Monday, June 24, 2013

Tablerockin'


Every summer since we began dating two years ago, Brandon has brought me along to go to Tablerock lake with him and his family. Each year brought family boating adventures, cliff jumping, and an endless supply of wake boarding tricks by the Cusick boys. Being out on the lake is one of Brandon's all time favorite activities and from day one I was hooked too. For me its the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure: the ultimate vacation. There is something about being on the water that brings family and friends together, and somehow everyone has a permanent smile plastered on their face and all the little things that aggravate you most days melt away and instead laughter is what remains.

Tablerock Lake trip 2013: you, my dear friend, are one for the books!
























OH and can I just say I have one studly fiance? Look at that superman. YEP its a beautiful thing.

Meg

Friday, June 21, 2013

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!!!!


I was trying to think of a really clever title for this post, but I think there is no better way to put it, but to scream it out "We're engaged!!!" (I feel like many random moments I feel the urge coming on to just excitably burst out in song and dance about it!)

I had been anxiously anticipating this weekend for weeks prior: a trip back to Kansas City and then down to our favorite lake in Missouri: Tablerock Lake. I hadn't been back to Kansas since we left for Boston last August and I couldn't wait to get back to see Brandon's family, our friends, and get down to our favorite lake for a few days of relaxation!

Little did I know what the weekend really had in store for me! 


Brandon was extremely sneaky and had hid his plan so well for the past two months that I had absolutely no idea what was in store up until the moment he went down to one knee and pulled out that special red box with my BEAUTIFUL ring inside.

(Although, looking back, I now see I should have suspected something was up when he woke me up around 6:30 AM to show me around Big Cedar Lodge- the resort we were staying at- and a place Brandon and his family had been coming for years growing up. I am always an early riser and I actually enjoy getting up .... Brandon on the other hand typically has to be physically dragged out of bed or enticed with the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.)

However, it WAS Father's Day and since he told me we were having breakfast early at one of the nice restaurants at the resort, I figured that it would be fun to do some exploring before meeting the family to eat.
We walked around a little bit, as Brandon showed me several of his favorite spots as and convinced me to hike up to the main lodge that looked over the entire lake to see the morning view of Tablerock.

The whole time we were walking around, Brandon had been filming parts of our walk with his GoPro camera.. The boys had been using it all weekend to film anything and everything- and were still testing it out and seeing all that it could do...so again, it didn't cross my mind that this filming he was doing was out of the ordinary.

We reached the deck of the lodge and admired the beautiful colors of the sun peeking through the clouds onto the lake in shades of pink and purple. Brandon set the camera down and suggested we try to find the cabin we were staying in from where we were on the deck. He pointed across the edge of the lake and stated he thought we were staying on that side- I knew this was incorrect immediately and was insistent that we were in fact on the opposite corner of his prediction. This was the perfect distraction for him to be able to get the box out of his pocket without me noticing because I was set on proving my idea correct!

I turned to him after making my argument of the cabin location and he went down to one knee, box in hand, and asked me the most wonderful question I had ever been asked in my entire life

and I said
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
And now I get to marry the love of my life!



Brandon did such an amazing job, I was COMPLETELY surprised, and had no idea he was proposing. I think it took a few days to actually set in what had happened and I am just so thrilled to now call him my fiancé as we start to plan the wedding and our lives together!

Who would have thought... 
I met a boy in studying abroad in Italy two years ago who would turn out to be the man of my dreams, and now my future husband!

Love you B

P.S. lots more photos from the weekend to come!





Wednesday, June 12, 2013

California Trip: by my iPhone

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to take a trip back to California in order to visit both my family in Sacramento and Brandon's friends' wedding up in Lake Tahoe. We were only able to stay a couple of days but we packed them full of family, friends and activities that allowed us to see the most amount of people in the allotted time we had!

It was so great to see my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins as well as the few friends that happen to be living in the area. Tahoe was absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for a wedding destination weekend. The weather couldn't have been anymore perfect: in the 70's, clear blue skies, and zero humidity (I heard we missed quite a sweltering weekend here in Boston!). We hiked, laid by the pool (me), golfed (Brandon) and caught up with so many of B's college friends. You know you have a great guy when he has a pack of pretty awesome friends :)

So here's a little bit of the weekend as seen through the lens of my iPhone!





<3 Meg

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Dragon Boat Festival

Saturday Brandon and I headed over to the Charles River to see Cara, a good friend of mine in action at the Dragon Boat Race Festival. What a great event! The day was absolutely gorgeous (long anticipated- we have had A LOT of rain) and it was the perfect chance to get outside and soak up the sun.




State Street Dragon Boat Team
Cara you win!
Cuties! Cara and Mike


After the race we took a leisurely stroll through Harvard Yard and I pretended to be a student... fooling everyone I'm sure! The Yard is one of my favorite places in Cambridge, the old brick buildings, the sun rays speckling the grass as it peers around the big shady trees- it just has such a distinguished feel to it. You instantly feel pretty fancy just being in the Yard.




This Friday I am going back home sweet home for the weekend! Counting down the days, I cannot wait!!!

<3 Meg

Monday, June 10, 2013

Babes in Bibs

It's no secret that I Looooooove to run. 

Even though, yes, I do run..a lot..and can run far distances.. most (um..more like all) of my miles come from safe, predictable wonderful paved surfaces. No mess involved, no unstable ground, just good ole fashioned flat ground.

When a friend invited me to do a trail run- my first reaction was... dirt roads? rolling hills? I am not sure I am cut out for this! But even with this feelings of doubt, I really wanted to see what this whole trail run thing was about!

Now... the weekend of the race and the few days before just happened to be full of rain- cold cold rain- making the course VERY muddy. I figured there would be mud, but I had no idea how much until we arrived that morning at the Pine Trails 25k race. SO MUCH MUD!

AND IT WAS SO FUN!

I think I may be a trail run convert.



 Before we met the mud

 Ready?
 We were having way too much fun


 All done!