Not sure I remember how to do this...

Well the last time I blogged, I talked about starting school. It's now July and school has been over for almost 2 months. I had such a wonderful semester! I met awesome new people and made Dean's list again (hey, it feels good when you do well!) It was a tough semester but I'm sure it'll seem like a piece of cake once this next semester starts (senior year). I'll be doing 2 full days of student teaching. I'm so used to co-teaching that I'm a nervous wreck to do it on my own! haha. No choice but to push through and do well!

So what have I been up to over the last 5 months?

In February, it was cold and winter was hanging around for a while. M and I celebrated Valentine's day with dinner.

March, crazy month with school so I don't think much fun was had, haha.

April, school was in full force (thank goodness for friends who are going through the same exact thing and keep you sane during it all!) We even got to take a trip to the aquarium (the joys of being an elem. ed major haha)

in the Australia house, so neat!

so many stingrays and sharks to see;

the coolest was the sawfish..

if you look close enough (on the left and going up),

you can see the nose of the fish that looks like a saw blade.

May - this month couldn't come soon enough. It was the end of the semester! Finals were intense but once they were over, I could breathe a sigh of relief!

Not sure why I don't have ANY pictures from May until now, but I'm sad about it! I didn't take pictures of my mom's or Matt's bday, the pictures that I took from when I went to the beach are on my broken phone (dropped it down the steps, but hey, now I have the white iPhone so it was worth it! haha), and no pics from the 4th of July. Waaa.

Fast forward to now - summer has been good so far.. I work everyday but I babysit and take the kiddos to the pool so it's fun :) I better enjoy it now while I can haha. Lately we've been under a MASSIVE heat wave though! I'm sure you girls down south can relate. I checked the weather on my phone today and saw this.. unbelievable: Look at the "FEELS LIKE" temp.. how is that possible in Maryland?! So gross.

School starts for me in a little more than 3 weeks (I start when the teachers do) so I'm trying to relax as much as I can.. I'm placed at a school that is 5 min from the bf's house so it's pretty convenient.

On another note, went to the doctor today for a check up and noticed that I have gained 5 lbs in a year! Wth?! This past year was stressful though. I need to get motivated and get back to where I was. Does anyone know of great workout dvd's? It's more convenient to work out at my house than drive 20 some min. to the gym (i do have a membership though, just completely out of the way)

Leaving tomorrow for the beach! I'll be back Monday though. Have a fun weekend :)

I hope ALL of you are doing well, enjoying summer (hopefully taking a vacay) and staying happy!

School has started.

So I'm sure you know what that means.. less time for blogging :(

So this past weekend, M and I went to a gala for his work. We had such a great time. Free food and open bar with lots of friends there as well. I actually ran into someone I went to elementary school with - small world!

me and M

does this dress look familiar?

I wore it 3 yrs ago, haha.

This is only the 2nd time I've worn it so I figured it was okay :)

Then Monday came and it was time to go to school. I went to the gym in the morning like I said I would and actually felt great doing it! But at 3 o'clock, I was exhausted. I actually went to bed that night at 8:30, haha.

As for my classes, I'm taking Physical Science, a comp. class, Bio, concepts of math class (which I think I'll love because my teacher is amazing), Math internship and science internship. I start my math internship on Tuesday and I'm excited for that. I'll be in 2nd grade this semester!

My days are long and my professors have already loaded up the work for us but I know I'll make it through. It's all about balance. However, blogging does fall to the back burner. As much as I love it, school is my #1 priority right now. I'd like to make Dean's list again this semester :)

This weekend is the Super Bowl. Not to sure what we're doing yet though, or who I'm rooting for. Do I want the Steelers to win because they beat the Raven's? Or the Packers because the Steeler's have won too many times? Who are you rooting for if you're going to watch it?

I finally got my 3 free nail polishs in the mail (less s&h) thanks to Katie! I love the colors and can't wait to paint my nails :)

 

Thanks girls who have e-mailed me wishing me well in school :)
I'm glad you took the time to think about it!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

What I'm Loving Today . . .

1. I'm loving that Jamie does this every week. It really lets me reflect on the good, instead of the bad or things I could complain about :) So thanks, Jamie!

2. I'm loving that today is a snow day! We (Maryland) have really missed A LOT of snow storms this winter! (probably because we got enough last winter to last us for 5 future winters, haha) After this storm is over, we should have about 6-9 inches. I've been lounging all day and I'm taking FULL advantage of it because school starts this coming Monday! Yikes. Free time = GONE!

3. I'm loving how long my hair is getting. However, I'm not loving how thin it has been feeling lately. I've been thinking of getting thickening shampoo and conditioner, but I'm not sure what kind to get. Any recommendations? Help a girl out! Yes, my hair is important to me, haha :)

4. I'm not loving that school starts Monday BUT I am loving that I'll be back on a consistent schedule and will be able to get to the gym the same time most days as well as eat meals at consistent times. Life just flows better when you're on a schedule.. or maybe that's just my OCD saying so, haha.

5. I'm loving that I just found out that the lady I used to nanny for (about 3 years ago), is M's Mom's cousin. Talk about a small, small world! (they just reunited which is why I just found out)

6. I'm loving that Liz gave me a little acknowledgement :) She is too sweet. Thank you again! It made my day!

I'd like to pass this on to Caroline @ A Life of Color because she deserves it. She always leaves me the most thoughtful and sweet comments and has become a good blog friend :) I could surely name other bloggers who deserve this as well so don't think that I don't appreciate each of you! xox

7. And of course, I'm loving my boy :) 

And yes, I'm being super lazy and not putting pictures with this post. Forgive me.

It's Monday. And bitterly cold. So here's to me rambling.

1. It was FREEZING this weekend. I mean a high of 15 degrees. (sorry to those who are suffering with FAR worse temps.) Totally not normal for MD though. I could hibernate and honestly be happy. Me and cold weather do not like each other. I did go out for dinner and drinks on Saturday night though with M. However, I felt like Randy from the movie A Christmas Story because I was SO bundled up.

2. We watched the playoffs yesterday. Glad to see the Packers win; Steelers, egh not so much. I was rooting for the Jets since the Steelers have 2 Superbowl rings in the past 6 years. I mean, isn't it time for someone else to win? M was happy though because his dad is a BIG Steelers fan.

3. As of next Monday, I will be one busy bee. Here's how the schedule is looking:

Mon:  Gym: 7:30 AM - 9AM

         Class: 10AM - 4:20PM

Tues: Class: 8:30AM - 3:40 PM

         Gym: 4 PM

Wed: Same as Monday

Thurs: Gym: 9AM - 10:30AM

          Class: 12:30PM - 4:20PM

Fri: Work and gym (until my boss doesn't work anymore. then this will become a homework day)

(Parking is TERRIBLE at school so I have to get there with enough time to get lucky and get a spot or stalk someone to take their spot. It's so annoying) 

Not too too bad. I have two internships and the rest are classes (all math & science, yuck.)

4. M and I have a gala to go to this weekend. I'm quite excited for it :) We get to dress up!

5. I just started reading the book Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult. I've never read any of her books before but my boss gave me about 5. So far, I'm really into it. I'm hoping I finish it before school starts. I know she wrote My Sister's Keeper. I didn't read that but I saw the movie and cried like a baby, haha. Have any of you read this book by her or others?

6. That's all I have for today.. Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend.

Weekend.

Every winter, it seems like my weekends are always so laid back. Friday night, I literally did nothing but relax and paint my nails, haha. It was so cold though and who wants to go out in that? Not me. I think when I get older, I'm going to invest in a beach house, possibly in Hawaii or something to escape this cold. I'm just not cut out for it.

On Saturday, I went to the gym and picked up a bunch of pictures from Ritz. Getting pictures developed really is expensive! I'm in the middle of transferring all of my pictures, including loose ones, into new photo albums. They are just so disorganized and need to be taken care of. Later that night, I had to babysit the little girls I watch during the week. I told my boss I would watch the girls for free as a Christmas present because she and her husband also had a gift card to a very nice restaurant. They had a wonderful, free night out :)

On Sunday, M had a basketball at 8 AM. Talk about early! He plays on a local league just for fun. After that, we came home and relaxed for a little while before we went to our friends house to watch the Raven's game. Of course, M wore his Redskins jersey haha. I'm glad the Raven's won. They have a tough game ahead of them though against the Steelers.

Today, I'm off but I'm off every Monday. School starts soon so I'm soaking up all of my free time while I can :)

Tomorrow we're supposed to get some snow, about 2 inches or so, which is basically enough to cause a mess haha. NOTHING compared to last year though, thankfully. We have really dodged some snow storms this winter so I'm fine with 2 inches.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

New Year's Recap

New Year's was wonderful! For the first time in our relationship, M and I spent the evening with just each other. Usually we hang out with a group and go out the bars or a party. This year, he surprised me with a romantic dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant in the city! I didn't know where we were going until we got there. He really has been too sweet :)

When we arrived at the restaurant

The bottle of wine we ordered. It was delicious.

The name is hilarious though - The Ratbag - haha!

Our dinner was delicious - M ordered Penne with vodka sauce and grilled chicken and I ordered Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken. It also came with house salads and warm bread. Yum!

After dinner, we came back to my house to watch the fireworks on TV and celebrate with some more wine and noise makers :)

haha

 I am in love with this picture :)

looking a little glossy eyed huh Britt? haha

first kiss of the New Year!

The next day, Jan 1st, was my dad's 50th birthday. My stepmom invited family over for dinner and cake. My dad didn't want anything big because he didn't want to turn 50 haha. But who would!?

getting ready to blow out the candles

Happy birthday dad!!

notice his age isn't on there? lol

I think I look a lot like him?

I hope everyone celebrated the new year in a fun way!

What are some of your resolutions?

Some of mine include:
- Get healthy and stick to it!! I turn the big 2-5 this year so it's time.

- Continue to stay on the Dean's List

- Blog more! (as much as school allows)
- Continue to have a close relationship with friends & family

- Continue to have a fun and healthy relationship with M

P.S - I have had this blog for one year on 1/1/11!! I never thought that would happen. Thank you ALL for following and becoming friends of mine. I appreciate you all and think you're great! I can't wait for another year :)

Christmas Recap

Is it just me, or did Christmas come and go faster than you can blink?? I know I spent time shopping and wrapping gifts, but I can't believe it's already January!

Christmas this year was great. On Christmas Eve, I went over my dad's to visit and watch It's a Wonderful Life with him and my step mom. I've never seen the movie but I actually liked it.

On Christmas morning, my brother D and I always go to my dad's to open presents early, about 7:30 AM because our brother B is still young and wakes up early. Plus, he still believes in Santa so he is always excited to see what Santa has brought him. We've had this routine since B was born. Doesn't make my mom too happy though because she doesn't see us until 10 AM in the morning on Christmas.

Dad's tree - an artificial tree that has been

around since I was young, probably 4 or 5 years old.

lots of presents

Buster loves to open presents!

My dad and step mom gave me some great presents:

- Columbia rain jacket

- Columbia fleece zip up (I'm over The North Face)

- gift cards galore

- money

- jewelry

A $10 gift card to Starbucks to the FIRST person who can tell me this:

- name of the movie on the TV

- the little boy's name

- what is going on in that scene

- what the little boy is saying

(This is my ALL TIME favorite movie in the world.

I could recite it word for word haha)

My brother and I got to my mom's around 9:30. (This is why I went to my dad's on Christmas Eve so that I could spend more time with them since I knew I would be leaving early Christmas morning.) She was ready and waiting for us to open our gifts. My mom and her fiance spoil us to pieces but I am more than grateful and she knows that. I always tell her to stop buying me so much though! haha.

Mom's Tree - small compared to what we usually buy!

some of the presents

Snugs also loves opening her presents

haha, look at the paper in her teeth



Mom and her fiance also gave me amazing presents:

- new laptop

- clothes

- money

- Vera Bradley bag for school.
I'm in love with the pattern!

I went over M's house around 1 that afternoon. This was the first time in our relationship I have been to his house on Christmas. Crazy, I know, but usually he comes over my house. It was nice going there though. His mom had a ton of food and I enjoyed spending time with his family. I also was able to give them the gifts I had bought for them. M was so sweet and got me an beautiful Coach watch. I am in love with it! He has great taste :)

Overall, my Christmas was wonderful. I got to spend time with all of my family and that's what matters most to me. Seeing them smile when opening the gifts I gave them is what makes me happy. Not the gifts I receive. I always tell my mom I'd be happy with one gift, and that's the absolute truth. In NO WAY, am I boasting or bragging about what I received. I just want to remember for the future. I hope that everyone was able to spend time with their family over the holiday and that Santa did give you a little something :)

Wow, I'm REALLY back this time!

I swear I'm not lying. First, I want to say that I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

I know I posted like a month ago that I was going to give an update, but I swear that life gets in the way. Oh yea, if you EVER plan on taking a break from blogging, take my word for it and DON'T DO IT! It is so hard to get back into it. I made a promise to myself to post what I've been up to, not only for you ladies who care about what I've been doing, but also for myself so I can remember what I did. Soo, where do I even start?!

By the way, I plan on clearing out my reader and starting from tomorrow because there is no way in the world to read everyone's posts from the months of November and December - I would go insane! I apologize and hope you ladies had great things happening then.

I finished my first semester of the Elementary Education Program with 3 A's and 2 B's. I was proud of myself :-) When the semester was over, the girls in my cohort had a little Christmas party and played secret Santa. There were only about 12 of us there but we had a blast.

Also in December, I went with my family (minus my 2 other brothers) to see the lighting of the community Christmas tree. It's literally 2 minutes down the street and afterwards, they serve cookies and hot chocolate in a restored home. It's cute and my little brother enjoys watching it light up.

Matt and I went to his aunt's mom's 60th birthday. We only planned on staying for about an hour, but we made a night out of it and had a blast hanging out with the oldies :) haha. The food was amazing and the music was fun to dance to. A random but fun night.

so he is cheesin' way too hard and

my face looks like I swallowed an elephant.

I could really use a tan as well.

Whatever.

I've also gotten back into the gym, not that I ever stopped but I have stepped my game up, haha. I gained about 3 lbs. during the semester. I know it was from stress and I'm determined to get it off. I even bought some cute new workout clothes today to get me going :-) Folled over yoga pants and tanks from Old Navy. I love their workout clothes.

My old phone, the LG Dare, died on me about a month ago and I finally became a big girl and got myself a smart phone :) The Droid Incredible. Basically, the same thing as an iPhone except from Verizon. (so my brother says who has the iPhone) I love it and all of the free apps :) Oh, and it didn't hurt that I got it for FREE when Best Buy was having a special. Thanks BB!!

That's what happened for the most part in December.. Then Christmas Came...

Oh Hey!

Only 3 weeks of school left!

Thank the high heavens :-)

I am jumping with joy.

However, I have quite a few BIG assignments

left so I can't celebrate just yet.

It's looking like I should be getting all A's in each class :)

On Saturday, M & I went with some friends to Delaware park
which is a casino about 1 1/2 hours away. I've never been
before but we had so much fun! Didn't end up loosing too much
money even after being there for 7 hours! I'm sure we'll be
going again sometime in the future! Sorry no pictures :(

Yesterday I celebrated my grandpop's 75th birthday!

My family all went to his house for dinner and cake.
He was so happy to have everyone there. He lives

by himself so he gets quite lonely sometimes.

I kid you not, my pop looks the same as he did

20 some years ago! I hope I age just as gracefully :)

I've really been in to painting my nails lately.
I'm a big time nail biter so having them painted

helps me to stop :) Ulta was having a deal on nail polish;

buy 1 get on free. So I got 4 polishes for $10! :)
Can't beat that and I think they're just as good as Essie.

Right now I'm wearing Chocolate Bliss

I think it's really pretty :)

Anyways, I just wanted to check in with you ladies!
I hope you're all doing well and as soon as school is over,

I will be back in the blogging world :)

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

An update - finally!

So since I haven't blogged since basically the end of September, here's what's been going on in my life...

We celebrated my brother's

21st birthday

Joined and had a blast on

our co-ed football team.

There's more than 7 of us but we're

the ones who always went out afterwards.

We didn't make it to the championship

but there's always next season. Right?

Me and lover boy M celebrated

4 years of dating :-) [10.28.06]

(a pic from the summer time)

Celebrated Halloween.

batwoman & the joker

the warrior & me
What happened to my cape?

me & a vampire

I had to take off the mask.

It was making me sweat!

robin found batman

(we don't know each other haha)

kisses for my joker

Snugs:

She's been good. Just doing what she does best:
Sleeping, playing, and being sneaky.

School

It's been nuts. There isn't a day that I don't have something to do for it. I honestly feel like we have the same amount of work as nursing students. The school I go to though does have the best education program in the state, which could explain why so much is expected from me. I cannot wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas break! I need a vacation big time.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much. My weekends consist of homework and watching football on Sunday's with the boy and friends. Fall is definitely here. I had frost on my windshield this morning. Life is a little hectic right now but good for sure :)

I hope you ladies are doing amazing! I'm sorry I haven't been commenting on any blogs but I'm sure you understand. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive and haven't fallen off the face of the earth because I know how worried you all have been (sarcasm). I hope to get around to reading blogs sooner than later! I miss you all and I promise to be back to regular blogging as soon as school lets me breathe for a minute :) For those of you who have stuck around, thank you! It sure does mean a lot.