Just a Couple of Pickles: Re-visiting our mini-honeymoon!

At 11am on Friday, September 25, my husband (just shy of 1 year) picked me up from work to take us off to re-visit our 2-day honeymoon in Nashville! We have both been counting down the days for this weekend – partly, because we knew it was going to be a relaxing weekend. I’m excited and anxious mainly because I don’t know where we are staying and did not plan anything for the weekend. I left it all up to Andrew. I didn’t even do the packing. YIKES!! The entire 3 hours, I was uncomfortable feeling like I might have forgotten something and hoping Andrew got all my things in the car!

Reflecting on 1 year ago…

Andrew had plans to take me somewhere tropical (was planning a year in advanced). However, residency wasn’t going to allow him any time off…he nearly had enough time to get off the day before the wedding!! It was a little stressful in the beginning, not knowing if Andrew was going to get there on time! So, he convinced me he was on call our 1st week of marriage (eeek!), but overall, I was very supportive and told him it’s okay…we’ll take a nicer one later. We’ll even have time to save up money and we can celebrate after he graduates and take a longer honeymoon.

All along, I had NO IDEA he had a trick up his sleeve (I mentioned before, it’s hard for him to surprise me)!! People would ask me all night, “where’s the honeymoon?” My response, “our apartment in Memphis!”

Not only did we stay our 1st night at the modern Hyatt downtown Louisville (surprise #1 – I thought it was the Galt House). Hyatt was much nicer and great service…Andrew got us a room tucked away in a corner where it was quiet and with a GREAT view of the city of Louisville! He even ordered breakfast (1st time we’ve ever tried out room-service!). Then we went to Huber’s Orchard and Winery where we squeezed in our traditional pumpkin picking, wine-tasting, and pumpkin ice cream! Our favorite wine at Hubers, is the Spiced Apple wine – a seasonal wine that comes out only in September until they sell out (which usually only lasts 2 weeks!!!). I wanted to purchase a case of them (discount). I thought a case was 6 bottles until I saw the price…Andrew picked up the box and thought “why is it so heavy?”! They saw our confusion and said it was 12 bottles!!!!! HOLY MOLY!! What are we going to do with 12 bottles and there is literally no room in our car for this! We walked away anyhow since I already swiped my card and gave at least half away as gifts :)

You bet I ate all my french toast on the right!!

Yes!! We got the pumpkins and case of wine packed (the car was crammed with most of my clothes, shoes, etc. - I had to move the same weekend we got married!). The next challenge was getting to the next place without everything falling out! In fact, we had to tell the bellmen several times, "let us put our stuff in the car...every square inch is taken!"

Surprise #2

2 nights in Nashville at Hermitage Hotel (I was told the only 5-star hotel in TN)! I was floored! I just didn’t think he’d get 2 days off! He did get someone to cover his call though…thanks to the Peds Team :) They all help each other out especially if they have special events on their call weekends. Those 2 days were rejuvenating and full of together time with no schedule whatsoever! Whatever we did was out of spontaneity – the Country Music Hall of Fame, walking around for 5-6 hours, and enjoying our FABULOUS room and bathroom!! I couldn’t have asked for a better surprise! Plus, the 1st night, Andrew was trying hard to get me out to grab something to eat by 7p…I just wanted to be lazy but he finally managed to get me out of the room. As we got on the elevator, a bellman walked by with a bag of rose petals. I’m not the romantic type, but I still said, “Awe, someone’s getting rose petals in their room.” Later I found out where the bellman was heading, I saw a heart outside our door after dinner and opened the door to see petals on the floor, bed and soft music playing, chocolate and snacks with water by the bed…oh my, I just didn’t know what to do except blush ;)

Had no idea we'd actually be there for the Playoffs in January!!

Our night dressing up and dining in my new pearls Andrew got me for a wedding gift :)

The Hermitage is so famous that celebrities and even the U.S. presidents have stayed here...this is the #1 bathroom in the U.S. - and we've been to the #2 bathroom in our own city - Louisville, KY at 21c Museum Hotel!

Music Row

The Batman building

Country Music Hall of Fame

Growing up...my favorite was Shania Twain...recorded her videos and had the jean outfit ;-)

Our Bathroom

Surprise #3 of the trip

We had a great view of the Capitol with a beautiful sunset backdrop. Since he splurged on the room, we didn’t use room-service.

Memories of our mini-honeymoon brings smiles on my face and a few giggles. I feel like this is our first time all over again, I got jitters on the way to Nashville. As we pulled into downtown, Andrew was driving around trying to confuse me. He pointed to the Sheraton’s parking garage but kept driving like he was trying to find some street parking. Then, I see us approaching the Hermitage!! Andrew?! Seriously?! He informed me over the summer that we couldn’t go back to our honeymoon hotel, they raised the prices $100 more than last year! Again, I was okay and said it was no big deal.

He got such a good deal this year that he could hardly hold it in…there were several times where he asked if he could tell me. He wanted the same room but said he couldn’t afford it…so they said “how about we throw in the American breakfast and valet parking if we put you in a different room for less than the price of last year?!” They had letters in the room for us that gave the details along with personalized stationary. In addition, Andrew brought the wedding cake!! They put it in the fridge for us and said to let them know when to bring it up. Then, the planning of Andrew came out – he set up the room with our wedding pictures, brought some Reisling, downloaded our 1st dance song on the computer and played it through the room speakers that night. He had a notebook of the weekend events!!! FYI, my hubby hates planning! It drives him crazy when I plan months in advanced for trips or whatnot!

Again, I couldn’t have asked for not only a better weekend but for a better husband!! It was once again, another relaxing and memorable weekend.

Andrew setting up our pictures

"What's on the agenda, Honey?!"

Re-visiting some picture spots 1-year later!

Nightly turn down service - bubble bath and ZZZZZ.

We even got room service for breakfast both mornings. Their service was above and beyond, so we didn’t know what to do or expect. In fact, our 1st morning we ordered, they brought up our tray to the room and asked to come in. They asked where to set it up and I’m thinking we’ll get everything out…nope, they do it all and make sure you’re pleased with it before they walk off and even ask to pour your coffee!!

Friday night into town

Here we watched the UK Wildcats get eaten by the FL Gators in a mountain of bubbles

Had a hard time finding Andrew...

The night Andrew surprised me with some fine dining at a Jazz Restaurant, F. Scotts.

Saturday night at midnight (on our 1 year), they brought our cake…oh my gosh!!!! The guy walked in and said, “Happy Anniversary!” I was astonished and nearly cried! They actually set up the cake for us and decorated it with our flowers and even added fresh rose petals. Delivered it on a silver tray with formal silver ware and a cutting knife!! I think they even smoothed it out for us (my mom was worried the icing would be off - they had an ice-storm and no electricity for a week so the cake completely de-thawed!). Their service is truly phenomenal!!! By the way, the cake was DELICIOUS!! Just a little dry but no taste of freezer burnt…tasted exactly how it did 1 year ago (not even exaggerating)!!