Coming up on 2 years...

Rene and I are getting close to our second anniversary coming up in less than a month, and it does not feel like it's been almost 2 years at all!

So as of today I've started looking for gifts that I could get for him. There are 2 options for the second year of marriage.

Traditional Gift: Cotton Modern Gift: China

Rene and I decided that we are sticking with the "traditional" gift this year...now I just need to figure out what to get him. It might just me but while I love the idea of specific gifts for each year of marriage it's actually tough to find something.

Last year with "paper" we each just wrote out a really nice card, mainly because we took a little trip to Orlando at the start of December and called our tickets (flight and park) our "paper" item....ok so we stretched the terms a bit....but honestly who uses actual stationary anymore?

Nonetheless, we are trying to stick with the ideas for each other

What do you think are the traditional/modern wedding year gifts outdated? Or do you still like the idea of tradition?

THE Wedding of the Year

Since I promised to give a little update on the major event (wedding) Rene and I attended on Saturday here goes. When I say that this was an “event” it really was. The wedding was for friends of ours who live in Dallas and we met through Rene’s job with Deloitte. The husband works at Deloitte as well and the wife owns a small boutique here in Dallas for breast cancer survivors.

The couple are 100% some of the most genuine and fun people that I know so please don’t think that when I tell you about the amazing wedding that they are stuck up or snobbish in any way shape or form!

The wife is from Longview,TX a town of around 80K in east Texas and her family in involved in lumber sales. Apparently the family is very well known in the town and this wedding was the event you wanted a ticket for – Rene and I were lucky enough to get invited.

I only have a couple of pictures because my camera wasn’t doing very well in the dark reception venue but here are a couple of the key points:

Guest count 600+

The church was packed and the reception was held in the Convention Center!

The catering was done by I think every local restaurant so there was something for everyone (Chick fil a, pizza, salmon, Diary Queen, and alcoholic sno-cones!)

It’s the first and only wedding I’ve attended that started on the dot at 7pm and finished up as the clock struck midnight—oh yea with a wonderful firework show as the new Mr. and Mrs. drove away!

An ice sculpture that of course the bartender poured your selected martini down to chill it before serving.

Add to that an amazing wedding cake, and flowers….

On yeah and the grooms cake that was a horn frog (TCU graduates!)

Best wishes to Crystal and Kelly – it really was an amazing wedding!

365 Days -- WOW that went fast!

Today we get to celebrate our "one year anniversary"! It is completely astonishing that it has been 365 days since we were married in front of family and friends in the middle of the Caribbean.

Nonetheless, the past year has been perfect in my eyes. Everyone told us that the first year of marriage would be the hardest, but I think that we had that living in Williamsburg because this past year was a piece of cake!

In the last year I have realized that Rene will always be there to cheer me up, let me complain, and give me a shoulder to cry on. He will never stop splashing water all over the counter in the bathroom when he washes his face…he will seldom remember to close the cupboards after taking a bowl out but at least he'll help put the dishes away, as long as I close the cupboards after.

He will always dress up with me for Halloween, and while he doesn't quite understand it will indulge me when I look at shoes and handbags far too expensive to buy.

He is the best travel companion and will make last minute trips with me just because the flights are on sale. He encourages me to do everything that I want to even when I doubt myself.

We can have fun on a random night out with friends or cuddled up on the couch with pizza and beer. He is just as happy to sit on a Saturday and watch cartoons while drinking coffee as I am. But the most important is that he's mine and I could not be happier!

I was worried that "marriage" was going to be hard or scary to get into…but it has been the opposite. The past year has flown by and I look forward to the many more to come. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!

Our First Year at a Glance....

6 Months Ago...

As I sit here writing this and realize it is a post about the first six months as Mrs. Blanco I cannot believe that Rene and I have been married for a half year (as of tomorrow!)!! It is amazing how time flies! With that being said I decided that due to the overwhelming number of times I’ve hear “so how’s married life” from friends, family, and co-workers that in celebration of our 6 month anniversary this post would be about some things that we have realized along the way in these first 6 months. Though little has changed from dating life to married life for us there are some things that I have come to realize and also look back on about the wedding and everything leading up to it.

So what have I looked back on after the wedding???

1. Did everything go the way I planned for the wedding??

Absolutely not, but in the end I realized that it didn’t matter much at all. We had people there who loved us and in the end does the design of the cake matter that much or is it the stories that everyone has to remember about the week? I do not believe the cake made that big of an impact.

2. Would I do it different if I did it all over again (traditional vs. destination wedding)?

Nope, I loved the fact that our ceremony was simple, the wedding festivities lasted 4 days and that we had friends and family there who really truly wanted to be there regardless of where we were getting married. Having a small group of friends made it that much more memorable about we took a little something from every guest that was there and have a great memory from our wedding cruise.

3. One thing I would do differently for someone planning a destination wedding?

I had a couple of people ask me this and it’s hard to say really. I guess that my main thing is I think that we gave the guests too much information in our invite. As silly as it sounds putting all of the details in one place for people makes them lazy…that being said the majority of people who didn’t come because they were worried about the cost never even got onto the cruise website to realize that you could pay a little here and there for 1 year prior to the sailing date and that the total was not necessary in one lump sum. Oh well you live and you learn…so my advice for anyone thinking destination wedding, do not provide all of the information up front on paper-it just gives people an excuse without looking into things on their own.

And then the married life questions….

1. So how’s married life?

It’s just as great as dating life and engaged life…I get to hang out with an amazing guy for the rest of my life how much better does it get than that?

2. What has changed?

Oh you mean other than the fact that I never tried to write Megan Blanco (I know, every girl does this but I really did not even think about it...until it was too late) before having to sign it on my driver’s license so it looks like a 4 year old wrote it? Or the fact that when I talk to potential clients at work now I feel like I am lying when I say my name is Megan Blanco? LOL no but really aside from the obvious name change (which as you can tell I am still getting used to) little has changed. We have a joint bank account now…but other than that not too much.

I have realized that one of the best things for Rene and I was to live together before we got married. We know how the other operates on a daily basis, when he needs his time and when I need mine. I know that he leaves the cabinets open after he grabs a cup, and he knows that yes he must suffer through General Hospital on DVR with me when I get home (even though he knows he hates to miss an episode). He knows and accepts the fact that I shed, yes a lot and I can’t help that, just as I know he makes a mess around the sink in the morning washing his face….but it is a part of the routine and what makes us “us” and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think that living together made a difference in terms of taking something away from us being married over just dating, I think that it made our relationship what it is and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So here is to the first half year of our soon to be long and happy marriage!

Free Invites!

Ok I generally do not post 2 Fave Finds back to back but this was just a must!

I will admit that I am re-posting from iDIY but they have posted a link to a free printable invite templates!! Need I say more?! This is especially great for any of those soon to be brides out there looking for a bit of a money saving item for an engagement party, wedding, or shower invite!

Check them out! & Enjoy!
free printable invite templates

Recap #13 The Reception

Well here we are a little past our 3 month anniversary and I am done with the wedding day recaps, sad but true.
So here we go!

After the ceremony we all went to the Cadillac Lounge and that is where we had our little reception. Since we decided to do the cruise line wedding the reception was not the dinner and dancing one would expect. Instead we did a cake and champagne toast, our first dance, mother son, father daughter dances.

First Rene and I had our first dance to Michel Buble's "Everything"

Next up Dad and I shared a dance. Trust me my dad is not a big dancer so this was quite impressive...music choice was made by Mom...Chad Wick's "Stealing Cinderella" and Rene and his Mom danced to the Beatles's "Let it Be".

Then it was the time for toasts, we had both of my maids of honor, the best man, and groomsmen all give toasts. And each and every one of them were so different--some sentimental, some funny stories, and some quite tearful (Kelly really didn't get all the way through hers due to water works of tears). They each touched on good memories and fun times and well wishes for us in our new married life!

After that it was time for cake! We chose to go the classy route and not smash cake in each other's faces--though Rene is known to smash cake in people's faces...

How cute is the knife! We didn't even notice this detail until we saw the photos! Sad side note, we didn't get to keep the serving set **tear** but I will be looking to buy it just as a keepsake eventually!

I am such a sucker for black and white photos! I love that Jenn was able to capture such great images! I love looking at them, and I really don't think I'll ever get sick of it!

We make a pretty good looking extended family group huh?

This finishes up the wedding day recaps! It's a little sad writing the last one. But of course this was not the end of our wedding cruise! We had a great time the last 2 days with family and friends. We could not have been happier than to be able to share this time with those close to us! And we can not wait to see what the next chapters of our life as "Mr. & Mrs." brings our way!

Need to Catch Up?
Day 6 We Now Pronounce you
Day 6 The I Do's
Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Recap #12: We Now Pronounce You....

Ok back to the recaps...FINALLY! Things have just been a bit crazy at the Blanco house recently so lets get back to it!

Last we left off was the entrance of the wedding party and me and dad...the rest as you know is a typical wedding ceremony, the vows, the rings, the I Do's....I don't have much in terms of "story" so here we go with a picture collage instead enjoy!

Need to catch up?
Day 6 The I Do's
Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Recap #11 Here comes the BRIDE!

What better way to spend a Friday afternoon than share some more of our wonderful photos and recaps about the wedding?!

So without further waiting lets take a look at our "venue"!!

Since things with the cruise wedding were very cut and dry as to what you "got" in your wedding package I knew from the start that we would of course want some personal touches at least one or two things for the ceremony. Thus my idea of the flower ball DIY project. Of course from that I continues and made the ones that my ladies carried as well.

We didn't have a lot to work with in terms of decorations (mainly because contractually you can't add a lot)as well as the fact we would have had to fly with or ship everything from Texas, but I think that it was simple enough to incorporate the blue and yellow and just make things seems a bit more "weddingish". Plus what do you really need with the backdrop we had?!
**thanks to Mom and Jenn for going down and grabbing a few shots before everyone arrived**
Then it was really time for the big walk down the short aisle.

My wonderful maids of honor Kelly and Laura were escorted by the best man Matt

Followed by groomsman Andrew and grooms-woman Katie

Dum dum dee dum dum....

Here Comes the BRIDE!! and Dad of course

It was a quick little walk down the aisle to the alter....
*Note this photo courtesy of a wedding guest**

Up Next---We Pronounce you HUSBAND & WIFE!

Need to catch up?

Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Mrs. Blanco

I am working to get some more things checked off of my 2010 To Do List. Friday I visited the dreaded Social Security Office! And while everyone kept telling me changing my name would be so time consuming for some reason I thought maybe I would be the person to get it done quickly....boy was I wrong!

My Friday started off like any other day at work (though I did receive 2 awards! Most Improved (sales based) and MVP for the office (voted on by the office)...a nice surprise and great start to a Friday) Sorry for the poor photo--gotta love cell phone cameras

....following lunch however things got annoying.

I arrived at the social security office at 12:45, clicked on the appropriate 'reason for visit' box and took my number and waiting for it to be called....and waited....and waited....

Finally after 3 and a half hours, my number appeared on the little lighted board and I proceeded to the counter. Handed the lady the form I had completed via Miss Now Mrs. (an online name changing service-which allowed me to have all of the forms I needed in one place!)

The woman took the form and proceeded to type in the information-though I must say I was a bit concerned because she did not ask for any ID verification, or my current social security card for verification!! It was not until I asked her what to do with my current social security card that she said "Oh yea, that won't be valid any more so just give that to me".

So quick and painless right? Oh I could have only hoped. She handed me a piece of paper which was my receipt--I started to walk out the door and looked down and realize she had typed my last name WRONG--BlancE not BlancO....so back I went--thankfully I sort of bullied my way back to an open window and said I needed them to fix it....they woman helping me was not too happy but I showed her the exact form I provided and I think she realized that the mistake was not mine and helped out.

So after about 4 hours I officially walked out the door as Mrs. Megan Blanco!!

Or at least I was in the eyes of the government. I had to wait at least 24 hours before I could change my name with the DMV. So Saturday and Sunday were spent completing all of the notification letters to credit card companies, bank, student loans, frequent flyer accounts, memberships ect...and yesterday a half day spent at the DMV for my new license (to be received in 2-8 weeks!). But there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

As of Today January 20th 2010--I am now officially Megan Blanco!

My advice to future MRS....definitely look into Miss Now Mrs. It made things really easy to keep everything together and lots of form fill capabilities to help out with getting everything put together quick and easy....now it's just a waiting game to get everything in the mail....

Recap #10- The Wedding Party

After the first look it was time for some group shots and pics of me and my wonderful maids of honor and bridesmaid before the ceremony.

First up was a fun veil picture with my ladies! I am so glad that I went with the cathedral veil!




These 3 girls are amazing and I am so glad that there were able to share our special day with us!






And the whole group! I love the fact that we went with the vibrant blue colors of the ladies dresses it made for some great colors for all of our pictures! We had the most amazing group of people for our wedding. The each played such am amazing role and it would not have been the same without each and every one of them.
(From Left to Right) Andrew proved to be the life of the party, Matt added to countless laughs the entire trip. Kelly (MOH#1 ) proved to be the sentimental one of my side, her heartfelt words will be long lasting. Laura (MOH#2) was so calm cool and collected the entire trip that it put my mind at ease about everything! And last but not least Katie, though Rene will tell you she is the Grooms woman for the event since she had been through the wedding events about 7 months before she knew exactly what I needed even before I did--including the bobby pins when the wind did a little damage to my hair. Thank you all for making the cruise so amazing for us. One of the best things about a wedding on Disney Cruise Line aside from the gorgeous backdrop was the bright colors and fun places around the ship to get some great pictures. Up next we took a stroll down Route 66.

As we were heading up to the overlook of the lobby for some family shots I was greeted by an unexpected "creature"....Stitch!

He then continued to "eat" my flowers...

We also took this time to get a couple of pictures with just my side of the family.

Me and Mom

After we did a little mini-family photo session we went down to meet up with the guests to go down to the ceremony location. I wasn't worried about people seeing the dress before hand, I guess I figured if the groom had been me what did it matter for the rest of the guests? Plus it was nice to get to mix and mingle a bit with everyone....even if it felt rushed!
Up next....the first look at the ceremony location. I must say a big thank you to Jenn and my Mom for going down to take a look at everything all set up.

Need to catch up?

Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Why didn't I think of that?!

I could not help wish sharing and I wish I had thought about this! Such a cute idea from Mrs Meatball's Recap on Weddingbee .

She had all of her ladies sign the bottom of her wedding shoes so that she would be "surefooted through the day"
Love it!

Recap #9- Paparazzi!

Ok well maybe not to that extent, but the next thing up on our wonderful wedding day it was time for the Bride/Groom portraits. I of course had been stalking different photographer’s websites and searching through 100’s of different photos to get my inspirations.

Before the wedding I had no idea what Jenn would have in mind after seeing the “palate” that she had to work with on the ship, and it had been so long since I had been on board one of Disney’s ships that even I was having a hard time trying to think of great photo locations.

None the less, I had provided Jenn with these photo inspiration boards during our planning time all created at Style Me Pretty

As you can see from the first sets of pictures I have posted from getting ready and the first look Jenn completely went above and beyond my expectations! You can see from my boards a few of my photo ideas had been captured already--but what was yet to come for these bride/groom portraits were much more than I had ever expected!

These two are some of my favorite close ups, the way the wind was blowing around worked out just great when it came to getting some amazing photos!

I can not say enough about what a beautiful day we had while in port, it made for such amazing backdrops and vibrant colors!!

As if these are not gorgeous enough, check out what Jenn did in terms of effects on a couple of the pictures--I am generally not much for altering pictures or changing the color from anything but color/B&W/Sepia but I fell in love with these!

After this we headed down towards a spiral staircase to grab some cute shots, again with the amazing background and just a side note the fish eye lens has become me new fave photography trend!

Next up it was time to head over to the smoke stakes on the ship to get some Disney themed bright shots, along the way Jenn just kept on snapping pictures along the way.

Here is where we got some fun shots with the smoke stacks, the best part is there was no one around when we were getting these which made for some perfect images.

I loved out portraits of just us as you can see, and these are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we have to choose from! I can't wait to see what they look like in print around our apartment!

Next up, photo time with the wedding party.



Need to catch up?

Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando