life lately
{relaxing // with my girls at happy hour, 21c}
{babysitting // adorable miss scarlett}
{wanting // a french bulldog, sooo baaad!}
{giving thanks // for time with family}
{drinking // pony coronis with friends}
{marveling // at snowpocalypse 2013}
xo xo
Observations on Working From Home {Snow Day Edition}
The impending snowpocalypse arrived. Boy, were the weathermen right for once. Last time I measured, we had 8″ of snow in the backyard and it was still coming down. Husband and I have been working from home (wahh, waahhh) since we are unsure if we could make it down the hill from our house, let alone if there’s even still life out there. Oh wait, of course there is, I’ve seen every single person posting a picture of their backyard on Facebook or Instagram.
I’ve worked from home before, due to bad weather, sickness or just because, but never for two days in a row, and never without the option of leaving the house if I wanted to. As our second day at home and hopefully last (I HAVE to get out tomorrow so I can plan for my Christmas party for next week!!) I’ve learned a few things about WFH.
1. If you have a lot of pressing work to do, you can easily focus with less distractions than at work.
If you don’t have a lot of pressing work to do, nearly everything in the house is a distraction.
2. For the most part, you will eat healthier (depending on the food in your house.) But you will also eat more, because the kitchen is five steps away.
3. Sitting on your couch, in your PJs, drinking coffee from your favorite mug is so much better than sitting at a desk, in uncomfortable pants & blazer, drinking breakroom coffee from a paper cup.
4. Day 2 is not nearly as exciting as Day 1.
5. The dog is and always will be a distraction. Especially one that wants to be in your lap at all times.
6. Morning talk shows are where it’s at. Quite literally meaning, that’s where I wish I was. Sit around drinking wine, interviewing celebs and gossiping all morning. NBC, how about Hoda and Mille D???
7. You can get so much more done – the laundry, the dishes, walking the dog – oh and actual work, too.
8. You will miss your co-workers in a weird way. Your husband just doesn’t quite understand like they do.
9. You don’t have to shower, or fix your hair, or do your makeup, or get out of your pj’s for that matter. You do have to brush your teeth, because that’s just bad hygiene.
10. That extra hour and a half you get to sleep in is totally worth it.
11. When the clock hits 5pm, it’s a lot easier to just walk over to the fridge and grab a beer.
xo xo
“What a lovely surprise to discover how unlonely being alone can be.”
A funny thing has happened since I’ve been married. I’ve forgotten how to be alone.
In college I cherished my alone time. Living with 2, 3 or 4 other people was often too much for me to handle. I wanted to go to my room, shut my door and be alone.
Until recently, I’ve always been someone who recharges by being alone (the true definition of an introvert they say.)
I’m so used to being with my husband that when I’m not, I don’t know what to do with myself. Being with him has become my new recharge. I still need my “alone” time, but now my alone time means me and husband time.
On a recent work trip, I spent a full day and night alone. I wasn’t traveling with anyone so I didn’t have anyone to talk to in the airport or eat dinner with. I didn’t have anyone to “get away from” and go into my room and shut my door. It was so lonely. I couldn’t enjoy the peace with myself. I couldn’t enjoy myself.
This weekend, husband was busy all day Saturday and Sunday so again, I was alone. But I did something I haven’t done in a long time, I took myself on a “me” date and spent some good quality time with myself.
I did exactly what I wanted to do – I went to Barnes and Noble. I chose 3 books I was interested in and sat down and read the first chapters of each. (How I decide which book to buy) I was in no rush. I had no one to answer to. I just sat and read. After that, I did my favorite me activity – shopping. Then, before I was ready to head home I did something else just for me – went to TCBY.
What a rewarding, comfortable, enjoyable afternoon that was. God opened my eyes to the importance of me time and gave me an opportunity to see how valuable it can be.
Tuesday nights are officially me nights now. Husband has karate for several hours so I can spend it as I please. It would be so easy to take this time to clean, do grocery shopping, be busy (which I’m so good at), etc. but instead I’m going to relax and do what I want to do.
I’m sure in a few years when I have kids, I’ll be dying for alone time. Time to just sit on the couch with a glass of wine and a good book. So tonight, I will do just that and enjoy.
xo xo
life lately.
{enjoying // breakfast (and mimosas) for dinner & a great girls night in}
{celebrating // Elsa’s first birthday}
{more celebrating // Jon and Ashley’s beautiful wedding}
{meeting // a country music legend, Garth Brooks !!!}
{eating // chicken + waffles for dinner}
xo xo
Thankful.
I’m writing this post mostly for me. In no way am I trying to “humbly brag” about the amazing things in my life that I’m thankful for. Instead, I’m using this as a reminder to myself of how blessed I am even though it is so easy to forget.
Last year around this time I did daily posts about what I was thankful for each day, ranging from good food to clean sheets to “a busy August and a quiet September.” But this year I want to focus one thing I so easily take for granted: my job.
I have been at Walmart for a little over a year now. If you work at Walmart or know people who work at Walmart, one of the most common phrases people say about Walmart is that they get their moneys worth out of their associates, meaning it’s quite often long days, nights and weekends. We work hard for the money.
It’s often hard and stressful and frustrating, but as I’ve been looking back on my last year at Walmart I have been blessed in so many ways by this job. Now, I might have drank the kool-aid here, but bear with me. I’m not saying Walmart is the best company in the world to work for and I’m not saying I’ll work there my entire life, but I believe the experience I’ve gotten from one year of working there is unparalleled.
Let’s recap –
I’ve gotten to meet Drew Barrymore, Trey Songz, Kori Robertson and Steve Harvey. I will be meeting Garth Brooks and Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) next week.
I’ve gotten to see Miguel, Jill Scott and BEYONCE perform at Essence Festival, and Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Hugh Jackman and John Legend perform at Shareholders.
I’ve traveled to New Orleans, Cleveland, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Nashville and San Francisco – including spending a day at Facebook Headquarters, which was just as amazing as you’d think it is.
I LAUNCHED WALMART’S INSTAGRAM. I was given the opportunity and the support to develop the strategy and content to launch the hottest social channel for the Fortune 1 company. I will forever be thankful for that opportunity.
I’ve been more challenged than I ever have been and ever thought I would be, whether making presentations to senior executives or managing 21 women on a day to day basis.
But most importantly, I’ve built some incredible relationships. I truly love the people I work with every day, and I strive to make a positive difference in their life. I started a women’s prayer group on our floor that gives me so much hope every time we meet because the ladies are just so inspiring.
I could not be more thankful for where I am in my life right now and the job the Lord blessed me with a year ago. I have no clue what my future holds, but for now, I’m content.
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Halloween, Birthdays & Football
This weekend was a BUSY one, rolling right off of a busy week for Halloween. (Fun fact: Walmart Home Office does Halloween like you’ve never seen. #amazing) I’m pretty sure every weekend will be busy until 2014, but this one was special in that we had 5 guests in town none of which had never been to a Razorback game. My parents invited some of their friends they’ve been working with in Ohio to Northwest Arkansas for the weekend – coming in from Ohio, West Virginia and Texas. It was a great weekend with lots of laughs, good food and beautiful weather. (We won’t mention the Hogs’ loss.)
As our guests were coming in town Friday, we also had another commitment that night – my mother-in-law’s surprise 50th birthday party that turned out just perfect. Enjoy some photos below from the weekend!
* * * * *
{Started the weekend off with a bang for Halloween – at work and home}
{SURPRISE! What a beautiful birthday party for my beautiful mother-in-law!}
{Saturday am: had to take our guests to Crystal Bridges, 21c and Downtown Bentonville}
{The girls ready for the game!}
{Second surprise of the weekend – our “bus” to Fayetteville was a limo!}
{LOVE this photo of my parents! Happy to have them home for a few days}
Hope you had a great fall weekend! Our next weekend adventure features a 1-year-old birthday party and a wedding!
xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: Little Rock, Weekend Picturebook: St. Louis
My Weekend Was:
the opposite of last weekend
spending time with friends
a successful October girls happy hour
random, in a great way
finding a new nighttime hangout
celebrating our favorite brewery’s first birthday
touring Texans around Bentonville
eating lots and lots of tacos
beautiful
jumbling towers + blockus + more beer
excitement for a friend and her world tour
doing something for someone simply because it will make their day
relaxing on the couch with my old friends in the O.C.
xo xo
Dolce Far Niente
This weekend was quiet.
I mean, so quiet that at one point Husband and I tried to take a nap (without success) because we didn’t have anything else to do.
The musings of my blog are typically all about our busyness. Busyness at work, busyness traveling, busyness with this event, that birthday party, this dinner with friends.
But this weekend was a collective breathe out. There was no busyness. We still had specific things to do at specific times Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, but the days were filled with nothing.
I cleaned. I cooked. I read magazines, I read books. I worked. I went on a run. I went grocery shopping. I watched a movie. I looked at the clock and wondered how this was happening.
The sad thing about our culture is that we equate busyness with happiness and success. We don’t think we deserve to have a moment without being busy and if we do, we feel guilty about it.
All weekend I kept trying to think of more things to do. I never have this much time, so there’s definitely things I should be doing. Not once did it cross my mind to just sit. Relax. Pray.
Next time you have a moment to spare, take a deep breath and remember dolce far niente.
Enjoy the quiet. Enjoy the peace. Enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing.
xo xo
life lately.
{traveling // to San Francisco for work, including a trip to Facebook HQ}
{enjoying // BEAUTIFUL Fall weather during a walk on the Crystal Bridges trail}
{wearing // a new sweater from H&M on a day trip to Tulsa to see Gravity}
{working // our Walmart Mom blogger event, Christmas in October}
{drinking // Ole Shiney Apple + X-Rated Flirtini}
xo xo
life lately + blogging hiatus
Life lately has been busy, busy, busy. Along with moving and getting settled in I’ve had some big projects going on at work that have been taking up a lot of time (hint, hint: follow @Walmart on Instagram). I’ve had hardly any time to blog and when I have had the time, spending more time on a computer did not sound appealing.
Other than moving and working, see a few life lately highlights below.
{Jersey Boys at the WAC}
{Sidecars at Club Frisco}
{several evenings in downtown Bentonville, pictured – Tusk & Trotter}
{Calling the Hogs with these fun guys}
Saturday we head off on our next adventure to Denver and Nashville. One day while drinking mimosas on a patio, husband and I dreamed a dream that we could see his favorite band (The National) in concert and mine (Taylor Swift) in the same week, despite the shows being across country. That dream has officially turned into reality.
We will see The National at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver and spend a few days in the city with my cousin and her husband. We then head to Nashville where we will meet up with my parents, and Mom and I will see T. Swift (for the second time because she’s amaaaaaazing). I am BEYOND excited and so ready for a week-long vacation.
21st birthday trip – Taylor Swift in LA!
See you in a few weeks! xo
My Month in Instagram {August}
Happy September! As I drink my first PSL of the season (it’s BACK!) I’m taking a look back on August through the lense of my Instagram photos.
I posted 39 (!!) Instagram photos in August. I won’t share them all – but you can see them here – so I’ll just share my top 10 photos of the month.
As you look through them, I encourage you to listen to my song of August. Do you ever wish you could force someone to listen to a certain song while they’re looking at something – like back in the day on MySpace? Anyway, if you’re interested, click play on the YouTube video below and listen as you peruse.
xo
{August 3 – First Stop on the NWA Brewery Tour}
{August 5 – I’d take this as my workspace any day. #peaceful#naturallight #comfychairs #dallas}
{August 7 – let’s brighten this rainy day #sotd #shoes #metallic}
{August 15 – Oh my gosh, I have a new favorite food truck on the square. #streettacos #urbanbbq #foodtruck}
{August 18 – BEAUTIFUL day for some coffee + crepes}
{August 21 – 7 years ago today I posted this photo from our first day of senior year. #2006 #bhs #senioryear #timehop#throwback}
{August 23 – The weekend starts now.}
{August 24 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, K! Love you and miss you. xo xo ❤}
{August 25 – Cuddle buddies}
{August 28 – LOVE this quote. #instaquote #leadership #inspiration}
life lately
{traveling // to Dallas for work, but also got time for great friends and food}
{wearing // new shoes}
{drinking & playing // Saturday afternoon Jumbling Towers}
{eating // these amaaaazing food truck tacos}
{cleaning & packing // my parents house so husband and I can move in, meanwhile finding some adorable photos}
xo
life lately
{enjoying // this lovable guy}
{celebrating & celebrating // this one’s golden birthday}
{remembering // an awesome wedding through this awesome photo}
{getting addicted // to this show}
Also, baking this deliciousness and enjoying this weekend with family.
xo
life lately
Life lately after Essence Fest has been a whole lot of relaxing. Two weeks later I feel like I’m finally recovered and back to normal at home and work. Good thing, just as it’s about to ramp up again for some birthdays, weekend trips and moving. Here’s a little peek at our life lately.
{enjoying // these fresh flowers TWO WEEKS later}
{laughing // at our goobery pup}
{relaxing // with some of my favorite things}
{sitting // at Mellow Mushroom after a long day’s work}
{eating // this delicious summer pasta}
xo xo
“May your weekend be full of adventure and cheer; May the start of next week be a long way from here.”
After the craziness of last weekend at Essence Fest, this weekend I’m ready for a whole lot of doing nothing. Weekend plans include: Friday night movie with friends, sleep in, time by the pool, read, finish Greek, make this for dinner, make homemade ice cream, relax with husband and pup.
Enjoy your weekend, and take some time to relax. xo
No rest for the weary.
I’ve completely failed at blogging lately. Life has gotten in the way, but I’d say that’s a good thing.
I’m jetting off tomorrow for New Orleans for the holiday weekend. Unfortunately, sans husband. I’m headed to Essence Festival as our social media correspondent, so follow @Walmart on Twitter for fun updates and pics! (shameless plug) I’ll be busy, busy, busy at the event, mostly plotting the best way to get behind the scenes and meet Queen Bey. She shops at Walmart, right? She’ll definitely want to talk to me…
Not only am I leaving husband behind, but also my parents who came in town for the week. Talk about timing. Luckily, I’ve gotten some wonderful time with them for a few days, as well as with our family friends from West Memphis.
Before I head off to pack and listen to 90s Pop Pandora, I’ll leave you with a few other life lately updates.
{enjoying // a beautiful day for some professional women’s golf}
{doing // summer-ish things, like a rooftop party for Team Break the Cycle}
{eating // the best crepes this side of the tracks}
{celebrating // two amazing people getting married}
Happy 4th of July weekend to you and yours! xo xo
P.S. I’m extra excited to share my next set of book reviews for Reconstructing Amelia and Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse. Stay tuned!
life lately {shareholders edition}
Oh, brother. These past two weeks have been quite a doozy.
As most of you (who live in nwa) know, the beginning of June means Walmart’s Annual Shareholders Meeting aka tens of thousands of people envelop the area, celebs walking the streets (Tom Cruise was on the Bentonville Square !!!) and just all around very very busy. As some of you know, I had a very interesting part in Shareholders this year. I currently manage our Walmart Mom Blogger program. We invite these bloggers to Shareholders every year to experience the event, meet with marketers, merchants, suppliers and get inspired to blog about Walmart. I managed their entire trip (and was with them) from breakfast to dinner, 4 days and 3 nights.
It was the most physically and mentally exhausted I’ve probably ever been in my life, but it was also fabulous. I loved the event planning aspect and loved getting to know these Moms I’ve been corresponding with for the past 7 months. Overall it was an amazing week, but it left me pooped! Hence, why I’m just now getting around to blogging. Anyway, enjoy a few photos from my life lately.
{Pre-Shareholders I got to enjoy a BEAUTIFUL wedding of two dear friends. It always makes me so happy to see a wedding full of so much love, joy and inspiration. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss! We love you!
Psst, check out the bride’s blog about her big day with some beautiful photos & enough love to make you tear.}
{Walmart Moms}
{Couldn’t have made it without this wonderful lady!}
{Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Hugh Jackman – it’s really a concert with a few business items!
Photo credit: MommyBrainReports.com}
{Much needed sunshine, beer + relaxation with husband after the event}
{Friday night at a Naturals Game}
{Oh, and puppy got shaved for the Summer}
xo xo
life lately
{celebrating // sister in law’s hs graduation, see nostalgic blog post here}
{drinking // prickly pear cactus margarita, Table Mesa Bistro}
{praising // a wonderful God during the calm after a scary storm – Psalm 107:29}
{becoming a trekkie // during our 2nd anniversary trip to KC}
{relaxing // with my boys, just the way I like it}
xo xo
life lately
{drinking // pink beer (!!) at Fayetteville Foam Fest}
{smiling // because I have the best husband ever}
{enjoying // all the pictures mom is sending from Costa Rica}
{relaxing // pre-dinner TCBY is always a winner in my book}
We also had a fantastic Saturday morning at our Gravette Clothing Giveaway.
xo xo
life lately
{celebrating // Boys & Girls Club at the Great Futures Gala}
{reading // halfway through The Interestings, then on to The Best of Us}
{relaxing // by the pool after a long day at work and before the freak snow storm}
{enjoying // this cutie’s company}
{brunching // avocado + roma tomato scramble, mango mimosa at Table Mesa}
We also spent a wonderful Saturday morning at the first Farmer’s Market of the year.
xo xo
Inspire Me: Saturday
Amen. Enjoy your SATURDAY.
xo xo
p.s. have you checked out Kate Spade Saturday, yet? love, love. ❤
You might also enjoy: Inspire Me: Rainy Tuesday
life lately
{celebrating // a beautiful friend’s bachelorette party}
{brunching // with mimosas on a patio. Is there any other way?}
{traveling // to Dayton, OH for work and the sweet old guy on the plane gave me this list of things to do in town}
{eating // this amazing deliciousness that is Pho}
{enjoying // a final night with my dear friend moving to LA}
{critiquing // contemporary art at 21c}
xo xo
p.s. I did wear the exact same outfit two Friday nights in a row with two different groups of friends.
My secret is out.
life lately
{celebrating Samantha’s birthday – a few pics from over the years}
{Easter with family}
{eating this deliciousness made by my mom while in town}
{LOVE sign making class with my community group girls}
{wonderful Friday afternoon with my mom – pictured here: champagne + blackberry mango pop at First Friday on the Square}
{Hawaiian bridal shower for the beautiful Nicky, and getting ready for her bachelorette party tonight <3}
xo xo
life lately
{marveling at snowy days}
{celebrating a friend’s birthday}
{breakfast with penguins, 21c museum hotel}
{volunteering at Havenwood gala}
{remnants of an Oscars party}
* * *
Things never slow down in the Alderman household (if you’ve havent realized that yet) and they’re not slowing down this weekend. Tonight we’re headed to St. Louis to visit a dear friend and see a {hopefully} fantastic musical. I’ll share all the details when we return. Happy weekend, friends!
xo xo
m.davis xoxo 