Hey remember that?

If you look in the wayback machine, you might remember this discussion - VENTAGE YEAR OF AWESOME and my discussion of some goals and to do's for 2013.  I haven't had an update for a while, but I wanted to talk about one of them -

4. Work.  I need a plan, a road map.  I have some ideas of where I want to be - now I need to figure out how to make that happen.  GOAL:  Create an action plan and work the steps, allow self the space to change/edit/grow but DO NOT GIVE UP.  

So in January, I knew that I was feeling like it was time to move on from my job.  I have had a great experience here but was ready for something new, something that would push me.  Since January, a lot of interesting options have come my way.

I have made a choice.

Last Tuesday, I gave notice of my resignation from my job.

In the middle of October, I will be starting a new job.  A promotion.  Head labor & employment counsel for North America for a large global company.

I am excited.

I am grateful - my husband is making a lot of changes to allow this to work for our family.

I am nervous - it is hard leaving friends and the comfort of what we KNOW for the unknown.  I am nervous about all the adjustments and changes my family is making, can I be the mom I want to be and take this job?
I hope so.

I am glad it isn't a secret.

Remember, we can make the things we want to happen, happen.   It might not happen on the time table we want but we can get there.

get it girl.

The Amazing Miss Emily

A very sweet girl is celebrating her birthday today.  

It is Em's day today (all day) and I wanted to take a minute to give her this shout out.  

She is funny - like pee your pants funny.  She once wrote me a rap - "Lice, Lice, Baby" that was to cheer me up when I had a 1 week old baby and two children with the crawlies.  That, friends, is friendship.  

She has had a busy year.  Being pregnant with two little people is much harder than having three little people (in my experience).  She never complained though.  She cheerfully put up with us drunk girls over Memorial day weekend (as evidenced by my crazy eyes in this picture), she indulged our love of gin and ginger, when I am SURE she was tired and just wanted to go to bed.  

She is a great mom.  Her children are sweet and funny and interesting and creative.  Their mom rocks and she loves them so deeply and her commitment to them is inspiring to me.  I cannot wait to meet Mr. Oliver and see how their family grows and changes - Em is up to the challenge that is for sure.  

She makes me think about things.  Em and I have different perspectives on a lot of things but she is open to talking about things and putting her ideas out there - not judging but thinking.  I like that.  I like that she doesn't seem to care when we disagree but that she doesn't hold back from discussing either.  

She is beautiful.  I wish she knew how beautiful she is.  She has beautiful eyes that are sparkling, she has wonderful skin that has a pink glow to it.  She hates the makeup, probably because she doens't need it. 

She is true.  She will say things to me that might be hard to say but coming from a good place.  She is the diplomat that I am not and I am grateful for her counsel on a number of issues.  She has given me solid feedback on having a struggling kindergartner, how to navigate teachers and dealing with crazy families.  

Em, I love you girl.  Thank you for being in my life and sharing your life with me.  

I am sharing this pictures of our girls.  I like it because they are sass and sweet and ready to take on the world.  Just like their mommas.  

hello monday

hello to a Friday that was much better than the rest of the week.  Kindergarten adjustment has been HAAAARRDD and we were all feeling a little shell shocked last week.

hello to a husband that is done traveling for work for awhile (I hope).  I know he hates to be gone, but it is stressful and damn, I just like it better when he is home.

hello to spa bliss.  Mike and the kids had given me a gift card to a spa for my birthday, a facial and massage were oh so nice.  I had so many knots and bubbles in my upper back and neck that the masseuse asked if he was hurting me.  hurt so good I guess.

hello to hellos and hello to goodbyes.  big announcement coming in a few days.

hello to wedding plans and outfits and haircuts and travel arrangements and changing family dynamics.  Who knew that a brother getting married would be so fraught with landmines!

hello to texts that make me laugh.  I wonder how I ever made it in life before texting.  i heart texting.

hello week, I am totally ready to slay you.

36 - Stuck in the Middle With You.

Yesterday, I turned 36.  I am officially into my late 30's.  You know what?  I am ok with that.  My 30's have been full of the most ups and downs of my entire life.  All my joy and heartache encapsulated into a short decade (well, 6 years to date).

This is a post to remind myself that all that heartache has come with real, lasting and deep joy.

Beginnings and Endings are hard.  I am much better "in the middle"  when you have found the sweet spot of things (even if imperfect) being what you expect.

That should mean that being "in the middle" of my thirties will be awesome.

This is the only picture I took of myself yesterday.  You can't see it, but the necklace I am wearing reads "Good things take time".

I am loved.

These goofballs push me more than I ever expected.  Being a mom is not something that I feel naturally inclined towards - I am impatient, demanding, critical and crave much more down time than I get.  But damn, these kids are more than I am worth.  Challenging, smart, funny and emotional.  I see myself in their struggles and try to make sure I keep in mind that it is about THEM and not ME.  and you know what?  That is fucking hard for me.  :)  But I love them.  I love learning through their eyes and the pure excitement and zest for life.  I love that they hug unabashedly and dance and laugh and cry and hurt and then get over it.  This is the part that moms say flies by - not the sleepless nights, or crying, or cleaning up vomit, the pure LIFE that flows from kids that is too quickly zapped out of them.  

and this guy:  

He is solid.  Cheering me on and the only person on Earth who seems to be able to always (even when he is mad, or I am irritated) read my heart.  The one who won't let me despair because, damn Ang, look at this life we have created.  This journey is all us and not me.

Dear rest of my 30's,

I am ready for you.  And I still intend to look good.

Love,
Angie

Steph - Ventage Wednesday 9/4/2013

Ok so it is not Tuesday.  We Ventage girls are a busy lot.  Life happens.  I love picking out clothes.  I love talking about clothes.  I love my Ventage girlies.

Todays plan was to put together a fall outfit for a Ventage friend.  I have Miss Stephanie.  Steph has been working hard on getting fit and healthy post two babies.  She is looking fly and has really inspired me to get my butt to work and get healthy and be deliberate.

I tried to find something cute and casual and adaptable. Stephanie's coloring is VERY different than mine, it made it tricky for me to find the right color palette that seemed Steph-ish.  

Here are my finds.  I think this would also be cute with a maxi skirt instead of jeans.

Steph - Ventage Wednesday 9/4/2013 by angiejolson featuring a bead necklace

Moon Collection green top / Old Navy plus size tank top / Lucky Brand jeans / Accessorize ballet shoes / FOSSIL crossbody handbag / Kenneth Cole bead necklace / Too Faced Cosmetics