Chocomize!

While checking out one of my favorite blogs, Paper Moss, I discovered the coolest website called Chocomize, where you can customize your own bar of chocolate! You pick your chocolate- white, dark or milk & then choose 5 ingredients out of tons of candy, fruit, nuts, seeds, spices, herbs & decorations! They even have potato chips, bacon, pop rocks & flakes of real gold! This would be my creation:

All my favorite things in one chocolate bar! It's like Marble Slab! They would make great unique gifts or wedding favors! The website even says they offer discounts for bulk orders. I think I'm going to have to order one with my next paycheck to try it. Yum!

Happy December!

Finally!

I have a job! It has actually been more than a week since I found out but I could never find time to blog until now. I'm the new Program Representative for the Education Department at the Fort Worth Zoo! Eeeek!

New Blog Name!

I've finally decided on a new name for my blog:  

Heart Shaped Everything

I wanted it to be named after something I love. I know I love a lot of things (fireworks, flowers, the color pink, sunsets...) but none of those things had the imagery I wanted. I wanted something whimsical, something fun & something generic so I could write about whatever I wanted.

I decided on Heart Shaped Everything because I love everything shaped like hearts & if I could, all my stuff would be heart shaped- chairs, pillows, soap, food... Whenever I go shopping, my eyes gravitate towards anything shaped like hearts. I love shopping during February because of all the heart shaped pillows, candy, cookie cutters, etc.

Things shaped like hearts make me happy. They make me feel like a kid, when life was simpler & carefree & my dad made me heart shaped pancakes. I think heart shaped things represent love, hope & optimism.

I hope that each time I sign on to create a new post, the name of my blog will make me think of cute, heart shaped things & remind me of all the beauty in the world. 

Another Quote I Love

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

-Marcus Aurelius

Dreams & SpaghettiOs (or Ramen)

The song, “This One’s For The Girls” by Martina McBride, was on the radio yesterday. It’s about women of various ages dealing with the struggles of different phases of life, telling them "You're beautiful the way you are” (according to Wikipedia). The song came out in 2003, when I was 15, & I remember wondering if I my life would one day be like the 25 year-olds described in the song:

This is for all you girls about 25
In little apartments, just tryin' to get by
Livin' on, on dreams and SpaghettiOs
Wonderin' where your life is gonna go

While I was listening to the song yesterday, I realized that I'm that girl now. I’m about 25, I have an apartment, I’m living on Ramen (I like it better than SpaghettiOs) & I’m always wondering where my life is gonna go.

It’s strange to think that my 15 year-old self had no idea what I would be doing at 22. I hoped I would have my own place (check), have a cool job (working on it) & a wonderful boyfriend (check!) like the characters on the tv shows I watched, like Friends & Gilmore Girls.

Although my life doesn’t feel complete yet because I don’t have the amazing job where I make enough money to support myself AND to go on shopping sprees all the time ;), I have everything else I dreamed of, which is pretty great.

Ps. Speaking of Ramen, I learned how to make packaged Ramen in the microwave the other day! It tastes so much better than Cup O' Noodles and it's cheaper! I think I'll buy a bunch of it for lunch at work. Also, I'm still thinking of a new name for my blog. I have a few ideas but nothing sounds completely right. So, hopefully it'll come to me soon.

Everything Is Going To Be Amazing

I've been really picky lately & I've only applied for jobs that fit all my criteria- benefits, more than $10 hour pay, not too long of a commute, fun work environment, something to do with weddings or events- but jobs like that have been very hard to find.

Well, I applied for 3 jobs today & I like all of them! They all have to do with weddings or events, offer insurance and benefits, sound fun and I feel confident that I could do all of them! It's exciting to find what I'm looking for, but frustrating that something might not come from it. The job I really liked and was interview for is no longer posted on the company's web site. I guess the position has been filled :(. & I haven't heard anything from the couple of other jobs I applied for about a week or 2 ago. I want to stop worrying about finding my next job before this one ends. I want everything to be amazing!

I Love This Quote

"The most important thing is to enjoy life - to be happy - that's all that matters."

-Audrey Hepburn

Change

My blog will soon have a new title!

I just haven't thought of one yet.

I decided that finding a job isn't & shouldn't be the most important thing in my life. Plus, once I get a permanent job, this blog's title won't make sense ("My Journey To A Paycheck") & I'm starting to like blogging :).

I'm still looking for a job & I'll keep posting updates about it but it won't be the focus of my blog anymore.

I've realized that I don't want any job. I don't want to dread waking up in the morning to go to work. I don't want paychecks & the weekend to be my only motivation.

I want my job to mean something & even make me happy. A bad work environment can turn you into a pessimist & it makes you feel like you aren't making the most out of your life.

I want to remain an optimist. I want to see the good in people. I want to love every part of my life & I definitely think that should include what I do for 40 hours a week. So wish me luck in finding happiness & a new name for my blog!

I'd Rather Be

12 Things

Here are 12 things that make me happy (click on it to make it bigger).

1. Water: swimming pools, lakes, oceans, fountains... I also love when the light hits it
2. Love & Happiness
3. Crepes
4. Fairytales
5. Cotton candy
6. Paris & city lights
7. Hot chocolate w/whipped cream
8. Ferris Wheels
9. Love & Happiness again :)
10. Miss Dior Cherie perfume
11. roses, dahlias & flowers
12. Starbucks frappuccinos w/whipped cream (I also love whipped cream)

Happy Wednesday!

My Favorite Season

I'm back on my journey to find a "big girl job" aka a "career." My current job is almost over (in December because my boss doesn't need someone year-round) & I've starting looking for my next one. My boss has been great- she said she would write me recommendation letters & let me go on interviews during work hours.

This time, I have a better idea what I want- benefits!!! Insurance!! These past few months, I've had doctor & dentist visits without any health insurance & it has been very stressful on me & my dad (who, thankfully, still helps me pay for things even though I'm out on my own). However, since I'm being more picky, it's definitely harder to find job opportunities. I found one that seems practically perfect & I've interviewed for it (Yay!). I guess time will tell... but I'm anxious to find out what will happen next. I hate waiting because when I wait, I worry.

It's been 4 months since I last posted & it was in the middle of the hot Texas summer. Now, it's fall & it feels exactly how fall should feel. It's cooler but still warm. 75 degrees- the perfect temperature. I can't wait for the leaves to turn red, orange & yellow. This beautiful weather makes me wish I could be outside all day instead of in an office at a computer. I would even be ok with just a window.

I never thought that I had a favorite season. I love something from all of them. Spring- amazing weather, flowers blooming, you can finally wear shorts, t-shirts & dresses again, it's not too hot to be outside, watermelon, BBQs... Summer- swimming, no school, snow cones, late nights, sparklers, grilling outdoors... Winter- Christmas, Christmas lights, decorations, hot chocolate, blankets, sweaters, boots, snow, sledding, cuddling, fire places... Fall- beautiful weather during the day, cool weather at night, watching the leaves change, pumpkins, halloween, costumes, candy, the start of sweaters, blankets, hot chocolate :).

Now that I'm out of school, summer no longer means months of freedom, spring no longer means Spring Break, winter no longer means Christmas break and fall no longer means the start of school. So fall is now my adult, post-college self's favorite season.

One last thing, Stumble Upon is one of my favorite time killers/websites to find cool things. & I "stumbled upon" my dream house the other day ;)



Seriously though, a tree house like that, right in your backyard, would be such a cool place to relax & escape!

Life's Surprises

Well... I got a job! After only 3 posts on here! It always seems like after you accept your situation, life surprises you.

Like when you're single, you wonder why you haven't met the right guy yet but you decide just to stop worrying so much and that maybe you are just supposed to be single for a while. You tell yourself that the right guy will come along eventually... and then you meet him!

Life is full of surprises but I think unexpected events like that make it interesting. It's crazy to think that only a week ago, I found the job on Craig's List and decided to send that e-mail with my resume. I didn't know much about the job but I figured it was worth a shot to apply since it sounded fun and I met the requirements. I was prepared to keep searching and applying. I knew it might take a while, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call that the job was mine! I think I'll really like it and now I can finally stop worrying and searching. I can relax!

I know this blog is public so I won't go into too much detail about where I'll be working but I'm going to be the assistant to an event producer who produces a popular, non-profit haunted house. I will be doing something different each day and I think it will teach me a lot. It sounds like it will be a fun experience and I can't wait to start! The only downside is that the job ends in December. So, I might have to start my search all over again.

But who knows? Maybe things will work out. Life might surprise me.

My Wish

I have applied for 3 jobs since my last post, bringing the number of jobs I've applied for to 35!

I really recommend Craig's List! I didn't think there would be anything there but I've seen some postings that I've actually been interested in and I've received calls from the 2 jobs I've applied for!

Through all this, I have learned that I really don't like applying for jobs on a company's web site! I wish I could just send them my resume and cover letter. Instead, I have to type in all my work experience, education, skills, etc. in separate forms. Then, I usually have to answer a 100 question quiz about my personality and morals. It's frustrating because even though I spend a lot of time on those online applications, I haven't even gotten an interview.

On a positive note, Rascal Flatts is one of my favorite bands & this is a great song that makes sense for my life right now. =)

I hope the days come easy & the moments pass slow
& each road leads you where you want to go.
And if you're faced with a choice, & you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window.
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold.
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish...
-My Wish, Rascal Flatts

Inspiration

I just came back from a week-long vacation to Disneyworld with my best friends! There's nothing like roller coasters, fireworks and Disney magic to take away the stress of looking for a job! I didn't check my e-mail or Facebook for a week and it felt great!

At least it's summer. You can get away with being lazy and unemployed during the summer. I just need to find a job by the fall. That's my goal! =)

In this weeks Parade magazine, there's an article about the new Harry Potter park at Universal Studios. It said that the people at Universal Creative spent years reading the books, watching the movies and gathering information to create this place that's supposed to look exactly like Harry Potter's world. THAT sounds like my dream job! I want to do research and collaborate with people and see our ideas come together. I think that's why I like wedding and event planning. I love bringing ideas to life!

I don't really have a specific dream job. I just know that I want to be proud of what I do and have fun doing it.

I love quotes! & I hope these will give me inspiration to keep going even though the road is bumpy right now!

The Beginning

I've heard that finding a full-time job IS a full-time job.

I just graduated from college and at first, it felt great! After all my hard work, I was finally done! I'm a college graduate!! But then it hit me that I'm not done. I can't just relax and be proud of myself. I have to find a "real" job.

So, I started applying. At first, I only applied for jobs that sounded perfect, but then after many rejection e-mails and no responses, I became desperate. I started applying for jobs that weren't so perfect since I needed the money, but they didn't even call me. So far, I have applied to 32 places and counting... and still no job.

But I'm not giving up! This blog is about my quest to get my first "big girl" paycheck and *hopefully* my dream job!