I should have posted this ON Friday... but here are some things I'm looking forward to RIGHT NOW!
1.) Erica Visits! - this has been in the works literally since the beginning of 2011! We planned a weekend in June and then Erica's flight was cancelled. We rescheduled for Labor Day weekend, and then in August some Verizon employees were on strike and Erica had to cover emergency duty! Luckily she was able to return to her normal job last week and she's able to come this weekend! We've already got some things planned, like taking in a Yankees game, going to my favorite Mexican restaurant Rosa Mex, and lots more!
2.) Our Birthdays - Nate and I were born just two weeks - and two years apart. He turns 28 on September 13th and I turn 26 on September 24th. Last year we went to Boston, and this year we're staying in the city but doing two special things! First, we're doing a wine and cheese pairing class at an artisinal cheese center. It teaches you which wines and beers to pair with which cheeses! Second, we're doing a really nice dinner at Chef Mario Batali's restaurant in the Village, Babbo. We are so excited to celebrate - and we'd rather have experiences than presents :)
3.) The Breakfast Club Reunion - the one and only Breakfast Club ladies are reuniting in Tallahassee in October for an FSU football weekend. So excited to see the girls, and cheer for the Noles! Can't believe it's been 5 years since I went to a game at Doak Campbell stadium. I cannot wait!
4.) Christmas at home - we're planning on going home for Christmas which will be so much fun! Jenni leaves for Peace Corps in February so this will be a special Christmas with the family. Nate and I are both so close to our families that going home is always a treat. It will also be awesome to see my close friends, with Courtney living at home, Janeen and Ryan and baby Chloe not far away, Jessica and Austin will have their baby girl by then, and Ashley always comes to town to see her family! I can't wait to catch up with friends!
5.) 2012 - I know it's a few months away still, but the promise of the future is always exciting to me. I mentally plan trips and adventures, think about the possibilities, yet recognize there's so much you can't foresee!
AMENDED: #5 should be beach weekend with Nate's family! It wasn't set in stone when I made this so I decided not to post it, but it's definitely on the list! Can't wait to be at St. Augustine Beach with his awesome family and sweet little Tanner!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Our Story
I've considered telling this story many times and for some reason today struck me as the time to put it in the blog. As many of you know, Nate and I have a VERY long history that started in 2000 when I developed a crush from afar... it took me almost a year to speak to him, which only happened when my best friend (both at the time and to this day) said "Hey Nate! Can you give Dana a ride?" We were heading to a friend's graduation party beginning of summer 2001. Little did I know Nate had developed a crush on me that year too! Our first year "dating" consisted mostly of car rides and "hanging out" with friends. Thanks to one of our mutual friends Sam, we now have a picture of us at the time (which neither of us remembers being taken). Nate is 17 and I am 15. We look kind of the same... but so young!
Nate and I gave our relationship a second try in college, but since I was at Florida State in Tallahassee and he was at University of Central Florida in Orlando, we were more than 4 hours apart which made it difficult to continue. Here is an old picture from 2004 that I scanned, at this point I am 19 and Nate is 21.
It was a longer break until our paths met again - end of December 2009. We spent a lot of time together just catching up as friends, talking about our lives over the past 5 years. Nate had become a Senior Manager at the UCF Library and recently bought a house. I was finishing my last year in grad school at Duke and had spent time living abroad. Finally in February 2010 we decided to start dating again! Here is our first picture together as a couple during that time.
And now we've celebrated our year and a half anniversary this August, and Nate is about to turn 28 and I'm about to turn 26. It's amazing how far we've come! I'm blessed with this amazing love, I don't think anyone could have predicted our story some 10 years ago. We're very happy together and I can't wait for more adventures!
Nate and I gave our relationship a second try in college, but since I was at Florida State in Tallahassee and he was at University of Central Florida in Orlando, we were more than 4 hours apart which made it difficult to continue. Here is an old picture from 2004 that I scanned, at this point I am 19 and Nate is 21.
It was a longer break until our paths met again - end of December 2009. We spent a lot of time together just catching up as friends, talking about our lives over the past 5 years. Nate had become a Senior Manager at the UCF Library and recently bought a house. I was finishing my last year in grad school at Duke and had spent time living abroad. Finally in February 2010 we decided to start dating again! Here is our first picture together as a couple during that time.
And now we've celebrated our year and a half anniversary this August, and Nate is about to turn 28 and I'm about to turn 26. It's amazing how far we've come! I'm blessed with this amazing love, I don't think anyone could have predicted our story some 10 years ago. We're very happy together and I can't wait for more adventures!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Hello August!
I'm finally catching up! August has been so much fun. The first two weeks I wasn't back at work yet, but one of my best friends Rachel and her husband Allin came to visit us in NYC! Allin was teaching, but we had two fun group dinners - one out at Dos Caminos, and one back at our apartment (I LOVE that Pappardella delivers!). Rachel and I also walked Central Park - it was a fun weekend and we can't wait for them to visit again!
We also saw my friend Etienne Charles perform at our favorite jazz club Dizzy's! He sold out and the crowd loved it - it was an engaging and entertaining show! He has already recorded several CDs and is touring for the latest, Kaiso. Check it out!
Nate and I have also been exploring - we walked the High Line, which is a really cool above-ground park that is planted on an old railroad. It runs 20 blocks, starting in the Meatpacking District going north through Chelsea and ending at 30th Street, just south of Penn Station.
Also upon my return, Nate surprised me with a gourmet lunch picnic in Central Park! He took the day off and we had a really special day eating delicious food in the park. The weather in August has been much cooler than July - 70s and 80s with cool breezes.
We also had a great night at our friend's house in the lower east. They have a roof deck, and we watched the sunset while having a little wine and cheese happy hour!
Nights like these make me really thankful we live in New York City and have all these amazing experiences. I'm so glad we live in a neighborhood we love, we get to spend times with friends trying new things! Just last night Nate and I tried a new sushi restaurant in the neighborhood and we're obsessed! Life is wonderful :)
We also saw my friend Etienne Charles perform at our favorite jazz club Dizzy's! He sold out and the crowd loved it - it was an engaging and entertaining show! He has already recorded several CDs and is touring for the latest, Kaiso. Check it out!
Nate and I have also been exploring - we walked the High Line, which is a really cool above-ground park that is planted on an old railroad. It runs 20 blocks, starting in the Meatpacking District going north through Chelsea and ending at 30th Street, just south of Penn Station.
Also upon my return, Nate surprised me with a gourmet lunch picnic in Central Park! He took the day off and we had a really special day eating delicious food in the park. The weather in August has been much cooler than July - 70s and 80s with cool breezes.
We also had a great night at our friend's house in the lower east. They have a roof deck, and we watched the sunset while having a little wine and cheese happy hour!
Nights like these make me really thankful we live in New York City and have all these amazing experiences. I'm so glad we live in a neighborhood we love, we get to spend times with friends trying new things! Just last night Nate and I tried a new sushi restaurant in the neighborhood and we're obsessed! Life is wonderful :)
Florida Vacation
After Canada, I still had a few weeks until I returned to work. I spent two weeks in Florida with my family, spending time visiting friends. It was wonderful - relaxing and much needed! One of my best friends Janeen had a baby this March! Chloe Adalynn Smart was 4 months old at my visit and is so sweet and beautiful already! We squeezed 3 visits into the two weeks - one at Janeen's parents' house with her family, one at my house with my family, and one at her house in Green Cove Springs where I just went up for the day :)
I also got to see Jessica, who is pregnant and due in November! I couldn't believe the baby bump! She is glowing and will the mother to a beautiful baby girl in just a few months! I already love Baby Girl Weingart. It was wonderful to have a girls night together and just catch up - I'm constantly reminded how lucky I am to have amazing friends that have known me for so long!
I also planned a reunion night with some of my friends from the old band crew! Including Nate's best friend Dylan, the Brians, Courtney, Sam, Amanda, and my sister Jenni! We had a great time reunited at Swamp - I only wish Nate could have been there too!
Other highlights - relaxing by the pool, lunch and shopping with Nate's mom, and lots of nights in with my family, eating home cooked meals and watching the Yankees together in the living room. It's the simple things I miss the most being away from home - family and friends.
And the last highlight of my two weeks in Gainesville was reading all 7 Harry Potter books and watching all 8 movies with my sister! I'm officially a "Potterhead" and I have to say, I love it. I'm obsessed! I can't believe what I've been missing (I know, I know). ;)
I also got to see Jessica, who is pregnant and due in November! I couldn't believe the baby bump! She is glowing and will the mother to a beautiful baby girl in just a few months! I already love Baby Girl Weingart. It was wonderful to have a girls night together and just catch up - I'm constantly reminded how lucky I am to have amazing friends that have known me for so long!
I also planned a reunion night with some of my friends from the old band crew! Including Nate's best friend Dylan, the Brians, Courtney, Sam, Amanda, and my sister Jenni! We had a great time reunited at Swamp - I only wish Nate could have been there too!
Other highlights - relaxing by the pool, lunch and shopping with Nate's mom, and lots of nights in with my family, eating home cooked meals and watching the Yankees together in the living room. It's the simple things I miss the most being away from home - family and friends.
And the last highlight of my two weeks in Gainesville was reading all 7 Harry Potter books and watching all 8 movies with my sister! I'm officially a "Potterhead" and I have to say, I love it. I'm obsessed! I can't believe what I've been missing (I know, I know). ;)
Oh Canada!
Canada was such a blast! At the beginning of my contract break, we headed to Toronto to meet up with my family. We started by taking in the sights - including the top of the CN Tower with views across Toronto. There's a glass floor you can walk on - but honestly it terrified me! Nate and Jenni were a lot more comfortable with it. Still the views were worth the trip up, I highly recommend it!
We spent a lot of time at the waterfront - it was beautiful. We ate there twice, once outside, and it was really beautiful. There are also great views of the Toronto skyline. I really love being on the water - growing up in Florida and now living in NYC, I don't think I could live far away from it!
We took in a Blue Jays versus Yankees game and had front row seats! The Blue Jays stadium is awesome! It has a retractable roof, which was closed when we got there but opened for the game. We got Swisher to wave at us a few times too! It was a hot gameday but a lot of fun, plus the Yankees won :)
The highlight of the trip was our day at Niagara Falls. It was worth the hype and more. I'd seen pictures, but seeing it in person you can hear the water, which sounds like thunder. It's so powerful. You also take in the mist and seeing both falls at once (the US side and Canada side) is breathtaking. It should be on everyone's bucket list!
We didn't do the Maid of the Mist - it seemed like a long wait and a short boat ride, and most people didn't get a front row spot. Instead we did "behind the falls" which I'd really recommend - you get to see behind the falls, and also there's a viewing platform right next to the falls. We got SOAKED - here's me and Nate:
I was trying to take pictures, we were all laughing, it was hilarious. Here's a picture of me jumping for joy! What a great trip to Canada!
We spent a lot of time at the waterfront - it was beautiful. We ate there twice, once outside, and it was really beautiful. There are also great views of the Toronto skyline. I really love being on the water - growing up in Florida and now living in NYC, I don't think I could live far away from it!
We took in a Blue Jays versus Yankees game and had front row seats! The Blue Jays stadium is awesome! It has a retractable roof, which was closed when we got there but opened for the game. We got Swisher to wave at us a few times too! It was a hot gameday but a lot of fun, plus the Yankees won :)
The highlight of the trip was our day at Niagara Falls. It was worth the hype and more. I'd seen pictures, but seeing it in person you can hear the water, which sounds like thunder. It's so powerful. You also take in the mist and seeing both falls at once (the US side and Canada side) is breathtaking. It should be on everyone's bucket list!
We didn't do the Maid of the Mist - it seemed like a long wait and a short boat ride, and most people didn't get a front row spot. Instead we did "behind the falls" which I'd really recommend - you get to see behind the falls, and also there's a viewing platform right next to the falls. We got SOAKED - here's me and Nate:
I was trying to take pictures, we were all laughing, it was hilarious. Here's a picture of me jumping for joy! What a great trip to Canada!
Catching Up on July
Well I've neglected the blog, there's no doubt about that! This has been such a crazy summer there hasn't been much time to write about anything! I'm lucky if I get the pics up on facebook in a reasonable time ;) It has been the best summer, filled with travel, good friends, good food, and good times!
To summarize, we started off the summer with a Yankees game - always a good idea! I was supposed to go with Erica, one of my girlfriends who was coming to town, but her flight was cancelled and she's coming this fall instead! Nate went with me and we had a great time. He also got to see Mariano Rivera pitch for the first time, and he was excited about that. The Yankees won, and Rivera got the save :)
July started off with a visit from my best friend Courtney and her boyfriend Jason. They stayed for a long time and we had a long weekend for the 4th of July so we spent quality time together! I gave them a tour of the UN, we ate at a couple great restaurants including our favorite, Rosa Mexicano. We also walked the Brooklyn Bridge and had pizza at Grimaldi's (a New York classic!).
We also spent time at Eataly, Mario Batali's new food complex featuring imported goods from Italy and eateries inside. We ate at the pasta pizza side, which was amazing. We spent time in Central Park and walking the Upper West Side. We also had a picnic and watched the sunset and fireworks. All in all it was a great trip!
And finally, a picture of the fireworks since they were so amazing! I managed to get one decent picture (and a lot of blurry ones!)
To summarize, we started off the summer with a Yankees game - always a good idea! I was supposed to go with Erica, one of my girlfriends who was coming to town, but her flight was cancelled and she's coming this fall instead! Nate went with me and we had a great time. He also got to see Mariano Rivera pitch for the first time, and he was excited about that. The Yankees won, and Rivera got the save :)
July started off with a visit from my best friend Courtney and her boyfriend Jason. They stayed for a long time and we had a long weekend for the 4th of July so we spent quality time together! I gave them a tour of the UN, we ate at a couple great restaurants including our favorite, Rosa Mexicano. We also walked the Brooklyn Bridge and had pizza at Grimaldi's (a New York classic!).
We also spent time at Eataly, Mario Batali's new food complex featuring imported goods from Italy and eateries inside. We ate at the pasta pizza side, which was amazing. We spent time in Central Park and walking the Upper West Side. We also had a picnic and watched the sunset and fireworks. All in all it was a great trip!
And finally, a picture of the fireworks since they were so amazing! I managed to get one decent picture (and a lot of blurry ones!)
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