{WILW! - Happy Spring!}

Happy Wednesday! And Happy Spring! I believe we barely had a winter this year because of no snow, which is awesome. It was so warm yesterday I wore FLIP FLOPS! And have my annual blisters from breaking them in. Ha.

Head on over to Jamie's blog to show What You're Loving on this wonderful Wednesday!

I'm loving that I PASSED my Spanish content test for my teaching certification. You have no IDEA how happy I am. It was the third time I took it and I was about to give up but I am so thrilled. Now on to finding a big-girl job in a hard teaching market.

I'm loving that there are like 54 days until I go on a cruise. I am so excited to lay out, relax, tan, drink and hang out with the boyfriend for 8 days.

I'm loving that The Hunger Games comes out Thursday night/Friday midnght! I'm skipping opening weekend because it'll be a madhouse but I can't wait to see it! And yeah, I need to buckle down tonight & tomorrow and finish!


I'm loving that my cousin David's twin daughters Adeline and Charlotte are making progress in the NICU, slowly but surely. We all can't wait til they are home!

I'm loving that I bought myself this Disney movie on DVD yesterday at Best Buy. I have never seen it! Oops!


I'm loving that I will be going back to the gym today. I had a crazy few days with work and other stuff and then needed to catch up on sleep. I'm going to go, and then come home and get another workout cleaning the bathrooms. Such fun!

What are you loving today?!

Top 5 Tuesday: Favorite Books!

Rachel over at Just Peachy is having her Top 5 Tuesday link up of favorite books. I can be such a nerd sometimes when I read. I read 250+ books one summer when I was little. Nerd alert much? I kind of lost my zest for reading when they forced summer reading upon us from 5th grade-senior year of high school because who likes to be assessed the first week back on a book when you're suppose to be having fun over the summer? NOT ME!

Since then, I have rediscovered my zest for reading and I am super happy! Here are some of my top 5 favorite books of all time:

Nineteen Minutes, My Sister's Keeper, House Rules, Handle With Care, Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult
I could go on about these books. Even her book "The Pact" is one of my favorites. I first discovered her in the Madrid Airport on my way home from studying abroad when it was my mission to use the last of my euros and get some reading material for the flight home. I picked up a copy of "Nineteen Minutes" and couldnt stop. Even with my jet lag when I got home, I was determined to finish it. I love the details she puts into her research and how she writes about such personal and touching topics. I really need to start her newest one for 2012 "Lone Wolf" already!


They Cage The Animals at Night - Jennings Michael Burch
I was actually required to read this as part of my summer reading when I was going into 10th grade Honors English and it was such a touching story. It is based on the author's true life story how he became and orphan and went through foster homes. It made me cry yet it's so good.

The Hunger Games series - Suzanne Collins
I am still trying to finish the first one (why do I decide to read when I am tired!) but it is really good. The descriptions the author writes with just give you chills. I swear, every time I see the movie's trailer, I get chills/goosebumps. Everyone I know that has read it has been a fan so I hope the same goes for me!


Heart of the Matter - Emily Giffin
Picked this up last April in the Atlanta Airport on the way back from visiting my best friend. I had read "Something Borrowed" on the way there and my kindle has died so I needed entertainment for the flight back home. Actually, any of her books are awesome. I find them to be an easy yet enjoyable read. Plus, I love that the author lives in Atlanta! :) And she has a new one coming out in July that I can't wait to read.


Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea - Chelsea Handler
I find her to be absolutely hysterical! She is quite comical so if you need a good laugh, pick this up!

Have Faith. In Yourself.

Faith. Such a powerful word, isn't it? Having faith in others can be easy. But, having faith in yourself can be extremely difficult at times. I often felt like I did not have faith in myself while student teaching last year. Anyone who has been there in student teaching knows what I mean. Sometimes you think "What the heck am I doing?! I have no clue!" I can't tell you the amount of times I wanted to throw in the towel last year and give up because I was frustrated with myself, not being creative enough, etc.

But that little word faith was in the back of my mind. And I knew others had faith in me. Like how my brother Brian wrote in the Valentine's Day card to me this year to continue to have faith in myself because I will reach my dreams soon. Sometimes knowing others have faith in you is ALL you need to get you to smile.

Well, I had asked for a little prayer about passing my last certification test for my teaching license. I got my test results today. I was obsessively checking my email on my cellphone at work tonight (thank goodness it was slow!) and was anxious to get it! My friend Bethany got her's at 5:30ish (they start sending them at 5) and I didn't get mine until 7:15! Talk about being anxious. I looked and almost instantly cried. I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) And so did my friend Bethany! All I wanted was 4 or 5 more points from what I had last time to at least get the minimum passing score. And I am SO happy I passed!! Now I can look into my TEACH account tomorrow to see how to get proof I passed all my tests so I can start applying for jobs! Most of the substitute jobs won't let you apply without certification and they usually only issue it in February and September. So I need to look into this tomorrow. I'm just so thrilled!

This experience showed me I need to trust myself more and have faith in myself more. So many people were excited when I made it my facebook status that I passed. It showed me so many people believed in me. I wanted nothing more than to pass this test. And I am so happy that chapter is done and over. Time to move on and find a job...so I can start making more $$!! :)

Weekend o fun!

Ahh....one of my favorite pictures from the tour of the Guinness Factory when I was in Dublin, Ireland when I studied abroad. It's the truth. I feel like people just pretend to be Irish for St.Patty's day as a day to use it as a legit excuse to drink. However, I am Irish. :) And this weekend, I went out with a bunch of friends to celebrate! Olivia, Olivia's boyfriend Marc, our friend Amanda, my boyfriend John, his friend Larry and some other friends Gerber, Durnin and Dan came out. We went to this bar that has since been converted into a Beer Garden. They had a bunch of picnic tables inside and outside. Overall, it was a great night! I am thankful my boyfriend drove and let me drink as much as I wanted (which I ultimately regretted the next morning!). I did take pictures and will post them soon.

And Friday night, I saw "21 Jump Street" with the boyfriend. We originally tried to go to an 8:10 showing but it was sold out. So we bought tickets to the 9:45 and sat at the theater until then. It was pretty popular! Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill were hilarious in the movie. There were so many funny parts that made the majority of the theater crack up. Definitely go see this if you get the chance!

I am so glad that I am not working any doubles this week. I worked one Saturday and one on Sunday and let's just say, I felt so tortured on Sunday. It went by soo slow. It was steady which made it kind of torturing. I like it when its busy because then it makes the time go by faster, usually.

I kind of feel a little anxious today. Today is the day we're suppose to get our scores from any teaching test you took in February. This was when I took my content Spanish test for the third time. I know what you're probably thinking "Why did it take you three times?" It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to pass on the first time, unless you're like Penelope Cruz. There's a listening part, reading section that has culture, grammar questions, a writing part and a speaking part. The second time I took it in November, I got a 216...and you need a 220 (minimum) to pass. Talk about crushing! I am praying I pass this time. I don't care if its a 220 or even a 221...I just want to pass! I am afraid I didn't because I got a little flustered on the speaking since there was TWO people watching me do it and normally there is only one. It costs $79 each time you take it (rip off!) and the next test date for this isn't until June. So not fair. So please hope & pray that I passed. I just want to be DONE so I can apply for jobs!

And seriously, *when* is Jessica Simpson going to have her baby? I think she has been pregnant for like a year, seriously!! She looks huge (as if she could have twins). Just pop already!

Relaxation!

This morning I had a massage appointment. I have always been wanting to treat myself to one and the boyfriend, aka John, gave me a day of beauty to Cactus Salon & Day Spa for my birthday. The "day of beauty" entailed an hour facial, hour massage, a blowout, spa pedicure, spa manicure, and makeup application. It was worth more than $200 or my option was to just use it as a $200 gift card. Y'all will probably say I am nuts because I did the 2nd option. I have a place I get my nails done and I dont need a makeup application (is that even worth it)? The massage is $75 but SO WORTH IT! I had a very nice person and told her I really needed my shoulders and lower back worked on. It was an hour and oh my word, it was so RELAXING!! Just what I needed! She said my shoulders had a lot of knots in them and that parts of me may feel sore later (which some are). It was a great experience overall and I will definitely be getting more massages in the future!

After work, I had to make a return to Target for my mom. She bought some type of curtains or something for the living room or dining room but it wasn't what she was hoping for. I should have just walked out after. But no, that store sucked me in! It's easy to spend at least $20-$30 in that store! I was looking for some yoga/workout pants but wasn't liking any of them. I ended up walking out of their with a Herbal Essences Frizz Serum Control (my hair likes to look like I have fuzziness 24/7), a new Essie Nail polish (I am so addicted!), the Self magazine with Carrie Underwood on it, and gummy vitamins for energy (B12). I am hoping if I combine that vitamin with the One-A-Day, it'll give me more energy!

Tomorrow and Sunday should be fun working doubles at work but at least I am going out to celebrate St.Patty's day with some friends. Honestly, I can't remember what I did last year. I think I had student teaching and then stayed home. LAME.

The more I think about summer, the more excited I get! So many things to look forward to: the cruise in May (I convinced John we need to do a couples massage on the ship since I loved it so much!), my cousin Lisa & her fiance Bryce moving back to NY in June from Florida, going to Atlantic City with Shannon, Amanda, and Olivia (plus finding the shore store & shore house from Jersey Shore), Stephanie visiting in August, etc. It's going to be EPIC!

Tonight, I am going to see 21 Jump Street with John. It has gotten somewhat decent reviews so hopefully I like it! I also want to see "Mirror Mirror" with Julia Roberts that comes out at the end of the month, "The Five Year Engagement" (I think I read it was from the producers of Bridesmaids) and a bunch of others I can't remember right now.

Low Key Day/Night

Is it kind of pathetic that it is almost 9pm on a Thursday and I am ready for bed?! I have been yawning since 6:30pm! And I spent the majority of my morning in bed! What is my problem? Either, I overslept or maybe it's something bigger like a thyroid issue or something else. It could be stress related although it is really only the last few days that I have been constantly tired. When I work out, I feel better so maybe I need to be more proactive about going to the gym.

Could also be that I don't take a multi-vitamin. Bad? Yeah, probably. I tried taking Women's One a Day but the one time I did, it made me gag/vomit afterwards. Not a pretty picture. I think I need to go to Target tomorrow after work and buy a multi-vitamin...even if it is a gummy form. I need to stop feeling so exhausted! Anyone else feel like this? What have you done to help remedy it?

I want to go buy the April issue of Self magazine simply because it has Carrie Underwood on the cover. Have I read the one with Jillian Michaels that I bought? I *think* so. I just envy Carrie's legs and would kill for them.

My dog is currently sitting on my bedroom floor staring at me as I type this post. She must miss my mom who is on vacation in Florida! Every morning this little beast opens my bedroom door to come in and sleep in here until I wake up. She can be cute. :)

Every time I see the commercials with Ellen DeGeneres for JcPenney's, I chuckle. I am not sure why. Probably because I find her hysterical.

And some of my favorite Pinterest finds lately:

OMG HYSTERICAL!
Let's face it y'all...I'd be dead if I had to compete in The Hunger Games!


I saw this last night and almost peed myself (not really). It was just TOO funny!


That's what friends are for!


All the time!!!

Story of my life!


True story...I am avoiding it at all possible cause until I am *forced* to change to it.



Hehe


I love the idea of this!!

Crunch time to the cruise!

Lastly, I cannot *wait* to get rid of my Blackberry next month. The fact that it keeps freezing on me when I want to reply to a text and I want to chuck it across the room at a wall, I will gladly welcome the iPhone!

{It's Okay Thursday!}

Time for another one of my favorite link ups! Link up with Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber @ Brunch with Amber to let everyone in the blog world what's okay with you on this Thursday!

IT'S OKAY....

...that I went to bed last night thinking I had to get up at 7 to go babysit my niece...and realized it was not until NEXT Thursday. Oops!

...that I did not set my alarm this morning. It was liberating.

...that I am SUPER excited for my massage tomorrow. I am hoping it makes me more relaxed and less snippy.

...to want to scream at some people that come into my job because they are THAT picky and annoying and ruin my mood for the night, causing me to snip at you. Really, just go with the flow people.

...to be emotional and cry at times. I sometimes feel like I cry way too much over stupid stuff. At least I admit it.

...to still be in your pajamas at 11:30am and not plan on getting out of them til later. :)

...to be counting down til my cruise - 59 days people!

...constantly be looking up prices for the trip April and I are taking to Cancun in the fall. We ARE going...and I am so excited!

...to want to run a 5K but know I'd die in 10 minutes from running it. Haha!

...to be excited about the cool free case that came with my Coach sunglasses (I am so glad I went shopping while my mom was away!)

...to already be thinking about how I am not going to know WHAT to pack for my cruise in May! Helpful hints, please!!

...to not understand March Madness AT ALL and not care.

...to want to go back to Europe because I miss it.

...to still have not finished the first book in The Hunger Games series! {I am ashamed!}

...to cry like a BABY at the show "Coming Home" on Lifetime. Makes you thankful for the men & women who chose to fight for our country and in the end, possibly sacrifice their own life.

...that I am buying a Paddy's Pub shirt from Kohl's for the St.Patrick's day attire for bar hopping with friends.

...to know I am going to regret going out after working a double Saturday and working one Sunday. Eww. But I am just thinking $$.

...that I have no idea where the paper went from the other car insurance company from the accident...I need to find it to call my insurance guy. Will do tomorrow.

...to wish I didn't have to pay back my student loans. The amount of $$ I spent to go to school and I don't have a job just sickens me.