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Way Too Cold for Me

Posted in Blog, tagged , on February 25, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Now we are attempting to blog from an iPhone so please excuse any typos!

Last weekend I made the 3.5 hour trip to Buffalo to watch the Penguins take on the Buffalo Sabres and it was cold. You know it’s cold when you get excited to see the thermometer in your car hit 25 when you return to Pittsburgh.

After a very late arrival, we headed out to Chippewa Street– which is much like East Carson Street in Pittsburgh. However, the crowd was more late 20s- early 30s and you didn’t see any girls walking around mini skirts and heels. These people wore boots and jeans. They dressed weather appropriate. We visited a sports bar and enjoyed multiple hockey games from around the league. This bar was packed with people wearing Pens jerseys!

Finding a nice hotel –at a reasonable price– since we were basically only going to be sleeping there. We decided on a Red Roof Inn- I was rather nervous! However, this hotel was gorgeous! Everything was brand new. You could smell the fresh paint. I highly recommend the Red Roof Inn in Buffalo!

The next day it was time for some hockey! The puck dropped at 12:35. Before hand, we enjoyed some Dunkin Donuts! If you have never had a brownie batter donut, I strongly recommend trying one! The game was awesome and packed with Pens fans and we one!

Next it was time for Niagara Falls, USA and the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls!

The Falls are beautiful in the winter. However, the mist that typically comes from the Falls was not water…it was actually little pieces of ice! It was cold and windy….next time I return there, I will be making sure it’s warm out!

The Fashion Outlets were awesome. $500 worth of Kate Spade for $120. Yes, please!

We wrapped up our trip with a stop at the Anchor Bar!

More on that later!

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Snow

Posted in Blog, tagged , , on January 26, 2013 | 1 Comment »

I don’t know about you guys, but temperatures in the teens and below and snow just aren’t my thing. I’m not a fan of wearing jackets, shoveling snow or spending two hours in my car to make it home from work on a Friday night. I’m ready for spring and most certainly ready for my trip to Disney World! — I’ve been shopping for Spring clothes since the minute I booked the trip — I already have way more than I need to go on a 4-day, 3-night trip. The thought of spring just makes me happy.

Another thing that makes me happy is the sale Dick’s Sporting Goods is currently running. Take an additional 50% off of clearance merchandise? Don’t mind if I do!

These for $15. Thank you Dick’s! I don’t think I have ever owned a pair of Reebok shoes, but I am quickly becoming a fan. They are comfortable, light-weight and seem to support my messed up feet very well.

What’s your favorite brand of sneakers?

Another thing I am loving?

I found this at Target a few weeks ago and am obsessed. The perfect on-the-go snack. I can’t believe I only tried Nutella for the first time a few weeks ago, it’s wonderful. I’ve already composed a very long list of recipes to make with Nutella.

Off to write some freelance articles and stay warm!

Enjoy your Saturday!

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Major Online Shopping Addiction

Posted in Blog, tagged , , on January 16, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Yep, MIA again. One of these days I’ll get my stuff together!

Is it just me or is this the best time of the year to go shopping? Cold weather clothes, warm weather clothes, they are all on sale! My absolute latest shopping addiction is Hautelook which is actually a Nordstrom company. I’ve purchased $100 pieces of jewelry for $10. $94 pairs of shorts for $14. I love a good bargain! Make sure you check it out! Another good one to feed online shopping addictions. RueLaLa.

Workout of the Day:

Roll out of bed and do this KICK BUTT, 365 days a year, mini workout!

I found this to be a perfect quick workout before the shower. It gets your heart pumping and makes you want that shower even more!

Hockey is back! Is anyone else as excited as I am for the return of hockey season? Especially the Pens!

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Surprises and a Giveaway Winner.

Posted in Blog, Giveaways, tagged , , on January 2, 2013 | 2 Comments »

Guess who forgot to publish the quick post she made for yesterday to announce the giveaway winner? This girl. I try to stay clear of my computer on holidays.

Anyways the giveaway winner is:

Angela @ Health’s Angel

Congrats girl! Please e-mail me your contact info so I can pass it along to the Protein Bakery!

Who loves surprises? As much as I love surprises, I think being the giver of a surprise can be just as much if not more fun. Although, sometimes it can be hard to keep it a secret. Especially when your surprise involves Disney World! Yep, that’s right, I’ll be heading to Disney in the spring with my boyfriend for his 30th Birthday present. Florida in May will be an awesome change from the unpredictable weather that we (Pennsylvania) sometimes find ourselves in. My birthday is in May too…sometimes it is 80 degrees sometimes its 50.

Four days and three nights (at the Animal Kingdom lodge savanna side is going to be amazing. Especially since I have not been to Disney since I was 13. I think the happiest place on earth and acting like a child again is the perfect way kick off year number 30. Well, there may be some drinking around the world in Epcot.

Since it’s been awhile, I need your help!

I’m looking for recommendations of where we must go and places we must eat! I purchased the dining plan.

All and all I’d say this surprise was a complete success. It definitely was not what he way expecting as his surprise!

What was the best surprise you have ever given or received?

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Long Overdue, But I’m Back!

Posted in Blog, Recipes, tagged , , on December 29, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Hello Strangers! After an over two month break from blogging, I’m back and committed to regular blogging and blog-reading in case anyone out there still remembers me! Between starting a new job(which by the way is going awesome), the holidays and a computer in need of some major TLC, I just haven’t had the time to blog, read and comment. Okay, I have been reading many blogs..on my Kindle…on the bus. I’ve kind of been a lurker lately.

Anyways, back to regular blogging, recipes and some New Years fitness routines….and of course some shopping…I have a major addiction to online shopping and I need to share some of my awesome finds with everyone.

Questions for you: 

  • How as everyone been?
  • What was your favorite holiday gift?

Recipe for you:

Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

yield: About 1 dozen cookies

prep time: 20 minutes

cook time: 12 to 15 minutes

total time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and well-combined.

3. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well-combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the flour is incorporated. Stir in the mini chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

4. Place the Oreo cookie crumbs in a small bowl. Scoop the cookies into about 1½ to 2″ balls and then roll in the cookie crumbs. Place the cookie balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops are slightly puffed.

5. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

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Hey Strangers!

Posted in Blog, Blogger Meet-Up, tagged , on October 20, 2012 | 1 Comment »

I’m back again after about a week and a half of non-stop chaos! First, I want to take this opportunity to share a Pittsburgh Blogger Meet-up event with anyone who may live in the Pittsburgh-area.

 

If you are in the area and interested in attending, the more the merrier! Leave a comment for details. In the meantime, check out stelladot.com for a look at all the jewelry and accessories Stella and Dot has to offer!

Second, my brother’s wedding was amazing. I don’t think anyone could say they didn’t have a good time!

Third, I accepted and will be starting my new job at the end of the month! I will be working in research at a University in the area and am very excited about the opportunity. Additionally, I will receive amazing discounts on tuition. I’m thinking a fourth degree!

If you could pursue an additional degree at virtually no cost, what would you choose?

Well, it’s time to get some laundry done, get packing for a hiking trip and attend another wedding. I strongly dislike packing an am not looking forward to this. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I  should pack for a hiking trip, please let me know!

Enjoy your weekend!

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Yet Another Crazy Week!

Posted in Blog, tagged , , on October 9, 2012 | 5 Comments »

My brother is getting married on Saturday…needless to say this week is shaping up to be an extremely busy week of running last minute errands and making sure all of the small details are complete.

In addition, I am trying to decide between two jobs. I know I have two offers coming in by the end of the week…thankfully human resources at very large organizations take their good ole time in making official offers (two hiring managers have already told me the jobs are mine I just need to wait patiently for HR to make it official. It gives me plenty of time to think! I am pretty confident I am going to accept a clinical research position with a major university. This would be a 110 percent change from working for a marketing copy or working as a freelance journalist (which I still plan on doing on the side anyways)…plus I’d be using my recently received M.S. degree, would be able to take more classes at virtually no cost to me and hopefully advance myself! I am so excited for the phone to ring and make it official. I’m also really glad it didn’t take me long at all to find a new job!

On a side note, does it drive anyone else nuts when you find something on Pinterest you really like, thought you pinned it and when you go back to find it, turns out you never pinned it? My first idea for wedding hair wouldn’t work with my bangs so I found something else except I can’t seem to locate it anywhere!

Some ideas:

What do you like best?

updo

updo

hair

Wedding hairstyle

Gorgeous.

This is so pretty!

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A Pittsburgh Girl in Cleveland!

Posted in Blog, tagged on October 5, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Greetings from Cleveland! I live a short two hours and 15 minutes from Cleveland and have never been here. A Pittsburgh girl in Cleveland can only mean trouble. There is Browns gear [for sale] everywhere. The one thing I’ve noticed is that Cleveland is nothing like Pittsburgh when it comes to sporting their NFL team colors on Fridays. Pittsburgh is a see of black and gold and well, in Cleveland there is more brown and orange on the shelves than on people walking around! There really is no legit reason for me to be in Cleveland…the guy is at a continuing education optometry conference and so I am working from Panera (okay, I’ve hardly worked…I’m checking out random sites in Cleveland and now just sitting down to blog and finish up a freelance assignment!

So far I’ve checked out:

  • Aurora Farms Premium Outlets (2 Coach wristlets for $29 total….hello early Christmas shopping!!)
  • Westside Public Market…It was interesting but leaving meat and produce in the car all day long seemed like a terrible idea. The weather is rather dreary but its kinda warm.
  • Heinin’s market…the bakery here was my weak spot… m&m cookies!

Next up, after I finish my work, is Mustard Seed Market and Cafe… natural and organic health foods.

If your from the Cleveland area, I’m opened to suggestions…I’ve got 4 more hours to kill. In the meantime, I’m going to continue touring grocery stores!!

Enjoy your weekend!

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Trying New Things

Posted in Blog, tagged , on October 1, 2012 | 4 Comments »

On a quick break from working this afternoon, I decided to open my package from KlutchClub, which is an awesome monthly subscription service that gives you samples of health, wellness, beauty products and often times gift cards to try out different products and services online. One of the gift cards this month is for Zeel.com (ps. clicking this link will give you a $25 credit on Zeel.)

Zeel is an online appointment setting website that allows you to book health and wellness appointments instantly in your area.

You can book appointments with:

  • Chiropractors
  • Registered Dietitians
  • Personal Trainers
  • Acupuncturists
  • Massage Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Structural Integration Professionals

When I have gift cards, I typically love spending them as soon as possible (especially in this case because it expires).

My question to you guys is, what type of service should I try out?

Out of the list, I’ve only ever seen a physical therapist for a hamstring injury. I’m always opened to new experiences though!

Enjoy your Monday!

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Hello Strangers!

Posted in Blog on September 24, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Why, hello there! Remember me? I swear I’m still here! For the last week, I’ve pretty much have had absolutely no desire to blog. As a result, I decided to take a break, but I’m back and all is well. While I was on my blog hiatus, I did do some pretty awesome things and discover some pretty cool things as well to blog about…which is great cause that means I will some fun things to blog about!

First thing is first. I know I have some Bucco fans out there! Well, maybe. Despite the fact that the Buccos seem to be back to their old ways, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at the ballpark!

For instance, Lexus Club tickets are pretty sweet. Great view and even better food. Seriously, we ate and ate and ate. Lexus Club seats are all inclusive. We were treated to an amazing buffet followed by all the ballpark food we could eat while at our seats …and they even served it to you!

 

And how about getting to play ball on the field? Pretty awesome, if you exclude the fact that I was the only girl there with a glove!

And then we have the sock bun! I have thick, shorter (shoulder length), very choppy hair. As a result, I figured achieving a sock bun would be near impossible. So, I never tried it. After having a morning meeting and a terrible hair day coupled with a pile of socks that need thrown away, I figured it couldn’t hurt, right? Viola! It’s possible! And actually very easy!

(Note: it was unbelievably difficult and awkward to take this picture!)

With my brother’s wedding less than three weeks away (hence a lot of the reason I have been MIA), it was also time to get a little crafty as part of the wedding gift. I love unique gifts!

Having also purchased their first home, I figured this could be the perfect addition to their new home. Plus, it’s something they’ll always have to remember — a Met, Engaged, Married Photo.

It’s easy!

What You’ll Need:

  • A frame with three spaces for photos and at least 1.5 inches of matting.
  • Maps (one map for each location….met, engaged married)
  • Glitter (I opted for red)
  • Glue
  • Fancy Scrapbook letters (chances are you’ll need to purchase two packages of letters to ensure you have all of the letters you need)

What You Do:

  1. Find the locations on your maps that the happy couple met, got engaged and are/will be married.
  2. Cut the map to fit your frame — in my case 5 x 7 aim to keep the location that they either met, engaged or were married in the center.
  3. Use a pencil to draw a heart around the location they met, a ring around the location they were engaged and two rings around the location they married.
  4. Use liquid glue to outline the locations.
  5. Apply glitter
  6. Let dry for a few hours.
  7. While drying, use your letters to place the words met, engaged, married underneath each of the openings for photos.
  8. After drying, place your maps in the frame in the correct spots.
  9. Enjoy!

 

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