The End Of Another Week

This past week was filled with working 9 hour shifts, working out, shopping, and just being with loved ones. The work week wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be since I was watching the babies in the daycare I work at in the morning, and my usual preschoolers in the afternoon. The babies were adorable; I'm so excited to be with them this week again! I also completed another Cardio Kickboxing class on Friday with one of my best friends and had a great workout, followed by Red Mango.

That's perfection right there.. a little bit of friend, a little bit frozen yogurt! To be specific I had the original frozen yogurt parfait with pineapples, bananas, and strawberries, topped with granola and dark chocolate chips. It's seriously amazing. I am obsessed with it. If you haven't tried Red Mango, I would get there as soon as you can!

Aside from the frozen treats and tough workouts, my friends and I enjoyed seeing SEX AND THE CITY 2! Although I didn't realize how long the movie was! We got there for the 8:45 showing and didn't end up leaving until 11:30ish. It was definitely worth it though!

Sex and the City 2 Review

This Sex and the City movie was rather different from the first one, but I believe it was far better. I loved the diversity that the characters brought to the big screen, whether it had to do with sexuality or culture. I enjoyed seeing the different lives that these characters led. The movie itself was fun and hysterical. I felt like the jokes just kept on coming, especially by Samantha. Now I hadn't watched too many previews so I felt surprised at every turn of the movie. It's definitely a movie that needs to be seen with close girlfriends though. I really wish I could live the life of the characters from the Sex and the City. ohhh to be rich... Anyways, my favorite character in general is Charlotte, but Samantha was definitely my favorite in this movie, and you'll see why! So go out and see it!


Yesterday my friends [Hayley & Alisa] and I went on a mission to find sexy bikinis! I lucked out and after hours of searching I found two! Plus a gorgeous beach hat!

[Roxy Hat]

[Bathing Suit #1] - from Victoria's Secret

and a Victoria's Secret PINK bathing suit, which unfortunately I can't find a picture of so you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow's beach day!

In other news, I quit my high school job today and couldn't be happier! Although I'm going to miss the people I work with, I definitely will not miss working in the basement of Shoprite [in which I would come home smelling of chinese food; gross!?], shopping for nasty people who sit their lazy asses at home and don't want to do their shopping for themselves [although I understand there are plenty of people who just don't have the time or are handicapped in some way], and the fact that none of the managers of the store knew my name after 4 years. Ahh to be free!

I hope your week was just as good as mine!

Tomorrow I will be at the beach enjoying Memorial Day. God Bless those who have lost their lives in the war & bless those who are still fighting for our freedom <3 Because that's what it's really about anyways...

At times I bleed orange and blue...

Due to the METS winning against the Yankees last weekend, the Empire State Building lit up blue and orange. It was absolutely amazin' to see my team colors up there for all to see. Therefore, S and I went to 'our spot' and caught the amazin' scene on camera. 

Ahh the joys of the city... or at least the view of it.

However, after awhile, my boy got a little tired of just staring at the Empire State Building and this is what occurred..

But that's why I love him :]

Series of Baseball Games and Life

So I'm sitting here watching the Subway Series, of course rooting for my Mets. Unfortunately, I cannot get comfortable, due to the fact that I took a Cardio Kickboxing class with my one of my best friends, Hayley, on Friday. It was intense, but we kept up. I worked out muscles that I haven't worked out in awhile. I thought I was sore when I did CKO Kickboxing, but I think this might've been worse. I hope to attend this class every Friday, since it's free on campus. 


I also want to try and find the time to attend a yoga class. I wouldn't mind getting certified to teach yoga, and have been thinking about how this deep relaxation is of any benefit to children. At my preschool I get frustrated at times, and need to take a couple deep breathes, in which I also inform the children to do the same. I also tell the children to take deep breathes when they get angry with another child, or angry in general and it usually works. 


I've learned that children need an outlet to channel their energy. They get angry easily and usually resort to violence. They need to learn, especially at an earlier age, where to channel this energy, because as the years go on, they will be watching more T.V and playing more video games that ensue violence is the answer to all problems. Therefore, by doing yoga, children will know how to control this anger and learn to relax. 


In order to do this, I need to become certified, which would be just another thing to add to my plate, but hey ya only live life once right? So why not take all the chances you can get. 

Heart of the Matter - Book Review

“Giffin’s talent lies in making her characters believable and relatable, and readers will be enthralled by this layered, absorbing novel.”

—Booklist (“Starred Review”)

Emily Giffin has written four great, dramatic books before 2010. These include Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, and Love the One You're With. Each set of characters in each book has such characteristics that make them easy to relate to, whether you're a mother, in love with someone else as opposed to your current partner, married, a young woman, or an older married woman. Now I wouldn't refer any of these books to men, rather, I think she targets a more women based fans.

[Don't mind my face and hair - the weather was horribly humid and rainy]

Recently, she published her new book, Heart of the Matter. This unfortunately, wasn't my favorite book out of all the books she's written, but it was a good read. 


About the book according to Emily's website:

"Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie---a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance---and even, to some degree, friendships---believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most."

According to me:

I enjoyed the way that Emily Giffin alternated points of view in each chapter, moving from Tessa's view to Valerie's. However this caused me to easily pick sides, namely Tessa. Giffin has such a way with words that I didn't want to put the book down. Although the beginning is quite predictable, the ending has such a change of events making it extremely unexpected. I also love how she connected the story through the relation of characters in her first books, Something Borrowed and Something Blue. 

I'm actually making my mom read her books beginning with Something Borrowed, therefore, she can fully understand the book Heart of the Matter. 

The Book Signing:

I actually had the opportunity to meet Emily Giffin and have her sign my copy of Heart of the Matter. I was beyond words when I met her and couldn't come up with anything to say except "how are you." I didn't get a chance to tell her that I love her books and that I look up to her as a writer. I just figured I'm sure she hears it all the time and doesn't need to hear it from one more fan. Unfortunately I regret it, but take it as a lesson to let people, no matter how famous they may be, know how I feel. 

Anyways she was so sweet anyways, even after signing books for an hour and a half. My boyfriend came with me and we had been waiting online at the book store in NYC, without moving for a good 45 minutes. We were even told she would be leaving at 9 no matter what, even if she didn't sign everyone's books. Luckily, she was sweet enough to sign everyone's. She even thanked us for waiting and apologized for the long line. Boy, she was sweet! :] I'm so happy I got the chance to meet her, and look forward to her future books. 

I would refer this book to anyone looking for a page turning read, about marriage, being a wife, a mom - whether you're a stay at home mom or a working mom - and a woman, in general. 

Visit her website here to find out more about her or any of her other books: Emily Giffin

I'm back with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

It's been awhile since I've had the time to blog, or maybe I've had the time just not the will to actually sit down and type out my thoughts and happenings in my life. Well, now I'm in the mood on this rainy, miserable day to spill my heart... sort of.

To catch up: school is finished [all A's and 1 B+], I'm in the middle of quitting my one job that I've had since High School [yeah I think it's time to!] - my last day will be on May 30th and I will be the happiest girl in the world. I've been working out, relaxing, and working at my other job at the daycare/preschool. My kiddies graduate on June 25th :[ yes it will be a sad day for me! Other than that I've just been hanging out and trying to enjoy the time off from school, even though my summer class takes 4 weeks out of my summer, it's all good! 

So quite recently I came across a recipe on the blog, Bake at 350.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies!

1 box original Betty Crocker Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate pouch)

1 pouch Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

12 oz. semisweet chocolate (I used Baker's SEMISWEET squares)

3/4 c. heavy cream

6 TBSP butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease the bottom only of a 9 x 13" pan.

Prepare the brownie mix as directed. Pour into prepared pan. Set aside.

Prepare the cookie dough as directed.

Drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto the brownie batter and press down slightly.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out almost clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the ganache:

Chop the chocolate (or use chocolate chips). Heat the cream and butter just until it begins to simmer. Pour over the chopped chocolate. Let sit 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Stir in the vanilla.

Pour the ganache over the cooled brownies, spread and let stand until the ganache has set. Cut and devour!

I even had some extra cookie dough to make a few cookies. 

Everyone seemed to love them. Hey, maybe I'm on to something here ;]