Happy Memorial Day!

I love holidays like this: Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, etc. (and not just because it is an excuse for a three day weekend). I love that we, as Americans, acknowledge that this is a made-up holiday that corresponds to no specific religion or culture. This is a day to remember all those who have given up their lives to keep us safe. Regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political party, we can agree to celebrate the lives of those true heroes to our country. Its a beautiful thing.

Don't worry, I'm not going to bust into the chorus of "I'm Proud to be an American" while shedding a single tear. I just like to think about the significance of a nation-wide holiday that brings us all together. EVERY day should be set aside to remember that we are all connected, and we should respect each other for that universal connection, regardless of our many lifestyle differences.

*Stepping off soapbox* So how did you celebrate Memorial Day? Did you go to family/friend's house for good food and laughs, like we did? Or do you have a family member/friend that you honored for their dedicated service and sacrifice?

Thank you, to all those members of the US Armed Services who gave the ultimate gift so that I may have the freedom to live my life as I choose.

Friday is "Bride"day: Venue Rental and Catering

Welcome to the Friday is "Bride"day series in which I will introduce the latest DIY tip, wedding day idea, or major wedding decision I am facing in my quest for the perfect big day!

I mentioned in an earlier post that if we found a reasonable caterer, we could justify the price of the GWU venue. The base rental fee is $3000 for 8 hours, and the University requires the renter to get the room insured, which they estimate at $300. Hopefully, our renter insurance or my mother's homeowner's insurance will allow us to insure the room. And the University requires their police to be on duty; they will pay for four hours, but the renter is responsible for the other four at $40.04 per hour. That brings the grand total for the venue to $3460.16.



Yes, we are paying for this beautiful view of the city! {photo from elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



The venue only provides tables and chairs. That means I would need EVERYTHING: linens, china, glassware, bar, servers, food, wedding cake, and outdoor chairs for the ceremony on the terrace. On the bright side, the venue has a full kitchen, so I am sure any caterer would be happy about that. The venue says they can hold 104 guests comfortably, which is perfect for our ideal guest list (which we will discuss in another post).



I am trying to turn the space from a conference room (left) to a WEDDING RECEPTION (right).
{photos from http://www.gwu.edu/~capstone/symposium/2006/FB.htm and elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



So, what should I look for in a catering company? Is it cheaper to buy/rent the linens separately? Or should I pay for the convenience of not having to worry about it, and let one full service catering company handle everything?

Weight Loss Wake Up Call

A few nights ago, T and I were watching a special on the multi-million dollar "weight loss" industry, and we started talking about the different pills, fad diets, and workout equipment we wasted money on. I admitted to trying the Green Tea Fat Burner pills, SlimQuik pills, and the Master Cleanse. While all of them promised amazing, lasting results, I did not have any success with any of them. Sure, the pills suppresed my appetite and made it easier to reduce my calories. But we all know what happens when you stop taking the pills: my appetite returned, stronger than ever, and I gained back the weight I lost.

Now, the Master Cleanse was interesting. This cleanse is also referred to as the "Lemonade Diet" or the cayenne pepper diet that Beyonce allegedly used to drop the weight for Dream Girls. I tried it with some coworkers, and we struggled through ten days of just drinking a concoction of water, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Sure, I lost weight (almost 15 pounds), but the point of the cleanse is to transition to a vegetarian/vegan/raw foods lifestyle, and I had no desire to do any of that. So of course I gained all the weight back.

T admitted to trying Hydroxycut pills, with the same results that I had with the diet pills. The package inidcated that he should drink at least 14-16 glasses of water when taking the pills. With his job, he cannot chug water and run to the bathroom every 10 minutes. So, of course, he threw away the whole bottle.

After trying all these "quick fixes", T and I decided to try the real route to long term weight management: lifestyle change! We like to call it "diet and exercise", but it won't be long lasting if you diet and exercise until you reach the desired weight, and then let it all go afterward. So we are making a pledge to make better food choices and increase our activity together. Sounds corny, right? But that's our challenge,and we're sticking to it!

Breakfast of Champions! Strawberries, pineapples, and blueberries are sweet enough to replace syrup on my waffles. {personal photo}

I'm Back!

Hey everyone!!!
I am sorry for the delay in posting, but I am back in action in the blogger world!

Here's what's been going on since my last post:



1.) T and I have found a venue on the campus of George Washington University that has an AMAZING view of the Washington Monument and downtown DC. We are both such fans of the city, and we really wanted a beautiful view for our wedding, but we could not get past the crazy prices that downtown venues wanted for a wedding and reception. But I think we may just be able to squeeze this view in our budget... if we find the right caterer.





The View of the Monument from the City View Room at GWU {Photos from GWU Admissions Blog and elaineathon on bios.weddingbee.com}



2.) T.J. is almost 17 pounds!!! Can you believe that my little preemie is such a big boy now?? He is wearing 9 to 12 month clothes and he is only 5 months! He is also sitting up more, squirming around, and trying to crawl. It's only a matter of time before I have to start putting up the baby gates so he won't wander into the kitchen.

 

Happy Family at the Park {personal photo}

3.) T and I completed two 5K walks for charity. The Continentals Care 5K for Education and the March of Dimes March for Babies were both a great success! I met my goal to jog/run the first 5K in less than 45 minutes. The second 5K was for recovery, and we took a leisurely pace on that one. Plus, we pushed the stroller, so we didn't want to go too fast.

TJ and me walking around Nationals Stadium to HOME PLATE {personal photo}

T and TJ on the boardwalk of Yards Park about halfway through the walk {personal photo}

T and I had so much fun in these last two that we are planning to register for a third 5K in June and a fourth in October. We do not want to take things too quickly and burn ourselves out, but we have caught the fitness bug. Hopefully we can keep up the momentum and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. Check out our Weight Loss Wake Up Call to see our challenge to change our lives for the better. And if you have any suggestions or advice to help, please let us know!