officially summer... to me!

In about 30 minutes, me and six of my closest friends are leaving for southern Illinois for the weekend. Bethany and Whitney have a lake house on Lake of Egypt in Marion, IL, and as tradition, we have to make one stop there during the summer. Because we are all going separate ways starting Tuesday, (Kaitlyn leaves for NYC!) we are having our last hoorah over Memorial Day. 

It's not ironic at all, that I'm spending Memorial Day weekend with these girls. Since I joined the country club when I was 10, I'm pretty sure that the last weekend of every May was spent at the pool, minus a few. Friday was always the big summer kickoff - the Splash Party, with a DJ, late night swimming and of course, snack bar food. For us, this was a weekend of reunion. We didn't go to the same schools so we rarely saw each other during the year. Yet when May rolled around, we were back in action. C*babes, as many have heard me say, originated before we even know it. We were 11, 12, and 13, carefree, jumping off the diving boards in our one pieces and glow in the dark necklaces, ready for another great summer. 

And now as I'm getting ready to leave, I realize that although we aren't spending our summer laying at the pool playing cards, eating french fries, and driving Lance and Crispy Chicken crazy, we will always think of each other and our childhood summers, and all of the fun we had.

Peace, Love, HP

So if there is one thing i just love, it is Harry Potter. I remember i got the first book in fifth grade or something because it was in book orders (does anyone remember those because those were the BEST!) and little did I know that I was about to begin the greatest book series EVER! I've read each book at least 3 times each, some more. I've been to the midnight movie premieres, traveled to Chicago to see the Order of the Phoenix movie in IMAX and get the 7th book at the Borders on Michigan Ave. On Wednesday, Ali, Kaitlyn and I went to the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and it was fantastic! The exhibit features stuff from the movies, like Harry, Ron and Hermione's robes, Hermione's dress from the Yule Ball, Quidditch equipment, and the wands used throughout the movies. It is an awesome exhibit that every die hard Harry Potter fan should see! I got to try on the sorting hat. I was hoping for Gryffindor but I got Hufflepuff... shoot. I think that is a bad sign. 

So now the next thing to look forward to is the 6th movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, in theaters July 17. I am already planning on requesting off work on the 18th so that I can go to the midnight premiere and not die from being tired while working the beach. 

CLICK for the trailer!

And that was my nerd post of the month.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Today is my birthday!! I have finally left my teenage years and moved onto the big 2-0.... Only 365 days until i can legally drink! In honor of my birthday, my friends and I are going out to dinner (which i still haven't decided where, and we are going in 5 hours... oops) and then my friend Connor is throwing a party for me! It's kind of weird because this is my first birthday i haven't been at home... No homemade angel food cakes and birthday dinner from mom, no cards from grandma and grandpa (even though they will be awaiting me when i get home!!!) and no fabulous presents from the fam! But now that I think about it, I don't really even know what I want. Maybe another pair of Jack Rogers sandals? Or a dress or two... I don't know! 

But it should be a wonderful birthday full of fun and friends.. Hopefully no accidents tonight =)