Living It With Lisa

Super Bowl excitement is over!  WOW! What a game!   Don’t you love it when the game goes right down to the wire?  I must say even though we didn’t have our team in the game we were pulling for the Giants. Vic had been invited by one of our friends, Dave and Debbie,  a few months ago to attend a Giants home game.  What a time he had with Dave.  Needless to say as season ticket holders Dave and Debbie were at the Super Bowl and were happy campers along with the rest of the Giants fans.

We host a Super Bowl party at our house.  This was our 3rd Annual.  I always try to do something a little different to go along with Vic’s Smoked Brisket, my Almost Famous BBQ sauce and the Thai Zucchini Slaw.  Those are the basics as everyone who attends brings a side, an appetizer or a dessert.  With close to 40 in attendance there is enough food to feed an army.

This year I pulled out some standbys …. brownies cut out in football shapes and jersey shapes with the two quarterback’s number on them.  I tried the Ghiradelli Brownie Mix … and YUM!  It is a keeper.  Since I am NOT a pastry chef and this year I totally forgot to pick up colored pens …. my ‘art’ was not so good.

On the other hand I decided I would make something that was NY and New England in flavor.  So I made Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes (NY) and Boston Cream Cupcakes (NE).  

I also got creative after seeing post by Debi Lilly, an event planner in Chicago and duplicated some team flags to put on the cupcakes.  Of course this was last minute and no picks where to be found so I improvised.  Do you recognize them?  Cocktail Drink Straws!

Sea Bass in Rome

Sound crazy doesn’t it?  But oh is it good.  On our first trip to Rome at our first meal in the city that night,  the manager suggested fresh fish baked in salt.  We couldn’t even imagine why it wouldn’t be very salty.  It is not!  It was so delicious and moist.  What was even more amazing before they prepared the fish they presented it to us on a platter.

Needless to say I came home and started researching recipes and have made it several times now.  The latest being when Des, Aleta, Robin and Gordon came over for dinner this week.

This time I made it with Red Snapper.  I bought two that were about 2.5 pounds each.  Had the fishmonger GGS them.  AH HA … that is what I learned when I picked them up … after I said a myriad of words obviously being a newbie to fish cleaning lingo.  That means Gut Gils Scales.  You end up with a fish that is ready to cook.  Yes, it still has the head on.  In the picture … one fish is already stuffed with fresh lemon and thyme, covered with Kosher Salt and ready to pop in the oven.

Since I was having a very simple fish I decided that my menu would reflect that.  I wanted the appetizer to be a little heavier and the salad to be unexpected and the sides to be simple yet flavorful.  It was great that  all the elements were easy and that was a good thing because we didn’t get back from taking Des and Aleta on a boat tour of Lake Santa Fe until 5:15pm and Robin and Gordon were arriving at 6pm and I hadn’t prepped anything!

Our Menu included Mussels Diablo for an appetizer (in a spicy cream sauce).  Entree’ was of course the Red Snapper baked in Salt accompanied by Zucchini with Cilantro Mint Gremolata and Red Quinoa.  The Salad Course was Shaved Fennel with Granny Smith Apples.  To complete our meal we had Affogato for dessert.

It was a wonderful meal if I say so myself.  I tried two new recipes on this menu and they were keepers.  The zucchini dish and the salad are new to my collection, were delicious and will be served again.

What was very interesting Robin and Gordon had never had mussels before and loved them.  They also had never experienced Quinoa.  Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a super food and the mother of all grains.  (More about Quinoa in another post).  It is my new favorite side dish, cereal or salad!  Also, Gordon didn’t really like zucchini but LOVED it with the gremolata. See there is always a way to serve a vegetable and like it!

My ‘m.o.’ … if a guest has an allergy … pay attention.  Otherwise present a creative menu and let them discover a tasty way to enjoy what they thought was not to their liking.  Because as you know, it may only be the way it was cooked.  Many times being mushy and tasteless.  Fresh, with high flavor is an amazing way to tantalize the tastebuds.

Willing And Able

A special thank you to my helpers who gave themselves names … WILLING aka Robin and ABLE aka Aleta who set the table and kept the dishes in the dishwasher and out of sight!  FYI my new name is AND!  What fun!

I received this from my neighbor Michel and just had to share.  It gives us room for thought and a real reason to “enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.”

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Recently, in a large city in  Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.)
They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.
They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like  Patagonia  ,
the  Bering Sea and the coral reefs of  Polynesia  .
Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.
They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans.
They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist.
If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices
of psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?
They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex?
Just look at them … where is IT?
Therefore, they don’t have kids either.
Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.   So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!

Ok … I have been on blog vacation!  Not planned, just happened.  Almost a computer/internet reprieve.  And it felt good!  Now back at it!

The last 24 days have been crazy … even for me.  It started  with driving to Biloxi (MS) to welcome 4 day

Littlest Longhorn

old grandchild #6 to our family:  Nathan Tyler Johnson 8#11oz and 20 inches long.  Proud parents are Tyler and Savannah with big brother Dylan.  And yes, he had to have his own Longhorn shirt, just in time to wear while he watched (?) the game a few days later!  We spent Christmas with them then drove home to repack for New Years in New York City.

Chris Botti

We arrived in NYC and our first night there we headed off to see Chris Botti perform at the Blue Note.  We have seen him three of the last four years there, as he is in residence at the Blue Note over Christmas and now New Years.  We make sure to see him on our way thru to other destinations even if we aren’t there for the entire holiday.  FYI – I took this picture with my iPhone and yes I was THAT close.  It is an amazingly intimate venue.  A must do if you are ever in New York.  After the show, I had him autograph his latest CD for me and one for my girlfriend Dianne, since the first time we both saw him live was at an event in Dallas seven years ago.

White Christmas

Then of course we crammed as much as we could into those few days.  We saw White Christmas on Broadway.  That was a treat as I remember watching it on TV or the video every New Years Eve.  Just wouldn’t be Christmas without it.  We discovered a few new restaurants and savored some of our favorites.

Times Square

Several years ago we decided that there were too many hotels in NYC to stay at the same one.  So we now try a new hotel every time we go.  This trip we stayed at the Soffitel, very nice.  The bonus was the discovering the secret to seeing the ball drop in Times Square without being with 750,000 people freezing for hours in the street.

2nd Anniversary

One of our restaurant discoveries this time would have to be Joel Robuchon.  Simply a divine dining experience for our 2nd Anniversary.  http://www.joel-robuchon.com/ When ever there is a tasting menu, Vic and I will select it.  You get the best of the best and a great idea of what the chef can really create.  Joel Robuchon did not disappoint.  We placed this dining experience in our TOP FOUR in the world.

Vic, Lisa, Patti, Christopher

We were blessed to meet Patti and Christopher Guerierro for Brunch on Sunday at the Park Avenue Cafe Winter   It too was amazing.  Each season they change their decor to the appropriate season.  Literally close the restaurant down for 2 days, paint and redecorate and then the menu changes for the season too.  Check out their website. http://www.parkavenyc.com/ The food was delectable and we will definitely be back.

Jatana and Lisa

When we left NYC, Vic headed back to Florida and I headed to Austin.  My girlfriend Jatana was getting married in a small family gathering and I was not going to miss it.  She is also in the middle of Chemo for Breast Cancer.  Being an amazing woman once again, was not a stranger to her.  After the wedding reception I changed and headed over to girlfriend Stacy’s house to watch The Bachelor season premiere … which I must say it is getting a little contrived … hummmm

And of course, I got to see my son Joseph, his girlfriend Saia and  grandpup Luca!  And lest I forget to mention … yes I watched the National Championship game (UT vs Alabama) in Longhorn country!  It was an amazing game even though we didn’t win.  It was fun texting

Luca, Lisa, Joseph

James, Laura, Emma

Jessica, Andrew

sister Melea and her children (James, Laura, Emma) in California during the game and sending all these pictures via text.  Isn’t technology amazing.  James is my die hard Longhorn and has now brought mom and sisters into the fold.  Well unbeknownced to me, my niece Jessica has  defected to the ‘other side’.   I got a text from her and her boyfriend  Andrew  that said “Roll Tide” just as the game kicked off!  … HELLO … some animated texting did occur since  it wasn’t a game we expected to play without McCoy!  They texted a photo too.  All in all it was fun ‘texting’ a game around the USA!

Carrie, Lisa, Donna

After a whirlwind trip in Austin I jumped on yet another plane to meet Vic and headed to Bethesda for our Mastermind Meeting.  Where the first night in, I left Vic on his own and grabbed girlfriend Carrie Wilkerson http://www.barefoot-executive.com/ and went to the movies!  We ducked into Ruth’s Chris and ran into Barry Dunlop http://www.barrydunlop.com/who treated us to appetizers and we were off to see Sherlock.  Carrie insists I sucked the air out of the theatre with my gasping.  Hey, I got into the movie!

Then it was two intense days of Yanik Silver’s Mastermind.  I think we could all say our brains hurt with the ideas that we all came away with.  Including me!  I am off and running into 2010!

So in the last few days of 2009 and the  first 14 days of this year,  I have been in Biloxi (MS),  Florida, New York City, Austin (TX), Bethesda (MD) and back to Florida.  I am already worn out!   But in those travels I experienced memorable moments, reconnected with family and friends, determined to focus on the things that make a difference, to stop and take time out to recharge and always count my blessings.

This story was posted as the Friday Story on MyDailyInsights in honor of our mothers 80th birthday.

MY FRIDAY STORY

THE “M” FACTOR

By Lisa Johnson, Julie Dickison, Melea Fisher and Natalie Krause

Our Mother turns 80 tomorrow November 14^th and we four daughters have gathered to celebrate with her (but, shhh … it’s a surprise … she is still in transit and doesn’t know we’ve traveled from across the country)!

Meanwhile, we are lounging on our first day together, still in our PJs and naturally we started to reminisce … like most everyone, we think our Mother is pretty indescribable!  She has what we like to call, ‘the M Factor’…

Mother started life on a 14,000 acre ranch in Montana.  Her work ethic was formed and has been more than replicated in all of her girls!  The “M” factor:  Complete the job and don’t be a half done Polly!

Mother has an intense fear of water, developed as a young girl after her brother tragically drowned.  She has worked hard to conquer her fear, and wasn’t going to accept it in any of her daughters.  Our parents required each of us (there was no discussion) to complete lifeguard certification.  The “M” factor:  Don’t pass on to your children your own fears.

When Mother became a Christian as a teenager she found her real passion in life and we are forever thankful for the love of Christ she has shared with us.  Inscribed in our parents’ wedding bands is their personal motto “Each for the other, both for Christ”.  The “M” factor:  Our marriages must be caught up in a purpose larger than itself.

As we grew into adults, we discovered that our Mother had been a ‘cougar’ and ‘feminist’ without even realizing it!  She married in 1955 at the age of 26 (considered old at the time) to a 21 year old!  Mother, a nurse, was the primary provider for the family of three once Lisa arrived on the scene, working nights while Daddy finished college.  The “M” Factor: There is no such thing as ‘woman’s work’ or ‘man’s work’.

When our Daddy started his own business, Mother happily became a stay at home Mom.  As each of us grew up, she determined to teach us what she considered were three essential life skills:  how to make a quilt, how to cut up a whole chicken, and how to can fresh produce.  The “M” Factor:  While we may laugh at these skills now, we have since discovered that what we really gained was the ability to be creative, frugal, and self-sufficient.

Mother was often at the forefront of what would much later be an accepted trend.  Before it was popular, we ate unprocessed foods, made our own bread, used environmentally friendly laundry detergents, and took whole food supplements!  The “M” Factor:  Don’t be afraid to question the ‘norm’, to lead even if no one is following.

Our greatest joy has been to be present while our parents have achieved some of their dreams.  Mother always wanted to live in Australia, and the opportunity presented itself when she was 55 years old!  They didn’t hesitate to take the risk.  The “M” Factor:  Dreams come true only as you work towards them.

Retirement for Mother has yet to happen.  She still runs a business with our Daddy, providing endless nutritional advice.  At the age of 70, she took a class to conquer the Internet and Power Point.  At age 79 she was introduced to Facebook and keeps in touch with her grandchildren and is considering whether she should start a blog!  The “M” Factor:  Learning never stops.

We admire our Mother for everything she has taught us.  For all that makes her who she is … the “M” factor: our model, our mentor, and best of all, our Mother.

Happy 80^th Birthday Mother, we love you,

Your Darling Daughters,

Lisa, Julie, Melea and Natalie

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lisa Johnson is the wife of Vic Johnson, mother to Joseph, chosen mom to Tyler & wife Savanah, Victoria & husband Drew, and Carter.  MamaLisa to Dylan, Tommy, Hannah, Mason, Austin and soon to arrive Nathan.   Julie Dickison is the wife of Ron Dickison, mother to Natalie and husband Shaun, Jessica, Philip, Michael and Hope.   Melea Fisher is the wife of Andrew Fisher, mother to Laura, Emma and James.  Natalie Krause is Auntie Extraordinaire to all nine of her nieces and nephews.

My mother turned 80 this past weekend and her darling daughters surprised her with a celebration.

Mother and Daddy were already coming to Florida to visit us and I managed to get them to come over her birthday weekend.  So once the flights were booked I let my sisters know and they booked theirs.

Now we made sure that the other 3 girls were ‘busy’ and ‘shocked’ that mother would not be coming to their homes for her birthday and that Lisa got her! <grin>  So the planning began.

Melea, Natalie, Emma Jo, Julie, Lisa

We all bought matching pajamas and got mother a new pink robe and slippers.   You should have seen her face when I walked in first in plaid flannel jammies…(from Victoria’s Secret I might add) and then walked in Melea, then Natalie and then Julie.  By the time we all stood in a row Mother was in stiches!

Mother loves tea so a tea party was in order.  We all have a collection tea cups and espresso cups so a new addition was in order for her party.  We got a teapot to match as well.

Of course there had to be a birthday party dinner since mother had mentioned to Natalie that she thought Lisa was planning a dinner party, because Lisa likes to give parties!  Now mind you she hadn’t mentioned a word of that to me!  She was right.  I was planning a party.  We had friends Dave and Audria, Vic’s parents Martha and John, with brother Joel and his wife Lisa come over for a dinner party too.

In addition I collected pictures over her 80 year and put it in a book … 450+ photos and 160 pages later I was done!  I also had all the grandkids email me a picture with them making a heart with their hands which was two pages in the photo book.  I took those two pages and had it framed.

We also booked a photographer to take official family pictures of the girls and the family, which was the perfect gift for mother.  Well she really likes the photo of love from her grandchildren too!

The sisters arrived on Wednesday so on Thursday we wrote a MyDailyInsights Friday Story called “The M Factor” about her to post the next day.  (I will post here too). What my sisters didn’t know was that our subscribers will comment if a story moves them.  So I knew that mother would have additional birthday wishes from people all over the world that didn’t even know her.   And I was right.   My mother was humbled by the greetings and my sisters were in awe as well.

So the planning was done and we were ready to greet her.  Surprising her at the airport was fun.  I hugged her and then as I was hugging daddy she noticed Julie, Melea and Natalie standing over by the post and let out a yelp!  Yes the tears showed up and the hugs kept coming.

The weekend weather was fabulous so we took them on a boat tour of Lake Santa Fe too.  We all had such a wonderful time together creating new and lasting memories.

Happy 80th birthday Mother.

We love you,

Lisa, Julie Melea and Natalie

There are many today who are reflecting on the loved ones they have lost … on 9/11 and on on any other day.

This year has been a year of loss in our family.  As many know we lost our grandson Austin to SIDS just days before he was 3 months old.   Several months later I lost my dear and cherished friend Cynthia and last month Vic lost his beloved Uncle Little.

Uncle Little’s life was full of love, both giving and receiving.  He was the brother that stepped in to help his sister with 3 little children when Vic’s father was tragically killed.  He was the Uncle that threw the ball to both Vic and Joel and taught them how to excel at sports and life.  He was the unwavering Gator fan who never missed a game unless his nephew was playing for the Seminoles that night.  He was the Great Uncle who came to every football game and sports event for Tyler and Carter.  He was the good and faithful friend who was always ready to help in any situation.  He was a giver and didn’t look for accolades.

I am only sorry that I didn’t get to know him like all the others in attendance at his service because he lived a life that we should all be proud of.  During the time of sharing a friend of 49 years stood and mentioned the poem THE DASH and that Uncle Little’s life was full and how blessed we were to have been the recipients how he spent his dash.

So as you remember those you have loved and lost, think about how are YOU spending your dash.

I have been blessed to see Tommy this summer almost every workday as school is out and he comes to work with his mom.  Tommy is our #2 grandson (Victoria’s oldest).  It has always been obvious that Tommy is very smart and hilarious too.  (Hilarious is one of his favorite expressions).  No doubt when he has shook hands and introduced himself  to one of our friends as  ”Tommy Strom, I’m a simple man”.  You can’t help but smile.

In May, I went to his Kindergarten graduation before I headed back to Texas to see Joseph.  What I didn’t realize when I returned was that Tommy would be there to greet me come that Monday morning in July.  Of course I had tons of “to do’s” and I hadn’t factored in Tommy.  I had a choice.  I decided that this was going to be a good thing.  Here I was with the golden opportunity to really get to know him.  Well those first couple of days were the usual.  Tommy trying to figure out just how gullible MamaLisa would be and what he could get away with.  He figured out pretty quick…EXACTLY were the boundaries were.

I am of the belief that a child lives up to your expectations of them.  So what you say to them either builds their self esteem and self worth or destroys it.  So I decided I would always do what I said so that there would be no question that I meant it.   It is a little different seeing a grandchild all day instead of a few hours at a time.  I had to dust off the cobwebs since it had been awhile since Joseph was Tommy’s age!

I quickly remembered that I better not hand out a reprimand that I didn’t want to be saddled with.  So that meant I had stop and THINK before I said, “… if you don’t … then I will …”  It also could NOT be attached to anything he associated as fun or okay.  (Thank you Super Nanny for time out in a chair, not their room with their games, toys and bed.)  I also would compliment and praise him for lots of little everyday moments so there were always more ‘adaboy’ than reprimands.  So our Thumbs Up days began and so did our summer memories.

MANNERS:   Like most kids Tommy loves an audience and at lunchtime it was a captive one.  He was like a bouncing ball in his chair on this particular day.  Up and down walking around talking.   I had been slowly  been getting him to sit and eat and then ask to be excused.  Then he had to go straight to the sink and wash his hands.  It is still a work in progress but he is getting better.

Well one day at lunch with Tori and Vic, he was particularly ‘on stage’ so was moving around.  He finally got settled and Vic stood up to leave the table and stopped because he realized HE hadn’t asked permission to leave the table and we had spent most of lunch getting Tommy focused on his manners.   So Vic turns to Tommy and says “Tommy, may I please be excused?”.   Tommy looks up at him in shock and then looks across at me totally silent.  I said “Tommy, aren’t you supposed be be sitting down when you ask to be excused?”   Still silent.   Vic sits down and asks Tommy again if he can be excused.  Tommy is still not sure what to do.  Finally he said sheepishly “I don’t know, she’s the boss”.   We are grinning now as Vic say’s “Well you got that right!”.

THE DRUMMER: I had moved some things from Texas to Austin and there were boxes everywhere that first week.  So I did take some time to empty some of them with Tommy as my helper.  After all I had a deadline looming … Carter’s 21st Birthday party and there were a lot of people coming and boxes everywhere just wouldn’t do.

Do you remember the many times the toy you got wasn’t as much fun to play with as the box it came in? Well one day Tommy was playing around some of the empty boxes singing and tapping on some of them.  So I grabbed a wooden spoon and a silicon spatula and gave them to him.  He gave me a funny look.  Then I moved a couple of boxes together and said there you go… you have some drums.    Permission to make noise?  What’s up with that!  He was shocked but went right to it.  I was cooking something (hence the sizzling noise in the video) but I grabbed the Flip anyway and enjoyed the show as the one gal audience!   Hope you enjoy the short performance too!

Stay tuned … the summer isn’t over yet!  More memories are being made everyday.

Okay I am not a food stylist.  I really know that after watching The Food Magicians on the Food Network.  Hopefully you will enjoy my first attempt a sugar free, gluten free cake for Carters 21st birthday.

That is how my party planning started.  I knew that I wanted to serve an entire meal that was diabetic friendly and that the attendees wouldn’t even realize it…and that included the cake too.  The menu was the easy part, it was the cake that took 3 tries to get it right.  Victoria and I were sick of Chocolate cake by party time since we had been sampling for days.  Vic on the other had was sad to see

it stop.  I determined that he was not a good cake taste tester.  He liked them all.  Even the one that tasted like an unsweetened bar of Bakers Chocolate!

So here is the menu:

Gazpacho Soup, Shrimp Cocktail with Cocktail Sauce, Fruit Platter, MamaLisa’s Cauliflower, Zucchini & Squash Slaw, Roasted Artichoke Salad, with Smoked Brisket with BBQ sauce, and Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream, Strawberries and Chocolate Sauce.

Uncle Jerry brought his yummy Salsa with chips  and Tori had a special request so I also made Roasted Garlic with Toasted Baguettes.  Carter’s Mom Roseanne brought her family favorite Vidalia Onion Casserole.  So those items were the only no-no on the menu.

Yes, all the sauces were diabetic.  The BB!Q sauce I made my original BBQ sauce and then updated the recipe to make it diabetic and I am telling you …there was hardly a difference.   My girlfriend Stacy had

also turned me on to a line of products from Walden Farms that were sugar free.  I took their cocktail sauce which is surprisingly good and added some horseradish.  YummE!

The gazpacho and its yummy topping was a hit.  I served it in espresso cups that I bought for our wedding reception, so no spoons needed!  It is the perfect way to serve soup to a crowd.

MamaLisa’s Cauliflower is always a hit and very little is ever left over.  Very simple,  Steam the cauliflower, top with a mustard mayo mix, top that with shredded colby cheese so it will melt.

The Zucchini & Squash Slaw (gotta figure out a better name for that) is a recipe that I modeled after Cucumber Salad.  Except that I cut the veggies with a mandolin to resemble spaghetti pasta.  The vinegar ‘cooks’ it and it gets al-dente.  There were actually a couple of guests that thought it was pasta when they looked at it.  Then I spice it up a little bit with some Sambal hot sauce and some cilantro.  Carter and Vic LOVE it … Carter requested it to be on the menu.

Vic make the brisket and it was perfect.  He has mastered brisket in his smoker.  Rubbed some Salt Lick Rub on it the night before and smoked for 12 hours.  Put in the warming drawer till ready to serve and it was tender and moist.

The cake turned out fabulously.  Some of the comments were that it tasted like a brownie.  If any of you have had a flour-less chocolate cake you will know that it is a dense cake.  So was this one.  It took me a few tries to get the ratio of chocolate right and the ratio of the two sweeteners right.

Serve it with a dollop of whipped Cream sweetened with Stevia,  a strawberry and a drizzle of Walden Farms Chocolate Sauce.

Carter took some home with him and called me the next day.  He had taken some to work and the coworkers said they would buy this and they weren’t diabetic.  It is nice to know my perseverance paid off.  My goal was to have a dessert that anyone would eat because it really tasted good and it wouldn’t matter that it was Sugar Free and Gluten Free.  It really was remarkably good if I say so myself!

So overall the Birthday Celebration was a success.  One of  best complement of the day was from one of Carter’s college buddies as he was leaving.  ”Who knew that diabetic food could be so good!”

Ok, I couldn’t resist when Carol sent me a link to some photos on the wedding photographer, Luanne Dietz’s blog.   So here are some more insights on how anyone can create a decidedly personal wedding: traditional, nostalgic and contemporary. 

Impossible you say?  Read on…

Luanne says on her blog “When I got to the rehearsal, Nancy was dressed in a 1970′s style purple dress.  She proceeded to tell me that it was the exact dress that her mom had made to wear

when her parents eloped in the 70′s.  One of my favorite conversations of the night was right as Nancy was about to practice walking down the aisle and her mother leans over to talk to her grandmother.  “Mom, do you remember this dress?”  Nancy’s mom said to Nancy’s grandmother during the rehearsal. “No, if you remember I wasn’t there!”  Nancy’s grandmother replied through a smile.

Now I have heard of daughters wearing mothers wedding dresses but  the elopement dress to the dress rehearsal?  That is nothing but fun!  I think I may have had a dress like that too!  Ahhh the memories!

Now what the wedding guests were not privy to, was just where some of the photos were going to be taken.  We all knew that the bride and groom were Gators and that the reception was at the Gator Alumni Center.  But who knew that they were going to take photos in between the wedding and the reception in The Swamp!   For you non Gators… that is the stadium in which the Gators play football!

Yes that’s right, while we are munching on a fabulous Caribbean appetizers, the bride and groom are right across the street.  And it wasn’t just any photo shoot… they played a mock game of football!  Luanne says the bride insists she sacked him, but the groom promised that he threw it to his best man for a touchdown!   Now that had to be the most unusual and decidedly FUN photo session.  It helps to have a former Gator football photographer taking your photos. Ahhh… it isn’t always WHAT you know … it is WHO you know! 

When I met Nancy late into the reception I shared with her that having never met either one of them, that their wedding and reception definitely gave me and her guests a window into both of their personalities. It was delightful and refreshing.

The First Dance

I guess if I can bleed burnt orange (Go Longhorns) they can bleed Orange and Blue!

Well done Nancy and Dan!  

Vic and I were honored to be included as guests. 

NOTE:  As Always click on the photos to view them larger and in detail … these are worth the click!