Downhill side...

I think I am on the downhill side of the insane work schedule and lots of traveling.
The last two weeks brought a Thursday/Friday and Monday/Tuesday Knoxville combination that was physically and mentally exhausting so I am glad that it is behind me. Our project team meets one more time - next Thursday and Friday - before we are supposed to present our ideas to our Board of Directors on April 7th. Chad and I both decided that we need some days off so we took them!  Putting together this past Thursday and Friday and this upcoming Monday to give us a 5 day weekend was a great idea. We went to see our old college friend Craig and did a little Rome, GA. history tour...and true confessions, eatery tour. Loads of fun, a backyard fire gathering, and lots of laugh. Just what we needed.


Today - on this rainy Saturday - we have plans to try to finish more bathroom projects...maybe actually getting it completed while we are off for the next couple of days. Wish us luck!

March Birchbox!

Oh folks, it is March Birchbox time! 

This is - you won't believe it - my 25th Birchbox. 

This means that I have been receiving these for TWO YEARS and I honestly can't believe it has been that long. I have really loved having this subscriptions so keep them coming secret sender (a.k.a. mom). 

 This is a really good sized sample of Michale Todd's citrus cream moisturizer. It smells truly divine - I am a big things of most citrus things - and the perfect size to throw in my purse. My hands and arms have been crazy dry with this spring/winter/spring/winter weather we've been having so its perfect!

 This is a sample of the OmniPotent Duosity Hair Treatment. You actually tear open both sides and mix them together before you put them on your hair. I am pretty excited to try it - I have some dry ends from taking my time waiting to get a haircut (ahem...embarrassed to say it has probably been over a year since my last one and I might have trimmed it myself two weeks ago...or maybe not...?). I really like the Fekkai product in my January box but I will put it aside long enough to try this one too!

 This is a small sample of Benefit's Big Easy product. I think it is sort of a foundation/BB cream so I'll try it. I use their Fake Up concealer and I really like it (in fact, about to purchase my second one!) but I don't love their "They're Real" mascara (I think it flakes and gives you dark circles under your eyes after a few hours)...so I will definitely give this a go and see if I like it!

 This is Air Repair's Rescue Balm. I am excited because it says you can use it on lips, cuticles, elbows, etc. You have to trim the tip off under the cap to use it so I haven't actually opened it yet but it will be nice to put in my purse too. Depending on the smell/texture, it might be a cuticles only thing or it might end up on the lips too!

Finally, I was hoping to get a sample of this product from theBalm. I have had other products of theirs before and really liked all of them! This is a "How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek and Lip cream" and I already love it. It is perfect smudged on as a cheek color and just enough pink to give your lips some color. Not sticky, just smooth. I would consider buying the full size of this once I use up the current cheek color I already use (which is also a cream from one of my FIRST Birchboxes!). 

And of course, I'm happy anytime I get chocolate so Ghirardelli is always awesome. I haven't already eaten this but I can't say it will last until tomorrow. 

As usual, this was a pretty good box. Some things I am really excited to try!

If you want a Birchbox of your own (and you probably do!) and you want me to earn the points for referring you, use this link! 

A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I have been gone for the last 6 days - our of town - working in various places. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were all in Franklin, TN. (near Nashville), Wednesday was a day trip to Knoxville for our staff meeting, and Thursday and Friday found me back in Knoxville for our project team meeting. I am exhausted. This week has been a strange series of weird, unfortunate happenings. Nothing terrible but things that just weigh on you and make you thankful to see Friday evening in your own home, preparing to climb in your own bed. While the king size bed I had to myself last night was great, I am looking forward to sleeping with my favorite guy, cat, and dog.


Here is the short version:
- Went to Franklin to present at a conference and only 3 people came to our session. While 3 is better than 0, it was slightly lower than expected. I have a theory about the low attendance but it doesn't really matter now.
- The refrigerator in our room was possessed with a house elf and literally spit our take out boxes back on the floor. Spilled spaghetti.
- Lost my $100 FitBit at the hotel. Realized it later. Went back. The housecleaning people found it. I hugged a stranger.
- We tried to come home but missed our exit and went 20 miles out of the way. Sigh.
- My cell phone died/won't reliably charge. Been flying under the radar all week with no phone (which, p.s. isn't all that bad. It has made me pay more attention to the people and things that matter like a friend at dinner and the sunset over the river.) Upgrade isn't until May. Gotta buy a phone.
- Lost my keys this morning at the hotel. Spent 45 mintues looking for them, making me late for my meeting. Called my husband - his phone was off. Called the neighbors to get them to go make him turn his phone on - they wouldn't answer. Called my mother-in-law (My Hero) who not only convinced me that it wasn't worth sobbing over (I was SO already there) but was also willing to drive a spare key to Knoxville so I could come home this afternoon. Found the keys. In the fridge. With the leftovers (hey - so I wouldn't forget them!).


You know that point when you are so tired you want to cry? That was Wednesday. This is Friday. I am past that point. Beyond thrilled that my mom is in town this weekend. We went and had Indian food tonight (her first time and my first time in SEVEN YEARS...literally it was 7 years ago that I was there?!?). We have reservations for a tea party tomorrow morning. It is going to be a lovely and relaxing day tomorrow. We might even mob a Girl Scout cookie booth or two (meaning, take them balloons, cheer them on, etc.....loads of hilarity).


I am so thankful for a job that I love, a husband that understands and supports me and my crazy work schedule, and family that comes to visit. I am thankful that nothing serious happened this week - just weird kinda strangeness. Thankful to be home and releasing all my pent up tension and spending time with my favorite folks.

Too busy.

I love my job. I'll always start with that because it somehow makes me feel better about all the hours I spend doing it. People hear who I work for and wonder how it can be that big of a deal but we are serious about what we do. We have project teams, strategic planning 3 years in advance, and read hundreds of pages of research in an effort to try our best to succeed in our mission. A majority of our staff (cause, let's be honest, there are always folks who aren't engaged) is deeply dedicated to our "cause" and give lots of extra hours, tons of heart, and lots of brain power to keep us moving in the right direction.


That being said. I'm exhausted. I don't feel like I can give my home life the attention that it needs and I feel guilty for wanting to be successful in both my work and home life. Can you really have it both ways? Someone told me recently that if they had to choose between a successful career that they felt good about and a family that they would choose a family - simply because they didn't think they could give both 100%. Does it have to be all or nothing? I don't even have children that I am trying to raise and I already struggle with spending enough time on either work or home. If you give too much at home, work thinks you aren't dedicated. If you give too much at work, your family and home suffer. Honestly, if I had to choose, I would pick a healthy family and those relationships over work. But I love what I do and I feel like I am pretty good at it. Can you have both? Weigh in here folks, I need some insight.


That being said, I will be in Knoxville or out of town for 12 out of the 21 working days in March. Between team meetings, presenting at a conference, a staff meeting, and multiple 2 day meetings for the big project team I am working with, I won't be home much. I feel really bad about it for some reason. I know that Chad works second shift and it isn't like he'll be home at night most nights if I was there but I feel guilty. He's not getting the best of me when I am there and he surely isn't getting the best of me when I am in a hotel in Knoxville. But I believe in the work we are doing. Deeply. But I come home and I don't want to do dishes or vacuum because I am just too tired. Is there a happy medium? I have plans to take 3 days off the end of March to hang out with my guy. He wanted to burn some vacation time and I am all too happy to oblige. Is that the compromise? Work hard and then play hard but don't try to do both?

My valentine.

 

Chad had to work on Valentine's Day so I ended up at dinner with his uncle and parents and some friends. It wasn't a bad way to spend the evening - Uncle J and I even went to look at appliances. You know you are an adult when....oh well.

Chad was, however, off this weekend so we had big plans to spend the days together. On Saturday, we went to sweet C's birthday party. I can't believe he is 2 years old and we have so enjoyed watching him grow - and his parents are wonderful friends. You can see the joy of Jesus in their lives and in their parenting. It is sweet to see. Anyway...Chad and I left there and snuck to Rembrants, a local coffee shop.

I had a lovely pot of tea and Chad had decaf coffee (and claims his own brew at home is better).

 

My mom asked for pictures of our treats but I sort of forgot to take a picture until it was mostly eaten. Sorry Mom. I had a delicious éclair and Chad had a muffin. His was long gone before the camera came out.

 

But trust me, it was delicious.

I did manage to paint my nails for the occasion. Hearts for fun.

 

We enjoyed some lazy time together the rest of Saturday and Sunday...and ended our weekend with a trip to the local observatory that the university owns now. Apparently they do this weekly get together but invite the public - who ever is interested in coming - so we went! They talked about telescopes, we watched a little planetarium show, and then they let us go look through the BIG telescope (you know, the kind that points out the domed roof!). They had it pointed at Jupiter, one the brightest spots in our night sky, and we saw at least 3 moons and Jupiter's rings. I am a little space obsessed and I thought it was the coolest thing. I am really thankful Chad knows my love of space and took me. What a guy...

All in all, it was a lovely weekend with my favorite dude.  

February Birchbox!

It is Birchbox time! This was a pretty good box this month - it looks like they partnered with Us Weekly (magazine) but I am not really sure where anything different or special happened because of it. That's ok with me since it is basically a gossip mag - something I am interested in having less of in my life. :)

Upon first opening...the theme looks like Step. Pose. Repeat. I know this is NY Fashion Week so maybe that is the connection.

Here are all the goodies before inspection...

This is Dr. Brandt brand "Pores No More" pore refiner. I don't think I really have a problem with large pores but sometimes I use products like this before my foundation when I am really trying to pull it all together. So, I'll stock it away!

This is the "lifestyle extra" for my box this month - 32Oral Care brand effervescent breath crystals. I am not sure if i will be able to convince myself to use them since they pop in your mouth - I'm a sensory gal. Mint flavored Pop Rocks aren't my jam but I will probably stick them in my desk drawer at work in case I need them! :)

I am excited about trying another product from the Beauty Protector line of haircare. I loved the last one - a spray de-tangler, heat protector,  and this one is similar. It is the Protect and Oil product and defends against UV rays, heat, and breakage. I like to use these on days I know I will be drying and curling my hair - I think it really helps!

I edited my beauty profile to include "no more than 6 perfume samples" per year and they have actually done a good job of that. I was getting one in every box and now I only get one in about every 3rd box so that is nice...makes me more exited to get other things and more excited about perfumes when they do show up. This is another Juicy Couture brand scent "La La Malibu"...smells nice. I'll add it to the collection in the bathroom and use it periodically. 

This is the thing I am actually most excited about. Ruby Wing brand nailpolish that changes colors in the sun. Oh yes. Excited. The color is called Kitten Heels and it changes from the bright pink to a darker magenta pink...I might whip this out next time I paint my nails. I am desperate to change to bring spring colors! :)

All in all, a fun and interesting box. Thanks to the person that gifts these to me every month! :)

Spatulas.

First, my mom is hysterical.
Second, the story...
Mom came to visit a few weeks ago and ever since I haven't been able to find a couple of my spatulas. I am not ACCUSING her of taking them...nor do I think she actually did. It is just a little coincidental that they went missing upon her visit.
Yesterday, I got home from Knoxville and checked the mail. I found a set of spatulas from my mom. Just clear wrapped with a mailing label on them. Hysterical.
(P.S. if you didn't know, you can mail most anything as long as it isn't dangerous. It doesn't have to be in a box - just needs a label. I remember working at camp many summers ago and people had things like hula hoops and kickballs mailed to them. Awesome.)