Embarrassing but True

This is incredibly embarrassing, but after being married on 11/24/2007, I just ordered a wedding album last week. Yea, that is awful.

Truthfully, I’ve had it made since we got our photos back, but I was a) procrastinating and b) it sort of felt incomplete, but I wasn't really sure why.

I used MyPublisher, and back when I originally compiled it, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea that I couldn’t use color in my album. I am, after all, a person who loves a lot of color (as you’ll notice when you see our location). Finally, about a year ago, MyPublisher came out with a version in which I could add color. Perfect! So, I changed the album to my liking, and then….well, just sat on it some more.

Last week, I got an email from the folks at MyPublisher saying they were offering an incredible deal. They launched a new album cover type (photo finish), and you could have your very own (wedding) album for $20 with unlimited pages! This was a savings for me of $75 per album! With one for me, and one for my parents, that was a total savings of $150; definitely not chump change!

So, I finally ordered the album, and let me tell you—it was worth the wait! The new cover type is my favorite of the cover options (it has a very professional look), and the bold color came out beautifully (and true to what I expected it to be)! (FYI: this deal is on for one more day (ends tomorrow), so you have time to make your own! Use the coupon code “PHOTO20”. )

And, since I was a horrible blogger, and never got around to showing off more of my wedding pictures, here’s the link to my album instead. Enjoy!

Location: The beautiful Compass Point Beach Resort
Arriving via: The super fun Carnival Fascination (no longer docked in Miami)
Photographer: The absolutely incomparable (seriously) Kristyn Hogan Photography

A Diver's Dream

The cruise we just booked for next March:

Grand Cayman

Belize

Roatan, Honduras

Cozumel, Mexico

Yep, I do realize we're booking way in advance (the price was rising, so we thought it in our best interest to get the rate locked in) and that the last picture is actually Tulum (we didn't make it out there on our honeymoon, so we plan on hitting it up this time!). :)

http://www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=MIA&itinCode=WCX&durDays=7&shipCode=VA&subRegionCode=CW&rateCode=BCA&sailingID=46244&sailDate=3%2f15%2f2009

Day 4--Chillin'

I'm going to bypass day three until we get our professional photos. I have a feeling that I will be able to do a much better job of telling the story with them, and that way, we can avoid repeats. :) In the mean time, here's a little something to hold you over. The beautiful Compass Point in all its glory.

Not many photos from Day 4 because everyone was exhausted from the party the night before. My husband and I didn't even roll out of bed until about noon, and spent most of the rest of the day relaxing by the pool.

In the afternoon, we went to a talent show featuring my SUPER adorable cousins. :) They were fantastic (they are both very talented gymnists) and just FAR too cute. :) I don't feel comfortable posting pictures of children here, but here's a picture of one of our guests who was seriously FREAKED out by Funship Freddie. ;)

After the talent show, we got dressed for dinner and headed to the comedy show which was, truthfully, sub par compared to what we were used to with Carnival, but it was just another opportunity to spend some time with our guests, which we loved.

Other than that, sadly, this is all the pictures we have from day 4. Everyone was nursing hangovers and prepping for their return home.

Day 3 & reviews coming soon.

In the mean time, my husband and I will be finishing out our finals and heading off on our honeymoon in Playa del Carmen. :)

Day 2--Shape Up or Ship Out

Day two started out with my hubby and I doing our saucy "day after" pictures the day before. Unfortunately, I don't have any of those to show you, but I promise as soon as I do, I'll share. :)

After that, we loaded up our guests into a couple of busses and headed out to the Port of Miami.
After waiting in line, we were informed by Carnival that we were VIPs and supposed to be in the considerably shorter line (no one gave us this information), and consequently, we would have to wait while they hunted down our sail and sign cards. No biggie. We're on vacation. :)

After finally getting our cards and getting on board the ship, we were greeted with the faces of some of the guests we hadn't seen yet. Nearly all of our 51 guests culminated around the pool. It was a fun and exciting time--the booze was flowing, the reggae was blaring, the sun was shining, and we were surrounded by all of the people we love.

About an hour and a half later than it was supposed to be, it was time for the Muster drill. Now, if you've cruised before, you know that it's completely "against the rules" (Disclaimer: Do as I say, not as I do--the muster drill is very important to pay attention to so that you are prepared in case of emergency) to show up at the drill sober. Ashley arriving sober for the drill has never happened, and probably will never happen. It's just the way it is. I accept it for what it is, and you should too. I’ll let these photos speak for themselves. ;)

Following an appointment in the spa for a mani and pedi, we met up with our guests for dinner, followed by and 80's review show.
After this, my husband and I parted ways, only to be reunited at the "alter" at 4:00 pm the following day.

Dear Carnival....

If you come up with a great past guest sale (and we know you will!), we'll put our deposit down and start packing our bags!

Sweet cruise alert!

I was poking around Carnival's website tonight, and came across this itinerary.

Fort Lauderdale-Colon, Panama-Limon, Costa Rica-Belize City, Belize-Fort Lauderdale

This unique 8 day cruise only runs twice in 2008. Once in January of 2008 and once in December of 2008 (into January of 2009). Since we were thinking about cruising over our Christmas break in 2008 anyway, we've got our eye on this baby.

Not only is the itinerary SUPER cool, but so is the ship! The literary-themed miracle is grand in both size and design. Truthfully, I couldn't find many pictures, but click here to go directly to the ship's virtual tour-----> http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/Virtual_Tours_Miracle.aspx

Cabins start at $749 for the January '08 cruise and $999 for the December '08 cruise for 8 days! Not a bad price at all for high season, and with a cool itinerary like this, you can't go wrong!

Fascinating....

If I had a dollar for every misconception out there about Carnival and cruising in general, I'd be cruising for a living. ;) Cruising is an extremely affordable and fun way to getaway for a short break! We have had a WONDERFUL time each and every time we've cruised, and although everyone has a friend of a friend of a friend who "had a bad experience with Carnival", absolutely NO ONE I know has had anything but a PERFECT experience--outstanding service, the largest cabins in the industry, and food that is consistantly ranked number 1 in the industry!

Which brings me back to our wedding. :) We are cruising on the Carnival Fascination out of Miami to the Bahamas. This particular cruise is PERFECT for a first-time cruiser (which most of our guests are) to get his or her toes wet--it's short, has a great schedule (Friday to Monday), extremely affordable (ranging from around $200-350, depending on the weekend you choose), and the ship was just completely refurbished and is looking absolutely POSH! :) Cruising is something I will likely discuss often on this blog, but to hold you over until then, here's an introduction to "our wedding ship."

Here she is in all her glory. The Fascination offers a 3-day Bahamas itinerary and a 4-day Western Caribbean Itinerary.

The kid's club--No adults allowed! (except for the care-takers, of course)

The internet cafe! It's INSANELY over-priced, but it looks great, no? ;)

The teen club! UBER posh!

Inside my heaven--the spa! It's overpriced, but they offer fantastic (and somewhat "normally" priced) port-day deals.

The art gallery.

The ship's bistro.

An outside room--featuring an LCD TV and the Carnival Comfort Bed. Trust me--it does NOT disappoint!