Thursday, January 31, 2013

{Its Okay Thursday}






{It's Okay...}

...that I am happy that I don't have to go to CPK until 6 tomorrow night.

...that two of my classes are watching "Beauty & The Beast" tomorrow after their vocab quiz.

...that I HATE HATE HATE shoes with a passion. Every pair of flats stretches and it drives me nuts.

...to look forward to having a drink with Amanda tomorrow night after work.

...to plan on buying the gray Ugg's I have been wanting for the last two years. #problems

...that I only went to the gym once this month. Oops. time to get cracking and actually USE the membership!

...that sometimes the guys on POF creep me out.

...that I want to rip my lungs out because there are times when I can't stop coughing and times when I don't cough at all.

...that my closet and bedroom are STILL a mess. I need like five hours one day and it'll happen. 

...that we made my co-worker wear a cape of a plastic bag last night and I took pictures when were were bagging everything up for the deep clean. The things we do to amuse ourselves.

...that I am dreading hosting tomorrow night.

...for me to believe I need more clothes...I am simply bored of my wardrobe and getting dressed every day for school! 

...to go crawl under my comforter and read "Safe Haven"


Link up today with Amber & Neely!

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

{Sunday Social!}







Happy Sunday everyone!! I hope you are all having a pleasant day. I just came back from Cosco with my mother and that place is a zoo on Sundays. Ha ha. 


Time to link up with this week's questions for Sunday Social!

1. What is your ideal way to relax?
Honestly? Come home and put on my pajamas, get a glass of sangria and watch TV or a movie while browsing the web. 

2. Where is your favorite place to be?
I always joke to my mom that my favorite place to be is in my bed because I love to sleep! Ha ha. But honestly, I have a few favorite places to be. Either with my nieces & nephew because they crack me up and I love them. 

The beach because it is so calm & peaceful.

And with friends! 

3. Who do you consider your biggest role model?
Definitely my mother. I give her so much credit for raising 5 children all by herself (one of whom has a disability) after my dad died...and she didn't know she was pregnant with me when he died. She has sacrificed so much for all of us over the years and when I have kids, if I can even be half the amazing mother she is, that'll mean everything to me.


4. What does your life look like in three years?
In three years, I hope to be either in my own apartment or house (if I am still living at home when I am 29, please give me a swift kick in my butt! lol). I hope to be either engaged or married to my soulmate....if not either of those, then at least dating!! I also hope to have found my ideal teaching job and have my own classroom. It'll be fun to look back in a few years and see if I reach any of these aspirations. 

5. If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
Sometimes I think it may have been where I went to school. I chose my school for it's education program because I wanted to be a teacher. But during my time there, I felt like it was just so unorganized and as a student, you really had to do the work yourself of when to take tests, workshops, etc to be able to get your degree on time. But the one thing I do not regret about what school I went to is the friends I met there!
 Just a small circle of my New Paltz friends :)

6. What is your biggest accomplishment in life so far?
Getting my Bachelor's Degree in Spanish (with a French minor) in 2009



and then my Master's of Science in Adolescence Education with a Middle Childhood Extension in 2011!



Link up with Ashley @ Ashley Lately & Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Ignorance

Sometimes I can't understand why people act a certain way. Why they say a certain thing. It makes me question if they think before they speak. Or if they are just generally a rude person.

I often see it in public....and pretty much every shift when I am at work. Some people just give you an attitude for no reason at all. My favorite thing is when people come into the restaurant and asked to not be sat near any children when its FULL of children. I'll do my best but it's not like you're at a romantic 5 star restaurant...you're at a chain restaurant that is family oriented. And umm? You were once a child too!!

I also hate when people are rude to me at the host stand. My job has started having three hosts on a Friday & Saturday night. One is suppose to be really greeting and focused on the guest. One writes down the names when we're on a wait and one seats. Two people can actually seat the guests. Only I was the only one up there at one point because one of the girls was taking her break and the other one went MIA when I told her to go tell the bussers to clean off a table (and oh hey, they were right next to it). And she instead bussed it off. So this guy took it upon himself to sit himself....who goes into a restaurant and sits themselves when there is a wait going on?! Really....you're that impatient!! I actually told him he isn't suppose to just go to the table and I was waiting for someone to come back. So rude especially because my bosses hate when customers sit themselves and don't listen to us. Why do you think we're up there? For decoration?

Tonight I came home and saw this article on people.com. A waiter refused to serve a man after he insulted a little boy with Down Syndrome. Really?! I am so appalled by this. It hits home since I have always grown up with a brother that has a disability. They deserve to be treated like any other human being -- with respect. They have the right to be in public like anyone else. I could not believe the man insulted this little boy and said that special needs children need to sit elsewhere. Would you want someone to say that about YOUR child if the roles were reversed? I am so glad that the waiter stood up for the little boy and refuse to serve the man. I would have done the same thing. It just goes to prove how so many people are still so ignorant.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Blog funk

I don't know why but lately, I feel like I have been in a blog funk. In a mood. I felt like I did not know what to blog about; not that I feel that I am obligated to blog every day (although I would love to do that!). I think it had to do with a combination of being busy between 2 of my 3 jobs right now and life in general.

Last Friday, I went into the city with my friend Shannon to meet up with our friends Amanda, Sarah (who are roommates) and Jade for dinner. We all went to college together (Amanda is one year younger than us) and it is amazing that almost 4 years after graduation, we have remained friends! At dinner, we actually toasted to "not hating each other!" as Jade said. Hahaha. I can remember being torn about my decision of where to go for school and in the end, I am glad I went where I did. Without a doubt, I am sure no matter where I would have gone I would have made an amazing circle of friends. But the girls I met at NP are truly special! After dinner, Shannon, Amanda and I met up with Amanda's friend from home for a burlesque show. That was definitely something different!! It was an interesting experience.

Sunday was spent with my mom at the outlets. We were both looking for shoes. I normally wear a size 10 in sneakers (yikes, big foot!) but need dress shoes (flats specifically because teaching in heels all day hurts!!). I found a pair of black ones at Bass for pretty cheap. My mom found herself a pair and then I got a bunch of new clothes in Loft for school. I think I am super excited about the Vera Bradley outlet coming there!! I can't wait for it to open!! 

You can all laugh but I finally got all of the Christmas decorations away in the attic. Yes, I know Christmas was a month ago but my siblings are useless when it comes to decorating/un-decorating & putting away. If it wasn't for me, they would never decorate for Christmas. The only thing that I have to do is put the box of paper in the attic but it is a job I am so glad is over!!

I am currently engrossed in "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks. I am SO SO SO excited for the movie to come out next month. How perfect that it is coming out Valentine's Day weekend. Shannon & I have already planned a girls night/date of dinner & drinks when we go see the movie. 

I am so happy that my Erin Condren planner FINALLY came!! I was so late in ordering it (next year I need to order it at the end of November...so that'd actually be this year!)  

And to leave you with a smile on your face, you NEED to watch this video. It's two little Asian baby boys dancing to Gangam Style...funniest video I have seen lately! 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

{Sunday Social!}





This week's link up is all about 3's!! Head on over to Ashley's blog & Neely's blog to link up!


1. Top 3 favorite kinds of food: 
Anything with chicken, Italian, Mexican.

2. First 3 things you do in the morning:
Turn off my multiple alarms, wash my fash and brew the coffee before I can get ready!

3. Last 3 things you do at night:
Set my multiple alarms (I am always afraid I'll oversleep!), brush my teeth, wash my face.

4. 3 TV Shows you never miss:
Grey's Anatomy

Dance Moms

Law & Order SVU

5. 3 Places You Want to Visit:
France, Italy, and Hawaii!

6. 3 People you can always count on:
My mom


My sister-in-law Laurie (I've known her since I was 6 and completely trust her!)


my best friend April 
 

Word vomit

I feel like nothing interesting ever happens anymore in life. If I want to make time to have fun with friends, I have to "pencil it in" and make requests off from work. Boo!! I don't like being an adult. Can I go back to being in college or better yet, no adult responsibilities? I can remember being younger and saying "I can't wait til I grow up...."...yeah I can!

Midterms are FINALLY over!! I am so glad because I dont have to deal with quarterlies again until the end of third quarter. It really amazes me how kids in 8th grade don't "get" that they actually have to study. They think they can ask a teacher during a test to tell them what a question means (I do it if they have language simplified and/or explained on their IEP) but I can tell you hands down who has studied and who hasn't. 

On Friday night, I went into the city with Shannon to have dinner & drinks & hang out with Amanda, Jade, and Sarah...all friends from college. It is hard to believe that this May, we will have been out of school for four years (only three for Amanda) and we're still friends. They say you don't go to college to meet your husband (in some cases...)....you go to meet your bridesmaids. It's so true! We had dinner at a nice pub and then Amanda, Shannon and I went to a burlesque show, which was definitely very different!! It was nice to do something that wasn't the usual. I probably would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't yawning so much from being tired since I got up at 5am that morning. It definitely was fun though and I cannot wait to go back and hang out with all my lovely ladies again.

I really hate how crappy the economy is right now. On Saturday night after my shift, my manager told me that corporate is doing pay cuts across the board and they're cutting almost $2 an hour from both my positions. Plus, now that they are adding another host Fridays & Saturdays, my tip out is going to go down! They are having another host because that way one person can truly greet & engage with the customer, one does the wait list, and one seats.....it's suppose to help alleviate our "stress" when we're on a wait. It really just blows because there go more money. When my manager Melissa told me, I was like "Are you freaking kidding me?" That sucked to hear!! She said she felt really bad because one of the other hosts and I are the most competent ones we have (a few servers that do it can be la la) and feels like she needs to do something to help us out. She and our GM are discussing making me and one of the other hosts become servers...she wants to get us into a training class, train us to server, we can pick up shifts if we need to and then when summer rolls around, we can have more shifts (there are more in the summer) and they wouldnt really have to hire more servers (because we have ones from college). At least Mel is trying to look out for us!! This was just NOT icing on the cake I wanted to hear.

Tomorrow (or maybe today....) my mom and I are going to the outlets before I have to go to work. She wants shoes. I need new flats to wear for school. I will never understand how people can wear heels all day...especially to teach in! I checked the outlet's page for the Tanger Location near us and they have a Vera Bradley outlet coming soon!! I am so excited!!! I have never been to one. This could be bad news though.

One of these days I will be able to find my TV remote. But for now, I am going to end this "word vomit" and read some more of Safe Haven before bed! So good! 

Thursday, January 17, 2013

{It's Okay Thursday!}






Back for another week of "Its Okay Thursdays" with Neely & Amber!


It's Okay....

...that I am jealous of my mom getting asked by her job to go to Disney World...I WANT TO GO!

...to be upset that I got a hole in a pair of sweatpants from VS....that just means I have to go buy another pair.

...that I only saw "Gangster Squad" because of Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone.

...that I took tomorrow night off from work to go into the city for dinner & drinks with friends because I NEVER take a night off.

...that I am so ready for having MLK day off from school! 

...to be super excited for the road trip with Philly this summer with Shannon & her sister Meghan for the Taylor Swift concert!! (WE HAVE FLOOR SEATS!)

...that the Christmas decorations still have not been put away....no one in my family does it but me! I just took the boxes down tonight and my goal is to finish it this weekend.Better late than never!

...that I call my students "my little gremlins," "my little earthlings...." they find it funny!

...that I am too lazy to take the chipped polish off my toe nails. It's winter...who is going to see them!

...that I bought a new case for my iphone last night and the guy at the Apple store recognized me because I work at CPK....haha they come there too often.

...MORE THAN OKAY that tomorrow is PAY DAY!!! HOLLA DOLLA Y'ALL!!

...that I am super super excited for Justin Timberlake's new album! It was about time he released a single!!! 

...that I 100% agree with this quote I found on Pinterest.
“Confidence is the only key. I know a lot of people who aren’t traditionally ‘beautiful’ — not symmetrical or perfect-bodied or perfect-skinned. But none of that matters because all that shines through is their confidence, humor and comfort with themselves. I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself." ~Emma Stone

 
 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

{Sunday Social}






I am back linking up with Ashley & Neely for this week's Sunday Social. For this week's link up, it's another chance to introduce your blog to the blog world and find some great new friends!

1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?
My blog is called "Live, Laugh, Love." I have always felt that it is so true to life and I consider it to be my motto in life. I may change it soon though, who knows?! :) I have been blogging going on my third year now. I discovered a bunch of blogs on adoption when I was recovering from a surgery in December 2010 and I was just in awe of these families. Through those blogs, I discovered other blogs about people's lives in general and thought "Well, this would be fun!" 

2. Why do you blog?
I blog because I find it therapeutic in a way. If I am having a bad day, someone in some part of the country/world has had one of those days and can relate. If I have good news, I want to share my happiness. I've found it to be my creative outlet. 

3. What is the first blog you ever followed?
Oh goodness! This is a tough question and I'm trying to jog my memory...it may be either Live a Charmed Life or Life In It's Ordinary Form .

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?
Hmm. That is kind of tough. Probably The Best Four Months of my Life which recapped when I was studying abroad my junior year of college in the spring semester. I would go back in a heart beat!

5.  What are your blogging goals for 2013?
I would like for my blog to have a blog design done by someone (I'm doing my research). I would also like it to continue to grow and make new friends!

6. Name your top three favorite blogs.
Another hard one!!! They would have to be~
~ Everything Beautiful
Kristin's Knook
This Kind of Love

 

Thursday, January 10, 2013

{It's Okay Thursday!}






Link up with Neely & Amber!

It's okay....

....that I overslept yesterday and woke up when I should've been two exits away from school. I somehow managed to make it ON TIME! Props to me.

...to annoy my brothers with my cough. I can't help it!! My body hates me.

...that I enjoy making my students laugh...when they get my jokes.

...to have had McDonalds yesterday on the way home from school because I was not satisifed with the school lunch and it was just a bad day! Sometimes you need it.

...that I SOBBED on my way home the other day about my math classes/certification issue (that's a whole other post)....and now you think I have issues.

...that the sexy Justin Timberlake is going to record music. Is anyone else as EXCITED AS I AM?! The sexy is coming back! (Actually, it never left)

...to be excited for "Safe Haven" to come out next month. I can't wait to start it on my kindle!

...that I desperately NEED to clean my room but I am much more comfortable sitting in my bed right now. Maybe I'll have to do it next week. Because I still have to put the Christmas decorations away...haha.

...to be excited that I just requested off for my cousin Lisa's wedding on July 4th! I can't wait!

...that my nephew wants to be a ninja. God I love that kid.

...that I shrieked when my friend Shannon sent me a text with the picture of our Taylor Swift tickets for the concert in Philadelphia. SO EXCITED!! I have never been to a concert on a football field and it'll be a fun girls weekend! 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

{It's Okay Thursday!}






Linking up again with Neely & Amber for It's Okay Thursday!



It's Okay....

....that I was REALLY excited one of my teachers was back today after subbing for her for a month....it meant I was rid of the class that was always trouble for me!

...to come home from school, take a shower, and put your PJS on immediately...especially when you're not feeling good!

...to cry at the amount of $$$ you owe in student loans. At this rate, I am going to need a fourth job. Or win the lottery because it'll take me forever to pay off $73K. 

...to want an actual teaching job. It'll help pay off my loans.

...I want to order my Erin Condren planner...even though I just complained about my loans. I do have money from my grandma from Christmas! 

...to have snippy moments. Who is perfect?!

...to be frustrated I can't figure out how to make a line down the middle of two columns on Microsoft Excel. I hate Microsoft Excel.

...to want to give my shift tomorrow night up but need the $$. #firstworldproblems

...to have laughed that Kim Kardashian is having Kanye West's love child.

 ...that I need to go back to the gym but want to wait until I feel better.

...to want to plan a vacation but have no money right now. I hate bills. 

...to be going to bed. I cannot wait.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Bonjour 2013!

I cannot believe I just wrote that....2013! It seems so weird and I feel like 2012 flew by in some aspects yet dragged on in other's! I had high hopes for 2012 and most of htem were met in some way, shape or form. 

So, with every new year, comes a new set of resolutions. And I always wonder, how many people ACTUALLY follow through on what they set out as a resolution on January 1st each year? Do they succeed with each? Or fail miserably? As I hung out with my friend Shannon and her boyfriend Dan last night, I thought of how maybe instead of calling them resolutions that maybe I'd call them goals instead. Goals of things I want to work towards and achieve for a better me in 2013.

What's on my resolution/goal list for 2013?


{JOB}
-Yes. I currently have a job working in the restaurant and I love most of my co-workers. I also have been blessed to have a tutoring job part-time (really only 2+ hours a week). And of course, I was blessed to land my job as a TA that I started in October. However, I worked way too hard and way too long to just spend my life as a TA. Don't get me wrong, I love the district I work in but my goal for 2013 is to find a job. By the end of this year, I'll be 27 and I would really love to have a full-time teaching job, with benefits. Even if that means moving out of state, then so be it! It's time to really bite the bullet and grow up.

{EXERCISE}
I joined Planet Fitness last year and I was pretty good going for awhile. Then when I got my TA job, it kind of fell by the wayside. If I have a gym membership, I might as well make use out of it! I need to carve out more time for exercise. I feel if I do, maybe I'll have more energy.

{CLEANING}
It's a little known fact among my friends that my room can quickly become a black hole! Ha ha! I still have a pile in front of my dresser that I need to clean up (but lack the motivation to do so) but I would like to be better about cleaning and not procrastinate so much!

{LOVE}
-i have enjoyed my last two months of singleness. And I did enjoy my relationship when things were good. But let's face it...who wants to be in a relationship when you're miserable and just know it won't end well? And when your friends & their boyfriends know it won't end well. I hope to discover more about what I want from love and God. I'm still reading When God Writes Your Love Story and honestly? I cannot wait to see what unfolds for me in 2013 in regards to relationships/love. I know my right one is out there. He'll come when I least expect it.

{FRIENDSHIP}
I am ready to carve out more time to have with friends. It is hectic with such opposite schedules and all living in different parts of the state/country. But when we're together, we just pick back up like no time has passed. I cant wait to see where 2013 takes all of my friends!


What are your resolutions/goals?