Honeymoon Ideas - Recommendations Needed

Zack and I are just starting to discuss our honeymoon.  We've really got no definitives or must haves--although we've got some preferences.  Briefly, I thought we had settled on Santorini, Greece, but the country has been suffering continuous turmoil as of late and I am not sure it is the smartest decision (it's still on the maybe list though).  We may be leaning towards a European destination.

Thus, I turn to all of you for recommendations.

We'd prefer:

European beaches or South America or maybe the Caribbean Islands
BUT NO Mexico, Jamaica, Aruba, Hawaii, or stateside locale  
Somewhere not all-inclusive (no Sandals or Couples Resort)
Somewhere warm in April (so I can pack floppy hats, bikinis, and dresses

Ok, let me know your top picks! (I am also open to advice on places to steer clear of...)

Happy Wednesday!

-Rachel

What We've Been Up To...

Well, I am still house managing.  Blah, blah, blah.  Hopefully, I'll have my results in a week or so.

We broke up the monotony of my house management this past weekend and made a trip to the Queen City.  We stayed with my parents and our pup, Whiskey, even tagged along for the ride.  Whiskey thought Grandma's house was the best.  Unlike my minimalistic style, Grandma Linda has tons of things to get into in her house (Whiskey thought the house plants were super yummy so I had to spend the weekend digging them out of his mouth).  He also came home with a pair of Grandma's old bedroom shoes because he decided they made a great chew toy.  

While in my favorite city, I managed to meet with Katrina & Meredith of Come+Together Events.  More on that meeting later--it is deserving of its own blog post.  We also registered for gifts.  Zack, begrudgingly, went with me to Southpark on Saturday morning to start our registries at Belks and Crate & Barrel.  He pouted about it until we got the magical scanner and started to zip around the store.  After about 2 hours of registering, I was over it and we hit up City Tavern for beer and mimosas.  Needless to say the registries need major work, plus I haven't even made it to Target yet.  Oh well, it will get done.

Ok, back to house management...see you guys tomorrow with some wedding planning news.

xoxo,

The best House Manager ever     

Big Girl Wardrobe

Sunday was supposed to be a beach day, but with gray skies and rain showers, we ended up doing a little shopping at Mayfaire in Wilmington.  I ended up adding a few pieces to my "big girl" wardrobe and coveting a few others.  Zack was my fashion consultant.  Believe it or not, he's a farmer with a little bit of fashion sense.  I can get him to wear designer jeans, blazers, and beautiful button-downs, but I am still working on the bow-tie.  The day will come...      

Things I am loving at JCrew currently for all those working women out there:

 

Super figure flattering.

Shown in boulevard green, purchased in black.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Although I didn't purchase any new jewelry this time, they've got an amazing selection of unique pieces right now (albeit pretty darn expensive).  A girl can dream, right?

Flower Lattice Necklace

xoxo,

R

Wedding Updates (or lack thereof)

It is perfectly acceptable to drink champagne on Thursdays with nothing to celebrate, right?  I sure hope so because that's exactly what I am doing now.

Today, as House Manager,  I have been trying to wedding plan.  As I said earlier on facebook, the only thing I can really commit to is Zack.  That's a good start, right?  That may be a little dramatic, as I have the venue, the dress, the photographer, and a stylist.  However, all those decisions were made at least 6 months ago.  Since then, the wedding planning has gone stale.  Yep, stale.

My mission today was to change that.  So, I started my day with a chit chat with the DJ company Split Second Sound.  Word on the street is that they are one of the best DJ companies in town.  "We clicked" on the phone and the breadwinner around here agreed to pricing so I just need to get the contract in the mail.

From there, I turned to finding a bakery for our wedding cake.  Here's the problem:  I've got champagne taste on beer budget.  I am not talking like your champagne you buy off the shelf at Harris Teeter that costs like $10--I am talking like the champagne that Christian Grey romances Anastasia Steele with in Fifty Shades of Grey (for Fifty fans, that's like 200 bucks).  Couple this fact, with the fact that my Mom and I analyze everyone's wedding cake, AND we've got big problems.  Yep - we are regular cake analysts.  When we go to a wedding we ask:  How clean are the lines?  How good does it taste?  Is it unique?  Etc...  It is just something we've always done.  Probably, due to the fact, that we've had some massive cake flops over the years [Mom, remember my high school graduation cake?].  With all that said, the cake is a huge dilemma.  Thanks for all the suggestions made via facebook.  I'll be researching them all.

I should also admit that this wedding has no theme, no colors, and no direction.

Other big ticket items remaining:  catering & invites.

Like all other brides that have come before me, all these decisions will eventually get made.  I asked Zack today what would make him happy at the wedding and he just wants good booze (that was a given).  On the scale of helpful, that ranks pretty low.

Alright, back to drinking my champagne.  I'll be back soon with some more updates (or lack thereof).

Xoxo,

R

      

House Manager

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I have always had some sort of title--undergraduate student, law student, clerk, intern, assistant, etc.  Now, I have been relegated to staying at home until I find out whether I have passed the bar.  So, today I coined myself "House Manager."  I think it is a good fit...I am Type A, controlling, forever seeking perfection, etc.  Too bad we don't have a vast estate for me to manage--I can take care of 1200 square feet in a jiffy.  

So what does a House Manager do you ask?  I make sure the house is spic and span, the bills are paid, the pup is groomed, and etc.  There's one task that all house managers must also tackle...cooking.  If you have any sort of personal relationship with me, you know I consider cooking to consist of going to the local restaurant and picking up a to-go bag and bringing it home.  Being that the only option around here for takeout is pizza and chinese, I have decided I might actually have to start conforming to the traditional definition of cooking.  So, tonight, I am cooking in our actual kitchen.  It is a big night around here.  The breadwinner around here wants to eat around 7:30.  I'll report back on whether it is edible. 

If the above two paragraphs sound like I am slowly loosing my mind as a stay-at-home dog mom, I am.  I've now completed all 3 of the Fifty Shades of Grey books.  Is it bad for me to say that I wish there was a fourth?

So, for now, I am going to continue being the House Manager for the handsome breadwinner.  I need more things to manage--just not real babies.          

  

Xoxo,

The House Manager

Country Livin' at 24

I AM BACK to facebook, the blogging world, and life generally.

I'll blog about the bar exam later (let's just say it was traumatic).  Note:  I'll have no results for 5 weeks or so.

I've had a whole lot of life changes in the last few days.  On Friday, I packed up my 2-story loft and traded it in for small-town country living.  This came with a whole lot of mixed emotions.  I am happy to be with Zack, but less happy to give up coffee shops, boutiques, family and friends.  Luckily, my soon-to-be in-laws are fab and my sister and niece live here.  

Also, on Friday, I got one hell of a gift--a PUPPY.  Yes, a german short-haired.  He's six weeks old and pretty darn tiny.

 

After much deliberation, we named him Whiskey.  Whiskey likes to sleep all day and party all night.  Zack contemplated naming him NEMO.  (Don't tell him I am dishing his secrets).

Today is my 24th birthday.  There will be no popping champagne, but instead a trip to the vet for Whiskey's first round of shots.     

So, for now, I'll be a stay-at-home Mom to Whiskey and I'll be tapping my foot while I wait on bar results.  Kudos to those who stay at home.  I am on Day 2 and I may be a certified nut by Friday.

Love to you all,

R.

P.S.  Maybe I should start planning a wedding?         

Tomorrow...

Three years + three months of sacrifice come down to this....

I have 3 words:

"BRING IT ON"

Unless you're living at the north pole, you know that I am taking the bar exam Tuesday & Wednesday of this week.  Then, on Friday, I pick up my city roots (and high heels) and trade it all in for a life on the farm.  I won't know whether I have passed until the end of August, but that's okay because for the next month it is going to be about living carefree (if I know how to do that).  

So, when you go to sleep tonight and when you get up in the AM...please...oh...pretty...please...say a prayer, send some good karma, or some good vibes my way.  I'll give you a smooch.

Xoxo,

Rachel