11/30/09

Engaged!


...not, not me!

But I will be welcoming a brother-in-law into the family in the Spring!

Congrats, Katelin and Paul!

11/21/09

Mom

Check this out: Racing Lupovs

11/16/09

Order of Things

NO CHRISTMAS BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!! AAAAHHHHHH!

10/18/09

Long-Distance Fun!

As some of you know, I'm doing the "long-distance" thing between Milwaukee and Philly. Blah. For those of you in the same boat, here are some ideas to bridge the gap.

SKYPE SKYPE SKYPE!!!
1. Watch a movie together at the same time (We even pause/fast forward to make sure we're on the same frame - haha!)
2. Scrabble on Facebook interactively
3. Sporcle games together (It's even fun on your own!)
4. AIM, Gmail, FB chat
5. other quizzes/games online together
6. e-cards (I especially enjoy Hoops & Yoyo!)
7. phone calls, texts, pix messages (Thank you, iPhone for finally figuring out the pix message feature!)
8. CD with favorite songs
9. good 'ole fashioned snail mail cards/letters
10. date-in-a-package
11. go on a walk "together" (talking on the phone)

12. save up the (lots of) money it costs to see each other in person (NEVER FLY UNITED - i won't even link you to their website - . . . unless you want them to screw up and get a free flight, but only if it's "their error." idiots.)

If you have any other ideas for me/us, please pass them along! We're always looking for something new to do together!

(Also, enjoy all of the links ... the Packer game is pretty bad so I had fun putting a little something extra into this post.)

9/19/09

It's just not the same ...











...without all of you around! I miss you all!

9/12/09

Back home again in ... oh, wait! Wrong song!

with how much i LOVE winter, i'm sure it comes to you as no surprise that i moved back to wisconsin! (*cough* sarcasm *cough*)

i'm up here living with my family (jake and i are roomies again after a long absence), and going to grad school at marquette university in milwaukee. i am getting a masters of arts in christian doctrine. i miss all of my friends in indiana A TON, but am looking forward to this adventure of getting my butt kicked by some awesome jesuit priests!

hopefully i'll be a little better at writing something fun on here now that i need plenty of reasons to put my books down and procrastinate. :)

in the meantime, i bring you a flashback for those of you who in indiana who always said that my mom sounded like bobby's mom! don't'cha know!

4/22/09

50th Post!

in honor of this being my 50th post, i thought i would give you a life update in exactly 50 words. (go ahead, count 'em!)

i ...

am working for drum corps international as a CSR and am loving it!

applied to grad schools for a masters in theology/ministry to work in young adult/campus ministry. so, i'll be moving somewhere in august!

spent Easter with mom, dad, kate, and jake, and am grateful for them.

3/19/09

Flunking ... with Style!







these crack me up (thanks, joanna!) ... even if you've already seen some of them, that doesn't make them any less hilarious.

any favorites? i'm partial to the elephant ... :-P

3/10/09

If Only ...

Check this out! I was especially intrigued by the info about Forest Gump.

10 Career-Changing Roles that Almost Weren't

3/2/09

Lost Generation

I saw this on Lindsey Culli's blog, and I had to post it on mine, too. Check it out, and let me know what you think!

Run for Vocations


Check out this blog to learn about the Run for Vocations in Indianapolis. I have signed up for the Mini Marathon 5K this year. (I did the Mini one year ... I don't feel any need to prove that I can do that again!) I would appreciate prayers!

Here's how this works: Everyone has a vocation. Either you're called to the Priesthood, Consecrated Life (Nuns), Married Life, or Single Life. All are blessings from God. If you are willing to pray for vocations while I'm running, please visit the blog and post a comment indicating your willingness to pray. Or, feel free to simply comment on my blog!

I'm sure that some of you are thinking, "Here's another crazy Catholic thing that Talia is doing." Well, you're right! BUT, you definitely do not have to be Catholic to pray for vocations! Are willing to "pledge" a few "Our Fathers," "Hail Marys," rosaries, or some original prayers for each mile I run? Let me know!

Vocation... Everyone has one. What's yours?

3/1/09

These 40 Days of Lent ...

Well, folks, the ashes have washed off, and we find ourselves getting into the thick of Lent. Lent is a time of reflection and preparation for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people choose to give things up for Lent, add things to their lives, give alms, etc. If you forgot to set that goal for these next weeks, it's not too late!

I like the idea of giving up something that gets in the way of your relationship with Christ, as well as adding something that will enrich one's spiritual life. Tithing is always a good choice, too. ;)

I felt convicted to give up my daily dose (x100) of Law & Order and majorly limit my TV time. You wouldn't believe how cool life can be when it's not spent entirely in front of the TV and you actually venture outside. While I am venturing outside, I am committed to receiving the Eucharist daily. Along with praying the rosary daily, this is the best addition to my life yet.

Without a job, my tithing situation is a little dismal. Hopefully that will change soon. Ha, ha!

What are you adding/giving up this Lent?

2/12/09

An apology ...

It is with my sincerest apologies that I did not mention Michele as another person who guessed absolutely correctly #22. :)

In fact, besides my sister, Michele probably put waaaaaay too much effort into figuring it out! Thanks, Michele!

2/11/09

The truth ... revealed!

I'm stealing my sister's response to my last blog post to reveal the truth! The bold/italicized words are my additions, but Kate's pretty hilarious by herself. :) (You should check out her blog, too!)

1. False, Chocolate = Headaches
2. False, If I took your camera away you would die for sure.
3. You should be using TaxACT instead of whatever you are currently doing. And for some reason I think you paid to do H&R block. Correction: I use Taxslayer - a name quite suited for taxes. :)
4. False, you finally agree with me that teaching any-graders sucks.
5. Banana? Who's favorite flavor is banana? Oh wait... dad's. Yeah, I'm a sucker for the reds and greens.
6. False. Favorite soup... not sure on this one. I don't like hot liquids, generally; soups, coffee, tea, hot chocolate (esp: refer to #1)
7. False, You were the only girl in catholic school who boycotted skirts.
8. Mom didn't think up the name during the Rocky movie, it was on the credits of Rich Man, Poor Man. That is cheap.
9. Am Fam - BAM!
10. You love Diet Dew. Who cares about the can? I do! The new can is ridiculous!
11. False, ideal family has 14 kids. Enjoy being pregnant for 20 straight years..
12. False, I think Michelle kicked your a$$ the other night in Nertz.. multiple times.
13. False, you sleep too late.
14. False, you order strawberry lemonade at STARBUCKS.
15. Quote "I am not Betty Crocker, Deal with it."
16. False, Golf sucks. Football is the bomb!
17. Dawson's Creek, Warm Pillsbury Cookies, the Muscato's living room, heeeeeaven!
18. 18? Try minus 10!
19. False. But I wish this were true!
20. WWE? Who cares.
21. CSI or Law & Order? I say People's Court!! Law & Order, all day, everyday!
22. There was this one time when I flipped a skittle in your mouth!
23. Do you even know what eggplant is?!
24. Yes! Order extra whipped cream, since I am the one who always has to eat yours!
25. Planning ahead. Yeah, you should work on that. This is such a lie, it was probably an exposure!

Soooo...way to go, Bob, Mom, & Kate! #22 ... I cannot travel without a pop (usually Diet Dew/Diet Dr. Pepper) and skittles! Fun! Thanks for guessing!

2/2/09

24 lies ... and a truth

I have been reading a lot of interesting lists of "25 things" on Facebook. I thought I would make my own, with a twist! Here are 25 things about me ... but only one of them are true! Let's see if you can figure out my hidden truth.

1. I am a confessed chocoholic. I can't get enough of it!
2. Usually, I rely on others to take pictures of get-togethers and send them to me.
3. I use Turbo Tax to do my taxes.
4. Teaching 6th graders was so much more fun than 1st and 3rd graders!
5. Banana is the best Laffy Taffy flavor ... ever.
6. Chicken and wild rice soup is my favorite meal on a cold day.
7. If I had it my way, I would wear skirts everyday.
8. Mom claims that she thought of my name while watching the Rocky movies.
9. State Farm is my preferred insurance provider.
10. I consider the new Diet Mountain Dew can to be a great improvement over the former one.
11. My ideal family would consist of a husband and two children.
12. I can beat anyone (especially my roommate) at Nertz. (aka: Nurtz, Nurts, Nerts, Mertz, Dutch Blitz, Squeal, Squeak, etc.)
13. I'm not much of a morning person.
14. In fact, I need a couple cups of coffee to wake myself up.
15. I take after my brother, as I am a fantastic chef.
16. Golf is my favorite sport to watch.
17. I have always thought Dawson's Creek was a stupid show, a complete waste of time to watch. (I mean, who would watch it every single Wednesday night ...)
18. 18 is my favorite number.
19. Winter is my all-time favorite season. Gosh, I LOVE the snow, being cold, winter sports ... the whole bit!
20. My favorite WWE wrestler is J.B. Layfield.
21. I prefer CSI to Law & Order any day of the week.
22. I cannot travel without Skittles and a pop.
23. Eggplant is delicious.
24. Ice cream just isn't ice cream without whipped cream on top!
25. I am completely spontaneous ... I never plan anything ahead of time.

Any guesses?

1/19/09

March for Life


We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of,
the light of God.

We are marching, marching,
We are marching, marching,
We are marching in the light of,
the light of God.

Siyahamba, hamba,
Siyahamba, hamba,
Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.

I'm off to D.C. this week! No, it's not to support President-elect Obama, although we'll arrive soon after the inauguration. I'll be participating in the March for Life.

I will be proud to march next to my sister, praying to end abortion and the use of contraceptives on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Life is precious, and should be treated as such.

When I think of marching, I am reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr., war protests, and the like. What an honor to stand up for something I believe so strongly in, with 200,000 others who share my viewpoint.

What would you march for?

1/12/09

We miss you, Mackenzie!

My friend, Mackenzie, is spending a month in Bulgaria learning ... Bulgarian. She is so brave! Even though she is having fun across the miles, we miss her here!

Check out her blog!

Her husband, Ivan, is back in the States, so we thought we would take him out for some quality food at Buca's!