Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Liebster Award!

I don't typically do these but Lexi at Home Sweet Hossier granted me an award last week and I have decided to officially partake in this "Liebster Award"
The rules:
  1. Each Person must post 11 things about themselves 
  2. You Must answer the questions the tagger sets for you plus create eleven questions for the people you've tagged to answer 
  3. Choose 11 upcoming bloggers and link them in your post 
  4. Go to their blog and let them know you've nominated them 
  5. No Tag Backs

  6. 11 Things About ME
  • I grew up right outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, but now I live in Queens, NY. My high school looks like the Millenium Falcon

  • When I started dating my now husband, Chris, I distinctly remember saying to my roommate "Yea...we're dating, but it's not like I'm going to marry him or anything!"

  • I live two blocks away from my in-laws, who moved out to a new place and Chris and I took over their house, the same place he's lived since he was 5. I was nervous about it at first, but it was a great decision for us and it feels like "our home"

  • I used to be incredibly shy and I refused to perform in my pre-school graduation ceremony. The only way my parents could get me to go get my diploma from my teachers was by threatening not to take me to Chuck E. Cheese's afterward. It's amazing the things this girl will do for pizza.

Source
  • While I'm on the subject: I once got caked in the face by Chuck E. Cheese himself. When I had my first grade birthday party there, Chuck E.-the-mouse came over to greet me and my friends. In an attempt to be funny, he pretended to steal my piece of cake. Well...good old Chuck wasn't so used to his huge costumed hands and lost grip of the plate, effectively caking me in the face. On my Birthday. I've kinda held a grudge against him ever since.

    • I'm allergic to Peppers (red, yellow, green) and olives. I can't properly digest them and will be writhing in pain for hours after eating them. I've only discovered and/or developed this in the past 5 years, and I've learned it the hard way.

    • The first time I ever got really drunk was my freshman year of college. I fainted from dehydration the next day during choir practice. My knees locked and I fell face first onto the floor in front of my choir director. I had a huge bump on my head and two black eyes for weeks!

    • Whenever I see someone crying in real life situations (which means on a reality show or actually in person) I instantly begin to cry, too. I can't help it, and it doesn't matter what it's about, or who it is. But if I see someone cry who's acting in a movie or a tv show, I only sometimes cry.

    • Two years ago I got a cut on my leg during a training run for a half marathon. The scar didn't go away for a year, and it started really hurting me while I was on my honeymoon. I saw a dermatologist about it and he cut out and removed an actual piece of rock that had been lodged into my leg for a year! I still, and probably always will, have a scar.

    • I've been playing the piano since I was 9 and I now have piano students of my own


      Here are Lexi's questions for me, answered below:
    • Do you prefer painting or coloring? I prefer coloring because that implies that there is already an outline available and I just have to fill it in. I cannot paint or do anything free-hand to save my life!!

    • If you were choosing your last meal ever, what would be on the menu? Pizza, pizza, and oreos

    • What is your guilty pleasure TV show? BRAVO TV! I'm obsessed with all the housewives shows, (Except Atlanta) I love Bethenny Frankel's shows, The Soup, and I've also recently gotten into Dance Moms, and Pregnant in Heels.

    • If you could trade places with one reality TV star, who would it be? Bethenny Frankel. Come on..she's amazeballs. Works hard, has earned every bit of money she's worked hard to get, has an adorable daughter, and amazingly cute husband. I've read all her books, DVR'd her talk show this summer, and pretty much love her.

    • What would you do with ten million dollars? First, I would donate some to an animal shelter. Since adopting Zoey, I've felt much more philanthropic toward animal rescue organizations. But THEN: I'd buy a vacation house right on the beach for my family and future family. I'd get my teeth whitened and I'd get electrolysis on my eyebrows, so I don't have to go threading every two weeks, and my legs and armpits (think of the time I'd save in the shower!) And I'd vacation to a glass bottom hut on the water in Bora Bora.

    • What is your biggest pet peeve? When people make hypocritical statements

    • Favorite place on the planet? My initial thought was Disney World...but, I have an intense soft-spot for the beaches in Delaware (Bethenny/Rehobeth/Dewey) Whether it was vacationing with my friend, Mandy's, family for many summers, or vacationing with my own family after college graduation when they rented a house and we had friends come and go all week while we were there. Or taking my first trip with friends after H.S. graduation (without adult supervision!!), we drove around town blasting JC Chavez "Blowing Me Up With Her Love" looking for annnny clubs that would take our unde-21-non-fake-idea-bearing selves (we didn't find any by the way). I love Grotto Pizza, the boardwalks, the outlet shopping, the nightlife. I wish Delaware was closer, because they truly are my favorite beach towns of all time.

    • Favorite food that you never make for yourself? Sushi! who has the time?!

    • Cake or Pie? CAKE

    • Sweet or Salty? SWEET! I have an intense sweet tooth

    • What would your Super Power be? I would like to be Fitness Woman - She's the fittest woman in the world without having to actually work out!!

    • Now, here are the lovely lady-bloggers I follow and hereby pass the Liebster award onto! 
      Kristina @ Pretty Rambles 

    11 questions: 
    1. What is your favorite movie? 
    2. If you could redo High School or college, which would you rather do over again?
    3. Where is your favorite place to vacation?
    4. Are you working in the field you always thought you'd be working?
    5. Are you allergic to anything?
    6. What is/would be the #1 thing to do on your bucket list?
    7. What is your guilty pleasure tv show? 
    8. What is your favorite restaruant?
    9. Do you prefer the city or the country?
    10. What's the last vacation you went on?
    11. Cats or Dogs?

    I should note: No big deal if you don't want to do this on your blog, just wanted to share the love!

Monday, July 30, 2012

It's BlogHer'12 Week!

Only a few days away from the BlogHer '12 conference and I'm very excited! I've got a place to stay that's much closer to Manhattan than my house, thanks to @legallyAnna and @timmyepic! I'll be spending 3 nights in my old stomping ground of Astoria!

I got my iphone charger, wireless travel thingy, ipad, dslr camera...I've even got my party-finger ready to go ;)
Left Hand Party Finger!
I don't know what to expect or how it will go. I do love this video posted by All Things Fadra about the many faces of BlogHer...I can only imagine who I am going to encounter..after all, there are thousands of women attending!
 

Are you going to Blogher'12? What are you most excited about for the conference?

Friday, July 27, 2012

Friday Find: The Wedding Video Official Trailer

This movie really looks pretty...um...low-budget shall we say. BUT I have to admit there are some pretty funny moments in this trailer, as cliche and predictable as they are ("So at that special moment...wedding filled with butterflies!!") I would watch this when it comes out on video, for free...but I'd be lying if I said I had zero interest in seeing it...after all, when am I ever known to turn down anything having to do with weddings?! It really would be for research ;)


We're off to Vermont, have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

RIP Shadow

RIP Shadow: Best-friend, brother, companion, snuggle-buddy, and so much more. 
At 17, no one can say you didn't live a long, happy, loving life!
I hope you are up in doggie-heaven with all the chicken bones and treats you can imagine!
<3


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Re-Post: "A Vermont Wedding"

This weekend, I will be heading to Vermont with Chris' family for a family friend's daughter's wedding. This wedding will be very similar to the Vermont Wedding we attended 2 years ago for the bride's sister. Today is a re-post of that Vermont Wedding which was originally posted on 9/14/10. The wedding this weekend will be very similar. I'm looking forward to a road trip and getting out of the "city" (in quotes because I don't actually live IN the city a.k.a Manhattan) for a weekend.

Originally posted 9/14/10:
I feel kind of funny blogging about the wedding I went to over the weekend because I don't even personally know the bride and groom. I was there as Chris' date, and the bride was Chris' family friend's daughter. I met the bride and groom on Saturday and they were lovely, charming, and adorable, but I just didn't know if it was appropriate to introduce myself with "Hi, nice to meet you. Thanks for inviting me to your wedding, do you mind if I blog all about it on Monday?"

So, I will keep the details to a minimum. I will say that this wedding was so different from any wedding we've been to, but filled with so much charm, and personal touches. It was the kind of wedding I always see in pictures, but never actually got to attend.

Their wedding took place at the bride's beautiful antique-filled house in Vermont. The ceremony was on her deck, and it was literally 5 minutes long. I think most people there, especially the men, were quite grateful for that! It was a beautiful sunny day, and a really great temperature when the sun was out. (But it was freezing by nighttime!)
Ceremony on the deck
After the ceremony, we were moved to another part of the yard where tents were set up. They had a bar area with bartenders and hors d'oeuvres like pita chips and hummus, vegetables, fruit, cheese, pepperoni and blueberry blue-cheese balls (which sound so weird but I LOVED!). After an hour or so, we were moved inside the main tent for dinner.
Table centerpieces. Sunflowers, and jelly jar candles
For dinner we had roasted pork with apples, roasted potatoes, salad, rolls and broccoli salad with feta and craisins (my favorite)!! After that, we had cupcakes and Italian cookies! Below:
Cake on top with surrounding cupcakes!
Cutting the cake in the tent
After that, they blasted the jukebox on the deck and people either danced, mingled, or huddled around the bonfire to stay warm. At one point me and my new friends, Monica and Kellyn, who both grew up with Chris, stole away from the party for some Andre in Monica's car:

Yumm Andreeee!
Bonfire at night to keep us warm!!


While others danced up on the deck!
It was a beautiful Vermont evening, and a beautiful wedding. The couple actually met on E-Harmony and they should really be the poster couple for the company. They seemed very happy and it got me even more excited for May! I couldn't leave Vermont without visiting a country store where I bought Vermont smoked cheddar cheese, pumpkin butter, maple apple peanut butter, pumpkin spice tea and apple cider tea, all of which I cannot wait to try!!


Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday Find: Molly and Mark's Wedding Slideshow

Today's Friday Find isn't exactly a "find" but it wraps up this weeks wedding recaps. Below is a picture/video slideshow of their big day. I hope you've enjoyed hearing about Molly and Mark's rustic, vintage wedding. To catch up on their wedding see below:

Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 1: Getting Ready and Ceremony

Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 2: The Details

 Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 3: The Reception

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 3: The Reception

After we took some formal pictures, it was time for the reception to begin!
Wesley Works Photography
The Bridal Party and Bride and Groom were announced to live music performed by a family friend, Jenny, and her dad, David, on guitar:
Once we were all in, Molly and Mark made their entrance!
They shared their first dance to Ingrid Michaelson's The Way I Am:
The speeches were made..and tears were shed. I think this was the first time I cried from a Best Man speech. All the speeches were incredibly sweet.
 
As soon as we got our food, a really bad thunderstorm rolled through our area. High winds and heavy rained forced the DJ to temporarily shut down the music...but we made the best of it!
And Molly and Mark got some great umbrella shots!
 
Molly's parents shared a few words:
Molly danced with her dad:
Mark danced with his mom:
They cut the cake:
 
With the fabulous cake-maker, Janine, also a family friend:

The rain really cooled everything down a LOT, and after the cake was cut, it was finally time to really dance the night away! The dance floor was packed nonstop from 7:30-10:0!!
I don't want to "brag" or anything, but thanks to an impassioned performance to "Dancing Queen" by Molly's Aunt and me, Molly's mom officially dubbed us the "Dancing Queens" of the evening.
Wesley Works Photography
Wesley Works Photography
Even their awesome photographers from Wesley Works Photography couldn't resist taking a break at one point to join in on the fun!
The glow of the tent at night:
Remember how each table was named after a book? Well they encouraged their guests to take home the book on each table. Many people asked Molly and Mark to write a little note inside their book before they left. She was a bonafide celebrity!
One of my favorite pictures from the night. I love the way they are looking at each other here...this picture says everything.
Congratulations you two, and enjoy your honeymoon to HAWAII!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Molly and Mark's Wedding Part 2: The Details

After the ceremony (catch up here) we headed right over to Burnside Plantation for picture taking, cocktail hour, and the reception! Everything was set up so amazingly! Together with her family and friends, Molly and Mark worked tirelessly through the week to get everything set up perfectly.

This sign, which Mark and Molly's dad made together, clearly showed where everything was:

Molly and her mom made this handmade banner that read "All you need is love, Love is all you need", which hung on the fence at the main entrance.
The barn for presents and cocktail hour food:
The other barn was set up for the bar
At the bar were little buckets filled with vintage blue and white drinking straws, and the signature drinks signs! The "Magrocrag" was my personal favorite, and my "go-to" drink the entire night!
Molly is a librarian and Mark is an English teacher, so books hold an extremely personal and important part in their lives. Each table was named after a different one of their favorite books, and the seating place-cards were handmade bookmarks!
Molly and her mom individually stamped EACH. LETTER. onto these bookmarks! Chris and I were at The Great Gatsby table!
The thumbprint tree was drawn by Molly's dad (remember the amazing invitations he designed himself?!)
This vintage typewriter was Molly's grandfather's original typewriter. This was placed on the welcome table and helped complete the vintage feel created throughout the wedding.
The picture display of weddings-past for both families. You can see her mom's original dress, puffy sleeves and all, in the picture on the bottom left!
Our Great Gatsby table!
Their favors were perfect: an M&M cookie from M & M, or Molly and Mark who also both have "M" last names!
The cake was made and decorated by a family friend. Each real flower was individually placed on the cake (and edible too!) and looked absolutely exquisite. This is one of the prettiest cakes I have ever seen!
Molly worked so hard on preparations for their wedding day and Mark felt he really needed to contribute something of his own creation and idea. He worked tirelessly through the days, weeks, months to make the perfect sign for their sweetheart table, and make it he did.
 

Look closely...very closely...notice anything?

I think it's official: Mark has the coolest wife. Ever.