Life 2.1

I can’t believe I forgot to post this pic of me and (most of) my cousins (click to enlarge):

We definitely outgrew the staircase

Since I have started my new gig, my holiday schedule is still in question…as in I don’t know if I will be able to get time off to come back to CA for the holidays. So, in order to make sure I didn’t miss out on too much family time, my mom and dad threw me a homecoming dinner with all of my family in which my dad grilled my favorite: the infamous butter and garlic tri-tip. I got to see all my cousins (minus seven of them who couldn’t attend for various reasons) and spend time with all my aunts and uncles along with my grandparents…it has been a while since I’ve had a chance to do all that!

And the party took place in our new ready-for-the-Better-Homes-and-Gardens-photoshoot backyard! I wish I had photos of the old yard so everyone could see the transformation but the new pics will have to do:

Grandma Joan brought Auntie Irene’s macaroni salad which was awesome since I get cravings for it from time to time and when I make it, it just doesn’t taste the same…G-Sal brought a snackin’ cake, of which I ate two pieces. (Hey, in my family, you gotta get while the getting’ is good!) and my mom really outdid herself on the spread. I wish I woulda gotten a shot of the table with the all the food on it but we all swarmed and I wasn’t about to miss out on the tri-tip for a picture of it!

It was really nice afternoon and I was so grateful to be able to see everyone before I headed back to my southern world. I did get some shots (naturally) of the party and if anyone has some that they would like to send me (insert puppy dog eyes here) I would gladly accept them via email…mine are all uploaded on shutterfly and are ready for viewing here

After all, I can’t ever have enough scrapbook material!

Saturday: A long but good day…

Some time ago (sophomore year of high school, to be exact) Ben asked Amanda out on a date. She accepted and thus began their relationship. 11 years later, they are now husband and wife and Saturday was the celebration of how far they have come and how they will now spend the rest of their lives together.

I woke up at 5:30am to get ready to be a bridesmaid in Amanda’s big day. I did my makeup, got my hair did and headed to the Meritage Resort where the ceremony and the reception would take place.

I arrived early enough to see Amanda getting her hair done (which turned out amazing!) and while I missed her getting her makeup on, she looked beautiful…very pinup girl glam. I mercilessly snapped pictures (it’s what I do, really) and we got our bride ready for the 10am ceremony.

Aleah, Amanda and me

I was doing good all the way until Randy saw his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time…then I cried like a little baby girl…and pretty much continued to cry at every poignant part of the ceremony. (Kudos to Officiant Eddie for the light-hearted anecdotes during the ceremony so I could collect myself and not cry off every bit of mascara I had applied to carefully before my coffee had set in.)

Following the ceremony, we had the wine and cocktail hour before heading back into the wine cave for the reception. Mr. and Mrs. Piper entered right into their first dance and I’m pretty sure I had some turnabout flashbacks. I mean, there was no ‘NSync playing, but it was close.

I know I danced enough to make my quads hurt so I count that as my workout for the day.

Dancin

I think that the day was everything Ben and Amanda deserve and hoped it to be.

I uploaded all my other photos to shutterfly so anyone (and by anyone I mean Bri) can download faves but it was a wedding-tastic Saturday!

Talk about a whirlwind weekend! There was definitely not a moment spared while I was in town. Since we already recapped Thursday, let’s do a quick run down (we all know I’m much too long-winded for a quick recap) of the remaining weekend days.

Friday: I woke up early to meet Amanda (the bride-to-be) and Aleah to get our toes and nails done for the wedding. I should first share an Amanda-Colleen story. When we were sophomores in high school, we both invited boys to the Turnabout Dance. It was the high school version of a winter formal in a sadie hawkins format. Amanda had asked her boyfriend at the time (now hubby!) and I asked Bobby. Bobby was pretty much my other brother but he made for a good date so it worked out.

The dance was just after Valentine’s Day and I found this adorable (although very early late 90s/early 2000s) red ankle-length dress with spaghetti straps and a black lace overlay. I was feeling quite lovely in said dress. We had all planned to meet at my house before the dance and my mom was cooking dinner for us at Molly’s Country Kitchen since we couldn’t even drive yet (!!)

You can imagine my surprise when Amanda, who had shopped separately for her dress, showed up in the exact.same.one. Only in blue. We had a good laugh about it and I was declared the shopping winner since my dress was cheaper because it was red and it was post-Valentine’s Day.

Ok. Back to Friday. So I haven’t seen Amanda in months. Like, over a year. That is a very long time for us to go without a Target trip people. But as I sat chatting with her mom at the Pro Nails, waiting for her and Aleah, imagine my shock and immediately laughter when she came in wearing the exact same shirt I had on. And this wasn’t just any shirt. It’s not like it was a white t-shirt and jeans uniform or something. See the below:

Twinsies

What are the odds? Only this time, it was Amanda who was declared the shopping winner since she bought hers at a thrift store for a steal of a deal while I only found mine on clearance. Ha!

At any rate, we had a good morning of pampering, thus the pic of some of the content ladies:

Left to right: Aleah Amanda Me and Kristina

Following my mani-pedi, I met up with my girls (and guy–way to hang in there JHart) from the winery and had lunch at one of my favorite places ever: Taqueria Rosita! It was everything I had hoped for and more in a burrito form. sigh.

JHart in the back, Vicki, Melissa, Morgan, Me, KK, Andi and Megan

Then I quickly ran to a hair appointment and got ready for Amanda and Ben’s rehearsal dinner, followed by (wait for it…) Friday night football at Memorial!!! Yay!!!!

Oh man do I miss it. I even miss the confetti that is thrown without care after every touchdown Napa scores (almost )

The culprits of the confetti are the daughters of the head coach (and yes, that white stuff in my hair is definitely confetti. Peyton and Kennedie had to make up for lost time):

Peyton Me and Kennedie

I was also excited to get to see Charles play, who is also like an extended brother, since his mom Cindy is pretty much a big sister/aunt to me. Much like his older brother (who is John, the reason I proudly don my Oregon fleece), Charles is all over the football field doing everything and doin’ it well. Did I mention it was throwback jersey night since Napa High was honoring the 1959 team that went undefeated? Check out these sweet jerseys:

Me and Charles

Friday was a FULL day but I’m glad I packed it all in…

Saturday’s recap will follow shortly but I have to board a plan back to New Orleans because quite frankly, an hour in Houston is all I can take at this hour of the morning. No offense to Houston, I just REALLY REALLY want to be in my own place since I had the pleasure of seeing the sun rise this lovely Monday morning.

• Trips home!!!!
• Dinner with my family
• The ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ theme song posted on my facebook page by my brother.
• Football at Memorial Stadium