Gem (jěm)(n.) :Something that is valued for its beauty or perfection

The best thing about San Diego is the multitude of independent business. When it came time for Guy and me to pick out a place to have our rehearsal dinner everyone had something to say about it but no one trusted the local restaurants to know how to handle a party of thirty people. Guy's parents really pushed for Cheesecake Factory but we insisted that if people were coming from all over the world to our beloved San Diego they should get a taste of what our locals had to offer, not something they could get in any medium sized plus city in the US. Guy and I decided that the very best place to showcase our local cuisine would be the Parkhouse Eatery, which also happens to be out very favorite restaurant.

We found Parkhouse completely by accident. In an attempt to widen our perceptions of our fair city on a multiple levels we decided the best place was to start with one of the biological needs, edible sustenance. Guy bought me a ton of random gift certificates for Christmas, one of which just happened to be this cute quirky homey place on Park Boulevard, from which you can see our church. We went, I had blackberry pancakes, he had a lamb burger and we've been going back ever since. We recommend everything. And now we get to share our favorite place with our very closest family and friends.

Our Rehearsal Invitation

Progress (prŏg'rěs')(n.) : a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage

100 days from now I will be preparing to officially make the plunge, getting married. In celebration of this milestone I have decided that a progress post is in order.

Us:
Rachel and Guy



Cooper&Scout

Rachel and Guy
Establish 02.16.2005
Engaged 02.17.2007
Adopted Cooper on 06.21.2007
Adopted Scout on 09.22.2008
Making it official 06.13.2009

Wedding Website:
RachelAndGuy.com

The Save the Date:

Thanks Vista Print!

The Church:

Grace Lutheran Chuch

The Reception Venue:

Bahia Resort and Hotel
Mission Bay, San Diego

The Dress:
Link to Picture
(Just in case Guy reads)

The Garter:
Link to Picture
I only purchased the smaller one. It has since been customized.

The Chucks:





These are obviously screen shots of my shoes. I designed them on Converse.com and had them shipped to my friends house because we were having trouble with our mail. If you click on the pictures it will bring up a larger image so you can see the images better. The heel stripe reads 13june2009.

The Rings:

1/2 carat round cut diamonds in a prong settings

14K white gold

The Fake Rings (For Europe):

His&Hers

The Food:
Appetizers:

• Blackened Shrimp with Garlic cream cheese on Asiago Crostini
• Scallop and Tiger Shrimp Brochette
• Crab Cakes with Lime and Ginger
• Artichoke Hearts with Boursin Cheese and Toasted Pecans

Salad:

• Baby Spinach Salad with Sun Dried Cranberries and Almonds in a Raspberry Vinaigrette

Dinner:

• Baked Breast of Chicken with Pomegranate Glaze
• Filet Mignon with Cabernet Sauce
• Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Steamed Vegetables

Dessert:

• White Chocolate Vanilla Ice Cream Truffle with Raspberry Sauce

The Cake:
Our cake is still up in the air, sort of. Its ordered but up until 10 days before we can change it however we want. Right now its a three tier white cake with whipped cream frosting. We were planning on adorning it with flowers and a ribbon at the base of each tier but while browsing the internet we found a cake that we both think is amazing. We are going to go to our bakery, a lovely local place called Flour Power and talk to them about how much more it would cost to do our dream cake.
The flavors will remain the same.

• The First Tier: pudding chiffon-yellow cake-with peach slices drifting throughout & peach mousse.
• The Middle Tier: white cake infused with coconut and tied together with a coconut cream.
• The Bottom Tier: The Works- white cake with our light Bavarian cream, one thin layer of raspberry & one thin layer of lemon jam.

• Guy's grooms cake (which will most likely be frozen and kept for the first anniversary) is Chocolate Peanut Butter: Chocolate peanut butter cake with peanut butter folded into the mousse, and a layer of fudge to top it off.

The Flowers:

We are using all white flowers so imagine these in white. Half the centerpieces will be tulips. The other half will be something like this except only the calla lilies which will be bowed out more, much like the tulips.




The Invitations:


Ours are not in these colors. The Pocket is teal, the insert is white and the ribbon is royal blue. Ordered from AlaunByDesign.com . We just finalized the proofs today and hope to get them in about 3 weeks.

The Limo:

Chrysler 300 Stretch Limo
Seats up to 10.

Cake Cutting Set:

Vera Wang "With Love"
My mother is getting them engraved as a gift for us.

Other Stuff that has been completed:

• The DJ
• The Month of Coordinator
• The Officiant
• Passports
• The Photographer
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Website invitation inserts
• Hotel for Rome
• Ring Bowl
• Chair Covers
• Unity Candle
• Linens
• Library Cards
• Library Pockets
• Get rings sized
• Favor Tags
• Pre-marriage Couseling
• Perfume
• Send Invitations
• Registries
• Champagne Flutes
• Make Boarding Appointment for Dogs
• Marriage license
• Menus

What's Left to Do:

• Book Hair and Makeup
• Guestbook
• Escort Cards
• Place Cards
• Table Names
• Table Signs
  
• Signs

-candy bar
-guestbook

• Candy Buffet Stuff (IP)
• OOT Baskets
• Gifts (IP)
  
• Guy's Clothes (IP)
• Figure out the ceremony
• Music for the reception
• Share your photo cards
• 
  
• Kids packets (IP)
  
• Programs
• Bouquet charms (IP)
  
• Undergarments
• Dress fittings (IP)
  
• 
  
• Card Box (IP)
• Letters for Candy Buffet (IP)
• 
  

Autumn (ô'təm)(n.) :the season between summer and winter; fall.

Mooch said it best. "Let the pumpkin pies begin!" Today we saw just a brief glimpse of fall. Finally after a sweltering heat wave with highs in the triple digits these past couple of weeks (which may I add is odd even for smack dab in the middle of summer for sunny mild San Diego) we saw a touch of cold and a touch of rain sweep through as either a tease or a promise. I am hoping for the latter. Now the weather has warmed considerable and dark clouds have moved farther into the east but maybe just maybe this is the beginning of something great. Thanksgiving approaches and with that the true beginning of the holiday season which I am ever so excited about. I have been tempted to turn on the Christmas music when home by myself but have yet to give in. The small snippets I hear when I'm out about town has been getting me by. I look forward to the upcoming year. Two-thousand and eight has been a trying one but as we progress towards two-thousand and nine the prospects of a joyous year is beginning to pop up. Spencer's current treatment is leading to the life saving bone marrow treatment that will bring healing and relief. Guy and I are getting hitched and as scary as that is it is ten times more exciting. I can't wait to officially begin our lives together. My undergraduate studies are coming to a close and the possibility of grad school is starting to form. Cooper is healing and is nearly back to his old pre-attack self. And maybe just maybe I'll have Obama to call my president next year. Do I dare cautiously say things are looking up?

Trauma (trô'mə) (n.):an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.

The last few days have been traumatic to say the very very least. While camping a drunk man wandered onto our campsite walking an American pit bull Labrador mix. The dog attacked our older dog, Cooper and Guy got bit in the process.

Cooper sustained extensive injuries but thanks to all involved (minus the attacking dog and her drunk handler) he is alive. His bottom jaw was completely shattered and he had a compound fracture. The veterinary doctors at the emergency hospital fixed him up and nearly $3,000 later our boy is at home resting and recuperating. We have been referring to him as Frankenmutt. Its obvious he's exhausted but there are moments when there is no doubt he is happy to be home and we couldn't be more ecstatic to have little boy blue home. His face is pretty messed up and its made even more evident because there is no hair to cover his stitches and his jaw is crooked. But, he's alive, has no spinal, brain, heart or lung damage like they originally feared. He has eaten his first meal in many days and I can't even express how truly calming it is to know he has some nourishment.

Guy is fine other than having a torn up hand, an allergic reaction to the tetanus shot and contracting some sort of bacterial infection. Unfortunately because he missed two days of work he was let go. Now he is unemployed and we are seriously crunched for money.

Side Note: This is not an attack on pitbulls. In fact, I have an affinity for the breed and think they can be wonderful family pets when trained properly and handled with care. Because of their size and strength when they do bite they can cause great damage. In this case the situation was faulty to begin with, the man handling the dog was not her owner, was intoxicated and obviously not familiar with the dog's behavior. The family is paying for the damages over a 4 month span.

Before and After

Trolley (trŏl'ē) (n.): A device that collects electric current from an overhead wire and transmits it to the motor of an electric vehicle

"Trolley"

Cassius (kash'us) (n.):A purple pigment, obtained by the action of some compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold.

"Cassius"

Mark (märk) (n.): a visible impression or trace on something

"Mark Your Territory"

Surprise (sər-prīz') (v.): to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly

"Surprise Party"

Stretch (strěch)(v.): To lengthen, widen, or distend

"Stretch"

Rolling (rōl′iŋ) (adj.): moving by revolving or turning over and over

"Rolling In"

Hide (hīd) (v.): to conceal from sight; prevent from being seen or discovered

"Hide"

Hot (hŏt)(adj.):having a high temperature

Today is hot. Hot for a day in June, hot for any day of any month in San Diego. Even the flies, who usually delight in the smells produced by the destructive power of heat, seek solace among the covered porches . They fly languidly,moving slowly, like surprise guests who happen upon a your doorstep only to find the house empty and then have nothing to do but shift from foot to foot and wait for your return.

Harbor (här'bər) (n.):A sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.

"Safe Harbor"