Saturday, December 31, 2016

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017


I’m pretty sure that the worldwide consensus is that the past 365 days have been the worst, and I’m not here to dispute that by any means. On a personal level, this has been the toughest year I’ve ever experienced.

Normally, when I blog on the last day of the year, I reflect on all the blessings bestowed upon me. But I’m not going to do that this time. I’m ready to move on from 2016 and look ahead to 2017.

Please don’t interpret this as me saying that nothing positive happened this year, because there were still plenty of things that occurred for which I’m grateful; namely that I was reminded yet again what a phenomenal support system of family and friends that I have. I tried to write about the good stuff, you guys, I really did. But I just kept thinking about the struggles and ended up staring at a blank computer screen.

So this time around, I’m dedicating my energy on the last day of the year to the next 365 days. There’s a lot to look forward to…

Improved Health: Thanks to the Weight Watchers app, I lost 50 pounds this year! I’m planning to keep this train rolling while also increasing my physical fitness (my new job comes with a free gym membership-woo hoo!). Cheers to buying smaller clothes and feeling great!

A New Career Path (emphasis on the word, Career): It was always my dream to be back at my alma mater one day, and the highlight of the year was definitely making that dream come true. After two weeks as the Assistant Director of Career Development at my beloved university, I’m happy to say it has truly felt like coming home. I’m looking forward to being the primary Career Advisor for students, as well as teaching an internship preparation course, and collaborating with other departments on campus. It’s amazing to me that on this day last year I was at the lowest point on my career path, and just 365 days later, I am elated about the direction my professional life is headed.


A New Business Venture: I must say, I never saw myself as the type of person to be involved with sales of any kind, but after using doTERRA essential oils & products for the past two years, I decided in November to become a Wellness Advocate. I’m excited to educate others about the health benefits of essential oils and how to use them in their daily lives. I have MUCH more to say about this, so stay tuned for future blog posts. In the meantime, please visit my website to learn more.

Volunteering: I haven’t quite decided where or how, but I know that I want to give back to my community. I’ve spent the past three years mentoring college students at my alma mater, (which is what ultimately led me to discover my passion for career advising), but I’m ready to donate my time in another way. I’ve considered being a Big Sister for years, and I’ve also looked at the Metro United Way volunteer site for tutoring/mentoring opportunities. What is something you’ve done as a volunteer that you loved? Any recommendations are welcome!

More Time With Family: After the health scares our family experienced this year, I’m beyond grateful that we make it a priority to get together every week. If you’ve visited my blog before, you probably know that being an aunt to my sweet niece and nephew is my favorite thing in the world. I’m looking forward to watching them grow and learn, and I’m going to soak up as many minutes laughing with my family as possible.



More Doing What I Love: A lot of my energy was focused on my career this past year, and I let the things that I love to do fall to the wayside. I used to be the queen of leisure time, but I swear I forgot how to relax. This year I’m looking forward to reading & writing more, traveling more (I need a beach vacation like yesterday), and spending more time with my friends (in other words: restaurant visits, concerts, and hosting get-togethers). These are the things that make my heart happy and these are the things of which I need much more in the coming year.


I feel like if I asked the Magic 8-Ball how 2017 was going to go, it would say, “Outlook Is Good”. And speaking of good, it’s officially time to say GOODbye (and GOOD riddance) to 2016, and hello to Twenty-Seventeen. Cheers to the year ahead!




Sunday, September 18, 2016

LCM is O-N-E

Happiest 1st Birthday to the happiest boy I know! I can't believe it has already been a year since he came into our lives.



My precious nephew loves to eat, go on wagon rides, and play peekaboo. He adores his sister! He likes to roar like a lion, but there is no better sound than his giggle. When he blows me a kiss or waves his little hand bye-bye, it melts my heart every time. 




In a year that has been particularly challenging for our family, he has been a constant ray of sunshine. He is truly a blessing!





No matter what we call him-Lucas, Hamcat, Hammy, Luker, or Bubski-he answers to each name with a smile that lights up the room. He's the best nephew an aunt could ever hope to have. I've loved getting to see him grow over the past year and I look forward to many, many birthdays to come. Happy 1st Birthday, sweet boy!



Sunday, August 7, 2016

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad

I’m a hopeless romantic, and it’s all my parents’ fault.

In July of 1976, at the age of 18, my dad and his friend went on vacation to Daytona Beach. They weren’t happy with the location of their original hotel, so they checked into a different hotel closer to the pier, a move that would prove to change my parents' lives forever.

My dad walked out on the balcony of his new room, and noticed my mom in the pool. As the story goes, they met shortly thereafter in the hotel elevator, and were inseparable the rest of the week. 

As Dad tells it, he no sooner left Daytona, and Mom wrote him a letter to send to his home in Louisville, Kentucky. He wrote one back and sent it to her home in LaSalle, Illinois. That was just the beginning of the several letters, long-distance phone calls, and road trips to come over the next few months, a courtship I find especially impressive considering it was in an age without cell phones or the Internet; an early sign of their dedication to one another.

Dad proposed to Mom on Valentine’s Day in 1977, and they were married a few months later in LaSalle on August 7, 1977--40 years ago today!

This morning, they were back in LaSalle, having breakfast with my sister, her husband, and me as we were all in town to visit my grandma. A lot has happened for my parents in 40 years—a home in Louisville, job changes, Dad’s heart attack, Mom’s kidney cancer, 3 children, 2 grandchildren—and through it all they’ve remained dedicated to one another.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize just how rare a relationship like theirs is. My siblings and I are extremely blessed to have been born to these two individuals who have always put family first. I’m incredibly grateful for their fateful meeting in Daytona so many years ago. My parents are two imperfect people who have been a perfect model of devotion, hard work, and love. Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad!











Saturday, July 2, 2016

A Change Will Do You Great

So, what are you supposed to do when you realize that you need a new career?  I had wanted to be a teacher since the days when I played school with my stuffed animals. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and I am a National Board Certified teacher. I won Teacher of the Year at my school 4 years ago. And yet, by September of my 13th year of teaching, the thought of stepping foot into a classroom made me physically ill. How did this happen?

When I had once spent my time scouring Pinterest for classroom resources, I found myself searching for ways to make money at home. I like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with work. But this year it became clear that I had lost the desire for my work to involve grading papers, lesson plans, faculty meetings, parent conferences, and classroom management. I was beyond burnt out. And worse than that, I didn’t know what I wanted to do instead, which is a foreign feeling for me.

I am the type of person who has always known what I wanted. I knew from an early age that I was going to be a teacher. As I said above, I used to play school with my stuffed animals, reading to them, and putting stickers on their “work”. If only it were really that simple.

I had a vision for myself: I would go to college, get my degree in education, teach for a few years, and end up getting my doctorate so that I could finish my teaching career in higher education. I was right on track, too. I started my career teaching second grade at the grade school I attended as a child. I then got hired at one of the top public schools in the state, where I had been teaching for the past 11 years. During that time I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Sciences degree in Elementary Education, and obtained my National Board Certification. As I said before, my colleagues elected me Teacher of the Year, and two years ago, Educational Horizons Magazine published an article I wrote and asked me to lead a webinar for them. It’s been a teaching career to be proud of. But pride doesn’t mean anything if you’re not happy.

The unhappiness didn’t just happen one day; it’s been building over the years. It started with the seemingly impossible demands of new standards and state testing. Then I had a particularly difficult year with students’ parents, in which I felt nothing I did was good enough. Last year was the tipping point. Despite having a wonderful class, supportive parents, a team I loved, and getting to teach alongside my best friend, I still wasn’t happy. I thought what I needed was to move on from the classroom. I applied for several teacher coaching jobs and Reading Recovery positions, disheartened to not even get an interview. I began to wonder why I had worked so hard to build a glowing resume. Then a special education job opened up at my school, and although I had never taught it before, my principal gave me the opportunity to interview for it.

When she called to offer me the job, I felt like I had a chance to start a new chapter in my career. I romanticized what it would be like to work with small groups of learners and collaborate with them in their classrooms. But the reality was nothing like I thought it would be. I had never dreaded going to work before this job. I had never cried about work before, but I was crying all the time. I had never pulled into the parking lot and felt nauseous about entering the school building, but that is how I felt everyday this past school year. I didn’t see my students progressing the way I hoped they would and it felt like I was failing them. The severity and unpredictability of some of their behaviors scared me, and the legality of their Individual Education Plans was weighing on me. On top of it all, I felt guilty for feeling these feelings. I was a mess.

I kept looking for other jobs. I went to visit other schools that had openings I thought I might be interested in. But the whole time I was touring these schools, I felt uneasy and couldn’t wait to leave. Not a good sign. The truth is, it wasn’t my school that I needed to leave; I loved my school and the people in it. It took me a while to realize it, but somewhere along the way, I lost my passion. And you simply cannot be an effective teacher without passion. Moreover, I am not a person who can just go through the motions and collect a paycheck. So what was I supposed to do now?

First, I had to accept the fact that my time as an elementary educator was over. I had to mourn the loss of my identity as a teacher. It was sad and scary. Was everything I had accomplished over the years a waste? What about my retirement? Would I be considered a failure? With so many questions and not many answers, I felt lost. But at the same time, I began to also feel a bit of relief. As daunting as it was to say goodbye to teaching elementary students, in doing so, it felt like I had opened myself up to a world of possibilities. I don’t regret becoming a special education teacher; it gave me a newfound respect for special educators, and ultimately gave me the motivation to move on.

It was time for a revision of my vision. As I said before, I always saw myself getting my doctorate and teaching at the college level. I knew I wasn’t ready for all of that just yet, but being back on a college campus sounded wonderful.

I had been volunteering as a career mentor to students majoring in Education at my undergraduate alma mater for the past three years, and I really enjoyed it. I met with my friend, who is also the director of the mentoring program, and he helped me brainstorm some next steps for getting a position in higher education. With my sights set on working in admissions, alumni relations, or academic advising, I began scouring the employment opportunity web pages of all the local colleges.

After three applications that failed to result in interviews, I found it: my new career. My graduate alma mater was looking to fill three academic advisor positions, and the second I saw that, it was like a heavenly choir started singing and a ray of light was shining down on my phone. As cliché as it may sound, I really felt that it was meant to be. Every step of the way, from the application, to the interview, I just had a notion that this is where I was supposed to be. When I got the call that they wanted to offer me the academic advisor position in the School of Business, an immediate feeling of euphoria washed over me.

But as thrilled as I was to begin this new career, it wasn’t easy to leave my students and colleagues, especially in the middle of a school year. I felt incredibly guilty, like I was abandoning my students and teammates. I was sad to leave my friends, and scared to leave the only job I had known for over a decade. Nevertheless, I knew I really wasn’t good to any of them if I wasn’t happy.

And I am very HAPPY to say that after three months as an academic advisor, I absolutely made the right move. I love what I do. I look forward to going to work each day. I enjoy helping college students map out their journeys to graduation. I have wonderful, supportive colleagues, and I am especially fortunate to have made good friends with the other two advisors that were hired at the same time I was. Also, I love my office (that’s right, MY OFFICE with a big, beautiful window). Additionally, this position will afford me the opportunity to work on my doctorate and to teach at the college level. I will note that I did take a pay cut with my new job, but I don’t believe you can put a price on happiness. And I feel happier and healthier than I have in a long time.

I’m so grateful to my family and friends who supported me along the way; without them, I don’t think I would have had the courage to make this change that I so desperately needed.

I wrote this post in an effort to explain why I left the classroom, to reflect on how my life transformed this year, and to encourage anyone who is considering a career change. Do it. The majority of your time each week is spent at work, and you deserve to spend that time being happy. Yes, change can be scary, but spending any second of your precious life being miserable is even scarier. In my experience, change isn’t just good; change is great.



Saturday, April 16, 2016

Louisville Restaurant Resolution List (Update 1)

A few months ago, I posted about my resolution to try as many Louisville restaurants as I could. I've managed to make some more progress on my list, and I'm going to go ahead and advise you to get a pen so you can add these excellent eateries to yours...

1. The Post 

2. Joella's Hot Chicken
3. Feast
4. Over the Nine
5. Harvest 
6. Zeggz 
7. Nord's Bakery
8. Against the Grain Brewery
9. Hi Five Donuts
10. Blaze
11. Ghyslain 
12. Wild Rita's
13. Jeff Ruby's
14. Fontleroy's 
15. Please & Thank You
16. RIVUE
17. Big Four Burgers
18. Stout Burgers
19. Sidebar 
20. El Camino
21. The Hub 
22. Royals
23. Monnik

Basically this update should be named "The Search for the Best Burger" because I ordered cheeseburgers at five of the six restaurants. And you know what? I'd do it all over again.


Back in February, my friend Melissa and I visited Fontleroy's in The Highlands and oh. My. Macaroni. We shared the macaroni and cheese to start and I could probably just eat that for my meal and be blissfully content. Then again, the chicken and waffles on their menu might have to be eaten on my next visit. I got the burger at my brother's recommendation (sans egg 'cause I keep it simple y'all)  and it was delicious! The service was excellent and the modern decor made for a wonderful dining experience. See you again soon, Macaroni, I mean, Fontleroy's. 





Monnik wasn't originally on my list, but thanks to a great suggestion from my friend Emily, this Germantown gem definitely earned its place. From the pretzel bun, to the beer cheese, to the onion ring, this burger had a lot to be happy about. I suggest you grab your friends, gather around their large tables (made from old bowling alley lanes), and get your grub on as soon as possible. Tara, Deanna, and Emily, when are we going back? 


To celebrate my new job, Melissa and I hit up the one non-burger joint on this post, Royals Hot Chicken. The math is simple, people: hot chicken + potato wedges + chocolate milkshake = YUM. A cool vibe + friendly service + delicious food = I will be back soon.


I have been wanting to try Big Four Burgers + Beer for quite some time. Though it's technically not located in Louisville, this New Albany eatery is worth the trip over the bridge. With so many different burgers to choose from, you're sure to find one that pleases your palate. 


Between concerts & Louisville basketball games, I've been to the Yum! Center more times than I can count. And yet for some unknown reason, I had never visited its next door neighbor, Sidebar, until last Thursday. As a self-proclaimed cheeseburger aficionado, you can trust me when I say that this is the best cheeseburger I've ever eaten in this city (or anywhere else). A soft pretzel bun, beer cheese, juicy beef, and a side of crispy sweet potato fries are the things my dreams are made of. I'm seriously ready to go back right now. 

Thank you, Melissa, Jenny, Deanna, Tara, Emily, and Jill for joining me on my food journey! It's safe to say that my Louisville restaurant resolution is already my favorite New Year's resolution ever. With plans to visit Feast and The Hub already on my calendar, I'm looking forward to crossing more delicious diners off my list. Do you have any others that you think I should add?










Sunday, January 31, 2016

Louisville Restaurant Resolution List

Every new year I resolve to lose weight and get more organized. This year I decided to make a resolution I knew I could actually keep: to visit as many different Louisville restaurants as possible. So last week I spent one of my three snow days being super productive; and by super productive, I mean I sat on the couch and made a list of all the places in town at which I want to eat. 

It's no secret that Louisville has one of the best food scenes around. Some of my favorites include The Silver Dollar, Grind Burger Kitchen, Mussel & Burger Bar, Cafe Lou Lou, Napa River Grill, and The Irish Rover. As ecstatic as I am when my friends suggests we visit one of those delicious places, there are so many more eateries in town I've been wanting to try.


I looked to the Instagram account "EatLoveLouisville" for inspiration, and created the following list:


1. The Post 
2. Joella's Hot Chicken
3. Feast
4. Over the Nine
5. Harvest 
6. Zeggz 
7. Nord's Bakery
8. Against the Grain Brewery
9. Hi Five Donuts
10. Blaze
11. Ghyslain 
12. Wild Rita's
13. Jeff Ruby's
14. Fontleroy's 
15. Please & Thank You
16. RIVUE
17. Big Four Burgers
18. Stout Burgers
19. Sidebar 
20. El Camino
21. The Hub 
22. Royals
23. Monnik
24. Check's Cafe

This weekend I was able to visit two of the spots on my list, and let me just say that they did not disappoint. 

On Saturday, my cousin Tara and I ventured out to The Post for some New York-style pizza. 

Tara ordered the meatball calzone, for which she had to get a to-go box because it was so large (and yummy). I got a "giant slice" of pepperoni and it was a giant delight.

The atmosphere was fun and laid-back, and my bill was under five dollars, folks. I will report back to The Post for sure.

On Sunday, my friends Erin and Jenny accompanied me to Zeggz for brunch. The girls opted for breakfast, while I went the lunch route and got "The Big Z".

It was truly one of the best burgers I've ever eaten, and the seasoning on their fries was sensational. Erin also ordered a skillet cinnamon roll for us to share, and it was the sweet stuff dreams are made of.

I'm pleased to say the first two restaurants on my list were a hit, and I can't wait to try the others. If you've been to any of the eateries I'm hoping to visit, please let me know what you thought and what you would recommend. Are there any additions you think I should make to the list? 

Here's to fabulous food, family, friends, and fun!








Saturday, January 2, 2016

Twenty-Fifteen Blessings

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. 2015 hasn't been my favorite year. I've spent a lot of it sick and stressed out. By the lack of posts, it's obvious I haven't exactly been inspired to write. 

But as I lay on the couch watching football on the final day of 2015, I thought about how I've always done a year-in-review since I started this blog, and while I'm sure all (thirteen) of my readers' lives would go on just fine without it, I didn't want to have any regrets and thus, I convinced myself to follow suit.

And you know what? I'm really glad that I did. Because as I started looking back at the pictures I've taken this year, I realized that a lot of wonderful things happened. So while at times I have felt really stressed, 2015 has truly been another year about which to feel blessed...


I got to start the year with some of my favorite Bellarmine peeps.

Derby Day at my aunt's house meant family, fishing, and fun.

Watching The Bachelor with Angie and Courtney made Mondays worth waking up for.

I loved having my sweet niece visit my classroom!

I had yet another fabulous trip with my DT girls, which included a walking tour of downtown Cincinnati and a stay at the luxurious 21C Hotel.

Mom being kidney cancer-free has become one of my favorite anniversaries to commemorate; 8 years and counting!

I loved being with my Grandma in Indianapolis to celebrate her 86th birthday.

It was so special to be at the hospital when Anderson met baby brother Brody.

Treat Yo Self 2015 was such a good day, it got its own post this year.

I'm so grateful our whole family could be at the lake together this summer; nothing makes me happier than when we are all together.

I had a ball (pun intended) planning the baseball-themed baby shower for Kate and little Lucas!

I enjoyed getting to know my fellow bridesmaids and getting to see my friend of 20 years tie the knot.

The highlight of the year was definitely the birth of my nephew! He is so precious and I've loved seeing him grow the past three months. My niece adores him and it has warmed my heart to see her as a big sister. 

Speaking of the (little) big sister, we started spending every Wednesday night with my niece, and by we I mean my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and me. From touring Target to looking at Christmas lights, I've enjoyed every moment of our weekly outings.

There was no way I could lose getting to attend the Bellarmine-Louisville basketball game with Terry, Dan, Tara, Jill, and Andy. Go Knights! Go Cards! Go Family!

Seeing Straight No Chaser for the third time with my girls Jenny and Erin was delightful. Note: if you haven't heard them sing, I suggest you remedy that

Spending Christmas Day with these two sweeties was the greatest gift of all!

From the moment I saw Darrell Griffith & Denny Crum at the Hard Rock Cafe, until the final second ticked off the game clock at Nissan Stadium, I loved my Music City Bowl experience. Cheering my Cards on to victory over Texas A & M in Nashville was a wonderful way to wrap up the year.


With such supportive family and friends, it's clear that I truly am too blessed to be stressed, and I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store.