What's new?

Ohhh me gooosh!!!

I can't believe I let so much time pass before updating this thing!  Last I checked, I was supposed to do a follow-up on my job interview in Nashville, TN [as an Arkansan, I feel the need to specify the state].  After a few weeks of anticipation, the job was offered to someone who has more experience than I do.  Which was okay!  During that "waiting period," I was offered a job here in Little Rock, and I had some thinking to do!  Fortunately for me, God answers prayers and He showed me where He wanted me to be, at least for now.  Who knows where I will be in 3, 5, 10 years...  Anyway, about 3 months ago, I started working at ACCESS Schools.  ACCESS is a non-profit organization that serves infants, toddlers, children and youth with special needs.  I provide speech and language therapy to children ages 3 to 5.  After feeling confident in my graduate clinicals, I thought I was well prepared to enter Big Girl World (BGW)!!  Boy, was I wrong.  The responsibilities of a graduate student clinician versus an actual CFY-SLP stretch far beyond what I had imagined and expected.  I wanted a challenge, and I've got one.  Perhaps one of the biggest challenges I'm constantly facing is behavior management.  I love all of my kids, but sometimes I find myself feeling so clueless in the "being the boss" department.  As a young professional, figuring out how to be both the friend and the B-O-S-S is hard to do.  I might be ready to crash as soon as the clock hits 4, but the work is totally worth it!  Luckily, I have an amazing "support system" at work.  There are plenty of SLP's at ACCESS who are more than willing to help me with whatever it is I need: therapy materials, language activities, reinforcement that will hopefully help cease what we like to call "bad choices" and reward the good ones, paperwork, you name it!!  To say I'm lucky would be a vast understatement!  I'm faithful that God will use me there & I'm excited to grow as a speechie4life!!

Another plus, BGW comes with a paycheck!  And a steady one at that!  None of that $2.65+tips waitress salary or a very low-paying graduate assistantship.  It's pretty awesome to be able to still have fun in BGW [something I think people tend to forget!!].  Here's a little bit of what I've been doing, er, where I've been going:

Dallas, TX, for A.Do A.Swad's wedding, where we:

...had a fabulous brunch at Sfuzzi's and then enjoyed the view from SOB's balcony.

...reunited with Delta sisters and had the time of our lives!

...caught the bouquet!!!

Las Vegas!!!! for LindsMcG's bachelorette party, where we:

...stayed at the PH West Towers & implemented the use of a self-timer before our first night out.

...did touristy things on the strip sans $100 fine.  And lost $$.
Garden Party.

...got strangers to take group pictures of us because we could:
Cha, me, Ash, Rachelle, Linds (B2B!), & Mon

...took lessons at the Stripper Bar in PH
(hah, not really).

...met the tallest man on Earth at Tao.

...danced our booties off at Marquee Day Club & met some really fun people!

...stayed out long enough on our last night to take an hour nap before our flights home.

Yeah that's about all for now!!  I hope you all have a fabulous next 3 months because I'm sure it'll take about that long for me to blog again.

Oh, & I'm officially allergic to cats.  And everything outside.

Viva

In precisely 3 hours, I will be boarding a plane flying non-stop to the City of Lights.

The Entertainment Capital of the World.

Sin City.

Las Vegas.

4 years sewed into one blanket

I'll update you more on my life (since it HAS been a month and a half since I've blogged) tomorrow, but I had to share this now :)

I was hardly ever wearing my college t-shirts anymore, especially the bright Starburst-colored ones from freshman and sophomore year, but they were taking up precious and much-needed space in my dresser drawers!  So what did I do?  I got a t-shirt quilt made!!  I actually picked it up yesterday, and with it being UofA Rush Recruitment Week (go Tri-Delt!), it made me a little nostalgic.

There's something sexy about the rain.

Does anyone else find romance in a rainstorm???  I don't mean lovey-dovey kiss-kiss romance.  I mean the "finding beauty in nature" kind of romance.  I love how rain is simple, pure, exciting, refreshing... not to mention I love the smell of it!  ...No?  Just me?

I woke up early and was planning on going for a run jog walk at Big Dam Bridge while it was still cool outside.  That was until I saw it was supposed to rain today.  I'm talking looking-like-it's-nighttime colored skies, lightening, thunder in the far distance rolling in, marble-sized raindrops kind of rain.  Also known as "stay-in-bed rain."

So that's exactly what I did.  I got back in bed, turned on my TV, and am loving this Tuesday storm!  I justify my laziness today with the idea that I should take advantage of this lazy-day weather while I can.

My to-do list for today isn't going to get itself done, which is why I'm going to regret this later and tomorrow during the big move... Oh, well.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Title: "There's Something Sexy About the Rain" by Kenny Chesney.  For real.

Today I don't feel like doin' anything

Tomorrow starts the beginning of my last free week as an unemployed new graduate!!  Lucky for me, I'm moving mid-week, so my free time will be spent packing boxes and breaking sweats... but hopefully not breaking backs.

This is what I'd rather spend my day doing:

This is where I'd rather do it:

or here:

But probably not here:

Have a great week, everyone :)

Title: Lyrics from "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars

There's a fire starting in my heart

Photo courtesy of 365Promises

After seeing this picture on 365Promises, I knew God was speaking directly to me.  It hit my heart like a ton of bricks.  I hear you, Lord.  I hear you loud and clear, and it's exactly what I've been needing to hear!!

Editing done on Picnik

Title: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele.  I'm hoping this isn't a surprise, though...

A Week in Pictures

My girlfriends & I had our first official summer pool party!!  We sat around on noodles, rafts and blow-up seals {okay... so the blow-up seal didn't work out so well for us big girls} and enjoyed some drinks, chips, push-pops and gossip.  Not to mention pool-side magazines that I like to pretend to read but never really do...

Me and the bride

My sister & cousins

MaJohn {my grandma} got married!!  We enjoyed some good QT with the extended family during dinner and afterwards at the hotel.  The wedding was simple & elegant, just the way the bride requested.  I feared the reception, however, was going to turn into an auction as my father gave his speech: "I've got two beautiful, [pause for emphasis] single [cue the laughter] twenty-four year old daughters."  Oh, great, we're about to be auctioned off! Going once... "I never thought the first woman I'd walk down the aisle would be my own mother." Cue more oohs and ahhs and awws and laughter.  The night consisted of telling stories, catching up, & reminiscing with my extended family.  God truly has blessed me with them... I never really realized how lucky I was to be related to such wonderful people until my eyes were opened in college.  So for that, Lord, I thank you.  You have given me a family far better than I deserve!

 I'm taking care of this sweet JCPenny record player and some vinyls that belonged to my Granddad Fred.  I found Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow," I'm in lurve with it, and there's nothing more special than genuinely enjoying something that belonged to a grandparent!

 And I thought O.P.I. had the best "Name the New Product" committee, with names like "Do You Lilac It" for a delightful hue of purple.  Until I saw this new product at Bath & Body Works.  Well played, B&BW's "Name the New Product" committee.  Well played.  Maybe O.P.I. will gain some inspiration from this hand cream.  I'm thinking a seductive nude color titled "Look Ma, Nude Hands." Yay?
If you have no idea why this is funny to me, or to the people of Generation X, maybe Y, click here and go to 1:40.

The sunset was amazing!! I enjoyed a 2-day vacay to Lake Hamilton earlier this week.  It was full of rest, relaxation, sunscreen & cold brews.  Oh, and a good sunburn.  Did I mention this vacay occurred on Monday & Tuesday?! Who's to say I can't have a little bit of a summer break before entering Big Girl World??

Look at this adorable little birdhouse that was handmade by this adorable little old man!! I bought it at First Thursday in Hillcrest.  The best part?!  It only cost me a mere five bucks!!  It gives my balcony some much-needed character! Not that I sit out there, anyway... too hot!