I want to write. I have an outlet here, but that's what it is. An outlet. I feel like I have so much to express and I don't usually put this skill to use. I just want to write something... Anything. I can't find a position that requires 90% writing. If you know of something out there, please let me know!
I just feel so selfish when I say I want to completely enjoy my work. Is that crazy? Surely there must be more people like myself out there that feel out of place and underutilized! Raise your hands if you are.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Vintage Love
I just realized I had my vintage radio on the wrong setting. The treble was too low and, in fixing this, I shall never part with my beloved radio. I toyed with the idea recently, but my mind is now set!
It was about six months ago when I made one of my numerous trips down to Thrifttown that I saw this beauty. It's nearly seven foot long, and fits perfectly under my bar in the dining area. I saw this radio and literally bought it with no way of knowing how I would haul it to my apartment. My Dodge Stratus would not approve its size. So I called a friend who talked her dad into letting us borrow his truck to get it here.
Upon paying $90, (yes, I tried to talk that down, but it is gorgeous, honest!), a woman wheeled it outside in the rain and proceeded to drop it. The top sliding cover fell and chipped a bit of the edge off. I almost shed a tear.
We covered it with blankets as fast as we could and drove two miles to my apartment. Three flights of stairs later with nearly 100+ pounds of deadweight, my back was thrown out and I had a rare vintage gem in my dining area. I still need to buy a needle for the record player, but the radio is crystal clear and the speakers are original and amazing.
I love all things vintage and only buy these collectibles from Goodwill stores or thrift shops. What can I say? I love a good bargain. Here it is, in all its majestic beauty!
It was about six months ago when I made one of my numerous trips down to Thrifttown that I saw this beauty. It's nearly seven foot long, and fits perfectly under my bar in the dining area. I saw this radio and literally bought it with no way of knowing how I would haul it to my apartment. My Dodge Stratus would not approve its size. So I called a friend who talked her dad into letting us borrow his truck to get it here.
Upon paying $90, (yes, I tried to talk that down, but it is gorgeous, honest!), a woman wheeled it outside in the rain and proceeded to drop it. The top sliding cover fell and chipped a bit of the edge off. I almost shed a tear.
We covered it with blankets as fast as we could and drove two miles to my apartment. Three flights of stairs later with nearly 100+ pounds of deadweight, my back was thrown out and I had a rare vintage gem in my dining area. I still need to buy a needle for the record player, but the radio is crystal clear and the speakers are original and amazing.
I love all things vintage and only buy these collectibles from Goodwill stores or thrift shops. What can I say? I love a good bargain. Here it is, in all its majestic beauty!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
1) Make List of Goals 2) Accomplish Them (or at least try!)
I've been thinking about my recent post, and upon viewing it from the reader's perspective, I can see how it may have been misleading. I mentioned how I had always "envisioned my life", and how it wasn't going as planned. I won't lie: I don't have my life figured out. At all.
I'll start off with this: I am a planner (which I know is silly, because we're always growing as individuals and changing our views and perceptions of ourselves). I was always a planner. During my junior year of high school, I had "planned" my college career. Then when I was told I had to take calculus for a teaching degree by my college advisor, I quickly changed my plans.
Even a week before I set out for college, my boyfriend (husband, now) urged me to follow my true passion: writing. After a year at the magazine I worked for, I changed my plans again and pursued something entirely different! It's not that I'm what you would call "wishy-washy". I sometimes see a different path, and think, "I'll try that!"
And all of my decisions boil down to my list of goals. I never actually wrote them down, but I always have a mental list of what I would like to accomplish in a month, a year or a decade. It's definitely not etched in stone, and if I did have an actual list on paper, it would be covered with eraser marks and entire paragraphs would be scratched out.
The point I'm trying to make is whether we realize it or not, we all have something we're striving for in this moment or by next year. I never feel like I have a clear vision of any of my goals, how I will accomplish them or if I will even be pursuing the same ones in six months.
That's the beauty of it, though! You can always add one to your list or start from scratch when you're really feeling adventurous. And with that, I think I will re-evaluate mine. It needs some fine tuning.
I'll start off with this: I am a planner (which I know is silly, because we're always growing as individuals and changing our views and perceptions of ourselves). I was always a planner. During my junior year of high school, I had "planned" my college career. Then when I was told I had to take calculus for a teaching degree by my college advisor, I quickly changed my plans.
Even a week before I set out for college, my boyfriend (husband, now) urged me to follow my true passion: writing. After a year at the magazine I worked for, I changed my plans again and pursued something entirely different! It's not that I'm what you would call "wishy-washy". I sometimes see a different path, and think, "I'll try that!"
And all of my decisions boil down to my list of goals. I never actually wrote them down, but I always have a mental list of what I would like to accomplish in a month, a year or a decade. It's definitely not etched in stone, and if I did have an actual list on paper, it would be covered with eraser marks and entire paragraphs would be scratched out.
The point I'm trying to make is whether we realize it or not, we all have something we're striving for in this moment or by next year. I never feel like I have a clear vision of any of my goals, how I will accomplish them or if I will even be pursuing the same ones in six months.
That's the beauty of it, though! You can always add one to your list or start from scratch when you're really feeling adventurous. And with that, I think I will re-evaluate mine. It needs some fine tuning.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Beautiful Side of Fruits & Veggies
While I am trying to push through the second week of the new year (and my new eating habits!), I have found comfort in an article I stumbled upon today. As pale as I am, this news is exciting to me! I've always been opposed to tanning salons and now I have yet another great reason to keep munching on cucumbers and honeydew melon.
The beauty part is just a perk. My main inspiration for really sticking it out this year is my overall health. There is a dedication of time involved in the preparation of my foods, and it's no secret that I despise cooking. Nonetheless, I can't let myself quit this time.
And on that note, a flyer for a new gym in town landed on my desk at work yesterday. I must admit I looked at it longingly for about a minute, envisioning myself breaking a sweat on some cardio machine. Then that vision passed. I'll just stick with the healthy food for a while and ease my way into something of a workout routine...
I need to become friends with my Wii Fit board first. After all, it doesn't have a cost for sign-up or monthly fees. I can't wait to stand on it soon so it can tell me I didn't reach my goal I set a month ago. It's probably as vicious as a personal trainer, though. When you step on the board at it's command to weigh you in, it says, "Ohhh!"
Thank you, Wii Fit board, for using the tough love tactic!
The beauty part is just a perk. My main inspiration for really sticking it out this year is my overall health. There is a dedication of time involved in the preparation of my foods, and it's no secret that I despise cooking. Nonetheless, I can't let myself quit this time.
And on that note, a flyer for a new gym in town landed on my desk at work yesterday. I must admit I looked at it longingly for about a minute, envisioning myself breaking a sweat on some cardio machine. Then that vision passed. I'll just stick with the healthy food for a while and ease my way into something of a workout routine...
I need to become friends with my Wii Fit board first. After all, it doesn't have a cost for sign-up or monthly fees. I can't wait to stand on it soon so it can tell me I didn't reach my goal I set a month ago. It's probably as vicious as a personal trainer, though. When you step on the board at it's command to weigh you in, it says, "Ohhh!"
Thank you, Wii Fit board, for using the tough love tactic!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Life: Why Planning Never Works
For so long, I envisioned my life in this order: grow up (check!), earn a college degree (check!), marry an amazing man (check!) and start a fulfilling career (still working on it). Among other chapters in my life, raising a family was at the top of the list. I've thought long and hard on this and have decided that may have to wait just a bit. And I totally won't lie to any of you when I say I'm just not there yet.
It's nights like these (every other Tuesday) when I care for two amazing children. I cherish these moments with them and can't wait to fully experience this completely one day, but something tells me I'm just not there yet. I am excited for the possibility of children in the next five or so years, but always imagined it would be wedding bells followed shortly by the pitter patter of tiny feet (on my dark hardwood floor of the house we don't own yet)!
Unfortunately, I am all practical and waiting for the absolute right moment (maybe when my husband and I both have steady jobs and we say to each other, "what student loans?!") These thoughts never crossed my mind when I was writing out the outline of my life!
If you have been following my blog, you might remember me jokingly saying I planned to eat better this year. I have taken it seriously and stocked up on fruits and vegetables. The change isn't so terrible (cucumbers and red onions "spice up" my salads for lunch), and I discovered I prefer honeydew melons over cantaloupe. I also am trying to stick with water and am proud to say I can't remember the last time I had a soda. Maybe I'll even dust off the 'ol Wii Fit Board. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, though!
My husband is well informed of the situation and has been ordered to keep me in line. I always give up way too early, but not this year. I have to start taking better care of myself now if I want to be ready for an extra heartbeat later on--planned or not! This won't be easy, but that's what goals are all about.
It's nights like these (every other Tuesday) when I care for two amazing children. I cherish these moments with them and can't wait to fully experience this completely one day, but something tells me I'm just not there yet. I am excited for the possibility of children in the next five or so years, but always imagined it would be wedding bells followed shortly by the pitter patter of tiny feet (on my dark hardwood floor of the house we don't own yet)!
Unfortunately, I am all practical and waiting for the absolute right moment (maybe when my husband and I both have steady jobs and we say to each other, "what student loans?!") These thoughts never crossed my mind when I was writing out the outline of my life!
If you have been following my blog, you might remember me jokingly saying I planned to eat better this year. I have taken it seriously and stocked up on fruits and vegetables. The change isn't so terrible (cucumbers and red onions "spice up" my salads for lunch), and I discovered I prefer honeydew melons over cantaloupe. I also am trying to stick with water and am proud to say I can't remember the last time I had a soda. Maybe I'll even dust off the 'ol Wii Fit Board. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, though!
My husband is well informed of the situation and has been ordered to keep me in line. I always give up way too early, but not this year. I have to start taking better care of myself now if I want to be ready for an extra heartbeat later on--planned or not! This won't be easy, but that's what goals are all about.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Interru--"Are you busy?"--ptions at Work
A few days ago at work, I realized I had been interrupted nearly 40 times an hour (or so it seemed) by my coworker's rhetorical questions. "Should I package this job for delivery when I am done with it?" I never noticed the constant interruptions until I watched a video from TED titled, "Why Work Doesn't Happen at Work". See what you think about his views on this!
While it doesn't apply to my industry (print production), it could easily apply to many others. I thought it was worth a post. I only wish I could have that dreamworld of a workplace!
While it doesn't apply to my industry (print production), it could easily apply to many others. I thought it was worth a post. I only wish I could have that dreamworld of a workplace!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Resolutions Schmezolutions
Let's stay trendy and talk New Year's resolutions. Over the holiday break I finally broke down and bought two things that I had been wanting for so long. The first, and ultimately the best investment I have made in a few years, is my new iPod Touch. Amazing.
The second most important investment that I made over the break was in a little book by Kelly Cutrone titled, "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside". Love it. This book was approximately $26 at my local bookstore. For those of you who know me, you already know I would not pay that. However, on my new iPod, I have an app called iBooks. The digital version of the book was only $9.99--yes, please!
Her book was amazing. It inspired me. She's all about finding your inner purpose. That's what I have been trying to accomplish the past five years, to no avail. I've tried a few different things and keep scratching them off my list. I'm ready to find something that works for me and my lifestyle. New year, new ambitions.
I'm not really sure what I need to try next. I know I have about six months left here in Austin for sure, so I'm thinking big. I'm thankful for my job, but I guess I am selfish for not being satisfied completely with it. Do you know what I mean by "satisfied"? I want to delve into something and be truly good at it, but I also want to feel inspired and learn more. If you lose your interest, are you done learning, or just bored?
Am I crazy to be 23 and want to actually enjoy work? I mean truly enjoy it. I feel like I know my job pretty well, and I feel great when I help people every day, but I like ladders. I like goals and seeing what is the next step. How can I push myself even further?
That's what 2011 will be about for me. I'm kind of excited to be looking for more things to scratch off of my list. I should probably start running and start eating more fruits and vegetables, too. But let's not get too crazy.
The second most important investment that I made over the break was in a little book by Kelly Cutrone titled, "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside". Love it. This book was approximately $26 at my local bookstore. For those of you who know me, you already know I would not pay that. However, on my new iPod, I have an app called iBooks. The digital version of the book was only $9.99--yes, please!
Her book was amazing. It inspired me. She's all about finding your inner purpose. That's what I have been trying to accomplish the past five years, to no avail. I've tried a few different things and keep scratching them off my list. I'm ready to find something that works for me and my lifestyle. New year, new ambitions.
I'm not really sure what I need to try next. I know I have about six months left here in Austin for sure, so I'm thinking big. I'm thankful for my job, but I guess I am selfish for not being satisfied completely with it. Do you know what I mean by "satisfied"? I want to delve into something and be truly good at it, but I also want to feel inspired and learn more. If you lose your interest, are you done learning, or just bored?
Am I crazy to be 23 and want to actually enjoy work? I mean truly enjoy it. I feel like I know my job pretty well, and I feel great when I help people every day, but I like ladders. I like goals and seeing what is the next step. How can I push myself even further?
That's what 2011 will be about for me. I'm kind of excited to be looking for more things to scratch off of my list. I should probably start running and start eating more fruits and vegetables, too. But let's not get too crazy.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Wanted: Amazing Job
I've been staring at wanted ads for months, always keeping one eye out for an amazing job. It's funny to me that you never see the other spectrum of the job hunting process: a description of what the job seeker desires. This is what my ad would look like.
Journalism graduate seeking full-time position that requires critical thinking skills, creativity and strict attention to detail. A strong work ethic and dedication are two of my most important qualities. The position must include utilizing my writing, organizational and communication abilities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
B.A. in Mass Communication, with an emphasis in Print Journalism from SHSU
SKILLS:
- Strong work ethic
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Expert multi-tasker
- 2+ years of managerial/supervisory experience
- Ability to handle customer service issues as they arise
- Knowledge of Adobe CS4, Microsoft Office, and iWork
DESIRED RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop story ideas and generate content as needed by the employer
- Utilize organizational skills to improve communication and effectiveness of overall tasks
- Heavy interaction with many people on a daily basis
- Handle customer service issues as they arise with a friendly demeanor
- Write for hours on end, with attention to AP Style
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Former Associate Editor for Your Austin Home & Lifestyle Magazine
- Former Entertainment/Copy Editor for The Houstonian
- Currently working in production field
If you feel like I would be a great match for a position, please send me a cover letter highlighting your accomplishments and a fact sheet about your company. Please include your salary history for this position and three recommendations from current employees.
Journalism graduate seeking full-time position that requires critical thinking skills, creativity and strict attention to detail. A strong work ethic and dedication are two of my most important qualities. The position must include utilizing my writing, organizational and communication abilities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
B.A. in Mass Communication, with an emphasis in Print Journalism from SHSU
SKILLS:
- Strong work ethic
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Expert multi-tasker
- 2+ years of managerial/supervisory experience
- Ability to handle customer service issues as they arise
- Knowledge of Adobe CS4, Microsoft Office, and iWork
DESIRED RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop story ideas and generate content as needed by the employer
- Utilize organizational skills to improve communication and effectiveness of overall tasks
- Heavy interaction with many people on a daily basis
- Handle customer service issues as they arise with a friendly demeanor
- Write for hours on end, with attention to AP Style
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Former Associate Editor for Your Austin Home & Lifestyle Magazine
- Former Entertainment/Copy Editor for The Houstonian
- Currently working in production field
If you feel like I would be a great match for a position, please send me a cover letter highlighting your accomplishments and a fact sheet about your company. Please include your salary history for this position and three recommendations from current employees.
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