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! 

Goodbye 2011

What a year...definitely a year of change.

What all happened?

• I ran my first half marathon in Disney.
• I went on my first big spring break trip to Key West.
• I worked with Tom Cherones on a video project  
• I survived the April 27th tornados in Tuscaloosa. 
• I graduated from the University of Alabama  with a Bachelors of Arts and a Bachelors of Science. 
• I got my first "real job" at a big box retailer
• I hiked 230 miles on the Appalachian Trail with my mom
• I moved into my first big girl apartment
• My TV pilot project was shown in NYC 
• I got transferred a month later and became an HR 
• I moved into my second big girl apartment 
• I survived my first black friday / holiday season

I've done a lot this year.  A lot more then is listed above.  I've made new friends and watched old friends get married.  I've learned a lot about myself, my strengths, and my weaknesses.  I'm on a great adventure and I'm starting to really grow up and grow into who I am.  I excited about 2012 and what it has in store for me! 

DIY Christmas Update!

I've started a little holiday DIY!  So here we go: 

Inspiration:
  Actuality:  
Super easy...and took about 2 seconds, including the fluffing of the bow.  Got 10 yards of red ribbon for $5 and the pinecone sticks for $.25 each at Michaels.  Easy, cheap, and festive...can't get much better than that!



Inspiration:                                                                             Actuality:

                  

 This project was a much bigger undertaking than I expected!  The tutorial I followed used a 6 inch wreath and about 2-3 boxes of tacks.  I used a 14 inch wreath and 9 whole boxes of tacks...and I could've used 1 more!  I got the styrofoam wreath at Michaels for about $5, then the dollar store has 300 tacks in a box for $1.  

I had to go back to the store a few times...for some reason i thought four boxes would be enough and it barely made it halfway!! 

      I had just finished the wreath and I was so excited to hang it, when I dropped it and it broke!! I was so tired and mad i just left it on the floor until the next afternoon. 

 I ducted taped it back together and while it doesn't look perfect, i fixed it pretty well. 

It was SO heavy (go pick up 2,700 tacks and you'll see what I mean), so I took a large ribbon (same ribbon on the chairs!!) and the only way I could figure out how to get it to stay was to nail it to the top of the door!  

Overall, I love it.  

Now we're onto glitter candles, body scrubs, picture frames, and a stocking hanger! 

DIY Christmas

I love love love Christmas.  and I LOVE decorating for it.  I did a little bit of decorating last year, but now that I'm officially in my own place, I plan to go all out.  I'm trying to resist as long as I can (I don't like Christmas that starts in October...or really November, but I don't think I can hold out for too much longer!  I'm living on a cute little budget right now, so I've been looking up a lot of DIY things (Pintrest anyone??). Maybe if I start crafting early, I'll get a little bit of it out of my system!! 

Here are some of my inspirations, complete with a whole bunch of links to tutorials!!

 

First: I found some adorable gift tag printables and I plan to use them on everything this year! This is one of them, how cute!

Second: I keep seeing glittery branches.  Super easy and super cheap!  I just need to find something cute to put them in before I start this one!  Here's one in a pitcher - but I can also cute a vase with ornaments, or a floor vase with just sparkly branches.  I think Christmas decorations NEED sparkle! 

Third: Cute Holiday Banner (tutorial anyone?).  I think this would look cute in those places that get overlooked or are kind of awkward to hang garlands and such on...I'm thinking that ugly blank wall behind my TV! 

Fourth: Again with the sparkly...glitter candles.  Candles that are sparkly or colored can sometimes get expensive, but finding some cheap white candles (or even maybe some red ones to mix in) and giving them some holiday glitz would make for an awesome centerpiece or add some holiday decor to the bathroom!

Fifth: When I saw this one, I was a little skeptical.  I still don't know how it might turn out, but I think it's a pretty cool idea.  Paper plate trees!  Super easy and the possibilities are endless! 

Sixth: What kind of DIY Christmas blog would this be if it didn't involve at least one homemade present?  I take a lot of pictures, so this would be super appropriate and easy to do.  Here's the lovely tutorial + other fun presents. 

Sidenote:  I have 11 tabs open at the moment looking at all my inpiration, and one of these sites has music and I can't figure out which one!  I really really really dislike it when people put music on their sites....

Seventh:  Since I'm decorating the whole apartment this year...chairs must be included too!  I have chairs like these (in brown), so some red ribbon and a pine cone or ornament would be super cute to dress them up! 

Eight:  If you stick to a color scheme at Christmas, this blog is decorating with RED!  In every room! Love it! 

P.S. Also just disovered that said blog was the offender in the music.  You have been warned. 

Nine: Lastly, I found a wonderful blog that helps remind what Christmas is all about.  This family did 25 days of Random Acts of Kindness.  Has some great ideas of things that seem so simple, like paying past due library fees, plugging meters, and bringing presents to the post office.  

So friends there is just a small taste of my Christmas obsession.  I already have two tubs of Christmas stuff, so I'll start then craft until my heart is content :)