Work Hard, Play Hard

There is no excuse for how long it's been since I've written a blog post (I would say the same thing to my friend, Jen, who we often give a hard time to for her lack of posting - although lately she has been doing a great job!). But I digress....

February feels like a blur and March is flying by just as fast. Work was incredibly busy (still is) all leading up to a big annual event that we host each year for all of our various partners and leaders across the county who work with us to support the LIVESTRONG mission. This year's meeting felt especially important in light of all that's happened in the past 6 months. Needless to say it's a lot of work to plan an event for over 500 people and it's a team effort.

For the first time, we left Austin to host this event and went to Chicago.  Despite a little influence of Mother Nature, most people arrived and the week was a huge success. It is, however, exhausting. Long days, little sleep, you name it....

I was lucky enough to share a hotel room with Devon who was working harder than most anybody there and could share in my delirium. By the last night, all the staff felt that they had earned a little celebrating and many of us enjoyed our far share of wine.  Of the 30+ staff members there, it was largely women and this picture captures our little family for the week (Anthony was one lucky guy). Me doing splits (almost) in the front is certainly due to the wine but a fun party trick nonetheless!

And as if this wasn't exhausting enough, Carl and I decided to meet up for a weekend in Las Vegas.  We've both been busy and he's been traveling a lot so we decided to find a place I could get to from Chicago and relax?

I realize most people don't go to Vegas to relax but we are the rare breed of people who actually went there and did not gamble. Not even once (my same friend, Jen, referenced above is gasping as she reads this).  While I'm a competitive person, I am not a risk taker when it comes to my money.  I'll save my competitive spirit for other things.

We spent a lot of the weekend sleeping, eating, sitting by the pool, going to Red Rocks for the day and people watching.  We did have some good meals and went to see O Cirque du Soleil, which was amazing!

I think I'm finally recovering from the past month and getting back into a routine at work and home.  And while I know how exhausting last month was, I would do it all over again because I care so much about the work that I do and that keeps me motivated.