She get it from her momma....

after taking mom out to eat for mothers day last week...

I would like to take this time to wish a very Happy Mothers Day to my mom, Joann Albergo Mancuso otherwise known as: JoJo. As many of you know, I'm pretty blessed to have an amazing mom. I could list the reasons for 100 blog posts but let me just explain a few. As many (unfortunately) know, it is not easy to be a single parent, especially when you become one in a matter of seconds. Since my dad died in 2004 JoJo has worked doublely hard to make sure Peter and myself missed nothing. She moved us each in and out of college (grad school, and my first grown up apartment). She is also there to drop everything when we call and even when she's not there she's supporting us in whatever we're doing from a distance. It is a blessing to have a mom who supports you unconditionally in whatever you do and is there to cheer you on along the way. She has given me the confidence try anything and is always there for me in case it doesn't go as planned.

But I'm not saying anything many of you don't know, she often does the same for you. She loves all of Peter and I's friends as if you were her own. JoJo is not only the mom to  Peter and I but to anyone that needs a mom. After all, it was JoJo who when grocery shopping in high school would pick up not only the snacks our familiy liked but all the snacks my best friends enjoyed as well. She also, of course is the mom to many of the clients she has served over the years. JoJo spends her life serving others and today I'd like to publicly thank her for all she has done. I am the woman I am today because of my mom.... I love you JoJo.

I would also like to shout outs to some of my other favorite moms:

- Karen Shanley, my second mom and another rockstar of a woman. I appreciate you always treating me like your own. Your support over the years is unmeasurable and I love you very much!

-My Godmother, Rosemary Albergo, thank you for everything you've done for me... I can't believe it's been a year since Italy.
-My Aunt Rosemarie, also an amazing mom and godmother to Petey and mom to my cousins Anthony & Mike.

Celebrate your mom today, she deserves it :)

It's May already?

It is amazing to me how quickly April flew by.... when I posted last I was halfway through the month of April and still that feels like forever ago. I honestly believe the spring always feels that way, particularly on a college campus. Now that exam week has hit I can finally take a breath, stop eating Aramark catering and enjoy the last few days of the academic year. It occured to me as I looked at facebook statuses yesterday how much my life has changed in the past year. I am so excited for those graduating from JMU CSPA tomorrow... that program prepared me for the amazing first year I have had and I am so excited to see what that group will do. I also share that excitement with my best friend LK, who is also graduting from Clemson's higher ed program and is about to embark on the journey of being a first year Student Affairs professional.

So many other exciting things have happend lately (or at least since my last post). First, as many of you know my dear friend Leslie Lehner and Jake Miller have gotten engaged. I have been lucky to be friends with Leslie since the summer of 03 when Katelyn Grant brought her to my dorm room at Virginia Wesleyn College during Virginia Beach Leadership Workshop to introduce me to this rising junior who was interested in running for City Wide SCA with myself and Lindsey Dowd (who would go on to be Katelyn's college best friend) small world. Leslie and I spent a few minutes talking and the rest is history. We actually ended up being sorority sisters (she at Tech and I at LU). Anyway, enough getting sappy. The truth is Leslie and Jake have been two of my favorite people to spend my time in VB with and I could not be happier for the two of them. I am honored to be a part of their special day :)

Of course ACE finished our year strong with our last event Festapalooza. To say I was the luckiest Advisor on Earth this year is the understatement of the century. It is every new professionals dream to inherit a group that is open, excited, hardworking and yearns to grow as an organization and individuals. I could not be prouder of this group as individuals and as an organization. I am a better person for knowing and each them and I am excited for next year because of the groundwork this group laid.

As the semester comes to a close I am excited about what is sure to be a busy but awesome summer filled with weddings, retreats, beach weekends, moving, NKOTBSB concerts, girls weekends, visits with BG, bridal showers and a bachelorette party :)

Until next time... lets shout out!

- Congrats to all the graduates this week and next: Kelly Ann Shanley - MSW, Lauren Kennedy, Shannon Mariner, CSPA 2011, Lauren Curtis, UNCW graduates (specifically my ACErs: Tyler, Katie, Mike, Sami, & Hillary)
-Congrats to my senior Medallian winners: Tyler, Shannon & Katie
-Excited for a fun Saturday with KTK parasailing :)
-Shout out to JoJo for Mothers Day - I feel a special post coming on :)
-Congrats to all of CSPA 2010 for making it through our first year as professionals (Jim and Donna, Jim and Jim and Donna...)
-Happy early birthday to Miss Rachel Ann Myers
-Good luck on the rest of exams to my students and little bro Petey
-Happy teacher appreciation week to all my teacher friends :)
-I hit my 10lb mark this week on ww! yay!

Up Next: Mothers day special and after that.... Waldie gets married (insert Lasso NOW)

Spring has Sprung...

Hello Friends!

Well spring in upon us and for those of you in Student Affairs you know this time of year as Banquet Season. This week kicked it off for me with the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards and our very own ACE Appreciation Banquet. Both were a huge success!

Alpha Delta Pi - Eta Alpha Chapter took home the Bradley Cup (Chapter of the Year)

ADPis with their Bradley Cup

The ACE awards were also a huge success recognizing an amazing year for an amazing organization.

Shannon, this year's ACE President

The Banquet Committee

Up next for banquets/receptions: RHA Awards, Student Org Appreciation Day, SGA Inauguration, Cornerstone Awards, Campus Life Extravaganza & Senior Luncheon. Thankfully, I have a slight dress addiction :)

It is strange to be wrapping up my first year at UNCW and it was bittersweet to review an amazing year at the ACE Banquet and realize how much has happened this year. As I told my ACErs the other night I have never been prouder than I am to be their advisor and I can't wait to see what's next. We still have three more programs to finish out the year so we are definitely not done but man we're close!

Yes, my facebook status did change this week,the truth is my status changed a while ago I just decided on a whim to change it on Monday night. Well, maybe not a whim, it was after spending a great weekend with the "new" boyfriend, Brian :) If I say much more, I know I'll embarrass him so... I'll just leave you with a picture from the weekend.

 

 

At the (rainy) Azalea Festival Downtown

I would be re missed if I did not give a shout out to my Hokies... I will be thinking of you all tomorrow <3

I also must give a shout out to two of my favorite people/brides-to-be who have birthdays tomorrow:

The first, Miss Caitlin Revene: Happy 23rd Birthday tomorrow! I love you so much and you have so much to be excited for in the next few months :)

And of course, my best friend in the whole world Miss Kelly Ann Shanley turns 26 tomorrow. She is this month's DGSC girl of the month:

At the Ocean View St. Patty's parade

DGSC weekend 2011

Baltimore, summer 2009

The top 5 reasons I love Kelly Shanley:

5. She always packs snacks wherever she goes
4. She sends about 10 cards a year, which always make me smile
3. She and I have shared wardrobes since 2001 and I we have vowed never to get too far apart in size that we can't share clothes when one visits the other
2. She will ALWAYS shake her head when I do something inappropriate but secretly I know she loves it (especially when I'm with Angela or KG)
1. She is the sister I never had, my best friend, the person who knows what I need when even I don't know and the person who has stood by me through everything for the last 10 years.

Shoutouts:

- Congrats to my Longwood turned Wilmington friend Katelyn Hackett on her engagement :)
- Good luck to the film committee this weekend with their annual program: Hawk-in
-Happy Birthday Tiff - hope that 90's party is rockin'
-Once again, thinking about those Hokies tomorrow <3
-Excited to see my family and friends next weekend in VB for Easter!
-To my friends interviewing and job searching... I'm cheering for all of you
-Yay! Glee returns this week :)
-Welcome back to freedom Shannon :)
-FYI seniors: less than a month, make it count!
-Go Caps! They are 1-0 with the Rangers right now. (Every relationship needs compromise, I have agreed to be a Caps fan for Mr. Gallagher as long as he roots for the Yankees) *with the caveat that he can root for his home team, the Orioles when they play each other*

A Quarter Century of Awesome :)

We did it! On Friday, April 1st ACE presented the spring concert, B.o.B. ft Playboy Tre & DJ Jason Smith. After months of surveying, planning, contracting and meetings we packed Trask with over 1400 people for this show. The day/night went well. Those of you in event planning/management know nothing is ever perfect but those hiccups are what make the stories that you laugh about later. For us there were a few that stood out:

- You will notice I am not wearing a red shirt in the above picture, that is because Bobby Simmons aka B.o.B loved our staff shirts so much that I promised him after the show that I would give mine to him. After he interrupted my "I'm so 'flippn' proud of you" speech I gave him my shirt... I offered an autograph... no go

-We were such worker bees on Friday that as soon as a truck pulled up to the loading dock with tables and chairs my students quickly unloaded and started to set them up when we realized, those weren't our tables and chairs :) It was from another company for another event...sweet life.

-Last and my favorite of course was the light breaking in the middle of the concert and dangling from the ceiling. After being made aware of the incident, we quickly had a "team huddle" on the main concourse and  

moved barricade to block off the area where the light would fall.

I can say I've never been more proud of a group of students for working so hard to make the event perfect. All positive attitudes, all smiles, all enthusiasm and of course the evening ended with a chorusline of people singing "happy birthday" and we all enjoyed an awesome cookie cake my students got me which read "Happy Birthday Stef, Tic Toc"

I was also lucky to have two of my favorite people in town to celebrate: Katelyn Grant and Angela Damiano :) They came to the concert with Jenn & Sarah! Saturday (my birthday) was perfect. Kate, Ang and I had panacakes, skyped Brian, shopped, had lunch at Dockside (by the water), watched the VCU/Butler game and then headed to a night out planned by my dear friends Sarah & Katie. A great dinner with friends at the Copper Penny then a night out downtown. It was an awesome birthday and I have not laughed that hard or had that much fun in a while :) The next morning we finished celebrating with Adrienne, Matt and Katie at Causeway Cafe enjoying a great breakfast!

 

So yes, awesome awesome birthday. I have a ton to be thankful for and have had a GREAT 25 years... I'm excited for many many more as I'm sure the best is yet to come. Thank you to my family and friends for the phone calls, cards, flowers and gifts and coming out to celebrate the other day. :) I hope everyone feels as loved on their birthday as I did.

Up next in life: a busy April filled with award ceremonies, birthdays, bridal showers, boyfriend visits, great programs and Easter.

Shout Outs:

• Congrats to Jane Arrowsmith for getting engaged!
• Thanks to my boss, Shannon for giving KTK and I her tickets to Darius Rucker, great concert last night
• So proud of Shannon, Tyler & Katie for being awarded Senior Medallions
• Good luck to my friends job searching
• Congrats to Ashley Carey for getting engaged
• Happy late birthday to my partner in crime Phillip Burns
• Congrats Peter on a successful golf tournament
• Thank you to KTK and Sarah for planning a great birthday
• Don't forget your taxes! They are due next week!
• Go Yankees! Yay for the start of baseball season!
• See you tomorrow BG :)

Dieting is easier when you're not the only one...

I've come to notice this time of year motivates not only me but others to get back on the horse. I have several friends of mine working on the famous WW plan... aka Weight Watchers. It's so much more helpful to be focusing on weight loss and exercise when you have other people doing it with you. For me it's my friends both here in Wilmington and in other places who I rely on for encouragement. Now, don't get me wrong I couldn't do it without a buddy in the meetings with me. What also makes it easier is so many of my colleagues doing as well. It's nice to share tips and tricks and celebrate in each other's successes. It's also nice to have friends to call when you can motivate yourself to run, get frustrated when you hit a plateau or celebrate with by texting my weigh-in results.

For those of you considering weight watchers, I think it's a great plan. I have struggled a little to adjust to this new plan but have seen nothing but results and maintenance. I am at my lowest weight since 2004 which I'm happy about and am still moving. Personally, my weight loss is slow and steady which is a result of a poor workout schedule and constant meals on the go.

This week I have vowed to journal (a weight loss key) and focus on working out. While it is always nice for people to notice my weight loss, as I've told my students the truth of the matter is, I'm 8 days shy of 25, there is no need to be overweight and dealing with the health issues that come with. Skinny has never = beauty in my book and the truth is if that's your only motivation I'm not sure how well you'll do. 15 lbs to go, I can do this.

In other news I took a great 10 day hiatus from Wilmington last week and got to see so many of my favorite people. I had a great time in VB celebrating St. Pattys day at the OV parade with the future Mr. & Mrs. Best and some other VB friends. Got to spend some quality time with Petey and JoJo, took a quick trip to see Grandma, took a Lancer day with Rachel and fun night with she and Klake, got to see Leslie Lehner & Jake Miller, had a wonderful lunch in Richmond with my Gbaby and soon to be bride Caitlin, Celebrated St. Pattys day celebration with Ang, Audrey and Tiff, visited with my bff Kgrant and her boo Jarek, a visit with my big and Brian, got to see my favorite Marymount faces, got pedicures with my favorite girls, took on the city (and failed) with some of my other DGSC loves and of course some great time with BG :) Who could ask for a better week?

Coming soon: ACE's Big Spring Show April 1st & I think I'm turning 25?

Shoutouts:

-Happy early birthday to Miss Jen Stollery, I'll wear a pirate hat for you :)
-Good luck and have fun to everyone traveling to ACPA!
-Congrats to Casie who has started a new job since my last post
-Happy late birthday to my big and Sam Cohen, two of my favorite sisters
-Congrats to Chris and Caitlin who have bought their first home
-Good luck to Petey and Phi Tau on their annual Golf tournament next week

My Baby Brother is 22...how did that happen?

I can NOT believe tomorrow 3/3/11 my little brother, Peter Thomas Mancuso turns 22! Clearly my one and only baby brother and my #1 blog follower deserved his own blog post. For those of you who has never met Peter or "Petey" probably don't know how awesome he is. Now, don't get me wrong he has done some dumb things in his life (see above picture). It probably all started as baby when he put his fingers in his mouth then stuck them in a light socket...TWICE. However, I think that may have been him rebelling from me singing the Dirty Dancing soundtrack to him over and over again.

I just want to take the opportunity to publicly let Petey know how much I do love him. Not everyone can call their sibling one of their best friends, but I can. I am extremely proud of my little bro for not only what he does but how he does it. Peter is one of the most selfless and giving people I know. He is always thinking of his friends and family and does all that he can to give them all the support and love he can. I am continually proud of him for all that he does and know that Big Pete feels the same.

Happy Birthday Peter! I'm sorry I can't be at Macadoos with you this year but I look forward to seeing you next week and celebrating. I love you, thank you for being the best little brother ANYONE could ask for :)

Tealin' Back to Normal Again....

Good Morning America (Spain and Italy),

To best way to describe the last two weeks of my life is the feeling of being a proud momma. My ACErs knocked Homecoming out of the park! They set new traditions, celebrated being a Seahawk, provided a week of outstanding programs and made my first Homecoming incredibly memorable. Highlights? Of course!




ACE Exec at the blacklight party after annoucing the 2011 Spring Show: B.o.B!

  

















ACE Exec members with the newly crowned Homecoming Queen Shannon Rodenheiser and 2nd Runner Up Tyler Jones

 

Overall, Homecoming was A HUGE success! Shout out to Megan & Michael, my spirit chairs who really spearheaded what I have been told was the BEST Homecoming UNCW has ever seen.


As you all also may have heard the ACE BIG SPRING SHOW was announced during Homecoming as well... it is B.o.B on Friday, April 1st in Trask Coliseum.



What is life after Homecoming? Hiring a new exec board, supporting Girls Rule in their final games of the season, back to hanging out with my amazing friends and planning some time off in March to visit my family and friends.

Today was the last regular season game for Girls Rule. We ended the season 5-3 which I can't be mad about. We will play in a play-off game on Thursday and if we win the Championship is next Saturday (mark your calendars, we'll be there!) Today, I dealt with some tears. I've been challenging my girls to be more aggressive and because of that Morgan, one of my post players fouled out. I had to explain that being a post player (and big girl) meant you would get pushed around more...not sure it helped the cause but I think it stopped the tears. I am trained to deal with college students not 9 year olds...let's be real here.

I am excited for the Oscars tomorrow. I have seen many of the films and think there were some great ones this year. I will be watching at my dear friend Sarah's Oscar party where she has asked us each to bring an oscar or movie themed dish. She has asked me to prepare "pigs in a blanket" to represent the arm in the rock for 127 hours (yes, she is serious about this). I'm on the fence, may be a game time decision.

When did it become March? I better recognize the DGSC girl of the month before the month is over! Drumroll please....

M. Wade aka Makesha

Name:  Makesha Wade
Birthdate: December 29
Vocation: Waitress/Bartender at Union Jacks
College: JMU (go Dukes)

Top 5 things I love about her:

5. I can tell just by looking at her that what she is thinking (or who she is judging)
4. She will ALWAYS be a wing woman ALWAYS
3. She will go with the flow no matter what!
2. She encourages Angela and I to be obnoxious and occasionally will join in :)
1. She is the most consistent, fun and thoughtful friend a girl could ask for! I love you Mdot. :)


Shoutouts? I think so

-Happy National Badge Day to my Panhellenic Sisters this week
-Happy 22nd Birthday to my baby brother Peter
-Though they don't read blogs- proud of my team Girls Rule
-Congrats to Ms. Shannon Rodenheiser on being crowned Homecoming Queen
-Good luck to all the future Student Affairs Professionals waiting to hear back from grad programs
-18 days BG :)