Life Simplistic

I got ALL worked up last night. Like hotmesssnottynose style, thinking that I had made a series of wrong turns that most definitely had led me somewhere where I would never recover from. Leading me to call it an evening and turn off the lights, tuck myself in with a soft blanket and retire my thoughts. I woke up today with my eye lids sealed shut with sleep and the desire for peanut butter (because peanut butter fixes empty stomachs and I somehow managed to not even eat dinner last night). So after a bagel with peanut butter, a cup of coffee and some new music put on my phone I decided I needed a change of scenery. If gas didn't cost so much I would have just driven for hours today. No direction, no map, no GPS, no intent except to look out the window at this:

It was blue. It was radiant. It played into my thoughts from reading Kelle Hampton's blog this morning. The sea provides a constant reminder and grounding for Kelle, there she sees sunsets and sunrises, like clockwork, a simple reminder that despite all, the world will continue to move us forward...reminding us that a bad night will pass and tomorrow has the promise of big fluffy white clouds hanging in a crystal blue sky.

So I didn't drive for hours. Instead I tried to go to Buzz for some coffee, cookies and a session with my Module 1 PHR prep book. Buzz was packed. So was my favorite Starbucks in Old Town. So was the Library. Detered not I found  an ordinary Starbucks, with little-to-no charm, but it had an open seat and I sat down to study. I swear I had opened my book for a total of 2 minutes and I hear a guy telling his friend about his new home in Idaho and how the Sawtooth mountains are framed in his living room windows. Leaning a bit closer, I heard him continue to talk about this amazing little town of Stanley Idaho. I couldn't resist. I had to pull my Idaho card. So we chatted about Idaho things. Like open spaces, and cold weather, and river rafting and deer in your backyard. It is a small small small world....after all.

via

And if you haven't listened to all of this yet. You really should. It makes me sing at the top of my lungs in the car, taping the steering wheel, rocking out in that type of way that one does when no one is watching.  

Keyspiration

Just like my pony phase that never went away (yes, mom and dad...I still want a pony a real pony) I am still obsessed with keys. Of course Pintrest has given me a whole new forum for finding some keyspiration and I naturally have my Keys Board, full of all things keys. This morning my SW, Sara, sent me a link for an iphone case that I just might have to purchase if I ever trade in my failing blackberry for an upgrade.

via

via

And these. I can hardly keep my wallet in my purse. I love them so much. My love of flats coupled with keys...a harmonious style for my feetsies. Now if only the faking it until making it has worked and I had some expendable income to purchase these lovelies.For now, I will pin and lust.

That is Love

Love is a strange and beautiful thing,



It spans time and space, distance is no object to love.


You will wait forever for the one you love,


Travel wherever you need to be with them.


When you are in the arms of the one you love,


That love can make a moment last a lifetime,


Yet make a lifetime seem no more than a moment.


When love is distant it grows strong,


When it returns it flowers.


People crave it, strive for it, fight for it, and die for it,


And when they find it, they know they are complete.


For in the arms of the one we love is wholeness,


Belief, completeness, passion, and security.


The one we love is someone for whom we would do anything,


And never ask for anything in return.


It produces a love of all that person is and will ever be,


Regardless of what that may mean to me.


Love knows that when you are away,


That you are still loved, cherished, thought after, and missed


By the one you love,


And they know that you love them back.


That is Love.






- Nicolas Blackmore -

Great Falls

Yesterday we both (great minds think alike! Or we just spend a lot of time together) had the inspirational idea to drive to Great Falls and go for a little walk and soak up some more of this unusually (really lame) warm February weather. The drive from DC was really pretty and complete with viewing some over-the-top ill designed McSuburbMansions.

In additional to seeing the falls we took a peaceful stroll through the trees and saw some of the remnants from George Washington's locke project.

It was a little peace and nature that does my soul good.

C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps!!!

Well luckily for me, the bf has mastered the fine art of "not keeping score" if you will. Long, long, long ago I did something to completely warranted him taking someone else to use these amazing tickets he got to the Caps. Like I said...I am one really lucky girl...and he wanted to spend the evening with me in these crazy great seats!

Sadly the Caps lost, but I love sitting so close and getting to see all the action up front and personal! We could feel the cold of the rink, would jump back when the players smashed into the glass, and could hear how much force is behind that puck!

A Student Again

I have had a few things running through my head that I have thought "Yup, I should do that" over the past year. As I am sure you can tell, one has been taking my GMATs, another has been thinking about those next steps in my career, next steps in my personal life and then on a smaller scale...taking my PHR (Professional in Human Resources) exam.


After a lot of drama to get enrolled and some funding to take the prep course. I was finally enrolled as of Wednesday evening into a class through Catholic University. Thursday night I had my first class in the series of nine classes that are an aggressive overview of the broad topic areas in HR that are covered on the PHR exam.

As you can see, I have a lot of reading/studying/memorizing over the next 2 months! My class goes until the end of April and I need to commit to a test date so I am locked in to take the exam in May or June! Fingers crossed that I pass and get my three letters!

2011 in Review....Only 1.5 Months Later

A 2011 year in review. Who would I be if I didn't participate in this blogging tradition and bandwagon? (Even if it is a bit very very late at this point!)


I thought about going month-by-month like I did for 2009 but I honestly came up short on inspiration for each month this year. Instead I am just going to highlight a few of the big moments this year.

• March was a pivotal month for me. I switched jobs. I won't lie. The decision was hard then. And it is still hard now. But while I loved my last job, I have learned a lot in the past 11 months and know that I did something that was really good for my professional life. Have I figured out what I am going to do next? Not even close. No clue and I can't even pretend to fake an answer at this point. But at least I know that I can do different things, learn things and be strong.
• In April I started really running. Erin and I took Jazzersize for a month or so before I started hitting the gym on my own. But I set my sights on being able to run a 5K. While I have not registered or ran a 5K outside my gym yet, I know that I could mostly likely finish one now and actually enjoy running.
• My 25th Birthday was a low key celebration complete with Sara visiting and a very very thoughtful gift from the bf. One lucky girl to start a quarter of a century on that note!
• Over the course of the year, but particularly in June I figured out some of those tough things you run into when you live by yourself. Not only are my messes, MY messes but if your bathtub clogs, you have a broken fire alarm, or your steam mop stops working--they are things you have to man up, put some bigkidpants on and deal with. Generally, I am still enjoying living alone and I fully believe everyone that said I needed to live alone at some point in my life was completely right. I have learned a ton about myself and my own personal preferences. But I also know I will be very ready to have a "household" where I come home to someone, share dishes responsibility, (have a dishwasher!), and generally have someone around on a permanent basis.
• June was one of my favorite months. I flew to Idaho to surprise my sister and Wyatt for his second birthday. I have never pulled of a really great surprise (except a surprise birthday party way back in the day) and this was no disappointment. I had some of the best days all year being in sun Valley and celebrating Wyatt's birthday! My family also surprised me with some great birthday wishes, and I was given my first DSLR camera that could not have been a better gift for this year!
• September probably doesn't make this list for being the month of great memories. There are certainly some memories-- some of which I wish were not going to be a part of my story. But life is messy, no? We don't get to erase what we wish we could forget, so for better or for worse they are there and someday I'll look back and know that it was all part of the plan in where I am headed.For now, we are putting one foot in front of the other and hoping it isn't going to be something that can't be repaired.
• October was probably the highlight of my year. I went to Turkey! I still say that and get chills thinking back at how amazing the trip was and what a great time I had. I have yet to even post photos or a single blog post about this incredible trip--but all I can say is I have caught the travel bug and fell absolutely in love with that country. It was beyond anything I had expected and I am so blessed to have had it all worked out for me to go.
• In November my family (mom, dad and sister) ALL came to DC for Thanksgiving! It was so special to have them all here and to celebrate a (non-traditional) Thanksgiving holiday with them. We had a wonderful meal at a Art and Soul here in DC and I was so blessed to spend time with them.
• December was full of family. Just how I like it. Christmas memories. Fires. Christmas morning rolls. Wyatt's giant mound of gifts. Christmas traditions. Shopping. Baking failures. And lots of love.
• New Years was a typical low-key affair (just how I like them) and my first with the bf. Complete with adorbs babies, good food, laughs and cupcakes.

Now about 2012 you may ask? Oh no..you're not asking? Well I am already thinking about it. Some of the highlights that I can expect to write about next year:

• Getting my ski on and finally sharing one of my favorites things in the world with one of my favorite people.
• Expecting the arrival of my nephew/niece in April.
• Getting to see this girl tie the knot in May in Seattle.
• Hopefully watch the pounds melt away over the next few months.
• Taking my graduate school exams (whatever ones those may be).
• Getting my PHR certification at last.
• Visiting New York City for the first time!