Happy New Year!!

I love starting a new year! Something about taking out a blank calendar makes me feel like it's a fresh start - a new beginning and a time when I can refocus on what I want to accomplish both personally and professionally. 2011 was a VERY exciting year - I went back to work full-time after freelancing for a few years while the kids were little. I can honestly say that it was a great decision because I work for an amazing company and with wonderful people. I really like the fact that I can see my career at Wyndham Vacation Ownership growing each year! My biggest fear was the mom guilt, having to put three kids who were used to being at home with me everyday into full-time school, but you know what? They're doing great! I finally feel like I have a good balance of both family and career. I'm fortunate to have a husband who supports me and helps me in so many ways. A happy wife is a happy life right? :)

I have a few resolutions for 2012 and in the spirit of the new year, I'll share three of them with you! Here's wishing you and your families a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Stay Positive - The one thing I can always count on to stay the same is change. 2011 was a year of tremendous change for me and my family and I don't expect 2012 to be any different. My goal is to stay positive. As a control-freak Virgo, it's easy for me to get a little flustered when my plans are thrown into the air, but if there's anything I've learned in since having three little kids it's that, "I plan and God laughs." I think it's important to make a conscious decision each day to be happy. No one can make you happy but yourself, so staying positive is key even during the most difficult moments.
Embrace My Strengths - Recently our department took a test called Emergenetics to learn more about our personalities. What I learned is that I'm very right-brained - social and conceptual (what a surprise right?!) I'm also expressive, aggressive and flexible. Sometimes I feel like my outgoing personality doesn't really fit in a corporate setting. However, what I do know is that my outgoing personality helps me connect with people and that's a good strength to have - especially when you work in the world of communications. Building relationships is key to my success and in 2012 my goal is to embrace the things that make me unique. Diversity makes this world a better place and it sure would be boring if we were all the same. I know I'm not a wallflower - never have been and never will be - and if there's one quote that makes me happy it's:


Learn, Grow, Lead! - Ok, I ripped that tagline off our Learning and Development team at work, but it's a good one. I've learned so much in 2011 and in 2012 I just want to keep learning. In the past year I've realized that I have a passion for social media, diversity, inspirational leadership, generations in the workplace and so much more. That's because I've kept my mind open to learning as much as possible. This is one reason why I love Twitter so much. It's like a 24/7 learning channel. I also want to grow as a professional, continue establishing relationships with those who are more experienced than I and keep an open mind when they give me advice. I have a wonderful mentor at work and I'm so grateful for the time he takes to guide and help me. He's a sounding board for ideas, helps me solve problems and gives me great advice. He inspires me to grow and lead others by doing the same. In a recent conversation he said, "You don't have to have a big title to be a leader - anyone can lead you just need to do what you can to inspire others." This pic says it best:

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2012! I'm excited to see what the new year will bring!

I'm NOT a morning person!

My blog's two-year anniversary is coming up next month and I laugh because although my life has changed so much in the 730 days since it's creation, one thing has not changed - the fact that I am NOT a morning person! I call my blog, "Narratives of a Night Owl" because I'm just that - a night owl. I love staying up late and I rarely go to bed before midnight even though I know I'll have to be up by 7:00 getting ready for work and getting my three little ones off to school. I just love everything about nighttime. It's quiet, it's dark, it's peaceful. My brain thinks best at night, I'm the most creative then. My writing flows so much easier and I can spend hours reading about things that I find interesting. I've always been into blogging, but recently I've joined the world of Tweeting. I can spend hours reading articles from FastCompany, or DiversityInc, or on WorkingMothers. So just in case I didn't have enough time before keeping up with Facebook and two blogs, now I have my Twitter handle (@OneDrivenChick) and I also plan on starting a Pintrest account. I just love the world of social media and the best part is that you can do it any time of day. It's a 24/7 world out there and for Night Owls like me, it's so much fun!

I Need More Arms!

How is 2012 beginning in less than a week? It's just not possible! This year has been a whirlwind - but I have to say I've loved every minute of it. On January 3rd I will celebrate my 1-year anniversary of going back to the the corporate world. It's been nothing short of amazing and one of the best decisions of my life. I was so worried about the mom guilt and how my kids would handle life without me 24-hours a day - and you know what? EVERYONE is happier! I'm just really excited to see what the new year holds. However, if there's one thing I could use, it would be a few more arms!

I feel bad that I've neglected my personal blog this year, but I've been really focused on JD's blog (www.followingjdsjourney.blogspot.com). In 2012 I'll be back to doing what I love to do - write just to write! Hope everyone had a wonderful 2011 and is ready to take 2012 by the horns!!!