Daylight Savings Time

I found this on the intranet at work and thought it was interesting. See below:

Daylight Saving Time 2010, Sunday, March 14th

Most of the United States, Canada and some of northern Mexico’s border regions will spring forward for daylight saving time (DST) on Sunday, March 14, 2010. On this day, the clocks will move one hour forward from 2am (02:00) to 3am (03:00) local time. DST allows for more light during the evening hours and less in the morning.

The March 14 daylight saving date in 2010 is the latest starting date for the United States’ and Canada’s daylight saving schedule, which begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November each year.

Who Changed the Time?

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates for springing ahead and falling behind. Beginning in 2007, daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., sets what is known as standard time in the country through its maintenance of atomic clocks. These dates were established by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005).

Spring has not Sprung

I trudge out of bed every morning, shivering, as I tear myself free from the warm layers of flannel blankets and sheets. My feet hit the freezing-cold hardwood floors, and the first thing I grab are my sweater-sock-shoes. The next thing I reach for is my hooded sweatshirt, and then make the chilly journey down the hall to the bathroom where I brush my teeth using ice cold water. Does this routine sound familiar? Or is it really just me?

As my second full winter back in Ohio, I feel like I have the ability to complain freely about how absolutely horrid the weather is. I decided to take a poll, (not really, it just sounds official if i say i did) and the consensus is: Winter needs to go! I'll gladly help it pack, and I'll even be so kind as to drive it to the airport and make sure it gets there two hours early for its flight! Shoo winter! Go on now! Get!

We had such a lovely break in weather a week or so ago, and then BAM! 6-8 inches of snow fell. I am not allowing myself to get get my hopes anymore until at least April or May. (which is around the time last year the snow finally stopped falling last winter)

Adam's Aunt Bev came back into town from Israel, and this time brought her daughter Sara, and two of her granddaughters (Stav and Ron) as well. The girls had a fantastic time seeing their American cousins (proving to the adults that language isn't necessarily a barrier), and also enjoyed seeing and playing in the cold, white stuff on the ground. (that would be my arch nemesis; snow) In a case such as this, who am I to deny two little girls the pleasure of seeing snow for the first time, and gleefully grinning as they learn the joy of making their first snow angel? However, as someone who has experience living with it, day-after-day, well......let's just say I wouldn't cry myself to sleep at night if it decided never to fall in Ohio again. (fingers crossed people! fingers crossed!!!)

Sigh.......alas, there really isn't much more we can do other than to keep moving forward, keep wearing 3-5 layers of clothing, and keep falling asleep to the hope that one day soon we will wake up basking in the warmth of Spring.

Hang in there everyone!

Way to go Adam!

So, I get a text from Adam the other day saying that Bob Marley sold on Etsy. Can you believe it? Adam was skeptical at first. We've had some let downs in the past, and were hesitant to get excited about this sale. After a few days when Etsy confirmed the sale was in fact valid, Bob was lovingly packaged and shipped to his new home in Georgia.
Adam has since talked to the buyer, and she loves it! (duh!) It was a gift to her husband for his birthday, and he was so excited! They are both so pleased with the purchase!
We're excited for them, and so glad that they love Bob! I think the sale was a little bittersweet for Adam. He's had Bob for quite some time, and was sad to see him go. At the same time, he was thrilled that someone else loved Bob enough to have him shipped all the way from Ohio.
Congratulations Adam!
Way to go!

Indianapolis or New Orleans?

Ok, so lately my thoughts are more on 'Is this the right color pink?' or 'Will those shoes be comfortable to wear all night after the ceremony?', but there is a much larger question at hand people. Colts or Saints? Who will it be?

Well, let's take a minute to weigh the pro's and con's of both.

Indianapolis- Just like our fair city, 'napolis is cold, snowy, residential and family-oriented. It resembles a feeling of a comfortable neighbor you can borrow sugar from, and know they'll only come knocking when they run out too. If the Colts were a subdivision, then Peyton Manning would be it's homeowners association's president. And what a president he would make! He's a born leader, who also seems to know a thing or two about throwing a football around on a Sunday afternoon. The Colts seem to have coasted through this season without much hype, but as of late, with quite a bit of hope. Though not an all-out brutal team, they promise to play the Super Bowl with the same efficacy they bring to the field now. You get what you expect. Precision and fine tuning.

New Orleans-Totally unlike our fair city, 'nawlins comes to life when most sweet babes are being tucked in for the night. This is definitely a city where you don't feel like you could borrow anything from your neighbor, unless you're looking for mardi gras beads or king cakes. This is a neighbor I'd want small children to steer clear of, not because they're dangerous, but because citizens of 'nawlins like to live it up, and the raucous nightlife could keep the kiddies awake for much of the night. I do respect how much the city did come together after the trainwreck known as Katrina. It completely devastated the area's homes and businesses. The Saints really stepped up to the plate and helped raise money to rebuild the city. The first few games they played after the hurricane hit were welcomed by citizens and bystanders alike. Much as their style of play, they prove that they can overcome adversity and move forward with heart and determination. This is much of what we have seen from them this season, and will bring an interesting feel to the field come Sunday.

No matter if you're rooting Yankee or Suthin', we're in for a good game. Maybe not as attention grabbing as the Steelers (go 'burgh!) or the Browns, but I think we'll see a lot of heart and spirit on the field at kick off.

Whether you're a fan of the game, or just enjoy the food, the Super Bowl is one of my favorite things to watch every year. I get to be with people I love, they don't look at me funny when I yell at the tv, and I get to hang out in flannel pants and a team sweatshirt for the day. All in all, it's the perfect day.

Eat like it's turkey day all over again, and relish the time you get to spend with family and friends.

See you at kick off!

It's February already? OY!

Ok, so I woke up today and before I opened my other eye, it hit me. It's February? Already? Well, what happened to January? Did we really sleep through it all? Oh boy.
I can't believe how long it has been since my last post, and wanted to give everyone an update to the progress.
First, let me start by giving shout outs to all of the birthdays we celebrated, and the ones to come.
At the end of January, there was Zack's birthday, Bubbe's birthday, Katie Hamilton's birthday (she's two!), and then David's birthday was on the 2nd. Happy Birthday everyone! Upcoming ones are my brother's birthday on the 7th, my nephew's first birthday on the 23rd, and then Violet Taylor's first birthday on the 4th of March. And then immediately to follow is Adam's birthday on the 19th! Happy Early Birthday to you all!
If there is anyone I left out, I apologize. It wasn't out of intent, only loss of mind on my part. My brain is currently under construction.

Well, since the last post, a lot has gone on! Barb has been a machine, and almost finished all of the centerpieces. She is still making the final touches, and once finished, she is getting ready to start in on the chuppah. (thank you so much! you have been amazing!)

We received the boutonnieres and the corsages last week, and they look phenomenal! I can't believe how fabulous they turned out! We have a meeting with Bobbie our wedding planner tonight, and I can't wait to bring them to show her! (Erica, you outdid yourself.....thank you my friend, thank you!)

We are currently in the process of ketubah shopping, and it is tedious. There are so many to choose from! Holy cow! How can you decide? This will definitely take some thought and time, but will be so well worth it once we are done with the selection process! I can't wait until we are able to hang it up in our house! I look at my Bubbe and Papa's every time I am over at mom's. What a truly commemorative document to showcase.
We are also still perusing for kippot, and making headway on this as well. We are looking for a certain kind, and are having difficulty pinpointing the right direction to go. However, considering how much we have undergone so far, we will have this tackled in no time!

The printer sent over the final proof of the invitations for us to view, and they look fantastic! (ok, so i'm biased......i know). We are ecstatic and can't wait for them to be completed and ready for us to pick up. OOOHHHHHH this is so exciting!

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot! The cake! Yes everyone, the wonderfully creamy, scrumptiously savory, sugary, gooey , chocolaty, delicious cake! How could I let this one slide? We went taste testing last night, and uh-ma-gawd! Heaven! Total heaven. The presentation was lovely and simple, and the taste blew us away. Paula and Leticia (oops! let the cat out of the bag on that one..... :-) hee-hee!) were great to meet with, and they make a mean sample! Well, three actually. Three mean samples! We thought about going back for seconds.......you know......just to make sure everything tasted as good as we remembered.......... Ok, you guessed it. We're going with Paula and Leticia from Simply Special Catering. When I called Paula and told her who I was, and that we had used her catering services for my Bat Mitzvah, she immediately said "Oh yes! The Michael Jackson glove cake!". It's true she did a cake like that for our family, and I can not believe she remembered that after all these years.......well, of course, it hasn't been THAT many years........a-hem.
Dad met us there, and while were waiting for him to show up, Adam and I had to sit there patiently looking at the sample cakes looking so lonely. Those poor little things just wanted to jump in our bellies. Finally dad got there, after being stuck in 270 traffic, and we were able to dig in. (grossman, you're lucky we waited........) They cut us sample pieces of each flavor and arranged them on our plates. Adam and I ate ours in the same order......and dad pretty much did the same. (we saved the most decadent for last......and oh boy, was it worth the wait! houston, we have lift off....) He then took a bite of the sample on my plate and looked at me and said it wasn't as good as the one on his plate. Daaaaaddd!!!! Argh! (if you know my dad, you can totally picture this in your head). Keep in mind, it was the same thing........Needless to say, once again we left with a satisfied palette, and a definite decision that Paula and Leticia were officially on board. I'd love to tell you more, but you'll have to wait for June to see for yourselves.

I saved the best for last though....my dress is here! We got a call from the store in Cincinnati, and it is here and ready for pick up. Yay! Now, we just need the veil, and the shoes, and the jewelry, and Adam's tux..................whew. Check please!

Well you guys, I hope your new year has been off to a less chaotic start. No matter what, take it all in stride, and just go day-by-day.

Here's my advice for this month.....eat lots of chocolate and enjoy warm cups of coffee and cocoa. And remember to smile every once in a while.

Lift off!

Hello everyone!
Things have been progressing here quite nicely this past week! Adam is making a few changes to his Etsy site, and has been really hard at work coming up with quite a few new pieces to add to it. They are INCREDIBLE! (if i do say so myself). Whenever you get a chance, check it out. The pieces he is working on right now are still under construction and haven't been added yet. Once all are completed, he will be adding them in. He has made some great changes to his site. He's changed the order of some items, and groupings as well. It looks great! I am so proud if him! Way to go!

There was also another site I ran across that is wedding related (ummmm........can't help myself), and has some beautiful lace items on there. Others are ribbons and fabric that can be sold by the yard. I know there are a lot of scrap bookers among the Gurevitz's, and thought I'd throw the link in here if you are interested. I was thinking the lace or ribbon could be used for anything. Cards, photo albums, place mats, edging on pillows. Anyway, she (Erica Cavanagh) has some beautiful pieces on there, so check it out when you get a chance. Here is the link: www.serendipitdiy.etsy.com......................
This talented lady is also our florist. The site I gave you to view is to her second site. I am telling you, it seems like there isn't anything she can't do!

Next month: Let them eat cake! That's right! We're off to schedule taste testings for the wedding cake. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. So, for all of you, this must be done! :-) We will let you know the progress on that as well! Bite by tasty bite! Yummmmm.

This coming week and into next, we are getting some vendors taken care of, and are in the process of finding a place for the rehearsal dinner. There is a place Barb found, and we are going there next week to try it. Can't wait!

Tonight we are having dinner with our friends Jimmy and Jodi, and their little one, Violet. I can not believe she will be a year old in March! Neither can they, for that matter. We are going to a place called Mellow Mushroom off of Polaris Parkway. I am really excited! My quest to find a good pizza place here is well under way! (rubino's will always have a place in my heart......it is what i grew up on!) And then after dinner, we are going stuffed animal shopping! My nephew is going to be one on February 23rd. Where does the time go? I remember when he was born. What a crazy year.

Oh, attention foodies! I was watching The Food Network and saw Mimi's Cafe referenced on there. (mimi's is right across the street from polaris mall) They were featuring Mimi's five-cheese grilled cheese sandwich. It looked delicious! I caught just a small bit of the segment, but it sounded delicious! They butter both sides, dipping it in parmesan cheese and then they grill it open-faced. They add 4 other cheeses to it, and then close the sandwich when they plate it. It looks like a bite of pure cheesy heaven! I have been to Mimi's before, and was really impressed with the creativity of the menu. I can vouch that their chocolate mousse is pretty good.

Well everyone, time to make more coffee and see Adam when he comes home for lunch.
Have a wonderful week!

Five Months and Counting!

So, I would love to be able to tell you that we have been staying up, night after night, vigilantly working on everything wedding, but that just wouldn't be true. Days, weeks, and months have been flying by, and now we are not only past the half-way mark, but we have just passed the 5 month countdown! Can you believe it? I know I can't. At the beginning, it felt like time was on our side, but now, holy cow.........we have less than 5 months left?? To get everything else finished? Seriously? Oy vey!

We are still making progress, that is for sure. The invitations are at the printers, and we are waiting for the "rough draft" to be sent back to us for any changes that need to be made. I can't believe we have to have them ready and printed within 2 months so they can be sent out. Mom and I have joyfully recruited Barb into helping us with the floral arrangements for the centerpieces. She's absolutely loving it! Mom was over there today hard at work with Barb putting two of them together, and I can't wait to run over there tomorrow to see them before work! Yay!

I got an e-mail last week from the florist saying that the boutonnieres were ready, along with the completion of the corsages for both of our moms. I ordered those last week, and we'll have them to view soon! Next to knock out will be the bridesmaids bouquets, and then mine.

Things are really coming together now. This is so exciting! I can't wait! Really though, with the way time has been speeding by, it won't be much longer until Adam and I are eating challah and having our first glass of wine together as husband and wife!

We are in the middle of making a decision on the chuppah, and then the ketubah isn't far behind that. We're signing a contract with the hotel for our out-of-town guests, and people can start making their reservations soon!

The little things are starting to come together as quickly as the bigger ones. We are still finalizing the list, and finalizing the menu with the caterer. Once that is done, we can tackle the seating chart for the reception. Honestly, when I signed on for this I had no idea everything that it entailed!

I realize we are doing some things a little unconventionally, but to be honest, I think it gives us more of a hands-on approach, and I am really enjoying it. I feel like all of the vendors we have secured so far have been the absolute best to work with! They are friendly and offer wonderful advice. My florist is probably one of the closest to me I would say. She and I have been e-mailing quite often, and I believe I have made a new friend up in Vancouver Island, BC, Canada! I opted out for real flowers for the bridal party, and am pretty happy with my decision so far. The flowers are something we'll be able to keep forever, instead of just a few days. It made more sense to me to do it that way. I am really glad I did! Erica, (the fantastic-and-oh-so-talented Brit turned Canadian I was fortunate enough to find in just one of my many, many, many online wedding searches) has been the most agreeable person in the world! Her work has both character and personality. Exactly what we wanted! Thank you a million times over Erica! You are awesome! (if anyone ever needs alternative flowers/boutonnieres that offer beautiful craftsmanship for a price that beats all others out of the water, let me know. i am more than happy to forward her info your way!)

There is still so much more to do, and we are chipping away at it bit-by-bit. I know we made such great progress in the beginning, and I hope we can stay full steam ahead from here on out!

So, there is a silver lining that I can offer you in the midst of this cold wintry gloom.............go into your closets.......all the way to the back.......you know, where your summer garb has been stashed? Look for your prettiest dancing shoes, and the dress or suit that offers the most give. There's plenty of drinks and food and dancing to come your way!

See you all in June, sunshines!