Change of Job.. work from HOME?

So since I have had off all summer I'm starting to think I would like a new job.. I'm thinking that I need to find a passion, a career.... Not just a job that I get up to go to every day, something that I find a hassle! I just don't know what that is yet! I know it sounds funny but i would LOVE to work from home.. I've been looking online but most of the jobs seem to be scams. So how do people do it, how do you find a real good work from home job? AND have it be something I love. I'd really love to have a work from home job that way I could be on my own schedule!! I think it would work great for me, especially since I am a very disciplined person..

Now it's just finding the right thing... I welcome ANY and ALL advice and tips.. HELP!!

DON'T FORGET to enter my GIVEAWAY!

My New Buys

So yesterday Brian and I ordered our new coffee table! It was actually a house warming present from my Mom... She is such a sweetie!! I love her! She wanted to get us something that we needed and really wanted. And we had picked this one out a while ago so she thought it was perfect to give us money for it.. THANKS MOMMY!!

The unigue thing about this piece ( Pinzon Renwick - Logan Lift Top Coffee Table) is that the top of it actually lifts up 30 inches, making it more of like a eat in kitchen table, but in the living room. Brian and I figured we could really use something like this and we loved the look. I wanted something better then a boring glasstop coffee table.. AND now Ive got it..Or should I say "it's in the mail!"

Then, we saw this cute little Pub Table & Chair Set that would go great in our little eat in kitchen! The sucky thing is that it only comes with 2 chairs, but we can order 2 more separately. We waited for that, because for now it's just us and we have other things that we wanted to buy. But I'll probably look to order them after we buy our new couch and rug!! And i'm very proud of myself because we originally saw this piece on sale for $505.00.. With all of my internet searching & online coupon searching we bought the table for $340.00 with No Tax and free shipping! Am I good or what?

If you haven't already noticed brian and I are doing the real beachy theme at our new place.. We are sticking to very neutral colors...Browns, tans, a nd whites...Very beachy I think! We're getting our color from art work and household accesories.. I promise to take pictures real soon!!! Thanks for listening to me talk about the new apartment so much lately.. I'm sure I have a few more posts to do about it.. I'm just very happy and living it up and I really wanted to share it with all of you! Thanks!!

Moving Day

This is my last post in my apartment where I started this Blog. As I sit here on my tan leather couch I reflect back on the last year and a half... This has been a great home for Brian and I... we have shared some laughs, some cries, some good times and bad!! But it's time to move on to our new place.. Our new place on the Beach!!

Today is moving day so this isn't going to be a long post. I will have no internet until tomorrow, hopefully tomorrow!! So think of me today as I move boxes and bags and take multiple trips in the car from my old place to my new!

Next time I blog I will be in my new place! I'll take pictures so you can see the new digs!!

Til then......................................

FYI.........

Just wanted to let you know that in 13 days Brian and I will be moving in to our NEW, BEACHFRONT apartment!! AAAHAHHHHHAHAH..... It worked out!! I can't believe it worked out.. I'm usually not that lucky! And what's really great is that I am now only 2 blocks from work - so in the summer I can walk to work.. I was looking out the window by my office and I could see the top of my apartment complex!! So so so crazy, right? I thought I was really close to work before... Now I'm really going to be saving in gas big time.. I mean i only have a 30 second commute.. Oh my gosh I love it!!

Oh yeah, TGIF everyone... I hope you all have an awesome weekend..

Since my birthday is Tuesday Brian and I will be celebrating with my Mom on Sunday....Any plans for you this weekend?

Instant Gratification... I Think Not

Some of you may now and some of you may not but I'm the type of girl that likes to ask a question and get an answer right away!! I'm not about waiting, I'm not about beating around the bush. If I ask you a question I want an answer - if you ask me a question I'll give you answer..

That's why you can imagine that this whole real estate thing we're going through is driving me crazy! So crazy I'm losing sleep and getting tons of stress headaches, at least thats what I think they are from.

On Monday Brian and I put in an official signed contract on the condo we like. Then, that afternoon another condo (which happens to be in a lil nice condition) went on the market as well.

It makes me happy cause at least I know I have 2 places to negotiate on ya know. I'm just at a place where I want to know. These people from the first place are yaning our chain. I mean really, they have had their place on the market for over 6 months who's giving offers in this market? Not many people let me tell you!!!

So what we're going to do now is put an offer in on the other place and hope to play off of each other... I'm just hoping we get one of them, just comes down to who is going to give us the best deal!!! So much for my instant gratification!!!

I'll keep you posted!

I'll Never Get Used to......

So I've been at the new job now for almost 2 months and I will say that I am completely and utterly in love with my job!! I am sooo fortunate because SO SO SO many people out there can't say that about there jobs.. I am a fortunate one. But though I love my job there are things I don't think I'll ever be able to get used to!

When I was first hired my bosses told me to possible expect anxiety attacks, stress, or sadness because all of the horrible things I would be reading, hearing, and seeing. These are things that have happened to the children I work with. What makes it really hard is that I get close to some of these kids and form attachments and I really feel for them, ya know? And no matter how great of a teacher I am to them and no matter how well I listen there problems with horrible pasts will never go away... And that makes me sad. Children should be allowed to remain children while growing up! They should be able to experience a carefree childhood with friends, laughs, and fun!!

Here are 3 of the top things I don't think I'll ever get used to while working within the hospital:

*The blarring sound of the panic button and then the aftermath...

*The smell of hospital food...

*Having to unlock ever door I want to get in to, even the bathroom...

What A Week It's Been.....And It Ain't Over Yet

What a week it has been for me on the Psych Unit! And... the weeks not even over.. This is a recap of Monday through Wednesday at work for me...

Panic button went off 4 times...

1 Child in restraints....

Multiple Shot's in the ass (thats what calms the kids down)

Screaming and yelling down the halls....

Banging on the walls.....

Children with the stomach bug....

Defiant children in the classroom....

Lots of time outs.....

AND I got observed.....

I think it's safe to say that the honeymoon is over!!!

I mean I really do love my job but I will say i have come home with a headache every night this week and went straight to the freezer to get the bottle of Grey Goose Orange I have chilling inside of it!

And to boot I have been so tired to blog I feel like I'm losing my outlet...

Hopefully I'll get through these next two days with ease...

This weekend I am sooooo picking up the book

Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea?

Sorry

I just wanted to say sorry for being a little MIA lately and posting some lame posts and not commenting a lot, lol!!! I've just been so crazy with work and sooooo exhausted by the time I get home all I want to do is crash!! No fear, I am reading and will hopefully be back to commenting this week!!! Please have faith and keep coming back to visit me.... I love my readers and I do what I do for you!!!!

The Curse

So I have got this new girl who was admitted the other day.... She suffers from severe ODD. For those of you that don't know ODD is

Oppositional defiant disorder. They say even the best-behaved children can be difficult and challenging at times. Teens are often moody and argumentative, but if the child or teen has a persistent pattern of tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behaviors toward you and other authority figures, he or she may have oppositional defiant disorder.

So when she came into the class the other day you can imagine that all she wanted to do was give me a hard time, refusing to do anything I asked... This is how our converstation went:

Me: hi how are you today?

Her: horrible thanks for asking!

Me: sorry, well let's try and have a good time in class.

Her: I'm not going to have a good time cause I don't want to be here and I'm not going to do anything you want me to.

Me: OK.. well you have to do something or you need to go to the "time out room!" (cause that's the rule the Dr. nurses made)

Her: ok then I'm going to time out (as she throws her book across the room)

Me: ok, but I'd like you to stay and try and work on what I have planned.

Her: I wish I was home so I could put a curse on you and some of the other staff here.

Me: well isn't that great, thanks!

Her: I do believe in Black Magic ya know!!

There is never a dull moment at work!!! Let's hope I get on her good side before she goes home or there will be a voo-doo doll with my name written all over it!! If I start feeling sharp pains in my side or in my head a few weeks from now remind me of this conversation!!!!

How Excited Am I?

So... How excited am I that I got my first paycheck direct deposited straight into my bank account last night while I was sleeping? My answer...... Soooo excited!!!

Hallelujah!!!!!!

I knew I left my old job for a good, no GREAT reason.. And that's right ladies and gentleman.. The new job showed me the money, lol... I knew that going in early and staying late would make me feel great at some point during this new adventure I've been on lately!!!

And ya know what's even better(well not even better, but just as good)? I love the job!! You probably getting sick on me saying this and I promise I'll stop.... SOON!!! lol... But I LOVE the job!! I love the kids, the people I work with, the atmosphere!! I love it all.. And I don't mind going in early!! But the paychecks definately are a great added bonus...

I am happy I made the right choice. Like anyone, as you enter a new phase in your life and start something new change can be hard, very hard! And it can either go in 2 directions - bad or good! You will ask ytourself am I making the right choice, will it be ok, will I be happy, will I be liked, will I like it, will I make it? Thankfully my story has had a great ending.... so far!! If I could give you advice, any of you that may be looking to begin a new job or change something major in your life I would say to take that leap and make sure you jump high; cause if you don't. You'll always be wondering what if!! And I think the "what if" is the worst of all!!!

A Love Affair

So today was my first day completely on my own.. No boss - and no one looking over my shoulder! Are you wondering how it went? Well this is how it went: I called Brian on my way out of work..

Him: Hello

Me: Hi

Him: what's going on how was your day?

Me: You Should be Jealous

Him: WHY?!?

Me: Beacause I am in looooove with work!!

Seriously, it went soooooo well! I did an awesome job! Such an awesome job I get an email from the Big Wig in the company.. Sweeet...

But even better.. I am really, really, truly connecting with the kids.. which is kinda bad because their stay in the hospital is short! And I hate getting attached and then having them go... But good because they like and trust me! A nurse told me today that one of the kids was talking about me in his group therapy season about how much he liked me and how he wished I was his teacher all year long!! And only after 3 days..... Not bad right?

it was grrrrreat!

so my first day went great!! but i am so tired and just

so exhausted...i can't believe i even got into the shower when i got home!!!

but i wanted to say hi and let you know that my day was wonderful, it really was... I hope all of the rest of my days go this smooth.. but i know that prob won't be the case, oh well!! thanks for all of your kind, encouraging words.. your support is greatly appreciated! It really, really is! thanks so much!!!

As i said to Danielle, 1 day down the rest if my life to go, lol....

Oh yeah - i may be MIA a lil this week from commenting until i get accustomed to my new schedule!! but know that i am still reading while i lay in bed and rest my feet and my brain!!1

And I'm off

I'm up early to get ready for my 1st official day at my new job! And I'm not embarrassed to admit that I'm scared out of my mind! I know this is something that I have to do, but it doesn't mean it's easy. Brian thinks I should be excited but all I really feel is nerves and something that resembles wanting to throw up!

I guess all I have to do is get through the 1st week and I'll be all good! I've prepared some good icebreaker and getting to know you activities for my lessons today and I'm just going to go from there.

Since i'm teaching within a hospital my bosses aren't going to be on site all of the time. But today and tomorrow 1 of them will be with me just incase I need help, have questions, etc.. I guess this rocks me and my nerves a lil bit too... Oh well...

So i'm off to my first day.. wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed it all goes well and that I like it!! Hey ya know never know wat could come from this!! We'll see!!! At least the paychecks will be bigger..

I'll be back later to give you an update...

xoxo

Just Some Thoughts

I have been sooooo crazy busy lately I have had not time to blog! (and I wonder why I'm super stressed out!?! Blogging truly is my outlet and my sanity) Hopefully when my life starts up and I will get on a routine and start to feel normal again!

Anyway, I have been preparing to start the new job on Monday the 5th and I've trying to relax and do the things I need to before my vacation ends.

Today I cleaned out my old classroom... As a teacher, it is sooooooo crazy how much stuff you accumulate each year!! Books, folders full of papers, pictures, games, ect.. I could keep going and going and going.... But I finally got it all done after spending the day there!!! I was dreading that.. I guess because it really made it official.. That is no longer my job, my home, my comfort zone.. I am now forced to be a grown-up all over again and move forward with my life...

Though I look forward to getting comfortable and used to my new job I have nothing but axious feelings and thoughts. I ask myself, "will i be good at it? good like my old job? will i fit in? will i make friends, will people like me? will I hate it? what do i do if i hate it?"

I guess this is natural....I'm just hoping, I guess, for a great, new start!! I've been thinking about my future as this New Year begins and I really want this to be my year! I want to be happy, and healthy and get all of the things I deserve!! Cause I deserve it all!!! I think I need to tell myself that a little more often!! Maybe I'll start to believe it!!!

And it went.....

My first day went ok, as expected i guess.. I didn't love it!!

but who loves change!!!??? I assumed I wouldn't loooove it my 1st day...

The people seem very, very nice.. My supervisor is a McDreamy, lol...

No seriously.. Seriously!!!

I didn't interact with the kids today, just saw them from a far and heard some screaming.... We'll see...

Tomorrow I am going to another psych hospital about an hour away to observe to other teachers so I should get some good insight!!!

***BIG SIGH*** LONG DAY...............

I see lots of vodka and wine in my future.....

Training Day

Right now it's 5:45 am and I'm about to get in the shower and get ready for my first day of training at the new job. This week I have to work monday, tuesday, and wednesday and then I don't officially start with the kids until right after the New Year!! So it's going to be kinda nice to get a little Vacay before starting the new job... I will be back later to tell you how it went.. I'm feeling mixed emotions.. But i'm actually not as nervous as I thought I'd be... I'll probably be more nervous when I start with the kids!! Today should be fun, getting to meet people, see the facilities, and just the basics of the everyday job!! wish me luck.. and let's hope I'm

just as happy at 4 pm!!

Have a great day!!

My Final Bow

Today is my final day of work at the School! I am having such mixed emtions.. It's funny cause I bitched while i was there and now I'm feeling sad. I'll miss my kids sooo much, even though they were pains at times! It's more of a bittersweet feeling I guess...

I am so nervous to start my training on Monday! I hope it all goes well!

My Resignation Letter

Here is my resignation letter... what do you think?

Dear "Bosses,"

The time has come for me to move into a different stage of my professional life. Thank you for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me during the last 3 1/2 years. My time at *** provided me with a chance to learn from the other great teachers within the school and the opportunity to teach such wonderful children.

I have really enjoyed working for both of you over the years and this is why it was an extremely hard decision for me to make. I find myself in a position where I must move on to be able to grow both personally and professionally. Friday, December 19, 2008 will be my last day as your Kindergarten Teacher.

Please understand that if there was more time for me to stay, I would. Unfortunately the offer was made, and had to be accepted with a January 2009 start date.

I wish you both continued success and good fortune with *** School. I trust that I will embark on this next stage of my career with your blessing, and well wishes. I hope that I may have the pleasure to work with you again in the future.

Sincerely,

Dana

And it All Comes Out

So like I said yesterday.... I've been a little secretive about a few things lately because I wasn't sure who was and who wasn't reading my blog. Some of you may already know this because of our

DM messages on Twitter... But for those of you that do not... I quit my job yesterday because I interviewd and received a new job

that is set to start in January!!

It is a great opportunity for me, especially in todays economy where people are having a difficult time finding work. Back in September I got a phone call from this woman who said she came across my resume on Monster and asked if I was still interested in a teaching position with a local hosptial by my house teaching children between the ages of 5 and 17 that have mental and behavioral disorders. So for the hell of it I said sure! And right then and there she set up a phone interview for the next day... A week later they set up another phone interview and it too went great... I hadn't heard anything in about 2 weeks but sure enough I got a phone call asking if they could set up a 3rd and final in-person interview.. I was very excited, never did I think it would have gotten this far...

You see, I was 1 out of 50 that were intitally interviewd....And then I was

1 out of 10 that got a 1 on 1 interview. So I went, the interview lasted 2 hours and it seemed to go great... But again, I didn't hear anything for about 1 month so I assumed I just didn't get it...

Sure enough I got a phone call with an official offer! And this is where the stress begins.. I kept thinking how am i going to leave my students, students that love and admire me. Students that love being in my class, students that are sad when I'm out for the day! I felt like such a bad person, like such a bad teacher... And then I thought about my friends at work and my bosses and how I love everyone.. And I thought about how comfortable I am there... And that's when it hit me! I can't stay at a job just because I'm comfortable. And just because I'm scared to go somewhere new.

So yesterday i told my bosses that this would be my last week of work. I have a 2 week Winter Break coming up so I was fortunate enough to leave them with 3 weeks notice. It just all happened so quickly. I was so upset when telling them I sobbed... I sobbed because I really want to stay even though I know I can't!

There are a million reasons for me not to take the job! But when it comes down to it there are only 2 reasons for me to take it. 1. It's double then what I'm making now and 2. Health benefits... So I've realized the time has come for me to move into a different stage of my professional life no matter how scary and anxious I feel. No matter how much I want to cry and hide in my comfort zone. It's somthing I have to do to grow both in my professional and personal life.

I have really enjoyed working at my school and that's why it was an extremely hard decision for me to make. So now I have some big changes coming up in my life and I just hope I have made the right decision. I'm sure I'll have many tears the first few weeks and I'm sure I'll need you all to lean on! I'll need you to listen and ask for your advice...

Fingers Crossed For A New Bathroom

So Brian and I are thinking about moving if I get the new job! I did not want to talk about the new job – because like I said before; I don’t have great luck and I always feel good things don’t happen to me(I know poor unfortunate me, lol)! But if I do get it- moving to a bigger place will be definitely be up on the discussion board!

The one thing we’d like to do is get a bigger bathroom with a new Bathroom Vanity double vanity

I found these great Bathroom Vanities
: 60” Marble Top Double Vanity
that is to die for! I actually would like the whole set-up!

Check it out:

My bathroom would sure be a show-stopper with this piece. I found it online at Discount Bathroom Vanities Buy Vanities Online which is a premier online bathroom vanity retailer that allows you to shop tax free (unless you live in California, sorry). They are also offering free shipping now til December which is awesome! I know what you are probably thinking – I’d be crazy to buy such an expensive piece without viewing it first but they also offer a 14 day return policy which I think is pretty cool, especially if you do not like it when it arrives! How can you beat that?

So keep your fingers crossed for me! Maybe one day soon I’ll be moving to a bigger house with a much bigger bathroom that I can Double Vanity decorate beautifully!

This one is very similiar just different colors!

Check some cool stuff out here if you are interested in redecorating! I could shop and browse for my dream house all day long! And hey there is nothing better then Discount Bathroom Vanities!! Hopefully soon I'll have a reason to buy for a bigger house!! **BIG SIGH**