3 years of goodness

For some reason we can't seem to celebrate our gift giving portion of the anniversary on time. I mostly blame Scott for ordering presents too late :-). Also a factor could be we seem to be traveling during every anniversary and who wants to pack more luggage to give gifts? 

So the 3rd year is leather and I must say I totally scored!

New purse, cute heels, and saltwater sandals!

Nice work Scotty!

I got Scott a briefcase, a belt buckle with a cute love note burned into the back of it (our little secret), and some leather snaps that hold your IPhone & IPod cords.

I love following the traditional gift giving guide. It makes it fun to find gifts for each other every year. Next year is fruit/flowers. I'm thinking lots of yummy chocolate dipped fruit is in my future! :-)

our first anniversary

As I was going through our summer photos and organizing them, I came across our 1 year anniversary photos from June. Since we had just gone to Thailand in March we decided to stay local at a bed & breakfast in town. I super love B&B's! Someday I will get to a B&B in the NorthEast and eat lobster, visit lighthouses, and look into their local ghost/witch history. You know all those old New England towns got em! Anyway, this was our day:

The Inn on the Hill

The view night and day

 first anniversary= paper gift

Scott gave me Alice in Wonderland from 1934 and Rubaiyat of Omar Kyayyam from 1909, which is a Persian poem about life, living in the moment, love, death, and god.
"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
And Wilderness is Paradise enow."
Sometimes the Ginger really surprises me with how romantic he can be.

I gave Scott the complete scores of every Beatles song so that he can play them on the piano, guitar, drums, or whatever he wants. The Beatles are one of his all time favorite band!

The day was a perfect mixture of chilling, food, and togetherness. After we opened our presents we ate a tasty bacon filled breakfast on a patio overlooking the city, played some pool, went to a matinee, ate snow cones, did a little bit of antiquing, took a nap, then ate year old wedding cake. Which was super yummy! I'd say that was a successful day....especially food wise...which my life may or may not focus too much around.

In conclusion, wedding anniversaries are so much more fun than dating anniversaries! Seriously kids. I'm super excited to plan something fun and different every year! Especially with the presents. Next year is cotton so I need to come up with something Scott/nerdy/cool. If anyone has any different ideas let me know! (don't worry the hubs doesn't read my blog cause he's terrible like that, so anything you say is safe)

one year super model photo shoot

I just realized I haven't posted my favorite pics from our one year anniversary photo shoot with the amazing Duston Todd!

Prepare to be amazed and maybe a bit weirded out.

 

The red in the pics is holi sand used in the Hari Krishna Color Festivals.

We knew the red would have a horror movie effect, but didn't know it would look so bloody! Hey, we went with it and it turned out awesome! We're just crazy like that.

happy first anniversary!

 

 Best year ever!!!

welcome to your Wedding Day!

Happy 6 months anniversary!!

  I realize I haven't posted on my wedding yet.
It's busy work getting into wife mode!
I would never in a million years want to plan another wedding,

but when the day finally came...it was perfect!!

The details:
I did a 40's do with the hair and took the pearl crown my mother wore to her wedding and twisted it into this accessory. It was my favorite!

How cool is my brooch bouquet?!? I love it for the fact that I can keep it forever! I have it on my piano right now in a vase. Notice the manatee brooch? Haha! That was for Scott.

Peacock boutonnieres for the men. Made that myself!

The day:
The wedding was at 1pm so I was able to relax and get ready with my mum, sisters, & bf Julie.
One thing I totally recommend is having your hair and makeup done for you! It was so fun and worth it to get pampered!
I had butterflies in my stomach the whole way to the Temple.

(I look nervous, but I swear I was nothing but ready!)
I just kept saying over and over to myself "I'm getting married today!"
It's was so surreal that the day had finally arrived.

Right before Scott and I went into the sealing room to be married we looked at each other and said "we should have eloped".
Haha!
It was just kinda nerve wracking to know that everyone was going to be staring at us and making a big deal of us tying the knot...which of course it is a big deal. We just weren't ready for people to be gushing over us.

During the ceremony I could not hold still!
I felt like I was going to burst out of my skin!
It was just a combination of it all.
Finally being there marrying my love; plus I had never seen Scott look at me like that before; plus the spirit was so strong; plus I was beyond happy!


After the ceremony we came out of the Temple to greet all our well wishers,

 and take the customary photos.

 



Scott and I couldn't stop smiling!
 
Doesn't he look happy? :-)

I can honestly say I had never felt happier!
After the Temple we had a luncheon with our family and close friends at Settebellos.
I love that place!
 It's true what they say that you never get the food on your wedding day though.
I was too excited to sit and eat. Plus I just wanted to be visiting with everyone.

After the luncheon we had more photos to take of the two of us, family, bridesmaids & groomsmen.


The whole Van Hoose Clan
(minus Christine & Benat)
 
 
The Whole Steele Clan
 
 
Groomsmen
 
(Chad, Santi, Scott, Jon, Zo)

  
Bridesmaids

 (Julie, Bexxx, me, Jenna, Jen, Alex)


We had the reception in the evening at Pierpont Place and it was epic!

 Chandeliers and white lights strung up, peacock feather centerpieces, mocktail bar, & yummy desserts!
 It was awesome!
I have to say I hate the whole meet and greet part, but I know it's something that must be done because I didn't know all of his extended family and he didn't know all of mine.
When we finally got that out of the way we were finally able to dance!
I love to dance!

Our first dance
 I had so much fun! I was a bit sweaty from shaking it in all the wedding dress layers, but who cares! It was my wedding day!
Scott was probably the better host because he mingled whilst I stayed on the dance floor all night.

I love all my family and friends and I'm so grateful they were there with me to celebrate marrying my love.

My only gripe is that I didn't get enough quality time with them all.

I wish I could re-live this day over and over!
(but with a smaller group so that I get my quality time)

It was the best day in the whole world!
Here are some more of my favorite pics of the day:

 
It really bugs Scott that his tie was off center...how did no one tell us during all these pics?? 

This is how Scott holds hands. He holds my neck.
 

 
I must say I LOVE photos! I love taking them and being in them.
Especially when I look like a princess! :-)

favorite memory

I saw a short film where someone asked 50 people 1 question:

What is your favorite memory?

It got me thinking what my favorite memory is.

I have so many excellent memories with my family throughout the years.

I have a ton of fun memories with my friends.

I have a million amazing memories with Scott.

To call something my favorite is hard.

The 1 memory I can think of that encompasses all of my favorites...

My wedding day.

My family, my best friends, my ginger for a whole day!

A day where I was the center of attention and only job was to enjoy myself.

A day where Scott couldn't complain about all the pictures being taken.

A day I got to dance with Scott and shake my booty with friends & family.

A day where I got all the kisses I wanted.

A day where I was the belle of the ball!

This day is my favorite memory...so far.

the honeymooners

I keep thinking about our honeymoon
and how much fun I have vacationing with my ginger.
In my opinion for the first year of newlywed bliss
couples should go on honeymoons every month!!
(Actually that's a great idea! I think I will try to work in mini-moons every month for Scott and I)
Scott and I went to Grand Cayman on our honeymoon in June

and it was awesome!!
We snorkeled in perfect crystal clear warm water,
scuba dived with mermaids,
went on catamaran cruises,
played with sting rays,
discovered pirate caves,
went to Hell,
and mostly just chillaxed!
I loved having my Ginger all to myself for a whole week and doing whatever we felt like!
(though I'm still of the opinion that friends should come on honeymoons)