Recently....

Just thought I would check in and let you all know how I've been lately with the new job and such!

Needless to say, working from 8 am to 5 or 6 pm has been pretty exhausting.  I've had to get up and leave by 7 am in the sometimes 5 degree weather and I usually don't get home until 7ish in the evening.

Downtown on a snowy morning

That's my only complaint though because I'm really starting to feel comfortable at the job and getting along well with my co-workers.  I'm definitely learning a lot every day and only hope to learn more so I can be as efficient as everyone else.

Getting up so early has turned me into an old lady though and I've been falling asleep by 10 o'clock pretty routinely.  I can't even make it through movies anymore, although we watched Life of Pi the other day (at a reasonable hour) and it was really good!  I read the book and really enjoyed it, and I have to say they did a great job with the film.  It was very emotional and captivating and very well done.

Today was my first full day off in a while since I've also been working at Urban on the weekends, and it was really enjoyable.  Guillermo and I went to MIT for a workshop he has been taking part in, and while he was there I killed time at the MIT book store and found a new book with a pretty cover.

I also walked around campus a bit; I never miss a chance to see some famous architecture.

Gehry's STATA Center

When he got out, we took the bus up to Harvard and walked around campus and the surrounding shopping area.  I found Anthropologie and pointed out a few things I've had my eye on for a while.  Maybe one day I will break down and buy them.  I absolutely love this vase and this candle; I think my love of candles is coming back from when I was in middle school and high school.  I've started collecting them here and there since my mom sent me one for Christmas, and Capri Blue candles seem to be everywhere lately.  I've only heard great things about them and I'm addicted to all things glass so I want one in every color!

It was a wonderful, relaxing day and now I'm curled up with tea and a movie.  Hope you all enjoyed your day as much as I did!

Weekly Update

I've decided that since I really don't have that much to talk about, I am going to switch back to writing less frequently.  I'm going to shoot for once a week, and I think with the new job taking up a lot of my time now this will work out a lot better for me.  Hope none of you mind.

This past week was a big one for me.  I worked two jobs, and found out I am going to be a bridesmaid in another wedding!  My friend Sonia from school has been engaged for a year, and she is starting to get down to business when it comes to planning now that they have a date ironed out.  I'm so very excited and so very honored she thought of me, and now I get to take part in the big day! She has already gotten her Pinterest on, and has set up boards for general ideas and bridesmaid dresses.  I thought that was pretty smart of her, considering all us 'maids live in different areas.  Plus it's fun to pin away everything I think would be great for them.

Aside from that wonderful news, last week was my first somewhat full week at my new job!  It was an exhausting week because I was working two jobs, semi-full time.  My first few days at Sleeping Dog were kinda hectic, considering I had a lot to learn, but now that my first week is over I can safely say I feel very comfortable there.  Everyone is young (although I still think I'm the youngest) and they are already giving me a hard time in a friendly-older-sibling kind of way.  Today has been my first day of a full-time week and we will see how I can take it.

I'll check back in in about a week!

New Year, New Lifestyle

Hey all!  How was everyone's holiday?  I can only hope it was as enjoyable as mine.  Here's a peek at what I've been up to...

Christmas dinner was a success!!

Couldn't be happier for my newly-wed friends. <3 

Shenanigans with my high school buddies

My cutie cousin Lilah.

I really enjoyed my time at home visiting all my loved ones and celebrating the season with them.  I came back just in time to ring in the new year with Guillermo; he picked me up from the airport and we had a lovely dinner together and had a relaxing evening watching The Incredibles up until midnight.  

This year, I decided that my New Year's resolution should be to start forcing myself into a routine schedule of waking up early and being productive.  Now...I am not what you would call a morning person so this was truly going to be a struggle, especially on the days I don't have to work until the afternoon.

But that all changes this week, because...

I GOT A REAL GROWN-UP JOB!!!

On the 4th, I had an interview at a firm called Sleeping Dog Properties and they offered on the spot to hire me for a 30 day trial-run with possible (and hopefully) full-time employment after that!  It seems like exactly the kind of place I have talked about working at; it's a small firm that does mostly small-scale residential and some commercial renovations.  The company is owned by two brothers who have a construction background so they do a lot of construction management as well.  I am super excited to start on Tuesday and finally get my career rolling.

Wish me luck!

Preparations

With Christmas just around the corner, Guillermo and I have decided to spend it with some of his new friends from school.  Three people will be coming over on Tuesday; a Chinese girl, Turkish guy, and Israeli guy.  We are going to have a very multi-cultural day, and I have to say that excites me a lot.  I love making friends with people from other countries and I love learning about their cultures and hearing their stories.  We may be lucky enough to taste food from some of those cultures, but I doubt it on Christmas day.  Guillermo and I are going to cover the ham and one side (the others are covering other sides and drinks), and I'm thinking twice-baked potatoes.  My mom always made them for Christmas and they are just so indulgent and delicious.

I'm still trying to come up with an idea for dessert, too.  Something tasty, but not too tricky. This is my first Christmas as a grown-up that I will be hosting and I want everyone to leave full of food and happiness. 

Deck the Hall

This weekend, I took some time to do at least a little bit of Christmas decorating in our apartment.  Now, I don't have too much space and I had a budget of about $0, but I think it looks kinda festive.  I'm proud!

The first thing I started working on was a paper and twine garland for the hall.  I had paper, paint, and twine laying around so all I did was paint the paper green, cut out leaf shapes, then tie them together along the twine.  Here's what it looks like!

All I did to tie them together was tie a loose knot around the center of the two leaves so the paper didn't tear.  I spaced them out by eye, so they aren't perfect, but that's ok with me.

The other thing I did was decorate the Peace Lilly that my mom got me for my birthday (and I haven't killed yet!!) with some teeny-tiny ornaments.  I got a package of 25 3/4" diameter balls for only $5 from Urban Outfitters and tied them to the leaves of the plant with thin wire.  

The little balls of color are so cheerful. :)

And finally, the small bookshelf we have in the hall is now where we display all of the Christmas cards we have been receiving in the mail.  Family and friends have been sending us cards and its so comforting to see them every day on the way into the apartment.

The ornaments that didn't make it onto the Peace Lilly are sitting in a glass jar from an old, used-up candle on the top shelf for a little extra fun.

Thankful for Friday

Well, Friday is finally here!  This week I'm thankful for friends and family.  We have been getting Christmas cards from our loved ones (and Fitzgerald motors...?) over the past week or so, and even a present already!  Although this year is going to be very different for me, I am sure it is still going to be wonderful-my family is going to be sure of it.  Guillermo and I are thinking about having some of his classmates over for Christmas dinner, since they wont be going back to their homes in other countries this year.  I'm hoping this works out because it would be nice to celebrate with some new friends, so cheers to new traditions!

Here's our Christmas Peace-Lilly

Happy Hump Day!

How was everyone's Wednesday?  Mine was wonderful because I had the day off.  I know I took off this whole past weekend, but because I was so busy the whole time it really didn't feel like a break from work.  Today I got to lounge, start a few projects I've had in mind, and meet up with some friends at a small church group.

Remember a few weeks ago I mentioned I went to church with my friend RJ?  Well every Wednesday night they have a small group for 20-somethings.  I have wanted to go since I went to church, but always seemed to work on Wednesday nights and never seemed to have the opportunity......until now.  It was a nice gathering and I even recognized a few people I had met previously.  We sang Christmas carols, ate snacks, and read through a bit of Matthew.

All in all, it was a great day off and a wonderful way to spend my evening.  I hope you all can say the same about your day!  And don't worry-the weekend is almost here!