7 Dresses leads to 1

Are we crazy?.... New fun stuff = awesome

2009-12-19T21:51:00.007-07:00

Rene and I have both come to love photography and we both have very different styles. So when we go out for a shoot or vacation we constantly ask each other for the camera (back and forth, back and forth, it actually gets quite comical).

So, after fighting over our Canon 20D for over a year Rene and I finally broke down and decided to buy another camera. Now if you know Rene, this involves A LOT of research. He was constantly online searching and consulting our amazing photographer friend (Shelley) what would be best for our next step.

Of course at first Rene wanted the newest camera out on the market (Canon 7D) but decided a used Canon 5D would be best! We found a good deal on Craigslist and now after breaking the bank just a little, we are now the proud owner of 2 Canons. This is beginning to be where all of our money is going these days so I am thinking we are going a little crazy ... but it is FUN!

AND WE LOVE THE 5D! It takes great pics and now we both have a camera to use when we are out.

But now the question is....... WHO gets to use the 5D???? :-)

Show me the CASH!

2009-10-01T22:46:00.007-07:00

Okay, so I know I am WAY behind... but I got to catch up sometime!

Since FB won't let me post my pictures I will do it here (better anyways, though I think only 2 of you actually visit my blog. And for that I love you!)

Rene and I spent Labor Day weekend visiting Shelley & Ben (yes, THE famous Shelley that I always talk about). She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy CASH ROBERT just 10 days before our visit. It was a great chill weekend spent helping them out, relaxing and beach time! By the end of the weekend we even got Rene to hold Cash (a major feat as he never ever holds babies!)

THANKS SHELL AND BEN, you did well.... Cash is a cuttie!

Car Salesman are the devil

2009-08-25T22:33:00.003-07:00

Ok, I understand that is a bold statement. But I am royal tired of dealing with these guys.

And I do say GUYS...I mean have you ever come across a woman standing out there like a vulture? NO, 99.9% of the time it is a dude waiting for anyone to approach and they can snatch them up like a snake. I am sick of these dudes trying to rape us of our money and confuse the hell out of us.

We are in the process of buying a car and have had to shop around for the best deal for the best car. So in the past 4 days we have visited 5 dealerships and I wish I could say I would never go in another one again BUT I still haven't gotten a car!

This past weekend we were THIS close to signing the dotted line but all of a sudden I got a bad feeling about the deal (and thanks to dad) so we pulled out and left. AND THANK GOD WE DID! The salesman was screwing us and taking us for a ride! Not only did he not give me my fleet discount but couldn't even add correctly! Another dealer offered us a "great" deal on a used car to later find out that GREAT price was $2,000 more than the internet price! Though being sort of a saleswoman myself I do have to give them props - they are good at what they do - BUT do they really have to F***k us from here to New Zealand??? (obviously I am a little ticked off, those who know me know I don't talk like this)

These guys take you on a drive share stories with you... one guy even had a dog with the same name as ours, Whiskey, which was a little weird. You start thinking they are pretty cool and you like them as a person so you wouldn't mind buying a car from this "nice" guy... but then WHAM they take you for everything you got. SO DISHONEST!!!

So we did our research and have learned a lot over the last few days. Biggest advice is DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! We have stumbled upon some awesome and VERY helpful websites on how to beat them at their own game and how to not get saddled with a crummy deal. Please read them as every person looking to buy a car or ever planning on buying a car needs to read:

http://consumerist.com/248445/dealerships-rip-you-off-with-the-four+square-heres-how-to-beat-it

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/page003.html

Plus once you start looking there is lots there to learn! So we will head out next weekend with a new outlook and I have a good feeling we will come out with a defeat! WISH US LUCK!

New 4-Eyes

2009-06-01T23:01:00.004-07:00

Like my new glasses???

Finally after missing my favorite glasses of all time for 4 months, I broke down and bought a new pair. It was beginning to suck not being able to see at night after I took my contacts out. They are black and green.

Oh Seattle, where art thou?

2009-05-04T22:12:00.022-07:00

Recently I had a quick layover in my favorite city of all time, SEATTLE. Though just being in the vicinity of this marvelous city and not able to reach it made me sad (I only had an hour therefore could not leave the airport)

Just the precious moments I was there to smell the salty air and see the sun trying to break through the cloudy sky reminded me that I do love it there.

Have I ever lived in Seattle, you ask? No.

I have been in love with this city since I was 10 years old, when I met my best friend Alyssa. Her family had just moved to the Bay Area from Seattle and Alyssa was the new girl in my class... we were instant best friends! I don't why or how my love affair with this city started, but it could

have been that her family was so wonderfully nice, it

was a distant place I have never been, was by the water and the mountains both at the same time, had interesting buildings, had house boats, wildlife, home to my favorite Orca whales, or that it rained all the time and I love rain... who knows! But I fell in love with Seattle well before I had even been to the state of Washington.

As life comes, three years after meeting my best friend my family moved to Arizona and a few years after that Alyssa and her family moved back to Seattle.

It wasn't until junior year in high school that I got a chance to visit Alyssa in the lovely Seattle. We tooled around Mill Creek (the suburb to the North where they lived), went up in the Space Needle, took a fairy ride across the sound... all of the things you would expect to do. It was New Year's and we even got to see fire works coming from the Space Needle. Though it was winter the weather was gorgous, at least to me. It was rainy, but some days the sun popped its head out. Longing for my best friend who I missed dearly made me want to move to Seattle. So my love affair with the magical city grew stronger.

The first chance I had to try to move to Seattle was college. During my whole love for the city my father dispised it. I applied to University of Washington and Western Washington

University, really hoping to call UDUB my alma matter... very sad to say (and sad to admit) that I was not accepted to the University of Washington BUT did to Western Washington. After the disappointment I decided to not go to Western as it is still a long way from Seattle, so not quite close enough. Strike one.

While we were both attending college, me in Arizona and Alyssa in Washington, we got to visit each other a few times. I remember visiting one summer. We went to the aquarium, Pikes place market, the original Starbucks. All of that made we want to live down the street from the market and downtown. Plus the weather was gorgeous.

When I graduated college I tried desperately to get a job out there but to my luck I landed my dream job but not in my dream city. I was now in Phoenix. Strike two.

No one really understands my love for Seattle... I even think Alyssa doesn't even understand it. But it is strong. The years have passed and I have been up to Seattle a few times for her wedding and other things and each time a little piece of me gets left behind there.

Then I wanted to share my love of the city with my other love, Rene. One spring I took him there to visit Alyssa (and her husband Scott). We had SUCH A BLAST (but would it have been any other way?). We spent a few days in the city eating

crab (my favorite, yum), touring the market, going to China Town (yes they have one in Seattle too), Gasworks park, the Troll Bridge... and discovering even more wonderful things about the city I did not know. We even found a bar called THE WHISKEY BAR, which was icing on the cake (thats the name of our dog). Though it was spring time and the rainy season the sun did try to poke its head out a few times, but I appreciated the cool damp air as well. It never really seems to pour down rain like here in Arizona, mostly a light mist all day. Now Rene found Seattle to be quite fun too (how could he not)! And we agreed that someday we would live there (YES, I converted him!).

So now I am just waiting.... waiting to for the opportunity to arise where I can finally call Seattle home......

PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PICTURES ARE HERE!

2009-05-04T21:22:00.004-07:00

As you may have read previously, one of my most dearest oldest friend is a professional photographer... Shelley is AMAZING! Well she photographed our wedding as a present and we just got to preview them online! YAHHHH!!! I am so happy! These pictures are the best present anyone could ever give us! They are so beautiful its like we are re-living the it all over again. If you want to check them out just shoot me an email and I will send you directions.

Thanks Shelley & Ben!

The best horseback ride EVER

2009-04-19T17:24:00.006-07:00

To say the least, our honeymoon was AWESOME!! Everything turned out perfect and the stars just seemed to be alined for us.

Rene & I stayed at this adorable boutique hotel we found on the internet HOTELITO (it is so awesome and we highly recommend it). There are only a few casitas so it is really private.

So upon our arrival to Hotelito we met the owner, Jenny. She is a charming Englishwoman and very welcoming. Jenny goes on to explain that she is "in her shabbies" as she has been horseback riding all day. OH REALLY? I ask. Then we strike up a conversation about horses and end up telling her what I do for a living. She says "you must meet Kia, my horse trainer".

It turns out that in the back of the property of Hotelito there are horses and they are building an Equestrian facility. AWESOME!!!! We meet Kia and she says she would love to take us on a ride to the beach. We could not be more excited.... a private ride with nice horses.

So the next morning we wake up and this is what we got to do....

SO FUN!!

bridal shower... yes, I am playing catch up!

2009-04-05T17:01:00.006-07:00

Kristin doing what she does best.... being so darn creative!

What a nice bouquet! Thanks friend!

The Mazzella & Fresquez girls

4 generations all together! (if you count baby Anna in Melissa's tummy)

The best MOM and MIL (mother in law) anyone could ask for :-)

I was a happy girl... especially after a few Mai Tais, THANKS SIS!

This is NOT okay with me... (warning: my friends who are currently prego, do not read if you don't want to get freaked out.)

2009-03-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, I love kids! And I have always wanted my own someday (and still do) but after the whole experience with my sister there are some things that I am just not okay with....

1. Epidurals don't work???!!! - my sister got one and (though she does have a low tolerance for pain) she still complained of major pain and looked like she was going to die, really, someone needed to put her out of her misery! I mean that is supposed to be our saving grace, isn't it? Now what?

2. 20+ hours of labor and then having a C-section.... I mean honestly, we could have shaved off at least 16 - 18 of those and still had the same outcome. No reason to make the mother suffer. Why can't you schedule a C-section from the start (which I just recently found out that you can't) ... They do produce MUCH prettier newborns with their beautifully shaped heads. I understand that it is major surgery and all but so is passing an 8 lb baby through your hoohaa! I don't know about you but I might opt for the stitches on my belly than stitches down below!

3. Even though everyone witnessed a miracle, hanging around very much sleep deprived family is no fun. It brings out the worst in them.... one of them was even trying to draw on my face with a marker for goodness sake. No thank you!

4. It is crap that the birthing/labor process is not hereditary! We really thought my sister (and me for that matter) would take after my mom who with both of us was in labor under an hour in time and three weeks early so we were small, about 4 - 5 lbs, therefore not as much damage. But NO, nothing even close! (now I am not promoting premature babies but my sis and I were preemies and we turned out great!)

5. Breast feeding is not natural... at least not any more. And when I say "natural" I mean instinctual, as it should come easy... and it does not. (don't get me wrong, I am a fan and think it is great for the baby) I think we, as humans, must have bred out our natural instinct! It should NOT be that hard! I work with animals and it comes easy and natural to them... but try watching a new mother and infant trying to get the hang of it.... it take about 3 people assisting them to get started. It is so frustrating to watch when you think it should just be a matter of latch on and go.

.... So I just might be adopting. Time will tell if I will ever be ready for such a thing. But as you can tell, that day is not today. As for now, I am happy being an AUNT :-)

Here she is, her grand entrance...

2009-03-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

BABY ANNA MAE DELANEY

Oh the waiting! Baby niece come soon

2009-02-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

So my little niece, you are not quite here yet but we are all waiting for you to make your grand entry .... Me, your Grandma, Pop Pop, and Dad have been in the hospital for over 9 hours now. You mom is a trooper but really wants to see your little face, so please come soon! From how things have been going I predict you are going to be patient little girl, always doing things when YOU are ready and not on anyone else's agenda. I am sure you will be cute as a button from the looks of your parents (and the rest of the family I might add) and be a petite little girl like your mommy. You will be strong and independent like your mother, always paving a new path but also inherit the famous Mazzella stubbornness we all possess. You will be a loyal friend to all just like your dad and successful in what drives your passion. I hope that you let your creativity thrive and I promise to nurture whatever that might be. I promise to be there for you and lend you my ear to listen to all of your dreams and help you make them come true. I hope that one day your daddy will buy you a pony (all little girls deserve one) and I can teach you to ride. If you love the water your Uncle Rene and I will teach you to swim (we are highly qualified). I know you will be a girl who shines from the inside out and brighten all of our days when we see you.

My dear niece, I cannot wait to meet you. Please come soon, everyone is waiting for your arrival!

Love, your Auntie Gina

Birthday fun!

2009-02-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you to my friends and family who came out with me for my birthday celebration! I had a good night... starting out for dinner at METRO . It was very nice and everyone had great food.... pork cheek, rabbit, oysters! Though they did run out of the steamed muscles which really bummed my mom out (her favorite). Then Rene and I went to a dueling piano bar The BIG BANG with Kristin & Jack. It was a fun time and they even played "Jesse's Girl" for me! :-) WOW, did they play good music. It's like Karaoke only better because you can sing along with the music (you they play all music you know) but don't have to stand up and make a fool of yourself (though they will do that too if you are up for it). I prefer to be incognito but still sing along! We did have to cut the night short as Rene had to work the next morning (boo) but it was fun none the less.

.... Now on to the Chickens!

2009-02-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

I will always remember my 27th birthday as a day of CHICKENS, and this is why...

This past week my company held a trade show Expo in downtown Phoenix. So that meant that the big wigs, marketing gurus and everyone from my company was in town. Being the only local rep in the state they were asking me for all sorts of favors leading up to the event.

Monday morning (my bday) I get an email on my blackberry (not even a phone call) asking me to find 3 laying hens. Not baby chicks, not roosters..... adult laying hens! Thinking this will be a simple task I start calling my feed stores to ask if I could borrow/rent chickens for the 3 days. After calling all stores I know carry chicks at one time, NO ONE HAD HENS! Some had baby chicks and some had roosters but no one had hens! Okay, what next...

Then I remember that one of my dealers who lives near me had chickens at her house as pets. So I called her leaving a random message about needing to borrow her chickens. So I go about my day (attempting to have some sort of fun birthday) and wait for her to call me back. At around 2:00 she calls me back to say "oh yeah, you can borrow my chickens that is no problem. The only thing is that they have no feathers".... NO FEATHERS? No, that will not work, I do not think our marketing manager will like to show off how our chicken feed somehow causes hens to look naked! We discuss a little further my situation and she tells me to call Rocco who has chickens. So, again I give him a call and leave a totally random message about needing to borrow his chickens and to make sure they are not naked! I wait an hour.... no call.

Okay so now I am getting desperate and really need to seek out some chickens. After calling around every store in the phonebook I find out that there is a sort of "Pet Store" in Glendale that does sell laying hens. Now it is 3:00 and I must bust it to get across town (drive for about an hour) to get these damn hens!

This "pet store" was interesting... I wish I took pictures. It is in a run down building and there are all sorts of animals everywhere, rabbits, exotic birds, lizards, turtles, mice, even puppies. In the back I walk outside to locate the chicken coop. I find the laying hens and guess how much they cost...... $16.00! Mind you baby chicks cost like $2! Oh well I needed them desperately and at this point it didn't matter the cost (plus I can write it off as a business expense). I burley man comes out to help me with the chickens (because there is no way I am touching those things... they freak me out). I don't talk about it much but most birds freak me out. Little baby chicks are one thing but full grown chickens that are all squirmy and can peck your eyes out, NO THANK YOU! (maybe its because I saw "BIRDS" when I was little). Even when I worked as a zookeeper I never liked working the bird cages and tried to get them done in light speed.

I ask the employee if I get to pick out the birds and he said sure. So I go one to point out 3 hens that I feel are pretty out of flock of about 20 hens. In this little 4'x6' coop the chickens and feathers are flying everywhere as the man tries to get his hands on my specific 3 hens. He finally catches them and is holding them upside down by their legs. He exits the coop and walks over to grab a cloth BAG! I quickly interupt "NO, I don't want them in a BAG, don't you have a box?" (Honestly, I am not going to EAT them).

"Oh, you want a BOX!" He said all surprised. "Yes" I said, "well we might be all out of boxes" he commented.

There is no way I am taking these chickens home in a bag! Plus, I had Rene's truck that day so they would have to go in the small truck cab with me. So I follow the man over to the dumpster where we have to scrounge up some half broken boxes. He locates 2, one is no bigger than a shoe box and the other just slightly larger, and proceeds to shove 2 chickens into the bigger one (which is an overstatement) and one into the shoebox. Well, at least I have my chickens.

After paying for the them, I walk the boxes to my car and can hear them moving around and scraping the bottom of the box and again, it is totally freaking me out. Now the only way to close the tops of the boxes was to do that alternative folding thing and that just did not seem so secure to me. So I placed them behind my seat and drove an hour in traffic home. The WHOLE drive I was paranoid that the hens would get out of their boxes. I was imagining the news cast reporting a woman on the freeway got into an accident as chickens attacked her in the cab of her truck! Every little movement, every little scratch I heard made me jump. While driving home I get a phone call, it's Rocco. "Oh sure you can borrow my chickens anytime!".... A little late.

I got the rowdy hens home safely but they had to stay the night as I was taking them to the trade show that next morning. I needed to at least provide them water and get them into a larger box. To me this seemed like no easy task as I did not want to touch the birds. I got a big moving box and places a bowl of water in the bottom. I places a towel over the top of the box and grab the larger box with the 2 hens in it. I placed the chicken box over the larger box held it with my hands and put the towel over the whole thing including my arms. I then proceed to blindly open the box and dump out the chickens.... they did not want to come out! I began shaking the little box until, PLOP, they both fell out. Now on to the last chicken. I did not want the others to escape so I conducted my same protocol with the towel. Again the chicken did not want out of its little box so I had to shake it out. Once all in their big box I go to take a peak thinking I most likely broke one of their legs. They were good and I just hoped they would survive the night in the garage.

They did. I put the box in my car the next morning and was on my way. I get to the parking garage and park. Go to get the box out of the back and find they have spilled their water all over the bottom of the box and now it is all soggy. How in the heck do I get these chickens to the Expo without them falling through the bottom! Thankfully I had the towel in the car so I rig it across the bottom and hold the ends to support the box. So here I am walking through downtown Phoenix with a box of chickens praying AGAIN that they won't get out, or in this case fall through the bottom.

I finally get there, my chickens still with me, and plop them next to the display cages. They were finally out of my hands and I was going to let someone else grab them and put them in the display. Finally FREE OF THE CHICKENS!

Well not completely....... I still had to find them a home. I decide to give them to my dealer friend who had the naked chickens. So I find myself for the 3rd time with chickens in my car!

Now my dealer has 2 kids who where really excited for the addition to their flock. She told them to take the box out to the coop and not open the box until they were in the coop. Well kids will be kids, and opened the box outside of the coop thinking they would be like their hand raised chickens and just stick around the yard....... NOPE! They took off flying every which way all erratic and they lost the chickens.

Yep, all that trouble and now they are coyote bait.

Happy Birthday to.....

2009-02-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

ME!

Okay, so I woke up not too excited for my big day... I mean how exciting can turning 27 be? My friend told me last October when she turned 27 that now we are closer to 30 than we are to 21 and that is sort of depressing. Not that I feel old (I am actually not sad to get old) BUT I am sad that birthdays are just not that exciting anymore.

Well my day got really interesting and I will have to tell you all about it. It involves CHICKENS!

But for now I must go to sleep as I have an early morning tomorrow, but I will get to my random birthday story soon.....

Our most awesomest camera

2009-01-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

As a wedding present to each other, Rene and I bought a very nice professional digital camera (thanks to Shelley & Ben). We got to use it in Mexico and it was so FUN! We LOVE IT! Here are some of my favorite pics from our amazing camera in Cabo...

Wedding pictures.... from other people

2009-01-20T21:43:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from our guests who attended the wedding. Some of the are really good, I have posted the ones I like best. They are here for your enjoyment..... enjoy!

My prego sissy... she is WAY bigger now!

Ah, SOLMAR RESORT!

The boys, with sun in their eyes

Are they all waiting for me???

My girls, so pretty

Yeah, we're married!

This picture is great, everyone in it is doing something so random

Me and my dad

Now you just sit tight, there are lots more to come...

So it's been a while....

2009-01-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged in such a long time (obviously). And it might not matter all that much as I honestly believe I have one reader. I know that if I DID write more then I would most likely have more readers, so it is all a big circle and that frustrates me.

I do have lots to blog about (I have been keeping a list) but now I am so far behind that I don't know where to begin!!! I attribute my lack of blogging to my low attendance of actually being online. Is there such thing as Internet overdose or burnout??? If so I think I had it. After the wedding I was so sick of looking up stuff online and emailing that I just had to quit for a while (it can be an addiction).

So, with the new year I am going to get back in the swing of it. BUT I am going to pretend it is still November 2008 as I have lots to catch up on.

I will start with this:

THE MOST AMAZING BEACH WEDDING EVER (the sneak peak of the amazing photos from the wedding) Shelley is amazing!

These are not all of the pictures but I can hardly wait to see them all as Shelley is an amazing photographer. They are coming, but I can't complain, she is my best friend and I appreciate everything she and Ben have done for us!

As I continue to rewind and blog back I will post more pictures of the wedding/honeymoon and the stories that go with them...... SO STAY TUNED!!!

Here is what I plan to blog about:

Wedding/Honeymoon (that might take a few blogs)

Gina finally cooking

Thanksgiving

Christmas

New Year's Party

Going to be an AUNT

Now I just got to get to it!!!!!

I'm a PC attempting to be a Mac

2008-11-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

So, I have been tagged..... by Steph in NYC. I wasn't even sure what that was exactly... but I did a little research.

Since I got my MacBook (just about a year ago), I admit I am still not a pro at it. I have still not transferred my old pictures and documents from my old PC... and I do admit to once in a while getting frustrated with my Mac and finding sweet refuge and simplicity in my trusty old PC. But I want to know my Mac, I need to know my Mac.... I know that with time I will love my Mac more than any old PC.

With that being said, I really do have a point to my tangent..... I have hardly any pictures to use for my TAG. Being tagged means I have to go into my 4th picture folder and post my 4th picture in that folder. Now you will understand why I would have much more interesting pics from way back when if I was on my old PC but this will have to do:

This was the first picture taken of us as we headed out for our road trip to California last year.... the trip where we got engaged in San Francisco. Fitting, huh?

Now, YOU are tagged.....

The dreaded name change!

2008-11-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

So I need to do it and I want to do it, but wow does it sound like a pain!

I am planning on changing my name from:

Gina Louise Mazzella to Gina Mazzella Fresquez

Now most people say name changing for marriage is no big deal but I am trying to make it difficult. I hear changing your middle name is another story.... my sister attempted to do it almost 4 years ago and I think she is still working on it.

So wish me luck as I embark on a journey filled with Social Security offices, DMVs, and lots and lots of paperwork!

And we're back

2008-11-01T17:26:00.001-07:00

Okay, so blogging while planning for a wedding was great in theory.... :-)
I was devoted in the beginning but just couldn't keep up with life let alone the blog in the short weeks leading up to the big day. What I do promise now is to post pictures of the whole thing for those who could not make it. The week before, the events, the wedding, the fiesta, and the honeymoon! ALL of it was AMAZING and Rene and I feel so blessed for all of the friends and family who could share this special day (and week) with us.

Now lets see where this blog will take me.... post wedding?

And they're out the of gate....

2008-08-27T22:03:00.001-07:00

The invitations have officially been MAILED!!!! WOO HOO what a relief. Now all we have to do is wait for the replies. I hope you are all stoked to see them! My lovely Rene designed them himself (with a little input from me, of course). Let me know what you think!

If feels good to get that behind me. Now on to more fun things like my shower and bachelorette party!

Decisions, decisions...

2008-07-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

So what do you think? Taking that tool out of the picture, are these chairs better than the previous covered ones? I cannot decide... these ones are more simple but the covered ones are nice too. It might actually come down to cost but I would appreciate you opinion.

Next on the list is my bouquet..... my bridesmaids will be carrying shades of orange flowers and originally I was going to carry the same the thing but now I am thinking of just having mine be all white, more classic. I really like orchids (first picture) and I really like having all sorts of different flowers with different texture. Like always, I cannot decided which will be best. It really is hard planning so far away as I cannot talk to the florist and see samples. What do you think?

FLAN-TASTICO!

2008-06-26T22:43:00.001-07:00

Some might think we are crazy BUT Rene and I are having a wedding FLAN instead of a cake (did I mention we are doing things differently?).

The thing is neither of us really love wedding cake (and I am sure there have been great ones out there) but we both like flan and being in Mexico it just seems fitting. Now I know there are lot of you who probably do not like the FLAN (shame on you, but we are probably the odd ones) and a lot of people usually get really exited for wedding cake... so we are trying to think of another dessert for the reception. My vote is for Mexican wedding cookies..... what's yours? Get creative!

______________

Though if I was getting married in the states (some people think we are crazy for that too) I would have one of my dearest friends, Amber, make my wedding cake. She is amazing at cake making and decorating and it would be so special to have her make it.

On to the decorations....

2008-06-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Veronica has sent me a long list of pictures to look at for the ceremony decorations. Though none of them are exactly what I want they are getting close. Take a look and let me know what you think...

The dark teal/green color I am using is really hard to match so that has been the issue. I might have to bring my own ribbon and such but that should not be a problem. I am leaning toward the all white ribbon on the chairs, but keep an orange flower in it, then have the bamboo huppah thing with white and teal cloth with orange flowers.

jewel or flower?

2008-05-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while BUT we have finally signed the contract and things are on track. I have a new lovely coordinator, Veronica, and things look great!

So on to more planning and decision making..... I will be wearing my hair up (still looking for that perfect picture, I am so picky when it comes to my hair) for the wedding and cannot decide if I want to wear some sort of jewelry or flower in my hair. The pictures are ones that I found online and I really like them. As my indecisive self, I want to order both and try them on. Hmmmmm...

Getting frustrated.... but here are some pretty pictures!

2008-04-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Lupita from Solmar is insanely hard to get ahold of. I have written her IN ENGLISH and she seems to not respond.... and every so often she will respond to Rene's emails in SPANISH. We are pretty positive that things are fine as she sent us an email that things are set, BUT we still have yet to sign a contract and that just makes me feel a little uneasy. I know a lot of you want to book your flights (so do we) and I will let you all know ASAP!

Rene and I have also made another decision.... we are not going to have a reception in Prescott. We figured that whether we asked some of our guests to come to Cabo OR Prescott, they would have to buy a plane ticket and stay in a hotel for both situations. So CABO IT IS!!! It also makes it easier on us as we do not have to plan TWO parties.

So to pass the time, here are some picture of where we want to get married....

Date Change...

2008-03-28T22:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we have changed the date just slightly.... our wedding will now be on Friday October 17th. In the past I have never been a big fan of Friday weddings because they are just plain hard to get to, but in our case it seems to work out better:

1) The resort holds a Fiesta every Saturday night for the guests and first we didn't want to compete with that (it is usually really loud)

2) We really wanted to have the dinner/dancing part in the outside restaurant along the cliffs and we could not reserve it because of the Fiesta being held there. So by having it on Friday we can use the most beautiful parts of the resort.

I know it is hard for people to take the time off but we really want the guests who come to try to make a vacation out of it and stay for a few days. Rene and I will be there the whole week prior, and most guests will come in Wed or Thur and stay through Sunday or Monday. Rene and I will also not leave for our honeymoon until Sunday so we all can attend the Solmar fiesta together and still spend time with the people we love the MOST! Mark your calenders and look for the Save The Date soon!

Runner Up

2008-03-13T22:21:00.000-07:00

While we were in Mexico and getting not too far with Solmar, we decided that since we were there we should look into some other venues just in case. In comes, Leoan... she is the private wedding coordinator that I just adore! She knew exactly what we wanted and was so fun. She took us to a few places to be potential wedding spots and we fell in love with one... Sunset Da Mono Lisa.

It is a restaurant on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and Land's End Arc. It was absolutely breathtaking and the food was great too (Italian). Check it out...

So, after talking it over and figuring out the details, we are still going to get married at Solmar. We finally have gotten a hold of the coordinator there so things are looking up. Plus we want the ceremony to be laid back and this other place seemed much more high maintenance. So, I must say goodbye to Leoan, as I am sad to not be able to use her. Hopefully the Solmar coordinator will be just as awesome (though I doubt it).

Part Dos.... Solmar y Playa Grande

2008-03-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

Rene and I really like Solmar. We are staying there the week of the wedding and would absolutely LOVE if everyone can stay there too. This is SOLMAR:

Though on our trip we had been getting the run around. Originally I had contacted Solmar and they put me in touch with their wedding coordinator, Claudia. She was the one is charge of events for Solmar AND La Playa Grande (sister hotel). It seemed like more people had weddings at La Playa because that was most of the info she sent me. Two weeks before we were set to go visit she said that she was no longer working there and to contact the general manager. He never responded to my emails.

So we decided to head on over to La Playa to see if we could get in contact with someone... When we were there NO ONE would help us and told us that the manager was busy and he would call us (yeah, on our phones that don't work in Mexico?). We wanted to get a tour of the place so they sent us over to some other ladies. This young woman showed us around the property and it is beautiful. Very BIG and elegant, lots of colors.... but also it was very busy and sort of loud.

So as this woman is showing us around she keeps on telling us that we should invest in a time-share to stay in during our wedding/honeymoon. Then she bring us to "the ROOM" (those of you who have gone on a time-share tour, you know what I'm talking about) where there are tons of couples sitting down with employees trying to seal the deal. THEY WHERE TRYING TO SELL US A TIME SHARE!!!! Rene finally interrupted the second person that had come over to talk to us and told him that we were not interested in it BUT were here to plan our wedding (after the 10th time) and he said that they had a woman named Claudia who was in charge of that.... UH YEAH and she NO LONGER works here! He didn't even know that. So after that we decided to leave because we were getting NO HELP! NO ME GUSTO LA PLAYA GRANDE!!!

So in the long run, WE LOVE SOLMAR and hopefully we can talk to someone there who can plan our wedding.

Again, its late and you will have to wait to read more about our Cabo adventure, part tres....

Our "Business Trip" to Cabo (part uno)

2008-03-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

We are back from our trip and it went pretty great. For just four days it was surprisingly easy to get to Cabo and back. The whole time we were there we kept saying we were there "on business" but did get to squeeze a little bit of relaxing in there too (man did we need it).

We rented our little Chevy bubble car and headed up the coast 45 min to get to Cabo San Lucas (those of you who have not been there, you fly into San Jose del Cabo). You can take a cab into town for about $50 but since we would be driving around all weekend, we opted for a car).

We stayed in a little hotel, Mar De Cortez, that was quaint and cute. No frills, but very

economic so what should you expect....

The rooms were nothing special. Really just a bed or two, a counter/dresser and a bathroom (I think some suites have a kitchenette). The place was clean and the staff friendly. They have safety deposits boxes and private gated parking in the back. A big plus was they had free WiFi. But there are no phones, TVs, or alarm clocks in the room (which is sometimes nice) but if you stay here and need to stay on a schedule (like we did OR you might if you stay here for the wedding), you might need to bring your cell phone (for keeping time and alarm) or a travel alarm clock.

It was right in town with all the restaurants and bars all around, about 2 block from the Marina. Really close to Cabo Wabo.

They had a great breakfast (eggs, potatoes, fruit) for only $2.50, can't beat that!

AND ALL FOR $50 - 70/night!!! For all of our guests who are tight on cash but really want to make it, this is a great option... if you don't mind giving up some luxury and the BEACH.

Our families, Rene and I will be staying at The Solmar Resort the week of the wedding and we encourage all of our guests to stay there too so we can all enjoy our trip together and make it easier for travel and organizing the group.... PLUS Rene and I want to spend all of our time with you all on this special vacation, that is why we invited our favorite people. But for those of you who might not want to spend over $150/night, we are trying to accomadate you all.

I must go to bed, so MORE TO COME ON OUR TRIP......

Complementary Colors

2008-02-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

The colors of my blog are the colors we have chosen for the wedding... or basically versions of it.

Dark Teal (peacock grean/blue) & Shades of Orange

Right now I love teal, especially that really rich dark teal and that is color I want to use. I think orange just sets it off wonderfully! Here are some inspirations...

Pre - Cabo San Lucas

2008-02-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

So I have my passport in hand... we have our flights, we just need to make our hotel reservations. There is a cute little hotel in town, Hotel Mar de Cortez, that we are going to stay in for the weekend. Cannot WAIT!

SO WHY CABO, YOU ASK?

Well, Rene and I really want to get married out in nature. We love the outdoors. I love the ocean and water (I am an aquarius) though I live in Arizona so I never see it. I have been in many weddings (as you now know) yet none of them have been on a beach or destination. Lots have been outside and have been beautiful, but none yet have been on a Mexican beach (though Amber's wedding is coming up and IS on the beach, but in Hawaii). Rene spent 6 months in Mexico City during college and LOVED IT and can't think of a better destination. We cannot wait to get married with all of our close friends and family on the beach in Cabo with our bare feet in the sand.

So now we are going on a quick trip down there to do a little planning and get a better idea of places down there. When we get back, we will have much more to do and plan!

GREAT NEWS!!

2008-02-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

U.S. Passport Application Status
Thank you for submitting your passport application!
We have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you.
You paid for overnight delivery. This means you should receive your passport on or about 02/23/2008.

THAT IS SO WONDERFUL TO HEAR!! Now it just needs to come in the mail and I will feel at ease. God was on my side on this one. It only took at week to get it expedited, I AM SO HAPPY!

CABO hear we come....

the BEST photographer ever!!!

2008-02-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

If you have never heard me say this before, Michelle Warren (DeBilzan) is the best photographer EVER! AMAZING and I cannot say it enough! She also just happens to be one of my best friends and my oldest friend (we have know each other since 2nd grade). I love her. Her and her hubby, Ben, have been so great to Rene and I and have become such dear friends of ours.

Now Shelley (ah, I mean Michelle.... I cannot call her Michelle, it will always be Shelley), photographed my sister's wedding 3 years ago and they were beautiful. You MUST go visit her website RIGHT NOW if you haven't already.... go on, do it!!!! I'll wait.

So, now you know what I mean, SHE IS THE BEST! She travels so if you want the best please use her for portraits and weddings. I feel so lucky to have her as a friend AND to have her photograph our wedding.

She has already taken our engagement photos over New Years. It was so fun and they are just perfect! Now you would already know this if you have thoroughly searched her website and seen us under "gina & rene" in the engagement section. (I think you got the point) :-)

I found a DRESS!!!

2008-02-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

It only took one day and 2 hours later I picked this one:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2837&prodgroup=123

The picture does not give it justice... you have to zoom in to see the detailing plus see the alternate veiw because the back is just wonderful! It is perfect for a beach wedding. I am so glad it is over and we can continue on the path of planning.

I am a pretty indecisive person so I was trying my hardest to narrow it down but in the end this one just felt "right". I think Rene is going to LOVE it!

Please EXPEDITE!!!

2008-02-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

So WHO KNEW that you cannot plan a trip within 6 months of your passport expiring. Rene and I have planned a trip to Cabo San Lucas to check out wedding venues and hotels 2/28 - 3/2.... and my passport expires 3/7.... SO you would think that since I will be back in the US before it expires it would be fine and dandy. WRONG!! Now I am freaking out and scrambling to get my paperwork in and EXPEDITE my passport so that I hopefully get it in 2 weeks! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come before Feb 28th. My the Gods of US mail and passports look upon me and bless me with speedy processing.

Okay, so its not 27 dresses, just 7!

2008-02-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Is this a spin off the movie "27 dresses"? - YES, it could be in my own way

Have I even seen that movie yet? - NO (it is on my list of things to do). Though, I really like Katherine Heigl (I am a big Grey's Anatomy fan).

So one might say, "7 dresses, that's not that much!" And I get it, is NOT 27, but honestly that is more times than anyone I know. More than I really thought I would ever be in, especially before my own wedding.... THOUGH all of them have been for my dear family or friends so I enjoyed each and every one of them. Each one was unique it their own way and I have taken something from each and I am sure that will mold how I do my own.

I actually love weddings, they are so magical and so fun! After all my experience I have considered being a wedding coordinator, that way I could do it for a living. Well, that is another conversation.

Through this blog I will pay my respect to the weddings I have been in and start my journey of planning my own.