{Fingers Crossed}

I am beginning to believe that God works in mysterious ways. No joke. I wrote a post last week about how you have to have a little faith when it comes to applying for jobs. Because as I had said, the job market is really tough right now no matter what profession it is. I have been applying for jobs like it is no one's business and hoping that someone would have mercy on me.

Well, my time has come! I applied for a leave replacement for a high school position that preferred Spanish/Italian dual certified but I applied anyway. This morning, I got a phone call for an interview tomorrow! It is only a preliminary interview but still....it is an interview! Aside from being super excited, I am also a nervous wreck and now have to figure out what to wear. My mom told me to go shopping after work today and try to find a suit or something so I guess it is a good thing that I work at the mall. My SIL told me some things to bring/ask on the interview so let's hope it goes well!

Even if nothing comes of this, I am just excited to finally have an interview. It'll be great practice/learning experience regardless of the outcome!

London Olympics!

London baby! The time has finally come after waiting 4 long years since Bejing. I watched the Opening Ceremony on Friday night with my boyfriend. I thought it was quite interesting, yet way too long and I fell asleep for part of it. Also, I think based upon watching the parade of countries, it is necessary that I look at a globe or an Atlas. There were DEFINITELY some countries I had never heard of before! Hey, you learn something new every day.

I wish I could say I was an avid sports fan in the Olympics. Sadly, I am not. There are really only two sports I like to watch - men's swimming and women's gymnastics. Hello, who would not want to stare at either of these hotties while they swim?!

My favorite event is gymnastics. I was a big fan of the men's team back in 2000-2004. I really like the floor exercise and the uneven bars events. So naturally, I was excited for today because gymnastics was on. Only um, I recorded the events from 9:30am-6pm and I dont think the women's were until later! UGH! I luckily caught some of them but I think my DVR is set to record more tomorrow.

My main issue is how they are spread out (they'll show a 20 min gymnastics viewing and then go to a swimming event). I just wish I could watch it in one sitting!

Poor Jordyn Wieber finishing fourth for the all-around! The pictures of her crying are so sad but she should still consider herself an Olympian. I am excited to see Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas compete in the all-around. Truthfully, I am excited to see it all. And hope I can figure out what times they are on TV tomorrow so I can set my DVR up since I'll be at work allllllllll day. 

My two favorite Olympians/athletes will always be one summer Olympian and one winter Olympian.

Dominique Moceanu (I really need to go buy her book!!)

Tara Lipinski -- always loved her more than Michelle Kwan!!

{Sunday Social - Week 8}

Link up with Neely & Ashley for this week's Sunday Social!


1. What is your dream job?
Seriously -- being a PRINCESS! Ha ha! Who wouldn't want to be a ruler and all pretty? Or a celebrity?! I would love to work in the film industry and be as rich as Jennifer Aniston or Sandra Bullock.

In reality -- my dream job is being a middle school Spanish teacher. I love working with children and worked as a camp counselor one summer. It was my middle school Spanish teacher who inspired me to become a teacher, specifically for languages because it was my best subject in school! I always joked when she retired, I wanted to take over her job....and she did this year! I wish I could have had it.

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time?
I would volunteer helping out the less fortunate. I have always been told I have a kind soul and I am very generous. I always like to donate to St. Judes Children's hospital so I would probably go work there.


3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a pediatrician. When my guidance counselor asked me what I wanted to be in 6th grade, I said a pediatrician and he told me I was too stupid. Real nice!! I think I wanted to be a pediatrician because I loved working with kids and wanted to help them out. I think I always knew I wanted to work with kids in some aspect. Anything business related seemed boring to me. I am in the field I am now thanks to my middle school Spanish teacher, Mrs. Reith. I can only hope I can inspire at least one future student of mine!

4. What piece of career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
 My field is education so honestly, you have to learn which advice to follow and take. But, advice I would give to people starting in the education field are:
~DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! If you write up a student, call a parent, etc. One of my cooperating teachers had a notebook that she wrote all this in and it is always a great tool to have as a backpack.
~If you're student teaching and a teacher offers you any papers/lessons/gifts, TAKE THEM! You never know when you may need it or might be able to tweek something into your own lesson.
~Think outside of the box! Sometimes, it is hard to do as a teacher but you want to make lessons fun for your students!
~Realize that sometimes the lesson won't go the way you plan and that you have to take it with a grain of salt as a learning experience.
~Celebrate successes, learn from failures.
~Keep Calm and Pretend it is on the lesson plan. ;)
~STAY ORGANIZED!!! As a teacher, is is imperative to be organized. It always drove me nuts when I was in school and the teacher's desk was in disarray.

5. Biggest pet peeves either in life or in blogging or at work:
Life:
~people who can't flush the toilet! is it really THAT hard?!
~People who litter
~People who can't park and park in TWO parking spaces (I took this while grocery shopping one day):

~When people don't replace the toilet paper roll

Another one of my big pet peeves is people who think teachers are paid too much. I think that is absurd! We are educating the future of America. The doctor you have is thanks to someone who educated that person. The lawyer that defends you is because someone taught that child. Many teachers actually spend money out of their own POCKETS for classroom supplies because they can't get it from districts because of cuts. And they think you have the summer off and don't do anything...umm, hello professional development! 

6. Biggest Fears:
One of my biggest fears is I won't be able to have my own children. I would love to adopt down the road AFTER I have my own kids but I have read so many blogs of people who had trouble to conceive...I will be heartbroken if I have extreme difficulty when I am ready to start a family

Never being able to find a teaching job!

Having to bury a child...I would never want to feel this pain.

{Friday's Letters}

I feel like I haven't done this link up in awhile! So Happy Friday! Link up with Ashley for Friday's Letters!


Dear coffee: Thank you for existing. I don't know how I function some days without drinking you. I am so glad I bought a box of K-cups yesterday.

Dear sun: Thanks for coming out again after Mother Nature's temper tantrum the last few days. I enjoy you.

Dear money: You SERIOUSLY need to grow on trees. Or come to me by me winning the lottery. The bills are piling up and no fun!

Dear Essie Nailpolish: Why are you so addicting?! I can't stop buying you. I can't wait to put "pilates hottie' on my nails next time.

Dear TLC: Thank you for making this become a series "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo". The little girl was on Toddlers & Tiara and every time I watch the clip, I laugh so hard.

Dear Snooki & JWoww: Thank you for your show providing me hours of entertainment while babysitting last night. I never laughed so hard at your antics.

Dear gym: Why do I find you so annoying to go to? Yet, I want to work out. #firstworldproblems

Dear drivers: I think some of you need a lesson in how to park a car! Note, it should NOT take up two spots. Nor do you need to drive up my butt in traffic because it won't get you anywhere faster!!!

Dear Olympics: I can't believe you start tonight! I am DVRing the opening ceremonies and cannot WAIT for the gymnastics events! Go Team USA!

Dear jobs I applied to: It'd be nice if just oneeeeee of you would give me a call back and at least an interview. Finding a teaching job in NY is like finding a needle in a haystack! I hope you come soon!

Have a little faith.

With all of the back to school stuff that is out now, it makes me sad that I am not going back to school. Most kids dread it. I was always excited about picking out new notebooks, pens, folders, finding out who my teachers would be. Call me a nerd but I loved school.

When I applied to college, I knew exactly what I wanted to major in. What kid goes when they go off to school?! I wanted to be a Spanish teacher, specifically middle school grades if I could. It was all thanks to my wonderful middle school Spanish teacher, Mrs.Reith, who inspired me to pursue it. I specifically looked at schools with education programs. I applied to 7 schools (SUNY Brockport, SUNY Cortland, SUNY New Paltz, University of Rhode Island, University of Maryland at College Park, Siena College and Manhattanville College)...I was accepted into 6/7 and then made the tough decision of where to go. It came between Cortland (my brother's alma matter who is also a teacher) and New Paltz. I just had this feeling...somewhat indescribable...when walking on the campus. I knew it would be for me.

Fast forward to the college years. Because of my AP Spanish exam and placement exam, I was placed into a 300 level Spanish class as a freshmen. Talk about nerve wracking! I planned when I could study abroad and did it. Took all my education classes that were required. It's now Fall 2008 of my senior year and my fellow classmates  & I only found out then that in order to student teach the following semester, we had to take an over the phone interview for proficiency and a departmental assessment exam. If you didn't meet a certain level, they didn't let you student teach. Well, that happened to me. I spent more money to take classes for an extra semester (I was one credit short of graduating in the fall) to take them again in the spring. Same thing happened again. I just felt so defeated. I dropped my education major and just graduated with a Spanish degree. Talk about a blow to my confidence.

When I went to grad school, I was determined to get my Masters in education. I was not going to let my previous experience hinder achieving my goals. I started graduate school in January 2010. I took a winter session class, 3 classes in the spring, 1 in the first summer session, 4 in the fall, and then I did my student teaching. It took me a year and a half but I finally earned the degree I wanted.

And now I am on the job search. To be quite honest, I feel somewhat jealous of all the posts I keep reading on Facebook that are something along the lines of "I got my dream job!" "Offered a job in NC!" or whatever. It's awesome that these people are getting their dream jobs. But I feel as if I am at a dead end. I have applied for subbing, leave replacements, full time positions, part-time positions, anything really. I know good things come to those who wait but I really just want to eventually find my dream job. I am willing to move. I just need to have a little FAITH. FAITH in myself. FAITH that God will bless me unmeasurably with my dream job. FAITH that some district will be itching to have me as part of their staff. 

With that being said, my brother gave my email to a lady that helped him revise his resume and cover letter for jobs. He just had an interview in NYC on Wednesday and the people complimented him on his resume. This lady is a marketing/resume consultant and helps people get their jobs. There is a price with it but after discussing it with my brother and my mom (yeah I told her), I feel it is the right thing to do. If it can get me my dream job, then I will be super happy. Who knows? This time next year (or maybe even a few months), I could be making up my own materials for my own classroom.

I know my dream job will come through. I just to have faith and trust God.  

{It's Okay Thursday}

Back at it with "Its Okay" Thursdays link up with Neely & Amber!

Its Okay....

...that I am excited as a 5 year old on Christmas morning for my BFF to come next weekend! 

...that I get frustrated the downstairs of my house looks like a bomb went off.

...that I am paying someone for advice about this job search (more on that later) and my mother will probably flip a cow. Oops.

...to be staring at your bedroom like a bomb went off in it. Yeah, it needs to be cleaned today.

...to be super excited I am not working tomorrow night.

...that I have an obsession with office supplies. No joke. I wish I had a classroom this year!

...to be excited to be getting more hours at work. I need the $$!

...to be babysitting tonight because I need extra money.

....that I probably love naps more than the average toddler!

...that I have spent all my days off/time before work watching seasons of Law & Order SVU. Productivity at its finest!

...to have my whole wedding planned thanks to Pinterest...and I am no where near getting engaged. ha!

I am off to go be somewhat productive today....hopefully this can happen!

{WILW}

Happy Wednesday y'all! Link up with Jamie over @ This Kind of Love for WILW!


I'm loving that my cousin Lisa & her fiance Bryce booked their wedding venue/set the date!! They will be getting married on July 4, 2013 at Danford's, a local hotel/event venue. My cousin wants somewhat of a nautical theme so I hope she just doesn't stick me and the rest of the bridesmaids in a tacky dress.

I'm loving school supplies. I am a complete nerd. Seriously, when they put the back to school supplies out, I get such a rush. Part of me is SUPER excited for when I have my own classroom to be able to stock it.

I'm loving Magic Mike. Yes, the story line sucked but I did not mind Channing Tatum's dancing at all!

I'm loving the new color I got on my nails yesterday at the salon...Barefoot in Barcelona. I was not thrilled with waiting almost 45 minutes but they were busy so it's alright.

I'm loving that Emily Giffin's new book came out yesterday!! I had to get my hands on it (thanks Wal-mart for having it on sale for $15!)

I'm loving that a week from tomorrow I pick up this lovely lady from the aiport:

I'm loving that I get to spend the night tomorrow babysitting my precious nieces and nephew. Yes, I can't wait to be told "I love you so much" by the 7 year old and be called an "old lady" by the other 2. Aren't they sweet?

I'm loving Amazon! Who doesn't love finding 2 phone batteries & a wall charger originally $60 for $20?! I combined that (its for my brother) with a DVD and got free shipping. Love their free shipping.

I'm loving these pins from Pinterest:

(Not going to lie...every time I see that commercial, I change the channel!!!)

 

Final countdown!

It's the final countdown. I am finally in the single digits to my friend Stephanie's visit! She'll be here a week from Thursday. I am just so excited. I haven't seen her since her visit last October. It will be my turn to go visit her next year (when she has more vacation days/time). It will also be nice to have a few days off from work while she is here. :)  And I will probably be absent from the blog but sometimes, a break is necessary too!

I am seriously thinking about downloading the Couch to 5K app for my iPhone. I read so many blogs about people who find running enjoyable and to me, it feels like torture. Ha! I wish I could run faster when I am on the treadmill at the gym but I feel like I look like a spaz. However, one of my goals/items on my bucketlist in life is to run a 5K. I am certainly not going to get there by sitting on my butt all day! My cousin, who had twins, is starting this to lose the baby weight and I think it's a good idea. I think it maybe can motivate me to get out there running and to not be afraid. I don't expect to be running like an Olympian by the end of the year but maybe next summer to run a 5K will be something I can do!

I honestly hate making phone calls. I get nervous. I have no idea why...since they can't see me over the phone. I called about my student loans (my enemy!) and had tried to change my payment plan to income based repayment. It takes awhile for the papers to process so the nice customer service rep changed the due date for me from tomorrow (25th) to the 28th. I asked her exactly what it meant when the monthly payment minimum was $0 because the last guy didn't really explain it. She said basically you pay what you can on it until you can afford more. That makes more sense to me. I don't want to get ANY more interest and want to pay them off. I know it'll take forever but hey, my education was worth it.

Also, I am super excited that Emily Giffin's new book comes out today! I still need to read "baby proof" and finish "Love the one you're with" but hey, I need to get my hands on this!

Also, Miley Cyrus...girlfriend, what in the world are you wearing here? I don't care that you have so much money (and a hot fiance) but girl, you need to dress better!

 

Time to go get this bootay to the gym! 

Monday's Musings

How on Earth is it Monday already?! I swear, I feel like the weekends fly by and the rest of the week is spent slowly going by.

I spent about half my weekend at work...like any other norm! On Friday, I went to work and it was somewhat busy which is nice (the week nights this summer have been busier than the weekends compared to last year). Saturday, I was stuck there ALL DAY...well, until about 8pm. It was pretty uneventful and we played the map game...as in we went from an 8 map inside, to a 6 map inside with 2 outside, to a 4 map inside with 1 outside to a 3 map inside with 1 outside. Oh it was LOADS of fun! And drama involving the mall security was the icing on a dramatic shift! Ha ha....honestly, it provided entertainment for us.

The fact that I came home at 8:30pm on Saturday to an empty house was WONDERFUL! I honestly like to go out every now and then and do things but when you're go-go-go, after awhile it starts to catch up to you. My mom was across the street at a neighbor's graduation party and I came home, put on PJs and just vegged out! It was wonderful. I don't get why my boyfriend doesn't understand that girls need nights to themselves sometimes. He always has to have a plan and that tends to drive me nuts at times. I like nights by myself often! :)

Sunday was lovely because I had off from work! Not requested, just given. I love when that randomly happens. John and I decided to go to the beach. I can't go to the beach when it is over 100 degrees out because even the water doesn't feel refreshing! We went to Jones Beach (one of the many beaches on Long Island!) and it was my first time going. Actually, that's a lie...I was there for fireworks on July 4th the summer after my freshmen year of college but it was at night. I almost never want to go again because the roundabouts/parking confuses me! Ha! But it was really nice. What was not really nice was all the sand I got in my bikini and getting pulled down by three waves in a row. And my top riding up....yeah, NOT fun.

After the beach, we went out to dinner and then got online for The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX. I would see ANY movie in IMAX over 3D. I hate 3D movies....unless they are Disney. My mom was very leery of me going to see The Dark Knight Rises because of the shooting that happened in Colorado so I didn't tell her I saw it until I came home. Although, I won't lie...from time to time during the movie, my eyes darted around the theater to make sure no crazy person was coming in. It was a long movie, three hours(!), but SO AMAZING!! I am really glad we saw it in IMAX. Also, Joseph Gordon Levitt totally blew me away with his performance in it and now made it into my top 5 male celebrities crush list.

Tomorrow night, Shannon, Olivia and I will finally be seeing Magic Mike together. SO EXCITED!! Someone asked me to cover their shift for them at work because they forgot they had Mets tickets but I have made these plans and am not postponing them again. I always tend to feel guilty after I say no but it is not my fault that you forgot to take off of work. Oops.

I am also beginning to have a love/hate relationship with Cablevision. Ever since they made you get a cable box for every TV in your house back in February, I feel like we have had nothing but problems. At the end of June, we had them come rewire the house because the signal was weak and NONE of the boxes would work that we picked up (only mine and the one in the family room worked). Now the remote broke for the TV downstairs. My mom thought it was the batteries so I put new ones in but they still wouldn't work. I took the batteries that were in it and put them in my remote...those batteries worked just fine. Looks like I'll be going to their store today to get a new remote. While I am at it, I really should just go to Wal-Mart and get that ZZquil thing or whatever it is called because no matter what I do, I can't fall asleep until 1am. This is starting to get real old!

Plus, I want to go to the gym but I feel like my body is not cooperating with me. Why can't I be one of those people who LOVES LOVES LOVES running? I am considering downloading the Couch to 5K app for my phone. The idea of going to the gym today is stressing me out that I'd rather just go tomorrow when I don't have ANYTHING to do all day but get my nails done and apply for jobs.

{Sunday Social - Week 7}

Linking up again with Ashley @ Ashley's Carnival Ride and Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup for Sunday Social.


Favorite Handbag you have ever owned?:
This is a really difficult question. I mean really tough for me to answer! I love handbags so much. I would prefer to buy one over buying a pair of shoes any day of the week. I'm not kidding. I have so many purses I don't know where to put them anymore! Ha ha! I love all bags by Vera Bradley, Coach and MK.

That being said, my favorite handbag that I ever owned is probably my Michael Kohrs bag that my brother Brian gave me for Christmas!

Dream handbag you lust over?:
That would be a Louis Vuitton. Every time I seem someone with one, my face turns green with envy. Well, not really but my eyes just dart to it.

Either one of these would be nice:

Daily essentials in your purse or work bag?:
My "work" bag was my teacher bag when I was student teaching. And once I land a teaching job, I will have it again. But when I did have one, it included my papers, lesson plan book, pens, and HAND SANITIZER. Oh my word I cannot have enough of it as a teacher!

As for my actual bag, my daily essentials are: gum, hand sanitizer, lotion, eye drops for my contacts, sunglasses for when I'm wearing my contacts and its bright while driving, a pen or two, and my keys! I usually have to check to make sure my house keys are in my bag (they are on a lanyard) before I leave my house.....otherwise I lock myself out like I did last week!

What's in your purse? (With pictures):

 Inside my purse  (the MK one I posted above) there is:
1. Cover Girl compact
2. Tide to Go Pen
3. House keys on Vera Bradley lanyard
3. TBP Compact mirror (by Vera Bradley)
4. Priscilla Pink Zip Id (by Vera Bradley) to throw in bags like for the beach with id
5. Coach glasses case (for when I am wearing my contacts incase I need to switch)
6. Coach wallet
7. Coach sunglasses (the case is somewhere)
8. BR Vera Bradley Coin Purse
9. My car keys
10. A couple of pens
11. Hair clip
12. Hand lotion (smells so good)
13. Two of my name tags for work
14. Inside the Ralph Lauren pink wristlet is contact case, contact solution, chapstick and a compact brush.
15. My iPhone (which was currently charging when I took this picture)

Good things are a-happening!

Yeah, that's right...I just made a-happening as a word. So many good things I feel like happened today!

My cousin Lisa & her fiance Bryce booked their wedding venue! They moved back here from Florida in June and they were planning on getting married next summer. They looked at places this week and called me this afternoon to tell me they booked the place and set the date -- July 4, 2013! What a fun anniversary...very patriotic. They're getting married at a place that is on the water so it'll be fun with somewhat of a nautical theme. I told Lisa as long as she does not put me in a tacky bridesmaid dress, I am okay with anything. So excited for the wedding!

Secondly, my brother Brian, the one I am closest to in age and the one I work with, got an interview! I know he wants to get out of being a server and I can't really blame him. But he got an interview in NYC for Tuesday! So happy for him...hopefully this opens up new doors for him.

Thirdly, I need more hours at work. I would love to have a salary of a teacher but right now as I continue to hunt for jobs, I need more money. I emailed the manager that makes my schedule and told her I wanted more hours and to be trained for take out. She forwarded it to another manager who I spoke with tonight as I was leaving and she was on the same page and thinks it is a great idea that I get trained for take out! I am actually excited because maybe I can make a little more money. It'll take some getting used to on the computer but that would be fun!

My brother Brian also gave my email to this lady who helps with resume and cover letters. She helped him with his so hopefully she can give me some advice/tweek it that will help me land the interview!

The Olympics start soon and I am so excited. I really want to just watch the women's gymnastics event. It has always been my favorite event in the Olympics.

Now, for some not so fantastic news....the movie theater shooting in Colorado. I just don't get it. What is wrong with people?! I swear, you cannot feel safe anywhere anymore. You go to school to get an education and someone opens fire (hello Columbine, Virginia Tech, etc). There have been numerous shootings at churches over the years. Now a movie theater? What was going through this psycho's mind?! The fact that 12 people died and almost 60 were injured is just heart-wrenching. It almost makes me feel as if you can be safe nowhere. I am also petrified to go see The Dark Knight Rises in the theater now.

So cannot wait for my girls night out on Tuesday to see Magic Mike with Shannon & Olivia! Because who doesn't love Channing Tatum?!

if you really knew me....

I have seen this around on a few blogs and Kelsey over at miss blondie posted it and I thought this was fun.


If you really knew me, you would know...

• I prefer vodka over rum.
• It took me three times to pass my road test...and my brother tells me he prefers how I drive over one of my siblings. 
• I can't parallel park to save my life.
• When I get drunk, I get all friendly and apparently like to slap you on your butt! Ha!
• I am not unique when it comes to naming my pets. My current dog is named Shadow because when we got her, I felt like she was my "shadow" and followed me around. Plus, who names a black dog Honey?! And the dog before that was named Rusty...because his fur was a rust color. 
• I did not like stuffing (like the Stove Top kind) until a few years ago.
• I only really like light beer.
• I can be really blunt. My mouth has no filter.
• I probably curse way too much for a female. 
• People confused me for the Olsen Twins when I was younger. Good thing we're the same age.
• You really can't talk to me first thing in the morning.....I am not alert or pleasant!
• I have loved weddings and babies for the longest time. Like I can't wait for that period of my life. It's all planned...or so I think!
• I obsess over Channing Tatum. Like legit I'm sad he is married.
• I was written up in the police blotter of the school newspaper as a freshmen...oops!
• I put post it notes on my dashboard to remind me to get gas when I am low.
• I met Teresa Guidice. I stood two feet from Donald Trump and Rudy Guilani. 
• The taste of fish makes me sick to my stomach....hence why I eat a lot of chicken.
• I set three alarms when I have to get up....I just have this fear of over sleeping!
• My first kiss wasn't until I was 19. 
• I have such bad road rage. If you're going to follow me up my butt while I'm driving in traffic, I really just want to smack you.
• I need about three cups of coffee to be able to function for the day!  

{It's Okay Thursday!}

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

It's okay...

...that I am not a morning person at all. I'd rather spend an extra hour or two in bed.

...that I am going out east to the beach today with Ashley! Hopefully the sun will come out!

...to email the manager that makes my schedule and ask for more hours because I need to pay off my student loans.

...to also ask same manager to be trained to work take-out so I can make more money. I also plan on asking another manager on Friday.

...to put off doing laundry. That's what tomorrow is for!

...to have drinks to take to the beach...of the Mike's Hard Kind.

...to be amused by e-cards on a daily basis.

...that I got sun burned on a cloudy day. #special

...to want to move out even if you can't afford it (I'm staying at home til I can afford it)

...to stalk the website every day for teaching jobs. #onewillcomesoon!

...that I am scared to use the Jillian Michaels DVDs I have....she is intimidating!

...to cry when you open a credit card bill

...to be excited for my friend's aunt's wine party tonight!

{WILW!}

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you're having a fantastic week! Time to link up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love to share what you're loving this week.

I'm loving the movie Ted. John & I saw it last night and it was HILARIOUS! I totally would buy the DVD. 

I'm loving that two weeks from tomorrow, I get to spend a few days with this fantastic girl!

I'm loving that I will be spending the day at the beach tomorrow out east with my good friend Ashley.

I'm loving my friends. My friend Olivia's Nana passed away last weekend and it has been hard on her. Shannon & I went to the wake and funeral and then Olivia's mom invited us to the lunch. It really meant alot to her that I was there and Olivia's mom sad to me when I was leaving their house last night "I'm so glad Livie has friends like you & Shannon." That made me feel so good. That's what true friends do.

I'm loving the new nail polish I bought myself from Wal-Greens. It's called "marathin" by Essie. I have a bad problem buying nail polishes! It must be so new because I can't even find a picture of the bottle on the internet!

I'm loving the advice my brother Brian has given me about how I can pay back my loans and such. He knows how much I just want a teaching job already but even told me to call our boss (we work together at a restaurant) tomorrow and tell him to leave another manager a note that I want to increase my hours & train for take-out (they need someone). Hopefully they can increase my hours and help me make more money!

I'm loving that I have Sunday off! I plan on going to the beach with my boyfriend (weather permitting).

Bloggers 4-1-1

Becky over at From Mrs to Mama has this link up and I thought it was a great idea!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I started blogging in December 2010. I had surgery and had to stay home from work for a week and wasn't allowed to do much lifting. I did a lot of sleeping in bed and I stumbled upon some blogs. I found numerous ones on adoption and it reaffirmed my desire to adopt years down the road. I figured if others could blog about their daily lives, why couldn't I?!
 
2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
Yes, I did go to college. I went to SUNY New Paltz. In New York, SUNY = State University of New York. It's a state school. I remember applying for schools vividly and I applied to 7 schools (got into 6 of the 7). I just had a feeling when walking on New Paltz's campus that I was meant to go there. I originally went in with my major to be Adolescence Education with a Spanish concentration & French minor. Long story short, I had to drop my Education major (did everything but student teaching). 

 
3. Where have you traveled?
I've traveled to Spain (studied abroad here my junior year of college), Ireland, Amsterdam and London. Recently, I went on a cruise with my boyfriend and we visited Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau, Bahamas. I love to travel so I wouldn't mind going back to Europe!


4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
After paying off all my student loans, I would probably buy myself a house.

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
This one is really hard but I'd have to say:
1. People who drive UP YOUR BUTT in traffic. This makes me so mad.
2. Terrible customer service
3. People who can't flush the toilet in a public restroom

6. What is your favorite movie?
This is a really hard choice. Any of my friends would probably tell you a movie with Jennifer Aniston because she is my favorite actress. I'd have to say, The Good Girl. 
7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
Oh goodness. I think I have a choice for each...I like wine in moderation. I really have to be in the mood for it. But my favorite beer is BLL (yeah Becky!) and if I have a mixed drink, it should have vodka in it. And oh, I am addicted to this:


8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Read a book. Or just lay in bed and watch movies or shows I have on DVD. Which is what I am currently doing. 

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
This is really hard. I'm sure my mother's answer for me would be Victoria's Secret because she assumes that is the only place I'd shop. I'd actually say Kohls because I can pretty much get anything there!  
10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
In high school, our hallways were grouped by classes. So it was all the English classes in one hallway, all the language classes in another, etc. When you walked down the language hallway to the doors, it went to the "four corners" (you'd be walking straight to the gym, a left brought you to the cafeteria, and a right to the english hallway). The door was closing and I ran to kick it open and missed, falling on my BUTT. Oh my God I was laughing SO HARD and the principal opened up the door to see what happened. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

11. What day would you love to relive again?
Graduation from college with my friends. :)

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
I would hope Jennifer Aniston!! She's my dream cast person. Or Reese Witherspoon. 

 
13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
My first job was a camp counselor the summer after 10th grade. I called it "ghetto" camp because who sends their kid to camp in a trailer in a parking lot of a park. Yep. Classy. After that, I worked at Rite-Aid until the summer after my freshmen year of college, I worked at a deli, I worked catering for a summer. I also worked as a waitress at a breakfast place out in the Hamptons until September 2010 when I switched over to my current job, CPK. :) And in college, I worked as a work study student in the elementary education advising office...basically clerical work but I loved my boss!

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.
High School - 

College -  

Olivia & I

{Freshmen year}

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I'd stay in a hut in Bora Bora. And get my tan on! 

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you and your family.

 Taken Friday July 6

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

I really want to have a teaching job (I am on a daily hunt for one!) and start to settle down in a place of my own because in 5 years....I'll be 30. YIKES! I hope to be married by then. I would love to be living in the South (I feel like I am meant to live there). We shall see!

{Atlantic City Recap}

I don't think I ever did a recap of the girls trip from a few weeks ago to Atlantic City!


When my friends and I want to do something, we talk about it, research our options, plan it and go! I don't know what an issue is for guys to plan a getaway (because my boyfriend whined that his friends can't do it like mine can). Originally, we wanted to go to Atlantic City last summer but it just never worked out. Back in February, we had discussed the idea of going for my friend Olivia's birthday (which was 7/7). It definitely would be cheaper to go during the week because they jack up the room prices of the hotel on the weekend. But I did my research, asked my three friends what their limit was to the hotel room spending was and then booked it!

We stayed at Bally's which was nice because it was on the boardwalk and had a nice parking garage ($5 for a weekend, not bad!). My friend Shannon drove and I made us some mixed CDs for the drive. It was a variety of music from BSB, NSYNC, Britney, Spice Girls, Glee, LMFAO to Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" I didn't tell the girls what I put on the CDs so when that one came out, they BURST out laughing! Oh it was great!

On our way, we made a stop at the Jersey Shore. Our plan was to go to the beach but it was SO hot out we could not stand it. We made a stop and saw this fabulous landmark:

Jersey Shore house! We actually saw them filming an episode. We saw Ronnie doing pull-ups! 

We grabbed a quick bite here. They have pictures of the cast up all over the wall. 

The Shore Store! This is where they all work on the show. They make it seem like it is so far away but it is LITERALLY right behind the house. I bought a shirt from here that was pressed by the owner, Danny.

Afterwards, we made our way to Bally's. Once we got all checked into the hotel, we kind of settled in, just lounged, and eventually grabbed dinner. Later, we started getting ready to go out for our first night. We ended up deciding to go to this club called Dusk. It was suppose to be $20 admission but my friend Shannon got our names on the list for $20 TOTAL for the four of us. SCORE!

Shannon & Amanda before we went out

Me with Olivia

So the club had stripper poles and I think we were a little too excited....

Their bathroom was AWESOME! I just thought it was so cool. Plus, they had a bathroom attendant.

Despite staying in bed until 4pm on Saturday due to our excessive partying, we were not going to not go out on Saturday! After a late lunch/early dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and a nap, we were ready to go on night two!

My dress from XXI that cost $12! 

 

 Our second night, we went to the Blue Martini in our hotel. The menu was light up.

My favorites!

 

We all look so hot. Plus the shoes I am wearing on my feet....I need to break them in more so I dont die wearing heels for the rest of my life! 

 

I am somewhat tan in this picture!

We met these really old ladies that were awesome and had to take a picture with them!

Overall, it was a great experience...despite the massive hangover I had. I would definitely like to go back and go to the beach, stay at a different hotel. There were a LOT of bachelorette parties that weekend and it got me thinking...when I get engaged down the road, I want a bachelorette party...that is not in AC. I want to go somewhere tropical! My girls and I agreed when each one of us gets married, we want each one of us to have a bachelorette party in a different location. Because that would mean more fun!