'Tis the Season...

..and that's why I have a job right now. I am working customer service at a company that sells cheesy catalog gifts, and I'm not just being funny, some of the gifts really are cheese! I'm working at Figi's Gifts in Good Taste answering phones and mostly placing phone orders. It's just a seasonal job, but at least I'll be able to help out a little with Christmas presents and bills this month...or just presents. It could turn into a part-time job after the season, and that would be nice.

Wedding planning has gone a little further since my last post. We've got some catering things going like throwing around menu ideas, blocked out guest rooms at a few hotels, and decided against having a florist and instead, I'm going to hire friend and family to crochet, knit, and sew yarn and fabric bouquets. I saw some things while researching weddings on the Offbeat Bride blog and on Pinterest.

So, I stumbled across this wedding and this one while I was perusing the Offbeat Bride blog and they inspired me. I love DIY projects, I'm just not very handy or crafty, but I try to be. One of the brides made a paper flower bouquet and I loved how it looked so I thought of other non-live flower things that bouquets could be made of and I thought of yarn and fabric.

These are just a few examples of what I've seen. DIY bouquets sparked my DIY bone and now I want to craft everythin! AH! Just go check out my Pinterst board. 

So, that is what I have been up to. It's been pretty nice lately and hopefully I'll find a job more related to my area of study! 

Career change?

I graduated in May and was hoping to find something related to my degree or related to what I want to do. You know, reporting, editing, or even a volunteer gig at the library - none of that has happened. I thought it might be easier than it is; I have a four year degree you know?

Well, my ambition, four year degree, and hours of job applications has not landed me one job offer yet. I've been on the hook of one for about a month now and that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I decided that I need to have a job and be doing something until something else opens up. The area we live in is saturated with all jobs medical and computer science like. To get my foot in the door, I've decided to apply for pharmacy technician positions and might even go back to school for medical assisting! It's a little different than what I have been planning on, but at least I get to help people! 

Since I'm not working I have plenty of time during the day to watch talk shows like Ellen, The New Ricki Lake Show, The Chew, and a few others. I can't remember which show I saw it on, but they were talking about starting over and "second lives" - for example, one woman had been married with a kid. She then got divorced later and her son went on to do his own thing, she had an empty nest and wanted to do something new so she enlisted and went to boot camp and is now a part of the military. I'm not going to be joining the military or anything later in life, but who says that I can't work now and have my dream job, or something close to my dream job, later in life? 

So, for now, I am going to focus on saving up some money for our wedding next year and for paying off student loans. It may not be exactly what I want to do, but it kind of is in a way. I'll be giving back and be a part of a community. 

Wedding planning is on!

I know that I keep promising to post more, and I do it all the time! Like in every single post, sorry. I also have no excuses since I'm not working yet, but hopefully something will pan out soon. I've been waiting on a few places very patiently but can't wait anymore so I'm starting to get a little more motivated and take matters into my own hands. I've been working really hard on my resume and a cover letter that I plan on mailing out to a few libraries in the area so I can get my foot in the door to my dream career path. 

Anyway, let's getting to the exciting part of the post! Wedding planning! As you may know (I still can't believe I address readers like I have 'em), I got engaged back in May to my best friend. He really is something special and I can't wait to start this next chapter of our relationship together. I love him and he loves me.

At first the planning was a little rough and didn't go very smoothly. We had a venue crisis, meaning I was a little hesitant to actually go ahead and book the place because I was scared that it wasn't going to be right. After that, the fiance and I talked about it and we totally changed the city we are getting married in and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm going to admit it, when I learned the first venue option was booked up and no longer a possibility for our date range, I cried and got a little angry at the fiance for not being more involved with planning, but that could be my fault for assuming that guys want to plan a wedding as much as girls do - what was I thinking? Now, I couldn't be happier that that happened! 

We're getting married in Duluth next September down by the greatest lake - Lake Superior! We are now within 11 months of the big day and I'm not stressed with wedding planning yet - even though the only things we have booked for sure are the ceremony venue, the reception venue, and a photographer. The other things don't matter, right? Ha! 

I want to go dress shopping so badly right now, but I also want to lose weight and get in shape before the big day and I'm not sure how much weight I can lose after I buy a dress. I know that some seamstresses can do just about anything, but for a price! What's the point of buying a thousand dollar dress and then spending another couple hundred dollars on alterations? If I had an endless budget, maybe I would. Let's be real though!

It's been over a month...

...sorry.

I can't say that I've been all that busy either. Mostly, just doing stuff around the house and sort of trying to find a job. I'm exceptionally fond of not working, what can I say?

So, I am going to start actually doing Pinterest projects and baking Pinterest food - and of course I will document all of it and share it with you. It's something, right?

Isn't it crazy how much a blog can change over the course of it's life? Existence? It just goes to show you that writing is organic. Always growing and changing.

Today is also the first day of school...and for the first time in over 17 years, I did not go to school today!

That's about it for an update.

Lookout for some crafty projects and mouthwatering food!

What I've been doing.

So, I haven't been blogging regularly for the past few weeks because I've been busy, scout's honor!

I've been job hunting. Every other day I check multiple online job boards and go out on the town job hunting. It's a rough life. No one is hiring and they barely have anything available for volunteering. I might not be looking in the right places though.

I went on vacation. I know that I don't work, so really it was doing what I always do but in a different location for a week. It was splendid though, even though it was freaking hot for over half of the trip. I love going to the lake cabin.

I'm running/training for a 5k. Well, multiple 5k's - one to support SAVE and the other is for the MN State Fair. I am so excite for both. Slowly, but surely, I am going to be a runner. You know the type, right? They run for fun and other people think they are nuts because they run in all sorts of weather...year round.

I've been relaxing...and writing other things, like cover letters and some fiction work I might publish with Amazon Kindle. It's kind of neat how it works. You publish books electronically and can make some money from the royalties.

Other than that I haven't been up to much. Stay tuned, there might be some cool news ahead.

I'm rich!

Today while I was spending wonderful time on Pinterest, I came across a wonderful quote that is kind of comforting in a way.

After I read it initially I wasn't really thinking about it and then after a little bit I scrolled back up to read it again...and then one more time so it would sink in. I don't need a number followed by a bunch of zeroes in my bank account to make me happy, let alone a job - although it would be nice. 

I have a family that loves me and always wants to see me - no matter what. They've been there for me since I was born and that is just about all I need. Lucky for me, I have more than that even! I have wonderful friends who have been there for me through thick and thin, good times and bad times, boring times and eventful times, etc. You sift through a lot of friends until you find the ones who really are there for you and I am lucky enough to have found them this young. I'm 22-years-old now, just imagine how many years of memories we are going to be able to make together. I have a fiance who loves me, does everything he can for me, and right now is providing everything for me until I can find a job or do something else. I'm rich. Really rich. If my family, friends, and fiance were worth real money I could take care of all of the debt in the world without flinching, and there would still be plenty to go around - for everyone! 

It makes me sick how much people obsess over money. There are, indeed, more things that make up the world. Although, for some people, money is all they've ever known and couldn't fathom having less money because it's been their way of life for so long. I can't say that people should be required to rough it for a while or that they should go visit underprivileged people in other countries, or even our own, but people should stop at least once in their life to think about the priceless things (people) they do have.  

Results?

When I start dieting and training I hope for immediate results - like overnight results - but that never seems to happen, ever! Why should it? You need to work for a while to get a reward, right? I usually give up if I don't see results soon enough but since I am training for something, I can't really give up. It's kind of nice actually, you know, to have something to test all of your hard work and training!

After a little over a week of training for my 5k's in August, I feel a little bit more energetic and I kind of feel lighter and tighter. I have a good ache in my muscles and my feet don't hurt today. I did two-and-a-half kilometers today, which is half of a whole 5k, in 25 minutes. So there is hope that I can actually finish my first 5k in under 50 minutes.

I repeated that little exercise I did yesterday and it wasn't any easier but I know it will pay off since it hurts so much right now. When I push myself to do something that is hard and finish it, I feel so awesome about it - even if it is only four minutes!

Getting from the couch to a 5k!

A few months ago I signed up for two 5k's in August - at the time I thought 3.1 miles would be a breeze but I am learning that one mile for the average couch potato could barely be called a draft (sorry for the terrible wind pun). I've been downloading training apps, just going for runs, eating healthier, etc. and it doesn't seem to get easier. It could be that I am in the middle of training week two, but I wish I didn't feel so out of shape.

Today was a cross-training day and I decided to do Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred and then add onto it a little with the following workout that boasts to have similar outcomes as running 40-60 minutes. I will say that it was difficult, but I think 40-60 minutes of running would be harder and more beneficial. 

I've been looking for jobs for the past few weeks, admittedly not very hard, but I still have been looking and I'm coming up short. I can't seem to find anything I would like to do that has a benefits package. I'm not too worried about how much I would be making as long as I have benefits. 

I'm kind of considering going back to school for an education certificate or maybe a communications certificate. I think I need a little something extra to add to my resume. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my English degree from UMD for the world, but I don't think employers are that impressed with it since I don't really have any additional, related experience. 

If I don't have a "decent" job after July 4th, then I think I might turn in some barista applications!

Le Monday.

Sometimes when I have a great weekend, I really hate when Mondays roll around again. Fiance and I went back to Buffalo for the weekend and had a great time! I have a weekend hangover from all the fun I had. I just want to nap all day and watch movies (I would if the couch was here). 

I got a dresser over the weekend and now I have to fill it up - and do all my other things for the week like find a job, clean the house for the first time, and start REALLY training for my 5k's in August! 

Today is Monday and I already want it to be Friday. 

Home-town sick.

Over the weekend I made a trip back to my hometown to see my baby sister graduate from high school - I refuse to call her anything but my baby sister, no matter how old she is! No matter how often she ticks me off, takes my things, or acts like she doesn't care what I think, I'll still love her to pieces. I can't believe she's already graduated from high school and going to college this fall. It seriously feels like just yesterday she started first grade. I have nothing but the highest hopes for her, I'm so proud.

I also took in a full weekend of softball games at my younger cousin's tourney - she is like my best friend, too! I sat and cheered her on in the windy, dusty, hot sun and enjoyed every minute of it. Needless to say, I am a little sunburned now and paying for it. My little munchkin is going to be turning 16-years-old next week and getting her license. I can't believe how fast they grow up - but people said that about me as well!

To top it all of, my little brother made me pancakes before I left on Monday morning! He can be a little rowdy sometimes and misbehave, but he's still my sweet little brother. His pancakes may not be homemade or anything but they were warm and he's got a secret to making them fluffy!

I don't know if I want to get a job - I won't be able to just take off for the weekend if I get one! I kind of like being able to just get up and go when I want to. I need money to do those sorts of things though. Growing up is no fun! Well, except living on your own like an adult and making dinner and stuff - just like grown ups do!

Training.

I slept in today, until about 9:30 when Fiance came home from work without warning to get a piece of mail so he could vote today - it freaked me out. See, I was lying in bed somewhere between sleepy and ready to get out of bed when I heard keys and doors opening and thought our landlord was coming in under the impression that no one was home. I should have known better, people aren't that rude. 

Anyway, I got up and had a few cups of delicious and much needed coffee - waking up was a struggle today since Jillian kicked my @$$ yesterday. I started the 30 Day Shred yesterday and this morning I realize that I have muscles that I don't use on a regular basis, or I haven't used on a regular basis and from now on will be using. Today is day two and I was not enthusiastic to push play but I did anyways because I know that no one gets sexier by sitting on the couch and thinking about working out. After Jillian finished kicking my @$$ for the day I went for a short jog, probably about a mile. Once I figure out how to use my jogging app I will be able to post my run routes. 

On August 11th I am running the Emotions in Motion 5k Run/Walk put on by SAVE in memory of my uncle who was a war veteran who proudly served his country. I am also running the Milk Run 5k Race on August 26th with my soon-to-be-sister-in-law! Honestly, I can't say that I have ever ran more than one mile consecutively, unless I was on some machine like an elliptical.

I signed up for said 5k's because I want to get in shape and haven't really had the motivation to do so and I figured putting some money down and registering for some 5k's would help get my @$$ into gear and so far it's working, but I'm only on day two of training. Hoping this goes well! 

Job hunting.

Job hunting is a tough business. It takes a long time and you can't be too picky the first time around. I've always romanticized my first real job and of course it's a six figure salary and I work the hours I want to work. Of course, we all know that that rarely happens to anyone - unless you are really lucky! 

I've been looking for jobs in the central-ish Wisconsin area and am coming up empty. It's been about a month since I've started my hunt for a job, any job really, and there isn't anything that really suits my fancy. I've looked through newspapers, internet databases, Twitter, and other postings - still can't seem to find anything I like. I got all these good tips for job hunting and resume building from one of my favorite college professors but I can't seem to execute her advice in the manner that I'd been hoping. 

Maybe if I am persistent enough my blog can generate some money or something but I don't think recent-college-graduate-living-at-home-telling-stories-about-what-she-does-with-all-her-free-time-and-sometimes-a-fitness-post is a very original genre for a blog. 

If I don't find a job related to my degree in the next six months I plan on getting into the floral business just because it isn't the coffee business - can't be too stereotypical now. 

I'm an adult now.

I graduated from the wonderful institution known as the University of Minnesota - Duluth with a degree in English which means I am going to live a glamorous life reading literature, writing a blog, and drinking coffee from wonderful parts of the world every single day for the rest of my life. Alas, the real world isn't like that for all English graduates - let a lone any percent of them really.

I can dream, right?

Everyone is telling me, or asking me, to get into teaching because I'm such a nice, caring person who could shape and mold young minds and prepare them for greatness. I believe that could be me one day, but not right now. I could see that happening in the future though when I have given up on my dreams of hitting in big as an independent publisher in some awesome city like Denver or Seattle. Don't get me wrong, teaching would be great as long as by the time I start doing that I have done something that I loved doing and have at least one cool by-line.

I just got engaged to one of the most incredible people that I know and couldn't be happier about it. We moved into a cute, spacious two-bedroom apartment(duplex) and I get to decorate, yay! Finally, all of my boards on Pinterest are becoming more useful and I don't feel like a crazy person for "decorating" my future home and "planning" my wedding!

Mr. Fiance works at a clinic doing software development things, programming, and other nerdy things that I only sometimes understand. I should have gotten into that field - they are always needed and make good money. He has a good job here but the job market on my end isn't really looking that awesome so I am going to either take some more classes or work a retail job - or as a barista - full-time, or at least part-time, until I can find something more related to the last four years of hard work I've done.

Hopefully I can continue blogging since I have all this free time!

7 and 1.

There are seven weeks of class and one week of finals left before I graduate...and boy do I feel the senior slide coming. In other words, it's already here! I'm just trying to think of all the things I have to do before I graduate, like go up to Grand Marais for a weekend, hike around Chester Park, go to Canal Park a whole bunch - darn, these don't sound too academic do they? The hard part of graduating soon is balancing my social life and my studies so that I don't go crazy.

I'm so, so, soooooo sorry that I haven't been keeping up with the blog. I've just been busy and thinking about other things. I really need to go get coffee every Saturday morning and sit in the coffee shop on my laptop doing homework and stuff. I want to be "that girl" who goes to the coffee shop every morning and looks like she is doing super awesome productive things. One day I will sip on coffee and write major theater works, sigh. 

Last week I was in Panama City Beach, Florida, which is a mecca for college students on spring break. At first, I didn't think I was cut out for spring break. I don't care much for hot weather, tanning, or drinking all day, everyday. But, I had a great time. The ocean was beautiful, the people were fun, our condo was a dream, and I enjoyed laying out on the beach tanning. Panama City  Beach was fabulous. Of course I saw all the "normal" things you would see on spring break like a wet t-shirt contest, drunks passed out on the beach, and a foam party. So ridiculous but it's kind of a once in a lifetime sort of thing.(I promise I will add photos of spring break to this post later).

I am in the process of getting my resume and cover letter ready to send out for two "big girl" jobs. I am applying for a Financial Aid Adviser at a UW school in the middle of Wisconsin and I am also applying to be an Academic Adviser at a different UW school in the middle of Wisconsin. Applications are due next week and I always feel like they are never 100% ready to send off. Wish me luck! 

And, I am going to start running outside. It is soooo nice out!

Getting closer to the end!

Okay.

So.

I'm not doing a very good job at posting everyday. Also not doing very good at posting once a week.

Sorry. I am truly sorry. 

School is going pretty good this semester other than the fact that I have caught a bad case of senioritis. I am keeping up on my important (the stuff that isn't super boring and tedious) homework. I am getting decent marks so far this semester and plan to keep it that way. I still procrastinate, which is something I've been working on since sophomore year but a procrastinator procrastinates on trying to cure their procrastination habit - always. I guess I just need deadlines that aren't so far out from the time something is assigned. 

Dieting and exercising is going alright. I haven't been exercising everyday like I planned (haven't even been exercising more than three times a week). I know that I am not going to have my beach body in three weeks but I can work harder in the next three weeks to hopefully be closer to my goal. I am going to have to be a little more strict with my eating habits in the next three weeks as well. More greens and less sugar! 

Umm, what else is new? Not a whole lot really. Just job hunting and trying to retain my sanity for the rest of the semester. 

What I ate today.

So.
I've been told to start an eating journal because it helps you lose weight and become more health conscious. I have a hard time doing it every day unless I am accountable to someone else so I have decided to share with all of you what I eat every day. Sorry, if it gets annoying or too much. Just let me know and I will cut back on the amount I do it! (Maybe it could just be a Wednesday specialty?)

Breakfast-
2 servings of FiberPlus Cinnamon Oat Crunch Cereal
1/2 cup skim milk

First Lunch-
Strawberry Chobani Yogurt
Mini Babybel Cheese - Original
1 imitation crab leg

Second Lunch-
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Granola
1 Banana
2 imitation crab legs
1 Orange
Kellog Mixed Berry Fruit Snack

Dinner-
2 slices of banana bread
1 small bag of Funyuns
Handful of grapes

Not exactly the best way to end the day but those Funyuns were delicious and really not that bad for me. I was surprised about the small amount of calories, lowish sodium, and there was only 12% of my daily fat in it....so, I guess I am rationalizing for a crappy choice.

Anyways, that's what I ate today and I am feeling pretty good. I've been working out pretty regularly and drinking lots of water. I may not be losing the weight I want to but I feel better!

Resolutions can start in February, right?

So my blogging resolution has not been working out very well. I even promised you a first day of class post a few days ago and that hasn't happened either. Needless to say, I have been very busy these past two weeks. There is just so much to do with work and school that when I get free time I just want to sit and do absolutely nothing. Well, by nothing I mean watch television, cook, Pinterest, etc.

I can tell you a little about classes this semester though; they are fun! I thought this semester was going to be a little on the boring side considering I am taking the last few classes I missed along the way to wrap up my major. I had no idea they were going to be interesting and fun. Although, it may be a little early to make that judgement for one or two of my classes. I think the most beneficial class I am taking is Conflict Management because, let's face it, there is always going to be conflict - no matter what! I also love my professor for that class; she is so much fun! I also have an advanced writing class in the Arts and Letters. Basically, we are going to be writing press releases, reviews, letters, recommendations and the like. I am already trying to incorporate some of the things we are talking about into my regular writing. We've been encouraged to use the semicolon and to use it often! As for the other classes, I am taking: French Cinema, Popular Culture in the 1960's, and Women, Race and Class.

I have been doing a pretty good job at staying away from fast food, eating healthier, and making it to the gym more often. So, hooray for those things!

Ciao!

Coming Soon...

...First Day of Class post.

Too tired tonight to do it but I'll let you know all about it later.

Obviously, it was exhausting.

Rocky Start.

So, my new years resolutions aren't going as planned. I thought I'd be more committed to the gym and would look super cool sitting on my couch and drinking coffee while cranking out awesome short stories that would surely win some sort of award but that isn't the case.

I did go to the gym this week. I was on the elliptical for about forty minutes and then did a teeny tiny bit of weight training. It was a good start I guess but I really screwed it up when I got home and ate like I was a 12-year-old with a crazy insane metabolism. So, what I learned is that I need to come up with healthier snacks that I don't feel so bad about eating. I think it might be time to say goodbye to Cheez-its. It's going to be a sad breakup but it has to happen. I  mean, I already broke up with Taco Bell and McDonald's.

The writing resolution is okay though. I've been reading other writing blogs and advice columns. I have been using my Idea Notebook, so that's good. I have this book called The Modern Library Writer's Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch and, as you could probably guess, it's about writing fiction. It's actually pretty good. I haven't read straight through it though. I've kind of been skipping around it only reading what really jumps out at me, you know, the things I need to work on. I read in there that maybe you could start with an ending to a story and then go and start at the beginning, knowing what you are writing towards. So I wrote the ending to a sad, predictable drama about a woman in the hospital who has two lovers and I'm not crazy about it. It's a start though, I guess, and since I started it I have to finish it. I'll let you know how it goes though and even though I am embarrassed by it, I'll share it later too.

Anyways, I have a friend coming over and we're making dinner - something healthy of course since we want a damn good dessert.

Stumble Upon.

So, to start off my year of writing I've been "stumbling" through the internet to find tips about writing. I'm sure all of you, or at least some of you, have hear of StumbleUpon and know that you can "stumble" specific subjects and that is what I have been doing. I have been "stumbling" all things writing.

A few things I have learned today have kind of helped me get over my fear of being boring. I also learned that everything can be fixed after it is written. I thought I might share another web page I came across today, the writer is fairly comical and uses mildly inappropriate language but is very helpful and motivating.

25 Things Every Writer Should Know

I haven't actually started writing anything yet but I will soon enough. I guess blogging two days in a row is a start and reading about writing is a step in the write direction. (Sorry, couldn't help the pun.)

New Years Resolutions.

So. If I am serious about two things, one being getting healthy and two being writing, I need to get my rear-end in gear. 

I think the most common New Years resolution is to lose weight/get fit so I don't need to explain that one too much. All I'm going to say is that my jean size is in the double digits and I'd love to see that number in the single digits. Also, my diet could be a little more real, meaning I am going to skip fast food until after March and work on buying food that doesn't come in shiny packaging with expiration dates two years from now. 

I started this blog for a class project during sophomore year with the intent of continuing it, which I have done but I don't feel like I was very successful. I mean, I don't post everyday like I want to, or even every other day. I want to post at least three times a week, every week, all year. If I am really serious about a writing career, I need to be writing as often as I can about as many things as I can. I found an awesome article today with 25 Insights (tips) on Becoming a Better Writer. It's actually a pretty darn good article if I may say so myself. My favorite is number 25. Ann Enright says, "The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page." The last bit there seems to be the most important, actually. 

So, here is to a year of getting fit and writing more.