New Homeowner!

I have opened and closed this blog over the past two years struggling to think of a number of different things to write about. Nothing really stuck-- I love clothes but I am no fashion guru, I love good food and wine but am certainly no connoisseur, I'm not in college so I don't have a lot of drama, and the fact that I work around 10-11 hours a day really cuts out any random blogging. It wasn't until July 30th that I decided, A-HA!, something to blog about. At 6:30 pm on July 30th I signed the papers to become a first time homeowner!

Over the next six months I plan to document the building process of my new Ryan home in downtown Baltimore! I am not completely new to the building world- as my parents built their house just 5 years ago- but really... I am new to this. I promise to give a factual and unbiased view of Ryan homes and their building process. I hope to interview all of those involved in my building process and I look forward to hearing from others about their experiences with Ryan homes.

So it begins! This week I will make sure to recap everything that has happened over the past fifteen days and then move forward.

I look forward to starting this new journey-- even though I'm shaking in my seersucker :)

jHm

Twenties

I've been thinking a lot lately about my twenties. Everyone older than me says to cherish it and I am with them 100%. I remember being in college and everyone telling me that these were the best days of my life, which I would agree (I think high school was really fun too!!) but I think your twenties are just as fun but in a different way.

In your twenties you are still young enough to go out and be absolutely ridiculous but know that every action REALLY DOES have an equal reaction. Yes you can go out for happy hour on a Tuesday but knowing full well that you better be ready for tomorrow's assignments. In your twenties you can celebrate Saint Patrick's Day like you are in college, but know that if you do something stupid it WILL come back to you.  (that's us celebrating this year -- hehe :) )

There are those days when I wonder did I make the right decisions, did I choose the right college, am I on the correct career path? I like that person's job, I want their life, they have it so perfect-- I think those are phrases that can be heard over and over again in the Twenties.

With that said, there is no time like the present to make the Twenties the best decade possible.

Here are my list of things that WILL BE accomplished before my Twenties are over (I've got 5 1/2 years left-- I better get started)

1. Get my MBA-- I hate math and have serious anxiety about this, but if I don't do it I know I will regret it.
2. Travel abroad (caveat-- I've already traveled many times-- I was born overseas, but I want to do this as an educated adult in order to appreciate it)
3. Secure a management position in my career
4. Own my first home
5. Become well versed in investments and my financial portfolio (see item 1)

So those are all serious but I also think that Twenties are about experience and trying new things. So-- I have seen this funny post on Facebook recently about 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die-- I suppose, before I develop weird allergies (or something), I should probably try some of these-- I've already crossed off 51!!

1. 1. Abalone
2. 2. Absinthe
3. 3. Alligator
4. 4. Baba Ghanoush
5. 5. Bagel & Lox
6. 6. Baklava
7. 7. BBQ Ribs
8. 8. Bellini
9. 9. Birds Nest Soup
10. 10. Biscuits & Gravy
11. 11. Black Pudding
12. 12. Black Truffle
13. 13. Borscht
14. 14. Calamari
15. 15. Carp
16. 16. Caviar
17. 17. Cheese Fondue
18. 18. Chicken & Waffles
19. 19. Chicken Tikka Masala
20. 20. Chile Relleno
21. 21. Chitlins
22. 22. Churros
23. 23. Clam Chowder
24. 24. Cognac
25. 25. Crab Cakes
26. 26. Crickets
27. 27. Currywurst
28. 28. Dandelion Wine
29. 29. Dulce De Leche
30. 30. Durian
31. 31. Eel
32. 32. Eggs Benedict
33. 33. Fish Tacos
34. 34. Foie Gras
35. 35. Fresh Spring Rolls
36. 36. Fried Catfish
37. 37. Fried Green Tomatoes
38. 38. Fried Plantain
39. 39. Frito Pie
40. 40. Frogs' Legs
41. 41. Fugu
42. 42. Funnel Cake
43. 43. Gazpacho
44. 44. Goat
45. 45. Goat's Milk
46. 46. Goulash
47. 47. Gumbo
48. 48. Haggis
49. 49. Head Cheese
50. 50. Heirloom Tomatoes
51. 51. Honeycomb
52. 52. Hostess Fruit Pie
53. 53. Huevos Rancheros
54. 54. Jerk Chicken
55. 55. Kangaroo
56. 56. Key Lime Pie
57. 57. Kobe Beef
58. 58. Lassi
59. 59. Lobster
60. 60. Mimosa
61. 61. Moon Pie
62. 62. Morel Mushrooms
63. 63. Nettle Tea
64. 64. Octopus
65. 65. Oxtail Soup
66. 66. Paella
67. 67. Paneer
68. 68. Pastrami on Rye
69. 69. Pavlova
70. 70. Phaal
71. 71. Philly Cheese Steak
72. 72. Pho
73. 73. Pineapple & Cottage Cheese
74. 74. Pistachio Ice Cream
75. 75. Po' Boy
76. 76. Pocky
77. 77. Polenta
78. 78. Prickly Pear
79. 79. Rabbit Stew
80. 80. Raw Oysters
81. 81. Root Beer Float
82. 82. S'mores
83. 83. Sauerkraut
84. 84. Sea Urchin
85. 85. Shark
86. 86. Snail
87. 87. Snake
88. 88. Soft Shell Crab
89. 89. Som Tam
90. 90. Spaetzle
91. 91. Spam
92. 92. Squirrel
93. 93. Steak Tartare
94. 94. Sweet Potato Fries
95. 95. Sweetbreads
96. 96. Tom Yum
97. 97. Umeboshi
98. 98. Venison
99. 99. Wasabi Peas
100. 100. Zucchini Flowers

All in all, there really is no time like the present to get moving on the rest of your life! I know some days will be better than others but I think if we continue to try our hardest to make our lives the best lives possible there is no other way than up... right??

xoxo,

JHM

Power of Pinterest

"Not so" New Addiction: Pinterest

By now, probably everyone knows what Pinterest is and how amazing it is! I was so excited to see that abc2news featured it on the 11 o'clock news last night!

I felt like everyone was being let into a secret circle that has now blown up over night!

I use my Pinterest page literally everyday- sometimes I feel like I'm cheating on Facebook with a new website...called Pinterest! For anyone (not sure if anyone is left) that does not know how to use Pinterest or what it is about I'll give you their definition :

Pinning 101

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes.

My definition: Online scrap book/visual board. Where all the crazy things I see on the Internet can be saved for later use!

For me, I've been using the site for motivation to keep in shape. Every morning I scroll to the Fitness section and read all the fun little motivators people have posted and I truly keeps me going. Nothing says get out of bed like this:

I'm also happy to report that I lost 5 lbs last week eating healthy and incorporating this Pinterest workout into my weekly routine! Seriously people you need to try this it goes by quick but is super effective.



Not only have I been using Pinterest to help with my fitness but I get great clothes ideas and ideas for meals. As helpful as the Internet is to find recipes it is one big ol' mess. Pinterest takes the old fashion recipe box and updates it to modern times. You can make a BOARD for all your different recipes and have it at your disposal. Talk about revolutionizing menu planning.

One catch, you must be invited to join- interesting concept and I'm not sure why they have it set up this way. If you don't have it and want an invite- leave me a comment and I'll shoot you over an invite!





Follow my Pinterest Boards here and post some cool things you have found!

Thanks all!

jHm

Grammy Recap

So I'm sure that everyone has something to say about the Grammy's last night. I'm not even one who watches or cares about this type of stuff but after watching the show I felt there was a lot to be said.

Now I shall begin my Grammy-rant:

1. Chris Brown- Yea yea he has a good voice and sweet dance moves..blah blah blah ... my real issue with him was an article I saw AFTER the grammys were over. This article showed different status updates after Mr. Brown (yes I am speaking like this) made his performance. If you don't feel like reading the article- it shows different girls writing things like "Chris Brown could beat me any day"... um hello ARE YOU CRAZY?!! Why would anyone ever even joke about something like that? Not only do I think these little girls are insane... but it is a slap in the face to anyone who has ever faced abuse. Mr. Brown seriously was deranged when he went on his violent spells- and attitudes like that make it seem like abuse is ok. I'm not sure what the solution is but I sure hope someone addresses the public with the fact that this is not ok.

2. L.L. Cool J- Not going to lie, thought he did ok. Mediocre at best but still good. I don't like when hosts try to steal the show. In my mind a mediocre host did exactly what he was supposed to do: HOST the show.

3. J-Hud - (we're on a nickname basis- me being J-Hack to her) I thought she did a great tribute to Whitney and I was so bummed to hear people bashing her. I think she is so sweet and pretty and has a voice to boot!  Go on with your bad self!

4. Nicki Minaj- Madame CRAZYPANTS was the inspiration for this post. I think she is completely off her rocker! I always knew she was out there but WHY must everyone bring religion into it. Perhaps I am especially sensitive being Catholic and being offended by her shenanigans, but can't you just sing and dance? I'm not sure why performers think that bringing religion (regardless of what it is) into their performance somehow makes it better. Which leads me to my final post about Adele.

- Courtesy of Celebuzz.com

5. Adele- She is the complete opposite of Crazypants and stood on stage in a simple black dress with just a microphone and sung her heart out! I usually feel like I want to cry when I listen to her songs but I suppose that is what she is going for- aka making her good at what she does. I'm so glad she did a sweep last night she definitely deserves it. No lip syncing, no shenanigans- just talent... take that Mr.Lagerfeld.

Now that they are over we can go back to our normal lives knowing that celebrities are crazy but that is how they entertain us and perhaps there would be less blog posts in the world if there were no crazy people to inspire them.

JHM

Life Throws You Curves

I find it ironic that yesterday I posted about making the most of this year. Today I was thinking about some information I received last night. Talk about a curve ball in my life- more so in a friend's but I feel because I am in her life I get to be included in the curve ball.

What do you do when someone shares with you literally life changing news? Do you cry? Do you say "it'll be ok" when you have absolutely no idea how it is going to turn out? After chatting with my friend I promptly put my gym clothes on and went to Body Flow (it's a mix a yoga/pilates- for anyone who doesn't have Les Mills classes at their gym) where for 60 minutes all I did was stretch and think. I thought about everything- this isn't real, maybe I imagined this conversation, what is going to happen, what is going to happen NEXT, etc.

I guess the moral in all of this is that you can only be the best person you can be and in my case it means being the best friend I can be. I'm sure there will be tough times but also exciting times to follow, however I think that it might take some time to sink in.

When in doubt...

JHM

No Time Like the Present

The beginning of the year is always such an inspiring time. People are trying out new ideas and adventures hoping to keep their resolutions. But what makes someone successful when starting a new regime? I really wanted to get serious about healthy living and a happy lifestyle.

Sometimes I think we get stuck in a rut, mine seems to be the 2/2.5mile plateau- hence my new years resolution to run a 5K every month to force myself to push through. Everything also seems to be in your head- eating, working out, being happy. I've decided to venture out of my comfort zone and force myself to be honest about everything. Sweets still count as calories regardless of birthdays/holidays/etc ( I always loved the "calories don't count on ...." rule) and stressing out over little things gets you absolutely no where. As a city living - yuppie, it's so easy to get sucked into bad habits- going  out to eat all the time, missing your workouts for happy hour and getting involved in too many things. I want to make this year about myself- in doing so I hope that I will be a better girlfriend, family member and friend. "Everyone" always says when you are truly happy with yourself you will be truly in all other aspects of your life.

Surprising enough, one tool that has been so helpful is Pinterest (follow my pins everyone)! For the past week or so, every morning I wake up I scroll to the fitness section and read all the pins and it is seriously so inspiring to look at. I start the day with the knowledge that there is no more cheating and I better get to exercising because looking good 'aint easy!

I wanted some opinions on workouts/ food plans etc:

Weight Watchers- anyone done this? Does it work?
Crossfit- What is the intensity like? I've never been one for shedding blood to work out- is it as intense as the website makes it out to be?
All Natural Diets- this seems really difficult but worth it

Any person(s) been on a lifestyle track (NOT A DIET) that they have kept and did it work?

Keep on pushing everyone!

JHM

I'm Back!

Hello Blog World!

So I decided to take a break from blogging seeing that over the past year I got a new job with new hours... consisting of about an average of 10-11 hour days (that I actually work the whole day! eek!). Although with 2012 in mind, I think that it might be nice to get back into keep track of all the wonderful things that happen in my life!

So here is a wrap up of the past 10 months (wow ... worst blogger ever!)

1. Got a new job in fundraising... it honestly makes me so happy that I have never once (ok, maybe once) said that I don't want to get up to go to work. I think this job has not only transformed me into a hard worker but also given me the inspiration to know that this can become a lifetime career in some capacity! HELLO CAREER WOMAN! Big thanks to my old bosslady Deven for teaching me and mentoring me through my first real job! I'm so happy to have you in my life!



2. Celebrated 3 amazing years with the love of my life! Who knew that meeting at a fraternity party seven years ago would lead to the best years of my life. I love you Brandon, thanks for putting up with my craziness!

2008 2011



3. Started a book club! I would see the book club that Southern Vogue was in and all the fun pictures she posted so it inspired me to start one here in Baltimore with my group of gals! Thanks Melissa!

4. Watched my brother go to college at Virginia Commonwealth University! (talk about cry fest 2011). I am so proud of you for going to a new college in a new city knowing no one and becoming big man on campus! Love ya!

1993 2011



5. Helped my best friend overcome a serious relationship hardship and watch her become a stronger and happier person! Love you Em!





6. Made a conscious effort to go out in the city, try new restaurants and enjoy my twenties- everyone says you can't get that back! (Brandon and I ate A LOT of sushi and sang a lot of karaoke)



7. Ran my first 5K (which rounded out my two 2011 new years resolutions - get a new job and run an organized race). Not going to lie, I still hate running with a passion but it gave me the drive to keep going and 2012 new years resolution is to run a 5K (organized or not) every month- 2 5Ks already in January!

8. Took on a position in the Junior League of Baltimore as Membership co-chair. Our League is small so this opportunity was so amazing. Not only have I networked but I have also learned a lot about how to run a business (balance a budget, eek!). Thank you to all of my mentors for letting me make mistakes gracefully!



9. Watched my Dad retire from 18 years as CEO and over 40 years with his company. I am so proud of you and everything you have done! Enjoy taking naps and I am really enjoying our Sunday golf games. I'm excited for the fun years to come. Please don't annoy Mom too much :)



10. Experienced a lot of engagements and was asked to participate in two weddings! I am so excited to be a part of these wonderful days! Love all the amazing couples!


Here are some things that I would love to accomplish over 2012:

1. Keep on running!
2. Work hard on all my relationships and cherish those who are close to me!
3. Spend more time with my Mom and Dad!
4. Be successful in my job!
5. Save money so I can actually throw a dart onto a map and go there (bucket list)
6. Help my high school raise money in order to install their new turf field stadium (want to donate?? go ahead- tell them Jennifer sent you!!)

I hope everyone makes 2012 the best year yet!

xoxo,

JHM