Unwritten.

Who I thought I was on Saturday night.

I think I am funnier in the winter. Or winter is just so cold and horrible that I have more neutral material to rant about, thus creating a slightly more entertaining read. Here is my dillema. Funny things happen that I could tell you all about - such as an episode that happened this past Saturday night in which I had an identity crisis and thought I was a 250 pound sumo wrestler and might have gotten carried away with some spirited beverages....

But see... even that feels like I went too far. I have this complex that if I share the true gritty personal stuff with you all, that I will never be employed anywhere, ever again. I am not sure how reality stars make this work for them.... The internet is a scary place. Once you break the internet seal, there is no going back. Apple Z does not work on the world wide web. Somewhere, somehow this stuff is becoming permanent - etched in stone forever. For a lifetime. And so naturally, this limits what I can write to you about, and still hold my head up high ;)

The amazing dinner J and I had Sunday at Rumba. Yes for two.

Perhaps I need more material. I am not studying abroad. I am not a mom who drives a minivan and has crazy stories about diaper poop, PTA meetings and tantrums (amen). I am not in a niche trying to advise you on anything. I am not struggling through a cookbook or trying to see every country in the world in a year. I am just eating my face off and enjoying my summer with my friends. I need to go on a safari.

Instead, I sit on my couch and watch the Bachelorette and the food network. I go to Walmart with my boyfriend and buy odor repellant for his car (I am sure you can fill in the blank from the sumo wrestler identity crisis?) and we lament about how the mac and cheese at dinner was only standard and how if we had made it, it would have been awesome (One word: Velveeta). I go to my job from 9 - 5pm and then I go home and watch E! News over a box of wheat thins and hummus. Yes, there are a lot of moments of awesomeness that I share - but they don't happen everyday.

I am okay with this. I am going to simply write more frequently about the fact that I don't have anything to write about. Just know, dear reader, that the part of my life left unwritten is actually pretty entertaining. Just ask the witnesses of Saturday night. My best friends know. And they will hold onto my secrets as good friends should.

As for you in blogger world - you just don't know me like that.

A free spirited summer.

I absolutely love the summer. Something about it makes even weeknights sparkle. They are warm and inviting, and there is always something fun going on in this town. Unlike the winter, during which I refuse to break free from my snuggie and want to kill myself at the thought of baring the cold AND the sleep deprivation the next morning just to call myself "social", I enjoy going out in the summer. This season is a free spirit, and in turn, so am I. I am not as much of a grandma. I look less like a vampire. My self-diagnosed SADD has lifted. Ice cream is reintroduced into my life without the worry of a brain freeze. Cookouts, smores, sundresses, sunlight - these are all things that make me happy (okay, my office is a straight up ice box, and my toes are always blue. But other than that, no complaints).

Music city does not disappoint, especially in the summer. Jordan and I saw Idina Menzel perform with the Nashville Symphony which was amazing. And later that same week, Jordan hooked us up with tickets to the CMT Awards - full backstage passes for helping her organize talent for just the afternoon of the show. She's the best. My official job as a talent escort involved walking the celebs from the red carpet to the pre-party and then to their seats, and it was a blast. I saw some old friends from my internship days and we got to see some of the rehearsals as well as all of the red carpet action. It was such an incredible night. To be able to really enjoy it, and not be working it as I had in the two years past as a production assistant, was so much fun. Plus, backstage passes simply make you feel famous, and bad ass. I highly recommend it. Highly.

My parents were in town last weekend and we all stayed in the Gaylord Opry Resort, which is one of my favorite places (in the whole wide world). It felt like a mini vacation to stay in a room all weekend, have fancy dinners and spend a lovely weekend with my two favorite grown ups :) They met the boy - all went well, and I had no doubt it would.

I also got my TN license 11 months after I legally should have. This is another awesome development that has relieved me of the daily panic attack of being pulled over. I was having dreams. Bad, scary dreams. But I hate the DMV with a burning passion, so I kept putting it off. Well, now, I can sleep. But I still hold my ground that the DMV is where fun goes to die. And it was the worst morning. Dear DMV - I will see you in 2018. Maybe by then they will figure out how to function more like a normal business and less like a dysfunctional terrorist organization.

Last night we went to 12th and Porter and saw my favorite duo, Elenowen, perform. They were featured on the show The Voice and they are absolutely amazing. You must check them out :)

This past week marked my official one year with The A Group and in reflection, it has been the best year of my life. I feel very blessed to have a solid job that balances everything else going on in my life. I feel synched at the moment, which is such a departure from how I typically feel in the summer. It is always a transitional, uprooted season for me - whether I was moving back home from college, interning, moving out here - there was always change. To slip and slide into summer this year like I used to in my backyard with my sister is so refreshing. No jarring change, no crazy life crisis. Just calm and fun and settled. And free.

Stretch and smile.

Bad moods are contagious. When people around you are in a bad mood, it can absolutely spread like a wild fire. I understand there are moments in life when certain situations nick you like a dull razor blade, and this thing can put you immediately in a bad mood. It is hard in that moment in which you feel a fire ignite inside you to diffuse the flames, smile and move forward with a positive attitude. But snapping out of these moods when you are at the office or at work is a must. I am no saint, but even when my patience is a shallow puddle and my sassy streak is a pool, I lock it up around my clients. Some people don't understand this concept. Which is why this morning, I wanted to get my sadistic Pilates instructor fired. (side note: I did not).

No. 75 year old's can't do this.

Before you judge that volatile statement, let me explain. At 5:20am my alarm clock rings like a shot gun piercing through the quiet and in this moment, I kind of want to be a drama baby and cry. But then I drag myself out of bed, knowing that working out is fostering a healthy lifestyle, being proactive and kick starting my energy for the work day.  I get out of bed, and I drive to the gym in a bit of a foggy coma (drivers... beware) for my Tuesday, Thursday Pilates class. This should be "Jenny time." A time in which I can center and feel good about making it to the gym, but this instructor does not share this mentality. She acts like she would rather be ANYWHERE else. She is less an instructor and more a ruthless and bitter drill Sargent who is ripped, more flexible than stretch Armstrong and, well, simply negative. Just plain mean. Her tone of voice is sarcastic, her instructions are condescending and don't dare suggest or ask a question. Today, I simply could not take it. I was one comment away from busting out in the T Swift song. But then I remembered I had not warmed up my vocals, so I refrained ;)

She should just be in the circus.

There are literally 60 - 75 year old women in this class who should get a medal for simply showing up and trying to move their bodies at 7am, but instead, Miss Flexy wants to make them cry. Listen - just because you are a 20 year old track star who is bitter you missed your calling with Cirque du Soleil does not mean you get to treat your clients like worthless flap jacks. We. Are. Trying. If I treated my clients the way she acts in that class, I would not have my job. It simply baffles me. Suck it up. Smile. Be warm and kind and inspiring. This is the YMCA, not Fort Brag.

You might be asking yourself - then why go back to the class? But the movements of Pilates is really body-changing and I love it. Her music choice is also fantastic. I just need to find a way to slip her a prozac or a tequila shot. Maybe then she would be sweet? Less of a punisher, more of an instructor?

Maybe we can all learn from this and remind ourselves that attitude and tone are such important factors to creating a positive and happy life for you and the people around you. I know I can certainly work on being a more patient, kind and understanding person. In fact, this post is a pure example of my own weakness - I should pray for this girl and not blast her on my blog. But you know what, I am not that self-actualized yet. If she can't suck it up and smile, well then just this once - neither can I.

Maybe she needs a hug? Maybe I should just walk in and offer her a hug at the start of the next class? Something tells me she might whip out a Pilates move in "self defense" disabling my ability to move. For the rest of my life. Yeah. Not a good idea.

Share a smile today. Even if you don't think there is one left in you, stretch yourself to spread the joy.

Hello world.

Great. News. I came to my blog today after what has been a ridiculous absence and I am finally updating for my long awaited fans (hi mom) to read all about the awesome past couple of weeks (hmm.. months?) I have had.

I will tell you, after a long, cold and dreary winter, things have certainly heated up in all the right ways. I traded in my blackberry and that demon flashing red light for a new iPhone. Upgrade. I traded in the single life to be with someone who is absolutely wonderful. Upgrade. I have tucked away the winter clothes and traded in the rain boots for flip flops and pedicures. Upgrade. And in turn, everything feels brighter, happier, and so exciting.

Graduation one year ago.

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of being offered my job at The A Group and I cannot believe it was a year ago this time that I was just starting to navigate this crazy journey living in Nashville. People say college is the best years of your life, but that has not been true for me. Instead, being on my own, in a town I love with great friends and a partner in crime has made for my favorite year. My best year. It has certainly been a roller coaster but a thrill that has far surpassed my expectations


Some highlights of the past few months:

I went to Gulf Shores Alabama for a huge music festival called Hangout Fest with Brooke and a bunch of friends. It was a much needed Spring Break and we had a blast (minus the lung damage I surely incurred due to all of the smoke). My friends, the music and the ocean made for a great trip. I forgot how much I missed the beach.

Everley is also healthy as ever, which continues to be a constant reminder of God's grace and love. I cannot express how powerful it is to hold her and know I am holding a miracle.

I went home to NC for Mother's Day and got to enjoy being back in my own bed. I appreciate and love being home more and more the older I get.  

As I begin what is sure to be an incredible summer, I intend to update more with funny anecdotes as per usual, but for now I simply wanted to say hello and let you know that this fair weather friend is back in action and is looking forward to chronicling her summer adventures for all of you.

Stick around :)