Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to take a moment before the day officially starts to give thanks. I'll start with a quote that really means a lot to mean for it's simplicity and meaning.

For each new morning with it's light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am so thankful for all I've been blessed with and as always, my family tops the list. I am grateful that I live in an environment that allows me to update the internet about my life any time I want. I am grateful that so many people in my family know how to cook so well :) I am grateful for all the friends I've ever made, whether we still speak or not, the relationships were worth having at some point. I am grateful for my optimism and compassion because I believe these were feelings I was born with and that I've nurtured. I'm grateful for the amazing educational opportunities I've had, I know they'll help me in the (hopefully near) future.
There are so many more things that I'm thankful for but the purpose of this post is not to list them all, it's to inspire you to take a look at your life and think about what you have. Anything that could be taken away from you is a blessing, because you still have it. Remember that when you get down on yourself and be thankful for even the smallest of blessings. And, as a final show of gratitude, I found this poster online and it really brought me some perspective...


image courtesy of: http://posters-for-good.tumblr.com/post/542977597/if-you-have-food-in-your-fridge-clothes-on-your

update

I LOVE my giants but sometimes I want to punch Eli Manning in the face.

ps. my grand total is up to 6 pounds - cool - i haven't had any carbs or sugar for 2 WEEKS and I lose 6 pounds???!?!?!?!!! this.is.brutal.

Unstoppable

just went to see unstoppable. as if my obsession with chris pine needed to grow any more... the first opening scene is the PERFECT way to draw me into any movie. I don't care what it's about, if you do that to me again, I will pay $12 to watch it. Thank you Tony Scott for that sequence. Also, thank you for recognizing the phenom that Mr. Pine is, and recognizing his talent, not just the eyes that I can't seem to stop staring at. :)

seriously... it's not even fair.


photo courtesy of: http://screencrave.com/tag/chris-pine/

Holiday Specials

I love holiday specials...

It started with The Great Pumpkin and Scared Shrekless, then all of my favorite sitcoms and TV shows did Halloween episodes. Now that we're encroaching on thanksgiving it's become acceptable for Christmas commercials to air and I couldn't be more excited! Tonight I enjoyed Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and it put me in such a festive mood. I think what makes me most happy about these things is that other people are watching the same thing as me at the same time! It means I'm not the only one in the holiday spirit and it means that the station heads are acknowledging that people want to gather together and celebrate the holidays - year after year. It's a national acknowledgment of our national holidays- where sometimes we're moving too fast to appreciate the reason we have a day off from work.

Tonight we were told to expect ABC's next holiday special on December 7th, when Prep & Landing will air followed by Charlie Brown's Christmas. I'm sure we have many more to look forward to on network television; not to mention the countdowns on cable TV. The Hallmark channel has already started airing Christmas movies beginning at 4pm everyday and ABC Family's Countdown to the 25 days of Christmas begins this weekend. Like I said, I have the holiday stamina to enjoy this until January, but I can understand those who would be a little overwhelmed. My best advice would be to enjoy the season and all of the things it brings to you. We often wonder why Christmas spirit can't last all year long, but with this extension to mid-November it looks like it's heading in that direction. As long as the heart of the spirit stays true, we have nothing to worry about but enjoying the beauty of the holiday season.

The thing I love the most about the Charlie Brown specials is that they haven't changed in 40 years. When my parents were sitting with their families watching it they were enjoying it just as much as my brother, sisters and I love it. These specials also start traditions - another thing I love- because as a jobless 22 year old, it's nice to settle back into the things that were important when I was 6. I have a lot more to say on this topic but it's mostly personal stuff that would bore you - so if you're interested, send out a comment and I'll fill you in but in not... here's my parting message, in an image as a picture really is worth 1,000 words.


photo courtesy of:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Charlie-Brown-Thanksgiving-Blu-ray/12870/

as of 8 this morning my bottom teeth are straight and the scale says i lost maybe 8 pound (i don't see it and no one has said i look like i lost weight so...)

i'll get back to you this afternoon when these improvements have changed.

sundries

sundries: pl.n. Articles too small or numerous to be specified; miscellaneous items. (via answers.com)

Just a few things that have been on my mind lately...

• I was out shopping today, with Mom, and at The Container Store, I officially decided that in terms of wrapping paper, the cuter, the better. I wanted to buy ALL of it but each roll was $9 and there was only about 12 feet of paper. Adorable stuff though, honestly, if you only have a few small things to wrap I would totally consider it.
• 
  
• My teeth were filed today. It didn't exactly hurt, but I definitely don't want to do it again. To make a long story short, I did what the orthodontist told me - wear your retainer at night. This is an interesting instruction because you have to wonder - For how long? 1 year? 2? Well, it's been YEARS more than 4 that I've been doing this. Now, I definitely was not the most conscientious while I was at college but the retainer went in at least once a week. If there was any shifting, it was fixed when I put it in. The problem now is that no matter how many times in a row I do wear it, one missed night results in crooked teeth! So, does this mean that I need to wear a retainer EVERY night for the rest of my life? Sound a little crazy to me... what about you?
• 
  
• Gift Ideas: BARNES AND NOBLE!!! If you are totally lost on what to get someone for any holiday, or their birthday this is the place to go. Of course, in my shopping, I visited the store today and I've decided that if you wander around for long enough, you will find something for everyone on your list. Babies, grandparents, teachers - everyone will be taken care of! Just have a little patience and remember you're in the presence of one of the greatest gifts humans ever came up with.
  

1. As a side note to Barnes and Noble, if you look at a bookstore like a history buff (like me) does, you will see a much deeper meaning to what's in front of you. No, not the countless history books. The social history is astounding. What's new this week indicates where are attentions are whether it's the latest political theory book, or a new children's book. The increased size of the "supernatural teen romance" section clearly indicates the recent obsession with vampires. You can find what actors are popular, which sports stars are big, and even maps of the way the world is right now. I think that is SO fascinating. (go ahead, laugh)
   
2. As another side note to Barnes and Noble, I was there getting a gift, and buying "Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn" by Pamela Keogh for the newly formed book club between the fabulous Becky Smith and myself. She is not a follower of this blog, nor do I believe that she checks it - if this is not true BSmith, you know what to do ;) This book is totally to my taste and I've already finished the first chapter. I'm so excited to delve into it although I pretty much can guess who I am - as I'm sure many of you can... care to put that guess into writing? Comment!
   

• 
  
• My dad writes the best cards :) (and my mom can pick a gift like it's nobody's business) They just gave me a small gift for keeping things under control while they were in Italy and the words in the cards mean just as much as the gift does - even though the gesture is totally unnecessary. (but very much appreciated!)
• 
  
• I'm sure many of you who have actually put effort into dieting know this already, but, it is REALLY hard. While we were shopping, we stopped in the food court for lunch. We managed to stay on task but at the salad shop I went to, the lady put a little roll on my tray and I said, "No, you can keep that. I wish I could have it but I can't" Heartbreaking.
• 
  
• What's with everyone loving Siberian Huskys lately?? My mom got a catalog from Loft and they're all over it. I've seen them in a few other mags too! I was totally on this trend years ago... right Val Perrault??
  

So, my dears, if you think of anything random you'd like to add, please feel free to comment away! AND!!! please, if you check this every time I post something on facebook and twitter, just become a follower (in the physical sense of the word) that way you'll be informed personally when I update or write something new. Also, if you do click follow, maybe I'll write something about you!

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree went up in Rockefeller Center yesterday! I'm not trying to rush any of you into an early Christmas frenzy, or God forbid - skip Thanksgiving, but it is exciting. It's a sign that the holiday season is here and we should start getting into it. The television special is something I look forward to every year even though it's a little underwhelming in the performance sphere. Any television holiday special makes me happy, really. (but that will be another post) So, for those who don't know, here are some facts about the Roc Center tree.

• The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be on Tuesday, November 30th from 7-9pm this year.
• The first formal Rockefeller Center Tree was put up in 1931.

• The first lighting of the Rock Center Tree was in 1933 and broadcast on NBC radio.
  
• In 1936, two trees were lit and the skating rink became part of the ceremony.
• In 1942, three trees were used. One was red, one white, and one blue in support of the troops.
• The Kate Smith show was the first place the tree was lit on national TV in 1951.
• In 1966, the first foreign tree was used. It was from Canada.
• The largest tree ever used was in 1999. It was 100 feet high, 100 years old, and 10 tons.
• 2004 was the debut of the Swarovski star. It has 25,000 crystals.
• Traditionally, the tree is a Norway Spruce.
• This year's tree is from Mahopac, New York, weighs 12 tons and is 74 feet tall.
  

Info and first photo courtesy of http://www.nyctrip.com/pages/index.aspx?pageID=1035 .
Second picture courtesy of @rockcenternyc on twitter.

i just turned down fresh, homemade brownies and halloween candy. WHO AM I?????

Happy Veteran's Day!

Today should get much more recognition than it does. The veterans are an incredible important part of our country's history and heritage and we do not give them enough honor and respect for the job they do. Think about it, if someone tried to attack you on the street and a good Samaritan came up and fought for you what would you do? I'm sure there would be some attempt to repay them for their kind service. Now imagine that that same good soul was willing to die for you in this fight. They don't even know you but they're willing to give their life to protect you. That's what our soldiers are doing and they are not thanked enough for it, what's worse - many of our brave soldiers are now homeless and living on the street. What kind of repayment is that?

I will be the first to admit I'm guilty of this. Today I went shopping and then I worked. The day passed without any recognition except these thoughts in my mind. I can try to lie to you and say I feel good about putting money into the economy and blah blah. Not true, I feel guilty that I didn't do anything to recognize the service these great men and women did for us. From now on, I'm going to make a conscious effort to do something good on this day. It's not a free holiday, countless soldiers died for it. Let's honor it.

~go to a Veteran's Day parade and cheer your heart out.
~volunteer at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or veteran's hospital
~write and send a letter to the troops
~make a holiday gift box for a service member - even if you don't know one
~visit and clean up a veteran's cemetery
~and by all means, WHENEVER you see a soldier, thank them for their efforts

Vanity Fair

I love Vanity Fair magazine. The pictures are gorgeous, the articles are intellectual, and even the ads are great to look at. The only problem I have is that it takes me almost a month to read the whole issue. It feels like a waste to throw it out without reading everything inside, especially for such a bulky, expensive magazine. My holiday issue arrived today and I'm so excited to look at it, and then actually read it. But, I probably won't finish it until next May :)

What about you? Does anyone else feel this way? Do you get rid of your magazines after you see what you want? Or, do you save them even when you finish reading them?

South Beach Day 1: D-Day

D-day is upon us my friends... yes, diet day. As it is now midnight, EST I vow to eat no carbs for the next 2 weeks. I will try my very hardest to pay strict and careful attention to what enters my body, and the exercise I attempt. It's going to be a long hard 14 days full of headaches, cravings and perhaps even a little hypoglycemia but it will be worth it in the end when I've detoxed, nixed my cravings, and lost anywhere from 7-13 pounds.

So, I'm going to bed now to rest up for my day in the trenches. (and the grocery store - I need to be fully prepared)

Goodnight everyone! Wish me luck! xo

home videos

In addition to the things listed in the last post, I'd like everyone to try and bring back their old home videos. Priceless hours of entertainment are sure to follow. Today I watched my parent's wedding video and I was cracking up the whole time. After they joined me, they mentioned how sad it was to see the tape and know how many people had passed away. This is totally not the point. I was watching to see not only those people in a happy light, but everyone I know now, before they knew me. If your parents have one, whip it out, I guarantee some laughs.

Later in the afternoon, my sister, brother, and I watched tapes from Christmas in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. We nearly got stomach cramps from laughing so hard. Between how high pitched and squeaky my brother's voice was, and how bizarre my sister was (and still is - now we know why) we thoroughly enjoyed the hours spent watching Christmases past. We've never watched these tapes before and it is hilarious to see things you never knew, or never realized were happening while paper was thrown around the room.

One year, Shauna, my sister, snuck up behind the camera and flashed every single one of the Beanie Babies she got right in front of the camera lens. No one else in the room noticed but on film it was priceless.

As much as they are funny, I really appreciated the chance to hear some of my loved ones voices again. I love the pictures I have of my grandparents, and my uncle from some of the good times we had but I promise you nothing compares to hearing their voices again. It's a very sentimental, if bittersweet treat. Watching my Uncle Mike talk to me about our favorite movies is a moment I'll cherish forever, now that I've seen it on tape.

So, I strongly suggest, as the holidays come upon us and families are gathering, screening your home movies as entertainment. Your cousins, grandparents, and whole family will enjoy them and then no one will fight over which football game to watch.

P.S. Speaking of football... GO GIANTS!! 41-7

Let's Bring Back

I heard about this book, "Let's Bring Back" a few weeks ago and it immediately went on my Christmas list. I'm fascinated by things from an earlier time, as evidenced by my Emily Post encyclopedia and the Pen Pal relationships I formed this summer with some far away friends.

In an ironic twist, as I was catching up on my Twitter feed (@erinbridget88) today I found a link to this article which has excerpts from the book. Little did I know that it was a Huffington Post columnist, Lesley M. Blume who penned my latest Must Read.

I highly recommend at least reading the article. Huffington Post does a fantastic job of breaking everything down into slide shows with pictures so even those with the shortest of attention spans can follow through.

My favorite "Bring Backs" from her article are:
Hats on Men
Manners (obviously)
Hand Written Thank You Notes (again, obviously)
Roadtrips
Libraries - both public and private
Luncheon
Good Posture
Sunday Roasts
Supper Clubs
Dancing
Lockets
Picnics
Game Nights

facebook movie

finally saw the facebook movie - The Social Network. I really enjoyed it and I personally feel that it was made for me and anyone who went to college 2 years before and 2 years after me. We KNOW facebook and this was like a friend telling us the gossipy secrets.

A+ in my book. (plus my future husband was in it, so that didn't hurt either)
photo credit here

South Beach Diet

I have bad news.

I have to stop eating potatoes :(

I'll be starting the South Beach Diet ... soon.

I'm having a hard time picking a day to give up all of the best things to eat.

I know I'll still be able to eat SOME yummy things but I think the biggest thing I'm afraid of is trying and failing.

So my friends, be prepared for some complaining, some self deprecation and maybe even a little gloating (IF there is success).

I'll try to be as personal as possible but I don't want this to become a diet diary, so I'll still be talking about other things, I promise.

Good night then, I'll be dreaming about potatoes - mashed, fried, baked, scalloped, shredded...

And please feel free to post advice, experience and and words of encouragement. I'm sure I'll need all the help I can get

voting

Also!!!


I hope everyone voted today because you should all be taking advantage of this incredibly rare freedom that Americans have.

USA!

How to stay smart after college ... or at least feel like it.

When I got to college, for some strange reason, I felt like I was getting dumber. I had really good grades in high school, I was in the top 10% of my class, I considered myself smart. But once I met all of those new people and their smart brains I began to doubt myself. I couldn't remember trivial facts about history and grammar. And math? Forget it. I was still getting good grades at Quinnipiac, I just felt less smart for some reason.

So, I did something about it. In all reality, I can't tell you that this will really make you smarter but it definitely helped me feel like I was being more proactive about my knowledge power. I signed up for daily emails from the dictonary.com word of the day and the Official SAT question of the day.

Simple as pie, you sign up for the emails and you get brand new knowledge in your inbox every day - and let's be honest - we all check our emails multiple times a day.

Eventually I gave up on the SAT prep questions because 3/4 of the time they would be about math and frankly I didn't care. But, I always answered the grammar and language ones. I still get a dictionary word every day, and if I'm really ambitious I try to use it at some point during the day. (that rarely happens) Sometimes, I recognize the word from a vocabulary lesson in high school and it surges my brain confidence again.

All kidding aside, I think a desire to improve general knowledge after school is a really important thing. As I'm applying to jobs I realize that training will be my best friend in a new work environment, not my knowledge of the industry, or of any subject I studied. So, just as we work to improve ourselves within our job field, wouldn't it make us feel more intelligent and well rounded overall, to learn something new each day? Our self confidence and conversational abilities would definitely surge, that's for sure.

Obviously I'm not tooting my own horn here as I recognize that there's probably a few grammatical errors in this post as well as my others but it's the thought, the desire for more learning that counts right?

Meghan's Halloween Party

"Thank God the week is done, I feel like a zombie come back to life... back, back to life."
(thanks Usher)

Here are a few pictures from my fabulous cousin Meghan's annual Halloween Party...

I dressed as a Peacock.

Meghan did my makeup. Isn't it just perfect?

Her friend Lorraine did my hair and I thought it looked amazing.

Here's one of me and my beautiful cousin Meghan. She's dressed as Sookie from True Blood.

This is my bcfl Chelsea. She was a bank robber for the night.

Adele as a banana, Kevin as TinkerBelly, and Chris as Robert Goulet.

My favorite costume of the night... Lego!

The bank robbing crew. Sarah, Chelsea, and Bethany.

Maura as Snooki.

Snooki and Sookie!

Leo as a general from Sparta.

I iced these brownies! How cute?