Ready for fall

Confession time: I’ve never been a huge fan of summer. I’m a wimp when it comes to the heat and I hate bugs (though living in a 300+-year-old house has taught me to cope with the grossest of them). At the same time, I love the extra hours of daylight, camping, and feeling the sun on my skin.

As much as I enjoy those things, I love jeans and boots and cardigans and scarves a LOT more. I love fall beers with a passion unrivaled by many things. I love foliage and crisp mornings and evenings. I love pumpkins and apples and cider and cinnamon.

I’m ready for fall, and this one is shaping up to be a great one.

• Family trip to Seattle and the Puget Sound, immediately followed by a day of Wizarding World of Harry Potter (FINALLY!) and a trade show in Orlando.
• My first two half marathons
• Heading to VT for Dan’s 5-year college reunion
• Running  a race every weekend in October
• Heading to DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon 10k and cheer Dan on running the Marine Corps Marathon
• Thanksgiving. Yum.

Plus, I’m sure we’ll have other fun things like apple picking, and maybe we’ll actually have enough time to carve a pumpkin this year!

What’s your favorite season? Is there anything you’re looking forward to this fall?

8 months out!

It keeps getting closer and closer and closer! Just when I thought I was safe, I remember we’re getting married in 8 months and MOH K is getting married in 3 months!

To be honest, I don’t feel like a whole lot has happened in the 2 months since I last put together one of these types of updates, but let’s take a look.

• Engaged Couples Weekend- check!
• Photographer booked- check!
• Bridesmaids dresses ordered- check minus one!
• Registered- check! I owe you a post on this one… it was FUN!
• Bought my shoes x2- check! IOU another post.
• Gathered more details and options for honeymoon- check!
• Started wed-site- check! Won’t be showing you guys this one… sorry! Too many personal details.
• Likely decided on invitation style- check, I think
• Mum’s dress- check! Totally not in my purview, but thought it should be mentioned
• Followed up with DJ to start discussing plans- check! Meeting next week.
• Followed up with lighting company to get contract to sign- check! Will hear back next week (out of office).
• Totally slacked and did the previous two bullets this morning- check! (Whoops.)

Things that I mentioned in my last update post that we still haven’t worked out totally (or at all, if we’re being honest):

Sooner-rather-than-later timeline

• Decided on ceremony time– need to do ASAP
• Bands (rings)– to do this spring
• Ceremony details (readings, songs, etc.)– to start discussing in our next meeting w/our priest
• Figure out the flower plan- should really start thinking about this soon
• Programs- need to talk to the church, related to ceremony stuff
• Pick food options to have firmer prices for budgeting
• Finalize guest list, pursuant to point above (so we can figure out how many extra people we can afford)
• Decide if we’re doing beer or cider– if cider, get brewing now! It takes ~6 months to fully mature.
• Engagement photos– need to book for this spring

Don’t-sweat-quite-yet timeline

• Hotels
• Transportation
• Booze
• Tuxes
• Start booking honeymoon stuff- first gotta figure out how much time we’re gonna take
• Figure out the cake
• Think about chocolate fountain? Maybe?
• Find a new hairstylist for me– mine disappeared!
• Accessories and fun stuff, minus shoes
• Dress fittings
• Gifts for our peeps
• Rehearsal dinner plans

I should probably include a list of stuff we’re not doing:

• Save-the-dates
• Menu cards
• Separate escort cards
• Out-of-town bags
• Elaborate bathroom baskets– probably just the essentials, if that
• Custom napkins, drink stirrers, cupcake flags, or any other eating paraphernalia that’ll just get thrown away
• Any other miscellaneous tchotchkes that really don’t matter
• Freaking out about the gazillions of things we have to do. Weddings are supposed to be fun, people!

Did I forget anything?

These are a few of my favorite things…

Side note: I sang that for an audition in high school once. Got me in the musical.

I’m a fan of the “survey” type meme thingies (boy, am I descriptive) that float around the web, and in taking a mental break and perusing my Google Reader, I happened upon this post from Meg. I think she’s super-cool, though I’ve never met her in person. And she makes fab lists and surveys, so yay. Here’s another one, inspired by fashion magazines. Oh and another PS- she’s Canadian, but I left her spellings of “favourite” because they make me smile. Deal.

Your look:
Favourite clothing store to shop in? The Gap or Old Navy, but I get a lot from Target too
Favourite brand of jeans, or place to buy jeans? Gap Long and Lean jeans are my favorite. I have wicked long legs!
Favourite brand of shoe (and type of shoe)? I love my Ugg Classic Tall boots, and I love my LL Bean moccasins. Evidently, I love tan suede shoes with shearling lining. I can’t live without my black Reef flip flops in the summer, though!
Favourite brand of handbag? Vera Bradley, I guess… I’m not much into bags
Favourite clothing influence (relative, celebrity, something)? I don’t really have one– if I see something I like in the store or online, I might pick it up.
Favourite brand of running shoe? Asics? I don’t even know what brand my sneakers are!
Favourite accessory (scarves, rings, belts, hats, tiny dogs) and where you find it? I love, love, love my black hat. It’s Marmot, and I bought it at REI to replace an almost identical North Face one I lost I also love my carved leather belt with big-ass belt buckle, which I bought on our vacation in Steamboat upon realizing cowboy boots are freaking EXPENSIVE. My favorite accessory of all, though, is my engagement ring, of course!

Your feel:
Favourite body soap or wash?I usually use Olay bar soap, but I love experimenting. I rarely use the same thing twice in a row.
Favourite fragrance? For me, Vera Wang Princess. For the FI, Ralph Lauren Romance Silver. YUM.
Favourite moisturizer (face)? Neutrogena Daily Moisture or Tinted Moisturizer
Favourite moisturizer (body)? The Body Shop Shea Body Butter. I’m almost out!
Favourite lip balm (see? I made it unisex!)? Chapstick. I like the plain kind and Naturals kinds the best, and I almost always have one on me.
Favourite physical indulgence and where you indulge it (massage, long hot showers, pedicures, facials, etc.)? I take a screaming hot shower every morning (there’s no heat in the bathroom!), but I like to take longer ones at night sometimes. And I loooooove pedis. I’ve never had a massage or a facial, but would love to try.

Your surroundings:
Favourite place to be/live? I love being home with the FI. Even if he’s not there, it’s just so “us” and comfy. I’d love to give living in Colorado or Vermont a shot.
Favourite place to vacation? Colorado and Key West
Favourite sheets (fabric, thread count, brand if you want)? My jersey sheets in college were soooo comfy. Now I like the striped ones we have that don’t ride up on the bed and fall off.
Favourite architectural style? I like Colonial-style houses, but only if they have a farmer’s porch. I like Art Deco, too, like the Chrysler Building.
Favourite form of lighting (big windows, candlelight, overhead fluorescence)? Millions of enormous windows. I hate not having one right near me at work! Candlelight’s wonderful, though.
Favourite piece of furniture (bed, sofa, bathtub, etc.)? My bed. I love my bed more than a lot of things. At the end of the day, I love sinking into it and snuggling in. You know how much I love snuggling.
Favourite time of year/weather? I love the fall, which is why we’re getting married then, and I loooooove snow. Or bright, cold, sunny days.

BONUS: Your belly:
Favourite beverage: Beer or tea. The beer should be cold, but the tea can be hot or iced.
Favourite ethnic cuisine: Mexican food. Dios mio, me encantan las enchiladas.
Favourite snack food: Chocolate. Cheez-Its are pretty solid, too. Can’t go wrong.
Favourite meal: Brunch is kind of fantastic, but dinner also rocks pretty hardcore. And dessert. Hell, I just love eating.
Favourite breakfast: It definitely depends on the day. I’m a fan of French toast, but I also enjoy some good over-medium eggs with hashbrowns, bacon and toast. I want that for dinner now. Too bad we have neither hashbrowns nor bacon. Sad face.

What about YOU? What are some of your favorite things?

http://www.megfowler.com/2009/12/06/le-survey/http://www.megfowler.com/2009/12/06/le-survey/

Giving thanks

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, for those of us in the good ol’ US. It’s a good time to take stock of what really matters in life and be thankful for all we have. In no particular order, I’m thankful for…

• The FI, who is my best friend, biggest cheerleader, and probably the most patient man I’ve ever met. He makes me happier than I can ever possibly say, so you’ll have to trust me on that one. I can’t wait to be your wife. I Love You.
• Mum, Dad, and Lil’ Bro, who have always been there for me through it all, backing me up and reminding me that I can do anything. Love you guys.
• All my extended family (on both sides, and the FI’s family, too), who make me laugh, give me fun stories to tell, and put life in perspective. More love.
• All of my friends, who let me vent, make me laugh until I cry, and put up with my shenanigans with general good graces. This goes double for MOH K and MOH S– you ladies are the sisters I never had. You made my transition to a new school way easier than I could have thought possible, and remind me that there’s always time for a silly story.
• All the FI’s friends, who have become my friends over the years. You had him before I did, but I can’t thank you enough for being there for him when I couldn’t, and being the ones he could turn to when he has a crazy desire to hike the Presidential Mountain Range or run the Boston Marathon, things I’ll never do. As much as you think you might have made me exasperated with the lot of you, I miss you guys so much. Extra big hugs to GM R and GM M, who are in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. Cookies are on their way.
• My “Internet friends,” as the FI calls y’all. I haven’t met most of you, but the ones I have met are fab. Thanks for a welcome distraction when work gets to be a little too much. I’m almost always able to find a smile in my Twitter feed.
• Having a roof over my head.
• Having good health.
• My job, which allows me to afford said roof and resources to go out and have fun with everyone mentioned above.
• Beer. Yep, I went there. I am thankful for beer and all it entails. Drinking it, making it, talking about it, smelling it at a brewery… all happy things for me.
• Books, for giving me an escape from reality. Extra-super bonus points for the Harry Potter series, which never fails to put me right.
• This video of the Muppets covering Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Made my day!

I have a lot to be thankful for. It might be time to start giving thanks for the small things on a regular basis.

What are you thankful for?

Summer love

I’ll be the first to admit that summer really isn’t my favorite overall season. Shocker, I know. I love, love, love the changing New England seasons, and winter is my favorite. The lovely Meg Fowler, in her all her listing glory, has come up with another winner that I plan to steal for my own blog. She doesn’t mind.

What I love about summer

• Mini golf and ice cream at Richardson’s
• Summer dresses
• Sitting out on the porch with a cold beer (Sam Adams Summer Ale preferred) and a good book
• Margaritas
• Summer nights after hot days
• The smell of rain on hot pavement
• Grilling everything
• Ice cream all the time
• Flip flops
• Bare feet
• Sunshine
• Riding in The Jeep with the top down and doors off
• Weekend trips
• Spending time at Ossippee Lake, NH
• Going out on the boat and sitting at the sand bar all day
• The drive-in at Weirs Beach, NH
• Fans running
• Watermelon
• Stretching the office dress code (in a still-professional manner, of course)
• Windows open at night
• Tan lines
• Relay For Life
• Hammocks
• Going to the beach at night (Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea in particular)

What do you love about summer?

Things I Love

I really like Meg Fowler’s blog, and I follow her on Twitter, too. Never met her, but she seems like a really cool gal and has a fun online personality. So I stole this from her.

1. Song you love

“Yellow” by Coldplay is one of my all-time favorites. So is “Everlong,” by the Foo Fighters. I’ve seen them both performed live, and I’m reduced to a pile of mush every time.
2. Book you love

All of the Harry Potter series. I recently realized that I regard the characters as old friends, and I love that.
3. Type of cuisine you love

Mexican.
4. Beverage you love

A good craft-brewed hefeweizen beer.
5. Cookie you love

My mom’s chocolate chip cookies on the first day of school and my variation on them with cranberries and almonds.
6. Ice cream flavour you love

Rocky road and Phish Food.
7. Place you love to go

Anywhere with mountains. I always feel safe in the mountains, whether it’s New Hampshire, Vermont, or Colorado.
8. Thing you love to drive

Any car with a stick shift, since I feel like I should be in a chase scene in a spy movie.
9. Place you love to live

Good ol’ Middlesex League I’m loving our apartment right now– it’s really us.
10. Movie you love

“The Wedding Singer.”
11. Time in your life you loved

Now is kind of wicked awesome.
12. Person you love

The BF, naturally.
13. Cute picture of a baby animal you love (provide link)

I just want to eat him up: Teddy the Dachshund.
14. Item of clothing you love most (that you own)

My Steamboat sweatpants.
15. Way of relaxing you love best

For the summer: in a hammock with a book and a cold beer. For the winter: on the couch wrapped up in a blanket with a book and a Bailey’s-spiked hot cocoa. I might never remember what I read, but I have a good time anyway.

Turning things around

There’s something to be said about the power of positive thinking. I don’t know what that thing-to-be-said is, though, and that’s the problem.

I’m cynical and kind of a pessimist.

Or maybe it’s just lately. There are a few things that I’m just not satisfied with in my life right now, and I’m trying to change that, but at the same time, I’m slightly resistant to changing it. I’m afraid of change in this sense. I’m really afraid of a potential confrontation here, and that’s not usually like me. But there’s more on the line with this particular situation than I’d rather risk.

I’m deciding to try to keep the good things I have/see/experience/am blessed with at the forefront of my mind and deal with the negative things on a lower level. I’m not going to give them more attention than they deserve. They’ve already cost me tears of frustration, and that’s just not worth my time.

So without further ado, here is a list of things  I am thankful are in my life:

• The BF (obviously… he keeps me saner than I can keep myself. He’s my best friend and I love him more than I ever thought possible [you can stop gagging now])
• my Mum (she keeps me sane, too, but on another level, because she knows what’s best for me, that mom thing)
• my Dad (even though I don’t get to talk to him as much as I’d like, he’s always been behind me 100%)
• my brother (he doesn’t know this… it’s a big secret. He’s growing up to be a really great guy, and I’m glad we’re friends now)
• my girlfriends (they keep me sane in a bitch-fest manner. I couldn’t live without two of them in particular, and they know who they are.)
• my extended group of friends (always a good time, unless I get lost on my way into Boston going to meet them. But then they forgive my intense lack of directional skills and love me anyway)
• my extended family (always there with a smile and a joke, from cousins to aunts and uncles and grandparents)
• my health (as much as I might complain sometimes, I am very healthy. I’m strong. I don’t go to the doctor’s office very often.)
• my job (as much as I might find it frustrating sometimes, I have a job. I don’t forget that, especially nowadays)
• my apartment (there’s a solid roof over my head, and I am very comfortable. Not much better than that)
• my car (I can get anywhere I want)
• my education (though the loan payments suck big time, having a college education means I am open to a world of opportunities I would not have otherwise had. Plus, it allowed me to meet my girlfriends, whom I mentioned above)

I have a lot to be thankful for, and could go on much longer. Sometimes, it takes just listing things out (the BF and I do this as grace every night before dinner) to make you realize just how much you have going for you.

What are you thankful for?