Christmas!

One of the reasons I really enjoy my job is because of the people I work with. We adopted afamily at work for the holidays, and Rachelle -- the woman who organized it -- mentioned that her and her friends adopted their own family. Amongst themselves, they get together and take care of all of their family's needs.

Thinking it was a really great idea, Jon & I also adopted a family. We got about 6 of our friends involved in it (it really DOES take a village to raise a child!), each taking care of a different aspect of their needs. We received alot 'raised-eyebrow' reactions... Our family is an 18-year old mother with two children, 20 months and 9 months old. They live with her grandmother, who raises the children while the mother attends her senior year of high school.

I'll be the first to admit, it is easy to pass judgement on these people. But at the end of the day, it's about the children. I suppose it's a little narcissistic in a way, because it makes me feel extremely grateful for the people and things in MY life, but I can't help that I am so excited to be able to give this family a great Christmas!

st. louis

I just realized that it's been almost two months since I wrote a posting! If anything, it is an indication of my life so far in St. Louis.

The last weekend in August, Jon came up to Chicago where I was living with my parents. We had a going away party on Saturday, and the next day Jon drove away with ALL my things to St. Louis. The following weekend, I took a one-way Amtrak ticket and one suitcase and headed to StL.

Since then, things have been an absolute whirwind. I started my job a few days later, at the Kelly Mitchell Group. I am in the HR department there and I love it. My coworkers and bosses are all relatively young, and the company is unique in that it is a big company with a small-company environment. (Sort of how people describe StL... a small big city.... or something like that.)

I've also been working at the restaurant on the weekends, mainly Saturdays. That's been really nice because not only do the majority of my St. Louis friends work there, but I can make money while hanging out with them. It's sort of my own outlet here.

We had our housewarming party just two weeks after moving here, which was pretty successful, albeit extremely stressful. Jon began putting up a fence with a goal of finishing in time for the party - which, thankfully, was reached. Additionally, I was also getting used to my job and we were both getting used to living with each other -- as you can imagine, quite a few balls were up in the air.

The next couple weekends, I've got my college girlfriends and my parents both coming into town. I can't wait! Now that everything has settled down, it will be awesome to have them here. It's starting to feel like home here, but it doesn't hurt to have to help in the transition. :)

"Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think"

I read an article tonight in the NYTimes, titled "Your Baby Is Smarter Than You Think." In summary for those that do not want to read the article itself, it is basically saying that children learn the most through 'play' and 'interaction', making programs like No Child Left Behind (which incorporates a structural method of teaching through movies/lecture/etc) less effective. In regards to infants, it says that things such as Baby Einstein videos, educational programming, and ABC flashcards are overrated and not worthy of importance in considering children's cognitive growth.

I get what the author is saying. Don't put baby in a corner. But as as someone who never professionally studied education or psychology, my first reaction is:

Um... DUH!

That's why we teach babies sign language to communicate. Their cognitive skills develop exponentially more quickly than their motor skills. Don't we already know this?

And, while I get that interaction sort of entangles a one-size-fits-all type of learning, I also think that Baby Einstein videos, educational programming, and picture/letter/number flashcards are AWESOME.

Google, I love/hate you...

I figured out how you could access my blog! If you google me, my Twitter profile shows up, and my Twitter profile has a link to my blog. While needless to say, the blog link has been taken off of my Twitter profile, I think it's about time that Twitter has a 'privacy' option. You would think that that's standard, but, I guess not...

Hair

I got my hair cut and highlighted last night, and it took almost THREE hours. I haven't had my hair this short, or light, since I was in Spain my sophomore year of high school and refused to get it cut. I feel like a little kid! :/

Pics later. Maybe.

BLOG

I informed Jen today that I got a new job... and she said they (sort of) already knew, because Jason had read my blog. Not that I have anything to hide (blog rule number one: only write things you would be okay with your mother reading!), but to avoid randoms/people I don't know reading this (there are vlogs on here with my face, and pictures of the babies in way earlier entries) , I thought I had made the blog private.

If anyone is reading this that I did not give the DIRECT link to, can you tell me how you found it? I'm curious as to what I am doing wrong...

I am so excited...

... because one of my closest friends in the world, Stacey, gets back from Japan tomorrow night and I get to finally see her -- after an entire year! -- on Thursday! Three weeks in the same city, let's do some damage...

Train Thoughts

I'm riding on the Amtrak back to Chicago, and it's one of the last couple rides I'll be taking in what has been a very long year of Amtrak trips. Some people think I'm crazy for leaving almost every other Friday. While most people are getting ready to meet their boyfriends for dinner, or meeting their friends for cocktails, I'm boarding a train. Amtrak has all the amenities of home, though - outlets for computer and phone chargers, a cafe car for dining, and a bathroom for, well, you know. So, I download a movie off of iTunes, tuck a book in my purse, and pack a pillow in my suitcase. Everything I need, all within a couple feet of me. I like to think of it as a quiet night in.

As most of my blog followers (the few of you that there are!) know, I was offered a job in Saint Louis. I began looking a month or two ago, mainly on Craigslist, and mainly to appease Jon. I was my not-so-secret hope that I wouldn't get hired, because I really sort of enjoy my job in Chicago. While nannying is also not very glamorous, it is probably one of the most rewarding jobs I can imagine. However, the job I was offered was not one that I applied for off of Craigslist (see - my plan would have worked brilliantly!). However, I do think that this job is a blessing in disguise. If I were to love anything corporate, I think it would be this company. And, for the sake of my relationship - which has gone through quite a bit in the last year - I think it's time.

But, here's the thing.

It's scary.

I'm giving up everything for a boy.

Is that not the stuff we are told as little girls never to do? We are raised as the Y-generation -- to be strong and independent. Save dependency issues for our grandparents generation. Make your own money, make your own life.

Yet here I am doing just the opposite.

I don't want these feelings of vulnerability to be confused with doubt. It's just that this experience is making me grow up quickly and really account for my actions, which is a heavy thing. An adult thing. For those who have followed this blog from the beginning, you know where I was at in my life almost exactly a year ago. I have to accept or decline this position by Thursday, and when I do, my start date will be exactly one year after the start date of my first post-college position. The things that can happen in a year -- I'm overwhelmed.

Job Offer

Last Tuesday (a week ago), I received a phone call from one of Jon's friend's, Joe. He works for an IT consulting/staffing firm in STL and wanted to know if I was still job-hunting. Obviously, I was/am...However, the position he had available was for an executive administrator. A glorified secretary, if you will. Not the most ideal position, and the pay was nothing to write home about, but I figured I wasn't in a position to be picky.

Since last Tuesday, I've had a phone interview and an in-person and interview. This morning, I was offered the position. The pay rate that they were looking to pay was $26,000- $30,000; Although I am entry level, I really feel that any employee these days is worth $30,000 MINIMUM. So, in the Interview, I asked for more money.... And -- ASK and you SHALL RECEIVE!

I'm really excited about working with this company, and now, I've just got to pass the drug test & background check. More on that, later...

Interview

I've got a job interview tomorrow. It's for an executive-level admin position at an IT consulting company -- after a year, I choose what direction/path I want to take in the company and given that there's an opening, will hopefully receive a promotion and be on my way. I'm really excited, the company has been ranked numerous times in Forbes, Time, and a multitude of organizations as one of the fastest growing companies and one of the best companies to work for. The pay is shit, which is why I'm a little concerned... but, if all else fails, I might be dusting off the old Vito's apron and strappin one on during the weekends. (That's what she said.)


Wish me good luck!

RIP

Michael Jackson died June 25 2009. This was my favorite MJ...

Jon & Kate

We all know that reality television is something that has come around in approximately the past ten years. For the past few years, Jon & Kate Plus 8 has been one of my favorite shows. I felt like these two really had it nailed down. Today, they announced that they were splitting, something that doesn't surprise many. In fact, historically, the majority of families that have experienced reality television have seen marriages dissolve. It really makes me wonder what it is about human nature and money and fame that tears people apart.

If you've been asked, "What would you do with a million dollars", I bet one of the first things most people respond with is, "I'd buy this, and I'd buy that, Blah Blah Blah, but I'd be the same person I am today."

But, more likely than not, you would NOT be the same person you are today.

Is it the money? The fame? What is it that tears these people apart???

[As a sidenote, I think Jon & Kate are f'ing stupid. They are choosing to continue their reality show, instead of saving their marriage. That is so ass backwards that I can't help but think how incredibly selfish they are.]

I've Started the J-O-B hunt.

And I've only applied to three jobs, but that's all it takes to remember how insignificant job hunting can make you feel. Interviewing? Love it. It's getting the interview. GETTING THE INTERVIEW. How to effing get the interview. I can nail it once I'm there, but on paper? I don't dazzle.

And, this is me in the excited phase of job hunting. The optimistic stage.

It's going to be a long next few months.

Limbo

The other day, I was having a conversation with my friend Kristin about getting myself back into shape and into the gym. I was saying that, albeit it being rainy and sooo not summer weather yet, it soon would be. When that time came around, I wouldn't feel comfortable getting into a bathing suit like I have the past years. [I've put on about 10-12 lbs in the last year and half!] I was going on and on about it, and she looked and me like I was crazy and said

"But you're not fat!"

Which is true. I'm not fat.

The trouble with that is that it's very to lose inspiration to keep with it, because you think "I can eat just this one cookie -- it's not like I'm fat," but really, the truth is that I'm not comfortable with my body, so mentally that should put me in the same category as people that ARE overweight.

Instead, it's just lingers in this certain sort of 'limbo' of the dieting world. How frustrating is THAT!

Heidi/Spencer

In response to my friend Ellen's post, I want to get a few words out about Speidi. Just for the record.

I, too, am contributing to their mindless popularity by writing about them; however, unlike many others, I cannot stand to watch them for more than a few seconds. As soon as I hear words come out of Spencer's mouth, I am aghast. Cannot believe that people like him really exist.

I really, really, would like to get inside that boy's mind and know what the hell is going on in here?!

I am still forming my opinion of Jimmy Fallon. Help.

Cruise. One Month Later.

Or post pics.

So a little over a month ago, Jon and I went on our first vacation together. Let me start of by saying that I love my boyfriend, but this trip basically left quite a bit to be desired. And not in a 'you'll look back one day and think it was funny' type of way.

I feel bad saying that, because I know that it was this HUGE trip for us that cost a ton of money and time off of work, etc., and I actually do have a ton of great memories of the trip, its just that we had idealized about being able to spend so much time together and doing all these awesome things together, and then we just were picking fights with each other and getting annoyed with each other -- not what either of us expected. I don't know how to explain it, but it felt like for the first time since we'd met that we just weren't on it.

I'll keep the memories (the good and the bad) for myself, because there really are too many to explain. From our 'adventure' in Jamaica, and the goofy couple we sat with our first night, and the piano bar, and the 24 hr pizza bar, and meetings friends in the hottub to everything else. There is noone else I would have rather gone through it all with -- the good and the bad.

JACKPOT.

We bought a house!

It is the house that we originally wanted to buy. Jon had to go up alot from the price that he originally wanted, which was a little frustrating. But WE GOT IT! YAYYAYAYAYAYAYA!

I love it, and I am so beyond excited to begin this next chapter of my life.

Really, a beautiful piece of music...

I Wish...

I wish for alot of things, but today, I wish I could live the life of an 8-month old baby. Sleep, eat, play. ::Sigh:: Sleep. Ahh.

0-2

Last Sunday, I was in STL for Sam's First Communion. On Saturday, we spent HOURS upon HOURS driving around looking for houses and came up with zilch. We ended going into a few of them, but they were nothing special. There was a house I really wanted to see, though, and so we set something up for Sunday afternoon. At the last minute, I decided to try to just find one more house to fit in before the communion, just to make the most of our day. We ended up loving the 'spur of the moment' house, but then found out that, although it had only been on the market 17 days, it had two offers on the table already. If we wanted to make a bid, we would have to do so by Monday morning (less than 24 hours!), because the agent was going to present the offers to the owner. So, we went ahead and wrote a contract, but only offered a moderate amount for the house, being that we had only been able to walk through it once and hadn't had time to really sit down and crunch numbers to see what we could come up with. We figured if we could get it at a decent price that would be amazing because we DID love it, but it was just too quick to offer an amount that may or not have been to high, or even worse, too high for us to afford.

We didn't get the house.

It was exciting, it was our first 'official' contract, but I think Jon & I are both okay with the fact that we didn't get the house. The timing was just too quick for us, and we figured we were lucky to have been able to at least put in an offer.

So, the search continues.

House Hunting, Pt. 2342423498234

Since we lost the bid on the house a couple weeks ago, it's back to the drawing board again. But we keep finding the SAME houses for sale. The same ones that are on the market are the ones that we didn't want to bid on a couple months ago. We still don't. This is SO frustrating!

Just needed to vent.

Will post pics of the cruise when I upload Jon's camera. (Since mine is GONE!)

People Watching

...might be one of my favorite things to do. Jon & I just got back from a 6 day cruise in Key West, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, and it had some of THE best people watching EVER.

I wish I didn't lose my camera so I had proof. :/

This house thing is harder than I thought.

We got our offer turned down. They didn't even counter. This market sucks -- its a buyers market -- who doesn't counter! I am FRUSTRATED. This sucks.

i like it.

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

I have an online shopping problem.

And it needs to stop.

SSI Parade

I haven't been to the SSI Parade in YEARS - probably four or five. Every one of those years I have really, really tried to be there, andd due to one thing or another, something has come up. {Example: This year, two days before the parade I came down with an ear infection AND a respitory infection. Needless to say, I spent Parade day in bed.} And now, I won't have the CHANCE to do it again, because THEY ARE CANCELLING THE PARADE!

According to www.southsideirishparade.org, it has gotten too big and out of control. Um, sorry, usually something like that brings MONEY and REVENUE to a city and is a GOOD thing.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

House Hunting

I'm a big fan of HGTV. Property Virgins is my favorite, but I could really just sit around and watch it for hours straight - I find it interesting. On Property Virgins, one of the the things they always talk about it combining the individual tastes of each person in order to find the 'perfect house.' They always make it look SO freakin' easy! Jon & I are house hunting right now, and are both first-timers at it. Unfortunately, we both have VERY different ideas of what we both want, which is making it extremely hard to even get through the house-hunting phase of it. We are both extremely stubborn, and both thing what we want is, uh, obviously the best. (duh.) For example - he wants a better house -- more bang for his buck, if you will -- and is willing to be open to not as nice neighborhoods to get it, whereas I think we can get a decent house that's not huge (there are only two of us!) in the neighborhood we want. The problem is that neither of us is WRONG, but neither of us is RIGHT.... it's strictly preference. And it's frustrating.

Downside

The kids have been sick for about three weeks, and this past Friday I finally caught whatever it is they had. It happens to also be parade weekend. What AWFUL timing.

6 Months Ago...

For lack of anything better to do (the girls are both napping.) I thought get on the horse again (is that the saying?) and update this blog. More for myself than anyone else, since I'm pretty sure I'm the ONLY one that sees it, but none the less.

When I started this blog, I was in such a different place and doing what I am doing now is the LAST place I thought I'd end up. I can't even begin to desribe, in retrospect, how much I absolutely hated my job. I understood when I took the job that working from home would be a big challenge. There's quite a bit of self-discipline involved, and although I don't have alot, my lack of self-discipline is not the reason I did not like my job or stay at it. The biggest problem was that I was not MANAGED. Basically, when my boss sent me off to Chicago, he told me "treat my sales position as if this were my own company." He gave me the freedom to do WHATEVER I wanted. With no client base in Chicago, I was literally expected to spend 50-60 hours a week building a successful business from ground zero. With no past work experience OR specific schooling in Marketing (or Sales for that matter), I was bewildered with where to begin. I had no direction, no clear expectations, and no supervision. What the HELL was my boss thinking? Of course my venture into a new market, and thus his venture into a new market, was unsuccessful -- it was doomed from the beginning. It was not from the actual job that I gained experience at that position -- it was from what was LACKING at that job that I learned a TON.

Besides for the dislike for the position, the economy played a huge role in my getting laid off/leaving from the company. There was, almost literally, no business coming in. I knew it was going to happen weeks before it actually did, and had many conversations about what was going to happen when it came. Applying for and getting a nanny position the same day my position ended at the company was a little bit luck, but moreso planning. I needed to get my bills paid, and being the stubborn, independent person that I was, would not depend on anybody else for that. It would give them leverage to say "I Told You So" about my financial decisions, which I would not have. And so, I happened upon finding some great families. What was meant to be temporary is going to last longer than 'a month or so until I find a real job.' This is MY real job. In fact, I did go on a couple interviews, and turned down a "real" job -- I like what I do. Every aspect of it fits what I need right now, and hey -- If it's not broken, don't fix it.

So, looking back, it's amazing at how things can change. I have a feeling that over the next few years, there's going to be a lot of 'big' decisions being made that will determine the course of where the next 10,15, years go. And that's exciting!!



[Quick Update: Nannying is great. My days go by pretty quickly, which is hard to conquer in the winter months. I'm getting cabin fever, though, and I think so are all the kids. Thank GOD that hopefully the subarctic weather is finally over with, because now I will be able to go out and about during the day with the kids, which is AWESOME and going to make the day fly by even quicker.]

Mediocrity

I've got to remember to write on this thing more... a few weeks go by and I think, "I haven't posted in awhile..." Usually, it's because nothing too interesting has happened. Like today, for example. But, I am going to post anyway. ::Sigh::

I started my new *job this week and last week. Nannying. I actually Nanny for two different families, both with a set of twins. The first family has two 3-month old girls named Gabriella & Arianna who are incredibly adorable. I babysit them two days a week and they have incredible perfect parents, an incredibly perfect house, and an incredibly perfect life. I'm jealous. The second set is Gwen & Charlie, whom I *nanny three days a week. They also seem adorable, although tomorrow is my first day. Seeing as they are about a year and a half and almost in their terrible twos, I'm going to go ahead and assume that they are not going to be as incredibly cute & loveable - but we will see. I can't wait until it gets warmer out and we can go to parks and frolick around lincoln park.

I'm really, really happy about my decision to Nanny for the next 6-8 months before I move back to STL*. It's something that I really enjoy doing, and I am able to make way more money doing this than I would at an entry-level job. I know in the long-run, I won't be able to work my salary up, but I am not worried about the 'long-run' - I have bills to pay. Now. Bills that need to be paid now, and I need a quick fix. Hence, a cash job that I love doing. Hopefully, I will be able to save up enough money to get settled in Saint Louis for a few months before I either go back to school or get a good job.

*JOB - Or in my case, nannying.
*Nanny - An uppity word for 'babysitter.' Yes, uppity.
*STL - YES, I am moving back to STL. If you have questions, ASK.

Post Christmas

I've finally got a day off, and what do I do? I watch Nip/Tuck Season 5.... almost all of it one day. Pathetic.

And, by a 'day off', I'm referring to the fact that I have nothing 'optional' that I am choosing to 'do'...like go out in public. Because as someone who is unemployed, I essentially have many days off.

The past two weeks have been amazing. I spent them in Saint Louis with Jon. Technically, I was there for 12 days. It felt like 2. When I think back, we didn't have a TON to do... but let's see. Christmas Day. Family Party No. 1. New Years Eve. New Years Day. Spa Day. Family Party No. 2. Day with Jess & New Baby. I loved having SO much to do and it was the first year in a few years that I truly understood what the holidays were about..... going, going, going... reconnecting with people you haven't seen in awhile, spending QT with people you do see, and even spending time with those you see every day. Big dinners, lunches, brunches... Presents... Bright Lights.... Happy people.

My extended family isn't very large, and when you take into account my mom's family in England, it is even smaller around the holidays. Only one family party, which is usually weeks before Christmas, before anyone has even gotten into the holiday spirit. Christmas Eve has has always been so meaningful to my family because we have a 'tradition' and we do it every year.... and it's really the only holiday tradition that we have. I guess you only need one, but Christmas Eve is ours, so it's important to me. To all of us.

Anyways, when all was said and done, this year I got to partake in lots more 'traditions' - even if they weren't all mine. But they were fun and it was happy.... and....

Ugh.

I had a point, but there is music playing in the background and it's half past midnight and I'm totally losing my train of thought.

Basically, my last holiday party took place last Saturday, the 3rd, to close out the holiday season. And looking back at the whirlwind that is Christmas - it was awesome. And I loved it. And I loved everyone I got to spend it with.

And now, let's all have a very merry un-Christmas.