Week one of the new job was great! I was welcomed with open arms by the Office of Engagement while we hosted the UVaExpress, coordinated transportation for First Year international students from Dulles airport to Alumni Hall at UVa. I spent the first morning helping students get oriented to their surroundings and spent the afternoon on the bus picking up a group from the airport. I rode up to DC with two Second Year students from China who were helping with the event, and rode back with students from China, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Singapore. Stephen, one of the students from a small city outside of Shanghai, spent the entire 2 hour ride peering out the window with a smile from ear-to-ear. "Carrie--beautiful mountains", he said while pointing to the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. His enthusiasm and smile made my entire day worthwhile.
Tuesday and Wednesday was spent at Alumni Hall unloading luggage, pointing out important landmarks (where to go for an ID card, bank account, and cell phone), and chatting with the newest members of our community. I was on a natural high all day and had a spectacular time at the International Student and Parents Dinner where Blake and I met a fascinating (and extremely nice) father/son duo from the United Kingdom. Thursday and Friday provided my first glimpse into life in the office. I have a window (which is a huge bonus) but it is much quieter than my desk at Darden, where I would welcome dozens (if not hundreds) of people everyday...this will take an adjustment and I am missing my Darden family terribly. Luckily, Everette and company invited Blake and I to join them for Happy Hour on Thursday so I recieved many hugs and a much needed confidence boost from great friends!
The weekend was glorious as I revelved in Charlottesville culture: Fridays After Five, Beer Run with our friend Jerry, Bikram Yoga, trips to local foodie shops, date night with Blake, and a Sunday afternoon wine tasting at Pollack Vineyards in Crozet. This week brings much excitment as I gain more insight into my first UVaClubs (Charlotte, Triangle, Coastal Carolinas, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro), learn more about the Development and Public Affairs community, and anticipate the arrival of our good friends, Colin and Kristen, who will be visiting from New York City.
I am very thankful for this new challenge. As I have been reminded many times this week, change is extremely difficult but it is the only way we can grow and truly become our best selves.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Top Ten Darden Memories
1) Trivia Nights with Rachel, Kristen, Sarah, and Arielle. These were my first friends at Darden and we spent many nights at Mellow Mushroom Pizza and McGrady's Irish Pub participating in weekly trivia.
2) Trips to Boston and Keystone Resort, Colorado for the MBA Career Services Council Conference. On both occasions, I met a bunch of people, spent time with friends, and participated in fun events. I have fond memories of cruising on the Boston Harbor, eating at the Barking Crab, teaching colleagues how to swing a rope (yes, it's a hidden life skill), and breathing in the mountain air while participating in a poolside Yoga class.
3) International Food Festival. For the price of a good meal in Charlottesville, I filled up on delicious food prepared by our International Students (and Texans). Some of my favorite dishes? Brazilian Empanadas, Israeli Pitas, Indian Dal, and French Crepes.
4) Iron Chef Judging. Whenever there is promise of good food, I am there! This past spring I was asked to be a judge during Darden Iron Chef, secret ingredient: beets! The goat cheese and beet risotto blew me away and I went back for thirds of this delightful dish.
5) Orientation Week. This may sound crazye but I absolutely LOVED the first day of school (even though it was the initial wave in the fall tsunami). Summer time was always lonely for me because I missed the student's energy and spirit, and I counted the days until the community was buzzing with activity.
6) Darden Book Club. Last year, I was invited by my friend Sarah to join a ladies book club. We met at lunch in one of the beautiful gardens to discuss life's struggles and opportunities, good books, and Darden happenings. It was always a highlight.
7) Day of Caring and Building Goodness in April. Service to the community is something that has always been an integral part of my life. I was so fortunate to serve with colleagues to beautify gardens, deliver meals, sort clothing, and create cookie mixes for the Boys & Girls Club. BGiA is a student-driven service project where I assisted in building a playground and renovating homes.
8) Staff Council. I was so fortunate to be elected by my peers to serve. I enjoyed our monthly meetings (I have never had so much fun in meetings), hosting the annual Cinco de Mayo party, and being a strong advocate for the staff members.
9) Darden Days. Even before I started working in Admissions, this was my favorite day of the year. Blake and I met some of our very closest friends at this annual spring yield event. Every year, I would wake up early anticipating all of the new relationships I would build and look forward to spending the evening at beautiful King Family Vineyards. Blake is already asking if we are still invited next spring.
10) Dancing with the Darden Stars. This event was the highlight of my Darden career (and it was also the scariest). The thought of dancing in front of hundreds of people was terrifying but I look back with only happiness and fond memories.
Wow, what a phenomenal experience. I cannot believe this was my first job out of college and how much I grew from the love and support of my colleagues, friends, and students. Thank you to all!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Phillips-Armstrongs Take NoCal!
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| Point Reyes Lighthouse |
Luckily, the fun was not over and my parents joined us for 4 days in San Francisco. After spending the first day sampling local fruit at the Ferry Terminal, dining on fish tacos at Don Pistos in the North End, and enjoying the game day atmosphere at 21st Amendment Brewery, Blake and I were ready to relive our wonderful day in Sonoma. We rented a car and took my parents to see all of the beautiful sights. Bodega Bay for oysters. Viking Ship Rock (my name) along the Pacific Coast Highway for beach combing. Redwoods for some soul searching. Iron Horse for their wine and amazing view. Russian River for Pleny the Elder (according to experts, this is the #2 Indian Pale Ale in the country) and delicious homemade pasta at Ca' Bianca in Santa Rosa. As we returned to San Francisco over the Golden Gate, I realized how lucky I am to have a wonderful family to share in special memories....and we still had 2 days together!
Some more highlights from our adventure:
-Sharing a loaf of Acme Company Whole Wheat Sourdough bread and local fruit on the pier gazing at the Bay Bridge
-Climbing many, many stairs to Coit Tower through the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen
-Enjoying the view from "The Crookedest Street in America"
-Cruising the Bay during a very sunny evening (after a week of 60 degrees, I was ready for some warmth)
-Drinking beer at 21st Amendment and finding Dogfish Head 90Min IPA at various places throughout the city
-Spending hours with the three most important people in my life!
I'd say we had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to another family vacation next summer...Oregon Coast to celebrate Frank's wedding? That sounds about right.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Iron Pigs, Bastille Day, and Strawberry Rhubarb Bars
Blake and I spent a glorious weekend at my Aunt Polly and Uncle Dick's house. They are artists who spend time creating beautiful shows in the Lehigh Valley, Staten Island, and Wilmington, Delaware. She is a costume designer clothing the beautiful actors/actresses and he is envisioning how the theatre set should look and move. Since they planted roots to Easton, PA in the mid-80s, they have hosted an Annual Bastille Day party for 40-60 of their closest friends. This is my 3rd Bastille Day and what a blast! The food is amazing, the wine and beer are flowing, and the conversation with their ecclectic friends (a General Manager on Broadway, a photographer for Vanity Fair, a PR Director for one of the oldest family run businesses in the country, etc) is fantastic! They spend all year thinking about the menu and fixing up the yard (you have never seen such a work of art) to spend one night with the people they hold most dear. Now that is what I call dedication to sustaining long-lasting relationships!
Other than Theatre, Art, and being the best tour guides of NYC (I am forever in their debt for spending days showing me around the city), they also love baseball. On Friday night, we accompanied them to Coca-Cola Park to cheer on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (the AAA affiliate for the Phillies). This ball park is phenomenal and the food is delicious (Aw Shucks Grilled Corn on the Cob and Veggie Gyros) with fairly reasonable beer prices, yes please! The pigs also have the cutest mascot, FeFe, who is the biggest tease and likes to soak the littlest fans with water guns!
After a wonderful weekend with family, I returned to Darden to host an office birthday party for my colleagues with July, August, and September birthdays. This was our inagural event of trying quarterly birthdays and it worked pretty well with the help of Sticks Kebab Shop (a Charlottesville staple) and these Strawberry Rhubarb Bars. This recipe would work great with any type of seasonal fruit so stop by your local Farmer's Market today!
Strawberry/Rhubarb Bars
Crust:
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold butter (cut up in small pieces)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pulse together oats, flour, sugar, and salt.
Add butter and pulse until crumbly.
Whisk together oil, egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
With the motor running, add egg mixture through the tube and combine until a ball begins to form.
Save 1/2 cup for topping and press crust into 9 by 13 greased glass baking dish.
Filling:
6 cups chopped fruit (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine 4 cups of fruit, sugar, corn starch, and orange juice over medium heat, simmer and stir constantly for 10 minutes or until mixture gets very thick.
Add additional fruit and vanilla and stir until combined.
Spread filling over crust.
Topping:
1/2 cup crust mixture
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Combine additional crust and nuts.
Sprinkle topping over filling.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown.
Let cool completely before serving.
*Adapted from an EatingWell.com recipe
 |
| FeFe and Me! |
After a wonderful weekend with family, I returned to Darden to host an office birthday party for my colleagues with July, August, and September birthdays. This was our inagural event of trying quarterly birthdays and it worked pretty well with the help of Sticks Kebab Shop (a Charlottesville staple) and these Strawberry Rhubarb Bars. This recipe would work great with any type of seasonal fruit so stop by your local Farmer's Market today!
Strawberry/Rhubarb Bars
Crust:
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold butter (cut up in small pieces)
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pulse together oats, flour, sugar, and salt.
Add butter and pulse until crumbly.
Whisk together oil, egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
With the motor running, add egg mixture through the tube and combine until a ball begins to form.
Save 1/2 cup for topping and press crust into 9 by 13 greased glass baking dish.
Filling:
6 cups chopped fruit (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine 4 cups of fruit, sugar, corn starch, and orange juice over medium heat, simmer and stir constantly for 10 minutes or until mixture gets very thick.
Add additional fruit and vanilla and stir until combined.
Spread filling over crust.
Topping:
1/2 cup crust mixture
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Combine additional crust and nuts.
Sprinkle topping over filling.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, lower temperature to 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown.
Let cool completely before serving.
*Adapted from an EatingWell.com recipe
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Healthy Snacks
What a great day! I hosted an Ice Cream Social at Darden with Staff Council, toasted to record breaking fundraising in the Darden Annual Fund, and picked up my CSA (plums, blueberries, onions, corn, lettuce, and brown eggs). Blake is at McGrady's Irish Pub at Happy Hour with his softball team so I thought it would be a great time to make some snacks for our road trip to see Aunt Polly in Pennsylvania.
I am a huge snacker! On a typical day, I eat at least 3-4 snacks to keep my blood sugar level and energy high. They usually consist of a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds which are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Here are a few of my very favorites.
Aunt Martha's Sherpa Bars
When I was in Colorado, Aunt Martha loaded my backpack with these gems and they tasted delicious on the trail. They pack really well so you can eat them for breakfast when traveling, as an afternoon pick-me-up at work, or during a long hike or bike ride. Plus, this recipe can be adapted to personal preference.
1 1/2 cups dried fruit (I used apricots, raisins, and dates)
1 1/2 cups nuts/seeds (I used pumpkin seeds, sunflower seed, and almonds)
1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cups oats
1/8 cups honey
1/8 cups canola oil
1/4 cups water
Pulse all ingredients in a food processor or blender until combined.
Press into a glass dish sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
Cut into bars and wrap individually in plastic wrap.
Freeze until ready to eat.
Smokey Almonds
My Mom taught me this simple trick and it changes a bland unsalted almond into a smokey treat.
Bake unsalted whole almonds on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
Let cool and put in an air sealed container.
Chocolate Banana Smoothie
I love ice cream (especially homemade) and this concoction tastes just like this creamy treat.
Blend together:
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon honey (if you have a very ripe banana, you probably do not need the honey)
I love nuts in my ice cream so I stirred in some peanuts last night and it was divine!
What are your favorite healthy snacks?
I am a huge snacker! On a typical day, I eat at least 3-4 snacks to keep my blood sugar level and energy high. They usually consist of a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds which are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Here are a few of my very favorites.
Aunt Martha's Sherpa Bars
When I was in Colorado, Aunt Martha loaded my backpack with these gems and they tasted delicious on the trail. They pack really well so you can eat them for breakfast when traveling, as an afternoon pick-me-up at work, or during a long hike or bike ride. Plus, this recipe can be adapted to personal preference.
1 1/2 cups dried fruit (I used apricots, raisins, and dates)
1 1/2 cups nuts/seeds (I used pumpkin seeds, sunflower seed, and almonds)
1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cups oats
1/8 cups honey
1/8 cups canola oil
1/4 cups water
Pulse all ingredients in a food processor or blender until combined.
Press into a glass dish sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
Cut into bars and wrap individually in plastic wrap.
Freeze until ready to eat.
Smokey Almonds
My Mom taught me this simple trick and it changes a bland unsalted almond into a smokey treat.
Bake unsalted whole almonds on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
Let cool and put in an air sealed container.
Chocolate Banana Smoothie
I love ice cream (especially homemade) and this concoction tastes just like this creamy treat.
Blend together:
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon honey (if you have a very ripe banana, you probably do not need the honey)
I love nuts in my ice cream so I stirred in some peanuts last night and it was divine!
What are your favorite healthy snacks?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Summer Specialties
Pardon the delay in blog posts, late June/early July has been a blur of traveling and special memories. I spent a week in Keystone Resort, Colorado for an MBA Career Services Conference. I spent this time doing yoga in the fresh mountain air, reconnecting with colleagues that I met last year and striking up informative conversations with new ones, broadening my knowledge of Career Services across the world, and finding my new intellectual passion: Positive Psychology (I have two new books ready to read: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Flourish: A Visionary Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being by Martin Seligman). As silly as it sounds, I did a happy dance when they arrived from Amazon!
After the conference, my Aunt Martha, Uncle Glen, Cousin Sam, and girlfriend Caroline picked me up and took me to meet my parents and Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe in Glenwood Springs. Not only do they have a great brewery and the gravesite of Doc Holiday, but the Hot Springs Pool is an entire city block long! My Aunt and I spent hours walking back and forth in deep discussion. We spent the next few days at Auntie M's house in the mountains outside Denver where we hiked, chatted for hours, and cooked delicious dinners (homemade ravioli with a cherry tomato sauce, tiramisu, and fresh salmon straight from the Salmon River, anyone?) Before departing for Charlottesville, we spent one night in Highlands Ranch at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe's. Thank you for taking us to the wonderful Mexican Restaurant (all of those years living in Tucson really paid off!)
For 4th of July weekend, Blake, Andy, and I headed to Sandbridge Beach (where Blake and I were married)for some serious beach time. We spent our days walking on the beach, reading novels, cheering on the Norfolk Tides, and finding amazing seafood restaurants. In 3 days, we dined on fresh grouper, flounder, crab, and shrimp. It was relaxing and exactly what we wanted from our beach getaway!
Since returning from the beach, there have been many happy memories. Two new fabulous ladies, Kelly and Melanie, joined our book club. Kelly is a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering (she is working on fascinating breast cancer research) and Melanie is the meteorologist for CBS19 and makes an awesome in-arena host for Women's Basketball and Baseball. We had a wonderful time at Katherine's discussing our free reads and dining on Veggie Lasagna.
Today started off wonderfully as I attended the first yoga session of a new organization in Charlottesville, Pop Up Yoga, which was founded by one of the Darden rising Second Year students. The mission of this organization is to bring affordable yoga to public spaces around our area. This morning I practiced in the middle of the City Market (yes, there were hundreds of gawkers making comments) but I had a phenomenal time. There are other FREE yoga sessions this week at parks around the city and there will be more frequent practices available at their new studio downtown. Check them out on Facebook or www.popupyogacville.com!
This weekend, Blake and I are grilling inside-out cheeseburgers with home-grown beef from my parents stuffed with cheddar and jalepenos with homemade buns, fresh corn from the City Market, and okra from Horse & Buggy. We also have plans to visit Kate, Shane, and Baby Gracie; attend a cookout at Courtney's to celebrate her new internship in Tuscany; and look forward to another great week ahead!
Next up...Bastille Day at Aunt Polly and Uncle Dick's in Pennsylvania. This is an annual tradition that is full of family, delicious food, and at least 60 interesting and eclectic guests (they are theatre people after all!)
After the conference, my Aunt Martha, Uncle Glen, Cousin Sam, and girlfriend Caroline picked me up and took me to meet my parents and Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe in Glenwood Springs. Not only do they have a great brewery and the gravesite of Doc Holiday, but the Hot Springs Pool is an entire city block long! My Aunt and I spent hours walking back and forth in deep discussion. We spent the next few days at Auntie M's house in the mountains outside Denver where we hiked, chatted for hours, and cooked delicious dinners (homemade ravioli with a cherry tomato sauce, tiramisu, and fresh salmon straight from the Salmon River, anyone?) Before departing for Charlottesville, we spent one night in Highlands Ranch at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe's. Thank you for taking us to the wonderful Mexican Restaurant (all of those years living in Tucson really paid off!)
For 4th of July weekend, Blake, Andy, and I headed to Sandbridge Beach (where Blake and I were married)for some serious beach time. We spent our days walking on the beach, reading novels, cheering on the Norfolk Tides, and finding amazing seafood restaurants. In 3 days, we dined on fresh grouper, flounder, crab, and shrimp. It was relaxing and exactly what we wanted from our beach getaway!
Since returning from the beach, there have been many happy memories. Two new fabulous ladies, Kelly and Melanie, joined our book club. Kelly is a Master's student in Biomedical Engineering (she is working on fascinating breast cancer research) and Melanie is the meteorologist for CBS19 and makes an awesome in-arena host for Women's Basketball and Baseball. We had a wonderful time at Katherine's discussing our free reads and dining on Veggie Lasagna.
Today started off wonderfully as I attended the first yoga session of a new organization in Charlottesville, Pop Up Yoga, which was founded by one of the Darden rising Second Year students. The mission of this organization is to bring affordable yoga to public spaces around our area. This morning I practiced in the middle of the City Market (yes, there were hundreds of gawkers making comments) but I had a phenomenal time. There are other FREE yoga sessions this week at parks around the city and there will be more frequent practices available at their new studio downtown. Check them out on Facebook or www.popupyogacville.com!
This weekend, Blake and I are grilling inside-out cheeseburgers with home-grown beef from my parents stuffed with cheddar and jalepenos with homemade buns, fresh corn from the City Market, and okra from Horse & Buggy. We also have plans to visit Kate, Shane, and Baby Gracie; attend a cookout at Courtney's to celebrate her new internship in Tuscany; and look forward to another great week ahead!
Next up...Bastille Day at Aunt Polly and Uncle Dick's in Pennsylvania. This is an annual tradition that is full of family, delicious food, and at least 60 interesting and eclectic guests (they are theatre people after all!)
Monday, June 20, 2011
Life's Celebrations
I am off to Colorado tomorrow for an MBA Career Services conference in Keystone, a family reunion with my Mom's amazing siblings (except Auntie P who I will see in July) in Glenwood Springs and Denver, and (hopefully) a trip to Omaha to see my brother and root on the 'Hoos at the College World Series.
This weekend was full of life's celebrations including Molly and Chris's rehearsal dinner and wedding, both my parents birthdays, Father's Day (see previous post), spending time watching baseball with Evan and Meggie ('Hoos over Cal 4-1), and meeting Kate and Shane's daughter, Grace Elizabeth.
We met Molly and Chris in April '09 when they visited Charlottesville for Darden Days when Molly was deciding where to get to her MBA. We instantly connected to them, spent a wonderful evening chatting, and have been friends ever since. It may have been the beautiful scenery in Crozet or the delicious wine at King Family Vineyards that convinced them to pack up their Boston apartments and move to Charlottesville; but I believe it was the welcome wagon named "The Armstrongs" that really sealed the deal. Joking aside, we joined together for family dinners, Polo matches, and an annual Darden Days "anniversary" toast. This weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to both their rehearsal dinner at Horse & Hound and wedding at Keswick Vineyards where the view and the bride were absolutely breathtaking. It was joyous and classy without being overdone; and their favors were homegrown Sanborn Farms Maple Syrup (courtesy of Chris's family) and Seattle Chocolates (for Molly's family). Congratulations and we will miss you when you move to Minneapolis. Don't forget that we will be calling about that Best Buy discount...
In other news, our best friends in Charlottesville, Kate and Shane, welcomed their beautiful daughter to the world on Wednesday, June 15. She was 9 days late and took her sweet time saying hello to her folks, but she is absolutely gorgeous. Blake and I met her yesterday and after holding her little hand and kissing her cheek, she has us hooked for life. It was a beautiful reminder that life is a miracle.
It was a full weekend and we could not be happier for those who make life truly joyous!
This weekend was full of life's celebrations including Molly and Chris's rehearsal dinner and wedding, both my parents birthdays, Father's Day (see previous post), spending time watching baseball with Evan and Meggie ('Hoos over Cal 4-1), and meeting Kate and Shane's daughter, Grace Elizabeth.
We met Molly and Chris in April '09 when they visited Charlottesville for Darden Days when Molly was deciding where to get to her MBA. We instantly connected to them, spent a wonderful evening chatting, and have been friends ever since. It may have been the beautiful scenery in Crozet or the delicious wine at King Family Vineyards that convinced them to pack up their Boston apartments and move to Charlottesville; but I believe it was the welcome wagon named "The Armstrongs" that really sealed the deal. Joking aside, we joined together for family dinners, Polo matches, and an annual Darden Days "anniversary" toast. This weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to both their rehearsal dinner at Horse & Hound and wedding at Keswick Vineyards where the view and the bride were absolutely breathtaking. It was joyous and classy without being overdone; and their favors were homegrown Sanborn Farms Maple Syrup (courtesy of Chris's family) and Seattle Chocolates (for Molly's family). Congratulations and we will miss you when you move to Minneapolis. Don't forget that we will be calling about that Best Buy discount...In other news, our best friends in Charlottesville, Kate and Shane, welcomed their beautiful daughter to the world on Wednesday, June 15. She was 9 days late and took her sweet time saying hello to her folks, but she is absolutely gorgeous. Blake and I met her yesterday and after holding her little hand and kissing her cheek, she has us hooked for life. It was a beautiful reminder that life is a miracle.
It was a full weekend and we could not be happier for those who make life truly joyous!
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