getting there

So its been a few weeks since I've blogged and thats mostly because I've been very stressed lately and really don't want to use this blog as a way to vent. I want to fill it with good news and memories but I will take some time to catch everyone up. We don't appreciate the good until we've experience the bad. So here goes.

My grandfather passed away, we were down a few more managers at work which meant I was doing my display work load, helping out wherever I can, taking on more responsibility being the only visual role in the store, and helping to manage a moving process for a store that has 20 years worth of stuff. But finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel hence its blogging time again!

I was really upset that I wasn't able to make it to my grandfathers funeral (when I went to purchase plane tickets between the time I clicked purchase and the time the confirmation screen popped up my ticket price raised from about 700 dollars to about 2,200). My family reassured me that my grandfather wouldn't have wanted that so Mike and I spent the whole weekend honoring him by making biscuits and gravy, vegetable soup, and doing all the things my grandpa liked to do - like watch law and order. It was nice to take some time and slow down a bit to remember my papaw before heading back to reality and work.

We are moving stores and tomorrow marks the last day that our Greenvale store will be open. Starting Monday I will be working 12 hour shifts until September 5th when our brand new beautiful store in Manhasset will be open for business. Its going to be a long draining process but I'll be surrounded by a great team, who will be working the same hours as me to get this store in tip top shape. That means ALL NEW displays, windows, merchandising, etc. There are going to be a lot of talented people at this relocation and its going to be very inspiring to be a part of it.

I helped out a fellow display coordinator at another long island store all this week which means I picked up some hot tips and tricks I'll be using in our new store displays, since I tested them out with her. I missed being in my own store all week with my wonderful coworkers so was delighted that I was welcomed back with open arms when I returned to drop off some paper this afternoon. It seems that they missed me as much as I missed them and its really nice to feel appreciated - absence really does make the heart grow fonder I suppose. We have a communal chalkboard wall in our employee bathroom where every so often people will pose a question (such as what is your favorite food) and most recently the question was "What are you most excited about for the new store?". As soon as I came in today someone asked if I had seen the board because an anonymous someone wrote "to have Lauren Skunta back." Needless to say, I love my co workers.

I know this post doesn't have any pictures of displays but over the 14 days I'll have an entire store to photograph. I suppose I cant share with you my sketches for the new window display just yet. Who knows what it will actually end up looking like because we've got a larger than normal visual team working which means a lot of opinions but I'm sure it will turn out beautifully.

I've got a great support system between my friends, my family, and Mike so I know even when I'm stressed there are plenty of people to help out in any way that they can. Thank you everyone - I really couldn't do what I do without you.