Say what?

I am beginning to think that 2am is my new bed time. My body does not seem to want to succumb to slumber until that time. I am pretty sure that almost every day last week I went to bed at 2am. Thankfully, I dont have to be anywhere in the morning early although I was waking up at 9:30.

Tonight was kind of insanity at work. I dont know why. Mainly because it was taking forever. They went to three servers from the morning and had to have two more people jump on the floor because the three servers were getting slammed. We were also on a wait at 5:30 because I had sat a party of 14 that was taking up four of our tables. It was just non-stop. Maybe I made decent money. My mom brought my grandma in for dinner because my grandma wanted to see where my brother and I work. Of course, it's a production with my grandma and they didn't get there til 7 but we snuck her into my brother's section anyways. Let's hope I made money tonight. I picked up a shift for tomorrow (or Sunday AM rather) since they had no host scheduled and said they'd be busy before the game.

My upper body is so sore. I am trying to be good about going to the gym and went on Friday before I had to go to work (well, a few hours before). I did some machines to look out my arms and stuff. Waking up this morning, I was super sore! Hopefully it'll pass tomorrow.

I honestly cannot believe my boyfriend does not want to watch the Superbowl. The only guy I really know that could careless about sports is my brother Brian. He's more into politics! I only watch because I like the half time show. And let's face it, THE PUPPY BOWL IS WAY BETTER! Instead, the boyfriend and I will be going to dinner and the movies to see this tomorrow after I get out of work:


I need to get my hair cut. I wanted to grow it out more but I haven't had it cut since June!! I only usually get my hair cut once or twice a year, which may sound crazy to some people. My hair takes forever to grow out. My hairdresser cuts my hair at her house and doesn't let you tip her. $25 for a wash/cut/blow is pretty good! Sometimes it is hard to get an appointment so I am willing to spend a little more and go to this place my friend Amanda recommended. She says the people there are more younger and will put more style into it. I am thinking possible layers, yet still long enough to pull it back for work.

Now that I am almost done with the second season, I think I am officially addicted to Glee. WHAT took me so long? I never do anything on Tuesday night's (there's nothing ever good on TV anyways) and borrowing Olivia's DVDs made me pretty addicted.

I am so off to curl up in my bed and get some sleep since I have to be up in a few hours to get ready for work. The joys!

SUYL - Singles

I love that this one blog I read, Kelly's Korner, does link ups every Friday called "Show Us Your Life." This week, it is SINGLES! Now, while I am not single, she has done this numerous times before. There are four couples that have gotten engaged or are married from it and there are five other couples who are seriously dating. So, who says meeting someone on line can't work?!

Therefore, I'm linking up (a lil tardy). Meet my awesome best friend, April! She is a ball of zest and I know the right guy is out there for her. As her best friend, I want nothing but the best for her!

Here's APRIL!

We have been best friends since 7th grade.
She's 24, turning 25 in a little over a month!
She went to Columbia University for graduate school.

(Covering NYE 2010 in Times Square)

She's a journalist for a Japanese newspaper in NYC.
She went to China for two weeks while an undergraduate student for a journalism program.
She's an only child.
While she is short (I always tease her for it), she does not let it get to her!

Her favorite sports team is the New York Yankees and has had a thing for Derek Jeter since she was a teenager.

She's a big Beatles fanatic...she can name every song of their's that was ever written! She shares this passion with her dad.

She loves animals. She has golden retriever named Sandie who we affectionately called "Cujo."

No matter what, April is the type of person who is always there for her friends. Despite her busy job, she tries to remain in contact whether it is via text, Facebook message, or calling for a quick chat.

She's a big Disney fanatic! I always think there's a child at heart in her.



What type of man do I think is a good match for her? I think someone who shares a love for traveling, a passion for news (even better if they're a journalist!), loves animals, enjoys spending time with friends, who can stay in and watch movies but likes to go out on the town.She has a gentle spirit and a zest for life. It would thrill me to no end to see her with someone who knows how to put a smile on her face and makes her feel like a queen.

Please leave a comment if you know someone who would be a good match for my best friend!

Reflections...

When I came home from work last night, I said hello and chatted with my mom for a bit before going out to Applebees with the boyfriend. I asked her how her day was and she had talked to one of her childhood friends, Fran, and their other best friend Nancy had been moved to hospice. Nancy has been battling cancer for the past several years and was alert until Wednesday. Fran was mad my mom hadn't come up to visit Nancy before she went to hospice and it's not that easy to visit someone fighting cancer, no how long you have known them, and her job doesn't give her the easiest time with days off. My heart aches for my mom because she felt that no matter what she does people yell at her for it. She saw Nancy when we were in Rhode Island a year ago and has called her, plus sent flowers at Christmas. She knows the end is near and I think it's just a hard reality for her to accept.

Over a year ago, my Uncle Ken (my mom's sister's husband) lost his battle to lung cancer. He had not been given that good of a prognosis originally but to survive 8 years was pretty good. I can't remember the last time I saw him. Probably like 4 years before he passed away. He was a good man and was a minister. He even gave the blessing at my brother's wedding reception.

Let's face it, cancer is an ugly battle no matter what type, what stage, and what person it affects, whether young, middle aged, or old. It's a reality no one wants to go through. It makes you reflect on everything.

Recently, I was approached by a reader/commenter asking if I could share her story. Her name is Heather and she is the mother of a quirky 6-year-old girl named Lily. When her baby girl was only 3 1/2 months old, Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma. I think the following words that she wrote to me in an email speak volumes:
"After all that, I’m still here 6 years later and cancer free! I'd like to turn my pain into purpose and become someone that other parents can look to for guidance, inspiration, and hope in situations like my own. I contacted you because I feel that your website would be an excellent place for me to share my story. Your visitors are the exact type of people I'm trying to reach out to; these are all the types of people who could gain something from my story."

Please take a moment to check out her story and share it with others.

{Student Loans-My Enemy}

Let's face it, college is NOT cheap. I think I was paying $900something A CREDIT on my grad school classes. I have no idea what it cost me in loans for undergrad. All I know is it's a lot. I don't come from a well-off family by any means. And by living in New York, nothing is cheap. I believe I paid $3.73 a gallon for gas yesterday. *Cries*

My mother helped each of her four kids that went to college out as best as she could. Being that she was a single parent, she knew she'd have loans out too. We all have loans out from undergrad. I would have probably had more out if I did not go to a state school for under grad (a state school in NY is called a SUNY or a CUNY). When it came time for grad school, we were on our own. I respect her in that instance because most grad schools think you, the student, are supporting yourself and will essentially give you more money in loans to help pay for it. That's evil because then you end up taking out more than you should and live off of it.


Well, when I started grad school, I deferred my undergrad loans. I think I received a paper awhile ago that stated they were deferred until 2018?! While that can be good, the amount of interest I would accrue is enough to send me into thinking I'll have a heart attack. I got a loan paper in the mail today that had loans disbursed on 12-24-2009..I'm thinking these are my grad school loans considering I started in January 2010. With interest, a $20K loan went to almost $45,000! HOLY CRAP. Apparently they have me set up on the 30-year repayment plan and by paying only the minimum, it would be paid off in...2042! And I'd be 55! As in my first kids would probably be in college or something by that point! HOLY CRAP!

I basically went into panic mode and then asked my brother to explain the letter to me to make sure I knew what on Earth it was explaining. He reassured me that it was because of interest and if I made more than the minimum monthly payment, I would pay it off quicker. It just sucks because I pay rent while living at home and my phone bill, and of course gas. I know it was something inevitably going to happen and I would have to pay it back eventually. The reality of it all is just setting in and makes me cringe.

I hope that I nail this certification test (which I should really go study for!) and get certified because then I will start applying for jobs. I feel like once I get an actual teaching job and feel somewhat more financially stable/secure, I can pay it off in bigger chunks.

Anyone else feel this way about student loans? Any advice on how to deal with it and/or stay organized while paying off loans? I am OPEN and a tad desperate for suggestions!

Y'all need a laugh?

I procrastinate like no other. I say "I'll do it later..." which turns into tomorrow, the next day, etc. Hence, I really need to buckle down these next two weeks. Why? My Spanish content test is on February 18th. And yes, while it is the THIRD time I am taking it (no one passes the first time), I am hoping it will be THE LAST. Then, I can actually start applying for jobs!

However, tonight when I got home from my tutoring session with my student early and as I attempted to clean under my bed, (oh my heavens, it looks neater...and yes I store a lot of stuff under there...can't part with my teaching books!), I browsed Pinterest.

So here are some of my favorites as of lately. Y'all need a laugh because let's face it, we're praising the big man that it's FRIDAY tomorrow and the weekend is here! I know I need a laugh because my student who I was *suppose* to tutor is upset she is essentially being forced to not have me and she is so stressed out she's clueless as to what to do. (Sad face). So here we go, laugh away home slices!

Total story of my life!

OMG my friends would totally say that is true about me.

My boyfriend checks in every day at work.....his friends make fun of him for it. I LAUGHED so hard when I saw this.

Because who doesn't love blogging?!

Because it's true! I HATE SNOW!

Can I go back, please?!

LAUGHING SO HARD!

She does not know how to dance!

*Sigh* TRUTH! :)

HAPPY WEEKEND! :)

jueves! (It's Okay!)

Sorry, I've got Spanish on the brain hence "jueves" in the title.

It's time to link up for "It's Okay!" Thursdays with Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber @ Brunch with Amber! :)

It's Ok...

...to still be in your pajamas and it's almost 12:30pm. I don't really have anywhere to go today until later! I mean, aside from Wal-Mart...

...to have stayed up until 2:30 in the morning talking to one of your best friends because she needed someone to vent to! :)

...to be excited to have Friday night off from work next week. Holla!

...to laugh at the amount of things you "pin" on Pinterest. Some of my favorite finds as of lately:
(umm, WTF?!)


...to be envious of Kourtney Kardashian's style. I want to have her wardrobe, please!


...to love watching the Jersey Shore even though it's such a train wreck. From the wise mouth of Snooki: "UTI does not stand for Ultimate Tanning Institute."

...to laugh that my mother emails me from work to find things for her. She insists I quit looking for a teaching job and go become a detective. Ha!

...to want it to be May (or maybe March) for when my cousin is due to have her IDENTICAL twin baby girls! I just love babies! :)

...to yell out loud that you forgot to record Glee's Michael Jackson episode and you're mad since you are a new Glee addict.

...to think the whole concept of Google+ is dumb. Maybe I shouldn't bad mouth it since my cousin works for them in CA. Oops....

...to have an insane amount of underwear from Victoria's Secret...I can't help it if I get a lot of coupons, Angel Rewards, and they are so comfy!

...to want a new car. My car is going to last me (hopefully!) until I get my first real job and then I am going to buy a brand new one. I can't really complain since I got the "newest" car out of all my siblings for my first car. Love my little Cora, the Corolla!

...to not want to go to the gym today because I needed to catch up on sleep. Oops!

...to be super excited that Carrie Underwood's new album will be out this spring & hope she does a tour. I AM SO GOING!!! (if there is one!)

...to have NO IDEA how to do my taxes and insist my brother does it for me. Umm, yeah I'd probably make a big mistake. Numbers + me = not a good combination!

What's okay with you on this Thursday?!

WILW - Happy February!

Happy Wednesday everyone! And happy February! Who would have thought it would be almost 60 degrees in February?! If this is how the rest of winter will go, I wonder what summer will be like. :)

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

I'm loving this weather! Seriously, to only have a little bit of snow this year makes me one happy camper since I HATE winter. I'll take the sunny weather any day. Makes me more excited for summer!

I'm loving that now that it is February, only a little while longer to get my iphone! I am trying not to break the contract and have to spend more $$ to get it earlier. I know I will be addicted to the phone. And I plan on getting the 4, not the 4S because I do not need Siri.

I'm loving how excited the boyfriend was last night at the NJ Devils vs NY Rangers game. It was his birthday/Christmas gift and what a game it was! It went into overtime and then a shootout because the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Guess who won? The NJ Devils so he was super elated. And he learned a lesson...don't make your girlfriend stand outside for 2 hours in the cold because we got there so early. HA!


I'm loving that Carrie Underwood will be releasing her new single "Good Girl" on February 23 and her album is coming out later this spring. I heart her...she, alongside Kelly Clarkson, are my two favorite idols from American Idol.


I'm loving that Army Wives will be back next month! I love that show. Am I the only one?

I'm loving The Hunger Games. I know most people are addicted and cannot put it down, but I like to take my time reading. I do plan to finish it soon so when the movie comes out next month, I am all set to see it! :)


I'm loving the new face stuff I bought from my co-worker Anjelica! She's selling Pink Papaya skin care stuff and while I have only been using it for a few days now, I feel like my skin is a lot smoother thanks to these products: