daily wanderings of a creative mind

Collecting Memories

2011-07-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of catching up with a friend from college over the 4th of July weekend. We hadn't seen each other in almost eight years if not MORE since she had moved out to the midwest after college! Even though she's moved back East now, we are still separated by a 3+ hour drive, so you can imagine why it's taken us this long to catch up. She was still the same wonderful Holly...but with the awesome addition of two wonderful children with her husband Jon!

Andy and I were able to join them at Hampton for a morning brunch before heading down to the ocean for a walk along the beach. One of my favorite things about walking along the beach with kids is that their eyes are so open and aware to all the beautiful and unique shells and treasures around them. Right away, Holly's daughter found some little shell pieces and handed them to me saying "hang onto these!" I chuckle when typing this because I discovered these same "treasures" while emptying my shorts pockets before loading them in the washing machine this weekend and it brought back not only the great memories of that day together, but also brought me back to the year when I lived with four other girls in my Junior year of college. It's funny how we all change and grow (and sadly grow apart for YEARS). But it always amazes me how easily you can fall right back into those familiar friendships and feel like they were never even gone from your life! I hope they stay more frequent visitors in my life now that we've reconnected.

And on the note of longtime friends who will always be close in my heart no matter what the distance...my friend Jenn is hosting an amazing blog this month! She inspired her friends to play along with her beachy/ocean theme for the month and requested that we each submit a project to her July blog. AND to make this project even more amazing, she turned the items collected into a bidding opportunity for a dear friend and a GREAT CAUSE! My contribution and donation was inspired by my "beach treasure" that Holly's daughter shared with me. It reminded me that everyone needs a beach treasure pail to gather their goodies in!

And NO treasure is complete without a pirate to share it with!!! So I added in this little card I had in my box of oldies but goodies:

So, my share day isn't until July 14th, but I'll be away on a trip for work (maybe even enjoying the ocean a little since I'll be in sunny San Diego!). Miss Jenn agreed to link to my blog posting then, so consider yourself special that you got a sneak peek.

Paper Passion

2011-06-10T20:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I have to admit that I still have boxes and boxes left to unpack in my craft room...AND many thank you notes to create and send following our housewarming party two weeks ago. Shame, shame!

However, I couldn't help myself from ordering this AMAZING paper pack that a friend of a friend was parting with to make room in her craft room. I can't wait to get this little present in the mail!!!

Let the crafting commence!

2 Garden Beds + 11 plants + 0 Green Thumbs= A Vegetable Garden?

2011-06-09T20:45:00.000-05:00

Along with the new house came two raised garden beds in the backyard that I was very excited about. You see, I've never been a gardener and always chuckled to myself a little bit each time someone would talk about their *love* of gardening. I thought to myself, how much joy can come from getting all soil covered and pulling weeds?

Boy, have I been wrong about this planting business! I have to admit, I still don't like the part about getting all covered in soil (I actually wear gloves), nor the part where you deal with dripping of sweat and swatting bugs from around your head on the hot afternoons after a long day of work. However, I'm already feeling quite a sense of satisfaction from just beginning to prepare the soil and the beds before planting my first attempt at a vegetable garden. I have grown tomatoes in planters before, but it doesn't feel nearly the same to me.

My first afternoon of weeding the beds* included finding out the "weeds" were actually oak tree saplings that had been deposited from the many acorns that cover our backyard! I felt kind of guilty knowing that they had persevered and were growing strong, only to be plucked from their early growth and thrown into a weed bucket. But hey, they weren't paying rent here and the only harvest they would yield would be MORE of the dreaded acorns!

*I soooo wish I had taken another picture since the first one in this post before weeding, because it was absolutely chock FULL of weeds!

Anyway, I got over it and continued stripping the beds clean of debris. I was sad to find a swarm of small ants in both beds (probably from dry rot of the wooden boards used to construct the frames). And mind you, it was the ants that were small, not the quantity of them. Whaaaaa! Not off to a great start here. I thought I'd turn things around once I tilled the beds and was sure to uncover some worms that would help my cause. Hmmmm, both beds tilled and not a single earthworm...this isn't getting any better. Oh wait, there is a...worm? Well, after looking it up online, it's actually a wireworm, which isn't a worm at all, but instead a garden pest! Good grief, can't a newbie garden girl catch a break?

It looks like the soil isn't exactly what I had hoped, but I knew this whole garden business was going to be a work in progress. I have visited my local Agway more than once already and I have added some lobster compost into both beds (on their advice) to help the soil start moving in the right direction. We have our own kitchen scrap compost pile cooking as well, but it will be a while before it's ready to make it's way to the garden. And I've hung my "worms welcome" sign out for the locals so they might slither their way in over the next few weeks!

As for this year, I suspect that I'll learn a lot and I imagine that I'll end up with a *few* veggies at least! I have three books checked out of the local library already and I know a handful of master gardeners in my friend arsenal to turn to if when needed. I'm starting small with 3 tomato plants, 6 zucchini/squash plants and 2 pepper plants. I think I'll add some basil into the mix as well so I can whip up a caprese salad at a moments notice!

And if I fail miserably? Well... I can always go back to my tomato planters from the apartment days! Happy Harvesting Everyone!

Instead of a Room with a View, We'll Take a Rock with a View Please!

2011-06-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

Andy and I have found a fond place in our hearts for a local mountain in Alton Bay, NH. It is called Mt. Major and it seems to be one of the only hikes we make sure to take part in year after year. Andy used to hike this mountain with his family as he was growing up, so it is even more sentimental to him.

He tries to take a personal hike on his own each year during his April vacation, with only water and a journal in his pack (and maybe a snack or two), because he often feels close to his mother at the top of this mountain. He takes the afternoon to hike up and will write in his journal while looking out over the majestic view.

When he shared this story with me for the first time, it made my heart warm to know that he could express his feelings and continued to share special moments in his life with his mom, even after her passing. Last year, he even invited me along on his special hike with him! You can only imagine how much that one simple gesture said to me about what a part of his life I had become and what our relationship truly meant to him.

Well, this year we weren't able to take the hike in April and Andy hadn't had a chance to go on his own either. For the last few weeks, we tried to work a hike into our schedule, but we just couldn't manage it until this past weekend. And I have to say, I do believe it was a little sign from the heavens above that we waited until the PERFECT afternoon to hike! It just felt "meant to be" once we reached the top and found our regular rock that we like to sit upon.

We shared our can of beer, me with one sip, in honor of Jon (a tradition we started last year even though neither of us really like beer), snapped a few pictures and even made a few new friends.

Leave it to Andy to find a Duke fan on the top of the mountain to have some fun banter with as we chat about the views.

It was such a wonderful day of making memories! One last picture with the beautiful view in the background and we began our decent back down the trail.

And finally, to top the night off, we headed downtown to take part in our first Dover Dines (a promotion for downtown restaurants with special meal deals). We'd decided on Blue Latitudes earlier in the week and had worked up quite an appetite from our hike!

We had a fantastic waitress and even though she let us know the portions were just a bit smaller than normal to accommodate room in our bellies for a three course meal, we STILL went home with doggie bags for lunch the next day...and I'm sorry to say neither of us could manage to polish off our brownie sundaes at the dessert portion of our meal. We look forward to our next visit there later in the summer; perhaps a table on the outdoor patio next time!

A Year Ago Tomorrow

2011-06-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

Yikes, can it really be true that a YEAR ago tomorrow was the last time that I wrote a blog post? How did life get so utterly busy? And how in the world have I not had anything to write about?

Oh wait, I have had too much going on to be able to write about any of it! So here is the last year in a bulleted list...the "CliffsNotes" version anyway:

My parents were able to sell their house in NH over the summer and purchase a gorgeous new home in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Andy and I attended the wedding of my dear, childhood friend Julia and her "new" husband Dave (I say new because it was almost a year ago). It was such a beautiful day and we were all invited to camp out in the field after the wedding...so fun!

I attended my first canoe trip down the Saco River! I even talked myself into jumping from a rope swing hanging from a tree, but quickly realized that was a mistake when I injured my ear drum entering the water...oops! I think I'll skip that part of the adventure when we return this year.

My parents flew home to join us for a Thanksgiving feast at Auntie Lynn and Uncle Paul's house. Mom is demanding that if they return again for the holiday this year, I have to get the stuffing from Uncle Paul. Not just his recipe, but he has to actually make the stuffing for me to serve. YES, it's THAT good!

Andy and I were able to celebrate Christmas with my family in Colorado. So much fun seeing my sister's kids open presents at my parent's house on Christmas morning...and staying in PJs with my two oldest nieces all day!

Another AMAZING vacation was taken over February vacation as we got to visit Maui, Hawaii for the second time. Thank you again Lexi and Steven for hosting us for the week! It was just as special as the first visit for us and we look forward to many more. Especially because we got voluntarily bumped from our return flight and have some lovely vouchers to use over the next year.

And in March, the biggest news of all...

Andy and I went under contract on our NEW HOME!!!

We were able to close in just over three weeks and we moved in April over Easter weekend...cold, drizzly rain and all. But, as a warm ray of sunshine in our day, it just so happened to be the same day that my newest niece, Liv, joined the world. Can't wait until I can finally meet this little bundle of joy in person.

Soooo, as you can tell, I need to update my blog more often. Clearly, more detailed stories and images from each of the previously bulleted items would have been more entertaining, buy hey...baby steps!

Traveling Here, Watching This

2010-06-08T21:59:00.000-05:00

I haven't downloaded any pictures from our weekend away yet, but it was a wonderful loooong weekend spent with friends, family and LOTS of fun!

We celebrated an exceptional wedding of our dear friends Joey and Shannon at the Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH. Despite the tornado warnings, fire alarm (that caused the entire resort to evacuate a mere half hour before the ceremony), and the actual ceremony that became an outdoor/indoor wedding as the rain picked up after the introduction from the justice of the peace...it was STILL a beautiful event. Even with all of the challenges, they were troopers throughout the whole experience; holding hands and smiling through it all. Laughing and gazing into each other's eyes as if to say, "none of it matters, we're here together doing this!" And as they began their actual vows to one another, the most brilliant rainbow I've ever seen shown brightly through the window covered wall behind them. It was breathtaking.

We I enjoyed a yummy smore while warming up by the campfire in the evening hours on Friday night after the rehearsal dinner, followed by a nice run at the fitness center the next morning. I had been hoping to get some tennis in, but since Joey was the groom, I decided Andy should take him out to the courts instead. They had a great game and I think it will become the beginning of their ongoing game for the entire summer. Maybe next time we'll play doubles!

Even the drive home in the rain was gorgeous as the clouds hung low in the sky and grazed the mountain tops. I didn't want to come home, but instead wished we could stay up there for a few more days. Not to worry though, I think we'll be heading back that way sometime soon...maybe a nice little getaway for our second anniversary. (hint, hint; wink, wink.)

Until then, I'll just make myself comfy and watch a little of this on the couch with my Smooch and the Monkey cat...yup, life is good.

Time at the Lake

2010-05-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

It has been such a busy week; almost feels like I haven't been able to catch my breath the last few days. However today, amidst all the hustle and bustle, I got a text message late in the day from Auntie Lynn asking if Andy and I were around tonight to come by the lake house. I knew Andy was busy with tennis team practice and then heading over to his dad's to help move some furniture, but I gladly accepted the invitation with a smile. I knew I had plans to get to the gym and go to the grocery store after work...but sometimes the chores just need to be put on the back burner for an hour or two.

In times of turbulence and sadness last year I had gone to the lake to spend time with family and often felt brought back to a place of calm and peace. Sometimes it was the talks, sometimes it was the company, but mostly it was just something special in the place. There is an unexplainable warmth and love that surrounds me when sitting by the water and in the sunshine over there.

I spent the afternoon hours catching up with Auntie Lynn and Uncle Paul and planning for future afternoons we're sure to spend there with them this summer. I sat on the new boat and put my feet in the cool water. I laughed and squealed in delight as we kept seeing a rather larger turtle peek his head out of the water at various times as he swam closer and then further away. I took a deep breath, stepped back and JUST ENJOYED THE MOMENT! It has been the best decision I have made all week. Thank you both for that and thanks for sharing your afternoon with me...it means the world!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Recipe Calculator

2010-05-24T21:09:00.001-05:00

As promised...Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe was indeed attempted this weekend thanks to the help of pickycook.com and a reminding boyfriend. We give them four very enthusiastic thumbs up!!! I'm pretty sure Monkey cat would also raise a paw to them if she was allowed to eat them, but they did contain chocolate chips, so Mama said "No." They also made the house smell delicious and you can't complain about that! I think Andy especially enjoyed them; he'd been over at his dad's house mowing the lawn for the afternoon and was surprised to see me removing them from the oven just as he walked in the door.

Although I would have enjoyed mixing the ingredients in a KitchenAid Mixer that I've had my eye on for a while now...I am practicing my skills of less needless consumption and resurrected the ancient food processor that my mom gave us while cleaning out their house in NH a few months ago. I think we've already used it 5 or 6 times, and I'm sure Mom would admit that's probably more than she EVER used it in the last 20 10 years!

When I tried my first recipe from pickycook.com, I noticed that many people left comments on the recipes and blog posts and had received comments/answers back from the blog's author. I had been wondering about how to figure out the nutritional content of the recipes and their serving-size calorie count, so I figured I'd test my luck and leave a comment requesting the info from the writer. To my delight, she wrote me back today and suggested that I search for a recipe calculator on google.com (mentioning that she had been able to find one previously). My mom won't be surprised to learn that Sparkpeople.com (the site that she LOVES) had my answer: Recipe Calculator!!! You can add your ingredients, list your servings per recipe and VIOLA...nutritional information compiled. Good stuff!

Below is what the calculator figured out for the cookies. I'm sure the recipe was supposed to make more than 20 cookies, but we like our cookies a little bigger around here, so I adjusted my scoops accordingly. With 220 calories per cookie, one is certainly enough to satisfy a sweet tooth after lunch or dinner, yet also leaves you with a full belly at the same time. Bake some for/with your family this week!

Nutrition Facts Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
20 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories		220.2

Total Fat		11.2 g

	Saturated Fat	6.7 g

	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.9 g

	Monounsaturated Fat	2.6 g

Cholesterol		29.3 mg

Sodium		94.3 mg

Potassium		112.0 mg

Total Carbohydrate		36.1 g

	Dietary Fiber	3.5 g

	Sugars	16.9 g

Protein		3.2 g

Question of the Week

2010-05-19T21:45:00.001-05:00

I've been looking into taking another art class for approximately 6 years a month now. Hahaha...truth be told, it has been about 6 years since I took my last art class when I was a college student (with the exception of a digital photography course I took for work and various scrapbook/card making classes) and I swore I would NEVER stop. Well now it's six years later and I have yet to pick up a pencil or paintbrush just for the pure joy of standing at an easel or peering down at a notebook on my lap and just creating art. Sad isn't it?

Well now that I've started talking about it more seriously in the past few weeks, it's time to make a decision and sign up for a class...to paint or to draw? What do you guys think?

Photos courtesy of artist #1 and artist #2

Strawberry Preserves

2010-05-18T21:12:00.000-05:00

Well, unfortunately the preserves didn't turn out exactly as I had planned. They weren't as thick as I thought they would be, so perhaps I didn't boil them long enough. Oh well, they still tasted sweet and yummy on my english muffin this morning.

I'm afraid that I also couldn't get Andy to try any so the jury is still out beyond my opinion. I'll bring some extra jars in for co-workers tomorrow and see if we can get some more feedback seeing as how we currently have SEVEN little jars worth in the fridge!

In other recipe news, I forgot that I already committed to making oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies next. So be on the lookout for updates with pictures over the weekend. Happy Tuesday. :)

Aprons and Smocks

2010-05-17T21:40:00.000-05:00

...ok, already time for random thoughts from me. Aprons and smocks are probably two of my favorite things in the world! When I'm wearing either one, it means I'm being creative and that puts a smile on my face.

Recently Andy and I decided to clean out the "bad" food in our lives and introduced a "whole food" diet into our home. One of the best side effects of this effort is finding cool recipes on websites and cooking/baking a lot more. So far, I've made lemon poppy-seed muffins found here and I'm excited to try some other recipes from that same site. Maybe the carrot cake pancakes or the red velvet cupcakes next. YUMMY! The photos on her site are just as yummy as the food too. Wish I could get my photos to that level!

Tonight I tried canning some fresh strawberry preserves from a Yankee Magazine video. I haven't tried them yet, but the little jars looked oh so pretty lined up. I'll let you know how it turned out tomorrow when I try it out over a wheat english muffin for breakfast. Maybe Andy will even give it a try!

A Fresh New Look

2010-05-15T21:26:00.003-05:00

I've been playing around with updated designs on the ol' blog today...trying to get back into the swing of things with posting my daily thoughts, happenings and overall inspirations...as well as some photos! I'm trying to get back to my artistic roots and bring my creativity out of hiding. We'll see how it goes, but I'm hoping it re-ignites my crafty spirit.

Andy decided to join in on the fun as well...although I think he mostly wants to RANT about the heartbreak that the Bruins caused us all last night! Hehehe. I think he also wants to keep friends and family updated about his day-to-day activities and his semi-professional sports commentating that occurs quite often from the couch. He hasn't posted his first entry yet, but a little someone I know helped set him up with a customized banner to get started. Check it out when he posts and leave him some words of encouragement so he keeps up with sharing!

And while we're on the subject of sharing...here's a fun flower picture from Hawaii last year! Man, I can't wait until we get to go back.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words...

2010-03-06T12:56:00.004-05:00

Saw this image on my friend Steph's blog today and it stopped me dead in my tracks...

A lot of craziness (both good and bad) have been occurring in my life over the past six months. And just when I thought I was finally starting to figure things out; I was thrown for another loop! I'm choosing to see this as an opportunity to slow down and really think about what I want in life. Realize that it truly does "all happen for a reason" and stop focusing at finding that light at the end of the tunnel and figuring it all out, but instead paying attention to all the beauty and life that lives inside the tunnel and see what it has to teach me along the journey.

Image from notebook doodles.

Thanksgiving Day Recap in Photos

2010-01-11T21:22:00.007-05:00

Andy and I hosted Mom and Dad for Thanksgiving this year! Here were some photos from our day together.

I know I'm a little behind...but stay tuned for Christmas photos and "holiday" cards that will be going in the mail this week. Yup, you guessed it...they were originally Christmas cards, then they became New Year's cards, now they are "holiday" cards. Andy suggested I just hold off until next year, but I refuse to give up the good fight of crossing everything left off my holiday to-do list. Hehehe!

And Another Year Begins...

2010-01-06T21:47:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been an awfully looooong time since I've posted anything and that is just not acceptable. Even if I can only post a quick thought or quote of the day...or just post a quick snapshot from the week or a song lyric that stuck with me for the day.

Andy even asked me if he can join in on the postings or if we can start another blog about our adventures together; which I thought was a fun idea, but reminded me even MORE that I need to get back to updating my own blog first.

Soooo, to ease back into things a quick list of "goals" for the new year, since I've never really been one for "resolutions," and my word of the year inspired by Ali Edwards:

1. Get back on track with my running and complete at least three 5Ks

2. Complete the two-week triathlon with my Mom in February

3. Give people the benefit of the doubt more and try to see things from their point of view before forming my own opinion (work and personal)

4. Forgive

5. Make time for ME

6. Be easier on myself

7. Reconnect with friends and try harder to stay in touch

8. Create a budget and stick too it

9. Visit Dunkin' Donuts less often :)

10. Find my creativity again

And in honor of the "one little word" concept, my word for 2010 is GRATITUDE. This past year has included a lot of emotions and feelings...excitement, happiness, pain, sadness, loss, anger, regret, love, strength and many more. Over the past few months, I have taken a step back and forced myself to find the good in life and hold onto the things I appreciate the most...family, friends, health, happiness and the overall belief that things do get better; that life does go on; and that YOU are indeed in charge of your own happiness and the window that frames how you view your little world. I'm ready to say goodbye to 2009 and look forward to all the happiness I will create in 2010. The future's so bright...we've got to wear shades!

Back in Action!

2009-03-21T21:05:00.008-05:00

Okay, sooo sorry for the latest delay in vacation photo updates. However, this time it was TOTALLY not my fault. My computer went on the fritz and refused to start, so it had to go in for some repairs. Now that I have it back, you are returned to your regular viewing of additional vacation pictures. (Stay tuned for pics of the new apartment in the next few weeks too!!! One week until the move).

Our first Maui sunrise...so beautiful, so calming:

We stayed with Alexis and Steven (Andy's sister and her husband) and we were lucky enough to visit while they were house sitting for their friend Tony. So this was the beautiful place we got to call home for the time we were out there:

Lexi and Steven were also nice enough to let us borrow their car while we were out there, so we didn't even need to rent one! And BONUS, it even came with a cute furry tour guide. No, not Andy...the little stuffed orangutan:

There are random wild chickens all over the island. Andy really got a kick out of them and I think he seriously wanted to try and catch one while we were there. He settled for seeing a kid on a skateboard who had caught one and was holding it, while skateboarding, and had it on a leash. It was one of the funniest things we'd seen in a long time!

Here is Scruffy, one of Tony's dogs. I absolutely fell in love with him while we were out there and tried to convince everyone that Tony wouldn't really mind if I just took him home with us. Sadly they disagreed with me and I had to leave him behind:

Airplane, Arrival and Awesomeness!!!

2009-03-05T18:54:00.014-05:00

Yup, Awesomeness...it's a word, so don't even question it. Kapeesh? (also a word).

Here are your pics for today...Random plane paparazzi annoyance by yours truly, followed by our arrival in Maui (Saturday, Feb.21) and our first palm tree spotting at the airport! I think we looked pretty good after approx 15 hours of travel that day, right? It was here at the airport that we were also greeted by Andy's sister Alexis (Lexi) and her husband Steven, who adorned us with some beautiful leis and then swept us off to our first Hawaiian sunset and dinner at LuLu's, a fun little open deck restaurant in Kihei. You can see that we made friends quickly during our first tiki encounter too!

And We Were OFF!

2009-03-04T20:38:00.008-05:00

I have sooooo many pictures to sort through and even more fun stories to share, but this can tide you over for now. Here we were embarking on our Hawaiian paradise adventure! These were taken on our departure from Logan airport and our layover in San Francisco, California. The trip was absolutely magical and I can't wait to return someday...

Envy...The Green Eyed Monster

2009-02-14T22:13:00.003-05:00

YUP, I'm full of envy today. My boyfriend is the proud new owner of the Samsung Instinct touchphone and I'm soooo beyond jealous I can't even tell you. This phone is awesome!!! And of course after playing with it for the afternoon, I'm already figuring out when and how I'll be getting mine! Hehehe. Turns out I can update my plan for only about $10 a month and increase to unlimited internet, picture mail, text and calls. So, so, so excited. Okay, maybe it's a little silly to be jealous of his fun new toy, especially considering that we're leaving for our vacation in Maui Hawaii in less than one week now, but hey...I think we all know I'm a bit spoiled by this point. Happy Valentines Day everyone! Go hug and smooch your smooches too!

The Costumes

2008-11-10T22:02:00.005-05:00

So...these are what kept me busy for the last few weeks of October! I made Andy a Jagermeister costume and I made myself a Red Bull costume. Individually, we are delicious beverages, but joined together as a Jagerbomb, we're even BETTER!

They turned out pretty well and I was proud of myself for completing both of them in time for the party. We were a big hit for sure. Now, I just have to REALLY "finish" them and then pack them away for safe keeping and hopefully future appearances. Happy belated Halloween!

Weekend Bliss

2008-10-06T19:06:00.007-05:00

Wow, I have been MIA lately! It's kind of nice to realize that sometimes I get behind on my blog because I'm busy living life and enjoying the moments. So here's what I've been up to since my last post...

Friday morning I started the day off right with my 6:30am workout, although I have to admit it is certainly getting more difficult to jump out of bed at that time with the sky staying darker into the morning and the covers staying oh-so-much warmer than the chilly air outside of them! But luckily for me, I knew there would be a room full of workout buddies wondering where the heck I was if I didn't arrive promptly, so off I went. Then it was work as usual and after that I was off to Dover for the weekend.

Hmmm, I'm sure that some of you have caught a comment here and there from my recent posts, but I guess it's about time I formally introduce you in blog land to the reason I have been spending so much time in Dover lately... everyone meet my boyfriend Andy! I guess I was a bit afraid to mention him before because as he likes to say..."he didn't want to jinx it" (seems his friends could barely get any info out of him about me when we started dating...hehehe). But our pics from this weekend are too cute to not share, so the cat's out of the bag now.

Soooo, Friday night we went out in Dover to enjoy some drinks and watch the Red Sox game with friends, Saturday we hiked Mt. Major during the day and stayed in at night to watch a movie or two with hot cocoa and mini marshmallows. YUMMY! Sunday I was lucky enough to get approval from Andy's friend Chris to join the boys for "Sunday Football" for the second time and then we rounded out the night with the Red Sox game and lots of snuggles. It was truly a weekend of lots of laughter, even more smiles and just overall bliss. Enjoy the pictures from our hike!

Activity Update

2008-10-01T20:59:00.002-05:00

So sorry for the immediate drop of of activity posts! Hahaha...well, this week has been very busy and I'm afraid full of sadness in a few areas, but that hasn't kept me from getting in some activity. Here is the update for the week:

Saturday- 2 mile run
Sunday- day off to watch football with the sweetie
Monday- day off for mental health
Tuesday- 1 hour yoga class, also helped with the mental health
Wednesday- 2 hours shop/chat with Joanne (yes, this totally COUNTS!) :)

Aiming for a strong showing at the gym tomorrow and my favorite FRIDAY MORNING WORKOUT!!! I'll post and let you know how they go.

Accountability

2008-09-26T12:54:00.003-05:00

Yup, that's what it's all about for me the past few days! It seems I have been throwing myself a bit of a pity party lately...not feeling happy about my health/weight again, even worse about my eating choices and not feeling creative in the least bit. Funny thing is, work and life are actually going really well in my little world lately. So, what is the reason behind this??? I hadn't been making myself accountable for my choices/excuses. I'd been missing runs, going for the quick fix meals even though I KNEW they weren't exactly healthy and just running around too much to get anything done.

So, the past few days I've been getting mentally reorganized...back to my running routine, working out with my friend Kevin, enjoying my Friday morning fitness class (even though it's at 6:30am AND I had the day off today, so I could have even slept in!), making better food choices and figuring out HOW to keep myself on track! One of the things I've decided to do is to challenge myself to include my daily workout/activity at the end of my posts. That way, I really am accountable for what I've accomplished for the day...whether it is a workout or something creative/crafty. Hopefully this will help me post more frequently and it will help me stay focused! I've also started journaling what I'm eating again...Kevin and I are "looking over" each others weekly eating habits to help keep one another in check. Good stuff I tell you! If I have to write it down first, it helps me think about if it really is something I want to put into my body. Also helps me make sure I'm drinking enough water to stay hydrated! Ok, guess that's all for today. Happy Friday!

*Daily Activity* 1 hour strength training class :)

There is Nothing Better...

2008-09-16T20:17:00.003-05:00

than coming home after a "not-so-great" day at work to find a sweet card waiting for you in the mail. He didn't know how much I needed it today, so it made it even more special. Happy Tuesday!

Things I'm Missing Today...

2008-09-15T19:26:00.003-05:00

1. My sister...enough said.
2. My desire to take photos...it's been FAR too long since I've been inspired to snap some pictures and that just makes me sad.
3. My running shoes...haven't been able to hit the ground running recently either, darn schedules and meetings!
4. My Miss Jenn and My Silly Girl...these girls make me laugh beyond control and I LOVE that.
5. My creative side...along with my lack of photos lately, I haven't been crafting either. Need to find my creative mojo...I'm sure it's hiding here somewhere!
6. My words...hence the lack of new blog posts lately.
7. My Andy...especially his hugs, they are the BEST!

Even though I'm missing some things today, it was a pretty good day for a Monday. Here's hoping that things slow down a bit around this crazy life of mine so that I can get back to being creative and have something more exciting to share!

SMILE!!!

2008-08-28T09:49:00.002-05:00

One of my friends sent me this cool link a while back and I couldn't remember if I had shared it or not. Anway, it's just a fun collection of "faces" found in random places. It always makes me smile when I look through the latest updates, so I wanted to make sure and pass it along today. Hope you're all having a happy day!

Photo taken from explosion05 flickr page.

Reflections

2008-08-18T19:25:00.003-05:00

Once again, I've missed another whole week! Geesh, life certainly gets in the way of play sometimes. And yes, I know I still haven't taken pictures of my crafty projects or posted them yet, but it is on the ever-growing "to-do" list. But today's post is more important than that...today's post includes some personal reflection, very personal in fact.

I am finding more and more that I want to use this blog not only to keep friends and family updated on my day-to-day life, but also to be an inspiration to anyone who reads this blog. I've learned that there are more and more lurkers than I ever would have imagined, but hey, that's half the fun of posting a blog, right? I find that I am inspired and encouraged by the other blogs I read and I see how they touch other people through the comments that are left behind. So, in honor of passing on the inspiration...here it goes:

I've made a decision in my life to see a counselor. I have gone previously and found that it really helped me to deal with some issues in my life, but for some reason, I was really afraid to admit that I needed some help again. I have an exceptional family and some really wonderful friends who I talk to, but these issues were different. They needed an outside perspective from someone who knows nothing about me. At first I was afraid to admit that I needed this kind of assistance, as there seems to be a stigma surrounding therapy by some. I had even looked into the insurance coverage and looked up phone numbers months ago, but couldn't bring myself to set up the appointments. But recently, I came to a point where I was ready; where it was the right time. I'm actually excited and encouraged by the reflections I've already made. It's a new journey for me...all part of finding that balance and strength in my life that I've been working on this whole year.

So, if anyone out there is thinking this might be the right path for them, give it a try! It might not be the right decision for everyone, but maybe it's right for you...so far, it's right for me.

Capecation!

2008-08-11T22:29:00.006-05:00

Had an amazing time with two of my favorite girlies this weekend down on the Cape! We crafted, we chatted, we ate bad food...pretty much the perfect weekend with the girlfriends. I have lots of projects to share, but first I have to take some photos, so you won't get the actual "2nd Annual Craft Explosion" post until a little later. BUT, I did manage to steal some cute pics from Steph's blog and Miss Jenn's blog. Enjoy!

Time to Get Back Into It!

2008-08-06T20:55:00.002-05:00

Next Thursday, August 14th I'll be tackling my second 5k in the form of the CIGNA race. When I first started running, I had set a goal to run five 5ks by the end of the summer. Well, summer has been quickly passing and I'm sorry to say I have only completed one race so far; and that was back in APRIL! I missed my race in May and then I hadn't even looked for another one until last week. But I'm ready to get back into it. My distance has improved to a steady 2-3 miles per run and my time has improved to right around a 10 minute mile or less, so I should finish with a much better time than my last race. Wish me luck! I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

Vacation...Is It Really Over Already?

2008-07-30T21:16:00.011-05:00

And what a perfect vacation it was!!! For those of you who don't know, I spent my vacation down on Cape Hatteras, NC for a family reunion and it was AMAZING! Last year my aunt got this crazy idea that we should rent some beach houses down there. She asked what everyone thought and within a few days the planning was already underway. She took care of all the planning and making sure we got our payments in on time and all we had to do was show up ready to relax and share a cold beverage or two poolside! Here are some pictures of the trip. Enjoy!

Favorite New Picture!

2008-07-28T21:41:00.001-05:00

Wow, I have been such a blog slacker! Doesn't help that I was away for half of July, but still, that's no excuse. Lots to catch you up on, but for tonight, one of my favorite new pictures. I have barely any pictures of Niamh and I smiling, so I love this one from vacation. Even though we look like total cheeseballs, I love it! Enjoy. More updates to come soon...I promise!

Who's That Girl?

2008-06-29T08:40:00.007-05:00

Okay, just need to give you fair warning that this post includes pictures that I wouldn't normally "post" online. However, once you read along, you'll understand just why I am.

As most of you know, last fall I made a decision to get my life back on track, to take better care of myself, to eat healthier and stay dedicated to a regular workout routine. It hasn't been easy and there have certainly been setbacks along the way. Sometime early on I took these pictures of myself, so I could see my progress along the way.

I'm sure some of you are thinking that these aren't horrible pictures, but for me, I was at one of my heaviest weights ever, if not my heaviest, and I was REALLY unhappy! Along this journey, it's funny to see just how quickly you forget the progress you've made, especially when you reach a plateau. My mom and I have both been struggling with that same problem lately. We stopped focusing on the fact that we were both down significant clothing sizes or that the scale reflected a weight loss of great numbers...we still kept focusing on what wasn't currently happening.

But last week, my mom wrote a great article on weight loss plateaus for a local newspaper, and in reading it, I was reminded that I needed to go back and focus on all the PROGRESS that I have made up until this point! This was apparently clear in seeing new pictures of myself in my new bathing suits. This is one of the first years that I have actually been excited about wearing a bathing suit and have been proud of myself for knowing just how far I've come. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at my goal yet, but it's little reminders like these that make sure we take a step back and take in the moment to see all that we've accomplished and just how far we've come. I think my sister put it best when her reaction to these photos was..."UM, You're HOT!" Thanks sis, sometimes I forget that cute girl looking back in the mirror is actually ME!

Make Time For PLAY!

2008-06-09T20:30:00.004-05:00

That is a difficult lesson for me. Often times I have too many set plans, too many obligations to fulfill to just be living in the moment and playing. I have been working really hard to fix that lately and trying to find the time, even if it's just 15 minutes in everyday to joke around, laugh and do something for myself.

Over the weekend it included spending time with a dear friend at her baby shower, going to another friend's house for a bbq and a late night campfire, going for a run and watching a movie on the couch.

Did you find time to play today?

Mom's Birthday Weekend!

2008-06-03T19:27:00.012-05:00

I finally got the pictures from Mom's birthday weekend when I was home over this past weekend. Some pictures from our hike around Lake Gunnison...including a little "friend" that I almost stepped on as he slithered across the path. Good thing Mom wasn't in the lead at that point!

Then onto our dinner at Luca's in Keene! Our special family restaurant, for a special celebration. Mom was really good and declined dessert, but they still did a nice birthday message for her anyway. I couldn't pass up the pistashio gelato...it is one of my favorites and it was DELISH! I think you can tell that by the size of my smile...hehehe.

P.S. Stay tuned for a fun video that captures some exciting news I got to share with my mom last weekend...if I can finally get it downloaded! Grrrr...technology boggles me sometimes.

Things That Boggle Me - #2

2008-06-02T20:07:00.002-05:00

Okay, another installment of things that boggle me. This one came about from a conversation that got going on my listserve the other day. Where the heck have all the manners gone? I mean SERIOUSLY!!! I cannot tell you how many days I see people treating each other with such rude behavior and disrespect and I just don't get it. Is it really that hard to say please or thank you? To hold a door open for the person following you inside? To compliment someone on their cute outfit? To wave thank you to someone who lets you switch lanes in traffic? Are we really TOO BUSY to be kind?

Well, I continue to spread the JOY! No matter how silly it may be to some or how trivial it may seem to others, I enjoy "thinking" that I might be the difference in someone's day. I am happy to provide the extra smile, encourage an extra moment of laughter at work and often go out of my way to make sure everyone is A-OK! It's not a job or a requirement, it's just ME and I am really happy I was raised this way. Thanks Mom and Dad!

So...show someone YOUR manners this week! Hold that door open, even if you have to wait an extra minute. Smile and wave at that person who stops at the crosswalk for you. Genuinely thank someone when they do something nice for you...it could make all the difference!

Back from Boston!

2008-05-26T07:59:00.011-05:00

Well, technically I've been back since Wednesday...but honestly haven't really felt like I've been back until today. I was soooo tired Wednesday night that I pretty much feel asleep as soon as I got home. Then I had to drag myself through two days of work before the long weekend could begin. Then Saturday it was off to Mom and Dad's house for dinner and some much needed family time. Yesterday we got the sailboat in the lake and got the mast up...gets a little easier every year with all of us in better shape and much stronger.

So, my trip to Boston! Boston was the location this year for the HOW design conference. The same one that I attended in ATL last year. It was a BLAST! Always so great to be back with my friends from the listserve and get to see everyone and share some laughs. It's great to have such an amazing group of support and love, even if you only get to see them once a year. Hard to explain unless you are part of a similar group. But nothing is worse than sharing so many wonderful days together, only to be thrown back into reality while driving home. The second I said goodbye and got into my car I literally wanted to cry. It made me sad to realize I was driving home to an empty apartment without these wonderful friends to surround me like they had the past few days. But it's okay, I know I'll see them all again.

There is so much to share from the week, so I'll break it down bullet list style for you, and I won't include everything:

1. Malibu and pineapple juice "breakfast cocktails"
2. Red Sox game
3. Studio Tours
4. Bar 10 VIP curtain room
5. My new BFF Amy
6. Palm restaurant with Scott, Joanne, Dawn, Kim, Sarah and Kathleen
7. Representing New England with Ali V.
8. Pub crawl and dancing at Sissy K's
9. B&W Party
10. South Street Diner @ 2:30am
11. Inspirational keynote speaker for the closing

I'm sure I'll be sharing stories of these various events over the next couple of days...but here were some of the pictures to accompany the list!

My Happiness Today

2008-05-14T18:55:00.006-05:00

1.Going running for the third time this week. I can't believe my next 5K is a week from today!

2.Coming home to a bed that I made this morning...and pillows, I LOVE lots of pillows!

3.Remembering to turn the dishwasher on last night before going to bed, so my dishes are all clean today

4.A vanilla scented candle

5.Having to restock the fridge with Dasani because my "roomie" Miss Jenn will be here tomorrow and Friday!

6.Taking my camera out today and FINALLY snapping some pics! Thanks for the inspiration Derek!

Things That Boggle Me

2008-05-13T20:50:00.007-05:00

I have decided to do a regular post about things that boggle me. Hahaha, I know what you're all saying..."regular post, she hasn't been updating on a regular basis in FOREVER!" But hear me out, I find myself seeing or hearing something on pretty much a weekly basis that I do not understand at all. Sometimes it makes me shake my head, sometimes it makes me laugh, sometimes it just leaves me with a clueless look on my face. So, from now on, I'll share the things that boggle me most, as they happen. Maybe you'll share in my confusion or maybe you'll relate to the randomness, but my hope is that it can at least let you take a moment from your daily life to share in mine. Heck, that's what this blog is for, right?

Boggle Me Topic #1- Paying for a new car, only to put stickers on it that make it look like it's been shot up with bullets or had a baseball smash through the windshield.

Seriously? You really WANT your car to look like it's been shot at? We live in freaking NH people...this is NOT the hood! Or damaged by a stray baseball? I think you'd be pretty pissed off if this had really happened to your window. I have seen this at least three times in the last week, I kid you not. And on very new looking cars. Yup, totally boggles me!

Goals

2008-05-03T15:30:00.004-05:00

So as most of you know, I've been trying to reach my original weight loss goal (30lbs.) that I set for myself last fall. I still haven't been able to reach it, but I keep getting between five to seven pounds of it. I just keep fluctuating up and down every week for about two months now. It has become so frustrating being so close, but not being able to break past these last few pounds. And of course, now that I've come so close, I've been tempted to increase my goal by an additional five or ten pounds by summertime. Because as we all know, everyone can stand to lose a few extra pounds before squeezing into those bathing suits!

Anyway, I started my running routine a few months ago now, in an effort to set some new goals for myself to focus on...goals that have nothing to do with weight, but instead with my abilities to challenge myself and push myself beyond what I think I am capable of. I'm happy to say that I am getting stronger as each week passes and I'm seeing so many results that I'm proud of, besides a silly number on a scale! Here are a few goals that I have been able to meet recently:

1. Staying steady at a size 10! It was fun to go through my summer clothes when I started spring cleaning only to find that clothes from last year that were too small are now falling off. Doesn't help my budget, but it sure does feel good to reach for the smaller size in the store and feel great about the person looking back at me in the mirror!

2. Increasing my .5 mile runs to 2 miles and going from an average of a 15 minute mile to a 10-11 minute mile. Also going from running once a week to three or four times a week, even after my regular workouts.

3. Getting up to 300lbs on the leg press at the gym! Thanks to my buddy Kevin, I'm increasing my weights every week and improving so quickly. Finally starting to get some definition in these legs of mine. Perhaps I might even get some shorts this summer...then again, we'll have to wait and see on that one.

4. Increasing my strength training and finally getting my arms and upper body in shape. I've always struggled with this, but have really begun enjoying lifting weights and working out on Friday mornings before work.

5. Finally starting to see some toning in my abs and obliques. This is such a trouble area for me and no matter how many crunches or ab exercises I've done in the past, I have never been able to flatten my stomach. Mind you, I'll never be someone with a flat stomach, but it has been nice to see this area tightening and shaping up a bit too. I can't believe what a difference running has been making to my entire body.

So, those are just some of the goals I have been reaching lately. I'm still aiming for the weight loss goal as well, but it's becoming less and less important to me. My next 5K is May 21, so I'll report back and let you know how I do with that one. Even if my time doesn't decrease, I'm so happy to look back and see how far I've come since beginning this new journey. Thanks for all the support, it means the world to me!

Top 10 Reasons My Weekend Rocked!

2008-04-28T18:15:00.003-05:00

#10- Finally got my new hiking boots and some cool new clothes to look all adorable in while trekking around!

#9- Took Friday off from work for some well deserved time away.

#8- Got to celebrate Mom's birthday with her in the form of a lovely picnic and hike; just the two of us!

#7- Had some good times with high school friends Kimbi and Juce...even if it included some interesting events at the local bar.

#6- Got to hold Kimbi's adorable new daughter...even if we did have to wake her up for it...hehehe.

#5- Worked on getting my arms buff while raking with Mom and Dad on Saturday.

#4- Enjoyed a delicious dinner at Luca's in Keene for Mom's birthday celebration dinner!

#3- Helped Dad with the Kubota...man I'm getting skilled at driving that tractor!

#2- Kicked butt at Dance, Dance Revolution with Mom...between that and Guitar Hero, I'm addicted!

And the #1 reason my weekend rocked (insert drum roll here)...
Being reminded that just by coming home for the weekend, everything is set right in my world again...thanks Mom and Dad, you mean the world to me!

Two More Shots

2008-04-21T21:47:00.003-05:00

Of the new hairdo that is! Sorry the second one is blurry...I'm not good at the self shots in the mirror. Hoping to be back to regular posting more often, now that I've gotten my camera back out again, and it's staying so light out later in the evening. Gives me more time to go downtown and play! Happy Monday!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2008-04-17T20:43:00.004-05:00

Miss Jenn shows up with Absolute Citron, sugar packets, and one more lemon and *forces* you to do lemon drop shots with her! Well, okay, perhaps she didn't have to force me...hehehe.

It was so nice to spend some quality girl time with her this weekend. We went out on the town Saturday night. We hit up the Barley House, where we were treated oh so well by our favorite bartender Michael. Rumor has it he's even going to get me some sugar-free Red Bull for my next visit! ;O) Then we headed down to the Draft and then our friend Parda picked us up for a little Guitar Hero action back at his apartment. I'm soooo loving that game now, I certainly see what all the hype has been about. Can't wait to play again. Then we headed over for "late night" with Stephen and the guys on Federal Street, but apparently it was only midnight, so everyone was still out at the bar....oopsie! It was about that time that we realized we should probably get ourselves back to my place and go to bed. Parda got us home safe and sound, "Thanks Parda!"

Sunday Jenn's dad treated us to a nice lunch and then we went to the State Radio and Third Eye Blind concert at SNHU. It was such a good show and only $20! Brought back some good memories of Jenn and I seeing Third Eye Blind the first summer we were friends...good times, good times.

And in other news, I chopped off my hair! Yup...last minute decision this afternoon. Was going in for the usual trim and decided I needed something new and different. The pictures are pretty crappy, but I'm loving it so far! Hoping I still feel the same way tomorrow morning, after styling by myself. Have a great night!

Sinus Infection...

2008-04-14T18:34:00.002-05:00

Yup, it's no longer just my allergies making me all congested and cranky. I finally went to the doctor today, after two days of no voice, a blocked left ear and lots of blowing my nose, and they decided that I have a sinus infection.

So, this afternoon was spent on the couch. I came home, put my pjs back on, started on my antibiotics and slept. Let's hope the meds kick in quickly, as this is already gearing up to be a busy week.

Inside My Head

2008-04-12T04:03:00.003-05:00

Been inside my own head a lot this week, especially tonight. Just trying to process things and figure out some recent events that have occurred. To be quite honest, this has been one heck of an emotional week for me and I'm still not able to let go of all of it. Hence the 5am posting, since I woke up about 1.5 hours ago and can't turn this brain of mine off!

This week it has hit me like a ton of bricks that I have NO IDEA what I want right now when it comes to a relationship. I mean, I know to some extent WHAT I want, but it's the finding it that boggles me I suppose. I'm ready to just throw in the towel and take a break from it all. I have made my life so scheduled and filled with important committees and activities, that I feel "double booked" for my own LIFE! In reality, I'm someone who needs to remain fairly busy at all times, or else I get bored and unhappy. But the truth is, I want to find a reason to slow down. I want to find that person that is worth slowing down for...I'm not trying to rush it, as I know it will happen as it is meant to, but goodness it will be nice when it arrives.

I had a really horrible week at work. And by really horrible, I mean it was of the "come home and cry variety." It was really difficult for me to not have a special someone to come home to...to vent my frustrations to or to just get a hug from. Someone to just kiss my forehead and remind me that it will all be okay and I need to just relax and let things blow over. I know that it will all be okay, but sometimes you just want someone to snuggle you and say it out loud, you know?

Luckily I do have one amazing sister, two great parents, one wonderful friend (who supplies pizza AND wine when I need to explode so I don't self destruct) and another awesome crazy chica who makes this weekend something worth looking forward to! I am certainly blessed, there is no doubt about that.

They say that you attract what you give off. So, starting right now...right this very second...I am turning my attitude around. No more over-thinking, no more being sad and stressed out, no more dwelling on misinterpreted words that cannot be changed. I'm leaving this week behind me and looking forward to tomorrow with a positive attitude. Maybe now that I got this out of my head, I can get a few hours of sleep. We'll see...

Oooh La La!

2008-03-31T20:57:00.003-05:00

Here was the dress that I wore to the military formal on Saturday. I went with my friend Tim and we had a really nice time. It kind of felt like prom, the way we went to his parents house, then our friends place, then his grandparents house. Too funny. I certainly felt like I was turning some heads in my sassy little number...all these hours in the gym are certainly paying off!

WOW...Crazy Busy!

2008-03-28T07:37:00.001-05:00

And by busy, I don't just mean your run of the mill, stuff going on busy...I mean your leave the house by 8am (some mornings 6:30 or 7) and don't get home until 9 or 10pm busy!

I'm thinking it might be time to cut back on some committees or saying "no thanks" to last minute invitations. I've been doing really well with that part of my new year's resolution I suppose...I've been saying yes to pretty much any opportunity that comes along. It has been really fun and I'm glad I'm doing it, but it sure has been exhausting!

So, with all that being said, here's what I've been up to:

- Shopping at the Banana Republic outlet store with Joanne (love their new colors for Spring), followed by dinner with Joanne and Ryan...delicious!

- Indoor rock/wall climb adventure with my friend Chris at a great place in Manchester called Vertical Dreams

- Snowboarding at Mt.Sunapee with my new board...LOVE IT (also hurt myself a little at the end of the day, oopsie!)

- Easter with Mom and Dad

- NH Creative Club meeting that was really inspirational and got my creative juices flowing again and sparking my interest in more interactive design programs

- Movie with my friend Tim...we rented August Rush on On Demand and it was really cute...lots of great music in it

- Concord Young Professionals Meetings and social committee meetings

- Super fun A Muse card class with my favorite Miss Jenn at the Paper Tree!

- Weekly workout with Kevin...I'm up to 200lbs on the leg press...go me!

- Signed up for a 5K next weekend to see how much work I need to do before May, hoping that will help me stop making excuses and force me to be more committed to my new running routine.

- Yoga Classes

- Night out with the crew on Friday night...even Ashley and Brie joined in on the fun

- Military formal with Tim last night...super fun to get all dolled up for the night, I'll share pictures of my dress soon.

Well, that about rounds it out. I'm sure there were more things mixed in there, but it's all a blur. Planning a more relaxing week this week, we'll see if it actually happens.

One Out of Two Isn't Bad

2008-03-16T19:56:00.003-05:00

So, I decided that this weekend would turn into "MOVIE WEEKEND" when I realized that I wasn't much in the mood for going out afterall. So, Saturday during the day I rented the Darjeeling Limited because I had heard pretty good things about it. Mind you, it is a film about three brothers traveling through India on a train in the hopes of reconnecting and sharing a spiritual journey, but I still thought it was worth a whirl. Maybe it was just me, or my mood today, but I DID NOT GET IT! I have no clue what all the hype was about. Just a strange journey that took up almost two hours of my day today. I do not recommend.

But, on a much brighter note...I ended up finally going to see Juno tonight. I LOVED IT! It was witty, sarcastic, funny, touching and all around a good movie. And, I even ended up seeing it by myself. I seriously think this is the first time that I have gone to see a movie at the theater by myself. I have said a bunch of times that I was just going to go, but never actually ended up making it in the end. I have to admit, it really wasn't bad at all. I think I'm going to do it more often even. It's kind of like your own little world for two hours. With no one knowing where you are or what you're doing. Which doesn't really seem like a big deal, but I really liked the idea of it anyway. And, one of the best take-away lines of the movie/night is a line said by Juno's dad when she asks him about if there really is true love and he responds...“The best thing you can do is to find someone who loves you for exactly what YOU are.” Yup, so good and sooooo true!

So, boring post as it may be...that is my weekend movie update! Consider yourself informed.

Rude Awakening

2008-03-08T19:52:00.002-05:00

This week, I have been making some poor decisions again. Thank goodness I have such a great big sis to remind me what I'm really looking for and helping me to stay on track. I know what I deserve, but I just keep allowing myself to make excuses for those that are NOT what I want...not what I NEED in my life. Thanks for the talk this morning sis, it really has helped me think about things today...and even though that brings about a rude awakening of sorts, at least it is an awakening. Love you!

Save Polaroids!

2008-03-04T21:39:00.001-05:00

Check out this link!

It would be so sad to see Polaroid film come to an end. Here's hoping this website can help keep it alive!

WARNING Jealousy About to Take Over if You Snowboard!

2008-03-01T11:46:00.004-05:00

That's right folks, I have a brand new setup coming my way!!! My parents got me a day pass to Mt.Sunapee/Okemo for Christmas and I have been so excited to use it. Remember a few posts back when I talked about getting back into snowboarding? Well the bug has officially bitten! I was up at Gunstock the other weekend, snow tubing with friends, and just being there on the mountain made me smile. Standing under bright blue skies and sunshine, breathing in the crisp, cool air. It was so amazing! I wanted to be back on the trails!

Anyway, I have had the same board since I started boarding about 8 years ago and it's way too short. The past few times I've gone, I've rented (also because I was in Colorado one of the times). So after my tax return came in last week, I decided to do this for ME. A little present to myself...well, actually a big present. I was hoping to buy locally, but none of the shops had what I was looking for, so I had to order online. But there was a great place, backcountry.com, and when I called to talk to customer service, the guy was actually from North Conway, NH originally. It was too funny, we talked about NH skiing and boarding and he was very helpful and knowledgeable. I did find the setup a little cheaper on some other sites, but this one also offers an unbelievable return policy. Some of the others were limited to two weeks or only if the items purchased weren't on sale. So for a little extra money, I thought it was worth the peace of mind and the great service I was given!

So, now begins the waiting game. The shipping stated 7-14 days, but my buddy Jay in customer services thought it might be here by next Friday because it almost never takes the 14 days...obviously, no promises though.

What Are You Running From?

2008-02-28T21:10:00.003-05:00

I'm not running from anything, but I sure am running for something! I found out the other night that there is a 5K race in Concord in May to benefit Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer, and I've set this goal as my first running race. It is called the Rock 'n Race because there are bands along the course and festivities of all kinds. It is run in downtown Concord and then there is a big celebration on the statehouse lawn at the end of the race. I saw the runners last year, but had no idea what the race was, so I'm really excited to be hearing about it so soon this year.

The best part is I'm not only running to prepare for the race, but I'm also running for myself too. I have started a running routine and I'm up to a 1/2 mile. I'll need to increase a little each week to be ready in time, but last week I was only at 1/4 mile, so I'm already improving. I love the feeling of getting stronger every week...even if the scale has been staying the same. I know I'm more toned, healthier and stronger and that makes me HAPPY! Set a goal for yourself today, it'll make you feel good.

Snow Bunny Gear Complete!

2008-02-20T06:41:00.003-05:00

So after getting yet another winter jacket this weekend (thanks for that bad habit Dad), I REALLY needed to find some new snow pants. I looked and looked this weekend, but either places were sold out since it's so late in the season or didn't have my size...of course now all I can find is my old/larger size, but that's a happy feeling after all the hours I've been putting in at the gym. My old snowboard pants still work, but they are kind of big, and I really wanted to find brown ones to go with my two newer jackets. I never knew how difficult it was to find brown snow pants!

Anyway, I finally made it to Dick's yesterday on my lunch break and not only did I finally find a pair, but they were my size, brown and ON SALE! My favorite part. I found a pair of North Face ones that I really liked, but they were too big and were more expensive. So, I think I did pretty well and now I have two cute ways to be bundled up when hitting the slopes! I'll try to take pictures later tonight.

Off to another busy day...work, young professionals meeting tonight, gym after that. Happy Wednesday!

You're Suppose to Get BUFF at the Gym, NOT Bruised

2008-02-16T12:30:00.002-05:00

So in true Stacy fashion, I injured myself at the gym this week. Not actually using a machine, but instead walking right into one! OUCH! I have a nice welt and bruise on my right shin now to show for it. But don't worry folks, I kept working out anyway! I'm down 22lbs. total since starting my new routine last fall...hoping to lose another 8 to get to my original goal and then I'll re-evaluate and see if I'm where I want to be. I'm feeling great though, and officially down to a size 10 pant...whoo hooo!

I have a new workout buddy at the gym too! My friend Kevin is a Health Management Rep. at my work and was looking for a new place to work out besides our fitness center at work. Since I have a black card at Planet Fitness, I can bring one guest a day, so why not use my membership to it's fullest. I thought I was just going to sign Kevin in for the free pass and then we'd both be off on our own workouts, but little did I know, he's going to be my personal trainer of sorts! He showed me how to use the leg press and some other machines in the "intimidating" weight area of the gym. We're going to try and do our new routine together once a week, so I'm thinking my legs are going to get pretty toned by bathing suit season...so very exciting!

In other news, I made it successfully through Valentine's Day, and in all honesty, it wasn't that bad. I handed out some little valentine's I had made for co-workers and friends and they loved them. I got some great e-mails/texts from friends and a card and homemade cookies from Carrie, along with a perfect card from my parents! I rounded off the night by making some delicious chocolate covered strawberries for a baby shower at work we had Friday. I made some with milk chocolate and some with dark, they came out perfectly too...but I forgot to take some photos before they were devoured, sorry folks!

So, this weekend I'm doing the usual chores...cleaning, laundry, etc. Tonight I'll be going snow tubing up at Gunstock with friends. Going to have to bundle up with the chilly air we have here today though. Tomorrow I'll join my mom and dad for brunch and then spend the day with them. I'm leaving Monday up in the air. Maybe I'll tackle my office/craft room re-organize. God knows that has been on my "to-do" list for months! Or maybe I'll just relax and try to catch up on sleep, since I haven't been sleeping well at all lately. That's the beauty of a three day weekend, having options for a free day...gotta love that!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

Another Kind of Bucket List

2008-02-11T22:18:00.001-05:00

This we will add to the things I don't understand category...

"food served in a bucket"

I guess I can understand chicken from KFC served in a bucket, still gross, but at least it's pretty much like serving it in a box or other container, since you'll probably just be putting it on a plate when you get home to eat. But tonight, as I was driving, I actually saw a sign outside a restaurant that said "baked ziti in a bucket"...are you kidding me? Baked ziti in a bucket? Why are we serving things in buckets now? It just confuses me. Needless to say, I won't be eating anything from a bucket anytime soon, and I'll advise you to do the same.

*end rant*

And Another Week Has Passed...Phew!

2008-02-08T20:59:00.000-05:00

Back to being busy, busy, busy...had lots going on this week with work and working out and spending time with friends. This weekend is going to be more of the same. Steph's kiddos are having a birthday party tomorrow at a local kid's museum, so I'll be stopping by that for a bit, then hanging out with my buddy Brett from high school in the afternoon, and off to the Barley House with the boys to finish the night off I think.

Sunday I'm going to check out the new independent theater downtown. Still undecided about whether I want to see Atonement or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly...I might just wait until I get there and pick one, since I want to actually see both at some point.

Anyway, that's pretty much all that is new with me this week. Maybe I'll try and take some pictures over the weekend to share...or maybe something exciting will happen...you never know!

Cape Cod Getaway

2008-02-02T17:59:00.001-05:00

So, my camera is kind of acting up and none of my pictures from the weekend really came out...but I was able to snag this photo from Steph. If you can believe it, this was the first time I'd ever had a jello shot. Don't worry Mom, we behaved and stayed out of trouble the whole weekend.

Miss Jenn put a ton of work into getting the "island" ready in time for our arrival and her apartment looks AMAZING! A warm tan paint color in the living room and hallway and a fun teal accent wall in her bedroom. Along with the oh-so-famous pole that Lee helped her install...hehehe. She did a great job and made our weekend getaway perfect, don't let her tell you she's not domestic...she even made us breakfast sandwiches one day and a hearty soup too!

Miss Jenn and Josie remembered their precious kitties with paw print tattoos on Saturday. They were really troopers, as I hear a tattoo on the top of your foot hurts pretty badly. Steph, Christy and I spent some of our time at the tattoo shop with the girls and the rest of the time down the street at Colorful Creations, picking up some crafty supplies. After the girls were all finished up, we headed back to the island to get our craft on for the rest of the night!

I made some new cards, scrapbook pages and put together a kit for a little birthday reminder book I've been hanging onto for a while. Maybe now I will get birthday cards in the mail BEFORE the birthday actually happens! But more than crafting, I did oh so much girl talk with the girls. It was just what I needed to get me out of my funk and I've had a much better week because of them! Sometimes you just need some relaxing and good girlfriends to remind you what the important things in life really are. Can't wait until our next getaway...look at your calendars girls, I'm ready to start the countdown again!

I'm Here...

2008-01-31T18:11:00.000-05:00

but not really. Sorry for the lack of blog love lately. I have been so super busy this week! Last weekend I was down on the Cape with some of the best girlfriends a girl could ask for and I have fun pics and stories to share from that. Now if I could just find the time to download my pictures. I'm going to try and post on that later tonight. Hugs!

Just When I Was Thinking Happy Thoughts

2008-01-21T20:30:00.000-05:00

...I have to go and get SICK! I wasn't feeling so hot yesterday, but I thought it was just a blue day. This morning I woke up with a fever and a killer headache...yuck! I kept myself wrapped up in my pjs and blankets today and camped out on the couch. It's days like this that I really wish I had more than 5 decent channels of cable television. I'm thinking of that upgrade package a little more seriously after today.

After lots of sleep, fluids and Advil, the fever seems to be gone for now. The headache is still hanging on, but I'm thinking after a good night's sleep tonight I'll be back to good. I have to be...this weekend is my girl's weekend getaway on the Cape and I have to be at 110% for that.

After the Rain...

2008-01-20T20:07:00.000-05:00

you have to keep looking for the rainbow!

This past week has been really tough on me, which is why I haven't really been blogging. Last weekend I learned about a friend of my ex boyfriend who died suddenly in a car accident. I didn't really know him that well; had only hung out with him a few times at gatherings, but it was still so surreal to think of someone my own age dying. It really got me thinking again about how I'm living my life.

Earlier this year, I made some really tough decisions in order to take better care of myself, but this week I learned that I was falling back into some of my old bad habits. I started letting my insecurities get the best of me and realized that I was letting myself be second choice to a lot of people in my life. I am one of those people that is always willing to put themselves on the line for their friends, and unfortunately I was feeling that some of my friends were not willing to do the same for me.

It's always difficult when you feel like you are giving more to others than they are willing to give for you, both in friendships and relationships...and you find yourself starting to shut down and fall into a funk. My initial reaction was to just build up those walls of protection and try to keep everyone out...but this only led to more feelings of disappointment and sadness. I started remembering that your world is a reflection of the attitude you give off...and I was attracting some major negative energy because that is what I was giving off.

As much as growing and changing is good for you, it is never easy. And with each experience, you realize that you have more to learn about yourself than anything/anyone else! Because of this week, I KNOW I have a lot of work to do on ME and making sure I'm putting myself first again. I don't want to be negative anymore this week...I want to go into tomorrow searching for the rainbow instead of standing in the rain.

Friday Night in Pictures

2008-01-16T17:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some of the fun pics from Friday night. Thanks for the CD Stephen!

New Year's Eve and Friends

2008-01-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

I finally got a hold of a New Year's Eve picture from my friends this weekend. We were all looking pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

This weekend was fun-filled and full of friends...just the way I like it! Friday night at the Barley House with the gang (should have fun pictures to post from that soon) and then onto a party at our friends' house once the bar closed. Sorry to those of you that ended up with late night phone calls...apparently I was quite the drunk dialer. Looking through my phone on Saturday morning, it looks like I called about 8 people and text messaged a few more, some I even called more than once...Oops! I guess I just wanted to make sure everyone was having a fun night out like we were!

Saturday morning I had to get up pretty early because my wonderful dentist made a special appointment so I could come in and get my toothache checked. That meant getting up at 6:30am to be in Newport for 8:00am...not so fun. But the good news is there is nothing wrong with my tooth. Apparently I just have a very long root on that tooth that is all the way up in my sinuses, so they think it's just a sinus infection and can be cleared up with some over the counter sinus meds.

Back to Concord after that for some shopping with Joanne, then back downtown last night to meet up with the gang to watch the Pats game and play some pool. I opted out of the after-party last night though...had to get myself to bed!

Today is filled with all the boring chores I've been putting off this week...laundry, cleaning the apartment, paying bills. Then I'll round out the weekend with a trip to the gym. Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

Better Late than Never

2008-01-07T23:01:00.001-05:00

As promised, here are some fun pictures from Christmas vacation in Colorado! It was a wonderful trip and I was so happy to be able to spend the holidays with my family. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for making sure that we were all together, it means more than you'll ever know.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T14:00:00.001-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it is 2008 already! I'm excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of me this year. 2007 brought about a lot of changes in my life and I learned a lot of life lessons...some the hard way, some a little easier. I'm grateful for all the experiences that 2007 brought me, because they have certainly helped become the person that I am today. Or, more accurately, helped me regain some aspects of the person that I use to be!

Now, I've never really been one for making resolutions, but I do have a few things that I want to focus on this year, so I thought if I wrote them down, I'd be more apt to make them happen.

1. RELAX! I need to remind myself to just relax, take a deep breath and let things happen as they are suppose to. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own mind and thoughts that I over think just about EVERYTHING. I need to just enjoy the moments as they happen instead of trying to analyze them and make complete sense of everything.

2. CREATE I need to get my creative spark back. I want to start painting and drawing again this year. I want to work on my scrapbooks and crafts. I want to take more photographs and capture more moments this year. It has been far too long since I have made my art part of my daily life and I truly miss it. It has always been such a great outlet for me and I want to make it a top priority in my life again. It makes me happy!

3. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS I realized over this past year, that I have let far too many friendships go by the wayside. I am grateful that many of them are still here for me and I'm excited to create new memories with them all.

4. MAINTAIN BALANCE Continue to strive for balance in all areas of my life this year. I have made a strong effort to begin this one in 2007, but I want to continue and improve on it in 2008. Balance between work and play, health and nutrition, mind, body and spirit. Always a challenge, but always worth the effort!

5. PLAN LESS Some days it feels like I am scheduled every minute of the day. It's my own fault, because I am one of those people that plans out just about everything. I want to be more spontaneous and accept more last minute invitations. I want to say "yes" to those last minute drinks with the girls or head to that late night movie with a friend.

These are my goals for 2008! I just know it's going to be a great year...and I'm excited to get it started.

One of My Favorites

2007-12-27T21:47:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite photos from this past week. Niamh and Auntie having a ball together! I'll upload more pictures when I have some time this weekend. We had a great trip, but I'm happy to be sleeping in my own bed again.

As Promised...

2007-12-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

here are the first pictures of my tattoo! The top picture is from the day after, so it was still a little red. It's healing up really well, so hopefully I can get some better pictures next week.

I chose a Celtic knot that is a symbol of strength and balance to represent the changes that have occurred in my life this past year. After some of my health scares earlier in the year, I have really grown to realize just how precious life is and have made some very significant changes in my world to be sure that I am living everyday to the fullest. I am also striving to find and maintain balance in all areas of my life and think this tattoo is a great reminder to do just that.

My youngest niece's name is also Celtic, so that holds a special meaning for me. As well as the placement being in the same location as my sister's tattoo to represent our strong connection and bond. Her tattoo is on the left in the bottom picture. I am so happy that I was able to get my tattoo on this trip and I'm very happy with the final result.

I've Been Inked!

2007-12-24T15:59:00.000-05:00

So thanks to a last minute cancellation at a great tattoo shop in Denver, Th'ink Tank, I was able to get my tattoo while out here on vacation! I hadn't realized that many of the best places have a waiting list up to a month out, so I had almost given up hope of getting it done this trip. But one phone call later and I was scheduled.

My sister, Alicia, took me down and watched as it became official. I got it done on the back of my neck in the same location as her tattoo, as I wanted it to represent our special connection and bond, as well as my growth and strength this past year. I LOVE the design that I chose and can't wait to upload the pictures to share when I get back. Maybe my brother-in-law will help me download to their computer so I can get them up while I'm still out here. I also have some pretty cute pictures of Niamh's first birthday, so check back later and maybe I'll have them up.

Merry Christmas Eve!

I Was Tagged!

2007-12-19T16:23:00.000-05:00

Miss Jenn has tagged me ;) so it's time to give you all a little more insight into me!

Here are the rules of the game:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

ummm.. ok here i go ;)

1) I have a goal to lose 30 pounds! (10 more to go to reach my goal)

2) I may get my first tattoo while I'm in Colorado this week

3) I LOVE peppermint gum and chew it almost everyday

4) I really like the music by a new artist that I recently discovered, Fink...check them out!

5) I really enjoy photography

6) I want to travel more

7) I like to cook when I have the time

Yup, those are all pretty random. Since Jenn already tagged the people that I would have tagged, I'll open it up to people who read this on my blog and want to play along! Enjoy!

Counting Down the Days

2007-12-11T19:02:00.000-05:00

Until I get to hug and smooch these cutie pies! I can't wait to see you guys next Wednesday...I miss you everyday!

Lots Going On, But Not Much to Say

2007-12-04T20:43:00.000-05:00

I know you all think it is crazy that I don't have much to say...I ALWAYS seem to have something to say! Here's what I've been up to:

-Things are getting pretty busy at work as I try to tie up loose ends for the year before going out to Colorado again. I start layout on the January magazine next week, so I'm bound to be in the office for some looooong days/nights next week.

-I've also been very busy taking care of myself. Hitting the gym whenever possible, even on the weekends, yea me! Even had an appointment with the chiropractor today. Very excited to start working with them and starting a new nutrition plan. I have a feeling 2008 is going to be quite the year.

-Hanging out with friends. Was treated to a wonderful dinner last Friday night that I thoroughly enjoyed. Had the opportunity to have dinner with my favorite Miss Jenn tonight and then headed over to visit with Laine for a bit. I've even planned a fun girls night with some friends from work on Friday. They are going to head over here for pizza, drinks, games and movies. Just a fun, girly slumber party! Sorry guys, I don't think there will be any pillow fights, but you never know! ;O)

-Getting the apartment ready for winter. Okay, I know I'm a little late with this, but I really do plan to weatherstrip the windows this weekend. I said that last weekend too, but this weekend I really mean it!

That's pretty much all the news in my world this week. Hope you're all having a great one!

Winter Has Arrived

2007-12-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

The snow started early last night and hasn't stopped yet. I think we have about 8 inches so far. I can't get over how quickly the snow can change how everything looks. I always hate getting ready for the first snow and driving in it, but I really do love it once it's here. It makes everything look beautiful and clean. I'm excited to go to the mountains this year and start snowboarding again. I haven't been since last March and I really have missed it. Just one more thing to add to the list of things that make me happy that I need to start doing again.

Everything Happens for a Reason...

2007-11-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

So apparently I had to have a crappy Monday to force me to go to the mall and buy new pants that actually fit (down practically two sizes, yippee!). While shopping for said pants, I had to see a dress that I fell in love with for New Years. After not even trying it on, I had to go back to see if I should get it, even though I don't exactly have plans for New Years, hahaha.

Joanne came along with me for advice, and after trying it on...YUP, it was perfect! Just a tad too small in the bust, but the way things are going these days, it should fit perfectly in the next month. So, I decide that since it's 40% off and I have a coupon from my birthday, it's totally worth it. Then, since I put it on a charge card, ANOTHER 15% OFF!!! Guess this week is looking up after all. I tried to find a picture of it online to share, but no luck. You'll all have to anxiously await the visual until I can snap a shot of it with my camera. And speaking of...I need to get back to some photos on this blog...sorry for the lack of photo love lately.

Off to Carrie's for dinner and trivia at the Barley House!

My Crappy Day

2007-11-26T19:41:00.000-05:00

1. Planning my outfit ahead of time since I had to leave the house at 7am today, only to find that the pants I planned on wearing actually FELL OFF when I put them on. Normally, I would be excited about this, but not when I was already running late and didn't have time to iron. Guess it's been a few weeks since I'd worn them last.

2. Putting on the second choice pair of pants only to find that they were too big as well. Seriously, this is NOT a great time to spend money on new clothes, but I can't go into work looking like an idiot either. Finally settled on a different outfit that was still too big, but manageable.

3. Dropping my car off at the garage to get inspected, only to be reminded that it's time for the 30,000 mile check up. That will be $400, thank you very much.

4. Coming into work after a four day weekend, knowing that I have a ton of projects to get working on, only to find that the servers are down at work. No e-mail, no internet, no network folders, no accessible work.

5. Knowing that I also have a few meetings scheduled, but didn't actually print off my outlook calendar before the server issue, so running around trying to figure out where I'm suppose to be and what kind of meeting I'm suppose to be prepared for.

6. Getting to sit down at my desk to get my work done (computer server back up and running) to realize that it's already 3:30 and I only have an hour before I get picked up by the garage to get my car.

7. Getting my car back, but learning I have to bring it back in when they get more parts to fix my dome light (luckily that part will be under warranty)...P.S. You're also going to need new tires in the Spring...plan on another $500-$600...thank you very much again!

8. Treating myself to a manicure/pedicure after my horrible day only to ruin the pedicure on my drive home. Sweet!

YIKES...what a Monday!

It's Official...

2007-11-25T12:05:00.001-05:00

I'm at my halfway goal for weight loss!!! After today's workout, I decided to weigh myself and I'm down 15 pounds! I am so excited and proud of myself for really sticking to my exercise routine and healthy eating...even through the Thanksgiving holiday. But the work doesn't end here, I'm ready to tackle the next 15 and start 2008 off on the right foot. I'm hoping that if I put in even more hard work at the gym, I might be able to reach my goal by New Years.

Perhaps I should treat myself to a new outfit today...especially since most of my clothes are starting to become too large and I have a fabulous g/c to Banana Republic from my sister's family from my birthday. Not that I need an excuse to shop, but seriously, how could I not want to after such an awesome morning?

Thankful

2007-11-23T14:44:00.001-05:00

With all the cooking going on yesterday, I didn't get to let everyone know what I'm thankful for this year...there are far too many things to list here, so I will keep it to the short list version:

1. My parents- for showing me that true love is attainable and long lasting. For showing me unconditional love and support over the years and for knowing that you are always behind me and my decisions 100% I love you guys!

2. My sister- for always taking care of me and being there for me. For encouraging me to take chances and risks in life, and making sure I always enjoy the adventure without regret. There may be many miles between us, but knowing you're only a phone call or a plane ride away make me feel better. (See you in less than a month!)

3. My nieces- for your innocence, your laughter, your wonderful smiles, your inner beauty, your health, your laughter and your ability to always make me smile. I miss you girls everyday!

4. My friends- for the ones that have always been a part of my life, for the ones that I have recently reconnected with, for the ones that are new to my life and for the ones that I don't even know anymore. You have all had an impact on my life in one aspect or another and have each taught me something about myself. You have all been a part of the person that I am today and for that I am thankful. Thanks for the shoulders I have cried on, the jokes that have made me laugh, the phone calls that let me know I am being thought of and the good times together that make up some of my favorite memories.

5. My health- for taking control of my life this year. For exercising and eating healthy, for taking care of myself as a top priority, for removing unnecessary stress in my life. For becoming proud of the person that I am today.

6. My extended family- for reconnecting with extended family that I don't get to see very often and knowing that no matter how much time passes, I can always count on them. For knowing that many of us will be together on the beach next summer!

7. My job- for knowing that I work for an organization that truly cares, not only about its employees, but also the people we serve and the greater community as a whole. For their encouragement to give back to others in need. For their benefits that allow me peace of mind and for the paycheck that allows me to pay my bills and have a roof over my head.

Like I said before, that is certainly only the short list, as my life it truly blessed. I hope that you all got to spend the holiday with your loved ones!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T07:01:00.001-05:00

Getting ready to attempt my first Thanksgiving dinner and feeling pretty excited about it too! I was able to prepare a number of things last night, to keep the stress levels low today. My parents will be here in a few hours with the turkey, so I can prepare that and get it in the oven. I'll try to take some pictures to share later. Hope you're all able to share your holiday with your friends and/or family. I know that I have A LOT to be thankful for this year!

Can't Get Over...

2007-11-19T22:48:00.000-05:00

These big, blue eyes. She is just so adorable, I can't wait to be out there to share her first birthday with her and her older sisters. Thanks for getting the tickets Mom!

Outrageous

2007-11-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

Last night I went to the first Monarchs game that I'd been to in a long time. I had forgotten how much I like ice hockey and I had a really great time, even though they lost. I spent most of the night laughing and talking and it was a nice way to end the long week. We even got to go hang out in a luxury box after the second period.

I met some new friends and stayed up way too late...while consuming a few too many beverages along the way. Apparently I still haven't learned my lesson about mixing different kinds of drinks and I'm feeling pretty sick today. (Alicia-picture how you were feeling last weekend). Will I ever learn?

I had been warned during the game that the group I was hanging out with would become "outrageous" as the night went on, but they really weren't that bad. They were a lot of fun and I'm hoping to hang out with them again. The only part that is outrageous today is that it is 5pm and my stomach still hates me...back to the couch for some rest.

I'm Home from Colorado...

2007-11-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

but part of my heart is still there with these cuties. I miss them already!

An Inspired Life

2007-11-09T06:43:00.001-05:00

Looks like I do have time for one more quick blog post before I fly out today. Lucky YOU!

This week has been really mixed for me. I have had some days filled with laughter and friends, some stressful days, some days full of doubt, some long, tiring days, then right back to my bubbly self again. What does this make me, besides INSANE? It makes me thankful!

I have learned a LOT about myself this past week. And mostly I have surprised myself. Over the past few months I have had to do a lot of soul searching and asking myself if I have been making the right choices. I have been insecure and worried about the future. I have questioned who I was becoming and who I wanted to be. Well this week, those questions are finally starting to reveal themselves...and I'm really happy with the answers. It is always scary to make a life altering shift in your world, but sometimes it's even scarier to be too afraid to make that change in the first place.

I finally feel like I'm back on track and proud of my choices. I'm confident and happy. I'm outgoing and bold. I am a good friend. I am healthy and becoming more fit everyday. I am smart and beautiful. I am someone who deserves the best and won't settle for anything less.

Now, I'm not posting all this as a "yea me" post. I'm posting this because I was reading Donna Downey's blog today and it really spoke to me. She was talking about inspiration, and even though her words were about inspiring art, they spoke to me about inspiring lives. Here were some of her words that I kept replaying in my head:

"the fact that any one of you, considered even for an instant of stepping outside of your comfort zone is what gives me motivation to try new things everyday..."

That is who I want to be...a person who lives an inspired life! A woman who isn't afraid about what people think about her and is never worried about stepping outside a comfort zone. A person who can inspire others to live the same way. That is who I have been becoming over the past few months and that is what I started to realize this week. Perhaps this is also the person I used to be, but lost sight of her along the way. At any rate, I know it is the person I will continue to be in the future and I hope that I can inspire even one other person to live the same way.

Don't ever apologize for living your life...instead, inspire someone else to live theirs more fully!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2007-11-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

I'm afraid that I'll be on a bit of a break from blogging, probably until next week sometime. I'll be in Manchester for a few long days at our annual conference for work, then I'm off to see my little munchkins in Colorado on Friday. I'll be out there until next Wednesday, so I'm pretty sure I won't be updating the blog until I return. Try not to miss me too much!

Birthday Goodness

2007-11-04T13:31:00.001-05:00

I had soooo much birthday goodness this weekend and I still have more celebrating to do with my parents tonight!

1. Scott and Joanne got me a hilarious card and g/c to Art Plus
2. I FINALLY got to go out with the girls to the Barley House and we had a blast
3. Met a new friend who seems really great...hoping to hang out again soon
4. Introduced to some new amazing music by said friend
5. Movies in Tilton and then shopping at Banana Republic with Joanne
6. A new pair of jeans that look AMAZING ON ME! And they were the first pair I tried on and they were on sale...can't get much better than that.

Hope you're all enjoying my birthday weekend too!

Hugs,
Stacy

2 am

2007-11-02T01:07:00.000-05:00

Yup, you read that correctly...it's 2am and I'm online. I can't get to sleep tonight. I feel asleep on the couch around 8, woke up at midnight to come to bed and I've been lying awake in bed ever since. I finally decided to come online, hoping that it would make me sleepy, but no luck yet! Totally stinks, because I am going to the morning workout at 6:30 tomorrow and then I have a long day planned. Sooooo hoping that I'm not cranky in the morning. Hope you're all off in slumberland right now!

Red Sox Nation is My Second Family

2007-10-30T18:41:00.000-05:00

Today was AMAZING!!! My mom and I went down to the Red Sox Rally in Boston and what an awesome event to experience first hand. You just can't explain all the pride, excitement and joy that exudes from the crowds of Boston's faithful fans. We got to be right up against the barricade along Tremont Street and got some fun pictures. They didn't come out as great as I would have liked, but we did get some good ones. It was difficult to get all the players, because some were on our side of the duck boats and some were on the other side. But more important than the pictures are the memories that I will take away from the day. It was so wonderful to experience this with my mom, especially since we didn't get to attend the rally in 2004.

As you can see from the pictures, we made some new friends for the day as well. I especially loved the cute little boy that stood on the barricade next to me. To see this kind of event through the big, bright eyes of a child makes it even that much more exciting.

Thank you Red Sox...we're so proud of you!

Live for Today

2007-10-29T21:09:00.000-05:00

Recently a friend of mine had a blog entry about living for today that I totally connected with. These days I feel like risks are worth taking, fun times are worth having and worrying about what other people think about you is just plain a WASTE of TIME! I'm living for today, I'm having fun and I'm not caring what anybody else thinks about it...and that makes me pretty darn happy.

Off to the Red Sox rally with my Mom in Boston tomorrow...thanks for helping me live for today Mom!

Stamptoberfest 2007

2007-10-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back from Cape Cod and boy was it a whirlwind weekend as you can tell by the tired look on my face in that first picture! I headed down on Friday night for dinner with Miss Jenn and her friend Lee (thanks for dinner Lee, you allowed me to continue my habit with purchases at the store on Saturday). Jenn and I went right to bed when we got home because we knew Saturday was going to be a BUSY day. We got up around 7am and headed over to Colorful Creations for a day full of craftiness. They had their annual Stamptoberfest event where you get to make a number of different crafts with different teachers throughout the day. This year we made four projects: a mini book, two stamped canvas projects, an altered pin and a canvas bag. Our teachers for the day were Miss Jenn, Jayne, Joyce and Melissa. I also got to see Erin and Meliss-er, since they were both working for the day. Notice the cute pics that all the girls let me snap of them.

Then, exactly as the event ended, Miss Jenn and I made a quick clothes change in the bathroom and headed to Keene, NH for a birthday celebration for our friend Dawn. It was her 30th birthday earlier this week and her husband had rented a limo to take us all out dancing. The drive back to NH was a LONG 3 hours, but we made it to Keene with just 5 minutes to spare before we got to surprise Dawn with our arrival. The limo was awesome! Not to mention Dawn and Mitchell's friends, they were all so much fun and I can't wait for the next outing with them. I'm sorry to say that I don't have any photos of the craziness, but it's probably better that way, as I allowed myself to have a little too much fun and I'm sure I would have had a dropped or damaged camera by the end of the night and that would have been very unhappy.

Notes for Jenn:
1. YES! His name really was Jason, I promise. Hehehehe, but he had already told me we could call him whatever I wanted earlier in the night. : O )

2. Next time you hang out with Patrick, please bring me along and ask him to invite Jason a.k.a. Shea. Distractions are always fun.

That's all for tonight, my tummy still isn't feeling so hot today so I'm off to watch the Red Sox game on the couch!

Off to the Cape!

2007-10-26T16:41:00.000-05:00

I'm off to the Cape for the weekend! Hoping to come back with lots of fun pictures and stories to share. Talk to you all Sunday!

Seasons of Change

2007-10-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Last week I took a few shots in the park of the changing leaves on the trees. Today I feel a bit like these leaves as they change with the season. They are bright, bold and beautiful...but some days they are caught at just the moment that the wind picks up and they are brought right down to the ground, where their brilliance is lost.

With all the changes happening in my life right now, I'm reminded that over the past few years I have grown to be a beautiful, strong, independent woman. I do know this, yet some days it still doesn't help me from feeling lonely and sad. Today I was taken by the wind. Maybe tomorrow I'll be back on the tree, or maybe I'll still be thrown around by the wind. Either way, I'll still be proud of the decisions I have made.

Note to Self

2007-10-23T21:00:00.000-05:00

Don't watch Law & Order:Special Victims Unit when home by yourself! You know better.

Enough said.

Music Therapy

2007-10-22T22:20:00.000-05:00

Why is it that when you're sad, it's sad music that cheers you up?

Personally I hate listening to "happy crap" music when I'm having a bad day...somehow that makes it even worse. Maybe it's easier to feel like the sad music understands you, agrees with you, lets you know that you're doing the right thing and that everything will turn out just fine. Maybe it's that the words mean exactly what you need them to, they are saying exactly what you need to hear. Maybe it's that they allow you those few minutes to clear your head and not actually think at all, but instead get lost in the song. Who knows? Anyway, music is my therapy today and Walk Away by Ben Harper has been played a few times because of these words...

"They say time will make all this go away,
but it's time that has taken my tomorrows and turned them into yesterdays.
And once again that rising sun is droppin' on down
And once again, you my friend, are nowhere to be found.

And it's so hard to do and so easy to say.
But sometimes, sometimes you just have to walk away, walk away and head for the door.
You just walk away - walk away - walk away.
You just walk away, walk on, turn and head for the door."

Walk for a Cause

2007-10-21T06:49:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry bloggerland, I am a bad blogger yet again! This week has been a bit tough for me, but I'm confident that everything happens for a reason and I'm staying positive and busy...so it's all good. Last Sunday was the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and my team raised over $2,500!!! I won't have the overall total until next week I think, but I'll update you all when I get word of our final numbers. These are some of the pictures that I took of the day. Check out how far back the walkers go on that road picture. It is amazing to get to the top of the hill and look behind you to see just how many of us are out there making a difference. I think it was over 4,000 walkers in Concord this year alone. Way to go everyone!

In other news, my ankle is doing much better. I was down to one crutch on Friday (even though I wasn't suppose to be) and I DID make it to the Tori Amos concert with the girls on Thursday. I know it wasn't the smartest choice, but it was certainly worth it...the concert was perfect! Plans for Pumpkinfest ended up falling through yesterday, but I think it was better that I didn't attempt to walk around there. Instead, Laine and I went out to dinner in Manchester. Thanks for keeping me busy last night Laine, you're the best!

Now, off to the laundromat and maybe some crafting with Joanne this afternoon. Later!

My View for 7-10 Days

2007-10-16T20:34:00.000-05:00

Wow, this is not exactly what I had planned to be looking at for the week, but there it is...an air cast and crutches! Turns out my ankle didn't really agree with me walking 7 or 8 miles on Sunday. I thought I could walk over to the field for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, since I only live about a mile away. Then I completed the 5 mile walk and walked home. Everything was great. I felt good, happy, proud and my ankle didn't hurt at all. Fast forward two hours later and I can't even stand up!

You see, I have an old ankle injury that flares up from time to time and it decided that it has been far too long since the last visit. Sunday night I was still thinking, no problem...this is what happens: I overexert it, I can't walk for the next 12 hours and then the next morning I'm sore, but able to limp around until it feels better and then back to normal. Well, my ankle decided that I wasn't giving it quite enough attention this time and sent me to the doctor on Monday morning...when I STILL couldn't stand. They think I overdid it and then kept putting pressure on it, so that turned into a sprained ankle and a strained foot. I have to keep it elevated and iced and I'm suppose to stay off from it as much as possible for the next 7-10 days.

Now for the worst part...it's my right ankle and I drive a STANDARD!!! Luckily I only work across town, so I was able to get back to work today. It did hurt much more this afternoon though, not having it iced or elevated all day. I might have to work from home a bit this week, but we'll see. I also have tickets to the Tori Amos concert Thursday night in Boston and now I don't know if I can drive there. I just have to wait and see if it gets better in the next two days. I'm also suppose to go to the Pumpkinfest in Keene on Saturday...all these plans and now limited mobility. I'm so frustrated!!!

Blondes May Have More Fun, But Brunettes are Bringing Sexy Back

2007-10-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Yup, I'm back to being brunette! And boy do I feel pretty sexy...a new hairdo and a manicure seem to do that to me. I'm feeling really great after this week. I've been getting back in touch with so many friends and making plans through the rest of the month. I'm going to be one tired girl, but it will be well worth it to be getting back to the girl that I used to be once again...that happy, spunky, fun girl that everyone wants to be around and invites out because she's so darn fun! I miss that girl and she's been MIA for far too long.

In other news my friend Joanne has done something very bad to me...she has shown me the world of Justin Timberlake and I'm ashamed to admit that now, I too, am a fan. Poor Scott has no chance now sitting between the two of us at work. I bet it's going to be a long week for him.

Blah Day...

2007-10-11T16:01:00.001-05:00

So today has been pretty blah. Cold, rainy (not the good kind of rainy, the icky, drizzly kind), hectic at work, stressful, cranky kind of day! I don't like that. I'm getting my hair done tonight, so perhaps that will perk me up. Maybe I'll be back to post pictures later...

Even My Eyelids Were Sweaty!!!

2007-10-10T15:46:00.000-05:00

Wow, either I was really tired yesterday afternoon or I was working out WAY too hard. At one point in my cardio class, I actually thought to myself (in my head of course)..."I'm really sweating during this workout, I must be working really hard. Even my eyelids are sweating!" Um, yeah, okay Stace! Maybe your head is sweating and it's just beading down your forehead and resting on your eyelids. Who actually thinks to themselves that eyelids sweat??? I'm weird, I know!

A Daily Adventure Has Begun!

2007-10-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, are you ready for what I've been working on? They are called "dailies." A few of my friends started creating these a while ago and I decided to put my own spin on them. Everyday you take a playing card, from and ordinary deck of cards, and you create ART! It's a fun way to help you bring creativity into your everyday. They are small enough to make quickly (and without too much intimidation), but large enough to capture a thought of the day. I have decided to make my first deck my Daily Gratitudes. I want to capture at least one thing everyday that I am grateful for...no matter how big or small. It's a great way to send positive energy out into the world and to remind me of all that I have to be thankful for in my life. I will try to post them every Sunday night, so I can include the whole week of cards. Hope you like them!

P.S. Sorry for the poor photo quality. I took them after dark, and quickly, so they aren't the best.

Updates

2007-10-06T06:01:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't been around much again this week...busy, busy, busy. I have plans everyday straight through next Thursday! Anyway, it starts off this weekend with a babysitting adventure. A friend/co-worker is going to his sister's wedding with his wife, so I'll be watching their adorable 2.5 year old until Sunday afternoon. We have some fun things planned, so I'm excited to watch her.

Monday night and Tuesday night will both be filled with craftiness and then Wednesday, I'll be heading to my parent's house for dinner before they leave on vacation for their anniversary, or their "30th Honeymoon" as my dad likes to call it.

As for me...I'm doing really well. The next two weeks are sure to be a bit trying, but I'm really having fun spending time with friends. It's been nice to meet new ones and reconnect with old ones and I'm sure more of the same will continue. It is good to be busy.

And one last thing, speaking of busy, I've been working on a new project to help bring some creative spirit into the everyday...I should be ready to share on Sunday night, so stay tuned!!!

Thirty Years

2007-10-02T06:24:00.001-05:00

Wow, it's hard to believe that my parents are getting ready to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary! I'm proud and happy to say they are two of the happiest and most in love people that I know. It was wonderful to grow up in a household so full of love. My mom and I got together yesterday to make a special gift for her to give to my dad and we had so much fun. My mom has never enjoyed crafts, so I was especially excited when she asked me to help her. Now in doing this, she realized that I wouldn't just let her put photos in a regular album...we had to make a little mini book of their recent adventures in hiking. Here are a few of the pages for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Grey's Anatomy

2007-09-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this show! I just always find a line or two in it that captures exactly how I feel about something...tonight the line that I could really relate to was about altering expectations and that is exactly what I'm doing in my own life right now. It was perfect. Things don't always happen as you expect them to, but it just means that you re-evaluate your outlook and adjust.

Anyway, I think the writing is great. I love the drama, the romance, the sadness and the eye candy doesn't hurt either. Tonight I got to enjoy all of the above with the wonderful Steph and her friend Angie. We had so much fun, I am really looking forward to hanging out with them again. I'm even letting them talk me into participating in Halloween this year! I don't know why, but I just never get into Halloween...I think it's all the stress of planning a costume, but the girls vowed to help me come up with something good, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Ups and Downs...Part Two

2007-09-26T21:41:00.001-05:00

Today was another day about ups and downs...but in a really good way! My first Down came in the form of another pound at WW this morning! I know that losing one pound is nothing to write home about, but that makes a total of 4, and 4 is a start to many more. My second down was a little bit of a bummer, as I had a tummy ache all day long...but I sent myself home an hour and a half early from work and got some additional, and much needed, rest. The sad part was I had planned a dinner date with a friend I haven't seen in a long time and I had to cancel, but we're rescheduling for next week for sure.

And my Ups for the day are a few photos that I finally downloaded from my camera. The first two are a sneak peak of the project that I worked on this weekend and the last is a picture of the way the light was coming into the bedroom this afternoon. It just looked warm and calm against the pillows and it made me smile.

Choose Your Own Adventure

2007-09-23T13:31:00.001-05:00

Do you remember those books from when you were a kid? I always loved those books, but somehow I could never bring myself to chose a different ending. Of course I would read the other ending too...just to see what would have happened if I had gone in that direction, but I would always stick with my original choice, even if I liked the other one better.

For some silly reason, I started thinking about these books the other morning. I started feeling like my life is kind of like one of those books right now, but I'm finally starting to choose the alternate ending. I know that sounds really corny, but somehow it just fit with exactly how I was feeling. I have so many different paths that I can follow and each will turn out with a very different and new adventure! It's really exciting to think of reinventing myself to the person that I want to be. I feel like I have the chance to combine the Stacy "who I used to be" with the one "who I want to be" and it feels GREAT!