Friday, June 28, 2013

Things I've learned in June


I found this amazing post today on the blog Chatting at the Sky about what had been learned in the month of June and since Emily was encouraging her readers to write their own post, I felt inspired!  

1.  It's important to keep an open mind.  At the beginning of June I moved back to school to work for a couple of weeks.  I mentioned in a previous blog post that I had felt nervous to do so because many of my friends had graduated.  My nerves caused me to be a bit removed from the group and first and it didn't take me long to realize that I had to open up more.  Being pushed outside of my comfort zone was so beneficial.
2.  To love myself even the parts that aren't so great.  2&3 sort of go hand and hand.  I found myself these past couple of weeks encouraging others to love themselves, even the parts they aren't fond of.  So for me, that would be my anxiety.  God made me this way and I've come to understand that he did so because I bring something completely different to the table.  It helps me to think of it that way and it also helps me to come to terms with what I cannot change.  I can always work on dealing with my anxiety and I do daily, but it is who I am.  Going hand and hand with that lesson, I'm finding it crucial to come to terms with things I cannot change in general.  Life is stubborn sometimes and just because I can't get something to go my way doesn't mean the world will end.
3.  To embrace what I cannot change.
4.  I will never stop learning.  Watching my brother and his class graduate on Monday was basically mind blowing.  It was a total flashback.  I could remember how it felt to be that senior in high school who was graduating and heading to college.  I remember how I felt that I would never know more than I knew in that moment.  I was so wrong.  Life has taught me that I will never stop learning.  In three years, what I have come to know through various life experiences is a significant amount more than I knew as a high school senior.  It's truly brilliant to think about.
5.  Seeing the glass half full is much better than seeing it half empty.  I'm not always a negative Nancy, but a lot of the time I can be.  I hate change and I also hate when things don't go how I pictured them.  It frustrates me to no end and I'm working on it, but it's been teaching me the positives of seeing the glass half full rather than seeing it half empty.  Life won't kick me in the ass as much if I start looking at it from that perspective.
6.  Dunkin' Donuts still does not beat out Starbucks for me.  I really try to like Dunkin' more because, you know, it's cheaper and with Starbucks recent hike in prices, it's more fitting for a college student.  However, every freaking time I get a latte I hate it.  I got one today and it tasted like I was drinking cigarette water, or how I'd imagine that would taste.
7.  New underwear is always a good idea.  I typically feel guilty for buying myself something but today I bought new underwear and realized that doing that every once in a while is a fantastic idea.  Out with the old and in with the new.
8.  I hate loud televisions.  No one needs to blast a T.V....
9.  God has blessed me.  I've always known this but it seems like each month he shows me another reason why that's true.

The day I saw myself on national television...

It was not a good moment..let me tell you.  Our episode of The Chew aired today and Tim, as always, looked so handsome.  Me on the other hand....looked heavier than normal in my eyes.  Granted I know I'm much more critical of myself and there is that whole "the camera adds 10 pounds" thing, but wow...I felt awfffullll.  During one part of the show the camera is directly on Tim and I and I glance up at the screen and then proceed to make this awful face the rest of the segment.  Total resting bitch face.  My mom noted that I probably didn't like how I looked when I glanced up at the screen and either way you slice this blog post...that totally sucks!

There are some days where I feel great about myself and other days where I am just so frustrated.  Today, unfortunately is the latter.  I've been feeling really lethargic lately and am eager to get motivated and back to working out.  What do you guys do to stay motivated?!

http://watchabc.go.com/the-chew/SH55125610/VDKA0_b1f4qgj4/extra-value-friday-the-battle-of-the-sexes

^^^Watch our episode above!!

Watching my little brother grow up


When we were little the three-year age gap between my brother and I both worked in our favor and worked against us.  We had many days of playing make believe and we also had many days spent arguing.  I remember the day when I woke up and felt too old to play make believe and a little too cool to be hanging out with my baby brother and the thought of that even makes me feel sad.  As if precious time was wasted. Regardless of what day we woke up and had, Ryan and I always remained close and one thing has always been certain, I love my baby brother to the moon and back.  A couple months ago Ryan made the decision to attend college 5 hours away and while my initial reaction was pure excitement, it didn't take long for it to settle in and make me sad.  I realized that I've been spoiled these last 21 years to have him so close by and that come August that wont be the same.  It first hit me when he had prom just a few short weeks ago and then again on Monday when he graduated.  It was funny to see my parents so stoic at graduation meanwhile I'm sitting next to them trying not too cry and failing terribly.  I'm so proud of my little brother and all of his accomplishments.  I've always stuck up for him and pushed him to be a better kid and it's nice to see that he's turning into a phenomenal man.

When I was Ryan's age I couldn't help but feel like I would never know more than I knew in that moment...but boy was I wrong.  My hope for Ryan is that he approaches college with that in mind.  Life lessons and an abundance of knowledge will come his way these next few years and I just hope he soaks it all in.  

Now excuse me while I go cry...


Thursday, June 27, 2013

It's almost my birthday month!

July marks my birthday month and although I have to wait pretty much the entire month for my birthday to actually roll around, I love July for more than just my birthday.  July, in my eyes is the best month of summer.  It's beautiful weather, barbecues, the 4th of July, pools, the beach, and my boyfriend.  It's amaaazing.  Next week Tim and I are kicking off the first week of July with my family in Buffalo.  We'll be attending a bridal shower for my Uncle's fiance as well as a rodeo...random, I know.  I'm just so excited to kick off my favorite month with the people I love most.

How are you guys planning to spend the month of July?  I'm looking for some birthday ideas as well as great day trips for Tim and I!  Comment, comment, comment....or email :)

In honor of my favorite month and of course, my birthday I created a July wishlist!

1.  A Pandora charm bracelet
2.  Erin Condren Life Planner
3.  J.Crew necklace
4.  New cookbook
5.  New bag


What are you wishing for?

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

My life lately

Well I'm home and it feels bittersweet.  I am a mix of emotions with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Work this past two and a half weeks has been phenomenal and while I really miss my friends, It's nice to have a home cooked meal ;)

This year I moved back to school for work incredibly nervous.  My friends had graduated and aside from Tim and a select few others, I felt like I had no one.  Gosh, I was wrong.  In general, it helped me open up and foster new relationships, all the while learning so much about myself.  It was my favorite year doing this job by far.

The job itself is a weird environment, almost like camp.  We all move in to a dorm and spend 24/7 together and for a relationship that can be tough.  Not because spending 24/7 together is hard, it is because we can't. In front of our bosses we keep it professional and outside of the job we pay careful attention to creating new friendships.  Despite, what can be a difficult environment, Tim and I had a great time and I think the highlight of my time with him this past two and half weeks was this past Sunday.  We went to church in the morning and then went out for brunch.  There's nothing I love more than going to church with Tim and a close second would be just sitting and talking to him.  I got a two in one deal that day and I couldn't help but feel on top of the world.  Having him in my life is the most phenomenal thing and watching him work and interact with others make me so proud of him.  I love him more than life itself.

Overall, work this year taught me to expect change, to open my heart, and above all else to love myself.  A couple of weeks ago I talked about some things I wanted to accomplish this summer and making myself a better person was one of them.  I think these past few days I have really started to hit the nail on the head...although I would really still love to work on my anxiety but that will be an ongoing project.

Here are a few pictures!

Some of the PA's at beach day!
Ronnie and I!  I'm wearing a name tag here that took me 4 days to realize it was spelled wrong...
The only beautiful night we got when we went to camp...it poured the next two...
Just the greatest roommate :)


Date night with these three boys!  Clearly I am the fourth wheel...






Two of the girls at work surprised me and bought my Saint's medal...so overwhelmed and blessed to have them.

I just can't handle this photo....
 Seniors <3



Saturday, June 15, 2013

I'm alive I promise...

I feel like a bad mom who has neglected her child (the blog being my child, of course.)  I probably should have warned you all or maybe even prepared better for what's been going on, but alas I did not.  Every summer (although this is my last) I go back to school for 3 weeks for work.  It's an incredibly rewarding job but it's also time consuming, demanding all of my attention and energy.  It's not that I haven't thought about the blog, it actually has made me sad to think that my little corner of the internet is collecting cob webs!  I promise to be better the next two weeks...I'll at least try.

Life has been good, stressful but good.  With two jobs pulling my creative juices in opposite directions, I think I just feel drained.  Being at work for these 3 weeks is both exhilarating and difficult.  We don't really have much time to do anything else except work and spend time with the other employee's and so it makes for some really interesting situations and emotions.

I've been doing this job for the last two years and so this is my last summer of work for them.  My coworkers are some of my best friends and this experience has brought such wonderful things to my life...it even brought me Tim.  So, the fact that this is my last summer doing it makes me sad.  It's really the first of many lasts that I am going to experience this year as a senior and it's pretty bittersweet.

For now, I'd love you all to check some pictures out from this week.  I am going to be putting content up throughout the week since (I think) I have my head on straight now.  Stay happy and healthy :)









 Seniors <3


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

What I'm watching

I'm about the head back to work so for the past month that I have had off to do next to nothing I have picked up a few favorite t.v. shows.  I think by now you all know that I have a deep love of food and so I typically gravitate towards cooking related shows.  If you are looking for something great to watch on t.v I highllyyyy suggest these!

1.  The Chew
It's no secret that Tim and I love this show.  We've been twice and while I totally love it for all the awesome food and stuff I really love it because I love the people on the show.  To break it down, Michael Symon and Mario Batali are my favorite Iron Chef's, Daphne Oz is phenomenal (go buy her book Relish), Carla Hall was me and my mom's favorite Top Chef and I have been watching Clinton Kelly on What Not to Wear since I was a kid.  It airs at 1 p.m. on ABC.

2.  Master Chef
Gordon Ramsey scares the crap out of me but I also love him at the same time.  Master Chef is a cooking competition for untrained chef's which I think is so fascinating to watch because they all have such a natural talent (well some of them, not all).  I would love to go on this show at some point so he could scream in my face but Tim tells me that I'd cry a lot...which is true.   

3.  The Great American Baking Competition
This show is brand new but I still think it's great.  After the first episode the woman who cooks with bacon is for sure my favorite because she's basically precious.  These bakers are also untrained which is totally after my own heart since I've never had training.  Essentially they give them different challenges to see how well they do on more crafty recipe's without much prior knowledge.

4.  Hell's Kitchen
So this is Gordon Ramsey's other cooking show that is on right now and these people are trained but also always seem a little bit like idiots.  I love it nonetheless because I really like Gordon Ramsey, especially when he's yelling.
5.  Eat St.
If I'm obsessed with any show in particular it's this one.  It's about the food truck frenzy that is taking over our nation and I just loooveeee to see some of the creative trucks out here.  Makes me want to hit up the city and go eat at my favorite trucks!  Never underestimate a food truck guys...the secrets they hold...oh man.

6.  Unique Sweets
Last but not least this show is all about desert but unique ones at that!  I love to watch it because it gives me such great ideas.  I think sometimes people are afraid to be bold with their cooking or are afraid to try new things because they could fail.  Sometimes it's fun to just cook what you feel would taste amazing.  Cook from the heart like these restaurateurs do!

Holy crap they are all about food.  Thought for sure I'd have one in there about singing or something!

What are you watching these days?