Happy Be-lated Thanksgiving!

Dedication: To my familia for making Thanksgiving the greatest holiday ever and keeping me well feed.

(The Primos) 

Happy  be-lated Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday surrounded by great family and fantastic friends. I also hope your meals were as fabulous as mine. Honestly, I've always been a Christmas girl, but ever since joining the Turiano family Thanksgiving has quickly moved to the top of my list. These people can cook! Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese they make it all and well.

(One of two delicious turkeys) 

Aside from the delicious food, we (Patrick and I) were able to spend some quality time with our new niece, Alyssa. To say she's got the whole family wrapped around her little tiny fingers is an understatement. We are all madly in love with her. She's absolutely lovely and brings enormous joy to us all.

(Patrick, Alyssa and I - Take 1) 

(Patrick, Alyssa and I - Take 2) 

Thanksgiving was truly wonderful, being back home and spending quality time with the familia was just what the doctor ordered for a stressed out grad student. We laughed, ate, shared wonderful memories and caught up.

I have many things to be thankful for this year, I'm healthy, I have a fantastic loving and supportive husband, a wonderful family, and great friends. I hope you too had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'd love to hear how it went and what are some of your traditions.

Hasta next time,
Grace

Wedding Bells

Dedication: To Mr. & Mrs. Mesa-wishing you a lifetime of love and joy!

(Mr. & Mrs. Mesa)

When I found out the always creative and lovely Cristy was getting married the weekend before Thanksgiving I knew I'd be flying home for the big festivities. It's not everyday one of your childhood friends ties the knot. So when they do, it's a BIG celebration.

Cristy and Luis have been together for quite sometime and complement each other so very well. The beautiful nuptials were held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens. Their ceremony was a sunset dream come true and the bride gushed with joy. Cristy looked radiant and absolutely beautiful-as she always does.

 

(The beautiful center pieces)

(The plate setting and lovely menus)

Aside from the celebrating the newlyweds, enjoying some delicious paella, and dancing the night away, it was also the first time in a long time the Southwest Crew reunited. With motherhood, work, graduate school, husbands and households it's difficult to gather six long time friends in one place, but when it happens it's quite awesome! We reminisce about fun memories, laugh at old stories and crack jokes at our funky stages.

 (The Southwest Crew: Kathy, Mariel, Me, Arlete, and Jenny)

The evening was truly magical-just like the lovely couple!


Hasta next time,
Grace 

(Dina and Snooki-aka Me and Mariel)

(With my favorite bridesmaids-Mariel and Arlete)