End of the Week Roundup

Do you know how hard it is to not start a Friday five post with anything along the lines of "Happy Friday!" or "TGIF"? Also, do you know how hard it is to come up with five legitimate things for the week when you experience one major event during that week? 

1. I graduated. I've mentioned it at least ten times on the blog over the past six months. Sorry for that, I promise to try and not mention it until the time comes for me to graduate again...which will probably be in another 7 years. 

But first, let me take a selfie

2. My parents gave me yellow roses and pink daisies the day of graduation, I now have them in a vase on my kitchen window sill (cause anyone with cats will tell you anywhere within jumping reach and they will get eaten. I love my cats but what jerks! haha). Anyway, all week long they've caught my eye. They are so beautiful. I think I might start looking for a rose bowl vase for my flowers, I really like how roses look in them. 

3. So I took Nadine's advice last week and went shopping at Goodwill. I found this adorable dress for $5 and wore it for the first time this week. I got so many compliments on this dress, it really boosted my spirits, and knowing I only spent $5 to look good made it all the sweeter!

4. Yesterday a really bad storm hit near my work, it was the first time I saw hail as big as strawberries drop from the sky. My friend was a few towns over and got hit with golf ball sized hail. The picture he posted was from his car on his way home from work:

5. I think my cats think they're goats. All they do is eat grass when they're outside...

Hope you have a great weekend and a great Memorial Day!

All These Feelings, Making Me Feel and Ish

Most of you are aware, this past Sunday I graduated from Immaculata University with my bachelors degree. It was seven years in the making and I have so many mixed emotions right now, it's crazy. 

I feel proud. Sunday I couldn't stop smiling, I was grinning ear to ear and it was an amazing day. It was the "perfect day": warm weather with just the right amount of breeze, blue skies peppered with clouds, and the perfect amount of sunshine. I could not have asked for a better day.

Photo credit: Becca Davidson

I feel emotional. I didn't cry but there were definitely moments where I had to hold back tears. Like when Dave dropped me off at my meeting point and left to join my parents. He turned around and said "Hey, I'm really proud of you". My stomach dropped and I had to look away from him to stop myself from ruining my makeup. Just like I couldn't stop smiling, he couldn't stop telling me how proud of me he was.  Or when my mom was searching the crowd for me as we began to walk in. The minute she saw me her whole face literally lit up. It was like someone shined a light bulb right in her face. It made me feel so good to know that without her having to say anything, I knew she was proud of me and loved me. If she could have burst with pride she would have.

I feel exhausted. When I look back on the past seven years I've been in school, I find myself asking over and over again "how did I survive?" It's crazy what I've experienced while in school, from buying a house, getting engaged, planning a wedding, to getting married. From Dave falling off a roof and injuring himself badly, I literally went on autopilot during that time, going to work, then school, then home to take care of my injured husband and running a newly formed teen book club in between. To meltdowns, breakdowns and being stressed so bad I could feel the knots balling up in my shoulders. How did I manage this? 

I feel terrified. I wracked up quite a bit of debt with student loans and I keep getting letters in the mail telling me that the payments will be due soon. I have no idea how I'm going to pay for them, and it's terrifying. 

Photo Credit: Becca Davidson

I feel incomplete. I have a degree but I'm not where I thought I would be when I envisioned myself finishing my degree. I always assumed when I graduated with my bachelors I would also have my certification and would be teaching, but then life hit and things changed. I haven't given up my dream of being a teacher, but now I have to go back to school to get my certification. It's really mixed for me, I'm happy to be continuing my education, but bummed that I have to continue my education and add even more debt to the student loan pile. 

I feel overwhelmed. In a good way, there's so many emotions running through me right now, but ultimately, good or bad, this was one of my greatest achievements in my life so far. Ridiculous student loans or not, I will never regret my decision to go to school and try and fulfill my dreams of becoming a teacher. 

To sum it all up, the greatest lesson I've learned through my time at the university is this: You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. It doesn't matter how I managed the past seven years, and it won't matter what I do in the future to reach my goals, all I know is that I want it bad enough that I will do whatever it takes to make it. 

via

Philadelphia

I mentioned last week that I was at a conference in Philly, so I took the opportunity to take some pictures to share with you guys. Today's post is all about the photos because this weekend was a bit busy for me with graduation and all...either way, I hope you enjoy!

Ben Franklin Bridge

My personal favorite

End of the Week Roundup

Do you think anyone out there hates Fridays?

1. This Sunday I finally get to walk for graduation. It's been 7 years in the making and 5 months of me waiting for this day to arrive. For the past week the anticipation has been messing with my head, like last  Saturday I was walking through the grocery store and thought that I was missing my graduation at that exact moment. Sunday should be interesting, I'm really looking forward to it. 

2. This past Sunday I spent the day up at my mom's house for Mother's Day. It was a really fun, relaxing day!

3.  This was my view while watching a movie Sunday night. Cuddles from Nibs and Squish was the best Mother's Day gift I could ask for. 

4. Tuesday and Wednesday this week, I went to a conference in Philadelphia, which is about an hour away from home. I took a bunch of pics, and I'll have more posted for you this coming week!

Ben Franklin Bridge

 5. I love, love, love this picture of Squish. The way the sunlight is splashed across him, the look on his face, it's so serene. I can actually hear his purrs when I look at this picture.

How was your week?

Movies

I was all ready to write a post about my favorite movies that inspire me, but then Lulu went and posted a great list of movies that she enjoys, so I decided to modify my original post. The movies on this list are by no means exclusive. Seriously, I've seen so many films,  and I can't even think of 1% of them right now...here goes nothing!

Movies that are inspiring to me:

- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: seriously guys, if you have not seen this movie yet, PLEASE DO IT. It's such a great film, with a great message that is not in the least bit preachy. I loved it so much!
-Big Fish
-Meet the Robinsons
-Up

Movies that make me cry:

-Pretty much every movie out there 
-Up (before the movie even starts now I start blubbering)
-Extremely loud and incredibly close

Movies I avoid like the plague:

-Anything that hurts animals...even imaginary ones. How to Train Your Dragon gave me a panic attack when they went after Toothless in the end. I almost turned it off, until Dave told me to just wait it out and that he was sure he'd be fine...even know I know he's okay in the end, it still gets me all upset

- Scary movies
-Movies that spoof other movies (ie The Starving Games or The Hangover Games)...so stupid and such a waste of time and money

Most disappointing film:

Sex and the City 2. Why? WHY?!?! 

Favorite actors:

-Channing Tatum
-Robert Downey Jr
-Hugh Jackman
-Christian Bale

Favorite actresses:

-Kristen Wiig
-Emma Stone
-Leslie Mann
-Kristen Bell
-Tina Fey

What are some notable films for you?