The blog needed some *zing*, so I added the above header that I whipped up in photoshop, along with some new blog-title and link colors. What do ya think??Thursday, June 26, 2008
spice
The blog needed some *zing*, so I added the above header that I whipped up in photoshop, along with some new blog-title and link colors. What do ya think??
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
today...
...was my last Tuesday at KPA.
...is the day I WILL finish up my current freelance project.
...feels like summer.
...I ate a cupcake at the Cupcake Cafe. I highly recommend it.
...I had a Strawberry Goodness smoothie for dinner. MMMMmmm.
...is 6 days away from our closing date.
...is 8 days away from move in!
...is the revival of interesting blog topics, and (hopefully) the end of life-changing (house-buying, job-switching) posts.
...I had an amazing new idea for our new office at the house.
...I learned about magnetic paint.
...I gained a new appreciation for Martha Stewart.
...Emmy and I walked to the fields and back.
...is going to end well, I can feel it.
...I cannot post without a picture! So here is a lovely shot of the German Chocolate cupcake from the Cupcake Cafe website. It might not be beautiful, but it sure was very tasty.
And I hate to break away from my "today" theme, but I must say... I am quite intrigued by the whole cupcake idea. Today I came across the Cupcake Bakeshop blog, and with my visit to the Cupcake Cafe and all... it seemed like a sign. I might just have to try my hand at these little wonders!
...is the day I WILL finish up my current freelance project.
...feels like summer.
...I ate a cupcake at the Cupcake Cafe. I highly recommend it.
...I had a Strawberry Goodness smoothie for dinner. MMMMmmm.
...is 6 days away from our closing date.
...is 8 days away from move in!
...is the revival of interesting blog topics, and (hopefully) the end of life-changing (house-buying, job-switching) posts.
...I had an amazing new idea for our new office at the house.
...I learned about magnetic paint.
...I gained a new appreciation for Martha Stewart.
...Emmy and I walked to the fields and back.
...is going to end well, I can feel it.
...I cannot post without a picture! So here is a lovely shot of the German Chocolate cupcake from the Cupcake Cafe website. It might not be beautiful, but it sure was very tasty.
And I hate to break away from my "today" theme, but I must say... I am quite intrigued by the whole cupcake idea. Today I came across the Cupcake Bakeshop blog, and with my visit to the Cupcake Cafe and all... it seemed like a sign. I might just have to try my hand at these little wonders!
Friday, June 20, 2008
newsflash
Well I can finally break the silence with some official news about what's been keeping me busy!
{I have resigned from my position at Koechel Peterson & Associates and accepted a new job with A La Carte Design!}
It's just that simple, yet so much more complicated. Here's the semi-abridged, yet still long version...
You all probably read my post about looking for a new job, needing a change, etc, etc. Well, after we bought the house in Mound, it was clear to me that a job change was necessary. Not only was I burned out with my current job, but the commute from the new place was going to be killer. 35 miles, 10 of which are on a single lane road winding around the lake (beautiful, but not conducive to quickly flowing traffic). I was looking at 1.5 to 2 hours in the car daily. Not to mention the WOW gas bill that would inevitably go hand in hand with the new commute. So... the job search began in earnest. I knew what I was looking for... sort of. But I also was open to some different possibilities.
While driving around our new neighborhood, I noticed a small design shop in a quaint, funky office. I could tell by their logo and signage that they had some style and class. I wrote down the name, and looked them up later online. Then, for the heck of it, I wrote up an email and sent them my resume. From there, I started searching other design, marketing, and PR firms in the area of the new house. I sent off a few more emails and resumes and kept on a lookin'. I knew that if I was going to get another job (as opposed to going freelance), it was going to have to be a special place that fit with my lifestyle and personality.
Enter A La Carte Design... the original design shop that I had driven by. A few days after I sent my resume, I heard back from the owner of the company. After a few emails back and forth, samples of my work sent, etc, etc, we finally connected over the phone and set up an interview. I drove out there on a Wednesday evening after work, and proceeded to spend two hours(!) talking with the owner, Alisa. The next week she invited me back for a second interview. We spent another two hours talking, she made me a job offer... and the rest is history! She offered me the job on a Wednesday evening, I officially accepted on Friday, and resigned on Monday. I finally had the go ahead to make the announcement to my coworkers yesterday, and now I am sharing the news with the masses. :)
A few crazy things about this whole process.... The timing was impeccable. I continue to be amazed at God's hand in all of this. The puzzle pieces fit together absolutely perfectly. From Alisa getting my resume at the right time and sensing a need for another designer, to the timing of the interviews and the job offer and my two week notice, etc, etc.... Everything lined up. I put my notice in Monday, and my last day will be in one week, on Friday the 27th. We close on the house on Monday the 30th, and I have one whole week to paint, move in, and settle into our new house before I start my new job on Monday the 7th. Crazy, crazy.
On top of all that, the job is a great fit for me. Here are my top ten reasons why. :)
• Location, location, location. 3 miles away! I can ride my bike, take the scooter, or drive. The commute rocks and we will save lots of $$ on gas.
• Fast Pace. From the sounds of it, this place is hoppin'! The days will fly by with many projects and plenty to do.
• Fresh n' Edgy. The design style is happenin'. It's fresh and vibrant and will bring a whole new dimension to my portfolio.
• Atmosphere. The design shop is a remodeled Cape Cod that has a funky modern twist to it. It's bright and breezy and seems to be a great working environment.
• People. While I haven't met the whole team yet, my new boss is a zippy, fun, and energetic woman who shares my passion for change, new ideas, and flexibility.
• Opportunity Knocks. Okay, really this should be #1. Not only was I offered a design job at A La Carte, I was given the chance to start up a custom stationary and invitation division within the company. They pay for the marketing, website, etc, etc... we turn a room in the shop into a showroom and store, and the whole thing is "my baby". Oh, and I get commission on all sales. Uh huh, that's what I'm talkin' about!
• Winston. The office dog. Yup, the office has a dog. Winston is Alisa's 8 month old puppy. He pretty darn cute and irresistable and he brings a crazy, fun element to the work-a-day world.
• Vacation. Okay, so I get paid vacation already, but in small companies like A La Carte, it's not everyday that you get a decent vacation policy. They are matching my current amount of paid days off, PLUS giving me a flexible schedule. Uh HUh!
• Smaller&Better. With only 6 people (I make 7), the office has the right mix of "enough" and not "too much". It's cozy and intimate, yet not so small that you get tired of your one and only coworker.
So I think that about wraps up my "newsflash". I have more to write about (moving! packing! emmy! pancakes! more!), but it's time for lunch, so I'm heading out to enjoy the beautiful weather. Sorry for the lack of pictures today. More later.
{I have resigned from my position at Koechel Peterson & Associates and accepted a new job with A La Carte Design!}
It's just that simple, yet so much more complicated. Here's the semi-abridged, yet still long version...
You all probably read my post about looking for a new job, needing a change, etc, etc. Well, after we bought the house in Mound, it was clear to me that a job change was necessary. Not only was I burned out with my current job, but the commute from the new place was going to be killer. 35 miles, 10 of which are on a single lane road winding around the lake (beautiful, but not conducive to quickly flowing traffic). I was looking at 1.5 to 2 hours in the car daily. Not to mention the WOW gas bill that would inevitably go hand in hand with the new commute. So... the job search began in earnest. I knew what I was looking for... sort of. But I also was open to some different possibilities.
While driving around our new neighborhood, I noticed a small design shop in a quaint, funky office. I could tell by their logo and signage that they had some style and class. I wrote down the name, and looked them up later online. Then, for the heck of it, I wrote up an email and sent them my resume. From there, I started searching other design, marketing, and PR firms in the area of the new house. I sent off a few more emails and resumes and kept on a lookin'. I knew that if I was going to get another job (as opposed to going freelance), it was going to have to be a special place that fit with my lifestyle and personality.
Enter A La Carte Design... the original design shop that I had driven by. A few days after I sent my resume, I heard back from the owner of the company. After a few emails back and forth, samples of my work sent, etc, etc, we finally connected over the phone and set up an interview. I drove out there on a Wednesday evening after work, and proceeded to spend two hours(!) talking with the owner, Alisa. The next week she invited me back for a second interview. We spent another two hours talking, she made me a job offer... and the rest is history! She offered me the job on a Wednesday evening, I officially accepted on Friday, and resigned on Monday. I finally had the go ahead to make the announcement to my coworkers yesterday, and now I am sharing the news with the masses. :)
A few crazy things about this whole process.... The timing was impeccable. I continue to be amazed at God's hand in all of this. The puzzle pieces fit together absolutely perfectly. From Alisa getting my resume at the right time and sensing a need for another designer, to the timing of the interviews and the job offer and my two week notice, etc, etc.... Everything lined up. I put my notice in Monday, and my last day will be in one week, on Friday the 27th. We close on the house on Monday the 30th, and I have one whole week to paint, move in, and settle into our new house before I start my new job on Monday the 7th. Crazy, crazy.
On top of all that, the job is a great fit for me. Here are my top ten reasons why. :)
::::::: t o p : t e n :::::::
• Flexibility. 100% flexible scheduling. Really. I can come in at 7 or 10 or noon. I can work four 10 hour days and take Fridays off. I can skip lunches or take an hour and go out. YES!• Location, location, location. 3 miles away! I can ride my bike, take the scooter, or drive. The commute rocks and we will save lots of $$ on gas.
• Fast Pace. From the sounds of it, this place is hoppin'! The days will fly by with many projects and plenty to do.
• Fresh n' Edgy. The design style is happenin'. It's fresh and vibrant and will bring a whole new dimension to my portfolio.
• Atmosphere. The design shop is a remodeled Cape Cod that has a funky modern twist to it. It's bright and breezy and seems to be a great working environment.
• People. While I haven't met the whole team yet, my new boss is a zippy, fun, and energetic woman who shares my passion for change, new ideas, and flexibility.
• Opportunity Knocks. Okay, really this should be #1. Not only was I offered a design job at A La Carte, I was given the chance to start up a custom stationary and invitation division within the company. They pay for the marketing, website, etc, etc... we turn a room in the shop into a showroom and store, and the whole thing is "my baby". Oh, and I get commission on all sales. Uh huh, that's what I'm talkin' about!
• Winston. The office dog. Yup, the office has a dog. Winston is Alisa's 8 month old puppy. He pretty darn cute and irresistable and he brings a crazy, fun element to the work-a-day world.
• Vacation. Okay, so I get paid vacation already, but in small companies like A La Carte, it's not everyday that you get a decent vacation policy. They are matching my current amount of paid days off, PLUS giving me a flexible schedule. Uh HUh!
• Smaller&Better. With only 6 people (I make 7), the office has the right mix of "enough" and not "too much". It's cozy and intimate, yet not so small that you get tired of your one and only coworker.
So I think that about wraps up my "newsflash". I have more to write about (moving! packing! emmy! pancakes! more!), but it's time for lunch, so I'm heading out to enjoy the beautiful weather. Sorry for the lack of pictures today. More later.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
playing catch up
I have been collecting things to post about for a little while now. And I would so much rather write nice, separate blog entries for each... but as it goes... here I am "dumping" a whole load of random and unrelated blog topics into one big, fat post. Oh well!!
I finally have a legit sewing project to write about again... I made Emmy a new cover for her bed! The old one was definitely in need of retirement, and with summer here and all the fresh changes coming to our lives, I thought Emmy could just a little pick-me-up as well. So I headed to the fabric store and got an amazing print. It's big and bold and not at all what I had imagined for the new bed, but it fits our home and Emmy. As soon as I put the fabric down to measure... she plopped right on the bed. Her sign of approval I think. :)
Over the weekend Zack and I took a great trip to Taylor's Falls for some grilling and hiking. Em came along and thoroughly enjoyed swimming, rolling in the mud, and dragging me along the trail. We can't help but love her.
It was a really beautiful day on the St. Croix... One of those early summer days that makes you breath deep with anticipation of the months ahead. In case you don't know this about me... I love summer. I am a "summer girl" to the core... granted, the other seasons have their charm. But, let's all be honest here folks.... nothing beats a warm day out on the lake.
Over the weekend we also enjoyed a "real fire" (Jamie will know what I mean ;) at Como Park with the Schussmans. We made some fantastic s'mores and played a good game of bocce. It was a delightful way to spend a beautiful evening with good friends!
Zack and I have gotten really into smoothies lately. They are just so refreshing and good! I made these smoothies for dinner a few days ago. My recipe is simple and made-up, but oh-so-good.
Strawberry-Goodness Smoothies
- 3 bananas
- 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1-2 cups strawberry yogurt (or strawberry banana)
- 1 1/2 cup plain granola
- large dollop peanut butter
- 5-6 large, fresh strawberries
- milk
1) Combine in blender: 2 bananas, about 1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1 - 2 cups strawberry yogurt (I use the Danon light n'fit in the big container), 1 1/2 cup plain granola, large dollop peanut buttter (I use the a creamy, natural peanut butter), and milk. The milk is the last thing you add... I just pour it in until it is visually about 3/4 of the way up the blender. I know this is really winging it... basically add more if you like smoothies to be thinner, and less if you like them thick. :)
2) Blend on low. DO NOT over blend! The idea is to have these a little chunky. Which is why you see spoons in the photo.
3) Pour into two glasses.
4) Slice fresh strawberries and the last banana. Divide into cups.
5) Enjoy!! :D
Okay that is all folks! I have a few more things I want to write about... but I know I'll end up rambling, and I have to take off right now. It's 5 PM on a Thursday evening, and my weekend is about to begin!!
I finally have a legit sewing project to write about again... I made Emmy a new cover for her bed! The old one was definitely in need of retirement, and with summer here and all the fresh changes coming to our lives, I thought Emmy could just a little pick-me-up as well. So I headed to the fabric store and got an amazing print. It's big and bold and not at all what I had imagined for the new bed, but it fits our home and Emmy. As soon as I put the fabric down to measure... she plopped right on the bed. Her sign of approval I think. :)
Over the weekend Zack and I took a great trip to Taylor's Falls for some grilling and hiking. Em came along and thoroughly enjoyed swimming, rolling in the mud, and dragging me along the trail. We can't help but love her.
It was a really beautiful day on the St. Croix... One of those early summer days that makes you breath deep with anticipation of the months ahead. In case you don't know this about me... I love summer. I am a "summer girl" to the core... granted, the other seasons have their charm. But, let's all be honest here folks.... nothing beats a warm day out on the lake.
Over the weekend we also enjoyed a "real fire" (Jamie will know what I mean ;) at Como Park with the Schussmans. We made some fantastic s'mores and played a good game of bocce. It was a delightful way to spend a beautiful evening with good friends!
Zack and I have gotten really into smoothies lately. They are just so refreshing and good! I made these smoothies for dinner a few days ago. My recipe is simple and made-up, but oh-so-good.Strawberry-Goodness Smoothies
- 3 bananas
- 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1-2 cups strawberry yogurt (or strawberry banana)
- 1 1/2 cup plain granola
- large dollop peanut butter
- 5-6 large, fresh strawberries
- milk
1) Combine in blender: 2 bananas, about 1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1 - 2 cups strawberry yogurt (I use the Danon light n'fit in the big container), 1 1/2 cup plain granola, large dollop peanut buttter (I use the a creamy, natural peanut butter), and milk. The milk is the last thing you add... I just pour it in until it is visually about 3/4 of the way up the blender. I know this is really winging it... basically add more if you like smoothies to be thinner, and less if you like them thick. :)
2) Blend on low. DO NOT over blend! The idea is to have these a little chunky. Which is why you see spoons in the photo.
3) Pour into two glasses.
4) Slice fresh strawberries and the last banana. Divide into cups.
5) Enjoy!! :D
Okay that is all folks! I have a few more things I want to write about... but I know I'll end up rambling, and I have to take off right now. It's 5 PM on a Thursday evening, and my weekend is about to begin!!
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