Mike and Christine's Wedding...

As much as I dreaded going to Mike and Christine's Wedding (partly because I was going alone...Mack you suck!...joking!) I really did have a good time. The ceremony occurred at rock bench at Laguna Beach. It was sunny...a tad bit foggy (it was at 4pm) but the sun was shinning and it was somewhat cool. Mike looked very handsome in a simple suit and Christine looked elegant in her wedding dress. They both said their "The Top Ten Things I Love About You". Both were very clever. They also said their vows, and had a couple's prayer with their Minister. They did what I call the "pouring of the sand" in both green and tan sand (very nice touch to the beach theme wedding). The ceremony was very informal and everyone gathered around the couple during their ceremony. The wedding was modern but had classic flair...

The reception was at La Casa de Camino...on the roof top...many of us know La Casa for it's awesome rooftop bar and complete 180 view. There was an open bar (with a very cute bartender I must add...) and guests were greeted with a beautiful but simple sign-in table. On the table, there was beautiful dahlias, roses, jasmine, etc. and a very creative book with images of Mike and Christine was presented as a wedding gift from the photographer. We scribbled in a small "good luck" note in the pages of the book. I grabbed a classic mojito from the cute bartender and asked Christine's BFF where I was sitting. I got to sit right next to the couple!!! (Clever planning on Christine's behalf...I must add). I met Christine's mentor (Christine is a breast cancer survivor and went through her treatment with her mentor) as well as her husband who is some famous architect in Southern California (I got to hear some fantastic stories of Joesph Eichler and the Fairhaven homes...the tract I plan on buying in)...I also met a stylish and VERY talkative woman, Donna and her husband who worked with Mike when he worked with Verizon Wireless...

Just at that time a very cute waiter came up to me and asked me if I wanted a appetizer (yum!...and yes that is to the man and the food...see Mack you should have been there to save me!)... I talked to the server for awhile (like 10 min I would guess...long enough for the food to get cold on his tray...he kept asking questions though...I didn't want to be rude!). The three piece band started...a woman in her 40s/50s was the led singer and two men in their 60s played the cello and the guitar. She sang classic Sinatra songs as well as your typical wedding songs. Mike and Christine arrived after their photo session, which happened to be around sunset...they looked so happy and could not keep their lips off each other. I danced with Christine on the floor for awhile since Mr. Shy (aka Mike) would not dance....before I knew it, dinner was being served (cute waiter arrived again!)...our first course was a HUGE walnut, dried cranberry, blue cheese salad...the main course was next: Filet Mignon and Salmon, grilled asparagus and carrots and mashed potatoes....YUMMY!!! It was delectable!

Next was the family toast...Mike's brother was hilarious but his speech was very loving...the couple cut the cake and Christine threw her bouquet to the single ladies (I opted to stay out since the IV Line might get in the way of all of the grabbing). Mike and Christine finally danced through a few songs and by 10:30 it was time to go. Christine gave me this huge beautiful bouquet from her table for me to take home...

As for their wedding gift I decided to give them a photo album of my pictures that day in a Kodak Book, and a CD of the images. Christine is a huge photo fan so I know she will love it. I think she will appreciate the photos I took because the photographer's she hired were missing a lot of great shots that I captured (they weren't even there when she got out of the car for the ceremony!!!!).

Overall I had a great time, I got some awesome photos for my "Lindsay Nicol Photography" website...and I had a great time sharing Mike and Christine's big day with them. Now they are off in Tahiti for their Honeymoon and I am house watching for the couple. Mike is such an awesome guys and has really been a great family friend over the years. I am so glad he met Christine...Christine has this exceptional way of making you feel as if you are just another member of her family. She is going to be an awesome new neighbor as well. Yay for Mike and Christine!

Christine coming out of her ride for the Ceremony...in a classic Royales Royce

Mike and his niece (who was the flower girl)...

Christine giving her "Top Ten"

The wedding from the flower girl's point of view....

Such a cute moment in the ceremony....

Christine is so pretty...

Lavender was the theme color....

Laguna Beach is such an awesome place to get married at...

Christine NEVER stopped smiling...

Look at that gorgeous ring...

Pouring of the sand.....

Tan and green...

Couples Prayer....

Just Married!!!

The pressure is off!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Moore

The kids after the ceremony...

So pretty...

I got to keep this arrangement!!!

The reception at the famous La Casa De Camino was on the rooftop....

Yummy cake...

Mike and Christine's Guest Book....Very clever idea!!!

Three piece band...

Entering the reception...

I sat at the "Hawaii" table...

Me...

2008 PHA Conference

The 2008 Pulmonary Hypertension Association Conference was in Houston, Texas this year. I Had a blast and it was great to meet other people that have PH. Best thing of all was that the Saggar brothers were there (I <3 you both!). It was awesome to hear everyone's story and it was really inspiring to listen to an 80 year old survivor tells us young ones not to give up in life. Here is my day by day breakdown:




Thursday-



Plane landed in Houston in the AM. Checked into the Hilton. It was AWESOME!!! The rooms were great, the beds were really great, and I already saw PH peeps in the elevator. I drove my rental car down to the famous mall in Houston and did some shopping with mom. That night was the Conference "meet and greet" and registration. Mom and I got our free stuff and our badges.

(View from my hotel room at the Hilton, Downtown Houston)

Friday-

Conference opening speach was that morning. 7am. Waaaaayyyyy to early for PH peeps. Carl Hicks spoke first about his daughter's PH story and his reason for being on the board of PHA and why he wanted to be President. I think there wasn't a dry eye in the place. That afternoon was the medical sessions for doctors. I found little Saggar (Dr. Saggar's fellow and little bro) and he told me to come in if I wanted to. So I went in while mom rested in the room. Big Saggar was there and gave me a big hug. After that, every doctor we ran into, he had to tell my case to. After awhile, I left and went and got mom for dinner. We went to a local place and got some awesome food.

(At one of the many dinners that weekend. Caroline, Monica, and Myself)

Saturday-

Breakfast again. Met Monica and Caroline who are PH peeps from UCLA. They see Dr. Shapiro though. Caroline had seen Saggar though for a PH episode she had a few months ago. We all became best buds. We then met another young girl from Montana that was just diagnosed. She looked very frail. I felt bad for her. Then we met another girl from Mass who has had PH since birth due to a heart defect. Her brother had died from PH. Her mom was one strong woman.

We all went to the the same patient classes and learned about new meds, new I.V. prep techniques, and all different kinds of things. There was even a class on sex and having PH....Wow...I know. Then there was the fashion show and people showed others how they hide their I.V. pumps and dress up for special occasions. Then their was dinner and more speakers from around the world.


Sunday-

Last day of conference. We had our last sessions and had our final conference meal (all were prepared by the Hilton and were YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I said goodbye to the Saggars, my new friends, and others that I had met in my Remodulin Support group. One of the members of the PHA board asked me if I would be willing to go to Capitol hill with her next summer and speak. I told her to give me her card and I would call her, or she could call me. Little did I know that Joanne also ran the PH support group system for NY and was the EXECUTIVE board of PHA.

I am definitely keeping her in my Blackberry.

Over all I had a great time, met some wonderful people and can't wait to go to the next one: IN ORANGE COUNTY!!!! (I will definitely be volunteering for that one!)

Ayden's Baby Contest....

I just found these cute photos of Ayden in y files on my laptop...so darn cute...except for his hair! God what were they thinking???

Ayden and his proud papa...

Ayden and his trophy....

Gag me...another wedding!

So don't be a hater...I love a good wedding just as much as the next person, but it seems that almost everyone I know either:

a) was in a wedding

b) had a wedding in which I had to attend

c) had a wedding and I wasn't invited (How rude!...joking!)

and the thought of going to ANOTHER one tomorrow is kinda exciting but kinda of annoying at the same time. Exciting in a sense because I

get to do photography at this one (yay for my

portfolio) but then again I have to get all dressed up and stuff...and I so want to be just casual tomorrow on my day off from work.

Oh well...what I do for Mike and his Wifey...