Monday, September 27, 2010

Don't Ask Me How I Know: Memory Cards

If you're going somewhere that you'd like to take pictures... like a wedding, a party, some sort of adventure... you'll remember to charge the camera.

But, remember to check to make there's a memory card in there.

Especially if you have a husband who likes to take your camera into the woods to check his game camera.

Because if you don't, you might go to take a picture of your friend at her surprise anniversary party...

And realize you don't have a memory card.

But you're in luck! You brought the back up camera!

Oh wait... someone took the memory card out of there too...

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Never Forget.

I don't remember many days from 9 years ago vividly.  I bet you don't either.  But, 9 years ago today is etched in my mind, and I'm willing to bet, yours too, and will be forever.


It was a few weeks into my junior year of high school.  I was in Ethics class with probably 15 other people, when a guy from our class, who had been researching in the library, threw open the door and said that a plane had crashed into a building in New York.  We all sort of looked around, probably not thinking much of it, but our teacher was able to bring a TV in, and just as it was turned on, the second plane hit.


Another class came in to watch.  We watched, whispered to each other, and tried to understand what was happening.  There was a line outside the main office, students and teachers making phone calls to loved ones.  Our class schedule continued as usual, switching rooms every period, but all the could be heard was the shuffling of feet and occasional whispers in the halls.  At some point during the day, screaming and crying could be heard, and any of us that experienced it, know it still sends chills up our spine.  The second plane was a flight out of Boston, only 40 minutes from our school.  The pilot was a father of two girls at our school, and they were just finding out he had made his last flight.


Living close to Boston, and also Manchester, NH, both of which have large international airports, and having a small airport in our town, the constant hum of planes and their presence in the sky was just part of life.  On September 11, 2001, gym class was still held outside.  We didn't do much.  Most of us stared at the cloudless, beautiful sky, that did not hold a single airplane.


One teacher tried to get us to take a test.  Every.single.person. in class refused.


Soccer games were cancelled.  Many of us didn't want to go home to empty houses while our parents were still at work.  No one wanted to be alone.


It's been 9 years, but everyone I know can still recite almost every motion they took that day.  And I don't doubt we'll all still be able to do so for the rest of our lives.


Take a moment today, forget about the war. Forget about the controversies.  Forget about the hate, the violence, the fear.  Forget about political parties, religions, and differences.  And remember where you were.  


Remember those we lost.  Remember those who willingly risked everything, and those who lost everything.  Remember the innocent.  Remember the heroes whose stories will never be told.  Remember the families forever altered.  Remember those who are still fighting.  


And remember how people came together.  Remember how you felt to be an American.  Remember the patriotism.  Remember the tears that would well up in your eyes when you saw a convoy of fire trucks returning home, covered in American flags.  Remember.


This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.
None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Wedding: Reliving a Year Ago

September 5, 2009: The day I married the man of my dreams, my best friend, and the only person who can make me laugh through tears.

This is going to be picture heavy, and narration light.  I have a heard time picking my favorite pictures, because with over 800 professional photos, and probably thousands from friends and family... I love them all. It feels like almost every moment was captured, and I couldn't be happier about that.  So enjoy the wedding eye candy.

(All photos credited to Whitney of emilie inc.)


My bouquet was gladiolus, and other stuff I can't really remember. Non-traditional, loved it. Our rings are white gold.


Must have for my dress: Corset Back.





Lady bugs are lucky, in case you didn't know. This one landed on me within minutes of leaving the church...


We love our bridal party.  So much.  Family and friends we can't imagine our lives without.


Custom painted unity candle with a quote from our first dance song.



Uh, YUM


I love this picture. And I love my grandpa, so much.


Freakin' beautiful huh?  I could bore you with the details of the florist dilemma when they didn't arrive at the church on time.  Or how the organist didn't arrive until 5 minutes before the ceremony, not 30 like he was supposed to.  And I could fill this post with even more pictures, easily.  But this is all you get for now.

We're thoroughly enjoying our anniversary and will be sure to share our adventures in the next few days :)

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Wedding: Rehearsal Day

The three days leading up to our wedding were probably three of the craziest days of my life.  Last minute phone calls, airport and bus pickups, confirmations, getting directions out, making sure the men actually got their tuxs.... I totally get the bridezilla thing.

The Wednesday before the wedding my (5-months pregnant) sister arrived with her husband and then 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old.  The Thursday before the wedding my maid of honor arrived via bus, after flying in from Mississippi. (For the second time in two weeks - the weekend prior was my bachelorette party - such a trooper she is!!)  The day before the wedding, I woke up pretty early, to find my brother, his girlfriend, and their 1.5 year old in our driveway.  Yes, all of these people stayed at my house.  I'm crazy.

I rushed to drop M off at doggie daycare, where she would be boarded until Sunday.  I hated her being boarded, but she really wouldn't have gotten NO attention in my house, or my parents house.  It was better for her this way.  We then wrangled everyone into cars and headed down to where the reception was going to be.  The tent had been put up on Wednesday, and Thursday we moved some tables and put out the chairs, etc etc.

Some point later my sister - the matron of honor, and my maid of honor headed back up towards my house for a nail appointment I had made for a few of us.  We relaxed, got pampered for a little bit, and our fingernails were done.  And we waited.  and waited.  And finally realized they didn't intend to give us pedicures.  BUT they were nice enough to call another place in the area for us, and we headed to the bank quick and then to the other salon.  When we arrived at the next salon, we were promptly informed by a very agitated Asian man that we were late and he lost business because he was waiting for us and now he couldn't help us.

So, I will proudly say, that I got my wedding pedicure at no place other than Wal-Mart.  I have no shame.  But whatever, I think they did a pretty darn good job, don't you?

(photo credit to C&J Photography)

Of course, by the time we were done and got back to the house, there were like 20 people in my kitchen. Uh, you've all seen my kitchen, its not that big.  Also, it was like 100 degrees in there.  Not.Cool.  This is about when I started to freak.  I had checks to write and make sure we brought.  I have bridesmaids and grooms-mens gifts to organize.  And we had to be at the church in ooooo 20 minutes?

Anyway, the rehearsal went well, everyone was mostly focused.  And we didn't cry. Although I must admit its a lot more intense than I expected.  My favorite last minute decision: Once the bridal party was done their entrance, I wanted to doors closed before I came in.  And who better to close and open the doors than my amazing brother and brother in law?!  PERFECT!  So, they were the doormen.

The rest of the day went off pretty much without a hitch.  Yummy dinner at a local place near our house, B and I said our goodbyes and each headed to our parents for the night (leaving my brother and sister and their families at our house).

I tried not to stay up too late with the girls (we had a sleepover at my parents) and fell asleep surprisingly easy, for it being the night before one of the biggest and best days of my life...

Thursday, September 2, 2010

And The Tent Was Up

A year ago today, I watched this beauty get put up.


White Sailcloth.  Totally awesome.


It was the start of one of the best weekends of weather of the year, and oh yea, our wedding weekend.


Stay tuned. :)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Good Stuff: August

I'm still in disbelief that it's already September.  I mean, I still feel like it's July, how did August just skip on right by?  Despite what felt like an extremely short month, there is definitely some Good Stuff to share.
  • Concerts.  Particularly country concerts.  On August 13th we attended the Brooks & Dunn: Last Rodeo tour.  It was supposed to be in June, and was a Mother's Day present I got for my mom, but got postponed due to Dunn being sick.  Although we could tell that he still wasn't feeling 100%, they put on an awesome show.  And it's their last tour as a duo.  So I'm pretty psyched we got to see them.

I'm a total sucker for concerts, and really wish we had the time and money to go to more.  I'm always keep my eyes peeled for shows in the area.
  • Finishing School.  Ok, so that's an exaggeration.  I finished the summer term.  And one of my master's degrees, Master's in Operations and Project Management.  I've still got 4 more classes to go until I have my MBA, but it's nice to have one under my belt, and to be soooo close to the end.  Also, it doesn't hurt that I have the next few weeks off.  And that I got an A.  But really, June 2011 can't come soon enough!
  • BBQs. We had a BBQ at our house with friends this month, something we hadn't done all summer.  I mean, what's better than breaking out the grill, having a few beers, and playing ladder ball with a few of your favorite people?  I'll tell you.  All of that, plus gummy worms soaked in coconut rum. Uh, yea. Delish. And dangerous.
  • Finding New Music.  It's been a long time since I've fallen for an artist I've never heard of before.  But, it happened.  At work, when the ipod is dead or I forget it, I'll listen to Yahoo! or AOL radio, and usually tune it to New Country, since I feel like any of the other country ones have all the same music I hear all the time.  And I heard a couple of songs from Brantley Gilbert.  Well, feeling impulsive, and ignoring the fact that maybe he should consider changing his last name, I came home and listened to some snippets on iTunes, and then coughed up the $9.99 for "Halfway to Heaven".  100% worth it.  Might even buy the other album.
  • This Picture.

I rarely have pictures of myself, since out of myself and B I'm the "photographer", and even when I do happen to get in a shot, I don't usually like it.  Our friend snapped this one at a wedding (congrats H&D!) and shockingly, we both look pretty good.  LOVE it.