Did I ever tell you I love cool air?

Okay, so I realize it has been 5 months since i've been around on here, so I am going to do a reasonably quick, yet informative catch-up. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!!! Life has happened....





Work: First of all, I got promoted to Customer Service Team Leader on June 26th, 2010. (The above pic is me venturing to my new store...) Each Publix has one Team Leader to run front end operations at their store - you know, taking care of all cashiers and service clerks, and staff....and most importantly being there for customers to see and talk to. I seriously, almost cried because I have been trying to obtain this position for about two and a half years. It's so strange because it just happened out of the blue....the day before I really knew, there were a few inklings because of strange happenings at work, but I wasn't sure if I was just antsy or if it was real. It really is a competition sometimes....One guy (who was also trying to get the spot) was so upset that I got the open position...he SERIOUSLY went home sick. SERIOUSLY? How immature. He was the only one who didn't say congrats to me on my last day at that store. Some team leader he'll [never] make....
My store pitched in and bought me some gift cards as "good-bye" gifts....kohl's, bahama breeze, and banana republic....AND a scratch off that won 5$ so I bought ANOTHER scratch off that won $50! Gosh I love gambling! (ask ayla and jeremy to try and pull me from a slot machine, LOL)
My new store is much smaller than the ones I am used to. It's great though...I love my newfound responsibility...I feel important and more needed than ever before. I love talking to and coaching the workers slightly under me and I love my new relationship with management (my next goal). Customers see me as more helpful and friendly than ever before. (Or, I just get to hear worse bitching since I am the girl in the ironed blouse and slacks :) )


It's tradition...you get a giant Publix cake when you are promoted :)

Friends: Holy shit....Becky went to law school (I am disgustingly proud of her), Ayla is having a baby, AND I added Amy to my crew of beautiful bridesmaids! SHEESH!!! SO MUCH! Ayla's baby shower is coming up in two weeks and Stephen Fox is due in December!!! (maybe late november...my birthday would be fantastic! - come on Ayla, push!) When I asked Amy to be a bridesmaid, I actually cried a bit...wow, I am CHEESY!! I just felt God wanted me to do it and I felt right doing it. So what if I have more bridesmaids than Jeremy has groomsmen...this wedding is not too typical. Life is not too typical....lol....

Wedding: Lori had to cancel on the photography because she found out she's preggie and her baby is due two weeks before the wedding!. :( :) Happy and Sad. Anyways, she's helping us find a new photographer so hopefully that will be in place soon. Jer is JUST about done with the wedding invites...they will be going out VERY soon!!! The bridesmaid dresses will be CHOCOLATE brown....amazingness!! The girls will be holding white bouquets....and did I tell you?? I bought my wedding dress!!!!!!! OMG, I never knew I would love a dress so much. I went to David's Bridal with my two sisters....I fell in love with three different dresses, slept on it, and the next day I JUST KNEW which one best suited me and my wedding style. I called immediatley and spontaneously left a deposit. (While shedding a few jouyous tears as the associate put me on hold for a moment). I would post a picture for you, but I'd rather not risk my fiance reading this....as if he ever would....lol! It's ivory and misty....perfect for a mountain wedding!




This is Ayla trying on the bridesmaid dress one more time before she moved. It will be brown, though. You would never know she's pregnant in this picture!


Cats: Well, Moose and Bunny are doing the same as usual. Sleeping eating, and enjoying time on the balcony. Early in the mornings they get a little rambunctious, but then it's back to laying around and sleeping...or licking themselves?





Family: Katrina is turning into a beautiful woman and Matt is trying to beat the bottle. Everyone else is doing well also. Grandma and Grandpa are in Kentucky visiting family members that are very well. My grandpa's sister, Susan...and my grandma's sister-in-law, Betty. I hope they all turn out well! (I think I will call my grandma after this blog post!)

Fishling: If my fish makes it until my birthday, that means I have kept him alive for an entire year! I spent a good twenty dollars on him yesterday getting new filters and a gravel cleaning pump...oh and a new thermometer. I hope he is happy with me once I refresh his aquarium.

Not too much else is going on...Becky is coming into town this weekend so hopefully I will see her Fri or Sat. Her little sister is turning 12....I can't believe it because I literally remember when her step-mom was pregnant with her back in middle earth days!!! (Of course i mean school...this isn't lord of the rings.) Aren't I a dork? lol!

Oh! There are 17 day's until our "girl's weekend!" that Amy, Jenny, Dela, and I are doing. It's going to be very exciting...well, for our men :) Can't get into it at this time...

I really hope to get back into blogging again and stay! It's very relieving and nice to sort of keep a record of life's random pieces.

Right now I am drinking coffee and I have the living room sliding glass door open so I can see the trees in the breeze. Just this week, cool air has begun to drift into the area and i absolutely LOVE COOL AIR!!!

The Treadmill

Okay, so I have really really decided to "lose the weight." I still can't believe I thought I was fat at 120 lbs three years ago........now I AM fat at 157.5. AAAHHHHH, and I'm 5'4''. I don't want to get too into it as to lose to magic of the hardworking process, I just want to say I went to the gym twice now and walked on the treadmill for thirty minutes each day. I was going to go today for round 3....for real, but I can hardly move my legs right now!!! My glutes are EXTREMELY sore, even just walking around my apartment is a task for them. I will surely rest today.....and I mean rest by doing housework and then going to work 2:30-11:30. When this "good sore" fades, i will surely be back! I will be eating a good healthy lunch in a bit :)

Wedding Update: Lori Schaneville is coming to TN to be our photographer!!!!!! Yay!!!!!

Back to work and refreshed....

I've been back to work about a week and a half now. It was a bummer at first, but i'm back in the swing. Jer and I had a really fun week off together. We went up to Jenny's for Friday-Sunday. (in Lake City) It was cool because I finally got to see the treehouse that Chris has been working on and it was AMAZING. I don't even know if Carson (7 years old) realizes yet how great his parents are!! What a special special treehouse. Every kid wants a treehouse....and it's like Chris and Jenny are actually making one!!! We slept in their living room with the windows open at night and it was a lovely cool air coming in....with hardly any noise at all! I could hear "air"..but then Jenny and Chris said it was the interstate....LOL....but I mean, it is traffic pushing air, right? Oh well, I liked the sounds whatever they were. Here at the apartment you can hear people walking and talking in the halls and doors and trash cans opening and closing and so forth. After our trip to Jenny's, Jer and I spent day 4 relaxing around the apartment....we did other things around town like went to a lot of restaurants like Applebees, Olive Garden, went to the pool a couple of times....went to the park and walked, went to the bookstore, i bought "Financial Planning for Dummies' so I am in the midst of reading that. We also went to the Casino with Ayla and I came out sixty dollars ahead. lol....Jer and Ayla had to pull me away. Black and White 7s....here I come next time. We went to ellenton outlet mall on one day...and it was fun driving over the skyway. We really felt like we were out and about!! The mall wasn't TOO exciting but at least we have finally discovered what it was all about. We did find an amazing wedding ring for Jeremy at Zales outlet. We didn't buy it, but the next day we went to Jared to have my engagement ring for it's six month inspection and found a similar one that we can customize.

This is the ring...but we'd make some changes. It's cool because it spins. It's sort of like a stress ring. I'm almost positive it's the one. Jer seems to really love it.


I really needed my vacation, so I am glad I took it even though we didn't venture to any far off lands. On the way up to Jenny's, Jer actually got a call that his old job at Catalina wanted him to fill in for someone for two weeks while they were on vacation. It seemed annoying, but now he's been there for a week and a half again and love its.....once the week is over we are praying that they ask him to stay. According to Jeremy, no one was on vacation and they made that up....and I guess in one of their meetings that Jer wasn't in, the boss asked the team how Jer was doing and they all said very well! AND, they reinstated his work badge and even hooked up his phone line....but for two weeks only??? We'll see!!!!


Wedding update; We booked a GORGEOUS 10 bedroom cabin in TN!!!! The wedding trip will be March 27-31st. The Wedding Day will be the 30th. It's perfect!!! I can't wait to plan. Colin and his wife Sheba said they could be there and everything!!! It's also Spring Break for Micah, Carson, and Abby...so it works PERFECT!! I think this is how God wanted it.



Well, this is it for now. Great things are ahead!!! I can't wait to see if Jer gets this job....and I am so excited for us to get married!!!!

Vacating Publix......

So....I am officially off for 11 days in a row!! I couldn't be happier at this moment!!! Today has been a very pleasing day for sure.

Jer and I met Colin at 10am for marriage counseling....well, premarital counseling I suppose we should call it. It was absolutley a delight....a little emotional at some points, but Jer and I always walk out of there feeling more prepared for life in general just because Colin's ideas/teachings are very harmonious to the good of this world. Jer may be considering going to Church again and I just feel like it's about time. I just haven't felt right if I were to go alone. I feel that my future husband should be by my side for me to attend. Anyways, we talked about the postponement of the wedding....which I think is a great thing now. I really do - I am starting to be less sad about our larger cancelled wedding and more and more excited for the way it really will end up turning out someday - which will be lovely and perfect.

After our meeting, Jer and I went to Paulos. It's an italian mom n pop shop. MMMM. Very bad for you, but yummy!!! I actually really like supporting small businesses like them. I hate supporting walmart but I think I've journalized that concept before. But, sometimes, you have to go there anyways. Well....I'll let you know how my vacation went!!!!!

Simple Updates!

SOOOO Jeremy got that job that I had spoken about in my last post. There are a few downfalls though. It turns out they only hired him on part time because he's sharing the position with someone else....a friend of the boss lady, who is apparently very bitchy - eehhg. <~~~~what kind of sound is that? I just pray to God that Jer starts to love it there and he meshes in and gets hired on full time.

Easter just passed us by on the 4th. It was fun at first....then we went to Jer's parents at night and his mom decided to awkwardly pull him away for over an hour to chat about some intense stuff that had been going on. Jeff, Amy, and I were just sitting in the living room looking at each other just overcome with awkwardness. Mr. G just went in his play room to watch TV. We really felt uncomfortable and were disappointed she didn't invite other family members that we usually see every Easter. I had taken a lot of time to make our deviled eggs we brought very presentable and yummy. I knew she'd have a private moment with Jer about a few things....but I had no idea she would center the entire Easter occasion around it. It sucked. Why couldn't she just take Jer out to lunch or something? Oh well. But on a lighter note...here's some pics of our gorgeous deviled eggs....




Here is a very pretty salad Amy made for Easter....



Today I am working for the 5th day of an 8 day-in-a-rower.......yikes! I've been drinking our veggie/fruit juice and taking vitamin C. Along with coffee of course. I just don't want to get sick for my vacation like I did last year from working 9 days in a row and being very exhausted. Once my 8 days is up, I am off for 11 days. We are going to Jer's sister's house in Lake City and then up to TN to have a vacation for once....and decide if that is the place for our wedding!! Can't wait!! I am also getting my hair done by Faith Barnes. I'll let you know how it goes!

Good Days Ahead? Juice on the squeeze, Publix in my heart.

Good Morning!

Well, I just showered and made coffee...mmm the whole apartment smells like blueberries from the blueberry coffee!! How wonderful! Jeremy is in bed still, but I heard him stirring around in the bed...possibly smelling things and hearing things happening on my current side of the apartment...maybe enticing him to get up and enjoy the day! It looks pleasurably sunny outside! In high school, I often sat next to this Indian guy on the bus who went by "Sunny"...but his name was Duyshant or something like that, I always called him "Sunny Bunny!"..cute, eh? Anyways, Jeremy may have a job opportunity coming up and goodness, I hope it works out because it sounds almost fantasy like the way the opp came about. One morning, we were lying in bed and he got a 9am text and it said "Hi Jeremy, this is Brian McNay...i may have a graphic design position at the company I work for that you would be interested in. Please give me a call."Jer gave him a call and found out the details. It's in Tampa and he'd be doing a catalogue for a big company that installs beautiful front doors in homes. It looks great! The building that the office is located in looks fancy even! Well, that call was just over a week ago. Apparently the position is still taken by a woman that will soon be fired or resign and then Jeremy will be able to have an interview. This Brian guy said he was 90% sure about everything. All we can do now is wait to hear from him again. Jeremy said he has no problem being confident about his skills in the interview....which Brian did coach that he MUST be confident in his graphic design skills to win over the woman Cynthia who would be conducting the interview. How could Jeremy not win? He's a good loyal man with an honest voice and a very humble attitude. There's no way he can't not get this job if he gets to go in for that interview. Brian said he wanted to get younger folk in the office anyways and Jer is 25 now....young, but ready to be even more mature than he already is.

Wedding Update: Well, Jer and I have officially cancelled/postponed all vendors that were going to be a part of our November 12th wedding. We are sad, but looking ahead of it now. We are getting some of the money back at least. We have better plans now. We even wrote a "Change the Date" card to send out to all the people that we had sent out "Save the Date" cards to. On it, is a little poem we wrote....

Change the Date!

To all our friends and family, just a little note…

To forget the “save the date” we previously wrote.

Due to the situations and circumstances of life,

It will be a little longer before Jeremy has a wife.

We are sorry to have to cancel the plans of before,

Just know for sure that much more fun is in store.

We want you to know our love is still deep,

Unfortunately, weddings just aren’t cheap.

We’ll let you know

As things re-flow

But for now, just remember,

Our wedding won’t be this November.

Aren't I a cute poem writer?? LOL. Anyways, it's not too corny, but more fun than anything I think. Jer seemed to get a kick out of it himself. It will be nice to get those out to everyone soon. Next month, depending on Jeremy's job situation, we plan on going up to TN to stay at a mountain cabin resort to have a look and see if that's where we'd like to have our wedding ceremony. From the website and talking to the people on the phone, it seems dreamlike! It would be fairly cheaper than our original wedding because we'd have only around 25-30 guests...include Jer, Me, and the Bridal party of course. We would be paying for them to stay for a few days in a luxurious cabin! How fun!!! We could all spend time together and be on a lighter schedule on the wedding day...no rushing around for appointments. Us girls could do our hair right in the cabin together and it would just be so much more exciting and relaxed I feel. I just hope my mom would be able to make it. I'll let you know how what's going on!

Yesterday, Jer and I went to Wal-mart...ugh, I hate supporting them, but we basically have to sometimes. We bought a new juicer! Jer and I were talking about our health for a while yesterday, and of course I got weepy talking about my blood pressure and how I want to be in ideal health so bad, but it just seems too much of a challenge. Jer assured me we can get through it together, and then he thought of juice! We bought the juicer and came right home and juiced carrots, apples, and oranges. It was great! We are going to work our way up to other veggies too, it will be so wonderful to get all that health into our systems! I feel confident and motivated today, but I know those feelings only last so long...Jeremy will help me keep them alive. I want to lose 35 lbs in the next 4-5 ,months and Jer wants to lose at least 15 lbs. He already lost 20 last year and hasn't gained a whole lot of it back, but he just wants to finish what he had started I think. Good luck Megan and Jeremy! We did that fruit and veggie fast in Jan...and I lost 6-7 lbs....if I can do it then, I can do it now....and I am going to call it a fruit and veggie FOCUS instead of a fast. Fasts get broken, but focus can always be a goal. Hellooo carrots!!

The day before yesterday, I got to help setup and tear down the Publix Luncheon for the 2010 Service Awards...honoring people who have worked for the company 5, 10, and 15 years. The 20+ year people get a dinner banquet. I had so much fun and felt very useful...it was great and a fantastic "networking opp" since I'd like soooo badly to be promoted soon! I've been ROIing for over two years now! If i were still at my old store 640 I would have gotten promoted already, but I still believe I made the right decision to come back to 353 because I really felt it in my heart. I am NOT saying that to convince myself of it either. At the luncheon, we had lots of guests..like Mike Abrams...our top HR man, and Jim Herring....the regional director!! AAAHH!! I took this lovely picture of them sitting together....they let me....i felt very special....

This second lovely photo was Mike Abrams's idea....a photo of myself....and the centerpiece of the table....you know there is a rumor that if Mike comes into your Publix store wearing a blue shirt...he's there to fire someone? LOL, no clue if he actually does this...but, he might? I would!!! Just to mess with everyone, hahaha! I would love a neat tale like that following my position.




Well, I guess it's time for me to finish my coffee and make my juice. Love until next time! I hope i come back here bearing good news. :)

The Dark Ages.

Gosh it's been well over a month. Sooo much has happened. I don't even know where to start. I am so down right now because of money, my wedding, my work, my health - it all just sucks ass right now. Jeremy and I are in some dark days with this economic struggle. He still hasn't found a job and we have decided to drop our wedding date that we have worked so hard for over the last year. I cried for days and days when we made this decision. A lot of it was paid for, but a lot of it wasn't. There just wasn't anything we could do to pay it off in time. It's been a year this month that we have been engaged. I'm in a pair of footies, Christmas PJ pants, and a sweatshirt. I haven't even brushed my hair today and it's almost 5pm. Jer was on the porch throwing darts, now he's just sitting on the couch, staring at his phone. Perhaps hoping someone calls him with good news? We got invited to a wedding in England...wow, but there's noway we'd be able to go to that at all. Bummer! My car got towed this weekend at a hotel after lisa's wedding, and my dad had to pick us up. It costed 150 bucks to get the thing back. DAMN! Then I had to pay a 281$ speeding ticket because I was unable to complete my community service hours...shit. Oh! And I side swiped Becky's friend, Kaitie's car....what was I thinking! So I feel like crap for inconviencing her because now she has to get it fixed and all that, even though my insurance is paying. Our savings is just being eaten away by dumb shit and it just has us so down. It really feels like the world is against us. Please help God!