Happy New Year...Well...Almost!

It's almost 2009! It doesn't feel like New Years Eve at all to me, probably because I'm at work...booooo...but only for a 1/2 day. Then I'm hitting the Dillards sale at the Promenade! 50% off of already reduced items, you can't beat that. Hey, did you know that Christmas money burns holes in your pockets? Yeah me neither, crazy huh?

School starts in 12 days, ahhhhh! I'm doing really well keeping up with studying and writing the 2 papers that are due on the first day. I've already started on the first one and I write papers pretty quickly so I'm good to go!

We're going to a couple of parties tonight so I'm excited about that. Everyone went to Fast Lanes last night but I stayed home because I had to work today AND be up at 5 am to get to the gym. I've worked out 5 mornings in a row this week, I think that means I'm officially back in my morning routine!

Tomorrow starts the big "get back on track" diet that I do every year. Nothing but chicken, fish, veggies, fruit, and a few whole grains for me for the next month! I'm excited, I love how good I feel when I eat healthy...not to mention all the pants in my closet will fit again =) It's good to endulge every once in a while, like over the holidays, but after that you have to get back into it. Otherwise things can get out of control!

Wow, I just looked at my little temperature thing at the bottom of the screen and it says it's still 27 degrees outside...brrrr...must bundle up before going to the Promenade.

Well, I hope everyone has a fabulous New Year's...please drive safely!

Longest Day Ever

I want to go home so bad and it's only lunch time! Do you ever have one of those days were you realize that no one has done their job and now that they're on vacation you have to do it for them? I'm having one of those days. I've been so busy fixing other people's mistakes that I've barely started any of my own daily work!

I actually had an interview for an internal position this morning. It would be a really great promotion and I hope to hear more soon. (Yep, that's all I'm giving you!)

I'm getting more sore by the minute! Note to self...when one takes a long break from exercise over a holiday week it is best to ease back into the exercise, not get right back into your crazy hard 5:30am routine right away! Seriously, I hurt EVERYWHERE

We're supposed to go to Fast Lanes tonight with Kara and Greg and Holly and Hank and a bunch of other people tonight. I have to work tomorrow though so if I make it out I won't be able to stay long. It's a really fun place, they have bowling, go karts, lazer tag, and all kinds of other games. We had a team building night there a couple of months ago.

I can't believe tomorrow is New Year's Eve. 2008 has FLOWN by. I guess I was just having too much fun right?! But seriously, my life has changed so much this year. I got this blessing of a new job, a new house, things are going great with Jeff, I was accepted into Grad school, I have a family that loves me, friends that are so much fun...the list goes on and on. I have so much to thank God for every day. He has blessed me more this year than I could have ever imagined. I hope that next year, I stay focused on pleasing Him and being thankful for all these blessings. I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me.

New Years Resolutions

Not much happened this weekend, except for Mom & Dad (and Penny!) coming to my house Saturday night for a yummy steak dinner cooked on my new grill! Note to self...don't grill in 30 degree weather.

So I guess I should start working on my New Years Resolutions. Yep, resolutionS not resolution. I treat this time of the year as a check-up and usually do a little check-in every 4 months or so. I like to look at all areas of my life and see what needs improvement. So here goes:

Health/Fitness/Wellness:

• 250 Workouts in 2009 (This is my goal every year and I actually meet it pretty often!)
• Run 3 5K's and 1 10K (I'm sure Tara & Hillary will help me out with this one!)
• Eat Healthy - Do my big "Get Back on Track" Diet twice a year (I'm starting it again on January 1st!)
• Get regular check-ups at the doctor and dentist (I tend to cancel, say I'm going to reschedule and then I forget)
• Give up sweets again for Lent
• Run a Trail Run
• Take more Tennis Lessons
• Play more golf this year (Dad will help with this one!)

Family/Relationships/Friends:

• Spend more time with family & friends
• Have more Girl's Nights & Double Dates
• Host more dinners at the house for friends (with my new grill!)
• Have a Date Night with Jeff every week
• Keep in touch more with family and friends...birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Spritual:

• Attend regular church services on Sunday mornings, Bible studies on Tuesday nights, and Night's of Worship one Friday out of the month.
• Read the entire Bible (I'm already about 1/3rd of the way through)
• Vacation - Italy Trip!! Make the most of it and take as many pictures as possible to document this amazing trip!
• Blog more about Bible Study/Church Services that interest me
• Give 10% or more every week to offering
• STOP WORRYING SO MUCH! (This is a big one for me as most of you already know)

Professional:

• Get A's in my Graduate School classes
• Make a study schedule for each class and stick to it
• Apply for any career advancement opportunities that become available
• Get as much feedback from peers and supervisors as possible
• Learn more about each department/job in the office
• Help whenever and where ever I can in the office

Financial:

• Stick to budget - 35% Housing, 15% Debt (Credit Card, Student Loan, Car Payment), 15% Transportation, 10% Savings, 25% Other Living Expenses (The Fun Stuff)
• Save more money after car is paid off

Charity/Volunteer Work:

• 100 hours Volunteer work (This is a goal that I will fulfill within the Junior League, a volunteer organization I am a member of...www.juniorleaguenwa.org)

Is It the Weekend Yet?

Just a little FYI...working the day after Christmas is NO FUN! Yep, I'm in the office along with about 5 other people and I'm doing the work of 4 people today =( I've actually got a lot done this morning, it's noon and I'm just waiting on some reports to pull back and after I work on them I'll be done. I got here super early this morning though. Seriously, it was still dark and the only lights on in Bentonville Plaza were on the Sara Lee floor, of course! We're such go-getters!


I had a nice Christmas break with Mom and Dad. I think everyone liked their presents, especially Dad with his REAL Oakley's and new John Brown University Dad t-shirt!

Mom had the house decorated soooo pretty! She even made a bunch of little bows to put in the decorative tree in the living room...



I got a grill for my house and lots of games and things like that and of course money to shop the after Christmas sales (my favorite part!) I was pretty tired when I got home yesterday and managed to fall asleep around 6:00. Little Millie cat was very angry that we left her all alone for two days. I found her hiding underneath the bed and she gave me dirty looks for about an hour after I got home. Kind of like this...


She was all purrs and cuddles this morning though!


It's supposed to rain a LOT this weekend starting tonight but hopefully it will clear up by tomorrow night so Mom & Dad can drive up to Fayetteville and we can cook steaks on my new grill (and use Jeff's new steak knives!) =)


Other than that, I'll be studying and working out all weekend!

Santa Is Almost Here!

Well, I was right, Jeff couldn't stand to wait and we exchanged presents last Thursday! Haha! He got me an AWESOME new camera (a Nikon D40) which I have been wanting for-EVER!

I love love love love love it! It takes really good pictures, which the only ones I have taken so far are of the cat and the dog so I'm excited to get some good subjects soon.

Look how big Vincent's nose looks with the zoom lens!....

Speaking of good subjects to take pictures of.....I'M GOING TO EUROPE!!!!! Jeff casually mentioned the other night that his parents are taking us to Europe in June this summer...yeah...I picked my jaw up off the floor about 5 minutes after he told me. I kept saying "Really?!! For real we're going to Europe?!" I've never been anywhere outside of the United States so this will be a really neat experience for me. He's since mentioned to me that I have to pack all of my belongings into one backpack, so this should be interesting. =) Most of you know that I am the queen of the $25 heavy baggage fee from my beloved American Airlines.

I've still been fighting off this stinkin cold/cough/sinus stuff this weekend. I don't think it will ever end. And now EVERYONE around me at work has it so we'll probably just keep passing it back and forth between the cube walls....lovely.

So we didn't do much this weekend because I wasn't feeling so hot. We were supposed to go to a party Friday night but instead went and had mexican food at Acambaro (my favorite) and saw the movie "Seven Pounds". It was pretty good. Then Saturday night we went to dinner with our friends Annie and Brian who got married a couple of summers ago and I'm pretty sure we haven't hung out with them since then. So it was nice catching up with them.

I'm slowly but surely winding down this busy day, just waiting on someone to return my phone call and then I will hopefully be done. I'm off work tomorrow (a gift from the bosses) and I'll be heading to Fort Smith tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, I have to work on Friday but it's cool because Mom & Dad are coming up Saturday to eat dinner with Jeff and I. And we'll get to use the new steak knives that I got Jeff for Christmas, Yay!

Well, I received my textbooks in the mail on Saturday, all FOUR of them that go with my ONE class! I've got my study plan set and I've officially started reading and outlining assignments. Fun stuff I tell you! I like the readings so far, it's a leadership class so I guess it's supposed to be semi-inspirational. I will be taking my books along with me to Fort Smith for Christmas...maybe I'll convince Dad to study for me? Or Penny...

Back to Work...and Soon School!

Ok, I made it into work today and it's almost 2:00...I think I'm going to make it! I still don't feel great and this Dayquil is making me dizzy and slightly nauseous but it is taking care of most of my cough and runny nose problems. Luckily this has been a pretty light day for me at work. I've been catching up on e-mails.

I've officially been granted financial aid AND registered for grad school as of today! About 5 minutes after I registered I was sent the syllabus for my first class and boy is it a doozy (to quote mom)! The class is Foundations of Leadership and it's a study of historical and contemporary leadership theories and concepts, with an emphasis on the moral dimensions of leadership and ethics. Yes, I took that right out of the course description and yes I think I'm going to really like this class. There are a ton of reading assignments and short papers due throughout the course but I like assignments like that so it shouldn't be too bad. I've already made a very detailed study schedule (because I'm a nerd like that and because these classes are so short and intense) and I ordered my books today so I could get started as soon as possible! I have 2 papers due on the first day of class so I really do have to get started soon. =)

I'm excited for Christmas, it will be here before we know it! Jeff and I are trying to figure out when we're going to exchange presents. We pretty much always want to exchange them as soon as they're ready and wrapped because we can't hold back the excitement! So we'll see how long we last this year...

The thing I hate most about being sick is that I can't work out. I can't WAIT to get back into the gym. I'm planning on getting back into my 5:30am aerobics class routine tomorrow since I'm starting to finally feel a little better. So wish me luck and pray I don't pass out from a stopped up head and fall down in BodyStep class! =) HAHA!

Day 4...Cabin Fever Setting In...

I have been sick since THURSDAY! This is ridiculous and definitely not fun. I've been working from home all week so far but hopefully I'll go back tomorrow. I went in for a couple of hours yesterday but went home when people on the other side of the office told me they could hear me coughing. So that was 60 miles worth of unnecessary driving!


I went to my boss' Christmas party at her house on Friday despite my coughing. I wasn't feeling as bad last week but it's gotten much worse since. The party was fun and they have a beautiful home, cute kids, and 4 cats! The fattest one, Sammy, soon became my favorite...


I've been busy getting registerd for grad school. Financial Aid is taking FOREVER but hopefully it will get processed this week so I can get everything finished and start preparing for classes in January. Another guy in my office is in the same MBA program and he's been a huge help in letting me in on all the in's and out's of grad school. For instance, you apparently always have an assignment due on the first day of class! Glad he told me that! No one likes being unprepared =)


I think I'm just about done Christmas shopping. I'm waiting on a few more things to come in the mail but other than that I'm done and my tree is about to overflow with presents. It's very pretty though! Vincent is sad he can't sleep underneath the tree anymore.


We've had some freeeeezing cold weather here this week. It was almost 70 degrees on Sunday, then dropped into the 20's that night and has been in the teens ever since. Cold cold cold...and not good for me since I'm sick! Fort Smith got some bad ice last night. Mom and Dad said they saw a lot of wrecks today. Not good, you guys better be careful driving home today! And don't forget to put Penny's sweater on!

I Did It!!

I got into grad school!! I will officially be getting my MBA starting in January! What a relief =) I was super nervous all weekend because I hadn't heard from them but come to find out I had an e-mail sitting in my inbox since Saturday!

I had a pretty busy weekend. We went to my company Christmas party Friday night and it was really fun. We had a DJ so there was some dancing involved! Then Sunday I worked at our Winter Dreams Tour of Homes fundraiser. You would think that standing up for 4 hours straight wouldn't be that difficult but MAN did my back start hurting!

I have another busy weekend coming up too. My boss' Christmas party is Friday night, then I've decided to do a 3 mile Trail Run (I opted for the 3 mile instead of the 9 mile since it's my first one) on Saturday morning. Hopefully it won't be too cold! It looks like the high will be in the 50's so that isn't too bad, I just hope I don't sprain an ankle! =)

We're supposed to get some pretty nasty weather up here in the next few days. Me no likey!

23 Days Till Christmas!!

Can you believe that? The holidays are flying by this year =( Thanksgiving was fun and relaxing for me but not for Jeff! He had soooo much driving to do. Tuesday night we went to Eureka Springs and ate dinner with Jeff's parents, grandmother, his Aunt and Uncle, and their visitor from Ghana, Africa. Her name was Adelaide and she was really funny and had some very interesting stories.

The next day my boss let me work from home thank goodness since we would be getting back late the night before then leaving again that afternoon for Fort Smith. We got to Mom & Dad's late that afternoon and indulged in bloody mary's, wine, shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and Jeff's favorite, green bean casserole! It was super yummo.

The next day we just kind of hung around the house, watched the Macy's Day Parade, mom baked pies, we went to the club for a HUGE lunch (very yummo as well), then came back and I read my book and the boys watched football. Jeff had to leave that night to get to Little Rock for the football game. I was going to go with him but after hearing the weather forecast, decided to stay home a little while longer. He went duck hunting for the first time Saturday and Sunday! The game was awesome, we had a watch party and Penny wore her Razorback jersey...

Did I also mention she had a Christmas dress rehearsal? She's our little Elf...

Hee Hee heeeee...

So yes, it was a much needed relaxing vacation for me. Oh, and mom and dad drove me back to Fayetteville Saturday (because it was going to snow Sunday) and we put up all my Christmas decorations for the first time at my new house!! I love it, it's so cozy now.

Perty huh? We also put some pretty wreaths with bows on both of my outside lights that are on each side of my garage. I like it!

Well, I hopefully find out weather or not I made it into grad school this week. The suspense is killing me...seriously...I'm super nervous. I just want to know!

I kind of have a big weekend ahead. Friday night is our company's big Christmas party then all day Sunday I'll be at the Winter Dreams Tour of Homes, which is a fundaiser we do in the Junior League every year. It's fun and pretty easy but you get tired of standing up so long. I just hope we have better weather than last year, it was pretty yucky.

I have been totally immersed in my new book I'm reading. It's the newest one out by my favorite author, Wally Lamb called "The Hour I First Believed". It's pretty dark, like all of his books but he is SUCH a fantastic writer. I've gotten through 400 pages in about 3 or 4 days (there are 700 something total and I wish it was longer)! It's a novel about Columbine and it kind of mixes fiction with actual events and facts from the tragedy. I'm hooked, I can't put it down. I was reading till like 2 in the morning Sunday night and my sleepiness has not recovered since! He's only written about 5 books, I wish he wrote more, more often. The last one I read was when I was in high school!

And last update but not least....I present to you....this year's Christmas card!!