Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ketchup

It fIt feels like its been a hot minute since my last post, probably because so much has been packed into these last 6 weeks.  So here is the scoop...

Martha has been in full forced recently.  Not only have I been cooking...featured below, but I have also been an interior decorator and bridal shower coordinator.  I redid our entire basement level as well as my brothers room, and I got to use this cool lazer beam thing...

Then I started working on my sisters baby shower, I made all the centerpieces, decorations, and banner all by hand.  This took forever and I have to say that I am a master with the glue gun now.  We are so excited for Baby Isla's arrival, I have to say I need to tone it down with the clothing purchases but honestly who doesnt want to buy for a little baby girl!













Rewind: Prague
Put it on your places to see list, its absolutely stunning.  If you want to do a trip and you are on a budget this is the place.   From accommodations to the beer everything is first class and wont kill your wallet.  It wasnt overwhelming like Rome, everything is in walking distance and relatively easy to find.  We did all of our sightseeing on foot.  The bridge was my favorite.  Vendors and local musicians line the bridge daily with hand crafted souvenirs, paintings, caricatures, jewelry, guitarists, and one man bands.  What I really loved is that you could walk up to a vendor gaze at their items and not be hunted down is you ventured elsewhere.  The old town is set on a hill and the view from the top is stunning.  Unfortunately our pictures didnt do the view justice because of the overcast.  The food was AMAZING.  We definitely did not hold back in that department, nor the beer department either.   At the end of our walking tour we posted up in a local "dive" pub, at first we were going to stop in for a beer but one turned into two which turned into...a taste test of everything they had to offer.   They had any beer you could ever imagine right on tap, from pale ales, to my favorite raspberry stout.  We even met some local Bostonians while we were there.  It was a great birthday/end of the year trip.   I highly recommend staying there for at least a night, you wont be disappointed just make sure you bring your appetite and be ready to enjoy some of the best beer in the world.  

After our trip we came back to quickly pack up and got to enjoy one last good-bye meal with Gina and Alex, before we set out for our 24 hour home journey. Craig flew back to Canada, and I flew back to NH.  A huge accomplishment was made at the Munich Airport, my bags home only cost me $75, thats 10 times less what it cost me coming there.  And now I have a full closet in Austria for when I go back!




























































Craig and I have been trying to get outside as much as possible lately because the weather has been so nice, and we know we will be heading to the city soon!  Everyday we have been hitting the gym, hiking, playing some tennis, and having some bball games (I win always).  I also was able to get some private ice time down at the college, so I have been wearing him out physically! My tan is coming along nicely!




 We had a nice (wasnt to nice since he wrecked our bird feeders and grill cover) little visitor the other night...Poobear






It's been so nice seeing my loves!!! I traveled down to portsmouth to see the crew there and then headed to Southie for St. Patty's day!



 

We also celebrated my dad's Birthday, he treated himself to a new Harley!




Wedding Planning



First thing on my list when I got home was to figure out this whole wedding, from the venue to the dress.  This was not easy, and I would be lying to say there wasnt alot of tears shed during this process.  I have always wanted a tented outdoor wedding.  We live in the mountains so how hard would that be?  First issue was that apparently I needed a place with a rain back up, my parents thought I would be too stressed out if I didnt have one....so that nixed my backyard wedding, although I thought it would have been fine if we all had to pile into our living room if God opened the flood gates.  So I needed a place that would accommodate 250 people in tent or barn, with a rain back up, with a Catholic Church near by that was available for our dates.  It was impossible...either the church was booked and the venue was open or visa versa.  NIGHTMARE CENTRAL.  So we changed our wedding date to May 31, 2014, and now we have a venue that has a near by church, and I get my tented wedding WITH a rain back up (fingers crossed we wont need it)!  It's the perfect location for us, allows guests to golf, bike, hike, swim, you name it.  Best thing is its a place really close to my heart, where I spent most of my time growing up!  We also rented buses to take everyone from the venue to the church and back so that people could enjoy some memosas before the ceremony (not that anyone on our guestlist would ever want to start drinking so early ) So then comes the dress...yes you have to start this early.  For all you New Englander's Madeline's Daughter is the place to go!  It came down to two completely different dresses we were there till close having the entire store, family, friends, and general public vote on which dress they liked better.  I finally had the last say, and its a dress that I honestly never imagined I would love so much, so I have officially said YES TO THE DRESS!  We have checked off the importants...Venue, Church, Dress, DJ and Photographers.  All thats left is...bridesmaid dress, tux, florists, favors, cake, save the dates, menus,and odds and ends.    We had our first meeting with the priest two weeks ago, and hes got a great sense of humor so we are hoping our ceremony will have a little flare as well as tradition.  The tears having finally stopped and we couldnt be more happy with all of our selections.  What I have come to realize is that you need to look at it as throwing the party of a lifetime...its a day for Craig and I and all of our family and friends to enjoy themselves and celebrate the love we have for each other over good music, some food, and a ton of booze.  So dust of your dance shoes, and mark your calendars for MAY 31, 2014!!! 








JOB/Summer


So as you know Craig signed in Innsbruck for next season, and originally  our plan last year was that I would join him last season and then I would return to the US and start applying for permanent jobs, meaning that he would go back and I would stay and work save for a house and family etc and then he would join me at the end of our season and get married.   Well pretty much everyone thinks that I would be crazy not to join him at least for a couple of months next season, and I have to agree.  I think I would miss him way to much, and  Europe has become slightly addicting.   So half my brain thinks we are young, debt free, and you only live once so whats one more season.  The other academic career driven side thinks gurlll you have been out of work for 6 months you studied and worked your ass for your career get back to work and build your resume.  So I thought well maybe ill apply for some contract positions and then I would be able to do both.  Well there wasnt so many of those, and the ones that were out there were not in a great location. So I narrowed it down to two one at Dana Farber and one at Mass General.  


And I have officially accepted the Program Coordinator at Dana Farber.  It's kind of like riding the pine in softball (not that I ever did) all you want to do is be put in the game, and then finally when coach puts you in you pray that the ball doesnt get hit to you. I am excited, and extremely nervous.  It is a huge step up from my last position at BIDMC, and I have a lot of responsibility.  I will heading a lab for a renowed MD/PhD so the knowledge I will obtain from the job will be priceless.  I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, so I am going to give it my all.  Best part is drumrolllllllllllllllllllllllllll I will still be able to travel to Europe next season.  We are hoping that I will be able to spend about 3 months there!!!  So both of my brain halfs are satisfied.  Plus I have full benefits and retirement so my parents are pretty siked.  


I have orientation on Monday, we move into the apartment on Wednesday and I start Thursday morning...holy chaos.


Our thoughts and prayers are with  those affected by the tragedy that occurred during the Boston Marathon.  We are now more then ever proud to call ourselves Bostonians again (even though Craig wont admit it).  

This summer will be all about seeing friends and family we have missed, and of course all about Baby Isla.  Craig will be working out with some UNH Alums, and playing Martha at night.  We will be going to a couple weddings as well, our fav Notre Dame couple Mike and Meg, and our fav portsmouth couple Mindy and Justin.  We are hoping to get a visit from James and Elle, maybe we will take them to Fenway to show them a real baseball game : )    Our thoughts and prayers have been with the victims and people affected by the tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon.   We are now more then ever proud to call ourselves Bostonian's (although Craig will never admit it).  Another thank you is needed to Meg and Gina and all the ladies who made this last season one I will never forget, hopefully we will all be back together soon!  A huge thank you to both our families and friends for making this transition so easy, thank you Mom and Dad for taking us in and spoiling us while we have been here.  These last 6 months have seemed so surreal, most of the time I have to wake up and pinch myself.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.   I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer!!! 







To Be Continued....



CONGRATS TO AILEEN AND ERIC ON EXPECTING THERE FIRST BABY!!!!