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Since I last posted, I spent some time with Mother and Daddy in Gatlinburg and in Florence. I drove down to Florence after a ridiculous morning involving my social security card, a safe and a locksmith. Needless to say, I have two keys now and a good locksmith should anyone in the Nashville area need one. 

We left Florence late since we had to wait on the sheetrock people to leave for the day. More on my parents' home renovation later...if it ever gets finished. It was right before midnight when we finally made it to the condo. We actually discussed whether it counted in the guest book if we arrived after midnight. We decided that if we sleep, it counts as a night. 

I didn't do much while we were in the mountains. Dad climbed Mount Le Conte with some neighbors while Mom and I went shopping for a second time. The first trip was one of my famous whirlwind trips where I spend far too much money in far less than an hour. If you've been on one of these trips with me, you know what I'm talking about. 

My second set of parents, Mother's best friend and her husband, also have a condo near ours and we had to invite them over for the infamous pizza night. It's so fun to cook for them and spend time with good friends. It's also fun to have my very own personal sous chef in Vickey!

The last day of our trip, we took a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railway. I'd definitely recommend this if you have the time and the weather is nice. 

I forced everyone in to taking pictures while we waited for the train to get moving. I had to try out the camera in my new 5S, right?

After we got back, I spent some precious time with Grandaddy. I know this is a blurry iPad picture, but he was in such a good mood that night and I love this picture. 

I started my new job three weeks ago today. My desk looks a little better than this now that my docking station came in. All the cords are somewhat in order and I've had requests to decorate other people's cubes since mine is so cute. Their words, not mine. I just brought a few frames and a couple special items, but it's starting to feel like home. 

I think I'm getting the hang of my new responsibilities and I don't have a feeling that I'm constantly drowning. I think organization and a daily to-do list are going to be key in getting acclimated. Of course, remembering I work downtown now helps. I haven't gotten off at the ring exit...yet. I'm sure it's just a matter of time. 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner as well as the delivery of my parents' new cooktop and refrigerator. I've been joking that they bought me new "toys" to play with. Definitely the kind of toys I like!

After Thanksgiving, it will be time to head back to Disney. I can't wait to go although I wouldn't mind a strong sleeping pill on the way down there this year. I learned my lesson and I'm bringing a real pillow this year instead of a travel one. 

I saw my first Christmas lights of the season tonight. I am just not ready for lights outside yet. I have to admit that I thought about putting up my tree last weekend, but I decided it was just too early. I've never put up a tree until after Thanksgiving and that's the way I want it to be. If that makes me Scrooge, so be it. 

I haven't been sleeping well lately, so I'm going to sleep while I'm feeling tired. Until next time...

New Adventures

I turned in my notice at my old job two weeks ago this past Monday.  My last day was last Tuesday. I start my new job next Monday. Now to recap the whirlwind that resulted in my new job!

I had met with recruiters previously, but I hadn't seen any opportunities that seemed right for me. Going to industry would mean better hours, but also sacrificing benefits such as time off. I didn't really see the benefit in going to a similarly-sized firm. I wasn't sure what was right for me, but in certainly hadn't considered making the move to a far larger international firm. Funny how things change...

I saw the job posting on LinkedIn and thankfully already had an "in" through a good friend of one of my best friends in Nashville.  I got a little more info on the job and was still interested, so I had a casual interview with my friend's friend over coffee. We both knew each other socially, so this was a great opportunity to talk a little more freely that typical in a first interview. 

Before I knew it (ie - less than four hours later), I had an office visit for the next day. They were interested and I was, too, so it was very exciting. At this point, only family and a few close friends knew I was interviewing. 

I got a phone call the night of my office visit that convinced me an offer was in the works. I sat on pins and needles for a day before getting my verbal offer. After a little negotiating, I had a new job! All in about a week!

I was scared about turning in my notice, but it went as I expected. I had a great experience at my old firm and made great friends, but it was time to say goodbye. 

I'm very sad about leaving one of my closest Nashville friends at my old firm, but we are determined to keep our friendship. We've been texting and emailing since I left and we have plans for a nice long dinner next week. Can't wait!!

Another great thing about this job is that the third member of our little "trio" at my old job is now working only one floor below my new office. Since I'll be working downtown for the first time, I'm so excited about having a lunch buddy when the people in my office don't want to go out!

I'm sure I'll be nervous Sunday night, but right now I'm very excited for the challenge!!

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. 

Overly Emotional

It must be the long days I'm working leading up to the September 15th deadline at work (or my terrible sleep lately from worrying about work projects--or oversleeping and getting to work late), but I have been an emotional basket-case today.

The waterworks started when I watched this video that I saw on my Facebook page.  This little man reminds me so much of Grandaddy and his sweet relationship with my Grams.  Even looking at him reminds me of Grandaddy--except Grandaddy doesn't have near that much hair.  He always said he didn't have much hair as a result of playing "beauty shop" with me when I was little.

I thought I was finished crying when my phone notified me that I had been tagged in a picture from Instagram.  One of our sweet sitters, Betsy, posted the sweetest three pictures of Grandaddy with her 6-7 month old son.  Grandaddy's face was lit up in the pictures and they made my heart so happy.  Most of the time I feel like Grandaddy is just existing in this life until he is reunited with Grams, but these pictures were proof to me that he can still find joy even though his body is feeble and his mind is confused.  **I can't figure out how to save the picture from Instagram to put here, but feel free to friend me on there if you want to see it!**

Seeing him with Owen makes me think back to when I was little and saw Grams and Grandaddy at least six days a week.  Grandaddy worked until I was in middle school, so when he came home for lunch or at the end of the day, he would open the back door and whistle.  His whistle was very distinctive and no one has ever been able to replicate it.  Sadly, he doesn't remember it now.  As long as I heard his whistle, I would come running for my hug from Grandaddy. 

Grandaddy made sure I got to play while I was at their house.  I had a play set, a swing hanging from the pecan tree in the backyard, a slide he handmade for me and, best of all, he restored Mom and Beth's fort for me.  They couldn't have a tree house, so they got a two story fort when they were little.  I remember playing drive-through from the second story with Grandaddy.  For some reason, I threw the pretend food down to him instead of him "driving through" to get it.  I don't know why I thought that was the thing to do?!  We also gave Grams a fit when he let me help him re-shingle the fort.  Helping basically consisted of sitting up there with him while he did the work, but Grams was absolutely certain something bad would happen to one or both of us.  I wasn't worried--there was no reason to be afraid of anything as silly as falling off the roof when Grandaddy was there to protect you!

I wish we could do all the good times all over again...my memories will always linger on...

Now I'm going to start crying again!  I think it must be pretty obvious to anyone who knows me how much I love my precious Grandaddy and what an amazing influence he has been on my life.

Birthday Recap

Even though today is my actual birthday, the festivities began last weekend. 

Saturday, I had a hair appointment first thing. I was a week overdue to have my hair done and I was seriously starting to go crazy. After my appointment, Mom and I went to a few stores looking for birthday presents. I ended up with a monogram door hanger and a pair of earrings. 

We ran a few more errands before going to Ford City to eat at Stanfield's. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded and we were headed back to Florence in just over an hour. We visited with Grandaddy, Mother's sister and her older daughter before heading home for cake. Mom put two candles on my cake and I joked that they might be trick candles. I don't think Mom intended it to work out this way, but they were trick candles and I blew them out four times before finally dunking them in water!

Sunday, I went to early church with my parents before choir practice and 11 o'clock church. My sweet choir friends sang Happy Birthday to me before we went upstairs to the Sanctuary. After church, my friend Becky, her sister, Teresa, and I went to lunch after church. As I said on Facebook, if the three of us had enough time together, I think we could solve all of the world's problems--or at least catch up on everything worth knowing in Florence!

Today, my sweet work friends definitely made sure I had a good day. My friend (and work mentor), Melissa, picked me up on her way to work so I wouldn't have to drive myself. My other close friend at work, Sandy, brought donuts for our department and even brought a special one for me! (I might or might not have eaten my cinnamon sugar donut and then a chocolate one several hours later!) We had a baby shower during lunch, so these sweet girls took me to Chuy's tonight to celebrate. I'm so lucky to have both of them in my life and I'd be lost without either of them!

Another friend from work made an interesting discovery lately. The Publix she shops at had pieces of the Toomer's Corner trees on sale. When she mentioned it, I thought that it had to be fake. This morning, she came in with a gift for me--my very own piece of the actual Toomer's Corner trees--certificate of authenticity enclosed! How funny that pieces of the tree would end up at a Publix in Goodlettsville, Tennessee!!

Mom and Dad weren't able to come see me today as we originally planned. I have to admit that I was quite upset when I found out about this. I have spent every birthday with Mom and only missed one with Dad until today. There just wasn't a way to make it work this year.  We talked several times today and I know they both would have been here if it was at all possible. They sent a beautiful arrangement of flowers to my office which certainly brightened up this gloomy, drizzly day. 

I'm at home next to Emma now. It's been  a full day of celebrations interrupted by a little bit of work here and there. I've had many birthday wishes on Facebook and sweet texts from dear friends. 26 doesn't feel any different than 25 so far, but it's been a great reminder of all the special people that make my life so much fun!

10 Years Ago...

...I was nervously awaiting taking my driver's test the next morning.  The weather forecasters were predicting rain and it was also the first day of my Junior year of High School.  I practiced with Dad in the days leading up to my birthday, but, being the last in my class to turn 16, I'd heard plenty of horror stories about the awful people at the State Trooper's station and was basically petrified of them.

Roses from my Aunt, Beth

On the morning of the test, it was raining.  Mom and I were there an hour early to be at the first of the line, but they would not let me take the test until the rain stopped and the roads were completely dry.  Shortly before lunch, I finally managed to take my test.  I have no idea what the tester said at the end, but the sentence ended with "pass", so I was happy.  I dropped Mom off at her school and drove to Bradshaw and checked in just in time for the first half of French III and lunch.

I was a baby!!

After school, I picked up Mom and her friends took me to Trowbridge's for an Oh My Gosh--a brownie with ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce and cherries on top.  It's a plate full of sinful deliciousness that's best shared with 4 or 5 people.  I think I'd go in to a diabetic coma if I ate an entire serving by myself!

Apparently, I didn't smile with teeth back then.

 Ten years ago, the biggest thing in my life was getting my Driver's License.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself living the life I do now.