Struggles and Challenges.

So, I love my new city. But as with all new beginnings, its scary, and there is struggle.  and challenge.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  I love that I'm being challenged.  If it doesn't scare you or challenge you then it means it isn't worth it. . . I found this quote very relevant.  Hope you will too :)

Well ello there. {London accent}

Hello, friends.  Its been a while.  I am 6 weeks settled into Nashville and finally have found a quiet evening on the patio to update you on some things.  The reason my blog has been missing is for privacy.  When you track how people get to your blog (and accidentally add a photo with your full name attached to it) it is pretty scary learning how some people land upon your blog.  I'm still trying to figure out how to keep this blog going, and keeping it private also.  As you may or may not know, I keep my personal and professional life separate.  But when my professional life changed a great amount of my private and personal life and literally uprooted me and I couldn't keep it secret any longer.  How can you keep a secret that you are sooo ecstatic about and I had to share.  Life has been moving fast.  I can't believe I've been here for 6 weeks. So much has happened. . .

I got these beautiful flower from a very sweet boy.

I watched the Kentucky Wildcats WIN the NCAA Tournament. 

I learned so much about much job and company in Rhode Island...we event got to sneak away for dinner at fancy restaurants and got some beach photos even though it was freezing!

I celebrated an old friends 30th birthday party back in Lexington

I went to Steeplechase with some new friends!

I made one of my favorite and easiest dishes! TILAPIA{multiple times}! :) 

Get to see this amazing sunset far too often.

Already have a favorite restaurant here.  Friends, meet Virago's rooftop view. 

ALSO - everywhere in Nashville has valet.  Even, Wal-Mart.  Yes. I do love my new city. 

I have so much more to share with you all.  If you all have any suggestions on how to keep your blog private without making people request to view it, please advise. 

Goodbyes.

I've never been one to be good with goodbyes.  Who enjoys them?  But for me the tears come rather effortlessly.  The first big farewell was saying goodbye to all of my high school best friends.  I was blessed with an amazing group of smart, beautiful, hilarious, and amazing friends in high school, which is rare for where I am from :) We didn't really have that loser friend that amounted to nothing.  I am so proud of all them for pursuing their true dreams: Cooking, Acting, Teaching, Sales, Physical Therapy and so forth.  We all went on to our separate colleges, some spread about in Kentucky and South Carolina.   We all have remained close over the years, making visits, enjoying each others weddings, the occasional girl weekend during holidays.  But that goodbye.  Especially for two of my best friends, Sam and Tina.  I remember leaving both of their houses and knowing that things would never be the same.  Yes, we've remained extremely close and visited one another, but I knew geographically seeing one another would never be the same.

Then came college and graduation.  This was even more difficult.  You go through so much with your college friends and learn so much about yourself.  These girls taught me how to be independent and strong.    Like going to the grocery store by yourself (yes before my sophomore year, I didn't do this.)  This time I was separated even more, California, New York, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.  Again, we've remained close, but it's never as easy or the same.  Thank God for technology I get wine Skype dates and FaceTime.  Still I've never been the one to leave.  After graduation, I interviewed in Nashville and Chicago, but received the best offer from a small company in Lexington, where I've grown, transferred to our parent company and developed professionally over the years.  I've watched as my friends went on to new cities and made new friends within the League and through friends of friends, and had  friends turn into sisters here.

The next difficult goodbye of many was a person that I dated.  We were separated by multiple states.  And again the goodbyes were never easy.  God help me, I always tried to be strong, which just lead to me being awkwardly quiet so I didn't break down in tears during our final moments.  Goodbyes have never been a strength of mine.

Now, it is my goodbye.  I'm moving to Nashville, which in reality, is not that far.  But I know things won't be the same.  As with all of my goodbyes, when you're separated from those you love, it doesn't really matter, geographically things aren't the same, but you can still be close as you want to be if you make the effort.  I've just never been the one to say goodbye.  I've never been the one leaving.  And it hasn't hit me yet.  I'm still excited about getting away.  Maybe it's because I know I have lots of weddings and showers so I can't possibly be away that long.  Maybe it's because I've always wanted to go even further, so to me this isn't huge.  But it's a start, a start that I'm ecstatic about.  Maybe it's because I've traveled consistently in the past and have never got home sick.  Even during prolonger week-long work trips.  I love exploring a new city on my own.  I may have shed a tear or two the other night with a friend, someone I've become so close with after college, someone who has literally made me laugh when i REALLY didn't want to.  Someone who listened to me during all my heartbreaks and breakups and made me realize everything is going to be OK.  But it still doesn't all seem quite that real.  So today I am going to a cookout with my friends and Lexington family.  It is going to be difficult to say goodbye.  For 8 years this has been my home, I feel like I could drive around this city blind folded.

I'll miss you Lexington.  But even more, I will miss my Lexington Family.  You know who you are and I wouldn't be who or where I am now without you!

Fate & A Dress. I need your help!

When I was sailing the Exumas Islands a couple months ago, my friend Abby had this fabulous dress, borrowed from her roommate that she got in Puerto Rico on holiday.  I loved it SO much.  We didn't know its origin and the tag was gone.

Side Note:  Abby is from London and has the most killer accent.  Not only is she stunning inside and out, but I could listen to her talk for-ev-errrr. LOVE THIS GIRL!

But, whilst browsing "boho" maxi dresses online today.  I found THIS. 

Yup. You're looking at the Angie Strapless Printed Maxi Dress available at Swell.com in a size LARGE... I could scream.

I've e-bayed, I google searched using the shopping application. Do you girls have any suggestions? Anyone connected to Possessionista?  Please. I must. have. this. dress! I just feel like it's fate. 

Preppy vs. Sexy

Wedding season is not too far away now, and I've been struggling to find that perfect dress for the special occasions.  I usually go with something classy and preppy.  But the more comfortable I've become in my own skin, the more I think it's okay to bare a little more, so long as it's done tastefully.  Which direction do you all go? The more I look at photos I've wished I've gone a little more on the sexy side, as opposed to preppy.

So I am torn.

Preppy. Kate Spade. 

Or Sexy. Brand unknown. Found at Macy's. 

If you can't tell, it's strapless and longer in the back than in the front.

I need your opinion.  Which one would you go with? And not just pertaining to these also.  Preppy or sexy?

Go Big Blue!!

Kentucky Wildcats take on the Baylor Bears today!! It's a gorgeous spring day, you can find me on a friend's patio with my favorite people and mimosa in hand, wearing this J.Crew Maritime dress.

An Organized Office

I've been so consumed apartment searching, packing, getting "golf ball sized hail" dents in my car estimated ($5,000 worth of damage!), and transferring data (yes my old computer crashed right before my last interview) that I have not had the time to tell you what a nerd I have been.  I kind of already have my office desk planned out.  Thanks to the lovely MIMI + MEG blog, it was pretty much all laid out for me, she posted this photo and instantly I knew this is what I want my future desk to look like. 

Thanks to a little digging and  researching, I found the push pins and colored pencils at Seltzer Studios.  The organizer is from poppin.  The eraser and sharpener are from Kate Spade New York.

When work gets busy, I know its difficult to keep a crisp, clean desk, but I try my best, because I can think most clearly when I'm not bombarded by ugly office supplies and papers flying everywhere. 

I am also going to invest in a Reverse Trellis Mousepad once I get settled, I want one that says "I'm sophisticated and smart, not just preppy and fun" ;)  I found the cutest website called Decorate Your Desk. 

Happy Spring and Office Decorating!