Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Snow Daze

Happy Tuesday!

Raise a glass for it already being 1 day into the work week!

Does anyone else go stir crazy during snowstorms?  I can't sit still and therefore I start to get a little cabin fever after being cooped up for a day.  I know some people can binge watch Netflix for a weekend and be fine with it, but not me.  I need to move around.  P.S. SOOO happy they added Parks and Rec Season 7!  I came late to the P&R party, but I'm pumped to watch Season 7!

Snowpocalypse 2016 started on Friday around 9 and went until Saturday afternoon.  I was bored by Saturday at 7 am.

Friday night, Deb and I attended Grand Conversations.  Grand Conversations is a 2 Day PD workshop that our district offers in which educators are invited to screen a movie on Friday night and engage in a book discussion on Saturday mornings.  There are about 4-5 choices for both the movie and book.  This year I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.  I would highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone.  It's a non-fiction text which links success to its many factors and links all of these successful outliers to events/people/times that are seemingly out of their control.  These factors all contributed to their successes and can't be overlooked.  It was a fascinating work and definitely made me think.

The theme this year was Honoring Educators.  I was on the panel that planned the event and I suggested watching Boy Meets World.  If you've never seen the show...I don't know if we can be friends anymore.  Anyway, one of the main characters is Mr. Feeny, a beloved teacher and next door neighbor to our hero Cory Matthews. Mr. Feeny ends up teaching Cory and Co. for the entire 7 seasons the show aired on ABC in the mid 90s to early 2000s.  Anyway, it passed through multiple rounds of debate and thus I was appointed "leader" of the BMW movie chat.  I picked 6 episodes from the seasons that highlight Mr. Feeny's impact on the lives of his students.  Pretty shweet gig considering BMW constantly floods my DVR.  See, Deb...I was working this summer when I spent copious hours glued to the TV rewatching a show I've seen 90,000,000 times.

source

Registration began at 4 and I grabbed a bucket of popcorn, some candy, and water bottles for my viewers and headed to the designated classroom.  Luckily I had zero technical difficulties.  Then I sat and waited.  Waited/hoped people would show up.  It never crossed my mind that no one would pick my movie to view.  Finally at 4:30 I went to check to see if anyone had signed up replenish my candy stock and ran into Deb and a few other people who just so happened to be coming to BMW!  SCORE!  Not going to lie, I was getting nervous that it would be me and Deb (who would pity watch with me) viewing BMW.

We had 7 people!  The same as 3 of the other movies.  McFarland drew the biggest crowd.  Success!

We all watched the show, laughed, cried, and relived our 90s nostalgia.

After the movie we headed to the library for a yummy dinner from one of my favorite local restaurants.  If you're in the South Jersey area and have not had Vincenzo's you need to stop reading this and GO!  The best Italian food!  I rolled with a Greek salad and chicken and mushrooms.  I'm still dreaming about it :)

Since Jonas the Blizzard was on his way, we ended up nixing the movie discussions and someone from each group gave a 2 minute synopsis of the movie.  I was nominated from my group to give the synopsis.  I hate summarizing (can you tell I'm not a brevity does not befall me?) and ended up saying um and like wayyyyy more than I should have.  I also am proud of myself for not coming across as a total fangirl.


Friday night was spent cuddling up with my super hot boyfriend Chris Evans.  Just kidding, my dog.  Just kidding, these cookies!

recipe here


Giant almond meal cookies the size of my face...couldn't be happier.  Okay, maybe if Chris Evans was actually cuddled up with me whilst eating the cookies, I'd be happier :)

*Side note, I usually use 1.5 cups almond meal and 4 TBSP coconut oil because they tend to be too dry if I don't*

Cookies+Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta=perfect snowy night

Saturday was spent doing absolutely nothing.  I'm not going to lie, I was super salty about this Saturday snow storm.  Saturdays I like to spend all morning at the gym Zumbaing, Pilatesing, and Pouding.  Then, I go to Wegman's for some samples and grocery shopping.  Saturday I made fudge.  It was good, but wayyyyy too sweet.

To counter the sweetness I had some green salad.
1 Granny Smith apple
1 Cup Super Greens
sprinkle of pine nuts
goat cheese
dip of pear infused vinegar


At 10 pm I realized I had 958 Fitbit Steps so I did some half-assed Zumba.

I was in a sugar coma most of the day. Does anyone else feel like death by sugar after eating too much of the sweet stuff?  At 25 I should know when to say stop to the cookie binger.  Maybe at 26...

I don't like shoveling snow.  It's not the physical aspect of it, it's the coldness aspect of it.

I often times go back and forth with the idea of getting married. Having a house full of pink things, girlie decor, a DVR full of Real Housewives, Say Yes To The Dress, The Bachelor, and appropriately closed toilet seat covers really speak to me in a positive way. HOWEVER, when we get over 2 feet of snow and the idea of shoveling becomes a reality, I decide that yes, marriage is in the cards for me. Having someone shovel your snow is worth having one less pink picture frame. It's called compromise. I've heard that's essential to a marriage.

I am all for equality between the sexes, but I don't want to shovel.  I'll make him dinner/drinks/dessert if my future hubs promises to shovel us out.  I'm gonna put it in my vows.  You think I'm kidding?


Do you want to know what else is fun about snow daze?  When it's midnight and you're taking a shower and realize that you have NO HOT WATER!  Thanks Jonas!  I froze my little butt off in that shower.


After my Sunday gym session, I ended up having to shower at the gym.  Thank you RH&FC for not only being an amazing gym, but for having hot water :)

source
Does anyone else feel totally awkward and out of sorts showering somewhere besides your own shower?  I never know how to work the shower head (consequently feeling like an idiot and giving myself a pep talk a la The Help:

Come on, Erin.  You are smart, you are kind, you are important.  You also have a freaking masters degree and should be able to work a stinking shower head!  Get it together girlfriend!  Also, all of the hooks were full of other people's shower supplies (seriously who leaves their shower supplies at the gym...on the shower caddy?) so I had to move a little bench over.  So.  Awkward.  Then there's the packing of shower supplies.  Oy vey.  I looked like a crazy bag lady walking into the gym today.  Also, I didn't want to pack my full sized shower supplies so I had to revert to the good ole fashioned travel extras leftover from my vacays this summer.  Apparently I only buy Bath and Body Works scents that make me smell exactly like an over-perfumed tween.  #lovely.  That stuff doesn't just dissipate over time, if anything it gets stronger.  Like Kelly Clarkson.  Or the plague.  I was a multi-scented perfume nightmare.


After my shower experience, I ventured to Target and Wegman's for the essentials.

Cait and I went to Farmicia for dinner.
Sunday I also spent making some Sunday sauce (in za Vitamix) with ground turkey.  I plan on pairing it with some sweet potato veghetti for din din Monday night.  I curled up with Real Housewives of Potomac and stared at all of the work I will have to do on Monday.  I also missed my 12,000 Fitbit steps by 2!  2!  I think it actually stopped working because I was at 11,998 for like 10 minutes.  I spent 3 minutes jumping just to try and win those 2 coveted steps, but alas, they didn't register.  Now I feel like a loser.  Is anyone else super competitive with their Fitbit?  I can't tell you how many times I spend wandering my house or watching Fitnessista Zumba videos on Youtube to try and hit my step goal.  If there are any other Fitbit freaks out there, I feel your (competitively neurotic) pain.


Monday.  Ahhhh, Monday.  The day to play catch up on all the laundry and schoolwork I put off.  Monday is also BACHELOR MONDAY!  Who do you all like?  I like Becca, both Ashelys, and JoJo.  My school is doing a Bachelor Pool and I can't wait to see who wins!

It's been a fun few snow daze, but I'm ready to get back to normal.  All of this sugar is killing me.  I know, I know, I could just not eat it all...but what fun is that?

XOXO,

e

*Fingers crossed that the kiddos aren't too cray cray this week*



Friday, January 3, 2014

What Shoveling The Snow Is Not

Welcome to Snowstorm Hercules NJ!

I had another post, a more serious musing, scheduled for today but I will post that one later.  Try not to let the anticipation kill you.

Well, first some background info to help your schema's adapt and better comprehend the incoming information.  Deb usually shovels us out.  Mostly because she's quite the outdoors woman a speech therapist and is off for snow days.  Dylan has helped her in the past as has my dad, but Dylan was needed at work (some people need their alcohol okay people regardless of if we have a State of Emergency) and my dad had to go to work, too.  So I do the nice daughter thing and text Deb asking if she could wait til 10 to start shoveling.  (I'm not a morning person and texting is the only form of communication I partake in before I'm "officially awake")  She replied don't help me stay in and be warm.  Deb has a process and doesn't like us to mess up her work.  So I was a good little daughter and obliged.  Well, Hurricane Daddy came in bawking about me getting up to help my mother.  Did you ever notice that when parents want you to help someone they always make it your relative.  Like go help your father in the garage.  No parent would ever say go help my husband in the garage.  No because then they would feel obliged to help them.  Tricky little thing discourse is, isn't it?  I digress.  So I get up put on my winter clothes and then try to find a non baseball hat.  Found one, from an American Girl Match My Doll outfit I rocked in Intermediate School.  hashtag lookinghot!  And trudge out their.  I shoveled for about 45 minutes and then we were done.  (Yes we have a snow blower but it never seems to be working.  Also, no one listens to me when I say, 'let's just go buy a new one?')  So here is a collective of things I thought about/complained about/hated.


What I said or thought before and during/excuses as to why I shouldn't/don't want to be Snow Shoveling Erin:
  • I don't want to.
  • I don't own snow pants. (Also, this is not a gift opportunity.  It is my choice not to own them so I can avoid all snow removal related activities)
  • My jaw feels like it's tightening up
  • You do it
  • It's too cold
  • Can I pay my way out of this?
  • Dylan should have stayed home to help Deb.  He really doesn't pull his own weight here.
  • My back hurts from Pilates
  • This is a boy job.
  • My hat makes my hair look stupid.
  • I don't care if it's a good workout
  • In my wedding vows my husband will say, "I promise to love, honor, and shovel the snow out for you."  And mine will say, "I promise to love, honor, and have chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven when you come in from shoveling said snow."
  • Seriously, how much could that township fine be?  Can we just pay it?
  • Why did I ever think this was fun to play in?  It's freaking cold out here!
  • That's it!  I'm leaving!  I'm moving to San Diego.  It's warm, they have a beach, and if it ever does snow I'll be way ahead of the game.  
  • Deb is so young, she can totally do this herself.  She's a trailblazer both figuratively and literally.  
  • Is sleeping through this worth getting yelled at and Catholic Guilted?  *The answer is yes*
  • I'm going to figure out the engineering behind dog sled snow removal.  Get ready, Cody!
  • My eyes are frozen.  NO ONE BELIEVED ME!


What Shoveling Snow Is Not:

  • Winter Crossfit
  • An opportunity to defy and reestablish gender roles
  • An opportunity to show off how cute my hot pink Hunter boots are
  • An opportunity to dance on the ice (you will get yelled at for A) Dangerous activity B) That's not helping)
  • Fun.  It sucks.
  • A place to be without my sunglasses.
  • Ugh, I can't run into get my sunnies because I'll traipse mud and slush through the house thus getting yelled at even more.
  • A time for my iPod to play the songs I NEVER listen to!  My hands are frozen into my gloves and I can't change the song.  Side note, "tech gloves" never seem to work when you need them to.  I don't wanna jam to the Romeo & Juliet Overture.  
  • A place for a logical/meaningful/important/any at all conversation.  My ears are frozen off...plus I'm listening to some very loud classical music now and I can't do anything about it.  I'm gonna nod at you until you stop talking.  Also, if you could use hand gestures and pointing to clue me in over here, I would greatly appreciate it.  
  • A place for me to bang my shovel on the ground and say:

  • Oh, wow, really?  Yes I did shovel a lot I'm so proud of myself.  SAID NO ONE EVER.  This is not a place to see my accomplishments of snow removal.  I don't care if, "Look you shoveled all of this!"  I did not want to be here in the first place.
My feelings in video form:


So, now I'm all done.  It really wasn't that bad.  I'm off to enjoy some snow day appropriate activities like reading, eating, watching movies, marathoning Netflix, wear yoga pants, have a hot mess hair day.


Anyway,  I hope every stays safe and warm this snowy snowy snow day.  Don't shovel too much!  


xoxo,

Erin


Photo Sources:

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3r3ag4 (Christmas Vacation)
http://www.troll.me/meme/you-shall-not-pass (Gandolf)
http://indiependentmind.tumblr.com/post/49085322649/chandler-bing-is-my-alter-ego (Chandler)

Video Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUASznyVWd4

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

23rd Birthday Fail Whale

Welp I'm officially 23!!  I'm kinda excited!?  I've never been too scared of growing up because I think you're only as old as you think  you are and I'm officially 9 forever!  So at 11:57 on Friday the 13th (mwahhahaha...that was supposed to be scary/creepy but I think it came out...um differently?  I don't know.  I tried :)) I played TSwizzle's 22 for the last time.  As I listened to the lyrics I thought all about my 22nd year of life and all of the lessons I learned.  I would like to bestow some of my green 23 year old knowledge on you all:



  • Take the chance!
    • Just do it!  You'll regret it so much more if you don't.  The chance I took this year was getting bangs.  Just Kidding!  I don't rock bangs because of a cowlick lol.  Now I don't usually post about my personal life, but I think this is something I should write about because I'm nosy love reading about other people's lives on blogs.  So my chance was trying a new confusionship after a few years of bad dates.  Did I end up getting my feelings hurt?  Absolutely!  Was it worth it?  I'm not sure?  I keep thinking that maybe once I'm more removed from it I'll be able to judge it better, but as my blog's namesake says, Serindipity is law.  But I had a blast while it was good and I don't regret it.  
  • Be grateful!
    • I think it's easy to get caught up in your own personal pity party every once in a while and I know I throw myself a pity party sometimes when I'm feeling low but when I get sad I just count my blessings.  I listen to Martina McBride's Blessed and say, "God, family, friends, school, a job, ability to move, books, a house, a computer, clothes, jewelry, candy, chocolate cake, food, water, ambition, freedom, America, faith, hope, and love."  I am so blessed and sometimes it's important to say thank you for all the things we have.  
  • Be awkward!
    • I think I spent 21 years trying to hide my awkwardness but I think at 22 I owned my dorkiness, my randomness, my inappropriateness, and my silliness and I think it makes me a better person.  It surely makes my life more fun!  People respond well to awkward!
  • Cherish your friends!
    • I couldn't exist without my friends!  They give me the best advice (do I always take it?  Nope, I should, but I don't), they pick me up when I'm sad, they make me laugh until my ribs hurt, and they love me.  I am so lucky to have them!  They're just the most fun and amazing group of warm hearted individuals in the world.  
  • Try!
    • Just do it!  You'll be happy that you did!  
  • Listen to your heart!
    • Get out of your head.  I'm serious!  This is coming from a chronic over-thinker.  Just smile and go okay heart whatever you say.  Your head will follow suit if you are happy!
  • Don't let anyone with bad eyebrows tell you shit about your life!
    • Truth!  
Candles, cake, champs!

Okay so 23 was a fail whale!  This was the first time my birthday fell on a weekend since I was like 12.   I was all set to go out with my amazeballs friends and go walk around South Street and enjoy the cute Mids and Cadets that were invading Philly for the Army/Navy Game.  Well...God and His snow had other plans.  I cancelled my party because I didn't want my friends to endanger their lives from driving from all over the state to come party with me.  So I was super bummed!  Maybe it was a sign from God?  A little Serindipity?  Maybe?  PROBABLY!

Anyway, I went to Panera for a bagel and they were out of my chocolate chip bagels!  Sad.  Then I went to Target/Lowes/Target again for a tree light revival gun!  Every 23 year olds dream way to spend their birthday, right?  Lies!  Then I came home and relaxed.  Then we went Christmas shopping.  We grabbed dinner at a pizza place that is close by and they have the best Florentine Pizza.  They were OUT!  More Fail Whale!  The night turned around though.  Since my party was cancelled I had extra money in my budget to shop!  Hello J. Crew pearl bracelet and Victoria's Secret yoga pants!  I finished up Christmas shopping and then we came home and I had my vocally talented (psych) family sing to me and we ate cake!  Not just regular cake, amazing Wegman's double chocolate cake!  The best food of all time!!!!  Then presents!  I got a cute J. Crew hat, a pet adoption tee, and an Alex and Ani bracelet with my beloved Phils emblem on it!  Dylan gave me a Lilly Pulitzer frame!  I loved it!  So cute!  Now, what picture to put in it?  Does anyone else get this way?   I have a slew of picture-less frames because I never know which pix to put in them.  I digress.  Okay so here are some pix of my prezzies!
CAKE!  HEAVEN!  CAKE!


This is so delicious!  I just don't even care that I look crazy here.


Hat and bracelet!!  Pretty much obsessed!




So my birthday was kind of a Fail Whale but I came to this conclusion.  Last year I had an amazing 22nd birthday and the year was ehhhh.  This birthday was ehhh so you know what that means?!  The year will be amazing!  And it really will be!  I will graduate with a Master's Degree (eeeek such a grown up!), I'll get a big girl job (so pumped!  I just wanna be a teacher!), and I'll be going on a self-lead Kennedy's tour of Massachusetts and Rhode Island!  I'll also be visiting my beloved New Orleans and training for my first half marathon!  (I'm gonna run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in 2015!!) So here's to 23 and a year of fabulousity!

xoxo,

Erin