Ten on Tuesday #7

Another ToT! 


1. What’s the recipe for your favorite drink? (Smoothie, alchoholic, coffee, whatever.)
Lately I love a Chargarita – you take a bucket of frozen margarita mix and add Chardonnay  instead of tequila… oh my goodness it’s yummy!!

I also made a White Peach Sangria for my Thirty-One party a couple weekends ago & that was a big hit!  Find the recipe here.  Except I used peach schnapps instead of peach vodka and I added ½ bottle of club soda.

2. What kind of razor do you use?
Venus

3. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?
Uh, Cookie Monster fer shur.

4. What makes the perfect salad? (Lettuce type, toppings, dressing, etc.)
I love a good Cobb Salad… or anything with avocado!

5. What was your favorite subject in school?
In high school – my communication arts class with Gretch.  We had soooo much fun!

A picture of Gretch & I developed in that class... one of my favs!

In college – costume makeup, even though I had cow walking through campus with no makeup on (you can to come makeup-less), that was my favorite class!

6. What’s your favorite summer tradition?
Going to see Kenny Chesney with Meg!  He didn’t tour last year and it didn’t quite feel like summer.

Me & Meg - Kenny in Bristow, VA 2009

Oh, and going to lawn concerts at Nissley Winery!

7. Do you suffer from season allergies? How do you combat them?
Absolutely!  I take Omnaris (shout out!) and started allergy shots last year.  That’s a 4 year commitment, so they better work.  But I used to be so miserable I would hide in my parents basement in the spring.  Oh, and I also had turbinate reduction surgery last year because I couldn't breathe, and that has worked miracles!

8. How often do you have to charge your cell phone?
Every day!  If I forget at night when I wake up it is dead.  But I have a charger at home, at work and in the car, so I’m never worried.

9. Do you have a bucket list?
Nah... although that might be a good idea to motivate me to go outside of my comfy box.  

10. Do you have any desire to go back to school?
Sometimes… but mainly at the end of the summer when there are all the “Back to School” sales and advertisements! Haha!

The Story of Us

Today is Shelby's "Gotcha Day"... the day I welcomed her into my home and more importantly my heart.

There were many steps that finally led me to Shelby.  After I graduated in December of 2009 with my graduate degree, I was determined to get a dog, specifically a Lab.  I found a really nice breeder online and put my name on the waiting list for a puppy.  I was so excited!!  Then I received an email that the mother had a false pregnancy.  The poor thing went through all the symptoms and signs of a pregnancy, but with no puppies.  I was devastated, not only for myself, but for the dog and her family.  That family was not going to have puppies again until the fall and I could not wait that long.  So, I found another breeder close to home, Roundmeadow Labradors.

I went to visit the kennels the beginning of June and immediately put a deposit down for a puppy that I would be able to bring home in a few months.  The litter was due in a couple weeks and I kept checking Roundmeadow's website for updates.  One Friday afternoon I saw this picture on their website & fell in love:

I went to see Shelby on Monday and picked her up on Wednesday, which was June 23rd.  

Shelby at Roundmeadow when I first met her

On our way home...

Watching the Twilight special on TV first night home.

Things were rough at first, it definitely was not an easy transition for either of us, but every day got better and better.  Now I cannot imagine my life without her!  I am so lucky and so blessed to have Shelby.  Most times I am certain she 'saved' me.  It's like that bumper sticker, "Who Rescued Who?" even though I never consider Shelby as rescued since she came from one good home and into another.

This year has brought many happy memories that I will cherish forever!  Here are some of my favorite pictures of my Shelby (aka: Shell, Honey Bunny, Shelbinator, Scaredy Cat, and Pretty Girl):

Ten on Tuesday #6

1. What’s the perfect meal?
Anything Mexican, but especially chips & guac, chicken burrito… yummm

2. What are the perfect pair of shoes?
Flip flops!  Until they break and bad things happen…

Sept 2007

3. What is the perfect afternoon?
Laying at the beach with a cool breeze & not a care in the world!

4. What’s the perfect house?
For me, right now, it would have to have lots of windows to let all the sunshine in, but be small enough so I don’t have a lot to clean, have an updated kitchen, bathrooms, & appliances, a garage so I don’t have to clean off my car in the winter, a BIG backyard for Shelby to run around in, and last but not least a HOA that will shovel my snow!

5. What is the perfect outfit?
Comfy pants & a t-shirt (short or long sleeve depending on the weather)… comfy pants can be sweats, PJ pants, yoga pants, cotton capris, etc.  That being said, I also don’t mind dressing up every now and then!

6. What’s the perfect wedding song?
Pass!  I’m not even close to getting married so I’m not going to waste my time thinking about it J

7. What is the perfect job?
My perfect job would be an event planner, specifically a wedding planner.  I think that would be SO much fun!!

My braids from when I cut my hair off.

8. What’s the perfect hairstyle?
I wish I had long hair again!  I’ve been short for about a year now and I’m trying to grow it out.  It is at the annoying stage so it’s up in a pony tail a lot.  But lately I love long hair with loose curls. 

9. What’s the perfect music festival?
A boy band music festival.  Duh. 
Honestly I don’t know?  My taste in music is so diverse I couldn’t limit it down to just one genre!  The Ashley Music Festival would include a touch of Kenny Chesney, the sounds of Michael Bublé, a little Black Eyed Peas, some Beyonce action, mixed in with some Jimmy Buffett (because he’s always a good time)… And depending on the day, I’d add some old skool jams. lol!

10. What’s the perfect day to yourself?
Sleeping late, watch some TV, play with Shelby, do some shopping, read a little, watch a movie or two… nothing exciting. I need my days to myself, but I prefer to be with people!

Flashback Friday

I admit... I am, was, and probably will always be a boy band fan.  Last week I was lucky enough to have a friend invite me to see NKOTBSB in Philadelphia.  She had scored awesome skybox seats from work.  It was so much fun... I had a blast!  If you are unaware... NKOTB is New Kids on the Block and BSB is Backstreet Boys.  I am a big NSYNC fan, so I could have cared less about BSB, but they were pretty good!

As all girls my age in the 90s, I was a New Kids fan.... Jordan was my favorite :) 

I totally had this poster hanging up in my bedroom!

Unfortunately, I was never able to see them in concert back when I was a kid, but when they opened for *NSYNC, I was there to see them for the first time ever!  Which led me to my obsession with *NSYNC during college.  But I digress...

Hearing their songs again brought back so many memories and happy times!  What was amazing to me was how easily I remembered all the words!!  Don't ask me what we did last weekend, but I can belt out some "Cover Girl" and "Hanging Tough."

Here are some pictures I took with my phone (so they are not the highest quality):

I'm so excited that I get to go see them again at the end of July :)

Ten on Thursday #5 :)

Since I totally forgot to post on Tuesday (or Wednesday), this is ToToT.  haha!!

1. How do you pronounce the word aunt? Does your pronunciation rhyme with ‘haunt’ or ‘can’t'?
Can't... like the bug ant.

2. Do most of the people in your life know you blog? Or are you partially or totally anonymous?
I think so?  I post my blogs on FB, so I'm not hiding it.  

3. When you grocery shop, do you prefer to bag your own groceries or do you like it when the store bags them for you? Paper, plastic, or reusable bags?
I don't care who bags them, but I always like to help if I can!  I would use reusable bags, but I use the plastic bag as poop bags! haha!

4. Do you have a green thumb?
I try, but no :(  I'm doing pretty well this year so far... I actually have little tomatoes on my plant out back!  But it's still early in the season... lol

How cute!

5. If you watch the Food Network, which chef/show host is your favorite?
I do not watch the Food Network & I don't even know the chefs on there!  I do watch Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with my dad when I'm at my parent's house and think Guy Fieri is really fun!

6. Do you like to take baths? Do you take them very often?
I think I've taken two baths in the past 3 years!  I like showers better.

7. What color are the walls in your kitchen?
Off white.  My counter tops are red, so I can't go too crazy with paint color.  I want to re-model the kitchen eventually and paint it a prettier color.  This is a picture before I moved in.  I took down the curtains and got a new stove & dishwasher.  But you get the idea of why the walls are off-white!

8. Do you prefer to dine outdoors or indoors?
Outside... if there is no wind, sun in my eyes or bugs.  LOL!

9. Describe your ideal weather.
The past couple days have been wonderful!  Yesterday was a little warm for my "ideal" weather, but I'd take it!  I also have a soft spot for cool, fall days.

10. If you could learn any foreign language, which would you choose to learn?
Italian would be pretty & fun :)

Ten on Tuesday #4

It's another ToToW :)

1. What type of phone do you have? Do you like it?
I have the Droid X and I love it!!! 

2. How old were you when you got your first cell phone?
I was in college… maybe 19 or 20?  I remember picking out my first cell phone which was a flip phone with a ugly green screen, but I’m not sure if I had one before that.

3. How many cell phones have you owned since your first?
Probably about 5 or 6 since I upgrade as soon as I can.  I've been with Verizon since my first cell phone and love them!

4. How much is your average monthly phone bill?
$95... I have the lowest minutes you can buy!  I think 450 and never come close to it.  But I have extra text & data since I use that much more!! 

5. When you were a kid/teenager, were you allowed to have a phone in your room?
Well I was on it all the time, so I think so!  (wow, my memory is bad!)

6. Do you like talking on the phone or do you despise it? Or somewhere in-between?
Somewhere in between, but much closer to “despise it!”  See question #3.

7. Do you text a lot? Is texting/talking while driving illegal where you live? Are you guilty of it anyway?
Compared to a teenager, heck no!  But probably several times a day.  I live in PA where it is not illegal, but it is in Maryland, where I work.  I never pick up the phone in Maryland, but do text at stop lights in PA.  I’ve seen too many scary videos of car crashes while texting, so I don’t do it!  Oh, and I saw Oprah's show on it too & my grandmom signed her pledge for me! haha! :)

8. What sort of texting keyboard does your phone have? Touch screen, slide out, or something different? Do you care?
Touch screen. I didn’t like it at first.  I had a blackberry with keys before, but now I’m used to the touch screen & like it!  I definitely like the full keyboard and not the 3 letters to a number thing... even though I got pretty good at it, once I got the blackberry, it became so much easier!

9. Look at the last call in your call log – who is it? What were they calling about? Who calls you the most?
It was my mom calling this morning to ask about meeting at the park & ride to carpool to work.  And my parents probably call me the most.

10. What is the longest phone call you can recall having?
I always think of my friend Marci when I think of long phone calls… all the way back to middle & high school until now.  We talk long time!

Marci & I at our 10 year high school reunion.... one of my most favorite pics!!

Flashback Friday

In honor of the many high school graduations being held next week... here are pictures of my high school graduation!

Wendy, Jill, Gretch & Me

Class of 1998!  (Well some of us)

Me, Alana, Caleb, Mike, Sara, Marci & Wendy at my graduation party

Me, Marci, Gretch & Mandy... Senior class party!

Memories in the Attic

This past Sunday I went into my parent's attic to clean out some of my junk.  Of what I went through, 45% was from high school, 45% was *NSYNC memorabilia, and the remaining 10% was toys & other random stuff.

I loved looking through all of it!!  Each box was a new treasure.  Some things I looked at and thought, "Why in the heck did I keep that?!" and other things made me cherish the past and realize how lucky I was to have such great experiences and great friends!

I threw away many things, including an entire box of VHS tapes that I had taped every time *NSYNC was on television...

(Don't think it was easy...)

I also found a bonnet in a box of Cabbage Patch dolls... I think it might have been mine??  Either way, my first thought was to see how it looked on Shelby...

Adorable!!!  (of course)

My favorite part of the day was all the stuff from high school I found, including my SHS school ID from my senior year (98!!)... 

...tons of band pictures, programs from the plays and musicals I did, and my most treasured - handmade gifts and notes from friends.  

This note was from my friend Marci who is still one of my bestest friends.  I don't remember why or when she gave it to me (and she doesn't either), but I think it is timeless and will cherish it forever!!

After hours in the hot garage and attic, it was time to clean up.  

But what to do with 8 naked Barbies with melted legs??  

What to do....

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." 

~ from The Wonder Years

Ten on Tuesday #3 - 5/31/11

Yes, I know... I'm a day late... so today is ToToW :)

1. From your childhood, what do you miss most about summer vacation?
What I miss most about being a child in general… to be worry-free & having fun all the time!  (Minus the summer camps I had to go to)

2. Are you going anywhere on vacation this summer?I’m going to Pittsburgh on July 4^th weekend to visit friends and see Kenny Chesney (summer staple) and Finger Lakes, NY the first weekend of August with some friends.  I’ve never been there, so I’m really excited!

Me & Meg at Kenny 2008

3. What foods do you like to barbecue?The usual… hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, kabobs.  Yum!!  Nothing like a burger fresh off the grill!

4. How do you celebrate the fourth of July?Every year it’s different!  Sometimes I go over my parent’s house.  They live on a lake and one of their neighbors across the lake shoots of fireworks… it’s amazing!  They invite a bunch of neighbors over for a cookout and it’s always a lot of fun.  Of course this year there’s no water in the lake, so who knows what will happen L  In my younger years, we went to OC, MD, which was always FUN!  Last year I went to a York Revolution game and this year I’ll be in Pittsburgh.  Who knows what next year will bring!

Ocean City, MD - July 4, 2004

5. What’s your favorite beverage to drink in the summertime?

It seems like wine is fundamental in the summer… many wine festivals and lawn concerts at local wineries!  I’ll also take a good margarita, cold beer or iced tea.  I’m not picky!

6. What movie are you looking forward to seeing this summer?

Oh so many!  The Hangover Part II (which I saw this past weekend… hilarious!!); Friends with Benefits; Bad Teacher; Crazy, Stupid, Love; The Help (read the book!); Transformers (maybe)… and the one about the kids shooting the video when the train wrecks.  And I’m sure lots more I can’t think of! J

7. In the car: windows down or AC?

Well when my car says 101^o, I’m all about AC!!  But I love the windows down when the weather is nice.  And so does Shelby!  Or I'll put the windows down for Shelby & turn the AC on for me! haha!

8. Have you ever had a summer fling?

Nothing that ever lasted… but had lots of fun with boys at the beach!

9. Do you wear sunscreen?

Everyday on my face; otherwise only if I know I’m going to be outside for a long period of time or I will BURN.  Bad, I know.

10. Do you have any favorite summertime activities?

See #5 – wine!  Going to baseball games (local & MLB), going to restaurants based on their outside deck, getting together with friends on their deck, long weekends, going to the beach (when I can), walks late at night, sunbathing & wearing flip flops with every outfit!

7 Springs Wine Festival (2009)

HAPPY SUMMER!!!