tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60079968968409173692024-02-19T06:41:09.880-05:00Running Twice As FastA Blog About Learning Photography, Planning a Wedding, and Building a Career in MarketingElenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-43447488772559640202014-01-02T23:44:00.001-05:002014-01-02T23:45:18.869-05:00A Jello Cube State of Mind. I just read my summer bucket list - my last post on this blog, in June. I forgot that I have written it! Well, it seems that some of the items can be checked off the list, and some - we'll keep them for next summers.<br />
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There is a logical explanation for this more than half a year silence. Not an excuse, but a logical explanation. Yep, we've got a baby on the way. Exciting news, for sure!<br />
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Pregnancy is a new world, that consumes you. At least it did consumed me for these 6 months, but I really would like to come back to writing more often. And this post has a very specific purpose - to create notes to come back to when (and of course if) I am pregnant again. And if it helps a few others on the baby journey - well, even better!<br />
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1st Trimester<br />
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<ul>
<li>Actually, this is for any trimester, and I hope to keep this mindset for the entire pregnancy - right from the start I assumed an imaginary role of a jelly car. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jellycar/id293886459?mt=8" target="_blank">Jelly Car is an iPhone game</a>, where you operate a car made of jello. It is rather convenient proposition, if you think about it - when you need to roll over something - an obstacle or a gap - you just tumble trough, or if you need to squeeze through something - well, you are made of jello - you can do that too! You need to play this game for at least a minute to completely get the picture. And ... this is how I decided to envision myself - as a jelly car, now that I realized I carry a possibility of another person inside of me. A possibility, because, as you know, everything isn't quite established and not certain until 12 weeks in, so it is better not to make a big deal out of it until then. Quite impossible not to, and I think I failed in that, but I tried. So, the mindset of a jelly car at least helped not to worry, not to fear any complications and unexpected circumstances. I thought - I am a jelly car, encasing a possibility of a new life, so even if we have to tumble over something unexpected or squeeze through a narrow pathway - we can do that! It also helped to feel protected from some comments or suggestions - the ones that I agreed with I "let through" and the ones I didn't like bounced off the jelly exterior. I'd say even up to now that is the best "tool" I've got in my pregnancy "box". </li>
<li>Prenatal vitamins: they taste nasty! It is very typical not to enjoy your prenatal vitamins. For some reason, even though they are usually made to smell like vanilla or candy, within a course of a month I couldn't stand even the thought of them. Yet you absolutely want to take one every day. So I kept switching and switching, asking all experienced mommies I know of recommendations. This is how I came to try <a href="http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Vitamin-Code/Multivitamin-Formulas/RAW-Prenatal.aspx">Garden of Life Prenatal vitamins</a>. These vitamins smell like ... bouillon cubes, and ... that was a wonderful thing! Besides all the usual things in prenatal they also contain ginger (should be helping with morning sickness) and probiotics - to help the digestion (which did become a problem during the 1st trimester). Prenatal vitamins problem was solved and forgotten! </li>
<li>Morning sickness - I got off easy - not too many instances of leaning over the toilet bowl. I have read up on tips - and one of them really did work. Before I even got up I ate a <a href="http://www.finncrisp.com/crispbreads/thin-crisps/finn-crisp-original/" target="_blank">Finn Crisp</a> with some salt. Made a huge difference. Eating small portions and often helped as well. </li>
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2nd Trimerster</div>
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<li>Overall, second trimester I felt just great. To the point that if not for the growing belly, I literally forgot I was pregnant. No more morning sickness (with a few sudden flashbacks), no more tiredness, it felt like I finally woke up from a 3 months sleep. That makes the 1st trimester sound bad, but it actually wasn't that bad, it is the 2nd trimester was that much better in comparison. </li>
<li>Stretch marks - as research says, actually you have no control over them. Either you will have them or you won't - all depends on your genes. However, I wanted to believe I can help myself even if a little bit by using some lotion. I chose <a href="http://bio-oilusa.com/en-us/" target="_blank">Bio-Oil</a> for no particular good reason, but since it was very much in your face everywhere - they really do good marketing. I did start using it on recommendation, but the recommendation was also unsubstantiated - "I just used it, and ... no stretch marks!" At least it eases the itchiness from when you belly grows. No stretch marks so far. However, my mother also didn't have them. </li>
<li>Baby prep 101 - stage 0. By the middle of month 6 I felt we needed to start preparing for the baby - get books, sign up for courses, start planning the baby shower. The collection of books is gathered - I will write about them separately. Some of the courses are finished - we even received a certificate from the hospital! Baby shower is not planned and no registry created. I know some of the future moms get really excited about getting all that baby stuff, but not me. I'd rather have all of this already done and bought (and the less the better - if I only knew what I would really need - I'd buy just that, or better - borrow). For me the biggest excitement is just about meeting the baby. Ever since wedding planning in 2009 I remembered that The Knot gives a nice calendar with activities for each month of what to do at that stage of wedding planning. Their sister site, <a href="http://www.thebump.com/" target="_blank">The Bump</a>, as I suspected had a similar list for preparing for a baby, and it did! It helps a bit with knowing what to do when. </li>
<li>Hip pain - I am a back sleeper naturally, and during pregnancy you should sleep on your side (actually left side in particular, since it will help your own organs to have more room). I was trying to follow this guideline, and because of considerably more side sleeping one night at around 6 months I woke up from dull, but strong hip pain that wouldn't go away, even during the day. Researching this topic on the Internet convinced me I am in for 3.5 months of torture, and that I would accept labor pain as relief. I panicked, but decided to try the first and simplest remedy suggested - body pillow to keep your whole top leg more parallel to the bed/floor. That really cured the pain - it went away! It just took a $10 Target pillow. I did try a special pregnancy pillow - in a form of a C - it was too hard and uncomfortable and needed to be returned. </li>
<li>Yoga - since I had no physical activity restrictions anymore, I decided it is time to come back to yoga. Yoga has become one of my favorite ways to keep in shape in the last few years and I was keeping up with it pretty regularly, time and laziness permitted. I was already looking for prenatal yoga classes, when my favorite teacher Marina, the owner of <a href="http://www.mindbodyflowyoga.com/" target="_blank">Mind Body Flow Yoga </a>made a huge discovery for me - I actually can continue the usual, not prenatal yoga classes with a few modifications of poses. Coming back to my regular practice made a world of difference. Overall, it seems yoga was created especially for pregnancy - all the focusing, breathing through difficult poses, all the stretching, constant training of your concentration can become a huge help in labor. In theory. We will see. </li>
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Overall, the second trimester is really so nice and easy. Just as they say! As an added bonus you get a chance to learn the gender of the child - this was a very exciting day! It is the day when you know a bit part of your own history is revealed to you, and you can almost touch it.<br />
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One of the most worrisome days for the pregnancy is the day you have a screening for various genetic deceases - they give you probabilities of the baby having any. I tried to calm my nerves that day with observing nature, which did give us a glorious morning that day - I even have a photo of it:<br />
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Observing nature overall gives me power, balance and harmony and - it did help that day! We received reassuring news for that screening. <br />
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You also get to feel the first kicks, and then more and more. It becomes daily entertainment. The first thing I felt wasn't a kick, though. It was a feeling that somebody is simply leaning on the inside of my stomach. All of a sudden I had an ability to feel the inside of my stomach. At this point- kicks are coming almost every hour and become more powerful. I suspect our baby boy is preparing for the Olympics. :)<br />
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These are the main things I wanted to remind myself of for the next time - if and when. Hope this helps if someone else is reading. As a general guidance - please do consult with your doctor before following any of my tips and thoughts - everybody is so different! </div>
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-88093230552065980462013-06-30T13:11:00.001-04:002013-06-30T13:11:49.823-04:00My Summer Bucket ListThe hot days of summer are just beginning, and it is nice to realize that we have all this glorious weather ahead of us. Finally WE have the best days in our region, and I just want to soak all this in, the best way yet. And next year we will try to top what was "achieved" this summer. That's the plan! :)<br />
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I noticed that if I make a list of something, it does come true. Perhaps in reality it will take 2 or even 3 summers to do all of this, but eventually we will get to it!<br />
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So, here it is - my summer bucket list in no particular order:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Lots of yummy weekend breakfasts with my hubby </li>
<li>Read a book entirely in the back yard</li>
<li>Kayaking</li>
<li>See my brother more often</li>
<li>Patio dinners with with parents and grannies</li>
<li>Beach day(s)</li>
<li>Going out to a hot dogs and burgers place for dinner</li>
<li>Drive-in movie</li>
<li>Make my own preserves (from berries gathered on a farm)</li>
<li>Camping with a tent</li>
<li>Bonfire</li>
<li>A day on a boat on a lake</li>
<li>Biking for ice cream, and just biking</li>
<li>Ice cream social for my neighbors</li>
<li>Road trip with family</li>
<li>Lazy days with no agenda</li>
<li>Belarussian style bacon made over open fire</li>
<li>Swimming in rivers and lakes</li>
<li>Learn a few new summer soups and salads</li>
<li>Sailing</li>
<li>More photo-sessions with my friend, Yulia</li>
<li>Hammock in our back yard</li>
<li>Learn a new pie or cake</li>
<li>A day in a pine forest to smell it and hear the wind in trees</li>
<li>Spend quality time with my friends on a join vacation, even just in Belarus</li>
<li>Visit my childhood summers village - Kopatkevichi, and stay there for at least a week</li>
<li>Yoga in the park</li>
<li>Running a half marathon</li>
<li>Play badminton</li>
<li>Watch our favorite movie with my friend; the movie we saw at least 20 times, when we were teens </li>
<li>Stroll night summer streets and avenues of Minsk</li>
<li>Visit Cape Cod</li>
<li>Go whale watching</li>
<li>Pay a visit to the Pacific ocean along the West Coast</li>
<li>Attend Ivan Kupala, Belarussian mid-summer holiday</li>
<li>Fireworks</li>
<li>Visit London and hear Adele in concert</li>
<li>Hot air ballon ride</li>
<li>Fly a kite</li>
<li>Go fishing</li>
</ul>
I think this should be a good start. :)<br />
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Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-79021607010224108802013-06-03T11:57:00.003-04:002013-06-04T22:57:03.102-04:00Zero GravityZero gravity is what I come home with after a vacation.<br />
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This is a state I am in right now, and will try not to lose this nothingness.<br />
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What caused this wonderful state of mind? Lots of time with my love - my husband, Punta Cana beaches and his Majesty, the Ocean. Added to this recipe were luscious jungle of the resort, simply made, scrumptious, almost home cooked meals, champagne in the morning, great two books to read. Mix all of these ingredients and you get zero gravity.<br />
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In zero gravity I am free from compulsory dependency on my phone, I stop hurrying from one "to do" to another, I pay attention to hear and now, and I can completely lose myself in watching the turquoise ocean. There is nowhere to be, nothing to do, nothing to worry about.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bahia-principe.com/en/hotels/punta-cana/resort-ambar/">Gran Bahia Principe Ambar</a> was a perfect place to stay, <a href="http://paulocoelho.com/">Paulo Coelho</a>'s Aleph was a perfect book to read (in addition to it and to counterbalance was <a href="http://www.unfortunateevents.com/">Lemony Snicket's</a> Austere Academy - a perfect birthday gift from my hubby), the ocean was the most beautiful shade of turquoise to soak in.<br />
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I will try to carry myself with zero gravity for as long as I can, and if something weights me down, I'll remember this feeling and will try come back to weightlessness.<br />
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<br />Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-10705278820890919752010-04-26T01:15:00.000-04:002010-04-26T01:15:51.649-04:00Hola, Mexico!I enjoy waiting for vacation as much as being on vacation, because everything is still ahead of us - so much time for each other, the sun, the ocean, flip-flops, good books, day trips to Maya pyramids, breakfasts, good time with friends, a wedding to photo-shot and to dance at! ......<br />
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Any all-inclusive resort cares about their overworked guests a lot by providing very limited and very expensive internet access, so don't be too hopeful to hear more from me this week. Many stories and pictures to share when we are back, and for now a preview of this weekend's photo session.<br />
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It is amazing how much you learn with every new photo you take. I love this photo, but also see how I would retake it a little better. What do you think I have in mind?Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-42504653053726173672010-04-22T00:27:00.000-04:002010-04-22T00:27:55.550-04:00ThoughtsI think our self awareness sometimes plays it gently and makes you realize your big life changes in very unexpected ways. Last year brought a lot of new: new place to live, new status to adjust. I knew these things happened factually, but in reality this all <i>just</i> hit me. Just now, really.<br />
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Driving home a minute ago I thought: I am driving home to MY OWN HOUSE, from a NEW house of my friend, waiting for a HUSBAND to come home... and, I am a go-to person for my PREGNANT friend, when her husband is not around. <br />
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Wow!<br />
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And yet, this ALL still doesn't make me feel like an adult. And, I hope, this will never change. :)Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-17764010937891989862010-04-20T23:18:00.001-04:002010-04-21T12:06:08.573-04:00Changes, Spring, Goofiness ...There is one fact you don't know about this blogger - she has been laid off!<br />
<div>It happened a month and a week ago and left me feeling a little strange in the beginning. I even cried a little. (Ok, I bawled my eyes out in the office of my biggest boss with a presence of a <i>nice (not sarcastic remark)</i> HR person). But the hard feelings went away very quickly, giving room to the spirit of opportunity and <i>a good </i>change. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div>I am very much obliged to my then boyfriend (now known as husband :) making me listen to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-My-Cheese-Anniversary/dp/0743582853/ref=tmm_abk_title_0">"Who Moved My Cheese?"</a> one time, when we were on a wavy road heading to Hershey's, PA. I owe my swift transformation from despair to hopefulness and joy to this 45 minutes story. Several years ago I pointed it out to a very depressed colleague of mine when she was leaving our company. Strangely, she reappeared on Facebook just days ago with the following message: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I will never forget "Who Moved My Cheese?" THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU I appreciate it more than you may know."</span></span></div><div><br />
Our beautiful Spring also helped out - I am enjoying no work situation, when everything is so bright, young, fragile and beautiful. I can't say there is a season I don't like - I really do love all of them, but Spring is truly special: after all the snow is gone, spring steps into its powers so vivaciously, it takes my breath away every time.<br />
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Surely enough, good changes came along much quicker than I even expected: I am starting a new job soon, and it is going to be sweet - literally and figuratively! More things on career side of life on this blog soon, I promise!<br />
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For now, to end this post on a goofy note, here is how Andrey and I looked on outrageously warm April day:<br />
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I know, you are thinking - why "goofy"? Well, we look goofy to me in this picture. :)</div></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-45913603463276327952010-04-09T23:10:00.001-04:002010-04-09T23:20:31.388-04:00I will: Maryana & MaksimIt is always special, when your friends are getting married. It is especially joyful to see two people clearly so good for each other to grow from being a girlfriend and a boyfriend to a bride and a groom-to-be! I remember the weekend we first met Maksim, I noticed a new glow to Maryana's already always bright personality. And, the frame of Maksim's arms around Maryana looked so good!!<br />
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There is another side to M&M: the guys visited us 2 weeks ago and from the minute they stepped into our house I stayed in bended over from laughter position pretty much the whole weekend - such a couple of comedians!<br />
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The bride and a groom graciously let me put them in front of the lens for a couple of hours, and since the weather didn't even think to cooperate, we took a stroll underneath the glass roof of <a href="http://www.buffalogardens.com/">Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens</a>. Next time you think this is a good place for a shoot, check the calendar and make sure that Easter bunny is not making appearances in the gardens - an oh-so-cute army of toddlers was a little bit of an obstacle for our romantic photo session. :) <br />
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Maryanka, Maksim - we are so exited to share your day with you at the end of the month in ..... Mexico!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabjPtEupm44KLMMB6mhU78du3BrWf361qven0FPH6oiUjxRNi-IQrcxCAznlnogHJaIbBuqLa-QPiPH9psn1HJejb1sJzxh4x9y4Dl7V0JsA3Ihq7ImIfxRa4ERDRLwmpaapYJP5tW9WB/s1600/IMG_6096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabjPtEupm44KLMMB6mhU78du3BrWf361qven0FPH6oiUjxRNi-IQrcxCAznlnogHJaIbBuqLa-QPiPH9psn1HJejb1sJzxh4x9y4Dl7V0JsA3Ihq7ImIfxRa4ERDRLwmpaapYJP5tW9WB/s640/IMG_6096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-46198084060917630702010-04-05T23:54:00.001-04:002010-04-05T23:58:30.915-04:00PortraitsWe spent most of the last year making a million of choices from Buffalo neighborhoods to garters, candles, cakes and veils to bathroom tile.It left a little time for photography, but I managed to snap a photo here and there. Here is the recap, part 1: portraits - my friends and coworkers.<br />
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Kristie became my first victim, and this is a portrait from my very first photography session: <br />
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Toronto, Distillery District session with Tanya <br />
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Coworkers<br />
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A mistake, but I like it<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtfGF0feb11tHqF88ct1575V7Vx8VmegKeZS7qatQ-6ETF5v4oRfrb6XxKXrmWkebw4yyPtGFyNJqFWQD2Picz9sXmfB5CokmQgadmQW5fBMpMU3kNqG25RJy3dBtvTmZ2WDwRC4SCmcr/s1600-h/IMG_5732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtfGF0feb11tHqF88ct1575V7Vx8VmegKeZS7qatQ-6ETF5v4oRfrb6XxKXrmWkebw4yyPtGFyNJqFWQD2Picz9sXmfB5CokmQgadmQW5fBMpMU3kNqG25RJy3dBtvTmZ2WDwRC4SCmcr/s640/IMG_5732.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhFQtEUKTpr2g20uT0xz3lKeioXWNPctDGr18yNN6NxqVJ4HS2e0z3qNN9WnHkiXAhIfWzv5om9WGkWCDCFdSqOT7oJrDFfNeYil5unNoq67QuOwfpqlpyuNkcv4BMW-bPJ-ah4ufe2qZ/s1600-h/IMG_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhFQtEUKTpr2g20uT0xz3lKeioXWNPctDGr18yNN6NxqVJ4HS2e0z3qNN9WnHkiXAhIfWzv5om9WGkWCDCFdSqOT7oJrDFfNeYil5unNoq67QuOwfpqlpyuNkcv4BMW-bPJ-ah4ufe2qZ/s640/IMG_5746.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-31365491990038684412010-03-03T00:14:00.002-05:002010-03-26T14:56:42.383-04:00The world spins around you faster when you spin faster yourself!Ever since we moved into our house I was waiting for the world to start spinning a little slower....<br />
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But it never happened. I thought I just need to get through this crazy, busy time and then I will have time to breathe, reflect on our wedding, house buying, house remodeling, honeymoon.... But it never stops, it just spins faster with more things just adding into rotation. <br />
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So, I decided to just blog about things that are happening now and then gradually weave in reflections on oh-so-beautiful and important events of the past 6 months.<br />
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So, most recently I visited NYC very spontaneously. And ... fell in love with it again. As I always do. St. Valentine's day is actually, despite the cold, is a perfect time to visit this never sleeping city. This year it also fell on Chinese New Year, so this was a joint celebration. I think I was "drunk" just with pure energy of seeing so many different people in the subway, on the streets, in my most favorite place in NYC - Central Park. I must have been a New Yorker in my previous life - I feel right at home there. <br />
Here are some iPhone snapshots from the trip:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEInoHyjeNmhcDNTcAqEkGyD8mq-b_BMy4qvHaxLkRGQBeRiUWvhhHGBGriPxKPA2VezwAmz4IeKvPjCtluBIa_PxLZRD7IhR-CxRFPPnmuSl4IL_B54Ph56xzj1mpRj2FyvND0XqHFTA/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEInoHyjeNmhcDNTcAqEkGyD8mq-b_BMy4qvHaxLkRGQBeRiUWvhhHGBGriPxKPA2VezwAmz4IeKvPjCtluBIa_PxLZRD7IhR-CxRFPPnmuSl4IL_B54Ph56xzj1mpRj2FyvND0XqHFTA/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the Q train, heading to Manhattan </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BPWBjoy81AGBPQ6X1Zr4YzRzcn0lfrPIf7xp0WnkoBj6aRsPyrN2cylCWG9qFt1VlupXrS7eu5r8zUxyKafko7MSgtyjMDr0tOeZge-M69eWTNNjjkW9mE2KfL_bCu5XLFZ_WAg0WVlz/s1600-h/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BPWBjoy81AGBPQ6X1Zr4YzRzcn0lfrPIf7xp0WnkoBj6aRsPyrN2cylCWG9qFt1VlupXrS7eu5r8zUxyKafko7MSgtyjMDr0tOeZge-M69eWTNNjjkW9mE2KfL_bCu5XLFZ_WAg0WVlz/s320/IMG_0121.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ah, coffee shops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9H6umI_bFwqiXU_ZoRrJR53MpQAiT33SeBKszKhDfJPqH6bVprD9QfPGIW-yg38Vr9hkuNjTWSu3IitFUb5x-XO81IqnNC-Z1C88ltkLK4H6KhpMcZ23km-t7V-79N3Hhim_Zv5IC22A/s1600-h/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9H6umI_bFwqiXU_ZoRrJR53MpQAiT33SeBKszKhDfJPqH6bVprD9QfPGIW-yg38Vr9hkuNjTWSu3IitFUb5x-XO81IqnNC-Z1C88ltkLK4H6KhpMcZ23km-t7V-79N3Hhim_Zv5IC22A/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0mOvuCV-sDu3J8UB936O1r4zxXaATTUG9GzNMFya-USUpWvOB5PoqtqmM88O_cw_T7vldbLjDRasgJf52X7JJlil_XWnPE4LCRfJDniOX7oibj_d5ssDrGAGTMz-QvjBWJ6rASZr_9E1/s1600-h/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0mOvuCV-sDu3J8UB936O1r4zxXaATTUG9GzNMFya-USUpWvOB5PoqtqmM88O_cw_T7vldbLjDRasgJf52X7JJlil_XWnPE4LCRfJDniOX7oibj_d5ssDrGAGTMz-QvjBWJ6rASZr_9E1/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hearst headquarters - I work for the company within Hearst, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BUT we are not within THIS building, .. I wish!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl_yxFC0he1S2zfP2MuZ676iPfGzeM6mYovaxQY7SX4je0TEN-exggbHVWmMHO7YN1J6u1oMNgWYq7w6c3Gbux9MhuttZF0uitb_5VQGWjxDNG8Hi8z3UK7rxNn6uXt0D480FKWie0xtR/s1600-h/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl_yxFC0he1S2zfP2MuZ676iPfGzeM6mYovaxQY7SX4je0TEN-exggbHVWmMHO7YN1J6u1oMNgWYq7w6c3Gbux9MhuttZF0uitb_5VQGWjxDNG8Hi8z3UK7rxNn6uXt0D480FKWie0xtR/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a view from the 29th floor of the Hearst Tower ... oooh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrhHaT5FLamfbVRqdNNxzlT8sRD-hPBs_kfs_OE26_f7tZhBLInnkq2_xN0TcLIcov9h1n6xe6ZgmT4ULVZ69nq7xYXwVcqPoplpaa3zjAn2bLu0Vwz7IPkBsWC2qZgdhhBysMVgmC0u3/s1600-h/IMG_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrhHaT5FLamfbVRqdNNxzlT8sRD-hPBs_kfs_OE26_f7tZhBLInnkq2_xN0TcLIcov9h1n6xe6ZgmT4ULVZ69nq7xYXwVcqPoplpaa3zjAn2bLu0Vwz7IPkBsWC2qZgdhhBysMVgmC0u3/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite place in NYC - Central Park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxqsTgXsd5rGiNh-agZNNOHLROIdOMP3541uC_8-Isq_wmq1sbEW5DBJtyOhrqmZrUccTLk4tvW4cJPSWP7SLOtYhvwTfe4S4OH5QH3ogjxvCRVc5gydbslmW-wuYMOhn0S8uX8dStyA2/s1600-h/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxqsTgXsd5rGiNh-agZNNOHLROIdOMP3541uC_8-Isq_wmq1sbEW5DBJtyOhrqmZrUccTLk4tvW4cJPSWP7SLOtYhvwTfe4S4OH5QH3ogjxvCRVc5gydbslmW-wuYMOhn0S8uX8dStyA2/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St. Valentines Day in NYC :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0q0Rog1NMlVUwdeyYObGogDjr7S6YsVPf-bACZT25RJb-ue6GoBs8C868LYTf9LqztcG-x2WViwXD0IODhfpVE5NRqBSWCQNULZ9ryeqJHJb_RGnGqvWZzUc_j84UgXcqPACBfq9neeZ/s1600-h/IMG_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0q0Rog1NMlVUwdeyYObGogDjr7S6YsVPf-bACZT25RJb-ue6GoBs8C868LYTf9LqztcG-x2WViwXD0IODhfpVE5NRqBSWCQNULZ9ryeqJHJb_RGnGqvWZzUc_j84UgXcqPACBfq9neeZ/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shopping! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After this little NYC LOVE note, I've yet to explain the headline of this post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think we are just used to say that the world spins around us. In reality, though, it is US who are spinning,we just want to accomplish more and more in less and less time. So, really, we control the speed of our life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me the life pauses when I blog - everything freezes in the air for my examination. I missed blogging. </div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-80263619130101513092010-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:002010-01-16T00:01:04.157-05:00The Honeymoon took a loooooong time. You don't beleive me?Hm..... I am back again. From the honeymoon. Yes, it took 2 months. ..... !<br />
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Ok, I am a bad lier, and feel guilty that during this period of my life - wedding, moving into a new house, honeymoon and first holidays as a family - I didn't blog. Clearly, it is a crime, at least for my own sake.<br />
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To make up for this major miss I am going to be putting the pieces together in the next posts and recreating the beautiful picture of this fall's happenings.<br />
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For a sneak peak - Thailand, of course. The most beautiful beaches I've ever seen... So far... :) !<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaY-JEucxj9d4vrUGXqLbt9wZPBLynpxCBYBW5vZLnUM5CBhThzNAJA1tq2xuU9NAFKQ6t6FEmzMfgdAhW5EuS2bL5NqCItLJhlrRg0IoZj1GmIeph7EOnez3j42tCeln4L0Djx1peDYz/s1600-h/IMG_1208.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaY-JEucxj9d4vrUGXqLbt9wZPBLynpxCBYBW5vZLnUM5CBhThzNAJA1tq2xuU9NAFKQ6t6FEmzMfgdAhW5EuS2bL5NqCItLJhlrRg0IoZj1GmIeph7EOnez3j42tCeln4L0Djx1peDYz/s400/IMG_1208.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVeqna9b3TAmU6W-7yjsIqqgKAZwjB_ndOcrvAyFKIqZMoNUpmE2lCkbM2AxXAPpvRliW58bueeGCm_43RPlb2Ht4MMwkvoO-8U2Zy_ub38RPO3ALYwDA1LZ7xwwecGktj8SpWm9tM0mz/s1600-h/IMG_1205.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVeqna9b3TAmU6W-7yjsIqqgKAZwjB_ndOcrvAyFKIqZMoNUpmE2lCkbM2AxXAPpvRliW58bueeGCm_43RPlb2Ht4MMwkvoO-8U2Zy_ub38RPO3ALYwDA1LZ7xwwecGktj8SpWm9tM0mz/s400/IMG_1205.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWIn4E9bc-MFjGDS0ayzw4cOQSP__5gOfhruDBLPKSiXUtEqR_7_QMx2xIxjdH3uqVvBmxQAx5Qce7LVB-eK3eGZiesuKZq31nZXhP9EBNzjWG8qhlTtfUJ39VLLzTYXC1KaohVApAIaC/s1600-h/IMG_1126.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWIn4E9bc-MFjGDS0ayzw4cOQSP__5gOfhruDBLPKSiXUtEqR_7_QMx2xIxjdH3uqVvBmxQAx5Qce7LVB-eK3eGZiesuKZq31nZXhP9EBNzjWG8qhlTtfUJ39VLLzTYXC1KaohVApAIaC/s400/IMG_1126.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxSElwkqBpdG6CYcvNJmh6EgAcDVUcgGBB-izuhRqYZzYd1gbKwsRFSK3MrOpVvxf-t9-Jht3K5fvJ3tuNcJQvcY2DCGLFhWCydCuDVpl0XRJinyNrVWu7bCTKHqhDH604fzo2NS6MKog/s1600-h/IMG_1131.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxSElwkqBpdG6CYcvNJmh6EgAcDVUcgGBB-izuhRqYZzYd1gbKwsRFSK3MrOpVvxf-t9-Jht3K5fvJ3tuNcJQvcY2DCGLFhWCydCuDVpl0XRJinyNrVWu7bCTKHqhDH604fzo2NS6MKog/s400/IMG_1131.JPG" /></a> <br />
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</div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-20543380551405193832009-11-06T22:55:00.001-05:002009-11-06T22:56:52.651-05:00MIA, but I am back ... and off to the honeymoon in 6!! daysSo, another disappearance. A serous remodeling with knocking out walls + moving into this half way finished house = 0 blog posts. The last three months surely had us occupied and, ironically, kept me and my newly minted husband (of exactly two months!!) more apart than together. <br />
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But, there is going to be light at the end of this tunnel - our honeymoon is 6 days away!! And, even I have not shared much about our wedding, this post is going to be about our trip. <br />
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First of all, our honeymoon is 2 months and 1 week apart from our wedding. Good or bad? Here is a plus: we get to go on the honeymoon after already feeling a little bit like a family. We have already taken a glimpse of our wedding photos and talked about the wedding with family and friends. Drawback: definitely, the impressions of that special night are a bit in the past, they are not as alive. <br />
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Nevertheless, excitement and anticipation of the trip have never been greater for me. Our honeymoon destination is ... Thailand (Bangkok, and than - Krabi). History, culture, food, summer weather, beautiful beaches are just ahead. We are going to pause the winter for two weeks and finally, unwind.<br />
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I am pinching myself when I look at the pictures of the beautiful places we are going to vist. You'll understand me, here they are:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxTUjM0FXBAZRdUCXJ29kuvcEzTQlQtexGhDUSLCVXco5_s70YL0PCeHD3ewKJVV6Ns44_n2AUt-1iPaLZKXgJx05748gkLF76o9zu3rbkKY-qI-E1Fj8LvDzEYDBZxEQke6qtQ-T8CBy/s1600-h/Thailand-Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxTUjM0FXBAZRdUCXJ29kuvcEzTQlQtexGhDUSLCVXco5_s70YL0PCeHD3ewKJVV6Ns44_n2AUt-1iPaLZKXgJx05748gkLF76o9zu3rbkKY-qI-E1Fj8LvDzEYDBZxEQke6qtQ-T8CBy/s400/Thailand-Temple.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDu9nAiyoSaCt90qLQ6NTj0-TK26oU_NszxHrKt1s6dFB7aWkWGv5aWxey0QzmWOXsDXuVVLCVdmJPTaHGxwarjXfz4VgmSj39ZcWZ23OqgB91iZzbe12rI0-HcnTRmNHzCi1ywyb9Wo6/s1600-h/Thailand+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDu9nAiyoSaCt90qLQ6NTj0-TK26oU_NszxHrKt1s6dFB7aWkWGv5aWxey0QzmWOXsDXuVVLCVdmJPTaHGxwarjXfz4VgmSj39ZcWZ23OqgB91iZzbe12rI0-HcnTRmNHzCi1ywyb9Wo6/s400/Thailand+beach.jpg" /></a><br />
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One of the fun projects we thought of for the honeymoon is to create video "letters" for our children and "letters into the future" for ourselves to see when we are older. We'll do them here and there while we are on the trip. May be, if the project is successful I'll share the clips here, on the blog. <br />
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What were or will be yours special things to do on your honeymoon?Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-60642501951365159642009-09-28T20:20:00.000-04:002009-09-28T20:20:50.931-04:00My first post as a WIFE!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, it's been more than a month that I have disappeared from the blogersphere. There is a good reason for that and yet, no excuse!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many girls out there are in their last three weeks of wedding planning and anticipation and still blog. <a href="http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/09/26/diy-flowers-i-did-it/">They even blog on the day of the wedding!</a> My respect goes out to these wonderful multitaskers, but I just couldn't do it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three weeks before the wedding and than some after the wedding are like going into a deep dive, having the wedding at the lowest point of this dive and than slowly coming back up. I know that this sounds gloom, but actually it is a very happy time, beyond any comprehension, and, emotionally speaking, very "drunk" time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhO5WJatIo_OODKz3sR4hHx1uDyQRImMOA8ZUIAbD3ax6rmVHPTpqxnRT2eMvSZQuhEj_4Sgk2hRC7w-rZX7DyXCwjDTzgSkCvnIl4CXxZGm0JPjVJFMi_rDvCFHjUG10nvsW8YVct7_t/s1600-h/wedding+details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Finally, I am becoming "soberer" after this avalanche of events and emotions and can share them one by one. I think I will do the sharing in parts and this was just an introduction. Here is one of the pieces of magic captured at our wedding by our dearest friend and extraordinary artist - </span><a href="http://www.yukaphotoart.com/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yuka</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhO5WJatIo_OODKz3sR4hHx1uDyQRImMOA8ZUIAbD3ax6rmVHPTpqxnRT2eMvSZQuhEj_4Sgk2hRC7w-rZX7DyXCwjDTzgSkCvnIl4CXxZGm0JPjVJFMi_rDvCFHjUG10nvsW8YVct7_t/s1600-h/wedding+details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhO5WJatIo_OODKz3sR4hHx1uDyQRImMOA8ZUIAbD3ax6rmVHPTpqxnRT2eMvSZQuhEj_4Sgk2hRC7w-rZX7DyXCwjDTzgSkCvnIl4CXxZGm0JPjVJFMi_rDvCFHjUG10nvsW8YVct7_t/s400/wedding+details.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-65997321448178939302009-08-17T00:49:00.013-04:002009-08-17T01:18:40.309-04:00Shooting in good lightYou'd probably say I am nuts to be thinking about anything other than wedding when we have about 3 weeks to go. But, yes, indeed, this post is NOT ABOUT THE WEDDING! :) I am still thinking about it, though.<br /><br />It's just I am excited to share some of my photography projects. I have a long list to post, but this one is the most recent. So far I have been quite lucky to practice photography at my work that didn't include photography in my job description.<br /><br />Last week on Tuesday, on our first no rain day in many weeks (even though I am one of those few that didn't mind our rainy summer - the grass is greener!) I was a part of the photo shoot for our yellow pages book cover. While the really young looking photographer we hired was producing amazing shots with his Nikon and really cool off-camera lighting (and I suspect some pocket wizards), I got to snap some shots too.<br /><br />Since I was not the primary camera, you'd have to forgive me that most of the time my subjects were not looking into the camera.<br /><br />I was amazed by the lighting we got around 5 pm in the Buffalo Marina and than even more amazing light at around 6:30 at Lafayette Square.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsoggX4ufmz47_Jl2dsQNW5WKuMxfNV_f66L4f4Kd5kSvWkxv4kafNjlD1IQX1E3dHDp4Cz3_aRFNbnkNrDKZgKI7EKfRVgy09oDKmEQC3LtWuBYj2IWddNFDE76lJuU625bXJ4JphiM3/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsoggX4ufmz47_Jl2dsQNW5WKuMxfNV_f66L4f4Kd5kSvWkxv4kafNjlD1IQX1E3dHDp4Cz3_aRFNbnkNrDKZgKI7EKfRVgy09oDKmEQC3LtWuBYj2IWddNFDE76lJuU625bXJ4JphiM3/s400/Buffalo+Cover+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795167194378274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoSS5V9xSSx-Zd0bmZfkY_rwlIiF1MAfT2cProwJ4UEFpgimZhyphenhyphenNAotpqluSZkknJuRXXkFgNaxeQlBtIG9VFLZegQ2Nlr6orz9JkT3wV_2Yxe7VrM0RJML-7dQ8a1e-7bvsmsy9QAbRO/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoSS5V9xSSx-Zd0bmZfkY_rwlIiF1MAfT2cProwJ4UEFpgimZhyphenhyphenNAotpqluSZkknJuRXXkFgNaxeQlBtIG9VFLZegQ2Nlr6orz9JkT3wV_2Yxe7VrM0RJML-7dQ8a1e-7bvsmsy9QAbRO/s400/Buffalo+Cover2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795029790229682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBo4yNVllSw87yyZ7V3G74ol_GY8TOBEVn5yOSjVG6HKPq8sF2oAdJIE4LkOgh5j9dsXokyz34ibQGgtqfwRRwPt4cOH1PlMBD49q3Az3NEWlGx_m1RDbpcSyphy8BacanlMcailtpU8Z/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBo4yNVllSw87yyZ7V3G74ol_GY8TOBEVn5yOSjVG6HKPq8sF2oAdJIE4LkOgh5j9dsXokyz34ibQGgtqfwRRwPt4cOH1PlMBD49q3Az3NEWlGx_m1RDbpcSyphy8BacanlMcailtpU8Z/s400/Buffalo+Cover1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370794896198613698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr54kklFVTAFVklXuHR8LjsfBVyRgPwesYZ7alGYARFsJ0QmldsQQXV73bqL-GfbwcMKro9Ac-f2AZWj93DsG6SvdPLsitnN2l6RWLwIvmUwxfC_XouhKrDp4KTPR6koFo7XDGTzPbwcI1/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr54kklFVTAFVklXuHR8LjsfBVyRgPwesYZ7alGYARFsJ0QmldsQQXV73bqL-GfbwcMKro9Ac-f2AZWj93DsG6SvdPLsitnN2l6RWLwIvmUwxfC_XouhKrDp4KTPR6koFo7XDGTzPbwcI1/s400/Buffalo+Cover+10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370796100967374898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8_E1wKX1Jzjn6Nhe6GtOQ8_C89m37P3XPrNO1Ww97khWfb_KPiaebpgDmNdJBDqi3pHWF6J187wcjSKqfCFg5oUahiUyDPXltM-UA5Tu6v693q5YE8CqHPDQzuWv6sbZutJscqCB0xYW/s1600-h/Buffalo+cover+9.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8_E1wKX1Jzjn6Nhe6GtOQ8_C89m37P3XPrNO1Ww97khWfb_KPiaebpgDmNdJBDqi3pHWF6J187wcjSKqfCFg5oUahiUyDPXltM-UA5Tu6v693q5YE8CqHPDQzuWv6sbZutJscqCB0xYW/s400/Buffalo+cover+9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795894738745026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYlJPG4d2dwQX-QQ9lI7fymZGzxCFOgCTdUUujVAT8Yny1Pgfa3uvvkNdzsffXOD2LQBXepAPOya15nH-WZoeBD1qpHkSY4uUZ1BCh7WG1j0GaQkXQSs13Fk6rety4pIChHSP_Qj0vP33/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYlJPG4d2dwQX-QQ9lI7fymZGzxCFOgCTdUUujVAT8Yny1Pgfa3uvvkNdzsffXOD2LQBXepAPOya15nH-WZoeBD1qpHkSY4uUZ1BCh7WG1j0GaQkXQSs13Fk6rety4pIChHSP_Qj0vP33/s400/Buffalo+Cover+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795766729401330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjFTFUqiPG4mRCxMpt4YzBbtKzYzMhGZOC6YdiHkHbl74FFAmyOe1Kqq_AspV1KJNFwCy1slMVCK7JUIOr3iMLh0BJFo_Uae0usOmqqHJgDZImx_5P0WzGAsUFhm3JJPIBm8OQhkJfAVU/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjFTFUqiPG4mRCxMpt4YzBbtKzYzMhGZOC6YdiHkHbl74FFAmyOe1Kqq_AspV1KJNFwCy1slMVCK7JUIOr3iMLh0BJFo_Uae0usOmqqHJgDZImx_5P0WzGAsUFhm3JJPIBm8OQhkJfAVU/s400/Buffalo+Cover+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795646597470626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wpoRh8gY15EKoJAgkNtqEHnY6LwIScg65WmUqw0XpqxpzBhpFWmS6w5ZC1dz_j6iwN2fhM1EDBtyrN_d397SdnlGB6Nl4rbznMneuI6rLL6YIMnNDBti0z_uieZAPefTmheR_1DIZ9Ce/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wpoRh8gY15EKoJAgkNtqEHnY6LwIScg65WmUqw0XpqxpzBhpFWmS6w5ZC1dz_j6iwN2fhM1EDBtyrN_d397SdnlGB6Nl4rbznMneuI6rLL6YIMnNDBti0z_uieZAPefTmheR_1DIZ9Ce/s400/Buffalo+Cover+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795491151477186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgMhgd-jJhN6u1UIi5WOATLgbPMOxqqw7oxJRxBlyN_wr41G7kSZFRhCEMQWj_vebQlYQLxt_1QdcKMsoKvnxepAm4zpy9IqJOL0-0vB3edvmI0gnmR7ovOW6JzlGMYEpwreDkcrHCp4w/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgMhgd-jJhN6u1UIi5WOATLgbPMOxqqw7oxJRxBlyN_wr41G7kSZFRhCEMQWj_vebQlYQLxt_1QdcKMsoKvnxepAm4zpy9IqJOL0-0vB3edvmI0gnmR7ovOW6JzlGMYEpwreDkcrHCp4w/s400/Buffalo+Cover+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370795335244842162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYs2kdn2EneFO30FexmRQsQ9XZO0vU9xa9AxY6C0H6Vx9aMzNTEX3ThNdNKHI0ZxtTMx_S_IBN5L4GaYpJjjicp94pD6KAwInfpLGaZg5lOzrwuJu-0cnuM3s3vW-Ri0qs5LySLYFHFA5Z/s1600-h/Buffalo+Cover+11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYs2kdn2EneFO30FexmRQsQ9XZO0vU9xa9AxY6C0H6Vx9aMzNTEX3ThNdNKHI0ZxtTMx_S_IBN5L4GaYpJjjicp94pD6KAwInfpLGaZg5lOzrwuJu-0cnuM3s3vW-Ri0qs5LySLYFHFA5Z/s400/Buffalo+Cover+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370796272621793794" border="0" /></a>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-70093892938426135132009-08-02T23:46:00.005-04:002009-08-03T00:24:32.781-04:001 Month before the wedding: anxietyI have to admit that despite all the efforts not to be, I am a little behind on my wedding planning.<br /><br />Luckily, only minor details are left to plan. Unluckily, these are the details that will make the day extra special, therefore these are very important. And, on top of the wedding anxiety, my job became way more hectic (that comes in the package with more interesting projects).<br /><br />So, I am feeling quite stressed for about two weeks now.<br /><br />So, here is what calms me down and keeps me in order (or at least prevents complete chaos):<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer -</span> just going outside and noticing how everything looks and smells makes me calmer, because I enjoy this summer, even though it rains a lot. I actually don't mind rain. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.toodledo.com/">Toodledo.com</a> -</span> I think I finally found a way to track things. I wanted Google to come up with a task tool like that, so I can keep everything in the same spot, but this free tasking program so far wins over Google tasks for me. Toodledo gives you literally any criteria you can imagine to sort your tasks and keep them as together or as separate as you want. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My fiance</span> is back home from a two week long trip. While I don't mind some time apart, in the last month before the wedding I need him like air. And not just because that he helps with planning (!!), but just having him around makes everything better. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zoom out:</span> when I feel completely tangled in the details of the day, I force myself to zoom out and look at myself, as if I am watching a movie. This helps to keep first things first. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blogs that I follow: </span>Blogs are a window of inspiration and emotional recharge for me, since everything there comes from talented self creators, and I am learning to be one. <a href="http://www.jasminestarblog.com/">Jasmine Star's blog</a> is my favorite, when I read her posts it feels that I am right there with her watching everything happen. Her posts are completely captivating and a work of word art. </li></ol>According to Jasmine, every post is better with a picture. I agree. Here is one of my favorite shots I captured to date.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLKRuw5AIKGqo4B2PCUmuWl5wGipGEJ-o8R1sRQjBgZsIwwp8GIff5thpgyJ_bKGQKbgKPjI2p5Crw677bpSmiYiWZbq4u9a1kkDvJ4hQMO8L88sbGpL4Z36ufSRUxJYfOUmSh-4bncQK/s1600-h/IMG_1794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLKRuw5AIKGqo4B2PCUmuWl5wGipGEJ-o8R1sRQjBgZsIwwp8GIff5thpgyJ_bKGQKbgKPjI2p5Crw677bpSmiYiWZbq4u9a1kkDvJ4hQMO8L88sbGpL4Z36ufSRUxJYfOUmSh-4bncQK/s400/IMG_1794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365588214348132706" border="0" /></a>Wishing everybody a productive, everything-goes-as-planned week. (Wishful thinking, but we will try, right?)<br />How are you coping with your stressful moments?Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-5701584515677550162009-07-29T22:03:00.004-04:002009-07-29T23:01:33.048-04:003 things you need to remeber when dealing with wedding invitations1) As soon as you know your wedding date, count backwards:<br />1 month before: this is your reply by date<br />2 months before: this is your send out date<br />3 months before - you need to decide on the way you are printing and you will need to have information on the time of your wedding, reception and on dinner choices.<br /><br />2) There are several ways to print invitations:<br />- you can buy a kit from a crafts store - the best ones are in <a href="http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home">Michaels</a> and in <a href="http://www.target.com/">Target</a> - and print the invitations yourself. Total cost would be about $150 for 75 invitations plus your time, ... lots of your time!<br />- you can buy your invitations from <a href="http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/">Wedding Paper Divas</a> or <a href="http://www.minted.com/">Minted</a> (there are many more companies out there). You still need to print your envelopes and apply postage. Cost: $300 - $2000 per 75 invitations, depending on number of items in your package and the type of printing. Letterpress is the most expensive (and beautiful!).<br />- you can use a local invitations specialists to print the invitations. This is a way to still receive personalized invitations, and it can be even less expensive than going through an internet company. <a href="http://www.everlongevents.com/Everlong_Events/Welcome.html">Maggie</a>, our day-off coordinator has offered her services, but I wasn't quick enough to take her offer (my schedule got a little out of hand). This service will cost about $350 per 75 simple, elegant invitations minus all the hustle and headaches of printing and mailing. The price is an approximation, as it heavily depends on the invitations themselves.<br /><br />3) if you end up with one of the do-it-yourself (partial or entirely) options, make sure to invite a couple of friends to stuff your envelopes. Goes sooooo much faster!<br /><br />Which route I took? Wedding Paper Divas + printing the envelopes at home. I didn't follow my advise #1, so this was my only option. :( ... :) The company has excellent customer service, by the way, and I am really happy with their job.<br /><br />The best way to do wedding invitations in my opinion? If you have time, do them yourself from a kit. They do really have beautiful kits out there!<br /><br />If there is no time, hand it off to your invitations specialists. It might cost you a little more than ordering invitations online, but it is way less hustling. <a href="http://www.everlongevents.com/Everlong_Events/Welcome.html">Maggie Heely </a>in my opinion is just the right person for this task and for wedding planning in Buffalo.<br /><br />This is how our invitations turned out.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJGw2XdSY9r1mdsOjp2v2o4XDm91RXkEzXcLeZVVqdnsUAlo0uvXWpeSxNNDVgKpvNwhBno9dezATa55E0P82G5evxevgmEBKkf-ZnSjoV8rsYmCcuDvXaQCrvMqHEODC_yQEoEJuwq6-/s1600-h/IMG_3839.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJGw2XdSY9r1mdsOjp2v2o4XDm91RXkEzXcLeZVVqdnsUAlo0uvXWpeSxNNDVgKpvNwhBno9dezATa55E0P82G5evxevgmEBKkf-ZnSjoV8rsYmCcuDvXaQCrvMqHEODC_yQEoEJuwq6-/s400/IMG_3839.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What do you think?<br /></div> </div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-65915878247718973522009-07-07T22:15:00.003-04:002009-07-07T22:39:47.280-04:00And, our cake is...I bet you didn't even think of this one, but here is the cake we chose:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm-_JOb-pqPANXZdAsqAq_nnYf4w0tY9Unw9n4Ei1DbRxnUPS1wAquAjTVfxCkPws15oYKI9005zLE3lz1FpLURYIUWBpkIOSH-IegXy6E8nO5U3_U14EyAVreiXosXN5D2NsMNxbwcHM/s1600-h/cake+8+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm-_JOb-pqPANXZdAsqAq_nnYf4w0tY9Unw9n4Ei1DbRxnUPS1wAquAjTVfxCkPws15oYKI9005zLE3lz1FpLURYIUWBpkIOSH-IegXy6E8nO5U3_U14EyAVreiXosXN5D2NsMNxbwcHM/s400/cake+8+from+project+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://www.projectwedding.com/">Project Wedding</a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This might be a little unexpected choice, but actually it fits into the wedding theme, I promise! The tie-in of this cake to the wedding is ... my dress. :) Also, sometimes Andrey reveals the most incredible little things that matter to him: it happens that he can not have a cake at his wedding that is square or blue. Just like that! (Actually I sort of understand his fears - I can not drink Blue Gatorade). So, we are all about compromising and finding a choice that makes both of us happy. This cake did the trick!<br /><br />Oh, and I just have to tell you about our baker, <a href="http://www.zillycakes.com/">Zilly of Zilly Cakes</a>.<br /></div></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cWtmruE3y832Sw8wRGG013YOCRNRolqV3noI4OF0FC-xQJJcZg_LsSSXciI3FDQiUtDrVv5cw6hLE0vOlRynnECRcy1B3_FgNifUk4qtRgr9gnvqEVvITCXzRhnCj-t04J7FfPzLIKRI/s1600-h/Zilly+Cakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cWtmruE3y832Sw8wRGG013YOCRNRolqV3noI4OF0FC-xQJJcZg_LsSSXciI3FDQiUtDrVv5cw6hLE0vOlRynnECRcy1B3_FgNifUk4qtRgr9gnvqEVvITCXzRhnCj-t04J7FfPzLIKRI/s400/Zilly+Cakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355909934620448018" border="0" /></a>Photo via <a href="http://www.zillycakes.com/">Zilly Cakes</a><br /></div>Zilly is first an artist, than a baker. When we were going through so many options for the cake flavors, proportions, colors, icing, Zilly never said she would not be able to do something. She also seemed to be picturing the cake just as we were, not even caring that our fantacy can transform into too much work for her. She was eager just as we were to create a cake that we would enjoy. <br /><br />I anticipate seeing and tasting our wedding cake from Zilly with excitement for the beauty and for delisiosness!<br /><br />If you are looking for a wedding cake in Buffalo that would be created with care, talent and creativity, you should definitelly visit with Zilly!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-5876678270988088122009-06-30T23:02:00.008-04:002009-07-02T00:20:05.635-04:00How to Chose a Wedding CakeThere are so many very good looking options for a wedding cake. How to chose just ONE? What do I like and what will be beautiful for my wedding? - This was my dilemma. The problem of too many choices, yet again.<br /><br />I am the kind of a bride that saw many weddings before we had to plan ours. I always admired people's good choice in different details of the wedding. However I was not the one to write down good ideas in "my future wedding" planner. I always knew that my wedding planning will be based on the relationship that led to the wedding. So I had no expectation for a wedding cake when I started looking, except one - it has to taste good.<br /><br />I had to start my search for a wedding cake with no preferences in mind. A good helper in this task was <a href="http://www.projectwedding.com/">Project Wedding</a>. After looking through myriads of cake photos, I chose 8 different cakes I liked.<br />Which one d0 you think I chose? And which one was my close second?<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1ztdePe32N0OKXL9HxV2zJPYW-iaoaVQuLUVfgRlFGpnAQdT21sDkux56VdknaEtWzpW_Yg-lXeC-29fCnd43KrNvxuFZLLPHtux4D5Fj9CrS2TTjRY3R9f9Y5XA0ga2uSOlQKYzbHaS/s1600-h/cake+7+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1ztdePe32N0OKXL9HxV2zJPYW-iaoaVQuLUVfgRlFGpnAQdT21sDkux56VdknaEtWzpW_Yg-lXeC-29fCnd43KrNvxuFZLLPHtux4D5Fj9CrS2TTjRY3R9f9Y5XA0ga2uSOlQKYzbHaS/s400/cake+7+from+project+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zYHaTtxrVlljSdL5bk9FXaSM7VpP6CGl6FW_bb_B9CXophyphenhyphenv72-8NFPyJuLdW6e4liEWCYUkXbIAn_ncZZLcN9sUt9_IGF3lczdSY0A7WALTfzH3PcNSJ5BvV5ilTujF9U5rEzguLOeE/s1600-h/cake+6+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zYHaTtxrVlljSdL5bk9FXaSM7VpP6CGl6FW_bb_B9CXophyphenhyphenv72-8NFPyJuLdW6e4liEWCYUkXbIAn_ncZZLcN9sUt9_IGF3lczdSY0A7WALTfzH3PcNSJ5BvV5ilTujF9U5rEzguLOeE/s400/cake+6+from+project+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSFCVEKe-qGa1EcaGo8gdRRdeKP0rcu2BkrRTOnstBSrMqT7EY12JREKawc6-fF4nyVGBD7Fz8KCX8YixIx1UvH8krVetsl3Q_pmB6YFtRO5poTOsB1uq29RQYIYIdein7Dl0mUE5nLg/s1600-h/cake+5+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoSFCVEKe-qGa1EcaGo8gdRRdeKP0rcu2BkrRTOnstBSrMqT7EY12JREKawc6-fF4nyVGBD7Fz8KCX8YixIx1UvH8krVetsl3Q_pmB6YFtRO5poTOsB1uq29RQYIYIdein7Dl0mUE5nLg/s400/cake+5+from+project+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm-_JOb-pqPANXZdAsqAq_nnYf4w0tY9Unw9n4Ei1DbRxnUPS1wAquAjTVfxCkPws15oYKI9005zLE3lz1FpLURYIUWBpkIOSH-IegXy6E8nO5U3_U14EyAVreiXosXN5D2NsMNxbwcHM/s1600-h/cake+8+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjm-_JOb-pqPANXZdAsqAq_nnYf4w0tY9Unw9n4Ei1DbRxnUPS1wAquAjTVfxCkPws15oYKI9005zLE3lz1FpLURYIUWBpkIOSH-IegXy6E8nO5U3_U14EyAVreiXosXN5D2NsMNxbwcHM/s400/cake+8+from+project+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wq_MhJYVMmcrhe8lGACeKzabmn4Mukjb05CnFEq1h4GdnFRd2q27hWRT_YchSknjXTZV75Cz_o6hi9SCuo4WM-2VFVvFoBUYvX5eqI-03Hd4fqCIafX2axJr-UQY0D93J0Ks_7GQnNMA/s1600-h/cake+1+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wq_MhJYVMmcrhe8lGACeKzabmn4Mukjb05CnFEq1h4GdnFRd2q27hWRT_YchSknjXTZV75Cz_o6hi9SCuo4WM-2VFVvFoBUYvX5eqI-03Hd4fqCIafX2axJr-UQY0D93J0Ks_7GQnNMA/s400/cake+1+from+project+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353327528987281346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeiXfR-hFOBMfs43MXGUoAk3V9MlgCC9YwBcAmHwWtKb9yx_9qe7T_PH4wSBwL4ZOCwwUYP4JYdKO0GK-u3Nfmw-XxF3NWEsU6G9z5hY9y6YCF0gsdKPDK4n3oVZ2M5Cwwo2VgJ6zMQ57/s1600-h/cake+2+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeiXfR-hFOBMfs43MXGUoAk3V9MlgCC9YwBcAmHwWtKb9yx_9qe7T_PH4wSBwL4ZOCwwUYP4JYdKO0GK-u3Nfmw-XxF3NWEsU6G9z5hY9y6YCF0gsdKPDK4n3oVZ2M5Cwwo2VgJ6zMQ57/s400/cake+2+from+project+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353327669052511602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0awqLzHbcCq3CwKkT1kE7bN7jFX2UXHJcbn5G1mFLSAd5MrcdFAONS-g1tGfb2si9rQGsgOulusYfwv9sI2uW-2fl5xp0W_V33OqADg0lMQewdZnM7a-o1QFJLWvsAGDLCWDwWKZ8vaDZ/s1600-h/cake+3+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0awqLzHbcCq3CwKkT1kE7bN7jFX2UXHJcbn5G1mFLSAd5MrcdFAONS-g1tGfb2si9rQGsgOulusYfwv9sI2uW-2fl5xp0W_V33OqADg0lMQewdZnM7a-o1QFJLWvsAGDLCWDwWKZ8vaDZ/s400/cake+3+from+project+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353327835897560354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmryssdhAk23M7coeAJ3yI8C6rD_WRWcNm-4__3UyEp54GhVO7DQHM5bLwypPwtmQaq3mInfiGS02yae1FkmERO7y4MYASwFMogjGvSqRnnhyM4cOWFocJ-aDL8Ow85bE8JiCvBccasngM/s1600-h/cake+4+from+project+wedding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmryssdhAk23M7coeAJ3yI8C6rD_WRWcNm-4__3UyEp54GhVO7DQHM5bLwypPwtmQaq3mInfiGS02yae1FkmERO7y4MYASwFMogjGvSqRnnhyM4cOWFocJ-aDL8Ow85bE8JiCvBccasngM/s400/cake+4+from+project+wedding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353328009291912354" border="0" /></a>All images via <a href="http://www.projectwedding.com">Project Wedding</a><br /></div>I will tell everything about our choice in the next post in a couple of days. Let me know what do you think was our choice.<br />Update (7/1/09): there was a problem with some images today on this post, so I will leave you guessing for the cake we chose one more day.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-66200161306401462992009-06-25T22:56:00.004-04:002009-06-25T23:31:05.422-04:00Michael Jackson!I was going to share our cake selection story and what was involved in this process, but .... Michael Jackson died. :( I can not really believe I am writing this. I couldn't peel myself away from the TV with Lary King's show on devoted to MJ. I couldn't hold back the tears.<br /><br />All genius people have a weird side to them. May be this happens due to the forces of balance - if you are extraordinary good at something, you are also extraordinary bad at something else. But I wish this wasn't happening, I wish talented people really understood they had to preserve their talent for more people to enjoy it, get inspired from it, benefit from it.<br /><br />To me Michal Jackson was talent, inspiration, example of excellence.<br /><br />I was about 12, when even from our television signal challenged apartment house my dad managed to catch us the first commercial channel. Even on the best day the signal was weak and the picture was fuzzy, but we watched it anyways. Right after I came back from school the music videos were on. This is when I first saw, what remain my favorite videos by Michal Jackson.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sHAj5o0rdVE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sHAj5o0rdVE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0rksorSNOuE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0rksorSNOuE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-79322734472732962872009-06-10T21:38:00.003-04:002009-06-10T22:59:38.860-04:00Our short trip to Europe.... oops! ... Montreal, QuebecLast Thursday Andrey and I excitedly packed our car and drove off to Montreal. I am usually overjoyed to go anywhere and especially somewhere that is known as Europe in America.<br /><br />I have to say: indeed! (That comes from a renown European "expert" that has only been to Italy and Prague in Czech Republic). Well, at least I can say with a certainty, that Montreal does not feel American, and it is different from Toronto. <br /><br />We enjoyed the historic architecture and details:<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV9-gIB7HIkbuT7HoWaJBBJ9p5qFrb3nPZF4Lv3mxyqWomK4LQadcTxzW6ChzPB19966CmJAIBZL6ZStf_Vj8d0ysnTW3PwvusaeLQ36KOHqM-N_sqoSX0tDOWlRbRQdc7go7hSoV58-V/s1600-h/IMG_2797.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV9-gIB7HIkbuT7HoWaJBBJ9p5qFrb3nPZF4Lv3mxyqWomK4LQadcTxzW6ChzPB19966CmJAIBZL6ZStf_Vj8d0ysnTW3PwvusaeLQ36KOHqM-N_sqoSX0tDOWlRbRQdc7go7hSoV58-V/s400/IMG_2797.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLuPwah7qrIAkB-XkLGe2fESvOpebYfJR0c9tAWXPtRcRQ7zGvqO8FElKeoVwyGAAwQdl-OfOrPVQkqow_czD6xaC8m3iTU_dHluTfy2Z0_FcGnUzoENI1reezzoRG_myRJvjk5ilsfTt/s1600-h/IMG_2813.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLuPwah7qrIAkB-XkLGe2fESvOpebYfJR0c9tAWXPtRcRQ7zGvqO8FElKeoVwyGAAwQdl-OfOrPVQkqow_czD6xaC8m3iTU_dHluTfy2Z0_FcGnUzoENI1reezzoRG_myRJvjk5ilsfTt/s400/IMG_2813.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5qikjCLlqla869Mbgbz5dIQ81QMMlXq9AN9stdPouQZCs8USTsmsT_X87WGeiEZ7dtFciwSwrau89pNernR-WF02SQ9Aw7IaJ9-wsQBJu4d2OO3QZz0_22T4GbAQqGjgy7PubpX-aFsa/s1600-h/IMG_2815.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5qikjCLlqla869Mbgbz5dIQ81QMMlXq9AN9stdPouQZCs8USTsmsT_X87WGeiEZ7dtFciwSwrau89pNernR-WF02SQ9Aw7IaJ9-wsQBJu4d2OO3QZz0_22T4GbAQqGjgy7PubpX-aFsa/s400/IMG_2815.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Loved (!!!) just installed city bike system - it lets you have a bike for $5 /24 hours and has stations to take/return bikes all over the city. It is called <a href="http://www.bixi.com/home">BIXI</a> - bike taxi - cute! Pretty amazing, especially if you are a tourist and want to go places.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkJAIfN_VDMiodCZ3QFabvuUaeLMXqYOezyDlanRrE0nyAqrhe-XiSSITU8vla0004Ffq_HINxu78DO-zgJMsCHUZ1wcltS3tTprEdboQRyE2SgsM1fyiUlB5iCyL_ART3F_rFwkRIXMU/s1600-h/IMG_2793.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkJAIfN_VDMiodCZ3QFabvuUaeLMXqYOezyDlanRrE0nyAqrhe-XiSSITU8vla0004Ffq_HINxu78DO-zgJMsCHUZ1wcltS3tTprEdboQRyE2SgsM1fyiUlB5iCyL_ART3F_rFwkRIXMU/s400/IMG_2793.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD7KikjPoFTpVyFeDToED_AJdkICSV0Q-RWxbi3MaGXqGq0qg6IEjoBrswLQ9IxRui9v2bCE_WRG_TSJZLLdYsNEB7-D_vlJBQBL4XZs1PFXI1Ybw3kr5R_3UN1iRuIl3ez3lJ7PEGwop/s1600-h/IMG_2800.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD7KikjPoFTpVyFeDToED_AJdkICSV0Q-RWxbi3MaGXqGq0qg6IEjoBrswLQ9IxRui9v2bCE_WRG_TSJZLLdYsNEB7-D_vlJBQBL4XZs1PFXI1Ybw3kr5R_3UN1iRuIl3ez3lJ7PEGwop/s400/IMG_2800.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRq8yNVORmpYYLFzlPlzVgeX0Y6pAk0v3Gb3r9_wORuUxCYEIjduOwiBGzi1s39QNNahb3_HpdAgUzgGb4oyEukeo1_yphyXVfqFhH-dqYPG-RhwnVo7lIfdHniB6y66q6ddz1Bum2_t-/s1600-h/IMG_2811.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRq8yNVORmpYYLFzlPlzVgeX0Y6pAk0v3Gb3r9_wORuUxCYEIjduOwiBGzi1s39QNNahb3_HpdAgUzgGb4oyEukeo1_yphyXVfqFhH-dqYPG-RhwnVo7lIfdHniB6y66q6ddz1Bum2_t-/s400/IMG_2811.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrey was such a gentleman to carry around my camera backpack! By the way, about camera bags: I am using <a href="www.kata-bags.com">Kata</a>. I was torn between this one and <a href="www.lowepro.com">Lowepro</a>. Their products are very compatible in quality and price, so I chose the one that also offered a trolley. A set of wheels on something that contains a camera and a laptop can be very helpful at the airport. This model is <a href="http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?Version=Photo&p_Id=401">DR-467</a>. Good for transportation and sightseeing (when you need to stuff some personal items to the same backpack), not ideal for photo shoot carry-around. The carry around is going to be my next purchase. May be even the raved about professional photographers <a href="http://www.shootsac.com/">Shootsac</a>. <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral impressed beyond expectations! I've learnt it is a 1/3 replica of of St. Peter's in Rome. Never seen any church that big!<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yDexIITFyOfsk5FbkHP2NWKZb2OYKlkVupQyRzTM1ktgGgmX2U8CzUQr3tlFqYvsxptqZ898sYsOs_GR_ZQtt1gpYSRegm1wtQqd1qr6iyTDiS7GCLMOG2Na50ylGsgdaM36fNjwwXFk/s1600-h/IMG_2765.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yDexIITFyOfsk5FbkHP2NWKZb2OYKlkVupQyRzTM1ktgGgmX2U8CzUQr3tlFqYvsxptqZ898sYsOs_GR_ZQtt1gpYSRegm1wtQqd1qr6iyTDiS7GCLMOG2Na50ylGsgdaM36fNjwwXFk/s400/IMG_2765.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dPLnkJZqqa1OK6odO55rJ-UJwqNZoKmeXK24gX8vg5Nk7dVQ9pww0PAJxbBhh-IKRMCSI4GIpdqIc3pukv96XTdlE7WmGfS0D-7G7WYtZckUjWqckLSmIRH8Clrgijan-dFbI6Mahs28/s1600-h/IMG_2779.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dPLnkJZqqa1OK6odO55rJ-UJwqNZoKmeXK24gX8vg5Nk7dVQ9pww0PAJxbBhh-IKRMCSI4GIpdqIc3pukv96XTdlE7WmGfS0D-7G7WYtZckUjWqckLSmIRH8Clrgijan-dFbI6Mahs28/s400/IMG_2779.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our breakfasts took place in <a href="http://www.eggspectations.com/">Eggspectations</a>. Scrumptious! And a Marketing masterpiece. <br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34KAauBmDN0nhgvO2O_ON4jlenk5YY8r1bLdGEkFIWo_8qAit2ixDJd_QByEGi28guq11Oi1ol51a8Jt1AMtSXlrTo_UcsgmMpSq_p44q7SuzP_clQ-yTdv7ZfPoU_bqdGQuAS6auTzrm/s1600-h/IMG_2655.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34KAauBmDN0nhgvO2O_ON4jlenk5YY8r1bLdGEkFIWo_8qAit2ixDJd_QByEGi28guq11Oi1ol51a8Jt1AMtSXlrTo_UcsgmMpSq_p44q7SuzP_clQ-yTdv7ZfPoU_bqdGQuAS6auTzrm/s400/IMG_2655.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvt7evfmnZj9QxLvCrBTI_FZ2QEDQU7JX-JfbRggceJhficZq-ESJBPtF_uiAdWikAYjBph_elV-bswSAO_WiYv2bAjvZHigWa1kAh0EkskXY0IzbryAoNP59YCN7FXJ6jFUYQ6edmEKY/s1600-h/IMG_2657.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvt7evfmnZj9QxLvCrBTI_FZ2QEDQU7JX-JfbRggceJhficZq-ESJBPtF_uiAdWikAYjBph_elV-bswSAO_WiYv2bAjvZHigWa1kAh0EkskXY0IzbryAoNP59YCN7FXJ6jFUYQ6edmEKY/s400/IMG_2657.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is my delicious, freshly squeezed Banango: mango, banana, pineapple blended with fresh orange juice and ice.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwDjZGGvHKjsR5wqYTan80sICHQvPOokC0IYL_h8g4tevMWl-lRkM3TJ0VB-DI_w7gT0WcXHYjEwpc7rE1LtkEo_WNp2JaaBEZ_ZFSV2CBnICN2JtNK0YMm1Y7c7SwKHsWgYjEB40hs_P/s1600-h/IMG_2654.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwDjZGGvHKjsR5wqYTan80sICHQvPOokC0IYL_h8g4tevMWl-lRkM3TJ0VB-DI_w7gT0WcXHYjEwpc7rE1LtkEo_WNp2JaaBEZ_ZFSV2CBnICN2JtNK0YMm1Y7c7SwKHsWgYjEB40hs_P/s400/IMG_2654.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally a couple of other views of Montreal:<br /></div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PBjsZDIGPUC8K9e7UKqtF7pgOpxkXJuuQafEFkylR_rsSRV3EUJ9xj7EexBvH470zUdcTkWUVuH8md4Jpy4r6xKmYkyFhVyJ1nYGtM7PKzG5jB3v-iSNXddtIK8FMy2v3joCHVMqhVzv/s1600-h/IMG_2684.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PBjsZDIGPUC8K9e7UKqtF7pgOpxkXJuuQafEFkylR_rsSRV3EUJ9xj7EexBvH470zUdcTkWUVuH8md4Jpy4r6xKmYkyFhVyJ1nYGtM7PKzG5jB3v-iSNXddtIK8FMy2v3joCHVMqhVzv/s400/IMG_2684.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHue9dgmjPDLiYxkilbvGNOobkzzxDb52l3___2R7LuMM7DYvpAdpz_D9x6R-LuHjShchxQsM9hdeE3HCSA9B3yQzSZTr41ZgOprsvI5q7-q1MiyJ_ZsMtP0j4On08IR5rvlHlnyVWPf5y/s1600-h/IMG_2680.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHue9dgmjPDLiYxkilbvGNOobkzzxDb52l3___2R7LuMM7DYvpAdpz_D9x6R-LuHjShchxQsM9hdeE3HCSA9B3yQzSZTr41ZgOprsvI5q7-q1MiyJ_ZsMtP0j4On08IR5rvlHlnyVWPf5y/s400/IMG_2680.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Last logistical remarks: We stayed in <a href="http://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?hotelId=35">Delta Centre-Ville</a> hotel and were very satisfied: good service, great, clean rooms with a view (we stayed in a renovated premium room), reasonable prices. It is better to leave your car in the hotel parking lot and get around by public transportation and BIXI - my favorite.<br /><br />Could I live in Montreal? Yes, for the months of summer. Winter is too cold! :)</div></div></div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-17555016598070009062009-06-05T08:50:00.002-04:002009-06-05T08:53:09.340-04:00Off to Montreal for the weekend!Just wanted to drop a note: on the wedding side of things - we have started exploring our cake options - I will share the details very soon. But for this weekend we are taking a mini vacation from planning and going to Montreal! Have a great weekend! !!!Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-7444468666770147212009-05-31T21:21:00.003-04:002009-05-31T22:38:43.605-04:00Bridesmaids Dresses: what I likeOne of the brightest traditions of American wedding is having a "court" - wedding party. Usually all bridesmaids and groomsmen in the wedding party are wearing the same outfits. Every girl in the party is wearing the same dress, and of course, not everybody is happy. Hence, the movie "<a href="http://www.27dressesthemovie.com/">27 Dresses</a>".<br /><br />I thought having my girlfriends wearing the same dresses would be very cute. But after thinking about fitting all the girls in the same shape and form, I felt this would be a little unfair. It is my special day, but I do want all of my friends feel beautiful and special too. Besides all traditional bridesmaids dresses are kind of plain to mine and my girls tastes.<br /><br />So my bridesmaids will wear similar dresses - similar color and fabric, but not the same. See, I am not brideszilla!<br /><br />This wedding party is very close to what I picture so far:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1xbvDjUmPJvGhELmrv0TqVEqNJOG1KVz7tG9yJ9ZrglRe78MAmnMCM8jdeST1ZPmgw1oQ1_Vr_c5BtdrGvS0wTt33G9_VDfSNCn3Bfej8GPUN7QHFqV5NZd6qiSKMucqItl3SLnfx42O/s1600-h/Bridesmaids+dresses+-+Jessica+Clair.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1xbvDjUmPJvGhELmrv0TqVEqNJOG1KVz7tG9yJ9ZrglRe78MAmnMCM8jdeST1ZPmgw1oQ1_Vr_c5BtdrGvS0wTt33G9_VDfSNCn3Bfej8GPUN7QHFqV5NZd6qiSKMucqItl3SLnfx42O/s400/Bridesmaids+dresses+-+Jessica+Clair.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxkCD8Pq9YKrIxjRWPITyOJKyxm5b8V_LJWvvkvwNg8_feRb_sUiuD_pHKPgKeMg3sLsVBfiuSoOkBWZPAEvO-ujS2wEBMYlffCYMPb-Y0yf6nrK6uq4MKluol71PYYnpk9NmDMyCpisi/s1600-h/Bridesmaids+dresses+-+Jessica+Clair2.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxkCD8Pq9YKrIxjRWPITyOJKyxm5b8V_LJWvvkvwNg8_feRb_sUiuD_pHKPgKeMg3sLsVBfiuSoOkBWZPAEvO-ujS2wEBMYlffCYMPb-Y0yf6nrK6uq4MKluol71PYYnpk9NmDMyCpisi/s400/Bridesmaids+dresses+-+Jessica+Clair2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Photos by magnificent <a href="http://www.jessicaclaire.net/">Jessica Claire</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Update: one more example!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfHPrQfMBLb0UScYMqY2PLFdUIH-w_nm3ijDca8hYU_MKDod34Fit_kRgWAMJ5YqJVpBD5UPdJXYAqx4-P5YbCZE4MnEk70ZEKXU1BPxdPESceiwCnHRFwU1WeaoKCZc4YDpi6GFrsAQ/s1600-h/Emily+Photo+-+mismatched+bridesmaids+dresses.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfHPrQfMBLb0UScYMqY2PLFdUIH-w_nm3ijDca8hYU_MKDod34Fit_kRgWAMJ5YqJVpBD5UPdJXYAqx4-P5YbCZE4MnEk70ZEKXU1BPxdPESceiwCnHRFwU1WeaoKCZc4YDpi6GFrsAQ/s400/Emily+Photo+-+mismatched+bridesmaids+dresses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This wonderful implementation is via <a href="http://emily-photo.com/?p=372">Emily Photo</a><br /></div></div></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-84453934398308499082009-05-28T21:46:00.001-04:002009-05-28T22:29:41.840-04:00Reading is like living a double lifeI love to read. Most of my middle school and high school summers I spent under an apple tree on an old coat (serving as a mat) in my grandma's garden. I actually don't read, I "watch" what happens with the main characters in the books. "Watching" is possible if the book is well written, of course.<br />Here are the latest of my "second life" journeys:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEjS5oaVjqqd3NOlTjSZ9hn859AeYcJbWzf8eoUQ-EHZhpg9A5aabvKAaaVQQhPA0uuUaUzwCdB8XxzMJ4VIfHORI3VHuDybR7Ta2XFKUO44syQDhiyyNfdBOYJLZJ0qZFSnjnCtdqxWQ/s1600-h/atlas+shrugged.jpg"><img style="width: 176px; height: 275px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEjS5oaVjqqd3NOlTjSZ9hn859AeYcJbWzf8eoUQ-EHZhpg9A5aabvKAaaVQQhPA0uuUaUzwCdB8XxzMJ4VIfHORI3VHuDybR7Ta2XFKUO44syQDhiyyNfdBOYJLZJ0qZFSnjnCtdqxWQ/s400/atlas+shrugged.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />1)<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Centennial-Ed-HC/dp/0525948929/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243562312&sr=1-1"> Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand</a> - I have been reading it almost constantly since last September and just finished it - the slowest read of my life, but also, one of the most mind-opening, thought provoking, implacable in language, full of discoveries. About life, goals, happiness and love. Simply one of the best books I ever read.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGjXNzP2Fay-AnMmyW6LaokanPXJXmc84nEUQgITE62pJ0gF463qp_ZnEBNkuTCR9JMSCCBuy-U8S5k_-chSJ0PT_jltdstdbBOHOPLFosIxtphBivEh4IQ3d8oIOFqIv1QxCwTkFq4fX/s1600-h/Time+Traveler%27s+Wife.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGjXNzP2Fay-AnMmyW6LaokanPXJXmc84nEUQgITE62pJ0gF463qp_ZnEBNkuTCR9JMSCCBuy-U8S5k_-chSJ0PT_jltdstdbBOHOPLFosIxtphBivEh4IQ3d8oIOFqIv1QxCwTkFq4fX/s400/Time+Traveler%27s+Wife.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div> </div>2) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/015602943X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243562377&sr=1-1">Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger</a> - I always thought that it would be very interesting to travel in time, but after I watching "Back to the Future" I realized that we could alter our present if we do something in the past. The author of this book explores a different idea: what if nothing can be changed in the past or future, and you can only watch what happens, you don't have the control over "when" you are traveling: how are you supposed to live your live, have a family when you are time traveling?... Interesting!<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-6SIWB7rxRjXjtl9tqvOI_2L0cO09NDBtq5mSiRbvCDmvoYVVsEAHnNGWUEVn6wodK6fq0Ctc0klIIeEMRPU8I_kBa8f6MtcxFzmkzIDLH9oMZMuyiiK8jDSXX_uBUlVbUj3mx8x0GuG/s1600-h/Free+Food+for+Millionaires.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-6SIWB7rxRjXjtl9tqvOI_2L0cO09NDBtq5mSiRbvCDmvoYVVsEAHnNGWUEVn6wodK6fq0Ctc0klIIeEMRPU8I_kBa8f6MtcxFzmkzIDLH9oMZMuyiiK8jDSXX_uBUlVbUj3mx8x0GuG/s400/Free+Food+for+Millionaires.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />3) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Food-Millionaires-Min-Jin/dp/0446581089">Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee</a> - a story about a foreigner fitting into American culture, Wall Street and figuring out how much of her own Korean culture she should really reject and how much IS she really different from her family. The storyline is not that twisted, but if not for life's wisdom, this book is a good read for its language and the way the story is presented. In the introduction of this book I read that the author is a fan of Russian classics and uses traditional to Russian literature way of unveiling the story - in each scene the reader learns about his and hers feelings and thoughts. No wonder I liked the book so much!<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEWr50-7fgintWqhD_9yIzBR3-8scuuKlK7kJaqNv3OTK0NUkmjTiWzsac6ujCOK3uQ_iXD0qWtQK2OMJXxuhEnnQCJhInjD9M5Th6nTuHy4Yqo_yX_4FutYhqyhRnpIL5piK2cfOo5T0/s1600-h/Anna+Gavalda.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEWr50-7fgintWqhD_9yIzBR3-8scuuKlK7kJaqNv3OTK0NUkmjTiWzsac6ujCOK3uQ_iXD0qWtQK2OMJXxuhEnnQCJhInjD9M5Th6nTuHy4Yqo_yX_4FutYhqyhRnpIL5piK2cfOo5T0/s400/Anna+Gavalda.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br />4) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Anna+Gavalda&x=0&y=0">Anna Gavalda's</a> "I wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere", "Someone I loved" and "35 kilos of hope" - this new french author's creations remind me the ones from my favorite Russian author Victoria Tokareva - simple truth of life through the finest lace of the language.<br /><br />What are yours latest best reads?Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-91971571288743515702009-05-26T20:46:00.007-04:002009-05-26T21:22:51.246-04:00What Birthdays Are Made From<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDdKABbL3wnNmm8Zf-mWv-dWCkAY_wfKMgACufdrts5LKIPfzAfxHkaeIG6e-2mAA2PCr-6Yv9OlSKNv7TH8xnsWAJjguAlTucpnxWTQCR7yRXTvpYcEhX3H3epir0dwNA9FfIP3RfG1O/s1600-h/IMG_2632.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDdKABbL3wnNmm8Zf-mWv-dWCkAY_wfKMgACufdrts5LKIPfzAfxHkaeIG6e-2mAA2PCr-6Yv9OlSKNv7TH8xnsWAJjguAlTucpnxWTQCR7yRXTvpYcEhX3H3epir0dwNA9FfIP3RfG1O/s400/IMG_2632.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Birthdays are made from rays of love from parents, teasing from brothers, happy tears of grandmas, cards from the most special, most wonderful husband-to-be with flowers in 8 in the morning, visits from future newest part of the family, calls and emails from the closest friends, and finally a cozy gathering of friends around the picnic table on a golden from the sun May afternoon.<br />Complete and blesses with so much goodness I enter the new year of my life. :)<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAOGJFTdlnbo3pRepANpVypGYfvl5vnEutSjmBL_XiiUej_wo_YDczLbSUep4ur1bKGZzGeEKqJCQtXvUfqbcV6QU69j0YDsWn-sVuWjowFgQvlCCyoeJ5W4KcKGi9jhMUJ6HQcJe2h9a/s1600-h/IMG_2630.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAOGJFTdlnbo3pRepANpVypGYfvl5vnEutSjmBL_XiiUej_wo_YDczLbSUep4ur1bKGZzGeEKqJCQtXvUfqbcV6QU69j0YDsWn-sVuWjowFgQvlCCyoeJ5W4KcKGi9jhMUJ6HQcJe2h9a/s400/IMG_2630.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWkC2rGAs6ZWhZRoMTgC51-MEROqsPUT-52I7ahyphenhyphens6sSFsNCQ0yQ2-uhce43n4zKQ3NLqcYfGMs8VQr8W5h9RZHgL9hOj6OnWgic5kBpP0ZYb_n9bRWlOmDIGx19fmI4x8s_3nsO51Ehz/s1600-h/IMG_2629.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWkC2rGAs6ZWhZRoMTgC51-MEROqsPUT-52I7ahyphenhyphens6sSFsNCQ0yQ2-uhce43n4zKQ3NLqcYfGMs8VQr8W5h9RZHgL9hOj6OnWgic5kBpP0ZYb_n9bRWlOmDIGx19fmI4x8s_3nsO51Ehz/s400/IMG_2629.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-37289262540333525442009-05-23T14:03:00.002-04:002009-05-23T14:10:32.881-04:00Simple Pleasures of Home on A Saturday<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I love the home we made of our apartment. Here are little things that make our home so cozy for me:<br /><br />Our new white & fluffy blanket:<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs85C20KbbCtGLarKsj4d3j82qJJ0zxYsk59L4QiOw7_AF6JqViZ5efIwvQkHvK14tvNC3OYYXuvenaRBubw1N5aUyZmsfGrz0mwy21KkEoTjWjp2O3_5Bm6UqqUSkqWtoYdY1Sqez_4Oi/s1600-h/IMG_2616.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs85C20KbbCtGLarKsj4d3j82qJJ0zxYsk59L4QiOw7_AF6JqViZ5efIwvQkHvK14tvNC3OYYXuvenaRBubw1N5aUyZmsfGrz0mwy21KkEoTjWjp2O3_5Bm6UqqUSkqWtoYdY1Sqez_4Oi/s400/IMG_2616.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Colorful balcony rug and brand new greenery outside:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rmXpDP0b_oWsi-11IiteLINf866Zo6ERF6wfedOr6CX8zBc9l5KTTWsF_y4nS5Lz1kYEp5jESG2HHkyi36nhbUa_kEystDHljFiJRE0WGAmXOyxhHONreb02mbl6Pj9fGE778t2t3Bzy/s1600-h/IMG_2620.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rmXpDP0b_oWsi-11IiteLINf866Zo6ERF6wfedOr6CX8zBc9l5KTTWsF_y4nS5Lz1kYEp5jESG2HHkyi36nhbUa_kEystDHljFiJRE0WGAmXOyxhHONreb02mbl6Pj9fGE778t2t3Bzy/s400/IMG_2620.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We found a color match for our red chest at the end of the bed...<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY7KCD9IFS-GQN3sadQCbhxN_AKBcseyjzYm6N7pXArkEC28Aw4TNa-DnjT2I2ihkSMKPSaRJ9QVTASIx6yA3GKoJJyhXvpLpQq8-q8NqVue6BA0OvysnaHOKiEiuPkV6gZiOJe2LEaFJ/s1600-h/IMG_2614.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY7KCD9IFS-GQN3sadQCbhxN_AKBcseyjzYm6N7pXArkEC28Aw4TNa-DnjT2I2ihkSMKPSaRJ9QVTASIx6yA3GKoJJyhXvpLpQq8-q8NqVue6BA0OvysnaHOKiEiuPkV6gZiOJe2LEaFJ/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>These curtains immediately played up the presence of the chest in the room!<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4z9tpaXGPjoITkLzOexCyVrAYWlgkms9szLLreMEJ6Kxic0nQZ7q_0QmLanYhjmlVSkVyiOx106OQM3lXvg0PqWkhtN1wvN5gyRX_DQcRZnEWl1PIMowZx07JJU3w4fpX6JTKVB3kkLJ/s1600-h/IMG_2615.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4z9tpaXGPjoITkLzOexCyVrAYWlgkms9szLLreMEJ6Kxic0nQZ7q_0QmLanYhjmlVSkVyiOx106OQM3lXvg0PqWkhtN1wvN5gyRX_DQcRZnEWl1PIMowZx07JJU3w4fpX6JTKVB3kkLJ/s400/IMG_2615.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Ok, back to wedding planning: bridesmaids dresses, cakes, officiant (!). Happy beautiful long weekend!<br /></div> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><br /></a></div>Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007996896840917369.post-19147379443778037992009-05-22T10:39:00.000-04:002009-05-22T13:25:20.322-04:00A special day for my friendsWednesday was the wedding anniversary of one of my closest friend's.<br /><br />Kostya and Ania's wedding was very sincere and fun - just like they are. It was one of those weddings when both families and friends really enjoyed meeting each other. Lots of good memories!<br /><br />I just thought that next year there will be an new date to celebrate in our own soon to be family. :) The new date that will set a new tradition. I am conservative in nature - I like change, but it does not come to me easily. Traditions I enjoy very much, because they repeat. :) Since you know what to expect from a tradition, there is opportunity to savor one or the other particular moment of it every time it comes.<br /><br />I hope our wedding will be the one to remember for all of our guests, not just for us.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbGxy-sCUAi5lOcHgqBNR4bpzGVJuoIKlrLXtzo0-NNBwYwI8BYFCYCyO3ElWwj3vlvTh3Mw5fTAFegD573gm5sIAcxIFdEWIlIViLt2_qcQnDU_1u2g9oO6XbLU-jiJYgELLk3vOkYn_/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbGxy-sCUAi5lOcHgqBNR4bpzGVJuoIKlrLXtzo0-NNBwYwI8BYFCYCyO3ElWwj3vlvTh3Mw5fTAFegD573gm5sIAcxIFdEWIlIViLt2_qcQnDU_1u2g9oO6XbLU-jiJYgELLk3vOkYn_/s400/IMG_2504.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>This is a couple of weeks old snippet of my favorite tree that grows in front of my office. Love this time of the year and this tree! It is nature tradition and I anticipate it every time it comes. :)Elenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08916757156071917521noreply@blogger.com0