I'M 30!

My good friend Jamie kindly reminded me that statistically I should already be married, have a house with a white picket fence and have 2.5 kids…. BUT had I done those things in my 20’s I would never have been able to do the things I did! Most of my friends are married. Some of them have kids – well, most of them now. I’ll get there…in my own time. But I remind myself what I’ve done, they haven’t!

30 year olds are still cool right?

Here’s my list:
I am proud that I’ve lived and worked in foreign cities.

I’m proud to hold an architectural degree.

I am lucky to have such wonderful friends.

I am even more lucky to have such a wonderful family – and extended family. We are pretty awesome. If you haven’t met one of us, DiPierro’s, Pavelic’s, Schiavitti’s, MaHoney’s, Benson’s ..etc well you really should! Even MORE lucky that both of my sister-in-laws are awesome. The DiPierro boys picked ‘em good.

I am very lucky and thankful to have lived with my Nana and Papa. They are such inspirational and wonderful people.

I am proud to have owned a condo which was published and aired on tv. (oh wait…I still own it!..someone please buy it!)

I am proud to have owned my Audi A4. She was a GREAT car. – I’m even happier that it’s new home is at a good friends house! Yeay! (hope you are enjoying it like I did!)

I am proud to have been a Lady Vol (that’s D1 sport at University of Tennessee) minus the bright orange color. Sorry, ya’ll, bright orange is not a good color for most skin types.

I am so thankful that my parents got me braces when I was young. I wasn’t happy about it then.. but I am now! (ok that was way before my 20’s, but it still counts)

So adios to my 20’s and hello to my 30’s….
I’m looking forward to:
Well .. no need to limit the possibilities… they are endless! I get to start from scratch in a new decade!

FIRST STEP TO FAB..

What are the first steps in feeling wonderful? GOOD PRODUCTS. (ok, your right, it's really eating healthy ... start from the inside out, yes? but today, the last of my 20's we're talking outside in.)

2008 i made my first ever New Years resolution list and for the most part i followed everything on that list. I've slacked a bit since my move (i havent had one mani/pedi here yet!) At the top of that life changing list included using better products; hair, face, body - and thanks to Lee for my Aveda gift baggy I can continue my ways of feeling beautiful and as fabulous as i do on the inside!!



now...where's that snickers bar ....

HUNT FOR THE RED ----

This is it! Here we are! OCTOBER 1. This is my month.

Its the start of the real Fall/Autumn weather - my favorite season for clothing!

There is Halloween to celebrate, Columbus Day (for those in the States), pumpkin carving contests, face paintings at carnivals, 'fall' home decorations ... leaves falling...cold nights....endless wonderful Fall doings. and of course...my birthday!  -- the same day that the JFK Library was opened in Boston. (oh, and a lot of other loved one's this month as well - my Papa, my good friend Marissa who is a new mommy, my good friend Pete who is getting married on the 24th....and so on.) 

If you didn't know, I turn 30 this year....not till closer to the end, but alas, this month my 20's will end. I'm really excited about it acutally! AND... I get to treat myself all month, because, well, why not!

New boots - check!

Flight home for Thanksgiving - check!

Sis in town for the weekend here in London - check!

Dinner out with my man (and whatever else is planned) - check!

YEAY for October!

GETTING SKINNY...

So I turn 30 in a few months.... yes, yes..all jokes can be directed to me this year... and I've set myself a target on being in the best health that I've ever been. Changed eating habits. More working out... I'm already seeing results. Pants are loose, tummy is flatter, cheeks and chins have disappeared ... Last year during my mono battle I was so determined to get healthy and into amazing shape but was defeated by the sleeping needs and low energy. Now that I'm fully recovered (thanks to vitamin B and a lot of sleep) both Lee and I are health and fitness crazy.... minus the Diary Milk bar we just shared! shhh dont tell! Lee is training to do a duathalon and then hopefully the London Marathon. I am just a training partner....no competitions for me (yet). So yesterday we went for the longest run I've done since my collegiate rowing days. 40 minutes (i know it's not that long) around New Malden and Coombe.. up and down mega hills, thru parks, under the A3, and around many neighborhoods. (mind you, Lee is 6'4" and has a stride like a deer... so my little legs were working twice as hard to keep up!) The running part was fine. The breathing part was fine. The blisters from breaking in new shoes by walking around London were not so fine. My feet... oh the sight of them....have been 1 week in healing and will need a lot more time for the skin to replace itself. gross. 3 months to go... you'll see. I'll be a new me.

IT'S A MAN'S WEEKEND

Happy Birthday to my little brother Marky. (fine, he's not that little. he's 27 now) His birthday is today! He and his wife are spending the lovely, windy, rainy, cloudy, cold summers day at the Cape in a movie theater. I heard he got a sweet mounted striped bass. (no, it does not sing like the McDonald's commercial one) I hope everyone is celebrating Father's Day somehow. We are having a BBQ for my Father; although this may mean grill and stand under some cover and run back inside for warmth and dryness. So really it's just the food that will be BBQ'd. What's most important is that we are all together. Should you know any dad's send them a card, give a hug or at least a little hello call. OH and also, my other brother, Mike...suuureee, we'll call him Mikey (but he's older by a year) is moving to go to grad school in the fall at UNC. CONGRATS TO HIM i know! We are helping him move out of he and his wife's place in Waltham, MA on Monday.

Avoca Beach

WOW … the perfect weekend get-a-away spot. Lee has taken me as a part of my week birthday celebrations via rental car to a great spot in Avoca Beach. The hillside of the beach is packed with cute little homes, weekend get-a-way spots and many retiree homes. With a fantastic rental home… bigger than my Sydney apartment..with a patio, stocked with breakfast items, movies and even scrabble we had an amazing weekend away from the city. Every home it seems has a view of the water, since all are located up this hill from the beach. We went kayaking, played tennis, walked the beach, played paddle ball, hung out at café’s and watched surfers for hours! Surfing is such a big sport here in Australia, with young kids, age 14 or so winning major tournaments! The waves these kids are able to surf are unbelievable. Just wading in the water you can feel the rip… at Avoca the tricks they were doing on surf boards could hold your gaze for literally hours. Very entertaining! What an amazing difference from my 28th birthday to my 29th birthday. So long my years as a 20 year old. 2008 I told myself would be MY year…and so far…so it has 

Birthday Celebrations

What a birthday week! After hiking in the Blue Mountains over the weekend with gorgeous weather, enjoying the sculptures by the sea, and a few nights out for good food, we finally went to the zoo! Toronga Zoo, just across the harbour from the Opera House is as good as the San Diego zoo! It’s HUGE! And, yep, just like SD it’s built on a hill. So planning your route of travel is Key to success of not only viewing all of the exhibits but saving your legs in the mean time. With Wild Australian animals, a major reptile exhibit, (Austin would be in heaven) tigers, lions, chimpanzee’s…you name it! We were lucky enough to be there for feeding time for the lions and tigers. They were pacing and really active. The giraffe’s really do have the best view in the city! Its crazy that a city such as Sydney develops waterfront properties with a zoo and a cemetery! (photos to come soon on these)