pinkapronpreview.com

Matt and I met in Nashville,TN the summer of 2005. We were very quickly put into the “long-distance” category of relationships as I went back to art school in Rhode Island and he ventured back to BYU in Utah. It’s amazing that although we were thousands of miles away and basically a country apart, we talked to each other every day for hours and saw each other once a month! Airlines loved us! I think there might have even been a few trips during our courtship that I spent more time traveling than I did actual time spent with Matt, but it was well worth it! Being long distance, we got to know each other so well with our 2-3 hour phone calls every night, although they had to wait until it was 9:00 mountain time, which meant I wasn’t going to bed until 1am…but that was pretty normal for art school anyway.

Most of our trips were to the other one’s location but a few times we had the opportunity to meet in fun places like Manhattan, where Matt’s brother and sister-in-law live, or Las Vegas where Matt’s dad lives. We had fun day trips to Boston and Newport, Rhode Island and when I spent a summer with Matt in Utah, we took a road trip to San Diego, CA – the place less than a year from that trip where we would seal the deal!

After our 2006 “summer of love” in Utah, I was certain that Matt would propose while we were in California for my birthday and when it didn’t happen, I was a bit disappointed. Matt flew back with me to Nashville, to then drive the 17 hours back to Providence for me to start another semester of school. I remember the day he flew back to Utah, I sat in my room crying…we had been together everyday for months and he was gone for at least 30 days – it was devastating and I knew I wanted to be with him forever, every single day of my life.

The next time we saw each other was midway through September in New York. Matt’s whole family was in town and we had a great long weekend together but when Matt flew back to Utah, and I was still missing a ring on my left hand, I was a little upset. I guess I’ll just have to wait until October, I thought. After Matt left New York on Tuesday, I stayed in the city because my class was coming to do a field trip on Thursday and Friday. By the time Friday rolled around, I had been gone from school for over a week and I was really feeling the itch to get back and get to work on all the assignments I was behind on – but my friend Gray just wouldn’t let me leave – he insisted that I meet him for breakfast on Saturday morning to meet a magazine editor he had worked with the previous summer. He then fed me a story about a huge party we were going to go to Saturday night. He especially stressed that his boss was going to be very critical of what I was wearing so, to make sure and wear something really cute.

The night before Matt’s brother and sister-in-law headed out of town and so I had Sheena’s closet to help me — she is a model! I found an adorable polka-dot top to wear with my black skinny jeans and off I went to meet Gray…

When I crossed 72nd street, I saw Grey standing outside a restaurant, holding a bag. As I approached, he whipped out a video camera. Yes, that’s right, a video camera, “Why are you video taping me?” to which Gray replied, “Oh, I just wanted to video you in the city, here open this,” and he handed me a light green envelope. As soon as I opened it, I knew I had been set up. It was obviously from Matt and the letter told me that throughout the day I would be going to places that we had shared memories together.

With Gray and video camera in tow, we went all over Manhattan that beautiful September day: Jamaba Juice to Kate Spade to Magnolia’s Bakery to the Phantom of the Opera theater to the MOMA to Mood Fabrics to Tiffany’s (where a necklace was waiting for me) to a Jazz club in Lincoln Center. At each location, people at the locations gave me the notes. Matt was just a few steps ahead of us the whole day. When we got to Dizzy’s jazz club, the last note said to leave Gray and to take the subway to Central Park and when I got out to, “Look to your feet for something pink.”

When I got out of the subway, I found pink arrows that Matt had sidewalk-chalked leading to “Strawberry Fields” in Central Park. Sitting under a pink arrow was my last note that ended with, “Look around the corner where your last clue is waiting patiently.” There he was, with a dozen roses and he bent down on one knee as asked me to make him the happiest man in the world. To top it off, when he opened the ring box, I fell to my knees as well. Crying, I said “Yes! Yes!”

As if the day hadn’t already been enough, he took me to see Wicked that night – which remains our favorite play so far. Matt and I love surprises and adventures. I love that our engagement story truly reflects who we are and will always be.

Tweet This Post

You have planned the perfect wedding. Every detail has been covered and double checked. Your honeymoon is booked, you used the internet, and got an amazing deal to Tahiti – can’t wait to get there! You got the new sexy bikini and matching cover up for the beach…he is really going to love you in it! You got the over the water bungalow special – it looks soooo romantic!….Lounging on the beach, the gentle waves splashing on the shore, light sea breeze, ahh! The day is finally here! Off to the airport, seat belt fastened, land in LA, next flight, seat belt fastened again….how many hours to Tahiti? Are you joking me?!? The internet didn’t tell me that!

You’re finally there! The sun is shining, palm trees everywhere. The water is beautiful from the air; just get me to the beach! But wait…how do we get to our resort, a bus ride to a…dock and then a ferry ride for 2 more hours to get to the island and then who picks us up and takes us to our resort? We can’t call the internet – who can we get to help us? I just want to go to the beach and sleep!

While this is an extreme case, it really happens, do you hear me, ALL the time!! You get to your destination and you go to the rental car counter and….no rental car, no reservation in your name, what do you do? Get to your hotel…. you booked an ocean front room with a balcony and get a garden view room and the hotel
refuses to give you the ocean front room because the internet reservation clearly states run of the house, which leaves you at the mercy of the front desk clerk. Too often this is the case and you have no where to turn, so you just accept the situation and try to have a happy honeymoon.

These kinds of situations can be avoided if you use a travel professional, otherwise known as a travel agent. There is never a cost or a fee to you! We like to say they do all the work and you have all the fun! Really, that is exactly how it works. You give the travel professional your ideas of where you think you would like to go, they do the research and bring back to you quotes. You then narrow it down.

Travel specialists also have a lot of knowledge about many different properties and destinations around the world. They know the nuances of destinations, what the best rooms and views are, where to go for that extra romantic dinner, which hotels are beach front and have a swimmable beach. If they are unfamiliar with a destination, they will ask a fellow agent and get good information back to you.

The biggest and most important service an agent provides to you is security! Yes, security! They are going to make sure every detail of your honeymoon is covered. Just like your wedding, planning is the key to
having a dream honeymoon and that is exactly what your travel specialist does for you for FREE – planning and covering all the details.

If something goes wrong, you can call them at any hour of the day if they are a good travel agent. They will even answer the phone at 1:00 am in the morning. She is there to watch your back and make sure all the details are executed as they should be, so you and your fiancé can have the honeymoon of your dreams, the perfect compliment to the perfect wedding. You have so much to plan for, let a travel specialist take care of the honeymoon details!  

Tweet This Post

I know so many of us lose weight more easily with a low carb lifestyle – yours truly included! So, as I was thinking about this eve’s culinary indulgence, my mind wandered to the chicken breast cutlets, squash, fresh salsa, and spinach awaiting me in my fridge. Presto! A fantastic low carb meal was born! What’s your favorite low carb dinner – hope you enjoy mine!

Blessings,
Miss K

Cheesy Salsa Chicken with Mixed Squash and Spinach Salad

UTENSILS: Large Skillet, 2 qt saucepan, Meidum Mixing Bowl

INGREDIENTS:

6 Chicken Cutlets, Darn Good Seasoning, 3 Sandwich Slices of Colby Jack Cheese (or your favorite), 1 1/2 – 2 cups of your favorite fresh salsa, 4 Small Yellow Squash & 1 Medium Zucchini (thickly sliced) 2 Garlic Cloves (minced), 1/4 Sweet Yellow Onion (thinly sliced), 1 Bag of Baby Spinach, 10 Strawberries (thinly sliced), 1/2 Cup Pine Nuts, 1/2 Cup Crumbled Gorgonzola or Feta Cheese, 1/2 Cup Crispy Bacon (chopped), 1/4 Cup Raspberry or Balsamic Vinaigrette

TO START:

Preheat the large skillet on Meidum heat for about 3 minutes. Season the chicken with Darn Good. When the skillet is ready, add the chicken and cover, whistle open.

MEANWHILE:

Saute the minced garlic and onion on medium heat in the 2 qt saucepan and slice the squash. When the onions begin to caramelize (about 5 minutes) add the squash, salt & pepper, and 1 TBSP of water to the pan, cover, whistle open and cook on medium heat.

When the whistle sounds on the chicken, uncover, flip and cover with the salsa. Recover, whistle closed, and turn the burner to low. In 8 minutes, uncover, and add 1/2 slice of cheese to each piece of chicken. Recover and turn the burner off. Let stand until you are read to serve.

When the whistle sounds on the squash, close the whistle and turn the burner off. Remove the squash to a cold burner and allow to stand until you are ready to serve.

TO FINISH:

In the medium mixing bowl, toss the spinach with the sliced strawberries, pine nuts, crumbled cheese, chopped bacon, and dressing.

Serve and enjoy!

Tweet This Post