Chicago

I got to spend 3 weeks of September in Chicago for work. Sears flew me and8 other National Management Trainees out to work in their flagship store at Woodfield Mall (the 2nd largest in the US) and then attend the holiday conference at Hoffman Estates the last week with the District Managers and Regional Vice Presidents.

I got to see my dearest friend Emily Collins, and made some really great friends too. Kory even got to come out for a weekend! It was such a great time!  I should explain that the "reflection" pictures were actually taken in the box that extends outside of the 103rd floor of the Sears tower. Those pictures were actually taken through the window showing how we're hanging in the air 103 stories over Chicago!

Stepping Stones to Our Futures

Kory is going to Asia in a few weeks with the BYU Asia Business Study Abroad program!! I am so excited for him, it is going to be such an incredible experience.  I am extremely passionate about traveling, I think you gain so much education and experience through seeing other parts of the world.  I am so excited he has the chance to participate in this competitive program.  He'll be gone for 4 weeks, but I'll have people come stay with me and be working full time so I won't get too lonely.

Work is going really well.  I really, really like my job and I am having fun gaining more responsibility and learning more processes and procedures each day.  I've actually found that I really like having a career in retail, I like the random schedule that gives me a chance to sleep in a couple of days a week.  I like that there is something new going on every day.  I like that I can leave for work 8 minutes before I have to be there and have a couple of minutes to spare, amazing!

I have found a new love for reading.  I have NEVER enjoyed reading, but for some reason in the last couple of months I have started to really find it entertaining.  I have only made it through one book (which is amazing for me), and I have a good start on my second.  We'll see if this becomes a new love for me.  Anyone have any books they suggest?

I just started getting sick, so I had to come home early today.  I'm heading to bed now so that I can be rested for tomorrow.  Thanks to doTERRA essential oils, I haven't gotten sick for very long all year!  Hopefully that trend sticks!  Kory and I started learning about how essential oils work as natural remedies in December, and we've seen some powerful things happen by using them.  I love learning more about how our bodies work, and how we've been given tools in nature to keep them at their best.  We're going to have a doTERRA Wellness booth at the Utah Valley Women's Expo!  Come see us and get a hand treatment of facial, it's going to be lots of fun!

Sorry I don't have any pictures to post! When I get pics from the BYU Traditions Ball I will post them.  Love you all!

Bad News and Good News

Unfortunately, Kory was not invited to intern with General Mills this summer.  However, I am still incredibly proud of him because the competition was really tough!  I think it is fantastic he was one of only two BYU students that even had the opportunity to be flown out, even though neither of them got the internship.  Kory is doing well though, he's already back on his feet preparing to interview other places.  We're hoping we find something that will be an amazing opportunity and help him continue to grow in his educational experience.  I will also say that a very incredibly Asia Business Study Abroad program is being considered.  Anyone have any really good fund raising-ideas? haha

Exciting Things

I have started my new job as a Management Trainee at Sears, and I love it so far!  I get to spend several months shadowing all of the major management roles in the store and I am learning a ton.  Of course retail has it's downside, like working nights or weekends.  But I feel really confident that I am going to learn a lot of valuable skills that will allow me to progress in my life goals. 

Meanwhile, even more exciting news, General Mills flew Kory to Scottsdale for a final internship interview! He flew down last Thursday and had lots of fun getting to know the other applicants and several General Mills employees.  They went to a spring training baseball game, and out to dinner.  Afterward, Kory was able to hit up Nordstrom Rack with some of his new friends.  The next morning they were up bright and early for several interviews and job shadowing.  Kory came home really excited about the potential of interning there over the summer.  He even had some color on his face to prove he was in Arizona while it was snowing in Utah.  We'll find out the news sometime soon.  Regardless, I am VERY proud of my husband receiving his very first fly back interview!

Hope all is well with each of you.  Sorry I've been a blogging slacker!

What I Want to Do For a Living.

I want to get PAID to help lead tour groups through Europe.

I just want to plan the best itinerary. Then book hotels and make reservations, or choose where we are staying and what we are doing but delegate it. Then prepare the group for the trip. Once we go to Europe I will make sure the whole thing runs smoothly. I went on a European tour with a group from Utah who had a lady who did just that. I want to be her. I have also worked for BYU study abroad programs and done that. I know it is something I love.

Or I at least get paid to help people plan their itinerary, book hotels, and make tourist attraction reservations. I am really really good at that. I like doing things that I am good at. I have a passion for 2 places: Europe and Hawaii. So if I could live the rest of my life just planning people's trips to Europe and Hawaii and occasionally going on one of my own, that would be fantastic.

I know this is a random post. I'll explain where it came from. I'm having a bad afternoon. I'm feeling like I'm not that good at things I should be good at. Then I jumped on facebook and one of my friend's status updates was requesting hotel ideas for London, Paris, and Italy. It made my afternoon to be able to give her advice.