Nada Worry in the World

So. I just got out of my class called "Administration of Institutions Serving the Aged." I am currently in the process of writing a paper on Alzheimers Disease. And I am soon starting a project in which I have to provide groundwork for a "new service or program" in a long-term care facility. I chose to add a chapel to a nursing home, and I am so excited to sketch pew layouts, look up the cost of hymnal books, and research the best mass times for a retirement community!

Permission granted to laugh at me. I'm laughing at myself.

I guess I'm just really excited about my future career. It will take me wonderful places. I'm learning so much and I'm becoming more and more passionate about this field every day. And I think that's great!

So there, mom and dad. I am doing more at college than just having fun on the weekends.

Okay, that's enough of that, let's talk about how much fun I had over the weekend. 

GIRLS NIGHT OUT! WAAHHHH (feat. Nada, Graeters, and the best friends ever)

Guys, dressing up and going to a nice dinner with your friends is therapeutic and often times mandatory for common sanity. 

Faith in humanity restored: This random guy came up to us when we were hanging out at Fountain Square and gave us all flowers! 

He picked them out of some random flower bed, but a thoughtful gesture none-the-less? 

Just some girls on a mission to spoil their dinner with Graeter's ice cream. 

No regrets on my part!

This is the outside of one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati, Nada! It is only a block away from Fountain Square, and it has this relaxed modern edge (and the greatest music ever). It is imperative to make reservations at this place at least a week in advance if you want to eat at a decent hour. In our case, we were a little late to the game and had to settle for a 9:30 pm reservation. I think it's safe to say that none of us regretted it. 

By the way, keep in mind, friends. I say this is one of my favorite restaurants, but only when I'm in the mood to treat myself (which doesn't happen so often) because I grew up on Sam's Club hot dogs and $1 wing night at Jay's local bar. 24 hour Greek restaurants are still a crowd favorite dinner for me, the middle child of 7! All I'm trying to say is, don't worry, frugal Maddie is very much still here. 

^ My hot dates. We started with the trio chips and salsa thingy and the girls ordered mojitos. Tee and Hallie split some weird Mexican salad and steak fajitas. Lauren and Rose got chicken tacos. I had tried three different tacos before (all amazing) and wanted to try a new flavor, so I got barbacoa, which was heavenly! However, the chicken or pork tacos are still my favorite. 

This is just a teeny tiny view of the restaurant. You can see how colorful and unique it is. We had to walk up this wooden spiral staircase to get here. Right behind Tee is this see-through platform where you can see the atmosphere below. Even the bathrooms were beautiful! You could just tell that it's a GNO environment based on the fact that we were surrounded by a group of gals celebrating a birthday and another group celebrating Bachelorette party weekend. Ah, I forgot to mention, the service is amazing!

And to close, a blurry picture of downtown before hustling into an uber to get home and to a cozy bed. 

I wouldn't trade these amazing friends for anything in the world. I thank God for them every day and our amazing support system. They have helped me through some of my hardest days and they have also provided me with some of my happiest moments. 

If you ask me, that's something to celebrate, and often.  

Here's to several more GNOs to come (and to any implementations to our future mommy vacation in Bermuda with our tankinis and swim skirts).

My Month Expressed in Selfies

Upon reviewing the life of Mads over the past couple months, I had to laugh at myself for the amount of selfies I have found. This post is me showing myself how absolutely ridiculous I am for being able to document all my whereabouts for the past month solely through selfies. You may proceed.

Fat Tuesday Selfie

Xavier Basketball Do-Rag Selfie

Montgomery Inn Selfie

Omg-I-was-invited-to-Lauren's-dad's-birthday-dinner Selfie

Torey and Kari Being Matching-Scarf-Dinguses Selfie

(So, my sister Torey and her friend Kari picked me up from Xavier at the start of my spring break and we drove all the way to North Carolina for Torey's interviews for grad school. It was by far the farthest I have ever had to drive - 7 hours straight! It was also the second most breath taking drive, aside from Utah. Dad paid for hotel stays and food all weekend long, thanks dad! It was definitely a girl trip for the books.)

Happiness in a Selfie Selfies

(We went to Myrtle Beach for a day, just because. It was very strange walking on the beach in a winter coat and boots.)

Pumped Because She's My Sister Selfie

Murphy is My Only Friend Selfie                                                              Ball is Life Selfie

Food Friends are Forever Selfie

(for some reason) I-Brought-a-Cosmic-Brownie-to-the-Bar Selfie

XAVIER BUS RIDE SELFIE

Free Green Bruegger's Bagel Selfie                                   Proof I Celebrated St. Patrick's Day Selfie

   

(I love kilts and bagpipes!! Also featured in this parade, a hillbilly float with people in questionable costumes, a collection of Back to the Future cars, many many red firetrucks, a Statue of Liberty that does the limbo, and of course free Bruegger's bagels. The last part was especially funny, because the whole entire parade Abby was saying, "All I want is a bagel!" She nearly had a myocardial infarction when they came around the corner. Fun stuff, friends.) 

Winter Jam Selfie or We-Are-Freezing-But-Still-Happy Selfie

(Not entirely mad about our view while waiting for the gates to the Winter Jam open. Winter Jam is this crazy Christian Rock Concert, and it was only $10! You guys know I always find the cheapest ways to have fun. Yes, we did wait about an hour and a half in the frigid cold to get in, but we made the most of it by playing Heads Up while in line. However, our hands started to freeze while holding my phone up to our foreheads, so it was neat while it lasted. We definitely humored some cranky people in line.)

                         
                              Winter Jam Selfie                                      Scared of Skillet Selfie

(A picture of the crowd at Winter Jam! My favorite part was definitely when Hillsong United played Oceans. I was so surprised! I had no idea they were going to be at this concert and when they played that song, immediate goosebumps. Francesca Battistelli was definitely my second favorite performer. It's crazy how she gets up on that stage in front of thousands of people and still looks so humble. Her music truly reflects her mission. Oh, last thing, there was this hilarious band who had mini-trampolines and had choreographed jump/dances for their songs...and it was kinda hilarious/impressive/cute.)

 Sweet Sixteen Selfie

 My-Friend-Liz-is-Probably-Psycho Selfie                            Caputi and Twebs Selfie

Some Hilarious Doods Selfies

 (Real talk, y'all, it was pretty exciting when Xavier made it to the sweet 16. So exciting that we burnt a mattress in the middle of the street. I just liked standing around a bonfire and pretending it was summer with some of my favorite people. Don't worry. The firemen were all over this real quick.)

I-Got-The-Biggest-Slice Selfie
(yes this is worth documenting)
                                                            Stones XUBB Selfie

Hanging out with my Beautiful Friend Rose Selfie

 Da Fab 4 Goes Shopping Selfie

(These girls have been my best friends at Xavier since my first day here. It's been sad not seeing them as much this year, but whenever we get back together, it's like nothing ever changed.)

High School Best Friends Selfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(So glad I got to see my girls over Easter break. We only got to meet up for a couple hours, but that's alright! We all agreed that coming home for this break was the first time it actually felt "weird." Like all the sudden, South Bend Indiana wasn't exactly home. Considering the fact that Alexis (right) and her family moved to Kansas and Dana (left) goes to school in Chicago and my family will probably be moving away sometime soon, I think the "weird" feeling was pretty much justified. That being said, it was pretty neat that even though our lives are changing and we are all going our separate ways, as soon as we get back together, we are all still the same best friends and forever supportive and happy for each other. Till next time best friends! Not featured: Madeline and Emily and many many other high school best friends who I will always always love.)

So, to conclude, I must admit, I LOVE selfies!! Sometimes, they are necessary to document the situation and most of the time they provide some serious comic relief later on. Sometimes it's good to just take pictures of your friends, but sometimes it's important to get everyone's happiness documented, including your own! Selfies, you are wholesome and hilarious. You can be gross or you can be cute, but no matter what you are, you are not meant to inhabit in my instagram feed. Therefore, I will house you here, in my little blog.

Next phase, selfie stick??