New Blog!

Blogger is giving me...problems. So I'm breaking up with it. All of that "it's not you, it's me" crap...no. It IS you, Blogger. You suck. As LeBron would say, "I'm taking my talents to Wordpress." (If you're not from Cleveland or "Souf Beach" you may not understand what I'm talking about.)

So please add my new blog (with the same name), A Leap Begins, to your readers. Hopefully Wordpress will be as mind-blowingly awesome as everyone says it is. Forgive the elementary design for the moment. I'll figure out how to spruce it up soon.

See you there!

Guest Post!

My dear friend Amy got married over the weekend and now she's on her honeymoon. Guess what that means...I'm guest-posting for her! So please head on over to her blog and read about what I think brides *really* want to hear on their wedding day. Oh, and wish her a big congratulations, too :)

Tagged!

Oh that Kelly. She's a sneaky one. Tagging me in this fun lil blog game. And thennn the lovely Laura tagged me! So here are my long-winded answers to the questions they posed. Be sure to read all to the end to find out if I tagged you and what questions I want *you* to answer!

First up, Kelly's Qs!

1. If you could pick any one animal to have as a pet, what would you choose?
I. Love. Monkeys. Omg I die for them. While I would love to give any primate a loving home, this guy stole my heart when I played with him in Roatan, Honduras. So cute, right? I think it's a spider monkey? Yeah, we'll go with that.

I do not know those children. Clearly I was photo-bombed. 

2. What is the weirdest injury you have ever sustained?

I plan on doing a more in-depth post about this over on my wedding blog, but I'm currently going through some...trauma due to my wedding shoes. This is what my toes looked like 3 weeks after my wedding:

That's BRUISING. From my WEDDING SHOES. Now? They look even worse. Like, WAY worse. As in, my left big toe is half the size it should be.

3. What is the worst insult you’ve ever received?

Junior year of high school I was at an after-party for a school dance. I was being my silly, sarcastic self, and apparently some girl didn't like that too much. Her name was Emily, coincidentally. Anyway, she called me a C U Next Tuesday, stuck out her tongue and sprayed spit all over me. That was cute.

4. Which character from Friends was your favorite? And if you didn’t watch Friends… who the F are you?

I wasn't a hugely loyal Friends fan, unfortunately. I'd have to say Rachel was my fave because she was the prettiest and had the best hair. Yes, I'm shallow. No, I will not apologize for that.

5. What is the best “go-to” recipe in your arsenal?

Can my answer be the take-out menu drawer? Those never fail me :)

Okaayyyy. I must say that I'm pretty good at making fish. Tilapia is my favorite fish because of it's mild flavor and ability to pair well with a variety of seasonings. I like to grill it, pan sear it, or broil it. Yum in every way! This recipe for chili-rubbed tilapia (courtesy of Smoky Mountain Cafe) is delicious and SO easy. Like, legit fool-proof. I serve it with rice and also green beans, which I saute in the leftover oil/chili powder. Mmmm I might make it this week!

6. If you could go back and change one detail of your life, what would you change and why?

Oooh tough one. I'm a big believer of living with no regrets. However, I really think it's somewhat unavoidable. So, if I could go back and change one thing, I would be a better student. I got good grades in school, took advanced and AP classes, but I just wasn't a very good student. I don't *like* school. I like to learn, but I don't like the traditional school environment.

7. Which of the 50 United States would you least like to live in?

The coldest ones. I'm looking at you, Alaska.

8. What was your favorite class in high school or college?

Didn't we JUST cover the fact that I don't like school? Ha! The one class that sticks out is my Great Films and Literature class from high school. I had a major crush on the teacher so I looked forward to it every day.  Don't ask me what we learned...clearly I absorbed nothing.

Here are Laura's Qs:

1. If you could live anywhere in the US (and have your family/friends/job there) where would you choose?
I live here already! I LOVE love loooove DC. 

2. How did you meet your significant other?
Ughhh I hate answering this question. MySpace. There. I said it. So embarrassing.

3. What's your favorite trip/vacation you've taken? 
Hmmm that's a tough one. While I absolutely loved our honeymoon, the first vacation Josh and I took together (a cruise) is probably my favorite. We were only about 4 months into our "official" relationship, but decided to take a leap of faith and spend a week together in a 108 square foot cabin on a boat. We had a blast and aside from a few spats, didn't fight at all!

4. Who do you most look up to? 
My mom, hands down. She's awesome, strong, independent, beautiful, intelligent, and so much more. If I can be even a quarter of the woman she is, I'll be a happy lady.

5. What's your favorite holiday and why? 
My birthday! No? That's not an option? Boo :( Well, I do enjoy a good 4th of July celebration. Thanksgiving is awesome because of all the food (and my mom makes the most BOMB-ASS gravy that I could literally drink from a cup.) And of course, Christmas because let's be real, who doesn't like presents?

6. Who is the person who knows you best? 
Josh is absolutely the person who knows me best. I share *almost* everything with him (certain things my friends tell me I keep to myself.) He's always the first person I want to call with exciting news or something cool. My mom comes in at a very close second :)

7. What do you do for a living? Is it what you pictured yourself doing? 
Currently I'm unemployed :( I want to get into event planning, which is not what I pictured doing, but what I believe I'm supposed to do.

8. What's one thing that brightens your day without fail?

My boys, Tyler and Joey :) See sidebar to look at their cute mugs. How could they NOT make you smile?

Whew! That was crazy. Here are your questions!

1. Who would be your partner on The Amazing Race? Why?

2. What actress would play you in a movie about your life?

3. What is your favorite spice or herb? Or both!

4. What is the one outfit you can put on and immediately feel your prettiest/sexiest/sassiest/most beautiful?

5. Growing up, what was your most awkward age/year?

6. If you could choose to be born in any era, which one would you pick?
7. What is your go-to drink at the bar? And if you don't drink...booo. Jk I'm sure you're way fun :)

Also, a ton of my favorite girls were already tagged, so here are a few of my faves who have yet to receive the honor:

Christina from At least we have each other
Claire from A Realistic Wedding
Megan from Everyday Nonsense from a Nonsensical Gal
Maria from Procrastination Station

30DBJ: Day 30

A Dream for the Future

Josh and I really love going on vacation to the beach. We are beach people through and through. Josh is a water baby to the core and I'm a sun worshiper (skin cancer be damned!) so we truly cherish our time at the beach. We've gone to the Outer Banks of NC, Sarasota, FL, and on 2 Caribbean cruises. 

One of my dreams for the future is that we're in a position (both financially and time-wise) to take a beach vacation every year. 

I refuse to let us turn into a couple who never takes a vacation. Even when kids enter the picture, I hope we can continue our yearly beach vacation tradition. This may seem like a frivolous dream to some, but it's important to us that we take a break from life every so often. And damn it, come Hell or high water (or high tide, as the case may be), we will.

Well, this wraps up my 30 Day Blog Journal! (Even though there is one more day in September. Ps, WHERE did September go?) It was a really fun experience and a great way to force myself to blog every day, but I'm glad it's over. There is a lot I want to write about! I'm so excited to get started. 

Making Moves

My lack of employment is well-documented on this here blog, my wedding blog, and Twitter. After briefly working for the search-engine-company-that-shall-not-be-named earlier this summer (hint, it rhymes with shmoogle), I've been searching for a job and coming up with nothing. I won't lie, it sucks.

Could/should I get some kind of retail or other part-time job? Yes. And quite frankly, I'm not sure why I haven't. I don't have an excuse. Could/should I do more in my search for a full-time job? Again, yes. And again, I don't have an excuse for why I'm not. Actually, I do. See Day 27 of my 30DBJ.

But things are looking up. I've been in contact with a recruiter/career advice professional who is going to help me with my resume, cover letter, and job search strategies. Also, I'm finally going to get some experience in the event planning industry! Two Saturdays next month I'll be volunteering at weddings in DC with one of the top event planning companies in the area (which will remain nameless.) Even though I'm not earning a paycheck, I'm getting experience. In the event planning industry experience is EVERYTHING.

Hopefully a revamp of my resume and a bit of networking will really get the ball rolling in my quest for permanent employment. I'm ready to work. I'm ready to stop goofing around. Stay tuned!

Are you job searching? Have you gone through long bouts of unemployment? Tell me about your experience.

30DBJ: Day 29

Hopes/Dreams/Plans for the Next 365 Days

I need a job. And it's getting to the point where I'm almost ready to just take anything that comes my way, even if it has no relevance to what I really want to do (event planning.) However, I really think doing that would be a big mistake. So for right now, my hope for the next year is to get a job and be a good wife, daughter, and friend. And finish my damn wedding recaps. 

 

30DBJ: Day 28

What's in My Purse?

It's safe to say that my purse is heavy. I usually have a ton of crap in it and if ever faced with the need, it could be used as a deadly weapon.

Let's see, what do we have here:

Photos my SIL printed out for me (including one of her bulldog pup!)

Coach wristlet. Love.

Checkbook

Camera

Gum

4 kinds of lip stuff

2 pairs of sunglasses

2 tampons

A few bandaids

A pack of tissues

Deodorant

Mini Lysol spray. Go out and buy some now. I use it ALL the time.

Hand sanitizer

Pepcid AC

Day-Quil

Birth control pills

Bobby pins in a case

Loose bobby pins

A few hair ties

Keys

You may notice that my purse also doubles as a pharmacy. I'm not sure how it happens.