Mardis Gras, the Flu, an Engagement Engagement, and Snow...LOTS of SNOW!



Where to begin....

It's been nearly a month since I posted last.  How is it the end of February already?

My life has been a whirl-wind recently and having it slow down enough to focus on a blog has seemed almost impossible.  The strange thing is, it's not like I've been at a loss of things to write about.  This month has been crazy busy with so many exciting events and celebrations. The blogs should have been flying off the screen and it the cyber-space world. Alas...here I am playing catch-up....

So here's a "highlight reel" of the last month.  I may revisit some of these topics later, but if I never get around to it, at least we're all updated for the present moment. 

Yes, I'm going gluten-free

Bye-bye baked goods
Sometime in the beginning of February, I swore of gluten.  Some of it was I was ready for a change.  Some of it was I felt sluggish.  Some if it was influenced by my dad who has been gluten-free (and feeling great) for over 10 years.  What ever motivated me, I've stuck to it (for the most part) for almost a month.  No bread, no pasta, no floor tortilla quesadillas. And you know what?  It hasn't been nearly as difficult as I would have imagined. Who knows how long I'll stick with this, but right now I'm happy and feeling good.

A new tattoo, a gluten-free birthday cake, and fantastic scavanger hunt!

Laissez les bon temps rouler -- Let the good times roll
My 28th Birthday was celebrated in the grandest of ways! I started my day off with new tattoos with one of my besties. Then my other best friends planned a Mardi Gras themed birthday party, that was...dare I say it...EPIC! I was surrounded by all of my closest friends. Dinner was Mexican (the margaritas flowed).  The cake was gluten-free (and was DE-LISH). The party bus and the mayhem that ensued was priceless (and the pictures don't even do the night justice). And I have to say this was absolutely the best birthday ever! I was in complete bliss that my yin and yang group of friends were able to come together for my birthday and have an outstanding time.

Of course there is so much I could write about: the scavenger hunt for bars, distribution of beads, the GRENADE whistle, my friends knowing me well enough to completely embarrass me (an almost impossible task), karaoke at the El Cortez, a plethora of drinks and shots, hotel check-in at 5:45am, endless laughs, and unforgettable memories. But...we'll just leave it at that ;-)

I was one sick Bear!

Then came the sickness...and the SNOW
I could feel it coming on. It was the pressure in my head. It was the sweats while sleeping.  It was the feeling of my throat being on fire. I knew I was getting sick! After struggling through a day of class and work (and hearing from everyone that I didn't look "good") I got in to see my doctor. He prescribed me a Z-Pack and said if it was a bacteria, I would be better within 24 hours.  If it was a virus, I was pretty much SOL until my body fought off the foreign invasion. On top of the Z-Pack, I self medicated: theraflu, echinacia, vitamin c, Airborne, Sudafed, and Mucinex.
The next few days were a blur. The snow began to fall HEAVILY in the middle of the week, and didn't let up for over 72 hours.  The Truckee Meadows became a winter wonderland.  I just became sicker. Since I had my tonsils removed almost three years ago, I have been sans-sickness. This year, it seemed the flu hit me hard. Sick-days and snow-days. That was the extent of my week.

Venice Beach, my nephew, the Engagement Party Suite

An Engagement Engagement
The weekend brought me to El Lay for my brother and his fiance's engagement party (read about the engagement HERE). I left the snow, and entered the rain.  The whole weekend was a blast: tapas and endless wine (with my Momma, brother, and his best friends), an excursion to Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade and farmers market (until we got rained out), bonding with my furry nephew Beckett, an engagement party to end all engagement parties in a private suite (in a super-cute renovated hotel in Venice, one block away from the beach), quality time and great conversation (along with sunshine, a good meal and a walk along the beach) with my dad and brother, and a blurry flight home back to the cold.

Although the whole weekend was 72 jam-packed hours, the highlight was by far the engagement party for my brother Dan and my soon-to-be SIL (sister-in-law) Lauren.  Lauren's best friend (and maid-of-honor) planned and organized the whole party, and what a party it was.  I felt so honored that she included me in some of the planning and I loved laughing and crying with her as we previewed the slide-show and came up with game questions.

The whole night ultimately was a love-fest. It was so cute to see how in love my brother and Lo are. Everyone ate (there was a plethora of cheese...the bride's #1 request), we drank (there was an open bar, with an entertaining bartender who had a heavy poor), we laughed (endlessly), and we cried. 

Actually, I sobbed....a few times. Lauren officially asked me to be one of her bride's maids and the way she asked, and what she said, was some of the most touching, heartfelt expressions that I've ever heard....cue tears here.  That touching moment filtered into a brother-sister pow-wow where Dan, Lo, Lo's brother Steven, and myself had a mushy-conversation which yes, brought on the water-works. I drank shots, laughed, and teased around with my "little-brothers" (my brother's friends who I have adopted as family).  I giggled and drank champagne with the girls (Lauren's friends who I'm just getting to know). I had good conversation with both of my parents, and was happy to have everyone together in one place. It was truly a magical night and if this little 30 person party is any portrayal of the wedding...oh baby, I can't wait!

Sunday-Funday and a BLUR of a week
Leaving "La-La-Land" and the Sunshine State was difficult, especially when it meant coming back to the cold in Reno. Knowing my friends were in the midst of a "Sunday-Funday" took the edge off the frigged temperatures. Between airport bars and Southwest drink coupons, I was buzzing good by the time I met up with my Bestie. It was good to catch-up with her about the weekend's events. My Sunday-Funday turned into a Manic Monday (which I was lucky to have off). I spent the day recouping, studying, and trying to get my ass in gear for the week ahead.

The rest of the week is a blur...simply because I was going a million miles a minute.  And it was actually a great week! Classes were great, I started feeling better, and work was fantastic and went so smooth. As my Friday ended, I found myself wishing for repeats of the week.  The work-week ended with another blizzard, my principal sending everyone home as soon as the kids left the building, drinks with the girls, and calling it a night before 9pm.

And here I am. It's Saturday morning. The sun is out, and the snow is beginning to melt. And although I'm not physically hung-over today, I find that emotionally I am.  Just a little. It happens to the single-girl sometimes. But feeding that hang-over is unproductive, so instead I'm staying busy: blogging, studying, doing catch-up work, and cleaning my room. Then it's a night out with the girls.

In conclusion
It feels good to back. And I mean "back" in many ways.  Good to be back writing.  Good to be back to feeling well.  Good to be back to reality and being productive.  Good to be back to myself.

She Said YES!

Let me start off by saying that I have always been a proud Big Sister.

I love my brother more then words can say.  He and I have always been super close, and while we had our bickering as children, I would say that we have a pretty solid relationship.  Yes, we need to stay in better communication and talk more.  But when we do reconnect, it's like we haven't missed a beat. And even though he lives in Southern California, the hundreds of miles that separate us feels like just a stone's throw.

Dan is exactly two and a half years younger then me. Although he's super sarcastic, he's also the smartest most intelligent, humble person I know.  He's so articulate, level headed, and responsible.  While I have always been the free spirit, my brother has always been the one to achieve any goal he sets (and with flying colors).  He may be my little brother, but I have to admit that I constantly look up to him!

In addition to being the more "responsible" sibling, Dan has also been the one who is great with relationships. While I am the queen of "flitter-flattering" around the "dating/love world" he thrives in a serious relationship.

During his freshman year of college my brother met a beautiful blond name Lauren.  I won't get into the story of how they met exactly as it's not what's important.  What is important? That interaction in the dorms of UCLA brought two hearts together.  I remember hearing about Lauren over the next few months.  I loved that she had martial arts black belts (so does my brother) and loved the idea of a woman who could keep my brother in-line.  I loved her love for adventure.  And I loved that she hated onions too!

Dan and Lo have been dating since college and they are what you say in Hebrew, "B'Shert".  The literal translation of this is "meant to be" or "destined to be together".  I 100% believe that these two amazing people are destined to spend their lives together!

Over the years, I have fallen in love with Lauren as much as my brother has.  Ok, well prob not AS MUCH as my brother has, but I'm in a close 2nd running.  She is a beautiful woman both inside and out.  I am thankful that she and I have formed our own relationship and communicating with her directly is not only never awkward, it's always a true pleasure.  Hearing from Lo always brings a smile to my face.  Seeing her warms my heart.  And having her in my life makes me a better person. 

This past December, my brother and Lauren went on yet another European vacation (lucky!), this time to Eastern Europe.  While on their trip, on a cold and snowy night, my brother proposed to Lauren.  And of course, she said YES!!!  My brother called me the next morning (midnight Reno-time) to share the good news.  I think I cried on the phone.  I know I'm getting all chocked up now writing about it.

We all knew (or at least my family and I knew) that my brother was thinking of asking for Lauren's hand in marriage.  He came to Reno in October to discuss rings with my mom, and I was honored to be able to sit in on the convo.  My brother worked hard designing the ring of Lo's dreams, being super secretive the whole time. It felt like my brother was in the middle of some covert operation, that I was let in on.  And any mention of "the mission" would lead to a painful death.

The ring!

So needless to say, I have been waiting A WHILE to share this news.  Now that the ring is on Lauren's finger, and both of their facebook statuses have been changed to "engaged" I think it's safe for me to share my excitement. 

Wedding talk is already in the air, and I can't wait for everything this next year has in store.  But more then all the pomp and circumstance involved with the nuptials, I'm excited for the future. 

Through this union, I will be gaining a sister.  I have always wanted a sister, and have been secretly envious of all my friends who have that bond.  So within the next year or so, I will get the sister I've always wanted.  And not only that, I get the addition of more family!  You see, in addition to wanting a sister, I also wanted to come from a big family, as mine is pretty small. The addition of Lauren's family has my grinning from ear-to-ear.  I had the pleasure of meeting them this past Thanksgiving, and let me just tell you they are fantastic.  Her mom is so loving, her dad is hilarious with his accents, and her brother is like the little brother I always wanted (since Dan has always acted more mature then me). 

This next year is going to be an exciting one, and I can't wait to see how 2011 unfolds.  I have a feeling it's going to be a time of change, celebration, milestones, and new beginnings.

And with that said....

Congrats and a million Mazels to Daniel and Lauren!!!