on we go.

Do you remember my Milwaukee story from yesterday? Well today, the day after I end my internship, it was published on Nuts About Southwest and the employee website. It was a good end to the internship, but a little sad. My company email has officially been shut off and internal posting privileges are gone. I really wanted to stay with this company. I don't like to talk a lot about my disappointing stories, but I'm going to open up and share this one.

Last week I had an interview for an independent contractor position with Southwest. It was basically my last hope to stay with the company. At first I thought it wouldn't be hard to get because I didn't know of anyone else applying and the position was never posted online, I had just been contacted by the recruiter in charge for the interview. I also knew everyone that was going to be in the interview. Once I found out that one other person was interviewing, my confidence fell because I knew it had to either be another intern or a current contractor. The interview went very well, I felt so good about it. Unfortunately, this morning when I got my rejection call, I found out that the other applicant was in fact an intern who had actually already been working with the team. It was a little bit of a let down and the recruiter told me that it was really the only differentiating factor between the two of us, but I was still pretty devastated. Still am. I haven't had too many in-person interviews that I haven't been offered a job for. I guess this is just my sign that maybe Southwest isn't where I'm supposed to be. And on I go. Bigger and better things? I guess we'll see. 

Until I find whatever is next, I will keep applying everywhere and taking any interview I can. Don't worry, I still love Southwest. And I will jump at any opportunity to go back.

This is what I wore to that last interview - not as professional as I would usually go but being at Southwest, a current employee, and knowing everyone in there, I thought it was still appropriate and fun. I wouldn't recommend wearing this to an interview with an accounting firm or bank.

Paul and I love puzzles. We just finished our 6th one!

Isn't it pretty? It was Paul's birthday present.

He is so good at puzzles. I mostly just do it so I can hang out with him! And I enjoy it, I'm just not the most patient.

It's a blurry picture, but we're basically in love. He's what keeps me going when I'm disappointed, the one who holds me when I cry, the one who calms me when I'm mad, and kisses me whenever I want. He's what's going to get me through to finding a job!

On we go.

Luv, Lindsay

we can watch!

First, a shout out to my awesome cousin Derek and his cute family for loaning us their old TV antenna so we can watch the Olympics. It is pretty amazing. We got to have dinner with them and my cousin, Jake, on Sunday. Good catch-up time!

The dessert I made actually turned out really good. Easy too!

Recipe is included at the bottom.

My job search continues. I was sad to turn down a job offer I received but after lots of prayer and talking to people, I just knew it wasn't what I was supposed to do.

But here's what I wore including a skirt from my NYC trip and my wedding shoes :)

So the job search continues still.

Luv, Lindsay



Chocolate Dream Bars:
(Adapted from a recipe by Peggy)

Ingredients:

1  package chocolate cake mix (I used devil's food)
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (6-ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips (I only used 3/4 cup and it was great)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil.

Empty cake mix into a very large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the egg and oil into the well. Using a mixer on medium speed, blend until the mixture is combined to a crumbly texture (like wet dirt). Remove 1 cup of the mixture and set aside for use later in the recipe.

Pour remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of the foil-lined baking pan. Press firmly into an even layer.

In a small saucepan, bring the sweetened condensed milk slowly to a simmer. Turn off heat and immediately stir in chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until chocolate is melted and all is combined. Pour chocolate mixture evenly over the crumb layer in the pan.

Sprinkle reserved 1 cup of chocolate crumb mixture evenly over the fudge layer.

Bake about 25 minutes until the edges are firm. Place on a rack and let cool completely before adding the frosting.

I had some leftover canned frosting that I needed to use up so I whipped it with some cream cheese and powdered sugar to make my frosting but you can use whatever thick buttercream/cream cheese frosting you want. Just make sure it's not runny.

Pour into a zip-top plastic bag, press out all the air, and seal. Snip a very tiny bit of the corner from the bottom of the bag. Use as a pastry bag to drizzle frosting in a decorative pattern over the top of the brownie dream bars. Let brownies sit at room temperature for about an hour before cutting to let the frosting firm up.

start spreading the news

This is part 2 of our epic weekend! Find part 1 here!

After driving the 2.5 ish hours to from Philly to New York, we found a parking garage and set out. It is quite the adventure driving around that area! We got a little lost but got to see some stadiums and things on our way to the Lincoln Tunnel. No rain in New York!

 I believe this is where the Giants and Jets play.

Paul is SO excited for The Dark Knight Rises, so I had to snap this pic and send it to him:

They had ads for this movie covering walls of buildings all over the place! We are seeing it today in IMAX so hopefully it lives up to all the hype. And hopefully I actually enjoy it. I'm kind of paranoid now after the tragedy in Colorado..I can't believe that would happen. My thoughts and prayers with those suffering.

First stop? Central Park. What a beautiful place! The weather was perfect and we took a nice long stroll around.

 Such an awesome place!

We weren't hungry having eaten a lot not that long ago in Philly, but we had to try Wafels. 
We are so grateful for our awesome tour guides who knew all the best places!

I love eating places that have been featured on Food Network.

They even beat Bobby Flay on Throwdown It had to be good.

And oh...it was.

Next time I go to Central Park, I will get one.

Next stop, 5th Ave Shopping!

J. Crew was our lucky spot! I had to buy SOMETHING in New York besides food.

A very on sale shirt and skirt made it home with me :)

I love NBC! Today Show..favorite!

 I only wish I would have been there to see Kathie Lee and Hoda!

 I always wanted to go here as a little girl..

 For Paul!

 I learned that in New York and Philly you have to carry lots and lots of cash.

We had to make an ATM stop.

 We had to stop at the Southwest Porch!

#Swalife !

First Subway experience:

 On the subway we saw some very interesting people. Our favorite game was "man or woman?" Yeah, it was interesting. A very nice man with painted toenails helped us find our way.

By the end my feet were about to fall off. For some reason, right when I got off the plane in Philly on Friday night my right foot was killing me. It was so painful to walk. I figured I had just tweaked something and it would be fine when I woke up in the morning...no..not so much. I was kind of in agony for the entire trip but let me tell you, it was so worth it. Unfortunately my foot still hurts but not quite as much.

 My tired feet.

 We went to this bakery for some delicious treats.

So delicious!

I got the chocolate bomb! Just a big cup of chocolate.

And this could have been my favorite part.
Times Square! Advertisement Overload! Marketing capital! I loved it!!

I had so much fun, but I don't think it's a place I would ever want to live. I'm finding out that I am not the greatest in big cities. Mostly because I hate spending money and the city is very expensive, and I would go crazy trying to get around! As much as I hate driving, I would rather drive than take a taxi any day. I don't know what it is, but taxis give me anxiety like nothing else.

We got a quick 4 hours (if that) of sleep in New Jersey before heading back to the airport and back to Dallas. I had a row to myself on the flight from Newark to Houston (I think we stopped in Houston..I don't remember) and got some good sleep. Houston to Dallas wasn't as good. It was a more crowded flight and the baby behind me, as cute as he was, kept reaching over my seat and drooling. The disturbing part was that the drool seeped into the seat before I had a chance to get some napkins from the flight attendant...ew. I wonder what other fluids are hiding in those seats..

Thank you, ladies, for an AMAZING weekend! Especially Emilee and Danelle for the transportation and crazy tour guide skills.

Can't wait to go back with my hubby!

Luv, Lindsay