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OMG OMG OMG. In other words, the OMG post.

9.19.2009

This week, I went to this event called Swagapalooza–which, hello, moms would be reeeeeamed for if they ever dreamed of throwing such an event. But we won’t go into that right now.

It was actually not a swag whore thing –the swag bags were definitely secondary to the event itself–but rather a digital influencer experiment (how very 2009). Think the Shark Tank meets Donny Deutsch meets the Gong Show, only with a Justin.tv live twitter stream broadcast on stage as companies were pitching us. Which happens to be to be a lethal thing when coupled with free wine, no food, and 125 hilarious twitterers.

So when a site called Voyage.TV which is launching a six week Tweet Your Trip promotion, asked us to tweet our dream trip and they’d pick one at the end of the hour, I’m not sure how seriously anyone took it.




Then I tweeted:

And I forgot about it. I was too distracted by the mini Milky Ways I had tracked down in the bathroom (don’t ask) and by the most excellent company around me.

That is, until, a little while later, when the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life stood up on stage and announced my name as the winner.

And I cried.

OMG people. We’re going to Spain.

The last real trip that Nate and I took, just the two of us, was a drive to Montreal on our anniversary five years ago. We have a beautiful child to show for it, so I’d say yep, it was a memorable weekend. But still – five years ago. That’s a long ass time for two people who really adore traveling.

Since having the kids, there have been family trips and family weddings and family birthdays in Florida and the Great Trailer Experiment of 2008, and we’re very lucky in the sense that we haven’t exactly been stuck at home for five years straight. But still, we’ve yet to make that much-needed, relationship-healing, just-the-two-of-us kind of romantic trip. Every time we think we can scrounge together the money and the time off, even for a b&b weekend in the Berkshires, another family member calls with another travel obligation and we end up shelving our plans. Which kind of makes Nate want to kill himself.

Things haven’t been easy since Nate started culinary school. Our schedules are turned upside down, and we barely see each other between the hours of 6 AM and midnight. I’m so proud though of how hard he’s been working and how much he’s been sacrificing, that I keep saying if I had a million dollars, as that song goes (sorry, it will be stuck in your head now for the next 16 years), I would take him on his dream trip to Spain to eat at El Bulli and pronounce z as th and gorge ourselves on churros that aren’t served out of a cart on the 3rd Street Promenade.

Let’s just say Nate is obsessed with Spain in a not entirely healthy way. The guy reads the Fodor’s travel guides to Barcelona for fun.

And now we’re going. We’re really really going.

Oh, except there’s this one other thing.

Because I was smashed (seriously empty stomach with that open bar) I added:

I may have jumped the gun on that. Although I think Nate would do it if we somehow got into El Bulli.

Update: As it turns out, Voyage.tv picked my entry based on the first tweet and not the second one. PHEW. Which means we’re getting a big crazy, poor culinary student, foodie trip of Spain. Suck on that, Bordain! We did actually look into the whole marriage thing, but as it turns out, two weeks is not nearly enough time to pull off a wedding in Spain. Also, I’m not nearly as spontaneous as I’d like to think I am.

67 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one

Magpie September 19, 2009 at 8:30 pm

OMG is right. Have a wonderful wonderful time.

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Janine (@twincident) September 19, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Wait what? Did you really win? Wow. CONGRATULATIONS!

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CalvaryGirl September 19, 2009 at 8:31 pm

That is so wonderful!! CONGRATS!!!

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designHER Momma September 19, 2009 at 8:34 pm

simply amazing. dreams to come true….

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Melanie September 19, 2009 at 8:40 pm

THAT IS SO AMAZING!!!!! CONGRATS!

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Marinka September 19, 2009 at 8:42 pm

Fantastic! Congratulations! Bon voyage!

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Julie @ The Mom Slant September 19, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Wait, you mean it's strange that I get a kick out of reading travel guides and planning imaginary vacations?

I'm so happy for you guys. Much needed and well deserved.

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Boston Mamas September 19, 2009 at 8:45 pm

I'm so thrilled for you guys! My cheeks hurt from smiling for you. :-) -Christine

p.s. If historical patterns hold, maybe bring birth control. Unless you want another baby of course…

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MelADramatic Mommy September 19, 2009 at 8:46 pm

OMG is an understatement! That's fabulous, congratulations!

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Her Bad Mother September 19, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Spain. *SIGH*

I lived there for two years and miss it with a passion I should really just reserve for my husband.

Go to the Costa Brava. Skip Ferran Adria's schtick and go straight for the little family-owned joints. And eat the snails. You won't regret it.

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Mom101 September 19, 2009 at 8:55 pm

HBM, I told Nate that I would try almost everything if we're eating in those kinds of restaurants. He doesn't believe me. But then, he's the fish eyeball-eating kind of guy. Me, not so much.

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Michaela (aka Mama Michie) September 19, 2009 at 8:56 pm

Wow!!! That's so great, congrats!!

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bipolarbear September 19, 2009 at 9:07 pm

Babe, that is about sixteen kinds of awesome. FTW!

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Kat September 19, 2009 at 9:35 pm

It's when you least expect something to happen for you that Fate steps in and says “Surprise!”. I am so happy for you and wish you the best time ever.

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Elaine A. September 19, 2009 at 9:40 pm

That is SO awesome!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

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sarah doow September 19, 2009 at 9:46 pm

What an excellent outcome to a tweet! Congratulations, I can't wait to hear all about the trip – and the food too of course!

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Kate September 19, 2009 at 10:08 pm

I loved Spain when I lived there for a semester in college. However, I don't have fond memories of the food… but that's probably because I was a poor college student and never ate at awesome restaurants.
Anyway, have a wonderful trip and enjoy! :o )

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Your escalator operator September 20, 2009 at 12:19 am

Ridiculously great. Congratulations. Looking forward to blog posts in Spanish.

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Lin September 20, 2009 at 12:20 am

Wow! Congratulations! I would LOVE to go to Spain one day, cuz my brother lives there with his wife and to see all the beautiful and amazing places I hear so much about.

Good for you! Be sure to post all about your trip and the fun things you do while there!

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C @ Kid Things September 20, 2009 at 12:32 am

That is awesome! Congratulations!

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Dana September 20, 2009 at 12:45 am

Wow. You are one of the luckiest women I know! I've never even had a honeymoon yet, and I'll be married 8 years this October — Doug was supposed to book it and never did…I'm still mad. We might get divorced over it. Ha ha. :)

Have fun! Can't wait to see pictures!

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justmakingourway September 20, 2009 at 1:15 am

OMG! SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

Not sure where in Spain you are going, but I will say Barcelona is amazing.

Yay for you and Nate!

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Naomi September 20, 2009 at 1:45 am

Congratulations! Hope you get to go while the dollar is high… ha.

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Nil Zed September 20, 2009 at 1:53 am

El Bulli!!!!

As a former culinary student, I am whimpering with envy for Nate.

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Lara September 20, 2009 at 3:18 am

And this is why I should really stop ignoring Twitter contests because I'm “never going to win,” huh?

Congrats!

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Adventures In Babywearing September 20, 2009 at 3:37 am

This is so exciting. And you totally deserve this! Congrats on the win (and maybe engagement?)!

Steph

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Fairly Odd Mother September 20, 2009 at 4:04 am

Wow! I step away from Twitter for a little while and look what happens! So happy for you guys! Nate is probably already planning his meatapalooza.

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Meredith September 20, 2009 at 4:16 am

Congratulations!! That is amazing!

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Denice September 20, 2009 at 5:28 am

Congratulations! That's awesome! And Spain really would be a beautiful place to get married…

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Marilyn (A Lot of Loves) September 20, 2009 at 5:35 am

Awesome! I don't know you and yet I feel totally excited for you. The only part I've been to in Spain is Barcelona and it was great. My husband was all about the sangria. You'll have a blast!

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the new girl September 20, 2009 at 6:46 am

Awesome luck. You guys deserve it. You'll be live-tweeting, right? So we'll ALL be there with you.

How romantic [for us all!]

xo

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Amy Jo September 20, 2009 at 9:16 am

I second the commenter who said bring extra birth control. I think Nate would insist on naming the baby chorizo if it was conceived in Spain.

Have a wonderful time!

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Mom101 September 20, 2009 at 10:25 am

Amy Jo, he would indeed! Except for the fact that we already named our Cat Chorizo.

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Earth To Mother Ship September 20, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Ahhhhhhhhhh, so excellent! I love the marriage twist too. You MUST pull it off I can't think of anything more romantic….also easily done after a few glasses of Spanish table wine and an empty stomach. (wink wink)

Don't forget to check out the Vechia de Jamon. Seriously. You'll recal this post when you pass by one.

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christines iphone September 20, 2009 at 1:46 pm

congrats! have a wonderful time!

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Kim Moldofsky September 20, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Wow, I practically saw this happen live. Congrats! And I second Boston Mamas comment on birth control.

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Lady Mama September 20, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Oh wow, you'll have a great time.

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Jaelithe September 20, 2009 at 3:22 pm

OMG. All I can do is repeat your title. OMG!

(I was just talking to my husband about moving to Spain someday. I'm not sure I've convinced him yet. So, blog a lot about how awesome it is when you get back, okay? But not while you're there, obviously, because I think you should be, ahem, BUSY while you're there.)

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beyond September 20, 2009 at 4:10 pm

wow. a trip to spain! congrats. you deserve it. i have been to barcelona twice and i looovvve it.

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Joy September 20, 2009 at 5:23 pm

Congratulations! Have a fabulous time!!

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Kami September 20, 2009 at 5:27 pm

That's pretty effing awesome, dude! Spain rocks. So does the cheese and the pork products. Way to win!

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Momish September 20, 2009 at 6:43 pm

That's fantastic! Have a great time!

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GIRL'S GONE CHILD September 20, 2009 at 7:04 pm

Fucking amazing. AMAZING. CONGRATULATIONS and enjoy every second. xoxoxox!

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Momma Hunt September 20, 2009 at 7:12 pm

How wonderful!!!!!!! You will love it there. I went about 12 years ago and it is still hands down the most amazing place I have been (this included trips to Hawaii and Alaska)

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Elizabeth @claritychaos September 20, 2009 at 7:27 pm

I love this post because your excitement is so authentic that it's contagious! Even for those of us who don't even know you. :) Have a great time, and congrats on WINNING!!!!

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Tiffany September 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm

So exciting! I've always wanted to go to Spain. It would have been better to go pre-stretch marks and post-baby belly hang for the beaches, but I'd take it any way I can get it now. Congratulations!

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Kate G September 20, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Holy crap. You just proved the “you can't win if you don't enter” point for me! Congratulations.

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Gray Matter September 20, 2009 at 8:45 pm

I am soooo excited for you, but seriously woman, do you wear rabbit foot underwear? LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY!! Yay!

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Ericka September 20, 2009 at 8:50 pm

omg, that is wonderful! congratulations! if all goes well, i may get to visit spain for work next spring so collect cool things for me to do. ;-)

have a wonderful trip!!

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Karen MEG September 20, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Oh Spain is beautiful, have a wonderful time!

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