Royal Baby Buzz: Too Obsessed?

By now, you’ve surely heard the buzz about Duchess Kate’s pregnancy, which was officially confirmed  yesterday afternoon. As a former wedding blog editor who followed the royal nuptials right down to the smallest detail, I am of course very excited for Will and Kate! At the same time, I can’t help but feel awfully sorry for these two about having to constantly navigate such personal matters in the public eye.

After all, the only reason the pregnancy was likely announced so early – still during the first trimester – is because poor Kate has been hospitalized with severe morning sickness. I don't know about you, but having my personal medical information publicized throughout the international media is not something I would be especially thrilled about, especially since the coverage comes complete with a few ignorant and inaccurate comments about how morning sickness shouldn't require medical attention. Furthermore, the unending royal pregnancy speculations published over the summer, complete with doctored “baby bump” photos, were nothing short of headache-inducing, to say the least. 

Image Source: Official Royal Wedding Website

Every bit as ridiculous are the statements I’m now seeing plastered across the Web explaining how great it is that Will and Kate are “finally” having a baby. I mean, for Heaven’s sake, these two have only been married since April 2011. That is almost a full year less than I have, and I can tell you right now with absolute certainty that I am still nowhere near ready to start breaking out the baby furniture just yet! 

The truth is that the more coverage I read, the more it bothers me to think that even in today’s modern society, a royal woman’s primary "duty" is still thought to be providing an heir, just as was true hundreds of years ago. Sadly, Kate may have never been accepted as a "suitable" match for William if she was physically unable to have a child, or God forbid, was one of a great many women who just don’t want to have kids.

Do you think people are already too obsessed with the news about Kate’s pregnancy? Would you ever want to live a life in the spotlight for the sake of being a royal? 

Throwback Thursday: Christmas Past

With the holiday season now officially upon us, I’m once again throwing back to the past by linking up with Sunshine at Such Life in the Tropics to share an old photo, along with five fun facts that relate. Since I've been busy reorganizing old family photos featuring my Nana, who passed away in October, I thought this image taken on Christmas Eve 10 years ago would be an especially perfect choice.

1) My mom, sister and I have been going to Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents' house for as long as I can remember, basically ever since I was born. Some of our long-standing traditions have included opening one present ahead of time that night, spoiling our dinner with Nana’s  famous Italian Anisette Cookies, and laughing our heads off at my grandfather’s annual stories about all the crazy things he and his friends did while growing up in 1940s Boston.

2) Even though she moved to California during the 1950s, Nana never lost her Boston accent. People who are familiar with this type of speech pattern say they can also hear strong hints of it in my voice and my mom’s. Those who aren’t familiar with it often mistakenly believe that I am from the south, though, or say they just can’t pinpoint the correct region. Hearing Nana’s unique voice is one of the things I already miss most and hope I won’t ever forget.

3) I still have this red tank top in my closet and have worn it a couple times in recent years, most often paired with a black cardigan, pencil skirt and heels. The black designs on the front are rosettes.

4) The oak cabinet in the background used to have a giant glass case resting on top of it, which displayed tons of my grandparents’ finest china and mementos from over the years. Sadly, the entire thing crashed to the floor and was destroyed during the infamous Northridge Earthquake in 1994. The earthquake also damaged their home in other significant ways, but fortunately, all were fully repairable. After living through that experience, I am still traumatized by earthquakes big and small to this day.

5) This picture, quite grainy by today’s standards, was taken with a throw-away camera. My grandparents have continued to use them over the years, never wanting the hassle of going digital. They have also never fully embraced using computers, signing up for cable TV, using a dishwasher or placing wet clothes in a dryer instead of outside on a clothesline. 

Want to join in the Throwback Thursday linkup? Grab the badge above, and have fun sharing! 

Holiday Season Kick-Off

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Stephen and I certainly did, beginning first thing Wednesday night with an outing to see Jekyll & Hyde at the Kennedy Center here in DC. This new production, staring recording artist Deborah Cox and American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis, was amazingly dark and chilling, making me feel as if I was about to celebrate Halloween rather than Thanksgiving. Plus, thanks to the Kennedy Center’s new My Tix discount program for theatergoers ages 18-30, we were able to get orchestra-level seats for just $30 per ticket – an absolute steal!  

Along with catching up on a few errands that were neglected during our trip to Hawaii, we also spent some time decking the halls for Christmas and scoping out Black Friday bargains for a couple household items we’ve long had on our radar, including a memory foam mattress topper and a good quality set of couch covers. While I definitely don’t consider myself to be a frenzied shopper always in need of the latest and greatest goody, the frugal part of me does admit to loving a good sale as much as the next person.

Did you manage to snag any great Black Friday deals, and are you excited that the holiday season is finally here?   

Happy Thanksgiving, Island Style

Even though we got back from our trip to Hawaii last Sunday, after such an amazing week in paradise, I think it’s fair to say that my heart and mind are still running on island time!

From snorkeling with sea turtles to hiking across dried lava fields and ascending the 13,796 ft. summit at Mauna Kea, we had an all-around wonderful time celebrating my in-laws' 40^th anniversary. I absolutely can’t wait to head back next summer to see my sister-in-law get married and be a bridesmaid in her wedding! 

Here, a quick photo recap of our jam-packed yet still blissfully relaxing vacation. 

Our Big Island resort, Kings' Land by Hilton Grand Vacations Club, located north of Kona, was the perfect place to kick back for the week. It even came complete with a few non-human visitors, from stray cats to wild goats! 

This trip marked my first time seeing a sea turtle up close, along with trying my hand at stand-up paddle boarding. Keeping my balance on-board was definitely a bit challenging at first, but ultimately not as hard as I originally thought it might be.

Our Captain Zodiac snorkeling and wildlife excursion included a stop at the serene Kealakekua Bay, plus a trip past ancient lava tubes. Can you make out the face of Goddess Pele in the rock?  

Also on the agenda was a trip across the island to the area in and around Hilo, where we explored the Pacific Tsunami Museum, sampled tasty treats at Big Island Candies and took in gorgeous views at Akaka Falls State Park.  

Our journey up to the 13,796 ft. Mauna Kea summit offered lunar-like landscapes and some of the most stunning panoramic views I've ever seen. Worth battling the chilly temps and rough drive? Definitely!   

Last but certainly not least, no trip to the Big Island would be complete without spending a day at Volcanoes National Park, even one that happens to be rainy and cold. Although we weren't able to see any glowing lava this time around, watching smoke rise from a volcanic crater was beyond cool.

Of course, no matter how much fun we may have had in Hawaii, home will always be where our kitties are! 

Whether you're traveling or staying close to home this week, I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great start to the holiday season! Stephen and I are looking forward to a low-key, restful day, along with a pre-holiday trip to see Jekyll & Hyde at the Kennedy Center tonight.

How are you celebrating? 

Once a Bride…Finally a Bridesmaid!

Aloha! After months of anticipation, our fall trip to Hawaii is now just one short day away! Not only are Stephen and I excited to spend a relaxing week celebrating his parents’ 40^th anniversary, but we also can’t wait to help support his sister in planning her destination Hawaiian wedding, which will take place next summer.

Yes, after being a bride myself a couple years ago and even coordinating weddings for others, I'm about to become a bridesmaid for the very first time! I’ll keep you updated about that second Hawaiian adventure as the plans come together, but for now, I'm off to clear my head and recharge my batteries in paradise. 

Feel free to follow me on Instagram @heather_28 if you're interested in seeing real-time photo updates from our trip. Otherwise, I hope you all have a fun-filled weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Have you ever planned or attended a destination wedding? How many times have you been a bridesmaid?