My Weekend

WOW! This weekend FLEW by, but it was jam packed with friends and fun, so I can't complain too much.

Well, I can a little because I'm at a training today (so that I can train my other speech people when school starts). It stinks to use up one of my last few days off at a training, but....oh well! Let's get back to the fun stuff!

Friday night MG and I had plans to meet up with my friend Emily who I had worked with at the school in DC, and her husband. We met up at 15Ria in DC which is a hotel restaurant. The place had a really cool ambiance, but the service and the food were just ok.

It was great to see Emily and her hubby, and to catch up on everything. We hadn't seen them since our engagement so they brought us this cute little gift:

I love it!

We had a great time catching up, and the night flew by far too quickly!

Saturday morning MG went to play golf with his buddies and I watched Bravo took care of some things around our place. We had plans to hang out with our newly married friend couple, and another couple that we'd met through them. We were supposed to head into DC for dinner but after our friend left their apartment without his key and wallet, we got a little delayed and lost our dinner reservation.

After making our cab driver wait a long time for it to get all sorted out, we went to Cafe Asia by us instead and all gorged ourselves on Pad Thai (SO yum!) and then took advantage of the super beautiful weather that night, and had drinks at a rooftop bar.

After spending some time out, the girls decided that we wanted to dance, so we found a place nearby and danced our hineys off. It was so much fun! After dancing so much we were sweaty messes, we eventually called it a night and headed home.

Sunday we ran some errands, grabbed some lunch and then met up with the DJ we've been thinking of working with for our wedding. We really liked him, and I think we're gonna go with it! Another box checked off!!

MG and I have gotten into the show The Newsroom on HBO and we're really enjoying it. So, the rest of Sunday was spent watching some episodes of that and getting dinner at Chipotle. A perfect end to an absolutely super fun weekend!

And now, I'm off to my training! Have a good Monday!!

 

Vacay Recap

I'm finally getting myself and my act together so that I could give you guys a recap of the week that MG and I took off and headed up to PA.

Yes I know my shirt looks more green next to all of the yellow. Alone, it
was more of a highlighter yellow color....I just told them it's cuz I'm not
"officially" part of the family yet :)

We left on Friday after traffic so that we could be in PA early enough to make it to the family reunion that was happening the next day. On Saturday, we drove out to a country club where I got to meet a lot of MG's dad's family who I hadn't met yet which was cool. Every "branch" of the family wore a different color--we were yellow--so that you could see who was from which "branch." We had lunch, chatted, and then they had little giveaways from a drawing (although, in truth, I think everyone 'won' something). It was a really nice time. Unfortunately we had to leave a little bit early since we all had to get home and then back out to New Jersey for MG's sister, A's charity fund raiser that she had organized that was that evening.

It was a Beef and Beer event with comedians and gift baskets and then big ticket items that were raffled off. MG's dad bought us all a sheet of tickets (along with the ones we bought) and we went out to put our tickets in the baskets that we wanted.

Us with the nephew; maybe I didn't win anything because my dress matched the tablecloths...doh!

By the end of the night, everyone in MG's family had won something. Except for me. Womp womp. The one basket that I'd really wanted (a wine basket), and had put the majority of my tickets in, went to someone else. And then MG's dad, who has more luck than anyone I've ever met before, won 3 or 4 out of the 5 big ticket items (Flyers tickets, tickets to the Beyonce/Jay Z concert, and a beer fridge). I guess my luck was used up at the family reunion when I 'won' a scratch off ticket haha. Overall, it was a really nice night and we raised money for a great kid.

The next day I went to David's Bridal with MG's sisters and nieces so that they could see the two dresses that I'd liked from my dress appointment the week before since they couldn't be there. I couldn't show them THE dress because it wasn't at David's and most bridal boutiques were closed on Sunday, but at least they got to see the 2 dresses that lead me up to "the one". And then I got to see them try on bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, just to get an idea of the styles that looked good. We had dinner together and then A took her girls and headed back to NJ. MG's other sister, L, MG's mom, me and two nieces went to TJMaxx to do a little shopping and then we became super heroes:

Monday we left for the lake in Eagles Mere, PA. MG and I took L's two girls up with us (she was going to meet us later in the week), and MG's parents and other sister A headed up with her family from Jersey. The weather and the drive were really pretty. When we got there, it was pretty crowded because apparently it was "Sports Week" there. So, I guess it's the one week all of the locals come up so kids (and some adults) can participate in the events.

Tuesday we headed to the lake but it was pretty chilly and windy so I was in my bathing suit for a grand total of about 15-20 minutes. The rest of the time I covered up and fought goose bumps.

Left: Rain...boo. Right: Watching the Bachelorette finale;
doing a puzzle of a lake when you cant go to the lake;
Cooper passed out on a stuffed animal :)

And then Wednesday-Friday it rained. Boo! So we entertained ourselves with bike rides and walks when there were breaks in the downpour, inside games of charades with the kids, puzzles and tv(Bachelorette)/reading, and some fishing. We got A and MGs parents watching Downton Abbey, too :)

Cooper, who is used to sleeping the majority of the day, couldn't sleep with all of the people around, so when night time came, he typically conked out wherever he was sitting....  -->

All in all, it was a great trip, it just stinks that it was rainy the majority of the time so we really didn't get to enjoy the lake and everything that it had to offer.

We got back to DC on Saturday and took advantage of the sunshine here by hitting up the pool for a bit. Cooper took some time to catch up on the z's he missed while at the lake:

And now, we're back! 

Book Review: Firefly Lane

A while ago I'd downloaded a preview of the book Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. I liked what I read, but for some reason I didn't go back online and download the full book. Until I heard from another blogger that they'd read the book and really liked it.

Once I finished my recent book club book, I started into Firefly Lane again.

{via}

Amazon's summary is:

"In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable."

I really enjoyed this book. At some points I thought I knew what was going to happen, and then I realized that I didn't. In the end, I was smacked in the face with a great life lesson:

Don't take the special people in your life for granted.

I'd definitely recommend this book. It's a great story about relationships, especially friendship, and how it changes through the tests of time.

WILW and Oh How Pinteresting

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means....

(warning: this one is a little wedding focused)....

I'm loving that I found my wedding dress!!!!!!

I'm loving that I still have another week and a half left before I have to go back to work. I'm also hating that I ONLY have a week and a half left before I have to go back to work.

I'm loving that we have less than 8 months til our wedding date!

I'm loving that MG and I made reservations for our honeymoon last night! It's looking like we'll be romancing in Antigua! ;)

I'm loving that I'm getting a massage this morning. I've got knots that need to get a butt kicking!

I'm loving that we're meeting with a DJ this weekend who could potentially be "THE" DJ for our wedding. Wooohoo!

I'm loving  that I've already figured out, ordered and received our wedding favors. 

Check, check, check! (that's me checking things off of that never-ending checklist that theknot.com has me stressing over on a weekly basis....lol)

And, as always, I'm loving Pinterest!

Love everything about this outfit!

Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich...I need to make this ASAP!

I would love something like this once we get married! 

hehehe

So. Stinkin'. Cute.

  ......You know you want to....:)

I'm Back! And.....

I'm back from my vacay in the mountains of PA, but unfortunately I haven't gotten my ish together to do a recap post yet, so you'll have to deal with this tiny, but exciting, post.

I FOUND MY DRESS!

I know I mentioned a few weeks ago that I thought I'd found it, but my mom wanted me to go to one more store, just to make sure. So I picked one that was near my place in VA that had other dresses by the designer that I liked, and my mom and one of my bridesmaids came with me. 

I tried on 5 or so more dresses, and saved the dress that I'd loved before for the end.

And it was a NO BRAINER! I was pretty sure before that this was my dress, and now I'm 100000000% sure!

I couldn't stop smiling, walking around on the stage in front of the mirrors...just staring at myself in my dream dress (as vain as that sounds lol). I was beaming in it, and it jus reaffirmed my feelings for it all over again.

Funny enough, it wasn't entirely what I had in mind for my dress when I dreamed of my day. 

I wasn't sure that I would like lace.... I like lace!

I wasn't sure how much beading I would want or like.... I like beading!

It sounds over the top, but it's not. It's the perfect amount of both, and it made me feel beautiful and like a bride! 

I found the perfect veil for the dress, too. So, now I'm on the hunt for wedding shoes, so I can get measured for what they call "hollow to hem" which should help with alteration costs later on down the road. I'm SUPER excited, and can't wait to officially order it all and then wait impatiently with lots of anticipation, for it to arrive! :)

Since I don't want to post any pics of the dress just yet, I'll show you one of the dresses from the same designer, that I didn't choose:

This one has some similar features to my dress, but it's not totally the same. But, at least I can give you a little taste of what I chose :)

Hope you weeks are off to a good start! I'll have a recap of my week at the lake for you later this week :)

Real and Bloggy Vacay

It's FRIDAY, and it's the first weekday in a while that I'm not at work! Woohoo!

Summer school is officially over which means this chick is R&R'ing like it's gonna end in 3 weeks. Because, well, it's gonna end in 3 weeks!

MG and I are heading up to PA today for a family reunion with his mom's side of the family (many of whom I haven't met yet, so it will be nice to get familiar with the rest of the extended family...and show off the ring again, which I'm TOTALLY ok with :).

Then we have a fundraiser to go to that MG's sister is throwing to support a family whose son is ill.

And THEN we head up to a lake with MG's parents, sisters, one brother in law, and the kiddos. And Cooper, too! It should be a good time, and made even better by the fact that I'm not at work.

I didn't get anyone to guest post while I'm gone, so I'll be leaving you guys to fend for yourselves. I hope you'll survive. You're strong, I know you can do it! :)

In the meantime, here's some funnies to ease the pain of my departure...(thanks to Trish for  sending me these!) They are absolutely amazing:


This one is the best ever:

(It's ok to watch them over and over...I have! haha)Happy Friday, and have a great next week!

Self-Involved

We've all met them. Those people who always turn things into something about themselves. Or, only talk about themselves, and what's going on with them, with no care for what's going on in your life. "Let's talk about me."

I was reminded of this when I was talking to one of the women I work with this summer about the end of summer checkout process (and what a HUGE pain in the butt it's becoming). And apparently she only heard the parts that applied to her, because the conversation went from that to how I can help her get a clerical position in the county. 

Uhhh...did ya miss the part about me being a speech therapist in this HUGE county? Like I have any pull whatsoever, anywhere (unless you want to be a speech therapist, in which case I maybe have a little sway)? I appreciate the compliment that you think I have such power, but in reality, I'm a lowly minion just like you.

I saw her later that morning and she asked me if I knew of any clerical positions in the other building I mentioned that I had to go to for a meeting this week. NOT a place that I work at, just a meeting! (Yep, you were definitely not paying attention to a thing I said...)

In those moments talking to this woman (or really, saying certain words that resonated with her while the others were discarded), I realized just how easily someone can make you feel unimportant. 

I know there are times when someone tells me a story and I feel like I can relate, so I share that. I wonder if that's ever perceived the way I took this woman's response to me. I feel like in MY moments, I try and say things more like "Oh, I can definitely relate because I had this happen....which is similar to your story"....more of a way of connecting, not making it all about me. At least, that's not my intention. I guess it's a fine line sometimes.

(And then, of course, you have people who think that they are FAR more important than you. Like, for instance, the person who asks you to change your wedding date, colors, bridesmaid dresses, etc because it's too close or too similar to hers....she has every right to have what she wants, but since I'm not as important as she is, I should change my ideas for my dream wedding, right?)

After my interaction with the lady at work, I'm definitely gonna be more conscious of being an ACTIVE listener, and not just turning things around and making them about me. Just another step in trying to be the best version of me that I can be!

You've all had this happen before, right? How do you deal with it?

(P.S. when did it become August?? What happened to July? My summer is dwindlingggg......)