Moving

yes, you heard correct. i'm moving home to Bethlehem for a little while. no, there is nothing "wrong". i just finally put some numbers down on paper and realized that in a year or slightly more, i could own my very own condo/house!! why had i not realized this a long time ago? not sure, but i believe timing is everything and i know God will lead the way. SO - the plan is to live with Ma and Pa and put "rent money" aside in savings each month until i have enough for my down payment. i can't rent and save at the same time.

the commute will suck. but not always. i generally enjoy spending time in my car and i love driving. love my car. etc. but i'm sure i'll have days of extreme road rage on the northeast extension of the turnpike. drivers, beware.

i've also been lining up some temporary housing options down here in the Phila area for when i need to stay overnight, yet must also be at work in the morning. The Nadelhoffer Inn, Rach & Joni's bed and breakfast, Andrea's Bungalow, Lauren's Malvern Mansion, Mary's Hotel, etc. have no fear, my friends, i'll never be too far!

bittersweet. excited to set up shop in my old room with new additions of antique furniture my parents recently purchased, a closet i designed with my dad, and an overflow closet of my mother's office that may be my "walk in". (shh! don't tell her.) also looking forward to home cooked meals and not walking half a mile to my car each morning. my dad told me he's been "stocking up" on my favorite wines since i'm moving home. this could be dangerous. my dad's wine collection is quite impressive.

i'll be looking for friends to come visit on the weekends who enjoy fine wine, laughing with and AT my parents, a pool in the summer out back, and tasty food. any takers?

Bethlehem, PA. home sweet home. for now...

(i hope the truck i rented for Saturday is large enough. i'm beginning to fill my living room with mountainous piles.)



Some other reasons to come visit:

Bethlehem Steel (ok, it's closed. but it's still there.)











Awesome shopping.

Historic downtown with shops, restaurants, etc. (and women wearing Christmas sweatshirts.)

To Go

Cosi is probably one of my FAVORITE places to eat. not sure if you're familiar with this chain of fabulous food, but one of their specialties is that they offer Smores for a dessert option. you actually roast them at your table. delicious.

recently in the past year they've opened one within walking distance from my apartment. genius. i stop in every chance i get. generally on my nights when i'm running to coach cheerleading practice right after a long day in the office.

last night was no different. i stopped in for my usual "Pick Two" combo deal. signature salad and tuscan pesto chicken melt. TO DIE FOR. i get really excited for this food. i happily skip to my car with food in hand. ok, i may not have been skipping.

i then arrive at Eastern and begin to devour my meal in the basketball office before practice as Rebecca and i chat about the ridiculously awesome stunts we're going to teach our girls last night for a new halftime routine. (they nailed basically. two claps.) back to my meal... so i go to move on to my salad and discover much to my dismay that i have NO SILVERWARE. plastic ware. fork. spoon. any of the above. no napkin either.

so i am left to eat my salad with my HANDS. which i did because it is so yummy. but seriously, if you order something TO GO - wouldn't you think it would be nice to have eating utensils in the bag they package for you? possibly a napkin or two would be pushing the limit of expectations?

don't worry, Cosi - i still love you.

Overexposed in South Beach

no, i am not laying topless in Miami on a white beach with blue water. although i WISH i were there. just not topless. however, that IS the name of one of my favorite OPI colors.

i have a serious problem buying OPI nail polish. whenever i'm in CVS, i seem to "need" a new color. 'oh maybe i'll see if they got any new ones!' ....hmm look at that, i don't seem to have this one. etc. and why is it that they never seem to have the latest line that i see advertised in my Vogue magazine?! i guess i have to go to salons to get the latest and greatest?

maybe it's the creative cutesy names. they intrique me and lure me in to buy them. maybe it's my obsession with always having my nails done. not fake. just painted and manicured.

i do them myself and always get compliments on how nice they look. i enjoy doing my friends nails too. maybe in my next life i'll get my manicurist license? is that what they even call it? i don't think i would want to touch feet though. just hands.

some of my favorites: midnight in moscow, all lacquered up, OPI red, concord grape (this one is retired and only available on ebay for far too much i would spend on a bottle of nail polish), off with her red, pink flamenco, calendar girl, lincoln park after dark, cha-ching cherry, and finally mrs. o'leary's bbq (i'm not sure who mrs. o'leary is but i like her color).

and today i've chosen "otherwise engaged". wouldn't that be nice?! sigh.

Pleez Type Like an Adult

i've decided one of my biggest pet peeves is when adults type on the computer as if they're texting. AND i'm just as annoyed when people text by abbreviating as well. maybe it's because i'm a writer for much of my job, and do editing constantly. and feel it's the lazy way out. and i hate when people are lazy.

is there a reason to type so that it's barely legible to save a few letters?! it takes me twice as long to decipher the message when i have to decode it first! i realize it may take some longer than others to type on a keyboard, such as the "hunt and peck" method. however, i was in that boat once too. and the more i typed, the faster i got. this may have something to do with my frequent online AIM conversations back in the day. i can thank social networking for teaching me how to type quickly with all the fingers on the correct keys.


sometimes the word is even the same amount of letters but STILL spelled wrong as if they're trying to abbreviate.


"r u goin 2 the movies" is not an acceptable sentence. in text or IM or email or anywhere ever. i once saw an icon image somewhere online that said "rite 2 me like dis, and i'll shoot you". HAHAHA. seriously - it's THAT annoying.


so please, grow up. learn how to type. and speak proper english in your electronic communication. you'll do the world a favor.

The Lillian McGugan Fessler Label

i decided my Nanny Lillian and her fashion forward-ness deserves an entry. i have been blessed to have incredible family, and one of the most special people nearest and dearest to me is my Nanny Lillian (my dad's mother).

she lived the fairy tale romance of falling in love with a Marine during WWII. my Grandad Charles aka 'Chot'. once they settled in Easton, PA they became quite the socialites on the town! always going to gatherings at the country club they were members of or other fancy evening social events. i think this is where i inherited my "fashionista" in me. my nanny was always dressed in the latest and greatest, buying things at unique boutiques in downtown Easton. as time would tell, alot of it is now becoming "vintage couture" and right back in style on the runways by top designers.

over the years i've "stolen" many of her items... clothing, accessories, amazing jewelry, etc. i've gotten compliments every time i wear something of hers. and i get to say "oh i got it from my Nanny".

she is now in her late 80's with a clean bill of health and still goes out dancing at least once a month with my Grandad and my parents. the LOVE ballroom dancing. (which is probably also where i inherited my love for dancing.) i'm so thankful for her in my life and the joy she brings to so many. i love you Nanny!! - i'll be over to raid your closet again in the near future!

modeling one of her matching "skirt suits" for the winter.

Wearing one of her nautical skirts i love that she would wear to the Yacht Club at our lake house.

Wearing one of her cashmere golf sweaters from Northampton Country Club women's league.

Christmas 2008 - wearing her gold locket necklace and black sweater that zips up the back.

Christmas 2008 - Wearing her black coat i stole with a mink collar. she LOVED real fur...uh oh.

One of my favorites. The jewelry box my Grandad made for her...


The blue and white plate came from her China cabinet.

I'm wearing a black beaded necklace from her collection.

An opal and ruby butterfly ring she "regifted" me on one of my birthdays. i wore it for Allison's rehearsal dinner to match my purple dress and gold accessories.

Wearing another one of her mink fur trimmed coats. With my best friend from childhood, Danielle, on Christmas Eve 2009.

Using her metallic gold clutch for a wedding accessory!

Newest Curse Word: Nor'Easter

all was well in the world until Mother Nature paid us an angry visit on Friday night into Saturday this weekend. Mother Nature came in the form of 28.5 inches of snow at once. turning out to be Philadelphia's 2nd largest snowfall on record.

the abridged version:

we naturally made the best of it. Friday evening brought the first snowflakes, as well as sushi take out (of course) for Rach and I. we strapped on our boots and walked into town to get tickets to Dear John (don't pay to see this) playing at the Anthony Wayne movie theater. we learned the first and second showings were sold out. apparently everyone else on the mainline had the same brilliant idea of going to the movies on a snowy night. Plan B - we bought tickets for the 10pm showing and trekked back to our apartment.

we then learned our beloved 3rd portion, Rebecca, had her little angels sleeping and hubby was going to bed too. i decided to be brave and offer to drive in the snow - the whole 0.8 miles to her house from ours, so that we could hang out on the couch until our movie. we stopped to get her a ticket on the way and all of a sudden had a girls date night underway.

we left the Nadelhoffer couch early with plenty of time in case roads were real bad and it took us a while to drive that full mile into town. my jetta GLi laughs in the face of snow and did quite well with minimal spinning of tires as i proceeded through areas of 6 inches unplowed. looking at the clock when we arrived, it took us a full 4 minutes by car in a snowstorm. what now? we had our baggies of cheez its loaded in our purse and ready to go but 45 minutes to kill before the movie. ...ahhh Christopher's! you know, the neighborhood bar and grill. genious ideas Rebecca has.

around the corner to Christopher's we go!

Saturday: impending doom of boredom if we can't escape our apartment. no worries, the escape came before lunch.

rachel and i got dressed as if we were spending 2 weeks hiking a snowy mountain. our destination was 0.8 miles away but you never know what could happen between there! we packed all the essentials. 2 bottles of wine (not shown), cheez its, and dark chocolate brownie mix.

we arrived in once piece. after 25 minutes in the wilderness of Wayne, PA.

Sunday: day of digging out.

we got an early start at 9am to begin "looking" for our cars. we eventually found them after 45 minutes of shoveling. after about 42 minutes of shoveling a small tractor with a plow from the middle school across the street offered to help. thanks dude, it's 90% done. timing is everything.

arriving home later that evening, what do i discover? oh the jerk in front of me also dug his car out and politely placed the snow in MY AREA. another 20-25 minutes of digging out needed to be done. again. in chronological order...

so this morning i dig out for the 2nd time, thanks to jerk in the parking spot next to me. as i get onto the highway to go to work i realize my entire car is SHAKING. vibrating steering wheel. i have so much snow and ice caked into my wheels, that my balance is now off on the wheels. awesome. the sun better fix that today.

latest update: forecast = NOR'EASTER round II!!

tomorrow evening snow will begin, continuing into Wednesday all day, ending Wednesday evening. potential of 1-2 FEET accumulation. yes, that is correct. in addition to what we have.

my seasonal depression has officially set in. i'm ready to board my flight to Florida in April. tomorrow. i made a phone call to my landlord this morning first thing at 730am requesting a garage parking spot if there are any available. i'm willing to pay for the entire month today, so that i have somewhere to park when i get home. you know what's really cool? when you spend hours digging out and then "jerk next door" takes your nicely shoveled spot that you slaved over sweating profusely and causing your back to ache the next day. enough of that. i'm done. i quit winter.

there may or may not be another update later this week from the desk of "Miss Winter Hater".

Vegequarian?

that's what i am. i read the term in Women's Health a while back.

i could easily give up all meat in my diet other than fish.

red meat - i have not eaten any form of red meat in over 15 years. the actual thought of eating it makes me gag. the sight is even worse. it's just simply gross to me. i have awful flashbacks of eating my mother's beef stew and meatloaf as a child. i was forced to eat it and could not leave the table until i gagged some down. sometimes trying to swallow it whole with a gulp of milk. (sorry mom!)

chicken - i could easily give this up. i've began eating alot of tofu and LOVE it. this is never my choice of what to order or eat anywhere. i just eat it if that's the only option.

fish - OBSESSED. i could never ever remove fish from my diet. i eat sushi every chance i get, multiple times a week. i'm already stressing over when i can get it next, possibly this weekend in the snow if i order take out. i will walk there if needed, to one of the places in Wayne i love. also enjoy my dad's home made fish recipe from when he makes fresh fish that he caught. i love honey salmon cooked in a pan that andrew's mom introduced me to. i could go on and on about my fish obsession.

hence the reason why i'm a Vegequarian, only eating things that come from the sea. like Ariel, the Little Mermaid who i aspire to be. (not eat her from the sea, just be her.)

Snow Panic!!

i'm hoping our weekend looks something like THIS again! (see picture)

i admit it. it's hit me. the SNOW PANIC. the very thing i swore would never effect me.

we're supposed to get 6-12 inches of snow starting Friday afternoon through Saturday... and i find myself brainstorming all the MILLIONS of things i have to accomplish in order to prepare. as if i need to prepare for 'survival of the fittest'. i mean, we could be snowed in for DAYS right?! with no access to civilization!

i have a mental (and physical) list of things i need to buy and places i need to run errands before tomorrow at sundown. CAN I DO IT? is the question.

- wine & spirits shopping with Rach (i mean, really - what's more important?!)

- toilet paper (not a good thing to run out of)

- mouth wash (in case i use half a litre and can't survive without it)

- shaving cream (in case the need to wear shorts and/or a skirt arises)

- kitchen sponges (so that when i wash dishes, we don't catch a disease from the one currently in our sink)

- milk (a few gallons should do it right?)

- cereal (my favorite "meal")

if i don't have time for anything, i know i'll at LEAST get to #1

i'm looking forward to a weekend of couching it with "the three best friends that anybody could have..." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op-4iqRCDV4)

Did you know working out makes you tan?

...well, it does! apparently for me.

the past few weeks at the gym i've had my "gym friends" approach me with:

"you're so tan!"..."looks like you got some sun in AZ!"..."you look tan, did you go somewhere?"

the answer to all of the above is - No. i do not go tanning. i did not get sun in AZ or anywhere else. i guess sweating really brings out my natural color!

another note about the treadmill. i've noticed that i only run as far as i mentally tell myself i'm going to in my head. not what my body is actually capable of. so during my extremely long 3 mile trek, i am constantly watching the numbers tick away... 0.4... 1.2... 2.7 GOD FORBID i surpass that 3.1 mile marker of a 5k, i think the treadmill might blow up! why do i constantly stare at the milage as if something BAD will happen if i just HAPPEN to go further than the 3.1?! i mean, would it be that terrible to go further than anticipated? i act as if it would be tragic, just dying to press that large red STOP button as soon as the 3.1 appears on the screen.

gosh i hate treadmill running. i think that is it. i am just so BORED with watching tv in silence i can't possibly bear another step. i can't run or work out with head phones. i think they get in the way. so i watch the tv in closed caption, while also staring at the numbers of course.

well, it's good to know i'm working on my tan while i'm also working out.