Honey Roast Link Up

I saw this today and loved the idea! I hope I can come up with a few!

-- I am a good-parking-finder-gem! If you are trying to find a parking spot in a crowded area, wish you were in the car with me, we'd find one in no time flat, right out front!

-- I am great at efficiently using my time. I will be watching TV while cooking while texting while updating my calendar while writing someone snail mail. I just.can't.focus.on.one.thing.at.a.time.

-- I am notorious for sending thank-you cards.

-- I am great at not spending money. Yes, you read that right!

-- I am really great at planning, managing and coordinating. It's one of my favorite things...

And I will leave you with this hilarious video!

I can't wait for summer because...

I enjoy summer, but I wouldn't say that it is my favorite season. I prefer the fall. I love the cool weather and all of the beautiful colors. But, I am especially excited for this summer to arrive because this year (academic year) has been a big challenge and I am ready for school to be out!

I cannot wait for summer because....

...school will be out

...Rich won't have to spend all of his waking hours studying

...Rich and I will be working in the same city [which means....]

...lots of happy hours and date nights will be had

...I get to spend lots of time with some of my favorite people

...I am planning to go to my sorority's international convention and finally meet the chapter I have been working with

...spending long weekends away is pure and total bliss

...beach time is the best, even if the norcal beaches are cold, who cares, it's the beach

...picnics in the park are my favorite

...longer daylight hours means great food, awesome people and fun adventures

...we have the travel bug something fierce

...we get to be a part of not one, not two, but three of our closest friends nuptials  - love is definitely in the air

...spending time with the people we love most cannot be beat!

Why are you looking forward to summer???

5 on Friday

1. Great article about making the most out of life! // I love my some Grease John Travolta, but seriously, what the heck happened at the Oscars?! This is too funny! According to him, I am Leah Whayte // This Secret Mother is an inspiration and a true hero for what she is doing. I mean, wow! // Watch out for a phishing scam targeting Netflix // Who knew bananas were soo good for you?!

2. It wouldn't be 5 on Friday without an article or a video about self image :-)

3. This is so beautiful

4. We celebrated Rich's birthday at my parents house last weekend. Before celebrating I participated in a self defense class, then wine tasting in what seemed to be someone's garage and then with lots of margaritas, wine and delicious food!! Happy birthday to my sweet husband!

 

5. I have decided that spin class (a) is the most difficult class at the gym (b) is located in the room at the top of the gym with an unbeatable view of the Bay Bridge and the water (c) is totally my thing because (d) they play only my jams! The class started with a Sister Hazel song, if that doesn't get you pumped, nothing will! The instructor also played this adorable song that I am now obsessed with!How have I not heard it before..oh yeah, because I listen to NPR in the car...

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Confessions on Wednesday

I saw this on a few blogs this morning and thought I'd join in!

I cannot say 'no' to Sea Salt & Vinegar chips

Seriously. It's a love/hate relationship. They taste oh-so-good but make my tummy oh-so-upset. They will be the death of me, as well as give me a stomach ache every time I eat them. You'd think I'd learn...nope, keep 'em coming.

I totally believe in mind over matter

 If you believe you are happy, you will be happy. Some may call this 'fake it 'til you make it,' I call it 'life, enjoy it'.

I really really really want to be a runner...

But I just don't like running. Like, the act of running. I would rather spend an hour on the stair master than run . I'd rather do the dishes, clean the house and vacuum than run. I don't know what it is about it. I love how I feel afterward, but actually doing it is like pulling teeth.

Sometimes blogging scares me

I enjoy writing this blog, but sometimes I wonder why I do it. Who is reading it. Should said people be reading it.

I have an overactive imagination

i.e. I have terrible dreams most nights out of the week and I sometimes imagine unspeakable things happening to me. Does that make you uncomfortable? Yeah, me too!

I want, more than anything, to live abroad

Rich and I have talked a lot about what we will do after Law School. It is such a loaded question because we have no idea what we will want or who we will be in 3 years time. So much unknown gives me anxiety.

I am totally type-A

Case and point: I wanted to eat at all of the restaurants on the 7x7 Big East 2014 list that San Francisco has put out for this year. So, of course, I downloaded the app, opened it up in map view and created a spreadsheet where I listed every restaurant that was in a walkable area of each other. This way I can knock out multiple spots at a time..is that soo bad? No! It's efficient!

I think that I have confessed enough for today. Whew, I feel soo much better!

5 on Friday!

1. This video is seriously amazing. Check out that talent! 

 

2. I can totally relate to these figure skating thoughts! I mean, seriously, how on earth do they do this?!

3. FRIENDS is my most favorite show. This is hilarious! #lobsterlove

4. Rich and I were talking over the weekend and we have decided that it would be best if we went on a fun trip over his winter break. We were originally talking about going before his summer internship, but we don't know when he is going to start and if we try to go once his internship ends we run into OCI (On Campus Interviews - for next summer). So by winter break he should already have a job lined up and he won't have to stress about finding one. Now...where should we go?! In December? Any ideas??

5. I have decided that I am going to accept this challenge. I am going off of what the app says, not this site...no, I don't understand why they aren't the same...

*5 on Friday Link Up 

I'm the kinda girl who...

 ...is her moms best friend, and vice versa

...is friendly, outgoing and would do anything for her friends and family

...goes out of her way to help strangers/tourists

...reads too deep into emails and text messages

...doesn't like the word 'hate'

...keeps in touch

...believes in something bigger and better than herself

...enjoys sitting on the couch and relaxing

...says 'guzuntight' instead of 'bless you'

...isn't your typical 'sorority girl'

...is very curious and isn't afraid to ask 'loaded questions'

...loves wine and cheese night and the special-occasion fondue

...is excited to try new things and go new places

...binge watches shows on netflix & amazon prime 

...is extra sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily

...is passionate, driven and hardworking 

...loves her husband with her whole heart

...loves to smile

5 on Friday

1. I am looking to order one of my very best friend's bridal shower invitations. I want to go with a local spot or with a shop on Etsy. Does anyone out there recommend a card maker?? Please help a girl out! ;-)

2. I am loving the 90s pop Pandora station. Like, seriously. // Who doesn't love wine?! This is awesome! My company is its own country!

3. Superbowl Sunday was my littlest brother's 13th birthday. The little guy is finally a teenager and I am pretty sure my parents are elated sad to not have any kids in the house anymore. #heartbreakersince2001

 4. Honestly, I haven't been much in the mood for blogging this week. Sadly, my family experienced a great loss last week and we are still recovering and celebrating the long life that was lived. Likely, there will be more to come sometime in the future. Always with death comes celebrations of life. I have been able to spend a little bit of time with my family, which has been a blessing.

5.Rich's classmate and fellow Marine has worked so hard to help his interpreter from Afghanistan get an American Visa and it finally happened! Read the article here. Mohammad has an incredible story and he is a kind and gentle man. Just a few days after he arrived in the US, I had the privileged of meeting him, sharing a glass of wine and listening to him speak. His story is one of perseverance and I know that his loved ones will join him here some day very soon!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

5 on Friday

1. Yes, I know! I am a broken record. I just love these videos!

2. This seriously made my whole day! I love Grease! ..and Marines...duh!

3. Great article and video about asking the right questions and giving awesome answers // Jamie has posted some photos from the Bay Area Blogger Meet Up! Did I mention that I won the big raffle prize?! // I participated in a book club on Monday - my very first - and we discussed Gone Girl. Wine and girlfriends was the best way to spend a Monday night! // I have started going to the gym! Woo! I feel awesome! // I got to see my sweet FRIEND at Tosca for a delicious dinner with yummy cocktails and wine - get the Pig Tails...just do it. (thanks to Melissa at Serving Seconds for the recommendation!) // God, I miss Full House! //I had the most delicious Bloody Mary at Zuni Cafe with the sweet Melissa from Serving Seconds this week! What a treat!  (make sure to get the balsamic bloody mary - just trust me.) And the rest of the food was seriously amazing! // I am finally caught up on blogging - yippee! Now what will I write about?! hummm..

4. Last weekend, Rich and I enjoyed a nice and quiet night with a bottle of wine, roasted garlic, cheese and bread. It was amazing! And on Saturday, Rich and I raged for a friend's birthday party. And by rage, I only mean we stayed out until 2am and then Uber'd home and passed out. It is so much fun to spend time with Rich's classmates, put names to faces, and get to know the people he spends most of his time with. We got all dressed up and hit the town! It was a super fun evening!

5. Another shout out to my sweet and deserving husband. I forgot to pay for parking at BART this week. I texted him to let him know to expect a parking ticket (boo! why can't you pay that s**t online!?) and instead of letting it go, he hopped in the car, drove over to BART and paid the meter for me. How did I get so lucky?!

*5 on Friday Link Up

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Five on Friday

1. Loved this TED talk. I have never dated on-line, unless you count that Rich and I like to joke that we met on myspace... anywhoooo. We have a dating portion to our site and one of our engineers shared this with us. And this article, too!

2. I walked across the Bay Bridge again this past weekend with one of my best friends from childhood! It was awesome to catch up while getting our hearts pumping!

3. I got to play tour guide, in my own city, over the weekend to a friend Rich and I met on our Trek to Machupicchu! We got to spend some time with her when we were in Phoenix and tried to convince her to visit us in San Francisco. And she did!! (more on her trip next week)

4. Last Friday was the Bay Area Blogger Soiree hosted by the lovely Jamie & Latrina at Brit & Co. It was so much fun! I left my phone in my purse and spent my time mingling and chatting - I know how very 'unblogger' of me! ;-) There were some awesome women there and it was fun to finally put faces to the blogs! I even won a real-life rafflecopter: A cute purse!

5. I would like to give a shout out to my sweet husband. He is wonderful and I love him and I am more than proud of him. He is rocking Law School and I could not be more excited to spend this summer with him! He is going to internship in San Francisco, which means that we can act like a real married couple for 10 weeks - no studying at night and on the weekends - and I cannot be more excited!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

Cinco on Friday!

uno. I finally finished Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom. It was an emotional, inspiring, true, awesome book! I definitely recommend it! Now moving on to Gone Girl. Yes, I know, totally different - but so far it has me hooked! Seriously though, who has read Gone Girl?! I need someone to talk to about it, and no I can't wait to for our book club to meet!

dos. I am a huge TED fan. Check out TEDyouth. It is so powerful! // And Rich and I are adding this to our bucket list! Gorgeous. Scary. Rush. Totally awesome! // This article. Amen to number 4! :-) I mean, I love me some babies, but I am so not ready for one of my own.. // BOOM My company made yet another Awesome place to work list! I mean, duh! // O.M.G. This is amazing! I think we need to go on a road trip just to eat everything on this list! // On my personal bucket list: Make Ricotta Cheese // This is totally true! Emails are the WORST // It looks like I am adding this burrito to my SF Bucket List! // This Article #3 - this is totally my siblings & #9 - I know, say what?!

tres.
Last weekend, Rich and I finally walked across the new Bay Bridge. It was a seriously beautiful winter day in the Bay and our last hoorah before Semester Numero Dos of Law School started. The trail across the bridge is about 6 miles round trip and doesn't quite make it to Treasure Island. (The path is projected to extend all the way to the island in the summer of 2015. Not there is much to do there anyway...) They have already started taking down the old bridge which was really neat to see. We reminisced about having driven over the old bridge for our entire life and how surreal the change has been. I must say, the new bridge is pretty spiffy!

cuatro.

This is a bit r-rated but totally hilarious. It's crude, and I.Don't.Even.Care.

cinco.
My celebration beer. "Celebrating what?" you ask? I have been offered permanent employment at my current job! I signed on, initially, as a contractor for 90 days. And that 90 days is about to expire and I was offered a permanent job here! WooHoo!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

5 on Friday

1. Dare I say that I am glad that the holidays are over? I don't mean any disrespect to the holiday season, but, I am exhausted (!) and so ready to be back to my regular routine: sleeping in my own bed, cooking and eating healthfully, the daily grind of typical work, less stimulation and all around calm. *Phew* Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with family and friends from near and far, there is really nothing better, but I definitely need a vacation from our vacations!

2. Surprise! Rich and I went to Arizona for 5 days to celebrate my FIL's 60th birthday! It was a great trip! We got lots of family time in, experienced some Arizona sites, ate and drank to our hearts content, saw a few friends and met one of my best girlfriends new baby!

Tonto National Park, Arizona

3. I am not big into making New Years Resolutions. I hardly ever keep them and then I beat myself up for breaking them. So, for the past few years, as I reflect on the previous year I think about the aspects of my life where I want to improve. Every year, judge less and love more is on my list. This year, I wan to volunteer once per month. Alone. Only Me. Yup, I want to do this for myself, I don't want it to be a social get together, I want to use the time to focus on the organization I choose and live, love, reflect and make a difference.

4. 2014 is going to be a great year. There will be a lot of unknown, living, friends, healing, frustration, excitement, change, love, exercising, family and hopefully travel. I can't wait to see what the year has in store for me and for my family!

5. And last but certainly not least: mid January, a friend of mine is hosting a Bay Area Blogger Meetup! Check it out here and definitely come if you can! It will be tons of fun....! I am caking on the peer pressure, cantcha tell?!

*5 on Friday Link Up 

5 on Friday

1.

I had to work yesterday and today. Fortunately, it is pretty low key at work, so it's not too stressful. Christmas was amazing! We had such a great time visiting with all of our family and some of our close friends over delicious food and yummy bubbles and wine! We are definitely celebrating hard, we will be closing 2013 with a bang and ringing in the New Year with great celebrations!

2.

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*5 on Friday Link Up

Five on Friday

*5 on Friday Link Up

1. Rich is finally done with the semester! I am more than excited to spend this weekend with my sweet hubby! I have missed him. We celebrated the end of his first semester at our holiday party last night - yes, it was amazing! More to come, soon!

2. This is a long, but totally worth it, read /// Oh, how I love San Francisco /// Talk about talent /// The US is full of such beauty these spots /// the video on number 2 is just too good, actually, this whole article /// Planet Money explains how t-shirts are made - fascinating (all alpha gams should buy a shirt!


3. This is fascinating! Nothing we don't already know...

"In a widely-read study, Harvard Business School students were given a case assignment on Heidi, a real-life successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. But there was a catch. Half of the class randomly received their case with one teensy tiny change made: The name "Heidi" was changed to "Howard." Afterward, the students were surveyed, and though Heidi and Howard were found equally competent (as they should have been because they are the same person), the students found Howard much more likeable. The following ad pretty much sums up why." ~Upworthy

And here is a TED talk that talks about this topic too! Wow, it is amazing!



4. Miracles really do come true!

 5. This type of message has been all over the internet for several months now, if not years, and every time I see a different rendition, I am compelled to take a look. Maybe it is because I want to see what the models in the magazines and the adds actually look like.

5 on Friday

1. I would like to take a minute to honor Nelson Mandela, and anti-apartheid icon and the first black president of South Africa. He passed away yesterday; his vision and his life work will live on forever. What an incredible role model he is. His passion and world work meant that he had to sacrifice his family and his freedom for the freedom of his fellow black Africans. I am currently a little over half way through his book, A Long Walk to Freedom, and what he did and how he dedicated his life to fighting for freedom for black citizens in South Africa is truly inspiring.What an inspiration to us all to fight for what we believe in and to fight for what is right for this world.
Read more here.

Breaking News from ABC | ABC Sports News

2. This video

Take a few minutes to watch it. It will make you think. This is beautiful.

3. This artwork is amazing!

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How in the heck?!

4. Good thing I already got married! And at 23! Wow, these kids really know a lot! Kids sure say the darndest things! Read here!

5. If this doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, I don't know what will!

*5 on Friday Link Up

A Few of My Favorite Things: Under $100

I love my Issey Miyake! I am running out of my perfume!

$99 is under $100...ha! Eau de Toilette and the Perfume! (yes I use both...)

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Moisturizing Body Lotion

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And there is stick deodorant?! Yes. Please.

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Linked up with Elise at Cheers Y'all and Jen at  Down with the Dearmores

A few of my favorite things: Stocknig Stuffers!

 

A gift card to get a massage - I mean, who doesn't like massages!?


I'd love some new casual sun glasses!

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Clarins Mascara

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Clarins Double Serum

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Linked up with Elise at Cheers Y'all and Jen at  Down with the Dearmores

A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are a few of the things I have been thinking about since the holiday season is here... 

I have heard such great things about these, Clarisonics

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I am in desperate need of a new computer. I don't necessarily want a macbook, but a new computer would be awesome! 

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I have been drooling over DSLR cameras for years! I love seeing all of the beautiful blogger photos and I want to add to my list of spare-time hobbies, too! 

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Since I am commuting on the reg, I need a new bag, and I would prefer to have a bag that has the over-the-shoulder strap

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or this one:

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Or Jewelry...

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Honestly, I am just so excited to see all of my family this holiday season!  I just cannot wait!

Happy Happy Tuesday! 

Linked up with Elise at Cheers Y'all and Jen at  Down with the Dearmores