Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Toast: To Ashley and Vik


For those that do not know me, I am Danielle or often called Dani. I am Ashley’s little sister and tomorrow I will be her Maid of Honor.

I am so excited to be here today to celebrate Ashley and Vik and I want to thank Ray and Linda and Raj and Joy for inviting us all here this weekend.

I knew it was my responsibility as Maid of Honor to give a toast. But as Ashley’s little sister I for sure thought she would find a way to get me out of it.

Instead I was given a list of stories not to mention, words not to say, videos not to show and pictures to hide forever. That is probably best.

Ashley was always the perfect child. Her hair was long and brushed. Her clothes ironed. She had straight A’s and was a top athlete. While I spent my days grounded, Ashley excelled at everything she set her mind too. From as long as I can remember, all of my guy friends were in love with my sister. I often said, “Until Ashley got married, I will never have a boyfriend.” I guess that means tomorrow is a big day for me too…

But in all seriousness, there has never been anyone I looked up to more than her.

Even at a young age, Ashley had a “type”.

At first it was Joey McEntyre from New Kids on the Block.

Then it was Prince William.

Finally, the always injured A’s baseball player, Mark Mulder. Yes, Ashley, you guys totally had a moment.

And now it is Vik.

Vik is the perfect man because he combines her lifetime of love interests.

He has the boy band tattoo like Joey McEntyre.

The charm of a future king of England.

And the athleticism of an always-injured athlete.

But in truth: he is loyal, steady, compassionate, and kind. Everything Ashley always wanted.

Growing up, I may have been the little sister but I always took care of Ashley. I was dubbed her little pit bull. If there was anything she needed, I would do it. I got her ketchup at McDonalds. I scared off boyfriends. I threatened to beat up anyone that looked at her wrong. But also, we could laugh for hours at the silliest things, every movie ended with a dance off party, and we could talk all night long just sharing our dreams.

There is a poem by EE Cummings I want to share…

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Vik, Ashley is the only sister I have. She is my heart. I will never give up our end of movie dance offs but I will cut back the all night talks if you promise to take care of her.

As you both take this next journey together I pray for abundant happiness and blessings for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Please, let us raise our glass to my sister, Ashley and her future husband, Vik.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Places on Earth

Travel is very important to me and I have made it a priority in my life. I believe my life is richer because of the places I have been too... It has become a way of life, a lifestyle choice.

For sometime I have kept this print bookmarked on my computer. I would love to have this on my wall so I can pushpin the places I have traveled, where I currently live, and where I plan to go.

Signed screen print on Sommerset 500gsm paper, 202 pins in a tin, 4 bulldog clips, nails

34.5” x 26.25”
Created exclusively for the Royal We by Oliver Jeffers, this is a signed print of a hand drawn map of the world. The whole world. With pins. Each print comes with 202 pins to chart your path to total global domination. 200 of the pins are black, one of them is red and one of them is blue. Red is for headquarters, blue is for next target.

$180
BUY NOW

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Wedding: To Ashley and Vik

The pictures are FINALLY here... (or at least some of them)






























All pictures by the talented Bryan Rupp

Monday, September 26, 2011

Seattle Spotlight: Muse Coffee CO

Just a few blocks from Ashley and Vik's house sits Muse Coffee Co, a cute and welcoming coffeeshop. The staff is so welcoming and friendly that during a long weekend in Seattle I went every day and felt, by Monday, I had made new friends!

If you are in the Queen Anne area and need a pick me up then check it out!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A Wedding Slideshow: To Ashley and Vik

One of my maid of honor duties for my sister's wedding was to create their slideshow that will be shown at both the rehearsal dinner and wedding. I looked for easy solutions online and found a few websites that allowed me to pop some pictures in and pick a song. Even, iPhoto had an easy to use slideshow program.

But I am controlling.

Wait, you didn't know that?

Oops, surprise! I am!

I am also a borderline perfectionist. I blame my family for that.

And instead of plopping in some photos and picking a song, I went the Adobe Premier Pro & iMovie route and created a movie. This way I can time each image down to the millisecond, cut the songs exactly how I want them and add in photoshop files I created to add to the story.



Finito.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Once the wedding party had throroughly baked outside from practicing for Ashley and Vik's big day, we hopped into our shuttle, drove back to downtown Portland and enjoyed rehearsal dinner at Andina with a LARGE group of family reaching into the 70s.

It was really the first chance to get to know Vik's family, most traveling very far, and even seeing much of our extended family for the first time in a long time.

The food was amazing.

The speeches were long... I tried to cut it down!

And the room was crowded.

A perfect start to create a story of a weekend.

(All photos taken by Anthony Kaetzel)








Monday, September 19, 2011

Woodinville Wine Tour


You remember that weekend trip to Seattle a little bit ago? You know... the one where I had an interview and then stayed for some weekend fun? Oh, didn't tell you about the interview, huh? 
I know. Secrets don't make friends. More on that later.
The weekend of fun ended with wine tasting in Woodinville with Ashley, Vik, and their Seattle / Kellogg business school friends. (Soon to be my Seattle / Kellogg business school friends.)
Let me tell you... it was fun. Lucky for you, I had a bajillion cameras... okay, 3: flip, canon, iphone. I like to have options!
(Some pictures courtesy of the wonderful Noella)
















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