Golden Vlog Series Part 5 ... Talking About the New Year and Birthdays!

I know you have all missed me vlogging so much... but never fear, it is time for another edition of the Golden Vlog series!! And I know you are all also super excited because I am actually posting on a Friday and that is something that I NEVER do... but when you forget about the monthly link up and it is going to be February on Sunday and the February Golden Vlog promps are already out, you kind of have to break with tradition and post on a Friday in order to get the post in before the month is over.

The Golden Vlog series is a monthly series hosted by my good friend Elizabeth over at Elizabeth Loves, along with Faith at Life with Mrs. G & the Artist. Bex at butcher's niche, and Sarah at 12 Twenty Seven.  Every month they put together a series of questions for us to answer in a Vlog form... this way you get to know us as a person not only through our writing, but also through our spoken word.  Plus, I mean it is kind of cool to actually see and hear the bloggers you are following instead of just reading what they have to say.  Come on friends, you can't tell me that if you don't actually know me in real life that you don't kind of wonder what I sound like?? ;-)  Anyways, this month the prompt was all about Ringing in 2015 and Birthdays and this month's questions were:
one// Now that 2015 is officially here, what were your biggest moments/achievements of 2014?
two// How did you ring in the New Year? Did you watch the ball drop or did you sleep right through it?
three// Did you make resolutions or pick a word of the year? Care to share?
four// Hoe do you stay organized and on top of these goals - a favorite planner or app? Do you stick to a strict schedule?
five// What things are you looking forward to in 2015 - vacations, graduations, weddings, conferences?
six// What do you think your life will be like on January 1, 2016?
seven// In honor of Faith's birthday, do you celebrate birthdays with a big celebration or go for something more low key?
eight// What is your favorite birthday memory - a surprise party or a Disney themed party when you were little stand out?

Why does YouTube always find the most unflattering screen grabs of me??

How do you usually celebrate your birthday? Any favorite birthday memories?

PS, As always, don't forget to check out the lovely ladies that sponsor this series!!

#tbt... Little Brother's Winter Ball

As I was looking through pictures on my computer this past week I came across a folder of pictures from my little brother's Winter Ball.  Winter Ball was one of the highlights of high school... Juniors and Seniors could attend the Winter Ball (well I guess freshman and sophomores could go as well, so long as they were the date of an upperclassman) and it was always a good time.  This week I am throwing back to my little brother in high school at his first Winter Ball. 

Pretty corsage for his date

Can't believe how young he looks!

Little brother and his date

The Girls

And just for good measure, here are two pics from my last Winter Ball at PV when I was a senior!

Did you have any events in High School that were special to you?

Currently... in January

Today I am linking up with Becky over at Choose Happy for her "Currently" series. This series is all about sharing what we are currently up to and finding ways to encourage and support each other!  I am super excited to participate and look forward to participating in the future.

This month we are talking about what we are currently... //thinking about //loving //reading //planning //baking //thankful for

//thinking about ... what I want to do with my life.  I'm 30. Haven't started my career yet. And a this point I don't even know what I really want to do.  Am I happy I went to law school... absolutely!  Do I know if I want to practice law at this point in my life... not so sure anymore.  I have been toying with the idea of going back to school for my Master's in Higher Education Administration so that I can work for a University.  I have been toying with the idea of doing something sales related.  I have been toying with the idea of restaurant management.  There is just so much going on in my head and I don't know where to begin.  What I do know is I have student loans from law school to pay back, Mark and I would like to buy a house in the near future, and we would like to eventually start a family... and all that means that I need to figure out what I want to do sometime in the near future.

//loving... that I got to spend a fun Monday night at home with Mark last night!  I can't remember the last time that the two of us had a night that was just us hanging out and being just us.  Last night we cooked dinner together, split a few bottles of wine and caught up on some of our DVR'd TV shows.  It was seriously the most perfect Monday night and I wish we had more time to have nights like that where it is just the two of us getting to spend time together.  

// reading ... Little Women as part of the Blogger 2 Blogger Book club... this was of course last month's book and I haven't even started this month's book because I refuse to give up on Little Women.  I am one of those people that no matter how much I have trouble getting into a book I ALWAYS finish it and Little Women will be no exception to that! 

//planning ... our 2015 Super Bowl Party!  Every year Mark and I host a Super Bowl Party where we have some of our favorite people over and this year will be no exception!  

// baking ... The last thing I baked was a collaboration with my mom and it was my dad's 60th birthday cake.  Mom made the cake, I made the icing, and then all three kids (Mark, my little brother and I) attempted to get the cake out of the pans so I could ice it.  Let's just say that Mother Sandford's cake ended up being a disaster yet again... none of us can make it like my Gram does, but it doesn't stop us from trying! 

// thankful for ... all of the amazing people in my life.  I know that no matter what life throws at me I have an amazing support system of friends, family and co-workers in my life.  

What is currently going on in  your life?  

In Our 30s and Still Know How to Have Fun

This weekend was my last weekend of free time because starting tomorrow I don't have a day off from work until next Wednesday.  Now some of you may be thinking that isn't so bad, but let me tell you... working 8 days straight in a restaurant is no picnic.  Granted some of the shifts are manager shifts while others are bartending shifts, but in general it is just exhausting being in the restaurant business.  So with limited time off this weekend I was so excited that we were able to spend some of it going out for our good friend JC's 35th birthday.

We haven't been friends with JC all that long... but it feels like we have been friends with him and his wife forever. His wife R is pretty much my bff from law school and my friendship with her is pretty much the only law school friendship that I maintained after graduating.  Mark and I are so blessed to have them in our lives and we were thrilled to be there to celebrate J's 35th with him!!

RC & JC

Law School BFFs

We had a lovely dinner for J at Pietro's Prime in West Chester... a restaurant Mark and I happened to have recently said that we wanted to try out.  I had heard that they had fantastic martinis which made me happy and then they are known for their steaks which I obviously knew would make Mark happy. We had the best time and it was a perfect Saturday night out!! For me it was awesome because it finally seemed to sink in for me that even though I am now 30, it doesn't mean that I can't have fun!

Loving having a Saturday Night Out together!!

Delicious Dirty Martini

My Dinner Versus

Hubby's Dinner

Jim's Birthday Cake

Ladies taking some shots!!

Everyone after dinner

The Table

On the subject of being in my 30s, it just occurred to me that I never posted about MY 30th birthday.  My actually 30th was pretty uneventful... Mark and I were out at his family's house for Thanksgiving and it snowed... and we drank margaritas.. and that was pretty much it.

A Very Snowy Birthday

Birthday Margaritas!!

BUT the Monday before my actual birthday I had a wonderful surprise dinner thrown for me by one of my best gals, EO.  I had told her a while back that I didn't want to do anything for my birthday because any time I try to plan something for myself it always turns out horribly wrong, meaning I usually end up in tears.  I didn't want to start my 30s off that way so I just decided we weren't going to do anything.  Then on Sunday when we were grocery shopping Mark told me he was going to take me out for dinner on Monday to celebrate my birthday a little early since we were going to be with his family on my actual birthday.  We did a little shopping and then headed to Hibachi for dinner.  When we got inside I was shocked to see a bunch of my friends just chilling at the bar... we were 10 minutes early... so they weren't quite expecting me yet and I made it there before some of my friends... but it wouldn't be me if I weren't early for my own surprise party!

We had such a fun time at dinner... it was my first time EVER at a Hibachi place!! It was great to have so many of my favorite people in one place at the same time because let's just say that with my crazy work schedule, along with the work schedules of all of my friends, it is almost impossible to get us all together at the same time... so when I say that I was so excited that we were all able to hang out it is an understatement.

Flaming Volcano Drink for my 30th

Some of the best friends a girl could ask for out to celebrate my 30th Birthday!!

I am seriously so blessed to have so many wonderful friends in my life and I am hoping that in 2015 I will be able to focus on my friendships and make sure that all of my friends know how much they mean to me.

Have you ever had a hard time turning a specific age? Did you ever realize that age doesn't matter, it is what you are doing with your life and who you are spending it with that really matters?

Today I am also linking up with Krista at The Quinntessential Mommy for her Meet Up Monday link-up... head over to her blog and check out some of the amazing bloggers who have linked up with her for this party!!

#tbt... 2009 Young Alum Weekend at Bucknell

Every year Bucknell holds a "Young Alum Weekend" where they invite the alumni from the most recent graduating classes back for a weekend of fun and "reliving" the college experience.  I think that 2009 was the last year that I went back for Young Alum weekend because well lets just say that all is fun and games until you break an ankle.  Yup, you read that right, my last young alum weekend at Bucknell culminated in a hairline fracture in my left ankle.  Everything leading up to the ankle incident was a ton of fun and I always love visits back to Bucknell (husband of mine if you happen to be reading this blog of mine today, I think we need to plan a visit back to Bucknell ASAP... and any Bucknell friends reading today, who wants to come with us?!?!?!)

So...without further ado... Young Alum Weekend 2009 at Bucknell!!

Just hanging out at the bar

When going back for Young Alum weekend you obviously bring 2 of your besties who didn't even go to Bucknell with you

Ready for some sort of theme party that involves ugly dresses??

Obviously I had to visit my little brother while I was back on campus as well

Do you have any events that you go back to your Alma Matter for?

Delicious Dish Tuesday... Caramel Apple Martini

This Tuesday is an extra special Delicious Dish Tuesday because not only am a posting a recipe, but I am linking up with the lovely ladies at The Sequin Notebook for their monthly cocktail link up.   Being a bartender by night I always seem to have lots of times to come up with various drinks to please our customers when they don't want something that is on the menu.  Today I am going to share with you my Caramel Apple Martini recipe... it is a slightly new twist on a classic favorite!!

Elizabeth's Killer Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients:
2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker
Caramel Sauce

Directions:
1. Swirl caramel sauce around martini glass.

2. Pour vodka and sour apple pucker into a shaker with ice.  Add a small squeeze of caramel.

3. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds

4. Strain into glass.

5. Enjoy!!

Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe?