Excitement + Anxiety

Guys, this week has been a crazy mix of excitement and anxiety. I'm excited because I've made some great progress on a personal project, but so anxiety ridden because I have looming deadlines that need attention. For example, I haven't purchased a single Christmas gift. Eekkk! I have less than 12 days to make that happen and I'm trying to be budget conscious this year. Any recommendations? I would LOVE to hear some. Mix that in with Content deadlines and holiday festivities, and we have ourselves a great (read: sweat inducing) time!

Back to the excitement. Although my poor time management has made me sweaty, it really is a great time of year. Pretty white lights everywhere, people put a priority on spending time with one another, and good food as the centerpiece at every function. I'm absolutely thrilled that my best friend will be home in just over a week, and I'm loving the fact that Christmas carols are being sung everywhere. These are the things I need to remember as I'm worrying about a long list of to-dos.

(Photo take at DisneyWorld last Christmas)

What Do You Want to Be?

One of the bloggers I read, Sharon Beesley, just landed a pretty sweet gig at Elizabeth Street (congratulations!) and shared her experience getting to this point. Here is a quick snippet of her post:

PS Jordan Ferney took the above picture of me when I was in Paris a few years ago. One night she asked me what I wanted to be. I told her I really wanted to be a writer. Her response was something like, "You want to be a writer? Great! Call yourself a writer when people ask you what you do. Put it as your occupation on Facebook. There. Now you're a writer." She's the best at going after what she wants without making excuses. I love that about her. She's right--calling myself a writer actually turned me into a writer. This theory doesn't exactly fly for someone who wants to be a brain surgeon, but it works for most other things. What do you want to be? A runner? An artist? A baker? Consider yourself one and watch what happens!

This idea got me thinking about what I would call myself. Right now, I would call myself a manicurist and magazine contributor (because that is what I am doing), but is that what I really want to call myself? To be honest, I'm not sure. I feel more content now than I have for months and I am so grateful for the place I am in. I love my internship and I love the personal interaction I get from being in the salon, but I have zero thoughts for the future. 

Will I stay in the salon long term? Will the magazine take off? Who knows! All I know is that I am ok with where life is right now. I'm not anxiously awaiting the next season or frustrated that I haven't moved onto a new phase; I'm happy. I do like Jordan's advice (and I think that it can be very freeing), but I'm ok with not knowing what my title is yet. 

Do you know what do you want to be? 

Back in the Saddle!

Earlier this week, I shared with you my awesome new job opportunity. I also wanted to share with you another aspect of my new chapter: nails! During college, I worked as a manicurist at a great salon called Los Gatos Nailworks. The salon has been open for over 20 years, it is full of talented women, and is right in the heart of Los Gatos, CA. As I begin my new transition, I have decided to head back into the salon for a few days a week (Wed - Sat) and am really excited about the opportunity.

I started taking clients yesterday and it is as though I never left; my muscle memory kicked in and I felt right at home. Sure, I'll need to take some time to re-build my business since I left to join the corporate world, but that's expected. I'm really looking forward to meeting new people, re-connecting with old clients, and enjoying the flexibility of being my own boss!

If you're interested in coming in for a service (manicure or pedicure), please do! I'd love to spend some time with you. You can call the salon directly (408-354-6245) and ask for an appointment with Stacy. :)

Have a great weekend! 

A New Chapter Begins

Today I start a new job! I have been keeping mum about the change until all of the dust settled and the details were worked out (the transition is also a part of the reason I have been a bit MIA on here). I will be contributing to the Social Media Marketing and Communication team for a non-profit organization called Slavery Footprint. Slavery Footprint builds awareness around modern day slavery and human trafficking, and have an amazingly interactive website (a.k.a. you should check it out). It is a heavy cause, but one that is important and needs to be talked about.

Change can be scary, but sometimes you just have to do it. I'm not totally sure what to expect from my new position, but I'm exited to learn. I'm excited to be working to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people who are being taken advantage of. The topic itself can be daunting, but that doesn't mean I should run away from it either. I'm sure a heavy heart is ahead, but I'm happy to know that I will be working to end human suffering.

Wish me luck!

(p.s. How do you decide what photo best represents a new chapter in your life? I didn't know how to choose, ha! This one was taken in Yosemite in 2011)

Boot Camp

Just last week, my company began offering a weekly boot camp for employees. It is cost-free for participants and takes place during lunch. I expected the whole experience to be totally lame and extremely embarrassing, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. I mean, it was a little embarrassing running around our parking lot, trying to complete as many burpees as possible without looking completely foolish, but overall I really enjoyed myself.

This week was our second session and I was a LOT less motivated than last week. I pushed through my hesitation and I'm glad I did. I completed more push ups than I thought I would, I lasted through more crunches than I have in a while, and I was able to stretch a little further than I normally can. Even if it was just a little bit, I improved from last week. Heck, I'm even looking forward to feeling the "good" sore tomorrow.

Do you work out regularly? Do you have any tips for staying motivated?
(Photo: Shape)

Patience

I am not a very patient person. It is something that I have been working to improve in myself for years (it's the worst with technology and traffic). I want to see results much sooner than would naturally occur. For example, when I graduated with an undergraduate degree, I wanted a high-level position right away. I was impatient with "paying my dues". I realize this sounds bratty, but it was a feeling I struggled with.

Yesterday, Bri from DESIGNLOVEFEST shared how she started her blog and reminded her readers to be patient in the growth process. This was a humble reminder to focus on each post and make sure that my best work is being represented. The lessons I learn through the growing pains will be lessons no one can take from me; they will help create a foundation for my future success. I just need to be reminded of that sometimes.

Are you a patient person? Do you have any tips on practicing patience? 
(Photo: Wolf Eyebrows)

Work Family

Having good work friends can either make or break a work environment for you. They are the people you spend a majority of your time with, they know how to break the ice in tense situations, and they can share the weight of stressful experiences. Sometimes it can be difficult to build these relationships, but the payoff is tremendous. At a previous job, I was completely miserable everyday. I had a hard time getting out of bed and a friend even described the feeling as "soul crushing". Throughout this time, I had one co-worker who was my shining light and was able to cheer me up. She would stop by to tell me a joke, take me out for breaks, and encourage me to follow my dreams and passions. I would not have made it through that time without her.

I am lucky enough to have great work friends. They do everything above and so much more. Cecilia keeps it real, Denise always make me laugh, Scott and Michael spoil me with delicious treats, Eric has been a great cube neighbor, and Sobrina is one of my best friends (even though she doesn't technically work with me anymore). They encourage me and support me in the same way my biological family does. Work would not be the same without you, work family!

Do you have a work family or do you work from home? Do you hang out with your work family on the weekend?
(Photo: here)

Dressing for Work

I am lucky enough to work for a company that allows us to dress in business casual attire, and even jeans if we keep from looking sloppy. This is great because it means I can work in my comfiest of clothes (minus pajama pants), but I find myself playing it safe with my go-to slacks and dressy jeans.

With the seasons starting to change, I'm feeling more inspired than ever to change up my working wardrobe. I found these cute dresses on ModCloth and am feeling like they would be a great way to liven up the gloomy days ahead.

one and two

What is your work wardrobe made up of? Do you plan on changing any up with the new season?

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

A couple of weeks ago, a co-worker of mine was having a rough day. In hopes of cheering her up, I reached out to friends asking for their funniest photos. Boy, did they come through. I was introduced to Boo, I watched babies eating lemons, and I discovered multiple opportunities for kitty photo ops.

However, there was one that stood above the rest. Maybe it was because I was feeling a bit nutty that day at work, but this photo cracked me up! I just couldn't help myself.

{ZOMBIE PEANUTS!!!}

Do you have any go to photos when you're having a rough day?

(Photo courtesy of favim.com)

Goodbye Nathalie!

Nathalie is my good friend and mentor. Today is the last day we will be working together. I am very happy for her because she is moving on to an exciting new position, but I am sad for myself. As my mentor, Nathalie has taken extra time to provide insights and suggestions that have helped me be successful in my position. She cares deeply for the people around her, and her laugh brings a smile to the faces of those who hear it. She challenges the people in her life solely on her own motivation and drive.

To send her off, I decided to bake brownies. They were flaky, moist, and delicious! It was a small token of my gratitude and I hope she enjoyed them.

Congratulations Nathalie! I can’t wait to hear the fun stories from of all the new friends you make.

{Nathalie & her brownies}