Another Hallowversary!

Two years ago today I married the most incredible man a girl could ever ask for. I was lucky enough to meet Vince just a few months after moving to Charleston. His sister and my sister lived in the same neighborhood and quickly became close friends. It was during his first nephews 1st birthday that we were introduced, however sparks did not fly during that hand shake. After about a year and half of both of us hearing from a few siblings that we should date, we eventually went on a date. However this was no ordinary date and when I say not ordinary I really mean, my mother was there! :) After a fun night playing trivia with our siblings and my mom, we went our separate ways but soon the emails and texting would emerge. And after what seemed like a whirlwind of flirtation and getting to know each other through late night phone calls, we were engaged, married and moving to New Orleans to start a new life together.

I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. We chose Halloween because 1. We decided to have a short (VERY short engagement) and 2. All the venues we tried for were booked for every Saturday night for months.....so we opted to get married on a Sunday which happened to be Halloween! Lucky for me, Vince will never forget :) We were married outside on a terrace between two large barrels of wine at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone--in St. Helena, CA. Our wedding was not very traditional because we chose to make our reception a masquerade theme. All of our guests brought and wore masks during dinner. We didn't have dancing, just a long family style elegant dinner with large candelabras down the table. The decor was very dramatic with silk black and silver linens topped with burgundy flower arrangements. The room was the perfect ambiance for this type of reception. The room was lined with large barrels and very dark. The one thing we didn't have that most receptions do is dancing! Instead, we watched an amazing video that my dad created for Vince and I as well as a surprise game of Jeopardy to see how well we really knew each other. Most people were curious as to how well we knew each other being that we had only dated for 5 months and engaged for 2...and to their surprise we nailed it!
Now, most brides that I've ever witnessed are usually frantic, nervous, and a basket case on their big day, not me. On our wedding day, I remember sitting in my parents hotel room lounging around with a towel on my head and my father asking me "shouldn't you be freaking out right about now?" My response "about what?" I was lucky enough to have my sister-in-law Laura in charge of my makeup and my best friend Tianna creating my perfect wedding hair. Having them at my finger tips was the best! Even the morning of the wedding when we sent my dress to be cleaned, we found that it had come apart in certain places, yet I never even freaked once. I was just so ready to walk down the aisle and marry this man that not the hair, makeup, nor dress was going to stop me. And marry him I did.

I had no idea what my life would be like as a married woman and having been married for two years now, I wouldn't want my life any other way. Vince has brought so much life and adventure to my life, I couldn't ask for a better man. He's like a fine wine, just keeps getting better and better as the years go on. So today I cheers to you Vincent, my loving soul mate. I love you and thank God every night for putting you in my life.

Tigers and Penitentiaries

This weekend was a special one to say the least. Our Louisiana friends had been telling us about a rodeo in Angola, Louisiana that inmates compete in. After much discussion about it they finally convinced us to take a weekend and go. It's about a 2 hour drive from us so we stopped in Baton Rouge on Saturday so Vince could watch his Bulldogs. We bellied up to a bar that was obviously very alternative (Vince's find, not mine). The very large selection of Whiskey and Scotch was the purpose of this visit. We sat and watched the Bulldogs win against Florida! Sitting in what seemed like a cave for a bar created boredom for me....I was very tempted to set them on fire! After our few drinks we took a drive through the LSU campus. We've been living here for 2 years now(WOW) and it was overdue, even if we are not fans.

The campus is absolutely beautiful. It really made me miss my college years. We visited the stadium as well as spent time talking to Mike, the tiger. His habitat was incredible! 

I promise you he's real. 

Unlike the first tiger you saw, this tiger was very cold...

The next morning we woke up early and headed to the Louisiana State Penitentiary(you heard me...). The gates opened at 9 but the rodeo itself did not start until 2. This rodeo is very special, it is only every Sunday in the month of October.  So the inmates have the whole year to build and create anything they think they can sell. To help give you a visual, it's more like a flea market. Some sell their art (which are incredible! Vince bought one), some build furniture and sell it, including wooden beds, gun cabinets(ironically), bars, rocking chairs, etc. They even make jewelry! It really blew my mind how much merchandise they had. You may be thinking, how safe is this to walk around with a bunch of inmates all day?!?! Well, I actually did not even think about it or even feel unsafe at any point. They were all very nice. Now the other inmates....at one area of the market, there are inmates that are put behind a chained fence and their items are on the customers side with an in between inmate that helped with the negotiations. These inmates are ones that haven't accrued enough trusting points...maybe next year boys! 

After walking around looking at all the creative merchandise, the rodeo finally began and it was entertaining to say the least. I haven't laughed so hard at a rodeo than at this one. It was truly hysterical to see these guys be thrown across the dirt like rag dolls. Not only were we laughing but cheering them on at the same time! Their prizes were money, which goes into their prison account for them to spend in their commissary. The very last event of the rodeo is the best and the craziest to say the least. All the inmates that have performed get out on the dirt. The bull is released wearing a red puck on his head in between his eyes. Who ever can get this puck wins $1,400! This was really the only event that I was excited to see since I had heard so much about it. And unfortunately it lasted less than 2 minutes before someone actually got the puck! I couldn't believe it! These guys really are CRAZY! Being that this is the only thing they have to look forward to every year, I could understand why they were up for doing performing. 

We had a blast and are looking forward to going back next year with our friends...and any brave family members that want to attend with us! :) 

Ignore my husband and his BM.

I've seen it all! 

Meat.

This was an event where the inmates had to stand in the hula hoop while the bull charged. The last one standing in his hula hoop won. Amusing but scary.

Mele Kaleke Maka

The countdown has officially begun! Tickets are booked and in 2 months we will be Hawaii bound to spend a special Christmas with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and my two very adorable nieces. Thanks Taylor's for getting stationed in such an incredible part of the country! This is definitely the perks of having family in the military. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to get used to the time differences between us, reminding myself that they are 4 hours behind me here in Louisiana is still a struggle. I'm so used to calling in the mornings and being able to chat it up with all the girls while I'm drinking my coffee. Now, I must wait until at least noon. It also hasn't really sunk in just how far they all really are. I'm sure the 14 hour fly day will give me a good perspective. Either way, I'm beyond thrilled to see my favorite little hula girls!

HC's excited for Nenna to come visit!

Jet Setters

Lately it seems that I have lived out of a suitcase than out of my own dresser. We had a few trips planned but last minute planned a longer trip to the desert to see my parents. Vince had a boys weekend planned in Biloxi with his friends from Augusta, so I decided I deserved a trip out west. It had almost been 2 years since I had been home to see my parents so it was a trip overdue! While Vince was gambling and golfing, I was enjoying a busy week shopping, pilates, lunches with old friends, and mani's and pedi's. My mom spoils me.
I wasn't back in New Orleans for more than 24 hours when we were leaving again for Tennessee to attend my 10 year high school reunion. I still can't believe it's been that long...
The weekend was fantastic! We decided to stay with some close friends of ours and I'm so glad we did. It was an eventful weekend to say the least. We arrived late late Friday night(around midnight) and our friends were out at the bar waiting for us. What we thought would be a night in in fact turned into an old night out in Tullahoma. They had decided to drive out to an old stomping ground for high schoolers known as "the bluff." An overlook of Normandy lake. After a few good country tunes and a lot of reminiscing about high school we decided to call it a night. At around 4am, we were finally in bed. And Berkeley.....was not tired. He had been locked up in a car for a 7 hour drive as well as locked in a kennel while we had been out back roads cruising. He was not about to let us sleep.
Saturday morning came BRIGHT and early. That morning we spent a few hours visiting my godparents and godson pretending not to be too sleepy. I'm always so excited to see this little man and his new baby brother...even on just a few hours of sleep. Later that afternoon was of course the Tennessee vs Georgia game. Even though my team lost (not surprisingly), Vince's team won and we still enjoyed watching it on a big screen.

After the game had ended we headed over to our reunion. It was so great to see and catch up with everyone that I hadn't seen in many many years. It's crazy to think how far apart everyone lives now and what they are all up to.

Once we had all had a lot of laughs, we all walked over to the 41A Festival that was going on downtown. Everyone I had ever known growing up was there to support our fellow Tullahomian, Dustin Lynch. Way to go Dustin! The show was great and I think most people walked away feeling very proud of the little town that we all know and love. It was definitely a great way to end a fun weekend.

The Morning After

Hurricane Amateurs

Vince and I are safe and sound back home after an emotional rollercoaster week, thank you Hurricane Isaac. Last year, we experienced Tropical Storm Lee and when I say experienced, I really mean we sat on our front porch, drank wine, and watched as it poured buckets. We thought this Tropical Storm would be the same...until it was considered a category 1 Hurricane. Therefore, by Sunday we decided we wouldn't chance it. Since we both are very new at this hurricane evacuation stuff we really had no idea what to take with us. Instead, we organized our shed so nothing important would be flooded if indeed there was flooding. We then grabbed our computers backup and hit the road. Luckily Vince's site was shut down ALL four days and being that Monday was a holiday, we decided to head to his dads house in Augusta for the week.
The entire day Tuesday we were glued to the weather channel. Many of our friends had left the area and headed west so we really had no idea what was going on at our house. Once the storm had passed we began to get more and more information regarding our kneck of the woods. And by the end of the week we were told that our home was in the clear! WHEW! Unfortunately, our home was without power for 5 days, so I really only would have to deal with a melted ice cream kind of situation. I was definitely ok with this! By Saturday most of our friends were back in the area and volunteered to go to our home and clean out our refrigerator. I didn't think it would be that great of a deal since we would be home on Monday (my hurricane amateur attitude!).  Most people here were forced to toss their refrigerators out after Katrina because of just the smell of it. I really hadn't even thought about this so I'm very grateful that my friends knew the protocol. Unfortunately and fortunately the limoncello and moonshine were the only remaining survivors! :)
We are blessed to have such incredible friends here who looked after our home during this tragedy. We are incredibly blessed to come home to all of our belongings in perfect condition. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, God was definitely on our side during this storm.

Out with the old...

Last week, I convinced my husband that it was time to get rid of his first baby.....the Comet....I know I know.... now stop gasping! Don't get me wrong, I always liked the car very much but since all it did was sit and look nice in our driveway, he knew I was right and that the time had come to let someone else give it the TLC it wanted. The car does has some sentimental value to him, it was the car he bought right after his mom passed away and in a funny way it helped him get through some of the emptiness he was feeling. And sadly (on his part) we sold the car within 2 days of posting it. Good for us, sad for Mr. Lombardy. I did promise him however that later on he could get something just as cute and h-o-t!
Since we were on a roll with getting rid of the Comet, we decided it might be a good idea to go ahead and get rid of ours (it was a sentimental moment for me as well since my Honda was the first car I bought all on my own....and seeing my South Carolina license plate go with it didn't make matters any better!!!) However, my husband found me and him something that would make us happier for a while. And within 24 hours we became a happy little Volvo family...with Louisiana plates......

I do love my new ride and being such a short person, I definitely feel like I'm on top of the world driving an SUV now. I don't get this feeling very often so try and understand. I'm very blessed to have a husband that would go out of his way to find me something so luxurious and nice. He's still a keeper.

Bye Bye Comet!

Bye Bye HONDAAAAA!!!!!! (tear)

Hello Top-of-the-World!

Mr. Cheesy Lombardy

"Look Mom, I'm on top of the world too!"

Tennesseans Take Florida

This past weekend my Tennessee high school friends arranged a fun getaway in Grayton Beach, FL. The 5 of them drove from lovely Nashville, TN while I drove a brief 4 hours to the beautiful sandy white beaches. I had never been to Grayton Beach before and thought it would be a very touristy scene being that it was so close to Destin. Fortunately, it was much much better, the area was very quiet and relaxed with private beaches and small locally owned shops and restaurants.
Thursday we arrived at our little condo on the water and after much discussion about who would sleep where, I volunteered to sleep TOP BUNK! Of course being the shortest one of the group, this was a small challenge every night and morning getting in and out of (without a ladder!). Regardless, I enjoyed my little nook and glad I could entertain everyone with my child-like technique of getting in and out. :)
Unfortunately, Friday was a gloomy rainy day but it was great to sit around in our pj's, drinking coffee, eating birthday cake and catching up on lost time.
Saturday the sun finally decided to make an appearance and realizing that we had lost an entire beach day, we knew it was our last day to clean out the fridge.....3 12 Packs of beer, Sangria, and Boozie Bears had to be consumed! After 8 hours on the beach, the coolers were empty. Mission. Accomplished! For dinner we all got gussied up and headed to Red Bar. The girls had been talking about this place since we arrived on Thursday and I'm glad they took me! It was a fun place for seafood and amazing mojitos! Not only did I get an awesome crab cake dinner but my brother-in-law who had been in Destin for the weekend drove over and surprised us! It definitely made my night and I couldn't ask for a better brother. It was sad to see him leave however, knowing that I wouldn't see him or my sister, and their two baby girls for a while since they will be moving to Hawaii in just a few weeks.
The visit put a great ending to our special getaway weekend. I'm so lucky to have such great friends who even though I don't see very often, always seem to pick up right where we left off. I look forward to many more girls' weekends in the future with these special ladies!