Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer »

Where to start, where to start! As Dylan and I approach our one month wedding anniversary (CRAZY, right?!) it’s hard to believe that almost a month ago we were packing our bags and finalizing our honeymoon plans for 10 days and 9 nights in… The Dominican Republic! It was a trip long awaited, and it was the first thing we actually booked! I really could go on and on and on about the details… Like that one time I tried explaining to a Spanish-speaking young man (unbeknownst to me) that “cer-vez-a means beer.” Or the time I packed on five pounds from piña coladas and every form of potato imaginable. I could tell you about hyperventilating underwater when I saw Dylan holding a baby (and apparently harmless) jellyfish. Or, I could just let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy! :)

We spent two nights at a Marriot before flying to the DR. And this? THIS was the most amazing room service banana split of my entire life! (As if I’ve had a thousand room service banana splits, hah!) I kid you not when I say, I still daydream about it.

And who passes up a monster dish of sushi the day after getting married? Not me, Internet. Never, ever me.

Welcome to La República Dominicana! This was our toilet bowl upon arrival! Thank GOD they put petals in our toilet, or else I would have refused to use it.

We stayed at BlueBay Villas Doradas Resort. This place is God’s beauty made obvious!

Our beach! La Playa Dorada!

All-inclusive is THEE way to go! Look at this restaurant!

When I read the reservation card on our table, I realized I was married. :)

Dylan and I were so glad to be able to venture off and see the countryside! So many beautifully-intricate textures and colors there!

So, I have this weird affection for lizards. This one is named Gully. Which rhymes with Sully.

I didn’t even realize this other little guy in the picture below until just now!

A typical Dominican house.

A little rum and coke for the road. No open container laws here!

The children of the Dominican Republic absolutely stole my heart.

I. LOVE. THIS. PICTURE!

My mama knows this face all too well. Zoning like I do. :)

Oh, hey!!

Classic Dominican foot shot!

This sweet little boy was crying because his brothers kept kicking his ball away from him. Meanies! :(

Mama Juana. Don’t try it.

Freshly-ground cocoa! SO scrumptious!!

Dominican version of a Dunkaccino! A little cocoa. A little coffee!

So many details! I wish I could have captured them ALL!

Motorcycles are ev-er-y-where in the DR! You’d see 70-year-old women riding these things!

Before:

After:

BAM! Married! (And I chip my nail polish one nail at a time.) :)

And finally.. Dylan made me work it for the camera. Or maybe he didn’t. Maybe this is just me. :)

Happy Wednesday!

The past five Tuesdays have been so empty. So cold. No, seriously.. Without fail, each of the past five Tuesdays, I’ve woken up with intense pangs of blogger’s guilt. As I’ve gotten hitched, been Dominicanized, and Texified, life has sorta, well, happened. And I’ve found myself all, “Now THAT is Tidbit Tuesday-worthy!” on more than a few occasions. Today’s Tuesday is an attempt to rectify the situation. No. 1 on the list? The word rectify. It just sounds wrong, doesn’t it?

I’ve noticed something about myself. Life changing really.. I tend to eat a lot of things upside down. Think about it. Toaster Strudel, chocolate-drizzled granola bars, crackers with cheese? All the real flavor is on one side. The only solution for optimum flavor consumption is turning said strudle, granola and cracker with cheese upside down so it hits your tongue before anything else does. Challenge! Next time you eat pizza, wear a bib, and eat it upside down. You’ll never be the same. :)

Band/Song of the week: Light Outside by Wakey!Wakey! And let me tell you, it’s a good thing I work from home and Dylan doesn’t, because I played this song about 30 times in a row the other day. And he. Hates. That. :)

So for the first time EVER, I have reason to purchase a sofa, a love seat, a dinette set, and 17 uniquely awesome pillows! I think I could shop for accent pillows all day long. But who am I kidding? That’s pretty much what this last week has been for! I can’t wait to blog it all once our place is done!!

Houston is an incredible city. In what other city can you go to FIVE Marshalls Stores in ONE day? Some other interesting facts about Houston? It’s the fourth most populous city in the nation. It has ELEVEN THOUSAND restaurants. (Yes, please!!) AND it has a 17-block theatre district, which is totally my thang. Side-note: Dylan loves to make fun of my knowledge of all show-tunes in existence, as opposed to my complete ignorance of any music from the 90′s. I was sheltered. What can I say? At least I know almost every Michael W. Smith song from that decade. ;)

I’ve always loved design, and with decorating our new home, I have gone design blog crazy. One of my absolute FAVES is Design Sponge. Oh Grace Bonney, be my best friend? Readers – what are some of your favorite design-inspired blogs? Hook a girl up!

So there we were, heading down McGowen St., when I told Dylan, “I think I’m going to get my hair cut this week.” “Oooh, mhm. Okay,” says a skeptical, but nonetheless studly Dylan. He doesn’t think I have the guts! Which of course automatically makes me want to prove him wrong. Internet, I do solemnly swear (if my nerves hold up!) that I WILL be sporting a new do by the end of the week. Words of encouragement and pep are welcomed in the comment section! :)

I haven’t blogged a photog spotlight in a while. :( But this one hits close to home! Mabyn Ludke, everybody! Mabyn (and the incredible Tim Hunt!) shot our wedding nearly a month ago, and we couldn’t have asked for better photographers to capture our day. Mabyn is a dear friend, and her mastery of the art of photography is in-freaking-credible. She’s always, always pushing herself to grow, and it shows in the strength and creativity of her images. If you haven’t clicked on her name already, DO IT. Also! A little birdy (coincidently named Mabyn) told me our wedding is soon to be blogged here!

I’ll leave you with a hint of what’s to come tomorrow! Dun, dun, DUN. HONEYMOON!

Happy Tuesday!!