Weekend Update

My weekend was meant to be a very quiet one. After fighting a sinus infection for three weeks and partying for two of those weekends, I knew I simply needed to take it easy. For the most part, I did just that. However, the past two days ended later than I'd hoped and consisted of many more activities than I'd planned.

Friday night I kind of double booked myself...nope, not w/ two dates, haha. I had committed to attending my friend's open bar, as well as meeting my cousins & friends to see Twilight. In order to make sure both plans were kept, I arranged for the 'movie' crew to meet up where the 'open bar' crew was going to be. We met at Burke's in Yonkers for dinner, and from there we shot over to New Roc City for the movie.

It turned out that the coordinator of the open bar (Neverly, who is in my Autism Walk pics) got stuck at work and wound up getting to her own function late. Definitely a bummer, but she did make it in time for us to at least say a quick hi and bye! I know she had a ball after my friends and I left. We were lucky enough to get to spend a little time with Al and Anna! Their kids had a sleepover and they got a night out. It was definitely a nice treat to hang w/ them for a short while.

Twilight was AWESOME! I mean, true to Jessica form, I have YET to finish reading the book, but I'm STILL working on it! As I watched the movie, part of me wanted to leave as to not spoil the ending for myself, but I didn't... I watched every minute of it! I didn't even fall asleep! That's new for me! ha! Everyone enjoyed it~I think this mini girl's night out was needed. All I know is that I was more relaxed than I'd been in a while. It was a good feeling.

We ended our night at Applebees..it was FRIGID out and close by...enough said. While the girls drank their fancy beverages, I warmed up w/ a coffee. My 'lay low' evening ended at 1:30 a.m.... I wouldn't have traded one minute of that night for anything else... We had an amazing time doing something so simple...again I say, it's not what you do, it's who you do it with... no dirty thoughts there, please. ; )

Saturday I spent the ENTIRE day w/ my family. I always enjoy being w/ them...it's almost always a guaranteed good time w/ lots of laughs and too much food!

Today, I attended a Holiday Boutique at a temple in White Plains w/ Jody. We haven't seen each other since August at Mayah's 1st birthday, so it was wonderful to spend time together and chat in person! We spend a lot of time text chatting during the days. Thanks for hanging, Jodes!

Pre-TWILIGHT dinner @ Burke's.










Al and Anna.










Neverly's cousin, her husband, Al and Anna.










The TWILIGHT group. They ALL finished reading the book...










They spent a lot of time working on the tilt of my hat! ha!

Lindsay's Shower

It was just 3 months ago that Lindsay & Anthony were celebrating their 1 year wedding anniversary. Now, a year and change later, we are celebrating Lindsay's pregnancy! It's been an interesting beginning of the school year watching Lindsay's belly grow... True to "Linds form" she's been a very stylish pregger. The funniest thing I've observed has been watching her go through her 'heat flashes.' We'll all be at lunch, and next thing we know, Linds is sitting at another table, shoes are off, maybe a layer of her 89 shirts is off...ya never know...and she's like, "Hot flash." lolol. So, we're enjoying the pregnancy along with her...She hasn't given in to too many cravings (that I've seen) and seems to be coming along very nicely. Hopefully she'll make it @ work til the end, as she wants to, and have a healthy and safe delivery! Best of luck, Lindsay!

A year ago at the wedding.










Lindsay and her mom, Judy.









Part of the 83 gang: (standing) Me, Lisa, Linds, Christie; (sitting l-r)Gwen, Julia, Lisa, Cath

Invisalign Disaster!

For those of you who don't know, I've been wearing Invisalign since January. I have to say, they have worked very well. Sue would agree, as she once commented, "Jess, those invisalign are really working." haha...THANKS, Sue. I do think they've helped a bit.
Anyone who has shared a meal w/ me in the past 10 months can attest to the craziness I go through when I have to remove and 'store' them away...What should be an easy task of putting them in my CASE, isn't. I usually put them in a paper towel and just set them somewhere...by the end of the meal, someone has almost always thrown them out... My whole lunch crew could agree! ha! Last month, one of my students threw out the 'napkin' that was on the table while I was at a meeting. My orthodontist made me a new retainer since I am awaiting a new set of aligners... Today's adventure topped the last...
After eating lunch, I didn't put them on right away. Instead, I left them in my bag wrapped in a napkin. Fine. Not really, though...when I arrived at my mom's casa, I set the bag down and out popped EVERYTHING because our dog is WILD and jumped on me right away. Cute, but wild. As Natalie, Justyn and I sat doing work, all of a sudden, Pepper was running through the house w/ a piece of paper...we chased her down and got it...okay, no worries. Next thing I knew, Nat pointed out that one of my retainers had fallen out of my bag and onto the floor...again, not a prob...until I heard a snap...something that sounded like plastic...something that sounded like it was being chewed....next thing I knew, Pepper was CHEWING on my bottom retainer. Oh my goodness!!!! All I did was yell Noooooo, but yes....she killed it. My orthodontist is going to kill me! Marisel said, "Dude, the invisalign...just not meant to be." Could she be right?

Candice's Birthday Celebration

My family loves celebrating birthdays...well, we actually love celebrating ANYTHING. The most important part is that we are together.
Candice turned 31 this week...for one month we are the same age : ) Wednesday she celebrated w/ her family in NJ. Friday, she came to her mom's house, and we ate lasagna, cake, and had a ball laughing, talking, and just being ourselves.
Saturday, Danielle hosted a Girl's Night / Candice's Birthday Celebration. True to Candice form, she was late to her own party, haha, but we didn't expect anything different. I couldn't tell you what we all talked about, but it didn't matter. We were together enjoying each other's company, having wine, snacks, laughs, etc! We watched the Sex & the City movie, and I don't think anyone was happier to watch it than me! The second time around was just as emotional for me as the first, but still...just as enjoyable.
Sometimes, relaxed nights at home are just as good, if not better, than fancy nights out. Actually, it doesn't matter where you go...it's who you are sharing the time with. Maad~we missed you! xoxo

The Birthday Girl!










Danielle & Gracie










I made the cake!




















We ate a lot! Yuuum!

Jewelry Party

Many of you know I truly enjoy hosting parties. Since I've lived in this apartment (5 years, guys!) I've been lucky enough to host Christmas Eve. It's actually my favorite event to host! Sometimes I'll have brunch for my sister, cousins and their families, sometimes I'll celebrate a RANDOM holiday (remember Cinco de Mayo??), etc, oh, last year there was the infamous Tree Trimming sans tree....this year there will be a tree, guys! haha.
Well, my latest was a Lia Sophia Jewelry Party. It was such an awful day, weather wise, and I definitely stressed out about who would be able to make it under the conditions. Well, most of my friends who said they'd come did. Others were unable to make it, and that was okay. They were missed, though.
We had LOTS of food, so much WINE, and a wonderful time! I'm glad I have another 'party' memory in this apartment! Thanks so much to everyone who helped make it a fun night!

The Shoppers!!!

Erica, Nicole, and myself









Chrissy, Arjiana, me










Josephine & Shannon









Venetta & Marisel

Three Weeks!

Yes, it's been three weeks since my last blog and Lord knows I have had A LOT to write about. Just haven't been able to stop and sit at the computer when I've been home. Not to mention that my keyboard wigged out and I suppose got annoyed w/ me for dropping it so much....and died = (
Unfortunately, my time at work doesn't allow me to blog as I can at home, but thankfully, I got a new keyboard! Yay! Me being me~The spaz that I am ~ I couldn't get it to work. The instructions were simple enough~plug and go! So, I did but NADA. My cousin, Ally, got it to work w/o a problem. Don't ask bc I don't know. Just glad to be back on! Here are some pics from Halloween 2008! More blogs to come...as I said, there's a lot to write about. Enjoy!


This is my friend, Michelle & her daughter, Kaitlyn. They visited us @ work.










Here we have Roberta & little Pierce! How cute he looked as a lion!










This is my class! If you click on the picture, you can see the kids clearer.









Last but not least, my friends, Rose (as Fiona!) and Shannon (as Jane Jetson!).