Hello...again

I am sorry I have been out of it for awhile. There is no excuse except my own inability to write. Since taking my new job with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys I have been more busy then I planned and it has been hard to find time outside of work to write. So I thought I might take a few minutes break and write to motivate myself.

After being referred to the Kim Benson website (through an Amazon recommendation and I would love to get her book!) I was reminded how important it is to be fully committed to losing weight. I have recently been participating in the Curves Weight Management Program for about a month now and lost close to 10 pounds. The past week was a little off since I was sick and eating an abnormally high amount of cabs (like bagels!). But I am going to get back on the bandwagon this week.

Good things so far:

• Although I did not exercise last week (again...being sick) I did clean the house on Saturday and help stain the deck on Sunday (which was exhausting)
• Planned my meals out for the next week
• Will be exercising at Curves three times this week (starting tonight!)
• So far I have stayed on track today!

It has been very hard not to eat all the candy in the house (for the trick-a-treaters of course!) and the Grandma's Cookies that Jason's mom gave to us. Very bad indeed.

I am very inspired by Kim Benson. She is a weight watchers leader and struggled with many weight ups and downs throughout the years to finally reach her goal weight. She too writes a blog and I plant to read it for inspiration. I would also like to get her book (autographed copy from the website!).

It is definitely a lot easier to stay on track while at work when I bring my food and snacks. I have (pat on the back) done a good job with staying away from food brought into the office by co-workers. The hardest time for me is after dinner when I am relaxing or watching TV especially when there are plenty of chips and snacks that Jason eats that are nearby. The food is so close at hand and so tempting to eat. It is near impossible. I am normally consumed by a constant inner argument to stay away. Hopefully tonight will be a little better.

Well, I can only hope and plan for the best today.

Raise a Piece of Chocolate to Grandma

This blog is one of the hardest to write but some things that I have been thinking a lot about lately force me to write my chaotic thoughts down. Last Friday (April 24), I received a call from my mom saying that my Grandma (my dad's mom and who has been in hospice for the last month) was not doing very well and her breathing had changed. She suggested that I should come and visit as soon as possible. My mom and dad were already on there way up. I began making plans to leave after work. Within the hour, I received another call, saying my grandma had passed away. It was so horrible. I was so upset. This was the first person that has been close to me to depart this world to the next.

While my grandma's mental state has been decaying most of the time that I have known her- primarily caused by Huntington's disease, Parkinson's, and diabetes; her physical health began to decline as well. And she died at the ripe age of 64. We never thought it would happen so soon but at least she is in a better place.

Luckily, no one noticed my tears at my new job and I was able to retreat to my grief in private and swapping stories with my family. Since Friday, I have not been as emotional but a sadness has overcome me. So now, after some reflection, I want to recount some of my most treasured memories of my grandmother.

1. Her soft hands. They had a lifetime of moisturizer on them. Her generation knew the importance of good skin care (and sunscreen!). But they did not show her inner struggle over her mental state.



2. Her long necklaces. I never asked whether it was because she did not like necklaces close to her neck or she just preferred to wear long necklaces. They were beaded, had pearls, jewels, or silver tones. She always looked so elegant sitting there (no matter what shirt she was wearing) with her long necklaces.



3. Living with us in Haymarket. For a time, Grandma lived with us in the basement. Most of it seems to be a blur. I remember her being at dinner, watching soap operas, and helping clean. I especially remember the time she had to go get my mom when I fell out of the tree in the backyard. She was a great grandma to live with because she was lots of fun and she never told on us to the parents.



4. Her love of decorating for each holiday. From the time I can remember, whenever Grandma Nina visited she always brought little presents, especially around the holidays. Most of the time they were ceramic or painted figurines of bunnies or hearts and teddy bears. They were the best kinds of gifts. I know I still own mine and I cannot wait to have the room to decorate with them around my house. I think my passion for decorating for the seasons and the holidays is inherited from her.



5. She was always careful about her appearance. I learned the appreciation of brushing my hair from watching her constantly comb hers.



6. Her cleaning skills. She loved to clean. Sometimes it was hard to keep her from cleaning even if the house was already clean. She definitely taught you what you should do and how to clean a fridge from top to bottom.



7. Her love of chocolate. Whenever we saw Grandma, we always brought her a box of chocolate. I swear I never saw her eat one but the boxes where always empty. My Aunt Naomi said she knew something was wrong on Easter when my Grandma did not eat her chocolate.

Hopefully, I will remember more memories of Grandma (and can add some). But now, every April 24, I will have to smile and raise (and eat) and piece of chocolate to Grandma Nina. Because that is what she would have done.

Good News

On Thursday, I was offered a job with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys as a Case Manager for youth employment programs in Rockingham County/Harrisonburg and adult employment programs in Augusta County. I'm really excited. The salary is comparable to what I made at NorthStar and I get to start on Monday.

YAY!

I am also very excited to be seeing my friend Jenna tonight in Short Pump, eating at Maggiano's, and meeting her new boyfriend.

Good times and beautiful weather :)

Addendum

I found through Theresa Flaherty (one of my former professors at JMU) a great blog posting by Janet Driscoll Miller of Search-Mojo called "To 2009 Grads: How to Land a Search Marketing Job."

I think it is definitely something worth checking out. I think I will try and get my Google AdWords certification as she suggested.

How Grads Can Complete in the Marketplace

It is just crazy all the great articles I am reading today. I decided to respond to this article because I am a new grad competing in the marketplace for a job and I have lots of new grad friends who I am sure could use the help.

Brenda Bence first emphasizes to focus on the emotional needs of the employer rather than the functional. You can do this by showcasing your willingness advantage. This means showing the employer that you are willingly to work extra hours and attend networking events to promote the company. Also emphasize your fresh perspective due to your ability to shape and mold to the company standards. Lastly, emphasize your ability to multi-task like answering the phone, texting, and booking an Outlook appointment in 5 minutes.

According to this article, an advantage of new grads is their tech suaveness. This includes your skills with computers, PhotoShop, uploading videos, and using different media sources at the same time. On the flip side, it is important to be aware of how you represent yourself on the different social media websites. Using your tech abilities is also a great advantage when researching a company and its employees on the various websites.

Networking is another advantage grads can use to find a job. According to the article, 80% of jobs are found through networking then career sites or using a headhunter. Also use your personal connections to find a career. Also try to attend networking events with your school. Lastly, it is emphasized to send a "Thank-You" note and do not immediately ask questions about salary or benefits (see my previous blog!)

Feel free to check out this article for yourself at http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/03/how-to-get-a-job2.html?kipad_id=27

Do you agree with everything said?

5 Ways to Stop Overeating

I have been having problems following Weight Watchers by myself without having to pay for it so I thought I might try the South Beach diet again (I lost 50lbs with this my freshmen year in college). I am starting the South Beach diet today (haha...there was no way I could do it before Easter- not with my Grandma's cooking!). Since I do have the habit of overeating which I am sure is one of the reasons for being overweight I found this article at http://www.southbeachdiet.com/sbd/publicsite/dailydish/dd_20090411.aspx particularly useful.

I have highlighted the main points below.

5 Ways to Stop Overeating:

1. Eat slowly and savor your food.
2. Begin your meal with a salad or clear broth as soup.
3. Drink water before and throughout the meal.
4. Chop some of your favorite fresh vegetables (or cook them) and have them on the table with the rest of your dinner.
5. Assemble your plate of food and then wrap and store any leftovers before you begin eating.

I hope you found these tips as useful as I did. Do you have any tips for not overeating?

Training for a 5K

So I have also wanted to run a marathon but I have never really started training for one and am very on and off with running. I found this great website at http://www.coolrunnings.com/ that is all about how to train for different races. After talking with my friend Jenna, we decided we really needed to run a race together. So why not start off small? Today, I am going to start training for a 5K.

There are many good reasons to run. I feel that it will help me be healthier along with many other benefits like improved mood (exercising 35 minutes a day has been shown to lessen the signs of depression), lowering blood pressure (not that mine is high...yet), protecting against heart disease, and boosting self-esteem (Check out http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/treatment-regimens/exercise.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthEmotionalHealth_20090410)

Basically my workout today is a 5 minute warm-up and cool down plus alternating 60 seconds jogging with 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Wish me luck!

Mary's Most Advantageous Tricks to Get You Hired

I am two months into being unemployed and it has been quite an adventure. I think it would be prudent to acknowledge some things I have learned in the process of applying to approximately 50 positions.

1. Personalize your cover letter. Find out who the contact is and mention a recent announcement of the firm.



2. Update your resume with each job you apply to. Take words or pieces of the job description and make sure they are covered in your resume. You want to make sure the employer knows your qualified.



3. Print on resume paper. By spending a little extra money you are showing the employer your dedication to the position.



4. Type the address on the envelope. It looks classy, neat, and simple.
   


5. Call regularly. First call to introduce yourself and make sure they have received your resume. Also ask when they plan on reviewing the applications. Second, call once a week to let them know you are still interested. It is helpful to write out an elevator pitch highlighting a strength and/or why you are meant for the job each time you call. When you are speaking to them have the job description out and a copy of your resume on your desk so it is easy to reference in case the phone call turns in to an impromptu interview.


6. Research the company. You can do so by looking at their website and doing a simple Google search to see what others think about them. By researching, it will give you a better idea of whom you will be working for, point out any shady areas that you might want to stay away from, or give you material to use in your interview.


7. Come prepared to an interview. Prepared means a business suit that is dry cleaned, a modest amount of jewelry, extra copies of your resume, and arriving 15 minutes early.


8. Have questions. This is one of the easiest places to be dumbfounded when you have no questions. I have a list of five or six general questions that I reference in addition to one or two that are company specific. A good question to wrap things up is "When will I be hearing from you?"


9. Say thank you. This part post interview is also significantly overlooked. I collect business cards from everyone I meet with (and if they do not have one I write down their name) so I know whom to send the letters to. Depending on the formality of the interview and if I am expecting a second one I will either type up a formal thank you letter highlighting my strengths and something that interviewer mentioned during the interview or send a handwritten thank you note.


10. Follow up. It is always a good idea to touch base once a week to make sure they still know you are interested and why you are the best candidate for the job.

All these tips are things that have helped me to differentiate myself from the competitors. While it may take a little extra time, it will be worth it in the long run.

What tips would you add to the list?

Snuggie

So, my friend Jenna sent me this great article called "How I Fell in Love with the Snuggie" written by Kurt Soller of Newsweek(http://www.newsweek.com/id/189109). She sent me this article probably because I am a pretty cold person (temperature not attitude) and am always covered in a blanket while around the house- especially because my boyfriend keeps the house at a cool 70 degrees.

And no after reading the article and seeing all the infomercials, I think I am hooked and need to buy one immediately. It is only $19.95 for two plus a free book light so I think it would be worth it. I think a guy writing about it from Newsweek definitely adds some legitimacy to all of the buzz.

I think Kurt sums it up great when he says:

"Even if we're not personally feeling the strain, there's a buzz in the air that tells us to stay home, to relax on the couch, to cook our own dinner—to squirrel up and save for a rainy day. For those who have lost their job, there's depression and the desperation of seeking new work. Since November, when Snuggie took off and President Obama was elected, it's gone downhill. And right now, we just want to be hugged—or Snugged, if you will."

I will definitely keep you posted when I try it out. For now, the Snuggie is one of many things I would like to own.

Gemeinschaft Home

Gemeinschaft Home is a place where ex convicts choose to go to be rehabilitated back into society in Harrisonburg, VA. Two years ago, my friend Alison wrote her honors thesis on the idea that rehabilitation for criminals is better then simply throwing them in jail. Despite being a conservative I feel like this makes a lot more sense especially because many researchers agree. My brother-in-law, Chris, is one of these people. He has worked a lot with juvenile offenders. I wonder if crime rates would decrease if this system was tested out.

Gemeinschaft Home may be receiving additional funding from Governor Kaine. I think this is definitely a step in the right direction.

You can check out the article at: http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=36094&CHID=1

Good Cooking

So last night I made the best dinner ever! It was so delicious. It started in the wee hours of the morning (about 10am or so) in the crock pot. It consisted of a beef roast, carrots, potatoes, onions, and Lipton Onion soup mix. It stewed for hours. But in the meantime I made some homemade dinner rolls. I am pretty proud of myself because they are the first bread that I have made with yeast. They turned out perfectly even with my punching skills. I also made my best gravy ever from the broth of the crock pot mixture. It was just the right consistency and flavor. Thank goodness my dad taught me how to make gravy.

Yesterday I also walked for 40 mins (2 miles at 3.0mph at various elevations). Today, I did interval training on the treadmill for 2.5 miles ranging from 3 to 5 mph. Yeah me!

Jason is still working on painting my shelves. Poor guy, they definitely ended up being a bigger project than we both thought.

Tonight I am making shrimp curry with broccoli and cauliflower.

I might be off for a few days since I am heading to PA to visit my older sister Ellen, brother-in-law Chris, and 5 month old nephew Ethan. I will be watching Ethan by myself for about 5 hours. Hopefully it turns out well!

Lots of Changes

I am so sorry but it has been awhile since I have written. I have absolutely no good reason for it then I am obsessed with watching Will and Grace at 11am everyday and CSI NY starts at 3pm. Based on my TV viewing schedule I have only a small window for working out, eating, and looking for a job.

But please give me some credit- I did work on my taxes for about 3 hours today. It is complicated stuff when I basically filled them out four times to determine the best educational/student loan credit I could get with it. I do like the Free File Fillable Forms (that's a mouthful!) especially because they do all the calculations for me. It's fabulous.

Right now I am reading The Duchess by Amanda Foreman. It is about the Duchess of Devonshire who was technically the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales. She lived in England during the American Revolution. It is very interesting. I do like a good biography when it is about someone interesting. I am trying to read some so I do not rot my brain while being unemployed. I plan on purchasing some more books after I finish this one.

I think I do a pretty good job keeping to a schedule. My goal in the morning is to be on the treadmill by 11am for Will and Grace. Then I eat lunch and do some job searching. I am trying to be as optimistic as possible even though it is taking awhile. It is extremely competitive and I am not sure what to do differently with my cover letter and resume to attract employers attention.

I have officially moved out of my apartment as of last weekend and my friend and former co-worker Takunda is subleasing it. It is so great to have him move in especially because my unemployment does not cover one month's rent. I think Jason and I are doing pretty well. He has accepted a good amount of my stuff in his house. The closet has also fit all of my clothes and shoes very nicely. We also got a nice cabinet for the bathroom that takes care of storing all my hair products and make-up. We really just need to find room for all of my books. I do love to read.

Next Monday I am going up to Pennsylvania to visit my sister Ellen, her husband Chris, and my 5-month old nephew Ethan. I cannot wait to see my sister and how much my nephew has grown. It should be a fun trip.

That is pretty much it for now....

Moving Forward

Yesterday was my last day at my company. It was very surreal to be leaving. I
will definitely miss all the people I met there. I do believe that everything happens for a reason and I am excited about my prospects ahead.

Upon leaving, I sent an e-mail to everyone in the office:

"Hi,

I just wanted to send out a quick note. I have truly enjoyed my first job out of college. I have met some amazing people, learned a lot about sales, and tradeshows. I think what makes an organization truly great is the people that support it. I was reminded today that it is really easy to get bogged down in the negative things but I think it is a lot easier to be positive and keep moving forward. After all, they say people with a positive outlook on life tend to live longer. So, I plan on remembering everyone and this organization for all the wonderful things it has done to
make me a better person.

I hope to stay in touch with you all. I will miss you all. You can reach me on my cell at or through e-mail. I wish you best of luck in all of your endeavors and may the company continue to grow and prosper.

Kind regards,

Mary"

My good friend Ilse sent me an article "Why Cold Calling Doesn't Work Anymore" by Frank J. Rumbauskas, Jr. at http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Rumbauskas1.html. I think it sums to perfection my experience with my previous company and why I had such a hard time cold calling.

Today I mainly got ready to head down to Bridgewater. I am so excited to be here! It is a dream come true. Jason has been great with me moving in. In fact he is working on a shelf for my closet as I write. If this is not love I don't know what is. Last weekend we re-did the walk-in closet in the den and ordered a cabinet for the bathroom. He has been wonderful supporting me through my job loss and moving on. In fact his firm has played a very significant role in helping me find a job. I was a topic of discussion at the last partners meeting. They all sent out a bunch of e-mails
and calls to various attorneys and clients. It was so nice of them (and I mean that in a big way because I did not expect it whatsoever). So Jason and I have been talking a lot about changes in the house to accommodate me.

I have currently moved my essentials (clothes, make-up, shoes, etc) down here. I packed
it up, unloaded it, and unpacked it by myself. I am pretty damn proud of myself. Since I love pink, I have brought a few things from my place and put them strategically around the house. At least it looks like a girl lives here now. As soon as I get some to sublet in Falls Church or a job down here, I will move the rest of my stuff out of the apartment.

On Monday I plan on applying for unemployment. I am also going to be calling through to all the businesses that belong to the Chamber of Commerce. I did not plan on staying unemployed for long and I will continue to move forward despite this step back.

Election

I do feel the need to comment on todays election. Although I am a Republican and believe in about 95% of what Obama says, I do think this is an important day for American history with having an African American for President. I think Bill Marriott catches it best in his blog: http://www.blogs.marriott.com/default.asp?item=2317723

Best of luck Obama!

Top 10 Reasons to Hire Mary

1. My organizational skills keep me focused and goal oriented in which I will be able to help your organization achieve its objectives.
2. I am a quick learner and adapt to different situations easily. Thus, I will be able to acclimate myself to your organization in a jiffy.
3. I am an expert at using the Microsoft Suite. So I will be able to format, create, and edit more efficiently and effectively then anyone currently on your team.
4. I am a natural planner and a progressive thinker. I am always thinking of your company's best interests.
5. I am a people person. I will have no problem getting along with my co-workers and clients.
6. I am knowledgeable in marketing, event planning, and business development. I am pretty much capable of completing any task you put before me in a timely manner.
7. I like things to be aesthetically correct. Everything I do for you will not only be done right but it will also look good.
8. I am good at public speaking. I will have no problem leading a discussion, a meeting, giving a presentation, or directing a team.
9. I am naturally the leader. I do not wait for someone else to step up. If there is a job to be done, I am the first to volunteer.
10. I am a big fan of recognizing your ethics and values. I am professional all of the time.

I am happy to prove to you that I am capable of all of these things. I would love to speak with you more about my qualifications.

Just Another Manic Monday

Monday turned out to be a very interesting day. I had a meeting with the bosses. I was a little worried when they asked me to come talk with them in their office(maybe it was about the event in the morning).

The bosses said that they know I have been wanting an Account Manager position instead of sales and they have noticed that I have not seemed that happy cold calling. They really appreciate everything I have given to the company, my organizational skills, my professionalism, my dedication, etc.. If they had an account manager position available with NorthStar they would gladly give it to me but since they don't they gave me a recommendation of an employer in Manassas (Continental Services) who is hiring an Account Manager. If I don't want that position, they would be happy to support me looking elsewhere and will both give me references.

Right now they basically want me to close up my current opportunities and finish going through the dormant list and not doing anymore cold calling. I definitely never saw this coming. I basically have to wrap everything up by January 30 (my last day).

So, instead of my last day possibly being April 15 and having a few months to look for a new job in the Harrisonburg area. It is exciting because this is probably the best way to leave Northstar with my new job search being out in the open and the bosses providing references. It is also nice that I may be able to move in with Jason a wee bit sooner. The downside is that everything is up in the air right now on my plans for the next month, I may be unemployed for awhile, and I still have a lease here in Falls Church until May 30.

I am frantically looking for a new job and trying to be as optimistic as possible.

Thursday Blues

This week has been exhausting! I am so tired today after getting up at 5:15am for the second time this week. They have both been for networking events. I am not only networking for my current company but also for myself in finding a new job. I did have the chance to speak with Debra from ManPower and luckily they have an office in Charlottesville. I cannot wait to give them a call.

I attended a nice networking event this morning hosted by the Tech Council of Maryland (https://techcouncilmd.com/events/detail.php?list=Events&laction=detail.php&evt_id=154) . It was amazing! I really enjoyed Kate with PRofessional Staffing (you can find her at http://www.prstaffing.com/) and Aaron who was on Apprentice Season 6. I learned a lot from them about the fundamentals of networking. The second half concentrated more on social media strategies. It was lead by Steve Raddick (at http://www.steveradick.com/) and Denise Graveline (at http://www.dontgetcaught.biz/). They both revolutionized my idea of social media and using to sell myself and not a product (or service). I plan on following all of their blogs.

Not much else going on- heading over to my friend Natalie's house to get "The Time Travelers Wife" by Audrey Niffeneggar. We are reading with Stephanie and Katie for the next book club meeting. I am pretty tired but I would love to hang out with Natalie.

I cannot wait for tomorrow and to finally be on my way to Bridgewater.

P.S.

Yesterday, I did 11166 steps (4pts!)

The Beginning

Although I have been doing Weight Watchers for almost a year, in all my ups and downs, I have lost about 10 lbs. But, I think if I had not been part of the program I definitely would not have worked out as much, made some wrong choices with food, and gained weight. I never want to be that heavy again and that was the main reason for joining Weight Watchers so I could learn to live a healthy lifestyle. I think it will take a little while especially because I seem to lack motivation to say "no" to certain foods like chocolate, or cookies, and my portion sizes are still way too big.

Right now my goals are:

1. Focus on my motivation for WW
2. Work out at least 3 times a week (I really need to get at least 30mins of exercise a day)
3. Get my BMI into a healthy range
4. Find a new job (where my BF Jason is at so we can move in together)
5. Become financially secure
6. Run a Marathon
7. Climb Machu Picchu (w/ Jenna!)
8. Own a Chanel purse

My current job out of college is not what I expected. I have been trying to make the best of my position especially since I have realized that I am not as passionate about sales/business development. So I am on a really big budget where I am not able to afford anything but gas and groceries. I cannot wait to get out of NOVA, live with Jason, and not be spending half of my money on rent. It would not be so bad if I could make commission but I think that is impossible here. I am really looking for a marketing/event planning job in the Harrisonburg/Charlottesville area.