Goodbye. Hello!

Hello.  My name is Annette.  You can call me Netti.  Welcome to my Blog.  So here's the deal........

I invite you to share in my journey as I attempt to make a career doing what I LOVE {not just like, or often enjoy.  I mean love. The thing I am most excited to wake up and spend a day doing}. My journey comes at a cost, a huge cost, but life threw some curve balls and I figure since we are making changes, we might as well make BIG changes.   Options were considered, pro's-and-con's charts were written up, and decisions were made.

Goodbye, So Long, Farewell:
1) Great salary, monthly bonus, company car, & benefits. {Oh how I miss you! Penny pinching.... how do I say it?.... Just sucks!  Sometimes I find myself excited about the innovative way I managed to stretch a dollar, but most days I have to continually remind myself of all the reason's we chose this path. Gone are the days of Costco impulse buys.  It sure was fun while it lasted and I like to believe we will see each other again someday.}
2.) House that I loved. {We put so much time and $ into you. And you were so full of love and wonderful memories. However, I admit I do love you more now than I did when I owned you. One of those, "you don't know what you've got till it's gone scenarios. Considering we just relocated to one of the most expensive areas, I can now only dream of buying a new house as wonderful as you were.}
3.) A most amazing community filled with meaningful relationships. {Folsom, CA.  I thought I was one of your lifelong residents and when I left, I was convinced I would never reside in a more charming city.  Lucky for me, I have been so pleasantly surprised. But not to worry, you were my first love and I will always hold you close to my heart.}

And now the fun part.... drum roll please....

Hello, Welcome, Come in:
1.) Freedom to pursue my passions! Instead of counting the minutes in the work day, I countdown the minutes until I get to start my next big job! It is an amazing feeling. I have lifted my Visual Design career off the ground and so far it has been incredible.{I am cool with a slow take-off, but please, please, please in another year, when both kids are in school, let's soar huge heights together!!}
 2.) A little condo by the beach. And I do mean little! {I curse you daily. I swear your walls are caving in on me. But the truth is that I have never been more hopeful, driven, grateful, and inspired.  Somehow you have given me such personal growth and I am really starting to like the new version of me}
3.) San Diego!!! Wow! { Encinitas, CA.  You win the prize for being what I never knew I always wanted.  What else can I say other than,You rock!}
4.) Happy husband, happy kids! {Greg, you are right, God made you to be a teacher and I am so proud of who you are. We did make the right decision relocating for your job.} I am so incredibly blessed to now have the opportunity to spend more time home with the kids. {Skylar and Luke, you can get excited because yes, tomorrow is a "stay at home with mommy day." Let's make pancakes, break out the dress up clothes, talk about princesses while watching the movie Cars, and then head to the park.} 

So.... with all that being said....  I encourage you to share in my journey.  I will keep you updated on my completed projects, share design tips and knowledge gained, and most important, aim to inspire anyone who like me, sat on a dream for a really long time, and is searching daily for the strength and courage to try to make it happen. 

Love to all,
Netti