"My wish for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to"

Well once again it has been several weeks since I have updated the blog and I apologize. This has really been my first full weekend and more than a day at home since my last post, so can you blame me for not spending the little time I did have at home on the computer and with Timmy instead? It is hard to believe that August is already here, but what an exciting and busy last few weeks of July we have had.

When I last posted I was off to IFI in Indiana for a week, and while the trip got a little long it was really amazing. Part of the program is breaking up into small dot groups for the week, so I was a member of the Green Dot Group and had a wonderful time getting to know my fellow colleagues on campuses and at HQ's around the country and having some great conversations about the fraternal movement and where we still need to go. I also had a chance to catch the newest Harry Potter with my fellow Green Dotters while I was gone which was also an added bonus to the trip. I learned a lot and made some great new connections in the field and am glad that I went to IFI this summer!

The Green Dot Group at IFI

After a few days back at work after IFI I spent last weekend facilitating at Pi Kapp College, a summer leadership program held by Pi Kappa Phi for some of their chapter officers. Since the fraternity was founded at College of Charleston they had the program there and I was lucky to be invited to help out but also not to have to travel for it. Again, it was great to be involved interfraternally and I also got "Voluntold" that I was going to be a tour guide for the groups tour around campus and the city. I was a little nervous at first about this since I had only been in Charleston for a few weeks at that point, but luckily they gave me the landmarks and talking points and I was able to find my way to them all, and now am full of some great Pi Kapp knowledge of the city of Charleston and campus!

After a brief 14 hour trip back to Columbia to do laundry and repack following Pi Kapp College I was back down to Charleston for another week of work. However, the most exciting part about last week was that Timmy and I became an uncle and aunt for the third time. That is right, Benjamin Arthur was born at 12:23a.m. on Tuesday, July 28. You can check out some picture below, I know I am probably a little bias but I think he may possibly be one of the cutest babies ever! Timmy and I are thrilled for MK and Jonathan and decided to fly up to MD next weekend to visit them and to meet Baby Ben, so hopefully there will be many more pictures to come of him!

Finally, on the moving front, after lots of paint samples and lots of debating I think Timmy and I have finally picked out paint for all the rooms in our new place, now we can start getting estimates from some paint companies down there. We have our pre-drywall walk through tomorrow morning at the new place, the frame, windows, and roof are all done so we are looking forward to taking some pictures and actually seeing some of the place tomorrow. We are getting excited that we will be moving in less than 2 months.

So that is the quick update on our end, life is crazy but good. Work is going great for both of us right now and we are just slowly but surely getting things done for the move. We are very excited about our little vacation up to MD next weekend and will post more about that when we get back.

"We run on fumes, your life and mine, like the sands of time"

Well I now have officially experienced one whole week of the packing up Sunday night, driving to Charleston Monday morning, and staying until Friday after work then heading back to Columbia for the weekend. Luckily Kassie gave me today off work since I am leaving tomorrow for IFI (Interfraternity Institute, a new professionals conference for those of us working in the Greek world). Now as most of you know the long distance thing is nothing new for Timmy and I. We spent the first 7.5 years of our relationship together long distance, it was not until we were married that we lived in the same zip code let alone the same place. And last summer I spent two months living in Blacksburg for my internship. So it's not that we can't do the long distance thing, it is just that the longer we are together the harder it gets to do it. I have a new found respect for my friends who have spouses in the military who spend months/years apart. I am grateful that Timmy and I still see each other on the weekends (well at least a few between now and when we move) and that I know that there is an end in sight once our place is done being built and we move.

Speaking of the new place we ventured out on Saturday to do some more looking for bedding for our guestroom and to pick up more paint samples. We are getting the twin beds that I grew up with back from my dad's attic when we move and are going to put them in our third room so that we can have two guest rooms in the new place (so hopefully we will have lots of visitors). We decided to push them together to make them a king so we have been hunting for king sized bedding. In addition, our friend Tory bought us an Ernest Lee painting (better known in Columbia and around SC as the Chicken Man) before she left to move back home, and I really wanted to be able to hang it somewhere in the new place. So while I was not necessarily looking for bedding for a room to match the painting, it would definitely have been a plus. Well I found a comforter set that I loved at Macy's but of course it was very expensive and even their great One Day sale wasn't helping my cause. So we wrote down the name and searched for it online when we got home. Lucky for me we were able to find it for a GREAT deal on overstock.com so I am getting the bedding I love and it matches the picture Tory bought us. Today we went and picked up a few more to hang with it over the bed, but overall I am very excited about our new room and our new art. It will be a very SC/Beachy room and it will be waiting for people to come visit and stay in it! Check out the pictures below of the comforter set and the paintings we bought.

This is the bedding we got for the king bed

Here are our 3 new paitings (the one in the middle was our gift from Tory)

Here is another actual Chicken Paiting we also got, this one will also go somewhere in the new guest room, just not with the palmetto trees

Like I mentioned I had a nice day off work today and was able to grab lunch with Lavina and Anna, two of my past co-workers who I really miss at my new job. It was great to catch up with them and to have an extra day to get my stuff together and pack before I leave tomorrow morning for Indiana. Timmy is also going to go to Chester this weekend while I am gone to visit since it looks like between the move and my crazy fall schedule at work that we probably won't make it back there together until the end of October. With that said though, the job is going great, I really love everything about it so far- I have great co-workers and the students I have had a chance to meet are awesome, and really, who can complain about the gorgeous views I have on my morning runs around the city? I think I made a great job decision and am actually looking forward to getting back from my trip (that I haven't even left for yet) to get back to working on things there. So other than the craziness of traveling and being apart, life is pretty good right now and it sure does make Timmy and I grateful for the few days we do get to spend together, even if they are few and far between for the next few months.

"Salute the one's who died, the one's who gave their lives, so we don't have to sacrifice all the things we love"

Happy July 4th Weekend! Having a nice long weekend is always a treat, especially just after starting a new job. Well ok I have only worked two days so it wasn't really like I needed the long weekend, but it has been a nice way to ease back into work after a month and a half off. So far the transition to the new job is going great, I was able to get my new office set up and am slowly but surely figuring everything out. The HR lady I was scheduled to meet with on my first day was not there when I showed up to meet her, so I filled out the paper work but unfortunately have not been entered into the system yet, so I still have no email, ID (which gives me access to my new on campus apartment), or parking. So keep your fingers crossed that she is in tomorrow so I can finally get all of that set up. Timmy sent me beautiful roses on my first day and they have been a nice addition to the new office.

Some Pictures of the New Office and the Flowers Timmy Sent

I also got moved into my new on-campus apartment which is a decent space. There are a few extra things I have picked up this weekend while I have been home to add to it to help add some comfort and to avoid carrying too much back and forth each weekend other than clothes to wash. Overall I had a great first two days, met several great people who also work in the department and I think I am really going to enjoy both the people I am working with as well as the students.

Timmy and I had a pretty low key weekend. Even though we both had Friday off, I stayed in Charleston Thursday night and met up with Liz and her mother-in-law on Friday to shop and get lunch while Liz and Adam were in town. We had a great time walking through the stores and market and Mrs. Hall treated us to a great lunch at Magnolia's. I am super excited for all the great restaurants and shops in Charleston to start exploring more. Saturday Timmy and I went to the pool for a few hours and then we went to the Columbia Blowfish baseball game that night. The game was pretty uneventful for the most part, the only runs scored by both teams were in the third inning when they each got 4 giving us a tied game. Well needless to say it took until the 13th inning for the other team to finally get two more runs and then we still had to play the bottom of the inning. At this point it was already past 11 and as much as I wanted the Blowfish to win I was glad that they weren't able to get their two players on bases into home. The fireworks after the game were great and worth the wait, I always enjoy watching them at stadiums because I love the music they play with them. Even though it was midnight by the time we got home we still found time to enjoy the banana pudding Timmy made earlier in the day, all in all we really enjoyed our low key day.

Timmy & I on the 4th!

Today we had to run some errands and we did our first visit to Lowe's to check out light fixtures/fans, refrigerators, and to look at some paint samples. I am getting excited to start picking things out for our new place! Now its time to finish up laundry and to pack for another week of work in Charleston, I still don't think I am crazy about the back and forth but hopefully it will go by fast and we will be moved before I know it!

"But I want you to know honey, I love your love the most"

Last Tuesday (June 23) marked mine and Timmy's 2nd Wedding Anniversary, and like the first one we were apart in different states. Last summer I was interning at VT so we celebrated the weekend before our actual anniversary by spending the weekend in the Bed & Breakfast we stayed in in Christiansburg when we got engaged and spending an evening at Chateau Morrissett. This year I was at the Wooden Institute so we celebrated this past weekend when I got home. Since Timmy has a serious sweet tooth and since I was gone the actual day of our anniversary I had a cookie bouquet delivered to him at work to enjoy. Friday night we went to the movies and had dinner out. Saturday as my gift was our day. Timmy had given me monopoly money and list of activities, meals, and even home spa services to choose from that he would treat me to that day. We started the morning with a nice family walk at the river followed by a great breakfast and a few wii games. Then we went to the pool for a few hours and then when we came back in I had my spa afternoon, including a relaxing bath (with sparkling white wine and chocolate covered strawberries), a foot massage, a body massage, and nice back rub to top it all off. It was a wonderful day and I was so glad to spend it together relaxing and enjoying some of the things we love to do. There are a few pictures below of Timmy's cookies and him and Zoey, he even wore his VT hat to the pool for me on Saturday!



Well my summer has officially ended. As soon as I am done posting on here I am getting in the car and heading to Charleston to start work tomorrow. I am excited and looking forward to this new adventure. Kassie, my new supervisor, was able to find me an on-campus suite to stay in for the next few months until Timmy and I get moved in to our new place in September. I will be moving in to that tomorrow night! I will be sure to take some pictures and to post this weekend about my new job and new "home" (at least Mon-Fri) for the next few weeks.

"But I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more"

Well many of you who know me know that being Greek has truly been a life changing experience for me. Growing up my father was very involved with his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and I have fond memories of attending conventions and visiting the old chapter house at Virginia Tech when we would go up for football games and Beta reunions. Personally I had decided going into college that being in a sorority just did not seem like anything I would ever be interested in doing, I had bought in to the "Animal House" stereotype and knew that was not the kind of thing for me. Despite my resistance dad dragged me to the Panhellenic info session during orientation, even after leaving that I was still sure it was not for me. Fast forward to January and one of the few girls I knew in a sorority at the time, Katie Weaks asked if I was interested in joining Chi Omega. I still was not sure about the whole sorority thing but I knew Katie well and knew what she stood for and believed in, I figured if she could do it than maybe I could give it a try. Thus I joined Chi Omega and I would like to say that the rest is history! Clearly joining Chi Omega was one of the best decisions I ever made, I learned what Greek organizations really were and what they stood for and it took no time for me to get involved in my chapter. I loved it so much that it is now my life, working for Chi Omega, working in the Greek Life office at USC as I was in grad school, and now as I begin my first full time job post-grad in just a few days as Assistant Director of Greek Life at College of Charleston I cannot imagine my life without the experiences and friendships that being Greek has brought into my life. I am also extremely grateful to have a wonderful husband who although is not Greek, supports my passion and involvement with my career and fraternal experiences.

Aside from growing up around Beta Theta Pi, it has continued to be a huge part of my life through college and into the present. When I was a junior the VT chapter of Beta was recolonized and I had the opportunity to connect with a number of the founding fathers who to this day are some of my closest friends. I was honored my senior year when the chapter made me their sweetheart and was so happy that so many of them were able to attend my wedding and serenade me on my big day (for those of you who do not know, Beta is the singing fraternity)! Last summer I was invited to facilitate at the Wooden Institute which Beta holds each summer for members of their collegiate chapters across the country. It was an amazing experience for me and I was thrilled when the opportunity to volunteer at their Southeast Keystone Regional Conference in February and to facilitate again this summer were offered to me. Beta has meant so much to me throughout my life that is truly an honor to be able to give back to their great fraternity with my time and I truly hope that as I start my first "real job" I will also be able to start giving to them financially as well so that more Beta members can benefit from their great leadership development opportunities. As a Greek Life professional it is great to be involved interfraternally and it is equally refreshing to see that there are organizations out there that are getting it right and are providing great development opportunities to their members. Below are some pictures from Session 1 of the Wooden Institute and the men from my Chapter 5 small group that I worked with last week. It was truly a wonderful experience and I hope to continue to stay involved with Beta in the future. It also remotivated me after my summer of boredom to start work this week!

Chapter 5 on the last day @ the Alpha House

Chapter 5 Men after serenading Bonnie Fey

Michael Hay & I The Fearless Chapter 5 Leaders

"So hot outside all I can wear are these cutoff overalls and these sandals on my feet"

Well sorry it has been a long time since I have blogged, the past two weeks have been filled with a mixture of boredom which did not warrant anything to write about as well as multiple house hunting trips to Charleston and a trip back to Chester last weekend for Dale and Meredith's wedding. I am leaving home in about 10 minutes to head to the airport to fly to Ohio until next Wednesday. I will be visiting my friend Megan from grad school tonight and then will be headed to Oxford, OH to facilitate at the Beta Theta Pi Wooden Institute. This will be my second year out there for the Institute and I am really looking forward to it!

In exciting news Timmy and I found a place in Charleston! We thought we had found the perfect house and were prepared to put an offer on it last Monday and then our realtor took us to this new community called Carolina Bay to check out some of the new town homes that are being built, we fell in love and purchased one that they have just started building. We put down our down payment last night and signed our first round of contracts. The home won't be ready until the end of September but we are excited to be home owners soon and to have something brand new. There aren't really any pictures yet but you can check out the floor plan. More to come when I get back from Ohio, I am hoping to get a break from the extreme heat and humidity we have been facing here in Columbia, but am also hoping to avoid the tornado's that hit last year when I was in Oxford! I will also post some pictures from Dale & Meredith's wedding when I get back and have more time.

Timmy & I with Meredith & Dale

Me & Timmy

Some of the Chester Crew @ the Wedding

"And These are the Moments, I'll Remember all my Life"

Well it has once again been a quite a long time since my last post, but I was away for a little over a week and then had a nice last minute visit from Tina and Eric down here in Columbia Sunday-today so I have had little time to even turn the computer on. However my time at home and in Maryland to celebrate Liz & Adam's wedding and all the festivities that came along with it were wonderful. I cannot imagine a better way to have spent my 26th Birthday! (Thanks to those of you who sent birthday messages via phone, text, and facebook, sorry I wasn't able to respond to everyone yet but it was a busy day with the wedding!)

Anytime I have the opportunity to go back to VA and to see family and friends from home and college I am reminded of how blessed I have been my entire life to be surrounded by such wonderful people. Between the wedding festivities, my Memorial Day/birthday cookout that I had at mom's where I got to see lots of old neighbors and friends, getting to spend time with mom and Reed and have a nice birthday dinner with dad, hanging out with Tina, almost suffering several heart attacks while driving around Baltimore with Danielle, getting to meet Breslyn Marie Weeks and finally hold her, and Timmy and I having some time to catch up with his parents and Jonathan I had lots of opportunities in a short amount of time to catch up with lots of people who mean a lot to me and to Timmy. While that much time away can be very tiring it flew by and I had a great time catching up with everyone. It definitely was a nice break from my previous boredom! Below are a few pictures from the fun at home and in MD for the wedding.

In other exciting news, Timmy found us a realator in Charleston and we will be making our first trip down to look at places this weekend. I am excited about this first time home buying, and while I know it will be stressful look forward to embarking on this adventure with Timmy. More to come on that front!

Liz's Bachelorette Party Group @ Dinner

Chi Omega Girls @ Birthday Cookout

Me & Sweet Baby Breslyn

Breslyn Marie Weeks

Tara, Danielle, and Me at the Fiesta Dinner

Bridal Luncheon

Wedding Party @ Rehearsal Dinner

Me & Timmy at Reshearsal Dinner

Me with the Bride & Groom at Rehearsal Dinner

Beautiful Bride & Her Bridesmaids

Me & Liz

Partners in Crime for the Weekend-Me & Danielle

Mr. & Mrs. Adam Hall!

Timmy, Me, & Adam