'tis the season

The spirit of Christmas has seeped in over here and I love it. Last weekend, I bought my first tree. It is no bigger than a minute and I decorated it exclusively with birds. This wasn't my initial idea but I really liked these cheap birds that I found. Dave tried to sneak a money-symbol ornament on but I put the kibosh on that. Apparently, I have a bird-only tree policy.


Dave and I attended the annual Makers Christmas party last night. I drank about a hundred glasses of wine and we had a great time at the kids' table. It's essential to jockey for a good seat at these types of events. I've personally never got stuck with the old school crew, but I hear it can really put a damper on the night. Makers always throws down and this year was no exception. Here's a pic of me, Julie and my co-worker Brent's lady Athena. (Don't mind the outfit replay... I rocked this dress at Michelle and Jay's rehearsal dinner.)

The party marked the one year anniversary of Dave and Chris' friendship. They were introduced at last year's party, started talking football and they've been practically BFFs ever since. Note their unplanned matching outfits. Adorable!

To add to the spirit of the season, it snowed last night. Here's a pic of the church across from our apartment, lightly dusted with snow.

making room for new traditions

Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving wasn't fun at all....






I've been in a Netflix glut because all I want to watch is Season 2 of Mad Men and it's not on DVD yet. Nothing else seems to catch my interest and I'm annoyed that my Mad Men fix has been cut off at the knees. I kind of want to see Man on Wire, about the French guy who tight-roped across the World Trade towers in the '80s. Kaa-raaazy!

I finally joined my new gym and I feel just like Cindy Crawford in her workout hey-day. I got two free training sessions, one of which was yesterday. "My trainer" is just out of college and although the workout was tough and informative, I can't help but think he has a bullshit job that enables lots of lifting, lackadaisical counting of reps, and NFL-watching. In his defense he probably doesn't get paid much/get benefits besides the occasional smoothie.

Christmas is upon us and I decorated our apartment with four measly decorations, but it's the thought that counts! I convinced Dave that we should get our first ever tree this weekend. I don't want to spend money on myself right now, and I'm not sure how to decorate it on a shoestring. Oh- I do have one good idea but I'll keep it secret till I post pictures. My family is only giving recycled gifts this year (open to interpretation...such as vintage or refurbished goods). I love the parameters because it makes me think creatively. I got one person down....10 to go!

let them eat carrot cake

A weekend filled with family, the East Coast, hometown friends, lots of white wine (on the rocks, of course), my awesome boyfriend, and wedding festivities is always a recipe for ridiculous good times. I'm especially happy that we got to spend a little downtime with Michelle and Jay pre- and post-wedding at their home in Waltham.... and that my toast went well! I got to meet Erin's lil daughter, Ellery, and strut down the aisle to "The Sopranos" theme song. I also don't want to discount the rehearsal dinner, a wedding pre-game if I ever saw one.

lady fitness

I love the gym but I hate my gym, Epicenter. My friend Jess, who clocked some serious time there, called it the Crapicenter. They post flyers for discount smoothies and protein powder to anything that isn't moving, they recently cleared out a perfectly good circuit training room for conference tables and chairs, and this week, the showers ran out of water. Yep. It's dirt cheap ($27/month) but who cares. You get what you pay for. It's high time I switch to the nicer gym down the street. Let's take a walk down fitness memory lane, shall we?

1986- Asked for "Get in Shap Girl" for Christmas, a kit that included a jump rope, sweat band, and probably 1 lb weights...(I think I meant "Shape")

1997- Worked out to Cindy Crawford's "Shape Your Body" workout in my parents' den. What? You think it's weird Cindy is wearing a leotard on a towel in the tundra?

1998- Jazzersize with my mom, hells yeah. I was the youngest lady there by 20 years.

1999- I obviously did not go to the gym this year because I had a beer face like you wouldn't belieeeeeve. Thanks, Ireland!

2000- My first gym membership at an ALL women's gym in Boston. I had little income and all I could afford was the student plan. I could only go from like, 9-12 noon and 8-11pm. Plus I had to take two trains to get there. But I was dedicated. Or maybe I just didn't have any friends?

2002- My boss' brother owned a Gold's Gym outside of Boston and he gave me a free membership. Totally inconvenient but worth it.

2003- Erin and I signed up for Curves with the older Greek ladies in Astoria. I think I quit after Erin lost all this weight and I didn't! (I have an awesome Curves comic somewhere....)

2004- No money in NYC= Lucille Roberts, ghetto gym for the Queens girls. They talked on their cell phones while on the elliptical machines. True fact.


2006- Decided to ditch the ghetto gym and do push-ups, pull-ups, squats, run on my own. Best. Workouts. Ever!

2008- Running. And boot camp. And Crapicenter. It's time to go get my free one week trial at All Star Fitness.

Tap dancing with Obama

This is an exciting week because it's almost time for Michelle's wedding. It's a long time coming and we're really getting down the brass tacks. At this point, the thought "Oh yeah, that event way off in the distance will be fun" has been replaced with "What kind of hosiery can I wear? Dave, those shoes look like they're from 2001", and "I really should write that toast". Yesterday after considerable proscratination we made a trip downtown to Macy's for some good old fashioned men's shopping. He got some suit pants and then we ventured to the shoe department. Honestly, I feel bad for men's shoe designers. Even the shoes that look good are big and long and....mannish! Dave tried on a couple; one pair was so shiny they could pass for tap shoes. Yep, that's my boyfriend, Sammy Davis Jr.

Speaking of black men who are awesome, YAY Obama. Our Obama shirts arrived the day of the election, a good omen that helped allay my fears. I realize he's just one man, but I feel so proud and relieved that he won. We drank champagne with friends to celebrate a rejuvenated sense of American pride and, finally, a glimmer of hope.

Lack of Halloween parties: frightening

This is the first year in since '99 that there's no big Halloween shindig on my agenda. Well, I'm sure there are shindigs, we just haven't been invited to any. That's not true either; we got invited to Ashley and Jeff's in Brooklyn. Although I flew home for this annual monster mash a few years ago, I can't swing it this year 'cause I'll be on the East Coast in a couple weeks for Michelle and Jay's wedding.

Frankly, I'm a little let down by the lack of Halloween parties.

As a consolation, I signed myself and Dave up for a haunted brewery tour in Georgetown, one of the older, more industrial Seattle 'hoods. I just wanted to do something new. I asked my coworker if he wants to go with us, but he is handing out candy with his friend's 2 1/2 year old daughter. Is this what Halloween is coming to?

Oh, p.s. Ashley said I can share a clue about her costume.

Yo man!

Sometimes I throw party just so I can make an invitation.