Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays Blog followers!
Hope all your shopping and pleasant holiday preparations are going smoothly. This (usually) is my favorite time of the year, however as 2011 ends I cannot hope that 2012 will bring new possibilities and (finally) success. It really is oohh so depressing going shopping, well trying to at least, and only being heart-broken at all the consumer products we can only wish to buy. I have always been the over spender at holiday time. I have had the tendency of spending beyond my means in order to show my loved ones how much they mean to me. Twisted right? Our love measured by how much we spend? Not this year. My bank account is nearly depleted.

So as I wrap my humble, and hopefully thoughtful, presents I have purchased for the special people in my life, I can only hope next year will be better. I am looking forward to spend Christmas Eve and Day with my family and embracing the cheer I know will come along with it. Good food, wine and company. That's really all I, or anyone else for that matter, can hope for. Perhaps a pleasant drive to see some christmas lights? Sip some egg nog and watch cheesy Christmas films? I will be content keeping my Holiday modest in terms of monetary value.

I am hoping to get a job for Christmas. After going on several interviews it would seem by probability that someone should make me an offer. I finally have interviews at health clubs which will give me the boost to begin my Health and Fitness career. YAY! I will keep you posted<3

Maybe?

So maybe hopefully I have found an opportunity I can stick with. After being contacted by Herbalife several times I decided to give in and take on the responsibility of health and wellness coach. What exactly does that mean? I coach people on diets, work out regimes and an all around healthy lifestyle with the help of Herbalife products. They provide shakes, teas, vitamins and other things to help people loose weight and get their daily dose of nutrients. Sounds like my ideal job right?

I think it does. Let's just hope I can keep up my client base and sell enough to be successful at it. The products are actually incredible and it seems like a great community to be a part of. I am getting beyond discouraged and unmotivated in terms of work so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm over marketing and sales..I really am. I paid the certification and training fee so now I just need to focus all my energy on establishing my career. Once I know I have stable income I will begin my personal training certification. I really hope things turn out the way I see it in my head.

In other news; my mom and I decorated the Christmas tree last night and I am beginning to get in the holiday spirit. Just wish I had more money to buy my loved ones gifts. I'm sure they'll appreciate the thought behind whatever I can muster up.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS<3

Discouraged

Well my hopeful bliss at having a steady income are again diminished by the world's twisted fate at screwing with me. Word to the wise; do not work for a start-up company! Obvious advice? I'd say so but I was desperate and was hoping beyond all belief that the opportunity would prove fruitful.  My boss allegedly got "kicked out" of her office due to leasing issues and therefore the company is going to be put on hold. Do I even want to wait and see if she locates another office space and wants to resume work? Not likely. I am over selling myself short, working LESS than minimum wage and being given the run around by employers that want to exploit and take advantage of young, hard-working individuals like myself.

Good news; I already have an interview tomorrow. I was contacted by a headhunter who is seeking to fill an inside sales rep position at an interior design company. Not my ideal description but if they are going to pay me as much as they claim I don't see how I can turn it down. They recruiter took a lot of time to give me information and prep me for the interview so hopes are high.  Yes I still want to personal training certification but they will have to wait until I find stable employment.  My ideal situation would be to get hired at a gym and take it from there. I have made it very apparent at the 24-Hour Fitness I attend that I would love to work there. I finally spoke to the hiring manager in person who said she would call me this week to set up an interview. *Fingers Crossed.* That's the update on my job leads...now for more entertaining information.

After attending the skidazzle convention I am the proud owner of an Extreme snowboard and burton boots. Equipment will be tested in Big Bear this saturday. I know lift tickets and gas are not what I should be spending my money on right now but I simply cannot help myself. I had an absolute blast last year and plan to put my early christmas presents to use. Having equipment, just like gym equipment at home, only increases motivation and the likelihood they will be made use of regularly. So catch me this holiday season (if I land a job that is) on the slopes of Big Bear, Mammoth and  Mt. High. YAY!

I absolutely love this time of year, but for some reason it isn't feeling quite as festive. Maybe because I'm not cramming for finals getting ready for winter break? Maybe because the thought of having to buy christmas presents is more stressful than fun? Perhaps because I don't think I'll be able to partake in a lot of the holiday activities I usually enjoy. All that aside I plan on making the most of my holiday season through New Years and Valentines Day.  Nothing is cheerier than sitting by a fire, sipping some delicious beverage, eating and being merry with the ones you love. I need to put the consumer gene inside of me to rest and enjoy the simpler (yet finer!) things in life.

I plan on researching delicious (yet healthy) alternatives to our holiday classics. First featured recipe is Sauteed Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Onions http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/brussels_sprouts_bacon_onions.html. *YUUMM* I made this one at Thanksgiving and it was TO DIE FOR! I plan on making it several more times this winter.

That is all the ranting and raving I can muster up for one post. Until next time<3

Many Thanks

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! I hope the holiday went well and the time was well spent with family and loved ones rejoicing and eating too much. What are you thankful for this year? Health? Wealth? Happiness? All of the above? And so it seems when we take a close there is actually lots to be thankful for.  I, for example, might say that I am thankful for my new job. (or am I..?) Yes I have landed yet another questionable yet hopefully promising job offer and yes after my first week I might decide to stick with it and really sink my teeth into this one. Unfortunately It is not in the health/fitness industry which would still be my ideal preference but that is going to take a bit of time. This job is with a recruiting agency (start up company *Yippie*) whose aim is to help link employers with the best candidates by using recorded video interviews instead of normal resume submission. Sounds like a decent enough gig right? Maybe. start up companies can be tough and I just hope there's enough money to be made. We'll see how it pans out.

In the meantime I believe I am going to get my health and fitness certification. I'm truly starting to realize that a typical 9-5 boring desk job might not be for me. I want to move and be active (while helping others achieve their fitness goals as well.) I have started applying to gyms to see what's available. Keeping fingers crossed I can get hired at the 24-Hour Fitness I go to.  It seems like the best pace to start my career in the industry. Perhaps I am selling myself short by not attempting a more prestigious career path but it will make me happy. If I can build myself as a Nutrition/Fitness expert/counselor that would be ideal for me.

And as for my healthy life style tips here is today's advice: Visualize Your Success! I am a huge believer in the law of attraction and projecting your positive thoughts. And yes, achieving your fitness goals is life success! Cut out a picture of that victoria secret model you would like to emulate or that dress you "wish" you could fit into and focus on it daily. Of course it is still important to keep goals realistic and not to get discouraged if it fails tot happen in the time frame you were expecting but it is important to keep your goals visual and remind yourself what you are striving for!

Change of Heart

Hello fellow readers! You might be curious to know that as it continues; I am not any closer to success in my work endeavors. I have taken up a gig up as "Social Media Conversationalist" with a marketing/promotions company. What that means exactly is that I go onto facebook fan pages/twitter accounts/blogs/forums etc. and leave comments about the particular client I am working on that day. One might think that it is a decent opportunity on the path to a possible career...BUT...and this is a huge BUT..I am not quite certain social media is the route I want to continue on any longer. I am not enjoying it as I thought I would and the pay is not even worthy of speaking of.

So what is my next plan you may ask? I am having a change of heart and considering embarking into a new career field.  Realizing that one of my only true passions in life is health/fitness I am looking into the nutrition route. Not many things make me happier than working out. I love being at the gym and feeling like I am accomplishing something and I am beginning to think that perhaps my ideal job is sharing that knowledge with others. It really frustrates me when people complain about not being able to loose/gain weight or achieve their physical/health goals. As I've said before; if you are consistent, maintain a healthy diet and exercise you can really make progress. For a lot of people, finding that motivation and willpower can be difficult or near impossible.

I am into health and fitness to a large extent, granted, but that doesn't mean I don't allow myself the finer things in life every once in a while. Nothing hits the spot better than pizza, ice cream, and other things we seem to be under the impression we must life without. My ultimate goal would be to help people enjoy these treats IN MODERATION once they have learned to eat healthy and maintain a regular workout routine. It is possible to eat (almost) anything you want on occasion if you can handle it.

So I have started looking into working at gyms, health clubs or any type of nutrition companies to get my "in" in the industry. I hope to combine my communication knowledge and experience with my health/nutrition personal background and eventually become a nutritional consultant (if that's even a real career).

I have started more diverse classes at the gym I attend to even further my knowledge. Last week was spin and can I say it really did a number on my legs but it felt AMAZING! Now I do prefer regime's with a little more muscle toning but if you are looking for quick/intense calorie burning cardio it really is a work-out! It definitely was not like riding my little beach cruiser around Santa Barbara.

And today is PILATES! Wish me luck and I will keep you informed!

Catch 22

It is a gorgeous friday around noon and I have finally woken up and gotten out of bed. A luxury? Perhaps some might say that. A perk of being unemployed; no early hours or stressful job to worry about. One might think I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want.  Each day can lead to new possibilities when there isn't a mundane routine tying you down. Ahhhh yes, freedom at its finest. Laziness becomes all too tempting and the motivation for productivity becomes scarce. Tis the life of a post college grad looking for work.

Now with all this free time on my hands what is a girl to do? Travel? Go out with friends? All the things I didn't have time for and was too tired to do while working. I would love to keep busy and entertained...however without an income it makes socializing and enjoying the finer things in life quite difficult...and that my friends is the catch 22.  Have a job with money? Great! now all your free time will be occupied and you won't have a chance to enjoy it. Don't have a job or strings tying you down? Can't enjoy your free time because you have no money.

When it seems like there are too many options and too many possible paths; how does one make a decision? Gut instinct? Advice from others? How should I decide which work path to embark on now? We'll see where the world takes me. Now I must keep attempting to find the best possible way to get my resume on top of the stack.

Goodbyes

It's been a while since I last updated. There have been some changes I guess you can say. "New job?" Not going so well it turns out. I've been given some time off while the boss decides that the next plan of action is in the marketing campaign I was spear heading. Needless to say I have already started reapplying and setting up interviews per chance I am not needed indefinitely. It is incredibly inconvenient being out of a job but I am trying to look at the silver lining; I hated that job.

Ironically there was a tragedy in the family as they called me out of work. After 13 long loving years I had to put my best companion to sleep. My mom and I rescued KC from the humane society when I was 10. I can barely remember life before his furry face in the house and now it is painstakingly empty. I keep expecting to see him sleeping in the corner or to come tell me he's hungry for his dinner. He was the best little dog anyone could ask for and I already miss him terribly. Now that I have spent the last week cooped up in my room crying hysterically; it is time to let the healing process begin. I need to just keep reminding myself he's in a better place. The last thing I would ever want is to see that little pup suffer; and I can surely say that by his last few days he was in tremendous pain. In what seemed like a matter of hours he managed to develop ulcers in both his eye, an ear infection and a chronic cough which broke my hear every time I heard it. He was too good and loyal of a companion to keep on living like that.  However that does not change the fact how much I miss him. I would give almost anything just to hold him and pet him again. I was not ready to say goodbye and it was the hardest thing I think I have ever had to do. But it wasn't my choice; it was his and his time had come. He was my best friend; always there for me and therefore I was there to take care of him in his most desperate time of need. I will always love him and I can rest assured I gave him the best life possible and he will always have a place in my heart.  He was my first pet and I will never forget his adorable little face. Losing him has truly made me realize how much pets enrich our lives. We should never abuse their love or take them for granted. They are the most loyal creatures with such unconditional love of any creature I've yet to meet and it's truly remarkable what a role they can play in our lives.

In the interim; I do have Muttley to take care of and I must say he has become overwhelmingly clingy. He has barely left my side in days and has enjoyed being taken places and going on more car rides than usual. I didn't know how he would handle being the lone household dog but he seems to be managing better than expected.

In all this chaos graduate school and studying for the GRE have been put on hold.  Due to the pathetic excuse of a job market I have decided to further my education in hopes that this job struggle might be eased. Not to mention that I was a great student, nerd actually, and actually liked the concept of learning and school. I would not mind expanding my knowledge. The application process will begin shortly. If I can manage to receive a decent amount of financial aid I will be a grad student next year.

More to come.