World (aka Texas and New Jersey) Traveler

{Starting in the top left corner and moving clockwise: Houston sunset, fall in New Jersey, Corpus Christi sunset on my way to the Valley, and the Mexico border in the Valley}

The last month, I've been doing a lot of traveling for both work and personal reasons. My travels began in Houston, then took me to the Rio Grande Valley, New Jersey, Waco, San Antonio, and Austin. October has been a crazy travel month! Traveling alone tends to produce some goofy selfie pics and pretty amazing karaoke sessions (oh, to be a fly inside my car...), but working in Texas also means that I can sometimes squeeze in a quick dinner with friends. Work perks!

A couple weeks back, I had to fly back up to New Jersey for a week. It was super weird being back in Jersey, especially without Luke. At times, it felt like I'd never left and at others, I felt like a complete stranger. I also had to turn in our apartment keys, which was our last permanent connection to Jersey. We are now officially no longer connected to the Garden State except for that I'll continue to travel to Jersey for work. Crazy! That week in Jersey consisted of long work days, great food (as always!), and my first grad school mid-term. Talk about an adjustment! Taking a mid-term while traveling was not the easiest thing I'd ever done, but I guess it's time to get used to this since I've got another 2.5 years of grad school to go!

Once I got home from Jersey, it was time to study for a final exam, take my test, and then head up to Waco for the second half of Baylor homecoming! I was bummed to have missed the bonfire Friday night and the parade Saturday morning, but it I wanted to have my cake and eat it to (grad school + having a social life), it was a sacrifice I had to make! I'm so glad Luke went with me, even though it was a crazy fast trip up and back. I got to see my sweet sisters/friends, watch Baylor kick some butt in football, drive around the campus that has forever stolen my heart, grab a drink from Common Grounds, eat a little Bush's Chicken, and then we headed home. Baylor, you are always worth the trip. :)

Day trips to San Antonio and Austin were on the agenda last week and I'm in Abilene this week (and then back to Jersey the following week!). I think we should start a new game called, "Where in the world is Sara Sandiego?" What do you think? ;)

So that's my world (a.k.a. TX & NJ) traveler update! On a more serious note, if you ever think about it, please keep my crazy, traveling self  in your prayers. I always covet prayers for safety and traveling mercies. Thanks!!

The best kind of weekend.

I honestly can't remember the last weekend we had that included very little, if any, set plans. We might have still been in New Jersey the last time a weekend like this occurred. That is, until this weekend. And it was fabulous!

On Saturday morning, Luke and I randomly decided to go with my parents and Becca (the baby sister) to Chapel Hill, TX to check out a bull and heifer auction. Although we didn't buy anything (my dad owns ranch land, cattle, etc.), we ate a great BBQ lunch and watched some pretty intense auctioneering happen. I would be so scared to try and buy a bull or heifer at an auction! Once those auctioneers started yelling, I had no idea where the price was. I thought bulls were selling for a couple thousand dollars when they were being sold for $8k or more. Yikes! 

{On our way to the auction. Wearing my Baylor hat in support of my Bears kicking some KU butt!}

{Lunch at the auction with our Becca Boo}

Unfortunately, the rest of my Saturday was spent in bed with a pretty bad sinus pressure headache, but I just assumed this headache (which had carried over from Friday evening) was a result of too much staring at my work laptop and lack of sleep. That is, until I woke up this morning to some pretty heavy rain. I swear, I can tell when it's going to rain days out because of the way I get headaches! I'm feeling much better today and thoroughly enjoying lounging around with my extra snuggly pups, NCIS re-runs, and hazelnut coffee. Rainy Sundays, you bring out the lazy in me! The rest of today will include a nap, doing a little laundry, prepping for work this next week, and watching Scandal tonight! Does this weekend have to end??

I've been so bad at blogging the last couple of months, but this afternoon I plan on catching up! You can look forward to the following blog posts this week:

+All of my travels the last couple of months

+My first ever StitchFix review (non-sponsored; just my own, fun review!)

+Updates on The Hintons' living situation, job situation, etc. 

+And more!

Hope you have had a relaxing weekend wherever you are. :)

Exhaustion (with a little bit of a rant).

Hi there long-lost friend enemy. I forgot about you. I had forgotten for a brief moment the way the fall brings with it long work hours, big projects, and less sleep. This is the time of year when I tend to forget what day of the week it is because truly, does it matter? Every day looks the same. At the computer by 8am (or earlier depending upon what time my first meeting starts) and in bed no earlier than midnight.

I counted the number of hours I slept last Tuesday-Thursday. 17 y'all. 17 out of 72. Pure exhaustion.

And at least last year, I had my weekends to recoup. This year? I have lectures to endure and quizzes to prep for. I have a midterm and a final exam in two weeks, which also happens to be the week I'm in New Jersey for probably some of the longest works days I'll have all year. Stellar. 

 I'm at the point where my head continuously hurts, my eating patterns have turned all kinds of funky, and I run from anyone that barely coughs because I'm scared my immune system is so weak I'll catch the flu. Let me tell you, I'm having a good time over here.

I hate to complain. Let's chalk my rant up to my lack of sleep, shall we? I was in Houston last week and my co-worker asked me if I like my job and I almost screamed, "Yes!! I LOVE IT!" in the middle of Pappasitos. He was impressed I reacted that way and said it's great to hear someone my age say that. And yes, I chose school. I chose (back in the summer when life was slow, dammit) to start my MBA program this fall. But if I'm completely honest with myself, I have no regrets. I'm just having a couple of "those" weeks, you know?

If you think about it, please say a quick prayer for me. I have a quiz tomorrow that could very well determine if I make and A or B in one of my classes and I'm also driving to the Rio Grande Valley tomorrow evening for work this next week. Please pray for traveling mercies, sleep, and good health. 

This over-achiever is a little overwhelmed. :)