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.

The Basket ... La Canasta

In Mexican culture it is customary to go to the house of the bride and offer a basket of goodies to the family of the bride. If the family accepts, then they are giving their blessing for the marriage. Usually included in the basket are fruits, sweet bread, candy, liquor, etc. In the basket Carlos gave to his suegros, or in-laws, was bread that he made and bread that he got from the panaderia, chocolate, of course (he is a smart boy), tea, a cookbook about traditional Mexican cuisine, and jams.

Some of the pressure was off because Bri and Carlos had already told Bob and Barb that they were getting married a few weeks earlier at Xochitl restaurant in Philadelphia, where Bri and Carlos also had their first date. Barb was still happy to get the basket. Bob was also happy the next morning (we got in late). Xotchitl means "flower" in Nahuatl, the indigenous language of the Aztecs. This is one of the three languages Carlos speaks fluently.

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