My First STAYCATION

For the first time since I began my first full-time job out of college (three full-years ago, going on four), I did a thing. I took my first full-week vacation. I set an "out-of-office" for the first time since I started (isn't that crazy?!) and completely unplugged from my computer / work life / emails.

In the past when I've taken time off, it's typically been for a long weekend. Or when I have my computer on-hand for anything that comes up. Not this time, folks! I took an entire week off and have no intention to "work" until next week when I return.

The funny part? I'm not even taking a trip! Hence the word, "Staycation." I split my Staycation into two... spending half of it in my hometown, Hamilton, Ohio. And the other half in my new hometown, Plainfield, IN. 

I'm on Day 5 of my 8-Day Staycation and y'all, this week has been so REFRESHING. It's given me the chance to spend quality time with family and friends that I don't get to see often. It's given me the opportunity to evaluate my life as it stands, and where I want to take it in the future. It's allowed me creative space to work on crafty things and brainstorm new ideas for future projects. I've been able to do many things that I have wanted to for years (start a t-shirt quilt, donate blood, research Doctors / Dentists in the area, buy a dresser). 

And the other thing I've done...is start this "Coffee Chat" section of my blog back up! It's been dormant for awhile, because when I was writing a chapter a day a year for my book "365" that took precedent. But by golly, how good it feels to get back in my little nook of the Internet and just type freely. Write what's on my mind. Chat with y'all. 

I read an article the other day about a lady emailed her team letting them know she was taking a couple days off to focus on her mental health. The CEO applauded her for doing so and thanked her for the reminder of the importance of using sick days for mental health. 

In a way, that's what I feel this Staycation is doing for me. It's letting me rest, relax and regroup. I travel enough with my company, I knew another trip wasn't necessary. Having time to focus on myself, though, was. 

This time off has been rejuvenating and refreshing. And the best part? There's still 3 days left of it! I'm off to make the most of it. 

FINAL DAY OF STAYCATION UPDATE: 
Here we are! The last day of Staycation. Looking back at the week, I can't believe how good this was for me in so many aspects of life. I wanted to make a list of everything I did, so I and look back and remember it!

FRIDAY:
-Oil change (2 hours too long)
-Drive home / Power lines down / Hot Head closed (3 hours too long) 
-Painted at The Studio with Mom :) 

SATURDAY:
-Drinks with Erin at Cabana on the River
-Took a well-deserved nap after waking up at 4:45AM for my golf event
-Explored Bargain Hunt...bought 5 pieces of clothing for just $24!
-Went to Kroger to buy a couple things for meals / snacks for the week (6-Week Challenge Friendly) 

SUNDAY:
-5 Years with J!
-Went to G's to clean (Main Focus: Entryway, Found 868 cans of Diet Pepsi + 12 cans of Diet 7-Up)
-Chats I want to always remember: Their 1st table, driving around to take down circus posters, barn wood from 3 different barns in their entry way / "barn room" 
-Went antiquing! Bought travel agents and the perfect NEW (used) DRESSER!!!!!! Oh, and corn hole bags!

MONDAY:
-E and I both tackled cleaning the G's house today! We did WORK (Living Room, Dining Room, Bathroom, Vacuumed sewing room, cleaned windows). 
-Took another lovely nap
-Cleaned Mom's garage
-2 buckets of margaritas and long night chats with Alex! 

TUESDAY:
-Last Day at the Rents! Got Grandma's sewing room how she wanted. Gma told me what I needed to know to get started on my college t-shirt quilt. 
-Grandpa mentioned working back in the shop again when the weather cools down. I hope he does <3
-Stopped across the road to see Aunt Ruth and get an update about Uncle Frank (hospital)
-Wendy's Taco Salad for Lunch before helping Mom with her classroom
-Visited with Myrl and Jack! Brought home J's t-shirt quilt from his old baseball t's!
-El's with the girls! Wings was too busy. Then to Patty's to drink wine (just a glass) before hitting the road home! 
-Got home at 11PM. Unloaded dresser. Re-arranged room to make everything fit :) 

WEDNESDAY: 
-Slept in :)
-Started reading "7" by Jen Hatmaker (SOOOO good) 
-"Shopped around" for a Dr. Called them. Can't get in until October. Booo...
-Finally decided to go to Urgent Care to see my 2 bug bites ($75 and 40 antibiotic pills later...)
-Bought some groceries at Kroga while waiting for my prescription
-Went to the Plainfield Farmer's Market (Got Manny a too-big TMNT bandana) 
-Filled my dresser!
-Organized closet by what does and does not fit. All I've got to say.....is holy smokes. Reality check.
-Sorted through what t-shirts I want going on my college t-shirt quilt
-Read more before bed!  

THURSDAY:
-Put on actual clothes today that weren't sweatpants
-Met Kristin from Instagram at The Thirsty Scholar! Had tea + conversation for 2.5 hours!!! :D
-Went to a couple antique shops. Nothing I "needed" ;) 
-Sunflowers :) 
-Tried Mimi's Meatballs to get the scoop! Followed with some FroYo on Mass Ave
-Caught a PIKACHU with Ash's Hat! And finally got a Raichu!
-Mail Day! 2 New Book arrived: Cultivate and Orange Tangerines
-Cut out 12x12 inch squares for my t-shirt quilt (and some other odd sized ones)
-Created a Daily / Weekly checklist to remind me what I need to get done every day / week!
-Wrote this blog post about my Staycation
-Read more of 7! 

FRIDAY:
-Called Urgent Care back because my leg seemed to be getting worse. They advised me I should go to the ER. I did not go to the ER.
-Found out I couldn't donate blood on Saturday like planned because I'm on antibiotics :( 
-Planned a date night for when J gets back in town! Talked about the zoo, movies, arcade bar but landed on the Hendrick's County Fair since it's this coming week. Taking the drone with us on Monday! 
-Cut out more shirts!
-Found a Dentist in Plainfield! Make an appointment for August 1st
-Went to Meijer for several items (paper, ant traps, straws, more hydrocortisone cream, floss pickers) 
-Got lunch at McCallister's....can't forget the tea! 
-Filled out a rebate for Manny's latest dog leash (Getting $5 back from a $5.99 leash....they basically paid me to buy the leash) 
-Talked on the phone with my bestie hour hours
-Took down my bulletin board
-Spent hours making my new, forever favorite book "When You Need It"

SATURDAY:
-Started adding the backing to my t-shirts (cut / press it on with an iron)
-Cleaned out the fridge / meal prepped for the week (Smoothies, spaghetti squash, etc.) 
-Napped
-Made Week 28 of #ARecipeAWeek = Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (They really DO taste like chicken)
-Took Manny to get ice cream at Frost Bite! New (to us) ice cream shop in Avon
-Discovered the COOLEST park that had  a gorgeous event space nestled in the back of it
-Read all 235 pages of my "When You Need It" book....waterfalls by the end of it!

SUNDAY:
-Laundry / Dishes / Picked up house
-Planned out Cedar Point and Vegas Trip
-Caught up on most of my emails (to send responses in the AM)...left some for tomorrow ;) 
-Went to Mc D's to get a coke for the Pulled Pork crock pot recipe
-Joanne's to get more Pellon for the back of the shirts!
-Read more before bed :) 

What. A. Week!
An amazing week, at that!

NYC Marathon

Trip: New York City (From OH)
Total Miles: 1,2500+ 
Traveled By: Pearl! (My Kial Soul) 
Mission: Pick up my brother from NYU while exploring the city! 

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HIGHLIGHTS
• Visiting the 9/11 Museum - chills throughout
• Getting the tour of NYU / the City from my brother!
• Seeing the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular at Radio City
• Witnessing THE TREE at Rockefeller Plaza
(And getting the urge to go back to my hotel and watch Home Alone)
• Learning the ropes of public transportation
• Eating NY pizza at Joe's...right outside of Times Square
(Plus seeing THE BALL before it dropped on NYE...without fighting the crowd!)
• Checking out the Union Square Holiday Market - basically a big craft show in a park!

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This trip to New York was a "marathon" if you will. I had about 48 hours in the Big Apple to see and do as much as possible. I made the trip to pick up my brother from school at NYU and bring him home for the holidays. But you know me, I had to explore while I was there!

I had been to New York City once before. My Dad took us kids when I was 15. So I had seen a Broadway play already (Billy Elliot), had been to Times Square, was on the Today show (we even made signs), bought the typical "I heart NYC" tourist shirt, and more! I wanted to make sure I did some things that I hadn't experienced before. And since that trip was in the summer, it was exciting to go this time around Christmas. What a feeling to be in the city during the holiday season!

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So let's talk about the TRAVEL part first! 

Q: HOW DID YOU GET THERE?!

I drove (solo) TO NYC.
I drove with my brother BACK to OH. 

Day 1: Split the drive up. Drove from Hamilton, OH --> Pine Grove, PA. (7.5 hours)
*If you left early enough on the first day, you should totally stop in Hershey, PA and go to the Hershey chocolate factory if you've never done that before. 

Day 2: The next morning, I drove from Pine Grove, PA --> Newark, NJ. (2 hours)

Side note: Did you know it's a law in New Jersey that you don't have to pump your own gas?! Found that out on this trip! 

Day 3: Drove from Newark, NJ --> NYC (A good 45 minute drive - taking the Holland Tunnel)

Then, from NYC --> Hamilton, OH. (11 hours - Make sure you don't have your maps set to avoid toll roads, or else it will take you an hour out of the way, like we did) 
 

Q: WHERE DID YOU STAY?!

I had a bunch of Hilton Honors points saved up...
So I used those to stay fairly inexpensively!

First Night: Hampton Inn Pine Grove (Pine Grove, PA) - Used 1/2 points and $40
Second Night: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport (Newark, NJ) - Used all points and paid $15 to park!

I opted to stay in NEW JERSEY instead of NYC because I would be able to stay for free. Honestly, I would totally recommend doing this if you're ballin' on a budget. Your hotel is going to be cheaper! The parking will be cheaper! And you can use public transportation to get into NYC. 

Q: HOW DID YOU GET AROUND?!

I planned my hotel to be by the airport, because they offered a FREE shuttle to the airport. From there, I was able to take the Air Train to the Newark Liberty Airport Train Station (FREE). And then take the NJ Transit train to New-York Penn Station ($13 /adult - $26 total round trip). 

Once I was in NYC, my brother honestly navigated me the rest of the way through the subways. You will need to buy a Metro card for $1 (I believe) and then just load money onto it. The subways will take you Uptown or Downtown. There's so many routes, but what my brother taught me is you can put your destination in Apple Maps on your phone. There is a transit button at the bottom. This will tell you which subways / trains / etc. you will want to take! Or...if you know someone in New York, like I knew my brother, have them be your tour guide ;) 

I DID drive into New York the 2nd day I was there...because we had to load all of Alex's belongings into my car! I took the Holland Tunnel - it's $10 when you go into the city! Free when you exit! PARKING, though. Whew. Parking can be challenging. You can pay anywhere from $50-$100 to park for the day. But since I just needed to park for a couple hours while we loaded my car, I found metered parking on the street. It was $9 to park for 2 hours. (Much better than $50 in my opinion! We made it back to the car RIGHT on the minute the meter expired, too. Ha!) 

Side note: Don't let your meter expire and don't park illegally OR you will get a ticket and you WILL get towed. That happened the FIRST trip we took with my Dad! 

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Now...it's time to EXPLORE!

1st = 9/11 Memorial + Museum

The very FIRST thing Alex and I did was go see the 9/11 Memorial + Museum and the One World Trade Center. 

I had been wanting to see this! I heard awesome things about the memorial and museum, and wanted to experience it first hand. When we went on the trip with my Dad, it was still being built. So Alex and I took the subway down to the memorial and holy cow. It's a sight you will never forget. 

There are two square-like fountains, where the Twin Towers once stood.
It's an incredible sight during the day. It's an incredible sight at night. 

But what really got me was the 9/11 Museum. Spend the $24 (adult admission) and go see it. It will be worth every penny. It will be extremely quiet. It will be reflective. It will be something you don't want to miss seeing. 

Here are just a few photos:

I think what made it so emotional for me, was the fact that I was alive and I remember very clear the attacks on America on September 11th. I remember being in my 4th Grade class. I remember my teachers being frightened. I remember watching the planes crashing into the Twin Towers and thinking, "This can't be good." I remember my Mom watching the news in shock. I remember all too clear, that tragic day. The museum did an excellent job to remember ALL the lives lost and all the HEROES from 9/11. 

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2nd = NYU!

Next stop...
Explore NYU!

This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Alex showed me where he spent all Fall semester. He showed me his residence hall. He showed me the places he ate. He showed me where he caught the subway to class. He showed me the buildings he had class. He showed me the bookstore.

A TOTALLY different college experience than what I experienced at Ball State in good 'ole Muncie, IN. 

Side Note: Alex's view from his dorm looked out to the same Fire Station where Ladder Company 3 was stationed. This fire station was the FIRST RESPONDER on 9/11. The museum gave an in-depth story on the heroism from FDNY Captain Pat Brown and his team. It was pretty special to hear that story and later learning that fire station was right next to Alex's dorm. Really put the morning of 9/11 into perspective. 

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3rd = Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

I saw the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City. WHAT. A. SHOW. 

You definitely have to see it, at least once!
It will surely put you in the holiday spirit!
 

TIP: Order your tickets through the app TodayTix! Your tickets will be cheaper, plus you don't have to wait in line at the box office! There will be a TodayTix concierge team across the street from Radio City. They have tickets with your name on it!

SUPER EASY.
SUPER CONVENIENT. 

Plus, if you search online, you should be able to find a promo code for $10 off your first purchase!
 

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4th = Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Plaza

Rockefeller Plaza is SO close to Radio City, that I couldn't pass up seeing the infamous Christmas tree lit up! I strolled on over and saw this beautiful sight. If you're up for it, you can even go ice skating in the rink by the tree.

(Trust me, you'll want to go back to your hotel and watch Home Alone!) 

ALSO...make sure you hang out long enough to witness the 3D Christmas light show on the SAKS building. If you are facing the tree, simply do a complete 180 and you'll be facing the SAKS building! It's entertaining. The lights flash to the music! Sneak peak video below. 

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5th = Pizza + NYE Ball at Times Square

I ended this "marathon" around New York City by visiting Times Square. One of my friends recommended eating at Joe's pizza (super close to TS), so that's where I went for dinner! The pizza was yummy. I ate 1/2 of it - and then got a to-go box for the other half (gave it to a homeless person on my way back to the train). 
 

The other SUPER COOL thing about seeing Times Square this time was the fact that the NYE BALL was already up! I was able to witness the 2017 ball before it fell on New Year's Eve. How freaking cool!!! So of course, I had to take a selfie with it ;)

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And there you have it, my friends! 
That's my trip to New York - Christmas 2016. 

If you have any questions, or would like any additional recommendations / tips, please feel free to leave a comment! 

#25By25

“And then I realized, adventures are the best way to learn.”

25 Things To-Do Before the BIG 25. 

Want to help me cross something off the list?  Reach out! 

1. Start and maintain a blog.

2. Complete Project #52PickMeUp. (52 packages/letters, 52 weeks)

3. "Refresh" a piece of furniture.

4. Get that passport stamped!

5. Develop a healthy lifestyle, by exercising and eating right.

6. Do 24 Random Acts of Kindness on my 24th Birthday (1 ROAK per hour)

7. Spend a weekend with NO technology.

8. Run a 1/2 Marathon.

9. Visit all 50 States and make a US Map Photo Collage.

10. Pay it forward.

11. Go zip lining.

12. Save $5,000.

13. Make a t-shirt quilt from college tees.

14. Donate blood, without passing out.

15. Take a road trip out West.

16. "Sponsor-A-Family" for Christmas.

17. Make 3 new friends (1 per year). [2014, 2015, 2016]

18. Volunteer!

19. Create my own "Happiness Project," after finishing the book. [365]

20. Soar miles high in the sky, in a Hot Air Balloon.

21. Celebrate birthdays!

22. Take a class at a local art center.

23. Catch up with an old friend I haven't talked to in years.

24. Get a library card and use the heck out of it.

25. Do 25 days of something!

Top 10 "Rules of the Job"

It's been ONE year since I SUPERVISED my very, first Qtego event! This time last year, I nervously drove 3 miles down the road from the office, to a festival where I would be running my very first event! All on my own.  

Looking back, I tried to keep CALM. But like a duck, I was cool and collected above the surface, but my feet were treading underwater! I left the printers at the office and had to backtrack to get them, I accidentally sent out a broadcast message that didn't include the EXACT closing time of the auction, and I had to call my boss at least once for help. One of my part-timers even told me months later that she didn't know if she was going to like me, because I was so uptight. Hahaha. Now we're BFFs. 


Yesterday, I worked that very same event. And let me tell you, here I am! One year, 121 events and many lesson learned later! Every day I work, I learn something new. Along the way, I've jotted down many notes. I've sorted and combined them to develop the Top 10 "Rules of the Job." And I'd say these are all universal, so please, read and pass along! It's my hope that they help you, as much as they've help me! 

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1. Under Promise, Over Deliver
People like you to live up to your expectations. And when you SURPASS them, their mind is completely blown away. So start on an even playing field, and then shoot for the stars. They will be ecstatic when you go "Above and Beyond" your promises. Not to mention, it will keep you SANE because you won't be spending x-amount of time trying to figure out how to get there, because "you've promised it" so you MUST make it happen!

2. Set FALSE deadlines
Let's face it. Deadlines are meant to be broken. Not many people follow them. (And if you do, you're the true MVP, and WE ALL LOVE you). So make sure when planning, that you give yourself some EXTRA time. This will cause less stress on all. 

3. NEVER admit it's your first time doing something. 
No one likes an amateur. But that doesn't mean they have to know you are one. As my mom always says, "What I don't know, won't hurt me." Same with your job. What THEY don't know, won't hurt them, either! So never, EVER, admit that it's your first time doing a task. If you don't know the answer, simply tell the person you're working with that you aren't quite sure, but you will find out and get back with them. 

4. Form PARTNERSHIPS, not "clients"
They are more than just "clients." They have a name, just like you do, and you should use it. When you begin calling your partners by their name, you develop relationships that builds TRUST. And really, it's just better than way. 

5. Eliminate the Extra Step
If you ever have become the middle man, STOP. DROP. AND ROLL that information back to the two people you're working in between. It's not your place to be "stuck in the middle," so get out before you're too far in! 

6. Get rid of TOO MANY chefs in the kitchen
Every person under the sun does NOT need to be on the call or in a meeting with you. Every person's time is valuable. So find out EARLY ON exactly who NEEDS to be working with you. From the "get go," eliminate those people who has a role that doesn't fit with what you're doing. Because every person has an opinion. And when we get down to the bottom line, it's best to keep the final decisions between you and the coach. Not the entire team. Trust me, it will save you from unneeded conversations and a constant headache! 

7. Embrace being the expert
You do what you do, because you are good at it. Seriously! You do your job day-in and day-out, so make sure to relay that to the person you're working with. If they want to do something a certain way, don't tell them HOW it's going to run, but do offer suggestions. And when they say, "You're the expert, you tell me," take this compliment and run with it! Because honestly, you do know best. 

8. Respond PROMPTLY to (almost) every email you receive
On the other side of the email in your Inbox, there's someone on the other end waiting for a response. Whether it's "Got it!" or "Hang tight -- I'll have that coming your way shortly!" or "I've received your email, and will get back to you as soon as possible!" make sure to respond. And, the faster the response, the better rapport you will build. 

9. Arriving Early = Arriving On-Time
Coming from the person who tends to be "fashionably late," your job is NOT the place for that. Arriving EARLY means arriving ON-TIME. As mentioned earlier, people's time is valuable. Don't keep them waiting. And don't put the stress on yourself, that you have to constantly be in "Rush mode."

10. It's OK, to put the computer away
At the end of the day, the work will be there when you return. You are FIRST a person, and then a(n) [INSERT JOB TITLE HERE]. Your job may be a top priority, but it's not your only priority. So make sure you balance your workload and your personal life! 

All Roads Lead....

Here's the deal.

In 3 months, the lease to my current apartment is up.

Ding. Dang. Dunzo! 

I could renew it. 
Honestly, I have no complaints.
I love the location. 
I love the community. 
I love that when there's a problem, someone is here to fix it within the hour. 
I love the amenities. The workout center. The pool. The courtyard.  
But there's one thing that has me caught up...
The 4 letter word: R-E-N-T

I truly believe that money is NOT everything. 
Money does not equate to happiness. 
My theory is, "As long as I have enough $ to live and do what I want, that's more than enough."

But I'm currently in this weird, mid-20's point in my life. 
It's like, I'm too old to live the college life. 
But I'm too young to buy my own house. 
And when I say that, I mean I have no money for a downpayment. 

That's the 11 letter word that gets me:
D-O-W-N-P-A-Y-M-E-N-T

What I'm paying in rent right now, I could easily make for mortgage. 
Except here's the thing. To buy a house, you need a downpayment. 

But when you have $80K in Student Loans, more than 1/2 of your paycheck goes to that. So you begin putting a $100 here, and a $100 there, into your savings account. Yet, it's going to take YEARS before you rack up enough funds for that 11-letter word. Downpayment. 

And let me tell you,
When the money you work so hard for is not being invested into anything, it seems like something has got to give. 

So I've decided..
There's gotta be a change! 
There's a 90% chance I will NOT be renewing my lease. 
Because I have other ideas in mind....
To save for that D-O-W-N-P-A-Y-M-E-N-T

Let me pick your brain. 
Because here's where I'm at. 
 

OPTION 1 - Live out of a Motor Vehicle. 

Pros:
My car if paid off! 
Or, I could get a cheap motor home...
Or, build a tiny house on a trailer...
I'm not home 1/2 of the time, so it wouldn't be all that bad. 

Cons:
Where the heck am I gonna shower?
Well...I could get a YMCA membership to take showers. 

But where the heck am I going to park this bad boy?
Walmart is a no-tow-away zone. But I hate Walmart...

Where the heck will my current furniture go?
I could rent a storage unit....but then that's defeating the purpose of saving money.

If I get a house on wheels, I need a hookup for water.
Where will that be, though?

What's going to happen in the winter when it's sub-degree temps outside?
Baby, it's going to more than cold outside!

What's my address going to be -- 1800 Blue Saturn Ave?
I could get a P.O. Box.


Okay, so honestly, this option isn't that realistic. But it's about 10% possible...

OPTION 2 - Live with Someone, Rent-Free in Exchange for Chores/Helping Out around the House. 

Pros:
I could help an elderly person with groceries/work around the house, if they loaned me a room. Not only would I benefit, but they would too. 

Or...if one of my Indy friends is buying a house, I could spot them a $100-200 bucks to help them with their mortgage. While they lend me a room. Friends helping friends. After all, it wouldn't be forever. Just a year or two. 


Cons:
Where am I going to find this "someone"?
What's going to happen when I'm not "home" to help out because I'm traveling?
What happens when I want to have a friend or two over? Will that be a issue?

This option is becoming a little more realistic, with about a 30% chance of happening. 
 

OPTION 3 - Find a cheaper apartment, with others, and split the rent. 
 

Pros:
I would have a shower. 
I would have an address. 
I would be in good company. I hope. 

Cons:
It's not going to be anything fancy. 
It will probably be itty bitty, and a little tight. 

Who is going to want to partake in this? 
How much cheaper will it be than where I'm at right now?
Will it be worth cleaning up after others?
 

This option is probably the most realistic, with about a 60% chance of happening. 
 

Or...I could stay right where I'm at:

I'm still able to afford living. 
And do what I want. 
But there's no wiggle room to save for that 11-letter:
D-O-W-N-P-A-Y-M-E-N-T
And when I ask myself, where I want to be in 5 years,
I see myself in my own house. 


So this option, has about a 10% of happening...again! 

 

Here's the other thing...
I WANT A CHALLENGE!

This is only going to be 1-2 years out of my life. 
Where I will save up several thousand dollars. 
To reach my 5-year goal of buying a house. 

It's not permanent. 
It's a means to an end. 
So honestly, I'm up for a little crazy. 
For sacrificing now, so I can have more later. 

Here's what I need from you...
YOUR THOUGHTS/OPINIONS!

Which option do YOU think is the most realistic? 
What feedback do YOU have for me? 
Do YOU know anyone who can help a sister out?
Can YOU help me out? 
What have YOU done in your years?

Please, reach out! 
Any and all feedback, is welcome :)

A Case of the Mondays

Today was one of those days. 
You know, those days where you wake up to your alarm "screaming."
All you really want to do is roll over, and go back to bed. 

But you get your feet out from the covers. 
You put them on the ground.
You know there's a lot to get done!

The commute to the office is longer than you'd like. 
It's rainy. It's gloomy. 
The radio is full of ads and talk shows. 
None of your favorite jams are playing. 

Monday means the world is back "at it." 
The emails keep "dinging." 
The phone is "off the hook." 
When you sit down, you feel overwhelmed.
Not really sure where to begin. 

You decide against making a "To-Do" list.
Because when you do, other things come up that take precedent. 
And then when you go to cross off "completed items", you feel even more unproductive. 
So you open your email, and just begin. One task at a time. 

You work until your computer is at 1%. 
And then you force yourself to leave the office, an hour after the "typical" 5PM departure.  
Because you would rather get ahead today, than be behind tomorrow. 
 
On your drive home, you start thinking of things you shouldn't do.
You shouldn't get fast food on your way home. 
You shouldn't take a nap when you walk in the door. 
You shouldn't skip your daily workout. 

But you do it anyway. 
 
When you wake up, it's 9PM. 
The day seems to be "wasted." 
You feel guilty for the things you've done. 
And the things you haven't done, today. 

You check your phone. 
Bad decision. 
There's more piled on. 
You have a mini-freak out session. 

You have 7 events this week + 9 next weekend.
You're going to be out-of-town for 5 days this week. And 4 next week. 
Travel days mean it's hard to get any work done. 
And that's when "your people" need you the most. 
You want to make sure everything goes seamlessly. 
That your i's are dotted and t's are crossed. 

You realize your house is a mess. 
There's a lingering smell. 
It needs a good cleaning. 
Especially because your Dad will be visiting on Sunday. 
And you want to impress him with your first "post-graduation" house. 
First impressions are everything. 

Remember that trip you're leaving for Wednesday?
You need to pack. 
You need to do laundry. 

Tomorrow is insane. 
You volunteer at 7AM.  
You have on-site meetings during the day. 
You meet with your trainer for a weekly workout session that evening. 
And after, is Euchre Tuesday. 
Remember all those people who are sending you items to upload?
You should probably do that, too. 

And don't forget about #52PickMeUp. 
Those are suppose to go out on Tuesday. 
And last week you got behind, so this week you need to play catch up. 
You need to make people's days. 
You need to finish your project that you've started. 
There's no giving in now. 

That's it!
"There's no giving in now."
You've worked so hard, to get to where you're at. 
So you're not going to give up.
You're not going to do it. 
Did you hear me?

It's Monday. 
You have "A Case of the Mondays."
You don't give in. 
You don't give up. 
You simply need to, "Get To It."

You get your feet out from the covers. 
For the 2nd time today. 

You begin cleaning your house.
Because you know that will de-stress you. 

You put a load of laundry in the washer.
And then transfer it to the dryer, so you can pack for your upcoming trip.

You pick 2 lucky individuals to send #52PickMeUp packages to this week.
And you prepare the lovely letters, so you can drop them off at the post office tomorrow afternoon. 

You decide to wake up early before you leave to volunteer in the AM. 
So you can respond to any emails that came in tonight. 

You know that "coffee chat" you haven't wrote in awhile? 
You do that, too. 

You see. 
Today has nothing on you. 
You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. 
You wouldn't be given so much dang responsibility, if you couldn't handle it. 

You got this! I believe in "you." 
After all, it's only "A Case of the Mondays."

What I Remember Most From Grade School...

I can't tell you what scores I got on my state achievement tests. But I can tell you what I remember most from grade school. 

PreK 

Nap time on my purple cot! 
Only I never was able to fully fall asleep. I would "fake sleep" until I "woke up" to a snack at the edge of my cot. Until the very LAST day at AppleTree Academy before the big move to Statesboro. I went into a deep sleep that day! I also woke up to...

Tootsie pops!
My mom came to pick me up from PreK to say our goodbyes. She did some work for the PreK, like mowing the grass and helping out around the school! So my PreK teachers gave me us a "Goodbye Gift." All I remember is that is contained the BIGGEST bouquet of tootsie pops I had ever seen. I want to say, there was a note saying "It SUCKS that you're leaving! We will miss you!" But then again, I may still be dreaming from my nap that day...
 

1st Grade

Counting to 1,000!
Here's the deal. Counting to 1,000 in 1st grade is a big deal. Such a big deal, that if you did it, Mrs. (Star) Anderson would buy you your all time FAVORITE CANDY BAR (not the snack size candy...a FULL candy bar) and SODA from the school's vending machines. To make this happen, she had 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper with 100 squares on each sheet. You would have to take 10 sheets and write 1-100 on one sheet, 101-200 on the next....all the way until you got to 1,000! She didn't allow you to work on this during class, so I came early and stayed late. And let me tell you, I don't remember what candy/drink I got, but I do remember that my folder was FULL of 10 complete sheets. I had COUNTED to 1,000 for the first time in my life! 

Bone in my chicken!
We had this star chart in 1st grade, where if you ate your entire meal, you were given a star. When you got so many stars, you got some type of prize. This was smart on my teacher's part, because it kids to try more foods they wouldn't necessary eat. Until.....I had a BONE in my BONELESS chicken nuggets. I remember running up to Mrs. Anderson and exclaiming, "I have a bone in my chicken! I want don't want to eat the bone, but I will do it if it means I get my star for the day." She gave me the star. And no, I didn't eat the bone :)

Love Knows No Difference!
His name was Kyler Aubrey. I don't remember why he was in a wheelchair, because it didn't matter to us. My sister was his best friend. They were in the same grade. Oftentimes, we were on the playground at the same together. On the playground at Sallie Z, there was a red swing that had a back to it, and a seatbelt. We would push him on the swing and make him smile. Everyone at our elementary school was able to experience the swings, no matter if you were "handicapped" or not. It was a beautiful, beautiful thing. 

Side Note: I just did some Google Search creeping on Kyler. He's seems to be doing very well, and smiling bigger than ever! This makes my heart melt.

Check out this video of him here:
http://wjcl.com/2014/09/24/special-friendship-formed-on-the-links/

Young Author Award!
I won an award for writing a piece, called "When I was a baby..." I spent a LOT of time crafting a piece that I thought the judges would enjoy! My teacher told us what kind of stories the judges liked to read, so I LISTENED to her. I came in 2nd place. The boy who came in 1st place, wrote a story about how he was going to become President one day. 
 

2nd Grade 

Becoming a Lady!
Mrs. Bennett, oh Mrs. Bennet. She put me in my place. I would come into the door of her classroom, turn my desk chair around so the back was facing forward, and wrap my legs around it. She told me, "Ashley, ladies don't sit in their chair like that, do they?" I definitely learned how to act like a lady, courtesy of Mrs. Bennett.

It's OK to be different!
Right around Easter, we had a coloring contest. I thought for SURE mine would win. I did that thing, where I would press on my crayon very hard around the black outline of the bunny. And then lightly shade in the middle. I had picked out the EXACT colors that a rabbit would appear. It was perfect. Until the person who won, had colored her bunny rabbit PURPLE. "Bunnies aren't purple," I thought. And it was in that moment, that I realized it's OK to be different, and to think outside of the crayon "box."

Show And Tell! 
Many people brought stuffed animals to show-and-tell. Not me. I caught a toad in our Georgia backyard. And I took it to class "Show and Tell." Talk about a totally "hopping" topic!  

3rd Grade 

S-p-a-g-h-e-t-t-i 
Yes, it was in the 3rd grade, that I learned how to spell spaghetti. My teacher wrote the lunch menu on the board every day. When it was pasta day, she would always sound "spaghetti" out for us to hear. To this day, I still sound it out when I write: "Spag" and "hetti."

Holidays Around the World 
Savannah was diverse. A melting pot if you will. For this reason, many people came from different cultures and celebrated different traditions. Before winter break, we had a "Holidays Around the World" party where we crafted various ornaments and played different games to learn about how people celebrate Christmas, or other holiday traditions, around the world. 

Mom's Got Your Back
The glorious part of going to the same school that your mom teaches at, is that when you need lunch money, mom's got your back! 

4th Grade 

Taking Care of Pets
In 4th Grade, I had moved back to Ohio and was placed in "Huthstur's" class. This meant Mr. Huth and Mrs. Sturgill were my teachers -- but they team taught in a GINORMOUS classroom! This wasn't any classroom, it was a zoo. Literally! We had all kinds of animals in class, from fish to turtles to ferrets to hermit crabs to birds and snakes. It was this year, that I witnessed for the first time, a snake swallow a mouse. Whole. Yep, just gulped him right down. And I watched it travel through his "tummy"....Talk about finally figuring out what the "Circle of Life" truly means. 

September 11th 
This is a day I wish I could forget. What a confusing day for a 4th Grader. Old enough to know something isn't right, but not old enough to grasp the concept of what a terrorist attack truly means. To have the 2 classroom TVs permanently turned on, to see teachers in a panic, to watch your classmates trickle out of the school one-by-one as parent's took them to safety. It will always be a day, that I will never forget.

Writing in COLOR
Every morning we would have to write an entry in our journal. We were usually given a prompt to write about, unless it was Free Write Friday. One AM in particular, Mr. B, our Principal, came into the classroom and told use to fill our journals with colorful language. Use adjectives to describe nouns with glowing detail.  

HARRY POTTER DAY!
Did you school have Harry Potter Day? Ours did. The best part was seeing Mr. Huth dress as Hagrid and Mr. B as Dumbledore. What a magical day, at Hogwarts! 

 

5th Grade 

Bindis from India
My 5th grade language arts teacher was originally from India. That year, her father was very sick so she took a good amount of time to go overseas and visit with him. When she came back, she brought all of her students bindis to wear on our forehead. She also showed us photographs of her at Taj Mahal, and how it's a mark of respect to remove your shoes before entering this beautiful, mausoleum. Learning about other cultures from our teacher, who lived there, was simply amazing. 

The "Talk" 
This was the year of the "Talk." Yes, the infamous talk where you learn about your body, and how it works. The entire grade splits into boys vs. girls. Boys go to the cafeteria. Girls go to the gym. You watch the videos. You see demonstrations. You ask questions...And you become terrified for the day when "It" comes. 

6th Grade 

Caravans
The COOLEST part about 6th grade was Caravans. Hands Down. Caravans was an adventure around the world, that taught us about World Geography. It was an INTERACTIVE game, where we would learn about country's history, their flag, currency, population…anything and everything! The class was broken into teams, and we would travel the world to earn points! 

Using Your Dinner Manners 
Every year, the ultimate 6th Grade Field Trip (though there were many), was going to LaComedia Dinner Theatre. This was the most anticipated trip of Elementary School, because you got the ENTIRE day out of the classroom. You dressed real fancy. And you could take a date! A date in 6th grade = a big deal! But…before you went…your class had to go through Mr. B's (principal), "dinner etiquette" class. During this class, we learned that the gentleman should pull out the chair for the lady before sitting down themselves. We learned that you should start on the outside and work your way in, in terms of which silverware to use when. We learned to place your napkin on your lap when you were eating. Talk about dinner manners!  

Cleaning up the Art Room 
Our class started a paint war during art class. This was a big OOPSIES. We were creating these paintings, where we would literally "fling" paint onto our canvas to mix colors and create a masterpiece. Only…our class got out of hand, and before long paint was "flung" across the room. On the ceilings. On the walls. It was everywhere. After our principal came to our classroom and told us he was disappointed in us, among other thing. We were the "A" class and knew better. Recess was no longer that week…Instead, all 25 of us would be in the art room cleaning up our mess, and more. 

Geocaching 
Looking back on this, it still amazes me that I knew about geocaching before smart phones ever existed. My math teacher, Mr. Malicote, was a BIG adventurer, and he would always come into class telling us a new story about the adventures he took. He hunted, he climbed mountains, and he geocached. I remember him telling us about using the latitude/longitude points and a compass to navigate to these Geocaches. 

So….that's it! Those are the highlights from my childhood in the classroom. To all teachers out there, don't let the tests weigh you down! Remember, your students will remember the memories. Your experiences you share with them. Not the test questions/answers. 

You Can Talk to Strangers. But Don't Ever Pick Them Up.

I did one of the scariest things of my life today. As my best friend put it, "It was sweet. But it was stupid." And I couldn't agree more with her....

I picked up a stranger. 

From the middle of the street. 
He got in my car.
And I drove him 39 blocks. 
And it was the longest 39 blocks of my life. 
And will be something I never, ever do again. 

Let me explain myself....
I woke up ready to take on the world and everything I had to do today!

My first stop: Speedway to buy a gift card, and pick up a cup of coffee.
My second stop: the Post Office to drop off several packages.
My third stop: the corner of 19th Street and College. 

That third stop was suppose to be the Qtego office. But that changed quickly, when I was pulling out of the Post Office parking lot and driving down the icy, one-way street. A man, with a blue, plaid flannel jacket was standing in the middle of the street. I could either slow down, or I could hit him, because he sure as heck wasn't moving. 

There was no room for me to turn around. So, I slowed down and inched closer. Before I knew it, I rolled down my passenger side window, a half an inch, to talk to him. All he kept saying was that he was cold. He was cold, and he wanted a ride home. I asked him where he lived and (I thought) he said "1901 College."

My thoughts soon became blurry:
"Where am I?"
"What am I doing?"
"College Ave. isn't too far away."
"I think."
"I want to help him, but do I?,"
"Do I let a stranger in my car?"
"What if he has a gun?"
"He looks harmless."
"But don't they all."
"Who is they?"
"Broadripple had a recent shooting."
"I'm in Broadripple."
"It's daylight."
"I should be fine."
"It's below freezing."
"He's cold."
"He keeps repeating that he is cold."
"He has a home."
"I just need to get him there."

So before I knew it, I let him in my car. Under one condition: He had to sit in the back seat. (Now looking back on this, that probably wasn't the best idea either.)

He got in, I put my car in drive and then it hit me. I picked up a stranger. 


He told me to drive straight. I did. But I didn't like it. I didn't like being told what to do. 

He asked my name. I said Ashley. I think he said his was Seth. Or Shane. 

He asked my age. I said old enough. I asked him his. He is 36. 

He asked if I had kids. I said no. I didn't want to know if he did. I didn't ask. 

He noticed my CD collection and asked if I like music. I said yes. I asked what his favorite music was. He said hip-hop. He asked me. I said country. 

A client called me during this and asked if it was a good time to talk. I asked if I could call her back in 30 minutes. I hung up, and thought to myself, I wonder if that's the last person I will ever talk to. 

I told him I had to go to work. I thought about pulling over then. But his questions distracted me. 

He asked what I did for work. I said technology. He assumed I worked for Microsoft. I corrected him. He asked where work was. I said the North Side. 

I asked him why he was up in BroadRipple. He lives so far South. He told me he was visiting a friend. A friend to give him money for his meds. The friend wasn't home. He asked me for money for his medicine. I said no. I have no money to give you. I am giving you a ride home. 

I kept driving. I drove 39 blocks. Until I reached 19th street. He started to doze off. I think the warmth of the car was putting him to sleep. I had my eyes more on the rear view mirror that the street in front of me. I never took an eye off of him. I couldn't. 

I got to 19th and College and asked whether to turn left or right. He said left. I turned left and pulled over. I told him I was letting him out there. He begged me to drive him to his house. I told him, "I drove you this far. You can walk the rest of the way." He kept insisting I take him to his house. It was cold. I told him I would drive one block further, past the Church on the corner. He agreed. I stopped the car at the Church's alley. He still insisted I drive down the alley to his house. I asked him nicely, to please get out of my car. He finally did.

He opened the car door, and slowly got out. His hands were so dry and swollen. He took each of his hands, and wrapped them around his legs to move them from the car to the ground. The last thing he said to me, "What's with you people?"

As he got out, I started to cry. I cried  because:

(1) It bothered me that I was so scared of a guy who just needed a helping hand. 

(2) That he really could have been bad news, but I couldn't tell. 

(3) I was going to be okay. 

Driving from 19th Street to the office, was the first time in a long, long time where I did not feel like me. I felt lost and confused. I couldn't figure out what had just happened. I didn't like it. Something wasn't right. With him. With the situation. With all of it. I'm still not sure what to make out of this.
 

But one thing is certain: 
It's okay to talk to strangers. But don't ever pick them up. 
 

I don't need to be scolded. I have some great people in my life that already took care of that.

I know it wasn't smart. It might have been sweet. But it was certainly stupid. It will be something I never, ever do again.

I'm sharing this with you, so you don't think to do it either. I never want anyone to feel like I felt today. Like you can't control the situation you are in. Feeling helpless. And scared.

We learn best from each other. So take this story and tuck it in the back of your mind. I never thought I would pick up a stranger, but I did. And if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, think back to this story and just keep driving.