Amazing Sunset

A friend of Pat's took some pictures of the sunset on Diego Garcia. He sent these and they are amazing. I can't believe how beautiful such a secluded island is. We complain about him being so far away. I'm sure watching a sunset like this is just a small reminder of how there are things to be thankful for, no matter how stressed you get.

Pictures from Japan

For those of you who don't know Pat got to visit Japan for awhile. He just got back to Diego Garcia this week. Before he went back he sent me a package full of little things he collected in Japan. He got us a very nice set of chopsticks and a gorgeous Sake set.

He did some sight seeing and I asked him to send me some pictures. He sent me a few pictures of some of the things he found interesting.

He is now a world traveler and has been to the northern and the southern most point in Japan. By the time he makes it back to the states he'll have been to more countries then he ever thought he visit in a lifetime. As much as we complain sometimes, the military has given Pat opportunities he never thought he'd have.

Old Pictures of Us

We've been trying to collect old pictures of Pat and I for something that my parents a putting together for the evening of the rehearsal. At least that's what I assume it's for. They are collecting everything from Baby pictures to pictures of us to pictures of Pat and I when we first starting dating. 

So if you have any pictures of either of us younger of when we were together you should get a hold of my parents so they can get a copy.

One of my bridesmaids found this picture and sent it to me today. 

RSVP

The count begins.

Just one day after sending invitations out people started to receive them. I'm amazed that it happened so quickly. By this weekend we've already received a little over 10 RSVP's in the mail. It doesn't feel like we are that close to the wedding but we are. Just about 80 days until the big day. 

I just keep counting down the days until Pat comes home. Sometimes I forget that just about 10 days after he's home we get married :)

I'm surprised that there are so many people that want to come to the wedding. Looks like it's going to turn out to be pretty big. No matter what I'm getting very excited for everything to happen.

Going to the Chapel.

So It's been a very long time since I last posted on this thing. I think my job and my personal life have been keeping me very busy.

I just wanted everyone to know that I have finally finished my invitations! With the addressing skills of my parents we mailed most of the wedding invitations yesterday. I suppose this means it's official!

Although I complain about the tiny imperfections in the invites, I truly am pleased with how they turned out. I made a LOT of mistakes along the way. I learned never to print anything with e-mail addresses if you don't already own the address. I also learned, specify when special ordering, you may end up with WAY too much of something.

But no need to dwell, they are finished and exactly what I had in mind. They aren't traditional in any way, but I think they really set the tone for the nature of our wedding.

Now that most of the stressful details are handled we're just working on the smaller details to pass the time. My days now are filled with running through music samplers trying to find the right music since we aren't having a DJ.

And just so you all know, Pat will be home in 72 days! Really just 2 months and 10 days. I can't wait, nor can I stand it.

A friend of mine had the best example of what the waiting feels like. It's like when you have to go to the bathroom really bad and you're waiting and waiting until you get the restroom. But as soon as you get through the front door you can hardly stand it. It's like your body knows how close you are to the toilet.

Awkward, but I couldn't have put it better!

I write to Remind Myself

I can't imagine the last time I really worried. I'm not the worrying type. I always felt that their are forces beyond my control keeping things in line. I've never been quite sure what those forces are, but they are what keeps the earth aligned, my mind in check and my feet solidly planted on the ground. Over the past few days my alignment has been off. I find that the tiniest thorn in my side will ruin my day. I walk down the street and even the man whistling his own theme song rings in my head like a wake up alarm. i hate it.

My attitude must stink. To everyone around me whose used to my positive outlook I must look disgusting. On a normal day I can take things sparingly. I can move past the negative and replace that dark space with a shining lining. Up until now I haven't found that lining. I think I internalize things because I don't want others to worry. Showing emotion is not a strong suit for me. I've tried so hard to remain the rock and remain stable. The problem is, no matter how hard a rock may be, if you pile enough stuff on top of it, eventually it starts to sink. I kind of feel like I'm sinking into the mud.

I think I recently had a small version of a melt down. It wasn't what i think of when I think of meltdowns. Actually, all I can think of when i hear the word meltdown is Britney Spears shaving her head.

No worries, I didn't shave my head.

But I've never felt so overwhelmed as I have recently. It's surprising how the pressures can add up. From trying to plan a wedding, increasing pressures at work, managing finances for two people, as well as dealing with your best friend/fiance being continents away for a year, you would begin to feel a little pain.

Like I said, I'm not good with emotions because I don't want people to think I can't handle things on my own. I'm independant, rock-solid, and secure. Although at times is seems like none of that is true. So you could say that it would be abnormal for me to cry when my favorite shirt is ruined, cry because I don't want to do laundry, or cry to my boss at work; however, all of those have become regular for me.

I was recently reminded that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Not because they did something wrong, but because you can't get to the good without going through the bad. So no matter how hard, stressful, or painful things may get, the good stuff is just around the corner. To that I said, "the good stuff better get here soon because I'm getting tired."

But the truth of the matter is I know that it doesn't last. I know that everything happens for a reason and while I may cry to my boss today, tomorrow is a new start. As stressful as planning a wedding can be, I know that in just a few months I'm going to marry my best friend. Even though I miss Pat terribly, I know he's coming home in just 85 days.

I don't write these things just for you, I write them to remind myself that as hard as it gets sometimes, I have to go through the bad before I can get to the good. And that makes the good just that much sweeter.

My Puppies

i seriously miss having pets. I think animals can make you feel better when you are sick and make you more comfortable when you are alone. I miss have a dog around. While i was back home I had the joy of having two dogs around. My parents' new puppy, Nilla is a littler terror. She's getting so big! She still believes she's a lap dog and wants to be close to you at all times. She loves to snuggle. If you are sitting down she'll try and get right up beside you and give you kisses. It doesn't matter if you are in a chair that has very little room, Nilla needs to be right beside you.

Poor Chloe. Chloe just puts up with the little one. She gets so tired sometimes she'll just lay down while Nilla keeps attacking her. They are really cute together. I took some new pictures of the two of them while I was home. They are adorable.

Holiday Baking

While I was home for Thanksgiving I really got into the holiday spirit. There was so much shopping, cooking and holiday decorating I couldn't help but enjoy myself. I love baking. I love making cookies, cakes and pies. My family has a love for these little green tree holiday cookies. They are just spritz cookies dies green and pushed through a cookie press to look like trees. We like to decorate them with lots of the Red Hot candies because they taste delicious! Here are some pictures of my first batch.

The Sweetest Baby

I went back home to WV for the Thanksgiving holiday. Not only was I excited to gorge myself on turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but I was going to get to play with my cousin little baby, Luca. Luca is the sweetest baby. He is not only extremely well behaved but he's adorably entertaining. It was so sweet to watch him enjoy all the new experiences. He was excited about the foods, the people and all the new sounds.

After all the food and the playing Luca was getting pretty sleepy. The video below is right before he and his parents left. He was mimicking the sounds that I was making and it sounded like singing. He is the sweetest!

Elf Yourself

I got a huge kick out of this yesterday. My friends send me this e-mail with a link to a little video thing and I have been laughing about it every since! Office Max has a website www.elfyourself.com that allows you to upload images of friends and family and create hysterical dancing elves out of them! I can't get enough! Click on the link below to see the elves that I created.

Emily's Elves

Bittie Bites

I came across this fabulous website when searching for some craft projects to keep me busy. I fell in love with not martha's tiny food craze! You'll love these little cuplettes:

And look at this tiny pies made in a small cupcake pan! The cute factor is off the scale with this one:

Click the link above to see how she makes these wonderful treats and make your own.

d*s

I can't believe that I have forgotten to tell people about this wondeful website! Besides the fact that I love love love the design of the page, this is a fantastic resource of all things design.

There are great resources for DIY fans as well as guides to find some of the most creative and beautiful gifts out there. I found myself searches this page for great card ideas and projects that I can do at home and give as gifts to friends and families. I also love the Washington D.C. Guide to design. It lets you know some of the hottest shops in town.

Please, click on the picture of the page above and you'll be directed to the Design Sponge homepage. enjoy :)

Arlington Cinema and Draft House

This past weekend some friends of mine found out that the Upright Citizen's Brigade Improv team was going to be in town at a Draft House in Arlington. It ended up being funnier than I had expected and the venue was pretty sweet. You can sit in rows with tables or in chairs around small tables much like a lounge. They had a full menu and you have a waitress that comes to check on you throughout the show. It was great! They also have $1 movie nights as well as discounted movies throughout the week. I will definitely make it back for some more comedy and maybe even a movie or two. Here is a picture of some of the crew sitting in our row at the Draft House:

Identity Theft and Glamour Magazine

I recently purchased the new issue of Glamour because there was a very striking Jessica Garner on the cover and an article titled, "15 Things No One Tells You About Being Married." I didn't learn much that I didn't already know from the article and didn't even make it to Jessica Garner's article before I was distracted by a dramatic story in the Real Stories section.

I came across an article titled, "I chased down my identity thief," and was immediately sucked in. I'm very worry about my credit and finances. I frequently change my passwords and shred most every piece of junk mail I receive. I have heard horror stories about unsuspecting people that have their credit completely disparaged and have no way of clearing it. I am a definite believer that there aren't systems enough in place to help people stay financially safe. This article only scared me silly. The story is about Karen Lodrick. Karen lost thousands of dollars to a criminal fraudster. The police couldn't catch her and in the end, Karen ended up chasing down the girl who stole her identity. The story is eye opening and amazing to say the least.

Lodrick has started a website http://www.fightingbacknow.com/ to help people prevent fraud as well as gain back what has been lost to them. Her website details her terrifying ordeal as well as the court cases that ensued to gain some form of restitution. I think the information in her story is important for everyone to hear because of the impact it could have on the rest of your life.

Please take the time to check out her website or read the article in Glamour. The information on prevention is relevant and easy to do. It may take some time out of your day, but it could save you from a lifetime of regret.

Long Distance is Difficult

As you can tell my the bright ticker on my page, we are counting down the days until Pat comes home and until the eventual wedding. Everyone keeps telling me that the time is going to go by quickly, but it really doesn't.

We have roughly 145 days until he is back in the states. Although that's just a few months...it's dragging on like an eternity! There is a lot going on in my world too. The wedding plans are picking up and so is my job. Pat isn't here for any of it and that's difficult. I just don't like him feeling so left out of everything that's going on.

When I have a bad day or something goes wrong, it would just be so nice to come home and have him there to make me feel better. It would be great just to head to lunch together and forget about everything else. I miss him more than I let on. I keep trying to look at this as a learning experience. I know that God has a plan for both of us and that this seperationg will teach us something in the end. However, its hard to keep reminding yourself of that daily. It's really hard not to feel angry sometimes at the cards that have been dealt in your hand.

I try every morning to thank God for what we have been given. We have each other, Patrick is safe, we get to talk every day, and he will be coming home soon. All of these things are blessings and I need to continue to focus on the good things God has given us and then the hard things just don't matter anymore.

I'm reminded every day of what an amazing person Pat is and how lucky I am that we found each other. In our phone conversations we constantly remind each other all the things we miss and love about each other. It's like a personal love pep talk every day :) So if you think about it, the saying (cheesy as it may be) is true: Distance makes the heart grow fonder (and more loving too).

Neato Bandito

Alright, it's time again for my neato finds. I have begun searching for wonderful gifts for this holiday season and I've found some favorites. I hope they help in your x-mas gift search as well.

Smiley Mugs

How great are these colorful mugs. How cute would these be with hot chocolate and mounds of marshmallows bubbling on top. This cuddly mugs come in three colors and are dishwasher and microwave safe.($9)

Softies Simple Instructions

I have fallen in love with plush toys from all over the world! I love the various little characters roaming over my shelves and desk space. This Japanese book gives you patterns and simple instructions for creating some of the cutest plush creatures around. It may even inspire you to make your own patterns and friends. ($19.95)

Recycled Socktopus

Following my love of everything plush, I introduce you to Socktopus! Made from real recycled sweaters these sea dwellers are soft and cuddly just like their ancestors the sock monkeys. ($20)

Table Topics

I am a huge fan of questions that teach you something about the people you are with. This conversation starters look elegant and intrigueing on any counter, coffee table, or desk. There are various topics for the cards and include questions like: "Is intelligence or common sense more important?" and "What would you most like to do for someone else if you had the money and the time?" ($24)

Day in the Graveyard

So I've decided I don't work on my hobbies anymore. I have a stack of books I need to read, a camera collecting dust in the closet, and a box full of craft goodies that I never use.

This past weekend I decided to start on something so I picked up my camera and headed out to the graveyard. Ok, I know that sounds silly. But graveyards are peaceful, full of intersting shapes, and trees. Plus, it's one of the only places you can walk around and people don't get in your way when you are trying to take pictures.

I'm always surprised what great shots you can get from walking around such a place. It was such a beautiful day! I love fall. It's the best time of year. You can be outside and be comfortable in a sweatshirt and jeans and scarf. It isn't so cold that you have to wear a jacket, but if you had a cute one you wanted to wear you could :)

Here are a few pictures from my day in the graveyard:

Waiting for Patrick

So we've been waiting a long time for Pat to finally get his orders for his next duty station. We finally received them yesterday and we now have a finalized date for his return! Pat will be back in the states on April 8th, plenty of time before the wedding on the 26th. And he'll be home awhile! He won't leave for Italy until May 20th. That leaves us with plenty of time to spend together before he lives for Italy. He will probably be in Italy without me for around 3 months. I will probably follow him right around the first of August. Yeah, We're getting married :)

Myspace Countdown or Myspace Layouts

Zombie Survival

As some of you know I love Zombie movies. I'm not sure why. I seem to fascinated with zombie movies and vampire movies and books. Weird, I know. Don't hate me for it. So my roommate recently sent me this quiz because we often have conversations about how well we'd survive in a zombie disaster. I was utterly horified that my score at this below quiz wasn't better. The questions are hard, and I don't own a gun so they basically say you are pretty much out of luck there. If you want to see how your zombie skills match up to mine, take the quiz!

52%

Life Soundtrack

I have posted before about bands that I like and music that I listen to. I can't express enough how I feel like I'm on a constant search for music.

I love music.

I feel like music is a soundtrack to everything you do. I need music to listen to all the time. If it wasn't so rude, and people wouldn't think I had a problem, I'd have headphones all the time blasting my favorite melodies as my own personal soundtrack.

Ok, so I download music probably more than I brush my teeth (for the record I brush at least twice a day!). I just want to alert you of some of my favorite bands, artisits, and tunes so if you life soundtrack is lacking you can steal from my soundtrack.

Page France
A friend of mine just passed me a long PF's "Hello, Dear Wind" to download. The song, Junkyard, will please you, I'm sure. The song motivates me to finish whatever project it is that I'm working on, not sure why. Page France is an indie folk-pop music band thats songs are simple, yet very melodic and emotional. Often referred to as a Christian band, the songs have many religious undertones.





Ray LaMontagne
Probably one of my most favorite artists. I would reccomend every single one of his songs. I think he is a perfect Life soundtrack candidate. His songs make me think of flowerful parks and sunny days. Every time I'm in the car on a beautiful fall day, such as today, I hear his music in my head. Perfect for long walks and calming drives, his music is colorful. If you haven't listened, please check out "Hold You in My Arms," from the album Trouble as well as "Can I Stay," from Until the Sun Turns Black. You'll be hard pressed to find a bad song on either album.

The New Pornographers
I know, you are turned off by the name. If you dismiss this band for that reason it would be a grave mistake. Their most recent album, Challengers boasts some amazing talent as well as some note-worthy songs. "My Rights Versus Yours," and "Challengers," are both meloncholy and thought provoking. I find myself craving the latter tune when I'm just walking around the city.

Feist
If you haven't heard of Feist, you may live under a rock. Her songs have recently been featured in a number of cell phone commericals and her song, "1234," plays all over MTV. Although I don't like many of the songs or groups that play on television, Feist was great fromt he beginning and will remain great no matter how many times her songs are exploited to sell mainstream media gadgets. Her most recent album, The Reminder, will break you heart in a good way. I love her. Her voice is clear yet sultry. Her albums have folk influences with undertones of pop and electronica. The beats often make you want to dance, or at the very least, tap you toes. Listen to "So Sorry," and "My Moon Man." Her song "1234," while grossly overplayed, makes you smile without you even knowing it.

Carla Bruni
Carla, arguably the most famous model in France, has also been linked to such celebrities as Eric Clapton, has recently released an English version of her french album, No Promises. While her raspy voice sounds just as tempting in English, I reccomend you listen to the french album, Quelqu'un m'a dit. Her songs are sung softly and are very thoughtful. Look up the song, "Le plus beau du quartier," by listening to it in French you forget to pay attention to words and you are forced the recognize the song for its beauty as opposed to composition.