WILW

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I can hardly believe tomorrow is AUGUST!! Seriously, where is 2013 going? I'm linking up with Jamie for another week of What I'm Loving Wednesday.


I'm loving...that tomorrow I will be on my way to Atlanta to visit Stephanie! I am excited to see her and have a vacation from work. Ten days straight is NOT fun.

I'm loving... that we finally got our pool installed! We lost our pool during Hurricane Irene about two years ago. My mom wasn't sure if she wanted to get a new one and trust me, during the heat wave I know she regretted not doing it last summer. We have a semi in-ground/above ground. I am excited to have it all set up and go swimming a few times before the summer is over.

I'm loving...that I officially have my TA job back for next year. My boss called me last Thursday to tell me that it's officially mine again (last year I was a leave) so I am excited for the school year to begin.

I'm loving...the awesome deal I got today at NY&CO. It's hard working at the mall to NOT shop every day...I had a $10 off coupon that expires Saturday and I'll be away...combine that with the $50 off $100 in my email, I got two new pairs of pants and two shirts for $60something bucks! Fashion post soon? Maybe!! If I could figure out how to work a self-timer, haha.

I'm loving...the new book I am reading, White Girl Problems by Babe Walker. It's her memoir and it is downright hilarious.

I'm loving...that even after this trip to Georgia, I have one more trip to look forward to...girls trip to Atlantic City!! Shannon, Olivia and I were going to go over Labor Day but the prices are too expensive so we're going the weekend after...and its great becaue I have a four day weekend from school!

One more week

One more week and I will be on vacation! Next Thursday, I leave to go visit my best friend, Stephanie, from college in Georgia. I feel like Georgia, or the South in general, is my second home. I haven't been to visit her since 2011 (she visited me a few months after I visited her in 2011 and then last August) so I am excited!! I am also excited because by that point, I will have worked EVERY single day since this Monday. So like 10 days straight? Yeah, NOT fun.

I still need to upload my pictures from the Taylor Swift concert this past weekend and want to write about that because, it was an eventful weekend! Let's just put it this way...the concert almost got cancelled and I about cried. Yep, I'm a 26 year old who loves Taylor Swift's music...don't hate!

Sometimes I think my internet has a mind of its own. And then there are things I don't get...like why when I woke up this morning and decided to check my email on the computer in the family room that it said the internet wasn't working. Odd? Yes. Then it said something about materials with copyright infringement being distributed and they've gotten notices about it before. Umm, what? I don't recall ever seeing that before! Maybe it was me getting my music for free (oops) via uTorrent but I have no idea. That or the post I wrote with my cousin's pictures from her wedding were the only things I could think of (so I just deleted that post incase it was that). I just thought it was superbly strange.....although my ex-boyfriend said (when we were dating) that his dad got something from Optimum about his downloading movies, which we definitely don't do. Oh well, guess I am going to have to find a new way to get my music!

Also, let's discuss how the Royal Baby finally made HIS debut. Yes, HIS! I could have sworn they said that Kate Middleton was having a baby girl, which would have been awesome if it was a girl and they named it Diana after William's mom. However, I think it is SO unfair how BEAUTIFUL she looked just ONE day after giving birth! Seriously!! I hope that happens to me when I pop a few kids out!

 from US magazine

Let's be BFF's, Kate! I seriously would love to raid her closet.

And in other news, every time I hear about a new disaster about Amanda Bynes, I laugh yet also feel sad that she is in a downward spiral. Because how do you go from this:

to this:

{Sunday Social}

I am back from my wonderful weekend in Philadelphia seeing Taylor Swift in concert! More on that to come later this week but here I am again linking up with Ashley & Neely for Sunday Social!

1. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?

Oh man, I had lots! I would have to say, pretty much the TGIF lineup on ABC-7...Full House, Boy Meets World, Saved by the Bell, etc.

2. What is your current favorite TV show?

Well, I would have to say a lot of my favorite TV shows are no longer on the air. But for the ones that are, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order SVU, Army Wives and Dance Moms.

3. Which reality show you would NEVER do?

Definitely Survivor. I hate the outdoors and any of the challenges that they make them do, I would probably cry. And oh, the Bachelor/Bachelorette. As much as I love to watch it, I wouldn't want my love life out there for people to judge.

4. Which reality show would you LOVE to do?

 Hmm...interesting question. America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks would be cool!

5. What is the TV personality/character that you feel is most like you?

Probably Meredith Grey from Grey's Anatomy because I tend to over analyze EVERYTHING.

6. Which TV character would you want to date?

Hello, Dr.McDreamy!

Adventures in dog training

My puppy, Lily, cracks me up at times. She is currently barking at a cardboard box because she doesn't like it....yet, she LOVES to chew on them. Sometimes, I think she just barks at random things.

We have had Lily for about almost a month now (got her June 26th). We got her from a breeder online that I found through puppyfind.com. She came from Missouri and I picked her up from Delta cargo. She is a beautiful cocker spaniel.

 Part of the agreement my mom and I had when we decided to get a puppy rather than a rescue dog (all the dogs we could find in rescues or shelters had either special needs or were too old....and we wanted a cocker spaniel) was that I would train her when I was home and not at work. BOY OH BOY is this a challenging task! We have the puppy pads in the house incase she has an accident and she is pretty good about going on them if no one gets her out. And we take her out every 15-20 minutes after eating. She is slowly getting there on being housetrained.

The main issue that I am having trouble with is her biting. You can be playing with her and she'll nip at your hands, ankles, she's even gotten my boob once or twice. Basically, anything she can get her puppy teeth on. I know it's all because she is a baby (she was only born 4.25) and she's teething but the nipping is driving me crazy! Everything I have read says that when she nips at you to keep putting a toy in her mouth so she gets the idea that she isn't suppose to nip. Or leave the room and come back within 15 seconds. I have tried yelling, making the sound when you step on them, and it just feels like NOTHING is working. 

Does anyone have any suggestions that would be helpful? I slowly but surely feel like I am losing my marbles!

And incase you didn't notice, I finally have my own professional blog design!! I am so happy with how it turned out. It was done by Stephanie from Stephanie G Designs. She is seriously such a pleasure to work with and was able to help me/answer all my questions! 

{Sunday Social}

This week's Sunday Social questions with Ashley & Neely are all about music!

1. What is your all-time favorite song?

I have two of them...and they are probably ones that people would NEVER expect! Freshman year of college I became obsessed with the song "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle. I even made it my ringtone on my cellphone. I still love it to this day. The other song is also a bad song....Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up." Yes, I like to Rick Roll people. My best friend Stephanie and I say this is our "theme song".

 

2. Who is your favorite singer/band?

This one is easy! Taylor Swift!! I am seeing her in concert this upcoming Saturday in Philadelphia!

 

3. What song reminds you of your childhood?

Hmm...this is tough. I would say these:

Oops! I Did it Again! ~ Britney Spears

Spice Up Your Life ~ Spice Girls

Bye Bye Bye ~ N*Sync

4. What song puts you in a good mood?

22 by Taylor Swift! 

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (i know ALL the words to this song)

5. What is your music to rock out to in your car?

Oh dear, if you saw me singing while I was driving, you would probably think I was some sort of freak! Haha! I love anything from pop music/what is on the radio to country and rap. And yes, I have even had a Disney sing-a-long with myself in the car!

6. What is the most embarrassing album or song you own?

I would probably have to say Ricky Martin. And yes, I PROUDLY know all the lyrics to Livin La Vida Loca. 

Run like Channing Tatum is at the finish line

Life/school/work got so hectic this past semester/few months that going to the gym literally was probably the last thing on my mind. I would be gone from my house some days from 6:30am-9/9:30pm. It was a darn good thing I didn't have to do lesson plans as a TA because I would've been so tired!

I definitely decided that I wanted to lose some weight and trim my figure. I know a lot of it has to do with eating better and working out. So after work yesterday, I changed and went to the gym...good thing I changed at work since they are renovating the gym and they have no locker rooms right now (the things that happen when you don't go for 5 months). Also, party of me went because I was annoyed I was wasting $20 a month. I could've been paying off loans with that $20 (well that is a whole other story for another post about student loans). 

I did the treadmill and the arc trainer for an hour (30 minutes each with a 5 minute cool down on the treadmill). OH....MY.....GOD....my body felt SO sore when I woke up this morning. I knew that was going to happen but holy cow!! And it probably didn't help I worked a serving double all day and it was busy. My legs feel like jello at the moment. I took the day off and played with the puppy instead but think I will do some Jillian Michaels DVD this weekend.

My motivation has just been lacking. I see people on instagram, facebook, blogs writing about their 5K's and such...I WANT TO DO THAT...one day. Gotta start somewhere...so the Couch 2 5K app was installed tonight on my phone. I need some serious motivation though. What music are you listening to lately on your workouts? What's your inspiration? I tend to listen to the same stuff repeatedly so any suggestions, throw them my way.

 Yeah totally wouldn't mind EITHER of these shirts!

 

{WILW}

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Happy Wednesday, y'all! I am back with Jamie for another round of What I'm Loving Wednesday! Here's what I'm loving this week:

I'm loving...that in nine days, Shannon, Meghan and I get to see this lady in concert (and have a fun-filled weekend!)

I'm loving...how awesome of a wedding Bryce & Lisa had on July 4th! It was spectacular and I am so glad Bryce is a part of our family. 

I'm loving...that I am making more money now at work that I am serving finally. Although this morning was slow, hopefully I will make more money this weekend!

I'm loving... that I finally got my butt back to the gym today! I got so busy with work, school, my tutoring jobs that going to the gym was the LAST thing on my mind for the past few months. Today, I finally bite the bullet and went on my way home from work. My body feels like jello but I am excited to continue to go....I am making myself work out even at home in the morning before work (like tomorrow) if I can't go.

I'm loving... my puppy Lily. She may LOVE to bite my toes and other skin on me but she's a doll.

I'm loving... that Here Comes Honey Boo Boo will be back next week. I know that it is SUCH a bad show (just like Bravo's Princesses of Long Island) but it is my guilty pleasure! The kid cracks me up.

PS - Make sure you follow me on BlogLovin! 

Anchors Away! - Lisa & Bryce tie the knot!

My July 4th was special this year. I was in a wedding! My cousin Lisa & her now husband Bryce tied the knot on the patriotic holiday. They got married at a local place called Danfords Hotel & Marina...right on the water. It was really nice except for the HEAT. That was absolutely brutal during pictures.

I snapped a ton of photographs before the wedding & during the reception. The ones from the ceremony were from friends on facebook.  

My friend Amanda's hairdresser Jess did my hair. Lisa, my cousin, was probably the most NON BRIDEZILLA bride I have ever met. She was like "Whatever makes everyone happy!" Seriously, what bride normally says that? I love how it came out! Here's a shot:

 

We had the bridal suite at Danfords to hang in as we got ready, hold our stuff during the wedding/reception, etc. Nicole, a friend of Lisa's from middle school, did her hair, one of the bridesmaids Jenna's hair and my Aunt's hair. Some glamour shots :)

 

My cousin Lisa, the bride :)

Jenna, another bridesmaid getting her hair done

As we were getting ready, the photographers arrived and were taking some shots of her dress, shoes, programs, etc. He also took a shot of Lisa holding her dress on the hanger I had made for her :)

 

This picture also cracks me up. My Aunt Betsy was not sure if she was going to have something done to her hair for the wedding (she ended up having Nicole do it). And you'd figure the day her only daughter got married she would be nervous or excited or busy doing something. Nope....she relaxed playing Candy Crush on her iPad.

 

The bride & groom were suppose to do their reveal at 1:30 and do all (well, most) of the pictures beforehand so they could actually enjoy their cocktail hour & reception. But that went out the window because it took awhile for us to get ready. Whoops! But soon, it was time to get into the dress!

After Lisa & Bryce did their reveal and saw each other, we took bridal party photos. OH MY GOD was it HOT!! It was a big joke that every time they went to Danfords, it rained so naturally, they assumed it would on their wedding day....Nope, it was sweltering hot but a beautiful day! And sunny! After we took photos outside, we hung out in the lobby taking more pictures:

 Steven, the ringbearer (my nephew), Lisa, Elliot (the flower girl/bride's niece)

Lisa with my nieces & nephew

 

My grandma and me

My mom, me and Grandma

Soon, it was time to walk down that aisle!

My Uncle Bill walking Lisa down the aisle

Their vows were so sweet...it was hard not to cry!! 

Mr & Mrs. Westervelt!

Then, it was time to PARTAY!! I kept joking to Bryce via text about the awesome partay (yes, spelled that way) they were going to have...well, my phone now AUTOCORRECTS "party" to partay everytime I write it!

Their first dance was to "Close Your Eyes" by Michael Buble. Such a sweet song!

My Aunt & Uncle let me invite two-three friends to the wedding since I was a big help with the shower and all. My friends Shannon, Amanda, and Pete came. It was nice to have them there!

 

 

 Of course, the father/daughter dance & mother/son dance made me cry. My uncle & cousin danced to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland and Bryce & his mom danced to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.

 

I must tell you, many elements of their wedding were hand-made! Lisa did not buy ONE magazine while engaged....most of her ideas were a spin off of things she pinned on Pinterest! They made their own invitations, thank you cards, programs, favors, etc. 

Placecards! Each person had an individual boat! 

Card box

 

Bryce made the knots himself. How cool!

It was an absolute honor to stand besides Lisa & Bryce on their wedding day as they pledged their love to each other! Lisa is my only female cousin on my dad's side of the family so it means alot she included me in the big day. Bryce and I have gotten along from the moment I met him and I feel like he is the missing puzzle piece from Lisa's life. He fits in so well with our family and I couldn't be happier for Mr & Mrs. Westervelt! Love them both!

It was a fantastic 4th of July. I can't wait to see the pictures from the photographer!!