November 11, 2009

Pardon the Radio Silence…

I like routine.  It makes me feel comfortable and in control.  I realized that is why my mom likes to clean – she’s in control.  I didn’t inherit that one.  I notice change easily, can sense when something is out of the ordinary.  Or maybe I just plain worry sometimes.  Nine years ago when my beloved Grammy Elsie passed away, my parents had to tell me over the phone, since I was in my sophomore year at American, a nine-hour car ride away.  I hate out of routine phone calls from them because of this.

I talk to my parents everyday, often twice a day.  But almost always after work.  The exceptions usually having something to do with my brother’s most recent debacle – at least in the past couple years – when I will get a random afternoon call on a work day.  And now when that happens, something has to be wrong.  They wouldn’t just call at 2 p.m. on a Thursday.

At 2 p.m. last Thursday, my mom called and said that my dad had might have to have “a little heart surgery” in the coming days.  He went to the doctor, without even telling my mom, because he felt like something was wrong.  He just thought he’d gained some weight.  He even mentioned it to me over the summer that it took a lot of effort to do anything.  And my dad can do anything, he’s kind of a super hero like that.  After failing a stress test and seeing a cardiologist, it was determined that he needed a stint put in or “a little heart surgery.”

Needless to say I grabbed everything I could, burst into tears and drove home.  I packed a suitcase, got in my car and made it as far as Baltimore before I realized I was crazy to be driving home.  So I made a u-turn on I-95 and pulled into BWI and got on a plane.  By 11:30 p.m. I was in Vermont.  “You know you didn’t have to,” he said.  Riiiiiiighhhht.

Friday I saw my dad’s heart on a video monitor with my mom and a doctor in a small exam room.  Listened while he said that a major artery was 90 to 95 percent blocked, and a couple others were 70 percent blocked.  I held my mom while the doctor said, if dad hadn’t gone in when he did, he likely would have died.  Within the month.  And I was strong for my mom (until I had to retell that fact to someone else, then I cried a lot more).

Friday I sat in a hospital with my mom while my dad had a quadruple bypass that saved his life.  Yesterday, we brought him home.  He is totally a superhero.  A superhero with a bad case of heart disease that we had no idea even existed.  As it turns out, it’s rampant in his family.  I know I’m certainly going to get checked out when I go back to DC.

My dad doesn’t like to make a fuss.  I didn’t get my showboating, attention-whoring ways from him in any way, shape or form (but thanks mom!).  It bothers him that others have to go out of their way to do anything for him, when he is the first person to help someone else in a similar situation.  In recent years I’ve tried to tell my dad how proud I am of him, how much I respect him, and how proud I am to be his daughter.  And for a girl who doesn’t consider herself religious, doesn’t pray or really understand what I believe in, I’m thanking God quite a bit that my dad is still here.

So pardon the continued interruption.  I decided to extend my stay through Sunday and am taking the week to help out where I can (my mom doesn’t believe in the power and beauty of dishwashers) and just visit with my family.  I’m so lucky to have them.  It’s times like this when living 9 hours away sucks super big time.  But at the same time, we’re only a fast plane ride away. 

I told my dad last night, “You’re so lucky, you get to hang out with me until Sunday!”  To which he replied, “No, H is unlucky.”  That’s my dad.

November 5, 2009

This Is It

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Best $12 you could spend on a movie this weekend.  Please do yourself a favor and get thee to a theatre.  We cried, we sang, we danced (we stood in the back row so we wouldn’t disturb others, cause we knew we would dance).  This sounds overly sappy, but it felt like a special gift.  If Michael Jackson were still alive, we never would have seen any of this footage, perhaps a full concert DVD and fuzzy camera phone videos from those lucky enough to attend.  But now, this amazing performance is shared with so many more people.  It was totally bittersweet.  And totally awesome.

November 4, 2009

Aloha Mahalo!

Let the dreaming begin.  H and I are off to Maui in January.  Sometimes the perks are enough! 
 
Can you believe I didn’t even have a digital camera on my first trip in 2005?!
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2006 in Kona with myJulie

 

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Poipu Beach - Kauai

 

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2007 in Kauai with Sarah and Fannie - it was a little foggy at the canyon that day!

 

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H and I in Kona, 2008. Me. In Hawaii. With a boy.

 

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Kona 2008 - it wouldn't take much to go native!

 

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Snorkeling with Fairwinds in 2009 - I've gone with them every year in Kona - at the Captain Cook monument

 

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In 2009 we even brought H's mom and brother along to Kona!

I’m (we’re) wicked excited to go to Maui – a new island!  And it will be fun to experience it for the first time with H, exploring together.  This work perk has spoiled us terribly in terms of choosing a honeymoon and travel in general!  

Who would have ever thought that I would be lucky enough to ever see Hawaii, much less 6 times!  I feel very lucky.  In that blessed kind of way.  And also a little bit tan.

November 3, 2009

Google Doc Obsession

It is probably easier to count the things in this life with which I am not obsessed.  What can I say?  I think getting excited about things is worth the time and effort.  It’s an optimistic life approach.  Anyway, I’ve found something new that I am obsessed with. New to me of course, the rest of the world is already well versed for sure in the beauty of Google Documents.  So accessible.  So easy.  So fun.

For the last four years (OMG October 21st was my four year Weight Watcher Anniversary and I didn’t even celebrate!) I have written down pretty much everything I have eaten in little paper journals that I keep in my purse. 

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I’ve often joked I would be an old woman with my paper trackers stacked up around me like old newspapers, because I refuse to throw them away.  I knew one day I would want to be able to go back and see what I ate when things were really working so I could get myself back to that place, prove that I can do it, that I HAVE done it.  Even when WW online got a major upgrade and offered online tracking, I didn’t bite.

Enter Google Docs.  I’ve been playing with Google Docs for the last week to track exercise.  I like to track things.  I really like writing them down, and checking them off, following a routine, etc.  I thought it would be fun to use a Google Doc spreadsheet to track my workouts.  And then, I took it a step further.  Let’s track my food in a Google Doc too!  It isn’t QUITE as pretty and broken down as I’d like it to be, but so far it’s been fun to use.  And if I’ve learned anything on this journey, I have to keep things interesting!

Check out my scary Google Doc!

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The best thing is that I can access it from my house or office right online.  And I always have a paper backup in my bag if I can’t get online.  So far, me likey.

H and I are also using a Google Doc to breakdown our wedding budget, and I’ve created a spreadsheet for my personal billz as well to keep myself in the black and out of the red! 

We’re fast approaching my first Bride in Training check-in as well!  Hopefully my new Google Doc obsession will be a useful tool in this journey and lead to lots of good reports in the coming year!

Don’t ya just love technology?!

November 2, 2009

I’m a Jeans and T-Shirt Kinda Girl

…and this is not a fashion blog.  Please visit What She Has or Project Beltway for their far superior awesome fashionism.    Go ahead, I’ll wait.  But come back!

I just found the coolest new feature on the Washington Post called “Seen In” that profiles fashion around the city in different neighborhoods.  HEART.

First, I watched the clip from Howard University’s homecoming.  And it made me want to go to Howard.  For Homecoming.  And not just to hang with PDiddy!  I kind of love step dancing too.  But it was about the fashion of the University, and not just homecoming and it was…too cool for GwenniePie.   The outfits that students wear just to class were so inspired.  So not jeans and a t-shirt.

AND THEN, I watched the piece on Eastern Market.  And I felt REALLY uncool.  Because I wear jeans and Crocs to Eastern Market.  Sometimes WITH socks.

There are 8 episodes in total, and definitely worth checking out, even if you aren’t a DC local!  They will make you want to be.  Sadly, WaPo is not cool enough for me to link directly to each one.  So go see them at the WaPo site!

In completely unrelated news: We in fact carved pumpkins and went to dinner on Halloween.  And then we had ice cream.  PUMPKIN ice cream. The end. 

Guess who carved which pumpkin!

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WAIT – this is related news!  I carved my pumpkins, in jeans and a t-shirt.  I love it when a story comes full circle!

October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!

I’m getting old  you guys.  This is a real, sad, conversation.  Picture me, sitting on the floor, making Halloween treat bags for my coworkers, diligently filling little cello bags and curling ribbon.  CURLING RIBBON.  FOR COWORKERS.

Gwen:  So, what are we going to do for Halloween?

H: Well, I mean, do you want to stick around the condo for trick or treaters?

Gwen: Honestly…I could totally stick around from 6-8 and do trick or treaters in the building and then go to a late dinner and movie.

Who am I?!  Halloween is on a Saturday night!  It’s prime party time.  I even came up with a super cute costume idea!  But um, it’s going to be raining.  And stuff.

No matter what your plans are, I hope you have a fab Halloween!  Enjoy my costumes from years past!

2008

2008 - I have a thing for The Girls Next Door. And Playboy. I had a little gravestone with "RIP Holly & Hef" on the back. PS I hate the new girls!

2007

2007 - H loves his House MD costume. I love Grease. Summer Lovin' had me a blast! 2006 - I LURVED those camo pants even when it wasn't Halloween!

2006

2006 - I LURVED those camo pants. They weren't just a costume!

2005

2005 - Dirty Girl Scout from Troop #69 no less!

October 28, 2009

Dear Catherine,

Thank you.  xoxox Fellow member, Gwen

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October 27, 2009

What About the ‘Maids?!

I told myJulie, one of my fab Maids, on the phone last week that I feel like I should be doing more than watching the blogs and noting what I like in my head.  We have so many details that still need to be laid out!  I find myself in the mindset of “We have a whole year” but that time is already rapidly shrinking.  Wasn’t it just barely 10.10.09?!  It’s nearly November now.  Without much settled, I have little guidance for the Maids.  I’ve toyed with the idea of letting them pick a dress at will in a given color or keeping within the same designer and letting them choose the style, or going the uniform route.  I am less inclined to do that the later though.  And yet, I feel like there has to be some guidance on what I’d like.  Essentially, I’ve got as much for my fair Maids as I do for myself: a page full of pictures and lots of good ideas!

And aren’t you lucky, today I’m going to share some of my favorites.  Again, apologies for the lack of photo cred in some cases!

Style Me Pretty Blacks

(Image from Style Me Pretty)

Style Me Pretty posted a Bridesmaids Dress Roundup recently that gave lots of options for Bridesmaid attire.  (Thank you Abby and Carrie!)  I loved the ideas for different little black dresses.  As costs have continued to rise on our end, I do not want to put-out any of my Maids by asking them to buy an iridescent orangey fuchsia dress that they will likely never wear again (but don’t take that as a promise girls, I still may!).  The idea of selecting a black dress that they would genuinely use again is really appealing.  I also like this idea in a pewter or charcoal grey color.  In either case, I’d give them the pop of color in their flowers or perhaps another accessory that would still tie it all together.  Not that it has to be all tied up in a pretty bow.  I want it to feel organic – not in the recycling Vermonty way, but in a natural, comfortable way.  Cause that’s who we are.  In any case, I love the look of each of these, especially the top 6.

I mentioned pewter and charcoal – I love this look too and think it is so pretty when accented by a bright pink or orange (okay, for a girl who hasn’t made many decisions, I do have a small vision and yes, pink, orange and then another jewel tone, perhaps a blue or green or maybe a chocolatey brown - and um, I’ve yet to discuss this with H).  Check out these beauties.

GORGEOUS - a little too soft for me, but beautiful with the pinks.  No credit for this one!

GORGEOUS - a little too soft for me, but beautiful with the pinks. No credit for this one!

Another pretty grey, still a smidge soft...

Another pretty grey, still a smidge soft...

This one is a little more bold, like me.  And I LURVE it.  From Style Me Pretty

This one is a little more bold, like me. And I LURVE it. From Style Me Pretty

Then there is always the buy anything you want in this color family.  But I feel that might be too much pressure for the girls.  It is afterall, my wedding.  Er, OUR wedding.  And we make the decisions.  While I don’t want to put-out my bridesmaids by being a dictator or ::gasp:: bridezilla, I also don’t want to stress them out by making the dress process more hectic and not defined.  Regardless, love this bride’s look with her maids in coordinating yet uniquely individual dresses.

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(Photoby Lumiere Imaging)

I also simply love Lela Rose’s work.  The dresses from her and The Dessy Group are so sweet.  Click here to see a personal fave (Lela Rose Style LR102 in Charcoal).  I also love me some Thread (Liddy Mini Length) but at $290, not even an option.  But a girl can dream!  And I have to hand it to David’s Bridal – they have some very cute options as well.  And MUCH more budget friendly.  Check out this cutie.

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(David’s Bridal 83603)

There are so many choices!  I promise my ladies that I will not send them down the aisle nekid.  And also, that you will not have to wear this:

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(source)

OR THIS:

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(source)

Well…maybe JUST the hat.  Actually, this looks like something I’ve seen in a family member’s album…

October 26, 2009

Going to the Chapel and NOT in My Birthday Suit! (i hope…)

I have committed a near fatal blogging crime – I do not have photo credits for all of the amazing, inspiring images that fill my jump drive.  And for that I am ENTIRELY apologetic.  I wish I were more careful in where grab images from as to give them due credit.  They have come from the amazing array of blogs in my reader, Weddingbee, Style Me Pretty, Snippet and Ink, Once Wed, Ritzy Bee and from individual designer and photographer sites.  Most I can and will credit to where I know I found them or who the original photog is.

PHEW.  With that off my chest, I thought I’d share some of the images of wedding dresses that I am simply dying over.  Like Rachel Zoe, bananas, out of control, I die over.  That’s like Death Con three level in the serious lust equivalent in GwenniePie world.

I’m not looking for dresses yet in real life.  While I very much love who I am and the body I have, I know that I will be happier if the body I slip into that first gown is in a touch healthier place with a couple of months of renewed committment under my wing.  I’m thinking after the first of the year I will be ready for some dress adventures! 

Until then, let the wild rumpus begin!  – I mean SWOON.DROOL.PLEASECOMEHOMEWITHME.

Amsale from Wedding Market Fall 2009

Amsale from Wedding Market Fall 2009

More Amsale.  Pockets.  I love you...

More Amsale. Pockets? I love you...

(these two images from the lovely ladies at from Hello to Hitched, the Hitched Salon blog.  Lucky ladies spent some time in NYC this week!)

Amsale Reese

Amsale Reese

(Image from Amsale’s website)

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(GORGEOUS images from my dream Vermont photogs, Daria and Andy Bishop)

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(LOVE the deep V back on this one, image from Emilie Inc. out of Maine)

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(Vane from Brooklyn Bride was also at the Wedding Market this week and caught this stunner at Romona Keveza)

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(LOVE the ruffle details on the top and bottom!  Image by Studio ThisIs)

David's Bridal

 (Diggin the neckline on this one from David’s Bridal)

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(Detail explosion.  This is TOO fun for me, but I love it just the same!  Image by Boutwell Studio)

Last but not least and the only one I actually couldn’t credit in this post!

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Could it be more fanciful?!  However, the pink would TOTALLY clash with my pink shoes…

Okay!  Before you develop carpal tunnel in your pointer finger from scrolling, let’s summarize. 

  • I LOVE detail.  No basic white, strapless gown for me.
  • I am totally digging the one shoulder strap.  (Secret – I am petrified of finding suitable under garments to keep the ladies in line.)
  • RUFFLES – they’re in and totally hot on wedding dresses
  • Pockets – totally cute.  But what would I keep in there?
  • A-Line is mighty fine. 

You like??!!

October 22, 2009

Fat Talk Free Week: Happiness Isn’t a Size or a Destination

It’s a journey and the only way I know how to live my life. The way I CHOOSE to live.

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MD and Sandy 2

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Cherry Blossom TM legs up

GMP Half Marathon 9207

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Mile 93

Live your life happy.  Live your live proud.  Live your life knowing you are wonderful, simply because you’re  you!