The job market is a tough one these days, and whether you are a recent high school grad, college grad, or simply looking to make a career change, finding a job that offers you a challenge and the chance to give back to the community can be a daunting task. The U.S. aggregate producers that comprise the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association have joined forces to develop new recruiting materials that’ll show that this industry can provide just that.

Did you know that the aggregate industry gives back to America, adding almost 40 billion dollars to the U.S. gross domestic product? In fact, for every $1 of industry output, $1.58 is returned! More than 100,000 men and women are currently employed by the NSSGA, and have been seeing the benefits firsthand for years. Currently, there are many and varied employment opportunities available within the industry.

In addition to propelling the economy, NSSGA and its members also feel it is important to protect the environment. They have developed several sustainability goals with a focus on being as environmentally conscious as possible. Members not only realize that wise, environmental choices are good business and good for business, but that life depends on Earth’s finite resources. NSSGA understands that we must make smart decisions now to ensure quality of life is preserved for future generations.

So what type of positions does the aggregates industry offer? Everything from:

• Human Resource Specialist
• Accountant and Manager
• Safety and Health
• IT and other office and management functions
• Engineering
• Operator of heavy equipment
• Truck drivers
• Production Manager
• And so much more!

To learn more about what the aggregates industry can offer you and to complete a survey, simply visit: http://www.foundation4thefuture.com. And be sure to check out NSSGA on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Stone-Sand-Gravel-Association/46772849391

I went to a party the other day for a friend’s girlfriend and met a few really cool people. Its been such a long time since I’ve met such open people that I didn’t know what to do with myself for the majority of the experience. I forgot to loosen up because worrying about how I come across isn’t doing me any favors. The one thing that sticks on my mind is when a guy asked me what did I do. I sat there for awhile trying to think of something witty to say, but had no idea so I just let it go and said I do nothing. He was gregarious and funny and played well off of that and into talking about what he does. Throughout the night, I thought to myself that this guy is the kind of guy I’d want to be in a relationship. He doesn’t take anything too seriously, and plays with his girlfriend all the time. Its a kind of open flirting that is a playful act of dominance with humor everyone around can enjoy. Where some of the other relationships seemed loving but stagnant, their relationship seemed more lively. Too many of the other relationships were just the girls telling the guys what to do while they kind of sat quietly through out the night. There were a few guys who were social animals and by great comparison, their relationships had spice in the presence of strangers. Everyone who was withdrawn seemed in their own lonely worlds.

It saddens me that I have a negative view of relationships as a constant struggle for dominance. Though I try to look at it differently, I can’t help but see it that way. When most of my male friends get into relationships, their lives change dramatically when it comes to hanging with friends. A few carry on just like they did before, but they are the rare ones. This hits me hard because I like my life the way it is. If I were to start dating a girl that I liked a lot, I want my new life to look a lot like this old life with just upgrades. I don’t want to stop doing the things I enjoy doing, and I don’t want to feel compelled to include her in the old things I enjoyed doing. I don’t want to feel obligated or even worse want to include her in previous activities with all my friends because if things don’t work out, everything I used to do becomes something I used to do with her.

I don’t think it even has too much to do with the possibility of a breakup. I just love the idea of having my own life that doesn’t have her in it, right next to a life that isn’t just mine but ours. Its like the world colliding idea from Seinfeld. I want a world that’s just mine. My friends, my hobbies, my bad behavior. Then a world that is ours. Our friends, our hobbies, our own habits. At the same time I want her to have her own world with the same things. I figure that when I get a great girlfriend, my life is going to start resembling that I Guess Your Good Enough video in the sense that I won’t really see my friends any more and when I do it will be in a group setting of me and my girl and them and their girls. When I think about it, it doesn’t sound so bad as much as it represents an end of an era.

Yeah… writing all this down, I think I just got over it. Shit changes, this is a part of growing up. Its just like old ideas I had about friendship that I now look at and say, “That’s fucking stupid. I don’t think that way anymore because when I became a man, I put away such childish things.”

By, JoVanna Bianco, CEO ILS, LLC

Although January will be the one year anniversary of my company, it still seems a little UNREAL to me. My goal was always to run my own company, where I make my own hours, and I call the shots, but could I possibly fulfill this BEFORE I even received my college diploma?

When my dad first proposed the idea of starting this company (ILS) it seemed almost too good to be true. The President of my own company?!  Then the reality of it all hit me. Can I do this? Can I go to school, keep my internship, AND run a company?

It was a little overwhelming at first. But if there is one thing I have learned from this experience it has been to not get discouraged.  It hasn’t been easy being twenty-two and getting professionals to take me serious. People have tried to take advantage of the fact that I was just starting out and fairly young. But I was persistent and made sure that I did my research. I wasn’t afraid to let companies know what I expected from them and that they needed to take me serious. When I was first starting my company I was even asked by an accountant “You do know how much time and commitment this is going to take, right?” At first it made me want to cry. But as I thought about it, it pushed me to work even harder.

Days like today when I am sitting at my computer filling out payroll and invoices I think how good it feels that I didn’t give up and made it to where I am today. I can’t say I haven’t made any mistakes along the way, but you learn from them and try not to make them again.

Don’t get me wrong, running a business is no picnic. It’s not a free-pass from keeping up with my homework or my internship. I still attend class and work for Battelle. I work hard to balance my time between all three, while still managing to have a social life.

“Because in this lifetime, the challenges that we face are what keeps life interesting, but it is the overcoming of these challenges that give life meaning.”

Thinking of starting your own company at a young age?

-Do your research (basic steps)

-Consult with experts

-Believe in yourself and demand respect

-Stay organized

With each year of my life comes less and less self-doubt. Maturity is coupled with wisdom and self-acceptance. Still, there are certain situations that unleash those middle-school identity crises.

One to pride myself on being an open-minded person, willing-to-try-anything-twice, you can imagine my surprise when, upon my arrival at a gay-bar for the very first time, my mind was filled with feelings of inadequacy and out-of-placement.

Cute flowing top- check. Tight black jeans and chunky heels- check. Hair and makeup in agreement with a night out-check. Self doubt- check. WAIT! WHAT?!

I couldn’t cap the worries fast enough: Could they smell my heterosexuality a mile away? Did they think I was a poser, or worse, a mockery? Was I going to be exiled from their community and stoned for attempting to enter? It’s funny how a new situation can be a non-stop ticket back to that awful 6th grade lunch where you found yourself silently begging for an invitation to that weekend’s “popular” party.

I can best identify these anxious feelings to those I had towards social media. Though both worlds intrigued me, I felt they were not places I belonged. My knowledge of social media did not branch far from Facebook and mass-texts, and I was not personally gay. Who did I think I was and what did I have to offer this gay bar, or this social media world?

Ok. Here I am. At the bar. Desiring acceptance by this elite group, and not wanting my insecurity to ruin the night for my friend Michael, who was so ecstatic to finally be somewhere that he was the majority. I HAVE to get comfortable.

I’ve found that it’s much easier to realize what you want once you verbalize it. I WANT to be accepted at a gay bar. I WANT to be a member of the public relations professionals.

Ok. Here I am. In the midst of the job search. A desire to be the newest edition to a public/media relations group, and not wanting to limit my abilities. I HAVE to familiarize myself with social media.

Social media, like sexuality, is about being confident, open, experimental and adaptable. People respect you in each group when you are willing to try in spite of the possible failures. In my experiences, they welcome your attempt and help in any way they can. Disregarding my question of what I had to offer either group, I jumped right in. Maybe it wasn’t about what I could do, but rather, what I could gain? I got in the middle of the dance floor sans friends, void of any unease. I couldn’t find Michael. I started my Blog. I didn’t wait for an employer to show me the ropes. I Googled WordPress and taught myself as I went. My blog led into other social media accounts such a Twitter, Brazen Careerist, LinkedIn, Etc. So what if I failed- at least I attempted.

Not surprisingly, through my social media and gay-community endeavors, I’ve gained valuable friendships, knowledge, and experience. I’ve found like-minded people who I can identify with and gain value from. You do not have to change who you are. You don’t have to be a guru, and you don’t have to alter your sexuality. You DO have to put yourself out there, try new things, and be vulnerable. You’d be surprised what you can accomplish when you get past the fear.

I’m 23 years old and not that many people know who I am.  I maybe only have one real friend that I talk to.  I say “maybe” because we’ve sort of had a falling out of sorts.  I have never had a girlfriend.  I have a college degree, but after 5 months since graduating, I have no job and am no closer to finding one.  I have only applied to only 4 jobs that I feel I’ve qualified for and only had one interview.  I’ve only been employed once in my life, in which I was a student assistant at my college for 3 years working part-time making $8.50 an hour.  I still live at home with my folks.  I don’t pay my own bills, other than the stuff that I buy for myself, such as clothes, shoes, etc.  The car I drive technically is not even mine, it isn’t yet in my name and I didn’t buy it myself.  I am about 30 thousand dollars in debt comprised of parent loans and student loans.  I do have a lot of money in the bank, but it is security for those loans since I have no job to speak of.  The only skill I took away from college is computer programming, which I am only “okay” at.  No one really cares to hire someone like me because I didn’t do an internship, had a sub-par GPA, am socially awkward, and am not confident in my abilities.  Other than programming, I can’t find anything that I know how to do that I can get paid to do for an employer.  With the tech market flooded with laid off programmers and foreigners, finding a job for a “greenie” is dang near impossible since I didn’t do any interning or part-time work related to programming during school.  I limit my job market because of my social anxiety because I cannot do jobs that involve making presentations, customer interfacing, and a lot of verbal communication.   I feel like I am in a corner with no way to get out.  Trying to get out is like chasing a moving train that you will never catch, but are forced to try to catch.

I only want simple things right now.  I want to be financially independent.  I want to live in my own apartment.  I want a job that I feel good about, regardless of my college degree.  I want to be working on projects/hobbies in my spare time.  I might want to start my own business.  I really want a girlfriend.  I would take a girlfriend over friends.  I am so frustrated because all of the simple things I want almost seem impossible to reach.  I wake up everyday trying and thinking about how to get there, but it is a struggle.  Thanks for reading this first post.

While driving down the road with my friend JoVanna, our Spice Girls jam session was abruptly cut short (I wasn’t behind the wheel so there wasn’t an accident!). Peeved that she decided to mute “Spice Up Your Life” mid- song, I questioned her actions.

JoVanna defended that the bank we were pulling up to 1.) did not share a mutual appreciation for our anthem; “Never Give Up On The Good Times,”  and 2.) may not take her tax payment seriously if we didn’t act mature.

Of course I was amused that my friend pays her own taxes, never having seen a tax form myself, but was amazed to learn that she was paying taxes for HER company!

That day I learned about my friend’s start-up business, ILS: Industrial Labor Services.

Earlier in the year she spoke with her father whose company (IWC: Industrial Waste Control) hires temporary labor for many of their projects. They decided that instead of hiring an outside contractor, this was a possible business venture.

So, this past January, Jovanna, an OSU student who was already holding the computer science & engineering/ programming internship position at Battelle, set out to start her own staffing company.

She taught herself QuickBooks through software tutorials and consulted with lawyers and accountants. She ordered her own paychecks and figured out how to document W2 forms and insurance applications.

She set a one-year goal: get the company registered, running, and maintain her first client.

She has not only met these goals- she’s exceeded them! She currently employs 11 workers in 3 states and has exclusive staffing privileges to her first client!

Only 10 months later and she has cashed her very first paycheck from her company!

Now, I’m not saying that everyone is wired to start and manage her/his own company. But, I am saying that we mustn’t let opportunities pass us by.  JoVanna saw a void and took it upon herself to fill it. She didn’t wait until she graduated, she didn’t excuse it because of a lack of knowledge and she didn’t hold it in the back of her mind as a mere possibility. She JUST DID IT!!! (Nike was on to something all those years ago).

So many of my friends (all very talented and highly capable) have what I consider “pipe dreams” (restaurant owner, travel writer, personal stylist, etc.) My question is: Why not? Find the skills, resources, funds to make them a reality. The worst that’s going to happen is that we fail.

As we pulled away from the bank that afternoon I asked her what her biggest fear was. Her response: “Not getting it all to come together or running into some legal obstacle that [I] wasn’t aware of. Not having enough time to do it all- the company, Batelle, school…” I gave her my vote of confidence then she cranked up “Spice Up Your Life” and we went back to being 22 year-olds.

“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” —  Henry Drummond

A more in depth look into starting a business with low overhead and JoVanna’s personal story are soon to come!

Ever thought about seeking out an informational interview? This situation is reverse-role, allowing YOU to seek out the information you want, and puts the professional in the hot seat.

Informational Interviewing, a session where you seek advice from a professional rather than a position, is a great way to learn more about the field you are interested in, or gain additional knowledge about careers you are thinking about pursuing.

Most employers are open to this type of interviewing, as you are not asking anything more of them than to share their knowledge. Also, this gives them an inside look into what job seekers are looking for.

Make sure not to waste anyone’s time, including your own. This is your chance to pick the brain of someone who holds the position you think you’d like. Be sure to have well thought-out questions prepared and have a goal in mind. Great questions include: How did you get where you are now? What are the benefits/downfalls about your field? What advice do you have for those aspiring to be where you are now? What skills sets are most important to be successful in this position?

Informational interviewing has been around for years, in the form of career shadowing days and guest speakers in class. But, it can also be very beneficial to those looking to enter the job force. Take it upon yourself to find someone that is where you want to be, and set up an informational interview.

P.S… Don’t forget your thank-you note!

“The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.
The sure-thing boat never gets far from the shore.”
- Dale Carnegie -

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2054-Job-Search-Try-Before-You-Buy-How-to-Get-a-Job-That-Doesnt-Exist/?sc_extcmp=JS_2054_advice&SiteId=cbmsn42054

I found this article of particular interest. The idea of “Try Before You Buy” pitching to companies sounds like a unique way to get yourself noticed. But, does it really work? Is a company who is on a hiring freeze, or worse, letting people go, really going to find the finances to  support this temporary offer? Personally, I like the suggestion to skip the cover letter and go for the elevator speech in writing, at least for the industry I’m interested in. I’d love to hear what you, the job seeker and employer think!

Impulsivity has kept me from enjoying this gap period between school and work. Instead of enjoying my flexible schedule and free time, I’ve been fretting over what my next move needs to be. Only last week did some unexpected turn of events lead me to the realization that if you don’t stop to enjoy the moment, it’ll most certainly pass you by!

With my new found outlook I was able to accept that this was not a gap period, but rather an unexpected detour. Not only has my time as a server allowed me to travel and enjoy things I may not have had time for, I’ve recognized how it’s helped me to grow as an individual. Here are some highlights of my lessons learned:

Patience

There are some times you have no choice but to be on someone else’s time.

Teamwork

You cannot succeed in any industry, especially the restaurant industry, without working together

Diversity

You learn to successfully communicate, understand, and work with people of all backgrounds, education, beliefs, values and work ethics.

You will not love everyone you work with

But you will have to learn to work with everyone.

Dedication

No matter how much you hate your job at any given time, you better be there the next day if you want your paycheck.

Innovation

There are only so many options on a menu. But, there are endless ways to pitch them. Learn to read people and figure out how to best accommodate them.

How to bite your tongue/pick your battles

The costumer is always right is not a saying- it’s a mind set- and a lifestyle during work hours. Whether a co-worker or a guest, some times it’s better to let things go.

The immediate affects of divisional functioning of an organization

The results of each division of an organization aren’t directly apparent faster than in the restaurant industry. Managers, servers, bartenders, food runners, cooks, chefs and bus staff operate as a unit, each executing their own responsibility in order to run an efficient company.

So, the next time you are stressed and feel like the ship has sailed while you’re still at check-in, take a look around and improvise. I guarantee you can take something positive from the situation. In the meantime,Look there’s always happy hour

Lists, journaling, excel spreadsheets- whatever method best suits you- get started!

I recently spoke to a family-friend who is investing his time in helping me get connected to the right people. His first question was: “What have you been doing on your own?”

No matter how much you’ve done so far, it’s important to keep track of everything. What would be more embarrassing than being put on the spot by a reasonable question, such as this, that we aren’t prepared to answer.

I feel that I’m reaching out to many people for advice, direction, and mentorship. To be honest, I laughed at my dad when he originally suggested that I keep track of everything, so I’m not confused. “Dad, I know who I talk to and I know what I’ve applied for,” was my response.

Honestly, he has a point (Although I’d NEVER admit that to him, and I doubt he even knows what a blog is.).  I can recall who I’ve talked to and what I’ve applied to, yet I wasn’t able to provide a sufficient response to this question. Organization keeps us from forgetting anything as well as keeps it in order. STEPS are important. A simple example:

1. Emailed Joe Smith to inquire about a position with ABC company.
2. Joe Smith put me in touch with his HR department as well as gave me John Doe’s contact information at XYZ corporation. He thinks they may be hiring.
3. Got in touch with John Doe, who is forwarding my resume on.

Thanks to my newly developed list, I will not get my connections mixed up, I will have record of initiatives and results, I won’t forget to follow up with John Doe, or to thank Joe Smith for his efforts, and I’ll now be able to give a detailed summary of the steps I’ve taken on my own. The friend will now be able to recognize my determination and dedication, thus assuring him that his own time will not go to waste. Also, I can refer back to my list to see what actions resulted in positive feedback, and which actions yielded little response.

A flawless job-search experience would probably be asking too much. How do we learn without be critiqued? These are the sentences I found running through my head a few months ago, but I couldn’t lay them on thick enough to mask my mortification.

Earlier this summer I applied for an assistant account executive position with a local advertising agency. For those of you not familiar with this term, an assistant account executive is an entry-level position that allows you to provide support on accounts, yet limits the amount of independent decision making you have. This sounds perfect for a beginning professional! Or so I thought.

So excited by the possible new position, I contacted a friend who knew someone at that particular agency. My friend, whose advice and encouragement has greatly eased the stress of this horrific job search, forwarded my resume to her contact at the agency. What better way to get noticed than from the inside, right?

Now I’m really enthused! A recommendation from a respected professional! The next morning I woke up early and decided to check my Twitter account, only to find that someone had retweeted a post made by the contact at this agency.

A part of me died that morning. In 140 characters or less, this “professional” had made fun of my resume for having Twitter listed under my proficiencies. Worse yet, another professional (not employed by the same company) found it funny enough to repost. Correct me if I’m wrong, but social media skills are a highly sought-after skill in most companies.

I understand that this woman meant no personal harm, does not represent the entirety of the agency, and I could have worded it in a more marketable way. However, I was taken aback by the lack of empathy and professionalism a woman, whose own company uses Twitter as a marketing tool, had.

A good laugh with some colleagues, in the privacy of their office, probably would have been a better choice. Thankfully, I got over the embarrassment, didn’t take my sister’s advice to continue my job search in another country, and checked off another lesson learned.

I never heard anything back from the agency, so my only impression of this company will forever be of this negative Tweet.

To those of us circling on the perimeter trying to break in, remember to ALWAYS present yourself in the best light both in person and on social media sites. There is a line between sharing our personal life, and making our selves look bad. If it’s on the internet- anyone can see it!

Share your most embarrassing job-search experience in the “comment” box below!

Are our cover letters and resumes being sent to outer space? Am I the only one that gets 1 response for what seems to be every 100 positions I apply for? Not even an automated response!

While at my waitressing gig tonight, I was offered some well-intended advice from a guest: “You need to just get your resume out there!”

As fun as slinging meatballs can be,  if “just getting my resume out there” was all it took, then my passion for public relations would be far more than an aspiration.

After attempting to politely redirect the conversation, the guest continued: “All you need to do is get an entry-level position and you’ll work your way up!”

Did my intentions come across as expecting to take over for Daniel Edelman tomorrow?

It takes experience to get an “entry-level” position nowadays. What a catch-22. There are no positions out there for truly “entry-level” professionals, yet we aren’t hired without experience. Hmmm….

Internships? I am on my fourth. Every professional in my chosen industry, although extremely helpful and encouraging, has offered me a different skill that needs to be mastered to be considered for a position. How much mastering does it take to land an “entry-level” position? Because I have gained great experience, skills, and contacts, I  continue to welcome unpaid internships.

Networking? I continue to connect with people I believe to be knowledgeable, respectable, and successful. I’ve gained so much valuable insight and suggestions, yet I’m still slinging-meatballs.

Here are some things I’ve found useful in gaining employers’ attention:

• People WANT to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and opinions and definitely keep in touch with those you’ve connected.

• I’ve received better responses/feedback from the companies I’ve sought out. Many positions have actually been filled by the time they are listed on the Internet.

• Contact people in the industry you’re looking to enter into. So far, no one has been bothered by a polite e-mail inquiring about their position/company. In fact, I have yet to not receive a response. Even if there is not a position available, I’ve gained additional knowledge through each contact, as well as a new friendship. Bonus: now you’re on their radar. When a position becomes available, you are more than just a name on a resume.

• Persistence rarely goes unnoticed.

• Taking the extra step to follow up with a phone call or an e-mail shows you’re serious about the position and committed to the hiring process. Do a little research to find out the name of the company’s hiring manager, or even go straight to the president. Worst case scenario: no response.

Although I don’t have a solution (but welcome those you may have!) to gaining an entry-level position with little experience, I do know how to gain the attention of professionals. The next time you find yourself checking your email every hour for a response that you may or may not ever receive, why not take the extra step?

A lot has changed in the past two years: a college degree no longer guarantees you a job, birthday presents from your parents now consist of one more month of health insurance and a couple packets of Starbucks Via, and extravagant Halloween costumes purchased online are just a fond memory. 

So, what is the fabulous and frugal Halloween lover to do? Here are my tips for creative costumes straight from your closet.

Stepford Wife: Combine a pastel cardigan, floral dress and nude heals. Add in some pearl jewelry, airbrushed makeup, perfectly quaffed hair and the apron your mom gave you for graduation (finally an excuse to wear it!) and TA DA! You’ve been transformed in to a trophy robot wife. Extra points for freshly baked cookies and a vacant expression.

College Freshman: Find your shortest jean skirt, a cheap Forever 21 party top and pop on your ugg boots. Add a teased bump in your hair, fully line your eyes in black liner and gob on the mascara for the authentic look of a clueless 17 year old. Major kudos for carrying both a backpack and Coach purse.

Meghan McCain: In light of the recent buzz around her Twitter account, this costume is particularly timely. All you need for this one is a black low cut tank, Andy Worhol book, and the best damn push up bra you have. Pull back your bangs with a workout head-band, add a Vote McCain campaign pin and prepare for the media firestorm!

Happy Halloween!

As I face the last 70 days of my college career, my brain is a little frazzled. Every time I ponder the stress of keeping up with six classes, trying extremely hard to resist senioritis and scrambling to map out a plan once December comes along, I feel dizzy and nauseous. About eight months ago a friend of mine (who recently graduated in May) summed it up in one simple, but perfect statement: “We’ve been in school all our lives; of course the real world is scary as shit.” And that’s exactly what it is.

I have been lucky enough to be surrounded with competent and caring professors that coach their students on how to build a portfolio and how to knock your first interview out of the park, but what about all the other things that along with the transition from college to career? There’s house hunting (apartment hunting for most of us), adjusting to a new city (or sometimes a different country/state), figuring out the best commute route and learning how to deal with life away from most of the friends you’ve enjoyed the last four to 12 years with. I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason professors don’t mention these things is because it sucks and there is really no getting around it. Yes, I’m saying this from someone who has yet to actually experience all above things, but I just don’t see any other outcome.

I pride myself on being a strong-willed and independent individual, but when push comes to shove, sometimes I really just want to curl up next to my mommy and hear her tell me everything will be OK. And then I realize that the fact that I’ve had so many caring people encourage me along the way may be all I need. If I’ve made it this far, why would I not make it all the way?

Maybe that’s what life is all about. Learning the hard way so we can one day teach our children how to make the best decisions possible.

For now, it’s kind of comforting to be scared because it means that I still care and have not been turned cynical by our crazy world. It means that I do believe in my dreams and want to succeed more than anything. It means that my family did something right along the way and that, in the end, I’m going to be OK. I hope.

Photo credits and more.

I knew my animal print obsession wasn’t too far off. Alexander McQueen seems to agree with me, and even takes it to a whole new level. I am in love his whole Spring 2010 collection! I can’t wait to do a little interpretation of it on my own, before it gets corrupted by mainstream livestock. Of course, I’m gonna need the help of my handy dandy sewing machine. <3 Carolinas here I come! Those killer heels, I hear, are 10 inches tall! Which reminds me that I need to find the perfect everyday heels to wear when I start to work! (excited much?)

1st semester is officially over in 2 weeks, which means I have one more semester until its time to face the real world. I always thought that I’d pursue further studies in FIP or SOFA, but I’m only getting 1 more year in Manila at the most, before I get shipped back to Cebu. So, maybe that last year ought to be spent going for the job opportunities that I wont be able to find back home. That got me thinking about what kind of job I’d be best suited for. Gosh, I’m so confused! :| I always thought that getting in Summit media was the best possible thing I could hope for, but then again, people are telling me it’s not so pretty down there (i.e. no money haha). I don’t think i can stand working in an office and sitting in a desk the whole day. Maybe I should try to get a job as a buyer, stylist or manager of a local clothing company…or an international clothing company franchised locally… or more specifically, for a Store Specialist! If only it were that easy!

Sigh. I can’t believe it, time flies so fast! It seems only yesterday that my whole world was being completely absorbed with Barbie, Ken and Skipper, and their perfect lives in Barbieville. I guess its finally time to grow up

Hi Jaye! Please don’t kill me!

In the year that I’ve been out of college, I’ve been in what I can only describe as a funk.  I’ve just had this sinking feeling that I’m not doing anything worthy with my life. Yeah, yeah, I know this is  not completely true, but still…  I guess what I am probably suffering from is post-college blues.  During college, I felt that I was destined for great things.  I didn’t know what these great things were, but the future had a shiny, golden aura around it.  I spent my nights imagining myself teaching underprivileged children to read, writing ground-breaking theses, or finding the cure to Malaria…all I had to do was earn my Bachelor’s Degree and the adventures would begin.  After graduation however, these great accomplishments never came.  I got a desk job and quickly settled into the grind of a 40-hour work week. At the end of the day, there never seemed to be time to start those great things.  At least, that’s the excuse I gave myself.

Recently, however, my friend Rebecca unknowingly pointed me in the right direction.  Her friend was struggling to pass the written portion an entrance exam, and knowing that I’m a writer, Rebecca recommended her to me for tutoring. Tutoring has always been a passion of mine, but after college, I didn’t have as many opportunities to do it. I began working with Rebecca’s friend once a week.  And, there’s been nothing more rewarding than seeing her apply and understand the techniques we’ve gone over.  In fact, in the days following our meetings, I practically have a runner’s high. I feel as though I have rediscovered something I’ve always known I loved, but had abandoned. While I’m not changing the world, I am helping someone by sharing my love for writing.   And, I can finally say that I’ve found that feeling of satisfaction I’ve been missing.

Calle del Carmen, Madrid, Spain. Taken by me.

Guess who’s back?!

Thought I’d never update my blog, did you? Don’t fret loves, your beloved blogger is back in business. After a long and quite interesting break I’m well rested and ready to update and improve this project of a blizzog that I have up and running. Expect new features, juicy new posts, and my usual dose of reviews and witty remarks of the fashion, celeb, and footie (futbol/soccer) world. I’m going to try to expand this site, add even more media and make it far more interactive than it has been in the past, so any input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated! (Remember it’s beyonddd simple to leave your remarks as you don’t even have to have an account with WordPress or your own blog to leave a comment. Just leave your name and input a comment and ta-da! Simple, no?)

So let’s quickly get you updated on my life and the ongoings of the Couture Me world. I spent a little more than a month back in Spain, visiting familia, and basically relaxing beyond belief. Staying in a little village-esque town can do wonders for you…especially when you’re on lockdown in your relatives house due to the inclement weather (it rained like 80% of the time…as it did here in NYC, I heard), and the lack of public transportation (ahhh truly made me miss the NY metropolitan area, and all forms of city life).

Ezaro, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry)

Paseo Maritimo, Ezaro, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry)

Ezaro, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry).

But I shouldn’t complain as I did love the downtime and spent 2 long weekends in what’s probably my favorite city in the world (along with NYC, of course), Madrid.

Plaza de Espana, Madrid, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry)

Went to see a Real Madrid game (got to see my babies live, yay!!).

Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry).

Real Madrid vs. Al'Ittihad lineup. Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain. Taken by me.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Taken by me.

And did a bit of shopping before coming back to good ol’ USA.

Santiado de Compostela, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry)

Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Taken by me. (Via Blackberry)

Anyways, my time back can be summed up in two words: catching up. Endless hang outs with friends, a massive load of emails and mail to sort through, and the inevitable nostalgia that comes along with being thrust back into another country, whilst having to prioritize and schedule-ize (yes I just made up that word) a highly new form of life: post grad-dum. Ah the life of the recently graduated college student….Btw, as you may have noticed, I like to make up my own vocabulary, shush you love it.

Yet I remain hopeful. I tend to be the insanely optimistic one. This down time will serve as an extra boost to kick me into position, propel me into the future, and reinvigorate me; blowing the compiled dust off of my dreams, reawakening me from my slumber.

It’s time to get back to business.

xoxo,

L

P.S. I promise that my future posts will be much more light-hearted and that I will revert to my fab, I-don’t-give-a-crap attitude. Haaa.

I’ve been in the workforce for a while now (I know this because I can no longer sleep past 8 on weekends, a sign that my body is on a real-person schedule). Long gone are the days of opting out of my responsibilities in favor of nursing a hangover and staying out late on weeknights. Instead, I am in bed by 10pm and hunched over a desk for 10 hours a day no matter how crappy I’m feeling.

Besides the paychecks I’ve been depositing for the past 3 years, I’ve taken away quite a few things from my time on the job. Namely, a few very important lessons (learned the hard way) of what is and is not acceptable in a professional environment.

You starting a new job soon? Keep these few things in mind:

1. Your boss is not your friend.
When I started working for a company owned by some family friends, I got pretty tight with the boys in charge. We’d shoot the sh*t during the day, grab drinks together after work and got really close, really fast. It was nice having friends in the office as it gave me something to look forward to every day, but no matter how many shots we took together, those boys were still my bosses and it got increasingly difficult to remember that. As time went on, it got extremely difficult to work together in a professional manner and everything eventually went to hell…. And I had to quit. It is fine to have a jovial relationship with your boss, but there is a line and you better be careful not to cross it.

2. Going to work hungover is not OK.
Happy hours are fun, but holding back the vomit while on a very important conference call is not. Be careful with the weeknight drinking. In this economy, you don’t want to give your bosses any reason to give you the boot.

3. The people in charge aren’t as dumb as they look.
My BFF got me tickets to a concert out of town on a Thursday night. I really wanted to go, so I decided I’d skip town after work and just call in sick the next morning. I woke up early, put on my best “I’ve been up all night with food poisoning” voice and left a VM at the office. Those guys saw right through it, which they let me know in a very serious one-on-one meeting on Monday morning. Lying doesn’t pay, so suck it up and take a personal day/vacation day if you’ve got something better to do.

4. They are always watching.
Thanks to the wonders of technology, the big men in charge can see what you are doing all the time, regardless if they can see your screen. Just be aware of that as you blog about how much you hate your job (guilty), spend 3 hours shopping on Zappos (guilty), or look at some questionable content online (sigh…guilty).

5. You are on their schedule, not the other way around.
It’s hard getting used to the daily grind of real life and when I first started working I tried tirelessly to fit everything into my schedule. When an after-hours work meeting meant I wouldn’t make it to my Spinning class, I kindly asked the boss if we could reschedule for the next day. Apparently, that wasn’t an appropriate question (as made evident by the desk-pounding, loud voices and advice to look for another job). You work for them, woman, no matter how inconvenient is for your life.  Don’t forget that.

Our CEO recently came to visit our offices, which means that things around the office were a bit more buttoned up than usual.  Everyone (well, all three of us) dress a little bit nicer, and offices are strategically straightened.  You know.  Not messy enough to make you look like a slob, but not clean enough to make it look like you don’t do your fair share of work.

Here’s how the visit went down. I hope you’ll find it as amusing I do:

1. Prior to his arrival, I was called and instructed to “clean the office from top to bottom, since there were “C” titles coming.”  Oh.my.gosh.  Just slap a black and white apron on me, because I’m apparently the office maid.  I can assure you that this is not what I had in mind as I proudly marched across the stage with my college diploma.
2. I was told that our mini blinds weren’t slanted at just the right angle, and a couple of the lights weren’t dimmed just right.  Another proud moment for me, as you can imagine.
3. Are you ready for this? He asked me to WALK HIS DOG.  Yep, he sure did.  He didn’t care (or notice?) that I was wearing a black dress, or that it was 2:00 in the afternoon during one of the hottest, most humid months of the year.  I can’t possibly relay the amount of pride that I had to swallow as I sweetly smiled and assured him that I’d just love to walk his dog. I hate lying, but what was I really supposed to say? “Thanks for asking, Mr. CEO, but I do have on a black dress.  With heals. And I didn’t even walk my own three dogs this morning, so thanks, but I think I’ll pass this time?”  

I honestly don’t know why I was even temporarily bothered by any of these happenings. It must boil down to pride, because I knew when I took my current position that it was beneath my skill set (although office maid and dog walker were not among the things I expected to become), and I didn’t care.  Actually, I was very purposeful in my decision to take this role.  

I started out of college with as much ambition as the next girl, and immediately started making strategic career moves. I was on a great path, and working at a company that  is featured consistently in our local business journal’s “Best Companies to Work For.”  The only problem was that at the end of each day, I felt like I’d wasted valuable time doing things that didn’t matter to me.

At first, I thought something was wrong with me and I felt guilty for not wanting the type of success that lots of my peers were craving. I loathe being inside an office from 8-5, because despite getting paid for my services, I feel trapped. So, I made a decision to not use career as a method to evaluate how I’m doing in life.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m thankful for the blessing of having a job. I am also not against women having demanding careers. I guess I’m just against me having one. Actually, I still have lots of passion, and lots of drive.  I don’t want to sit around all day eating organic bon-bons. I’m just trying to figure out which one of my dreams I’d like to pursue.  I have it narrowed to three paths, all which would allow me to be free from monotony, and excited about Monday through Friday instead of longingly waiting for them to pass quickly.

So until I work all of this out in my head, Mr. CEO,

I will make a greater effort to have a good attitude about walking your pooch during the dog days of summer (questionable pun intended) in my cute black dress. I will fix the blinds and dim the lights just right with a peppy spring in my step, and will not get offended when you treat me as if I have a pea sized brain. 

Respectfully Yours,

Ms. Moxie

“i see the dopeness in everything where you just always see the wackness.” i couldn’t help but love this line from the movie “the wackness.” it describes so many things for me like the perpetual mental struggle between happiness and well, the opposite. the realization that the world is not a very safe place for laid back dreamers is a lesson i wish i could learn but unfortunately im too laid back to find that answer. i have my dreams and aspirations but i just do not see the fuss about completing all of them so quickly and never enjoying life, never living. i seem to find myself locked between striving for immortality and the dilapidating sense of mediocrity, which one i choose is forever my struggle. fighting internal demons and the external fear of rejection are my daily quests and much to my disdain i must say that i seem to be losing the fight. i always seem to see “the wackness,” which is incredibly devastating considering my past was always littered with smiles as i revisit the mental snapshots posterized all over my head like some sort of collage. the real world is not forgiving nor is it any place for a child so as i walk these mean streets i must remember to protect my innate child and grow stronger with the exercise of my wit all the while pursuing glory in my quest to stop this worldwide epidemic of transparency.   wow what a rant…i think i feel better now. ok now get me my blackberry, starbucks, designer jeans, oversized sunglasses, and vintage t shirt its time to go outside.

Have  you ever seen the King of Queens episode where Doug and Carey go out and try to force and manipulate other couples to be their friends?

Well I would never do that, but the truth is, we don’t have many “couple friends.”  I have mine, he has his.  They seldom mesh together apart from the occasional game night, party, or big group setting.  

In a recent conversation on this topic, someone told me that it seems like the couples that they know that have a group of “couple friends” kind of isolate exclusively to that little group, and don’t choose to have many other friends.  I don’t know.

All I know is that we’ve tried to hang out with each others friends as couples–really we have–but usually either he thinks the husband is weird, or I think the wife is dull.  

We’ve met most of our friends through our church, and it’s honestly been difficult to find couples that we both enjoy.  After college, it seemed to take forever for me to find girls that I could simply go shopping or exercise with. I have some fantastic friends now, that I wouldn’t trade for anything, and I’m not sure that I’d want to slight the limited time that I have to spend with them going on double dates.

I guess my question to the ladies is this: do you enjoy hanging out with other couples on a regular basis, or do you tend to like your friend time with out the hubs, doing things that only girls enjoy?  

I’m totally aware that I’m probably way over thinking something that’s a matter of personal preference, I just want to know your preference.

By the way.  The exercise plan that I started to shape up my booty? Is really effective.  I’m walking as if I had a giant carrot lodged up my butt today.  You’re welcome for that visual.