And I know that I’ve promised that I’d keep writing – I just need some motivation so I’ll be looking for that.

I’ll keep you posted as to when I find anything…

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.  ~William James

When I was younger, my “engagement dream” was that the love of my life would pop the question on the jumbotron at the Super Bowl, ideally when the Pats were playing.  That didn’t happen.
 

So to say I’m a football fan would be an understatement.  The Pee Wee football league wouldn’t let me actually play football (since I was a girl and all) so I became a cheerleader and was the only one that had a clue what was happening on the field.
 

So not me… although this would be great.

I am a huge Pats fan. I’m still massaging the open wounds from four years ago and I’d like some redemption, especially because I live in football purgatory – right in between Heaven and Hell… or Patriots and Giants territory, however you want to look at it.

So tomorrow, I’ll either be screaming from the rooftops or cowering and avoiding any Super Bowl conversation.  Either way, Tom’s going to be a happy man… he gets to go home to Giselle.

It’s really not fair.

Until then…

GAME ON!

I don’t care about three years ago, … I don’t care about two years ago. I don’t care about last year. The only thing I care about is this week.  ~Tom Brady

]]> http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/are-you-ready-for-some-football/feed/ 0 carharttsandcoachbags 426469_289155041150369_100001676268599_839273_1611448341_n tom_brady_photos4 http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/my-85-year-old-grandmother-is-a-twilight-fan/ http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/my-85-year-old-grandmother-is-a-twilight-fan/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:25:05 +0000 carharttsandcoachbags http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com/?p=1423 ]]> … my work here is done.
 

Remember when I mentioned that I converted my three cousins and we’ve now become the Sisterhood of the Twilight Pants (or something like that)?  Anyways, since there are four of us and four hits of literary crack books in the Twilight series, we decided we would each buy one of the books to give to our book-loving grandmother for Christmas this year.  Although it was obvious that she was a little skeptical (what with the vampires and werewolves and all), we knew she’d end up enjoying them.
 

I talked to my mom tonight who had just gotten off the phone with Nana after she declared that, now that she’s halfway through New Moon, she’s decidedly Team Edward.  Yes you are Nana… yes you are.  And apparently she’s trying to encourage her friend to read them too… her own little Twilight Grandmas book club.  Legit.
 

Above all else, I love that this ridiculous series about a fictitious vampire and his kind of lame girlfriend (in comparison to all of us, obvi) has brought us all together in a way that only a Twilight fan can appreciate.
 

I think Nana needs a Team Edward t-shirt.
 

Like this one…

…or maybe I need this one.

And Nana?  You’re welcome…

I love a happy ending… They are so rare.  ~Aro

Other than mass quantities of laundry, vacuuming and overall clutter management, I’ll be spending some time with my beautiful sorority sisters reliving MY college years too, only we’ll be having lunch in the middle of the day and Molly’s pregnant so you can only imagine how out of control we’re going to get.
 

But tonight, I’m having a total “me” night, complete with “Say Yes to the Dress” and some Pinot Noir… and three beasts who need incessant attention.  Oh wait, that’s just Brody.  He’s a pain in the ass like that.
 

Yeah, one day my prince will come home…

One of these days, I’ll get around to writing a post about our trip to Ireland.  But I doubt I’ll be able to do it ANY justice.
 

Until then… my wine is calling me.  Cheers!
 

Wine improves with age.  The older I get, the better I like it.  ~Anonymous

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snowboarding in bathing suits

That’s hot… er, cold.
 

i wish my husband was hot

I don’t have to… mine IS hot.  Maybe you should have added “like Darcie’s” to the end of that search.
 

See?

you are a disappointment

And this got you to my blog? Wow. Apparently I need to step up my game.
 

bewitched iphone case

Stop it.  Is this a real thing?  I want.
 

It does exist…

person dressed up as a ghost
Certainly not the most creative Halloween costume.
 

a birthday is like a drink once you’ve had too many you dont give a shit

Best. Search. Ever.  And SO true.
 

edward scissorhands bad costume

Certainly wasn’t mine!
 

Definitely not this one either.  This is full of awesome.

sad skinny stray animals

Sadly, I’ve seen far too many of these…
 

mean mother winches

Yeah, I hate those mean winches!
 

dont regret what you did in the past regret what yu didnt to jared leto

Hmmmm… I do regret not doing things to Jared Leto (drool)
 

My first love, aka Jordan Catalano.

dog sticks cold nose on mans ass cartoon

BWAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
 

old grandpa edward from twilight

Excuse me?  Edward is perfectly 17 for the rest of his existence.
 

“How long have you been 17?”

“A while…”

http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/well-thats-3-hours-of-my-life-i-will-never-get-back/

That’s so beyond the need to be Googled… that’s a full URL right there.
 

There’s no half-singing in the shower, you’re either a rock star or an opera diva. ~Josh Groban

You might remember my post from a few months back where I introduced you to my friend, the shoe-ru, who, despite her total distaste in some of my shoe choices, loves me and left this comment:
 

Zomg, I am sitting here laughing. I love you. And you know me so well. I love the ones you said I would love and…well…the other ones I will just pretend I didn’t see them because you have earned some shoes that you love (well, in 2 months) so you should get whichever ones you want!

But if you want my honest opinion, GET THE FRYES. I will be so jealous.

This whole thing started last year right before my birthday when I convinced my husband that I HAD to have a new pair of Uggs that were waterproof (unlike my traditional Uggs because, yeah, I have those too) because any time I stepped into a snowbank in my other winter boots, my foot would slip out and the boot would fill with snow and clearly, I couldn’t have that happening!  A few days before my birthday (maybe even the prior weekend?), I came home with the last pair of shoes that I would buy for the following 12 months.  John saw it as a compromise… I saw it as a challenge.  He was very open about the fact that he didn’t think I’d be able to do it and that I’d be rocking a new pair of kicks by the end of the month.  Bring.It.On.

My UGG Adirondacks – the whole reason for this stupid bet…

… and ironically the same boots Bella wears in Twilight.  Ugh… I know you won’t even believe me if I tell you that I honestly did NOT purchase these boots because of the Twilight connection.  I didn’t even realize that she was wearing these until about 2 weeks ago when I saw the pic on a blog I read. Shut up.

I pushed myself to the ultimate limit when I went into the mecca of shoe stores back in mid-December… Frye in SOHO.  Yikes.  I even tried a few pairs on and although I knew I wasn’t going to walk away with a brand new leather-bound piece of heaven, it was great to see what I liked and gave me the last little push I needed as I crawled to the finish line three weeks later.  Considering the end of this bet happened in Ireland, I made it my mission to find a pair of boots that I could say, ‘yeah, this was my celebratory pair of shoes that I bought in Dublin” but instead, I came home empty handed.  Turns out, when you go a year without buying a pair of shoes, you get REALLY picky about what pair you actually purchase when it comes time.  So instead of just buying any pair of shoes, I decided to search for the pair of Fryes that I fell.in.love.with at the store a few weeks ago.  However, the ohmygodpricetag was holding me back… until Ebay saved the day.

So, Molly… eat your heart out. 

Worth every penny.

Behold, my new (to me) Frye Jane Tall Cuffs in Taupe.  Excellent Used Condition on Ebay = half the price I would have paid in the store and they should be arriving just in time for the weekend… when I have to work.  Boo.
 

I do have to say, going a year without buying shoes certainly puts things into perspective about what kind of shoes one actually NEEDS vs. WANTS.  I do think I could use a new pair of black, closed-toe pumps that pushes me into the more adult category than some of the shoes I have now and I might NEED a pair of fuzzy-lined Crocs (I know Molly, stop groaning) because they’re great for wearing around the house when John’s trying to freeze me out by keeping the heat on 56 degrees.  And I’m still drooling over those Keens…
 

But when all is said and done, I’m going to be MUCH more conscientious about the shoes I purchase and I won’t just CONVINCE myself that “they’re such a good deal and they will be my new favorite pair” even though I will NEVER wear them (not that I have ANY of those).
 

But I will be getting this frivolous pair in honor of my cousin’s wedding – I’ll be wearing a long purple bridesmaid dress with these pretty puppies peaking out the bottom.  Hey, if the bride can wear sparkly Converse, I can totally rock Toms, right?
 

Love.

Unfortunately, I never really made an official bet so I’m going to say my winning prize is no snarky comments from my husband about the pair of Fryes I just purchased to celebrate my accomplishment.  What do you think?

I think that’s totally fair.

26. Go one year without buying a pair of shoes (this started as a bet and ended up on my list)

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.  ~Anonymous

When I decided to put this on my list, it seemed like the new “It Thing” to do… seemingly everyone had a 365 Photo Project Album up on Facebook and I thought it was a pretty cool idea.  However, most people I know that started them didn’t necessarily follow through and post a photo for every day of the entire year.  I vowed to do it fully.
 

I knew I wasn’t going to actually be able to post the photos each day but I would at least take one (or rip them off from somewhere else if I couldn’t get a photo myself) and then post at least once a week and it seemed to work out pretty well.  Of course, there’s now a new social-networking site that is specifically for this kind of thing (honestly? I can’t keep up with all of them – I’m just getting into Pinterest and it’s already pissing me off).  I noticed it last month so it clearly did me no good but if anyone’s thinking of tackling this project, check out the new site here.
 

This was definitely one of my favorite accomplishments this year… I LOVE going back and looking at my albums, day by day, and seeing my life unfold over the past 365 days.  These albums (I had to split them in two back when FB capped your album capacity at 200) contain photos of the brand new babies that came into my life last year, documented the majority of the other things on my list, showcased my foster pups and of course, contained far too many photos of my own beasts… and I think there were a couple of my husband in there too. 
 

I know that if you’re a reader but we don’t know each other in real life and therefore are not friends on Facebook (not that I’m really “friends” with everyone there either), you won’t be able to see all 365 of my photos… sorry!  If I really had it in me, I’d add all those photos to that 365Project site but… chances.  So here are some highlights:
 

Day #2: Jan. 8th, 2011 – Celebrating my 29th birthday with my cousins… Brody got into the festivities as too.  Day #1 was a pic of beautiful flowers that John got me.

Day #99: April 15th – A picture of a picture… the one I carried in the Survivor Walk, in honor of my dad, at Relay for Life.

Day #137: May 23rd- Confirmation that I have the best husband in the world… as if there was any doubt.

Day #223: August 17th – The sad, pathetic scene that WAS Evie, arriving on our doorstep, heartbroken and waiting for someone to love!

Day #282: October 15th – Holy crap, I did it!

Day #296: October 29th – Sweet revenge…

Day #349: December 22nd – Santa came early for Evie (and us too!).

Day #358: December 31st – My first (and probably last) bottle of Dom Perignon… my 30th birthday gift from my aunts!

  Day #365: January 7th, 2012 – Happy 30th to me at the Dingle Peninsula!

In conjunction with this blog, the 365 Day Photo Project has been the best kind of diary I could have asked for and truthfully, I’m kind of sad to see it end.  Who knows… maybe I’ll keep it going.

What do you think?

Until then…

17. Participate in the 365 Photo project starting and ending on my birthday

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.  ~Ambrose Bierce

*** Note 2: As of this blog post I have not written two of the official posts – #17 and #26 – because they are full-year tasks.  Now that it’s been a year, I will get to writing them… when I get home from Ireland.  I’m too busy drinking Guinness to write them now.
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Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to you… Happy 30th Birthday Darcie… Happy Birthday to you!
 

First, I can NOT believe that it’s been a year since I started my little adventure.  29 has been good to me. VERY good to me. I feel like I should be writing some amazing blog post that blows all of the other 110 posts that I wrote this year (wow!!!) out of the water.  But truth is?  I’m just overwhelmed that I actually did it.  Don’t get me wrong… there was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t accomplish all 30 things on my list.  Remember?  I don’t like to fail.  But it’s still ridiculously satisfying to know that I had it in me.
 

On top of being successful, I had the opportunity to eat SEVERAL pieces of humble pie this year while I recognized how very, very blessed I am to even be ABLE to accomplish all of these things.  And believe me… that pie was delicious.
 

I can not thank everyone enough who shared in the experiences, whether directly (by building/shopping/sailing/running/dressing up/snowboarding) or indirectly (by every comment, word of encouragement and moments of support).  For all of that, I am truly grateful.
 

Now, I realize I sound like I just won an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize but honestly?  I feel like I have.  I don’t need fancy accolades to feel like I’ve truly accomplished something great in life.  And pushing myself to try new things (even things I’ve done before and don’t like very much) CERTAINLY qualifies as just that.
 

I regularly go back and read old blog posts (this has been the best diary that I’ve ever written) and one that strikes a chord with me every.time. is Dear Baby Darcie, a post I thought about making my official birthday post but am so glad that I it wrote back in June as a constant reminder for the rest of my 20′s.  I only hope that one day, I’ll be able to write a post titled “Dear 30 Year Old Darcie” and that I’ll have so much more wisdom to impart on “young” me.  Recently, an old friend of mine wrote a comment on that post that not only brightened my day life, it reminded me that childhood can certainly last forever.
 

Amazing! You are truly a gem Darcie. We had so much fun when we were younger!

Just to add a little piece to baby Darcie!

You will be the greatest asset to your friends whether they are current or past. You will leave a permanent imprint on their hearts and fond memories in their mind. You will teach them things they never knew how to do and show them that they can indeed accomplish anything. You will make them smile and laugh uncontrollably. Not everyone has the natural gift to be in the spotlight (a lamp) and do stand up comedy and be completely comfortable, even if it was during a sleepover (Night at the Improv)! You will inspire many and many will envy you, but you will never let that change who you are. You will be brave, beautiful, balanced, and brilliant. Always remember where you came from and never forget that for those lives that you have inspired and touched, will always be there to help you in times of need!

Wow.  Beth, I can not thank you enough for your kind words… and a friendship that was such an integral part of my childhood.

Interestingly, the most rewarding thing I did this year wasn’t even something that was initially on the list – although I did substitute it in the long run.  I am so grateful for a wonderful friend/rescue partner who supported us along the way, an amazing husband who surprises me each and every day and two big, loveable mushes who have shared their beds, toys and mama with four foster dogs this year.  And remember how I said that I don’t like to fail?  Well… I guess it’s ok to fail SOMETIMES.  Evie, my little foster-failure of 2011 (Brody being the foster-failure of 2007), was a part of our family from the moment she showed up in the van, covered in poo but smothered in love (ironically, I just found the post that I wrote when we pulled her from the shelter and I had titled it Alright… One More Time… apparently I was right).  I am so grateful that I took a leap of faith back in March and opened our home on a whim to our first foster in a long time… my heart grew exponentially this year and I have each of those amazing pups (Diamond/Macy, Fernando, Jersey and Evie) to thank for that.
 

Yeah… my heart may have even grown three sizes.

Several people have asked me to keep writing after my birthday because they’ve enjoyed my antics and, I promise, I will continue to write as long as I have something non-coma inducing half-way decent to say.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even make a 40 Before 40 List… at least I’ve got 10 years to work on it!
 

Until then… thank you so much for reading along and being a part of my crazy life. 
 

My crazy, blessed, amazing life…
 
 

This is the way I have started my birthday for as many years as I can remember… enjoy.

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.  Enjoy the trip.  ~Author Unknown

Then I got a little email from a friend of mine with a deal on Travelzoo and I did the most spontaneous thing that I’ve done in a VERY long time (if not, ever).  I booked a trip within a week… no thinking, no stressing… just credit card out and booked.  And holy shit did it feel good.
 

So, instead of stressing about a party (even though I would really like to make sure something fancy and party-esque happens for my 40th – ohmygodican’tbelievei’mtalkingaboutmy40thbirthday – hint hint John), we are headed to Ireland for a week of sightseeing and beer drinking.  LOTS of beer drinking (and I definitely couldn’t have done THAT pregnant).  And not only do I get to spend the week with the love of my life but we’ll also be traveling with my fabulous sister-in-law and her husband who we had visited in FL and who we both just ADORE.  When we were getting ready to book, I mentioned it to Jen, told her the amazing deal we’d be getting, and she didn’t even have to check with Ryan – she KNEW he’d be in.  So the four of us are going on an adventure for the ages!
 

I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Ireland – it’s the heritage I’m most proud of (but let’s be honest… I’m plain old American at this point).  Sure, it’s not going to be beautiful, sunny, warm weather like it would be during peak season BUT there won’t be crowds – I hate crowds – and there will be quaint little fireplaces.  And Guinness.  Lots and lots of Guinness.  Really, I could be sitting in cold CT or chilly Ireland… I picked Ireland.
 

Mmmmmm… Guinness.

When all is said and done, we will be visiting 4 cities (Kilkenny, Killarney, Galway and Dublin), taking in numerous beautiful sites, will have taken my husband across the pond for the first time and celebrated the end of my 20′s as I toast to the start of my 30′s.

I couldn’t think of a better way to do just that but at a pub in the city where my great-great-grandfather was born.

Yeah… doesn’t get much better than this.

I’m working on a post right now that will go live on my birthday and I’ll fill you all in on the amazingness of our week when we get back on the 12th because we’re headed out TOMORROW!

Until then…

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

~An Old Irish Blessing

Eventually, I was successful and I could have SWORN that I wrote a post about how excited I was that I got several rows done on a project even though I wasn’t quite sure what it was supposed to be.  Turns out, it was not a blog post – it was my photo of the day.  Back on January 20th.  It’s now January 2nd THE FOLLOWING YEAR and I’m thinking that I should have just written this blog post back then.
 

See??? I TOTALLY did it…. 14 days into my “List Year.”

I realized that if I haven’t worked on this project in 11 months, I just wasn’t that into it.  I was having a minor panic attack that I hadn’t created something really fantastic and my mom asked me, “what did the task actually say?”  The answer was Learn How to Knit.  Not knit a scarf, hat, gloves and matching tampon holder…

You thought I was kidding… or hoped.

Remember when I said this whole list was about TRYING new things?  It didn’t mean I needed to LOVE it all.  Besides, I’m jumping head first into quilting – THAT’S something that I have found I love.  My new sewing machine is fantastic and I am loving learning as I go.  I found a few patterns that I’m adding to my collection and I’m getting ready to bang out a couple little projects in preparation for my best friend’s impending birth – the birth of her first child (her own birth happened almost 30 years ago like my own did).  Quilting is super relaxing for me (except when I was having issues with my bobbin winding… turns out it was user error).  Knitting is NOT relaxing.  For me, anyways.  I REALLY thought it was going to be a great way to relax, chill out and be creative.  Ummm… I was wrong.  But sewing?  I like that.

So, TECHNICALLY I did learn to knit.  Did I make something (other than what could be argued was a tissue?)?  No.  But that’s ok…

There are quilted tampon holders too.

7. Learn how to knit

No longer shall I paint interiors with men reading and women knitting. I will paint living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love.  ~Edvard Munch