Valentine's Day?

For those of you who know me, you should know (shame on you if you don't) that I hate Valentine's Day. And no, it's not because I'm single. I have a legitimate reason why I don't like the "holiday". I think it's stupid that how much you love someone is measured by what you do for them on February 14th. In reality, if you really love someone you should show them that every day (not through gifts and cards and candy) but by how you treat them on a daily basis.

Well, I had kind of an interesting day. I started out the day by wanting to gag from all of the Valentine's day stuff I saw on my Instagram and Facebook feeds. Ick. Then I get the following text message from a cute boy: "Happy Valentine's Day. :-)" It kinda made my day.

Then when I got to work this is what I found:

Someone heart attacked my desk and I have no idea who. I really what to know who it was. I thought it was this one kid because he knows I hate Valentine's day but he told me it was like that when he got into work. I'll probably never know. 

Something else I got on Valentine's day was my Christmas present. My mom made a quilt but it wasn't finished at Christmas so she finished it up in January and sent to be with someone that was going into the MTC. I also didn't get it because they called me on the day they were leaving while I was at work. Luckily, I just gave them my address and they dropped the box off at my apartment because they couldn't come to work to give it to me. I love it!! It's so pretty. The picture doesn't do  it justice at all. 

Compliments

Back at the end of December, I applied for a promotion at my work. Over the last month I've seen several people that I work with have interviews for said position. I was starting to think that my application got "lost" even though I applied online or that I'd been forgotten. 

And then this morning I got the following generic email form a recruiter:

"Briana Winegardner:

Thank you for your time and interest in the Customer Care Lead Supervisor position with Vivint. We appreciate the time you have taken to present your qualifications to us. We have received a large number of inquiries (resumes, applications) from highly qualified candidates for this role. At this time we have decided to pursue other candidates for this opening.
We will keep your information on file and it may be evaluated with respect to other positions that become available in the future. We encourage you to keep us in mind when considering future opportunities. We invite you to visit our website periodically to review new positions as they become available and update your profile as needed. Again, thank you for your interest and we wish you the best for your employment search and continued success." 


When I first saw it I was so mad. I didn't think it was fair that after all the hard work that I've put in recently and all for nothing. After reading it this morning, I just tried putting it out of my mind and ignoring it. But it kinda hurt that I wasn't even given the chance to interview when I knew for a fact that 4 other people I work with have gotten interviews. 

Something happened at work today that completely changed my mentality and my attitude. Part way through my shift today, my manager comes up to me and says he wanted to talk me for a minute. We talked a little bit about why I wasn't chosen. He wanted to talk to me before I got that email but that didn't happen. He gave me some really amazing compliments that made this whole thing a really amazing experience. My boss told me that during an interview he had with someone else that they said they wished there were 10 Briana's that worked there because so much would get done. I was a little speechless because I didn't know what to say. 

Something that I found so awesome that I can't put it into words is something that my boss said to me: I didn't choose to interview you because you aren't there. Yet. I know you are a great leader and you just need some more time and experience before I think you are ready for this kind of position. Over the last year, 6 months, 3 months and even over the last month I've seen such a change in your abilities and you surprise me constantly at how much you are improving and becoming such a good part of the leadership team. 

This was simply amazing to me. I don't think I could have received a bigger compliment that what he gave me. I really love my job and the position that I'm in. So I'm totally fine with staying where I'm at. Doing this other job would have been cool but I'm fine with staying where I'm at for now. He recommended that I do everything that I can to learn from Jordan (he's the lead supervisor over me right now) to try and make myself into a better leader in order to make myself a better leader and ready for a higher position in the future. 

One other thing that I though was really interesting: My boss told me that he thinks that I left the old, emotional me at our old building and at our new location I don't ask him to fix problems for me but come to him with solutions and ways to fix things. Pretty cool huh? It was a very draining day: both emotionally and physically but it was a good day overall. Hopefully, I can stay on this track and keeping on improving. 

Blessings

Today it was confirmed to me ow wonderful it is to be a member of the restored church in the latter days. I'm a very firm believer in modern day revelation.

Today I got set apart for a new calling at church and was a little surprised by something my bishop said. He expressed not only some blessings for my calling but in my personal and professional life. It was really very comforting and time and time again the amazing blessings of the priesthood :)

Christmas 2012

Better late then never I guess.....

December was my month of vacations. After I got back from Mexico I went back to work for a week before flying to California for Christmas (I was there from Dec 22-28). So almost a week. It was so much warmer than Utah. I so want to go back because I'm so tired for the under 15 degree weather. Luckily the last few days it's been above 20 degrees. Sad to think that I've become so accustomed to the really cold weather that "warm" is anything above 20 degrees. Haha.

Best part of my trip? Getting to spend so much time with my family. I've got the cutest niece and nephew ever and don't even try to argue with me because no one can compare. I miss them tons when I can't see them and it makes me sad that they live even further away now.

Breakfast on Christmas Eve

Grocery Shopping for Christmas Diner

Jase just loves light switches

Sitting on Dad's presents eating a roll

Someone let the little guy get into chocolate. How cute is he?

There was lots of late nights filled with playing games (my favorite thing to do when I'm at home). I went shooting on Christmas eve. That was so much fun. And let's face it: I look good with a gun:

Hot Stuff :)

Ethan, Sammi, and Me 

Happy Family 

Empty Shells

 One thing you have to know about me: I think feet our so gross. So with that being said, my family decided to get a gag gift:

Hobbit Feet!!!!!!!!!

Hobbit Feet Slippers. So gross but they are actually pretty warm. And if you're asking, yes I do wear them haha. When I was in Mexico I got corn rows done and I had Ariel and Nicole take them out on Christmas Eve because my head was really starting to itch:

Crazy Hair!!!

I got pretty spoiled this year:

Arm bank and phone case

Amazon gifrcard

Princess & the Frog and Brave - I'm just a little kid at heart

My mom made this - She's so talented!!

Gift Cards!! There were some awesome sales at Kohl's during the last week in December.

 Plus Mom is making me a beautiful quilt that I should have in the next couple of weeks. One of the best presents every? Talking to the missionary on a HUGE tv:

Only one more year!!!

 I also got to help out with Zach's Eagle project while I was home. He's repainting music stands for the local orchestra and one of the middle schools. Pretty cool if you ask me.

I forgot to take a picture of how dirty my hands actually got. This is after washing them. 

I had such a blast spending time with my family and friends while at home. There were some embarrassing moments (Thank you, Samantha) but I have to say it was one of the best Christmas's ever. It would have been even better if Jimmy had been there but you can't have everything in the world. It will be a long time before we are all together again which is kind of a bummer. But it just makes me grateful for the time that I did get to spend at home and for the many people that I have in my life that I am extremely grateful for.

Temple Tour 2013

I'm so extremely blessed to live in such close proximity to so many temples. So with this blessing I've decided to take advantage of it simply because you never know how long you'll live in one place. One of my goals for this year is to visit as many of the temples in the surrounding area as I can.

Since the new year began I've been able to visit...

Salt Lake 

Oquirrh Mountain 

I'm looking forward to hitting some of the other temples in the area :) Here's a list of the places I'd like to visit before the year ends:

Bountiful

Brigham City

Draper

Jordan River

Logan

Manti

Mount Timp

Ogden

Provo (of course :))

2012 in Review

I was just thinking back on what happened during the last year and the different things that I've done. Jenny, if you're reading this you inspired me and forgive me for stealing your idea :)

• Received my endowments
• Moved 3 times
• LASIK Surgery
• Changed work schedules 6 times
• Went to Cancun, Mexico
• Turned 25 - that's a scary thought...
• Swam with dolphins
• Got red highlights (multiple times)
• Got blonde highlights & died my hair a darker brown
• Watched all the Harry Potter movies (multiple times)
• Cross trained in Tech Support, Data Entry, and Workforce Management (work stuff)
• Supervisor of the Month (August '12)
• Got the new iPhone 5!!
• Met many new friends
• Made 4 wreaths (4th of July, Fall, Halloween, & Winter)
• Went to 6 haunted houses where I screamed like a little girl
• Put together a book shelf all by myself
• Went on zero dates - hopefully that will be a different story this year ;)
• Got multiple manicures/pedicures
• My job moved locations - from Provo to Lindon
• Took the bus for 3 days because I thought my car was broken when it wasn't - such an embarrassing story...

I'm sure there are many more things that I've done this year if I took more time to think about them and list them. Hopefully 2013 will be even better and I'll do some exciting new things and maybe even date a little :)

New Years Resolutions

The last weeks I've been thinking a lot about the coming year and the things that I want to accomplish in 2013. I've been able to think of a few things that I want to make my primary focus for this year. It can all be summed up with:

Exercise more: Spiritually, Physically, Mentally

Spiritually:
Attend the temple at least twice a month if not weekly
Have more meaningful prayers and scripture study time

Physically:
Exercise regularly (3-5 times a week)

Mentally:
I want to do more this year to exercise my mind including reading more and learning new things

Happy New Year!!!