Eek, two weeks!

It has been pretty well known that I have felt a little "depressed" about my career situation. I work for such a small company and although I have enjoyed working with the people, the challenges that I love are no longer present. They were there when I first started but then this silly economy went downhill, we lost a lot of clients and my hours were cut back significantly. They were so flexible with my constant vacations for the wedding and traveling, it was the best to stick with it for some form of income. But it's funny how quickly things change and so, I put my two week notice in yesterday (which is exactly two weeks prior from when I was leaving on a three week vacation to the Netherlands). Originally I was going to be coming back to the grind and working (barely) but the husband's job decided to throw in a little surprise (OK, it's not really a surprise since we've known that there would be a possibility of relocation, I just didn't realize that it would be sooner rather than later). So after our Dutch wedding celebration with our family and friends, we are heading down to Cape Town, South Africa for a few more weeks. I know that while someone has to work, I am very sure that I am going to soak up everything that Cape Town has to offer and relax in the funemployment world of traveling and adventuring. Besides, I have to soak in everything that Cape Town has to offer in case that becomes our temporary new home! ;)

• after placing my notice in, the amazing husband sent flowers to my office to start counting down until my thirtieth birthday so it was perfect timing: two months until i'm thirty and a congratulations for leaving your job that you were unchallenged by.
it was the perfect surprise gift •

Wedding Photos - highlights

I have finally sorted through all the seven hundred plus photos and love every single one. If people's attention span could actually filter through all the images, I would have posted them for our family and friends but instead, I found all the favorites the represented our wedding day and uploaded them.

Calamigos Ranch in Malibu was the perfect place for our wedding but what made it more memorable were all the unique locations that we had as our playground for our photos: ferris wheel, red barn (interior and exterior), old bridge, old log cabin, big green field, the giant oak tree from the ceremony and of course, the yellow school bus that was the best rental we could have done. I love all the photos and looking back, it would have been pretty cool to have some cotton candy as a prop to use instead of the bouquet :)

Of all the wedding costs that we had to deal with, the most important for us was the photographer budget and am so happy that this was one area that we didn't hold back on. We loved working with Joy of Wildflowers Photos and her husband, Donny, they made us so comfortable in front of the camera although most of the time, we didn't even realize that they were there. The final photos are truly magical and memorable for us and having these to look back on definitely gives me the warm and fuzzies!

Wedding Ceremony Reflection

*i thought that i was done with any reflection on the whole wedding process but we just received all of our photos (700+) and going through them, i'm getting waves of emotions/thoughts/feelings that i forgot all about. since i didn't do too much writing during the whole process, i guess it's time for me to release a few more wedding reflections blog. hope you don't mind? :)

Back in the days of the wedding planning, Marijn and I discussed having my childhood pastor marry us off. It was a very brief idea that was quickly shut down when we realized that neither of us are religious but the most important part was that my childhood pastor was just that: a person from my past who knew nothing of Marijn and I. We wanted to have someone marry us that knew both of us as a couple as well as an individual. We thought of our friends and realized that the best person would be our friend, Matt (the State of California allows for someone to get officiated for a day). We asked him early on and after thinking long and hard about it, he agreed! It was so wonderful knowing that we all worked together on putting together a ceremony that was meaningful and special not only for us but for our family and friends that sat through the ceremony.

Besides our individual vows to each other, we also included vows for us as a married couple and said "we do" instead of the standard "I do." The vows that we wrote were touching, heartwarming and even silly since some of them caused laughter from our families.

•will you make sure to never waste an opportunity to say I love you, never forget to ask "what can I do to help?"

• because conversation is always better with sand between your toes, will you take time to walk on the beach together?

• getting out of the house will always be frantic in the morning. It will only get more crazy. Don't leave without a hug and a kiss. The world will wait those five seconds. The same is true when going to bed. Always kiss goodnight. Even when you're so exhausted you can barely lift your head. Will you promise to hug and kiss?

• the days are long but the years are short. Will you promise to appreciate what you have today because it all goes by so fast?

• a bottle of wine at sunset is a true pleasure in life, don't sour it by talking about work. Will you promise to talk about something important and enjoy these moments?

• will you go on date nights together and remember why you fell head-over-heels in love with each other in the first place?

• will you remember that the money you make apart is not nearly as important as the time you spend together?

• will you promise to care for and support each other in the joys and sorrow of life and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment in your life together?

We also included my grandfather into the ceremony as he was the only person to do a reading. It was so touching to have my grandfather, who has been happily married for over 61 years read for us this quote from "Union" by Robert Fulgham:

"...You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way. All of those conversations that were held in a car, or over a meal, or during long walks – all those conversations that began with, “When we’re married”, and continued with “I will” and “you will” and “we will” – all those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” – and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past few years. Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life, and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife."

Lake Lopez Camping Weekend

Getting away for the weekend is one of my favorite things to do. As much as I love exploring the Bay Area, it is quite nice to get in the car and discover somewhere new. This past weekend was a trip to Lake Lopez in Arroyo Grande which is right next to San Luis Obispo. It is such a perfect destination for anyone trying to get out of the Northern or Southern California area. It's about a four hour drive from either L.A. or Santa Clara which is the perfect distance for a camping weekend. The lake is beautiful, isolated and in order to get to it, you have to drive through dozens of wineries (I drove alone so wine-tasting hopping wasn't possible to do). It was a perfect weekend of boating, hiking, campfire games, drinking and enjoying the company of friends and family.

If any one ever does find themselves looking to camp at Lake Lopez, highly suggest staying at Grizzly Camp - sites 5,6 or 7. It is the best location with an incredible view (plus it's a short walking distance to the Marina and the Water park - yes, there is a water park in their campground!)

• view from my tent •

• sunset from our campsite - so perfect •

• love the way the campfire makes the trees look •

• boating •

• I think I can do this most weekends •