Answered Prayers

I have an announcement to make (no, I'm not pregnant ;)

Five and a half years ago I graduated from Appalachian State University dreaming of becoming a graphic designer. When I first moved to Salisbury, NC in August, 2006 with my sister Whitney, I wasn't having any luck finding a job in my field. Thankfully though, through her connections I was hired at Food Lion in October, 2006. I was hired as a graphic artist in the advertising department, there I've worked on several sales flyers for Food Lion, eventually landing on working on the Bloom flyer, a banner in the same company as Food Lion. This leads to the happenings of the past few months.

Last spring I found out Bloom would be closing or converting back to Food Lion their NC and SC stores to focus on their northern stores. A few months ago I found out the entire brand would be retired, therefore no more Bloom. I was told I would not be losing my job, because technically I was a Food Lion employee not Bloom. However questions still came to mind, one of them being, What would I be working on? For the past few years while working on the bloom flyer I have aspired to move into the creative services department as a brand designer. Every time the job has been available I have applied for it and been turned down, this includes my last try a few months ago. I was told to keep pressing on, learn more about my craft and maybe further into my career things would change. I even e-mailed the hiring manager after finding out Bloom would be no more, knowing there would be less work in our department, if she would reconsider me for the position. One last shot.  However she again told me no but if they changed direction, she would let me know.

Well little did I know wheels were turning in the mind of the hiring manager and she was still contemplating bringing me on board. Last thursday she offered me the job promotion I have been wanting since I started here, and I accepted. I am now one of three brand designers in the creative services department! I will be working on creative for Food Lion involving store signs, bill boards, Truck Wraps etc., anything not involving the flyer. I look forward to growing as a graphic designer, expanding my experience and furthering my career!

To me it's just amazing how God's plan works, He doesn't answer every prayer the way you want Him to. It seems like He changes your life when you least expect it but when He knows you most need it. I was second guessing my talent and creative ability, whether I was on the right career path, after having been looked over and turned down so many times. But by just being me I showed what they were looking for and they are willing to give me the chance to show them what I can do!

I will keep you updated on this transition and new endeavor in my life!

Until next time.....

~Elyse

(Please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors, I am and artist not a writer ;)

It's been awhile....

This is my first blog post in awhile, I do want to try and do better. My goal is to post at least 2 blogs a month. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I also don't want to set myself up for failure.  A lot has happened since my last post. 

To name a few, we did finally get married last June and we couldn't be happier. He is the love of my life, best friend and I can't wait to see what life brings our way.  

Also I am an Aunt now to 2 beautiful nieces, Lily Grace and Adeline Marie!

You may be wondering about the title of our blog, we are stuck like glue. If you know me you know my favorite band is sugarland, I love many of their songs but my recent favorite is "Stuck like glue", partly because we did swing dance to at our wedding. It has a catchy beat with fun lyrics that can only make you smile., and it pretty much sums up our marriage.

"Stuck like glue"
Mmm Better
Mmm Better
Absolutely no one that knows me better
No one that can make me feel so good
How did we stay so long together?
Everybody, everybody said we never would
And just when I, I start to think they're right
That love has died

[Chorus]
There you go making my heart beat again, 
Heart beat again
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time?
There you go pulling me right back in
Right back in
Right back in
And I know, whoa oh 
I'm never letting this go, whoa oh

I'm stuck on you, whoa oh whoa oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa oh whoa oh, Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Some days I don't feel like trying
Some days you know I wanna just give up
When it doesn't matter who's right, fight about it all night
Had enough
You give me that look
"I'm sorry baby let's make up"
You do that thing that makes me laugh
And just like that

[Chorus]
Whoa oh, whoa oh
You almost stay out, too stuck together from the ATL
Whoa oh, whoa oh
Feeling kinda sick?
Just a spoon full of sugar make it better real quick
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sugarland/stuck_like_glue.html ]
I say, (whoa oh, whoa oh)
Whatcha gonna do with that?
(Whoa oh, whoa oh)
Come on over here with that
Sugar sticky sweet stuff
Come on give me that stuff
Everybody wants some
Melodies that get stuck

Up in your head, whoa oh, whoa oh(X3)

(Whoa oh, whoa oh)
Stuck like glue
You and me together, say, it's all I wanna do
I said

[Chorus]
There you go making my heart beat again, 
Heart beat again
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in
Right back in
Right back in
And I know, whoa oh
I'm never letting this go, whoa oh

There you go making my heart beat again
Heart beat again
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in
Right back in
Right back in
And I know, whoa oh
I'm never letting this go, whoa oh

I'm stuck on you, whoa oh whoa oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa oh whoa oh, Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa oh, whoa oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Check out the video, it's pretty hilarious and the opposite of our marriage.

Anyways, I look forward to sharing crafts and recipes I find on pinterest, things I find on etsy, the happenings in our lives and random musings.

Until next time.....
~Elyse

Engagements!

So I have been wanting to write this blog for sometime, but finding the time has been difficult.

For those of you who know me trying to find a wedding photographer was my highest priority.  Well I found the best! Torrence Photography.  I was so looking forward to this session and it lived up to my expectations immensely.

Next was determining the location of the engagement session, boone immediately came to mind. It is a place near and dear to our hearts. Even though we didn't start dating til later, App is where Josh and I first met. Specifically on the football field on my first day of band camp.

So on october 3rd we set out for boone with our fabulous photographers! We start off the shoot at the football field of course.  We walk up to the gate, that is always open, and its locked.  I think its over, my dreams of having a pictures taken on the field are gone.  But before I freakout completely Josh walks over to the visitors gate for some hope one might be left open.  Well there was! So we go in.  I was worried this would be awkward and Josh and I wouldn't be comfortable doing it.  But Stephen, our photographer, immediately made us feel comfortable.  We had a blast running all over the field taking different shots, he truly captured us and our love.

So in the process of making this perfect, packing the right outfits and so fourth, I forgot our jackets and it was 50 degrees, windy and misty, oops. More on that later.

We head to the music center next, Josh's request, to change into outfit number 2.  After we are done changing we run into our old Marching Band director, Dr. Tobias.  That was cool, I hadn't seen him since I left the band my junior year.  We then head out side for these shots.

Next we head to king street to find some jackets.  We are there on a sunday, everything closes at 5 if open at all on sundays in boone.  We make it to the mast general store at 6pm as they are closing, we bang on the door and they let us in! Josh buys a jacket that we will intend to share. They were so nice just because we were engaged and they knew we were doing our photo shoot.  These are the shots captured during the process,

Next was my favorite part. I have been wanting to do some of these with an umbrella as long as I can remember.  I have been obsessed really.  Umbrellas have become the theme of our wedding.  Along with  the tag, Rain or Shine, You'll be Mine! Anyways the sun is setting and we have about 15 min to get to the parkway and get these shot.  I had to have some taken with mountains in the background.  We arrive at Moses Cone Manor in the nix of time as fog is rolling in, and Stephen captured the moment perfectly.

And then it was over :( It went by so quickly.  We set out for dinner and ended up at woodland's, a nice finish to the perfect day.  Thank you so much Stephen and CJ, you did an amazing job! 

If you are looking for a photographer be sure to check out Torrence Photography.

Until next time......