"i got crabs..."

"...at joe's crab shack."

ok, no i didn't really get crabs - duh.

it's my new job!

YAY!!

yesterday was only my second day of training, which is intense.

and i have a whole week of "crab class" - yes, it is really called "crab class".

i have to take a test after every classroom session, passing with a 90% or better, or i have to retake the test - from the handbook to basic concepts to the menu.

the difference with the menu...

it has to be known like i know the back of my hand.

i have a final test at the end of training over it and if i don't pass, i have to retake the menu portion of "crab class" over again.

god lord, i NEVER studied this hard in school - i even have notecards made.

other than that test...

i already like it:

it's a laid back and fun atmosphere.

my co-workers all seem nice.

and being that seafood is not cheap, tips are $$$$.

i will be full-time there, until i find a full-time job elsewhere and then i will be part-time there (i guess that is a BIG if i find a job).

my new journey is finally in full swing:

new apartment

new roommate

new job.

and i couldn't be happier - maybe i little less stressed (seriously if you want an idea of how stressed i am, quit your job for a month with zero income... while trying to find a new job with zero decent work experience... and heads up, BILLS DON'T STOP COMING just because the income stopped coming... yicks).

but still, couldn't be happier.

so if you are ever in des moines,

stop by joe's crab shack on south jordan creek parkway next to jordan creek mall, and request me as your server - unless you don't plan on tipping me well, then you can request someone else... please. ha.

2014 goals

not something i usually do.

but i've had some change to my life right at the beginning of the year.

and i'll be the first to say it,

my life needs a little order to it now.

the number of interviews i have been having, and the wide range of questions i have been asked, have really got me thinking about both short term and long term goals.

keep in mind: this is just goals for 2014 - so obviously the short term goals.

some being a little more serious than others.

(this is a list i am sure i will be adding to here and there for when life brings changes, it brings new goals)

1. get a job

seriously though, i need a job, ha

2. pay off credit cards

yes, plural... don't judge me

3. get a gym membership - tanning included

i don't need those "you are thin as a twig. what do you need to workout for?" comments - dr. oz says i am 13 years older than i actually am.

4. shop less

5. build up some savings - at least $1000

a thousand may not be a lot, but that on top of all the things that i want to pay off this year is quite a bit of money

6. read at least 1 book

ok, 1 book may be NOTHING to some of you but it would be a huge accomplishment for me

7. pay off loan

8. prepare to go back to school beginning of 2015 - part-time.

9. learn how to cook more than box, frozen, microwavable meals

10. get a new bed

mine has turned into a hammock; it's so old

11. be positive

this one is my new year's resolution which has been going extremely well

12. keep up with my blog

13. go on a tennis road trip with keifer, jason, and emily in august

14. watch all seasons of dexter so i can start watching a new show

15. keep my relationship alive

16. go to a football game

fourteenth day of february

it's just a day like any other.

yet, keifer and i decided to take part in the demanding "holiday".

it was a simple, relaxing, but also romantic night at my apartment - like i said, just a day/date like any other for us.

ok, so that lit fire place was something new, but i can tell you right now we will be lighting the fire place on more than just valentine's day every year.

and to keep it romantic and classy as ever, we had walking tacos - AND cupcake "angel food" white wine.

we lit some candles.

and we watched big daddy.

keifer did in fact buy me flowers and chocolates - cliche - but they weren't roses or lilies - not so cliche anymore.

oh, i forgot to mention that we played yahtzee after supper.

(we played 4 games... i won 0)

we are such romantics.

the dogs spent the day with us as well.

and whitney was out of town

so she left a valentine's day note:

-please, don't hate me ha-

as much as i dislike hate the holiday,

i sure am glad keifer and i decided to have a date night on the fourteenth day of february; it was definitely needed.

once i get a job and he starts his new one, i'm not so sure how many "dates" we will get to have?

our body changes our minds

for those of you that aren't aware,

interviews are my weak spot

and just so happen to fill a large part of my schedule lately.

ugh.

i have one on wednesday.

i have one on friday.

two in one week... shoot me (i don't mean that literally).

some may say that's a good thing.

as for myself, anxiety is eating me alive.

so, my roommate, whitney, and i were talking last night and she showed me a video she has found to be helpful for herself.

"Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are" with Amy Cuddy on TED Talks - here is a link to the video if you're curious.

and what did i learn?

i have some a lot of work to do.

so today, 

positivity is in the works.

 standing in front of a mirror, like so:

 (because it is empowering, bold, positive, ect.)

i will tell myself all the positive things that i can think of, about myself -

aside from repeating "you are more beautiful than cinderella, your hair smells like pine needles, and you have a face like sunshine," (thank you bridesmaids) - 

why i am a better person in general.

and why i am a better person for these jobs.

part of being a better person for the job, will be the knowledge of the company, and potential position, i will possess - also in my schedule today, googling and studying all that there is to know.

TIPS (i have come up with) for preparing for an interview:

1. be positive.

2. make a list of why you are better than the next.

3. repeat that list to yourself...

4. ...[while] standing in a mirror like Superwoman.

5. research the company and position and study your findings.

6. print a clean copy of your resume and references (and cover letter).

7. and last, plan your outfit (meanwhile, repeating steps 1 - 5 in your head, or better yet, out loud).

so with that being said,

(oh, if anyone has any pointers or helpful tips to add... greatly appreciated)

not that blogging isn't productive or positive,

but i should probably hop to it.

wish me luck.

i'm going to definitely going to need it.

(those last two lines weren't positive at all... this goes to prove i have some work to do)... yicks!

sunday sundry

that's my kind of night

the concert was friday night.

it was a late merry christmas and early happy birthday for keifer from me.

i made the mistake reminding him of this so - anyone that knows keifer will know what i am talking about - it was keifer's birthday all flippen weekend and yet it will be his actual birthday in march that we will all have to deal with when his favorite saying is, "but it's my birthday month!" so he gets everything he wants.

anyways,

concert was a definite great time. 

erin did my hair before the concert, which i loved.

i felt like i was going to prom again ha. 

but it was adorable and went well with my outfit choice. 

even when i took all the pins out the curls were gorgeous. 

so don't judge me when i say i didn't wash my hair until about 3 hours ago.

even though it takes forever, i may be curling my hair more often.

we got on the road about 4:30pm.

it was a two hour drive and plus trying to get part and deal with traffic in cedar falls, we figured getting there early was best. 

we got decent parking - surprisingly. 

and got in the dome, got each of us a beer, and two our seats with almost an hour to kill.

$7.00 beers... can you say crazy,

but at the same time expected.

needless to say, we didn't get drunk... or even buzzed.

we had two beers each and decided we were both broke and the $28.00 we spent on beer was more than too much. 

just waiting for the concert to start.

when we first got to our seat - an hour early - this is what the dome looked like.

and not even an hour later it was packed.

sold out concert. 

it was almost impossible to move about halls and bathroom lines were just crazy long. 

they even had port-a-potties outside the dome that keifer and i found to be quicker, but also colder. 

we got smart and even both jumped in one at the same time. he peed in the urinal and i sat on the pot - we are so smart.

cole swindell performed first.

we only knew one of his songs.

not sure anyone really knew anything he sang besides "chillin it".

lee brice was second performer,

and keifer and i kind of agreed that he was probably the better of them all, even luke bryan.

he has a great voice and just overall the better performer.

luke bryan, the head liner.

great voice as well, and never stopped moving. 

found out he plays the piano.

he sat on a dock on stage and sang "drink a beer" which is one of my favorite songs of his right now.

and he actually started his performance with "that's my kind of night" standing on a truck that was surrounded by fire.

it was a great time.

we got out of there around 11:30pm, but the drive back home took FOREVER, or so it seemed.

(before i forget, a big thank you to mollie for watching daisy and easton)

we went to bed as soon as we got back.  

and woke up about 1:30pm saturday afternoon.

i made brunch for us 

triple berry muffins

and a hashbrown, scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese creation - yummy!

and after brunch,

while i finished up dishes and cleaning up the kitchen,

keifer gave the "kids" baths.

ha he isn't the biggest fan of bath time. 

he wanted nothing to do with me afterwards. 

i'm guessing he was mad at me,

but he did so well with keifer.

it was definitely a fun and relaxing weekend.

something i think we were both well in need of.

and now next weekend is valentine's day.

how excited are we about that?

ha.

until next time:)

have a wonderful week of work everyone.

tearjerkers

the other night, whitney and i were looking through all our movies.

somehow we got to listing all our movies we consider to be "cry my eyes out" movies.

so it only seems natural to share this with all my female readers - you know as well as i do that us girls need a good cry sometimes and a list like this will be useful - especially during that time of the month...

and though i know i missed A LOT, it's a pretty good start.

1. message in a bottle

2. lakehouse

3. nights in rodanthe 

4. the time traveler's wife

5. p.s. i love you

6. the family stone

7. stepmom

8. what's eating gilbert grape

9. my sister's keeper

10. the vow

11. radio

12. the boy in the striped pajamas

13. the lucky one

14. the blind side

15. the last song

16. brokeback mountain

17. the man in the moon

18. a walk to remember

19. eat pray love

20. the green mile

don't hesitate to comment, adding to the list.

enjoy girlies:)

interlude

moving.

i hate it.

especially when you have to start over on everything:

new apartment.

new job.

new city.

new friends.

ok, it's more so fun and exciting...

...but that is if you got everything in line, and boy oh boy, that was far from being where i was at. 

but it is starting to fall in place (now that i am actually here and it has to).

friday

i was aware there was a storm headed to des moines saturday morning so keifer and i decided to drive down to osceola that night after we got all loaded up.

(again, a huge thank you to those that helped me out: kalvin, casey, shelby, keifer, and even angie, with the tv stand)

we started loading the truck about 5:30pm and keifer and i were on the road a little before 8:30pm.

i was exhausted, 

but knowing my car was sketchily attached to the back of that uhaul that was going 65mph at points, and driving on bumpy road, i couldn't be more wide awake - anxiety at it's worst!

i know it is hard to see, but following keifer, who was driving the uhaul, pulling my car, can you imagine the thoughts running through my head?

if anyone was wonder everything fit that i needed except for my two end tables, and i forgot my bed frame and a few pillows.

we got to keifer's apartment at 11:00pm, but to park the uhaul, we had to take my car off the dolly and park that, take the dolly off the uhaul and park that, and finally park the uhaul. 

we got to bed by 12:00am, which was plenty of sleep.

saturday

whitney and i had to meet at the leasing office to sign our lease and pay our first months rent.

we got our keys...

and it was official.

YAY for us:)

we stopped by they apartment before picking up keifer and the uhaul to fill out our move-in check list - we were thorough that is for sure; we even took pictures.

after that, keifer and i got subway before we started unloading what we could by ourselves.

jarael and josh (huge thanks to them as well) stopped by to congratulate me on my new place by helping keifer move my two sofas, a dresser, and my "aggressive" tv stand all the way up to my second floor apartment. 

jarael obviously had the easiest side;p

whitney didn't move much in on saturday besides dishes - oh my gosh i have never seen so many glasses - so keifer stayed over. call me a baby, but i didn't want to spend my first night in des moines alone (and thank heaven i didn't).

we got breakfast pizza from casey's as well as those new aluminum, twist top, 16oz cans of bud light.

we did a little r&r and unpacking while the cyclone game was on.

after, we thought we would watch a movie and scratch some scratch tickets.

just as we are about to start the movie, a loud ringing/buzzing noise started coming from the hallway.

i'll just make this long story short:

1st floor neighbor called 9-1-1.

she knocked on our door and told us to get out.

there was smoke all over the first floor.

firetrucks were on scene in less than five minutes.

we sat in the car with the dogs for over an hour until they cleared the apartments - keifer was rather irritated that night.

now, yesterday i finally found out that the apartment the fire started in was completely empty and should have been locked up. 

well, it was not.

can anyone say, "sketchy"?

as erin put it, "if this doesn't prove this was meant to be, then i don't know what will." - jokingly of course.

but really, great welcoming we sure had.

[super bowl] sunday

for starters,

GO SEAHAWKS!!!
and no we weren't the ONLY ones cheering them on - i got proof (sorry emily and jason)

keifer bought a cable splitter and moved his bedroom tv to the living room so this is how we got to watch the game.

yes two televisions for three people - keifer, whitney, and myself - to watch football ha.

and i made cheese dip as well to snack on during the game,

which of course was delicious, and keifer had the brilliant idea of adding veggie sausage patties to it!

snacks.

beer.

football.

perfect sunday.

monday

keifer and i went down to osceola to say our "until next time"s to dillon.

that butthead is leaving us all again.

i know i'm not the only one that is going to miss him - those 2 months with him being back we were definitely all spoiled.

we all played some cards and pool.

and i got to cuddle with miss journee some more.

yes, i bought her that outfit.

and whether her parents like it or not, jovee and journee will be packers fan.

i love getting to see "the blakelys" more.

and i can't wait to spend nights with the girls.

even with all the stress of starting over, beginning new, i am also excited and happy it is finally happening and in "play".

[sneak peek]

love the fireplace, even if i never use it ha.

 i got my own bathroom.
not that i would care if whitney and i had to share...
...but we are girls, and bathroom time and space are critical to our beauty.
sharing bathrooms can be a hassle working around each others schedules. 
so a definite plus to the apartment.

our movie collection is quite large.

many movie nights to come (whitney has a popcorn popper too... SCORE).

more pictures, projects, updates to come.

but for now that is all i got.

happy hump day:)