I love The College of Liberal Arts!

I just received an email from The College of Liberal Arts and I saw a link that grabbed my attention! 

I am so impressed with this video and I had to share it with you all! This is just another reason why I couldn't be more proud to get my degree from this outstanding college.  War Eagle!

The creation of Funky Tree

Sips n Strokes has become a well known business here in Auburn as well as other locations around the south and there's no question on why it's been so successful. What's more fun than getting a few friends together, drinking wine (or whatever beverage you chose) and trying to your best to paint?


It's definitely an experience to say the least!


This past week my little sister Colleen came down to Auburn to visit for a few days/help me pack up my AU life and we had way too much fun on Friday.

We tried really hard to recreate the painting that the person up front was painting along with us but it's more difficult than it looks.  The fun thing is that everyone takes their own approach to the paintings so you leave at the end of the night with 70 different takes on one original picture. 

The only downfall to Sips n Strokes is the price. By no means is it outrageous but as a poor college student anything above $10 seems expensive.  Depending on the painting, the cost is either $25 or $35 and that includes all the paint, brushes and nice canvas.  It's a good deal as long as your willing to spend the money.

I would say that I was getting a little impatient that we didn't start for nearly 30 minutes because people were late.  When it says it starts at 7pm that means get there EARLIER not right on time.  So those of us who came early had to wait a good hour before we even began to paint. Other than that I really have no complaints about it!

(Don't we have amazing art skills??)
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So just a quick little update on my life:


-I move out of my beautiful apartment on Thursday so I've been doing my best to pack.  I sent a ton of stuff home with Colleen and it's extremely depressing now that my walls are basically naked. 


-Graduation is in exactly TWO WEEKS!!!!!!


-Hmm....and lastly I'm currently reading Water for Elephants thanks to Colleen.  So hopefully it's as amazing as she says!


Until next time! <3

New Layout

It was time for a change! What do you think?

Upcoming post about me and Colleen's Sips n Strokes adventure soon!!

What a Fabulous Four Years!!

Narrowing down the thousands of pictures I have taken while at Auburn wasn't easy- but I've put together most of my favorites in this slide show.  Enjoy!

College Memories - better quality from Amanda Pinto on Vimeo.

Facing Reality

I'm looking at my calendar and have very mixed emotions as I look at the date August 9.  I have decorated the square like crazy and all you can read is the huge word written in marker-GRADUATION-followed by as many exclamation marks as I could possibly fit. I filled this in the moment I received the calendar...in December. So obviously my excitement was quite apparent.  

There is no doubt that I am still excited. However, I'm beginning to take some hard doses of reality that I never thought I would have to face.  I'm getting a little scared.  As much as I always say how I'm so ready to get out and ready to move on (which I am)- I promised myself that when I started this blog I was going to be completely honest.  And that means not only being honest with you but being honest with myself.  

In my description I said that you would be following me through my successes as well as my struggles- and it's time I admit some of the latter.  

As many of you know first hand, the job search is not in any way easy.  In fact it's one of the most difficult obstacles that I've ever had to take on.  You get stressed and upset and sometimes you feel as though all the pressure that is on you will crush you.  I've definitely been there.  Am I doubting myself? Heck NO! I am 120% confident that I will make an incredible addition to a PR company if I could only get the chance to prove it.  

Being in this economy makes this already tough road even more of a challenge.  However, I refuse to fall back and use the excuse "Oh this economy sucks so of course I can't get a job." No.  I see this as a road block but there are many ways to get around a road block.  I can jump over it, go around it or break through it.  

I see the end in sight but after that....well at the moment I'm not sure.  I'm a planner and right now I have no set plans.  I have nothing I can write with pen into my calendar.  

But you know what?  

I think I'm becoming okay with it.  Why? Because I am sure without a shadow of a doubt that I will succeed.  I will get a job.  I will get a job in New York.  And all my hard will pay off in the end.  Is it frustrating and stressful that I don't have answers? Absolutely.  However, I know that everything will work out in the end. 

Everything happens for a reason- this I am positive.  

So I ask that you all keep me in your thoughts and I promise to keep you updated on all my post graduation plans.  Thank you to everyone who has called/texted/facebooked me asking how things are going.  I greatly appreciate it!! And I'm sorry that I can't give you more definitive answers right now!  One day that will change! :-)  

Welcome to Hoboken- Home of The Cake Boss!!

That's right. My sisters and I finally got to experience Carlo's Bake Shop for ourselves last Saturday!!!  And trust me- it did NOT disappoint!!  

We have been saying how the next time we go to NJ we have to go to Hoboken! I mean my grandparents only live a half hour away! We are obsessed with the show- so it wasn't a question...we were going.

Because it was a Saturday, we figured it would be crowded but it was 4th of July weekend too so we were prepared for it to be packed.  I never thought that there would be a line wrapped around the corner though!

After waiting in line for more than an hour we finally got to go into the bakery! This was after we had taken multiple pictures in front of the sign of course!  We were given a number and had to fight our way to the front-it was so packed inside that you couldn't even see the pastries!! Luckily, we watch the show all the time and knew the stuff we wanted.  

I started ordering everything I could think of! I mean, if we were going to wait that long then we might as well get a lot! Lobster tails (fav!), cream puffs, napoleans, cupcakes, chocolate eclairs, raspberry filled cookies and don't think we forgot the most important--Canolis!!!!!

We immediately wanted to sample everything we'd bought but we waited until we got home.

At the bakery we had the pleasure of seeing Mauro, Remy and getting a picture with cousin Anthony!! It was disappointing that we missed seeing Buddy (twice!!) but the experience was fabulous any way!

 I will definitely be returning the next time I'm in NYC!! I'm hungry now just looking at the picture!

New York City Interviews

Last week was absolutely fabulous! I've missed NYC so much!! But this was not just a vacation. I had a mission.

Operation Get A Job began precisely at 5am last Thursday when I woke up to get ready for a long and exciting day.

I had an interview at 10:30am, 1pm and 4pm all in one day plus a 9:30am the next day all on completely different sides of town.  But I couldn't have been more excited.  I was also really happy that my two sisters and dad were there (along with my grandparents/aunt/and encouraging texts from my mom and friends)- it definitely made my day when I walked out of my first interview and they were outside waiting for me! And they made it even better by surprising me with my favorite Magnolia Bakery cupcake!!

I don't want to say too much about each company other than that I thoroughly enjoyed going to all of them! I loved all the people I got to meet and talk with.  It really showed me that working in NYC in PR is EXACTLY what I want to do!  

I will give some advice for those of you starting the interview process that helped me a lot. 

1. Do you research!! You should know as much as you can about the company before walking in the door.

2. Be prepared for a knowledge test.  Thank you JRNL 1100 because I had to take a spelling test at one of my interviews! So Auburn students--take that class seriously!!

3. Come prepared with questions. You always want to ask a few questions at the end of the interview.  I know I always like to ask something that went along with the conversation-something that doesn't sound too rehearsed. 

4. Be yourself!! That is my #1 priority! Trust me, I want these companies to like me more than they know...but I want them to like me-not fake interview Amanda. 

I know everything is going to work out for me but I ask that everyone keep me in your thoughts!

Thank you everyone who has helped me on this journey and I couldn't have made it this far without your support.

Check back soon to hear about the rest of my NYC/NJ trip!