3 Day Weekend

1. Twins

On Friday, I parked my car after driving home from work and looked up to see these two beautiful babies in my backyard. The sad part about it is that they don’t have a momma. Earlier this week someone hit a deer and it died in our front yard. It was pretty gross – all stiff with her tongue sticking out. Anyways, we could tell she had been nursing, but by that point, we hadn’t seen the babies. And now it’s just really sad to me that they’re all alone. But aren’t they adorable??!!!?

2. Birthday Dinner at our favorite place…

The sushi was delicious. The music was my very own personal soundtrack. And everything was going quite swimmingly until I dropped a mostly full cup of water all over my lap. True story.

3. Patriotism

I was a little bummed when I saw this…

“Hey Dad, nice flag!”

“Thanks, Bec!”

“…That’s what I was gonna get you for Father’s Day….”

“Well, scratch it off the list!”

“I didn’t have a list”

“Oh…”

4. Vintage

I was rummaging through my closet, stalling the whole bedroom clean-up thing, and I found a garment bag that I didn’t recognize. Inside was a perfect off-white dress. This is my grandmother’s wedding dress. I put on the pearl earrings and ring she gave me and waa-lahh. I was a 1950s bride. Don’t you wish we could go back to this? When collar bones, hips, and class were sexy? Instead of teeny-tiny women, see through lace tops with hot pink bras underneath, and low moral standards? I do. I definitely do. This dress is perfection.

5. White

There is NOTHING like clean, crisp, new, white bed linens. Nothing.

6. Chores

Like helping Dad disassemble the backboard and rim. At 9:00 a.m. In the baking sun – which was wicked hot for being so early. Clearly Sarah was thrilled to be on ladder watch.

7. Crystal Blue Water

We were fish. In and out and in and out. All weekend long. I love this pool.

 

Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend!

Dance Party

This past Saturday I woke up to find out that six of Sarah’s friends were going to be coming over in twenty minutes. That was a bit of a shock, to say the least. Then I found out  I was on lifeguard duty, ‘cause I’m such a strong swimmer, and all - not. And that made me not so happy. But I figured it was an opportunity to lay in the sun, so whatever, I’d make the best of it. I overheard them struggling to figure out a routine for their song. Sooo I stepped in to help – it was the right thing to do right? I do have some experience in this department – there’s video footage somewhere of my friends’ and my middle school exploits. Bad hair cuts, ill fitting clothes, braces – you remember :)

We had such a fun time dancing our way through the song and then putting it all together. I love their age. It’s a bit awkward, for sure. But there’s still a bit of a lack of self awareness and they still like to have fun. They didn’t want to be the cutest girls or get the boys’ attention. They just wanted to have fun together and enjoy themselves. I loved it.

They picked the perfect song… So happy summer, dear readers. Go have a dance party :)

This is what…

 

… happy looks like.

… waiting looks like.

… the beginning of summer looks like.

happy happy

Today is my best friend’s birthday.
And even though he’s sitting in summer class we’re gonna party-it-up this weekend. I was looking at pictures yesterday and decided a little trip down memory lane was in order. So many memories…

Thank you for always making me laugh.

Thank you for always listening and never ever giving up.

Thank you for always working so hard.

Thank you for three wonderful years. I can’t wait for all that’s ahead.

Mark Ryan – I love you. Happy 21st Birthday.

The adventure begins here…

This past Saturday was my cousin’s wedding in Reading. It was adorable to see how excited they were to finally be married – and it was wonderful to see such supportive family and friends . The reception was held at a beautiful barn and was filled with family – oh and polka dots, too.

Nothing like a spring, country wedding :)

to be something

We all like to belong. We long to be apart of things – to be apart of the club. We like to consider ourselves apart of something, something larger than our own self – so we can connect with others. Or maybe it’s just to connect with ourselves. We desire to be something.

“I’m a Communications Major”

“I’m a HUGE Phillies fan”

“Guess what? I PASSED! I got my drivers license!!”

“Oh, I’m a teacher – I’m a 7th grade English teacher”

“I’m Italian”

“As of a this past March, I’m a grandfather!”

“Tall White Mocha Frappucino w/Soy Milk & Whip Cream”

“I’m a democrat”

“I am a chocolate ADDICT”

“I turn 21 in a week”

“I’m pregnant”

We make choices in life to become things. Obviously some are a bigger deal than others. Being a Starbucks addict and having a career are two different ball games. But both required action. We study to receive a diploma to become something. We buy t-shirts and tickets and watch games on TV to become something. We take tests to become something. We take precautions to make sure we don’t become a certain something.

Some of these titles we can’t choose. I can’t help or change the fact that I’m someone’s daughter and someone’s sister. I automatically inherited being apart of those two groups. But what about the ones I chose for myself?

College drop out.

Girlfriend.

Receptionist.

What happens when you wish you could associate with a certain group – that you could call yourself “one of those”? What happens when you want to be something? But you have no idea what that something is?

Is it just a desire to feel like you belong?

A desire to feel some sort of accomplishment?

Or is it truly a desire to be something? Something that makes you tick, that makes you feel alive, that brings you joy, that gives you purpose.

What happens when you want to be something and it’s impossible?

Should you not want it anymore?

Are you missing something greater because you’re blinded by the thing you can’t have?

 

 

Do you ever think, “I just want to be something”?

How did I survive before Instagram?

Dramatic. Yet true.

Philadelphia Sunset

Independence Hall

Cinco de Mayo

 

First Pedicure of the Season

Our view over lunch

LCH – a date with such a dear woman

What would I do without you?

Mother’s Day

PBU Commencement for the last time

 

Dessert – Berries & Bits is worth the gluten

 

Sequin-filled prom

pretty cards

the view from my lounge chair by the pool

 

Hello Summer 2012

Commencement

On Saturday we celebrated Bucky’s graduation from PBU.
Congrats dear brother of mine!

 

After a very nice and very warm commencement ceremony, we headed to Princeton for lunch.
We walked to the university campus to take some pictures after lunch and then got ice cream. Clearly, ice cream is my go-to.

After walking around the city the day before, Mark and I were pooped.
But the weekend was so full and it was so great to see Bucky graduate!!

Friday Date

This past Friday was my first day off since New Year’s Day and believe me, I needed it.
It was one of the best days I’ve had in a long long time…

Mark and I went downtown, got lunch at Reading Terminal, and spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather. in center city. That night we got to see his brother to his senior prom!! He and his date were so handsome/gorgeous and looked great together. Then we headed back to my house and spent some time in the hot tub with the family.

We got lunch from By George – our favorite place at RTM. We also religiously get Strawberry Lemonade from an Amish stand – it is so so good. I convinced him to get ice cream afterwards – best decision ever. We had just finished when I walked into a pole – true story. I was talking to Mark and was looking at him instead of forwards. And I clobbered one of the waist-high cement poles. And then I proceeded to laugh hysterically at myself for the rest of the block. There was only one other person laughing, which was a little disappointing. It would have been a lot better if they were all laughing with me.

It was such a gorgeous day – sunny and warm with a perfect breeze.
And I didn’t think about work at all :)