Hello 2013!

"before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, let's stop and reflect on the year that has gone by... remember both our triumphs and missteps, our promises made and broken...the times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt, because that's what the new year is all about- getting another chance, a chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more and stop worrying about "what if?" and start embracing what would be, so when the ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other and not just on New Year's Eve, but all year long.."

As I reflect back on 2012, I really have nothing Negative to say! Sure, there were some ups and downs but really.....its life, doesn't EVERYONE face that?! Here is what happened in 2012 for PJ and I:
Note- these events in not really in order..I wrote as I remembered... 

• We moved into our apartment we are in now on Jan 1, 2012.
• Dal helped us un pack and we live streamed the ball dropping in NYC
• remembered, no mummers and no cable from just moving in- so we live streamed them too.
• PJ and I took a weekend getaway to Chicago
• I was the MOH of my best friends wedding
• I was fortunate to be able to attend all the wedding festivities such as her Bridal Shower her Bachelorette Party and of course, the wedding (all of which were in NJ)
• I was able to walk in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure on mothers day in Philly which I have not done in about 5 years- this I was able to share with my sisters, Gretchen, Ray and Tracy...oh Can't forget Gretchen's sister Risi! 
• For the first time, I even branched away from only walking in  Susan G. Komen events and I walked with my friend Monica in the MS walk in Plymouth. 
• PJ's 99 Restaurant happened to be on the route of the Breast Cancer 3 day this year and we organized a cheering station for the walkers. 
• My sister Becca was able to come to Boston to Cheer the walkers on with us!
• I got to see a 3day friend I met at my first 3day- Bernadette!
• My sister, Danielle graduated from MED SCHOOL this year and PJ and I were able to attend her graduation ceremony at the Lincoln Center in NYC. 
• We made lots of trips to New Jersey, but I can't complain- its my home home and I love seeing my friends and family that I miss so much. (although one rant- after doing that 300mile + drive basically EVERY month, gets really annoying!) But I love the outcome once I arrive at my destinations!
• PJ received a temporary promotion as an Operations Director Supervising 4 Restaurants in his division!!! So proud of him!
•  My Cousin, Vicky announced that she is going to be having a baby, we found out it will be a boy!! the first boy in the family!!!
•  my Bff Angie and Ilya announced they are expecting a baby Girl!!!
•  Our friends Kristin and Eric (??) are also expecting!!
•  all 3 of them are due around the same time in 2013! 
• My bff Cindy and Tom got engaged in March and asked me to be apart of their special day
•  my bff Stacey and Dave got engaged and asked me to be apart of their special day!!! 
• The best man of our wedding proposed to his Amoré Laura and they too will be getting married!!! PJ is the best man, and I will be happily taking their photos...IN MEXICO!!! 
• I took pictures at a wedding for my friend Christina on the beach in Falmouth this past summer!! It was so beautiful and so intimate with only 8 people. I loved it!
• We FINALLY got our passports!!
•  PJ and I had a few visitors this year- not as much as we did in 2011 but I think thats because I was in NJ every month!?!
• Our friends Kuj and Julie got Married and I taught them their first dance! (taught them in our driveway..the neighbors loved it)
• A friend from work won dance lessons and I got to teach them their first dance! (taught them at a gazebo in Wakefield)
• We celebrated our 2 year anniversary!!!!!
• For our anniversary, we went on a weekend trip to Lincoln, NH.
• We hiked, ate, drank, played Yatzee- turned it into a drinking game, napped and hiked
• did I mention we celebrated in NH with Troy and Laura???? cause we did :-D
• It was in NH I was talked into really taking photography seriously.
• I got 3 wisdom teeth pulled (the 4th was pulled in 2010.) 
• I borrowed an SLR digital camera (Thanks Favorite Father in Law)
• I took my brother in law Jesse's Senior Portraits for the year book
• I took our Cousin Lydia's Senior Portraits for the year book
• I took our cousin Jenna and her beautiful families portraits
• I took a cute kid and his moms pictures from work (Jaedyn and Leighanne)
• I have lots more photo shoots lined up for 2013
• I tested out every photoshop product there is out there for 30 days free
• I got my amazing professional Camera -Cannon Rebel T4i and I LOVE IT!
• I made a chalkboard and its awesome!
• I made EVERYONE's Christmas gift this year 
• Christmas decorations were hung up outside our apartment and inside- we got a real tree!
• We have a washer and dryer! Best year everrrrr for Laundry!
• The name Ali B Photography came to life, thanks to Gretchen as we figured it out when she was here on her last visit in November.
• Experimented with lots of new recipies and found an awesome website- Dashingdish.com 
• PJ and I started watching our Calories- He lost about 20lbs and I lost about 10 lbs- my first diet...EVER
• I started teaching a Zumba class at work
• We voted for Obama....and he's back in action! 
• I got to see Gavin Degraw in concert as well as Train and Andy Grammar at Mix Fest in Boston for FREE!
• Gretchen came to visit in August and we went Whale Watching!! 
• We saw TONS of Whales!
• We crossed a few things off our to do list and saw Lexington, Concord and climbed 300 steps of the Bunker Hill Memorial
• I went to Wahlburgers a bunch of times- Gretchen, Monica, and for work.. :)
• I met Paul Wahlberg- Donnie and Marky Marks Brother
• Monica and I hung out a few times and got peddis and created a to do list...which we need to do.
• I went to a Vintage Bizarr with Maria from work- got some awesome photography props- and got some awesome props at yard sales too!
• Went to my 2nd Red Sox game 
• My Sister Dal (Danielle, MD.) came to visit us and the Boncek family for Christmas!
• We had a white christmas! not too much snow, but enough to make it white :-D
• My friend from my old office is a Breast Cancer Survivor! <3
• Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Completed the Twilight Saga Movies...I saw it TWICE...with Maria 
• 
  

Sure some negative things happend, but lets not reflect on them..

Things I am looking forward to in 2013 are.....

• Babies being born!!!!!!!
• Weddings!!!!!!!!! and all events leading up to the special days!
• Our 3 year wedding anniversary  (7 together!)
• Trip to Mexico!
• Spending a day with my dad at the Titanic Exhibit in Philly
• Visiting friends and family in NJ/PA
• Kicking off my business- Ali B Photography
• Date nights with my man!
• Possibly a visit from my dad
• Completing things off the "to-do" list I created with Monica and Gretchen
• 2 separate lists!
• 10 year high school reunion.....(not going) ( Can't believe its been 10years!)
• 10 year dance reunion- Alumni Concert- This I hope I can go to!

This post is not complete without my New Years Resolutions right?!? RIGHT!!!

In the year of 2013, which is so weird to think about- and write! I hope to accomplish a few things. I dont even recall having a resolution list for 2012....I think every year I say, "To never second guess myself." Well..I assure you, I am thinking about that right now, but I have a few more things that I def. know I want to accomplish- Second Guessing is part of being human.... I'll try...to try....

In 2013 I plan to

• Kick off Ali B Photography 
• Need to make ANOTHER list of goals for that
• Run in a 5K ( I am not a runner, I am a walker....I think this would be a great challenge, I have been talking about it for a year now, I think its time to suck it up)
• Save $$$$$$$$
• BUDGET!!!! $$$$$
• Attend photography workshops
• Be the BEST wife ever!
• Get better at my job
• Be On Time- Thanks to my husband, I can do this one....Work doesn't count :-x
• Don't dress over whats for dinner- utalize the tons of cookbooks and pinterest recipies I have!!! 
• update blogs more often
• read the books on my book list (before purchasing another one not on the list!)
• Wake up earlier so I have more time in my day to do some more ME stuff. I have unopened books that I am dying to read, endless chalkboard design ideas, DIY projects, letters/gifts/goodies to make & send to people and so much more. I get so caught up with things that I NEED to do, that I rarely have time for the little things that I want to do.
• Stay organized.  here is my strategy. I always think I need to document everything in excel, or in my phone or some other digital means. This year, I am going back to basics, with a notebook & pen. I am a visual person, I'm hoping this will work better for me.

I am sure I will want to do more things, my mind has been racing these days of how NOW is the time to do all sorts of things since it is just the beginning. I am excited to see what this year brings for PJ and I and I am excited to continue to share with you how we are doing, whats new, whats happening while we are far away from family and friends.

Merry Christmas to All!

As I mentioned in my Thanksgiving post- I have been WICKED busy, so I am posting about my holidays now! Although, this one is pretty much on time! woohoo!


Work has been going well, its work- sometimes it has bad days, but also good! Like every job right???  I LOVE my team and I have made some amazing friendships! I started teaching a Zumba group in August and it is still going! This year, at our holiday party, my group did a performance for the whole office dancing to Joy To The World by Mariah Carey! The group did a great job! I love that they love it!!! I have a video and wish I was able to post it, but due to HIPPA, I can't. Lets just say it was adorable and they did a great Job!
While at the christmas party, aside from dancing with my guys, I photographed special moments of the whole day!!

Lisa and Maria- Love them! Best office mates ever! 

hard at work.

I have made EVERYONE's christmas gift this year! Peppermint Sugar Scrub- thanks to the Idea Room! I was able to get the idea and print out cute tags! It was a HUGE hit- I made it for my coworkers and I made it for the family. Some people even got ornaments I made with professional pictures I took of them this past year. I also got a cute Idea on Pinterest involving socks and nail polish- I just printed out a cute tag!

I love home made thoughtful things!!!

Every Christmas as I was growing up, my dad decorated the house in lights while my mom went all out with the decoration inside the house and on the lawn. This year, we are living in an apartment but its part of a house, we I was able to have fun decorating and getting into the holiday spirit. Man, I missed that. I felt like a kid again. I know PJ and I dont have kids to really share this with, but I wanted it to be something for us to enjoy and I think I did a good job. I have posted a ton of pics to my Facebook page but there are also a few below so you can see the tour of the apartment with the cute decorations.
We had close friends over on the Saturday before christmas and I was happy they were able to see all my hard work! :-) Note: Scattergories is a FUN game!

This Christmas we had a change of plans. We were going to go to NJ to visit the NJ family again, but things happened with work and we were not able to follow through with that plan. We were sad, but we were happy we got to go there for Thanksgiving. Christmas was spent with our family here in MA....A 45minute drive vs. a 6.5 hour drive...although- Randomly we were greeted with the present, yes present, of MY SISTER! My sister decided on Christmas Eve that she was going to battle that 6.5 hour drive to spend Christmas with the family up here! It was such a nice surprise and I was happy she was able to do that/ wanted to do that. Poor thing drove all the way here in a snow storm in a little car with lets say, NO 4 wheel drive...and a NJ license plate... ya know what I mean?? :)
Well, she made it here safely arriving at 2:30am on Christmas Day- She had a glass of wine, or bottle, when she got here, we went to bed and spent Christmas Day together with the family. Next time, I hope she brings my dad...he wasn't able to come this time.
Christmas so was nice celebrating and seeing everyone!!! I missed our NJ family but I was able to FaceTime with them (thank goodness for apple products) and I spoke to them all day through texting. We actually dont get to see our MA family as often as we'd like so seeing them all together for Christmas was a treat! I got to play around with my camera and again, captured some beautiful shots of the family spending time together. PJ got me a gift certificate to take workshops which I am so excited about, and an great book that will help me learn my camera more too! Gotta get that book started! 50 Shades can wait! :)

Wishing you Warm and Cozy Toes This Winter. Crazy Knee High Socks with matching Nail Polish

Peppermint Sugar Scrub- The Idea Room. (Coconut Oil and Sugar!)

I love my chalkboard and card display! I dont want to take it down! 

Thanks Santa! My sister!

all the gifts I made ready to go.

Sisters!

Opening the tutu I made her.

My Niece Julia with her tutu!I made this tutu along with another one similar and a pink a white one- I hope someone sends me pics!

Auntie Alex, Uncle PJ, Daddy and Uncle Jesse with John James and Julia!

The Boncek Family.

 So once we got home from visiting the family, I felt my voice starting to leave me. Well, I thought it was from talking too much and making my voice heard over my sister, as she loves to talk and elevate her voice (love her)..but I was getting louder...till I got nothing....I went to bed Christmas Night and woke up in the middle of the night not able to breathe. I didn't know what was going on, but i knew I couldn't breathe and I was freaking out. I was crying. PJ was able to get me to calm down. I didn't think I needed the hospital  Under his direction, I took a Benadryl and my inhaler and attempted to calm down. I was hyperventilating for about 3 hours before finally falling asleep again with the gentle hand of PJ's on my back. 

Yes, my sister is a doctor, I am surprised she didn't hear me in the other room, but there was not much more for her to do for me at 3am. So I didn't wake her.

PJ took me to the doctor the next morning to find out that they think I had a severe asthma attack in the middle of the night. The doctor asked about allergies and if there was something that could have peaked it- I mentioned there was a cat at the house christmas night but I didn't touch the cat and I didn't think to take allergy medicine before going over. The doctor thinks that the cat peaked my attack and it just got so bad at night and I did the right thing taking Benadryl and my inhaler (My husband is a genius!) Well, today I have no voice and I keep coughing. I am able to breathe thank goodness! but its hard for me to talk to people right now.. I dont feel super sick, just tired and my chest hurts. 

Thanks Santa for this awesomeness.

On top of this, the month of December I was having some issues with my eyes. They were very bloodshot. I have not been able to wear my glasses for about 2 weeks. I went to the eye doctor about this and it turned out I had a bacterial infection in both eyes. She stated, " it looks like someone went into your eyes with sand paper and rubbed it all over." So, as of today, the infection is gone but my eyes are very dry and I feel as though my prescription has changed. i gotta go back there in 2 weeks for a follow up. 

here is a picture from my work holiday party- look how red!!!!!!

I think the doctor office is my new home. I have been there yesterday, today and I will be there Jan 10 and 11- The 11th is my annual physical, but still! 

Hoping for a Healthy 2013!!! I got too many amazing things happening in 2013!

So Much to be Thankful For!

I always wait a few days/weeks/months or so on updating my personal blog. I will need to work on this for 2013- Updating on time!!!  With the holidays that have just passed, I have been BUSY! Between working, making crafts for christmas gifts, learning photography- I have no had time to blog.

First, I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and a Very Merry Christmas!! 

This year my man and I spent Thanksgiving in NJ with family and friends. Pretty cool this year we had a car buddy! My cousin Mike currently lives in Maine with his girlfriend and he decided to join us for Thanksgiving!! It was awesome catching up with him on the 6 hour car ride there and back! 

Its always so nice visiting my home home, seeing the family and meeting up with a few friends.  I loved that PJ and I were able to stay in Philly for one night at my sisters apartment and then we got to go to the Thanksgiving Day Parade! It has been several years since I have seen it, and this time was PJ's first time! 

I just recently got a professional  camera, the Cannon Rebel T4i with an extra portrait lens that I can not get enough of! I was able to play around with that at Thanksgiving, capturing special moments between each person in the family. My dad was so excited to see me as he had a little something he wanted to give to me, understanding that it was not Christmas he said, " I am just too excited to give you this, I want to give it to you now." He presented me with a vintage Konica Film Camera with extra lens' and a pretty awesome case! I was not expecting that and I was happily surprised with it. It was nice sitting with him and talking about cameras. and it was pretty cool Jordan was talking with us too and teaching me a few things I should know because I want to be a professional photographer. It was pretty awesome and my man and I had a great time. Here are some photos I captured for your picture needs.

and the photos continue!

As you can see, I have been talking about photography a lot, just did senior pictures and since then, I have been trying to build up my smiling faces to help me create my portfolio. I have been trying to schedule photo shoots for the rest of October and November and with that, I even have things to do in the winter and spring...and summer! I am so excited and really really really can't wait!

Last week I took pictures of our Cousin and Family. Jenna (PJ's cousin), her boyfriend Dan, and their adorable 3 year old daughter, Daylen had their photos taken at the comfort of their own home. The house is adorable (photo above)  and I was happy to have the chance to capture some natural moments.

How adorable is Daylen?!? 

Being Silly

dad didn't know I got this one :-)

3 Generations. Babci, Mama, and Baby

Family Photo on the front steps of their 1st home.

Love.

This picture is so sweet. Don't you agree?

Love it.

enjoying a game of soccer with mom and dad.