The Weekend

I had a positively lovely weekend. I hope you did too! Spring has finally sprung around these parts. Brad and I went for a walk to the library and ended up wandering a lot farther and longer than that. On Sunday, we had a a little cookout with Brad’s cousin Shawn and his wife Rebecca…LOVE THEM. Here is a Vine video I took of it. Do you use Vine? It’s the best.
Anyway, here are some of photos from the weekend.

Obviously I was having some fun with the Instant Film edits on Afterlight!
The last picture is from a little project I worked on for the blog.
Keep your eyes peeled for that in the near future!

Hoping for a good week…Brad’s doing work in California this week and I have to work my first Saturday shift in a month this coming weekend.
Borrrrring. But I’m going to be catching up with a friend from the West Coast when the weekend does come, and as long as I survive Monday, the rest of the week seems like a breeze. Just hope that’s true.

Fun with Multiple Exposures

One of the main reasons I got a Holga camera was because I loved the idea of multiple exposures, which basically means I can take as many pictures as I want on one frame (you really only wanna do two or three, so as to not over-expose the film). It’s so neat to see two different angles of the same object or even two completely different photos on one frame. They tell their own unique story.

It’s probably obvious since I haven’t posted anything on the blog, but I’ve been letting my Holga collect dust.
I’m bummed about that. And of course, a lot of it has to do with missing out on my multiple exposures.
But then I saw that Hipstamatic has a multi-exposure pack for .99 cents and I had to get it! It’s awesome because I’m saving money that would go towards developing film (there’s only one place that does it around here, it takes forever, and it’s not cheap at all),
with instant gratification as well.

Here are some of the photos I’ve taken using this awesome app addition.

Two friends, two ways.
Top of the bottle, label of the bottle.
My Canteen 900 latte and the décor of the restaurant.
A pretty organ and the wall next to it.

I’m excited to play more. It’s a lot of fun. I took more photos, but they don’t (like the Holga) always turn out the way you hope.
It’s still fun, and at least I can try endlessly!

December Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

Not only did this challenge signify the end of a month, it also signified the end of 2012.
I plan on continuing Fat Mum Slim’s photo challenges. At the end of a year, I’ll have 365 photos to be proud of.
It’s not always easy. But that’s why it’s a…duh…CHALLENGE.

Above was the list for the month. Below is my compilation of photos, as per usual.

1. 12/1 was a Saturday, and I worked, so that meant grabbing breakfast on the go at 8 o’ clock.
2. I was completely at peace doing some light Christmas window shopping and getting fresh air on my own.
3. I held my new 2013 planner which, cheesy enough, I’m using to record and log my blog posts (it keeps me inspired, even just for myself).
4. A black and white photo of Artie that I took with my Rebel and posted to Instagram. I love how tiny he looks!
5. Artie looking up at the house, waiting to get back into the warmth after a jaunt around the yard.
6. They released a Monopoly-inspired game based on a city in NEPA, where I live.
7. No stars in the sky, but these pretty lights at a local restaurant were shining like them.
8. If the category is someone you love, you’ll probably be seeing a photo of Brad.
9. Coffee and a car ride, out and about with Brad to attend a little Christmas party at my aunt’s.
10. Artie loves to burrow himself under blankets.
11. A sweet cotton candy colored sunset.
12. This jolly snowman wears a hat and decorates our windowsill inside the house.
13. Lights on the Christmas tree, necessary for a December photo!
14. Mossy ground was my something green.
15. Spotted this frosty grass outdoors.
16. Even though it hasn’t actually become anything yet, this crochet is something I made.
17. My bags are always on the floor at Brad’s. Hate living out of bags.
18. My sister’s homemade wreath, Christmas cookies, a cute Hello Kitty mug present, and a trimmed tree all make me feel merry.
19. Sunshine is something that begins with ‘s’ and it’s also something we haven’t been seeing much lately.
20. It was conveniently snowing all pretty-like when I went to take this picture of the weather.
21. Took a picture of the manger, sans-baby Jesus, under the tree.
22. Love these mini tree decorations my sister has.
23. Joy is food and togetherness with friends and/or family.
24. Wrapping presents and watching holiday movies are a tradition on Christmas Eve.
25. Lunchtime is actually Christmas dinner time.
26. Got to leave work early in this mess…even though it took me about 20 extra minutes to get home.
27. A book, some food, and quiet time by the pretty tree is a way I relax.
28. Ice, snow, strong winds…it was a very cold day.
29. Hot toddies on a snow day.
30. My birthday party was definitely something that made me smile this year.

And the final picture, a self-portrait for day 31, didn’t fit into the little grid so here it is…

Fresh out the shower, towel turban, no makeup.

Can’t wait to share this month with you!

 

OH, and speaking of challenges, I’ve decided to attempt to read 52 books in 52 weeks. I know this might sound a little nuts, but I do read a lot, I already have the next couple months in books planned out (not to mention new ones that will come out and other books I’d like to read by some of my favorite authors along the way), so I feel like I can possibly do it? I’m not going to beat myself up about it, but a book a week is reasonable for me. Besides, I don’t plan on following every rule. Actually, I’m content with reading as many books as possible within the year. There’s no pressure because I’m going to read anyway. If I make it to 52, awesome. If not, I tried. But I figured, some books take me a few days, and others can take me a couple of weeks. Why not give it a shot in my own way?
And also, I haven’t kept an actual log of the books I read in the last year.
I have a Goodreads account, but it’s easy to forget the when and where. This way, I can track my own little private library by writing what I read, when I started it and when I finished it. Sound good? I’ll keep ya posted.

A Pre-Holiday Weekend

I couldn’t have asked for a better pre-Christmas weekend than the one I had.
We started Friday off with a nice gathering at Brad’s house. Snacks and beers galore with friends…not a quiet, dull moment in the house.
It’s so nice to have Jenna and Ed back, even if only for a few weeks!

On Saturday, my sister and I went for lunch at Canteen 900 (it’s been soooo long since I’ve been there) and did some last minute shopping. I’m all set, but pounding out those last gifts really got me excited for actually giving them. That’s my favorite part of Christmas!

But the highlight had to be Lauren’s family dinner on Saturday night. Her parents invited a bunch of us over for some amazing lasagna and fettucine alfredo, along with plenty of wine. We had so much fun eating delicious food, trading presents, and talking about what Christmas means to us. It brought me to tears to be a part of a such a lovely evening, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, the love and the family and togetherness. It’s so easy to get caught up in the material aspect, and to stress (if you’re like me) about money and “is it all enough?” but this weekend was exactly what I needed to put everything into perspective.

So, today is Christmas Eve! Santa Claus is coming to town! Christ the Savior is born! It’s actually here!
Tomorrow, kids (including grown-up ones, like my sister and I) will be waking our parents up and exchanging presents.
It came so fast, and it’s over all too quickly.
But I want to wish a very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and Happy Holidays in general!

 

All photos were taken with Hipstamatic. I recently purchased the Multi-Exposure kit, and I’m excited to share some fun photos I took with it!

November Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

Holy Moly! It’s December, everybody! In just a bit over 20 days, some of us will be celebrating Christmas! The holidays are upon us officially!
To top it off, when the month ends, 2012 goes with it! How crazy is that?
Anyway, it’s time to share my second to last Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day challenge of this year!

Here’s the list:

And here are my photos!
(You can totally see when I purchased and fell in love with the Afterglow app, haha)

1. My night to cook, which is something that starts to C.
2. Plenty of colors in this store-brand Lucky Charms-type cereal.
3. Breakfast of champions at work: Coffee and a string cheese.
4. TV and a snack before bed.
5. 5 o’ clock means I’m finally home from work and I can relax.
6. Hello Kitty is a favorite thing of mine.
7. My reflection x3.
8. Hitting the snooze on my phone is something I do everyday and it can be very problematic.
9. My not-so-small personal pizza at Arena Bar and Grill.
10. I won’t live without laughter, which is something Brad has me doing from the moment I wake up.
11. Night falling as I drive on the Cross Valley Expressway.
12. Coffee is my drink of choice in the morning.
13. The half of the week I spend at home, so that’s where I slept.
14. I watched this man-made building go from a hole in the ground to a beautiful new home over the last several months.
15. These are some of the things I keep in my bag (purse). The book is always changing.
16. The view from my window is a slightly creepy old shack and lots of trees.
17. Flavored coffee creamers were the last thing I bought when I took this photo. Both are tasty!
18. Seeing Breaking Dawn Pt 2 was my happened this weekend photo.
19. The sunsets that occur as winter approaches are something awesome.
20. My feet at work/play. Play on weekdays is just chilling on the computer and chatting with my sister.
21. Little Miss Matched socks are what I wore this day.
22. Very grateful for my family, the holidays, a roof over my head, and the food on the table.
23. Black detail on a sheer orange blouse.
24. When Brad bought his iPad, a sound I heard was him cursing and grunting as he set it up.
25. A pretty sky at Skytop when we went zip lining!
26. Just your basics in the cupboard. Oatmeal, sugar, flour, etc….
27. The roots and trunk of a tree in the neighborhood.
28. My trusty(ish) ‘93 Buick Century, the only vehicle I call mine.
29. My big puffy coat might not be flattering, but it’s so warm and cozy!
30. My mom and I painted these stripes on the wall back during my first winter break from college in 2005/2006.
It’s a great memory of mine and a proud moment for both of us. Still looks good!

Can’t wait to share this month’s with you…which will be in 2013! Wow.

A Cure for the Workday Blues

What should you do when your day (or week) just isn’t working out?
Go on a sushi date, of course!

Brad had a certificate for Pearl, the sushi bar at the casino, so we decided to make it a no-cooking night and gorge on some yummy sushi.
The other good thing about Pearl? They have a happy hour where all of their tasty Martinis are half off.
We didn’t really need to drink 3 a piece, but we sure did, guys. We sure did. (Yin was my poison of choice. SO good.)
And that would explain why I promptly fell asleep for 2 hours when we got home.

It was the best way to forget about the terrible days we both had!

Tipsy Tuesday

Vacation Tuesday (seems so much longer than a week away) ended up being…pretty interesting. We started the day off sorta early, by vacation standards, and headed to Brad parents’ house to swim for a little with my friend (our friend) Lauren before she headed off to work at 2. It was fun floating and soaking in the sun (I definitely got my tan lines from that day), eating delicious hoagies for lunch, and listening to great music. After Lauren left, Brad and I ran a few errands and then immediately jumped into the pool afterwards. The interest part: I accidentally got a little tipsy. Like, I was floating in the pool, had a SkinnyGirl margarita and felt fine, then dried off to go inside the house and felt wobbly. It snuck up on me! We joined Brad’s parents for dinner (and some Summer Shandys) at a place called the Tipsy Turtle. It was delicious, and I polished off a quesadilla the size of a pizza without uttering a single syllable. By the time we got back to his parents’ house, I was face down on Brad’s childhood bed, fast asleep. Food and Shandy coma, for sure. But worth every second of it.

All photos taken using the Hipstamatic app. Bettie XL lens and Blanko Freedom13 film (for anyone interested).

(Not) The End

As this posts online, as you read this, I am sitting at work, staring at the clock, waiting for 4:40 PM once again.
It is so weird, and yet so predictable and normal. Strange because it’s sad but strange because it feels like what I’m supposed to be doing. Vacation was amazing, but it didn’t completely take me away from that daily duty, those responsibilities I can’t avoid.

All of the pictures in the tiles above are from the weekend alone. I had such a relaxing, lovely vacation. But I have amazing friends who make any day a billion times better. I’m sad that I can’t sleep in, or do whatever I want all day, relax and carry on stress-free. But Saturday and Sunday reminded me that I have great friends that make any moment better. This might be the end of my “vacation,” but it is mostly certainly not the end of fun, of all the good times, of summer or beyond.

1st Day Fun

Today was our first “official” day of vacation. Like, we would’ve had Saturday and Sunday off anyway, so Monday would be the actual vacation! Like I mentioned before, we really don’t have any actual plans. Today was the day we tackled a few of the things we actually wanted to do, which means the rest of our week is seriously open. Tomorrow will probably be a swim, lounge, read, watch a movie day.

Today, we slept in. 9 hours of sleep. We were out. Like, we slept 2 hours past our alarm.
But that’s okay because we were up in enough time to get ready for the day, eat some breakfast, and head to the IMAX theater about 40 minutes away and catch the first IMAX 3D show of The Amazing Spider-Man. I will say, I liked it. The 3D was well-done, I have a massive crush on Andrew Garfield, and Emma Stone has poreless, perfect skin. Thank God we enjoyed ourselves.
It cost 31 bucks just to see a damn movie. Two of us. At a matinee. YEESH.

How funny are the IMAX 3D glasses? We look like we should be going skiing.

Next, we headed to the bookstore and the mall for a bit of shopping. Couldn’t be done without the aid of a refreshing, cold coffee beverage.

I got a yummy Almond iced coffee, and Brad got a S’mores frappe.

We headed to the casino for a teensy bit of gambling before dinner. The plan was to gamble 20 bucks a piece on the penny slots, but we always lose control (and we always lose each other, parting ways to feel out the machines). 20 turned into 50 very quickly (spending, not winning) and I was getting pretty discouraged. Until I sat down at this Wizard of Oz game, and before ya know it, I was coming out with a couple hundred bucks! This happened to me last vacation, too, which I’m extremely grateful for. I don’t have much money in general, let alone for vacation dilly-dallying. I’m glad I have a little extra spending money, or saving money, even.

We ended the evening with an enormous, delicious dinner and a couple of glasses of wine at one of my favorite restaurants in the area. You can’t go hungry. Every entrée comes with a salad bar, a cup of soup, bread, veggies to share, a potato or pasta, and dessert! The prices are amazing and the service is excellent. I’m glad Brad’s mom gave us a Restaurants.com gift certificate.

All in all, it was an excellent day, vacation or not. I can’t see what tomorrow brings.

And How Was Your 4th?

It’s 24-48 hour periods like these that remind me why I exist in this world.

Why I liked my 4th of July:
IC Light Mango, that hour that the backyard turned into a cloud of cigar smoke on accident, meeting new people, burgers and hot dogs, seven layer taco dip, the fact that my boyfriend and sister get along with all of my friends, the fact that I have some amazing friends, beer pong and whirlpooling in a pool that’s 3 feet tall, funk and disco music all day, laughing until my stomach ached, chasing fireworks across town.

Life is so good. It’s just super weird to go back to work after a wonderful mini-weekend/vacations. Only 2 and 1/2 more days until my week off!

The Weekend

This doesn’t make any sense to me at all. When I work on a Saturday, the weekend obviously goes by a lot quicker than I’d like. But when I have a Saturday off, it moves just as fast. I’m pretty sure it was just Friday night. So why am I already back at work? Time flies. When you’re having fun. Which is excellent. But also sad.

I am so desperate for my  vacation! Two weeks and I’ll be relaxing, sleeping in, the whole day ahead of me to do whatever, whenever.
Until then, I’ll enjoy all the time I have. This weekend was another one for the books. More on that later…

Here’s to a good week!!!

Weekend

Another short and simple (but lovely) weekend. I’d say for the most part it was pretty quiet. Also, food-centric. Chinese buffet, homemade omelets, bruschetta and a big burger at Bar Louie, yummy Tiramisu-esque ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s, steak and cheese sandwiches with Brad’s family, hot dogs and brats with mine. And I wonder why I’ve gained so much weight…

It’s become a tradition for me to pick up a new six-pack every weekend to enjoy over the couple of days I get. How else would I be able to share my Nails and Ales with you? I enjoyed some tasty seasonal brews with my friend Lauren, watching Pretty Little Liars and laughing like we always do. It was nice to have some girlfriend time, which I’ve been getting a lot of recently.
I love my boyfriend, but I just need to have some time with my ladies sometimes.

I worked Saturday, so that also could be why this weekend went fast. But the days have been easy lately. Work is work, but it hasn’t been dragging. I’m reading a lot to pass the time. Summer is officially just days away. My week vacation is only a few weeks away! And this coming weekend is an open book, for the most part.

Here’s to a great week, everyone!

The Weekend

I could’ve sworn it was just Friday night. How are we back to another Monday? This weekend ended up being chockfull of fun and friends. I spent a lot of time with my friends Lauren and Catie at their adorable and comfy new place. We stayed up late drinking a variety of beers, ordering pizza at 2 am, and laughing and dancing. We continued the fun on Saturday in a different way, enjoying lunch at Canteen 900 (I seriously love that place so much) and picking up Catie’s new dog, Abby…er, Ellie! She is the sweetest Chihuahua/Rottweiler mix in the world!

Other noteable parts of the weekend: Drinking cheap beer in a beautiful backyard, getting caught in the rain walking to a new-to-us bar, finally spending time with my sister with a bit of shopping and Panera lunch, taking a nice leisurely dip in the pool on a scorching hot day, and satisfying a massive craving for olives and hummus to top off my Sunday night.

It was a great weekend, and I’m so sad to see it go. But I know there are more in store.

Here’s to a great week, everyone!

Dinner Last Night: Fried Rice

I’ve slacked off recently and neglected my duties of making dinner for the family. It’s been three weeks, but mostly it was because Maria’s graduation/my 10 days at Brad’s/my lack of finances that made me skip it. I’m always on the look out for tasty recipes and new things to entertain and feed my family, but I stuck with a classic stir-fry. The new twist was making fried rice. It’s super easy to do, but I had to prepare the rice right before I “fried” it, and it wasn’t as sticky as I would’ve liked. I will be trying it again though.

I also got extra veggies for this round of stir-fry. And last time I made it with beef. The Korean Teriyaki sauce I bought was sweet and spicy and savory all at once. All in all, it was the perfect meal. And my dad couldn’t stay away! I am a darn good cook when I want to be.

This Thursday felt normal, unlike the last couple. Now that my shows (Parks and Rec/30 Rock/Community etc.) are over, there’s nothing to watch on TV. And I got super slacker on my nails, which I hated because doing nail art was something I really enjoyed and that really made me smile for the week until I tried something new. So I put on some headphones, rewatched this past week’s episode of Girls, pulled out 7 different polishes, and went to town on my rendition of this look that I’ll share with you soon enough.

I’m so thankful for the weekend! Brad is super busy, but I finally have a weekend off (I worked the last two Saturdays, boo) and I intend to relax and spend time with my friends and finally see my sister because I miss her so damn much. I’m excited to say TGIF!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Weekend

We were blessed with such beautiful weather this weekend! It went by so fast but every moment was perfect. My cousin is having a baby (look at her totally adorable baby bump…I love baby bumps!) so we went to NJ for her shower. It was at her in-laws, who live right on a lake in a perfect house that I really wish I could live in and read and write for the rest of my life.

Also: Went to La Tolteca with my friends for one of Jenna’s last hangouts before she departs for California. We ended up staying up ‘til 3 am talking about nothing and trying to do yoga (Brad and Jenna, not me). I am really gonna miss her when she leaves.
We also celebrated Mother’s Day at my house and had a yummy dinner with my family! Happiness.

I definitely had a case of the Sunday Night Blues last night, but Thursday is my Friday this week so I get to enjoy a short week and a three-day weekend! Not to mention it’s gonna be my birthday and I’m preparing for a little party this Saturday!
Good things ahead.

The Weekend

My sister’s portfolio presentation and Tommy’s wings and pizza to celebrate. Corona bucket specials and laughing ‘til it hurts. Driving with the windows down and wearing a skirt without tights. Homemade guacamole and margaritas in mason jars. Playing with adorable puppies.
A road trip out of state with beautiful friends on a gorgeous spring day. My 1st falafel pita and my 1st Pinkberry frozen yogurt.
An amazing, orange full moon over the Hudson river.

It was a very very very good weekend.

The Weekend

Working on Saturdays cuts into my weekend. I can still enjoy myself a little on Fridays, but I still have to wake up early the next morning. No late nights, no sleeping in. I end up coming home, eating something, and promptly napping. Napping has quickly become my favorite thing.
I still managed to have an excellent time. Late night dinner and beer with Lady J (I dunno, Jenna, I felt like calling you that) and a Thai dinner date with my girl Lauren, topped off with drinks at the casino with my favorite people.
So yeah…’twas good.

The highlight was my first meal at Thai Thai (cheesy website!), which was actually my first experience with Thai food in general. I went with the classic Pad Thai (Chicken, as I’m allergic to shellfish). I enjoyed every bite, but I had a lot left over. We always started off the meal with some crispy Thai rolls, and I definitely could’ve gorged on a few more plates of that.
I actually loved the fact that the restaurant is BYOB. I stopped at the wine and spirits store and picked up Cupcake Vineyards’ Chardonnay.
We definitely finished the bottle.

To a great week!

Photos of a Day Off

.99 cent iced coffees from Dunkin’ Donuts to start off the day.
The neighbor’s lilac bush.
Cherry Blossoms on a walk.
3 with everything from Abe’s Hot Dog.
A dress, a bracelet, and 5 new nail polishes (I told you I’m obsessed!) I purchased.

 

Yesterday was beautiful. Sunshine. Heat. Iced coffee sipping and reading on the back porch. Sunglasses. Flowers. Oscillating fans and no lights to keep cool indoors. Late night dinner with people I love.
It was hard to go back to normal today.

A Lovely Weekend

This weekend I: drank Hoegaarden and danced until the bar closed, ate 20 piece Chicken McNuggets by myself, slept in like mad, sat on the back porch with my lovely friends for drinks and conversation, watched two doggies fight and play, had brunch and went to the Electric City Craft Brew Festival with one of the cutest couples ever, ate my favorite sandwich from my favorite local deli, and watched the beautiful Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene.

I think it’d be redundant to say it was a great weekend. I’m enjoying the tail end of my vacation day (more on that tomorrow), and it is in over 80 degrees here! I’m getting excited for sundresses and swimming…it’ll be here before ya know it!

Since today is my “Sunday,” I can’t help but be a little bummed out. But the weekends just get better and better. So why complain?

Here’s to a great week!

Easter Weekend

Short but sweet weekend. Working on Saturdays really puts a dent in weekend time, but I’ve been able to find a nice balance in how I spend it.
Friday night was simple. A run to Target, some pizza at our favorite local spot, and watched In Time (super-cheesy, but made better with wine and candy!). As for Saturday, naps have sorta become the norm. After a cozy post-work nap, Brad and I got ready for hibachi dinner with some of his family and a night in my hometown to hang out with some friends. As for yesterday, I celebrated the beautiful Easter Sunday in a fun dress I’ve been waiting to wear for months, eating tasty food at Brad’s parents’ and finishing the final Hunger Games book, Mockingjay.

All in all, it was a great weekend. I can’t wait for the next! I have next Monday off, and I am aching  for a three-day weekend! A mini-hiatus from life is just what I need! ‘Til then, I’ll enjoy what comes my way this week.

Here’s to a great week ahead!