Goodbye Home Sweet Home

Let's have a heart-to-heart.

Why?

Because I said so.

I know I said I'd never talk about anything negative or Debbie-downer related, but I think it'd be interesting to hear other perspectives about this particular life experience.

I said goodbye to my childhood home yesterday.

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After four years of having the house on the market, my parents finally sold it. Saying goodbye was super difficult and I totally turned into a baby and cried in the front seat of the car while TF drove us out of town. It totally sucked. I'm never stepping into my room ever again.

I lived in this house from when I took my first baby steps up until I left for college, then I visited home every other month or so once I moved to Chicago. Over the past year, I have found that the only way for me to relax was to go home. Here, I couldn't worry about my job, cleaning my apartment or any other personal problems. Here, I could sit back and enjoy precious time with my family, nieces and nephew. It was pure bliss.

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That's not to say we cannot create these memories and have a similar feeling elsewhere. However it won't be the same. There was a massive sense of comfort. I mean, it was my childhood home. I grew up there. Granted, it was far too large for my empty nesting parents, and my mom was practically jumping for joy in the streets when the house finally sold (after almost 4 years, understandably). She's a serious workaholic and doesn't know how to relax. Like mother, like daughter I guess. Been there, done that. ;)

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All of this is also extremely interesting timing.

I am one of those people who thinks all things happen for a reason. If you've been living under a rock or just arrived at my blog, you may not know that TF and I are moving to Santa Monica in less than two weeks, and we're getting married in the summer of 2012. We're moving from Chicago and although we're moving because I'm taking on a fantastic opportunity I couldn't turn down, it's still a pretty large risk as TF hasn't secured a job yet and the area is far more expensive than the Midwest.

Why do I say everything happens for a reason? I said goodbye to my childhood home at the same time that TF and I are moving across the country. There, we'll take a giant step toward our future and create a new home together. It's still a lot though. A lot. I'm excited, but slightly scared $h*tless. Thankfully though, I'll be experiencing this adventure with my best friend. Phew. I'm a lucky duck, huh?

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Thanks Cottontail Lane for all the memories. It was far harder to say goodbye that I'd imagined. Have you have had to say goodbye to your childhood home?

Ahh, One More Day.

So here I am. Tomorrow is my last day of my first job right out of college. Naturally, I'm reflecting on the past year. Let's reflect and think of some takeaways together, shall we?

Here are some takeaways I'll use in the future:

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I know you've heard this before, but it's so true. I always strived to look nice and wear dress pants or nice skirts to work even when my fellow team members would be regularly sporting jeans. Yes, my office is business casual, but when I looked around, the higher ups were the one's looking nice.

I'm definitely not saying run to your local J.Crew, just using this as an example :)

When I would look nice, not only was I more confident, but I was also taken more seriously. I'm young, so that could be working against me.

On another note, I'd like to mention that ensuring your clothes fit property should be a huge priority. For example, it's an intern's first day here at my company, and from the top up, she's looking great in her button down, but from the bottom down, she's wearing a grey pair of slacks that look similar to this...

except tighter on her bootay.

Now, there was a day when I thought that because the models can work it in their tight "professional" pants, I could too. Negative. Personally, I don't think they come across as professional as a more loose, better-fitting pair.

Those models aren't working in a professional environment. Their goal is to sell the pants, which they do well because it's displayed in a sexy manner. This doesn't mean we should wear it that way, too. Do you get my drift?

I digress.

Next up!

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Be nice to everyone. Yes, everyone. Although I'm not mean per se to anyone, I'm just constantly in my own world. This could mean I have a spaced out look on my face or potentially a confused look. Either way, try to look pleasant, have your arms uncrossed and be open to conversation. You never know when you may have to team up with this person for a project. First impressions are important.

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Say "yes" to almost every project thrown your way. I know this sounds annoying and somewhat scary, but think of it as a challenge and knowledge you'll use later on. Not only does it make you look like a go-getter (which every boss thinks is awesome), but it sets you up nicely for potential success. The more you're willing to help, the more great opportunities will come your way.

That's all for now, and I'm sure I learned more, but those are my key takeaways.

Am I forgetting any? Please share!

Ahhh, Happy Thursday everyone :)

Psst, I'm realy excited to share my fancies tomorrow!