Recipe for success

Drum-roll please ...

Well, I did it. One year down and one to go!

I'd be lying if I said the past two months weren't a couple of the toughest I've been through. On top of the emotional turmoil, I took 13 credits this spring. I thought things in the office would slow down a bit after season, but it turns out we conducted workouts in the mornings and in the afternoons. That schedule coupled with my night classes meant long hours. I'm not saying that to complain. I'm just stating a fact.

Basketball-wise, we had an extraordinary spring. The girls improved beyond my expectations, and I finally felt like I made a difference and had a positive effect on the team through coaching. I'm anxious for fall term to roll around with school and basketball because I have a year of experience under my belt, and I am starting to feel like I know what I'm doing. ;)

It's hard to imagine what life will bring this year. I have mixed feelings. It's exciting and scary. I'm out of my comfort zone in an indescribable way. Living day-to-day is a focus of mine, but for someone who loves looking forward to milestones, not being able to see a certain someone waiting for me at the end of this journey is tough to swallow.

I didn't begin this post with any intention of writing the past three bleak paragraphs, but that's what came out. :-/ Let's just call that a random tangent and get back to the point of this post: I've been invited to intern at a local cookbook publishing company! Yesssss! (There's that standard exclamation point and usual tone of this blog that was missing!)

It's called Arnica Publishing & Creative Services. My responsibilities will be varied and open. I can contribute to any area of the press I'm interested in including--but not limited to--editorial, marketing, and sales. The best part is that this job will be combining my passions for writing and cooking. How great, huh?

I had chills when I read the company's collective vision and mission statement. Let me share a bit with you, and I'm sure you'll understand why: "The name, Arnica Publishing, is derived from the plant, Arnica Montana, a small, but powerful flower that promotes physical healing in the body and is often used for relief of pain--it is used as a healing balm. Our name is representative of our original collective vision: 'helping to heal the world through the power of the written word, one reader at a time.'"

I think it's safe to say I'm in the right place at the right time. Talk about serendipity.

The fine folks at Arnica sent me home with two of their cookbooks and three recipes to test for their upcoming release. It's a cookbook called Luscious and it'll be out in the fall. The boss said just cook and take notes. We'll adjust the recipe accordingly. I already bought all of the necessary ingredients, and I'll be reimbursed by the company. This has got to be the coolest job yet!

In addition to Arnica, I'm going to be working on my new blog/website. I won't release too many details, but I can say I'm going to actually tell people about it, unlike this blog that was originally just meant to be my virtual diary. (Nice tease, huh? I learned that in the news biz.)

So, here's a toast to summer, no school for almost four months, and the chance at outstanding professional experience and growth! Cheers!
 

Procrastination Nation

On this day next week, I'll be done with my first year of graduate school. Hoo-to-the-ray! I cannot wait.

I'm not out of the woods yet, though ... I've got my work cut out for me. Two papers, a project, and a portfollio are anxiously awaiting my free time and devotion.

So what am I doing? Sitting and blogging about how much work I have to do. Looking at food blogs. Making lists. Lists of things I need to do, places I need to visit, books I want to read, and how I'm going to save and spend my summer paychecks.

It's the antithesis of productivity. I can hear the clock ticking.

I mean, I just realized I hadn't written anything lately. The old post was screaming, "Replace me!" Never mind the fact it could be lingering on the top of the blog because nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Nothing truly story-of-my-life-worthy.

But, a week from now--yes, just seven days from today, I'll have accomplished a pretty sweet feat. One year down (minus one week), and one to go!

And, to celebrate summer (amid the dreary rain), look what I just bought:

I'm sure I'll have an adventure or two on this puppy. :)