Home Sweet Home

Hi all,
Busy season is finally over, and you know what that means, back to the blogging. The most recent news here is that I puchased a house!! Sara and I had been looking for awhile, and we stumbled across this house a few blocks from where we live now. It is 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It has a small fenced in yard, and a deck on the roof over lookng Manayunk! Its 2200 square feet. I am so excited, yet feel very nervous and grown up. I know it will all fall into place, but I have never made this large of a puchase before. At any rate, the inspection is this Saturday so I am hoping all goes well and we dont find any issues that would inhibit us from moving in. The closing date is June 26th, and it couldnt come sooner, Sara and I have had enough of the apartment! Below are some pics from the realators website. At the inspection I am going to take some pics of my own. House warming party plans to follow soon!
Front

Roof Deck

Porch

Powder Room

Kitchen

Master Bath

Living Room/Eat in Kitchen


More on the rest of life later this week!!

These are the days..

Hey all,
Another month gone by, cant believe it time is passing quicker then I can keep up with. Lets see the last month has pretty much consisted of working. I know I say that all the time, but lately the hours have been rediculous. I get home most night around 10pm and have been working on Saturdays for the last month. I am not complaining, because with the state of the economy I am thankful and lucky to have a job as my company has laid off around 200 people in the last month.

On the personal front here are some new occurances:
I HAVE DECIDED TO BUY A HOUSE!! I know.. major step into adulthood but with mortgage rates at almost 4%.. I cant pass up this opportunity. Sara and I will be moving in July into my very first home and I am super excited. I have appointments set up with my realator thoughout the next few weeks and hopefully I can find a really cute house. I will keep you posted. I dont know.. I cant beleive we are getting to the point where we discuss mortgages, layoffs, engagements, financial situations of the economy. To think that I am almost 24 and a half is scary.. time just seems to fly alot faster these days.

Last weekend a few of us went bowling at Lucky Strike, it was a good time!! Here are a few snapshots:





Other then that I havent been doing much, this weekend we went to a BYOB for my friend Nikki's birthday. It was really nice to get out and get away from work for awhile. Unfortunatly I forgot my camera. :(

Thats all for now. xoxo

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

Hey All,
Its been awhle since my last post... probably becuase I just realized that I am a "bad times blogger".. pretty much, I only feel the need to blog when stuff in my life is shitty. Hahaha, however this time I am happy to report that life is.. well.. pretty perfect.

Since its been awhile I will first tell you that I had an amazing birthday with all of my friends. I have seriously the best friends a girl can ask for. Toni and her boyfriend came all the way from NYC to be with me and Meggie P jetted down from DC to ring in the special day. Not to mention, the many Manayunk friends that came to celebrate. A great time was had by all and I am so lucky to have such amazing friends. I was also thrilled that everyone from the different stages of my life; highschool, college, and today could come together and get along. (As we all know how thats gone in the past) Here are a few pics that are worthwhile.





The next big event was this weekend... Joe and I's first V-day. Friday night I got home to a beautiful bouquet of red roses when I arrived home from work. I was so surprised, it had been one of those weeks and it really cheered me up.


Friday night we went out to the bars with some friends, it was a good time.

On Saturday Joe took me to a surprise dinner for Valentines Day. It ended up being restraunt in South Philly called Keatings River Grill which was excellent. We had a four course meal that started with an appetizer of brushetta, ahi tuna and shrimp cocktail. The second course was a salad and for dinner we had fillet, crab cakes, mashed potatoes and fondue for dessert. He is so sweet and I am so lucky to have found him. Just when I had given up on love, a wonderful guy fell into my lap. My mom once told me that the best relationships come when your not looking. Truth. She also said that the best relationships start out slow. Also True. I should start listening to her wisdom more often...

Thats all for now.

Baltimore Weekend

This weekend Toni and I went to visit Michele in Baltimore. We had such a good time. It was great to see everyone including our old roomate Rachel, and psuedo roomate Adam. I miss everyone, and per Rachels advice will be posting more light hearted blogs later.

Heres to a new year and another chance to get it right

Hey All,
Hope this post finds you doing well. Thought I would share with you some of whats been happening around here. I came back to Philadelphia the Tuesday before NYE so that I could be with my friends. We had planned to go to the National Constitution Center for the "Glitter City Gala." It was a 5 hour open bar with appetizers and all the drinks one could ever want. We had a really really great time! It was nice to get dressed up all fancy and hang with my friends. Heres a picture of the group:


After such an amazing break, I went begrudgingly back to work. We are gearing up towards busy season, which means work will be my life soon. I am not much looking forward to it, but hey, atleast the studying is over!

Thats all for now!

Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end..

Hey All,
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! During the last few days of 2008 I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the great things that this year had to offer and make some resolutions for the new year. In case you havent heard - I passed my CPA exam - I am officially done with the tests FOREVER AND THANK GOD! That was a major accomplishment, as it took up the majority of my free time in 2008.

Looking back, this year has been one of the overall happiest years of my life thus far. It was far less of an emotional rollercoaster then most have been. I have made some great friends in Manayunk, as well as kept in touch with friends from both highscool and college. I'd like to think of my life as a triangle. The three keys to a happy life are personal health, career sucess, and good relationships. This year I have been blessed to find the delicate balance of all three.

Careerwise: I am overjoyed to have passed my exam, a huge weight off of my shoulders. I received good ratings at work, which secures my job.. for now!

Family: I am so greatful to have my grandparents still in my life... and while I see that they are starting to fail.. I am trying to enjoy the little time I get to spend with them these days. I am also greatful for a healthy/happy family - a mom, dad, and brother who love me and I miss them every day when I am in Philly!

Relationships: I have been so lucky to find great friends in a new city this year. I have been even luckier to reconnect with some friends from highschool and stay in touch with my great girlfriends from college. I couldnt be happier with the people who surround my life these days.

Personal Health: This is my biggest weakness at the moment. I dont think my body has seen a gym in many many months. I have come to terms with the fact that a person can only accomplish so many things on any given day, and therefore my personal health has been up until now put on the back burner. Now that all of the above mentioned items are under control, I feel it is time to get back in shape as I really could benefit from the excercise. See this and other goals below for 2009:

2009
1. Get in Shape
2. Visit all friends that I have not seen in forever
3. Save Money
4. Get more sleep

This list will continue as the new year gets closer.

May all your Christmas' be bright!

Hi All,
Just wanted to share the family Christmas Photo this year! I dont know if you can tell but Bren is pulling my hair in the one on the left. Its funny, this is how I remember us and this picture feels like yesterday to me. It was 1990 - almost 18 years ago! Where ever you are this Christmas, take time to reflect on all the joy life has brought you through the years. I know that I am very blessed. Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2009!