From coast to coast... to coast.

Summer. So many good thoughts pop into my head when i hear that word - watermelon, beach, lake, grass, sunglasses, HEAT!, sand, fishing (although my brother is the only one doing that these days), snow cones, blue skies  - ok ok that's enough. The point is... summer is cool (not literally unless you live in Alaska). With the exception of 100 degree temperatures and suppressing humidity, i really do love summer. And this summer has got to be one of my favorites because i got the chance to visit all three coasts in the good ole U.S. of A.

Coast 1: Gulf of Mexico, Carillon Beach, Florida

Winner: prettiest water

Loser: hottest water

Coast 2: Pacific Ocean, San Diego, California

Winner: biggest waves

Loser: coldest water

Coast 3: Atlantic Ocean, Falmouth, Massachusetts

Winner: prettiest view (Martha's Vineyard)

Loser: most seaweed

Its been quite a summer... and it ain't over yet! But this thing i did... dipping my toes in the three bodies of water that surround us... was actually about more than just water. I spent each trip with some pretty amazing (and my favorite!) people. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with my immediate family, my boyfriend's friends and family, and my extended family. The people definitely made the trips worthwhile... but getting a tan and cooling off in the salty water wasn't bad either :)

Happiness

Well its thoroughly embarrassing that my last post was in January, but i don't wanna waste any more words on that.

I am back to writing because i want to capture an incredibly wonderful moment i had tonight. There have been a few times since i moved to St. Louis that i have been randomly, unpredictably overtaken by complete happiness. One such time happened tonight. Since my memory is shoddy at best, i am putting it into words that hopefully i will come back to read one day.

There was nothing particularly special about tonight. But then again, i guess you could say everything was special. I was driving home from my Monday night volleyball game thinking... I am in a sand volleyball league. With cool people. That i met at school. Happiness = check. I just got off the phone with someone i care deeply about and who makes me smile on a daily basis. Probably an hourly basis. Happiness = check. I am on my way to my apartment... which i greatly enjoy calling home. And share with a person who will be a lifelong friend. Happiness = check. And upon arriving home, i had plans to Skype with my brother. Who is loving school. And has blossomed into an outgoing, driven, personable, intelligent, and motivated person since moving to college. Happiness = check.

Like i said before, nothing is particularly earth shattering about any of these things but thats what makes it so great. I have created a life for myself here in St. Louis that i love and these little, everyday things bring me lots of happiness. Its incredibly comforting and humbling. Thank you, God, for all these sources of happiness.

Just one week left of being a first-year MBA. I'm growing up so fast! Haha. Here's to an awesome finish (and much more happiness to come!).

14, 12, and 2

14

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 14-time national champions!!!!!!! Wooohooo! I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of both #13 and #14 - thirteen as a student and fourteen as an alum. While thirteen was one of the most memorable days of my life, this championship was an extremely unique situation for me since Bama played LSU and I'm from Louisiana but for Alabama. I got to spend time with both high school and college friends and it was a blast! The absolute best part was the ten minute walk i made from Jackson Square to Canal Street following the game... hugging, high-fiving, and roll-tiding every stranger in red! Us Bama fans spent the previous weekend being heckled and pelted by Mardi Gras beads by LSU fans. We finally got to scream Roll Tide and celebrate Bama's accomplishments... and LSU could not say a single word!!! Its hard to trash talk when your team crosses midfield once... in the 4th quarter... puts up zero points... lets the opponent score 6 times. Ahhhh glorious!

#13 - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

#14 - Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA

12

Happy 2012!!! Time flies when you're having fun... or super busy. A few resolutions of mine: follow a consistent workout plan (like every other person on the planet), get an internship (a MUST!!!), set and follow a budget, learn how to properly use my camera, and continue to travel as much as possible. Nothing earth shattering but all very important. This NYE, I attended one of those prepaid events that includes all your dinner and drinks, a band, balloon drop, etc. Although you ring in the new year with a couple hundred strangers (and, in my case, some awesome MBA friends!), it was actually really fun! And, yes, the balloon drop was totally the best part! 

2

I have officially started my 2nd semester of business school. Crazy. This semester will be extremely different from the first due to the structure of the program. We are done with the core (accounting, marketing, economics, etc.) and now choose our own classes. Best parts... no more assigned seats, interesting elective classes, and getting to know second-years and PMBAs. Worst parts... no one to remind me what classroom i'm suppose to be in ;) and not having class with some of my favorite people! I can only hope my second semester will be as awesome as the first - until next time...

I am the expert on me.

MBA school is sort of like an intellectual version of the Real World only twenty times larger (forty if you count the second-years). Our tricked out house is referred to as Simon Hall...only its not exactly tricked out unless Einstein's Bagels is your idea of a good time. Gossip rages. Only instead of hearing the number of people so-and-so has hooked up with, you hear the number of companies that person has interviewed with. Its been nearly 5 months of living in close quarters with my classmates (or roommates if you're still on the Real World analogy) and i think we'd all agree that its time for a break. MBA school is like a bad science project or a sociologist's dream...

For 5 months i've had information, advice, direction, criticism, encouragement, and knowledge thrown at me from all directions. Everyone has an opinion; my classmates, my professors, my career advisors, my mentors, and my parents. Everyone thinks they have the ultimate way to... write a cover letter, complete the project, get in with this or that company, etc. And after all this time, i've forgotten one important thing. Probably the most important thing... I am the expert on me. 

I've been soaking up all of the information like a sponge, afraid i would miss some vital golden nugget of knowledge. And i've tried to heed all of the advice... well, that is until i received contradictory advice. Again. And again. And again. Because, as stated above, everyone has an opinion. An opinion that differs from the previous one i heard and the next one i'll hear.

Discernment is a term used to describe the activity of determining the value and quality of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgments about that thing. (from Wikipedia)


Discernment: my new favorite vocabulary word and life motto for the time being. This semester has taught me to accept and be thankful for each and every piece of information i receive, but to take it with a grain of salt and to always be actively discerning. I must remind myself that no one knows me better than me, and i have to start listening to my own head and heart. God gave me this brain and this heart and i need to start using them! 


So thanks to all the sources of advice, knowledge, and wisdom i've received this semester. And thanks be to God for reminding me to use the gifts He gave me that make me... well, me.  

October in Review

Its November. Nov-freakin-ember. Time is flying!!!

Some highlights (and a few lowlights) from the month of October:

• Oktoberfest in Soulard - wish i could say this was an awesome event but in reality i don't have a clue. I had an incredibly awesome day at Oktoberfest but i honestly parked myself on a hill in the beautiful fall weather and didn't move ALL DAY. It was a blast but i can't really speak to the actual event of Oktoberfest. I blame the good beer and awesome company.

• The Cardinals won the world series. This might be considered a highlight (the fact that i live in the city that is the home of the world series champs...sounds cool right?) if not for the fact that this team took the playoff slot that the Braves should have held had they not imploded in September. Nevertheless, i appreciate sports fan everywhere (except Auburn and LSU of course) and Busch Stadium is a pretty cool place.

• I successfully picked and carved a pumpkin for the first time since i was little kid. I must say that real pumpkins... the ones that come from the patch... have much less smooth insides that the made-for-carving ones you find at grocery stores. For all you cheaters with perfectly carved pumpkins, mine is authentic!!!

• My friend/"sister"/third parent, Sandi, came to visit me from Iowa! I had a blast spending the weekend with her and showing her a little of my life here in St. Louis. We also through a fantastic birthday bash for my roommate, Carly, that weekend in Forest Park. Ultra picnic style - complete with hotdogs, touch football, frisbees, and several pups. 

• I went to Portland, OR. Yes as in the state of Oregon. Random you say? Nah. Ok maybe a little. I went for a career conference that focuses on social responsibility and sustainability... Portland clearly fits that description and served as a great host. Things to know about Portland: (1) it rains just as much as everyone says it will (2) its grungy and beautiful at the same time (3) they have the most ridiculous donuts in the world -> http://www.travelchannel.com/Video/tony-digs-doughnuts-in-portland-11740

So November, you've got big shoes to fill. October was pretty sweet. 

One down, not enough to go.

So its been a ridiculously long time since my last post. The bad news is... i hate that because i really enjoy writing on this and wish i did it more consistently. The good news is... i haven't written much because i've been so busy having the time of life in grad school!!! Ok, super cheesy but really its true. I cant say that i am a huge fan of the going to class part but even then, class isnt THAT bad. So, quick recap of the past month - just hitting the highlights:

-> My group... Ideas'R'Us... is the bomb dot com. (See family photo below). We recently had a professor comment on our econ write-up that he would have given us a 6/5 if he could because our write-up was the best he read. SUPER TEAM!!! So, my team is great because we are doing pretty well on our assignments but also because i really enjoy working with them. Our personalities mesh well together and i've enjoyed getting to know them as friends outside of school also. Go Team 14!!!!!

->Extracurriculars are ramping up. As if school and social activities aren't enough, there are tons of awesome opportunities to join clubs or organizations at the b-school and never ending events to attend. I've already joined the National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA), the Ambassadors (student recruiting), the social committee, Olin Cares (community service) and Net Impact (nonprofit/CSR/sustainability career path). I also am chairing a committee for NAWMBA and will likely pursue a leadership with Olin Cares as well. Sooooo much to do and so little time! I literally want to do it all.

->I just made my first trip 'home'. Home in this case means Alabama. Its very strange to be living in a third place now (with Louisiana and Alabama being #1&2) because when i decide to take a trip home... am i referring to LA or AL?? Its very weird. I absolutely love my home town and miss my family and friends their terribly but my time in Alabama is much closer to me... so i went to Bama to attend my cousin's wedding. Congrats Abby and Chris!!! Got to see tons of friends and the progress that Tuscaloosa is making post tornado. The best part though was visiting Holy Spirit and the stampede of 12-16 yr old girls that greeted me at the gym doors. I miss my girls so much!!!!

->Finished my first MBA class yesterday. CRAZY! I feel like i just moved here and i've already completed one of my core classes. Submitted my Strategy final at about 3pm yesterday... what a rush clicking the submit button, and knowing i didn't have to wake up this morning for strategy class! As great as it feels to finish a class, it is a huge reality check that this experience is flying by and i want it to slow down!!! I know these two years will be gone in a blink of an eye and that this experience will be one of the most memorable of my life. Ok... done with the sappy stuff for now. Gotta get to econ.

I am vowing to myself to blog again before Christmas. Ha.

Small Victories

So one of my favorite things to do since starting business school is to read the articles LinkedIn recommends to me based on my interests. In this case, non-profit organization management (i think that's what they call it). My latest fav was an article titled "Learning About Finance: Advice for Nonprofit Leaders." Below is an excerpt...

Build financial literacy. Learn as much as you can about finance and take college business courses, if possible, says Margaret Huggard, president of Catholic Social Services of Oakland County, in Michigan. Ms. Huggard, a social worker by training, recalls that early in her career she took several accounting and finance classes because she knew that any enterprise that didn’t understand its cost structure was destined to fail. She said leaders that can’t manage financial data and decisions put their programs, staffs, and integrity at risk.

For the first time, possibly in my life, i read an article dealing with business (my career path) that contained advice i was ALREADY FOLLOWING. As i read the suggestion about taking accounting and finance classes, i was thinking to myself "look at me go! i'm totally doing that right now!" This may seem trivial but the little boost of confidence regarding my chosen career path felt pretty good. I've questioned many times whether getting my MBA was the right thing for me. After all, you definitely don't need an MBA to run a non-profit, to start your business, or to help people. However, everyone takes different paths to reach their ultimate goal and mine just so happens to include getting my MBA. Which includes taking accounting in finance. Which The Chronicle of Philanthropy totally recommends.

Might i add that today i had my first 'real' test. It was actually only a quiz but its the first grade we've had since our complete class schedule started that wasn't a write-up or power point. Good ole pen, paper, and test questions. And it was in accounting. And i rocked it. I can say this with complete confidence because my professor posted the answers this afternoon... I worked every problem twice (duhhhh do you know me??) and therefore remember every one of my answers, give or take a decimal. I made a 100... saying that makes me feel like i'm in 3rd grade. Will my professor draw smiley faces in the zeroes? Probably not, but i am not above posting that quiz on my refrigerator when he hands them back. This is MBA school people... the big leagues. I'm proud of that thing!

Lastly, i need to add Patagonia to my list of companies (see previous blog). Just finished reading a case for my strategy class about them. Although i am big fan of what they do, i am not sure i could work for them. I've never climbed a mountain and i don't wear birkenstocks. Nor do i own any of their merchandise. However, i would totally be down for afternoon surf breaks and i'm totally down for saving the planet. I should probably learn to surf first.

Purple Power

What a whirlwind. I am almost three-quarters of the way through my b-school orientation and all i can say is... wow. WashU titles MBA orientation "GO Week," which is short for Gateway Olin, but is completely applicable to the schedule of the oriented-student. All we do is go.

Thoughts on school, orientation, st. louis, etc....

-the terms 'first-year' and 'second year' are part of my everyday vocab.

-some people REALLY like to hear themselves talk. And they usually think their not-so-brilliant idea is life altering.

-i will have a rockin' internship next summer

-there is a massive fountain in the middle of Forest Park...leading up to a beautiful gigantic building. how have i driven through this park multiple times, yet missed this massive landmark? that's how big the park is.

-i will spend 99.9% of my time on campus in Simon Hall (the b-school building). Unless i do something about it. Which i plan too since the WashU campus looks like Hogwarts. Literally.

-there is hope for the weather in StL. Yesterday was warm and breezy and much less humid. I'm sure it won't last but at least there are good days to come.

Gotta take a minute to document my first day of school... and yes Carly and I most definitely took first day of school pics. Solo. With our backpacks. At the front door.

So i was fortunate enough to meet several of my classmates during my first few weeks here and prior to school starting. This was HUGE because it made day 1 much less nerve-wracking since i had a few familiar faces to turn to. In the days leading up to orientation, our "group" (which we named team dino... like dee-no from the flinstones) decided to all wear the same color on the first day of school. and we somehow decided on purple (whose idea was that again??). So... the 6 of us rocked purple to day 1 of orientation. Yes we all sat next to each other. Yes we stood out. Yes people were confused. Yea... we're cool. Haaaa. Looking back, it was quite ridiculous, and who really knows what everyone else thought of us BUT i think its hilarious and its a lasting memory i'll have from b-school. Go team dino!!!

Greetings from the Lou

This is my first blog post from St. Louis... Hooray!!! Its hard to believe I'm actually here. This is my 7th day in "the lou" and so far my time here has been an absolute whirlwind. I brought no furniture with me from Alabama and therefore have spent a significant amount of time shopping for all the missing items in my apartment. After a week, my place is starting to look and feel like a home. However, my nightstand and desk are still in pieces on the floor and I'm really close to chunking them out the window. I guess you can't expect assembly to be easy or materials to be sturdy when you purchase Wal-mart furniture. When I'm not decorating or unpacking, I've been working on pre-MBA math assignments that must be completed BEFORE my program starts. Thankfully, I finished them yesterday which gives me a full week to do all the other 123,301 things Wash U recommends I do before class starts on August 1.

So, some observations of STL/WashU thus far:

-people either seem to hate it or love it... i'm hoping i'll be in the latter group.

-i live in a great location (Central West End) because i truly am centrally located... a short drive from school, downtown, and the major shopping areas, and a short walk to many popular restaurants and nightlife as well as Forest Park.

-the summer weather is virtually identical to the south; HOT and HUMID, even after the sun goes down. I'm hoping that their summers are not as long as the southern ones but i right now i feel right at home when i step outside. Sticky and sweaty.

-my school really does look like Hogwarts and several people even refer to it that way. So cool.

-the city is not really separated into nice areas and bad areas. You can be driving down a main road with lots of businesses, look to your left and see a gated street with sprawling mansions, or look to your right and see a rundown road with old buildings and sketchy people wandering around. Its very odd.

-I sort of feel like a freshman in college again with all the uncertainty of what lies ahead as well as the excitement of meeting lots of new people. I've hung out with several of my future classmates, all very different people with different backgrounds, and everyone is so open to one another and excited to hang out whenever, and do whatever. Last night our group consisted of me, from the south, my roommate Carly from Wisconsin, and students from Arizona, Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, and a couple St. Louians.

-I can't wait for Mark to get here and for us to make this city ours. I think he's going to love it and we are going to have a blast experiencing the city and making it our own!

On a completely random note, I have to take a minute to express my excitement about being a bridesmaid in two very important weddings happening next spring. My best friend from childhood will be getting married in April. I still can't believe the day of her wedding is this close... seems like yesterday that we were putting on blue eye shadow listening to N'Sync while getting ready for the middle school dance. I am so excited for the big day and all the festivities with the wedding party (most of whom I know closely). Seriously, we've been talking about our weddings since we were 4. So excited!!! In contrast, a very dear friend whom i've known for a very short time is getting married in May. I am incredibly excited an honored to be a part of her wedding. We have known each other less than year and the fact that she considered our friendship valuable enough to include me in her wedding literally brought me to tears yesterday when i got the adorable invitation in the mail. I consider her a very close friend and someone I could turn to in an instance, so it was very comforting to know that she feels the same way. Here's to wonderful friends!

More updates from the lou soon...

Moving Day Eve

Moving day is finally here! Well almost. But i will not be waking up at 6am to blog on moving day so this is as close as it gets. I will be getting up at 7am to begin loading my car and await my sweet boy's arrival from Birmingham so we can load the rest of my life into his car. Then, Mark and I will begin the 8 hour journey to St. Louis!!!

People keep asking me if i'm excited and, although i'm not jumping up and down screaming yes in response, i am still very excited. Unfortunately, the whole moving process has kind of put a damper on my excitement about this new experience. But, once i get to my new apartment, purchase a bed to sleep on, and fill my closet THEN i will jump up and down in excitement :)

Although moving is stressful, dirty, and time consuming, it does have a few benefits. First, its a great opportunity to clean out all your crap and downsize. I am not sure how many trash bags i have filled that ended up at Plato's closet, a thrift store, or Temporary Emergency Services but i know i've gotten rid of lots of stuff i don't need as much as someone else out there. If you are looking to condense your possessions, I highly recommend going through your stuff multiple times. I kept forgetting what i had already sorted through or wanted to rearrange a box to fit everything, and quite often an item that made the cut during my first trip through did not make the cut the second go around. Clearly, not a necessary possession. But most of what we own isn't. If i went through everything 10 times, i'd probably be left with nothing but a few t-shirts and my toothbrush.

Secondly, moving is a great time to organize. I thoroughly enjoyed organizing my stuff into the appropriately labeled boxes. I know this is not enjoyable for the average person (only my fellow OCD crazies) but organization makes everyones life easier and moving is the perfect opportunity to do it.

Thirdly, moving creates a fresh new start. In my case, new home, new furniture, new people, new surroundings... all of which gives me the opportunity to do many new things i may have wanted to do for awhile but never got around to. Like hang a new picture on my bedroom wall, pick up a new hobby, create a new habit like cooking and eating breakfast at home while reading the news, etc. And the great thing about a new place is that its NEW! It feels clean and untouched, almost like a hotel but with a cozy homey feeling. It hasn't been scuffed up, laughed in, or scarred yet. Its just waiting for you to start making memories! (sorry for the cheese)

So i am very excited to move and start this journey, but also very ready for "moving" to be over. I am incredibly grateful that Mark is going with me because I will no doubt be an emotional basket case. And his muscles will come in handy too ;) He is so good at calming me down and bringing me back to the realistic current situation when i start spiraling out of control in regards to all the what ifs and negatives of the situation. I can already here myself tomorrow... "Well what if school is incredibly difficult and i'm struggling to pass... what if the neighborhood i live in turns out to be shady...i know i'm going to miss you and my family and friends all the time. And i might not like the city life..." Enter my wonderful, encouraging, sensible boyfriend. Thank you Mark for supporting me on this roller coaster ride!!!

Well that's all for now. The next time i blog will be from a wi-fi connection in ST. LOUIS!!! Unfortunately, i will be without internet for several days until Charter can get us hooked up. But my awesome roommate Carly has already told me about some great coffee shops close by our apartment. I'll report back sooooon.

Happy 4th from the east to west coast!

I know I'm a few days behind, but on Monday I realized that I have spent the past several 4th of Julys in some pretty cool places. This past weekend, Mark and I drove over to Atlanta for a Braves game and to spend the 4th with my aunt, uncle, and cousins in Dunwoody. Unfortunately, the fireworks were rained out and the Braves lost. Bummer. Nevertheless, we had a great time at both the game and the Brown's. We had our own fireworks show in the driveway on Sunday night, and the Braves game was a nail-biter despite the disappointing outcome.

July 4, 2010 was spent in one of my favorite places on the planet - Cape Cod. Unfortunately, I won't be going to the Cape this summer. HUGE bummer. But that's because I'm starting an awesome grad program with amazing people in a cool new city!!! (Woooo STL!) Still worth spending a few nostalgic moments reminiscing about the Cape.

Two years ago, I was living in San Francisco when the 4th rolled around, and the lovely Erin (Loofbourrow!) came to visit for the day from Mt. Hermon. We had a blast strolling around the city, doing a little shopping, and eating really yummy food. Then we took a bus to Treasure Island to watch the fireworks on the wharf. Treasure Island is a manmade island that is halfway between San Francisco and Oakland. Its tiny and deserted BUT offers an amazing view of the fireworks. Many times people viewing the fireworks from the wharf can't even see them because of the fog. But the island offers a view from the back side, completely fog-free! I sound like a regular San Franciscan. Except I am entirely too reserved and conservative. Oh well.

On July 4th, 2008 (last one i swear!), I was working as a camp counselor at Camp Waldemar. Unfortunately, this fourth was firework-lacking because there was a ban on all fireworks in that part of Texas due to drought conditions. However, that night was a blast because it was the last night of camp and I let all of my "good counselor duties" fly out the window. I let the girls put their mattresses on the floor and even use their cell phones (gasp!). How could a sleepover with eight 13 year old girls not be highly entertaining? And i had the BEST CABIN EVER.

Happy belated 4th of July to all! I wonder where July 4, 2012 will be spent...

Doing More With Less

At the beginning of the summer, I created a lofty reading list for myself. The summer is speeding by and how many books have I read? Less than 1. Seriously, I haven't even finished a book. But today, I figured out why.

My first book of choice was titled The Silicon Boys. This book details the history of Silicon Valley, starting with the discovery and creation of the transistor way back in the day and covers the birth (and death) of tech companies such as Atari, Netscape, etc. Of course, the Steve's are included, Wozniak and Jobs. Some of the info in this book was very interesting such as learning how Apple first got started (and almost collapsed). Boy how quickly things can change! But for the most part, I was very bored and had to force myself to continue reading. I still haven't finished the book.

Today, I picked up a second book called Zilch. My aunt recommended this book to me several months ago and I am grateful to her that she did. Zilch teaches you how to do something with nothing, the basic life of a not-for-profit organization. Its written by an extremely intelligent woman, Nancy Lubin, who has successfully created and currently runs two nonprofits. And does so with ZILCH. I'm so clever aren't I :) Imagine what multi-million dollar businesses could accomplish with all their money if they applied a few of the principles Lubin does with her nonprofits which achieve success with practically nothing.

Anyways, the point of this story is to say that today I discovered that I need to stop wasting my time attempting to educate myself on topics I care nothing about (for example, the history of current technology) and focus my energies on what I do care about (nonprofits, being passionate about your work, etc.). I have no doubt that I will finish Zilch by the end of this week. Why? Because I actually WANT to read it. Which, by the way, totally supports Mrs. Lubin's claim that "People who take pride in what they do -- and it doesn't matter if they're working on auto assembly lines or saving orphans -- produce better results."

I'm wrapping up this post with a list of companies that I hope to learn from, work for, or maybe one day emulate when I found my own company. Some are not-for-profit, some are for-profit. But all do very cool things and all were created by people who get out of bed in the morning excited to go to work and inspire change and creativity. Oh and they also employ people who actually LIKE what they do. Cool.

Zappos, Henderson, NV

TerraCycle, Trenton, NJ

The Martin Agency, Richmond, VA

Tom's Shoes, Santa Monica, CA

Hands on Gourmet, San Francisco, CA

Trader Joe's, Monrovia, CA

VolunteerMatch, San Francisco, CA

Kaboom, Washington, D.C.

Do Something, New York, NY

Erin+Ross

I finally have a minute to sit down and document the fabulousness that was the Loofbourrow wedding. My amazing friend, Erin Greene, was married to Ross Loofbourrow on June 18, 2011. I had the humbling honor of participating in the wedding party, and it was an amazing experience!

I seriously could ramble forever about the 5 glorious days I spent in Nashville, but I will do my best to hit the highlights.

-Meeting Erin's friends... aka most important people in her life... was awesome. I had never before met two of the bridesmaids and one of the attendants. It was so fun to meet people from different aspects of her life. The 8 of us (6 bridesmaids + 2 attendants) were all so different but you could easily tell why we all became close friends of Erin's. And if i lived in the same town as any one of them, I have know doubt that we'd become fast friends too. Wonderful ladies!

-Ross's groomsmen were SO FUN! They were full of energy and absolutely hysterical. I really enjoyed forgetting about real life and simply laughing with them nonstop. After just a few hours with these guys, i felt like i had known them for years. Great guys!

-We (the ladies) ran into the best man and several groomsmen on Broadway during the bachelorette party (and concurrent bachelor party). Thankfully, Tyler had the good sense to discourage Erin's attempt to see Ross. Apparently, the boys party was raging by this point, and we were a little behind.

-The last stop on the bachelorette rendezvous was a place called Hollywood Disco. There were 7 people in our party... there were 7 people in Hollywood Disco (11 if you count the 3 bartenders and DJ). We literally kept the place open... for 2 hours. We danced on the light-up dance floor till our thighs burned so bad we could hardly walk. It was fabulous. Some tracks on our dance playlist... Moneymaker, Cupid Shuffle, Wanna Be (yes, by the Spice Girls).

-The rehearsal dinner was... i'm running out of adjectives for this week... inspiring. Besides a warm venue, good food, and great company, the toast portion of the evening was by far the best. The toasts when on for hours, but no one got bored or antsy because literally every toast was different. Every person had something wonderfully positive to say about either Erin or Ross plus a funny anecdote to throw in. I loved hearing what each and every friend and family member had to say about the couple.

-The wedding was what every wedding should be... a CELEBRATION. The ceremony was simple, elegant, uplifting, and happy. Lots of smiles and laughter, nothing froo-froo. Very 'Erin'. I realized that if a wedding ceremony ends up fitting the bride's personality, then the wedding came together just as the bride had pictured it. The reception is a bit of a blur, but was an absolute blast! Bridesmaids, groomsmen, college friends, childhood friends, extended family, bride's family, groom's family, even grandma and grandpa... were all on the dance floor. There were no slow songs. Just fast upbeat dance tunes that had everyone switching dance partners and throwing their hands up. It was one huge family of Erin+Ross celebrators. Literally, one of the best moments of my life thus far. I was having so much fun, I almost started crying.

I am so grateful to Erin and Ross for giving me the opportunity to share in their special day. I love them both so much! Nothing but love and happiness flowing all around. I wish those 5 days didn't have to end. Reunion anyone?

The Unpredictable Twenties

I believe life during your twenties is one of the most exciting times of life period. Maybe i will think differently when I'm 30, but for now, the twenties are just awesome. The twenties typically include... college graduation, financial freedom from parents, possibly moving away from home or one's hometown, engagement, marriage, new jobs, graduate school, etc. I used to think this crazy wild ride I've been on for the past few years was a result of changing hormones or a phase that would pass. Nope. It's just the nature of being twenty something.

This past weekend, I attended the wedding festivities of my dear friend, Erin Greene (now Erin Greene Loofbourrow). Erin is moving to Santa Cruz, CA to live with her now husband, Ross! The day after the wedding, another good friend of mine, sweet Hayley, got engaged. My best friend from childhood competes in the Miss Louisiana pageant this weekend, and will either by crowned Miss Louisiana (followed by a year of traveling and wonderful experiences) OR be moving to New Orleans in the fall to start graduate school or get her first real job. Oh and its quite possible she'll get engaged sometime during all that too. All i've got to say is wooaaahhh. The twenties are never boring.

On Hold

I am really enjoying this whole blogging experience. Writing more, clearing my thoughts through the computer keys, and reading others blogs... all wonderful. I started blogging for a variety of reasons, one of them being an attempt to generate a little self-discovery. Let me just tell you what i've discovered...

I am an anxious person. Well... I actually didn't learn that from blogging. I already knew that, but let's just say blogging further confirms it. It is my personal belief that living anxiously is a sin. (Phillipians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests your God.) So, I do make an effort to pray about this, be aware of it, ask for forgiveness when it hurts those around me, and learn from it.

Fortunately, I have been blessed with inspiring people in my life who make me want to be a better person. That's the good side. The bad side is this: I get so wrapped up in things i want to add to my life (from the lives of others) that my life starts to appear less desirable. I grow anxious about all of the 'self-improvements' i want to make, activities i want to complete, things i want to do, etc. This has happened as a result of me reading other people's blogs. I have a laundry list of things i want to add to my life (i'm not talking in the materialistic sense here) as a result of being inspired and educated by what i've been reading. I am proud of myself for learning to recognize the anxiety as it approaches. Kinda like when you grow up and learn how your body functions, you feel a sickness coming on before you actually get sick.

So, step one: recognize the anxiety. Step two: take action to lessen the blow (a.k.a. emotional Zicam - the best pre sickness drug out there). Step three: well we're not there yet...

So step 2 for this particular struggle: In an attempt to overcome the anxiety i feel about all the ways i wish my life were better, i am going to make a list of the 'life additions' i'd someday like to make. i will check things off and add new things as needed. This will help me organize my thoughts and also allow me to 'track progress.' For every new thing i acquire, i will also take time to appreciate something in my life that's been somewhat forgotten or become second nature.

I know that part of the anxiety i feel right now is due to this odd time in my life. Wrapping up one chapter of my life, before moving and starting grad school. My day to day life right now is hectic, unorganized, random, and changing. Its impossible to keep a routine, truly call where i live home, or make improvements to my life. I am basically scraping by till i get to start fresh in July. The fresh start will be very calming and helpful for me since i do better with routine, structure, and balance. Grad school will absolutely be stressful but it wont be the chaos that comes with juggling multiple jobs, applying to grad school, traveling constantly, etc. I am sort of on-hold till then. I need to be patient and embrace this crazy, wacky, strange month of my life because i know once i am gone i will miss it terribly. Learning to love what life is now and what it will be a few months from now.

So... when July rolls around and i get settled in, here's the list i will start with:

-i wish i read more. i want to read for pleasure but also for education. i want to read more news... WSJ, New York Times, Time, local publications, etc. i also want to read more Christian-based literature (books, studies, devotions, blogs, etc.).

-i want to be more creative. i use to paint fairly frequently and i really enjoyed it. i also really love tie-dyeing (i just never grew out of it as a child i guess - but seriously, its awesome and you can get super creative with what you dye), i like re-using things in artistic ways. leading to my next point...

-i want to recycle more. i don't hardly recycle at all right now and recycling is actually very important to me.

-i want to start working out again. obviously my knee has limited me for the past several months, but i'm pretty much cleared to work out and have been lazy and not doing much. this needs to end. i also really want to try zumba and spin.

-i want to become part of a church community, one that i attend every Sunday but also includes various weekly activities and serves as a family.

-i want to make volunteering part of my normal routine (not just when a massive tornado destroys everything). volunteers are always needed... not just during disasters, and as Christians, we are called to serve.

-i want to learn how to use my camera and use it to the fullest. my camera can do awesome things and i dont even know the half of it. i used to take artsy, fun pictures all the time and would spend hours editing them. i want to put these pictures in a journal, frame them, hang them on the wall, make collages with them, etc. The sky is the limit.

-i want to cook more. Mark has taught me to love food and showed me how to really enjoy it. not to mention, food just tastes better when you know where it came from. i also want to be more health conscious. i think several physical ailments of mine (and the rest of the world) could easily be cured by proper diet.

That's all for now. I'm sure there's more that will be added soon. BUT i will also start crossing things off when they start happening in July. Just that much more excited about moving now :) Yay St. Louis!

Not a sprint, nor a marathon

On June 2, 2011, something amazing happened. For the first time in over 6 months, I steadily transitioned from a walk to a RUN. Now, we're not talking a full-on sprint here, but nevertheless jogging was a huge milestone for me.

The recovery process since my Dec. 28th knee surgery has been long, painful, and challenging. It has been sprinkled with exciting milestones like this one. The first time I could stand without pain... the first time I could shower normally... the first day I could bear weight on my left leg... my first day of crutch-free living... the day I got rid of the dreaded knee-bending machine!!!... the many knee flexion (bending) milestones - 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 100 degrees, 120, etc. - and now RUNNING.

Although I am technically not an athlete anymore, I still consider myself a very active person. And as my fellow athletes know, you never really lose the drive, competitiveness, and passion for participating in athletics no matter how old you are or what shape your body is in. So, it has been very difficult for me to remain patient throughout this recovery and to come to terms with being inactive for several months. Running for the first time was like freeing a horse from the gate at the Kentucky Derby. Luckily my physical therapist was there to help reign in my excitement and energy. I lasted all of 6 minutes at a pace of 4 on the treadmill. I'm pretty sure my 76 year old grandmother could do that, but still. It was amazing. It was awkward, painful, shaky, and a little frightening, but it was amazing.

I still have a long way to go before my knee and leg will function "normally." I am limited to running short distances at a slow pace... jumping is very difficult... I still endure a significant amount of pain when bending my knee... and my leg is still very weak in comparison to my healthy, right leg. However, I am very grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to work through a challenge like this. It has taught me to rejoice in the little things (such as running for the first time in a long time) and to be thankful for what I do have (the ability to walk and function in daily life, 22 years of an active lifestyle, the endurance to overcome an injury) rather than dwell on what went wrong. Most importantly, I was forced to be patient. Patience is still something I struggle with but this recovery has led me to become a more patient person overall.

Brief description of my knee problem and the surgical options. I have had all four of the listed procedures, some more than once: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/tc/patellar-tracking-disorder-surgery

I am working my butt off at PT this week (running + loads of strengthening) in hopes that my knee will hold up next week at the dance party in Nashville, a.k.a. Erin Greene's wedding.

Dancing works your leg muscles so I can consider that a form of therapy, right?

Travel Bug

Recently I was chatting with Mark and I made the comment that I wished I could do nothing but travel during the month of July. I plan to move out of my house here in Tuscaloosa at the very end of June and I start orientation at WashU on August 1. What does that leave? July! So why not travel? Simple... Insufficient funds.

Although I can't afford to live as a nomad for an entire month, I will be able to take a few exciting trips this summer. And I am extremely thankful for that. I wouldn't necessarily say I caught the travel bug... I would say its more like a condition, because it never really goes away. I've always loved to travel and I've always had family and friends all over the country to visit. I hope my love for travel continues because its brought me some great experiences and awesome memories.

San Francisco, CA

En route to Martha's Vineyard (Falmouth, MA)

Winter Park, CO

San Diego, CA

Pasadena BABY!!! Roll tide.

Some awesome trips I will be taking NOW (aka this summer):

• Nashville to celebrate the marriage of Erin and Ross! (Leaving 2 weeks from tomorrow!!!)
• St. Louis to find a place to call home and explore the restaurant scene for my boy
• Charleston, SC to visit my wonderful friend LT! (this is still in the works)
• Family vacation destination TBA: my family is still working out the details of our family vacation which will either be to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to visit family or some sort of outdoor trip involving rafting, canoeing, fishing, etc. - either would be AWESOME

Some awesome trips I will be taking LATER (my travel wish list):

• Denver to visit my dear friend Amy
• Northern California to see Erin & Ross's new home and visit old friends in San Fran
• Chicago... because i've never been and its a short 5 hour trip from STL
• Texas to catch up with camp friends and visit one of my best college friends, Michelle, in San Antonio
• Small town, Iowa to visit Sandi, an incredibly influential person in my life!
• St. George Island, FL - because once you visit SGI, you'll never wanna go to another beach
• Boston to spend some quality time with my beautiful cousin Ashley
• Other places I want to visit simply because I think they'd be cool: Portland OR, St. Augustine FL, Ann Arbor MI, Baltimore MD, the Outer Banks, and Austin TX.

So here's to traveling! Anyone up for a road trip?

Summer Reading

Summer reading? I thought I had seen the last of those when I graduated high school. Apparently not. The difference between my current summer reading list and the ones we all became accustomed to in jr high and high school; I am inflicting this brutal list upon myself.

Why would one do such a thing? Well, its quite simple.... to further broaden my horizons, increase my intellect, and expand my business knowledge. Ha just kidding... actually not really. I have created this reading list because, quite frankly, grad school intimidates the heck outta me and these books are my attempt to make myself smarter. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to attend WashU's MBA program and very excited for the experience. However, anxiety and uncertainty are rearing their ugly heads as well.

I will likely be the youngest person in my MBA class (the average age is 27).

I will be a gender minority (gender breakdown of the MBA school is 28/72% female/male).

I will likely be one of the only people from the south (that is if you count Florida and Texas as the south... if you don't, then I will be THE only person from the south).

I could potentially be a "minority" as a caucasian (last years class was 34% international plus 12% underrepresented minority).

I will have significantly less work experience than my peers (the average is 4 years).

Despite all of this, I am sure that WashU is the place for me. I have felt God's hand throughout the process... applying, admission, etc... and I want the new experience and the change from what I know as "comfortable". But you can't ignore the facts. I will be starting school with a slight disadvantage... less work experience, less worldly experience, and possibly less knowledge (based on my peer's choices of undergrads such as Cornell and Brown - Roll tide!). So this reading list is my way of actively trying to bridge the gap. I am not assuming that reading these books will make me a genius or top of my class. I know that I will stumble during my first year at school. I know that some of classmates might dismiss my ideas because of my age or background. I know I will get the answer wrong ALOT. And that's fine. I need to experience that in order to grow as a person. I hope these books will give me a boost of confidence in my intellectual ability and the knowledge I already possess. I also hope they will get me excited about school and excited about business. And most of all, I hope they will start the ball rolling towards finding and creating my career path.

Just need to make sure I have a dictionary close by...

My Busy Random Organized Jumble of Thoughts

Warning: this post will be random.

I have several different things on my mind that I wanted to blog about but it seemed tedious and wasteful to write a separate post for each one, so why not throw them all together? Randomness keeps life interesting :) But staying true to my nature... they are numbered. Stop laughing. They are practically labeled with figurative numbers in my crazy-organized, OCD mind!

1. I am struggling to balance the ending of one chapter of my life with the beginning of another. I think this is what you call "limbo" but the movie Inception sort of complicated that word for me. Anyways, I have lots of thing to do before moving to St. Louis in... oh wait, that's the first thing I need to figure out. WHEN I am actually moving. I also need to... find a place to live, decide what furniture I will be taking with me, hopefully (fingers crossed!) find a roommate, create a budget, complete 20+ hours of pre-MBA math assignments, pay my final enrollment deposit, and complete a reading list I created for myself so I sound somewhat intelligent when called on by a professor. I am having trouble diving in to all of this exciting preparation because it means saying goodbye to the life I've created here in Tuscaloosa for 5 years. I am definitely ready for this change and awesome opportunity but I am sort of dragging my feet a little bit.

2. I really don't want to talk about the tornado because EVERYONE talks about the tornado. BUT I do feel the need to document an important personal discovery I made last night. On my way home from a friend's apartment, I traveled down 15th street, an area devastated by the tornado. This was the logical route home. I won't be taking the logical route anymore... at least for awhile... if it takes me through this area. At the intersection of 15th and McFarland, I burst into tears. It wasn't the devastation... the destruction on 15th is no worse than what I saw in the community of Sylvania, the neighborhood of Forest Lake, or the Rosedale Court area. What was different was the atmosphere. I visited Sylvania, Forest Lake, and Rosedale just days after the tornado. People were wandering the streets, roads were closed, and it looked like a disaster zone. But last night on 15th (the two week anniversary), it was business as usual. All roads and lanes were open. Street lights were working. Cars zoomed pass to their various destinations. Everything was normal. Except it wasn't. Businesses I've frequented for 5 years now were... missing. The roadside was pitch black. No business, no lights. I could see parts of Tuscaloosa from the street that were previously blocked by trees, houses, buildings, etc. Last night I learned that their are many layers of this recovery. Alabamians were initially saddened by the destruction... the "war zones". That stage has passed. What's left is a deserted, dark, unpopulated stretch of land that was once bustling, bright, and busy. To me, seeing this was just as eerie and hard to cope with. I would imagine the next layer will come when all the debri is removed and everything is simply barren. Then there will be rebuilding. Things will look different. This tornado has affected everyone in Tuscaloosa to different degrees and it will continue to be difficult. This is most definitely a marathon.

3. On a positive note... my little bro is awesome. He will be competing for his THIRD baseball state championship in four years. Does that make me greedy if I really, really want them to win? He has worked so hard and, finally, as a senior really has a chance to shine. The local news attended his team's practice yesterday and interviewed him about the games this weekend. I didn't get a chance to see it over here in Bama but my mom said he sounded and looked great on the 10 o'clock news. What a stud. My obsession with my brother (and his baseball) means I have basically been living out of suitcase. Home to Louisiana for a few days... back to Bama for work... back home for the next game... etc. It all comes to an end this weekend with the semi-final game on Friday, and the championship game on Saturday. The brother gets the start on the mound in the championship game should they survive Friday. I will be front and center screaming loud for #25! Let's go Eagles... REPEAT!!!

A Glimmer of Happiness Amidst Weeks of Tragedy

This is not complaint, but a statement of fact: Life has been rougher than usual for Alabamians the past two weeks, myself included. I have been on the verge of tears for 14 days and counting now. Not because of loss... I was unbelievably ridiculously fortunate and am so incredibly blessed. But that doesn't mean seeing, hearing, watching, breathing the devastation isn't emotionally draining. It is and has been for everyone.

So, needless to say, the story I am about to share is a much-needed pick-me-up and brought me tears of JOY not sadness for the first time in a long time. Thank you, Lord, for this glimmer of happiness amidst weeks of tragedy. You are my strength!

The following is an email sent to my supervisor from the mother of a child we screened for vision problems through our FocusFirst initiative at Impact Alabama:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for heading up such an amazing organization. I never thought to take my 3 year son, Ezra to the eye doctor. He was 3……heck he just started going to the dentist because that is the recommended age!

My son’s congenital bilateral cataracts would not have been caught in time had it not been for Impact Alabama. Impact came to my son’s daycare and done their free vision screening. He has since had both cataracts removed and had lens implants. He does have to wear bifocals but he can see! After he got his glasses he looked at me and said “wow, momma I can see little things now!” He also told me the house was dusty and needed to be dusted, but I was proud of that.

He is now 5 years old and is about to start kindergarten this fall. I am very grateful to you and this organization. I did make a small donation online and will continue to donate as much as I can when finances allow. I sign the permission slip for my daughter every time it’s time for the vision screening and I make sure I tell other parents to do the same.

Again, thank you and Impact Alabama from the bottom of my heart. Words will never express my gratitude. Please pass along a big THANK YOU to the other members of Impact Alabama!!!

Stories like this are what make my job worthwhile and I am so very thankful to have had this opportunity to work for such an awesome cause!