my whirlwind

I have neglected to post anything for almost a full month. Oh, the shame.

I have a pretty solid excuse, though. This month has been huge. Just before Spring Break, I interviewed for a position at a local company, and the week after break, I got a phone call, and was told I got the job.

That's right. I am employed. I started working part-time the week after I found out I got the job, and that was about a month ago.

This is HUGE because..

1. This job is aboslutely, positively perfect for me.
2. I am excited to go to work every morning.
3. I work with some incredibly cool and super nice people.
4. Graduation is in two weeks (eek!) and I have a solid plan for putting on my big-girl pants and working at a full-time, legit job that actually uses the skills I've been learning about for several years now.

Oh, are you curious what the job is? I am the new Social Media Marketing Coordinator at the most awesome grocery store in town, Ron's Supermarket. I manage Ron's Facebook, website, and texting programs, along with various other responsibilities. And it is so much fun.

To explain my absence over the past few weeks, I would like to offer the following excuse: I have been working 15-20 hours a week, going to school full-time, finishing up hugely important semester-long projects (Senior Project being the biggest of them), and, in all honesty, reading a lot of books.

I am planning on getting my act together in the upcoming weeks, because some big things are happening soon. For one, we'll be moving out of our studio and into a house. That's right a house. A three bedroom, with grilling patio, with front porch, with actual kitchen, lovely, wonderful house. Also, there may be a puppy involved in the near future :) .

Check back, I'm still very much alive (very much alive!).

cruisin' || day five

Day five of our cruise was our last full day. We spent the day in Key West, Florida, which is now one of my top ten favorite places in the world. Seriously, I adore that town.

Hanging out outside Ron Jon.

Ah, shopping. I have missed you.

LILLY PULITZER YOU GUYS! I went inside! I touched a $300 dress! I love this place!

Walking, walking, walking.

Lunch at Hard Rock.

Glowing (uh, the sunburn).

Hard Rock. The whole eating area was open-air. Although we opted to eat inside in the air conditioning. Because of the sweat factor.

After our meal.

Duval Street, I love you.

Dolla dolla bills ya'll.

Poor Keith had a canker sore for the majority of the trip. We had to stop at a Walgreen's to get him some Kanka.

Enjoying some authentic key lime pie.

It was so, so good.

Yum :)

Key Lime Pie

Aided enjoyment.

Just walking around. Walking. Walking. So much walking. Seriously, we walked about 6-7 miles.

Keith's new hacky sack from Ron Jon. Also, sunburn.

All dressed up for dinner and a show.

I allowed Keith to wear his goofy tank top on the cruise. It is not allowed generally because, well, I think you can see why.

Ahhhhhhh!

Putting his new watch on (had to buy a new one, he lost his old one at Atlantis), getting ready to head to dinner.

We go on forever (ever..ever..ever..ever..).

That circular structure is the Viking Crown Lounge.

And here we are inside it.

I wonder.. if I just.. turn this..

Looking down on the pool area from the Viking Crown Lounge.

Another towel critter, from our stateroom attendant, Iketut (fondly referred to as "Tootin'" for the duration of the cruise).

cruisin' || day four

Day four was our day in Coco Cay, a private island owned by Royal Caribbean.

This is the view out our stateroom window.

Our stateroom. And, oh, hello, there I am.

The other half of the stateroom.

Arriving in Coco Cay.

A little shopping area.

One of many beaches.

Not too busy.

At the beach (that's not our ship in the background).

Beach time! Oh my sunburn. Wowee.

Keith's back was actually the worst sunburn of the trip for some reason.

At one of the beaches.

Getting my sea legs.

I love you, $30 Target swimsuit.

Eating our barbecue lunch. It was good, good, good.

Doing damage on some ribs.

Freaking iguanas scared the crap out of me. We were just walking around and one moved and then suddenly they were everywhere.

A couple more.

Apparently the whole bridge was dedicated to the creepy critters.

Keith was clearly not as freaked out as I was.

Looking out from the bridge.

A random sandy lane we found that led to nowhere.

Chillin' in a hammock. Oh my freckled face.

Yes, please.

Hammock view. I love you, Caribbean.

Posing with our ship.

Me too (I did not wear pants at all this day, fyi).

Ahhhh.

With our ship :)

Sunburn pain.

Checking out the schedule.

Oh, sun.

Ready for dinner.

Lounging, reading a book on my iPad. Yes.

Yes this is legitimate happiness :)

Our anchor got so stuck we had to be pushed by the tenders to get unstuck.

Oh, endless ocean. I love you.

Our tender headed out.

This. Is. Good.

Being a trouper, just hanging out while I read my book.

Leaving Coco Cay.

Ahhhh.

My Majesty of the Seas shirt, which I am fully in love with.