Home Sweet (New) Home - A Photo Tour

In the interest of sharing with you all that has taken place in the last few months, the following is a brief photo tour of some of the highlights...

At the beginning of August, we took a family vacation to my favorite place in the world, Hilton Head Island, SC.

Then, we shared a final hoorah with some of our friends at the Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw Concert!

 We sent our little sister off to college!

Then came the move... packing was a nightmare, but Allie was super helpful :)

Then the long drive from New Jersey to Tennessee.

And since then...

 

So there you have it, our life for the last two months in a nutshell...or a photo!

Timeless Elegance or It Never Gets Old

As many of you know, I often share memories from November 6, 2010 - my wedding day! It was a magically thrilling experience and I love to recall it.

This past week, almost exactly 18 months after we said our vows, the photos captured from our special day were featured on the famous wedding blog Style Me Pretty in the New York section. It is such an honor to be included on a site that has helped so many brides craft and execute their vision for their own dream wedding day.

As someone who dreamt of her wedding since she was a little girl (and isn't afraid to admit it), I feel blessed that my dreams not only came true, but were far exceeded by the actual experience I had as a bride. As such, it feels only appropriate that I should share that with others.

No matter if you're a little girl dreaming of a far off day, a bride-to-be in the midst of wedding planning, or a seasoned veteran of marital bliss, I hope you enjoy this post!



 

Post-Vacay and a Labor Day Getaway

Hello! And welcome back to the world of Shoes and Baby Blues! It’s September (one of my favorite months) and I’ve just returned from Ireland (sad face).

The trip was incredible! Ireland is a beautiful country with a unique and touching story. Dublin is a city full of history and fun, and we experienced it all (and then some).

It was fantastic to meet the ManBoy’s friends from his time in Ireland and witness the city through his eyes and his stories. He showed me where he lived and bought me a pint at his favorite pub. He taught me about the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. I learned about Michael Collins, and Eamon De Valera, and all of the historical figures who fought hard for a free and independent Ireland. We visited Glasnevin Cemetery and saw the bullet holes in the walls of the GPO.

Not to worry, it wasn’t all educational. We certainly indulged in our fair share of the local culture. The Irish are a fun people and they put us to the test. (In all honesty, I’m not sure how well we kept up, but we certainly did our best).

The festival in Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leary) was amazing as well – food, crafts, workshops, and performances from around the world. They even threw a party in the bar of our hotel that raged well into the night! SO. MUCH. FUN. (I managed to get the ManBoy dancing at one point, though I’m strictly forbidden to disseminate any incriminating materials proving such an event took place i.e. videos and photos)

All in all, it was truly a marvelous trip – we took plenty of photos and made plenty of memories. Nothing like taking a mini-holiday to Europe with the man you love!

Though the return home was bittersweet, there is more fun to be had this weekend for Labor Day. (Gotta love three short work weeks in a row!)

The ManBoy and I will be road tripping to New Hampshire with some of his old high school buddies. Minus the 5 hour drive, it should be a great time!

Enjoy the long weekend and we’ll talk soon! ;-)

In the meantime…a few photos for your enjoyment...

An Irish StapleThe ManBoy's Old Stomping Grounds

Dun Laoghaire Harbor

On The Dun Laoghaire Pier

The Festival

Girls Gone....Mild

My little girls are growing up...

Last weekend was Beach Weekend '09 - The Reunion. Every year, five girlfriends who have been close since elementary school get together for a weekend of GCF (good-clean-fun) and, up until recently, boy-bashing (also known as “man-hating”).

As always, this year’s Beach Weekend was a success! But, amidst the quiet reflection that inevitably comes from comparing last year’s Facebook photos to this year’s (and the untagging that ensues), I couldn’t help but notice that something was different. We’d changed, and it wasn’t just a few pounds here or there, a new hair style (or color), or an increasingly developed fashion sense – we, for the first time, (vaguely) resembled adults.

{We also, unlike in years past, were all spoken for by seemingly appropriate male suitors. Good job ladies!}

Rather than taking to the streets (read “bars”) of Belmar, NJ for two nights straight, we opted for a calmer route: Cocktails out back by the dunes and genuinely taking time to catch up, and (get this) L I S T E N to the goings on of our friends’ lives. It was wonderful!

I found myself staring, in disbelief, at a group of young women whom I’d seen go through the ups and downs of life. We’ve laughed with each other, cried with each other, and been at each others’ sides when %#@! has hit the fan. We’ve each had front row seats to the dramas of each others’ lives since before I can remember and here we were, employed, paying bills, and planning our futures, all the while giggling as we always have.

As we made our way up from the Jersey Shore and the reality of the impending Monday morning commute settled in, I was left with an overwhelming feeling. Sleep deprivation aside, I was focused on how rare and special a thing it is that we share: A friendship that has withstood the tests of time, and I reckon, will continue to do so. The five of us could not be more different, and yet, rather than drift apart and succumb to the pressures of life that often tear at childhood friendships, we have stayed strong and connected to one another. We may not speak on a daily basis, but when we do, it’s as if not a moment has passed since last we caught up.

Later that night, as I settled in to recount the weekend's events to the ManBoy, I realized too that I was in a completely different place from just one year ago. Here I was, sitting across from the ManBoy I love, and with whom I am thrilled to be planning a life, speaking about my friends whom I’ve known since preschool. He listened, politely intrigued, as I described what had taken place. He couldn’t have felt more removed or out of context, but I sensed that, as I spoke, (unaware of whether he was listening or tuning me out) he learned things about my past that I hadn’t even thought to share with him.

Many of these girls he’s not yet met, (something that is about to change as the girls have planned a “meet and greet” happy hour with our significant others for next week) but, they have been witnesses to my life long before I even knew he existed. I can say, with absolute certainty, when I look back over my 23 years, that I have been in a state of constant evolution. And, while that transformation, I hope, has not yet come to an end, I am in a content and happy place, the likes of which I’ve never seen in my past. It’s a comfort to know though, regardless of what’s changed, that there are a select few who have been there for the whole ride. They have a unique perspective on my life and constantly remind me of how far I’ve come.

So ladies, I thank you. I love you all for who you were and who you’ve become. I love you for your uniqueness and your understanding. I love you for always being up for cocktails and a good laugh. But, most of all, I love you for your friendship.

Just Because a Name Should Have a Face...

It's been 6 months, we've already made a million memories...and I'd like to share a few with you.

One of our first nights out in New York

Thanksgiving Weekend in Massachusetts - a.k.a. Meeting the Parents

His hometown is so beautiful!

Christmas in New York!

Happy New Year!


Our trip to Mexico! (and that orange dress was my birthday gift from him! )

Easter Sunday in New Jersey

We take each day as it comes and cherish every moment. We're making memories of us...