Tag: concerts

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Fabulous living

Summer 2022 Recap

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe we are at the end of August. The older I get the more I feel time moving faster and faster. Although, I no longer go to school and can still enjoy outdoor fun well into September and even October, the summer season feels like it’s winding down with kids heading back into the classroom. 

I had a packed full summer filled with lots of walks, reading by the pool, seeing friends and family and grilling. As I do every summer, I’m sharing my summer bucket list with a look at everything I accomplished.

Heritage Festivals/ Fairs- I got the chance to go to fairs for work for different stories but also managed to head to some with my family. We went to a community festival one day after work and enjoyed some classic fair food! Yum!

A local Cherry Festival
A local community fair

Day trips- day trips became a favorite for me this summer! From Pittsburgh to Columbus, shopping trips and visiting family! I made the most of weekends by enjoying day trips!

Mantees at the Columbus
Pittsburgh day trip

Zoos-speaking of zoos, I love animals and heading to zoos. I got to go to some of my favorites plus try some new ones! Here’s a collection of my favorite zoo memories this summer!

The aquarium at the Pittsburgh Zoo

Beach Day- I’m so lucky to have a beach so close to us. I made my way to the beach for walks, picnics, and ice cream runs this summer. I also got to head to some new beaches too when I had a day trip to Columbus! The lake and beach was so pretty and calm. 

A beach in Columbus
Beach days at home

Pool Day- I enjoyed lots of days off or evening by the pool, whether it was swimming, snacking or reading. Days by the pool were a favorite this summer by far!

Fresh drinks by the pool

Celebrate Fourth of July-The Fourth of July is always a fun way to celebrate the family and our nation. It’s one of my favorite days of the summer. From the food, to fireworks and family, it doesn’t get any better!

Fireworks on the Fourth!

Time with family- I got in so much fun family time this summer from just eating dinner, doing day trips or our mini vacation. As we all get older, it shows how important family truly is!

Summer bonfires

White Turkey-this is a summer tradition to enjoy a trip at a favorite restaurant of ours. I made the trip twice this summer and enjoyed the food both times!

Sara’s- another summer tradition to enjoy a favorite restaurant at home, from burgers to ice cream, it’s so good to savor those traditions!

See college friends- From a college friend’s wedding to FaceTime calls and a girls weekend, I got to see so many college friends. The only downside was that I didn’t take any pictures! But it was so nice just to be in the moment. 

Go Someplace New- I went to Columbus for the first time which was so fun! 

Zoo Fun!

Meal by the Water- I enjoyed my birthday dinner on the water and I had family visiting and we brought them to eat by the water! So pretty!

Sweet summertime!

Food tour- Although, I didn’t get to enjoy a food crawl/ tour, I still indulged a lot!

Fish Tacos-another summer favorite!
More summer snacks!

Picnicing- Picnicing was a summer staple for me this summer! From grilling to sandwiches and even snacks. Here’s a look at some picnic ideas!

Grilling after walks
Picnicing at State Parks
Snack picnics

Winery/Wine Tasting-While I didn’t go wine tasting, it’s a perfect fall activity that I’m looking forward to! 

Happy Hour/ Ice Cream Hour- I did happy hour with some friends on a weekend which was fun! I also enjoyed so much ice cream this summer from favorite shops to at home! It’s one of the sweetest parts of summer!

Food truck treats!

State/National Parks- I explored so many new and old parks this summer. I loved getting out and enjoying nature, taking it all in and disconnecting for a bit! Much needed

Walks after work
Sweet summertime in New York.

John Russell Brewing- While I didn’t get to this restaurant in the summer, I plan to go once it’s colder out and there’s not as much to do outdoors. 

Mini Golf- One of the first things I did this summer! A great way to kick off June!

Mini golf days

Kayaking- Although I didn’t get to it this summer, I still made sure I got outdoors as much as I could. 

Amusement Park- I spent an afternoon at an amusement park and water park and I felt like a child once again from the slides to the rides! So fun!

Outdoor Concert- I enjoyed heading to some live shows this summer. It was great to be by the water and enjoy live music during the week!

Concerts by the water

A few other things I got to enjoy this summer that wasn’t on my summer bucket list include a baseball game, strawberry picking and lots of baking 

Nights at the ball park
Strawberry picking
Baking banana bread!
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Fabulous living

Things I’m Looking Forward To…

Hi everyone!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are making it through the midweek slump, we are halfway to the weekend, which is much needed, in other good news…it’s March!! Anyone else had a tough time making it through the end of February?!

Last week, we got a day of sunshine and temperatures above 50! I had no idea how much I needed to feel sunshine and warmer temps, it was a definitely a burst of sunshine…no pun intended. Hehe….I am counting down to warmer weather and spring time even though we have a long way to go. 

One of my favorite blogs that I read every day is Carly’s. She has been blogging since college and writes about everything from fashion, food, lifestyle, home living and more. I love to start my days with her blog.  She did a post about things she is looking forward to after the pandemic and I loved the positivity, I wanted to try it for myself. To read her post, click here. The whole point is to think about what fun things you are looking forward to once things back to a semi-normal.

Here’s some things I’m looking forward to…

-Seeing people: I’ve kept my bubble of people fairly small this past year, mostly only seeing immediate family, a few close friends in the summer and co-workers. I’ve been able to talk to friends thanks to Facetime and Zoom way more frequently which has been such a blessing. I can’t wait for the day to see friends in person and give them a hug. Isn’t it weird how much we miss physical touch when we can’t have it?!

One of my last visits with my friend, Danielle, before Covid hit.

-Spontaneous Trips and Travel too: Right before the pandemic hit, I was visiting friends in Pittsburgh and then a week later we all got shutdown…I can’t wait to plan spontaneous trips and visits with friends on my days off. I want to enjoy myself and not be worried about being too close to people, going to another place and being concerned about getting others or myself sick. I also am looking forward to seeing more family. I was able to see some on the summer when cases were down, but once fall and winter hit, I’ve been hunkered down at home. Plus, I have a whole list of places that I want to explore and see, I’m hoping to do more of that once things settle down.

Looking forward to more travels in the future.

-Concerts: Although, I haven’t been to too many of them, there is nothing like live music. Although, it will take a while to get there, I’m looking forward to live music again and the whole concert like experience. 

One of the last concerts I went to was in 2018 and it was Ed Sheeran, I can’t wait to be get back to concerts in the future.

-Community Events: It may seem silly, but I miss the community atmosphere of my hometown, spontaneous meet-ups and nights spent out. In the summer there are always weekend activities and festivals and it’s always a fun time to see friends and neighbors out and about. 

 The most important is to get as many people vaccinated and to keep doing what experts are telling us, all to put an end to Covid-19. In a time full of loss and suffering and pain, it’s so nice to look on the bright side of things and dream about getting back to a semi-normal. If I have learned anything from this pandemic is how much I appreciate and love the little and simple things in life. It’s crazy what things we take for granted. 

What things are you looking forward to in the future?

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Fabulous living

Summer Goals

Hey guys!

I hope your week is off to a great start. It has been so nice to settle into a new routine for the summer months.  Every summer I try to set realistic goals for the summer months. They can be anything from activities, projects, trips, and small tasks. I start out with a basic list as summer begins and will add things if necessary as the months go on. At the end of the summer, I love to look back and see everything I accomplished and all the memories I created.

Summer 2019…you are just beginning…let’s take a look and see what my summer goals are:

Get license renewed

                  -A small but necessary task and I got it done right when I got home! 

Work/Internship

  • Although summer is for relaxing, I plan to work through the summer. I like to stay busy and working through the summer will definitely keep me busy.

Make College photo album 

  • Through my college years, I have been saving photos and organizing them into years. This summer, I want to get them all printed and organized since my time in college is coming to a close.

Celebrate 21

  • I’m really looking forward to celebrating my 21stbirthday this summer. I’m so lucky I get to be home to be with my family, but I’m looking forward to celebrating this milestone with my friends in Pittsburgh!

See friends from college and high school

  • Speaking of friends, I am making seeing my friends both from college and high school this summer, whether it’s coffee dates or day trips, friends are so important and I want to make them a priority this summer.
We didn’t even say goodbye at graduation because we knew we would be seeing each other through the summer

Portfolio (BLS)

  • Another requirement for school that I need to get done before school is back in session for 2019!

Work Study

  • This summer I will be working remotely for a job I hold back at school. There are a few projects that I will be working on that I am excited to get started on.

Read 12-15 books

  • I am an avid reader and I am really looking forward to reading a lot over the summer. I already made a stop to my local library to check out a few books to get a start on summer reading.
First book of the summer…

Download pictures to laptop

  • Again, another task, it won’t take long but I want to make sure I have all my photos from this past year saved to my laptop.

Spend time with family 

  • Since this is my last summer home I want to make sure I soak up as much family time as I can, whether it is family dinners, soccer days, or pool days. I can’t wait to get some quality family time in.
Looking forward to a full summer with the fam!

Day Trips

  • I love taking day trips, whether it is to the city, in the country, or to see family and friends. I’m hoping to spend a few days going to new places this summer. 

Start Healthier habits

  • I have gotten into good routines while I am at school and I want to continue those routines at home, whether it hitting the gym several days a week, eating healthier foods and meals, or just setting time aside to relax. Getting into a good routine is something I’m looking forward to this summer.

Go to a concert

  • I have a concert planned for September with one of my best friends, but I want to try and hit up another summer concert. Anyone with suggestions, please let me know.

Beach days

  • I may live close to the beach, but that doesn’t mean I spend all summer there. Last summer, I went to the beach on the last day I was home. I want to make more of an effort to go to the beach, whether it’s for the sunset, sunrise, or a day in the water.

Family Vacation

  • I have been reflective in the past few months with everything that has been changing and I’m looking forward to getting away with my family for a summer trip. Where and when that will be is still up in there air, but none the less, I’m looking forward to making some memories.

Find a new show to Binge watch

  • Every summer, I always am on the look for new shows to binge watch. I’m currently finishing up Dawson’s Creek-an oldie but a goodie! I’m now on the hunt to find a new show to watch this summer. Any good suggestions?

Take more walks outside

  • In an effort to spend more time outside, I want to take more walks, whether it is at sporting events, at the end of the day after work, or around lunch. I’m looking forward to enjoying the outdoors more.

Weekly facetime calls with friends

  • Back to the friends…can you tell I miss my college friends?!  A few of my friends from school and I have suggested doing weekly facetime calls to keep each other in the loop with what’s going on. It’s a weird feeling going from seeing your BFF’s all the time to going weeks without seeing each other.
You mean I won’t be seeing my friends every day….thank gosh for FaceTime!

Try something new

  • Leaving this one up in the year. I want to try something new and pushed from my comfort zone. We will see what happens and what I try.

Try new recipes 

  • I love to cook and bake. This summer I want to try some new recipes and even come up with a signature dish. I am into salads right now, so I have a feeling I will be making lots of different salad combinations this summer.

Entertain Friends/family

  • I love to host people at my home and I learned it all from my mom. In the summer, we love to have friends and family over and I’m looking forward to doing some entertaining this summer.

Do something spontaneous

  • This goes along with trying something new, even though I love my schedules and routines. I want to be spontaneous and more flexible. I’m hoping to accomplish that this summer.

Be Present

  • After a stressful and busy semester, I want to be present and just live this summer. There will always be things to do and tasks to accomplish, however, I want to make an effort to just be happy where I am at.
Made this my background for my phone to only focus on the positive things in life

That concludes my summer goals. It may seem like a lot, but overall, I think it is a good mix of realistic and mental goals. Overall, I want this summer to be one filled with happiness, love, laughter, friendship, purpose, and maybe even a dance. 

Have a beautiful week! xoxo

Categories
Fabulous living

Best of 2018

Hello All! Happy Tuesday. I hope your week has been going well. I am in the middle of finals week. I’m looking forward to finishing up these next few days and then enjoying some much deserved time off. 

Today’s post is all about my review of 2018, now, you may think it’s a little early for this, but next week I have my semester recap, since I still have some things planned before I head out for the semester, then the next Tuesday is Christmas and the following Tuesday is New Years. I’ll be taking both of those days off to spend with family. Therefore, today will be a recap of 2018 and next Tuesday will be my semester recap. Makes sense? Let’s get to it!

2018, was such a good year for me. It included, job shadowing, an incredible internship, lots of new classes and hours of school work, taking on new roles and jobs, making new friends, saying goodbye to close friends, lots of family time, traveling, and countless memories

January started out with me job shadowing at a local news station where I had the best day, it led me to an incredible internship in the summer. My spring semester was filled with lots of learning, challenging classes, a new job, and many memories with friends, from dinners out, girls days, and late night adventures.

One of the late night adventures from last year, heading to the S.P., a hidden gem one of my friends found, it’s become an inside joke and loved place by our group of friends. 
My two close friends Olivia and Bailey, we have had so many good times through this year. 
From fall fests…
To light up night
and even walking to class, I wouldn’t be able to make it through college without them

My summer was filled with my summer internship, working at my part time job, spending time with family, seeing friends from high school, going to concerts, and accomplishing my to do list, which included some relaxing too. You can see my summer recap here. 

Lots of family time. Family over Everything
Fourth of July spent with my favorites
…Are you Ready for It?. Taylor Swift was a hit this summer
The Piano Guys
Getting in front of the camera too

This fall semester was filled with A LOT of work, starting another new job, maintaining my old job, movie nights, building friendships, dinners out with friends, late night adventures, and not enough sleep. Haha! It was a very busy but successful semester. I’m excited to see what next semester has in store.

This is how I spent most of this semester, work, work, work
Staff Photos round 2
Concert ready for Ed Sheeran
Our whole group out at Light Up Night

My favorites of 2018 include:

Movie- All of these were hits in my book, I loved the storylines, the music, and the characters.  Mamma Mia 2, Life Itself and A Star is Born

such a good movie




Tv Show- This new ABC show, A Million Little Things tells the story of a group of friends moving on when one of their friends commits suicide. It kind of has the same feel of This is Us. To see all the other shows I watch you can see that post here. 


Album- Okay, I’m a little bias but these soundtracks were on repeat for weeks after I saw the movies. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I have a Christmas playlist on repeat. 

Such a good soundtrack
such a good soundtrack

I also did a lot of reading this summer, I’m looking forward to reading a lot more over Christmas, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know! My book reviews from this summer can be found here. 

I loved reading this summer and I can’t wait to do more soon

Whew, I accomplished so much in 2018, it truly was an incredible year for me, 2019 will be an exciting year, I’ll be turning 21 and graduating college. I can’t believe how fast time is going. See you next week for my Fall semester recap. To any college kids out there, good luck with finals, we are almost there!

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Fabulous living

Summer To Do:

Summer is in full swing. My brothers are finished with school and we are getting into a summer routine. The weather is warm, pool parties and barbecues are underway and (I think) things are starting to slow down. Although, I am working a lot this summer I still want to make sure I have some fun. It may seem a bit late to the game but I made a summer to do list. Some things are specific, others are more hopes but I’m sharing it with you today. Towards the end of summer I will share home much I accomplished. When it comes to summer fun… here’s my list.

Summer List

  • Complete Internship
  • Go some place new
  • Take a trip
  • Sleep in
  • See high school friends
  • See one (or more) college friends
  • Read SIX book (one more than last summer)
  • Watch SUITS

    Can’t wait to start this new series
  • Watch Evil Genius
  • Watch Comedians in Cars getting Coffee

    my latest obsession
  • See Mamma Mia 2

    SOOOO Excited to see this movie
  • See Oceans 8

    Another movie I can’t wait to watch
  • See family and spend time with them
  • Try something new
  • Go to the beach
  • Take more walks
  • Eat at a food truck

    With food trucks becoming more and more popular I need to try some!
  • Watch the sunset and sunrise
  • See a concert
  • Spend more time outside
  • Go swimming more often
  • Do more free things (Zoo, parks, festivals)
  • Trip to Pittsburgh
  • Breakfast at iHop
  • Don’t rush as much and be in the moment
  • Smile more
  • Be spontaneous

That’s a round up of my dreams and goals for this summer! I may add things as the summer goes on. But I love to make a list of to-do’s to make sure I get everything in and it’s not August and I realize I have two weeks to get everything in.

Do you make up summer bucket lists? If so, what’s one thing on your to -do???