Bottle of Red, Bottle of White

This past weekend I went to on a wine tasting tour for a bachelorette party for Tom's soon-to-be cousin, Jessica. We could not have had better weather for the day and it was really fun going to each vineyard and trying a variety of wines.

We went to a total of 4 vineyards out east on Long Island. This is the second time I have been on a wine tasting tour - I did this for my sister-in-law's (Karen) bachelorette party as well two years ago. When we went for Karen it was in Virginia and I was very new to the wine world. I had just turned 21 that year and was less savy on what I knew about wines, let alone what type I liked best. I remember trying more of the blush wines in Virginia and eased my way into the whites. I think I tried maybe one or two reds but politely declined for most of them!

How things have changed! I love red wine now and really do not care for white wine or blush wine. My favorite is Pinot Noir and like Merlot as well. If I have to choose white wine, I would say I like Riesling or Pinot Grigio. I really prefer not to drink blush wines.

On the tour this past weekend, we tried a dessert wine - boysenberry fruit wine- at the first vineyard, Duck Walk Vineyard, and it was like nothing I had ever tasted before. So at the end of the first tour, I bought it! They said that you can cook with it as well, so I am looking forward to checking it out soon!

Saturday was a really nice day and I enjoyed spending time with Tom's Mom, sister, aunts, cousin and her friends. It will be fun to see all of them at the wedding in a few months!

Thanks again for the beautiful bouquet of sunflowers* :)

MOVE, in the Name of Love.

So remember when I mentioned here that there was one more reason why I wanted to move to Hoboken?

In the words of Jason Mraz, I am "lucky to be in love with my best friend."


My experience at Loyola gave me a chance to move away from home and experience college life in a new city, brought me to Ireland where I travelled to seven other countries, enabled me join organizations and clubs that interested me, initated friendships that will last for years, and - best of all - had introduced me to what it really is like to love someone.


Tom and I met junior year when we had a selling class together. He sat a few rows from me. It must have been opposite day on our first day of class when you choose your seat for the semester, because he was in the front of the row (appearring to be very studious) and I was in the back of my row (appearing not-so-studious) haha. After a week or so, we both were walking back to our apartment when we saw our mutal friend, Frank, who actually introduced us. We then realized that we lived a few floors from each other in the apartment building - so the liklihood of us walking back together got much greater! :)

Slowly but surely we got to know each other through our walks and talks after class. The more we talked, the less it seemed we had in common.


Me: "I hate red meat."
Tom: "I love red meat."


Me: "My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip."
Tom: "I will eat anything but mint chocolate chip."


Me: "I love whiskey - Jameson and I are best friends."
Tom: "Whiskey makes me want to die."


Me: "I fall asleep within the first 30 min of a movie, 85% of the time."
Tom: "I can stay up and watch movies all night."

Me: "My poor Irish skin burns to a crisp every summer."
Tom: "I'm 100% Italian and have never used sun screen."


Me: "I love the summer when my hair gets blonder."
Tom: "I tend to like brunnettes." (he tries to convince me to dye my hair to this day...haha)


You name it, we were opposite on it! Nevertheless, we got along very well and I thought (well, still very much think!) that he was so funny! He has been making me laugh for years now!

On the night of my 21st birthday, I saw Tom out. I remember seeing him from across the bar when I first got there and then we found each other later. We had a great time dancing that night and I remember having such a great time that year on my birthday.

A few months later on the night of my Dad's first brain surgery, I asked Tom if he would like to hang out - so I could occupy my thoughts elsewhere as I waited to hear how the surgery went. (He and all of Loyola knew about my Dad being sick as my Dad and I spoke at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Event the previous year.) Tom said he would like to hang out that night and we watched The Hurricane. Surprisingly, I stayed up to watch the whole movie - so instantly I knew that Tom was someone who was different because I honest to God fall asleep all the time haha. He also made me feel better on one of the toughest days of my life and that too made me realize that he was someone special.

We became closer as the semester went on and talked a lot over the summer and got to know each even more during my last semester of school. We went to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Ryan's Daughter and I remember really having a great time. Tom stood in line to get tickets to the annual Christmas Concert given by our accapella singing groups, The Chimes and The Belles, and took me to the concert with him!

After I finished my classes in December and went back home to Philadelphia, Tom and I remained in contact and continued to build our friendship. He was a rock for me when I needed someone to talk to as my Dad got sicker and sicker.

On March 28, 2009 I went down to school for the Relay for Life. Every year tons of entertainment is planned to keep the participants engaged and having a great time. Tom and I were watching The Chimes perform, when all of the sudden I got the courage to turn around and give him a quick kiss. Now, if you know me, that is the last thing I would do on a normal day. I have no idea what gave me the umph to do such a thing, but I did it. And from that day on, Tom and I have talked every single day and turned what was a terrific friendship into an amazing romantic relationship.

Later in the semester I went down to school for another Chimes concert and for Craigsfest, an all day beer fest at a local bar around school. Again we had a great time and continued to realize that we might want to become more interested in becoming more than just friends.

By the time graduation week came around, my Dad was extremely sick and home on hospice. Tom continued to stick by my side (or maybe by his phone is a better way to describe it as we texted each other about 100 times a day!) and he helped me smile even when it was very hard to find the strength to do so. He told me that he wanted to be there for me and I knew he was sincere.

Tom asked me to be his date for our Senior Gala, two days before graduation. We danced the night away, dressed to the nines - him in a suit and me in a dress. This remains one of my favorite nights with Tom as I felt very lucky to be his date. Two days later we graduated and the Loyola chapter of our lives came to an official close.

Just over two weeks later, my father passed away and who was the person that drove 3 hours to be with me through the viewing and funeral? Tom. He had met my father only once at the Relay for Life event at school a few years earlier but he was there to support me during my roughest days. I will never forget how kind and compassionate he was during that most difficult time.


Just one week after my father's funeral, I made the trip to Long Island to visit Tom and attend his brother's annual summer kick-off lu'au, again just trying to cope and distract my thoughts. A few other friends from Loyola were also staying for the weekend and we had a great time and it was a good distraction for me from all the sadness that had been occuring in my life at that time.


Then, two weeks later, Tom and I made it offical. June 28, 2009.


Throughout the last year, Tom and I have made countless trips from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to see each other on the weekends. I learned every public transportation route possible from Philadelphia to Long Island while Tom learned every major highway. We tried to do as much as possible since we only had a little over 48 hours to see each other. We were lucky if we got to see each other every weekend and tried to split the weekends evenly between my house and his.

However, with both of us working during the week, the traveling on the weekends got to be a lot. We were exhausted from the work week and barely had time to really relax on the weekends because we wanted to do so much stuff with each other since those were the only days we got to hang out. Slowly but surely, the idea of moving closer to each other sounded better and better.


Tom now lives in Jersey City, which is about 10 minutes from Hoboken! We can see each other any day we want to now! We had our first dinner and a movie date last week - on a week night. We jokingly kept asking each other, "wait, what day is today?" because it was a Tuesday night and we are able to hang out.

There is much truth in the saying that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" as we are proof of that over the last year; however, we are very excited to know that our absences will not last as long now that we are just minutes away!

My New Backyard

This is what I see when I walk one block from my apartment....

I'll take it!

Commute-HER

My first week of commuting in and out of NYC is over and it has been pretty easy so far!

Every morning I walk to the PATH train station, which is a nice 15-20 walk (depending on my shoes haha) and ride to the final stop at 33rd street in New York City. Then I hop on either the F or M subway and take it one stop to Byrant Park. Then it's just a short walk a few blocks over to my office building.

A few things I have come to appreciate after last week's commuting:

1. A seat on the train. I got to sit down on the train a total of 2 times. The rest of the week I had to awkwardly stand in front of people, holding on for deal life 'cause each stop is anything but graceful. When I rode the Regional Rails back in Philadelphia, I don't think I can remember a time that I didn't get a seat.

2. A pair of comfortable shoes. Walking to the train is great. I feel like I've done something good for myself even before I get to work in the morning! One day I wore a pair of shoes that had my feet/legs screaming by the time I got to the train (see point #1 as to why getting to the train did not help all that much...haha)

3. A good raincoat. On my first day of work, it poured and poured. I thought the rain coat with the hood would be best, in hopes of keeping my hair looking somewhat good despite the bad weather. BUT, this coat is not as long as my trench rain coat...so the bottom of my skirt was so wet by the time I got to the office. (Wet head or wet skirt, not sure which one would have been better, even in retrospect!) On Wednesday it rained again, so I wore the long trench coat and found myself in a much better situation!

4. A good book. By Friday I had the confidence enough to hook my arm onto the pole (again, please reference point #1) and read my book - anticipating the stops and preparing myself to not be thrown into the person sitting in front of me! :) Reading my book made the trip seem ever faster and I always enjoy getting lost in another world through the story, even if it is just for 15 minutes!

5. A good people-watching story. People are... unique. I have heard some of the most bizarre stories these past few days, and it has only been a week! One day this girl was telling a story to a man literally inches from her but was speaking at a level so loud you would have thought he was 5 cars away from her. Good God. She was so oblivious that she did not even realize the entire row of people were either shaking their heads in utter disgust of her story about why she did not get the promotion (maybe because she was the most annoying human in the world) OR they were laughing so hard at the pure shock of her being so dumb... I'm sure as time goes on, I will have many more stories of interesting people and will share those as well!

As week #2 of work begins tomorrow, I feel more at ease than I did a week ago - especially since I have the commute down pat.

Start Spreading the News...

This has been quite an eventful week. Last Monday I spent most of the day cleaning out my room and packing all of my clothes, shoes, pictures frames, books, stuffed animals (I know, I'm 23 but there are some things that I just had to bring with me - one of them is the puppy Patrick got me from Santa Secret Shop back when I was in Kindergarten!) and everything else I could possibly fit in my Jetta. On Monday night, I drove Victoria and Sean up to Hoboken so they could get a feel for the area and see where my new apartment is!

We lugged everything out of my car to my apartment and they were such a huge help! On Tuesday morning, I had to go fill out some paperwork for my new job and Victoria and Sean waited patiently until I was finished. Then the three of us went to lunch in Grand Central Station and then walked to Times Square. We stopped for some pictures! (and yes, I realize that I will soon be the shortest person in the family! Sean is likely grow a few inches in the next few months and then it is all over for me!)

After Times Square, we took the PATH back to Hoboken and hung out for a bit at the apartment and then walked a few blocks to get "Italian Ices" - I have been told that it is not water ice in the greater New York area (and hoagies are "heros" - ugh - not sure if I will ever be able to change to those terms though :) Later that night we drove home and I had a great time with them and I am so happy they were able to see my new apartment so they will have a visual for when I talk about it!

On Wednesday, I did more packing and then got ready for a going away party with my family for my cousin going to Pitt, my other cousin going back to Penn State, my sister going back to Penn State and for me - moving to Hoboken! We had a really nice night and although it was sad to know it would be a little while until I saw them again, it was nice to know that they supported me in my decision and wished me well in my new city!

On Thursday, my Mom and sisters and I went to BJs and pretty much bought the store - we were there for three hours and packed the car with enough shampoo, soap, olive oil, pasta, paper towels and toilet paper, etc to last each of us about 8 years. Lord knows I don't need another toothbrush until I'm 27 - but hey, they were a good deal! :)

Thursday afternoon I went to pick up a few more furniture items (which I will save for another post with pictures!) and then went home and packed the last items that I couldn't fit in the first two trips. Then it was off to sleep for the last time in my bed which was very sad and strange.

Friday morning, after one more walk with Misty and then a cup of tea with my Mom, I finished packing the car. Then I said a very tearful goodbye to my brother, sisters, Mom and dog and punched Hoboken into my GPS and was on my way. I couldn't believe that the day had come when I was actually moving into my new apartment.

As I was driving, I decided to listen to mixed CDs and one of the first songs that came on was Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." What better way to start off this journey!

Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York

These vagabond shoes
Are longing to stray
And make a brand new start of it
New York, New York

I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps
To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap

These little town blues
Are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
In old New York

If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York.

Well Mr. Sinatra, I want to be a part of it too and this brand new start has been perfect so far!

I hope to be like her one day...

I'm a lucky girl. There are no two ways about it. I have been fortunate enough to have an amazing family, who not only sticks by one another but are genuinely happy to do absolutely anything for each other.

My mother has been my biggest cheerleader throughout my entire life. No matter what, she has been in my corner, hoping for the best for me, helping me tackle every hurdle and celebrating every victory. She is the true definition of what a mother should be and every day she proves why she is the best Mom in the world.

It was, of course, her support that I needed most in my decision to move away. I needed to make sure that she was okay with this decision because without her blessing and approval, I am not sure if I would have been able to do it.

She is a very strong woman who has been the cornerstone of our family - most recently in the last year and few months after the passing of my father - and she has set an example for each of her five children what it means to be a good spouse, a loving caretaker, and a faith-filled, supportive mother.

I am sincerely looking forward to her visiting me in my new city and sharing experiences with her that will create memories to last us a lifetime. She has already provided a ton of items - for every room in the apartment - and I will think of her every time I see them! She selflessly gives constantly and I am most appreciative for everything!

Being away from home will most certainly be a big change for the both of us - but luckily the foundation why have set over the last 23 years will allow our relationship to not only continue to grow, but get stronger as well.

Mama, you taught me to do the right things

So now you have to let your baby fly.

You've given me everything that I will need,

To make it through the crazy thing called life.

-Mama's Song

by Carrie Underwood

I love you, Mom. Thank you for everything.

Color me this, Batman

One of the most exciting things I am looking forward to doing is decorating my new apartment. I love the idea of collecting pieces of furniture, as well as other odds and ends, from various stores to cohesively furnish a room!

My first big purchases for my bedroom were, of course, a bed frame and a dresser. My younger sister, Victoria, just transformed her room with furniture from IKEA and since her new room turned out so well, IKEA was first on my list!

Browsing through the bedroom furniture selection, I came to realize that I wanted white to be my color for the bed and all the accent furniture. I settled on this bed because it just looks so feminine and classic! I then found this dresser and knew it would be perfect for my, a-hem, "small" wardrobe. The drawers are so deep and there are three different sizes, so it makes for perfect storage in my, a-hem, "large" new bedroom!

Next, I hope to purchase a desk of some sort. I like the idea of having a "home" for my laptop and bills (reality sinking in....) I am thinking about something like this which would maximize the space I have since it is rather high and has shelves.

We are able to paint the walls in our apartment, so I knew for my bedroom I was going to want to have a color that really brought life to the room. After finding a Martha Stewart comforter set, I was able to narrow down my colors to green, gray, beige, and white. My mom, or should I say Jack-of-all-Trades (J-O-A-T), picked the most perfect color green paint to match the bedspread! She, my sister, Regina, and I went up to paint last weekend and it came out beautifully! What a difference paint can do for a room... take a look!

This is what my room looked like before Mamma Noons (J-O-A-T) and Sisters Painting, LLC got to it:

And this is what it looks like now!

I don't think I could be anymore pleased with the results and I know that I will be quite comfortable in my new room. Next, I will have to search for things to put on the walls!

I know that I want to add one more color to my color pallet - amethyst! I think this choice will compliment the other colors very well. All of these colors are very "me" as I love anything green because it reminds me of Ireland, I love amethyst because that is my birthstone, and I have always loved black, gray and white because they are so clean and classic! Adding these personal touches will most certainly make this room feel more homey and cozy - and let's be honest, what more can a girl ask for!?

Oh, by the way, I used the colors of my room as inspiration for the colors for the layout of my blog...!

Slowly but surely the decorating will come together! Check back for more pictures of my new place!

You're moving where?

When people ask me "Why Hoboken?" when I tell them where I have decided to move to, my response is multifaceted.

Most people think that I want to be in walking distance of the pastries made by The Cake Boss... but I have a few more reasons why this is the place I chose to go!

After traveling abroad, I learned that there is more to the world than my town in Pennsylvania or my college campus in Baltimore. There are so many places to see and so many interesting people to meet and I really enjoyed learning a new place and culture for those four months in Ireland/Europe. I had decided that I wanted to see more and experience another city other than my native Philadelphia after college while I was still young enough to do so and did not have many responsibilities to hold me back.

Hoboken is such an amazing hub for 20-somethings and I know that I will meet tons of people who are enjoying this part of their life and will want to have the same experiences as I do. Living in such an up and coming city will allow me to experience so much without having to travel too far! So, it was almost not a question to me as to why I should move, but rather why not move!?

I approached my abroad trip with the intention of making everyday an amazing experience and I plan on doing the same while I am in Hoboken. I will take advantage of being so close to New York City and will make it a point to try new things and do as much as I can while I have the opportunity to do so!

*There is one more wonderful reason why I want to move to this area, but I will save that for a later post. :)

So, I'm moving to Hoboken which has a rich history and I look forward to making the most of my new home!

The Name Game

I must share how the name of my blog came about.

When I was a junior in college, I was fortunate enough to be able to study abroad for a semester (almost 3 years ago - yikes time flies!). I had always wanted to go to Ireland and this experience has been one of the best in my life so far. For four months, about 25 of my Loyola classmates and I were given the most incredible opportunity to live in Cork, Ireland.

Being that we were in a different country, away from our families and American culture, it became apparent that the 25 of us would become much closer than we could have ever been back at our home campus in Baltimore, MD. In particular, I became close with about 5 people who helped to make my experience so much better! We travelled all over Europe together, took classes together, went to pubs together and really took advantage of what it meant to be "Irish citizens."

It is no secret that I love to laugh and genuinely think most people are hysterical. I can laugh for minutes at something most people would just briefly chuckle at - but I have been this way my whole life and I have to admit that I don't mind it at all. Most people tell me that I make them feel funnier - so i think it is a good thing all around. :)

One of my friends, John, has one of the quickest wits and we became very close on this trip. He is a huge fan of a great pun and shared many with the group throughout our four months. John and I love nicknames and after a few weeks into the trip, he addressed me "Afternoonan." Naturally, the nickname stuck. It has evolved so that every text, g-chat conversation, email, phone call begins with a "Good Afternoonan" from John (who I fondly refer to as "The Mac Attack" - a play on his last name).

I made sure to get permission from Mac to use this genius nickname as the title of my blog and he was all for it!

So, what's in a name? Well, for this one - it is a ton of memories of an unforgettable experience with friends who will last a lifetime!

And so it begins...

I am writing this blog to document the newest chapter in my life - moving out of my parents' house to a new city where the world seems to be at my fingertips! While at times it seems that I am jumping head first into unknown territories, I know that this move will be an amazing change and certainly will be well worth it!

I am originally from a suburb of Philadelphia, PA and have decided to move to an apartment Hoboken, NJ. I am very excited to be knocking on New York City's door and am looking forward to taking full advantage of all this location has to offer. I hope to try tons of new restaurants, see entertaining shows, shop in fabulous stores, meet interesting people and continue an exciting transition from a "kid" to a young adult.

I have a so much to share and I welcome and look forward to your thoughts and comments. Please check back often as I plan to post as much as possible.

Cheers ... to new beginnings!