Summing up 2010

2010 started on off the right foot...a limo ride to a club in New York City. The rest of the year was just was just as awesome :)

The winter was cold, but Feb Club & celebrating a blizzard at the Ale House kept me warm.

With the spring came Parade Day, Maggie's driver's license, Alyssa's 21st and my glimpse at the Worm himself, Dennis Rodman.

A good part of the Summer was spent chanting U.S.A. as I feel in love with soccer and the World Cup. We spent days on the lake, next to the pool and lying on the beach. I got a new job and a totally awesome new car. There was also Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Buddy Guy and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.


The fall came and I went boot crazy!! Halloween was silly fun and the club spent a weekend in the mountains.

It got cold, really cold. But the fun didn't stop! The winter reunited me with some great Temple friends. Cliff Lee was every Phillies fan's Christmas gift. There was an ugly sweater party, a christmas party and a great pre-Christmas dinner with my best friends.

2010 you were amazing!!!

Bring it on 2011...

December Obsessions

It's been a wild and crazy month with little time to blog, but just in case you were wondering, here are a few things that kept me smiling this December:

Final exams are over & so is my last semester of class work...One Project away from my Master's Degree!

Melissa hosted an awesome Christmas party which allowed us this cheesy opportunity

After a particularly bad day, Olivia's "Happy Face" seemed to make everything better

What would the Holiday season be without an Ugly Sweater Party?


Had a blast at our 2nd TU annual reunion. There were lots of fun pictures from the night, but this one takes the prize

I had the chance to record 2 separate Radio Talk shows this month. It was great PR experience and I had a blast doing them

Peanut Butter filled Smidgens

And Homemade Christmas Cookies

General Hospital Teasers.....

the year is going to end with a bus crash, and I'm on the edge of my seat just watching the previews

Stay tuned for my Year in Review

Looking Forward

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. I think self improvement should be a year round task, not just the first few weeks of the year then put on a shelf to be forgotten about until the following year.

But I'm sure there are a few things I can do to work on me in 2011

1. Work on and finish my Professional Contribution

It's the only thing standing in the way of me and my master's degree (and the above mentioned vacation)

2. My new gym membership starts on Jan. 2
The plan is to get in killer shape before my big graduation vacation
3. Start going to Church more.
I have a lot of faith, but don't go to church often enough

I think a list of three is enough. Let's be reasonable here....

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO ATTACHED

For the last 6 months I've been working as the Safety Press Officer for the Department of Transportation. I work to promote highway safety. We work with statewide and national campaigns to remind people of basic safety rules.

Our current campaign is "Operation Safe Holiday". Teaming up with state and local police the campaign is a statewide public relations and enforcement effort. Running from Thanksgiving through New Year's we are spending time reminding everyone about aggressive driving, seat belts and driving under the influence.

For the last month I've done a $0.00 PR stunts like seat belt checks at high schools, pitched stories to newspapers and recorded Public Service Announcements. I've even recorded 2 radio talk shows that will air on 8 different stations in the six counties I am responsible for. Reminding people of the dangers on the road and educating them to protect themselves is really important....and I'm not just saying that because it's my job!

But let's be honest; I'm not normally the kind of person who "takes my work home". I try to leave the baggage on my desk. I'm young and I like to go out with my friends. Sure, I like to drink. But never have I ever gotten behind the wheel drunk!

Last week this video was sent to me by a colleague. The 5 minute video comes from Austraila and is so powerful. You should be warned; at times it's very difficult to watch. It's graphic, raw, heart wrenching and extremely honest. You need a strong stomach to watch it. But I hope everyone takes the time to watch it and more importantly I hope the graphic, raw, heart wrenching images stay with you this holiday season and always.


Safe travels this holiday season & always
xoxo

Working Class Hero

30 years ago today the world lost John Lennon. I say "the world" because it seems as though he belonged to everyone. He was the voice of a generation. He spoke out against war and stood up to government.

But John Lennon wasn't just the voice of his generation. He was gone a few years before I was born, let alone make a decision for myself. Yet, I find him to be such an influence. His music, solo and as a Beatle will live on as the voice of the people.

I can't help but to wonder, what musical acts would be considered the act of my generation? Lady Gaga?

Personally, I'm a fan of classic rock. If I had to pick an artist to speak for me, I'd pick Springsteen. But, The Boss is more my parents' generation than mine. I can't help but to feel Generation X has been ripped off as far as music. My parents as youngsters got The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. They also got The Boss, Petty, Dylan and countless other greats.

Maybe I'm an old soul, but I wish I had a working class hero.

One More Week

The Holiday season is here. 24/7 Christmas music has started on the radio, the malls are flooded with shoppers and there is even snow falling outside my window!

While most people are oozing with holiday cheer, I am stressing over Finals Week. I know at the ripe old age of 26, finals week shouldn't be an issue, but here I am cramming my brain as if I were a college freshman.

This will be my last finals week ever (or at least until I decide to go back to school AGAIN)! Next semester I have a project to complete, then I'm done with graduate school! It will be a lot of work, but I won't be sitting in classrooms or taking exams. I keep reminding myself of this as I push through this last week of the semester!

It's study time... Wish me luck!!!

Tolerance

December 1, 1955 - a 42 year old southern woman refused to give up her seat on the bus. Rosa Parks became the First Lady of Civil Rights.

December 1, 1976 - The Shepard family welcomed their son Matthew to world. 21 years later, Matthew was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured and tied to a fence....because he was gay.

December 1, 2010 - The world is still filled with hate.


Jesus told us do onto others as you would have others do unto you.
The Dalai Lama said "In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher."
John Lennon said all you need is love.

Maybe if we all treated each other the way we wanted to be treated, tried to learn something from those we deem "different" and believed in LOVE this world would be a better place.

The notion is simple, but just may be crazy enough to work.