Mallory's Wedding

What an AMAZING weekend. I traveled to Tallahassee, Florida for one of my best friends’ weddings. Mallory and I are sisters in Pi Beta Phi. We met in 2005 and instantly bonded, becoming roommates for my senior year. We had so many special memories and funny inside jokes! This is one of my favorite pictures - us tailgating before an FSU football game! :)

I arrived Thursday night – just in time to be called up on stage by Allyson, also a PiPhi and Mallory’s Maid of Honor, to serenade her with “Dixiland Delight.” Friday we woke up and celebrated with Mallory’s family at the Bridesmaids’ Luncheon. After that we did a little set up at the church and then were treated to manis and pedis at a Nail Bar, which is a new discovery for me – both a bar AND a salon. Sipping on chardonnay while getting a pedicure – not too shabby!



Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Father Jeff, who married Mallory and Michael, was hilarious and kept everyone laughing and the rehearsal short! And Mallory and the bridesmaids accidentally coordinated outfits – Mallory wore white, Allyson wore green, Harper wore coral, and my dress had all 3 colors! The dinner was yummy! Italian restaurant called Mom and Dad’s.



Saturday morning we all slept in and then relaxed at the downstairs market. Then it was time to get ready! Mallory had all the bridesmaids in different dresses – same fabric and color, but different styles. So we also had unique hair styles. I went with a Rhianna side bun, Harper with a classic Carrie Underwood half up-half down, and Allyson with a Taylor Swift loose side bun.



Mallory looked AMAZING. Like a magazine bride, and no exaggeration at that! She had long blonde curls, natural makeup, and was super toned and tan in her gorgeous strapless gown. I was so honored to be a part of her day. It was classy and beautiful, and she and Michael are really perfect together. It was wonderful to be reunited with so many of my piphi friends too!



Nate had a great time too meeting all the piphis and being our unofficial photographer. He was a great sport about it (and a cute one at that). We had a wonderful weekend in Tallahassee, I was reminded of so many memories and special people I met there that helped shape me into the person I am today. I went into piphi nervous and curious about the girls that I would meet, if I would meet girls that would become life-long friends and sisters. Standing by Mallory’s side on her wedding day was all the more special, realizing how far we’d come and our year living in the piphi house together. I’m so happy for her and Michael and the life they are going to share together.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We had a great New Year’s Eve! Nate and I celebrated with my sister Jenni and her friend Meghna! For me, the time of the new year I like in principle, but new year’s eve I usually don’t – I always feel like it’s hyped up, and then I end up disappointed! This year was nice and relaxing, very fun. I think what I like about the holiday is looking back on the year and all the things that happened – not necessarily the staying up late and counting down aspect ;) I’m very excited about what 2011 is going to bring – already the first few weeks have been great!

First of all, we had a blast New Year’s Eve and then we said farewell to my sister, who headed to Chile for 2 weeks! I thought I was the traveler in the family, but she is steadily catching up to me! Second, I have been so good about the gym and I am seeing results – have to be consistent and steady and you will! Nate and I have enjoyed the last couple relaxing weekends as well – we spent time at the MET walking around our new favorite area – the American Wing. I just love the period furniture – I think it’s all incredibly intricate and beautiful. We also went to a new restaurant that I think we’ll return to – Dos Caminos – great Mexican food! Nate’s friend Nicole came into town and we hit up a classic that Nate hadn’t been to – Tom’s Restaurant in Brooklyn. Other updates – at work our DC Team came in for a couple days which was great – I love working with the bigger team! Also a meeting with Gates Foundation – interesting and I’m learning a lot.

Finally, just before New Year’s (but not publically announced until after) is that my Life Twin, sorority sister, and amazing friend Mallory is engaged! She got engaged Christmas Eve to an amazing guy Michael! I’ve been remembering the PiPhi days and I’m so looking forward to celebrating Mallory and Michael with all my sorority sisters. Can’t wait to be reunited with all the girls below :) It's hard to believe we're all grown up now - weddings are going to become the norm, if they haven't already!



Coming up next: 2 weeks from today is my & Nate’s 1-year anniversary. Rather than do gifts, we decided to celebrate by doing something special so we are going to Philadelphia for the weekend. Staying at the cutest bed and breakfast, sightseeing a new city (brand new to Nate, and I’ve only been once for a conference so I didn’t see much), and seeing my friend Kelly and her boyfriend Sam while we are there!

Stay tuned!

Decade in Review

So... apparently... the decade ended this year! I feel as though last year was all about the end of the decade, but it was not! So in light of the end of the decade, and my love of summarizing with pictures, here is a short summary of the decade!

2001 – Sophomore in high school, became a Drum Major, Sonlight ended, became a Junior, September 11th, my grandfather died.



2002 – Junior in high school, became Student Body Vice President and a Senior, worked my first summer job at RTI.






2003 – Graduated from high school, moved away from home, started college at FSU in Tallahassee.




2004 – Became a Lady Spirithunter, returned to Gainesville for the summer, joined Pi Beta Phi sorority, founded the Breakfast Club.




2005 – Finished sophomore year of college, spent 2 months studying abroad in London, England. Witnessed the bombings. Traveled to Paris, Rome, and Brussels. Started Junior Year at FSU.




2006 – Finished junior year at FSU. Spent final college summer in Tallahassee. Started Senior Year, and turned 21!




2007 – Most eventful year of the decade, has to be broken into first and second half. First half - finished senior year! Awarded Panhellenic Woman of the Year and Senior Hall of Fame. Graduated from FSU Summa Cum Laude.





Second half - moved to Italy to start internship for the UN World Food Programme. Traveled all over Italy and to Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.






2008 – Lived in Gainesville. Celebrated Janeen & Rachel’s weddings. Family went on a cruise! Got into grad school, moved to North Carolina. Started master’s at Duke University.





2009 – Finished first year at Duke. Spent summer in Tanzania. Returned to Duke for final year of grad school.



2010 – The second most eventful year in the decade! First half - Nate and I started dating. Spent two weeks consulting in India. Graduated from Duke with Master’s in Public Policy.



Second half - Nate and I moved to NYC. I started working at UN World Food Programme. More friends got married! Spent first Christmas outside of Gainesville.

PiPhis in Tanzania

This is a post which should have made it up earlier, I apologize for it being out-of-sequence. In the last volunteer group there was a volunteer Meg who is a Pi Beta Phi at Loyola College in Los Angelos. As a proud Pi Beta Phi alumnae from Florida State (and current Alumni Advisory Council member at Duke’s PiPhi chapter) I instantly gravitated to Meg and we bonded instantly.

This story may sound cheesy or even contrived but it’s absolutely true… when the frightening incident with the man with the knife happened I found myself back at the CCS house trying to keep everyone calm. Meg had only been in Tanzania for three days (I’d been here about 3 weeks) and we’d only met the day before and discovered we were sisters in Pi Beta Phi. Across the yard I spotted Meg and unconsciously we just turned to each other – no words needed, just hugging and crying and trying to make sense of this tragic situation. We must have stood there hugging for 10 minutes but I was filled with a sense of relief, like we had been friends for years and years.

Its one of the things that’s hard to explain about sorority life – it gets its negative connotations but there is a real bond that translates even in Africa. Two total strangers that share this sense of sisterhood and I know I will remain in touch with Meg even though she has already headed back to the United States (her program was only 3 weeks whereas mine is 12). I doubt I did justice to show how much this situation meant to me but it absolutely did. The picture above is us on her last night – the symbol of PiPhi is an angel so I am the angel and she is the halo.

To all my sisters in Pi Beta Phi…. TTF. I miss and love you all.