Sweet Sound of Friday

I could listen to this over and over. Thanks, Carrie!

Some Cheese with That Wine

Thanks to Kelley for throwing such a beautiful bridal shower for me at Camelot Cellars!

Thank you for the great pictures, Geneva!

Everyone got to take home their own mini bottle of green apple Riesling complete with a custom label designed by Kelley using one of Shawn and I's engagement pictures!

The Power of "The List"

I have never really questioned my need to make lists of things to do. Lists seem practical enough. They keep me organized, on time and on task. To me, a list is really a set of goals I want to accomplish and each check mark or crossed off item brings me one to-do closer to my end goal: Be productive.

I'm finding more and more that I really like crossing items off my lists or putting a check mark next to completed tasks (my usual mark). In fact, I get antsy with anticipation of making a permanent check mark beside the items on my list. It's strange, but true.

Carrie has really made me think about all the lists I make and, undoubtedly, made me realize that I am definitely not alone with my crazy list-making behavior. What's funny is that Carrie talked about her list of lists. Here is my list of lists:

1. Wedding
   
2. Camping
   
3. June bills
4. Home improvement projects

Carrie asked us to make a list of things we need to do this Memorial Day weekend, so here is my three-day weekend list with today's tasks mixed in:

1. Buy assigned food/beverages for camping - there is also a list of these items on a Post-It in my planner
2. Get passport photos taken
3. Drop passport applications off at the post office
4. Go to the eye doctor
   
5. Pack for camping
6. Clean the house
   
7. Bathe the dogs
8. Arrive at Hocking Hills campground, unpack, and set up tent
9. Go ca-brewing
10. Relax!

Love at First Sight

Shawn and I had outdoor engagement pictures taken over the weekend by Geneva Marie and I am in love. I just had to share: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32581380@N05/sets/72157618295647667

We are going to have a heck of a time picking some out to print to hang in our house!

Serendipity

This afternoon I saw an older couple riding electric power chairs down the sidewalk near my office and I almost cried (tears of joy, of course). It was the sweetest thing. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

It made me realize that our bodies may age, but our love never does. I thought of Shawn and how in a few short months we will vow to be together for the rest of our lives, come rain, shine, or power chairs.

I've always wondered if, as people age, do they still see their husbands and wives and partners the same way as the day they fell in love with them all those years ago? I'm talking about physical attributes. When I'm 70 with wrinkles permanently settled around my eyes and on my forehead, will Shawn still see the 25-year-old woman he married? Do my grandparents still see each other as the beautiful, young couple in the picture on the poster-sized card from their 40th wedding anniversary?

My thought is I think that no matter what our physical features morph into over time, we'll still be Holly and Shawn. At some point, my boobs will sag and his hair will turn white, but we fell in love for more reasons that looks. Many more. But I guess if we think each other is ugly in 50 years, there's always implants, face lifts, and Just for Men.

Old is New Again

I have returned this blog to the name it was given at the time of conception. Why? Talking about all the good things in my life is wonderful, but reading Eat. Pray. Love. has inspired me to write the real, raw, and honest experiences that happen in my day to day life. With real emotions and gut-wrenching truth. The good stuff.

Plus, talking about all the reasons to smile in a day gets kinda boring. And I don't have that much time to blog after every Kodak moment in the day.

So it's time to get down and dirty. The goal is not to rant and rave about all the injustice that puts a thorn in the side of my life. But let's call a spade a spade and talk about LIFE. REAL LIFE. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful; honest-to-God real life.

This blog needs passion, emotion, and all the random thoughts and ideas that cloud my brain in any given day. Further, I'm indecisive and I can't commit to giving my blog a theme. It seems lame and I know I'll change my mind eventually anyway. So no theme. No limits.

I'm picking up the proverbial scissors and running with them.

Reason to Smile #41

Eat. Pray. Love.

H2 inspired me to read Eat. Pray. Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's quite a page-turner and not like any other book I've read...yet. I could go on and on praising this book about self-discovery, but I'll leave it to you to decide whether to read it or not.

In chapter 48 (or the 48 bead...you'll understand when/if you read it), I came across a great quote from Richard from Texas about soul mates:

"...People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake..."

Reason to Smile #40

2 hours and 7 minutes

After three months of training, I ran the Capital City Half Marathon on May 2. Prior to that morning I was a ball of nerves just praying that I would be able to run the whole race without stopping/feeling like poo/dying.

Well, I made it! It was a great run and I felt pretty good through the majority of the 13.1 miles. I hit the runner's wall about mile 9-9.5 but snapped out of it around mile 11 knowing I only had 2 miles left.

I couldn't have done it without my training partners, Kadia and Audra. I'm so proud of us, ladies!

So will there be a next one? The Columbus Half Marathon is held in October and it's not an unthinkable goal. Stay tuned for that decision...