You're a What?!

Two actual weeks in and I'm still alive! Hooray! Seriously, it's been two weeks into my new job and what a difference it has made! I get home earlier, my boss is great (and very appreciative), got a new MacBook Pro, got my own office (eventually) and most importantly I have my sanity back. It no longer takes me hours to decompress after work and I actually enjoy my longer drive to work. There is really no point to this entry except that I love my job, even though it's not really anything I thought I'd ever be doing.

For as long as I can remember I always thought I'd be the person behind the computer/lens/canvas. I've been an artist my whole life and now I'm...MANAGING! EEK! I used to shutter to think about being a manger of projects and having to be the one on the front lines making sure everything gets done I am surprisingly loving it. I knew I wanted to make a change and I think this is exactly what I was looking for.

It's honestly nothing I've never done before. I've always worked for small agencies where we all had to do everything and always talk to clients. I must say that my design background has been helping and of course I'm picking up on things that most people wouldn't notice in designs and advertisements. So with my new found like of a career, hopefully that'll de-clog my brain enough to start getting back to my feather stuff and Etsy and Artfire stores. They've paid the price of 24/7 job stress! I can truthfully say I've never been so happy to be on the other side of the computer! Till next time! FT

P.S.
We have our engagement pics this weekend. We're working with some really AWESOME photographers...I couldn't be more excited. I'll for sure keep you posted on the experience!

Flowers & Feathers!

Here I am last day of my unplanned vacation….and unemployment. I’m both happy to go back to work but sad to go back to work. Over the past two weeks I’ve done a ton and slept a little. Finally this morning I was finally able to sleep past 7:30am, figures right?

It’s less than 4 months until I get married, and I’m really happy I had this time to make all the stuff I needed to make. Aside from a bunch of jewelry, I finally got around to making my hairpiece and my wedding party’s hairpieces. I’m actually really happy with the way they both turned out.

Orange dahlia and feather clips for the bridesmaids (I love color!)

Vintage silk camellia with feather and pearl clip for myself, I used one of my grandma's deco style earrings for the center. I'm still practicing the birdcage veil but it should be done soon!

Gift Makin' Time!

I like to make stuff…I like to make stuff for other people even more.

When it came time for me to figure out the gifts for my side of the bridal party I knew I was never going to find what I wanted to give them. So, just like everything else I do, I came up with an idea and I’d just figure it out along the way. Now 3 bracelets and 8 necklaces later, I’m sharing the results.

Of course I make jewelry for my hobby, but I’ve never not used feathers or assembled findings. I wanted something unique to each person, asymmetrical and birds. After a little research and finding an AWESOME Etsy seller (Below 14th Designs) and having a mini panic attack at Michaels I got everything done, just the way I wanted.

For Bridesmaids:

18” asymmetrical necklace, sparrow connector from eebeads.com and The Solamente Pendant from Below 14^th Designs personalized with first initial and birthstone charm.

For Flower Girls:

Sparrow chain with toggle closure and The Solamente Pendant from Below 14^th Designs personalized with first initial and birthstone charm.

I'm so happy with the way they turned out that I've made a set for myself. Who knows, maybe something like this is something that I'll be able to pursue as a jewelry maker when I get some more free time...only 3 months to go!

Things I will NOT miss about my last job:

-Pee on the floor and all over the toilet seat. Yes, 4 adult men had crappy aim and couldn’t keep 1 bathroom clean for the one female.

-The boss farting either right next to me, near me or within earshot and then yelling “Come In!” or “Where’s the German Shepherd” (No, I am not being dramatic)

-The director sleeping at his desk all day, then yelling that he has too much work to do.

-The manager talking shit about the boss then turns into his best friend when he’s in the office or on the phone. (“What’s goin’ downnnnnnnnn dude?”)

-The boss wearing undershirts, Adidas tear-away pants and Crocs to work everyday.

-The boss always having his hands down his above stated pants, even in front of clients

-The boss picking his nose all the time

-Me having to be there early to answer the phone for the director because his creative “genius” couldn’t be interrupted (ie: so he could sleep more)

-The endless amount of Neiman Marcus, J Crew, hockey stuff and “As Seen on TV” packages that I had to sign for knowing that my pay, bonus and overtime had been cut

There is much MUCH more that I could add but some stuff isn’t worth it…what is worth adding is that I met my future husband there.

I guess sometimes even in the worst situations the best things can be found. For those of you have listened to me vent over the past year about all this, thank you and I finally took your advice to blog about it.

Hello Monday!

It’s been awhile. I know, I know, my excuse is that I’m super busy but over the last 2 weeks things in my life have changed and for the much better (and less busy). Here’s a short recap of the major events:

Last week I FINALLY got to take a few days off of work. I spent one day with one of my Maid(s) of Honor Danielle, picking out her dress, and having in general, carefree wonderful day. It was nice to relive the days when I didn’t have to work so much and we’d just hang out all day. It was shopping, nails and catching up, I couldn’t ask for more! I then made a quick trip down to Austin, TX. Down there I surprised my other Maid of Honor, my cousin Heidi. It was great, I hadn’t seen her for 3 years and we needed some time together. While down there I got to catch up with other family, meet some new family members and bask my stressed out body in the sun and warmth.

Although I had to come back to reality and much colder weather, I was ready and felt all warm and tingly when I saw the Woodsman in his pickup pulling up to the arrivals at O’Hare Airport. We’re getting married in less than 4 months and things are going amazingly well…oh yeah, and I had an interview the next morning. The third and last interview that I will (hopefully) ever have; AND I got the job!

I thought, piece of cake, just get through the last few weeks of hell on Earth, and you’re golden. I gave my 2 weeks on Wednesday only to get fired on Friday. WHAT?! FIRED?! Yep, my boss who most of you know is a complete fail at humanity. He once told me when he cut our staff down by 1/3 that “No one leaves here so be happy you still have your job…” that is completely B.S. I left but he was right, he needed the last word and fired me. What a big, badass guy…he really showed me :)

I now have a lot of time to relax and recoup the past years of hell that I’ve gone through working at that place and I couldn’t be happier. Seriously, I needed out and didn’t even owe the guy notice but my morals and good work ethic got the best of me. I’ll be around, catching up on wedding stuff (I have plans to make ALL the attendant gifts and pretty much everything else). I have a box full of feather stuff to get listed and lots of laundry to get through. I’ll keep you posted on what I get done and how things are going.

Times are finally a’changin and I’m willing and ready…

P.S.

I LOVE baseball…GO WHITE SOX!