New Year = New Chapter

The past two months have been quite an adventure! Here is a recap-

After working in Savannah as an intern for 6 months and missing my family and friends, I decided it was time to move back to the big city. So just like before, I applied to what seemed like hundreds of jobs. God must have decided that two years of waiting for a real job was enough for me and I ended up getting an offer from a commercial real estate company for a marketing associate and graphic design position!! (This totally reinforces that all things happen for a reason: the internship in real estate although moved me away from my home for a while was one of the major reasons I ended up getting my new job. Thank you Lord!)

The next few weeks went by in a whirlwind... I put my apartment up for rent so I could break my lease, my mom went on a hunt for a new condo for me that would be close to work (no small feat, I am not an easy customer to please), and I started packing up all the things I accumulated in the six months of living in Savannah. Oh, and did I mention this was all going on around planning and preparing for Thanksgiving?

The weekend after Thanksgiving, my parents and sister and BIL and nephew all came to Savannah and helped me pack up the U-Haul and head out of town on what could have been the rainiest day in Georgia. Many MANY thanks to all of them!!!

The next day, still in the rain, I finally saw the condo that I agreed to lease sight-unseen. My mom did the most amazing job! It is by far the nicest place I could imagine living (close to work, close to family and friends, with green space for baby Grey... oh, and with a closet to drool over).

I'm moved in, I started my new job, and we just celebrated Christmas! What a busy time I've had! Last year my New Years resolution was to get a real job... it may have taken the whole year, but I did it! I can not say Thank You enough to everyone that has helped me over this past year! I could not have done it without you! It is hard to believe that last year at this time I was working retail, living at home and now I am starting a whole new chapter of my life! Oh, how things can change...

Haunted Pub Crawl

For Alan's birthday, I sign us up for a haunted pub crawl. Living in Savannah, one of the most haunted cities in America, I thought it would be a festive way to celebrate his October birthday. Our friends Daniel and Diana joined us.

We went to dinner at Bonna Bella Yacht Club. It is a very relaxed restaurant/bar that is directly on the marsh. The weather was fantastic for a night out.

We met the group of haunted pub crawlers at a bar on River Street. Jenna, our tour guide, was dressed in period garb and regaled us with creepy ghost stories while we walked from bar to bar.

It was such a fun night! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!!

Pumpkin Carving

This weekend, my boyfriend came to visit for his birthday (more on that later) and we decided to enjoy the fall weather and get a pumpkin to carve. We found a great little farm with a few furry friends hanging out.

After picking out the best one in the bunch we brought it back to my apartment to carve.

Someone was very insistent on getting his portrait on the pumpkin. Can you guess who?

Gold!!

I few weekends ago, while I was at my friends' wedding, the bf and I took advantage of being in Dahlonega and went panning for gold. We found a quite a few gem stones and even some little flecks of gold. We also went down and explored a real mine with our tour guide Miner Mike and saw a dirty brown cotton ball, also known as a bat.

Are you ready for some Football?!

Sweat, bugs and... did I mention sweat? It must be time for Flag Football!!
My team is called Whiskey Women and it is my first season playing with them. My friend, Lisa, introduced me to our little team of 10 girls who are all really nice. We had such a great time! A few broken nails aside, no one got hurt even though we played the biggest, baddest team for our first game (their super-sized quarter back ended up falling on me when we made an interception and scored a touchdown; however, the refs said it didn't count because apparently they thought that by her laying on top of me, there was unnecessary roughness on the defense's side. Umm... Hello?!?! She was on top of ME. ). Needless to say, we did not win but I am pretty sure we had the most fun. I look forward to our next game in a week!

S & R

This weekend I celebrated two of my very best friends' wedding. I met Sarah and Robert when I was a freshman in college. They immediately became like big brother and sister to me (well, of course! since Sarah and I are sorority sisters). After dating for almost 8 years, Robert finally popped the question.

The wedding took place at Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, Georgia. We couldn't have asked for better weather. I don't think I saw a single cloud the whole weekend.

(The Ceremony Venue)

(The Bridesmaids on Rehearsal Day)

(The Bridesmaids all dressed up)

(Sarah getting ready to walk down the aisle)

(Sarah and Robert saying their vows)

(Mr and Mrs Buckley)

Don't worry, More pictures to follow :-)

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend, my boyfriend Alan came to visit. His friends Daniel and Diana just moved down to Savannah (yay! more new friends!!) so we decided to have a cookout Saturday night and spend some time at the beach on Sunday.

Alan and I having brunch before meeting Daniel and Diana.

Diana, Daniel and Alan swimming

Alan got stung by a jellyfish about 15 minutes after getting to the beach.


The boys playing bocci against our neighboring beach-bathers.


Diana and I watching the boys play bocci.


The boys posing even though they got their butts kicked.


Diana and Daniel, my new Savannah friends.


Me and Alan

A Weekend in Atlanta

Since moving to Savannah, this is the first weekend I've been back home in two whole months. It was about time! After making the ridiculously long (4 hours?!?!) drive with Greyson in the passenger seat, I made it home on Friday evening. My parents and I had such a nice relaxing evening and Greyson loved exploring Hattie and Poppie's house.

Saturday, I helped put together food for a surprise bridal shower that some of my friends were throwing for one of my best friends. Her wedding is in September (Labor Day weekend) and I am one of the bridesmaids. It was such a fun party and the bride-to-be was completely surprised; which is pretty difficult to do in this group of friends.

Me and the Bride-to-be

Some of the Zetas at the Shower

Saturday night, we celebrated my friend Amit's return from the army. He is on leave for the next month. A big group of us went to dinner and drinks after at the pub around the corner. It was such a great time hanging out with everyone and it really made me miss home and all my friends.

Sunday was family day. My parents, sister, nephew and I went to church and lunch and then my mom and I went shopping. In the evening, everyone came over to my parents house for family dinner. My boyfriend, Alan, came too and played a vicious game of scrabble with my parents (I was winning after my 90 point score for "Geyser") and then cards after dinner. I really love hanging out with my family and value the dinner and game nights we spend together.

It was such a wonderful weekend at home! Now I'm back in Sav and waiting for the work week to begin but hopefully I'll get to visit again soon.

Greyson fell asleep as soon as we got back. He had such a great time in Atlanta.

Another Internship... kind of

I moved down to Savannah for an internship with a real estate company. It is an indefinite internship... so basically, I am an employee with all the work and responsibility but without the pay or benefits. Although I would have preferred an actual titled job, I am really grateful to have found this position (my big sister really was the one to find it for me).

I work in the small marketing office of The Landings Company, a real estate company on Skidaway Island. I am one of eight staff members in the office, the rest of the building is filled with desks and cubicles for agents. My typical day, when I get to work, consists of checking morning email, finishing up projects from the previous days, starting new projects, maintaining the website, driving home for lunch to let my puppy out, coming back to repeat everything I do in the morning, emailing out my finished projects to my boss to get approved, thinking of more projects to do, and going home. My projects range from creating banner ads for websites, editing The Landings' website, designing newspaper real estate ads. Basically, if it needs designing, I am the girl to do it.

I really enjoy my job. Although I am technically an intern, I am given the same consideration as everyone else and have almost full creative license with my designs. I enjoy working with everyone in the office. Hopefully this internship will become a full-time position in the future.

Needing some family time...

I recently relocated to Savannah, leaving my family and friends back in Atlanta. Luckily, my best friend has lived here her whole life and has taken it upon herself to introduce me to a few (four) people and show me around town. Savannah is a lovely city; its by the beach and intracoastal waterway, its historic, its friendly. As wonderful as Savannah seems on paper, it can not make up for not having my friends and family. This week I've been really homesick. Atlanta has been my home since I was three. I have high school and college friends there. I have family there (including my new nephew, who is the sweetest baby ever!). Georgia's charming coastal city is quickly losing its charm for me.

On the upside of things, I have a little baby puppy, named Greyson. I got him a few weeks ago and he is wonderful. I also have my amazing condo that I love (pictures to come). I have my job (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!). And I do have a (really small) circle of friends here. I know that my homesickness is jading me a bit to the fabulousness that is Savannah and hopefully in time I will feel more comfortable here.

In perfect time for me to get over my homesickness, I am lucky to get to see my family this week coming up. My cousin is getting married in Rhode Island. I will see my parents, sisters, BILs, nephew, and extended family. Yay!

Greyson loves to play