A gathering of ideas, rants, reflections leading up to the big day

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New Year Resolutions

I always always make resolutions! This year I resolve to follow through on my resolutions. For 2009 I only have three.



1. To run everyday. Crazy right? I read this article a few weeks ago about a man who runs everyday and had for years. There is a group of runners who streak (not strip, but streak): U.S. Running Streak Association - to become a member you just run continuously 1 mile everyday. I already run 3-4 days a week for at least 3 miles at a time. So now, I'll just bump it up to 7 days a week- at least one mile.



I ain't going to lie- I am a bit skeptical of this goal. For one thing I have lost my love of running. I used to LOVE to run, I took pride in my weekly schedules and enjoyed getting up early on Saturdays to get a 5, 7 or 12 mile run in. But my spirit was broken. I ran a crappy half marathon and took a new running class that made me feel bad about me. But in the midst of all that, I still ran- and coached. Coaching? I love. I love getting new runners involved and interested in running.



I do recognize one of my recent downfalls has been relying on others. For months I have only been running when I have another person to run with. So this resolution will break me of that habit and help me remember why I love running to begin with. I fell in love with running because it allowed me time for me. That sometimes gets lost when running with others. I have a few running buddies, that after the first mile or so, we can just run and be quiet. I like that. We encourage when we need, but we fall into step and just run. But I will have someone to report to. My former running buddy Kristen moved to Denver, and she is going to do this too. So, I won't be going it alone per se, just I'll be running many days alone.



The reality of time is easy. I just have to get up a half an hour earlier on Mondays and Fridays. Although it doesn't take me a half an hour to run, this will give me time to get ready, get out the door, stretch and run. The other days? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays I have appointments to run already. Sunday? I just will run when I wake up!

So after this lofty goal I still have two more resolutions:

2. To be more glass is half full. I am a negative Nancy, a Debbie downer, a complainy Janey...in 09- no more! D$ will call me at work to say hi and typically I spend 5 minutes bitching about my boss or something. He gets annoyed at me because he just called to say hi and that he loves me and I am not receptive and cranky. Well no more! My rose colored glasses are on, my negativity will be lifted!

3. Finish my dad's socks. In August 07, my pal Monica and I took our second knitting class together. We decided that we would make Christmas socks, she for her son, me for my pops! One lofty goal that was- but we both completed our projects to the elation of ourselves, each other and the recipients of our socks. Then in January my dad sent his socks back, there had been a discrepancy in the measurements and I made his socks too big. So I promptly ripped one sock out, down to the heal to start over.....and that's as far as I got. So, in January, I will pick up the socks again and forge ahead. The first time around it really sucked a lot of time and energy out of me- but I was planning a wedding! This time, no wedding to plan and D$ will be taking a few classes this spring, so I'll have many evenings solo and weekends when he'll be studying. I am not setting a time goal for these socks, but hopefully I can get them to my dad in the fall (they are wool) and still have time for other knitting projects!


So, whew! What about you? What resolutions are planning?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Whew- redemption!

D$ and I rematched with Trival Pursuit on Friday night (exciting Friday, no?!) and I beat him hands down. Finally all the random answers I knew came into play! Now he keeps putting off another game..but I am confident I will reign supreme!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Marital Advice- already!

Can I offer some marital advice not even 3 months into my marriage?

Trivial Pursuit is not the best game to give your husband for Christmas. You may know that you are smarter than him (cause you are). But he will kick your ass and it won't go over well.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Honeymoon with my honey

I have no energy to blog about the trip. I am working 10 hour days, trying to get ready for Christmas, interviewing for a new job (shhhh!) and coaching again (Golightly, I owe you a schedule!)...my life is full, happy and busy. I promise soon I will give a proper recap...but for now, how about a few photos?


I learned to love RUM!


In our room in Tamarindo, CR!



A Tamarindo sunset.

Golden Gate Bridge




In Napa after the third tasting of the day!

Card Swap!


I participated in the second annual Brooklyn Bride Card swap. I thought I'd post photos of the cards I sent out, and when I get my five cards in, I'll show you those too!

I followed an idea from Martha Stewart, which I can now no longer find. You may recognize the paper from when I participated in the Valentine's Day card swap in February. I just can't bring myself to go back into a Michael's since the wedding. Let's call it post-traumatic stress. So I used my red, beige, brown and pink paper to make these tree cards.




For the front, I layer tree-shapes to add some dimension to the card.





On the inside, the cards pop up! I had fun playing with not only the "styles" of trees, but also how far out they would pop.






Can you see the depth? This is actually an easy process. With an exacto knife or razor, cut two parralell lines from the fold in the card. Then bend the lines the other way, glue tree to your "stump". Repeat.



mmm. trees.






I've already received two of the cards, so when I get them all in, I'll post them!

















Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tagged

I was tagged by Linda over at Silly Little Mischief to write 6 random things about me...so here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you- Done!
2. Post the rules on your blog - right here!
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself- read below!
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs- um, no.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

1. I haven't used a real alarm clock since October 8, 2008. For 4 days in a row, I woke up anxious about the wedding/family/activities, so I didn't need the alarm. For 3 weeks I was on honeymoon and when we did need to get up early I used my running watch which has an alarm feature. And everyday since then, I've used my running watch. D$ and I like to think we are still on honeymoon since we don't have to wake up to a real alarm clock!

2. I work in the fundraising field, development as we like to call it, yet am afraid to make "the ask". I can't and will not ask an individual for money. I feel guilty asking people to sponsor me in the Race for the Cure. I have made the ask a few times in my career and it leaves me ucky and guilty for a long time. (to clarify, I do "back-end" giving relations: direct mail, telemarketing, online, etc)

3. I swear like a sailor. I drop the "F-bomb" like nobodies business. Not just that either. I can't make it through a conversation without spicing it up. Horrible habit. I tried to quit once for lent...I said the f-word ten minutes after I quit.

4. I am a cluttered person. My desk, my car, my nightstand, my dresser, my purse. But 9 times out of 10 I know exactly where something is. I just can't get rid of the clutter.

5. I'll be spending my first Christmas away from my parents this year. I am a bit bummed, but D$ and I have a wonderful time planned and we'll see his family on Christmas day. I will miss my dad and our late night drinks and chats in front of the Christmas tree. I'll miss our last minute runs to the store. I'll miss wrapping gifts with my mom in their bedroom watching some re-run show on tv. I'll miss putting bows on the dog's head. But, I'll wake up in my house, next to my spouse and we'll open gifts together.

6. Although be very loud, outgoing and vivacious...I am extremely introverted. I enjoy being alone and often look at awe at women in their 40's, 50's and 60's who are single and happy. If it weren't for D$, I'd be one of them. If I am not with D$, I'd rather be alone.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Something to think about

Hmmm. We met with Chris the photog extraordinaire last and discussed how to use our "engagement session". We basically forgot to take our engagement photos. Nice.

So Chris suggested a Trash The Dress session. I'm all over it, but poor D$ said "what about all the money you spent on the dress?" Yeah, yeah, but now I really want to hike up Sabino Canyon in my dress. I want to go tromp around town and in dive bars in my dress (wait, already did that!). So now I have to either convince D$ that selling my dress is a lost cause and do the TTD, or just do a nice tame photography session with my husband.

(On a side note, we picked out the style of album we are getting, now we just have to narrow down our pictures!)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Confession

I have something to confess. My wedding dress is balled up in the corner of my den.

I look at it sometimes. I inspect its damage (broken boning on the right side, all of Tucson's downtown dirt caught in tulle and silk), I smell the silk and I play with the beading. I try to get out the knot from the corset undone, still with no avail. Mainly I ignore it. Tossed aside like a shirt from Target rather than the most expensive garment I'll ever own.

I don't know what to do with it. I don't know if I should clean it and think about selling it, or donate it or keep it. I SHOULD clean it. But that is expensive and not something I want to do right now. Cause if it is clean, then I have to make a decision, right?

Like some brides before me, I'm not attached to my dress. It served me well, I looked good, it held up well....but if I sell it, will I some day regret it? If I keep it, will I regret that too? It already is a season old, how long will it be in style? And where will I store it? Ugghh.

Advice? Offers to buy?

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

oy vey

Hang in there with me reader(s). I have lost my blogging mojo although I have a few more things to finish up on before I figure out where to steer this little blog.

We have bridesmaids gifts to discuss, the honeymoon, some other details....and then this little wedding blog of mine is kaput.

D$ and I have been busy nesting, dealing with a mysterious illness and just folding back into our lives post wedding. We celebrated our first holiday as a married couple! We are meeting with Chris, our photog extraordinaire, next week to discuss albums and such. We've also been busy writing thank you notes, which I am pleased to announce we finished in less than 6 weeks (a reminder we were gone for 3 of those weeks).

So, I'll be back with some blogs soon...I promise!