Sunday, January 31, 2010

A good Saturday...

Crazy cold here yesterday, but I needed to go grocery shopping so I bundled up and headed out to Trader Joe's to stock up on some favorites. And to get the things I needed to make these Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Muffins:
I used a Trader Joe's Extra Dark chocolate candy bar for the chocolate in the recipe and extra berries. They are delicious! The batter is wonderful (love that it's got yogurt in it) and I can see lots of options for add-ins and new combinations.

I wanted to share this little project I made in an effort to help keep myself organized better this year. Receipts are the bane of my pocketbook...they're everywhere and it takes forever to find one if I need it. I've tried neatly organizing them in my wallet, but they quickly take over and make it too bulky. So I bought 12 of these 6" x 9" envelopes and used my Bind It All. Now I have a spot to keep the receipts organized by month. Perfect!
I'm off to get ready to help my friend do inventory. I'm bringing some of the muffins for some energy!

Happy Sunday!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Is it Monday yet? No....

Patience is a virtue I sometimes struggle with. And right now I'm struggling to wait for news that's coming on Monday. Which seems about 1000 days away right now. I really, really wish I could channel this nervous energy into something good...housecleaning, creating something (a layout, a card...anything), a nice long, energetic walk. I'm going to head out in a bit to do some grocery shopping...which I love and which will keep me busy for a bit. And trying to stay warm in this lovely arctic chill we have will take up some time too. :) Tomorrow I'm helping out a friend do inventory. Hopefully that will wear me out so I'll be able to sleep tomorrow night. Monday though...it's going to be ugly. I know I'll be up early. Way to early for any reasonable person. And then it'll be a long day of staring at the phone and checking email. I'm going to try to come up with a project that will at least keep me a little distracted. Maybe I'll finally get going on the classes that I've paid for and been waiting to start over at JessicaSprague.com or clean out, rearrange and organize my kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. Any other ideas?


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Glue Incident...

Yes...there was a Glue Incident during one of my classes last weekend! Someone's liquid adhesive exploded when she tried to unblock it. It hit the ceiling, the rug, me, her, the project kit she had just laid out so prettily on the table. It was EVERYWHERE! Who knew that glue could fly like that! I was still finding glue on my face and in my hair when I got home that night. LOL!

I taught 3 classes, my friend Julie taught 4 classes and our friend Liz was our shared assistant. We were crazy busy all day and a few of the classes went over their end time (which was expected). But everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and were happy with their projects. My brain was officially mush at the end of the weekend. There was so much preparing and organizing and running around the days leading up to it. Everything that could go wrong did. By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around and we could relax, we didn't have the energy to do anything more and chat with the ladies cropping at the store. I had all kinds of good intentions about completing a couple small projects that I brought, but they just stayed all nice and snug in my bag waiting for another day. Maybe this weekend...

My unemployment was all squared away at the end of last week and I've received my first couple checks. YEAH! So yesterday was errands and grocery shopping. Lots of fresh veggies in the house again. :)

Today I've got a second interview. I'm nervous and not all at the same time. I'm confident in my abilities, but so unsure about starting a new job. Some days I'm still stunned that I'm not at my old job. But change can be good and I'm doing my best to remember that. I will believe that I will make a good decision about this next chapter in life and which direction to choose. I've thought long and hard about the choices I'm going to need to make and I'm getting comfortable with the concessions I will need to make to get what I want. So...fingers crossed for a good outcome today!

Tonight is my first meeting for the year-long challenges group I joined. We'll be meeting monthly and doing the challenges in the 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges book at my LSS. Tonight we're doing 4 challenges and I hope that I'll actually get 4 pages done. I've made my notes, taken my pictures and now I just have to print the pictures and gather up some supplies to take with me. Should be fun!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Busy, busy...

It's been a busy week. I've been preparing three classes that I'm going to teach this weekend for my scrapbook store at a scrapbook get away in town. So I've been playing with paper and glue and typing instructions. It's good therapy and keeps me occupied. Here's a little peek...


Yesterday I got a call back for a second interview for a job. So next Wednesday I will get to dress like a grown up again and give it my all. I'm excited. :)

And on a more somber note, yesterday morning I went to my aunt's funeral. She was an amazing and inspiring woman who overcame obstacles that I'm sure would break my spirit. She was incredible and she will be missed. You can read about her here.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Today will be a good day...


I had plans for today that changed, so I'm going to be creative and inspired and happy. I'm making this choice today and I believe that I can make it happen.

Here's a picture for today. This is the view from my desk a few days ago at sunrise...
May your day be all that you want it to be too!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Waiting and (a lack of) productivity...

Waiting...for anything...is generally not fun. I knew the schedule of the hiring process when I walked out of the interview on Tuesday, but that's not stopping me from worrying about it one little bit! I know that even if I make it to the second round of interviews, it won't happen until the end of the month. Still worrying. I know that they interviewed candidates until Wednesday and that they then had to present the possibilities to the CEO and that would take place during the next week. Still worrying. I know that the interviewer is going on vacation next Wednesday. Still worrying. I am, without a doubt, my own worst enemy! I need to find a way to turn this worry into productivity! Yes, that's right. I want to be one of those amazing, awe-inspiring people who turn anxiety and stress into fabulously clean homes and organized lives!! It's my fantasy. But in reality, my stress reducer is staring at this computer screen aimlessly hoping for something to grab my attention and hold onto it...while simultaneously wishing the house cleaning fairies would show up and work their magic. I know that I would feel 100% better if I did something (I've done it before. I know it works). But right now, I am struggling to turn my attention away from its current path of job hunting/income producing obsessing. I find myself melancholy for my old job and having somewhere to go each day. I've definitely learned that I function best with a pre-defined schedule. I wish I could be just as productive without one, but I'm not. So, here I sit. Worrying. Hoping. Struggling.

Time to get off this seat and get occupied with something else. Or at least time to really try.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Pictures...


I keep meaning to add pictures and I keep forgetting! So today they get their own post! Here's a couple of my favorites from Christmas. Hope they make you smile.

Luck and serenity needed...

Now would be good. I've been up since 4:30 with alternating versions of interview responses and silly Lady GaGa songs running around in my head on a collision course. I have started the process of getting ready for the interview. Yup. 5 hours should be enough time! I've polished the jewelry (although I'm struggling with the idea of my "diamond" studs or the pearls that were suggested by my job coach). I've make some little piles of things that have to go into my purse/tote. I'm getting ready to print my resume and list of references. I've more or less decided on an outfit. I keep reminding myself that this is my "rebound" interview. I most likely will flub something, but it's perfectly normal and expected. I have been trained as well as I can be and did very well on my mock interview with the job coach late yesterday afternoon. I'm just going to BELIEVE that I will do my best and that they will be lucky to have me work there. I am totally capable of making their world a better place!

Yesterday was one of the most productive, organized days I've ever had! It was wonderful! I ran errands with a purpose and actually got them all done. I was only an hour or so over my estimated time of return home and that was because when I finally found shoes that were interview perfect, I was unsure about what size to get...a little tight (because my feet were a bit swollen) or the ones that were a bit loose that I could add a little cushion to to make them fit better. The loose ones at the first store were "wrinkly" near my instep (not a condition I found on the tight ones). Wrinkly is not pretty on patent leather shoes and I knew that I would totally obsess over it while the interviewer would most likely never notice it. So it was off to another store of theirs (20 miles away) that had the same shoes in the bigger size. But this girl was smart! I bought the tight ones just in case and it turned out to be a really smart move! The loose ones at the other store had the same "wrinkly" look to them! ARGH! So hopefully I won't have to do a lot of walking around until these new shoes break in.

Ok...off to shower and get it going. Wish me luck!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Busy day planned today...

Lots to do, many places to go! I've already made my unemployment call-in certification for last week, created my on-line unemployment account and arranged for taxes to be taken out of my benefits. I've had 2 cups of coffee and taken care of the dogs. Soon, I'll be getting dressed and ready to run errands (list was started yesterday and is sitting here in front of me for last minute additions).

Most important errand for today? Shoes...specifically "interview" shoes. Somehow missed that I needed these in the frenzy of clothes shopping the past couple weeks. I've assembled a totally grown up and professional bunch of clothes to replace/supplement the casual office wardrobe I've had for the past 19 years. But shoes never crossed my mind. I have 2 pairs of very nice black flats, but they don't scream "interview" nice. And the only heels I possess have open toes. Not fun when it's supposed to snow tomorrow and be in the 20s. So today I am in search of shoes that I will most likely not find: sensible mid-heel (kitten heel would be fab!) pumps. HAH! In this day of gladiator pumps and 4" heels this is going to be a difficult mission. Cross your fingers for me!

This afternoon, I'm going to do my nails, organize my papers for all the unemployment stuff, print off my resume on very nice paper and generally get myself ready to rock out that interview tomorrow. All the while battling a tremendous case of anxiety as only I can create. Do I want to work for a bank? Am I completely delusional about my qualifications? What if I actually get offered the job and they only offer minimum wage - then what the heck do I do? Will I even like working in a small office after working in the behemoth big city law firm? Am I going to be able to pull off the super-talented, very professional working woman image I want to present? Heavens - what if my outfit is all wrong for this job??? And so on, and so on...

Off to get this Monday started!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Today is a good day...

I've found the top of my desk (haven't seen it in months!). I've been uploading current pictures to Scrapbook Pictures in anticipation of actually printing some of the hundreds of photos I've taken in the past few months. I've done some dishes and laundry. I've refrained from harming the dogs (who are doing their absolute best to incite some sort of reaction from me!). I've started organizing my job hunt/unemployment paperwork into a binder so I can find it when I need it without going through piles of paper. I updated my profile photo to one that is only 5 months old! LOL! And I've done all this in my pajamas. A good day indeed!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Ok...unemployment all set...

Only 1 hour 20 minutes from beginning to end. Not bad I think. And I had a really nice representative which helped a lot. So I should start getting my checks in 3-4 weeks. Unless I manage to land a job. Fingers crossed!

Beginning the unemployment dance...

Today I am signing up for unemployment (yes...that's one of the updates I owe). It's a bit frustrating that it takes almost 4 minutes (and entering data) to find out that the call center is too busy and you need to call back. I finally got to hold after 6 phone calls. My estimated wait time: 23 minutes. 23 minutes of muzak, announcements and requests to continue to hold. Ugh. But I am grateful that there is a system to help people this way so I'm going to try to not complain about the process. But I'm going to document the process so I can remember this.

Here's to hoping (1) that it doesn't take 4-5 weeks to process my claim and (2) that I get a job soon so I can feel a bit more normal.

Friday, January 8, 2010

A little good news...

I've got an interview. Finally! It would be so, so cool to have a 7 minute commute! I'm keeping my fingers crossed (and it's going to hurt by the time Tuesday gets here I bet!).

Monday, January 4, 2010

Today's little project...

Check out the cute printable calendars at Lollychops! I love the tiny one. I had purchased a mini CD case type calendar holder (2 1/4" x 3 1/2") that I wanted to make for my desk but I was having a hard time finding a printable calendar that fit. Thanks to Lollychops, today I'll be making it!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Just wanted to share a photo that makes me laugh...

Olive was passed out and snoring like this. Notice the tongue sticking out. This puppy makes me laugh out loud every day. She's a nut.

Log Your Memory...

I just ordered and downloaded Real Life Challenges 2010 from Log Your Memory. I've started printing it (LOVE that my printer does double-sided printing) and when it's done, I'm going to make chipboard covers and bind it. I can't wait to start putting all the stories I want to save in one place instead of always thinking "I need to write that down so I don't forget, but where to write it so I don't forget???". Now I've got a place that has some great prompts to help me along.

It's still snowing here...has been since Friday night! We don't have a huge accumulation, but what's here is starting to drift a bit with all the wind that came last night and this morning. The view from my window is just beautiful. But that thought may change once I have to go out in it today! And we do have to go out. The dogs need food and I need to get a Staples fix. I saw a great idea on a message board about making a receipt holder for the year. My purse is drowning with receipts and I hate it. I'm going to try this project and I'll be thrilled if it helps me keep that little bit of life organized.

Off to bundle up!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Intentions for 2010

John and I wrote out our intentions for 2010 (doesn't that sound easier to achieve than resolutions???). We read them to each other and then toasted to the new year. Just a little tradition, but one that has a lot of heart behind it.


Friday, January 1, 2010

A new year begins...

With many changes and new paths to find. Lots of things that should be updated and I'll do that soon. Today I just wanted to start the new year with a simple post documenting my anticipation of all that 2010 will bring and my resolution to embrace the changes that life has thrown my way. My word for 2010 is BELIEVE. This word just resonates with me lately and it seems to be perfect for the upcoming year. I will believe that there is a reason why things happen and that it will be revealed in time. I will believe that change can be good. I will believe that I can achieve my desires and dreams. I will believe.

And I will remember...It's all good!

Happy New Year! May yours be blessed with health, laughter and magic!

I think I'm back.  I just spent some time updating the look and my info so at least one new post is called for.  I'm still alive, st...