What's Been Goin' On?

Since June- when my last post was, a lot has been going on! Here's a quick rundown of the fun things I've been up to!

On June 24, 2011 Ryan, his sister Krystin, her boyfriend Brendan and myself were going to Medieval Times for a show. We ended up having a nice time. I was even Knighted by the king as the Administrative wench at the castle. Overall, the night was great and it made me proud of the place I work! I'll be going back in a few weeks with my mom, my aunt Cindy and her roommate Sue to celebrate some birthday's!




On July 3, 2011 My dad, brother, Ryan and myself went to a Crosstown Classic Game at Wrigley Field. Ryan is a die hard Sox fan who was brave enough to go to the came with 3 CuBS loving baseball fans. It was an awesome game and the CUBS WON!!!!!!!






On August 6, 2011 Ryan and I went to a Brad Paisley concert at the Tinley Park Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. It was an awesome concert and I think Ryan became a little bit more of a country music fan!




On August 13, 2011 Ryan's best friend Nick got married- to his beautiful wife Sarah. We had a great time at the wedding! Nick and Sarah are expecting their first baby in January!





On August 31, 2011 My mom celebrated her 50th Birthday! We went out for a family dinner at Chilis, followed by a delicious cake from Jarosch Bakery and a present of beautiful Diamond earrings (which my mom LOVED)!

September 5, 2011 Ryan's family went to Arlington Race track for a day of fun horse racing and family time. We had a great time celebrating Labor Day and hanging out with the family!

September 10, 2011 My mom and I went to a Lady Antebellum concert at Joe's Bar in Chicago. We had bought General Admission tickets and we went to the concert not expecting to be anywhere near the stage-but to our surprise, we ended up standing RIGHT at the very front of the stage. It was a great concert!!!! We LOVE Lady A and we knew that the show was going to be great-and they didnt let us down! Mom and I had a blast!

New Job!

I was just offered a position at Medieval Times! I interviewed there last week and was offered the job on Wednesday; and I gladly accepted! I will be working in the Sales office as a a Sales and Marketing Assistant. I am happy to have found my "big break", my real job, my 9-5 job, my no weekend's job! It has been a LONG search but I feel like it has finally paid off! I start offically on Monday June 13, 2011 and I can hardlly wait! This is an exciting new chapter in my life and Im ready for it to begin!

Sugarland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night Ryan and I went to the Matt Nathanson, Little Big Town and SUGARLAND concert at the AllState Arena here in Chicago. This was the first concert that we've gone to as a couple- and Ryan's first country music concert. He was a little hesitant on going since he didn't really know too many of the songs by any of the bands- but we both agreed that a night out at a concert was something fun and rare of us to do; so we decided to go.


A week ago I was having a melt-down because the tickets were SOLD-OUT on ticketmaster and the only way to buy them was through EBay (DANGEROUS) or through StubHub ($$$$).... I was mad because I had waited and waited for a month to buy tickets- thinking the seats available would get better but eventually, the tickets just ran out!... I was having a hard time buying the tickets on EBay because I was concerned about their authenticity and because face-value of the tickets was $35 EACH and with taxes and shipping we ended up paying $70 for EACH... Ryan convinced me that it was only money- and we should bite the bullet and go!... SO we did!

The tickets were FINE! We got right in, found our seats (way up high in section 213) and enjoyed the first two opening acts.



Ryan's- Uncle Pete and Aunt Jane were at the concert in the 2nd row. We had made a joke earlier that we should switch seats with them 1/2 through the concert if they decided they didn't want to sit so close... (haha) We were settling into our seats and getting ready for the main act- I was talking to Ryan and told him, "Someday, I'll sit in the front row at a concert- that's another bucket-list item of mine". Literally 2 minutes later, the phone rang and it was Uncle Pete telling us that he had tickets AND seats for us up in the FRONT ROW!!!! We grabbed our things and ran downstairs to find him!

Sure enough, there were two empty seats right up in the first row! We sat down, in shock, "did this really just happen?!" and got ready for the concert to start....




What a rockin' show! Sugarland knows how to put on a concert and get their fans up dancing and having a goooood time! We had such a great night!

When the night was over, Ryan admitted that he had a great time and he even said that country concerts were fun and Sugarland knew how to do a concert! (YAY!!!)



We're looking into buying some Sugarland tickets for the Milwaukee Summerfest show in Wisconsin this summer! I can't wait!

I know that NO other concert is EVER going to beat this one! This was by far the best concert I've been to and the seats made all the difference!!!

Thanks to Uncle Pete for getting us up there by them! It was an awesome night!

Fairytales Do Come True!

I woke up at 2:30am today to watch all of the Royal Wedding coverage. Call me crazy- but I am just so into this Royal Wedding!!!! It's such an amazing and beautiful event- I just cant get enough of it!


When I tuned in this morning- the coverage was limited. It was footage of the guest arriving at the beautiful Wesminister Abbey- which was decorated AMAZINGLY!... I anxiously watched, glued to my TV for the next 2 hours until it was wedding time. As soon as I saw Prince William and Harry arrive at the church I sat up in my bed to watch and I realize I was sitting alone with a huge smile beaming across my face. Moments after that the first glimpse of the beautiful Kate Middleton appeared in her limo with her dad. The suspense of seeing that dress was KILLING ME!... When she stepped out of that car, in that dress- I was truly in AWE! What a beautiful bride she was!



I managed to stay awake for the next hour (the whole wedding service) and everything about the service was just amazing. It was so neat to sit at home at watch Kate's every dream come true... not only did she marry the love of her life today; but she married a PRINCE! and someday she will be QUEEN! Isnt this something that nearly every little girl dreams of?! I know I did... and I know that I wish I could have been in her shoes at that wedding today for just even a single second.

Kate's dress= OMG that dress!!!!! So beautiful! She is my inspiration for my wedding dress someday! She looked classic, stunning, simple and elegant! Just how every bride wants to look on her special day.



While I watched true love and a true fairy-tale play out on screen I couldnt help but to feel excited and a wee-bit jealous of Kate. I would love to have a wedding on 1/2 of the scale that she did. What an amazing wedding she had!


I cant say enough about the day- I cant watch enough about the day- I cant read enough or see enough pictures! The whole Royal Wedding is something that I could watch all day-everyday. It's such a beautiful story, moment, day, and piece of history...I am happy that I was able to live through this exact moment, that I was able to whitness it live on TV. This is something that I am going to remember for the rest of my life!


Tonight I will go to sleep knowing that fairytales DO come true! I know that I've found my prince and I know someday I will marry him and on that day, I will feel just as if I am a princess... and my fairytale will then, on that day, come true!

The Royal Wedding of 2011

So at 4am I am going to be awake watching the live coverage of the Royal Wedding. I cant wait to see it!




I have this strong fascination with weddings- I think that's because I cant wait to plan my OWN wedding someday! This Royal Wedding is of a huge proportion and its something that I just cant miss!

In all honesty, the Royal Wedding isnt going to make that much of a diffrernce in my life or the lives of others in the U.S. but it will certanly put a smile on my face for the day tomorrow and dreams in my heart for my future wedding. I mean, it's really cool that Kate a commoner is getting married and BOOM she becomes a princess! Isnt that something that every little girl dreams of?! I have! and I think that's why I am so excited to watch the wedding- because even if its not me marrying "the prince" its still something magical for Kate and William- and I will get my chance to marry MY PRINCE someday!

March 16 and March 17 2011

On Monday March 14, my grandpa was admitted to hospice care. Doctors told our family there wasn't much time left. He had been battling emphysema for several years; he had been on oxygen, numerous medications and breathing treatments for as long as I can remember. Our family knew there wasnt much time.

When we were on our last visit to Florida- I think my grandpa knew his time was short (in fact, he told my mom he thought it was). He made sure to share his feelings with us; he's very proud of our family and the things that we've accomplished in our lives. He told us he loved us. He made sure that our "last time" together was just as it should be...

He was called home to heaven on March 16 2011- in the 8pm hour. My Grandpa "Puppies" will be missed. I know that there is one more Cubs fan up in heaven this year rooting on our Chicago Cubbies!

My great grandma celebrated her 91st Birthday on February 25th 2011- and my mom and I were able to be there with her. She looked wonderful and we had a great trip. We had a wonderful day at the beach on her birthday followed by a party to celebrate her 91 years of life. Great Grandma became sick on Tuesday night and was taken to the hospital. They were running tests to find out what was wrong. On Wednesday- she was still in the hospital; no new updates.

On March 17 2011- My beloved Great Grandma was called home to heaven while in her sleep. We now have a Lucky Angel in heaven watching down on us.

My Grandpa "Puppies" and Great Grandma passed away 6 hours apart. What a day.

I know that God has a plan for all of this; but its times like now, that I cant help but question why this is happening and what his plan is.

My Grandma's biggest fear was that both my Grandpa and Great Grandma would pass away at the same time; and today her biggest fear became a reality.

I pray that the Good Lord gives my family the strength to get through this and the ability to accept the things that He is doing.... I know there is a reason, but I just dont understand it yet...

Great Grandma's 91st Birthday

2 weeks ago today, my mom and I were in beautiful Tampa, Florida to visit my family and to celebrate my Great Grandma's 91st Birthday!

Last year we went to Florida for my grandma's 90th Birthday and we were given some awful news. My grandma was really sick with a bacterial infection and the doctors told our family that she probably wouldn't make it much longer. We flew home from Florida all of us in tears, because we thought that it was the last time that we would be seeing her, forever.

Well, here we are a year later and my Great Grandma is as healthy as ever. We knew that we couldn't miss her birthday this year, especially after how her birthday had gone last year.

Great Grandma didn't know that we were coming into town, so when we snuck into the house, she was really surprised. She started crying because she was so happy to see us. We spent the day with everybody and headed back to the hotel later that night.

Friday was grandma's birthday and we had sandwiches for lunch, went to the beach to take in the sights and take some pictures with Great Grandma. My grandma made us a wonderful dinner of ham and mac-and-cheese. We had a wonderful day spending lots of quality time with my Great Grandma on her very special day.

Saturday my grandma threw a little birthday party for my Great Grandma. There were quite a few people that came over to celebrate my grandmas birthday. We had some birthday cake and it was a wonderful celebration. When it was time to say goodbye and to head back to our hotel for the night, I fought back some tears. We were scheduled to fly home on Sunday. It was sad saying goodbye to my family because I didn't know when we would be seeing them again. I just love them and I love spending time with my family. It was really a special few days.