This past weekend my mom, friend Sabrina, and her aunt Karen took a day trip down to New York City. My mom and I have been going to see various Broadway musicals for a few years now. She and Karen thought it would be fun for the four of us to take a trip and see a show on Broadway! We went back and forth on which to see and decided on Rock of Ages. Let me tell you, it was a great choice!

We took the train into Grand Central and walked to Bryant Park for lunch. They have a few food stands there to chose from. We settled on grilled cheese from, you guessed it, the Grilled Cheese and Soup stand. So simple, but so good!

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Nick and I just celebrated our three year dating anniversary. We decided to take a little weekend getaway as a gift to each other. We toyed around with different locations but settled on New York City. Neither of us had ever spent the night in the Big Apple so we figured this would be a great opportunity. I came across the Grand Hyatt hotel which is located right next to Grand Central Station. This was perfect since we would be taking the train right into Grand Central. The Grand Hyatt ended up being the perfect location for all of our planned destinations.  (more…)

It’s finally here! The first day of Spring. Though it may not feel like it just yet, we all can get excited for the upcoming warmer weather, the beautiful colors of the blooming flowers, and just the overall rebirth of nature. It feels like Spring took forever to grace us this year, after experiencing one of the worst winters we’ve seen in quite some time. But have no fear my friends, Spring has sprung and before you know it the sun will be shining, the birds will be chirping, and the flowers will be in bloom. 

I took a poll amongst some of my friends and family, asking them what they like most about Spring. Here is how they responded.
1. The smell in the air just after it rains
2. Tulips and flowers in general
3. Smells
4. Warmer weather
5. Baby birds
6. Longer days
7. Easter candy
8. The clothes
9. Long walks
10. Being able to open the windows and doors

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Another busy week behind me. I enjoyed a few dinners out, some home cooked meals, and some delicious treats as well.

Sunday

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Image found on Pinterest. Original source unknown.

As I have previously mentioned in my “Year of Me” post, I have been focusing on becoming more lean and toned. This all started back in September prior to my friends wedding and our Florida vacation. I had a goal of losing 8 pounds in 4 weeks. This turned out to be a lot easier than I thought! Mostly because the first week I lost about 7 pounds of water weight; though it gave me motivation to continue. I cut back on my excessive snacking, cut out the 3-4 Lindt truffles I was eating a day (insert face of shame here), and was just more conscious about what I was eating. I took advantage of the myfitnesspal app on my phone to keep track of what I was eating each day. You are also able to add in your exercise to calculate your allotted net calorie intake. I’ll admit this was tough, especially during the holiday season. I did allow myself a cookie here and there, but overall I feel I created a normal routine for myself.  To date I have lost 17 pounds and dropped a full pant size! I never thought I would see this early high school weight again. I was able to conquer each milestone by making an overall “lifestyle change.” People laugh at me when I say this, but I swear it works! Changing your overall lifestyle and way of eating has better long term results than crash dieting. There are loads of articles, books, and websites out there that can help each and every person get started. You just have to do it, jump right in!
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Last weekend we celebrated the union between two of our good friends, Richie and Cassie. These two have been together for a number of years. Richie proposed last year over the holidays. Since then, I have helped Cassie with a lot of the little details being sure she had everything taken care of for their big day. The couple had also asked Nick to photograph the wedding. So between the two of us, we were able to get some really beautiful shots. The snowy white back drop was perfect!

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This weekend proved to be a very special one. One of my best girlfriends got engaged and I can not be more excited for her. Dianna and Keith have been dating since college, where they met. These two could not be more perfect for each other. Keith’s funny, caring, and witty personality compliments Dianna’s infectious, carefree, and selfless charm. I have loved being a part of their lives and watching their relationship grow and prosper. 

I wish them a lifetime of happiness and love. I am excited to celebrate throughout their engagement and beyond. Love you both! Congratulations!