SparkCon

What I enjoyed about my SparkCon weekend:

• Seeing my very first fashion runway show
• Amazing sidewalk chalk art
• Learning about different types of [nasty] bugs
• Watching Alex eat chocolate covered ants and fried rice with worms.
• Seeing all the wonderful things that very talented vendors were selling...clothes, jewelry, photos, art, bags, etc.
• Live music
• Watching a lady with a cane get down to the sounds of Bob Marley.
• Live DJ'ing
• Graffiti artistry
• Break dancing
• Magic/Comedy show
• Meeting a homeopathic doctor who adopted a baby from Ethiopia
• Art galleries
• VW Bugs in all their glory

It was a wonderful event. I'm glad we were able to enjoy it. 

Downtown Raleigh is alive and well. 

(yes, I put "fasion" instead of "fashion." I'm tired...sue me)

spiders follow me

I've never been the kind of girl who is afraid of insects or other small creatures. Whenever a lizard or frog got trapped indoors I would calmly pick it up [with my bare hands] and set it free outside. Whenever some kind of bug was in the house I squashed it without thinking twice [or I set it free if I was feeling nice] and moved on with my life. 

But I don't think I ever had to encounter one of these:

Spiders are EVERYWHERE in this town. I've had many unpleasant encounters with these nasty little creatures since we moved here. Once a HUGE one sneaked into the house and I just about freaked out. I called Alex at work and was practically crying about the stupid thing. I managed to trap it in a cup and there it stayed until Alex came home and set it free. Another time I was in my counseling class and there was a spider on my desk...bleh! I swatted it off and stepped on it. Mind you, I sit in the front row right in front of the professor, so I tried to be discrete, but I was grossed out. 

The worst encounter happened yesterday. I was sitting in my theology class. My professor was just beginning class and opened with a joke [like he always does...he's actually quite funny], so I laughed and glanced down and there it was. A spider [sure, it was tiny, but it was a spider nonetheless] was sitting on my leg....my leg! I jumped a little and swatted it away with my pen. I tried looking for it on the floor, but couldn't see it. I tried to forget about it and concentrate on the lecture. A few minutes later, it was on my desk. This spider has spunk. I swatted it away again and this time looked under my desk. There it was. Hanging upside down from the bottom of my desk. I tried to swat at it again with my pen and it jumped and hung by its string! I almost jumped out of my desk. Some guy was sitting next to me so I turned to him and whispered, "There's a spider on my desk..." He just kind of raised his eyebrows and said, "That's creepy." I'm sure he thought I was crazy. I whispered to him, "I'm going to move..." Why I was whispering to him, I have no idea. 

So I, very slyly, moved to the desk behind me. I was satisfied knowing that spider would no longer bother me and I could finally learn a thing or two about theology. 

Nay.

A few minutes later, it was back! This time it was crawling on the wall...towards my direction! I couldn't take my eyes off of it because I was terrified it would do one of its ninja jumps right into my hair. So I watched it as it slowly crawled across the wall and all of a sudden it stopped and looked at me. It looked at me. I was taken aback and filled with terror. He kept crawling and when he reached the edge of the wall [right next to me] he jumped. Again, I almost jumped out of my desk and I'm sure anyone who was sitting behind me was very amused by my odd and unusual behavior. Thankfully the spider jumped on the floor, not me. By this time it was 12:15, class was over at 12:20. 

So what did I learn in theology yesterday? That spiders are cruel and vicious creatures that follow me and enjoy seeing me squirm...and I think some stuff about the Bible too. 

driving around

I'm really enjoying our new town. Surprisingly there's a lot to do around here. Like this event that Alex and I are planning on checking out this weekend. And this festival that I'm excited to attend on Sunday. I also love that Super Target is just a couple minutes away. It's pure bliss. 

There is, however, one thing that I certainly do NOT enjoy. The street system. It makes no sense. The streets are all curvy and there's a million "Elm Streets" and "Main Streets." There's no sense, no order. In Miami all the streets are numbered, and the numbers go in order. There's nothing confusing about 1, 2, 3. Also, all the streets go east to west and all the avenues go north to south. [or maybe it's vice versa, I'm out of practice] Getting around Miami was a breeze. Getting around Wake Forest is a headache! Even Google Maps isn't much help at times. It has led me astray more than once.  

So that is something for you Miami-ans to be thankful for. 

You're welcome. 

Polyvore

A while ago my friend posted about this website that allows you to create collages using all kinds of images from the internet. I'm sure this could be a great tool for somebody studying fashion or interior design. However I use it as a great time waster. :-)

I actually really love all things beautiful. I read tons of design/fashion/photography blogs and am inspired by all the creative things people come up with.  I'm no fashionista or anything, but I think I have a pretty good eye. And even if you don't agree, that's cool, go make something better. ;-)

Here are two polyvore collages I created today. The first is more simple and has a more cohesive theme. The second is more eclectic and is really just a collection of things I like. 

I Love Owls

I don't know where my love for owls came from...but it is a love that is deep and true.

I have owl earrings, an owl sweater, a mini owl statue, and an owl bank [think piggie bank]. 

I think they're cute. When Alex and I were in Greece on our honeymoon they said that owls were a symbol of wisdom. I suppose that's true in the U.S. also...we all remember the tootsie pop owl, no? 

Here are a few more owls I've come across on the internet to brighten up your day. 

interesting discussion

Don't want to get into it too much on here...but I thought this was an interesting discussion.

Check it out. Share your thoughts.

Raleigh International Festival

This past weekend Alex and I were able to experience the Raleigh International Festival.

Living in the South, it's easy to forget that you're not the only minorities in town! We don't get to experience many other races or cultures in Wake Forest, so it was nice to go to the festival and see people from all over the world. 

I'd say that Alex's favorite part of the day was finally being able to eat some Colombian food! There was no fritanga (boo) so I opted for some Filipino food. A lot of people think I'm Asian anyway. It was delicious. Also, I finally tried the bubble tea that seemed to be so popular in Miami. I was...disappointed. The drink was good, but those little tapioca balls were odd.

We were also able to see various typical dances from different countries, see displays of traditional clothes and instruments, have our last name written in Japanese, and I got some henna on my hand. 

The fair was a part of Raleigh Wide Open. Downtown Raleigh was basically closed down and they had all kinds of vendors and live music on the streets. We caught the end of one rock show that looked like it must have been a lot of fun! The singer was all over the place and the crowd was loving every minute of it. 

It was a great day. 

P.S. My mami's birthday was yesterday. She's the best and I love her. Happy birthday again, mami!

a new church

Alex and I have been searching for a local church to be a part of here in North Carolina. We've felt incomplete without a church to serve and grow in. Ministry has been a part of our lives for so long that not having a church in which to minister has been strange. 

We've visited quite a few churches in the area and...well...they didn't feel right. I don't know if that's a good thing to say or not. I'm sure God's main concern is that we serve in a local body, not whether the church seems "cool" or not. But nonetheless we hadn't found a church that we felt compelled to join and start serving in. Until now.

We finally decided on a church. And to tell the truth, it's kinda scary. This church is kinda...big. Bigger than what we're used to. And something about large crowds makes me nervous. But despite its "bigness" there are a lot of things I enjoy about this church, the main one being the preacher. When I heard him speak on Sunday I was blown away. His message wasn't watered down or out of context, he didn't go off on any tangents. His preaching was direct, honest, intelligent, and spiritual. We enjoyed the musical aspect of the worship service as well, which is always a plus [especially since we're musical snobs, who are we kidding?]. 

Basically, they have a lot of good stuff going on. I think the rebel inside of me would prefer not to go to this church...because it's so big and popular [you know I've never been down with the cool kids], but I can't help to be drawn to what they are accomplishing. I feel that Alex and I could learn a lot here.

Also, the name of the church reminded me of this hilarious blog post. I'm a fan of this blog. You should definitely bookmark it and read it on a regular basis. 

fawn

Two of my lovely friends from Miami have created their own design company...

It's called fawn. Believe me when I say that these girls are talented. Check out their blog. 

Soon they will have an Etsy store up and running.

I know I'll be waiting to do some shopping. Go show them some love.

Just check ONE

When filling out a survey or questionnaire and you come upon a question that is followed by two boxes, one of them labeled yes and the other no, you need only check ONE box. If you check both it could cause great confusion [and irritation] to the one who is recording the results of the survey.

Imagine if in elementary school Little Jenny would have sent this note back to Little Timmy with both boxes marked...

He wouldn't know whether to rejoice or cry his eyes out. He's probably end up in rehab 20 years later whining about how girls are so confusing and he doesn't understand why they don't like him...

I'm just saying.

getting that education

I have to say that going to seminary is probably one of the best decisions I've ever made.

It's right up there with having lasik surgery and getting married. 

Every time I sit in class I am in awe of what I learn. I am even more in awe of how everything becomes connected. 

Yesterday I was sitting in chapel and the man who was giving the sermon [I forgot his name...] got me thinking and raised some questions in my head. I was kind of concerned and couldn't get the thoughts out of my head. Just a few hours later as I was listening to my biblical counseling professor give his lecture, he ended up answering the questions in my head! 

I find that this happens often. And I am really enjoying everything that God is revealing to me through my classes and professors. It is such a blessing as this point in my life to be able to really learn and understand what the Word of God is all about. Little by little I am growing and changing. And sure, it's only been a couple weeks, but this gets me excited for what's to come. 

Today Alex and I signed up to participate in a mission trip to Mexico next April. This will be my first mission trip and I am ecstatic to have this opportunity. I have always wanted to go on a mission trip, but for some reason or another it never worked out. Well, no more excuses. I am trusting in God that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to go on this trip. And I am open to the opportunities that this will bring. 

All I can say is that it's a real blessing to be here and I am certain this is where I need to be. It is even more of a blessing to have the love and support of my wonderful husband.

And even though it gets difficult being away from my friends and family, I'm still blessed.

expectations

We've been here for almost a month now...and things haven't turned out the way I imagined they would. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy. It's just...different. 

I suppose I thought that by now this place would feel more "homey." Actually we don't even have any friends yet. It's weird. Meeting people is more difficult than I imagined. Plus, we all know, I'm not friendly. ;-)

I don't feel close to anyone, except Alex of course. But it's weird to not have many other contacts. I was hoping we'd find a church to plug into by now...but we have yet to find one that we feel called to be a part of. I think it's just overwhelming because there are SO many churches. I'm hoping that we are able to join one in the next two weeks.

I love my school. There's a lot of reading to do. Some if it, I enjoy...and some, I could do without. But my classes and professors are all very interesting. I'm thankful for that. 

I miss my family and friends. I hope that you all are doing great in Miami...and I'll see most of you again very soon anyway, so whatev'! ;-)

In short, I came to North Carolina with a LOT of great expectations...and have received quite a few disappointments instead. However, I'm still happy and grateful to be here and know that this is the place where God wants us to be. I'm really looking forward to see how we will grow as individuals and a couple. 

Pray for us!

Manga Avatar

No one loves time wasting websites like I do!

So I was pleased to discover this one.

It allows you to create yourself as an avatar in the style of a manga character. 

I think it looks like me...

I also made Alex...

I think you should make one too!

Ace's Wild

We have internet! Just in time because today was the first day of school. 

How was it?

Well. It was the first day. So far all of my professors seem great and have a good sense of humor. I'm excited to start learning and just a little bit afraid of the workload. 

The classes that I'm taking are:

• Hermeneutics
  
• New Testament 1
  
• Christian Theology 1
  
• Biblical Counseling
  

Anne Marie and I have some classes together...which is great! We all know I'm not the best at making new friends. But we'll see how it goes. At this point I've met a few people...but no lasting connections or anything. I suppose these things take time.

One really great thing about my school schedule is that I only have class Tuesday-Thursday. So I don't think I'll be too swamped. I just really hope that I am able to focus and get everything done on time. I don't want to be freaking out the night before an assignment is due because I haven't even started on it. 

I have posted some photos on facebook of our cute little apartment. :-)

If you take a look you will clearly see that it is the cutest apartment you've ever seen. 

Polka Dot Bride Feature

The lovely Australian blog known as Polka Dot Bride has a feature on our wedding!
There are two separate blogs detailing our wedding day so be sure to click here and here.

Don't forget to leave a comment. 

seven and a half.

We're in North Carolina!

We've spent the past five days setting up house. It's a great feeling...and nerve-racking as well [money issues].

We don't have internet yet...but we will have it by next week. Right now I'm "sharing" with my neighbor. :-)

Alex started work today...thank God! Unfortunately they only had a part time Mac Specialist available. :-/
Hopefully something will open up soon! Some pluses for him are that he speaks Spanish [I believe only two other people in the store do] and he's already been through all the Creative training in Cupertino. So please pray that he gets promoted SOON.
I'm also applying for jobs.

We've pretty much almost got everything we need. Just waiting on our dining table from Crate & Barrel. Should be here in a week and half. After that we just need some chairs. I'm hoping we find some cheap ones around here somewhere!

Anne Marie should be here by this weekend! Yay! Can't wait for my friend to arrive.

And the reason for the title of this blog...the speed limit in our neighborhood is seven and a HALF miles per hour. That's right, folks...don't dare creep up to 8. Alex has made several attempts to abide by this rule. It gives him great pleasure to be able to ride the line between seven and eight mph.

I'll try to update soon and post pictures as well. As soon as we're hooked up with internet it'll be much easier.

Say Goodbye

Last night was so much fun. I want to thank everyone who took the time out of their very busy schedules to bid us farewell. It was great to hang out with everyone and share that time together. And I'm glad that everyone participated in our Photobooth project. We successfully got silly pictures of everyone and hopefully we'll make a little album with it...even if it's only an "on-line album." 

Thanks again for hanging with us! We'll see most of you soon...so it really ISN'T goodbye. 

We love you. 

Angelina

Last week I finally got back behind the lens. 

I've known Angelina for a while now. We've been going to the same church for about eight years. And this past year we both worked at the preschool together. She's trying to launch a modeling career so I agreed to take some photos for her. I was grateful for the opportunity to be taking pictures again. We had fun at various locations and outfit changes. 

Here is one of my favorites and a few more will be up on the myspace. 

Enjoy!

notcot.org

Check us out on notcot.org

Thanks to Angel for the head's up.

open house

In just ten days Alex and I will be packing up all our stuff and making the long drive up to North Carolina. Ten days!

It feels unreal and we've been trying to see as many people as possible. We've had lunch dates and dinner dates with various friends. We've started saying our good-byes. We've come to the realization that the day we move is coming...and it's coming quickly!

We also realize that it would be impossible to have dinner dates with EVERYONE. First of all, we'll go broke. And we need money at a time like this [moving is expensive!]. Secondly, there's too many of you. So we decided to hold an open house night at our house on Monday the 28th. Just come by any time between 6 and whenever. We'd love to see you...hang out for a bit...talk...say "see ya later." It's not going to be a BIG party or anything. Just a time to talk. You can stay for as long or as little as you want. If you only have five minutes to chat, by all means, give us those five minutes! 

We hope to see as many of you as possible. Spread the word, since I know not everyone reads this blog. Tell anyone who knows us to come by. We love you all and will surely miss you.

Yeondoo Jung

I thought this art project by Korean artist, Yeondoo Jung, was pretty cool.

Children's drawings come to life.

Check it out.

I Love Miami - Part Four

Dolphin Mall.

That's right, I said it. I love Dolphin Mall. 

I know many Miamians dislike this mall for various reasons...but I love it. 

It has all my favorite stores: Forever 21, Aldo, Charlotte Russe, Guess, W Shoes, Banana Republic, Express, Journey's, PacSun, Tilly's, BCBG...and many other great stores. My favorite part is that most of these stores are outlets. Yay! I love clothes and I love a good bargain. Therefore, this is the perfect mall for me. 

Another great addition to this mall is the Cinebistro. I was able to experience this posh new theater last week along with my husband and friends. I have to say that I was impressed. It's definitely the best way to watch a movie. Large comfy seats, yummy food, and no one under the age of 21! 

Yes, I will sing praises to the wonders of Dolphin Mall forever more...we'll see what kind of shopping North Carolina has to offer...

[Part One]

[Part Two]

[Part Three]

wordle

I discovered this website through a friend's blog...

I thought it was kinda neat. Basically it takes a bunch of text and makes some kind of huge word collage with it. You can either manually enter a bunch of text or submit a URL from a blog and it'll generate it for you. 

So THIS is what it made when I entered the URL for my blog...hoorah. 

wordle.net

our first home

I finally received an e-mail today from Southeastern Seminary regarding our housing assignment! 

I was beyond ecstatic to receive all the information and relieved that we officially have a place to live. *whew*

Now I've been reading all these great blogs on decorating and whatnot. Even though Alex and I have restrictions we have to work with [since, after all, we are renting from the seminary], we are trying to come up with some creative ways to make our apartment a reflection of our style. Some great resources are decor8 and apartment therapy. I love all the different designs featured on these sites and I appreciate that they are trying to be eco-friendly. Not that I know much about "being green" but I'm learning. 

And of course, ETSY, has a bunch of great finds. 

Just 23 more days until Alex and I begin our first great adventure as a married couple.

Polka Dot Bride

I was checking my "google analytics," which lets me know how many people are visiting my blog as well as some other interesting little facts.

Well, under the "Referring Sites" section, the number one site was polkadotbride.com

I found this to be odd since I have never even heard of this website. Apparently it is a blog run by a woman in Australia who loves weddings. So I was checking around the website but couldn't see a link for my blog anywhere. I decided to search my name and lo and behold, there I was!

Apparently she made a small blurb about my polka dot wedding dress! It's cool to know that someone on the other side of the world saw my dress and even posted about it. 

The internet certainly makes the world a very small place. 

pain

I'm not much of a wuss when it comes to medical procedures.

When nurses bring out the needles to take my blood or vaccinate me, I barely bat an eye. 

When I've had to endure anesthesia shots for various dental procedures, I did it without complaint and without wriggling in my chair. When I had lasik surgery, I was overjoyed, not scared. And when I fractured my wrist in tenth grade, I honestly don't remember crying. 

Again, I am not much of a wuss when it comes to medical procedures. Mostly because I like being called a "good patient." And because I know that the pain is fleeting. 

But THIS is different. I don't think I've ever had to endure anything quite like this. 

As you know, I scraped my right foot and knee pretty bad when I was in Greece. I didn't think it was a big deal. I've had my fair share of scrapes. One only needs to take a look at my left knee to see the nice-sized scar I have there. And I survived.

But apparently the abrasion is very deep and it's more like a "second-degree burn," according to the doctor. This means I am NOT allowed to grow a scab there...especially if it is white or yellow in color. I was not aware of this tidbit of information. And when I saw that I was finally beginning to form a scab, I was overjoyed! Until I went to my doctor's appointment yesterday and she said that we couldn't have that. She had to scrub away all the scab and leave my wounds red and bleeding. It's literally the worst pain I've ever had to endure. And I am really thankful Alex was there to hold me and let me cry like a baby on his shoulder. 

The worst part is now she expects ME to do this to myself everyday...twice a day. Scrub away at my open wound until it is bloody and raw. Something about how it has to heal from the outside, in...yadda yadda yadda. This morning was my first attempt and I ended up not being about to take away all the white junk away from my knee because it was just stuck real good in there and I couldn't bring myself to pull at it anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's just not natural for human beings to hurt themselves on purpose. Not natural. 

So I don't know what I'm going to do. I really can't do this to myself. Just thinking about it makes a knot form in my throat and tears well up in my eyes.

Now I have to make a follow up appointment at the Wound Care Center in South Miami Hospital...but I believe they're in the habit of NOT picking up their phone...it's quite irritating. 

Again, prayers would be really really appreciated. Even if you think I'm just being a wuss, pray that I won't be. 

I Love Miami - Part Three

It's been a while since I continued my series on all the different reasons I love Miami...but now that the craziness of the wedding and honeymoon is over, I can now focus on my blogging once again. Hoorah!

Probably the biggest reason I love Miami is because this is where my grandma is.

My abuelita [as I affectionately call her] has lived with my family since I was in elementary school. And for the past five years it's been just me and her in this big house. She's been spoiling me for years! Cooking all my favorite foods, sweeping up my room when I would forget, cooking all my favorite foods, helping me run errands, cooking all my favorite foods!

She truly has a servant's heart. I don't know anyone who will do so much for so little in return. She never complains either. She just goes through her day, making everyone around her comfortable, always keeping busy. She amazes me. I wish I were even half the woman she is.

Needless to say, I am going to miss her when we move to North Carolina. 

[Part One]

[Part Two]

The Honeymooners

We're back!

And it was fantastic. I honestly didn't want it to end. Going on a 12 day cruise in Europe is definitely the best way to become spoiled. There is delicious food 24/7, friendly and hilarious staff, beautiful cities to visit, tons of activities to participate in... I've been bitten by the cruise bug. I already told Alex that for our first anniversary I want to go on a cruise! 

We took over 2000 photos and will post the best ones on our website soon enough. We're still trying to get organized since we didn't receive our luggage until yesterday! [reasons why I hate checking luggage]

And since many of you are wondering why I'm in crutches I will now tell you.

The short story is: we had a minor motorscooter accident in Greece. I went flying off and got scraped up real good. It wasn't so bad at first...but then it got infected and swollen. So as soon as we landed in Miami I went straight to urgent care where they cleaned me up and wrapped up my leg...with instructions not to walk on it. They gave me a couple shots and put me on some meds. Unfortunately it seems I had a not so great reaction to the antibiotics and I now have a nasty rash on my face...believe me, it's gross. I pretty much hate it and want to crawl in a dark cave and never come out.

Not that I'm being overdramatic or anything. 

So forgive me if I don't feel much like hanging out in the next couple days. Hopefully this will all clear up soon and everything will be back to normal. Until then, prayer would be much appreciated!

And keep checking alexandkristel.com for any updates. :-)

a honeymooning we will go...

Today is the day!!!

We are finally leaving on our honeymoon! 

In a few hours we will be on our way to the airport, getting ready to board a plane to Madrid and then another to Rome, and then we'll ride in a shuttle to the port where we will reach our final destination! The Carnival Freedom. 

Here is our itinerary:

Day 1  Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy
Day 2  Naples, Italy
Day 3  At Sea
Day 4  Marmaris, Turkey
Day 5  Izmir, Turkey
Day 6  Istanbul, Turkey
Day 7  At Sea
Day 8  Piraeus, Athens, Greece
Day 9  Katakolon, Olympia, Greece.
Day 10  At Sea
Day 11  Livorno, Florence, and Pisa, Italy
Day 12  Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy
Day 13  Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy

We have a few excursions planned for some of the ports. I'm just really excited to experience all these new places with my new husband. 

On the way home we will make a stop in Madrid, Spain for a night to visit with my Tia Lani and her family. I hear my cousin will be playing a concert that night with his band; hopefully we'll be able to catch it.

We'll be home on Saturday the 28th [which is Alex's birthday, by the way]. So we will see you all then. We love you...and yes, we will bring back MANY pictures. 

checkers champ

Last weekend Brigitte and Thomas had their engagement party. It was a lot of fun. The food was great and we learned how to Greek dance! [since Thomas and his family are Greek]

But by far the highlight of the party was the game of Checkers.
Now, I'm no checkers whiz. I don't think I've ever won a game of checkers in my life. My brain just doesn't function in that way. However, the sun was smiling on me that day and I prevailed as Checkers Champ!

My first opponent was Anne Marie...and I'll admit it, she went easy on me...but that's not my fault! She chose her own moves. Alex stepped up next and I shut him down. Finally, David, the final authority on checkers, decided he was going to take me on. I was nervous, it's true, but in the end we had to call a tie. Which means I didn't lose! And so...I retire as champion. Never again will I play another game of checkers so that I may retain my title forevermore.

kristel acevedo

I'm slowly beginning the process of changing my last name. All I know is, there's a LOT of red tape involved...and I never did like red tape. 

To give me inspiration I now have a new e-mail address! Along with a new DotMac account. Yay! kristelacevedo@mac.com

So if you wish to communicate with me via e-mail, that would be your best shot.

Also, I have an appointment at the DMV to get my new license. 

We leave for our honeymoon on Saturday, so my little project will have to be put on hold. But when I get back I'll start the tedious process of getting a new passport, social security card, etc. 

Bleh. ;-)

spare time

I've never really been one to utilize my spare time wisely. 

I've wasted many summers away by watching tv, reaching the end of the internet, and just plain farting around. 

So I've really been praying to God to help me spend my time in a useful way. And so I've made myself a "to do" list...so far I've accomplished a great deal of things on it. I've still got a lot to go though. There are many things to get done before Alex and I leave for our honeymoon on Saturday; and since he's working it's up to me to make sure it all gets done. 

Another great blessing is that Alex's mom has given me an assignment to work on for her job. So even though I don't have an official job this summer, I have been provided a way to make some extra money. Good thing, because I have my eye on one of those new iPhones!

[ahem...if anyone is interested in purchasing my current iPhone, just holler at me...I'll give you a sweet deal]

Also I have been immensely inspired to create some beautiful things. I won't tell you exactly what I am going to create, but I will tell you that it involves buttons, wire, felt, paint, and wood. It's going to be fantastic. 

So hopefully by the time summer is over I will look back on it with fond memories and not with thoughts of, "how many effing Seinfeld episodes did I watch?!?!"

alexandkristel.com

It's here!

Alex and I have revamped our website. It's not much now; there's still a bit of work to be done. But we hope that it will be a link to our friends and family as we continue in our life together. We want to stay connected with everyone, but let's face it, not everyone is going to sign up for a facebook account.

So that's what this website is for...we will blog about the latest events, post pictures of all the new things we encounter, and maybe even share a few videos (perhaps an Mtv Cribs style video of our apartment in North Carolina?).

Bookmark alexandkristel.com and check back often for the update on the life of Alex and Kristel.

Our Musical Wedding Favors

There were so many little details about the wedding that I *love*.

It was all the little details that really made it special, I think. The his & hers Converse sneakers with the date on the back, Alex's "music note" cuff links, the record player groom's cake, the daisies, the polka dots, the pearls...the music!

One of my favorite things was our wedding favors. You have no idea how much we agonized over the wedding favors. At first I couldn't think of anything that truly represented us that we could give away. When I went searching through the internet, I found nothing. All the favors seemed so cheesy. Everything I came across seemed like something that NO ONE would appreciate. Finally, I decided to forget it. I wasn't about to waste money on cheesy favors that no one was going to want anyway.

Then...it hit me! (or really, I came across the idea on a web site)

We should make a CD filled with all our favorite (non-cheesy) love songs. We love music and we love sharing music with everybody, so this would be the perfect favor.

Alex found these cool vintage looking CDs.

Patty found these covers. [we chose the green ones to match our colors]

Steph designed the neat converse sneakers logo which we printed on stickers to keep the covers shut.

And we spent hours and hours copying and packaging the CDs. It was so worth it. :-)

I hope everyone was able to take one home. Here is the playlist if you want to know...

1. "And I Love Her" by the Beatles

2. "Something" by the Beatles

3. "Always Together" by Alex Acevedo

4. "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles

5. "You're My Best Friend" by Queen

6. "How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor

7. "Till There Was You" by Rod Stewart

8. "Love Song For You" by Mike Coia

9. "Digital Love" by Daft Punk

10. "Do You Realize??" by the Flaming Lips

11. "All of You" by Ella Fitzgerald

12. "Such Great Heights" by Iron & Wine

13. "I Never" by Rilo Kiley

14. "Brighter Than Sunshine" by Aqualung

15. "To Be Alone With You" by Sufjan Stevens

16. "Ghostwriter Remix" by RJD2

17. "Noticed" by MuteMath

18. "I'm the Man who loves You" by Wilco

19. "Wrapped Up In You" by Garth Brooks

20. "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton

It makes me really happy [and humbled] that so many people have expressed a love for the CD. Apparently people are ACTUALLY listening to it...more than once. And that gives me so much joy. It's good to know that something you worked so hard on is appreciated.

Oh and if you haven't seen the photo slideshow, I don't know what you're waiting for!

Maloman Wedding Photos!

Our photographer, Stephan Maloman, posted up some photos from the wedding!!!

They are gorgeous! I couldn't be happier with the way they turned out. He is extremely talented...I can't say enough about how amazing his talent is. 

So I'll just let the pictures to the talking. 

Ch-Click.

And here's the slideshow. 

The Perfect Wedding

We're married!!!

I can hardly believe it. I have a husband. Alex has a wife. What is this world coming to???

Seriously, so far, married life is GREAT. Sure, it's only been two days...but it's been an amazing two days. 

It has to be said that Alex and I had the perfect wedding. Everything went according to plan, thank God. 

It all started with the rehearsal dinner on Friday night. Everyone was on time at the church and the rehearsal went smoothly. Then the dinner at La Locanda was delicious and heart warming. I hope to post pictures up on the website very soon! 

Saturday came and I was cool as a cucumber. I really thought I would be a nervous wreck...but I wasn't. Why would I be? I was going to marry the love of my life. I was able to sleep late and take my time getting ready.

(Also, Alex sent over the greatest wedding present with his mom...a Yashica Mat EM TLR...I love it! I sent him a microkorg.)

Once the show got started it was all very exciting. From where I was waiting to walk down the aisle I could hear the strings and organ playing "And I Love Her" by the Beatles. It sounded beautiful! After our moms and the girls walked in...it was my turn. They began playing, "Something" by the Beatles and my dad and I made our way down the aisle. 

Pastor Dave did such a great job officiating the ceremony. He was hilarious and sweet and he said all the right things. Our grandmothers read the most beautiful scriptures out of Genesis and Colossians. When Alex played the song he wrote for me, I almost cried. Almost. I had to hold back, didn't wanna ruin my make up. ;-) 

The song was perfect. The perfect reflection of our relationship. Thank you for that wonderful gift, my love. 

The ceremony went on...Alex read his vows off his iPhone, while I kept it old school (pulling the small piece of paper out of my bra). We exchanged rings, lit the unity candle, and before you knew it Pastor Dave uttered those magical words, "You may now kiss the bride."

And in came the strings and organ with "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles. Beautiful moment. 

And I'm happy to say that the webcasting went flawlessly. We were able to read the chat later on and it was funny to see what you all were chatting about as the ceremony went on. 

The rest of the night was a whirlwind! We shot photos with the BEST photographer in South Florida. We danced to great music. We ate delicious food. We enjoyed two amazing cakes. We laughed. 

In case you're wondering, here are the special songs of the night...

Bridal Party Introduction: "Flathead" by The Fratellis

Husband/Wife Introduction: "You're My Best Friend" by Queen

Father/Daughter Dance: "Till There Was You" by Rod Stewart

Mother/Son Dance: "How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor

First Dance: "Love Song for You" by Mike Coia

Cake Cutting: "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard 

Bouquet Toss: "Love Is A Battlefield" by Pat Benatar

Garter Removal: "I Belong To You" by Lenny Kravtiz

Garter Toss: "Nothing But A Good Time" by Poison

Putting the Garter on: "Do You Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart

Last Song: "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton

(By the way, I know I'm not the only one who thought it was FANTASTIC when Francisco caught the garter...way to go Sisco!)

The band (Toolbox...Alex's former band from the Lighthouse) was amazing! Everyone loved them. They really got the party started. I was so happy they played for us. There really is nothing like live music...especially when they're as talented as this bunch. 

The DJ played for the rest of the night...and I was thankful that there was no cheesiness! Just good music. I danced all night. That rarely happens...but hey, you only get married once...so you've gotta live it up. 

We had the best wedding. It was great. Everything was perfect.

Thanks to everyone who came...everyone who helped...everyone who worked...everyone who danced...everyone who cried (I know who you are)...everyone that had a great time. 

Thank you!

Alex's mom has posted some photos here.

My sister has posted some here and here.

And soon Maloman will post some here. [he already has two teaser photos!]

Anyone else have photos? Let me know!

Webcasting Our Wedding

It's officially official. Alex and I will be broadcasting our wedding over the internet live!

This is really exciting news because there are many people who will not be able to make it to the ceremony. Now these people won't be left out and they can still participate in our special day. 

If you ever find yourself in need of broadcasting something over the internet...all you need is a camera, wifi, and stickam. It's really very easy. 

If you are unable to attend our wedding ceremony but would still like to see us tie the knot, all you have to do is get yourself in front of a computer with internet on Saturday at 4PM (eastern time) and click on over to our website. Everything is all ready for you. All you have to do is show up. 

We hope you are able to share this amazing day with us. 

...almost there...

I've been neglecting the wonderful world of blogger because I've just been too busy with all the wedding details. I really didn't realize there would be so much to do at the last minute. However...we are ALMOST there! Just five more days and the big day will be upon us. 

Everyone has been so wonderful. My sister and friends threw me a great bachelorette party last Friday. Alex had a blast at his bachelor party. My mom is in town and has been running errands and making flower arrangements, etc. Alex is working hard on designing things and trying to set up a camera to broadcast the wedding over the internet (we'll see if we can make it happen). 

Basically everyone is doing their part to make this wedding happen!

Forgive me if you don't hear from me for the rest of the week. Hope you all are doing great...and when you think of us, send up a little prayer that we keep our sanity!

Twenty-Three

In the midst of all this wedding craziness I almost forgot about my birthday...almost.

In six days I'll be 23 years old! I wasn't going to make a big deal out of it. 

After all, I think getting married is pretty much the best birthday present ever. But a friend reminded me that I shouldn't let this occasion go by with a little celebration. So I'm having a small gathering of friends at Samurai on Friday...my favorite restaurant! I love the hibachi steak, the fried rice, the amazing shrimp sauce! I can't wait. 

And on Sunday Alex is taking me to Joe's Stone Crab. I've never eaten there before...but I hear good things! My sister and her new husband will be joining us. I'm really looking forward to it. 

By the way, if you're feeling generous, I really *love* Urban Outfitters gift cards. ;-)

Or just plain Hallmark cards. Those are great. 

mini vacation!

I'm off this weekend to Lake Placid!

Between work and last minute wedding preparations I'm ready to pull my hair out!

So thankfully, Anne Marie has invited a group of us to her family home in Lake Placid for a great weekend of relaxation, friends, and food!

:-) I welcome the serenity that awaits me there.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...and happy mother's day! (for those who qualify)

spray painted hearts

For a little less than a year now I've been noticing these hearts all around Miami. I see them everywhere...spray painted in various parts of the city. Kendall, South Miami, the Gables...everywhere! 

I'm convinced that there's some hopeless romantic delinquent running around Miami at the wee hours of the morning spray painting hearts to show their affections for their one and only. Picture it...it's great. 

Has anyone else seen these? Take a look around, they're everywhere. 

Let me know any interesting theories you might have on where these things come from...

Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

Alex and I have decided that in addition to traditional vows, we will also be exchanging our own personal vows. 

This is not something I've always wanted to do or anything. I didn't grow up dreaming that I would one day be expressing my love for my one and only through some beautiful words at our wedding ceremony. I'm more of a, "let's get to the point" kind of girl. I do feel all those lovey-dovey, mushy-mushy feelings...believe me, I do! But I don't know how to express that in a non-gagging way. What else can I say except...I love you...and I always will...?

So I did what any modern, 21st century, young woman would do. I googled, "writing your own wedding vows." And let me tell you, there is a plethora of information out there! And I have read through most of it. Here's a site with a nice step-by-step guide to personalizing your vows. And another site with some great tips. And here are some samples in case you need a little push.

So after much research...I'm still at a loss. I guess writing the vows won't be so hard. After all, I love Alex like I've never loved before and I could tell you all the reasons why...and I could tell you how much I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him...living together, eating together, watching movies together, sleeping together, creating together, ministering together, just being together... 

The part that makes me most nervous is actually SAYING these vows in front of [maybe] a couple hundred people...and not messing up! Even if I read the vows (which I will, believe you me) I'm likely to stumble and stammer. Pubic speaking gives me the "willies." Whatever that is... I suppose I shouldn't have dropped that class when I was in college...

Revolution May*Hem - A Reminder

Check out this great event. For more info...click here.

I think this will be Alex's last show with Coia. So don't miss it!

I Love Miami - Part Two

I wanted to write about The Fair a few weeks ago...but I was waiting to upload some pictures that Alex and I took. There's just one little problem. I am unable to locate my memory card. You have no idea how much this saddens me! Especially since pictures are so important to me. But hey, what are you gonna do?

Anyway, every year I look forward to going to the Fair. It's basically one of the best parts about living in Miami. I love the rides. Especially the ones that go upside down and spin and make you want to vomit. I find them thrilling. Unfortunately, the tickets are a bit pricey. So Alex and I decided to pick just one ride to go on. :-) It was a good one. Not as great as the one I originally wanted to ride...but Alex was too scared. ;-) 

Even though the rides are so much fun, it's still not the BEST part about that Fair. The absolute best part is the FOOD. I gain ten pounds every time I go. Roasted corn, turkey legs, elephant ears, fried oreos, fresh squeezed lemonade, cheese fries...anything your little heart desires. And it's all delicious. 

This year we also caught a Chinese acrobat show. Pretty cool stuff. And we bought Irish claddagh rings. So we're officially "Irish married." Whatever that means. 

This is probably the last time we'll be able to go to the Fair for a very long time...and it was great to experience it all. I hope you were able to make it. If not, there's always next year. 

[To Read "I Love Miami - Part One" click here]

Carmen

A couple weeks ago I had another photo shoot with Carmen. 

I don't recall how exactly we met...I think she discovered my blog through someone else's blog...somehow she saw my photo work and contacted me to book a photo shoot.

Sweet! 

We met up at a park on Us-1 and Killian. It was a lot of fun getting to know this great girl and as we spoke it turns out that I knew her sister a couple years ago. Oh, how small the world is.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

The Miranda Family

Some weeks ago I shot my first family portrait. I've known Sam & Tiffany for a couple years now and their daughter will be walking as my flower girl at the wedding. She's a...spunky...child. ;-) Seriously, she's great, even though she is quite the handful. Their son, Austin, is more quiet...and the resemblance to his father is uncanny.

Although we did not get to complete the original vision we had in mind for the shoot (a carousel...it was closed), we still had fun and got some creative shots in. I had fun shooting this family...it was a challenge and I look forward to any more family photo shoots that come my way.

[Some of the photos have been uploaded to the myspace...the Glowing Light web site is on its way! Promise!]

Alex & Kristel Lopez

I've been reading quite a bit on the topic of men changing their last names when they get married. Believe it or not, it DOES happen. So I thought I'd ask Alex how he feels about the subject...if he'd be willing to change his last name to mine. He scoffed. Mostly because my last name is "too common," not because he's a sexist pig. ;-)

But then I received a great little letter in the mail yesterday. An invitation to Anne Marie's graduation party. And just GUESS who the envelope was addressed to!

I win. 

I guess, Alex and Kristel Lopez it is. 

P.S. Don't worry, he's not gonna change his last name...and if you're wondering, yes, I do plan on changing my last name to his once we get married. 

My French Bridal Shower

Last Sunday I finally got to celebrate my bridal shower! Along with many wonderful friends and family members. A lot of people showed up and it was great to have them all. 

The shower was held at Le Boudoir in Coral Gables (the intersection of Ponce and Miracle Mile). They were really great to work with. They took great care of us and fed us the most amazing food! Everything was delicious. The little sandwiches and salads and of course, the dessert! 

We played some games that were prepared by my sister and just had a good time talking and laughing together. My favorite game was the one that Alex showed up for. :-) Basically my sister had asked him questions about himself previously and then wrote his answers down on  separate pieces of papers. In the style of "The Newlywed Game." 

So in front of a live audience I had to answer the questions before he revealed his own answers. And I am PROUD to say that I did really well. I believe I only got one answer wrong out of 13. Not bad. I even corrected one of his answers (his first kiss). I'm curious to see how Alex would do if the tables were turned...hmmm... 

The guests took home a triple chocolate mousse prepared by the restaurant in some lovely containers as a favor. This is my favorite French dessert! And from what I've heard, everyone enjoyed it! 

So thank you to everyone who came to the shower! It was really great having everyone there. And thanks to my mom for all her hard work preparing for the party all the way from Texas! And to my sister for preparing all the games. And to my bridesmaids (Lia & Tati) for hosting games. And to my aunt for making sure people RSVP'ed. And to Merari for taking all the photos. 

And well, thank you...to everyone. :-)

[I have uploaded the majority of the photos here.]

May*hem

Just thought you should check this out...

Radio Revolution

I Love Miami - Part One

I always complain about this city.

I've lived here nearly all my life and frankly, I'm tired of it. I'm ready for a change! 

Also, there are just so many things to dislike about this city...the traffic, the rude people, the reggaeton...

However, it's undeniable that there are things that I love about Miami...and I'm going to miss these things when Alex and I are gone. 

So I decided to write a little blog series, between now and the day we leave, about all these lovely Miami things. :-)

The first is, Big 105.9. Simply the BEST radio station in Miami. There's really no other station I listen to. I love classic rock and this is what this radio station dishes out all day long. Beatles, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Steve Miller Band, Queen...I love it all! And I love when I'm taking a long drive down the highway and they keep playing all these amazing songs, one right after the other. It's music that makes you feel good. 

Big 105.9, oh how I will miss thee... 

wedding headaches...

UGH!

APPARENTLY some people have let me know that they did not receive an RSVP card with their wedding invitations.

Again...ugh! 

Sorry about that. We must've missed some of the envelopes. Hmm.

If it's not too many people I might send out additional invitations since we have quite a few left over. PLEASE let me know if you are one of the people without an RSVP card. Thanks!

wedding firsts

This week Alex and I received our first wedding gift(s). 

My Tia Lani and Tio Gonzalo from Spain were in town for my sister's wedding and they decided to go ahead and get us our wedding gift now. The neatest microwave ever and Alex's beloved knife set. Oh, he's happy about that one! What a thrill. Our wedding is really on its way. 

(A Wedding Gift Tip: If you go to our wedding website you can click on Gift Registry and view our registries. Just click the Crate & Barrel and Target logos. Some gifts are only available ONLINE, so perhaps it would be more convenient for you to order a gift on-line and have it shipped to my house...no wrapping necessary!)

And today, another first! Our first RSVP card from our first official wedding guest. ::drum roll:: Anne Marie Fields! I can't wait for all those little cards to start coming in. It's so exciting. It's starting to feel real. 

(By the way, thanks TONS to Anne Marie, Merari, Alex, my mom, my dad, Lani, and Gonzalo for all the help with the invitations! I couldn't have done it without you guys.)

I went to the dress store today to FINALLY pick up my beautiful wedding gown...however, it's still a bit too long and so they have to alter it some more. I can pick it up NEXT Friday. Meh. 

I'll keep you updated on all the wedding news. :-)

You KNOW you're interested... ;-)

Good People Day 2008

Alright...so I saw this on someone's blog and I thought, "hey, why not?" Any excuse to blog. 

Apparently April 3rd is Good People Day 2008. Google it and you'll see.

Soo...here it goes...some good people in my life...

Alexander: My Love. My Best Friend. What can I say? He's amazing. So patient. So loving. There really is no one else like him. I'm a lucky girl. 

Anne Marie: The most giving person you'll ever meet. Sweet and kind and thoughtful. Now SHE'S good people.

Lauren: Great girl. Tells it like it is but still cares. I don't know what it is exactly, but I really like this girl. :-)

Lia: The best thing about this girl is she will defend you till the death. You'll never question her loyalty.

Tati: Again, one of the most loyal friends you could ask for. Sweet and always ready to give you loving Christian advice. 

Danibel: My sister. Though we once hated each other...I think we're okay now. I've learned a lot from her and I really do admire her. 

Abuelita Carmen: She has a servant's heart. There's no one in the world like her. I love her infinitely. She always takes care of me...really, she spoils me. 

Mom: Amazing! I've learned so much from her about being a modern woman who takes care of business. ;-)

Dad: Amazing! I see so much of myself in him. He sees the world through the eyes of a poet...I appreciate that.

Merari: Sarcasm and wit and photographic talent all rolled up into one neat little package. You're awesome. 

Pastor Dave: He's got some wisdom and insight...but not in that pushy overbearing way. 

Adriana: Behind every great man, there's a GREAT woman. Working with her at the school has been a blessing. 

Kat: She's just a joy...as grandma-ish as that sounds. She's really one of the most interesting people I've ever met. She's genuine and sincere and humble. 

Steph: So talented. So kind. So giving. Even when she's mad, she's nice. 

Okay...so this is where I'll stop...believe me, there are plenty more GOOD people in my life but I just can't blog about it forever. 

Love you all. 

Mrs. Lopez-Hiraldo

I've been meaning to write about my sister's wedding last Saturday...but I've been going non-stop and haven't had the chance to sit down and reflect on it. 

The whole weekend was a blast. My sister looked beautiful, despite battling a cold, and everything turned out great. I wish I had pictures to share...but again, things have been so busy that I haven't even had a chance to upload the ones I have onto my hard drive. But no worries. The amazing Maloman Photographers should post up the photos they took on the blog VERY soon. I was told they would be up today, so hopefully they come through! If not, I'm sure they will be up some time this week. Keep checking back there. 

For those who are wondering, I think my maid of honor speech didn't turn out half bad. I did the best I could. Alex made fun of me because he says I said, "Aaand..." a lot. What can I say? Public speaking is not on my list of skills. 

One of the most entertaining parts of the night were the tango dancers. Since Manny is from Argentina they had a couple perform some tango dances. Very sexy. When they asked for volunteers Alex went up to dance with the lady. Let me tell you, he didn't look bad out there! He actually looked like he knew what he was doing. It was all due to the fancy footwork of the lady. Maybe Alex and I should do a tango for the first dance at our wedding... Or maybe not. 

All I can say now is...I can't believe my sister is married! I'm really proud of her and I know that she is incredibly happy. Especially because right now she's honeymooning in Argentina. :-)