24: Spoiler Alert!

No, don't worry, this is not about the TV show.

Yesterday I turned (dun dun dun) 24 years old! I still can't believe it. Aren't I still 18?? Nope.. I'm definitely not a carefree teenager anymore. As you've probably noticed, I barely have time to post on here let alone take a breather. Well, thanks to the most amazing boyfriend ever I was able to unwind and have a terrific weekend last week.

Last Saturday, I thought I was going to see The Phantom of the Opera (my favorite show ever!) with Pat. We went into the city a little early to have lunch before the show...little did I know I was walking into a room filled with my friends & family!! I could NOT believe it! I've never been thrown a surprise party and, up until this year, I never really did anything big for my birthday since it always fell right in the middle of finals. I'm still glowing and ecstatic from the surprise!

When we got to the restaurant Pat led me straight to the back. I guess I was really out of it because all I thought was that he must have been here before. I walk into the back room, look up, and see my parents, my brother, and so many of my friends! My big, her boyfriend, my sophomore year roommate (who I haven't seen in forever!), the Crazy Fatties, and many more. I was THRILLED!

I was so, so happy I got to celebrate this day with my brother by my side!

The most amazing family!

The best girlfriends I could ever ask for. I don't know what I would do without them. Oh, and please note the GREATEST birthday sash of all time. Yes, that does say "birthday #ootd" -- thank you, Jessica.

For the next 2 hours or so, we enjoyed a delicious bottomless boozey brunch. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I didn't even try the food haha. It also had to do with the fact that no one let me have an empty glass. Once our time was up at our table, my parents and brother headed out and the rest of us continued the celebrations onto the next venue.

Yes.. I did bring these balloons everywhere we went :)

Next stop? 235 Fifth -- only the best rooftop bar EVER! We got our own table up on the roof and had the most beautiful view of the Empire State Building and the rest of the city. 

Such a great group of girls.

It wouldn't be right if we didn't take our standard picture :)

This guy. The man of my dreams!

After it got dark outside, the majority of us made one last stop before ending the night at a bar called Flat Iron Hall. It was here that I had my leather jacket (seen above) stolen :( 

But aside from that...I seriously still can't believe I got to experience such an amazing day filled with love and the most important people in my life. I couldn't ask for better friends & family, I truly am blessed. Pat really outdid himself and I am so lucky to have him in my life. Thank you to everyone who made 24 feel a little less old and a LOT more fun!

Here's to 24!!!

Summertime Sadness: June Highlights

First of all, I want to talk about how it was supposed to be miserable outside this weekend but turned out to be absolutely beautiful. The bright, sunny weather didn't really make me miss summer enough to want to write about it. I wanted to enjoy the here and now.

But since I still have a few months to go, I have to keep on truckin'.

 June.

I started of the month with a post-grad celebration in Hoboken. Even though it was only my second time in this wonderful city, I fell in love all over again. The second I get a job, I will be seeing you again, Hoboken. This time...as my home <3

Next up, a nice celebration for my boyfriend's 22nd birthday. I don't think I stopped singing that Taylor Swift song for a good week or so. I don't hate it.

As a belated celebration of our 2 year anniversary, Pat took me to see The Little Mermaid musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse! Not only was it amazing because it has always been my favorite Disney tale, but a fellow ZTA sister's actual sister was performing in the show! It was absolutely amazing and I would definitely go see it again.













Pat and I standing outside the theater.

Okay, so June was apparently filled with a million celebrations. This is before we went out in Belmar for Kelli's birthday. Lucy wasn't able to make it, but obviously we saved a spot for her :)

Trips to New York means....

Seeing the one and only, CHOPIN! He seriously gets cuter and cuter every single time I see him.

Such a precious little pup.

Doesn't this shot look so natural and not staged at all? This is what Felice and I do when she comes to my house for the day to work. She's doing real world work while I distract her. Sounds about right to me.

I surprisingly saw my big out in Asbury Park and could not have been more ecstatic! No matter what, she can always put a smile on my face!

My big, my cuzo, and I out at Porta! I love my fam <3

All of the girls out in Asbury! There's never a dull moment with the 4 of them :)

My outfit for a "meet & greet" at a family friend's company!

Since it was in the city and I had an interview the next day there as well, I was lucky enough to stay at my brother's apartment. Aka...hang out with this little munchkin.

My outfit for my interview the next day! I'm totally not one to do business professional, but I managed to put my own twist and style into it. Not too shabby, if I may say so myself!

June was also filled with many fire pit gatherings at Kelli's house. We even made s'mores one night! Nothing like sitting around a fire, listening to old songs, and reminiscing with your closest friends.

The next day some of the Crazy Fatties and I went crabbing in Point Pleasant! I've never done that before but it was so much fun!

Even though it wasn't what we expected...this was SO COOL! One of our cages caught an eel, a crab, and a blowfish! You can even see it all blown up in the top right corner.

I love my girls. Through thick & thin.

                            

One weekend, Pat and I spontaneously went to AC hoping we would somehow be able to get into the Hardwell show. An HQ promoter that we had met was actually able to get us in AND we were front row!

The last celebration of the month was Pat's graduation party! This is what I wore..eventually I took the headband off because I felt like Cleopatra haha.

So that was my June! A lot of things to celebrate in one month, but it was all so much fun! Keep an eye out for my July highlights...can you guess what you'll see? Probably not fireworks or anything...

always,

Summertime Sadness: May Highlights

Guys...it's fall.

I feel like I was just on the hunt for the newest and cutest bikinis, and now (not that I have a problem with it) I'm searching for the biggest and coziest sweaters. Honestly...where has the time gone?!

Probably since the song came out, I had the most genius idea to feature my summer highlights using the title Summertime Sadness (wow, Cristina..it must have been so hard to come up with that). Being that I was quite forgetful over the summer months to keep you all up to date on my activities and whereabouts, I figured I'd make a series of posts dedicated to reminiscing about those beloved summer months. On top of that, I kiiiind of strategically planned to wait until a Throwback Thursday so everything would "fall" together. See what I did there? ;) Also, since it is JUST starting to feel like fall I can officially put the summer behind me (metaphorically, of course).

So let's get started with the month of...

 May.

I GRADUATED!

After some (much needed) extra time at college, I finally received my diploma :) I couldn't have asked for more when it comes to my college career...except maybe some more time haha. I never wanted to leave!

This had to be one of the biggest, most exciting moments during the month of May. As happy as I seem in the picture above, it was also really sad to say goodbye to the place I had spent the last 5 years at. Just thinking about it now is getting me all worked up. Thankfully, I'll be going back for Homecoming in less than a week!

Some more pictures from graduation...

I can't even begin to explain to you how hot it was during the main ceremony. It was on the football field  which, when you're at the bottom of the pit, seems to never receive any breeze whatsoever. So if I seem a little sweaty in these pictures, cut me a break please!

Pat, his parents, and I after the main ceremony!

I swear...we couldn't be normal even if our lives depended on it!

Absolutely love my Zetas <3












I was so thankful Felice was able to make it to my graduation! She has been one of my best friends since freshman year (not that she had a choice). 

This was such a weird yet rewarding feeling to finally receive my diploma from the #1 Business School in New Jersey!














My biggest support system since day 1. Thank you for making all of this possible. I love you both!'

Just some of marketing babes with the Dean of Marketing haha.



















Pat and I at our celebratory dinner with our families. Such a great way to end an amazing day.

As you can probably tell, graduation was a big part of May for me. Aside from that, here are a couple of pictures from some other memorable moments...

Pat and my last formal ever!!! I still can't believe that we're not in college anymore.

I'm still in love with that dress. Can I wear it every day? Is that weird?

These 2 pictures actually make me want to cry. On the left is a picture of me and my sorority family. CHAMP FAM BEST FAM. My family is filled with some of the most loving and beautiful girls I know. I miss them more and more every day. I don't think the picture on the right needs much explaining. Senior Zetas just didn't want to graduate. 

Starting the summer with some family time for my mom's birthday and mother's day!

All in all, ending my 5th year of college with some of these great events in May wasn't a bad way to go out. I just wish it didn't have to end.

Out with the old, in with the new!

always,