hey there, pumpkin

Have you discovered this yet?

If not, stop by your nearest Trader Joe's today and stock up for the season. Who needs homemade when this exists? So delicious!

Nothing says Fall like pumpkin treats everywhere you go. Mmm.

early retirement

As of October 2nd, I have been a free agent. No more West Dermatology consuming my afternoons (and some nights), no more phone calls from my co-workers and/or boss, no more emails to check all day long, no more yellow pages (a dying species anyway), magazines or newspapers, no more website updates, no more deadlines. I guess the only drawback is no more income, but even that doesn't bother me too much.While I'm grateful for the experiences I've gained over the last ten years, I'm so thankful it's over. My heart hasn't been in it for a while and it's especially not going to be in it when a newborn and toddler consume my days come January.

It was a great, flexible job, but not always peaches and cream. I learned some fantastic lessons though like how to be less critical of myself and my work and how to take criticism better. I learned what marketing is all about and how to create a marketing plan and budget. I learned A LOT about graphic design and that I probably should have majored in it. I learned about working with different personality types. I learned that working from home is sometimes difficult and not as wonderful as people think. I learned sometimes you work simply because you have to, not because you enjoy every moment. It really has been an interesting ten years and I'm grateful for my mom and Kent for talking me through the moments when I wanted to quit. 

Once again, very grateful for the experience, but I don't feel an ounce of regret for bowing out at this stage in my life. It's time to move on.

Now that I have two to three hours to myself in the afternoon my house should be spotless and dinner ready at 5pm every night, right? Ha. I do hope to stay on top of that better, but I'm just excited to do things that I want to do. Examples: make a quiet book, finish a wall hanging in Win's room, complete my mom's personal history and maybe make something more of that, freelance (yes, if you or someone you know is in need of some graphic design work, I'm happy to help), bake, sew, write, CREATE. There is so much to do in life!

Anyway, just wanted to document my newly found freedom and let you know how excited I am to pursue new interests. Time for me to get some other things accomplished.