Christmas letter 2010

2010 Christmas card

I usually think of myself as a person who doesn't think to do things til it's too late. And I would say that is true a good portion of the time, but really, who isn't like that?

I mean, who really has enough spare time to plot out extra time later on for something they wouldn't have time for even if they planned? That didn't make much sense... but this post is all about the fact that I did think that far in advance. Props to me... err, or something like that.

Now, for the main point. I present to you this year's Christmas card.



It's a 2 sided 5x7.

I would also like to share the story behind this card. Most definitely not my original intent (here's where I pause to reflect on how many years are to come of this same story being true because of children...) Originally, it was supposed to be us kissing under the mistletoe. But it was cold, and we were using a timer. And I wasn't using my brain apparently. So when I got inside, these were the good ones. Let's roll with it! I actually love the way it turned out :)

And since I only had a limited number I was able to actually send out this year, I thought it would be nice to share for all you who didn't get to see :)

I also wrote a Christmas letter... who wants to see that?

the cool kid

During a phone call earlier I found myself trying to convince my friend Molly that I was a bigger dork when I was a kid than she was. Turned out we were pretty even when it came to dorkiness and just being a general misfit, but the stories that surfaced trying to prove my point I felt were more than appropriate to be shared.

I began by explaining that my "sense of fashion" never really had anything to do with fashion, but more with comfort. I was obsessed with being comfortable. My mom still tells stories about how she had to buy my clothes at yard sales (not just because it was cheap!) but because I liked the "pre-washed-not-brand-new-comfyfeeling." My wardrobe consisted of several colors of cotton pants and formless t-shirts. I was most comfortable and happy when I was wearing pajamas basically.

I mean, of course there were exceptions to this, and I would find myself at times really pulling off some looks that were noteworthy, but mainly, my goal in life was comfort ;)

As I neared my teen years, I began to take notice that my sense of style was not really all that cool. I wanted to be cool, but I knew that just wasn't my calling in life. So try as I might, there was only so much this girl could do. My new favorite article of clothing was a pair of denim overalls with embroidered sunflowers on the bib. When those wore out, I replaced them with a pair of purple cordorouys. Both of which show up in my 7th and 8th grade school picture. In fact, I'm pretty sure the purple overalls were paired with my favorite formless tee in my 9th grade class picture.

My peers were highly aware of their appearance, and as time wore on I became highly aware of mine as well. I guess I just didn't know what to do about it! The progression had taken me from cotton stretch pants, to overalls, to finally jeans or khakis (depending on whether it was jeans and t-shirt day at school ;) but really, I was still a misfit. In 10th grade I decided bangs would make it all better. So I went to cutting them myself. Started off with a few... which didn't look right. So I kept combing more and more forward until most of the front of my hair was bluntly cut straight across my forehead. Not my finest moment.

All this makes me look at my high school years and think, wow, you were really sad. But the truth is, there was a whole 'nother side to this misfit style I had going on. Summer after 10th grade I walked into a gas station with my friend Beka sporting a towel fastened around my neck with a rubberband Superman cape style. We made our selections, paid and as we walked out the door grabbed the bottom of the towel, whipped it in front of our faces and said "I am the toothpaste that sticks to your toothbrush!" and then left.

Then again, running through a cornfield when I was 15, I fell and got my favorite khaki pants all dirty. The dirt wouldn't come out, so my mom bleached them and they turned peach. A kid overheard me telling about this incident one day and begged me to wear them to school. Whereupon I did. And they were awesome. I can't ever remember getting so many comments on something I wore as I did those peach pants. Of course there were your typical preppy stuck up girls who looked my way and whispered snide comments to eachother about them, but reality is, they were never cool enough to be sporting towel capes and peach pants.

Yep, I'm just that cool.

extraordinary

I pulled into the driveway like every other morning. Four minutes early and still hungry. Because I'm too lazy to make myself food before I leave.

I stepped out of the car and the lawn crunched as my foot slipped off the edge of the driveway and when I looked down I noticed the most perfect sparkly frost all over. And I had my camera with me.

Though still a few minutes early, I did not take the time to get it out right then but rather said a silent prayer that it would still be the same in ten minutes when I could come back out.

And whaddaya know...

my mom's a photographer too

I have 3 brothers... all of which have some sort of science degree. I pride myself in the fact that my worst subject in school was chemistry... 2 of the 3 brothers are chemistry majors... um, ya.

So thank goodness for my mom. Because she gets it. She loves photography about as much as I do. My dad too, he's the one who started it all! He taught me how to use his Minolta SLR when I was 14. I'm a good balance of the two of them I think :)

So when I decided I wanted some fall pictures with my new family (hehe :) I asked Mom to help us out! We all worked together, but I couldn't have done this without her. Thanks for these beautiful pics Mom, I am so happy!









and since this is my faaavorite of the bunch it's just gonna have to get up here twice... bw or color, I couldn't decide... I just love it :)

besties :)

Alicia and I go waaaaay back. Met in the hallways of the Elim dorm summer of 2003. We were instantly connected by a picture on her dresser of a girl I knew... and the rest is history.



We've been through a ton together... more than I have been with any of my friends. We are kindred spirits... the kind of friends who get eachother when nothing is spoken.



These pictures were taken while we were on vacation last summer 2009. The top one was the pier on Carolina Beach in Wilmington, NC the bottom was in Myrtle Beach, SC.





Truly, I couldn't ask for a better friend. I love you Alicia!!!

this is my body

I have always always always struggled with my weight.

There, I said it.

I would venture to say that most women do... especially those who've had children. Want to know what I feel most guilty about, more than anything else?

The fact that I struggle with weight and I've never carried a child.

I feel like I have no excuse.

I predict that you're thinking what I hear people say, "oh it's fine! you look great, you don't need to worry about anything..." Honestly, if you're thinking something else that's ok ;) I don't really need to hear it!

But the point is, this is a huge point of insecurity for me.

Well it hit me a few weeks ago... the fact that I do intend to have a baby one of these days... I've always intended for that... but I haven't always been in a place where that was a good plan. Now I'm married and life moves along... that day will be here sooner than I know it.

And I'm totally freaked out that if I don't do something I will just gain and gain and never lose anything as I go through child-bearing years...

I have had ups and downs for sure. I know where I'm comfortable, where I think I look fabulous... and I know where I'm very uncomfortable and think I don't looksogreat.

Now is one of those times. I mean, if I was somehow sentenced to stay the weight I'm at right now for the restofmylife, I think I could come to terms. But the fact that I have a choice to either go forward or backward, up or down, totally scares me.

Out of all the things I've done to lose weight there is only one thing that I've loved, stuck with for a long period of time and actually been effective.

Running.

But it's a love-hate relationship! I love the results, love the freedom of running but hate the getting in shape and making your body hurt part of it... blah, who doesn't.

Anyways, I started out today. Small, but enough to get me goin. I had a goal of 1.5 miles in 20 min which worked out to mostly running and a little bit of walking... I surprised myself being able to actually do it... it's been awhile lol :P

So I begin... I feel the need for accountability... or is it my need for pain... if I fail, posting what I'm doing hurts so much more. But I know what's against me and I need to just face my giants... or I might end up being one!

Here's to losing the 30 pounds I gained since last fall!

Ben and Nicole finally tie the knot!

I can hardly believe that my wedding was almost 5 months ago, but really, what's even more amazing is that at my wedding, Ben and Nicole still weren't sure that they were getting married this year. Then all of a sudden, after dating since 11th grade they made it happen :)



If I were to have had a fall wedding, this is what I would have wanted. Nicole's artistic side really showed through in every aspect of the wedding... from her asymmetrical train on her dress to having the reception in a barn. Just so beautiful!



The ceremony was held at the north end of Hemlock lake. It was windy and a bit chilly, but altogether perfect :)













The barn was transformed into a spectacular display of fall beauty with these concord grape centerpieces and old twisted vines.







So happy for you guys :)

I really did just post a happy birthday to myself

Yesterday afternoon I got home like every other day and checked the mail. It looked boring. Some stuff from State Farm, a flyer, latest Sports Illustrated... I set it down and forgot about it.

And a few minutes later I walked past the pile again and thought maybe I should give it a more thorough look-through.

Whereupon I found this.



Not only my first birthday card this year, but the first birthday card with my new married name on it :D AND it's from my new Grandma.

It's the little things that make me smile more than anything :)

love and hate

You'd think after almost 26 years of winter I would be less inclined to complain about the things I can't change.

But this year, I'm trying desperately to forget that autumn means winter is coming... and enjoy the heck out of it.

I eternally am in love with fall. The cool crisp air. The way smells travel through the air permeating the senses with a feeling of warmth even in the midst of a chilly day.

The leaves changing color is a beautiful reminder that we get a chance each year to brush ourselves off and start again new.

I love the season, hate the reminder of the dead cold winter. Winter's one redeeming quality in my book is that there is a lot of white. And I like white. Also, Christmas is in winter... but I'm a fan of hibernation January-March. Who's with me?

hot-mama photo shoot!

You might remember I mentioned a potential hot-mama shoot in the works over at lovelikethis, well it's here! The details are all worked out and I'm happy to present all you lovely ladies with a phenomenal offer.



I don't think I can emphasize enough how excited I am to do this. Crystal is a good friend of mine and will be doing all the styling for this shoot. Her services alone are worth about $100! Take into consideration that this will be done at the Woodcliff and youknowho is the photographer ;) we're talkin' amazing.

There are only 8 spots available so please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested and would like to book!

strawberry acres

one would think strawberries would be found at strawberry acres, but not this time of year! At this time of year the whole northeast is picking apples and making scrumptious apple-y baked goodness.

We are no exception.

Steve and I are at his parents' house visiting for the weekend and one of the things we planned was to pick apples and bake a pie.



this is the chop-top school bus that carts people back and forth from the orchard to the main part of the farm. Pretty fantastic huh.











These are my new in-laws! They're really great, I couldn't have asked for better second parents :)





This apple picture is one of my very favorites. I need to print it... yep, definitely print worthy



and this is the yumtastic pie that we made with the apples we picked!

in keeping with the trend of weddings

I realized also that I never posted the pictures I took at our friends Mike and Aiyana's wedding! That was way back in June. Steve and Mike were college housemates and Mike was a groomsman in our wedding, Steve was a groomsman in theirs.

Warning: I have a TON of pictures from this wedding... there is a reason for this, I was infatuated with the fact that this was the first wedding in years that I had attended as an actual guest! I took pictures of whatever I wanted, because I wanted to. Not because someone was paying me to. And the coolest thing about it all was that I could have not taken a single picture and it would have been ok. I just wanted to play around in some ways I may not have if it was one of my own weddings {kapiche?}





lest you think that I went in and commandeered her dress as I would have being the photographer, I did not. In fact, her actual photog was taking pictures of the dress in this same spot, I just stole a shot too :)





















Call me a cheeseball but this was the first time I got to see my new name written in type like this :) It was a special moment lol



I can't believe it's been 4 months since our wedding now! When I look at other people, I think 4 months is a long time, but when I look at me, I think it was like yesterday! But so much has happened since then. Amazing...

Anyways, Mike and Aiyana are actually coming up to visit us in 3 weeks! We are going to try and show them everything fall about NY. I can't wait to see them again :D