1.11.11

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Everybody makes wishes at 11:11 I guess? Do they ever come true? I think they might.

I have an amazing boyfriend. Yes, I know, that was fast. It still shocks me daily and I can't stop smiling. One thing that was really getting us down, though, was that we were both out of work. Me, by choice, of course (though working from home & missing that stability and human interaction was getting me down). Him, because there is just no work in this town right now, or anywhere for that matter.

So, for two months straight, every time I caught the clock at 11:11, I wished for the both of us to find jobs. I wasn't even picky with where or how much, just jobs.

Last weekend, the boy's brother told him about an opening at his work (it's food service, but hey, it's a job). He was told to go in on Monday to fill out an application. At the same time we were heading out to the sandwich shop--hey, a girl's gotta eat, right?--I got an email about a job opening.

At least a month before, after cruising Craigslist, I got it in my head that maybe daycare could be the career that would work for me. [Yes, I will always be a seamstress, but it is something that is very difficult to build a life on...I would prefer to keep it 'on the side'.] So, I searched for daycares in my town and found the very best one, and applied online. Even though it required degrees, certifications, and experience that I don't have, I hoped there was a chance of there being an entry-level position fit for me.

About 30 people got this email asking them to take one of those online pre-interview tests. I knew I didn't stand a chance. After we got home from the boy filling out his application, where he was also asked to come in for an interview the next day, I took the test. I did really well, I thought...I've always pretty good at timed tests. But, again, one of the first questions? Do you have CDA certification? Uhh....

The boy went in on Tuesday morning for his interview, and I woke up two minutes til in time to text him "Good luck!". His reply? "Got it! Starting today." WOW. Got up, got online, and had an email from the daycare thanking me for taking the test, and asking me to come in to interview. WOW. I couldn't believe it.

You know what the date was on Tuesday? 1-11-11. Yep.

I still had my doubts about the job, but either way I was excited--if I didn't get the job, I had decided I would pursue a degree in Early Childhood instead.

Set up an interview for Thursday and was out of my mind nervous. I read over my resume again, read the entire website for the daycare (it's a nation-wide corporation so they have a lot of information on there), and took some online test interview questions.

This is what I wore:



shirt- Target
sweater- Target
skirt- Banana Republic

This was the best business-casual-cute-"can't you picture me teaching 3 year olds table manners" outfit I could pull together on late notice. I'd had the sweater and skirt for years and never worn them. PERFECT.

Anyhow, long story long, the interview went really well (this is the first time...ever...definitely, that I can say "I nailed it!"), and yesterday I got the email offering me the position!

I'm going to get paid to cuddle with babies, make art with toddlers, and just generally try to positively impact the lives of a bunch of little people. It's kind of a dream come true. At first it will just be a part-time/on-call position, at least until the Summer, so there will be plenty of time to do seamstress work for Red Velvet. I swear, those girls have a never ending supply of amazing dresses for me to play with work on. But, eventually? I might have actually found the career for me.

TL;DR:
I now totally believe in 11:11.
And I am a happy, happy lady.
xo

conflicting resolutions

On one hand, I really want to resolve to save money, spend less, have less things, pay off debt, be less materialistic.

On the other hand, I really want to update my wardrobe.

Seriously, besides a few odds and ends (a couple well-used 'going out' dresses, a few vintage pieces, a pair of 'fat jeans'...), I haven't updated my wardrobe since I stared college. Weak.

I hate a lot of the stuff I own, so much that I hardly wear any of it. I even kind of hate the stuff I wear.

Maybe I could reward myself if I ever lost the weight I've been meaning to?
I really don't need any "oh you look fine the way you are!"s. When it consistently takes me an extra hour to get dressed, because I can't find anything that fits, I'm not fine the way I am. When that hour-long search culminates in the only pair of jeans that still fit, and a t-shirt just dark enough and just loose enough that you can't tell how high-waisted and frumpy the jeans are...I'm not fine the way I am.

Anyway, if I did happen to make some kind of goal, and did happen to meet it, here are some things I would buy:


I am obsessed with these flats, omg.


A new party dress.


New tights, possibly from here.


Plaid, buffalo check, gingham, and chambray button up shirts. Ones that aren't either a little too big or a little too small. With sleeves the right length (even though I'll probably still roll them up...I want options!), and no buttons missing.


New AA shirts. I know, totally lame to 'update' a wardrobe with more t-shirts. But there will never be a day where I'm not a jeans and t-shirt girl, at least most of the time. And the ones I have are kind of getting holey!

Okay, so my shopping list is pretty sparse right now. Any suggestions? Also, any tips on what to do with nice/expensive clothes that you don't want and Plato's Closet & the like don't want? I've donated a couple trunk-fulls of clothes so far and that's all well and good...but some of this stuff would pain me to donate.

2010 In Review

[Did you know that you can view your photos by month/year in Flickr? And that it's kind of unsettling? Me either!]


January.
It was a fun winter living downtown. Decent weather, too, considering. Living with a boy again was still honeymoon-y.


February.
Lots of hours spent decorating the loft. The light was to die for. I miss those big (freezing cold!) windows. I turned 23 (hence the streamers).


March.
This was one of the first warm-ish days of the year. It was amazing. I just remember feeling so content.


April.
Getting the hang of my Bernina. This was the best thing I made all year.


May.
Moved into our home. Was really happy to have so much room (and yard, and garage, and so on), but really sad to be leaving the charming loft. Had grandiose dreams of decorating.


June.
The Spring here was incredible, I must admit. Truly made this house into a home. A year from this month I will be moving out.


July.
It was a hot July, so hot. So many mosquitoes. My gardening and photoshoot plans went out the window when I realized I couldn't be outside for more than two minutes at a time. This was our last full month together as a couple.


August.
Worst month of the year. Got ran into by a guy on a bike. Got broken up with. Bad stuff happened.


September.
Single ladyyyy. Dealing with it. Trying to go out and socialize. Had a little rebound fling. Decided that craft shows definitely aren't for me.


October.
This was a sad month. It would have been our two-year anniversary. Mark's nephew turned 1, and I hated no longer being a part of the family. I think I partied too hard this month. I started hanging out with one particular friend more and more.


November.
The friend became more than a friend. I made us Thanksgiving dinner. Not how I expected to spend my first holiday season in this house (nor did I expect it to be the only!) but it went as well as it could, I think.


December.
The only photo I posted in December. I don't think I got out of bed the entire month. I totally checked out like a 15 year old in history class, writing a certain boy's name on her trapper keeper a few hundred times. But I was blissfully happy, and I think it was good for me. We each had a hard time transitioning...from girlfriend to ex-girlfriend, from boyfriend to roommate, from bandmate to ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend...you get the idea. :) But it's worked itself out for the most part and we're starting the new year as new people.

Hey, 2011, what's up?