Some Things fall Apart so that Better Things can come Together

I Had the most fun last night! Paulie and I decided to head to Evanston to his favorite, Kansaku.

We ordered the:

Tiger Prawn
Sweet vinegar marinated shrimp and avocado over spicy crab cucumber roll with shiso pesto sauce.

Creamy Lobster
Lobster tempura over lobster-mix and cucumber roll served with creamy sauce and eel sauce.

Dragon
Fresh water eel on top of shrimp tempura avocado and cucumber roll with spicy mayo and eel sauce.

And of course I ordered some Maki Rolls to go for lunch the following day:

King Kong (J)
Shrimp tempura, cream cheese, asparagus and avocado roll topped with black topiko and tempura crump, served with wasabe mayo and eel sauce.

Crab Crunch
Crab over shrimp tempura and cucumber roll with tempura crumb with eel sauce.

I enjoyed our conversation last night and we are getting thing situated for the Washington D.C. trip this weekend. Paul is nervous about this I can tell but I know it’s my job as his best friend and girlfriend to be there for him and make sure he feels secure and confident going into this medical procedure. Paul had issues with his past girlfriends not being there for him in desperate times of need and I vow to never do that because of how badly it had affected him in the past. Also, Paul has been there for me more than I would have ever thought he would (or imagined he would) and it’s time for me to help  him by being there for him and treating him with the utmost respect that he deserves. I’ve never had the opportunity to have man in my life the truly puts my needs before his own and I can’t believe how much God has blessed me with opportunity to come in contact with him. I also find it to be super ironic that he became a match for this man in need of a marrow donation because of my dad’s tournament (where he joined the bone marrow registry last year).  It’s as if things were truly meant to be.  We spoke about the future over dinner and I have realized that being with him as made me more secure in myself than I have ever felt because he accepts me for who I am and I’m able to be 100% myself around him.

After dinner Paul dropped me home and my sis and I had a heart to heart conversation in the kitchen with my mom and dad. Sophia and I have become so close within the last 3 months and I feel like it’s because tragic events have brought us closer together. I’m happy that I’m starting to see some positivity in the family tragedy that I underwent, like becoming inseparable with my sister again. It reminds me that sometimes things fall apart so better things can come together.

This  past weekend my girlfriends, Paul and I all headed out for Mat’s birthday…

Season finale of The Challenge tonight!

Who do you want to win? Either Diem and CT or Johnny and Camilla is who I would like to see win…

–Much love, Angie

One week until the Mini Vacay!

Paul and I are heading to Washington D.C. in One week exactly! We have made reservations for Capital Grille In D.C. on Sunday and we are going to be heading to Kaz Sushi Bistro on Monday!

This weekend was tons of fun since I went out for Drinks with some of my favorite ladies on Friday evening at Daily Bar…

I also got a haircut and my blond back…

Last night Paul and I headed to Nui Sushi for Drinks and dinner before heading to Enclave for one of my best guy friend’s birthday.

Enclave was tons of fun (pictures will be up later!)…

I realized this weekend that I only have 3 days left of classes before finals week (since I will be at the Middle school in Evanston for the duration of the semester). I can’t believe that I am almost done with college! I feel like I have grown up so much since my freshman year and I’m ready to start teaching young students and learning from them as well!

One of the reasons I’m extremely passionate about becoming a teacher for middle schoolers is because I believe it is the prime age for teachers to successfully mold adolescents into passionate, poised, mature, respectable, positive-decision making individuals. It is at this age where students begin to  grow socially and are subject to many difficult decisions. Therefore, it is my job as a teacher to aid them in positive decision making before coming into contact with students at the high school level.  Middle schoolers may find that they will have to deal with peer pressure and negative influences, and they may begin to learn about concepts that are  foreign to them (drinking, smoking, sex, etc). But middle school is only the beginning of this constant battle with social acceptance and that is why it is at this point where teachers need to start to support their students both inside and outside of the classroom. As a well-rounded individual that has been subject to peer pressure and stress in my life,  I believe I’m well equipped with the tools to instill the idea of self respect in my students. The experiences I have undergone have made me realize that I wish I had more positive influential teachers in my life and I hope to be that teacher for my students.

Time to put my money where my mouth is and get to work for teaching this week.

Have a wonderful Sunday evening! P.S. go Bulls tomorrow!

Much Love- Ang

Feeling gooooood :)

missing my blond hair

But I’m pretty pumped that I’m getting  a hair cut and highlight soon! I haven’t since before New Years! I’m way overdue!

I’m debating on which fancy dress I am going to be wearing to a dinner party I have to attend, I’m thinking about wearing my new years dress again.I thought it was so gorgeous:

I also bought a  new outfit:

I LOVE THIS ONE! Can't wait to wear it in Washington D.C. on our date Sunday April 1st

I can’t believe my semester is coming to a close soon. I have so many assignments to do but they are all assignments that I know will help me in my future when I am a teacher and have my own classroom. For example, I’ve been asked to create a whole thematic unit of my choice (obviously I decided to choose a social studies unit). I decided the industrial revolution would be a unit that I would enjoy teaching so I have recently created a unit which consists of several unique lessons revolving around industry in the early 1900′s. I’m so proud of the work I have done for this already and can’t wait to have an opportunity to teach it to my own students at Chute in Evanston.

Yesterday Paul and I decided to grab lunch together during his work break He makes me smile.  Yesterday was one of my favorite days ever . I am just so happy with the way things have turned around in my life recently. Plus, Sophia (my sis and I) decided to catch up and look at old photo albums of my family (one of my favorite things to do ever). My little bro was so cute at such a young age and it was just so nice to see how close all of us are still including my cousins too…

I’ll be heading to lunch with Paul again today and were meeting up to workout together later on in the evening. Hope your day is going great!

Washington D.C. in TWO Weeks

I am so happy that I will be in Washington D.C. with Paul in two weeks!

The reason? Paul has been found as a person who matches with a patient in need of a marrow donation. He potentially could help save this mans life! Therefore, monday we will spend the day in the medical facility where he will be involved in a PBSC donation. A nonsurgical procedure that takes place at a blood center or outpatient hospital unit. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will be given injections of a drug called filgrastim to increase the number of blood-forming cells in your bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. Your blood-forming cells are back to their normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks. To learn more, watch the PBSC donation video.

I am so proud of him for taking this time to help someone else, but I expect nothing less from him

It’s also ironic that he is a match due to the fact that he joined he registry during the tournament my Father helps run called the Ahepa Marrow Basketball Tournament

I feel blessed to have someone like him in my life. I have made some horrible choices in the past and hadn’t been treating him the way I should lately because of my own issues. However, I have been honest and upfront with Paul about my issues and the baggage I carried with my ex and I decided that I needed some time to clear my head and go on a break with him in early March. To be honest its worked to make us better for each other and it’s made me really appreciate him. I have found a new appreciation for him due to the fact that he was willing to stand by me while I tried to figure out if seeing my ex  and speaking to him really gave me full closure (and now I know seeing him did give me all the closure I needed). My sister said, “only a man who really cares about you would do this” (stand by me while I figure out my own issues) and I agree. I did  gain full closure in early March when I spoke to my ex in person and I am happy about it beyond belief that we can both be cordial toward each other wishing each other the best. Paul has stood by me even while knowing how traumatic some of the experiences I underwent and that’s how I know I want him to be involved in my life, hes a genuine, good person. Although I feel guilty about how poorly I acted towards Paul by speaking to my ex in person at the gyms in front of him (which may have made me look bad in front of many people too) I know it’s something I needed to do for me in order to fully gain closure, move on,  find out why things happened the way they did and where I stood with him. So many people passed judgment on me for speaking to my ex in front of Paul but nobody has any idea what transpired between my ex and I and the reasons that I needed to find out where we stood. It did bother me that so many people  judged me for speaking to my ex when they do not know the reality of the situation. People simply need to mind their own business if they don’t know all the facts about the situation.

Paul and I are still not jumping quickly into anything official, mostly because we are doing well right now and don’t want anything to change. I think it’s time we both focus on our schoolwork and jobs and try to respect each other in the process of these things.

We are, however, planning a fun weekend in Washington D.C. like  I mentioned. 

I’m currently searching fun restaurants for our Romantic dinner on Sunday April 1st and something fun for us  to do on Monday April 2nd at night.

Makoto looks amazing but so highly priced I don’t think we are going to be able to do it. These are some of the better ones I found:
No. 1: Komi (Dupont Circle)

No. 2: Citronelle (Georgetown)

No. 3: Minibar (Penn Quarter)

No. 4: Cityzen (Southwest)

No. 5: Palena and Palena Cafe (Cleveland Park)

No. 7: Vidalia (Dupont Circle)

No. 9: Oval Room (Downtown)

No. 10: The Source (Penn Quarter )

No. 11: BLT Steak (Downtown)

No. 12: Kinkead’s (Foggy Bottom)

No. 13: Central Michel Richard (Penn Quarter)

No. 16: Bourbon Steak (Georgetown)

No. 17: Marcel’s (Foggy Bottom)

No. 18: Rasika (Penn Quarter)

Any of you been to Washington D.C.? Where should I go?!

Much love-Ang

Moving Forward…

I’m feeling truly blessed this week. Maybe it’s the change in weather but whatever it is all I know is how lucky I am to be where I am today

Can’t wait to get in the classroom with my students it’s been a while since I was on break! Hope you all are feeling blessed and remember to be thankful for what you have and what God has given you.

<3 Much love Ang

 

Truth is…

Truth is… I’m going to VEGAS! AGAIN!

Tracy and I at Tao Beach!

<3 fro YO!

At the RIO!

Gorgeous!

Fountains at the Bellagio

More Drinks!T

Truth is I’m truly happy with the decisions I have made lately. I’m fully able to move forward in my life now that I have cleared up several things and changed my mindset on certain issues. I’m focusing on myself and what I want and need and I’m seeing that I’m becoming a happier person because of it. I have three weeks left at the Middle School in Evanston Illinois! Half way done already! I cannot believe that student teaching will be this fall and then I will be graduating in December ready to start my life as an individual that supports herself. I’m also going to be taking two summer courses and a class at the gym this summer. I am also planning a trip to Vegas this June which is going to be even better than last time… Although that will be hard considering the hot, fun, men (that had gorgeous accents!) that we met last time LOL…

I’m also planning on heading to Washington D.C. with my man the first weekend of April. We are hoping to visit historical places since I love history so much . That should really be a really exciting weekend  for us.

Easter is also just around the corner (although Greek Easter is a week after American Easter this year). Greek Easter is one of my favorite holidays. We all head to church for almost every day during Holy Week. My favorite day to attend the church services at St.Demetrios Chicago is the Thursday before Easter…

Holy (or Great) Thursday

Easter preparations begin on Holy Thursday when the traditional Easter bread, Tsoureki (I think this is how you spell it), is baked, and Eggs are dyed red (red is the color of life as well as a representation of the blood of Christ). From ancient times, the egg has been a symbol of the renewal of life, and the message of the red eggs is victory over death.

In times gone by, superstitions grew into customs that included placing the first-dyed red egg at the home’s iconostasis (place where icons are displayed) to ward off evil, and marking the heads and backs of small lambs with the red dye to protect them.

Holy Thursday evening, church services include a symbolic representation of the crucifixion, and the period of mourning begins. The songs we sing are so beautiful I love singing them which is why my favorite day to remember our savior is Holy Thursday.

Do you have any Vacations planned?

What are your traditions for Easter?

Much Love- Ang

There’s Always Something to be Grateful for

I was thinking today about how important it is for all us to take the time and be grateful for what we have…

There are just a few reasons why we should think of this for a couple minutes each and every day:

• Because it reminds you of the positive things in your life. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they’re loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways. It reminds us that there are people in our lives that have touched us and changed us to become who we are today, stronger, kinder and better than the day before.
• Because it turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring.  Be grateful that you have struggle because without struggling to overcome obstacles we would not grow, change or learn. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.
• Because it reminds you of what’s important. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your loved ones are alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over school or work when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.
• Because it reminds you to thank others. I’ll talk about this more below, but the simple act of saying “thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you … just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are (We need to remember this! everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved and every person deserves it!) and what they do. It costs you little, but makes someone else happy. And making someone else happy will make you happy.

What do I give thanks for day? Me personally, It varies every day. When I was going through tough times I thought it would be hard to find things to be thankful for if I sat and thought about it for 2 minutes. Therefore, I shied away from thanking God for things because I felt like I wouldn’t be able to find anything that was really important to me. But when I started to list the things I am thakful for like, my sister, my brother, my mom and friends, my high school friends who have stood by me through everything I went through during college and my grandparents that cooks us food daily! I thought about how grateful I was to attend such a great University and I was grateful for my intrinsic motivation that allowed me to earn A’s and B’s throughout high school and college (never obtaining a C in any course). I thought about how thankful I was to have met all four of my grandparents and live in the same small town as them. I thought about my first relationship and how good of  a person he made me and how he made me comfortable in my own skin. I thought about my recent ex, and how grateful I was for falling in love with someone that I connected with on every level possible (spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically) because so many people out there never find this. I’m grateful for the current man in my life and his ability to understand the mixed emotions I have been feeling lately and allowing me to have my space right now (we are currently on a break). I’m grateful for my four best friends from high school (Justine, Melissa, Tracy, Maxie) that have had my back for over 8 years now. I’m grateful for the roof over my head and the memories I have shared with my cousins on vacation. The list went on and on and on and I realized, there’s so much to be grateful for if we only take the time to think about it.

I thank all the readers of this site, for the encouragement you have given me … for the time you’ve given me, just reading the posts when you have a chance.

I thank my loved ones, for all they do to me. I thank strangers who’ve shown me little acts of kindness. I thank God, for the life he’s given me. I thank people around the world for the things they’ve done to make the world better. I thank myself, for things that I’ve done and the strengths I’ve gained from my trials and tribulations.

What are you grateful for?

Getting Closure.

So it finally happened after 7 months… I saw my ex.

I feel like I got the closure I needed for so long after we spoke. It feels amazing, beyond words, to get the closure I needed. I could tell this weekend at this Greek tournament that he really doesn’t love me like I thought he still might. I now know he doesn’t care about me so moving on mentally will be a ton easier knowing this and not guessing about how he feels all the time. I am really happy that I did this for myself.   I also know keeping in contact won’t benefit me since there is no chance of us being together since he has no feelings like that toward me. I can’t even explain how amazing I feel, like this 100 lbs weight I had on my shoulders has been lifted now that I know exactly how my ex feels.

Friday I went out with my girls and had a fabulous night at Duffys in Lincoln Park

On a different note, the my dad’s Tournament is this weekend! I’m so excited to see the girls I love and play with them! I also ended up making some new friends this weekend at the tournament that I’m excited to see this week!  Life is pretty FABULOUS right now. Last year I met my crush… a kid that looked like justin bieber!

Much love <3 Ang

Everyone Needs a Noah