In true Chandler Bing style (lightening the mood with some self-deprecating jokes), I decided to play Bridezilla with my girls.  Our photographer (Uncle J) really let us play with it for awhile and made for some of my favorite laughable moments of the day.  Getting my nerves out through laughter was really the best medicine.  Better than champagne, even.  Maybe.

Photos (unless otherwise noted) by James F. Reilly

Next on The NewlyJets: I see my guy for the first time.

Previously on The NewlyJets:
The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call
The Ladies Get Ready
The Dress

About a half-hour before the scheduled arrival of our trolley, I was ready to slip into my gown and truly become a bride.  I hadn't planned out a special dressing area or officially appointed anyone to be my dresser, I just quietly moved upstairs to find my dress waiting for me.  I took a deep breath and turned around to find a few of my girls, including my sister and step-mom, at the ready when I needed them.  

We spent the next 15 minutes wiggling, shimmying and strapping me into the dress and affixing the veil to my hair.  

Photos (unless otherwise noted) by James F. Reilly 

Next on The NewlyJets: I have a Bridezilla moment.

Previously on The NewlyJets:
The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call
The Ladies Get Ready
The Guys Get Ready

While the girls were getting ready, the guys were out imbibing on a hearty breakfast and frantically asking for help tying their ties.

Mr. Jet and I were good little almost-newlyweds so we didn't have any contact until our first look, so I'm not 100% sure what he actually did all morning.  I do know that Bruce was with him, which I'm sure calmed his nerves immensely.

Just before I got dressed, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and spotted this picture:

I audibly gasped at the first sight of my guy and teared up for the first, of many, times that day.  I was scolded for cheating by my maids and promptly put my phone away in case more photos popped up.  Oops. :)

I spent the next hour staring out the window waiting for my trolley to arrive.

Photos (unless otherwise noted) by James F. Reilly

Next on The NewlyJets: I secure the girls into a strapless gown.

Previously on The NewlyJets:
The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call
The Ladies Get Ready

After our early row, we headed to Step-Mom Jet's house together to get ready.  She graciously offered us her home and watched as 1 make-up artist, 2 hair dressers, 1 bride and 7 bridesmaids filled the place up with eyeshadow, curling irons and chiffon.

I've called Step-Mom Jet Martha Stewart's biggest competition for years, and her wedding day spread did not disappoint in the least.  She decorated her dining room table with our Save the Date and Invitation, and used our rooster icon on little table cards so we could easily discern banana bread from orange bread.  We feasted on her homemade breads, a yogurt bar with fresh fruit, granola and honey and lots and lots of coffee.

My girls and I spent the next 5 hours getting pampered, poked and prodded while the guys were probably all still sleeping.  We listened to my favorite 90's pop station and reminisced about all of our childhoods and everything we're looking forward to in the future.  It was so amazing to have all of these girls in one room, since it really hasn't happened in a very long time.  

Photos by James F. Reilly

Next on The NewlyJets: The boys dress themselves...and a tiny chihuahua.

Previously on The NewlyJets:

The Rehearsal
The Night Before
The Wake-Up Call

At 5:00 AM, while still dark out, my alarm called to me, "Wake up, Miss Jet!  It's your wedding day!"  Holy crap.  It's my wedding day!
I lept out of bed and woke up the house of girls.

"Get ready girls, it's my wedding day.  Let's go row!"  (Oh, I row whaleboats...read about that here!)

I believe the general reply was something resembling a grumble and maybe a few swear words.

Once we were all (half) awake and dressed, we piled on our hats, gloves and scarves since the windy 30 degree morning was feeling less than comfortable.  My usual co-rowers, BM E, MOH K and Kate, agreed to my crazy plan to row the morning of my wedding to get out my nerves and start the day in a peaceful, positive way.  Along with that crew, BM C and BM V joined us in the boat, as did our amazing boatsteerer, Barbara.

We showed up at the docks while the moon was still up and found our boat decorated with balloons and a sign that said, "MISS JET'S GETTING MARRIED TODAY!", courtesy of Barbara.  BM E brought me a stand-in veil and we boarded our trusty vessel for an hour's paddle around Fairhaven/New Bedford harbor.

Now, our rows are very often unpredictable given varying tides and weather patterns.  Sometimes the water feels like peanut butter.  Sometimes the wind is so strong we are fighting currents both in AND out of the dock.  Sometimes the water is as smooth as glass and I feel like the strongest, most powerful woman on Earth.  The morning of my wedding, I felt like the strongest, most powerful woman on Earth.  The water was still and quiet, and we were the only ones on the (usually busy) waterway.  We watched the sun rise over Fort Phoenix and pushed our oars easily through the water on the way back to the dock.  The 7 AM rowers were just showing up as we came back to shore and I was hugged and congratulated by my team and by everyone there from my club. 

It was one of the best memories I have from my wedding day, and one I'll never forget.

Next time on The Newlyjets: I trade my oar for a mascara wand.  We're gettin' ready!

Previously on The Newlyjets:

• The Rehearsal
  
• The Night Before
  

After I left the rehearsal, I was whisked away to my friend Kate's house to spend my last night as a Miss.  This was it.  The rehearsal was over, every table number, lantern, place card, decoration, program, menu and frame was in its rightful place and all that was left to do was get a good night's sleep and awake early to become Mrs. Jet.

Good night's sleep, my ass.

If anyone ever tells you they gracefully drifted off to sleepy-land at a reasonable hour the night before their wedding, they are straight up LY. ING.  

Surrounded by most of my girls - we stayed up chatting about guys, houses, babies, engagements, pizza, R. Kelly, boobs, this really warm blanket that I found on Kate's couch, then pizza again.  So we ordered pizza and kept chatting.  

A few hours later, I took a nice, hot shower and reflected on everything that had happened over the last week.  I thought about our families and all of our friends who were in town, ready to celebrate my and Mr. Jet's love.  I thought about Mr. Jet who was just a few miles away with his guy friends drinking beer and chatting about...well, I don't really know...but it was probably pizza and boobs too.  I thought about the people who weren't there to celebrate with us, the ones I've lost and lost touch with.  I thought about our parents, who've supported us since the day we met.  I thought about how much I would or would not cry.  I thought all the thoughts.

After my thoughtful, and now cold, shower, I went upstairs and found an adorably decorated bed waiting for me.  I felt so loved, so content and SO excited.

I wrote my last post as a Miss and finally fell asleep alongside BM V.  Approximately one minute later, my alarm went off.



Next time on The NewlyJets: I row a boat.

Previously on The NewlyJets:

• The Rehearsal

What up, hive?!  How've you all been?  I'm still basking in the glow of newlywed bliss, but my pro photos are in and I've finally had the chance to organize my brain well enough to start the Jet Setter recaps.

Before we get going...did you miss anything?  I'll catch you up.

I was introduced just a few days before my 29th birthday, told you how Mr. Jet and I met at a friend's wedding and got engaged at the airport.  During my planning I went antiquing, rented the cheapest trolley I could find, asked my 80 year old Nana to officiate our ceremony, talked about fate and my artsy-fartsy fiance.  We DIY'd our guest book, STDs, invites, table numbers, cake topper, escort cards, programs, and 160 of those DAMN etched wine glasses.  My flowers were made of wood, my sash came from my grandmother's 60+ year old gown and I enthralled you all with my travel advice.  

Caught up?  K, let's rock this bitch.

Our rehearsal day started out with Mani/Pedis at my favorite local salon, Cuticles.  Where I got my bling on!

Since our venue hosts anywhere from 2-5 events every weekend, it was hard to find a time we could actually go there to rehearse.  The only time available to us was Friday at 2pm.  I wasn't asking our entire bridal party to leave work or travel in early for a 10 minute rehearsal I knew we could re-enact later that night, so anyone who WAS available schlepped all of the party goods over to the venue on Friday and we did a quick run-through, leaving holes for anyone who wasn't able to make it.  I took notes (duh.) and ran my own rehearsal later that night.

Mr. Jet's parents offered to host our rehearsal dinner and asked Mr. Jet and me to help choose the menu.  Some of our friends who grew up here with an abundance of yummy Portuguese food and have since left the little bubble known as Southeastern Massachusetts asked us for some traditional Portuguese food to chow down on.  We happily obliged!  Mr. Jet's parents made cacoila (a marinated and slow-cooked pork dish) with Portuguese rolls or "Pops".  We also feasted on rice, cod fish, salad, lasagna (for my part-Italian belly) and sweet rice.  Oh, and wine.  Lots of wine.

Sadly, I have no photos of the food OR the actual rehearsal for the following reasons:

-The food was almost gone by the time I even saw it.
-Our rehearsal was done completely in the dark lit only by cell phone assistance lights.  Damn you, Fall and your early sunsets.  My bad.

I can tell you this, however, our rehearsal went very smoothly and I was super confident in my people.  Need to run your own quickie rehearsal in the dark?  Follow these easy steps:

1. Gather your people and LOUDLY ask them to be quiet.
2. Tell them each who they are walking IN FRONT OF and also BEHIND.
3. If there are dogs and/or children involved, save them for LAST.  They have the attention spans of Dori the fish.
4. Have several onlookers light up the acoustic guitar of your ceremony musician so he can SEE what he's doing.
5. Don't worry about rehearsing the actual ceremony, just FOCUS on pacing and timing set to the music.
6.  Do it twice, then let your people off the hook.  They're NOT idiots.  Hopefully.

After our feast and pitch black practice, we GIFTED our families and friends and bid them all adieu.


Next time on The NewlyJets: I spend my last night as a Miss away from my Mister.

Hey hive, can you believe how fast 2013 flew by?  Maybe it’s because I was planning the biggest party of my life, going into near hibernation to lose 40 pounds, or maybe it’s because I’m rapidly approaching my 30th year and life’s just like that!  Holiday shopping for me began weeks ago, so I’m here to share some of my finds for my faves.  Enjoy and feel free to share some great deals if you’ve found ‘em!

What I’ve Asked Santa For…

Less than two months ago, I got the biggest present EVERRRR in the form of a husband when I married my very best friend and bearded life-companion, Mr. Jet!   (Recaps are in the works!)

I’ve still got a few things left on my list though, check them out below!


Frye Jane 14L Boots – Love the versatility and durability of Frye boots.  I work with leather every. single. day. and certainly know good leather when I see it.  Frye uses top quality full-grain leathers on their boots and while pricey, they’ll pay you back with YEARS of use and classic styles that will always work.

Furry Bathrobe – There’s something about a long, hot shower in the winter months that really calms the soul and brings me to my happy place.  Then I get OUT of the shower and my privates are immediately shocked back to reality.  A warm, fuzzy bathrobe makes the transition just a bit easier.  Love this one below!

Jewelry Cleaner – This gift would be perfect for a newlywed who’s constantly eyeing her new bling.  I get mine cleaned on a regular basis when I stop by the store where it was purchased, but I’d love to shine her up at home too!

Restaurant Gift Cards –Mr. Jet and I LOVE going out to eat, but as we’re currently saving up for a house, it’s more and more difficult to justify $50+ for a restaurant meal when we’ve got our eyes on the prize.

What Santa’s Bringing Mr. Jet…

Mr. Jet is an easy guy to buy for since I know him so well.  However, the older we get and the more stuff I buy him, the tougher it is to find things that I know interest him that he doesn’t already have.  This year, he’s expressed an interest in mixology and bartending.  He used to work as a chef, so I know he can get really creative with ingredients and have lots of fun doing it so I decided to put together a mixology basket for him full of tools and booze so he can practice Tom-Cruise-In-Cocktail style.  I’m very willing to play taste-tester!

I'm going to throw in a few bottles of Gin, Whisky, Vodka and a few mixers to complete the gift.


So let's have it, hive, what's on your wish list this year??

A few months ago, I wrote this post about changing my last name after the wedding.   At the time, I was deciding between “The Ol’Switcheroo” and “The Fresh Start”.  I’m back to report that I opted for “The Fresh Start”! 

Changing one’s name is a really personal and sometimes emotional decision and now that I’m standing on the other side of the fence, I can truly understand why there are so many options and why brides and grooms alike often struggle with the decision to keep, change or even create a new family name.  To get to my ultimate decision, I looked at my MIDDLENAME and my MAIDENLASTNAME and made a mental pro/con list for keeping either - since I had already decided I wouldn’t be keeping both.  At the end of the day, I always felt closer to my MIDDLENAME rather than my MAIDENLASTNAME and opted to become, MRS. FIRSTNAME MIDDLENAME MARRIEDLASTNAME.  It’s got a good flow, no?

Now that I’m officially a Mrs. in the eyes of Social Security and everything, I have no regrets about my decision at all.  It feels really warm, comforting, safe and just…good to share a last name with Mr. Jet.  He’s my person.

I offer you no advice on choosing – but I will offer you advice on how to get things switched up if you decide to make a change!  Here’s Mrs. Jet’s Guide to the Name Change!

1.       There are lots of companies out there that tout a one-stop name changing shop, but there are free lists all over the Internet that will lead you in the right direction and with just a few stamps and phone calls, you can get this done yourself and use the money you would’ve spent here on a mani/pedi…or maybe a sweater with a weird looking elk on it that you just cannot resist.

2.       Get a certified copy of your marriage license from the town in which you applied for it.  Most towns give the option of purchasing a second copy which I did, but I haven’t used the second copy yet and the first one was returned to me by the Social Security Office.  I always thought a marriage license would be all fancy and cool like a college degree.  IT IS NOT.  Don’t be too disappointed.

3.       Fill out this application and mail it (along with your certified marriage license) to your LOCAL Social Security Office.  I say local to cut down on processing times and shipping time.  You can also visit an SSO office, but ain’t nobody got time for that.

4.       Check your state guidelines, but in MA you can do a name change online through the RMV.  Since my license photo was taken on my 21st birthday, which was approximately a MILLION years ago, I went over there on my lunch break to get a new license.  In MA, they don’t ask you for any proof of a name change.  Hmmm…Princess Consuela Banana-Hammock?  Again, check your state guidelines to see what you may need to present for proof, if any.

5.       Once you receive your new SS card and sign it, visit your Human Resources department so they can make the appropriate changes to your health/dental/vision insurance, tax information, 401k and any other work-related accounts you hold.  You also may need to contact IT to get your e-mail and phone extensions changed.  At this point, people you work with will no longer respond to your e-mails because they have no idea who MRS. Jet Setter is.  Kindly remind them.

6.       Next, contact your banks, loan lenders, creditors, gyms, AAA or other auto clubs, retail store cards, car insurance companies, friends, Romans, countrymen and just about anyone else you’ve ever met to ensure they have the most up-to-date information regarding your shiny new name.  I literally went through my wallet, threw out my 8 year old Delia’s rewards card, and wrote down a list of every current card or club and contacted each via phone to make the change.  This step could get tedious, but if you tackle a few a day, it’s not that bad!

It was a relatively painless process that I’m just about finished up with!  The hardest part is going from signing my old last name, Capital D ::illegible scribble:: to signing my new last name, Capital A ::illegible scribble::.

If you did one, how was your name change?  Mucho drama or crazy easy?

In my last post, I reviewed our travel agent and resort, and while we did spend most of our days on the resort doing some combination of napping, eating, drinking and the like, we managed to get off resort twice for some excursions we booked on site.  

We hesitated to plan anything beforehand because we really didn't know how we were going to feel once we got there.  By our second day of rotating lounge chairs, we felt that some exploration was in order.  We met with our resort's concierge to set up two excursions - one to Xplor and a catamaran ride to Isla Mujeres.





ON-SITE CONCIERGE: 5

When we first arrived at our resort on Monday afternoon, we were instructed to go meet with the travel desk to arrange our transportation back to the airport the following Monday.  They wanted to ensure that our flight times were accurate and we were all on the same page.  The weekend we were there, there was a time change in Cancun and if not for the Amstar counter, we may not have made our flight home!  We booked both of our excursions through Amstar as well, and though we may not have saved big money here - we felt safe every step of the way and all of our drivers and Amstar representatives were professional and friendly.




XPLOR NATURE PARK: 4

Xplor is a nature park located about an hour South of our resort.  There are 4 main activities you can do in the park, in any order you wish:

• Amphibious Vehicle Drive: There were two courses we could run, so Mr. Jet and I each took a turn behind the wheel.  There were really awesome 4-wheelers that we drove through the Mexican jungle and into some of the shallow caves as well.
• Zip Line: Xplor boasts over 2 miles of ziplines - as well as the tallest zip line course in Latin America!  I'll admit, I was scared to death at first, but once we did the first line, it became seriously addicting.  We zip lined from turret to turret through the trees and it was exhausting and exhilarating!  We even had a few water landings, which you can (sort of) see above.
• Cave Swim: There was a 40 minute cave swim through natural stalactite and stalagmite formations.  The water was perfectly clear and cool and it was such a fun, relaxing activity.  We wore microchipped helmets all day that captured photos of us doing the various activities, but the only one we actually purchased (for quite the hefty fee!) was taken during the Cave Swim.  Can you spot the NewlyJets cave kissing? ;)
• Raft Paddle:  This was our least favorite activity of the day.  Partially because we were stuck behind two weirdos who didn't know that paddling a raft with their hands would be a physical activity, and partially because paddling a raft with our hands was a PHYSICAL.  ACTIVITY.  We were both exhausted by the end of this course.

Our excursion to Xplor included transportation from/to our resort (which took a long time since we were the farthest resort out), admission to the park including all of the aforementioned activities, an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet (which became a what-can-we-safely-eat buffet, blergh) and unlimited drinks including healthy juices, smoothies, coffee drinks and filtered water.  All in all, it was a really fun trip I'd consider visiting again with family or friends.



ALBATROS CATAMARAN TRIP: 3