One Day At A Time: 7/24/11

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Be FRESH..., on a HOT DATE!~ Day 24

I have been writing more about the past lately but it is just as important to remember where you have been to appreciate where you are today! I hope you enjoyed our Vietnam adventures with us!

We appreciate our past and the many lessons it holds for us but we also must move on and don't get stuck in the past. Life is richer today, that's why they call it the PRESENT! :)

FAST FORWARD... to the present!

Dancing the night away with Cleveland's skyline shining bright!

I love my very colorful and diversed life from East to West...Sharing life with my best friend, my husband, going on 9 years, have been a blessing beyong my prayers! We continue to celebrate our blessings to the FULLEST!

James & I still take our dates seriously in our marriage! I think it is MORE important to keep the courtship strong in any long term relationship, to keep it NEW & FRESH!

If you told me 9 years ago, that my life would turn out this way, I wouldn't believe it's my life, but then I knew nothing about living with LOVE.

Sharing our typical date out, but this time with a new friend, Roger.

Who Knew...? Fun in Clevelend, Ohio !

We throughly enjoyed these "hot spots" I chose for us last night.

So, if you ever in Cleveland, check these places out and have lots of fun!!!

This is The Velvet Tango Room, known for the best Martinis at the most shady (like scarey shady) side of downtown.

Your first visit time here will give you that "it can't be THE place"~ a feeling of being at a dangerously at the wrong side of town.

But once inside you will be pleasantly surprised by the warm engaging ambience It's like stepping back in time.

Cheers with 1 Avaition, 1 Homemade Eggnog & 1 Lady in Red

Roger's first Martini! He's a military guy with a wide range taste for all the beers around the world, but never a martini until last night.

Tyron, Tango's soulful piano man... live piano music!

Cheers to our fav. lil' secret Tango Room in town!

We discovered this fabulous place via a New York Times review, calling it one of the must places to go when in Cleveland . www.velvettangoroom.com

On the corner of 6th & St. Clair to dine & see the city in action at the Warehouse District

With my handsome husband, James

The view from our table of Cleveland's city life!

With our friend, Roger!

http://hrcleveland.com/bluepoint.php

Off we go, after dinner, just down the street to go dancing at the Velvet Dog Club

A "must experience" is the Velvel Dog's Patio, located on the third floor, with a view of Cleveland's skyline

It was a hot & humid night in July, but the view was so worth it!

My best date, Ever!

The boys were just enjoying the view in the corner by the music stage & dance floor

Downstairs on the first floor to cool down after the patio... wave your money to get the bartendars attention!

Group picture!

These feet were tired and resting!

It's Roger's turn to shake it up a bit!

http://velvetdogcleveland.com/

Thanks, Roger for adding fun to our night! :) Catch up with us in HOTlanta! :)

When talking with my 15 year old daughter yesterday, we chatted about me getting ready for the Friday night "date" with my husband. I had to laugh and say, "Yes dear, old married couples still do have fun together, it's not just for the young!" :)
Getting off the phone, I can only hope that she will someday have what we have,... in her "midlife" years.

These shoes were made for a very sexy night on the town! And for now, their job is done! :)

Until next date, my darling.....

With Love & Light,
Hai

Friday, July 29, 2011

Our Vietnam Wedding~ Day 23

On January 4, 2004, we re-stated our wedding vows on the other side of the world, in Vietnam among both our American family and our Vietnamese family. The whole village was there to witnessed the bridging of both worlds.

Starting out, the Groom's family bearing gifts to the Bride's family. Each tray represented the symbolic symbols of wishing the new marriage with gifts of happiness, longivity, childbearing, good health & wealth for the newlyweds.

We had the Vietnamese Wedding version AND the Western Wedding version on our special day to complete this special "East meets West" family trip of a lifetime!

I will just let the pictures say it all from here....

The Groom's family

Last minute instructions from Hai, our translator, to explain the Vietnamese wedding traditions

The Bride's family waiting to greet the Groom's family

My Mom was getting the "gifts altar" ready to recieve from the Groom's family.

All the Groom's gifts were recieved by the Bride's family in order to proceed with the wedding

The wedding party, waiting for the Bride to enter the room

The Groom paid the Bride's parents with an X amount of money in a red envelop before the Bride will step over the threshold onto the Groom's family. Soon after, the Bride's family's began to give the Bride her wedding gifts by showering her with gold jewelries on her wedding day.
After that, she is officially belong to the Man and his family for life.