Another baby blanket!

Here's the latest blanket I made for my newest nephew who will be coming in a few weeks!

This is a pretty horrible picture.  I was in a hurry to get it shipped off and didn't take the time to make sure the lighting was good, or better yet take it outside.   I was excited when I saw this quilt pattern because its so hard to find cute boy quilts!   I decided not to put any batting in it to make it more like a blanket.   But I line the back with super soft minky fabric so it will still be super comfy!

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!!)