Sleep deprived...but present

Greetings and salutations from the left coast. We are officially Seattlites, Rentonians, Washingtonians or Pacific North Westerners – or something. The journey that led me and the family to this point was long, but once the ride started you could almost hear the announcer in the back ground saying, “please stay seated and keep your arms inside until ride comes to a complete stop.” I think we just cleared the first hill. This is going be a long ride. I hope no one barfs.

As I begin to reflect on the past three months, I still cannot believe I am where I am. But I am. So I am taking comfort in just “being”; about as best as I can “be”. I can’t just “be”, you see (is this turning into a Dr. Seuss story); because I am me. Okay, I’ll stop now…brown cow. ALRIGHT!

Right, where was I? Just being in the moment, that is. Last week, I woke up with a doozy of a headache. It’s no mystery for those who are close to me and know me well, that when I go, I go hard. And when I hit a wall, it’s usually with the same fervor.

Side story to the main point: The family is now in the house and we are adjusting (quite well thank you very much). We love the house and I will post more on it later. But let me tell you about our bedroom. It (along with all other windows) has lovely wide blinds covering the windows. Now, the days are longer in the summer. We all learned this in school. But let me tell you how that affects you in Washington; at least, in my bedroom. Come in and put your feet up. You see that sunlight? That…over there? Yeah. It makes an appearance at 5:30 am.

Excuse me? Did she say 5:30 am? And there’s sunlight in Washington?

Yes. I said 5:30…in the morning. I typically refer to any hour before 6:00 am as “o’dark thirty.” And in the first days we stayed in our house, the skies were bright, clear and sunny most days. But every sense of my being was screaming, “for the love it’s o’dark thirty, what the hell is that sunshine doing showing up all unannounced??!”

A side to the side note: If you are positioning yourself to fire off some snarky remark on how I’m complaining about the sunshine and that Washington rains every other minute of the year, and that they “turn out the lights in October. And that it is the #1 Suicide capital of the U.S.” OH. MY. GAWD. Save it.

So I woke up at 5:30 am because I no longer have a ten minute commute and need to get up earlier. I jumped up out of bed, because it was not unlike the bright light Carol Ann was told to go toward. I thought I had over slept. My husband thought I had overslept. Nope. That’s just a sunny morning in June, in Washington.

I popped up and then immediately had to lie back down from the crushing headache. There was that wall I was telling you about; crashed into it with great fervor and abandon. I had my hands pressed onto the top of my head and covering my eyes because it was that painful. It was at this moment I realized, I would have to leave for work a little later and contend with traffic. Fortunately, I didn't have anything I had to be in early for, so there I laid. After about an hour, a large mug of French Roast, and two Excedrin later I was showered, primped and ready to conquer the day, as well as the traffic.

I love French Roast. I hated it for many years. That’s a friendly reminder that our tastes change as we get older, age, mature. So if there is something you didn't care for in the past, try it again. You might surprise yourself.

With my mug of French Roast, keys, bag, lunch, and sunglasses in hand I was out the door and down the road. The streets were already buzzing so I braced myself for the worst. I zoomed up onto the 405 north ramp and stopped like a good commuter who did not qualify for the carpool lane. As I sat and waited in the queue for my turn I watched car after car pass in the carpool lane containing single occupants. Well. Humph. Maybe I will buy that blow-up doll after all.

I made my way onto the expressway, freeway, high way, interstate. What do they call it here? I don’t know. I trudged along at 35-40 mph for about five miles until I got onto 90-W and my drive continued. The part I love best about my commute, and I am sure I will grow to detest, is my drive over Lake Washington. One of Seattle’s greatest beauties is its greatest weakness. It’s a city locked in by beautiful mountains, the Puget Sound, and lakes that drivers must contend with daily. Because it was a little later in my usual drive time, the sun had the chance to peak over the mountains and reflect on the water, lighting up the houses on the hill facing west on Mercer Island.

I wonder what the people who live in those houses are doing as I drive across that bridge. Are they drinking coffee on their fabulous patios and watching the sunrise? Are they still asleep, because who gets up that early when you live on an island? Are they on “island time”? Or are they up and out the door like the rest of us poor slobs to pay for their little slice of heaven? I clear Mercer Island and then cross over Lake Washington again and see more houses facing west and think the same thing about these people except I add, “I bet their commute is nice.” Then through the tunnel I go! I haven’t commuted through a tunnel since I lived in Pittsburgh.

The final scenes of my drive will leave you sports nuts a little envious. As I exit 90-W, I pass under an overpass and as I clear it, “BOOM!” Safeco Field is in my face. I have expressed my disdain for all major league sports for quite some time. But driving past this behemoth every morning, which sits next to the Century Link stadium has renewed my interest in sports, which means I need to get a game soon

The last journey in my daily commute is where to park. Do I park down the side street by the office for free? The obvious answer to that is yes. But finding a spot is the trick. So on this day, I park at the Safeco field and pay the daily fee of $5.00 which is tolerable if not done every day. It is exactly 1 mile from the parking deck to my desk. I have the option to take a shuttle if the time of day and weather condition is aligned. On this day, I take the shuttle. Remember that headache? But in the afternoon that day, my headache was a memory, the sun was shining, and I just can’t resist the flavor of Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. And that’s another post.

But staying present was the point of my post. Each day is an adventure. The sun shines on new things I haven’t previously seen. And that is just the adventure I wanted.

The Next Chapter

It's time to sit down and reflect on what has been happening and document it properly. I made the decision to leave my current employer after 11 years. It was a big decision. HUGE. MONUMENTAL. At least for me it was. I clearly dove in head first with this decision. I didn't just leave one company for another down the road.

No ma'am!  No sir! No way, Jose!

Instead, I accepted a position with a company just about as far away from where I live, without leaving the continental U.S.

So here I sit, on a flight headed to the other side of the country. And yes, I am nervous. Tomorrow is my first day. I will be the "new person". I haven't been the "new person" in a long time. I like being that welcoming face for the new person. Yep...tomorrow...the master will once again become the student!

Leading up to this day, my time has been filled with a lot of emotion, planning, goodbyes, and generally shocked looks on people's faces when I told them the news, "I accepted a role with Starbucks and me and the family are moving to Seattle."

I'm not gonna lie...seeing peoples reaction was...interesting. I'd say entertaining, because not everyone took the news well. I'm not going to touch on the "not so great" w. They were few, and justified for some.

Its the positive responses that now carry me to the next chapter in my career (and life)...that and this Boeing 737-900ER I'm comfortably flying in. It has OUTLETS! For my devices!!! This is the newest plane I have ever been on. I've flown a nice number of times, but THIS is the newest plane I have had the pleasure of sinking my behind into to FIVE HOURS!

I digress.

A job is a job is a job. Anyone who has worked for any amount of time will say that. It's the people that make any job a great place to work. But it's not the only thing that matters. If that were the case, I would not have left my last job. I loved the people I worked with. They were top notch folks.

But with anyone's career, there comes a point when you are standing at a fork in the road and you must decide which path to take. For me, "I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." That is a line from my most favorite poem of one of my favorite poets, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

I'm not blazing new roads for all human kind here...no. I'm blazing my own new trail. But it's the support of my family, friends and co-workers who are helping to make this journey a little less scary. I will hold onto the kinds words, warm hugs, and my Atlanta mug for those times when I am get stuck and think I can't do something. I know I can do this and will be successful at it to boot!

Now, it is time for me to take the left coast by storm and go learn something new! Stay tuned...

The Body Bug - My Personal FitBit Review

I just read a review on the FitBit, which got me thinking, "I should share this article with my friends because I agree!" Then I thought, "Why should I share a review of a product I use, when my friends would probably appreciate a review directly from me?" I started to write a Facebook update, but once it got past 6 lines, I decided it was time really share my thoughts.

Because I never do that.

You may be sitting there thinking, "What the heck is a FitBit, Desiree?" Basically, it's a pedometer...on steroids. It's not just a pedometer. It's a complete "body bug". It can track your steps, calories burned, and food logged. Depending upon the model you buy (I have the FitBit Flex), it also tracks your sleep. You see that? A body bug!

But the part I love the most is that once you buy your FitBit, you can download the app for free and manage all of these statistics in one dashboard.

Eat your heart out Weight Watchers! Okay, I'm not here to slam Weight Watchers. I did WW many years ago and it was a great program. But I don't have the time or desire to sit in a room and tell people what I ate...that's why I have Instagram. The app also has a social aspect. If you have friends who use FitBit you can view their stats and compete with each other. It is recommended that all Americans take a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. Since the nature of my work doesn't include a lot of walking, I am by no means, blowing that goal out of the water, but I have exceeded 10,000 steps several times.

What I can say since using the FitBit is that I have become more aware of my activity, and inactivity. Since using it, I have stopped using the elevator at work (with the exception of 2-3 or times). Since I work on the fourth floor, I get a nice hike in the morning (with my laptop and purse!) up to my desk and home at night. And every chance in between I get up more and move and take the stairs every chance I get.

No, I haven't dropped 20 pounds in 10 days and I'm not even back into my favorite pair of jeans that have been too small for the past 4 years. Not yet. As the saying goes, anything worth having is worth working for.

Blogging...mile high club style

Made you look! HA! I bet you thought I was writing this post naked. Get your head out of the gutter.

I'm currently on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles (fully clothed, I might add) and felt this would be a good time to write about "my feelings". Or something like that. Personally, I don't know how people fly from the right coast to the left coast regularly. This is always a brutal flight---and it's not even international. I guess that makes me a light weight.

Firs thing, why am I on a plane? Oh yeah. I'm on my way to the annual Network of Executive Women Leadership Summit. This will be the second time I am attending. I had a great time last year, and am excited about this years summit. Just think, 1000+ women (sprinkle in a few lucky men) gathered discussing how to advance women in the workplace.

Well, it gets me excited. It is a passion that has grown for me in the past couple years. I am fortunate to be attending and look forward to all the learnings.

Who was that speaking, you ask? That was corporate Desiree. And now for the real Desiree.

Woohoo! Los Angeles! Three days! What what!!!!!

More later...I just wanted to blog something from this altitude.

Just saying...

I was watching one of my staple programs, "Project Runway". I love this show. Not so much for the fashion or the contestants. But because of Tim Gunn's vocabulary and how he uses it to describe fashion and odd scenarios is perfect. He is not only an impeccably dressed man, but chooses words as carefully as he chooses his clothing. One of my particular favorites is "Sturm und Drang".

More recently, he added to the list of Gunnisms. "Janky".

The exchange between me and my husband went like this:

Husband: Is that a word?

Me: I believe it is.

Silence...

H: The urban dictionary has a great definition of "janky".

M: Do tell.

He proceeds to read the following definitions and examples.

janky

(adjective) inferior quality; held in low social regard; old and delapidated; refers almost exclusively to inanimate material objects, not to people

(adjective) used to describe a person, place or thing which is questionable, fucked up, wrong, strange, broken down, undesirable, and/or just some thing you can't think of another word for. The origin of this work is explained somewhat in the conversation example. Friends and I were sitting around drinking coffee one morning, and I was bitching about my empty cup when my friend blamed the lack of coffee on the "janky ass coffee maker." I have since heard the word in the movie Friday. 

Other forms: janked, janked up, janked out,

We tried to pick up on these girls waiting for the bus, but I was driving my sister's janky 1989 geo metro so we just got clowned instead.

Michelle: yo, when's that coffee going to be ready? 

Crystal: I don't know. This janky ass coffee maker takes forever. 

And people say reality television isn't valuable. Thank you Tim Gunn. The next time I drive my janky 2000 Accord with it's janked up doors from inconsiderate jag-offs not paying attention when they open their own doors, I'll think of you and smile.

You can just smell the cool nights and burning leaves...

I think I'll try my hand at some baking this fall...

Pumpkin Bread with Pumpkin Butter Cream

 Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 large eggs

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar (You can substituted light brown sugar)

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (optional)

1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (optional)

1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/4 cups canned pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts, optional (I didn’t add the nuts to the batter, but sprinkled them on top of the frosted loaf instead)

Position your oven rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 5″ loaf pan; set aside.

Directions:

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined; set aside.

In another bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs on medium-high speed for two minutes or until lightened in color. Add the brown sugar, mixing for about 2 minutes, then the granulated sugar, mixing for about 1 minute. Add the orange and lemon zests, if using, and beat for another minute. Scrape down the bowl as needed.

Drizzle in the canola oil with beater on medium-low. Reduce speed to low and add the pumpkin puree. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the dry ingredients in two additions and blend for 10-15 seconds just until incorporated. Fold in the pecans using a rubber spatula.

Spoon the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaf in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

If you’re going to frost the loaf, you can make the frosting while the loaf is cooling…

PUMPKIN BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

2 Tablespoons canned pure pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons half & half or milk

1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional, for sprinkling on top

Cream the butter, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and vanilla, blending well. Add powdered sugar a cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Add half & half or milk and blend well. NOTE: This makes a very thick butter cream frosting. If you want a thinner, creamier frosting, add more half & half or milk until you get the desired consistency.

After frosting the cooled pumpkin loaf, sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.

If I Were a Fashion Blogger

I'm like a lot of women. I love clothes! But let me be very clear...I'm not a fan of shopping. Trudging through the mall, or combing through racks and racks at places like Marshall's makes my skin crawl. More power to those of you who love to spend hours shopping and find great deals and cute outfits---I'm jealous. I have more misses than hits. But when I hit on something, I get very excited!

Pinterest helps curb the urge to go out and spend money on clothes I don't need. But I do make an effort to pin outfits and ideas of things that "if" I had the money and "if" closet space wasn't an issue, I would buy them. In recent months I have made a point to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe, mostly where work clothing is concerned. I have found several websites that offer advice to clueless individuals like myself. Wardrobe Oxygen is a great site because the author is a real woman with real curves! Wendy's Lookbook is a great fantasy site! I can't afford anything she's posts but I love her clothes and the layout of her site. She is also the creator of 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes. This video changed my life (so as a fan, I owe it to Wendy to promote her blog). I'm totally serious. I am awful at accessorizing my clothes, I own very little jewelry and what I do own is very simple. When I learned a few tricks on scarf tying I was hooked. Now I own a a half dozen scarves that I like to wear and they always liven up a dull outfit. However, summer is on it's way and a scarf has no business around my neck in the Atlanta summer heat. I need to step up my game and invest in some "statement pieces".

But my favorite go-to fashion site is Outfit Posts. The author of this site takes inspiration from a picture found on fashion sites and recreates the look for less and links to several sites like Target, Gap, H&M for different price points on the same items. Isn't that what most of us try to do anyways? I love her One Suitcase series. She takes 14-15 pieces that can all be packed into one suitcase and turns those items in 30+ outfits.

So to pay homage to my favorite fashion site that has inspired me to up my game, I am posting the following finds.

I was inspired by a blazer I saw at Nordstrom. But decided I didn't want to spend quite that much, even though this was an investment piece. I take pretty good care of all my clothes, so this white blazer that I found at Kohl's will do just fine. The tiered mesh top can be worn with or without the jacket. I already own the jeans (Lucky) and the shoes (Me Too).

There was no inspiration for this dress. I am always on the prowl for a cute dress. I think this dress was just lovely and perfect for when I attend professional functions. However, I didn't buy it. It wasn't an issue of money, because as you can see, it's a bargain. I tried to stick to my initial plan, which was on buying new tops. So I ask my readers, what do you think? Should I go back and buy it? Or did I make the right decision in not purchasing?