The Fabulous Life of Stefanie

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...the best marriage a lady could ask for. Seriously, I hit the mother of all marriage jackpots with my husband, and I really, truly thank God every day for him. He is amazing. And today, we put our two amazing heads together and made our second big, responsible decision together as husband and wife: to get back to the true meaning of Christmas by forgoing presents in exchange for giving each other and our loved ones something that there is never enough of in the world: time. Instead of scrambling around with the week before Christmas' paycheck, buying each other (and everyone else) things off of our Amazon lists, we are going to take that money and pay off all of the bills that have been piling up (and continue to do so) since we got married and enjoy the warm, cozy feeling of financial stability this holiday season. We are going to spend Christmas in our apartment with our big, beautifully decorated Christmas tree making a huge...

Twas the morning be fore Thanksgiving, and all through the office...yeah no one is really doing much stirring since we are all getting ready for this afternoon's luncheon where we get to serve our clients a big Thanksgiving meal and then after we have everything cleaned up and the clients on their way, we get to sit down and break bread together. Then we leave, by 1pm, yessss! This year I feel that I have so, so much to be thankful for and I am excited to be spending Thanksgiving morning watching the Macy's Parade with my new husband before heading down the the Cape to share a meal with my father-in-law and his wife. We are going to stay down there a couple of nights since they have the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in as well as the cutest rottweiler I have ever seen. Amy will also be down on the Cape with her family, so I get to see one of my besties too! It will be an awesome, sweatpants inducing weekend for sure. I thought I would take some time this morning during...

What an awesome weekend. Seriously - it was productive, fun and hangover free - what a great feeling! Matty and I are trying not to go out on Fridays so that we can get a good night's sleep and save all of our energy for Saturday. Matty's marathon training has him doing his super long runs on Saturdays and I am loving this yoga class up at the Chestnut Hill Healthworks on Saturdays, so it just works out so well if we stay in on Friday, make a yummy dinner and catch up on our DVR or Netflix. This was the first weekend of this (which will be interrupted next week for Harry Potter, obviously a super special occasion) and it was pretty awesome. We woke up before 6am Saturday, which is something I can't even do on weekdays, so we hung out, cleaned up the house and then went and opened new bank accounts at Bank of America because our bank sucks and we are trying to be super organized and budgeted and BofA is so much more conducive with that. Then Matty was off to run around the c...

Okay, so I have been a total slacker with the lists, and wasn't it my idea? Geesh! Here are some lists I have been keeping in my head. Things I want to learn how to do in the next year (or so): Knit, even just easy stitches, I want to knit a scarf or a blanket or something square! Talk about wine, in a real way, not just the lingo I learned from the movies Quilt, so that I can make the tee shirt quilt I have been talking about for a year Big goals for 2011: Move to a much bigger apartment where we can have a dog and a baby and maybe even another baby before we start to feel cramped Go to Ireland (May 2011 or bust!) Move up in my organization Be a Big Sister or something similar for a child Okay, now I feel better. What are some things that you are working towards? What do you want to learn how to do?

I finished the fifth of a series of five community dialogues that I participated in through the YWCA/Women's Table/Allston Brighton Community Development Co. last night and what an awesome experience it was. Our group was as diverse as could be: Black, White and Asian; Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Episcopalian, Congregationalist; nuns and mothers, gay and straight, ages ranging from early twenties to eighty. Sitting in a room with such a range of people, personalities and experiences and talking about race was difficult, thought-provoking and inspirational, and I am excited that we have decided to keep meeting once a month to talk about what is happening in our communities and what we can do as a group and as individuals to fight against racism and promote knowledge, tolerance and peace. In addition to some wonderful conversations and getting to hear about others experiences with race relations in and out of Boston, I was able to reflect on my thoughts on racism and how I identify, wh...

I hate being sick. I know that no one likes being sick, but being sick is like the antithesis of me. So far I have missed work, a community dialogues session, a second day of work, the gym and now I am going to miss a Civic Leadership Institute reunion and a drink with Nina. I am glad that I have finally learned to stay home and focus on getting better when I am sick, which is something I have learned only in the past few years and has a lot to do with Matty making me do so and having a job where I can actually call in sick. I haven't missed two days in a long time, but it is probably not because this is the first time I have needed to but is the first time that I can do so. Aside from missing out on my responsibilities, I just hate the lack of productivity that I feel when I am laying on the couch feeling sorry for myself. My house could definitely use a mini-cleaning. There are some errands that need to be run. But here I am laying on the couch, watching the 20th hour of the Toda...

Today is the first day since I got married that I have been sad for longer than three or four minutes. It has only been a few hours, but in comparison, I totally feel like I have the blues. Life is still wonderful, blessed and exciting; that has not changed. But I am coming down off of my happy honeymoon cloud and addressing the things that I chose not to address so I could enjoy the bliss of wedding and honeymoon time. The things that I decided to wait on also waited on me. I am sad because two of my close friends are not friends anymore and I feel as though I watched it happen and I wish I could have said or done more. I have learned a very valuable lesson: if someone is doing something that is upsetting someone, including yourself, it is important to say something so that they know they are doing something not okay. They may or may not change their ways, but at least you can feel good about the fact that you said something and you tried to be a part of the solution. I am vowing to b...

Yesterday was my one month wedding anniversary! I'm not really going to be one of those crazy people, but it is pretty crazy that it has only/already been a month. Matty and I have both been pretty busy since we have been home; I am back to trying to save the world and throwing lots of parties (which are sometimes related) and he is off training for the Boston Marathon (!!!). I am super proud of him and excited to be his fund raising manager. I plan on throwing at least two epic fund raiser parties and am going to utilize the crap out of social networking sites to try and bring in the bucks. His goal is $2,000 and I hope to surpass that, especially since it is going to help fight rare diseases and he is able to run because of Genzyme's support of the National Organization for Rare Disorders. He is going to kick so much ass and I am super excited to be the crazy lady with the shirt and the sign and the beer breath at the finish line to hug him (even if his nipples are bloody, ...

I have been married almost one month. Today we are throwing our first post-wedding party at our house, it is our annual Oktoberfest where Matty makes sauerbraten and we make tons of brats and schnitzles and everyone brings beer and we all get very drunk. It should be epic, especially since this year I have an awesome beer wench costume and my new work friends are coming (well, most of them) and I am totally in love with them and excited to have them meet my wonderful husband and some of our friends. I really, really love the fall. It is so beautiful here in New England and it is so exciting to wear sweaters and scarves after a summer of sweating. We were supposed to go and visit Amy in Northampton tomorrow to go apple picking, but we are attempting to be really financially responsible and pay off debt and build our credit scores in anticipation of being able to get a home loan, so unfortunately we had to put it off. I really miss Amy so I am sad, but it will be a nice day of Matty watc...

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love making lists. At work I have an entire notepad that has all my different to-do lists: case notes to enter, reports to write, people to call, upcoming events to register for, even a daily random to-do list. It keeps me super organized, and is probably why I am spending my last 42 minutes at work writing a blog and eating half of a doughnut instead of doing actual work. It's not that I don't have work to do, it's just that the work I need to do is conveniently outlined in my to-do list pad for tomorrow. I have crossed enough things off of it today. I have just started to learn about this whole "bucket list" concept. When you google the term, all sorts of things show up. Links about the movie (which I have not seen), sites on how to make your own bucket lists, and even on-line trackers so you can complete your own bucket list in the appropriate amount of time, before you too kick the bucket (how they can track your demise, I d...

Well loyal readers, we did it, Matty and I went and got ourselves hitched! It was beautiful. It was perfect. It went by in the blink of an eye. Our friends and family all had a blast, there was eating and drinking and dancing, laughing and crying and hugging, and at the end of it all, there were two who had become one . In addition to everything that Matty and I are: best friends, teammates, lovers, and partners, we are now married, family, united in one with the Church and with each other. I have to admit - it feels totally different. I am still absolutely head over heels in love with him, as I have been since the day I met him, but I am now just so secure in that love, so committed and protective and calmed by the union that we now share. It is, in one word, bliss. After our wedding and the super fun party of a reception that followed, Matty and I jetted off to South Beach for a few days on the beach. We slept in late, drank bloody Maria's (with tequila, because when in Rome......

Last night Matty and I joined two of our dear HONO friends and four new friends at Stephi's on Tremont to fete our dear friend Ashley turning a fabulous 30. At the end of the night, when we were all saying our good-byes, Diana turned to me and said "see you next weekend" and for a split second I thought "are we doing brunch? do we have another birthday?" and then I realized: we will be seeing each other next weekend at MY WEDDING. H-o-l-y crap. My wedding!!!!!! A year and a half of planning and two and a half of spending every day connected to the most wonderful man in the world, and next Sunday we are walking down the aisle of our church and becoming husband and wife. Forever. And ever. Til death do us part. As you can imagine, I am beyond excited. Enthralled? Not even the half of it? Jumping up and down shrieking and squealing and squeezing my fists? Doesn't even begin to explain it. I get to marry the coolest guy in the world and he loves me as much as I...

That is wh at Matty told me when I woke up this morning. After I realized where I was and that I had indeed fallen back asleep after my usual 4am "wake up and think about wedding plans that could wait until tomorrow" time, Matty explained "23"! In that many days I will be happily (blissfully, wonderfully) married to my best friend. I cannot wait. Literally. I wish I could go to sleep and wake up and it would be the Friday before and it would be time to see my Mommy and get my nails done. But, alas, there are 23 jam-packed days between now and then. This is the last weekend that Matty is working and I will be home alone so I am going to try and get all of my honeymoon necessity shopping in and get some last minute things like my lipstick, nail polish and some honeymoon outfits. Next weekend Nina and I are going to NYC to party it up one last, single-girl time and to seek out two last very important things for the big day (sorry, my lips are sealed until 09.12). The ...

I just accepted a job offer! I am going to be the newest Case Manager at Community Work Services . I am so excited to be back in the real world and, more importantly, back to helping people! I think that this job is going to mesh really well with where I am at in my life. The work day always ends at 4:30, there is early release on Fridays and the day before holidays (of which there are 11 paid!), and there are no weekends or on-call shifts. This schedule is awesome because right now all I want to focus on (aside from work) is being married and jumping back into volunteering. Now that I am not directly working with the prison population I plan on joining an organization that goes into the prison to do tutoring and mentoring with inmates; this is something I have wanted to do for years but did not want to burn myself out by doing it in addition to my work with them. I am also going to diligently seek a board that I can become a member of, hopefully in the area of animal or child welfare....

I quit my job. Or, as I explained to a friend yesterday, I totally "Jerry Maguire'd" out of that place. I was miserable, not because of the work, but because of a boss that thought yelling and pointing and degrading people was a proper mean of communication. I went to HR. Then I called them. Ad I emailed them and nothing happened. Other people went, staff walked out of his office in tears and he continued his completely unprofessional behavior. It would not stop. So, in a meeting where I had a lot to say, he came in uninvited and took it over with his negative words and violent behavior, and I realized I could not do it anymore. My anxiety took over and I thought I would pass out, so instead, I stood up and walked out. Poof. I was gone. It was not an easy decision and it is by far the most spontaneous and irresponsible thing I have done in quite some time, but I am now totally, completely sure that it was the best way to handle the situation. I am less than two months awa...

It's that time of year! You know, when everything is getting warm and the sun is setting a little later and it's so exciting, except for those horrible allergies that make you look like you slept once last week and got punched in the face a bunch and sound super-not-sexy. I am not complaining, I am just saying, I HATE allergies. Ugh. I feel totally sick today and got negative sleep last night. Of all the times in my life I cannot be getting sick! I have a wedding to plan! Not to mention the need to kick my ass at the gym for dress shopping and the engagement shoot and my bridal shower! Go away pollen!!! But really, our wedding is so super close now that I am starting to get into some sort of zone. Sometimes I start looking at websites for dresses or hairstyles or shoes and I lose entire hours. Hours! My Mom is going to be here in a few weeks and we have 3 appointments booked for me to try on dresses and she gets to be here for my shower, which is so super awesome and is all bec...

We leave tomorrow! I am so excited to go back, on the three year anniversary of the last time I went, and see the progress that has been made. I am prepared to see that it has not progressed as much as I hope, but I am going there knowing that I get to help move it along, even if it is just a small piece of progress. I am most excited for Matty to experience something that was so crucial to my healing from my past and making me the person I am today. We are going to be doing all sorts of projects - building houses and community gardens, helping with clean up and hopefully something with another agency at a soup kitchen or school. We are also going to have a whole lot of fun - this is the first time I am staying past the volunteer days just to have fun - and we already have a four hour bike tour in the Ninth Ward booked as well as tickets to see Rebirth Brass Band! We are so, so fortunate to have raised so much money to get us there - and we can't thank everyone enough for making th...

We are getting ready to head to Matty's Aunt's house for the annual O'Shea Easter Brunch (note the picture of the awesome cupcakes I made!). There will only be seven of us this year (yes, I said only, read on), but I can't wait to see everyone and eat some of Jane's amazing cooking. Easter is a very important holiday for us Catholics, and even more for us Catholics over on Quint Avenue. I present to you, an Easter story: Two years ago today Matty and I went to Church together for our first time. I was a pretend Catholic (having never been baptized or through Catechism) who hadn't been in a Catholic Church in a long time, and had never been with another person since moving to Boston. Matty had been away from the Church for a while for a lot of the reasons young Boston-bred Irish Catholics stop going to Church. We both decided we wanted to go together, and since our schedules were pretty crazy back then (Matty worked nights, I worked bankers hours), Easter turned ...

This is true, and I really do want to change it. I love having somewhere to track my adventures and share my life and I like looking over past blogs and most of all, I love keeping up with people by reading their blogs and get sad when they don't post regularly (hello hypocrite I am!). So, instead of droning on about why I haven't been blogging enough, let's play catch up and move forward with a better blogging habit! Here are the most important things I have been up to (aside from partaking in my famous Peep-tinis last night, which I have posted as a reminder to stay away from sugar today to avoid diabetic shock): Planning our wedding! Everything is going smooth - we have a Church, a reception (at the other Church), a stationary company that makes everything with bikes on it, and two people who are insanely in love. Now we are focusing on getting the money in our savings account, which is by far the least fun and most stressful part of wedding planning, but we are getting...

I was standing in my kitchen yesterday, cooking this beef stroganoff recipe that I got out of Real Simple Magazine and secured safely in my new Recipe Book (thanks Santa Mom!), and an overwhelming feeling of contentment whooshed over me. The thing about New Years is that no matter how much you love or hate resolutions and such, it's definitely the time of year where you both reflect back and look forward, and as if you can't even help yourself, new goals are made and old ones are checked off. Last year was simply, truly, definitively amazing . I celebrated a year of pure bliss with Matty on the same day he asked me for the rest of my years and put a beautiful pink couldn't-be-more-made-for-Stefanie ring on my finger. I travelled to places I had never been - Maine, the Cape, Martha's Vineyard, Chicago - and places I had - Reno, New York, San Francisco. I managed to celebrate a whole year at one job (!) while continuing to progress and move forward in my career goals (wh...