Can’t Wait For Spring!

Mar24

Four weeks ago my dad went out to walk Bancroft and he slipped and fell on “Black Ice” and broke his hip. Ouch! I was so upset. It was so hard to hear my dad shout and moan for help . The ambulance came and took him to Bryn Mawr Hospital. There were so many people who fell on the ice that day that they could not do my dad’s surgery until Thursday night. He went to Bryn Mawr Rehab for a week and is now doing out-patient therapy. I remember that well from all my surgeries and know exactly what he is going though. He’s doing better every day! Thank you God!

The ice is gone. (hopefully forever) and the snow hills are almost all melted

Can’t wait for warmer weather and green grass again!

Dad Just Before Surgery

BACHELOR’S BACK!

Jan24

My family & I have been busy with the holidays- that’s why you have not heard from me. Now that winter is settled in I have been snuggled up and catching up on my TV shows.

My very favorite type of show is Reality TV. Yes I am a Reality TV junkie. My favorite is of course…The Bachelor! I am embarrassed to tell you I have been watching for 7 years!

And still Love it!

Sean Lowe from last season is still my favorite although I did not like his choice Catherine, who he is about to marry this coming Sunday. Although…I will definitely watch the wedding!

So what do I think about Juan? He’s pretty cool, good-looking, good athlete and seems to be a nice guy. I am not crazy about him, but I do like his accent! There are 15 girls left – – should be interesting! Are you tuning in?? Watch on ABC! We’ll talk later!

Two Hotties!

Surprise! Surprise!

Nov19

On Sunday November 3rd my mom told me we going out to eat. On the way, she said after we eat we were going to hear this new unknown singer. She then handed me the tickets and asked me if I ever heard of him? I shouted out “Shut UP”! They were tickets to see my second most favorite singer – Josh Groban! OMG! I could not believe it. I have all his music but have never seen him in concert…. And have been dying to go.
It was amazing! He doesn’t only have the most angelic voice, but he is hot, hot, hot, and so funny…. A great personality. I had the best time ever.
We first stopped at X-Finity LIVE ~ sports bar and that was also fun. There are kazillon giant TV’s and the Eagles were playing – so the Philly crowd was loud and rowdy but so fun.

Me and My Dad at XFinity Live

While we were at that concert I saw Justin Timberlake posters and said ~oohhh!!! I would love to see him. So without telling me, my mom went searching on the internet for tickets for the sold out concert. On Saturday morning, November 9th my mom said she was meeting someone at Minella’s Diner to pick up something she brought on Craigs List. I thought it was a piece of furniture. She returned to the car with 2 tickets for the JT concert that night! “What a nice piece of furniture!”
The Concert was UNBELIEVABLE!
JT and the Tennessee kids danced and sang for 3 hours non-stop and there was a laser light show and this moving stage that moved above the people sittiing in the floor seats. entire – SO COOL! I LOVED it!!
I love my music and concerts are the best!
What a great week of surprises!!!!
By the way…if you have a disability and can’t get to your seats at the Wells Fargo Center, you go to Guest Services and they will usually change your seats to an accessible one. That’s what they did for us.

JT and the Tennessee Kids

Laser lights

The Moving Stage

JT moving past our section

Cupcakes With Nina! What Could Be Better!

Oct30

Tuesday I went to a baking class for special needs young adults. We were making Halloween Cupcakes with a professional baker…Nina.

We made everything from start to finish …. Delicious dense vanilla cupcakes with butter cream frosting. Nina showed us how to frost and decorate the cupcakes with three different designs for Halloween. Here’s some ideas for all you bakers out there!

The first was bloodshot eyeballs, the second was a spider web with a jeweled ring , and last was a pumpkin patch!

It was so awesome and also so delicious and amazing to eat.

Wish I could share one with all of you!

Yummmm!!!!!!

Best Buddies Training

Oct30

Two weekends ago I went to an ambassador training session for Best Buddies held at Dave and Busters. Best Buddies (BB) is a national organization with chapters in middle schools, and college across the country. They match up a special needs student with a regular Ed Student to go out with, and just hang out as friends. There are also group activities and outings. You can Google them for more info….here’s the link:

http://www.bestbuddiespennsylvania.org/site/c.llK0L9MPIsG/b.1380949/k.406B/WE_ARE_BEST_BUDDIES8482.htm

I am an ambassador for BB, and I am part of Villanova Chapter. During the training I was matched up with a speech coach named Paul, who was a really fun and cool guy. He is an art teacher at Whitemarsh HS. He asked me to speak at his school and I might be speaking at our big fundraiser in November.

It was a Long Day- but really worth it! I got to meet a lot of new people and heard some inspiring stories!

Aaahhhhh…Michael !!!!!~

Oct11

A couple of weeks ago I had the best surprise! I found out that my grandma was coming for the weekend to visit from Buffalo. She is recovering from cancer and I was excited to see her. And what was really exciting was that my mom, grandma, and I went to see Michael Buble in concert.

That week my mom and I were driving to Wegman’s and I heard the DJ on the radio say “Call in to win Michael Buble tickets.” I grabbed my cell and my mom grabbed hers and we started speed dialing!

About 30 busy signals later, the DJ answered my mom’s call and said “you’re the winner!”

I could hardly keep from screaming, but I had to control myself while they got my mom’s information! As soon as she hung up we both started laughing screaming for joy! We couldn’t believe it! We were able to buy one extra for Granny!

Michael has been one of my favorite singers and it was so cool to actually see him live.

For one song – “All You Need is Love” red and white hearts came down from the ceiling and it felt like heaven. (Love You MB). I saved a bunch of them that fell near us!

The opening act was Naturally 7, an a cappella group that make it sound like there is a whole band of instruments playing. Check them out on youtube. You’ll be amazed.

Wish all my friends who are MB fans could have been there with me!

Me & Michael…great Poster ~ wish it was the real thing!

AWB Presents: Fiddler On The Roof

Oct7

Hello everybody!

Yesterday, October 6^th, I played Mendel in Fiddler On The Roof! It was an amazing turnout with lots of fans and supporters in attendance. I’ve been acting with Acting Without Boundaries for almost 10 years now. It gives physically disabled children & adults a chance to showcase their singing, dancing, and acting abilities. My boyfriend, Aaron, played the main role of Tevye! I could not be more proud of our entire cast & crew. Special Thanks to Christine!

MV ~ A Little Bit of Heaven!

Aug15

Last Monday we drove to the cape. It took about 7 hours and then we stayed over night in Falmouth. The next morning we took the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard. I remember when I was little, the fog horn used to scare me. I still jumped today when it sounded. Martha Vineyard is my favorite place in the world!

We went for dinner and ice cream. (it’s a tradition for our family to get ice cream every night form the “Candy Store”) Both were so so so so good.

Marissa, one of my sister’s best friends joined us. It was so nice to be back there.

Me & my Dad going for our ice cream!

Brooke & Marissa

On Thursday we went to see Vineyard Sound (VS) MY favorite a cappella group on the island. They are college guys who spend the summer on MV singing!

You can look them up on http://www.youtube.com/user/VineyardSound

Here’s one of my favorites that they sing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0qJ08aqP4

Vineyard Sound ~ Heavenly!

Afterwards, we walked around Edgartown. I watched a guy make fudge and then of course we had to buy some!

Yummy Fudge! We had the chocolate with walnuts.

Saturday AM we brought a triple berry pie from this small stand and ate it for breakfast. The lady makes 100 pies a day and they sell out in about 2- 3 hours. Wish we could have bought more!

We just really enjoyed vacation. It was nice weather outside all week.

We went to South Beach a few days to see a sand castle contest. My family pushed me in a special beach wheel chair with big wheels to go over the sand. They are great for people who use wheelchairs and walkers because the sand would ruin them. The special chairs let you go down on the beach and onto the sand. I have used them before at Ocean City, New Jersey. Many public beaches now have them.

South Beach

While we were on MV went out to a few shops. I didn’t buy anything but my mom and sister went into even single store. I went with them everywhere. It was fun shopping.

On Saturday after dinner I went to a club with my sister. There was one guy dancing who reminded me of Allen in “The Hangover”…and he asked me if I wanted a drink! It was so fun.

Everybody in the club…they’re looking at us!

On the way home, my mom and dad surprised me surprised me by taking me one last place. We have a very special family friend who has been visiting me for almost 18 years who is like a grandmother to me. She has a summer home in New Hampshire, so they took me up to visit her. Her family was there too, along with all of there Labrador retrievers. There were seven…6 black and 1 yellow. It was so fun being greeted by all of them! It was the best time with family, friends and dogs!

See you next year!

Tuesday Nights

Aug1

Tuesday night I had my ADD meeting. The group is called Adults with Developmental Disabilities. This is a discussion group that meets once a week. There are two facilitators who oversee the meetings. We basically talk about whatever we want to, like work, living situations, relationships, our parents and current events. Some of the members live alone and many say how hard it is. Some don’t like living at home with their parents. (but I do!) We also go trips. There is one for each week and you decide which one you want to do. And then you call in and pay for it. This Sunday I am going to lunch and a play. The play is called Hairspray. Should Be fun!

Bachelor Days

Aug1

My cousin Stacie moved into a condo. It is located in Philadelphia and she has a nice roommate named Becca. Stacie invited me over to watch the last episode of the Bachelor. It was cool because I got to see her condo. The only bad thing was the thousand steps I had to climb up…but it was worth it. I would like to go back again. We made our Buffalo Chicken wing dip…and the 3 of us ate it all up! The finale is usually a two hour event but it was one hour….what…why? Well I don’t know why, but there is going to be a part 2 next week. Brooks dumped Desiree. Did he make the right decision? We will find out next week!!!!! Gotta love reality shows! the picture of me and Stacie is from a few years ago at a church picnic…where we were freezing our tushies off in August)