The Weekender: 1 Year Wedded

Hey All! Popping in with a quick weekend recap. This past weekend, Michael and I had a marvelous, romantic time celebrating our 1-year wedding anniversary! I'm sure many couples can relate when I say that at times it feels like it's been 10 minutes and at other times about 10 years since our wedding day last June 21st. This past year has been quite an adventure. I feel so blessed to be on this journey of life with someone who makes me so incredibly happy.  

Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. We kicked off the weekend Friday evening at Michael's most favorite restaurant in all of Singapore, L'Entrecote. The cuisine is impeccably consistent steak frites paired with a top house vino. 

With the traditional first wedding anniversary gift being paper, Michael was sweet enough to make a reservation for us to spend the weekend at the Capella Resort. The historical colonial building was erected in the 1880's and is located on Sentosa Island - the southernmost island of Singapore - and a quick drive from our home. 

The service, grounds, food and rooms were top notch. It's the perfect place to get away without really getting away.

Most of the day Saturday was spent cruising around Sentosa via bike and relaxing down by the marina. 

Sentosa Cove is full of cute restaurants, unique oceanfront mansions and a scattering of yachts and sail boats making it feel like a mini-escape from ordinary Singapore.   

Back at Capella we spent more time relaxing by the pool, reading and enjoying the spa. 

There was even a gorgeous wedding that evening. Michael joked it was like we were renewing our vows :) You can't see, but the bridesmaids were wearing very on trend high-wasted, pink, tea length tutu's with a white crop top. Way cute. If I were getting married in the middle of the jungle in Singapore my bm's would likely have been wearing bikinis! Tis hot out there. 

It was the perfect weekend relaxing, recharging and taking the time to stop and reflect on our love and appreciation for one another. I can't believe it has been a full year. The days are long, but the years are short. Time goes by too fast and it's so easy to get caught up in the routine of everyday life. It feels great to stop and look around and realize how truly lucky we are. I love you Michael, cheers to many more happy, healthy and adventurous years to come! 

And for good measure, I leave you with just a few of my favorite photos from our wedding (by the lovely Christine McGuigan).

XO times 365 days,

CD

Read More »

A Playa del Carmen Wedding

Hey gang! I have recently returned from a very short, but mighty trip across the Pacific to one of my very best gal friend's wedding. My friend Neely and her fiancé Tim were married at a gorgeous oceanside ceremony in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The travel was long (Singapore - Tokyo - Houston - Cancun, and back) but it was certainly worth the journey. It was so wonderful to see two amazing people exchanging their vows and making it official. I wouldn't have missed it for the world! A recap below -

Kicking off the weekend festivities, I arrived on Thursday evening just in time for a late dinner. 

Some señoritas getting settled and enjoying ourselves on the nights leading up to the main event...

Heeeey...

The wedding weekend took place at The Royal Playa del Carmen, which is an epic, all-inclusive resort overlooking the Caribbean, filled with refreshing winding pools and just a few steps from town (in case you needed a break from one of the many bars on the property!).  Needless to say, much fun was had. 

As Michael was unfortunately unable to make the journey, my date for the weekend was my BF4L, Amy, who was also sans husband (and precious new baby).   

Pre ceremony  (sunny) selfies. 

It was so much fun (TOO much fun at some points ;)) spending time and catching up with many of my soul sisters whom I miss deeply. 

Wildcats represent. 

It was an absolutely perfect afternoon in paradise for a wedding. So much love. 

Kappa gals with our beautiful bride. #getschmolked #holyschmolke 

The beaming K family. 

After the ceremony we moved indoors for a delicious lunch, wedding cake and dancing. My photos from inside the ballroom didn't really turn out with the lighting, but I CAN tell you there were glow sticks, fireworks, a tequila conga line and a rendition of 'tie-limbo' involved. After the reception it was time to hit the pool to complete the fun-filled, love-filled, piña colada-filled day. 

Cheers to the newlyweds!! 

And while I was sunning myself by the pool, Michael was working hard, eating (hard) and navigating the protesters in Hong Kong. We were quite literally two planes passing in the night...

As I am settling back in the comforts of the equatorial heat (I'm sorry to everyone in KC and Omaha who had to travel home to cold and SNOW), Michael is currently 'down un-da' in Sydney (he's been gone a lot lately, right?!). He has taken the nice camera with him and promises a full blog recap upon his return.

Cheers to a swift and warm week y'all.

XO,

CD 

Read More »

Recap Lately: We're Married!

Hey guys! I am back to the blog with a new attitude and a new last name! 

So much has happened in the last few weeks since I last posted, it is nearly impossible to detail it all at once. I will just share some of the 'behind the scenes' highlights, as you better believe there will be more wedding related posts to come. We are all eagerly awaiting viewing our professional photos and video :)

So I find I am officially one of those annoying newlyweds who gets overly excited about all our 'firsts' together. Aww, Michael, our first Saturday breakfast together as a married couple. Aww, our first married coffee together, LOOK HEARTS, OMG! Aww, our first Wednesday. 

The weekend before we departed for the states some of the girls from my office took me out for a little Asian Hen-do (bachelorette) celebration. We hung out at the infamous infinity pool at the top of the Mariana Bay Sands hotel. 

It was such a fun day - I have been dying to get up to the pool and it was such a treat to spend the day and night celebrating with such awesome gals. (multiple Singapore Slings not pictured :))

Strike a pose...

After a short work week and a few more super nice and thoughtful send offs from our work families, we were off. Packing for 2 weeks back home, much less a WEDDING, was no easy feat. We however did a pretty good job of packing and getting around 4 different airports (Singapore, Taipei, JFK, Kansas City) without loosing anything or killing each other. (and yes that is us traveling around the world with 2 guitars, 1 amp, and a wedding dress stuffed into a roller bag).  

Next stop: New York City! (said in Old El Paso salsa commercial voice) Michael stayed through the weekend for his Stag-d0 (bachelor) weekend --- hmm, no pics of that? Weird. It was a short trip for me, but we managed to meet up for a great lunch at one of our all time neighborhood favorites - Old Town Bar.  It is located only a few blocks from our old apartment (tear) and is one of the best and oldest bars in NYC. The food is great, the beer is cold and it's always the perfect amount of crowded. Not to mention the ambiance is second to none! Okay, I am digressing... 

Happy

That evening I had dinner with my long lost NY gals (#Rubies). It was the perfect night of sipping wine and catching up over a good meal with even greater people. Miss you spunky ladies.

Up early for a 6:00am flight to KC for another bachelorette celebration and catching up with friends. My SIL and MIL were so kind to host an evening of great fun out in KC. 

Love you ladies so much. 

A quick drive to Omaha, a fathers day BBQ, 4 runs around the lake, a trip to the nail salon, multiple craft projects, errands, a bridal luncheon and a practice run at the church later, wedding weekend was officially upon us!  

A few of my dearest high school friends. GO CATS. (Rehearsal dinner at Omaha Country Club)  

Saturday morning beauty session. (Robes are a Singapore special) 

The Stamp (and Strotman) Family :)

My sister, my rock, my pro bono co-wedding planner. 

Mr. & Mrs. Duvall + Mr. & Mrs. Duvall :)

What a magical, beautiful, loving, sweaty, happy, whirlwind of a day. 

Duvee Brothers concert was in full swing! 

So much love to our family and closest friends who were able to celebrate with us on the big day and so many who sent their love from afar.

Much love to the SME'sters... (we see you Sean)

...Wildcat Power...

...My loyalist Kappa sisters...

...And finally lots of love to the Yale Football crew (I think we need to go home now). 

Sunday it was up early for a farewell brunch, a baby shower for Baby Argo (as seen  in the photos above), and a little relaxing back at my parents house.

Oh and this. #AMERICA

Isn't married life the best? You have a set partner in all things in life... 

Monday morning, still buzzing from the weekend, it was bags packed and time for take off. Most of the time this photo (new wedding bands + passports) is taken to mark the exciting adventure of departing on ones honeymoon, but here we are simply headed home. I find this to be all parts ridiculous, thrilling and a little sad, I am not going to lie. The weekend was such a blessed reminder of how much our family and friends love and care for us. (Seriously, if you are in need of a major self-esteem boost, get married). It is really hard to not want to be closer to that. 

BUT we are back and settled and looking forward to an exciting time ahead as we continue this crazy adventure as newlyweds. By way of update, we have lots to look forward to come the rest of 2014. We have 3(!) sets of couple friends set to visit us in July, Aug. and Sept. - Michael will be back in the US for a few weeks in Oct. celebrating the marriages of 2 of his closest friends (2 separate weddings, his good friends aren't marrying each other, not that there would be anything wrong with that if they did...) - my dear girlfriend is getting married in Mexico in Nov. - and just like that we will be home for Christmas! See, living in Singapore isn't that hard ;)

LOTS of major love to ya'll. Thanks for making our wedding weekend perfect.

Xo,

C

For more Stamp / Duvall wedding coverage, check out friend Katie's super-blog  (The Rose Record) for details of the day and my sister Niki's hilarious and adorable mom blog depicting the countdown to the most important walk down the aisle - my twin nephews as ring bearers. She posted way more great pics than did - I blame the jet lag. #Duvows 

Read More »