Finding Balance

The other day a friend said to me, “sometimes when you’re slacking in one place, it means your kicking ass in another place!”  While I’m sad that my productivity with this space seems to be like a jolting roller coaster, I’m happy to have been dedicating much of my time to my job.  It’s a job that I don’t have to “work” everyday.  You know the saying, “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”, that’s what I’m getting at here.  I never complain or reluctantly go to work, whether it’s at 8 a.m. (okay, sometimes I’m reluctant at 8 a.m. but that’s only because I hate mornings) or 7 p.m. or weekends for a game.  I genuinely love working in sports communications.  In addition to the wonderful people I work with, I love the relationships that I’ve built with the coaches, athletes, and media that walk through our doors on a daily basis.

With that though, it’s sometimes hard to find that work/life balance or the time to dedicate to other hobbies. Now that I won’t have to worry about school work on top of my job (I graduated with my Master’s last week. YAY!), I hope to be able to dedicate the limited free time I have to other hobbies I enjoy. 

In the last few months I have really made working out a staple in my routine.  I have found classes and exercises that work for me and I am loving the results.

I want to blog more.  It’s usually on the back of my mind, but finding the time or the ideas in order to produce quality content is not always there. 

I want to read more.  The amount of books I have on my “to read” list are piling up so quickly and I’ve only read two so far this year. 

And most importantly, I want to dedicate time to my friends and family. I don’t live close to most of them, so finding time to catch up and face time is really important to me. 

So here’s to finding that balance, while continuing to work my tail off for a job I love.

What I'm Reading | The Royal We

When I first saw the book The Royal We I immediately fell in love with the cover.  I'm guilty of judging books by their cover.  I'm definitely a sucker for buying things based on their packaging rather than the actual quality of the product, which I blame on my marketing background.  Luckily for me, the cover lived up to the pages inside.

I brought this book to Europe with me with every intention of having time to read it while traveling from city to city, but that didn't happen.  I didn't even open the book until I was sitting on the plane heading home.  Right from the beginning, I was hooked.

As someone who fell in love with London a few years ago and is fascinated with the Royal Family, this was such a fun book to read.  It resembles a lot of Will and Kate's relationship in a fictional sense and if Kate had been American.  The prologue hints at the ending, but it was great to see how the story unfolded throughout the fun, loving, ups and downs of the relationship (& friendships) you couldn't help but root for.

This book is perfect for any London lover, England enthusiast, or girl who has a serious fairy tale complex.  I would love to read a sequel, too!

Cheers!

Apartment Tour | Athens, Georgia

I've always loved interior design and even thought I wanted that to be my career circa middle school.  House/Apartment Tour posts & pins are honestly some of my favorite because I love to see how people design their space and draw inspiration from things I like. My Interior Style Board on Pinterest is probably the one I pin to the most.

Since living on my own in Louisiana and now Georgia, I've learned that interior decorating takes time.  And that it's worth the time it takes to get everything just right, even if it is a continuous work in progress.

I love my apartment in Athens.  It's a studio, but the layout doesn't make it feel like you're always in the same room and I love the high ceilings.  I have a balcony that has a gorgeous view of the pool and a little bit of Downtown.

Since moving in, I've rearranged and moved things throughout the apartment.  I was overwhelmed at first because I wanted everything to be perfect, but didn't want to rush into anything I wasn't 100% sure I loved.  I've waited a year to post this because I always felt like my bedroom was incomplete.  I still think I need something over my bed, but the recent addition of my state prints adds a little more when you're looking in that direction so I don't feel like it's as incomplete as I did before.  Am I making sense?

So, without further ado… my apartment in Athens, Georgia:

 

 

In between my bedroom and bathroom is my walk in closet/washer & dryer area, but I didn't think pics were necessary.  I also realize that these pictures don't show the view from my bed, which really only left out the pin-able map on my wall.  I love seeing and reflecting on the different places I've been/experienced.

LIVING ROOM:
painting in gallery wall :: DIY, inspired by Made by Girl/ Cocoa and Hearts
Shelving: Hobby Lobby
Chevron Vase: Walmart
Leopard Pillows: Etsy
Radiant Orchid Pillows: Etsy
Gold Pillows: I can't find them, but most likely an easy shop.
Plant: Hobby Lobby
TV Stand: Ikea
Painting above couch: DIY
Spike Mirror: Hobby Lobby
Bar Cart: Ikea Hack
Framed Print: DIY, inspired by
State Prints: Etsy
Pineapple bookends: Hobby Lobby
Faux Deer Mount: Etsy

BEDROOM:
Dalmatian Pillow: Etsy
Black Euro Pillows: Bed Bath and Beyond
Monogram Pillow: Chaotic Creations
Mirror: Hobby Lobby

KITCHEN:
Dish Towels: Disney World

BATHROOM:
Shower Curtain: Bed Bath and Beyond
Mirror Tray: Hobby Lobby
Frames: Ikea (I collected all of those bags over the years)

If there's something you see, that I haven't mentioned or linked, let me know and I'll try to figure out where I got it! :)

One Year in the Classic City

This week I'm celebrating one whole year in the Classic City!

Since the first time I drove through the Athens city limits I knew it was a place I needed to be.  I was visiting Atlanta for the weekend and decided to drive east to the University of Georgia.  I remember walking through North Campus and down Sanford Drive to the stadium in complete awe.  The campus was beautiful with its early fall colors and majestic buildings!  The rich character and small-town feel of Downtown Athens immediately had me hooked.  The atmosphere on a September Friday before gameday is something that screams pride and excitement.  I knew right then and there that Athens, Georgia is a special place.

About 8 months later it was official that I'd be a Georgia Bulldog and 3 months after that I was moving into my apartment in Athens.  Less than a year after visiting Athens for the first time, I was calling it home.  And today I'm still so grateful and feel blessed that I get to live here.  That I get to be a Georgia Bulldog!  I have completely fallen in love with this town.  The pride engulfed in those who love the Dawgs.  The atmosphere on Saturdays throughout the fall.  The glow of the Christmas lights through downtown during the winter.  The diversity and originality of the many restaurants that make up the food scene downtown.  Athens, Georgia is a treasure.

Since the moment I stepped foot in Athens almost 2 years ago I longed to be a part of the culture that surrounded The Classic City.  I'm grateful for the path I took to arrive in Athens.  This year has been hard and challenging.  I am away from my family and close friends that I miss on a daily basis.  I also had to get through an immense loss mostly on my own.  There's still immeasurable heartache and struggle after the dust settles.  But this year has also been so fun and rewarding.  I've grown and learned  an incredible amount this year- about myself, about life, and about what I want for my future.  And I can honestly say that Athens has become home.  I have a love for this place that makes me smile from ear to ear.  Thanks for a great year, Athens, I love you!