Longing for Blogging

Over the past few weeks, I've had a strong longing for blogging. I can't pinpoint exactly where it comes from, but I can say that it's the same feeling I had when I started my blog for the very first time in 2011. How in the world it's been six years since then, I have no idea! Anyway, at that time, there were things going on in my life that I thought others might want to know or read about. This brings me to today. In the absolute best way, there are so many things going on in my life! From family, friends, relationships, and career happenings, I couldn't ask for more blessings. There are exciting changes around every corner, and I want those that are interested to be able to read about them through my own words.

So, blogging community (who has read my words and accepted them time and time again,) if you'll have me, I'd love to come back to Sweet Like a Song! I don't know how often or for how long, but I do know there will be some catching up to do, and many new things along the way! You'll hear about trips and great food, adventures with apartment hunting and home decor, talk of my friends and family, and as always, lots and lots of shopping! See, some things never change! :) It may also take a little while to get this page updated, so bear with me.

I look forward to updating you on my life, and I hope you'll do the same for me with yours! Let's see how this thing goes!

...and just for the sake of continuity...

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Life as of Late: Fiji Pig Dinner

Though there's no way to catch you up on everything I've done during the past month, I wanted to let you all know that I'm alive. I may be absent from the blogging world, but I'm still here, shopping, eating dessert, working and going to graduate school. I miss blogging more than anything, but at this time in my life, that's the one thing I don't have much of…time. 

So while I sit here on this Sunday afternoon, reflecting on the weekend that has come and gone so quickly, I wanted to share some of those memories with you!

This weekend, I was invited to attend a fraternity alumni function with my friend, Andrew. With dinner, drinks and pretty dresses all in the description (plus my good-looking date,) I knew this event was right up my alley. We dressed up, sipped cocktails, had great food, played Catch Phrase, and simply enjoyed each other's company. I had the pleasure of meeting so many of his close friends, who were all just as sweet as he is. Even though I'm normally going non-stop, and this weekend was no exception, I had the absolute best time! Plus, the pictures were too good to keep to myself!

My outfit before dinner at Our Daily Bread on Friday night!

Sweater/Boots: Target

Tank: Old Navy

Mint skinnies: Delia's

Scarf: Charming Charlie's

Bracelets: Boutique/Lily & Laura

Friday night at Tapp Room with friends!

 

Looking sharp for the function!

Attempting to model the back our our outfits!

Post-dinner selfie!

Hope you all had a fab weekend as well!

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Finding a Balance

Something that I've been struggling with lately is finding a balance. 

A balance between work and school, between reading, studying and having a social life.

Graduate school is difficult, much more difficult than I thought it would be. It's not so much the work that caught me off guard, but the simple fact that I spend eight hours a day at my full-time job before I even enter the mindset of being a student again. Two days a week, I drive straight from work to a class that happens to be three hours long.

When I'm not at work or in class, I'm either sleeping or studying. Usually studying leads to sleeping because I can't stay awake through the numerous reading selections that my professors tend to assign. 

This experience has definitely been a learning one.

Forty-five minutes into my three-hour class last night, my professor decided to let us go home. To an exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out graduate student, this was the answer to my prayers!

I went straight home. I washed dishes, did laundry and got work done for both my GS classes. I already feel a sense of relief, after just those two hours. 

Tonight, I found my "balance" in having that little bit of extra time. Whether Dr. Howe knew it or not, he changed my whole mindset by letting us go early. I know that working toward my masters degree is something that I will always treasure, I've just got to remember to find the balance that's right for me.

I apologize for my lack of posting lately. Hopefully pretty soon, I'll figure out my routine, and get back to blogging regularly! Do you ever feel like you're being pulled in ten different directions?

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Life as of Late: 5 on Friday!

Since I haven't had the time to blog regularly recently, I wanted to spend today updating you all on some fab things that have been going on in my life! Please bare with me, the list is a bit random!

I'm officially sharing six things, but just because I love 5 on Friday, I'm still linking up with a few beautiful bloggers for the 5 on Friday post!

Have five (or six) things you'd like to share? Link up and let us know!

I ran 10 miles!!!!

My goodness, what an accomplishment! When I started running in November, I couldn't run one mile without stopping! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever run/want to run 10, but I did it, and I'm one step closer to my half-marathon dream!

I met my graduate school advisor!

A tad excited to be visiting the new College of Education building!

On Monday, in an effort to tie up any graduate school loose ends, I decided to contact my new advisor to see if we could get together for a meeting later on in the week. He agreed, and we met yesterday morning for the first time. I immediately had a great feeling about him! Dr. Howe is super nice, knowledgeable and supportive! Our face to face meeting made me so excited to work with him over the next two years!

My hair is growing!

#selfie
I've been trying to grow out my hair since November, and this week, someone even told me it looked long! Thank you, Samantha! It made my day, and made all those "just trim the ends" hair appointments completely worth it! I'm getting some color done tomorrow, and I can't wait.

Registrar's Office Retreat

Office friends: Tara, Bert & Ethel
One of my tasks over the past few months, was to plan a Registrar's Office retreat for my entire office. It was a task trying to accommodate 20+ schedules, but somehow, it happened! The retreat went off without a hitch, and everyone had so much fun!

My NYC trip is booked!

As of about two weeks ago, my NYC trip in November is officially official! We heard back from the Reservations Coordinator, and my friends and I will be visiting NYC November 21st through the 24th.

I get to see Paisley today!

Today after work, I'm headed home for the weekend, and I finally get to see my sweetheart, Paisley! It's been two weeks since I've been home, and I miss her so much. Hopefully we'll have pretty weather the next couple of days, and make it to the park for a little doggie field trip.

What's your life been like as of late?

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Post-Grad Planning

One thing that's been on my mind a lot lately, is my future. 

Hearing about all of my friends growing up, moving to new places, getting engaged, and having children (some of them more than one) has made me start thinking about my own life, and where exactly I want to be in the next few years.

Though so many things are up in the air at this point, I know that whatever happens, God will lead me in the right direction, and to wherever I'm really supposed to be. 

In the meantime, a girl can always dream!

I know for sure that I will finish with graduate school in the summer of 2015. My program is exactly 12 classes, and takes most people two full years to finish. Since I'm working full-time during graduate school, I'll only take two classes each semester, (making me a part-time student) but I'll take classes during the summer semesters as well. It's not a bad deal...getting paid while I'm in school and Appalachian paying for two classes per year sounds pretty good to me!

My degree will be a Master of Arts in Higher Education, (not teaching, but administration on the university level) but I still haven't decided exactly what area I'd like to work in. I know that I want to put together events on the university scale, I'm just not sure in what area. There are so many more opportunities to do this than you would think! Appalachian, and universities in general ALWAYS have things going on, whether it's Freshman Orientation, Greek Week, Commencement (which I've come to know very well), and a multitude of other events across campus. This gives me a lot of possibilities for a job that I'd be interested in. Areas like Commencement, Alumni Affairs, the Chancellor's Office, Student Development are all super appealing to me, so you just never know!

I'm also not sure exactly where I want to be! If my dream job was waiting for me at Appalachian post-graduation, then of course I'd be happy staying here. Boone is a wonderful place to raise a family, but if not, I LOVE the idea of going somewhere completely new! Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Duke, all of which are great universities and in good areas that I'd love to live and make a life for myself, if a position presented itself. There's also the possibility of living somewhere further away, like Charleston, the Outer Banks, New York, or maybe a place that I haven't even heard of yet! 

The idea of moving somewhere completely different and being in a job that I love is beyond exciting to me, and though I don't know the answers right now...

I'm always up for a good adventure.

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Success is...Intimidating?

A little over a month ago, an acquaintance made a comment to me that really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know why I let it bother me, but I still can't seem to shake the words that were said and how they made me feel.

I was told that having my life together was very intimidating, that it seemed like I had everything planned out, and had all the answers.

I'm sure it sounds petty that this comment bothered me, but to someone that feels like their life is anything but together, it caught me off guard.

At first, I didn't know how to respond to this type of statement. Do I apologize for having a plan, goals and dreams? Should I be upset at myself for making someone else feel this way? I'm still a little confused.

One thing I do know is that I have worked very hard and feel blessed beyond measure to be where I am today.

A quote from Mrs. Lara Casey

Here are a few things that I wish I would've thought to tell this person, who was so quick to judge me that night...

1. I graduated from high school with honors because I worked my butt off and studied. 

2. I made the choice to come to Appalachian State, after not being accepted into the school that I dreamed of attending my entire life.

3. I joined a sorority to better myself after going through a break up that brought me to my knees.

4. I did an internship the summer before my senior year that I despised and sent the "plan" that I thought I had into a tailspin.

5. I lost one of my best friends for no reason, and to this day have no idea why or how it happened.

6. I made a D in college accounting, without missing a day of class, and it still makes me sick to think about it.

7. I did a completely unpaid internship after my college graduation because I had a dream that I believed in.

8. I took an amazing full-time job at my alma mater, after neglecting to hear back from umpteen other job opportunities.

So to the person that doesn't know the real me and made this unnecessary comment, it may seem like I have my life together, but honestly, I'm far from it.

I do believe in being the best you that you can be. I believe in working hard. I believe you should do a job that makes you happy every single day, and never settle for any less. I believe you should say yes ma'am, please, and thank you. I believe in prayer, and God's healing hands. And I believe that you shouldn't judge too quickly because you never know who's going to change your life.

One of my favorite quotes, also from Mrs. Lara Casey

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

I've always had a plan, God just had a different one!

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with a sweet friend at work. She was telling me about herself, and how she started working at our office. That's when I asked her, "Did you always plan to work for the university?" Her reply wasn't what I was expecting at all. She said "I never really had a plan, I just went with whatever sounded good."

This really surprised me! I didn't know people went through life with no plan. I was putting lists together of things I wanted to accomplish as early as I can remember, and it hasn't slowed down yet. Then I started thinking about my own answer to that question. Had I always planned on working for a university? The truth? No. But, do I love it? Absolutely.

See...I had a plan, God just had a different one.

To be honest, my plan hasn't turned out anything like I thought it would, and though it took me a little while, I'm completely okay with that. I thank God every day for each opportunity that he has given me.

When I was in 8th grade, I decided I wanted to be a news anchor. It seemed like the perfect job. Honestly, I thought it was perfect until the summer before my senior year of college.

It was that summer, that I did an internship at a local TV station.

I went my first day optimistic, anxious and excited. Though I enjoyed meeting so many interesting people, I despised everything else. I didn't like the crazy schedule or hours, the politics, the rude news anchors that acted like I didn't exist, the work, the pressure, none of it. Not one part of that job was like the dream that I'd had since I was 13 years old.

What now?!

I tried to stay positive, but I just couldn't talk myself into working a job every day that I despised. At the end of that summer, I went back to school knowing that something had to change. It was then, that I started pursuing something else that I loved...putting together events. It started as a hobby when I worked on smaller events for my sorority, but I was set on fire when I got to plan Bid Day for our new pledge class.

I started looking into wedding planning, and learning everything I could about wedding planners, blogs, and the industry. I knew that if I wanted a job in a field that I had no real-life experience, I was going to have to show someone that I wanted it really bad. I started applying in December, and by March, I had a wedding planning internship secured in Greensboro after graduation. Things were looking up for me.

I did it and I loved it, every minute of it!

Here we are working my boss' 50th wedding!

Though I love wedding planning and all its facets, I quickly realized that I also needed a full-time job (with a salary and benefits,) if I wanted to move out and survive on my own. After tons of applications and a lot of ups and downs, I got an interview that led to a job at my alma mater, Appalachian State University.

via
Never did I think that six months after graduation, I'd be right back in Boone. It may have not been in my "plan," but it didn't matter. I love my office, I love my coworkers, and I especially love representing a university that I love so much. It was a perfect fit:)

The best part, I still get to work for the wedding company that I love so much, along with assisting with commencement and convocation. It's win, win!

If you're still reading, you may be asking yourself what the point of this whole post is, well here it is...Yesterday was a big day for me, because it's the beginning of yet another change in my "plan," that I threw out the window a little over a year ago.

Yesterday morning, I took the GRE. Even if you haven't taken it yourself, I bet you at least know what it means...yes, you're right.

I'm applying to graduate school!

Nothing is for sure yet, but we'll see! Thanks for staying with me on this crazy adventure I call my life! Maybe one day I'll figure out my "plan."

As always, Have a Sweet Day!


A Life Update!

Things ARE and continue to be SO busy! I swear I never stop!

Here's what I've been up to lately!

1. Loving my new job!

Every single day in the Registrar's Office is a learning experience, and the best part...I really enjoy it! I love helping parents, I love getting to know students, and I love my co-workers. They are all seriously amazing. I am so so lucky.

2. Crossing goals off my list!

Just in the past few days, I marked two more tasks off my First Year in Boone to-do list.

1. Last Wednesday, I tried a new restaurant with my friend Alex and a new friend, Emily! It was completely spur of the moment, but I'm so glad I was able to meet up with them. We had dinner at this restaurant/bar near campus called tApp Room. Though our dessert was a bit overpriced, everything was really tasty, and I would definitely go back again.

2. Yesterday, I crossed off "Do something that benefits my entire office," when I brought two dozen donuts for breakfast. They were a hit! I took them around to each person, as I handed out my Christmas cards. It was so much fun to surprising everyone with a tasty treat!


 

3. Exercising
I knew when I moved back to Boone, I wanted to be a lot more active and develop a routine. I have been doing just that! I go to the gym almost every day after work for about two hours. I have never been a runner, but slowly I've been trying to get back into it. Last week, I ran 9 miles! Yes, 9! and I've already ran 3 so far this week. I am so proud of myself!

4. Wedding Planning
As many of you know, I also work for a wedding planner, and I love it! Last weekend, I got to experience one of the most beautiful weddings I've seen thus far, and I work a lot of weddings! It was a winter wedding with a beautiful southern bride! Here are a few pictures I snapped on Saturday!

So beautiful!



Also, Happy 50 Weddings to my amazing boss, Leigh!
What a great accomplishment!
You can check out our fab wedding blog here!

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Sorry, No Vacancy

Throughout this whole new job/picking up my life in one place and taking it to another process, the most difficult part has been finding a place to live.

I know it has a lot to do with the town that I'm going to being super small, and revolving around its students, but I never imagined there would be nothing available. Seriously, nothing.

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To be honest, it's had me a little discouraged because it's hard to get excited about going somewhere and starting a new job when you don't know where you'll be laying your head down at night.

I'm sure anyone that has ever moved in their lifetime understands my feelings of getting your hopes up about one place, and having it fall through, or finding out it isn't exactly as nice as you hoped it would be. I've had this happen countless times over the past few days, but I'm trying my best to stay optimistic.

Unlike most people, I have never really moved before. Don't get me wrong, I did move into my college dorm for a year, but that was pretty much decided for me. Then I went from there to an apartment with two roommates, where a ton of other students lived, but this is a little different. I'm literally looking for a place to start my adult life, a place that I will come home to during the good days at work and the not-so-good, the place that I will have most of my "firsts" as an adult in the real world. 

Forgive me for being nostalgic, but that's a big deal!

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I've quickly realized that picking up your life and following a job is also expensive. There are a lot of initial costs of living by yourself that I hadn't taken into consideration before. These things combined with the rent of a one/two bedroom apartment for an entry-level position can be stressful. 

Yesterday, I spoke to a man over email that owns an apartment complex in Boone. He was very nice, and told me that though I preferred a one-bedroom, he had a two-bedroom unit available immediately! I've never been inside of this place (they're super new), but the outside is gorgeous. It gave me the ray of hope that I'd been searching for. I'm going to the university to sign paperwork on Monday, and my parents and I are planning to go see the unit!

Say a prayer, cross you fingers, send happy thoughts our way, please! I feel good about this one!

Have you had these same problems when moving to a new place?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Goodbye 21, Hello 22!

Tomorrow, I'll say goodbye to being 21. 

I'll say goodbye to the age that everyone waits their whole lives for, and I'll be on my way to bigger and better things. While 21 has been an amazing year, I am so excited to see what 22 has to offer!

I feel like just yesterday I was having my birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese, skating rinks, and my sweet sixteen at the Holiday Inn! How things have changed since then! I can even remember as a teenager, thinking that 22 was so old, but now my view has changed.

At 22 years old, I will be a whole year wiser than I was last September, and every year before that!

Over the past year, I have experience some of the happiest times of my life: here, here and here. I've also experience heartbreak, and the feeling of a relationship at its end. I've experience graduating college, and closing a huge chapter of my life. Then there was the beginning of another great chapter, a wonderful furry addition, and finding some of my biggest passions.

Credit to: Liz Grogan Photography

I've experienced having a bad roommate situation, sorority high and lows, feeling on top of the world and feeling defeated at times. But if I've learned anything in these 22 short years, it's that everything happens for a reason. Everything makes you stronger, and for that, I am thankful.

I feel so lucky to have gone through what I have, and while I don't know what 22 has to offer, I know it will be a great year!

I have a family that loves me, 

friends that will last a lifetime,

and an amazing dog that I love more than life! 

My life is not perfect by any means, but it's going well. God has blessed me beyond belief and I am so thankful.

Cheers to 22!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Life Update!

I assumed that when I graduated college, I would have more time to blog and post about fun things. This is definitely not the case! As many of you probably know, looking for a full-time job is a full-time job in itself, and it's where most of my time is going!

Here's an update as to what my life has consisted of over the past few days!

1. Looking for a job like crazy!

Since I concluded my internship last week, and am no longer required to do office time, I have been looking for a full-time job like nobody's business. I would love to do something marketing, event, social media related, so if you know of something, hit a sista up!

2. Decided I'm going to Homecoming!

Homecoming at Appalachian is a BIG deal,  and I was super bummed when I saw that we had a wedding that day! It isn't until October, but friends of mine are already talking about all the festivities. Last year, I was lucky enough to be on the Homecoming Court, when my parents & I got to go ON THE FIELD! There's still a few details to work out, but it looks like I can have someone fill in for me at work, and I'll be heading to Boone on October 6th!

3. Shopping!

I'm a born and bred shopped, so whether I have a job or not, I'm always looking for a cute outfit for some occasion! Yesterday, I headed to the mall to look for a possible Homecoming outfit! I checked a couple different places, and ended up at H&M! I have shopped in H&M multiple times, but this was my first actual purchase! I scored my cute game day smock for just under $30! Woohoo! Be looking for a post on this later on!

4. Looking at this necklace!

I have seen so many great ways to style this J.CREW inspired bauble necklace, but I don't have one of my own yet.

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That's where you come in! Those of you that have this necklace, I would love to know how you like it!  Is it easy to wear? Heavy at all? Any information would be appreciated!

5. Working more at Sam's!

In the midst of completing my internship and looking for something full-time, I'm working at my restaurant job about 4 days a week now! Though I love everything about Sam's, I'm ready for something full-time, in an area I'm interested in! A salary would be great too!

6. Planning a party!

I am BIG on birthdays, and my 22nd birthday is a mere 29 days away!

What better excuse do I need to put together a guest list, find cute invitations and a new outfit?! While my 21st birthday was like most people I know...a bit hazy, I'm looking for this year to be a little toned down, fun and memorable with some great girl friends! I'm thinking about having dinner at Village Tavern, and then heading to this new bar & grille called The District in downtown Winston-Salem! Have you heard of it?

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about what I've been up to lately! Enjoy your Wednesday!