Quotography and GTKY

The theme for Quotography this week is Friendship, so I thought I'd share a photo of me with my maid of honor. We've been best friends since high school, even though we attended different schools. This shot is from 3 years ago.




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And this week's questions for GTKY:

1. have you ever gone to see a movie by yourself? Several times! When I am traveling for work in the fall, I often find myself alone, with 4-5 hours to kill. Seeing movies are a great way to pass the time (when I have a few extra bucks to spare).

2. would you rather go through a tornado or a hurricane? All natural disasters terrify me - tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, tsunamis, etc.

3. have you made summer vacation plans? I'm spending the summer preparing for my wedding. My future husband and I will be going on a cruise for our honeymoon at the end of August.

4. what's your favorite accessory (can't be jewelry)? Purses are not my thing. Neither are shoes. I like accessorizing with sneakers, and sometimes headbands.

5. have you ever been thrown a surprise party? Sort of. Jon (my fiance) likes to plan surprise dinners for my birthday.

6. are you friends with your neighbors? Friendly? Yes. We have a little old lady underneath our condo, and a couple with an adorable dog right across from us.

7. what's the last movie you saw in the theater? It's been a long time... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I.

8 what's your favorite food network show? We only have basic cable, so we don't get the Food Network. But my mom and I watch Chopped together when I go to my parents' house. I also like Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing. Jon likes Iron Chef.


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No MPM today. I have no plans for this week other than salad and cereal. I'm skipping grocery shopping this week since Jon is still away, training for his new job.


Just one other thing - I am participating in the Flip Flop Swap next month! There is still time to sign up. CLICK HERE for more info!

Getting to Know YOU... is BACK!!!

Remember the Getting to Know YOU meme? It was run by Keely over at MannLand5. She ended it a few months ago, and I was very sad.

But now she has decided to start it up again! YAY!

And with a new button, too.



Here are this week's questions:

1. if you won the title of miss america, what would your platform be? Public education. Our nation's teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. They should not have to take the blame for students who come from illiterate homes, and thus do not understand the importance of education.

2. outdoorsy or indoorsy? outdoorsy, even though I love my home comforts. I told a friend recently that if there were no bugs outside, I would live outside.

3. pajama's out in public..classy or tres tacky? I have to admit, I wore pj's to high school on dress-down days (aka no uniform days). Once I started college, however, I quickly realized how unprofessional and immature it looks to wear pj's out in public. The only exception is going to a pharmacy if you're sick and need medicine.

4. what's your favorite room in your house? When I lived at my parents' house, it was my bedroom. In my little condo with Jon, I honestly like each and every room!

5. nook, kindle, or book? Book. There is nothing that can replace the solid feeling of a book in my hands, the pages in my fingers, and the sound of the paper whispering its story to me.

6. would you rather wear the same outfit for a week or not brush your teeth for a week? Same outfit! I hate the feeling of gummy teeth.

7. what's your favorite blog at the moment? MannLand5, for bringing back GTKY!

8. lately i've been daydreaming about.........? Babies... Well, I've been daydreaming about babies since I was 15. Something else... My wedding!

And I'll end with a photo for Allie's Happy Monday challenge. This week's theme is Spring. My mom bought these pretty spring flowers to dress up her dining room.

Taken with my iPhone and edited with instagram.

Catching Up...

I had 700+ unread posts in my Google Reader. It has taken me 4 days (since I didn't do any reading on Saturday) to get it down to just 5 unread posts. I haven't really been commenting much, but I do hope to get back to regular commenting within a few days. So, I AM reading, even if you don't hear from me.

The reason I didn't do any reading on Saturday is that Jon and I had our engagement party. It was a backyard barbecue at my parents' house with a beachy theme. It was so nice to have all of my bridesmaids together, since one of them is my cousin that lives in NJ and I only get to see her 2-3 times a year. It was a wonderful day full of love and laughter. I wish I could have an engagement party every weekend! I never shared our engagement photos, so here are my favorites:









As I've mentioned before, I travel A LOT for work. I cover the entire state of Connecticut on my own, as well as the western half of Massachusetts. My territory has been expanded this year to include Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and my MA area was shifted further east. I start going out on the road on September 13th, and I don't end until Thanksgiving. Depending on how many events I am attending, and the internet at my hotels, blog posts from me will be either very often, or few and far between. I kinda went cold turkey on memes and photo challenges. Remember when I used to enter 7 or 8 a week? Well, I haven't entered one in almost 2 weeks! It certainly has been hard to avoid them, but I need to get used to it. Those 11 weeks of travel will be here before I know it, and I certainly won't have as much time at my computer as I do now.



1. If you could host a Reality TV show, which one would it be? Big Brother! I watched that show when it first started. I don't anymore, but it's the most interesting show to me. Or America's Next Top Model. ANTM marathons are perfect for lazy days.

2. Do you put your seatbelt on before or after you start the car? Usually after, but sometimes I get distracted and try to start driving before I even take my keys out of my purse.

3. Shave or hair removal cream? The hair removal creams all smell just awful, so I'll stick with shaving for now... Until I can get it all laser-removed!

4. What's your favorite feature in a house? New-ish appliances and updated bathrooms.

5. What is your favorite "Fall" scent? Wood smoke.

6. What tv show are you looking forward to seeing the most this Fall?? In the fall, I watch Family Guy and Hoarding: Buried Alive, and ANTM (if it's a new cycle).

7. Personal Shopper or Personal Chef? Chef. I can shop just fine on my own, THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

8. What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of "Fall"? Leaves changing colors.... Oops, that's 3 words. Sooo, just 'leaves.'

RAW(e) - Vintage

This is a vintage music globe that my mom saved from... someone.... An aunt, I think.



RAW(e) is run by Sami.
The only photos allowed are those that are
COMPLETELY UNEDITED.
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I feel like I am always a day late with this! I love answering the questions, but I can never remember to grab the questions during my Sunday post.

1. Do you think mustaches are sexy? Only on Billy Burke.



2. What's the last concert you've been to? Hanson @ Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY. I've been to 5 of their concerts, and every single one was a rockin' good time.



3 What was your favorite 80's sitcom? Full House. You got it, dude!



4. Were you named after anyone? My middle name is from my mom's aunt, but my first name is just me.

5. When you buy new clothes, do you wash before wearing? Underwear and bathing suits. But shirts and pants are fine, IMO.

6. If you didn't blog, what would you do with your spare time? Photo editing and dolling. Like I did before I started blogging.

7. What is your favorite department store? Kohl's! Their clearance racks are gold mines.

8. If you were to get Laser Hair Removal..where would you get it? Everywhere! I get bad razor burn (due to eczema), so not shaving would be nice.

i heart faces Challenge - Purple

My favorite color!
But shockingly, I don't have any photos of PURPLE with a face.

No wait, I have one! It doesn't have a whole lot of purple, but it's there!





Moving on to some questions for Getting to Know You, run by MannLand5.



1. Thong or Granny Panties? Thong. But not stringy. My preferred style overall is boycut or tangas. (And I had to look up the correct term for those.)

2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him? Nope.

3. Spanx or no Spanx? Yes.

4. Do you sleep in your sheets? I use fitted but I hate loose sheets. They get all tangled. And I get cold very easily, so I always sleep with a blanket/quilt/comforter, sometimes 2.

5. What is your favorite Disney character? Ariel, the Little Mermaid, easily. Thanks to my Fairy Tales class in college, I know the differences between the Disney version and the real version, but I will always love Ariel above all others.

6. Dream vacation spot? A trip around the world in 80 days. Kinda corny, but I want to travel the world. I want to see everything, taste all the food, experience the culture and the climates, photograph the historic sites... But I'm not stupid. I'd have to be rolling in dough for that kind of vacation.

7. What is your dream job? Honestly, I don't have one. I know I am setting myself up for lots of harsh words here, but it's true. I want to try my hand at everything. I want to stay in Admissions for a bit. I want to teach for a bit, either elementary or adolescent. I want to own my own business for a bit. I want to work for NASA for a bit. I want to be a news reporter for a bit. I want to try it all!

8. Who is your hero and why? Matt. My little brother. (Although he's not so little anymore! He's taller than me and turns 20 in just 2 weeks.) He is my hero because he is the strongest, kindest, most resilient person I know. I can't even try to imagine my life without him. And I try to be like him - strong, kind, resilient. It's hard as hell to be so unconditionally loving.

Head on over to Keeli's blog to get the questions so you can answer them for yourself! And, if you do, let me know in a comment so I can read your answers, too.

Beep Beep Click Self-Portrait... and Pam.

New meme! It's a self-portrait challenge.
No theme, but you have to say what you learned.


I learned that I need to pay more attention to my surroundings. See Matt's bright blue shirt in there? It's really distracting to me when I look at this photo.
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1. What is YOUR definition of sexy? Honesty. And great hair.

2. Would you rather clean up puke or change a poopy diaper? Diaper. Puke makes me puke.

3. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Honestly, I'm not sure anymore. I was always an extrovert, wearing my heart on my sleeve and displaying my feelings outwardly and loudly. Now, I've been with a introvert (my fiance) for well over 3 years, and I think I am starting to turn into one.

4. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses for a year..which one would you give up? Touch or taste, or even smell. Just not sight or hearing. Those I need.

5. Cake or Pie? Team Switzerland. I can eat apple pie or chocolate cake without a preference.

6. If you could play any character on TV (old or current) who would you play? Pam (Beasley) Halpert! I love her.


7. My favorite website is.....? Facebook. I'm addicted.

8. The highlight of my day is....? Going to bed. I love curling up under the covers.


What are YOUR answers? I want to know! Head over to MannLand5 to get the questions and post them on your blog.

All Sorts of Miscellaneous Bits

Head over to MannLand5 to get the button and the questions for yourself.

1.If you had 5000.00 to spend on plastic surgery what would you have done? Lipo. Without a question. I don't want/need a boob job, I wouldn't recognize myself if I got a nose job, and I don't see the need for botox.

2. Do you watch Soap operas and if so what is your favorite and why? I used to watch Passions EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL. But then I started high school and I realized there was enough drama in day-to-day life. And now I am proud to say that I am soap-free. ;)

3. Favorite clothing brand? Aerie for lingerie and some regular clothing. Besides that, I don't have a favorite brand. I do most of my shopping at Kohl's because of their awesome clearance racks. I will say that I prefer Lei from the juniors section for my jeans.

4. An afternoon shopping spree at your favorite store or maid service for a year? Tough one... I do love shopping, and I don't get to do it often. But I think any woman would love to have maid service for a year. As long as the maid actually does her job.

5. Would you ever vajazzle? Uh, no.

6. Favorite Disney Princess? Ariel, the Little Mermaid. She has always been my favorite. And it's really unbelievable how much Ariel stuff there is for little girls these days. When I was a kid, there was nothing!

7. Last movie that made you bawl your eyes out? Karate Kid. No lie. If you've seen it, think about every scene with the bullies beating up poor little Dre.

8. Have you ever broken any bones and if so what? A bunch of toes and 2 fingers. My right middle finger when I was a kid, playing outside with my brother, and my right ring finger on a cotton candy machine. Yea, someday, ask me about my days working for a party company.
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You should go vote for the BlogLuxe Awards! The voting is open until July 12, and there are so many great blogs in there. I have several favorites in there, and I'll definitely be voting daily.
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Here's a song I'm utterly in love with. I'm linking up with Simplicity's THIS WEEK ONLY parties.



Jason Castro was in the top 4 of AI7, and his debut album came out a couple of months ago. It's amazing! I love every song on it, but this is one of my favorites, along with All Wrapped Up and Love Uncompromised.

More to say...

1. If a person has a booger in their nose, and you can see it, do you tell them?
2. What are you passionate about?
3. How long have you been blogging?
4. What is your favorite "summer" drink?
5. What is your favorite type of music?
6. Something I do before I go to bed is......?
7. My Summer vacation plans are...?
8. My favorite must have, can't live without, beauty product is?

My Answers:

1. If a person has a booger in their nose, and you can see it, do you tell them? Family and friends, yes. Acquaintances and strangers, no way!
2. What are you passionate about? Reading, education, respect.
3. How long have you been blogging? Since February of this year, so 4 short months.
4. What is your favorite "summer" drink? Margaritas, ice cold water, and DD iced coffee.
5. What is your favorite type of music? It used to be all kinds (except country and gospel). But my tastes have changed in the past few years. I can't really listen to pop or rap like I used to.
6. Something I do before I go to bed is......? Sometimes I read, sometimes I stare at my glitter lamp, as long as I take a few minutes to relax and do deep breathing. I hate going to sleep wound up or restless.
7. My Summer vacation plans are...? Nothing concrete, as of right now. I was hoping to go to TN with Jon to visit his fam and my friends, but we still have to work out details.
8. My favorite must have, can't live without, beauty product is? Cetaphil facial cleanser. Every night. It's gentle, unscented, and doesn't dry my face out.


If you want to snag the button and answer the questions for yourself, head over to MannLand5.

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I am taking part in a new photo challenge that I found through another blog. The challenge is called a Photo Hunt. You are given 20 specific themes/techniques/objects that you must photograph in the span of one month. If you want to check it out, head on over to http://photohuntchallenges.com/ and sign up! These are the themes for June:

1. Hilarious Out-Takes
2. Creative Crop
3. Sun Flare
4. Sweet Dreams
5. Work
6. Play
7. Cookout/Picnic
8. Transportation
9. Money/Currency
10. A Fountain
11. A Night Scene
12. B&W with Selective Coloring <-- this one will be easy!
13. Something Old
14. Something New
15. Something Borrowed
16. Something Blue
17. Something Musical
18. Something Purple
19. Something Yellow
20. Something Scenic

I have so much going on right now; I don't know HOW I am going to fit this in. I am writing for BuNoWriMo (update on that coming soon), I am still working full-time, I have to pack up my dorm room to move back home, I am in the middle of a house search, and I'd also like to spend some time with family and friends at SOME point. Such is the life of a twenty-something blogger.

A mild Monday

Getting to Know You is run by Keely over at MannLand5. Copy the questions below, answer them on your blog, and go to her site to link up!

1. Have you ever snooped around someone else's house?

2. Can guys and girls be friends? ( thanks Jen!)

3. Can you curl your tongue?

4. Have you ever stolen anything?

5. Would you rather talk on the phone or text?

6. Memorial Day plans?

7. What do you do to relax?

8. Do you do anything to honor those that have died fighting for our freedom?


Here are my answers:


1. Have you ever snooped around someone else's house? Yea, I definitely remember doing some snooping when I was younger. There were several kids up and down my street that are around the same age as me (plus/minus 2 years), and we were always running to each other's houses and sitting under windows. We were also climbing in and out of windows, sneaking into neighboring pools, and causing mayhem.

2. Can guys and girls be friends? Yes. I had several guy friends when I was in high school and college. It's easy to be friends with guys. All you have to do is sit there and watch them play video games. Or watch them drink beers around a firepit. Or watch them shoot paintball guns at each other.

3. Can you curl your tongue? Nope. Not at all. I can't roll R's either.

4. Have you ever stolen anything? Lip gloss from a dollar store when I was in 8th grade. Such a rebel!

5. Would you rather talk on the phone or text? Depends who I am talking to. My mom and dad both really slow at texting, so it's much easier to just call.

6. Memorial Day plans? BBQ. Relax. Flea market. Sunbathe.

7. What do you do to relax? Read, play computer games, stare at running water.

8. Do you do anything to honor those that have died fighting for our freedom? Fresh palm crosses at my grandfather's grave. (He was a WWII vet.)

i heart faces Challenge - Yellow

Click the button to see more YELLOW shots!



This was taken almost 2 years ago, with a k0dak point and shoot. Not bad, eh? Other than the flash on Matt's eye, I love this shot. I have it framed in my room. And I ROCK at self-portraits.


Update on Matt: He has to get more bloodwork done this week, as well as an EEG. We spent all day Friday at the children's hospital. His doc said it might just be a case of lowering one of his meds. Another possibility is simply decreased kidney function, because transplanted organs don't last forever. Worst case scenario, the kidney may be developing a completely separate disorder. But that's a very rare event, so he is leaning more towards decreased kidney function, which we knew would happen eventually. We were hoping for 20 years; it's been 11. So, on one hand, it's a miracle that Matt is alive and the transplant has been successful. On the other hand, I would love 9 more years of a healthy younger brother.

Regardless, the final answer is pending the bloodwork this week. I'll let you know. A million thanks for all your prayers and kind words. Please don't stop! It really helps me to stay strong for him when I know that my blogger friends are thinking about him.


Now, I am joining in with a new meme: Getting to Know You, run by Keely over at MannLand5. Copy the questions below, answer them on your blog, and go to her site to link up!




1. Do you have a fetish?
2. Do you sing in the shower?
3. Who was your first crush?
4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have?
5. Do you sleep naked?
6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
7. What's the first thing you do when you go online?
8. Summer is.....?

My Answers:

1. Do you have a fetish? Sneakers and sundresses. Together.
2. Do you sing in the shower? YES! But not too loud. I save the loud singing for my car - windows down, music up.
3. Who was your first crush? Jeffrey, in kindergarten. He played Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with me - I was April and he was always Michaelangelo, my fave turtle.
4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have? Defending himself and his family, both physically and verbally.
5. Do you sleep naked? Not FULLY naked (sorry Tami!)
6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Take my shoes off. I'd rather be barefoot, but it's not very professional to walk around the office without shoes.
7. What's the first thing you do when you go online? Facebook! I'm hopelessly devoted.
8. Summer is.....? So close! I can smell it - BBQ's and creamsicles and sunscreen and campfire smoke.