Panama City Weekend

This past weekend we traveled to Panama City Beach for the second annual friends' weekend trip. Last May we were celebrating Pam and Doug with a joint bachelorette-bachelor party, and immediately decided to come back this time every year! Dayton secured the same beach house the men stayed in last year for everyone. It's huge, right on the ocean, and across the road from Waffle House & a seafood bar, how could it get any better? We had a great turn-out with 25 friends, mostly from Georgia and Florida, but Ann came from Texas and Tom even flew in from Paris! Most people arrived Thursday but due to work we had to drive in Friday night. However it was well worth it, even for just one full [exhausting] day! Saturday was so great; perfect weather for laying out, a good book, and a sand volleyball tournament. Danny and I escaped the beach for lunch to get our seafood fix at a restaurant on the Marina, then returned for more volleyball, flip cup, and a late night dance party in the house. Weekends such as these really make you realize what amazing friends you have as well as the great opportunities God has blessed us with to enjoy life!

Punta Cana

While I am catching up with past events, I wanted to post some pictures of our honeymoon. The vacation was booked so long ago, I think we'd both forgotten how excited we were for the honeymoon. With all of the wedding activities I had even forgotten to bring our shuttle and resort confirmation. But we made it (do not leave home without a Blackberry!) We stayed at The Excellence Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive luxury resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and loved everything about our vacation! The staff was extremely accomodating, the food was amazing (8 gourmet restaurants & 10 bars on site), and we relaxed more than I knew I was capable of relaxing! We got to go horseback riding and scuba diving too!

One unique story is that we got roped into participating in the evening show one night, called 'The Excellence Couple'. The staff would not tell us anything about it, just that we would be competing with three other couples on stage. I was rather intimidated considering we had been at the Michael Jackson show the night before and it was packed with seemingly every guest at the resort in attendance. However we knew that two of the other couples on stage would be our four new friends, Meredith & Mark from Boston and The Kapitans from Connecticut. So it was because of them that we agreed to play...and Danny and I are both so glad we did. It was fun for both of us, really getting me outside my comfort zone, but nobody could deny that Danny was the true champion. All four couples were hilarious and equal contenders, however the last of five "contests" left Danny in his boxers on stage, with my dress draped around his neck. Zero coverage. I am pretty sure I would have hidden behind stage, but my new husband strutted his stuff with a huge smile, convincing the audience to vote for us as The Excellence Couple! As a prize we received a romantic private steak & lobster dinner on the beach and some spa services for me, among other things. But most importantly we got (and provided others with) the memory of a lifetime! We have been very fortunate that over the past few years we have been a lot of different places together. Our friends are extremely social and great at planning weekend getaways which guarantee a great time. The honeymoon was only the second time that Danny and I were on vacation alone. He asked me before we left if I was going to get tired of him. And I can safely say that it was the opposite. When we returned to work in Atlanta the following week I was so discouraged because I had to go a whole 9-10 hours without my husband! In 10 Domincan Republic hours we could have enjoyed at least three meals, six swims in the pool, two naps in the sun, and countless Banana Mama frozen drinks together! Neededless to say, we can't wait for our next big getaway, hopefully Summer '11. We got marriage advice from a couple in the DR and they said to make sure you get at least one vacaction each year together and we think that's a great idea. For the next one, our eyes are set on Hawaii, but we'll see how things go. Our pocketbooks may be leaning towards Florida or a CheapCaribbean.com special to somewhere closer (and that would be perfect too). Nevertheless, we are counting down until our "second honeymoon." Reflecting on our trip while watching House Hunters International one evening last week, we made a Linenger Family Life Goal: we want to visit Australia & New Zealand...someday.

4.17.10 in Review

To be quite honest, Danny & I are still sort of living off of the wedding and honeymoon hype of April. When does "real life" start? Monday marked our 1st month of wedded bliss, and I think both of us can attest that it's been basically that. Life together is absolutely wonderful! We're having so much fun continuing to upwrap gifts and put the house together. And not to mention cooking in the kitchen; we just love doing all those everyday things side by side! Going back to April 17, Danny and I have only great memories and many people to thank for blessing us by being a part of our big day! To be surrounded by love is so completely amazing and to think that it is only a fraction of the everlasting love that the Lord has for us, that's quite heart rendering as I really could not imagine anything more than the support we felt on our wedding weekend. And I'm not just saying that because you're supposed to feel love on your wedding day. Our day was really remarkable for the two of us because of the people involved.

So again, first off, thanks for everyone (well I mean like only two people will read this, so especially to our Moms) for sharing your time and your love with us. The wedding festivities started off on Wednesday with a parents dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy. Danny & I are so thankful for our parents and it was great to spend a few hours with them all together before the 'chaos' began. My mom and I spent the days shopping for last minute jewelry and preparing the welcome bags and wedding programs. It was so nice to have her here and to share that time together. Friday night got rolling with a lively rehearsal dinner at The Happy Sumo Japanese Steakhouse, where we were cheered on by our families and wedding party. Afterwards we reminisced with many friends, old and new, at The Drinks & Dessert Reception, hosted by my former Brentwood neighbors, watching slideshows of mine and Danny's childhood memories.

Saturday morning, wedding guests woke up early to participate in our kickball game at Hammond Park. Danny and I met through a kickball league and the team, more specifically the people on it, have been instrumental in our relationship. It was a fantastic kick-off to the big day and gave our guests a chance make friends before the wedding and have some fun!

Saturday afternoon went by so quickly. My bridesmaids, mom, and mother-in-law got ready together at The Glen Errol Estate, taking a break for the delightful Robes & Slippers Bridesmaids Luncheon. The photographers soon arrived and before you know it, I was walking down the aisle holding my Dad's arm so tight, as I knew neither of us would ever forget the forthcoming bittersweet moment when he would give me away. I'm so fortunate to have the close relationship with my dad that I do. Not that I would trade it for anything in the world, but it really makes it emotional at times like these! I have watched Father of the Bride countless times over the past 18 years (I seriously wore out the VHS earlier this year and had to invest in a DVD copy for future viewings), and every time I watch the movie, dating back to elementary school days, I felt so bad for George Banks and just couldn't help but thinking that my dad and I were going to have to pull this off one day ourselves!?! Well, we did it. And my dad told me the only way he got through it was the affirmation that Danny is the man to have me for the rest of time. I just know God is smiling too as we've each followed His lead over the past few years to end up together now.

Back to the wedding. We enjoyed some great food: sesame beef, chicken florentine and a bunch of other yummies, and boogied down to some awesome music by Tim Tyler & Lane Wood, two Auburn Alums whose gigs at bars kept my every Wednesday and somteimes Friday nights occupied througout my senior year in college. After enjoying conversation and dances with everyone, it was time to leave. How had it gone by so quickly? Danny surprised me with the get away car, a 1955 Rolls Royce Princess. Looking back through the window as the old car made its path down the driveway, the most amazing sight of 175 loved ones waving and blowing bubbles left the best lasting impression imaginable!

Thanks to our bridesmaids and groomsmen for standing with us every step of the way! We both loved our bachelor and bachelorette trips and all the phone calls, notes, and support throughout our engagement.

PS. The slideshow of wedding pictures can be seen at http://www.kizoa.com/slideshow/d921018k4670538o1/stallo-linenger-wedding

PS2. We are on the AJC! http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/living/brides/atlanta-brides-tradition4/ AND http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/living/brides/atlanta-brides-dads/

Let's Give This a Whirl

Now that our wedding is in the past and there is no more planning to be done, the tasks on my to-do list are quickly checked off each morning. The hours at work seem to drag on...and on...and on. While the design world continues to ride out the recession, I will attempt to be halfway productive and give myself something to do with this new blog. Until the next stage in our life, i.e. kids or a pet (which is not quite the immediate future), you might find these posts to be somewhat uneventful, so bare with me. However with many of our friends and the Stallo and Linenger families scattered in all pockets of the country, this will at least provide a way for people to hear about our trips and happenings if they please. So enjoy! And don't forget to comment!