...a love drop...

As much as I love getting gifts, I love giving them even more. It truly makes my day to know a small surprise or thoughtful gift has made someone’s day. It truly is amazing what an impact the smallest gesture can make on someone. So, in spirit of Valentine’s Day I did a little love drop to twenty-five of my girlfriends, and sent them a small goodie bag filled with sweet treats, fun heart bracelets, festive chapstick and a small note. Valentine’s day isn’t just about showing your significant other love, but also all the other amazing people in your life. The sweet thank you’s and texts I received made this little surprise even more worth it. I hope my experience inspires you to send friends, relatives and anyone else just a little something special. It truly will make their day and yours, I promise!

Here's a few photo's from putting the packages together...

[my valentine helper]

[trying to sneak a snack]

[awaiting shipment]

xoxo,

R

...happy valentine's day...

From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Valentine's Day full of love, lots of chocolate and other sweet surprises!

xoxo,

R+M

...a surprise from my valentine...

As mentioned here, I LOVE surprises. I mean who doesn’t really? Well Sunday morning I woke up to a sweet Valentine’s Day surprise from Mikis. While still trying to get the sleep out of my eyes, he handed me an envelope. As it wasn’t Valentine’s Day yet you can imagine my confusion. Well, I opened the sweetly homemade card and was surprised with a note that told me to pack my bathing suit and be ready by 10:30a.m. I jumped out of bed immediately and got quickly ready. Soon after Mikis divulged our plans for the day, he booked us a couples massage at Joya Spa at the Montelucia Resort. What a sweet surprise right? I swear, Mikis can be such a romantic when he wants to be. We enjoyed an amazing couples massage along with champagne at one of the best Spa’s in Arizona. Afterward we enjoyed lunch in the beautiful Arizona sun, a picture perfect Sunday in my book. 

Here are a few photos from our trip. 

 

[mikis releasing his negative energy and tension]

[the gorgeous montelucia grounds]

xoxo,

R+M

...kissing 2010 goodbye...

Every year for the last 6 years(well, minus one year in between) we have celebrated New Years in San Diego, and this year was no different. We started the night's festivities off with tapas and cocktails at Glass Door, a beautiful Mediterranean Restaurant in Little Italy. Afterwards, we headed to one of our favorite San Diego bars, Craft & Commerce for a celebratory night of craft style drinks and great conversation. This was definitely one of our more mellow New Year's, but it was perfect! Here are a few photos from our night...

[starting the night with dinner]

[the very unique decor of craft & commerce]

[the cocktails are designed uniquely to your taste and preferences]



[my mojito like concoction]



[the boys and their daquri style drinks, they're honestly not as girly as they sound]

[cheers-ing to a new year]

We hope your New Years was full of friends, love and fun. Here's to a fabulous 2011!

xoxo,

R+M

...goodbye 2010 and hello 2011...

With a new year upon us, it is hard not to reflect on the past year. 2010 will always be an extra special year in our lives as it was the year that we became husband and wife. It was also a year of travel with trips to Thailand, San Diego, Mexico, and Chicago. It was the year El Hefe was born and Riot Hospitality Group was formed, a year many babies were added to our friend’s lives, a year filled with many girlfriend reunions, a year of loss, sorrow and heartache, a year with joy and laughter, and much, much more. I hope that 2011 is full of friends, laughs, trips, accomplishments, inspiration, fun, change, and of course love.

Here is a brief look at our 2010...

[stephanie's baby shower]

[celebrating my bachelorette party]

[celebrating my beautiful bridal shower]

[enjoying the FBR with friends]

[becoming mr. and mrs.]

[on our amazing thailand honeymoon]

[enjoying the culinary fest beer garden]

[enjoying drinks in rocky point]

[celebrating the boys' birthday with a mustache bash]

[promoting el hefe at the taco fest]

[enjoying tour de bar]

[celebrating halloween as mr. mario and mrs. princess toadstool]

Here's to an amazing 2011!

xoxo,

R+M

...merry christmas...

From our family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope your holiday is filled with family, friends, great food and memories, and of course, love!

[here's a photo of our little santa]

xoxo,

R+M

...girlfriends, wine and celebrating the holidays...

As mentioned here last month a friend of mine Teri hosted a girl's wine and cheese night, and we had so much fun we decided we must have another in December. So last week I hosted a group of ladies to celebrate food, wine, girlfriends and of course the holidays. It was a great night of catching up with friends old and new, sipping delicious wine and indulging in appetizers and sweet treats. The night really put me in the Christmas spirit and ready for the holidays.

Here are a few photos from the night...


[choose your wine and get jingled]

[hungry anyone?]

[treats for the sweet tooth]

Ladies, thanks for coming over and helping me celebrate the holidays, I hope there are many wonderful wine nights in our future!

xoxo,

R

...cookies, mimosas and girlfriends...

When I think of the holidays one thought comes to mind, indulgent. The holiday time is one where you disregard calorie thoughts and indulge your taste buds in deliciously made goodies and seasonal cocktails. This Sunday was no different as I joined a few girlfriend's for a cookie exchange at our friend Molly's house. The morning was perfect filled with great food, addicting blood orange mimosas and awesome company. We were all able to spend a few hours with each other catching up on life and holiday plans and we all got to leave with a plate full of homemade treats. I see this becoming a tradition every year.

Thanks again Molly for such an enjoyable Sunday afternoon!



[some of the delicious cookie choices]

 

[saylor loving the sprinkles more than the cookie]



[blood orange mimosas, my new fave]

[kid cookie decorating]

[saylor the frosting monster]

 

xoxo,

R