Oh What A Year! Part 1

 

     My 2013 was incredible, it really was.  Doing a recap of the past year is truly one of my favorite things to blog about each year because I love looking at the past year in one post through pictures.  I usually just smile and laugh when I write it because it brings back so many memories.   Well this year was so amazing and fantastic that I just couldn't fit all the pictures into one post, so I have decide to split it up in two posts.  So here you go, here is part 1 of my 2013:

 

JANUARY:

 

 

In January DFH and I announced our engagement in the local paper in NJ where we grew up.

 

We also made it to a Pittsburgh Pens game.

 

 

 

FEBRUARY:

 

 

 

 

We saw the Lumineers in concert.

 

 



I picked out my bridesmaid dresses with some of my bridesmaids. 

 

 

DFH and I registered for our wedding and I finally got to use one of the fancy hand held register machines.

 

 

 

DFH and I also went to a Dog Fish Head beer and food pairing event.

 

 

MARCH:

 

In March I celebrated my 29th birthday at Perle a local champagne bar.

 

Me and DFH



 

DFH and I decided on our rehearsal dinner location, Beneduce's Vineyard in their greenhouse. 

 

We attended our food tasting at our wedding venue with my parents.

 

I went to more Penguin's hockey games and got seats right behind the glass. 

 

 

 

My bridesmaids and my mom threw me the best surprise bridal shower ever, I was more than shocked.

 

Even three of my bridesmaids from out of state flew in and totally surprised me.  I balled like a baby when I saw them. 

 

 

 

With my Grammy, mom and sister at the shower. 

 

 

All my maids!

 

 

APRIL:



 

 

 

We sent out our Save The Dates. 

 



 

More Penguins Hockey!

 

DFH and I celebrated seven years of dating.

 

Our friends Steve and Margaret visited from NJ.

 

 

 

MAY:

 

I hosted my friend SRW's bridal shower with the other bridesmaids.

 

 

 

 

SRW loves Audrey Hepburn, so that was the theme for her shower. 

 

 

That same weekend we celebrated Miss SRK ( now Mrs. SRW) in NYC for her bachelorette party.

 

 

In May, ALV and I started our summer concert tour with Tim McGraw

 

    LES, DFH, and I and friends had another awesome time at the Delfest music festival in Maryland

 

JUNE:

 

 

LES, ALV, and I saw Brad Paisley and got upgraded to go backstage and in the pit.

 

 

 

DFH rescued this cutie, Oliver and our family grew by one.

 

Too cute for words.

 

In June Sarah became a Mrs. and I had the best time being in her wedding.

 

Some of my favorite Elon girls posing with the beautiful bride.

 

Hanging out with my parent at her wedding.

 

 

 

 

These are horrible pictures, but this summer we also enjoyed another year of growing fresh veggies and herbs in our backyard. 

Stay tuned for part II.

Zero.



 

....I mean -8. 

 

 

 

 

Last night when I wrote this post it was 0 degrees.  I didn't believe it could get any colder, however this morning I woke up to a frightening sight on my phone, -8 temperatures.  Since I live in the city I usually take public transportation to work, however there was no way I was waiting outside today.   About twenty minutes before I was going to leave for work I turned my car on so that it was nice and toasty by the time I needed to leave. 

      I apologize I am one of those people who is talking about the weather today, but this just isn't ok guys.  For those of you fellow readers in the North East you are probably seeing / feeling similar temperatures.  January is normally cold in Pittsburgh, but I can't remember a time when the temperature was a negative.  Also there is only minimal snow here, but all the schools and several businesses are closed, even the courts are closed today due to the frigid temperatures.

   After work yesterday it was almost as cold as it is today, I rushed right home to put on a pair of comfy pjs pants and furry socks and sat myself on the couch with my warmest blanket.  I had a million things I wanted to do, but I just couldn't get myself warm enough or off the couch. 

 

    It is so cold that last night and today we have been letting the water drip out of the faucet to prevent the pipes from freezing.   Brrr.  I don't know how people who live further north deal with this all the time. 

    The positive of yesterday and today is the Lilly Pulitzer New Year Cheer sale.  I was happy that I was able to sign right on to the site yesterday with no issues and bought some goodies which have me counting down the days until I can wear them when the weather is warmer.  My favorite purchase was the Beckett dress. I know I will get so much use out of it this spring and summer, although, I seriously need to stop buying stripes.  I'm addicted. 

 

Did you get anything good at the Lilly sale?

In the meantime I'll be dreaming of being back on a beach with a drink in my hand. 

 

 

Stay warm friends.

Cheers!

     Wow, what a great New Year's Eve!!! This year we were lucky enough to be able to walk to our NYE party which alone was amazing. If anyone is familiar with the cab situation in Pittsburgh you know that it is near impossible to get one on NYE and in the past we've waited almost three hours just to get a cab on NYE.  So we started the night in high spirits just knowing we would be able to get home when we were ready to go home.

Our friend ALV hosted the celebration at a local bar and it was not only a NYE party, but also a 30th birthday party for her boyfriend.  ALV was quite the hostess and had delicious appetizers and covered the bar with 30th birthday decorations, about 75 people came out to celebrate BS and 2014.  

Sorry for the dark pictures the lighting was bad and I only had my iPhone.  

The hostess with the mostess and her mom. 

DFH and I just before midnight. 

LES and I enjoying our NYE cocktails. 



    I love all holidays mostly just because I love any excuse for a party and a celebration, but NYE is one of my favorites. I am a huge fan of dressing up and I think it's fantastic that sequins are always appropriate on NYE whether you are celebrating at a dive bar or at a gala.  Plus I just love looking back on my past year and celebrating what is to come.  For me I have always celebrated NYE with friends and I always look at NYE as a celebration of all my friendships. 

We had an incredible night and it was so fun celebrating BS, one of the first of our friends to turn 30.  

Here's to 2014 and all the 30th birthdays this year.  I know mine is creeping up in just a couple months. Eeek. #canibe29forever. 



Here is to 2013!

    This year was especially busy and special for me.  It was not only the year of our wedding, but it was a year full of so many incredible memories.  Throughout the year so many of my friends and family went out of their way to host and be present for so many of our wedding events.  I am still blown away by the generosity and selflessness of all my friends and family. I am so so so lucky.  I am sad to see this year end because this year is going to be quiet hard to top, but I am also so excited to see what the next year brings.

      I can't believe a year ago I was just (sort of) newly engaged and had just sent out our engagement Christmas cards.

....and this year we are already married! 

 

 

I just love looking back and seeing where I was just a year ago.  

Full 2013 recap to come soon. 

 

Tonight we will be celebrating New Year's Eve with some of our closest friends and also celebrating a friend's 30th birthday!!   

 

I can't wait to break out these cocktail napkins tonight with one of my favorite phrases.  

 

Happy New Years to all and to all a good night!! 

And There It Goes

    I know you've heard this a million times, but how has Christmas already passed?? I really could have used that extra week in between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year   I finally started and finished wrapping gifts only days before Christmas and our Christmas cards didn't go out until the 23rd  Oops. I really cannot blame anyone but myself. Did we really need to attend every Christmas party we were invited to this year?  Could I have skipped some events and prepared more?? Sure, but then I wouldn't have enjoyed the true Christmas hustle and bustle.

      This past week was so fun filled and was spent with so many friends and family. I loved every second of it. Last week my good friend Steel Magnolia who recently moved south was in town and I couldn't wait to meet her new baby boy.  Friday night we enjoyed some cider and apps and oohed and ahhed over her adorable little boy. 

         DFH was a true baby whisperer and quieted the little man with ease. It was too cute to see. 

     Last Saturday we attended a friend's golf themed thirtieth birthday party and had fun dressing the part.  

  About thirty of us dressed in our best golf attire and piled in a party bus and had the best time traveling through the city and stopping at various bars and restaurants. 

 

Sorry for the blue lighting from the bus. 

           Monday I got together with some of my favorite Pittsburgh Elon girls who were in town for Christmas. We are spread from California to Pittsburgh to DC so it is so nice when we can all get together in person. 

    On Tuesday night DFH and I headed home to NJ and got a chance to celebrate our first married Christmas together with both our families. We were way too spoiled by everyone with gifts. The rest of the week was spent running around trying to see as many friends as possible before heading back to Pittsburgh. 

Oliver enjoyed his first Christmas too.  

     This weekend was low key as we attempted to recover from all the Christmas festivities.  We did get a chance to go to a new local wine bar, The Allegheny Wine Mixer.  (Yes it is named after the Catalina Wine Mixer from the movie Step Brothers)

We tasted a variety of wines and enjoyed the make your own cheese and meat plates and gourmet grill cheeses. 

    The wild boar salami and chicken liver pate was to die for, so, local Pittsburghers you must give this a try. 

After organizing the house and putting away our new Christmas treasurers we ended the weekend on the couch. 

 

I don't think I am ready to take down our tree, it went too fast. 

Please ignore the missing ornaments on the bottom half of our tree and the tree skirt mess.  A certain creature named Oliver can't keep his hands off of them.  

Until next year Christmas!!