My new job!

Honestly, I have struggled with this post for so many reasons...so much internal dialogue - what to share, what not to share. Do I share about the months of searching for the right job? It is difficult to put into words all of the emotions that went along with this search. {There were several big let-downs that happened in these past few months.} Do I try to talk about how hard it was to find an open door that also fits my skills and passions? After months of looking for work a door finally opened. Is it a good fit? Yes!!

I started working 3.5 weeks ago at a very large hospital in Los Angeles in the Volunteer Services office. Right now, it is a temporary position that I am hoping turns into a permanent place within their department. This particular hospital has over 2,500 volunteers and lots of different programs where people in the community can contribute. We have people from ages 14 to 94 who volunteer with us each week. I am very impressed with the department as a whole, and I really like the people I work with. My job specifically is to run the front office: I answer lots of questions, process applications, pre-screen applicants and set up interviews, and so much more. Each day it seems like I am taking on more responsibility, and I am thankful for the opportunity. I love that it is a service-oriented position, that it is both people and paper heavy, and that the people I work with are so great. There is still so much to learn about the office and my position there.

I am thankful for the routine too. I am thankful for the commute {albeit my least favorite part}; you have heard {read} how challenging it can be. Each day I drive an hour to work and a little more than that home. If you ever want to call to catch up, the best times to reach me are 7:30AM or 5:15PM, Pacific Coast Time. :) Now, I just need to figure out how to fit in an exercise plan. :)

Driving Lessons

This summer I learned how to drive a stick-shift. Yes, it was super, super challenging, and there were points that I thought I just wouldn't get it. But, I learned...while driving across country, while making a sick run to the grocery {hubs and I had the stomach bug at the same time this summer}, and while learning Los Angeles traffic.

Let me tell you. LA traffic is CAH-razy. It's predictably unpredictable. I have to give myself extra time to anticipate bag traffic because you just don't know how bad it will be. Anyway, I'm just going to be honest. I need some space to vent about today's misadventure. Every morning I leave the house at 7:15 to get to work {more on my job soon, I promise!}. This morning began as usual - I left on time. I drove my usual route. The freeway was a bit hectic as usual but not a parking lot. Well, this morning, I decided to get the bright idea to drive an alternative route for a small portion of my drive. I wanted to stay on surface streets thinking it might cut my commute by a few minutes. Instead, I got lost. Like, really lost. I was 30 minutes late to {my new} job. UGH!!!

It was awful. My iphone wasn't working for me. I couldn't pull up the map, and even when I did the GPS in it couldn't find my location. It wouldn't let me call hubs for help either. Finally I got through to him in almost hysterics. He had to find me and give me directions. I told him we were buying new phones this weekend {probably not}, but I was ready to toss mine out the window this morning.

Here's to much more peaceful, easy-going mornings and happy driving. What do you listen to during long commutes? I could definitely use new music and podcast suggestions!

{P.S. I promise to add a picture or two later, but I seem to have lost all my photos. Hubs wiped my computer and clean installed Snow Leopard. For some reason, I didn't get iPhoto back.}

LOVE her!!

So, this morning while eating breakfast, hubs was reading the news on his CNN app and shared this song with me. We {well, mostly hubs} like making up our own funny songs. Hope you enjoy Anne's. :)

I {heart} Super King!!

Okay, so I know I haven't posted much about life in California yet. I promise to give some updates and pictures soon. Honestly, I need to devote a whole post just about a grocery store because their prices are incredible! Yes, I really am blogging about a grocery store! Hey, when you're living on a tight budget, it's the simple things in life that really make life good. And, I'm glad we can eat unprocessed food cheaply {more on this soon}.



Here's the list of things I got last week at Super King for only $30!!

- 3lbs of tilapia fillets
- 1 pack of bacon
- 20 eggs
- 80 corn tortillas
- 14lb watermelon
- 2 mangoes
- 4 bananas
- 1 bunch of celery
- 2 heads of romaine lettuce
- 2 cucumbers
- grapes
- 6 peaches
- 4 plums
- 3 lbs of carrots {at least}
- 1 green, red, and yellow bell pepper
- 2 jalapenos
- 6 tomatillos
- 2 limes
- 6 apples
- 1 onion
- 1 bunch of asparagus

We usually just get our fruits, veggies and some meat there...everything else is not such a great price. The first time I went, I had this ridiculously huge smile on my face because I was so happy to find fresh produce at such incredible prices. I asked hubs {who I dragged with me} if we was happy we saved some moola. He said he was, but just not "girl happy." So, I decided to call my mom and rave about the prices. :)

P.S. We had fish tacos last week, and they were delish! It was my first time cooking with tomatillos.

Two Kelly's to Cali, Day 5

By our last day, day 5, of the long trek westward, we were more than ready to be in California. At one point we had considered extending our stay at the Grand Canyon to do some hiking. Then, we thought about spending one more day in car. Day five was probably our most boring day. We drove through the second half of Arizona and then got into California. Let me tell you, the eastern part of the state {at least on I-40}, there is NOTHING!!! We drove through the Mojave Desert, crossed over the mountains, and got to L.A. before the traffic got bad.

Because there was nothing, our bathroom breaks became "interesting." We saw a sign that said there was a rest area 10 miles ahead so we trekked on to it, expecting to be able to stretch our legs in just a few minutes. Well, the rest area was closed!!! Hubs couldn't wait until the next town {which was 30+ miles away} so we had to create our own rest area {if you catch my drift}.

Mike stretching his legs in the Mojave Desert

Throughout the trip, we kept letting ourselves get WAY too hungry for meals. Hubs and I are like the guys on the Snicker's commercials when we get hungry. Needless to say, it doesn't create a friendly car environment. We resorted to eating some "interesting" snacks {we had already eaten all the good stuff}. Thanks again, mom, for packing away all of that food for us on the road! Anyway, it was almost 2pm before we had lunch at In-N-Out, but it was deee-lish. In-N-Out Burger is to California what Chick-Fil-A is to Georgia.

The most "interesting" snack during the roadtrip.

We arrive at my sister-in-law's place in Los Angeles at about 4pm. It was SO very nice to get our car unpacked. As I mentioned before, we stayed with them for about 5 days before our cube arrived with all of our stuff. Thanks, K&G, for being such gracious hosts and so generous with your home.

That's it folks - our whole trip to California. Sure hope you enjoyed following us along. If you missed a post, click on the link for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, or Day 4.

Two Kelly's to Cali, Day 4

Finally, I’m updating the finale of our cross-country move. By and large, day four of our travels was my favorite! We stayed at a KOA Kampsite {again} in Holbrook, AZ. This was my favorite campsite of the three we went to – definitely had that Mom & Pop feel. The man that ran the Kampsite cooked breakfast every morning: only $2 for all you can eat pancakes.

Then, we spent the entire day site seeing {WARNING: there will be lots of pictures}. This was our only day of just being a tourist. After our pancake breakfast, we packed up camp and headed to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. We drove through these amazing landscapes and enjoyed breath-taking view after view. In the Painted Desert there is this old inn and restaurant that is now just part of the National Park. The architectural features and detail-work in the Painted Desert Inn were definitely my favorite.











Once we made our way through these two parks, we had a short 2 hour drive to the GRAND CANYON!! We were both super excited about going to the Canyon – neither one of us had ever been. A-MAZING!! Really, we drove from look-out point to look-out, and at each point we couldn’t believe how awe-inspiring the view was. Breath-taking. {Okay, I’m going to stop trying to describe it since I can’t get away from every cliché imaginable}. It’s good for me to be in places where I realize this world is so much bigger than my little place in it. We stayed through sunset to watch the light play on the rocks in the canyon. While we’re out here in California, we plan on going to the Grand Canyon again to spend more time exploring and to hike down into the Canyon.

Home Sweet Home

We've already been in California for 3 weeks now, so it's well past time to show you pictures of our new place! In a later post, I will share some of our home projects. We have lots we want to do to make the apartment a bit more like home sweet home. Let me just say, though, that I'm proud of hubs and myself for getting all of our boxes unpacked {at least all of the ones we could do}.

Here's the living room {and our new couch from IKEA!}

{Please ignore the Goodwill box right next to the TV}

Here's the small dining room with our patio furniture. :) We sold our dining room table & chairs before the move because we didn't think they'd fit in our smaller place. One day soon we'll get a more fitting dining set {still nothing fancy, but something that looks better in the space}:


The kitchen. I have been surprised by how much storage that little space has. I'm going to need to figure out a couple of creative ways to increase my counter space, though.


This, my friends, is "Minty" the bathroom. I did my best with the space. That's all I have to say about it...


Finally, this is our bedroom. These aren't the greatest shots. I'll probably update them with better ones soon.

There were a couple of "spaces" we left out. We also have a little study nook with a desk in the far corner of the living room. Just off of the dining room/living room combo, we have a balcony. I'm excited to get out there and make it something really enjoyable {future project}. Right now, it's super boring.

I sure hope you enjoyed the tour! :)