Blah blah blah. I can't believe it's September!

Wedding #2 was last weekend and as expected it was fun on epic proportions. I know so many people who barf at the thought of going to weddings but me - I LOVE THEM! You get to whoop it up with great people and celebrate. Anywho. I went on the hunt of dress hunts for this wedding. I was so positive I would find an awesome dress because of the score I got when I got a dress for my mom's wedding. However lightning only strikes once a year apparently. I couldn't find a thing. Tons of dresses online but we all know how I feel about buying crap online.

Last resort was Burlington Coat Factory. I have previously hated this place but I found it actually not so bad. I ended up finding a few dresses I loved all under $10. Yes ALL UNDER $10. They weren't the best dresses but they'd pass. So I ended up buying one for $6.99. Like I would have been dumb not to. I was super psyched about it and then come Saturday I put it on again and realized I hated it. Like I had it on until like 10 minutes before P Dunn came to pick me up. With the shoes and sweater it just felt really tent-like so I ended up wearing this cute Old Navy dress that I got last year. Dispite it being a little see-through - it worked.

The wedding was gorgeous and the reception was so nice. We danced it up, drank too much wine and laughed till our faces hurt. The DJ told the groom he's never seen any group dance so much at a wedding. We ended up staying over and leaving super early (it was at the classy Quincy Marriott). Though the details of what happened after the reception are still foggy and that I was still drunk in morning - I would do it over the same way.

Jenn, Me and Dawn

Pat, Justin and Me

Me and a sexy groomsman ;)

One month exactly until Annie's wedding. Super excited about it. Should be a good time.

Tuesday night Pat and I went to see the live show of The Nightman Cometh by the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia at the House of Blues in Boston. The House of Blues is definitely a shitty venue because its like 3 times the size of Avalon and if you're on the Upper section it's nearly impossible to see anything. Especially if it's a play/musical. Like I'm sure bands aren't bad in there because you don't necessarily need to "see" them. We had a sweet spot for a second and then we got kicked out because it was being saved for the "waitress" from It's Always Sunny. We ended up leaving a little early because it was such a bummer.

Going back there Oct 11 to see These Crooked Vultures so we'll see how it goes then.

xok

I can't believe the summer is almost over.  It was definitely a good one.  Even though I was mostly jobless - it was probably one of the best summers I have had in a while.  I got to take a lot of beach days and got to hang out with my favorite people every weekend.  

I am however pretty glad to see the Fall come.  It holds my birthday and some weddings I'm looking forward to.  Speaking of weddings I picked up my bridesmaids dress last weekend from the bridal shop.  I loved it when we picked it out and I love it even more now.  

When they sized me I went a size down than they recommended because it always lights a fire under my ass.  I did good for a while but for the past few weeks I've kind of fell off the wagon.  To my surprise the dress is still too big!  Weee.  I'm definitely not going to pay to get it altered so I'm going to use some safety pins and "Tim Gunn it" and make it work.  I'm so crafty.  And who's going to be taking pictures of my back.

The same night I picked my dress up P. Dunn and I went to this place called the Waterclub for one of his friends birthdays.  Seriously don't look at the site it's misleading.  All I have heard is that it's douche bag central and boy was I right.  We walked around Marina Bay for a bit searching for an ATM.  When we walked by we both kind of looked at each other and said "I don't think I want to go in."  But alas we went against our better judgement and went in.  No more than 20 minutes in we decided to peaceee out.    Think of Ed Hardy just throwing up everywhere and that's it.  Lame.  We left and had to run back to the car cause it was all of a sudden like a stage 4 hurricane outside.  Eff you Bob.

Today I had to go into Boston to appeal the surcharge to my insurance after the accident.  Even though it appeared to be my fault I stood by the fact that I would have had plenty of time to stop as I was far away from the car and going way under the speed limit, but the snow made it impossible.  I think it went really well.  After my recorded interview with the attorney for the state, he looked at me and was like I can't say on record until the letter goes out but this will be cleared up and not to worry.  

So I decided to shop around while I had a whole day in Boston to myself.  Newbury Street is ALWAYS bad news for me and Marc by Marc Jacobs is even worse.  After spending forever in there talking to the wicked awesome sales dude I left with this gorgeous lady:

Except for it's purple instead of pink but the M by MJ website didn't have an image of the purple.  So. cute. Also left with a cute purple change purse.  I like it.  A lot. 

Also bought two new books: Dead After Dark the first novel of the Sookie Stackhouse series (I LOVE TRUE BLOOD) and Sloppy Firsts which I have been hearing nothing but good things about.

Word.

xok

Woo!  Welcome to the first blog post from my new MacBook Pro!

I have finally saved up enough money from my freelancing job to buy a new Mac.  I don't know how I lasted so long without a computer of my own.  It was ok using my mom's when she was on vaca.  But super lame.

I was going to get the same computer I'd had (white MacBook) but I decided after much deliberation (yes I took it as seriously as America's Next Top Model) I opted on the MacBook Pro.  I love it.  LOVE IT.

Had a busy weekend.  Friday night I went out for John's birthday to the Abington Ale House.  So SO many people that I hadn't seen in a while (Andrea and Josh!!) and it was a good time.  I kept telling myself that I had to go home to cook (for Annie's bridal shower the next morning) and I couldn't stay out late.  Of course that didn't happen.  After AAH Gary talked me into going with him to Bella's in Rockland to meet a friend of ours.  Fun times were had and more drinks were drank.  Nicole's friend Kim made us "special" drinks and I swear they were on a time release.  I drank it and didn't feel it until I got home and got into bed.  Going to bed with the spins = not a good time.  

Annie's bridal shower was amazing.  She got awesome gifts and she enjoyed herself.  We ended up renting a hall for cheap and bringing/making all the food.  I probably would not do that again. But hey half of us are jobless so it worked well.  It was just a lot of work.  After I helped Annie and James bring all their new presents home I went back to the apt.  

I got like two hours of sleep the night before because I stayed up feeling sick most of the night so I wanted to pass out.  But I was going to see Incubus with Missy and some of her friends.  We had a great time and Incubus exceeded my expectations big time.  

Sunday was Nicole's wedding shower where I had a blassst!  I won the center piece and it's gorg.  Also the favors were these mini shakers full of hershey's kisses.  So cute.  Later that night I headed to Annie's to help her address her wedding invitations.  Needless to say I'm wedding-ed out.  

This weekend I have Nicole's Bachelorette which should be fun.  I hope she gets a stripper.

xok

True story. I have not died. I'm still alive. And it's not that I'm busy or anything - I just have no energy to blog about my bad luck.

Vacation was amazing. Couldn't have been better actually. We stayed at the Riu Bambu in Punta Cana. It was so incredible. It only rained like three times and it was all when we were already done with the sun for the day. We did water aerobics and bingo everyday. Call us the old folks. My tan is still kicking it too.

I have no pictures however because my camera is no longer working. I tested it the night before we left and nothing. It turns on - and then off. Very random. I swear I can't touch anything remotely valuable without it breaking. My computer is still a no show. Justin took it and fooled around with it and said it's got non dairy creamer caked all over the middle. Seriously folks - MacBooks are thirsty - do not quench their thirsts while checking your email on a Sunday morning. My options are:

A. Get a new logic board ($350)
B. Buy a used one from Ebay ($475-700)
C. Buy a new one

Currently I have no where near any of those amounts thanks to Massachusetts Unemployment - so I'm using my rents computer which is I'm sure just what hell is like. It's like moving back in. But not. It's awful.

However there is a silver lining in my bad luck year. I got a freelance job doing PR and media relations for a cool clothing brand. I don't know when I'll get paid for my work because it's all a little confusing right now but when I do - I'm buying myself a new MacBook. I damn near cried over one in the Apple store in the mall the other day.

My car also decided to be shitty on me. Last week my exhaust snapped in half leaving me with a car that's sound probably could break the sound barrier. I hid it from my rents for a few days and finally my step-dad found out. So my mom gave me some money to get that fixed - which wasn't a lot - but I HATE borrowing money!

Ok no more of this awful crap. My mom got married!!! it was a lovely little ceremony/reception. My mom looked GORGEOUS!!! So did my step-dad. They both looked very dapper. I was obsessed with my dress. My mom took me dress shopping and I moaned and groaned the whole way (seriously I am a thrill to be around) and the first dress I picked up was the winner. See in photos below!

Me and Bff's. It wasn't as poofy as it looks in that pic. It's was a little windy. Pretty much the most comfy dress on earth.

My sisters and I with Aunt Claire.

The whole gang.

More pictures are up on my FaceBook. Thanks to those who took pictures and printed them out for me :)

After the reception we went back to the rents place for the after after party. Jess and Missy came and picked up Robyn, Hill and I and we headed to No Doubt!! AMAZING. We had SO much fun even though it was raining and we were on the lawn. Well actually it didn't rain TOO bad. But once the music started it didn't even matter. Just made it THAT more epic. We were all trying to get good pictures of Gwen's abs for inspiration. Seriously. That woman is INCREDIBLE!

Hillary, Meghan and I.

We had too much fun.

I'm HOPING and praying to get tickets for the Killers in Sept before they sell out because that would pretty much make my life.

Hope everyone is doing well!! I promise to keep up with my blog now even though I'm sure I've lost a few of my 4 readers lol.

xok

Just realized I forgot something pretty exciting that also happened this weekend: My mom and Roger (step-dad) are finally getting married.

I feel like everyone I tell is WAY more excited than I am. I am excited - don't get me wrong but I'm just like "jeez finally." They've been together for 17 years. I'm just not surprised. They've been engaged for over 10 years and have told me they were getting married like 6 times.

They were supposed to be married in 2000 - I even sent Joey Fatone from NSYNC a letter to see if he wanted to be my date (still waiting on my rsvp - FYI - oh yeah did I mention I was 18). But they didn't. Plans fell through.

Come two weeks ago at my mom's birthday I break the news about my vacation. Roger is often a professional parade pisser-on-er so I told just my mom. She's like WHAT! We were going to get married on May 30!

Oh. Well excuse me. I guess since I don't live in their house anymore I am void of big news. They both get all flustered that I didn't tell them sooner.

Sunday, I'm in the gym (where BTW Missy and I found a condom wrapper - hip-hop superstar must be seducing the ladies in there with his sweet moves) and my mom calls. I tell her I'm on a plan to look fierce at Annie's wedding (see previous post for bridesmaid woes) and before I can finish she's like "Oh! We're getting married June 20. We already paid for the luncheon at Common Market." Pretty exciting - but again I'm kind of over it. I can't wait - and it's going to be amazing but I feel like they're already married so it's no big shakes. I've been calling Roger my step dad for years - he's been in my life longer than my biological father was - his daughters (regardless of my liking for them) have been my sisters - I like his family more than I like my own. So many of them have shaped my life for the better. So I'm looking at this wedding as a party - official merging of families though it's already happened years ago.

Weird. Actually putting that out there has made me more excited for their wedding. If only I could put a veto on crazy step-sister attending.

Moving on. As a part of my seriousness of getting into shape and eating better (I haven't had a bagel or bread all week - go me!) I have decided to broaden my workouts. I did Zumba a few years ago at a Women's Retreat (totally mom's idea - leave me alone) and it was fun. It's all he rage now. Every gym has it - except for mine. I found out that Bayshore Atheltic Club in Braintree has a Zumba class and you don't have to me a member to join the class. All you do is spend $7 ($5 for members). So, mom's friend Kim asked her to go, mom asked me to join and I told Missy about it.

I have never had so much fun working out. I didn't fill my water because I was like "Ohh dancing - how much will I need to hydrate." The answer is "A LOT." After some serious giggles I got into it and I was sweating a TON (TMI?) I felt like my clothes were getting heavier and heavier. I rolled up my pants like a hip hop gangsta. It was insane. I have never sweat so much. Sooo worth the $7. Did I mention I'm the worst dancer ever? I'm going back tonight and have recruited a few more gals to come with so I'm even more excited.

Time to get back to work. <3

xok

I patience is fleeting today. I'm 100% sure my computer almost blew up and 1 hour later anonymous IT guy tells me it could have been my iPod poisoning it. How dare he accuse my iPod of being toxic! He suggested I take it to the doctors aka the genious bar to make sure it is void of all CTD's (computer transmitted diseases - I just made that up. I'm so fucking clever).

Last night I decided to take a SPIN class at the gym. I haven't went since the last time, which was like three years ago when not only did my ass hurt for three weeks, but when I got up to get a drink of water my legs gave out and I fell in front of the whole class.

But I decided that I need to get my ass into gear. Annie's wedding and my 27th birthday (which happen to happen consecutive days in a row) are creeping (ok more like 8 months) close. SO I go to Spin. Sweet - someone I know. We shoot the shit and I soon realize I have to get a pass to be in the class so I sprint downstairs - get one - come back up. The agro instructor is like "where were you? Are you this late to work and other engagements in your life." Whatever.

SO I get on the bike - get situated for my height etc. Get into the stance and start going. This may fall into a slight category for TMI Thursday - but for those who don't know me in real life - I have really big boobs. Like big ones. I got my first brazierre at 8 and from then on it was boob-city. Of course I get the joke all the time - "So do your boobs hit in you in the face when you run." Umm I wear two sports bras - so no.

I can finally say YES. Yesterday as I'm pedaling and getting into the stance - my boobs are kinda slamming into my face. I can't believe I am even admitting this. I couldn't stop laughing. The only way I could get comfortable was to stand on the bike - pretty much the whole time. Funny back story: I was telling my coworker that day that I didn't think SPIN would be intensive enough to require two sports bras. But oh it did. My butt does not hurt like it did when I first did Spin but my legs are really paining today. It's a good pain for sure. I plan on taking it again next Wednesday.

Maybe my next foray in TMI Thursday will be more exciting.

In other news one of my former likes (note: not loves) has been trying to nudge his annoying face back into my life via FaceBook. Really?? I like FaceBook as much as the next day but really you want to check up on my life and shoot the shit - call me. Use the freaking phone. I'd even take a text. I'm NOT going to write back to your one liners about how much you'd like to see me when you're in town etc etc. You suck at life and I let you go for a reason. That's the rah-rah side of me. The other just wants to have some fun :)

Oh did I mention I have an IRL (in real life - for those not so savvy) crush. I'm sure I'll be over it by Monday but it's nice while it's around.

So we measured the apartment on Tuesday and if it is possible - we actually fell more in love with the place. They fixed our balcony door and it's so cool. We stood out there talking about how damn excited we were to move in and how awesome our place was. Everything that we noticed last time has been fixed (I'm still missing a closet door!) and the bathroom is super shiny now. It was kind of grimey before. This week I've been looking at TV's, mattresses, wine racks (obvs), TV stands and kitchen tables. I wasn't going to buy a new mattress but I watched a special on mattresses the other night and I got skeeved out. They say mattresses really shouldn't have two owners and my mom gave me her mattress about a year ago when she bought a new one. Oh and she told me today that my mattress is 17 years old. Greattt.

After my computer debacle I got really lazy and really just read blogs for like a half hour. So naturally I need to pass them on:

Maxie - I Hate So Much.
(ok if you're not absolutely on the floor laughing after you read her blog you may have a problem. Her most recent post is one of my favs. Also this one. Oh and this one. Read them all!)

LiLu - Live It, Love It.
I just discovered LiLu's blog last week after Maxie linked it in one of those posts up there. I envy both of these ladies wicked exciting lives and wish I had the cojones to write about what they write about. They both are religious with posting on TMI Thursdays (seriously go read them) which is what helped me to share my embarrassing Spin class. Her series on "Shizz her boyfriend says" is AMAZZZING.

Jessica - tried to live forever every day of the year
I love Miss (soon to be Mrs!!) Jessica. She reminds me alot of myself except she's way cooler and lives in New York City.

Jess - Classy In Philadelphia
This Jess also reminds me quite a bit of myself. She is super into PR (and did one semester at my alma mater Hofstra!). She's super sophisticated (alot more than I was at 20 and probably now at 26) and I love reading her blog! Woop!

Rachel - Confessions of a Jersey Girl
Rachel's blog is so fun to read. She tells amazingly heartfelt stories that have made me cry a few times and is also a really good person to follow on twitter (as are the rest of my blog friends).

Cake Wrecks - Need I say more. My coworker and I absolutely are in stitches when we waste precious time on this here blog.

Postcards from Yo Momma - Everyones Mom says dumb stuff. Next time she does - submit it to this website.

Ok I realized that I have like 57 blogs in my reader that I love. If I did not shout you today your time will be coming soon!!

And like I would shout out my IRL friends that have blogs. Ahemm.
Mr. Patrick Dunn (who needs to get his ass posting more. He's HIGHLARIOUS and not to mention - a total stud. From our first meeting in the line to get our tickets at the airport for Vegas when the guy yelled at us - I knew I wanted him to be my friend)
Ms Lizzy Mann who - now don't be jealous - was able to live with me in college and spent ENDLESS hours in the car from New York to Boston and rinse and repeat.

Ok one more. Lauren Melanie Brown. Yes she shares half of her name with a Spice Girl but she also has a kicken super stylish fashion blog. Did I mention she also was my favorite roommate in the whole entire world and we were probably sisters in a past life? Yep. True fax.

Now that I have came out of the "i love to blog and bloggers" closet I must be packing up my stuff so I can go test out some mattresses.

xok

For the first time in years I've really thought of some great concise resolutions for 2009:

• Stop procrastinating:  I have been a hardcore procrastinator since college (hell probably since junior high) and it's continued into my professional work life.  I get all my work done on time but it's the last minute and usually includes me working at night after work "hours."  I do love getting things done ahead of time and I love the feeling of wow that's done - so getting to have that feeling without the stress of "shit - where's this and where's that" - will be a good thing.
• SAY NO:  I'm such a people pleaser.  I do whatever people want me to do and usually it drives me crazy.  Reminds me of Yes Man alot - which BTW was a great movie - but instead of me saying YES all the time - I need to say no sometimes.  I need to say no and know when to speak up when I think something is just ridiculous.  
• Stop Worrying:  I worry about everything.  Literally everything.  I try to control situations so I won't have to worry but I have to realize I can't do that and that I should probably chill out.  I look calm from the outside but the anxiety and crap in the inside is just painful.  It feels like it's sitting on my lungs.  So I'm really going to make an effort to stop worrying and realizing it's ok if so and so is mad at me for a day - they'll get over it.  I think things will change now that a certain client of ours is no longer on our roster.  SO much of my stress was stemming from that.  I already feel a little bit better.
• Exercise and eat better blah blah blah:  I'm serious this time.  I used to be so good at going to the gym - but work being such a time suck in the past year had not make it easy to fit it in (this goes hand in hand with the stress resolution - me stressing less about things I can't control will make it easier for me to gym it!).  And it shows.  So yeah.  Stop eating like shit and get my booty to the gym.  Did I also mention one of my best friends is getting married this year and I need to start doing the bridesmaid dress thing in March?  Oh and my stepsister is getting married (the one I like!!) next April.  I need to be the prettiest bridesmaid so I can bring home the best man (SO kidding on this one at least at Annie's wedding eek).  PS What are the guy's men called?  Groomsmaids? LOL
• EDIT: Just thought of another one!! Do not stay at work past 5:30 on any given day (unless it's life or death and hopefully I'll work to realize nothing in work is "life and death").  It's currently 5:08 EST.

In conjunction with New Year's I decided to perform a full overhaul on my bedroom on Sunday.  I got rid of four heavy duty bags of clothes I haven't seen or worn in probably over a year.  I really had to look at this crap and be like OK will I EVER wear you again?  NO probably not.  I good-willed studded belts, band shirts (I had alot!!) included some classics that I kind of wish I didn't get rid of (oops) but no this is always my problem - I won't wear them so WHY keep them.  I cleaned my closet out for probably the first time in four years.  I found like 10 pairs of shoes that I thought were long forgotten!!  I found a really cool pair of vans with these pink skulls on them - totally forgot I had them. I tossed like 10 pairs of ugly jeans that will hopefully never see the light of day again and also a long lost pair that still fit (woop!).  I got rid of all hideous shoes and brought my bags down to the good will.  What a great feeling of just knowing you have so much room - and I guess giving clothes to the less fortunate is cool too ;)  Before I went back to battle the mess I bought a over the closet shoe hanger.  Lifesaver much.

That picture should turn itself up soon (if it doesn't just click on it.  It's a goodie) - anywho that's what I got for 10 bucks at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  And I filled all spots!  The missing holes are from my New Balance's (they were already packed for the gym bag!  Zing!)  Also the fact that the closet door is open all that way is also somewhat of a miracle.  I'm trying to see how long I can keep it up!