Opened Doors & Closed Doors

"Whenever one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." -Alexander Graham Bell

I think this quote pretty much summarizes my life. I am always looking at the closed door and thinking of what I did wrong or "what if I would have done this" or "I should have stuck it out longer"... and I think about these things so much that I can't embrace the opening door (opportunity) that is right in front of me. I would love to say that I can close a door and not think twice about it, but I find myself doubting my decision to close it for so long. This has always happened to me, I feel like. I have closed the door on big things in my life like gymnastics, Baylor, and finally my last job and to this day, I STILL question my motives for doing so. I mean, there are plenty of things that I have left and it was so easy in doing so, but I feel as though the trouble with the gymnastics, Baylor, and my last job is the fact that I put my entire self into these things. Maybe not so much with Baylor, but definitely with gymnastics and my last job. I would have done anything to succeed, I would work at either of these things day after day hour after hour because they were something that I enjoyed doing and I didn't mind putting ALL of my effort into them, however the day came where I no longer enjoyed these things as much as I used to and I decided to shut the door. 

So I guess it would seem kinda evident that the closed door I'm struggling most with now is my previous job. I do not miss the drama at all, but I do miss my actual job. I loved every part of it and would have gone above and beyond to make things happen there, but the environment was so incredibly toxic to me. I had probably stuck it out longer than I ever should have in the first place. So in all of this, I am really just trying to find closure. I am trying to make myself realize that even though the job was awesome and I loved what I did, there were things that far outweighed the good and I did make the right decision. And in my mind, I do know that i truly made the right decision for me. It's just hard knowing because that was my life... my work and my school. 

But on the positive end, I'm pretty certain that I have another job headed my way... and it is doing the same exact stuff that I did at my last job. I am waiting on the offer letter, but have already interviewed for it and all. So I am pretty excited to have this opportunity since it is doing what I already know that I love to do. It is still in the apartment world that I am comfortable with and it is still involving event planning. :) The funny thing is, I was given the opportunity to have this job about 3 or 4 months ago because I was unhappy with my last job and had sought this one out, however I was ensured that things were going to get better at the Arbors, which never really happened after all. So I ended up turning down this job... and regretting it in the end. But to my surprise, they had one more opening at this time and saw if I was still interested... and turns out I am! So I am very glad that I am being given a second chance. :) 

Being given this second chance has got me thinking that maybe things DO happen for a reason. Right when I quit my job, I got the chance to intern with an event planner.... something that I never would have had the chance to had I been working. And I got a 3 week long summer, that I wasn't expecting, but has turned out to be pretty nice. The stars have finally aligned in the right way and things just may work out after all... or at least I hope lol :)

Intern Opportunity #2

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." -Ella Fitzgerald

I got back yesterday from Houston where I have spent the last couple of days interning for Kat (the event planner again).  This event was a little more stressful than last because it was kind of a big deal, but as Kat kept saying "You have to go through the guts to get to the glory." And that's exactly what happened. The event was so flawless and not to mention gorgeous! She is SO great at putting masterpieces together.

The event that I helped with was a "Cocktails and Connections" party that was hosted by The Knot Wedding Magazine for all of vendors in the Houston wedding industry. I was asking Kat how she got picked to be the event planner for such an important event and she said that she had to apply for it and go through a big interview process and everything so it's awesome that she got the job! And I felt pleasured to be helping her with it!

At the event, I got the opportunity to meet some University of Houston students that are wanting to pursue event planning as well. They attend the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and are in an organization that is called "NACE" which is National Assoc. of Catering Executives. The organization is not just for caterers, but also event planners. Anyways, they have to volunteer at events for their degree program, so I got the pleasure of meeting them! It was nice to talk to someone that is interested in the same field as me and the way they talked about the Conrad Hilton College made me intrigued... maybe something I might look into later on! 

All in all, I had a great time and got amazing experience. I hope to keep working with Kat because she is just awesome. It made me so happy to be at this event and to have people recognize me from the last event that I helped her with... interning with her will  benefit me sooo much! I'm glad this opportunity has come up when I have been able to take advantage of it... maybe things DO happen for a reason...

Internship

"The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps- we must step up the stairs." -Vance Havner

A couple of days ago, I got to internship with an awesome Houston event planner (named Kat) and was so ecstatic about this opportunity! I got to help with a cocktail party... and upon arriving I didn't know what the cocktail party was for, but once I got there and found out that it was for the "Who's Who" vendors of the Houston Bridal Extravaganza I could have died and gone to heaven... this was the PERFECT thing for me. I was surrounded by people that are in the field of work that I am interested in pursuing and so meeting them was very beneficial. I was sooo so grateful that Kat introduced me to people and acted like I was a longtime employee of hers, even though this was the second time I had ever even talked to the lady! 

The venue was amazingly beautiful, the "vintage garden" theme was so cute, and the atmosphere was just so fun (they even had a photo booth to take pics in :)). My favorite part of the event was enjoying the yummyyyy desserts (of course). They had the most amazing cake balls I had EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Omg I would give anything to have more of those... the sad thing is I had to throw a bunch of them away at the end of the night... do you understand how hard that was for me?? 

I am so grateful that this internship opportunity came at a time that I was able to take advantage of it. Kat mentioned me helping with an event that The Knot wedding magazine is hosting next Wednesday and I am looking forward to helping! I feel so lucky to have these opportunities right now because they will help me soo much in the future! Event planning has always been a dream for me, but getting a taste of it is making this dream come true.

Letting go & getting it all out!

"When one door closes, another one opens..."

So a TON of stuff has happened within the past week. For those of you that don't know, i made the decision to put my two weeks notice in at my job and with that I had to move out of my apartment since my rent was paid for by my job. So now I am living with my dad.  It's funny because usually a big decision like that would take me weeks to figure out, but this one took only a few hours after a dramatic series of events took place within my office. Although I put in my two weeks and was supposed to work until August 11, I got "let go" after working a 12 HOUR SHIFT because "I'm too much of a perfectionist." Yep, thanks for USING ME. The good thing is that I never have to deal with some of those sorry people ever again :)... or their bullshit.

Although all of this was so hard to swallow, I've already gotten over it and the "letting go" all happened yesterday. It surprises me that I am no longer upset about it, but I think it's because I know how ABSOLUTELY ridiculous the situation was, and I am glad that I am out of that place and able to move on with my life. I no longer have to deal with all that mess every single day ever again. I put all of myself into that job, and to be treated the way I was shows me just how poorly that place was ran.

I'm very thankful to all of my friends and family for all the support they have given me within the past week. They have kept me sane when I was completely down. They all dropped everything to help me and I'm blessed to have the people in my life that I do. THOSE are the people that really matter in life... not the ones that bring you down. And it's funny how the best person for me within the past week has been my baby Ralph... funny how a dog can be the one that keeps you going, but he has!

Although the past week has been a huge change for me... moving out of my apartment, quitting my job, and moving in with my dad... I'm excited for what's ahead of me... which is also strange for me to be saying so quickly after all of this mess. I have been more optimistic today than usual... someone check my temperature lol. But I guess I'm growing up and learning how to move on.

So, for the happy part of my story... I am going to intern tomorrow for an AWESOME event planner in Houston. I met her at the Bridal Extravaganza in Houston (I went to it not because I am wanting to get married anytime soon but because I want to be an event/wedding planner) and she was amazing... so personable. We have been emailing back and forth and now I get to intern for her tomorrow at a cocktail party :) I'm very excited to get a taste of what I want to do later on in life... and maybe this is just the career this "perfectionist" needs because the clients will appreciate that I want their event to be as perfect as possible!! And then other than that, I will be spending time with my mom later on in the week, which is long overdue since I have been working so much, and then I will take a mini-vacation with Cole this weekend to either Galveston or New Braunfels. I'm sure not letting anyone rain on my parade. And I'm not gonna let myself stress about getting a new job until next week... I deserve to let myself have a break for a bit!

So, here's to SLAMMING that last door shut and opening a new one. I hope that behind this new door I will find an easy-going job that satisfies me and I hope that my positivity holds up!

Wedding Fever

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." -Gail Devers

Ok, so don't freak out cuz of the title that I have typed. I can assure you that I am NOT wanting to get married anytime soon at all, I promiseee. I've just been having wedding fever lately because I want to be a wedding planner SOOO bad. Recently I have found the best magazines with the cutestttt wedding ideas in them and I want so badly to plan a freaking wedding! But not mine (yet) lol. 


The sad thing is whenever I plan my wedding, I'm probably going to be depressed after the wedding day is over. Sure I just got married and all (no big deal), but no more planning the decorations and coordinating the theme and picking the dress, how sad :( 


Anyways, if you know of anyone wanting help with planning their wedding, I'd love to help! Hahaha. When I tell people that I want to be a wedding planner I usually get a response like "Oh, but then you'll have to deal with Bridezillas... blah blah blah." And the thing is I know it'll be annoying to do that but I feel like the joy of planning such a tremendous event would overcome the annoyance of the bride. I just gotta keep my dream alive and see where it takes me...

St. Simons Vacation

"Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone."

-Author Unknown

I can't believe how long it has been since I've last written a blog! I guess i was too consumed with finishing up the semester and being busy with work. Anyways... since then I've been enjoying my 2 1/2 week long summer before summer school starts :( Although 2 1/2 weeks is way too short for a summer, I've enjoyed it! I have seen lots of family, hung out with friends, and most importantly took a vacation to GEORGIA!! 

Two days ago, me, Cole, my mom and Steve got back from St. Simons Island, Georgia. For those of you that don't know, Steve goes there once a month for business, so this time, me and Cole got to tag along! I was excited to go because I had been before, about 4 or 5 years ago, and I just had fond memories of it because it is such a beautiful, peaceful place. Cole had never been to Georgia... or St. Simons more specifically... and he fell in love. He talks about how he wants to move there after finishing school. 

While we were in St. Simons, we got to do all sorts of fun stuff! We shopped at the village (which is sooo cute), we kayaked (thank you mom for not tipping us over :)), we rode bikes all around Jekyll Island and St. Simons, we laid on the beach (and got tan!), we painted pottery, we ate tonsss of food and most importantly...we relaxed! It was so nice just to take a vacation and enjoy new scenery. Two or three times during the trip, I stopped to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be there enjoying life... that's how you know life is good! I was glad I had time to "stop and smell the roses." 

Here's a pic of me and Cole biking around St. Simons Island. It was my favorite thing to do there :)

I'm sad that I'm not "on island time" anymore and relaxing, but at least I got the opportunity to go there! I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, but its not so easy :( 

Decisions, decisions...

"The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn."

-David Russell

This quote is pretty much my freaking life story. Any of you that know me well know that I absolutely HATEEEEE making decisions. Whether it be an important decision like choosing which school I want to go to or even something silly like deciding if I really want to buy this shirt... or if i should wait and get that other one I saw at the store before (and then I decide to buy both and then I regret it and end up taking one back because I shouldn't have spent the money in the first place). Anyways, you get the point that I hate decisions.

My mom is STILL probably annoyed at me for how long it took me to decide if I wanted to quit gymnastics or not lol. Gymnastics was MY LIFE and for me to decide between quitting and getting a different life or staying in it to pursue college gymnastics was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I know I drove my coach and my mom nuts cuz I went back and forth every other day (or hour... or minute) with my decision.

Ok, remember I am a girl that has to go back to a single clothing store like 3 times (and try on the shirt once... ok, or let's be honest... twice more) before deciding if I should get it. Yeah... imagine that girl trying to make a decision about something that actually mattered!!! It's tough... let me tell you lol. My friends and family will be the first to admit that I am decision-making-challenged.

Anyways, decision making has knocked on my door once again... I won't go into the details of what I'm deciding between because its not really necessary, if you know me you probably know what it is. I'll just say that I'm basically deciding whether I want to continue on in something that frustrates me to no end every single day or take a risk and go for something that sounds so much better but will change a lot of things for me (but those changes might be for the good). Let's just say this will be difficult for me (of course) but after reading this quote below, I feel a little different about things because the only reason I'm afraid of taking the leap to the better sounding option is because of exactly what i just said, the "I'm afraid" part. Life shouldn't be lived in fear though. Read the quote and see what you think...

"Not all of your decisions will be correct. None of us are perfect. But if you get into the habit of making decisions, experience will develop your judgment to a point where more and more of your decisions will be right. After all, it is better to be right 51% of the time and get something done, than it is to get nothing done because you fear to reach a decision."

-H.W. Andrews