These are a few of my Favorite Things!

Okay so it's been a little over a month since my last post, which is good because my life is busy again, but wrong at the same time because I made myself a promise.  So while I'm spending a Friday staying in, cleaning the apartment and getting laundry done, I've been convinced to update my blog with my favorite moments of the past month.

Weekend of October 19th: Fall Foliage, Gossiping Girls and Book Club Beginnings

Our Shaker Get-a-way Home

During one of our many girls night outs/get togethers my girlfriends and I decided that we HAD to plan a much needed weekend away.  We decided to take a quick drive over to Putney, VT for a weekend of Sangria, cooking, hiking, shopping and all around girl time. 

The girls and I in downtown Putney

Saturday we went on a shopping excursion and found ourselves in a used bookstore scouring shelves for books we've been wanting to read.  We spent well over an hour looking through the shelves, making recommendations to one another and each left with an armful of books.  When we started talking about borrowing each other's books, we came to the decision that we would start our own book club.  One where instead of all of us reading the same book each month, we would bring a few books that we recommended reading and then lend them out.  So far we've met twice to swap books, I'm now obsessed with GoodReads and I have fallen back in love with reading.

Weekend of November 10th: Finding the Perfect Venue

Castle in the Clouds

 With the holidays right around the corner I am feeling the pressure to pick a venue and date before the rush really begins.  Since Ian works weekends, my dad volunteered to come with me one weekend and look at a few places.  Honestly, I thought the weekend was pointless, I knew where I wanted to get married, have known since I was 13: Castle in the Clouds.  It's a gorgeous house built in 1913 on top of a mountain with a GORGEOUS view of the lake.  However, the reality of having my wedding at the Castle was devastatingly disappointing, the space was too small, the coordinator was a bit of a biotch, the food was eh, the bridal space was too small for 8 (yes 8) people and their inclement weather option was cramped and not happening. Needless to say I was heart broken, especially since both my dad and Ian agreed.

However, I did find a fantastic and absolutely PERFECT alternative, Church Landing at Mills Falls.  Since we have so many people coming in from out of state it's the ideal location for visitors.  I absolutely LOVED Hollie, the coordinator and the entire setting is absolutely gorgeous.  Walking around the property made me realize two things, I will get my fantasy wedding, and my dad will do anything for me and I am so grateful for him.  I know it is going to be a big expense, but I love throwing parties and I only plan on getting married once in my life, so if I want to have a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee and a gorgeous ballroom to celebrate with friends and family, why not?  I can't wait for September 14, 2012, when I walk down the aisle towards Ian, the glittering water behind him and surrounded by friends and family!!!

Weekend of November 24th: How the Grinch Stole... Thanksgiving?

Family at the Wang after the Grinch

Thanksgiving is my all time favorite Holiday for a number of reasons.  1. The Feaster Five, a 5K at least one person in my family has run for the past umpteen years. 2. We have it at the lake 3. EVERYONE cooks 4. NOONE fights 5. It's an all around great time filled with laughter, cooking mishaps and taking time to be thankful for your life.  We have this tradition (I'm sure most people do) where we go around the table saying what we are thankful for.  It always reminds me how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life.

Every year my dad buys my sisters and I tickets to go see a Holiday show, the Rockettes, A Christmas Carole and this year we went and saw the Grinch.  The last time we saw the Grinch was with my mom for her birthday, so the show had an extra touch of meaning to it this year.  After the show my family came back to my apartment for some food and to celebrate my birthday!!!  I finally got a Griddle, Jillian made a set of Wine Glasses for me and Victoria and Becca gave me a scrapbook for my wedding.  I loved every single one of them and I've already use the Griddle 3-4 times.

December 2nd: Celebrating My Birthday with Ian

Since Ian works nights we weren't able to celebrate my birthday on my birthday, he took me out to Boston on Sunday.  We don't get to spend that much time together because our schedules are so opposite, he works the overnight shift and weekends while I work week days.  It was so nice to spend some time together walking around Faneuil Hall, jumping in and out of stores, holding hands and enjoying ourselves.

After watching the Christmas Light Show for the third time, dancing may have been involved, we went over to the NorthEnd for some Al Dente.  Not before we stopped off at Mike's for some dessert to bring home with us.  It was a perfect way to celebrate turning 27 and I wouldn't change anything about it.

Well, there you have it, a snap shot of my life since my last blog post.  It's not a complete list, that would take forever.  I'll try to be better in my postings, I promise!!!!

The Perfect Proposal: The happiest day of my life!

Newly Engaged and SOOO HAPPY!!!

Words cannot describe the moment when you realize your childhood dreams are coming true.  That instant when all those advertisements, romantic comedies and chick flicks pale in comparison to the events leading up to one of the happiest moments of my life.  It was perfect!

Back in June, I received this notification from Groupon for a Whale Watch for two.  I figured it would be a great date for Ian and I, since it would get us out of the apartment and enjoying life in Boston.  After several planned dates, we finally made reservations for October 14th.  Ian came home from work around 5am and got about 3 hours of sleep before jumping in the car to drive up to Gloucester.  On the way it started pouring:

Ian: Do you think they would cancel the Whale Watch?
Me: No, I bet they go out all the time with the rain.  It might make for a better trip with the whales
Ian: Really?  You might want to call and check.

Me: Fine... (get out my phone mumbling)... Hello?  Hi, I made a reservation for the Whale Watch today and I was just calling to make sure it was still happening.
Women on line (Emily): Actually I was just about to call everyone and let them know it has been canceled, I'm sorry.
Me: Crap! We had a groupon and it expires at the end of the month.  Is there anything we can do to extend it?
Emily: You can use it next year, just make a note saying you spoke to me and they should let you use it next June.
Me: Awesome, thanks!  (to Ian) So the bad news is, no whale watch, the good news is that we don't lose out on the Groupon!
Ian: Well what do you want to do now?

Me: Since we are meeting up with the family later for apple picking, why don't we just go back to the apartment?  I'll get the laundry done, I need to clean the bathroom, we can go grocery shopping and then head out.

The Beach where it all went down!

Ian: Babe, it's my day off I don't want to spend it in the apartment, let's go do something in Gloucester. (became very silent for the rest of the car ride)

So, we ended up going to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester for a quick walk.  Somehow the weather cleared up as soon as we got there and the rain stopped.  MAGIC!!  We got out of the car and walked to the beach:
Ian: It really sucks that our plans either get cancelled or changed all the time
Me: I know, but this isn't so bad it's kind of nice out and we have the beach to ourselves.
Ian: True, but I think we need to make plans that can't be changed

The ring, My hands are gross looking but it was freezing!

Me: (thinking YAY a vacation!!!!) What did you have in mind?  (Cruise, Florida, Bahamas?!?!?!)
Ian: What do you say to spending the rest of our lives together? (gets down on one knee)

Me: ?!?!?!?!?! (tears forming, heart racing, smiling like a crazy person)
Ian: Kendra Bassi will you marry me?
Me: YESSSSSSS!!!!!


From there we began calling everyone we knew to let them know the good news!  Apparently my sisters knew what was going on and Ian had planned on doing it that day because we would be seeing everyone later to celebrate, and pick apples and pumpkins of course!!

My amazing family

Sisters and Ian, welcoming the first guy in to the clan!

I Absolutely Love Him!!!

All the "Kids" in the apple orchard

We went back to Diana's place for dinner and some celebratory drinks after apple picking.  But, they had a surprise waiting for us, a delicious Red Velvet Cake!

Yay Red Velvet Cake!

He actually "missed" and hit my face instead!

 But... the surprises don't end there.  We got back home to the apartment around 10:30 and on the steps, waiting for us was our first Engagement/Wedding present! We had bumped into our landlords on our way back from the beach and told them the amazing news.  They then went out and got us a very nice bottle of Italian Sparkling Wine and a really cute card.  I absolutely LOVE these two and it was a great way to end a perfect day.

The Wine and Card from our landlords!

Night Time Corn Maze: It's Out of This World!

In the middle of the maze

 When I was younger I got lost in a corn maze, what started off as a joke on my parents quickly turned into a terrifying experience.  After spending what seemed like an hour running through the rows and rows of corn stalks, I finally made it out with tears streaming down my face.  15+ years later I have this mind boggling obsession with throwing myself back into the middle of the corn by navigating a corn maze.  So, when a Groupon for a Flashlight Corn Maze in Ipswich, MA popped up in my inbox, I jumped at the chance and began seeing who else was up for the challenge.

Kaitlyn carrying our "save us" flag

And so last night, flashlights in hand, Kaitlyn, Jay, Jules, Wes, Lauren, Tim and I entered the Space Exploration Maze to gather "clues" and find space themed drawings.  First stop was a quick video tutorial in which an enthusiastic cowboy told us the rules of the maze

1. No running through the maze
2. No picking the corn
3. No cutting through the corn
4. Do not break the ribbons outlining the path
5. No foul language

Looking for the boys

We quickly lost ourselves in the maze with all the twists and turns of the various paths we chose to take.  Hidden throughout the maze were the clues and images you would either write or rub onto the guide we were handed at the beginning of the maze.  The path was pretty narrow and so we have to walk single file for the most part.  About 45 minutes into the maze, Jules turned around to talk to Wes and Jay who were being very quiet... because they were no longer there!

The girls

After wandering around for a while, we finally had the bright idea to call them.  As it turns out, they had taken the wrong turn, gotten lost and somehow ended up on the bridge we had been trying to get to.  We spent the next half hour trying to get to that bridge, which is not an easy task since we couldn't seem to leave the area: frustrating and hilarious at the same time.  

Needless to say, we finally met up with them and then slowly made our way out of the corn maze.  Finally making it out 2.5 hours after we entered the maze, we found all but two clues and two pictures.  I'm completely hooked and I can't wait to do it again next fall!

Victory!!!!

Candy Shoppe Pizza: an Oldie but Goodie (Yummy too!)

Craving some chocolate?

While "amazing cook" isn't one of the terms I would use to describe my mother, she did have her moments where the kitchen would be filled with delicious smells and my mouth would water.  Her Heaven Bread, Crater Cakes, and the occasional soup du jour always resulted in me going for seconds and sometimes thirds.  However, none of these dishes come close to the one, the only Candy Shoppe Pizza.

 The Candy Shoppe Pizza, a HUGE chocolate chip cookie topped with chocolate peanut butter sauce, cut into 8 slices and finished off with candy toppings of your choosing.  Pure Heaven in your mouth.  Once my mom discovered this recipe, it quickly replaced birthday cakes and was on the menu for many special events. 

 So, when my dad called me up the other day inviting me to a pizza party he was hosting for my youngest sister and 20 of her soccer teammates, the first thing I asked was, "Do they want Candy Shoppe Pizza?" My sister seemed really excited to have it and so I went online and did some research and finally found a recipe that didn't start with "put the purchased cookie dough onto a pizza pan."  Oh no, I wanted to make this dessert from scratch, just like my mom, just like the original.

Padre's Special Homemade Pizza

 
The trick to making a tastebud rocking CSP is to have different types of candy, snickers, twix, M&M's Oreos, Gummmies, etc.  People love this dish because it's a) yummy b) fun to make and c) you decide what goes on it.   I also think it's easier to just sprinkle the chocolate chips and spoon on the Peanut Butter than measuring it out, but to each their own.

"Pizzas" fresh out of the oven and letting the chips melt before spreading the sauce

 Once the Pizza's were cut, the girls were called down and they just attacked the dessert.  It's hard to explain but seeing them all run to the table, sit down, and start building their dessert just filled me with pride and accomplishment.  I was just so happy knowing that something I made was a complete success. 

Making their pizzas!

Looking back, I realize that this idea is one of the many things that defines who my mom was.  She was always thoughtful and creative when it came to hosting and planning events, something I always thought was weird and a waste of time.  Making the dish for 20 high-school girls made me feel closer to her and understand her love of providing other with an amazingly yummy memory.

My girlfriends and I are heading up to Vermont for a girls weekend away in a few weeks. I fully intend to on making Candy Shoppe pizza while there, I wonder what type of wine pairs best with it......

Big Bang Theory: Enough Said

Best.  Show. Ever

Honestly the image should be enough, Big Bang Theory Season Premiere... epic.

I was first introduced to this hysterical show while having dinner at a friend's house last year.  After the first episode I was hooked and I have yet to get through an entire episode without bursting out laughing, sometimes I'm even brought to tears.  

My favorite character? Is that even a legit question?  Sheldon Cooper!!!  

BAZINGA!!!

This extremely intelligent yet socially awkward theoretical physicist has the best one liners and facial expressions.  Despite and almost because of, his arrogance on his superior intellect and lack of social skills I find myself doubling over with laughter almost every time he is on the screen.

Ian's favorite character?  I'm going to have to say it's a tie between the beautiful and intelligent Bernadette and the adorable, woman fearing Raj Koothrapoli. Bernadette is a "smoking hot" micro-biologist who for some ungodly reason falls for the nerdy and always horny   Howard Wolowitz.  While Raj is an "awkwardly funny" Doctor of Astrophysics who cannot speak to women unless he is drunk.  Side note, I'm pretty sure he's gay, only time will tell in Season 6.

Raj and Bernadette during one of Raj's fantasies

I'm not saying that Leonard, Howard, Amy and company aren't hysterical and a joy to watch.  Each character is well written and the acting is amazing.  If you are ever looking for a half hour of pure joy and laughter, turn to The Big Bang theory (TBS), sit down and avoid taking a sip of anything while the show is on.  Unless you have no sense of humor in that case, turn on the news.  

Bleeding Purple & Gold in Boston

 People aren't lying when they say that the years you spend in college are some of the best years of your life.  There is something truly magical about the time of your life between sitting at the kiddie table and hosting dinner parties.  It's a time for you to be independent and free but still have that safety net of your parents/family to be there if you need help.

The 4 years I spent at JMU contain some of my fondest memories, and man did I pack them in.  I hit the ground running Freshmen year and joined every group and organization possible.  By Senior year I was working 2 jobs, had an internship, was the Marketing Coordinator of TDU, Homecoming Marketing Co-Chair, VP of the Ski and Snowboarding Club, Co Captain of an ASB program and the list goes on and on. 

However, when I graduated my superwoman days stopped and my responsibilities dwindled down to one, my job.  I cannot tell you how many times I hear myself bragging about my "JMU Glory Days" and telling people how awesome I was back then.  What do I do now?  I'm an Account Manager and I sign up for the occasional race, that's it.

 Back in June I saw a LinkedIn post about someone trying to set up a JMU Alumni Networking event in Boston.  I jumped right onto it and the event was a success, bringing more than 30 Dukes together at Tia's and then again for a football viewing party.  

Showing our JAC Cards during the WVU v JMU viewing party

After a few phone calls with the JMU Alumni office, the JMU Boston Alumni group has been rebuilt and I've moved into the role of the Executive Director.  So now, once a month I'll be meeting with the other officers to plan social and networking events and singing the JMU Fight song.  It feels wonderful to be busy after work and have an "extra curricular" again.  I'm excited and ready to let all of Boston know that we bleed purple!

Shopping for Jeans: Should Size Matter

Feeling overweight started forever ago

Fact:  I am overweight
Fact: I've known this for a while
Fact: I've always tried to fool myself by trying on and squeezing my body into clothes that are too tight
Result: I feel gross and uncomfortable in 80% of all my clothes so I have no motivation to go out or get dressed up anymore

Side Note: I know this blog is supposed to be able Happy Golden Moments in my life and I'll get to that in a second, I just think a little background information makes my Golden Moment of the day make sense.

I've been "fat" for as long as I can remember and I've always compared my body to my sisters, who wouldn't?  The fact is that they received the "Skinny Genes" of the family.  My Proof?  My weight during my "in shape" days was 150, 10 pounds more than my sister during her heaviest period.  They've never made me feel uncomfortable intentionally, but it is so hard to hear them complain about their weight/body image, or watch them run around comfortable in a two piece or any of the cute outfits they look amazing in.

I've recently stopped fitting into all my jeans, and the ones I can wear are starting to tear and fall apart from too much use.  So I needed to go shopping and find new jeans stat.  The first time I stopped by the mall was with my boyfriend and after trying on 20 pairs of pants at the Gap, I swallowed tears of frustration and left without purchasing anything.

On my second trip to the mall it hit me, I can't fit into size 10 anymore, I need to accept the fact that right now I'm size 12 and maybe even a 14.  Once I accepted that fact, and started trying on size 12 instead of size 10, the jeans started fitting and my muffin top was taken down a few notches.  I left American Eagle with not one, but 3 pairs of jeans that fit like a glove, don't cut off my circulation and really compliment my butt.  Not only that but I can start wearing some of those shirt I purchased a few months ago and feel comfortable with my outfit of the day.

3 new pairs of pants from AE, Skinny Jeans included!

Now, does this mean I'm 100% okay with my size 12, 180 pound body?  Heck no, but I'm working on changing it and once I do I'll be super stoked to fit into size 10 (dare I dream to go down to an 8?) pants again.  Until then, I'm going to buy clothes that fit my body now, not worry about the actual size, and be happy with the way I look.  Confidence is key and I'm hoping it will motivate me to get back into the gym and continue eating healthy so that I can feel confident in a size 10 again.

Girls Night Out: The Ultimate Wake-up Call

2012 has been a year of changes for me, new job, new car, new apartment, moving in with my boyfriend, and an overall new day to day schedule.  Somewhere between January 2012 and August I forgot why my life was so amazing and started really disliking (dare I say hate?) it and myself.  It's affected my friendships, my relationship and my family life, not to mention my desire to workout and look half way decent has gone out the window.  This resulted in me hitting rock bottom, my clothes stopped fitting correctly, constantly arguing with my boyfriend and family and missing out on great memories with my friends.

So, I have decided to turn it all around and document at least one moment each day that makes me realize how good I have it.  Since I don't believe in therapy (I've gone to too many therapists with no results) I'm hoping this little reminder will help pull me out of the hole I've been digging since January.  

So here it is... Golden Moment number one... Girls Night out in Boston for a birthday celebration.  Granted it was this weekend, but it was such a fantastic night followed by an epiphany that I need to document it.  <3 

The four of us met while working at Pearson 3-4 years ago and have been planning weekends away, playing Clue, making Sangria, and drinking mimosas at brunch ever since.  It's been a while since we've all gotten together and gone out in Boston for a Girls Night Out and it was so necessary.  The only rule of the night was NO JEANS or PANTS, you had to dress up and have at least one girly mixed drink before the night was over.  


During my cab ride home it hit me, I've been acting like a 40-50 year-old mom whose had a bunch of kids and is just tired.  Pretty depressing for a 26 year-old who just moved in with her boyfriend and has no kids.  

So here's to my girl friends, for reminding me that I need to act my age and enjoy it, because I will have kids one day and my Saturday nights will be filled with boring parent activities.  Until then, I look forward to being 26 and enjoying late nights and girly drinks followed by a cab ride home at 1am.