Friday, April 29, 2011

Day 241

So I can't share the News That Isn't Mine (NTIM) yet, but it's coming, I promise.

On a brighter note, I booked the wedding!  4/7!!  *Happy dance*

I totally woke up early for the royal wedding today.  William and Catherine (AKA the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!) were absolutely adorable.  I thought I'd tally my likes and dislikes:

Likes/Loves:

Catherine's dress.  Both first and second.  The first was gorgeous and timeless... it reminded me of Princess Grace. The second was fun, and I adored the angora shrug.
Pippa's dress.  Mostly just the first. Sexy but still demure.
Mama Middleton's dress.  It was such a nice change from some of the awful mother of the bride dresses you see.  And for that matter, I'll add Camilla's dress to this.
Grace Van Cutsem.
The getaway car.
The trees in the Abbey!

Dislikes:
Princess Beatrice's hat.  W.T.F.
The flowers. I thought they were a bit... dinky.

I'll look forward to seeing more details as they come out :)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Day 239

POST 100!!!!!!!!!  Thank you everyone who reads my blog for reading, thereby encouraging me to not lazily give up on my goals :-)

So my bride interview is tomorrow.  I'm so pumped, I really think I'll do well.

And Lent was a big fail.  My apartment is a mess and I still rubbed at my eyebrows... but I avoided plucking them, and they actually look better than they have in quite some time.  So I guess that's something.

Easter was spent at my parents' house, almost the entire day.  Normally we do pancakes with my parents and then dinner at my grandmother's house, but since she had surgery recently, that was out.  Both Easter breakfast and dinner were at my parents' place, and we went to Mass in between.  As all Catholics know, Christmas Vigil is one thing, Easter Vigil is a whole other beast.  I avoid that Mass at almost all costs... it's soooo long.  We always try to go Easter Day.  St. Bernadette's at 1:00 was surprisingly un-packed... we were able to find both parking and seats only 15 minutes before Mass (which is kind of a huge deal).

I also got reallyreallyreally great news today... I can't share it yet (it's not my news) but I think I can share it Friday, so stay tuned for the results of my bride meeting and the secret great news!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Day 235

The call I mentioned with the potential client in my last post went really well!  I'm meeting her for a dinner meeting at Panera on Thursday to discuss details in person, but I'm really optimistic about this!  I'm confident that it will go well.

In other news, on this day 6 years ago, Christopher Newport University Colony of Zeta Tau Alpha was installed as Kappa Phi Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, the 235th link.  Which makes it pretty cool that the anniversary falls on day 235 :)  Happy 6th birthday, Kappa Phi!  I'm so proud of what this chapter has accomplished.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Day 231

I got an inquiry for an event Memorial Day weekend... wish me luck!  I've sent an email back to the bride about a time to talk about her event... I really hope it goes well!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Day 229

*Pokes head into blog*

Hi everyone, sorry I've been such a bad blogger this week!  I don't really have any excuses.

Quick week in review: On Tuesday, I visited my grandmother in the hospital after her surgery on her lung.  She's doing great! Wednesday and Friday I cheered on the Caps from the comfort of my couch.  Yesterday we went out to Miracle Valley again to do a vertical Merlot tasting, and this older couple took us to show us their 200 year old house.  It was actually kind of cool.

Today I'm off to a bridal shower, and I'm currently watching Darcy chase her tail.  Precious.

Nothing new on the goal front, I just wanted to let everyone know I haven't forgotten about my blog, haha.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Day 222

A wonderful weekend capped off with a completed goal!

32. Turn a profit on our Roth
32. Turn a profit on our Roth

I realized I wrote this wrong in my original list, we have 2 Roth IRAs.  But the quarterly statement came in today, and his has a profit of $6.39 and mine has a profit of $3.86!  Small profits, yes, but profits nonetheless.

As I said, this capped off a great weekend.  For starters, the government didn't shut down (woohoo!).  On Saturday, John and I took a little wine tour, hitting Fox Meadows, Chateau O'Brien and Miracle Valley.  I love the Fox Meadow wine tasting (they pair it with food, it's incredible).  Chateau O'Brien has the most gorgeous tasting room I've ever seen, and Miracle Valley's wine is delicious and the place just has such a friendly, home-y feel to it.  It was a good day.  We then went out to dinner at Ozzie's.  Chicken Marsala, yum.

Today we took the pups out to the dog park.  They dealt with their car harnesses for the first time... Darcy was ok with it, Trevor twisted himself with the seatbelt, poor baby.  It was better on the way back when we switched him to the other seat.  Anyway, they had a good run in both the large and small dog parks, and everything was great except the furry black and yellow spider that showed up on my shoulder TWICE!!  Augh!

The pups had a bath when we got home, and now it's just time to quietly wind down our weekend!  Oooh and we just discovered the $150 worth of dog medicine we almost gave up for lost!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Day 219

Following up from yesterday:

The entire agency received an email from the director, informing us that since we were funded on a multi-year plan, we're good to go for six business days after a government shutdown before we have to revert to emergency personnel only.  Which, my project manager confirmed, means I have work for at least another week!

I really hope Congress passes a budget tomorrow... the Cherry Blossom Parade is cancelled if they don't. :(

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Day 218

I was super excited to see this post on Style Me Pretty because I'll be doing a sister's wedding at that same venue in November!  So pumped!

Seeing it made me feel pretty good about myself, since I'm working at that venue lol.

In other news, I'm looking at places to go for my 25th birthday.  John and I will probably do a long weekend the weekend before my birthday, since my birthday is a Wednesday, which is just an inconvenient day for anything.  I've seen a few places I've liked in NY, and a handful of VA B&Bs, but nothing has stuck.  I was thinking FL for a bit, but then I saw how expensive travel was, so that's out.  IDK.

I'm also waiting with bated breath to hear back from the people in charge of my contract at work to figure out what is going on with Monday.  As you probably already know, chances are rather high that the government will shut down when funding runs out on Friday.  As you might also already know, I'm a contractor who works on a government site.  So here's where things get confusing: if Congress doesn't agree on a budget, all non-essential government employees can't come into work until it's worked out.  But I am not a government employee.  Our contract is already funded.  So... do they want us to just come in and work with the essential personnel?  If not, can we take vacation time for this?  Or is it just leave without pay?  How do we know when to come back, since remotely accessing our work email is a fireable offense? (Yes, seriously).

I look forward to these answers.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Day 216

Because I'd really like people to check it out... I just posted pictures of a wedding I did in November, and I'd love it if you took a look!

http://infinitejoyweddings.blogspot.com/2011/04/tracey-and-patrick-111310.html

http://www.infinitejoyweddings.com/apps/photos/

Enjoy!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Day 215

Just to summarize from my last post: 401K yes, baby no.

So VA Zeta day was today.  I had a great time!  I went to Richmond last night with 2 of my sisters and met up with a few more.  We went out drinking, had dinner at Plaza... it was a ton of fun.  I finally feel like I have real friends in the alumnae chapter, so I'm crossing this one off too...

83. Really get to know 3 sisters
83. Really get to know 3 sisters

I think that's my first Zeta goal that I've crossed off!

I'm also really excited to learn that ZTA is coming to VCU!!  It's the first new chapter in VA since my own, so I'm really pumped about that!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Day 213

I’m starting April out strong, by crossing off a goal… and so, so so excited about which one!

20. Make a baby!
20. Make a baby!
I’m pregnant!  We just found out... I'm 5 weeks along, due in December!  We’re so excited about this new addition.  John is going to be such a great dad... I’m already dreaming about names, and furniture, and a new home… so pumped.

On a much, much more mundane note, I should probably mention that I finished another goal:

28. Max out our 401K contributions
28. Max out our 401K contributions
As today is the start of the second quarter at work, I’m now contributing the highest amount my company will match to my 401K (they’ll match 50% of your contributions up to 6%, in case you were wondering).  John’s been contributing the highest amount his company matches… which is zero.  No comment.

Oh and one more thing…

APRIL FOOL!!!!!!

Seriously though, I’m not pregnant, but everything about my 401K is true.  If/when I announce a pregnancy on this blog, it won’t be on April Fool’s Day.

Did I have you going, though? ;-)