Feb/April/May - Catch Up

I've been collecting ideas on Pinterest. I love the idea of being crafty, I'm just not that great at it. I have bins of fabric, ribbons, etc but I never really put them to good use. With the coming of spring, I got really inspired and made a wreath! 

Finished Product March 3rd

These floral pins are my new best friend!

I'm very proud of the finished product. It even outlasted the crazy winds we had this week - even though my flag didn't. It blew away and I can't find it. One of my neighbors got a free flag! I'm just glad I buy them cheap at AC Moore.

What else have I been up to since February?

I discovered the joys of Spray Paint! I have to say, I really liked it. This could be addicting ...

First, Boris and Doris got new coats.

Then I updated an old mirror from Carrie so it would match my dining room.

It didn't take me since February to complete these projects - just to write about them!

Here's a few more pics to show where the time has gone ...

Snow 3/6/13

Beautiful - but long - hike around Belle Isle 3/9/13

Smiling Luke :)

Painting for work - Before

Masterpiece! Richmond skyline ... love it!

Snow again 3/25/13 - This one was pretty deep too.

I met Sadie on 4-1-13! Caroline, Chad, and Sadie came for their first visit .

Riding bikes with Katie and Elijah in April

Visited NC the last weekend of April. Josh and Boston having a good time.

Me and Boston - and no, he wasn't trying to escape! He tried to get me to give him a bath but I deferred to more experienced bathers. He really likes bath time!

Stopped to see Danielle that same visit but I didn't take a picture!

Lij with his mustache - he did this unprovoked ...it's tape. What's even funnier is he wanted to give it Baby Luke ...

Baby Luke couple days shy of his 4 month bday.

All Things Possible tour with Trophyhus

 I don't know about ya'll, but I'm pretty disappointed in the photo quality lately with iPhone. They seem to get blurrier and grainier each time ... any who, you get the point of the above pics.

 Looking forward to upcoming visits with the Casey's again next week! Ingrid and Samson are coming in for a few days too! I hope to have some good pics to share :)

What have I been, um .. running ... for these days? Well, I did some couch to 5k workouts in April as part of a work challenge to get in steps. The challenge ended Sunday and I haven't really moved much since! I know, I know! I have a strong desire for a snickers blizzard in chocolate ice cream from DQ so I just might have to do some extra exercising this weekend ...

It's been a year already?

I have celebrated my one year anniversary at my new job in a new state ... whew! A year already? Time is absolutely flying by! It feels like just yesterday I was sitting in NC working at RMIC ... and then bam I was transported to VA! I cannot believe it.

I am still really liking my new job. It is such a different atmosphere. I think I can totally make it challenging and rewarding for years to come. I know so much more today than I did a year ago and that's just the tip of the iceberg. That's a bit exciting and intimidating at the same time.

We are starting to get settled into the house now. Josh's family has even come in for a visit. It was so much fun having people in the house! Having a one year old crawling and walking around is challenging, but boy was he fun! It was very sad and quiet when they left last Sunday. I enjoy the quiet but it's nice to have commotion every now an then!

Otherwise, things are the same for us. Work, home, sleep, repeat. I find comfort in the routine. It is very interesting as I keep seeing NC post where kids have started back to school and I can tell that my mind and body are longing for fall. Here in VA, most schools don't start until closer, if not after, Labor Day. I don't want to wish my life away, but I am looking forward to fall. I can tell the days are getting shorter as it is getting dark by 8pm and not the 9pm I was enjoying a month ago.

Running??? Oh, how I have fallen off that path! This past year has not been an exercise year for me. I'm hoping to get the motivation to change that, though it's not looking too good as I dream of pumpkin pie, hot chocolate, and Thanksgiving dinner :) But being as we still have some summer left, I think I'll go enjoy another delicious Chocolate Eclair ...

Women's History Month

What's in that box?

 

Rice?

General Tso's?

 

It's a cupcake!

A delicious Grasshopper cupcake from a local bakery!

I didn't even know there was a such thing ... but every March is Women's History Month. So, in celebration, my new friend Damion suggested cupcakes :)

So, now you know what I've running for ... cupcakes from Too Sweet Bakery!

VA to NC Trail

During this transition time, Josh and I are burning up the roads between VA and NC. I remember the 4+ hour trip to Richmond and how much I hated it years ago. Now, I've kind of come to enjoy it. Could be cause I know Josh is at the end of the trip :) I thought I'd share some of what I see on my trip. I've "discovered" a new way to get to NC from work. It involves taking smaller, mostly non-interstate roads and is about the same time as taking the interstate without the hectic of traffic. Plus, if you've ever taken 85 through VA, you know how utterly boring that stretch of highway is! Don't get me wrong, the first rest stop in VA is quite a beauty ...

Work is technically in the Glen Allen area and I head through Amelia, South Boston, Danville, Greensboro, and end up in Winston-Salem. I'm not sure where most of these pics come from but I find them interesting nonetheless :)

This little pond is right after I pass Amelia. I don't know what it is, but I think this is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen. The broken down pier, the way the sky is reflected in the water ... I don't know. This isn't the best picture as it doesn't capture what I really see. I even pulled over to take this picture. It's definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me.

The next two pictures are of the Drive-In theater in Keysville, VA. The big white blob is the screen and the blue building is the projection house. I love the drive-in!

 Below is a fire tower between Amelia and South Boston, I think. I've never seen one of these until now. Apparently, people still use this one to make sure there are no fires in the area. I would hate to climb up those stairs to the top though!

I usually stop in South Boston as this is about an hour and a half into my trip. I like to stop at the Sheetz for gas since prices are usually better than NC. I normally stop and get dinner too and actually missed this sighting a few times. Brace yourself ... the picture below is a UFO!

Did you see it? If you look closely, there is a shiny gold UFO in someone's yard. Here's a close up:

Seriously, who puts a UFO in their yard????????????? It is very clear and very obvious in person.

Ok, back to the tour. I think we are just past South Boston but not quite to Danville yet. The house below has an orange tent in their front yard. This tent has been up since August. At first I thought, how cute! Someone's kids are enjoying the summer ...then, I'm wondering if someone's husband is in the dog house ... and has been for quite sometime.

This picture is of a house with two different tin roofs - one red and one blue. The front of the house has a red tin roof and the back part has a shiny blue tin roof. I'm not very sure why you want a roof with two different colors.

This last picture is no where near as nice as what I actually see. Depending on the time of year, this is either 5:15-5:30 or as late as 8:30 - Twilight. I believe this is heading into Danville, VA.

I'm so familiar with Greensboro that once I get through Danville I feel like I am already home so I don't take many more pictures. Plus, it's dark by then now. I'm not sure if I have the locations correctly labeled.

You can see that the photography is not award-winning - I like to think it is the device and not the photographer. I wouldn't recommend Blackberry as a professional photography device.

I don't mind the drive too much as it gives me time to see the sights and listen to music and sing till my mouth is dry or my ears hurt (whichever happens first). I just hope I don't have to do this drive too much longer or Josh either for that matter! Until then, I'll try to look at the fun side :)

What am I running (or should be running) for these days? I'd have to say my most recent obsession has been cookies - Danish Wedding cookies that Carrie makes, oreos, chocolate chip - really, any kind. I haven't met a cookie that I didn't like recently. This is turning into a bit of a problem ...

Who rides a Party Bus to work??? I do!

At work we have this really cool perk - since our campus is overcrowded, they offer "cafe cash" if you ride the shuttle in from one of the really far back parking lots instead of parking in front of your building. I am all for this as I love lunch and what's better than a free or partially free lunch? They give me $4 in cafe cash Monday through Thursday just for parking far away! I can eat a good lunch for like $.50-$1.50 - um, sweet!

Usually, the bus is your normal mini coach bus. Nothing fancy. Tuesday was just an ordinary day. Kind of rainy so no one was enthused, until ... here comes the Party Bus! Carrie and I caught the last two seats on the bus. The driver warned us that this wasn't an ordinary bus and she was right! We sat down on the comfy leather couch-type seating and couldn't help but snicker. Everyone else on the bus was pretty serious so we kept it to ourselves until after the first stop in front of building 2 where 75-90% of the passengers got off. We only had a few minutes before our stop so we took the opportunity to take some pictures ...

Did you notice the zebra print pillow? The running lights? Did I mention the music playing? It was something Zumba-like ...

Ok, so it's a horrible picture of me but a very funny story that started our day off with a laugh :) As one guy stepped off the bus he commented - "It's all downhill from here today." It was a sweet ride, even if it only lasted for 5 minutes :)

I am currently running to work off the delicious cookies from the Ladies' Cookie Swap I just left ... dozens and dozens of delicious cookies ...

Nothing new

Well, I had hoped that I would have an update by now but I don't. We did close on the house we were buying. We have had a few showings on the house we are selling but no offers yet. Trying to stay patient and let God move is way difficult!

What else have we done? I ran a 7 mile run with Trophyhus in September and a 5k in October. Not great times running-wise but I did get some exercise in which is good. We are running the Richmond HCA 8k in November which should be a nice run. It is the same day as the Richmond marathon that Josh did the past two years. It will be nice to do this one together. Plus, we will get a medal! Love those perks. He is going to his first NFL game in a few weeks with my brothers (included bro-in-laws, let's face it, they are here to stay:) and that is a good thing.) I went to the Cheesecake Factory with work again - just as amazing as before . . . Drooling. I went to the sweetest baby shower for a dear friend. I cannot wait to meet her baby! If she is half as sweet as my friend, I'll have a toothache at first glance. Other than that, it has just been work, play with kiddos, travel to NC, repeat.

Sorry if I bored you with this post but I was worried I wouldn't get one in for October if I didn't post something today.

I am currently running off the cheesecake I just ate! This could take a few weeks!

Here are a few picks - taken by Blackberry so I apologize for the quality or lack there of and if they are duplicates from Facebook:

Why I currently like my new job . . .

Well, I can't believe it is the middle of September. Time is flying! I'm still learning a ton at work but don't feel like I am contributing much, yet. I am sure that will change with time. I really like the group I am working with and I cannot wait until I feel like I can make a difference. Here are a few things I love about my new job that I don't want to forget once the newness wears off:

• The bathroom doors close completely - no cracks! You know how most public restrooms have those cracks between the panels? Well, ours don't! The wooden doors and walls give total privacy(remind me of dressing rooms).
• While I am on the bathroom topic, free feminine products in the bathroom. It is so nice to not have to put a tampon in my tank top anymore :) I can't believe I just shared that - but it is so awesome I don't want to forget it!
• Flexible work schedules - truly flexible. The other day I was in a meeting where my manager's manager's manager (yep) said that we are too cramped and the most logical and productive response is to work from home more. That's awesome! We have open work spaces so it's nice to be able to work from home in the quiet and get things done. Plus, there is no commute when you work from home. That can save about an hour a day and no need to brush my hair.
• Onsite cafeterias including Chick-fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, and Starbucks. 
• Riding the shuttle bus Monday - Thursday to alleviate the parking issues while collecting $4 in cafeteria money. I can eat lunch for like $1-$2 when I have one of these vouchers! The bus driver already knows us as "the sisters" since we carpool whenever we can. 
• Being known as "the sisters." I love having my sister in the same area as me. It really came in handy during the earthquake a few weeks ago. We were in no danger, but it was very comforting to know that someone who loved me was close by. The phone chain that happened shortly there after was nice too cause we could divide and conquer. Also, Mom is joining us soon! Yep, she got a job there too! She will be in a different location but will still belong to our organization! Oh yeah!
• I am beyond thankful that I have a job!

Please do not take this post as a bragging session. I just want to remember these good things so that when things get tough, I will know that there is so much to be happy about. How easily we forget how great our surroundings are when one little thing is out of whack. So, what do you enjoy about your work? Your co-workers? I'm sure if you take a good look, you'll see that there is more good than bad :)

Currently, I am not running . . . I should change this blog from Runner for Cupcakes to Eater of Cupcakes cause that's all I have been doing. I just joined a challenge at work though and I'm going to change my physical status! But, if you are looking for a food recommendation, I suggest trying Cheesecake Factory. I had a welcome lunch there a few weeks back. This deserves it's own blog! I had never been there before and I don't even care that much for cheesecake - but these people know what they are doing! I highly recommend it. The portion of chicken tenders (called chicken littles, I think) is huge and could easily be shared. I did share my cheesecake with my sister. I don't really recommend that though!Of course, if you can't find one close by, Feeney's or Sweet Frogs should suffice. Happy eating!

I'm still alive!

Life is kinda wacky here lately so it's been difficult to blog. So much has been going on and yet, so little all at the same time (as you will see . . .).

I've successfully started my new job (8/1) and I think I am really going to like it. I am amazed by how nice and big the campus is. It feels like going to school! I'm sitting in on meetings and doing a lot of computer based training modules to learn the lingo/company. There is a lot to learn! I got my blackberry today so I've been distracted. The newness will wear off soon.

I've moved in with Carrie and the family so that is taking some adjustment time. They set me up with a nice room and big closet. I've got most of my clothes here. Probably means I should give the clothes I left at home away. I mean, if I can go for two weeks without them, I probably don't need them! Would make the final move easier too!

My first week here I had a horrible cold. My throat was really sore so I couldn't/didn't want to talk much (I know, right! Hard to believe that I didn't want to talk.) and I was tired. That must have been fun for the family and new co-workers. Sometimes I felt like a complete space cadet. Not the first impression I wanted to make, but I do feel better now. Then Mom, Daddy, and Tyler also got sick with something similar, but different. They are all feeling better now, thankfully.

I'm loving the time with the kiddos. Katie and Elijah are a ton of fun (and work). I hope to post some pics soon. That would require me to unpack/charge/carry my camera with me and I haven't been able to do that yet. They say and do some of the cutest stuff! Katie likes to call me a snickerdoodle (actually, she wants to say stinkerdoodle but mommy and daddy don't think that's nice so we changed it). Then, I found out that she likes to call Josh and everyone else that. I thought I was special! We'll work on Auntie Awesome or something of that nature. When Elijah gets scared (usually a car/plane/truck/loud noise) and no one else is around, he'll run to me and want me to pick him up. Not that I like him being scared, but I like it when he wants me to pick him up! This morning he was at the breakfast table and very sleepy. His eyes were heavy and he was staring into space. He let me pinch his cheeks and little neck and didn't even flinch. He was so sweet! I could eat him up! Then, he ran around like a wild man this afternoon. Go figure.

There is so much to do but all I can do at this point is wait. It's like I'm hurrying to wait. This time will pass so quickly but feels like it is standing still right now. 

Enough avoiding bedtime.

I am currently running for the Baby Ruth loaded ice cream Amber brought over Sunday and away from dirty diapers (I haven't done one yet and I'm hoping to avoid it as long as I can!).

Happy 1/2 Birthday to me!

So, I hinted recently that I had some big news to share but that I couldn't mention it yet. Well, here it is:

We are MOVING to Richmond, VA!

We've decided to move up there so we can be closer to my family. Carrie, Amber, and Tyler already live up there. Mom and Daddy moved up there last month and Ingrid is pretty comfortable in Maine so we were the only ones left around here. I have a job waiting on me in Richmond and we are still waiting on Josh to find a job and sell the house. . . so there is a lot left to do! I'm trying to not worry or stress cause I know that God is in control. He has been leading this whole progression and I can't wait to see what He has in store! God Rocks!

More on the move later . . .

This was my last week at RMIC. The outpouring of friendship has been so great! I've enjoyed wonderful lunches all week with very special people! Big shout out to Amber, Dale, Max, Jamie, Heidi, Crystal, Julia, Tina, John, and all of Accounting Transactions for making me feel so special and completely full! I even skipped dinner one night! I received over 40 emails in response to my "going away" email within 2 hours of sending it. You never know the impact you've had on people. I just hope each one of them knows that they have truly touched my life.

On Wednesday, instead of giving me a going away party (so sad), my wonderful co-workers decided to throw me a 1/2 birthday party instead since I'll hit the big 3-0 in December. It was a very successful surprise party! I've always wanted to celebrate my birthday when it's not related to Christmas and I've always wanted a surprise party! Below are a few pictures:

The food cube and my cube were both nicely decorated by the crew. You can't tell by the picture, but I had to "limbo" to get to my seat. Great reminder all day :) It's not in the photo, but there is a Ray Original (Happy Birthday Emily in nice lettering. He's the greatest at this - very crafty!) on the giant whiteboard too!

 They signed a Big 3-0 banner for me to use again in December. This way, they get to party with me twice!

 That's one big cupcake! Thank you Tina! Confetti was courtesy of Dale. He's really good at spreading randomness :)

 Here's me and Amber (she's the tall blonde if you are new to my post) - one of the masterminds behind it all.

 Look! Balloons! I had to go up on my tip toes to get a clear shot over the cube wall.

Inside shot of the cupcake - delish! Oh, and John made homemade, fresh salsa - to die for! Not to spicy, just right!

It took us about 3 days to eat the whole cupcake. I think I could have done it in less if it wasn't for all the other good foods around this week. I'll do better next time.

I cannot thank my co-workers FRIENDS enough! They have all been so understand through this whole thing. They did not make me feel guilty one bit! In fact, some days they were more optimistic about all of this than I was! I really don't want to leave such a good place, but I know what's in store and I can't wait. . . A sneak peak at what I'm moving for/toward:

Katie and Elijah need to have their cheeks squeezed on a regular basis by their Auntie Awesome (thanks Robin!). I think that's a good superhero name for me. It should catch on quickly.

 You can see the adoration building already . . .

I need to work off all the good food I've had this week. Not the best way to do this as I should run off what I've just eaten, not a weeks worth at one time!

So, I am currently running for Willow's chicken sandwich with avocado, Mooney's pita #10, Burke St.'s awesome garlic knots, and Xia's seasame chicken . . . and the cupcake, salsa, and baby shower food, and Kernal Kustard. . . they don't call it RMI-EAT for nothing. I've been well feed.