Recycle Take 2 by Jan, Shirley, and Yvonne

Nor Cal

Hey Fam, yes I am still alive and no my fingers aren't broke. I just havn't been inspired to blog in a minute HOWEVER, today is different. I am overflowing with inspiration, I am oozing inspiration, one might say I am even spewing inspiration. OOPS, i've got inspiration running down my leg....

Nat and I got home around 11pm from our trip to Monterrey to check out the ceremony site, the towns of Monterrey, Carmel and Pacific Grove, hotel ideas, bakery's and florists. Most of those items don't concern me but I wanted to give you my take on the hidden treasure that will be Kristi and Ken's haven of romance. 

I will spare many details as I am sure Nat will do a comprehensive and exhaustive re-canting in her blog in short order. Complete with pics.

Monterrey is a historic village that was obviously founded with fishing as it's primary trade. The town is reminiscent of an east-coast fishing village but has a  strong california flava. It is nestled in the hilly, not quite mountainy, woodlands of northern california with gorgeous beaches and a TON of outdoor activity and tourism!  Everyone we encountered was extremely friendly and loved the life they were living in this area. Even the waitress that served us lunch at this awesome little "home converted restaurant" told us she moved down from SFO and would never leave. Once we told her we were from the Temecula area she winced and said, "You should move here". Delicious sandwiches by the way and I had the best crock of white corn soup I've ever had in my life. 

The actually location of the ceremony is a really cool secluded beach about 20 minutes away from the reception/hotel area. It is a beautiful cove that boasts a round sandy beach that has large rock formations jetting out into the bay on one side. The cove is overlooked by $3.5 million dollar, 2,000 square foot, cottages that look like they came straight out of Snow White. 

The reception building is very deceiving.  From the outside it looks like a lime green boxcar on the beach. Once we went inside I nodded my head in agreement that, from what I heard Ken and Kristi talking about, this was the beachy, party environment they were looking for. No this is not a boring, elegant hotel conference room with moveable paper thin partitions (walls). This place is designed for a CELEBRATION and that is what it is all about. 

All in all, this is going to be a lot of fun for everyone involved and is going to be a precious memory for Kristi and Ken to treasure as their wedding site. I can see them taking trips back to one the many bed and breakfast locations in the hills on their benchmark anniversaries. Pictures do not do this place justice but TYLER IS GOING TO HAVE A FIELD DAY PHOTOGRAPHING THIS PLACE!!!!!

ENSOR OUT!!!!

Happy Labor Day to Jennifer!

Oh and birthday to Katy :)

Boy does she look tired.

Katy told me this morning that she is skipping over 2 and going straight for 3! WAHOOO!!