The Proposal

For the family and friends who wanted the full story of the proposal, I thought I'd whip up a blog post here on my (neglected) personal blog!

Bobby, my boyfriend of almost 8 years, made it official last weekend at our favorite restaurant in town. It was just supposed to be a casual night out, prompted by the promise of some excellent seafood the the owner had just gotten in. I didn't think anything of it. Just an average Friday night out at our restaurant-home away from home.

We ordered our entrees and some wine, and then we began to chit chat with the usual cute jokes about our lives. "So do you really want to spend the rest of your life with me?" he begins. (Yes, this has been part of our banter for the past few years.) "Of course, I do!" I reply, thinking I'm just answering the usual hypothetical question. But then he gets this look on his face that tells me he's hiding something, his "upside-down smile face" as I've called it over the years, and he digs into his pocket. I cover my face and exclaim, "What's happening?!" Is this happening??" He comes around to my side of the table and gets on one knee. Now I'm really in a state of shock, lots of adrenaline rushing through my veins - I'm still covering my eyes, now crying, "This isn't happening; what's happening!?" Between my tears, he asks me if I'll marry him and he opens the little black box. "Of course!" I tearfully exclaim, before even opening my eyes. And then I see the ring... "It's so beautiful!" I say over and over again. It really is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - I couldn't have picked anything better on my own. (It's his mother's diamond, and though I'd given him some direction over the years about what I like, the setting is his own, and the jeweler's, design.) We kiss a few times, we hear the staff (who apparently knew of the whole plan all week) awe and applaud quietly in the back, and then he makes his way back to his seat. "Did that really just happen?" I laughingly sob. I tell him I honestly couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else. We grasp hands at the table, not able to take our eyes off the sparkle coming from my hand. (Yes, both of us.) Really, did that just happen??

The owner brings out a bottle of champagne to our table and prosecco is poured for everyone else to join in the celebration. We call immediate family and text close friends. Lots more tears and so much joy. Nearly everyone in the restaurant stops by to offer their congratulations. Wine follows champagne; laughter conjoins with tears. Seriously, did that just happen?

I don't remember the food. =)

At Walden Pond

Oh Walden Pond, I adore you. And I'm learning to flex some photography muscle just a little bit. Here are my favorites from my recent trip there.

Project Orientated

Bob's out of town on business this week. I certainly miss his company, his affection, his goofy faces - but I also relish some wonderful time to myself. I love spending time in the apartment alone, crossing projects off my list, knowing that I and only I am responsible for any messes and cleaning up accordingly. I watch whatever TV or movies I want - or NO TV - and I take my computer to bed to blog or watch Felicity (my current obsession). It's the best of the single life, really...

We leave for Boston on Saturday to spend the holiday with Bob's parents. On one hand, I'm sad that I don't get a weekend here at home to get situated for the Christmas season, but I'm looking forward to spending time there with Bob's family and friends. It's been a while, and they're pretty fantastic people. What this does mean, however, is that I have only this week not only to take care of all those aforementioned projects but also to get ready for the trip! This might be a tall order since I'll be workng two nights this week, but I'm determined to stay productive. I mean, how else will I keep myself from missing Bobby too much? =)

So here's my ever-so-public list:

1. clean and weatherproof boots
2. clean bathroom - including tub!
3. rearrange living room
4. hem and hang bedroom curtains
5. fix pearl necklace
6. sew button on blazer
7. decorate for christmas?

Help keep me accountable, k? =)

Progress

So I've returned to report on my progress. Although the day did NOT turn out how I wanted it to (thanks to oodles of work drama - wait, wasn't I off?) I did get through most of my list. Old CRT monitor went to recycling (oddly bittersweet - my first computer!), blogged at the coffee shop (in the evening rather than the afternoon like I was hoping), and painted my nails a juicy shade of purple (and my best painting job in a while, I might add). Now I'm just waiting for my nails to dry, and contemplating drafting at least some of my posts for the rest of the week. And figuring out what I'm going to wear.

Back in the Habit

I'm getting a hang of this blogging thing. With lots of backlogged outfits to post, I have had less pressure to  photograph, edit and post all in the same day, or at least all in the same sitting. As a result, I've been able to get into a groove, a regular schedule of everything that makes me feel less pressured and therefore more satisfied with my blog posts. And I find that self-satisfaction is increasingly more important as my readership (or at least my commenters) seems to decline. It really shouldn't be any surprise, but it's clear that the 2+ months off I took really hurt my blog...

As I embark on a very busy week this week, I'm getting ready to do a whole week's worth of posts, even if in rough draft form, to further stay on schedule. I'm taking off from work tomorrow because of the busy week ahead as well, which will enable me not only to blog, but to put the finishing touches on all the projects I set out to complete this weekend. So let's take a look:

1. clean apartment!!!
2. clean make-up brushes
3. finally hang up and organize necklaces
4. reorganize office closet (now that so much crap has been sold!)
5. take old computer monitor to recycling center
6. take shipping to UPS
7. paint nails in Sephora by O.P.I Eve-y On the Eyes
8. pluck eyebrows
9. spend some time at coffee shop (to blog?)
10. BLOG!

My jewelry display!

Maybe, just maybe, I'll be back to report on my progress. I mean, blogging on BOTH blogs??? I kinda love it.

Blog Anew

So not only have I changed this blog name, but I'm actually going to commit to start posting again. I realize that I'm probably posting for no one, but I'm okay with that. Why post online at all, you say? To hold myself responsible. Period.

I also intend to use this space as an auxiliary to my other (and main) blog, Surely Sonsy. If you follow me over there, you might have noticed that I haven't been posting much since the new year. Really, I haven't been posting much since the holiday break began. After thinking about reasons for this for awhile, I've come to realize that I can't, or haven't been able, to use that blog to air out my thoughts as much as I would like. It's a fashion blog, forheavenssake. People are there (mostly) to look at pictures and to maybe even get some outfit inspiration. Sure, I certainly write about some things, but it's not - and shouldn't be - the focus. So, here I am. For those who like my ramblings and want to read more, I may link them here. But, just knowing I can let my mind go in whichever direction I want - outfit of the day or not - is actually pretty liberating.

Shoot, it may even make that blog better.

Bulgaria! Days 1-2

Hello all! Five days into my Bulgaria trip isn't too late to start a blog, is it? I have 7 more days to go and OODLES of pictures, so I thought I'd share a bit. I'll start with a few days at time until I'm caught up to current.

We headed to O'Hare on Tuesday May 22 for a excruciatingly long day of travel. Over 3 hours to the aiport, followed by the transatlantic flight with a short layover in London. We arrive in Sofia a zillion hours later (1:30 pm on Wednesday in Sofia, 5:30 am in IL, followed by the longest ride ever to our hotel in the center of the city. We then had to unload all our luggage and instruments in the rain, and walk 2 a block to the hotel, since the traffic was so bad our bus couldn't drop us off in front of the hotel itself.

Exceedingly tired, we got to rest for a few hours, shower (in a shower that is not actaully sepearted from the rest of the bathroom - everything gets wet - even the toliet paper), whatnot, until we did a little tour of the city followed by group dinner of tradional Bulgarian cuisine.

Here is where I note that our itinerary is CRAZY packed. We were engaged from the second we got of the plane with classes, lectures, and long rehearsals, without any time to recover from jet lag. It's been 6 days and I still don't think I've recovered. But I'll put a cap on the complaining for now and try to share the better moments of the trip and some pictures...

Thursday morning I think reminded us all why were where there. All complaining, crabbiness and general annoyance was held at bay while we attended a rehearsal of the Macedonian Ensemble "Illinden. Truly remarkable playing and singing...music-making. After some mini-instruction in song and string-playing, we shared some chocolates and went outside for some dancing.