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!

Etsy Lust List

Just some things I’ve been falling for on Etsy…

I love these Geo Rings from A Merry Mishap. They are sold separately, but how could you choose just one color? There are so many pretty pastels. Plus, they look super cute in a cluster like in this picture. I’ve always liked the multi-ring look.

How adorable are these Woodland Creatures necklaces from Spotlight Jewlery? I wouldn’t know which animal to pick.

I’d never thought to look for beauty items on Etsy, but one of my favorite nail art blogs, Little Nails, mentioned her purchase of a few nail polishes from Lush Lacquer. They are super glittery. I especially love this color, Chubby Checker.

It’s super hard to pick just one lady tie from Flapper Girl. There are so many adorable designs and colors to choose from! I settled on showcasing the Galaxy print, but there are quite a few different ones in my Favorites.

I had to share these lovely succulents from San Pedro Cactus. I first saw them on Etsy’s Pinterest, and on the shop they are all described as sets for wedding or bridal shower favors. I absolutely love that idea. That’s something I don’t have to worry about for a while, but what a great idea. I know I’m in love with my little succulent garden (I’ve named her Susan, by the way), and I’d love to share that joy!

Me Lately

Just some facts and statements and thoughts and happenings currently…

Waking up and getting ready for works is getting harder and harder. I’m pretty sure I’m in my mid-year, it’s-supposed-to-be-summer-vacation slump. Thankfully, I have my week vacation (staycation for us) in about a month. Very necessary.
My eating habits have gotten out of control. It’s not even that I’m  a snacker, constantly eating. It’s just that when I DO eat, it’s the worst stuff and a lot of it. I don’t know how to just stop when I’m comfortably satiated. I really need to work on this.
I also need to work on going to the gym again. I actually love exercising, but it’s one of those things where you get stuck in a trap of not going/doing and it’s hard to make that first step. I just need to make that first step!!!
Last night was the first in 10 days that I slept at my house. I have been spending my days at Brad’s. I don’t actually live there, though we’ve talked about it. I feel at home both there and with my parents, but neither of them feel like MY HOME. I’m 25. I need to move out.
Speaking of being 25, I feel most “my age” when I’m spending time with my boyfriend and my best friends friends. Sitting on porches, sharing bottles of wine, laughing and getting bitten by bugs…those are my happiest moments.
I miss my sister like crazy. And I don’t miss her just because I’ve been staying at Brad’s. I work a normal 9-5ish schedule, and she works 3-11(or later), so our free time conflicts and the only time we can see each other is on the weekend. I need some sis time.
Money has been a big stress in my life lately. I am beyond grateful to have A job, even if it isn’t THE job, simply because I have a handle on student loans/cell phone and med bills/gas, but that’s about all I can handle. I’m not asking for tons extra, but it would be nice to be able to afford a new car, an apartment, and maybe some new clothes and books on my Kindle.
Speaking of my Kindle, I feel sad and lost if I don’t have it on me. It’s funny, because before I got it, I was buying so many used books for great prices off of Amazon. And now I just buy a book at a time at (almost) full price. So maybe it actually was a better choice, since the publishers are actually making money off of my purchases? I don’t know, I don’t think I should have to justify my e-book. I know that physical paper books are better (and I still love them and buy them), but the Kindle has made reading instantly accessible and a lot more fun.
And speaking of books, I see absolutely nothing wrong with reading YA novels, even though I’m 25. I’m pretty much 14 at heart anyways. And there are a lot of good YA novels out there. And a good book is a good book (BRAD).
Ever since I got my little dish garden, I’ve become obsessed with letting it grow and flourish. I really wanna be a good plant mama.
Twitter and Instagram and Blogger > Facebook

That’s all for now.

GIRLS

8 episodes in and I’m just madly in love with GIRLS. There is so much to love about it.
I don’t care what the haters say.
I find a lot of this show painfully honest and relatable and even if I haven’t done it (or had it done to me), I know someone who has.

Just what the doctor ordered.

The Weekend

Another short but sweet weekend. I’ll tell ya, I’m gonna be so glad when Friday rolls around and I have both Saturday and Sunday to just chill out and relax and have fun. Still, I was able to cram a lot into my 1 1/2 days. A good nap, a quick shopping trip by myself (I got the sweetest sundress for the summer!), ordering Domino’s with Brad and eating it in bed, Mexican food, Misfits, and wine with my lady Lauren. My friend’s bridal shower (I remember when we were in 10th grade and their relationship was just starting!).

It’s back to the grind, but it’ll prepare me for more lovely days and an excellent weekend.

Have a great Monday!

May Photo a Day Challenge Completed!

I have finished Fat Mum Slim’s Photo a Day challenge for May. I love doing it. I’m trying to get more creative with it, but it’s hard sometimes. Hence, the challenge.
By the way, the completion of the Photo a Day challenge means the conclusion of the month of May.
It doesn’t seem like a whole month has passed since I shared with you guys my April photos from the challenge.

May is my favorite month, and now it’s over. Thankfully, it was wonderful! The best birthday party I’ll ever have in my life (I’m sure), beautiful weather, and amazing times with good people. I’m ready for June. For more good.

1. My sister throwing up a peace sign in celebration of her job!
2. The skyline above Price Chopper, a place I’m at nearly everyday.
3. I wore shorts on the 3rd because it was one of the first hot days.
4. I had fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo early!
5. A couple of birds outside of Brad’s.
6. Me before a day out to Hoboken.
7. My Summa Cum Laude graduate/full-time job rocker sister is someone who inspires me.
8. I adore the smell of coffee. So intoxicating.
9. Tinted moisturizer, mascara, and blush is a ritual I do everyday.
10. I fell in love with the word indefatigable thanks to Scott Pilgrim.
11. Kitchen.
12. Something that makes me happy is being outside on water on a beautiful day.
13. My cousin is a mom to be!
14. Green grass, red shoes, yellow dandelion.
15. Silly love with Brad.
16. I was reading Girls in White Dresses at the time.
17. Brad stuffed tomatoes with goat cheese, herbs, and mushrooms as a snack.
18. My Black Swan costume crown was something I made.
19. Canteen 900 is a favorite place, especially since they surprised me with a birthday cupcake!
20. I couldn’t live without Brad, who helped organize the best birthday party of my life and, of course, loves me!
21. All my bags at Brad’s from where I stand.
22. Two pictures to show off all the pink in my day!
23. Some of my favorite technology.
24. My little succulent plant dish is something new to me, a great gift from Catie.
25. An unusual picture of Artie that Maria’s boyfriend sent me.
26. 12 o’ clock AM and still awake.
27. Brad surprising me with a tasty Strawberry Banana smoothie is sweet in two ways!
28. Clear skies and warm weather.
29. 19 happens to be a number I love (birthday?).
30. My personality varies from sleepy to goofy to imaginative and excited!
31. Nature is always a thing of true beauty.

Can’t wait to try another month. Hopefully I’ll learn some things along the way.

I’m glad it’s Friday! I have a busy weekend, though. It will surely fly by. Work on Saturday and the bridal shower of my first friend who is getting married on Sunday! Everyone around me is getting engaged and planning weddings.
Man…we are growing up.

Happy weekend, all!