Farewell Juneau

Today we left Juneau. Im writing to you at the Seattle airport. I don't want to leave. My throat hurts and my luggage wheels are squeaky, everything says just to sit down and stay for a while.

Why don't I want to leave? It's not because Juneau is a wonderful little city... More like a wonderful little tourist trap. Boats come in, people buy stuff, and then they leave. In and out, day after day, May through September.
I've been on a boat for the past 7 days and it was fantastic. Yes, I know, it's supposed to be fantastic because I'm a guest - but it was so much more than that. It was a group of 66 passengers who just wanted to have a good time. There were 30 amazing crew members from all over the world with different stories. Most of them seeming to fall into the "boat world". The first mate has a degree in French and Finance, expedition leader has taught kayaking all over the world, the massage therapist has lived in Egypt, Montana, Hawaii, Switzerland, and wherever else the wind blew her. They all knew so much and seemed just as excited as we were. This was their maiden voyage into the inside passage of southeast Alaska.

I also loved this trip because I was so unplugged and free. My cell phone stayed off the whole time and I didn't have Internet once. We spend all of our lives updating everyone on where we are and what we're doing, be it by Facebook status or emailing your boss. People couldn't get in touch with me I'd they wanted.

"Boat World" is currently my fantasy land. They do so much behind the scenes, working 12 hours on 12 off. They work weeks without a day off and by the end of the season i am sure they are exhausted. But getting paid to take people out to see some of the most beautiful things in the world could be awesome.

But until that day comes, I must get on my plane and head home. I will check emails tomorrow and go back to my office job. But you betcha that I'll have some Alaska pictures all over my office.

Ps. Once I get home, I'll post some pictures!

Office Makeover

Hello Friends! 

So, I spend an enormous amount of time in my office.  I work at least 50 hours a week, and while I don't spend all my time at my desk...I do spend a lot!  Being the HR, my office is the most public, and therefore always needs to be neat, organized, professional, but still has to represent me.  

When I first started, I spent the majority of my time throwing away things the person before me had (really, i don't need papers from 2007) and organizing it the way it is supposed to be.  As soon as I had things purged and organized, it was time for seasonal hiring and the holiday rush.  My office was ok..but it was never really MY office.  

FINALLY, things have slowed down enough that I could convince the facilities tech to paint my office (the walls were covered in nail holes and it was just kind of dingy looking).  I could reorganize and was finally able to make my office my own.  

Before #1: It's pretty messy... i had to move a lot of things around while he was painting, but i promise my office is very neat!  

Before #2: I have a table and chairs that are in the front corner.  There used to be a board on the left side and a bunch of holes on the right side!

After:  Here's the re-done corner.  I covered the back of the bulletin board (crazy quick and easy fix for a board that's nearing the end of it's lifespan.  On the other side, I hung a mirror, a K (for kate...), and two picture frames.  I have finally put some pictures that I took in the frames, so it doesn't look so bare.  I've also added a tablecloth on the table, which really pulls it all together.  And the candy bowls are a staple...I'm an HR, and it's one of the best ways to get people to come by your office and chat with you :) 

Now in order for me to really make my office my own, I added some personal touches.  I had a HUGE white board and way to big bulletin board next to the desk, which just took up space and made the place feel smaller.  With these new boards, it feels much cleaner, and is just what I need.  

 Lastly, I added some cutesy touches to make it mine.  I love these "k" magnets (from Michaels), they're simply fabulous.  I also love love love this polka dot box (drawer organizer from Home Goods) that holds my colorful paperclips, binder clips, and push pins.  Office papers are more fun when they're clipped together with bright clips!

 
There are more touches in my office that arent pictured.  I have an Alabama pillow on my chair, a blue zebra print candle holder turned pen cup, and lots of pictures of friends and family.  It's finally MY office and I'm happier to spend more time here than well...anywhere else!

Inspired.

Ok, wow. It's been a minute since I've blogged.  I'm going to be better....promise :)

So Mom and I started weight watchers at the beginning of the year...we're about 1 month in and i'm frustrated and discouraged.  I'm usually a pretty healthy eater but I'm also a stress eater.  I've been really stressed out at work the past month, and I've probably been giving into more cravings then i normally would.  I've lost some weight, but not a whole lot...and I'm certainly not as close to my goal weight as I thought i would've been by now.

So, it's time to get serious.  Things are slowing down at work so no need for stress eating.  My closing night is now tuesdays, so I can make that Monday Zumba class I said I would.  I cleaned out my fridge and pantry tonight, something I needed to do anyway.  I threw away the leftovers I wouldn't eat anyway, the cheats, and some other things that were at the end of their lives.  Tomorrow I'm starting over.  I've got my grocery list set and new inspiration.

I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready.  Wish me luck!

resolutions

Welp, here we are.  The beginning of every new years brings along a long list of resolutions that may or may not be forgotten about within the next 2 weeks.  I'm the worst about resolutions, I really have given up on them in the past couple years.  But since last year was such a big year in my life, I'm ready to gear up for this year and keep the momentum going.  I'm trying for some resolutions I can keep and will make me better,

• Keep my budget better...I'm ok for the big stuff, but getting all those little purchases down on paper is tough for me. 
• Get down to my goal weight...FINALLY
• I've joined weight watchers with my mom (and now you all know so you have to hold me accountable to it!) so I'm excited to see how this will turn out!
• Do more of what makes me happy. My new motto
• Read more books on what i'm interested in...mysteries, photography
• Take more pictures and get better
• Learn to cook better.  I'm not the best cook, but I like to do it!
• Clean my apartment top to bottom every week.  I usually end up cleaning in sections, while neglecting others.  I'm trying to dedicate a couple hours every week to scrub the place down, vacuum, and make it pretty :) 

These seem pretty simple to me, so I'm hoping I can keep them all!