Getting it done

Today was a checklist's dream. I got the caterer signed, the townhome for the honeymoon locked down, the photographer's contract in the mail and had an awesome day at work.

This would be good for a normal day, but consider that all wedding stuff was done over lunch and I managed to submit two graphic design pieces for national awards with, oh, 40 minutes notice. I love short deadlines - they get my blood pumping and shake up the routine. Having to move quickly is possibly my favorite thing.

What'd you get done today?

Hello, again!

Oh, my. I have neglected my little corner of the interwebs for too long. Why? Maybe it was moving into a new house and painting it just so ...

Or, maybe it was bargain hunting for a lawn mower for my massive yard ...

Or, maybe it was spending endless hours studying for my very last grad class ...

Or, maybe it was getting engaged and going ape-shizzle on planning a November 7 wedding ...

Anywho, I’ll be better about this now, I promise. But, be forewarned that this space will be heavy on the home improvements and wedding planning talk, a little light on the professional ramblings, which was the original intent of this blog. Oh well!

Moving day is almost here!

Tonight is my last night in the apartment! Yay!

My move is all planned out and I'm jumping right in by painting the kitchen cabinets right after closing. Pictures will abound.

Sad thing is, my TV and internet won't be hooked up until Wednesday, so I won't be blogging or making witty remarks on Twitter for a while.

Wish me luck!

Summer on the brain

Yes, it’s only February – but it’s about 50 degrees here in Iowa, which has got me thinking about long and lazy summer evenings. I can’t wait to sit on my deck, down a margarita or two, and read a nice, fat book. Maybe it’s the grad school nerd in me, but AdAge’s compilation of the best marketing books ever seems like a good place to start. I also have The Evolution of Language to get through, as well as the Poisonwood Bible (I know, I’ve never read it!). What books do you recommend?

I’ll snap your ginger/What not to say when you work for a non-profit

First, I’d like to publicly thank my boyfriend for introducing me to Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Snaps. His mom sent them to us in a Valentine’s Day package, and though I generally shy away from ginger treats, these were amazing. They are more sweet than tart and delicious little bits of crystallized ginger make these little cookies extra wonderful. Fresh ginger and ground ginger round out the triple threat.

*This image comes from mizjellybean’s flickr site. She’s got way more cookie photog skills than I.

OK, now second (and utterly unrelated), I have a bone to pick. Recently, I overheard an employee of a non-profit I support bragging about how she uses her company-issued cell for all her personal calls. The worst part here is that the employee is in the organization’s marketing department! Now, I believe strongly in the mission of the organization, so this won’t affect my support – but, come on. You work in PR, you need to remember that how you behave and the choices you make reflect the organization you represent.

Happy nearly-Friday!

Sneak peak

I close on my very first house in about a week! To celebrate, here is a look at the kitchen fan. The house was built in 1955, and I absolutely love this retro feature. The other kitchen appliances are original, too, but those are getting an upgrade in short order because they lack the awesomeness of this fan.

Sick days aren't fun when you're sick

It seems like everyone is getting this nasty, hacking cough that's going around. I stayed home from work yesterday because of it. Despite all the nose-blowing and bone-rattling coughs, I actually had a pretty good day.

I did all the normal sick day stuff: slept in, stayed in PJs, watched Price is Right, ate grilled cheese and brought my bed pillow and comforter to the couch. Glorious!

On top of that, I got actual work done. I did a little brainstorming, a few follow-up e-mails and the best one, I got some interest in a pitch I had made earlier in the week. If anything beats getting a reporter interested in a story, it's doing it while at home, in jammies, with unbrushed hair.

Icing on the cake? Sure, there was. In the mail, I got my Real Simple magazine and a rebate check I'd been waiting for.

Not much can beat that sick day, right?