I'm back!

After a couple months of silence I am back with a vengeance... My mom kept telling me to blog it will help your writing, blog its good for the soul, blog because I live vicariously through you. Well it wasn't until this past weekend that I really was convinced. You see, there is another blogger out there one I admire and have mentioned in past posts, Kate Nierengraten. She is the big sister of my best friend who is getting married in November. I was recently up in Chicago for the big bachelorette party when on the hangover Sunday Funday morning Kate made a small nod to my blogging. As small as her comment might have been it lit a fire under me and I decided to stop being lazy and start getting awesome.

Some of you may know my New Years resolution was to be more awesome. (Quick shout out to Barney from How I Met Your Mother) And so far I have succeed. I moved to California, got a job, got an apartment, had a wonderful relationship, learned about myself, grew professional, matured from a college girl to a young lady... I have also taken life tolls, been beat up a bit by 'the man' (not a person but big corp). I fell down but got up again. It hurt like hell but I'm still here.

My nan always told me to count my blessings and never take life for granted. Even when I was down, I am surprised and proud to say I did not fall apart.

Now, I'm back on my feet. I moved home to be closer to my family. I realized that fame and fortune were not what matters most to me. I love my family and friends and missing cornerstone in their lives made me feel like a terrible person. How could I preach my values when I did not abide by them?! So I took one hell of a road trip home with my sister, Gretchen! It was a blast and I would not want to do it with anyone but her! Talk about sister bonding time and what a fun story to tell later in life. I can already imagine us as old women talking about that one time on that crazy roadtrip.

I started a job, well actually it is an old job. I was an intern for an IndyCar racing team in 2009, helped with the Indy500 in 2010. I loved the people I worked with, treasured our friendships, kept in touch, followed my mentors' advice, low and behold here I am again! I could not be happier! And I cannot wait to share with you all about the crazy fun weekends at the race tracks.

So I guess this post is a toast in a way... Here is to new beginnings. More blogging. Old friends. New friends. New experiences and life in general! Here here!!

- Last couple days in L.A.

These next couple photos are of my sister and I roadtripping it from Orange County, California to Indianapolis, Indiana. We took 1-70 through the mountains. Started the trip by a stop in Vegas - Gretchen's first time! Then went through the desert to the Rocky Mountains. Stopped in Vail for lunch (the usual haha) and then caught a concert at the Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado. On the last couple days of the drive we saw her friend from camp in Kansas City and went for a ferryboat ride on the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO. What a trip - amazing memories!

Packing: the solution

I said "No, it would wouldn't work." People said, "It couldn't be." But it was... all of my clothes fit into my trunk!

(pause for a moment of surprise)

I know!!! If you know me, or if you don't, I'll tell you I have a lot of clothes. That's what I get for working at Ann Taylor for three years. As I said in my earlier post- boxes are old things. New solution for shopaholics like me- space bags.

This is what my basement looked like before....

Then with more clothes I found in storage....

And like MAGIC it fits in my car!
I need to write the inventors of the Space Bag a thank you note.

Side note if you're moving- take your old clothes and bags to re-sell boutiques. I always make a run at Simply Chic (at 96th Street in Fishers), then to Plato's Closet (96th near Walmart), then to Goodwill for some awesome tax returns! By selling my things at these stores I made an extra $250 for the trip.

Aside from packing, I needed some other prep for this preppy girl- My mom and I headed down to Bloomington, IN. Home of the Indiana University Hoosiers. It was also Mom's Weekend for my little sister, Gretchen. She is a junior and a Chi Omega down there. Unfortunately, Gretch was sick with a virus all weekend, but we were able to handle a little bit of shopping and a pedicure. This was a welcome distraction from packing and the constant running list in my head.

I decided to get the OPI color- LA Paz-itively Hot!

On to the "Mother Road"-more posts to come :)

Packing made easy?

I knew packing would be difficult. I mean I have an oversized storage tub for each season, not including shoes or accessories. So now I find myself having to condense all of my fashion loves into one Honda Civic for my journey across country- YIKES!

I started with boxes. They are practical and cheap. Then I looked at my trunk... only a couple would fit. This option went quickly out the window and to the recycling bin.

The nice sales man, Sean, who sold me my car mentioned space bags. You've seen the infomercial- vacuum away all the extra space. I was sold! (pun intended). I went to my nearby Walmart and bought some large and medium sized bags.

After much debate, several trips to the resell boutiques, I have finally narrowed down my clothing selection. Let's see what I can do!

Oh I almost forgot, I do not have a place to live out in CA yet. I have appointments with potential roommates on Friday and Saturday so I am unsure of the amount of space I am working with (another clothing problem).

Pictures to come of the final results...


PS- This is my new car! Color: Tango Red (love it)