Law Prom

Nothing like bringing back all the high school memories of prom or staying at a nice resort just miles from your house...

Friday night I got to do both. It was the 2010 Law Gala and boy was it a fun night of eating, drinking & dancing!! We started the day out pool side @ the Westin playing ping pong, water volleyball & even watersliding. Ryan had a little difficulty sliding down the slide at an appropriate speed. It is kind of unheard of to get passed on a slide especially with a 30 second head start. Well Ryan got slammed into and then passed on a water slide by a young boy. Too funny!!!

Then we were off to get ready for cocktail hour. After some picture taking and cocktail sipping we had a sit down dinner. After that, the dancing began! I paid for it the next day with 2 blisters on my feet and very sore legs from a night full of dancing. A few pictures from event below:

Figuring it Out

via

My posts have become fewer...I guess that is what happens when you are trying to figure out your life. I spent a week studying for the Pharmacy Technician exam (most of the time was spent reading the material at the pool!) and passed. I am now certified by the Arizona Board of Pharmacy and can start applying for jobs to become a Pharmacy Technician. Hopefully I can get a job soon! This afternoon I am attending an info session at the U of A pharmacy school regarding admissions and Pharmacy school information. I get to find out how many of those chemistry and science classes I still have to take before pharmacy school is an option :(

I am also meeting with an advisor in the Nutritional Sciences dept on the 30th and hopefully can kill 2 birds with one stone and get a B.S. in Nutrition while I obtain all those pharmacy pre-reqs! I just wish I could get in-state residency quicker than by next year!

As many of you know...it can be really frustrating trying to figure out what to do with your life. I loved fashion and buying but got to the point where I was beyond drained, stressed, and would leave work everyday thinking "Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life?" I am blessed that I got the opportunity to leave my unfilled life in Charlotte (although I want to come back one day!) to come to such a wonderful southwestern city where ryan was and really connect to the things I love and cherish in life.

Don't get me wrong, I will always LOVE fashion and all that goes with it but it was time to move on to a career that left me feeling more rewarded at the end of the day.

Fitness, healthy eating & the beautiful outdoors are an important part of my life now!! (and ryan and sumo of course!)

I am waiting on all the pictures I took last weekend while my parents were visiting but in the meantime above is a picture of Sabino Canyon and proof that water does exist in the desert! Sabino Canyon is a significant canyon located in the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Coronado National Forests and only a 10 minute ride from our place! It's a popular site for hiking and biking and even sunbathing along the waterfalls!

I'm back!

ok...so we have been back from Cali for over a week now & I have lots to blog about! A lot has happened in my life since we got back. We skipped out on San Diego & LA to come back for me to start a job. Well...I lasted 2 days @ the job :/ I thought I was going to be doing marketing for a new loyalty program for the corporate office of a car wash company. Instead, I showed up the first day to learn I would be an employee of a 4 person call center team for the car wash. I respect people that have to deal with complaining people on the phone because I FOR SURE can not handle it. After 2 days, I let them know I wouldn't be back. I have never quit a job that soon but am so thankful that I do not have to work in that call center dealing with angry customers over billing issues and car wash complaints. Next time I call a place to complain, I am going to remember how I felt in my 2 days answering those calls.

So what now for the job search? Good question! I worked 2 days this week on the U of A campus for a photographer helping take senior pictures. I had so much fun and it was a great networking temp job. Right now, I am beginning my studying to take my test to become certified as a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy school is a possibility now in my future?? I change my mind everyday and think I want to do everything now!

For now...I'll share a few of my favorite pictures from the tournament (or my favorite players :P)

Feliciano Lopez playing singles...my new favorite player!

Bryan brothers playing doubles

Lopez and Verdasco. Not bad to look @!

We're off to Cali

So I guess there are some perks to not having a job yet...

Tomorrow is Ryan's last day of classes before his spring break so we are off to California for a long weekend with Ryan and his parents. We are boarding Sumo which I am both upset and sad to leave him :( but it might be a nice break from doggie parental duties.

We are headed to Palm Springs and will be attending the BNP Paribas Open (a pro tennis tournament). Ryan is really excited about watching the tennis and I think I'm excited about the possibly of seeing Verdasco up close and personal :) Who wouldn't be excited about seeing him?!

After the weekend there, we might be spending a night in San Diego and a night in LA?! Keep you all posted! Hope you all are getting some warmer weather on the East coast!

151 days left

"Love is like magic and it always will be,

For love still remains life's sweet mystery"

151 days until I become Mrs. Johnson! Ok so I am feeling a little more romantic than usual today. Maybe it's because it's been unusually rainy in the desert this past month and today I have officially lost all of my tolerance for cold weather. Today it only got up to 60 degrees and I was freezing all day! Or maybe my romantic mood came from the shout out I got on my BFF's blog.

At least I know whatever happens in my professional life, that I will always have Ryan by my side. He has been so supportive and encouraging to me through my career search since I've been out here. I love him so much and can't wait to say my vows to him in August. Below are some of the special pictures me & ryan have taken together over the past 5+ years :)

Our 2nd date November 6, 2004

Our Jamaican Vaca in May 2007

The night Ryan asked me to marry him

Cabo a few days after I became future Mrs. Johnson

Lake Norman sunset summer 2009

Weekend Mornings in Tucson

What better way to start a weekend morning than with a walk to the local farmer's market with your fiance and dog? We slept in till about 9:30 and then were up and off to St. Philip's Plaza just about a 1/2 mile away via the River Walk. Boy was it a wonderful morning here. Sunny and about 65 degrees! Not sure if I was more excited or if Sumo was. We have been using organic soap we received as a present. It was from the farmers market so I was ready to replenish since we have been out for about a week. However, the vendor that sells the soap we had is not there on Saturdays :( and attends the Sunday market. I plan on attending church tomorrow with Maryanna so I guess I'll try and get my soap next weekend :( I did end up splurging on some local satsuma shea aloe body lotion and some satsuma body scrub. It will hold me over until we get our soap!

Sumo got lots of attention this morning from people, kids, and other dogs at the market. He was well behaved and even made a little girlfriend dog while I waited on Ryan to buy 2 of his favorite all natural energy drinks Verve. After wondering around the booths for about 45 minutes and taste testing the salsas, dried nuts and other foods, we were on our way back home.

I've included a little description below about the Saturday & Sunday markets:

St. Philip's Plaza's Saturday Farmer's Market (9 AM - 2PM): Features locally grown and produced foods, native plants and crafts. Including organic produce, meats, homemade baked goods, tortillas, salsa, roasted corn and chilies, kettle corn, coffees, spices and more!

Sunday's Tucson Farmer's Market (9AM - 1 PM): The Tucson Farmers’ Market at St. Philip’s Plaza is Southern Arizona’s largest market devoted entirely to locally grown and manufactured products. The vibrant colonial architecture and lush vegetation of St.Philip’s Plaza provides an ideal setting for a morning of pleasant shopping.

The market features fine produce, savory baked goods and pastries, fresh roasted coffees, custom blended teas, range fed meats, farm fresh eggs, gourmet soups and sauces and a wonderful selection of native and decorative plants.

Ryan and Sumo walking out to the River Walk

Some pictures of the market below

My market purchase

Recovering from a tiring time @ the Farmer's Market

Bragbooks

So I spent yesterday waiting anxiously by my phone waiting for an offer (or denial) for the golf apparel sales rep position I interviewed for on Tuesday. I kept my phone attached to my side all day and every time it rang I got a little more nervous. Well...I waited ALL day and no call :( However, my phone rang around 5:30 with a Tucson area code. I thought about not answering but so glad I did. It was a District Sales Manager from Sanofi-Aventis asking if I was still looking for a job and would be available to interview. OF COURSE! So today I interviewed for a pharmaceutical sales rep position with the company. I was excited but totally unprepared! I spent all night and today until my 2:00 interview researching about the company and what a pharmaceutical rep really does.

Let's just say I think the interview went well but I'm not going to be surprised if I do not get a call back. My friend Melanie mentioned me taking bragbook with me to my interview as evidence. Bragbook? Really? I should have listened though. The interviewer said he thought I had great experience but was lacking the evidence to back up my credentials and resume. What is a bragbook?

- Apparently a must for any face-to-face pharmaceutical sales interview

- A sales aid and no true salesperson should interview without one

- Adds life and credibility to your resume

- What to include: Performance reviews, ranking reports showing performance, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, photos of you accepting awards, previous business card, etc.

So tomorrow, I might be giving Yolanda a call to help me dig up some old performance appraisals. As I pursue my career in sales...let's just say I'm currently working on my bragbook :)