Deck the Halls...or the Living Room

Reality has set in and I went back to work today. After having a week off, it was a bit of a transition but I managed it gracefully! I spent all day Sunday "decking our living room" because as you know, if you have been in our house, we don't have any halls...so I covered most every space in our living/family/dining room/den...in a non-cluttered, tasteful, traditional way (is that even possible!?!?!) At any rate, I chose the decorations that mean the most to me, mostly those that remind me of my youth and my mom, and managed to capture the holiday spirit in a small space.

Black Friday has come & gone and I am happy to report that, once again, Sarah and I managed to spend 18 hours shopping....okay, we had breakfast at a coney and Happy Hour at On the Border, but the rest of the time was spent store hopping looking for deals. We both crossed everything off of our lists except for one present and a few stocking stuffers...overall a wildly successful day and lots of great sister bonding!!

The snow has arrived in Michigan - some places more than others - and I am enjoying the bright white on the trees. We have yet to really shovel so my happiness may be short-lived but for now, to get into the holiday spirit, it is quite lovely.

WE MISS YOU MOM!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Days Off

I've taken the 'short' week off with great intentions to clean out the house. Not sure what has gotten into me...if you know me I am quite a pack rat....but my focus has been on cleaning out the nooks & crannies that have held "important things I can't throw away" for the past 7 years. I have been somewhat successful, but tend to lose focus and get sentimental, but overall I am on my 4th garbage bag and feel a little bit cleaner (check the before & after picture of one of our storage closets!). Coupled with the fact that Tony is making great progress on the bathroom so the office will no longer be the dumping grounds for all the plumbing & tiling supplies, I think we will be able to ring in the new year with a somewhat put together house!

So Long DD

Tomorrow morning I will go to work (albeit only a 1/2 day) and my good friend and colleague, Doug Daniels, won't be there. He has accepted a great job with one of our competitors and is moving to Chicago next week. Don't let me fool you, I am incredibly happy for him, and equally as proud..I know this is a good move and he will thrive in his new role, but I can't help but know there is going to be a large void in his place. Tony asked me tonight how much I actually worked with Doug these days...and the answer is really not much. When I started at Deloitte, Doug was my go-to guy. He was the HR Manager for the groups I recruited so he was involved in daily recruiting decisions, giving me guidance & advice, challenging and questioning the process and overall providing insight into our efforts. As my role has evolved, and his did as well, Doug has simply become more of a mentor, someone I could, and would, always go to because every decision was more solid if Doug weighed in. Not to mention the fact that Doug is hilarious, and quirky, and thoughtful and fun. He truly will be missed. We sent him off on Friday night with pictures & stories and a lot of laughs..in true DD style.

Good luck Doug!! We miss you already!!

Happy Birthday & Hockey

Monday was the only night this week that I didn't have something to do....I'm not usually a "have something to do everynight" kind of a girl. But, this week has been exceptionally fun and there are still a few more days!!

Tuesday was Sarah's Birthday - she shares the day with Mickey Mouse!! Tony & I headed over there for dinner. Sarah made chicken divan, her favorite meal, and Tony brought the carrot cake. We celebrated in real birthday style...we ate cake before dinner!! Filled with just enough candles (and one to grow on) we sang Happy Birthday and then we relit the candles and the kids sang all over again! Morgan wrote Sarah a song that she played on her clarinet and we enjoyed a glass of wine...overall, a very fun birthday!

Tonight I trekked out to Jacob's hockey game. I haven't seen him in about a month and I swear he grew a foot and his voice got deep. He is cute as a bug, and growing up so fast. The game ended in a loss, but he managed to net a goal (with his birthday stick) which made it exciting. And, he only spent 4 minutes in the penalty box!!

Tomorrow we are heading out to an Alma Athletics Happy Hour in Royal Oak (how convenient is that!?!?) I'm excited to see who will be there and to reconnect with other alumni. Friday is a party at our friend Josh's new house...our friend Doug is moving to Chicago and taking a new job, with a new firm, so it's his going away party. A fun event for a bittersweet occasion.

So, this is my most popular week....one that I am sure won't happen again for a long while!!

It's Snowing!!

I LOVE MICHIGAN!!!

BOLT!!

Today started at 5:00a.m. (ok, 5:21 after I snoozed a couple of times). It was the start of weekend #2 of craft shows with my sister. We decided in the spring to try our hand on the circuit again this fall - so, I spent the entire day at Troy High School, chatting it up, selling our wares (mostly Sarah's!) It rained all day, and by mid-afternoon had turned to slushy rain....so being in the Troy High gym was not too bad (except I had to see all the League Championship banners for Women's soccer & basketball from 1987-1991...painful!) This evening I had great plans to finally take Chloe to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua...she knows practically the whole script but hasn't seen the movie yet...however, since that show didn't start until 9:45pm (clearly too late for us!) we took Morgan & Grant along and saw the sneak preview of BOLT. Great movie, about a dog which I loved, and it was in 3-D which didn't make me throw up this time. Paired with a big popcorn and soda shared with Morgan, it was a super fun date with the kiddos.

Weddings, Sweaters & Stuff

Hello there! I'm back! Honestly, I feel a little guilty that I haven't posted in a while, and am hoping to get back into the swing of regular blogging. I have had so much on my plate the last few weeks, I think this has fallen off the radar...but it's back on and I'm happy to be back into the swing.

So, it is November in Michigan and winter has arrived. The cold is actually quite nice, after many warm fall weeks. I enjoy the winter weather, but am not quite ready for snow (which we have had once). I mostly love to wear hats, scarves and mittens...good thing I am a Michigander!!

We spent a long weekend in Key West for Tony's cousin's wedding. Anna married Ryan who is stationed in the Coast Guard in the Keys. It was a beautiful wedding and Anna looks truly happy. We had a fun weekend with the family, including new baby Sam from Colorado. I was sad to miss Halloween with the fam & kids here in Michigan (this year everyone was Elvis!) but it was a fantastic family weekend filled with fun, food & beautiful weather!

I never thought I would be "one of those people" who puts a sweater on their dog. I am! And, even more surprising, Tony is!! Auntie Sarah picked out a nice wooly sweater for Willow at a craft show last weekend. Much to my shock, Willow LOVES it! When I first put it on her she sat in the middle of the floor for about 4 minutes - I wasn't sure she knew how to move in it. Now, she prefers to have it on for her walks (again, cold Michigan weather) and she looks fabulous. Tony says she is "fashion forward"!!

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but I am looking forward to a few days of food, family & shopping. The holiday typically marks the end of our busy recruiting season at work so it is a bit of a milestone....one I am definitely welcoming this year!

For now, I am putting on my hat and gloves and heading out to rake the leaves and walk the dog...in her sweater of course!!!

Whoo Hoo..it's the Weekend!!

I love Fridays....a busy week of work has come to an end and now two whole days to do whatever I want. I have already made my to-do list and while most items are definitely for "me", there are some "chores" that need to be done. I am going to catch up on laundry - something I never seem to have enough time to do during the week. If the rain stops I'll probably need to rake a bit and while Tony works on the bathroom, I am sure he has a project or two in mind for me.

Now for the fun stuff!! I'm hoping to see the Barnett kids in their Halloween finest tomorrow afternoon for the neighborhood parade and then head over to the Geiger's for the MSU/UM game...with that crowd I will definitely have to wear green. A mani & pedi is in my future, probably on Sunday with Sarah, so I have pretty toes for Key West (and I have stopped biting my fingernails since my last manicure in September...a huge step for me!)

Mostly what I want to do is solder some jewelry that has been sitting on my dining room table for the past week. Why can't weekends last for 4 days instead of only 2??? I'll let you know on Sunday how it all goes....

87 Days

I enjoy having things to look forward to as much as the next girl. Tony & I are heading to Key West next week for his cousin Anna's wedding, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Both things I am excited about, but really, I don't think much more than a week ahead of anything. Honestly, I asked Tony today, "So, what do you think we wear for a wedding in Key West?" and frankly, I hope my cool gray dress will work since I really have no time between now & then to find whatever is appropriate and not in my closet.

So, the idea that I just got an email from one of my bestest friends, Kris, with the subject line "87 Days" has me excited about crossing off the days on my calendar. You see, my friends Kris & Amy are coming to visit me in 87 days!! We were students together at Kansas State, and as we worked through our Master's program and two years working in the residence halls, we also forged a friendship that is like no other. Our first year out of grad school, we met in Kansas City for a holiday shopping trip - that was 11 years ago. We haven't missed a shopping trip since. We rotate cities based on where we are living - we have been to Chicago, Lawrence, KS, Augusta, SC, Ann Arbor, Nashville & Royal Oak. Our friendship has spanned three weddings, four kids, 3 dogs (Kris, that counts the one you had for 2 days), deaths of loved ones, and more laughs than I know what to do with. Our lives have changed but we have stayed constant and for that I am forever grateful.

So, we have 87 days to go.....I can't wait until we are down to 1!!!!

Catch Up!!

Okay, so I am failing my own blog challenge. It has clearly been almost a month since my last post. I think about it daily, I have topics, titles, and have written it in my head, but I just haven't had time to actually sit down and write. Probably because I have been averaging 58 hour work weeks since Labor Day and my weekends, while mostly mine, have been just as busy. I continue to try to be everything to everyone, and while I love the things I do, I am definitely bummed I haven't made the time to blog. I check my friends pages daily, and feel as though it is a cool way to connect and catch up...I am sorry to those of you who check mine and see the same September 20th post day after day!!

So, what have I been doing? Working! Busy season is almost wrapped up..another 3 weeks or so, and it has been a pretty successful fall. The economy has wrecked havoc on the recruiting world, but we are still at it hiring entry-level staff with the expectation that the market will turn around soon. This is good news for me, and means I have continued to be a road warrior as part of the campus recruiting team in Michigan. The challenges with the economy have limited my travel within our region so I haven't had the opportunity to visit my team in other markets as much as I typically like - but, we have found ways to stay connected via phone and email.

Tony has spent most weekends up north doing what he likes best in the fall...fishing and hunting. I am happy he has had the opportunity to pack up most Fridays and take off..I just haven't had the same flexibility to join him. Mostly I have stayed home to catch up..on everything! I have had some great family time on those weekends - I've seen Morgan's Halloween show twice, watched Jake's hockey games, saw Maren score a goal, and Chloe run all over the soccer field. We had a "pear-picking" weekend at Eric's while we brewed some fall beer, and we heard our friend's band play at OktoberFest last weekend.

In the last couple of weeks Sarah has decided to become a jewelry sales consultant for Premier Designs jewelry and I have enjoyed being a part of her adventure. While it has been a bit of a scary and overwhelming endeavor, she is on the brink of being incredibly successful. I am super-duper excited for her and know she will be amazing!!

Tony's birthday is this weekend - he is by far the hardest person EVER to buy a present for. He has "opinions" about everything and I have spent my entire existence of knowing him trying to surprise him with something. I never do. So, for his birthday this year, I gave him three options of presents....none of which he expected I might add....and we went to REI and scored him a new sleeping bag tonight. I probably should say that he needed a new one since I ruined his old one in a washing machine fiasco. There was a slight balance issue in the machine, resulting in the purchase of a new washer last spring, and after I took my scissors to his bag to drain the water, he clearly needed a new one. At any rate, he is thrilled with his new bag, and I am a bit jealous. I will say, however, that my sleeping bag ranks in the top 5 things that I own and I am snuggled up in it right now. But I am looking enviously over at the brand new, super cool, green & gray one on the couch.

A bit of catch up from the Catania house.....more to come and I promise it will be before November!!

Super Sports Saturday

The call came in around noon...

"Auntie Oonie?"

"Hey Mae...what's up?"

"Can you come to Chloe's soccer game at 3:30 and mine at 4:30? They are at fields 10 minutes apart so you can make them both."

"Sure Maren, I would love to!"

And, so went my Saturday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day today - in the high 80s and super sunny. A perfect day to watch two soccer games. The girls both played well and at the end of the day we had two ties.

Chloe is a litte fire-cracker, finishing the game with "pink cheeks". While she definitely likes the oranges at half-time, she really likes to "kick the ball hard, and run real fast!"

Maren netted the go-ahead goal with just a few minutes left in the game, only to have the other team come back to tie it up at the end. It was exciting nonetheless!

I rounded out the day with a trip to Ann Arbor to see Jake play hockey - first scrimmage of the fall and while they looked great in their uniforms, they didn't fare so well. They lost 5-0 but it's still early - there is still a whole season to go.

So I end my Super Sports Saturday - and not even a glimpse of a college football game!!

What Day Is It?

Such is the question those of us who do Campus Recruiting ask during our fall busy season. I was chatting with a couple of colleagues today, Megan & Krissie, and realized I had no idea what the date was. I know it is Thursday, and I could tell you where any of the 14 people on my recruiting team are across our region, but I have a hard time coming up with the fact that today is the 18th (right?). I find during the fall that I go from week to week, never thinking past Friday until Friday comes, and then I start all over again. My week is then based on what campus I need to visit, and what type of activity I need to do...interviews, presentations, conference calls, career fairs, etc. The sad thing is, before I know it Thanksgiving will be here. One of my most favorite times of year is the fall, and it will be over as soon as it begins. But, the good news is, I LOVE my job and I truly enjoy the crazy busy schedules us Campus Recruiters keep. Good thing I can get internet just about anywhere or this blog would be silent until Thanksgiving!

K-S-U Wildcats!!

This is a treat!! The Kansas State Wildcats are playing tonight and it's televised on ESPN2!! It's great that the Cats are playing on a Wednesday night and even better that I don't have a recruiting event tonight so I can watch them! It's pretty rare to catch them on TV - we are in Big 10 country so they aren't televised so much here in Michigan!! Takes me back to my grad school days, tailgating at the Wiley Apartments and sitting in the student section with my purple sweatshirt. Coming from Alma College, where football tickets still cost $5, it was fun to go to a big school with big football. Alma football was fun, don't get me wrong, and we have a great D-III program, but I loved watching the Cats nonetheless. So tonight I'm kicking back, with a beer in hand, shouting KSU and hoping for another Wildcat First Down!!!

They Tied the Knot

My dad got married on Saturday. It was bittersweet and beautiful. I haven't seen my dad smile like that in a long time. It was a weekend full of tears and laughter and I found I really enjoyed spending time with our family, both close & newly extended. It hasn't been easy, to welcome others into the life I have known so well.

Friday kicked off with the rehearsal and dinner. King Wok was the restaurant of choice, and we definitely did the King justice. The final entree served was "Happy Family", a fitting tribute to the remainder of the weekend.

We woke up early on Saturday to Mimosas and coffee. A few lemon drops later, we had our pictures taken and folks were arriving at the church. I carried the Cross (thanks to a catchy tune from the Finkeldei girls, I had a pretty good beat walking down the aisle!) Sarah carried the Book and Kelley found her way to the alter to deliver the readings. Our guys were all in the wedding party, Eric standing as the Best Man and Tony & John serving as Groomsmen. Jake cleaned up well in a tux as one of the ushers and the other grandkids all looked smashing in their wedding finest!! We really do clean up well!

The reception was quite a party - lots of dancing (my dad has quite a few moves!), cake, toasts and pictures. It was great to see some old family friends, as well as lots of folks from the Alma community (going to Alma College got me a lot of mileage at this party....) Aside from a few sore toes, we all had a great time!

So, Dad & Gloria are off to Hawaii for their Honeymoon and the rest of us are back to work. I have come to realize through all of this that while it hasn't been super easy for any one of us, we all agree that happiness and love is what we all, even our parents, deserve.

Enjoy some pictures....http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=233554179/a=17566229_17566229/t_=17566229

How Big is a Brain??

Right now I am asking myself how much can my brain really hold? Honestly, between work and life I am not sure I can pack one more thing into my mind. I turned on the TV tonight and had to flip through hundreds of channels before landing on the local high school soccer game on public television. The thought of taking on a Law & Order case, or a House issue, or any other show where I would actually have to think really was just overwhelming!! Tomorrow is another day, and I am hoping for sunny skies and a clear mind....one that I can fill again before the day is through!!

Busy Start to the Week

I usually like Sundays - pretty relaxing and productive. Today was a super-duper busy one...it is 8:08pm and I am exhausted!! The day started out with an 8:00a.m. hair appointment, early, but necessary. Followed that up with a quick shower and a load of laundry. Tony got home from up north around 1pm and we headed out to meet Trevor in Ann Arbor to do some shopping...on the way we randomly encountered my brother, with a flat tire, on the side of 696. We stopped and stayed with Eric until roadside assistance came to change the tire (it was on a U-Haul trailer so we had no spare)....in the meantime, Sarah called needing a third hand - John was taking Grant to the ER, Chloe had soccer and Morgan had a theater try-out. She worked it out, "Steve" from U-Haul showed up, and Tony and I were back on the road to meet Trevor. After a successful shopping trip to Kohl's we made our way back to Royal Oak. We spent 45 minutes walking Willow, just finished dinner (which baked when we were walking...love that!) and now I am seriously ready for bed. This week is the start of our busy fall recruiting season.....I guess today was the warm-up for the next 6 weeks!!

I love "good movie" Saturdays

Woke up this morning with a headache so I was pleasantly surprised when there was a supreme line-up of stellar movies to occupy most of my day. The "House" marathon was a great way to start they day as I found my way to the couch with a big 'ole cup of coffee. Clicking through the channels I found Dirty Dancing, Legally Blonde, the Cinderella Story, Catch & Release and one of those dancing ones I love that I can't remember the name. Plus, some college football, CSI reruns and an episode of Project Runway....seriously, today was a good day!!!

Back to Reality

For me, the summer is over. While the calendar states that Fall officially starts on September 21st, I am hanging up my flip-flops for a suit starting on Tuesday. The day after Labor Day marks the first day of school in Michigan, and like my nieces & nephews, I have the anxious feeling of coming back from vacation and going to work. And tomorrow is the start of the fall travel season for Campus Recruiters.

I have to admit, I lived up my last few weeks of summer. Two of the three I spent up north at the cabin and they were two of the most glorious weeks I have spent in the UP in years. The weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, the water was warmish and the bugs were scarce.

This past week we spent with Tony's parents. Becky & Gary flew in from Dallas and we spent 6 days on the beach, exploring the sites, playing cards and eating yummy food. They called the cabin the Camp 5 B&B and we had fun cheffing up great breakfasts, enjoying fabulous wine and snacking on fudge from Mackinac Island. Tony & Gary tried their hand as "arborists" and planted 15 trees in front of the cabin, a relatively easy, but magnificent, addition!

We are already missing the stars, the sound of the waves on the beach, and the sand under our feet. So, as I ease back to work tomorrow I am going to wear my "up north" necklace to remind me that there is still a bit of summer in my heart!!

Happy Super Belated Birthday to Erin,

Happy Late Birthday to Kristin &

Happy Birthday to Shana!!!

Summer is Slipping Away

I am at work and have a b'zillion things to cross of my Balance List today, but needed to put into words how sad I am that summer is slipping away. I am not usually a huge summer person, in fact I rather prefer the snow in winter, but this year I got the sun-bug and am sad that it is almost September. Maybe because I know my coined "summer hours" are going away (okay, I don't really have "summer hours" at work, but at least I am a little more sane during these months than I am in the fall!). Or maybe it's just because I remember how much I used to enjoy the freedom of the summer and the end of it still leaves me with the melancholy feeling of going back to something. So, as I glance out my window at work and see the sun shining, I'll just remember that next week will be one more week up north at the cabin and I'll enjoy that for all it's worth before I hit the road this fall.

Manic Monday

It is always so hard to come back to work on Monday - even more so today since I have been on vacation for 10 days. The fam trekked up to Camp Five in the UP for the week - 7 kids, 4 adults and 2 dogs made for an action-packed adventure. We had beautiful, sunny weather (even I got a bit of a tan!) and lots of laughs. Between the go-carts, the rifle range, Lake Michigan and the golf course we all had our fill of fun and togetherness.

In anticipation of the "Family of Elvi" for Halloween, one of the highlights of the week up north was Eric on the sewing machine, putting together the Elvis jumpsuits. He was a stitch-wizard and the kids went to town "bedazzling" their own suits. I can't wait to see them all with their boots and wigs!!!

The go-carts were another highpoint with Chloe doing a stealth move UNDER the tennis court net, and Maren's go-cart losing the steering as she careened into the trees. Good times had by all!!

All in all, a great week. Capped off by a weekend full of fun - Saturday at the Woodward Dream Cruise and Sunday at the NASCAR Race, I deserve to be back to work today!!!!

TGIF!!!

Why is it Friday and I am the only one in the Grant Family "working" today??? Dad is retired, so everyday is Saturday. Eric took the week off and so he is tinkering on something - probably the new go-carts he just bought to take up north. Sarah is holding down the fort at a garage sale (kind of like work) and I am sitting at my desk. What is wrong with the picture? The nice thing is...hardly anyone is in the office today so I am clearing oodles of things off my on-going "balance list" (it is all the things I need to accomplish to get my life back in balance!) So, I will get another cup of coffee, turn my music on and get back to it. TGIF!!!

Two Bathrooms?? Not Yet!!!

Tony's been working diligently on our bathroom - a total redo (down to the studs) and he's doing a fantastic job! Who knew he was a plumber, electrician, carpenter and designer all in one? He is mostly making it up as he goes along....he has had countless trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Frentz Hardware, sometimes all in the same day!....but it is shaping up to be pretty cool. We ordered the tile yesterday for the floor and shower and I dare say drywall may go up later this afternoon. We've picked out the pedestal sink and already bought the new cabinets. A visit from Becky & Gary at the end of the month has been good motivation to be a two-bathroom house again!!! We'll definitely keep you posted....and then we're on to the basement!!!

Blog Slacker - What have I been doing for 2 whole weeks!?!?!

It's official - I am on summer hours!! And, in enjoying the dog days of summer I have completely neglected my blog! So, I thought I would share what I have been doing for the past 14 days.....

Thursday, July 17th - visited a dude ranch in Arizona. Should have taken the time to learn the ChaCha Slide!
Friday, July 18th - A successful end to a fantabulous Deloitte National Leadership Conference. It was so fun to see the months of hard work pay off with a great experience, AND I shook hands with our CEO! Awesome day!!
Saturday, July 19th - Having arrived back in Detroit at 2am, I slept until 2pm! Sarah & the kids brought pizzas for dinner and I was entertained by the kids hula-hooping....with 5 hoops at the same time!!
Sunday, July 20th - Sarah & I took a jewelry soldering class in Ann Arbor. Interesting people, a good class and I am super-excited about my new skill (and the charms I made in class!)
Monday, July 21st - Back to the office was a tough transition - I managed to make it until 1pm. Took off a bit early for a haircut and color - clearly needed and much appreciated!!
Tuesday, July 22nd - Wore my new suit to work with my new 'do...felt like a million bucks!! And, Tony's stepdad Gary and his buddy Fred came into town for their annual fishing trip. It's always good to see the in-laws!!
Wednesday, July 23rd - Hopped on a plane to Chicago to meet Tony's mom Becky and her friend Roxanne for a Girls Shopping Trip. We got picked up in a stretch limo - I always knew I would love the lifestyle of the rich and famous!!!
Thursday, July 24th - Shopped the Magnificent Mile in Chi-town....what's not to love? Trekked to the Navy Pier and had a great dinner at the Drake Hotel.
Friday, July 25th - a walk to the Shedd Aquarium was a beautiful trek and we saw crazy penguins and Beluga whales.
Saturday, July 26th - the fun always ends too soon! Made it back to Michigan, picked up Willow and had dinner with Sarah and the kids (yummy pizza and lemony green-beans!)
Sunday, July 27th - Another day with Gary & Fred before they took off for Texas. We ate at the Breakfast Club, some of the best grub in our area!!
Monday, July 28th - First real day back to work was a challenge....going through almost 400 emails was enough to make my eyes cross!!
Tuesday, July 29th - Saw Jacob for the first time this summer - he's a great kid and skated well in his hockey game.
And today, Wednesday, July 30th - kicked it at work (thanks to a GREAT team!) and enjoyed a much needed Happy Hour with some colleagues.

So, that is the news you need to know......I promise to try to be more regular so you can read all the details as I go. Maybe I'll even add another picture or two!!!

Live from Arizona....

I am in Scottsdale this week at the Deloitte National Leadership Conference. It is a great event full of energy and excitement...it is truly a highlight of my job as a Recruiter for Deloitte. There are almost 500 students here...the best & brightest from across the country who are vying for internships in the next year, along with 130 of our professionals. It is fantastic opportunity to network and connect - even in the 103 degree sunshine!!!

One of the best parts about any Deloitte conference is the food - there is a ton of it and lots of great choices....I ate at the Courtyard cookout for lunch today and had some fantastic Mexican yesterday. There are 'breaks' set up all around the resort - fruit, granola bars, bowls of mini candy bars and treats....most of my favorites....except for the Chick-O-Stick. It's an interesting little diddy - made by Atkinson's - with a slight peanut butter flavor - all wrapped up in an orange bundle similar to a Combo. I don't recommend them at all, but was just wondering if anyone else has ever had a taste???

FORE!!

I think I might like golf. I never thought I would say it...I have only ever golfed about 8 times in my life.....but I think I may actually like it. I remember my first golf experience, at the Royal Oak Golf Club with Dean Pioch & Josh Doster - mostly what I recall was flipping my entire bag of clubs on the ground because I had no idea how to carry them. I am sure the boys laughed at me - even more so when I did it again. Since then, I only golf at our annual golf outings at work - twice a year. Clearly not enough time on the links to actually get good at the game, but I'm thinking I might give it some effort to see if I can develop the skill. I only played 9 holes today, and it was a scramble, but I wasn't so shabby. Granted, I wasn't stellar or consistent, but I hit the ball more than I missed. And, I only lost one ball in the water...good thing it was an old one!! So we'll see if I hit another course any time soon - at the very least I play again on August 1st for the second, and last, outing of the summer!! I'll let you know how it goes.....

Unplugged!!

This year at work the theme for the 4th of July holiday was "Deloitte Unplugged". We were encouraged to enjoy the 4 day weekend without laptops, phone calls, and basically without work. Now, if you know me at all, I tend to be a bit of a workaholic and don't much like to be "unplugged". Tony and I left Wednesday for the long weekend at Camp 5, our family's log cabin in the Upper Peninsula. We had Morgan & Maren in tow, along with Willow, and a truck full of goodies. I am happy to report I left my laptop at home, had my Treo just for the phone and only brought my beach books & magazines in my backpack.

The weather was fantastic (the warmest we remember the UP in July in years), the campfire roared, the beach was sandy and perfect for building, and overall a good time was had by all!! We gathered with old friends, barbecued on the 4th of July, played Hide & Go Seek in the woods and roasted smores over a huge bonfire. The girls learned how to play one of my favorite childhood games, Yahtzee!!, and sang to the Legally Blonde soundtrack all weekend (much to Tony's dismay). While the gas prices were tough to take, and the Mackinac Bridge fare is now up to $3.00, we decided it is still worth it all to get to the UP and enjoy the northern splendor. We both said we missed waking up to the sound of the Lake Michigan waves hitting the beach and the miles and miles of starry skies at night. The good news is it is only 4 weeks until we go back!! Until then, we will plug in and plug along.

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!!!

June in Michigan has proven to be incredibly wet this year. April Showers bring May Flowers, but what does June rain bring?? A huge list of weekend to-do's that aren't done, a tan that's not developed (or a burn in my case!) and a whole lot of headaches from the humidity and fluctuations in barometric pressure. On the other hand, the grass is greener and the flowers are bursting with color.....and since today is our 11 year wedding anniversary, I'll say the rain is sure to bring us a little bit of luck for the rest of the year!! I'd still like to see the sun though!!!

Cars but NOT Golf!!!

Our Colorado Cousins, Dave & Carly, are expecting their first baby girl any day (maybe they have had her already - Carly told us Dave was technically un-savvy so we wouldn't see it on their blog or in an email anytime soon!!!) At any rate, Carly has been enjoying some bed-rest prior to the small-fry arrival. She wrote last week that she was kind of into watching golf but wasn't sure she would be able to stomach the NASCAR races. Coming from my family, NASCAR is the rage - and I am proud (is that right word!??!) to say that today I caught both the Indy race in Iowa as well as the stock car race in California (actually watching the end of it right now!) Now, if I could only bring myself to watch golf!!!!

Happy Summer!!!

It is officially the first day of summer! We had a free Jeans Day at work today - in honor I put on my favorite pair, along with a bright yellow shirt and my fun turquoise clogs with a daisy on each foot. I take full advantage of the jeans day - I swear, I would be ultra-productive if we could wear them everyday!! Back to my clogs - they were an impulse purchase with my friends Kris & Amy a couple of years ago. Something about "buy one, get one free" makes everything look appealing - the funny thing is I love them! AND, everytime I wear them to work (which is about twice a year on Jeans Day) my boss compliments them. Today he said they were the best part of my wardrobe! At any rate, thanks for Kris & Amy for talking me into them!!!

The conversation at lunch today revolved around what everyone is doing for the summer....silly, my first response was "working". As I thought through it, I can pretty much name a meeting, flight, car-ride or commitment I have from now until August 1st. And, only 4 of the days involve PTO (our vacation time!) Needless to say, I feel as though the summer is over before it has really begun. But, there are things to look forward to:

Tony & I will celebrate our 11th Anniversary on June 28th

We are spending the 4th of July weekend in the UP at the Cabin - my favorite place.

I am leading a national conference in Scottsdale, Arizona the 3rd week of July (yes, Scottsdale in July, but we get a killer rate at the resort!) This always rejuvenates my feelings about work!

Sarah and I are taking a jewelry class in Ann Arbor - fun bonding and great skill development!!

I am spending a few days in Chicago with Tony's mom & her best friend - another great girls shopping weekend!!

The fam is heading back up to the Cabin in August for a week of fun and frolic on the beach.

So, overall, it's not as "over" as I originally thought - it would just be great if summer lasted for 8 months!!!

Simply Amazing...

Those are the only words I can really use to describe our Relay for Life experience this weekend. Simply Amazing.

The quotation that rolls through my mind is, "“Never underestimate that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can save the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” by Margaret Mead. Our team, the Deloitte People Movers, had only 23 active members and we raised nearly $13,500 for the fight against cancer. The event itself raised over $320,000!! Simply Amazing.

I asked my teammates to wear a pedometer during the time they were walking in an attempt to quantify our fitness efforts. Although the event was scheduled for 24 hours, we had a bit of bad weather which shut down the track for 6 hours. In the 18 hours we walked we logged over 100 miles. Simply Amazing.

Through our on-site Relay fundraisers, we sold over $650 worth of hotdogs and $450 worth of sno-cones. And the supplies were ALL donations. Simply Amazing.

My family participated in Relay this year. Simply Amazing.

The luminary ceremony at 10:00p.m. found us lighting hundreds of bags decorated in honor and in memory of many of our family and friends. The words and pictures told so many stories, and provided a constant inspiration for everyone there. The words HOPE and CURE illuminated both sides of the track, reminding us that we will always have hope that a cure will be found. Simply Amazing.

To all of you, who donated your dollars and your thoughts, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My Reason to Relay will always be to honor my mom's legacy. While many of you have your own friends & family to honor and support, I am touched that you all remembered my Mom in the fight as well. To me, you are all.....Simply Amazing.

Relay For Life

I think the last time I pulled a true all-nighter I was in college - and frankly I didn't do that very often. Relay for Life is this weekend - which means 24 hours of fundraising, walking, laughing, crying, family & friends.....and 24 hours without sleep. I will be participating in honor of my mom, and will also honor the family, friends and loved ones of many of my friends whose lives have been touched by cancer. As many of you know, I am the Captain of the Deloitte People Movers Relay for Life Team. As over-achievers typically do, we have set our goals high and have lofty expectations. We have raised 76% of our goal of $15,000!! That in itself is incredible for 20 individuals!!! We have fundraisers set for the day so our hope is we will exceed our goal by the end of the event. And, we have committed to having someone from our team walking on the track EVERY MINUTE of the 24 hour event. That is quite a feat for our feet! We are using pedometers this year so we can try to gauge how many miles we are walking - I know it is going to be a lot!! We are expecting 90+ degree weather in Michigan this weekend, some rain (let's hope that is wrong!) so I have my sunscreen packed and the water is ready. Whatever you are doing this weekend - for a second, a minute or an hour, please think of me during my 24 hours at Relay for Life and send your happy thoughts and energy - we'll need it!!!!

WELCOME HOME STANLEY!!!

The Red Wings Did It!!!

Welcome back to Hockeytown Stanley!!!

GO WINGS!!!

Let's Go Red Wings....

Here it is, game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals - can you hear us cheering!?!? The Red Wings are fighting for their 4th Cup in 11 years and they are less than two periods away from a W. We've seen it before, in fact in the triple overtime game on Monday, they were 34 seconds away from the W...so close we could almost feel Stanley being lifted above heads into the wee-wee-wee hours of the morning (since it was well after 1am when the game ended!). So, here we sit, watching the game on TV, sure my friends Holly & Nathan in Pittsburgh are doing the same, and we have our fingers crossed. And we haven't shaved. And we have on the same socks we have been wearing throughout the play-offs. OKAY, so we have our fingers crossed. What a great day it will be in HockeyTown tomorrow if the Wings come back to Detroit with a victory...and Stanley.

Family Fun - For A Good Cause

This weekend was our Fourth Annual Alma College Maroon & Cream Gala. Tony is the current chair of the Alma Metro-Detroit Roundtable, which sponsors the event. It is a fundraising gala for scholarships at Alma College. Tony and I often laugh that we were the only two kids at Alma in the early 90s who didn't have scholarships, but we are motivated to raise dollars for scholars nonetheless!! The event was wildly successful and a lot of fun! It was at the Orchard Lake Country Club - the weather was beautiful and the view from our ball room was fantastic. The event raised upwards of $10,000 for scholarships - clearly exceeding our expectations.

One of the things that made it even more special for me was my family's involvement in the event this year. We had a Catania/Grant/Barnett Table for the first time in the event's history. Tony & I were joined by my dad & his fiance Gloria, my brother Eric & sister-in-law Kelley and my sister Sarah & brother-in-law John. We had a ton of fun at our table and we all walked out with "something" after having successfully bid on auction items - except for the Pizza Sam's pizza I bid on - we ate that!!!! All in all it was a great night and I am thankful my family shared in it this year!!

Up next - RELAY FOR LIFE!!! I am excited again that my family will be joining in my efforts to raise money for cancer research at the 2008 American Cancer Society West Bloomfield Relay for Life. They will be walking, cheffing up omelettes, sharing memories of our mom and making a difference. Check out our site at: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/catania.

Road Trip!!!

As a campus recruiter, I have had my share of road trips. I rather enjoy the time spent on the highways of our region (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Eastern Pennsylvania & Upstate New York) seeing new sites, trying new food joints, cruising down the open road...but this past weekend I embarked on a trip reminiscent of my childhood. Two adults and three kids, packed into my X-Terra, trekking across the state to visit Chicago for the weekend. My sister and I braved it with the three girls (affectionately nicknamed "Three Little Birds") for a Girl's Weekend of shopping, food and laughs!

So, I took Friday off from work, had my IPod tunes ready (which a Chicago playlist created just for the occassion), our car snacks divided (Maren was shocked that I had spent $100 on "goodies"), the bags packed in the trunk (wasn't sure we really had any room for purchases as we were already packed to the gills!)...and we were off.

We did what we set out to do - we shopped our way up, down and back up Michigan Avenue, ate at the Cheesecake Factory, had Chicago Deep Dish Pizza and spent almost all of our money (and we had the bags to prove it!!) The first of what I hope will be many Girl's Weekends with my fantabulous nieces!!!

Did You Know...

I am a double-blogger. We have an internal "Facebook" of sorts at Deloitte called D Street. It is our firmwide directory and has proven to be quite fun (and a good distraction from any of a number of things on my daily to-do list!) You can post pictures, favorites, website links and you can BLOG!! So, I am a double-blogger. Rarely do my posts overlap - D Street is more work related, compelling my team to challenge themselves, sharing thoughts and insights about our greater Deloitte community.....this one is more family related - you get it. But, this week, I thought it might be fun to share the pages. Yesterday, I blogged "5 Things You Didn't Know About Me" on my D Street profile. I then asked the recruiters on our regional recruiting team to do the same - I learned some super-interesting facts about my colleagues.....one loves techno, another is uncanningly good at Whack-A-Mole....so, here are my fun facts that you may or may not know!

1. I was a Girl Scout for 13 years. I loved it - sold cookies & calendars and spent the last 7 years attending summer camp on Mackinac Island. It was great - green knee socks & all!!

2. My first "real" job was working at McDonald's. I started the summer after my senior year of high school & worked all through college. I often say that if I didn't have another job I would go back to MickeyD's in a heart-beat!!!

3. I played varsity soccer for four years in college. It was Division III and we were terrible (until my senior year when we won almost more than we lost) but I wouldn't trade my years as an Alma Scot for anything!

4. I love Spaghettio's cooked in a campfire. Just crack open the can, put it in the coals (paper and all, unless you are saving Labels for Education!) and let it boil....easy, cheap and super yummy!!

5. I "motor" in a Mini-Cooper. It is British Racing Green with a white hood & two white stripes down the front. My niece Chloe thinks it is a race car and it is a blast to drive.

So, now I challenge you to put it out there - what are 5 things we can learn about you today!?!?!

A Weekend at the Wob

Tony and I made a long-overdue trip up north to Fish Camp this weekend. The weather forecast didn't look promising but we had some much needed work to finish so we braved it and made the trek up. Friday evening traffic wasn't so bad and after a stop at Halo Burger (have you had a QP burger with green olives? YUM!) we pulled in around 10:30p.m. It was chilly, but that up north chilly that you don't really mind. We had to have a new pump installed last week (after Tony had spent a weekend there with no water at all, I thought I was homefree with a new pump - not so much!) We turned on the good ole' H2O to hear a swishing sound, clearly meaning a crack in a pipe somewhere. Turned it off and used hand sanitizer that night - Tony climbed under the trailer numerous times on Saturday and finally fixed the pipe - running water again!! The bathroom has been our on-going project and it was a happy day when we Tony pulled out the blue tub, sink & toilet - all to be replaced with white fixtures and some gray & white tile board in the shower. We still don't have the shower plumbed but the toilet works like a charm (if you have been there before, you no longer have to gingerly flush and hope it works!!) A Bad Chad Deerhorn pizza (the best around) and a campfire rounded out Saturday, along with a spotting of four baby Robins in a nest on our deck. Willow loves to be up north and has taken to being a "hunting" dog in the woods - she mostly stayed on track this weekend but last time she spotted a turkey and Tony had to do some swift running to catch her in the brush. She has a bit of her brother Bogey in her - she's not as fast but she has the same mischevious side about her!! The weekends up north always pass by too quickly, mostly because there are continuous projects to complete (we also raked, mowed, tiled a kitchen countertop and put the ceiling in the bathroom). It is such a refreshing feeling to be in Northern Michigan and sometimes I forget how much I love it - must mean another trip needs to be on the calendar soon!!

Pretty Toes

The other day, my friend Kris wrote about raising a "girly girl". (Her daughter Gracie is as cute as can be and while she may wear the dresses, I think she gives the boys a run for their money!) I have NEVER perceived myself as "girly" - I was the one who perpetually wore a ponytail and a red hooded sweatshirt, put jeans on under my skirts so I could climb the monkey bars and had no patience for make-up or matching outfits. So, the idea that I have a standing monthly pedicure appointment iwith my sister, at an actual salon is amazing to me - and I haven't had to reschedule once in the past 3 months!!! I realize it has only been 3 months, but it is a start, right?? My first color was Midnight in Moscow, last month was Yogina Love It and today I chose Elepinktastic...what will the choice be next month?? Now, if I could just grow the nails so I can get a manicure I will be all set!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

The first Mother's Day after my mom passed away, my good friend Paddy told me to dig in my garden. To get my hands dirty and to cultivate something beautiful out of my tears. Tony and I really took that to heart this year. We planted 6 trees, 2 shrubs, 4 pots of Honeysuckle and I still have a whole flat of herbs that need a home somewhere in the sun! After a Saturday trip to the nursery in Saline, and a visit today to the annual Flower Sale at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market and Bordines, we were ready to plant our own forest!! The rain came early, and while the downpour was fantastic AFTER we planted, it gave us dirty hands, wet jeans and muddy shoes. I didn't realize how chilly it was outside in the rain until I made it to the hot shower - the entire day proved successful in cleansing my soul.

I am forever greatful for my mom and the things she taught me over the years. I am also thrilled to know so many fabulous women who are mothers - so here's to all of you...Happy Mother's Day!!!

Told You So!!!

In my first post, I said I am usually pumped about new ideas for about two weeks and then I sometimes lose the momentum.....I am a week and a half into blogging and I have clearly lost focus. Well, I have decided to put my blogging blinders back on and vow to spend at least 5 minutes a day putting something out there for everyone to see!!

Soccer last night was at 11:00p.m. - a bit rough since we didn't make it home until 12:37a.m. and I had an early morning meeting (8:15a.m.). Needless to say, the 6:30a.m. wake-up call was tough to take. Tony and I are laughing as we have decided the older you get, the longer it takes to heal. A pain in my knee or a twisted ankle used to feel better within a day - not so much anymore. My friend Kris is doing a Boot Camp and was saying she hurt in muscles she didn't even know she had - I can definitely feel her pain!!!

The Red Wings kick off their play-off series with the Dallas Stars tonight....GO WINGS!!! They knocked off the Predators (sorry, Kris) and while I love my in-laws in Dallas, I am going to have to cheer for a swift sweep of the Stars!!

Where does the weekend go???

I am becoming an advocate of 3-day weekends. Last night at 8:00p.m. I looked at Tony and said, "where did the weekend go!?!?" Don't get me wrong - it was a good weekend! Friday night I saw Made of Honor with my sister and the girls (highly recommend it - predictable but super funny, and if you like McDreamy, it's worth the see!) Saturday was spent with Eric & Kelley - a victory at Jake's hockey game and then a trip to Cabela's. Solid bonding time for sure! Sunday was Theresa's bridal shower and then soccer. We stopped at Jimmy D's to see the "new" old dog Muggsy and by the time we got home to eat dinner it was 8pm!!! A showing of Juno (another good flick) and then I was asleep! Seriously, tons of fun but I'm not even sure I cleaned the kitchen this weekend!! Just when you get into the swing of the weekend, it's back to the old grind at work. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my grind, but I think I would better enjoy a 3-day weekend!!

TGIF!!!

Happy Friday!! The weather doesn't look promising for the weekend, but it is the weekend nonetheless so I am happy!! Friday's are typically my favorite day in the office - it is quiet and I try not to schedule any meetings so I can wrap up the loose ends of the week. Today, however, my plan has failed as I have 7 meetings on my calendar. Really? Who schedules a meeting on Friday afternoon at 3:00p.m.!?!?! The good news is it will force me to be super-productive in between meetings in order to get everything settled in my office.

Speaking of my office, everyday I see my "Organized Mess" award I won at our last HR Team Retreat - and I wonder how I missed getting any part of the clean-gene. Try as I might, the piles of paper stack up (not very green, I know) and the projects line the walls on my floor. My boss tells me that perception is reality and folks will think I am not on top of things if my office is messy. My thought is, no one ever comes to my office so why does it matter?

In the spirit of Spring, I am putting a picture of my "organized mess" out there for everyone to see. Maybe by Summer I will just be organized!!!

Happy Friday everyone!!!

Hey, I dig your old school shorts

Tony and I play on an indoor soccer team. Games are on Wednesday nights, clearly past our bedtime, but we drive out each week for the exercise, the camraderie and well, because we still can! So, tonight we are playing and I come off the field for a break - and the conversation with one of my teammates goes something like this:

Teammate: I dig your old school soccer shorts!
Me: Hey thanks! I've had them since college.
Teammate: You say College like it was forever ago
Me: It kind of was - 13 years since I graduated
Teammate: Really? No way! What year was that?
Me: I graduated in 1995.
Teammate: Hmmm...I graduated in 2005. You are kind of old.

The good news is, we can still hang with the younger crowd, and my "vintage" Umbro shorts are quite the novelty!!!

Willow

I wish you could see our dog. In a family without kids, Willow is the closest thing to a child and she clearly fills the role. Let's start with sleeping - no dog bed for her. Why bother when there is a perfectly good king sized bed with lots of pillows. The other night I came upstairs to find her on my side, lying on her back with her head on the pillow, completely covered up with my favorite blanket. Seriously? I think I had a mere six inches of the bed that night with no covers!!



Dinner is an event as well - I always find it funny when folks have to make a separate meal for dinner so their kids will eat. Growing up at my house, if you didn't like dinner it was soup or cereal and you had to fix it yourself (I learned early to make a can of Campbell's Soup!) I have a whole new appreciation as Willow is "so not into" dog food. Her dinner usually consists of a chicken breast, broccoli & cheese with her vitamin supplements mixed in. I have to admit, sometimes it smells better than what we are making for us!!! She rarely retires for the night without a shot of beer and takes to knocking Tony's bottle over if he hasn't yet poured her a bit in her bowl.



She is Tony's constant companion, joining him for car rides, fishing trips and pretty much anything and everything he does! When Bogey decided it was time to run free in the Heavens last year we never thought we would find another dog to love. We were lucky Willow Wee was looking for a home as she has certainly made it her own!!



Check out the site where we found Willow...it's the Illinois Bird Dog Rescue and they are doing some great things!! http://www.illinoisbirddogrescue.org/

Live from Royal Oak - it's the Catania Blog!!!!

So here goes. My friend Kris has been my inspiration - she is an avid blogger, pictures and all, and it has been a fantastic way to keep up with her incredibly fun family down in Tennessee. With our own family and friends spread all over the country I thought this might be a great way to stay connected. I love sending my holiday/seasonal postcards, and I don't think that will stop, but in the spirit of "going green" maybe this will force me to better stay in touch!!

It's Monday night in Royal Oak and our family is doing what we do best - watching House - Tony from the office, pretending like he is paying attention, and me & our four-legged friend (who is snoring) on the couch. As I sit here thinking about all I should be doing (laundry, dishes, something arty) I have decided this will be my goal - anytime I am watching TV I am going to Blog. It's my new thing and when I find something new I am usually relentless...for about 2 weeks. So, we shall see how far this takes us. Hopefully, it will be a way to keep you all in touch with what we are doing and it may just inspire you to do the same!!!

Until next time.....