It's been fun...

I used the same subject line in an email I sent out to my coworkers letting them know that this week would be my last at Dave and Buster's.  I can honestly say that it has been fun, very fun.  You would hope that a company that prides itself (and makes it's money) off of being fun would deliver the same experience for their employees and they exceeded expectations.

This coming Saturday would have been my fourth anniversary with the company and it is very bittersweet to leave.  D&B was my first "real" job.  I had worked at fast food joints, different childcare centers, as a nanny (which is just as real as any job) but this was the first 8-5 gig at a major corporation that I ever worked at.  I started out as the front desk receptionist.  That was amazing training and I was able to meet almost every one who worked for the corporate office.  I had the opportunity to learn about all the different departments in a corporate office and identify what areas I am really passionate about.

A little after a year being with the company I was offered the opportunity to join a brand new department as a sales person in our Special Events Sales Center.  I was pretty surprised to be offered the job-I'm not exactly what you would call a natural sales person.  I avoid confrontation, I'm not pushy, and I never could try to convince someone to spend money they don't seem to have.  Luckily as a company that type of sales was never promoted and we always tried to make the experience as fun as possible from start to finish.

What I appreciate most about my time here was the people though.  I met so many amazing people, people that are so much more than coworkers to me.  When I have good news, some of my coworkers are the first that come to mind who I want to tell.  They were all there for me day in and out with whatever issues I had going on in my life.  Everyone genuinely cared about me, Baby and Boyfriend.  They were interested in hearing my stories, no matter how silly.  I truly connected with my coworkers and I am so sad that I will not see them daily anymore.

I also feel like I have the most amazing boss in the world.  She has lead our team, almost blindly at times, to grow from a brand new operation and a small group of four to almost 20.  She is one of those bosses that stands back and lets you do your thing, and everyone works hard because they want to make her proud.  She recognized the strengths for each person and worked to promote those behaviors instead of focusing on our weaknesses.  She made being a working mother easy.  Really easy.  I never once felt that I had to chose work or family, if I ever wanted time off it was granted, if I ever needed time off there wasn't even second thought about it. She has already told me if I find myself regretting my choice to leave that I am very much welcomed back and to just call.  I believe her and I would be happy to come back. 

I'm really going to miss it here.  I look around at all the women (and three men) who share this little corner of our building and I can honestly say I adore and enjoy each one of them.  I have watched many come and go through our department and I never thought I would be one of the people going.  I was offered an opportunity at another outstanding company that I feel will not only benefit me in the long term, but will benefit my family immensely.

Still, it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to this place.  The memories I have here are so powerful.  I look across my desk and the pink exercise ball that I would sit and bounce on all day to help spring myself into labor.  The maraca sitting in my file folder reminding me of our chili cook off (which we didn't win, I guess D&B likes beans in their chili, what a sham).  Packing up my desk I came across at least 20 cards written to me over the last four years with proclamations of gratitude and friendship. The tissues I kept in my desk to dab at my eyes from crying so hard I cried, almost daily.

There are experiences in your life that just change you.  My time here developed me professionally and personally.  I was so very lucky to spend the last four years and have nothing but wonderful and positive things to say about Dave and Buster's.  When people ask me if I'm going to miss this place, all I can really say is, "You Got It!"

Old McDonald Had a Farm...

A couple of weekends ago, Baby and I decided to say goodbye to Boyfriend and join BFF (apparently I like people with 'B' names) at her grandmother's farm in Shepard, TX.  This was only the second time we have left Boyfriend home alone to fend for himself-cooking, cleaning and taking care of the dog.  Who am I kidding, he does that every day!  Boyfriend just didn't have our company and he didn't have to pretend to like my avocado egg salad (thanks Pioneer Woman!).

I will admit I was a little worried for the drive down, Baby has only taken a car trip once before when she was around 7 months and luckily she slept for the whole time that trip.  This time we were traveling during her most active period, between her afternoon nap and bedtime.  She was a champ though, and kept herself entertained reading books.  And eating.  Food is always a great distraction!

We stopped for dinner about halfway there, I figured Baby was starving since it was already 8:00.  She did eat her french fries shaped like happy faces (which as a side note-why do they have to make french fries shaped like happy faces?  I don't think you have to convince a kid to eat french fries by making them into stupid shapes) but she was far more interested in walking and stretching her legs.  Since we were in a room by ourselves, I didn't mind letting her stand next to our table but she saw a water fountain that was in the middle of the restaurant and the water baby that she is, was drawn to it.  BFF's mom had some pennies so we taught Baby how to throw pennies which is her favorite new trick.  Baby only would take one coin at a time and run from the fountain and back, collecting just one coin each time.  She was so cute doing it, I think BFF's mom donated at least $10 to the restaurant to let her throw coins in.

 

Thankfully, once we started the second portion of the car ride, Baby fell asleep pretty quickly and remained asleep until we arrived.  Once we arrived, she played in her new surroundings for a bit but I could tell she was quickly getting tired again so I decided to try and get her to bed.  I was a little nervous how it would work out, she normally sleeps in her crib by herself and when we travel sleeping is never really great for any of us since she does not like to be touched.  That night though, I just played songs from my iPod and she fell asleep after some tossing and turning.

The next morning, we woke up and Baby had her usual breakfast of blueberries and bananas and BFF's grandmother made us blueberry pancakes (again, with the 'B's!).  Baby was obviously itching to go run around outside so I got her dressed and we walked around to meet all the animals.  Evelyn quickly became obsessed with Quackers, the newest farm resident.

BFF's grandmother also had geese but they actually seemed to hate Baby, every time they saw her they would start honking very loudly and angry sounding.  Baby tried to feed the horses a treat, but she would get nervous just as they were going in for the carrot.  So instead she let me and would get really excited when they started crunching away.

My daughter is silly though-of all the different animals that were on the farm, she loved the dogs the most.  BFF's grandmother has two, but she was just in love with the bigger of the two-Alpha.  Alpha is an eight month old Great Pyrenees and was very excited to see Evelyn.  I just loved how Alpha would hang out on the gate, resting her "elbows" like a person, waiting to be pet.

We also did Evelyn's favorite activity-swimming!!  She is such a water baby, and a scary one at that.  She has absolutely no fear of the water and refuses to be held in the pool, which is an obvious danger.  We have tried several different things, life jackets, swim suits with flotation padding but nothing really fits because she is so small.  I finally caved and put the water wings on them even though I am (was) against them (being a lifeguard/swim instructor you are taught that they are NOT good) but this was finally the trick to achieve a happy balance of letting her be independent and being safe.  She really loves just floating around, kicking, splashing and blowing bubbles.

All in all, it was a really fantastic weekend.  I loved hanging out with the BFF and her family and I am so appreciative that her grandmother welcomed us in her home.  It really was relaxing and I think a good little break for us all.  Even Boyfriend took advantage of the child free weekend and lived it up as a bachelor-who cleans, does laundry and shampoos carpet!  I am a lucky woman :)



Pinkberry!

If you follow me on Facebook, you probably see me post random things on behalf of Crowdtap.  I know it looks like spam, but I really do love this site.  Basically you answer polls on your spending and lifestyle habits.  There are different levels of membership and different badges you can earn, as well as cash prizes.  There are also different companies that will give you gift cards to visit their business with you and friends-no strings attached!  I recently was offered the opportunity to take a small group of friend to Pinkberry and have a Style Your Pinkberry party. 

It ended up being a small group-myself, the BFF, Boyfriend, and Baby.  We arrived and the very first task was to pick out our Pinkberry treats to match our accessories.  BFF chose original tart and had on a berry colored necklace which she obviously chose berries to match, a black headband and selected chocolate chips to represent that, and finally she picked granola to match her straw wedges.

Boyfriend was being lame and refused to accessorise.  He then got me when he told me the only accessory he needs is his wedding ring, after all it is the most important accessory anyone could have.  How can I argue with that?  There really were not any toppings that went with a ring, so he selected a parfait based off the fact that it is different "rings" of toppings and yogurt. 

Right before our Pinkberry party, we had taken some family portraits so I had be on the softer side of accessories.  I had on muted colors and a simple necklace and gold and black bracelet.  I went with their new summer flavor, salted carmel to match the colors I was wearing.  My toppings were also chocolate chips, granola and nuts. 

Now for the cutest-Baby!  Being a baby and all, she doesn't wear accessories often but she can wear sunglasses like none other.  So to match her rocking Hello Kitty pink polka dot sunglasses, she selected watermelon yogurt with strawberry and melon pearls. 

We all really did enjoy our treats.  I don't traditionally like the original tart flavor but Pinkberry's original flavor is sweeter than most and I did enjoy it.  The only flavor that wasn't a hit in our group was Baby's the watermelon was just a little too sweet for us.  Baby didn't mind though.  And she went nuts over the pearls.  She just kept digging for them and was VERY sad when there wasn't anymore. 

Pinkberry isn't where we typically go for yogurt, but only because we have one of the other guys closer.  I think after tonight and seeing how much Baby enjoyed her pearls (and how much all of us enjoyed our own creations) we will make the trip to Pinkberry more often. 

I know this sounds like just one big ad for Pinkberry and Crowdtap, but I just wanted to share my experience with everyone and hopefully some of y'all might want to join Crowdtap after reading this.  It really is a great experience!  If you click on the link below, it will get you set up with your first $1!

http://bit.ly/g12P0d