Weekend Favorites 4/22-4/24

Wow. I have been terrible about blogging recently, and really there is no excuse other than life. We are currently playing that oh-so-fun marine corps game of 'hurry up and wait' to see what platform J will be assigned for flight school and where that will send us in the coming months. Because of this, I have been cautiously tempering my inflow of work in case we will not be here in a few months. Thankfully the wait will be over next week and then we can make a game plan! Honestly, it's not the moving around and last minute orders that are the most frustrating, it's the waiting! But then again, patience is not a quality that I possess in any graceful fashion so that doesn't help my case...

In the meantime, while we wait PATIENTLY, here are my weekend favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Favorite Shoes: Just ordered these beauties from the J-Crew New Balance collection. They are so pretty and when I realized last week that I had managed to puncture a hole in my nice sneakers I decided to take the plunge and buy them 

Favorite Podcast: This talk by Liz Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love) knocked my socks off. I have felt this way my whole life and hearing her talk about following your curiosity instead of forcing a passion was so incredibly moving for me. Hummingbirds Unite!

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sessions/elizabeth-gilbert-flight-hummingbird-curiosity/

Favorite Movie: This weekend J and I watched the Princess Bride which was so much fun because it was a childhood favorite for both of us. Every time I watch this movie it gets funnier, and I have so many good memories associated with it :)

Favorite Book (currently): I am STILL reading Brian Greene's book The Fabric of the Cosmos, which is shocking because I'm normally an incredibly fast reader. But this damn book is taking me forever because I have absolutely no background in physics and I have to read every single paragraph multiple times and then put it down and think about how I know absolutely nothing (Jon Snow...) about the world around me. It's awesome though. I think I'm starting to get it...maybe..youtube videos help. 

On a separate "book note" I just ordered Elizabeth Gilbert's new book Big Magic and the first book in the Outlander series so I can't wait to get my hands on those!

Favorite Recipe: This weekend I have made the homemade Bean Burger recipe from Thug Kitchen twice and we are still not sick of it. Even if you are not vegetarian or vegan you NEED this cookbook. The flavors are amazing, the recipes are easy, and they are cruelty free...reduce your carbon footprint...blah blah blah...you know, IMPORTANT THINGS. 

  

On that note, hope you all had an amazing weekend. What were some of your weekend favs??

Em

Ode to Summer: Part One

Ooooooh February, when are you going to be over? I know it sounds absurd but it has been super cold in Florida recently (aka below 65) and my body just can't handle it. I was not made for cold weather! Unless of course it is snowy and I am bundled up and there is a fire and I'm drinking wine. Lots of wine. 

Honestly though, the weather has been clear and beautiful but just chilly enough to where you would potentially freeze to death in a bathing suit.  And that just won't do. That being said, summer does come on very suddenly down here and once it does...were talking 80 degrees by 9:00am. But I LOVE it. The beaches down here are beautiful! White sand, clear aquamarine water, and little stands on the beach that sell mixed drinks. 

Since today is 67 degrees, with blue skies, and helicopters buzzing overhead like big, old birds (oooh base living) I have decided to put together a montage of summer things to get us through the next month before beach weather is officially upon us! 

Favorite Summer Things...Part One

1. Watermelon. Now, you may be saying to yourself...'what a weird summer thing to start with...' BUT watermelon is amazing. You can eat it for every meal. It is delicious, hydrating, and only tastes good in the summer. 

2. Beach Couture. Otherwise known as adorable bikinis, cute jewelry, gladiator sandals, and awesome beach gear. The more sparkles the better. Tie dye? Bring it on. Headscarves? Why not. Kimono wraps? Yes, please. 

3. Crazy sunnies. Personally, I love huge sunglasses that cover your face and border on ginormous insect eyes. But in the summer I feel like one can go a little further and rock some truly spectacular eye wear...

4. Outdoor activities! There are so many awesome things to do in the summer! Kayaking, tubing, hiking, surfing, sunbathing, water skiing, paddle board yoga...the list is infinite :) And it makes me super happy because I have a really hard time sitting still, so if I can be doing something fun WHILE getting tan and being near water. I'm in. 

5. Girly bevs. In my old age (cough cough 27 cough) I have severely cut back on my intake of hard liquor. Mainly because Ive found that I don't really have a taste for it anymore. I'm more of a red wine or coffee porter gal. But in the summer, something weird shifts in my brain and all I want are pina coladas, rum, and coronas...drinks which, when consumed on a beach in a bikini on a hot summer day, become "dranks". 

The list goes on, quite literally, forever. But for now I will leave you with these five awesome summer things to help stave off the cabin fever. It's almost time to plan those beach trips so hang in there! And don't forget to protect your skin with some yummy smelling, glittery sun screen so you don't grow up and look like a leather bag ;)

Peace, Love & Sunshineeeee

E

Flight Delays, Gratitude, & Favorite Holiday Traditions

If you can name one thing worse than winter storm flight cancellations in Kansas during the weekend after thanksgiving, now would be the time to speak up! I am currently on my second cancellation in 24 hours due to icy conditions and I would be lying if I said that my gracious, thankful attitude wasn't getting worn a bit thin. 

Of course it is ridiculous for me to get so worked up over something like flight cancellations when there are real problems in the world. I have a loving, happy, healthy family, great friends, a beautiful home, an amazing boyfriend, a job that I enjoy, and so many other blessings in my life that far outweigh the negatives! 

But I really just want to get home so I can decorate for christmas and get into the Christmas freaking spirit gosh darn it!!! In the wise words of Buddy (the Elf), I am an angry elf right now. And also maybe a cotton-headed-ninny-muggins but that's another story...

Anyways, I have decided to entertain myself by making a list of my favorite holiday traditions...

1. Christmas Movies! Love Actually, Elf, The Family Stone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Holiday, The Polar Express, I love them all!

2. Christmas Music! I love listening to She & Him, Ariana Grande, Ceelo's christmas albums right now, but the oldies are amazing too, and I'm a sucker for country christmas music...

3. Making Christmas Cookies! My dad always makes his famous chocolate chip cookies at christmas and they are so delicious :) I also like making and decorating sugar cookies, but they definitely don't taste as good as his! Then, to counter the sweetness of the cookies, my mom makes AMAZING trash (chex mix not garbage haha) and I spend a good 60% of the holidays alternating between cookies and trash!

4. Decorating the tree. There is something so magical about making some hot cocoa, putting on some christmas music, and getting out the ornaments to decorate the tree. My parents tree is always covered in the ornaments my sister and I made when we were little and it brings back so many great memories to see them all on our tree :)

5. Pajamas! Every year we all get a pair of cozy pajamas on christmas eve and everyone has to sleep in them and wear them the next morning. I am all about those footie pajamas...

6. Napping by the fire. After the presents are opened, we're all full of pancakes and coffee, and everyone is comfy and warm, I love to curl up next to the fireplace with a good book and relax. 

7. Spending time with family. This is my absolute favorite thing about the holidays! Especially now that we don't live in the same state I am so excited to get to spend part of the holidays with them. None of the other parts of christmas would even matter without getting to experience it with family and friends!

These are just a few of my favorite things about christmas! What are some of your best memories and favorite traditions from the holiday season??

E

Our crazy, hectic, amazing, hilarious, messy, awesome week.

Holy moly. This week has been absolutely ridiculous. I've heard the saying, 'when it rains, it pours' but now I believe it with all of my heart! First off I would like to say that J and I have AMAZING friends. There is no way we would have gotten through this week without you guys! You helped us move, unpack, gave us your boxspring, brought us food, and kept us laughing and having fun during this whole experience!

On that note, let's jump right in! On Tuesday, we closed on our house. I can't count the number of closings I've been to in my life, and that moment when my clients get the keys to their new house is always my absolute favorite part of the whole buying experience. But this time it was us who got the keys, and I am happy to say that it is even more amazing being on the receiving end! This was also my first experience with the new TRID laws as a realtor (yes, I was our real estate agent haha) and I have to say that our lender and title company were informed and on top of things the whole time. It was a definite learning experience though, and I'm glad that we were the guinea pigs so that now I know what to tell my clients to expect :)

One thing that J and I have been laughing about all week is how crazy it is that we are 'adulting' so hard right now. I never thought I would be so excited about appliances...but let me tell you, getting that washer and dryer hooked up was probably the highlight of my day! It can be a little scary when you do something as permanent as buying a house, or putting down roots in a new place, but it is also so very exciting. It's important to realize that as young twenty-somethings it IS a good idea to start building a foundation for your success, but that that doesn't mean you have to become a boring old, suit and tie wearing, stick up the butt 'adult'. That notion is completely archaic and stereotypical, and if you have the resources to build equity in your life now, go for it! You can still have a kegger in your brand new 'adult' home, you can decorate it the way you want, you can rent it out for a couple of years and then sell it for more than you bought it. 

Basically what I am saying is that, we love our new home and it is crazy to think that this is where we are at this point in our lives. You never really know what direction your life will take you, especially when the military is involved. All you can do is jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride!

Speaking of jumping in with both feet and enjoying the ride...

After a lot of thought and consideration (and advice from trusted friends & family) I have decided to open my own real estate brokerage while we are here in Florida. My brief stint with Keller Williams was great and I learned A LOT, but in my heart I know that going back to my small business roots will allow me to better serve my community and provide my clients with a more hand on and personalized experience. I'M SO EXCITED!! I absolutely can not wait to continue building this business venture and see where it goes. 

Overall, this week was completely insane. We still have boxes everywhere, I can't find any of my leggings, and the battery in J's car may be dead...BUT we found the coffee maker, all the animals made it un-traumatized, and we finally have a bed frame. Life is good.

What would make me reaaaally happy right now is if we could go get our christmas tree, but even I can admit that it is a little too soon. So, for now, I will content myself by diffusing my christmas blend oils and burning my frasier fir tree candles :)

I hope that everyone had a great week! The holidays are officially upon us and 2015 is coming to an end. There has been a lot of negativity and violence in the world in recent months, and my hope for all of you is that you continue to see the light in dark times. Treat everyone with respect no matter their religion, skin color, language, or beliefs, be thankful for what you have, help those in need, and always tell your people that you love them. Life is too short to give in to the darkness, and it's important to remember that every single act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a huge difference. 

Happy Friday <3

flexoffers

Little Friday

Boxes, boxes, boxes, coffee. 

This morning I am working from home instead of my usual coffee shop in order to get our life packed into boxes and ready for our move. The SECOND one this year I might add. Hooray Marine Corps! But seriously, I am so excited and thankful to be moving into our new house. I've spent my morning making a couple of cold calls, transaction coordinating a bit, piling books up, wrapping dishes up, listening to NPR, and chugging coffee like my life depends on it. 

Good thing I work well under pressure! Work is incredibly busy all of the sudden so it's been difficult to find time to get things packed up but this morning I am on a roll. And thank goodness because I know that moving day will be here before we know it, and the holidays will follow almost immediately. 

I'm excited for all of the festivities we are going to have in the new place; decorating, getting a big christmas tree, baking in a REAL kitchen, listening to holiday music! But, I definitely subconsciously skipped over the whole packing and moving thing in my brain which was a huge amateur move. Oh well, I'm on it now, and actually I find it very therapeutic to go through our things and organize/pack them up. It's a good way to get rid of things you don't need and get your life organized again.

With all that being said, moving is still a pain in the you-know-what and unfortunately a big part of military life. I even have an entire pinterest board dedicated to PCSing and moving tips (feel free to check it out...there is actually some awesome info) But the best tips I can give in regards to moving are below...

1. Start early. 
2. Go one room at a time.
3. Get free boxes from grocery stores, costco, or ask around on the spouse pages on FB.
4. For the love of god, USE LABELS!
5. News paper, and styrofoam/paper plates make packing kitchen stuff up really easy.
6. You need more tape than you think.
7. Use blankets, pillows, and linens to keep breakable things safe.
8. Ask for help. Have your friends come help you move and provide beer and pizza!
9. Pack the heaviest stuff in small boxes so you don't overload them.
10. Put the things you will need right away in a very obvious box. (cough cough toilet paper cough)

Hope these little tid-bits help!
E

real estate

   As most of you probably know, I have been a Realtor in North Carolina for 3 years and am currently getting licensed as a broker in Florida. But one could argue that I've been in Real Estate for my entire life. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by realtors, dragged along to closings, and barraged by information regarding the real estate market in a way that only a person with generations of realtors as family members could be. 

   My grandmother, Marie Austin, started her Real Estate company in her very own living room in 1960. She was ahead of her time in many ways, but especially as a woman in a predominantly male field of work during a time when it was almost completely unheard of for a wife and mother to own a business. However, her dedication to her clients and willingness to go above and beyond for each person, no matter the price tag of their home, their skin color, or where they came from, soon made it known that Marie Austin was a force to be reckoned in the Real Estate market of good old Durham, North Carolina. 

   Well I guess being a Realtor was genetic because my mother, Joan Austin, went to work for the family business (which was going stronger than ever) almost straight out of college! Together, with a group of almost solely female agents, Marie Austin Realty became one of the most well-known and respected realty firms in the triangle. Known for many things, tenacity and kindness included, Marie Austin Realty became the standard for service, quality, & tradition in the real estate market. 

   My mother and grandmother showed me at an early age that women not only belonged, but thrived in the business world. Having such strong female role models as a young girl made me the strong, independent woman I am today. And let me tell you, those Austin women are a force to be reckoned with, especially when you are on the other side of the negotiations...I would know! Growing up, I never in a million years thought I too would follow in their footsteps and become a realtor. But after being convinced to get my license because "it might come in handy one day," I took the course and became a licensed broker in NC. 

   There were times when I wasn't sure that real estate was for me. Living up to such high standards in a community where my grandmother and mother were so well-known was daunting and, as I'm sure anyone will tell you, working in a family business can be a difficult balancing act. But, over the years I have grown to truly appreciate the history behind my family business and the amazing knowledge that has been passed down to me for so many years!

   When I decided to move to Florida with James, it was the single hardest decision that I've ever made in my life for many reasons. Who would leave behind a ready made career and family business that had been handed down after 50+ years of work?? Even I thought I was crazy at times. My family, friends, network, trusted clients and coworkers, all of the wonderful vendors and attorneys and local businesses that I had been working with for my whole career were going to be in NC...

I honestly struggled with this decision for about 6 months before taking the plunge and making the move. I was worried that I was letting my family down. But, if I had learned anything from those strong go-getter women, it was that you should always follow your heart and trust your gut!

   Now, as I work to learn the market down here in Florida and meet new friends and co-workers and clients, I've come to realize that all of the knowledge I learned in Durham has followed me down here and I know now that Real Estate IS what I'm meant to do. I love meeting new people and working to find them the perfect new home! And I love the challenge of marketing a house for my sellers, its become such a game of social media and knowing the ins and outs of your local market, its almost like a giant puzzle that is made specifically for millennials like me ;) There is honestly no better feeling than knowing you have made your clients happy and that through hard work and determination you have helped them through one of the more arduous tasks in life (and become good friends in the process!)

   I know that for the next few years, I will probably not be in any one place for too long. However, real estate is a wonderful job to have while being nomadic. Getting to meet new people, learn about the markets in different places, expand my knowledge of the national real estate trends, and help people find homes all over the country sounds like a pretty great adventure to me! This is a career where you never stop learning and must always be ahead of the curve, so it never gets dull. I know that one day I will end up back in the Bull City carrying on the family tradition of Marie Austin Realty, but until then I am excited to continue helping bring buyers and sellers together right here...wherever here may be!

F l i g h t S u i t F r i d a y

the past year has been so full of huge, life changing events and it seems like each month goes by more quickly than the last. so when i looked at my calendar today and saw that there is only one week left until july, all i could do was shake my head and wonder where the time has gone! friday was a huge day for James and his classmates because it was their Flight Suit Friday which is the first official day they are allowed to don their flight suit uniforms and celebrate being done with the horrible testing portion of API. and with the exception of the aviators themselves, nobody appreciates this portion of flight school being over more than the significant others! james and i actually got to hang out yesterday and go grocery shopping together! it was awesome. 

in this type of situation you have to learn to accept that more often than not its about the quality of time you spend together, not the quantity. its a hard lesson to learn and sometimes you have to remind yourself but its just the way things are and its always worth it in the end :) 

today we are going to go to the beach so we can enjoy the sunshine, drink some beer, and take a dip in the gulf. we honestly haven't been to the the beach in close to a month which is ridiculous considering we live about 15 minutes from it! however, with work, school, and life its been difficult to get out there recently. BUT NOT TODAY! this weekend has been all about relaxing, reading, playing video games, making pancakes, sleeping late, and all those awesome things that are so easy to take for granted. 

im also very excited because my parents are coming to visit a week from today! i can't wait to show them around pensacola and take them to the beach, eat good sea food, and just hang out. it will be a super fun week because I'm taking off work just to spend time with them AND get ready for Bekkah and Kevan's wedding of course, which is the next friday! its going to be a great start to july filled with family, friends, good food, celebrations, and fun. 

life is pretty darn good :)
so, on this wonderful sunday i hope all of you do something relaxing and enjoyable like us! and don't forget to call your daddy's and wish them happy father's day!

E

B u l l C i t y R e v i s i t e d

if any of you follow my instagram, or Facebook, or snapchat, ooooor any other social media outlet you probably know by now that i got to spend 3 glorious days back in durham this week. i was able to spend some great time with my family, and also managed to cram in a TON of other amazing activities...

on sunday afternoon when i arrived home, i was surprised to see some of our great family friends that we haven't seen in forever. it turns out that Edie, who is the author of some amazing young adult fiction like East, Hero's Song, Fire Arrow...READ THEM, THEY ARE AMAZZZZEEEE)was in town for a book reading for her latest novel called Ghosting. I was super excited because i read it when it first came out and thought it was incredible. I'm also a huge sucker for book readings and signings because you get to ask the authors questions aaaand i always have a million questions :)

later that day also just happened to be our annual neighborhood block party. trinity park was such a great neighborhood to grow up in because everyone looks after each other, kids are always running around playing, people are out walking their dogs, and everyone knows everyone else...and their mother...and their grandparents...and their uncles pet cat...you get the picture. its also a great time of year to be outside in durham because the huge trees that line the streets are covered in bushy green leaves, everybody's gardens are in full bloom, and people just like to sit out on their porches and drink sweet tea after work because its simply too hot for anything else. 

i was able to see a bunch of friends and catch up before everyone goes their own ways. it seems like this is the year for us all to find the next step in our paths; med school, dental school, backpacking through europe, grad school, new jobs! you all know who you are! and you better come visit me!

on monday, i was able to visit with my adorable baby Dillon and i think he actually remembered who i was! he is getting so big! he can even sit up by himself and pull up on tables now. this is such a fun age, I'm super jealous of his new nanny! but we got to read a couple of books and hang out before his bath time so that was great. i know the next time i see him he will probably be running around. 

after a whirlwind couple of days of visiting friends, shopping with my mama, lounging on the porch, and going to my favorite durham spots, it was time for the kicker. the REAL reason for my visit (other than seeing my family of course!). The Taylor Swift concert.

it. was. awesome. i think she sounds even better live than on her albums. Brittney, my parents, and I donned our flower crowns (okaaay, not my dad), applied copious amounts of glitter (also not my dad, i offered though!) and spent the evening rocking out with about 15,000 screaming 13 year old girls. and i am pretty sure we had more fun haha

overall, it was a super fast trip but i was so happy to be home for a short amount of time! it definitely doesn't get any easier to say good bye but i know that whenever i go back things will always just pick up where they left off :) not to mention, my parents are coming to visit very soon so it was important that i got back down here to buy a vacuum and start cleaning...ruh roh

m i d w e e k m o n t a g e

its wednesday. not quiiiite friday enough for me, but it'll do. I'm sitting here thinking about my to do list for this week while my kids are in tutoring, and realizing that netflix has been playing a major role in my procrastination recently...

even though New Girl isn't currently on. And I'm waiting on the new season of Scrotal Recall. Aaaand Candidly Nicole. Oh yeah, and Bachelor in Paradise (just because i love 'Onion Girl'). 

oh yikes, see what i mean...netflix is an epidemic! 

a wonderful, entertaining, watch-it-at-the-gym, or during your lunch break, or at night while you're cooking dinner EPIDEMIC. 

right now, the bf and i are binge watching Scandal, i know, were behind on the times with that one. But it is so addicting!

secretly i am watching the Bachelorette and hoping that Britt gets hit by truck full of glitter, and it explodes and showers sparkles all over the bachelors and their amazing abs, but its not looking good. however, i am only 37 minutes into the first episode so i think theres still hope. 

but back to this horrid to-do list!

right now i am trying to find a decent dog boarder in pensacola so that we are able to go on several trips this year without me having a conniption about copper and tucker the whole time. let me tell you this for free: 3 days before memorial day weekend is a TERRIBLE time to be looking for a pet boarder. TERRIBLE.

i finally found a place that had a vacancy left, but it was my 4th choice out of 7 potentials and I'm not thrilled about it. i know its only for a couple of days and that they will be under the supervision of professionals blah blah blah but it looks like a doggy jail in there! 

obviously this is more of a 'me problem' than a copper/tucker problem since they just want food, water, and lots of belly rubs. but i don't care if I'm a crazy dog person! i want constant video feed of my dogs while I'm gone (cough cough NETFLIX should get in on that business opportunity) and a direct line to their room so i can talk to them. okay, that sounded crazy...but I'm gonna go with it anyways. 

i mean just look at these faces:

how could i not worry about them? 

but they have been in the car with me way too much this year because of our move, and it wouldn't be fair for them to have to be crunched up in the backseat so we can drive all the way back to NC for the weekend. 

also, i really want to be able to go to the Wizarding World this year and i don't think they allow dogs in the theme park yet so this will be a good trial run. 

on that note, i have completed my last minute task of the day! so now I'm going to get as much Bachelorette in as i can before the kids finish their tutoring ...shhhh!

I M B A C K!!!

i have been a huge slacker with the blog these last few weeks, and truly there is no excuse other than: because life. on that note however, here are some pictures from the past few weeks to catch everyone up! 

we have been crazy busy down here in pensacola. i started my new job working as a nanny for a family of five and they are great. J has been busy studying and finished IFS within 2.5 weeks. he is doing amazing and even had his first solo flight. 

we have been spending time with great friends, getting to know the city, hanging out on the beach, and settling in to this new life :)

yesterday we went with some friends down to Destin to check out the outlets and go to the beach. the water down here is SO blue and the sand is a shade of white we just don't have in NC. its really beautiful!

for the next couple of days, even though i will be working, we are going to enjoy ourselves because J starts API this week and once that starts things will really pick up and get busy. so for now...its all about that brunch & beach ;)

d e l a y e d r e s p o n s e

it has been SO long since i've had a moment to breathe. as you can imagine, a moment to write has been even harder to come by. but the crazy is officially over. after 2 weeks of moving, 3 weeks of nothing but work, an 11 hour car ride, and more unpacking, i am officially in pensacola. it feels so amazing to finally be down here with James and starting this chapter. 

our tiny, eclectic apartment feels homey and perfect. even though the internet is faulty, and there are only two windows downstairs, it has never felt so right to be somewhere. my new job starts on monday, I've made some great friends, and it is so warm and nice down here! goodbye cold rain! i was made to live in 80 degree weather. its just a fact.

the past few days have been full of rearranging furniture, getting utilities set up, shopping for curtain rods that never seem to be the right length, meeting new people, and exploring this new city. I've met some great women down here who are also girlfriends or wives of people in flight school and it is so nice to have people to talk to who understand what you're going through. this military community truly is accepting and strong. a few of us have even set up a weekly coffee date and yoga night. disclaimer: just because one is an ex-dancer does not make aerial yoga easier!

i spent yesterday at the beach while J was golfing and studying (of course). and then we had a nice dinner out on the town. 

i think I'm going to like it here!

t r u c k i n a l o n g

i have officially been back in NC for a week and it has been lovely getting to spend time with my family every day. i also finally got to go out with my girls last night which was much needed! i don't know what i will do without them in florida but I've already met so many nice new friends, and i know my old friends will come visit me a bunch (beaches can be very persuasive) haha!

today i also had my first day of my last real estate post licensing class. and yes, i have taken the whole three years to complete it, true to form ;) it was SO boring. saturday and sunday 9:00-5:00 for the next two weekends... fortunately we are allowed to miss 6 of those hours. soooo i skipped out around 2 today hollerrrr. it was for a great reason though. brittney and i had to get mani/pedi's because i was a wreck from the move and looked like i had never groomed my nails in my life. #fragglelife

between work, CE classes on the weekends, and trying to get my old place cleaned up and ready for my renters, i can tell my time here is going to fly by. but i am so excited to get back to james and start my new job and finish getting settled into our new place. some of awesome things on my agenda for this summer include; getting scuba certified, starting paddle board yoga, looking into some grad classes at the local colleges, and getting involved in our local co-op classes. it will be a summer of new adventures and i am so ready! 

with the amazing support of my family and friends, both near and far, i am making moves (literally) and jumping into this crazy new life slowly but surely! Now all i need to do is finish getting my bikini body ready for all of these awesome beach activities woooo!

f l o r i d a l i f e

wow, its been a long time since I've written anything here. but thats definitely not for lack of reasons to! the move has gone very smoothly. we have managed to get settled, explore a bit, and make some new friends. i still get lost every time i leave the house but thankfully I've finally learned most of the main roads. 

learning how to live with someone in a shared space has been easy for us since we've lived together for longer periods during j's time at TBS. the hard part has been adjusting to our schedules and learning how to communicate in a normal way now that he isn't in the field all the time! and to be honest, its a great problem to have because it means we get to see each other so much. 

for me personally, the most difficult thing has been accepting the fact that i will have to put myself out there in an unfamiliar place and meet new people. we've spent some time with j's friends and their significant others which has been great! everyone is super nice and they know from experience the things i am going through. last weekend a big group of us went out in downtown pensacola which was awesome. i was surprised at how fun the bars were! and with the exception of a slight alcohol induced bout of hysteria on my part, the night was a blast. we were also FINALLY able to go to the beach! it was beautiful. white sand, blue water, and sunshine!!

i was supposed to head home yesterday morning but decided to extend my trip through the weekend in order to lock down a job I've been chasing while down here. I'm excited to say that i think at this point it is in the bag. such a relief! i have to admit that i was terrified at the thought of being down here with nothing to do. i don't want to only be a marine girlfriend. thats not who i am. or its not the ONLY thing i am. I've grown up being a very independent, educated, and motivated person and its easy for people in military communities to box significant others in and assume the worst about them. its kind of sad. but i refuse to be one of those people!

james and i are planning on getting our scuba certifications when i get back down here in may which i am SO excited about. especially since there are so many coastal and marine archaeological sites down here! we even found out that the local colleges offer classes that i may be able to take that will add some credits to my grad school count :) 

in addition to working full time, going to the beach, (hopefully) taking some classes, learning the area, and trying to find a place to volunteer i am feeling much better about my schedule. the only time things get hard is when i have nothing to do, so staying busy, getting out and doing new things, and meeting new people will not only be my biggest challenge but my salvation here. i think that this is the beginning of an amazing adventure and i can't wait to see how we grow as a couple and as individuals on this journey :)

n e w b e g i n n i n g s

spring is always associated with change, vitality, and new beginnings. but this year i am experiencing change on a whole new level. i have been in pensacola for five days and during that time i have managed to relocate and organize (almost) all of my belongings, learn a basic knowledge of the area, and find a job. its crazy to think that this is my home now, but it also feels incredibly right. 

not to sounds shallow, but one of the biggest things that has helped me get settled in has been setting up our home. it is slowly coming together in a way that is a perfect blend of my life and james' life, and its really cool to see. yesterday i took my first solo voyage out into pensacola in order to get some plants for our apartment at home depot. now, this may not seem like a big deal but i am quite literally one of the most directionally challenged people alive. in the world. ever. 

but with the help of my trusty iPhone, i found the store, picked up a bunch of pet-safe plants and made it back home. victory! I've been really excited about getting some greenery for our place because being in a town home we don't have a lot of natural light so it was great to find some plants that can survive darker places and not make my cats vomit everywhere. 

i went with a couple of boston ferns, some succulents, a giant arica palm, and (my personal favorite) a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree! i am not one little bit embarrassed to say that i have been obsessed with these fiddle leaf fig trees since i first saw them on pinterest a while ago. mine is still a baby but i plan on repotting it soon so it will grow huge and be a monster fig tree muahahaha!

i think that having plants has really made a huge difference in how homey our place feels. that and hanging up a bunch of twinkle lights everywhere...now we just have to finish unpacking our clothes and hang up some pictures. hopefully, we can get most of this done before friday because it looks like we are having three other couples over for drinks before we all head out to explore downtown.

its exciting to know that this move hasn't been a difficult one. it would have been easy to get really sad and wallow about, thinking of everything i left behind in nc. but it has been easier than i thought to look at this as an adventure and a way to make new friends and do new things without losing touch back home. its important to remember that it doesn't have to be one or the other. love can only be multiplied, not divided, and this adventure has already shown me that no matter where i am, it is possible to surround yourself with a support group both near and far. 

w e d i d i t !

we did it!
we moved a 26 foot penske truck, 4 animals, 2 cars, and all of our stuff from north carolina to florida. the drive wasn't as bad as i thought it would be and surprisingly the animals all behaved very well in the car and didn't have any accidents. thank the lord! 

we spent the weekend rearranging furniture, unpacking boxes, grocery shopping, and basically just stocking up on everyday things that we completely forgot you don't have after a move. its definitely been a tiring weekend, but I'm finally staring to settle in and feel at home. its crazy to think that after twenty six years in north carolina i have taken this step. I'm so proud of my self and i can't think of a better reason to have left home. its been amazing getting to set up a home with james and finally being able to see each other every day :)

even though i will only be here for a couple of weeks before having to head back to nc until may, i want to get as settled in as possible so that when i come back for good, it will be easier to jump in and fully get involved down here in pensacola. as for the apartment, it is much cuter and bigger than i was anticipating. it isn't huge but its just the right amount of space for us, its close to everything, and we actually know the couple who lives back door to us. I'm not sure how long we will be here, but I'm sure that we will enjoy it. and i will savor the time before we have to pack up and move again!

hopefully in the next few days i will get a chance to see more of the town and explore a little bit. i also need to go to the beach asap and see some sunlight!! its only 15 minutes away now so maybe later this week :)

l o o o o n g d a y

today was ridiculously stressful. i think everything is starting to catch up with me. organizing this move, working as a full time (overtime) nanny, continuing to sell real estate (which means working weekends), wrapping up utilities and insurances for the move, packing up the house, everyday life things like walking the dogs and maintaining relationships, all while living in a completely packed up house with no internet or COFFEE. 

i feel guilty ranting about something as silly as being a little stressed over a move that i am choosing to make at a time i choose to make it, but that being said, i am having a moment of weakness and ranting anyway. 

here it goes...stop reading now if you don't like rants...

today i was supposed to sleep in and then, after meeting some friends for coffee, have a leisurely day of packing, picking up the truck and getting a few loose ends tied up. but nooooo, of course i wake up at the ass crack of 5:00am. wide awake. because i am unable to stop running over my to-do list in my head. so, i get up and take the dogs for a walk while i wait for the sun to come up. of course, without my usual gallon of coffee before the sun rises, i am in a completely confused state of panic as to what i should be doing. i proceed to randomly wrap dishes in newspaper and put them into boxes, totally forgetting that newspaper makes your hands and everything they touch black. 

after getting a few final boxes packed up, i start getting ready to meet molly for coffee and just happen to look in the mirror on my way out and see that my face is covered in black streaks. so typical. i considered going out anyways and just pretending i didn't look like i had attempted to put on grey eyeshadow on in the dark, but decided that (at this point in the day..) i had more pride than that. i quickly washed my face and was heading out the door again when i remembered i was supposed to meet my aunt in greensboro for lunch. aaaand i looked like a troll. at this point i was already pushing it for coffee so i scrambled to get my makeup on and change clothes and managed to only be late for molly by about 15 minutes. 

thankfully, i got a skim mocha with 5 espresso shots and was able to catch up with my best friend, which is always amazing. but it was a short hour and chaos was impatient to resume its torture...

i quickly drove to the office because i realized i had a due diligence check to drop off for a client and only about 20 minutes to do so. i got to the office, jammed the printer, realized i needed to also print off a lease for my apartment that I'm subletting, printed it off, forgot it in the printer, and got nothing done because at this point my mom shows up and we have to leave for the 45 minute drive to greensboro. we decide to take my car so that on the the way back i can stop in mebane to weigh it while it is empty (so the government will reimburse us for this move since it is for the military). 

at this point i am feeling good, my caffeine has kicked in and i am at the place where nothing can stop me because...coffee. lunch is wonderful and catching up with my aunt is great. i think I'm sensing a trend here...food = happy haha.

on our way back we stop at the truck weigh station and pull onto the scales only to realize that i am too short by about 3 feet to reach the call button. i try jumping. i try running and jumping. i back the car up, reposition and try to stand on it to reach the damn button. finally i jump off of the car and manage to hit it. except the woman inside is busy with another customer so its not until the 4th time i jump off that i get a response. by the way, I'm wearing heels and it is pouring rain. 

we get the ticket and head back home. then i have a lovely 15 minute 'nap', feed the dogs and then run to my parents house so we can go pick up the penske truck in the opposite direction. of course it is 4:15 at this point and traffic is a nightmare going towards raleigh. after another 45 minute drive we get to the rental place and manage to secure the 26 foot truck. thankfully, my dad decides he should drive so i get to sit back and enjoy the stop and go traffic ride back to the weigh station (which is now an hour away). 

we weigh the truck, drive back, and with the help of my amazing neighbors park it in front of my house. whew!

then i change clothes, eat a grapefruit and run to work, because on thursdays i take care of my four awesome gerend kiddos. its a crazy day indeed when the most relaxing part is reading bedtime stories and wrangling four kids under the age of 10 into bed. but it was.

as i sit here on their couch writing this ridiculous saga, while all four of those quirky, sweet kids are asleep upstairs, it seems silly that this one day was so stressful. and i have to admit that it could have been a lot worse. its nice to purge this whole day out of my mind by writing about it, but also, looking back, i am so grateful and lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life who are willing to drop everything and help me through this move. its going to be so hard to leave them all in durham, but i know that this will always be my true home, and coming back will be that much sweeter :)

i have never been this excited to get into my bed and sleep.

tomorrow will be easier.

and after this weekend the move will be done. 

sweet dreams!

Zzzzzz....