Dancing ... Bailando

Hopefully, there will be a lot of dancing at the wedding, so take a tip from Yaretzy, our niece, and wear comfortable shoes.

We first met dancing at Brasil's night club in Philadelphia. This is a photo of us from the Battleship New Jersey at an open air salsa event on the shores of the Delaware River.

The Ring ... El Anillo

When he proposed over beer and burgers at the Good Dog restaurant and gave me a fork instead of a ring, I was perfectly content. I originally didn't want a diamond ring, or a ring at all, but Carlos really wanted to get me one as a symbol of our promise to each other. We found the right one in New Hope, PA at a jewelry store called "Hearts Afire". It was made locally in New England by a female artisan. The diamonds are conflict free Canadian diamonds.

Money from conflict diamonds fuels wars in countries where government has no control over factions blinded by their own greed. See Amnesty International's definition of conflict diamond. Or, if you want an interesting background on conflict diamonds, watch the movie Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly, directed by Edward Zwick.

Women have the power to change the world. If you are planning on getting engaged, there are plenty of options for you to choose from that are conflict free. Visit Brilliant Earth to see some examples of beautiful, conflict free diamonds. Or go to Etsy to support artists and crafters.

Save the Date ... Reservar la Fecha

who: Bri Crowley & Carlos Aparicio

quien: Gabi Crowley y Juan Carlos Aparicio

what: getting hitched

que: se unen en boda

when: Saturday, September 26, 2009

cuando: sabado 26 de septiembre 2009

where: the city of brotherly love, Philly.

donde: la ciudad de el amor ala hermandad, Filadelfia