La Joie de Vivre

Sigh.  That's how this post will start, and probably how it will end too.  Having worked in customer service/retail jobs my entire working career, I know how it can affect someone's day/week/career when someone complains about bad service they received.  However, after reading this post, I hope you will see my side and agree that I've given said retailer enough times to get their act together, without much avail. Said retailer is PetSmart.  More specifically, their grooming department.  My parents have always taken their dogs, Raven and Rusty to the vet at Banfield inside PetSmart and they have occasionally used the groomers inside as well.  So, naturally, when I got Riley in March 2009 I decided to start taking her there to get groomed as well.  Not to mention it was incredibly convenient to my parent's house (where I was living at the time)...only 5 mins away.  Without knowing anything about any of the groomers when I first made an appointment...

I must confess...I don't cook.  Like, ever.  However much I would like to be able to cook, I just don't ever feel like it.  Also, I hate doing the dishes. Back in the day (college) I was slightly obsessed with Rachael Ray.  I used to watch an hour of 30-Minute Meals every day.  Now she annoys the crap out of me, but I still think she's a good cook.  So, during the obsessed-with-Rachael-Ray-phase I began collecting her cookbooks.  All in all, I've tried maybe three of her recipes.  Of those three, I've made one in particular about twenty million times: black bean stoup.  Stoup?  Yes, stoup.  It's Rachael's word for a dish that's thicker than a soup but thinner than a stew.  Stoup. It's my all time favorite meal and I love making a whole pot just for myself and eating on the leftovers for about a week.  I also like to make it for my grandparents and Moms.  Of course, they love it too! :) I fully intended to...

Oh, life.  You're too funny sometimes. I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life right now and I'm not quite sure how to proceed.  I'm finishing up my Master's thesis and if all goes according to plan, I will be finished in August!  This is exciting by itself but I find myself being plagued with thoughts about, "What's next?!" I know I want to work in the fashion industry.  Of that I'm sure.  Other than that...my thoughts have wavered  about a thousand times in recent months.  Six months ago, I was certain that I would just move up with the company I currently work for by paying my dues at each level until I reached my dream job (something in visual at the corporate level).  Well.  Apparently others have different ideas of what my next move should be.  I  am now second guessing myself and my abilities in the job I perform on a daily basis. Also, thanks to a few books I've read recently ( Retail Hell ...

Today at work we received 76 boxes of shipment, yes...76.  That is waaay more boxes than we get on a "normal" shipment day.  We're beginning to receive our Summer merchandise which is pretty exciting, and based on the lookbook, I'm going to want a lot of it.  Bad news for my Mastercard.  <On a side note, just so everyone knows, I currently have nothing on hold at work.  That never happens and I'm so proud of myself.  It's actually liberating knowing there aren't pieces in the back with my name on them saying, "Buy me Brooke...buy me NOW!"  So for the moment I'm good.  However, based on some of the stuff I unpacked today, it won't last long.> Today my whole shift was a stock shift, minus 30 mins on the floor while I was covering another manager's break.  More on that later.  I loooove doing stock because it means you can wear comfy clothes, not deal with a single client, and be the first to see all the new merch!  These three...

This blog is dedicated to my college roommate, Sarah Kathryn Eldredge.  She is currently finishing up her two year service in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and is coming home in May!  When I asked her what my next blog update should be about she simply said, "Why you love America!...because that's what I'd write about, of course."  So, Sarah...here's why I love America.  And other things. I love America.   I feel privileged to live in this amazing country and am thankful everyday that I have the life I do.  I know how lucky I am to live here so I try to always be appreciative.  Even though I dream of living abroad someday, even for a short time, I love being able to call America...and more specifically...Georgia home.  Another reason why I love this country so much is because of our military men and women.  My step-dad, Court, served in the U.S. Army and my grandfather, Elliott Quattlebaum, served in the U.S. Navy....

A few weeks ago at work I was chatting with a client while I was ringing up her purchases.  She was about to graduate from nursing school and I mentioned that I was also in graduate school too - hoping to graduate this May.  Somewhere in the middle of our conversation I also mentioned that I had an undergraduate degree in business.  She then commended me for getting my MBA and said that was an awesome thing to have and would probably allow me to do whatever it was I wanted to do in the future.  I didn't have to heart to tell her I wasn't getting my MBA and was actually getting a Master's in Fashion Merchandising...so I simply went with it, saying thank you and allowing her to go on her way. As soon as she left I began to question why I didn't immediately correct her and tell her what I was actually going to school for. Then I got to thinking...(and clearly channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw)...Who I adore , by the way... Something funny happens ...

Nous menons une vie de chien.  Translation: We lead a dog's life. Back in high school I had one of those tear-off daily French calendars that I had gotten for Christmas from my parents.  One day I came across a page with this saying on it.  I immediately tore it off and excitedly showed my parents, all the while laughing as my step-dad, Court, tried to say it :)  It's been on our refrigerator at home ever since. <I apologize...this post might be kind of long...but it chronicles how our dogs (all 5 of them) came into our family> And it's so true.  Dogs rule our household.  No questions asked.  I have two babies and my parents have three.  And a cat.  I will explain... In second grade I reaaaallllllly wanted a cat.  So since my mother claims that "we are NOT dog people" she allows me to get a kitten.  At our local pound I find a little tabby cat who was in the "Pet of the Week" cage with a few ot...

Over the years I've been told...by many people...that I'm hard to read.  Moms calls it "aloof."  Whatever you want to call it, I'm a pretty closed off person.  I wouldn't really say that I'm shy, just careful as to who I let in and what I let them know.  It just takes awhile to get to know me.  But once you're in, you're in!  And I don't bite (hard). Here are a few things that you might not know about me: 1.     I was a college athlete.  I played tennis in college (and in high school too) but haven't picked up a racket since.  And yes, I do miss it.  GO BLUE HOSE!  On a side note, as ironic as this may sound...I hate to exercise.  End of story.  And this probably contributes to the fact that I have not played tennis in 2+ years.  Someday I want to get back into "the swing of things"...haha... 2.     My mom is basically my best friend.  Period....