bo & I were the first off the dance floor.  We set this up so that .. all things going right, my Grandma & Old Man (term of endearment) who have been married for 55 years would be the last ones on the dance floor.  IT WORKED! They were the last ones dancing and then we went into Blue Suede Shoes!!!  As soon as Blue Suede shoes came on my grandfather knew it was a set up!  He and my grandmother broke out some dance moves none of us knew they had.  I hope that 55 years from now Bo & I can be the last ones on the dance floor for our grandkid's wedding.  I am so lucky to have two sets of grandparents that made it past 50 years... what a blessing and great example.

Here is a photo of all the couples dancing - You can see G'ma & G'pa in the back dancing (to the left)


4. The Hot Dog Stand.... I think this photo says enough!


5. The guys boutonnieres.. Mrs. Joanna Hody - my lifelong friend, bridesmaid, wonderful wonderful person spend HOURS making these!  I asked (innocently enough) if these were possible.. and she said yes.. little did we know how much work they would take.. But THEY TURNED OUT GREAT!


6. The Mother's Dance.. If I couldn't dance with my daddy, My mom is the next (and just as best) choice.  I got her good by playing a jazzy version of You are My Sunshine.. My mom would sing it to me as a child... She was a little confused at first but as soon as she heard the first line she cried.  :) Mission accomplished! Love you Momma! Thanks for EVERYTHING you have done to make my wedding time so special!


7. Our wedding cake - It was YUMMY!! Seriously SO GOOD!  Erin Newsome, a friend, did our cake.  This was her 2nd wedding cake (she has done plenty of other types of cakes) and she did such a great job!  Being a new wedding vendor myself, I know how much it means to be new and get new contracts!  THANK YOU ERIN!



 8. The Flowers - Ok so as most know...I had not a big budget at all for this wedding... It is what it is..I was convinced we would just do the flowers ourselves... can't be that hard right? But I went to Lyn at Fresh Affairs and he said he could make it work.. and within my 'financial constraints' and BOY WAS HE RIGHT!  Seriously, I could not be more pleased with the flowers.. .from the flowers on the cake above, to my bouquet, tables, alters.. WOW! And they were so great to work with.  Linda at his office is on top of it!   They certainly got it right!




9. This photo... and my father-in-law (2nd on the left).. I laughed out loud as soon as I saw it............ classic.


10. My wonderful Photographer! Nicole Faby Photography.. You did an amazing job capturing the most important day of my life so far!  <3 you big!
A few of my favorite photos of Bo & I from the Day: (I love the bright colors at Marbles)




<3 Heather Hooper