The Classy Thirty

This past weekend I had an amazing trip to VA/DC/MD. It was my friend Megan's 30th birthday and there was a wonderful party planned at the Baltimore inner harbor Saturday, I really wanted to attend so my parents got me a flight home. I arrived in VA Friday and went out to eat with my parents. Then Saturday morning my dad made me his famous cinnamon rolls. Which was really a special treat because he usually only makes them for Christmas morning. My parents totally spoiled me while I was in their care. 

 

 



Saturday I drove up to Baltimore with my friend Denise. Megan had booked a suite at a hotel at the inner harbor. We all walked around the inner harbor and took some great pictures! It was so nice to be with friends I hadn't seen in so long. I love reconnecting, and we always pick up right where we left off. My friends got to feel the baby kick, which was also a super great experience.

 



That night we had reservations at Megan's favorite restaurant, Pazos. It was tapas and everything was DELICIOUS. The restaurant itself is GORGEOUS. I had been a little curious what the night was going to be like since I was the only pregnant person there, but it was totally fun! The restaurant even had special non-alcoholic drinks which was nice because I got to pretend to participate in the festivities!

 



Singing Happy Birthday!

 



We went to one more place after dinner and then were back at the hotel by 1:00am. I had such a great time with everyone, it was sad when the night was over. I am however, thankful that I got to be there and spend time with my friends!

Sunday I made my way back to VA. My mom had an apple pie waiting for me, again I am spoiled. We went shopping together. I got a pair of pj bottoms at Old Navy and a top and dress from Target. Thanks Mom! I then spent the rest of the time watching football before one last dinner with my parents. Sunday night is traditionally steak night at my parents house, and this past Sunday was no exception. I haven't wanted a lot of meat during my pregnancy, but I could not pass this up!

After dinner they dropped me off at the airport and I was back in Georgia by 10pm. Kyle picked me up from the airport and I was home and in bed by midnight. I must admit I am struggling a little bit at work today and the weekend has caught  up with me, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!!

On friendship

Friendships are like most relationships and they change over time. I learned this lesson first hand when I got married. It was an adjustment, priorities changed and my life changed. Of all my close girlfriends, I am the only one that is married and I am now the only one that will have a baby. I was talking to my friend Briana the other day and I told her that getting married and having a baby has been one of the most isolating things for me. I don't have any "mom" friends to ask questions to or share stories with. I don't want to turn into the friend that is always talking about baby stuff. When you are in different life phases and hundreds of miles apart how do you maintain the friendship?? The answer to this question is ever changing. There is give and take on each side. And understanding that needs to be sought from both ends.

Briana mentioned that she feels like she is judged when she shares her single girl stories. I was shocked to hear her say this. I told her that I was more often jealous of her and all the stuff she got to do. When she was going to a bunch of concerts this summer I was upset because I was spending money on furniture, not fun stuff. When she talked about happy hour and going out, I wanted to cry because my happy hour has become pajamas and Netflix with a Tervis full of ice water. And I don't feel like I can complain about it, or mention it because I chose this. I chose to get married and I chose to start a family and be in this place. So instead I don't say anything, or I avoid the conversation all together.



Briana had tried calling me July and August and I never called her back. Life was crazy with the new job, move, baby and start of the school year. I didn't want our phone conversation to turn into me bitching about how I couldn't manage my life, so part of me was trying to wait it out and let things return to normal for myself. When we finally did talk I mentioned how overwhelmed I was (and still am) and struggling with the life changes. After our phone conversation she said she realized and understood my isolation issue and that it was temporary. To her our years and years of friendship were more important than this adjustment phase right now, and she could either try to help or turn it into as issue that would place more stress on the situation and risk tearing things apart.



That is friendship. I am grateful for friends that are understanding. It isn't like my current life situation will always be this way. Eventually life calms down. Who knows, I could move back to VA and be physically closer to friends and family making this situation so much easier. Or the shoe could be on someone else's foot and they are dealing with major life changes that challenge a friendship. Again, it is important to seek understanding about situations. Being a good friend is confronting issues in the friendship and telling each other how we honestly feel. I appreciated Briana sharing that she was upset I wasn't returning her phone call, or that she felt like I was judging her. It allowed me to apologize and explain. It allowed a solution and the opportunity to move on. For me the worse feeling in the world is to be overwhelmed in life and then on top have that have someone mad at me. A friend is supposed to make you feel better, not worse. I know I am not perfect. I need to give my friends more credit. Let them in when I am feeling out of control. Because honestly, I wouldn't have made it this far without them.

Shamrock da Block!

I am getting back from a much needed four day weekend. Thursday I left Athens to go to DC to surprise my parents. Let's just say the looks on their faces were hilarious when I rang the doorbell. It took both of them a little while to process that I was in fact in DC. 

1. I got to spend QT with my dog nephew Shadow

2. I made Mom break her "No wine on weekdays" rule. It's a stupid rule anyway.

3. I got presents from my parents! New arm pretties from Alex + Ani.

Friday I headed down to Richmond for a reunion with some sorority sisters! There was a St. Patty's Day block party and Briana hosted brunch before we all headed downtown.

1. Yummy cupcakes, Irish soda break and a Rolo pot of gold.

2. Shamrock straws and Bud Light. Keepin it classy.

3. I miss these girls every day.

4. Making new friends!

Some highlights:

1. Yes this lady wore a green bikini with a cut up t-shirt on top. Out in public. 

2. Meet Tess. The garden gnome, and new addition to Briana's apt.

3. Bud Light out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shot glasses.

Super fun weekend with super fun people. Now back to reality.

Weekend Update

I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans to share my weekend!

1. One my way to Atlanta to visit Brianna, that's my excited face. She is in Atlanta twice a year for a conference, so it is the perfect excuse for a reunion!

2. Selfie in the elevator with Brianna.

3. We  celebrated National Margarita Day on Friday.

4. Emerald nail polish. Loving. Painted my nails while Brianna was giving her presentation on leadership at SEIFC.

5. Thrift shopping with Kyle on Sunday, just call him Macklemore. Found this gem of a leather jacket. Hilarious.

Friday Confessional

Linking up with Aubrey at High Heeled Love for Friday Confessional.

I confess... I have slacked on mileage this week. I only made it to the gym Tuesday. YIKES. 
I confess... I have been looking forward to my trip to Atlanta all week. Can't wait to see this girl!

I confess... no buy February got really hard this week when we stopped by the outlets. I am ready for some new spring dresses!
I confess... I am so proud of my brother  for being sworn into the Navy this week. He leaves for OCS next month. 

I confess... I love the nights after Gigi has been at daycare. She comes home and passes out on the couch all night.

I confess... I am obsessed with juicing. I love trying all different kinds of  fruits and veggies. 
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Welcome back!

I have not posted to my blog since November 30th. That is a long time. I had many many commitments and priorities much bigger than this blog during the month of December, including a two week vacay to see family.But I am going to share something, I am actually struggling over the blog. I feel in a blog rut. Lacking my own creativity and originality. And I was asking myself, why blog at all? I have also struggled with this blog content being all been about positive life things or shallow things. But I think the lack of posting happened because I don't want to lack authenticity. Sharing struggles is just as important as sharing celebrations. So I am going to recap the last month and a half in quick bullet points.

• End of November/ beginning of December I applied and interviewed for a new position at my current institution. The position was a promotion and a shift in responsibilities. I let myself get really excited about this new opportunity. And then, I didn't get the offer. I was upset and frustrated. The fall semester was really draining for me for some reason and I have no idea why. I just felt so tired from work and a little bored of some of the things I was doing. I thought the new opportunity would help pull me out of the funk, and then I didn't get it. I was feeling even more down in December after that.  

The part of my job I never stop loving... working with these wonderful ladies!

• But then my brother and sister in law got Kyle and I a joint birthday present: a nights stay plus meals at the Cheateau Elan resort in North Georgia. This break couldn't have come at a better time. We booked a couples message, enjoyed a wine tasting and great food. One of the best birthday present s ever.
• Kyle and I left mid- December to go stay with my family for a week and then his family for a week. I was really excited about being away from work and recharging my batteries. Highlights:
• Spending time with my parents, brother and sister in law
• Getting to spend some time with great friends
• Christmas traditions

Dad's homemade cinnamon buns, Christmas morning tradition.

New family photo!

• Gigi's wagon from my parents for Christmas

My dad pimpped Gigi's ride

• Gigi seeing snow for the first time
• Spending time with the in laws 
• Going to the Allentown Farmer's Market and eating a kiffel
• Quality time with our nieces

Peeps Festival

• After all the driving from our break (30+ hours) I returned to Athens still tired and not ready to go back to work. It was a short first week, but PACKED with a conference, training and then Saturday I was at state wide officer training for Zeta. I just felt like I wasn't ready to return. Then last Sunday I watched a Gilmore Girls marathon (I got the full box set as a Christmas gift for Kyle) and ate Chinese take out and magically it fixed everything. Well not everything, but returning to work Monday didn't feel as bad. I have established a routine this week and feel more like my self.

So excited to work with this amazing group of students!

• Finally, January will mark the one year mark of Kyle and I trying to start a family. Kate from The Small Things Blog posted yesterday her own struggle and when I read it I felt like she was speaking for me. I have had so much anger over this and I just need to let go. I know being angry or frustrated is definitely not helping the situation. And I need to stop thinking of it as "trying." My type A personality and control freak tendencies need to settle down. I don't know what the future holds, but letting go and not obsessing over this one aspect is freeing and that is how I want to move forward. 

So there is the recap. I know, it's a lot. But life has ups and downs and I feel like I should be able to share it all. So here is to REAL blogging in 2013!

Halloween in Columbus

Friday was fall break in Athens, and Kyle and I took an opportunity to go to Columbus, GA before some of our friends moved to Colorado. For some reason when I told people we were going to Columbus they thought Ohio, hello people we live in Georgia.

This was Gigi's first REAL road trip. I will post how it went tomorrow for tail wagging Tuesday. But this picture is so cute I had to share.

I got to see on of my favorite puppies, Miss. Penny. She is a mini Australian Shepard/ Poodle mix and is so sweet.

We were glued to the TV for the GA/FL game. This is how Gigi spent the game... sleeping. So happy the Dawgs won!

Our friends hosted a Halloween party Saturday night. Kyle and I are not the most creative when it comes to Halloween costumes. One of his students told him he should be a hipster pirate, so I became his parrot.

Gourds as candle holders, so cute. Someone has been on Pinterest.

Pumpkin cupcakes with pumpkin cream cheese frosting, so delicious! I think the recipe is from Skinny Taste.

Fire pit, so necessary! When we get a backyard I want a fire pit. My parents have one too and I am so jealous.

It was a great trip and we had a great time visiting friends. Sometimes it is nice to just get out of town for awhile. Thinking about it I can't remember the last time we left town, probably July. This morning was so much more tolerable. Happy Monday!!

Spontaneous Weekend

What happens when your best friend calls on Wednesday night and says she has Friday off and she is coming to visit? You have a spontaneous weekend!!!!! And let me say this was a much needed girls weekend. My friend Briana drove down from VA to spend the weekend with me!

We went shopping downtown... in some of the more eclectic Athens boutiques!

She rand the Chapel Bell...

We went to Terrapin....

And listened to an "interesting" band...

Then we had brunch at my favorite place in town....

I got the Crab Benedict...

She got stuffed French Toast...

Then the rest of Sunday was spent with Gigi watching TV. (Kyle and I caught up on our TiVo after Briana left, I was so excited about the season premiere of The League. Does anyone else watch this show on FX? It is HILARIOUS!)

Thank GOD for such a relaxing, laid back, easy weekend.

Music Midtown

My first real festival experience was Hangout Fest in 2011. You can ready about that here. SO MUCH FUN! I love live music. Living in Athens helps, but it is always nice to see a bunch a bands in a short period of time. Well I think it is NO COINCIDENCE that two of friends have asked about Music Midtown in Atlanta in September.

I am going to take this a a sign that I probably should put something together for the girlfriends to travel down to GA and go listen to some awesome bands! Brianna and Savannah if you are reading this is directed AT YOU! Expect an email in your inbox within the hour.

Recovery

So the 4th of July really threw me off, not only because it was the middle of the week, but I was the only one in the office so that was no fun. For the 4th of July, Kyle invited friends of his from high school that are in GA for a little while. We went to their wedding in PA last December and it was good to see them again. They brought their dogs, who were ADORABLE, and really got Kyle serious about getting a dog (YAY!). So you might be wondering, where are the super fun pictures from your 4th celebration.... answer: here is the only pic:

Kyle and I took our guests out on the 3rd. And this is all I have to show for it. If it is any indication, we had a great night. Wednesday we (recovered) grilled out and I made mac and cheese, yeah no pictures from that. We skipped fireworks to stay at home and continue the party. However I was in bed at 11pm because I had to go to work. LAME. I was the only one there on the 5th. Super lame. It was great having guests visit and we hope to get to see them before they leave GA.
Kyle and I spent the weekend on call and recovering from our 4th of July and on call. Random, we bought a black out curtain for the bedroom, it works great! I almost slept until 11am on Sunday. CRAZY, can't let that happen again! And I tried the Red Velvet Cake ice cream from Ben and Jerry's, IN LOVE. Tastes just like cake!

We also watched 21 Jump Street, pretty funny.

I am actually excited for Monday. My boss is back and everyone else is back and we are in a routine again, thank the lord! Hope everyone is having as great as a Monday as I am!!!

IM BACK!!!!!!!

Wow, I haven't posted in over two months! I would say it was becuase I was busy (which I was) but it also was a little bit, "why should I continue posting?" Answer: for myself! I do like using this blog to keep memories for myself and others in my life to read about. I think I just need to keep it as orinigal as possible! Be myself. Afterall it is my blog! Ok so let's catch up on the last two and a half months of life!

In April I had a lot of fun visits from friends! First, Soule came to Athens to visit AND WE WENT TO THE RODEO! So much fun!

Then Brianna came to Athens to visit for Twilight, which is an annual bike race downtown. It was also a friends birthday weekend. We of course spent a lot of time at our fav bar, Pauley's.

In the beginning of May my family had to make a very hard decision. Maddy became really sick and her health declined rapidly. She was put to sleep. It was so hard not being there with everyone and Maddy. I miss her terribly. Everyone does.

This was from my trip hone at the end of March.

After graduation I attended LeaderShape with some AMAZING people. I was a cluster facilitator and loved making connections and building relationships with my cluster family. This week long experience was VERY transformative for everyone involved. I can't wait to see the students again and continue on our journey from LeaderShape! I had never worked on visioning before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you ever have the opportunity to particiapte in a LeaderShape, DO IT!

My LeaderShape Liger family.

I got back to Athens and left immeadiately for the Outer Banks to celebrate my brother's wedding. A week long at the beach was JUST what the doctor ordered and Kyle and I had SOOOO much fun. Hands down best wedding!

 

16 bedroom house on the beach, such a wonderful view!

I took the bride horseback riding for her bacherlorette! Awesome!

The bachelor party chartered a boat and went fishing. Here is Kyle's tuna!

Rehersal dinner was catered at the house. So many fun 'props!'

My pretty momma.

My brother on the day of his wedding!

My wedding "look"

Mom, Dad and me.

When Kyle and I got back to Ath we started working on our summer concert line up. We went to see Dawes at the Melting Point. GREAT SHOW! The guys stayed after to sign autographs and take pictures. I was really surprised. Griffin the drummer makes the best expressions while he plays. Totally entertaining.  

Last week I went to an Athens Virginia Tech Alumni event. We went to Pints and Paints, a local business, to create a VT masterpiece. See my artwork below! I love Athens Hokie events!

Last weekend I went to Tennessee to see Brianna! I haven't been to see her in TN for like a year (she always is nice enouch to come to ATH). We went to Blackhorse and had beer cheese dip (that stuff is amazing and I could eat it all day). We went to Nashville Saturday night and I had an amazing time. I could totally see Kyle and I moving to Nashville, if it wasn't even further from our families.

My fav pup, Bodie!

"we are acting like 14 year olds!"

The one and only Ryman

Live music in EVERY BAR, I will take it!

Recreating famous Cash photo!

So there you have it. My life the last two months summed up in one GIANT post. Hopefully I can jump back on the blog train!