Movie & Wine Reviews...

So we rented a couple of movies last night...The Holiday & A Night at the Museum. And we enjoyed both very much!

The Holiday...ok...a little sappy, could be dubbed a 'chick flick', but also very funny. And I quite identify with Jack Black's character Miles...yes, the soundtrack geek. I am entirely as bad as he is when it comes to movie soundtracks...or would be especially if I played piano. Anyway, I digress...very enjoyable movie! And Jack Black was quite good in this 'serious' role. (And I will probably buy the soundtrack.)

A Night at the Museum...also entertaining. Ben Stiller is a little too "Ben Stiller-ish", but otherwise a cute movie.

We also opened some wine last night (I know, shocker). We opened this wine from Spain that we got as a wedding gift. It was Vina Gormaz 2004 Tempranillo and it was BAD. I thought it didn't smell that great, but the taste...just fell apart in your mouth. You could taste a dry red wine but then the aftertaste was like water. I don't think it necessarily started out as a bad wine, but probably went bad, it happens. At least I hope this was the case.

So we opened one of our honeymoon purchases...a Pinot Noir from Robert Hunter, one of our favorite visits. Now THAT is a good wine! And of course it stirred up some great memories. Good thing we got 4 bottles!

Friday Mornings...

I just have to say that I cannot begin my Friday without my 'grande non-fat no water chai latte' from Starbucks.

That's all, just basking in the yummy goodness.

Sigh of Relief!

I got a call from our officiant today (after I left her my panicked call on where in the world our marriage license was) and she said she had good news and she had bad news.

Good news - our license is NOT lost in the mail

Bad news - out of habit she sent it to Elkhart County instead of Hamilton County

Oh well, I really can't blame her too much for that! At least she sent it out! :)

And it is in the mail to the correct county TODAY! YAY I can finally change my name legally soon!

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On a different note...

-now that the wedding planning is done, I feel the need for a new 'project' - not sure what yet

-I miss California in a BIG way

-I'm feeling very 'blase' about my job right now - is my 'calling' really to spec cubicles all day?

Great...

So we haven't received a copy of our 'official' marriage license from the county yet and it's been 25 days. So I called the clerk's office to light a fire under them and they tell me that they haven't received it yet. GREAT!
I love my officiant, she's wonderful, but if she hasn't sent it yet...Ooooooh!
My fear is that she actually DID send it and now it's lost in 'snail mail' land.

My car registration has been expired since the 15th, I've been trying to wait to do it all at once. So we're also basically down to one car.

Oh the life and times...

More Honeymoon Shots...

We did NOT wish to be "Big".

Jordan Winery

Lambert Bridge Winery

Wedding Picture Slideshow

In case you didn't get an email about it...

http://www.schaubphotography.com/slideshows/Lastinger/

Shawna is FABULOUS! I can't wait to see ALL of the pictures!

And we return...

Grudgingly...sadly...we return from wine country. If you ever find yourself in need of a getaway, somewhere truly relaxing and beautiful...talk to me, I can point you in the right direction. Rob goes into some details about some specific wineries we visited on his blog, but I will give a short list...probably to be updated when I have our travel journal in front of me.


I agree with the favorites he listed...they were definitely the highlight.


Here are a few pics taken with my camera phone...so not the highest quality.

From top to bottom...

The 'cottage' that we stayed in at Glen Lyon, California's coast along Highway 1, and a shot while driving on the side of a mountain into Sonoma valley.

Here are some links to some of the places we went or stayed:
(Some have pictures...check out Robert Hunter)
Robert Hunter Winery - http://www.roberthunterwinery.com/Home.htm
Little Vineyards - http://www.littlevineyards.com/index.html
GlenLyon Vineyard & Winery - http://www.glenlyonwinery.com/
Cyrus Restaurant (best meal EVER) - http://www.cyrusrestaurant.com/index.html
Healsburg Inn on the Plaza - http://www.healdsburginn.com/index.htm
Pier 39 in San Francisco - http://www.pier39.com/
Ferrari-Cerano Winery - http://www.ferraricarano.com/
Jordan Winery - http://www.jordanwinery.com/
Toad Hollow Vineyards - http://www.toadhollow.com/
Thumbprint Cellars - http://www.thumbprintcellars.com/lounge/
The Kenwood Restaurant - http://www.kenwoodrestaurant.com/main.html
The Glen Ellen Inn Restaurant - http://www.glenelleninn.com/
Moon Mountain Vineyard - http://www.moonmountainvineyard.com/
Robert Young Estate Winery - http://www.ryew.com/
The Jimtown Store - http://www.jimtown.com/
Indian Springs Resort & Spa - http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com/?page=spa_mudbaths
(We had mudbaths here...it looks all glamorous...but it's really not. It was more of a sweat-fest! Give me a massage any day!)
This is all I can think of without having my journal in front of me.

And to give credit where credit is due...
Wine Country Excursions - http://www.winecountryexcursions.com/
We used them to plan ALL of our trip. They made all the reservations for inns, wineries (when needed), and even dinner. It was the best thing we did! Thank you Mary!

Mrs. Lastinger for 2 whole days

The wedding couldn't have been more perfect! It was exactly what I wanted! A big thank you to my b-maids and the groomsmen! Brent...what can I say...you're awesome. Maggie...couldn't have been as smooth without you. Doug...seriously dude...not sure what I would have done...definitely would have had more stress...you were a life saver!

I'll elaborate more when we get back from the honeymoon, we leave early in the morning for wine country!

It was wonderful...good times, great friends.

Shawna sent me a few teaser photos...here's a taste.