Internet-less

I have finally returned from the house of mouse and while my trip was eventful but fun...the wifi (pronounced we-fee) did not work. I could sign on, and then I would load a page, it would stop working, I'd try again, and then contemplate throwing my puter in the pool. Not a good look Disney.

You do everything else so well- yet can't get free wifi for your guests? You need those little football shaped repeaters, and a few routers (daughter of a computer network engineer right here).

No wifi for you.


I've been up since 3:30 am and had to work until 8:30 pm so I am an absolute bear right now. Our regularly scheduled program of me talking excessively about myself (favorite topic) will commence shortly.

Make the right choice.

Sunday February 24th, 2008. I woke up around 7:30 to my roommate's speakers blaring obscene rap music, hot, dry air, and a guy in my roommate's bed....but no roommate. I turned off her music, checked the other room (where I found her and another guy- in separate beds), and went downstairs in our townhouse to get a drink.

The air was so much cooler so I laid on the couch and enjoyed my cold water. My phone suddenly rang. It was 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning and surprisingly the caller ID said it was my ex (at this point in our saga we were still seeing each other off and on). He called to tell me he made the news. He sounded really out of it (I have a pit in my stomach as I type this and my chest is tightening) and I asked him to explain, how did he make the news. He went on to say something to the effect of "well there was an accident...oh I have to go now, I'm in the hospital...the doctor is coming...can you please come?"

Mind you, I went to college three and a half hours away from home. As soon as he hung up I tried calling back but his phone was off. I proceeded to call all of his friends (who were all sleeping from being at the hospital since 2:00 am) and then ran upstairs and got on fbook to see if I could find anything out, while simultaneously opening windows for every news station and newspaper in my area. I finally found something on one of his friend's walls, who I wasn't even friends with. "(His name) hang in there buddy...can't believe what happened...

I finally got a phone call back from one of our mutual friends saying, it looks bad, get here.

I threw on clothes and ran out the door. To then have to drive three and a half hours hysterically sobbing.

He and his girlfriend at the time were standing on the corner waiting for a cab to pick them up around 1:00 am. A woman who had been drinking all night, got in her car, drove the wrong way down a one way, smashed into two cars, and jumped the curb, pinning the two of them to a brick and glass wall. The car wouldn't move anymore but she was so out of it that she kept pressing down the gas pedal. One of his friends ran over and stuck his elbow through the window to get inside and get the car off of them.

She was burned so badly by the car that she had to get a skin graft and has a giant scar on the back of her calf  than you can see whenever she wears anything but pants. She was in the hospital for weeks and out of work for months.

His thigh muscles were so damaged they thought he was going to lose his leg. He has a huge scar on his thigh from the first surgery where they had to open the thigh and remove the muscles to alleviate the pressure so he could keep his leg.

When I finally got the hospital and got into his room (I'm shaking typing this) I didn't recognize him. His face was so swollen from the impact and the stress on his body he looked like Sloth from the Goonies. His eyes were so blood shot from the trauma and stayed like that for over a week. He spent weeks in the hospital and months out of work.

All because some wench decided she was better than the law.

I have zero tolerance for drunk driving. Or buzzed driving for that matter. If you have been drinking, call a cab. Call a friend. Call me.

I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (and I have a lot of them) what I experienced on that day and all the days after. To spend the night in a dirty hospital chair just so you can be there when they have to get a shot in the middle of the night. To drive them around aimlessly just so they can get out of the house after being bedridden for weeks.

In November 2007 I presented my senior thesis entitled:

 Destructive Decisions: Attitudes of College Students Towards Drinking and Driving.

Months later I was living the horror stories I read about for my research.

Make the right choice. Don't drive.

Confessions.

If you ever ask me a question and I bite my cheek before I answer, I'm trying not to scream whatareyoustupid.

I don't get tumblr.

I hate people who walk slow. How do you get anywhere?

I despise people who talk slow. Speed it up.

I love Disney World more now than I think I did when I was younger.

I am obsessed with my family's dog.

I am currently living at home with my parents and I really don't mind it. I liked living on my own, but I almost never see anyone here as our schedules are so different.

I cannot use a can opener.

I never pumped gas until I went to college. And no, I'm not from New Jersey. Just spoiled lazy.

I hate cats and will not try to hide my dislike. I am also deathly allergic so I get a pass.

I'm also allergic to dogs, ash trees, dust mites, and eastern cockroaches, wheresoever they may roam.

Blood and gore don't gross me out, and medical science is interesting to me, but I don't care enough about people to be a doctor or a nurse.

I am terrified of bridges. and tunnels. but especially bridges. In high school I had to go over a bridge and back for school, in college I had to take a bridge and back to get into town, and for work now...I take at least two bridges to work, and two home. Some days, I might go over four different bridges. When I drive to lawnguyland I plot my route such that I avoid most bridges. I refuse to drive over/ride over the Tappan Zee. This fall I had to drive over the GWB in my sister's tiny little hybrid SUV and didn't calm down until hours later. I measure bridge length by Our Father's...someone once suggested Hail Mary's....why would you ever say in the hour of our death when you are driving over a bridge?

Evil

I let my freak flag fly. high.

No longer Ordinary.

I luff religious humor.

Happy Ash Wednesday to you and yours, or happy day where you go around wondering what all those strange people have on their face.

Attending Catholic school my entire life, including a super Catholic college (holler single sex dorms and parietals), I am well versed in the Catholic traditions and do look forward to the end of Ordinary time.

While the religious meaning behind Lent is interesting, I typically use the Lenten Season as a means to make a change or an improvement in my life. I find when I have a specific start and end point in mind, I am able to make the transition (it may go back to my borderline obsessions over numbers and calendars and evenness).

The past three years I have giving up shopping for Lent, and this year I will continue that tradition. I will only purchase items I need, such as toothpaste, so my thrice weekly trips to Marshall's will be curbed. (*there has traditionally been a one item Lilly clause to this rule, however, nothing in the Spring line has piqued my interest enough, sooo no Lilly, no shopping. period*)

Although I do not swear too often, I feel like it is a very unbecoming quality, plus there are so many words in the English language that I could use to express myself that cursing is not necessary. I will be working on removing swear words from my vocabulary.

Maybe I will try to not be as cynical on the twitter machine...but that's essentially my nature, so probably not.

Travel Tuesday.

Since Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week, and traveling is one of my favorite things to do, a little trip down memory lane is just what I need to trudge through this day.

Starting in 2006 in Piazza San Pietro...the Catholic school girl in me was super giddy to see nuns strolling through.



I am a sucker for little old nuns.



 In 2007 on the Ponte Vecchio.  FMP spent the spring semester abroad in Florence. It was such fun to visit her with two other close friends.

 The three of us are bridesmaids in her wedding in September.

 2007 in the Aran Islands. I spent a summer semester in Ireland and love every minute of my experience there.

Next parish is Boston.





 Weekend trip to Dublin.

Being an annoying American college student.





Tradition dictates that you spend the week between finals and graduation down the Cape.

 Some of the Cape Week crew (and our dual game pong table).

2009 in San Diego to visit some friends who moved there after graduation.

My Lilly didn't quite fit in with the vibe.

Let's hope Tuesday goes by super quick!

Cold as ice.

I completely forgot that this weekend was considered a holiday weekend, as I have to work today. My good friend who lives in the city came home for the long weekend and brought her *new* boyfriend. I love meeting new significant others of my friends, and I even have a little test to figure out whether they will fit in with our friend group. The first part of the test is to say something wildly inappropriate within 5 minutes of introductions and gauge their reaction. Points are added if they interact with all members of the group, don't have a puss on their face, and genuinely seem like they are having a good time. The last part of the test is to mess with them and see if they can take it, give it back, or don't pay attention enough and get confused. I am a very good read of character and I will typically decided within minutes of meeting someone if I will like them. He passed the test with flying colors, spending time in a dive bar with all girls, andddd the next night he did movie night with us, with only mild protest.

Friday night we went to a bar. Blah. I hate going out to bars in the city where I went to high school (I went to a private school that pulled from over 20 different cities and towns, so no matter where you are in my area, you will probably find someone you know/knew). I actually really don't like going "out." I am perfectly content to stay home and chat, watch a movie, or play a game. Plus, I'm not as young as I used to be, and that whole going out at 11 to go home at 4am thing doesn't quite work for me anymore.



We played Memory before we went out. Legit, real deal, 80s, vintage Memory. I won and then obviously had to sort the cards out by category.



Thankfully we had a table and I was able to post up in the corner seat so I could see everyone walking by out the huge window and everyone walking into the bar. On one of my creeper peeks out the window I noticed a friend of a friend. He is a friend of FMP, and I have been at social gatherings with him since high school. I immediately called dibs to my friends (he is really cute and you always have to call dibs) and he greeted the table with lots of affection (but I called dibs betches). Turns out he had been at a wedding and had indulged. I love being the only sober one around intoxicated people, you learn so much (and you remember it). He begins to tell me that yes he had been drinking, but....he had asked FMP about me a long time ago, back in high school, but I was dating that kid. (yes I did, for 5 years) but now I always look like I am miserable.

He said to me, "I don't think you ever smile."

Which is actually somewhat true.

On Saturday night I went out to dinner with PLK and her younger sister and they staged a mini intervention on the car ride home. Essentially I put up a tough exterior (the whole no smiling thing) and appear very closed off to people (most people are dumb though) and maybe if I changed my outward demeanor, I could be more receptive to new experiences. (re: maybe going on my first date before I turn 40).

Goals of 2012: Smile more. and go on a date.

Pathetic Pink Attempt.

Although I am anti-Valentine's Day, I am not anti-pink, so my goal this past week was to wear pink each day. My trusty Berry was there to document each day.

Monday I paired bright pink with a drab green. You can see my monogram peeking out. I decided to go with orange thread opposed to navy for that subtle factor.

Tuesday I wore a Lilly dress with pink lips spattered all over, a pink scarf, and pink ballet tights. Which apparently are quite stretched out as evidenced by my old lady knees and saggy crotch come one o'clock.

Wednesdays I have to be at work early (after working late on Tuesdays this is no easy feat). I decided that black jeans would masquerade as dress pants and added a grey wrap sweater and another pink scarf to add to the blah.

On Thursday I made use of the bright pink tights I randomly found in my drawer and wore a black turtleneck, which negated the need for a scarf.

I kind of cheated on Friday, but I make the rules so whatevski. I wore a mauve cardigan with a leopard print scarf. At least mauve is somewhat in the family of pinkish?

I am thinking of a blue week as my next theme. I wonder if my co-workers will catch on...

Grumpy Gus

I am a Grumpy Gus today. Not because of friends, family, or work, but because of Congress. The work of a small group is enough to ruin my IT’S FRIDAY! mood.

Yesterday a congressional hearing was held to discuss health insurance and religious freedom. Two things I am a-okay with.

However, the masked agenda became apparent when females were excluded from testifying. Well why would that matter? (Equality duh) anddddddd, the core issue was with birth control. I’m sorry middle aged male, exactly how many female reproductive organs do you have?

At one point, mandating access to birth control was likened to mandating a kosher deli carry pork. I’m sorry what???? As a vegetarian I am strongly against using bacon as contraceptive so I do take offense to this.



you want me to put that, where???



Religion is an ethical system (yes you heard that right conservative males and females who let their husbands dictate who they vote for). An ethical system is a set of beliefs that we use to guide our decision making and daily living. You might abide by egoism, in which you are only out for yourself, and what is good is what makes you happy. By religion, I don’t just mean your formalized, Western (or Eastern) religions. If I can recruit enough followers, the TJ Maxx Corporation might be my religious leader and I get my value system from Judy Blume teen literature. That’s that francy part of religious freedom in our country; you get to do what you want.

By denying access to affordable birth control for millions of women, you are not protecting your religious beliefs and taking a stand against government interference, you are essentially ensuring that the next generation will be full of unwanted, unplanned, uneducated, poverty-stricken, resented  little miscreants. You know what typically happens when someone who wasn’t ready for a child has a child? They often have to rely on public assistance to get by (ohhhh nooooo not public assistance- conservatives characteristically do not enjoy that concept).

Imagine that.

I'm reaching here, with my 16 years of Catholic school education, but I'm pretty sure a basic tenet of many religions is tolerance? Which would mean you would tolerant others? And their differing beliefs? And not force your beliefs on those who disagree?

I don't want to eat bacon, but that doesn't mean I'm going to ruin it for the rest of you.

Oh and if you don’t like what you just read honey boo boo child….we also have freedom of speech in this country (First Amendment- check it out some time).

Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler.

My love affair with office supplies started at a young age. My grandmother kept her desk stocked, and I mean stocked, with every paperclip, highlighter, double sided tape, or staple remover you could think of. Not to mention the legal paper, regular paper, SQUARE paper, lined paper, colored paper, and graph paper. She had stickers, and colored pencils, and glue sticks galore. Some of my favorite memories of her are the two of us sitting at the desk coloring and playing with paper products. (She was very artistic, and she had those "adult coloring books," the ones of New England cottages and floral scenes that were from the expensive section of AC Moore. I was elated the day that she let me color in one of them).

My parents would feed into my addiction, and I would receive Office Max or Staples gift cards on holidays. The first place I drove after being surprised with a new car was Office Max...yes I realize how lame that sounds.

Because I have tested out every pen that has even been manufactured, I am very particular about which type of pen I use for which type of activities. I had been struggling to find *the* one. (I also realize this is a huge white girl problem/first world problem).

Enter Staples OptiFlow.

Love.Love.Love.

Obsessed would be an understatement. As a lefty, I have resigned myself to the fact that anytime I write a complete sentence, I will smudge most of the words. The smudge factor has greatly been reduced, the fluidity of the pen as it glides across the page is divine...essentially I want to write love letters TO the pen, ABOUT the pen, while HOLDING the pen. I don't think I've ever even had such romantical feelings for a male before.

Yesterday was a sad day. The red pen is running low.

But....that just means I get to go to my favorite store ever!

...you don't have a prada backpack.

I luff lists. I luff to love and I luff to be a hater.

Things I love:

Unexpected text messages from friends. Today I received this one:

happy valentine's day beautiful. hope you have your red bloomers on.

So grateful to have him as a friend. We've known each other since seventh grade, and I'm pretty sure we made out at a ninth grade dance, and today he is one of my closest male friends. Bloomers= He played basketball and I was a cheerleader.

Things I am displeased with:

People who do not grasp the concept of geography. For example: When are you going to come up to D.C. and visit? Ummm maybe when the world flips over because New York is due NORTH of D.C. and therefore, I would have to come down.

Also, people who think New York State is in New England. Please go back to third grade and learn about the Mid Atlantic states and then get back to me. Even if you don't go by geography, look who settled most of New York, vastly different than the settlers of New England.

People who feel as though they are entitled, simply because of who their parents are. Newsflash, you didn't invent toaster strudels, your dad did. Make your own way, and then, maybe, you can be a snooty mcsnooterface.

Things I am on the fence about:

That half marathon I am running in less than two weeks....when my only training has been eating taco dip and a few jogs.

Text messages from past hookups saying Happy Valentine's Day. Awk city considering I was blackout last time we hung out.

Things I love but also hate:

Watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

I loveeee puppies. But watching it makes me so sad because I want to go and adopt every dog out there even though I am severely allergic and can only own dander-free dogs with hair, not fur.

Practicing his poses for next year.

Today is clearance candy day! wwitb

I'm a vday hater.

I don't like Valentine's Day. I never have. I was in a long term relationship for five years. Didn't like Valentine's Day then. Probably never will. I am a firm believer in expressing your love and affection every single day. Not just some commercially manufactured holiday that requires stressful planning and cheesy traditions.

Because of my dislike for the holiday, I have spent my February 14ths essentially just as any other day.

Some of my favorite times were:

Junior year of college. Our first and only snow day in our collegiate career. I believe I trekked to the store to get baking supplies (I drove/drive a huge SUV) and made a sweet cake to celebrate. I'm pretty sure everyone else just drank.

I know what you are thinking, but no, I am not a professional cake decorator.

Senior year of college. I lived in a townhouse with three other girls; two bedrooms. My direct roommate had her boyfriend visit and she made him dinner, with candlelight and wine (all of which she took from my friends and I- long story for another time). So the rest of us went to the bar. We danced, politely commented on judged the girls wearing shirts as dresses, and enjoyed the company of classmates. I ended up getting to share a twin bed with another roommate that night and the three of us had a nice sleepover in their room.

We woke up to this icy/water mess that morning. The drains were overflowing so we were forced to wade through 3 inches of water to get in or out of my townhouse.

First year of grad school. I was living in Boston and single. My freshman boyfriend had just had a birthday and wanted to come see my apartment and go out in Boston (he was still in college). So FBF and I figured out a weekend that we were both free and he came into town...neither of us realized until he got there that it happened to be Valentine's Day. So I took him to my favorite bar and proceeded to get bombed. (Side note- I rarely, if ever, drink alcohol, so for me to get drunk it takes roughly one mixed drink or two beers). It was actually a lot of fun, even if he did make me sleep on the couch because I wouldn't stop giggling/am so annoying when intoxicated.

My favorite bar in Boston. I used to live mere steps away.

Wah. I want to be there right meow.

Valentine's Day 2010 involved a lengthy fight with a (then) ex and Valentine's Day 2011 was so unforgettable that I have zero clue what I did. I imagine it involved sweatpants, and endless episodes of NCIS. This year I will be working until 8:30 pm, after which I will promptly return home and face plant into bed.

But the best part of Valentine's Day is.........................................................

 THE DAY AFTERRRRRRR (insert your best Oprah voice)

nom nom nom.

For a candy monster like myself, I love nothing more than some clearance-priced sugar in pink packaging.

Weekend in review.

My Friday ends at 2:00 pm (yes, I realize I am luckyyyyy) and this week I actually finished work a little earlier. I made it home by 2:10, quickly changed, grabbed a few last minute items, and headed out to run some errands before meeting up with PLK at 5.

 Just an FYI, my Target had the little stretchy gloves for 60 cents/2 pack.

I picked up our sushi order to-go, met her at the park and ride, and off to the Lake we went.

This was my first time up to the lake in 2012 and I was so excited. We had a big night planned of shoving sushi in our fache, watching movies, going in the hot tub, and enjoying some draaanks- wine for PLK and seltzer for me.

First up was One Day...I'll give it a...wouldn't turn it off if it was on TNT on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Anne Hathaway's accent was horrid and the story was cute...but I'm not really a love story kind of girl.

Hilarious.

Second we watched Hangover 2 which I had received for Christmas from my godmother. L-O-V-E ashlee simpson loved it. I enjoyed the first one, and the second one is essentially the same story line in a different setting. The soundtrack is amazing. Plus Bradley Cooper is just...yea....luffed him ever since the sports shed scene in Wet Hot American Summer.

The best part of going in the hot tub during the winter is you don't get overheated (yea yea I know the AMA recommends no more than 15 minutes blah blah blah) and you can stay in much longer.

The Diz Monster enjoying a quick nap this summer while I hot tubbed.

Saturday morning we got up nice and early and headed back home. No trip to the Lake is complete without making a quick detour off the highway to get the best bagels in the world. Now, I've had bagels in almost every borough, and none compare to Lox of Bagels and Moor.

Multigrain toasted with a teeny bit of jalapeno cream cheese please and thank you.

nom nom nom.

Now I want another bagel. like right meow.

Unwanted drama.

Today is the birthday of a good friend of mine. Well, he used to be a good friend of mine. I haven't spoken to him since June.

When I was a senior in college he was a freshman. Through the logistics of being an athlete he is only seven months younger than I am. There was some romantical interaction (strictly on the interaction, less so on the romantical side) between us at the end of my senior year. I visited him (and his parents) that summer and got sleep in his twin bed. with him. while his parent's slept down the hall. awk.net/

Before my senior prom. No really we had proms in college. that I should have worn spanx to.

My freshman boyfriend, as he is known to my friends and family, and I stayed in touch while he finished out the next three years of college and graduated in May. He paid me a visit in Boston when I was in grad school, I saw him at alumni weekends. He had a girlfriend throughout most of this, so it was strictly on a friend basis. We also communicated regularly through email and text. Strictly as friends.

I stress that because, in June, when I happened to be in Boston for a concert, I met up with him and his friends, who I am friendly with as well, and had a nice night out. The next day I find out  (from a mutual friend) that his girlfriend banned him from communicating with me ever again.

So I never heard back from that last text I sent him...my birthday came the next month....nothing...alumni weekend we never ended up crossing paths (if it hadn't snowed 2 feet in October I bet we would have) and now it is 2012.

Imagine my surprise when I am creeping around the 'book a few days into 2012 and I see that FBF and I are no longer friends on fbook.

Now all of this might seem trivial, but we were great friends. And while I don't particularly want to associate with people who have their significant others ban them from contact with certain individuals, a part of me is still sad.

So today I texted him: Welcome to the 25 club guy. Don't worry, I know you are prohibited from acknowledging this message

And he did reply, very shortly thereafter, with: Thank you.

To which I replied: Very welcome

Now did I want to write him a lengthy hate text that poured into multiple texts and ended up with a 7 page email from me later? Absolutely. But sometimes you have to know when to let it go. Unfortunately, I think this might be one of those times.

Bag Lady.

In high school I changed my book bag out daily, depending on what jacket I wore (I wore a uniform). The first few years of college I relied on numerous Vera Bradley totes, and then I swapped in a Longchamp tote once in awhile. In grad school I relied exclusively on my black longchamp, but once I got into the workplace I knew I would need to up my game.

I have had a hard time trying to find a bag that fits my needs while being fun. I devoted enormous amounts of time to perusing Zappos and finally in November I decided upon my new work bag. My requirements were: red leather, sturdy, not so pricey that if something were to happen to it I would be devastated, internal pockets, and large enough to transport any files or books I need to bring to and from work.

Enter the LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Newbury Classic Tote

Zappos has other colors as well

To say I am obsessed is an understatement. I've been using the bag for just over a month now and have no complaints. The only thing that could potentially be an issue is the fact that the bag is an open top, opposed to a zip top. I drive to and from work so I don't need to worry about public transportation or walking in a city, but that might be an issue for someone who does do those things. 



The red is perfect, and goes with all of my coats and outfits.



Red can be found here

Luff it.

Thunder, Thunderation.

Thunder, Thunderation, We're the great senior girls nation. When we fight with determination, we create, a great sensation.

Posing with the prank the senior boys unit pulled on the senior girls unit. They brought the waterfront into the woods.

I love camp cheers. I love summer camp. I want to thank my parents every single day for sending me away two weeks a summer to spend time learning, discovering, and having an absolute blast.

I was delighted to find an article in Psychology Today by Michael Ungar, Ph.D., which addresses some of the benefits of a child attending a summer camp. My personal opinion is that sleep away camp is the way to go and I truly believe that the combination of my personality and my experience at summer camp made my transition to college a breeze. I have never been homesick (although I have asked my father to send me pictures of the family dog while away- but he is just so cute) and I credit that to my own personal independence, which was greatly fostered by the sleep away camp experience. When I got to college I felt like it was a really cool summer camp with not as many rules.

One of my favorite parts of the article:

"Children at camp can't be treated like customers if they are going to get anything out of the experience. They need to be treated like students whose caregivers, the counselors, know what the kids need to grow.

 

Camps that pull this off and make kids, especially teens, put away the makeup, stash the iPods, get a little dirty and even a little frustrated while having fun and making new friends, are the kinds of camps that offer children the best of what they need."

Nurturing Resilience

I often wish there was an adult summer camp, where you could throw responsibilities away, just for a few days, and sing goofy cheers and take turns cleaning the cabin and setting the table for dinner, while doing arts and crafts and going snorkeling.

Simple Song.

I like to keep things simple. I despise mind games and people who are not up front. I am very blunt, I tell it like it is, and I don't have time to weave little webs or have chaos going on in my life. (From the age of whenever I could read to about 13 whenever I read chaos in a book I pronounced it cha-hoes in my head.)

Most of my clothes, with the exception of a bright Lilly pattern, are very simple in their appearance. I like streamlined dresses, skirts, and sweaters. I am not a fan of layers and I do not wear costume jewelry. I wear the same two rings, pearl earrings, and watch everyday. My hair is parted down the center, and I wear it in a bun every single day, save some weekends. I haven't worn make up since 2004. (I promise I'm not a spinster gremlin.)

One area of my life that needs to simplified is my "stuff." I have way too much stuff and I am working on organizing and disposing of any unnecessary junk. For example, I am staring at a three quarters full bottle of VS love spell sitting on my dressing table right now. Now, I haven't used this in a solid 4 years, plus the scent of love spell makes me dry heave, but yet, there it is, sitting on my dressing table (which I hardly use).

Time to simplify my life even more.

One of my new favorite songs...Simple Song by The Shins.

Sugar Monster.

I have a huge sweet tooth. Seriously beyond normal. Put a bag of chips in front of me and I will pass 99.9% of the time. Put a bag of lollipops in front of me and I will eat the whole thing and ask for more. Now, I am somewhat health conscious, and I try not to eat many artificial dyes or preservatives or fake things that do not exist in nature, etc.The problem is, most lollipops and other sweets are made with artificial tingtings.

Enter my new best friend: Yummy Earth. I frequent Marshall's on an unhealthily triweekly basis and have zero self control, so the impulse items in the check out aisle obviously suck me in.

Organic. Lollipops. What could be better? Made with real fruit extracts and fairy wings these things are da bomb diggity (sorry I'm not sorry for my love of 90s slang).

And a serving is 3 pops so when I have 7 in one sitting I'm only having like 2 servings which is some semblance of self control in my world.

If you see them, TRY THEM. Or send them to me : )

Back in the New York Groove.

The first weekend in February was stacked with events/driving/food...especially food.

Friday after work I went for a polish change. I wanted something professional, but fun, but somewhat pink related (because it is February and although I think Valentine's Day is a commerce constructed holiday I will still participate in the pink aspect). I ended up getting OPI's Nice Color, Eh? as I would be traveling to a city heavily settled by French Canadians.

Ignore my chubby bunny fingers.


On Saturday I woke up nice and early to get ready for my three and a half hour drive to my alma mater to take part in an alumni event. I was selected to take part in a volunteer network of alums who assist in interviews, college fairs, etc. It was so nice to be back on the hilltop and to drive around campus. I did get overly sad as I truly miss being in college, as it was the best experience of my life thus far. I received such a great education and made such amazing friends and memories that I often get nostalgic for those awesome four years.

I was supposed to take a left here, but as you can see there was a slight problem and I had to take a detour. A forklift fell off the back of a truck and was just casually hanging out in the intersection.

 My drive only ended up taking about three hours (I credit that to my lead foot zero traffic) and I had a chance to drive through campus and see a few of the changes that were made. I had to snap a quick picture of the house I lived in junior year. I went to a private, Catholic institution and our residence halls were single sex. Once you were a junior or senior you could live in apartments, single sex, but your neighbor might be of the opposite sex. There were two houses across the street from campus that the school owned, one for males, and one for females. My junior year they decided to switch things up and they put 5man of males in FHouse along with a 5man, 4man, and 3man of females. We had the absolute best time that year. It is a close tie between my junior and senior year for the most fun I had in college and junior year was a blast living in FHouse.

My bedroom was the window all the way to the right on the second floor. Prime spot for creeping on the comings and goings.

 I ended up getting home around eight Saturday night after a lovely day of lunch in the President's dining room, presentations by admissions representative, and conversations with fellow alum.

Sunday was hot yoga and baking time. My skills in the kitchen are almost zero but I can make a mean taco dip, not featured below, and red velvet cookies. My New York Giants-themed cookies were a big hit, at FMP's Superbowl party, and at my parent's Superbowl party.



nom nom nom.

In case you were wondering, THE GIANTS WON. But of course they did.



Yes this is a horrendous picture of a damaged picture- but look how cute I was.