Concrete jungle where dreams are made oh, there's nothing you can't do...

I love my job. I don't discuss it much on this blog, but I have been so blessed thus far in my career. I have met amazing people, been given challenging opportunities and have gotten the chance to visit some amazing places that I never thought I would see. One of the amazing people that I have met through my job is the fabulous Kelsey. Right from the start she and I hit it off. We have many similar interests and personality traits and have established a great friendship since I started work.

So the morning when I received a text from her at about 7:30 a.m. asking me if I would like to go to New York, I answered without question, yes. This is totally out of character for me. Usually I have to sit and think of all the pros and cons of the situation, evaluate the funding risks and discuss with my parents / Clint. Not this time... I had no idea what we were going to do, where we were going to stay or how much everything would cost, but I knew that she had found a deal on plane tickets that I could simply not pass up. I don't think she honestly ever expected that I would say yes either because her response was pure shock. And just like that, we were New York bound.

After a few frustrating hours of determining the best deal on a hotel and nailing down the biggest portions of our trip, we were set to go. Once again, totally out of character for me. No days and days and days of researching, no strict itinerary, just a vague idea of some of the sights we wanted to see and a pair of tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway.

Just arrived at the hotel

Empire State

Times Square

Brooklyn Bridge

Lady Liberty

Lion King!

Central Park

We had an absolutely fabulous trip. We saw everything New York had to offer in just three short days, which is exactly why my feet are twice the size they normally are and covered in blisters. We learned some valuable lessons and know what we would do differently if we ever decide to return. Until then, Kels and I are working on planning our next trip...New Orleans for Halloween? Boston for leaf peeping? We have lots to squeeze in before she moves to Spokane!

If you want to see all of my pictures: New York Photo Album

Fido Scurry - 2011

I was never a runner. In fact, I despised running to the depths of my soul. I did track my Eighth grade year and hated every second of it. I actually only stuck it out through the entire season because my mom told me, "You will never finish the season." So naturally, I did just to prove her wrong. All this background is to say that today, amazingly somehow, I am fond of running....I know, mind blowing.

My running journey begins all the way back in February of this year. My co-worker and close friend, Heather, was planning to run in the Race for the Cure. This is an organization that has a particular spot in my heart since I lost my Aunt to breast cancer. After much encouragement (peer pressure) I gave in and started my couch to 5k training. As the weeks went by, I could run further and further, and I enjoyed running more and more. Three 5ks later, I find myself looking forward to lacing up my shoes and listening to my feet pound against the pavement.

However, my last run was a little bit different then my previous runs. Clint and I decided to participate in the 2011 Fido Scurry held in Decatur, IL to benefit the Macon County Animal Shelter. For those of you who don't know, we adopted Sarabi from a shelter, and both have a passion for animals. We decided this was a great cause for us to support and would be a fun experience because they actually encouraged you to bring your pet along to run with you.

Once we got Sarabi to the park, we started having second thoughts. She was having a melt down. Too many people, too many dogs, too thirsty, too squirmy....too much! She was the only dog making noise during the prayer...embarrassing. But, when we got to the starting line, Sarabi couldn't have been happier. Not only did she trot along happily beside Clint and I as we huffed and puffed through our run, she still had energy left to run around like a crazy dog once we were finished! We managed to place First and Second in the run and Sarabi proudly showed off her prizes. We had such a great time and will defiantly be participating in the Fido Scurry for years to come!

Baby Sarabi - not a baby anymore!

After finishing our run

Our friend from High School was the Radar mascot - had to get a photo!

Posing with all of her awards

FALL in love

Fall is my favorite season, hands down, no doubts about it. I love the colors, the weather, Friday night high school football, pumpkins, campfires, haunted houses, changing leaves and spending time with family and friends. This fall was a little different for me. I didn't stuff my car to gills with all my belongings and make the two and a half hour drive up to Macomb. It was a truly bittersweet moment to watch my baby sister go off to college and know that I wouldn't be there.

However, the month of August did bring some good changes for me. I got a new roommate! Temporary, of course, but for the next month I have the company of my best friend Maggie everyday when I come home. I loved having Kelsey live with me during the summer and am just as tickled to have Mags. We are having a great time together while I show her around to different parts of her new home in Peoria. It is such a blessing to have good friends here with me on this journey.

Margaret and I

I also got bit by the decorating bug after spending some time in Hobby Lobby and admiring **drooling** over all the beautiful things it had to offer. I finally broke down and went on a shopping excursion with my Mommy and picked up a few new items! When I got home and started getting things set up I realized that it needed a bit more work, so I decided to get crafty! I made a few new things like this frame that I had picked up earlier this year from Goodwill for $3 and a mason jar that I had laying around. A little string, some brick red paint and some stray leaves and I had a beautiful new piece. The mason jar was as simple as hot gluing some raffia around it.

Pretty new things: picture frame and mason jar

I also got really brave and decided to put together my own fall flower arrangement. I had found some inspiration at a little primitive store in Sullivan, Illinois that my Mom had taken me to last weekend. However, everything there seemed a bit out of my price range, so I snapped a quick picture for some inspiration.

Inspiration fall flower arrangement

I picked up all the necessary supplies from Hobby Lobby and wanted to get to work right away. But, I realized that I didn't have a cool little primitive box like this black one above. Fortunately, my Mom being the brilliant woman that she is and my Dad being the farmer that he is, suggested that I do a little bit of shopping in one of my Dad's old farm sheds. So I took Mom and Clint with me and we started doing a little bit of digging and found the most PERFECT old box. It took a lot of cleaning to get the spider webs off, and even though Maggie tells me the box still smells like a dirty old barn, it is now prominently displayed in my living room. What do you think, pretty close to the inspiration piece huh?

That little box makes my heart sing...so perfect!

Here are a couple more photos of how my home is shaping up for the fall season. I also included a close up picture of the old book wreath that I FINALLY finished up. For only $2.50 I think that it turned out pretty gooooddddd!

Book Wreath

Grandma and Grandpa :)

OBSESSED with my Country Pumpkin primitive sign

Speaking of FALLing in love, I just can never get enough of Clint. There is no one in the world who makes me laugh or feel the way that he does. He is truly the best part of me. Here are some fun photos of us with the animal that he calls a Yak at this year's State Fair.

Love me some Clinty

Feeding the Yak

True and pure happiness

That's all for now!