{Sunday Social - Happy Easter!}

Happy Easter to everyone! I hope if you celebrate you all have a blessed holiday with family & loved ones. I'm back linking up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social.

1. What is your favorite type of workout to do?

 (Let's face it...who wouldn't?!)

2. What is your favorite guilty pleasure or sweet?

I am not a big chocolate fan (I have to be in the mood) so I love Twizzler's, Kit-Kats, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Twis. 

3. What is the one thing you continuously forget to do?

Get my oil changed in my car! It's over 3,000 due for it!!!

4. Do you prefer post-it notes or phone reminders?

I have my work schedule for CPK synced to my iPhone calendar and it buzzes 15 minutes before the start time of my shift. I use post-it notes for everything else! So both I guess.

5. What is your favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile?

 My sweet baby Shadow. RIP girl! <3

 

 

Shadow

Words cannot describe the heartache I have as I am writing this post. They just don't. Today was one of the hardest days I have had in awhile. I have never cried about something so much as I did today...and all the days leading up to today.

My dog Shadow, a beautiful black Cocker Spaniel, was my baby and today, I had to put her to sleep. I am absolutely heart broken. We would have had her 10 years this upcoming August. We got her about 4 months after we had to put my last dog, Rusty, another Cocker Spaniel, to sleep because he had fluid around his heart and it would just keep filling back up. My brother Brian was going off to school and I didn't want to come home to an empty house. 

My mom & I looked for months at the shelters (we prefer to rescue) and could not find a cocker spaniel. One morning while reading the paper, she found an ad for one and called the lady. At first, she told my mom there was no adoption fee, then she told her it was $150. We met her in town, I saw the dog, fell in love and told my mom I wanted it. She had two kids with her and said that she'd follow us back to our house to make sure the dog liked it there and then leave her overnight. If we didn't want her, she'd get her the next morning....the lady never came back. 

From that day on, Shadow took to me. She followed me around the house (hence us changing her name from Honey to Shadow). When I went to college and came home for a break, she would always get SO SO SO excited to see me that I had to pet her outside first because she would pee! Ha! Shadow loved to go in my mom's garden and eat the tomatoes right off the vine. She loved her pizza. I swear she thought she was Italian...and human. Whenever my mom was cooking, she was at her feet. She loved to paw open my bedroom door when I was sleeping to check on me and then sleep in my room. 

Shadow was a beautiful animal. She barked any time anyone came home because she loved to guard her palace. She loved to sleep in her cage, on her back, especially when the sun was beaming in the windows. I am thankful my family was able to give her a life that I know she enjoyed and I am forever grateful that she was my fur baby. I just couldn't stand to see her in any pain anymore. She was having trouble breathing, trouble swallowing. Her eye kept draining and she didn't want anything to do with her food. My brother was house sitting for our uncle this week and was SHOCKED at the rapid decline in her from when he saw her last Sunday. It hurts knowing we had to do this right before Easter but I am just glad she is out of misery. The look in her eyes as the vet took her away just broke my heart and I had to walk out of the room because I was hysterically sobbing. 

Rest in peace my beloved sweet dog. It breaks my heart knowing I will not see you tomorrow morning when I go down for my coffee and hear you bark when I open the front door. But you will always always be my baby girl. No dog in the future can ever replace her. 

 

Me & my baby 3-29-13

 

 I love you, Shadow. Always and forever.

{WILW}

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you're all enjoying this time before the holiday on Sunday. 

Link up with the sweet Jamie to share what you're loving this week!

I'm loving...that I booked my flight last night to go see my best friend, Stephanie in Georgia!! I haven't seen her since she was here last August and the last time I went to Atlanta was two years ago. 

I'm loving...that my cousin FINALLY decided on a bridesmaid dress for her wedding that is July 4th! It is by Lela Rose and is in the color midnight, which is a dark navy. This is the one I'll be wearing:

I'm loving...the color I got done on my nails, yesterday. It's called "I Ate my Berries in the Canaries" by OPI. What a fun color for spring!

I'm loving...that I was able to attend my sweet friend Ashley's baby shower last Saturday. She is expecting a little boy, her first, on May 7th. I couldn't be more excited for her and her hubby Tommy! Just wish I didn't have to leave early to go to work.

I'm loving...the gift I got my niece/goddaughter for her First Holy Communion. I got her a jewelry box engraved with her first & middle names, the date, and an image of praying hands. I think she'll love it.

I'm loving...my sweet dog, Shadow. I have had her for 10 years and she is considered "my" dog in the family. She isn't feeling well and the vet said she either has pneumonia or cancer so we're hoping it's the first. My heart just BREAKS thinking of her not being here so I am enjoying every moment with her.

What are you loving this week?

{Sunday Social!}

Who can hardly believe it is Sunday again? I love this link up and need to make more time to read the blogs of others who link up as well! 

Link up with Neely & Ashley for this week's round of Sunday Social questions.

1. What is your favorite thing about spring?
Well for one thing, we are getting to warmer weather! I really don't like cold weather at all (so why am I considering moving to Boston if I could get a job?) so when its nice and sunny out, I enjoy that! Plus, you can wear cute outfits like this:

2. What is your favorite kind of flower to grow or receive?
I do not have a green thumb what-so-ever. I would probably kill the plants/flowers if I tried! But my absolute favorite flower to receive is a rose...specifically pink roses.

3. What is your favorite nail polish color? 
Oh boy. If you saw the collection of Essie bottles I have on my shelf in my closet, you'd say I have a problem. Some of my favorite shades right now:

 Madison Ave-Hue (Essie Spring 2013)

Avenue Maintain (Essie Spring 2013)

Bond with whomever (Essie Spring 2013)

Mojito Madness by Essie

4. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
Laying (or sitting) outside and reading a good book. Also, taking my dog for a walk..when she cooperates, ha ha!

5. Do you have any fun spring plans?
I feel like sometimes I work way too hard (or too much) so I need to have some fun. There's lots of exciting things happening...next Saturday, my SIL, my mom & I are taking my nieces to the American Girl store in the city! Then on April 13, my sweet goddaughter Sara is making her First Holy Communion! And in May, the weekend of Cinco de Mayo, Shannon and I are going to visit Olivia. So much fun happening I cannot wait to document it. :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday - Happy Spring!

Happy Wednesday everyone! And more importantly, HAPPY SPRING!! Bring on the sunshine, warmer weather, need to no longer wear a coat, etc. I am so over winter! Ready for spring & summer.

Link up with Jamie to share what you're loving this week!!

I'm loving...that my observation for my TA position went well today. It was only 20 minutes and the teacher I'm with for that period forgot that she had a meeting so a sub was in the room. But the kids were so well-behaved. PTL!

I'm loving....Justin Timberlake's new album 20/20 Experience. I don't necessarily think every song had to be super long but it was worth the wait!

I'm loving...that the day before Easter, my mom, SIL & I are taking my nieces to the American Girl store in NYC! Can't wait for that day. 

I'm loving...that I bought this Jillian Michaels DVD at Target yesterday. Time to get my butt in gear and stop being lazy!

I'm loving...this new shade of Essie I bought at Target. It's a spring 2013 color!! The name is maximllian strasse-her.

{Sunday Social!}

Happy St.Patty's Day, y'all!!! Coming from an Irish gal, I wish I was celebrating with some green beer & friends. Instead, I'll be at work. Oh, how growing up stinks at times.

Here I am back at it linking up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social!


1. Favorite thing to do on a rainy day? - Staying in my pajamas ALL DAY (well, new ones after a shower), watching a marathon of Law & Order SVU or a bunch of movies. Also, I love to catch up on my blogs!

2. Favorite thing to do on a summer weekend? -  I grew up by the water so my FAVORITE thing to do is spend a day at the beach, followed by some drinks (beer or wine) with friends. It's the most relaxing thing ever!

Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY

3. Favorite spring accessory? - I am usually not a big person when it comes to accessories so I would have to say a new cute bag in a fun color.

4. Favorite way to spend a winter day? - I hate winter. So, as long as I do NOT have to shovel snow or clean off my car, I like to spend it the same exact way as I do a rainy day. :)

5. What is your favorite season and why? - SUMMER!!! Like I said before, I grew up by the water so I love spending a day at the beach. I also love going to concerts in the summer and there is NO SCHOOL! (Unless you take a summer class which I have to do for a month this summer). Plus outdoor BBQs with friends!

6. Best birthday you've ever had? - I would like to say it is a tie between my 25th & 26th birthdays. I had a lot of fun celebrating it in the city! If you can't remember parts of the night, that is a sign it has been a good birthday!!

Nat, Sarah, Myself celebrating Sarah's 21st & my 25th birthday in the city (great co-workers!)

Celebrating my 26th birthday in the city with my NP loves! 

 

A little bit of this...a little bit of that.

First off, let's just say I feel like a bad blogger in a way. I feel like I have nothing of significance to blog about and its link ups. And to me, there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes my life is just boring....go to one of my three jobs, come home, eat, shower, sleep. It's St.Patty's day weekend and I am home on a Saturday night watching Law & Order SVU with a glass of Skinnygirl White Wine. Oh my how times have changed!

Let's talk about the Bachelor finale from Monday. I am so bad and can't help but read spoilers ahead of time. I knew he was going to chose Catherine and I am glad he did. Lindsay, the girl in the wedding dress, rubbed me the wrong way from when she stumbled out of the limo on the first night. I did chuckle when she told him to "stop" after he told her his heart was leaning another way. It was like she was "Man, I am over this now." and taking off her shoes, I thought she was going to stomp away!

He seems genuinely happy with Catherine. He is such a sweet soul, very religious, loves kids...basically he is my typical dream guy hands down! Dude, I would've totally gone on that show. I just hope he doesn't have his heart broken in the process. And I am excited to see Des as the new Bachelorette. That should be an interesting season.

Yesterday after school, I went to check out the new Vera Bradley outlet that opened near me. I have always wanted to go to one and hoped they would put one near me. Well, they did and it opened yesterday with the entire place being 40% off, including clearance. A lot of it was older patterns. I ended up buying myself a Purple Punch tote, Purple Punch laptop case, Island Blooms keychain, Baroque contact case and Cupcake Pink notecards...all of it for $61! I am a pretty happy camper. One of my co-workers from CPK is suppose to bring me in a BUNCH of Vera that was given to her by her mom from a customer/someone that she cant use. I can't wait to see what pieces are in there!

 

 I am looking into booking my flight to Georgia to visit my BFF in August. I wish I could go earlier but school doesn't end til the end of June and I have to somehow take a summer course for math over the summer. Just for my Special Education certification to go through...what fun!

 

{It's Okay Thursday}

Link up with Neely & Amber to share what is okay with you on this Thursday!!

It's OKAY...

...that I could go to bed right now. And it's super early.

...that I am beyond excited Sean Lowe is going to be on the next season of Dancing With the Stars

...that I have not folded my laundry that was done Tuesday...and I have more to do. BLAH.

...that I want to go to the gym but when I do have free time, I want to sleep instead! #workinggirlproblems

...to not want to finish cleaning my room. 

...to be SUPER READY for Easter to come so I can have ice cream again!!!

...that I am VERY VERY VERY tempted to go to the Vera Bradley outlet by me that just opened tomorrow after school. #problems

...I took a 1.5 hour nap tonight and I am about to go to bed.

...to have way too many nail polishes.

...to hope for summer to come sooner rather than later!

{WILW}

It is never too late (at least I think!) to link up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Here is what I'm loving this week:

I'm loving...

that my cousin's fiance, Bryce, had his first children's book published!! It is currently free on Amazon for the Kindle. And he has plans to write more. Check it out!

I'm loving...

that the Vera Bradley store at my mall gave me a new bag because the one I had bought ripped on the seam. Good customer service!

I'm loving...

that my friend/co-worker Skye's mom is going to do my taxes! For cheap too! I paid $80 last year to do it myself on TurboTax and she'll do it for like $50. Score. 

I'm loving...

that this sexy man will be on the next season of Dancing With the Stars! More drool time!

'

Cha-cha-changes!!

I am probably one of the only people that I know that gets their hair cut once, maybe twice a year. I am such a procrastinator!! My hairdresser is awesome and only charges me $25 for a wash, cut, and blow. And I like to have darker hair! When I was little, I had bright blonde hair. Like this...

And as I got older, it went progressively darker to a more "dirty blonde" color. This weekend, I was tired of my currently hair color as it had not been dyed in a year. So, my mom colored it for me and now, my hair looks like this:

 I love it! One of my students in 4th period said to me yesterday, "Ms.J, you dyed your hair? You look fierce!" Glad 8th graders approve!

I have sent out my resume and cover letter for my IDEAL job. So close to home it would be PERFECT. I don't want to go into any more detail then that because I don't want to get my hopes up but hoping to get an interview after having emailed two of my old teachers (including the chairperson. :))

I am also excited because it has been announced there will be Disney Inspired Handbags by Vera Bradley at Disney Parks this fall!! The patterns look so cute which you can see here. As my mother would say "You don't need more Vera Bradley" but being a Disney freak, I NEED THIS! 

Tonight will be the night I actually go to bed early in hopes of feeling somewhat rested tomorrow. Let's see if that can happen! I am off to go find my recipe for German coffee cake so I can buy the ingredients at the store and make it for school. The language department is hosting a breakfast themed "Breakfast Around the World" on Friday and each person has to bring something. This should be fun! 

 

{Sunday Social}

How is it seriously Sunday again?! Some days just drag on and others fly by. I'm back at it linking up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social. 

1. 5 songs you'll listen to for the rest of your life:

Don't judge me on this but

"Never Gonna Give You Up" - Rick Astley

"Heaven is a Place on Earth"-Belinda Carlisle

"Wanted" - Hunter Hayes

"Don't Stop Believing" - Journey

"Man I Feel Like a Woman" - Shania Twain

2. 5 things on your bucket list:

-Swim with dolphins

-Meet Jennifer Aniston (if this happens, I'll die a happy person!)

-Adopt a baby

-Visit all 50 states

-Stay at EVERY Disney Resort!

3. 5 celebs you'd love to hang out with for a day:

This is easy & tough at the same time!!

Jennifer Aniston

Taylor Swift

Channing Tatum

Reese Witherspoon

Carrie Underwood

4. 5 things you always carry in your purse:

-iPhone

-gum

-hand sanitizer

-keys 

-lotion

5. 5 books on your reading list:

-The Storyteller (Jodi Picoult's latest one!)

-The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

-Catching Fire (I  need to finish the Hunger Games series)

-Harry Potter (yes, I am ashamed to admit I have never actually read the series!)

-Is Heaven For Real?

6. Share the last 5 pictures on your phone:

 My Vera Bradley tote that ripped after a month that I have to take back to the store! So disappointed.

My neighbor is putting flamingos on his lawn now...we're not in Florida people. 

New chapstick I found last weekend grocery shopping! It is yummy!

My new wine...I haven't tried it yet!

When I was babysitting my nieces & nephew