Memmmmories.... like the corners of my minddddd

Hey bloggie. Sup?

Remember me? I bet I've lost all of my viewers. I've neglected them and you for so long, bloggie. I'm a horrible blogger. But I have a job. And a fiancé. And a house. For Pete's sake.

But after sending a good friend my "life list"... I'm inspired again to come back to you more regularly. I know you've heard this before so just support me and I'll do my best.

So as an FYI, I am now up to 33 items done on my list of 111 (78 items done). Done in the last few months:
65. get CPR certified
102. buy a house/condo/2-square-foot-of-land! (swoon... more details to come of my lovely "treehouse" in Whitehouse)

I'm also still chipping away at a few others, such as:
13. run a half-marathon in less than 2 hours (PR is 2:05:07) :: doubtful, but I do have a half-marathon tomorrow... maybe a miracle will happen (or I'll find a shortcut)
67. read the Bible :: I started reading it around Lent. Its slow-going with my busy schedule but at least I've started
75. watch all 100 of the AFI's 100 years, 10th anniv edition :: now at 66 out of 100 so far
78. develop a better/stricter budget and stick to for at least 3 months :: I'm at a month and a half of monitoring Ryan's and my bills and allocating them to line items. Granted with wedding planning and house renovations/decorations, it will be out of whack for a while. But the key is, I have a system and so far, its nice to track everything and just know.
111. go on a picnic complete with basket, blanket, wine, and a cute guy :: next warmish Fall day, maybe I'll take Ryan into our beautifully landscaped new backyard for a picnic and some champagne to toast our new purchase/new life! Oddly enough, his back up proposal was to have a picnic set up for us when we were out for a run... his actual proposal was perfect as is, but I can't help but swoon over how awesome he is and how well he does know me and what I love.

Cheers! Have a great weekend... post a hello to show me you're still here and encourage me to post more entries soon!

Coolest Wedding Details of 2009!!!

OK - obviously after some amazing trips and wedding celebrations of 2009 in Kenya, Connecticut, Russia/Fort Loramie, Pittsburgh, and Toledo last year, how could I ever pick one as my favorite?

Well, I didn't but one photographer selected Miss Lynn's wedding as the best details. And wouldn't you know it... that was the one I helped out so much with designing pinwheel table cards, programs, favor cards, menu cards, vintage childhood photo lanterns, guest book, etc etc etc etc etc etc. It really was an amazing day and the photos from RAW photo design make it even more spectacular. Congrats to Lynn & Matt again!

Busy is My Middle Name . . .

. . . but not in a "gettin bizy" kinda way, you pervs.

2009 is sure to be a VERY busy (and VERY great) year.

In the next month I have several weekend trips (one from a Boltbus frequent rider program free ride and one from USAirways frequent flyer miles — yay for free trips!).

I also have four HUGE weddings this year. All involving travel — one internationally to Africa. One I'm in the wedding (and doing major planning for which is fun albeit a lot to do!). Two I'm designing the invitations and collateral for. And one I'm singing in!

BUT! This busy schedule cannot stop me from running once it finally gets up to . . . I dunno +10 degrees? Its the best way to really see these places I will be traveling to in 2009 not to mention familiarize myself with my new city!

Here are the possible races I am planning for over the next 6 months. No full marathons although for some deranged reason I have the bug . . . even though my training was entirely inconsistent last year because of a lack of motivation. I think the later 6 months will consist of at least one more triathlon and possibly a century (100-mile) bike ride as well:

Sunday, February 15: Valentine's 5K, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 1: Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks Run 5K, Manhattan
Sunday, April 26: More fitness Half-Marathon, Central Park, Manhattan
Sunday, May 3: Five Boro Bike Tour, 42 mile bike ride through the five boros of NYC
Sunday, May 17: NYPD 5K, Manhattan
Saturday, May 30: NYRR Half-Marathon Brooklyn
Sunday, June 28: Achilles Hope & Possibility 5M, Central Park, Manhattan

Anyone care to join me with any of these? I love having buddies to talk about war stories with over bagels and gatorade.

Mr. & Mrs. Sabrina & David Ott: August 16, 2008

Check out the great slideshow of the awesome wedding this weekend (link to photos here)... everyone had an amazing time and the Ott's and Gaya's throw one hell of a great party. Congratulations, Sabrina & Dave!

Gone are the Days of "Sex in the City" and My Single Lady Friends

Obviously I'm still single and have my own love life issues . . . but there are two updates to two of my favorite former roommates and coincidentally the two girls I shared my "Sex in the City" tv-show watching days. Those were the days of going to bars and flirting with dumb boys . . . of dreaming of joining Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha at brunch . . . and of just being young and carefree and not have the stress of planning a 5-figure party.

The most recent update: Christi (aka blogorelli) became affianced this past weekend to her fabulous boyfriend (and my roomie replacement) Mark. Very romantic . . . and very sweet (read the story here on Mark's blog). Christi has long considered herself very much a single gal and was always slightly resistant to the whole settling down thing. So it is with utmost confidence that we all know this moment is not only joyous and happy but also, obviously, the real thing. I'm so happy for them!

Additionally, I'm so ridiculously giddy and thrilled to announce my upcoming role as bridesmaid in the wedding of my other former-roommate and "single girl in crime" Miss Lynn. She was shocked to find that I was so surprised! I totally cried when she asked me! She has a lot of phenomenal friends that I've met and known throughout the year, so I was totally flattered. I'm so thrilled and we're already having so much fun discussing colors, bridesmaids dresses, her gorgeous venue, and other cute details. At this rate, we may have her 9-12-09 wedding planned out and ready by Christmas!

Wow . . . 2009 is the year of the wedding for me! I'm so excited!

Two Engagements and a Baby

No, folks... that is not the title of a new reality TV show. Rather, its a summary of my previous week (or friends' weeks, I guess... I actually haven't been QUITE that busy).

Congratulations go out to:

1. Ian and Melinda. Ian is my coworker and was born to be a daddy — I could tell the minute he told us his wife was expecting. Meet Lukas Michael (photo below), born June 22... so cute and apparently a pretty good guy so far from what I hear. I cannot wait to meet him and I'm so happy for Melinda and Ian.

2. Jen and TC. Too cute... TC proposed to Jen last week on a hike in Virginia. They've been dating for longer than I've known either of them. Which is weird because I feel like I've known them forever — that may have something to do with the fact that (1) they adopted my sister and I for Thanksgiving last year, stuffed me with turkey and Tusker beer and then went on to to humiliate my Wii ass and (2) they have seen me officially drunker and dumber than I ever want to remember (luckily I don't). No matter how long I've known (or feel like I've known) them, I couldn't be more thrilled for these two. I cannot wait to toast you two with a nice martini (but not 4!!).

3. Lynn and Matt. Ok, let my just tell you how this went down (yes, Lynn, I'm still gonna whomp on you for this)... Jen and Lynn are very good friends. I heard about Jen's engagement and was talking to Lynn about it last night on the phone. We also talked about my running progress and the Achilles Club, her recent exam that she had been studying her pants off for, life in general, the weather, our families, the Johnson's house expansion, and pretty much every other topic possible... when 10 minutes into the conversation she says nonchalantly: "so I got engaged today." Even though I knew the likelihood of her and Matt getting engaged soon was very high considering how long they've been dating and how stinking cute they are together, I totally did not believe her because (a) I thought she was joking given Jen's engagement news and (b) how the hell could she hold that in for 10 whole minutes! I know her too well to not have known she had these kinds of acting talents! Anyhow... hilarious. But I'm still going to whomp on you, Lynn. And then I will hug you and scream really really loud and jump up and down with you! I'm so happy for Lynn and Matt and know that they will have a great life together!

*sigh* I'm exhausted already from all this fun. Alright... who else has news for me?