July....

Well good grief...July is OVER! How did that happen? Well maybe because I have decided that I can cram everything that pops up in my mind to do into my daily schedule. I have not had such a busy schedule (some of it work, some of it self inflicted) EVER in my life.... I read that the most successful people in life don't sleep...I believe after reading that, I have unconsciously taken away 2 hours of sleep each day, and you would be AMAZED at how much I can fit in my day now....apparently blogging is not one of them because I haven't updated in forever...

I have come to grips with the fact that my digital camera cord got lost in my move to Atlanta, so although I have been taking awesome pictures of everything that has been going on...they are trapped on my camera until I can get them off. I was looking through my pictures on my iphone and thought it told a lot of what has been going on for the past few weeks.... If you follow me on twitter, you have already seen all of these...but here is a little bit of my month of July in pictures.... told my my iphone...

Went to Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Ohio for a week long work trip. We had a client event in a suite at the Cleveland Indians field. I love baseball games...

Also made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... super fun...

Made it back from Ohio to see the concert I have been waiting on ALL year... BEYONCE!! It was amazing.....She is an incredible performer....I had goosebumps for the entire show...and she worked it out.. Two and a half hours of singing and dancing... no intermission...

I was so glad that I made it down to Alabama for the 4th of July with my family...It was the first time in 3 years that I was able to spend the holiday with them. We had a wonderful time, and I got to love on my sweet little baby... This is my cousins baby Josh in his batman pajamas... I must admit, I think I got bit by the baby bug a little when I left him....I love that little guy...

Here is Ken and I at the Braves game... much needed outing for us. Ken has been working 80 hour weeks since he got down to Georgia...but if you know him, this is no suprise. Hopefully things will slow down at work for him soon...Although, him working late has eliminated my temptation to not go to the gym...by the time I get back, he is just getting home and then we get to have dinner and some alone time together...

Ended out the month with a work trip to Kansas City. I was only there for 3 days but every moment that I wasn't working I spent in my hotel room sleeping...it was exhausting. I did find this cute cupcake place where I picked up treats for some clients....and...YES..i did get a cupcake for myself... Raspberry Lemonade Cupcake....ummmmm....

This is my sweet friend Kori. We have been such great friends for almost 10 years now. I have a group of friends that all get together EVERY weekend. Typically we get together for a drink on Friday night, then meet up on Sunday nights to watch True Blood, Hung and Entourage. We all went to my favorite dive bar last weekend and had a blast. We were out much later than we usually are but ended our night on Kori's rooftop overlooking the city. It totally reminded me of my old rooftop in Chicago...I guess I do miss Lake Michigan and the skyline...

Can you guess where I am in the picture above?? There is only one place in Atlanta where your plate is this empty EVERY time you eat there and they use such fine china.... You got it! Waffle House! Honestly, I have been in Atlanta for 3 months now and last weekend was the first time I went.... yes...it's good to be home...

So You Think You Can Dance - Week 1

I have waited for an entire year for this moment...... season five of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Every year I love/dread the new season, because I can never imagine loving any other dancers as much as i loved the dancers from the season before. This has proven to be even more true this year....

I love love love love LOVED last season. I'm in love with Twitch, i adored Joshua, Katie was the BEST, Chelsea was amazing, and the winner in my heart was Will. I could have watched Will dance all day. Needless to say this season had some really big shoes to fill in my opinion. I decided that i wasn't going to compare... I was just going to enjoy this top twenty, pick out my favorites and move on. (Plus all my last season favorites are in Step it Up Three-D and I will be at the theater the day it comes out!)

I thought it would be fun to talk about my favorites each week, so i came up with a rating system....Since it is a dance show, the rating is on a scale of 1-5 pirouettes.... 5 being the highest. I took dance growing up, but am in no way an expert, so my comments are based solely off my opinion of performance....

Okay so here we go.....

Dance #1: Jeanine & Phillip

I liked their performance. Phillip is always cool to watch, I didn't really pay much attention to Jeanine. I was not as impressed as the judges, but i felt like it was a good, solid performance. I love Tabitha and Napoleon, and they did a great job as usual. I give it a solid 3 Pirouettes.....clean, challenging, but not overly impressive.

Dance #2: Asuka & Vitolio

I will go ahead and say it.....i am not an Asuka fan....sorry...she isn't curvy enough for me as a ballroom dancer...i am not excited when she dances...for this i will compare back to season four... She can't hold a candle to Chelsea. I do like Vitotolio, but the judges were right...I almost fell asleep watching them...not entertaining...but snaps to Tyce D. I think the piece would have worked with dancers with more personality. I give this one 2 pirouettes..... their arms and legs were all in the right place, but nothing exciting.

Dance #3: Karla & Johnathan

After watching this dance, I was starting to get really annoyed. I did not enjoy this at all. Johnathan looks like a little wimpy twinkletoed fairy....and he dances like one too...not masculine at all for me. Karla was okay...ballroom is definitely not her specialty. At the end of this dance I really felt like.... Blah Blah....NEXT! 1 pirouette for this one......

Dance #4: Randi and Evan

Finally!!! FINALLY!!! Awesome dance...Tyce did an amazing job with choreography, and i just love these two together. I saw the chemistry, i got the story through their dance and thought the entire piece was beautiful. Definitely 4 pirouettes for this one.....

Dance #5: Paris and Tony

Okay....i know, i know.... i think Tony is cute too...but come on...Tabitha and Napoleon gave them a super cool, hard hitting routine, and they should have TORN IT UP! I wasn't really feeling it. I agreed with Adam when he said that he doesn't want Tony to be the cute guy that just gets through every round...I don't think he was dancing as good as he should have been. I really like Paris as a dancer and at least she has the excuse that she isn't a hip hop dancer....but Tony? Gotta do better than that buddy....3 pirouettes for this one...just because Tony is still cute as hell, and the music and choreography were pretty dope...

Dance #6: Caitlin & Jason

I like that they throw Bollywood into the mix now...the only problem is that it causes a direct comparison to Joshua and Katie last year. I think this couple did a really good job. I have liked Jason since he was on the audition show, and secretly I am really hoping he makes it to the top 4. I thought that this was a really good piece...Kaitlin's handstand was SICK...I think i would have enjoyed this more if i had not seen it last season....Four pirouettes for this one...I think they absolutely did this as good as Katie and Joshua...but not better...

Dance #7: Janette & Brandon

I really liked that these two were put together. I thought they had good chemistry and they performed well together. Brandon is strong as an OX....those lifts were AMAZING...it probably could have been smoother, but i think they did a good job. Brandon is my favorite guy dancer, and although i want to give them a higher score, i must be objective....3 pirouettes for this pair...

Dance #8: Ashley & Kupono

Gotta love Wade Robson....totally weird and twisted, and i LOVED every minute of it! I think the two of them stayed in character perfectly and their dancing was beautiful. I loved watching the clip with him teaching them choreography because Wade is SUCH an amazing dancer...i think they totally did the piece justice...4 pirouettes...incredible performance

Dance #9: Melissa & Ade

BEAUTIFUL.....i love Mandy Moore's choreography all of the time, and i really think this was one of her best pieces. This to me was a perfect example of a woman, dancing like a woman and a man dancing like a man. Melissa was gorgeous and feminine, and Ade was strong and powerful. I don't even have to think about it....a perfect score of 5 pirouettes for these two....

Dance #10: Kayla & Max

I was screaming as loud as Mary Murphy when this dance was over. What an incredible way to end the show. Kayla is DEFINITELY my favorite girl dancer this year for sure. I hope she goes all the way. Max was good too, but I am anxious to see how well he will do with the other dance genres. This dance gets 5 pirouettes, and in my opinion....it was the best dance of the night!!!

Bottom Three For Me: Asuka and Vitolio, Karla and Jonathan, Paris and Tony

Going Home: Asuka & Vitolio

Favorite Choreography This Week: Mandy Moore and Wade Robson

All in all I think this is going to be a great season. I am sure I will warm to them, as I have warmed to the dancers in other years. I can't promise that I will have recaps every week, but this was fun to do. I hope all of you are enjoying it as much as I am .... I can't wait till next week!

What's Been Up...

It's been a long time since I blogged, and honestly I have been living life in fast forward for the past month. I started this blog when I lived in Chicago as a way to keep my friends and family informed on what was going on in my life. Well now that I am here with 80% of my friends and family, it hasn't really felt like I needed to update as much. I can't even believe how quickly 4 weeks have flown by. I have kept myself very busy by choice. I went from doing things every now and then in Chicago, to having my phone light up every Friday with invitations to spend time with people. I haven't even been taking pictures which is the most upsetting. I did happen to get a few in here and there to share......

Terri and I at the Braves game....

Me and the Hubby at my brother's graduation.....

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo....

So that's it. No awesome vacation, no major announcements. Just good times with good friends, and a loving family. Two week countdown to my husband's birthday weekend/The Flowers come to town! Can't wait!

There's No Place Like Home.....

Preface: There are a lot of people struggling and hurting out there due to the state of the economy. I hope this story comes as an inspiration to everyone, that good things are still happening, and this whole mess WILL turn around.

Exactly 2 months ago, I was sitting in Hartsfield-Jackson airport, on my way home from visiting Terri for her 80s prom party, and crying my eyes out on the phone with my husband. My friend Liz and I had just had lunch, and it was the first time I had seen her in months. She asked the same question everyone always asks me....."So how are things in Chicago?"

Instantly I teared up. It is the same story over and over again. Chicago is a nice enough city, but I don't like living there. It's cold and gloomy 9 months a year, the other 3 months when it is warm its fine. So for 3 months out of every year, I am semi-happy there. I have met some great people, but I miss everyone in Georgia, I miss my family. I am depressed every holiday that I can't come home. I go to Atlanta all the time, because any chance I get to get out of Chicago I jump on it. I gained 30 pounds because I go to work, I come home, and I am typically by myself because Ken works so many hours. I don't want to do anything when I get home except curl up on the couch and watch mindless television. The worst part about it is, I don't see an end in sight. The blessing and curse of being married to an overachiever, is that he is doing so well at his job.... 3 years and 3 promotions with his company......why do something to shake that up? I can't move, the economy is terrible right now, and we would have to sell our house and find new jobs. That is NEVER going to happen in this RECESSION!


Elizabeth said something to me that instantly changed everything. "You and Ken are talented enough to get new jobs, smart enough to get your condo sold or rented, and young enough to make a mistake that you can make up for later."


She was right. Since when did i let obstacles get in the way of something i wanted? Since when did i start believing that extraordinary things can't happen in my life? I have always been a person of GREAT faith. When did i start letting what people tell me effect my course in life?


I went home to talk to Ken about it, and at first he didn't really take me seriously. He has heard this before. He knew that I wanted to move back but wanted to wait a few more years. Ken was born and raised in Chicago, and had only left to go to college. He wanted to stay in Chicago, for the same reasons why I wanted to move back to Atlanta. I knew that he was going to say the same things that I did, think the same things that everyone thinks about making any changes right now. After about a week, he came home and very simply told me that if I wasn't happy, then he wasn't happy. He had called his boss, told him the situation, and submitted a request for a transfer to the Atlanta office.

When things happen in my life, they happen like a tidal wave. If I am suppose to make major changes in my life, it's like the sky opens and a bright light shines down showing me the way. The next series of events showed that to be true again. So much so, that even my husband was amazed.

The next day I gave a call to a recruiter and asked her if she knew of any jobs in the Atlanta area that I would be qualified for. She had the perfect job. An Atlanta hotel, looking for someone with Midwest sales experience to take over their Midwest accounts. Two days later, I was on a phone interview with the VP of sales, 2 days after that I flew into Atlanta for an interview, 4 days after that I was faxing them a signed offer letter accepting the new position.


When I let everyone know at my current job, they were sad to see me go but happy that I was leaving. They all knew how desperately I wanted to get back to Georgia. I left with warm hugs and well wishes......and was paid for 2 weeks and didn't have to work! It gave me a chance to begin packing my house, have a FAB trip with my Four Fat Chicks, and spend some time with my Chicago friends before I had to leave.


My new job was so flexible with me. They were going to allow me to work from Chicago until Ken got everything settled with his transfer. Well, that never happened, because Ken was hired, and they needed him to start a project with them immediately. So, in 7 days, I had to pack my house, find movers, get the condo cleaned and painted, get it on the market....oh wait...did I mention that I had to be in Atlanta training for 5 of those days??


It all worked out. We got everything done, moved, and it all happened in perfect timing with my aunt and uncle's townhouse in Atlanta being recently vacated by their renter. This place was in a perfect location for Ken's job and mine, the perfect amount of space for the two of us, and in a great location filled with lots of fun dining and shopping options. When I was training in Atlanta, i got the keys to our new place. When we pulled up on the day that we moved in, there was a whole team of my friends and family waiting to help us unpack and get settled. You would not believe the amount of work that we got done that afternoon.

I hope this post does not come off like I am bragging, or that I don't know what is going on right now. I am very aware of the unemployment rate, I am very aware of the state of the housing market, I am very aware that there are tough times right now. But I am aware of something else too. There is nothing that is too big for GOD. I had everyone i knew on their knees praying for Ken and I, and I know that it made all the difference. I had just met Tiffany Mendenhall and her sweet family in Chicago, and after knowing them for about an hour, I even had them praying too!
Ken and i have a new motto. WE ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECESSION. I truly feel that if everyone took on that attitude, things would get better. Whether you believe in God or not, i think we can all agree about the power of positive thinking. Your thoughts create your reality, you attitude creates your environment. If you consume yourself with thoughts of how bad things are, and live in fear of what could happen, you don't leave room for positive things to come in.

These past 2 weeks have been wonderful. I have spent time with friends, seen my entire family, watched my little brother graduate from college, and have had my whole attitude and outlook on life completely change. I am happier now, I love my husband even more, and there is a peace in my spirit that I haven't ever felt.

I am thinking about buying some ruby red slippers and putting them in my house just to remind me of exactly what can happen in your life when you have the courage and faith to change it, despite all the odds. There truly is no place like home.....

Here I am....

I took a little break from blogging because, well...there has been a LOT going on. I spent the weekend in Atlanta 2 weeks ago and had a BALL! But unfortunately, I left my camera at Paul's house....so that post will have to wait for another time.

They say there are five most stressful experiences in life, and I am literally going through 3 of them. I have a long detailed post coming your way about all the changes in my life, how encouraged and inspired I am, and exactly how just being a person of great faith can change everything. Still sorting some things out, and have to get ready for my weekend with the Fat Chicks, so it will have to wait till next week!

i love the 80s......

Terri throws the best parties...we all know this, but this one i think by far takes the cake. There is a running joke with Terri's friends that i don't live in Chicago, because every time she throws a party, i fly 800 miles to be there....they think that in fact, i probably live at Terri's house. When she told me that her and Adam were throwing an Ultimate 80's Prom Party i knew i had to be there... big hair and sequence?? I'M IN!!

So then comes the biggest question... what to wear? I had been searching online for a few weeks, and lost a couple of bids on E-bay. This was very frustrating for me, because i decided very early on that i HAD to have the best costume, so that i could be voted Prom Queen. This was my one shot! The week of the party, i found this atrocious dress, and knew i had to have it.

Terri went all out as usual.... there were balloons EVERYWHERE, beer pong and darts in the garage, lots of yummy 80s snack food, and an awesome playlist of music. To top it all off, there was a prom picture setup where everyone got their picture taken. The pictures were then printed and posted on a wall so that everyone could vote for Prom Queen and King. Can you guess who won Prom Queen??
The Prom King (Sean) and i both had our high school dream answered...about 10 years too late. Next year we will have to hand off our crown to someone else, but we will be sure to enjoy our reign until then! Here was some of the competition:

My Jamaican Vacation....

My sweet friend Shari got engaged last year, and had always known she would have a destination wedding. After the excitement of it all, she decided on the Riu Montego Bay, a brand new resort in Jamaica. I wasn't completely sure if my recession budget was going to be able to be able to handle the extra expense (I am working on my 6-8 months salary savings...Suze Orman called me and told me to tighten up) but my husband the workaholoic, insisted that he needed a vacation. Who am i to argue with that?

So I did all my beach shopping, and was completely excited about leaving Chicago's -20 degree weather and wind chill to relax on the beach with a mai-tai in my hand and a stack of books to read. I was jilted from this dream on Tuesday when my hubby came home from work early because he was sick. After running a fever of 103+ for 3 days, we decided that unfortunately, instead of heading to the airport, we were heading to the hospital.

He had the flu, and spent 7 days sick and shut in. I know you wives and girlfriends out there know what its like when you have to take care of your guy when he is sick. Men become the most pitiful, helpless human beings on the face of the earth. It gave me a real reality check on how life would be if i were a single mother. He woke me up in the middle of the night sick, i was waiting on him hand and foot, and cleaning up vomit. But all in all, after the first couple of days it wasn't so bad. Don't get me wrong....i certainly wanted to choke him half the time. I think it just provided an opportunity for both of us to reflect and be thankful for each other. After cleaning the house from top to bottom, doing all the laundry, taking out trash, walking the dog (in the snow!), grocery shopping, cooking 3 meals a day, and several Walgreens runs, i realized even more just how much he helps me out, and how much i appreciate it. I impressed him with my caretaker, and suzy homemaker skills, so i think i might have made a good enough impression that he might agree to giving me my dream job one day....... HOUSEWIFE!