Almost Done: Checking Off A Summertime Bucket List

Summer is over for the vast majority of people by now. My younger siblings have all started school, my friends have all returned from their vacations, and even my parents seem more routine-y lately. 

But I don't head back to classes until September 16th, and I'm still in (what should be) sunny Virginia, though it's gotten a little cloudy the last couple of days.

I made this summertime bucket list at the beginning of the summer, and now it's time to check off the last few. Here's a stock take of the as yet unchecked items....

Irish

1) Host a Fourth of July party/barbeque

My friend and I hosted a barbeque on July 4 at the BF's house. While we only expected a maximum of 20 people, more than 50 people and 6 hours later, we checked it off as a success.

2) See Cork City at sunrise

I have a sneaking suspicion that the boy reads this blog and gets date inspiration from it. I suppose that's smart. It's kind of like being able to read the girlfriend's mind without being psychic or having to call her friends. Anyway, he surprised me one day and suggested we get together early in the morning and drive out to watch the sun rise over Cork. Check!

3) Start a DIY project

Not quite a check yet, but I did buy all the supplies. That counts, right?

American

1) Host a beautiful bridal shower and bachelorette party for one of my loveliest friends

Check!! She's getting married so soon! 

2) Go hiking in the Blue Ridge

See Number 3.

3) Visit a Vineyard

I must confess that when I wrote 2 and 3 on this list, I knew exactly what kind of bachelorette party my friend wanted. So we went for a hike around the mountains and had a picnic wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. Check!

4) Go to an amusement park

Still unchecked!! 

5) Weekend at the beach

Spent the whole of a Sunday at an Ocean Club down in Southside Virginia with the boy and a great friend last week. Resounding check! 

6) Visit New York City

Epic speed visit to NYC with BF while he was visiting America for two weeks. So many friends to see in such a short time, we set up a big happy hour at a great pub called Fiddlesticks in Greenwich Village to see everyone at once!

7) Host a patio tea party

I don't even know what I was thinking with this one, but it is as yet UNCHECKED!

Summertime

1) Take a roadtrip (or several)

The most roadtrips have happened. But I'm still open to more! In the process of being checked!

2) Have a pool party

I don't have a pool, so I don't suppose this one was ever really going to happen. Wishful thinking, but still unchecked.

3) Surf (as much as possible)

So far this summer, it's only been ONCE! But we did manage a couple of days surfing in March. Does that count?

4) Camp out for a night under the stars

I had this great idea to get an inflatable pool and fill it with blankets for the evening (thank you, Pinterest!) but I haven't done it yet. So, UNCHECKED!

5) Attend an outdoor concert

In this case, I think Josh Groban at Wolf Trap counts! Woohoo! Check!

6) Make margaritas

As yet, unchecked. And yet it's so simple! Sheesh, Diva. Get it together!

7) Have a bonfire beach party

 I don't live near the beach, but I did hear talk of a nearby firepit..... Hopefully soon to be checked!

8) Go horseback riding

I love horses, and I miss riding so much sometimes. Horseback riding in late summer is like the best thing ever for some reason. As yet unchecked... the boy was too nervous to go with me ;) 

9) Eat popsicles

Easy and delicious. Check!

10) Visit a farmer's market

I suppose this can happen in the Fall, too. But see farmer's markets are cliché in the Fall, and therefore must be cooler in the summer. But Dad's grown a ton of peaches this year, so it's almost superfluous. 

11) Go to a carnival

Still unchecked!

12) Hang out with friends and family

The most checks. But I would love to add some more checks to this one, too!

A Summertime Bucket List

It's that time of year again! Even in grey, green, rainy, cold Ireland, the sun is out and all sunshiny. Busy working, hanging out with friends, and looking forward to my trip back to Virginie, I put together a little bucket list of Summertime Schtuffs that are definite must-dos. There are three editions: Irish, American, and a generic one we'll just call Summertime ("Generic" sounded awful!). 

Enjoy!

Irish

1) Host a Fourth of July party/barbeque

2) See Cork City at sunrise

3) Start a DIY project (I have a couple of little ones in mind)

American

1) Host a beautiful bridal shower and bachelorette party for one of my best and loveliest friends

2) Go hiking in the Blue Ridge

3) Visit a Vineyard

4) Go to an amusement park

5) Weekend at the beach

6) Visit New York City

7) Host a patio tea party

Summertime

1) Take a roadtrip (or several)

2) Have a pool party

3) Surf (as much as possible!)

4) Camp out for a night under the stars

5) Attend an outdoor concert

6) Make margaritas

7) Have a bonfire beach party

8) Go horseback riding

9) Eat popsicles

10) Visit a farmer's market

11) Go to a carnival

12) Hang out with friends and family

What about you, guys? Any fun summer plans or wishful thinkings? I'd love to hear them x

Wedding Day!!! Part Two: The Big Day

This post is a long overdue follow-up and climactic ending to Part One.

After the helter-skelter of the months leading up to the wedding, after the frenziness of the pre-wedding week, after the stress, and the drama, and the moments when you thought everyone was going to break down and run away, the wedding day comes. It's still stressful and tightly scheduled. There are still mishaps and dramas. But it's important that these things happen. It's important to be so hyped up on nerves that everything is felt more deeply than normal. All sadness, pain, happiness, and laughter. The stupidest insult stabs; the most ridiculous story is believed. The slightest mishap at the altar throws the entirety of the wedding party into struggling laughter. The smallest smile from the bride and groom is reflected across the entire Church. And when the ceremony ends, and everyone can finally calm down, it takes about five hours before we're done shaking. Or before we're shaking for a different reason.

The importance of your best friend's wedding can be explained in two moments.

One moment is when you first wake up. You're on two hours of sleep and the sun hasn't come back yet. You're thinking about everything that happened and that will happen, and you're just plain nervous as anything that you'll faint in those skyscraper shoes at the altar. And as the sun comes up, two best friends join you, and you remember the sanity (or insanity) of friendship and why you wouldn't be anywhere else today.

The second moment happens when you're standing at the altar with all the bridesmaids and all the groomsmen and the Church's attention finally moves away from all of you and your massively uncomfortable shoes (men's or women's worse? We're still fighting over that one). She's walking in, and slowly everyone turns from her to the groom. Now, romantic comedies always preach to remember to see the groom's face. But standing on the altar, you suddenly discover you can't see his face. But you can see hers change as she sees him. And that'll be enough. It's priceless.

The groom's party. Don't know what us bridesmaids would've done without you guys. Thank you!

So the groomsmen were all ready and dashing...

Meanwhile, the bridal party's a hot mess

What are these buttons, E???

"I got the easy job! Switching rings though!'

'Uh, wait a second.'

'Don't look at their faces as they walk past! You'll just laugh harder'

Very impressed right now!

With candles and everything!

She was so impressive. She carried everything, and still didn't burn him!

We were the first up and last out. At least I had two people to catch me if I fainted!

The lovely mother of the bride!

'Guys, can we just go EAT yet?'

'Honey, let's show off that new dance we just invented!'

Yup, it's a match made in heaven for sure.

When did she get so tall?

The longer the night...

The weirder it gets....

A big thank you to those who shared their photos with me. I'm sorry for not posting names, but I won't ever share names on the blog without permission. But you know who you are, and when I see you in a few months, you will get a big hug from me! Or chocolate cake! Or a drink! Whichever!

Congratulations to two of the loveliest people I know.

Sti ya-mas!

Wedding Day!!! Part One: Pre-Wedding

After months and months of planning and stress for everyone involved, the wedding finally happened. E and N walked down that aisle, tied that knot, tossed those crowns, exchanged those rings (not without swelling and a scar or two), and danced that dance weird dance that they might've invented together (something between a Cupid Shuffle and Harlem Shake). Overall, it was quite swerve. 

Now I'm sure you're wondering what happens on a wedding weekend. Behind the scenes, in the upper room, on the drive there, and in the car home. Well here you go, direct from the bridesmaids. Perhaps you'll think we all seem a bit silly, slap happy, giddy on nerves, etc. But I assure you this: we were much worse in person.

Step One:

 Drive three hours down beautiful roads and take many stupid pictures. Caution: you might lose control of the car if you laugh too hard.

And do not be ashamed to change in a Giant bathroom if you must...

Step Two:

Dig the bride-to-be out from under her wedding programs and pugs. Help with final preps, which include, but are not limited to:

Loading the Open Bar into the truck for transport

Vacuuming the bed...?

Teaching the Maid of Honor to tie a bow

Policing the War of the Pugs

Step Three:

Rehearse things, like....

Your bridesmaids pictures

Your tango

Your toasts and photobombs

And make sure the groom's good at photobombs, too.

Think you're ready for the real wedding yet? Think again. Because no amount of preparation can prepare you for a wedding, all it's wonderfulness, happiness, sadness, silliness, and memoriness. 

Because remember, all of these events are only the Pre-Wedding. 

Stay tuned!