Happy 2009!!

Another year has come and gone. And what a friggin year it has been. It has been one of the worst and one of the best years of my life. What a roller coaster, huh? But, with the stroke of midnight last night, we can all start fresh. Another chance to do what we always said we would, be who we always wanted to be, and live how we always wanted to live. 

I, for one, am going to write more. I started a story last week - might turn into something, but will probably turn into nothing. The point is, I am writing and it feels great! I start grad school this month, too, which I am super psyched about. I loved college and I cannot wait to get back in the classroom. School will definitely keep me writing. 

I am also going to take better care of me. No more feeling sorry for myself or getting down about things I cannot change. I just have to focus on all the great things in my life - all of the amazing people I love and the great life I live. If I have learned one thing this year it is that people change and you can either accept that change and learn from it and grow from it OR you can be bitter and miss out on incredible possibilities. It isn't fair nor healthy to alienate the people you love, the ones who have always been there for you, for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

 It is a tough thing to grow up and lose innocence - it hurts like hell to have to deal with real life problems. But, these are the things that shape us and help make us better people. It has been a tough journey, as I imagine life is supposed to be. But, it is MY life and I would not trade all the good for anything in the world. 

So, here is to you, you crazy year of 2008. I turned 25, got married, travelled to Europe, got my heart broken, got my heart mended, made great friends, voted in the most important election in the history of our country, loved so much it hurt, laughed so hard I cried, made goals for the future, and grew up just enough to know that life is what you make of it and nobody can take the away from you. 

May you have the happiest, healthiest, most prosperous of new year's! If you can dream it, you can do it! 

Yay for this past weekend!

It has been a while since I last blogged, but Jay and I have been so busy finalizing wedding stuff. We found a minister we liked. We picked music. People are RSVPing (as they should be - they're due back by 9/24!) We got some gifts for some people. We picked tuxes. We have some big appointments coming up - Flower Trial, Menu Picking, etc. I am so excited I could spit. 

The bridesmaid dresses NOR my dress are in yet. I am not worried, yet, as the stores they were purchased from are both very reputable. Plus, I ordered later than normal, so it really isn't the stores' faults. 

We also still have to do the tables, split the rooms, finalize the ceremony, figure out our paper stuffs. It is so stressful for one stinking day! And, the whole leaving the day after the wedding for our 8 hour flight to France - yea, whose friggin idea was THAT??? PLUS - we close on our new house the day BEFORE the wedding. And, when we get back from Paris, we are going to be moving in. So, from now until the middle of November I will be busy - don't ask me to do anything, LoL! And then, we have the holidays. So, better not ask me to do anything until next year. No, I am serious. 

Soooo, this past weekend was my Bridal Shower at Tavern 344. The food was delicious and the staff was great, as usual! ALSO, my Maid of Honor flew up from FL to surprise me (which I so was!!) So, that was great to have her there and be a part of it all! So many people came out to help me celebrate - it was so much fun!! Thanks so much to my mom, Kris, Jenn, Sue and Jess for putting everything together and making everything so great! Also, a patron of Tavern 344 made 2 cakes - and the were SO good and SO pretty. Once I gets pics I will post them. Of course, Jay and I got crazy nice and thoughtful gifts from everyone - my loved ones really went above and beyond for us. MWAH!

Saturday night we all went out to Greenhouse (as per usual.) It was fun to hang out with Kris and everyone! I am sad she had to leave so soon, but we will see her in a month! Of course, we did the late night diner thing - that's when food tastes the best! 

Sunday was football and Wendy's day! Yay for the NY Giants taking the game in OT. 3-0 this season so far - let's keep it up! 

WTF Wednesday!

Jay and I have gotten a lot of wedding stuff out of the way!! Invites went out (finally!) We mostly narrowed down our dance songs....I am kind of over it. I will dance to anything for our first dance at this point b/c I can't look at anymore songs. I met with our photographer. When I first booked, I met with the owner of the studio. He was nice, kind of crazy, but nice. So, he showed me his one photog's work and I loved it, so we booked. Well, I finally met her and I LOVE her. I cannot wait to work with her. She is funny and down-to-earth and so easy going. We attempted to make a card box, but we couldn't agree on how to make it, what frames to use, etc. So, we nixed that idea for now. I got the last word in and said, "FINE - I will just get a KNOTTIE to make it." That shut him up. I also ordered something super secret for Jay that I think he will get a kick out of. Email me if you want to know. It isn't really that exciting to anyone other than...well...me. 

Other than that, nothing much is happening. I still have to write the Twilight review. Oh, we started watching True Blood on HBO. It's another vampire show, but it isn't like other vampire stories. It is ok and has potential. I think I am kind of on the fence b/c the vampires are not hot! I am so shallow, I know. Don't judge. 

I really have nothing to say, LoL. I just feel bad if I don't write b/c I kind of made a pact with myself to write as much as possible. I will totally get my thoughts down for the Twilight review and that should fill my writing quota for a while ;) 

If I wanted to do your job, I would have applied for it...

Seriously, people. WTF do I look like? Ok, now that THAT is out of the way....

I finally finished the Twilight series. I tore through those books any chance I got. I really did not want to give into all the teeny-bopper hype, but the movie is coming out and I do love me some vampire love stories, so I gave in. I got sucked into these friggin books! The story as a whole brings out a lot of ....feelings...in me (LOL!) So, it will have to be a blog for another day. But, in the end, I loved the books and I am crazy excited for the movie!! BTW, Twilight fans are rabid - for real. They stalk the actors of the movie, the author of the book. There is this message board called TwiMoms something-or-other. 25 + year old women and their fanatic crushes on a fictional character - you deal with that. 

Jay and I have been cooking nightly. I know you are probably thinking, "OK - so?" Well, let me explain - we don't cook. We eat out, or get take out, or have a bowl of cereal. But, we decided we should probably start cooking for a few reasons - 

1 - It is healthier. 

2 - It saves money. 

3 - If we ever want to have kids, they are going to want "real" meals like their friends get.

4 - It is a fun thing to do together. 

So, yea, we've been trying some stuff out. It IS fun. And, we get to goof off and make it a little competition, etc. I feel better, too, in general. Like a real life grown-up. 

Football starts tomorrow - er, correction, the GIANTS SEASON OPENER is tomorrow. That makes me smile. Also, my guilty pleasure TV shows are back on - 

-Gossip Girl - It was good. The show is just visually stimulating and fast-paced and has really great music. The acting is meh at best, but Blair & Chuck bring out the bitch and I can appreciate that. 

-One Tree Hill- So, I wasn't happy about a certain decision made by a certain character in the season premier, but whatevs. I can't have all television go my way. It looks like it will be a dark, kind of scary season this year. 

-90210- It is a VERY new take on a VERY classic show. The series premier was laughable, but of course I will continue to watch. I think they shoulda just brought all of the old 90210-ers back for like, "The Mid-Life Years," or something. And, wtf happened to Shannen Doherty's mouth? She has a gap in her front teeth - that's is all well and good, but it was never there before. WTF?

Oh, did you watch the Democratic Nat'l Convention? Admittedly, I only watched Barack's speech. If Jay wasn't yapping in the background, I would have been in tears. It was a great speech. 

Ok, I need to clean and put clothes away and then Jay and I are walking b/c it is too gorgeous outside to be in. 

Weekend Wrap-up

I am crazy tired from writing my "The Dark Knight" review (see below.) But, the weekend was pretty good...Jay finished tiling the backsplash so now we can grout and then paint and then be done - YAY! We went to Gary and Tamra's for a bit Saturday night - I was so sleepy and had barely 2 glasses of wine and I fell asleep on their couch! I felt like such an ass. Today, we had some lunch, then drove around, then went to see "The Dark Knight." I was so excited for it all week and was so excited to see it!! It was better then I ever thought it would be! 

I really can't think of anything eventful that happened during the week. I am so beat and I really don't think anything happened, LoL. My mom and everyone left for the cruise today :( I am seriously regretting not going, now. 33 of our friends and family went to Bermuda for a week. Jay and I were going to go, but changed our minds to save our time off for our honeymoon. I hope everyone has fun and takes lots of pictures!! 

Weekend Wrap-up

If you want to check out pics from this weekend, go to MySpace.

I am 25!! I can't believe it. I feel so old, but only because I remember where I was when I turned 15 and I was so young then. It was only 10 years ago! Ugh! Anyways, Monday-Wednesday was pretty routine. 

I took off work Thursday and Friday. Thursday I pampered myself with getting girlie things done at the spa. That is always nice. Then, my mom and I went into the city that night to get my muslin fitted at Kleinfeld's. Basically, it is a crap piece of fabric that is cut before they cut the actual dress so it is fitted perfectly. So, my dress was finally ordered! Swweeeeet. 

On Friday (my actual Bday - 7/11), Jay and I had running around to do. Then, I got my hair and makeup done by Alexa (theglamfairy.com) and Mandy (lasorellabridal.com) - they are the best of the best. They can do wonders with hair and makeup - true artists! Then, my lovey got us a limo to go into the city with some friends and family for dinner at Gallagher's! It was so.effing.delish! It's one of my fave restaurants in the world! We decided to come back to NJ to the local watering hole - it's like Cheers, everyone knows your name and when you are there, you are family. Well, it turns out that the night before 50 Cent was there having dinner! I was so pissed I wasn't there the night before!!! OMG....so mad! But, we had an absolute great night of drinking and singing! Of course, we ended up at the diner! I had an amazing time - thanks Jay, Jason, Mom, Jenn, Mike, Sue, Jess and Chris - MWAH!

Saturday, Jay tried for 2 hours to wake me up to drive down to Bally's in AC. He finally got me up and we finally headed down there. It took us 4 hours to get there - effing traffic. So, we got there, gambled a bit, had dinner at Game On in the Pier Shops. It wasn't as good as I remembered it, so the meal was sucky, but we had a nice view. Then, we went back to the room around 9pm. Next thing I know, it is 3:30am!! We passed out hardcore! Aahahahha. So, we decided to go downstairs and gamble! We lost. But, that's ok...we had such a great time and just enjoyed each other's company. BUT, we did randomly see this guy we know from the bar we always go to up in Wayne. 

Sunday, we got up and had breakfast delivered to the room. I had Sticky Fun French Toast. That's what it was called - it was really good, though. It had pecans and caramel. On the way home an hour later, I decided it was too good to pass up Sonic! So, naturally, we stopped at Sonic on the way home. It really is so good! We also visited my mom and his parents on the way home. It was nice to relax and just say hello to everyone.

Now, we're home. Ollie is passed out and we're about to head to bed. I hate going back to work after an extended weekend. It will be so hard to wake up tomorrow, but hopefully I will figure out what I want to do when I grow up! ("When I grow up, I wanna be famous. I wanna be a star. I wanna be in movies. Lalalalalala....be careful what you wish for 'cause you just might get it...")

Weekend Wrap-up

Hey! What a week it has been. Nothing too exciting happened during the week. It was a 3-day weekend, which is always a nice treat! But, it always makes work go by slower and seem like there is so much more to do. On Thursday afternoon around 4PM, when it seemed everyone had gone home already, I had to finish up some last minute stuff. Then, I rushed out to make it to my nail appointment at 5. 

I got LCN tips (which is a first for me.) So far, so good. They look more natural and are supposed to be better for your nails. They are much more expensive than acrylics, but that's the price of beauty, right? I also (finally) got my hair cut. I haven't gotten my haircut this much in my life, but I have to keep it healthy for the wedding. So, I go every 6 weeks or so. It is amazing how long in advance women start preparing for one day! I partake in the craziness, but it still baffles the hell out of me! 

I didn't really do anything on Friday. Jay and I went out to dinner with some family. He went out afterwards and I hung out with my mom and aunt and family friend. It was nice to just chat with the ladies and talk about the past and good memories. We always have a good laugh when we're together! 

Saturday we BBQd! It was soo good. I love BBQ. We tried Bubba Burgers - they were so delish for frozen burgers. And, of course hot dogs, chicken, steak and ribs, too. Homemade pasta, macaroni and potato salad. Brownies and cupcakes. It was so good to have a home-cooked meal with my family. Of course, a friendly family political debate - turned- fight ensued, but all is well that ends well. 

Earlier that day, Jay and I took my cousins to see WALL-E. It was so friggin cute. It had an amazing message about saving our Earth AND it was a cute love story. Kids will love it, natch, but so will the adults. There are also a few jokes throughout that only the grown-ups will appreciate. 

Sunday was a day of rest - it always is! I slept until noon, which was so nice. I got up and did some laundry, cleaned up a bit, etc. Then, Jay and I got Wendy's (The #2 with a Coke is my weakness - totally my "off-day" meal - don't judge :P) Anyways, we watched "Batman Begins". Ok, so, I had wanted to see this for a while. And, with "The Dark Knight" coming out (which I def. want to see b/c of Heath Ledger) we figured we should see the first installment. It was soo good. I liked the original Batman with Michael Keaton. It wasn't great, but it was a fun type of movie. "Batman Begins" was nothing like it. It was dark, it was action-packed, it was sexy, it had a great back story, it has Christian Bale. Seriously, it didn't even need much more. I can even forgive Christopher Nolan for casting Katie Holmes. 

Now, I am watching Platinum Weddings and drooling. I think this is a bride thing, as most normal people would just think it was stupid to spend that much money on a gobo and personalized underwear. I need to finish folding the laundry, which is my 2nd least favorite thing to do next to putting the laundry away. And then going to bed to wake up and start all over again. Isn't the monotony and repetition of the work week so sad?

My first blog...

So, a girl I know from an online message board has inspired me to blog. (Thanks, Marni.) It seems like a good way to vent, express my joy, ramble on, brainstorm ideas, just whatever. So far, so good, eh? I call it the diary I never had. 

I always tried to keep a diary, starting in junior high. I wrote about dumb things: boys I liked, boys I hated, boys I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, girls I hate, girls that were my friends but I didn't really like. Normal, pre-teen hormonal crap. Then, I would always stop after a week or two because I found better stuff to do: flirt with the boys I liked, be mean to the boys I didn't like (which I will later in life learn means I really DID like them and this was how to really flirt!), throw myself into re-invention (My skater phase, my gangster phase, my stoner phase...)

Well, I am still hormonal, definitely adult and not-so-normal. I am goofy as hell! I wouldn't have it any other way. Also, I have figured out who my real friends are - I love all the ones I have now! 

And, the boys - well, there is this one guy....he has my heart. Always has, really, and always will. So, I am marrying him - 10.24.08. Yikes - really close! He is my best friend. I know a lot of people say this about their significant other, but we were friends long before we were lovers. 

So, here I sit, typing away on this gorgeous day! It is really hot and muggy out, though, so maybe I will stay here for a while. It is therapeutic already. I am amazed. 

I hope you all enjoy my ramblings thus far and continue to enjoy them. Xoxo!