House Hunting: 40 homes...

and counting!

Mr. Special and I have seen just about every type of home you could imagine. Due to the downward spiral of the economy, we have been bLESsed to see more than just the "average" starter home. So to say the least, we are pushing harder than ever to get into a home as soon as we can.

{{Below are a few homes we have already looked at}}

On our "Must Have" list, we decided that a home just isn't a home without a formal dining room. We plan to host many dinner parties and intimate ones as well. What better way to do so but by having an area that is strictly dedicated to just that!

It gets super hot in the city we will be relocating to. Like sweaty hot. Like typically... 85-100 degrees hot on every summer day. The only way to cool off and thoroughly enjoy that blazing sun is by taking a dip into a swimming pool.

A two story home! We absolutely need our entertaining space completely and entirely separate from our sleeping space. Since Mr. Lovely and I have conflicting hours, quiet time in our bedroom is a must, around the clock.

A beautiful Chef's kitchen is a dream, not a must. However, I will settle for a kitchen that has potential to become a chefs kitchen... one day... some day....

and a few more to add to this list would be...

1. 
   
   4 bedrooms


2. 
   
   2.5 baths


3. 
   
   fireplace


4. 
   
   front yard (meaning grass!)

I know compromises are in line, but figured I'd share before those compromises take place.

What was/are on your "must have" list when buying you first home?

And the House Hunt BEGINS!

As of November of last year, Mr. Wonderful and I began our very first adventure as husband and wife. We like to call it PROJECT: HOME!

Our quest in finding our first home has been some what of a ... emotional roller coaster? That may even be an understatement. Thus far, we have viewed over 45 homes. Yup, you read right! 45 homes! We've seen them all! From old fixer uppers to grand and over the top homes. We've seen newly built homes with open floor plans and we've seen older homes where each room offered it's own charm.

When it comes down to it, Mr. Wonderful and I finally decided on what type of home fits our personalities best. We've completely fallen in love with the style and grace of older homes. Homes filled with stories and homes with with charm. Homes that have brick fireplaces and homes that offers a "separate" room for dining. A home where guests are greeted by a grand foyer and followed by a chefs kitchen. lol, yup, that is what we decided on. Sounds like a dream... doesn't it?

Well, I am happy to say, that we have found just that. Or at least close enough to it. lol. Cross your fingers that we score! {pics coming soon}

Until then, I have decided to play "make-believe" in this home.

And here "I am" greeting my guests. lol.

{{lol... this is my ultimate dream home. One day... one day}}

EEEK! My 100th READER! =)

{{I'm totally doing the happy dance right now...literally}}

A big, huge, enormous thank you to Dale Steliga from Savy Spice for being my 100th reader!

I know I've been totally in and out of the scene this past year, but as promised, I am back and here to stay! Wahoo!

How about a little sneak peak for tomorrows post... tee-hee

Here- at a certain type of office where a certain type of realtor is required. Along with a loan officer, a loan processor, a contractor and tons of paperwork! Eeeek, here goes my next obsession. Are you ready?

RECAP: Grand Exit!

This was the perfect way to end the night! We had everyone line up in two parallel lines. We ran through and everyone was clapping and cheering for us.

At the end of the stairs, our SOMETHING BLUE awaited our arrival. My aunt and uncle were kind enough to serve us as the "getaway driver" in their 1979 SS Camero! It was a HIT!!

.... and there you have it ladies and gents. Mr. and Mrs. N!

========================================================

I never thought in a million years, I'd be sharing my plans and our actual wedding day with the world. But here I am, blogging since 2008. Blogging about our fun and excitement. Blogging about our trials and tribulations and finally blogging about our big day!

I've been asked... what happens after you blog about your wedding? Hmmm, good question. I never really sat down to take the time to think about "blog life" after the wedding

.... so I thought... and I thought.... and I thought.

And guess what, looks like I'm here to stay. There has been so much going on with our lives and what better way to express but here! With our thoughts and pictures along the way.

So from here on out... this blog will be utilized to chronicle our lives as we know it.

Next project: OUR FIRST HOME!

Stick around... I'd love to stay and chat with all of you ;)

RECAP! Wedding Details! Details! Details!

Isn't it the little things that make it count. That make the hours spent till wee morning of crafts and headaches all worth it. Well I'm one that says it DOES!! I mean, come on... you can see for yourself =)

Welcome to WORLD OF DETAILS!

Sign-In Table was so sentimental to me. We had a family tree which was represented in picture frames. In the center, it was an 8x10 colored picture of Ramon and I from our engagement photo session. On each side of our 8x7, there was a 5x7 black and white photo of our parents at their wedding. And then we followed the tradition by adding 4x7 picture frames of each set of grandparents also in black and white.

Check out my awesome DIY Card Box.

Another DIY project, well, SEMI, I had help from the infamous graphic designer, ILLUSTRATED BY ALEX!!

Another DIY project that I am so proud of. I love my table numbers!

Here is where my bridesmaids placed their bouquets at the head table.

Now on to the centerpieces!

We had beautiful tall organic arrangements. Filled with lush roses and hydrangeas and dripping crystals.

Another centerpiece was a simple dome of ivory roses. Simple and elegant.

And I loooved this last centerpiece. A DIY piece I might add. We had about 15 cylinder vases standing at varied heights. We dropped votive candles at the bottom and scattered a thick bed of roses around the vases. You could see these centerpieces from across the room! It completely illuminated the whole table.

When we opened the dance floor, we offered all the ladies to help themselves to a pair of Old Navy flip flops. They were in love with me by the end of the night. What a difference It makes to be comfy.

And another DIY project with the help of Alex! Our menus adorned with a clear crystal placed on the top and bottom.

Check out the breath taking views taken from the ballroom terrace.

Our venue at night lined with luminaries.

Did I mention details are everything to me? Well, just in case... check out the hanging votives I made to decorate the umbrellas.

Well, that's it for now.

TOMORROWS RECAP IS THE GRAND FINALE!!

Grand Exit!!

RECAP: Donation Favors

Ramon and I decided on Donation Favors. We figured the best gift is the gift of giving. And what better way to accomplish that is by giving our guests 3 tokens. Each token signified $1. They were three charities to choose from. Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 4 The World and . They had the option to drop one token or drop all in the charity of their choice. At the end of the night, the DJ tallied up the tokens and announced how much would be donated to each charity. It was a HUGE hit!

Here, it is plain to see that everyone enjoyed choosing where they would like their donation to go. Everyone came up to me and thank Ramon and I for having a thought and selfless favor.

Each guest were greeted to a place setting such as this. The velum envelope located right above the dinner menu carried directions and the 3 gold tokens.

Here is what our guests found inside of the envelope.

{please excuse my poor quality shot taken from my phone}

I am so happy we decided to move forward with donation favors.

TOMORROW'S RECAP: the moment you have all been waiting for.... DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

RECEPTION DETAILS!!