1989

Thanks to my good friend Harper, I was introduced this week to the new Taylor Swift album, 1989. I've always liked Taylor. I think she's kept it classy when so many girls her age are just selling sex. I like her songwriting and catchy country tunes. I admire that she's able to poke fun at herself and her list of famous exes. She's got a better perspective at her age than I did, that's for sure. But I was never a super-fan, never bought an album, just a few singles. Country music, admittedly, is something I listen to on occasion but not most of the time.

There was a pretty big deal about this being Taylor's first "pure pop album" - I've been seeing articles pop up on Entertainment Weekly and other sites. To me I kind of shrugged it off (hasn't she always been a bit pop?). But I have to say I really, really love this album. The writing is spot-on and transports me back to when I was her age or a bit younger. So many of the songs, especially Blank Space, I Wish You Would, and This Love resonate with how I remember a younger version of myself. And maybe that's appropriate since her album title is 1989, the year she was born, the music is a throwback to the pop of the late 80s and 90s, the beats are catchy, and it's just absolutely fantastic.

So, here I am, highly recommending the new Taylor Swift album (never thought I'd be saying that!). And for what it's worth, it's always good to open yourself up to new music. If you looked at my music on my iPhone it's pretty random. So here I am, officially on the Taylor Swift bandwagon. Go get it, go get all the songs stuck in your head, and tell me which ones are your favorites!

Disclaimer: I am in no way a music expert, but I just had to obsess a bit about this awesome album

Let It Go? Letting Go...

So here’s a fun fact: I am an ENFJ every time I take a Myers-Briggs based test. It’s one of the rare personality types (another fun fact!) accounting for around 2% of the total population (when there are only 16 types ). Here’s a quick summary of the ENFJ personality type from PersonalityPage:

ENFJ: The Giver. Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle, and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues, and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others, and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.

If you’re nerdy like me, here’s a link to the whole profile description (http://bit.ly/TheENFJ) and you can click around and read the descriptions of other types. Another fun fact: my personality type is the type that likes these personality profiles because I love learning about how other people process information and make decisions!

This also makes me really bad at… you guessed it… letting go. People, places, memories. Things become part of your history and your narrative. I wrote an earlier post (http://bit.ly/1tRsrSt) that talked about how I approach friendships and that’s part of the struggle. Even when people are out of your life, they still go on leading their own. My mom has famously called me “the doggy with the chew toy” – I’m just not very good at letting go, saying goodbye, or change in general.

So the question I’m thinking about today is – how to get better at letting go? And my conclusion (I’m not “the thinker” personality type so this is probably not a huge revelation to the rest of you as it is to me) is that I need to make better choices to better let go. I need to stop “picking at the scab.” As Elsa says in the song Let It Go I need to get to where “the fears that once controlled me don’t get to me at all.”

How to make better choices? Well, I’m going to stop picking at the scabs. I’m going to focus on the present. I’m still a planner and I’ve got a lot of things on my mind for 2015, but for now I want to enjoy the moment and every single day. I want to make better choices every day so that I’m enjoying the present, not at the expense of the future, but I’m going to stop what if-ing myself over the past. 2014 has been one of the best, most challenging, fascinating years of my life. This is today’s perspective:

New Job Announcement!

After two great years working at the March of Dimes as the national Manager of Marketing and Social Media, I have decided to leave in November for an incredible new opportunity. I am really proud of the work I’ve done with March of Dimes. I’ve had great supervisors and I worked on exciting campaigns, including World Prematurity Day and March for Babies. I also had great coworkers and friendships develop during my two years at March of Dimes. It will be hard to say goodbye, but I’m so excited for the next challenge!

I am the new Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships at U.S. Fund for UNICEF! UNICEF is the UN agency that focuses on the well-being of children in every country around the world, with a special focus on reaching those in the greatest need. The U.S. Fund, also called "UNICEF USA" is the amazing U.S. organization that helps raise funds for UNICEF’s mission while also engaging the U.S. in advocacy and education around UNICEF's mission. At U.S. Fund for UNICEF I’ll be responsible for managing key corporate partnerships as well as growing and expanding them. It will be fun, innovative, and creative work. I cannot wait to start and meet my new team! I feel confident that it is a perfect fit and a place where I will be happy in the years to come!

It is a blessing on top of an incredible year. I am happily married, I celebrated the weddings of many friends, we traveled to new countries, and now this incredible opportunity - the work I went to grad school to do that I'm truly passionate and excited about. I could not feel happier, or more lucky, and I can't wait to hit the ground running and work hard for UNICEF's mission.

Work Trip to Arizona!

For the second time this year, I got to visit beautiful sunny Phoenix Arizona. I think I lucked out visiting in April and September - I missed the scorching summer heat! This time it was for work - I worked two March of Dimes conferences, our Volunteer Leadership Conference and ShareUnion. The highlight for me was getting to meet Anne Geddes - she is a wonderful ambassador for the March of Dimes mission and I grew up loving her famous photographs of babies. I also got to enjoy a break at the resort between conferences - that was much needed! That's all for catching up on my adventures for now - stay tuned!

Quick Trip to Gainesville

First weekend in September Nate and I had a quick trip down to Gainesville mostly to spend time with our families. With Mama Doris passing away, I spent most of the weekend with my parents. Nate's sister and nephews were in town for Jaxson's baptism - and we were honored to represent him as his godparents. I also got to meet baby Leah Elizabeth Smart - the second daughter of one of my friends & bridesmaids, Janeen, and her husband Ryan (the minister who married Nate and I!). And no trip to Gainesville would be complete without quality time with my best friend Courtney Rochelle. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Gainesville always feels like home to us! We are so thankful for our family and friends that make it so.

Chrissy's Boston at the Beach Bachelorette!

What a fun weekend it was in Destin! Chrissy's bachelorette theme was kept a surprise from her and it was Boston at the Beach - we came up with the theme because Chrissy was actually torn between Boston and Destin for her bachelorette destination. We thought - we can bring all the elements of her Boston days to the beach (plus the lobster tie-in was too perfect!). Destin beach is absolutely beautiful - powder white sand and clear turquoise water. We made custom coozies for all the girls to bring down to the beach - I loved seeing my new married name monogram - Dana Catherine Schweer AHHH!!! Sunday we went boating, driving a pontoon boat to Crab Island. We were walking distance to a cute boardwalk area where we had dinner and went out dancing. It was a wonderful weekend celebrating one of my best friends! Here's a picture of Chrissy and her bridesmaids - love this photo! Had a blast with all the girls who came. I'm so excited for Chrissy and Jon and can't wait for the wedding in 2015! 

...I'm Back!

I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost two months! So much has happened that time just flew by. Lots to catch up on, and busy/exciting month ahead! August ended with a trip to Atlanta and Destin Beach, followed by a trip to Gainesville the first weekend of September. After that I was in Arizona for work for a week! Coming up next: our trip to Paris in November, and then our first Christmas as a married couple and we are staying in NYC! I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.... stay tuned for updates!