Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Updates!


Well quite a few things have been going on lately... haven't really had the best 2 months but trying to make the best of it. Friday, April 22nd, was my last day of work. Everyone I was hired on with in October was laid off, so I am officially unemployed... again. I have had a few interviews but haven't landed anything yet. I am stressing out, but hoping that I will find something in the next couple of weeks. Hard to believe it has been almost a year since I graduated college...


Onto happier times... in the past month I attended a beer festival, went to DC to visit one of my best friends and this past weekend I was in Jacksonville for Easter (I am still currently in Jacksonville, and plan to stay until Friday) These activities have been a nice distraction from the insanely stressful job search. Overall I had a wonderful time with my family and friends.

As most of you know I have been working out, trying to eat healthy and as a result have lost some weight (giving up sweets for Lent helped too!) I went pants shopping yesterday and was shocked to see that I was almost 3 pant sizes smaller! I knew I was losing weight but did not expect to see this much of a change, the shorts I bought yesterday are smaller than the shorts I wore in high school. I feel so much healthier and am loving the results of all of the hard work, however, having a closet full of clothes that does not fit at all is kind of frustrating, especially when you can't afford to go shopping... guess it could be worse though!

At the start of the World Beer Festival
The whole Beer Fest crew
Did I mention it rained and the entire tent flooded...
Visiting Dave in DC!
The whole DC crew
Family before Easter Mass
Adopted sister and little brother!
Decorating eggs!
Decorated eggs :-)
Finally able to eat sweets again! Dulce de Leche cupcakes- YUM!
 I will keep you all posted on the job hunt- until then keep your fingers (and toes) crossed that I find something soon!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

I'm Alive!

As you know I have been MIA for the past month+ but I am alive and doing well! 

Here is what I have been up to:

Visits from my best friends!


The newest cake creation. Dark chocolate cake with a caramel cream cheese filling and chocolate glaze on top. Amazing!


I visited my friend Brittany in her home town and visited all of the venue's for her September wedding. It is going to be a beautiful day! We also picked out our bridesmaid's dresses and shoes. They are adorable! (The dress is the Marine color and the shoes are the Watermelon color)

February was full of birthday celebrations!


I visited Chris, Michelle and the kids in Williamsburg. Michelle's blog has the details on that trip!

I started a cork collection.


I helped Kyle celebrate his birthday and took a trip to Jacksonville to visit my parents and Chad.

I have also been coupon clipping (new obsession!) cooking, running and searching for a new job. 

I am now in the process of making Amish friendship bread. It's a 10 day process, I am on day 6, and all I have to say is this bread better be very good.

I think that is all for now. Until next time....

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Quarter-Life Crisis

The Quarter-Life Crisis
by unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared. You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. 

You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward. 

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

 You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Not trying to brag....

....but look at this awesome pizza crust I made!! Just go ahead and call me Papa John ;-)



The crust was delicious but I think next time I am going to try to make stuffed crust pizza! Always trying to find ways to eat more cheese!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Happy New Year!

My post is only delayed by half a month but hey I'm trying blogging world! I took a half day on New Year's Eve and headed to Charlotte with 3 of my girlfriends. We stayed in another one of our friend's apartments in downtown Charlotte. Her place was gorgeous! 23rd floor, not only high ceilings but cement ceilings, with an amazing view of the Panther stadium. It was my first trip to Charlotte and I loved it! I definitely could see myself living there at some point in my life. We went out on New Year's Eve to a pub and had a great time. All in all it was a wonderful weekend spent with great friends! Looking forward to visiting Charlotte again soon!

Girlfriends!

Out at the pub!

Neighbors!

Vic!

Happy New Year to you all!

Monday, January 10, 2011

For Aunt Diane!


It only took me 3 months to post them.... but here they are! Pictures of my decorated apartment!


Bedroom


Bathroom

Kitchen



Dining Room

Desk




Living Room


I still need to get pictures for my bedroom and another chair for the living room but I am making it work for now!  Hope you like it! :-)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Christmas



I had a wonderful Christmas spent with all of my brothers! Lots of laughs, good food and wine. Sad it was only for a few days (darn real world....) but it was great to spend the holiday with everyone together!




I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With Miss Ava

The whole family in the snow!

Cutie Pie

All the siblings together!

Big Bro

Chris and Mich

Snow!

Making dinner with Mich!

Fritter time!

Family Dinner

Ava in her beautiful Christmas dress... that she she wore everyday :-)

Hot tub in the snow!

Wii Bowling
 
Goodbye hug :-(

Love this little girl








Santa/my family was good to me!
Getting the house together

Still building the house...


Decorating the gingerbread house!