Moving Forward!

Sorry for not posting anything for over a week!

I'm in the midst of trying to find a wedding venue that fits the vision I want (looove exposed brick and hardwoods).  I know I have a long way to go until the actual big day (most likely Nov. 7, 2015 for those who I haven't told already), but I'm dying to pick a venue and be done with it.  Once I pick a venue, I can set an official date, and then kick up my feet for another year or so.

A few weeks ago I looked at the Haw River Ballroom, which is very rustic, but has a lot of natural beauty.  Last weekend we went to look at Fearrington and the Stockroom in downtown Raleigh (DTR).

Fearrington Barn

The Stockroom

Haw River Ballroom

Kyle hasn't seen any of these three venues, so hopefully once he sees them, we can decide.  I'm still doing more research in general, but this is what I have it narrowed down to thus far.  I'm really, really hoping to have decided by June, but that may be a lofty goal.

I paid a visit to my Children's Flight of Hope friends two weekends ago for one of their main fundraising events - a charity golf tournament and kickoff party!  I only went to the party, but helped with registration and check out.  My mother does the accounting for CFOH, so she and her two friends Allison & Arthur were in attendance.  I was so excited because they won items in the Mexican raffle that took place!  My mother won a pearl bracelet, and Allison won a decanter!  It made me happy that they had fun and went home with swag :)  CFOH is a great organization that flies sick or injured children to medical appointments when they cannot afford airfare.  I interned with them last fall and worked with them for a few months.  If you want to learn more about CFOH here is their website: Children's Flight of Hope .

This past week was very normal, just working, cooking, and playing with Sienna.  I got the chance to know some of my colleagues in a few happy hours this past week, which is never a bad thing!

This past weekend was a perfect balance of activities and sleeping (fave past-time).  I was supposed to go to the gym with some friends on Saturday, but Sienna decided she needed a trip to the vet at about the same time (nothing serious), so that was sort of a bummer, but luckily her vet is near Kyle's grandparent's house, so she got to go meet them for the first time!

Kyle and I were not feeling like leftovers or cooking Saturday night, so we made use of an Angus Barn gift card he had from some past holiday.  I am NOT a fan of the Angus Barn for a number of reasons, but aside from one know-it-all bartender, it was a pleasant experience!  It was a nice surprise, and a tasty date night.  

Can't you tell he loves having his picture taken?!

Sunday was a fun day as well!  I went to eat brunch at the sorority house and go through the last degree of initiation, which is for graduating seniors.  Since I graduated in the fall, they allowed me to join in the festivities!  It was a nice ceremony and had lots of good food.  Afterwards I went shopping with two sisters, Rachel and Kristina, and bought two super cute (cheap!) dresses at Belk! Yay dresses!

Pledge Class '09!

Kristina and I!

After shopping I went home and napped, cleaned the house, and got ready to go to the birthday party of one of Kyle's friends.  It was at Calavera, an empanada and tequila bar in DTR.  First off, tequila is my liquor of choice, so I was instantly a happy camper with a tasting flight.  The empanadas were outstanding - I already want to go back!  I had fun meeting people Kyle knows from going to music shows, and it was nice to put faces and names together.

That was a long overdue summary of the past two weeks - I will try to post at least once per week from now on!

The Little is Back Stateside!!!

Yesterday had a very exciting conclusion!  My perfect little, Emily, is back in the USA after 3 months abroad in Paderno del Grappa, Italy!  She came to Ralz for an interview for an internship (which she will no doubt get) and came by our house for dinner!!  She only returned to the states on Friday, so I was a very eager beaver to see her since she had been gone so long (but not so long in European time).  It was great catching up with her and hearing her pasta/pizza/travel stories.  I'm so glad she is back!  

Family!!

(with pasta...Emily was nice and did not compare it too much to what she ate in Italy!)

If you are interested in Emily's European adventures, you can read her blog HERE!

Weekend in High Point

This past weekend Kyle, Sienna, and I all piled into the car to go visit Louise, in High Point.  Kyle had never seen High Point University's campus, so Louise gave us the official tour.  It was such a gorgeous day to walk around that we stopped to lounge at points, so that took most of the afternoon.  After our tour, Louise, Sienna and I snuggled in bed and took a power nap, before Kyle and I took Sienna outside to sit in the sun.  She's had to be "quiet" from her heartworm meds, and its been hard because she loves to run around and play.  It was nice to have her outside because she just has been inside a lot since she got her first shot two weeks ago.  We tried to go to the steakhouse at High Point for dinner, but something got messed up with the reservation, so we went to Liberty Brewery instead.  They had the best collard greens I've ever had! I would  happily eat just a plate of those!

On the road to High Point!

Louise's home away from home - the Communications building.

HPU

Kyle and George W. (the original)

Sienna and Kyle sunbathing

After dinner, we all got ready ready to go see Calvin Harris, who was putting on a concert just for the university.  Unfortunately I got very grumpy right before he came on, so I ended up leaving early, and Kyle came with me to make sure I got back to Louise's apartment okay.  I feel really bad I made Kyle miss the show, because he loves Calvin Harris, but he was very nice about it and said he will see Calvin at some other point.  

Before Calvin Harris

The next day we all went to eat at Carolina's Diner in High Point, which was super good.  I love diner food!  After our brunch, Kyle, Sienna, and I drove back to Raleigh.  Sienna was such a champ about traveling, I was a super proud mom!  She is also getting fatter, so I will post some before/after pictures in the next week or so.

Kyle and I watched Skyfall last night, which I give an A+ for a movie!  I'd been wanting to see it since it came out, so it was great to finally check off the list.  Next to watch: Argo and Lincoln!

I did have a dark cloud over my weekend.  Fannie, the horse I ride a few times a week, has been in the ICU at the vet school since Saturday.  She suddenly started having serious neurological problems on Saturday and currently is mostly incapable of standing.  The vets do not yet know what is causing the problem which is bad because they can't treat her if they do not know what is wrong.  I am really worried about her, even though she is not my horse, because she is just so pleasant to be around, and I've had a lot of fun with her since I started riding her at the beginning of the year.  I'm so thankful her owners have let me ride her, so just keep them and Fannie in your thoughts and hope that her condition improves over the week!

Fannie <3

Beer, Bulls, and Baseball

Yesterday, myself and my co-workers on the Pre-Sales team from iContact decided to have a bonding experience, so we went to Durham to watch the Durham Bulls play the Norfolk Tides.  I  arrived a little late to the baseball game because one day per week each of us works 10-7, and yesterday was my day to come in late/work late!  It wasn't bad and I only missed one inning.  I was such the happy camper driving from iContact to Durham because I love my team ( : D shout out to Pre-Sales!) and because we've had such amazing weather because spring is finally here!  The trees all looked so beautiful because they are a bright green alongside the redbuds which are a nice purple!  Then I got to wander through the American Tobacco Campus in Durham which is just so cool and trendy that I now have a resolution to go back during the day in the next month or so before it gets hot. More on that when it happens (sneak peek of the ATC below - from Google, not me)!

I'd never been to a Bulls game, despite having lived in the Triangle my whole life, and it was a ton of fun!  It is probably half the size of the PNC Arena, but there was way more to do and has way more food options than the Hurricanes hockey games, so for cheap sportz outings, I'll take it!  We all had fun, drinking beer, eating hotdogs, talking, not paying attention to the game (me).  Yay team!

Alex, Wool E Bull, Alex, and me!!

Front-Back: Preston, me(!), Alex, Alex, Mike, photo-bomber

 Bull riding strugz

The Pre-Sales team (minus Michelle, who was out of town)

Pre-Sales is No 1!

Stay tuned for more adventures - Kyle and I are going to High Point this weekend to visit Louise and see Calvin Harris!

Shout out to Preston's girlfriend, Callan, for taking all of the pictures!

Friday Night Live!

Just a little exciting celeb interaction - Kyle and I went to see Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live do stand up comedy on Friday at the Durham Performing Arts Center.  We had a nice dinner beforehand and then went to the show, which was very entertaining!  My favorite series he did was about studying abroad because it was all true and hilarious (and partly in French).  After the show, Kyle and I hung around outside where Seth's car was and he was super nice and came out, took pictures, and signed autographs!  It was great because he is my favorite actor on the show!  Seriously the most fun date night ever...

The *NEW* Addition!

So, as some of you may know, I recently adopted a dog from Saving Grace Rescue & Adoption!

Two weeks ago, Kyle, my mother, and I all went to see Sienna at SG way up Creedmoor Road.  I was a little apprehensive, and I did not expect much to come out of the meeting because I looked at several dogs in the past two months and I never felt comfortable with getting any of the potential new best friends.  I have very high standards, just because my mom’s dogs, Daisy and Paige, are so perfect. 

So we went to see Sienna and she was very sweet and laid back, but was also shredding every toy in sight which was worrisome (can’t have a dog that chew shoes!!!).  So I talked with my mom and Kyle about it, then went to dinner with HRH STG DVM and talked about it more.  I was still pretty undecided that night, but I woke up at like 5AM the next morning in that crazy half-awake, half-asleep state and did some rational thinking.   My dream dog is a French Bulldog – if I were to not get a rescue, and get a Frenchie puppy – that would be a LOT of work!  My hesitations with getting Sienna were that I would have to work to train her to behave like a mannerly dog.  So, even though I was really nervous about my first dog, I bit the bullet and picked her up a little over a week ago!

She’s been settling into her new home very well!  She quietly sleeps in her crate, and she loves our baby couch I bought several years ago.  She has some learning to do on the leash, because everything is super exciting and overwhelming!  My mom and I took her to Lake Johnson on Wednesday, and it was an interesting experience, but we went again with STG and Birdie this past weekend.  I’m sad because she has to start heartworm treatment next week, so she has to be “quiet” for two months or so which will put a damper on our fun L Oh well!  That gives me more opportunities to train her and have her put on a little weight because she is s-k-i-n-n-y! Everyone who has met her loves her, and she loves them!