Long time no see, WordPress! I’ve had trouble blogging the last few months partly because I knew I’d be moving and changing jobs but didn’t know when or where… and then once I did, it was all-consuming to actually make the move and start the new job. As a cheat sheet to my life changes, in the last month, I’ve:

• Moved from Washington, DC to southeastern Michigan.
• Left Ogilvy and joined Ford Motor Company.
• Acquired the world’s most adorable puppy, Pepper:

Most of the changes may have seemed a little sudden, especially to those who know how much I loved working at Social@Ogilvy and my New York friends who I repeatedly promised I’d be moving to be with shortly (potentially for the last two years). However, I am so proud to get to work for Ford and take on a new challenge for an organization I already love and respect.

Anyway, I’m here, I’m mostly moved in, and I have a guest room and membership in a wine club: so book your tickets to DTW, friends!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday and 0 gray hairs were found… ego and sanity therefore remain in tact! As I am older and wiser, here are a few things I learned in my 28th year:

1. You should get a dog even if everyone tells you it’s wildly impractical. That adorable face above also comes with a nervous and scared 11 week old puppy who barks at the shower, is not yet housebroken, and is teething (hey there Cole Haan, I’m sorry Pepper has no respect for your lovely shoes). At the end of the day though, it’ll take me a while to make new friends so it’s good that I have someone forced to love me as I’m the hand that feeds her.
2. “It’s not personal, it’s business,” is not a realistic statement if you truly love your job. I cried saying goodbye and thank you to way too many wonderful colleagues. Working at Ogilvy was such an incredible personal experience as well as professional: I met some of my best friends there, I experienced the benefits of amazing mentoring, and I was given opportunities for work and professional growth that I can’t imagine getting anywhere else… how could saying goodbye and deciding to leave not be something personal at that point?
3. Embrace the art of stress-free productivity. 8 months ago, I completely reorganized my life and changed how I manage every single personal and professional input. Since that moment, I’ve woken up every day feeling completely in control and having healthy perspective of the work in front of me. If you’re not feeling that way, read David Allen’s Getting Things Done, declare inbox bankruptcy, and spend 2 days offline getting your life together. It will be the best thing you do for your own sanity. Promise.
4. As they get older, parents are terrible about asking for help. Twice in the last few months, I’ve decided to go home to help my parents with a move and an injury. I was never asked, but I can’t imagine not having gone or having left them to deal with those moments alone. In the future, I’ll try harder to read between the lines so that I don’t miss future moments where I could be helpful.
5. Accept when you want to nest. As much as I love New York and all my friends there, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have a full kitchen and spare bedroom and my own laundry room. Those were items that didn’t make it on my decision-making spreadsheet, but the more I thought about where I wanted to be, they helped make this move just feel right.

Hopefully my next post won’t take quite so long… especially as I have much to say about reality tv, newly discovered wines, and the many brushes with nature my new Pure Michigan life brings me: