My Week in Review + Memorial Day!

With so many fun things happening this past week, you'll have to bare with me, as this post is a little lengthy!

Last Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of trying the new Appalachian Mountain Brewery for the first time. AMB is a new, local brewery in Boone, that has a super cool indoor/outdoor atmosphere, and offers a different feel than all the other bars in the area. Though they definitely attract more of a local crowd, I had a great time trying a new place, having good beer, and listening to the live music!

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If you're ever in the Boone area, AMB is definitely worth a try!

I also house/dog sat this past week for some of my closest friends in Boone. Their Maltese puppy, Lola and I had the best time making cupcakes,

choosing outfits,

and playing outside in the sunshine!

By the end of our week together, she was worn out, and I was ready to sleep in again!

The Saturday before Memorial Day was an absolutely beautiful day in Boone! I woke up energized and itching for a long run. That day, I ended up going the farthest I ever have, and getting about 7 miles in around campus that morning.

Such an amazing feeling!

On Sunday, I decided to indulge in a little retail therapy at the Tanger Outlets in Blowing Rock. I'd been wanting a pair of white ankle pants for summer, and found the perfect pair at Loft Outlet on sale for $29.99!

My Memorial Day outfits were cute and comfy, with a few fun details!
The picture on the left was for my shopping earlier that day, and the right was for a Memorial Day cookout!

Later than evening, I went to a cookout that my friends Marcia and Don had at their home! With all of the proper essentials in tow, we had a fabulous time!

All the fun from last week/weekend made it super tough to go back to work on Monday morning, but with our Miller Family Beach Trip this Saturday, I think I can make it:)

I hope y'all had a great Memorial Day as well!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Prepping for the High Country Triple Crown!

Sunday, February 24th was the day that I first heard about the Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World! It's also the same day that I decided I had to be there to do it next year! 

At the time, I had just started running three months prior, and hadn't participated in any races. This new goal was the exact fuel I needed to kick my running into action!

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In March, I had a blast running my very first 5K, and in April, I ran my first 10K and placed second in my age group, but running 13.1 miles without stopping is a whole different ball game!

I realize that I have eight months to work up to 13 miles, but it's still super intimidating! Sign-ups for the Princess Half start on June 11th, and you better believe I'm going to try my hardest to be on that list!

So, where does the High Country Triple Crown come in?

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The High Country Triple Crown is a series of three races that I've decided to try to complete in preparation for the Princess Half! They won't be easy, but I think they're just what I need to get me feeling more confident about the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend in Disney.

The Races:

1. The Cub - A 7-mile run through Valle Crucis, NC

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2. The High Country Half Marathon - A 13.1-mile race winding from ASU's campus to Blowing Rock, NC

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3. The Knob - A 2-mile uphill climb to the top of Howard's Knob in Boone, NC

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I know these races will push my limits and my comfort zones, but if I'm going to make it to the Princess Half Marathon in February, these are challenges I must overcome. To help me accomplish each of these, I've started Hal Higdon's half-marathon training schedule, and am currently on week two!

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Participants that run and complete all three of the High Country Triple Crown races will be recognized following The Knob, as part of Appalachian's official Homecoming festivities!

The Cub is the first race in the series, and is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th! My fingers are crossed for good results and great weather!

Happy Running!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Paisley Ann Turns One!

My sweet Paisley Ann turned a year old on May 8th, but since I was stressed to the max with commencement prep at the time, we celebrated her birthday yesterday!

I had originally planned on having a big party with all of Paisley's human friends, but with so much going on at church, work, and in our family, we thought it was best with just the five of us. It worked out perfectly!

Earlier in the week, I picked up some princess hats, noisemakers and birthday gifts and had them all ready to go around noon. After church, my Dad whipped up some pimento cheese sandwiches and potato chips, while Paisley got some special doggie birthday cookies!

At first, she wasn't quite sure what to think of them, but quickly decided they were just her style!

We even made her a spot at the table for this special occasion!

My Mom was so sweet and picked up Gigi's cupcakes for the four of us to eat! 

We enjoyed a chocolate chip cheesecake, birthday cake, Cola Chocolate, and Italian Cream cupcake, all piled high with icing. They were SO good!

How cute is this one!?

After enjoying her doggie treats, Paisley spent the afternoon modeling her new pink collar and playing with a new toy. 

She might be just a little bit spoiled....

Happy Birthday Paisley Ann! We love you!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

It's Good to be Home!

Over the past three weeks, I have been on physical and mental overload! I'm just now feeling like I can relax enough to blog again, and assume a normal breathing pattern.

I know I've talked about how excited I was to be working on commencement at my university this spring, and while it was wonderful, it was also a WHOLE LOT OF WORK! More work, stress and pressure than I could have ever imagined!

Last weekend, the entire Registrar's Office, nearly 100 student marshals, along with tons of faculty and staff helped over 2,000 students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas! What an amazing feeling!

What a great feeling it was to see 400 students file out of the arena as the 6th ceremony ended! Talk about a marathon weekend!

Here are just a few of my favorite commencement moments:

Receiving a little bribe gift from the College of Business!

Getting the stage ready for our first ceremony of the weekend!

 

After the most beautiful entrance from the College of Health Sciences!
Seriously, it was gorgeous!

My view during the final ceremony on Sunday evening!

So many people!
 

My first commencement weekend was a test of my mental and physical strength, as well as my sanity. That's why this weekend, I'm back at home with my family, enjoying their company and some relaxation.

It feels so good to be home, and posting again on Sweet Like a Song! 

Until next year!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Very Jane Product Review!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a representative from Very Jane.com.  If you haven't heard of Very Jane, it's a website that features new handmade and boutique style items every day, and at really great prices!

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Very Jane normally runs 10-15 new deals per day, that you're able to order for three days, or until the item sells out completely. Upon ordering, the item ships directly from the seller to your doorstep.

When I was asked to review something, I went straight to Very Jane's Facebook page to see what type of items they had to offer. The only problem, I loved so many of their products! They sell items that so many of us bloggers talk about every day! 

Here are a few Very Jane products that I loved:

The standard bauble necklace!

This black and white chevron maxi dress!

My favorite item, and the product I was lucky enough to review was the 3-letter, 12-inch wooden monogram!

A wooden monogram is the perfect way to personalize any empty space. I bought my first one to use as a wreath on my front door, and love it so much! I knew that the 12-inch version from Very Jane would be the perfect addition to my office space!

My Very Jane monogram arrived at my doorstep, perfectly packaged and ready to be personalized! 

I painted my first wooden monogram pink and green, but I wanted to do something a little different 

with this one! 

After much thought, and getting opinions from everyone else at work, I've decided not just to paint this monogram, but to bedazzle it! Though this is going to take much longer than simply painting the whole thing, it will add the perfect touch of sparkle to my office at work!

First, I painted on a base coat.

Once the paint dried, I was able to cover the whole thing with multi-colored gems!

I love how it turned out!

I feel so lucky to have been contacted by Very Jane, and gotten to review one of their products. Their fabulous customer service and selection of items that I love will definitely keep me returning as a customer!

If you've never heard of Very Jane, make sure to check out their website! There's always something I love at a great price!

*Though I was asked to review this product, the thoughts above are 100% my own.

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Making Life Happen

Here I am, one week away from directing my first commencement at Appalachian State University, and I've never been more excited, nervous, anxious, or scared in my entire life. 

The past two months have been an absolute whirlwind, but I consider myself so lucky to have experienced every piece of commencement from beginning to end. 

Often times, I'll see people that I met as a student at Appalachian, and they ask me how I like my job. I don't know if it's the look on their faces as they wait for my response or the tone in their voice, that makes me feel like they expect me to say that I'm not happy, but they are so wrong. 

I am in love with my job. 

I wanted to plan events, so I got took a job where I get to assist in one of the biggest events that Appalachian has each and every year. 

I can't help but get emotional every time I think of this process coming to an end. Just like my 10K race two weeks ago, my office is about to accomplish something that we've worked so hard for, and for so long. 

I can already sense the tears that will come as soon as the cue is given for the first ceremony to start, for the brass ensemble to begin playing Pomp and Circumstance for the first time, and for the first set of graduates to walk by me with only their dreams in mind. 

Little do they know, they'll be passing someone with dreams on her mind as well.

There are so many things I want to do, places I want to go, and things I want to see in my lifetime. Getting through seven graduation ceremonies this spring has shown me that with a wonderful team and a great attitude, anything can be accomplished.

I am so unbelievably thankful for the wonderful office I am a part of. Without them, commencement wouldn't be possible.
 

When I graduated from college a year ago, I worried about what I was leaving behind in Boone, North Carolina. Now, I don't have to worry. I am able to show my love for Appalachian in each step that I take on a daily basis. 

Congratulations Class of 2013! We did it! 

As always, Have a Sweet Day!