4 bottles a day

so i've been trying to drink 4 bottles of water a day. do you know how HARD this is?? a normal 16.9 fluid oz bottle of Deer Park or Poland Spring. but then i refill it at our filtered water cooler in the kitchen.

so far, i've been able to easily get 3 down. i can't seem to squeeze in that 4th as hard as i try. how did i come up with 4? no idea! just decided that was the goal to achieve and that it would be good for my body.

in the meantime, i'm literally peeing every half hour i swear. and it's clear. i guess that means i'm pretty hydrated! which makes sense.

how many can you drink? i challenge you to beat 3 or 4! happy guzzling.

The Bachelor Sickness

that's what i believe it is. and i have it. i caught it. i swear i am not a tv addict in entirety. just on certain shows i have a weak spot for. this is one of the front runners. i had never watched the Bachelor/Bachelorette until Jillian's season last year. yes, i will blame this solely on Rebecca Nadelhoffer and Rachel Lenzo. that's right, it's their fault i now have this sickness among thousands of other women (and men) across the country.

now i'm VERY excited for Ali being the new Bachelorette so i immediately had to google the start date this morning. which is Monday, May 24, 9-11pm EST. for those interested. it's already on my calendar and i'm brainstorming who will host the kick-off party.

we'll miss you Jake. we will not miss others. like the girl you chose.

beware: it is highly addictive and will cause religious meetings once a week among food and wine. and best friends. and non stop laughter.

Moving

yes, you heard correct. i'm moving home to Bethlehem for a little while. no, there is nothing "wrong". i just finally put some numbers down on paper and realized that in a year or slightly more, i could own my very own condo/house!! why had i not realized this a long time ago? not sure, but i believe timing is everything and i know God will lead the way. SO - the plan is to live with Ma and Pa and put "rent money" aside in savings each month until i have enough for my down payment. i can't rent and save at the same time.

the commute will suck. but not always. i generally enjoy spending time in my car and i love driving. love my car. etc. but i'm sure i'll have days of extreme road rage on the northeast extension of the turnpike. drivers, beware.

i've also been lining up some temporary housing options down here in the Phila area for when i need to stay overnight, yet must also be at work in the morning. The Nadelhoffer Inn, Rach & Joni's bed and breakfast, Andrea's Bungalow, Lauren's Malvern Mansion, Mary's Hotel, etc. have no fear, my friends, i'll never be too far!

bittersweet. excited to set up shop in my old room with new additions of antique furniture my parents recently purchased, a closet i designed with my dad, and an overflow closet of my mother's office that may be my "walk in". (shh! don't tell her.) also looking forward to home cooked meals and not walking half a mile to my car each morning. my dad told me he's been "stocking up" on my favorite wines since i'm moving home. this could be dangerous. my dad's wine collection is quite impressive.

i'll be looking for friends to come visit on the weekends who enjoy fine wine, laughing with and AT my parents, a pool in the summer out back, and tasty food. any takers?

Bethlehem, PA. home sweet home. for now...

(i hope the truck i rented for Saturday is large enough. i'm beginning to fill my living room with mountainous piles.)



Some other reasons to come visit:

Bethlehem Steel (ok, it's closed. but it's still there.)











Awesome shopping.

Historic downtown with shops, restaurants, etc. (and women wearing Christmas sweatshirts.)

To Go

Cosi is probably one of my FAVORITE places to eat. not sure if you're familiar with this chain of fabulous food, but one of their specialties is that they offer Smores for a dessert option. you actually roast them at your table. delicious.

recently in the past year they've opened one within walking distance from my apartment. genius. i stop in every chance i get. generally on my nights when i'm running to coach cheerleading practice right after a long day in the office.

last night was no different. i stopped in for my usual "Pick Two" combo deal. signature salad and tuscan pesto chicken melt. TO DIE FOR. i get really excited for this food. i happily skip to my car with food in hand. ok, i may not have been skipping.

i then arrive at Eastern and begin to devour my meal in the basketball office before practice as Rebecca and i chat about the ridiculously awesome stunts we're going to teach our girls last night for a new halftime routine. (they nailed basically. two claps.) back to my meal... so i go to move on to my salad and discover much to my dismay that i have NO SILVERWARE. plastic ware. fork. spoon. any of the above. no napkin either.

so i am left to eat my salad with my HANDS. which i did because it is so yummy. but seriously, if you order something TO GO - wouldn't you think it would be nice to have eating utensils in the bag they package for you? possibly a napkin or two would be pushing the limit of expectations?

don't worry, Cosi - i still love you.

Overexposed in South Beach

no, i am not laying topless in Miami on a white beach with blue water. although i WISH i were there. just not topless. however, that IS the name of one of my favorite OPI colors.

i have a serious problem buying OPI nail polish. whenever i'm in CVS, i seem to "need" a new color. 'oh maybe i'll see if they got any new ones!' ....hmm look at that, i don't seem to have this one. etc. and why is it that they never seem to have the latest line that i see advertised in my Vogue magazine?! i guess i have to go to salons to get the latest and greatest?

maybe it's the creative cutesy names. they intrique me and lure me in to buy them. maybe it's my obsession with always having my nails done. not fake. just painted and manicured.

i do them myself and always get compliments on how nice they look. i enjoy doing my friends nails too. maybe in my next life i'll get my manicurist license? is that what they even call it? i don't think i would want to touch feet though. just hands.

some of my favorites: midnight in moscow, all lacquered up, OPI red, concord grape (this one is retired and only available on ebay for far too much i would spend on a bottle of nail polish), off with her red, pink flamenco, calendar girl, lincoln park after dark, cha-ching cherry, and finally mrs. o'leary's bbq (i'm not sure who mrs. o'leary is but i like her color).

and today i've chosen "otherwise engaged". wouldn't that be nice?! sigh.

Pleez Type Like an Adult

i've decided one of my biggest pet peeves is when adults type on the computer as if they're texting. AND i'm just as annoyed when people text by abbreviating as well. maybe it's because i'm a writer for much of my job, and do editing constantly. and feel it's the lazy way out. and i hate when people are lazy.

is there a reason to type so that it's barely legible to save a few letters?! it takes me twice as long to decipher the message when i have to decode it first! i realize it may take some longer than others to type on a keyboard, such as the "hunt and peck" method. however, i was in that boat once too. and the more i typed, the faster i got. this may have something to do with my frequent online AIM conversations back in the day. i can thank social networking for teaching me how to type quickly with all the fingers on the correct keys.


sometimes the word is even the same amount of letters but STILL spelled wrong as if they're trying to abbreviate.


"r u goin 2 the movies" is not an acceptable sentence. in text or IM or email or anywhere ever. i once saw an icon image somewhere online that said "rite 2 me like dis, and i'll shoot you". HAHAHA. seriously - it's THAT annoying.


so please, grow up. learn how to type. and speak proper english in your electronic communication. you'll do the world a favor.

The Lillian McGugan Fessler Label

i decided my Nanny Lillian and her fashion forward-ness deserves an entry. i have been blessed to have incredible family, and one of the most special people nearest and dearest to me is my Nanny Lillian (my dad's mother).

she lived the fairy tale romance of falling in love with a Marine during WWII. my Grandad Charles aka 'Chot'. once they settled in Easton, PA they became quite the socialites on the town! always going to gatherings at the country club they were members of or other fancy evening social events. i think this is where i inherited my "fashionista" in me. my nanny was always dressed in the latest and greatest, buying things at unique boutiques in downtown Easton. as time would tell, alot of it is now becoming "vintage couture" and right back in style on the runways by top designers.

over the years i've "stolen" many of her items... clothing, accessories, amazing jewelry, etc. i've gotten compliments every time i wear something of hers. and i get to say "oh i got it from my Nanny".

she is now in her late 80's with a clean bill of health and still goes out dancing at least once a month with my Grandad and my parents. the LOVE ballroom dancing. (which is probably also where i inherited my love for dancing.) i'm so thankful for her in my life and the joy she brings to so many. i love you Nanny!! - i'll be over to raid your closet again in the near future!

modeling one of her matching "skirt suits" for the winter.

Wearing one of her nautical skirts i love that she would wear to the Yacht Club at our lake house.

Wearing one of her cashmere golf sweaters from Northampton Country Club women's league.

Christmas 2008 - wearing her gold locket necklace and black sweater that zips up the back.

Christmas 2008 - Wearing her black coat i stole with a mink collar. she LOVED real fur...uh oh.

One of my favorites. The jewelry box my Grandad made for her...


The blue and white plate came from her China cabinet.

I'm wearing a black beaded necklace from her collection.

An opal and ruby butterfly ring she "regifted" me on one of my birthdays. i wore it for Allison's rehearsal dinner to match my purple dress and gold accessories.

Wearing another one of her mink fur trimmed coats. With my best friend from childhood, Danielle, on Christmas Eve 2009.

Using her metallic gold clutch for a wedding accessory!