Boujee On a Budget

Mama’s Retirement Party

January 18, 2019January 23, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

After work today, we drove to Carmody’s in Neville Island for my mom’s retirement party. She originally didn’t want anything, but I talked her into having a little something. She has so many friends from work, and it is important I put something together for her. It wasn’t a surprise. We worked together on the guest list. I sent out e-mail invites. We invited 30 people and all but a couple showed up. It was a great turn out, and it was good to see some of the guys from the chemical plant.

After dinner was over, and people started to leave. My mom wanted to stay and hear the live band with some of her work friends, so Drew and I stayed out with them. I am not much for live local bands, but it was fun.

When we got home, it was around 11:00pm. My mom seemed so happy at the party and I am glad she enjoyed herself. I can’t believe both of my parents are retired now!

Grad School, Higher Education Management, University of Pittsburgh

Spring Semester

January 14, 2019January 14, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

I am starting my second week of the Spring semester. Last week I couldn’t seem to find the grove. I am still working on trying to find the grove. I am reminded by a phrase that I have heard before from an old friend when it comes to finding your routine, just keep moving, don’t think just do. I haven’t tried to stop and and think. I just keep going without thinking about it. My schedule is as follows:
French class on Monday Wednesday and Friday during my lunch hour at 11am-11:50am. I love learning French. The instructor speaks in English for a little before class. I say, Bonjour to him in the hallways before class. He seems nice. At first I was surprised by how much I could understand. I understood bits and pieces when we were in Paris. Sometimes I raise my hand and participate. Sometimes I don’t.

Tuesday after work I have Student Development Theory with Max. I have had Max as a professor before for class, two semesters ago. He is a good professor. The class seems like a lot of work for someone, who is part time in the program like me. I am wondering how I am going to be able to fit all this in with work and my internship, but it will work out. I have to try to do the best I can. I can’t quit now.

Thursday after work I have Legal Aspects of Higher Education. I feel pretty good about this class. My professor is interesting and nice. She goes over a lot of detail, which is good. She asked us on the first day, if we ever read any legal cases before. I told her that I did last semester for a paper I wrote on the Grove City vs. Bell case. I am excited about that class. I think it will be interesting. This is the only elective I could take where my schedule would be on opposite days. It is too hard for me to take classes on back-to-back.

Presently, I am sitting the common area of the cathedral, aka Hogwarts and writing this post. I should be reading. I will get to that in a minute. I need a breather from school work. I wrote all weekend (Saturday and Sunday.) Today, I turned in my essay and my summaries for Max. I don’t have any summaries do next Monday, which is nice just have to read. I will have summaries the week after next and a bibliography due. I need to meet with my group to decide on a student population. I really want to work with athletes. We will see how that goes.

One more entry about Friday night and I promise I will start reading.

Uncategorized

Friday

January 11, 2019January 14, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

My best friend in the whole world came over after work today. He picked up Chinese on the way to my house. Andrew joined in with us at dinner. It was nice to just eat Chinese and enjoy the evening. I drank a few Truly seltzer waters. The rose flavor. I needed to relax a bit. We ordered the Chinese from this new place called, Little Toyko. I have never ordered there before. Andrew, Anthony, and myself all got the same thing to eat; General Tso’s Chicken, Egg Rolls, and Shrimp Tempura roll. It was amazing!

After dinner, we played games on the television with our phones and had a few good laughs. Then we played quite a few games of Mario Kart on the Nintendo switch. Anthony left around 11pm, then it was off to bed for us. I wanted to get up early and get started on my essay and summaries. It was going to be a weekend of homework and writing.

French Class

First French Class

January 7, 2019January 8, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

Today was my first French class. I am taking French 1 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday’s in the Cathedral of Learning during my lunch hour. I am just going to practice my french. The professor gave me permission to attend, even though I am not paying tuition for the class, which was super nice of him.

I walked over to the cathedral with Dr. E, a professor I work with in the Sociology Department. He is taking Italian. Our class rooms are next door to each other. I thought the class was going to be in the French Nationality Room. I was a little disappointed. The class room was basic. I took a seat near the back.

In the beginning of class, the professor asked us a question in french, and wrote the response on the board for us to respond back in French. It was fun. He asked a few of us why we are taking French? He called on me and I said, “I am obsessed with the French culture for as long as I can remember. I took French 1 and 2 in high school, and my husband and I just visited Paris back in May and managed to navigate France with knowledge of French 1 and 2, so I am here to practice my French.” the professor smiled and said, Merci. I smiled I was so excited to be there. I didn’t really participate too much because I wasn’t a paying customer. I wanted the students to get the most out of it. I was just there to practice and absorb.

At the end of class, he let us out early. I was excited for Wednesday! I am not sure how long I can keep this going. As long as my grad classes don’t keep me too busy, but my first French class since high school was a success!

Robert Morris University

Robert Morris University Basketball Game

January 5, 2019January 8, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

Drew found this deal on his RMU e-mail for “Colonial Couples” couples who went to Robert Morris University. It was $15 and you could eat pregame food as part of the 1921 club. A few years ago, when the 1921 club opened, Drew and I were able to sit court side, so I was expecting to sit court side.

When we entered the 1921 club, they had chicken wings there, and you could drizzle your sauce of choice over the wings, hummus, pita chips, and potato salad. It wasn’t bad. The director of alumni networking approached us and asked us about our story as Colonial couples. I told her that I work at Pitt, and I also attend grad school at Pitt, but I am a graduate intern with John Locke, in the Student Leadership and Development Office. She said, Oh okay, I am actually looking for a graduate assistant. I told her I can be shared throughout campus to gain exposure to different areas on campus and network, as long as it doesn’t interfere with anything I am working on with John Locke. She said, oh I didn’t know that. I told her I would send her an e-mail with my contact information. I am glad I met her.

When it was time to enter the court, the band was playing and it was definitely a little different experience then going to a Pitt game. I approached Guest Services and they said our seats are in the bleachers. I said, “oh okay.” She said, “Yea, you have the 1921 General Admission tickets.” So we took a seat on the bleachers. It is weird the 1921 club section is on the visitors side, so we were surrounded by Mount Saint Mary’s people, but it was a good game. Drew and I are snobs we are not used to sitting on bleachers.

At one point Romo came up to us, and I see him more now, than I ever did in my undergrad at RMU. He kissed my hand, and shook Drew’s hand.

I did manage to get a quick selfie with him. I have a couple pictures with Romo.

I made sure to cheer on the Colonials and participate in the chants, “Lets Go Bobby Mo!” &”R-M-U!” The game was pretty intense. It was so much fun to be back at RMU.

Friendships, Uncategorized

New Years Eve

December 31, 2018January 8, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

This evening we met Stephanie, Mike, and their two kids Stephen and Emma for dinner in Chippewa at this Mexican restaurant called El Paso. I was so excited to see them. It has been so long since we hung out. I want to say since March, when it was Mike’s birthday!
El Paso was good, but I think Plaza Azteca is better. I had the fajita burrito. I could only eat half. I was so full.

After dinner, we stopped back at our house, got changed and into some comfy clothes. I put on some glitter sweats and top with a sweater. It was mild outside. When we arrived at Mike and Stephanie’s I put my Truly Rose Seltzer water. I also brought a bottle of champagne.

We watched a New Year’s countdown for the kids. They are like 5 mins long and they each end with the countdown. It was cute. They went to sleep and the adults partied. We found a stream of the New Years special with Ryan Seacrest. We played crabs adjust humidity a card game like cards against humanity but worse!

Once the ball dropped, 4 of us drank 3 bottles of champagne. Drew was the designated drive. We toasted to 2019 with some awesome friends and great pictures.

Movies

Mary Queen of Scots Movie

December 26, 2018January 8, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

In the day, I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill for a bit. I was trying to soak up as much time at the gym as I could over break, before I would be too busy with school and internship again.

In the evening, Drew took me to see the Mary Queen of Scots movie. He was not going to have any popcorn. I wasn’t feeling popcorn either. We just got a drink.

The movie was a darker take on Mary Queen of Scots. I liked the actress who played Mary Queen of Scots in CW’s the Reign better, but Saorise Ronan didn’t do a bad job, but it was definitely dark. Darker than the show Reign. Margot Robbie did an amazing job playing Queen of Elizabeth. I actually felt bad for her. Margot Robbie’s Queen Elizabeth the 1st displayed vulnerability, and it was a more honest take, whereas in reign, Rachel Skarsten’s Queen Elizabeth 1st performance made me not sympathetic for Queen Elizabeth the 1st. I kept cheering for Mary Queen of Scots, but we all know that doesn’t end well.

I am sorry if this is annoying it, but I kept comparing it to Reign.
Reign ending was so sad for me, but it ended as it should, and when it should, but if you are expecting glamour, teen music, and beauty this is not the movie for you.