9.8.11 - YPE Event

I chose my outfit around my new shirt. Then after I was wearing it, I realized my very similar new shirt was just worn the most recent time I was at work. I wonder if anyone notices. Nobody probably does and they are the same style but different colors and so I guess if I buy similar items like that, I might end up wearing them close together.

Shirt: NY&Co (9.5.11 - $16.17)
Cardigan: NY&Co (11.7.10 - $19.84)
Belt: Kohl's (Spring 2011)
Skirt: Express (August 2009)
Shoes: Hot Cakes via The Shoe Dept (2005)

The only non outfit photos from the day are from after I got home at 1:30 AM. That's what happens when I actually do something and have a life.

I went to work and had about 6 hours of meetings in my 9 hour work day. I always wonder how I am supposed to get work done between all the meetings.

Then after work I headed to the Nuclear focused Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) event.  I helped the planning a lot with this but other people did more. This was third quarterly event. The previous one had about half the people show up who actually RSVPed so I was a little worried.  Well the event was a success. We had a full room (Over 110 people). Lots of people talked about how great the presentations were and how great the panelists were. The panel was really good. They interacted with each other so that helped.

So then the thing was since I helped plan the agenda when all the emails came out with it, I never realized there was an After Event. I did not help plan that.

Event Schedule:

   5:30 Doors open for Networking and Cocktails

   6:00 Dinner is Served

   6:15 Brief Overview of How a Nuclear Power Plant Works

   6:30 Keynote Address Begins

   7:00 Panel Discussion and Questions

   7:45 Networking Time

   8:00 Event Ends and After Event Begins (Sponsored by Turn Right Tools)

Prior to the dinner, everyone that came up to me to talk to me, I actually recognized and knew their name. I must be getting better. Usually I know about half the names. Then after the event, it actually took me until 8:45 to leave the hotel because of all the networking going on there.  The After Event was at Echo. I had never been there. It was fancy. It was nice. With so many people there it was hard to find the people I knew. This forced me to meet new people which was great (and scary).  Later I learned that during this time, Troy Polamalu was there eating dinner with his wife. I totally missed it. I was too busy talking.  Around 11, I see my friend there. I can't believe she was there the entire time. She said there were times she even waved to me. Oh boy, I need to work on observing what is around me while I talk to people I guess.

So I ended up leaving at 1:15 or so. I was out very late for a work night. A lot of the people that were out that late, did not have to work the following day. I met some new people and even got some business cards to help my memory. What I did after I got their card and was done talking to them was grab a pen and jot down some notes on the back of the card about them and our conversation. That has helped me in the past when I have done it.

Some highlights from the night

1. Person 1 introducing me to Person 2 as "This is Colleen. She blogs. Sometimes if I want to know what she wore the day before I check out her blog."  The person I was introduced to got all excited that I have a blog. I went on to tell her how it is boring and that I couldn't believe Person 1 even goes to it.  There was some blog talk and I was rather impressed that someone actually goes to my blog. At one point my blog was described as impressive. 
2. Less than 15 minutes after meeting someone and mid conversation yet Person A asks Person B "Are you gay?" and then that made for some awkward conversation.
3. Being mentioned by a presenter, who is an exec at Westinghouse, about my involvement with NA-YGN and all the time that I put in. He mentioned one other person too.  I was surprised he even knew my name or who I was.
4. Getting to talk to the three panelists after the event to tell them what a wonderful job they did and how I was glad they could take the time out of their day to come to the event.
5. Multiple people gave me goodbye hugs and most of them weren't awkward. (I often say how I'm an awkward hugger.)  But some people just gave goodbye hugs to others and when they got to me they asked if they could hug me. So perhaps my awkward hug fear was showing.
6. I got a compliment on my necklace.
7. I got a compliment on my shirt. Then I even got asked where I bought it. 
8. Two different people asked for my blog address and said they would look at it. (I already know at least one went to it.)

Some random information

1. The food was amazing and I wish I got more of it. Since I was helping with different things, my food got a little cold before I got to eat it and it was still great.
2. I drank water all evening even though drinks were covered as part of the event.  Then a few people ask me why I wasn't drinking and if I ever drink. (I do drink. Not often. I don't like beer or wine which is all that was covered at the actual event. By the time I went to the after event, it was crowded and I didn't figure out how drinks were working and I didn't know how long I'd say. I won't drink close to a time when I have to drive home.)
3. I already forget the names of some of the people I met but other people I know were there too. I may have to ask around to figure it out so next time I see them I will know their name.  I hate how I remember many facts about the person and much of the discussion but then don't remember the name. 

8.26

Shoes: Jessica Simpson from Macy's
Skirt: F21
Shirt: Express
Necklace: Sears

All the running and not pigging out on junk food is paying off.  I'm starting to fit into clothes that ended up being too tight a few months ago.

My hair is getting too long. I am debating a haircut.  Should I get one?

Dave and I tried this new place for lunch. Called BRGR so guess what they sell... burgers.  I also got cheese fries but I didn't like how they put parmesan on the fries so I didn't like it. The burgers were also a little thick for my liking.  Dave loved their burgers though.  They had milkshakes but they didn't give you a huge amount like most places do so then I felt cheated.

After work, I was so tired.  I took a nap on Dave's office floor. I wanted to feel included. I set my alarm for 45 minutes. But then I turned it off.  I ended up sleeping for a few hours.

Traveling messed up my sleep schedule. We stayed up late. Also the time zone change messed it up worse.  Coming home, I was exhausted. I needed naps. Well I took naps.  Then that screwed with sleep schedule that night... and repeat. If I didn't get home at 1AM from the airport maybe it wouldn't have been so bad.

7.25

 

Shirt: Express
Skirt: F21

Shoes: The Shoe Dept. 

Necklace: Target

I went for a more casual look and feel since I had a pretty busy day ahead of me.

I carpooled with Dave. We got home and started cleaning up and making dinner. We had salad. We made chicken for dinner but it was taking forever to cook so it wasn't ready in time.  We prepped food and I had my jewelry party.

I like the jewelry but have such a hard time making choices.  Everyone that was ordering ended up ordering before they left.  I was nowhere near close. I had an extensive wish list I just liked too much of the Lia Sophia stuff.  It also looks way better in person than in the catalog and way better in the catalog than online. I don't even know how people figure out what to order looking online.

7.13

Necklace: Gift
Earrings: Target
Skirt: Express
Shirt: VS
Shoes: The Shoe Dept. (2005)

I worked. I went to Body Pump at lunch since I had to be at work anyway (and I'm usually not on a Wednesday) plus I couldn't go on Thursday since I had to head to my parents deck party after work.  I napped. Then after the nap, Dave and I went for a walk. When we were about to leave is when I noticed I had a voice mail. Well what do you know it was from the patio guy. I called him back after the walk and we set it up for him to come the next day. He couldn't start in the morning since I wouldn't be home.

After I napped, I was so wide awake that I stayed up too late. I stayed up until about 2am. Poly was relaxin behind my computer chair. Now tell me she doesn't look super cute.

5.12

Skirt: F21
Shoes: Forever 21
Shirt: VS
Necklace: Gifted (in 2006)

So Blogger was down so I don't know what I did because I don't have my tweets. Also it was my first day back to work after traveling and I was tired. I worked a long day that was mostly spent reading emails.  
I went to Body Pump after work. It was my first time in a month. It was extremely hard. I had done some lifting on my own but Body Pump is a different type of lifting.

After I got home, I was doing some cleaning. I found a potato in our cupboard. This was a free Potato we got not too long ago. I can't believe how it grew in our cupboard.  (Based on this picture and me posting it Dave said he is never reading my blog again. He doesn't like it.) Now I've had old potatoes in the cupboard before but none like this. How about you?

January 4 Outfit

Shirt: F21

Skirt: F21

Cardigan: NY&Co

Pashmina: Gift

Socks: Target

Tights:  Target

Boots: Famous Footwear

 I wore different socks and these ones were much higher and didn't try to strangle my legs.   This was an extremely comfortable outfit. I mean it was so comfortable that I napped while wearing it.   I liked the scarf because I like to wear red when I'm sick; it totally draws away from my red nose.

I tried a pose to show how cold it was outside but it just looks like my new pose is showing you how far out I can stick my butt.

I tried an over the shoulder pose. I tried it over each shoulder to see if I had a good side or bad side.  And I don't know if I have a good or bad side so that probably means I don't.