209 Days - Hotel Accomodations

The room blocks are available for reservations. :-) 


*NEW UPDATED RATES AT THE HOTEL LOMBARDY!

The Hotel Lombardy  
2019 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006 http://www.hotellombardy.com/ 

This hotel has the convenience factor because it is next door to the reception venue.  The rooms are spacious and each has a small kitchenette.  

Other features:

• Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington, DC's Foggy Bottom district
• Blocks from the White House, George Washington University, the World Bank, and IMF
• Only steps from Metrorail's Orange Line and Blue Line
• Within walking distance of major museums, monuments, and memorials
• Just 15 minutes to Reagan National Airport (DCA) and 40 minutes to Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  

Pricing
King Suite - $149 per night (was $159)
Double Suite - $169 per night (was $169)
Parkview Suite - $209 per night (was $209)

Please call (202) 828-2600 or (800) 424-5486 and ask for the Munn-Batkins Wedding Block (Group #2049) to ensure the blocked rate.

***THIS ROOM BLOCK IS FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH AND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF GUESTS THAT ARRIVE IN DC ON THURSDAY FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER.  HOWEVER, GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO BOOK ROOMS AT HOTEL LOMBARDY FOR THEIR ENTIRE VISIT TO WASHINGTON, DC.***

THE LAST DAY THIS ROOM BLOCK IS AVAILABLE FOR RESERVATIONS IS MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH.

One Washington Circle Hotel 
One Washington Circle, NWWashington, DC 20037http://www.thecirclehotel.com/

This hotel is just two blocks away from the reception venue.  Like the Hotel Lombardy, the rooms are spacious- each room has a small kitchenette and balcony facing the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Other features:

• Positioned in the heart of the K Street business district, halfway between the White House and Georgetown, at the intersection of K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Only half a block from the Foggy Bottom / George Washington University Metrorail station and 3 blocks from The Kennedy Center and Dupont Circle
• Less than a five minute walk from George Washington University, the IMF, and the World Bank
• A convenient 10-minute drive from Reagan National Airport

Pricing
Efficiency Suite - $139 per night
Corporate Suite - $159 per night
Deluxe Penthouse - $179 per night

Please call (202) 872-1680 or (800) 424-9671 and ask for and ask for the Munn-Batkins Wedding Block (Group # 551462) to ensure the blocked rate.

***THIS ROOM BLOCK IS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR GUESTS THAT WISH TO SPEND THE WEEKEND IN DC.***

THE LAST DAY THIS ROOM BLOCK IS AVAILABLE FOR RESERVATIONS IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 6TH.

214 Days - Fleurs and Centerpiece Planning

So now that V-Day has passed, I will be getting in touch with local florists to discuss options for bouquets, centerpieces, and other decor dealies. I was playing on The Knot today and found some images show the direction I am going in for the centerpieces. (Over there! -->)

Each table will be different with recycled green glass carafes, decanters, bottles, and vases holding a few large blooms in reds, pinks, and peachy oranges. I plan on getting a bunch of small bud vases and adding gold leaf detailing to them to add some depth to the tables.

So that's what I am thinking for centerpieces. If a florist can accomplish this under budget, then woot! I'll sign on the dotted line. If it can't be done, then I guess that is what seven attendants and lots of helpers are for, right?! Everyone has been willing to help out on our wedding day, so we can always go the DIY route and order wholesale flowers. I know we can do it; I have some pretty fabulous and artistic friends. Given all the fabulousness, I am kinda hoping it doesn't come down to the DIY route. I want to relax and have fun with my friends and family the morning of our wedding, not run around worrying about fleurs. I have big plans for a dance party, sing along in the bridal suite with my lady loves. ;-)

236 Days - Are we there yet?

Ok, so we are less then nine months away from the big day.  I still feel like that is beyond a long time.  To be honest, the court house gets more and more appealing the more tiresome the planning process gets.  Of course, there are still some things that need to be taken care of:

1. Transportation
2. Menu
3. Flowers
4. Invitations
5. Attendant gifts
6. Rings
7. Programs

What I find most annoying about this list is that I have had a lot of offers from friends to help, but I am unsure how to delegate with what is left.  "Hey, friend.  Would you mind meeting with florists so I don't have to?  Thanks!"  Somehow I don't think life works like that.

Since I have approximately nine months, I am going to just take it one task at a time.  During the month of February, I am going to tackle the flowers.  I have thought about going the DIY route, but I am reaching the stage where I want someone else to have to worry about it and if I can get a good deal, then why not? 

C'est tout pour ce soir.

237 Days - The Honeymoon

The big announcement. . . we're going to Paris!!

Two weeks ago, Sam asked me to go to Paris for our honeymoon.  I am absolutely thrilled!  I have dreamed of going to Paris since I was in middle school.  I studied French in high school and college only to change majors and not have enough money or credit hours to go to Paris for a semester.  I can't express how excited I am to have this opportunity now.

Sam has offered to plan the entire honeymoon.  We are going to visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Notre Dame, and Montmartre.  We'll eat in bistrots and cafes and picnic on the Seine.  We'll drink wine and eat baguettes, fromage, and pains au chocolat! Sam is also looking into taking a train to Belgium for a day to drink delicious beer and eat waffles and moules frites!

Right now we are listening to Edith Piaf and brainstorming our trip.  Tomorrow we will go to a bookstore and buy some guides to help with the planning.  We also plan on taking out our French textbooks to study and I am on the waitlist for Rosetta Stone access at work.  Oooh, I can't wait!!

We had initially discussed going to Starkville, MS for the last day of our honeymoon to see the UGA Bulldogs play the Mississippi State Bulldogs.  We looked into ticket prices to Mississippi and the surrounding airports from Paris via DC and unfortunately they were prohibitively expensive.  I know Sam was looking forward to the game, so for our first anniversary, my gift of paper will be tickets to a UGA Bulldogs game.  Maybe by then I will have an AJ Green jersey!

238 Days - Where Have We Been?! (The Update)

Ok. So its been a while. The holidays kept us really busy. We were in Atlanta with limited internet access for Christmas and New Years, so the blog took a back seat to life.  As an update I created an outline to summarize:

• Christmas 
• We had a lovely holiday season in Cold-Lanta with Sam's family. 
•  It was my first Christmas away from the North Country, which meant new traditions and some variations of old ones. 

•  We went to Christmas eve service, which was much more of a production then a mass. During "Oh Holy Night" Mary, Joseph, and a four month old baby Jesus walked down the aisle! It was a Christmas miracle with microphones. 
• We had Chinese food after Christmas Eve mass, which I thought only happened in the movies! 
• We celebrated Christmas with brunch and playing with Sam's young cousins and their family. As a highlight, I scored 98 percent on vocals for Beatles Rock Band. 
• Sam's mom made a great turkey dinner complete with Nennie's (Sam's grandmother)famous broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, and carrot casserole. There was a significant amount of casserole, if you hadn't noticed. 
•  We spent Boxing Day with Sam's dad, his wife, Robin, and her family. We played Wii, hiked up Arabia Mountain, and ate turduckin and red velvet cake. (See above.)
• New Years
• We spent New Years Eve with Sam's best man, Tyler and his girlfriend, Bethany.
• Sam and Tyler cooked
• Moule Frites
• Homemade spinach fetticini with a cajun cream sauce
• Cayenne alfredo sauce, andouille sausage, crab meat, shrimp (awesome!)
• Bethany and I provided moral support and glued our eyes to the Next Food Network Star Marathon.
• We felt bad for Dick Clark.
• We toasted champagne.
• We gave New Years kisses.
• We passed out an hour later.
• We were bad vegetarians during the holidays.

• Wedding update - (because the most common question I get these days is how wedding planning is going.)

• Save the dates are being printed and should be in the mail at the end of the month.
• Our guest list is completed and is longer then the Washington Monument.
• We made a decision about our honeymoon! (That will be a post on its own later.)
• We booked our first room block for the night before the wedding and the night of the wedding. (Find info here.)
• Another room block is still in the works.
• I bought my wedding shoes!

275 Days - Esquire

Tuesday, Sammy was sworn into the Maryland Bar Association!  His father, Frank, and his wife, Robin, joined us from Atlanta to celebrate this huge accomplishment.  

Two reasons I fell in love with Sam are his intelligence and his dedication to his education.  He's a little nerdy and that is awesome!  

I recorded Sam's swearing-in ceremony for your viewing pleasure!  Its about 36 minutes total, but you can watch it in parts.

288 Days - Status Update

Some people might be offended, but this is HILARIOUS!

I am glad Sam doesn't have a Blackberry!