It's been an Unforgettable Year

This was the year that I moved twice, graduated from Grad School, was married to my best friend, got a full time job, and moved back to my hometown after 7 years of school.  I evolved from an insecure student teacher to a full time teacher. The band I played with since I was 19 years old, Elevator Art, played it's last show in September and those who have supported Daimon and myself musically continue to show support for our small group, Bow & Arrow. It's been just as much exciting as it was turbulent. Despite the challenges, I know 2014 will be a productive year, making new traditions, music, art, and memories with the people I've wanted to spend more time with.  It's been a wild ride this year but I wouldn't change anything about it. This is my mini 2013 "remember when" blogpost.

The shows we played...

The places I've walked...

Watching the places where I once walked be built again...

Moving, condensing, seriously organizing...

 Wow, now that's a space!

Feeling the most surprised I've ever felt in my life. TWICE

Welcoming a new addition to the family. I'm a first-time aunt!

The excitement and worries of starting a new job and not having to prepare for another semester. Lots of projects completed and many more to come...

The dress my sister wore to prom...

The dress I wore...

And here's something just for you for the New Year! Daimon and I contributed to this recording with Karmic Juggernaut, We Used to Cut the Grass, and Bog Iron Bloom. Enjoy! Click here.  Happy New Year! I hope you have a great one!

Some Wedding Pictures PART 1: Film

I haven't posted any wedding pics on my blog.. Sorry! Back in early June, Daimon and I tied the knot in Shenadoah Caverns, Virginia.  Two couples went with us:  our Minister, his girlfriend and our friend, and our two photographers who own The Photo Center in Brick, NJ (I featured the Photo Center as the small business of March here).

This is part 1 of 3 I'll be posting:  shots from the cave ceremony, pre-ceremony pictures at the covered bridge, and shots with the 35 mm. While some couples adhere to the not-seeing-each-other custom before the wedding, we wanted to take formal pre-ceremony pictures and see each other in a more unique way. Some of our best shots are from that shoot at a covered bridge. Keep an eye out for the next set of pics!

Oh ya.. I guess I should throw in a picture of Daimon since it was his wedding too. Hehe

More pictures to come!

Wedding Polaroids!

The last of my original polaroid film has been used for this important and memorable moment in our lives.  The last polaroid taken was of the dinosaur with our minister and only bridesmaid haha! Enjoy!

Tess and me in a field right in Shenandoah Valley.

A sneak peak as to where our ceremony took place...

This one's a little scary; Daimon wore my veil and our minister held a bouquet of flowers.

What a moment! Thanks to Tess for taking this one. Daimon immediately started crying when he saw me for the first time.  We waited a long time for that moment to come.

There's more from where that came from! I have 3 rolls of film and lots of digital pictures.  However.. there's nothing like a polaroid picture to capture that moment in time. 

Some updates!

You might not have known but... I'm getting hitched this weekend! I'll be a Mrs. this time next week! We have almost everything figured out and we're sure the week will go by fast.

On Saturday some friends all got together to celebrate our anticipated wedding, like a combined bachelorette/bachelor party at an 80s club called The Breakfast Club.  I put all my glow sticks together to make a flimsy hula hoop.

In other news, Daimon and I have been listening to a peculiar sound each summer behind the apartment. After many hours researching and looking for the source of this sound with a flashlight, we decided to ask our park ranger friend what this unusual noise was. Well.. Well.. Mr. CHUCK WILLS WIDOW, we finally figured out what you were! If you heard this sound too, you might wonder what the heck it was!

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chuck-wills-widow/sounds

What a creepy little bird with that flat head and awesome plumage!

Lastly, I wanted to share that I get my first massage, manicure AND pedicure on Wednesday.  This blogger has never had any of those things, but thanks to some generous friends, I can officially have my "firsts".  I guess for a wedding I shouldn't have viridian green or neon blue toes and fingers...

Nail tutorial photos taken from here.