Moving Forward

Things are starting to move forward. I have not one, but TWO jobs now (whoo hoo!) and I am working tons of hours these days. The bad news is that I am only making half of what my hourly pay used to be, but the good news is that I am learning tons of new stuff! I am going to be much more marketable since this move. I also am getting to do more SMM and designing these days, which I am very excited about since I've been studying them for the past several years.

My home life is pretty boring, but comfortable (except for being totally broke...) and my social life is litterally non-existant, but it is what it is for now. I have some crazy plans for the future that I will not discuss now, but the thought of them really keep me going.

I was able to bring Halen to work with me today, and he was soo good! He got along with my bosses dog and was able to run free in the huge yard all day. He's crashed out on the floor right now (yay!)

It made me jealous a bit though, I wish I had a f'n yard...

Anyways, I am doing lots of imaginary internet shopping lately, and have recently begun watching anime again. Here's 2 to watch (if you like anime as much as I do!)

"Plot Summary: Sisters Ai, Mai, Mii, and their housekeeper android Mea inhabit in a mysterious house that transports them through time and space. Following leads obtained from dandelions (or "popotan"), the sisters attempt to locate a certain someone believed to hold the answers to their questions. Their peculiar method of transport, however, does not come without its own set of painful drawbacks..." http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2082 The Plot would be cool if they went into detail more, but it's more about just watching the silliness of a typical anime. It cheers me up! What can I say? 









This one is not as silly as Popotan, but also pretty good. There are more plot twists. I still have no idea what is going on with the intro, but I am assuming that it will make sense at some point. If not, no problem. It's anime. I like it because it's so different! 

He got the job!

Thank god. I don't know how he does it, but I am so relieved. My job is not going to cover hardly anything! I am only working 2 days next week, and still no sign of my 401k check. Apparently it's in the mail...

I'm using my time to learn how to use Dreamweaver. (Something I've been meaning to do for a long time.) I found these tutorials, which I really like http://tv.adobe.com/watch/classroom-basic-site-layout-and-navigation-in-dreamweaver-cs5/part-06-changing-visual-properties-of-html-content/

I've also added a bit more onto my portfolio and created a new business Facebook page. I need to start to find photography clients soon! I can't believe how scary it is to not have any money. Not that I ever had much before, but I haven't had a dime in weeks now, and I can't get by like this for much longer.

I think Minnesota will eventually work out for us, but I've got to say, I really wish I were chillin on a beach right now. Someday. Someday ;)

It's funny how things work out...

It seems like life has a devious sense of humor sometimes. I never get what I need until I reach my ULTIMATE breaking point! Since my 2 am breakdown (last post) I've received four responses from my applications (! :)  that I've been relentlessly sending out since I've got here. All of them are directly related to my field. This has never happened before. And it's a good thing :)


My BF also has an interview tomorrow, which is soo awesome, because his dipsh*t employers hired him when they have no work! He also makes more than me (for now) and this position will also have benefits, that we can both benefit from.


As I write this he is sleeping on the floor like a chalk outline. He's been doing this lately, and I don't know why. Sometimes one has to work things out in their own ways... I've been there many times. I'm tempted to take a photo, but never want the retribution on his part! So just trust me.


I have an interview tomorrow that I have mixed feelings about. The pay is equal to what I was making before, which basically gives me a raise around here, and the employer and position seem very cool! I'm very excited :) but the company is very new, and I would typically want more stability in a company before I say YES I'm in! I signed the paperwork at a new position today, that is very stable, with room for growth,  but very much like my old position. Am I holding myself back?....

A new kind of anxiety

I can't sleep.


Still no check, and no job. I have a fear that I may soon be homeless. I had another interview today, but it's only part time so I still would need to get something else going in order to get ahead.


My BF and I watched a show on China recently about a village where they don't use cars. Instead, they use zip-lines to get around. How cool would that be?! I could live there, and pick rice for a living. I don't have health insurance anyways, so I might as well take my chances...


Anything but this. I feel I am going to die of stress and anxiety! :( I just seem to never do the right things. Why do I always make the wrong choices? (Seriously. WTF.)


I wish I could find my place in this world. I am so jealous of people who have a hometown.


All I want is for life to just be a LITTLE BIT easier. Is that too much to ask??


I try to do the right things. I am always nice. I try to be useful. I try to care, and to love, and to be everything I was raised to believe I should be, and for what?


I don't know how much longer I can keep believing that I will be O.K.

*sigh*

All I can do is do my best to be in control of what I can.


Tomorrow I will go to the gym, and try to make my ample free time a time for self-improvement. I can also work on my digital portfolio, which I began earlier tonight (a retouching experiment) and maybe someday get the job of my dreams.


Lately I've been reading a blog called "Oh She Glows" and it's really motivating me to get off my ass and get in shape. Yeah, it's a lot of work but I know it will be worth it.


I may be poor, but at least I can be hot, right? ;)

It's my money, and I need it NOW!

When we moved, we had just enough money to get out here and get by for a few months. We need to get an apartment as soon as possible and I am still waiting for my 401k check to arrive-----where is it already??!!


Each day that passes that I don't have a job, I have less money and lose a little bit more of my sanity! Add that to my cabin fever and what can I say? I hope this is worth it.


On a good note; I have had one interview, that I felt went well. I also a received a response from one of my selected local photographers, Lisa Slotsve, that may be interested in having me on as an assistant this season! She is an amazing photographer, and our styles would mesh well. I am really excited about that opportunity, and also happy that all of my outreach emails have not been a total waste of my time! It's encouraging, and I've built quite the list of other potential photographers that I would love to assist this year :D! I've also volunteered over at the MLPS Photo Center and I think it will be a great way to keep active in my field and meet some people in the meantime. 


It's going to be a busy day tomorrow, and I really hope that the fact that I spilled wine all over my laptop won't ruin this for me  0_o! 

...............

As far as life in the hotel goes, well... it sucks.

Halen can't seem to get it that he shouldn't be going to the bathroom right on the pathways, and now that there's so much snow he has no idea where to go. He also hates the cold, and windy, snowy weather (as do I!) so going out means gearing us both up in our winter gear each time he rings the bell to go out. 

Another thing I miss is cooking. We have a 2 skillet stove and a microwave, and that's it. I am trying to eat healthier, but it isn't really working right now. I can feel myself getting fatter every day :(. And did I mention that it smells like tacos in here?? No matter how much febreeze I use, IT WON'T GO AWAY!! 

We're looking at some apartments tomorrow, and I can't wait to get settled in. I also can't wait for the day when I own my own home and am finally done with renting! What a waste of money. Unfortunately, I checked my credit today and it was worse than I thought! WTF? I am going to have to really work on improving that somehow if I plan on getting a decent interest rate any time soon. So I guess to sum it up; things are tough right now, but I feel that good things are in the near future.

These are a few of my favorite things :)

As a photographer for a jewelry and bead store for three years, I always kept my eye out for great backgrounds and styling tips from other artists. One of my favorite places to look for inspiration is on Etsy.com. If you're not familiar with the site, Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. If you haven't been there yet, definitely check it out and support your local artists :) I am totally addicted! These are some of my favorite shops :) 

Happy Cloud Supplies has the cutest jewelry supplies! I wish I could buy everything... actually, I probably could because everything is soooo cheap!

The next shops are hand crafted lockets--which I've recently become obsessed with.

Here are some of the more unique ones that I've found.

These are from "polarity"in New Jersey and they come with 3 magnetic interchangeable lids so you can change them to match your mood! The images are from different artists on Etsy who are featured in each listing. 

Another locket artist is Rotsina Creations from Rhode Island. She works with Epoxy Enamel and Swarovski Crystals and creates the most ornate, beautiful lockets I've ever seen. Each one is so unique and detailed and you can also request custom lockets if you want.

And finally (for today!) Verbana Place These necklaces are underpriced for how stunning they are. Check these out:

Finding a job is a job in itself!

Especially in my field of photography. There are so many people out there who shoot, and are amazing at it that it's almost impossible to find employment doing it. To make matters worse, many amatures who want to get into the profession will take on jobs and do the work for free. I think that really throws the pay scale off.

I haven't been out of work for that long, but I'm starting to go a bit stir-crazy being stuck in this hotel room all day. I've been taking the dog out for walks, but can't exactly do much else because I don't want to spend any money! (Did I mention that it's the middle of February and there's tons of snow still everywhere?!) FML

I hope something works out soon...