Thank You Gchat

I may be late to the game, but yesterday my world was opened up. I received a Gchat tip that will change my work day as I know it.

I do event management for a living so most of my days involve tedious excel spreadsheets and documents. Flipping back and forth to Gmail is not always a good idea. Plus my position in a community cubicle leads me vulnerable to those who walk by – my screen is for everyone to see. I work hard, we all do, but we also all know the importance of Gchat to a mid-20something. As I approach 30 (my 29^th birthday is next week), I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. A younger, fresh out of college, co-worker gave me a tip that allows chats galore, while staying on any screen allowing you to live a little more incognito. It’s like ESPN’s March Madness screen. With a click of a button you join work and play. Join me:

Pull up Chrome

Go to the upper right hand corner of your screen and click the “3 Bars”

Click “Settings”

You will be taken to a new screen, on the left hand side click “Extensions”

Scroll down and find “Get more extensions” – click it

You will be taken to a new screen, in the upper left hand corner type “hangout” into the text box

You will be taken to a new screen, scroll to mid page and find under Extensions, “Hangouts”, click “Add to Chrome”.

It will take a second and then tell you it’s done. Exit that screen.

Now in the upper right hand corner next to your “3 Bars” you will find “ “ in a green thought bubble. Click it.

Your “hangouts”/all your recent chats will pop up in a box. 

Click on one of those people and go to something you’re working (excel doc, work doc, company email, etc.) – all of your chats should now be able to pop up regardless if you are on your current Gmail page or not. Enjoy!

Color Me Happy

There's going to be a flash sale on @hennesseyinthehome on Instagram tonight! Color, color everywhere! $35-$80!

Not on Instagram? Message lhennes@gmail.com more pricing info or special requests!

Olive's 15 Minutes

Our dog Olive recently received her 15 minutes of fame and I couldn't be more proud of the "Good Dog of the Week". I just love her so much!

Full article: http://gardenandgun.com/blog/meet-olive-garden-and-gun-good-dog-of-the-week

Black and White

What started as a fun wedding gift has turned into a great gift in general. My friends Caroline and Pate got married this summer and after a post to Instagram I quickly got orders of special places and homes by many friends and "strangers". I love it! Whether I've drawn a home for an anniversary or a wedding dress of a good friend - each moment captured has been custom made for the individual. I charge on average $30 a drawing and the turnaround time is whatever is requested. From Maryland, to Denver, to Charleston - Hennessey is in the home :) With a recent boat request, followed by that of a farm, I can't wait to continue to try new places and build more of "portfolio" if you can call it that. My most special request recently was Greenville's Liberty Bridge which became the front face of Mayor Knox White's campaign thank-you cards. I may just have to make some of my own.

For more photos of recent work visit/"like"/follow:

• hennesseyinthehome.blogspot.com/
• instagram.com/hennesseyinthehome/
• facebook.com/HennesseyInTheHome

Sandwich Launcher

My neighborhood area has an online social network called "Nextdoor" where you can post alerts, need to know info, questions, for sale items, etc. This post made me laugh out loud and I just had to share.

While I Wait

Over the past few weeks I have been given pills, syrups, shots, IV’s – you name it. I’ve received more mail (not the good kind) and more phone calls from administrative reps than one needs.  

My phone was supposed to ring yesterday and provide me with one of two evils. Either it’s back to the drawing board or the cause of my medical “unknown” has been discovered. It didn’t ring. I’m still waiting. It’s either going to be to make a small, but significant lifestyle change or back under anesthesia I’ll go for another procedure to yet again….figure it out. To think, all this stemmed from a dentist appointment. One small comment turned into multiple appointments, a specialist, and a procedure gone wrong – possibly leading to the answer. I’m still waiting for the phone to ring.

I have discovered one truth though – I have some ridiculously nice friends who have offered, and provided me some much needed rides to and from doctors and hospital rooms. Some of these meds have been no joke, so of course, like any kid dying to become a viral sensation I have allowed snapchats and/or video footage. Unfortunately, my 15 minutes hasn’t arrived yet, because all I chose to talk about was my blood pressure coming out of anesthesia. Lame - Especially because I don’t know the first thing about any of that.

 

Not knowing what I may have to change in the coming weeks, I have continued to partake in what may be terrible decisions for my body - Drinking for 5+ hours while floating down a river, a wedding weekend involving “all you can have” food and spirits, a few weeknight outings just because, and a big engagement celebration that I wouldn’t have missed. To add to that, I plan to kick off football season the right way this week. After all, I’m still waiting for the phone call. 

GO TIGERS!

Destination Unknown

3 girls were enjoying their 3rd glass of wine at a happy hour 3 months ago when they started to discuss all the places they never go. One of those girls was me. After a 20 minute conversation of we should do this - we should do that - why don't we ever go to blank - we said OK let's do it. So we formed the group Ladies Destination Unknown. Being the event planner, I volunteered to create a calendar and send out an email for interest. Like moths to a flame, the group grew quickly. With more than 25 girls in the "club", I assigned 2-3 people per month to act as the hosts.

The idea:

Once a month the "club" will get together and do something the majority of the girls probably haven't experienced. It can be an activity or it can be a destination. If it's your turn to host, you decide. You also choose the date. Typically we shoot for the 3rd Thursday of the month, but it's all up to the hosts. As a participant, you can either attend or it's understood you'll catch the next one. With no back and forth and always having a targeted day of the month, it's easy to plan and there's no added stress. Once you're ready to pull the trigger on your designated month, you send the group the limited details they need to know.

1. How much money to bring
2. Where and when to meet
3. What to wear

The rest is simply entertaining. As soon as the details are announced the group always begins to speculate and figure out the plan. Rarely correct we'll meet the night of the event and ask a few YES or NO questions before hitting the road.

It's human nature to go to your usual spots and stick with your normal routine. Destination Unknown is an excuse to go somewhere you're curious about, that potentially could suck, or potentially could be a hidden gem in Greenville that no one even knows about. Prime example - stop #1 - Le Mans Karting.

February - Le Mans Karting
Meet at Kelly's at 6pm
Bring your ID and $25 - $5 of it needs to be in cash.
Where flat shoes

The result:
50MPH high performance go karts
2, 15 minute rides
$20 to ride - $5 cash for the pizza that was waiting for us upon arrival

March - #DUSH (Destination Unknown Scavenger Hunt)
Meet at Lauren's at 6pm
Bring your ID and at least $40
Dress casually and flat shoes are suggested 

The result: 
Received our first clue upon arrival
called 2 Ubers
Bar hopped along main street; each bartender had the next clue
Total cost to be paid to Lauren via venmo - $10 - killer night.

April - Skyzone
http://www.skyzone.com/

Meet at Meagan's at 6pm
Pay Emily $10 in advance
Wear athletic gear

The result: 
wall to wall trampolines, foam pits, and the ability to finally dunk a basketball 
(the crowd went wild - see video)
30 minute trampoline sesh followed by dinner and drinks

Dubs

Stop what you're doing. Take out your smart phone. Go to the app store. Download Dubsmash. Create a Dubsmash. Now send me your Dubsmash. 

What is Dubsmash? It's as if Snapchat and a selfie had a baby, and that baby was famous....and also really funny.

www.dubsmash.com

Sometimes it's best to lead by example. Enjoy.

Can't see the video? Click here.

PULL!

I grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland. Surrounded by fields, farms, and the water, my dad was always going hunting for geese and ducks. The first time (and only time) I was asked to go I blew it for the whole group. We set up the decoys, sat in the duck blind and waited...and waited...and waited. When I finally heard a distant "quack" I quietly (or so I thought) said, "they're here". With that, they flew away. The patience of my father quickly left, and so did we. 

Flash forward 20 years to a friends hunting land where I was given a shotgun to shoot at some clay's. After about 15-20 rounds of getting "close" I nicked one. With excitement, I asked to go again. A few shots later and I hit one dead on. With eagerness to actually be good at it, I asked for a few more shells and few a more minutes of patience. The boys obliged and even added encouragement. A few more guests arrived to the party and maybe it was the added pressure or just pure beginners luck, but I suddenly hit not one, not two, not three, but FOUR in a row. Amazed with myself, I quit while I was ahead and moved on to hand guns shortly after. I was starting to think I found a new hobby. With direction coming from all different, well... directions, I was able to get a few good shots in and found a gun I'd actually trust having as an owner.

I don't think hitting 4 clay's in 20+ rounds calls me a "pro", but I certainly felt like I was on to something and would love to go do it again. 

Farming for Love

I've always been a part of #BachelorNation, this season is no different. 6-8 of us gather each week to watch groups of women (and men depending on the season) create frienemies within the cast and vow for a single rose from week to week. Watching these people take themselves out by revealing their true issues (and wishing you were one of them) can be very entertaining. To add even more excitement we have decided to make it a true competition, bracket style. Week by week you can earn points by guessing which gal is "the one". No cheating though (Friends Lindsey and Jill, I'm talking to you). Reality Steve will just have to sit this one out.

Starting tonight, you are a week behind. Luckily for you, I have filled in the remaining 22 women fighting for Farmer Chris' love. Download our bracket here.

 Now grab your friends and a glass bottles of wine and go to town - rules do apply.