Today is the Day

Ok not the big day, but the day I get my professional wedding photos back.  YES!  I have been patiently impatiently waiting for my photos since my wedding day.  I can't wait to see the details, relieve my big day, see how gorgeous my hubby and I looked (I can be vain about this because it was my day and you are supposed to look your absolute best, so don't judge me, or do and don't tell me about it) and see how it all came together.

I was told by many that this was the best wedding they have ever been to.  They have never danced that much, enjoyed their time as much and had cake that was that AMAZING!  Huge props to Flour Girl Wedding Cakes for the yummiest cake.

Good news was pictures, bad news is my car is in the shop once again for the same issue that has been going on forever.  They said it was fixed almost two months ago and it got worse.  So trusty dad and I went down to the car shop this morning (it is his buddy who fixed worked on it the first time) and we are having him look at it again.  And hopefully at no charge because I paid $546 last time for the same issue (they have a warranty on this stuff).  So far, 2 hours later, I haven't heard anything back.  Fingers crossed it isn't too bad and can be fixed.  Heck, if it is bad, let it just get fixed and at no cost.

But other good news was, my dad gave me another cd full of wedding pictures from my parents other camera.  Guess who is about to pop the cd into her work computer and looking through those instead of work?  Me, no way...

I will get to my second recap of my honeymoon.  I promise. 

Golf

I have a serious love/hate relationship with golf.  I am starting to get better, so right now it is a love relationship.  The hubby and I played twice in Kauai, as one evidenced in my previous post, Honeymoon Part 1.  But the thing that really helped was our good ole iPhones.  Yes you read that right, iPhones.

It wasn't that crowded, so it allowed us to take subsequent photos really fast of each other during our swing and videos.  This helped my husband correct his crazy fast tee shots that seem to fly anyway but straight.  Sorry babe, but it was true.  He just needed to slow down his back swing and forward swing.  Plus his hips were already turned to the front when he hadn't even begun to swing forward.  Problem solved.  He corrected it the next time and it was straight on.  It may have not traveled as far since it was slowed down, but practice can help that.

My biggest issue...keeping my head down looking at the ball.  I always want to see where it goes.  It is harder said than done...believe me, but when I get it, I get it.  So here's to more rounds before it starts to snow and I break out my snowboard.

Anyone get a Mount Rose pass?  I did, but it is still sealed in its envelope waiting for me to finish my golf season.  Ahhh, I want to be golfing instead of at work.

Honeymoon Part 1

Let me start by saying that I had the best honeymoon.  We were gone for 11 days, and it was amazing.  AMAZING!  We flew from Reno to San Francisco, San Francisco to Lihue, Hawaii.  Warning, this post is picture heavy, and the next post will be too.

Here is my lovely husband at the San Francisco airport.

After we got to Kauai with our (ok my way over packed luggage plus golf bag) luggage, it was rental car and condo check-in.  Easy is an understatement compared to my other work travels.  We didn't do much that day since I was still on pain killers and we wanted to acclimate and watch some football.

Monday we drove to Hanalei (cool little surfer town in the Northern part of the island), but once we got there, we had to turn around since it was raining and the one lane bridge was threatened by flooding waters and we would stuck there if we didn't leave.  These are from the Kapaa area and a bit north of there.

 Lookout from the lighthouse

Surfer at a beach near Kapaa

Tuesday were to hike (more of a walk) to a more secluded beach and hang out.  After poor trip advisor notes (basically everyone said to just drive there and hang out rather than walk it, but not in those blatant terms), we ended up there without the walk/hike on the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail.  We did hike around a bit in that area and these are some of those photos.  Breath taking.

 A hidden beach on the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

 

 

This little monk seal was so cute.  He was just chilling on the beach, and he didn't mind people coming up to him.  He even sneezed and would make noises for us.

We drove around to another beach, state park area to just hang out and have a beer (which you are not supposed to drink at state parks, but everyone else was doing it).  And we saw the Spouting Horn, but since the tide was up, it wasn't blowing (no pun intended) as big.

State Park

Wednesday we decided to play golf.  Now I am not very good, but after this trip, I can say I am a whole lot better.  Finally keeping my head down and it all comes together.  But before we could golf, we stopped at Rainbeau Jo's (food/coffee truck).  They had the best lattes and they were in an industrial part of Lihue.

We golfed at Puakea Golf Course which is in Lihue and it has the backdrop of the area that Jurassic Park 1 and 2 were filmed.  This area is gorgeous, but to the right is a Costco which takes a bit away from it.  The course played well and the greens were very fast.

We had an amazing dinner Wednesday night at Merriman's.  This was part of a gift from our wedding.  We were told by my husband's uncle that we had to go to their favorite dinner place on Kauai.  It did not disappoint.  We had two cocktails each (mine was a special that had pineapple soaked in vodka with other juices....AMAZING), a fresh sashimi trio appetizer (the fish was like butter....best raw fish I have EVER had), I had the pan roasted diver scallops which came with creamed sweet corn, asparagus and bacon.  Best combo ever.  Rory had the special of the day Mahi Mahi.  It had incredible flavors.  We had wine with our dinner, and banana lumpia (vanilla bean gelato, house made chocolate sauce and Kauai coffee caramel dulce.  Everything about this meal was amazing.  Here is a food shot.

Thursday was a partially rainy day, so stayed in the Poipu/Koloa area.

Did I mention Kauai has some amazing sunsets?  No, well here are a few of them.

I have more sunsets for my other post.  Next up, was our trip to Waimea Canyon (Thursday).

Waimea Canyon is said to be the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  It did not disappoint.  We drove to the first look out point, and then the rest of them.  We started a hike on one of them, but it was really muddy, so we turned back and headed up the canyon.

Unbelievable, right?

This was one of the best sites in Kauai.  Tied for a hike that we took that will be in the next post.

Did I mention that Kauai has a ton of chickens?  I am talking like everywhere you turn there are chickens.  There was a hurricane that hit in 1992 and the people in Kauai let all the chickens out of their cages because you get fined for killing chickens.  Plus they wanted to save them.  Well many years later, they just roam around.  And if you kill one, it is a minimum of $300 fine.  Ouch.  This one was one of my favorites.  He was at a lookout point on the Waimea Canyon.

Isn't he cute?

In the words of my husband..."Kap would have wanted me to Kaepernick here".

A few more photos from the Waimea Canyon.

These little guys were so cute and so annoying at the same time.  At the top of Waimea Canyon you can go to a museum and hang out and have a picnic.  We brought some food from the Koloa Fish Market plus a sandwich from the Koloa Deli to share, and these little guys decided to join us.  What you can't see is about another 10 chickens surrounding us.  They are very brave and/or stupid and get so close to you.

As we were finishing our lunch, the fog started to set in and you couldn't see that far out over the canyon, so get there early if you go to get it all in.  So glad we got there when we did.  After Waimea Canyon, we headed back towards our condo, but not without a stop at the famous Jo Jo's.   Jo Jo's is a shaved ice place.  I have always liked shaved ice, but I have never had this kind.  Amaze-balls.  They put ice cream at the bottom if you want (I got macadamia nut) and then the softest snow like shaved ice and just the right amount of flavoring.  There wasn't too much syrup where you are left with a bunch at the bottom.  Nope, just right.

I got the #2 and my husband got the #6 because they were out of the #11 he orginally ordered.  So good.  This is basically what mine looked like.

Next up will be our awesome but hard hike on the Kalalau Trail, Hanalei, football, more golf, Roy's restaurant and our atv tour.  Best trip.  I love reliving our honeymoon.

Plus this week, we get our wedding photos back from our photographer.  I can't wait.  I have been dying to see them.  And one of my mom's friends had her wedding at our venue on October 5th, and I must say ours was so much better.  Mean, maybe, but true, definitely.

Tired and Cranky

I am officially back from my honeymoon and back at work.  Boo!  You would think having two weeks off of work would help, but it hasn't.  Or maybe it is the fact that I am now off birth control and my sleeping pills.  Ugh.  I miss my sleeping pills.  But the doctor says no sleeping pills, try not to pain killers (aspirin, muscle relaxers, Vicodin, etc.) and take your vitamins.

Well I was on pain killers....muscle relaxers and a stronger from of Vicodin right before my honeymoon because I somehow caused muscle spasms in my shoulder and neck.  Stress?  Probably.  I was only on them a few days, but they helped me sleep while in pain.

But back to my point, I have been on BC since I was 15, and this is the first time off of them.  I feel more cranky.  Ugh, I think the BC helped make me more tolerant of every day stupidity.  When oh when will I start to feel back to myself again?  Plus no sleeping pills (it was a low dose, but actually made me sleep longer than 5 hours a night) makes me more tired and cranky.  Ahhh, can I go on another vacation?

I hope making a shadow box of my wedding things this week, getting my professional wedding photos back this week and writing a post or two about my honeymoon will make me happier and less cranky.  Plus I think my husband would like his sweet wife back.  And maybe a wine night with the ladies would do the trick.  Post wedding and honeymoon blues, I think so.

Pain in the Neck

Go figure, I am leaving on my honeymoon on Sunday (eek!) and I get this gnarly pain my my shoulder and neck yesterday.  What the heck?  It started off around 2 pm in my shoulder and progressively got worse.  By the time half time was over, I was in full blown pain from my left side of my neck to my shoulder.

I was such a party pooper watching the second half of the Niner game, but I powered through.  When we got home, I used icy hot, a heating pad and some pain killers.  Ugh, nothing worked.  I barely slept last night, but I am surprisingly cheerful today.

I get to pay $25 to see my family doctor after work in hopes of some real pain killers to loosen this up, and then a trip to the chiropractor $45 to see if he can gently adjust my neck.  I may have warned them that I may scream considering I can only move my neck to one side without shooting pain.  Good thing they booked me for the last appointment of the day.  Then I get to get my hair done.  I usually enjoy this so much, but I wince thinking of the pain I will be in.  Could I cancel it, sure, but considering I won't get in for weeks (going on my honeymoon and this girl is booked) since this isn't my normal hairstylist, I have to buck up.  Oh #girlproblems

Please let the doctor's fix this before I leave on my honeymoon.  Did I push myself too hard at the gym?  Did I sleep on my neck/shoulder wrong?  Did I play too much Candy Crush on my phone yesterday?  Ugh I hate level 65 and being addicted to that crap.

Here's to my neck getting better or the amounts of alcohol I will have to consume to make me numb.

What's in a Name?

Changing your name is a maddening process.  I always had the attitude that it wouldn't be that hard.  False, it is that hard (that's what she said).  I was lucky enough to have connections at the social security office, thanks Dad, so that process was fast.  I may have gotten 75 dirty looks in the process, but I didn't care.  DMV, not that bad either.  That's what happens when you can go to a smaller location (ie Carson City's office) at 7:50 am.

Next was changing of bank accounts, credit cards, utilities, cell phone, rapid reward accounts, W-4, etc.  That is where it got crazy.  I have never sent so many faxes, emails, phone calls regarding one thing.  But I wanted to make life easier for fellow newlyweds and give a list of places and items to make sure you change and in what order I used.

1. Social Security Office - make sure you fill out their form for your state first.  Go on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning.  I went on a Friday afternoon and it was chaos.
2. DMV - if you have a smaller location in a nearby city or town GO THERE.
3. Banks - call your bank, have a copy of your marriage license as you may need to fax or email it in.
4. Credit Card companies
5. Car Insurance
6. Renters/Homeowners Insurance
7. Utilities
8. Cell Phone Carrier
9. Work Info (w-4, work email, payroll information, health insurance, corporate credit card, benefits, business cards, etc.)
10. Rewards Programs - Southwest, United, Hertz, Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, etc. (you will probably have to fax, email or send a letter with a copy of your marriage license and the requested change).
11. Social Media and Email - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Email, etc.
12. All of your shopping sites - whenever you change your credit cards and debit cards, it changes the info for your online shopping, so make sure to change those....especially Paypal.

I might be missing some, if so, please send me suggestions.  I want to make sure I have everything in check.

Now this is where problems hit....I booked my honeymoon under my maiden name.  No big deal, right?  Wrong.  I was told to do this since I have a mileage plus account.  I went by their rules, sent in the documents needed, got the name change done, and then was told to go to my local airport to get my ticket changed.  I did this last Friday since I had a flight that day, but still didn't have my new ID, so I could use my old DL with that ticket.  The ticket agent changed my name on my ticket, said he put me in the same seats, and sent me on my way.  He didn't change my seats and I didn't have seats on two legs of my honeymoon.  Panic attack to the max.  I fought my way with United for 5 phone calls, twitter and facebook blasts and finally after chatting with United agents through FB, they put me in seats.  I have no clue where the seats came from since they had none left, but it worked.  Sorry to the person I may have bumped off, but I bought my seats in April.  Ok vent done.

Since I bore you with not so fun things, here is a picture from our photobooth on our wedding.  LOVE!

Hair

I want to talk about the importance of hair trials, wedding hair and hair in general.  I have a friend who was really disappointed with her wedding hair, so she stressed to myself and my friend who got married this weekend that make sure you love your hair.

I had a hair trial for my wedding. BUT it wasn't with my normal hairstylist. GASP!  My hairstylist was pregnant and due around the time of my wedding.  Total bummer since I have been going to her for almost 9 years.  She promised me that I would love her back-up and wouldn't be disappointed.  Especially since we had been using a technique this girl made for my wedding hair color leading up to the wedding.

I asked my bridesmaids to have their hair done in an updo (I said I would pay, but they declined), any updo of their choice that would compliment their face shapes.  I am happy to say my girls did an amazing job.  I set up appointments with the best girls in the salon, recommended by my normal hairstylist.

Make sure you do a trial to get an idea of what you want and make sure you give feedback to the hairstylist.  If you don't like the trendals, ask they be put up in the hair.  If you don't like the amount of volume, ask for it to be less.  Key is, make sure you love your hair.  And make sure you love the color.  We worked on the color for 2 months prior with me going in every 4 weeks for color touch-ups.

This is my maid of honors hair.  I loved her style.  She added in her own extensions and it looked romantic, just the look I was going for.

This is my sisters hair.  Very classic with a braided twist.  Goregous.

Here is another bridesmaid's hair.  She got her hair done by the same girl who did mine and I love it.

Bridesmaid Kristina's hair.  She loved the back, but wasn't happy with her bangs, but we fixed them and she looked beautiful.

Last but not least, is my hair.  I absolutely loved my hair.  It was romantic, fun, stayed in all night and the flower just made it stunning.  Kyra rocked it.

Lesson: Make sure you do a trial, love your hair, be a bit picky and pick something that suits your facial structure.  Look around on pinterest, bridal magazines, other friends pictures and pick something you love.