blogging

I’ve been posting all day today over at my tumblr blog - pictures and the like Expect more tumblr love tomorrow - possibly even on the marathon course (if i get bored and if i have my phone with me!)

For now, I need to lay out my clothes, get my bag together to give Fiance and his dad who are going up with me bright and early. But it’s 11pm and I need to be up in about 6 and a half hours. Eek! Marathon #2? BRING IT ON!!!!!

So this week I have a couple of wedding things to share.

1. I’m thinking of changing the venue - to this place. On the water. In old town Alexandria. It’s incredibly beautiful, right on the water and in various Bridal Magazines, is listed in the same price range as Clydes. We’ll see?

2. i decided I want navy shoes. I know I know, i don’t even have my dress picked out. Whatever, my shoes will be blue.

3. I got my first (unpaid) blogging gig! I’ll be writing 3-5 times per week over here. Go check out for all your wedding planning desires. And because you <3 me. Even if you don’t live in DC and aren’t planning a wedding still, go read me
4. Going wedding gown shopping again this weekend with Liz and another friend of hers/ours. Pretty excited if only because the two dresses I tried on last time are so pretty, and i want to try them both with navy sashes. We’re also going to check out I Do, I Do. And then… we’re going to karaoke. I’ll be running my 18 miler in the morning so we’ll see how long I last I’m excited. It’s going to be a good weekend.

Anyhow much to do before i pop up to a briefing on the hill. Happy Hump Day!!!

So it’s been one year since I started blogging. Though many more since I made my profound impact on the LJ world/blogging world.

Livejournal was a community however, as I grew apart from my livejournal about one year ago, Fiancé introduced me to the blogging world and in it I found a community of my own with friends, confidants, and a group of gals that I have come to know and love from reading all of your thoughts day in and day out.

So I started up a wordpress blog (apparently, fiancé told me, they’re “less amateur” than blogger which i think is crap) and got writing, I found a voice, an audience, and a niche and wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am here I am one year later.

In the past year?

*been to Vermont 3 times

*Moved in with my boyfriend of a year

*Am now Engaged!

*made my own friends

*started a neat lil book club with Lexi, Jackie, Magda, and a random girl off craigslist. I like my gals
*Ran a marathon and am training for the second.

Among many other things but you know what’s awesome about blogging? All you freaders near and far, got my back. You’re all like a set of best gal pals, cheerleaders and critics right at my fingertips only an email away and for you all, I am grateful. For it’s you guys that keep me writing
Anyhoozle, for that I will present you my five recent favorite blogs and five old favorite blogs - you should all check them out as they’re the ones that got me excited about blogging one year ago with their wit, banter and awesome posts, and they’re the ones these days that I laugh with, cry with and read over and over again.

Newbies….

Simply, Me - I started reading this girl amidst a scandal on her blog - someone was hijacking her words and claiming them as her own. I started reading, and she? has been my recent bloggy crush. She’s awesome.

DC Damsel - An incredible blogger with a talent with the written word. Her last post was incredible and powerful. I only wish I could be as gutsy as that.

Jewish Girl in Wasps Clothing - A NY gal with a love of all things JCrew, Lily and preppy - love her style and her writing.

Was it For This - a DC gal who runs, bikes and swims and is training for a marathon Not to mention I love her book reviews and have added a few of them to my reading list
Misadventures of a Newly Wed - her stories are hilarious and the girl has the CUTEST style what’s not to love?

Oldies

Love is Blonde - one of the first bloggers i started reading thanks to 20SB bloggers, and one of my favorites. Not to mention, her house is ADORABLE!

Blogging Barbie - Fabulous. That’s the only word to describe her. She’s real and her writing - regardless of whether she’s writing about her dating adventures, her quarterlife crisis, or family stuff - her blog is one of my faves

These Little Moments - again, one of my favorite bloggers - I’ve followed her for the past year - her wedding planning, her love of shoes and all the in between
This? Is Not The Life I Ordered! - Favorite. From her dating mishaps to the trials and tribulations of life in general. You can’t help but want to be bff with this gal.

JQ Lounge - The girl is a gossip queen And I spotted her getting linked by Bostonist once so kudos to her! Love her blog - you should too!

Enjoy freaders! And there are so many I didn’t mention so check out the links of interest page which will be updated in the next day or so! And don’t forget to stay tuned for the upcoming move to wordpress.org

I like to make up words. I don’t have perfect grammar. I can’t always punctuate well, and sometimes I just don’t feel like using the shift key. You know what though? That is my prerogative. My voice here in my little corner of the internets, is my own.

Yesterday, I got a lovely comment on this post that says:

” Well.  You either want sympathy or you want constructive advice.

If your blog is any indication of your writing skills, DO have someone go over your  application materials to check for grammar at the very least.  You make quite a few errors, and while I realize that blogging is a bit more informal than applying for jobs (although an argument could be made that good writing is good writing at all times) — one should know the proper usage of “it’s” vs “its.”   In a competitive job market, sloppy errors like that scream, “I’m not competent!”

Perhaps your lack of focus is coming through.  You yourself admit you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up.   Once you graduate from college and enter the “real” employment market,  you get hired to work, not to “find yourself.”   What employer wants to give a good position with responsibility, growth potential, and a generous salary to someone who might flit off to something else in six months?   It just isn’t a very good investment.

Your seeming sense of privilege might also be communicating itself to potential employers.  People do start at the bottom and do work their way up; complaining and whining about how superior you are to the job you’ve taken and your co-workers is not a way to get ahead.  No boss wants that kind of stress in the office.

One hopes your potential employers aren’t aware of this blog.  It can’t help.”

They then added:

“AND –

“WHO SENDS EMAILS THAT EARLY!?!?!  HONESTLY!”

Um… the people who have the kinds of jobs you’d like to have.

Secretaries and receptionists start work at 9:00;  people with power and responsibility have already been at work for hours by then.

You certainly aren’t going to get ahead if you think there is something wrong with sending work-related emails at 7:51 in the morning. “

Now…I already commented to fiancé about everything written.

First of all, I don’t consider myself “over-privileged.” I like most people, have worked very hard to get where I am. Having a crisis in career options after college? Not uncommon. Sorry if I realized after the fact that politics is just a little too cut throat for me as I’m not the self-promoting type like David All for instance, who are willing to throw themselves out there to get ahead regardless of how much of an ass hole they look like. That’s not my style. Me? I just want to write and not get caught up in the ass-kissing mumbo-jumbo of it all. I’ve been to a convention, I’ve campaigned in New Hampshire in sub zero temperatures, and I have my beliefs that I hold onto tightly. But the scene? Just isn’t for me.

Secondly, it’s my blog. My writing may not be perfect, but this is also the basis of my fear of sharing writing with others. I am more self critical of myself than any one person could possibly be. If that makes any sense. If I don’t feel like capitalizing my “i”’s then I won’t. If I don’t feel like using spell check, then damnit, I won’t. So what I’m an ellipse loving, comma happy, mediocre writer. I like my comma’s, my uncapitalized letters and my ellipses. So suck it.  Additionally, no one forces anyone to read a blog - don’t like it? Don’t read it…right? Right.

Thirdly, I have worked my way up. I held various internships during college, yes I even fetched coffee from Starbucks at the bottom of Beacon Hill when I interned in the State Senate. I’ve been an administrative/research assistant for the past year so believe me, I’ve been working my way up for quite some time now and I’m not expecting a CEO position tomorrow but you know, it would be nice to feel…dare I say, challenged in my work. My parents? Don’t give me anything. Me? I pay for my 100K+ in student loan debt every month. And the shitty wages in DC for entry/mid level people like moi? Doesn’t help much. So calling me over privileged is like naming a hippy a poster child of cleanliness. Sorry, both of those things are WRONG.

As far as potential employers go, I make certain on a regular basis that I am not google-able. By googling my first and last name you can not find this blog until page 16. Nothing comes up from me (some articles I’ve written for Blast Magazine during the Primary Campaign) until page 4 of a google search. Now if you google Legallyheidi? Sure I’m the first hit (it also asks if you were looking for “legal aid” har har har) but for potential employers to find me? Pretty unlikely.

Finally, “ You certainly aren’t going to get ahead if you think there is something wrong with sending work-related emails at 7:51 in the morning.” I’ve gotten work emails that early. But rejection emails? Most that are kind enough to even send something, at least wait until 9am. I never said it was wrong, just surprising.

Now, Mr. I-use-a-fake-email-to-comment, I know your IP address (75.35.97.197) I also know you’re from Waterbury, CT and that you like to use a fake name and non-functional email to leave nasty comments on my fiancé’s blog as well. Now why the hell, would you be so cowardly to use a fake email? Do you think I’m really so stupid that I won’t look up your IP? Did you think I wouldn’t put two and two together?

How about this, how about you leave me and my fiancé alone and go back to living in your trashy little town with nothing better to do but hate on blogs just because they don’t agree with you politically. Honestly, you can accuse me of being over privileged and immature but you? You kind of take the cake… jerkoff.

Later: I will show more pictures of wedding gowns that I tried on with Liz, how David’s Bridal doesn’t suck as bad as I thought, and how I changed my color scheme.

So a couple weeks ago, I participated in a preppy paper swap which was TONS of fun!

So the Saturday that Fiancé and I painted the house, I got a package. Hooray! My swap partner sent me all kinds of fabulous goodies -

Opening up the goods….seriously, it was like Christmas for me!

!!!!!!! She definitely outdid herself - everything is incredible…including the jane green book (one of my favorite authors!) and the monogrammed cards that have my married initials on them! Too. Cute. Thank you so much Melissa! Also, if you think this stuff is cute, go order it yourself from her fabulous Etsy shop!!

This weekend something epic happened. Something I’ve been putting off for a loonnnggg time.

I failed Blog 365.

I’m okay with this. The first 7 months, I survived. Three days into month 8? I failed. I didn’t care. Come 11:30 when I usually post if I haven’t yet during the day, I was busy and had nothing to say. Maybe that’s not true, because I had a fabulous weekend - running errands, I went for a run on Saturday - 3 miles on the treadmill and felt really good (i’m going for another 3 miler tonight), met some great new bloggy gals on Saturday night at a bbq. We also played “the greatest game ever” which really was, quite possibly, the greatest game ever.

I digress though, the weekend was just so filling, and satisfying, almost like a good meal, that I couldn’t find the time to sit down and write. I’m tired of forcing myself to come up with something every. single. day.

Sometimes, it just can’t be done.

So rather than back date this (as I’ve been doing to prevent the ultimate FAIL), I’m going to fess up. I failed at blog365.

You know what I have to say about that?

Oh well.

** I should however note, that just cause i didn’t blog here on Sunday I was over at Tumblr for a brief period of time on Sunday night posting. so HA! I didn’t really fail. Maybe. Ok. I did. Fine.

Facebook and I have a love hate relationship. This has been true since I joined up in 2004 - NU was one of the original 12 schools - now it lets in all the hagglers and rookies. Including high school students. I am ashamed of you facebook for opening your doors…seriously. You really dropped the ball on exclusivity.

But mostly, I loathe you. We’ll look past all the other stuff. I loathe you facebook.

Loathe you for providing, wanted, but not needed, information about ex’s, former friends, and people I really shouldn’t give two shits about (and usually don’t) but happen to stumble across information such as who’s engaged, who’s been dumped, who defriended me (the horror!) and who’s dating who and what geographical network so and so has joined. Really….who cares? Aside from my alterego who is an active member of the stalkerazzi.

It’s like a who’s who guide to my life. And the news feed? Is like stalker central for everyone I don’t really give a shit about.

A few weeks ago I actually went through my facebook friends and for the first time in four years, deleted people. People I didn’t know. People I once kissed on a random night at Our House East and then felt necessary to FB friend them. People I no longer talk to. Those kind of folk.

I came across a profile today of someone I was once…rather good friends with…you could say. I cursed. I wanted to shout. But alas, I sent a nice note, and tried to get some more deets out of the kid. Got them. Cursed them again. Cursed myself for being so curious. But then I thought about it and thought…why the hell does this all matter…wait a second…ohemgee…it doesn’t. Yep. It doesn’t matter.

I’ve gotten over a lot of my past…cattiness you could say. I still have my moments. I’m not gonna lie. I’m not a saint. But I’m not NEARLY as catty and gossipy as I was “back in the day”…back in the day of terrorizing my classmates at MAUMS circa 1996. That’s right. twelve years ago. The ripe age of 13.

I guess what I’m trying to say is I have a love hate relationship going on here. *sigh* Oh facebook. How you make life so complete. Making it so easy to “stalk” people and pretend that we care without needing to really give a crap at the end of the road but acting like we do. Because really? I don’t care if that kid who I may or may not have made out with one night junior year of college one night at Our House East is engaged or single. I don’t need to know that that broad from one of my poli sci classes that I never liked but facebooked anyhow moved to Indonesia (this is all theoretical just FYI), but yet somehow facebook? You always seem to make it so easy to pretend to give a damn.

*sigh* Oh facebook….

1. Finished “PS I Love You” last night…holy crap. that book was incredible. I bawled my eyes out for the last thirty pages at least, and caught myself crying on three separate occassions - twice on the metro. Cecilia Ahern is an incredible writer and the emotion in her writing? Heartwrenching.

2. I’ve been writing more on my Tumblr lately. Go check it out and if you’re on Tumblr - Follow me!

You think of summer as a time of relaxation. Remembering back to being kids and lazing around pools, staying up until the wee hours giggling with friends and playing basketball late at night in the driveway under the flood lights. Summers were easy, fun and carefree. Sleeping till noon, going days without a shower, the permanent smell of chlorine in your hair and on your skin…that was summer back in the day.

Now a days? Summer isn’t so special. There’s no vacations, just oppressive heat and constricting office wear while trudging from home to the metro to the office to the metro back to home. By the time you get into either office or home you’re sweat laden and sticky and cranky after dealing with tourists who don’t know where they’re going and somehow smell like they’ve forgotten the deodorant. I’m sorry but summers in DC? Not my cup o’ tea.

Even in college, I had the joys of being in classes, enjoying an urban summer unlike the ones of my rural youth. There were no classes on Friday’s so by Thursday afternoon everyone was relaxed, making plans and often times trying to fit a beach day or two in the three day weekend. Back in college the song “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney rang in my ears and always made me smile, especially when getting ready for a summery night out in cute skirts, flip flops, halter tops and the like…“it’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine it’s the summer time…” who can’t help but think of summer when they hear that?

I enjoyed summer times up until I became steadily employed in September 2006. I had enjoyed my temporary jobs that summer after graduation, the jobs that allowed to leave around 4, run home, change my clothes and make it back to the city for happy hour in summer clothes - short skirts and polos or cute summer dresses.

Then I got a job. I grew up. I had to, there were bills to pay. Student loans to deal with. None of this was unexpected but still, it was a harsh reality to face.

This summer, I’ve gotten my fair share of three day weekends, no trips to the beach however, no camping out on the non-existent front yard. Just working 9-6, getting out early on Friday’s and looking at the new bathing suit I just recently bought wishing I could give it more use. Summers will never be the same again. Take what you can - the roof deck bars, the cookouts with friends who have yards, and the day trips to beaches. Live for the days when you get off work early and can still make it to happy hour in a decent amount of time, the nights where you sit out on the stoop or enjoy a cold cider outside at the neighborhood bar.

Summers may have changed, after all I don’t think many of us get 3 months off out of the year anymore, but just because they changed, doesn’t mean we old foggies can’t enjoy them anymore. I mean, really? Who says enjoying summer is just for kids? Kids don’t get to enjoy the sweet sangria, or the roofdecks late at night overlooking the city or the joy of a happy hour outside. They can’t drive themselves to the beach, or work the barbecue, their summers are limited to the fun that their parents allot them. Us adults? We get to have all the fun.

So over the past few weeks I’ve been given some fabulous lil’ bloggy awards! Yay! Hoorayy!! You guys liiiike meee!!! You reeeaaallly reaaalllyyy like me :)

/end dorkiness

So Now to pass them on.

Firstly, I want to thank Playful Professional for awarding me this gem:

Which I will pass on to: Magda, Tea and Crumpets because those two are two of my favorite gals here in DC. I also pass it on to: This is NOT the life I ordered, and Love is Blonde and Pretty Sandy Feet because they are three of the first bloggers I started reading about 9 months ago when I got into this lil bloggy world.

Then! Today the lovely Sarah at Was it for This awarded me this lil thang….

Which, apparently the rule is to pass it on to seven people….tough choices…however I bestow this award to:

What Liz Said - long time bestie (with appropriate ups and downs…)

The Modern Gal - because she’s just…awesome. I adore her Confessions of a Jersey Girl - because she’s just great. And her house looks like a tiffany’s box how cool is that?!
Adventures of a Southern Newlywed - i recently started reading her blog and adore it. It’s one of the many preppy blogs that I read and admire Just Talk - one of my fellow pink lovers - i love her blog for all the awesome awesome recipes she posts - and her blog is pink! so cute!
learning to be me - another favorite blog in the 20sb crowd.
FINALLY….
Little Spoon - because she’s awesome and I love her smileys which she counts btw! <3

All of the above blogs should be on your readers. If not? Check them out!