Obsession of the Week: Sleep

I'll admit it. This week, I'm obsessed with SLEEP.

Honestly, the past two weeks I've been obsessed with it (since I missed last week!) And the reason is because I've been working late and staying up late and then sleeping in because of my work schedule. It makes for an interesting groggy lifestyle.

And while I know that I should still get up around 9am, even if I go to bed around 1am, I just can't seem to get myself to do it. I sleep until 10:30 or 11am because I'm exhausted from being at the restaurant I now work at so much. But it seems to be working okay for the most part.

So this week, sleep is the thing!

Obsession of the Week: Thunderstorms

I apologize for not posting this yesterday! But it's only a day late, and I'm still pretty obsessed with Thunderstorms.

A few nights ago, after a long heat wave of 90 degrees +, we had relief. A huge thunderstorm rolled over us and sent down lots, and lots, and LOTS of rain.

I was sitting in bed listening to some music when I saw the first flash of lightning and heard the first crack of thunder. And it wasn't the kind of thunder that was distant and soft... it was the kind of thunder that was directly above me and shook the house and was so loud it startled me. And not even ten seconds later I began to hear the patter of rain on our house. It started slow at first, and then it began to pick up. Soon, it was like sheets of water were falling down.

I quickly jumped out of bed and headed downstairs to go sit on our front porch. The temperature had dropped and the wind was blowing and the rain was coming down--and sitting there watching and listening to the storm felt great. More lightning, more thunder, and it seemed like everything was getting that rush of water it do desperately needed after several days of excessive heat.

It's pretty easy to enjoy the beautiful, warm, sunny days--but sometimes, it's nice to enjoy a thunderstorm, too.

Obsession of the Week: Ultimate Frisbee

This week, I'm obsessed with Ultimate Frisbee.

Let me explain.

I've been playing the game for over 6 years now, and after a 4 month hiatus from it, I'm happy to be back to playing the most ultimate sport there is. There's nothing like throwing a flick, catching a hammer, or running at full speed to catch that huck that your team mate just let fly down the field in hopes of scoring a point.

The game is unlike any I've played, and I've played a lot of sports in my time.

I've played soccer, softball, and basketball. I've ridden horses and shot archery. I've bowled, swam and even sailed. I play mini-golf on occasion, and I like to hit some golf balls on a driving range every once in a while. I won't turn down kickball, dodgeball, or wiffle ball. I've run track, thrown shot put, and even jumped the long jump.

However, nothing compares to the companionship of being on an Ultimate Frisbee team.
I wouldn't give up the sport for anything!

Obsession of the Week: Running

I recently got back home to the States from a 4 month semester in Rome.

While abroad, I slacked on taking care of myself the way I normally do. Typically, while I'm home or at school in Philly, I run several times a week. I run during frisbee, I run around my neighborhood, I head to the local park and take a run around it a few times.

However, while I was abroad, I took a break from running.

Without running, and with all the delicious pizza, pasta, paninis and pastries I was eating, let's just say I put on "a little" weight. Although I've been told it's not noticeable, I did pack on 20 pounds while abroad, and my body has been telling me recently that it's unhappy with this change. I've felt a little more lethargic than usual, I've craved crappy foods more than usual, and I've felt downright insecure about wearing certain clothes that I used to be excited about wearing.

So, Tuesday, I started running again. And what a wonderful feeling it was to have my feet hitting the pavement once more, step after step. I took my largest dog, May, with me, and she enjoyed the run we used to do together last summer, as well. I think we both not only needed it, but enjoyed every second of it.

Sure, I was sweaty, out of breath, and cursing myself for letting my body get so out of shape. But I'm back on track now to a fitter, healthier, and, hopefully, skinnier me.

Obsession of the Week: Home

After 4 months abroad in Rome, Italy and the rest of Europe, I've finally come home.

And, like Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, there's no place like home!

It's great to be home. My mom, sister and boyfriend picked me up at the airport on Saturday night when I got home from a long day of travel back to the States. I was excited and shed a tear or two of joy. It was such a relief to finally be home after a long and grueling 20 hours of travel.

After the drive back from the airport, I was greeted by three very excited dogs who were literally jumping for joy at my return. My boyfriend helped me with my luggage up to my room, and my mom and sister ordered Chinese Food for my first meal home. It was nothing short of exactly what I wanted.

My room was just as I hard remembered, and my bed--just as comfy as it has ever been.

I slept like a baby that night.

Home really is where the heart is.

Obsession of the Week: Large Crowds

This week, I am absolutely loving LARGE CROWDS.

And how could I not be? I just spent the entire morning and afternoon near St. Peter's Square and the Vatican in Rome for the Beatification of the late Pope John Paul II.

Not only was it a beautiful day for such an incredible ceremony, but over 1 million people came to celebrate together--to sing, to dance, to be united together as one. It's hard to deny the spirit of John Paul II when immersed in the midst of 1 million believers clapping their hands and whistling and crying and hugging each other. And while there is controversy over the sped-up Beatification process of the late Pope, there is no doubt in my mind that it was a well deserved honor after witnessing all of the people and the celebrations of the day.

It was an incredibly moving morning and afternoon, even as a non-religious person. Rome has not seen this many visitors at one time since John Paul II's death in April of 2004. It's clear that he was influential and greatly loved by millions of Catholics the world over. And they proved their love today by showing up to Rome in the hundreds of thousands for his Beatification ceremony.

So, this is why I am obsessed with large crowds this week. After an experience like that, how could I not be?!

Obsession of the Week: Sandy Beaches

This week, I've found myself obsessed with SANDY BEACHES. 

While this may strike some as odd, to those of my friends and myself that just came back from Split, Croatia--this obsession it not odd.

Sandy beaches are great. Split, however (and Brac, an island off the coast of Split, for that matter) both have rocky beaches. My initial reaction to these rocky beaches was: "These aren't beaches..." However, they were. I was just not accustomed to such beaches because I grew up in South Jersey only a short hour drive from the Jersey Shore (not the fist-pumping, GTL kind... the family-friendly, boardwalk kind). The Jersey Shore is definitely all about their sandy beaches.

While Croatia is gorgeous (and I do mean GORGEOUS), it just wasn't my cup of tea in terms of beaches. I prefer my beaches sandy--and I see nothing wrong with that!

(Thanks to Keattikorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net for the photo.)

Obsession of the Week: Hamburgers

This week, I can't help but be obsessed with the HAMBURGER.

Having been away from home for three months in a country that believes in pasta, pastries, paninis and pizza it's hard NOT to be obsessed with a familiar food from home, such as the trusted hamburger.

So what did I do? I went to the local food market prepared with the translated word for hamburger in Italian--which, what do you know, happens to be hamburger. If only I had known this earlier!

I bought three patties, freshly ground before my very eyes from my favorite butcher, Emilio.

He handed them to me over the counter, and I walked away with probably the biggest smile on a person's face that he's ever seen. With a wave and a "Ciao!" I wandered home excited to eat the first of the three hamburgers that night for dinner.

Emilio did not let me down.

The hamburger was delicious, and I have since then devoured the other two, only to go back and buy two more from him.

I may be all hamburgered out for a little while after I finish these next two patties, but it will be well worth it. It's not that I don't appreciate all of the carbs, carbs, carbs--but sometimes, it's just nice to eat a hamburger!


(Thanks to Suat Eman/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net for the photo.)