Road Trip!

Fernando has been looking forward to the HOW Design Conference in Austin for months! He showed so much interest that he got Razor to agree to send him all expenses paid (about a $1,000 ticket, plus flight and hotel). Well, of course they laid him off one week before the conference. It was all cancelled. He even heard they were sending a new employee in his place -so terrible!

Then yesterday he got a 'high importance' email from HR saying they were unable to transfer or cancel his conference ticket with so little notice and he had better get to Austin (on his own bill). So, we packed up the car and here I am at the downtown Austin La Quinta Inn working on my blog while Fernando gets wined and dined at conference events. We had a nice, yet blistering hot, drive down and of course stopped at Czech Stop in West for kolaches. I am hoping to get a lot accomplished and enjoy the change of scenery. The hotel has a pool...

Father's Day

Another Father's Day come and gone - 5 1/2 years after my Dad's passing. I now have a new family to celebrate with and a Father-In-Law. We spent our day going to church and sitting by the pool. Fernando called his Dad in Boise, because of course he didn't plan ahead enough to send a card. Fernando Sr. jokingly wished Fernando a Happy Father's Day as well - not yet! I will never stop missing my Dad, but I can see how we are moving to the next phase of our lives where my Fernando is the head of the household and will become the perfect Dad that I miss (someday).

For Richer or Poorer

These vows we took are about to have a whole lot more meaning. Fernando was laid-off from Razor on Thursday afternoon. We are now both unemployed. We're not sure what the future holds, but we are in it together. It will be a bonding experience. As I type this blog entry, Fernando is home with me making breakfast. Not may newlyweds get that much time together! Between the two of us, we have now experienced three lay-offs in less than a year.

Aurora's Run for Awareness

Our photographer Aurora is even more amazing that we thought. She will be running 300 miles across Texas, starting October 17. Please participate in her e-party on June 29 and check out her blog for more.

Connections

Yesterday I found out how I landed where I am at the yoga studio (and that the paperwork position and working more than 5 times a month is paid - in addition to free yoga!). I showed up for class and the front desk person was not there. The instructor was scanning people in. She had to get ready to teach class and asked me to help out until everyone came in. The girl who was running late (traffic and rain) was Natalie!

Natalie, who teaches boot camp for hawkeye employees and friends (Nando and I did first year before we were dating), has been going to the studio for years and has been referring her boot campers there. When we moved to Addison Tracy and Valerie (boot campers) told us they used to do yoga around our neighborhood. I checked it out and inquired about a position and here we are. Timing of everything has just been perfect. I first asked about the position before the wedding when I would not have had time. Suze called last week to say there was an opening. I'm finding this lay off was a really good thing.

Suze had been talking to Natalie about helping with paperwork and she could not commit with having a little one at home. Natalie had just learned from Tracy and Valerie the day before that I was now working at the studio so mentioned my name to Suze. She knew my background and that I was not working. I didn't even realize Natalie was at the studio and her name was even on my contact sheet. Such a small world. I love how things work out. It's so great to make friends everywhere and see how those connections blossom and touch other parts of your life.

Happiness.

So today I was offered the position at Pottery Barn. Orientation is at 5pm on the 21st followed by a shift of doing floor changes until 2am. I'm excited to be getting out of the house more and meeting people. I'm especially excited for the discount (Williams Sonoma too)!

Also today, while at DPYP front desk training, Suze Curtis herself called to tell me how wonderful I am and that she'd like me to train to be a backup for the woman who handles all the paperwork. More details to come on this. I went in to take class tonight and came a little early to discuss, but she did not want to bother with business before my practice. I just love yoga. I feel so much better already and I've only been in 4 times since I was offered the trade position. Fernando is getting a discounted membership and loving it just as much. We may even get Ashley to join. The goal is to go 3-4 times a week - ideally everyday while I have so much free time. There are over 100 classes a month!

I'm just enjoying the place I am in and letting things fall into place. I'm getting all my schedules organized to where I will have daily lists of goals to get me closer to being a wedding planner. Still very anxious for the Aug 4 interview with Todd Events, but working on setting up more options.

Fernando has been checking e-bay for letterpresses and plans to purchase one as soon as some freelance project money comes in. He is so enthusiastic about learning a specialty for invitation/card making. He has also continued to make healthy meals from scratch and per several recommendations from Christeven, we have ordered Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and are already trying the recipes found online and eaten at their home.

I love my husband. I love my family. I love my friends. Life is good.

Happiness.

"Good luck is the result of good planning"

The fortune cookie does not lie...

Husband and wife day 37. Status = still in love.

We have been home from our honeymoon for about 3 weeks and are really enjoying our summer. It is as far from back to 'business as usual' as can be. We have a long, exciting journey ahead.

I have decided to pursue a career in wedding planning and have not really been looking for full-time advertising positions any more. My big accomplishment this week is that I have an interview set up on August 4 to discuss an internship at Todd Events for this fall. The ultimate goal is to have my own business, but this would be great learning experience. I do not know any of the details until I go in and talk to someone, but I am up for anything they will let me do. Not sure how much if any competition. I need to get this.

Of course I have to have other options, so I'm trying to stay productive during the day by doing research and looking for other positions. I've also accepted a trade-for-free yoga job. Five days a month (about 2 hours each time), I will work the front desk at Dynamic Power Yoga Plus! It's just a short walk from our apartment. I'm so excited for this. I love love love the classes and it's a great way to stay relaxed and in shape. Fernando plans to offer his design services for a membership, but will join me and pay in the mean time.

We're going to need some income while I reach for this new career, so last week I also applied for a part-time job at Pottery Barn. Hope to hear back any time now. It would just be about 3 days a week - a little extra money, but still leaving time to work on other things (also a sweet discount).

Fernando is still working as an Art Director as Razor. He eventually wants something more than hocking direct mail as well. The current plan is to design wedding invitations and websites on the side, partnering with my soon to be planning business of course. We also both still do pro-bono work for The Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. Our current project is the first annual Wish 100, a 100-k bicycle rally. It's such a great cause and a good opportunity for creative work. He is doing everything from the website and brochures to jerseys and caps. I hope we can afford to buy bikes by October and participate in the race. This is also one of the reasons Fernando has been so busy and has not touched our honeymoon pictures. They will come soon, I hope...

This type of side work has sparked ideas for starting our own agency with several of our friends who also help with Make-A-Wish and/or are ready to be on their own. We'd like to call it "Good People", a phrase borrowed from Robby. This is just another thing I need to do some research and thinking on. Make-A-Wish is ready to forward our names on to clients who can pay with a great recommendation. The time is now!

We are just loving each other and keeping our options open. We've been spending a lot of time out at the pool and with our friends. Ashley recently got us hooked on The Settlers of Catan board game. It is a new league of nerdy, but fun.

In family news, Erika left for Spain yesterday morning. She is off to work at a Bible-based children's camp in La Granja, a small town just north of Madrid, with CAM International and will not return until days before school starts teaching her bilingual kindergartners. My mother-in-law (I have in laws!) was in town this past weekend to see her off. We had a big Cuban dinner and played dominoes - so fun.

My mother is still doing well in Guatemala. She is scheduled to come home to Katy April 2010 but would like to stay until at least August. Her blog tells more.

We are loving having two nephews and a niece - just wish they were closer. They are growing cuter and cuter. I am over due on catching up with the siblings, but the baby pictures of the boys and Audrey tell all.

So much going on and so many un-knowns. Lots to pray about.

How We Got Here

For a complete history of The Bling Blog please visit the original:
http://elizabeth-blingblog.blogspot.com/