The Greatest Hitz

We know you loved our family and friends' videos from the UNCOR...we didn't get to show the last one about us, but never fret, for the first time in history, you can watch all three videos right here!

Some of the music had to be changed (despite the fact that I buy my music legally on itunes, supposedly I don't really actually own it) but we think you will still enjoy.

Also, you can link to our debut performance of "Islands in the Stream."

Our Family Movie

Our Friends Movie

Our Movie

Islands in the Stream

What to wear: an UNCOR guide to style

Dear Friends,

we've been getting a lot of questions about how to dress for an Unconventional, Non-traditional, Celebration of our Relationship. We've also been indecisive (who, us? No... Never!!) about what to recommend. Our plans for what we're going to wear have gone through a few changes, but we finally did our shopping and we're going to look fabulous! We ended up going a little more formal than we expected, but, hey, who doesn't love dressing up once in a while?

So, what should you wear to the UNCOR? Well, we can't offer specific recommendations without dealing with everyone's colour tones and choices of partner-in-crime... but, our official designation for the Saturday evening event is... somewhere between Festive Attire and Dressy Casual (Need help with that? Scott did. Emily Post has some details). Approximately. Definitely not Black Tie or even Semiformal. The bottom line is we want you all to feel comfortable and look good doing it (and with a good looking group like you all, this shouldn't be too difficult!). If you feel like donning a hat or flaunting a fascinator, please do, but remember you also need to wear clothes covering other parts of your body!



Keep in mind that the Temple is a working design shop, and even though it will be cleaned up and ready to rock, there may be some risk of getting a little dusty. So, even though the party's happening (just) before Labour Day, you probably don't want to go with the white trousers. Also keep in mind that this will be an indoor/outdoor evening event, meaning uneven ground and grassy areas, so your hottest stilettos may not be the best idea. If you absolutely need that extra 3-5 inches of height, and are just dying to show off your killer legs, you might want to bring a seconhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd pair of shoes in case you need to switch. That goes for you too, ladies. Also, gentlemen, in case of rain or accidental immersion in the large pond on the property, your beautiful Italian leather dress shoes could be a risky choice. But don't let us stop you from being daring.

Don't forget to keep your eye on the weather, and remember you can find current weather and a link to the forecasts in a previous post on the blog. We're expecting daytime highs of somewhere around 20C (70F) and overnight lows around 10C (50F), but it could be significantly warmer and/or cooler.

For the rest of your time in Vermont, casual, weekend, dandy, goth, jock, wookie... whatever your style, we're glad you're you and you're going to be there!

PS-Bring your swimsuit! There is a pool, and if it is warm enough, I will be in it.

The Weather Up Here's Delightful

As you're all making final preparations for your trip to Warren, VT, we're sure you have (at least) one question on your minds: what's the weather going to be like?

Keep in mind that Warren is nestled in a valley in Vermont's Green Mountains, and that the Archy Bunker and Temple are part way up one of those mountains. Based on recorded weather data, we're expecting to see highs in the low 20s (Celsius! For our American friends, that's low 70s fahrenheit), and cool nights dropping down to somewhere around 10C, and maybe into single digits (about 50F). Make sure you bring something warm to throw on if necessary. A charming sweater, perhaps, or a shawl. Should be no need for a toque, unless you're one of our intrepid campers, in which case you might want something to keep your noggin warm.

As the Labour Day weekend approaches, check back here for up to the minute weather in our handy WeatherUnderground sticker (and, if you click on it, you'll be instantaneously transported, through the magic of the internets, to the WeatherUndergound site for Warren, with all the info you should need, including forecasts).

UNCOR Update

Greetings friends, family, and everyone else. We're now less than 60 days away from the UNCOR weekend in Vermont (OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!) and planning is well underway. We hope you've all booked your flights/cars/buses/horse-drawn carriages as well as your accommodations and are ready to party. If you're still looking for a roommate or a ride share, please get in touch with us ASAP and we'll help you get sorted out.

We have a couple of exciting announcements to share with all y'all:

Exciting announcement number 1: We have made arrangements for delicious, creative, straight-up-fantastic food with Lisa Danforth Friedman at The Wooden Spoon. We won't divulge the details of the menu, but rest assured we are looking forward to the yum-yums and are confident that you'll enjoy it too!

(Note: If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions – e.g., gluten intolerance, veganism, minimum 5-alarm spice level in all your food [in that case, best bring your own bottle of hot sauce...] – get in touch with us ASAP so we can ensure you'll be taken care of.)

Exciting announcement number 2: We're proud to let you all know that we have secured three more fantastic sponsors for the UNCOR.

Our new best friends at Magic Hat Brewing Company (Vermont's finest!!) are helping us out with a few cases of their most delicious varieties and will be the exclusive beer provider for the UNCOR. Nikki's favourite is #9, a magical, mysterious and damn tasty brew. Magic Hat is located in South Burlington, VT, so while you're in the neighbourhood, why not stop by for a brewery tour? (Just remember, if you drink and drive, you will no longer be our friend!) Or, if you won't have time during the weekend, find out where you can buy Magic Hat and get your refresh on.

In addition to the delicious victuals on offer from Lisa and the Wooden Spoon on Saturday, you, our dear guests, will also be treated to some AMAZING cheddar courtesy of Grafton Village Cheese Company. Grafton cheese is handcrafted in Grafton and Brattleboro, VT, and made from the sweet, smooth milk of Jersey cows, sourced from 25 small, family farms in southern Vermont. If your route home from Warren goes through either Grafton or Brattleboro, you can arrange to visit one of Grafton Village Cheese's retails shops or even witness the miracle of cheese-making in person. If that won't fit into your schedule, you could just as easily order some cheese online and have it delivered right to your door!

For our coffee-loving loved ones (you know who you are!!), we've got a real treat: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is chipping in some wake-up juice. Not only will Nikki be revved up on caffeine the entire weekend, but you too will enjoy some hot, rich, roasted goodness during our Sunday pancake extravaganza. We love Green Mountain Coffee for multiple reasons, and a big one is their Corporate Social Responsibility program and their good work in their home state of VT and all along their supply chain. Good coffee, good people.

Huge thanks to these three great companies, and to Bluebeards Original, Muddy York Films, and the Vermont Mystic Pie Company (our first set of sponsors). Also, don't forget to check out Africa Soma and Right to Play, our charitable organizations of choice!

The UNCOR Program

Here, for the first time, is the preliminary schedule for the Unconventional, Non-traditional, Celebration of our Relationship. We hope to keep to the stated times, or at least hold delayed-starts and extended overtimes somewhere in a range between the exactness of German railroads and the flexibility of herding cats. Also, the Yoga and Zumba sessions are optional (and hangover dependent).

The UNCOR Main Events: Saturday, September 3^rd.

held in and around the Temple of Dindor, on the Sellers property.

Ice Breaker with Libations: 4:30pm

Wedstock: An Unconventional Variety Show: 5:30pm

Please contact Michelle Newman to book your performance (email us for her address!).

UNCOR Dinner, Dancing, and (continued) Drinking: 7:30pm until collapse

The Day After the Night Before: Sunday September 4^th

in and around the Temple of Dindor, the Archy Bunker, and the Missing Links, on the Sellers property

Haingovara Yoga with Scott and Rodney Yee: 11am

Guayabo Zumba with Nikki and Sherry: 12pm

Yum Yum Pancake Brunch: 1pm

Putt Putt Tourney on the Missing Links: 2pm

Sunday Evening Drinks at the Archy Bunker: 8pm

All Weekend Long

Scavenger Hunt (Closes Sunday at 1pm)

50-50 Raffle (Closes Sunday at 1pm)

Door Prizes

Flip Cup

Special Bonus Event

Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design Tour Saturday at 11am

Admission for Adults by donation ($5.00 minimum), children: 25 cents, over 90: $5000 (scholarships available upon request). Additional details on reserving your spot to come soon.

Sponsors and Donations

We are pleased to announce and thank our first three sponsors: Muddy York Films, Bluebeards Originals, and The Vermont Mystic Pie Company and introduce you to our two charitable organizations: Africa Soma and Right to Play.

Muddy York Films is a Toronto based Film Production Company. Co-founded by Alan Sukonnik, Muddy York Films works with feature films, commercials and music videos incorporating older cinematic technologies with new cleaner and clearer digital formats. Check out their reel here featuring clips from their work with Nikki's fellow Victoria native musician Nelly Furtado. Muddy York Films were the generous makers of our UNCOR video.

Bluebeards Original makes products for the bearded man. Bluebeards uses only natural ingredients like lime and aloe to make beards clean and healthy. They don't test on animals, but when tested on Scott, they brought out his blue eyes and made his beard fresh and clean! Scott is a proud user of Bluebeards beard saver and beard wash, and Nikki often finds him gazing in the mirror using their beard brush. If you are lucky, you will win one of their lovely gift sets at the non-wedding. In the meantime, visit here to buy their products today, so you will be sure to look good at our party.

Vermont Mystic Pie Company makes quite possibly the finest, all natural, premium bake-and-serve pies ever. They use local Vermont apples to provide not only delicious pies to customers, but also a value-added market for producers. The company combines pride in high-quality, natural foods, with socially progressive principles: tasty and responsible, what could be better? Many of you will get your first taste of Vermont Mystic Pie at the UNCOR, and we hope you love it. When you do, be sure to spread the good word!

Africa Soma is Scott's organization of choice for donations to support small-scale educational initiatives in Kenya. The Swahili (which Scott speaks, along with Maa, French, German and English) word “Soma” means “to learn” and captures the mission of Africa Soma, an all-volunteer organization which facilitates creative educational opportunities among and between disadvantaged youth in Kenya and their global peers. Most of their activities are based out of a rural Maasai community, Elangata Wuas, in Southern Kenya and in the Nairobi slums, where they work with local organizations servicing youth. You can read more about their current programs here, which include a Secondary Scholarship Program, Community Library Project (which some of you donated to at our Halloween Party in 2009), an Art Exchange Program, Cultural Dialogue, an Evaluation Program, and a Volunteer Teaching Program.

Right To Play is Nikki's organization of choice for donations to support sport and play programs for disadvantaged children around the world. Nikki has been a Right To Play ambassador since 2003 (and many of you have supported her fundraisers over the years). She traveled to Peshawar, Pakistan to visit their programs where she saw first hand how the power of sport and play can promote peace, health and development. Right To Play gives children a chance to become constructive participants in society, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, social background or religion. Through games and sports, they help create social change in communities affected by war, poverty and disease. A team of top athletes from more than 40 countries support Right to Play. As role models, these athletes, like Nikki, inspire children and raise awareness about Right To Play internationally. Each week, more than 700,000 children take part in regular sport and play activities and a combined total of more than 1 million children attend regular programming and special sports events and festivals. This is made possible by more than 15,000 local Coaches, Teachers and Leaders. You can see Right To Play's program map here.

To make a donation to Africa Soma or Right To Play on our behalf, please visit our gift registry. Thank you for helping make positive change through the programs and projects that mean the most to us.

Gifts + Hotels + Talents

Hello everyone!

We wanted to update y'all on a few things that we've been getting questions about:

First and most important, our awesome gift registry is now online!

Second, don't forget to email us to get the hotel discount code for the Sugar Lodge if that is where you want to stay. It will likely be the best deal in town and we want you to get a great price. If you are flying solo or even with a duo and would like to share rooms to cut costs, just let us know and we can find you a mate.

Third and most fun, please let us know if you are going to participate in the Variety Show so we can connect you with Newman, our great and talented singer, comedian friend and host of the night's festivities.

Love Nikki + Scott