FSU - BCS National Champs!

Monday night Florida State played Auburn in the last BCS National Championship Game out in Pasadena California. I was proud but nervous to cheer on my noles - and it was definitely a close game! FSU scored the winning touchdown under a minute left! When it was finally over Nate and I danced around the apartment - so proud that my Seminoles finished an absolutely incredible year 14-0, unconquered both in terms of record and spirit.

FSU gave me four of the best years of my life. I made life-long friends and countless memories tailgating and cheering for the Seminoles. While 2003-2007 certainly weren't flagship football years they were special nonetheless. And, even though I couldn't be in Pasadena, it was no less special thinking about all my friends and reminiscing over old memories.

It also was a great way to kick off what will surely be one of the most memorable years of our lives! UCF also beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl which was awesome for me and Nate, who is a proud Knights alum! And in happy losses, we were pleased Urban and Saban lost their bowl games ;)

Some favorite FSU football pics below:

So proud of my team... 2014 is off to an amazing start!!!! 

Subzero Temps, Not Spirits!

Ooooof. As you might have heard it's been a *little* cold across the country, particularly in the midwest and northeast. Today it was positively balmy with high of 11 degrees. The low temps peaked yesterday at around -16 wind chill. Ewwww.

That hasn't dulled our 2014 spirits! Saturday we played in the snow and took in and appreciated that we get to experience all the seasons up here - even when winter gets us a little down in the dumps. Some beautiful pictures of us in Central Park below:

Brrrrrrrr. I'm ready for spring now.

To Resolve, Or Not To Resolve?

Resolutions - friend or foe? There's something about every year that makes us resolved to be happier - so we make lists, and goals, and ultimately - excuses. And we start over every year. Back in college I had the same resolution for 3 years in a row - not to drink soda. It seemed like a good one, and I kept it. In grad school I had laundry lists of resolutions that went nowhere fast. Last year I made one big one - to learn moderation, and to get a better handle on my anxiety. That's come a long way but it's really a lifestyle, not a resolution. So... my big question this year was should I have any resolutions? What should they be?

I do have one, inspired by our New Year's Eve dinner at Rosa Mexicano. Two girls at the table next to us (best guess college age, early 20s) spent the entire meal (including eating) on their phones. They did not put them down once. They snapchatted to each other, they tweeted, instagrammed, posted status updates to Facebook, and texted. I was stunned, and concerned - not for them, but for all of us. As a Social Media Manager it's my job to be plugged in to trends, to understand and use social media with fluency and ease. But I couldn't help but wonder - am I at risk for behaving this way? For experiencing a real-life experience virtually? It made me resolve to spend less time on my phone this year. To put it away during meals, to Instagram later, to be in the moment more. It's so easy - and downright fun - to post what you're doing, to get instant likes and "omg! wish I was there! so cool! etc." comments. But it shouldn't come at the expense of the actual experience. Will I do it? We will see. I'm lucky that my fiance and husband-to-be does NOT have a smart phone and as a result, does a good job of helping keep me in the moment.

Other resolutions... well again, lifestyle-wise I resolve every year to travel to a new domestic and international destination. Last year I made it to the Dominican Republic twice which was a new country and both were amazing trips. I did not make it anywhere new in the US. Travel-wise, 2013 was a slowwwww year. 2014 is shaping up to be busier already. Domestically, I am traveling to Arizona for one of my bridesmaids' Erica's bachelorette party. Internationally, we are traveling to three new countries on our honeymoon - Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Bali). And Nate and I are planning for Thanksgiving week in Paris. France will be a new country for him - I've been twice!

So alas, one true resolution this year... we will see how it goes! I leave you with this fun "resolution" that I found as I was putting this blog post together:

Cheers to 2014!

Cheers to 2014!

I didn't blog as much in 2013. In a lot of ways, the year was a disappointment. There were some amazing highlights - like Nate and I getting engaged and my opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic twice to see my sister. I also started a great new job. But in other ways, it was disappointing. A lot of waiting, some personal struggles, and some painful endings. It was, in sports terms, a "rebuilding year" and that's okay to have sometimes. This fall I lost a lot of the "stress weight" I put on at the end of 2012 and I'm feeling fit and happy.

2014 is off to an amazing start. We rang in the New Year with our best friends, the second year we've done so and it's my favorite new tradition! We are so excited for what this year has in store - our engagement party in Gainesville is just a few weeks away and it's followed shortly by the wedding of a dear college friend and member of the Breakfast Club. Spring is a busy time at work with March for Babies, and I have two bachelorette parties to attend (my own, and my friend Erica's) and then in June, it's our wedding and honeymoon! Fall is rapidly filling up as well - I know this is going to be a year to remember. Right now I'm feeling really thankful and grateful for our amazing families and friends and my own little family, my wonderful understanding, patient, and unconditionally loving fiance and sweet little pup Siena.

Here are a few favorite pictures from last night/early this morning:

Happy New Year!

Christmas in Gainesville

Not much to say except this was one of the best trips home we've ever had - nice long week at home spending quality time with our families and friends. Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip:

 Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

I Who Have Arrived in Heaven

Back at the beginning of the month, Nate, Jen and I waited in an insanely long line to view the art exhibition "I Who Have Arrived in Heaven" by artist Yayoi Kusama at the David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea. The first exhibit, "Love is Calling" had a significantly shorter line, just about 10 minutes. It was really neat - these sculptures changed colors in the middle of an infinity room.

There was also a beautiful poem on the wall outside this exhibit that I thought was really pretty. It's called "Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears."

Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears

When the time comes around for people to encounter the end of their life

having put on years, death seems to be quietly approaching

It was not supposed to be my style to be frightened of that, but I am

In the shadows of my loved ones footprints, distress revisits me at the dead of night refreshing my memories

Being in love with and longing for you, I have locked myself up in this “castle of shed tears”

Now may be the time for me to wander off into the place, the guidepost to the other world points to

And the sky is waiting for me, attended by numerous clouds

Overwhelmed by your tenderness that has always encouraged me

I have been searching for “love” in earnest taking my wish for happiness along

Let me call out to and ask the birds flying about in the sky

I want to convey to them my feelings

Over many long years, with art as a weapon

I have treaded the path in search of love

During the days I have lived through keeping “despair”, “emptiness” and “loneliness” all to myself along the way

there were times when the fireworks of life “splendidly” adorned the sky

Dancing in the night sky in a myriad of colors, the fireworks sprinkled dust all over my body

I will never forget that exhilarating moment

Now I think is the time to dedicate my heart to you, my dearest

Was the beauty of the end of one’s life nothing more than illusion?

Would you give me an answer to this?

Devoting all my heart to you, I have lived through to this day

Hoping to leave beautiful footprints at the end of my life

I spend each day praying that my wish will be fulfilled

This is my message of love to you

The long wait was for the exhibit "The Souls of a Million Light Years Away." The reason for the wait is that each person gets to go in the room alone for just under a minute. You could take pictures, which was cool. You walk onto the platform, the rest of the floor was water. The walls were all mirrors and colored lights hung from the ceiling all around you. The mirrors had the effect of feeling like you were in heaven, among the stars. It was magical - and the minute honestly felt like eternity! The lights changed every few seconds so there were a range of effects you could see. Worth the wait, in my opinion! This is my favorite pic of the ones I took:

Nate and I have resolved to do more things like this in 2014! There are so many opportunities living in NYC - exhibits like this one only stay for a few weeks or months, if you're lucky. I'm so glad we saw this exhibit and look forward to more adventures in 2014!

Christmastime in NYC

My first post of the New Year is a belated Christmas post! Can you forgive me, reader(s)? Of course you can. It's been a busy time!

Christmastime in NYC is always one of my favorite things. This year we did something new - ice skating in Bryant Park for one of my best friends - Julie's birthday. Nate wouldn't skate but we did take a cute Christmas-card-worthy picture outside the Bryant Park Grill with all the festive lights!

One of the best things about 2013 was spending it with the close friends I've made since moving to NYC. Finding life-long friends isn't easy and can't be planned. I'm so lucky to have amazingly supportive friends here. We had a blast celebrating Julie's birthday and knocking ice skating in Bryant Park off the NYC bucket list!

Christmastime in NYC is not to be missed! We hope to take in more sights next year. We didn't make it to the Rockefeller Tree or the 5th Avenue shops - that'll be a must-do for 2014!