It's still dark outside as I sit in the tiled kitchen and listen to the waves rolling lazily onto the beach. The gentle susurration of the surf mutes any noise I create as I slink about heating water for organic tea. My only illumination comes from a wrought iron chandelier, one of the many charming attributes of my parents' beach condo in Puerto Vallarta.
I'm patiently awaiting the dawn, when I can venture out onto the sand for my seaside morning walk. I type alone, since the rest of my family still lies wrapped in peaceful slumber. I myself spent a somewhat fitful night of getting used to a new bed and looking at my watch - "is it time to get up yet?" - whether through excitement of waking up for my first full day in paradise or habit, I'm not sure.
Although I'm eager to start my day, I can't help but feel the inherent peacefulness to this place, as if the sweet nature and laid-back ways of the Mexican people have soaked into the shore itself, or maybe it's the other way around. It's at once a calming and invigorating realization that no matter what fortunes the day may bring, they'll leave me feeling rested and happy.
By minute increments the surf, sky and beach are becoming visible - sunrise is approaching. It's time to wake up the muscles with some exercise...and, speaking of waking, the family is slowly stirring. The day has "officially" begun!
Goofy Dog
We're still doggy-sitting my parents' goofy Golden retriever, Tesa (until tomorrow). Mom went down to Puerto Vallarta in the beginning of February, and Dad followed a week later. Since Daddy-o was working long hours, they didn't want to leave Tesa in her kennel all day, so I offered to take her.
I figured she and Zada could wear each other out and since we're already exercising one high-energy dog, what's one more?Of course, we figured out quickly we couldn't leave them alone together while we were at work - even with Tesa as company, Ms. Z still decided to chew on stuff and be naughty :)
It went swimmingly - the dogs get along well, and settled in as roommates immediately. Tesa does have a few proclivities, some of which we've been working on:- Barging through any open door she sees
- Charging up the stairs regardless of the placement of OUR feet
- Taking off after any woodland creature which catches her eye
- Begging for food
- Making weird noises and contorting into seemingly uncomfortable positions
This last one is amusing, to say the least. I'm going to try to get her on video - or at least my point & shoot camera's video option - before we send her off, because it's rather humorous listening to her and Zada play "racecar" style. I can't even describe it well but they lie down on the floor and chew on each other's faces while whining in synchronized pitches that is hilarious to behold.
She also likes to hang out on her back - which is odd, since being upside down normally makes dogs extremely sneezy - and with her soft, mooshy Golden skin it turns her countenance into a frightful-yet-funny display of teeth and wrinkles.All in all, tho' I think she had fun at Auntie Sarah's, something tells me she'll like to get back to her country-dog existence! Zada will certainly miss having her playmate around :)
Free Trials for Acai
Here's a follow-up to my 'research' on the Acai product free trials. On January 20th, I ordered a free trial of the Acai Noni Burner, which I received a week later and have been taking every day since. Give or take, anyway :) Oh, but so far I've only taken it once a day (wanted to acclimate the tummy).
Since I took the liberty of ordering a different free trial yesterday for Nature's Best Acai & Total Cleanse, I realized I hadn't given myself a reminder to cancel the Noni Burner.
I keep receipts and usually save confirmation emails so I had no trouble finding the website address to check up on the terms. Of course, after the 16th day of the trial, they start billing $79.95 per month for every subsequent bottle of pills they automatically ship.
I wrote an email but then also noticed I could cancel right from the site (verifyyourorder.com). When I attempted to cancel, a chat box popped up and an 'agent' asked if she could assist me. I told her I wanted to cancel and she looked up my account. Before I could even tell her WHY I was cancelling (I ended up telling her "vitamins make me nauseous; this one's no different...sorry!"), she said they'd hate to lose my business, so could she offer me the bargain price of $39.95 per month?
Right out of the gates. Depending on how important this little "diet" pill is to everyone, keep in mind you might be able to get it not only half-price; you possibly could haggle them down even lower.
Seriously, if this stuff works, I wouldn't mind paying $1 a day versus $3. Honestly, I've trimmed down a tad, but who knows if the Acai berry pills are the cause - I'm also working out and watching what I eat. Like right now - I'm watching myself eat 2 cookies :)
Since I took the liberty of ordering a different free trial yesterday for Nature's Best Acai & Total Cleanse, I realized I hadn't given myself a reminder to cancel the Noni Burner.
I keep receipts and usually save confirmation emails so I had no trouble finding the website address to check up on the terms. Of course, after the 16th day of the trial, they start billing $79.95 per month for every subsequent bottle of pills they automatically ship.
I wrote an email but then also noticed I could cancel right from the site (verifyyourorder.com). When I attempted to cancel, a chat box popped up and an 'agent' asked if she could assist me. I told her I wanted to cancel and she looked up my account. Before I could even tell her WHY I was cancelling (I ended up telling her "vitamins make me nauseous; this one's no different...sorry!"), she said they'd hate to lose my business, so could she offer me the bargain price of $39.95 per month?
Right out of the gates. Depending on how important this little "diet" pill is to everyone, keep in mind you might be able to get it not only half-price; you possibly could haggle them down even lower.
Seriously, if this stuff works, I wouldn't mind paying $1 a day versus $3. Honestly, I've trimmed down a tad, but who knows if the Acai berry pills are the cause - I'm also working out and watching what I eat. Like right now - I'm watching myself eat 2 cookies :)
http://ping.fm/p/VHLIJ - Sarah Bernierblog: www.sarahbernier.blogspot.com/"Todo el mundo sonre en el mismo idioma."(Everyone smiles in the same language.)
Ping.fm: the ultimately lazy method - or time-consuming, however you want to look at it - to keep your networks up to date on all the boring stuff you're doing RIGHT NOW.
Acai Berry Product Trials
In this day of Internet-driven life, the old adage "caveat emptor" (buyer beware) has made a switch to "caveat venditor" (seller beware). Why? Because we consumers are researching the heck out of multiple products, services and potential providers online before settling on which one is best for us.
But, scams still abound and for the unsuspecting, trusting or just plain ol' dumb consumer, the venditores can still win.
Take for instance all the hoopla about the amazing "new" wonder-fruit, the Acai berry. It grows in the Amazon and is evidently chock full of antioxidants ("they" say 2x that of blueberries, which is a lot, but beware...*), amino and essential fatty acids.
Sounds great...so what's the catch?
For starters, these berries only grow in the Amazon - they need a tropical climate - so they're hard to come by. In fact, they're full of seeds, which means they rot quickly after being picked*. So, it's downright impossible to get the actual fruit here in the U.S. - unless they're in pill form. This means they're expensive.
Ok, no biggie. Any GNC or health market will have them on-hand, right? Not according to what "they" want you to believe! (However, GNC DOES carry plenty of Acai berry products, available either online or on the store shelves.)
Hence, the online craze. The 'net is FULL of free trials, low shipping offers, and endorsements by big names like Oprah, Rachael Ray and others.
That's all well and good (last time I checked, Oprah didn't have to worry about expensive vitamins) - but the tables have turned...caveat emptor, people! While I didn't get "caught," I'm sure there are many people who have ordered their 14- or 15-day free trial for this product, then have had to deal with receiving more product and of course being billed heavily to their credit card every month thereafter.
I read reviews and learned some about the Acai berry here, and ended up ordering Nature's Best Acai here. Of course I didn't read the fine print until AFTER I'd ordered. No biggie, I have 2 weeks to call and "cancel" my subscription, which is now in their database.
Along with the Acai pills I ordered some Colon Cleanse here - yes, I do believe in detoxification of the body - don't judge me, I'm getting married and I want to lose all of the stomach chub by any means possible :) I'll also have to call this company to cancel the trial - after reading up on the Acai I checked the terms of service on this site to get the information.
There's a reminder in my MS Outlook calendar to call and cancel BOTH trials...before I get billed the "super low rate" of ~$80 per month PER product. Yowzas.
Now, I can totally justify paying money for good products which have a better chance than most of elongating my life and making it a healthier existence: good bed, good shoes, good vitamins. But, some people might think that money can fall from the skies and that free lunches DO exist. For you, I'd suggest reading all asterisks before making a decision.
Keep in mind: just because it's endorsed by cutie-pa-tootie Rachael Ray and Oprah** doesn't mean it won't come back to bite your credit card. They certainly don't have to worry about $100 per month for berry extract :)
Another thing to keep in mind - so far it seems the FDA has NOT evaluated the Acai products. So, we circle back: caveat emptor.
*You can read all about acai fruit at Wikipedia and decide for yourself whom to trust...
**Again, after looking this up (other than on the numerous sites selling the products) I found out this isn't true. According to Wikipedia, each berry - about the size of a grape - contains one large seed.
***Also according to Wikipedia: "In late 2008, lawyers for The Oprah Winfrey Show began investigating potential claims against supplement manufacturers who suggested that frequent Oprah guest Dr. Mehmet Oz had recommended their product or açai in general for weight loss."
But, scams still abound and for the unsuspecting, trusting or just plain ol' dumb consumer, the venditores can still win.
Take for instance all the hoopla about the amazing "new" wonder-fruit, the Acai berry. It grows in the Amazon and is evidently chock full of antioxidants ("they" say 2x that of blueberries, which is a lot, but beware...*), amino and essential fatty acids.
Sounds great...so what's the catch?
For starters, these berries only grow in the Amazon - they need a tropical climate - so they're hard to come by. In fact, they're full of seeds, which means they rot quickly after being picked*. So, it's downright impossible to get the actual fruit here in the U.S. - unless they're in pill form. This means they're expensive.
Ok, no biggie. Any GNC or health market will have them on-hand, right? Not according to what "they" want you to believe! (However, GNC DOES carry plenty of Acai berry products, available either online or on the store shelves.)
Hence, the online craze. The 'net is FULL of free trials, low shipping offers, and endorsements by big names like Oprah, Rachael Ray and others.
That's all well and good (last time I checked, Oprah didn't have to worry about expensive vitamins) - but the tables have turned...caveat emptor, people! While I didn't get "caught," I'm sure there are many people who have ordered their 14- or 15-day free trial for this product, then have had to deal with receiving more product and of course being billed heavily to their credit card every month thereafter.
I read reviews and learned some about the Acai berry here, and ended up ordering Nature's Best Acai here. Of course I didn't read the fine print until AFTER I'd ordered. No biggie, I have 2 weeks to call and "cancel" my subscription, which is now in their database.
Along with the Acai pills I ordered some Colon Cleanse here - yes, I do believe in detoxification of the body - don't judge me, I'm getting married and I want to lose all of the stomach chub by any means possible :) I'll also have to call this company to cancel the trial - after reading up on the Acai I checked the terms of service on this site to get the information.
There's a reminder in my MS Outlook calendar to call and cancel BOTH trials...before I get billed the "super low rate" of ~$80 per month PER product. Yowzas.
Now, I can totally justify paying money for good products which have a better chance than most of elongating my life and making it a healthier existence: good bed, good shoes, good vitamins. But, some people might think that money can fall from the skies and that free lunches DO exist. For you, I'd suggest reading all asterisks before making a decision.
Keep in mind: just because it's endorsed by cutie-pa-tootie Rachael Ray and Oprah** doesn't mean it won't come back to bite your credit card. They certainly don't have to worry about $100 per month for berry extract :)
Another thing to keep in mind - so far it seems the FDA has NOT evaluated the Acai products. So, we circle back: caveat emptor.
*You can read all about acai fruit at Wikipedia and decide for yourself whom to trust...
**Again, after looking this up (other than on the numerous sites selling the products) I found out this isn't true. According to Wikipedia, each berry - about the size of a grape - contains one large seed.
***Also according to Wikipedia: "In late 2008, lawyers for The Oprah Winfrey Show began investigating potential claims against supplement manufacturers who suggested that frequent Oprah guest Dr. Mehmet Oz had recommended their product or açai in general for weight loss."
One Month to Wedding
As of today, I have exactly 1 month to prepare for my wedding.
YOIKES!
However, Clint's clothes - along with those of his best man - have been tried on, purchased and tucked safely away.
We're in the process of obtaining a true head-count and choosing the meal for the reception; I still have yet to compile the iTunes playlist or figure out the sand ceremony.
Details, details...
On a much less stressful note, my "bachelorette" party is this Saturday! Should be fun - and relaxing vs. wild. Let's face it, I'm 30 now :) Dinner, drinks, and LOTS of chatting sounds perfect to me!
I also have my 2nd dress fitting tomorrow afternoon...I have a feeling she'll need to let out the hip area a bit, since I'm a bit rounder than I was post-Italy. In my defense, it's from strengthening muscles, not gaining fat. Doesn't mean I'm not watching the diet more than ever now!
YOIKES!
However, Clint's clothes - along with those of his best man - have been tried on, purchased and tucked safely away.
We're in the process of obtaining a true head-count and choosing the meal for the reception; I still have yet to compile the iTunes playlist or figure out the sand ceremony.
Details, details...
On a much less stressful note, my "bachelorette" party is this Saturday! Should be fun - and relaxing vs. wild. Let's face it, I'm 30 now :) Dinner, drinks, and LOTS of chatting sounds perfect to me!
I also have my 2nd dress fitting tomorrow afternoon...I have a feeling she'll need to let out the hip area a bit, since I'm a bit rounder than I was post-Italy. In my defense, it's from strengthening muscles, not gaining fat. Doesn't mean I'm not watching the diet more than ever now!
Stranded on 169 Southbound
This past weekend I went up to my parents' for a bridal shower...had a couple of really fun days up in the northland. I went hiking with the dogs, ate some good food, got to see a bunch of friends and of course, scored some awesome presents :)
Heading back today, however, was a different story. I drove the Durango (which Clint bought from my sister at Thanksgiving) because my lil' Honda's having some issues. Plus with the snow, etc. I felt safer driving the big 'un.
Well.
Nothing noteworthy for the first couple of hours - stopped for gas in Deerwood, got some Sour Patch Kids (which I promptly inhaled and am still nursing a raw tongue), sang along to the iPod, NBD.
Then I started noticing the RPMs were acting weird again...i.e., all of a sudden without me changing the gas the RPMs would race up to ~2,200 or slam down to ~1,700.
It wasn't bad, just annoying...but then when I slowed down for the light in Zimmerman, I noticed a "buzzing" noise in the engine. Got going again, and all hell broke loose. No matter if my foot was on the gas pedal or not, the RPMs were jumping all over the place - it got so bad I couldn't even go 60 without the car jerking.
I pulled over to the side - couldn't even find the hazard lights for about a minute (give me a break, it's a "new" car) - and called Clint, my mom, my 2 uncles and my sister. I might've been on the verge of a nervous breakdown. (Meanwhile, Zada - who played like a MAD WOMAN for 2 days - contentedly slept on, unaware, in the back.) Both uncles conferred - could either be an electrical problem, a transmission problem, both, or even more....one of the uncles lost me when he started spouting out a bunch of terms which I cannot recall at the moment but either way, it ain't lookin' good.
Good news, though - my mom had left ~30 mins before me, since she's babysitting my sister's kids tomorrow (MLK day) and I caught her while she was shopping at Arbor Lakes. She came back and brought her AAA card with her - of course Clint and I don't have that - and I got towed to some random place in Elk River. But not before we had to transfer all my shower gifts from the Durango to her CRV...which was full because we're also celebrating Amy's birthday so there was a cake, Mom's bag, a sewing machine (longer story), plus whatever else she has in there. Oh, and since the back was full, that meant Zada had to leave her comfy, king-sized snoozery and trade it for one cushion's worth of seat...
Mom then brought me here to my sister's house where they promptly had me open a bottle of vino. Now I'm patiently waiting for the pork chops to cook and I'm sure my dog is wondering why on earth she's stuck outside with no food.
Sigh. BREATHE.
IF our tub wasn't broken - of course the drain thingy doesn't work so it doesn't hold water - I'd zip right home after this and take a nice, long, hot bath. Of course, I have to use my mother's car in order to zip anywhere, since Clint has my car. Oh, how I LOVE when things don't go the way they're supposed to!!!
Heading back today, however, was a different story. I drove the Durango (which Clint bought from my sister at Thanksgiving) because my lil' Honda's having some issues. Plus with the snow, etc. I felt safer driving the big 'un.
Well.
Nothing noteworthy for the first couple of hours - stopped for gas in Deerwood, got some Sour Patch Kids (which I promptly inhaled and am still nursing a raw tongue), sang along to the iPod, NBD.
Then I started noticing the RPMs were acting weird again...i.e., all of a sudden without me changing the gas the RPMs would race up to ~2,200 or slam down to ~1,700.
It wasn't bad, just annoying...but then when I slowed down for the light in Zimmerman, I noticed a "buzzing" noise in the engine. Got going again, and all hell broke loose. No matter if my foot was on the gas pedal or not, the RPMs were jumping all over the place - it got so bad I couldn't even go 60 without the car jerking.
I pulled over to the side - couldn't even find the hazard lights for about a minute (give me a break, it's a "new" car) - and called Clint, my mom, my 2 uncles and my sister. I might've been on the verge of a nervous breakdown. (Meanwhile, Zada - who played like a MAD WOMAN for 2 days - contentedly slept on, unaware, in the back.) Both uncles conferred - could either be an electrical problem, a transmission problem, both, or even more....one of the uncles lost me when he started spouting out a bunch of terms which I cannot recall at the moment but either way, it ain't lookin' good.
Good news, though - my mom had left ~30 mins before me, since she's babysitting my sister's kids tomorrow (MLK day) and I caught her while she was shopping at Arbor Lakes. She came back and brought her AAA card with her - of course Clint and I don't have that - and I got towed to some random place in Elk River. But not before we had to transfer all my shower gifts from the Durango to her CRV...which was full because we're also celebrating Amy's birthday so there was a cake, Mom's bag, a sewing machine (longer story), plus whatever else she has in there. Oh, and since the back was full, that meant Zada had to leave her comfy, king-sized snoozery and trade it for one cushion's worth of seat...
Mom then brought me here to my sister's house where they promptly had me open a bottle of vino. Now I'm patiently waiting for the pork chops to cook and I'm sure my dog is wondering why on earth she's stuck outside with no food.
Sigh. BREATHE.
IF our tub wasn't broken - of course the drain thingy doesn't work so it doesn't hold water - I'd zip right home after this and take a nice, long, hot bath. Of course, I have to use my mother's car in order to zip anywhere, since Clint has my car. Oh, how I LOVE when things don't go the way they're supposed to!!!
Wedding Planning Status
Other than the setback with the apostilles on our birth certificates, our wedding plans continue to chug along smoothly. Granted, we still have some loose ends to tie up, but overall this is pretty easy. I find that whenever I'm freaking out about something, it's really just me creating drama that I THINK is there, when it's really not a big deal.
Music
I battled with my iTunes for over a weekend - yes, I'm using my iPod for the wedding - and was getting frustrated but I got it all figured out, and purchased a bunch of new music. Ahem...not necessarily for the wedding; songs I've wanted for a long time. BUT, I did get an instrumental song for "walking down the aisle," and also chose the song for the end when Clint and I are heading back. Not sure he's as enthusiastic about it as I am, but let's be honest: unless it's something from Mötley Crüe, he won't like it :)
Those are the only 2 songs during the ceremony; everything else on the iPod will be for the reception. And, since there will NOT be a dance, all we have to do is throw on a bunch of Sinatra-type songs and we're good to go.
My Dress/Attire
My dress was safely tucked away in the downstairs closet until last week when I had my first fitting. I'd gained several pounds since I'd tried it on in October, but that just means the alterations will be cheaper, since she won't have to take it in! I have another fitting planned for the end of next week, and if she needs to let the hips out (let's face it, when I work out I get a tad rounder :) then we'll plan another quick fitting for the week afterward.
The alterations gal is SUPER-nice and very accommodating, since she'll have had only 1 month to get in 3 fittings and all the altering. Mom's leaving for PV on February 4th and she's bringing the dresses down with her since she'll go first-class. Thanks, Mom - makes it a lot less stressful for ME to travel!
I have my shoes, I have my hair thingies...I'm all set!
Clint's Attire
We haven't even purchased anything for Clint yet...I guess we'd better get crackin' on that. I've already done the research on pants/shirts; it's just a matter of actually getting them. Of course, according to him, all he needs is a pair of flip-flops, swim trunks and his "tux t-shirt". My mom didn't laugh at that one :)
Showers
I'm heading up North tomorrow for my first bridal shower. It's going to have an undercurrent of "horse" since it's basically all the horseback riding lady friends! Should be interesting. I have a feeling there'll be games - which I despise - but I get fed and evidently I get gifts. Plus I get a weekend up at the Bernier Ranch & Spa, which is always good.
The following weekend is THE shower/bachelorette party, hosted by my sister and long-time friend, Kristen. It's not the buck-for-a-suck type of bach party; more like a we're-over-thirty-and-we-just-want-a-night-of-dinner-and-drinks get-together. Evidently it's being held at Muffuletta in St. Paul. We'll hang out for dinner and drinks, then whomsoever wishes can make the short trek over to the Dubliner Pub for Irish music and more cocktails. Even Mom is coming!
Last - but not least - my soon-to-be aunt-in-law is throwing a shower for the Danks' side of the family the first weekend in February. I thought that was extremely nice of her, considering she'll have just returned from a long vacation in New Mexico visiting grandbabies. Thanks, Aunt Vickie!
Whew. I think that's about it. And the rest, as they say, is in the details...
Music
I battled with my iTunes for over a weekend - yes, I'm using my iPod for the wedding - and was getting frustrated but I got it all figured out, and purchased a bunch of new music. Ahem...not necessarily for the wedding; songs I've wanted for a long time. BUT, I did get an instrumental song for "walking down the aisle," and also chose the song for the end when Clint and I are heading back. Not sure he's as enthusiastic about it as I am, but let's be honest: unless it's something from Mötley Crüe, he won't like it :)
Those are the only 2 songs during the ceremony; everything else on the iPod will be for the reception. And, since there will NOT be a dance, all we have to do is throw on a bunch of Sinatra-type songs and we're good to go.
My Dress/Attire
My dress was safely tucked away in the downstairs closet until last week when I had my first fitting. I'd gained several pounds since I'd tried it on in October, but that just means the alterations will be cheaper, since she won't have to take it in! I have another fitting planned for the end of next week, and if she needs to let the hips out (let's face it, when I work out I get a tad rounder :) then we'll plan another quick fitting for the week afterward.
The alterations gal is SUPER-nice and very accommodating, since she'll have had only 1 month to get in 3 fittings and all the altering. Mom's leaving for PV on February 4th and she's bringing the dresses down with her since she'll go first-class. Thanks, Mom - makes it a lot less stressful for ME to travel!
I have my shoes, I have my hair thingies...I'm all set!
Clint's Attire
We haven't even purchased anything for Clint yet...I guess we'd better get crackin' on that. I've already done the research on pants/shirts; it's just a matter of actually getting them. Of course, according to him, all he needs is a pair of flip-flops, swim trunks and his "tux t-shirt". My mom didn't laugh at that one :)
Showers
I'm heading up North tomorrow for my first bridal shower. It's going to have an undercurrent of "horse" since it's basically all the horseback riding lady friends! Should be interesting. I have a feeling there'll be games - which I despise - but I get fed and evidently I get gifts. Plus I get a weekend up at the Bernier Ranch & Spa, which is always good.
The following weekend is THE shower/bachelorette party, hosted by my sister and long-time friend, Kristen. It's not the buck-for-a-suck type of bach party; more like a we're-over-thirty-and-we-just-want-a-night-of-dinner-and-drinks get-together. Evidently it's being held at Muffuletta in St. Paul. We'll hang out for dinner and drinks, then whomsoever wishes can make the short trek over to the Dubliner Pub for Irish music and more cocktails. Even Mom is coming!
Last - but not least - my soon-to-be aunt-in-law is throwing a shower for the Danks' side of the family the first weekend in February. I thought that was extremely nice of her, considering she'll have just returned from a long vacation in New Mexico visiting grandbabies. Thanks, Aunt Vickie!
Whew. I think that's about it. And the rest, as they say, is in the details...
Apostilles on Birth Certificates
Well, we're 38 days out from the wedding...and we hit our first "snag" this week with the birth certificate fiasco.
In order to make a wedding performed in a foreign country legal in the U.S., the birth certificates need to each carry an "apostille," which, we found out the hard way, is an official seal from the Secretary of State. So, the normal birth certificate copies won't do...having already FedExed both certificates down to Puerto Vallarta (for a cool $60.oo) we started looking into how much it costs to do this with the apostilles.
*Note to anyone else getting hitched outside of the USA - do NOT use any of the online 'apostille services' if you can help it. The cheapest we found using those companies to get these documents was ~$180.oo. For EACH birth certificate. Plus the extra cost to get them down to Mexico. Um, how about NO, Scott.
My mother - God bless her! - did a little sleuthing and found out we can get this done at the Office of the Secretary of State. Conveniently located in St. Paul, and we can get the documents certified for $5.00 each. What's more, we can get our birth certificates at the MN Department of Health (vs. the county in which we were born...for me that's a tad farther away than for Clint), again nicely situated in St. Paul. I guess it pays to live in the capitol.
We're still debating on whether or not to do the "official" service to make the marriage legal both in Mexico and here, since now we're up against a deadline on their end for translating both documents and putting together all the paperwork. That's my fault, but of course I thought I knew what the apostille was and wanted to send them the birth certificates at the latest date possible. Not that I don't trust them, but you know...the less time they have to lose/misplace them, the better :)
So, we'll see what we decide - I'm still awaiting a reply to see what our options are from the contact at Le Kliff. Other than that, recent wedding plans are going well!
In order to make a wedding performed in a foreign country legal in the U.S., the birth certificates need to each carry an "apostille," which, we found out the hard way, is an official seal from the Secretary of State. So, the normal birth certificate copies won't do...having already FedExed both certificates down to Puerto Vallarta (for a cool $60.oo) we started looking into how much it costs to do this with the apostilles.
*Note to anyone else getting hitched outside of the USA - do NOT use any of the online 'apostille services' if you can help it. The cheapest we found using those companies to get these documents was ~$180.oo. For EACH birth certificate. Plus the extra cost to get them down to Mexico. Um, how about NO, Scott.
My mother - God bless her! - did a little sleuthing and found out we can get this done at the Office of the Secretary of State. Conveniently located in St. Paul, and we can get the documents certified for $5.00 each. What's more, we can get our birth certificates at the MN Department of Health (vs. the county in which we were born...for me that's a tad farther away than for Clint), again nicely situated in St. Paul. I guess it pays to live in the capitol.
We're still debating on whether or not to do the "official" service to make the marriage legal both in Mexico and here, since now we're up against a deadline on their end for translating both documents and putting together all the paperwork. That's my fault, but of course I thought I knew what the apostille was and wanted to send them the birth certificates at the latest date possible. Not that I don't trust them, but you know...the less time they have to lose/misplace them, the better :)
So, we'll see what we decide - I'm still awaiting a reply to see what our options are from the contact at Le Kliff. Other than that, recent wedding plans are going well!
New Year's Sleigh Rides
Since we were up North at Mom & Dad's for a long New Year's weekend (it was our "Christmas" so the whole fam damily was there) we decided to head out to the barn. My mom has her mare, Joon, boarded and since she's been taught to drive, we thought we'd hook her up to the sleigh. Joon, not Mom :)
While Mom & Max were hooking Joon up, Clint and I were amused by the antics of a young buckskin Morgan in a nearby pen...since I needed to get shots of him anyway (for Mom's blog) I thought I'd throw him in here, too. Just because he's SO CUTE!
Mom put the brass "jingle" bells on Joon and after a test drive to make sure everything was working, we had fun taking turns riding in a one-horse open sleigh. I even got to drive! Which, by the way, is harder than it appears at first glance. Max was giving me instruction but she did forget to tell me you CAN actually tip the cutter! She told me that as we were actually tipping but I got everything righted.
It was Clint's first time in a sleigh, so after I'd gotten the hang of driving we took off for a spin together. By the time we'd been out for 30 minutes, my feet were cold and my fingers were FROZEN. It was fun, tho'!
Another Weekend Up North
Two weekends ago we all headed back up to Mom & Dad's for Charlotte's baptism. My brother-in-law's mother and brother made the trip from Maryland, so with all of us "kids" - and 3 dogs - it was a full house.Mom of course fed us lots of good food, and we got in some quality time with Sophia and Charlotte.
Amy and I also took care of our Christmas card photos. We'd been waiting for a typical snowy Minnesota scene, and we got it.They had this idea of them all laying on their backs, looking up at me. This posed somewhat of a problem, as it's hard to get up high enough to do that without having ladder legs or something else in the photo. Fortunately, since Mom and Dad leave the dock sections in the back yard, all I had to do was climb up on one of the benches and lean over a bit.
Since I'm egotistical about my photography, I wouldn't let anyone else even press the button for our Xmas photos. Not even if I'd already set everything up. So, even though Mom was there to make Zada look at the camera, I had the SLR on timer mode :)
I also got some cute "on the side" shots of Amy and Charlotte - who was the epitome of a little Eskimo baby. Pretty darn cute, if I may say so myself (and I do).Of course, no photo shoot is complete without me taking random pictures of my dog...my dad asked me at one point, "how many pictures of your dog do you NEED?" I dunno...and nobody complains about a mother taking a bajillion pictures of her kid :) That's all it is!
Thing is, this dog loves being outside so much that the picture wasn't posed. I happened to look out and saw her lying contentedly in the snow and snapped this through the window.
In addition to all this, I decided to get the engagement shot out of the way. I originally wasn't going to do this, but Mom wants to run an announcement in the Brainerd paper (sigh) so I obliged. Didn't spend too much time on it, but we're pleased with the results :)
Once again, I didn't want anyone else "taking" the image so I got a little creative with my tripod (thank goodness for pistol grips!) and the timer. Keep in mind he was very open to doing this, even though there was a football game going on downstairs! What a guy...
So, it was definitely a weekend full of posing and image capturing, but fun nonetheless.
The next time we head up - New Year's - I can say won't be nearly as photography-focused, which I'm sure will bring a sigh of relief from everyone :)
Thanksgiving Festivus
Once again we headed up to Mom & Dad's for an extended Thanksgiving celebration. I pretty much love ANY holiday which allows me 4 full days up at the Bernier Spa & Ranch, but Thanksgiving rocks because it's all about FOOD.(Making it hard to maintain the weight loss I started in Italy...sigh.)
Clint and I arrived up there on Wednesday evening, and the rest of the gang (sister + her brood, and 3 aunts/uncles + dog) came on Thanksgiving Day. There was quite a lot going on up there this time...
Sophia and Charlotte were in fine form - both with their quick mouths. The former was entertaining us with her retorts and the latter was keeping us on our toes with her regurgitation skills. I don't think Mom & Dad figured they'd have to worry about stains on their brand-new carpet...but, such as things are, little Charlotte has QUITE the "reflux" capacitator!
But, you just learn (or, sometimes, have to be violently reminded) to put down a big baby blanket and have PLENTY of burp rags on hand :) She's so darn perfect of a baby there has to be SOMETHING 'normal' about her!
Dad & Clint bonded by acting as mechanics to my car...trying to figure out why on earth there would be oil getting into my radiator. My poor little Honda Accord has passed its 10-year mark (in fact, we're marching towards 11!) and things have been slowly declining.
Mom wanted help with getting their Christmas tree, so she, Sophia and I bundled up and headed out to a cut-your-own lot in search of "the perfect Christmas tree." Sophia's words, not mine. Of course, it's a lot with very pretty trees, but they're also small - some of them QUITE diminuitive, as Sophia found out! I always say you can't take home the first one that catches your eye...but wouldn't you know, after marking it and moving on to look at everything else, we ended up getting it after all.
(The size was a little more appropriate for the house. And, I know it's sprayed...but, once you get it away from all the others, you can't tell :)The dogs got plenty of exercise, too...they went from hyper-activity on Wednesday night to needing a quick cat-nap (or, dog-nap, as it were) during the afternoon to keep going through 'til bedtime. The old cliché still rings true - A tired dog is a good dog! Of course, having a couple of "new" dogs in the mix certainly helped. My aunt & uncle brought their extremely bouncy/hyper/energetic German short-haired pointer up, plus the neighbors' dog - a 9-month-old black lab - decided to visit a few times and give Zada a run for her money.
We had some good hikes out in the backwoods...lots of snuffling of scents, chasing of sticks, and tongues lolling. Oh, and the dogs had fun, too :) We only had one near-incident where the 2 "nose" dogs (Tesa & Zada) flushed a couple of deer and gave chase for a few bounds before I - thankfully - recalled them. Thank goodness for dog obedience classes!
Of course, it wasn't until the last day that Zada finally realized the lake was frozen, thus offered a whole new avenue of adventure...we'll see if she remembers right away when we head back up the next 2 weekends.
Speaking of Zada, I had quite the hard time relinquishing my spot as "First Master" this weekend. For some reason or other, Zada was entirely focused on Clint. On our walks, she was still well aware of where I was, but if he left the house (we stayed at the neighbors'), she was VERY intent on where he was. In fact, she even missed breakfast one morning because he left for the gym and she wouldn't stop staring out the screen door. So much for shepherds being one-person dogs!!
I feel so betrayed :)
And, last but certainly not least - Clint bought got a "new" vehicle! Evidently my sister was in the market for a new (2008) half-ton Ford pick-em-up truck, so instead of trading in her Durango (2003, purchased new in 2004) she sold it to Clint for a good price. Now at least between the 2 of us we have one rock solid car. It's pretty sweet - tow package, hitch (you know, for all the stuff we haul around), remote start, 4WD, power seats, nice stereo...it's a winner!
Long story short, it was a GREAT Thanksgiving weekend :)
Wedding Plans Update
For those of you who are curious about the behind-the-scenes goings-on in planning a Mexican destination wedding, here are the latest updates:I bought a dress - haven't picked it up yet, but it's paid in full. It's a light, taffeta (any Young Frankenstein fans out there???) dress that needs a few modifications to be perfect, but the price was right - $200!!! Can't argue with that.
My shoes are ordered and will be arriving (at David's Bridal, ick, the ONLY thing I will buy there, and only 'cause they were dyeable) at the end of December. The alterations appointment is scheduled for the first week of January.
Clint picked his ring - a very cool, textured palladium band. It's being held at Thomas Joseph & Sons where I know it'll be safe 'til the week before the wedding. I'm getting a "band," too, but not to wear along with my 'real' ring. The new one will merely be a placeholder for when I'm horseback riding, swimming in the ocean, or doing any other type of activity which scares me while wearing this rock.For Clint's attire we're thinking silk pants with a short-sleeved, silk shirt. Originally we wanted a Tommy Bahama shirt, but they don't make white silk, only natural. So, we're re-thinking. I want silk because it's so swingy but still durable. Linen's just too wrinkly.
I'm also going through the process of choosing a hairstyle...I already had a "trial" done, but the styles I'd chosen just didn't look right with the texture and AMOUNT of hair I have. So, I'm thinking something along the lines of a low, messy chignon or some type of bun.
..thing.
Since we're starting over, I have another "trial" appointment with my hairdresser in January. Why have a trial run with a hair stylist HERE, you might ask...well, because she's going, too! Crazy, and random...but most of all, lucky!
Other than hashing out ceremony details (via email) with the person in charge at Le Kliff, I think that's about it for now. Oh, and here's the image I shot from the boat to Yelapa this past spring when Clint and I saw it for the first time...okay, I probably saw it sometime in passing since I was 11, but this is the first time I NOTICED it :)
Halloween '08
I sort of can't believe I blogged about my dog (and her new toy) before I made mention of my nieces and their '08 Halloween endeavors.While it's Sophia's 3rd Halloween - so of course she has the drill down pat - it's merely Charlotte's first...so it was considered a success that she stayed awake for most of it.
Sophia got to be a mermaid this year - albeit a "cold weather mermaid". See, 3-year-olds are so smart and they have brains like sponges, remembering EVERYTHING. When my sister got home with the mermaid costume one night and presented it to her daughter, Sophia's first reaction - after approximately 4 seconds of looking at it - was, "Mom. Mermaids don't have sleeves!"
She has a point...my sister had to think on her feet and replied, "Well, Sophia, you're going to be a Northern Mermaid - because it's cold, you have sleeves. Mermaids who live in warm weather, like Ariel, don't have sleeves."
"OK" was the reply. Whew. Crisis averted.
Charlotte, on the other hand, was quite content to hang out in the baby carrier and watch the festivities with eyes bigger than the new moon.
She made it 'til about 7:30 before becoming a wilted baby flower and nodding off.
Oh, and Clint even dressed up...he was Creepy White Collar Guy lurking in the shadows. Goober.
However, I do have to admit the coolest part of the evening was heading over to my sister's neighbors' house, where they'd decorated the ENTIRE yard with ~36 blow-up statues. Not sure of the technical term, but it was a veritable Halloween Paradise!
They received about 180 trick-or-treaters that night...evidently the word is out on the street that Robbinsdale has a pretty cool place to go!
It got even better after dark...Unfortunately, my camera's not too good at taking the low-light pictures...so I didn't get any of kids actually going through the tunnels.
But, I DID happen to catch the ghost of a creepy guy in business casual attire...
Zada's New (Old) Toy
The last time I was with Dani, she had a neat toy for Tucker, and I asked her where she got it. She told me the dollar bin at Target - of course, not everything is $1, but close enough. Although I can't remember for the life of me what that toy was, I made sure to browse that section while in Target today, and instead stumbled upon an old family favorite: The Mop.It's not a 'mop', but we always called it that name with my family's previous shepherd, Ivan. Not sure why. Speaking of that mop, we still have it. Yup, Ivan stumbled into my life right before I turned 15; we put him down right before I turned 24. Aaaand we still have one of his favorite toys.
I guess that's not as bad as my mother still having the dog bed from FOUR dogs ago. Yes, 4. That dog - Gitta - we got when I was 5. Same dog bed they have today. Did I mention Mom had Gitta's name stitched on it??? It's survived Gitta, Ivan, Maggie, and now Tesa. Heaven forbid Mom gets a bed that a) has the current dog's name on it or b) gets a non-specific bed.Anyway...so as soon as I got Zada, I purchased a knotted rope to have as her very own 'mop'. Thing was, she had such a sensitive stomach I was afraid of what would happen when she started to - inevitably - pull off and eat the loose ends.
Turns out this was the Godsend I'd been waiting for, as soon after she started having solid...doo doo. So, I let her keep eating it. Plus, there was the added bonus of her flossing every time she tried to rip off the strings. She puts a paw on either side, and with the strings in her mouth, starts at the bottom, where they're attached, and RRRRIIIIIIIPPPS upwards 'til she gets a mouthful to disconnect. It's rather comical when she tries and tries but can't get the pieces out of her teeth.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen tonight, when I gave her the one I brought home. She hasn't had one in a long time - not sure why - so it was a picture-worthy event to see her reunited with an old friend.She didn't make it very long before she petered out...not sure if it's because it's Sunday (meaning she's more laid-back because she's been out all day) or just the excitement of a new toy. Either way, I have a feeling she'll be pooing solidly for the next few days while she rips away all the loose strings.
And, just to clarify: I'm NOT in the habit of buying her GIRLY toys...it just so happens that a) the rope toy only came in pink or Christmas colors, and b) the purple bone also featured in the photos only came in purple. Don't judge me.
PS: Yup, I did it. I just blogged about my dog's new toy.
Just a Quick Question:
Why, OH WHY, does every single bridal web site feel the need to play music? And, hardly any of them have an "off" button. What the h3ll? I don't want to listen to stupid, mushy music, I just want to see if you have simple wedding dresses from which to choose.
Honestly, any web site playing music (that's SO 2002) is one I instantly scratch off the list. Sorry. I just don't want to deal with it.
Turn off the volume on your computer, you say? Well, no thanks. I'm a music lover, and my newest affair is with Pandora, so my speakers are always playing good music.
'Til I hit a dorky wedding site, that is.
Honestly, any web site playing music (that's SO 2002) is one I instantly scratch off the list. Sorry. I just don't want to deal with it.
Turn off the volume on your computer, you say? Well, no thanks. I'm a music lover, and my newest affair is with Pandora, so my speakers are always playing good music.
'Til I hit a dorky wedding site, that is.
Horseback Riding in Toscana
For 2 weeks in September, Mom and I headed to Italy. Toscana (Tuscania) mainly, for horseback riding, but we also did the touristy sites in Pisa and Rome.It was a blast - Mom had never been, and the only time I was in Italy was during my 3-week backpacking trek in college. Let's be honest, 2 days whipping through a city (partially hungover from the night before) isn't really a way to experience another country.
Ok, it's just a DIFFERENT way to experience it :)
Anyway, for our horse portion of the trip, we stayed at the Rifugio Prategiano Hotel near Montieri, in the Maremma area of southern Toscana ("Tuscany"). We were there a week, with 5 full days of riding around the area.
The first day, Sunday, we just did a half-day ride to get used to the horses and, frankly, to break ourselves in gently to riding for 5-6 hours per day!
The next day we rode out from the hotel and from then on out, where we ended up in the afternoon was where the horses would "camp" (they'd bus us back and forth) 'til we got there the next morning. We ended up riding a huge, somewhat lopsided loop around the hotel area, never ending up more than a 40-minute car ride back to the comfort of our rooms each afternoon.
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