An Afternoon I Will Never Forget

Today, as America commemorates the 50th anniversary the Kennedy assassination, history buffs like myself are glued to all of the television specials and not without some tears in our eyes. 

The start of my obsession with the Kennedy family started sometime between elementary and middle school with a vintage biography of my mom's about Jackie Kennedy. Since then, I've read every book I could get my hands on about the family; wrote countless papers about the assassination and Jackie Kennedy; and  visited the landmarks - Kennedy Presidential Library, Hyannis Kennedy Memorial, Arlington and Dallas.

Visiting the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas had always been one of my goals and although it was interesting, I have no desire to ever return. From the moment I stepped into the window where Lee Harvey Oswald stood, I had chills. Walking through the grassy knoll and Dealey Plaza was a somber experience and an afternoon I will never forget. 

In the end I'm glad I had the opportunity to see the Sixth Floor Museum but I enjoyed the Kennedy Presidential Library more because it focused more on JFK's life not death, more on how he inspired a generation not the end of an era and more on what he accomplished not what wasn't because of his untimely death. 

These are a few pictures I took the afternoon I spent at he Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas with my friend Kristin.

Need Something to Read?

Try these blogs.

I don't follow many blogs but there are a few that I like to read everyday (which doesn't really happen now without Google Reader). These blogs are random - some are about life, others about the library world and some about houses but they are all interesting and someday I hope that my blog with a little love and encouragement might be as successful. So here are five blogs to try:

Pawley's Island Posh

Someone recommended this blog to me and for the life of me I can't remember who now but Julia's posts about home decor, fashion, cooking and life are creative and inspiring. I'm always interested to see what project she is working on in her house or see the awesome infographics she designs. Plus she's a talented photographer and as an aspring one, I love to see her work.

The Dating Divas

I found this blog via Pinterest. It's fabulous for finding creative date night ideas, out-of-the-box gift options and other fun ways to show your significant other/spouse how much you love and care for them. Their Pinterest boards are awesome as well. The Dating Divas is where I found the Year of Date idea, which I gave to Dennis for Valentine's Day, gave to my friend Kristin as a wedding present and that Dennis and I received as a wedding gift from my friends at the Western Allegheny Community Library.

1000 Awesome Things

I've been following this blog for years. I really wouldn't consider it a blog but a fabulous list. The books are great as well. Everyday the post is about something awesome obviously but they are simple things like the post for today - coming back to your bed after a long trip. Sometimes they are hilarious! It's just something little that brightens my day and most of the time the post is nothing more than the title and a picture.

Hooked on Houses

I started following this blog obsessively with my former coworker, Amanda. The author posts about celebrity homes, houses for sale and great renovations. The part that I love the most though is the posts about movie and TV houses. Think about all the movie and TV houses that you love? They are probably on the blog. I love the Family Stone house and there is a whole post just about that.

Read them. See what you think!

We missed you...

Our wedding was beautiful. It was better than that...it was amazing! It was a day I will never forget. However, there were a few things missing. Correction, a few people were missing...my grandparents.

It's Veteran's Day, which always makes me think of my grandpa but today I'm remembering all three grandparents and thinking about how much I wished they could have been at our wedding. I was so blessed to have all three of my grandparents as long as I did but it broke my heart that they would not be at my wedding. I wanted to dance with my grandpa, watch my grandparents do the anniversary dance and hear my Grandma Kay make hilarious comments under her breath about people's outfits.

We all know I don't show a lot of emotion, which I can thank my Grandma Kay for since she was the same. I made it to the hymn at the wedding without a meltdown, which was triggered because I couldn't stop thinking about them. Music always does that to me. Dennis got me calmed down though.

Then I realized they were there...in spirit...and in the ways we chose to remember them during the ceremony and reception. It was much colder than we expected, so I wore my Grandma Grace's coat from the 1930's and her pearls. One of the preludes, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, was one of my Grandma Kay's favorite pieces. The card holder at the reception was decorated with love notes that my grandparents wrote to each other. My favorite part though...the charms with their pictures on the bouquet.

My wish for Dennis and I now is that we will have a marriage as long and happy as my beloved grandparents. We can all learn a lot from our grandparents, including the importance of a strong marriage.

211 Days Left!!!

Lately, there has been so many countdowns...new job, bachelorette party, wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas and honeymoon. Here's another to add to my busy schedule.

 

211 days left until the 2014 Pittsburgh Half-Marathon!

 

I wasn't really sure if I wanted to run again after my poor performance last year but after not registering in time for the Great Race and running intervals all summer to improve my speed, I'm craving a race.

 

So on October 1, I was one of those crazy runners waiting patiently as the countdown clock on the marathon website approached 9 a.m. It took longer than expected and I don't think I made it into the first group that received $10 off registration.

 

BUT I'M REGISTERED AND READY TO RUN!

 

This year, I decided I need extra motivation to run. The last two years, my only goal was to finish and I did, so I know that's possible even if I run really slow. Ever since I stopped participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC I've been missing doing something for a cause.

 

There really wasn't a cause that jumped to mind the last two years for me at the marathon. I'm partial to the Avon Foundation, so I didn't want to run for Komen and there wasn't any others that jumped out at me. This year, I noticed North Hills Community Outreach.

 

I didn't even really think about it just registered. I'm thrilled to be running for such a wonderful organization. An organization that I've volunteered for in the past through church and is instumental in the local community where I grew up.

 

This is probably the only post I'll do about the marathon until after the wedding or even after the holidays. I need to fundraise though, so I might place some posts about that in the future. I'm so excited to be running again!

 

Let's get training and fundraising!! To 2014!!

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

When I was in college and even after, my dream wedding was to get married a grand old church or cathedral in NYC (granted I thought I would be living there) and then have the reception on the New York Harbor. I probably wated the Today Show weddings way too much. Then reality hits and you realize planning a wedding is not cheap!

 

I'm incredibly budget minded at my current age, so planning a wedding has not been too difficult. Here are a few tips to keep in mind about planning that perfect wedding but remaining within a tight budget.

 

Look for alternative locations for ceremony and reception.

D and I are getting married at our childhood church camp. We were limited because of our large guest list. Many venues that hold that many are extremely expensive. Our ceremony and reception will be at the same location but different venues.

 

Think outside the box as far as catering is concerned.

Order what you like to eat, not what your parents want. I don't want to ruin the surprise of our fabulous menu but catering can be flexible.

 

Wait to take a honeymoon.

We are waiting but not for this reason. Neither one of us has vacation but it is definitely saving us money by not going until January.

 

Hire friends and family to help.

We hired a family friend who does wedding receptions on the side as a DJ. We hired my cousin's wife as the photographer and my best friend and bridesmaid is doing hair and makeup. Not to mention that all the musicians are either family or close friends.

 

Design and print your own paper materials.

I bought a Living Social coupon for the save-the-dates, which save a lot of money and I designed them myself. I also designed the invitation and printed it at Staples. This was cost effective but I was hoping it would be cheaper.

 

And that's my two cents for now...

 

Tuesday Link Love Randomness

Well, I'm back with some more link love. Two weeks in a row! That's a new record! I am trying though to maintain the blog and the daily post ideas. Doesn't always work though!

 

It's been a crazy week in my life if you haven't seen my posts on Facebook or the blog. Interviewed for a job, offered a job, accepted a job. Then throw in planning a wedding and today is D's birthday and the wildcard game for the Pirates. Sigh... I need a break.

 

 

Life Lately

 

The giant rubber duck arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday. I saw it from a far on my way to pick D up and then on my commutes. It's pretty cool. Definitely not as big as I thought it would be but I read that the Pittsburgh duck is smaller, so that it fits under the bridges. I'm hoping to go take pictures tomorrow afternoon after we get our marriage license.

 

The Pirates are playing the wild card game tonight. Pretty awesome! I'll admit. I had my doubts about them for awhile. I like baseball because I can actually afford to go the games and then I can feel a part of it more. I got to go to some awesome games this year. It's amazing that have gotten this far and I hope they win tonight, so D can maybe go to the playoffs! It's great publicity for the city too!

 

Marathon

 

Well, its been almost six months since the last half-marathon. Registration opened today and I'm in...hopefully...had a few gliches there. This year, I decided I wanted to run for a charity. I miss doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I really wanted to run for a reason since I already proved to myself that I could do it. I'm running for North Hills Community Outreach. I've done some volunteer work through them in the past for church and thought it was a good fit.

 

I'd say that's an awful lot of Pittsburgh love coming from an unlikely cheerleader. I do love the marathon and I think its great that the duck is here and the Pirates are doing so well. That's all the Pittsburgh love I can muster for now.

 



Back to School Book Lists

In the fall, I always want to make a fall book lists. Books that remind me of school, recommended reading on school lists or books I read and loved in high school and college. I never had a recommended reading list and I've always being jealous of those who did.

 

These are some of my favorites:

 

Prep

Curtis Sittnefield

 

 

Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

 

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

 

Commencement

J. Courtney Sullivan

 

 

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

Alright, get reading and be happy you won't be reading for grades but pleasure!!