Andrew’s 35th Birthday

After KitchenSaver left, we drove to his parents. When we arrived, my parents were already there. It felt so good to just sit down and relax with our families. Andrew’s birthday is a little different this year due to the craziness and the COVID-19 precautions. We are just glad to all be together to celebrate. Andrew’s dad cooked an amazing dinner. After dinner, we sang happy birthday and he opened his gifts. He received a huge framed University of Pittsburgh picture that has multiple pictures of Pitt on it, and it also has the fight song on it.

After dinner, my parents stayed for a little while, then went home to take care of my dogs. Andrew and I stayed at his parents for awhile; sat outside and had a couple drinks with them. We left around midnight, but we had so much fun and haven’t done that in awhile.

Back to Natural

This morning I had a hair appointment with Misty. I wanted to do something a bit more natural. She put in some ash low lights and we still kept my light blonde. I love it!After my hair appt, I went home and got the house ready for kitchen saver to arrive. Before KitchenSaver arrived, I frosted Drew’s cupcakes for his birthday dinner that evening,

Ideally, we want to not put a ton of money into our place, since we are not planning to stay here, but we would like to give the kitchen a bit of a facelift, and it will only make the value of our home increase.

Our meeting with KitchenSaver went so well. They are going to do a cabinet renewal, not a refacing. We picked out our cabinets, handles, faucet, sink, and counter tops. We put a down payment down and saved 10%. We are so excited. We decided to have the install start in January 2021.

July 4th

In the morning, we drove to a parking lot of an office complex and took a walk around the parking lot. We wanted to take in some sun and enjoy the gorgeous weather. We met a couple who was also doing the same thing. We wish them a Happy 4th of July and kept on walking.

As they were leaving, we were getting ready to cross the street and walk in a different parking lot. We ended up talking to the couple at a safe distance about the holiday plans and managed to steer clear of politics and we practiced social distancing. It was a nice conversation.

We took one lap around the office complex across the street. Then we headed home to get ready to go to my parents. I made buffalo chicken dip and off we went. When we arrived, we sat around as my dad grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. It was a relaxing July 4th.

We took pictures by the American flag in honor of what July 4th stands for which is Freedom and Independence.

Lunch with Mama

While I was getting ready to leave my house, I got a call from the jewelers my rings were ready to be picked up. I missed my wedding rings. I have been without them for a week! It is too long. My mom and I went to lunch at a Chinese restaurant, and then made our way to Beaver Valley mall. We checked out the closing sale at JCPenney’s. Everything was still 25% off. I didn’t buy anything. We then went to the jewelers to get my rings.

They look brand new. I asked how often I should get them rhodium dipped. They said, some people do it every three months or every six months. I might just tie it in with the inspection and have it done every six months.

After the jewelers, we stopped at Party City because they are going out of business. I went straight to the back of the store to the Halloween stuff. I am very picky when I purchase Halloween decorations. They can’t look too cheap. I need quality when it comes to my favorite holiday! I found this plate, it is quality like porcelain type material, not plastic. It says “Bone Appetite” has a skull on it. I also bought this scare crow that is motion activated and it talks to you and pops his head up when you walk by it. I love it. I am Halloween obsessed.

Gym Day

This morning I was so lazy. We had busy weekend and I was trying to recover. Today is my friend Leanne’s birthday. We were going to go to the pool, but the weather didn’t look like it was going cooperate. I felt bad. I wanted to celebrate her birthday.

In the afternoon, I went to the gym and got a good workout in. I noticed you don’t have to reserve machines anymore which is so nice. When I was finishing up, I asked one of the trainers why they aren’t taking reservations anymore and she said, because we really aren’t that busy. I like it this way. I feel like it is more of a relaxing experience not having to remember to reserve a machine.

In the evening, we ate leftovers and then went to the store and got some fresh produce. We didn’t get the chance to go grocery shopping yesterday. It was nice to go to the store in the evening hardly anyone really there.

A Cookout with Friends

Once we arrived to Mike and Stephanie’s, I opened a truly and we just relaxed. Her kids are getting so big. Stephanie’s friend Robin was there with her children as well. Mike made some hamburgers on the grill, shrimp, and then Stephanie heated up some vegetables, and we had the buffalo chicken dip too as a side that we brought. It was fun to just all together. 
   After dinner Mike got a fire going, and then he set off fireworks. It was so fun. The kids loved them. Stephanie took some great pictures too. We didn’t stay too late. Father’s Day was the next day. 

Malls, a thing of the past?

On the way to Mike and Stephanie’s we were going to stop at the mall. JCPenney’s is going out of business at that particular location. Hopefully I would find some good deals. Then, we wanted to stop in at Kings jewelry and get my rings cleaned. 
            When we walked into the mall, it looked like a ghost town. I am not familiar with this mall ever being busy, but Drew said this mall was always packed. Malls are a thing of the past now and it is sad. There are hardly and stores open, partially because of COVID-19, but even before COVID-19, this particular mall just looked empty anymore.

We stopped at King’s jewelry and saw our favorite sales associate, Mike. He cleaned my rings, when while we browsed Penney’s. Everything was only 25% off. I thought there would be more of a sale. Anyway, I found some Exercison yoga pants and a top. Drew bought a pair of shorts, two polos, and some socks. When we went back to King’s, I decided to get my jewelry rhodium dipped, so I filled out a slip and they will call me when they are ready for pick up. I will miss my wedding rings.

I also found this one ring that I want for my right hand, but it is going to be awhile, before that is on my pretty little finger.


  

Pool Day with Leanne and Maci

Today, I hung out with Leanne and Maci. She is so big! I can’t believe she is going to be in 4th grade. Leanne made breakfast and then we went to her mom’s house to swim in their pool. It looked kind of cloudy, but we were going to try to make the most out of the day. While we were poolside, we played B94 for a little.

Although B94 may no longer be around for real anymore, you can still listen to it on the Radio.com app. I was loving the throwback hits of the 90s and 2000s. I much music from that time period of my preteen years to what they play on the radio today. I managed to get some sun by the pool, and I even went into the water and swam around with Maci. She had her diving rings, and it was asking me toss them in again and again. 

Around 3pm, we went back to Leanne’s changed, and then I got ready to go home. I was exhausted from the pool. We plan to go back again on Monday for Leanne’s Birthday! 

Celebratory Burrito

When we were getting ready for dinner, I left my phone upstairs to charge. I was so hungry and so ready to go to dinner. I picked up my phone and noticed I had an e-mail. I opened my e-mail and Point Park offered me the Graduate Intern position! I was so excited and so happy. I did have an interview with Carlow University for a Graduate intern position as well, but they said they would let me know at the end of the month. I talked it over with Drew before e-mailing them back and accepting the position. We decided it was going to be good for me and I should accept it. I wrote an e-mail back formally accepting the offer. We are going to schedule a talk next week to go over the details. I love a Friday hire!

Drew and I ate a celebratory burrito at Plaza Azteca and endless tortilla chips. It was nice to sit outside on the patio and relax.

I am so excited to start at Point Park University and get situated. The fall semester is my last semester as a graduate student at Pitt. I am so excited to be situated for the Fall and gain more professional student affairs experience.