I miss the Pearl!

So this little lady called me today and left me a happy birthday message, complete with song and a BIG I love you!   I mean, seriously, how does that not make your day!

I only wish I could scoop her up right now and give her a big squeeze!

We miss you Sadie Pearl!

Early Birthday Present

So giddy about this one!  I have been asking and asking and begging and pleading for this for a LONG time!  Ever since I heard about it i HAD to have one!  I know its completely not a necessity, but I am so stinking excited that Adam finally broke down and got it for me!!!!

A Good Position

I'm not really a superstitious person.  I don't get all tied up in astrology or fortune telling.   But I will admit that I do enjoy a good fortune cookie and reading the fortunes is pretty fun. I have a coworker who frequents Panda Express and as he doesn't care for fortune cookies, I partake of one probably at least twice a month.  Most are ridiculous and cannot really even be called fortunes.   

A few months ago I even got a mean one!  Seriously, it said something to the affect that I needed to improve my exercise routine.  Really?   I screamed at the fortune - YOU DON'T KNOW ME!   I showed my co-workers and we all couldn't believe it actually said that.   OK, so what if it were true.  That's not the point!

However, the one I got a few weeks later made up for it, it was so good in fact I saved it an pinned it to my wall at work:

Now mind, you I had just recently posted for, interviewed and then been turned down for a position at work.  But one must always have hope!  

Somewhere around that same time our VP of our Department announced a whole bunch of new band 35 positions.  Currently I am a band 30, my title being Financial Analyst 1.   I have basically had the same job since I have been at American Express.   Moving to a band 35 would be an AWESOME move.  So of course I applied!  There were actually 3 different types of positions opened and multiple positions within 2 of those.  I applied for 2 of the 3; all are manager level positions, but only 1 is an actual people leader manager (I didn't apply for this one).   The competition was pretty stiff, there were 6 positions that eventually got filled and 27 applicants!  Most just within our department!   

It was pretty nerve racking, especially when I received a second interview, and seemingly no one else did (only 3 did).  What did that mean?  Were they on the fence about me?  

Well finally the day arrived and we started to get notified - and Woohoo!  The fortune came true (every part of it!)     My new title is Manager - Rating Utility... or something like that... I really don't know the official title, but essentially I am in a similar function, but instead of analyzing a credit and determining a line size, I will be analyzing for a Risk Rating.

I am super excited, the team I will be working with is great and full of very bright people.    Some of you often ask why I don't blog about my job, and well that's because nothing has really changed in the last 3 years.  Its pretty much been the same.  So now here is your official update!

New outfits for my (baby) nieces!

I had to clarify they were for my baby nieces becuase unfortunately I didn't have enough material to make an outfit for Sadie too.     Sorry Sadie!  Aunt Abbey promises to have something special for you too soon!!!

I had so much fun making these little oufits! The material originally started out as a skirt for me, and well that failed, but I couldn't let it go to waist so I turned it into something for my nieces!  Then I couldn't stop there and had to make the hair bows, those are my fav - love em!   And then I got the bright idea to applique the flower from the fabric onto onesies.   Ah, gotta love a complete outfit.    Seriously, not that I mean to brag, but so super cute.  And of course it was WAY cuter on my nieces (need a picture of that.. hint hint!!)

Maren's Baby Shower

Last month we celebrated Maren's baby shower.   Maren and Joe (Adam's Cousin) were waiting until the birth to find out what they were having so the hosts of the shower had a very neutral theme planned.  Imagine everyone's surprise when baby Grace decided to show up early, before the shower even occurred!  

But since everything was already in order, the neutral theme went on.  I was very excited when I was asked to help with the desserts.  I made this cute little gray and yellow birdy cake and some matching yellow cupcakes.