Work

Tati's is going well, in fact we've changed the name to The Peacock. It's a better fit for the type of environment we're promoting. I'm still looking for custom uniforms, I might just order shirts for everyone in various sizes (teen, adult and elder) and allow them to wear black pants. Or maybe a color scheme would be well. I don't know.

Rotation

We're thinking about getting off the rotation in Apple Valley. A lot of other hoods do this for thier celebrities. It would mean time moving slower for us, but still quality time.

Summer Love

The weather is so warm and things are going very well. Tatiana and I had a free day so we spent the day at home playing outside. We had a water balloon fight and I must admit, my dear wife looked very nice in her swimsuit. Very nice indeed.

Makeover

Tati's is in need of a dire makeover. We need a total overhaul, the diner isn't conveying my goals and intentions. So I'm complying some images that seem to convey my desire to have Tati's be an sophisicated ethnic resturaunt and lounge. Most of my images are coming from the peacock. I think the peacock really symbolizes everything Tati's is. In fact, Tati's might experience a name change since Tati's doesn't seem very... sophisicated and ethnic.

She's Works so Hard

Tati works so hard-with Pahala Shore and then Tati's I wish she would step back a bit from the resturaunt, maybe hire a manager, but it's hard enough for her to find employees to wait tables and she often serves customers herself and she still needs a bartender. I hope she doesn't run herself crazy.

New Family Member

Chad surprised me after taping today. There was a sweet little kitten waiting for me at home, such a cutie. I named him Cotton. He's darling. Once he's bigger and can climb the stairs, we're going to set up one of the rooms as his room. I know I know, spoiled kitty, but with no children to spoil at the moment, Cotton will be getting most of our attention.

Shh...

I am surprising Tatiana with a small gift to celebrate our marriage. I brought her a kitten, I hope she likes it.



Work is going well, my character is having trouble, so I have to spend extra time channeling Russel during rehearsal.

We're Back

The honeymoon was nice, very nice. We spent our time in Takesumi Village visiting the sights and eating new dishes and exploring a new culture. We have already decided that we want to go again.



Honeymoon Photo Album

http://flickr.com/photos/9166981@N03/sets/72157602011916145/

Small Update

I need to spend my $500 Farmer's Market Certificate not to mention decoratin the house-our new home. Did I mention that? Opps!

Chad and I moved to Royal Gala, we brought the lot where the Grey house once stood. They sold us the land-something about family financial troubles, so we built a home from scratch!

I like the style, nice concrete with masonary details on the exterior. The upstairs is kind of empty, we'll use that for guest bedrooms and nurserys-when the time comes. Might purchase a tea table, I loved drinking tea in Takezumi Village so much!

Honeymoon

I've planned our honeymoon to the smallest detail-the hard part is not letting Tatiana find out those details. Since we both agree that the far east is a wonderful complex culture, I've planned to spend several simdays at Takemizu Village. With this in mind, I scoured the internet for everything I could find out about Taekmizu and what the best spots are.



I've reserved tours for the Bamboo Forest, the Historic Walking Tour and the RiverBoat Tour



I've made reservations at the local resturaunts so we can enjoy Chirashi and Steamed Rice Bowls.



Not to mention a long list of things we have to do before heading home (according to the guides).



Participate in a traditional tea ceremony

Learn Tai Chi and Acupressure massage from the local classes and "wise men"

Visit a Zen garden and the lucky shrine (and make a wish)

Play mahjong and hear the dragon legend that the guide book says so much about.

Wedding Photos

Lots of changes going on now.



First-my blog is now shared for our family-that means Chad and any children we have will use this blog.



Also I have wedding photos and juicy wedding details:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9166981@N03/sets/72157601613625090/



The Setting: Jacob's Vineyard in Apple Valley. It was reserved for the day and the courtyard held ripen grapes, cherry blossoms and the sweet smell of jasmine. We used lots of rose petals in three different colors along the aisle, guests sat in benchs made from reclaimed wood (in thier former lives they were doors, windows even boats!). The alter was also made of reclaimed wood and an arch draped with grape vines and jasmine and flanked by large wedding bouquets of lillies, daisies, roses and carnations. We were waiting in seperate rooms, Chad with his men and I with my ladies. We spent the last few moments as singles reflecting on our past and exchanging wedding gifts to each other (I recieved a diamond hair broach, he got an engraved leather wallet)



The Attire: The gentlemen (Chad, A'ron and Remington) wore MAXIS tuxedos and suits with golden vests. The bridesmaids (Alexis and Josie) wore custom A.Pentrignani gowns of sage green silk duponi, the matron of honor (Daisy) wore a custom A.Pentrignani gown of chocolate satin with ivory detailing. The bride (me!) wore a custom A.Pentrignani gown of silk accented with crystals. I wore my hair up and the attendants wore thier hair in a braid wrapped around thier head.



The Ceremony: The officant welcomed everyone to the wedding ceremony and we read personlized vows to each other (I perfer to keep those private). Then we were charged as a couple, exchanged rings (reclaimed estate rings that belonged to Chad's grandmother) and kissed each other.



The Reception: After taking group photos we entered the winery to our first dance "Prelude of Love Strings" by Quakey Oaky. Guests then enjoyed a menu that I customized:

Salad:
Baby Greens with Sliced Green Apple, Honeyed Walnuts, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, with Gorgonzola Dressing
Intermezzo:
Cranberry – Vodka
Entrée:
Grilled Veal Chop with Mushroom-Thyme Demi Glace~ OR ~Lobster Tail with Petite Filet Mignon with a Burgundy-Shallot Double Mustard Sauce
Dessert:
Trio of Desserts:Sliced Wedding Cake, Chocolate Marquise with Raspberry Coulis, and Caramel Cheesecake
Wine:
Local Jacob's Vineyard wine from the cellar.



We had a custom rasperry amaretto wedding cake decorated with cherry blossoms, toasts all around and plenty of music for dancing.



The Goodies: Guests left with thick fleece blankets or handbags with cherry blossoms printed on them. Also a donation to "No Red" was given.



Pre/Post-Parties: No photos-well, none that I will share anyway. We had a traditional tea ceremony for guests the night before followed by a long morrocan feast of lamb, stews and other goodies. The next morning guests enjoyed golf or spa sessions (lots of women golfed and plenty of men got facials) before the afternoon ceremony. Afterwards we had a wedding brunch with the guests before they left.



Honeymoon-the hood has decided to hold off on the rotation until after we sign the new deal-so Chad and I are going to go on a honeymoon after then. I can't wait-we're trying to decide what kind of honeymoon we want and we're both pretty settled on visiting the far east.

Married

I'm married! I am now Tatiana Vanderburg!

Quick note, things are going well-time is moving so slowly, I'll put up photos of the wedding soon.

Work and Wedding

This Saturday...I'll be married this Saturday!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Did a photo shoot for Tati's, we've brought some ad space from Pahala Shore. I have a bit more filming to do before the wedding and then our honeymoon.

I'm nervous....and so excited!!!!

Life Going On

I have been chosen to cater meals for the new secondary academy. Each week I develop a menu and deliver the meals to the school for the students. I usually include an entree, salad, and dessert and I try not to have the meals be too exotic, afterall they are just teens. But I do like to give them different meals, such as a Caan Spicy Fruit Salad seasoned with curry and sweet peppers or Samosas.

Chad and I have been praticing for our first dance, nothing too fancy, but it will still be a nice slow dance.

Wedding Update

Wedding plans are moving along, Chad and I have chosen the cake flavors, it will be a three tier cake with painted cherry blossom details on the fondant. Inside will be coconut creme, kalhua dark chocolate, and kiwi spice rum cake. Yummy!
Daisy is in town and we've been doing a lot of wedding stuff, I mean the ceremony is August 18th, which isn't far away at all. To complicate matters, Chad wants to move into something bigger...we'll see.

Tati's

Well, my desicion was made for me. The hood council wanted the land that Euphoria sat on so that they could expand the park. I sold the land and paid off that loan, now I'm focused on Tati's. Most of my Euphoria employees transfered to Tati's, but a few declined the request.

Daisy and the family will be coming to Apple Valley for an extended visit, until after the wedding. I'm trying out new dishes for Tati's and planning the menu for the wedding.

O! The invitations were sent out as well. They were cherry blossom pink with a wax seal.

Food Expo

Been busy with the resturaunts and my lecture for the Food Expo, not to mention the fact that I'm judging some of the food contests.

Been considering closing down one of the resturaunts, or selling it. It's too much work to run two places and to try and maintain them. Euphoria doesn't make sense anymore, especially since the hood isn't as urban as it used to be. Maybe I can focus on Tati's...*sigh*...not sure at all.

Health

I went to the medical centre for a physical and to use the exercise equipment. The manager, Jan, was very nice, very nice indeed. I even brought a few medicines for the medicine cabinet back home. I want to look my best for the wedding. Speaking of wedding, the bridesmaids dresses are almost done. I can't wait to see them in them.

Engagement Photos

We took our engagement photos-we're trying to narrow down and figure out which ones we like the best. We went to The Foundry and Celebration Park for the photos, and it started raining, but it was fun nevertheless.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/starrsim/album/576460762403618143

House and Flowers

It's been a while, so I decided to update with some photos of the house. Ta da! Isn't it beautiful at night? I can't wait until there are children running around in the yard, but that's another story :)
I've been discussing flower options for the wedding. Maybe a wildflower bouquet or a mixed flower bouquet. Chad likes the tulips, but I think they might not be enough for the vineyard, then again, the vineyard may not need a lot of decorating.