{WILW - End of May!}

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

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

Here's what I'm loving this week:

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Sunday Social}

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

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

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

2. What is your favorite summer drink?

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

3. What is your favorite summer TV show?

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

4. What is the best summer outdoor activity?

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

 Who doesn't love the beach?!

5. What are your summer vacation essentials?

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

Mother's Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sara, Laurie, Emma, and I in NYC

It's Okay Thursday

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

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

It's Okay...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
 

Cinco de Mayo weekend!

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

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

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

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

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

Amanda & Olivia

 

Shannon & I

 

 

Me & Olivia

Olivia, Shannon, Me, Amanda.

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

{Sunday Social}

I have been so busy that I feel like I have been running around with a chicken with it's head cut off. Has it really been almost 2 weeks since I blogged last? Are you for real?

Anyways, I am back linking up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social and hopefully will be back to full-time blogging soon.

1. Four favorite things to do on a weekend:

~have some drinks with friends!

~sleep in

~catch up on my TV

~read some sort of book or magazine

2. 4 favorite things about your best friend:

I'm going to split this into two because I have two best friends:

April

1. We both love Disney!

2. She is always there for me, no matter the distance.

3. She completely understands my purse addiction.

4. She is a talented journalist!

Stephanie:

1. She is my partner in crime

2. Always there for me no matter what

3. Appreciates the stupidity that comes out of my mouth at times

4.  Likes to color

3. 4 things you would do with $100,000

~Pay off as much of my student loans as I could!

~Travel to someplace tropical

~Put some money in savings

~Buy my mom a nice present

4. 4 favorite books you've ever read:

~Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

~50 Shades of Grey series (don't judge!) by E.L. James

~They Cage the Animals at Night

~The Help

5. 4 favorite snack foods:

~Salt & Vinegar potato chips

~Twizzlers

~Pretzels

~popcorn

6. 4 things you must do daily

~DRINK COFFEE!! (otherwise I cannot function)

~Brush my teeth

~Take a shower

~Check my email