New Job!

I am happy to officially announce that as of next Monday, I will begin a new job at the University of Arkansas. I've worked in the Department of Industrial Engineering for many years in different capacities, but this is the first job where I will actually be using my Master's in Higher Ed. And I get to stay VERY close to home because I'll be working as a Project Manager in Operations Management -- which happens to be housed within INEG.

I am so, so grateful for everything that the INEG department has done for me over the years because without the wonderful people there, I would not be where I am today. I am so excited to start this new role in OMGT, and as it is a brand new position in the largest grad program at the U of A, it will be an interesting adventure I am sure :)

Happy Tuesday!

50% Emily(ee)

The weekend before last some of my very best friends got together for the first time in what felt like FOREVER. I met each of these girls in college. Once again, I can not thank God enough for putting Delta Gamma in my life. I've had the best experiences, learned the most lessons, and met the best people from this wonderful organization.

We all met in Greenbrier at Emily (KP)'s house. We've been trying to do this for TWO AND A HALF YEARS! It was the first time in so long where 50% of the group that got together was named Emily(ee) - which is guaranteed to be an interesting time. I've missed all these girls so much, we had so much fun, and Emily is always the best hostess! The only sad part was the girls we were missing because they weren't able to make it.

Love these sweet girls so much.
Laura, Brooke, Emily, myself, Meredith, and Emilee

 These were fun pictures to take with the table as our photographer :)

Side note: I saw this beautiful sunset on my way home one night last week. I love a Northwest Arkansas sunset.

I'm so thankful for such a wonderful group of friends!

Zoe in Wonderland

About a month ago, I got to help host a baby shower for one of my oldest friends, Hannah. I was so happy to host her bridal shower back in June as well as be a part of her big day. In November, I helped her sister throw a fun "Zoe in Wonderland" themed shower. We went with this theme because Hannah will be doing baby Zoe's room in an Alice in Wonderland theme. Think teacups and pretty things, not creepy mad hatter and evil queens :)

So a tea party it was! Somewhat luckily for us, it turned very cold and very rainy the day of the shower, so I think everyone was grateful for a hot drink when they arrived.

The invitations!

Selection of hot drinks --teas, hot apple cider, and hot chocolate 

"Drink Me!" water bottle labels I made

Cute cake that Sarah got!

 Mini sandwhiches

A rattle pumpkin cheese ball -- notice the white bunny graham crackers mixed in there. I have to give credit to Kody for finding those while we were shopping for the shower food. His help was much appreciated as I had wrecked a few days before the shower!

 Food table

More yummy treats and a fun white bunny I found!

Teacups and roses on every table

 Banner for Ms. Zoe (cricuts are the best machines ever!)

Wreath I made for Zoe -- this will go to the hospital with them if there's enough time :)

Gift table before everyone got there

 Balloons -- they didn't make it outside long due to the torrential downpour that day

 Hannah and myself!

Hannah and her sister Sarah

 Hannah and Will opening gifts!

 About to be a family of three!

Congrats Hannah and Will! I can't WAIT to meet baby Zoe!

New Car

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things. Being alive and well is definitely one of those things. I am also thankful that although the past two weeks have been somewhat (sometimes very) stressful, I had the BEST friends and family through it all who are there for me ALL the time! A special thanks to my mom and Kody who I couldn't have gotten through all the car shopping, injuries, and insurance calls without (although the latter isn't over yet)  :)

And sooo...without further ado... My new car!

It's a 2012 GMC Terrain. It's my very first NEW, new car. It has the new car smell and everything. I have to thank Ed, the car salesman for finding everything I asked for (once I made up my mind what I wanted) in just a few hours -- onyx black exterior, jet black leather interior, and a sunroof to boot.

Even though the circumstances were not ideal, and I did not plan on getting a new car for many more years, I am SO happy with what I ended up getting.

Although a car is definitely not the most important thing to be thankful for, I am still grateful that everything has now been worked out as far as that is concerned. I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving with the ones you love!

Car Shopping

Last Friday the insurance company declared my car a total loss. It was the very first car I helped to purchase, and I really liked my Lincoln Mkx. So needless to say, I was pretty bummed out about it.

I started car shopping online as soon as the wrecker guy told my mom that he thought they would total it. I've been driving a Chevy Cruze for a week and a half. Let me tell you, those things get GREAT gas mileage. But I'm not a car person...My first car was an Escape and my second was the Lincoln.

So in the past week and a half -- I've driven for at least a day, if not more: a Chevy Cruze, a Lincoln Mkx, and a Kia Sorrento. After a lot of stressful online shopping, car lots, car salesmen, and a lot of other stressful events thrown into almost two weeks since my wreck, I'm happy to finally say that I own a car again! Thanks in large part to my mom going through all the stressful shopping with me, and Kody taking numerous phone calls and texts for his opinion. I'm SO grateful for you both. And for Ed, the guy who came through with a car we asked him to find!

So what did I end up with you ask? Well, it's being driven in from Tulsa, so I can't pick it up until tomorrow afternoon when I get off work and return the rental car. I'll let you know when it gets here :)

But for the record, I hate car shopping. (And that's about the only kind of shopping I hate.)

Car Wreck

Have you ever been in a car wreck? I don't recommend you try it out if you haven't. After work on Wednesday afternoon, I was in my first, and hopefully last wreck ever. I'd never even been in a fender bender before Wednesday. This one came out of nowhere -- it was loud, it was scary, and I hope it never happens again.

Here are the firsts I experienced on Wednesday:

• First car wreck (on the first car I ever purchased myself (with some help from my mom)- a short 8 months ago)
• First air bag deployment
• First trip in an ambulance
• First trip to the ER/hospital for myself
• First IV
• First blood test (plus side, I finally learned my blood type - O positive!)
• First CT Scan
• First dose of morphine

Things to be thankful for: 

Luckily, I wrecked right down the road from both my Uncle Jim's work and my mom's work, so they were both there very quickly and my boss happened to be driving by right after it happened, so I was surrounded by familiar people basically the whole time. The firefighters, witnesses, police officers, and ambulance and hospital personnel were all so nice (thanks Jim for coming so quickly and staying through it all!). Also, very lucky that I drive a heavy car because it was a truck that pulled out in front of me. There were no skid marks because I never saw it coming and had no chance to do anything. A testament to the safety of my car -- the seatbelt worked, the air bag deployed, the anti-lock brakes did their job, and the front of my car took the brunt of the hit. Most importantly, I have no broken bones or extremely serious injuries -- severe whiplash (which is one of the most annoying, most uncomfortable things I've ever experienced), a sprained ankle, and bumps, bruises, and strawberries all over (from the seatbelt, hitting the driver's side window, etc.) and the other driver was not hurt. 

I went to see my car for the first time today and got all of my stuff out of it. Everyone keeps saying they are pretty sure they will declare it a total loss, but I'm holding out hope. I really love my car, and don't want to have to find another one. I guess we will see. Prayers for the next steps would be appreciated for both myself and the other guy. I'm not looking forward to it :/

 The damage

 Poor car :(

I was planning on sharing my new bumper sticker that I just put on last Sunday!

Deep bruise on my thigh from the steering wheel -- one of many!

 But a boyfriend with an awesome care package and an impromptu visit makes it better!

Thanks for all your prayers, thoughts, calls, texts, etc. Love y'all and thankful it wasn't worse for anyone! :)

Fall in Arkansas

Fall in Arkansas (particularly NWA) is the best. If you've never been to Arkansas, I definitely recommend coming in late October/early November when the Ozark Mountains are in their prime. 

This picture was taken in my front yard back in the middle of October

And these were taken during late Ocotober

And these last ones were taken just this past week!

Love seeing this off our front porch :)

The drive to Little Rock is also really pretty this time of year. I made the drive down a few weekends ago to see Kody and go to the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss game. It was perfect football weather, but no so perfect Hog play (again). 

And to end October, I made these cute little "witch's broom" candy bags for my nieces and co-workers! Thanks, Pinterest!

Hope you all had a great October! Fall is in full swing (minus the 70+ weather today), and I hope it sticks around because I changed out my summer clothes this week. Bring on cooler weather, scarves, and boot season! 

Alumni Weekend 2012

In October, UAFS had their Alumni/Homecoming weekend, so Kody and I headed to Fort Smith to join in on the fun! Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Meagan, Laura, Whitley, and me

Love my DG sisters! :)

President pic!

UAFS' new library. Y'all this thing is beautiful! So much more modern, more than double in size than the one we had while we were there, and really just an amazing addition to the campus. It's not quite finished yet, but Kody and I walked through what we could on Saturday afternoon. It almost (emphasis on almost) made us wish we were back in school!

Saturday was full with the Tailgate, I had a Young Alumni Council meeting to attend, and then we headed to the big Alumni dinner at Second Street Live in downtown Fort Smith.

Laura, Ashley, and me

My handsome date again!

We always have a fun time back in our college town/on our college campus, and I hope more of our friends are able to join in on the fun next year!