Hi, I’m Back!

HELLO. I haven’t seen talked to you in forever. Like, I truly questioned what the login info for the blog was when I logged in just now. Whoa. 

Anyway. Let’s talk. I’m thinking out loud, but it’s not going to be the usual TOL format. Just me spilling the things that are on the top of my mind because I don’t feel like being too structured right now.

On work

I went to Chicago for work from Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning last week. It was a super busy time, not full of relaxation and exploring, but it reminded me that I utterly adore Chicago. We just have a complicated relationship because of school and money, but I could actually see myself maybe going back someday. Maybe. We’ll see.

I finished my internship last Friday. Well, actually last Thursday. On Friday, we just had to go in for 10 minutes for an “offer communications meeting”. 

And because I was out of town for work at the beginning of last week, I couldn’t schedule my meeting, so I had one of the very last offer meetings, so my Friday was pretty chill. I had a lazy morning, worked out, walked my dog, read a little, and listened to podcasts.

Was I nervous? If I’m being honest, no. Guys, my team took me to Chicago for a work thing during my last week. They didn’t have to take me – plenty of the team stayed back in Columbus – but they have to pay for me to do that. My manager and teammates gave me nothing but positive feedback all summer. While they weren’t the ones who decided on offers, I was pretty sure I’d get it.

Still, offer meetings are a little awkward. I chatted with the recruiter, she congratulated me on getting the offer, and I asked my questions. And then I turned in my ID and went to go tell my team I got the offer, per their request. And then I went to dinner with my parents.

I’m very casually looking around at other options and nothing sparks my interest more than this opportunity, so I am trying to figure out what on Earth I’m going to do with the time between graduating and starting work – 8 months of it. Part-time work probably, since I’m spending most of the money I made on my Europe trip, but who knows where. I’ll keep ya as posted as I can.

On food

I’ve cooked so much yummy stuff this summer and not told you about most of it. So, try:

• These salmon fajitas
• This berry salad
• These cod lettuce wraps
• This skillet chicken
• This Thai salad
• This super easy salmon

Also, I’ve baked about one time all summer – and it was Monday – but you should make these zucchini muffins and these blueberry muffins.

And finally, I had the best carrot cake ever ever ever as part of my yay-I-got-the-job dinner. My dad and I said we’d split it, but we mostly took it home because it had not one, not two, not five, but seven layers that were all just under an inch thick.

I made it through almost two layers and dealt with the sugar coma because it was amazing.

More foodie love in another post because I’m newly obsessed with several products that I don’t currently have pictures of. Gotta get back in the habit.

On everyday

I have almost no idea what to do with myself without work or school, but I’m gonna have to figure it out in the next few weeks.

In my first three days of freedom, I’ve gotten my hair thinned out (it gets SO THICK) and trimmed, dusted the house, cleaned the bathrooms, tidied my room, organized our recipe binders, thrown away whatever expired and moldy food was at the back of the fridge, and watched half the first season of This Is Us. I also scheduled three doctor appointments and a massage, called to find out how to replace our cracked recycling bin, and looked at apartments and finances and stuff, none of which I will really know anything about until I’m in the thick of it next August.

I’m also going to be selling my car (probably to my parents…?), buying the same car but a model year later with half the miles because I love it so much, going to Nashville to visit a friend from high school who I haven’t seen since Christmas, and going to an Ed Sheeran concert before I leave for England!

On the blog

I’m excited to get back to it, I really am. Ask anyone around me and they’ll be surprised to hear that since I keep saying things like, “I should blog,” but it’s true. You know I love you for reading and I love this space. Frankly, the traveling and the post-grad life and the starting of a new job and beginning to truly adult will make excellent blog fodder and I’m glad I have this space to work through all that stuff. 

And now I’m going to get back to This Is Us and probably make my parents dinner. I’ve been starving (and consequently snacking) all afternoon, so dinner doesn’t appeal. But it might in ten minutes. #alwayshungry

Thanks for hanging around in my absence. Love you lots. I’ll be back soon with pictures other than carrot cake. 🙂

Your turn:

What’s the best thing you’ve cooked lately? Best dessert you’ve eaten lately?

What do I do with all this free time?