The Fatness comes to Brooklyn

In all her glory, here are a few pix of our (tiring) weekend in Brooklyn with Natalie (aka The Fatness).

Welcome to the world, Edahn - Team Baby Shapir has been waiting for some time

Aunt Brian & Uncle Stef finally get to hold Edahn.















Don't tell Stef but I think he's smiling at me.






It is with great pleasure that we welcome to the world Edahn Shapir! Gal and Elite have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy. The family is happy, momma is getting some sleep, and poppa G$ can't stop smiling (and crying)! He came into this world at 3;15 on Sunday, August 9th weighing in at almost 8lbs (7 lbs, 15.8 oz to be exact!). See below for more pix and vid. Facebook me for additional pix.

Press here for baby goodness!

...and here for more baby goodness - Liron style.

The North Fork

On the way to Connecticut to see Aunt Kathy and El Jeffe, decided to cross the LI Sound at Orient Pt. Our first visit to/through the North Fork of Long Island amounted to some good eats, good wine and good sites.

North Fork

We highly recommend the Macari vineyards. Their cab franc and rose were delish. The grounds at Bedel were breathtaking and rumor has it their sister vineryard, Corey Creek, is even more reminiscent of Napa. On the way, be sure to stop off at the Cheese Shop in Mattituck for fixins. Nothing makes a picnic like some good cheese, bread, and meat. Oh - and wine.

Bastille Day - Brooklyn Style

Brooklyn has a wonderful Bastille Day fete on Smith Street in Cobble Hill. The pictures, however, don't do a sufficient job showing you how many people were there. C-r-o-w-d-e-d. They definitely need to expand this to include additional streets.

The Second Honeymoon - Ireland

I've made a promise to myself to refer to every trip that we take since the honeymoon as "our Nth honeymoon" - keeping the dream alive, per se. With that, there are some pictures from our 2nd.

I hope others get to see the green wonders of Ireland that we saw...


We started in Dublin...

Ireland - Dublin

...rented a car and drove South to Kilkenny...

Ireland - Kilkenny

...continued West to Kinsale...

Ireland - Kinsale

...and farther West through Cork to Kenmare...

Ireland - Kenmare

...then North to the home of me ancestors - Country Clare

Ireland - Co. Clare

Easter - Ava Style

Whoa. It's been a while. Check out the great times we had down in VA (two up, two down!) with the McNamara clan over the Easter holiday.

Click here for more Ava!!!

Time to Vote!!

this video is funny - in a don't let this happen kind of way.

click

Where will you be on election day???!

The Honeymoon (Continued)

As promised, here are some photos from:

Turkey - Here

Egypt - Here

Capri (IT) - Here (If you EVER have the opportunity to visit Capri, please take the time to visit the Hotel Scalinatella for lunch. And cappuccino. Before the lunch, of course.)

Our Return

It's been a week since we've returned and - we're back - sadly - so to speak.

Sad because who doesn't want to drop life and honeymoon around the Mediterranean - forever - or at least the next 6 months.

So to speak because we're glad to be home and sharing what we've been through.


So to speak because there's even more to celebrate now that we're back.

While I wish we had recorded everything we've stated (and restated) thus far so I just could just upload a podcast so you can listen as you go, sadly, you'll have to imagine what you can about the places we've seen.

Roma - Part 1 & Part 2


Mykonos - Here


Rhodes - Here


Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, & Athens will follow shortly...Enjoy! With more time I may be more inclined to write more. As it is, I'm being beckoned to the couch for Gossip Girl. S-W-E-E-T.

Can't Believe It...

We are actually getting married on Friday (holy cow!). I still feel as if the time is just slowly passing by but I know it's the home stretch. We are both ready and very excited - It's been a long time coming. We are so looking forward to seeing each of you in three days time!!!

Hotel Accommodations for Our Beloved-Out-of-Town-Family-and-Friends

Hi Out-of-Towners,

Below, you will find a list of suggested accommodations. All prices are on a per night basis, are subject to change and do not include sales tax. Also, please note that the TownePlace Suites by Marriott and the Courtyard Marriott (both in Farmingdale) are the closest hotels to the venue. We decided not to do blocks of rooms as there aren't TOO many of you traveling in from out of town. All of these will be listed in our wedding mapper section listed under Guest Resources on the right hand side the blog. Thanks and see you in September! -- The Bride & Groom

Garden City Hotel - Garden City
45 7th St
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 747-3000
www.gardencityhotel.com
$290/nt

Melville Marriott - Melville
1350 Walt Whitman Rd
Melville, NY 11747
(631) 423-1600
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycml-melville-marriott-long-island/
$170/nt

Four Points Sheraton - Plainview
333 South Service Road
Plainview, NY 11803
(516) 694-6500
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/photos/index.html?propertyID=1476
$165/nt

Residence Inn Marriott - Plainview
9 Gerhard Rd
Plainview, NY 11803
(516) 433-6200
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycpl-residence-inn-plainview-long-island/
$169/nt

Courtyard Marriott - Farmingdale (closest hotel to venue)
2 Marriott Plaza
Farmingdale, NY 11735
631-847-0010
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ispli-courtyard-republic-airport-long-island-farmingdale/
$180/nt

TownePlace Suites Marriott - Farmingdale (closest hotel to venue)
1 Marriott Plaza
Farmingdale, NY 11735
631-454-0060
$170/nt

The Bridal Shower

...here are the remaining pix that I took from Coco's 'surprise' shower.



I can't reiterate how great it was to see those that came. Those that couldn't come were definitely missed!

Her "Surprise" Bridal Shower

Jeez - get a load of that hat!?!?

Many thanks go out to Coco's mom, Lamy and her friends for putting together a great surprise shower at Laguna Grill. Family and family friends made the event a special moment to remember.

As a man, you can imagine I really don't know what goes on at these things but I did make a few observations:

1) I now know what a wishing well is.

2) there are varying definitions of 'surprise'

3) Coco will always be snooping for something. Anything.

4) Family and friends that couldn't make it were sadly missed.

5) It's totally about the effort - never about the gift.

6) Yet gifts never hurt. Gifts of the flesh variety are especially appreciated!



More pix to follow....

Victory!!!!

It's been a while...and we're back from St. Thomas!!

Consider this post our:

1) welcome back to the blogging world. Psych.

2) School's Out For Summer! Well....almost....summer class starts June 2nd. It's almost over - I think.

3) Congratulations to Glenn & Ashley on their beautiful wedding!!! Sort of like our pre-honeymoon. LOL. Neil, we missed you and the family way too much. Where were you to pick up the pool bar tab?!? FYI - I learned way too late to charge things to G&A's all-inclusive. P.U.T.Z.

Here's my first set of sort-of-edited pictures. G&A, if you want the proofs just let me know. Better yet - maybe I'll just burn them and fly them down to Winchester.
I hope you enjoy the pix as much as we enjoyed the wedding. Nothing beats spending such a special time with great (and new!) friends.




If you give it some time, I'm sure Coco will detail the highs & lows of our trip. Way. Too. Short.

Its Truly Shameful

...that my brother returns from spending the past 15 months in Afghanistan only to live in the barracks that you'll see in the videos below.

One soldier's father was so up set he posted this video on YouTube.



After some quick video searches I've also found these, too.



And this one, too.


From what I can gather the Army is scrambling. SCRAMBLING.

I'm glad he's finally home and even happier he's out for good in a few months.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Spring has finally sprung in Park Slope. Ava is getting so big and more beautiful with each month. Most importantly, my future brother-in-law Brad has arrived safe and sound from serving our country over seas. We are so thrilled to have him back and can't wait to see him in June!

On to wedding stuff -

Both moms have ordered their dresses! I've seen my mom's and it's lovely, she both looks and feels great in it. I also can't wait to see Patti's. It sounds beautiful, but I would expect nothing less as she has great taste!

Our chair covers have been ordered. The Finishing Touch actually handles all linens for the Carlyle, so I'm really glad that we went with them. Being owned/operated by a close knit Irish family really struck a chord with Brian. Needless to say, we didn't look any further.

Invitations are also a check. Lion in the Sun, a local Brooklyn stationary store handled our invites. Melinda, the owner/paper extraordinaire was VERY patient with us. Especially since I didn't like the original design that my fiancé chose. I ordered one proof the way he liked it, then another with the design that I had liked better. He soon saw things clearly and we went with the second proof (which made me very happy). Please note that invitation proofs only come in black and white. Even if your invite is red and yellow, it will be black writing on white, which can be difficult to visualize. Invitations have a surprisingly fast turn around. We ordered ours two weeks ago and they should be in next week. Having your envelopes hand calligraphered is waaay more expensive then having them computerized. Most places can match the font to the invitation when addressing the envelopes. Also, Kate's Paperie charges more per envelope to have computer calligraphered then Lion in the Sun does.

Limos will be booked this weekend.

Oh yeah - I got my wedding shoes! I was/am so excited: silver, strappy, 3.5 inch heels that I will wear again and again and again and again (you get the point). However, when I put them on the other day to "break" them in around the office, I noticed that one of the straps had ripped. Thankfully the store was very accommodating and replaced them without a hitch. I don't know why I have such bad shoe karma, but it's certainly better happening now, as opposed to the day of!

Up next: Tuxedos, dress fittings, wedding bands, accessories, floral arrangements and hair trials

A Belated Hag Sameach!

A word of thanks to the Green side of the Adlerstein connection. The seder we shared with our hosts (Sharon & Steve) out in Fort Salonga was nothing short of d-e-l-i-s-h. Never before have I had homemade gefilte fish - much less the homemade horseradish that accompanied it. Special kudos for educating me on Slivovitz plum brandy. If you've never had it - you must. It takes kosher drinking to a whole new level. If only I could remember the actual vintner. Meeting new family is always fascinating. And for those that may not be aware, American Jews do the Hagadah a little bit, err, shorter than my Israeli nation.

Black Or White

Gone are the days when I thought I would have some classic set of wheels get me to the chapel (LOL) - a '38 Packard, an Excalibur, or some old Caddy. Logistics, Coco, the size of my wedding party, cost - just a few of the reasons my childhood hopes will remain just that.

On that note - there are times when I'm all about tradition (read: a black & white wedding) but I'm not sure I'm feeling the white limo thing. Perhaps if I were more virtuous or more in touch with some kindred spirit, I suppose the symbolism of a white limo would hit home. Luckily, our decision becomes that much easier - Coco only wants a black limo.

One Step Closer.....And Another Revelation

Who'd a thunk we'd spend just as much time deciding on the wording of the invitations as we would deciding on which invitations to use. At least we're 2 months ahead of the norm.

Breaking News-

The tabs report that the pair responsible for the Team Brefanie nomenclature have finally tied the knot! You can read about Branjelina
here but know that Coco's fab celeb tabloid, People.com, has reported that it didn't happen. Let us know if you find out the real scoop.

Revelation-

How wise it really to talk about cost?

Small World-

A HWOTH reader (and recent commenter) is not only getting married at The Carlyle on the Green during September '08 but her and her hubby-to-be are also going to Italy for their honeymoon. And they've selected Priscilla of Boston for the bridesmaids dresses! They were also up in the Berkshires this past new years! W.E.I.R.D. No, they don't live in Brooklyn.

The Six Month Mark...YIKES!

We've hit the six month mark and we are now officially racing to the altar (please note that we are not getting married in a church nor are we performing any religious, sacrificial offerings). My mother had me in a bit of a panic last night and so did TheKnot.com. Their check list is HUGE and out of 189 things, we have about 60 finished. Things to tackle in the next few weeks: Limos, Chair Covers, Flowers and Invitations. Stay tuned!

Time

Whoa. Not once did I think that there would be a 20 day hiatus in posting wedding-related news to HWOTH. We've experienced some ups and downs this month and our time has been very limited of late. I guess life is supposed to do that, huh? RIPSTYW

Well let's see what I put out there...

* The picture related to this story caught my eye more than anything else. Agree/Disagree? Looks the entree to a joke. Lewd, I hope.

* Um, I love when Scots (or Brits) use the word dodgy. "I tried to ban loads of relatives from my own nuptials – and not just because they might look dodgy in the photographs." An interesting perspective to say the least. I dare you to make it a part of your everyday chatter.

*Its a shame that its taken this long for this to happen down unda, mate.

* Tiffany's quality on a Macy's budget - The rise and fall of Fortunoffs. Gulp! Eek! Uh, oh!

* According to WeddingChannel.com we still need to deal with wedding insurance, hotels, and a veil for Coco. Baby, what's up with center pieces??

* Romo? Jessica? Say What?!?!?

Super Bowl XLII

Congrats Giants, I can't believe the Cowboys let you get that far. Not even Johan's signing by the Mets can ease the pain I feel. At least the draft is on its way.

The Pictures We Wish We Would Could Take Over - Or Not

In true G$ fashion - these wedding pix are a must look at. (Read: SFW)

ps...That means 'safe for work'.

Los Mets

Congrats to Omar and the Mets (Omar. Omar. Omar...and the M-e-t-s.) for finally acquiring the best pitcher in baseball - Johan Santana. While I love watching farm hands make it up to the bigs, giving up just these four is definitely worth it.

Did anyone else hear me channeling Elton?!?

All I need now is for the Patriots to make history. Go P-A-T-S!

Come dite?

With the Honeymoon quickly approaching, I think it's high time I get to learning Italian. Ideally, I'd love to find the best means via an iPod. I haven't done any due diligence as of yet, but if you have used something that has worked well for you, please pass it along. Grazie

ps...our vino del mese (read: wine of the month) is Valpolicella (Allegrini). Fitting, huh? And delicious. Perfezioni per qualcuno che stia cominciando a godere il vino rosso.

Counting Down

- I would hate to be these poor folk. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope Duet is no Celebration Studios. Ouch. Sounds like a reason for wedding insurance. Wish I had a nickname like C-Note...

- In other Wedding Fotog Saves Little Girl news; its pretty miraculous I might add. See for yourself.

- 5 day? 2000 guests? Jeez.

- I've stumbled across this informative piece on choosing the right metal for wedding bands. Did know metals could be hypoallergenic??

- Talk about doing anything for love. Coco, I would if you would.

- And if Valentine's Day wasn't just around the corner; WE TV is putting the smack down on other channels as it gets ready to run a bazillion wedding shows. Who knew they also had plans to dominate the world - WEGoBridal Rulez!!

- Since Coco always seems to be bored, I thought I would put this link out there to keep her busy. I'm very curious to see what the stars have to say about our wedding plans. Can you say Brideoscope!!?!

- Why on earth wasn't I aware of this?!? I mean, she does work for Conde Nast. Oh, wait. That's right. She has already moved in. Doh.

Music

I've finally updated the 'Songs of the Moment' section. The Juno soundtrack seems to work. As much as I can't stand Kimya Dawson at times, there are times when her stuff just....works - or at least is OK to listen to. The soundtrack also includes some B&S. Hope you enjoy!

Hmmm....

What to report....what to report....

-Coco wants a wedding cake like THIS!! As if.
I get my piece first!

-Keeping with the theme; I wonder what we'll do about a cake?! Do we choose a sophisticated elegant look, or show our playfulness and select something more in line with the above?? I just want it to taste good. With buttercream. A hint of whiskey (the scotch kind). And chocolate. Mmmm. What IS fondant anyway?? Coco, anything here make you hungry??

-And here's our tribute to "The Biggest [Wedding] Loser"...who in their right mind would order a wedding dress 8 sizes smaller than her current size. I'm not too sure but the groom just happens to work at a health club - score. How far off is that wedding anway?

-Wedding Insurance; still didn't get it yet. Doh.

-BFAM (NC); this IS ALL YOU! ¿Dónde es el EL Producto??

A Tribute - Of Sorts

or...














It's taken me a while but as a tribute to Chadley (via "Where's Brad?"), seeing that I'm 110% sure that his lil niece would certainly approve, I've added Ava (via "Here's Ava!!"). Damn - this kid is cute!

In wedding news, Coco is now the official wedding coordinator. All inquiries and requests should be directed her way. Stay tuned for news on wedding veils, mens formal wear, the best 5" heels to wear down the aisle, and "Coco's Daily Countdown". Phew - I'm done with this. Almost.

2008 - A Very Special Year

2008 came with inches of powder - glorious, morning-welcoming, white powder - upon mountaintops in Massachusetts. "The Berkshires", Kathy's (via el Jeffe) country retreat
(aka "994 Hartsville-New Marlborough Road"), provided a wonderful getaway (remember The Getaway People?!?) to the twists and turns that life's ride gives you.

Coco and I want to wish everyone a happy and health new year!!

It's barely over and she's already complaining about:

1) going back to work (tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, next Monday, next Tuesday...sadly, the day does not matter)
2) not seeing Ava enough
3) being hungover (it is January 1st, afterall)
4) not seeing Ava enough
5) being hungry (read: hangover hungry is different than Coco's normal hungry.)
6) believing that the nuances in McNamara-family-communication-world will not exist in our union.
7) being hungry and missing Ava
8) still being hungry (and not wanting to go to work wherein 'attendance' is expected tomorrow.)

ps...pix of Ava's first trip to NYC to follow

Their Dresses

Well, believe it or not, the bridesmaid dress selection challenge went off without a hitch. In quick fashion, H, Lamey and Coco decided on a dress (in two styles, of course) that not only come across as great bridemaids dresses but also (and I agree 100%!) pull off 'little black dress' perfectly. PofB has some great (affordable) dresses. Image 1, here, and, Image 4, here. These designs, except, obviously, in black.

I'm quite pleased - not that it really matters.

Since I'm pretty sure tux selection will be painless, I think I have some time before rounding up the troops for a fitting. Big A is with me so that leaves the mothers. I wonder what they will wear??

ps...Coco, promised she'd make this post but she's been really, really busy. Life gets that way. Happy holidays! (channeling my best GG voice....) X-O-X-O.

Since She Wont...

I guess I'll have to...

Today. After work. No - not holiday happy hour, silly. Round 1 of bridesmaid dress shopping. I think it's here but obviously in NYC. She has a store here, too, you know. Yuck, yuck.

Epiphany

* Updating this blog once a day - much less once a week - is mucho difficult.

* With that being said, I've heard bridesmaid dress selection is around the corner.

* We're getting to ready to book our flights to Rome. It's times like that this that I wish I knew someone - anyone - in the airline industry. Business/first class tickets are so not happening.

* Coco has done absolutely no research regarding shore excursions. Slacker.

* As much as I fancy the idea of wedding cake alternatives, I'm not sure the Carlyle has taken steps in that direction. Coco, you down?

* Somehow, I just don't feel badly for these guys, right Brad? Perhaps stupidty is contagious over there? I hope so.

* This story gives new dimension to hand me down wedding dresses. Guess the dress also classifies as the "something old", huh?

* I wonder if the Mets will have to include Reyes in a package for a top-notch starter?

* As far as wedding photography goes, I've come across a great link stressing about 20 or so things to keep in mind. I'm a huge fan of the family photo coordinator! Hmmm. Wonder who we'll pick....

* When do wedding invitations usually go out? 6 months ahead?

Chesapeake Roundup

Well, Coco and I have made it back from Chesapeake in one piece. Surprisingly, the two of us thought we'd arrive back in Brooklyn, much more worn. We thought lil Ava would be up (and us with her) most of the night. If I said I heard her once through the night I'd be lying. I didn't hear a peep. Coco even claims to "not have such good sleep since being in my mother's womb". Fitting if you ask me given the theme of our trip.

I've come away from our trip with a few key points:

1) My niece, Ava, rocks. check out the pix from our trip.

2) Coco will make a great mother some day.

3) I like Jenoa as a sister-in-law more and more.

4) Even though he's a dad, Sean is still a goof. I'm sure Jenoa will agree 100%.

5) The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is l-o-n-g. At first thought, a $12 toll seems out of line but at 20 miles, I'd say it beats the Verranzano-Narrows $9 looting.

6) Jenoa's sister, Laurel, is so jealous that she'll have to wait until February to see her niece. Seeing who can (and will!) spoil her most will obviously be a 'who knows how long this will last' competition between Laurel and Team Brefanie. Bring it on, Laurel! Team Brefanie rules!!

Chesapeake Survival Guide

Step 1) Try not to fall head over heels for a 12 lb, chubby-legged, blue-eyed beauty named Ava - it makes it that much harder to leave the mid-Atlantic region.

Step 2) See Step 1.

Step 3) For proof of Step 1, please see the photo below.














And no, although she may have wanted to, Coco is not eating Ava's toes.

Newsflash!! Chesapeake Warning!!

Rumor has it the lil bugger below doesn't nap!!?!!? Eek! Can something that cute really not want to take a nap??
















Gasp. This could be a tough weekend.

Random Thoughts of Honeymoon

* I wonder if I can pay for the hotel in Rome today to get a better currency rate against the Euro? I can't imagine the rate getting any better than 1 USD = 0.682 EUR. DAMN!! European CD's anyone? A risk free score if things keep going as they are.


* The cruise - our honeymoon - I can't tell you how many times I forget what ship we'll be on; Libery of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, etc... Too many "...of the Seas" if you ask me. Let me check the intinerary to make sure - hold please - alright, it's Legend of the Seas. Note to self: do not forget. Here are some specs.

While I'm a bit disappointed there aren't any of those targeted restaurants like the Chops Grille and Portofino, I suspect it's because the cruise takes place a non-GINORMOUS ship - Just the way I like it. My only concern was a casino, and thankfully, the Legend has one. D'ya think they serve dinner and drinks at the Blackjack table?


* I have not clue what shore excursions will be like much less cost. I don't think their site has them posted yet. Since we're hitting Rome, Naples, Athens, Rhodes, Alexandria, Mykonos, Capri, Cyprus and Ephesus (Turkey), I wonder what we'll actually end up doing. A good deal will be cultural yet some will also include sand and sun. This is what it looks like:

D1: Civitavecchia (Rome): Depart 5:00 pm
D2: Cruising
D3: Mykonos: Arrive @ 1 pm, Depart @ 11 pm
D4: Ephesus (Turkey): Arrive @ 7:00 am, Depart @ 6 pm
D5: Rhodes: Arrive @ 7:00 am, Depart @ 5 pm
D6: Limassol (Cyprus): Arrive @ 9 am, Depart @ 6 pm.
D7: Cruising
D8: Alexandria (Egypt): Arrive @ 7 am, Depart @ 10 pm.
D9: Cruising
D10: Athens: Arrive @ 7 am, Depart @ 5 pm
D11: Cruising
D12: Naples/Capri: Arrive @ 7 am, Depart @ 6 pm
D13: Back in Civitavecchia (Rome): Arrive @ 4:00 AM

Here's a map of the route, too:



Where was I? Oh yeah, shore excursions...can anyone tell me anything about them? Do you think we should use those set up by the cruise operator or venture out on our own?

I'll try to detail some of the goings on in each over the next couple of months so Coco has something to read on the subway. I'll 'visit' Rome last since she's been there already. As opposed to following any order, I'll just select a destination at random and run with it.

What should I cover first?? Any suggestions?

The First Run Down

Its been a while since I've made a post and, I must admit, its getting harder and harder to maintain this thing once a week much less once a day. With that, I thought I would do a run down of what's been accomplished so far. Some, given our recent distribution of Save The Dates, are obviously obvious.

- Venue: Carlyle on the Green
- Date: Friday, September 19, 2008
- Officiant: Minister Keith from NY Marriages
- Flowers: Vito from Pedestals
- Music: Renegade (awe-some)
- Photo/Videography: Duet
- Wedding Planner: Coco et moi
- Honeymoon: a few days in Rome and then an Eastern Mediterranean cruise (via Royal Caribbean)
- The Dress: You'll have to ask Coco...
- Registry: Fortunoffs and Pottery Barn



Here some pieces that have yet to be decided:

- Rehearsal dinner location
- Abbreviated song list
- Groom's attire
- The menu
- Political affiliations
- Floral design
- Stationery/invitations
- Wedding insurance
- Design of the cake
- Order of the wedding procession
- Ceremony Readings
- Green influence
- The rings
- Hair & makeup

Am I missing anything??

Boo!

Happy Halloween! Enjoy the new, Halloween inspired, Imeem playlist! Can't say for sure if any of these songs will be covered come wedding day but I'm pretty sure an artist or two will. Any guesses? Who's bad??


And here's a pick of the pumpkin that was left on our front stoop - not that we have a stoop...





















I wonder if Jenoa will ever create different Picassa web albums?

In Honor Of All Hallow's Eve and All Things Black

As you probably know, Coco would do just about anything to get married in a black dress holding black flowers. Alas, her mother wouldn't hear of it.

So, in honor of her affinity for black gowns and fauna AND in honor of the Celts that begin celebrating Samhain and All Hallow's Eve (which eventually became Halloween), I've come upon a dark tale of a couple that has decided to marry on a blessed holiday while playing homage to the awesomeness that are the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the “Dungeons and Dragons” role-playing game. Can you say Elvira meets King Arthur's court?? Weird is an understatement.

Read more about it here.

ps...how on earth does someone really name their child 'Faith Charity'?

pps...oh, and for the record, she's come so far as to 1) look at the Cowboys schedule to see what week they have a BYE and 2) actually know what a BYE is. Way to go, Coco!

Just as an FYI

We've gotten some really great feedback regarding our Save the Date cards! We just wanted to let the world know that our pal G$ was the one behind the lens. To see more of his work, you can either come over to our apartment (I think we represent pretty well) or go to http://embeddedinbrooklyn.my-expressions.com/index.html.

* Please note that I forgot how to do that link thingy and Brian is ignoring my plea for help. =)

Another Thing To Check Off The List

This past Sunday, while Big A and I (nervously) watched the Cowboys-Pats game, Coco and her mom had an appointment to see another florist (our 2nd).

Pedestals was suggested to us by a couple of now newly-weds. Obviously I can't speak to the details of the what had gone down -I obviously didn't listen well enough when they returned just before halftime - but 1) they quoted us a much better price than Colonial and 2) Coco L-O-V-E-D the floral coordinator, Vito.

Stack the characteristics I have now omitted due to a certain someone's demands (married men, I'm already losing, aren't I?) on top (just imagine the pun intended) of a personality that LOVES designing with flowers and we've got another marriage, of sorts. All kidding aside it screams of a perfect match. (Kidding aside?? What kidding??) He loved her (our) vision and is very excited to work with us. As are we. We've heard he only gets the best reviews.

Bring it on, Vito.

ps...because I can no longer say/write what I want on this blog, I may stop saying/writing. Or at least leave it up to her.

pps...Disclosure: If I have selected your skills for my wedding, no biases exist no matter what may or may not be written about you. Unless you're a Yankee fan, of course.

ppps...IM demanding removal of post:

loveforfire15: nooo no nooo
loveforfire15: it's funny and you're a great writer but if he reads it i don't want him to be offended
loveforfire15: seriously, I love you but the wedding may be off if you don't remove it
BtotheMC: what. you know there's no mal intent on my part..
loveforfire15: about the gay and the growing up gotti
loveforfire15: it's a great post but i dont' want to offend him in any way in case he reads the blog as it's in my email. I'm not sure why I care so much since no one really reads it save 3 maybe 4 people. and you're harmless.
BtotheMC: not picking up [she was calling me at work]
loveforfire15: brian i'm serious, i may call the whole thing off.
loveforfire15: it's a little on the mean side although you don't have a mean bone in your body - except when i need bugs squished
BtotheMC: it is? its not meant to be. i love that show. i'm pro gay. i love hot, italian sausage when you put it in with the meatballs.
loveforfire15: and i really don't think it's necessary to bring in what he looks like
BtotheMC: i'll try and fix it so it doesn't come across like you say. thats not my intent.
loveforfire15: you are making fun of his appearance although i really know you're not
loveforfire15: which isn't nice
loveforfire15: please fix about the gay and the spikey mikey and growing up gotti
BtotheMC: can i leave the picture?
loveforfire15: nooooo
loveforfire15: pretty please no - you'll get good lovin' if you take it down
loveforfire15: i wouldn't want to read anything like that about myself although i'm not sure what you say about me that is negative
BtotheMC: just so we are clear it was never meant to be mean

pppps...Some of Coco's IM responses have been doctored. Blame it on me.

The Honeymoon - An Addendum

As discussed, we decided to front load our honeymoon with 2 nights in Rome. Having never been before, Coco stressed staying near the Trevi fountain (pictured) and the Spanish Steps; "I'd like to be near it all."

I couldn't locate a Comfort Inn on that side of the Atlantic, so after a heated discussion we've opted for the Hotel di Russie. Sweet.

Dude.

Sweet.

Dude.

A Time To Celebrate

Happy Second-Wedding Anniversary to G & E!!

ps..they're in our wedding party.

The Dress

Yesterday's missions was accomplished - The Dress was procured - not that I have any idea what it looks like....but it supposed to be that way, no?! For that may wish to read about the final decisions, she may not divulge all of the details publicly. Alas, you may be in my boat - having to wait until our wedding day. Sorry.