Pages

Friday, December 31, 2010

Recap of our 2010

 
January

The end of 2010 is here and what a year it has been. Mark and I celebrated last new years, Jan 1 2010, with friends at the Gator bowl in Jacksonville for Bobby Bowden's last game as head coach for FSU.




...Kicking off the year with a new beginning with FSU, we also started planning for our new beginning. We had just gotten engaged 4 days prior...so the wedding planning began from our home at the time, Chicago.


February
...Mark's company sent the top producers to Jamaica! (which was a great trip during the Chicago winter)









March...We experienced St. Patrick's day with Ali, Lee, and Aldo and watched them dye their river green....



 
April
I shopped for my wedding dress and had some luck :) I had to send pictures via iphone email to my mother since she was in Florida and I was in Chicago. Luckily I got her approval and we were in business.
 


May
...We had BBQs and last goodbyes before leaving Chicago to move back to South Florida...

This is Ali and I fist pumping Jersey Shore style in some bar.









June

Said goodbye to
Chicago and packed up our moving truck...





Bye-bye Chicago






Our ride home





Hello Fort Lauderdale, FL !




...We were fortunate to have spent some time with Mark's great grandma before she passed away this past summer...RIP Grandma Chapa





 

June & July
...bachelor party, bridal shower & and a week long bachelorette party in the Bahamas occurred...









 
August
...we had family dinners planning the wedding and getting everything bridal rolling...


 

September
...and then on Labor Day weekend 9.04.10 we became a Mr. & Mrs.




October
...then it was FSU Football Season time :) great season.

Highlight #1 - beating UM





November

 
Highlight #2 - beating UF



 

November & December
...then the holidays rolled around and we had double thanksgivings and double Christmases with both families!






...and for the end it has come full circle- we are with Jared and Jacki Roche heading to Atlanta, GA. for another FSU bowl game :)
Can't wait to see what 2011 will bring!
Happy New Years everyone! ...and Go NOLES. >>----;;->



Christina McGuire

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

My "Name Change Experience" at the DMV(s)

Mark and I got our marriage license about 3 weeks before we had our wedding. At the courthouse, they told Mark and I that I should wait about 2 weeks after our wedding (after our "witnessed" form signed by our priest and witnesses gets mailed in) so that it has time to process. Well, 2 weeks after the wedding...I put off going to the Social Security office...for obvious reasons. The lines, the time waiting with not being allowed to use your phone, and all the other reasons people hate going into government agencies. Well, I finally went. After talking to a man about his church (not by choice) and then being invited to attend his church, my number was finally called.
The lady helped me and I was out of there in about 1 hour. I consider that good time.
After that, weeeeeks go by and I still have yet to get a new driver's license. My new Social Security card had been mailed to me and life was good. Not good enough for Mark. Day after day he asked me when I was going to change my driver's license. For him, our marriage wasn't official if my name was still "Vega" on my license?! 

About a week ago, I made our plates of dinner and skipped putting Brussel sprouts on my plate. I added all of the other vegetables except those (I HATE Brussel sprouts!)
 As Mark kept making me eat brussel sprouts he said, "If you go and get your license changed tomorrow, you don't have to eat the brussel sprouts." Obviously he was playing around with me, but I knew it meant a lot to him. And let's be serious...3 months after our wedding was probably enough time to put off going to the dreadful DMV.
I told him that I would go Wednesday morning (6 days after the brussel sprout incident). Well this morning crept up on me and my alarm was set for 6:30am. My goal was to wake up, shower, get pretty for my new picture, and beat the line at the DMV on Atlantic Blvd. by getting there before 8am- when they open.

I pull up to the DMV and there are only 3 people waiting in line at the door. "Thank God!" I thought to myself. Well, 8:05am came along after waiting out in 40 degree weather, the door opens, and the kind man yells, "If you don't have an appointment, we can't help you! This is an appointment only office!"


"CRAAAAAP!!!!" I think to myself (Well, I was thinking another word but I will keep this PG. rated.
 I huff and puff to my car and start typing away on my iphone. Trying to find another DMV near by in Fort Lauderdale, I call one to find out if they are appt. only. NO ANSWER. As I am about to have a melt down, I get home- get on the computer- and look up another DMV with no sign of "Appt. only" anywhere. Let me just add here that when I looked up the hours of the previous DMV- I had not seen the "Appointment only."

I almost through a hissy fit and was just going to tell Mark that I would go another day once I calmed down, but I was on a mission. I didn't want to prepare for this DMV trip on another day. I wanted to get it over with NOW.

So now it is 8:30am...I get in my car, with coffee to-go mug in tow, and head out to DMV #2. I was mentally preparing myself for a line out the door now that I was 30 min late of opening time.





To my Shock and Surprise, I walk in and there were 3 people in the "walk-in" line. THANK. YOU. GOD," I thought.
I gave the pleasant lady all of my documents proving that I was Christina Maria Vega and had received a marriage license stating my new name, Christina Maria McGuire.

Documents needed:  Old Driver's license obviously...
1. Passport
2 .Social Security Card
3.Vehicle Registration
4. 2 forms of mail (from a bank, credit cards, ect.) to your name and current address

Once I was cleared, I took my number and waited in the next room until they called my number. After entering in all of my new information and taking my new picture, I paid $25 and was set to go! They told me to wait about 5 minutes as my new card was being made and that they would call me over by name.
As I waited, my mother was calling...(Probably making sure I wasn't freaking out) Then, as I'm talking to her, apparently the called once for me. As it had only been about 1 min, I wasn't fully paying attention thinking that I had about 5 min. (My fault)
I then hear the last part of "McGuiiiiiire!" and literally jump up and drop my phone. Running up to the desk yelling "here!" like a 2nd grader being called into class attendance, the lady laughs saying "You don't even know your new name yet!!!"
All 20 people now in the DMV and myself had a chuckle, she handed my my new driver's license, and I was a happy girl. It was about 9:20am. Taking about 30 min. from walk in to walk out, I was done!
"Christina Maria McGuire" is officially on my Driver's License. Now Mark can be happy and relax :)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Our 1st : Art Basel MiAMi Beach 2010

Art Basel in Miami Beach
(December 2 - 5, 2010)

Description run-down from the Art Basel Miami Beach website:
"Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in
the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas. As the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 41 years,

Art Basel Miami Beach combines an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. Exhibition sites are located in the city's beautiful Art Deco District, within walking distance of the beach and many hotels.

An exclusive selection of more than 250 leading art galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, . And every year, a greater number of art collectors, artists, dealers, curators, critics and art enthusiasts from around the world participate in
Art Basel Miami Beach - the favorite winter meeting place
for the international art world."   -http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/

This was the 1st year my mother, Mark, and I had ever been to Art Basel. My mom had heard about it and asked me if I would want to go. I mentioned to Mark one night how much my mom had wanted to check it out and an hour later he handed my mom a gift bag with the "Payment Confirmation for 3 tickets to Art Basel." Mom was thrilled...
Not knowing what to expect, we headed out preparing for massive lines and crowds...Once we got there, parked and headed toward the convention center; it wasn't that bad. Mark hopped over to Will Call, picked up our tickets, and we were on our way in. Once we were in, we were accompanied by hundreds of "artsy fartsies" as we endearingly called them and little cafe booths were one could get some champagne- coffee-wine- sparkling water...whatever your artsy heart desired. :)
I grabbed un cafe' and headed out for some art analyzing...these are just a couple that I took my phone out for a picture.

We like to think this is a Seminole tribe preparing some gator meat for a meal :)




What I feel like in the morning after a long night





I told Mark I would go hunting if I got to put rhinestones all over the antlers like this interesting piece...


This had Brillo pads for hair. Quite creative I must say.

Watching "LOVE" light up.

Mama Maria is fascinated

 Mark had more fun people watching I think.




This one is just about 1/20 of the entire piece. If you looked closely to it, you could see that it was made all from buttons, stickers, pins, ect. This one was fun to look at.



Our 1st experience at Art Basel Miami Beach 2010.

 It was interesting to see Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and other artists that Peter Olsen(my grade school art teacher at St. Anthony - who was also an artist himself) spoke about. We would learn how to tell each apart and what the artist was well known for. Now, I was finally getting to see them all in one place. Now I have been to museums and seen pieces like the one I am describing, but I suppose in this case I was a lot more interested seeing hundred of booths from around the world all in Miami Beach. All their own styles, ideas, and ideas of "art." I must say, I definitely think the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" truly embodies what "art" is to the individual...
At times I would look at Mark and he would look over at me as if to say, "REALLY, I CAN DO THIS!" Ha   I will say for all the pieces that looked like someone spray painted a canvas and then framed it...there were pieces that looked like they took several several ...several years to finish and perfect. I think it was a great experience and I recommend that you visit next time you are in town during Art Basel. 


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Part I - FSU v UF Game: VICTORY for the Good Guys


Where oh where should I begin? Unless you live under a rock, or merely watch ESPN and their lack of FSU footage (due to being run by uf communication's interns), you may have heard a little something about the FSU v UF game...

This post will be about our gameday experience like my previous posts. Mark has agreed to write the second part of this and give his reaction to the win...so stay tuned.

This past weekend began on Friday afternoon when we rolled into Tallahassee with Matthew and, little sister, Kendall Davenport. We headed to the Ale House for some game watching and beers followed by Ken's Tavern on the Tennessee St. strip. We stayed there as our friends arrived to kick off the amazing weekend that was about to ensue.

Mark and I stayed in a hotel across the street from the bar scene so that "stumbling distance" was possible for this weekend- which was a nice for a typical night at Ken's.

Early Saturday morning I woke up to Mark telling me, as always, that it is gameday (like I don't already know this?) and already heading out to grab us breakfast. My instructions: to be ready when he gets back.
When he does, it is time to kick off the tailgating. I'd say it was roughly 40 degrees that morning but was going to turn into WONDERFUL football weather. We started off as usual, the ladies drinking their mimosas and listening to the fight songs which circulatied through the campus speakers. Glorious.



Our tailgate was like the many of this season except for our new addition of the Roche's deep fryer. Mark had purchased some gator meat for this game, so our lovely friends; Jared and Jacki Roche kindly brought their deep fryer to cook it up just right. Alligator, chicken and hush puppies were the main food attraction.

yum



The men who make it happen every gameday.


Jared Roche frying up some goodness.

This tailgate was one that was looked forward to all season, yet easily awaited for being as it would be our last home game tailgate. Playing corn hole, listening to oldies but goodies, visiting with friends coming by our tailgate to say hello, and of course the usual - busting out the Dougie.


Erika Roche teaching her "hubby" - Matthew Davenport her dougie moves.
 And then came time for gator scalping.....

We headed to our booster seats, fearing that since it was a sold out game, we couldn't move to our "go to" seats and stand/yell the whole game; rather sit and politely clap with the other boosters. Luckily, no one was in the sitting mood. I cannot even begin to explain the energy that radiated through Doak Campbell Stadium. I do not remember the cheering dying down...ever, nor any one in that stadium sitting down. FSU supplied the fans with garnet and gold pom poms and "GO FSU" posters. If I can say one thing, it is that the pom poms were an amazing addition to the chop. The chop is exciting enough to see all in unison but adding on all the streamers throughout the entire stadium was a great view.

And if I can reiterate anything it would be that I was very impressed with the intensity on behalf of the Seminole fans. We were so loud that the gator players were literally waving their arms as if saying "WHAT DO I DO?!?!" They couldn't hear each other at all. Calling and having to use their time outs while we just did what our players instructed us to do: GET LOUD. I love when our players jump up and down and tell us to get louder and louder because well, we listen. So as cheering got louder and only intensifying the whole game, the score got sexier, and I started to realize we were not only winning - we were dominating.

Now for the best part, as the gators headed for hills, the NOLES stayed and celebrated our New Era. "Gator-3rd world country- nation" met Jimbo-Nation in those hours. It felt great to watch our players run out and take in the Seminole fans' gratitude for their hard work and commitment to the program.
As the coaches and players ran out onto the field, the fireworks started and I was one happy girl.


final score

After the game, we stuck around and took it all in. Some pictures were taken, hugs and high fives, and buying up final score posters that were made minutes beforehand.
Then it was time to head back to our booster tailgate spot to eat and drink some more...for celebratory tailgate time.

Mark will be making a guest posting appearance later on this week when his crazy work schedule wraps up for the those who enjoy facts, numbers, and his perspective on the whole thing. Plus, he's a much better writer than I am, so I look forward to reading too!

Go Noles
31-7

Monday, November 15, 2010

Catered, Cornhole, Clemson = 11.13.10 FSU GAMEDAY

These blogs are becoming centered around football, but let's face it...that's what Mark and I do every weekend this season. Almost over :-/


Well, this past weekend we drove up to Tallahassee on Friday evening. On Saturday morning we do did what we normally do and turn on College GameDay on ESPN, pour the mimosas and bloody mary's, and eat some breakfast. After getting ready we headed to Kappa Sigma in Heritage Grove for some pre- tailgate time. We listened to some music, they played some games in the yard, and I gave them my burger recipe...

                                            Getting their the liquor luge delivered
                               

After hanging out with KSig, we headed to our tailgate spot on campus. This gameday we decided to have the food brought in. MUCH EASIER and MUCH BETTER. Pulled pork, smoked Gouda mac and cheese,  the other bbq foods and desserts were DELISH. I couldn't stay away from the Gouda mac and cheese shells...

The game was scheduled for 8:00pm this time which was great. It gave us plenty of time to eat, play cornhole/ tossing around the football, and time to enjoy Mark's gameday play list that he strategically set up, ha.
                                 
                
    Playing the Thunderstruck drinking game....drink until they say "thunderstruck" again!




 FSU v Clemson game time snuck up in no time and we were off to watch the game. After standing a huge shoulder to shoulder line to get into the stadium...we made it to our seats.

                                                                In line...

Actually, I should say our "go to" seats is where we always end up. Our purchased seats are a little harder to get obnoxious in because we are in the middle of other people and not all of our friends have their seats in our block. We walk up to the top of our section along the brick wall, have everyone meet there, and do not have to worry about blocking any one's view when we stand the whole time and scream who knows what... (Mark gets loud...)

                                                           A couple of us at our spot.


When the game started, it was off to a bad start. It was about 9 bad penalty calls against us and Mark was FUMING. From that point, I did not think this game was going to be a good one. We are used to refs making unfair calls against us. I mean Mark is now planning on dressing like Ron Cherry (ref's uniform and all) and throwing flags into the crowd all night for a game. Not that he refereed this game, but that is just his all time favorite AWFUL/BIASED referee.

                                               

                                       Jared Roche comforting Mark as they wait and watch
                                                  
ANYWAYS, this game continued being a stressful one. EJ Manuel did a great stepping in when Christian Ponder was out hurt with an elbow injury. We had to just stand and wait, hope the refs would referee fairly, tell the crowd to shut up when the "wave" started (it is bad luck and done at all the wrong times). We had a hurt player on the ground and the wave starts?!?! REALLY? I think slowly but surely the wave nonsense will come to an end. Back to cheering... we made noise until those final moments, 3 seconds to be exact, and quietly stood there (I was crouched nearly into a ball looking up) when Dustin Hopkins made his 55 yard field goal.

                                              
HOOOLLLLYYYY Celebrating! WE WENT NUTS. I cannot even begin to describe the energy in Doak Campbell Stadium when Hopkins made that. I can only speak for myself when I say that I am used to disappointment at final minutes, seconds in our games. I still and always will LOVE my NOLES, but always mentally prepare myself for heartache. When the field goal was good, I jumped up from my couched position and gave Mrs. Jacki Roche the hug of a lifetime. It was an amazing end to a game. Good for Dustin Hopkins, a kicker that was making 65 yard field goals in practice. He was ready and did a great job in those final ( NERVE WRACKING) moments.


                                        Brother & little sister, Matt and Kendall Davenport
                                    
                                     

                                          The Roches & The McGuires celebrating the win


                                     16-13 was the final score and that's a W for the NOLES!!!



After the celebrating ended, we headed back to the tailgate spot. We normally head back and spend about another hour (or more) eating, dancing, playing drinking games, and killing time before the traffic dies down. After doing the cupid shuffle, soldier boy, and every other dance on our play list, we headed out for some celebrating at the bars.

GREAT weekend, GREAT friends, GREAT game. GO NOLES.



Now onto Maryland and Florida...