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Friday, October 8, 2010

a secret i cannot share (yet)

This weekend was really great.  The weather was so nice - finally we got some fall weather!  I also go to spend time with some of my favorite girls. 

Saturday morning I got up bright and early to head to Brooklyn so I could have brunch with Marissa.  It was really great to see her, I hadn't seen her since before I got engaged - way too long!!!  We ate a lovely brunch at Teddy's.  I had the most sugary coconut crusted french toast, yum!  After brunch we had to stop at the Van Leewan ice cream truck:)  My friend Mark from Skidmore was working the truck (I also went to school with Ben Van Leewan - yeah I'm pretty cool).  We got a medium cup of mint chocolate chip to share.  OMG it was heavenly, not that I needed more sugar after brunch, haha.  It was my first time trying Van Leewan ice cream and I am pretty sure I will never be able to pass the truck without getting ice cream ever again.
 On our walk to my "secret project" Marissa snapped a few outfit shots of me.

I tried to look as "Brooklyn" as possible, hahahaha.
Here is where I have to stop this story of the rest of the afternoon or else I will give away the secret I am not allowed to share yet.  Don't worry I will spill the beans on Sunday evening. 
On Sunday morning I had brunch with Lauren (my New Zealand roommate) and Beth (another New Zealand friend) in the West Village.  I swung by Lauren's apartment to see her new place, loved it!  She lives in such a great location.  Then we met up with Beth and headed the The Grey Dog.  We hadn't gotten together since April when Dave (another New Zealand friend) visited NY. 


It was a very jam packed weekend and I literally didn't get to sit on the couch and fully relax once (this may also have to do with the fact that I cannot lean my back against anything at the moment, haha).  This coming weekend I am going home and the next weekend we have plans both days, busy busy.  I swear October will be over before I know it.

Monday, October 4, 2010

wedding workout challenge

My summer workout challenge was a total fail, oh well.  Then my fall workout challenge didn't even get off the ground (I know it's still fall).  So I am now going to start a wedding workout challenge.  My wedding is a year away but it is just the motivator I need to finally whip my butt into shape.  I have decided that I am going to take this challenge a little slower than I had planned before.  My end goal is to lose 20 pounds, tighten and tone my legs, butt and arms and feel comfortable with my body.  I know this is totally manageable.  I am going to do the challenge in 3 stages...

Stage 1 (October - December): workout 5 days a week (6 if I'm up for it) for at least an hour each time; try to fit in a yoga class once or twice a week (it can count as one of my 5 or 6 weekly workouts) and clean up my diet (limit alcohol to once or twice a week, eat whole grains and lots of fruits and veggies, avoid sugar and absolutely no candy!) - I will weigh myself each week to track my progress.

Stage 2 (January -June): evaluate my progress in Stage 1, how close am I to reaching my goal?  Do I think the routine I have created in Stage 1 will be enough to reach my wedding weight goal?  What areas haven't been improving?  Once I answer those questions I will decide what diet changes I have to make and how much I need to amp up my workouts.  I might include more workout classes as well.

Stage 3 (July - Wedding Day!): With 2 1/2 months left until my wedding day I will evaluate the progress I have made in Stage 2.  If I have already reached my goal weight by then (phew that would be ideal) then I will focus on maintaining my Stage 2 routine and add some extra weight exercises to really make my trouble areas look great.  If I still haven't reached my goal weight then I just have to amp up my workouts even more and get super strict with my diet.

Phew, its all seems manageable, right?  I think it does.  Maybe I am still on an engagement high but I am seriously feeling great about this challenge and am so ready to make it happen.

happy birthday Dad!

Yesterday was my dad's birthday!  HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY DAD!!!  I love you so much!!! 
Don't worry I did call him yesterday:)  
I wish I could have gone home to see him but I will be going home this weekend instead.  I cannot wait to go home to see my parents!   

Thursday, September 30, 2010

blog makeover

I know what you are saying... "Wow Megan, your blog really looks incredible!"  Haha, doesn't it though?  

Last Tuesday I got up early (around 6:47 to be exact) and decided to write my blog post about Kevin and my engagement weekend.  I was plugging away on my blog post and checking twitter on my phone when I saw a tweet from Tieka offering blog design services to anyone interested.  I casually freaked out and tweeted her immediately.  I have been following Tieka's blog Selective Potential for a while and have always admired her style, personality and the excitement she lives life with.  Her blog is also gorgeous and you really get a sense of who she is the second you open her blog.

So we started emailing back and forth, I gave her an idea of who I am and then she got started creating a color scheme for me.  I gave her a couple of ideas of what I wanted in my blog and boy did she deliver.  I am so thrilled with the way everything turned out.  It was so awesome to work with Tieka and I would highly recommend her to anyone who is in need of a little blog makeover.

Thank you Tieka!!!  

Friday, September 24, 2010

i can't help myself

I just can't resist posting these photos of my ring.  The previous photos just didn't do the sapphire justice.
Kevin's company made the ring! (The Natural Sapphire Company)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

the sagamore and our engagment story

Friday, September 17 was Kevin and my 4 year dating anniversary so we had planning a weekend away at the Sagamore on Lake George.  It was the first time we had ever gone away on vacation just the two of us.  I had been dying to get away with Kevin for a while so I was giddy with excitement when the day actually arrived.  

We hopped in our rented black Impala (baller I know) and off we went.  Phish provided us with an incredible driving soundtrack and got us super pumped for the weekend, haha.  We had to stop in Saratoga to get lunch at Romas - I don't think we will ever be able to drive anywhere near Saratoga without stopping.  My cousin Will goes to Skidmore so we also stopped by his house to visit - my other cousin Will was there as well which was great.  

After a short stay in Saratoga we got back in the car to drive the 40 minutes to the Sagamore.  Kevin and I had a great ride up, we laughed and acted silly.  I was joking that he would never propose to me and secretly he was laughing at how wrong I was.  We were both so excited to get to the Sagamore and start our romantic weekend together. 

We checked in, dropped the bags in the room and walked down to the water to look around (I think Kevin was scouting his proposal spot).  We stopped by the bar to have a glass of wine and a beer before we had to shower and change for dinner.  
 Kevin was dead set on going all the way down to the water before dinner to watch the sunset - I was joking that I was going to be wearing heels so I might not make it all the way.  At this point I wasn't suspecting anything because it didn't seem strange to me that Kevin would want to watch the sunset on our romantic weekend - it was our 4 year anniversary  so it was an important day.
We showered and changed for dinner.  I took the longest as usual.  Kevin kept looking outside checking on the status of the sunset and I could tell he was getting a little antsy.  I took my time (as usual) and we headed down to the water around 6:50pm.  With my camera in tow we walked down towards the dock.  Kevin seemed annoyed that there was a couple already down by the water which I thought was funny because it wasn't like we reserved the dock.
We took a couple pictures on the dock - the couple left, haha.  We were a little late for the sunset but it was still gorgeous.  I noticed that Kevin was being a little weird, he kept pacing and looking around but I still wasn't really suspecting anything.  Then Kevin suggested we take a picture together...
Then he took one of just me...
And then he told me to turn around so I did but there wasn't anything there.  I was confused so I turned back around to find Kevin on one knee with the most gorgeous ring in his hand.  I immediately got teary.  All I heard Kevin say was "Megan Whiting Noyes.................... marry me?"  I think I was in such shock that I blacked out for a second, haha.  Of course I said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't believe it.  I just kept staring at the ring and kissing Kevin.  I had been waiting for this day for so long and it finally arrived.  I was so shocked.  Kevin had been trying to get me to bring my phone with me but I refused thinking we were on a romantic vacation why would I need to call anyone, haha.  He let me use his phone to call Cobe (she had known for weeks and Kevin promised I would call when it happened) but she was on a plane so I couldn't reach her.  Then I tried my parents and I couldn't reach either of them!!!  My mother was in Maine with her phone off and my father was camping in a field with some students.  I thought it was pretty funny that this huge thing that just happened and I couldn't reach my parents!  Then we called Kevin's parents and I couldn't stop crying.  They were so excited for us and I just got overwhelmed with happiness to be officially joining such a great family.  

We went off to dinner and were on our phones texting people almost the entire time.   We couldn't resist sharing the good news with all our friends.  When we told Will and Jenna they were in Genesis and apparently the whole place went crazy.  Kevin and I feel so blessed to have such great friends that are so genuinely happy for us.  The staff at the Sagamore was so nice - they really made our stay special.  We got complimentary champagne with our dessert!
On Saturday we woke up, lounged in bed and waited for our breakfast to be delivered... yay breakfast in bed!  We decided we would spend the day leisurely hanging around exploring the Sagamore grounds and the town. 
 We found the most incredible antique store!
Kevin just had to check out the golf course - since it was our weekend he didn't actually play, how thoughtful!  I don't play golf but even I had to admit that it was a gorgeous course and looked like it would be really fun to play.
 When we got back to the Sagamore Kevin decided he wanted to try some fishing off the dock.  I was very happy to sit in a lounge chair and just stare at my fiance (eek I get excited just saying that word).  He caught three whole fish!!!  They were only little sunnies but I was still very proud of him.
After spending most of the day exploring Kevin and I needed a little pampering so I was off to get a facial and Kevin got a deep tissue massage, but not before we had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries!  Kevin's mother was kind enough to get the hotel to send us this little treat, it was the best surprise (Thank you Cyndi!).
 
We had forgotten to eat lunch so we immediately went to eat dinner after our pampering.  After dinner we decided to go relax in the bar and play bananagrams.  My dad introduced the game to Kevin and me when we were up at my house in Lakeville a few weekends earlier.  It is kinda like scrabble without a board - basically you both build your own crossword puzzles until all the pieces are gone (a person wins when he/she uses all his/her pieces and there aren't enough pieces for everyone to draw another).  
I didn't like my letters.
Yes, Kevin wins! (don't worry I won a game too)
Boo, I wanted to win too:(
Before we left on Sunday we made sure to take a picture in the spot where Kevin proposed.  I could not have asked for a better weekend.  I can't believe I get to marry the love of my life, how lucky am I?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!

Kevin proposed to me this weekend!!!  It was so perfect, I love him so much!!!
I can't wait to write about the weekend and the proposal tomorrow.  

p.s. I'M ENGAGED... ahhhhh I can't believe it!!!