What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Leap Day everyone! The one day of the year that only comes around every four years. Can I just say I hope I don't ever give birth to a child on Leap day? Ha!

It's time to link up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving that my friends and I booked a weekend getaway to Atlantic City this summer!! I have never been to Atlantic City so it's going to be exciting! We are staying at Bally's and we have already mapquested directions to go to the Shore Store that the Jersey Shore cast works at.


I'm loving that Jodi Picoult's new book came out yesterday! There are SO many books I want to read/am in the middle of reading I just want to be able to start this one now.


I'm loving that my cousin Lisa is engaged! I just love weddings and I am excited to be in her wedding party. She said she is thinking of Tiffany Blue as the color for our dresses (her date is July 6, 2013) and I googled it...Such a pretty color, don't ya think?


I'm loving that my friend Ashley and I will finally get to have lunch together next week! We met in grad school, were in the same school for part of student teaching, and a great friendship blossomed from it. Love it.


I'm loving the two bathing suits I bought today at the mall with the boyfriend from Victoria's Secret. My mom says my butt sticks out in them (what can I say, I got junk in the trunk) but the boyfriend liked them. Plus, I got a cute bag for free (worth $85!) because I spent over $75.

I got a top & bottom in both these patterns & can mix/match!

(free bag)

I'm loving that we have BARELY had any snow this winter! Where I went to school, New Paltz, keeps getting snow. And it's only like 2.5, 3 hours away from me! I find that hysterical. And I hope I don't jinx myself.

I'm loving this pin from Pinterest:

I'm loving the new single by Carrie Underwood! It's called "Good Girl" off her album being released in May, which I can't wait for!! I really would love to go see her on tour.

I'm loving that my best friend April's birthday is on Friday and I get to see her this weekend!

I'm loving this adorable dress I got from New York & Company. I bought 95% of my student teaching clothes from there and love this! It will be perfect for the cruise and to incorporate into a more "adult" wardrobe.

what are you all loving this week?! :)

26 years ago...

Today is the day that my mother lost her companion, her partner in life. 26 years ago, she became a widow with four children and one on the way (that she had no idea about at the time...that would be me!). She suddenly was met with the challenge of raising 5 kids all on her own (one of whom has a disability). Simply because my dad died in a car accident.

My dad died 26 years ago and I am 25. Therefore, I never met him. My mom had no idea that she was expecting another kid when he passed away. She did not find out until sometime after the funeral, so it was quite a shock to her. Many people told her she did not need another child since her hands were going to be full. What did they know? Obviously she did not listen to them because I am here. :)

I have always felt robbed in life that I grew up without a father. It's not like there was abandonment but I just wished I had grown up with one. I guess you could say I was the daughter he always wanted. Infact, Kristin was the name he wanted for a girl the 2nd time my mom got pregnant. I love my name. And even though I never met my father, everyone in my family tells me that I have some of his features and characteristics. I have had people tell me that I look like my mom but she says I look like my dad. My mom tells me all the time I inherited my father's intelligence and his organizational skills.

Sometimes, I wonder what life would have been like with him here. I just know he is up in heaven, smiling down on everyone and would be so proud of the accomplishments my brothers and I have made. Rest easy, Daddy. Forever in my heart, even if we never met.

Quite possibly my favorite picture I have ever seen of my father.

Optimism

Good news - I got Cora back! Cora is the name I have for my car, my little Corolla. The collision shop that was repairing her called at like 2:30 saying it was ready and I could pick it up at 5. When I asked if I could pick it up at that time (like 2:30) since I'd be at school til 5, she said no. I thought it was odd, and when she said I couldn't leave the rental at the shop even though the rental place said I could, she put me on hold I guess to ask. Well, I got it at 5 after school and I was so happy to see the car. I am grateful I was able to rent a car (why you have to be 25 in NY to rent a car is dumb, IMO) while it was being repaired. She looks bright & shiny. Plus, it got washed which saved me some more money. I had to pay the deductible, which was $500! YIKES! I wonder if I will get anything back for it from the insurance company. My guess is probably not.

I can't believe how much one accident cost me...ugh! Like I told my mother, it is all a part of growing up and becoming an adult. And it could have been worse.

I cleaned off my desk a lil. My room is entirely in need of a major cleaning, but I always seem to tackle this at night. What is my problem?! Ha. As I was cleaning, I put my undergrad official transcript, which came in today's mail, and my grad transcript together to mail off to the state education department. This is to determine if I am "lacking" any classes for my special education certification. In prayers/hopes I passed my CST from last week, I made a list of all the school districts on Long Island and I am going through whether they take paper applications or use OLAS. OLAS is what NY uses for applying for education jobs. Right now, teaching jobs in New York are EXTREMELY hard to come by. My friend Shannon has been applying for the last three years. It makes it harder to want to apply for a job here when they are closing schools. :( I am so ready to just take a pay cut and move down South. It is what I want to do. I feel part of my soul was born there. I am feeling optimistic and feel that by following my dreams, I will eventually land a job that suits my talents. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

My laundry is calling my name. My mission is to go to bed before midnight tonight. Challenge accepted.

It's Okay Thursday!

Link up with Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber @ Brunch with Amber for "It's Okay Thursday!"

It's Okay...

...that I made my point valid to my boyfriend why I was upset with him yesterday.

...that I cannot wait to go get a manicure tomorrow and make them make my nails shorter. I hate when the natural nail starts to be playable and then it makes me wanna play with it under the tip. Annoying! Plus, I cannot wait to chose a fun color! :)

...that my mom still buys me things when she goes out shopping even though I am 25. I'm the only kid she does that for! Spoiled much? :) I really hope the two Lauren Conrad dresses she got me from Kohl's actually fit!

...that I really want to go see The Lion King on Broadway so I can sing "The Circle of Life" aloud. #notashamed.

...to still not have done my taxes...umm, I have no CLUE how to do that! Isn't that why we have accountants?

...to be excited Jennifer Aniston finally got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (I so need to go there and take a picture in front of it!). I can't help it...she's my favorite actress of all-time!


...to want to live vicariously through my cousin as she plans her wedding for next July. Sorry, can't help it but LOVE weddings!

...to want to crack open a BLL at 5pm sometimes because you can't deal with people's stupidity. Sometimes it makes me wonder how these people function in life.

...to be a tad obsessed with ecards on Pinterest.

...to take your best friend to a possible Yankee game trip through your job as opposed to the boyfriend who is a Mets fan. He did sit through one game for me!

...to be ridiculously excited about the cruise I will be on in 81 days. I can't WAIT til it is in the SINGLE digits.

...to want to have this body so I can look smoking in my bikini in the Bahamas:


...that I am more excited about Jodi Picoult's book coming out next week then trying to get into the Hunger Games. I know...SHAME ON ME. I just keep reading it on my Kindle but maybe it's because I am getting distracted where I am reading it.

...to be secretly obsessed with Lifetime's "Dance Moms." As someone who danced for 13 years, I am hooked on the show. And all the drama is CRAZY!

Things Boys Don't Understand

Jenna Marbles is one of my favorite YouTube "celebrities." I was introduced to her thanks to my friend Olivia. She is HYSTERICAL! I subscribe to her YouTube page and liked her on Facebook. Each week, on Wednesday, she makes a new video. This week was called "Things Boys Don't Understand." As seeing as boys are difficult to deal with sometimes and just don't "get" us girls, I feel like it was TOTALLY true. You just have to watch:

WILW

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying their short work week. This used to be my favorite week growing up in school - mid-winter recess!

Link up with Jamie to show what you're loving today!


I'm loving that we have a working dishwasher again! There's nothing like a week of washing a sink full of dishes every day to be grateful for a dishwasher!

I'm loving last night's Glee episode. I haven't finished watching it (watching it now) but it was truly moving. Any Glee addicts know what I am talking about. And my friend Olivia is truly happy she has converted me to a Glee fan! Plus - WHY WHY WHY do we have to wait until April 10th for a new one?!

I'm loving that I will be cruising to the Bahamas in 82 days! I am in desperate need of a vacation!

I'm loving that I got back to the gym finally yesterday and was able to do 2 miles in 20 mins on the elliptical. It really helped having an awesome playlist. And for not working out in 2 weeks, I felt great!


I'm loving that I get to be a bridesmaid in my cousin Lisa's wedding next July! She's already thinking color schemes and thinks she might do tiffany blue with red & white flowers since it will be right after the 4th of July. It sounds pretty. I can't wait! :)

I'm loving some of these outfit inspirations from Pinterest. If only my closet was that easy to get dressed in!

I'm loving that there is a new season of 16 & Pregnant starting in March. Yes, I realize this is not "quality tv" but we all have our guilty pleasures, don't we?! I just can't help but watch.

I'm loving that Kourtney Kardashian is having a little girl! I think her son Mason is so incredibly adorable I can't WAIT to see how she dresses the little girl. :)

Top 5 Tuesday: Pump Up Songs!

I am ALWAYS looking for new music. Sometimes I get bored of listening to songs. I like blog reading to find out what other people use as motivation to run/work out to. One of my favorite blogs, These Happy Miles, does a Weekend Playlist and she has given me some great new additions to my iPod!

It's really hard to chose just five songs that pump me up and get me motivated while working out. However, these are just five of many of my favorites that I enjoy listening to at the gym:

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger ~ Kelly Clarkson

Need I say more?


Man, I Feel Like a Woman! ~ Shania Twain

I had always wished I had a jazz dance routine to this in the years I did dance.

Good Feelin ~ Flo Rida

Makes me just wanna throw my hands up while on the tread mill!

Start a Fire ~ Ryan Star

This was actually used I think during the previews for the last season of "Army Wives" and I became obsessed with it. Just such a good beat.

Walking on Broken Glass ~ Annie Lennox

This keeps me going when I want to throw the towel in.

I spend way too much time on Pinterest

The title of this blog post says it all. I spend way too much time on Pinterest. I swear, once you are on it, it SUCKS YOU IN! That is what Facebook first felt like when I first got it, back in the beginning of college.

I love finding cute style options/techniques, recipes, or just funny pins. Here are some of my favorites as of lately:

Oh my word this is so true!

Totally true about me!

There are so many things I have pinned...hoping I'll be able to cook! Ha!

Hysterical!


This show also frightens me too!


HAHA I sent this to my friend Amanda and it made her laugh.

Totally true!
My kind of thinking!

I still do not have my car back from the car accident last week. I haven't even heard from the guy at the collison shop. So I am hoping to have it back this week. I am glad to have a rental car although I am sure I will cringe when I open that credit card bill since I stupidly have $11 insurance a day on it too! Oh well. I also have not heard from the other insurance company of the other car. My insurance company said that if needbe, they'd contact me but I guess they don't need to! I do miss Cora, my corolla. She's gotta last me until I get an actual job and can buy my first real car myself. I do consider myself lucky...out of all my siblings that drive, I am the one that got the newest car as their first car (I got a 2004 Corolla in 2006 when I got my license). And that's only because my brother Brian totaled the one I was suppose to get!

I am still looking into the Cancun trip that my BFF April & I plan on taking in the later half of 2012. She will be at her job in July for one year and after that, she can take vacation. I am trying to figure out when the best time to go is. We're looking to do an all inclusive package for like 5 days, 4 nights or something. Some of the resorts I have been looking at on cheapcaribbean.com have swim up bars. What is not to love about that?! Has anyone been to Cancun? Can you give me some tips?!

It'd be really nice if I still did not have the "sniffles." It is quite annoying but at least the choking cough I had is gone. Considering I haven't been to the gym in two weeks, I *NEED* to go tomorrow. As much as the thought of getting out of my warm, cozy bed early disturbs me, I need to do it. Hence, I sit here and update my iPod with some fab tunes to jam to on the treadmill.

I must becoming really picky in my taste/choice of clothes lately because today, I was browsing the mall before work. I had to return a jacket I got my mom for Christmas from NY&Co that didn't fit and was so early, I decided to browse the stores. I'm not sure if I was overwhelmed that it was packed since everyone had off today thanks to Mr.Washington, Mr.Jefferson, Mr.Lincoln, etc and schools up here are on mid-winter break. But I really was just iffy. Or maybe just browsing. However, I did get myself some new undies from VS because they are just soooooo comfortable and a new hunter green zip up sweatshirt from there. I know, how many can you have? But seriously, they are so comfy! Plus, it is time to go through my closet again. Maybe when my mom goes away so she doesn't try to keep stuff I want to get rid of!

Relief!

So yesterday, I took my CST test. It was kind of nice having it at 1pm rather than driving the 45 minutes at 6:45am to go take it at 7am. My friend Bethany took it again in the morning and she called to tell me what the writing & speaking situations were. Even though I knew them, when I went to do my speaking I think I got more nervous because there were two people staring at me as I did it as opposed to one! Talk about nerve wracking! One of them was learning how to be a proctor and it would be my luck that I got stuck in that room. Oh well. I stumbled on the conjugations of some of my verbs but I am just hoping for the best. I find out my scores on March 19th and I am just SO READY to be done. *IF* for some reason I do not pass, I will have a nervous breakdown and scream and retake it in April or June or whenever it is. I am just not that great of as test taker! So say a prayer I passed! I missed it by four points last time. I dont care if I get a 221...I just need at least a 220 to pass!

In exciting news, my cousin Lisa got engaged this past week! She is my only girl cousin on my father's side of the family and I am one of her two girl cousins (the other is like 13). I have not met her fiance Bryce yet but they will be coming up to New York in March so I am excited to meet him! And see her, because I can't remember the last time I saw her! Apparently, she was going to officially ask me then but I jumped the gun, ha ha! I love weddings and can't wait! She doesn't read my blog (that I know of) but this I stole from her facebook. This is them around Thanksgiving:

Now that the test is "over" maybe I can finally start cleaning up my room, ha! I always seem to start it and then get distracted. Or have to go to work. Oops.

When I was in Target yesterday shopping for a baby shower gift for my cousin's baby shower today, I was just in love with all the little baby clothes. I love babies! Part of what I loved when I was babysitting my nieces & nephew when they were little was playing dress up with them. I can't wait to do that to my own children. They'll be my own little dolls. I apologize now to my future kids, ha!

I never really read fashion magazines but I had to buy this yesterday when in Target because it had Jennifer Aniston on the cover. She's my #1 favorite celebrity and with her new movie out in a few days, I couldn't wait to read it! It's a mega issue but maybe it'll give me some hints to what I want to buy for the cruise:


And not for nothing, I wouldn't mind looking like this when I am her age:

And because I like to end things with a laugh, this made me roar:

Fried brain

Excuse the dorky picture. I took it with my web cam because this is just proof to say "I have a fried brain right now." As in, my brain is just about no longer processing the information I am trying to study for my test tomorrow. The one that is holding me back from having my teaching license by four freaking points. I am SO READY to be done and over with it! Not as much as my friend Bethany though, she freaked out last time and is now repeating it for the 5th time. Apparently no one passes the CST on the first try, unless you're the offspring of Penelope Cruz. Say a prayer we pass!

This is also what I look like after working a double at work and wanting to pull my hair out because people are STUPID. Do not tell me you will split up and then claim the kids are too far away and then be an a-hole to the manager. I swear, some people...just should not go out in public. EVER.

I have also been a major slacker this week..or so...in regards to the gym. I made myself the promise I would not want to waste the membership. I think I have a good excuse...my nose was running like the Nile River (I went through a box of Kleenex in 2-3 days) and I couldn't stop coughing. Good news? I am over it 98%! With all the stuff to do tomorrow and Sunday, I can't go to Monday but I can't wait to get my jam on on the treadmill. Because if I don't, this is how I will continue to feel:

I have already decided I will be taking my test in sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and sneakers. I am going to be sitting for 4+ hours and I wanna be comfy! And I have no shame going to Target afterwards for my cousin's baby shower gifts in said clothes. Target rules, yo!

I have decided I need to use my massage gift certificate soon. Apparently the card the boyfriend gave me was worth $200! I need to find the price listing because I just might have them cut my hair and also see if they can do something about my eyebrows. My eye brows fade out at the end so it looks like I have half a brow! Awkward central.

And as I sit here, yawning and knowing I need to go to bed so I can get up at 8:30/9ish to shower/re-read my notes again before the test, I often wonder how I survived college on 4-5 hours of sleep a night?! I vividly remember deciding one night my freshmen year "I think I'll write my research paper tonight..."...at 9pm....two weeks before it was due. Yeah, never went back and edited it but it was fun going on no sleep the next day. I was nuts in college. Complete opposite of high school, which I guess is a good thing!

Here's to hoping tomorrow's test is not too torturous!

It's Otay Thursday!

Otay! It's Thursday! Let's dance!

Link up with Neely to show what is okay with you on this Thursday!

It's OK...

...that it took me almost 3 months to call & have an appointment for a repeat breast sonogram to make sure no tumors came back. I just hate calling people.

...that I am giving my cousin & his wife a giftcard to my job for her baby shower. They're having twins and they want gift cards to places near them that offer take out(which we do!)

...that I am excited for said cousin & his wife to have her baby girls. TWIN GIRLS...oh and they are identical. I can't wait for babies!

...to stay up until 2am watching Wife Swap episodes on Lifetime. I am not sorry I am addicted.

...to stay in your pajamas as long as possible until you have to go somewhere.

...to want to go see "The Vow" again so you can see Channing Tatum's butt again!

..continue to look up all-inclusive vacations to Cancun for the fall. I will be going!

...that I am just folding my laundry from yesterday now.

...to name the external hard drive your boyfriend gave you for Valentine's Day "Dat Ass" so I can say "I need to back dat ass up."

...to want to buy Lady & The Tramp on DVD simply because I have never seen it...and have a slight desire to re-enact the spaghetti scene. :)

...I dont know how to do my taxes. Isn't that what an accountant is for?!

...that I have been looking at the website "Children with Swag" and giggling my butt off. This is just too funny:


...to be ready for SUMMER! bring on the flipflops, margaritas and bikinis!

...to not have gone to the gym for the past week because I have felt like crap. Will be going lots next week!

...to want to go to Victoria's Secret and buy new underwear, simply because I am bored of the ones I have, ha!

...to not want to take this stupid test on Saturday. What a way to ruin my weekend.

...that my room is still a mess....I've been putting it off until after the test.

...to secretly want it to be April so I can just get my new phone and it's closer to the cruise!

...to eventually want to be able to run a 5K but afraid of actually making myself run.

WILW! :)

Happy Wednesday y'all! I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day yesterday. :) Time for one of my favorite link ups of the week.

Head on over to Jamie's blog to share what you're loving this week!


I'm loving that my boyfriend gave me an external hard drive for Valentine's Day. Ha, how romantic! But he said he didn't know what to get me and it was something I was planning on getting anyways. :O)

I'm loving that my brother Brian left me the sweetest Valentine's Day card. He did it last year and I didn't expect it! It's nice to know my brother has faith in me achieving my dreams. :)

I'm loving that I discovered they make these yesterday and now want to go back and get a package. They look so yummy!!


I'm loving that this time in 3 months I will be on my way to cruising to the Bahamas! Can't wait to get aboard this:


I'm loving that Army Wives is back on March 4th! Anyone else a fan of this show?

I'm loving that I get to see April on Saturday night!


I'm loving that my dog has started this cute thing where she opens my door as far as she can, whines until I wake up, to let her in and sleep the rest of the morning in my room. She's a cutie!

I'm loving that February is half-way over and we are getting CLOSER to summer! There has BARELY been any snow this winter which makes for one happy camper in me! :)

Unlucky Monday the 13th

They usually say Friday the 13th can be an unlucky day. Well, yesterday was quite possibly not one of the best days I have had. I spent two hours of my morning crying. Why was it so bad? Well, I had my first car accident. :(

My oldest brother Scott does not drive so I had to take him to his doctor's appointment. The appointment was fine and we were on our way back from it so I could take him to his job. I've done this drive numerous times before so it was nothing really out of the ordinary. However, on Long Island in New York (for those who are like "Where on Earth is that?!"), everyone likes to drive like a mad man. I'm talking people will drive up your butt to a stop sign, no joke.

I was trying to merge onto the main highway from the service road and went up the ramp. I was probably going like 30, 35 MPH and slowed down to see if I could merge into the right lane. People come flying down the highway because everyone drives like a maniac. When I had slowed down to see if I could merge, no one was coming and so I began to merge. Only, a Ford explorer came FLYING up and smashed right up against the side of my car. My mirror came off, part of my door handle, paint was scraped off. I basically screamed "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!" I was so freaking freaked out.

I pulled over to the side and the lady gets out and begins HOLLERING at me. She began to tell me how to drive and that it was my fault. I think I was just in shock from it so I just let her yell at me. I couldn't even bear to get out of my car to see the actual damage or what happened to hers because people kept zooming past. She called the cops and they sent a Sheriff to take the accident report. He asked her what happened, asked me what happened and then I guess wrote up his report as we filled out our views of what happened. Granted, he couldnt have said who was at fault (or more at fault) since there were no witnesses to it. And I dont think the damage was that bad to her car considering it's much bigger and I drive a tiny Toyota Corolla. The sheriff told me to wait until she drove away and then to drive away. Well, she of course sped off.

I was just a mess the rest of the morning. Granted, I know it could have been worse. No one was hurt or anything but still, it is unsettling. I called my mom and then called my insurance guy. He said he could totally see how it happened because him & his wife discuss this all the time how everyone just drives up your butt. I apparently was also his 4th claim that morning and it was about 10:15/10:30 when I called him...wow. The insurance company called me around noon to get my statement and I guess they contact the other insurance company. There's a $500 deductible but I don't know how much I'll have to pay (or maybe I'll see if my mom will pay it, haha).

The bright side of things? Since I turned 25 in November, I can now rent a car! Why they make it 25 in NY I don't know (probably because everyone drives like a maniac) but I got my car towed to the collison place my insurance guy has had his fixed at, Enterprise picked me up and got all the paperwork done. Funny thing...I gave the girl my license and a credit card for it...apparently she couldn't read either of them as my name being Kristin and listed it as "Katherine" on my rental papers. HAHA! So until my car is fixed, I will be driving around in a Chevy Impala with NJ plates.

Not how I wanted my Monday or week to start off but I am proud of myself for getting everything done yesterday. This is all just a part of life. Hopefully my car will come back not looking too bad (like I hope the color on the mirror matches the rest of the car!).

Meet the author, aka moi!

Neely over at A Complete Waste of Makeup is having a link up where you can discover new blogs. I love link ups because I have found a lot of blogs I enjoyed reading through the link ups. And meet some new blog friends as a result! What's not to love? I figured this would be a fun thing to do!

HI! I'm Kristin!
(excuse my dorkish wave. my mother took this in disney world)

I'm 25 years old.
I graduated in May 2011 with my Masters in Adolescence Education w/a Middle Childhood Extension for Spanish. Wow, that's a mouth full!
I am also certified to teach Special Education.

I'm the baby of my family and the only girl. Don't worry, I can hold my own!

I started my blog when I was on "vacation" from my job for a week because I had surgery. I wasn't suppose to do any lifting of anything so I laid in bed and read so many blogs. Adoption blogs, random blogs, and just fell in love with the world of blogging.
I decided to create a blog because hey, life is worth documenting, regardless if anyone reads it or not! :)

Aside from family, my friends are my life.

I like to talk about our plans/adventures here a lot. I also enjoy hanging out with my boyfriend, shopping, laying out at the beach, reading a good book and spending time with my nieces and nephew.
My youngest niece Emma Grace <3

My goddaughter & I in Epcot

My nephew Steven

I try to look at the bright side of life. Life's too short to have anything but fun and laugh at yourself. If you can't make a fool of yourself, then what's the fun?
(Yes, I am a dork)

I studied abroad for a semester in Seville, Spain. I love to travel and cannot wait to go back to Europe. Aside from Spain, I went to London, Amsterdam, and Ireland.
(Me in Plaza de Espana)

I work for California Pizza Kitchen. I'm a hostess aka I like to play musical chairs. I like my coworkers and the managers are pretty sweet too!

I only like three vegetables - corn, carrots, and green beans. I guess you can consider me to be a picky eater.

I am a HUGE Jennifer Aniston fan and cannot WAIT to meet her one day (hopefully!!).

I would rather buy purses over shoes any day of the week. My current obsession is the MK bag I got for Christmas!

I have an obsession for office supplies. I just love buying them!

Some of my favorite TV shows include Grey's Anatomy, FRIENDS, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order SVU.

I love quotes. I think they are perfect explanations for things in life. This is one of my favorites:


And I love meeting new people! Feel free to say hello!