Bath Time!

They are cleaner than she is...

#30: Throw a Surprise Party

 I created my Thirty Before Thirty list 7 months ago and I have now finally achieved my first goal.

As I mentioned before, Erin and Mark are moving to Atlanta and I wanted to make sure they had the proper send off. Last week, I came to the realization that we needed to have this party over the weekend, essentially giving me 5 days to send out invites and get everything organized for the party.

As you can imagine I was making multiple phone calls and writing many emails to get all of Erin and Mark’s family and friends to join us for the party. Luckily everyone responded and I was able to get everyone over to my house and ready for the surprise without a problem.

Jared and I told Mark and Erin to come over to our house to go swimming and have lunch on Sunday at 1 o’clock. We had all of the guests ready and waiting by 12:45pm. In true Erin fashion, she and Mark arrived early but luckily everyone was there. After a knock at the door and a gathering in the entrance, we opened the door and shouted “surprise”!

Erin and Mark were SO surprised, I mean really surprised….and dressed in pool clothes J

The theme of the party was luau. Aloha means both hello and goodbye in Hawaiian, which I thought was appropriate for this occasion

Good food, good times, and laughter….that is what made this party such a huge success.  Although decorations were limited and it was thrown together in such a short amount of time, I think that I could not have envisioned anything better.

1 down 29 to go

To: Atlanta, With Love

Multiple milestones were achieved this week. I completed my first six-week rotation, I crossed an item off my Thirty before Thirty, but most importantly, my best friend made the move to Atlanta to start her dream job at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

As many of you know, Erin and I have been best fiends since my freshman year of college. She was a resident advisor on my floor my freshman year and we instantly bonded over our love of Harry Potter and all things awesome. Erin was two years ahead  of me in school, so as I started my junior year of college, Erin started her first year of graduate school for forensic science.  Through everything we kept in touch and remained the best of friends and eventually we were back together again. Erin worked for a newborn screening lab and I was earning my Master’s in Genetics. Eventually I made the move to Columbia in order to get my degree in genetic counseling and Erin continued to search for a job in forensics. 

After three years of looking, Erin found a job working for the GBI in drug chemistry. She passed the interview with flying colors (as if we had doubts) and soon I was being called by a GBI agent to answer questions about her. Erin received the job at the end of June and will being her job on August 1^st.

I could not be more exited or proud of Erin for all of her hard work and effort. She truly deserves it and I know she will do great things. As you can imagine it is bittersweet for me as well. I was hoping that she would be able to stay where she was and I would join her again after this last year of school. Life is just better when we are in the same location….but alas she is now in Atlanta and they get to experience her on a daily basis.

Luckily Atlanta and Columbia are only 3.5 hours away but once I move out of Columbia we will be so far away. Erin has made an at least three year commitment and I just know she is going to love every minute of it.

We said goodbye on Sunday and as I closed the door behind her I burst into tears. It is hard to imagine what life will be like without her and I living and working in the same city but that is how it will need to be, at least for the next three years.

Atlanta, you can have her and Mark for now, but I ask that you please return them as soon as possible. It is just not the same here without them.

I miss her, okay?!

Take Me Out to the "Bulls" Game

Durham Bulls Game....for free....thanks to NetApp :)

Durham Bulls: 6

Le High Valley Iron Pigs: 4

She doesn't have a baseball bat in her hands, does she?

Music Monday

Last Monday of my rotation, I cannot believe that it has already been six weeks!

Top Five Things I am looking forward to after rotation:
1. Sleep (6am-6pm for six weeks= crazy....or perhaps just real life)
2. Cassie coming to visit!
3. Baby sister coming to visit!
4. Rory and Penny snuggles
5. School supply shopping (my favorite time of year!)

Here is some Kelly Clarkson for your Monday. One of the only two true talents to come from American Idol...and the first winner at that!

This is one of my all time favorite songs in general:

....such a beautiful disaster

Music Monday

Florence.(....and the machine isn't too bad either) 

Love her voice. Sit. Listen. Enjoy.

its always darkest before the dawn

Meet Penny

This past weekend, Jared and I entered into puppy parenthood.

If you know me you know that I am a cat person...perhaps even borderline crazy cat lady. I grew up with cats and I have always loved having cats in the house. Since I lived on campus for all four years of college, I went years without having a kitty in my life. In 2010, Jared and I adopted the most wonderful snuggle kitty in the world, Rory. She is the best cat and I love her so much :)

Jared on the other hand has always had dogs growing up. (.....clearly I had the better childhood) Now that we have bought a house and it has a fenced in backyard, it was time for us to get a dog. I must admit, I was apprehensive about getting a dog....I have NO idea what it is like to live with a dog....what do you mean you need to let them outside to pee?

Never-the-less it was time. Jared is all alone in this big empty house while I am in school and he needed a companion. Enter Penny :)

Jared and I had talked about getting a dog during the week of July 4th because Jared would have the entire week off. On Wednesday of last week, I found Penny (then Lodida...awful name) on the animal shelter website. I instantly fell in love with her (how could you not...look at that face!). She has the most gorgeous copper coloring and just an adorable face. 

Penny was in foster care and after showing Jared her picture we contacted the foster parent. Since we have Rory, who after all is my number one priority, it was important that our new puppy was okay with cats. The foster mom was kind enough to bring Penny by to meet Rory. Things went so much better than I expected and we agreed to adopt her.

We picked Penny up on Saturday afternoon and she has been a wonderful addition to the household ever since. She is still technically a puppy so she has lots of energy (and a few accidents....) but overall our house is a better place with her here.

Why Penny you ask? Well first because she is the color of a penny....but also because one of mine and Jared's favorite shows is The Big Bang Theory :)

Snuggle Penny

Sleeeeeeping Puppy

Obviously she is comfortable with us

Don't worry I am still on "Team Cat" and always will be, but I am happy to now be a puppy parent. I am sure there will be many an adventure with Penny and I will be sure to keep you in the loop.


How is Rory adjusting? Slowly. We have a gate at the bottom of the stairs that keeps Penny from the going upstairs. We have moved Rory's bed, bowls, and litter box up there so that she has a safe place away from Penny. Each day gets a little better. There have been many a staring contest through the gate, but Rory has ventured downstairs multiple times during the day over the week. I wish they could be INSTANT friends, but I know it will take some time. 

Please feel free to come by and visit, Penny would LOVE to meet you!

Did you get a dog?

Well there's a dog on the patio!