Laugh

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh.

It cures a multitude of ills. It's probbaly the most important thing in a person."

-Audrey Hepburn

This past weekend was filled with A LOT of laughter. And it was wonderful.

It was a nearly perfect weekend.

Friends, laughter, good drinks, good food, summer weather, good music.

I'm hoping for many more weekends just like this.

Celebrations

I've been waiting for today for a longggg time.

Almost a full year to be exact.

In a few short hours I'll be roadtripping to celebrate one of my best's birthday.

Have a great weekend!



[here]

So Long Summer

After sneaking off to Florida for the weekend, I'm back to finish my summer recap!

Technically my weekend trip was my first trip of Fall but we're going to count it as Summer since the weather was so nice and sunny.

September quickly brought fall weather to my neck of the woods

but I managed to squeeze every last drop out of this amazing Summer.



I headed to New Jersey to celebrate with my nearest and dearest family friends. Christine (with her family in the top middle) and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. We've enjoyed many family parties, camp outs, and holidays by each others sides. [We saw Titanic on her 13th birthday and cried through the entire thing. We even had "friendly" cooking contests every Easter which we cannot wait to start again this year.] Now that we're "grown up" we have transitioned from the kids table ourselves, to having her kids at the kids table. How adorable are the youngest cousins in the middle bottom picture??

Blond locks and unfairly long eye lashes are a sure recipe for trouble.

As was the case most of the summer, September brought on many random activities to pass the time. I spent many nights at CBP watching my favorite baseball team, hanging with cute little girls who give the best hugs, saw Blink 182 for the second time in two months, spent way too much money on Fabric Row in South Philadelphia, and relaxed on the beach with family in Florida.

As sad as I am for Summer to be over, I've got some pretty good things in line for Fall and cant wait to break out my sweaters and boots!

So Long Summer Part Three

Consider this your warning, this is going to be a long one.

For so many reasons, this will easily be one of my favorite posts to write. The middle of the summer was by far my favorite part of this year so far. (which by the way, can you believe it's offically Fall tomorrow??)

August consisted of an overload of good friends, lots of memories,

extremely little sleep and occasionally forgetting to eat because of so much excitement.

(Ok, this may have happened more than once. So what.)

I started the month with one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

My summer side kick Mairead and I made the journey out to Upper Darby to see Bon Iver.

If you're at all familiar with the area, you'll know why this was such a big deal. Aside from a few mishaps with torrential rains and car radios that get stuck on obnoxiously loud volumes and refuse to turn off, the night was a success. Throughout the summer Mairead and I had quite a few memorable dates. We were able to cross many things off our summer bucket lists (inluding but not limited to) Phillies games, beach trips, beergaritas, kicking butt in darts, [many many] peach pommtinis, softball games, & breakfast dates.

Yep, we were busy.



Next was my most favorite whirlwind weekend ever.

 As many of you know my best friend for life Molly, lives in LA and for this years annual trip we met up with her brother in NYC. Not only did I get to reuinte with half of my west coast family, but we were able to make it out to New Jersey to visit with lifelong friends. The seven of us revisted our teenage years together by going to the first stop on Blink 182's summer tour.

It was very well one of the greatest nights of our summer.

After not having all been together in more than 5 years, we quickly fell right back in synch and picked up right where we left off. It was scary reassuring to know that not much has changed aside from (some of us) being a little taller and of legal drinking age. After a minor detour, Molly, Rory and I headed back to the city to continue our New York City adventure. We hit up Times Square, saw a Broadway show, and waited in an hour and a half line for Shake Shack (abosolutely worth it).

We even got surprised by their cousin and my best friend Christine, and spent the night right where we're all most comfortable....in Irish pubs throughout the city. Sunday we enjoyed a lazy morning, delicisous brunch, and a walk on the High Line before heading our separate ways home.

What did your favorite summer weekend consist of?

So Long Summer

With only three official days of summer left, it really feels like Fall has made an early arrival on the East Coast. Fall is pushing itself on us with crisp mornings, chilly nights and lots of rain.

While I wish I were on the beach drinking icey cocktails instead of inside on this gray day,

I thought a little summer reminiscing might do some good.

If you havent realized, I deeply love traveling. Near or far, I'll go pretty much anywhere.

I started the summer off with a trip north to see some good friends (you cant see them, but paired with Diana's white tank and leather jacket are some amazing sequin shorts!) & one really cool pup...tell me he's not adorable. Next up was a week long beach vacation for my frien Kelly's wedding. That handsome kid with me in the black and white photo is (my one day) B.I.L or Bradley, either applies. Throw in some of my favorite little ones and a beach weekend with my college roommate, and I couldnt have asked for a better start to the summer!

How did you kick off your summer?

Happy Monday!

Good Morning!

Hopefully all of you here with me on the East Coast survived the hurricane with little damages.

Heres how my weekend went.

If you read Friday's post, you saw a few of my favs and read about good ol' Irene.

After work, (and a nap to prepare for the weekend ahead)

I made some hurricane Jello shots and pizza bread!

After spending Saturday night with friends, I woke up to this lovely picture.

Just a little bit of debris was blocking my driveway, preventing me from going home.

Thankfully I've got great friends (thanks Matt & Kati!) and we settled in for the day with coffee and a movie.

Once I got word that a path had been cleared and our power was restored I headed home,

only to be greeted by a gap in the giant tree wide enough for a Smart Car

[for those of you that don't know, my car's just a tiny bit wider than those toy cars.]

After jumping out to move a large portion of the tree so I could really get through,

I was home just long enough to make some lunch before the power went out again.

My street is lined with trees that love to fall onto power lines so being powerless isn't the most unusual situation for us to be in. [the last large storm left us blocked in with trees down on either side of the driveway

and without power for 6 days...now that was a fun time.]

Night came with countless candles keeping our rooms aglow and a super early bed time.

And let me tell you, the "gentle" hum of generators does not make the for best sleeping.

How was your weekend??

Can We Get a Redo?

Even though its been almost a week already, I'm still reeling from my weekend getaway to the Big Apple.
I would much rather be there right now.

If you had asked me last week if I would ever move to the city,

I would have said absolutely not.

But after a whirlwind three day reuinion in the city that never sleeps, I've reconsidered.

Our East Coast meets West Coast weekend was filled with late nights, extremely little sleep,

shopping, a concert, a Broadway show, a luxurious hotel
(I definitely recommend the Cooper Square Hotel for anyone visiting NYC),  amazing friends, great Irish pubs, and occasionally forgetting to eat because we were having so much fun.

We had the chance to jump on a train to New Jersey and meet up with old friends.
It'd been nearly 8 years since we were all together! It was incredibly reassuring to find that nothing had changed. We're all a little older, a few of us a little taller, but immediately fell back into our comfortable friendships that make these friends my family.

I wish we could redo the entire weekend over and over again!

Quotes

As for New York City, it is a place apart.

There is not its match in any other country in the world.

Pearl S. Buck

[here]

In just two short days I'll be galavanting around this magical city with my dearest friend.

Now that we're older and in the "real world" its hard to find long stretches of time

where we can both be away form work.

Luckily, we're pros at intense, short lived, quality time together.

[we've never lived with less than 2,709 miles between us....

unless you count the occasional two week vacation during which we move in with each others family]

What are your favorites around the city?  Favorite places to visit? Best restaurants?

Its Times Like These...

I've learned that people will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel.

-Maya Angelou

[here]

At times like these, in a small town like mine, you all become family.

Whether you met him or not, you feel it.

You passed him on the street, you had drinks at the bar,

you watched from the sidelines of their crazy antics,

you have friends who were practically his family.

People will judge; do so quickly.

They will say tasteless hurtful things; without a second thought.

People will flock to be a part of all of this because they "knew" him.

Having set foot in the same town is not "knowing" him.

My heart goes out to those who truly did. To those that will forever hold him in their heart.

Your memories of him will bring strength in the days, weeks and years to come.

Those warm (many of them undoubtedly hilarious) memories

will continue to overpower the foolish insensitive negativity.

"...it's in the times of tragedy that you really realize who your real friends are."

Turn to those that love you; those that will always be there for you.

Don't forget to breathe.

And most importantly,  never miss the chance to tell those you love, just how much you do.

Friday Favorites

Another week down and the weekend is finally here!

This weekend my sister is coming home from Florida so I'm not traveling at all.

Weird. I know.

• Margarita Lime Cupcakes
• This (little) girl is only 15. Enough said.
• Imagine the levels of productivity if my desk looked like this
• How could anyone resist this adorable healthy desserts
• My friend Kelly's a Stella & Dot rep. Browse this adorable jewelry and dont buy something. I dare you.
• This girl, my bff, has an uncanny eye for style

Lastly, my favorite thing this Friday, is every person in this picture.

(minus the random guy in the hat in the background)

Sometimes the stress of working two jobs,

and attempting to have a personal life can get pretty out of hand.

These girls (and Matt), remind me what I love about my long days and late nights due to double shifts.

We're a tight knit family and I love it.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

to one of my oldest and dearest friends, Christie.

We've known each other since the days of school buses,

playgrounds, overalls, girl scouts, indoor recess

and sleepover birthday parties.

We went out separate ways and finally found each other again.

She's grown up into an amazing woman with strength to be jealous of,

extreme independence, an incredible amout of knowledge,

and an uncanny ability to laugh at her own jokes.

She's as crazy as they come, and I love her for it.

[here]

Happy Birthday

Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain.

It's not something you learn in school.

But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship,

you really haven't learned anything.

-Muhammad Ali

My friendship with my bff is one of the hardest things to explain. 

At the same time it's the easiest thing to explain. 

It's one of the most natural things in my life.

There's no reason to explain our friendship. It just is. 

Today is my other half's twenty fourth birthday. 

We've been friends for fourteen years, and she's the most amazing person ever.

She is an extremely gifted writer, always knows what to say, knows me better than I know myself, and has the best style.

We've never lived in the same town, same state, or even the same time zone.

There's exactly 2,708.5 miles between our homes.

She inspires me to be a better me, to be proud of who I am.

I wouldn't be who I am today without her. 

Happy Birthday Molly, I love you.

To get a little tiny glimpse into the life of my best friend

visit here, here and here.

Quotes

My bff has a nack for finding awesome quotes.

She finds just the right quote for the exact right moment.

She continually out does herself just as she did yesterday with this one:

"A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace."

~Tennessee Williams



Friday Favorites

My area got a lovely coating of snow this week - 20 inches to be exact.

Heres a view of part of my backyard.

Here are a few of my favorites to get you through the weekend.

Hopefully you're enjoying your weekend somewhere sunny and warm!

• I love having friends near and far. Most of my nearest and dearest friends actually
  live at least 3 hours away. They're my favorite right now.
  [check back this weekend for some pictures of them]
• My bff showed me this video earlier this week. It made my heart happy
• Some of my favorite quotes can be found here, here, and here and here.
• I'm loving listening to anything and everything Mumford & Sons.
• I'm impatiently awaiting spring to wear styles like this and this.
• My friend Mike's music is perfect listening for the weekend!

Bits of the Weekend

This past weekend was spent with good friends for their birthday.

Here are a few shots from the weekend of celebrating. 

Diana & I

 Birthday Boys

The girls

This picture perfectly describes the weekend.
These boys are crazy, and yet I love each of them.

Birthday Surprise all the way from California

Handmade

After a few days off for the holiday, Ive taken time to reflect on the past year 

and on what 2011 will hopefully hold for me...

I am pretty excited for what this year might have in store.

Some exciting news to start the new year off with was my friend Molly finally
received her christmas package after lots of worrying it was lost for good.
Her package was filled with all sorts of hand made goodies and she's already gotten
many compliments on the headband/ear warmer I made for her.
Its so exciting when strangers appreciate your hard work.

I'm off to enjoy my day before getting back to work tomorrow,

check back throughout the rest of the week for all sorts of newness on Always Love!

2010 : III

2010 was a year full of traveling. 

From my lake house, to Long Island, to DC, to the beach, to California, 

to Chicago, to Florida, to NYC, to Puerto Rico, I loved every second of it. 

Here are a few from my adventures in Chicago.

As you will see, Brandyn was the cutest model ever.

Just a Jungle Jumper for all of the "grown ups" a one year olds birthday. 

Jess and Andy. Cutest Baby Daddy and Baby Mamma I know.

2010 : II

This year a dear family friend turned sixteen. 

I swear to you, just last week she was barely two years old,

still living next door, and beyond adorable. 

15 years later she has grown into one of the most caring girls ever. 

This party may have ended up with 30+ Irish family members

in one hotel room singing until way past 3am.

Maggie's Sweet Sixteen.

Nonita - best love ever, worst morning person ever.

Love them.

Maggie and TBoy, my second dad.

This woman, is amazing. 

Taking a Moment

With 2011 right around the corner, 

Always Love is going to be a little different this week.

I want to take a look back over the past year so this week my tiny corner of the internet 

is going to be filled with just a few of my favorite photos from 2010. 

if you get your tonsils out, you get some pretty flowers. 

had a date with the worlds cutest boy.

ashley got married.

so did my prettygirl cait.

Merry Christmas!

It's snowing here on the East Coast 

on this cold Christmas morning.

I'm going to enjoy the day by our warm fire

with family and friends, reading, & watching movies.

Here are a few shots from past Christmas's.