Funny How things work out

A week ago today I was laid off from my job. Normally this would be a bad this to happen to someone. However this was the best thing to ever happen to me!!

Since I was planning on quitting in August to go back to school, they actually did me a huge favor. I was dying having to work there, knowing I would be leaving soon. It's not a fun place to work anymore and it was just making me miserable. When I was laid off they gave me severance that brings me to when I would have quit anyway. It was a sign.

Best part, is I will be able to collect unemployment while I am at school. That is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders! Knowing that I will have some money come in while I am at school makes me feel better. I don't have to worry about paying for my bills and now I can even save up some money.

Now I can enjoy the rest of my summer and do whatever I want before reality sets back in again for me. Ever since I started this journey to find my passion and what I want to do for the rest of my life, I have been overwhelmed by signs and basically being pushed into this direction. For the first time in my life, I feel like I know what I'm doing and I'm happy with my choices.

I never thought I would find that thing, that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It seems though I've finally found it and I couldn't be happier. Now that's not to say things won't change in the future. I may want to become something totally different again, but what I know now is, that's okay. I will be okay, no matter what happens. Even something as terrible as being laid off, happens to be the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I am so excited to go back to school and learn new things! I cannot wait for this adventure to begin.

Making plans and catching up

This past weekend I spent down in Virginia visiting my brother and his family. It was a long weekend but a lot of fun. It was for my niece’s birthday. She is now three! I can't believe it. I took a bunch of pictures but haven't had a chance yet to put them on my computer.

I am glad I made the trip down. I really didn't want to make that drive down in the summer. Going south in the summer around here is like the kiss of death. Horrible traffic. I forced my mother to wake up at 5am on Saturday so we could get a head start. It paid off because we made awesome time and got to spend that much more time with my family.

It was a really nice day. Got caught up with everyone and then had a little BBQ for Abby's birthday. It had started off crummy in the morning but was beautiful by the afternoon which worked out nicely. I was so tired by the time everyone left though. My brother, SIL and I were going to go out for some drinks afterwards but we all were just too spent.

Sunday we got up early again (although I barely slept at all anyway) and then met up with them for breakfast before hitting the road. It was a quick weekend and a whole lot of driving, but worth it. I'm also really excited because in July we will be taking my niece for the week. I cannot wait! I know it'll be a ton of work, but I don't get to see her that often so I'll take what I can.

I'm just trying to fill my days and weekends with fun activities in order to make the time go by a little faster. It really feels like time is standing still at work, so I am making plans so I have something to look forward to.

I am running a race this weekend and going to a BBQ on Sunday. And I actually joined a Softball league that starts next Tuesday. I am so excited!! I played when I was younger but haven't played in years. It's a laid back league though so I'm not worried about being a superstar. But it's something to help break up my week and something new and different!

There's also things on my bucket list that I always do in the summer. It's a must! Going to the boardwalk for dippin dots and all sorts of good food. Going to hurricane harbor or Six Flags for the day and being a kid. To name a few. What are some things that you feel isn't summer until you do them?

Waiting Game

There is a date in the future, when (not to be dramatic or anything) my entire life will change. Knowing it's there and still a little ways away give me conflicting feelings on a day to day basis.

That day will be my last day of a 9-5 desk job. When I step into the complete unknown and go back to school to start an entirely new path of my life. It's terrifying but so exciting all at the same time. I'm still not 100 percent sure I'm making the right decision, but the excitement I get when I think about it, tells me I'm definitely on the right track.

However waiting for my last day, which is still 3 months away, it's excruciatingly painful. Knowing I have to be here until then is really rough. The days feel endless and like August will never get here. Despite that I've been trying to enjoy my coworkers while I can. I will miss them terribly. They are a big reason why I've been here as long as I have. Having true friends that you work with and you can confide in are really hard to come by. I know this all too well so I want to enjoy them for as long as I can.

Right now I'm not that scared or nervous about what I'm doing. It's still a good distance away for me to not really notice. I know that when those last days are fast approaching, I will get that anxiety and second guess myself. I am so so thankful that my mother has been so supportive of me. If it wasn't for her telling me that no matter what it's going to be okay, I'm not sure I would have had the strength to go through with this. My family and friends who know that it's coming have all been equally supportive for the most part (minus my supposed best friend).

I'm just so excited to get started!!!! I hate waiting; I'm a very impatient person. haha. Never in my life have I wanted to fast forward through summer before, but I just can't wait to start this new chapter in my life!! Although I fully plan on taking advantage of this summer and make it one of the best ever!

Back to the real world

My vacation was awesome!!!

Seriously it was just what I needed. I spent my days laying by the pool or swimming. The resort was so nice. The pool was huge, the lazy river was long, and the water slide was really high. They had an on site restaurant that was delicious, a free movie theater, and also mini golf. There was always something to do that there was no need to leave!

Surprisingly my cousins didn't drive me crazy. They were a delight all week and I was so happy that I took them along. I am not the type of person who can be around someone 24/7 without getting annoyed or fidgety but I was perfectly fine all week.

Even though I ate what ever I wanted I still managed to lose some weight!! I guess when your swimming around in a pool and playing games all day, you don't need to worry so much about how much your eating.

A friend of mine works for Disney and was able to get me tickets to get into the park for free!!! How awesome is that??? On Wednesday we headed to the park and went to Hollywood Studios (MGM) and Epcot. Last time I went to Disney, I was around 12 and I had a terrible time. I HATED Disney. lol. This time definitely changed my mind about the whole park. The rides were so much fun, and the atmosphere is just great.

My favorite ride was definitely the Rock and Roller Coaster. It was the Aerosmith ride that blasts their music while going all around and upside down!! We had a yummy lunch in China at Epcot. The orange chicken is amazing. It was a long day, but totally worth it. My feet were killing me from all the walking we did, but honestly I really hope I can go back there soon!

The only bad thing about my vacation was that I got sunburn on my eyes. At least I think it's sunburn. I am in so much pain, and the skin on my eyelids are bright red and peeling. No matter how much cream I put on, the pain won't go away and the skin keeps on peeling. So gross!

Now it's back to the grind. Although I loved Florida I am happy to be back and even weirder? I'm happy to be back at work! Never thought I'd say that!

Did I miss anything while I was gone??? How was your week?

Summer Kickoff

This past weekend officially marked the start of summer for me. Sure most people look to Memorial Day as the start, but for me summer doesn’t start until I hit the beach for the first time.

That’s exactly what I did on Saturday. It was so hot and humid out, it was the perfect day to hit the beach. Surprisingly there was no traffic getting to the beach. I live pretty close to the beach but usually as I get closer to one of the bridges, that takes me to the actual beach, I always hit some kind of traffic on the weekends. It was weird to not hit any traffic and for there to be so few cars on the road at that time. Then when we got to the beach, we found out that it was FREE that day!!! Talk about the perfect way to kick off the day and the summer for me!!!!

The beach was lovely. The weather channel said it was supposed to rain but it couldn’t have been more gorgeous at the beach. I can get antsy at the beach if I sit still for too long, but I had a book so I was set for the day.

It was so hot though that you had to go in the water. It was freezing, but felt refreshing after baking in the sun. Plus I’m a total water girl, so I can’t NOT go swimming if I am near a body of water.

The only downside to the day was the sunburn and weird tan lines I got. I never ever can just get an even tan. I always get weird tan lines and sunburns, so that my skin looks freaky all summer long. Last year my left foot got burned the first day in the sun so for the rest of the summer my foot just kept on getting darker and darker and the rest of my leg couldn’t catch up. It looked dirty by the end of the summer. lol. This year, my bathing suit had a ring where the strap goes through to go up around your neck halter style. So of course I got a little red dot on Saturday on my chest. lol. Also I did a terrible job at putting the sunscreen on the back of my legs so they are all splotchy. It’s pretty sexy. ;)

What event or activity signals the start of summer for you?

Blowing Bubbles*

This past weekend was so beautiful out! I was in heaven. Got to go to the beach both days to enjoy the sun. I also started teaching swim lessons to a friend’s son. I forgot how cute and fun it was!

When I was a lifeguard I was certified in teaching swim lessons and taught for 4 summers. It was a blast! I haven’t done them in years but when I was asked to start training their 3-year-old son I couldn’t say no. They are just the cutest at that age while learning.

I was lucky because the boy wasn’t afraid of the water, which is usually half the battle when dealing with kids that young. He was fearless. I miss being that young and not afraid to try anything.

I’m looking forward to teaching some more lessons. He’s still pretty young so he probably won’t be able to swim on his own by the end of the summer, but next year he will be a fish!

Also I think my friends from college might be finally making a trip to visit me this summer! It’s hard with everyone’s schedules but I really hope it works out. They haven’t been up here in 3 years (I always go there) and when they visited there were some mishaps that happened. They vowed to never return but I am slowly convincing them to give it another try! I’ll keep you posted on what they decide.


I can’t believe it’s already mid-July. I feel like this summer is flying by! It needs to slow down a little bit!

*A technique I use when teaching kids how to swim

Welcome Summer!

This past weekend was really lovely. I got out of work at 1pm on Friday (thank you summer Fridays!) and spent the day just unwinding and relaxing after a crazy week.

Saturday it was cloudy so my friend and I decided to hit the outlets. I got the cutest pair of Cole Haan flats for half off!! Did you know their shoes are made with Nike Air? It makes them super comfy.

For lunch we ate at this new restaurant called Bobby’s Burger Palace. It’s actually a restaurant chain by the food network guy Bobby Flay. Let me just say that I don’t really eat hamburgers but I am obsessed with these!! I had the best burger there! I can’t wait to go back and try a different kind.

After we ate the weather cleared up so I got my dogs, went to my friend’s house and went swimming with my dogs! They have never been in a pool before but they swam so well! It was the cutest thing ever. I think they even liked it. They kept on going to edge of the pool looking like they wanted to jump in. I would take them and put them in the water and they would swim right to the stairs!! I wish I had a camera. It was adorable.

That night a bunch of us headed out. We went to a club that is near the boardwalk and while I don’t really go to those places in the summer because of the traffic and, no offense, bennys, I had a blast. There was a great crowd and not too many people that you felt like you couldn’t move. Everyone was just having a good time and dancing like crazy.

Now I know some people have a problem with Benny’s, I do on occasion like when I’m stuck in traffic for an hour to get home which is five miles away, but they know how to have a good time. They just want to have fun and enjoy the summer. I only get mad when they are stereotypical and act like they OWN the Jersey Shore. That gets annoying. The only downside of the night was the fact that we parked about a mile away from the place to avoid paying for parking. My shoes that I wear all the time decided to fail on me that night and I got huge blisters that are still hurting me.

Sunday was an amazing day so a few of us hit the beach. The water was FREEZING but you got so hot that you didn’t even mind it. I still haven’t bought new sunscreen so I was forced to use a bottle that I found on the bottom of my closet. Not the best idea. I have sunburn in random places now. Like on the right side of my neck, the top of my left thigh, my feet (I always forget that part) and my forehead. lol. Nowhere else did I get burned. So now I look like a freak but that’s okay. Hopefully it will even out soon.

I feel like the summer has officially started. I’m not taking into account this crazy weather we are having today. Thunder and hail storms in June??? WTF.

Ready for the summer!

I am defiantly ready for the summer. I can’t wait for the warm weather and summer Fridays at work where I actually get home by 3 pm! I also started thinking about where I will be going for vacation this year. I loved where I went last year and I hope to be as lucky this year with finding a place. My friend and I are going to start looking this weekend.

Even more proof that I’m ready?? I actually bought a bathing suit this past weekend! This is very much out of character for me. I am the type of person to only own one bathing suit and I only replace it when the one I own is slowly falling apart. The reason for this is I’m very picky when it comes to buying bathing suits. It takes forever for me to find something that I’m happy with and comfortable wearing. Imagine my surprise when I went to the mall this past weekend and found not one but TWO bathing suits that I loved.

Even though it is still months until I can start going to the beach, I just couldn’t resist. I only ended up buying one of the two bathing suits that I loved because I felt like I would be going out of control if I got two. However I am seriously considering throwing caution to the wind and getting the other one.

To bore you some more let me tell you about the suit. It’s a tankini, the only type of bathing suits I buy, with the bottoms just being plain black, but the top is super cute. It’s black with white polka dots that are reminiscent of a 1950s bathing suit. There is a little gathering by the bust and it is a halter-top but it has a kind of sweet heart neckline. I wish I could explain it better, but trust me it’s adorable. For me to be this excited about a bathing suit must mean it.

On top of that, I also bought a bunch of summer tops. I am defiantly ready for the summer!

What makes you excited about this summer?

Wish me luck!

In the beginning of the summer I promised my aunt that I would take her daughters for the weekend. There are 3 of them, 16 and the twins are 14. I love these girls like they are my own and I try to spoil them as much as possible because their father is a piece of shit. Seriously, I don’t hate anyone, but this man is ridiculous. He has “medical problems” and hasn’t worked in the past 4 years, forcing my aunt to work 3 jobs simultaneously just so they can make their mortgage payments. While he stays at home sleeping all day and all night. She barely has enough money to go grocery shopping. My mother and me do whatever we can to help out those girls, because they don’t deserve to have a father like that. I may not have a relationship with my dad anymore, but at least when he was still married to my mom he was a good person. He was never disrespectful and could never fathom staying at home and not working to support his family. Another thing I hate is how he doesn’t realize what amazing kids he has. They are the most well behaved teenagers you have ever seen and he thinks they are terrible. He once grounded one of them for a week because she took a piece of computer paper without asking. All she was allowed for the week was read the bible. I have never been grounded in my entire life and I have done stuff that is much worse!

Anyway, before this turns into a rant about this man, I am finally taking the girls for the weekend. I will pick them up after work today and have them until either Saturday night or Sunday. I just hope I can find enough stuff to do to entertain them. They might also bring one of their friends with them so that should be interesting. This girl is over their house every day and is basically their other sister, but it will be weird that she is staying at my house. As long as her mother is okay with it, it should be fine. I just don’t want them to get bored with me or think I’m really lame. I mean they are at that age where you are supposed to hate everything and you constantly talk about how bored you are. I have a couple of ideas of what to do with them; lets just hope they like it! Anyway wish me luck! Have a great weekend!

It’s hump day!

Every Wednesday I see that a lot of people post their random thoughts. Since I can’t really think one just one thing to talk about I am going to sorta do the same thing.

I am totally obsessed with watching True Life on MTV. Every time I see a new one is on or one that I haven’t’ seen I usually DVR it so I can watch it when there is nothing else on. Well last night there was nothing on so I watched one. Guess what is was called??? True Life: I’m a compulsive shopper!!!! I almost died laughing because of the post that I did that day. Then I got paranoid thinking that I could end up just like these 2 girls who owed thousands of dollars. One stole her parent’s card and maxed it out, the other never paid her bills and one day Rent-a-Center came and took all of her furniture!! Then I realized that I would never be that stupid, seriously these girls were DUMB, and I’m very good at paying all my bills on time. I usually pay them way before they are even due. I’m actually very paranoid of going into crazy debt, especially since I already owe a lot of student loans.

Speaking of shopping, I totally forgot to mention yesterday that while yes I did spend 200 dollars at Nordstrom, I ended up saving over 100 dollars. I did the math and saw that I actually got some really good quality clothes that will last at a pretty good discount.

I did something to my neck the other day and I’m in a lot of pain. I think I must have slept on it wrong because it hurts every time I try to move it. I thought it would be gone by now, it happened 3 days ago, but it’s actually worse then ever. I told my mom about it and see gave me an amazing neck massage to try and get the knot out of my neck. It felt great at the time so I thought a good nights sleep would do it and I would have no more pain today. Wrong. I woke up and not only is my neck in pain still but it has also traveled into my back. AWESOME. Not only that, I now have a HUGE bruise on my neck. I rarely ever bruise but seriously, it looks like a boyfriend beat the crap out of me. The next person who asks me what happens: I’m going to bit my lip, start to quiver and tell her that I “accidentally” fell into a door.

I think I’m losing it at work. I am no longer speaking in coherent sentences, and I’m finding ways to amuse myself. People are starting to look at me like I’m crazy. This is what happens when I start to get stir crazy. I start acting strange. Since my fellow co-workers don’t know this about me, they just try to not make any eye contact with me. But seriously I need something to do NOW, or this will get worse. I actually had to call a woman up to ask her a question and I started to talk in circles. When I realized this, I decided to start all over and actually said, “Hello this is Rose from Blah blah.” She was so confused that she started to laugh. Not just laugh, but I actually think she was crying a little bit from laughing so hard. I just told her that it’s been a long day, and then she actually thanked me for cheering up hers. Then I was actually happy at myself for making her happy, even though I made an ass out of myself. I don’t really mind when I act like this, other people do, but I just don’t care. It’s a clear sign that I need to get out of here ASAP. Maybe this weekend, I will take a big look deep down to see what my next move should be. Knowing me I will probably end up procrastinating and go to the beach. Oh well it’s worth a shot.

Another thing is I’m dying to go swimming is a POOL. I cannot believe that it’s the end of July and I haven’t been in a pool. Sure I’ve been in the ocean plenty of times, but a pool is different. I prefer it, especially now that the jellyfish have reached the Jersey Shore. Every year at this time, when the water finally gets to a temperature that is bearable to swim in they pop up. First it’s the babies, which don’t sting but you feel like your swimming in Jell-O and it really creeps me out. Then they grow up and there are tons of pink ones just waiting to sting and kill you. My biggest fear is I’m going to go to the ocean, dive into a wave, only to be hit by a jellyfish in my face! I’ve never actually been stung by one before, but I am deathly afraid of them. I need to find a pool to swim in stat, or I might go pool hopping and break into one. I’ll keep you posted.

So anything random, crazy or even rants that you need to get off your chest?

Glory days

Yesterday’s list actually did make me feel better and also reminded me how much I love that book. I think I might read it again soon. It also got me thinking about the jobs I’ve held in the past. The job I have now is my first official “grown-up job”. I commute to work; sit behind a computer all day in my cubicle that isn’t really a cubicle because it is wide open and no privacy what so ever. Anyway I was thinking about the jobs I did in high school and college before I graduated.

The best job I ever had was when I was a lifeguard at the local pool club. I did that for four summers before all my friends and I decided that we were to cool to work there anymore. By the way, I seriously wish I had stayed for a least another year after that. I probably worked there more then I do at the job I currently have. But I didn’t mind because I had a great circle of friends and I was outside the whole day. I got a killer tan and I was in the best shape of my life (we had to swim 500 yards everyday).I would get there at 8:30, teach swim lessons until noon, lifeguard until about 3:30 and then teach a few more classes until 6ish. I was non-stop and I didn’t even realize.

It didn’t feel like work. I loved teaching swim lessons, and while watching the pool I always had a friend to talk to. On the weekend I would go to the beach and then hang out with my work friends. It started to get really cliquey toward the end, which is one of the reasons I left, to much drama and people would actually get mad at you when you hung out with someone else outside work. Anyway my point is I worked a lot that summer, and working at the job I have now I freak out if I have to stay a few minutes later a work. What happened between then and now? I fly out the door each night, but when I was there sometimes I would hang around after my shift had ended.

Let’s fast forward now to when I decided to stop working there and I got a job at the YMCA. The job was easy and in the summer time no one goes there because they would all rather be outside. However I did not like that job. I was stuck inside all day, while my friends went to the beach.

I never liked the idea of having to be stuck inside all day at my job. In college when it came time to choose a major (there was more than one) I always went for a job that didn’t require me being stuck behind a desk all the time. Originally I thought I was either going to be a physical therapist or a speech pathologist. Both don’t really require a desk or computer. When I realized that neither was really for me, I changed to public relations. While that does require going to the office everyday, but there is so much more to it. There are events, press meetings, traveling, etc. To me it seemed to be the perfect balance between your typical cubicle work and having being able to get out there. I would never feel trapped. Even when I did an internship with a PR agency, I was always behind a computer but I loved what I was doing and I especially liked the people I was working with.

This made me realize 2 things that I absolutely must have in my next job if and when I finally get one.

1. I need to have a support system of friends (this is probably true for everyone) at the place I currently work at everyone keeps to themselves and there is barely any interaction (most people have their ipods on). I can’t say I have one true friend here and that makes me sad.
2. I need to find a job that doesn’t require me to be sitting behind a computer all day. I need to be able to get out, or at least have the opportunity to get out of the place. Which is why jobs like being a makeup artist, photographer and even a social work (I know I am random) appeal to me so much. They aren’t your typical 9-5 Office Space kind of job.

What should I do?

Man when is this heat going to end??? It’s so hot outside that the inside of my office can’t seem to keep up. AKA I’m melting at work. So my birthday is coming up soon and I’m trying to think of what to do. It’s not a big birthday or anything, but I can’t do what I originally wanted to do which was go visit my friends in Maryland. However the person I would stay with is moving that day and I don’t think she is going to be up to entertaining. It’s just not a good weekend for a lot of them so my visit has been postponed. Then I found out that I need to go to my cousin’s graduation party the day after my birthday. So even if I wanted to I can’t really go anywhere. So that leaves me stuck at home with no one to really hang out with that day. Almost all of my friends have either moved, or still at school taking summer classes. I didn’t really want to do a big thing anyway, but I would like to find something I can do to still make my day fun. So that’s my dilemma. But worst comes to worst I’ll just go to the beach with someone and spend it that way. Which I can’t really complain about now can I??

I can feel summer on its way.

It’s been really busy at work, which is a good thing for me. It makes the days go by much more quickly and there isn’t really any time for me to wallow in my own self-pity. Which is always a good thing. In particular this week has flown by. And next week I will only be at work for 2 days! Basically making the month of April fly by for me! Soon it will be May and the summer will ensue. I am a summer baby and I absolutely love the summer. In particular I love the beach! I love everything about the beach, the hot sand that burns your feet, the salty water, even the smell. That salty coconut smell that you can only experience at the beach. I cannot wait for the summer, and even more I cannot wait for my vacation to los Cabos in 5 weeks!!

P.S. – I have finally made myself excited about my vacation again!