Back on the…er…horse

I can’t think of a proper metaphor to use as my way to say that I signed up for yet another half-marathon. I say “yet another” because in the past two years, I’ve signed up for three halfs and have only run one of them. So…I’d say chances are 50-50 that I’ll actually run it. Luckily, I have some amazing support, and I’ll be joined by a lovely friend-slash-bloggista. Oh, and did I mention the course? Gorge. I’d be crazy to chicken out of this one.

In other sad news, I was rejected from my dream-job…so if there’s anyone out there looking for a brand manager/marketing MBA intern this summer, hit me up. Seriously. I’m free.

best bridesmaid gift…ever?

Alright folks, I’m not going to make any promises to you because that would just set me up for defeat, but…I…I…I think I’m back? At any rate, my schedule has finally calmed down and I can think about something besides business school, puppy poo, and how many times in a row I can eat Thai take-out before I damage my internal organs. A quick update on all of the subjects I tend to cover on this li’l blog, but first, a photo of my son:

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Don’t you want one?

1. Workouts: yeah. Haven’t worked out since October, 2009. I’m not joking. I got pretty sick there toward the end of the year, which completely derailed the once-monthly 15-minute runs I had been doing prior. The good news (for me) is that I haven’t gained weight, but the bad news is that my abs resemble custard. It’s okay. We’ll get back on the wagon together.

2. Makeup: …er…the only makeup I have time for is covering up the zits that sprinkle my face because I’ve been stressed. But on a whim I just bought a bunch of lipstick (probably because I was inspired by the wife in Spurtacus: Blood and Sand) so maybe I’ll have a little something to say about that.

3. Food: did you read the line above about Thai takeout? I wasn’t kidding. I haven’t cooked anything in over a month and a half.

So you can see why I haven’t really been blogging. Anyway. That’s not what I sat down to write about. I wanted to tell you about the lovely bridesmaid gift my friend and letterpress guru Aubrey gave me after her wedding last summer. See, in business school we’re right in the thick of job interviews. And what I lack in work experience, I like to make up for in pure class.

After an interview, sure, you can write an thank-you email to the people who interviewed you. In fact, that’s what my school encourages us to do. But my mama didn’t raise me to show gratitude electronically. Oh no. A thank you isn’t a thank you if it’s not hand-written and couriered to its recipient on the day after the interview.

Does it get me the job over my peers? No. Do I look like the most well-mannered broad anyone could imagine? Pretty much. I take what I can get.

So imagine how my classiness expands exponentially when the notes are rich, thick letterpressed cardstock. Brilliant. Once I run out of these babies (which will probably happen within a week, since I love them so much that I find excuses to write thank-you notes for ANYTHING including for Dave when he Drain-O-ed our shower) I’m going to order more. I can’t live without them.

Well would you lookie here…

While I’ve been hiding from the blog, my fabulous photographer, Yvonne Wong, has been putting together the mother of all awesome wedding posts for me. Check it out. God I love her.

Just a click

I know I’ve been MIA and you’ll just have to be patient with me. While you’re waiting, please click to register your vote to end SMA. Your vote can make a difference in this little girl’s life and in the lives of thousands of children like her.

Some facts about SMA:

About SMA

SMA is the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Fewer than 1 in 35 people unknowingly carrying the gene responsible for SMA.

1 in every 6,000 babies is born with SMA; SMA prevalence is comparable to ALS and Cystic Fibrosis.

SMA impacts the ability to walk, sit, stand, eat, breathe, and swallow. SMA does not impact the mind and children with SMA are bright and social.

There is currently no treatment and no cure for SMA, but there is HOPE!

The NIH has selected SMA as the disease closest to treatment of more than 600 disorders.

Leading U.S. researchers, including Nobel laureate James Watson, have stated that a viable treatment for SMA is possible within 5 years IF they are provided the proper resources.

Posted by Victoria Withey Strong

Thank you for reading! Help the cause: I Read This

The Chase Giving race is a close one. We are neck in neck for a spot in the top six — and a chance for a monetary prize. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Because you can only vote for GSF ONE TIME — every single vote is critical!!!

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VOTE: http://VoteForSMA.com

Beautiful

Our wedding video is nearly done (I took forEVER to get Mitch our song choices so he was sitting there in Seattle wanting to work on it while I hemmed and hawed) (hmmm, apparently procrastination is my thing lately). But here’s a perfect little 4ish-minute slice of the happiest day of my life. You may recognize some of these scenes from the clip I posted a while back, but this is so much more. I friggin’ love Mitch from Cabfare Productions. You have to hire him for your wedding if you can. And take note right around 1:00 to see the three beauties who complete me (aside from, you know, my soulmate and my parents and stuff).

Oh, and I’ve concluded that I can’t make any commitments yet to posting regularly. I’m having serious, uh, life issues right now – some good and some bad – and my pea-sized brain can’t handle it. So stick me in your reader or RSS feed and you’ll see me when I’m back. Also, I’m getting my puppy on Sunday.

Want to help me write my book?

Image by the fabulous Yvonne Wong

Okay, I’m only half-kidding. See, in writing this book about the whole mother-daughter wedding planning experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to learn about what a life commitment MEANS is to ask anyone and everyone.

And, OBVIOUSLY, that means you. You guys are my peeps, you know? You’re the reason I’m writing this book in the first place. So…here’s a list of questions. Answer any or all of them in the comment section. And make sure you include the name you’d like me to use if I end up quoting you in the wedding book. If you have anything extra to say that isn’t covered by the questions, let ‘er rip!

For those of you who aren’t married, I STILL want to hear from you – believe it or not, getting married doesn’t magically transform you into this wise woman who understands the core of her being. So tell me what you think, too.

1. If you’ve ever been married, describe the role your mother played (or didn’t play) in planning your wedding. Anecdotes, quotes, and copies of emails/letters are welcome. Interpret this question however you’d like.

2. If you’re a professional in the wedding industry, describe some of the lessons your job has taught you. What have you learned about the meaning of a wedding, both for the couple and for their loved ones?

3. What was unique about your wedding? Alternatively, if you’re a professional in the wedding industry, what non-traditional elements have you seen? What did these quirky touches say to you about the marriage, and what did you learn from this out-of-the-box approach?

4. Tell me your best wedding drama story. I KNOW you’ve all got ‘em.

5. Tell me a mother-of-the-bride story. Professionals, what crazy mother-of-the-bride experiences have you had?

6. Based on your experiences, what are the three pieces of advice you’d give a bride and/or her mother? Feel free to only speak to the bride, or only to the mother, or to both. I’m hoping that you’ll tailor this answer to your specific background – so Jocelyn, who’s a makeup artist, might tell brides to moisturize the HECK outta themselves in the months leading up to the big day. (And if y’all have more than three rules, friggin’ list ‘em!!!)

7. Anything else? Seriously – anything at all? Even if it’s totally unrelated to any of the above. Don’t hold back.

Image also by the fabulous Yvonne Wong who you should book IMMEDIATELY if you're looking for a photographer

…I’ve been cheating

Not REALLY, but here’s the deal: this isn’t a dog blog. And I don’t want to bug all of you with photo after photo of li’l Baxter once he arrives…so I sorta kinda started another blog. Just for my boy. It’s going to be a little more similar to The Daily Coyote, with more photos than words, so it won’t detract from this blog at all. Anyway, feel free to add Baxter’s Modern Life to your Google Reader or whatever if you want to see life through the eyes of my firstborn son puppy.

La neige!

I woke up to my favorite sight this morning: freshly fallen snow. I don’t know what it is about that shizz – it’s like Prozac for me. This is the first snow we’ve gotten this season in Chicago so I’m pretty much jumping out of my skin with holiday cheer and optimism, which is a stark contrast from the horrified panic I was in last night over one of the finals I have this week.

Ah, Wiggs, you are so sporadic

That’s what your saying, isn’t it? I know, I know, bad blogger and yadda yadda. My only excuse is that juggling school and book-writing and now it’s finals season and…and…feel sorry for meeeeeee!! Okay, just kidding. Anyway, things will pick up after the holidays.

Oh, and about Aubrey’s faaabulous wedding…I have to hold off on publishing photos of it. It’s very exciting and that’s all I’ll say.

I just wanted to drop in and tell you that Wednesday of this week, December 3, marked the four-year anniversary since Dave and I shared our first kiss. It was the last first kiss with another person either of us would ever experience. I’m hell-bent on still celebrating this little miniversary, since it reminds me of how much we’ve grown and experienced in the last four years…but he says it detracts from our new, cooler anniversary. What do you guys think? Do you still celebrate your old anniversary after you get married? Apprope or inapprope?

Here’s a photo taken of us the day after our first kiss. He came to my dorm room hang out and got in trouble with his friends because it was the first time he had ever ditched them for a girl. I think they forgive him now. Look how happy and giddy we were (and still are):

Who knew that four years later we’d be married? Aw, I love life.

Heeeere comes a wedding recap!

Check back soon for a whole truckload of photos from Aubrey’s wedding. It was, in a word, stunning.

Also, I realized that in the meme that I posted a while back, I had some blonde moments and crossed out a few items I actually haven’t done. I’m surprised none of you commented on it…seriously, people, I’ve never snorted cocaine. I’m too much of a spaz as it is. For the record, I’ve also never smoked cigarettes, cried myself to sleep (actually, I did that over my accounting class last week, but as of that post, I was a cry-myself-to-sleep virg), cheated on anyone, been in a mental hospital, had an online diary (this is NOT my diary) (most of the time), overdosed, or had a drug/alcohol problem. Yeesh. I have no clue why those got crossed out. Anyway, not a big deal but I know some people who would care (hi, Grammy and Pa!) read this blog and I had to clarify. For posterity’s sake.

So, in sum: come back soon for Aubrey’s wedding, and I’m not a skank.