jak27

Oh Leigh I wanted this sooo badly at our wedding and now I really want it!!!!! Part of our reception is going to be in a ballroom, so how did you have it all set up, exactly? I wonder if I can convince my photographer to try this? So much fun!! Any feedback/advice would be appreciated!

Quote: Originally Posted by JenandBrendan I FINALLY used my treadmill last night. I did a 30 minute power walk at 4.0 miles an hour. I burned 360 calories, not bad. The treadmill is great. It's the ProForm 350 and it's so sturdy. It also seems a little more compact than others I've used/had, so I really like it alot. It has a built-in fan too - that's a neat feature. Hooray! I was hoping you would use the treadmill so I could see if you liked it! Glad it was great! So proud of you!

Quote: Originally Posted by Smelikai You're so awesome Jill!~ Just when I was feeling a little down you picked me right back up with the pics I wish we could stay in the suite all week. But we'll have to make the most out of our one night. I can't wait to go down there at the end of the month. Thanks Jill I'm with ya...wish we had it all week too, rather than just Thursday night! But for our wedding, this will be perfect for our welcome reception/taco bar/all night party! It is beautiful! I can live through yall for the weddings there!

Great challenges! Thank you! I've already got my water in, and just got off the treadmill, so far so good. Love it!

Dear Wedding Gown, and specifically Ms. Lhuillier: Why oh why is there nothing in the world that is better motivation for me to workout than you. What's your secret? Why isn't there something comparable after the wedding that equates to your motivation? Why did it take 28 years for me to finally find that motivation? Thank you, for being such a motivator that I workout 6 days a week and still feel like more? I've never been motivated more than I am with you. I just got off the treadmill for 45 minutes and feel like putting in Hip Hop Abs. It's amazing what you do to me! Please, please do not let this motivation fade after I get married! I need your special powers to stay fit! Thank you for everything!

Quote: Originally Posted by JenandBrendan I'm thinking of (and praying for) your dad today too. Thanks Jen!

Welcome! We are honeymooning in Belize in November and cannot wait!

See, this is why I love this forum! I did exactly the same searches yall did and found nothing, and in a hour, yall find exactly what I'm looking for! THANK YOU!!! Woohoo! Thanks Paula, Anna, Melissa!!!

For all you internet sleuths out there...you know who you are! Does anyone know of a place online that sells the Mexican blouses that are embroidered? They are similar to the dresses that are usually bright colors, with floral embroidery or some detailing at the collar? I found a few on Ebay, but nothing that really excited me, and I should have gone shopping when we were in Cabo last weekend, but I totally forgot. Any websites that have what I'm looking for? I have a friend that will alter it and make it less boxy, more flattering, and so I just need to find a shirt! Thanks in advance to anyone that can locate a few websites!

Quote: Originally Posted by michelle08 I'm so glad you love the food....and I will note that the appetizers aren't great except the shrimp.... What choices are you picking? Are you doing plated or buffett?? For appetizers, just FYI we tried the smoked salmon bellinis, tostado cones with a bunch of stuff in them, the shimp shooters and something else I'm forgetting. All were mediocre at best except for the shimp shooters which were perfect. We chose the Gala Buffet I think, and took out the mussels on the cold table, took out almost all of the salads and I think left the rest, but added a pasta station and we'll have a cheese station at the cocktail hour. We're doing all buffet/stations since we're doing plated dinner the night before, and typically weddings here are very interactive, meaning I haven't been to a plated dinner wedding in years...people like to move around and pick and choose and I think it's just a custom thing here. So we will definitely have enough food! And for the late-night food, called Tournebados (Daniela taught us the word!), we're doing mini tacos, quesadillas, bite-sized tamales, taquitos, etc which will be passed at like 11pm. Very excited about that, especially since our wedding starts so early, our guests are going to need some more food to offset all that alcohol!

Dear Self: Fabulous decision to take a personal day today and get some stuff done that's been on your to-do list forever! Don't feel guilty, especially since you're quitting your job in a month anyway! Enjoy the day, have a great workout, and get those thank-yous done! Dear Dad: Day 1 of doctor's appointments, I'm thinking of you all day. Dear Doggie Day Care Owner: Thank you for taking care of our dogs for so many years...they are going to miss you terribly when we move! I know it was hard when you found out, but they'll be back to play sometime! You didn't have to buy them gifts! They love you anyway! PS: Please wear them out today so they are tired tonight!

Quote: Originally Posted by michelle08 I knew they had that...it's awesome...I might have some smores available for the end of the night... Michelle, when we went to Costco, we found these gigantic martshmallows that are pink & white and we're definitely going to use them for the fire pit...they are huge, maybe the size of two golf balls? So fun! That was the first thing Brad and I said when looking at your pic...that the kitchen is horrible...BUT we won't really be in the kitchen...and that's probably why it's not so great! it isn't where most people will be... Yeah, it's not a big deal unless you were going to try and host something there w/o FA's help...which we were...but now we're just going to do a taco bar on the night we use the suite, and it'll be great. We'll still do our own alcohol, so there's plenty of room in the fridge for that. The 2nd bedroom is still huge, and so is the bathroom. From the pics it's doesn't look like the suite is 5200 sq feet...what do you think? Is it just that the rooms are so big that is where the sq footage is? Or I wonder if they include all the decks and patios.. 5,200 is pretty large, and it's a big suite, but that might include the deck? I don't know, the hallways, the dining & living and the bedrooms are pretty big though. Jill, thanks for taking so many pics and commenting on things. Thank you too for taking pics of tha patio...I didn't realize it was the only way to get down to the patio. I also didn't realize exactly how large the lower patio is...or so it seems from the pics, so I'm sure that is enough space for dancing...we only have like 35 people anyway...so it's no like we need a ton of room!!! If I think of any other questions I will run them by you! You'll have tons of room down there...they have used it for 300 people before, so you should be just fine, and have enough room to keep yoru guests entertained by moving them around, i.e. set up the dinner in one location, move for dancing, etc. It's perfect! Oh...how was the food...what did you taste? OMG I forgot about the tasting...it was fabulous! Daniela had us a conference room reserved, with our names on one of those wooden signs outside, full formal set up with china, etc. Wine, two wait staff, it was awesome. And the best thing was that the food was all delicious, I am thrilled about our menu choices and they will be perfect for the reception. We didn't have time to taste appetizers since I asked too late, but Daniela had them sent to our room the next day for a little mid-afternoon snack. Good thing that we did that, since we didn't like any exept for the shrimp shooters. So I'm glad we did that. But overall, Daniela was perfect and completely blew us away with her hospitality. We even decided to have after-party food at our reception after we were talking to her, she has already sent us the menus and it's going to be so fun!!

Fire Dancers! We're having them at our reception after the ceremony & cocktail hour to sort of kick-off the evening, and I'm so excited! We are using the smaller group, for $1,300, because the really awesome group is touring in the States in November!

And a few more things: I don't think there is AV capability to hook up a laptop to the TV, or at least, my fiance didn't notice it, or didn't look hard enough! But there is a DVD player in the living room, so that's an option. There is a pic where I'm standing with Daniela on the grass...the area we are looking at is actually a built in bar that they use for receptions, so it's nicely set up, tucked away and very practical. There is a fire pit at the suite, see the picture, and they will light it whenever you want! The kitchen is lousy, the fridge is not a mini-fridge, but certainly smaller than a standard fridge, so keep that in mind. There is a service area, which leads from the side of the suite to the kitchen and a service hallway, for catering needs. No oven. Just a mircowave, a small fridge, and a blender. There is an ice maker, just below the micro in the pic. The 2nd bedroom is still huge, and so is the bathroom. The Master Suite bathroom is phenomenal. It's all glass, and totally private, with trees, plants etc outside. It feels like you're in the forest, it's awesome. And yes, that's an outdoor shower in the picture which is private and totally screened off from other guests. There's a walk-in shower as well, inside, There are two full bathrooms and one half-bath (perfect for an event). What else? Think I covered it all. Overall, a fabulous suite!

Ok ladies, this is long overdue (so sorry!). But here are the pictures I took on our last visit to Cabo, and we finally got a chance to see the interior of the Imperial Suite. I hope it helps everyone with their planning, and I of course will ask any questions you might have! Michelle, I don't think the square patio you were referring to would be a good dance floor, only because it is the only access your guests have from the interior to the exterior lower level, unless, of course, your guests won't be going into the suite, but if they have to use the restroom, they have to go inside. Just my initial thought! Let me know if you have any questions!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan Fine Mexican Imports, Original Latin American Crafts and Goods - Mexican Decor, Tin Mirrors, Zarapes, Molcajetes, Pure Vanilla, Mexican Grocery: Bags Here are more but they are $6-$9 I bought that white one with the little devil in Cabo last year and I love it! I use it every time to go to the beach, it's just adorable! Great idea, I never thought about it...but maybe I'll give these to my close girl friends who would have been in the wedding, if we would have had a wedding party. Great idea. Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tlseege Jill that sounds like the best party ever!!! I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't like strippers... so a slumber party with all my girlfriends and then a private exotic dance lesson where we could all have fun would be SO awesome. I so wish this idea would magically pop into my sister's head! Trisha, when I find the company's name, I'll post the website and you can always drop an email hint like, "Doesn't this sound like fun?!" HINT HINT!

Oh Heidi, my stomach dropped. I am so sorry, please know we are all thinking of you.

You can also set up a separate table, after dinner is finished, that's on the way out of the area, and guests can take them then. They look really cute all lined up perfectly in rows, and that way you don't clutter the tables, either.

OMG I cannot believe I forgot to post about my bachelorette party! Actually, we called it a Stagette party since that sounds more fun! So, I am not the type of girl at all to want to wear a tiara, go to random bars, get really drunk and be embarassed. So instead, one of my best friends planned a slumber party for 11 of us and it was awesome! Well, it started out as a slumber party and they had a surprise planned for me: exotic dance lessons! It was soo much fun! We had a few drinks, and then they surprised me with clear high heels and some fishnets and I was like, "thanks guys" and then they all pulled out their highest heels, oversized button-down shirts and we all got dressed and told me where we were going! It was hilarious, 11 girls wearing men's shirts and heels and learning how to dance all sexy. Oh, and it was a private class obviously. It wasn't raunchy at all, very tasteful and sexy, I would actually take more classes. I will find out the exact name of the class, but it was great. We had contests like "Sexiest Hip Roll" and "Secret Saucy" and I got to judge! And I got three videos to keep, one even has chair moves. So much fun! My FI was definitely happy about the evening...he didn't know what we were doing, just that they asked him what size shoe I wear. Ha! He was nervous! So, just thought I would throw that out there in case it sounds fun. It was a blast!

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild Jill I'll pray for your dad too ) Thank you! Now I'm getting teary! Yall are just too much sometimes. It's wonderful.

Quote: Originally Posted by JenandBrendan I can't even imagine what it's been like. But I'm good at praying. What day next week does he go back to the doctor (I put everything on my Outlook calendar.) Well, he goes back Monday but it's usually a least four days of tests, appointments, etc. so I probably won't know anything until Friday. I'm so proud of him though, he is the strongest person I know! He was diagnosed 5 years ago (September 12, 2002) and the typical life span of individuals with the cancer is about 5 years after diagnosis. Well, he's in total remission and doing great thanks to experimental programs, tandem transplants, etc and it's just a miracle. He wanted 10 years at the time of diagnosis, so we're doing great so far. He might even still have enough time to meet a grandchild someday!