"the Newport experience"

So our night away was simply charmed.
Perfect.
Fabulous.
Romantic.
Restful.
Fun.
Pretty much everything we ever could have hoped for in one short night. Some photos...

Here is Dave in the room we got upgraded to...pretty much four times the size of our original room. WITH an ocean view. What a little blessing :)

The Narragansett Bridge, umm, out our window...

Per the concierges suggestion of where to find delicious food, we headed down to Bannister's Wharf to eat at the Clark Cook House. And we sat next to the fireplace, so that pretty much made my night.

Ambiance? Check.

Perhaps some of the best salmon I've ever had. The crab cakes were good, too, although I still think I make a meaner crab cake at home for, like, an eighth of the price. Just sayin.

Later on we stopped in at The Pelham for a drink and to hear the Kulprits cover some sweet 90's music.

Thames Street on one of those warmish, breezy, rainy, beautiful nights. You know those nights??

And last stop was this room at OceanCliff, in the very same spot we said our vows five years ago. I have to say that this time it was somehow more meaningful after five years of a life spent together. Plus, Davey said all kinds of romantic, heartfelt, and complimentary things to me. C'monn, you can't go wrong with romance, people.

And I leave you with some shots around the hotel.

I kinda wish this mirror was here when I got married. It's stinking beautiful!

All in all, a great night away, a great husband, and seriously- a great life. And a very special shout out to my sister for holding down the fort with her kids AND my kids. For almost 24 hours. Like whoa.

So everyone: renew your vows. Every year. Do it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

11.14.04

11.14.04.

Was that really FIVE years ago?!
Here are some wedding pictures to commemorate the best move ever made by yours truly, next to investing in that black pair of theory pants. just kidding. Here is a selection of my very favorites :)
(And thanks for all the anniversary wishes, guys. BEST anniversary EVER. i'll be sharing some photos of our Newport experience on Monday, so be sure to check in!)



me and my neices, Caley and Madey

Narragansett Bay. The view from OceanCliff.

I had my tailor bustle the back of this dress more, because I simply ADORE bustling. It wasn't widely vaialble 5 years ago at my price point, but now it's everywhere. Of course. It's alright-10 years, I'll get married again (renew my vows, people.), and maybe I'll be able to find a Monique Lhuillier knock off so I can have all that lace I always wanted! :)

Me and Lee and Ams

Windy was an understatement :)

me and my dad

we do...glady

me and sister

Happy 5th to one amazing husband.

a quick shag

tonight i'm swinging into southy for a quick haircut at shag salon. my beautiful cousin daina got her hair did there, and it looked fffabulous. as it should- shag salon has apparently been featured on E! and MTV, for pete's sake. my husband insists that for our anniversary (the 14th is practically here!) i go some place a little swanky to get my hair cut again. partially because he thinks hairdressers keep mussing my hair up. fair enough. it's quite uneven right now. and it's our 5 year, so i gotta look gooood.


if you recall, i was contemplating going dark (back in MARCH. don't rush into anything, michelle. and the cut i'm going for is somewhere between the victoria beckham and rhianna 'do's in that post), but i'm holding off for now. partially because i'm a wuss, and partially because everyone and their mom thinks i'm going awol for even considering it. any blondes out there go dark?? c'monn, a vote of confidence would be great. so the dark will wait...although low lights are likely on my horizon.

for my anniversary, you may also recall i wanted to go gown shopping. which i did, and do, but considering what it takes to get away from two children for one wholeeee night, and the details involved in having photographs taken and the logistical nightmare it becomes in my head? forget it, i'm opting for a quiet night away, just davey and i. no frills, no fuss. maybe dinner, maybe a movie, and the rest can wait. the dress, the photographs and all can come down the road when i don't have a my plate stacked ridiculously high on a precarious ledge on a windy day. i'm already planning a 10 year mini ceremony. more on that to come :)

we're still heading to oceancliff in newport and renewing our vows to each other, which was the most important thing to us. somewhere, on the cliff walk next to the ocean, or on the grounds at the hotel, or in bed at night, or over breakfast. doesn't matter. maybe you'll get a sneak peek of my vows, and as requested, some more wedding photos (andrea).

less fuss makes me happy. i'm relieved. to not have to think about anything except what i'm wearing to dinner is good for my heart.

hang on- what AM i wearing to dinner?

wanna go gown shopping?

this is going to seem so random, but i keep dreaming about it, so it's clearly in the forefront of my mind. a little back story:

dave and i got married november 14, 2004 in newport at a beautiful castle turned hotel called oceancliff. since we planned out wedding shotgun style and in the off season, we were able to have a wedding that would ordinarily be way out of our league. i mean- this place was and is gorgeous.

this year is our 5 year anniversary, and ever since i saw an interview with heidi klum where she said she renewed her vows with seal every year, I'VE wanted to do the same thing. whatever. leave me alone. i'm hopelessly romantic. of course, i won't be flying my family and friends to bali or anything, but i like the idea of recommitting yourself again and again. so much has changed in our life and our relationship in just 5 years, and as our love evolves (and gets better), what better way to remind each other how important our committment is?

so this year dave and i decided we'd stay at oceancliff for a night to celebrate, and if all goes as planned, we'll renew our vows, just the two of us, in the very spot we did it 5 years prior. and THEN, my sister and mother (ie, the professionals) are going to take photos of us, which is SO exciting. since i had wanted them to enjoy our wedding, and not have to not work during it, i've always secretly wished they had taken our photographs.

and this is what i've been dreaming about- a new dress. i love my dress, but since in the last 5 years i've carried two children in my body, i can't seem to zip my dress past my rib cage. bummer. (maybe if i start corseting myself, i can get in it by november?) i don't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a new dress, by any means, but i really would love to stumble across something beautiful and sophisticated to renew my vows in. preferably not so wedding-ish that i couldn't wear it again, but don't let me fool you- if i found a second hand or clearance rack gown, i'd be all over that like white on rice. or white on brides. although, i'd prefer ivory ;)

so the search begins. if in your shopping or web-surfing travels you come across anything* floor length, silky, lacey, vintage, and/or lovely, let me know, okay?

*to be more specific, anything that she does, any one of these gorgeous things, or something like this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this. but cheap. easy, right? ;)