One Month To W-Day!

Hey World,

Our wedding is now ONE month from today! <3 

I cannot believe how quickly the past eleven months have gone by...while a lot of the 'big' decisions have been made for a long time now, we've been keeping busy with the small, easy, last-minute decisions to make sure the entire NY weekend is near-perfect. I can hardly believe there are SO many things to think about!

(Don't worry, I've been keeping close tabs on all of it, and will riddle you with posts about the entire wedding celebration month after it happens!)

To continue with the wedding inspiration I posted a few weeks ago,  I wanted to share some pre-wedding purchases I've been making to prepare for essentially two weeks of wedding festivities AND our honeymoon in Belize! 

Basically, I decided that nothing in my closet here in Iringa is good enough for this momentous month, and therefore, went on a massive online shopping spree for sundresses, jewelry, shoes and not-so-casual casual wear.

Here's a sneak peak of what's waiting for me in Upstate New York:

I immediately snatched these up after my Big posted these on her fashion blog!

 Keds + Kate Spade + Glitter = SOLD. 

I am slowly moving back towards longer necklaces, and took the jump with this Akola necklace during a recent sale. PLUS the company supports artisans in Uganda & women in Dallas! 

We all know it: J Crew makes a mean chambray. 

Cannot wait to bring this back to TZ to wear to the office!

Small circular statement necklaces have been my go-to all year -- this one is no different :)

September might not feel like summer to most people, but Iringa is in its winter right now, and I can't WAIT to get in a sundress like this one!

I 100% feel this way every single day...

except on September 17th; then I'm sure to be up and at 'em! :)

Ummm, statement cocktail ring in wedding colors? I think YES! 

This is going to be the "I am so sunburned!" coverup for Belize until the aloe vera kicks in. 

Plus I bought Brady palm tree print swimtrunks so we match! (shhh...don't tell him)

PLUS about a million other purchases. I'm still on the hunt for swimsuits though, so if you know anywhere to buy a few fun mix&match pieces online for a decent price let me know!

xoxo,
M




PS: Wanna match? 
Sneakers  // Chambray Dress // Marble Necklace  // Long Necklace (it's still on sale!) // Floral Sundress // Palm Tree Longsleeve  // Nightdress  // Cocktail Ring

Belize is Booked!

Hey World,

 We're going to be back in the US of A in less than a month to start our wedding celebrations....which meant it was finally time to book our honeymoon.

We'd been looking at Belize for a while as it seems to have an insane amount of all-inclusive packages, as well as adventure-y things to do, some tropical weather, and beaches along the coast to boot...so we finally said YES and booked our tickets!

The trouble then was figuring out how to maximize our five days of vacation in order to hike a little, cave a little, relax a little, and then our two requests: swim a little (Brady), zipline a little (me).

 So this is what we* decided:

Tuesday:

--> Arrive in Belize City @ 11:00AM 

--> Hop on the next water taxi to San Pedro (Ambergris Caye)

--> Fun in the sun on the small island while staying at a small beachfront hotel

The view of paradise  image source

Wednesday:

--> Half day snorkeling trip to Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley to see nurse sharks, turtles & sting rays

--> Water taxi back to Belize City

--> Get picked up and head 2 hours inland to our eco-resort (which has amazing TripAdvisor reviews)!

--> Get settled in

Nurse sharks!   image source

Thursday:

--> Adventure #1 day trip (we're thinking temples & canoeing)

GUYS THERE ARE TOUCANS! image source 

Friday:

--> Adventure #2 day trip (we're thinking going to see the ATM caves + ziplining)

Macal River, where we'll be staying   image source

Saturday:

--> Spend the morning at Table Rock resort doing on-site activities (or visit the infinity pool via canoe at a nearby resort!)

--> Head back to Houston in the afternoon

If you've been to Belize/Ambergris Caye and have any recommendations on places to eat on San Pedro, we'd love to know! 

xoxo,

M

*By we, I mean I. I am now designated as the official #TeamGrimes travel planner, with a track record of success in #LetsLanka, #BaroqueButHappy and #OhManWadiVacation.

Tuning In: My Favorite Podcasts

Hey World,

I think I'm the last one on the podcast party, but now that I've joined, I cannot believe it took me so long!

Once I remembered my iTunes password, and then realized podcasts are free on iTunes (!),  I subscribed to over two dozen channels right off the bat -- talk about hooked. 

Since then, I've been "testing" those I subscribed to figure out which ones I enjoy listening to every week, and which ones I had to say goodbye to. The easiest test for me has been the length...I find anything over 40 minutes hard to dedicate time to listen which has made it easier to part with a few highly rated podcasts!

Below are the seven podcasts I've been able to keep up with over the course of the last two months (all of which I highly recommend): 

StoryCorps: If you don't know what StoryCorps is all about -- you should. Every episode has a theme, and each is only 10-20 minutes long, which is perfect for when you need to unwind or do something mindless. Here's the description from online:

"StoryCorps travels the country collecting the stories of everyday people, who get to take the microphone and interview each other about their lives. Each week, the StoryCorps podcast shares these unscripted conversations, revealing the wisdom, courage, and poetry in the words of people you might not notice walking down the street. Learn more, including how to record your own interview, at storycorps.org."

Basically I now want to find someone in my life to interview for StoryCorps :)

99% Invisible: The description online calls it "A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world", which is pretty accurate. Last week, I listened about earplugs that could prevent the prevalent occurrences of hearing loss from soldiers. A few weeks before, how cities/companies use strangely designed benches and odd lighting to keep people moving. This week, it was about a man-made lake in California that's slowly evaporating away. It's super interesting to listen to - and the lengths of the shows change every week depending on the content. 

Freakonomics Radio: If you've read the book, you'll be interested in listening along each week about one crazy thing or another. If you haven't read the book, then maybe the podcast is a great place to start learning about "the hidden side of everything".

 This is the longest podcast I tune into (often 45-55 minutes), but find it a great Sunday morning listen while I putz around the kitchen prepping for the week ahead!

Planet Money: This is a Brady favorite, and after so much exposure, it's made my top list too. What I like most about this podcast is that the show is rarely more than 20 minutes so I can almost finish it on my walks to work! They also have SO many previous episodes and often re-air episodes online, so I'm never at a shortage of having something new to listen to which is interesting. Think Freakonomics, but more succinct.

Smarty Pants from the American Scholar: I subscribed to this podcast to listen to a show that my favorite professor from undergrad was featured on in an interview about his recently published book, but loved the idea of re-visting American Studies, which I loved so much during college, in my working life!

This podcast I usually tune into while doing work at my desk at home - shopping online, paying credit card bills, making my schedule for the upcoming week. It's on average 40 minutes, and  while I sometimes tune in and out, I think it's more beneficial than watching Friends reruns in the background!

She Explores: This was a recommended "new podcast" when I was looking at iTunes, and I'm so glad I subscribed! It's a show hosted by women, interviewing women, who enjoy traveling and feeling connected to the outdoors. Insert #girlpower and rays of sunshine on dirty hiking boots emojis here!

It comes out weekly, and also is about 30 minutes. I put this on during work when I'm doing "busy work" such as data entering numbers, responding to simple emails, or between some Excel number crunching!

Placemakers:
I've saved the best for last because despite having only two full episodes released, this is a highlight of my week! I listen to this podcast while going for walks around my neighborhood, which is fitting, as it's also about urban planning, and the people behind changes in cities. It's hosted by Slate, so if you enjoy their articles, you might also like tuning in to this!

Podcasts on the docket to test that others have recommended:
Serial, Moth, This American Life, Invisibilia, Radiolab, You Must Remember This

What podcasts are on your weekly rotation? When do you find time to set aside for podcast listening? If you have any channels that you think I might enjoy -- especially any inspirational or motivational ones -- let me know!

xoxo,

M

A Dose of Wedding Inspiration

Hey World,

Despite knowing I would always have a wedding to plan at some point, I came into this past year with truly NO idea on what kind of ambience I wanted to create on our wedding day.

Thanks to Pinterest, Southern Weddings, and a former Wedding Planner as a mom, I've been inspired from thousands of miles away for our NY reception! 

Because I want guests to be largely surprised, below are some images from my favorite weddings featured online which have inspired me. Disclaimer: I am making no promises for what September 17th is going to have in store {but it's going to be amazing}! 

xoxo,

M

Sources: Frame, Hanging Scroll, Dance Floor Rules, Champagne, Side Tables, Wall Art,

Bonfire, Flower Girls, Leaves, Let's Eat Y'all, Love Sign

Doing What You Love: Two Years In

Hey World,

It's nearly impossible for me to wrap my head around the fact that I started work here in Iringa TWO years ago (to the day!) 730 days. Whaaaaaaaat.  

Last year I wrote what being one year in felt like. This year, I'm going to try to show it. 

August brought me to Cambodia to try and read for + write my entire thesis in less than two weeks. Needless to say, I didn't quite finish the goal I set out but I wrote over 55 pages of academic text, and managed to get some early mornings exploring temples and local sites before 12+ hour days of reading and writing.  

In September, I got engaged to BG. He also moved out of Iringa to a new position in Rwanda, and I took over the Field Operations team of 150+ staff members and 17,000 clients. 

In September I also got to go on my first work trip to Kenya for an all Field-Ops meetup! I took taxis, drank apple pie smoothies, and got to meet people who do work similar to mine in all of our other operating countries. 

In October I visited Rwanda to see BG, and we saw chimps, giant ferns, and went on a sky-walk which nearly stopped my heart. 

November is always busy at work as we are delivering orders to our clients, but I managed a long weekend in Zanzibar with BG, and challenged myself to 30 days of Christmas Movies (which I won). Bruce also started rocking a Batman inspired collar which he was very proud of. 

December took me to Texas, where I visited where the magic of Beaver Nuggets happens, spent time with my future family (nieces & nephew included!), and got my first pair of authentic cowboy boots.

December also took me home for the first time in almost a year and a half, where I met my fur-brother Gimlet, froze my pants off, spent lots of time with family, and rang in NYE in my old haunt -- Washington DC!

January absolutely flew by as farmers finished planting, and I started counting how many books I could read in a year (30 and counting) and if I could run 365 miles in a year (epically failing at this one). 

 February brought me back to Rwanda for a long weekend, where BG & I took 48 hours to hike a volcano in the DRC! 

For spring, I also registered to vote abroad (which has been so satisfying!), put some blue in my hair, and started sending 2 or more snail mail love letters every month to random family & friends. 

In March I went on a girls-only weekend to Kitulo National Park here in TZ, which is known for its wildflowers. Only while camping with me would filet & carmelized onions & avo with horseradish mayo sandwiches be the norm...

In April we visited Slovakia....

Then Austria...

Then Slovenia, with a cheeky 12-hour visit to Venice tucked in there too. I've never seen more stunning mountains or bluer water in my life. 

In May BG got malaria in India (long story) and I went to rescue him in Goa. Immediately upon my return I hosted one of my college besties for a week here in TZ, and we spent a lovely weekend in Zanzibar! I also hired two new staffers to work on my team, both of whom are 100% invaluable and have helped me immensely. 

June started some serious house updates (think: plants, couches, curtains, paint, shelving, photos, art, potato masher...), and a busy busy season of enrolling new clients! 

In July we took an epic long-weekend trip to Oman: think sinkholes and wadis and deserts and camels and fending off constant dehydration...

So in the last year....

...I traveled to Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, United States, DRC, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, India & Oman -- adding a total of seven new countries to my passport pages. 

...managed a huge team, and we have (so far) managed to keep most of our targets in line with expectations despite some staffing changes! I was also able to reward some hardworking people with promotions, which has been one of the best parts of my job so far. I've also managed to keep up-to-date blog on my company's intranet, so team members far and wide can keep up with Tanzania operations' happenings. 

...I did not finish my thesis. But I've made plans to finally finish in 2017, and get the diploma by May. 

...I got engaged to the guy who knows how to make buffalo sauce. We've planned our wedding, and three reception parties (NY, TX and TZ), and are within two months of saying "I do". He moved away, and then he moved back. We've renovated the house I still call home, and while there's always more to be done, we'll be next-to-finished by October!

...Bruce just keeps being Bruce. In the last twelve months he's learned where his bed is, how to retrieve a frisbee, and is 70% the way on how to lay down on command (biscuit required). He's gone through 4 fashion statements, gotten used to 3-4 different roommates, and ridden in a car without puking. 

...I decided I need to move back towards goal mapping in my personal life. At work I use an app called Things which has been a lifesaver, and I often review what my longterm and short-term work goals are, and where I stand in relation to them. Now it's time to pull myself together -- any tips you may have are recommended! 

Status Check:

I am still in love with my job. I am really excited for what is in store for the upcoming season, and the members of my team that I get to accomplish it all with! 

I am still in love with life outside of work -- I now have a permanent nights & weekends partner-in-crime to have adventures with, and a pup I love to keep me crazy when I have nothing else to worry about. 

I am still excited about the coming year. A wedding, three massive parties with all of my favorite people, a honeymoon. Year 0-1 as newlyweds, and finishing nesting in our first home. Also we have two of our best friends' weddings in our calendars, as well as a long list of potential travel plans. 

What has your last year included? What makes you excited about the year ahead? 

xoxo,

M

The Bruce Manifesto: A So-Full Heart

Hey World,

I've talked a little bit about my pup Bruce on this blog, like here when I adopted him, and again about a year ago when I was convinced he was a cat (you can read it here). 

Mr B has been an integral part of my life for now more than 18 months. I could go on and on about his silly, sassy (and I mean sassy!) self, but there are no amount of words that could accurately capture the goofball that he has become. 

What I can put into words is what it feels like to have a heart swell so full of love until it wants to burst. It hasn't exploded, but I don't want it to. I want to protect my so-full heart, and allow its weight to keep me grounded. 

I once wrote in an old post:

"Love can be deep. It can be all-encompassing; it can swallow you whole and become you - you will feel it be reflected in every thought and every movement. Love can manifest in hugs and together-time, in shared glances and whispered secrets. Love can wake you up in the middle of the night to glance sideways and make sure your love is alive. Love can disrupt your being, and love can give you a reason to feel alive."

With a year and a half of experience, I want to expand on that feeling:

Love can be a slow throb that you never forget is there. Love can be the confidence that this love won't be unexpectedly shattered. Love can be the lick that shocks you into awareness in the morning, or the wet snout near your pillow that welcomes you into slumber. Love can be the only worry you carry with you out the front gate, and reassure you as soon as you embrace once again. Love can be the pulsating rhythm that brings you from hour to hour, day to day, week to week, in an undulating, unwavering pattern. Love can be comfort in knowing you have someone waiting patiently to love you, whenever you are ready.  

Bruce lives each and every day with a beaming grin on his face. There is no greater gift to him than simple acts of kindness - a quick back-scratch, laying together on a sofa, or a singsong hello. 

He is a constant reminder in our house to live for love -- what greater purpose could we find than that?

xoxo,

M

Wait, There's a Ring! WHERE'S THE STORY?

Hello World,

Remember a long time ago I went to a psychic and she told me that I had already met my soulmate? She put out some timelines and made some bold claims, and so far, none of that has come true. The only thing she was right about was that I had already met my soulmate, I just didn't know it at the time.

I had already flown to Tanzania for my job interview, and had already committed to taking the job, so yes, I had met B. Did I realize he'd be The One? No, not yet...he was still just a future tall co-worker with a cool paper-airlines shirt!

Alright. Map out the love story.

Less than a month after I moved to Iringa, I was 'tricked' into a solo weekend to a coffee plantation hotel by a coworker on one of our 'off' working weekends (yes, I used to work on Saturdays!) under the premise that no one else wanted to come [ie: he asked 0 people].

I had this feeling that maybe this was an extended 8 hours of driving + two days of hanging out DATE, but he also wasn't 100% clear, so I tried my best to stay level headed and build a relationship with my new friend.

It wasn't until at least halfway on our car ride home that he lamented that he hadn't "made a move" -- and that was the beginning of the end! We quickly became inseparable after work hours, watching movies, cooking together, loving up on Gus Muffin (and later Bruce Wayne), and spending time with our co-workers.

We tried to keep our relationship low-key; living and working with your peers made it all the more important to not rock the boat socially too much, and also allowed us to create some space for our own relationship to grow.

On our first Christmas apart, I gushed to my mom all vacation about the BF I more-than-just-liked. He gushed, but also forgot to wish me a Merry Christmas [no B, I will never forget that!].

We planned a trip to Sri Lanka, which was one of the most magical two week vacations anyone can ever spend. I was on my toes for an "I love you", but it never came. B had told me he'd only say it to the girl he'd marry, and I realized I had to respect that {but could it ever be me?!}.

Less than a month later, he said it. I died, went to heaven, took a selfie in my wings to proved it happened, and returned to Earth smitten as a kitten! The weight of love I had been carrying since months before had words now! We couldn't utter them enough.


Then, it came the time to plan for his departure from TZ. We spent a lot of time having hard conversations about our relationship, and about whether or not we should get engaged before the end of 2015. We concluded that we could not envision a life without the other, and it made sense for us to move towards marriage. It was up to him to decide when.

Sometime during all of this, he fell off his bike, went home for surgery, ordered the ring, had his mom sneakily bring it out, call both my parents for permission, and plan our trip to Udzungwa while acting super casual the whole time.

This picture's so nice, I've posted it twice!

Engagement Dinner in Iringa TZ {September 6th, 2015} 

The week after getting engaged.  Still smitten like a kitten. 

So much happened our first year together {August 2014 - September 2015}, it's insane.
I can't even begin to describe the amount of hours we have spent in one another's company, or the weird medical & life situations we have had to problem-solve out of together (examples: both having infected spider bites from a hike or realizing nobody speaks English on a 3 hour Slovakian train where all seats appear to be reserved & we're blocking the aisle), or the idiosyncrasies that come out of the woodwork over time (no babe, you can't use any old towel to blow your nose in!). But I can't imagine being on anything but a path unpaved, and figuring out the way to somewhere new & exciting with anyone else.

Now almost two years in, it's so clear that the journey of B&M{&BW} has just begun!

xoxo,
M