Employed vs Unemployed: A jobless hobo's perspective

After one full week (and a day or two) of having a j.o.b. again and I am pooped! Mostly, because of the long (temporary) commute and the fact that I am learning all kinds of new things! My last job did not have any formal training and on my first day, I remember going to see Dave Matthews Band right after. I don't know if its because I am older now (sigh) or what, but I definitely didn't do anything exciting after day number one at the new job. I came home and that husband of mine, made me a tasty cocktail. I will admit that  was pretty nice!

As most of you know I was unemployed for a little over four months. Mostly, this was my own doing. Hubs and I had booked an anniversary cruise months before I knew I would lose my job and I didn't want to cancel the trip and/or tell a new boss that I would need a week off right after starting. Plus, I did get a nice little severance package so I had some time to find myself a good fit.

The job I had before last, I was also laid off from (and also received a great severance package). I thought the people who took six months to find a new job and live off their severances were quite frankly, dumb. But that's what happens when you assume, isn't it? Shame on the younger me of 2008. While I did take my last, last severance and pay off my car, I took the first (and only) job offer I got and had four days between jobs. I got burnt out fast and there wasn't much direction. I knew early on that it wasn't the place for me but didn't really do much to change it.

...You all know how much I love planning parties and helping out on the weekends with weddings. I still hope to do this full time one day (maybe once we have a lawyer around here to pay my bills! I kid, I kid) but in the mean time I did/do need a job to pay the bills and you know, eat. And I am happy to have a job again. And the company I started at seems (so far) to be a great place and they say they like to promote within. While parties excite me; any kind of success in the workplace has always been something I thrive on as well. If there are goals, incentives and bonuses, I am motivated to do my very best (I know you're probably thinking, "aren't we all?" but you know some people could care less about that stuff).

I took four months to give myself a mental break, be a tad more selective in my job findings and take some vacation. A bonus for all this free time was that I got to spend lots of time with my Gigi girl (and felt ridiculously guilty leaving her all day last Monday).

But about two months in my unemployment, I became way antsy. I was going on a lot of job interviews (basically anything and everything and trying to keep an open mind) but started to get lazy everywhere else...

I don't think I'm cut out for loads of free time. I seem to be a person who really soars under pressure (both in her personal & professional life) and with all the free time in the world, I became complacent. LIKE big time, ya'll.

Pros of unemployment (with a severance package)

• Sleeping in! (Duh)
• Working out when the gym is empty
• Snuggling all day with Gigi
• Making last minute lunch dates with friends and family
• Hanging with my mom or sisters' all day
• Running errands while the stores are virtually empty
• Driving less/saving more money (on gas)
• Blogging all day/every day

OKay, so you're probably wondering why the hell I would have any cons, right?! Look, at first it was freaking AWESOME. But once we returned from our cruise at the end of March, and I was flat out bor-ed. Jason would come home from work and both the dog and I would jump all over him starved for attention. There were some (bad) days when I didn't even shower or change clothes for the day. Ew...right?

But once I got bored, I was lazy. I stopped working out mostly. I sat around more, too. All those "errands" I said I ran got put off because there was always tomorrow, right? I think I was honestly a tad depressed. I stopped feeling like myself (I still don't necessarily feel like the old me, either). After being in the house all day, I didn't necessarily want to leave, either. It got sort of weird for me...I started to get annoyed with the hubs because he couldn't relate to me (even though, prolonging the job search was my doing and not his). This is once again where we are so different! To Jason, a job is a job (is a job) and to me, it's where I spent a huge chunk of my day so I better find a place I'm excited about.

I guess what I'm saying there can be too much of a good thing, sometimes. The first half of my unemployment was seriously great. Ending it with a kick ass cruise was the icing on the cake. But once the party was over, it was sort of like beer goggles the morning after. It was great...until it wasn't.

I was truly fortunate to have been able to financially take four months away from life, but its time to get back to the real world, folks. So I'm working again, trying to find out who the hell I am, and what I want out life (professionally, anyway).



XOXO,
Nichole

In honor of my new job!

Since I start my new job this coming Monday, I thought it would be fun to do a little ol' giveaway! I'm a huge fan of custom accessories for the office and one thing that I LOVE are lunch bags (is that weird?). I bought some new clothes for the office, new fun pens and a notebook or two. But I also wanted a new lunch bag to tote my daily grub in.

After scouring Etsy like no one's business, I found a really cute shop that makes Eco Friendly Insulated Lunch Bags. Enter Carried Away Bags! I liked their design patterns best and liked that their lunch bags didn't look awkward. I ordered myself a bag with diamonds and circles like this:

Via

I liked these guys too, however

 

 Via

And I am feeling quite generous (since will have a regular paycheck again), folks! I thought I would share the wealth and give one winner their own lunch bag from Carried Away Bags!

*Contest begins, Friday, June 8th and will end, Friday, June 15,2012. I will announce the winner, the following day, Saturday using the rafflecopter, below* Good Luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jobless hobo, no more

So I've kept a little ol' secret from you all. I have received a job offer! Actually I received three job offers but none of which I wanted, or got exited about. I'm not getting my dream job just yet but I did tell myself that if I had another "office" job I would need to at least feel excited about the company (my last job I knew on day 1 it wasn't for me and yet I stayed...3 1/2 years) and/or position in order to take it. I am no longer a jobless hobo!

After countless interviews, phone calls and emails I have finally found a company I feel will be a good fit for me! It's in the health insurance field. I've been in the insurance industry for seven years but on the property & casualty side (am I boring you yet?!) and this will be something new and different for me to learn. It's also six miles from my apartment and the bestie works there. AND one of my oldest friends is starting with this company soon, too (all three of us will be in different departments so no chance we'll kill one another!) and I mean how can I not be excited when I already know two people?

I still hope to find something eventually in the events field, but in the meantime, I'm excited to be working again and away from the house around people. Though I bet come June, when I start, I'll change my tune once I'm waking up at 6 am!

After my latest job search I feel like I have some tips for interviews, resumes and networking that I'd love to share....in another post!

Job hunting blues

Happy Monday, ya'll. I feel like I haven't been a very good blogger lately. True, I have posted here and there but not a whole lot of substance posts....mainly because I've felt very blah. Remember about 2 1/2 months ago when I talked (oh, soooo ignorantly) about hoping to find a job in the events industry and saying I didn't want to settle for just any ol' office job like the past? Well, folks I'm putting my foot in my mouth.

Turns out, it isn't as easy as I was "assuming" it'd be. I have been lucky enough to work part time setting up some bea-utiful weddings and I feel pretty lucky to even get paid to help with such an event. BUT contrary to what some people believe, these aren't my designs, visions, or ideas. They are mostly, the lovely Emilee's and again I'm glad to be a part of it.

My severance package will expire soon and regardless of what I want, I do need a job. While I haven't gotten any call backs for jobs I WANT, I have gotten so many calls for jobs that I...don't.

Lots of insurance jobs. And I know most of us don't love our jobs so why should I be any different? The thing is, I didn't hate my last job. I just didn't love it, if that makes sense?

...HOWEVER

I hate being home all day, even more. I like change but I also crave some stability and routine. And as much as I love Gigi, being home all day long with a dog doesn't make for the best conversation. The first six weeks or so of my unemployment was actually great. I made lunch dates, went to the gym often, slept in...loved it.

Something has happened after our cruise. Vacay is officially over and I have nothing to look forward to. So I am home, and have become complacent. I don't want to be dramatic and say I'm depressed, but I'm not really me lately either. I don't have a huge desire to do much of anything while I'm at home. I'm desperate for a job just to have a purpose again. I never thought I'd say that but it's true. I just feel...here. That's not a great feeling for someone like myself who really enjoys being busy and having five hundred things going on at once.

I have a job interview today. I've heard mixed things about this office so I don't have high hopes for it. I had an interview last week for a medical trade school doing admissions. I was initially excited until I realized the job sounded more like a pushy sales job than helping people fulfill their dreams. It paid really generously but the position didn't sit well with me and I think the manager I met with could tell so, too.

So that's where I'm at. Needing a job to feel like a human being again. Wanting something in the events industry and not finding it. Worrying that I'll be unhappy.

Thanks for letting me vent out here on my little ol' blog. I think I needed it.

XOXO,
Nichole

Life...Updated (Random Ramblings)

Happy Monday, kids! I've been surprisingly busy for a girl who is unemployed! Though I guess I now DO have a part time job so I'm not a complete hobo, anymore!

Thanks to the lovely Emilee, I was hired to help set up weddings at the venue where J and I were married. Obviously, its only when there are  weddings (Fri-Sun), but its experience in the field I ultimately want to be in and I'm getting paid for it, so how could I not be happy?! Its just a small foot in the door, but I took it and am not looking back.

Let me tell you though, it is a lot of manual labor! Its weird being on the other side in the sun and heat on a ladder hammering things into a wood wall, wiping down ceremony chairs and hanging lanterns. Ya'll, I am not handy by any means (nor do I honestly ever recall climbing a ladder) and yet this past Friday and Saturday, there I was hammering away attempting to act like I knew what the hell I was doing...I don't think I fooled anyone, but no one said otherwise so we'll go with it. I had a blast even if I was sore. I'm so excited for the opportunity!

{From our wedding: you don't think about the fact that someone had to hang this stuff up...until it's YOU!}

I still need a "real" full time job soon. I have a few months left of severance pay, but not working makes me uneasy about the future and that is a feeling, I hate. Though I have become accustomed to my unemployment status and free days. I don't seem to have any problem finding things to do around the house and making lunch dates with friends. It's been nice, but I actually miss a routine (though once I get a ft job again, I'll bet I change my tune).
I've been sick for a week now. It started last week and got worse. Then it got better. Then I worked and seem to be worse, again. Something is going around and a lot of people are sick. I just want to be better. When I'm sick, I either don't eat a lot or I eat crap (like ice cream and pizza...lol) and I have zero energy. It sucks.  I plan to veg today so hopefully I can feel human again.

Remember when I threw my sister a Breakfast at Tiffany's style bridal shower? It was featured on Truly Chic Inspirations Party Page. Go check it out, here!

The spouse's birthday is next week...I have NO clue what to do for him...he hasn't given me any ideas, yet so I'm kind of waiting...but I feel like a bad wife for not having any ideas yet...suggestions?

That's all I got for today. Hope you all have a fabulous Monday!

Random....Thursday

Sorry I haven't had a real post about anything recently. I'm kinda in a funk with this whole unemployment thang. Three weeks ago and I was stoked to have all this time to get things around the pad done. I also said I was going to go to the gym for hours since I could.

Fast Forward...

Welllll, I've gotten some  things around the house done. I've organized my closets, finally hung wedding photos (that my mom gave us for Christmas) and gave the dog more baths than she ever had before I was unemployed, lol. I've gone to the gym sporadically and made lunch dates with friends since ya know, I can.

But I'm not good with this whole free time thing. I love to stay busy and not having real stuff to do bores me; and then kinda bums me out to the point where I don't want to do anything. It's a vicious cycle, ya'll. I mean I have worked a full time job for 10 years now and gone to school at least part time here and there. And last year while we were planning our wedding, I worked full time and took nine credits (with a lab) and even though I was stressed, I seem to thrive in that type of chaos (so opposite of my husband, but I digress).

...HOWEVER

I've started applying for jobs and have an interview Friday for a job that I "think" I'd like (still in insurance but in an environment I have wanted to try working in before (I'll let you know if I get it)) and may have a part time job doing some wedding prep for a beautiful venue (again a whole lot of "maybe" things in the works...) that I'm keeping kind of mum about for the time being.

Soooo if all goes according to plan (and why plan when any time I do, God has different things in store), I'm about to be wayyy busy. Or not, it depends on whats in the cards, I guess...

Until then there are some things I need/want to get done.

I feel like a true wife with my "list"

Make this menu board:

Source: thestewartestate via NicholeC on Pinterest

Clean Make-up brushes...I don't wear much powder (I have bad skin that's prone to breakouts) but with hopeful job interviews, I'll need to look my best and that means I'll be dustin' on the bare minerals. I found this awesome, awesome blog! I love her how to videos

Clean our stainless steel ish accordingly. I mean, obvs I wash our pots/pans but they have hard water stains and I've been wanting to polish them for some time now (who the heck have I become?!)

Source:marthastewart.com via NicholeC on Pinterest

Keep up with My Fitness Pal...I was using another site to track what I ate, but I am diggin' MPF and the recommendations for me to lose weight. Come find me, here!

and last but not least; day drink. Judge away, ya'll. But I really want to be irresponsible one day of my "sabbatical" (reminds me of Ross on Friends, 10pts if you get the reference) and have a liquid lunch. I don't even really do that on vacation. But just once...

That's all I got...

I'm curious, what kinds of things are on your to-do list?

BLAH {Jobless Hobo: Day 5}

It's only been five days since I lost my job, ya'll...

Five days off would be a decent vacay, right? Yet all I feel is blah. Obviously that  didn't take long. I have a majorly hard time having nothing to do. I mean there are some projects around the pad I could accomplish, and have finally gotten around to whitening my teeth (I had a $20 off coupon for the 2 hour express Crest Whitestrips? I like a good deal even though I'm not digging the 2 hour wait time) as I type, and yet I have no motivation to do anything (else).

It's annoying...

Plus, my blackberry finally died and I feel sort of disconnected from people. I know, first world problems, right?

I did have a busy weekend and that filled some time, but now that it's Monday...I have a different kind of case of the Mondays. It's weird. I don't like it and really I have nothing great to post about...

Sorry, kids...

But I will  leave you with my fave Superbowl commercial:

{Simple mind, simple pleasure...?}

Jobless Hobo: Day 1

I should probably stop calling myself a "hobo" since a friend of mine did point out that I actually have a home, lol. But today is my first day without a job. It's surreal because we were given twelve weeks notice and told we'd get a decent severance package and it didn't feel real until...well, now.

No one loves their job all day, every day (do they?) but I had become very complacent in my latest job. My husband always says, "its just a job" and it more than pays the bills so he can't always understand why I can't be content with just any job.

I guess I want it all, someday. The job I love, the babies someday, the whole thang. I would absolutely love to get into event planning. I am truly passionate about it. I love celebrating life in general (no lie, I made my sisters and J come to dinner and have drinks to "celebrate" my new role as an "jobless hobo") and I think if I was lucky enough to find a job in events, I'd be a happy kid.

But, if I can't find what I want this very minute, I'm okay with staying in insurance, sales-y or administrative roles too, HOWEVER...

I'm attempting to be a tad more selective than last time I was laid off. I was let go from my last (insurance) job,  hired at my most recent job a week later and learned within the first week; it wasn't what I expected it to be. It wasn't a bad place, but the clients were....difficult and the company was smaller than what I was used to so there was nowhere to go, professionally. But I felt stuck and I really did like my co-workers and boss so I stayed even though I wasn't happy...

A lot of people have asked me why I haven't applied like crazy everywhere I could yet. And that's because I've been here before.

And don't "they" say, "Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them"? I mean I know I just lost my job (not a war) but this is my  history, right?

So there ya go...