So Long Facebook!

After a long chat with one of my best friends this weekend, I have come to realize that it's time to take a break from social media. I use it as such a time suck and its practically worthless to my life. I enjoy seeing what people are up to, but it is making me exceptionally lazy with my relationships and I waste so much time sifting aimlessly through posts that I don't care too much about rather than looking people up purposely to see how they are doing.
I am trying to simplify my life. I want to spend more time outside or reading, or doing something that matters to me. I want to combat my laziness that is so much perpetuated by staring at my phone. There are so many things that I claim I have no time to do when really I am just wasting that time.
I'm not trying to be all high and mighty, I just feel like I need to make some changes in my life that revolve less around pointless technology and aimlessness. I want to simplify and repurpose and I feel like this is the best way for me to do it right now. I also think that I would focus more on this blog if I do this.
I'm not saying that I'm going to give it up forever; I'm looking at it more as an experiment. I want to get back to personal relationships. I want to gain back the time that I feel I'm wasting. I want to finally finish the book that I am reading. I want to finally finish all of my thank you cards. I want to go back to studying history. I want to finally try some new recipes. Having a clean apartment all the time would also be nice.
So I guess instead of saying so long, I should say "goodbye for now". Starting December 1st I am deleting Facebook off of my phone. I may get rid of Instagram for a while too. That one is harder but that may be the reason that it's necessary.

Mid November Update

Hey everyone! I am finding it excessively hard to believe that it is already the middle of November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I feel like time is just speeding up faster and faster and I don't even have time to appreciate any of it. Can you believe that we have already been married for over two months?! I know!!!!

I'm fairly certain that I wouldn't be able to function without my weekly therapy. I wait all week for Saturday morning when I get to go to the barn and play with the horsies. If it didn't get dark so early I would be there more but until the time changes back I have to stick to only once a week. Every time that I climb up onto my horse all of my worries, nerves, stress, and doubts melt away and I am blissfully empty of negativity. Anthony has been such an encouragement to me getting back into the horse life. I think he sees how happy I am when I come home exhausted, sun burnt, and smelling like horse. As soon as I start to get cranky during the week he asks when I'm going to the barn next and I can't help but excitedly count down the days. An added bonus is that its currently "No-Stirrup November", so my legs are really sore but hopefully getting stronger. Luckily my trainer is nice and since I am only riding once a week I don't have to go without stirrups all of the time like some people there.

I've been doing better with the healthy thing. I gave up sugar and caffeine for about two weeks during Halloween and have been pretty good about not going overboard with it now. I've cut back a ton on my Starbucks which I'm super proud of buuuuuut it's also Red Cup Season soooo

I mean, I get a "Christmas drink" all year long but during the holidays I get it hot so it's still a treat... Right? I also started working out on my lunch break. Today I went running. It's great because I get some kind of workout in without having to lose time with my hubby after work and it also encourages me to pack a lunch because if I work out during my lunch hour I don't have enough time to go and buy lunch. So I am eating healthier, working out, and saving money all at the same time. Win win win!

As soon as we got back from our honeymoon I scheduled a hair appointment and chopped all of my hair off. I had been looking forward to it for months and it feels so good to be back having short hair. 

Look at all that hair!!!

Anthony is also doing great! Right now he is mainly just working and studying hard for his huge promotion test that is coming up. 

Other than that we are just settling into normality. I am working on thank you cards so please be patient. I haven't forgotten about them I promise! I just have soooo many to do. Believe me when I say that we are so deeply grateful for all of the love and support and I really want each card that I write to reflect that. 

Sneaky Meatballs

Do you see this handsome man? Among his more endearing qualities is the fact that he willingly and without complaint eats everything that I put infront of him. I heartily enjoy cooking but I am still getting the hang of it. The poor guy has suffered through burnt, dry, and "too spicy" food in the past year but he has never once complained and is always grateful. I don't tell him this often enough but I really appreciate it that he is so patient in that area, especially since I usually serve him much healthier food than he wants to eat. I've been mostly vegetarian (an explanation for another time) for about a year and a half now and more often than not that's what I cook. Every once in a while I'll throw in some meat stuff but honestly I'm really not good at cooking it. My favorites are when I pretend to serve him meat and are really just vegan alternatives. Usually I don't bother but I think it makes him feel better. Tonight I definitely fed him vegan "meatballs" and he didn't even notice that they weren't real meat. Usually I point it out so that he realizes that I pulled one over on him once he has already decided that he enjoyed them but tonight I decided not to. He did request that I make them again so I think that I will probably just keep making them and spring it on him eventually. I'll get to him eventually and turn him into a veggie. Well. Okay, maybe not completely but every little bit counts.

On a semi related note, I've been really lazy with my health lately but I really want to make a change. This isn't the first time I've felt like this but I don't have any way to keep myself accountable. I think that is how I am going to use this blog. As an accountability partner for my life. We'll see how it goes.

3 Week Update

Hey Everyone!
I can't believe it has already been three weeks since the wedding. Life is returning to normalcy and we are adjusting to being able to enjoy things other than wedding planning.
I intended to post sooner but I'm not sure in which direction I want to take this blog. I'm getting really into health, fitness, and cooking but I'm no expert and don't particularly want to embarrass myself. Anthony and I are also on the verge of some life pretty big life changes but I also haven't decided how much I want to share... I mean, not that anyone actually reads this besides myself.... but still. So my goal is to post  more and more and at some point this week figure out what direction I want this to take.
In the meantime we have been basking in the post wedding bliss.
The wedding was amazing and we had a great time. Everything came out even better than we had hoped and having everyone we love in one place was truly a blessing. At some point I think I'm going to have to talk about all of the details of the wedding because it was just so personal and DIY.

Isn't my new husband just INCREDIBLY handsome?! I sure think so. Also, can we just talk about my dress for a second? How gorgeous, right? I felt so beautiful and special and I'm so thankful that I got to experience feeling like the perfect bride (notably a feeling that I never wanted or expected to have).

And that flower crown. It was like a dream. Everything just turned out so much better than I could have  imagined and I am so thankful to everyone who pitched in and supported and loved us through the whole process. We were constantly blown away by everyone's generosity and creativity. A special thank you to the hot blonde in the above and below pictures. Without her nothing would have run nearly as smoothly. I am eternally grateful to all of my girls but this one in particular is a true mastermind and I'm fairly certain I would not have been able to make it through this process without her.

Well, as I said, I'm really excited about the direction that our lives are going in and I can't wait to share as we try to figure it all out.

Wedding Pictures!!

Hi All!
If any one wants to see the wedding/rehearsal dinner pictures they are going to be listed on this website:

http://suebrennerphotography.zenfolio.com/

You have to sign in with your name, email and the password (for the password please feel free to email me at elainammunro@yahoo.com). This website is for viewing and purchasing only, please no copying or redistributing. 

Attire

Hi Guys!!!
I just wanted to throw this out there:
This wedding is going to be casual. Think of it as a glorified back yard shin-dig. We are not overly formal people so please don't dress up too much.
I would also recommend bringing light sweaters juuust in case.
Also, for the Ladies: If you are going to be wearing heals I recommend wedges as this will be taking place on a lawn.

These are a Few of Our Favorite Things (in Tahoe)

Hopefully at least some of you will be able to use the wedding for a little vacation, we know we are!

Most people that I've spoken to have not spent a great deal of time there so I thought that I would submit some of our favorite things to see and do in the summer for anyone interested.

ANGORA LAKES

Hands down one of our favorite summer excursions is going to Angora Lakes, lovingly dubbed "Lemonade Lakes" by my entire family. Its a beautiful 1.5 mile walk to a couple of lakes, and is not overly physical. At the end of the walk you are rewarded with a gorgeous lake with a beach, paddle boats for rent, rocks to jump off of, and an incredible view of the cliffs. There is also a small store with lunch items for sale (although we usually bring our own) and delicious homemade lemonade (by the glass or by the pitcher) and lemonade popsicles (first picture). I highly recommend the strawberry lemonade popsicle. It's amazing. Round trip it is only 3 miles and you can stay for as long or as little as you want. Please be aware that it's best to go early in the day as the parking lot fills up very quickly; also there is a small fee to park. 

Here is a link with more information and directions: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!?ss=110519&ttype=recarea&recid=11803&actid=64&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=100000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=null&pname=Lake+Tahoe+-+South+Shore+-+Angora+Lakes+Resort

LAKE TAHOE

I feel like this is obvious, but just to throw it out there... 

EMERALD BAY

Emerald Bay is also a great place that we love to go. It's a fairly steep paved path down to the beach but it isn't very long. I recommend taking the tour of Vikingsholm if you've never been, I'm pretty sure that it's still free. The picture above was taken at Eagle Falls, the falls that feed directly into Emerald Bay. There is also a great trailhead right across the highway that you'll pass on the way to the Bay. 

It is also possible to take dinner cruises to Emerald Bay aboard the paddle boats.

Here is the link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506

STATELINE

Stateline is a fun place for shopping and dining. There is also the Gondola ride which takes you up the mountain.

Link: http://www.stay.com/lake-tahoe/attractions/17896/heavenly-scenic-gondola-rides/

I also recommend taking a drive around the lake. It takes about 3 hours nonstop but please stop somewhere! There are a lot of great places to visit and see! On North Shore there is a great place called Sunnyside Inn for a fancy-ish lunch on the deck.

Hotels and Rehearsal Dinner

Since almost everyone is traveling for the wedding I wanted to address the hotel situation.

Lake Tahoe is a tourist destination, which means that there are literally places for any budget and style preference. 

If you want to stay somewhere exciting with a "downtown" feel, I recommend staying at the casinos at Stateline. It is central to shopping, fine dining, and right next to the Lake and a Golf Course. This is the farthest away I would recommend staying, as it is 25-30 minutes away from our house depending on traffic.

Apart from Stateline, there are more hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, etc than I can mention. Like I said, there are options for literally any budget and preference combination. Please keep in mind when booking that we are on the South Side of the Lake so I don't recommend staying anywhere on the North or East side.

Unfortunately I don't know of any deals or specials for any local hotels, but the wedding is going to be just after tourist season has ended (Labor Day weekend) so the prices should have dropped.

Our rehearsal dinner is going to take place at the house from 7:30-10:00 on Friday night. Anyone who is already in Tahoe by that time is more than welcome to please come by and hang out. We will be ordering pizzas from a local pizzeria that we love and also have an ice cream bar so please come and pig out with us. Please keep in mind that we will be kicking everyone out at 10 sharp because this bride needs her beauty sleep. 

Touching Base

We hope everyone is doing well! It is insane to believe how fast this year has passed and that the wedding is just next month. A year ago we were still in a long distance relationship trying to figure out how we would make it back together and start our lives. Now we live in a tiny apartment that we adore, in a town that we love, with a cat that we put up with no longer know how to live without, and jobs that pay our bills. God has been so good to us and we are so incredibly thankful to our family and friends for supporting and loving us. 

We hope that you all are as excited as we are for next month! Please stay tuned, I know that I haven't been posting a lot lately but there are a lot to come because we are now so close and there is pertinent information to share.

Bought Our Plane Tickets!!

Well I guess it's official, because I just bought our plane tickets! My entire life we have always driven up to Tahoe but since we are trying to travel around our work schedules and need to get up there quickly to get everything ready we decided that we would just fly instead. I have absolutely incredible anxiety when it comes to flying but I'm trying to be a grown up and just suck it up. At least Anthony will be with me on this one. We've done many things together but flying isn't one of them.
For those of you that have never been to Tahoe before there are three basic ways to get there:

1. Driving: This is my personal favorite. From LA area it is only about an 8-9 hour drive and it is absolutely gorgeous. Just hop onto the 15 and then get onto the 395 and cruise your way up through our beautiful state. If you have the time and are willing to sit in a car for that long I highly recommend it. There are lots of places to stop along the way and have a little fun.

2. Sacramento: This would be my second option. If you are going to fly up I absolutely recommend that you fly into Sacramento airport. The airport itself is really nice and easy to navigate and if you rent a car all you have to do is drive up the mountain. It basically cuts 2/3 of your travel time out of the picture. Flying into Sacramento Airport is also usually cheaper than flying into Reno, at least in my experience of looking up flights.

3. Flying into Reno: Same basic premise as flying into Sacramento, only a little more expensive.

Whatever you chose, please stay safe :]

Why Tahoe?

A lot of people have asked me, "Why Tahoe? Why not somewhere closer?" 

Truthfully, I never wanted to get married until I met Anthony. I certainly was not the little girl who dreamed of her big day and had all the details settled by the time she was 6 years old (not that there is anything wrong with that, and frankly it probably would have made this a lot easier). When we started thinking about getting married I thought that we should just elope with our immediate families and that immediately got vetoed by just about everybody. I heartily dislike being the center of attention and I definitely don't like hosting big parties so I knew that I wanted to keep the wedding very small. Frankly if I could have figured out a way to keep it at around 25 people I would have. I figured that if we had our wedding far away then we could legitimately keep it small with just family.

Also, do you have any idea how expensive weddings are these days? I'm generally a relatively frugal person and I couldn't imagine paying more for my wedding than I did for my car. I'm not an extravagant person, I'm very simple and laid back and I knew that I didn't want anything fussy. My ideal was to have a little backyard wedding and for some reason I thought that was out of my reach. We looked at a lot of venues online and even though they were beautiful they were incredibly expensive and offered so many things that I didn't feel we needed or even wanted. It was my parents who suggested having it up in Tahoe at the house. It's something that I never knew I always wanted and suddenly my backyard shindig was a possibility. 

It should also be noted that Anthony came to Tahoe with my family for vacation 6 months into our relationship and proposed to me for the first time there. Obviously we didn't become officially engaged until 3 years later but there will always be a sentimental value to that.

Summer 2010

We hope you find Tahoe as beautiful and magical as we do!

Our Story

Anthony and I met in the Honors hall in the UC Riverside dorms (Fun Fact: My parents also met each other in that exact building, just on the other side). Right from the get go we were eating, living, studying and attending classes with each other. We became friends, and eventually in February 2010 he asked me to be his girlfriend.

The weekend we got together. We look so little!!

We have had our ups and downs just like anyone else, but mostly ups. I am the generally calm and mellow one and Anthony is the exciting and adventurous one and we just kind of complete each other. It's a beautiful partnership.

We have a lot of fun together!

In December 2012 Anthony graduated from UCR (with highest honors!!) with his BA in Anthropology. I followed him soon after in March 2013 with my BA in Ancient History. In June 2013 we got to walk in the same graduation ceremony.

On the first weekend of September 2013, Anthony took me to the beach at night and asked me to marry him. I promptly said, "Well Duh!!"

The first picture after we got engaged

Within two weeks we had both miraculously been offered jobs in my hometown and had found an apartment and things just magically fell into place. 

In May 2014, after completing a premarital class there, Anthony and I went to our church asking for some advice on how to incorporate God into our wedding and we ended up having an impromptu religious wedding ceremony right on the spot! It was really important to us that we included God in our wedding since He will play such a big part in our marriage. So technically we are "church married". Our church currently recognizes us as being married but we still need to make it legal with the state.

We have been incredibly blessed in our life together so far and we are so grateful for everything that we have been able to achieve together. We are incredibly excited for September and to have all of our closest friends and family with us to celebrate this next step in our lives together.

Welcome Welcome!

Welcome to our blog! If you are here that probably means that you have been invited to our wedding and we are so excited about that! Since this is technically a destination wedding we thought that we would make it easier on everyone and just create a blog with all of the information in one place, and also help everyone get to know us a little better. I (Elaina) will be updating this periodically until September 13th so please check in!