Thanksgiving Gratitude

Guess what day it is. GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS! Not, only is it HUMPDAY, but it's also the last day of school for the week. *Cue Handel's Messiah Hallelujah Chorus* Today is also National Gluttony Day Eve. Yes, tomorrow we will celebrate everything we're thankful for by stuffing our faces with too much food and cheering on whichever team is beating the Cowboys.

Well, I should probably get back to the actual topic of this post so I can prepare for tomorrow's festivities. I try to do a gratitude post once a week with Steph at Insert Classy Here so this just going to follow the same format it always has.

ONE I'm thankful that Kristo can make a good casserole, even when he can't handle the Pillsbury Croissants.

TWO I'm grateful for countdown widgets that make me even more excited for vacation (the day after finals!) and to get my Bachelor's of Arts in Speech Language Hearing Sciences after four and a half lifetimes years of hard work.

THREE I'm grateful for books that change my life and help me bond with my friends. I'm even more grateful that they sometimes get turned into movies that take everything from my head and put it on the big screen.

FOUR I'm grateful that I'm not the only one who hates rude shoppers at the grocery store.

FIVE I'm thankful that my dad tries to keep up with the times, even though he doesn't understand that you can't ask someone to "take a selfie of me."

SIX I'm thankful that tea can get me through assignments that are due in 3 hours almost anything.

SEVEN I'm thankful for sunrises past when I'm stuck with a dreary Monday morning.

I'm thankful that I have a loving family and friends and that we have more than enough delicious food to go around.

Lastly, I'm so thankful for all of you who read and comment on this little blog of mine every day and for my fellow bloggers who have become my faraway friends!

I hope you all have an awesome holiday and eat lots of your favorite carbs! Travel safe and I'll see you next week.

XO - Monny

Chins Up, Smile On.

Happy Monday!

Usually, this is the day of the week that I hate most, but I got more than 5 hours of sleep last night and there are only 3 days until national gluttony day Thanksgiving so I'm in a good mood.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was pretty low key, except for the fact that I GOT TO SEE CATCHING FIRE. It everything I wanted it to be and more. I laughed, I cried, I got mad that Plutarch didn't show Katniss his watch, but mostly I fangirled. It is every book lover's dream that the movie adaptation is true to the story line and it was for the most part. I want to see it again and again. What are you waiting for? Walk away from the computer and go see it - I'll wait. When you get back we'll discuss Finnick's abs and Effie's eyelashes.

Since this week is going to be kind of crazy, I'm writing my mini goals list here so I can keep myself accountable.

• Deaf event essay - due Monday 5 pm 
• Audiology online quiz - due Tuesday 2 pm
• Online observation and language sampling analysis - due Tuesday night 11:59 pm
• Evaluation report - due 12/3

To help you get through your Monday...

XO - Monny

Kristo Behind the Blog

Hey party people! I know I haven't been in the blogosphere much this week, but it's the end of the semester so I don't really need to say much more.

I'm here with a post that isn't even about me. Everyone please give a warm welcome to my boyfriend for the Boys Behind the Blog link up. Please save all your applause until the end of the Q&A segment.

Who is your favorite band/musician?
Not to cop out, but I don’t have a favorite band. I listen to tons of music of varying genres (aside from country, much to the disdain of Monica). The bands/musicians I listen to the most are (in no particular order): Skillet, Halestorm, Avenged Sevenfold, Pink Floyd, Lindsey Stirling, Paramore, and Muse. If this was solely judged on amount of concerts attended, Halestorm would be number 1 with 12 concerts.

*Halestorm (2013 Grammy winners for best hard rock/metal performance!)*

What was your first CD/tape?
Unfortunately this question is one of my darkest secrets. My first CD was Oops!...I Did It Again by Britney Spears. Yes, you read this correctly. I won this CD in a machine in Disney World.

*I didn't know this.*

Who was your first concert?

 My first concert was Paramore in the Hammerstein Ballroom in NY with The Swellers and Paper Route as opening bands. Hayley was amazing in person, especially considering she was battling laryngitis at the time. The amount of passion and energy she brings to the stage is hard to match.

*my first concert was The Click Five*

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Mashed potatoes would be a sure fire number one, but since I have them on a consistent basis, I’m going to choose Monica’s uncle's mushroom soup. Every other year when I attend Thanksgiving at their house, I am excited for it. Coming in a close second is pineapple stuffing and sweet potato casserole.

*mashed potatoes are my fave if anyone cares to know*

Finish the sentence: I am thankful for...

...having so many people that can be called my family. This includes my mom’s boyfriend's family who I have known for almost all my life, especially my aunt Lynn. In addition to them, I am thankful for Monica’s large family, providing me with something I never had. As an only child of a small family, I never had the experience of a large one. From her immediate family to her extended family, over the last 5 years they have accepted me as their own. 

*we're pretty awesome*

Kris and his mom // Kris, his cousin, and his grandmom // Kris and Greg "dancing" // Kris and my uncle...idk

Hope you enjoyed getting to know him a little better!

XO - Monny

How to be a Good Customer

It's Thanksgiving season and you're lying if you say you won't be hitting the grocery stores any time in the next 2 weeks. Here are some helpful tips on how to be a good customer (from a seasoned cashier's point of view).

Have your money ready. 

The people behind you shouldn't have to wait for you to navigate the depths of your Mary Poppins bag to find 56 cents. 

What do you mean you forgot where you put your money? 

"Oh, I guess you need me to pay huh?" This is not cute. You are not clever. It's obnoxious and your pissing people off.

"Can you check how much is on my food stamps card?" Uh, not in the middle of the order. "Oh, well there might not be enough on there." What.

Learn how to read

Don't bring up a lonely turkey when both the sign and  the ad say $0.37/lb turkey with a $25 minimum purchase. And don't tell me the sign doesn't say that. IT'S WRITTEN IN BLACK AND WHITE...and highlighted.

Don't fight with the cashier over a price. This is not a flea market. If you tell me a gallon of ice cream is $1.68, I can tell you didn't read the product name on the price tag. It makes you look stupid, not me.

"Are you open?" Does my sign say open?  "Yes" Then I guess I'm open.

The register says 12 items or fewer. You have a full cart. This is not okay.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

If' you're at the register and you remember something you forgot, wait until your order is paid for and then go get whatever it is. Don't run back for "just one thing" and come back 5 minutes later with half the store in your arms. It's rude, you lied, and all these people had to wait for you to finish being a d-bag.

Let my people goooo.

If you have enough food in your cart to feed a small village and the lady behind you has a gallon of milk, let her go. It's good karma. Who knows when you'll get stuck behind a full cart when all you wanna buy is a box of Brillo pads.

Follow proper cart etiquette

Don't let your kids stand in the cart. You'd think this is common sense, but it's not...oh I promise it's not.

Leave the carts in the store or put them in the cart corral. Don't be a d*ck...like this person.

The walk was a little too far for ya, huh buddy?

Don't take the carts home with you - I wish this was a joke.

Don't ram other customers with your cart - I wish this was a joke too.

There you have it! If everyone and their mother followed these simple rules, we'd all have a happier holiday season.

XO - Monny

Gratitude Catch-up and the Thankful Project

Hey guys! I can't believe the feedback I got on yesterday's simple handwritten post. I was so surprised you all liked the idea.

Linking up with (the newly relocated) Steph for this week's gratitude post. Here's an abbreviated version of the last month since I haven't done a post like this in forever.

ONE I'm thankful for my church where I can get peace of mind whenever I walk through the doors.

TWO I'm thankful for the Philadelphia skyline that always makes me well up with pride for my city.

THREE I'm thankful for coming home from work to find 10 new pairs of socks (Thanks, Mom!).

FOUR  I'm thankful for our first couples costume looking awesome even though it wasn't exactly what we planned for the Halloween party.

FIVE I'm thankful that my first #Vloglikeaboss post finally uploaded.

SIX I'm thankful for colorful marshmallows in my hot chocolate when I'm having a bad day.

SEVEN I'm thankful for my new blogbff Kaylee who will "sing" Wicked lyrics with me over text message and not think it's weird at all.

EIGHT I'm thankful for days like these where I know someone is looking down from Heaven to say hi.
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And since this post was kind of short, I'm also linking up for the #ThankfulProject with Kenzie at Chasing Happy. Today's prompt is an ability you're thankful for.

I'm thankful for my ability to sing because it allows me to share the word of God through music at church. I'm thankful I can lead the congregation to worship through song. Music has opened so many doors in my life and I'm grateful for it every day.

Handwritten Post

Borrowing a fabulous idea from Anjali at From L&P to English Tea

Saturday Shenanigans

Happy Monday, Blogland!

Are you ready for my weekend shenanigans? (The correct answer is yes.) I was a good blogger and took pictures this weekend so I would have something to talk about when today rolled around.

I was in a crappy mood for pretty much all of last week. Luckily, I didn't take a nap Friday morning which meant I got to watch Paramore perform on Good Morning America and get my dad's birthday post done. It was the perfect way to get back into a good mood and it totally made me feel better.

After class, I went to work which sucked as usual, but at least no one told me I look like a 16 year old this week.

On Saturday morning, we woke up an hour before Jesus started handing out blessings and headed to south Philly for the Philadelphia Heart Walk. It was warm enough that I didn't need my winter coat (Yay!) so I rocked my school hoodie since I was walking for Temple Health anyway. When we got into the stadium the first thing I saw was Temple's mascot and I yelled "Hey Hooter" before skipping happily into his arms asking for a picture. Go owls!

We sat in the good seats for the opening ceremony while the Phillie Phanatic made fun of friends with the NBC peacock and generally disregarded all ceremony etiquette. He is the best mascot with the most personality and I want him at my future wedding reception. This is not a joke.

After the walk, we headed to my Mom-Mom's. On the way, we passed a place called Burger Bar and I asked my mom what it was. Her response? "Oh it's good, they have alcoholic milkshakes." Thanks mom, but I was asking about the food. With an explanation like that, we had to go in.

Apparently I really like bourbon. Like a lot.

When we got home, we (mostly Mom) made my dad his birthday dinner. It was a filet mignon roast and it. was. awesome. After dinner, we sang happy birthday to Dad who refuses to sit still or look at the camera, which resulted in 47539287 pictures.

After dessert, Kris and I went to see Pride & Prejudice. You know what's not fun? Explaining the whole plot to your boyfriend at intermission. You know what is fun? When he gets riled about the characters and wants them to live happily ever after.

Sunday was pretty dull, but mom and I made Apple Pie Cake. It didn't turn out as pretty as this, but it tasted like a dessert prepared by the magical cake fairy from Heaven. I will definitely make it again!

I hope you all have a great week!
XO - Monny

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Friday Blogland!

Today I want to introduce you to a very special man - my dad! Today is Pop's 53rd birthday (he looks great for his age, amiright?) and so I'm dedicating a whole post to him. I'm sure he's blushing as my mom reads this to him since he hasn't quite gotten the hang of navigating to my blog on his iPad yet.

Anywho, back to why I love my daddy!

ONE My dad taught me from a very young age that sports are awesome. I remember him taking me out back and having a catch with me,teaching me how to hold a bat, and then teaching me to hold a bat again when we realized that I can't bat right-handed. I remember him telling me not to be a sissy to be aggressive and to go after the ball when we'd play street hockey with the neighborhood kids and I ended up being really good at it. He also taught me that you love your teams, even when  the Phillies can barely make it to .500 they suck. You're allowed to curse at the tv and talk about how poorly they're playing, but you still watch every game. I repeat - you. still. watch. every. game.

TWO He can't cook many things (think brown scrambled eggs), but he makes the best eye roasts I've ever tasted and he's really good at buttering bagels. Like scary good, especially when you're sick.

THREE My dad wakes up at 5:30 every morning to drive me to the train, whether he needs to be in work early or not. He waits extra time at the station until the train comes so I don't have to stand in the cold and let's me control the radio (even though I usually pick something he likes anyway).

FOUR For as long as I can remember, he's been leaving notes for us on the kitchen counter. They always make us laugh, even when they're not intended to be funny.

In our house, everyone write their names on their plastic cup...except dad. He's been known to have more than a few aliases.

FIVE He has shown me that it's never too late to be who you want to be. He leads by example and is constantly helping others in need. I have such respect for him and I'm immensely proud to call him my dad. 

Happy birthday, Daddy! I love you, I hope you have a great day, and you'll get your real birthday card tomorrow!

XO - Monny

Linking up with Whitney.

I'm still confused as to why this song didn't win a CMA.

Vlog Like a Bo$$

*My video literally took an entire day to upload for some unknown reason. Here's my late post*

It's finally Friday Saturday!

Today I'm doing something I never thought I'd do. I'm Vlogging Like a Boss with Ashten. For those of you who don't know, vlogging is blogging through video. So today I'm going to "write a post" with my face and my webcam and pray that I don't scare you into unfollowing my blog. NO PRESSURE.

Here we go!

Links you should care about!

Margaret made a Facebook page for her blog!

Harry Potter Lovers Linkup and my Potter Post!

Kiss Nail Dress from my Influenster #VarsityVoxBox !

Ashten is a Vlogging Boss!

Lastly, it's #Backthatazzup Friday so go link up with Whitney!

XO - Monny