We will be 3

So, the big big update today is that we found out that...

SALVATORE will be joining us all in the celebration!

That's right!

It's a BOY!!!! A BOY!!! A BOY!!!

So, Mimmo, myself, and Salvatore will be seeing y'all very soon! :-)

Invites are out...

Dearest friends and families,

By now, you will have all received your messages in a bottle :-). We are getting so excited to see you all so soon and CELEBRATE!!!

Wanted to update here with some new information. Again, please feel free to email me with any questions you may have: lislac@hotmail.com.

AIRPORTS:

The 2 closest airports to Berkeley are:

1) Oakland International Airport (OAK)

2) San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

I've added a link to the right to reach the OAK & SFO websites.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BERKELEY MARINA & PARKING:

I've also added a link to the right where you can download and print out directions.



The Berkeley Marina is located behind the Doubletree Hotel just off of Marina Boulevard

From Eastbound 1-80

Take the University Avenue exit. Stay right and go straight under the overpass (follow signs to 4th Street/Marina). Make a right onto Hearst Street. Make a right on 6th Street. Make a right on University Avenue. Follow University Avenue over the freeway towards the water. Veer right onto Marina Boulevard. The Doubletree Hotel will be on your left.

From Westbound I-80

Take University Avenue exit. Make a left onto University Avenue. Veer right onto Marina Boulevard. The Doubletree Hotel will be on your left.

From the South Bay

Take 880 North. Exit to 980. Then take 580 West towards San Francisco. Veer right onto I-80 East towards Berkeley. Then follow directions from Eastbound I-80.

ITINERARY:

12:45 pm - 01:00 pm Board at Doubletree Hotel Guest Dock, Berkeley Marina
01:00 pm - 01:30 pm Dockside Ceremony on Sun Deck
01:30 pm - 04:15 pm Cruise on the San Francisco Bay with drinks, lunch, & dancing
04:15 pm - 04:30 pm Dock and Disembark at Berkeley Doubletree Guest Dock, Berkeley Marina

MEAL REQUESTS:

Please let me know if you need a vegetarian meal as soon as possible as I can request this with Hornblowers.

ABOUT THE EMPRESS HORNBLOWER:

The Empress Hornblower is a 100-foot motor yacht, built in Freeport, Florida in 1988 and refitted in 1990. Her exterior is reminiscent of a turn of the century Paddle Wheel Riverboat while her interior provides the elegant amenities of a luxurious hotel or banquet room. Empress Hornblower is equipped with the rich woods and shining brass typical of Hornblower's Yachts. Her two interior decks feature mahogany bars, chandeliers, wall sconces, hardwood dance floors and plush carpeting, as well as a fully equipped galley where all meals are prepared fresh by Hornblower's talented chefs. Her promenade deck and expansive sun deck, complete with bar and awning, enable guests to enjoy sun-filled afternoons and starlight evenings. Guests are seated at tables graced with white linens, china and brass lantern centerpieces.

See you all soon!

xo,
Lisa, Mimmo, & the growin' sweet potato

We're Coming!

Well, dear family & friends, we are on our way soon!

For those of you who don't know, La Sposa began as my chronicling of being an American bride in Italy through all the stages of pre-wedding planning. It then became our photo album to share with everyone far away our 2 nuptials - Italian/Catholic and Greek/Orthodox. Now, with La Sposa, I will try to include as much info for our California Wedding Cruise on June 10, 2007:

1) Travel - For those of you that will be travelling to Berkeley, I have included links to the right of places to stay in Berkeley. I also included all the budget search engines, as sometimes they're the more economical route to go when booking. Please feel free to email me with any questions at lislac@hotmail.com.

2) Registry - As Mimmo & I are currently living in Italy, we will not have a wedding registry, as I have not been able to find an international one. If this changes, I will update the blog here to let you know.

3) The BIG news - For those of you that don't know, we are PREGNANT! :-) So, on June 10th, I will be a 6-month pregnant, 3x married (in one year!) bride! We are looking forward to celebrating with you all! I started a new blog with all the pregnancy details at: http://calitalimamma.blogspot.com

See you all soon!!!

xo,
Lisa & Mimmo

June 10, 2007

We're Coming!

Save the date for our California Wedding!

Sunday, June 10, 2007
aboard The Empress
with Hornblowers' Cruises
at the Berkeley Marina
in Berkeley, CA

More details to follow!

*Image by permission of artist Jennifer Davis. "Mississippi". http://www.jenniferdavisart.com

Nesting Part 2

I am resting. A lot in these days. And, so's Mimmo even though he's working a lot more than me right now. Our new home is very comfortable. I've just started venturing into cooking meals for the family. Had Gilda, Tullio, & Salvatore over last weekend and cooked spaghetti with octopus for the first time (octopus that Mimmo caught!) and they claimed it was "buono!". Today, I had Teresa, the twins, & Stefania over for lunch and roasted chicken with potatoes, made spaghetti with crabs, and carciofi (articokes) alla romana. So, I guess you could say that I'm nesting.

I need to be writing more, but La Sposa seems to be coming to an end here and it's time to open up a new blog. I started one before La Sposa that I never formatted. Look for a link to come!


The view from our new home

Reflections...

There are many, but I feel as if I missed sharing a very important one and that is the incredible gratitude that I feel toward my dear testimonia/soul sister/woman (uh, matron sounds so wrong) of honor J.

Jill and I have been through a lot together and being with me as I went through the wedding process was an intense one. So, to Jill, thank you for always being by my side and staying on the ride even when it got bumpy. For giving me so much encouragement, reminding me to take good care, and to stay in my truth. I would not have been able to make it through without you, my dear friend.

Jill & I at Emilio's February 2005

Jill & I in Bacoli September 2006

On the edge of the world...

...at least, that’s what it felt like being on that spot with the sun going down…

Il Cielo 2

The sky that day.

Emilio's

Although we didn't get married there nor have our reception there (which were the original plans), we took some of our pictures there. It truly is an eden.

Down by the Water

The day of our Greek wedding we were blessed with what my sister deemed "magic lighting". So, it was off to the port once more and these are the best of the best (and what has taken me so long to sort through...because when you have "magic lighting" and Elena Maria LaCuesta behind the camera, there's not a bad picture in the bunch.)

Another Cake Cutting