like it or not... change is inevitable.

I'm typing this post as I'm sitting in my house I bought, looking at my bulldog, and my other bulldog snuggling with my husband. Change is inevitable - I like change - but I also like when things stay the same.  (I swear that make sense in my head). I think it's healthy to have a good mix of both. Two years ago if you told me I was going to have all of things listed above I don't think I would have believed you. In fact - I was so happy I might have done something to try and stop it.


I loved my life, friends and job a LOT when all of the above started coming into my life. I do really think there is something said to being personally settled and happy before you can work the rest in. (I mean it really takes a lot to work in two sleeping bulldogs and a snoring husband!) That has all changed now and thank goodness it did! 


Derek and I had a bonfire last night and it reminded me of my days of working at Camp Tanglefoot, in Clear Lake Iowa as a camp counselor over four years in high school and college. We were required to take the girls on a couple of cook-outs each week (meaning the counselors cooked outdoors rather than heading up to the lodge for grub the cooks had made). One fun way to get the girls involved was to make something with "Pie Irons". 


A Pie Iron looks like this:

I showed off my "camp girl days skills" to Derek and made him dessert over the fire. My masterpiece trick was a little thing we liked to call "Grilled Reeses" - which basically means taking bread, buttering the outside of the pieces and putting peanut butter as well as chocolate chips on the inside. Here's where the Pie Iron comes in - you simply put the sandwich in and toast it over the fire. Derek's only complaint was I didn't make two! 


When we were sitting around the fire though it reminded me of my times at Camp Tanglefoot and how happy I was then. I love knowing even though my camp counselor days are over I still get the chances to relive parts of them and share my stories and campy talents with my husband. 


This morning we went to brunch at my friend Jen and Seth's house. I love having a friend I met the second day of college still in my life. She knows all my stories and I know hers. She is one of the first people I call when things really go wrong or really right! I'm happy things don't change SO much that good friends come and go. 


My business is ever-changing as well. For a while each week I would think, "ok this is the week things will all get in order and things will be normal". It turns out there is no normal in business ownership - change is inevitable. I had an employee start two weeks ago which brings a whole new level of newness, twists and turns to the game. Learning to accept change and roll with the punches has GOT to be one of the most valuable life lessons out there. It seems like the sooner you realize how to do that - the sooner you feel relieved and satisfied with everything.


It's funny how life keeps coming around. Some things change and some things stay the same and some things are a little bit of both. I think that's a very comforting thought. 

Busy Wife = Busy Life

Yikes?! I knew it had been a long time since I posted, but Valentines day is just shameful! I have good reason though (or at least I think it is!). I started my own business at the end of February (note the timeline of my business starting and the pause of my posts.)

My company is called Happy Medium. Our focus is honest media buying for clients. Lots of companies spend millions a year on marketing and never seem to step back to see where all of this great creative is being placed. This is where I want to help clients by using my knowledge from selling advertising at WHO-TV. If you want to see any other info you can find it at www.itsahappymedium.com. There - that's the last four months in a nutshell.

I did find time to do a few other things as well! I went to San Diego to visit a very good friend I spent a summer with in Japan during college. She turned 30 and had a "doble quince". I flew with a friend from here and it was a blast! Derek and I also just came home from Florida and visiting the beach, his cousins and his parents. We had a lot of fun and LOVE spending time at the beach. My favorite part of the condo the Stocking's have is it's the only place Derek has still access to where he grew up and still visits. I love going there and hearing all of his memories from when he was little. It makes me excited to take our kids there someday and continue the traditions my husband had.

We also made time to go to Chicago with our friends Jen and Seth for Memorial Day weekend - and we met up with our friend Colleen from college and her boyfriend Bill. It was a great weekend! There is something very comforting about hanging out with college friends  - it always makes me feel like "me" again.

In April my friend Kahala gave birth to a VERY beautiful baby who is now referred to as Elin. (Sweedish per her fathers request!). It's been fun to be Elin's "Aunt Tee Tee"! I think it's great to see your good friends with babies, it gives you an honest idea of how it will be to have a baby of your own. Plus they can come up with lots of good tips for when I need them!

My friend Meredith is expecting in December. (yes it's baby central in my world - and i LOVE every minute!) It's VERY fun to watch friends go through their pregnancies and be there to support them. I can't wait to find out what baby Garman is!

My friend Angie from high school also found the love of her life and was married in June. I was honored to be a part of it and they make a very beautiful couple!

Speaking of my first year of marriage - Did I mention I started my own company two months after we were married?! My husband has been an absolute rockstar through the process and been such a huge help with the success I've been fortunate enough to already have. He's guided me through the entire process to make sure things are set up the correct way. He does the books for Happy Medium (thank goodness - or I'd REALLY make a mess of things i'm sure) without and ounce of complaint, and he is always just a phone call away willing to listen to my company victories and roadblocks.

It seems like everyday this year I am more and more thankful I found and married Derek. Marriage is pretty cool....an amazing partnership that seems to grow daily. Who knew? I definitely didn't but I'm glad I'm finding out!

New Year...New Wife

The new year tends to bring firsts in some way for everybody. For me this year, i started off January 1st - not with a hangover - for the first time in my life since college - but rather as my first full day of being a wife. Derek and I were married on New Years Eve this past year and so far things are going swimmingly. (never mind the fact the majority of our marriage has been spent at an all-inclusive amazing resort in Jamaica - i'm certain it would have been just as delightful here) 

While on our honeymoon, we remembered we had yet to make our new years resolutions (we were slightly busy that week!) I decided my resolution is going to be the best wife I can be this first year of our life. after the first year who cares?! just kidding... So thus: "New Year...New Wife". Also I would never admit I'm the kind of girl that had a "Wedding Slogan" (my friends are laughing here - yes i know) but hey - since you obviously have to have SOMETHING to print on the little cocktail napkins we went with "New Year...New Life" so I'm ceremonially (literally) switching it to wife and here we go. 

This blog is intended to document my trials and tribulations of being a wife and the best tips I come up with through my first year. For Better or Worse... ;)