Category Archives: Let’s Be Adults

How I’m surviving Serial Season Two

13th December 2015

There was a time when I was one of those focused runners who could run sans music or distraction of any kind. During the past few years, that dedication has slowly slipped away and the headphones find their way into my pack far more often than I like to admit. The “you’re not training for a race, just stop and take a break to take pictures” habit has also worked its way into my running routine, but I digress.

Headphones started as a means for talking on the phone to pass the time, progressed to Nike’s Spotify playlists, and for the past few months, have settled on podcasting.

Call it a funk, or a cure to one, but having someone feed stories into my headphones almost makes running feel like the by-product.

It wasn’t until this afternoon, two miles into a run, when the first episode of Serial Season Two came to an abrupt end and I was reminded of this terrible truth:

One story. Told week by week.

I jumped on the Serial bandwagon late. This translates to: I had the luxury of listening to every episode at my heart’s content. Unless someone hold my patience hostage, reality suggests that waiting for a full season of stories is not likely.

In the event that you also find yourself in the same Sarah Koenig, week by week void, here are a few of my other favorites to help you fill the time.

Invisibilia

“The invisible forces that control human behavior, ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions.”

This series had me rushing out the door and adding miles just to race to the next episode. If you’re not quite sold, start with episode three, “How to Become Batman.” You’ll be brainstorming DIY superhuman skill tests before the 59 minutes are up.

The Lively Show

“Add a little extra intention to your everyday.”

Jess sucked me in with her exclusive on Young House Love earlier this year. Her topics are simple, yet leave you feeling like you can conquer the world.

The EntreLeadership Podcast

“Grow yourself, your team and your profits.”

Don’t let the business-y focus of this one scare you. These guys know how to tell great stories and they dig into the personal histories of some of business’ best known leaders in a truly valuable way. Episode #115 with Walt Disney World Resort’s former Executive Vice President of Operations Lee Cockerell is a personal favorite.

What have I missed? Any other favorites out there? Preferably anything that plays into binge listening, my sneakers thank you in advance.

Going Digital: changing your name in social media

17th September 2015

You might have noticed a few changes around here. It only took ten months, but I can officially check another item off of the name change list: this website (and Instagram and Twitter).

People can complain about the lines at the DMV and the Social Security office all day long, but I’m here to tell you, after getting married, changing your name in the digital world is infinitely more agonizing. Especially when you go from a Dennihy (hello no competition) to a White. While I’m loving my new last name and all the perks that come with it, defining a new digital identity has been no easy task.

Becoming a White was pretty great. Here’s to digitzing it.

Today, I’m moving over to KaitlynWhite.com and blogging under a new header as well: A Great White Adventure. When I started this blog, it was a requirement of my job. If you scroll way, way back, you might find a few posts describing my thoughts on the social media universe as a result. Like this one.

Why I made the switch

Over time, my thoughts changed from the occasional post about life in the real world, to sharing the everyday surprises and adventures that I love most. So much so that #AGreatWhiteAdventure was even the hashtag at our wedding (another detail I put far more consideration towards than the average human should). Although I’m still working on finding my blogging voice, I’m certain that turning everyday into a curious, unexplored, figuring it out one step at a time adventure is exactly where I want to be.

How to change your name. AKA, I should change my name there too?

Guys, when I say this was more painful than the DMV, I am not kidding. Especially when there was no line at the DMV (that really happened). I’m a big believer in creating and maintaining your personal brand, even more so when your job nearly depends on it. I went back and forth for a long time, do I keep the consistency and name recognition of my online identity? Or do I risk losing some of that clout and go for consistency in the real world?

This has to be a personal decision on what’s best for you, there is no manual (surprise). I am all for people who keep their professional and personal names separated, but for me, the positives didn’t outweigh the negatives.

After ten months of thinking on it, real world won.

My job requires me to meet new people on a regular basis as well as speak in front of the unknown audience from time to time. It’s a lot of fun and so is introducing myself. When someone goes to find me online, that doesn’t always match up. Considering I’m in this White thing for the long haul, it started to make more and more sense.

OK, so how do I make this happen?

Funny you ask. Here’s a handy little chart. Enjoy!

Celebrating 27 with High Tea at Zen Tea Chamblee

30th August 2015

First, I turned 27 last week.

Second, I found 27 to be the magic age where birthdays stop becoming so exciting that you feel the need to tell the entire world for a week straight. Ugh.

Third, if you know my husband whatsoever you are probably aware that he likes to pretend he’s an all around boy with no link to emotion whatsoever. And he doesn’t like to admit birthdays might be a cause for celebration. In fact, you might believe he doesn’t even like them.

Lies. All lies.

Don’t let that guy fool you, he has plenty of warm fuzzies hidden away and has this habit of saving them for the best moments. So when he surprised me with a perfectly girly tea party for my birthday, I could not have been more thrilled.

Celebrating birthday-eve with the husband and pup

I have been asking, and reminding myself (and P), to stop by Zen Tea in Chamblee for months. I gush over pretty little tea pots and never miss my daily cup of English Breakfast, but had yet to make it over to the tea store that is less than a five minute drive from our house.

Earlier this summer, while grabbing breakfast at the Brookhaven Farmer’s Market, P and I stopped by the Zen Tea tent. Me for a cup of white jasmine, he for some intel. I must have missed his chatting with the employee from Zen Tea, but he learned about their high tea offering and put plans in motion.

Sunday morning, when I asked what to make for breakfast, he mentioned having a spot in mind he wanted to try instead. When we arrived, I was giddy to see it was the same little tea shop I had been eying. I was then surprised to find not only were we grabbing delicious drinks, he had also invited my mom, sister, his parents and my best girlfriends for a high tea celebration.

Zen has a great little back room where we enjoyed a private three course brunch. The event began with a tea selection (every gets their own pot) served with scones, followed by a selection of finger sandwiches and final course of a second tea selection paired with a myriad of deserts. It was a fantastic way to work around their extensive menu (they have 160 teas to choose from) and take a much needed break from planning a large birthday dinner party.

If you’re not up for the entire high tea selection, Zen Tea offers loose tea for sale and has a great selection of little pastries, we’ll be back to try both. Located right in the heart of old downtown Chamblee, this little shop just off of Peachtree Road is a gem.

In addition to Zen Tea, old Chamblee has a string of antique stores, the impossible to pass up ice cream at the Frosty Caboose (ice cream out of a train car is NOT just for those under the age of five, for the record) and a number of other great eateries, all tucked into a mile or so.

I’m glad to know that even though I may have crossed the “birthdays don’t seem so exciting” bridge, I have someone by my side who’s willing to fight for them, at least for two more years. As my mother reminded us time and time again as children, women don’t age past 29 anyway.