my really big dreams

Posted on May 8, 2013 by jplatt27

Over on my business blog, I recently asked my readers to admit their ambition. The first step in a dream come true is acknowledging the dream at all.

To encourage you to share your dreams, to lead by example, to practice what I preach, and to take the first step in making them come true, I thought I’d share my ambitions here.

My really big dreams:

Self-employed and debt-free by thirty through a six-figure coaching business

Write a best selling personal development book

Throw myself into motherhood (I’m going to be honest, this petrifies me at this point)

Create a home that is warm and welcoming

Host a regular Sunday brunch at our house for the people we love most. So that they know we’ll be there.

Coach on Capitol Hill

Build a premier coaching group for women, one that has the power to give back in a big, big way

Cultivate a love-only relationship between me and my body

Continue to grow the love in my marriage so that years from now we’re still giggling in the morning and dancing in the kitchen

Host a big, fancy, outdoor joint 25th anniversary and 50th birthday party

Join me!

Share one of your dreams in the comments!

10 years

Posted on February 2, 2013 by jplatt27

Yesterday marked 10 years together!

We Mike remembered our old anniversary yesterday morning and we hugged and wished each other a happy anniversary.

Then around lunch time Mike texted:

Today is our 10 year anniversary!

Wow! I didn’t even realize. It stopped me in my tracks and reminded me how grateful I am for our relationship.

We didn’t do much, anything really, to celebrate the day. We just acknowledged it as special.

And I came home to these flowers on the coffee table.

Simple, sweet, wonderful.

hello 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by jplatt27

The past two days have been just what we needed. After 9 jam packed days in PA, we needed these two days to decompress and do our own thing.

Both days consisted of breakfast out, shopping, relaxing, napping, straightening our apartment, and more relaxing. We had nothing to do and no schedule, just kind of did what we felt like when we felt like it.

Though not nearly as intense as last year we continued some beginning of the year rituals–we did a little organizing and purging and had a mini-budget conversation.

We capped off our break and began the new year with one of our favorite meals. (This is tonight’s dinner–last night we ordered Chinese.)

I’m looking forward 2013 and all the new year brings. Cheers!

Talk to me:

How did you start your year?

Thanksgiving: out with the old, in with the new

Posted on November 20, 2012 by jplatt27

We’re doing something new this Thanksgiving! Can you tell I’m excited??

Since our parents live 10 mins apart, Mike and I have done a double thanksgiving for the last few years, eating at his parents’ at 1 and my dad’s at 4 or 5. Yeah, it’s a lot.

I had complained in years past how it’s a lot of food and my stomach hurts just thinking about it. Which remains true. But last year I realized how lucky we are that we don’t have to choose. That we are able to see both families at the holidays.

None of the above has changed. My stomach still hurts thinking about a double Thanksgiving and we are still lucky that we don’t have to choose and can see both families at the holidays.

But Thanksgiving shouldn’t be about portion control or keeping your eye on the clock. Thanksgiving is about sharing a delicious meal and quality time with people you love. And we don’t have to see both families or eat two meals on Thanksgiving to honor this holiday.

Here’s what I want to do on Thanksgiving: eat and drink to my heart’s delight, move to the couch for the infamous turkey nap, and wake up to have more pie.

So the double Thanksgiving ends this year.

I decided we will eat at Mike’s parents’ house and take our time. Maybe we’ll make our way over to my dad’s or my mom’s later in the evening–maybe we won’t. Regardless, we’ll make sure we spend time with everyone we love over this nice long weekend.

joanna's morning affirmations

Posted on September 17, 2012 by jplatt27

Have you seen Jessica’s Daily Affirmations on You Tube? It makes me smile every time.

I love this little girl’s excitement over life. She’s so energetic and full of love.

I’ve actually been feeling pretty full of love recently so I thought I would do my own.

Here’s my version:

I love my sisters.

I love my life.

I love my hair.

I love my body.

I love my husband.

I can do anything good.

I love my apartment, and my bed, and the windows.

I love my co-workers.

I love my mom.

I love my dad.

I love my brother.

I. love. everything!

I love my friends.

I love my kitchen.

I love my clothes.

I have everything I need.

I love my bus and the sun and my neighborhood.

I. am. happy.

And powerful.

I am enough.

I am strong.

I am beautiful.

I love me.

Geez, imagine I woke up each day and recited these to myself in the mirror with the same gusto and enthusiasm and authenticity as Jessica. How powerful would that be?

I invite you to join me by sharing a few lines of your own in the comments or on the Things After the Rings Facebook Page. Bloggers, I’d love to see you post your own on your blog.

Imagine if we all woke up each day and said things similar to this to ourselves in the mirror. Wow, there’d be a lot of a happy women walking around.

mike's birthday surprise (and mine too!)

Posted on July 16, 2012 by jplatt27

Mike’s birthday was on Thursday.

Remember our gift giving policy? Well I had a great idea…

His present came in a box and included a chocolate cake and something else that Mike goes nuts over…

No, I didn’t pop out of a cake. 😉

I ordered pizzas from Lou Malnati’s in Chicago and had them delivered on his birthday!

I was so excited about this gift, telling all of my co-workers about it and how I made a fake reservation for dinner that we wouldn’t use because once Mike saw the pizzas he was going to want to heat one up and eat it right then.

I was also a little nervous about getting Mike to meet me at our apartment and not the restaurant so he could get his gift but luckily Mike’s pretty agreeable and when I said “I want to bring the car home and don’t know what time I’ll get there, let’s meet at home” he said “sounds good.”

The package was waiting for Mike at the door when he got home (lucky!) and he said it was such a nice surprise.

When I walked in, he said “thanks for my present!” and I was like “oh, yay! it’s here!”

Though he knew what was inside (see outside above) and was smiling from ear to ear and sitting on the edge of the couch excited to open it, he waited for me to get home to open it, knowing that I’d want to take pictures to share with you all. He cut it open, took out one pepperoni and one sausage pizza, and a chocolate cake, said something like “sweet, thank you!”

“Should we go?” he says…

I was like “oh, you still want to go to dinner? I only made that reservation to keep you off of my trail. I thought you’d want to stay in and eat the pizza immediately.”

Literally I thought he was going to go nuts over this. I guess I thought he’d start drooling uncontrollably and jump up and down like a puppy. Apparently he has more restraint that I thought.

But he said he was looking forward to going out for dinner and drinks and relaxing. While I was surprised, I totally understood and thought he might feel that way.

Luckily I hadn’t cancelled our reservation as I’d planned to do, so we headed down to the waterfront for dinner. (check that off the summer to-do list!)

What a view, huh?

It was a gorgeous night and we got a great table at Sequoia.

To be honest, the food wasn’t that great but it was still a relaxing, enjoyable dining experience.

Then, Friday night we had one of the pizzas for dinner.

O.M.G. was it delicious. I honestly wasn’t crazy about the pizza when we got it in Chicago in the fall but this one was so so so good.

Mike was going nuts. He had a smile on his face the whole time he was eating it. I think this gift makes the “best of our relationship” list!

And we still have one pizza and the chocolate cake left! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Creating lives we love

Posted on June 25, 2012 by jplatt27

Yesterday I hosted my first vision board party.

While planning this party and waiting for RSVPs to come in, I hoped I would get a good turnout and maybe worried I wouldn’t. But then I reminded myself that the women that everyone that was meant to be here would show up. And I truly believe that’s what happened.

I had a wonderful group of 7 amazing, beautiful, creative women: two friends from work, my Girls on the Run partner, a friend from high school, a friend that’s dating one of my friends from high school, my little from my sorority, and another friend from college.

We spent the afternoon flipping through magazines and gathering images, words, and phrases that inspired us. Then we each organized our clippings onto poster boards to create a vision for our lives.

This is the first step in creating lives we love.

Each board was different: some were vertical, some horizontal; some all words, some all photos. But each board was beautiful and inspiring, and hopeful in its own way.

As we went around sharing key pieces of our boards, I was so touched by what each woman had to share. I’ve known most of the girls for at least a few years at this point and I was still surprised and inspired by what they included on their boards. It was awesome–as in I was literally in awe of the the women, my friends, that came out. The best version of each woman and what the lives the aspire to have.

My heart was. so. happy. Even recalling this now, my heart is swelling with joy.

Thank you again to the girls that came out to support me. You each have a special place in my heart.

I can’t wait to host my next party. Probably late August or early September!

But who knows…it could be sooner!

I’d love to know:

Have you ever made a vision board?

how we celebrated one year

Posted on May 30, 2012 by jplatt27

We had an amazing three day weekend for our anniversary.

Here’s what we did during the weekend to celebrate:

Saturday morning we got up and got bagels at Bethesda Bagel in Dupont Circle. Best bagels in the city and amazing veggie cream cheese.

Then we drove out to Great Falls, Virginia for a hike. I teared up when we got our first look at the falls. We chose to hike the River Trail, a little bit of a rocky terrain right along the Potomac River. It was amazing. We hiked a bit on our honeymoon and this took us back there a bit.

Saturday night we went to the steakhouse at the W (we went there the night we got engaged too!). We were treated so well. The food was outstanding and the service matched it. I got a delicious drink–passion whiskey sour–went out of my comfort zone a little bit with this one and it was so worth it. Mike said this was one of the top three meals of his life.

After dinner, we went to the rooftop terrace at the W for a drink and to take in the view. Still one of our favorite places in DC.

Monday morning (our actual anniversary) we walked to Georgetown Cupcake. On your first anniversary you’re supposed to take the top layer of your wedding cake out of the freezer, defrost it, and eat it. Since we had Georgetown Cupcakes instead of a cake, we went and got a red velvet in lieu of a frozen top layer.

It was a great weekend, filled with love and fun. A great first anniversary. I’m looking forward to many many more.

Happy Anniversary, Mike!

Our proposal story

Posted on April 6, 2012 by jplatt27

Two years ago tomorrow, Mike proposed to me on a beautiful spring day in DC. It was a day I had hoped for, dreamed for, prayed for, for years. He got it exactly right. Here’s my proposal story.

__________________________

In summer/fall 2009, Mike and I had been having regular date nights every other Wednesday. We’d alternate who would plan and pay and try to do things we wouldn’t normally do. We’d text each other on the day of saying where and when to meet.

So when during our last training run for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, I didn’t think anything of it when Mike said “I think we should pick date night up again. I have an idea for a place that I thought of last summer but never used. How about next Wednesday?” I’m pretty sure I was thinking “oh that’s sweet. just keep running…one foot in front of the other…only 7 3/4 miles left to go…damn this hill is tough.”

I will admit that I had quite a few butterflies in my stomach when Wednesday rolled around. At 10 til 5pm I got a text from Mike that said “At 5 o’clock, head down. A car will pick you up, the driver will know where to go.” I figured he didn’t get a car service to take me to Ben’s Chili Bowl and thought, this must be it.

At 5:00 I left my office giddy and filled with butterflies. I had been waiting for this day for a long time. As I rode through the city in the sleek black car, I looked out the window with tears streaming down my face, trying to take in every detail of the world outside, the flowers, the sunshine, the tourists happily walking through the city.

The driver dropped me off behind the Jefferson Memorial, one of our favorite places in the city. It was a beautiful sunny spring day as I walked around to the front of the monument crying behind my sunglasses but smiling all at the same time. I’m sure I was shaking.

I turned the corner and saw Mike sitting about half-way up the steps of the Memorial wearing a navy blue suit and carrying a single red rose. He smiled wide when he saw me. I will never forget that sight.

I met him halfway up the steps, he kissed me and said simply “I think you’ve waited long enough.” Then he got down on one knee and said “Will you marry me?”

I said “yes,” he stood up, we kissed, and the tourists starting clapping and cheering around us.

Our date night didn’t end there. Mike had arranged for the car to wait for us and we got back in the car and went over to POV Terrace at the W Hotel for a bottle of champagne and celebrating.

Blog News

Posted on February 28, 2012 by jplatt27

There are some great things happening at Things After the Rings!

Things After the Rings has a new look!

I’ve been working with Julie of Savvy Blog Services and my new blog design went live yesterday! I couldn’t be more happy with how it turned out. If you’re reading this in a reader, I suggest popping on over the site to check it out.

I won a blog award!

Two weeks ago, I was awarded the Liebster Award by Caitlin from Chasing a Mile. I was so honored! Thank you Caitlin!

The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word, meaning beloved, dearest or favourite. It is given to bloggers who have a small following — approximately 200 followers. As with most blog awards, the Liebster Award also has a few rules should one choose to accept the award (which I have).

The rules are:

1. Thank the Blog Presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the Blogger who presented the award to you.
3. Copy and Paste the Award onto your blog (you deserve it!).
4. Present the award to up to 5 blogs with less than 200 followers who you feel deserve to be noticed.
5. Let the blog owners know via a comment on their blog (and an email if possible!).

Joanna Platt

Tag: celebrate