Virginia Is For Lovers

When the Mister and I thought about where we wanted to go on our honeymoon, we wanted something laid back. We wanted something local because one of our favorite things to do is to road trip together. Some of our most favorite memories is just riding together in the car, listening to music, singing terribly at the top of our lungs, and laughing together. And since we all know Virginia is for lovers, we had a whole state at our disposal.

It took some time to figure out what we wanted to do. Did we want to rent a cabin in the mountains? Did we want to go to the beach? Nothing was jumping out at us at first. Then!

Source.

A light bulb went off in my head! When I was growing up, I was blessed enough to spend Thanksgiving, parts of the Christmas holidays, and so many other times of year in a unique and beautiful place because of family who happened to live in the area.

I tossed the idea around in my head before going to the Mister with it. I wanted to make sure it was a solid idea. I mean, I had been there as a kid and a teenager, but never as an adult. Was it going to be perfect for our first vacation as husband and wife?

All the little excited wedding cheerleaders in my brain cried, “Yes, yes!” So I went to the Mister with the idea…

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Colonial Williamsburg!

I know, I know. I can here some of you guys from all the way over here going, “What?! That’s a field trip! Not a honeymoon!”

I beg to differ. Between the candle-lit night tours, the romantic colonial dinners, and the spa (yes, a SPA!), I was sold. Best of all, the Mister loved it! Oh, and I did I mention how romantically wonderful our room is? We are staying at a bed and breakfast in the historic district where we get to pick our room! You see, each room has a theme and is uniquely decorated. And our room is stunning.

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I can already see myself rolling out of that gorgeous canopy bed and drawing a bath before heading out to dinner with my future husband!

I love that it’s a place we can go back to for our anniversaries or other romantic getaways. I think it’s neat to realize that sometimes the perfect honeymoon might be in your own backyard. The day after our wedding, instead of braving airports and security lines, we’ll be packing up the car, pumping the stereo, and letting that gorgeous sunshine (please, weather gods?) stream through our windows, as we head south!

the return

i'm sorry i have been mia recently. my entire family just returned from a 2 week romp through southeast asia. with only one case of malaria and another case of the swine flu (seriously), we had a lot of fun and we're all back in one piece.

i spent 7 years of my childhood in remote places like liberia and the philippines and then later nigeria and indonesia and i guess, took advantage of it. mr. uva had never traveled anywhere that needed a passport. this had never really been an issue for me. i've sort of morphed into a home-body and gave up on thoughts that i too would be shipping my future children to the ends of the earth every three or four years.

my older sister has the travel bug and needed her husband to understand that piece of her. this meant that poor brother-in-law was to be headed for nigeria for summer vacation. i guess it didn't scare him away because since then, the two have lived in argentina, costa rica, and now hong kong.

mr. uva may be a changed man after this trip. he loved it. he also spent a serious stretch of time with my whole family - parents and siblings combined and has some new views on the serious craziness (i mean crazyyy) that runs through our genes.

i might not be able to lock away the passport again for a while. i may have created a monster - mr. uva is raring to go (as soon as we have some money) and the honeymoon plans may be getting a little more exciting.

what do you think:
a. beach for a relaxing week
b. backpacking around europe
c. safari in south africa

(maybe all three!)

Surprise!!!

Nearlyweds, I got the greatest wedding gift of all last night. I had suspected it was coming before now but last night we got the definite.

Mr. GP's parents are paying for 5 nights (and his brother is paying for the 6th) for our honeymoon in San Juan, PR.

!!!!!!!

I was/am beyond floored. Earlier this weekend they had emailed us two hotels to look into - we checked out reviews for both, they're nearly right next to each other.

The Corner suite....not necessarily ours...but still. Pretty!

The pool....ohhh la laaaaaa.

We'll be staying at the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. I am so very excited, the amenities are thorough, the reviews of the other Marriott had mentioned construction, so instead of risk it we went with the one that had stellar, consistent reviews. It's right on the beach, about five miles from Old San Juan, and has lots of places to eat around it, did I mention there's a casino??

I am still beyond floored. I need to be sure to write thank you notes to my future in-laws, because really, I know what it's like to be on the opposite side of having parents who adore you. I know what it's like to feel like you're not good enough for the man you're dating and this? Is an incredibly, amazing change of pace. I am a lucky, lucky gal and honored to be "marrying into" such a wonderful, generous family.

Did you get any amazing gifts from your parents or your fiance's parents??

The Honeymooners

For a while, since getting laid off from my job, I've been incredibly nervous about our honeymoon. Nightmares of what could have been with The Ex who promised me Fiji or Bora Bora if we had gotten married haunted me as I wondered - could we afford our dream honeymoon of Italy? Or Spain? Or Barbados? Or would I, *gasp*, be honeymoon-less??

The other night, as we lounged around with Mr. GP's brother and his brother's friend, we thought about all of our options - Italy, Barbados, Portugal, Mexico, Spain, France....and then Puerto Rico.

We thought more about it, and the friend sold us on it by telling us about all there is to do - culture, night life, beaches, and of course the jungle.

So we researched, and then it was done. 50,000 frequent flier miles later, Mr. GP had a first class round trip ticket, and $350 and 18,000 miles later, I had a first class one way, and a coach one way ticket with a gamble on whether I'll be able to pay for an upgrade or if I'll be sitting by my lonesome on the way to our honeymoon destination.

There's still research to be done - where we want to stay, what we'll do, but we're on a tight budget with me sans employment but this seemed like the best option that was both affordable, and a place outside of the US (kind of) that neither of us had ever been to.

But ladies, I have a honeymoon. I'm going on a 7 day, 6 night excursion to sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico!

[via Google Images]

If you have any advice about where to stay or what to do during our trip (we fly out Sunday afternoon after the post-wedding brunch, arrive around 1030p and leave Saturday afternoon to arrive back around 8p Saturday!) - let me know!

Where are you going for your honeymoon? How did you decide??

Potpourri of Planning!

Three things.

First, I'll start with the most exciting! We booked our hotel for the honeymoon in New York City! We'll be staying four days and three nights at the Park 79 hotel in the Upper West Side; next door to Central Park and the Natural History Museum!





We already have reservations for the Comedy Cellar, are looking into tickets for "Tony n Tina's Wedding" and have put in a request for Daily Show tickets. Then there will be the other fun things... a carriage ride through Central Park, going to the top of the Empire State Building, amazing dinners around Manhattan. I. Cannot. Wait.

Secondly, I've finally decided against a veil. But I want to do something with my hair! My hair is a bit above shoulder length, plus I usually have side swept bangs. (Right now they're a little grown out. I so need a haircut.) I've been looking at cute headbands to wear. Here are some of the ones I've found:

[CLICK PICTURES TO BE TAKEN TO THEIR PAGES ON ETSY]







Third, I've been doing some thinking about the decor for our reception... For reference, here's the main room we will be using. It will not be set up as shown. There will be floor space for dancing, moving about, etc.


It's the top floor of the Fish Market on King Street, in Old Town. (We'll have the other room, as well.)

We're going to have white linens on the tables, of course. And, irony of all ironies, I showed off hanging poms in my last post as examples of decor:

[CLICK PICTURE FOR ETSY SELLING PAGE]



Oh, the irony is that I mentioned that they would not work for a wedding like mine... well, until I decided I wanted them. So we're going to be getting a bunch of them in all red or red and brown to hang from the ceiling.

I also found some inspiration for our wedding centerpieces, which are going to be very simple. The design is based off of this:



This shot is from the wedding of Amber, who has brilliant taste in design and color.

See the cute daisies in the mason jar? Patrick and I decided that we wanted to do something similar. As our colors are red, brown, and white, we're going to do RED Gerbera daisies instead of the pink pictured. In addition, we're going to cluster two or three jars and flowers for each centerpiece.

But we're not just going to do jars. We're going to start collecting jars and unique bottles to cluster at each table, to give it a punch of color.

Hope you're all enjoying your President's Day!

Wedding Party and Honeymoon and...

I wish two share three things; two accomplishments and then some neat little finds I wanted to share.

1) Wedding planning has taught me one thing: you have no idea what it entails until you're actually planning your own wedding. Things that seem fun? Well, they're still fun, but a heck of a lot more complicated than previously thought.



Perfect example of this: selecting your bridal party. My poor bridal party has had a series of ups and downs. A member was lost after a pretty sad and hurtful falling out. I've never really gotten my act together on who I wanted to do what. After so much drama, I kind of threw my hands up in the air and nominated my mother as Matron of Honor. Then, a couple of months later, she brought up a valid point.

"Dear Miss JeffMemorial, I know you love me. You have to, as I'm your mother. But you don't want me as your Matron of Honor. You're lucky enough to have no sisters that you HAVE to ask, so enjoy being able to choose a non-family member."

And she was right. In fact I already knew who I wanted to ask, and had thought about it for months. I just never did. Mama JeffMemorial and I chatted a bit more. She knew who I had wanted to ask for months (of course), but had hoped I would come around and do it myself. When she realized I wasn't going to she realized she needed to "give me a shove in the right direction".

But she understood. How do you demote your own mother? Thankfully I have a kick-butt mom who just wants me to be happy. Hasn't even given an opinion on the wedding unless asked for it. I love her for that.

So last night I asked my best friend, who has seen me through everything, good and bad to be my Maid of Honor, and she said yes. She also happens to be Miss Gallery Place, heh. It was really nice. I'm so glad my mom talked to me about it.

The only thing is instead of the nice lunch I had planned, this all went down at a Dunkin Donuts at Eastern Market over chocolate milk, diet green tea, and a salad. Whoops. At least I brought flowers...?

2) After some debate, Mr. JeffMemorial and I are NOT going to Colonial Williamsburg for our honeymoon. Instead we're going to NEW YORK CITY!



I'm so excited! We loved the idea of Williamsburg. I went there so much growing up... and I think that was the problem for me. I wanted to go somewhere that we were sharing together and experiencing together. Now I have been to NYC a few times (whereas Mr. JeffM has not), but with family and only a couple of times. I've never really DONE New York. And I've never been there romantically either. I think it's going to be perfect.

We're going to do all the cheesy stuff. A Broadway show... a carriage ride through Central Park... Carnegie Deli, etc. It's going to be perfect!

We'll be booking our hotel tonight at a place in Gramercy Park called Park 79.

3) Now next are a few finds. Once again, not for my wedding... or maybe? I don't know. Randomly I started looking at flower "alternatives", even though I'm going to have fresh flowers for the bouquets. And I came across some lovely pieces.



Oh, Etsy... once again, how you taunt me.

Beautiful origami flowers. Above is one designed as a garland. Perfect to string about for those garden weddings, perhaps? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_1&listing;_id=20062764



Ring pillow. I love how even though the flower is large, it looks so delicate and beautiful. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=cat1_gallery_18&listing;_id=18893164


Hanging pom kit. Would never work with our more rustic colonial style, but they look so fresh and the colors really pop. Would look great in a bright wedding with a modern flair. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_4&listing;_id=20914064



Classic Bloom Necklace. I love the pairing of the feminine pearls with the flower that has an almost industrial look to it. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_17&listing;_id=20926439

And that's all I have for today...

Honeymoon Giveaway in Greece

Attention all! J.Crew is giving away a free honeymoon in Greece on their website!

According to the website, it's a "trip for two to Santorini, Greece, 50night stay at the luxurious Tsitouras Collection Hotel and beach-ready J.Crew wardrobe for two*."

To enter, click here.

Get Out!

If you're like most other Washingtonians (or Arlingtonians, or Marylanders, etc...) you're planning to get the heck out of of Dodge on Inauguration weekend! Yes, I am thrilled to see my president (there, I said it) elected and sworn in, but I will be even happier to watch from the cozy comfort of my own home!

With the mad dash to plan great escapes from the city, I started thinking about another kind of weekend getaway: The Mini-Moon.

I've noticed of late that the mini-moon is becoming much more common. Whether for financial reasons (who isn't tapped out after throwing a great party?), an inability to get the time away from the office, or just a desire to take a long vacation at a later date (that's us!), mini-moons seem to be more popular everyday!

Mr. Fairfax and I knew we wanted to take a ski vacation out west for our honeymoon right away! No kidding, this detail was decided before we'd been engaged 24 hours. We also knew we wanted a fall wedding...uh, there ain't snow in October, even in the Canadian Rockies. It works out just fine though.

Since we're waiting till mid-winter following the wedding to take a honeymoon we'll have a few advantages. First off, we'll only need to take time off for the wedding itself. We'll have been at our jobs long enough to rack up the extra vacation time to take a niiiiice loooooong trip. Plus, I'm a fussy traveler. I don't think I would even want to travel with me when I was worn out from a wedding! Our bank account should have some time to recover before we head out to hit the slopes too.

In place of a honeymoon right away, we have discussed taking a one night mini-moon to get away for some alone time and do something special together to mark the occasion. We haven't decided on anything yet, at the very least we'll go out for a special dinner on the evening after, but here are a few ideas I've collected and want to share with you!

COZY DUVETS, MINERAL BATHS, & BLISSFUL SPA TREATMENTS!

Did you catch the Washington Post Travel section this weekend? If you didn't stop right now, and click here. Ok, good, you back? Alright. The Post did a three part story on budget vacations. The premise was for three writers to plan vacations on a little budget: one third of $2,009 (get it?), or $669.67. One writer headed to Berkeley Spring, West Virginia for a luxurious, yet budget friendly, one-night get-away with her sister.

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The Country Inn

Located just a 90-minute drive from the DC metro area, Berkeley Springs has lots to offer mini-mooners. The state park is home of hot mineral springs were Virginians of old came to "take the waters."

The author and her traveling companion booked a one-night stay at the Country Inn (pictured above), a local hotels with an adjoining spa. Between the excellent prices and the descriptions of the fluffy duvets in the cozy hotel rooms, I was ready to jump up and head to Berkeley Springs immediately.

Other attractions in Berkeley Springs include Panorama at the Peak, a locally-owned restaurant that emphasizes organic and local foods, and a little downtown area with cafes and health food stores. Don't just take my word for it though! Be sure to check out the article on the Post!

A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO

Ok, so don't tell Mr. Fairfax, but my secret dream is for our mini-moon to include dinner at the Inn at Little Washington.* I was ELATED when I discovered the mini-vacation package I'm about to share with you.

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Enter the Foster Harris House and their Tour d'Epicure get-aways. Stay two nights in one of the beautiful rooms at the B&B, while taking guided bike tours around the Virginia Countryside for two days. But that's not all! Your biking guide will lead you to tasty destinations like Foti's Restaurant in Culpeper, Virginia and Virginia wineries like Rappahanock Cellars. Oh, and don't forget dinner at the INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON!! Whoo!...is this a foodies dream or what?
Check the website for availability and dates. They're spread out pretty evenly over weekends and weekdays. Depending on the availability you can have your choice of rooms at the House. The FAQ page for Tour d'Epicure even has tips for getting ready to do all the cycling!

source

Need to tone the cost down a bit? Book a one night stay and bring your own bikes (or rent from the Foster Harris House for $25/day) and be your own guide! VirginiaWine.org is a great tool for researching local Vineyards and creating your own itinerary. Skip the Inn at Little Washington and try some of the other great restaurants in Front Royal, Middleburg or Culpeper.


SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA...MY LOVE IS WAITING FOR ME

Let's not forget our neighbors to the Northeast while we're getting on our mini-moon on (ha!).
I can't recall where I first read this, but I just loved this article about Annapolis as honeymoon destination. The couple featured in the article traveled all the way from New York for a five-day stay, but for us DC'ers, Annapolis is the perfect distance (about 45 minutes) for a mini-moon.

Take a page from Michelle and Jim and book a stay at the Lowe's Annapolis Hotel or check out one of the many of the historic Inns or Bed & Breakfasts in town.

Source

And what could be more romantic than an evening stroll around the water, taking in the Naval Academy grounds and maybe grabbing a drink at Pusser's water-side bar? Oh, maybe letting your new husband unleash his inner Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson/Christopher Walken with a cruise on the same schooner used in Wedding Crashers! Yep, Woodwind Cruises offers 2 hours sails and sunset dinner cruises. I had the opportunity to take one of the dinner cruises this summer and I can verify that food is tasty and the crew mixes a mean cocktail! You can even sleep on the boat if you want to!

Source

Cruises are limited to the more seasonable parts of the year--April through October--but there are plenty of other options for having a great time on the water in Annapolis and the surrounding areas. Check out Visit-Annapolis.org for much more information!


Are you planning to take a mini-moon? Have you started to plan it?



*And by don't tell him, I mean e-mail him right now and tell him. Thanks.

Honeymoon!

I remember one of the saddest moments I had once I realized how small our budget was for our wedding was the fact that we couldn't go to some crazy off the wall to die for destination for our honeymoon.

We spent weeks and weeks thinking about where we could go that wasn't just settling. We wanted somewhere nice. We we realized we were only going to have a four day honeymoon due to cost and time constraints, we wanted it to be memorable.

Then it came to us.

Colonial Williamsburg.

Just a few hours away. Absolutely stunning and romantic in the fall. Affordable, but it's a real vacation that is unique. Not only that, but since it isn't too far, it is a place we can go back to for vacations and romantic anniversaries.

I highly recommend it, because not only is it gorgeous and historical, you also have the brewery and Busch Gardens right in the area.

We'll be staying for four days and three nights at the Williamsburg Lodge.

Some of you might ignore this place because it seems geeky and silly, but check it out:

Colonial Williamsburg!

It's definitely not what you think! Unless what you think is awesome, in which case you're right on the money.

**Sorry for my absence. Between the election and work, things have been hectic around here for this bride.

Honeymooning Outside of the Box

Have I mentioned that Fiance and I aren't taking a honeymoon? Yeah well we aren't. We're at a critical change point in our job (we work in the same place) and taking time off is not an option and won't be for a while. We'll eventually take some sort of trip but at a certain point I don't think it's considered a honeymoon anymore.

But before you cry me a river I should let you know that Fiance and I basically travel for a living so sometimes it feels like staying home is more of a vacation. There are many places we haven't been but we've already done a lot of the typical and even not so typical honeymoon spots.

Paris? Been there. Caribbean? Done that. Mexico? Si. Rome? Florence? Venice? Check. Check. and another Check. The Pyramids? Yeah them too. Tokyo? Yep.

A lot of times people ask me out of all my travels what place did I like the most? What was the most impressive? Where would I return? Where do I recommend? All those typical honeymoon spots have their place...and really if you haven't been you should go, but to tell you the truth none of them have been my favorite. So what's my top pick? Are you ready?

It's Jordan.

Yep.

Jordan.

That's right, I said Jordan.

And here's why:

1) The Dead Sea - The lowest place on earth is shared between Jordan and Israel. It's the most beautiful color of blue and yes because of the high salt content you literally float from the moment you enter. You don't have to do a thing you just naturally float. It's a very surreal experience. The Dead Sea is surrounded by a number of luxury hotels and spas. If you want the relaxed, pampered, sitting by the infinity pool experience then this is it.

2) Wadi Rum - This dry desert valley has some amazing and breathtaking scenery. Huge granite and sandstone mountains appear out of middle of nowhere and narrow canyons hide ancient drawings. If you're into hiking, rock-climbing and sleeping beneath the stars in the Bedouin nomad fashion this is your place. Some Bedouin actually still live here so you will more then likely come across them during your trek.

3) Petra - Petra is a place you must see before you die. Really. I'm not joking. It's a World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra was even mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls so you know it's gotta be good ;) But don't go for one day...give yourself at least 3 or more. Petra is an ancient city carved completely out of "rose red" stone and the colors really are breathtaking. You can spend days hiking through Petra and discovering amazing old sites.

4) Aqaba - Lying at the tip of the Red Sea, Aqaba is one of the top scuba diving locales in the world. If you're into scuba, snorkeling, windsurfing, or lounging in luxury hotels then head to Aqaba.

5) Cause You Like Movies - Remember the final scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when he discovers the Holy Grail? Yeah that was in Petra (note-the Holy Grail has nothing to do with the history of Petra). You know how Lawrence of Arabia won a lot of Oscars including one for cinematography? Yeah that was Wadi Rum....and Sir Lawrence was on his was to Aqaba.

6) Cause you like History or you like Religion - Want to stand in the same spot where Moses looked onto the Promised Land? Want to put your hand in the same water where Jesus was baptized? Get thee to Jordan

7) Cause it's easy - Jordan is a small country. You could easily drive from one end to the other in half a day. That means that you can see all these amazing things in two weeks or less and really feel like you've gotten to know the country and without feeling like you're constantly traveling. Plus the country has a great system of roads...nice highways throughout. Many people in Jordan speak English...especially around the popular tourist sites. I'd make an effort to learn niceties in Arabic but don't be intimidated by the language.

8) Cause you shouldn't be afraid - I know that a lot of people hear "Middle East" and freak out. I know that a lot of people would never travel to that region out of fear, but the reality is Jordan is one of the most calm and stable countries in the region. Jordanians are friendly and welcoming. Sure they don't like our countries politics but really who does?? Hospitality is one of the most revered Arab customs and most people will treat you incredibly well. You're much more likely to get mugged in London then you are to be bothered by anyone in Jordan. Crime is virtually nonexistent.
Yes, you'll see women in veils but you will also see young girls in jeans and makeup. Throughout the country you'll see a mix of modern and traditional and that's just part of what makes it fascinating.

I know many of you will never have a chance to make it to Jordan but I hope I've encouraged you to get adventuresome with your honeymoon locale.

Below are some of my own pics from Petra-



^That's me!

^If you click this pic to enlarge you may notice a white little spec towards the bottom center of the pic....that's me too!! Petra is amazing!

^This is probably the most you'll get to see of me and Fiance until the wedding.

Luxe City Guides

Recently I've read in a couple of magazines about Luxe City Guides. These accordion style guides are small enough to fit in your hand and they give an inside look to everything that is hot in the city you are visiting.

What I like about the guides - 1) they are created by style editors who actually live in the city 2) they are updated online a few times a year so if you buy one you are sure to get the most current information no matter when you go 3) they have guides for typical honeymoon cites like Rome and Paris but they also have them for cool cities like Dubai and Chiang Mai. 4) The guides are only $9 each and they look beautiful. It would be such a nice and thoughtful gift. 5) You can buy customizable sets. So if you or a friend is going to China you can get guides to Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing all together.

For maps of your city and a lowdown on history you should stick to good ol' standbys like Lonely Planet, but if you want to know which restaurant is hot in Bangkok, where the chic ladies shop in Paris, or what tailor to go to in Hong Kong then pic up a Luxe City Guide.

Affordable Caribbean

In case you missed it, the New York Times sent a team of travel editors and writers to 13 different Caribbean islands to uncover affordable yet nice places to stay, eat, drink, shop and play. If you'd like to have a Caribbean honeymoon but are worried about the cost then you should definitely check out Affordable Caribbean. Now you aren't going to find any luxurious 5-star places, but if you're looking for some place scenic, clean, and less then $100 a night this can't be beat. And coming from someone with lots of travel experience...the best restaurants are the hole-in-the-wall joints serving local, home-made, comfort food for just a few bucks.

New Honeymoon Destinations

Is it just us, or is there something divine about staying at a brand-new hotel? After all, nothing puts the kibosh on romance like signs of previous guests (gross). So for those of you lucky ducks planning a honeymoon in 08 or 09, here are the top five new resorts you should think about to checking out. Now that Provo has become as crowded as Cancun, developers are slowly taking over the rest of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Ritz-Carlton is opening the West Caicos Reserve in December 2008, and Mandarin Oriental is settling in on nearby Dellis Cay. On the other side of the globe, just east of Madagascar, the new Four Seasons Mauritius will open mid-2008, right around the same time as the Four Seasons Bora Bora (just a shell’s toss from the St. Regis Bora Bora). And speaking of the St. Regis, their highly anticipated St. Regis Anguilla (pictured) should be open by the end of 2008, butlers and all.