Spring Break!

Spring Break should've been called Shopping Break. I have gone shopping more this week than since school started.

So far, I've had the opportunity to do a lot of shopping. Last Friday, two of my friends and I went into Boston where one of my friend's mom was at a conference for work. We checked her into the Taj hotel and then we went shopping on Newbury Street, one of my favorite places to shop! For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant a few blocks down from the hotel called Da Vinci's. It was super fancy and the food was delicious. Afterwards, we headed down the street to a fabulous dessert place called Finale. Although I was already stuffed, I just had to make an exception! Since I gave up all sweets for Lent, I ordered a serving of strawberry sorbet in a pastry bowl with fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, mango, pineapple, and cantaloupe on the side. It was absolutely divine! What I would give to eat that again...

(some desserts at Finale via website)

Over the weekend, I went to the South Shore Plaza where I was able to purchase that sundress that I talked about in my last post and a couple of cute summery shirts. I also went to the Natick Collection (the nation's twelfth biggest mall) on Sunday. I got new makeup from Sephora, some jewelry cleaner from Tiffany's (thanks to Beantown Prepster for the recommendation!), and more clothes.

The few friends that were home and I met up on Monday for some lunch. It was great to see them again, since it was the first time we were together since winter break! Later that afternoon, my mom and I went to Derby Street and I got a royal blue cardigan from the Gap.

On Tuesday, my dad and I went to the Wrentham district court so I could complete some observation hours for my Judicial System class (we're required to do at least five observation hours in the courts for our research paper), and then he took me to the outlets. I didn't get to spend a lot of time there, but I did get to stop by J.Crew real quick... thank goodness! There were SO many items on sale that were perfect for spring. Pastel cardigans, shift dresses, and chino shorts, oh my! I purchased a pair of 3" pink chino shorts and a matching flower clip. I'm in love with them!

Today, I went to Newbury again with my mom, but rain put a damper on our trip so we had to go home earlier than expected... so sad.

I haven't managed my finances yet since before break... so let's hope my credit cards haven't burned a hole in my wallet yet. This could be ugly...

"You just can't beat the weather here in autumn" - Chase Coy

I can't believe November is already here! Where did the month of October go!?

The rest of October was wonderful. I went home the weekend of the 24th to spend some quality time with my family. My parents and I sat down by the fireplace, roasted marshmallows, and watched a movie together. That Saturday, my mom and I went to the Natick Collection and I hung out with my Abington friends! For Halloween, my best friend here at Salve and I stayed at Massart with her twin sister (also one of my best friends). We ended up at a party in Brighton and we went back to her dorm and hung out afterwards. It was a very fun Halloween. Not too crazy, and very laid-back... just the way I like it.

Last weekend, the same friend and I went to see A Christmas Carol 3D in IMAX at the Providence Place! I was expecting it to be as good as The Polar Express (one of my two favorite Christmas movies) because it's directed by the same person; however, I found it to be slightly disappointing. It was cute (and somewhat frightening at the same time) though.

Speaking of Christmas... I am already looking forward to the Christmas season! It puts me in the best mood. I was at Derby Street on the first of November and they were already playing Christmas music! Here at Salve, my friends and I have already busted out the *NSYNC Christmas album (the best Christmas album ever). We went to Starbucks last week and got the Caramel Apple Spice... mmm. I love walking into Starbucks and smelling all the different, delicious aromas in the air. I love the little red Christmas cups too. I also cannot wait to go ice-skating in Newport, especially with one of my good friends who is coming down next month. She's been going to school in Wilmington, NC so I am very excited to see her! Ice-skating has always been one of my favorite things to do since I was little (I used to take figure skating lessons several years ago and wanted to continue, but unfortunately, it got to be too expensive). I'm so excited!

... Not to mention that the infamous Christmas tree has already arrived in NYC at the Rockerfeller Plaza! I have seen the Christmas tree here in all its glory before... absolutely gorgeous.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself though... let us get to Thanksgiving first!! Two more weeks until... all of my friends come home from college (especially those @ Syracuse, D.C., North Carolina, and Florida)... I have Thanksgiving dinner with my family... the annual Abington-Whitman-Hanson football game (GWP)... the Christmas tree is put up... lots of baked goods & desserts... PCC reunions... Black Friday for shopping... and many more fun-filled events in just a short weekend!

"Sometimes our only way is jumping. I hope you're not afraid of heights" - Gavin DeGraw

Wow, this post is three weeks overdue, but better late than never, right? Here's a recap of what has happened since October began...

The Celtics scrimmage (3rd) was excellent, even if it was only for 30 minutes. It was great to see all my favorite players and literally be yards away from them!

My 19th birthday (7th)! My birthday was during "fifth-week evaluation" so I had many, many tests to study for but thankfully, I was still able to enjoy my birthday and pass my tests with flying colors! That night, my friends and I went to Panera Bread (my favorite!) and we came back and had ice cream cake from Coldstone (also another favorite). Looooove my friends.

My parents sent down a birthday package for me and inside that package were:

Ralph Lauren perfume

a "Morgan" Vera Bradley bag -- the print is Symphony in Hue

a matching Euro wallet... and

three Sephora lip glosses

The best present, however, was that both of my classes were canceled on Friday, which meant I got to go home one day earlier than everyone else! I came home on Thursday (8th) afternoon and my mom took me to the Derby Street shoppes (which is like my second home). Friday, I went to the high school football game where I got to meet up with all my friends, especially those who went off to schools far away. It was so great to be reunited with everyone.

Saturday (10th), I went out to lunch with my PCC loves for my birthday. I had an excellent time with them all! :) That night, with a few of my very favorite co-workers, I attended a little reunion that they like to call "The Shootout". I have heard stories about these "shootouts" for the past three years, and I was glad to have been invited to my first one. Conveniently, it was at UNH this year so we got there in no time. My first time at UNH was fantastic and I absolutely loved the fact that I had a fun PCC-filled day. Nothing can go wrong when you're having a PCC day! :)

Nate is 6'6"... enough said.

PCC!

Last Saturday (17th), I went to a retreat for Salve SGA at the Y and it was so much fun! We had to do a ropes course and I (kind of, sort of, maybe) overcame my fear of heights! First, I was hooked onto a harness and had to climb up a 60-ft "telephone pole" (with staples, of course). Another telephone pole was connected, lying horizontally in the air, and I had to walk across it like a plank. I was terrified and shaking like crazy, but I successfully made it across! Once I had two feet safely planted on the ground, I looked back on my experience and realized how much fun it was. I would probably do it again, but it honestly was so scary! The next course was a "vertical playpen". Yeah, I kindly declined...

This is the vertical playpen... and you can see the obstacle that I did in the background

...so even though October is already halfway over, it can only mean that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I cannot wait at all!!