Awesome Groomsmen Gift

I just saw this posted on Etsy, and thought it was amazing!

Part of the description reads "My husband created this custom poster as a gift for his groomsmen. Some of them used to be in a band together, so the theme was a concert poster promoting "The Groomsmen". The concert date corresponds with the wedding itinerary. The picture of the theater was a local venue in Savannah, GA where we got married. The words on the theater marque read 'Will their frontman take the plunge?' You get the idea. It's nice to give your close friends/relatives a more personal gift that involves some thought. Or, you could just get them cufflinks...."

I think this is SUCH a cool idea, and I feel like Zach and his groomsmen would love something like this. Obviously, since it's a custom item, it would be different, but this general idea is super cool.

Wedding Planning Update

We've still made no decisions. At all.

None.

Well, we've decided that we don't usually like traditional wedding cakes, so we're pretty much sure we want a cheesecake. But that might actually be the only thing we've decided on so far.

So I'd like to just keep track of a few ideas for now.

Zach wants something fun, possibly slightly outrageous, and the funnier the better. He'd like something quirky which says "This is Zach and Rose's wedding." Basically, he wants it all to be individualized, and not at all generic. I agree.

While looking at The Knot, I came across some fun ideas, which I'd like to record here, so that they'll be easy for me to find, and to get anyone's opinion on them, if they feel like sharing.






A couple created comic book wedding invitations. More pictures are available at Heidi Ryder's blog, but I just think this idea is so cool.







This is awesome. My whole family is big on pictures. Each of my Aunts and Uncles has at least one wall of their house devoted to family pictures. My dad is special, so he has a whole room. But I would love to have a wall of our families' wedding pictures at the reception. I think that would be so special. Spectacular photo from Julia Newman.




Another idea that I absolutely love is this creative, 3-D photobooth photo wall. It would be beyond perfect. Photo via the incredibly talented Elizabeth Messina.

Cupcake Stop

The other day, I went someplace heavenly.

No, that's not enough of a build-up.

Let me explain. During the spring, I learned of an intriguing business. It's founded on the principles that New Yorkers are always on the move, love sweets, and would be highly entertained if they could hunt down a truck full of delicious cupcakes via Twitter.

This divinely portable cupcake distributor drives around the city, telling people where it can be found. Oh, and the cupcakes? They're amazing. You would think, it's a truck, how high could the cupcake quality be? OMFGSOHIGH! That's how high.

Also, another misconception you might have - the flavors of these aforementioned delicious cupcakes, there can't be that many, right? Or they aren't too creative?

Wrong.

Oh the flavors.

Mint chocolate chip. Red velvet. Chocolate Peanut Butter. S'more. Raspberry Creme. HEAVEN!

The Mint Chocolate Chip was suprisingly minty and chocolatey. The Red Velvet, while not the greatest Red Velvet in the world, was incredibly moist and delicious. The S'more was perfectly chocolatey, with real marshmallow icing (I have no idea how) and graham crackers sprinkled on top. The Raspberry creme, well, this was my least favorite, which means that it was simply delicious, nothing more. It was a regular cupcake with creamy raspberry icing. But my all-time favorite, by far, was the Chocolate Peanut Butter. It was perfection. Warm, moist chocolate cup cake smothererd in a magical layer of peanut butter icing. Oh! I get excited just thinking about it.

Inspiration

I've been trying to get back into the swing of blogging for a while now, pretty much all summer. But I never seem to have the motivation. I think, however, that Kerrie may have found the perfect thing to motivate me. Her most recent blog post about installing Google Analytics into her blog to see if anyone reads her blog, and who they are. I LOVE THIS IDEA!

Also, I have just started grad school at Hunter, and while it looks like it is going to be very pleasantly challenging, I think that I would like to have an outlet to talk about all of my new experiences.

For example, whoever designed Hunter College was a sadist. Do you know how to get to any of the first 7 (or 8, haven't figured it out yet) floors? Escalator. But floors 8 and up are accessible by elevators from floors 3 and up. And to get to the East side? Breezeway on the 3rd floor. Also, I have no idea how or where to get my student ID, which means that I can't access any of the school's facilities like the library or in ground swimming pool.

But it's not all bad. Actually, as soon as you enter the classrooms (granted you are able to find them in the first place - did I mention that the numbering and placement of rooms makes absolutely NO SENSE?), everything is great. I enjoyed each of my four classes this week, three of which are being taught by PhD students. Two of them seem very experienced and knowledgeable, while one seems cute in his inexperience. He seems to know a lot about the topic he's teaching, and he has experience teaching HS, which is what we're learning about - he just hasn't taught people how to teach before, so it'll be interesting. And my last professor is the perfect stereotype of an English professor that it makes me laugh: tall, skinny, pale, wearing a button down shirt and a bow-tie, fluffy white hair and a big white beard. Plus, he forgot half of the syllabus and gave us a "fifteen minute Kant" lecture, which he was quite impressed with.

Overall, a good first week.

Now, how do I find this Google Analytics?

Roland Offices

Upon arriving at the 5th Ave. NRW station, I make sure to take the exit that surfaces at 60th St., not 59th. I then walk across 60th St., going about halfway down the block before I walk up the two steps to enter the office building. In past years, the building had been a hotel, and being placed between 5th Ave. and Madison Ave., you would be correct in guessing that it was quite an upscale hotel. I love entering the elaborately decorated marble lobby. After swiping my id card, I glance over at the gigantic tapestry hanging on the left wall behind the security desk. While I wait for one of the two elevators on the right wall, I glance up the grand-looking staircase to the right, which is constantly barred by modest red velvet ropes. The elevator takes me up to the fourth floor, where I enter the first office on the right, Roland Offices. Behind the door is the most prominent decoration in the office, a floor to ceiling bookshelf filled with law books. Three wooden chairs with modern-art inspired cushioned chairs line the wall on the right, just feet before I arrive at my desk. It is up against the left wall, right after the door to my boss's office (which is book lined and often incredibly cluttered, but with a window that would be beautiful, if it didn't overlook a brick wall). My desk is uncluttered; a computer, phone, pen cup and message book are the only things on it on a regular basis. To my right is a small window, that, if it was able to admit any sunshine would be quite pleasant, but as it is, it affords me a wonderful view of some grey bricks. Behind me is the coffee station, mini-fridge and copier. And beyond the copier is the office of my other boss (who happens to be married to the first boss; it's quite entertaining observing them all day).

One of my most important jobs is to keep the coffee pot full, and my bosses only accept the most gourmet of coffees. I have absolutely no problem with this part of the job because I am not in the habit of turning down free, delicious coffee. Yesterday I worked for four hours and had to write one letter. I also answered the phone twice, and once it was my boss's father. Today I've been at work for almost three hours and I've answered the phone five or six times, and each time all I had to do was take the caller's name and pass it on to my boss. I have been encouraged to do homework or read while at work, and I look forward to sitting in Central Park (half a block away from our office) during my lunch hour.

So far the only drawbacks with this job have been that my desk chair is extremely squeky, and the heels that I have been wearing for the past two days are not incredibly comfortable. But if those are the worst parts of the job, I can definitely deal with them.

I miss school

I've been feeling the urge to write growing recently. This happens whenever I don't do it enough. It's been almost two full months since I graduated, which also means it's been almost two full months since I've written anything of consequence. Emails don't really count. An essay. An argument. A well thought out piece of writing. That's what I miss doing. And I've recently read a few really good fanfictions, which always make me feel like I could write good fanfic, if only I had the drive to sit down with an idea, flesh it out fully, and then actually go all the way through writing it. It usually doesn't happen. I usually stop somewhere between coming up with an idea and sitting down to do anything about it. Sometimes I write down some notes for it, but that's usually where it ends.

Or maybe I could do something that actually needs doing: revising my thesis and sending it to the Pace Library so that they can publish it. My problem with that is there's no deadline on when I can send it to them. But I don't want to wait until after I start classes at Hunter, because then I probably won't have time to do any extra curricular writing, specially of that magnitude.

I miss typing even. I don't do enough of it anymore. Well, of course I type, but I don't do enough writing of any length to actually be satisfying. Most of the things I've written in the past two months have been short. A few sentences max. Well, I guess that settles it: tomorrow, when I sit at home and do nothing, I'll write something. Yay me.

Updating Goals

I wanted to go through my goals from last semester and update them. It's also time to come up with new goals. They'll be added at the end of the post, after I analyze everything that I've accomplished so far.

 My Goals

This semester:

1. Finish thesis.(DONE)
2. Be proud of each paper you hand in Spring 09 semester. (DONE)0
3. Graduate with at least a 3.5 (DONE - 3.53)
4. Apply to >1 grad school program. <--Hunter, TC, Adelphi (DONE) 5. Find a job that pays >$13. (PART-TIME, BUT DONE)
6. Work more at work. (DONE)
7. Hang out with school people outside of school. (DONE)
8. Get savings back up to $500. (FAIL)
9. Reach 163 lb. (DONE, BUT THEN GAINED A FEW LBS BACK)

Goals for the next two years:

1. Do something for Zach that is equal to him buying me an engagement ring
2. Lose 15 lbs and keep it off.
3. Drink only water and tea for one month.
4. Eat 3 fruit everyday for one month.
5. Exercise five days a week for one month.
6. Learn how to cook 20 easy meals.
7. Create my own cookbook.
8. Earn my degree in English and Women's Studies with at least a 3.5 GPA. (undergrad degree) (DONE)
9. Revamp my wardrobe.
10. Finish a masters program.
11. Figure out a career.
12. Travel abroad.
13. Write on the beach.
14. Whiten teeth.
15. Camp out on the beach with friends.
16. Improve posture. (IMPROVING)
17. Go to (at least) 4 yoga classes. <-- I love it!
18. Buy three staple dresses that I look amazing in. (SHOCKINGLY... I GOT 5)
19. Photo-document an entire day.
20. Go to a spa and get the works.
21. Travel to the west coast.
22. Learn how to make apple pie from scratch. (DONE)
23. Make a giant sandcastle.
24. Donate blood.
25. Bake a cake for five people.
26. Make peanut butter from scratch. 
27. Make orange juice from scratch.
28. Write every day.
29. Send out Christmas cards. (2008 - I did!)
30. Find a signature drink. <-- Captain Morgan and Coke or Samual Adams Boston Lager. 31. Take vitamins every day for three months. 32. Take Zach out for a really nice evening "on the town". 33. Lay in the grass and do nothing. 34. Get into Grad School. (HUNTER)

Goals for Fall 2009

1. Get at least a 3.3 GPA

2. Cook dinner at home at least once a week.

3. Contribute $25 a week to our mutual savings account.

4. Feel comfortable working at the law firm.

5. Buy a new TV.

6. Choose a date for the wedding (as well as location and if possible, dress). 

7. Reach 160 lbs.

Camping

Oh the things I have to write about this camping trip. Let's make a quick list: 

1. Playing initials never gets old.

2. Thank you rain gods for giving us a lucky break.

3. As lame as PBR is.... it's an awesome beer. Period.

4. Everything cooked over a fire or hibachi always tastes better.

5. No camping trip is complete without a trip to the hospital. I'm so sorry Steve. No more wood-chopping near you.

6. EVERYTHING cooked over a fire or hibachi tastes better.

7. Packing up camp is never as hard as you think it will be.

8. Navigating a mini-van through traffic w/o being able to see through the back window is a huge confidence boost.

9. I'm so sorry you got hurt Steve.

10. I took the best shower OF MY LIFE when I got home.

11. Wii's PUNCH OUT is an awesome game... but shockingly racist... and I mean RACISIT. Not a little... a LOT.

..... and back to finishing watching Finale of Make Me a Super Model. 

Hiatus

So... I've taken a huge-ass hiatus for the finishing up of my Honors Thesis, graduation, and then two weeks of peaceful relaxation and graduation parties.

Zach has taken off this week because his birthday is on Thursday and we're going camping (SO EXCITED!) on Friday. We're going with a whole bunch of people, and we've been talking about this trip for about three years now.

And then next week Nikki, Nicole and I are heading to Tennessee for Bonnaroo (another thing I'm SO EXCITED for). I just found out today that several of the bands I'm excited about seeing are playing at the same time at opposite ends of the festival, but I can't care right now b/c I'm still so excited about everything. I'm sure that we'll have so much fun, even if things don't turn out exactly as we're expecting them to.

We also just wrote out the invitations for our engagement party next month, and they're super duper cute. They make me so happy. 

Even though the next few weeks will be busy, I plan on picking this back up. My hiatus was fun, but it's time for me to get back on the blogging train because I really do enjoy writing... even though basically no one actually reads this (and I'm sure the few people who did gave up on my over the past two-ish months). 

Oh well. 

Two New Ideas

http://www.favorideas.com/com_images/189/lg_189370_2.jpg

http://www.favorideas.com/com_images/189/lg_189370_1.jpg

From here. Super cool website. I love the gazebo and the outdoors-ness of the 1st pic, and I love the setting of the second one - I would just love to a splash or two of color to the decorations.