My sister's wedding!

Since I kept you in the loop all about my sister Lidia up until her BIG day, its only fair that I tell you all about the day now!
We were so very blessed to have had amazing weather. (Well...SUN!) I guess the week or two before the wedding, it was constantly raining! She got married at the Lake Arrowhead Resort on March 14th,2010! Despite being a bit cold, we had sun, and my sister looked AMAZING....so all in all it was a really great day!
I think that I was more stressed out than my sister! haha She was so calm the entire morning. First off she didn't sleep one minute, but she was as happy as could be!
Lidia's dress was GORGEOUS...and she looked absolutely radiant!
I couldn't stop crying as she was walking down the aisle! But the moment she said "I DO" I was just so happy for her! Words cannot even describe!

Two of my amazing friends were the photographers! Our friend Jennifer, we grew up with her our whole lives...and I've known Jen since she was in 4th grade! :) My friend Lauren was her assistant. She has been an amazing close friend, and distantly related to me know for the past few years ;) We were so very blessed to have them be a part of my sisters day, and I couldn't thank you girls enough! I love you girls SO SO SO much!

I promised myself over and over and over again that I was going to shoot all day long at my sisters wedding! Did that happen?! Absolutely NOT! :( I was so mad at myself! I took one digital shot, and one polaroid and THAT'S IT! Seriously?! Here's the one shot I took of my beautiful sister!

Since I took absolutely no pictures, here are a few from my friend Lauren, she sent over a little sneak peak for us to see!

the sisters!

see that hair piece?!...(well a small part of it) my sisters and I, we decided to all wear it on our wedding day! 

Besides having these amazing girls take pictures....we had an amazing group of guys do the video! And when I mean amazing...I mean AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! Drew and to the rest of the crew, I want to thank you SO SO SO much for everything!!!!!!!!!!!! I have constantly watched the video over and over and am in LOVE! It honestly was the greatest pleasure getting to meet you and getting to talk to you! You have to know, and I'm not just saying this, but everyone was calling/texting me that they have never seen a better video before! May God continue to bless you and Ben and the crew...seriously, you guys have major talent!!! I hope we are able to still keep in touch and see each other again in the near future! Again, thank you for everything!
Here is the preview to my sisters wedding...I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Highlight: Andrei and Lidia from Ben Potter & Drew Barefoot on Vimeo.

Lidia and Andrei, I just love you guys to death! I am seriously so happy for you guys, and you two are so perfect for each other! I hope your love for each other will continually grow each day! May you two be blessed in all that you do!
Hurry up and move to Portland ;)
xoxo
di

Napa Valley Part II

My first trip to Napa! I didn't get to see too much, but from the few hours spent there, I loved it and I cannot wait to go back, and maybe next time spend a weekend there!

Since my family and I got to Napa kind of late, we didn't get the chance to do much wine tasting. We did a little though at our first stop, which was at Merryvale Winery. When I walked in, the first thing that caught my attention was this one room that was to my right as I entered! If I were to ever have a super tiny, intimate wedding, this is where it would be! It was well...gorgeous! I didn't get the chance to check the outside at all..but this was enough for me!

After snapping these few shots, I went and tried a few different wines. This place definitely saved the best wine for last! If you are ever in Napa and visit Merryvale...you HAVE to try this dessert wine!


Well after our first stop, all the wineries were pretty much closed. But my cousin wanted to take me somewhere still for a little surprise! Little did I know what he had up his sleeve ;) When we got there, I was in heaven! He took me to Castello di Amorosa. If don't know me...well I basically LOVE ITALY, and would move there in a heart beat! I love it so much that I really am considering the move in the next year or two! (I really feel like I left my heart there a few years ago) If you have never been out of the country, and always wanted to see a piece of Italy...you should definitely go and visit Castello di Amorosa! It's seriously a little piece of Tuscany in the heart of Napa! Anyway, it was getting really dark, so I went around and took a few pictures of the place!

This small day trip was such a little tease! But definitely a good one for me! Next time I really want to spend a weekend there and go explore! :)

I want to encourage you to take a day trip somewhere, or a weekend trip! Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to go and visit other states, and we forget that in our own state there is something we haven't seen or done! I definitely am at fault of doing the same! I think I've seen more of other states and countries than I ever have of California. I'm now visiting places in California that I've never been too, since I moved up to Portland! I know its tough, with the way the economy is going...but don't burn yourself out from all that work...a day trip somewhere near you won't break your check book...so I encourage you to go out and explore! :)

xoxo,
diana

Napa Valley Part I

A little over a month ago, I wrote to you that I went and visited family in Sacramento! During my stay, my cousins decided to take me to Napa...well, because I've never been there!
I honestly feel like I have been seeing more of California, ever since I moved to Portland a few months ago ;)
Which I totally don't mind...makes for a great excuse to go back and visit!
Well...I'm just going to post some pictures of my family and I at one specific winery! My next post will be some detail shots, etc. We got to Napa kind of late, and were only able to visit one winery..and then everything else closed. But I am super thankful that I had the chance to go, and with my family..who I love soo much! :)

me and my beautiful niece arella! i <3 this girl to pieces!

I absolutely LOVE my family!!! <3 <3 <3 They are all a huge part of who I am! So thankful that they are in my life!
xoxo
diana

Baby Anabelle

This was my very first time spending some time with one of my closest friends baby! I went over for an hour, and decided to take some pictures while I was at it! I shot my friend Martina's maternity photos, which you can view here in late 2008.
Well here are some pictures of little miss Anabelle while she was playing and having a little snack! :)

My sister's bridal shower!

Just a little over a month ago, my sister Lidia had a bridal shower. When I flew home that weekend...well I didn't have to much sleep! I flew in Friday morning...and I went straight to setting up, buying flowers, etc! It was crazy busy...but in the end it turned out beautiful! I was so happy that when I got home later that afternoon, I got a new backdrop in the mail from Drop it Modern. The timing couldn't have been perfect! We initially were not going to use the backdrop, but we all thought it went well with the shower...so we used it!
It was quite hard having to help plan this shower from another state. My sister Nicky and I were always researching on things at home, and we would skype each other all the time to talk things over, etc! That was our daily routine. But when it came down to having to go to the store and help with things, it was a little difficult. So my sister asked our friends to help her out! Lidia knew everything that she wanted, she just needed help putting it together, and that's where our friends Jennifer and Maria came in from Encore Events. Thank you ladies for helping us out, and helping us set up everything, etc! We couldn't have done it without you! *especially making those flower balls...those took forever! haha!*

Early Saturday morning, my mom, sister and I went to downtown LA at the flower district! OMG do I love that place! My sister had wanted different flowers for her flower arrangements...but I finally convinced her to change her mind, and got white mums!  My mom had quite a good amount of mason jars, so that is what we used for our flower arrangements!

Here is how the rest of the room looked like, after we finished decorating, arranging, etc!

As all the ladies came in, I quickly ran around to take a extra couple of shots of things we had just put on the tables! I didn't get the chance to take any pictures of the food, or half of the dessert table..because well those ladies were hungry..and they beat me to it! haha! So I didn't really have much to take! But the food was delicious! :)

there were about 130 ladies at my sisters bridal shower! Sounds crazy, right?! Well...that's how us Romanian/American's do it! haha! I dont know any other way! During our bridal showers...we usually have a few people speak and give advice for the bride to be, sing some songs, eat and open presents! YES...presents! It's tradition for us to give presents at the bridal shower, in order to help the couple off with getting started in their new place together, etc. At a Romanian wedding...well basically there is no present table. We give money at weddings...in order to again, help start the couple on the right foot, etc. That's how we do it...and I absolutely love it! It's how I grew up...but I don't think I would have it any other way! It's such a blessing to know that you have an awesome group of family and friends to help support you like that! It shows they care, and how much they love you! :) Ok...back to the pictures! ha!

I dont know what we were laughing at...but I <3 this picture!

here's lidia, telling everyone how she met andrei!

 all her gifts + some more you can't really see ;)

After Lidia opened up all her gifts, we decided to take pictures with the backdrop! I won't post too many pictures, because this post is long enough! ha! But I hope you enjoyed this little story, that is a huge part of my life ;)

backdrop: drop it modern
yellow and white flower balls: martha stewart
lidia's dress: sarah seven