December... Diciembre

We were so happy to celebrate Pascuala's birthday on the 26th. Carlos made a tiramisu cake for his mom's 52nd and Angelica, our conmadre, made atole, a traditional Mexican drink that is a little like hot chocolate and a little like Ovaltine.

This is Yaretzy with her abuelo, Juventino after we sang las mananitas (the little mornings) to Pascuala.
We took Saul, Juventino and Pascuala to the Magic Gardens, where we were married in September. They enjoyed seeing the art in the basement where there are figures on the walls and on the ceiling.
Saul and Christopher pose for a photo outside the gates of the Magic Gardens.

Christmas Dinner... Cena de Navidad

We had langostinos, or large shrimp, and paella, a Spanish rice and seafood dish, for Christmas Eve dinner. Carlos and Claudio worked hard cleaning and grilling the shrimp. It was delicious!

This is a photo of Yaretzy in her Reindeer horns. We had friends and family join us -- there were over 20 people at the table!
Here is Alvaro at the set table. We used our new plates, silverware, and glasses. We made the napkins and tablecloths and reupholstered our retro dinette chairs for the occasion.

Winter Decorations ... Decoraciones de Invierno

We made a few changes to the house this winter, adding a photo wall to our upstairs sala, or living room.We also had our first tree. We hosted Christmas dinner this year, and wanted it to be special because Carlos' parents and brother were able to join us. The kids got everything from Transformers robots to easels and books to helicopters.
Even the cats got into the spirit of decorating (or, rather, undoing the decorating)... They loved the garland. We loved it too, for the first day. Now, it has found a new use -- outside decorating our window frames where it doesn't matter if the needles drop.

We forced paperwhites and amaryllis. Even though it was blustery outside, it was verdant and warm inside.

The Magic Gardens... Los Jardines Magicos

We chose to get married at the Magic Gardens because it seemed to be the perfect mix of our interests and cultures. We wanted to support local business and the arts in Philadelphia.

We also like that Isaiah and Julia Zagar have spent their lives beautifying Philly with their art. Recently their son, Jeremiah Zagar, directed a documentary film on a part of their lives called In a Dream. It has shown on HBO, and you can now rent the DVD from NetFlix. It is sort of a sad flick, but it does show how Isaiah goes about making his beautiful mosaics.

This is a photo with the artist, Isaiah Zagar on the wedding day.

The following information is taken directly from Philadelphia's Magic Gardens website.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a folk art environment, gallery space, and nonprofit organization that showcases the work of mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar… The installation…covers half a city block... A walk through the labyrinth will reveal sculptures from Latin America and Asia, bicycle wheels from a local South Street bicycle shop, Zagar’s hand-made tiles, and mirrors.

Zagar has devoted himself to beautifying the South Street neighborhood since the late1960s, when he moved to the area with his wife Julia. The couple helped spur the revitalization of the area by purchasing and renovating derelict buildings, often adding colorful mosaics on both their public and private walls.

Zagar started working on the Magic Gardens in 1994 in the vacant lot nearby his studio. He began by constructing a massive fence to protect the area and then spent the next 14 years excavating tunnels and grottos, sculpting multi-layered walls, and tiling and grouting the 3,000 square foot space. The installation pays tribute to Zagar’s many artistic influences, as well as the events and experiences of his life… and also references important elements of the wider world – Las Pozas and Day of the Dead and the dance community of Philadelphia...

Photo Update ... Fotos Nuevos

We just got the full lot of retouched photos from our photographer on pictage. You are welcome to order photos or other printed materials from the site, but we will be getting free cds with all the photos from our photographer. If you see photos that you want, but don't want to purchase, let us know. We can send it to you for free after we get the cds. Then you can print it yourself or just keep it electronically. We can also send you a cd, but she took a lot of photos, over 1000!

We also just found out that we will be featured in one of the "real weddings" sections of the magazine Brides: Philadelphia in the Spring/Summer issue. If you'd like a copy, email me and let me know. I'm guessing each issue is around $5? The feature will most likely be a 1-2 page spread of small photos and will explain where we had our wedding, reception and what our themes were...

Or you can see our wedding featured on Wedding Nouveau, a blog for intercultural weddings.

Thank You for Our Treasures...

We are working on handwriting each and everyone of you a thank you note, but we wanted to show you how we are using some of our gifts from you. We used some of the money to buy two beautiful storage pieces. They come from a store near here called Material Culture. The sun and the moon on the wall are pieces that Claudio and Marga gave us as gifts from Puebla. They are talavera pottery. And the cowboy on the horse is from Tono and Bere. It holds a tequila bottle that looks like a bucking bull.

This lazy susan was a gift from Bob & Barb Crowley. It is handcarved and came from the same town where Bri and Carlos got their engagement ring.

As you've noticed, we like a lot of color. These are a few of the dishes and kitchen gadgets we ordered from Anthropologie. They are displayed in a cabinet that Bri trash picked from the side of the road, and then painted over the summer when we did our series of renovations on the house.
Guess we were in a blue mood when we ordered all these glasses and plates! We immensely enjoy all our new treasures. We wanted to get things that we would use, not fine china that we would store away and only pull out once every 5 years for a special holiday meal. Please help us use our new kitchen gear, and come visit for a meal or a cup of coffee. Thank you all so much for being a part of our lives. Again, those hand written cards are in production. Look for yours in the mail coming some day (hopefully) soon.

xoxo Bri & Carlos

Halloween...Noche de Brujas

Halloween is Bri's favorite holiday. We had a party. Here are some photos of a small sampling of the amazing costumes that were to be seen. The soldier and the Hulk fight it out over who will get the Reese's cups and bob-for-apples first.

Doug, as a unicorn, won Bri's vote as best costume! But there were multiple contenders.

The kids were in the spirit of things. Christopher is "Scream", Alan as a transformer?, and Miss Yaretzy, the spider lady.
Sean and Sara as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Lois did some reporting on the Phillies and Yankees game of the World Series, which was also on that night.

Our Mini Moon... Nuestra Luna de Miel

For our mini honeymoon we went to the Catskills for a weekend visit. Bri really was craving some fall color and Carlos had a few days off from work.

We stayed at the Breezy Hill Inn and took in some cool shopping at places like Clementine Vintage clothes and Kabinet and Kammer in Andes, NY. We also at some great food at Heaven in Bovina, NY and at the Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room in Big Indian, NY.

The New Members of Our Family... Nuestra Nueva Familia

Now that we are hitched, we thought we'd expand the family sooner than later, so we went ahead and adopted two little ones from the Fairmount Pet Shoppe down the street. They are both from the ASPCA, but the shop is authorized to adopt them out. It is such a great idea and partnership. We love supporting the ASPCA and a local business all at once!

Little Eva and Ruby are approximately 3 months old. They are not biological sisters, but they get along just like they are. Fighting, playing, vying for our attention, cuddling, sharing each other's food, protecting each other, napping, becoming jealous, getting each other sick. We love them so much.

Ruby is the long haired calico grey. She is more affectionate, more of a trouble maker, and a voracious eater. Eva is black and white with a perfect little black heart shaped nose. She is more of a lady, a bit more shy, and much more fastidious.

Did you know that when cats get sick, you should give them chicken and rice soup? Also, chamomile is soothing for eye irritation. We are reading "Cats for Dummies" but we didn't get either of those two facts from that piece of brilliant literature.

Photos... Fotos

Our amazing photographer, Kella MacPhee, has a sneak peek up on her blog of some of our wedding photos. She took the photo we are using for our new banner for this blog. She is awesome and gave us the rights to our photos. When we get the total package of retouched photos we will post the link here.

Above, members of the breakfast club show off their lovely facepaint. And below, a tight squeeze on the sofa is not at all uncomfortable for lifetime friends during the wedding eve cocktail soiree.

We loved receiving all the candid shots from our fellow guests. We think some of you may have more photos. If you'd like to share, we have created a site on Shutterfly. You can go there to see, print, share, or save photos. Or you can befriend us on Facebook and share there.

The photo above, of us, was shot by Erica Maier. The one below, was of Val, by Val Lapinski. Doesn't she look fabulous?

Places to Visit ... Atracciones

There are many things to do in Philly. Because it is such a historic town, you may want to take a historical tour of the city, or its murals, or its penitentiary.

There are many sightseeing rides that tour the city or the historic area. Many of these tours can be purchased at, or just outside the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets. This is the area where you can find the Liberty Bell Center, too... a great exhibit. There is a trolley tour, a Ducks tour, a mural tour (Philly has over 300 outdoor murals), and more.

We highly recommend going to see Eastern State Penitentiary. You can go for the historical tour during the day, or for Terror Behind the Walls at night (this is a "haunted" event that raises money during September and October for the historic site). It is pricey to go to the Terror Behind the Walls, considered one of the top rated haunted attractions in the U.S., but if you're into that sort of thing, its for a good cause. Bri chooses to stick to the day tour. Sean Kelley, our celebrant for the wedding, is a director at ESP. He has kindly offered to give a guided tour to all interested parties on Saturday, the morning of the wedding, at 10 am.

Headhouse Farmers Market

On Saturday and Sunday from 10 am - 2 pm the Headhouse Farmers Market is a fun place to visit. An open air market (under a roof) sells candies, preserves, flowers, meats, cheeses and fruits & veggies. It is located at 2nd and Lombard Streets - directly outside the Society Hill Dance Academy. (Headhouse is a name for fire stations in early Philadelphia).

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (and its steps)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is world class. You can check out the exhibits, or just run the steps like Rocky Balboa.

There are many great museums all in this one area... Art Museum, The Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, the Waterworks, and more.

Restaurant Week

You're hitting the tail end of Restaurant Week in Philly (over on Friday night, the 25th of September). Participating Center City restaurants will offer three-course dinners for $35 per person. Many of the restaurants will also offer 3 course lunches for $20 per person.

Philly Fun Guide is a good place to go to see what's happening in arts and culture.

Also, UWishUKnew is also a great place to find what's happening in Philly. Apparently, Oktoberfest is everywhere in Philadelphia.

Papel Picado .... Papel Picado

We just got the papel picado from our parents in Puebla! We are so excited because it is beautiful and customized just for us. Papel picado or "punched paper" is made out of tissue paper that is cut into designs. Papel picado is a traditional Mexican decoration that is used for all types of festivals and holidays. The design that was made for us has two doves and two rings and it says nuestra boda or "our wedding" and felicidades or "congratulations" Gaby y Carlos "Gaby and Carlos."

The Mariachi Band ... La Banda

We will have live mariachi music at the ceremony and during the cocktail hour performed by Mariachi Oro de Mexico. We are very excited to have this talented band play the beautiful music of Mexico for us.

Photo taken from the Mariachi Oro de Mexico homepage.

Flowers...Las Flores

We are using colorful, seasonal flowers in all the centerpieces. We will be cutting most of the flowers ourselves, on a farm where Bri used to work called Maple Acres. It is right down the street from Nica & Doug's house. We are using mason jars as containers because they are simple and because Nica & Bri used to raise caterpillars in mason jars when they were little.

We invite you all to take the flowers home after the ceremony to enjoy them. Not only are these flowers perfect for our party, they are locally grown, which means we are supporting a local business. Even better, we are supporting a local farm.

This is good because

1. It is more sustainable for the environment to buy locally.

2. We know the farmer and his family and want to keep him in business.

3. This area is being overrun with housing developments that are being built on farmland and we want to keep our Pennsylvania farmland as a treasured resource.

Most of the flowers are zinnias and they don't last too long out of water, so Bri's former employers, Priscilla & John Fosnocht graciously offered to help with the hand held bouquets and personal flowers. Thanks Flowers by Priscilla.

Dress Code: Comfortable .... Vestir Comodo

We want people to dress comfortably. All types of costumes are game. Our main goal is fun. So if your idea of fun is dancing in 4 inch stilettos, that's fine with us. However, we would suggest flip flops instead. You're not into wearing a tie with a jacket? Great! You are planning on wearing a tuxedo? Great! You are considering a feather boa? Fine with us.

We are planning on getting pretty dressed up, and you can too, or not. It's totally up to you.

The Invitations ... Las Invitaciones

The invitations are hot off the letter press! We will be getting them out this week. A great big hug and a million thanks to Sara Kube, our friend and fellow Philadelphian, who designed the perfect invitation suite for us. Sara is so talented! She also sells some of her own handmade designs on Etsy.

Here's a teaser.

Places to Eat .... Restaurantes

Philly is a great place for dining out. The wedding will be in South Philadelphia. These are some suggestions for grabbing a bite in that area. We are sure that if you walk around, you'll come upon some good places all on your own. If you eat somewhere fantastic, that isn't on this list we'd love to know so that we can try it out.

Restaurant Week

You're hitting the tail end of Restaurant Week in Philly (over on Friday night, the 25th of September). Participating Center City restaurants will offer three-course dinners for $35 per person. Many of the restaurants will also offer 3 course lunches for $20 per person.

La Fourno

Italian

215.627.9000

636 South Street, Philadelphia 19147

On South Street between 6th and 7th streets.

One of our favorite Italian restaurants. Bri loves the shrimp scampi, and swears by it every time. They also make a mean espresso martini. This is the restaurant that we went to when Carlos first met Bri's parents.

$$-$$$

Xochitl

Traditional Fine Mexican Dining (as opposed to Tex Mex or Mex American)

215.238.7280

408 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia 19147

On 2nd Street between Lombard and South Streets

Xochitl means "flower" in Nahuatl, an indigenous Mexican language of the Aztecs. This is where Bri and Carlos had their first date and where we told Bri's parents the big news about our engagement. The margaritas are superb, we also like the coctel de camerones (or shrimp cocktail). If you're feeling romantic, the parrillada is perfect for sharing - that's what did us in, or maybe it was the margaritas?

$$$

New Wave Cafe

American -- appetizers, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, etc.

215.922.8484

3rd and Catherine (which is South of South Street)

Good beer selection, great fish & chips.

Morning Glory

American Style Brunch/Diner

215.413.3999

735 South 10th St, Philadelphia 19147

10th and Fitzwater

This place is really close to the Bella Vista B&B. Good Coffee. Good Grub. Long lines on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch. Nice outdoor waiting area in an urban garden.

$$

Alyans

Mediterranean

215.922.3553

603 S 4th St, Philadelphia 19147

South and 4th Streets

Simple, Mediterranean food like hummus, grape leaves, falafel, lamb, etc. The prices are good and so is the food.

$

Horizons

Vegan Cuisine

611 South 7th Street, Philadelphia 19147

On 7th between South and Bainbridge

215.923.6117

This is a vegan's dream restaurant, and if you're not vegan you won't miss your red meat for a minute. They only serve dinner. Try the Key Lime Pie Martini.

$$$

Cheesesteaks

following up on the heels of the vegan cuisine, are a Philly favorite (but not a Bri favorite... nasty, greasy, cheez wiz "wit" or "wit'out". There are plenty of places to choose from, and visit here for tips on ordering.

Nearby is Jim's on South Street, or if your feeling adventurous (or want to walk off that sandwich) you can head over to the Italian Market neighborhood (also where there is the largest Mexican community in Philadelphia to go to the famous Pat's King of Steaks. We highly discourage patronizing the neighboring Geno's due to its owner's offensive remarks.

Jim's Steaks

215.928.1911

400 South Street, Philadelphia 19147

On South and 4th

$

Pat's King of Steaks

215.468.1546

1237 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia 19147

On 9th Street, where Passyunk & Wharton cross

$

The Quilt .... La Cobija

We are so fortunate to have many talented friends and family contributing to the wedding. Bri's Aunt Jean Crowley made this beautiful quilt for us and presented it to us on the 4th of July. It has photos of the two of us sewn into the quilt squares. This was a total surprise -- we had no idea that she was making it. Thank you Aunt Jean!

4th of July .... 4 de Julio

We had a little shindig at Bri's parents' house in Warren for the Fourth. Because we are having a smallish wedding in Philadelphia, we wanted to invite extended family and friends who might not be able to make the trip to Philly to this party. This was an opportunity for a lot of people to meet Carlos and his sister, Margarita and her kids, Christopher and Yaretzy. We ate BBQ, played croquet, and had a run with the sparklers.

On the 5th of July, John & Cathy Zawacki hosted a lovely engagement brunch for us at the Conewango Valley Country Club in Warren. It was an intimate gathering and was another chance for Carlos and his family to get to know more people from Warren, and vice versa.

Places to Sleep .... Los Hoteles

NOTICE: The Bella Vista B & B is not holding rooms for us any longer. Please, we implore you, if you plan on traveling to Philly, and don't have a place to stay yet, make your reservations as soon as you possibly can. LOVE, US

Philadelphia Bella Vista Bed & Breakfast

752 South 10th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19147

215.2381270

1.800.680.1270

Nightly rates are from $85 - $135 per night.

There is a public parking garage close by (on 10th and South Streets) that charges $16? per day. This garage is also at the ceremony site.

Please mention that you are with the Crowley - Aparicio wedding party. We blocked off all 16 rooms. Many of the rooms sleep more than 2 people, just ask the hostess if you are trying to have more than 2 with you.

This is a fun place if you are into B & Bs, which the bride definitely is. It is eclectic and full of antique character, including creaky floors and maybe even ghosts! It is a short, 2 block walk to the ceremony site. The reception is a little further -- about 14 blocks from the hotel, but there are plenty of taxis and other ways to get back if you don't want to walk after you've had a few.

The Hyatt Regency Penns Landing

201 South Columbus Boulevard

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215.928.1234

Nightly rates are $180 when you mention our names. Self parking rates are $21 plus tax. Valet parking is $29 plus tax at the same garage, adjacent to the hotel.

This is a nice hotel on the river. It is 2 blocks from the reception and 14 blocks from the ceremony.

Apple Hostels

32 Bank Street (Between Market & Chestnut Streets and 2nd & 3rd Streets)

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215.689.0222

1.877.275.1971

Weekend rates range from $37 for a dorm bed to $90 for a private room. They have weekly rates if you are planning on staying in Philly for longer. The parking garage they recommend is the Ritz parking garage on 2nd Street between Chestnut and Walnut. $18 for 24 hours of parking.

We did not block off rooms at the hostel. It looks like a good time, though. It is located directly in the center of Old City, near a lot of historical sites, and is a further walk to both the ceremony and the reception (but not so far that it can't be walked). We wanted to add this as an even more affordable option than the B & B. If you are into bunk beds, sharing a bathroom, and meeting new people from all over the world, maybe this one is for you!

Monarch Butterfly ... Mariposa Monarca

We chose the monarch butterfly as our "mascot" for many reasons. Did you know that Monarch Butterflies migrate from the eastern United States to southern California and Mexico? As far as we know, there are no customs stops or border patrol for them to pass through -- good thing! They overwinter in warmer climates with food sources and then migrate again to the north the following summer. The same butterflies don't make both trips back and forth, but their offspring do. This is a photo of a monarch butterfly visiting a milkweed flower at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, where Bri worked as an intern one summer, in New Hope, PA. This picture was taken on the day that we found Bri's engagement ring.

Monarch caterpillars, or larvae, eat the leaves of plants from the milkweed family, or Asclepias, because these plants produce a milky sap that is toxic to many other animals, like birds. So when Mr. Robin is looking for a tasty treat, he leaves the monarch caterpillars alone. The yellow and black stripes help to warn other animals to "Take Caution: I'm Yucky!"

While the main host plant for monarch caterpillars is the milkweed, adult monarch butterflies prefer to suck on the sweet nectar found in the flowers of the milkweed, or other flowers too. This is a photo of Echinacea, or cone-flower, another butterfly favorite. Large butterflies, like monarchs, like flowers with big "landing pads." These include what are called composite flowers, or the ones most of us think of as daisy-type flowers with a central head and radiating petals.

The orange plant is called Asclepias tuberosa, or butterfly weed. It is a member of the milkweed family. The purple flower is larkspur. Of course, Bri is really into flowers (she inherited that from her Grammie), but she especially likes the types of native flowers that provide habitat for our native fauna.

The other reason we chose the monarch to symbolize us is because this is a transformative time in our lives. We are changing and growing. We hope with hard work, patience, and love that we will create a beautiful life together.

Our Registry ... Nuestra Lista De Regalos

People have been asking about where we are registered. If you go to any of these sites, you can enter the bride's name (Gabrielle Crowley) to access the information, or follow the links below.

Anthropologie

We love their whimsical patterns and quality products. We know it might look like we just chose random things, but we do have a practical plan. Our idea was to have mix-and-match items that we can use every day. No, we did not choose a formal china pattern. Yes, this was on purpose. ;)

Williams-Sonoma

These are items for the kitchen. Carlos likes to cook and bake. Bri usually does the eating and the dishes.

Macy's

For every purchase through Macy's a donation will be made to the Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund. According to their Web site, MALDEF promotes equality and justice through litigation, advocacy, public policy, and community education in the areas of employment, immigrants' rights, voting rights, education, and language rights.

Carlos' Hometown ... Mi Pueblo

San Mateo Ozolco is Carlos' hometown in central Mexico close to the city of Puebla and also close to Mexico City. With its magnificent volcanoes and fascinating customs, Ozolco is a great place to visit. These are some photos from when Bri visited Carlos' family. The orange house is his cousin, Sylvester's.

In the old kitchen, making carne de res.

Pascuala, Carlos' mom, in the new kitchen making mole, a traditional Pueblan dish - hers is the most delicious ever! With his brother, Saul, watching in the background.

Popocateptl and Iztaccihuatl are two volcanoes that are very close to Carlos' hometown. Popo is active. There is a legend about the two volcanoes. Read it here.