Top 5

Happy Thursday!

How is everyone's week going?

Mine has been a little crazy due to meetings, snow days, and testing.

Since life has been a little helter-skelter, I decided to follow Julie's lead and do a Top 5 Post.

5 Places I'm Dying To Visit:

• Miami!  
• St. Louis-This summer!!
• Great Britain-Ello Govna!
• Greece (Blame it on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)
• Key West (I've heard they have chocolate covered key lime pie)

5 Foods I Eat Everyday:

• oatmeal
• blueberries
• peanut butter
• almond milk
• honey crisp apples

5 Talents I Wish I Had:

• singing (so so so bad)
• ART (anything!  I wish I could draw/paint/create.  I'm hopeless.  Sometimes I imagine how cute my classroom would be if I could draw, but then I end up Kim K ugly crying about how bad I am at art)
• Patience (patience is a talent and I do not possess that.  It physically pains me to wait)
• Lip Liner (Nope nope nope.  I always end up looking like a Walk of Shame)
• Train Times Reading (can't do it.  I've tried.  Thank you Google Maps for helping a sister out)

5 Things I Wear (Almost Every Day)

• Reebok sports bras  
• Reebok capris
• Asics 
• Under Armour socks
• Tory Burch flats/boots

BONUS!  Old, ugly, worn pink Ugg clogs.  I got them in 9th grade and have worn them everyday since.  They're now relegated to be strictly in the house slippers but I'll never part with them. 

5 Songs I Liste To On Repeat:

• TI and Rihanna Live Your Life
• Thomas Rhett Die a Happy Man 
• Thomas Rhett Get Me Some of That
• Ben E. King Stand By Me
• Garth Brooks Friends in Low Places 

5 Beauty Products I Use Everyday:

• Clinique Moisture Surge Moisturizer.  It's pricey but worth every penny
• Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Wash
• Burt's Bees Wax lip balm
• Green Juice!  I swear by it to keep my skin looking healthy
• Neutrogena Beach Sunscreen

5 Movies I Can Watch on Repeat:

• Legally Blonde
• Elf
• Father of the Bride I and II
• Remember the Titans
• Dirty Dancing

5 Books I Am Reading/Want to Read

• The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell 
• Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling 
• Letters from John to Abigail by Abigail Adams
• Jacqueline Kennedy An Untold Story by Barbara Leaming
• Save the Date by Jen Doll

I hope you all enjoyed this crazy little combination of random info.  What are some of your favorite or top 5's?  

xoxo,

e 

Inside The Actor's Studio

Happy Hump Day!

Day 2 of teaching is well under way by the time you're reading this.  Since School is starting and my blogging gets spotty.

I found this cute little Inside the Actor's Studio questionnaire while reading a vintage blog post by Julie.  Does anyone else love reading old blog posts?

She did an Inside the Actor's Studio questionnaire and I thought that this is a great idea for a blog post!

Here are my answers to James Lipton's famous end of the show questions.

What is your favorite word?

Love

What is your least favorite word?
No

What turns you on?
Good shoulders, good back, good listener, laughing

What turns you off?
smoking, bad breath, pushing a limit that I've set

What sound or noise do you love?
laughter and the pouring of chocolate chips into a mixing bowl

What sound or noise do you hate?
Silence when you send a text and don't get an answer
When the Phillies lose and there's silence in the stadium

What is your favorite curse word?
The Big F

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Sportscaster, nutritionist, dietitian, host of The Bachelor 

What profession would you not like to do?
 Anything with customer service…When I worked at the dance studio, I hated being yelled at for things that "were my fault" but really weren't.  I give people so much credit if they can be polite to people when people are literally yelling their brains out at you.


If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you walk through the pearly gates?
Your crazy family is sitting over there…

What are some of your answers?  I'd love to hear in the comments section below.

XOXO

E

A-Z Survey

Hey Friends!

How is everyone's Thursday?  

Last night was a gym Girls' Nite at Seasons 52.  It was amazing as always.  The girls and I joked that this was the first time we've seen each other in "normal" non gym clothes.  I got the usual BBQ Chicken salad with goat cheese instead of bleu and no seeds.  Then epic dessert happened.  Peanut Butter Mousse Cake!  Excuse me while I go wipe the drool from my face :)

*Insert Choir of Angels here*

Today I'm gearing up for a full day of work.  I'm squeezing in a 5 mile 5 am run--still loving these am runs!  Seriously, 2 years ago if you had asked me to get up at 5 am and run I would have smacked you with my pillow and rolled back over.  

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After the run, I have some errands to do, then I have 2 back to back tutoring sessions.  After tutoring I'm going to try and get a manicure as a nice relaxing break.

Later on, I'm babysitting one of my favorite families!  I love babysitting.  People keep asking me if I still babysit--apparently being 24.5 and working full time as a teacher means that I don't want to hang out with the rug rats?  No WAY!  I love babysitting.  It's like being the cool fun aunt!

I'm coming off my Tuesday night yoga high and therefore I was scrolling through Groupon and found a Groupon for a local Bikram yoga studio.  I bought the Groupon and can't wait to try the class!  I've never done Bikram or "hot yoga" before.  If anyone has and wants to send a girl some info/tips/tricks feel free to do so in the comments section!  I'd be very appreciative.  I'm going to start on Friday so I'll give you the low down soon.  

Anyway, today I thought it would be fun to follow in one of my favorite blogger's foot steps and jump on the A-Z survey train.  Julie at PB Fingers is a huge blogspiration of mine.  She's so much fun and so bubbly and upbeat.  Did everyone just do the scene from How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days "…but surprisingly…upbeat!"  If you said yes, that's why we're friends :)

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Here we go…

A.  Age: 24.5

B.  Biggest Fear:  CATS!  and the dark…especially my kitchen with the big glass door that I fear one day will have a murderer waiting there.  

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C.  Current Time:  6:28 pm 

D. Drink You Last Had:  refreshing tap water

E.   Easiest Person To Talk To:  any of my girlfriends or my dad

F.  Favorite Song:  This kinda changes, but today it's Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks or the classic go to Live Your Life T.I. Featuring Rihanna 

G.  Grossest Memory:  After PR-ing my 5k I was covered in a mix of sunscreen, sweat, and boogers.  Too real?  

H.  Hometown:  South Jersey Girl For Ever!

I.  In Love With:  My current life--loving my great friends, summer happiness, and long lazy pool days.  I do miss my kiddos, though...

J.  Jealous of:  Boys and their metabolism.  I'd kill to be able to eat like my brother does--wings, cheesesteaks, cookies, junk food, the works!  If I look at a cheesesteak I gain 5 pounds.

K.  Kindest Person You Know:  My Pilates instructor.  She takes care of everyone in class and kindness and love shine out of her face.  Every time I leave her class my heart just feels whole and I feel so much calmer  (Very tough for TYPE-A Miss Erin)

L.  Longest Relationship:  Ok, so we all know that I'm not the luckiest girl in (lasting) love, so I'm gonna go the friendship route--22 years with my friend Amy!  21 years with my friend Steph!  16 years with Amanda!  15 years with Cait!

M.  Middle Name:  Maura

N.  Number of Siblings:  Uno

The one and only Dylan :)

O.  One Wish:  That all of my students live happy productive lives and continue to believe in themselves

P.  Person You Spoke to Last on the Phone:  Mandi from Seasons 52.  Gotta confirm those dinner rezzies

Q.  Question You're Always Asked:  Do you have a boyfriend?  Seriously, once a week I'm asked this.  One time I'm going to say yes and point to a random man who clearly is not my boyfriend.  

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R.  Reason To Smile:  Going to New Orleans to visit Zach in less than 2 months!  We've been friends since high school and every summer I visit him in NOLA!

Princess Tiana's Castle!

S.  Song You Last Sang:  Toby Keith's Drinks After Work

T.  Time You Woke Up:  7 am

U.  Underwear Color:  grey…not granny panty grey though lol

V.  Vacation Destination:  I'm going to Annapolis, D.C., and NOLA this summer…also Disney is a top fave…I'm looking at you November!  I prefer cities over beaches

W.  Worst Habit:  Perfectionism?  Nail Biting?  Overanalyzing ehhhhverrrryyyyything?  All or any of the above :)

X.  X-Rays You've Had:  Nada

Y. Your Favorite Food:  Ooooo it's a tie between Brown Sugar/Cracked Black Pepper salmon and Seasons 52's BBQ Chicken Salad

Z.  Zodiac Sign:  Sagittarius 

I hope you all enjoyed this!  Feel free to join me in the party and tell me some (or all) of your A-Z facts

Happy Thursday!

XOXO,

E

All Things Erin

Happy Tuesday!

Life here in Casa de Kitley is caarraaayzzyyy!  We're all having serious cases of vacay brain.  Vacay brain is a serious medical condition with symptoms including:

• compulsive list making aka my snack list/shopping list/packing list all seem to converge in my food journal
• laundry cycling-usually I'm the culprit of leaving my clothes in the dryer for minutes days after they're done, but not now!  I'm plugging and chugging my vacay needed clothes in and out of the washer and dryer like a champ!
• Needless spending-I NEED that new OPI Race Red nail polish and I won't sleep until I find it.  Do I need another $10 a bottle red nail polish?  Nope, but vacay brain says I do!
• Penny Arcade at TD BANK-Does anyone else save all their coins and then go to Penny Arcade the week of their vacay to cash in their change for some vacay moolah?  It's one of my favorite vacay traditions!  I usually end up with about $50.  Not. Too. Shabby.
• Forgetting to drop things at the dry cleaner-I have about 3 dresses out right now and I forgot about 2 more...maybe I'll feel ballsy and wash them by hand?  Or maybe I'll ask Deb?  Probably gonna do the latter because she's better at that than me.  Apparently you don't use Dove Pink soap to wash a Lilly?  WHO. KNEW?
• Staying out of the Deb's way-This is kinda all the time but amplified during Week-Before-Vacay.  Better not to disturb.

Anyway, I hope your life is as crazy in a good way as mine is right now.  I'm super pumped for vacation and can't wait for some much needed and well deserved R&R.  Today's July Blog Challenge is Five Things You Love About Yourself.  Pretty easy because I believe in tooting your own horn every now and then.  Self confidence is key people.  I once heard the saying (from a wise New Jersey boy...so you know it's true)

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I completely agree.  I feel like we are taught (especially women) to toot our own horn, not pat ourselves on the back, well guess what?  Life is hard (get a helmet.  I miss you Boy Meets World) and every once in a while we need to say, Self, you did good today.  It's just healthy.  Some people call these daily affirmations, I call them just getting through the day.  Ladies and Gents, let's give ourselves a pat on the back and toot our own horn.

*Side Story*-When I taught dance, I used to conclude every class with having my students give themselves a round of applause, pat themselves on the back and toot their own horn.  I mostly taught the little baby ballerinas so we would actually clap in a circle, pat ourselves on the back, and make a train whistle motion.  Corny?  Absolutely, but also necessary.  Kids need to know that they did a good job and that they are improving because of hard-work--not just plain talent.

So here are some of my favorite things about myself.

My Master's Degree

Hell yeah I'm proud of myself!  I worked my booty off for 5 years to earn that gorgeous piece of embossed paper.


I like my determination.  I like that I work hard and don't quit until I get what I want.  I know what I want and what I deserve and I won't stop until I get there.  Sure I drive myself insane, but at least I have drive.

My feminist self.  I love being a feminist.  Feminists don't hate men.  We just want to be treated as equals.  We want to live in a world where we can walk down a street at 4 am and not worry about getting attacked.  We want equal rights in health care, family life, work life, and politics.

Being a special education teacher.  I love that my job allows me to help children develop, grow, and learn everyday.  It's such an important job and I'm glad and humbled by the fact that I get to be a part of their lives.

My sense of humor.  I love making people laugh.  It's one of my favorite things to do.  If it's by tripping (something I do mostly in sneakers...I've never tripped in all the heels I've ever worn), or by saying crazy off the wall things, or by making comments about things--I just love making people laugh.  I think making someone laugh is like giving them a little brain vacation.  Temporarily, they get to leave the sad moment they're in and laugh.


*Bonus*

My blonde hair!  In case you haven't heard the song yet, Miranda Lambert wrote a song called Platinum it's all about the joys of being a blonde.  I like that people underestimate blondes--because I like proving them wrong.  I like being a tough cookie and working hard to prove myself.  Below you can find the link to the song...it's amazing!

You'll love it!  Promise on my blonde hair!  Who wouldn't love the lyric What doesn't kill you makes you blonder?  Platinum!  Did you get my pun?  I'm a dork?  I know :)

Hope you have a fab day!

xoxo,

E

Currently...

Hey Blog Friends,

Sorry I have been MIA this past week but I have been buuuuuzzzzzzyyyyyy!  Hopefully I will have some good news to share with y'all next week.  Fingers crossed for the dream job!!

Today's post is about my current favorites and this couldn't come at a better time because I'm currently doing a lot of laying low.  Today I will be divulging all of my current favorites!

Currently:

reading-The One and Only by Emily Giffin.  I'm a huge fan of Ms. Giffin and her work.  She's a genius and I love her complex characters.  Pick it up and read it now! 

writing-This bloggy and resumes.  I'm a pro at resume writing and Applitrax questionnaires.  


listening-Platinum by Miranda Lambert.  O.M.G. Great CD!  (Like it was going to be anything less than genius!)  Yes I still buy CDs because I'm old school like Ms. Lambert's Automatic.  Ok, honestly I just like to look at the pictures and the lyrics.  My fave jams are Platinum, Girls, Automatic, Priscilla, and Somethin' Bad.

I also am loving Brantley Gilbert's Just As I Am.  It's everything you could want from a CD!  It has love songs (My Faith in You, Let it Ride) and jams (Guns & Roses, Smalltown Throwdown, 17 Again) No bad songs on this CD.  


thinking-vacation is so soon!  I need a job!  I want to shop!  


smelling-Garlic bread...yummmmmmmm


wishing-for a good phone call next week!  Anything that opens with "Hello, Miss Kitley?  Yes, we would like to offer you a position at ________ elementary school."

hoping-see above 

wearing-loving maxis (duh) and shorts and tanks!  Also, thank you GAP Summer Sale for the new super cozy and bright orange!! sports bra.  I love you and your comfy ways

wanting-seeing wishing and hoping...also some Jack Rogers!

loving-my friends, family, Homeland

needing-sleep!  I'm soooo exhausted right now!  It's 9:30 and I'm tired...gotta get a life!

These are my current faves!  What are your faves!?

xoox,

E

Finish the Sentence

Hey Friends!

Welcome to Monday!  I've been a running hot mess today prepping for this week in Demo Lesson Land.  I went to 2 libraries, Staples, and Target to prep for these babies.  I'm beginning to dream up demo lessons.  Honest.  My mom came in my room to drop something off in the middle of the night and I told her all about my lesson that I came up with in my dreams!  Efficient, eh?  Dreaming up demos?!  

Anyway, today's challenge is to fill in the rest of the sentences.  Here are mine!  Enjoy!

When I open the fridge, I always hope I find...

Wegman’s Chocolate Cake, almond milk, and blueberries

My favorite article of clothing is...

My hot pink Lilly Pulizter Pearl dress and my Jessica Simpson skinnies...obviously not together ;)

Last week I was really pissed when...

It rained on my beach day with Ra and Jess L

One thing nobody understands about me is...

The amount of pressure I put on myself.  I keep myself up at night worrying.

One thing I don't understand is...

Crocs and why people where them

The world would be a better place if...

Teachers ran it

If I had a million dollars I'd...

Pay off my and my brother’s student loans, buy a house, and shop my bootay off, send an underprivileged girl to college

If I could change one thing about myself, it would be...

To tell myself to calm the eff down—everything will work out

Something that can always make me happy is...

My friends (ok they're not technically a thing but friendship is so it counts) Legally Blonde, and Real Housewives marathons

Something I'll never blog about is...

I think I’ve written about everything so far…maybe I won’t write about little spats I’d have with my future in my dreams boyfriend.  That’s private.

If I could go anywhere I would go...

On a monthlong Mediterranean cruise with the family

because...

we love cruisin’ and I could hit all of the countries I always wanted to go to—Greece, Italy, Turkey!

If I were an animal I would be a....

Pig because they just don’t care what people think and they can eat all day long!  Who wouldn’t want that?  Plus they’re pink!

A job I've always wanted is..

Olivia Pope’s on Scandal

My idea of a perfect day is...

Waking up late, going to the gym, spa day, hair and makeup done by a pro, wearing a fabulous pink sundress and meeting the girls for lunch.  Then heading to the Phils game with my family!

If I knew I'd die next week, this week I'd...

Eat everything!  Shop my heart out (gotta go in the ground in designer!), touch up my roots, spend all the time I could with my favorite people, pray, repent, and apologize.  I’d also haunt my exes from beyond the grave J

What would y'all do??

xoxo,

E

I Think I'm Alone Now...Doesn't Seem To Be Anyone Arou-ound

Happy Tuesday!

It's Day 8 in the July Blog Challenge and the topic today is Things I Do When I'm Alone. 
This might be my favorite thing ever to blog about!  I just do a lotta weird stuff when I'm alone :)

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Does anyone else remember the Full House episode where DJ and co. stay up late to watch Tiffany Live From Tokyo?  It was a classic!  Also, raise your hand if you remember the epic mall rat feud between Tiffany and her bitter rival Debbie Gibson over who was a better Playmate?  Epic stuff man.  They can throw down...never underestimate an 80s pop queen and her fluffy bangs.

--The obvious one...sing and dance like I'm in my own concert.  Yup, living room ottoman gets pushed away and voila!  My stage is ready!  I then perform choreographed routines (and sometimes random jumping...think Harry Styles) and always thank my fans (the couch and love seat love my stuff!) and then I thank God.  Then I stand a la Taylor Swift Fearless tour and just am in awe.  Of all the love I am receiving.

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If you're wondering my setlist it goes like this:

• Cowboy Take Me Away-Dixie Chicks
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper edition (DEFFFF not the Miley %$^#show that was her version)/Single Ladies remix-Beyonce
• Money Maker-The one, only, Luda
• Friends in Low Places-Garth Brooks
• Jolene-Dolly Parton
• Love Don't Cost a Thing-J.Lo
• The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole version
• I'll Make a Man Out of You-Mulan
• With You-Jessica Simpson
• Thinking About You-Trisha Yearwood
• Only Prettier-Miranda Lambert
• Cowboy in Me-Tim McGraw
• Breathe-Faith Hill
• 2 Black Cadillacs- Carrie Underwood...however, for this concert I duet with Jennifer Nettles
• Numb/Encore (both parts)-Jay Z and Linkin Park
• Baby Got Back/Country Girl Shake it For Me remix-Sir Mix a Lot and Lukey Bear Brian
• Tim McGraw-T.Swizzle
• Irreplaceable-Beyonce

Encore

• Drunk on a Plane-Dierks Bentley
• Timber-Pitbull feat. Ke dollar sign ha 
• I Will Always Love You-sung as half Dolly and half Whitney Houston

Pretty epic I'd say :)

-I give interviews.  Not only do I talk to myself but I pretend that Diane Sawyer is interviewing me for a special 20/20 episode.  She's interviewing me about my role as First Lady (there was obviously a huge cheating scandal but we've overcome it) and now as Secretary of Education (I'm rocking the socks off it).  She loves me bee tee dubs.  Plus I also had a 100% approval rating as First Lady ;)

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My girl Diane laughing at my joke.

-Rehearse my monologue for SNL.  Obviously, I will be the first active First Lady to host SNL...duh!  My skits will include what I really do all day long (mani's, pedi's, Pilates, hanging pictures)

-Host a TV cooking show.  I have exactly 10 meals in my repetoire that don't involve picking up the phone and ordering food and I make sure to wear my cute apron and talk to the camera.  

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-Watch ghost shows.  Don't know why I do this when no one is home.  I especially like to do this when my family is in Virginia moving Dylan in/out of his dorm room.  I don't know why but for some reason all the "good ghost shows" are on when I'm alone.  

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-Cry lyrics.  Have you ever done this?  If not I highly suggest it.  You sing the lyrics to a song (any one will do) BUT you cry them.  My favorite is Colbie Callait's I Never Told You.  Do this for about a minute and it will be the best minute of your life.

-Make an Excel page about my finances.  I don't know why but I just love doing my finances.  

-Plan my wedding on Pinterest.  Not gonna lie though, I kinda do that when people are around, too...thank you Pinterest app!

So thur ya go.  I'm a goober when I'm alone.  I just love doing goofy/scary stuff.  What do you like to do?

xoxo,

E

I Love Smiling, Smiling's My Favorite

Happy Monday y'all!

Was it hard getting into the flow of life again after a mucho fabulous 3 day weekend?  I don't know about you, but I think America has the best birthday weekend!  America certainly knows how to party!


Today we're going to chatty chat about all of the things that make me smile.  I know I've done posts about this before, but today's will be a smidge different and hopefully I'll add some new stuff in.

-Babies.  Babies just make me smile because they're so stinking cute!  I worked in the baby room at a day care and I just loved it.  Those little nuggets just brighten up my day.  You can't hold a baby and be sad.

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- Baked Breakfast Cookies!  OOOOOMYYYLAWWWD are these dalish!  Baked Breakfast Cookie recipe can be found in the attached link.  I have had these every morning for the past month or so and I'm hooked!  I make mine with chocolate chips (obviously) and I am full all morning---plus(!) I crave less chocolate throughout the day because I've already had a leetle bit.  The Fitnessista (creator of the Baked Breakfast Cookie) is one of my favorite bloggies because her recipes are quick, easy, made from whole foods, and delicious!  Plus she doesn't make diety food--she indulges in wine and chocolate, too!  My kinda girl!  Plus these cookies are so good the entire famsquad eats 'em.

-Finishing a long run.  Long runs are actually my favorite.  They are where I see my hard work pay off.  Yesterday was an 8 miler as per my half marathon training plan and I ran it in 1:17:00.  Not too shabby for an unnatural runner.  I feel so victorious after my long runs.  Sure my legs hurt, my hips hurt, and my calves need some foam rollin' love, but I just feel awesome when I'm finished.  Definitely a sense of accomplishment.  

-Getting second interviews (I have 2 this week)

-Boy Meets World reruns on ABCFamily.  I'm a sad panda that Girl Meets World is set in NYC...ummmm Cory better not be a Mets fan...

-The way yoga pants make my booty look fab!

-Dancing around in my living room whilst wearing jammies

-When Nordstrom gets brand new shoes for me to look at.  Buying them costs money but looking?  That's fo free!

-When Friends is on...especially when Ross and Rachel get back together...or when Joey says something sweet or goofy

-When someone quotes Bridesmaids in public.  I've made many a friend from tv quotes

-When I get a secret sale price while shopping.  You know, when you go to the register and realize that what you thought was one price is actually a LOWER price!  

-When people bring baked goods in for work.

-Sleeping in

-Hearing a J.Lo, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, vintage Britney, vintage Christina song on the radio...and maybe dancing right where I am

-Marathoning a Bravo show

-Filling up my burrito card from Panchero's...scoring a free 'rito = good time for meeeeee

-Instaplans!  You know that magical time when you're bored and a text comes in asking if you want to do something and you're like "Um, yes!"

Happy Monday!  What are the things that make you smile?

xoxo,

E

ABCs

Happy Monday!

Today I was perusing some of my favorite blogs and found this really cool ABC post.  Since I love learning about other bloggers and their lives I figured I'd treat y'all to 26 little facts about me.

Enjoy!

A.  Age-23 and a half!  I still include the half!

B. Bed-Full size, pink and white color scheme

C. Chore You Dislike-Cleaning my room

D. Dogs-9 year old Shepherd/Lab named Cody or Diffy

E. Essential Start to Your Day-alarm clock buzzes, check my emails, facebook, instagram, texts, brush teeth, wash face, morning routine, etc.  Eat breakfast :)

F. Favorite Color-Pink!  It's more than a color it's a way of life

G. Gold or Silver?  Silver

H. Height-5' 8"

I. Instruments I play(ed)- do tap shoes count?  No?  I played saxophone for a summer.  I was terrible :)

J. Job Title-Tutor, substitute, babysitter

K. Kids?  Nada

L. Live?  Joisey Girl through and through

M. Mom's Name? DEB

N. Nickname(s)-Er, Fern, Munch

O. Overnight Hospital Stays- never...knock on wood

P. Pet Peeve-slow walkers (grrrr!), mandals, people who don't wipe the gym equipment down, boring rain boots, lateness

Q. Quote From A Movie-"Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed" Legally Blonde

R.  Righty or Lefty-Right right right

S. Siblings-Dylan...I used to pretend Tapanga from Boy Meets World and Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell were my older sisters...not out loud or anything :)

T. Time You Wake Up-Monday-Friday varies depending on what I have to do...usually no later than 10.  Saturday 8 am-tutor life.  Sunday 9 for church.

U. Underwear-I always use my VS free panty card!  Haven't paid for panties in years ;)  It pays to be a good shopper!

V. Vegetable(s) You Don't Like-Beets, (bears. beets. Battlestar Galactica.  Does anyone else think of Jim whenever anyone mentions beets?)

W. What Makes You Run Late-reading blogs.  I'm always 5 minutes early but I read blogs every am and sometimes that pushes me to the time limit

X. X-Rays You've Had-Teefers

Y. Yummy Food-anything/everything chocolate, all seafood, smoothies, breakfast cookies!

Z. Zoo Animal Favorites-Elephants.  Pigs are my fave animal but the Philly zoo only has them in the Children's Zoo section and technically they're a farm animal so....


What are your ABC's?!

hugs and kisses,
E

If I Had A Superpower

Happy Saturday!

So today we're going to another family party and then the fireworks.  Gonna be bueno!  But first this happened...

The best Pilates instructor brought us bagels!  Always a winner winner!

Today's prompt is what super powers would you have?  Well, this is an easy one for me!  I'd wish for the ability to see into the future.  I just want to know that everything is going to be ok.  I want to see where I'll be working and what the rest of my life will be like.  I want to know everything!  I'm the worst with surprises!  I always try to find my Christmas/Birthday gifts.  I am such an investigator.  I want to know what my future holds.  I don't have to know all of it just kidding yes I do-just the good stuff.  Like what will my house look like?  Am I going to get married?  Will my husband be as hot as my imaginary husband...

source

Amirightladies?  So.Cute!

Will I have kids?  Will they like to dance around the living room while singing totally normal embarrassing songs like me?  

Will all of my friends be ok?  Will my family be ok?  

I would like to be able to look into my crystal ball and just go, "Ok...phew...all is good?"  

I wouldn't want to be invisible...some things I don't want to know lol

I wouldn't want to fly...Too much work...although I think it would be amazing for the core ;)

I would maybe kinda want to read people's minds but then I would know what some people were thinking and that would not be great

My super Type-A personality would really like to know that everything is okay.  I hate not knowing.  I think that's one of the hardest things about this time in my life.  That after college what is going on with everything part of my life.

What is your dream super power?

xoxo,

E

Welcome to the Uncomfortable Zone

Hey Loves,

Happy 4th of July Eve!  U-S-A...U-S-A...U-S-A!  

So today according to my bloggie challenge is doing things outside of my comfort zone.  I have to say that I do have a pretty wide comfort zone.  I'm a chatty lady and I frequently find myself talking to random people.  Usually I start chatting up people who have an interesting or cute article of clothing.  I've held a number of jobs dealing with customer service so I'm pretty comfortable with people, confrontation, and weird situations.  There are a few things that I'm working on being comfortable with.


1.  Eating alone in public.  We all remember the episode of Friends where Rachel tries to eat alone and ends up canceling a date with a doctor because of it.  Well I hate eating alone in public.  At home or in college I would eat alone all the time.  Usually because I had a weird schedule with dance, work, class, etc.  But recently I've been pretty good about getting out of my comfort zone (hello daily lunch with RHOC) and have ventured to Panera for solo coffee dates.  Apparently I'm not sure I like me enough for a *real* date :)

2.  Blogging about sad things/things I failed at.  Rereading my old posts you would think I lived under a rainbow and had a unicorn butler (I had to let him go for financial reasons...darn you economy).  It wasn't real and it wasn't a real reflection of my life.  I would not have dared to write about my failures or times when I was unsuccessful in a public forum.  I would be too embarrassed.  I'm supposed to succeed--that's what I do!  I'm a successful person!  Buuuuuut, I've learned that success is not something I am going to have every day.  (Unless you call demolishing some chocolate every day a success because then I'm a winner winner!)  Also, success doesn't bring people together.  Failures do.  Failures are relatable and human.  Some of my most read blog posts are about times I face planted all over life.  I think people like them because they're honest and they remind people of times when they did not succeed or things didn't go their way.  I know I find other bloggers' honest-not-so-great-day posts so much more relatable and real than fluffy ones.  I'm trying to do more *real* posts here.  All the feedback from readers, friends, and family make me feel so much better about stepping out of my comfort zone in blogging.

3.  Half-Marathoning!  I am not a great runner, but I do love to run.  Something about just being alone with the pavement and my iPod really makes me happy!  I started actually running last summer and fell in love with it.  I had recently realized that I needed to end a relationship and without teaching dance, I needed a new athletic outlet.  (There's a saying what's bad for the heart is good for the art and let me tell you it is totally true!  I was a much better choreographer when I was living in the Break-Up Aftermath) I started running.  Running away from the heartbreak, the tears, the sadness, the anger, all of it.  It just wasn't there when I ran.  I began running to things as opposed to running away from things.  Running to healthy, running to self-esteem, running to confidence that had been lost, running for me.  I loved running so much that I began researching races in Philly that I could partake in.  I signed up for the Philly Rock&Roll Half Marathon in September and in 2 weeks I'll sign up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando!  Training for my halves (halfs? idk) has been great.  It's a great feeling to look forward to a goal and it will be a great accomplishment for me!  If you had asked me last January if I would ever run, let alone run in a race, I would have laughed you to Hawaii and back.  I'm not a great runner but that doesn't matter because it's not about that.

4.  Turning Down A Job.  I've written about the time I turned down a job I was offered because I did not feel like it was my home.  My teaching home, my classroom, my future.  That decision was the single hardest thing I have ever done in my adult life.  If I accepted that job I knew I would be settling right into my comfort zone and something in me said don't do it!  I listened to that little voice and so far that little voice has led me to 3 rejections and 3 more interviews.  Not too shabby.  Teaching jobs in NJ are few and far between and believe me I struggled with that decision for days.  I know that I'm right where God wants me to be and that He has a plan for me.  But saying no to a job with benefits and personal days?  That was hard and something I've never done before.  I was the girl in college with 3 jobs.  Even though I am currently enjoying a nice summer off from a strict 9-5 job, I still am babysitting and tutoring weekly.  I like working and turning down that job was wayyyyyyy outside of my comfort zone.

So there you have it.  My 3 Step Outside My Comfort Zone Moments for 2014.  I hope y'all are stepping outside your comfort zone.  It's not so scary out there.  I think we've all heard that quote, "Everything you want is right outside your comfort zone"-Robert Allen, and I think it holds true.  If we're not willing to take a risk we won't ever know.  Not knowing is more painful than knowing--even if what you learn/know is not great.

xoxo,

Er