Bad at blogging, but I have big news!

So I officially fail at being a "good blogger" but I have some really big news I felt the need to share with my blog, even though no one probably reads it. Actually, I have two pieces of big news:

1. I'm engaged!! :D

2. I'm a college graduate!

I know, very exciting stuff right?!?!

Now for the obligatory ring picture:

It's pink!!! I absolutely love it :) I love the man who gave it to me even more. He picked it out all by himself and completely surprised me with this beautiful antique ring. I probably would have loved anything he picked out (I have a bit of an affinity for sparkly and/or shiny things) but he really found a ring that captured my personal style, and of course he planned a wonderfully sweet proposal.

What? You want to hear about the proposal my non-existent reader? Alright, if you insist:

We had a "Christmas-y" day planned; (this was December 4th) we were going to see Elf (probably my favorite Christmas movie) at a small, old movie theater in my hometown, go ice skating, and see Mannheim Steamroller at Shea's (fancy theater downtown). Mike met me at church and afterwards we grabbed some breakfast at one of my favorite coffee shops across the street from the Palace movie theater. We ran across the street and caught the movie just as it was beginning. After the movie, we walked to our cars (we had drove separately since he met me at church) and he told me to wait to get in my car, handing me a wrapped Christmas present from his car. It was a copy of Elf on DVD; on the inside of the wrapping paper he had written "Guess what? You're prettier to me than anyone ELF" (the first of many puns I would read that day). Then, we drove to my apartment to drop off my car and when I got into his car he asked me if I was sure I knew where we were going because he didn't have the GPS, he told me to check the glovebox to prove his point. (eventhough I believed him) I quickly opened the glove box and he was right, no GPS, and closed it up. He told me to open it again; I was a little confused, but I opened it, and saw that there was another wrapped Christmas present in it. It was a Frank Sinatra Christmas CD, and another cute pun written on the wrapping paper, "Let me be FRANK with you: You're beautiful!"

We listened to good old blue eyes on the drive downtown. By the time we found a parking spot, we realized there wasn't much time for Ice Skating (not to mention Buffalo has been having this bizarr-o winter and it was 40 degrees out) so we decided to skip the rink and just find our seats for the show. After the concert we walked down past the ice rink, even though it was closed at this point, to look at the Christmas lights. Then we enjoyed a nice dinner at a Greek Restaurant called Ambrosia. We were going to drive around and look at Christmas lights, but it was getting pretty late and I had papers to grade, so we headed back to my apartment. We got into the apartment and put on the Christmas lights and some Christmas music. I sat down on the couch to start grading papers.

Mike kept asking me if I'd be more comfortable grading papers in my room, if I always graded them on the couch, and other strange questions (this is the point where I should have started to suspect something.) Finally he just said in a rather determined sort of way "Let's go in your room." to which I replied "Okay" in that confused, drawn out manner and gathered my papers. Almost as soon as we got into my room he left, shutting the door and telling me not to peek (this is the point where I should have really started to suspect something.)

After a few minutes he told me I could come out. As I reentered the living room, he told me Santa had come, and there were seven presents under my tree with seven packets of Land-O-Lakes flavored hot chocolate on each. He told me what order to open them in and I began unwrapping the first present. It was season one of Gilmore Girls (one of my favorite shows) on DVD, this had a rather lengthy note on it, which I won't reproduce here, but it did say that since I am willing to watch anime with him, he is willing to watch my favorite shows too. I haven't decided if I'll make him watch Gilmore Girls with me or not, but it was definitely a sweet sentiment. The puns didn't stop there either this one had "I love you! And I'm not Lore-lying!" If you haven't guessed yet, the other six gifts were the other six seasons of Gilmore Girls, with more sweet sentimental notes, detailing his feelings on his "Year of Wooing Mandy", the first time we held hands, our first real date, all ending with a final note thanking me for all that I am to him and all that I mean to him. Instead of a Gilmore Girls character name pun (which I was quite impressed with by the way) this one ended with "Now, come see me under the mistletoe. I have one more present for you. ;)" This whole time I had been asking him what he was going to do for Christmas, and what all this was for, I was still completely clueless for some reason as I moved to meet him under the mistletoe, expecting nothing more than a kiss (yes, I realize how clearly clueless I was at this point.) I went to kiss him as he was stepping away and telling me to close my eyes, I was still confused and protested, explaining that mistletoe was for kissing. He told me he would kiss me and to close my eyes and pucker up and I acquiesced. He kissed me and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. When I opened my eyes he was on one knee with this gorgeous ring in this gorgeous box, he asked me to marry him. (he even googled which knee to get down on!!)

The next few moments are sort of a blur of complete jubilation. I remember the first words out of my mouth were something really silly and not "yes!" and I hugged him so tightly. (He tells me that he thinks my silly words were something like "It's [the ring] so beautiful!") I remember feeling his heart pounding against my chest and feeling so warm. Then remembering to say "Yes!" and getting to put the ring on and smiles and tears and warmth and joy just exploding in that moment. I was giddy, I was ecstatic, I was possibly a little crazed, but I felt amazing, everything felt amazing, it felt so right.

I managed to call both sets of my parents and tell the news, and once my stepmom found out I had to tell Facebook since she already had, and grade about two papers. I didn't sleep much that night and I'm pretty sure my jaw hurt the next morning from finally falling asleep with a smile plastered on my face. The next day I probably didn't even need my morning coffee, and I'm sure my students were wondering why on earth anyone could possibly be so excited about Freytag's Pyramid and eight in the morning, I swear I could have been giddy about teaching sentence diagramming that day if I wanted to.

I am so excited I get to begin this wonderful journey with the love of my life. I couldn't possibly be more blessed. Hopefully it will inspire me to start blogging more, I'm sure I'll want to tell about all the wedding details and DIY that I'm doing. Then again, considering my track record, maybe not.

-Mandy

Getting Ready for the End...

I've been spending the past couple days preparing for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 tonight... I never thought I'd be seeing the 8th Harry Potter movie, or that I'd be nearly 22 years old when it came out! I've been with Harry for more than half my life! But it's not really over is it... ;)




The shirt is for my boyfriend to wear, I will of course be going as a Ravenclaw student :)

Father's Day

I met my family at Niagara Falls for a lovely father's day picnic :) I thought I'd share some shots my stepmom took!

I wasn't present when this first picture was taken but I thought I'd show you a pic of the falls in all their glory
My dad, my sisters Reilly and Taylor, and I on the first of the Three Sisters Islands (look three sisters on the Three Sisters!!) they are really cool very beautiful little islands above the Falls with lots of little paths to explore (though it is "recommended" that you stay on the paved trails) A little gem that's a must visit if you go to Niagara Falls!
There was a little spot on the third island where you could actually step into the water, without getting swept away by the treacherous rapids (though it's technically not allowed)

Here's a view of the falls you don't see everyday, directly above them!

A veiw of the rapids through the trees from one of the Three Sisters IslandsAww aren't my parents cute? (I took this one)

Playing Apples to Apples near the rapids:
After the Falls we headed to a little restaurant called The Bedrock Eatery on Lake Erie, here's a picture of my dad and his daughters (minus 1 who was sick and couldn't come)
...and a gorgeous sunset to end the day:After we got home I finally got to give Daddy his present! (rope lights for the front porch and a free paint brush I got with a coupon inspired a neat wrapping job)
My boyfriend says it looks like blood :p everyone else thought it was cool though!

Happy belated Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

-Mandy

Hello Again!

So I'm not to good at this whole blogging thing... or at least being consistent about it, but I've decided to start blogging again. :) More to come soon...
-Mandy

Reflections

A Collection of Photos I've taken over the past 2 days featuring shiny wet pavement

The Dangers of Mouse Clicking on Summer Nights

Staying awake until the sky turns pale,
When a chorus of birds beckons the coming sun,
I'm listening to love songs,
I swear I'm driving myself to loneliness,
Any sorrow i feel will be my own fault,
No one to blame but myself,
The world awakens in this rare and beautiful hour,
And I am well aware that no one is here to share it with,
No one is here to confirm this reality,
And I'll wait here in my solitude,
Driving myself mad with waiting,
And loving every moment of it,
One true love,
Like the dawn worth waiting for

Dear Taking Back Sunday

I don't understand why you are out to ruin my summer concert going. I understand, you had a new album out and hadn't been to the area in a while causing you to sell out when you toured with Anberlin and played in Rochester. I know I should have bought my ticket earlier to that show so I wouldn't have to drive an hour only to sit outside for the opening act and the first few songs of Anberlin's set before finally buying tickets off a security guard in an alleyway. I forgave you for that because I got in in time to see them preform "Paperthin Hymn" and got in for $25 after seeing a girl pay a scalper $74 on the street corner. Your set was good and you were pretty funny, I even sang along to a few of your songs and laughed at your poor sad lyrics (really, how do you get away with "the truth is you could slit my throat and with my one last gasping breath I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt", do you know how pathetic that is). I'd say your pretty decent live and I really wasn't that upset with you by the end of the night. Now you have destroyed the Emery show too? Seriously, I've been planning on going to that one since they announced the date, and you decided to come to Buffalo the same day. Now the shows have merged an you my friends are headlining. Emery was supposed to headline, they were supposed to have an encore and a nice long set and all the other wonderful things that come with headlining, but no my friends, for the second time this summer you have to headline, once wasn't enough was it? Thanks to you the price went up too, jeez guys, I don't have $25-$30 to shell out every time you decide to headline for one of my favorite bands, I mean I'm jobless and carless right now, that's a lot of money! So if you could please stop headlining for my favorite bands so I can have the best possible show experience that would be great. I would maybe buy one of your CD's as a thank you, or at least a sticker or button or something.
Thanks in advance,
Mandy

God's Masterpiece

I have this really beautiful friend, she's a relatively new Christian who's been through a lot a struggles and has a lot of questions. This friend recently asked me "since god made us new when we asked him into our lives does that mean he didn't like the old us?"
WOW
Is that a loaded question or what?
My first mental reaction to this was something like "really? Why did you ask me this question? I have to go find my bible and find all these references about how God loves us, and how he created us and how sin ruined us and put it all together and try and make her understand and make it all make sense cause its all vague and abstract in my head, and I'm kinda tired and urgh!!"
I love it when God teaches you something while you teach it to others, it's really humbling and beautiful and amazing all at the same time. So of course, God, being God had other plans for this conversation, instead of freaking out and typing some contrived "God loves you, blah blah blah" reply, God in all his awesomeness gave me this wonderful little illustration out of nowhere that I'm going to share with you.
Basically, we are God's masterpiece right, this is made clear several times in the bible, Genesis, Psalm 139, so many places point to just how wonderfully crafted we are in his image.
When I think of the word masterpiece, as most do I'm sure, immediately great works of art come to mind, The Mona Lisa, The Sistine Chapel etc.
We are like a beautiful painting God perfectly crafted and painstakingly painted by hand. So, to refer back to my friend's question is this the "old us"? Not quite, we'll call this the "original us" the back-in-the-garden version if you will. This is where the age old problem comes in: Sin entered the world. Isn't that what it always boils down to? No body wanted this to happen but it did.
That's right, God had a nice little cup of dirty paint water sitting next to his beautiful masterpiece, nothing out of the ordinary for a great artist, and he turned his back for two seconds (or maybe not at all, maybe Satan's that sneaky) and Satan creeps up and kicks this dirty murky water (sin, if you didn't catch that one) all over God's beautiful gorgeous masterpiece. What a jerk! I bet it was a really punky sort of kick to, I bet he scrunched up his face and clenched his fist and just dropkicked that cup as hard as he could.
So when we're "made new" it's really just God cleaning up all the messy dirty stains, a whole new careful, delicate, process. God doesn't mind at all though, he loves every single one of his masterpieces and wants them to be as beautiful as possible, as beautiful as he created them to be. He will spend our whole lives cleaning up our stains if we let him, and that's pretty awesome. :)

It's Summer (Officially)

Which means it's officially time for the following:
Road Trips (spontaneous or otherwise)
The beach
Sunsets
Milkshakes and Curly Q Fries outside on a picnic Table
Pretty Buffalo Skies
Sundresses, Skirts, Shorts, and Tank Tops
Late Nights - at the beach, out to eat, in parking lots
Flip Flops
Sidewalk Chalk
Iced Capps from Tim Hos
Chestnut Ridge - frolfing, exploring, 100 steps, rolling down the big hill, the eternal flame
Going to the Cottage on Chautauqua Lake
Taking Pictures of nature, in nature, nature meeting what is urban
Bonfires - in my backyard
Ice Cream and freezie pops
Blowing Bubbles
Spending time with myself, my family, my friends, and my God

It's also means the following is coming up:
Taste of Buffalo
Burger Fest
Blast on the Beach
Kingdom Bound!!!!
The Fair!!
Pirate Fest
and countless other days and nights of fun to be had

I'm thinking of compiling pictures of each of these things that I took last summer and posting like once a week... like a summer photo series or something... what do you think?

Conversations That Go On In My House

Taylor (16 Year Old Sister): *gives potential relationship advice*
Me: Seriously?
Taylor: What?
Me: It's weird that your trying to give me advice on this
Taylor: I know right?
Debbie (Stepmom): What's going on? Does Mandy have a boyfriend?
Me: WHAT?!?!!!!????? Noooooooooooooooo
Taylor: Yes!!!! well, no, but she will!!!
Debbie: What's his name?
Me: WHAT?!?!?!!?!?!!!??!! Really?!?!
Debbie: Well, don't you want a boyfriend?
Me: No... well... argh... seriously?
Debbie: Why don't you want a boyfriend?
Me: not right now, don't have time, I just can't cuz like um...
Debbie:...
Me: (frantically thinking of excuses) I don't have time for a boyfriend, I mean the poor boy, he'd have to deal with me being all "Um, actually I can't go out, I have to do this thing and that thing and that other thing, and tomorrow won't work either.. I think I might maybe be able to see you next thursday"
Debbie: Well he can go to all that stuff with you

SERIOUSLY?
*facepalm* I will never win this
No one in my family seems to understand the fact that I'm completely ok with being single at this point in my life
It's even worse when I go to grandma's house and get the "so, is there any young men in your life right now?"
oh family, you gotta love 'em right?