An open window kind of weekend

Yesterday, I cheesily said to my roommate Mallory, "I wish I could bottle this morning." Instead of making fun of me for going all Hallmark on her, she responded, "Me too." It was honestly the most relaxing and laugh-filled weekend I've had in awhile. From playing flip cup and dancing to Backstreet Boys on our porch to going out for breakfast on Sunday morning, everything just felt right. Man oh man, I'm going to miss college.

Hey future life as a teacher, please be nice to me. And be gentle.

1) Ann catching some breeze on a lazy Sunday morning.

2) Making good use of our porch. Spring is in the air and it feels so so so fine.

3) Roomie schoomy - Me, Lauren, Ann, Shauna, Mallory in front of our poster that says France. And not a single one of us can speak French. But I'm down with baguettes.

4) When in doubt, ice cream.

5) Me, Mallory, and Ann before heading out for a night that had so much karaoke potential.

6) Shauna likes to wear cowboy hats. She is looking for a man that likes to wear them too. I for one do not think that's too much to ask for. Form a line, gentlemen!

Awwww shucks

This kid is such a charmer, and his smile is contagious! That is one lucky little lady.

When he says, "Huh?" I nearly peed my pants.

And his jaw literally dropping is some pretty raw human emotion.

Ingrid Bergman

Must be tough being that beautiful.

I really wish I was watching Casablanca with my dad right now rather than reading for school.

And I'm sure he'd prefer to be watching Casablanca with me rather than working.

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As of Late

Lately...

1) I've been taking down about three of these guys a day. Oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies compliments of my roommate Mallory. Thanks for nothing, Mal. You know I have no self-control.

2) I've been hearing "Aw who sent you flowers?" from each of my roommates and each and every time I answer with, "I bought them for myself." How sad. Can't a girl by some flowers to spruce up her room? Okay, I guess buying myself red roses is a bit odd, but my choices were slim. At this particular grocery store all they had were roses or lime, orange and purple dyed daises. Super ugo. Daisies are my favorite flowers, but these shades looked straight out of a coloring book gone wrong.

3) I've been sending postcards to people I love. Norman Rockwell is the best. Well, after Van Gogh. I wonder how many people read postcards along the way. I know mailmen must have to sign some sort of privacy contract, but I feel like if I were a mailman I'd take a peek and read all the dirt/mushy mush people are sending to one another. Don't judge. You probably would too!

4). I've been compiling old clothes to donate. Did you hear that, dad? I'm getting rid of stuff. Yipeeee! Not gonna lie, it was difficult to get rid of my favorite brown corduroy pants from my junior year of high school. But, I just had to come to terms with the fact that they probably won't ever fit again.

Let me see you one, two step

Yes, I did just reference Ciara. Anywayyyyy, if you happen to be in Massachusetts or attend Harvard, go see one of my numero uno amigos Moira and her Irish Dance Team perform on April 2nd at 8 pm at Lowell Lecture Hall. I'm assuming that's on Harvard's campus... but then again, what do I know? I'm sure a quick Google search could help you out.

{She's the one with her hair down standing directly to the left of the guy in the center}

Moira and I use to take Irish Dance together. She stuck with it and I quit to move onto jazz. Which was short lived. Then I moved onto tap dancing. That was short lived too. Then I moved onto not dancing. And that's where I've been for about the past nine years. Except when Backstreet Boys or N'sync comes on. Sometimes I just can't help myself.

{Moira, Anne, me at senior year homecoming. Hey Anne, did you ever take Irish Dance? Didn't think so. Move it!}

Eyes and Ears part 3

Listening to this young gentleman from Wisconsin (!) But even though I love Wisconsin and Wisconsinites (ie in this case, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon), right now I really don't want to be here. I'd rather be in Ireland. My homeland. Not really. But, my ancestor's homeland.

Cork, someday we'll meet. Until then, stay beautiful.

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Duuuuuude, I need sleep

I've been feeling overwhelmed ever since I woke up today at 6:05 a.m. One thing after another just makes me want to have an outrageous fit like this. I also feel like I have that chronic tired look. I always mean to buy cucumbers to try that getting rid of circles under the eyes trick, but I always get too busy contemplating what kind of ice cream to get and I end up forgetting the damn cucumbers.

Anyway, this Daria quote is resonating quite well with me right now.

{Image via a website I'm pretty sure is dedicated to glorifying pizza}

I won't be a total debbie downer. There are some pluses of this day. And they are:

+ I showered and so that means I smell nice

+ I ate a sausage egg and cheese biscuit from McDonald's today before my final exam to get my teaching license

+ I stumbled upon this picture of Daria

Rain Rain, You Can Stay

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Yesterday it started raining AFTER I arrived at class. No umbrella + no hood = mascara under eyes and looking like a weirdo. I guess that's what I get for attempting to not look like total woof. Also, I wore my darn Converses. I've been wearing my rain boots a lot lately. Like almost too much. And then, the one day I don't wear them, BOOM, God says, "ha ha, you're stupid."

Whatever. I'm okay with this. I love rain. Reminds me that reading and eating BBQ Honey chips in bed is a good thing. Actually, it doesn't remind me of that at all. But, that's what my day looked like.

Bang Bang Boogie

Between the dance moves and the clothing, I am speechless. This is all I can manage to say:

1) The guy wearing the orange and white jumpsuit that makes him look like he could be a male cheerleader for the University of Texas, is blowing my mind.

2)Between 1:15-1:25, pay special attention to Kip from Napoleon Dynamite breaking it down.

3) I love how the two guys are rocking sweaters and turtlenecks and the other guy looks straight out of Gilligan's Island. That is, if Gilligan's Island had a main character that was black.

The New Year

I'm excited to see this at the Madison Film Festival. I'm also hesitant to say that I'm excited because the last time I said that about a film at the festival I was hugely disappointed. I paid $9.00 just to basically watch people stare at each other. I hope that isn't the case with this movie. The song in the trailer is called "Christmas Light" by Keegan DeWitt and the Sparrows.

Also, is it just me or does the main girl freakishly sound like the mom from Modern Family?

St. Patty's Day

1) Apparently the leprechaun now brings me books and tulips for St. Patrick's Day. I'm definitely not complaining. Started reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein, and I already have a feeling I'm going to be crying big time by the end of this book.

2) Me with Lindsey and Matt showcasing our Green River.

3) Close up of that sucker.

4) Me and Lenny. An unexpected paw is always reason to smile. I think he thought he'd be getting a treat. He didn't. Lenny, I might be a pushover, but I had just given you two treats less than a half hour before. There needs to be limits!

Free People

Free People really needs to do me a solid and either A) Stop making clothes or B) Make their clothes in my price range.

Because this whole "look but don't touch" relationship that we've had going for the past few years is really not working for me anymore. You can only tease me with hopes of being able to dress like Jenny from Forrest Gump or Penny from Almost Famous for so long before I put my foot down. It has to stop.

But, if $ were no issue, it would be nice to have these in my closet...

{All Free People}

PS Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Home for Spring Break

I have successfully worn sweatpants for 2/3 of my break thus far. The other 1/3 has either been jeans for when I've been outside of my house or my nightgown which is usually worn until noon... then it's sweatpants time.

1) This Oberweis Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream is singlehandedly making my Lenten sacrifice seem like a joke. I gave up cookies, candy and brownies (and swearing... I really need to cut down... especially if I'm going to be teaching little kiddies in less than 6 months). Anyway, I gave up basically all sweets. But not ice cream. Well, I came home for spring break and there were two quarts of untouched chocolate peanut butter ice cream in my freezer. My favorite. This might get ugly.

2) My new pristine duvet cover. Love me some eyelet. I wonder how long it will be until I spill something on it. (Momma, if you're reading this, I'm kidding.... kind of.)

3) Standard breakfast - Cheerios with strawberries and raspberries.

4) My cousins Bridget & Molly, and myself at our cousin Katie's engagement party!

5) My cousins Katie and Pattie (Bride & MOH -- which I have learned apparently means Maid of Honor)

6) Dan and Katie! The happy couple. Can't wait until New Year's Eve to celebrate in Chicago for their wedding!

I'm a Wendy Peffercorn wannabe

I just bought this swimsuit. Feeling really good about it. Feeling good about it despite one of the reviews online which basically said that it's a good suit for pregnant women.... ahem, excuse you. PS that is NOT me. I've always been a strong believer that posting solo shots of yourself in a swimsuit is either A) weird B) skanky or C) both. Usually I think C. You know the photos I'm talking about. Pictures where girls think they're all hot and stuff and they take a picture of themselves in their bathroom at a weird angle. I've never understood it. Anyway, back to my point... that isn't me. I'm like so much tinier <--- Sarcasm

I feel like Wendy Peffercorn from The Sandlot would be down with this suit. Back in the day I thought she was like da bomb.

"Six Eggs!!!" woman goin nuts

Some people might be going to Florida or Hawaii or the Dominican Republic for spring break (cough cough my roommates...not fair) and getting all tan and whatever. But who needs that? Skip the margaritas and Coronas on the beach. I'm watching Beauty and the Beast as soon as I get home in good ole Chicago. Plopping on the couch and going to sing along to my favorite Disney movie EVER!

Belle is so cool! Most definitely blows the other Disney princesses out of the water. When she and the lambs congregate at the fountain, my heart smiles (or something to that effect).

PS The lady that says, "I need six eggs," at 1:30 is the most distraught person I have ever seen in my life. Woof.