Friday, November 28, 2014

Black Friday & Answered Prayers

The last few years, I've caved on the Black Friday Shopping. I know the concept of this day being right after Thanksgiving is pretty horrible... but sometimes you really just can't beat the deals. This evening (because there are way less people in the evening), my sister and I ventured out to the mall to do a little bit of shopping. Didn't get very much... but got some great deals on things I did get! Check it out!



Old Navy

Aztec PJ Pants: Orig: $17
                        Paid: $8

"Saturdaze" Sweater: Orig: $20
                                Paid: $10

Blue Soft Tee: Orig. $18
                      Paid. $8.50

Fuzzy Socks: Orig. $5
                    Paid: $2

Target

3 Packs of Notecards: $3






Overall, some pretty awesome deals! 

Also, while I was out... a huge prayer of mine was answered! I'm moving back to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania in a few weeks and I've been praying for something to come through regarding a job. Well, while Sarah and I were in Old Navy tonight... we ran into the wonderful woman named Missy Manferdini. Missy was the retail manager while I worked at Cracker Barrel a couple summers ago. She's worked at Old Navy since leaving Cracker Barrel and we've kept in contact. When I was home a few weeks ago, my mom (who works at the DSW next door to Old Navy) told me that Missy had transferred to another store, so I was surprised to see her there tonight. Well, as it turns out... she was just at that other store for a couple months to help them open, but now she's back at the Holyoke store. I jokingly said... "wanna hire me in a couple weeks?" and she very seriously replied "yes, absolutely! I've actually been wondering if you were coming back so I could offer you a job! put your application in, text me when it's done, and Ben (other manager) and I will push it right through and get you started as soon as possible!"

WHAT?!

It was like God just laid a job in my lap and said "here ya go, girl. I've got this." 

I'm completely blown away by His faithfulness! I walked in the mall to go black friday shopping and I left with a job! At my favorite store, nonetheless. How crazy is that? 

God is so good! 

I hope you have all had a wonderful day! 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope you are all having a tremendous day with your loved ones! Today has been an excellent one for me. I woke up last in the house (as usual) and joined the rest of my family members on the couch to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The smells of the meal cooking filled the house and a feeling of warmth overwhelmed my soul. The rest of my family arrived and we all quickly set to work preparing our Thanksgiving lunch and setting the table together. Finally, everything was ready and the selfies began. Everyone was dressed up and wanted to take pictures... which frustrated my very hungry Dad. ha. We all sat down to eat and enjoyed a delicious meal. I think my family cooks the best Thanksgiving meal. After we all finished eating, we went around the table to say what we are thankful for. Then we pulled names for Christmas presents. After lunch we all gathered outside for our annual family picture and then some of us headed over to the pool. We're ending our day with football and pie! I seriously love my family so much and I am so blessed to be able to spend time like this with them. They're my favorite people and my heart is so incredibly full. Here are some pictures from our day!

What do you do for Thanksgiving? What are some of your family traditions? 


My Daddy, upset about all the pictures and the not eating. 

A good picture with Daddy

This is my Uncle Joey

My little munchkin, my cousin Nicholas.

My cousins, Matthew and Amber (L & R) and my sister Sarah (center)

One of our tables! 

My plate. Yummy.

The mountain outside our little house.

Panoramics are cool.

My own Thanksgiving Selfie.

My goofball cousin, Matthew.

Mama :) 

My attempt at hand lettering.

Pumpkin Pie. :) 
This isn't from today... but the one thing that would have made today better is if he was
here with me and my family. Missing my boy on this holiday... so thankful for him though. 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Wintery Day

Greetings from the Berkshires! Winter Storm Cato is in full swing here. I'm thankful I was able to drive home yesterday before the storm. After my class yesterday, I left from Pennsylvania and made it up to Hancock, MA later in the evening. This is where my family is spending Thanksgiving this year. Normally, we go up to Stowe, Vermont for a stay at The Village Green... but this year we're switching it up and staying at Vacation Village in Hancock in the Berkshire Mountains, Western Massachusetts. It's super cozy here and it's even better being with my family. Last night and today so far, it's been just my sister Sarah, our Nana and her boyfriend Bill and I. It's been lovely, but I am so excited for the rest of my family to arrive in the next twenty-four hours. My parents are on their way up here now, my cousins are coming tonight, and my uncles, aunt, and other cousins are coming tomorrow morning! This time that I have with my family is one of my most cherished times and always creates some of the most fond memories. 

For now, we are sitting out the storm. I'm cuddled up under a blanket and when I'm done with this post I'm going to crochet more of the blanket I've been working on. I love warm drinks on cold days. We're watching a Christmas movie by the fireplace. My family means so much to me... I love spending this time of year with them. My heart is so full. Pray that the rest of my family makes it here safely in the storm! 

What about you? What do you like to do on cold and snowy days? 




Monday, November 24, 2014

Lately

OH MY GOODNESS. Has it actually been over a month since I have blogged? The time has so easily slipped away from me. I am not very good at keeping up with this blog when school picks up and I have a lot of assignments due. Today however, I am making time and updating everyone on my life over the last month and the crazy things that have been happening! Like I already said, my schoolwork has been CRAZY, but I'm sure you would rather hear about more exciting things in my life. However, I will say this about my school work... I would not be making through all the book reviews, presentations, and research papers if it weren't for Jesus Christ. He has literally been my strength and motivation the last month. I've been able to feel Him guiding me and strengthening me... and it's pretty amazing. Anyway...

The last time I blogged was October 20th... so my update will start from the weekend right after that. 


October 24th was homecoming chapel here at my school and on that day, they give the seniors alumni blankets! Now, since it's my fifth year, I've been waiting a very long time to get this blanket. It was a very joyous day for me. Also on that marvelous day, my amazingly talented boyfriend, Asa, was at school to play on the alumni worship team for chapel. It was so great to see him on the stage again and have him back to sit next to in chapel. After chapel, him and I enjoyed some Chipotle for lunch and headed back down to Maryland (where he lives) for the weekend! It was really nice to have him along for the drive down there. He took a bus up the night before and some friends and I picked him up in Philadelphia. So having him in the car with me for the two and a half hour drive down to his house was really nice. I love that boy. We enjoyed dinner that night at the home of our friends Marvin and Dina! All in all, it was a fantastic day. 





That whole weekend in Maryland was spent celebrating the boy you see to the left. It was the weekend of his 22nd birthday! Also should point out, that he's exactly two weeks younger than me. Probably doesn't mean much to any of you, but I've always thought it was super cool. Anyway, he's feeling 22 now and I think that we both actually feel a little more grown up now. That weekend we relaxed and shopped a little bit. We also went to a harvest party for the young adults group from his church and we carved pumpkins and ate chili and has some fellowship. We also went bowling and had some tasty Starbucks together... which has become one of our favorite things to do. We spent some time together on his birthday and then I drove back to school. This boy means the absolute world to me. He's my best friend and I'm so blessed by his love, patience, and grace. I can't believe he's mine, and I'm so incredibly thankful. 

Fast forward to the weekend of November 7th and 8th... these two days were so much fun! Asa drove up Friday morning and after chapel that day, we left to drive home to Massachusetts to surprise my Dad, Mom, and Sister for my Dad's birthday that weekend! They had NO IDEA we were coming and it was absolutely AMAZING. We walked into Bertucci's right as they were telling the hostess a table for 3 and I said "you may want to make that a table for 5!" and their jaws dropped! Perfect surprise! We enjoyed a delicious meal with them that evening and then the next day we went to a breakfast at my Nana's place and went to see Interstellar with my Dad and Sister! We drove back to PA Saturday night because Asa had to be back to MD by Sunday to lead worship. However, this was a completely amazing weekend. 



I'd like to introduce you to one of my favorite new places to visit. This is Havre de Grace, Maryland... otherwise known as "halfway" between me and Asa. We met in this gorgeous little town for a day last weekend and explored. We walked along the "promenade" which is kind of like a little boardwalk along the chesapeake bay (pictured) and we also walked around the area surrounding the Concord Point Lighthouse. Then we went into the little town and explored the little shops! We spent a good amount of time in a HUGE antique store and then we grabbed some goodies from the local bakery. We looked around a print ship and some other little artsy stores. We ended our time enjoying some hot drinks (me, coffee. him, hot cider) at the local coffee shop "Concord Point Coffee" and it was absolutely delicious! Havre de Grace quickly became one of my favorite places to visit and I can't wait to go again sometime and explore some more!






Finally, this past weekend, I headed to Maryland (yes again) to see my boy and spend a much needed full weekend away from school. Friday night we went to see the new Hunger Games movie and if you haven't seen it... I won't spoil it for you... but I will tell you to get to a movie theater as soon as possible to see it! It was SO good!!! Also, we saw it in XD (extreme digital) at the Egyptian 24 theater in Hanover, MD. This is by FAR the coolest movie theater I've ever been to! If you're in the southern Baltimore area, you must check this place out.










On Saturday, we got an early start and headed into Washington D.C. for the day... personally, I love D.C! I've been twice in the summer and twice in the fall and I like it SO MUCH BETTER in the fall. Summer is just hot and sticky and there are so many more people. This was us in the morning on the train into the city! We had planned to do a lot more that day than we actually got around to doing. We decided to skip the museums and just see the outdoor monuments (except for the National Archives) because it was an absolutely beautiful day! We went to the White House sporting our Starbucks lattes, of course. Then we wandered around and found some lunch. We hopped back on the metro and then walked on down to the Jefferson Memorial, from there we headed over to the FDR and MLK memorials and finally to the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, and the Washington Monument. I love the city of DC, and I love adventuring with my handsome boy. 












Here is a picture of me that Asa snapped in front of a super cool water wall. He's a pretty good photographer, I'd say. 



















The two of us at the base of the Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background. 













Finally, a panoramic of the Tidal Basin with the Jefferson Memorial on the left and the Washington Monument on the right. 


Whew! That's a very quick update on my life! I hope you've enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures! I need to try and update this blog more often! 

What have you been up to lately?