Married!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the wedding the wedding of our dreams, to everyone who came out to celebrate with us, to everyone who stood beside us and everyone who has sent us warm and happy wishes.

One week from today!

At this time next week (since EST is 2 hours ahead of MT) I'll be putting on a wedding dress, and Troy will be putting on a tux!

2 Weeks from Today!

Know where you'll be?

Speaking of, make sure you're going to the correct Kinsman, OH. Apparently there is another one near Cleveland. Make sure you go to the one close to the PA border, in the 44428 zip code. The links we've provided from the airports and in the driving directions in your invitations take you to the correct town. It is in Trumbull county, north east of Warren and Youngstown.

Less than a month!

We got our wedding rings yesterday! And now we have officially passed the one-month-to-go mark. We're so excited!

What to do in Ohio

Well, you can always add an extra day to your trip and go to Cedar Point in Sandusky.

Or you can take this opportunity to visit Cleveland and check out: the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame; a show at America's first regional theatre--the Cleveland Play House (also one of Tiffany's former employers); mac n cheese like you've never had, at the corner of Literary and Professor in Tremont at a place called Lola's (chef Michael Symon won Iron Chef and has hosted Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain); the Great Lakes Brewing Company (who, aside from having an excellent microbrewery, also has amazing bread pudding; PS I think it's too early for Christmas Ale, but if it isn't--oh my, you must make this stop); the Cleveland Museum of Art--home of some truly amazing works of art, including Jackson Pollack, and Picasso's La Vie, which was the start of his blue period. But my absolute favorite, must-recommend is a little vegetarian place on the east side, in a neighborhood known as Coventry, called Tommy's. Go for piping hot fries with vinegar, for unusual pitas stuffed with things like cheese and peanut butter, for delicious smoothies in a plastic cup you get to keep, for all the vegetarian-hippie-Cleveland goodness. And then, if it's not Saturday, September 25, go see a french film at the Cedar Lee. Do this and you'll make me happy.

More locally, you can check out the Hot Dog Shoppe in Warren. Even if you don't do dogs, the shop is well worth the visit. A long counter snakes around the inside, and you sit on swivel stools, and can get chili dogs, fries, etc, all for a minimal price. PS Tom Hanks went there. True story.

Octagon House, boyhood home of Clarence Darrow, actually right in Kinsman, on Main Street. And look at all those other cool, historic Ohio places you can visit!

Amish country. There's no link for this because the Amish don't believe in technology. Except, I hear, for cell phones. But you can (and should) visit Hartville Kitchen, which has unparalleled home-style food. You can also buy quilts, woodwork, and honey in actual honeycombs here. Right next to fabulous Kent State University. Yay, go Golden Flashes!

Right over the border in PA, we have:

The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh (about an hour drive from Kinsman). Culture, iconic images, crazy Andy Warhol. What else could you want?

Kraynaks, and see the acres of holiday ornaments and Christmas decorations. The best part, though, is the animatronic tunnel you get to walk through, full of some-what creepy

mannequins moving to Christmas music. No, really, it's awesome, and you should go. It's also free.

Quaker Steak and Lube. Coloradians: you should take advantage and visit while in Ohio, because they are opening a location up near Fort Collins, but you can say you have actually been to the original! It's also the most-loved place of Tiffany's dad. So go, and say you know Chuck Carter.

Daffins chocolate factory. Really, a whole little magic kingdom made of chocolate Daffins is like Chicago's Fanny May. If you love cocoa, you should definitely go.

Ohio and PA peeps! Please feel free to add suggestions if you have them!

September Weather in Ohio

If you're one of our Chicago guests, then you'll know what to expect. Ohio's weather is not much different. In late September, we are hoping the weather will still be pleasantly warm without being too hot during the day, or too cold at night, and nice and dry. It will likely get chilly at night. However, being the Midwest, there is (although I hate to say it) always the chance it might rain, or be overcast, or be cold. So bring layers! That's always my best advice. (And please pray for a dry sunny Saturday September 25th!) But I would plan for temperatures in the 60s & 70s during the day and dipping down to the 50s at night.

But you can certainly expect beautiful fall leaves, fresh apple cider for sale along the roads, & harvest vegetables. Plus our wedding falls right around the Equinox, so the days and evenings will be just about equal in length.

Accommodations for Out of Town Guests

Where to stay for the Carter Coleman wedding: from B&Bs to hotels to lake cottages, we have options galore for you! Check out the info below. Click on the names of the places to go directly to their websites.

~*~HOTELS~*~

Holiday Inn Express

YOUNGSTOWN N (WARREN/NILES)

135 HIGHLAND TERRACE BLVDWARREN, OHIO 44484

Hotel Front Desk: 011-330-544-8807

Hotel Fax: 011-330-544-8956

• About 20-30 minutes from the wedding
• Rooms are about $130, $140
• AAA discount, senior discounts
• Fitness center, indoor pool
• Kids eat free

Fairfield Inn Warren Niles

• 1860 Niles-Cortland Road SE
• Warren, Ohio 44484 USA
• Phone: 1-330-544-5774
• Fax: 1-330-544-5774
• Sales: 1-330-544-5774
• Sales fax: 1-330-544-5774

• Essentially across the street from Holiday Inn Express
• About 20-30 minutes from the wedding
• Rooms are about $120
• AAA discount, senior, government & military discounts
• Complimentary breakfast
• Free high-speed wireless internet

Avalon Inn

Reservations (330) 856-1900 or 1-800-828-2566

9519 East Market St

Warren, OH 44484

• About 30 minutes from wedding
• Rooms range from $99-$149
• Fitness center, heated pool
• Complimentary continental breakfast
• The Chophouse Restaurant (steak, Italian)
• Golf course

~*~BED & BREAKFASTS~*~

Rita White's Bed and Breakfast

(no website) 330-876-8686

Set back from the road, nestled in among trees, this peaceful B&B is run by the sweet and charming Rita White. The house was built in the 1960's and has fun architectural details from that era: a sunken couch area before the fireplace, deep carpets, lots of windows, a long balcony that runs along guest rooms. Quilts made by Rita cover beds and are folded over couches. In the morning, Rita makes breakfast and coffee for her guests to eat--free!

• about $65/room
• Rooms sleep 2
• Free breakfast
• Kids can sleep in sleeping bags in parents room
• About 10 minutes from wedding

Dream Horse Guesthouse

9532 State Route 7

Kinsman, OH 44428

kinsmanbarncats@embarqmail.com

330-876-0428

• $70-$120/room
• HD satellite, flat screen TV, wireless internet, air conditioning
• Breakfast included
• About 10 minutes from wedding

~*~CAMPGROUND & COTTAGES~*~

Pymatuning State Park:

Ohio Pymatuning State Park

6260 Pymatuning Lake Rd

Andover, OH 44003-1000

Park office (440) 293-6030

Camp office (440) 293-6684

1-866-644-6727 for reservations

• About a 15 to 20 minute drive to the wedding.
• Make sure you get a site/cottage in the Ohio side, it will be closer!
• Cottages that sleep 4 are $65/night with a min. 2 night booking requirement.
  
• Cottages that sleep 6 are $80-100/night.
• Share with friends and save $$!

More information: Pymatuning Campground, Pymatuning State Park, Andover, Ohio

There are 352 campsites in Pymatuning Campground (331 sites have 20 or 30 amp hookups and 21 sites have no electricity). Rates are from $19 to $26 per night. A number of sites that are right next to the water are considered premium sites. They cost more a little more than a regular campsite. There are two dump stations for RV's.

If you don't want to set up or break down any camping gear, there are three yurts available for rent (daily or weekly, $40 per night). The yurts are round canvas structure, with a wooden frame, and are built on wooden platforms. Two yurts can sleep five people and the third, Yurt 73, can sleep 6 people. A small deck is built into the platform, which has a picnic table on it. Inside there are futons and overhead bunks for sleeping, a 2 burner gas stove, a sink with cold water, a microwave oven, and a small refrigerator.

The campground has heated showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. An on-site camp store sells snacks, drinks, and camping supplies. There is a small beach near the center of the campground, a playground, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a nature center. If you want to bring your boat, there is a boat launch in the campground. If you want to fish but have no boat you can try your luck from the fishing pier.

Do you have a pet you would like to bring? The campground is divided into 3 areas. Pets are welcome in most parts of area 3 and are not permitted in camp areas 1 and 2.

Cottages

Pymatuning State Park has 26 family cottages (sleeps six, heated, available year-round, $80 - $100 per night) and 32 standard cottages (sleeps 4, available May 1 – November 1, $65 per night). There is also a premium cottage ($125 - $145 per night) that includes a dishwasher, a wood deck with gas grill, central air, and a 3-person spa. Family cottages include gas fireplaces and microwave ovens. All cottages are furnished with cable tv, outside grill, fire ring, linens, towels, and cooking/eating utensils. Four cottages are designated pet-friendly and allow you to bring your dog. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance. There is a small beach available for cottage guests. Call 866-644-6727 if you would like to find out more.

Pymatuning Campground Map

Find out more about rules, regulations, reservation policies, and dates when Pymatuning campground is open or go right to the state of Ohio Pymatuning Park web site and click on the appropriate campsite reservation button (cottages, "getaways"/yurt, or campsites).

Progress

We are making progress towards the big day, although it's easy to lose sight of it with new decisions and questions always arising. Tiffany has been amazing at taking in all the new information and bringing it to me to help make decisions. Good team work. It's amazing though how much the bride gets thrown her way. We have several key things decided and nailed down. The tide of new choices is still steady, but we are getting there.

Tiffany has been fantastic and I can not give her enough credit.

While my book of things grooms should not say is steadily increasing, I am glad that I have been able to offer some help. Usually though it seems my ideas are those to eliminate worse ones. :)

Oh, Geez

Second runner up in china--nixed. The whimsical Kate Spade pattern we liked with the honeycomb and bumblebee, while on the Macy's website two weeks ago, has been yanked, because they are not going to be carrying it any longer.

Do we dare attempt to register for a third runner up?

A Coleman Curse?

We got a call from Dillard's saying that there was a problem with the china we'd registered for; apparently, the factory that made it shut down and it wouldn't be available again until October or November...after the wedding. As I relayed this to Lynda, Troy's mom and my future mother-in-law, she revealed to me that the same thing happened to her and Don when they registered for china--and to Don's sister! I didn't realize there was a Coleman China Curse I was supposed to be aware of... ;) Just kidding.

Well, we're pulling our Dillard's registry, since aside from the china, we'd only registered for about three other items. Instead, we'll be registered at Macy's.

Cross your fingers.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren "Blue Ribbon Slate."

the unfortunate pattern.

Save the Date!

This is not the invitation

Um, we have to really get crackin' on the invites. I mean the physical making of them, since we decided to employ our creative selves and do just that. But he's all in Minneapolis, and I'm all trying to write a novel and be a single mom to the Westie, so you can see how it's really coming together quickly.

But we've nearly got the whole bridal party confirmed, which is exciting and makes me very happy!

Troy's Running Another Marathon!

This is actually a picture from another run he did, but whatever.

Troy just left for the airport to fly to Minneapolis to run the marathon on Sunday. That's 26.2 miles of running. And this is Troy's SECOND marathon!

Run like a Kenyan!

Update:

Troy finished the marathon in 4 hours and 6 minutes! That beats his time from Chicago, even though he said this marathon was harder. Thank you Nate & Karen for taking such good care of him.

What's a Kinsman & How Do I Get There?

Actual photo of actual site of impending nuptials

ABOUT

That's what someone said to me once when I told him where I was from. I usually say, "You know, like Shakespeare? 'This is my kinsman'?" My brother, my pal, my friend. That's what it means.

Having it in Kinsman does sort of make our wedding a "destination" wedding, even though you usually think "Hawaii" when you think destination, but I can promise those of you who have never been to northeastern Ohio that while we don't have white beaches and waterfalls, we do have the prettiest fall colors you've ever seen. I hope you can get some homemade apple cider and some real maple syrup while you visit us.

Kinsman is the childhood home of Clarence Darrow, has its own paranormal society, and parts of the Underground Railroad run through it. This is also Amish country, and you may see a horse & buggy on the way from the Cleveland John Hopkins Airport, especially if you take 322, or possibly even coming from Pittsburgh.

TRAVEL

We're just a scant distance from western Pennsylvania, and equidistance from 3 airports: Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Akron-Canton. I personally like Akron-Canton best because it's teeny tiny and sort of like the plane pulls right up to your car. This is a good airport if you're coming from CO.

How to get to the wedding from each airport:

Cleveland

Pittsburgh

Akron-Canton

LODGING

For out of town guests, I do not recommend getting hotels near these airports, because you'll have an hour and a half drive back from the wedding to the airport. There are two hotels only about a half hour away from the wedding here: Holiday Inn Express and Fairfeld Inn Marriott.

There will be updates to this post if we're able to secure a block of rooms for our guests. Um, we just haven't gotten that far yet...

Hiya

So most wedding websites only give you a teeny bit of room and then they charge you a monthly fee, which annoys me, because it's a wedding and you're already paying for everything from a gown to having someone unfold your folding chairs. So we decided to buck the system.

Besides, we already had one of those accounts and it took us so long to decide when and where to get married that our free time on it expired.

Hopefully, though, this will be an easy way for all of you to find everything from where we're going to register to how-the-hey to get to Kinsman, Ohio.