blogging on my phone!

Just set up Blogger on my phone...inspiring me to post my pics on here and get rid of Facebook...well sure see! In the meantime, check in periodically because I'm going to try to write more often!

I really should be...

I really should be...jumping for joy because I have received three orders for Mary Kay and I'm only in my first week!! I'm still figuring out how to receive/process orders, but after all the initial confusion, I think I'll be able to roll with it!

I really shouldn't be...as sad as I am about not being in Blacksburg this weekend. Because it's Labor Day weekend, I booked my ticket to ride to/from Baltimore to visit Heather, the babies, and my parents who will be visiting up here. Unfortunately, this is also Anthony's first weekend back, and the first weekend after classes at VT. It's hard to understand I won't be there with everyone. Everyone is with everyone...minus me. I feel like I'm the only one who won't be there, and the only one who really left. It seems so permanent. and I also feel like I don't know who to talk to about it. *sigh.

Nine to two!

So today, I went into the day exhausted, left work exhausted, and I really didn't want to play in our indoor soccer game tonight. ...but I took Anthony's advice and went.

...and I had a great time!! We won 9-2! I assisted three goals, scored once, and caused a girl to score on their own goal (deflection)!!! YESSS!! It was a lot of fun.

It reminds me why I love soccer so much. Sorry, lacrosse, I love you too, but you're not my main gig anymore...

Oh, I guess I should've probably talked about my dentist appointment today too. Well, it was interesting. Everyone at the office were very very very nice. The dentist was very nice, and I felt like she knew what she was doing for the most part. I was nervous, though, the entire time because:

a. They have tons and tons of new, state-of-the-art, modern tools. For example, instead of a hook thingy they usually pick at your teeth with, it was a hook thing that squirted water out at the same time. Weird!

b. When she was finished with the squirting hook thing, she used the old-fashioned hook on my bottom teeth and I was cringing the entire time!! She stuck the tip into the back-bottom of my bottom teeth and then pulled it through the tiny gap to the top of the teeth really really really firmly. I honestly felt like my teeth could've been pulled out in that moment.

c. The Dental Hygienist kept squirting me with water. Not once, not twice, not three times, but four. The fourth technically wasn't entirely her fault, but she filled my mouth with too much water. Hah.

SO the Dental Hygienist was a bit frustrating because of the water, but I had to step outside to go back to work during a torrential downpour -without an umbrella- so I guess it didn't matter. ...oh...and she squirted toothpaste all over my chin from the swirling automatic toothbrush, and it was really hard to get off my face when I stood up from the chair! She gave me mouthwash to wash all the gritty toothpaste out of my mouth after I stood up from the chair. Hmmm...Then they were giving me a hard time about not flossing, but they didn't even floss my teeth during my appointment!

I did learn something about my mouth, though: I have 3 fillings?! I had no idea!! Sadness. She did compliment me on how well I clean my teeth, though, because she said they looked really nice!

Good thing I didn't even pay a dollar to go! My insurance covered 100% of everything: my introduction exams, checkup, and copay! Needless to say, I'm going to go once more in February just to make sure it was just a bad day, because they're at the most perfect location for me. They're located literally between my home and my office. How convenient!

I brought my x-rays to them, and they didn't even keep them. Haha. Dr. Thompson's office has individual folders with everyone's names on them, all in order, paper x-rays, old-fashioned everything! At Smile Designer, everything is 100% digital so they said although I brought them, they couldn't keep them. So I brought them home with me. I guess that's a good thing, though...just in case I need to go to a different dentist some day...

I felt like my luck was like my Uncle Doug's (Dad's Doug, not Mom's). At one point, the sucker tool was in my mouth for a long time and the noise was hurting my head. There was also a point that I had to swallow and it was really hard to. And there was another time I felt like I was having a hard time breathing since there were two hands, two tools, a sucker, and a water tool in my mouth. Honestly, I alllllmost panicked. Haha!! Things like this, but 10x worse, happen to Doug all. the. time. Poor man.

TGIF tomorrow!!! I'm looking forward to my MK evening, followed by my MK debut on Saturday with some friends, all during the ginormous hurricane that's going to be hitting us! BRING ON THE RAIN! ...just don't cut off my electricity, please.

CRAZY crazy day

It was around 1:30pm and the only thing on my mind was my upcoming progress meeting I scheduled with my three principals and my supervisor. 1:50pm rolls around, and I walk over to Leah's desk to ask her a quick question before the meeting. I look over and hear Srun saying, "What is this? What is this?" while her computer monitors were shaking back and forth. At first, that was all we saw, but then the entire building began to shake and tremble. I remember standing there, frozen almost to a panic, watching the windows vibrate, hearing the sound of shattering glass in the office, and not knowing what was going on. It lasted a solid 15-30 seconds and I vaguely remember Leah actually asking, "Do I need to get under my desk??"

Little did I know at the time, it was actually the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the east coast from Richmond!

Right after the shaking stopped, people were running around and evacuating the building, anticipating an aftershock. (Thankfully, that never happened.) We stood outside next to the building for a half hour while firetrucks were rushing down the streets toward the Key Bridge. I think they were just looking around to make sure no damage was done around the city. Cell phone service was down, of course, but Anthony managed to get in touch with me so that made me happy.

Honestly, it took be a good couple of hours to completely calm down from all that. I look back on the moment and think how crazy it was for me to panic! I should've taken cover immediately, but at the time, all that was going through my head was, "What is happening?!" let alone "I should take cover."

Oh, and the glass that shattered were some trophies and pictures hanging around the office. At first I thought it was the Conference Room doors because of how loud the crashing was.

I hate to say it, but I'll know for next time...the first earthquake in almost 70 years in Virginia?? Crazy to think about. Scary, too...

Mary Kay!

I have officially made the grand decision to become an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay!

Most of you are probably wondering: Why Courtney? Well, there are a few reasons:

- A bit of extra cash on the side
- Discount on MK products
- Being in a pretty pink bubble!
- It will travel with me if I move: aka job security
- Prizes and rewards for doing a great job
- More family time later in life
- Free car, anyone?

Spending more and more time with the MK women (and men) has been such a breath of fresh air: they're all so perky, happy, and optimistic.

My website is: www.marykay.com/CourtneyBoardman
Feel free to check it out and if you'd like anything, just go online or contact me directly!

I even have a personalized MK email: CourtneyBoardman@marykay.com
OR you can check out my Twitter for instant updates:
www.twitter.com/marykaycourtney

I can offer you a one-on-one consultation, answer questions about any products you are looking at, free facial, or even have you host your own party for a discount on MK products! Just let me know :)

Woo!

Today, I worked almost non-stop from 9am-7:30pm to make sure I'm in a good position to meet Monday's construction documents deadline for a project I am working on, only to find out that the deadline was moved to Tuesday! I think they deliberately didn't tell our team until the end of the day because they wanted us not to be rushed on Monday to get everything done. So I felt no regret leaving at 7:30 without all my stuff done, because I just gained a day! At this pace, I'll be done on Monday anyway! Woo!

Then I needed to refill my prescription, which I have been postponing...and postponing...and postponing...so finally I tried to do it online tonight. It's usually $15, but online it said I owed the Pharmacy $30.99 tomorrow! No! So I called Walgreen's and they said my insurance has been declined! No! They called my insurance provider, called me back, and told me it has been verified, they were sorry for the mix-up, and my prescription is free with my new policy!! Of course, my insurance could start making me pay for it later but right now, I don't have to pay a dollar! I should really change my pharmacy location to the one in Clarendon, but I don't want to have to drive the Metro to get there. I chose my location to be one mile down the road on Lee Highway. My thinking is: (a) it's free to get there because I'll have to walk, and (b) it'd be good for me to get some exercise in the process of picking it up! Woo!

I also found a dentist last week! Some people who work there were passing out free goodie bags with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss down the street from work! Of course I grabbed one, and I learned they accept my insurance. In fact, my first exam, all my necessary xrays, and my cleanings are all covered by my insurance! My first appointment is next week! It's located between my apartment and my work, and it's called "Smile Designer." Honestly, I walk past their building every single morning and every morning I have thought, "I wonder what they do there." The actual interior of the office looks very modern, but I haven't seen it in person yet. I can't wait to get my teeth cleaned! I'm due for my 6 month cleaning! Woo!

I'm getting stuff done! My to-do list is slowly getting shorter!! Hopefully I'll finish my list by the end of the year! Woo!

USGBC today!

Today, I went to the USGBC (LEED platinum) Headquarters in DC with a few people I work with and a few people from Davis Construction. I took a few pictures on my cell phone, but these photographers did a MUCH better job than me:































It was amazing! I learned so much during the tour, including how to implement cost-saving techniques in my future commercial designs as well as what USGBC does behind the scenes, including research for the company...which I told Anthony about and I got him interested in looking into it for a job in the fall! They said they've had interns recently, he loooves researching and green design, and LOVES wood which is covering the USGBC interior!

After the tour, we went across the street to Hudson for happy hour with a bunch of us from KGD and a few more people who work at Davis Construction. We had some really good appetizers and beer, but the sun was beaming down on us outside so we all were a bit sticky...ew ew ew!

Today was a pretty good day. Anthony got back to Lufkin safely, which made me very happy, but also getting out of the office for some sunshine and networking was really super nice!!

Rosslyn Apartment

I finally took pictures of Amelia and my apartment in Rosslyn!


Entry


Living Room




Dining Room


Tiny kitchen


Belle's Room/Amelia's Beauty Center, as I call it


Bathroom



My bedroom:

The last few weeks in a couple sentences

Since I have fallen off the side of the earth and feeling overwhelmed with the amount of information I need to write about, I am going to condense the last couple of weeks for you:

Moved to my new apartment in Rosslyn (pictures coming)

I really really like living with Amelia (we get her doggy in a week)

Walking to work is amazing and so stress-free

Joined an indoor soccer league here in Arlington (a girl from Blacksburg is the organizer!)

Made cupcakes one night:


mocha with vanilla sugar icing



Been working about 10 hours overtime each week (in two days) for a deadline

Finally got cable and internet set up in our apartment

Amelia leaves tomorrow for the beach (jealous)

Anthony's family is at the beach (we're sad we couldn't go)

Went to Artisphere during lunch with a few people I work with one day:


A bench made from shredded paper


A disco ball at an art exhibit? Ok


A fan propelling that object in the air


Carved magazines


Sweater tents


Creepy man with boxes to display how much stuff we carry on our backs



Earned a KGD sweatshirt:



Went to Texas to visit Anthony:

It was really special to visit Anthony. I flew from Reagan to Charlotte to Houston on the way there, and spent the weekend at the pool, eating lots of good food, watched the new Harry Potter movie, watched some TV, checked out a dead lizard outside his doorstep, met a few of his new friends, saw his office he works in, took a small tour of Lufkin and Diboll, got caught in the boonies outside Lufkin, counted how many cowboys drive excessively huge trucks down there, sweat every time we walked out the door, and flew home. The weekend went by way too fast. I flew first class from Houston to Charlotte, which was interesting too. I was completely spoiled. A blanket, pillow, lots of windows and space, endless snacks and bottomless glasses of wine...I do admit, though, that flying was exciting for me as it was: I didn't feel 100% comfortable in first class...I'd say I was about 75%. We even had our own bathroom, which was pretty nice. Flew from Charlotte to Reagan next to a chatty chatty guy, and came home...sad...


Dinner before my first flight










Night flight home from visiting Anthony

Went to Blacksburg for Grandpa's Memorial:


Grandma and Grandpa's brick


Covered bridge in Newport




Spreading Grandpa's ashes

Found a brick that said brick:


Haha

Went to Emily Stuart's Memorial

Saw a really huge bug on the way to the grocery store one day:



Penny ate my flip flops:


Poor flip flops

It's Friday (TGIF!!) and I am finally sitting on my butt, watching cable TV, doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. Love it! Lacey and Ava were on Skype with me for a little while before I started doing nothing, and it was so nice to see them!! Apparently, Miss Ava is turning into a fashionista, and I'm PSYCHED!!!!! I'm so excited. I hope I can now go buy cute things for her to wear!! I did my laundry earlier this week, and finished organizing my room, so I will take pictures this weekend.

I am so happy to be home with no obligations for the next two days. I clocked 99 hours in the past two weeks, and I am not kidding by any means. 80 hours is the norm, of course, and honestly, I don't know how some people work 50 hours a week on a normal basis. It's exhausting...

Now I'm watching Keeping up with the Kardashians. If you haven't watched it, you HAVE TO and see how much the mom, Kris, reminds me of my mom!!! I'm not kidding about this, either. Their personalities are so similar it makes me laugh...

I got paid today!! It's so nice to be making money! I don't make a ton of money, but it's enough to pay my own way, and that has been such a relief for me. I was very very fortunate to have my Dad help me through college and supply me with a bit more cash when I needed it, but now that I am getting my own paychecks, I don't feel bad about spending money on dinners, lunches, clothes, etc. Well, that's not 100% true. Haha. I still hate spending money. But I can buy things that I like without feeling guilty for it being Dad's money. Make sense? For example, I bought this new dress last week at Loft (on sale for $42):

http://www.loft.com/loft/product/LOFT-Apparel/LOFT-Dresses/Sleeveless-Gathered-Knit-Dress/264412?colorExplode=false&skuId=89921326&catid=catl000013&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=8933

and I bought some new headphones and a new cell phone case -because my old one broke last week- yesterday on Amazon.com but haven't gotten them yet ($15 total). I've been trying to charge things like this to my new credit card to build up my credit, but I'm not a fan yet. My limit is so tiny (which is good for me), but I hate having to pay it back. I just prefer the money to be taken out immediately after spending it. I do have online banking, so once I spend something I can go online and pay it off with my debit card.

Anyway, I don't think I had dinner, actually, so I'm going to go eat. Maybe pasta with vegetables! ...or cheese and crackers with some wine and pasta and vegetables...haha. Who knows!