Time Goes By...

It's official. I'm terrible at this whole blogging thing. I've even cut down on my blog reading. I guess having a real job that requires you to do things during the day will do that to you. Here are some of the biggies that have happened since I last recapped...

• Mallory & Chip got married! After spending an entire day setting up for an outdoor wedding, we wound up taking it all down and setting it back up (20 miles away) in half the time due to rain. She still had one of the prettiest weddings I've ever seen...and she was gorgeous!
• I got glasses. I officially feel old. They're really cute though and have an adorable hot pink case (of course) and only have to wear them at the computer and while I read.
• I took an amazing vacation as the Kerbys' nanny to St. George Island, FL. It was a lot of fun to get to spend a week with my 2 favorite boys (and then some!). I tried lots of new food and William got to touch a shark, so the trip was a success. :)
• I got to spend a nice, long weekend at home on the 4th and got to catch up with a very good friend that I don't see nearly often enough.
• CP had the second Serving Saturday of the year. We volunteered one morning to help work on some people's houses in the CP neighborhood. Our team did a bunch of landscaping, painted parts of the house, completely took out the back porch & installed a new one... it didn't even look like the same house when the day was over.
• Linds and I joined the Y! I never in a million years would have seen me actually making use of a gym membership (aside from using the pool...), much less loving it. But I do! We go pretty regularly 3-4 times a week. Nothing too strenuous, but I can feel a difference in myself just by feeling healthy.
• We went on our annual boat trip to Florence, AL this past weekend. I didn't get to go last year, and was very happy to make it this year. We had a wonderful time!
• I just had my 25th birthday this week. It feels weird to even think I can be "mid-twenties" at all, but other than that it was no biggie. All of my "others" and their kids came out to celebrate at the park with pizza, cornhole and cake the night of my birthday, and I had lunch with some work-friends the next day. It was lots of fun! I got some really great, timeless gifts that I'm bound and determined to do a separate post on...so maybe in the next few months it'll be up. :)

All Things New...

I can't say enough how much I love my new job. I've now been here over a month & have gotten to learn and experience so many new things already.

When things started looking not-so-great at my last job, I started to think about what it was that I actually wanted to do longterm, and what jobs best suited my abilities, because radio promotions (where I had been) was not it. I'm clearly a little OCD on the organization side of things, and I love to see and learn about the different aspects of an artists' career, and management is at the hub of that. This is how I came to decide that I wanted the focus of my job search to be geared toward management.

I also knew that I wanted my next position to be something that felt confident in the direction I was headed. I actually took my last job with the understanding that it wasn't the best of situations, but I felt like I needed to take that risk in order to have some growth professionally. I did learn quite a bit, had some really nice opportunities, and made great relationships with a few people, but I didn't want to feel like I was walking into potentially bad conditions again. That was why I wasn't sold on the last interview I went on.

I sent my resume to a different management company on a Saturday night but then didn't hear anything, so I wasn't even sure the position that was open was going to be filled. However, in a very quick turn of events, I got an interview on a Tuesday morning, was called back in to meet the GM on Thursday night, and started Friday morning!

In my interview, they weren't sure how quickly a decision could be made and didn't give me a timeline for hiring someone, so my mom had made plans on spending a long weekend with me if I hadn't heard anything from them by Thursday. I hadn't, so she headed East to my house. I spent the entire morning cleaning & went to the grocery store to buy food (there were about to be 6 adults, 2 teenage boys & 3 dogs in my house!!). While I was checking out, the GM called to ask me to come in...right then! "Don't worry about getting fixed up, I can tell you're checking out somewhere, (um, yeah...I was at the self checkout and couldn't get the thing to work, so of course it was yelling at me) so just come on in the next hour in what you have on. It's not another interview, they just want me to meet you." Riiiight. I'm going to come in for what seems to be a second interview with my unwashed hair in a messy bun on top of my head, no make up, a gigantic hoodie sweatshirt & yoga pants? Not happening. So I literally flew home and called my mom to give her the news...as she was pulling into my neighborhood. I got cleaned up and dressed in 10 minutes and we were back out the door! Bless her heart, she drove 3 hours just to get back in the car with me! The "meeting" went really well (obviously), but the words "we'd like to hire you" or "the position is yours" were never uttered, so I was quite confused, but still felt like the job was mine to lose. Sure enough, I got the call about 45 minutes later (after some quick retail therapy and buying a new outfit to wear the next day...just in case) and started my first day the next morning!

I am so blessed to be in a position I love, working with people that are nice and appreciative, and for artists that genuinely love what they do. It is such an amazing feeling to not dread Monday rolling back around (with that said, of course I'm still human and am not ecstatic about the weekend being over...) and to feel like I'm doing something worthwhile! The managers I'm assisting are also very good at their jobs and very business-savvy women, so there's a great deal to be learned from them. I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

MIA

Holy cow I haven't blogged in almost 2 months. Ahhhhh, I hate that. So sorry for all 10 of you reading (and yes, I'm well aware 2 of the 10 are you, Mom & Daddy!). :) So in effort to get back into the swing of things, here's a little recap on what's been going on in the lovely, tickled pink land of Whitney.

January

• I'm not one to really make New Year's Resolutions, because I think generally mine are pretty cliche. This year I mostly just decided to try to refocus on a variety of things, mainly praying and being healthy. See? Cliche, but I felt I really needed to make more of a conscious effort. Now that I'm 3 full months in, the healthy thing is going pretty well - not dieting, just watching what I eat, but I haven't used my WiiFit in probably a month! I'm trying hard to be more intentional about praying as well, and "praying without ceasing." To be totally honest, that's very hit and miss...some days are great, some days not so much.
• This month's TPAC performance was "Wizard of Oz," and my dear sweet friend Bree and her best friend Abbie got to go with us. Linds & I also met up with The Mix to go ice skating! It was fun for about .5 seconds. I'm not big on cold...or the feeling of not being balanced.
  
  
  
  
• The rest of the month was baby-filled. My precious iCal was filled with blue (yes, it's all color-coded and b-b-blue is for b-b-babysitting). :) On top of nannying for my 2 favorite boys nearly, if not every day, Angie and Brandi also wanted to help and kept me busy as well. And I loved every second of it!
  
  

  I LOVE my boys! :)
  

  

February

• February started off with William's 2nd birthday and it was a blast! All he had asked for was a "hehmet," (helmet) and once he opened it, he wouldn't take it off! He's definitely a fan of hats! The kid's got style (and so does Hudson in his precious "Little Brother" monkey outfit I got him!)!
  
  
  
  
  
• Mom was in Murfreesboro for a conference, and it was so nice to have her nearby and actually have the opportunity to see her since I wasn't in the office!
• Lindsey and Bree each got another tattoo, and I totally felt like a mom lugging my new camera in to take pictures, but I'm so glad I did. And I love the last shot of Lindsey's after it healed, if I do say so myself. :)
  
  
  
  
  
• Linds and I went to a benefit concert with Natalie Grant, Brandon Heath and 10th Avenue North. It was a-maz-ing! 10th Avenue North played my current power song, "By Your Side," too! The very next week, we got to go see Selah play, and it was incredible as well. It's so interesting to really only know Todd as Todd, or Angie's Todd or Abby, Ellie & Kate's dad, but then to see him get up and sing for everyone! We were official nannies for the night, and it was so much fun to watch the girls listen (and dance!) to their dad sing.
  
  

  Precious Kate & Ellie
  

  
  
• I had an interview with a management company, which I was thinking was the direction I wanted to head professionally. It sounded great, and got me excited, and about 20 minutes after I sent them my resume, I got a call requesting an interview the next day. The first interview went wonderfully and I was even more excited, but when I got home I learned a few details that weren't deal breakers, but had me disappointed in the position. I got a second interview 2 days later, and after I left there, I felt pretty confident that it wasn't what I wanted, and I was ready to risk negotiating specifics if they offered it to me. They didn't, and I was ok with that, because honestly, if they had, I think I would have been too scared to turn it down. Just another example of God providing just the way He knew I needed!
• The month ended with "The Pajama Game" at TPAC (which was really cute), volunteering Saturday morning for Cross Point's first Serving Saturday of the year, and a (snowy) trip to Murfreesboro to see our Chi Omega girls compete in Step Show.

March

• My mom came in for a long weekend (more specific details on her arrival ;) on the next post, which is soon, I promise!), and my dad, brother, and some more sweet friends came on Saturday to hang out and visit Cross Point. It was the perfect time, too, because it was my first Sunday to sing in KidStuff too!
• Will & Beth were due to have Baby Maddie on March 17th, but when Linds and I were babysitting late March 9th and her mom called, we knew without answering what the call was about! Little Madison Anne got here early Tuesday morning and Lindsey made a flying trip there and back to see her. That weekend, we went back to visit so I could meet the precious little one! She is, of course, beautiful and tiny and so stinking cute! The pictures absolutely don't do her justice. Now we're just ready to see her again!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The TPAC show this month was "Jersey Boys." It was SO great! It ends this weekend, and we've tried to work it out to go again (yes, it was that great), but unfortunately, don't think it's gonna work out.
  
  
• Last, but certainly not least, I got a new job!!! Yayyyyy! :) I will save the details on it for the next post (it goes along with when Mom came to visit), but I am a management assistant to two artist managers and I started March 6. I'm so blessed, and since I started I've already gotten to experience so many new things! It makes a world of difference to actually love going into work every day, and I couldn't be happier!

Well, I think that catches us up for the most part. As you can clearly see, I've been MIA, but missing, in action. Hopefully now that I have a little bit more of a regular schedule, I can get back into the swing of things in blogging!

These Things Will Change...

Here are some of the things that I've been hearing on a daily basis lately (in no particular order)...usually an exponential number of times. :)

• "Dah-be" - Thank you
• "Eeebeetrain" - Airplane
• "Uh draw!" - I wanna draw!
• "Yuv ewe" - Love you
• "Dumbo eyes...hat own" - (pointing out Dumbo's eyes and that he has a hat on) 
• "NoYES!" - not really sure if this one really means "no" or "yes" :)
• "Boo Red" - either "blue" or "red," depending on what marker he's using! :)
• "Uh Mic Mouse, Goosey, Dahnuh" - I wanna watch Mickey Mouse, Goofy & Donald
• "Whittie, pay me!" - Whittie, come play with me!
• "Oh TAY!" - OK
• "One, two, see, soar, sigh, six, seben, eight, nine, ten!" - yes, he's 23 months and can count to 10 on his own...most times. :)
• "Set Doe!" - Set, go (followed by a tackle)
• "Seebah, dame, hehmet!" - Football, game, helmet!
• "Peas" - Please
• "NO!" - no
• "Uh paaaaaaaci" - I want paci (and drawn out like a cow!)
• "Uh Baz sock own" - I want Buzz socks on! (I ended up buying him 2 extra pairs after he wouldn't take them off...even for his bath!)
• "Weh Baaman doe?" - Where'd Batman go?
• "Psspss, hat own!" - (referring to the Spiderman gloves and fireman hat on from school at church that he plays with every time he goes)
• "Baby Husson dink mach" - Baby Hudson drinks milk
• "Oh Tito! Mouse, eye, hat own" - Oh Mr. Potato Head! (and then put in his mouth, eyes & hat)
• "Juicy, eat snack! Meemo" - Juice and eat snack, Nemo! (Nemo fruit snacks)
• "Ahuh yike ____" - I don't like (fill in the blank with anything that he typically does like, like snacks, juice, paci, outside, etc.)
• "Uh bach bach" - I want chicken (typically Chic-Fil-A) :)

As you can tell, I'm not having the typical daily conversations of "chart analysis" or "up/down in spins" or "adds" or "please oh please play my record even though you know it won't even chart" or even where to order lunch. Before I left for Christmas, I found out the the label I worked for was closing its doors at the end of the year. We saw it coming, and truth be told, it really is a good thing. I'm a very fortunate girl. I know that's a bizarre thing to say after being laid off recently, especially considering the state of the economy, but I really am. I have the very unique opportunity to step away from a job I wasn't exactly happy in while maintaining very good business relationships, but also staying very busy and saving money by babysitting (and yes, nannying for the 2 most adorable boys ever) when there are ultimately zero jobs on the market at the time (and more people laid off every day). If I didn't have those kids to look forward to every single day, I'd for sure be super-stressed and worried about what is next (and when is it gonna come??). God has been good about working things out for me until the next great thing comes along, so that is why I'm fortunate...and also so busy lately! So along with the change of conversation is also a change of scenery...the sweetest perk of them all!

Get Back Jo Jo...

It's the end Day 3 of the Mexico trip, 3 more to go. Halfway done! And gah, do I ever miss my best friend. Yes, I miss Lindsey...but I also miss this best friend too.

Mine and Jo's friendship almost started out as a joke. When I was working at my last job, she was on the road a bunch at the end of the year (when I started), and she would say "Oh don't you worry...I'll be here at the beginning of the year and we'll become best friends!" So I went on the road to a Jason show one weekend with a girl I worked with and barely knew...and came back with someone who truly is one of my absolute closest friends now.

After Friday's little escapade, I couldn't help but think of mine and Jo's very first adventure together. Neither one of us are fans of driving in inclement weather, but the weekend we drove to Lexington, KY, it came a freaking blizzard. No lie. Well, blizzard in comparison to anything else I've ever seen. As scary as it was to be driving in a vehicle that wasn't ours, in a place we weren't familiar with, & in that weather....it was an absolute blast. I still think back on that weekend and always laugh because it truly was one of the most fun weekends ever. It truly was the beginning of a great friendship.

Since that weekend, almost 2 years ago, JoJamie and I have just gotten closer. When I think of her, the first word that comes to mind is "loyal." Jo knows what it means to be a loyal friend more than anyone I've ever met & she expects that in return. I think that's made me become a more loyal friend because of her and I'm so appreciative of it.

Another thing I'm extremely grateful for is all of her great advice. Whether it's how to handle a work situation, what to do about silly boys or what shoes look best in a new dress...she's always there to help out any way she can. She is an amazing friend and I'm not sure what I did without her all the years before we met!

This picture is from shortly after becoming "BFFs" and our road trip!

Love you so much, Jo! Thanks for being an AWESOME best friend...and I can't wait for you to come home!!

Week of Thanksgiving (Part 3)

It goes without saying that the economy isn’t the greatest right now. I’ve had a few friends lose their jobs because of how things are going, and while everything isn’t always peachy keen with mine, I tend to lose sight of just how lucky I am to have a job in this business, period. I’m so thankful to have put my degree to use for at least 2 years (hopefully more) and to be involved in music in general. Music has always been my passion and I’m certainly blessed to be in Music City. I’m also quite thankful that I’ll be getting off at 1:00 tomorrow and have 2 weeks paid Christmas vacation…not every business is like that!! :) Some more perks to be thankful for: great connections, tickets to great shows, meeting awesome people, exposure to new music first, and my own office. :)

And They've All Got Tickets To See His Show...

Just because the CMAs were over didn't mean the rest of the week was quiet! Quite the opposite, actually. Thursday I went with Robin and some of her co-workers from Borman to Murfreesboro to see the Lady A/Jas0n Aldean show. It was really great to be able to see Jason and the rest of the band guys, because I hadn't seen them in such a long time. We also got to congratulate Lady A for their big win the night before at the CMAs! Lady A, as always, put on a great show, but because I was with a big group from their management company, we didn't get to stay for Jason's show. I was really bummed out...but there will be other times to see him, obviously. I got to see his opening song side-stage though, so here's the one and only picture from the night.

Friday I had the day off. And thankfully so because I woke up and couldn't utter a word and felt like I had been hit by a train. I'm allergic to most allergy/cold/sinus medicines, so when they come around they are no fun at all. I did get up and get some things done around the house though, and then met up with Lindsey, Justin, Tanner, Brendan and his wife Stacy for a road trip to Birmingham. Lindsey is a huge Kelly Clarks0n fan, and Justin is a big Reba fan, so we went to their show and got to meet them. I obviously am a fan of live music, but I wasn't expecting to be as entertained as I was. It was truly a great show. We had great seats and really had a good time, despite feeling yuck. Very musical, and very, very busy week. But it was tons of fun!!

Tanner, Justin, Stacy, Reba, Kelly, Lindsey, me & Brendan

Havin' A Party...

CMA Week is just about the equivalent of Fan Fair week for me, but with lower temperatures! I have radio remotes, just like in the summer, with my artists early in the mornings and a lot of stuff going on until late into the nights!

Monday was the very first remote, so my day started at 4:30am. That's soooooo early for this "hit snooze 4 times and roll out of bed at 8ish" girl, but they're a lot of fun. It's a great chance to meet new people in the industry and catch up with others you haven't seen in a while. It was also Add Day for Car0lina Rain's new single, "Weight of the World" (which is a big day in the promotions world), so I was going nonstop all day long! I went back for the afternoon remotes and cut out a little early to rest my eyes for a little bit, then Lindsey and I went to a birthday dinner for her dad. Then even later, we went to Hendersonville at midnight for Taylor's album release at Walmart! She just mentioned in her blog that afternoon that she'd be there, and fans started coming! Some people said they had driven 8 hours just to see her buy her album, and there were some that had changed flight arrangements (let me remind you...that day) from California to see it. I was amazed. Late, late night, but so worth being able to see such die-hard fans.

Here is Lindsey with some of the people in her department... all their hard work leads up to this moment! (Hello, Stephen...) ;)

Tuesday and Wednesday were more radio remotes...but I was sick, so that made the early mornings even more enjoyable...riiiight. Wednesday night I got to go with Linds (and her mom, too!) to the Big Machine viewing party and their after party. It was a lot of fun...and you know how I love any excuse to buy a new outfit and get dressed up! Again, the pictures aren't great at all, so Linds & I took a picture when we got home (in the wee hours of the morning again!). Thanks, self-timer!

Look who we got to finally hang out with!! Super excited that Bree got to go to the awards last minute, but even more excited that Linds could add her to the after party list and people-watch with us! :)

We're Comin' To Your City...

Living in Nashville, you see "famous" people. Working in the music business, you do even more often and it's no big deal. That's what I love about this town! I'm not the type to be starstruck (unless, of course David Beckham were involved...then I would just drool) at all, but I do have to say I've had 2 pretty cool run-ins in the past week or so.

Last weekend I was out for Laurie's friend's bachelorette party. When we were leaving Big Bang, I heard a commotion and a bunch of people flocking to the door across the hall (which I think is J0hn Rich's club?) and saying someone was there. Again, no biggie. We walk outside and sure enough, J0hn Rich and Kevin Costner are at the balcony! Hi? I was obsessed with Robin Hood: Prince Of Theives when I was in 2nd grade. So, as every other tourist on Broadway, I snapped a picture. :)

Then at the Big Machine CMA After Party with Lindsey...in walks Reese Witherspoon! She was beautiful, and I really wanted to meet her, but it didn't look like she wanted to be bothered, even at a private, no-fans-around, party... but that didn't stop Linds and I from taking a picture in front of her. :) ***please excuse the poor picture quality...the room was just bright enough for the flash not to work, and just dark enough for us to be blurry***

Need a closer look? Ha!

Little Moments...

Today I got the opportunity to sit in on a music meeting with the group on our roster. We were meeting to listen to all the possibilities of songs to go on their next album and to pick the next radio single. The experience itself is always cool just because I know that not all labels include all the employees on that part of the decision-making process, but it was even better with the guys there. I was sitting in between two of them, and Rhean was on my left. There were two songs in particular that I saw the chill bumps on his arms. Not just because it sounded great (although it did), but because (well, at least in my mind this is the reason...so that's what I'm going to stick with!) he had written them. I at least like to think (and maybe I'm naive) that it's seeing the completion of a vision carried through. I can't begin to imagine what an amazing feeling it is to be sitting down one day and having your thoughts translated into song, and then hearing it for the first time. It's the little things like that that make me love this business, as crazy and messed up as it is. Seeing (or rather, hearing) someone's hard work in a (mostly) polished version and helping their dreams come true is the most rewarding part of it all.

The Magical Mystery Tour...

Last weekend, I was covering a show for one of our regionals. This doesn't happen a whole lot, and this was the first time I actually was covering the show all by myself. I found out at noon on Thursday that I needed to leave that night for Knoxville (I had already planned on being there at some point Friday and Saturday, but the Thursday part was brand new addition), so it started off kind of in a rush, but it was smooth sailing from there.

My artist is the spokesperson for the Air National Guard, so first thing Friday morning, we took a 3 hour tour (a 3 hour tour...sorry, couldn't resist) of the Knoxville base. As we got to see all the different parts of the base, we got to go into one of the airplane hangars. The Knoxville base is a refueling base, so the plane we went on was a KC-135 and I actually got to go down into the "basement" to see how it is they actually refuel. It was all really interesting, and I learned a great deal. And those guys were so, so nice. I don't know much about any military branch at all, but apparently they give away coins to different people? I still don't understand this tradition (although I know it's bad if they don't have at least one on them at all times), but they were so sweet to give me two! They're beautiful, and I really appreciated the gesture.

Later that day we had soundcheck at the venue, and then I took her to WIVK, Knoxville's country station. Laura did an on-air interview, and then we went back to the venue for the show. This is a fundraising event for a local college and they have what's called a balloon glow. It's a 2 day event with hot air balloons and each night they have 30+ balloons that surround the pond and sync up to music with the fire (I have no idea what the technical term for what this is called) that lights up the balloon. It was really pretty, but because it was cold, rainy and a little too windy, only about 8-10 balloons participated and the music was cut short. Laura played her show and had meet & greet afterwards and my day was done! It was a really great experience and I enjoyed getting to finally cover my very first show!

This is in the cockpit of the KC-135. Right about this time, Laura & I heard her single being played on the radio for the first time, which is in honor of the Air Guard. It was a very cool feeling to hear the song that was written for them with them.

This is where they lay down on their bellies to control how to connect to the smaller planes to refuel...just by looking through that one tiny window. I got to lay there and pretend I was! :)

This is from the balloon glow that night. It was so pretty!

Girls On The Beach...

Two weekends ago I got to take an extra day off since I'd be on the road the next weekend. Best way to spend a day of you hadn't been planning on? On the beach, of course! Pretty last minute, Lindsey, Laurie and I decided to leave late late Thursday night to meet our friends Justin and Tanner. We stayed just outside Destin and had a really relaxing weekend. Perfect little getaway! :)

I love candids.

On our first day after about 2 hours of sleep. It was a cloudy day, but it wasn't the offices!

This is my bff.

Hi boys.

Yes, I'm the 24 year old that loves playing in the sand still.

The 5 of us at the Red Bar. Laurie felt right at home with the chandeliers! :)

I love these 2. Lots.

Ice cream in Seaside. Thanks, self timer.

Justin and I were shorts twins. I made him stand like that. :)

So Laurie and I woke up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning we were literally the only ones on the beach. It was too cold at 7am, so we went back to the room after 45 minutes. But how beautiful?! Pure bliss.

So after next to no sleep the night before, and an early morning, we crashed in the sand. But we made handy little sand-pillows to be comfy. :)

This picture makes me laugh. :)

The girls on the slide..that quite plainly said "Do not climb." I'm such a little rebel. Ha.

Our last night out. If you look carefully, you can see a wedding being set up to the left (one of 2 that night). Photo credit goes to Lindsey, the human tripod.

Here's the bride of above said wedding. I stalked her because her bouquet was beautiful. I'm pretty set on a beach wedding now, thanks to her.

After dinner, we went to play putt-putt! :)

I won. Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise. Fair and square, too. :)

On the way home Sunday, we stopped at Peach Park for lunch. Laurie and Lindsey hadn't been so they tried some of the famous peach ice cream. I got my favorite - caramel cake!

Destin is the perfect little getaway. I haven't been in several years, but the beach is always nice and clean and there are plenty of things to do. I had a wonderful time with great friends, and definitely didn't want to come back home! I'm determined the next trip to the beach will include the puppies. I want to see Paisley in the sand!