Lilly Pulitzer Sale

For those of you who read my blog regularly I have recently become somewhat obsessed with the very girly and preppy brand Lilly Pulitzer.  As previously mentioned they are regularly way too expensive to purchase from regularly.  As luck would have it they just had their endless summer sale.  The sale prices were so good that their clothes are actually the same or lower than regular priced clothes.  I tried to exercise a healthy amount of restraint and limited myself to only ordering 1 dress, 1 skirt, and 1 top.  They are scheduled to arrive in the mail today and I can't wait to wear my new pieces.  I'll post an updated picture of me in them once they arrive!

Follow your Heart

Everyone asks high school and college students what they want to be when they grow up.  It seems like a valid question right.  The more I think about it though it seems unfair.  I’m “grown up” by a lot of standards and I have a career but that doesn’t mean I’ve got it all figured out or that what I’m doing now is what I’ll be doing until I retire.  In a lot of ways I’m still figuring out in a longer term sense what I want to do career wise.  Maybe it would be better to ask “what do you plan to do next?”  It just seems like a much better question. 

On a related but more personal note, I have been trying to focus my thoughts and think about that same question.  Things are going really well for me and I have a great job that I enjoy but I’m not sure what I plan to do next and what I’d like to do longer term.   Some people may think it’s egotistical to think this way since I am in a comfortable situation now but I believe that we should always be challenging and improving ourselves.  I am working to find the balance between thriving in my current situation and enjoying the present while also making sure that I keep an eye on the bigger picture.  Finding the answers to some of these questions has proved more challenging than expected.  One of my biggest quandaries has been determining whether I throw out an idea because I’m afraid of the risk or if my hesitation is really based in my acknowledgment that some aspect of that idea is not a good fit.  In one of my brainstorms I started doodling some things that I considered relatively unchanging truths about my personality and my interests.  I think starting with these things may help me stay focused on weed out things that are a bad fit as I dig deeper into this puzzle.

Outstanding Boss Award

I have received a couple awards since transitioning to full time with my company but none meant as much to me personally as the one I received on Friday.  On Friday afternoon my team came by and gave me an Outstanding Boss Award.  It’s not a formal award through my company but just something they felt moved to do based on what I have done for them since starting as the manager of the team.  I felt a few tears welling up but managed to hold it together but it was really touching.  I normally use productivity and attitude/behavior as a measure of my success as a manager but this was a positive affirmation of our work as a team that I wasn’t expecting and that I really will cherish.  

Craft Night

Thanks to the addicting and time consuming site Pinterest we decided to make our girls night craft themed!  We decided to try the do it yourself paint chip and paper art.  Here is a picture of us with our final products!  It was so much fun to make, I hope we make it a monthly thing.

Erin is going to be a mommy!

On Sunday I went to a baby shower for one of my really good friends.  They are expecting a baby girl and she is due in late November.  I am so excited for them because I truly believe that they will be fantastic parents!  Erin looks absolutely beautiful and was just glowing with excitement.  She got great gifts but the most special was the handmade bedding by her Nana (grandma), it was absolutely precious and made with love.  It made me so thankful for the help I know we’ll get from our awesome friends and family when the time comes for us to have kids.  It was also educational since I learned a lot from the explanations of the gifts and their purposes.  I guess it’s a good thing we plan to wait a while since I have a whole LOT to learn.  For now I’ll just have fun babysitting and playing with other people’s adorable kids!

Ignition 80's Movie Night

This past weekend as a fun event for the kids of Ignition we hosted a double feature 80’s movie night at the church.  It was so much fun to watch them enjoy movies from our childhood.  We watched Karate Kid (the original obviously) and The Goonies!  

Remove the Ego

There is a new professional company in town called Phase 1 Contemporary.  The directors are the very talented teachers and choreographers Rachel Erin Truitt and Jaspin Newell.  Their first major performance was this summer and was a collaboration with the Mad Violinist and the Symphony Crack Orchestra.  It was an incredible show which combined music, dance, and fashion design.  The combination of ballet, contemporary, and hip hop was an inspired combination.  The show had something for everyone and the artists executed their performances with precision and passion.  It was also fun to see some of the choreography from classes that I have taken come to life on the stage.  I hope this is the first of many wonderful performances from the company!  

TOMS

So I know these have been popular for quite a while but I’m finally getting my first pair of TOMS.  I have heard great things about how comfortable they are and how well they hold up so when I saw the new fall line had a pair with giraffe print I finally bit the bullet and ordered a pair.  I’m also really excited that as a result someone from a third world country will also get a new pair of shoes.  Especially because I know they need them more than I do. 

In Bloom

I had a very long week at work and was feeling a little down in the dumps.  As an outlet I decided to sit out on our balcony to get some fresh air.  While our there I was struck by the beauty of some flowers that had had recently bloomed and one that was about to bloom.  It’s interesting how something so simple could do so much for my perspective about my week.  No matter how crazy things get there is always new life, new experiences, and fresh starts all around us.  

Lift

Lift is a men’s performance company started by an Atlanta teacher and choreographer.  The company was founded and is run based on the pillars of manhood.  This year the performance centered on masculinity, each choreographer used their piece to reflect their view on this theme.  There were times where I felt myself judging their approach, my preconceptions about masculinity and what it means to me were trying to overwhelm my perception of the piece.  Thankfully I caught myself and quickly moved from prejudgment to analyzing their interpretation and appreciating the similarities and differences between my own thoughts.  Several choreographers used their pieces to make a statement not only about masculinity but also about politics or society.  I really appreciated the relevance and profoundness of these connections.  One of my favorite pieces was a trio combined with spoken word.  It showed the journey in African American culture of moving from slavery through a period of freedom and now incarceration.  It was challenging the current view that being masculine means making poor choices and buying into the lifestyle described in movies and rap music.  It was a powerful concept and was extremely well executed.  This performance was more than just dance and I greatly enjoyed it!  

Pressure Washing

“Pressure Washing”

At the beginning we did something smart
we coated each crevice with stain and sealant
all in attempts to protect and preserve

But over the years we all collect dirt and dust
and show signs of wear from the wind and rain
even the splendor of the shining sun takes a toll

Every so often the time comes
to stand strong as the water strikes with all its force
stripping away the dirt and damage

The water moves in steady, even motions
but it strikes with a force that is reckoning
leaving the surface bare and renewed

After a brief time of rest and drying
with love and patience each surface is restored
with another layer of protective stain and sealant
prepared once again to weather life’s storms

- Dale Jones