A postgrad summer

Despite icicles possibly hanging from my office air vents, and the fact I'm only one shade tanner than I was in, say, December, and the small notion that I haven't seen a beach in over a year, it is apparently summer. If you're in the postgrad world like myself, this word has no meaning. It died the day you graduated from college and it might not ever be resurrected. #GlassHalfFull

Even though I worked full-time every summer between college, it still felt like I was living the care-free sun-kissed lifestyle filled with friends, drinking, and vacations. As a cashier sales associate I was off by 4 and still went out all the time. As an intern, I was also home by dinner time, or at happy hour with co-workers slurping mojitos like it was my job. Not to mention, I went on multiple 3-5 day mini vacations all the time.

But now, I legitimately only know if it's a nice balmy day versus a dessert heat-stroke worthy nightmare based on other people's statuses and posts. (thanks guys).

The only difference summer makes on my morning is that I don't start my car early to warm it up. The only difference it makes after work is creating a temperature similar to that of the surface of the sun at my gym. During the day, I wear a cardigan constantly because my office believes in keeping you miserable alert.

Now on to vacation days... I get one day a month, and I'm saving 5 for a December vaca. Yep! You did the math right, that means I can't even consider taking a day off for 5 months... not to mention that fact I've used a couple spare ones for three-day weekends, and need to keep a couple silver bullets for hangovers things that come up that I haven't thought of.

There actually is one silver lining, though. Traffic is much much much better now that schools are out for summer. We're talking 20-30 minutes better, which is huge. And for that alone, I'm semi-possibly-maybe-kinda OK with this new version summer. (See! I can have a good attitude!)

The other good thang is that I'm still making more money than I ever have in my lyfe (don't be fooled by that statement though #StillBroke).

My other postgrad non-summer-getting professional friend and I figured we should buy some "summer" clothes to fit in with the rest of the crowd.

Some pics from our extravaganza:

We were being silly and were asked if we were sisters twice!

the casual look

the summer business-dress look!

obsessed

we had a slight disagreement about the color... #purple or #blue?

such a cute V cut in the front

my favorite! can't go wrong with a color block

new wedges - have been wanting clogs for a while!

can't stay away from colored or skinny jeans...

who wears short shorts? 

flowy dress for work (longer than it looks in the pic)

peplum 'till death

High School Reunion....Kind Of. #MilitaryBratProblems

So it's a little difficult to have a high school reunion when you attended three different high schools, in two different states and another country. *Thanks Navy* But this past weekend came pretty close!

Freshman & sophomore year I attended high school in Millington, Tennessee; junior year in Naples, Italy; and senior year in Annapolis, Maryland. Italy was by far the most superior in terms of, well, everything.

Other non-military brats might think it's even more scary and stressful to move to another country, but it's actually the shizzz because everyone is in the same boat as you (no Navy pun intended). Everyone is either new like you, or moved there a couple years ago, or even in the weird circumstance they've been there a long time, they're so welcoming and used to friends coming and going. Moving to a place where friends have known each other since Kindergarten, on the other hand, makes it a lot harder to fit in.

The biggest suckfest about being a military brat is that you don't "go home" to your high school friends, because they're all over the place! I've even moved away from Maryland, the last high school I attended, so I literally don't know anyone where my parents (and I....) currently live.

Ok my bitching harping is almost over -- the moral of the story is that my 5 best friends and I from our American high school in Italy were all reunited this weekend for the first time in six years! We all currently live in TN, SC, FL, OH, NY, and VA, so that's why it's so hard to get us all in one place.

It was seriously like no time had passed at all! I guess when you travel to different countries *35 hour bus rides* on a regular basis, you form a bond that will never be broken. Not to mention when you're perpetually in a place where you don't understand a word anyone else is saying around you... you tend to stick together for good. #TypicalAmericans.

Luckily, two of the girls in the group are actually engaged!!! (yea... talk about a mental breakdown or two on the bus ride home #HaventHadASoberConversationWithABoyInAges)

So, we'll be back together for a wedding in November and then again next June, in which I'll be a bridesmaid!!! This was a great preview of the future shitshows weddings that are to come!

High School

"Wildcats" at homecoming

Wacky Tacky Day

Mission trip in Slovakia

Ambers grad... sad day!

Can't keep cheerleaders off their feet! In a street in Heidelberg, Germany

Cheerleaders

Such mature Future Business Leaders of America... (In Italy)

NOW

Finally at 11:30 pm, the last two of us arrived!

Giddiness ensued instantly.

Our weirdness factor has not gone away.

Unknowingly Patriotic

reunited and it feels so so good

This game was abnormally fun & hilarious

Having too much fun in Central Park

before the *best night ever* in NYC.

My military brat pack for life!