Sunday in the City

Yes, I know I have been a bad girl and that I haven’t blogged in ages, and, I am taking advantage of the first Sunday in months that didn’t have me or Gary committed to doing something, and, I’m spending the day just doing things I’ve neglected.  For example, this morning, I want through my closet and purged it of items that I no longer use, have never used, or have simply done it’s job.   And, don’t worry, I don’t sell my old clothing on Ebay — I give it to charity and hopefully some one out there can benefit from it.

And, now I am catching up on correspondence.  Emails, my blog, and, I have to come up with a few fresh ideas for my Examiner.com column.  I hadn’t realized I have fallen into a deep slump of writing about Project Runway and nothing else. Shame on me!

I’m also using today to do some shopping online.  Yes, I realize this sounds comical to many since I live in the shopping capital of the world or at least the United States (NYC) but even in NYC you don’t always find what you are seeking.   And the last thing I’m doing with my free time today is lining up theater and other events that Gary and I enjoy doing together for the Fall, and, that includes ordering tickets for Radio City for the Christmas show for Thanksgiving weekend.  My family is coming here from Chicago so it will make Thanksgiving weekend that much more special.

 

So that’s a glimpse of my “super exciting” life (as a friend from Chicago once said to me about my life in NYC.)  After getting past the glitz and glam it really is just like living anywhere.  You work during the week, do your errands and chores and weekend, and, then on occasion, you get to do something fun or cultural like to go a museum or the theater.

And, yes, I agree.  I wouldn’t trade living here for anything.  Not even my sweet home Chicago.  There is only one NYC and I am thrilled to be part of it!

Almost wedding time… almost

For those of you who think I’ve fallen off the planet, sorry to disappoint you, but, I’m still very much alive and kicking.   I know it’s been months – since December, 2011 to be exact — since I’ve take a few minutes to blog, and, I do ask for your forgiveness if you’ve been a regular reader.   So far most of 2012 has consisted of me stopping modeling and undertaking a new work endeavor (more to be revealed later in the year), and, of course, my all-free-time-consuming wedding.  So that’s where I’ve been.

Don’t be sad about me not modeling anymore, I LOVED every minute of my time being a model and there are so many aspects of modeling that I am going to miss, but, it was time to move on.  My age is beginning to work against me in this ultra youth oriented business, and, I had a wonderful opportunity open up to me in another area of fashion that I just couldn’t let pass me by.

I’m still writing for Examiner.com, as a matter of fact, I just started writing for them again this past week.  I was asked back, so, I must have done something right!  Here’s my page if you’d like to subscribe:  http://www.examiner.com/fashion-in-new-york/rose-goodhall  But, I have to admit, it is great to be back writing at Examiner.com

I’ve made another new writing friend, T.R. Threston, and, if you’re into travel then you should subscribe to her Examiner.com column too, she does a wonderful job and has lots of great travel tips:  http://www.examiner.com/luxury-lifestyle-travel-in-new-york/t-r-threston

Now, let’s talk about my all consuming wedding.

It’s funny.  Gary and I started off that we wanted a small wedding — really small.  Close friends and family only.  Well, then it started…

Family members had hurt feelings they weren’t going to be invited and that upped the guest list, then the co-workers started asking about their invitations and the guest list went up again.  Then friends from college, high school, even grade school began coming out of the wood work!  The amazing part is that very few were deterred that the wedding is taking place in New York City and not in Chicago.  Go figure.

So our “small” wedding is now several hundred people — I’m doing my best to keep this from turning into a three ring circus.  I just want the wedding over and my life with Gary to begin.  I know it sounds unromantic, but, for me its about the life after the wedding, and, not just the wedding.

Finally we are at the point that everything is done.  My gown and bridesmaids dresses were ordered and fittings and final fittings are now taking place.  Gary and our groomsmen have all been fitted for tuxedos and they are on order and should be here shortly.  We have our church book, our musicians selected, our receptions venue under deposit with final payment coming up rapidly.  We are ready to walk down the aisle and say I do.

The big day?  Memorial Day Weekend.  Stay tuned for frantic updates from the bride (me).  Because with my luck… Who knows what will go wrong <Grin>

Totally unrelated thoughts….

Did you ever have a day when just about everything goes wrong?  Today was one of those days for me… Nothing major went wrong, but, just a bunch of small stuff that added up to one big headache…

I had my parents and brothers visiting over Thanksgiving weekend, and, of course, my Mom accidentally left her glasses “somewhere” at my house.   I’ve been looking since Sunday morning, and, finally this morning I found them… In the freezer.  I’m not going to ask — but, as of right now, they are on their way back to Chicago to their rightful owner.   It doesn’t sound so bad, but, when you realize I spent 1.5 just trying to get the darn things sent out at the post office, you can understand my frustration — especially after you learn that I was sent to the back of the line because I didn’t have the zip code on my return receipt.  (You know the one you get to keep for your records and doesn’t mean anything to anyone else.)  Well the a$$ that waited on me couldn’t hand me a pen to fill it in – nope I was banished to back of the line.   I won’t tell you what I called the guy under my breathe but I would have made any sailor proud!

After that little aggravation, I went on a couple of “go-sees” (which is modeling lingo for going to see people about various jobs for photo shoots or runway jobs.)  One person was 30 minutes late.  One person never showed up at all – without so much as a call to my agency to either cancel or reschedule the casting.

I get home only to find out that my fiancee has to add a few more people to our already complicated seating chart for our wedding in the Spring…

And, then I get the brilliant idea of going on Facebook to escape the world for a while.  That was a mistake… I found one rather rude post from someone with nothing better to do than attack me, so, this person has been banned and removed from my Facebook life.  But, it’s just annoying to think that people “hide” behind a computer and write mean, cruel things they never would have the guts to tell you in person.

To cap off the day, I received a phone call from my travel agent to let me know that the hotel we wanted for our honeymoon is going to be undergoing renovations, and, now we have to decide if we want to put up with renovations at our top choice hotel and location or go with something else.

Granted — there is nothing tragic here.  No one died, no one was hurt or fell ill, and, separately these are all problems that could be easily handled…  However, when you put it all together – – it adds up to one aggravating day.

Well enough of my moaning and groaning…

I do want to put some positive Karma in the air, and, try to end the day on a more positive note.  If you are a horse lover and have the means to spare a few extra dollars, a Facebook friend, Jacqueline Collen Tarrolly, is desperately trying to save her equine family from being torn apart.   If you can help please visit her website and take part in The Great Toadstool Farm Raffle or the Adopt a Toadstool Farm Horse program.

Good luck Jacq!

G’day!

Well, we made it… What a plane ride, and, I don’t mean that in a good way — and we flew First Class, I can’t imagine attempting this journey in coach!  Nonetheless, it was ABSOLUTELY worth the effort.   While this isn’t my first time in Australia, I haven’t been here in some time, and, I forgot how wonderful it is — and how absolutely lovely and friendly the people are to visitors.

Even though this is the first time we ever met Paul’s parents, they are treating us like lifelong friends and making us feel extremely welcome.  I’ll tell you this much — it is going to be tough leaving here.

It’s already Wednesday here – don’t forget we crossed the International Dateline — and Gary and I are off to do some sightseeing today.   It’s a bit cool, Australia is going into their “Winter” season as we in the States are going in to our Summer.  It is going to be about 65 here today which makes it a perfect temperature to go out and see the city.

So off I go — I’ve added some photos from my “reject” pile from various photo shoots – when you see them you’ll see why — I either look like I’ve been nominated for a country music award or like I ate Chicago!!  LOL

Here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.169040886489211.40417.100001499021440&l=cd173051d8

Don’t laugh too hard… Ok, I know you’re going to  and I know Jill is NEVER going to let me live these down, but, I figure I want people to see that even model take bad pictures so never, ever think that it is you!

Ok, the day is slipping away and we have much to see!  Stay tuned for updates and sightseeing photos!!

Wedding plans underway

One of my very close friends, Tony, asked me if there are more wedding plans to reveal, and, I told him “yes” but that I won’t reveal them until next week.  I’m a bit superstitious (as silly as it is) about telling anything until I am absolutely certain it is concrete.

I don’t want to say “Hey, we booked such and such for the wedding reception” only to have it fall through because someone booked our date first!  But, yes, things are well under way for the Rose and Gary wedding in 2012.

One of the hardest projects has been selecting bridesmaid dresses.  I know I’ve been in my fair share of weddings, and, I don’t care what the bride thinks — there isn’t anyway I’ll ever wear ANY of the bridesmaids I ever bought.  I’m not as bad as Katherine Heigl in “27 Dresses“, but, I do have a number of dresses that I probably should just pack up and give to Goodwill.  It is something I’ll have to make a point of doing when I get home to Chicago.  My Mom has been after me forever to do that…

Anyhow, getting back to the wedding plans… Here’s what I will tell you so far…

• Since we’re both Roman Catholic, of course, our wedding will be a Roman Catholic ceremony
• For a lot of different reasons including having family all over the world, we’re having the wedding and reception in NYC — specifically Manhattan
• The wedding will be in 2012
• Gary’s best man is his brother John, my maid of honor is my best friend in NYC Elena

And that’s all I’m telling for you, so if you’re interested… You’ll just have to keep reading to find out the rest of the information!  Yes, I know… I’m a stinker!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Yet another wedding update

We have decided on a NYC wedding

Well, after several conference calls with family and friends – worldwide…  We have finally decided on “where”, however, this needs to be clarified a bit…

Since we literally have people traveling to our wedding from all parts of the globe we have decided that New York City makes the most sense.  Not to mention the fact that many of my friends from Chicago have never been to NYC and they were pushing, begging, and, even in one case bribing (*grin*) to have the wedding in Manhattan.  So, that takes care of PART of the problem.

Manhattan it is!

Now we just have to select a date and location within Manhattan, and, this is no easy task.  However, this is a problem I’ll gladly take on.

More updates to come so stay tuned!

Sweet Home Chicago

 

Sweet home Chicago

I’m heading home to sweet home Chicago this Saturday, and, it’s been a long 11 months away from home.  I’m looking forward to spending time with my parents and brothers, and, I’m also going to be visiting some old friends from school while I am home.

I only wish that had more than a week to spend with them.  But, such is life… We really have enough time for anything these days.  And, I wish somehow I could have waved a magic wand, and, had my boyfriend changes his plans so he could meet my family, but, no such luck.  We’ve only been dating a few months and his Thanksgiving plans, like mine, were cemented before we started dating.  The good news is that he will get to meet my family before we go on our cruise since we’re leaving out of NYC – and I’m really excited about it.

We’re taking everyone out to dinner and then to see “Elf” on Broadway.  We’re also going to take them to see Rockefeller Center and go to Top of the Rock.  I can’t wait!

So if I don’t blog for a while, don’t lose heart – I will be back.  In the meantime, I’d like to wish all my readers and fans a safe and happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Starting the holidays off with a kick…

It’s date night, and, I’m ready a bit early so I have time to write a bit.  We’re starting off the holidays a little early and with a kick… Have you figured out where we’re heading tonight?

If you guessed Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular, you’d be right!

Radio City Christmas Show 2010

And this is just one of the many reasons the guy I started dating a few weeks ago is so perfect for me.  Like me, he’s a big kid at heart, and, he doesn’t feel silly or awkward taking me to the show.

We are cramming as much as we can into this weekend, because, I’m heading home to Chicago next weekend, and, unfortunately my boyfriend has commitments to his family in NYC.  Christmas will be another tough holiday to get through – I’m going on a holiday cruise with my family that we had booked for awhile now.  However, I am confident this isn’t going to shake our relationship nor do I believe either of us will lose any interest over this time.

It has been a refreshing change to date a normal guy who is confident in himself, AND, who actually trusts me.  It often boggles my mind why guys ALWAYS seem to think girls are cheating on them.  In my personal experience, it’s been the other way around.

But, I digress… I am looking forward to tonight.  We’re going to dinner after the show, and, I’m looking forward to that as well…  Kind of wish I knew where we’re going – it’s a surprise, but, it makes it hard to know how to dress.  So I’m going with a classic black dress and simple jewelry, no matter where we end up, I should be fine.

I’d also like to send a show out to Tina Smith – Happy Birthday Tina! 🙂  And many more to come!  Looking forward to working with you on the clothing drive in January, 2011.

Have a great Saturday evening everyone!