Hippie Dippie (thoughts from my bed on a Sunday morning)

20 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Thoughts from Jenn

Tags

Freedom, Happiness, love, Marriage, unconventional

I woke up this morning around 6:54am…on my own. My first immediate reaction before my brain could really even register what was going on was panic (what time was it and have I over slept) followed by a quick and sudden feeling of peace and comfort (ahh its Sunday) followed by a whole lot of feelings about how I felt about that. I rolled over and heard Kai sigh loudly (I had disturbed her spot of slumber which happens to be in my lower back). I snuggled up and kissed Colt gently on his cheek. He smiled as it silently woke him up, again I thought how nice it was to wake up on your own.

My point is I am woken up five if not six days a week at a ridiculous hour by the most annoying intruder which also happens to be my alarm clock. Every morning without fail it goes off (always way too early and loud) and to the sound of “time passing” tick tock, tick tock as if I’m not already vastly aware of how much time is being stolen from me. I turn back to Colt and I can feel my “hippie free bird” side coming out as I state “I have decided I am no longer a fan of morning intervention and I would be much happier if I could wake up on my own free will every day and I don’t mean sleeping until noon but maybe until 7am …at least” he smiles and mumbles something about how much he loves me as he drifts back off to sleep.

My mind is awake now and going back to sleep is a distant memory but my mood is light. I can’t help but feel the difference. It’s amazing how much easier it is to prepare for my day without fearing the sound of the dreaded alarm.

I know I have to get up and run and feed & walk the dog and do laundry and clean the house and I’d LOVE to make it to the beach before the pats game and before I have to go to work yet I still just lay here until Kai barks. I know she’s up now and hungry. I gladly get up and feed her, glance around the messy house and head back to bed. I crawl in and Colt smiles and says “I’m glad your back…”

I know my list of things will get done but for once I am not in a race against time. I smile and close my eyes, in that moment I am free (defeat at last)!

Surprise! We (were) in Reno

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Wanderlust

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Explore, family, Happiness, Life, Marriage, married life, newlyweds, Travel, true love

Well I guess it is no longer a “surprise” that Colt and I spent our Christmas in Reno with our family. However, it was one BIG surprise when we showed up.

(Rewind to October)

We booked tickets back in October when I found a great deal online. It was Colt’s families year for Christmas so I just causally asked him one day if he would like to spend it in Reno. He just kind of looked at me with a “really” face and then excitingly said “Yes! Let’s do it!” I seriously couldn’t have been more excited, traveling for Christmas was like a dream come true for me. It just adds to the magic and nostalgia of an already magical holiday! We booked our tickets that night and decided we wouldn’t tell anyone (besides Ashley & Chad since they would be in Reno too). We giggled and laughed just thinking about how “surprised” they were going to be. We knew from my facebook stalking that Kellie (my mother in law) was hosting everyone at her house and that so much of Colt’s family would be there this year, it felt like real Christmas already and we were still a few months away.

(Fast forward, it’s December!)

When December 1st finally hit I was like a little kid in a candy store. I couldn’t believe we were only 20 days away from the surprise, I also couldn’t believe that it was still a surprise and that NOBODY knew that we were coming (just that sentence alone sends me into a fit of giggles, even after the fact) we were just days away from the best surprise EVER and on CHRISTMAS!

December of course flew by with work and holiday celebrations with family and trips to Oahu that before we could even say “Reno” we were on the plane. We flew out of Maui Friday December 21st on a overnight red eye to San Francisco. Our “plan” was to land in Reno at 9am on Saturday morning pick up our rental and spend the day with Colt’s family (word of advice there is no such thing as a “plan” when no one knows you are coming). We arrived in Reno a little over an hour late (we got delayed in San Francisco) just to find out from Colt’s mom’s facebook that she was snow plowing with Steve and Tristyn in Tahoe for the day! We couldn’t believe it! Here we are in RENO at 10am ready to surprise them and they were in TAHOE! (they didn’t end up coming home until after 8pm that night!)

What you will see below is a series of videos. I was so worried I wasn’t going to be able to remember every second of the experience to write about later so I decided to video blog every moment… ENJOY!

The Stake out Part I

http://youtu.be/5CPywZZey-c

The Stake out Part II

<;;;a title=”The Stew’s Take Reno”

The Stake out Part III

http://youtu.be/BTMM84SSAE4

The Stake out Part IIII

This was the last video of “the stake out” once we left the bar Kellie was home and we flew up her driveway like a mad man(woman). I (thought) I was taping the whole time but my phone died so I was only able to capture this…

http://youtu.be/UBguRS_qIQYb

..because both of our phones had died shortly after “the stake out” I unfortunately was not able to get Austin’s reaction either which was priceless (he looked like he saw the ghost of Colt, so sweet). However we were able to get Grandma’s reaction in her FULL shocked glory….

Since we weren’t able to get Kellie, Austin, and Tristyn’s reaction we later did a video interview with them asking what their “thoughts” were on the surprise…

http://youtu.be/DWpK25-Ccig

Since grandpa really had no idea what was going on during the “surprise” (he just heard grandma screaming and thought he won the Publishing Clearing house) we later asked him what he thought about the “surprise” to give him a little face time…

http://youtu.be/qF97U3SBbN4

and last but certainly not least we FINALLY got to pick up Ash and Chad (secret agents) that were “in” on the surprise…they of course got the FULL holiday mobile greeting from the Stews….

<;;a title=”Picking up Ash & Chad (secret agents)

We had so much fun with these video blogs and I couldn’t be more happy that I was able to capture every moment in its entirety! The Stew’s take Reno was a success!

I will post pictures of the rest of our amazing trip soon, until then keep laughing with one another…

The Best Gifts (will never be found under the Christmas Tree)

22 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Thoughts from Jenn

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I am doing this silly 30 day photo challenge on Instagram. Basically you get a list of 30 pictures to post over 30 days (one per day). I thought it would be fun, and I saw a few people were doing it so I made Colt and my sister do it with me. It’s been fun (some days more fun than others) Colt is convinced it’s a girls challenge and has almost quit a few times but he always comes through in the end with the best picture (typical). The reason I am even bringing it up (minus the obvious that it has kept us entertained and added to the holiday fun) is because of the photo challenge we got yesterday. I pulled up my list and the photo you were suppose to post was of a gift you are giving. At first I was a little annoyed thinking I can’t really post a gift I am giving since most of the people I am giving gifts to are on Instagram but as I sat and stared at all the gifts under our tree it suddenly all became clear.

The gifts we are giving this year (and we are giving some really awesome gifts) don’t compare to the “gifts” we have already shared since the beginning of December. I can honestly say that every weekend so far has felt like REAL Christmas to me with the gifts of love, laughter and beautiful memories.

The first weekend of December we spent with my family in Oahu, we got my mom and dad tickets to see journey in concert (floor seats) they were just a little excited.

They were pretty stoked and we were pretty jealous.

Dad decorating the tree

My sister, Mom and Me getting ready to hit Waikiki for the night

My Mama and hubby sharing a beer and holiday cheer

The second weekend we spent playing games with the Vernon’s and going mud bogging it was silly family fun.

Mud bogging (local style)

Khlo & Colt best friends.

Just chilling with my entourage on a Sunday..no big deal.

The third weekend on Friday we spent ice skating by the sea (yes you read that right) it was probably one of the coolest things I have done in Maui since it was so different. Now granted it wasn’t real ice and it wasn’t cold but we had real ice skates and because we got there so late (they were closed when we arrived at 8:35pm even though the hours said until 9pm so I threw a small hissy fit) and they let us on and it was like our own VIP ice skating rink. I skated with Khloe and Caylee for a good 15 minutes and it was a blast. We laughed and fell and tried to show off our special “moves” while singing our favorite Christmas songs. Katie also came out and joined the girls and it was good old family fun.

Sweet Sisters

catch me if you can!

weee we’re skating!

Mama Katie out on some skates!

The Vernon girls ice skating by the sea

we had a slumber party after skating and the girls opened one early Christmas present each

Christmas PJ’s.

This past Saturday we had a pre-celebration birthday dinner for Anu at one of the local pasta places and later did our gift exchange. They got us the game apples to apples so we broke it out and drank way to much champagne. It was an amazing night that ended at McDonalds and that’s all I want to say about that.

We were waiting for Joe & Anu at the bar having a drink and Colt looked at me like this. My heart honestly stopped beating as I thought he was having a stroke.

While we were waiting for Joe & Anu for dinner Colt looked at me like this. My heart honestly stopped beating as I thought he was having a stroke.

nope…his flip flop just broke! I never laughed so hard, I mean it was his favorite pair but the reaction was a bit much.

just rolling with it, like my friend Chelsea would say “real men only wear one shoe” hahaha

on our way home from dinner Colt decided to wrap the broken flip flop and give it to Joe as a present, I didn’t get his reaction but we did get a really good laugh.

going on our little family adventure

sweet and sour sauce, you had to be there

This week has been full of WORK. So many events and holiday parties has forced me to work 6 days straight with some really late nights. It’s been one ass kicker of a week but still in the midst of the craizness we managed to fit in some cheer with the Vernon’s on Wednesday and then Anu’s 26th birthday last night.

games and pupus with the Vernon's at our place on Wednesday my new wine glass from Katie.

My new Christmas wine glass from Katie.

The girls some how got to open another “early” present! They are getting so big and extra beautiful.

World Famous Jell-O shots for Anu’s birthday

Happiest Birthday Anu (our December baby) we LOVE you.

I am so happy it’s Friday. It’s been a long week and I am really looking forward to what I know is going to be an incredible, magical and unforgettable Christmas weekend.

Until next time, love each other.

Tis the Season

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Thoughts from Jenn

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“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear…”

That’s pretty much how I feel this holiday season. I am just here singing New Kids on the Block Christmas on the top of my lungs, looking for the radio station that’s playing Christmas songs and belting along with Britney when she sings “Santa can you hear me, I have been so good this year,” skipping through the mall shopping and loving every second of it.

It all started around Thanksgiving. I of course had to work which originally bummed me out. We feed the homeless that day though so Colt and his family get to come down and volunteer and it always turns into such a great day and is so humbling. Being able to give back to those who truly appreciate and need it is so fulfilling. The only reason I was even a little bummed is because thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday! I love it because everyone can just relax and enjoy themselves, no one is stressed about money or shopping or all of those other superficial things that consumes us around the holidays. It’s just family and food and I LOVE that. Since it was our first Thanksgiving married I wanted it to be special so I talked to Colt about hosting his family at our place (and believe it or not Colt had never cooked his own bird) so I thought this year would be just the year. I was so excited when he agreed and we invited his family over the Saturday before to celebrate. We woke up early that day and I went shopping. It was so fun to shop for all things that I wanted and I got a ton of stuff. When I got home I pulled out all of our Thanksgiving décor and decorated the house while Colt still tended to the Turkey. Around 11am the Vernon’s came over and we spent the afternoon cooking together, playing games, watching movies and feasting. It felt like a real thanksgiving even though it was five days early and not all our loved ones could be there. We made the most of it and it was a weekend to remember.

After thanksgiving I typically start to get into my Ms. Scrooge mood. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas (actually I really like Christmas) it’s just that I don’t like all the hoopla that comes with it. The shopping, the mad mobs, the stress, the hurt feelings (you can never make everyone happy) yet its coined as “the most wonderful time of the year.” It has got so sideways over the years and now that I was married I knew it would only get harder. We of course can’t be in all the places that we want to be at once and no choice is ever ideal for someone else. I sat and longed for the days of midnight mass, singing carols, all of the family being together in one spot, laughing and loving and not having a care in the world. But as I sat there reminiscing it hit me that just because things were different now that didn’t mean we couldn’t start our own traditions and create our own new memories. I mean it was the Stew’s first married Christmas after all and by golly it was going to be a great one!

Christmas with the Vernon’s in 2010

Christmas at the Carvalho’s 2011

So from that moment on it has been. We got our beautiful tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it’s added such a cozy and festive feel to our place. We decorated the window’s in our place with snow and Colt got a fireplace that he can pull up on the TV and it even crackles. It’s one of the first times that it really feels like Christmas in Hawaii (it’s hard when you grew up in a cold place). I got all of our Christmas shopping done early and I actually had a great time doing it, I got all of our Christmas cards and presents in the mail and got Colt his yearly ornament to hang on the tree. This year it was easy to pick because the “Mr. & Mrs. Stewart” choice was the only one that truly seemed appropriate and he of course loved it.

Shopping for our Christmas Tree

Colt’s newest addition to the tree. I have got him an ornament every year it’s a family tradition that I continued with him.

our cozy little place

Anu and Joe had us over the other night for dinner and we had a Christmas photo shoot, a roast, drank wine and played games..here are some of the fun and festive photo’s that Anu snapped (thanks Anu)

merry3

Happy 12 days until Christmas!

What a (World)Wind of a Year

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Thoughts from Jenn, Wanderlust

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Colt and I spent last weekend in Oahu with my family. We decided to have a Christmas party and help them decorate their tree. We also did Christmas shopping, partied, hung out, ate, ate some more watched football and just enjoyed a family weekend. It reminded me a lot of the holiday weekends when I was younger, everyone just hanging around laughing and talking and farting. We had such a wonderful time. When we got back to Maui on Sunday we were totally beat so we unpacked the small things took at quick shower and jumped into bed. Once we were in bed Colt said “well babe I’ll tell you I never did so much traveling until I met you..” I lay there thinking about his statement and laughed to myself, traveling? We just went to Oahu that was hardly “traveling” I mean minus the fact that we had to get on a plane.

When we got married I told Colt that if we were going to stay living on Maui then I wanted to travel at least three times a year. Now…don’t get me wrong I know I live in Maui and people would die to come here even just once but come on there is so much more to see! So I told Colt our goal for 2013 would be at least two trips inside the US and at least one trip outside the US and that we couldn’t go to a place that we have both been before. For instance we can go to Boston because he has never been but I have or Reno because he has been but I haven’t. Now don’t get me wrong we can still go to places like California, Oahu or Vegas but they just won’t count towards the two trips inside the US because we have both been there. Colt agreed and I could not have been more excited!

Just as soon as he agreed I started planning. Even after Colt’s statement that we traveled “a lot” I still couldn’t help but think that we needed to travel more, do more, go more places until I heard the statement again the other night at dinner with the Vernon’s. We met them and Colt’s Dad at Outback Steak house for Cam’s birthday last week. I went over after work and found them all sitting around a big table drinking and talking. I walked up and gave everyone a hug as Khloe introduced me to her two friends that she proudly got to bring along with her to her father’s birthday dinner. After my greetings I gladly took my place by Colt and Cay and ordered a glass of red. It had been a long day and I was really looking forward to some family time. It was a great dinner and the conversations flowed but it wasn’t until I overheard Khloe telling her friend that “Uncle and I were World Travelers” that my interest really peaked. I listened to her as she eagerly and excitingly told her friends all the places we had been “yea they have been everywhere! They go to California, Vegas, Florida, Oahu and they even went to Thailand, I’m so jealous I wish I was them.” Smiling as I watched her finish I gave her a wink knowing that one day she too would be traveling the world, but as we drove home I really thought about her words. In this past year we have traveled to Las Vegas, Florida, Oahu, Seoul Korea, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai as well as the Golden Triangle which boarders Burma and Laos. It wasn’t until right then that I realized it, we had already hit our goal for 2013 in 2012 and had done so totally unintentionally. I was so excited that some of our bigger places were already checked off like Disney World and North Thailand.

As I sat there smiling I started to think about 2012 as a whole and I could barely believe all that we had done. In just one year we saved for our wedding, went to Las Vegas for our Bachelor / Bachelorette, went to Oahu more than a handful of times to see my family & friends, had our dream wedding at the Grand Wailea, honeymooned all over Thailand, stopped twice in Korea and went to Disney world.

What a truly amazing year it’s been…and the best part …it’s not even OVER!

Us at our Bachelor / Bachelorette Party in May in Las Vegas

Our dream wedding on August 25th at the Grand Wailea in Maui Hawaii

Getting our stamps in Seoul Korea, this was right before we got scolded for leaving the airport when we weren’t suppose to…

Colt re-entering Seoul Korea after our little trip outside of the airport…

Finally, we made it! Sawatdeekah Thailand the Stewarts have landed!

Visiting the Golden Triangle during our Honeymoon in August in Thailand

on our way to ride elephants at the tented camp in Thailand during our honeymoon

meeting the elephants at our camp while honeymooning at the Golden Triangle in Thailand

Colt & I treking elephants through the jungle in Thailand

My husband the master mahout

best experience (hands down) of my life. I rode this elephant for over 4 hours in Thailand

Bathing our elephants after a 4 hour adventure through the jungle of Thailand, this was the highlight of my entire trip.

Elephants or this boat were our means of transporation for 5 days while exploring the Golden Triangle in Thailand

The Burma Bar at the tented camps at the Golden Triangle in Thailand, we were treated like celebrities nightly

The Burma Bar at the tented camps at the Golden Triangle in Thailand, where we were treated like celebrities …nightly

The sunset bar at the tented camps at the Golden Triangle in Thailand. They loved to “suprise” Colt with a new cocktail nightly.

One of the many temples we visited during our stay at the Golden Triangle in Thailand. Woman must cover up their knees and shoulders when entering, it is to show respect.

one of many market places in Thailand, this is were the local Thai people shop and eat, doesn’t it make you so hungry? mmmm

Wat Rong Khun is a contemporary unconventional Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat and is breath-taking

Wat Rong Khun is a contemporary unconventional Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat and is oddly beautiful

Colt & I at Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Chilling at the Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

my most favorite meal ever! I ate this every day that we were in Northern Thailand and would die for it right now.

Playing with 3-6 month old Tigers while visiting Tiger Kingdom during our stay in Chiang Mai

Playing with 3 to 6 month old Tigers while visiting Tiger Kingdom during our stay in Chiang Mai

Colt actually saved a young woman from drowning at the Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai. He is so amazing, my hero.

We rode so many tuk tuk's during our trip in Thailand, this picture was taking in Bangkok

We rode so many tuk tuk’s during our trip in Thailand, this picture was in Bangkok. It was pouring rain and the traffic was crazy.

Us in the back of a tuk tuk after a very long and interesting night in Bangkok Thailand.

Harry Potter World in Flordia this past November was amazing. The butter beer was to die for!

Harry Potter World in Florida this past November was amazing. The butter beer was to die for!

We had such a great time visiting all five Parks over the course of 3 days while in Disney World

During our most recent trip to Oahu to visit the family. We love them so much.

…Blessed we are…

The Happiest Place on Earth

15 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Wanderlust

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dream, Explore, Happiness, married life, Travel

Is it weird that 90% of the time when I go to write a blog a song which resembles what I am about to write about instantly pops into my head? For example as soon as I sat down to write this…boom:

♪ There ain’t no rest for the wicked,

Money don’t grow on trees,

I got bills to pay

I got a mouth to feed

Ain’t nothing in this world for free.

I know I can’t slow down,

I can’t hold back

Though you know I wish I could

Oh no there ain’t no rest for the wicked ♪

Now the “wicked” part is debatable but the “no rest” part is a shoo-in because we honestly have not slowed down since the wedding/honeymoon. With Colt starting his new job we now have weekends off together and boy have we been making the most of them! We have done everything from family time, to photo shoots, to pumpkin picking, to pumpkin carving, to running 5k’s in honor and celebration of Auntie Jamie to going to Florida and planning & booking more trips. Every weekend since September has been filled with some kind of fun and or shenanigans and I am exhausted! Exhausted from LIFE and LIVING and I am loving it! I love that every moment we have that we are not working we are exploring a new space or place, making a new memory or just enjoying our love. I have to say getting married is the best thing I have ever done! There is just something about being able to experience life with your significant other who is also your best friend that is so exhilarating.

We just got home from Florida a week ago today. Colt has never been to the East coast (I know that statement is so crazy to me too) and I had a work conference in Orlando from Sunday to Friday so we decided it would be a great opportunity to fly him out. We quickly made plans with my two cousins who both live about two hours from Orlando and whom I haven’t seen in 5 years! During those 5 years Kelly & her husband Elton have had 2 beautiful baby girls and Chrissie & Omar also had a beautiful baby girl (I know I can’t believe it, 3 girls!) I was so excited to finally meet them and squeeze them but also have them all finally meet Colt! As if that wasn’t already amazing enough my bestest friend Kristen also decided to come down with her boyfriend Kevin so we decided to make the trip into a Disney World / Universal three day fun-filled family vacation! 5 parks, 3 days no biggie….or so we thought!

Colt got into Florida on Friday night right in time for my conference to end. I couldn’t have been more happy to see him (and in Florida none the less). I had missed him so much that week since this was my first trip without him since we became husband and wife. It was so exciting to be having our first real vacation as a “married” couple. Kristen and Kevin also got in later that evening so we went to dinner had some drinks then hit the sack. I of course had a strict itinerary planned for us over the next 3 days and there wasn’t much time for sleep.

Date: Saturday November 3, 2012

Location: Universal’s Island of Adventure & Downtown Disney

Begin Time: 6:00am

End Time: 11:00pm

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was by far one of the highlights of my trip (it also happened to be one of my bucket list items..check!)

the butter beer was to die for, I had two then thought I might barf.

These three look a little too natural with those magic wands..hmmm

the Harry Potter exclusive “hog’s head” beer (on tap of course) hit the spot after a long day of flying on broomsticks

After 7 hours at the park we were ready to get our feet back on the ground so we drove to downtown Disney to meet my amazing family for dinner. Talk about baby fever, whew…these sweet girls captured our hearts instantly.

Ellyana this is her “don’t you see I’m coloring Auntie” look. Love this sweet angel, she is so beautiful and such a wonderful big sister to Ellysa and cousin to Giana.

Baby Giana. ohh just look at that face! She is so beautiful and such a happy & sweet girl.

The newest addtion to our growing family Ellysa Grace! She is so sweet and cute as a button at just 8 weeks old.

I honestly still can’t believe these are my cousins babies! It is so crazy and amazing to see them as Mom’s with their own families. You are both amazing wives and mothers. Love you both so much.

My beautiful cousins Chrissie & Kelly.

Date: Sunday November 4, 2012

Location: Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom & Epcot

Begin time: 7:00am

End time: 11:00pm

Good Morning Minni Mouse Diva’s & Best of Friends.

Rock and Roll Baby!

One of Colt, Kevin & I’s favorite ride…Kristen not so much.

our favorite park of the 4

best coaster of the bunch

Kilimanjaro African Safari got two thumbs up!

not much could compare to the Disney World dance party…just shaking our groove thing with the Goof!

Date: Monday November 5, 2012

Location: Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Hollywood Studios

Begin time: 8:00am

End time: 11:00pm

On Monday the parks were jam packed by 9am so instead of waiting in long lines we went over to Epcot for their food & wine festival which took us on a trip around the world and I must say Mickey’s Bar Crawl was a brilliant success!

…well until my best friend threw me in a rose bush!

..and it begins…

we made a quick pit stop in Hawaii to show our Aloha

Kristen’s “Aloha” didn’t seem to last long since she threw me in a rose bush…ouch!

it was the best of times

Date: Tuesday November 6, 2012

Location: En Route

Begin time: 3:30am (Florida time)

End time: 6:00pm (Hawaii time, 5 hour ahead time difference)

The result of 5 parks in 3 days plus 2 time zone changes….

what a beautiful trip we had making memories with the best of friends.

…blessed we are…

Trash the Dress

26 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by Making Magic in The 9 month road to marrying the man of my dreams

≈ 3 Comments

I’ve been debating for a while when I would write this blog or if I would ever actually write it. It seemed the timing was never right or I guess I just didn’t know where to begin until now…

I recently did a trash the dress photo shoot with Warrick Price our wedding photographer. The shoot came as a part of our wedding package and I was pretty excited about it. From the first time I saw this type of shoot and photography I knew I would have to do it when I got married (or so I thought). It wasn’t until Warrick called me about the shoot and asked when I wanted to do it that I realized I wasn’t sure if I actually indeed wanted to do it. I mean don’t get me wrong I knew the pictures would be incredible due to the fact that we live in Maui and you can’t pay for better scenery but I wasn’t sure if I actually had the guts to “trash the dress.” My dress..my beautiful, amazing, expensive Vera Wang wedding dress in sand and salt water? My stomach instantly turned. I told Warrick I would have to think about it and get back to him and as we hung up I decided in the back of my head there was no way I was going to do it. I mean how could I? I LOVED my dress from the second I put it on, which is how this story comes full circle.

I have debated for so long sharing the story of my dress, it’s a good story. Actually it’s a great story probably one of my favorite stories and it has yet to be told, well until now. It’s funny because it was this time last year (October 16, 2011 to be exact) when I bought the dress and nobody ever heard the story because well I wasn’t even engaged yet, but as you can see buying the dress came as good luck to me rather than the perceived “bad” luck since we got engaged a little over a month later. I know, I know you are NEVER even suppose to look at a wedding dress until you are engaged let alone try one on and buy it, the wedding dress golden rule right? Wrong…anyone that knows me knows I don’t like to follow silly rules and that I often create my own road to follow while bumping into as many guard rails as humanly possible, and if you think that’s bad well anyone that knows my sister in law Ashley (especially Ashley & Me together) knows we always do what we want rules or no rules so it comes as no big surprise that she just so happened to be my partner in crime when the buying of the wedding dress went down.

I bought my dress during my training in California for the Hard Rock Cafe. It had become a “norm” during my training that on my days off Ashley would come down to LA to spend time with me or I would go up to Newport Beach to spend time with her. During those 4 weeks we were always getting ourselves into some kind of shenanigans including the wedding dress debacle. It had started off like any other Sunday that month which was me waking up snuggled with Ashley and both of us hung over from the night before. We had gone out and partied and were planning on a big breakfast with lots of mimosa’s to get us back in the game so we could go “shopping.” The night before we decided it would be a great idea to go wedding dress shopping. I mean why not? Neither of us were engaged but I certainly wanted to be and it was no big secret so why not just go take a peek? Ashley of course agreed I mean where in Maui would I go shopping if and when Colt and I did finally get engaged? It was pretty much a done deal and the next morning it still seemed like a good idea so we threw on some comfy clothes, washed our faces, tied our hair in a pony and off we went (I must admit I looked like a hot mess) but who cares it was Sunday Funday at its finest. We went and got some food at Woody’s, watched football and met some fans that ended up paying for our entire bill then stopped by CVS to pick up some travelers before we hit the stores. Ash of course had a full game plan of places to go so I just followed her lead. We walked into our first store a little before 4pm and by 4:35 my wedding dress was purchased. (I kid you not…)

I ran up to the first lady that I saw and asked her to try it on. I remember thinking it was so weird that I was asking to try it on, I mean I really should not have been trying it on but I needed to. The lady then asked me if I had an appointment, umm of course I didn’t have an appointment hello I am not even engaged! I told her that I did not have one but I would like to try the dress on anyways but she rudely told me to make an appointment. I was so bummed and Ashley was pretty pissed but we decided since we were already there we should have some fun. We picked out a bunch of dresses for Ashley to try on (apparently you didn’t need an appointment to try on regular dresses, just wedding dresses) we got all kinds of styles and hit the dressing room. As Ashley tried on dresses I very loudly complained about how bummed I was that I couldn’t try on that one dress. I mean it was right there staring me in the face and they wouldn’t let me try it on! Ashley agreed that it was crap so we just kept complaining about it until one of the other sales lady came over and asked if everything was ok. We told her we were fine but we would be much better if we could try on the Vera Wang wedding dress that I loved. She asked me which style and I told her. She smirked a bit nodded her head and told me to hang on a second. Ashley and I just stared at each other, was it really going to happen? After only a few minutes she came back with the DRESS! She said that she just had to let me try it on because she too was dying to see how I would look in it and that she thought it would fit me like a glove. She helped me into the dressing room as Ashley waited freaking out. As she was helping me in the dress she explained that the dress was 100 yards of tulle (a whole football field) and that this Vera had just hit their store. I couldn’t believe the timing of it all and that I was there in California getting to try it on! As soon as the dress was on and I turned around to have her zip it I knew it was the ONE. She was right it fit me like a glove and I knew I had to HAVE it. As I came floating out of the dressing room Ashley’s face confirmed that it was “the one” along with the sales lady who was now in tears. I turned to look in the mirror and suddenly I was crying, screaming and holding Ashley’s hands jumping up and down in pure ecstasy screaming on the top of my lungs “I’m getting married.”

Now why I was screaming that when indeed I wasn’t even engaged is beyond me the dress just kind of took over and I could see Colt and our wedding so clearly. This was it, this was the one I didn’t care if it took 6 months, 1 year or 10 years for him to ask this was the dress I needed to get married in it was MY dress. I told the lady we would take it before even asking for the price, I didn’t care I had to have it (luckily for me for a Vera it was more than affordable and my Mom was incredibly generous enough to buy it for me even though she wasn’t thrilled that I bought it before I was even engaged.) Once I said I was buying it the fun stopped and Ashley started to freak out. She sat there starring at me blankly until she finally blurted out that there was no way I could buy this dress! It was the only dress I had ever saw or tried on and I wasn’t even engaged! She went back and forth so many times on how I had to buy the dress but couldn’t buy the dress but had to buy the dress until finally I told the lady to pack it up I was sending it to Hawaii. This sent Ashley over the edge and she exclaimed that she was calling Colt. If she couldn’t reason with me he certainly would. She began to tattle on me for what seemed like forever as I got dressed back in my regular clothes. As I came out of the dressing room I could see her talk with Colt had helped and that her panic had now turned into excitement and she was back and ready to do the damn thing. I couldn’t have been more happy, it was so fun to watch Ashley go through so many emotions as I just calmly talked to the lady on how to go about holding the dress. I thanked the lady a thousand times over for letting me try on the dress (if it wasn’t for her I would have been out of luck) and of course the other lady that was rude to me was now our best friend and singing a different tune but by that point we could care less we found my wedding dress!

There are so many more details and emotions that went into that day that are just a blur from pure adrenaline but I am so happy I went with my gut and just bought the dress. I didn’t listen to what anyone had to say and believe me my Mom wasn’t happy until of course she saw the dress and then she too agreed that I had to buy it. Overall keeping the dress a secret was the hardest part. It literally got to my Mom’s house in Oahu before I even got back from conference in LA and I never saw it again until my first fitting in June eight months later. I called Ashley before my fitting with pure worry, I barely remembered what the dress even looked like what happens if I hated it? She assured me that after my reaction on the day that I bought the dress she was pretty certain it would be just fine and of course it was.

my first real raw reaction to seeing myself in the dress

It’s because of this story & orginal picture and then our actual wedding day that made me think twice about the “trash the dress” shoot. That dress means so much to me, has such a kick ass story and now holds so many timeless memories. I thought long and hard about the shoot and after several talks with Colt we finally said forget it let’s just do it. I had bought a preservation kit for it and they would clean it and make it pretty again so what was the harm? Plus a little sand and salt water was only going to add to the countless memories and great stories that dress has already giving to me so I called Warrick and set up our shoot.

When the Sunday of the shoot finally came I again was on the fence about my feelings but headed to the beach anyway. If nothing else at least I would get to wear the dress one last time. The first wave was hard and instantly made me cringe but within minutes Colt and I were soaked, laughing and loving and it was nothing but fun from there…..

the first wave…

Fairytale of a Dreamer

11 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by Making Magic in The 9 month road to marrying the man of my dreams

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Dreams, fairy tale, goals, Happiness, love story, Marriage, Maui, paradise, true love, wedding day

A day forever etched in my brain as a real life fairytale, my real life fairytale come true. I still sometimes think about our wedding day and laugh because it so often doesn’t seem real. I have sat down so many times to write about this magically perfect day and instantly get butterflies. I feel like if I let all my feelings out that somehow I might lose some of the magic that I still feel inside, feelings that I never want to leak out of me or disappear…

The morning of my wedding started great because I was snuggled tight in bed with my big sissy and Kailea. I had my other sister Ashley on my pull out couch with my good friend & bridesmaid Deni and you could physically feel the love & excitement in the room before we even opened our eyes. Speaking of my pull out couch, let’s back up. The day prior to us getting married Friday August 24^th we had a great day. We planned an amazing beach day with our entire family and friends. It was a perfect Maui day and there was so much fun and laughter. Later that afternoon I had a private manicure and pedicure session with my bestest of girls and it was more laughter and happy tears. So many memories were made in those 5 days it still brings tears of joy to my eyes. As we were getting our mani’s and pedi’s the Grand called to tell me our wedding suite was ready. Now if you know me you know that I LOVE the Grand Wailea, there standard rooms are exciting to me so I could barely believe that we would be staying in a wedding suite and when we got there it got even better. It was so beautiful I thought I would drop dead and it was only the beginning. Two bathrooms, a living room, a pull out couch, a wrap around lanai with 360 degree views of Maui and a master bedroom you would kill for in real life, it was another dream come true and it was ours.

We happily ran through the entire suite, jumped up and down and laughed uncontrollably it was really happening we were here for Colt & I’s wedding! So back to that morning, I woke up early not as early as I would have thought and I actually did sleep which I didn’t think was going to happen. It was around 5:30am and my sister was already bright eyed and bushy tailed she is such a morning person I love it. As I looked around I made a promise in that moment to not let one second of this time slip away. I stayed in bed thinking about the course of the day while my sister happily chatted about our timeline and my other sister Ashley came into bed with us. I couldn’t believe this was it, our wedding day. The course of that morning stands out to me so much the feelings, nervousness, excitement even the temperature of the room I can feel right now as I type. My senses were on overdrive and refused to miss even a second. Over those next 9 hours of us getting ready here are some of the moments that were so special to me:

Anu made breakfast for the all the girls and guys and it was so special, thoughtful and delicious

Joyce and George (my best friend Kristen’s) parents got a huge breakfast spread delivered to our suite which was perfect since at one point there ended up being 16 girls in the suite getting ready, eating and waiting. It was the sweetest surprise and added so much more love to that morning.

Watching each of the girls that are the most important to me get beautiful for our special day. At one point I remember I was pissed thinking they were giving me a run for my money, the breaks of having beautiful friends…they all looked so beautiful.

Spending a special moment with each of them to give them there presents. I got them all a bracelet from Alex and Ani. They were the same bracelet but the charm was different on each girls and representative of who they were as individuals.

My sister Ashley doing my hair and make-up. I never thought that would be such an emotional moment for me but thinking about how selfless it was of her was so touching. It was also such an honor to me because of the relationship she has with Colt. He loves and respects her so much. I can honestly say I know he thought I looked one hundred times more gorgeous because he knew his baby sister got me ready.

Having my sister and mother get me in my wedding dress. This moment was one that is burned into my brain. The emotion on each of their faces and love they projected is enough to make me burst.

Getting my flower girls ready. In that moment so many memories came over me of Khloe and Caylee and how much we have shared in these last 3 years. It was so crazy to see little ladies standing in front of me and create such a special moment with my little sister Tristyn.

Having my mother-in-law and Colt’s grandmother with us getting ready. Just seeing the love and happiness in their eyes was more than I could have ever asked for and the moments I will cherish always.

There are so many more moments from that morning that come over me as I type:

My sister Ashley swallowing my right contact lens first thing that morning and leaving me blind for the first 3 hours! I forgot my contact case and put them in a water glass in the bathroom which she of course used to drink water in the next morning. I swear there has never been even one dull moment in our relationship so I couldn’t have asked for a funnier memory on my wedding day!

Having my sister Jessica catering to my every need. I don’t think there was one minute she ever let me worry even for a second. If my facial expression changed she was by my side and ready to attack. It was so nice to not have to think or worry.

Watching my best friend Kristen’s emotions and love for me after all these years of friendship. She was my superwoman that day, my real life superwoman.

There are so many other stolen moments with so many special people I could go on for hours.

As we left the room to walk to the chapel I couldn’t believe it was happening! It was one of the only moments through the whole process where I felt like my nervous might get the best of me but then I looked up and saw my Dad. Seeing him for the first time was emotional for me and a moment I will always cherish. He of course kept me laughing and eased all my nerves. He was so strong and I needed that more than I even knew.

Over those next 15 minutes of waiting and walking I can honestly say it was the only time I truly felt like I was in a blur, a dream, like I was there but I wasn’t and then we got to the chapel doors and I saw him…

Every ounce of my being was still. My heart caught up with my brain and I was there, present and calm. I couldn’t have been more happy to marry this man.

So many special moments took place over the course of our ceremony, moments that I play over and over again in my head every day.

Moments you can only see to believe.

I hope this video of our wedding day gives you every ounce of love and happiness it gave to us and all 60 of our closest friends and family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BrB0JVq_kE&feature=relmfu

It was a day of dreams and fairytales come true…a day of everlasting love..it was the beginning of our forever…

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

30 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by Making Magic in Life on Maui

≈ 1 Comment

…turn and face the strain, ch-ch-changes! You know its stuck in your head now, David Bowie’s Hunky Dory album 1972 (…and no I wasn’t actually alive then but it’s just one of the benefits of having young rocker parents that I know these kinds of things)

Anyways, I hate change hence why it has taking me so long to write this blog. I knew once I did I would have to “change” my blog name, username and domain name and I’d no longer be “jennifersoontobestewart” or able to blog about our upcoming wedding. Instead I would have to blog about the events that have happened cause that’s what you do, you reflect on events, moments, time and feelings that have already happened or might happen or that you plan on happening. The unknown, the scary part and one of the reasons why I hate change. As I re-write the words I hate change it quickly dawns on me that in the last month everything has changed and actually I really don’t hate it at all. So I guess I can rephrase my statement to I hate the idea of change not change itself which is what I think I’ve always really hated all along.

In the last month so much has changed I got married and changed my last name from Carvalho to Stewart (I actually have not changed it legally yet, that process is ridiculous and probably needs to be a whole blog in itself) but regardless of all that paperwork and running around I am indeed a Stewart. The additional ring and tattoo on my finger prove that.

I have a husband. A husband that I look at and love more and more every day (sometimes it feels like every minute) I love him so much and he loves being a husband. After our wedding it was like something changed inside him (he has always been amazing that has been a given) but now he’s a husband and he takes that pretty seriously. Being a husband has brought about a whole new level of who he is and who he wants to be so one of the first changes he made was quitting the Four Seasons.

Shortly after our return home from our life changing honeymoon (those pictures and adventures coming soon to a blog near you) he decided it was time to move on. He has been so successful in such a short amount of time with the Four Seasons so there was no doubt he would have been at the top in no time, but then what? He realized pretty quickly that he didn’t want to be a GM or the Director of Recreation but mostly he realized that he couldn’t stomach the idea of giving up so much of who he is and his life (our life) for that kind of career path. Anyone reading this who has worked for corporate America will read that sentence and have it speak straight to their soul and anyone who hasn’t will probably think my husband is an idiot for quitting such a “good job” either way it doesn’t matter he quit. His last day will be on Tuesday and he’s never been happier. I admire that. I admire him. He is so strong, his dreams are so real, his worries are small and now he is free. Free to do whatever he wants and chase any dream he desires which right now happens to be an opportunity working with his Dad. Of course only time will tell what will come with this new adventure, however he is 100% invested (we are both invested) and excited to see what the future will bring.

And then there is Maui …oh Maui. I love Maui. I love that Colts family is here and mine is only an island away. I love being on vacation every weekend and enjoying the many blessings of this beautiful place. I also love that Colt has such a great opportunity with his Dad here on Maui. What I don’t love is my lack of opportunity here which is and always has been limited. As many of you can guess advertising, marketing, events and PR aren’t the happening career choices of Maui residences which unfortunately happens to be my career of choice, so with all that being said it isn’t any big secret that Colt and I will eventually move to the mainland to buy a house and raise our family.

Ironically last year at this exact time I had a possible opportunity to move us to Vegas (that’s actually the property I applied to when I interviewed with the Hard Rock) and we were ready to go, bags packed, lease up and out the door until they tossed us a curve ball and offered me Maui. Of course everything happens for a reason and this past year wouldn’t have been so wonderful planning a Maui wedding from Vegas so we are so glad we stayed. However exactly one year later the same opportunity has reared it’s head along with San Diego. Both these locations would do wonders for my career especially with such a strong brand and I have always wanted to live in either place. I’d finally be doing what I love to do in a market that can hardly keep up …but…we already took the job on Maui so like everything else in life when it rains it pours. Colt of course told me if I wanted to move that we could (he is pretty awesome like that) but with him just starting with his Dad (one of his dreams) I knew we would have to stay for at least another 6 months to a year. I am not complaining if anything I feel silly even being bummed about it because we are so very blessed with countless opportunity when many don’t even have one, so instead I am chalking it up to what’s meant to be. God’s plans are always bigger than our dreams so I know that there must be a reason (again) to stay, so for now here we are still loving each other like crazy on this little island we like to call paradise.

Jennifer Lee Stewart

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Making Magic in The 9 month road to marrying the man of my dreams

≈ 3 Comments

“You’re my favorite person in the entire world…I love waking up so I can just feel you again…”

It’s 7:05am in Thailand on Tuesday morning and these are the words my husband whispers to me on our third to last day of our honeymoon. It melts my heart because I too feel the same. Is it really possible to love someone this much more with every passing day? I roll over and squeeze him tight and suddenly I never want to let go. I hold this moment and feeling and store it because I promise myself I will never forget this place and time and love.

We have been in Thailand for a week and we have been married for 9 days. Every day that has gone by has been mind blowing. It has woken something inside of each of us and has made us both want to reach for more. Our experience starting from our actual wedding to our honeymoon in Thailand has been a never ending story of happiness, laughter (so much laughter) and pure love.

I will be setting up a new blog upon my return to the states now that I am officially Jennifer Lee Stewart. I will update you on every detail of our fairytale wedding from my perspective and take you on every magical experience of our dream honeymoon. It will also touch on our upcoming plans for the future as we start to watch them unfold. I look forward to this very exciting next chapter as a wife but for now I’ve got to run so I can savor every second of this time (as I can already start to feel it slipping away)….

This was one of the happiest moments of my entire life with my husband at our wedding reception. In this moment we realized we had done it we had made our dream come true!

Chasing the Maui Son ✨

Author Archives: Making Magic

Hippie Dippie (thoughts from my bed on a Sunday morning)

Surprise! We (were) in Reno

The Best Gifts (will never be found under the Christmas Tree)

Tis the Season

What a (World)Wind of a Year

The Happiest Place on Earth

Trash the Dress

Fairytale of a Dreamer

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Jennifer Lee Stewart