Lots of catching up!

Since I last posted, things have been quite eventful!

I went to Gatlinburg with Mother and Daddy for Labor Day weekend. I took off the Tuesday after, so we enjoyed a little more family time before heading home. We didn't see any bears in this trip despite this footprint the week before. 

Next, I had the September 15th deadline at work for extended corporate and partnership returns. As much as I wanted that deadline to pass, it also meant my last days working with one of my best friends. Melissa got a great new job and I'm very happy for her, but, at the same time, I'm very sad for me. 

September also marked my first Junior League meetings. I'm a provisional this year (with Melissa), so this year is about learning what the League does and how to get involved. 

Last weekend, I went home for a visit. Mother and Daddy are starting some major renovations to their house and I wanted to see the selections that have been made in person. Mom and I also needed to finally pick out glasses for her. I was able to relieve Mom and spent some of her weekend time with Grandaddy so she could rest. I'm always glad to see my sweet boy!! 

Also, Dad joined the iPhone team and I tried to help him understand how it works.  If he could just remember his Apple ID and password, we'd be golden!

Last Sunday, I rushed back to Nashville after church to go to a friend's Pampered Chef party. We had fun at the party, I ordered a few things and I ended up staying most of the evening. I brought Emma with me to play with my friend's kids and she was passed out that night from all the fun she had! They talked me in to hosting a party in October, so let me know if you want to come (or order online)!

This weekend, I've been pretty puny. I woke up Saturday with a terrible headache that hasn't completely gone away. I actually went back to bed for a while with a pillow over my head. I'm popping Tylenol every 4 hours and I'm able to function now. I had to work for a few hours yesterday, but I was alone and no one saw me without makeup! Today, I decided that getting up and going to church might make me feel better. It didn't, but I'm up anyway. I'm going to alternate resting with cleaning and laundry and see how that goes!

Changing Habits

If you know me well, you know I am most certainly not a morning person. I typically don't speak first thing in the morning. It's a struggle every day to get up and get to work on time. The only time I'm awake before my alarm goes off is when I'm looking forward to something going on that day and can't wait for it to happen--like a child on Christmas morning! Thankfully, I don't have to clock in or be in a classroom at a certain time, but I'm trying to improve my morning habits nonetheless. 

For the past few weeks, I've really been trying to get up when my alarm goes off. Doing so gives me an hour to get ready and thirty minutes (or less) to get to work with an additional thirty minutes to spare before I'm "technically" supposed to be at work. Getting up when my alarm goes off is the optimum situation. However, until recently, this never happened as I have a terrible habit of walking across the room, hitting snooze and going back to sleep. 

I've been so busy at work lately that getting to work early is the only way to survive. Somehow, my subconscious seems to know I need to wake up since I usually wake several times during the night and have to reassure myself that "No, you didn't turn off your alarm. It's still dark outside." It's really quite annoying. 

I'm trying to make an effort to be in bed relaxing or trying to sleep by 10PM. I can manage on less than 7-8 hours sleep, but the cumulative effect of sleep deprivation is not pretty. Exhibit A: How I look and feel on April 15th. 

I'm also trying to pick out my clothes for the next day the night before. That definitely saves time out of my morning routine. 

I always manage to get a little bit of extra restful time after my alarm goes off and I get up. One of my very favorite things about my house is that my bathroom has a large window and I can start getting ready in the mornings without turning on the lights. This is a weird quirk I've had since childhood, but was unable to do in college or in my apartment here. I don't ever turn on the lights until I start my makeup!

Let me know if you have any advice for getting up and going in the mornings. I'm all ears!

It's getting close to 10 o'clock and I can't keep my eyes open any longer. Lets hope I have good start to the day tomorrow and get up on time! I've got too much work to do to sleep in.