Tales from Astoria: 2010

2010 - In Review

So what happened this year:

- My cousin Siena was born.

- Andrew graduated with his BA.

- Christopher graduated from high school and started college.

- Edward graduated with his MA.

- I was given two bridal showers.

- The hubby had his bachelor party at Citifield with awesome seats!

- I had my bachelorette party at Elizabeth Arden Spa, Bourbon Street Restaurant and Swing 46.

- We were MARRIED on July 17th.

- We took our cruise through Maine and Canada.

- Our friends Tara and Chris & Sara and Matt got engaged.

- We celebrated the holidays with both of our families.

- We hosted our first party at our apartment in Astoria.

- The hubby got a new job.

- We got our first Christmas Madame Alexander Doll.

Happy Belated Birthday to Our Cute Little Blog!

So, I didn't even realized in the midst of all of the snow that we hit the one year birthday of our little blog on December 28th. When I started the blog, I never gave an thought to how long this would last. It has been a wonderful way for us to remember everything that has happened over this past year.

So, happy belated birthday little blog!

Holy Crow! That's some snow!

These photos do not do the situation in Astoria justice. Steinway is clear. But, other than that the roads leave much to be desired. What I do not understand is why they wouldn't just have plowed little by little. There are numerous stories about snowplows being stuck on streets throughout the city. Last night there were groups of people helping each other to get their cars out of parking spaces. You could hear them cheering when they got a car out. At many intersections, pedestrians cannot cross because the corners are not plowed/shoveled but, the sidewalks are relatively clear because the citizens are required by law to clear the snow away from their property. I am glad to hear that the weather will be warming up this weekend. Hopefully, most of this will melt.

Twas the Night After Christmas...

Twas the night after Christmas

And all through Astoria,

Not a creature was stirring not even the super.

The stockings were still hung on the wall with care.

In hopes that the snow plows would soon be there.

The residents were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of snow days danced in their heads;
And the hubby in his had, and I beneath my blanket,
Had just settled in for a relaxing day together,

When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.

The street lights on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But our super!

Earlier today, our friend Carolyn took us and our Christmas gifts home to Astoria from Long Island. We aren't sure if the hubby is expected to go to work tomorrow so, we decided we would come back before the snow got really bad.

At this point, the snow is falling steadily blowing from right to left. We have started to unpack our generous Christmas gifts. We are enjoying our own little Christmas feast today. I've made a few snacks to enjoy and we will have some of the hubby's dad's tomato sauce for dinner with some wine in our new monogrammed glasses.

Our friends and family were so incredibly generous this Christmas. It was a wonderful first Christmas together!

Off to enjoy Blizzard 2010 and Shirley Temple in Miracle on 34th Street.

Merry Christmas!

This was our first Christmas as a married couple. It was wonderful. We are so blessed to have two wonderful families that love us so much. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with Dave's parents and aunts in Maryland. We had a wonderful evening with a tasty meal, Christmas Vigil Mass, gift giving, and time by the fireplace. This morning after breakfast we hit the road to head amidst snow flurries bound for New York to spend Christmas afternoon and evening with my family and good friend of mine. It was great to be home and celebrate all together!

We are well fed, well loved, and tuckered out from all of the celebrating. It has been a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

Creamy Mushroom Phyllo Triangles Recipe | MyRecipes.com

Christmas Past!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010 - Our First Christmas Together

are leaving

later today to

head to Dave's parents

for Christmas Eve. We will

attend midnight Mass at his church.

After breakfast on Christmas morning,

we will head to Oyster Bay to spend Christmas

Day with

my family.

We hope you all have a blessed Christmas wherever you are!

Cookie Party Pics!

"May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends."

1 1/2 Christmas Dinner

Last Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with Carolyn. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Our First Christmas/Cookie Party

The wife organized a cookie party last night, which turned into a mini-Christmas party. Along with the help of several friends near and dear to our hearts, she put together a wonderful evening, with various appetizers, hot and cold snacks, a pasta dinner and TONS of cookies.

Everyone who came to the party brought cookies to share with the group. We had everything from a traditional German cookie to thumbprint cookies to a creative cookie dough recipe from Paula Deen's cookbook. I would guess that we had at least ten varieties. Everyone seemed to have a good time chatting and listening to Christmas music, and it was a nice way to relax together before Christmas 2010 finally gets here.

I thought it was a lot of fun. Maybe we'll do this more often?

We've fallen off the face of the earth into a Christmas Wonderland!

The hubby and I have been turning the apartment into a Christmas Wonderland. On Thursday, we are hosting a co-ed cookie exchange with a bunch of friends from my job. I can't wait to have everyone over to see the pretty decorations. I'm hoping I have enough room for all of our friends!

Today, the hubby and I went to see A Christmas Carol at Pace University. It was a nice way to spend a Saturday without being part of the craziness that can be Christmas in NYC. While we were out and about, we saw several people who were participating in Santacom,which is a bar crawl with people dressed up as Santa and other Christmas related things. We also saw a bunch of kids from the hubby's high school in MD. It is amazing what a small world it is.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post pics of the apartment soon!

My 27th Birthday

My twenty-seventh birthday was a lot of fun.

Even though I was not at home in Maryland, I had a good time celebrating in New York.

My parents called me and sang "Happy Birthday" to me over the phone. I can't tell you how special that is. I have it saved on my cell phone, so I hope to hold on to the message for a long time.

I even had a slice of birthday cake that Pop made me for breakfast (not very healthy, but tasty!)

I went into work at the office, but the gang threw me a mini-birthday celebration, complete with pizza and chocolate cake.

I came home to a wonderful homemade dinner of manicotti, fresh bread and a fresh-baked cake from my wife. It is the first of my birthdays that we spent as a married couple, but my wife has been there for many birthdays already. Last night's dinner was great!

I also received a new outfit to wear from the wife, and lots of well wishes from my own family, my wife's family and our friends.

It was a great way to welcome my twenty-seventh year. I am very thankful for everything I have in my life, for the great day my wife put together, and my parents, without whom none of this would have ever existed.

Thanks, Mom and Pop. It was, as always, a very happy birthday.

Mad Men & Jackie Kennedy

I have started to love watching Mad Men. We don't have cable but, we've been able to borrow dvds from my brothers. Last Christmas, the hubby got season one. (Initially, I was completely uninterested in this series.) On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to get Season 2 at a discount in Borders! YAY!

One of things I love about Mad Men is that the women's dresses are beautiful! In one of the episodes of Mad Men, a character states that at that time the women were either Marilyn's (Marilyn Monroe) or Jackie's (Jackie Kennedy). Vanity Fair has put out a survey to determine which you might be!

Personally, I would prefer to be a Jackie. I love my pearls and pill box hats! I wonder who they would say are the female fashion icons of today. I'm sure one would be Michelle Obama but, who else?

As a kid, my mother took me to the Jackie Kennedy fashion exhibit at the MET featuring many of Oleg Cassini's outfits. I LOVED her wedding dress! It wasn't until my mother and I went to see that exhibit that I learned that Oleg Cassini's mansion was located in the town where I lived.

After searching the internet for who the current Marilyn and Jackie, I found a website that was showing photos from the set of the new movie My Week With Marilyn featuring Michelle Wiliams as Marilyn Monroe. Do you think she will do this role justice? Hopefully, I remember to go see it on January 1!

Happy Birthday to my Hubby!

Happy birthday my love! This is your first birthday as a husband. You have made all of my dreams come true during this past year. Each day we grow closer as a couple and build a stronger marriage. I hope this next year brings you much happiness. I hope that we will continue to experience lots of new things together during our first year of marriage. I can't wait to see what this next year brings! I love you so much!

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday To My Dear Husband!

Happy Birthday To You!

My Twenty-Sixth Year

Today is the last day of my twenty-sixth year.

I like the idea of this blog, since it gives me an opportunity to remember special occasions that I share with my wife, my parents or someone else close to me. I thought it would be a fun way for our (possible) future children to find out about their parents' lives at the early part of their marriage. I always wondered what it would have been like to meet my mother or father at age 26. What was it like for them to live in a different city? A different state? Maybe even a different country? What were their worries? Their joys? What thoughts went through their minds?

I suppose there is no real way to recreate that. But at least I can preserve some sense of myself online to remember later. I guess the Internet does come in handy sometimes, huh?

A lot of things have happened during the past twelve months. Two of the most significant events were my admission to the bar and my wedding day. Both in their own way are life-changing moments.

My admission to the bar is memorable as the end goal of many years of education. My parents sent me to some great schools, and it resulted in me reaching a career goal. I'm proud of that, and very thankful for the support I received over the years.

My wedding day was the first day of my marriage. It was a wonderful weekend, and my wife and I could not have asked for a better wedding day from our parents. I'm very happy that we are finally together, and that "someday" arrived at last.

It feels like the beginning of a very long journey in our lives, or maybe the first chapter of a long novel. It's hard to see the "end of the road," so to speak, but I suppose we will all find out what the future holds in time.

But for now, I think I'll try and enjoy the moment. Besides, I'll never be 26 again, right?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today I would like to wish my father a very happy birthday. I hope that he will have year filled with health and happiness. I hope that he will take the steps necessary to achieve both of those things during this coming year.

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

Happy Birthday To You!

I would also like to wish my Grandma Helen a Happy Birthday in Heaven! My father and his mother in law shared a birthday for many years. Two great people were born today. Both have had a dramatic impact on my life. Thank you for everything you have done to shape me into the adult that I am!

Sometimes it is just better to stay quiet...

I am a talker. I enjoy talking. At times, I even enjoy talking to myself. (Yes, I know this may sound crazy.) I talk for a living. I speak very well. I like to just talk. It doesn't have to be about anything in particular just whatever comes to mind.

Despite my love of talking, one of the things I have learned in the short time I have been married is that there is a time to talk and a time to be quiet. For example, when the hubby has lost something that is really important and he is trying to find it, it is not the time to try to start a conversation about something random. He needs his time to find things. OR When I am headed out the door already fifteen minutes "late" to work ( I am always hours early.), it is not the time to discuss what our plans are for the weekend.

I know that my friends Jenn and Tim have learned this about each other because on my first trip to Texas I learned that Tim needs time to wake up in the morning. It is not okay to bombard him with chatter early in the morning.

While I am not sure if this is still the case in their life but, I know in mine it is sometimes better to blog then to blab so, here we are...

A cookie exchange?

A few years ago, my mother started being invited to a cookie exchange party at the home of one of her friends. The women are asked to bring cookies, if they wish to take cookies home. If not, they can bring a bottle of wine or something else to share with the group. They definitely have a good time playing gift giving games and sharing conversation.

As a little girl I was always envious of the fun they had at that party. I wanted to have a party like it and I wanted to go to a party like it.

Now, I have a small apartment in Astoria but, that doesn't mean that I can't have a few friends over to celebrate the Christmas season. After talking with the hubby, we decided I would host a cookie exchange at the apartment in mid-December.

I made invitations that resemble green Christmas ornaments and have made an event page on Facebook. I am hoping to have all of the invitations handed out tomorrow. I hope people are as excited as I am. So far, I have heard back from three people saying they can't come because of other holiday parties.

Note to self: Give out invitations earlier.

It it kind of funny because my party is the night of the party that my mom goes to every year! Hopefully, I get some positive responses this coming week!

Christmas is in the air!

This will be our first Christmas together as a married couple. We have started to decorate the apartment with the things that Dave's mother made us and our Advent wreath. I would like start some of our own traditions as well as maintain some of the traditions that I have had with my family.

One of the new traditions I would like to start is having a Cookie Exchange with friends to celebrate the Christmas season. I've hand made a few invitations for friends and extended invitations via Facebook. Here's hoping others are as excited as I am.

A tradition I have chosen to continue is lighting the Advent Wreath each week. This week, we lit the first candle this week and enjoyed our dinner together on Sunday night. As a kid, my mom used to have an Advent wreath on the kitchen table. When we said Grace before our meal, we would say a small prayer and light each candle. At one point, we had a chocolate Advent calendar but, that didn't seem to stick. I like the Advent wreath!

Here are some prayers for those that celebrate:

http://www.scborromeo.org/prayers/adventwreath.pdf

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=16

First couple of months...

The first couple of months of marriage have been kind of a fog.

Q. Is married life different?

A. No, not really.

Yet, somehow I get surprised when I look down at my left hand and my wedding band is there. I get a big smile on my face and I'm super excited that I married my wonderful hubby.

We have been ironing out some of those day to day questions that we never thought would need to be discussed.

While not much has changed, I love being married, our day to day conversations, and our daily routine.

And We're Back

Thanksgiving was great. We made it back home in record time, after a fun weekend filled with shopping, food, Christmas decorations, more food, birthday celebrations and yes, more food! But all of it was good. Mom and Dad managed to serve some great dinners and we even went out to lunch.

Now it's back to the daily routine. Just got back from a court I never visited before. Interesting trip, but good to be back home!

Thanksgiving, Part 2

So today is my family's Thanksgiving celebration, since we traded off and spent most of yesterday with the wife's family. On the list of things to do? Some minor "Black Friday" shopping (I think Mom and the Girl are off to a specialty store, so it shouldn't be too bad), lots of cooking, and snacking on brownies (one of the random treats I get whenever I come home). Maybe we'll even start up the Christmas music again this year. My father tends to begin holiday tunes after Thanksgiving, so perhaps we'll hear a little Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole sometime today.

We'll see how the rest of the day plays out. So far, it looks to be a good old-fashioned, (sort-of) Southern Thanksgiving!

Our First Married Thanksgiving

This is our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. Last year, we spent Thanksgiving with the hubby's family so, this year we spent Thanksgiving with my family. It was fun seeing our little cousin crawling and enjoying her first Thanksgiving. After dinner with the family, the hubby and I headed to Maryland to have Thanksgiving Part 2 with his family. We made it in just THREE HOURS from the Outerbridge! WOOHOO!

I hope you all had a wonderful day with your family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

November - Give Thanks!

I chose this image from google images because it was included in our staff bulletin today.

I am grateful for the weekend. I am grateful for my job but, I am also grateful for time to rest and relax. This is the first weekend in quite awhile that the hubby and I don't have any obligations. I'm not sure what we will do but, hopefully we will take a day trip somewhere on Saturday. Right now, I am just relaxing and enjoying down time without having to do any planning for work. I hope that I continue to appreciate my job as we draw closer to the holidays.

Bible Verses of Thanks

Thanksgiving is not just a holiday for parades and turkeys. It is a day to stop and take inventory on all the blessings God has bestowed on you this year. It is a time to get together with your family and your friends, and it is a time to get together with God.

Many will remember to say grace over their holiday meal. Many will even list things that they are grateful for. But we must also remember WHO we are thankful to. Don't just say you are "grateful for", say you are "grateful to God for".

Scripture Verses of Thanksgiving in the Old Testament

1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:35
Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."

1 Chronicles 29:13
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Daniel 2:23
"I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."

Jonah 2:9
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

Thanksgiving Verses in the Book of Psalm

Psalms of Thanksgiving (NIV)

Psalm 7:17
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 30:12
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 118:19
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm 118:21
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

Keep A Gratitude Journal

A Personal Log of Thanksgivings

One way to deepen your relationship with God, and give yourself a happier life, is to keep a journal of all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for. Taking the time to write down your blessings is a great way to show yourself the reasons to be happy, and it gives you something to look back on in times of sadness or weariness so that you may see that even when you feel lonely, God is with you.

November - Give Thanks!

Today was a rough day for a variety of reasons but, on difficult days you learn to be grateful for your friends. I am grateful for my best friend, my husband. I am grateful for my friends at work.

November - Give Thanks!

Today was a rough day for a variety of reasons but, on difficult days you learn to be grateful for your friends. I am grateful for my best friend, my husband and I am grateful for my friends at work.

November - Give Thanks!

Today, I am thankful for the ability to travel. The principal and I went to a workshop on Middle States Association Accreditation in Philadelphia. We left Astoria around 6 AM and returned to Astoria around 5:30 PM. It was a long but productive day. It was nice to have time to talk with the principal while learning ways to better our school community.

November - Give Thanks!

I am grateful for the ability to run, jump, and play sports. Tonight, I went to play volleyball with a recreational team in Happauge. We spend a lot of time laughing and goofing around but, eventually get to play some volleyball. We may not be the best players in the world but, we certainly have a good time.

November - Give Thanks!

I am grateful for the beauty of God's creations. Today, the hubby, mommy, the brother's girlfriend and I went to Planting Fields Arboretum. The changing leaving were just beautiful and the pink tea house is still my favorite park. I can't wait to use our new picnic basket there in the Spring.

Host a Cookie Swap Party

November - Give Thanks!

Today, I am thankful for other cultures. I am grateful that we are able to learn more about one another.

Tomorrow begins a three day holiday for one of my Muslim students. He shared with me a little bit about what the holiday means for him.

Here is what wikipedia has to say:

Id ul-Adha (‘Īdu l-’Aḍḥā)
Official name	Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎ ‘Īdu l-’Aḍḥā
Also called	Festival of Sacrifice, Sacrifice Feast
Type	Islamic
Significance	Commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his eldest son Ishmaelin obedience to a command from Allah - and Ishmael's acceptance of this command. Marks the end of the Pilgrimage to sundown, and ask God for forgiveness.

November - Give Thanks!

I am grateful for the beauty of God's creations. Today, the hubby, mommy, the brother's girlfriend and I visited Planting Fields Arboretum. It was breathtaking. All of the leaves were changing colors. It was lovely to see the pink, tea house. I think I would be wonderfully fun to have a tea party or picnic by that pink house. This place is special to the hubby and I because we took our engagement pictures there and because we have had several picnics on the ground. In the summer, they have the most spectacular roses and hydrangea. I can't wait until the weather is warm so we can use our new picnic set.