Happy 2012!

Hi friends, can't believe it's already almost a full month into 2012 - this past fall and winter just flew by!!

A few updates on what has been going on recently (or at least since I last updated!):

SUPER Scrapple! Taking the world by storm!

• Halloween happened - aka the greatest holiday of the year to humiliate your dog (whatever, he secretly loved being Superman for the day) and to have an excuse as a 26 year old to dress like a bumblebee. A couple of friends and I took Scrapple to a winery in the area for an afternoon of costume contests and wine tasting. We wound up getting too caught up in our wine tasting and girly conversation to actually ENTER Scrapple into any contests but he was absolutely the winner in my mind. Halloween was spent between two separate parties (and two separate costumes, obviously!) Any chance to see good friends is a success in my mind.

Happy Halloween! It's still up for debate on what Bill's Halloween costume was on this night of festivities...

• Not too long after Halloween it was the University of Delaware's homecoming weekend. I hadn't been back to campus in about two years and Bill had never been to a Blue Hens football game so we were due. It was great to organize a tailgate with Nicole, Michele, Toni, Ang, and Amanda and for us to all spend time together catching up. The icing on the cake was that UD won the football game!

Go Blue Hens! Kicking the morning off at our stellar tailgate

Tailgating planning partner in crime

Watching the game with the girls :)

• Somewhere in between Halloween and UD Homecoming one of my best friend's from high school, Jen, got engaged. She wound up planning the wedding in a two month time span due to her dad being deployed to Afghanistan for a lengthy period of time and her and Mike got married on January 6th. I was thrilled to be a bridesmaid in their wedding which was a blast. However, this meant a lot of time in the fall was spent researching wedding invites, shower favors, and airfares to upstate NY. For Jen though? Anything to make her day special.

The lovely bride-to-be and me at her bridal shower

Jenn and I ready to hit the town for Jen's bachelorette party!

Bill & I at Jen's wedding

The girls from the bridal party

• Somewhere ELSE along in there we celebrated Thanksgiving with Bill's family in Philly; celebrated Christmas with both Bill's and my families - split between Philly -->upstate NY --> Philly, and also celebrated New Year's with good friends in their new house in the DC area. Even though it created some interesting family conversations about how things would be in the future for both Bill and I, we were were both SO glad to spend the holidays together even if it meant a little more travel. I'm realizing there's a delicate balance that has to be walked in order to ensure one family doesn't feel like they are getting the short end of the stick with seeing us at the holidays and I think we did the very best we could. I will state, however, that this will be the last Christmas Day I spend riding an Amtrak train from one house to another (no offense to Amtrak, it was flawless - there are just other things I'd prefer to be doing on that day!)

There are lot more exciting things coming up in 2012 including my family visiting this weekend, Bill and I celebrating our two year anniversary in February, running my very first 5K in April, renting a beach house in Dewey this summer, and Bill & I moving in together shortly afterward. I'm sure 2012 will be a year full of changes and I couldn't possibly be more excited about it. Here's to a happy, prosperous 2012 to all! I hope it has treated everyone kindly so far :)

(P.S. Could you tell I recently discovered how to upload photos to my posts?!) :)

You know it's true love...

Bill and I often joke around about how you know when there's true love in your relationship. Neither of us are overly romantic (anyone watch the recent episode of "Whitney" where they try creeping each other out with totally gushy comments and actions? Yeah, that's us.) While little romantic gestures are great, here's my idea of "true love":

Top 10 List: You Know It's True Love When...

1. You get sent random flowers - just because.
2. Your boyfriend meets your parents for the first time - along with 20 other extended family members at the same time.
3. You're driven to the ER in the middle of a softball game that said boyfriend was playing in, or at 6AM when he's still on west coast time.
4. You ask your boyfriend what, if anything, he'd like to change in your relationship. And his reply is, "I'd like to try living together."
5. You're sent random puppy videos - just because he knows you like them. Even if the videos were accidentally sent to his co-worker first and they question them.
6. Your boyfriend watches you get a shot of intravenous medication in your @ss while in the ER and doesn't cringe. Not only that, but he knows when to hold your hair as you vomit in a trash can.
7. Your boyfriend takes the dog for his morning walk because he knows you like to sleep in. AND he returns with your favorite coffee, perfectly flavored.
8. You're told that you look your best when you're wearing leggings and a hoodie.
9. A portion of Christmas Day will be spent on an Amtrak train together to see both families.
10. Snuggling up on the couch and spending a completely lazy day together, without even having to say more than a few words every now and then is still a great way to communicate and spend time together.

My idea of "true love" probably isn't that of a lot of other people. But then again, it doesn't have to be :) It's what makes ME happy and not having to change who I am for someone is the best thing of all.

#Blogfail

I'm horrible at this whole blogging thing, let's be honest here. The days go by far too quickly to keep up with it on a regular basis and somehow another (almost) 8 months has gone by since I last wrote a blog post. Still, I love reading the blogs of every one of my friends each morning so here's some reading material for all of you. Since there's no sense in trying to recap 8 months, here's whats been going on...perhaps a list format will be better...

1. Last weekend Bill and I went to Cumberland, MD for the wedding of my friends Rob and Rachael. I was actually in the wedding party and it's the most fun I've had at a wedding in a very long time. There's something about seeing two people who are so obviously in love with each other that fills me with glee. I hope that on my wedding day I'm just as happy and gorgeous as Rachael was :) We (the wedding party) have had a lot of fun preparing for this big day - between a surprise engagment party almost a year and a half ago to a bachelorette party in the Outer Banks, NC several months ago to planning a bridal shower for DC friends and family to helping with little things like assembling the wedding programs - it's been great. I had SO much fun with the girls on the day of the wedding too since we all got our hair done, drank mimosas, and generally were giggly girls. Check out http://www.jamierphotography.com/2011/06/rachael-and-rob-maryland-wedding.html for some previews from the wedding photographer. Fortunately, the rain held off *just* long enough for their outdoor ceremony. Bill and I had a great time at the reception just being with good friends and dancing.

2. Bill adopted a dog that we named Scrapple (his original name was Sequin...way too girly for a male dog!) in January of this year. Even though Bill's name is officially on the adoption papers, I think of myself as a pseudo owner. It's been a lot of fun to take Scrapple on long walks and to the dog park. He's about 2 years old but still has a TON of energy in him and it isn't out of the norm to be woken up in the morning with a puppy paw on your face!

3. We're taking another road trip in about two weeks - Bill, Scrapple, and I - first stopping in Philly to catch a Phillies/Red Sox baseball game (go Sox!!!) and to see Bill's family. My dad is also driving down for the game and it's the first time he'll meet Bill's family which I'm sure will be a bit nerve wracking (for me, that is). I'm really excited for us to all go to the game though since there will be cheesesteaks and beers involved :) After the game we're heading up to upstate NY and my family's lake house in the Adirondack mountains for my brother's high school graduation party and my family reunion. It'll be a few days of crazy but so worth it. I can't wait for some ADK Mountain air and to be out on our boat - side bonus is seeing a ton of family and my closest friends from high school.

4. Speaking of graduating, my brother will be attending George Mason University (GMU) in NoVA for college. It's about a 20 minute drive from here so I'm really excited to be able to see him more frequently and hopefully catch some of his football games (he was recruited for their club team). There have been so many years that we haven't spent together that I'm hoping we can have a sibling relationship on a more adult level.

5. Erin and I renewed our lease at our apartment in Crystal City (Arlington, VA) so we'll be there for another year at least. I love our place and have recently discovered how awesome our outdoor pool is - we didnt get the chance to use it last year since things were so busy. I have one of the best roommates around and feel so lucky for that. She gets along so well with Bill and loves her furry roommate (Scrapple, not Bill) when comes for visits.

6. It will be interesting to see where the next year or so takes us. Exciting things are brewing for me job-wise which hopefully I can post on soon enough (now that I hope to post more regularly!).

7. Bill and I are heading to Aruba at the end of August for a 5 day trip and we're super excited about it. I told him that after our last trip to Las Vegas (which was great) I wanted a trip where I could just lay on the beach all day with a book and a drink with a mini umbrella in it. This should be a MUCH more relaxing trip (especially since I went to Vegas with three guys) and it's also the first real vacation that he and I will take where we aren't meeting other friends there nor is there a cheap way to call or get online. It will be bliss :) Our hotel has their own private island so I hope to get through at least a couple of books and return with an awesome tan!

Anyway, that's about all for now. I miss all of my friends that don't live in this area but there's always an open door and an empty couch if you'd like to visit the Washington, DC area!!

It's about time

I'm well overdue for a new blog post - by about 11 months, if we're counting. 2010 has been a pretty nutty year but I wouldn't take it back for anything. Life just feels like it has some sense of normalcy to it and that is comforting. For the first time in a long time I don't feel like I have any surprises being thrown my way; surprises in the sense of "oh, crap, didn't expect that to come" - and I'm 100% okay with it. However, there are still plenty of exciting moments in each and every day and that is what I'm grateful for.

Bill and I have been dating for almost 10 months and I am truly happy. Every relationship takes work and a bit of compromise here and there but 9 times out of 10 it's just so easy for us. Everything flows. And fits. I don't think I've ever had a relationship like that and it's one of the reasons I know this one is so good. I'm not a very gushy person but when you have someone that loves you so much and the feeling is mutual it's hard not to be that way on occasion.

Fortunately, Bill shares my love of traveling and we've done a decent amount of it together this year - including several trips to his hometown of Philly, upstate NY, Boston, Dewey Beach, San Francisco, and a planned vacation in January to Las Vegas. It's fun to have a travel companion and he definitely helps to calm me down as I stress over every little detail when it comes to flying or driving on long trips. (It's also an added bonus to have someone who can watch your luggage for you in the airport when you need to use the bathroom rather than trying to squeeze all your personal belongings into one tiny stall ;) ) I also think traveling together makes you pick up on your significant other's quirky habits. I for one, have been informed that it's not necessary to put a death grasp on the passenger side door each time it looks like we're coming too close to the car in front of us.

Being in a long(er) term relationship makes you consider the future a lot more and its one of the things that I remind myself isn't necessary to think about on a daily basis. Still, there's a lot of what ifs that float around and I'm curious to see how things pan out 5 years from now.

I moved into a new apartment at the end of July with a good friend of mine, Erin. She is a fantastic roommate and I am still in love with our place even though we've been here for 4 months now. It's so open and awesome to each have our own space. I'm fortunate enough to live with someone that is not only a roommate but also a friend. I also started a new job in September as a Catering Sales Manager (so if anyone is looking to get married, have a holiday party, or any other type of social event in the DC area, please let me know!) at a hotel located convienently across the street from my new apartment. The hours are significantly more stable than at my old job and the biggest benefit of all is there are no weekends to work. It makes having a life so much easier! Ironically enough, Erin and I also work together but still manage to lead separate lives and have zero drama at home. It's nice.

This past weekend, I spent about 5 days (including Thanksgiving) with Bill and his family up in Philadelphia. It was my 4th visit up to see his parents and brother but the first time I met any extended family. I celebrated my first Italian Thanksgiving with them and successfully managed to consume a 5 course meal without exploding. (Did you know you can make your own meatballs for Italian wedding soup?!? I had NO idea!!) We also both caught up with old friends and managed to hit up a brewery tour at Yards Brewing Company - a fun afternoon adventure for anyone close to Philly. We were also adventureous enough to head to King of Prussia Mall on Black Friday - which surprisingly wasn't a mob scene - and I was able to accomplish a good chunk of my Christmas shopping. One of the nights we just ordered in pizza and rented Toy Story 3 - great movie but be prepared to sob. Overall, it was a relaxing trip and nice to get away.

It's really tough to sum up 11 months in one blog post but all I can really say is in the spirit of the holidays, I am so incredibly grateful to have such wonderful friends, family, boyfriend, a job, and happiness. I wish you all holiday cheer!

2010

In 2010, I will be a better blogger.
In 2010, I will be a better friend and daughter.
In 2010, I will be better at setting aside time for hobbies.
In 2010, I will aim to have a better work/life balance.
In 2010, I will be more well organized.
In 2010, I will budget money more wisely.
In 2010, I will remember to send out birthday cards before the birthdays have passed.
In 2010, I will be more honest with myself and others.
In 2010, I will complain less.
In 2010, I will make steps to change the direction of my life.
In 2010, I will be a better person.

Cheers, 2010.

It's been a long time coming

I'm a pretty lucky person, at least when it comes to the traveling that I am able to do - and again, at least within the 2009 year. Sometimes when I'm just feeling sorry for myself about my job that I really can't stand, the location where I live, or for really no good reason at all other than a little self-pity, it's very necessary to take a step back and review all the good in the year. For me, I travel when I need that reminder of what "freedom" feels like. My job holds me back in so many ways that the second I get onto the open road or into an airplane I become a completely different person - someone that I used to be before corporate America stole my sense of freedom. Anyway, I've been incredibly fortunate this year to be able to do a lot of traveling. After thinking about it for awhile recently, I think that I've taken more flights this year than almost any other year of my life.
January - March: No flights - Though I did move into a new apartment, attend President Obama's Inauguration concert, celebrate my birthday with dear friends, travel to the Poconos for a weekend, get to have a weekend visit with Ang, my college roommate, and attend the DC Cherry Blossom Festival - to name a few things.
April - Flight to Ft. Lauderdale - 4 days in the sun with some fantastic friends. April was also the month of my very first Coldplay concert. Also started a new job in this month which definitely freed up my weekends!
May - Again, no flights (and the only month until the present where that is the case) - however, I did get to spend a long weekend in NYC and see my best friend graduate from law school; enjoy time on the lake/boat in Annapolis; go to a few bbqs; attend the Vintage Virginia Annual Wine Festival; and visit Shenandoah National Park for the first time ever.
June - June was hectic. No two ways about it. June started off with my flight of the month to Iowa so a wonderful weekend spent at our good family friend's 50th Anniversary Party; visiting with Amy (also in IA); Roadtrip to NY to see Dave Matthews Band; Relay for Life; and a Red Sox/Nationals baseball game in DC.
July - Flight of this month was to home in NY. My cousin got married and it was great to catch up with all the family and meet my newest cousin. I also managed to roadtrip to North Carolina for a long weekend to see Ang; attend an 80's cover band; say goodbye to a good friend moving away; visit the Annapolis beach/outlet shopping; and numerous wonderful nights and bottles of wine over the Bachelorette spent with good friends.
August - This was the big kahuna of flights for the year - SAN FRANCISCO. One word: amazing. August is still young but I've also taken a weekend roadtrip to Rehoboth Beach to see my godmother and her family. It has also held a weekend camping/tubing trip in the Shenadoah National Park region as well as holding the record for the month of the largest bruises I've ever had in my entire life. (Note to self: cliff jumping never ends well.) It'll also contain a baseball game and a couple of birthday celebrations.

The fall is still yet to come but September already has at least two weekends away and the flight of that month will be home to NY for Labor Day weekend. It'll also contain at least one weekend trip to Philly and possible another DMB concert. My flight of the month for October will most likely be to Boston to explore the next chapter of life for me - grad school. It will also hold a weekend roadtrip to NJ for my first "friend" wedding. So weird. November will be a long weekend spent in CT/NYC for ThanksChristmas and December will home again for the holidays and the looming due dates of grad school applications. Scary, but exhilarating all at once.

It's tough to think of how quickly a year can go by. It seems like we were just celebrating last Christmas and now the summer is almost over. I am so lucky....so very lucky.

It's all in the lyrics

I'm sitting here studying for my GREs with my iTunes library on shuffle and felt compelled to write this - not because I'm procrastinating (which I am...) but because it just struck me as funny. Funny how a single song can play and bring you right back to a particular moment in time, or a specific person. A few examples - no judging allowed on my music libary:
1) "Hardest Thing" (98 Degrees) reminds me of my best friend from high school and today. Though Jenn's favorite band was always the Backstreet Boys, any boy-band from that era make me think of her.
2) "She Will Be Loved" (Maroon 5), "This Year's Love" (David Grey), "From Such Great Heights" (The Postal Service), "Cop Stop" (Gavin DeGraw), "100 Years" (Five For Fighting), "Where Does the Good Go?" (Tegan & Sara) - ALL remind me of ex-boyfriends, crushes, or break-ups. Yet, they are still some of my all time favorites. Funny how that works...
3) "Bad Day" (Daniel Powter) is the song that will put me over the edge after a particularly rough day. Sometimes I even play it when I can feel myself becoming gloomy and in need of a good cry.
4) Alternatively, "Beautiful Day" (U2) can lift my mood at any moment.
5) Anything James Taylor reminds me of my very first concert with my Dad when I was 10.
6) "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Whitney Houston) reminds me of Klondike Kate's 80's night over my senior year of college when Christine and I used to tear up the dance floor with each other during the song - even though we both had boyfriends and they would be there with us, we always managed to ditch them for this song.
7) "Ants Marching" and "The Christmas Song" (DMB) were the best live songs of my very first Dave concert...and the better part was the entire arena singing along to them. They will forever remind me also of my freshman college roommate, Leah, who introduced me to Dave and also my friend Pat who knows the lyrics and chords to pretty much every Dave song out there.
8) "We Were Only Freshman" - Freshman Year of college. Nicole's photo montages. Enough said.

I love driving at night by myself with my music blaring and singing my lungs out with no one around to judge. That's my confession of the day.