Where the hello have I been?!

Ok, ok, so I doubt very many people keep up with my blog anymore since it has been so sporadic and  inconsistent for the past year or so.

I always prooomise that I am going to post X amount of times per week, and I even make a "blogging schedule" for myself...and then life gets in the way.

So, I wanted to at least pop in to say that I haven't been blogging much because I've been going through a LOT of changes in my personal and professional life.

Such as...

-Moving into a new apartment in a new town (but with the same guy, of course--he's here for the long haul)

-Quitting my job (That post was written when I first got the position...but it started to really wear on my emotionally and I was downright unhappy towards the end. I have no ill will for any of my coworkers or supervisors--they were all incredible!--and I learned so much there. However, it was time to move on).

-Instead, I am now a full-time nanny. Wait...what? How is this a "professional" career change, you ask? Well, quite frankly...it's sort of not. But the right position with a fantastic family fell into my lap, in a gorgeous area and decent pay, and I went for it. Why am I doing this, you ask? Because...

-I applied and have been accepted into Graduate School! Beginning in the Spring 2013 semester, I will be studying at Towson University for my Master of Science in Human Resources Development. I am really excited about it. I will be taking two night classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the great thing about my new nanny job is the flexibility with my hours (generally work 8-4 M-F) which allows me enough time to make it to evening classes, and also allows me to study during the day (while the babies are napping).

That is pretty much the big stuff. I've had a lot of family visits, including to visit my grandparents who are old and sick, and I've been more concerned with real life than with the blog.

However, I really am going to try to blog more...even if no one is reading but myself! Haha. I won't make any promises or force myself to stick to a "schedule", but I will try (at first) to blog once a week. Right now it is naptime for the kids, so I am thinking it will be easier to blog during the afternoon than at my previous job.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season! I'll be back soon with a couple of recipes to share--some cookies and some crock pot wonders!

And I'll leave you with a photo of Sean and I when we visited the lights on 34th street in Hampden this past Saturday:

What's your favorite holiday?

City Life

Thank you all for your lovely responses on my last post! I really appreciate your kind words!!!

APARTMENT UPDATE:

So, I've been "moved in" to my apartment since Saturday! I've spent most of my time organizing/unpacking, exploring my neighborhood, and relaxing with Bailey the beagle and Amanda, my awesome roommate. We get along really well!

Yesterday, I took a visit to the Whole Foods by the Inner Harbor, and although it was depressingly expensive and I couldn't really afford anything, it was amazing. I also walked through Little Italy, and through my neighborhood to see which bars I'll probably be hitting up this weekend! ;-) It all still feels so surreal to me. It's only been a couple of days, so I guess that makes sense. But honestly, I love my new home, and I really think I will stay in Baltimore for awhile. I love it here. I am super close to my parents, but I am still far enough away that I can be completely independent. Also, I love the city! The water, the air, the sounds, the smells...all of it!

JOB UPDATE:

I just got a call from my boss today, and due to some issues with the HR department, I may not be starting my job until April 4th. I'm a little bummed, to be honest. My brother and my friends and roommate were like "oh that's so awesome, you'll have more time to just chill out and do whatever!", but I am ready to go! I need to make money to pay the bills, first of all. But I'm also genuinely excited to get started in my career. I'm sure once I start, I'll look back and realize how great it was to sit around doing nothing, though....

I am trying to keep myself busy with social plans, and also to keep myself accountable. I know I haven't really talked candidly about my eating disorder on here in awhile, mostly because things have been fairly stable. However, it is definitely true that moving out on your own makes it hard to stick to a meal plan, or at least a general schedule. I think it's hard for any person, but especially someone with my history. My roommate works nights, so dinners have been on my own. I stocked up on cheap/quick/easy to make foods that I also enjoy, like chicken breasts, lots of frozen and canned veggies, and rice or pasta dishes. So far, so good.

MAN UPDATE:

The man and I have a date tomorrow night! I offered to drive to him since he drove to me last time. Plus, he's a teacher and works early in the morning, so we can't stay out too late. I'm going to meet up with him at his house around 5:30 tomorrow evening, and then we're going to go out to dinner somewhere and then probably for a drink or two somewhere as well. I am so nervous every time I hang out with him because I honestly have never felt this intensely about a guy before. I want things to work out so badly, but I don't want to hold my expectations too high in case it doesn't work out. Can anyone relate? I know I should stop overanalyzing everything and just enjoy our time spent together, but it's hard not to wonder where it will end up going.

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So, that's pretty much all for now. I am exhausted so I am going to head to bed!

What is your favorite city and why?

My "home" city of Baltimore is great, but of all the cities I've been to in the world, PARIS is my favorite. Hands down. No competition.

A Photo Tour of My New Home

As promised, here are a few photos I snapped of my new townhome in Baltimore. I am renting from a girl named Amanda who is also my roommate. She is 24 and has a beagle named Bailey, whom I have inherited. I only just moved in, but I already feel right at home.

me in front of the front door!

living room

our awesome, spacious kitchen

my room--LOVING the exposed brick! that door also opens to a pretty large private balcony!

I get my own bathroom! It has a skylight!

Bailey, Amanda's doggie :-)

So, I have one week to settle into my new atmosphere and explore the city, especially the Canton neighborhood, before my full-time counseling position begins on March 28th! What a whirlwind my life has been! This is proof that hard work and patience and perseverance really do pay off, in recovery and in life. I have worked very hard to get where I am. A few weeks ago, I was afraid I'd be living at home forever and would never get a "real" job. Now, I am living independently and am about to start my career!

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Oh yeah, and things with The Man are going SUPER well. He drove more than an hour last night after he had worked all day, just to come see my new place in Baltimore and to hang out with me. He stayed the night, but it honestly was innocent (besides like, passionate making out haha). It was adorable. We talked and had a couple beers and stayed up til 4am. Then this morning, we woke up at 9 and laid in bed talking and cuddling for 2 more hours before we finally got out of bed and he headed home because he had to work.

I really like this guy. A lot. And I know I've said stuff like this before in the past, but it honestly feels different this time. This guy is older, so he's more mature, respectful, and intelligent than other guys I've dated. I really hope things work out between us because I think it could potentially be something wonderful.

Cross your fingers for me!

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I'm off to explore my new city! Have a wonderful Sunday and a great start to your week tomorrow...and HAPPY SPRING!

Apartment!

I am officially a resident of Baltimore City!

So excited!!!!!!!

I am moving TODAY into my new townhouse in Canton!

Pics and details to follow.

Oh, and the man and I have been consistently talking and have a date tomorrow night :-)

He is pretty rad.

My life is pretty rad. I can't believe I have a job at Hopkins and that I am moving out on my own and that I have a wonderful new man!

My life is beginning. Finally!