Half a Year Later

And I'm back.  

Lately I  ...

- Have been doing lots of arts and crafts with the Star Room Monsters.. I mean Love Bugs?

-Celebrated L-Boy's sister's bachelorette party in Miami

-Then celebrated her new marriage at her wedding

-Got Preaky in Baltimore with my besties

-Started living at the beach with this stud

-Turned 23

-Have obviously not been blogging.  But who's ready for summer vacation?!

Now that school is approaching summer break and my shore house actually has internet, I'm going to do my best to start writing more.  Let's see how long this lasts.  

Until next time...

Here's to the Nights

My tongue is still slightly berry-stained from the cheap bottles of red wine I shared with my roommates last night. I overslept by twenty-seven minutes and I'm still feeling drowsy.  My eyelids are just slightly pink, yet obviously puffy, and my voice is noticeably more raspy than usual.

So here I am, feigning composure in my wrinkled white J.Crew cardigan, pretending to do work, but really reminiscing on last night's "final supper" of sorts.

My roommates and I decided to cook a homemade meal of entirely too much Italian food and consume entirely too much wine as a final girls' night prior to our moving out.

It was a "happy-sad" feeling: laughing about all of our antics since freshman year, and crying over the fact it will be much harder to continue those antics after we are no longer sharing an apartment.

Last night was just the first night of a string of events leading up to our graduation.  I'm preparing myself for the next week and a half of "happy-sad" moments.

Here's to all the nights we have had together, and all the nights the next chapter will bring.

The Nothingness of Winter Break

So, today is Friday. The fourth Friday of my fourth winter break as a college student. Also, the second to last Friday of my very last college winter break, ever.  It's also Friday the 13th, which means nothing in comparison to the threats of impending reality the end of break has brought upon me.  

Since the end of break is upon us --even more so for all of my non-UMD friends...C is already back at school :( :(  -- it has finally hit me that never again will I have a complete five week period of time in which I have little-to-no responsibilities and/or time to perpetually relax.  

Believe it or not, this the first of my winter breaks where I feel I have taken advantage of the freedom of nothingess. One of my winter breaks was spent working a 9-5 office job, one was spent juggling two babysitting jobs and endless "necessary" errands, and last year's was spent working slave hours substituting at a private school for less than minimum wage.  

This year I had every intention of getting a job, but eventually realized that working my weeks away maybe, possibly, wasn't worth the lack of rest prior to my last semester full-time student teaching.  Instead, I spent my days leisurely and almost without agenda.  

If you know me personally, my last statement has certainly shocked you.  I typically lead my days according to a schedule; squeezing in an early morning work out, running around between two or three jobs, and taking on neglected errands - all in a completely methodical, planned out manner.  

A typical day during this winter break, you ask?

- I wake up at my leisure (albeit still much earlier than most of my peers)

- Go to the gym for 1.5-2 hours

- Shower 

- Read 

- Make a Smoothie

... and that is where my schedule ends. Because after I consume my afternoon smoothie I become the most indecisive human in America and sit around trying to decide what to do next.  Usually nothing. 

I did have time to do some memorable things, however. Which were awesomely fun and only able to be done because of my laziness unemployment.
Evidence:

Last week I drove to Northern MD to celebrate my girlfriend Ashley's 22nd birthday.

And onn Wednesday I took a road trip to Atlantic City!  No, I do not gamble. Didn't even touch a machine. But I do enjoy a night dancing the night away with my best friends in an atmosphere that makes it socially acceptable, and expected, to wear as many sparkles as I can adorn.  

Celeb Status?! 

Don't let this one fool you.... he loves me. He's just bitter about losing all his money on the Roulette table ;)

Tonight I'm going out with the girls after a day of doing...well...nothing. And tomorrow I don't really have any plans either.  But I'm kind of okay with it.

Final Final

According to my Twitter and Facebook Feeds, Finals are amongst us. Yesterday was our last day of classes, and apparently everyone is "living in the library." 

Not I. For as a student Intern, I have no finals. (And if you are jealous, don't be. I can give you a list of reasons we were tortured during times that were not designated as college-wide exam periods. How about 5:30 wake up calls? Or early move in? Just to name a few.)  I have had my final final. I have had my final class of Fall Semester. One would think I might be happier about these facts, albeit, I am moderately dispirited. 

The word "Final" has a whole new meaning to me this time around.  I am in disbelief that I have experienced my last first day of college. I have had my last last day of a fall semester. AHHHH. And not to mention everything in between... How about my last home football game? The last time registering for classes? My last day working at the CYC??? (This is where I stop before I start balling my eyes out.) 

I hope I am not being too premature in my sentimental reflections, but fall semester is generally my favorite of the two, and I can't believe how quickly it has passed us by.  

Let's reminisce briefly, shall we? 

{Me, Kate, Sar, Jillie}

The first home football game of freshman year .. Katlyn and I were Froshie roommates, and Sarah and Jill were roommates. Together we made a quartet of really fun dorm-residing Terps. 

{Me, Sar, Kate, Jillie}

Here we are,  in our Senior year, at our very last first Terrapin Football game as undergrads. And all living under The third year our of four we all have lived together. 

It's crazy to look back and see how much has changed, and conversely, how much hasn't changed even a little bit.

We may have had our last football game. We may have had our final move-in. We may have taken our last final. But our memories are perpetual, and ever-emerging. 

Fall semester is over, and I am relieved, terrified, nostalgic, and hopeful all at the same time. 

Here's to winter break and anticipation for the final, final semester. 

Weekend Festivities

With the stress of finals week and final project due dates looming over our crammed college heads, I think College Park was in need of a well-deserved festive weekend.  And a festive weekend we had. 

It seemed like everyone and their mothers were out this weekend, dressed fabulously and acting recklessly, all in the name of the last weekend before finals. Glorious. Simply glorious. 

On Friday, Group Fitness had a gathering to celebrate a) Us, because we rock and b) Jason, because it was his birthday. Seriously, nothing is better than when a group of Aerobics Instructors and Personal Trainers get together for a dance party. Love, love, love them. 

Some of us being way too excited to be together

My TripleC Co-Instructor and me -- Just for you, Megan, thanks for reading ;)
OH and Hi Devin in the background!

On Saturday I attempted to do homework all day -- but instead I ended up dancing around in my apartment to Christmas Music, having a longer than expected work-out with Jillie, and playing dress-up in preparation for the evening's merrymaking.  Ohhhhh well. 

Saturday evening was another one of my friend's birthdays, and his roommates planned a Ugly Holiday Sweater Surprise Birthday Party. I love surprises. And I love Holiday Parties. It wouldn't be a traditional end-of-fall-semester weekend without one. And needless to say, we had a blast. Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Egg Nog were plentiful and spirits were high. We even Christmas Caroled all the way to the bars post-surprise.  Holiday cheer at its finest.  

Jillie spreading Holiday Cheer via fake snow. Priceless. (photo cred: lauren) 

Some of us and the Bday Boy! 

Awkward Family Photo? 

Me and my beautiful bestie Em


By now you may or may not have noticed that I am not wearing an "ugly sweater." Because who wants to wear something ugly for Christmas? Maybe it's just me, but when I think holidays, I think glitter and sparkles. To each his own ;) 

PS - I really just didn't have an "ugly sweater" in my possession this year. I have participated in the past. I am not that much of a diva.  I am broke, though. So I had to make due with what I had!

 I think I made it work...

I hope everyone else had a wonderfully jolly weekend.  

For those of you preparing for finals, I wish you luck and the strength to power through these last few days!

For those of you like me, who are handing in your final projects today, congratulations! Keep celebrating ;)

Weekend Recap - We Went "Out Last Night"

"Well the fact that I'm still breathing 

Means that I must have survived 

And that I'll live to go out with 

My friends again tonight"

-Kenny Chesney, Out Last Night

My friends and I had quite an eventful weekend, and needless to say, when Kenny sang this song live we all went crazy - dancing, laughing and singing together front row (of the 3rd tier) at Giants Stadium. 

Friday morning began with a sunny top-down drive Parkway South. The weather was so gorgeously humidity-less and cool it didn't even hit 80 by 9am! Would you believe me if I told you I actually turned the heat on at my feet because it felt COLD driving with the top down? True story.

My bff and I spent allllll day bronzing on 13th ave and by 3:30 I was crispy enough to exit the beach and begin prepping myself for Djais Happy Hour - the hour I've been waiting for for 21 years. Happy hour turned into a very Happy Five and a Half Hours, and we turned in early(ish?) to get some (debatable) sleep. My feet were covered in DJais grime and my fist was all pumped out, but I'll admit it was still hard to leave that place when my friends proclaimed it time to go. 

We were all in agreement that we needed a good night's sleep (although it never happened) because we would be tailgating in the heat of Parking Lot J at the New Giants Stadium for the much anticipated Kenny Chesney Concert. 

By 11am, we were strategically parked (16 of us, in 3 cars all of which were double parked for supreme tailgate positioning.) 

By 6pm we were multiple cases of beer in, four rounds of grilling finished and two hour late for the concert. We made it in just in time for Zac Brown Band's introduction... which was phenomenal by the way.  Zac Brown Band was honestly amazing. I think I was more impressed with them than Kenny... musically speaking, of course.  KC's stage presence is undeniably energizing and entertaining, and let's face it, he's beyond eye candy. I basically swooned every time he wiggled his hips or the camera got a close up of his babyface. My eyes liked Kenny the best, but my ears loved Zac. 

There were so many great highlights about this concert:

- The guest appearances (Nick Swisher <3, Rex Ryan, Minka Kelly ... to name a few)

- Singing Boys of Fall ... I may have shed a tear watching our boys embrace during this one. I wish C could have been there.

- KC's tight jeans

- Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington AND ZacBrownBand coming back on stage to perform with Kenny

-Etc, etc. 

I didn't get home until well after midnight and I was overly exhausted, achy, cranky when I had to wake up at 7:00 the next morning ... but the concert was well worth it. 

Sunday I drove 45 minutes in a monsoon to C's school, a trip that is usually a much safer 30 minute ride. Once I got there, however, we had a lovely breakfast and of course I didn't mind the rain, nor it being so early.   I miss that boy; I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I love me some football but I can not WAIT until the college season is over. For now, I'll stop complaining and be thankful for the hour and a half I got to spend with him on a rainy Sunday morning :) 

And now it's Monday, my body is still recovering but I have to ignore my aches and be productive because tomorrow starts serious preparations for Student Teaching. Ah! Where did summer go?!!!!! 

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I had an exhausting morning. After a 7:00am spin class, a swift jog to work (running late as usual,) a walking field trip to the Creek with seventeen 5 and 6 year olds, I felt depleted.. dizzy.. empty.. pooped. 

Likewise, my roommates had rough starts to their days. Jill is struggling through a nasty cold-like infection, Sarah is stressing over the GRE's, and Lauren, well, Lauren is in baby heaven watching her infant cousin all day in DC...I already regret including her in this post of woes. 

Any who. Any casual matters we were brooding over at the beginning of the day were quickly erased with impromptu girl talk in the living room - rightly so, most of our extempore hangout sessions occur on the cushions of our tiny couch. It's simple and homey and I don't mind putting my feet on it.

We laughed for an hour straight. My abs were sore when I woke up this morning and now they are simply in pain from being over-worked. These girls had me laughing so hard that I achieved my ever-famous laugh-turned-hysterical-sobs bit. 

We laughed about Jill's lime-buying compulsion. She never leaves the grocery store with just a single lime. No, she needs 12. Because everyone needs at least one whole lime per day, and if we're being realistic, at least two whole limes when we're drinking. But there are only four of us living in this aparty-ment so if my math is correct this still leaves an excess of limes.  So if you ever feel you are in need of a lime, come over to our place. Except not tonight. Tonight we had to throw out the 9 rotten limes no one used from the last grocery trip.  By Sunday Jill will bring home another dozen limes. I seriously love that girl so much. 

We reflected on our freshman year and laughed at our freshman selves, certainly not for the first time. 

- Remember how exciting it was to pick out our Bed Bath and Beyond comforters?

- Why did Sarah put up with a measly cot for an entire year when Jill slept next to her in the lap of luxury in her down-adorned bed of clouds?

- Why did Turtle ever close? We never made complete fools out of ourselves there. Or anything ridiculously dangerous. Never. Not once. 

- How awkward were we trying to get to know each other the first week of the rest of our lives? If only we knew how close we would become. 

We laughed at my endless Summer camp stories.


Lil Genius *looking up to no-good* whispers:  "I know what NAKED means."
I ignored him.
 He laughs uncontrollably. 

We laughed at Lauren and Jill's Chevy coworkers and their comedic bitterness.

We laughed at the new home for our cooking oil: wedged between the wall and the refrigerator. Because Jill thought it was nice there. And because why not?

I am now in high-spirits, Jill is feeling healthy, Sarah had a well-deserved study break and Lauren has more fuel to make her happy. Whoever said Laughter is the best medicine couldn't be more right. 

Life, Twenty-0ne...

It's the Saturday after my 21st birthday and I have a hot date with Will & Grace, a bottle of wine, and a load of laundry to be folded.  Don't get too excited though -- the bottle of wine is still sitting completely full on my counter beside the cork screw; I opted against drinking it when I remembered I want to workout early tomorrow morning.  

...I know what you're thinking. Did she turn 21 or 51? 

Okay, even if that's not what you're wondering, you're probably thinking I am the least exciting 21 year old in the tri-state area. 

Despite my totally boring weekend (I went to bed at 7pm last night...a Friday) I have evidence that I celebrated as a 21 year old should. In Atlantic City with my best friends, I spent two nights dancing and drinking ... leading to  the following two nights spent in recovery mode.  

Julienna and I drove down to AC and met Ashley and Katlyn at our hotel room in Harrahs (thanks Uncle John and Mom!!) on Tuesday, Lauren and Christine met us on the boardwalk for a fun pre-birthday dinner. 

After dinner and an embarrassing restaurant-wide "Happy Birthday," the three members of the 21 club and I returned to the hotel room to get ready for the clock to strike midnight, while Lauren and Christine had to drive back to Philly :(  *Thnx for coming for just a couple hrs girls - can't wait 'til we can celebrate YOUR 21sts!xoxo*

When the clock struck midnight I was in Caesar's Casino with Ash, Kate, Jule, and two spontaneous additions fresh from DC: my beautiful roommate Jill and her bf Matt!  

I proudly presented my REAL ID and ended up dancing the night away at Dusk night club. The "Happy Birthday" tiara Lauren so graciously adorned me with prompted many well-wishes from strangers as well as free drinks. I loved every second of it. 

We enjoyed cocktails and played slot machines until past 4am, but I still woke up at 9am much to my girlfriends' dismay. But I was 21...still! How can one sleep when one is legally able to attend fancy night clubs?!?

We spent the afternoon on the beach of Atlantic City before my parents, my godmother, my sister, and my handsome boyfriend came to take me out for a birthday dinner! They surprised me with a personalized menu - "Happy Birthday Margaret!!!" read across the top of each of our menus. Mom ordered us a bottle of champagne and I never felt more special.  

After the fam left, we were in attendance at Harrah's Pool party. So.Freaking.Cool.

Loved the Pool. Loved.Loved.Loved. 

What I loved even more was the company - not only were three of my closest girlfriends there to dance with me on my 21st birthday, but my favorite Terp alumni were also there to keep me laughing and dancing the entire night. 

Celeb-status outside the Pool. The boys were slightly wet after illegally jumping in. Woops!

Obviously, I had an undeniably action-packed two-day-long birthday. I felt like a rockstar, and I have my family and friends to thank. (And the random strangers who were perceptive of my Tiara that screamed "give me attention") It was fabulous.  Too fabulous? No such thing. 

Although I spent the weekend after my official 21st birthday as a hermit in "recovery mode overhaul" as Katlyn so precisely put it, my two nights in AC were totally, utterly, perfectly worth it.   

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Cheers to a year ahead filled with more spontaneity, dancing, drinking, and awesome friendships. I'll even take the recovery time that comes with the fun of 21. 

Seniorita

My Junior year of College has officially come to its conclusion with the completion of two Saturday final exams.  I couldn't have been more excited for paper-writing and test-studying to be behind me, but now that I am an accredited Senior I'm kind of wishing I could go back. Life Junior year was slightly reckless, minimally stressful (in hindsight) and awesomely fun. Life post-college is increasingly frightening, expensive and sad with ever day closer. I can't believe I only have one more year left in this awesome, awesome place. 

Here's an end-of-the-year summary in a photo gallery of highlighted Junior-year moments: 

Tailgating the MD v Navy Football Game @ Ravens Stadium

Advocates for Children, CP Scholars Graduation

Parent Tailgate for the Blackout Game

C's first year as a DL starter

Etown comes to CP for Jesse's 21st 

The beginning of an excess of 21st birthday celebrations

Group Fitness Demo Team @ the NEC Fitness Expo in Chapel Hill

Relay for Life '11

Peace out Junior Year, it's been real.  

Here's to a Senior Year where we have the chance to relive all these moments and more. Let's make this the best year yet, class of 2012 :) Love love love you guys

xx

Cheers 

Hola, Ya'll. (Parte Dos)

I've been missing Barcelona a lot lately. The freedom of walking through the city to the beach in a matter or minutes, the beauty of a language I still long to master, the fresh food, the sweet drinks, and especially, the people. I catch myself endlessly looking through facebook photo albums entitled "Barca" in my spare time (not to mention my Spanish shrine of photos adorning my entire room) and reminiscing on the summer I wish I could relive over and over again.

 Luckily for me, a good friend met through ISA in Barcelona was traveling to DC last week for work, and asked to visit with Lauren and me! We could barely contain our excitement. The drawl of her Texan accent was familiar and welcoming; picking her up from the College Park Metro felt like meeting her at the Urquinanona Metro stop in the heart of Barca.  We spent the afternoon sharing "American" stories and remembering the amazing times spent in Espana and Roma.  (See here for a recap of our adventures and my struggle to habitually use Spanish while simultaneously avoiding the infectiously catchy southern term, "ya'll")

Morgan was only able to stay the night, but it was enough for me to start formulating plans to visit a) Spain for a second time and b) Texas to reunite with my Spanish bffs Morgan and Mallory!