Jenn's Episodes: January 2007

Wedding Update: We have a place for the reception!

The George R Brown Convention Center - Downtown Houston

Just a note to let everyone know that we've finally picked out a reception hall. We are working with the George R. Brown in Downtown Houston - managed to have a great friend at the convention center who is giving us a great deal on this space for the celebration after the wedding. Woohoo! Only concern - the reception is taking place in the George W. Bush Grand Ballroom on the 3rd floor... For those Democrats out there coming to the wedding - DON'T be discouraged! We are all going to be one big happy family for this one evening and the name of the ballroom has nothing to do with what's happening inside! And for those die hard Republicans out there - you'll love talking about our reception because you'll get to say George W. Bush's name over and over again! Haha... Pics below - they don't do it justice but it'll give you an idea.

Here's our gathering area - one of the balcony's overlooking the city. There is also an inside piece to this place just in case weather isn't so great... We'll have cash bars and plasma tv's set up for people to chill out and watch some football while waiting on us to finish picture taking.

This is the pre-reception area, just outside the ballroom...we'll have cocktail tables set up, drinks and finger foods passed during this time.

And here - here is the ballroom! Hope you all love it as much as Marc and I do...it's got that contemporary style that we have all over our house. It's just very....us! =)

Wedding Update - Bridesmaid Dress Shopping

Today was very eventful and I think we actually decided on a dress - woohoo! Had a great time...made to David's Bridal, Ventura's and Alfred Angelo's - was a busy day but an hour at Chick 'fil A rejuvenated the crew and we were making things happen. Below are the pictures of "the" bridesmaid dress we are about 95% set on...of course, not the same colors. Red dress, silver sash...with roses, lots and lots of roses. Great modeling job, Rachel!

Thanks for chauferring Mom - am so glad that you came... Had a great time girls - for those who didn't make it, we missed you! I'll let you all know once I make a final decision so we can order these things and I can cross this off my (never-ending) list - WOOHOO!

Enjoy these fun pics of our "dress trying-on" experience...

ISP Sports GONE COUNTRY!

This past week we had CDC - that's Corporate Development Conference, for those non-ispers out there. This is a business sounding term that really describes a couple of crazy socializing days with 200 of our closest ISP friends. For anyone who hasn't made it to Nashville, TN for a visit yet, it is every bit of the tourist trap you've heard about all your life. On the up side, it really is an amazing city.

Wanna know how I found out so much about this city in such a small amount of time? We had an ISP AMAZING RACE and it was AWESOME! Erika, seriously, why didn't we try out for this show? And Christopher too, for that matter... It was so much fun!!! We had 4 challenges to complete in about 5 hours and no, it was not easy...we had little tasks to do along the way as well - like take a picture in the General Lee or find a specific Earnest Tubbs (I bet most of you have no idea who that is - but I do - thanks Dad!) song on a specific cd at a specific store, somewhere in Nashville. It was CRAZY! But again, so much fun...

Another major highlight of the trip - anyone heard of the Bell Meade Plantation?... Or maybe an old racing horse by the name of Seabiscuit? The Bell Meade family owned this great horse

and is now part of the legend and allure of Nashville, TN. We had a big party on Saturday Night in 26 degree weather (uh, yeah - that's right) in the carriage house of the plantation after taking the full tour. It was AMAZING! What a great piece of history and we were so lucky to be able to attend such a fun event. I loved it!

Great trip, hands down. I miss all my ISPers from far away - Laura, Jay, Sam, Nathan, Kevin (where the heck were you?), Taylor, Angela, Albert, Steve, Mark, Snerty Snert...the list goes on and on. Great to see everyone and meet some new and friendly faces - have a great couple months everyone and we'll see ya in Pittsburg in March!

Enjoy the pics everyone!

ISP Sports - UH Crew - good times kids!

Albert and Jenn - Miss ya man - hope Florida is treating you well! Uhm - Mr. Barrett - nice shot in the background!

ISPers pretending to be part of the Iron Chef Nation - our pizza WAS the best!

Bamer Boy and Jenn - good times... (peace face and sign - uhm, you know what I mean)

Snert Baker and two lovelies - still waiting on that life size cardboard cut-out... April and I will be anxiously awaiting!

April, Laura and Jenn - Miss you much Bama transplant... Congratulations Laura on a great year...oh the days, sitting in Birmingham - wondering if we'd both still have jobs the next month. We've come sooo far - way to go, girlie!

VICTORY...is so sweet!

So... we just witnessed the end of another fabulous college football season and all I have to say is - GO GATORS! Marc was so cute all dressed up in his jersey and hat - he definitely had his 'game face' on. They played a phenominal game and dominated the No. 1 team in the nation - Chris Leak never got enough credit this year for being a leader for the Gators... Tonight he was THE leader... So, I'm pumped that the Gators are taking home a National Championship - woohoo! Oh - and I should also mention at this time that I have a lot of friends who are HUGE Buckeyes fan

s (BY THE WAY - what in the world is a Buckeye?)...to all of you I'd like to say - so sorry for your loss.......AND......nan-na-nan-na-boo-boo-Florida beat yyyoooouuu! I apologize for being so insensitive - am just very excited right now...maybe I've been hanging out with the Magnones (especially one in particular) a little too much - the Gator Nation is rubbing off on me...and I like it! =)

But.......I'd also like to point out that the end of this game means the end of college football for months... What in the world am I gonna spend my time obsessing about now? =) Thankfully baseball is right around the corner...

OK - nite nite for now - hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

What a weekend...

First of all, let me address the Cowboys football game debacle...I am a huge Romo fan... In fact, Marc gave me a jersey for Christmas which I was VERY EXCITED about wearing for the "

big game" on S

aturday. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. They certainly didn't play a good game and maybe they just don't deserve it - but for us die hard football fans out here, it's just hard to let the dream go. I'd just like to make one point - does this ball look shiny to anyone else?...like, maybe it's NOT exactly the way it should be... One might ponder why it's so shiny - as if it was INTENTIONALLY made that way somehow... I know it's crazy - I'm just sayin'... =) It makes me feel a little better to blame it on someone else but Romo...football is a team effort - it's not all his fault!

Mom and I hung out on Saturday - went and did a little shopping and then went to Bath Junkie - woohoo! I LOVE Bath Junkie - if you haven't been before, you should GO - RIGHT NOW! We played with scents and made lots of bath stuff - it was cool. Then we met up with Erika and headed down to the convention center. We went to the Bridal Show and got some good information. Erika seemed like a professional at this stuff - she got all my 'register to win' entry cards and went to work. I haven't got any phone calls yet but I have a good feeling about it... Hopefully I'll win something! My friend Heather won her honeymoon at this thing a few years ago...unfortunately it didn't turn out the way they thought it would. That's another story for a different day... =)

Next on my list of things to talk about - our Annual Girls Christmas Lingerie Party was this weekend at our house. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! I've posted some pictures below - thanks for a great time everyone. I had a blast (and ate wayyyyy too much!). Andy - we missed you in our group picture!

Sunday was a lazy day - we didn't make it to church unfortunately... I think that was my fault - not the best way to start off the new year. We DID get to hang out with Marc's best friend, Daniel - in town from Florida on a layover. He and his wife, Eileen and Eileen's Mom are headed to the big game - the National Championship. We hung out at BWW for awhile - loved it! It was great to see them and we're hoping to see them lots more over the next year. For anyone who's been living under a rock, Florida plays Ohio State tomorrow - GO GATORS!

Last (but definitely not least) on my list of things to share: one more picture from the Magnone Christmas - thought this was cute and wanted to share.

Have a GREAT week everyone!

More Pics from Christmas and New Year's...

I loved these so thought I'd share them too...

"The Three Musketeers", "SuperMom and SuperDad" and the last pic, which I like to all "Classic Marc and Jenn".... HAHAHA!

A Salters Family - Belated Christmas

Since Marc and I spend our Christmas with the Magnones in sunny Florida this year, we had a belated Salters family Christmas on Thursday of last week... It was great - minus the disappointing Aggie football game...let's not go there for now. I was so SO so happy to see my Mom and Dad and grandparents - I'd missed them so much during the holidays. Our house was all decorated and Mom had all the great food that we snack on around the holiday season - it was like old times...at least for a few hours. We didn't get to read the Christmas story this year but I know we all remember the times we used to do that - that's a tradition I hope to continue for years to come...after all, it is the reason for the season (cheesy, I know...)! My favorite part was giving my Mom and Dad their official Nike Texas A&M jerseys so they'll be fans in style at all the home Aggie football games. It's the perfect gift for those Aggie football fanatics - Christopher and I were pumped about giving them to Mom and Dad. Marc and I made out like bandits - got so much great stuff: a Willow Tree Nativity Scene, a jewelry box, a new makeup kit, Florida gear, A&M gear, Steelers stuff, gift certificates - we left home feeling spoiled rotten. =) Below are a few pics - another fun time with the Salters family!