LIVING IN A STATE OF NEPENTHE

I've been spending a lot of time lately working on our wedding website.  And while it's made me realize how much I miss living in San Diego... and how truly ecstatic I am for our wedding day... it has also made me relive some of the moments that brought us to this point... I haven't been able to get this one particular memory out of my head all day, so I figured writing about it might help...

In October 2010, Colby and I took a trip up the California coast for a friend's wedding in Half Moon Bay.  Prior to the wedding, we stopped in Monterey/Carmel to see Colby's family for a day or two...

Although I absolutely LOVED every moment of that trip - my favorite memory was of Nepenthe in Big Sur.  Colby borrowed his dad's convertible and we headed down the coast for lunch in Big Sur.  He had told me of this magical place he and his family would go to when he was growing up... While I knew it was along the coast - I had no idea how insanely beautiful this restaurant was... and I was blown away to learn I was the first girlfriend he had ever shared this special place with....

We shared a bottle of wine and some lunch, overlooking a breath-taking view and just enjoying each others company...Nepenthe is almost indescribable and photos don't even really do it justice - there is just a sense of calm and of peace - positive vibes flowing through the entire space....

Before we headed out we stopped by the gift shop to purchase a book, My Nepenthe about this incredible restaurant.  While flipping through the first few pages - we learned that in Greek, "Nepenthe means "isle of no care," a place to find surcease from sorrow," "banishing pain or sorrow" or "something capable of causing oblivion of grief or suffering" all of which we decided to adopt in our own lives.  It's truly become our life's mantra as a couple - and individually.  Being there was such a gift and I can't wait to go back.

(I should note -- the day after Nepenthe, Colby asked me to move in with him... I guess I should rate that moment truly as my favorite of the weekend... but location wise - Nepenthe should at least tie... LOL) ;-)