a big ol' thank you!

remember the bracelets and soccer balls that we were collecting for our trip?

they were a BIG OL' hit!

it was a bit mass hysteria the moment we brought out the bracelets. the kids we so incredibly excited. they lined up to have us help each tie their bracelet on. some wore them all day while others took them off before we played to keep them safe. in the midst of it all ... i tried to at least snap a few pictures!

and of course - we were schooled in soccer:

again a huge thank you to all the wonderful friends/family that helped ... including wade's brother david, sister-in-law waverly & their 6 awesome kids (the children loved the flower buttons!), mama bear, bloggers bonnie and charlotte, long lost bible study pal sabrina, bestie whitney (there will be so many more warm feet thanks to that massive box o' socks!), my high school bible study girls and the wonderful group of ladies that came over to help during girls' night!

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it's the weekend, hooray! which means more time to wander the world wide web, right? well wander on over and sign up for this fantastic giveaway (a $78 value). you can enter up to 4x - how 'bout them odds.

you can thank me later ... ;)

remember that time we went to ethiopia!?!

i've been so excited to share all about our trip here on the blog. i journaled! over  21 pages to be exact. i'm thinking that's a bit of overkill for the blog. maybe?

in the meantime, an abbreviated version:

we left nashville on may 23rd and flew through new york to cairo! wade planned it so that we had half a day in cairo, and we made the most of it - pyramids √, cruise on the nile river √, tahrir square √. the pyramids were amazing - straight out of a history book, y'all! but the best moment by far was the cruise on the nile. pretty sure we interrupted a hindi family reunion. we were 2 awkwardly tall americans among a room of 200 teeny tiny indians. there was belly dancing and other tricks + a hilarious cover of cher "do you believe in life after love" (yes - i have the video to prove it!).

at 2.30 am (yes 2.30 in the morning) we finally flew to ethiopia! our first couple of days were a wash adjusting to the food and the timezone. thankfully we would return to addis at the end of our trip and actually tour the city. on saturday, after a slight miscommunication w/ our driver, we were finally off to hawassa!

not in a private car - but rather a mini bus! poor wade was pretty sick. (again i have video to prove it! but i wouldn't dare - would i?). 6 very hot hours in the back of a bus later - we both sick! and our late check-in left us with a twin-sized bed & no hot water. suh-weet! without going into gruesome details, i was very thankful this trip wasn't our honeymoon as wade had once planned. i was convinced we had malaria! :-/ we didn't. and we eventually upgraded to a better room.

hawassa! hawassa stole my heart. we stayed at the lewi resort in hawassa for 7 days straight. that was a treat: 1) we were finally able to settle into a routine.  2) the staff treated us incredibly. on the last evening, they planned a special dinner for us down near the lake. they even played don williams each time we sat down to lunch/dinner. crazy ironic since the label i work for actually released his music at one point! 3) monkeys!!!

by monday morning, we were keeping down food (yay cipro!) and we were able to finally meet the kids. the hawassa children's project is home to 74 amazing children (an additional 15 or so over the age of 14 living off campus) & a brilliant, dedicated staff. we were blessed to spend the entire day monday (coincidentally also a political holiday in ethiopia) and each afternoon between school and studies with the children. we colored. we played soccer. we took a loooooong hike. we did hair. we played games. we made bracelets. we laughed a whole lot. we loved a whole lot.

{gosh i miss those sweet faces!}

during the mornings and evenings, we relaxed at the lewi. we fed the monkeys one morning. we shooed another type away during our meals! we tanned (rather burned) by the pool. we ate like king and queen - pizza, pasta and pancakes. (yes - i cheated and ate gluten.) we took 2 boat rides - 1 to see the fish market and another to see hippos! i was incredibly scared having heard that hippos are the most dangerous animal in africa. but our captain assured me ... "ethiopian hippos and ethiopian people - no problem! we keep peace!".

on 2 mornings, we attempted to work in the preschool. 21 little voices (screaming in Amharic of course) and 42 little hands. Lord, help us. oh and the great pee incident - for that one you'll have to direct message me! needless to say, we were a bit overwhelmed. 

instead of traveling further south to arba minch, we decided to spend 1 final day with the children. it was sad saying goodbye but we were thankful for the amazing care & love we had seen through the program. we're so excited to continue to support it - and hopefully return someday. (making that extra trip to arba minch too.)

once back in addis, we were able to spend our final day in ethiopia with an old friend! anteneh and wade met 10 years ago while wade was in ethiopia for a summer semester. it was so fun to see the boys interacting just like (i imagine) old times. and anteneh was an amazing host! he helped us navigate the bus & taxi system and took us to see lions - a promise i made for my nephew dayton who wasn't satisfied w/ hippos and monkeys. ;-) he also took us to the merkato. with his help i purchased a beautiful shawl. another funny random story: while waiting on anteneh and wade to figure out where the linens were in the merkato, i felt a slight tug on my hair. i turned to find a man running his fingers through my hair. it gave us a good laugh. oh and anteneh took us to eat hotdogs! yes - our last meal in ethiopia was pizza and hotdogs. shame shame.

how do i wrap up this post!?! i mean i have so many more amazing stories that i could share.

a lot of people have asked us "why ethiopia". why not a trip to some beach in florida? or a cabin rental in the smokey mountains? or heck a big screen tv purchase! well ... we couldn't think of anything more awesome to do on our vacation than play all day with a group of amazing kids while exploring a new culture. so ethiopia it was! and i'm so thankful for every single memory.

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speaking of AWESOME & AMAZING. don't forget about this gorgeous noonday giveaway! go. enter. win!

hello hello!

hello hello!

when it comes to jet lag, they say "one hour equals one day". playing by the rules, we should feel wholly ourselves again TOMORROW!?!

i've been coming in to the office early to edit my pics. and i am super duper close to posting an overview of our trip. so super duper close that i promise it TOMORROW.

in the meantime, a little fun to hold you over:

african-themed appetizers, anyone?

last night's girls' night was a total success. we ate a lot, we chatted a whole lot and we made even more bracelets. i think wade and i are up to about 50 bracelets now (and i still have several friends that are sending more/making more over the weekend)! add a very long plane ride - and we'll have plenty to share with the kiddos! yay.

thank you so much for coming & making, girls!!!

of course, in the moment i didn't get my camera out! so i have zero pictures of the festivities and the lovely ladies that came to celebrate with me. :( wah wah. this is definitely something i need to work on. and a perfect excuse to have a round 2 girls' night.

i did however snap a few instagram pictures of the FOOD:

african appetizers!?! i was presented w/ quite a challenge coming up w/ an african-themed menu. and of course, i'm one of the crazy few that like to try something brand spankin' new every time i have company. lucky (this time) everything turned out super yummy!

so here's what i collected --- a yummy (and not too time consuming) spread:

1 // peppermeat kabobs (this was my favorite!)

ingredients:
- 2.5 lbs beef chuck roast
- 1 tsp meat tenderizer (not seasoned)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1-2 jalapenos, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter (yes - peanut butter!)
- 2 sweet onions, cut into 1" pieces
- 2 bell peppers, cut into 1" pieces (i used an orange and a green for color!)
- 6" wooden skewers

1) rinse and cut your meat into 1" pieces. place in a freezer strength ziplock bag. add tenderizer, both salts and black pepper. zip the bag. then, roll the contents to mix well. marinate in the fridge for an hour or more.
2) add jalapeno pepper to the meat again rolling once zipped to mix well. place back in the fridge to marinate for an add'l 20 minutes.
3) add the olive oil and the peanut butter to the zipped back and again roll to mix. the peanut butter should evenly coat each piece.

4) alternate onion, peppers and meat on each skewer or for the carnivores in your life, make a few all meat skewers. place on a cookie sheet.
5) broil in the oven for 8-10 minutes. then serve!

2 // plantain chips w/ avocado banana dip

ingredients:
- a bag or 2 of salted plantain chips (i bought mine @ trader joes! or you can always make your own.)
- 2  very ripe bananas
- 2 avocados, pit and peel removed
- lemon juice

1) place the banana and avocado in a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
2) lemon juice to taste.

3 // strawberry lemonade (okay this isn't african - BUT it's my ultimate favorite party punch!)

ingredients: (for a group of 10 girls - i doubled this!)
- 1 pack of fresh strawberries
- 2 bottles club soda (approx 30 oz each)
- 1 can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- an orange, lime and/or frozen raspberries for garnish
- a bag of ice

1) wash and cut the stems from the strawberries. then in your food processor or blender, puree the strawberries. add them to your serving bowl or pitcher. (i have this ginormous anchor hawking heritage hill storage jar which is my favorite. and i server w/ a ladle.)
2) mix in the club soda and thawed lemonade concentrate.
3) add ice and your garnish. frozen raspberries are super pretty and float along the top w/ the ice. i also cut an orange and a lime into thin slices and drop them into the mix sideways. pretty pretty!

4 // krakelinge cookies w/ strawberry jam

ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar + a bit xtra for sprinkling
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 3 cups of flour*
- 1 tsp baking powder

- chopped almonds (optional)
- fresh strawberry jam

*my fav gfree mix: 2c sweet rice, 2/3c potato starch, 1/3c tapioca flour + 3/4 tsp xanthan gum

1) w/ mixer, cream butter + sugar. add the 1 egg and mix well.
2) sift your flour(s) + baking powder (and xanthan gum). little by little add to the butter mix.
3) on parchment paper, roll aprox 6" long and 1/2 thick logs with the dough. loop them to make a figure-8 shape.
4) brush w/ egg yolk and sprinkle generously w/ sugar & almonds (optional).
5) bake at 400ºF for 8-10 minutes. transfer to baking rack to cool. serve w/ jam.

we also had butternut squash and chickpea cakes via cook eat live vegetarian. they were so yummy especially w/ the tomato chili salsa and the cucumber, cilantro and lemon raita. definitely a blog i will be cooking from again in the near future!

{source: cook eat live vegetarian}

okay - now i'm super hungry!!! :)

african-themed food labels

tonight i'm throwing a little get together w/ a group of girls to celebrate our big trip next week. we're going to eat yummy african appetizers (don't worry - i'll share soon!), watch either ghost in the darkness or nowhere in africa AND we'll make bracelets for the kids.

my mom warned me to not get to OCD in my party planning - but who is she kidding!?! in another life - i'd like to be an event planner. :)

as a little preview - here are some quick african-themed food labels i designed:

(oh instagram photo!)

supplies:

this printable

this font (bebas via font squirrel)

someone w/ adobe illustrator

6" kabob skewers

something to sturdy your skewers (ie. gumdrops, cork or clay)

instructions:

1 // modify ... in illustrator, open the file and modify the labels to fit your menu! choose your colors. red, black, yellow and green are often associated w/ africa. but i went neon & PINK instead of red! girls' night and all!

2 // print ... i used hp premium photo paper in gloss for that extra finished look.

3 // cut ... you can either use the guides to cut out 2.5"x3" squares or carefully cut a border around the edges.

4 // tape or glue ... to the back of your skewer.

5 // add your something sturdy so that they stand (or press them directly into your item).

easy peasy! :)

a little update: i was having trouble getting these to stay up w/ just corks. a little super glue and a nickel did the trick. is that illegal?!?

packing for ethiopia!

l: this adorable over-the-shoulder bag from mossimo @ target

r: pretty printed wrap skirts from one of my fav shops in nashville - pangaea

it's almost go time, people! we leave for ethiopia a week from tomorrow. and while wade is traveling this week, i've begun to get ready!

i tend to be a bit of an over-packer. and that's a wee bit of a problem when we're not only packing for ourselves but also soccer balls & craft supplies for the awassa children's project. and since i had a bit of a tough time finding a good packing list for a trip to ethiopia - i decided to share! (world travelers - i'd appreciate your suggestions/additions!)

the important stuff:
passport, yellow card, traveler’s checks and cash
plus photocopies of the following (1 for our money belt, 1 for our luggage & 1 for our parents):
- traveler’s check #s + refund info
- travel insurance policy
- passport #s
- emergency contact info
- bank/cc details
- camera + lens serial #s

a small medical pack: 
tylenol, hydro-cortisone cream, anti-histamine, malaria meds, imodium, dramamine, bandaids, hand sanitizer/wet-wipes, cipro, chap-stick

toiletries:
soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste/toothbrush, razor, mosquito repellent w/ DEET (to be warn at all times), 50 SPF sunscreen (also to be warn at all times), light makeup and lotion

clothes (warm days/cool nights):
lightweight skirts or pants (i plan to wear a lot of wrap skirts!), modest short sleeve shirts (no cleavage!), a pair of underwear for each day, a few light sweaters (easy to pack and useful during cold nights), light waterproof jacket, comfy shoes (i'm thinking a simple pair of toms! easy to slip on and light to pack), head scarf, flip flops, a few pairs of socks, a swimsuit and a hat

xtras:
money belt, travel lock (for inside the hotel), camera + xtra digital cards, small flashlight/headlamp (power outages are rather common!), sunglasses, converter, phone charger, book, playing card, binoculars & ziplock bags (for xtra storage & separating your toiletries. spills - yuck!)

 

{we picked up a spibelt during our marathon training which will

work perfectly as a money belt under either of our shirts. smart thinking!}

we're still gathering up lots and lots of supplies for the kiddos: crayons/markers, construction paper, paper plates and more. and i'm excited to throw an african themed party this thursday with some of my girlfriends to make more bracelets! i'll post pictures. now to find some african themed appetizers!

CLOSED - {giveaway} noonday

i am so excited to kick off 2012 w/ a fantastic giveaway!

mary of the sugar mountain is one of those amazing blogger blessings i mentioned in my post yesterday. besides full-time wife + mommy of 2, she works as an ambassador for the noonday collection.

have you heard of the noonday collection?

the noonday collection offers fashion forward accessories for you and your home handcrafted by artisans from around the world that receive a living wage for their work. every item is handcrafted in style, with love, and creates a pathway out of poverty for artisans around the world. in addition, proceeds go towards placing orphans in forever families.

just a taste of their awesome collection:

{clockwise from top}

1 // the funky paper beads necklace ... 74" long necklace made from individually recycled paper beads by handmade by african style - a group in uganda. lead designer and organizer jalia and her husband mentor and teach the men and women while they create these exclusive pieces.

2 // the dainty everyday necklace ... brass and stone beads hang from a 16" chain. handmade by a group in india that creates avenues of employment for economically disadvantaged artisans. the group also has a strong commitment to combating child labor in the manufacturing sector.

3 // the bouquet necklace ... a bundle of fresh cut glass beads hang from a 23" long brass chain. made by the same group in india that makes the dainty everyday necklace.

the entire collection is fantastic. look stylish while changing lives! each time you wear your piece is an opportunity to share the noonday story!

"... when you satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your night will become like the noonday." isaiah 58:10

prize: choice of either the bouquet, dainty everyday or funky paper beads necklace

giveaway ends tuesday, january 10th @ 5:00pm central

up to 3 entries per person (1 comment = 1 entry). one winner chosen at random.

ENTRY 1:
visit marybarker.noondaycollection.com. then come back and leave a comment below telling me one of your favorite items!

ENTRY 2:
tweet or fb about the giveaway. be sure to link to the giveaway - http://www.acaseofthemundays.com/2012/01/giveaway-noonday.html. then come back and leave a comment below letting me know that you shared!

ENTRY 3:
like a case of the mundays on facebook (or let me know if you already like us). again be sure to leave a comment below letting me know you like/liked.

please leave your email address in at least one of your comments ... otherwise it might be difficult to find you!

_____________________________

want to sponsor a case of the mundays and/or host a giveaway? click here to find more information. i'd love to have you on the blog!

{shop} my morning routine ...

last night i went shopping w/ my best friend laura. w/ my november clothes money burning a whole in my pocket (yes a bit premature) and feeling all kinds of courageous, i set out determined to come home w/ something fun. and then ... i bought the exact same pair of skinny jeans that i've bought 2x before! {these fantastic skinnies from banana.}

okay okay - so maybe i'm a creature of habit. i prefer to believe that i live by the expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". at least that's the way i feel w/ my morning routine ...

i used to fuss w/ new products each month. every trip to the grocery store or pharmacy included a new lip gloss or facial concoction guaranteed to make me look like a supermodel. i was a total sucker for items on sale - 2 for the price of 1 ... a major bargain shopper - but bargains add up!

my method today is to enlist a few good men products:

1 // la roche-posay's toleriane purifying foaming cream & anthelios sx daily moisturizer w/ spf 15. i firmly believe that if you spend a bit more on facial care to create a healthy palette - you'll spend less trying to cover up flaws in the long run. the foaming cream is extremely gentle on sensitive skin (believe me!) and the moisturizer is winner of 12 beauty awards including: women’s health 2010 “expert’s pick" and instyle 2009 best beauty buy “daytime moisturizer with spf”. not gonna lie - i've also purchased the effaclar dual action acne treatment (2011 allure best of beauty award winner - beauty breakthrough) and the effaclar toner in the past - and love them both. 

2 //  everything glominerals! their products are a bit pricier than other mineral makeups. but again ... if you have healthy skin you won't have to use as much product ... and that means it LASTS. i bought their pressed base, protective liquid foundation in satin, and oil-free camoflauge before our engagement pictures in may of 2010 and i've only had to replace the pressed base once! plus the product is non-comodogenic and free of perfumes and dyes plus it includes antioxidants, vitamins A, K, C and E and green tea extract. healthy stuff.

3 // mac cremesheen glass. this was a recommendation from one of my makeup artists & has quickly become the only lip gloss i'll buy. the 2010 SHAPE of beauty winner, it's extremely moisturizing and yet not sticky ... so appreciated during windy fall days. i keep a tube of richer, lusher and geo pink on me at all times!

4 // i've mentioned the dermorganic argan oil hair treatment system before ... here! it's a shampoo, masque and leave-in treatment w/ argan oil, omega-6, antioxidants and vitamin e (plus it's vegan & gfree). i started using this product back in june ... and i'm hooked. shiny, healthy looking hair - yes, please! especially while i'm growing it out and possibly going a bit too long between trims. (ps - i also LOVE pure argan oil on my under eyes - a bit of crow's feet prevention.)

5 // my best friend whitney has the most beautiful eyes ... and her secret? ulta's eye shadow collection.  okay and really good genes! they have over 90 colors to choose from. i could definitely waste a day exploring all the options! 

6 // want to know a little secret? i didn't start wearing mascara until about 5 years ago. wanting to purchase the best, i asked one of my makeup artists what she recommended. and i was surprised when she recommended maybelline's great lash mascara (you know ... the one in the pink and green bottle) not some $50 bottle. did you know it's been around for over 40 years!?! still within maybelline's mascara line ... i've graduated to using their colossal volume express mascara.

7 // last but not least ... a pink cheek just makes me feel better not to mention look better. i currently use sonia kashuk's beautifying blush in melon. sonia was the creative director of cosmetics for aveda from 1989 through 1997. aveda first noticed her for her great colors! then in 1998, she launched her beauty line w/ target - determined to make her new makeup line prestige-quality makeup in elegant packaging at an accessible price point. bonus - have you checked out her brushes?

okay okay ... plenty about me. so what's in your beauty arsenal?

{simple things} 31 bits ..

another jewelry post! (sensing a theme? i obviously have a one track mind!)

more than once i've asked my friends kristin and ashley about the adorable paper bead jewelry they've been wearing. and more than once they've introduced me to 31 bits. finally last night i wrote it down - bc i just had to share!

{click to shop}

each piece of jewelry is handmade using 100% recycled paper and other local materials. lovely, right!?!

but we're not just talking EXTERNAL beauty ... this little company has a great big heart!

in 2007, co-founder kallie dovel traveled to uganda for the summer. she returned w/ a box of jewelry made by local women and the dream of launching a company to market and sell their beads. a year later, she returned to uganda w/ a few friends. they selected six women to begin buying jewelry from on a monthly basis. only 3 years later - they have now grown to 63 women.

through 31 bits, women earn an instant income and are equipped w/ literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems. empowering women to rise above poverty through fashion + design! love it!

so ... how can we get involved?

1 // buy something! visit the shop here.
2 // throw a house party! say what?!? a house party! 31 bits sends you a box of jewelry. then, you invite your friends over to purchase one of their incredible pieces of jewelry while hearing stories about the women of 31 bits. (get more info here.)

i'm definitely thinking a party is in order! so nashville peeps - are you interested if i sign us up?

honeymoon - day 3, 4 & 5: marrakech

sept 28th:
we arrived in marrakech at last at about 2am! it was apparent that the airport had remained open for our flight alone. we fumbled through customs and then found our way to baggage claim. there was a line of men w/ signs for different riads patiently waiting their hotel guests. at first we didn't find anyone for us but finally reclining half asleep, we found our driver. (i do not blame him. our flight was 5 hours delayed AND they were as uniformed as we had been in spain. he had been waiting at the airport for those 5 hours.)

a brief introduction and then we loaded the car and were off. zipping through the winding streets of the city. through the medina. through the royal palace. down country roads not lit by the comfort of street lights. and finally into a little village w/ rough gravel road beneath us. disoriented by the hour or maybe a bit of culture shock (my first time overseas and all), i must admit i began to question whether planning a honeymoon based on a blog wade had stumbled upon was the best idea after all. and maybe just maybe the thought crossed my mind at least once that i was about to be sold into sex trade.

but then ... we pulled up to a gated fence. followed by a candlelit driveway. peacock pavilions ... our destination at last.

we spent the first half of our moroccan vacation at peacock pavilions - a boutique hotel on an olive grove just outside of marrakech. wade discovered the private riad while exploring honeymoon options. he happened upon owner maryam's blog my marrakesh ... and i am so glad he did. we were spoiled by the staff who cooked, cleaned, drove and prepared activities for us each day.
we are so thank you to maryam & her husband chris (and the kiddos), todd, katie and medora for your hospitality and friendship.

our room:

and one must not forget the bathroom:

{source: my marrakesh}

we woke to the echo of the call to prayer across the horizon. our room was breathtaking - and attention was paid to every detail: a bottle of champagne, fresh olives, dates and nuts, soft towels & robes and the sweetest smelling soaps and shampoos. we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of warm olive muffins, fruit w/ yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice and mint tea poolside. exhausted from the extensive travel, we spent the morning snoozing and wandering the olive grove. then we chose to eat lunch with the family while we planned the week's activities. in the late afternoon, we were grateful to have todd & katherine, who were interning at peacock pavilions, along for a mini shopping trip & dinner in the medina.

 {source: winos&foodies, the travel stylist}

the heart of marrakech's shopping experience is found at jemaa el fna. it is a giant square filled with circus-like performers: story tellers, snake charmers, and monkey handlers. behind the square lies the souk ... miles and miles of twisting walkways (think indiana jones) filled with shops offering everything you can imagine: leather goods, clothing, spices & meats, brass and ironwork, antiques, moroccan carpets and much more. it is total sensory overload!

{source 1 // sonsoles avalos, source 3 // gerard lorriaux, source 5 // sebastien herniote via trekearth} 

we wandered through the souks for several hours and when we emerged, the jemaa el fna had transitioned into hundreds of little food stalls with the smell of spices and steam rising. we had a delicious dinner of lentil soup, couscous and chicken & lamb for about $6.00 total ... neither of us was daring enough to try the sheep's brains. :)

 {source 3 // webshots}

the only couple pictures of us in marrakech that survived the trip. wah wah:

{source 2 // todd oberndorfer}

sept 29th:

our second day at peacock pavilions was a day of pampering! we shared another delicious breakfast. this time with the family. chocolate muffins! tristan - maryam and chris' little boy had 4. i wish i had been brave enough to have 4 myself! a woman came to the atlas pavilion and gave me a manicure and pedicure while wade swam and read.

{source 2/3: decor8}

afterwards we traveled into town for a day at les bains de marrakech - a beautiful 600 year old spa - for a hammam bath and massage! this was wade's first massage and both of our first experience with hammam. first we were directed into a little marble steam room (a hammam) where we "baked" while 2 stocky women applied different soaps and oils to us all the while chit-chatting in arabic except when they asked us to "flip". they were incredibly cautious scrubbing wade - barely going above his knees. but with me ... they snapped my swimsuit bottoms in between my cheeks and went to town! in between treatments, they doused with buckets of water, and finally they used rough gloves for exfoliation. (i was so embarrassed with how much more i needed the exfoliation than wade ... ha!). afterwards we were directed upstairs for a much more relaxing massage.

{source: les bains de marrakech}

when we were finished at the spa, we went back to peacock pavilions for lunch and then a village woman met me poolside for a bridal henna session! she didn't speak any english so i stumbled through bits of conversation w/ her and then finally decided to just sit back and watch her work. such a beautiful tradition.

in the evening, todd had planned a meal under the most beautiful tent. the walls of the tent were stenciled delicately w/ traditional moroccan design. the ground covered with berber rugs. the table adorned with rose petals. todd had carefully planned every detail. we were served too much red wine, a fresh spring salads, and traditional moroccan meal of lamb, dates and almonds cooked to perfection all day in a tajine. the 2 young cooks also surprised us w/ a gigantic chocolate wedding cake with "best wishes" in raspberry sauce.

sept 30th:

again we woke to fresh breakfast on the patio. then wade and i decided to spend the morning on the terrace above our room reading and soaking in the sites and sounds. there was a little village next door and you could hear children playing and the occasional donkey in a far off field. 5x a day the call to prayer echoed from several different minarets across the horizon (including one just down the street).

feeling adventurous we decided to make a trip into the medina to do a little souvenir shopping on our own. i purchased a pair of leather shoes & wade and i haggled over an old wooden diploma {i'll add pictures soon!}. we had learned some basic arabic to help us including "la shukran" ... no thank you. ha! i found myself saying this a lot as everyone is very helpful (for a tip!) we were also caught off guard by the funny american phrases people would holler at us to get our attention: "fish & chips" from a shoe salesman, "shakira" from another, and my favorite - when i attempted my arabic on a shopkeeper, he laughed and said "woah woah woah. don't speak arabic to me. we chilaxin."

everybody wanted a chance to try their english and to relate to the foreigners. one particular man hollered "boston" as we passed, which peaked wade's attention (he had lived there for the year of our engagement). before we knew it we were in his tent and he was attempting to heal us. you'll be happy to know that wade has a good stomach and prostate, we are very fertile and "i am not a garage". ha! finally our healing ended and the shop owner billed us - 400 dirham for wade and 200 for me. yikes. lesson learned - nothing is free in the souks. we talked him down to 400 dirham in the end (about $50 buckaroos). lesson learned! and we had a priceless memory.

we also bought a beautiful wedding blanket - which had at one time been handmade by a Berber bride as part of her dowry! it's absolutely beautiful - though it smells like it has been shared by a couple of goats for the last 50 years. it very likely might have been! {i'll add a picture of it too!}

we returned back to peacock pavilions just in time for dinner with the family. the traditional friday night meal is couscous cooked all day w/ vegetables and lamb. {friday is the muslim holy day.} thankfully the family bumped the meal up a day so we could share it with them. it was delicious.

as a final hoorah - our hosts had planned an outdoor screening of casablanca under the stars & the olive trees complete w/ moroccan beer!  we invited todd, now a close friend, to join us. the boys both snoozed and i tried my hardest to soak up the perfect moment. 

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the adventure isn't over yet! one more entry as we spent the last few days of our moroccan honeymoon in essaouira, the windy city of morocco, off the atlantic coast.