Aaliyah's One

Hello,

Happy Birthday to Aaliyah! My sweet Lili is one years old, I can not believe it. This year went too fast. She needs to stop growing! We went to the field where I took Rachel's maternity photos. She was so happy the whole time. So smiley and was super excited to get to eat cake.

She's cute hope you liked the photos!

-Christina

New kitchen!

Hi everyone, I'm really excited.

So my remodeling is even better than I hoped for, we are getting new appliances!!! Our fridge just broke and our dish washer has been broken for since we moved in. So stainless steel here we come! Then we are going to stain the cabinets and tile the floor and the kitchen is DONE!

I think it's this one from Best Buy

I CAN'T WAIT!
-Christina

Big Boy Bed!

Jack has his first big boy bed. Took down the crib and put the guest bed on the floor for him. We went to Walmart and got him the perfect bedspread! Congratulations Jack, you're officially not a baby anymore!

Rock Climbing

Hi!

   Today our good friend Mike brought us to this awesome place were you can indoor rock climb. He goes there a lot and even has special shoes. They hurt if you're not use to them, so I just wore my sneakers. I had a lot of fun and was defiantly sweating by the end of our trip! I did suck at climbing without the harness, I didn't get very far up. You have nothing to help you and trying to find the spots to grab is difficult. But thankfully there is one section that has the pulls and I actually could get to the top with those and it was a lot easier to get down. My hands are a little blistery and my arms are sore along with my legs. I saw that's the work out of the month! I do want to go again though! It was fun and a new activity today instead of just movie nights with the guys!

Dat Ass Doe..... lol just kidding!

Yeah that's as far as I got there....

You rock,

Christina

Day Two: North Carolina

Hi!

It's day two! NC, today was great! Let me begin with breakfast at a nice poplar dinner/restaurant was lovely. We got the waiter who was straight from a southern movie. Heavy accent, called us baby doll and was as nice as could be and joked around with us and even asked were we we're from. We ever tried grits... sorry to say it was disgusting! Mark brought us to the science museum, it was free for the public too!

We got to see a lot of cool stuff. Tons of Dinosaurs skeletons! Learned out the body and bacterias. That we shaped colorful thing above is E. coli. "But it's so pretty" - Dina. She was right, haha! Their was a underwater submarine experience, that was pretty neat. We got to sit in a theatre that shows on a the walls and ceiling. Showed stuff about water, land, and space. On the upstairs level they had space and space rock things. Also technology spot, showing old radios and such. Then they had reptiles and bird exhibit. The snakes were so cute, and one even looked perfectly at the camera. It was super fun, I love anything where you can learn! It's like a school field trip! But funner since you can do what you want since you're an adult. 

Next, We went to a awesome popular arcade, Frankie's. First we played a round of mini golf. I sucked. Obviously. The thing about North Carolina... is it's freaking hot. Like melting. But it was fun non the less. Dina won. Inside was the coolest place! Games that were all adult size, along with food! We played a giant connect four! I won. We played that game were you try to push the coins off. I don't know what it's called, but I love that game. We played it for a bit. We did ski ball, which is a classic. Then did those car race things. Mark won.

We went to a pulled pork place, apparently pulled pork is the states thing. As a non meat it, it wasn't a thrilling place to go, it smelled and they only had fans! Last but not least we went to Goodberry. They serve massive ice cream servings. I'm defiantly okay with that. You need to go.

Well, that was the last full day of the trip. What I've learned from this, is it's always sweltering. The roads are all really pale. Their is a whole turnpike of car dealers. They have fantastic ice cream. I'm Snow White. I knew it! Science is always awesome, especially when it's free. E. Coli is adorable. I already miss Mark. Dina hates driving with me. All restaurants and fast food joints have health department ratings shown on a wall, they all have terrible ratings. But I didn't care. All in all this was a great vacation, I can't wait to go back on day!

Love, Christina

Day One: North Carolina

Hey Lady and gents,

So My sister, Dina and I took a long week trip down to North Carolina to visit our family friend Mark. He use to work with my mom then it closed down. He moved out here years ago, and we've only seen him three times when he visited! So what better excuse to head down south! I've ever been in the south and it was defiantly a different atmosphere. Also accents! The farther we went down state by state the more southern they got.

We made it just in time for this stunning southern sunset!

It was a tiring drive and our back and butts were killing! Took about 8 1/2 hour, better then expected! Our first night we just went to the hotel and rested and rented a movie from the front desk. Some 90s rom-com movie of course. And we slept soundly! it was a very nice hotel, we'd defiantly get it again.

Good Morning North Cackalacky! Can't wait to actually meet you! Mark came to pick us up at the hotel, so exciting to see him! Big hugs and cheek kisses! First stop was to Bojangles, as Mark says is a must to be a real NCer. It was a fast food joint we do not have up here. I got a biscuit with egg and cheese, it looked terrible for me.... but it was great.  

We didn't know where we were headed for the day, but our first stop was a popular grocery store chain down south, Food Lion. As we were there we discovered that they really like pickles here. And I do too, but they have so many, it took up almost a whole isle! I love pickles! Mark picked up bread and that was all. Then back in the car he said we were going on a small hike around a lake. He apparently goes there a few times a week to exercise. We didn't believe him, haha! 

We arrived, it was beautiful, though I was wearing sandals since we didn't know... it was a paved path, a lot of bikers go there. He showed us southern pine cones, which looked pretty cool. We saw so many ducks and turtles, we brought the bread to feed them (Though I did say that bread is actually bad for birds so I didn't feed them, but they still did, haha.) and they loved it! I have never seen or heard of a Muscovy Duck. It looked like a duck/rooster! It was kind of ugly, but kind of cute while it swam and ducked down for fish. Also we saw baby and adult turtles. Talk about adorable! 

 We actually found a journal on a bench, it asked anyone to write a page about anything! I wrote about where we're from and other similar things. You could read a bunch of other posts, it was really cool. and something really amazing happened... we saw a wild deer... and it came up to us, slowly but it did. It looked like a baby. It was the wildest thing to ever happen. I felt like a Disney princess! My dream.

Later we headed to Marks for a while just catch up about life, ate a pizza and relaxed. Headed back to the hotel and watch another 90s movie. Welp, day one was a blast! Talk about a new experience. Bo will always be in my heart, haha! That's all for day one. Stay tuned for Day two~

As alway, love Christina

Travel, travel, travel...

Hi fellow awesome people,

I have so many trips this summer, going to the best one yet! I have never traveled to so many place before. I am super excited and I can't wait!

First trip of the summer is a lovely day trip to the Bronx Zoo, one of my favorite place on earth. I love animals and I love getting to learn about them. It will be Sean and a few friends. I haven't been since middle school :( so I am thrilled people want to go with me! Also I have my nice camera this time, I am hoping to get some awesome shots.

Second trip of summer is North Carolina. Never been there, so I'm experiencing something new! It is my and Dina's first sister trip! We are visiting my moms friend, he's super cool and really funny. He is going to show us around the area. The most amazing part of the trip is that my favorite author ever lives their and her stories are all based in a fictional place that is based off a lot of things in her hometown which is super cool to see some of the thing she talks about. It's going to be super fun.

Third trip of summer is CANADA! My first time out of the country, already got my passport and I'm so ready for this. We are going to this annual graffiti event my boyfriend and his painting friends are in. They are so many amazing artist that are famous around the world going to be their doing art. You see some beautiful pieces. It's a cool event to be apart of, Sean went two years ago and did a fantastic job of his piece. He's really excited to be able to go again since he missed it last year do to camping in Maine. Once again going to have my camera to capture the trip.

Stay turned for al the post about my adventures and other fun stuff I'm doing, including hiking and camping, museums and tons of day trips around the state and surrounding areas!

-Christina

Gettin' shit done.

UPDATE FROM: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2012

home makeover guide

*We are going to start with the bathrooms...


Downstairs Bathroom

• Repaint ceiling!!!!
• Paint trim and walls (don't forget that second coat this time!)
• Tear up carpet (barf) 
• Install tile
• Put small shelf above washer/dryer 
• Change all knobs
• Paint doors white
• New shower/window curtains
• Window blinds
• Decorate! (the fun part)

Upstairs Bathroom

• Touch up ceiling
• Paint walls *EDIT* decide to keep color due to magic erasers getting rid of marks!)
• Change all knobs (in time...)
• Decorate!

*Now on to the upstairs rooms!


Master Bedroom (our room)

• Paint walls
• Put down small carpet for closet
• Rearrange furniture 
• Decorate! (new bedspread please!)

Second Bedroom (Last room to redo)
*EDIT* Now new roomies job, so it's all him and what he feels like doing!

• Paint room
• Organize everything

*Let's continue on the the downstairs.....


Sunroom

• Clear out room
• Paint walls/trim
• Tear up last of the carpet
• Paint floors
• Organize & decorate!

Entry Way (Convert in to mudroom space)

• Fix light
• Add hooks
• Decorate

Living Room

• Paint *EDIT Sean won't let me change the color :( BUT I will win him over in time*
• Rearrange room (Waiting for tv to be mounted)
• Reupholster couches

Kitchen/Dinning Room

• Paint Walls
• Touch up ceiling
• Paint cabinets
• New knobs
• Tile floor
• New Backsplash
• Curtains *EDIT decided against it*

Backyard/Patio

• Clear patio/throw away junk
• De-weed/ tame the bushes etc...
• Power wash house and patio
• Paint stairs
• Decorate with table, bar, vintage cooler, and storage chest
• MAINTAIN 

Gnome Life

Yes, these are a thing. Only at Walmart...

The Good You Do Matters

Awesome video showing how tragedy can bring people together. A girl all the way from the west coast heard about the small little town I'm from.  She rocks for making this video and speaking about a hard thing some people deal with.

It was my freshmen year of high school I met Officer McDermott. As a freshmen we had to take a 4 week class for safely and school rules. She had to come in for it and talk to us. She was super nice and beautiful, I saw her a day or two before the incident. I only got to met her that one time. I wish I had gotten to know her, I wish she didn't die... Other people knew her and when we came to school the next day, everyone was crying and I couldn't help but cry. It was so sad. And how it happened was even worse.

That year we also lost a senior boy to a quading accident. That also made everyone very sad. Like I said I was only  freshmen... It was already hard for me to feel apart of a new school but now everyone lost someone, someones. It was a tough start of the year. I found out that the kid in my homeroom class was a cousin of Ciara and my friend Kayla was a cousin of Brandon (the senior). This made it more sad to see people who not are only sad because of a awful thing, but to see people who lost important family members.

Unfortunately I didn't know anything about the other officer. Which makes me sad too. But all three of those people seemed great. Everyone liked... loved them.

I'm glad I saw this video. It made me love my town more than I already did!

-Christina

I Party With Jay Gatsby

Gatsby? What, Gatsby?

Hello Old Chap.

It was the Summer of 1922.... Okay that was a lie. It's 2013. So My Great Gatsby party was a success! Everyone dressed accordingly. I bought the perfect flapper dress and  the boyfriend looked sharp. The party ladies and gents had a swell time! My first photobooth was a hit, everyone loved posing, as did I! We got the shimmer background at Party City and I decorated the cupcakes beautiful, if I do say so myself. I had white balloons all over the floors and even white flowers in a vase, just like in the movie! It came together perfectly. I was impressed with myself.

Prohibition was tough.

Some flappers.

My guys and I fooling around! I don't drink, that's the joke.

The night was fun, everyone was playing beer pong, dancing, and eating food! I lovelovelove themed parties. I plan on doing photobooths from now on too! It's going to be my thing.

I leave you with a few of my favorite quotes from The Great Gatsby, if you haven't had a chance to read it, I suggest you do!

"I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." -Daisy

“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” -Jordan

"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars" - Nick Carraway

and the most popular quote
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” - Nick Carraway


Love, Christina

Just Hanging Around

5 little monkeys jumping on a bed. Bridget's song of the day. But we decided to pretend to be a real one!

A bicycle made for two!

Okay just for one, but with three wheels. Close enough! Jack was learning to pedal, still trying to get it. My back is sore from pushing him for hours. But hey, he's gotta learn!