9 Resolutions for 2009

So here they are:

1.  Take (and pass) the LEED exam

2.  Start getting to work on time (before 8:15)

3.  Be more aggressive at work

4.  Walk the dogs more often

5.  Lose 20 lbs. (10 by March 1st)

6.  Go to the gym 3 days/week minimum

7.  Go to 1 country that I have never been to

8.  Drink more water

9.  Have a BETTER 2009!

All in a days work

I managed to get laid-off and hired all in a days work!  

I think I mentioned a few months ago that there was some crazy shenanigans going on at work.  PB2 decided to downsize and close all of their satellite offices which included the Dallas Design Studio.  Well, the former PB2 president and the two vp's from Texas thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to form a new company that consisted of the Texas operations of PB2.  

So, today I got laid-off from PB2 and immediately hired by BASIC architects + interiors.  Pretty cool, huh?  It was my first and very painless lay off!  

Everything will pretty much stay the same with the exception of the employees from our Kennedale office moving to the Dallas office.  I think it will be a lot better and more seamless with us all under one roof.

Check out our new website.  www.basicarch.com.  They just have a splash page up right now that links to PB2's religious page, but we should have a new and improved website up and running by the end of the year so check back!

NCIDQ Exam

I found out today that I passed the 3rd part of the NCIDQ exam!  Now I can legally say that I am an Interior Design"er."  I am so happy to have all of that behind me!

The newest thing I don't have time to do...

I am taking the LEED AP test at the end of January.  They are changing the requirements to take the exam in February 2009 so if I want to get my LEED AP I have to take it before then.  So I decided that in addition to Christmas, New Years and moving...I am also going to be studying to the LEED AP test.  Wooo Hooo!  For those of you who don't know what a LEED AP is:

LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System.

And for those of you who don't know what LEED is:

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

Ice is not my friend

As some of you know, on Tuesday I went to the hardest workout class of my life. This class, that could have only been invented by the devil himself, made every single muscle in my body so sore that I can hardly walk. Well, today I decided to wear my below zero North Face jacket on the way to work because it is really cold in Dallas. Most of my walk to work is in-doors in the "underground" (Dallas had tunnels that run under most of the downtown buildings). Well, there is this one spot along my walk that you can either walk through this outdoor courtyard or go around it through a hallway. I was so hot with this dang below zero jacket on that I decided to walk through the outdoor courtyard...BTW, I never walk through the courtyard. So, I'm walking and not paying attention to what I am doing because I am still half asleep and step right on a patch of ice. My legs both went different directions and I fell right onto my right knee and then on my butt. I lived through 5 winters in Fayettville and never slipped on ice! Anyway, all the security guards from the Bank of America building came rushing out to help me up and to make sure I was ok. I was fine...just a little embarrassed. They also wanted to see if I wanted to file a complaint...I was so embarrassed that I just said no, no, I'm fine, I promise. Thinking back...maybe I should have. I could have been living on the top floor of the Bank of America building! Well, maybe just a free doctors visit at least! So, now every muscle in my body hurts and my knee is black and blue! I'll never underestimate Dallas' winter weather again!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

This past weekend, I hosted a brunch for my building peeps before the Neiman Marcus Christmas Parade that goes right by our building.  We had so much fun eating and drinking and then went down to the parking garage to watch the parade go down Commerce Street.  It was a pretty impressive parade.  They had big balloons, bands, floats and tons of people.  I went to let the dogs out a 7:30 and there were already people lined up for the parade which started at 10:00.  I asked the doorman how long they had been out there and he said that people started setting up chairs at 6:30!  Below are some of my holiday decorations:

(Christmas tree...no presents yet! Please note the fancy tree topper that I came up with this year!)

(Table decor)

(Brunch spread!  I just love when I get to use all of my fancy dishes!)

Maya Angelou

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. A friend of mine sent me a list of quotes from that interview. I wanted to share a few with all of you.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same things as 'making a life'."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."