One week from RIGHT NOW...

 We'll be out taking pictures around Disneyland Resort property with our photographer, friends, and family.


The B's are Ready! Are you?!

We are so ready for this vacation, I can't even begin to describe it. With a week's worth of overnight work shifts behind us, this couldn't have come at a better time.

It really is amazing how all things work together in their own perfect timing.

I only have a few projects left to finish up - like putting together the signature frame we have planned instead of a "guest book" (won't work on that until we get to California), and finishing up a very special hidden Mickey that our Flower Girl will be carrying (Started on it yesterday - just need some better scissors to put some finishing touches on it), and finishing up our "just married" shirts for the park that day!  But we really can't wait for some down time together. For those keeping score, our honeymoon will actually be our very first vacation together. See, being married in the military means you spend more time apart than you do together - especially when shipyards are involved.

And that's the latest and greatest! It's back to work for me (J). S is sleeping off last night's shift.

Can't wait to celebrate with all of you very very soon!

California here we come!

Break out the T-shirts and the Sunglasses 'cause California, here we come! Our flight is booked. The dog watching has worked itself out (yeah!), and we're all but packed!

Speaking of 'packed' - this is what our schedule looks like for those that are curious:

8/7 Arrive in CA around 1pm. Zumba class for J in Escondido around 6:30pm-7:30pm. Then catching up w/ the boys (and the rest of family) at the Stone Brewery!
8/8 Up early to snorkel with Leopard sharks in La Jolla, followed by a leisurely day at SeaWorld and a seafood dinner with the Munderloh's.
8/9 Last minute wedding stuff and we're off to Anaheim! Linner(Lunch/Dinner) w/ the Humenay clan at the Rainforest cafe, check-in to the hotel before a night in the parks just the 2 of us style!
8/10  Disneyland all day w/ friends and family! Can't wait to see Carsland!  Today we'll be meeting with the WTTM crowd for the Sip n' Snack at Trader Sam's, and Sean will get to enjoy some guy time at a Stag Night/Bachelor Party! J will have a free night to roam the parks, chill in the room, whatever strikes her fancy Flyin' Solo style (a throw back to my Disneyland Annual Passholder days - Yeah for Single Rider Lines!)
8/11 We're going to a Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel w/ the Matron of Honor and her family. We get to meet her youngest for the first time and are pretty excited about some character photo ops.  Then it's off to the rehearsal at noon and the Sip n' Snack to follow. After wards, Disneyland/DCA/downtime night!
8/12 Wedding day! J's up early and off with my Mom and photographer in tow  to Flawless Faces in La Costa for some primping. Sean will be taking his time getting ready with the guys for the big day!
8/13 Honeymoon Road Trip begins! Tonight we'll be checking into Buelton, CA.
8/14 Checking out of Buelton and exploring Solvange, winerys, and Hearst Castle before ending up in Salinas (near Monterey!) (This just happens to be my parent's 41st wedding anniversary - yeah!)
8/15-8/16 See the Monterey Bay Aquirium and explore the area (maybe a kayak trip depending on how the wedding gifts pan out) but we'll be heading into San Fran herself on 8/16.
8/16-8/18 - San Fran and nothern California! Sites include Muir Woods (redwood forest), Ghiradelli Square, the Peirs, China town, Walt Disney family Museum (of course!)... and probably a meal with the Norther Californian Munderloh's!

Should be a great - fun-filled, packed trip! Can't wait to see ya'll there!

"No Rehearsal Dinner?!" AKA "What is a Sip N' Snack?"

I touched on this in my Trader Sam's Preview post here, but I thought I'd clarify so everyone has the same expectations.

I haven't really touched on the financial end of things when it comes to the wedding, but I guess now is as good a time as any.

NATIONAL AVERAGE WEDDING SIZE - 178 Guests
NATIONAL AVERAGE WEDDING COST - $26,961

Just as our guest list is a small fraction of the US Average, our budget is also a mere fraction of the national average as well. In fact, if it weren't for so many open hearts and understanding people, relocating the wedding may not have happened at all.  We couldn't be more grateful to those who learned the circumstances, sucked it out, and have come to our aid to figure how to make this happen in under 100 days!

We would LOVE treat each and every one of you to a bill-free vacation, but our budget doesn't agree. Our sponsored event is the wedding and reception meal only.
That's why we opted to make our events outside of the wedding "Sip N' Snack" events!

"What is a Sip N' Snack?"
Usually set in a casual setting, a Sip N' Snack is a come-as-you-are, BYOC (bring your own cash) event. Come and have a drink and appetizers. Mingle over a glass of water. Hungry? Have lunch! There are no rules! And that's what makes a Sip N' Snack so awesome. It's completely optional, and an easy, laid back way to get to know people.


"So... there is no rehearsal dinner?"
Yes, there is no rehearsal dinner. Rehearsal dinners are traditionally attended by everyone from out of town. Well, we're a destination wedding and everyone is from out of town. Like we said above, we'd LOVE to treat everyone to an entire vacation if we could, but the reality is, until we win the lottery, we can't.  Luckily, our rehearsal is prime lunching time (Noon-1pm), so we've opted to do a Sip N' Snack a short walk away from the rehearsal site, immediately following it. If you'd like to join us, please do! If not, that's fine too. We're just getting an approximate head count so we can give the location a heads up rather trying to storm a lounge and hoping for service.

"So, what Sip N' Snacks are planned?"We currently have two Sip n' Snacks planned. For those of you not going into the parks, you'll be glad to know NEITHER OF THEM REQUIRE PARK ADMISSION! In fact, you'll get 3-5 hrs of free parking in the Downtown Disney lot!

Friday,  August 10th @ Trader Sam's 4:30-7pm (the lounge on Disneyland Hotel property, park in Downtown Disney. My wonderful Podcast friends Paul and Tairy Barrie (from Window To The Magic) are hosting a Sip N' Snack gathering inside this fun, quirky lounge! Come meet our videographer (Paul) and his wonderful wife (Tairy) who have been my eyes, ears, and tastebuds! Kid friendly until 8pm, click on the name to find out more about this quirky, fun place to beat the heat!

Saturday, August 11th @ Tortilla Jo's  1:15pm (located in Downtown Disney, patio) This location is subject to change, but I'll be sure to let ya'll know if it does! No trip to Southern California is complete without a little South of the Border flavor. For those who need some tequila to beat the heat their list is over 100 long!

While other meet ups MAY happen on Friday and Saturday - those will probably be more spontaneous in nature. Stay tuned to the email list for updates there! (If you RSVP'd via email I have your info! If not, PLEASE send an email to JDHumenay@gmail.com ASAP to be sure you don't miss any updates! Thanks!)

Getting a Lay of the Lands - Resorts and Downtown Disney

Since most of you haven't been to Disneyland (or haven't been in over 10 years), here's a little teaser!

If you're staying at a Disney Resort (or want to know where Sean and I are staying), you'll probably be staying at either the Disneyland Hotel or the Paradise Peir hotel. Where are those in relation to everything else? Well, here's a quick clipped map to give you an idea of where everything is.

So the wedding is happening in Downtown Disney, at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. They are graciously giving us the ENTIRE top floor from 10am-4pm, and allowing the girls in to a small dining room as our 'prep space' starting at 8:30am! I'll show you all the space during the rehearsal so you'll know where and when to meet. Guys - I imagine the best place for you to meet would be at the Disneyland Hotel. Sean will be flying solo that morning. (I'll be out early getting my hair and make-up done with my mom at a studio in Costa Mesa. Any ladies that would like to be early risers and come along to take photos, you're welcome to!)

Wedding weekend events (not requiring park admission) will take place in Downtown Disney.  A central location keeps parking and everything simple and stress free, and that's what we're all about! A few guests have mobility limitations so keeping it central makes it easier on them as well. (I hate being a guest at a wedding where the bride and groom only have about 5 minutes to spend with guests, so we're trying to avoid that scenario, even though we don't have time to spend a day one-on-one with each of you.) Please don't feel like you need to attend every event. We're happy to see you whereever we can.

So what is Downtown Disney all about? Mostly shopping, with live entertainment in the streets, and delicious food all around. Here's the most accurate map I could find of the place, with a few key wedding event locations marked. 

All this prep work is putting me in a Disney mood! Hopefully you folks are enjoying these updates too!  To get the official line on what else you can find in Downtown Disney, Click here.

A Preview of Trader Sam's!

Last night, I got to explore Trader Sam's with the WTTM crew, and it was a really fun experience! Safe to say, this is a great destination for a Sip N' Snack!

What is a Sip N' Snack?Usually set in a casual setting, a Sip N' Snack is a come-as-you-are, BYOC (bring your own cash) event. Come and have a drink and appetizers. Mingle over a glass of water. Have a drink or two. There are no rules! And that's what makes a Sip N' Snack so awesome. It's completely optional, and an easy, laid back way to get to know people.
 
Who the heck are the WTTM crew and What is Trader Sam's?

WTTM stands for Window To The Magic Disneyland Podcast. It's a FREE downloadable podcast that transports listeners to Disneyland Resort by coming along on an audio adventure. Want to hear what rides sound like and let your imagination take flight? It's been one of my favorite Disney Podcasts for years. I highly recommend it when warming up for a visit to the parks! It might give you an idea of what to expect as well. The crew includes the host Paul Barrie (and our videographer!) and his wife Terri (our wedding coordinator and general 2nd set of hands), and the folks who help make the magic come to life in my ipod every week.

Trader Sam's - Trader Sam's is a bar at the Disneyland Hotel. It's themed in a fanciful polynesian fashion, and is lots of fun. It may not be the perfect place for quiet conversations, but it's a great place to have some fun. The drinks are delicious (and unique), and the food is good as well. It's difficult to describe the entertainment, so I won't, but I will my friend Tom from the Disney Tourist blog do it. Click here to see his photos, description, and reviews.  Children are welcome before 8pm, and there is enough going on to keep them entertained, if they aren't frightened by low lighting or loud noises from me time to time.


"Cool, but what does this have to do with Wedding stuff?"
Well, Paul Barrie, the host of the Window To The Magic Podcast, and his wife are pals of mine, as well as wedding particpants! Every Friday night from 4:30-7pm they take over Trader Sam's, and I'd love to get my family and friends in on the fun.

Now- this location isn't for everyone. It can be noisy but it's all in good clean fun. It's a good time with good people, not to mention a great way to get out of the unforgiving Anaheim August sun.

There are no reservations to make, but if we know you're coming, we can save you one of the limited seats, so please let me know if you plan on attending before you arrive if possible. If not, you may end up standing!

Honeymoon Destination Decided!

We're very excited to announce our honeymoon is being finalized - FINALLY!

Much like the wedding, we weren't sure if we'd have a honeymoon this year. After much batting around and discussion, we honed in on an adventurous honeymoon - A Road Trip up the California Coast!

While we're still working on an exact itinerary to share, the most beautiful thing about this trip is that, there is no "exact itinerary".  Well, that's got to be the second most beautiful thing. The first most beautiful thing has got to be that we're FINALLY getting our FIRST TRIP TOGETHER as a married couple that's more than just an overnight.

That's pretty exciting!

A bakery in Solvang

I thought I'd share some of our prospective hot spots with you -

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA - Built in 1865, Hearst Castle is an American marvel through and through, built by a wealthy miner at the time, it even included it's own zoo at one point!

The Danish Town of Solvang, CA - Known of it's windmills, wineries, and delicious food, this Danish land mark village is right in the heart of the Ynez mountains, and the road from here drives though - you guessed it - Central California Wine Country!  I'm sure we'll make a few stops along the way for tastings (driving safely, of course).


Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA - Another beautiful little town, this place is known again for great food, great art, and some relaxation in the redwoods and pines on the coast of Northern CA.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA - We'll check out one of the biggest and best aquariums in the country, and spend a day enjoying Cannery Row.

And what trip to San Fran would be complete without a glimpse of the Golden Gate?  Or maybe setting foot in China Town, or Alcatraz?


Think this sounds exhausting? Think again!

All in all, the drive from Anahiem to San Fran is only about 8 hrs, so we'll be able to really take our time and spread things out, driving 2-3 hrs/day and still having plenty of time to spend a day or two in San Fran.

Lucky for us, my dad used to travel A LOT, so our hotels are covered for the entire trip on his gift of reward credits!

Want to contribute towards our honeymoon? Check out the link below our picture on the left!  There is also a link in our Disney Wedding registry page!  Since we're traveling, we'd like to request guests use these, or flat gifts - saves on shipping and we'll have a limited amount of space in our suitcases.

I can't wait! I guess we better invest in some shorts this summer....

April and Beyond

It's been a very eventful past month here at the Pacific Northwest Homestead.

First the Good News!

We Got a House!
Soon after our visit with family in Michigan and Florida, we started the house hunting process. We ended up purchasing a 1948 farm house that's been renovated, and has an amazing view of Liberty Bay - one of the inlets off the Puget sound. In fact, on a clear day, you can see snow capped peaks in the distance. We're still in the process of getting set up and it's really been "baptism by fire". Sean's been working hard at the landscaping when he has time and we've both been working at getting the place set up - no easy feat when you're both working full time. A video tour to come when we're all set up, but here are a few promotional photos from the listing for now.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com  

Other News Our Wedding is FINALLY coming together! We set a new date (August 12th) and a new location has generously offered to work with us to give us a great event. We've moved the whole sh-bang to California. The artwork for the invitations should be done by the end of the week, Sean's leave should be approved tomorrow, and my girls are all over ordering their dresses. I have a local craftsman lined up to make my bridal fan and my old roomie is going to dj for us and a good friend of mine will be our officiant. I might have a photographer lined up, and we're still on the look out for a bakery, videographer, and someone to do hair and make up (though in a pinch I'm sure I can manage those for myself). I might have a gal lined up for floral too but because we're doing it at a fabulously decorated venue already, we won't have to do much as far as center pieces and decor like that. And the Bad News Into every charmed life, a little rain must fall. We've been struggling through a few minor hiccups, but we recently learned my dad has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. He'll start aggressive chemo in a few weeks to buy us some more time with him. This August will make my parent's 41st wedding anniversary, and we're hoping he'll beat the odds and be around to celebrate 42 with my mom. Pancreatic Cancer is known for being highly aggressive, but my dad's attitude is amazing. He continues to inspire me and we'll keep reaching for the bright side. I'm looking forward to making lots of great memories with my family this summer. Oh - so where is the wedding? Let's end on a good note. My favorite eatery in Downtown Disney - Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen! They are giving us the Parlor room and the balcony for the event. It's within about a block of Disneyland and should make for a fun way to spend the weekend! Sean and I have a little bit of history there. We went there during his California visit a couple years ago for lunch and LOVED it. Hope all of you enjoy it as well.