Wow, it has almost been a month.....

I am not good with this blog thing! So this past month has been very hectic....trying to get acclimated with my new job, helping to build a haunted house, putting my speech together to run for a new position with the Jaycees, volunteering, and making new friends!!!!

NEW JOB- it is going GREAT! I absolutely love love love having a boss who tells me everyday how happy he is that he hired me and telling me over and over how smart I am. He lets me run things the way I want and is there to support me. I can't tell you how much I have spread my wings by having a boss who trusts me and believes in me! Today I did my 2nd orientation and had 10 new associates attend. It is so cool learning the HR side of the job! I don't even mind working a ton as long as I am learning!

HAUNTED HOUSE- I used POWER TOOLS! I helped to build walls which we are using for the Jaycee's haunted house. It was really pretty cool. I was there on day one cleaning this yucky place out (it hadn't been occupied for over 7 years) and it is really cool to see the transformation. We open in 12 days so I can't wait! I am going to mostly be at the membership table trying to recruit new members, but I am going to scare people too!

We had nominations last week for the 2008 boards and I was nominated to be Membership VP and I accepted. I can't believe how much I have changed since joining the Jaycees and I would love to share that with other people. I have made so many friends that I know will be around for a long time and I have grown so much. It will be a LOT of work, but I am excited to meet a ton of people!

New friends!!! I have started becoming very close with a few of the Jaycees so Friday night at the Donkey Inn have started to become a tradition! Rachel turned 30 last week (happy birthday!) so we went out to dinner and bowling for that....we had a Cosmos and Cleavage party last night (bra fitting party) and had a blast with that!

This weekend is bowling on Saturday night and WINGS 5k on Sunday. Have a great week everyone!

Cute stuff

So as I was cleaning out my closet today and going through all my bags I found a disposable camera from Oct/Nov that I forgot about. So I decided to see what I would find! There were a LOT of really bad pictures of me so this is all you get!


All the cat's on my aunt and uncle's farm! There were even more and out of all 12 I think only 2 let me pet them and only 1 let me pick him up:-(

My godson Trent enjoying a warm fall day!

More of the cute kitties!

Well, it is at least a post!

Another boring no pic post

So it has come very quickly, I am in my final days at Carsons! Tomorrow is my last closing and my last Senior Day...Thursday will be my last truck...Friday will be my last Friday and the cleaning of the desk. Weird. I am super excited though.
In fact, yesterday when I was at Starbucks (only the 2nd time of the day) the guy who always makes my drink commented on how I was the only one from my store smiling anymore. When I told him my last day was Friday he understood completely! My associates are being awesome and very supportive. They are sad but very happy for me, they know how stressed I have been. A lot of them have said they want to come with me and a lot of them are thinking about quitting so it is nice to know they respected me and will miss me:-)
My exit interview was last friday because my HR manager is on vacation this week...she didn't even say good luck or goodbye so that just completely confirmed my decision!

MY RUN DOWN FOR THE NEXT WEEK BEFORE MY NEW JOB.....

Friday night I am going out to celebrate with Lynn and Justine (don't worry girls you know you are right behind me!)
Saturday and Sunday will be spent in Naperville for the Jaycees big awards thingy. It will be a blast, there are 6 of us girls sharing a room so it should get interesting especially since Saturday night is formal....6 girls and one bathroom. YIKES.
Monday-Wednesday don't know yet but Jason says he has off so maybe we can find some fun stuff to do.
Friday I will go home and enjoy a weekend with the family before starting the new job!!!!!

Beat Jason to it....

I beat Jason to it...these pictures seen on my blog first!



Yes Dakota, I know Jason is yours!

Which of these guys is bigger?

Snowmen in Evanston and Des Plaines beware! Dakota might steal your nose!

Face off! I think Bullwinkle will win!

My Big News

Well, I have HUGE news! I was offered a new job today! I will be the new Customer Experience Manager at the Old Navy store in Gurnee. Basically I will be the HR/assistant store manager kind of thing. I will still get to merchandise and play with clothes, but my main focus is training the associates and keeping the store at the level it needs to be!
It comes with a very nice pay increase, way better benefits, and tons more vacation....which all start the FIRST day I start! The drive will be kind of annoying, but it will be worth it I am told. My friend works for Old Navy and LOVES it and I think my boss will be the best boss I have ever worked for!
I am putting in my 2 weeks tomorrow at work, but if they don't accept it I might start as soon as Monday. If they do accept it I will finish my 2 weeks and then take my planned vacation and start on 8/20.

Thank you to everyone who has listened to me complain and cry about Carson's and my job searching....it will all end now!

Boring post...no pic's

Jason has the camera in Vegas so in the mean time I will leave a pretty flower to look at:-)

So last weekend I had an event with the Jaycee's called Bahai and Thai...it was a TON of fun! We visited the Bahai temple in Wilmette and actually got a tour from a girl who knows a TON about the religion and the history of the place so we learned a lot. Then we went to Thai Sookdee in Evanston and ate a TON. I highly recommend this restaurant...lots of choices and it is very reasonably priced.

I have pictures of all of this but once again the camera is in Vegas (I can't believe the camera (well Jason) has been to Vegas so many times and I have yet to go...sad) (((Whitney I think if I can get time off in September I will take you and Rachel up on the offer to go!))))

Then on Sunday I had a softball game and we won! We are going to be in the playoff's now so that is pretty exciting! Lacy and Dakota came to watch me play so I was distracted and didn't do too hot, but I did catch a ball and that was a first so I am happy!

Then it was back to work:-( I get to work all this weekend too so I am excited (not really)

Upcoming posts....pic's from Bahai and Thai, my new hair, and pic's from the upcoming regional which is being held in Des Plaines!

My short trip home

On my short trip home the first thing I did was to find Tigger so I could get in one kiss before the growling started....I got my one kiss and then she took off. This is the view I see of her most often...running from me:-)

The tomato's!!! I was able to take 2 home and 3 little one's and they were tasty! These guys need to slow down so next time I come home they will be all mine!!!

My mom's little garden area where my favorite tree used to be:-(

A pretty flower by the new porch....

The new porch! Mom is waiting for the people to come and seal the porch so she took the railings down but it has been over 2 months now.....:-)

My FAVORITE! The gazing ball! I never got one of these when I was little (gee do you think I would have broken it???)

The new "gazebo" or "casino" as Cole calls it!

And Tiggy again.