Hilton Head!

Ahhh! I finally have photos to share from my trip to Hilton Head, SC from August 11-14th. Steve and I were both able to go and to meet up with my Dad, step-mom, my brother, his wife, my niece and nephew, two of my aunts, and two uncles. The reason for the trip? My Dad's 70th birthday!

Lounging on the sand!
I am loving the Tr-i-n--a T-u--r-k towel
I bought with a GC that a friend gave me for my b-day

It was such a great trip, for many reasons. First, I'm so glad that we got to do something big for my Dad. He's such a sweetheart, and is extremely easy-going and is not the kind of person who calls out for everyone to make a big fuss over his birthday (unlike me! Hee hee). So, it was extra fun to do just that!

Second, I really enjoyed getting to hang out with so much family all at once! Leaving aside that one of my aunts mentioned my ex-fiance at least FOUR separate times (broken up in 2004, mind you... I hardly even THINK of the guy and he couldn't be more irrelevant)... everything went very smoothly and it was a ton of fun. We hung out at the beach and/or went bike riding every day, had dinner out, followed by ice cream, and played quite a lot of frisbee in the pool and the ocean!

Such a cute photo of my dad and step-mom from the trip! Look at those big smiles!

At the beach with Steve! Surprise! This looks like all my other summer photos! :)With my Dad! Why yes, I have perfected the "ring-display" pose! Hee hee!
I can do it from the other side, too! LOL

The third thing that I really liked about this trip is that it, like all our weekends out in the Hamptons, reminded me that I no longer dread a beach vacation. I'm far from perfect, but I'm about as close as I'm ever going to be, and have come so far that I don't worry about my flaws the way I did before. On this trip, I was in a bathing suit for at least several hours every day, and that didn't stress me out even a little bit. Even when I was this weight when I was younger (pre-big-gain, pre-band), I never felt like that at all. I probably would have worn shorts all day, and a one-piece. I am so grateful not to feel like that anymore.

The champions of frisbee!!

This one cracked me up. :)

After returning from the trip, I found out that my Dad is going to have to have some medical tests this week and next. It's a worrisome situation, though one that might turn out not to be a big deal, if we caught this problem early enough. I wanted to ask all of you to keep him in your thoughts and prayers -- and to hope for the best possible results. My Dad is hugely important to me, and I figured that some extra prayers and thoughts might help.

A Happy Mistake

This is the first Saturday that I've been at home since before Memorial Day. (And it feels so great to be in my apartment right now!) But, as I was rushing around to get out the door for spin class, I heard someone trying to get in my apartment! I had an internal lock on the door, so the person wasn't able to open the door.

I asked who it was... and it turned out to be my cat sitter! I'd completely forgotten to tell her that she didn't need to come this weekend. But I was so glad that I had!

I haven't seen Sheila (my cat sitter of 9 years) since before my surgery. At that time, she was a few months out from band surgery and had lost quite a bit of weight. She utimately had complications with her band (it sounded like her doctors botched the surgery, unfortunately), and wound up getting revised to gastric bypass surgery.

Sheila is about 5 feet tall, maybe. Well, she lost around 150 pounds - and most of it since I'd seen her last! She looks fantastic! So much younger and healthier -- and she's tiny and petite! The last time she saw me, I was about 80 pounds heavier, and she'd come over so that I could pick her brain about banded life, and what to expect from the surgery. It's incredible how much we've both changed since last we met!

It was amazing to see her, even though I only had 5 minutes with her and had to run full speed to get to spin on time. It's hard to believe that it had been almost four years since we'd set eyes on one another. We're in regular contact by text and phone, but since she's usually at my apartment because I am not, we don't overlap in person all that much. Anyway, it was really a great surprise, and I'm so glad that I forgot to cancel her coming this weekend!

Catching up!

It's been such a busy summer, and I am woefully behind on catching up with my blog! I want to tell you guys about the trip that Steve and I took to Hilton Head, SC for my dad's 70th b-day celebration.... but since someone didn't charge her camera battery before the trip, I'm going to see if I can get in some photos before I post!

In other news, earlier this month, Steve and I had dinner with the wonderful Nora and her husband, here in NYC! We had a fantastic time! I love those two, and it's always fun to hear about their latest news and travels. Steve and Kenny hadn't met before, and they totally hit it off!

With Nora at Hearth, here in NYC

I'm not sure if I blogged about this, but I met Nora before her surgery. We had lunch and really hit it off. It is so much fun for me to get to see her looking so amazing and wonderful. She has lost more than 130 pounds and is really enjoying her life. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, be sure to -- there is a link in the 2nd paragraph of this post.

How great is it that so many of us have made close friends through this process? It's such a fantastic fringe benefit, and one that I did not at all expect!

Hiking Photos of the Recently Engaged...

Steve and I were up in the Adirondacks last weekend, visiting with his family (who were up, too) and doing a leeeetle wedding location scouting! It was a great weekend, and we even managed to find time for a hike. And, I thought you guys might enjoy seeing that trip through my eyes!!

View from the top of the mountain!

The family, at the top of the mountain....
Trail marker!

Summer Lovin'

I'm holding my hand up in this photo because I tripped over a bag that *ahem* some cute guy *ahem* left at the bottom of our brick front stairs and hit my ankle and wrist. My wrist blew up and is now a lovely shade of yellow... but it's fine. I'd done that (stone cold sober, I might add) on the way to the beach that day...

OMG, Becky. A friend took a two photos of me and Steve at the beach out in the Hamptons last weekend, and I like 'em both. I am pretty sure these are the first photos of me in a bikini where I am not just OK with the picture, but affirmatively like them both. Who knew that would happen?! It wasn't even on my list of stuff to look forward to.

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We are both wearing Lilly Pulitzer bathing suits. Did you just throw up a little? Mission accomplished! Hey, at least they don't match. ;)

I'm still really struggling to get to the gym enough this summer. My weight is OK -- I'm still hovering at my goal, but I can feel the small difference between having a few more pounds off and feeling a little more muscled. It's weird, because when I was fat and going up the scales, I don't think I noticed the gain as much as I do now. I also know that I felt a lot worse about it then than I do now, because now I know both how to get it off and that I can do it if I get a bit more focused.

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In other news.... I GOT MY RING LAST NIGHT!!! I can't post a photo just yet ... I need to show it to my family and a few friends before I put it on-line, and I also want to make sure that Steve won't mind if I do that. But it's gorgeous, and I love it. I know that I got to pick out the setting (and it's the one I posted a link to a few months ago (though not from that overpriced store b/c we're not crazy), but I didn't fully appreciate just how beautiful it was going to be, or how incredible it would feel to get to wear it, know it's mine, and know that it means that this adorable guy I'm head-over-tea kettle for seriously wants to marry me. Good stuff!!

We're heading up to the Adirondacks this weekend.... going to see his family and scope out what I think will be our preferred wedding venue location!! So excited. :)

Fourth of July Extendo-Weekend!

I am behind! I have fun things to report! :) Over the Fourth of July, Steve and I went up to the Adirondack mountains to visit with his family and some friends who were up in the area. We went up on Tuesday afternoon, which made for an awesome extend-o-weekend!

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One of the nicest parts of the weekend was that his parents threw a cocktail party to celebrate our engagement and the arrival of their new granddaughter (who is adorable)! That was just so nice, and made me feel so welcome. (They also had me in the family Christmas card picture! An honor to be sure!!) :)

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Steve and I also went camping with four friends at a lean-to on a lake. We hiked during the day a bit, then rowed Adirondack guide boats (photo below) out to the lean-to in the afternoon.

The lean-to where we and four friends camped one night!

We weren't roughing it too, too badly. Yes, that IS a bottle of Veuve Clicot rose in nature's finest wine cooler! :)

Below is a photo of Steve, with our friend A, in the lean-to. You can see that the bottom is covered in pine branches, which smells like Christmas, and is very soft and comfortable to boot! We just camped one night, which was perfect -- and the organization that owns the lean-to also put an environmentally friendly loo just a hop away (no running water, but it was a wooden structure with a door that closed... and toilet paper... whew...)! So, it was rustic and beautiful, but not uncomfortable (or unduly gross!)!

Steve's dad gave me my first ever Spork in honor of our camping trip! I used it constantly! I was enjoying a very nice red wine, some steak and a baked potato when this was taken! Happily, I did not get stuck on the steak!

Here is my FIANCE (still getting used to that word!), rowing one of the guide boats we took out to the site.

I was thinking about this trip and wondering what it would have been like to do at my heaviest weight. I'm sure I would have still done it, but it would have been a LOT harder. The hike we did was really easy -- only an hour, followed by sitting on the top and having a leisurely lunch. I am sure I would have found it really tough and been struggling to keep up.

I also don't think I would have been able to row the boat all the way to the lean-to (which I did -- and it was pretty far, not to mention really windy). I surely would have let my friend take over the oars, and I probably would have felt badly that I was heavier than her, and that she was stuck rowing me. Also, I wonder how well I would have fit in the seat. As it was, I did the hike just fine, I'm the one who rowed all the way out to the lean-to, and I didn't even THINK about my weight the whole time. How things have changed. Total NSV.

The Engagement Scoop!

This summer is insanely busy!! We've literally been out of town every single weekend from Memorial Day until now. It's been a blast, but it's hard to get things done (like blogging) that I normally do during my down time at home, since that time is so limited.

OK... the scoop. The weekend before we got engaged, Steve and I were out on the beach in Amagansett (Hamptons) and were talking about how the following weekend was the only one where we did not have travel plans. So, on a whim, we looked up travel information for Block Island, RI, and booked a trip out there! Also during that weekend, we had a talk where Steve was asking me questions like "Why do you want to get married?" and questioning why society (and our friends) put so much pressure on us to get engaged. Honestly, the conversation left me thinking that he was a LOOOOONNNGGG way from being ready to get engaged, and I was feeling really frustrated about it.

I decided in my mind that I was not even going to THINK about getting engaged during our trip to Block Island, and that I was going to just use that time to have fun with Steve and to enjoy all the reasons that I want to marry him in the first place.

We took off work on Friday, and spent the night in the Hamptons (a short drive from the ferry to Block Island). Then, we went out on the Friday morning ferry, checked into our adorable inn (first photo above), and rented bikes so that we could ride all over the island. We went out to both of the island's beautiful lighthouses during the weekend... here are photos of my favorite one....

Action shot of Steve! He was going to propose in about 1 1/2 hours... I had NO IDEA!!

Toward the end of our ride, we were on the main street in town (cute restaurants overlooking the water), and Steve suggested that we go back to the inn for a glass of wine. I was a little surprised, since the inn has no bar... and we were right by all the cute water-view bars, but Steve reminded me that he'd brought a really nice bottle of Brunello with us, and we had snacks back at the inn. Thinking no more of it, I agreed, and we went back to the inn.

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When we got back to the room, I put up my things and was ready to go and sit outside. Steve said "I just need a minute. Can you go down and put two chairs in the sun, and I'll meet you out there?" I was like.... that is so weird that he is asking me to move furniture... especially solid wood, really heavy Adirondack chairs! But, since I'm freakishly strong after all my years of working out in recent time, I said "Sure!" I moved the gigantic 50 pound chairs :) and started writing post cards.

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Eventually, Steve came downstairs. He was carrying a bag and two plainly wrapped packages. I thought he might have organized a special picnic for us, but it turned out that they were presents for me. I opened the first one -- and it was full of really cute Lacoste tennis clothes. Seriously, the cutest tennis skirt I've ever seen, two tops to go with it, and a pair of matching socks (avec aligator logo)! How great!! I was so surprised and happy!

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Then, he gave me the second box. And, in it were these really cute tennis shoes... white with pink (see below). And THEN, I noticed that there was an envelope inside of one of the shoes, tied to the shoelace. I looked at it and saw that it said "For my girl."

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I was like "Honey, what is this?!" And he just shrugged, giving me a funny and semi-mysterious grin. I turned it over, and saw in the bright sunlight that there was something ring-shaped in the envelope. I then thought very hard in my brain "CATHERINE!! THIS IS NOT A RING. DON'T YOU DARE THINK THIS IS A RING. AND, DON'T YOU DARE CRY AND RUIN THIS REALLY NICE PRESENT!!" Then I turned the envelope back over and started to open it.

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As I did, I saw that Steve was starting to go on his knees.

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I thought "CATHERINE!! Maybe this IS a proposal??" And then he asked me to marry him! (P.S. For anyone as slow as I was that day, it really was a proposal!)

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On the back of the card was a cork that Steve had cut into the shape of a ring at our anniversary dinner back in January. He had kept it for six months! And, he put the diamond he bought for me inside of the circle and attached it to the card.

He did this so that I could pick my own setting, which I did last week.... the ring should be ready in about three weeks! I can't wait!!

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But, more importantly, I can't even tell you how incredibly happy I was when he asked -- and how incredibly happy I continue to be about this! He really surprised me -- I never thought he would ask that weekend, and am so, so glad that he did.

He was even sneaky enough to secret a bottle of Veuve Clicot in the bags without me noticing, and he kept it cold so that we could enjoy it after we got engaged. It was so wonderful to sit out on that lawn with him in the sun, and to toast to our future. :)

We rode bikes around the next day as well, and told a few people that we were engaged. Of course, we called our parents, siblings and a few (very few) very close friends to share the good news with them. That was a lot of fun, and it was so nice to see how happy everyone was for us!

Post-ride cocktails on that Saturday

My handsome fiance (I'm still getting used to calling him that!)

And, for good measure, a pre-dinner cocktail on Saturday night at another inn.

Sunburned and happy at dinner!

And, there you have it! We haven't set a date yet (why does everyone ask that the second you get engaged?!), but are looking at a few venues. That part is a lot of fun! We're trying to have a very small wedding, and we'll see how that works out for us... I'm just thrilled though. I can't wait for us to make it official!

Thank you all for your nice messages on my engagement post! It is so nice to be abe to share this with you guys!! xoxoxo

It Occurs To Me....

It occurs to me that, when I started this blog 3 years and 8 months ago, I was obese, suffering from a heartbreak, and suffering in numerous other ways because of my weight (foot pain, back pain, compartmental syndrome, inability to enjoy shopping, feeling bad about myself every single day because I couldn't control my weight, etc.).

Me, after cleaning the blood off my heel from a bike accident I had on Block Island. I thought the pose was great for this post! P.S. It was just a scratch.... P.P.S. I'd had two glasses of wine before this was taken. P.P.P.S. I probably wouldn't have wiped out on that steep grassy hill if I hadn't! :)

If you would have told me in October 2008 that in under four years, I would have transformed into an athletic, fit, person -- and would be engaged to a guy who I'm crazy about, I would have crossed my fingers and said a prayer that there was some chance you'd be right. If you would have told me how much enjoyment, satisfaction, joy, friendship and support I would receive through that time, it would have been hard for me to comprehend that that could be possible.

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The changes through the last several years have really been amazing. These days, I am out in Amagansett (the Hamptons) with friends for much of the summer, and I don't give much thought to tossing on a bikini and laying out in front of them. I don't worry about looking fat, and I also don't feel bad about how I look or what I eat. Part of that has to do with the band, and part of it has to do with the fact that I make a real effort to get in to the gym and not to sabotage myself with bad food choices (not that I'm perfect -- FAR from it). It also doesn't hurt that I've been talking to my trusty therapist every other week through this entire process.

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Anyway, I am really counting my blessings right now, and feel so grateful for everything that has happened since I began this process. Thank all of you for your sweet messages on my engagement post! I loved reading them all, and it was so nice to get to share that wonderful news with you! I'm seriously on Cloud Nine. Not a bad time to take a minute to appreciate what a great journey this has been so far, and how grateful I am for finding a way to change the one thing -- my weight -- that was holding me back from really enjoying my life as much as I could.

BIG NEWS!!!

I got back last night from the best weekend ever! Steve and I had decided last weekend to take off work on Friday and to head out to Block Island, Rhode Island. I'd never been, and absoluely loved that charming, beautiful place!

And, adding to the wonderfulness of the whole weekend . . . STEVE PROPOSED ON FRIDAY!!! :) :) I am so incredibly happy and excited to know that I am going to get to marry this wonderful, caring, thoughtful, loving, fun and ridiculously attractive man!!

Steve somehow managed to keep a bottle of Veuve Clicot not only hidden, but chilled! I love that man!!

More details to follow! I just wanted to share the news! We're keeping the happy news under wraps until we can personally tell our families and most of our friends, but I thought it would be safe to share it here!

At dinner the night of our engagement. I'm totally red from smiling so big and crying tears of joy!!

Addendum: I just realized that this very happy development will round out me completing my list of doing every single thing I was looking forward to about losing weight with the band. Assuming all goes well between now and then (and I don't have any reason to believe it won't), I'm going to get to look fit and trim at my wedding!

Oops! ... I Did It Again

Oops! I did it again... I got my a$$ up and into the gym.... OH baby baby....

(Help!!! Endorphins make me super dorky this early in the morning!!! Who knew?!)

I feel surprisingly great and am psyched that I got up for spin again this morning. Meanwhile, it's so competitive to get in these classes that the Thursday class was booked solid by 12:03 on Monday morning (registration opens at 12) and I couldn't get in. So, that's my last morning spin for the week. I feel really good about getting up though -- that is two workouts that I absolutely would not have been able to get in (due to plans at night) if I hadn't rallied both mornings. Woo hooo!!! (Pats self on back.) ....I think my cat just rolled his eyes at me! :D

I Did It!!

You did it! You did it!

You said that you would do it, And indeed you did.

I thought that you would rue it; I doubted you'd do it.

But now I must admit it That succeed you did.

You should get a medal Or be even made a knight.

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I am laughing so hard right now because I am patting myself on the back for something that most people would think is nothing at all. You see, my friends, I am the antithesis of a morning person. I would sell my own grandmother down the river (slight exaggeration...SLIGHT) for 10 extra minutes of sleep on any given weekday morning. I just do NOT want to get out of bed. It's not in my DNA to be a morning person, and I've been like this for my entire life, as far as I can tell.

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So, why do I feel like I'm going to get a medal and a ticker-tape parade today?? Wellllll...... today, for the first time EVER (there are a lot of first times EVER on this blog), I got my bee-hind out of bed 1 1/2 hours early and went to spin class.

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It was hard! I had given myself 15 minutes to get ready... and then snoozed for 5 ... and then spent the next 3 debating "Am I going?" "Should I go back to sleep?" "If I go back to sleep, I'll get another 1 1/2 hours in..." "If I don't go, I'm not going to get my workouts in this week." Etc. Thank goodness the devil didn't show up ... I don't even know what bargain I might have made! Hee hee...

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I would like to thank my cat, Max, for helping me with the decision. Max is seriously the most freaking annoying cat ever, and if he even SENSES that he might be fed two seconds early, it's going to be a meow-fest. I usually grab earplugs, turn over, and say "I don't negotiate with terrorists." But today, I dragged my tired self out of bed, said "Don't get used to this, Maxer" fed him, pulling on my workout gear all the while, and I made it to the gym.

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How do I feel? Like a marathon-winning champion. I may even do it again tomorrow. (Gasp!) Major, major props to those of you who do this every day.

Summer in the Sun

With Steve (and a few other friends) at a restaurant in Montauk.  I am LOVING that beard he has going on!  I wouldn't have expected to, but it looks so good with his tan!

I've been a bad little blogger... but only because I've been out and about having fun!  My weight is holding at 154.6 (just .4 below goal) though I'd really rather see it about 4-5 pounds less than that.  Steve and I are sharing a house out in the Hamptons with a few other friends this summer, and between that and other weekend trips we have planned, as well as work, it's proving difficult for me to get in to do 3-4 workouts.  I've been more on the 2-3 front.  And, that is exactly why I'm on the high end of my "safe" weight zone.  Exercise is absolutely the key to maintenance for me, just as it was the key to getting to goal.

So, I'm trying to make sure I don't get off track this summer.  The weekend before last, I'd scoped out a spin studio and a yoga one near our house in the Hamptons, and got the schedules for both.  On Saturday, I rode my bike over to spin for the 9:30 class.  I didn't love the class.... the bikes move from side to side (So-u-l C--ycl-e has stationary bikes), and I found these ones hard to manage.  Whenever I'd pedal, the seat would hit my thigh as the bike rocked from side to side.  It was annoying, and I had a hard time keeping up my cadence with the bike moving so much.  I also was a little concerned that I'd get some weird bruise on my thigh!  (I didn't.)  It was still a good workout, so even if it wasn't my favorite, I'll go back again next time I'm there.  We also went on a bike ride to hit the shops in East Hampton, and I bought... for the first time, EVER, a pair of white jeans at Tory Burch.  (I'm wearing them in the photo, but you can't see them.)

So, why did I buy those white jeans?   Wellllll, because they fit great and were really cute ... and because I may have completely forgotten to pack anything to wear to cover my bottom half for Saturday night.  Oops! :)

I have to run, but just wanted to say hi and post a quick update.  I've been reading everyone's blogs and posting here and there.  But, with being out of town so often on the weekend, it's a challenge to find time to blog!  Will try to do better!

Photos Galore from Cabo!

Cabo definitely exceeded expectations!  It was absolutely gorgeous, our friends' wedding was the culmination of an incredibly fun week, the weather was amazing, and our hotel turned out to be really great (especially considering how well-priced it was), as well as an excellent jumping-off point for scuba diving, sailing, and visiting the three jewel hotels of that area.... the One-and---On-ly- Pal-mi-ll-a, L-a-s Vent-anas al Par-adis-o and La Es-p-e-ranza. 

On our second night in town, Steve and I made plans to have dinner at the P-a-lm-il-la.  Oh boy.  It was just so, so incredibly nice, and -- I don't know what we did to merit it -- but they rolled out the red carpet for us!  We got the best table at the bar, the restaurant manager came and told us all about the hotel's history, we were given the best table at the restaurant and a tour of the kitchen between our entrees and dessert.  I was in heaven.  What an amazing experience, and what a beautiful location.  I don't know when I've ever been anywhere more beautiful.

 At The One and O-n-l--y Pa-lm-i-lla

 At our fabulous side-by-side dinner table at Ma-r-k-e--t at P-a-lmi-ll-a

 Spices galore during the kitchen tour! 

Me, with the pastry chef.  OMG... he made this carmelized popcorn souffle that was positively X-rated, it was so delicious!!

The next night, we went with Marjorie over to Las Ve-n-tan-as al P-ar-aiso, another celebrity hot spot, which was actually right next door to our hotel.  It was gorgeous, though nothing blew me away as much as the P-alm-i-lla did.  Still, it was pretty spectacular.

Out on the dive boat with Steve and Marjorie -- the visibility wasn't great, but I still saw an octopus, a Moray eel, tons of fish, giant parrotfish and a ray!

 After diving, we went to the famous Cabo spot, The O-f-f-ice, for some great seafood.  Check out that view!  The food was great -- the freshest fish and delicious margaritas! 

 On one of the days, I arranged for Steve, Marjorie and two other friends and I to go out on a sailboat over to the famous Cabo Arc, and around the Sea of Cortez.  We got a beautiful day for it, and I loved these shots of Steve jumping off the boat!  The crew even let him captain the boat for a bit, and he looked so happy guiding it through the sea!  That boy loves to sail.

 WHOOPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

 The bride, looking like a movie star! 

 For the rehearsal dinner, our friends did a tequila tasting, followed by a sit-down dinner.  It was such a blast.  And, while having three tequila shots BEFORE dinner may not always be a good idea, it sure did lend itself to a fun night!  (Who am I kidding?  At this weight, I can't handle 3 shots anymore... I had about half of each, then discretely left my glasses on a table...  I didn't want to waste a day of my vacation feeling bad!)

With Miss M at the tequila tasting!

 After dinner with a few of the girls!  In retrospect, I am probably wearing the largest size of anyone there, but it's only by a size, and I certainly wasn't thinking about that AT ALL, and it didn't make me feel bad or self-conscious.  Those girls are teeny!!

 After our first days there, which were very social, Steve opted for some alone-time with me and rented this cabana for us at our hotel.  It was verrrreee romantic and beautiful, though not as private as we hoped!  Good thing we weren't starkers b/c everyone who walked up those stairs could see us, and one of the wait staff came by every hour or so to see what drinks we wanted! 

 We also went back to Las V-e-nt-anas one night for a romantic dinner with just us two.  Here is a photo.  I wish I didn't have that sweater on my shoulders so you could see this top, but it was actually pretty chilly in the shade, so I needed it.

 At the beach by our hotel -- here is Steve, floating around like a cute seal!

 Yikes!  Bikini shot!! :) I am totally pointing my toe, per Amy W, but you can't see it...

Love at the beach!

 The dress code for the wedding was all-white, which made for a really photogenic reception.  I was so, so glad to be at goal shopping for a white dress.  I can remember all too well what hell it would have been to try to find something decent to wear in a specific color (especially unforgiving white) when I was at my start weight!  Happily, I found this maxi-dress on sale at Bloomingdales.  I was initially making fun of it to Marjorie, but after I looked at it closer, I was like.. um, I may try this on!  And I was glad I did!

Wedding mariachi band!

We also went to La E-s-peran-za, which is the hotel where Carrie went for her "honeymoon" after Big didn't show for the wedding in the SATC movie...  It was a really gorgeous spot.  Steve and I went early for cocktails, then had a bunch of the girls join us after for dinner.  This was our last night in Cabo.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaa..... wish I was there now!!

La E-sp-era-n-za

At dinner with the girls!  Steve was a lucky guy! :)  (Actually, I love it that he can hang at a table of me and four friends and have a great time!)

So, that's the vacation recap!  Now I'm back to real life!