Weekend fun

So, I decided earlier in the week I kinda wanted to lay low this weekend since I've had a few past weekends of spending too much money and intaking too many calories. So, my dear friend Stephen got back from Iraq this week. I can't tell y'all how excited I was to hear his voice, see his face and hug his neck! He and his fiance Kristen live about 45 min outside of ATL, kinda on th edge of Athens. It's a pretty small town area, not somwhere you'd normally go for the weekend. But Stephen offered it the right time for me b/c I had planned to do nothing. So after work on Friday I ventured up 85N and into the country side of Georgia to Winder,GA. It felt just like old times being with those two! I kinda never let myself think too much of the reality of where Stephen was because I knew it'd make me worried and there was nothing I could do about that. So it was interesting to hear about the couple of incidents of shootings and bombings that Stephen had to deal with over there. I'm so glad he's back on USA ground! We went to a lil Mexican restaurant right by their house. We had the best time and stayed there til late in the night at the rooftop bar...who knew rooftop bar in Winder,GA? haha! I know there will be many more fun things planned for the summer with those two. And I can't wait for their wedding in October!

Saturday I enjoyed the sunny drive back into the city. I had the house to myself all weekend (YAY!) and I completely vegged! I discovered the joy of Redbox,the $1 movie rental. The evening entailed 2 great movies, pizza and wine and maybe a little bit of cookie dough!!! hahaha! Simply marvelous!

Then today was Sunday Funday b/c finally a day of pure sun in the ATL! Haley and I packed the coolers and headed to Mireille's pool. Cooper joined us too and we had a great day of playing, sunning and a few daquiries. Finally, around 3 we were starved and hopped in Cooper's Jeep and went to Tin Lizzy's, bathing suits and all. I forgot the great feeling of riding in Jeep on a sunny day! So carefree-like! Sadly though I got too eager about the potential sun-kissed glow I'd have finally and only put on 4spf. Seriously, Brandi??? So yes, now i"m a little lobster like.

Kind of a random weekend and nothing too exciting to blog about but exactly what i wanted from the weekend...friends, fun and relaxing!

May Delayed

So since my Greece wedding blogging took forever for me to get out, I missed one of the best months ever!!! MAY!!!! As most of you know, my BIRTHDAY month!!! And yes, I did celebrate it the whole week. I went home for Mother's DAy the weekend before and celebrated with great dinner at Little Savannah on Saturday and Sunday brunch at Jackson. Lil Savannah was awesome as usual!!! Gotta love when you get appetizers-desserts b/c it's your b'day and the parentals are paying! haha! :)

Then Monday, Haley, Cooper and I decided on a last minute Tin Lizzy's meeting (delicious nice Mexican restaurant that's always packed!) And Tuesday, my b'day, my office bought a big cake and sang to us...i say us b/c out of the 12 folks in my small office one other lady has the same b'day. How funny huh?! But I love any b'day celebration...the more the merrier. That night I went over to Beth and Casey's who had a lovely lil cupcake/cake array for me to celebrate with. And I hadn't seen Beth in so long we had lots to catch up on! Then Saturday night we all went out to Shout! a restaurant in Midtown. My good friend Cooper, got us hooked up with a private cabana area on the upstairs deck that had great views of ATL. It was so fun, I felt so important, even had a sign that said happy b'day in our booth area! haha! We then: hit the town, met some great people at a new fun bar, danced a bit, went to a scary late night bar, took some pictures with a speed bump b/c at that point in the night it made sense...aka great b'day!!! LOL!

(the girls at our cabana, even had our own TV, ha!)

Other big weekend was of course Memorial Day! Unfortunately, the weird weather mess up most of our outdoor plans of festivals and pool time. But overall good weekend. We hit up Yacht Rock, a band that plays great music from the 70's and my favorite "Brandy(i) You're a Fine Girl". There was a fun group there and I made 3 new friends that night...this is my new goal to make new friends every weekend. If I get 1/2 of one it's a successful weekend no matter what! haha!

(me, Cooper, Haley listening to Yacht Rock)

Saturday we were able to lay by the pool for most of the day. Then walked over to Phipps mall in our bathing suits/coverups, which was pretty funny considering this is a pretty yuppy mall! We definitely got some looks. After a few hours Haley finally talked me into joining her on a bike ride. I haven't done this in AGES. But Haley's training for a triathlon, so I sucked it up. Then about mile 5 later I was regretting it! No turning back, so I made it 8 miles!!! I was super impressed with myself. Liked it but not enough to spend the money on a bike for myself. The rest of the weekend wasn't too exciting just church, shopping, organizing the room, out for a casual night. (most plans ruined by rain)

Other things that've gone down in May that I don't feel like blogging about but are worth mentioning (maybe):

1) Got hit on in the grocery store=first ATL date (i'll blog about that soon enough, it was "interesting")

2)We went to Cinco de Mayo celebrating...see below!

3)helped Haley demo her new kitchen (just a few good wacks actually but fun!)

4)Went out on the town in Vinings to hear a new ATL friend play in a band

5)Got to talk to Stephen in America! He's back and safe from Iraq!!!!

6) my dear friend Beth got engaged! YAY! I predicted a long time ago when they first started dating that they'd get married and voila...I'm so smart! haha!

7) Technically, another BIG engagment happend at the end of April, gotta shout out to my wonderful, sweet Elizabeth, who ventured out to California years ago and found a great fish in the big sea over there! YAY Mike and Liz!!! Can't believe what a year can bring! Loves it!

8)Another long time friend Laura, who already has twin boy and girl, is having another BOY!!! YAY, can't wait to see Laura deal with 3 kids!!! LOL! She's the best momma ever!

9) I became senior (somewhat at my office). My counterpart job for other boss, who trained me and has been at ANH forever, took a leave of absence for a month or 2, leaving me to figure it all out...for me and her replacement! Definitely going to be interesting days ahead.

10)I became more comfortable...day by day...in a city I'm a stranger to...

Mr and Mrs Vasilaki

So I just want to preface this entry with the fact that this part of the trip is nearly impossible to describe. Being there on that island, epsecially with the emotions that I know have gone into this relationship, make this wedding so difficult to put into words. But here goes the final ending of the trip....

So we all meet and ride together in the big pink palace bus to the next village where Christos grew up. Christos and all of his family and a few friends wait at the church outside. While all of Haley's family and friends were instructed to go to the town square. So we all wind through the village and arrive at the square and wait patiently for our dear Haley. Finally, she arrives in a BMW convertible with her brother and dad. The parade of cars that brought here to the village square all have red bandanas (similar to the one used for the making of the bed ceremony) tied to their car mirrors and honk while they go through the village. When Haley pulled up she looked like a movie star! So gorgeous and everyone was doing this whole parade for her! She then gets out and the men in her family (brother and dad) lead her through the village to the church holding the red bandanas with everyone following behind her. Seriously it was like a scene from a movie. This picture below is when I looked at Haley and said "is this really happening" and she was like "i know, crazy!" Oh and did i mention the 3 piece band that walked in front of her...oh yeah she had her own lil band. Others in the village look out their windows and wave and stare as we all trap through the village to the church. There Christos is waiting for her outside. They then head inside the church together.

First let me say that Christo was one of the happiest grooms I've ever seen! If you've seen any of the pictures on facebook, you can tell 100%. He was like a kid on Christmas day that got every single thing he ever wanted under the tree. Ok, so inside. the wedding is nothing like ours...people talk and kinda mingle about kids run around only a few people sit in the few rows of seats at the church. I was standing front and center behind the altar area. I wanted to see it all, especially since it was all in Greek! Haley had already worned us that everyone talks during the wedding (so strange I know!) and told us Americans not to say a word! haha! It was definitely all Greek to me but you could still see the symbolism in a lot of the things the priest did, like 3 times blessings and the last supper type stuff. Haley had also done a great job of giving us all a run down of what it all means in Greek, in our welcome room packages. The best/funniest part of the wedding is when the couple walks around the table 3 times. This is when everyone pelts (and yes I mean pelt) them with rice. And not just a little bit of rice...like enough rice to feed a third world country!!!! And the Greeks are smart they don't just waste their rice on the first time around, which I of course did in my excitment! It was hilarious, poor Haley and Christo were picking rice out of every nook and crany for days! Even Haley's new sister-in-law came up right at the very end and just chunked some in her face! hahaha!!! But they see this as good luck type, blessed thing.

So YAY, it's official she's Haley Vasilakis now!(weird! only cried a lil bit during wedding!) Off to the reception. They had been cooking lots and lots of meat all day long. They have like 5 meals brought out over the course of the whole night! I mean it was amazing...cheeses, olives, delicious spreads, cooked peppers, chicken, meatballs, some other meat and the lamb. I can't even begin to describe the amount of food! And of course lots of wine and ouzo! :) And then of course, as I told ya'll previously there was DANCING!!!! All types of dancing, old, young, talented, not talented, but Greek so they looked better than me! haha! Christo's brother Makis is an amazing dancer and brought his group he dances with and did an amazing show...fire, plate breaking and all!!! I even got roped into some dance off with this Greek girl who felt sorry for me and was trying to teach me some moves...hilarious to say the least!But she's now my friend on facebook! haha! I could go on and on about the dancing...it went all night! Slow dancing, old school American music dancing, Greek music...etc, etc....



Then of course my favorite time...the bouquet toss!!! LOL! As many might know I get really competitive about the bouquet toss, I know catching it means nothing which is why i love to break all those hopeful girls hearts by catching it. Not to mention it's just kinda big joke now that I always catch them and I'm so short, so kinda ironic....plus it makes for hilarious wedding photos!!!! And once again I didn't disappoint in that area! Sadly the bouquet hit this ceiling bar thing and didn't make it to the waiting women, so I gracefully dove to where it was and swooped it up! Victoriously raising my arms while still on my knees!!! hahah! once again...entertainment for all!!!! :) Goal accomplished!
Amazing wedding for everyone!!! And of course, as is the trend, the party continued at the reception bar...i did see the sun rise that morning folks....and I remember it! haha! Met a great Hungarian guy and another Canadian who I stayed up talking with about life and Greece about for hours!

The next day was filled with beach lounging and eating lots and lots of wedding meats and dishes left over! We all set around on the beach porch and talked about the wedding, life and of course...love!!! haha!!! Wish you all could've been there as I could write forever about the week! But finally...something else for my blog coming up!!!