Winner of the Teetwhitening.com Giveaway

Hope everybody had a great thanksgiving... Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner, but without further ado... one lucky winner of the teethwhitening.com Giveaway for a Zoom Whitening Treatment for TWO ($1000 value) is

Congrats to ANGELA MORGAN !!!

Please contact me right away at amyjean@relentlessbride.com so i can put you in touch to collect your winnings.

Thanks for entering guys and stay warm in this chilly weather!!!

Welcoming Christmas

Now, I know many people have strong feelings about decorating TOO early for Christmas. In fact, my husband is one of those people who believes that Thanksgiving should stand alone and once Thanksgiving is over (and only when it is over), should Christmas be thought of.

I have never enjoyed Christmas. Don't get me wrong - getting together with family and eating good food was always great - but the stress of money, unhappiness and buying buying buying always put a big cloud over this holiday. It didn't help much that in my own family, Christmas only meant a time of intense strain and stress in our home. Due to this and how my own feelings of Christmas are jaded, I don't enjoy Christmas. This has been difficult because my husband LOVES Christmas. LOVES IT!

This year is our first Christmas as a LEGAL family. We've been family long before the marriage, but somehow the legal commitment and emotional vows we said in March before our friends and family does make this Christmas even more special. I have made yet another vow this year... to try not to project my past and wholeheartedly look towards the future with my husband and our families to make each day the happiest we can make them. To do this, I work on the things I can control - my own attitude and actions.

So this year, because I love my husband and I want to make happy memories - I am welcoming Christmas WHOLEHEARTEDLY and excitedly. This means that our first Family Christmas tree has gone up last night. All 4 feet of the glorious plasticness that makes this beautiful tree ours is standing proudly in our living room... and I want to share with you pics of our beautiful tree and what I know will be one of many happy Holiday seasons we will share together.

Hubby takin the tree out of the box

Tree put together in 2.2 seconds :)

Bug wondering what was going on

The tree

Hubby putting on our first ornament, Engagement Ornament

Engagement Ornament

Putting on our 2009 Ornament

2009 Ornament

Honeymoon Ornament

Our first Family Tree... three ornaments, a snowflake and tree skirt! :)

So before y'all tell me I ruined thanksgiving with my tree, take a moment to look at the beautiful new tradition our family has started :-) and then you can yell at me! ^.^

MagnetStreet Weddings Thanksgiving Sale

25% off ALL Wedding Stationery from MagnetStreet Weddings
Save the Dates, Invitations, Reception Items, Embellishments, Thank Yous…
Enter promo code WHAPPY25
Expires 11/29/10

Esmeralda Renaissance Resort & Spa Winner

I'm probably gonna get in trouble for this one... my sil really wanted this weekend away. BUT, as with all my giveaways, diligence always pays off and the winner of this giveaway entered many times. Using Random.org, I selected a winner who will win a wonderful weekend at the Esmeralda Renaissance Resort & Spa for two...

Without further ado, and completely chosen at random... the winner is:

For those of you who can see the randomized list, many of your extra/daily entries got close. So don't be discouraged, after this great Teethwhitening.com Giveaway, I will have yet another giveaway for a lucky winner right after thanksgiving, so stay tuned.

I'm so excited for you Star4227, please contact me by November 24, 2010 so i can put you in touch to receive your winnings. If i don't hear from you by then, another winner will be selected. amyjean@relentlessbride.com

The rest of you stay tuned for the next great giveaway!

Beautiful Wedding Album!

So it's been a few weeks, but I can't not mention receiving my wedding album from Jordana {Hazelnut Photography}. She was amazing and answered my silly questions and even helped this indecisive gal create the album look. Aside from being a workout every time I open it (it's a heavy sucker), it's simply gorgeous and a superb way to show off my fabulous wedding pictures.

I had to take a few pics of course to show it off... so check out my fabulous wedding album

Isn't she beautiful. I can't give enough of my praise and glory to Jordana who was just amazing to work with and so adorable. Thanks Jordana! Be sure to check out Hazelnut Photography blog for some of her amazing work!

TeethWhitening.com Giveaway

This giveaway is a great one, especially for you avid Coffee drinkers (or wine drinkers) who just can't give up that cup o'jo even though you know it can stain your teeth. Certain things we just can't give up, and i'm the same way.

Trust me, even post-wedding - I still do at home treatments to try to maintain my pearly whites... and although most people don't notice it on each other, if you are anything like me, (my own biggest critique) you notice it on yourself. Having a healthy white smile is important!

Without further ado, our next giveaway!

DISCUS DENTAL (which hosts teethwhitening.com) is giving away TWO free whitening treatments. Whether its the Bride & Groom, the Bride & Mom, The Groom and Best Man - use it as you like by simply finding a dentist on the Dental Directory closest to you, pick the treatment you want, tell me why you picked that treatment and one lucky winner will be chosen at random!

And to make the winnings even sweeter - while you are in your planning phase, we all could use that extra caffeine to run on - so drink up with all the coffee you want from 7-Eleven to keep your energy levels high, knowing your teeth will be white and beautiful on your wedding day after your whitening treatment!

WINNER RECEIVES:
·         30 days of free 7-Eleven coffee (if you still want to include this)
·         Two free teeth whitening procedures (One treatment per individual; original entrant and one other person of choice. Ideally one for each bride and groom, but it could also be something that a bride gives to her maid-of-honor, etc.)


HOW TO WIN:

All you have to do is fill out the entry form below by November 25, 2010 (Happy Thanksgiving) 11:59 PM EST.

Leave a comment for the following on this blog post for extra entries:
Tweet to get an extra entry "I entered the @relentlessbride teethwhitening.com giveaway, have you? http://ht.ly/3byuu "
Facebook to get an extra entry "I entered the @relentlessbride teethwhitening.com giveaway, have you? http://ht.ly/3byuu "

You can enter once a day.


TERMS & CONDITIONS
·         Expires Dec. 31, 2011
·         Must book whitening through Discus Dental
·         Click here for more T&C's
Please note that by entering this promotion, you do agree to allow Discus Dental to use your testimonial. More info will be provided upon winning.

*Discus Dental hosts the www.teethwhitening.com website*

GIVEAWAY {Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa}

A perfect giveaway for one lucky reader, One of you can win very easily. Just keep reading...

What can you win:
·         2-night stay for two in a suite
·         One Breakfast for two in Cava Restaurant
·         Couples spa treatment or two 60-minute massages
·         Additional rooms at reduced rate if you want to make it a big girl's weekend and need more rooms: as low as $159, based on availability (will be worked out with the hotel if needed)


How can you win:
-  Visit the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Website.
-  Come back here and leave a comment letting me know how you'd use this giveaway for your ideal weekend away!

Extra entries:
1. Blog about this to help spread the word, get 2 extra entries but be sure to leave a comment with the link to the blog post
2. Tweet about it for an extra entry: "I entered the @relentlessbride Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa giveaway, have you? http://ht.ly/36r5F" and Leave a comment letting me know you did this.
3. Post on your Facebook status for an extra entry: "I entered the Relentless Bride Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa giveaway, have you? http://ht.ly/36r5F " and leave a comment letting me know you did this
4. Enter once a day until 11:59 PM EST, Wednesday November 17, 2010.
5. Tell your friends and family to enter

Terms & Conditions:

·         Expires Dec. 31, 2011
·         Maximum occupancy 2
·         Based on availability (some holiday periods & restricted dates excluded due to limited availability)
·         Reservations may not be booked through general Marriott number or website. Must be booked through the Renaissance Esmeralda directly.
 
Make sure your contact information is included in your entry.

All you have to do is leave a comment for each way of entry and make sure you enter daily. However, you decide to use this awesome weekend at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa is up to you, but you have to enter to win!

Video Music

I am so bad... We have yet to receive our edited video b/c i've been slacking on what music to pick for it.

Currently, these are the songs that I am thinking of... but if you have any suggestions - PLEASE HELP!

Sunshine Steve Azar

The Way you look tonight - Maroon 5 Cover

Today was a fairytale - Taylor Swift

Walk the Line (Levi's Commercial version)

I only want to be with you Shelby Lynne

Into the Mystic Van Morrison

Any other good ones?

EPIPHANY: Life's what you make it!

I finally got a good night's rest last night, but the weekend was full of sleepless nights. I feel that sometimes when you are tired, really really tired - you have the clearest most precise thoughts. And that's what happened saturday night about 3am...

Big EPIPANY: make time now. enjoy life now. Goals are good but goals to enjoy life, to be happy or to make the most of a moment are NOT long term goals, but daily goals.

The Hubs and I love living in the District, but at the same time the rat race in DC just feels never ending. There are times when we think about a slower paced life and seriously enjoy the day dream.  We've been contemplating a move within the next 5 years and that move would lead us outside of the District and not back to our home bases, California or New Jersey. Instead, our top two choices are North Carolina or Indiana, back to the beloved state that brought us together. With that in mind, I've justified this move as a way to live life "better" (relative to us enjoying life "better" not that its "better" than any other person's choice).

"Life is a rat race, regardless of where you go, but at least in a slower paced location, we get paid less but we pay less to live and can have moments to enjoy life."

I've really believed what I had been saying, but Saturday night - in my fits of restless tossing and turning, I realized one thing... our moments to enjoy life are now. Every day. Every moment. Moving from one city to another won't create those opportunities. We have to create them. We have to make them happen. Sure, moving to Indiana/NC may give us more obvious opportunities and downtime to do the things we want, but we can still do them here - we just have to make working hard AND enjoying life and each other a top priority as well.

Usually my moments of clarity happen in the bathroom... don't ask. LOL! Although I'm still tired from the lack of sleep this weekend, I've walked away with a positive perspective ... and I have to remind myself daily... (and in the words of the famous Hannah Montana - and i'm sure other famous people): "Life's what you make it"

DC State Fair Bake Sale

For all you peeps who live in or near the District, come out and support a great cause.

Last August, the District had its first DC State Fair.  It turned out to be a great event and there was no doubt that this needed to become an annual event. Officially incorporated in DC and working on getting the official non-profit status, On Saturday, November 20th, there will be a bake sale at the 14th and U Street Farmers Market to raise the $800 needed to file the 501(3)(c).

Wanna get involved?  There are several ways to help:

1. Donate Baked Goods - email us at dcstatefair@gmail.com to sign up to donate baked goods. We are looking for items that are "Fall" themed and encourage you to use produce grown locally to make your baked goods. For a list of local farmers markets, please see this list.

2. Volunteer Hours - email us at dcstatefair@gmail.com to sign up to help sell baked goods on Saturday, November 20th. We will have 2 hour shifts.

3. Spread the Word - The electronic flyer seen above can be posted on websites, blogs, Facebook, etc. Please encourage family and friends to visit the market and pick up some delicious goodies.

4. Donate - As always, the Paypal “Donate” button on the right is an option!

Here is more information regarding the DC State Fair:  http://dcstatefair.wordpress.com/

Happy Veteran's Day

On the heels of the USMC 235th Birthday  (yesterday), Veteran's day is upon us a good reminder for all those who have served, who serve and who will serve to help keep our country safe.

Thanks to all the vets out there!

think im gettin' sick

Last night, i had an amazing time meeting up w/some friends for some yogalates at The Yoga District and then checking out Masa 14 (which was pretty darn tasty)... i fell asleep feeling a bit stuft up and congested and had a restless night of sleep.

Woke up to some green mucus/phlegm/snot/boogers, googled it and am now laying back in bed.

Mom is here visiting and i can be honest, im indulging in the moment. She already boiled/steamed me asian pear soaked in honey, made me ginger tea - like boiled ginger and then added honey and is now feeding me some soup :)

Can you be in heaven while having a cold?

So until tomorrow, i bid you adieu with a pic of the pups

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Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Giveaway

Y'all, with the cold weather arriving to the District, warm weather and vacations have been on my mind. This year, I've traveled to many new places and this current giveaway is a definite must do for my list of places I want to visit in the near future. After the great Westin Giveaway I co-hosted, with Weddzilla.com Blog - I'm so fortunate to be able to give one of my lucky readers one more (of a few cool upcoming giveaways) awesome weekend.

We all know the pressures of life. Whether you are about to be engaged, newly engaged, about to be married, recently married, married for a while ... need a weekend away? Then this is the giveaway for you. However you choose to spend this weekend, a pre or post wedding getaway, a girls trip, a special mom-daughter weekend, a weekend at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa right outside Palm Springs, CA is the perfect treat!!!

DC Birthday Fun

To celebrate mom's birthday, I took her on a noon cruise around the DC harbor, we had lunch at the Fish Market and then had a celebratory dinner that night when the husband came home from work. Although the Viewing of the monuments, was really not a viewing, the cruise itself wasn't bad. It was short but the captain was knowledgable and explained a lot about the sights we did see.  The fish market was awesome, although going mid-week wasn't too crowded - i can imagine how it gets come the weekend.

Here are a few photos :)

To the woman who gave birth to me...

Happy Birthday! I can only hope that I am half the woman you are, half the wife you've been and half the mother any child can ask for!

Get Married In Times Square

Be part of something special... Get Married is hosting a first ever wedding in Times Square and you can be part of it!

GO VOTE ONLINE: INVITATIONS, GOWNS, CHINA, CRYSTAL & MORE

Starting today with exclusive Get Married invitations, the public is invited to www.GetMarried.com/times-square to watch webisodes, view images, and vote on various wedding details that will update each week through mid-December.  An image gallery and video will accompany each week’s wedding detail, helping Get Married’s online audience vote for their favorite selection, with the highest number of votes ultimately determining what will be chosen for the extraordinary wedding ceremony in the heart of Times Square. 

“We are honored to have such stellar partners helping to make Get Married in Times Square incredibly exciting and the most watched wedding celebration of the year,” said Stacie Francombe, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Get Married Media.  “Our winning couple is thrilled to be receiving everything they need for their dream wedding by highly recognized brands. David’s Bridal, Timeless Designs, Barceló Hotels & Resorts and Waterford Crystal are helping to make this an incredible and fun experience—for the couple, and for visitors of GetMarried.com.”

With nearly 2,000 submissions from across the country, Get Married Media selected Marine Corps reservists Bethany Phillips and Geoffrey Dubie as the winning couple to Get Married in Times Square.  Bethany and Geoffrey will receive the following from the contest sponsors, all of which will be posted at various weeks on www.GetMarried.com/times-square, and open for voting between October 25 and December 20, 2010:

David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.com), the nation’s leading bridal retailer with over 300 stores nationwide, is providing Bethany with her dream wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses.  Bethany will meet with a consultant at a David’s Bridal store to help her find the perfect gown—in this case three spectacular gowns—as well as bridal party dresses.  Voting starts November 1 (bridal gown) and November 8 (bridesmaid dresses).

Timeless Designs (www.timelessdesigns.com), one of the top leading jewelry manufacturers and a member of the Platinum guild International, is providing Bethany and Geoffrey with platinum wedding bands.  The winning couple will select their wedding bands, narrowing down to three each.  Voting starts November 15. 

Barceló Hotels & Resorts (www.barcelo.com) is providing the winning couple a 7-day/6-night stay in the new, luxury and all-inclusive Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The honeymoon package includes a panoramic suite on the Club Premium level, which offers premium drinks, unlimited a la carte restaurant dining, and VIP treatment.  In addition, the couple will receive one of three special honeymoon extras—a sunset cruise, romantic beach dinner, or in-suite champagne breakfast.  Voting starts November 29. 

www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/Hotels/DominicanRepublic/PuntaCana/BavaroPalaceDeluxe/Home

Waterford Crystal (www.waterford.com), the designer of the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball, is giving the winning couple their wedding china and crystal.  In addition, Waterford is hosting a press event on December 27, 2010, enabling the winning couple to place the final crystal on this year’s monumental ball that will begin its descent at 11:59 p.m., as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year. Voting starts December 6. 

On December 31, 2010, Get Married will capture Bethany and Geoffrey’s wedding preparations and various wedding elements—the walk down the aisle, wedding vows, ring exchange, recessional, and reception. The wedding will be broadcast live for the world, as well as on the large LED screens around Times Square.  Immediately following the wedding, Get Married will host a reception for the couple’s friends and family at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square. 

To view images, watch a video and read more about the winning couple—Bethany and Geoffrey—and to vote on the exclusive Get Married wedding invitations, the first wedding detail open to voting, visit www.GetMarried.com/Times-Square.

Sanity Restored... TODAY

The Rally to restore sanity was anything but sane. Don't get me wrong... It was fun and really fun to people watch and read the signs, but it was insane. My mother and I walked the national mall only days before the influx of visitors and they only seemed to have partitions and speakers up from 3rd street (capital area) to 7th street. My mother and I got pushed back to 9th street and I can tell you there were hundreds more behind me and to the side... so it was INSANE. But today, a typical Monday - sanity seemed restored to the District of Columbia...

Here are a few fun photos from our day :)