FOBF Round up

From the Desk of David Ho

After launching this blog, the FOB has really stepped up his blogging game.  See his youtube round up below!

Every good business traveler knows to avoid extra baggage, see "how to pack for a 10 Day trip in Europe in just one bag:"

 Can't wait to get to Italy?  Daydream at your desk with this two part "beautifully filled HD video and music about Val di Pesa (the river valley where Villa il Poggiale is located), I can watch these 2 videos again and again..."

Part 1:

Part 2:   

"The Video makes me wonder why we can't all live like this..."

"European Travel Skills: Avoiding Theft.  I am sure the Villa is very safe but just in case some of guests travel in the big cities.  This one promotes money belt which do not look cool . . . but see item 4"

"9 Reasons Why You Got Robbed While Traveling.  Bad title but very useful tips..."

Love

Dad

Cubanos, Schubanos

Have you watched that move Chef with Jon Favreau?  He totally sells you (and us!) on Cubanos.  So naturally, I was super excited that we would be in Miami for my Bachelorette trip!  Alas, it's just not that tasty of a sandwich.  I mean it's good, but it's really just a pressed sandwich with deli meat, mustard, cheese and pickles.  It wasn't bad, but I don't know, I was looking for that pizazz you get from a muffeletta (if you're ever in New Orleans, make sure you visit Cochon Butcher next to their famed restaurant!)  Maybe we just didn't go to the right place?  I digress...

I've known the majority of these girls for over half my life, and the ones that I've been lucky enough to befriend more recently, it feels like I've known them for over half my life.  You'll find many of the same faces in Joel's proposal video including Mel flying in from Dallas with her fiance to surprise me after the engagement!  But most importantly, thank you to Clara, Helen and Emily for a beautiful bridal shower and bachelorette trip!  I know it can't be easy wrangling so many different personalities (including mine!) and it was perfect.

Of course I have to give a shout out to Dorian and Alli from flying all the way from Hong Kong to come celebrate the end of my single life (that really died 10 years ago).  What really made the weekend was surprising them each individually for their 30th birthdays!

 

I be on my suit and tie, suit and tie

A couple of weeks (months?) ago my cousin Brian told me my Aunt got him a suit from Suit Supply in DC.  I immediately went into silent panic mode as I had been so focused on sewing my dress that I forgot to nag Joel about his suit...

Suit Supply to the rescue!  I begged for a last minute appointment that Joel and I showed up an hour late for (#bridgeandtunnelproblems) and two appointments later we're back on track.  Joel will be picking up his wedding wear in the next few weeks!

Bridesmaid's swag

I have heard one too many horror stories where bridemaids have be left out in the lurch and their pockets full of holes.  So I put a little a lot of extra love into each package because I truly am so grateful that these women, while spread out all over the world, are in my life.  Thanks for saying yes!  Needless to say, there's a theme, and it's Italy.

Olive Oil Cake (à la Danny Meyer's Maialino)

Zipper stuck?  No worries, grab a candle!

 

#FOBF 10 and 2...

From the Desk of David Ho

For those brave souls that have decided to rent a car in Italy (including Joel and I!), you may have more than just an International Driver's Permit and stick shift to look out for...

"This video shows how they drive without a traffic light in Ethiopia.  I think the locals learned from the Italians when Italy occupied Ethiopia before WW2..."

You've been warned!

Best,

The Howesters

Let's get down to it...

Woke up to a gorgeous summer morning in NYC New Jersey -- rainfall finally stopped (sorry Californians!) and humidity dropped (sorry Hong Kong-ers!)  Needless to say, we're getting down to the nitty gritty of it all...

Hope to see this recreated on the dance grass floor on Sept 6th!

Best,

The Howesters

Goes to show...

We just got back from Joel's younger brother's wedding -- which was completely DIY-ed.  Thank god Joel and Laura talked me out of all those projects for our wedding..!  #MFEO

We were literally hot gluing these programs in the car ride from Indianapolis to Lafayette!  Never again!  Side note: I feel like Lincoln should definite put out an ad targeting Moms -- the Lincoln Craftmobile!  It had a 110V three prong outlet -- you could charge a phone, charge a laptop, plug in a curling iron, you name it!

#weddingsweatshop

Despite not being completely sure whether we had actually secured a venue or not (anyone done business in Italy lately?!), we did at least secure a date!

Like everything in this wedding, the save the dates were a labor of love and we hope you'll use them!  We did iron press them after we screen printed them, but if you're worried, you can probably give it another 3 min press (with parchment or a paper towel in between) before hand washing.  After that you should be good to go!

"Exposing" the design on top of the dried photo emulsion cures the uncovered areas the screen and your design washes away! AMAZING.

Bundled up and ready to go!  Thanks to some great bridesmaids, we were able to minimize mailing these out internationally.  Thanks for bringing them home Helen!  And thank you Dorian for mailing 'em out!

All I do is pin, pin, pin, no matter what!

Let it go, let it gooo...

So we caved.  And hired help.  I hate not being able to admit that I can't do something, but here I am, sadly waving a white flag to DIY-ing a wedding in Italy.  I am sure many others have achieved it, but the language barrier was killing me!  So here's to many projects that were taken from me after a meeting between Joel and a new team member of Team Howesters, Laura from Trendinozze.


Bye bye DIY wedding cake that I was going to bake in the US, hand carry and frost in Italy...



Adieu to the field trip to the local flower market and anxiously waiting Sunday morning for their delivery and frantically wrangling bridesmaids to create flower arrangements for themselves and the tables...



Arrivederci to the inevitable arguments with the 5-10 vendors that I will never really know because I don't speak Italian and unfortunately the "brass candlesticks" I asked for translated to brass bed pans...

#FOBF Father of the Bride Friday!

From The Desk of David Ho

If you didn't know, David Ho is the Father of the Bride.  And growing up with two daughters, he's learned to anticipate and put of fires to avoid teenage daughter meltdowns.

Case in point -- please see the "Electricity in Italy" pdf (accompanied with visuals!) below, to avoid plugging in your electronics and losing your mind, or worse, not being able to charge your phone-- you've been warned!

Thanks Dad!

Best,

(The teenage daughter half of) The Howesters

*click image below for pdf

'Round 'round get around, I get around...

The wedding is exactly two months away so hope you've made your travel plans! For those of you that are planning on driving while in Italy, it's recommended that you apply for an International Drivers Permit before arriving. The process should be fairly quick whether you're in the US or HK. You will not need an IDP to rent a car, but if you get pulled over you may end up rooming with Silvio Burlusconi.

FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE STATES:

- Information on driving in Italy: http://travel.state.gov/...

- Application for IDP (applications only through AAA or NAC): http://www.aaa.com/... OR http://www.nacroadservice.com/...

FOR THOSE OF YOU IN HONG KONG:

- Information on getting an IDP (Scroll down to Point 4.9): http://www.td.gov.hk/...

And don't forget that if you need a cab from the train station to the villa, please contact Monica Cozzi.

See you all in two months!

Thanks,

The Howesters