Never too late to say "Happy New Year"....right?

Well, this post was intended to be up somewhere around the first week of 2013, but you know how those things go.  Instead of recapping all that happened in 2012, I'll just bring you up to speed on what has happened so far in what might possibly be the two fastest months of my life-- the beginning of 2013.

I found out late in 2012 that my one year contract with the Planning Department in State College was being extended another year.  It's hard to believe that so much time has flown by since I started this new journey-- I've certainly kept myself busy with my job, meeting people here in State College, and finding new hobbies to pursue.

This is where I rang in the New Year... in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. (I should note that I took these photos with a fancy camera that is on loan to me by my photog Dad...I'm testing the waters of upgrading from snapping cell phone pictures.)

Sunset over the mountains.

Baby cows had just been born right before our visit.

Sunrise on New Year's Eve.

After a January that lasted less time that you can blink, I was off to Austin, TX again to do more wedding planning, birthday celebrating and superbowl watching with my best friend, Jaclyn.  Jaclyn has asked me to the be the Maid of Honor for her wedding this coming October in Texas.

We had a little bridal shower (on Super Bowl Sunday).

And spent an entire day dress shopping for the Bride and Bridesmaids...

Immediately upon my return, I changed my address (which I would be happy to share with you in a text or email).  My new "roomie" and I are now cohabitating in a house here in State College...which luckily is still within a short biking distance of work and has a bus stop practically in the back yard. 

The new roommate.

And as of late, when I'm not at work, I have attempting to mentally and physically prepare myself for my upcoming adventure.  A few months back, I found out that I was accepted to a program called Bike&Build, which provides grants to affordable housing organizations across the country by leading cross-country bike tours.  I will be riding just about 300 miles from Richmond, VA to Washington, DC for a week this summer to support the affordable housing cause.  I'm working on raising $5 per mile I'm riding, will be helping with the Habitat for Humanity chapter here in State College and building with three chapters out east during my ride week.    You can check out Bike & Build and my profile if you want to see more.  So far, I have 94 of the 300 miles I'm riding sponsored... just 206 left to go!

More to come soon!