Remembering 9/11~

We Will Never Forget!
Kevin and I remember those who lost their lives on this day nine years ago. Thoughts and prayers to the families of those who died, All the police, firefighters, first responders and to the men and women of the US Military who still fight for our freedom today. Thank you for everything! 


Nine years ago Kevin and I were living in Fort Wayne Indiana and we were getting ready to enjoy our day off together we had tickets to the Jimmy Buffet concert that day. We were all set to head to Noblesville Indiana to Deer Creek Music Center to celebrate the end of summer. However we never made it to Deer Creek that day, something bigger was happening. We woke up to turn on the news to find out that a plane had flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center. At the time we thought what a horrible accident, but then at 9:03 a.m. a second plane hit the south tower and we instantly knew something was NOT right. We continued to watch the news as the information began to flood in to CNN and other various news outlets. By this time every single media outlet had stopped regular programming and started solely covering what was happening in New York City. Our greatest fears were realized this was NO accident it was an act of terrorism. The terrorist organization which I refuse to name to give them any sort of public acknowledgment would strike again at the Pentagon, but would fail to reach their fourth target. The brave passengers of United Flight 93 stormed the cockpit and drove the plane down into a field in rural Pennsylvania, they did not die in vain they are hero's! The passengers of United Flight 93 saved hundreds of lives while it is still unclear the intended target there is speculation to this day that it was either the White House or the Capitol Building. 


Here we remember those who lost their lives...September 11 Memorial

Andy and Danielle's Wedding Weekend~

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs Andy Hartle~

Kevin and I set out on Thursday Morning bright and early to head to Emmetsburg Iowa our destination was clear- get to the Wild Rose Casino! Emmettsburg is in Northern Iowa and you can see for miles...to sum up its peacefully gorgeous. After driving 11 and a half hours we arrived at the casino at 5:00 PM Central time. Upon our arrival we checked in and were immediately greeted with a welcome gift bag complete with essentials from bottled water, granola bars and Iowa Hawkeyes popcorn.

OUR GIFT BAG~

After we checked in we headed to Whittemore, Iowa to Danielle's Parents house for the meet and greet cocktail reception and tacos in a bag! We had a great time meeting everyone and enjoying the food and drink. It was about 9:30 or so when the drinking games began..its so funny how quickly the rules and the way to play quickly return to from memory! 

 After a great night with everyone we returned to the Casino for a great night's sleep. 

Friday was a BIG day, Kevin spent the majority of the day working at the hotel.I had a full 

schedule with the bride and her best friend Melani, who was one of her bridesmaids. We went to the bridal shoppe to get the tuxes, and Danielle's gown. 

 

After spending the afternoon running light errands and helping Danielle prep for the rehearsal dinner and the day. Melani and I quickly returned to the hotel to drop stuff off to her room and Andy's room. Melani headed back to Whittemore which is exactly 20 mins from Emmettsburg, while I stayed behind to get ready for the rehearsal dinner. 

Everyone gathered at the Parish Center in Whittemore for the rehearsal dinner and had a great time talking, laughing and sharing stories. The bride and groom thanked everyone for coming and shared gifts of gratitude with the wedding party.

 

After the dinner it was back to the hotel and grand ballroom to practice the ceremony and make sure everyone had their places set and what they were going to do on the big day! The rehearsal for the ceremony went very well, we only had to run through everything twice so that was great! We then went to the Irish Pub in the casino and continued the weekend celebration. We filled the bar with friends and family and when it was time for the bar to close we all proceeded downstairs to try our luck at some gambling! The groom and the brides mom seem to be the big winners of the weekend winning upwards of $600 combined! 

THE BIG DAY~

The wedding day started bright and early I met the bride for a little breakfast, went over some last minute details on how to make the day flow more smoothly. The bridesmaids were on their way to get their hair styled which was about 45 minutes away . I had so much fun I helped Maureen place favors on the tables and the place cards for close family and friends. Then I had to get her to the bridal suite to get her hair done, and make sure we were running on schedule and we were! With time running out until it was time for pictures at noon - we needed to get the covers and ties on the chairs unfortunately there was no staff around to help us with this task. Enter the Groomsman and a fleet of friends to help! We had the chair covers on in no time and they were able to return to their respective TV's for the opening of football season - they have something called "Hawkeye Day" so apparently its a big deal.  Then I was off to check in with the Bride to make sure she was doing ok before I went to get ready. I came back to the bridal suite and hair my hair done, then it was time to get the Bride ready, it was almost PICTURE TIME!  So fun helping Danielle get ready, from the dress to the jewels~ her mom was in the room with her, her future sister in law Megan and her cousin who was taking a ton of candid photos were all in the room to see the Bride in her gown and all put together for the first time!

Finally it was time to send Danielle to meet Andy and it was a great moment!

 After the Pictures it was time for the ceremony, and it was gorgeous! There were so many guests and everything was so beautiful! 

 

 After the ceremony there was a short cocktail reception then it was back to the ballroom for the introductions of the Bridal Party and the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Andy Hartle~  

There was dancing, and singing to songs like Sponge Bob Square Pants where the Bride and her new stepson Brayden danced and had a great moment together. We enjoyed singing Don't Stop Believing by Journey and Michael Jackson's Thriller got everyone up and trying to replicate those famous dance moves!  

 

It was a great weekend and The Bride and Groom are off to a wonderful Honeymoon in Punta Cana! 

 

~Congrats to Andy and Danielle~

Time To Play Catch Up~

Ok so apparently its been a hot minute since I have posted on here! Kevin and I have had a pretty fun couple of months Here are a few of the Highlights

Welcome Mason Jack~ Born on June 16th 2010

Michael Buble Concert 6-29-10 
 

Lisa's Baby Shower~

On Sunday we gathered to celebrate the arrival of Mason Jack who will be here on June 3rd! YAY! Lisa and Jack have had an amazing journey these past few months from getting married last fall and finding out the happy news that they will welcome "The Little Prince" in June~ here are a few moments that were captured by Jana from the baby shower that was hosted by Tricia (Lisa's BFF and fellow Parisian fan).

Lisa (beautiful mom to be) and Tricia (the hostess with the mostest)

The Shopping Foursome ~ Nordies will never be the same

What's this suprise in here for baby Mason

Things are so much cuter when they are so tiny!

The Little Prince

Midwest Fashion Week ~

Kevin and I spent a few days attending most of the events during Midwest Fashion Week~ We had such a great time!

The Runway Black Diamond Fashion Show

My seat during The Black Diamond Show - VIP Style

Me and Kevin

Me and Kristen Files Head Designer of Mesela 

Me and the Sachika Twins

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my 33rd Birthday!! YAY ME!!

I have had the best year - cannot wait to see what lies ahead!!

Me at the Coliseum in Rome!

Rite of Election

Kevin and I are currently going through the conversion process and taking RCIA classes to join the Catholic faith - We are so blessed to have such a wonderful support system and this is such an exciting time in our life. This past Sunday (2-21-10) I participated in the Rite of Election , with Bishop William Higi at the Diocese of Lafayette.


Kevin will participate on the 28th of Feburary - the reason we are going through at different times is because Kevin was baptised before but I have never been baptised.

Me and Mary Grace my sposor - yep she is vouching for me : )

Mary Grace is introducing me to Bishop Higi

The Holy Spirt Parish Catechumens and Sponsors with the Bishop

They Say Its Your Birthday~

Kevin made me a birthday cake - YUM Chocolate! Brody and Kennedy helped decorate the cake for me - it was such a nice suprise when I got home from a long day of work!!

Brody and Kennedy could be pastry chefs ~

Adding the icing ~

Beautiful Decorations ~ I love the colors

YUMMY ~ even a double layer of cake with frosting in the middle!!

GO COLTS!! HAPPY SUPER SUNDAY

Kevin and I are getting ready for the game ~ hopefully we will be celebrating another win ~ the boys in BLUE hopefully bring home another Lombardi Trophy

SUPER COLTS in the SUPER BOWL

The Indianapolis Colts are headed back to Miami for the 2nd time in four years!! Needless to say Kevin and I are pumped! Get ready to party!!  Everytime the Colts have been to the SUPER BOWL its been played in Miami! Did you know that the first time they won the Super Bowl it was with a Rookie Head Coach and now they are going back to Miami with Jim Caldwell - Rookie Head Coach!

Pierre Garcon - shows the fans that Haiti is always on his mind

SWEET VICTORY ~ SUPER BOWL BOUND

~BLUE HEAVEN~

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7TH 2010 - BREES YOU'RE GOING DOWN

 YELL SCREAM GO HORSE - GO COLTS

Stuffed Chilli & Cheese Potato

I found this great receipe in Fitness Magazine its under 500 calories

Ingredients:
1 medium potato

1/2 cup turkey or vegetarian chili

2 cups frozen broccoli

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese


Make it: Microwave potato for about 7 minutes. Wrap it in foil and let sit for 5 minutes. In a pot, warm chili and broccoli. Cut potato lengthwise, top with chili mixture, and sprinkle with cheese. 

Christy's New Year's Weight Loss Challenge

I am starting the new year off with the same resolution I have every year ~ "lose weight"! However this year I am challenging myself to obtain this goal by doing three things~
1.      To Workout More
2.      Eating Better
3.      Taking the bad stress and stressors out of my life

By doing these three things I believe I can achieve my weight loss goal for 2010  

This is me now at 218 pounds ..I know shocking right??? I plan to lose 25 pounds by the end of  March!

So I will continue to do weekly updates and hopefully I can not only achieve my goals but motivate and inspire some of you to do the same thing.

New Year's Blizzard Bocce Bowl

Every New Year's Day, the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana's Bocce Committee sponsors the "Blizzard Bocce Bowl."  This year was no exception, and at 10 degrees, it was one of the coldest yet!  30 die-hards showed up and shared a couple of hours of fun and wine to kick off the new year.

Taking down the Christmas Tree

Since ringing in the new year it is time to take down the tree ~ Kevin says that its easier taking down than putting it up and I am inclined to agree with him~ He took the tree down and I put away the Christmas decorations around the house while Bailey and Boomer helped with taking down the tree ..or something like that

Boomer is enjoying the last layer of the tree before it goes in the box

 But then we found him in the box and he stayed there for a little while

So Boomer didn't want the tree to be put away but he eventually left the Christmas Tree box and let us put it up! Goodbye to Christmas 2009 ~ welcome the new year!!