Top Moments of 2014

Last year was the biggest year of my life thus far -- there were so many life changes! I wanted to reflect on what I thought were the top moments of 2014 for me and ring on the New Year in hopes that 2015 could try to beat it!

1 || Graduating from Georgia Tech

An accomplishment, that at points, I never thought I would achieve. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life to walk across that stage and accept my diploma. 

2 || Living with Elizabeth and Working for Georgia Tech

The summer of 2014 was the best summer I've ever spent. I not only got to live with one of my best friends, but I also go to work for and with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the times Elizabeth and I shared in that gorgeous apartment off of Ponce and the wonderful growth I experienced working at CAE.

3 || Moving to Pennsylvania and Starting a New Job

At the end of the summer, I packed up all my belongings and headed out on my new adventure! Starting a new job and moving 700+ miles all in one blow was a huge step for me, but one well worth it.

4 || Attending Biennial Conclave

Daniel and I got to attend our second Alpha Chi Sigma Biennial Conclave together. We met at the last Biennial and to be able to go back was so much fun.

5 || Adopting Opal

Daniel and I became fur-parents in November and it's been an interesting experience so far, but I wouldn't give up our little furball for anything. 

Going through pictures to put on this post made me realize just how much I loved the past year. I grew so much as a person and was able to experience so much life. I only hope that 2015 helps me continue my adventure of life.

Hope you had a Happy New Year!

Moving & Settling in Lancaster

I have completed the biggest move of my life thus far. I drove my little Beetle bug 755 miles while my dad drove a budget truck full of my stuff from Atlanta, GA to Lancaster, PA. It was quite a feat that we completed in two days.

The first day started with a sassy gay homeless man helping us parallel park the Budget truck on Ponce de Leon. He got out and stopped traffic in the middle of the road and everything without us even asking! My mom referred to him as our personal parking assistant and we tipped him once we were parked.

Before and after pictures of the Budget truck. The movers packed everything so well it looks deceptively empty!

Probably my favorite moving picture. My dad chilling on the couch on Ponce while the movers pack the truck.

After the movers packed the truck, we began our trip. My mom rode with me in my bug and my dad led the way with the Budget truck. (My mom and I switched off for the last few hours until we reached our hotel in Stafford, VA)

I documented each state line with a video posted to my Snapchat story, which was quite fun--especially when my mom struggled to work Snapchat. I was going to go through and save all the videos, but I forgot within the 24 hours it gives you because of unpacking and spending the last few days with my parents that I would get until a good while.

My parents stayed in the Marriott in downtown Lancaster so while they were here we walked around the city and enjoyed a bit of the nightlife.

Hanging out at the Marriott Bar waiting for my dad to get ready for dinner. 

One of the coolest restaurants ever--especially to me with my newspaper background in high school.

The next day we showed my parents around the countryside a bit in search of covered bridges and took them by where I'll be starting work in August.

I've been settling into Daniel and I's apartment. There's only two boxes left, but there's still a lot to do until we both feel completely comfortable with where everything is. As far as moving states stuff, I've already gotten my PA license and everything is set up for my first day of work! I'm working on the last leg of my to-do list which includes everything involving getting a PA license plate and then I'll be a real resident here on paper. (I keep imagining people seeing my GA license plate and thinking "Daaayummm you drove a long way!")

It's so surreal that my life has taken me on this journey. I'm still in disbelief that I'm here most days. Even in my dreams, I still dream of and in Georgia. Despite my love (and a little bit of missing) for Georgia, I'm so excited to make root here in such a beautiful new city and place!

Moving & Nostalgia

If you don't already know, I got the job in Lancaster, PA! I hadn't posted about it here yet, because life got pretty hectic, pretty fast. Things are starting to settle a little bit more now that I have a plan to get to PA and so the packing has begun.

Packing is going to be the biggest hassle of this whole move--I have lived in the same house for 22 years and am a very sentimental person. I'm having to sort through all kinds of stuff and decide what I should keep and what I shouldn't. If you know me, the one thing that I will definitely be keeping are all my photographs. I've found so many photograph gems while going through my things.

My memory box full of some of my photos

I also found some postcards that my 1st grade class collected and found a PA one. See if you can find Lancaster! (hint: it's by the amish illustrations)

I also decided to grab a few photos from my baby books that I would like to take with me in addition to some I already have. 

I was a strange child.

Sunflowers in our backyard!

Pocahontas tent with my dad.

I love finding all these old memories as I pack. I just have to be wary of not getting distracted while I actually need to be packing!!

Have you ever made a huge move and found cool photos or sentimental things while packing?