Wishful Wednesday!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday? Personally, I wish that I had some certainty. Today was my last class. EVER. It was so incredibly surreal. I am very excited to graduate and start my new life in a new city with a new job. Unfortunately I have three unfinished projects, no job, and no definite moving date standing in my way. The only certain thing I know is this: Andrew and I love each other and everything will work out. I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I am confident that I will find a job. I know we'll get a great place to live, and I also know that ending my DC chapter is just the beginning of a new chapter in Chicago. It's just so frustrating that nearly every time someone says, "Oh wow you're graduating!" the exclamation is most commonly followed by, "So what's next?" When you have certainty the question is exciting. When you don't, it causes anxiety and feelings of failure. This is annoying. Sure it's frustrating that I'm graduating grad school from Georgetown and I'm barely qualified for entry-level positions since I finally realized what I want to do and my internships do not directly reflect that (aka I worked in non-profits when I should have worked in marketing firms...but I love the path I took). I'm still proud of myself. When people asked me what was next after Otterbein I would laugh in their faces and say I had no idea. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to be in DC because I wanted to party. And party I DID. This graduation I know more about myself, my abilities, the field where I want to work, the career path I hope to take, and that I want to do all of it with Andrew in Chicago. Vast improvement? I'd say so. Before I wasn't ready for the real world. Now I can't wait for it.

Mary's Musings Monday!

Hi friends!

Happy Easter!

Hey everyone! Andrew and I are having a ball visiting family and friends in California! I hope all of you have a very happy and relaxing Easter! :)

Wishful Wednesday!

It's the end of the week for many of you, so in advance yay for the weekend!!!! If you have to work tomorrow I apologize. I will not be posting tomorrow unless I decide to pay for Internet on my flight to LA!!!!! Andrew and I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I'm DREADING going to stats class today because there is no way I will be able to concentrate. I mean, really. Would you be able to focus when you know you're going to see this little cuddly cutie tomorrow?!?!

So what are you wishing for this Wednesday??

I'm wishing for a quick class, quick packing, and quick and safe flight tomorrow. What are my plans??? Sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine!

Weeeelllll to be more specific, when Andrew and I get off the plane we're going straight to Dodgers Stadium. Why? Why not! We love baseball and take any opportunity to check out ballparks! Plus we hear Dodger Dogs are the best. Then we'll hang out in LA for a bit before driving up to Camarillo to visit my sister, her hubby, and their gorgeous kiddo (see awesome pic above. Or here. Or here. Or watch this.)!!!!! Friday we will babysit a bit and possibly go to the outlets. Saturday we're going to the beach and I'm going to rock my black floppy hat. Sunday we're spending Easter in Santa Barbara! Monday we'll be back in LA visiting friends before our red eye flight Monday night. I'm not thinking about Tuesday. Or the next few weeks full of finals and papers and job hunting OH MY!

Anyway, I'm wishing this Wednesday that all of you have a Happy Easter weekend!

Mary's Musings Monday!

Hi there!



Sorry for the video looking awkward, but I was too exhausted to sit like a lady and instead sprawled out on my bed.

Thanks again, Cassie! :)

Week 14 and Friday's Fancies!

Hello readers! I didn't get a chance to post today because I was super busy, so I'm going to post before finally passing out. It was a great day full of volunteering, coffee drinking, applying for a job I really want, getting a mani/pedi, going to the baseball game, and eating at Tortilla Coast. Great day!

First, here's my Friday's Fancies outfit. Obviously I wouldn't have worn this tonight to the game, but I'm going to Taste of the South tomorrow, so if I had all of the money in the world I would wear this outfit, adorned with some bedazzled Jimmy Choos. Aren't I great at dreaming?!? :)

Friday's Fancies #5 by mkrulia featuring platform high heels

Weekly Update:
Weight loss:
I lost 1.5 pounds!!!!

Total weight loss:
19.1!!!!!!

Pounds remaining to reach goal weight:
20.7...Half way! haha gosh so far to go!

Overall mood this week:
It's been a busy but good week. I am so proud of my friends who presented theses this week - they are all brilliant!!

I also received a lovely present to myself, courtesy of Kate Spade's recent 30% off deal. I love this bracelet!!

I applied to a few jobs this week, started the product testing for my client, and went to the most amazing concert at The Kennedy Center. Pink Martini played with the National Symphony Orchestra. Andrew and I dressed up, had amazing seats, and were beaming with happiness by the end. This is one of my favorite songs:


This week I also presented my e-portfolio and it didn't exactly go as well as I planned. I am hard on myself, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it was initially. It was just disappointing that it wasn't perfect.

Wow aside from my presentation this really was a great week. :)

Oh and please fill out my survey if you haven't already! I would GREATLY appreciate if you could pass it along, too!

Worked out:
4 times! I didn't get to the boxing gym, but I enjoyed running outside with the flowers!

Yummy finds:
Now that you are aware of my love for dry cereal, I also have to admit that I am also newly obsessed with Quaker Oats Mini Delights. The caramel is SO good!

My e-Portfolio!

Hey everyone! I finished my portfolio. What do you think? I'm pretty proud of myself! :)

Update: I just presented it to my class, professors, and a couple of outside people. It did not go too well because I went first and they gave me rapid-fire critiques. It's really tough listening to negative comments when I worked so hard and was so proud of it. Now I feel like an idiot. Have you ever had something similar happen to you?

Mary's Musings Monday!

Hello everyone! I hope your week is starting off happy and full of sunshine. Below is my weekly musing, with some child screaming in the hallway outside of the conference room where I am filming this video.

Comment Love

Happy Sunday!

Today started off pretty gloomy, but now it's gorgeous! In happy spirits I hopped on over to Eastern Market to pick up ingredients for Arroz con Pollo, pet some puppies, sampled some treats, and fawned over all of the pretty flowers. So I bought myself one. Isn't it lovely?!?! :)


Also, it's Comment Love Day on For the Love of Blogs. I'm looking forward to linking up with some fun bloggers! Welcome to my site if you are new!

Week 13 and Friday's Fancies!

Happy Friday!

First, here's my Friday's Fancies set to participate in Long Distance Loving's Friday theme. I love dreaming up outfits! I would wear this tonight to a casual bar, probably to Cap Lounge since they have half off on Belgian beer on Fridays. Well, I would not rock the shades. But I love those, so maybe. :)

Friday's Fancies #4 by mkrulia featuring a bow handbag

Weekly Update:
Weight loss:
I lost 2.6 pounds!!!!

Total weight loss:
17.6!!!!!!

Pounds remaining to reach goal weight:
22.2...I'm almost half way! haha gosh so far to go!

Overall mood this week:
It's been a busy but good week. It was a blast going to New York City with Andrew. We met up with friends, ate yummy food from Hill Country BBQ, hot dogs at the Yankees/Tigers game, and New York bagels (and holy goodness I had Apple Cinnamon cream cheese. I need to have a moment to pause and reflect on that glorious experience).

Anyway, NYC was a great way to escape the city and school for a little bit. We took the train which felt like such a luxury. I mean, wow getting into New York on time? That NEVER happens when I take the bus. NEVER. On the train, though, I watched a movie and read a book. No Internet access. Bliss.

Back to the business that has been this week. I have one month before my three awesome projects are due...and one of which, my e-portfolio (check it out!), needs to be near completion by Tuesday (pause for freak-out moment). And graduation is looming. Oh and the whole job hunt thing. There's also that.

Oh and please fill out my survey if you haven't already! I would GREATLY appreciate if you could pass it along, too!

So yeah, it's been a good week. I've missed being busy - I'm at my best when I'm busy.

Worked out:
4 times! Even when I didn't workout I made sure to walk further than usual to at least get some exercise. The weather is finally starting to perk up, so walking across Key Bridge on Wednesday was an absolute joy...except for the 30-pound book bag strapped to my back.

Yummy finds:
Apple.Cinnamon.Cream.Cheese.
It was fun to go a little crazy this weekend in New York, but I'm incredibly proud of Andrew and I. We could have been a LOT worse! We both lost this week, too! Go us!

Wishful Wednesday!

Good morning readers!

This Wednesday I am wishing for two things: that you complete my survey and send it to your networks, post to your blogs, etc.! For my Advanced Statistics class this semester I decided to conduct a survey for a company based out of Barcelona! Please complete my five minute survey about a smartphone application if you can. You do not have to own a smartphone to complete the survey.

If you do not have the time, please consider passing along my survey to your networks. You can retweet my tweets (My handle is @marysue20) or send one out yourself! Here's a 140-character-friendly sample if you so choose:

"Grad student conducting research for innovation lab. Please fill out 5-min smartphone app survey! http://svy.mk/f7PbYv Plz RT!"

Thank you very much in advance for your help!

What are you wishing for this Wednesday?

Mary's Musings Monday!

Well I'm a little late in posting today so I will spare you a vlog entry. My random thought I would like to share occurred after I arrived in New York City this weekend. We were walking out of the subway station when a seemingly respectful elder spit on the steps. Gross! Why? Why would someone think that is OK? I could have stepped in that!

Anyway, that was my random thought. We had an incredible time this weekend and I am still recovering!

Week 12 and Friday's Fancies

Happy Friday everyone!

First of all I played on Polyvore and came up with this outfit for av's Friday's Fancies. I'm going to New York this weekend and if it was sunny and if I could afford it I would wear this outfit! Yet again I can't decide on shoes and purses, but I could easily switch it up mid-day, right? This is, of course, assuming I'd actually trot around in high heels around The Big Apple! lol

Friday's Fancies #4 by mkrulia featuring buckle belts

Weekly Update:
Weight loss:
I gained .2 pounds this week.

Total weight loss:
15 pounds.

Pounds remaining to reach goal weight:
24.8...sigh...

Overall mood this week:
You know, I'm disappointed that I had a gain this week, albeit a very small, almost non-existent gain. It could have been worse: I could have eaten whatever I wanted when my friends from high school were in town this weekend. I could have not ran over 6 miles on Monday. I could have chosen to not have that extra glass of wine Tuesday night...and oh yeah Saturday night...oops...and yesterday, I could have eaten whatever I wanted and had multiple beers at the stadium to celebrate the start of baseball season. But I didn't.

This is what I did do: had a blast with my friends over the weekend, ran the furthest I've ran in a year, had a wonderful time cooking dinner with Whitney and Andrew, got a part-time job, got an A- on my paper and approval from my clients for projects, and cheered on the Nats in Opening Day. I'd say it was a good week, wouldn't you?

Worked out:
3 times! Oh and did I mention the 6+ miles I ran outside on Monday around The Mall? I did? ha! Oh well. I did it!!! Including running up Capitol Hill! Boom.

Yummy finds:
My graduation dress arrived in the mail, it fits, and it looks amazing! Yummy! lol