{Sunday Social}

It's been awhile since I linked up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social. Or it feels like awhile. Anyways, here it goes for another week!

1. What is your biggest driving pet peeve?
I actually have a few. One of them is people who put on their turn signal to change langes and when they are in front of you now that they've changed lanes, they forget to turn the signal off. DRIVES ME NUTS!  I also can't stand slow drivers, or those who ride up your butt in traffic. If there's a line of cars in front of me, chances are pretty good I can't go any faster, you idiot! 

2. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
I don't really like those who beg/advertise for sponsors.

3. What is your biggest general pet peeve?
Hmm.... I would have to say people who cause unnecessary drama. Life's too short to be petty. 

4. What is your most irrational fear?
That would probably have to be needles. I get so squeamish when I have to get one! 

5. Name three celebrities you would want to have dinner with:
 Definitely Jennifer Aniston

Channing Tatum

 
 Taylor Swift

New puppy!

Things have been so busy with the end of the school year that it has been a few weeks since I last blogged. Classes ended on June 5th and then I had three days of finals. I helped grade a bunch of finals on Tuesday but now, it's just a bunch of sitting around until June 24th. In that time frame, I am going to be productive in looking for a job.

The best news is I am getting a new puppy!!! In March, I had to put my beloved Shadow, my black Cocker Spaniel, to sleep. She got sick really quickly so we put her down so she was no longer in misery or suffering. I am so heartbroken still (3 months later) but I want to get another dog. 

We were searching for weeks and weeks. My mom and I kept looking in the newspaper and I went to a few shelters. We wanted to rescue a dog as opposed to buying one but all the dogs (we specifically want a cocker spaniel) in the shelters were all either biters or couldn't be around kids. That was not going to fly.

My mom and I found a few through puppyfind.com. And I absolutely fell in love with one. This little lady will be joining our family on June 26th! She is being flown from Missouri and I pick her up in a crate at the airport. I am SO excited! I have no idea what to name her. Current contenders are Bailey, Bella, Lily, Sophie. 

{WILW - End of May!}

Happy Wednesday everyone! I can hardly believe that it is the END of May! Wasn't May just beginning?

I am back linking up with the lovely Jamie for WILW! 

Here's what I'm loving this week:

I'm loving....that the favors for my cousin's bridal shower came in tonight after ordering them on MONDAY! I ordered these candles.

I'm loving...that there are only 5 days of classes left (2 this week, Mon-Wed next week) before finals & Regents start. June 24 is slowly approaching!

I'm loving...that I get to see Olivia this weekend at her party Saturday night.

I'm loving...that it is my brother Mark's 40th birthday tomorrow (I'm 26...big age gap)! He has always been a great father-figure in a way watching out for me and I'll always love him for that.

I'm loving...that I am finally being included in the server class at work to be a server. I can pick up shifts once school is let out and make more $$.

I'm loving...my new nail color. I am obsessed with nail polish lately. It's called Naughty Nautical by Essie! 

{Sunday Social}

It's another week of Sunday Social! My life has been a bit crazy lately and the blog has fallen to the back burner but time to change that! Link up with Ashley & Neely today.

1. What is your best summer memory as a kid?

Theres a bunch I could pick from. My grandparents used to take my brothers Eric & I to their trailer in NJ for a weekend/week and we'd get a new toy every time we went there and it was just fun. 

2. What is your favorite summer drink?

You should take a look at my pinterest board because I feel like ALL I have pinned on there is drink recipes...and lots of fattening foods, ha ha! But my favorite is for sangria. I like taking the fruit, soaking it in vodka in the fridge for a few hours before adding it in. It tastes so good!

3. What is your favorite summer TV show?

I feel like there are crappy shows on TV during the summer because my regular favorites are busy filming/on a break. The Bachelorette usually starts in the summer so that or Dance Moms! (Even though Dance Moms has become an all year show)

4. What is the best summer outdoor activity?

There's lots! Anything done where it's spent outside with friends is always fun. One of my favorite things to do is grab a book, a towel, a cooler and go here:

 Who doesn't love the beach?!

5. What are your summer vacation essentials?

Sunglasses for when I am wearing my contacts, Neutrogena sunblock (I still get color but it prevents me from looking like a lobster!!), shorts & tank tops, fun dresses, flip flops and a camera to document it all!  

Mother's Day

This year for mother's day, I am not going to be with my mom. She is actually with her job in Disney until Tuesday (lucky her!). 

I am blessed to have my mom as my mother. She has shown unconditional love and strength to each of her five children. She raised all of us on her own after my dad died...and she didn't know she was expecting me when he passed. To raise 5 kids, one of whom is disabled, is challenging for a single parent.

My mother is the type of woman who is so giving, yet can't spend anything on herself. She has a hard time buying stuff for herself and when she does, she ends up returning it. She has taught me the definition of what it means to be selfless. She is a wonderful nurse. My mom taught me my savvy shopping skills and she has a great sense of humor. I must get my snorting when laughing from her.

I am forever thankful to call her my mom & be her daughter. Although at times we have our moments, I wouldn't trade her for anyone in the world. Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mother. I love you lots!

Additionally, my sister-in-law is celebrating Mother's Day. This is her 5th Mother's Day without her mom who passed years ago. She is grateful for my mom. We are grateful & blessed to have her as a member of our family. I have known her for the past 20 years she has been with my brother and I don't think he could have chosen a better wife. She is an amazing mother to my two nieces & nephew. She is the sister I never had but always wanted and I know I can always count on her for anything. Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful sister-in-law, Laurie!! You are so special to our family. <3 

My sister-in-law Laurie & my youngest niece, Emma

 

Sara, Laurie, Emma, and I in NYC

It's Okay Thursday

Here I am linking up with Neely & Amber for the last couple of weeks of It's Okay Thursdays. Normally at this time I would be in school but today was a much needed mental health day. (And yes, I took it on a Thursday as opposed to a Friday for various reasons).

So, here's what is okay with me this week:

It's Okay...

...that I am taking a mental health day from school today. Sometimes you just need it with the end of the year approaching!

...that I bought a bottle of Skinny Girl Sangria last night and fell asleep watching TV because I had some of it. Again, needed!

...to be jealous of my mom going to Disney with her job until Tuesday. So not fair! I wish I could go.

...that I am so happy that my BFF April had an awesome day at her new job in Florida and is starting to cover a murder trial tomorrow! (She's a court reporter for their paper). So happy for her. :)

...that my dress for my cousin's wedding came in yesterday...and now begins the crunch time to get it to fit in my hip area. Or I am in big trouble.

...to continue to put off cleaning my room...it's okay, it'll get done soon!

...that there are only 18 MORE DAYS LEFT OF INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOL!!! June 24th (the last official day we have to be there) is slowly but surely approaching!

...that I plan on buying "Safe Haven" on DVD and watching it by myself. #singlegirlproblems

...to want to go on another cruise but this time go with my girlfriends!

...that I still miss my baby girl Shadow. I miss coming home to her waiting for me at the front door and barking. I want to find another puppy/dog this summer.

...that my favorite manager at work, who just left, will always refer to me as "the girl who breaks herself." Who else manages to get hurt almost EVERY shift (not on purpose) and gets their elbow stuck in a highchair? 

 
 

Cinco de Mayo weekend!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Cinco de Mayo! This weekend, like I said yesterday, I went to visit my friend Olivia & her boyfriend Marc with our friends Shannon & Amanda. It was a very much needed weekend away from school/work. I needed some girl time!

Friday night involved dinner at a restaurant called Rancho Grande with margaritas that were so delicious. The service, however, was HORRIFIC. It wasn't even that crowded but it took the waitress forever to come over to us. There was a table that was seat AFTER us and got drinks before she came back to us. Eventually, we got some delicious drinks and enjoyed catching up. 

Crazy picture of me with the guacamole. This guy just came over and asked how we liked it, so we said mild. We should've asked if it was free because they charged us $11.95 for it and we didn't end up eating it!! We did say something and got it taken off the bill.

 Olivia and I in the awesome cutouts they had on the way out.

Later that night, we ended up going to two different bars, one of which had a roof top bar. That was pretty cool! Although I would have probably enjoyed it more if it wasn't a bit chilly out. And you know you had a good night when you were eating in your sleep at the diner at 2am...yeah, that happened!

Amanda & Olivia

 

Shannon & I

 

 

Me & Olivia

Olivia, Shannon, Me, Amanda.

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend! I miss seeing these girls because of distance or hectic work schedules. But I cannot wait til we do it again.