Christmas

It has been such a great holiday season.  Other than a moment of everyone is dating someone and I'm alone... I have been having a great holiday season.  A few nights ago, we went to see all the lights.

It was beautiful.  First we walked around Hampden to see Christmas on 34th street, then we all walked Heather's street and looked at all the lights on her street.  It was nice and after that we piled in my car and drove through the symphony of lights.  It was such a great time. 

I really have done so much this season and it has all been great.  It is weird what the holidays bring out.  I have seen in my friends, some have gotten engaged and I honestly can't be happier, while others have with the holidays realized that something isn't there and ended things. 

I'm excited for Christmas and ready to keep working out.  I'm only a few days away from my free t-shirt for the holiday season.  I realized that as I'm getting more in shape, I actually care how I look when I go out and I'm so much more confident.  I am starting to enjoy shopping again for things other than jewelry.  I have ordered a size smaller in my bridesmaid dress for Julie's wedding so now it is go time.  I have 5 months to fit into the dress and I will be there and am so excited for it. 

I'm ready for the new year and the new me.  I just hope the rest of the world is too.


Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Thanksgiving/Holiday Season

So seeing as I epically failed at my blog for thanksgiving but was mostly written already... here it is:

Thanksgiving is a great time of year.  It reminds me of everything that I am thankful for.  

• I am thankful for my friends and family.  
• I am thankful to work at a job that I really enjoy.  
• Despite the fact that we bicker sometimes, I'm thankful for having a roommate that is a great friend.
• I'm thankful for knowing that I have people that I can always count on.
• I'm thankful for such a great workout buddy, without her I probably would have quit a long time ago.

Those are some of the few things that I'm thankful for.  I am really thankful that this year has taught me so much.  I have learned so much about me.  I realized that I'm much stronger than I thought.  

Now to new stuff:

So now on to the best/worst time of year.  This is by far my most favorite time of year, I love everything about it, but on the flip side, it reminds me how alone I am.  This is way worse than valentine's day.  Everything has to be in a big group or as a couple.  You typically can't go see christmas stuff by yourself.  I love seeing holiday lights and sharing so much with the ones I love. 


So anyway enough of that, some of the fun stuff I have already done and that I am going to do.  

This past weekend I went to see a play at centerstage.  It was American Buffalo, not my favorite but it was ok.  Before we went over to the show we had some amazing tacos and good home brewed beer.  Saturday I went to work then went out for Dollar Days.  I went back to the Top of the World Trade Center.  It was beautiful, we could see for miles.  Then we went over to the sports legends museum.  After that we headed back to fells point to watch the lighted boat parade and grab dinner.  It was so nice, my favorite boat was still the boat that has lights to make it look like a sleigh in the back and reindeer getting ready to take off on the front.  Then Sunday we went and cut down our christmas trees, mine was a little 4-5 foot tree that fit perfectly on my table.  Unfortunately, my lights didn't work when I plugged them in so I will have to get more lights today.  I also got a poinsettia from the garden center right by the tree farm to be a little more festive.  Then I went over to Sean and Amanda's to watch the Raven's game and watch them partially make beer.  It was a very full weekend.

Coming up over the next few weeks:
*Canton lamp post lighting
*Merritt Holiday Party
*Hand bell choir at the DC Mormon Temple Visitor's Center
*Kickball Christmas Party at Julie's
*Symphony of Lights
*Christmas on 34th Street
*Charlie Brown Christmas at the Science Center with live music
*Work Holiday Party


That doesn't include the holiday specials and movies that I watch, cause those are part of the norm. It will be a busy season that I hope will be as enjoyable as I plan it to be.


Enjoy the holidays and say hi to someone you don't know.  You might just make their day when you wish them a happy holiday.

Where a year has gone

A year seems like such a long time, but really it is like I have barely batted an eyelash.  A year ago, I made some big changes to my life and it has not stopped all year.  A year ago, I realized that the relationship I was in wasn't right for either of us and I took the path unknown.  It was a scary step.  Since then I feel like I have learned and experienced a lot.  I lived alone and then moved in with a boy that I am not romantically involved with (which was refreshing).  I've been on some great weekends away, from skiing to the beach to seeing friends and family.  I went on vacation by myself and had a great time.  I have had some great dates and some bad ones.  I met someone that I truly cared about, that obviously didn't feel the same way about me.  I have become closer to family and friends and surrounded myself by people that love me and want to see me succeed as much as I want to for them.  I have progressed in work, taken on more responsibilities and I am getting ready to take my Professional engineers exam. 

Every year I think is going to be "my year".  I don't think that is wrong but I don't think that is right either.  This year, I have pushed myself farther than I ever imagined and I have still come out alive.  I realized that I can do things on my own.  I realized that I have great friends.

This has been a tough year and it isn't over, but I think I have fared pretty well.  I have learned so much about myself and I really am in such a different place than I was a year ago.  A year ago I was looking into the future of the unknown and I was scared... now I look and although it is still unknown I am not so scared. 

The things planned for the next year:

• Visit Family in Florida with Steph
• Weekend trips away with friends and family
• Visiting Dana in Europe
• Going to Oktoberfest for a few friends 30th birthdays and visit at least one other country than Germany while I'm there.
• Going to the Lake
• Passing the PE (hopefully)
• Go to New Orleans for Julie's Bachelorette Party
• Use my reward travel for somewhere on the west coast
• Be a part of Julie's special day

There are many things that I have planned and I can't wait to see what else arises.   Lets see if the next 12-13 months bring as many surprises as the last 12 have.

Busy...

So in every facet of my life these days I'm busy.  Some of it is my fault and some is not.  I have really taken to this whole getting healthy effort.  I have been going to the gym about 3-5 days a week, which has really helped me de-stress my life.  I feel so much better and at the wedding last weekend I could dance the night away which I haven't been able to do in a long time.  Now not only am I trying to workout more but I have started adding in better eating habits.  Obviously, I'm not perfect at that but every little bit helps.  So on top of my workouts, I try to see some friends in my spare time when I'm not working.  (Which is very little)  Work has been nonstop crazy for the past few weeks... but who really wants to think about that. 

So Heather and Matt's wedding, it was beautiful.  They were married a month ago in Florida and had the reception here last week.  It was a blast.  We had a great time, they had it at Pier 5 on the second floor overlooking the harbor.  Oh and the food was awesome and the cakes were to die for.  (They had 7 different types.  I'm also excited cause Julie is having some of the same cakes at her wedding).  All in all i was a gerat time spent with some great friends.  It was cool because Heather and Matt met on our kickball team and now they are our married kickball friends.  It is weird to think that I met each of them the same time that they met each other.  I'm so happy for them.  Although, I would like my workout buddy, but I can sacrifice while she is on her honeymoon. :)

I'm starting to realize how easy it is to make positive changes in my life and I'm doing it.  I also realized that for the time being, although it would be nice to be in a relationship, I don't think I'm ready for one.  For now I will keep to all my faux boyfriends... because juggling them can be stressful enough ;)

This weekend, I'm going to see Les Mis.  I am so excited!  The last time I saw this I was in Middle School.  It will be a great time as it is the 25 anniversary show!!  The show will be great and then my Wilma Flintstone costume will be great later that evening... once I make it. 

I know this was all over the place but so much to fill in and so little time. 

October

So far October has been a really busy month.  I have been in 4 different states and we are not even half way through.  The beginning started out with a trip to Florida.  Then a trip to Rhode Island.  Obviously I live here and then on Sunday I was in Delaware for a brief second to pick people up before we went to Milburn Orchards. (I really love their apples) 

It has been great!  The only thing is I need to start giving myself more time to be home and clean... besides that I have been working out and going to different things in and out of the city.  Tomorrow I am going to see second city at Centerstage because they had this great deal for the season that anyone between the age of 21 and 34 can get an unlimited pass to all the regular shows.  So a few of us got it because it was so cheap!!  So it will be nice to have a source of entertainment that I don't have to think about other than getting there.  We are also going to carve pumpkins at some point... at least I am.

So in other words I'm just really busy, between work and home.  I really like it because I'm experiencing so many different things.  I'm also finding time to cook too.  Especially in the crock pot.  I made pulled pork and butternut squash soup this weekend and both were great.  My only complaint is that MJ ate most of the pulled pork by himself.  I would have liked to have more but at least there is a lot of soup and I have more of that.  Maybe I need to invest in another crock pot this year since that has been my big kick.  This weekend I think I will be making applesauce and try to make apple butter for the first time.

Oh and if you love pumpkin spice lattes as much as I do.  I found a recipe on Baltimore Sun's website.  I'm trying it soon.  I will let you know how good it is.

DIY pumpkin spice latte

Note: Adapted from the blog FrugalDreamer.com.

Servings: 2

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for garnish
1 cup strong brewed coffee
Whipped cream
Cinnamon, optional

Combine milk, pumpkin and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice. Whisk the mixture until foamy. Transfer into two mugs, filling each only half way; top with coffee. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.

Fall

So seeing as the rain has really put a damper on things, I like most have started to look to the joys of fall now that about every other day actually feels like fall.

Some things that I can't wait for:

Apple Picking, Cider and Applesauce

Pumpkin Soup

I think this fall will be just as busy as the summer was.  Between weddings, renaissance festivals, friends and trips to different cities, I think this fall is going to be a fall to remember.  (But then again I make most seasons a season to remember ;-D )

What's next

So as I've said recently I am working on a path to being happier... I hit a major hiccup recently.  I realized that I'm finally happy with the way things are and I'm ready for a relationship now.  Only problem was that as I realized this, I also realized that all my friends and all their friends are not single.  Leaving me with only a handful of people that are single and honestly hanging out with them is not going to get me anywhere other than hanging out with friends... which isn't a bad thing it is just I'm not going to meet anyone by hanging out with my single guy friends.

I guess I need a little more me time.  Or maybe I am just over everything and need to stop thinking about it.  I know it will happen when it happens but I don't think I can leave it be when everyone around me is a couple 24/7.  It has never bothered me in the past and it is only bothering me now because one of my friends accidentally made a comment when we went out to dinner in Dewey that how could we have an odd number of people because everyone had someone.  This was when I had to sadly remind him that not everyone had someone.  But since then it has made me more self-aware that everyone is happy moving forward with their life and I am for a lack of a better word standing still.

I guess over the past month I have kinda been thinking about the future and maybe this is the way I am trying to tell myself to stop.  I don't have a crystal ball and I don't know what life has in store for me.  I need to not be worried about a guy because if one is meant to happen he will show up sooner or later.  It might just mean that I slow down and change up who I'm hanging out with or just bunker down and prepare for studying over the winter.  As we all know life moves too fast and that PE will be here before I know it.

So I know that was a lot of rambling... sorry but had to get some of my thoughts out there.  Work through it.

Great Weekend

So seeing as I said I'm looking for new things to do.  A few weeks ago I decided I'm going to volunteer to work at a wine festival.  It was fun and different.  It was down in a small town past Annapolis as you go into Southern Maryland.  It was great and a quaint town right on the bay.  I had such a great time.  I went down there by myself to volunteer at an event called Eat Drink Go Local.  It is all about promoting local vineyards/wine and restaurants.  So I poured wine at a pairing tent for about 3 hours then I got a pass after to go around and taste both wine and food.  It made me realize something.  As I was walking around and just chatting it up with anyone pouring wine or tasting wine (it was a wine festival not much else was happening) whether it was at a pairing tent or just a vineyard's tent, I was asking questions and just carrying on general conversation.  I realized that a few years ago maybe even last year... if I were going to try something new it would always be with someone and if no one could come with me then I would not go.  I would chicken out and now not only did I go by myself but I ended up talking to a bunch of people and being asked if I want to volunteer for some of the vineyards at future festivals.  I guess I realize I'm more adventurous than I ever thought.      

I guess all it takes is a little faith that you have the guts to do whatever you set your mind to. 

The month of July

So for the 4th of July, I went down to the lake with my family.  We had a great time and it was a lot of fun just being down there.  The fireworks that were there on Saturday were amazing.  For the finale, there were so many fireworks going off over us that it looked like day outside.  We went to a friend's dock and they live across the creek from the guy that puts on the fireworks every year.  The picture below is of the skydivers that jumped out of a plane for the show.  One of the guys missed the landing and landed in the water in front of where we were sitting.

Then the following week, me and my Baltimore peeps went up to Long Islandm since Matt is from there.  We went up to Wading River (where his parents live), which is relatively close to the Hamptons.  It was a blast.  We drove up Thursday night (late at might to avoid traffic).  Friday we went to a couple vineyards and I fell in love with 1 of them, it was Peconic Bay Winery.  We also went to Claudio's Restaurant (it had the best clam chowder).  Then for dinner Matt's parents cooked us lobster.  It was a first for me to crack my own lobster.  It was great.  Then Saturday we went to a public beach, where we got slammed by the giant waves.  That night we camped out on a private beach.  It was great, we had a fire going and just relaxed under the stars all night.  We went back to his parent's house on Sunday to hang out by the pool before we drove home that night again to try and avoid traffic.  All and all it was a great weekend.

So this past weekend was nice cause it was the first weekend I wasn't traveling in a while... I mean I went away for work for a night from Thursday to Friday, which was nice but it was nice to relax and clean this past weekend.  I bought some stuff for the kitchen and reorganized the kitchen.  It was a much needed adventure.  Then I went and hung out with Matt and Jordan on the deck of one of the restaurants that overlooks Canton.  It was so beautiful outside and we sat and ate dinner for about 4 hours.  Then we went over to a new bar that opened up and had a great time hanging out and drinking slushy drinks.

Now for this weekend... I am taking care of Dakota for a night, since she can't handle the heat.  And if she can't handle the heat in Baltimore then she definitely can't go down to the lake with my parents.  So I'm watching her Friday night and my brother is going to watch her on Saturday.  It will be fun having the dog in the house in the city, but I'm afraid it will prompt MJ to actually get a dog.  Then Amanda and I are going to the roller derby bout.  2 of her coworkers are on the charm city roller girls and we are going to cheer them on.  We went once last year and it was a blast.  It is actually a lot of fun to watch.

So that is kinda what I have been up to and I know there is more to come, with such a busy summer.

Fitness

So the week is over.  I had a nice weekend and a busy week.  As much as I'm doing I think I'm going to start needing to take a few hrs where I plan to not do anything other than clean and catch up at the house.  Somehow every week I overbook myself and then when I go away on the weekend I can't catch up.  I can't wait for Lake Gaston this weekend... only a few hours to go.

Ok now on to fitness (my new obsession).  My group of kickboxing classes are almost over and I'm already hooked.  I want to continue but they are a bit far just because I have to drive through the city but I think it is worth it.  Also if I can get someone to join me then we can carpool, which would make it much easier.  I tried a chair dancing class yesterday.  We bought a living social deal for it and it was very awkward.  Not to mention my legs are killing me today.  I think we are going to try to pole dancing next... and which every is better of the 2 will be the classes that finish out the group of 6 classes.  It was something interesting to try but it really isn't my style.  I definitely will not be getting extra classes of this fitness adventure.  Next week we start Pilates and the week after we start zumba.  It should all be a lot of fun.  If nothing else it is an adventure.  The zumba will be interesting since it is at the park rec center.  I'm just hoping that not everyone in the city is going because that will mean it is over crowded, but it is so cheap too that I'm expecting it to be at least a little packed.

So as you can see this is the start of me feeling better by getting myself healthier.  I know it works way better when you are on a super strict diet... but lets be real.  I'm not one to stay on a super strict diet or cut out alcohol completely.  Don't get me wrong I'm trying to eat healthier but it is not a complete change... I guess you have to start somewhere and I'm starting with the fitness.  Maybe one day I will be there, just not today (or tomorrow for that matter).

Dating...

So over the past few weeks, I have been going out on a few dates.  I think I have determined that I'm going to take a break... at least from all the online dating.  Not that these people are not nice (for the most part) or genuine but I just don't feel like I'm into it this time.  I guess it is just summer and I'm having too much fun with my friends and family to want to miss out on things for dating... I'm still going to give people a chance if I meet someone but my mind is so far from that right now, so I'm going to enjoy my summer.

I have so much planned this summer and I'm super excited.  I'm going down to the lake a few more times and with all the new exercise classes and learning how to sail... this summer should be a blast.  Tonight is the first crab feast of the summer and I really can't wait.  They are going to be AMAZING!!!!




Don't they look so good!!

So moral of my little story here... I'm going to focus more on me this summer and just have fun doing things I want to do.  Like maybe get to my 100th beer at Mahaffey's. :)