It is 2013....and I am back!

 

 

 

 

 Happy 2013!!

 

I am back.

 

 

          I cannot think of a better time of the year to get back into blogging and to resolve to blog more then during the new year.  During my two month blogging hiatus I missed documenting my weekly adventures and staying caught up on all my favorite blogs.  I guess sometimes life gets in the way, but I really want to be better at blogging on a regular basis.  With getting married in 2013, I know there will be lots of wonderful memories made and festivities that I want to document for friends and family near and far and blogging about it all is a wonderful online scrapbook to look back on years from now. 

 

 

    It isn't just blogging I want to get back into, one of  New Years Resolutions is have more "Me Time", I guess that sounds kind of selfish and I should call it my resolution to, "Keep Up With My Hobbies." The other day I realized that I hadn't picked up a leisure book since October, I hadn't picked up my knitting needles in over a year, I hadn't attended one weekly ballet class since the beginning of November, and I had about 6 unfinished crafts I hadn't touched in the past few weeks/months, so in addition to blogging I want to try to make time to keep up with these hobbies, because I truly enjoy them.

       It is easy to come home after a long day of work and after cooking dinner and lay on the couch, but I am going to try my very best to do one of my hobbies instead.  Granted there are nights of wedding planning, and Junior League-ing, and just being plain tired, but baby steps right!

   So here is too a new year full of happiness, health, and new adventures!

   I have had a fabulous 2012 with so many wonderful memories, but I know 2013 is going to be amazing, with already so much to look forward to in the next year!

Here are some of my favorite highlights of 2012:

 

 

In January I enjoyed spending time with extended family at our mini family reunion in NYC.

 

In March, DFH and I hosted a 1950's Soiree for my Birthday and had a great time cooking up food from the Golden Age and dressing for the part. 

 

April, brought celebrations of new babies with a longtime friend.

 

 

In May, DFH and I enjoyed attending Penguin Playoff games...

 

...Trips to Wine Country in Ohio

 

 

...and a NYC surprise for Grammy's 80th Birthday

 

 

 

In June, LES and I survived our first music festival weekend at Delfest...

 

 

Enjoyed a beautiful Wedding.

 

 

Had a blast at the Plate girls weekend on Long Beach Island

 

 

and at the Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney Concert

 

 

4th of July brought sparklers with family at the beach

 

 

and boat rides in LBI

 

 

 

In July DFH and I traveled to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and enjoyed a week of fun with friends

 

and beautiful sunsets.

 

 

In August we enjoyed our backyard garden and had fun experimenting cooking with all of our freshly grown veggies and spices. 

 



In September, I Enjoyed one last weekend at the beach with Family


 

 

and on September 14th DFH and I got Engaged!!

 

 

 

 and attended our 10 year High School Reunion.

 

 

In October DFH and I ventured to Long Island to visit my grandparents

 

 

 

I Attended the Junior League of Pittsburgh's 90th Anniversary Gala

 

 

And I loved having my Elon girls visit Pittsburgh for a girls weekend. 

 

 

 

 

In November LES and I road tripped to DC to visit a good friend.

 

 

and I asked my sister JLP to be my Maid of Honor and she said YES!

 

 

 

 

 

In December, I enjoyed spending the holidays with family and friends, and my parents hosted  a wonderful Engagement party for DFH and I.

 

 

  
 

 DFH and I finished the year with a delicious dinner and drinks with great friends and rang in the New Year ( and year of our wedding) together!

 

 

Happy 2013!

Paint Monkey

The other weekend a group of friends and I gathered for a painting class at Paint Monkey a local Pittsburgh painting studio that lets you plan private paint parties. 

  Prior to coming to Paint Monkey we chose as a group from a large list of painting options to paint the Georgia O'Keefe Flower. 

  Paint Monkey is BYOB ( *added bonus*) so we arrived and socialized and enjoyed some wine before diving into the painting. 

 

We were each provided a canvas with the print penciled on and paint, you can call it an adult version of paint-by-number.

 

 

 

Ali ready to paint her masterpiece.

 

 

We painted section by section with different colors and shading.

 

 

 

 

...until slowly they turned into flowers

 

 

Katie and her artwork.

 

 



..and all of a sudden they turned into masterpieces. 

 

 

Me and my artwork

 

 

 

 

Such a fun evening out with friends, cannot wait to do it again!

 

 

 

 

 

We're Engaged!!

Some BIG events have occurred since I've been away, DFH proposed and we are so excited to say we are Engaged!

  DFH and I have been dating for six + years, so I have been waiting for this day for  forever  a little while hahaha, however I was completely surprised when the big event happened.  DFH sure pulled one over on these eagle eyes. 



A few Friday's ago I had plans with Steel Magnolia to grab a few drinks at a local Pittsburgh restaurant after work.  KLS had texted me earlier in the day to say she would pick me up at home after work.  I told her I just needed to run home and change out of my work clothes.  ( little did I know DFH had KLS in on the secret)

 DFH had told me that he was working Friday night, which is normal, so a proposal that night never even crossed my mind. 

Instead, I opened  my apartment door after work to find this:

Pink and Green balloons lining the hallway with pictures of DFH and I starting from the time we started dating continuing up to present.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the doors down the hallway were wallpapered with pink and green ( my favorite colors) tissue paper.

 

 

On the side of the wall read Memory Ln. in blue, meant to look like the street signs in our neighborhood. 

 

When I opened the door to the apartment, I was in complete shock, I looked down the hall past the balloons to see:

 

 

I walked down the hall opened up "Forever Ave" and DFH was in our living room surrounded by more pictures of us, balloons, flowers and champagne :)

 

 

 

 

 

....And then he proposed!!

 

 

 

 

 

Right after the proposal, still in work clothes haha.

 

 

All cleaned up and ready for dinner :)

 

 

After calling friends and family we headed to dinner at a delicious restaurant in our area where DFH had made reservations.

 

 



 

I was so excited and in shock I can't even tell you what I had for dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the night at SOBA one of our favorite Shadyside bars with too much more champagne and friends :)

 

Perfect night!