And I'm off....

For the next 7 days. I'll be in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic doing some of this:

and enjoying some of this:

While drinking these:

Everyone enjoy their weeks! I'll come back to the blogging world in a week. Until then, I'm enjoying my vacation!!

Where Have You Been?

The better question is, where have I been? The answer...I have no idea! I've been working 4 or 5 days a week and it's really starting to catch up to me. By the time Friday comes, all I want is my bed.

The last few nights it has stormed like crazy in Chicago and the NW suburbs! I woke up last night to my house shaking! It was so scary!!

On other news....we have a new family member!!!

Introducing Tio!! He is one of the foster pups we had a couple weeks ago. His brother got adopted a couple days ago, so we had to go get him back home! 

I have also been obsessed with pinning!

Source: reasonstobreathe.tumblr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Source: annies-eats.net via Amanda on Pinterest

Tomorrow I'm heading up to Michigan for a friends 21st birthday. I'm super excited! And then NEXT Monday (the 1st) is when I'm headed on a plane to Punta Cana!! I cannot wait. Only 8 more days. 

I remember when I was in triple digits!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, lazy Sunday.

I've been Pinterest-ed

I caved. I am now "Pinning" on Pinterest, thanks to Anna over at A Day in The Life... For some reason, you need an 'invite' or request an invite from Pinterest or another person. Anna was kind enough to invite me over for the fun!

Whoever made this website up is an absolute genius! I always find so many awesome; recipes I want to try, ideas on organization I should implement, party ideas I want to show off and just cool random things I want to remember. This is a site where you can 'Pin' all your likes to one board. For instance, you can post all the recipes you like to one board, or all your style Pins to one board. You can also follow other people and see what are on their boards according to your interest. I can spend all day on this, because lucky me they have it on an iPhone app as well.

I also might Pin some things I see on fellow bloggers blog, but don't worry, once I Pin it and someone else wants to click on it, it gives the person credit, who originally posted it.

Pin It

COME JOIN THE FUN!! I promise you'll get addicted.


I'll be posting a lot of sweet new 'pins' I find...so LOOK out!

Manic Monday

Disclaimer: This entry has a lot of randomness. 

Today I had the day off, which was nice. I woke up however because I was sweating and it looked like a tornado outside. I came downstairs around 7 am, to see my Dad watching the storm. I stopped about an hour later. I went back to sleep in the basement until about 11 am. I looked outside and saw all the damage.

Our patio furniture all over the place and in the back a tree branch

Across the street from us a whole part of a tree fell.

And on the side of our house our huge bags of grass (that are waiting to get picked up from the garbage man) got blown over ALONG with a plastic pool that WAS in our backyard as of last night. It decided to take a little trip to the side of the house.

Anyways, my pup babies STILL have not gotten adopted and I'm so sad. If you want an amazing puppy and live in the northwest suburbs or near Chicago go to Animal House Shelter and click on Yuki or Zuzu. They are smooth coat boarder collies.

I miss my babies

On a different note, ever since I've seen so many great 4th of July parties, recipes and decorations, I have had the nitch to start or maybe host a Party of my own. I'm not sure what the purpose would be, but it just seems so fun. I've never hosted a 'good' party before, so I need suggestions. Today I bought a couple of books on Amazon. 

      and     

I got them used, so it only cost me 1 cent for a used copy. Shipping is what got it higher than 4$. To me, that's still a steal!

Time for the Bachelorette, but last thing. The Boys birthday is August 3rd. I'm going to be in Punta Cana that week, so I need a good present idea. He's turning 24!! Any suggestions???

What I'm Loving Wednesday!!

I just found this linky party over at This Kind of Love. She's so cute and such a good idea! I thought I would join in the fun and meet new bloggers! :)

I'm LOVING this wonderful Chicago weather! It has been nothing above 80 all week and looks like it continues to stay that way!

I'm LOVING The Hunger Games. It's so good and definitely a quick GREAT summer read. One of my professors actually recommended I read it, if I by any chance teach middle school. I guess a lot of middle schoolers are reading this trilogy and love it. I do TOO!

I'm LOVING my foster puppies. I don't want to give them back. 2 male smooth coat border collies.

I'm LOVING cold stone. End of story.

I'm LOVING all the new bloggers I'm meeting lately. 

I'm LOVING that in just 26 SHORT days, I will be on my way to PUNTA CANA!!!! I remember when the number was in the 3 digits!

I'm also LOVING that in just 181 days I start my student teaching! One less step to STARTING my dream job!

I found my NEW LOVE for food and party blogs. I just put together my first cook book. I wanted to try these for the 4th, but it came to quick. I love get togethers and a reason to cook, bake and eat good food!

From  Red Couch Recipes.

I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful day...where ever you may be!