Christmas Recap

Two posts in one day? I know, I know, it's nuts! But I thought I'd do a Christmas recap post while I was at home and had some pictures readily available. (What I don't have is an updated snow picture because it's too dark now and they just come out as blurs, but trust me when I say we're well on our way to those 14-20 inches).

Christmas was different this year because my mom and my sister had to work. Last year I was the one missing from the family festivities because I was with the in-laws, but this year my mom stayed in VT and my sister missed the mid-day fun at my dad's. As we grow up there have to be these kind of adjustments, but it's definitely weird to no longer being doing our normal traditions.

We did pretty well on our own though. On Christmas Eve the hubs cooked some roast beast for us, and we played a ruckus game of Spoons well into the night.

my sister enjoying the roast beast

It's tradition in our family to have mini hot dogs and Christmas-shaped pasta for dinner on Christmas Eve, but this year we opted out of that. We did have some "beanie weenies", as my mom calls them, for an appetizer, but I have to say, the top roast was MUCH more appealing :)

We turned in fairly early, because we knew Christmas morning was an early one. My sister had to work at 10am (darn hospitals being open on Christmas), so we had to get in our stockings, breakfast and gifts before then! We don't have a fireplace, but we do have a mantle (don't ask...old apartments in Boston are weird), so we had a good place to hang the stockings. To make it feel like an actual fireplace, we used the Comcast "Yule Log" to create a more cosy ambiance. I think it worked like a charm!

stockings are hung by the fire with care

It was a fun morning, and I was sad to see my sister off to work, but we had other places to be. It was into the car and off to my dad's for more family fun. My dad's wife's family was there as well and it was quite a house full. We had a nice time visiting, but I do wish I'd gotten to spend more time with my Dad (he was busy playing host). I did get to see him when he opened his gift from my Gram, my sister, the hubs and me, and his reaction was priceless. We booked a private dinner for he and his wife while they're on vacation in Jamaica next week. It's on the beach and they'll have white glove service. It's something much fancier than they'd do themselves, so they were super excited. Here's the proof:

they love it :)

After that (yes, the day kept going) it was back up to Boston to meet back up with my sister and have Christmas dinner with my uncles. We had a fun day, but it was nice to be back in the city. Dinner was amazing (the norm when my uncle's cook), and we had fun with a pack of fake mustaches my sister's boyfriend brought.

do I fit in with the boys?

it's only a little creepy...

 The highlight of the day was definitely the fun family time. I have a great family, which is awesome when you have to spend that many hours straight together. We had some good laughs, and the gifts were extremely thoughtful. My favorite gift was one my uncle made for the whole family. He took the time to put together a photo book of our wedding pictures, and it's so gorgeous. We were so touch that he made us one, let alone everyone else too (including the in-laws!). It's a perfect Christmas gift, and I'm pretty much obsessed with it now :)

THE book :)

Now it's bed time. The hubs is enthralled with his new XBox, and already knows he has a snow day tomorrow, so I'm just leaving him to stay up as late as he wants. I'm REALLY hoping not to have to venture out into the blizzard tomorrow to get to work, but there has been no word about it thus far, so I've still got to plan on going. Let's keep our fingers cross that the next blizzard picture I post shows LOTS of snow!

Let it Snow!

Although we didn't have a white Christmas, a white Boxing Day works just fine for me too. We're bracing ourselves to get slammed with 14-20 inches of snow and I'm so excited! I don't have anywhere to travel to, so bring it on! (And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a snow day!)

About an hour ago, this was the view out my window:

just starting to build up

And now it looks like this:

a fair bit snowier

I love seeing it accumulate so quickly! I can't wait to wake up to a full on winter wonderland tomorrow.

Gearing Up

It's about that time. The time of year when I run around like crazy because there is always something I forgot. The time when there are nine places to be at once, all nine of which would be great to go to. The time when I have to prepare myself for several days in a row of family time, and be thankful that I actually like my family.

Although I had a few super fun holiday parties two weekends ago, and spend a great couple days in DC last weekend, the real fun starts today. Today is the holiday party at work. I enjoy getting to see everyone outside the discomfort of our cubes and enjoying toasts on the company's dime. The yankee swap always proves amusing, and hopefully my hot chocolate and alcoholic whipped cream gift  proves to be a winner.

Tomorrow the fun will continue with a half day of work and the arrival of my little brother.This is probably the best part of my week. I love having my brother in Boston, and I know he's looking forward to the break from school. I found him to be a huge pain for the majority of my childhood, but now he's pretty great to have around. :)

my little brother, looking super cool at the wedding

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are a mass coordination of working around people's schedules to see everyone and eat too much. I'm in charge of making cupcakes for my Dad's party...I need to not forget that. I am really looking forward to Christmas morning though. Even though neither of my parents will be present for the first time ever, my siblings and I (along with the hubs) are going to make the most of it...complete with fake fireplace compliments of Comcast OnDemand and egg sandwiches. Who wouldn't be excited for this time of year?

Love/Hate

This morning was one of those days that crawling back into bed and starting again seems like the best option. It was the kind of morning where I hate the city that I live in and really love so much. And it's a Monday. It's a lose-lose-lose kind of morning.

It started with my alarm being too quiet. I guess in the madness of waking up at 4am yesterday to take the hubs to the airport, the alarm was turned down (who knows how), so this morning it went off for a good 1/2 hour before I woke up. I had ear plugs in (Mass Ave is SO incredibly loud when it's rainy, so I often bust out the plugs), so the quiet alarm was just not cutting it. It was the jack hammering outside my window that was loud enough to wake me. WHY Boston, must you constantly find awful times to jack hammer on the already too loud street I live on? Not the most pleasant wake-up call at all, and not even an on time one. I set the alarm intentionally early because I love to snooze, but at this point I'm running 20 minutes late.

Rushing to get ready, I come to the realization that we have no hot water. Awesome. Some times when too many of the apartments are showering at the same time the water is just a little too cool, so I figured I'd wait, get lunch ready and try again. No success. There is just no hot water. Well it's 7:30am...can I call the landlord this early? He doesn't ever call me back anyway...he LOVES the hubs and so I stay out of the landlord-tenant convos at all costs, but today I have no choice. I decide 8am is a decent time to call, heat up some water on the stove to wash my face and clean up a little with, and go on getting ready. I try the water again, still nothing. I call the landlord, no answer. Oh well. It's off to work with yesterday hair.

Out the door and first thing I do is spill coffee down the front of my jacket.What a day to not have a husband to laugh at you/make things better.

I'm hoping that it doesn't turn into one of those "days" and just stays "one of those mornings." So far work has been fairly uneventful, so I'm hoping for the best...

My Grown-up Christmas Wish

Dear Santa, I have been good all year, I promise. I would be really grateful if you'd bring me a few things....

1. A new couch. The one we have was free and has served us well (it's even still in great condition and will most definitely have a good home after ours), but it's not super comfortable and I'd like something squishier (that's still a sleeper! We have lots of guests in Boston!)

2. A Garmin Forerunner 205. I'm just getting into running more, and I would love one of these babies to keep me on track. It would definitely help me reach some running goals I've set for myself, and that's always a bonus.

3. Some nice new fluffy slippers. I love my slippers. I wear them around the apartment whenever I'm home...even in the summer! But the ones I have are a little worn down and I'd love some newer fluffier ones...likes these amazing ones from Brookstone (teddy bear not required).

4. And if you're feeling REALLY generous, I'd love a new camera. The one the hubs got me for a wedding present is wonderful and I love it. It's perfectly pocket sized and takes great pictures, but not the pictures that a DSLR could take. I love the Nikon D60s. Maybe with a strap too?

Thanks a million.

Love, Maddie



 



Images from here, here, here, and here.

Maine is Cold

We had a holiday fun filled weekend. We picked out and cut down a tree, saw Santa on a lobster boat, and did a little shopping. It was a really good time, but it was cold. Turns out it's pretty chilly in Maine in December.

the view is just as good in the winter as it was on our honeymoon

 our tree is so little the hubs could haul her off with one hand

Santa arrives in Maine style...on a lobster boat

back in Boston, all dressed up!

One of the nicest things about this weekend was being right back where we had our honeymoon. It is such a relaxing place, and we have such wonderful memories from the summer that it just made the weekend that much better. It's nice knowing that we'll be able to visit the spots where we got married and where we honeymooned as frequently as we'd like. I didn't realize how much of a bonus that is :)

December to Remember

This month I will try my best to remember to blog. A lot of fun stuff goes on during the holidays, and hopefully I'll have something exciting to mention here.

I am excited that it is officially December. I do not feel badly listening to Christmas music in December or hanging up our lights (which we did Monday, oh well!) I'm so excited to get a tree and dive head first into the holiday season. I love Christmas...and not just because of the presents. The parties, the decorations, the family, and the lights! How can you not love it?

This December will be a little different, as the hubs is going to New Mexico solo. We both went last year for Christmas, so this year we're spending the real day with my family. But he couldn't NOT see his family some time near Christmas, so he'll be gone for a week. I couldn't go this time because I am fresh out of vacation days thanks to the multiple trips we took in 2010, and New Mexico is a little far to go for a weekend. He hasn't gone to NM without me in a few years, but I think he'll survive :) Me? I'll be just fine. Although many of my dinners may come from the microwave, I am looking forward to complete reign over the remote control. And I'll be making my own mini-vacation to Washington DC to visit my non-Welsh friend from Wales. I'm pretty psyched.

Until then I'll be surviving work days to make it home to Christmas fun...like making snow flakes!

Thankful

I have a lot to be thankful for in life. One thing I can be thankful for is no one caring if I blog on a regular basis or not :)

With Thanksgiving just a few days away it seems as though I, like so many other people, should give thanks for the wonderful things in my life. There are far too many things to list them all here...like water, air, health, an apartment to live in etc....so I'll just give you one super important one... 


My family. Cliche, I know, but I am. I love them. They are so wonderful and supportive and some of my closest friends. Life would be hard without them. Husband included in this, of course :)


I'm so ready to eat turkey...And only work two days this week.

Brrrrr It's Cold in Here

It's really darn cold in my apartment. After two years of living here, I'm still not sure when the heat turns on...or what it's set to...or how darn cold it has to get in here before it comes on, but it's apparently not cold enough yet! I just hope it doesn't get worse as the weather does...

It's all fine and good to look for an apartment with heat included in the rent, but it's definitely worth it to pay if you get to control the heat. Right now I would turn it on to take the edge off...so that maybe my fingers wouldn't feel like they were going to fall off. I had a great dinner out with a friend tonight, but we stood in the cold and chatted for too long afterward, and now I can't seem to warm up! I liked it a lot better when it was 70 degrees during the day and 50 at night...instead of this 50 during the day and 30 at night!

I know that people deal with this all winter long. I know that there are people who don't have heat ever, not just fussy heat like mine. I know that the cost of oil is high and some people won't be able to buy it. I am so fortunately to not be one of those people. I am lucky, and I know that, but I just felt like complaining. Sorry.

Appalled

I'm not one to get too heated about anything going on in the media, but this is ridiculous. A few weeks ago, Marie Claire (the big magazine) posted an article about healthy living blogs. Apparently, they don't think these blog are healthy. They think that women showing how they have personally chosen to live their life is not portraying reality. We are not all marathon runners, so we can read these blogs? Some of us require a higher calorie intake on a daily basis, so we can enjoy some healthy recipes? I can see if I were to try to mimic these women's diets and exercise habits exactly that it would not be healthy for me, but I can't image that TOO many people actually do that. So why is MC slamming a great resource for people who are looking to make their lives better health wise?

Now that might not seem THAT bad, but Marie Claire also found it ok to publish an article about plus-size actors being gross to watch. The article was referencing the new show "Mike and Molly," which I have not seen, but apparently the author of this article couldn't stand to watch two morbidly obese people with "rolls and rolls of fat" making out. SERIOUSLY? First off, that's so rude. Maybe it's not the best show ever, and maybe it's not the typical hot people pouring themselves onto each other in unrealistic sex scenes, but there is NO NEED to describe it with such disgust. Get over yourself and watch something else. Second of all, do you stand for anything good Marie Claire? Healthy living blogs are no good. Overweight people on TV are no good. Don't be healthy, don't have a sex life if you're big.

It's such crap that a reputable magazine would be willing to run either one of these stories. I completely understand that the life style of these bloggers would not be healthy for everyone...nor is being overweight...but why on earth would you make these things out to be SO negative? How about running an article with some good advice instead of just trashing other people?

Moral of the story, don't buy Marie Claire.

*both these articles can be found online. I didn't bother putting up the links because I don't really want to give Marie Claire the benefit of any more web traffic.

Falling Off the Wagon

I have never been that good at blogging. I got through times when I'm really on top of it and keep people updated all the time, and other times (like recently) where I fall right off the back of the wagon. Oops. Time to try to catch up with the hay ride and jump back on...

It's fall here in Massachusetts, and it's gorgeous. I didn't really notice it until I left the city last weekend to visit my grandparents. It's obviously fall in the city too, but we do not have the amazing leaf colors they have out in the suburbs. I couldn't believe that the colors were changing that brightly without me having noticed at all. The tree outside my apartment is still a shade of greenish-yellow. There are oranges and reds out there! It was beautiful. (Yes, I'm from New England, but I'm a closet leaf peeper. Don't hate).

Today will be a wonderfully fall day of laundry and possibly pumpkin carving with my Gramma. I also need to work on my Halloween costume...I have no idea what I'm going to be....

New Month and Vacation

All of a sudden, it's October! I feel like it came out of no where, and now it's already almost two weeks in.  It's amazing how fast this year is going. At least this month has been good so far.

Last week we were in New Mexico. We went for this:

We had an awesome week and did a lot in the Southwest that we'd never done before, even though we lived there for four years. It was really fun to be a tourist.

We went to Four Corners...

We went to Santa Fe on the train, and even had the most amazing frozen yogurt place in Nob Hill. The most exciting part of the trip for me was hiking up these bad boys:

The top is 10,378 feet up. We started the hike around 6,000 feet and made our way up. It was an intense hike, but it was amazing. The views along were worth it, let alone the amazing feeling of having made it to the top. Just last year I probably wouldn't have made it more than two miles in, and two years ago I would have never even tired. But I did it. It took a while, and I wanted to go back down more than once. But it was so worth it, and I'm so happy we made the decision to do it.

Now we're home, with a some what less spectacular view, and back to the grind. I'm happy to be home and feeling the crisp fall air here in the city. I love being on vacation, and I absolutely love New Mexico, but there's nothing like home and my own bed.

Working for the Weekend

I know it's only Monday, but I really want Saturday to be here. On Saturday, we'll be going to New Mexico! For a whole week! I'm so excited. I can't wait to be there and see the in-laws and the bff, and to have the hubs enjoying spicy food (he loves it and cannot find good enough spice in Boston). 

Next Sunday we'll be out before the sun is even thinking about coming up to be at the Balloon Fiesta. We'll be strolling around freezing out butts off, drinking coffee and having breakfast burritos (no chilies on mine!) I absolutely LOVE the balloons and cannot get enough, which is why we try our best to be there in October every year. It's so worth getting up that early.


This year is an exciting trip because not only are we married this time, but the cousins-in-law are coming too! We went to FL with these cousins and camping this summer, among many other visits, so we know we're good travel buddies. They've never been to New Mexico, so it will be a whole new adventure for them. And we'll get to see the city all over again too. After living there for so long, and having our own favorite places, you forget that there are other things to see and do, and it will be nice to do them again (or for the first time). 


So now I just have to hope I can make it through the week. I'm headed out of work early today for an appointment, and then I plan on tackling the pile of laundry we've got. Not the most exciting afternoon, but once the clothes are clean I get to start packing them (no use putting them in the drawer instead of the suitcase)! And I love packing!

Issues with the State

On Saturday my new license arrived. I was so excited. It's fancy and new, and my picture is awesome. I was showing if off when my sister said, "did you notice they spelled Massachusetts wrong?"

I most definitely thought she was just joking around. The state of Massachusetts would not spell the state name wrong on their licenses! But oh...they did. I live on Massachusetts Ave...but according to my new license, I live on Massachusettes Ave. Really? Yup. Someone who works for the state, and probably sees the word spelled out a million times a day misspelled my address.

So I went online to seach the Mass RMV website for what to do when the information on your ID is incorrect. It says call the number. I called the number, waited on hold for a while, and spoke to a very pleasant woman who thought it was pretty hilarious (as do I) and told me I had to actually go to the RMV to have the change made and get a new license...all she could do for me was a change of address sticker for the back. I'm sorry, but I just got a BRAND NEW license. I don't want that dumb sticker on the back again.

So this morning I went. But I didn't fix the address. I am flying to New Mexico next Saturday and I could not risk not having another new ID come before then. So once I'm back I'll go to the RMV...again...for the third time in as many weeks. And next time I go their summer hours will be over, so they won't open until 9 and I'll have to be late for work. Awesome.

All because Massachusettes just isn't right.

Fall is in the Air

The crispness is here, and I could not be happier. The days are sunny and brisk and the night are perfect for sleeping. I absolutely LOVE the fall, and I'm so very happy that it's here.

Fall means some fun things. It means not going to work with wet hair anymore because it's COLD in the morning. It means pumpkin spice lattes. It means apple crisps and apple cider! It means wearing all the pretty scarves I have, and it's almost time for Ugg boots again! It means warm meals and curling up with books and tea. It means going to New Mexico to see the in-laws for balloon fiesta (in just 10 days! yayy!)

AND it means the start of the new seasons of TV! I'm most excited for America's Next Top Model, House, and Biggest Loser. I love the models and the medical drama, and BL always helps me stay motivated with my workouts (although I love the cold, I am the FIRST to admit that it can keep me curled up on the couch rather than at the gym).

Soon the leaves will be changing, pumpkins will be carved, and before we know it we'll be making hand turkeys!

All you Need is Love

The added bonus is when the person you love is an awesome cook. My friends and I have been eating so well recently because the hubs has been flexing his chef muscles and making us some amazing meals. We have a copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" that is his new bible, and I cannot complain. Not to mention, we have a slew of new cookware that makes the whole process a lot easier and more enjoyable than before. Our tiny kitchen is no long an obstacle, but a place where magic happens.

Last night we have the classic Julia Child meal of beef bourguignon. It took the hubs hours to prep it Wednesday night and it was absolutely delicious. Lucky for us, we have awesome friends willing to come share it with us, and watch Jeopardy, and reminisce about TV shows of our childhood. Do friends get better than that?

I've never been a very good cook, I do it because I have to. I am not horrible though, and I have definitely mastered the simple things, like meatball subs, fried eggs, and pasta dishes. But having someone at home who actually LOVES cooking, and just understands what herbs and spices would make a dish without reading in a recipe may be the best thing ever. I am so lucky, however, now even more lazy in the kitchen than I was before.

It's Official...

Today I survived the Social Security office and changed my name. Other than having to wait in line for longer than I would have cared to, it was a pretty painless process.

The painful process has already started though. There is SO much I have to change. My health insurance, my car insurance, my bank account, my student loans, my library card! I have a running list of all the things I'll have to change, and people keep reminding me of more. I almost considered not changing my name at all once I realized just how much there was to do. But I sucked it up :)

Wednesday, how do I Love Thee...

Let me count the ways...or just three ways...

1. America's Next Top Model started it's 15th cycle tonight. And ANTM means Wednesday nights with the girls just got that much more interesting. This cycle is much more high fashion and seems like it won't disappoint.

2. The hubs cooked dinner. I usually cook for the girls on Wednesday, but last night when discussing menu with the hubs, he had lots of good ideas and I had none, so he became the guest chef. And delivered a most fantastic meal.

3. I decided on my name. We did NOT, however, get our marriage license in the mail yet, so I still can't officially change it, but I have decided on what to change it to. After a lot of thought, and writing out all the options multiple times, I'm going the more tradition route. I love the name I was given by my parents. They chose my first and middle name to go together, and last names just happen (no one really picks that for us). So now I have a new last name that I also didn't pick, but the important stuff is all still intact. Mrs. First Middle new-last.

...like I said before, I just really like Wednesday. It once proved itself wonderful. Not to mention, September is definitely here and the cool air is coming. I couldn't be happier!

What's in a Name...

I don't know what to change my name to. Some people may think this is ridiculous, but I really don't know what to do.

To clarify, I will be taking the hubs' last name. There was never a question about that, and obviously I'm going to keep my first name the same. But what to do with the middle? Do I just go the traditional route and drop my last name completely, becoming mrs. first given-middle new-last? Or do lose the given middle and become mrs.first maiden new-last? OR do I go all out and become mrs. first given-middle maiden new-last?

It probably shouldn't be such an issue, but I really can't decide which to be. I like the name I've had all these years, and am reasonably attached to it, but at the same time, I'm married and very much want to take my husband's last name. So where is the compromise? I don't like the hyphens, so it's just a matter of me making up my mind.

Luckily, we haven't gotten our certified marriage license yet, so I don't have decide for another day or two...

Who Invited Earl?

I am so glad my wedding is not tomorrow. All those brides and all their planning ruined by a stupid Hurricane. I would be so annoyed. It's not just that it's going to rain on your wedding day, but it's going to be raining and windy, and your guests may have to evacuate. Sounds so romantic.

We will feel the effects of Earl up here on our honeymoon, but it's nothing we can't handle. We're just getting a little extra rain and wind. It is also making the waves SO amazing. We've been hitting the beach and boogie boarding. Turns out, I'm an awesome boogie boarder.

Today is our last full day on vacation. I love being on vacation. I'm not ready to head back to city life or to work. We are going to the Sox game on Sunday, so that is something to look forward to, but it's hard to want to leave the ocean!

Newly Wed

I am a married woman. Saturday was absolutely wonderful, and we successfully tied the knot. The day was not without a hitch, but the hitches were so small, no one really minded.

I loved everything about the day. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, but not a cloud in the sky. My dress and my hair were perfect. I left the decorations and flowers to the hubs and the uncle, and they totally came through. Everything I had envisioned for the day came to fruition and even more.

I started crying when my dad came to find me, and didn't stop the whole way down the isle. I was super nervous and had sweaty palms, but it was wonderful. The service, performed by a long time family friend of the hubs, was short and sweet. He said some beautiful things, and read "Union" by Robert Fulghum.

The food was great, and the keg of Octoberfest was a huge hit. We had wedding pie, and the hub's aunt made her famous doughnuts for us. The major hitch was the loss in the sound system, but we just pulled a suburban over to the tent, hooked up the iPod, and danced anyway. It was the absolutely perfect night, and I couldn't have been happier with how it all turned out.

Now we're in Maine, relaxing away. We went to the beach today and played in the awesome waves, thanks to Hurricane Earl. We went for a run, but the 94 degree weather prevented us from being out too long. It feels great to just sit back and enjoy being married. We've been surprised by champagne and flowers already, and I'm excited for the rest of the week.

I'm so happy and so in love. And if I had only remembered to have my sister check the mail for us this week, I'd have nothing to worry about.

T-Minus Four Days...

Wedding week is finally here. I've got so much to do that I can hardly focus, yet I feel oddly relaxed and ready. Our "To Do" list is short, and most of it couldn't have been done before this week anyway (like laundry and packing). It feels like maybe life should be more chaotic at this point, but I enjoy that it's not.

Tomorrow the hubs-to-be heads up to Vermont, and my bridesmaids arrive in the city. He's going to be there to greet his family, who all arrive tomorrow as well, and I'm going to party like it's my last night as a bachelorette. It's so weird to think that a whole year of planning has going into this. Saturday will be here and gone before we know it, and I'll forever be a Mrs. I'm so excited for all of it!

Things have just over all been going well. I was patient and it paid off. We'll see what happens next, but for now I'm going to enjoy the company of my best friends, party hard (but like a lady. I don't dance on bars or enjoy penis paraphernalia), and take a vacation! :D

Wednesday, Again!

The days are flying by. There are now only 10 (ten. TEN) until my wedding. HOLY COW. How did the year go by so quickly?

I'm so excited and so nervous all at the same time. Things are all falling into place, and I don't feel like anything is missing (even if it might not be finished yet), but I'm still nervous that it won't all come together. It's so real now. I've been thinking and planning and prepping for a year, and it's almost here!

A week from today my bridesmaids (minus the sister-in-law-to-be because she's only 10) will all be arriving in Boston and the wedding fun will start there! It's going to be an awesome weekend, and I just hope the weather holds out! It's been so nice almost every weekend this summer, so let's keep our fingers crossed that we're just as lucky! (Starting tomorrow the 28th will be on the 10 day forecast and I'll be able to start obsessively watching!)

The "To Do" list I created today is as long as my arm. Not to mention the packing list for the wedding weekend, and the honeymoon. There's so much to do and the days in which to do it are quickly running out! Don't be surprised if there isn't another post until next Wednesday!

A New Week

I love Wednesdays. It seems weird, and I know that, but Wednesday always has such fun stuff in store for me that I can't help loving it.

Wednesday is pretty much the start of the week for me. Because I always do the same thing on Wednesdays, it's easy to feel like it's my reset day. I'm not good at saying, "well I'll do this on Monday" because, honestly, who is productive on a Monday? But waking up and saying, "It's Wednesday. Let's start things off right" is much easier for me.

Today started of right, and so far so good...minus the gigantic headache I have that WILL NOT go away. But today is one of those days where I realize it's all in how you look at it. Obviously, I've always known that to be true, but what you know and what you put into practice are not always the same thing. And although I have not gotten any good news this week, and I have gotten a bit of bad news, it's nothing that I should break down over. Things are ok and they'll keep being ok. :)

Ohh and my wedding is in two and a half weeks! Which means that all my best friends will be in the same place for the first time since graduation! I'm so excited!

A Friendly Reminder

I was reminded this week that not all is lost. Not that I really thought ALL was lost, but a friend mentioned to me after my last post that I'd failed to mention all the great things that happened last week. And she's right. Even though I'm still waiting, I have a lot of things for which to be thankful.

Most specifically, last weekend my wonderful bridesmaids threw me a shower. It was lovely. Dear friends and family traveled from all over (as far as Washington DC and Vermont!) to be there with me, and even the weather was perfect. It was an afternoon spent well. There was even a life-size drawing of the hub-to-be for pin the kiss on the groom! It was so awesome, and made even better when my Gramma won the game!

And today. Today is the hubs-to-be's birthday! I love birthdays so much, especially his because I can go all out for him. In my family, on our birthdays, you wake up to a birthday chair. Meaning, your chair at the dinning room table is decorated with ribbons, streamers, and balloons, and you get a little something to unwrap at breakfast. Since we moved to Boston, I've carried on this tradition. Last year for the hubs-to-be's birthday, as well as for my sister's birthday (and I got one on mine too!) It's fun and just makes you feel special right from the get-go. He got a chair this morning, and his breakfast made for him! (I have killer egg sandwich making skills). And Tonight we're having dinner (made by him!) with our friends, and it will be wonderful.

I love the guy to pieces and I can't be anything but happy that I'm with him to celebrate today!

(please excuse the red eye. and his gigantic beard, which was trimmed yesterday, thanks goodness)

Trying to be Half Full

Sometimes I let myself get too far ahead. I get my hopes up and I let my imagination run wild with all the possibilities. And more often than not, I am let down. I end up feeling like I've lost something I never had in the first place. It's not the best trait I have and I know that, but it's a hard one to shake. Even when I tell myself that I won't do it this time, that this time will be different, I end up feeling disappointed.

Right now I'm dealing with the part where I tell myself not to get my hopes up. I am trying so hard not to think about the "what if's" and the "and then we could's." I haven't gotten the blow of defeat yet, but it's hard to believe that's not what's coming next.

Part if the problem is that I am terribly impatient (another quality of mine that I could stand to work on). I don't like waiting to find out. And since I have more time to think than I care to have the imagination comes into play. You see the problem? I am trying to stay positive. Tell myself that it's too soon to know anything, so just put it out of my head for now and be excited if something does happen, rather than be annoyed that nothing has as of yet. Not everyone works on my pace (or as quickly as I'd like) so I just have to "hang tight" and see what happens...

Good Morning Turned Bad

Maybe bad is too strong of a word. But the morning was going well, and now I've been thrown off for the whole day.

Let me explain. This morning, I woke up at 5am to run with the hubs-to-be. Although I wasn't excited about getting up, we did, and the weather was perfect for a run. We did our "long run" (not long to anyone else I'm sure) and made decent time. Or so I thought. We knew the mileage for our loop, but it didn't seem quite right because the "short" piece of it was taking us as long as the long piece. It definitely required looking into further.

So we got home, had breakfast, and the hubs-to-be headed out to work early. Unfortunately, he forgot to grab the trash to go out on his way out the door. So I figured I'd take it out when I left, hoping the trash truck hadn't come by that time. Well right as I was about to leave, I heard the truck in the next alley over from us. So I was off! (Only being able to take the trash out twice a week means it HAS to go out or we get smelly garbage).

Being that I left the house a little early, I took my time walk to the T, and even stopped to get coffee. It was while I was getting onto the T that I realized my day would be off. As I went to check the time, I realized I had no watch. Nor did I have my engagement ring. My heart sank. But I was already on the train and it was too late to go back. I NEVER forget my watch or ring, so I'm just feeling naked. I also have a small tattoo on my wrist that I don't care to flash around in the work setting, but I have no watch to hide it. So I guess it's just a bare day.

But it gets worse! When I got to work I used mapmyrun.com to see just how long our loop is, and it is shorter than we thought! The "long" part of the run is .1 less than we though (so .2 total because we do a loop), and the "short" part, is actually only .1 shorter than our long part! What a mess. And it added about a minute to what we thought we were averaging per mile. What a bummer.

So yeah. No ring. Short run. Feeling totally off.

A Crazy Week

This past week has been crazy. Totally and utterly nuts. I had things going on every night, and just could not for the weekend to arrive. Luckily it's been a good and relaxing one.

A few big things have happened this week, but I'm not sure how it will all play out. I can't go into much detail yet, but hopefully in the next few weeks it will all come to fruition.

This week was good for me though. I had been feeling (and still do to a lesser degree) in a bit of a funk. I'm a little bored with life...from work to work outs. I needed to change things up. Luckily being busy this week and getting a few interesting emails helped, but I'm still not feeling like myself completely, but I think a couple more busy days and some simple changes in my routine and I'll be good. At least I hope.

Hate Mail

Here are a few letters I'd like to send...

Dear bugs that bit me while I slept,

F-you. I have three large welts because of you. And one is ON MY FACE. You gross bugs were crawling on my face while I slept and I hate you. These damn bites are painful too. Because of you I look like someone punched me in the forehead. Get the hell out of my bedroom.

-------

Dear gaggle of pre-teen dancers on the T this morning,

SHUT UP. I do not care that there is a boy dancer to flirt with, and I do not want to hear your insestant giggling. NO ONE is excited that you memorized the boy's dance by watching his class once, nor do we want to see you do it during our morning commute. I am on my way to work and would appreciate a few more minutes of quiet. Next time you're on the train at rush hour, put a ballet slipper in it.

-------

Dear people who have not yet RSVPed to my wedding,

PLEASE send in your cards. I don't want to be the annoying bride who calls everyone to check in, but I really need to know asap if you're coming or not. I've already stamped those little cards for you, so just fill them out and drop them in the mail box. Please. So I can move ahead with the preparations for my wedding that is SIX WEEKS AWAY. Thanks a bunch.

-------

TGIF.

Will it Ever Break?

It's still really hot. I know I already posted about how hot it is, but oh my goodness it's SO hot.  The hubs-to-be and I made the mistake of going for a run outside this morning when it was almost raining, but not really, so basically just REALLY humid.It was not our best run ever, needless to say...I'm not sure if I'll ever stop sweating.

This week is going by slowly. It's almost painful. The heat is part of it, but the full work of work is part of it too. I like the four day weeks better. My days of work are much fuller that way. At least the week is half over today.

This weekend is another VT weekend! We're going to the Vermont Brewers Festival to drink our fill (or tickets worth) of Vermont brewed beer, and see the cousins. Hopefully there will be a trip to the lake at some point in the weekend too. I enjoy getting out of the city in the heat, even though the AC in my car is busted.

Holy Heat Wave

It has been so hot in Boston. Unbearably hot at times. We went to the movies two nights this week for the AC, and have not eaten dinner at home. Although we don't usually go out this much, it's far too hot to be in our apartment. It's worth the few extra meals out to not make the apartment hotter by turning on the stove.

Sleeping is probably the worst. Yesterday morning, after being uncomfortable and sweaty all night, the hubs-to-be got up early to get ready for work. He found the living room to be several degrees cooler, so he sweetly woke me up and suggested I relocate to the couch for a bit. And oh was it wonderful. I slept better in the hour on the couch than I had all night.

So last night we slept in the living room. We have a pull-out couch that's actually comfortable, so it wasn't a horrible idea. The living room is loud because of the windows and us living on a VERY busy street, but a pair of earplugs later, and I was sound asleep. And not sweating. And I feel like a million bucks today.

Although I did leave the house wearing my slippers...not sure what that says about my good night's sleep...

Weekend of Wonderful

This weekend was absolutely fabulous. I don't think we could have asked for a better weekend, weather-wise or fun wise.

The James Taylor and Carole King concert was wonderful. The two perform so well together, and this weekend was no exception. They had great energy and it just perfect. I was so happy to be there and enjoyed every song.

We got engaged in the same place under this same umbrella last summer. Thankfully this year we used it for the sun, not the pouring rain again :)

Then we hopped the Downeaster up to Maine and spent the rest of the weekend with my family. We had a cookout, spent some time on the beach, watched fireworks, and went for a really hot, sweaty run. Despite our train home being delayed last night and not getting home until 11:30pm, it was awesome. We're actually going there for our honeymoon! It will be so wonderful and relaxing.

2010 is Half Over

I know it say it almost every month, but where did the time go? How can it possibly be 4th of July weekend already? How is it that my wedding is just two months away? Crazy.

Yesterday I started to write a post about a couple things that were annoying me. I was just bothered all day. But because of work being busy, I never got around to posting. And I'm glad I didn't. Not because I had anything really bad to say, but because I'm not annoyed today and it would have been a wasted post.

Instead, I'm feeling good. The weather is perfect, I got to go for a run outside this morning with the hubs-to-be, and it's Thursday, so I'm volunteering at the hospital this afternoon. All wonderful things.

And it's almost the 4th! I LOVE the 4th of July. It's my favorite holiday...followed very closely by the general holiday season in the fall/winter because I love pumpkin lattes and making paper snowflakes...but anyway...yes. I love Independence Day. Not because I have a seriously deep love for America, I could take it or leave it really, but I love love love fireworks. I love laying in the dark and feeling the explosions so close it vibrates your chest. I love being with family and lighting sparklers. Oh and I love hot dogs, so any excuse to eat them is fine with me.

I'm so excited for this weekend! We're going to the James Taylor and Carole King concert on Saturday and Maine for the holiday! And the forecast looks wonderful. No need for negativity here!

The Weather and the Wedding

I am not a fan of summer in Massachusetts. Yes, I grew up here with these same kind of summers, and yes, I chose to move back here from a much drier climate. Regardless, I do not enjoy the humidity.

The hubs-to-be and I don't have an air conditioner. It's never been on our list of things to purchase. Those things cost quite a chunk of change, and we only have three windows, so why block one with a bulky AC? We do pretty well with just the fan and the slight (and I mean SLIGHT) breeze off the river. But there are certain times...like tonight...where I sit as close to the fan as I can get without losing a finger and am still sweating,  that I wish we had one.

So far, the summer hasn't been too bad though. We've been traveling a lot (just around the area) and are even going camping this weekend. Me sleep in a tent in the outdoors? Yes! I used to do it all the time when I was a kid, so I'm actually pretty excited for it. We'll see what actually happens, but we have an air mattress, so how bad could it really be?

This past weekend we went home for Father's Day. It was a delightful time, and best of all, I got to see my wedding dress!! It's being handmade for me, so I haven't even tried it on before. I was a little nervous, but it turned out so well. I just *knew* when I put it on that it was my dress. The dress. I'm so happy :)

So for now I'll be happy about my dress and our wedding plans...and maybe next year we'll get an AC...or maybe when we have more windows...

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Ok, so I'm not really short a dollar for anything, but I am a day later than promised with the pictures. Yesterday got busy, and today I was away from my desk for a good portion of the day. Regardless, here are some shots from my crazy busy weekend.

We started our weekend with PRIDE 2010. I made a rainbow cake...also know as a gayke. It's my second year making one, and it's a pretty huge hit.

mixing the colors. thank goodness for rainbow colored ikea bowls to keep everything in order.

 the finished product. so festive.

We also went to the baseball game again. I love going to the Red Sox games, but we had to sit in the rain and I was not all that excited about that. But it was a good game and we always enjoy being at Fenway.

  the hubs-to-be and his huge play-offs beard love the rain more that I do.

On Sunday I went for a walk. A 7 mile walk, actually. For Children's Hospital in Boston. We had a great time, even though it was misty and humid. There were lots of families out and it was great to see some of the kids who were benefiting from our efforts.

the girls and me after the walk. i had to fix my hair before the picture tho...so much frizz.

 awesome people walking for the healthy kids :)

So there's a short recap of the busy weekend. Tomorrow we're having a holiday party. We have to cook and dress for any holiday. I'm busting out the corned beef skills again and doing a St. Patty's rerun. I'm pretty excited. And it's Father's Day, so I'll get to see my amazing dad. Should be fun. I'm just SO glad tomorrow is FINALLY Friday!

Tuesday?

It's Tuesday, but it definitely feels like it could be Thursday. I had a busy busy weekend and went nonstop, but it was fun. Pictures tomorrow, promise.

The Joys of Life

I am pretty sure I have the best friends anyone could ask for. They are fun, trustworthy, interesting, and supportive. Despite where they live, they are always there for me. To cry with, or to laugh with.

Tonight, we laughed. We had a fantastic meal, and watched horrible movies on FX because no one wanted to change the channel. Our hosts have a pesky apartment mouse they've so sweetly named Rosco. I'm pretty sure if they're able to catch him, they'll want to keep him as a pet. The boys talked physics and we closed the night with Nerf guns.

Does it get any better?

Wide Open Spaces

Our apartment feels huge. There are no extra people, but more importantly there is no extra stuff. The floor is terribly dirty where it all used to sit, but the stuff itself is gone. We're not really sure what to do with ourselves at this point.

The wedding invitations are done. DONE. Licked, sealed, stamped, and sent. I'm SO glad they're done. I really love that we made them ourselves, but it was a lot of work, and I'm glad to have one less thing to worry about! Now it will be the organization of the response cards I guess...

Hopefully I'll feel more normal this week. I got to catch up on some sleep yesterday and felt rested for my way too early in the morning gym session. The temps in the city have FINALLY cooled off, and the humidity is no longer 90%, so I plan on enjoying a little evening fresh air while I do some laundry. As it turns out, I really enjoy my daily grind.

Alone Time

Tonight we will have no house guests. It's the first time since March that no one else will be at the apartment. Just the hubs-to-be and me. I'm so excited for it.

The in-laws-to-be came in last week, and it's been fun having them around. We've done some fun Boston stuff, and spent time in Vermont (with a stop at the Ben and Jerry's factory!) They're here until Sunday, but are spending two nights down the Cape, so we're on our own. My sister moved out of our living room and into her own place this weekend too, so even she doesn't need our couch. (This I am pretty sad about. I loved having my sister with us. Luckily her new place is only a few blocks away!)

So what will two young, vibrant, engaged people be doing tonight in our alone time? Why, working on our wedding invitations and cleaning our apartment of course! I wanted to mail the invitations yesterday, but it just wasn't going to happen. The arrival of the family came too quickly and there was just no time. So now our two nights alone will be spent doing arts and crafts. And cleaning. Lots of cleaning. It's hard to really get a good deep clean when the apartment is stuffed with people and their stuff.

It may not be the most exciting plan for time alone, but mostly just the lack of other people will be nice. We've been missing that quiet couple time we'd been so used to. It will be nice to have it back, even though we do love having family around.

Summer is Here

The last two days have been close to 90 degrees. For me, that's too hot. Especially in Massachusetts where the humidity makes the air feel thick. You sweat just thinking about going outside. I hope these few days isn't a projection of what the summer is going to be like. It's only May, and I don't think I can handle three more months of this. Personally, I'd like another month of mid to high 70s first. Here's to hoping...

Despite these last hot days, the weekend brought perfect weather, and I spent a good majority of it outside. I went on a hike (read: nature walk) with two of my friends, and I volunteered at the Run for Home Base 9K on Sunday. After the race I got to walk around the warning track at Fenway park, and it was pretty much the coolest thing ever. Lindsay even stole some dirt.

Overall, it was an awesome weekend. I'm looking forward to the upcoming one as well, since we'll be in Vermont, and it's a long weekend! Oh annnd my mother-in-law-to-be and sister-in-law-to-be arrive this afternoon! Too bad my apartment isn't as clean as I'd like...

Right Place, Right Time

Wednesday night I found myself at the Red Sox game. I had planned on spending the night at home, watching the Biggest Loser from the night before and maybe having eggs for dinner, if I even got that creative. But after work I went to Happy Hour for a friend's birthday and ended up getting free tickets to the Sox game that night. Even though it rained and was a little cold, the seats were amazing and it was worth being damp for a few hours.

I took my sister, since the hubs-to-be was M.I.A. and we enjoyed a hot dog and a beer. I have never sat so close to the field, and I cannot thank the guy at the bar who didn't want his tickets  enough (he works for East Coast Tickets and so generously gave them to me). I was the only one at the table who didn't have something else already planned for the evening, and I'm glad I didn't! It worked out perfectly that I could go and I had a great time. It was really a classic right place, right time moment!

Getting Closer...

Our wedding in three months and 10 days away. It's getting SO much closer! We've been knocking things off the to-do list left and right, now that the hubs-to-be has finished school for the semester. I love being productive.

I feel like our list of things to do may be longer than the average wedding planners because we're going the DIY route. From homemade save-the-dates and invitations, to the centerpieces, to the iPod play list. Even my dress is homemade (thanks to my dad's awesome wife). As it gets closer, I'm definitely getting more excited, but also trying not to go into panic mode. Three months is plenty of time...I think...but we have a lot to do. Last night we picked out our wedding bands, which was a huge thing on the to do list. It was fun to actually ring shop with the hubs-to-be (since I didn't help with the engagement ring, he did a great job all on his own), and now it feels even more real. Now I know that when we say "I do" he'll be slipping a wonderful band on my finger, not a twist-tie that says "I owe you one." The next big thing is getting the invitations out by the end of the month...

In other news, there is no news. Meaning, we still don't know if we'll be moving this year or not. We heard from our landlord yesterday, saying he wanted us to move into the three-bedroom place he has, since we're such good tenants and the last people trashed it, but it's just not something we can swing on our own. So we wait. I've still got all my fingers and toes cross, but it will still be a while until we know!

For our current apartment, I'm starting the spring-into-summer cleaning process. It's time to purge the closet, and clean up the place...just in case we have to pack and move! The wonderful duo (now trio! congrats!) over at Young House Love have great tips for organizing, redecorating, and making your own cleaning products, so I've been reading up to stay on top of my game. (I actually found their site by searching for "backyard weddings" but I love their DYI in a budget-friendly way approach to everything. I highly suggest checking it out). The real motivation for cleaning (since the move is really an unknown at this point) is to get a super clean house before my mother-in-law-to-be and sister-in-law-to-be get into town next week! We're so excited for their visit, but I really want the place looking great. Hopefully I can make it happen!

A Little Late

I know I'm late on posting about New Mexico. It was a fun trip, but a busy week when I got back and I just didn't have time. Missing two days of work is tough...I came back to quite the large pile of packages on my desk and haven't been able to get out from under them...even a week later.

The trip was worth it though. I got to see the bff and the in-laws-to-be. The weather was awful (and I miss the crazy warm Boston weather), so the race was FREEZING, but we managed. I was happy with my time, even though it's not an impressive one compared to anyone else. We didn't make it to the zoo because of the weather, but there was good baseball time and shopping. I just love New Mexico so much. It's hard to be away for too long.

Isotopes park at sunset

fireworks after the baseball game

some shots from the race. crowded start line, the bff and her bf finishing, me finishing and a post race picture (once we finally got some coffee).

On an unrelated to New Mexico note, the hubs-to-be and I FINALLY figured out our moving/living situation for next year. We're in our lease until September 1, and we're getting married the weekend before, so poor planning on our part, but we want to move. We need more space but we weren't sure we'd be able to move anyway due to the deposits etc required since we're paying for said wedding the weekend before. So, after a long talk of moving/not moving/breaking our lease/subletting, we decided we'll stay in our place for another year, unless the one bed in the building next door becomes available. It's the same landlord, so we won't have to do any new deposits, or  applications or anything. It would still require us to move four days after getting married, but it's bigger and nicer and only one building over, so it would be totally worth it. The catch is, the landlord doesn't know if the current tenant will renew or not. She just hasn't gotten back to him yet. We're crossing our fingers that she's moving on, because we want to move in! Hopefully we'll find out this week...

And There Goes April...

Four months of this year are gone already. It's hard to believe the year is going by so quickly, but at least it was been a good four months!

In this post at the beginning of the year, I listed a lot of things I was looking forward to and some goals. At this point in the year, I'm doing pretty well. I didn't get to go down to the Gulf, but I am running the 5K this weekend in New Mexico! I know it will be hard, but I'm ready, and I'm excited.

I'm just looking forward to this weekend in general. The time away from the city is always nice, and I miss Albuquerque. I haven't been there since Christmas, and probably won't be there again until October, so it will be a nice visit. I'm looking forward to seeing the girls too. Since the hubs-to-be is hunkering down for finals week, he isn't coming with me. This means we're not staying with his family, but instead I'm staying with the BFF, and there won't be so much required family time. Don't get me wrong, I have some fantastic in-laws, but I always feel like I miss out on friend time.This weekend is all about the friend time. :)

Hopefully I'll have awesome pictures to post when I get back!