Chapter Closing!

Ok, so I kinda fell off the earth there, but I am trying to get back on the blogging wagon. A lot has been going on in my life. It's crazy enough that it is the holiday season. However, I then decided we should have two rooms in our house painted; then we did the good clean of our house, and I mean good clean (every corner, closet, wall and floorboard was scrubbed and/or reorganized.) It is wonderful now. We had the holidays mixed in, a friend staying with us for a weekend and a few gatherings at our house. Plus, I have two jobs, which brings me to the biggest change of all: I quit one of my jobs.

It's a good thing in the long run. I am not using my skills here, and I feel used. I have three positions in this building and answer to four people. It makes for one insane work week. When I was hired, I was initially hired to work for the newspaper. (I have a degree in communications.) Then, approximately three years into the job, my one boss came and told me I was being promoted to the director of a new program in the building; it involved a raise, so I took it. At that point, I was working two jobs. However, I quickly realized that the new job I took on was not a promotion by any means; I became a secretary. Now, don't get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for secretaries, but I went to school to be a journalist. I understand you have to work your way up in a company, but I felt that after three years, I had proven myself, and I felt like I was going backwards. I stuck out the second job because of the nice raise.

Then, this past summer, my head boss (who was new) came in and told me they would be splitting me again into a third position. This time, there was no raise. Yeah, I felt really appreciated. In their minds, it was a compliment I was getting so many positions. They said they knew I could handle it. To me, well, I felt like I was being used. Plus, did I mention, the new position was another secretary position? It was.

The company I work for has been downsizing for a few years, just like everyone else. We are a nonprofit organization, and I know money is tight. But, I went to school to be a journalist, not someone's you-know-what!

The final factor that determined my resignation was that I wasn't even happy in the position I originally signed up for. When I was in college, I was the assistant editor and promoted to editor of the school newspaper. I graduated with honors and had a paid internship at a newspaper. I covered fires, an attempted murder trial and so many other things. They offered me a job, and I turned it down to take the job at this paper. I knew the stories would be less interesting at this job, but the money was better, hours were better, and the commute was better. So, I took the plunge.

When I came here, I realized I was working with two older women who were stuck in their ways. They weren't very good with journalism and didn't understand design and a lot of the grammar rules. It was frustrating. It was like teaching an old dog new tricks; it wasn't happening. The one thing I convinced them to change was that stories shouldn't jump backwards, meaning if a story starts on page four, it shouldn't jump to page three; that's backwards. They did let me convince them to change that.

I know I am rambling, but I need to get this all down. I thought time would change things. However, my immediate boss at the paper can't stand giving control to anyone else, so she covers 95 percent of the stories. I do some design (without much creative liberty), a handful of stories a year and typing, a lot of typing. Again, I did not go to schoolt obe a typist. It is frustrating; it is tiring; and it is time to move on.

If you have gotten this far, congratulations. I really needed to get it all out. I mean, I have worked here for almost five years, This is a big chapter of my life closing.

I put in my resignation Nov. 23, 2010, and I told them I would stay until Dec. 21. I want to leave on good terms. For the most part, this place has been good to me. I have great co-workers, and the hours are unbeatable. It just isn't working for me anymore, and I have realized money isn't everything. I will be picking up more hours with Weight Watchers, and I will hopefully be moving up the chain there. I may get to do some public relations there, too. I really hope this all pans out.

Again, sorry this was so long. I promise my future updates will be more exciting. Now, I feel like i can get back to some happy blogging. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I ate too much, but it was wonderful!

Bloggers Get 50 Free Holiday Cards from Shutterfly!

I absolutely love the holidays. Once I get my first Christmas card, I start to get giddy, and I find cards to be such an important part of the holiday season.

It is one of the first things I think of when I am planning my holidays. What do I want my closest friends and family to see? How do I want my card to look?

Since beginning my search more than a month ago, I found that I will certainly be using Shutterfly. Now, I am a journalist and do a lot of layout for the newspaper and could easily design my own card from scratch. But I decided to use Shutterfly for sure.

First of all, the designs of the cards are so gorgeous. I mean, just look at these Christmas cards! If you love simplistic designs with clean lines, they have it. If you prefer dramatic, elegant, fun, unique, they have them all.  I truly mean that.

Now, I love when families do family updates in their cards. Shutterfly has cards where you can put the updates on the card! How creative and fun! I adore these story cards.

The site even has the option to send the cards for you.

I live a busy life, but I still want to be able to send cards to my family and friends, and this allows me to make some quick decisions on the easy-to-use site, and then sit back while they do all the work.

I have used Shutterfly more than once, and I refuse to go to any other site for pictures or photo projects. I have never been disappointed at all. One of my favorite projects was the album I put together for our honeymoon. I love their photo books. Like I said, I design newspapers for a living, so I can be pretty darn picky, but the quality and efficiency form Shutterfly is superb. The photos were so clear, and the quality of the hardback book was unbeatable. The site even allowed for me to add captions, quotes and description. It was a HUGE project, but was so simple, at the same time. I couldn’t believe it was on my doorstep approximately a week later. Unbelievable! It is a true keepsake in our house, and people are always looking through it. Plus, the price was so affordable.

Another favorite thing of mine is I also love the easiness of printing photos and having them delivered to my house. I love a nice matte finish on photos, and they offer it!

A third reason I love Shutterfly is they have great gift options. Just look how great calendar is! We cruised with my parents three times, and they make an entire calendar out of the cruise photos for us each time. We love it and can relive the cruise each month!

That is another reason I love quality. Sometimes you really pay good bucks for a nice album; however, with Shutterfly, I find that I am getting great quality for a fraction of the price.

They have cards for everything! Think of the possibilities. If you don’t do Christmas cards, per say, you might do a Christmas party invitation, a New Years party invitation, birth announcement, housewarmings, etc.  Really, the options are endless.

What’s the best part of all of this? Shutterfly is offering 50 FREE (you read that right) cards to anyone who promotes the company on the site. For more information on this, visit Shutterfly here.

Tell me about your incredible projects with Shutterfly. I would love to hear them. And remember, pass the good experiences onto your friends and family, and share the wealth. Don’t worry! With so many options out there, they won’t choose the same card; I promise!

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/sfly2010.

Carolina's Coming!

Yeah, so I was going strong, blogging almost every weekday and absolutely loving it. Then, life happened!

We decided to have our living room painted and had to clear those rooms out for the painter, pick paint, pick new curtains, etc. After the painting was done I decided I wanted to do a good clean of the two rooms, which mean floorboards, floors, rugs, every piece of furniture in the room and everything that goes back into the room (including what goes back into the china hutch). It was tough work. After I finished that, I decided I wanted to do a good clean of the back bedroom since my best girlfriend, Carolina, is coming to stay with us. So, that meant scrubbing the walls, floorboards, floors, rug, cleaning the curtains, comforter sheets and everything that went back into my room. My back is crying for a break. Yuck.

But, it will pay off because I get to see my Carolina! I just have to clean the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom tonight and maybe make a few treats for the weekend.

Carolina and I waiting to see "Sweeney Todd" in April.

Me and Carolina at the Cherry Blossom Festival! We had incredibly beautiful weather.

Carolina is from Columbia, and we met in college in a history class. We studied together a couple of times, and we really hit it off. I was a communications/journalism major, and she was a communications/theater major. We ended up having a few classes that overlapped, and we just kept hitting it off. Although I was not involved in theater in college, I loved and still do love theater. Carolina was the stage manager in many of the productions, and I loved going to see her.

Carolina, my mom and me

Carolina looking adorable, while I look like a total bum. We were heading home after "Wicked."

Our second year in college, my first roommate decided to live off of campus, so I was left without a roommate. Carolina was my suite mate, and when things with her roommate didn't work out (think young college girl dating a man older than my parents...blah), Carolina decided to move in with me.

We stayed roommates throughout the rest of our college experience. She was the neat freak, and I was the slob. However, I think she rubbed off on me because I am a crazy clean person now. Yes, my house gets messy, but it drives me insane.

In our junior year of college, Carolina and I moved into a house on campus. That house is where we truly bonded. We got our own rooms and had the chance to have some more space to ourselves. It was really good for us. We spent many nights sitting on each other's beds laughing, crying, studying and gossiping (and we, of course, occasionally opened a nice bottle of wine). It was perfect!

After college, Carolina moved around a few times and is now living in Virginia, near Washington, D.C. We see each other more now than we did a few years ago. The last two Thanksgivings she has come to our place (day after Thanksgiving). Last Thanksgiving, she came down to our place, and we went to Cleveland to see "Wicked" and the house from "The Christmas Story." I traveled down to see her the week of Holy Week, and we went to the cherry blossom festival and to see a production of "Sweeney Todd." It was nice because her birthday is April 2, and I got to see her! Remember, we love our theater. So, that's always an important part of our time together, too!

Carolina and I at "Wicked" last November.

My brother's girlfriend Maria, Carolina and I waiting for "Wicked."

I can't wait for this weekend. Our plans include some Christmas shopping and catching up with friends for a nice dinner. It will be great and relaxing!

At a restaurant featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," after "Wicked."

Visiting the house from "The Christmas Story," after "Wicked."

I will try to get back into blogging more. Right now is rough because of the holidays and other big things going on, but I am trying to get back into the swing!

Have a great day!

Christmas Tunes Are Welcome!

It's November, and that means it is the holiday season in my mind! I love, love, LOVE this time of year. You can ask anyone in my family. I am like an overgrown child.

Since Christmas is my favorite time of year and music is so important to my life, Christmas music is a necessity. Now, out of respect to other people (aka my husband) I don't listen to it all year around. One reason for that is because I love the anticipation of listening to the Christmas music during the season.

However, once November 1 rolls around, it is fair game. Woo hoo! Now, I don't put up decorations or bake Christmas cookies, but music is played. My husband has even embraced, or shall I say succumbed, the this tradition.

It is a tradition that was always upheld in my family. My dad and I still count down the days until the carols begin. A favorite in my family is Amy Grant, and you can be sure to know that she will be on my play list soon!

I think I will have to gather some of my favorite tunes, which will probably be 50 songs...yes, obsession.

The weatherman is calling for spurts of snow tomorrow, and while many people are whining, I am singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year. ..."

P.S. I really do intend on updating some more and things. Life in our house is insane right now. Welcome to that time of year.

Still Alive!

I haven't fallen off the earth. I had an absolutely insane end of the week and weekend. I will post soon. I have a house repaint and lots of other things going on. Stay tuned for lots of pictures and stories!