Resolutions 2009

I don't usually have a resolution, but I figure now that I'm living alone, whole new fresh start, I might as well make some real goals for myself. And it'll help to write them down--make myself more accountable.

1. Take better care of myself. This does not simply mean "diet", although that's a part of it. I want to eat healthy food. I want to go to the gym more, although I'm not going to set a schedule. The fact that I'm going at all is a big improvement!

2. Learn to cook (more). I already love to bake, but I really want to learn how to make other things--entrees, etc for myself. This goes right along with number one also. When I cook something myself, I know exactly what goes in it. Dieting isn't so much about restricting, but just being informed.

3. Seek out new relationships. I am completely new to Atlanta, and am lucky enough to have a couple people I can go to for hanging out, having dinner, etc. But I really want to a) make those relationships into more long lasting friendships or b) seek out new ones by joining groups, going out, meeting people. At this point I'm pretty content with being on my own, but finding a guy to share all this with might be nice too.

Things I like about today

1. The delicious (free!) hot apple cider I had this morning (and every morning for past week and a half). I love that my office has its own catering!
2. The extra delicious chocolate chip pound cake that I made last night and brought in for my coworkers to enjoy today.
3. The fact that the office is quiet--practically silent. A good enviornment to actually get things done (and take plenty of mental health breaks).
4. Its cold outside, but nice and sunny. My cubicle is actually pretty bright, so I don't feel the need to fall asleep all day.
5. The fact that the day is more than half over already!
6. In less than 24 hrs I'll be on a plane back to the beautiful Raleigh, NC.
7. Tonight I plan on doing nothing but eating dinner, packing, and watching Love Actually.
8. I took advantage of my special music channels on my cable and listened to Christmas music as I got ready this morning.
9. I am wearing a red sweater and red shoes today.
10. Christmas Eve is tomorrow yipee!!

Christmas week, for real.

Today is the end of a lovely weekend. I was secretly sort of dreading the weekend, because that's the time when I have more than 48 hours to be by myself. Totally. And while weekends are nice, its hard to enjoy that much alone time, without being face to face with anyone. But, alas, I didn't have to worry about that this weekend:) Friday night Claire called me and we went out for dinner at this great bar/restaurant in Atlanta called the Vortex. Really weird place--blaring music, tattooed and pierced waitress, and any kind of crazy hamburger that you can possibly imagine. One was called the "double bypass burger": 2 fried eggs, 3 pieces of cheese, 5 slices of bacon, the hamburger patty and instead of 2 buns, its held together with two grilled cheese sandwiches. EWW. Also, the "Elvis burger": peanut butter, bananas, mayo and the hamburger patty. Just, wow. We had something less exciting, but it was really good. Afterwards we walked around the neat little area of town and went into a couple crazy thrift shops. So much fun. I can't wait to go back there in the day time some weekend so I can actually get into all the stores before they close.

Friday night my parents called me to tell me they were coming down for the weekend too. I was really surprised that they wanted to drive all this way--especially when I'll be home in two days for Christmas. But, they are great, and they drove down early on Saturday morning. Even better, they showed up at my door with takeout from the Varsity for lunch. Yummy. I finally got my couch on Saturday, too! Now I have an actual living room. My parents helped me put up my giant photo of Paris from Ikea behind my couch, so everything looks really great now. I'll have to take a couple new pictures to post.

Yesterday I went to the grocery store for supplies to make my chocolate chip pound cake for my coworkers tomorrow. Also, we braved the weekend-before-Christmas crowds and went to the mall. It was pretty packed, but not as bad as I would've thought. It was even better because we took the train and didn't have to fight for a parking space. I got some really pretty Christmas decorations on sale at Crate and Barrel, so now my place is slightly more festive. I can't wait to go back to mall for what I'm hoping will be great after Christmas sales. I've been so good--no clothes shopping for over a month! So i'll definitely deserve some gifts for myself after the holiday.

Time to get back to work. Only 2.5 days in the office, then on a plane back to NC!

New layout and TGIF

I just changed my layout to be more festive. Its green and has some leafy stuff at the top...not that Christmasy, but that's my valiant effort.

Its Friday! This would be more exciting if I was actually doing something exciting this weekend, but alas, I am not. I think i'm going to be very brave and venture out to the mall or at least do a little shopping somewhere. I just heard that there is an "Off Fifth" Saks outlet nearby, so I might just go there:) Also on the list, IKEA to return my too long curtain rod, and to pick up a new one that actually fits. Hopefully they'll have my living room curtains in stock this time too! Also, the awesome couch that I bought the day after Thanksgiving is finally being delivered to me YAY! No more sitting in my one lonely chair, and my blue fold up chair can finally go onto the patio where it belongs. Hooray! Also might go to the library to rent some free dvds, and one of my friends from Wake might be coming to visit on Sunday! Should be a good weekend overall.

And only a 2.5 day work week next week--I'm flying home on Christmas Eve!

Countdown to Christmas

This is what I wish my tree looked like:)

Maybe watching the minutes tick by will help get me (and anyone else in need of a holiday kick in the butt) in the spirit!

6 Days Left!!

Fa La La La La

I love Christmas, but I have to admit that this is the least "Christmas-y" I have ever felt. I'm pretty sure it a combination of not being in Raleigh doing my usual Christmas shopping and holiday get togethers with friends, the fact that its 75 degrees in Atlanta, and the fact that my Christmas tree in my apartment is all of one foot tall. Hah. Also, I rarely drive here, so I don't get to listen to the fabulous Christmas music all the time. Mental note to turn on the radio in my house more often.

With that being said, I am thrilled that Christmas is only one week from today. So in 6 days i'll be flying back home on Christmas Eve--yay!! Christmas Eve is officially my favorite day of the year, so hopefully mine will go smoothly this year (even though i'll be at the airport for the first time ever at the holidays).

I'm hoping to do something fun this weekend...maybe braving the mall, or maybe baking something festive. I've promised my co-workers one of my famous chocolate chip poundcakes next week, so i'll definitely need to buy supplies. Like a pan to cook it in:) Otherwise, I'm going to force myself to go to the gym tonight instead of sitting around watching holiday lifetime and ABC family movies (much preferable to the gym). But with all the holiday eating at work, I need it!

I suck at blogging

My new city: Atlanta!

So, I know it has been absolutely FOREVER since my last entry. I apologize. Lots of craziness has been going on in the past month, which I will now quickly recap.

1. Worked at that bank job in Raleigh (that I was so thrilled to get) for all of 1 month. 4 whole weeks of my life, and then I quit my very first real person job to accept my very second real person job. Bigger and better things. I like to think of this as sprinting up the corporate ladder.



2. Uprooted (fairly abruptly) from the only city, and the only state I've ever lived in, to move 7 hours away by myself. Scary!



3. Managed to move into my new apartment and get settled in about 4 days while my parents were here. Then started my new job the very next Monday (a week and a half ago now).



Luckily i'm really loving it here so far. I ride the train to and from work everyday (i'm a city person now!), and my commute takes all of 15 minutes. I've met so many new people in my co-workers, a couple of my neighbors in my apartment complex and friends of a friend from Wake. It has definitely been a somewhat lonely adjustment to living alone, but it has gone surprisingly better than I would have guessed. Maybe i'm more brave and independent than I like to give myself credit for? I like to think so:) I love working in the city, and looking out my high up window view to see the tall buildings all around me. I love eating in the cafeteria in my building and grocery shopping just for me. And, although I haven't ventured out to the amazing malls here by myself yet, i'm pretty positive i'm going to love that too. Next on my to do list: buy a membership to the fantastic High Museum of art so that I can go whenever I want and see all the special exhibits anytime. Art museums make me happy, and I really think that's something i'll enjoy doing on my own.



Now i'm enjoying some delicious apple cider at my desk and taking a quick break from my work. Sorry it took me so long to update, but i'll definitely be more regular about it from now on!