Category Archives: love

let the planning begin

wedding color inspirationit’s been just over a week since RJ and I have been engaged and we’re still over the moon…

we were so thrilled and amazed by the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends. thank you! what an exciting time! i had no idea that being engaged could bring us even closer together. we’ve begun to try out the word ‘fiance’, but we’re not sold on it yet. maybe we’ll get used to it?

we have also begun to think about our wedding day and are hoping to hold it sometime in late Spring 2010. you will be able to check back here for musings on my experience as a bride-to-be. so far we’ve researched locations (which is so hard in Los Angeles ~ i don’t know how people do it) and i’m beginning to scout them out. i’ve zeroed in on a possible color palette, asked some of my married friends a bunch of questions & looked at over 1000 gown photos online. luckily, my taste is consistent.

we’ve thought about honeymoon destinations, looked into a band (also rough in LA), brainstormed favors, enlisted my amazingly creative mom to help with planning and decided against an engagement party. i’ve also begun to entice my amazing friends kim and adam of la vie photography with the possibility of being our photographers for the day.

so, as you can see, the early planning is already well underway. and at the moment i’m still having fun…
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oh how it sparkles

Over the weekend, R and I drove up to Carmel for my friend Amanda’s wedding celebration! The wedding was beautiful and Amanda was beyond beautiful…

She was gorgeous, actually.

Sadly, I took only one interesting photo of the whole occasion. The lights at the reception. Luckily, they were splendid…

IMG_2059

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On Sunday, August 2nd, RJ woke up early. (5am to be exact). I remember him whispering “You’re beautiful” in my ear as I slept. A couple of hours later, I awoke further to the sound of the shower turning off and R rustling around in the room. He saw my eyes barely open and told me that, since he couldn’t sleep, he had text messaged my Dad who he assumed would also be awake early. He was right and they arranged to meet for coffee. (My parents had driven down to meet us for Brunch). I kept sleeping for about 2 more hours…

Later that afternoon, after we’d all been to brunch ~ my Dad, Mom, RJ & me ~ we said goodbye to my parents and we got in the car to drive back to LA. The weekend was wonderful!

As we were driving away from Carmel, R suggested that we take a final drive down by the ocean, so we wound our way along the beach front. Finally, we came to Carmel River State Beach where we parked and got out to take in a last deep breath of fresh, salty, ocean air.

Upon arrival at the small beach we began to stroll along the sand toward some rocks that went into the ocean. We soon determined that the rocks were much further than we had anticipated and so R suggested we sit on the steps close by. Once settled onto the steps, R snuggled up closer than I ever thought possible while I chattered on the beauty of the water, the sand, the scenery. A few moments later, it went something like this…

HIM: So this morning, when I went to coffee with your Dad I asked him for his blessing in marrying you. And then your Mom arrived and she joined in the conversation also. They were happy and your Mom confirmed that I had their blessing…

ME: You did baby? Aw. {still oblivious that there might be something special about to happen}

HIM: So do you want to get married to me? {as he slid something onto my lap}

ME: Well, yeah I do. {having not registered that this wasn’t a rhetorical question}

HIM: {gesturing subtly to the item in my lap}

ME: {looking down to find a small box} Oh my gosh!

HIM: {looking at me expectantly}

ME: {opening the box and discovering my ring} Oh, baby, it’s beautiful. Yes, I would love to marry you!

HIM: Yeah?

ME: Yeah!

*US*: {the most unforgettable kiss}

ME: {filled with so many emotions that made me giggle-cry}

HIM: {grinning} Should we put it on your finger?

ME: Yes, we should.

*US*: It looks so beautiful.

*US*: {another kiss}

ME: We’re engaged!

post proposal portrait admiring the sparkle the setting basking in it...

click here for more photographic detail

That’s how it happened. At about 2pm. And a small detail I’d like to add here is that I almost declined the invitation to drive down to the beach…
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visit to san francisco and other things

Last weekend I went to San Francisco, which always makes me happy. I was there for work primarily, but RJ decided to surprise me by driving up with some of his friends to hang out with me. It was short, but sweet…

yum yum during fleet week

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We walked up the steepest part of Fillmore St and looked back over the Bay where fleet week was in full force. We also ate at the yum yum yum restaurant called Cha Cha Cha. Delicious and rich…
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cha cha cha from above

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While I was gone, the mold was being removed from my home. It was crazy chaos when I returned, but I have since been able to turn it into organized chaos that makes my home livable. The best story about this is how Marceau reacts when I disappear behind the zippered, plastic encasement. He gets as close as he can and mews loudly with worry over my disappearance into the abyss until I reappear and tell him I am fine. It’s the cutest gesture of concern…
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20 marceau happy that i am safe
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If you’re really curious, you can see the full chaos in photos right here.

I am looking forward to this weekend and having no set plans. Happy Friday!
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