A new path

Last year I left two separate jobs.  I then spent sometime reeducating myself in the skin care profession...apparently that has paid off (YEEEEE!).  

This week I had two interviews and am moving forward with the hiring process next week in a spa.  I'm so happy that I will finally be putting my Esthetician's license to use.  I hope that I have actually found my path.  

Today during my second interview I was asked what made me choose the skin care profession.  I suppose a love of products is part of it, but thinking back I've been interested in skin and body care for a long time, I love the atmosphere that you get to work in and helping others to feel good inside and out is a great feeling.  Right out of high school I took a course in massage therapy, but at the time I didn't have very supportive friends.  I had people that chuckled about my chosen profession.  I considered going into skin care then, but put it off thinking that no one would take me seriously.  

Years later I made the choice to get my Esthetician's license.  I researched some schools and found one that fit my personality, completed my courses in six months, and passed the state board exam on the first try.  I know that you're not supposed to live your life with regrets but putting off pursuing this profession has been mine.  I worried to much about people's opinions (no worries though, these people are no longer a part of my life).

If you are ever at a point in your life where you want to change direction, trust yourself.  The true hearts in your life will support you.  

working at working out

I'm doing my best to stick with my exercising and have finally reached that miraculous point of actually looking forward to my next class (went to three this week).  Sadly though, I have not reached the miraculous point of being more energized throughout my day.  Working out in the morning is still my preferred time of day (for me it beats having to wait around for a class in the evening) and I do seem to get more done directly after.  Nothing like being a sweaty mess at the grocery store second thing in the morning.  


What I'm hoping is that I will start working again soon and therefore have more things to fill my day thus keeping my momentum going.  I've seemed to arrive at the old catch-22 though where I need experience to get a job but can't get a job without experience.  This was my dilemma when I last attempted a skin care career.  Fingers crossed that I may have an interview in the next week.  

Until I've rejoined the workforce though, I'm will continue to keep busy with working out...it's not as if I have any valid excuses not to do so.  Right? Right.  Once I'm back to work I will need to keep it up...but we will cross that bridge when we get there (again hopefully soon)! Motivation provided by Disney Pixar and I just have to keep swimming (or in my case PiYo-ing, Yoga-ing, and Barre-ing).  

Cheers to you and hope that all is going swimmingly for you!

4 Tips to improve your Resume

These last few months have been spent taking classes at International Dermal Institute to prep myself to enter the working world of Esthetics and Skin Care.  It has been great to be able to take some classes without having to take off of work.  I'm just about ready to start sending out my applications and resume (I have just a couple more classes lined up that I'd like to take).  

Throughout this period I have been working on my resume, so I was happy to attend a Resume workshop at IDI.  I actually had a chance for a couple of recruiters to look at my resume and make some notes.  For those of you out there looking for a job let me share a few tips I learned. 

• When you are applying online always be sure to include a cover letter, it's more necessary now than it used to be.  That being said, because you have the cover letter you no longer need the "objective" line on your resume.  
• No need to add "References available upon request" as if you are filling out an application...you'll have your references listed anyway.
• Send a thank you e-mail to your interviewer.  In the past I have sent a thank you card, but it was pointed out that sometimes the interviewer is pressed for time in making their hiring decisions and e-mail arrives faster. (You can still send a thank you card).  
• If you are e-mailing a resume be sure to be specific in your subject line.  Include information like position you are seeking and location if applicable...Recruiters have a lot of e-mails that just say Resume...make yours stand out.

I hope these help you.  Hoping these tips help me too!

checking in

Just a quick little check in...life is good.  I feel fresh and renewed for the first time in a long time.  I am actually waking up before the alarm goes off, ready to start my day. It is such a good feeling.

I'm still getting to know my way around the new job, and am still coming out of my shell a bit.  I'm just quiet around new people...once I get a better knowledge of my daily tasks, I'm sure I'll warm up.  I'll be in training this week learning the computer systems - so by the end of the week I'll be a pro. (Probably wishful thinking, but I'm going with it).

I'm working long hours, but the time goes by so fast that I'm not completely worn down by the end of the day.  I just can't get over how changing one thing in your life changes everything.

Cheers all ~ hope that you have a happy and beautiful week!

Fresh start February

Tomorrow is my first day of work at a new job.  I'm excited and nervous...like that last night of summer before going back to school.

Leaving my last job was harder than I thought.  I'd made good friends there, and will miss seeing them everyday.  The job itself was easy to walk away from: extreme hours, two time cards, having to run personal errands for the boss...bye bye!

I have needed to upgrade my work wardrobe rather quickly...and come to realize that I really do need to drop some pounds.  It seems I can squeeze myself (tightly) into a 12...but then 14s are baggy.  It would also be nice to lengthen my legs by an inch, inch and half...luckily I have a tailor that I use for my inseams.  I always seem to need my tailor to alter the length of my pants (in pants Short is too short and Regular is too long).  I'm just all kinds of in-betweens.

I also used this Super Bowl weekend to get my nails done and am so happy to announce that a brand new place has opened up right by my house. Score! They are affordable and oh so clean.  They even have you sign off that the items they're using are sterile.  I went with a nice simple purple/gray shade.

Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes smoothly tomorrow! Wish me well.

Cheers all!!

my week in review...work rants and product raves

The last couple of days have been kind of rough work wise.  My boss and I had a sit down that brought me to tears...more out of frustration than anything else.  She went on about how much she appreciates what I do, and that I'm someone she depends on and all that I do doesn't go unnoticed...which is all very well and good, but I just wanted to work out a more reasonable schedule.  To me reasonable is an eight hour day (more on occasion if necessary), but she just didn't seem to get it.  I don't know how better to explain it...we're just not seeing eye to eye right now.  I'm not sure what to do from here.

The good news is, I was wearing Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray and after putting it on at 6:30 in the morning, wearing it all day and crying a little...my makeup stayed in place!  All you do is mist on your face after your makeup application and voila!  I picked up the trial size at ULTA, and am totally happy with the purchase (especially in this insane heat we've been having...100 degrees at 6pm!).  I would have given the NYX version a shot, but it was out of stock that day.

I've been keeping up with Pilates and doing weekly sessions with Becky at Equilibrium Fitness in La Verne. I feel like I've become more aware of my posture, especially that my shoulder are always super tense apparently.  Last week I also visited the Ricciolo Salon (located next door to Equilibrium) because my eyebrows were out of control...and sometimes they just need a pro with a lighted magnifying glass.  The salon is nice, the staff was friendly and they took me as a sweaty walk-in no problem.

How do you deal with work stress?  Have you have any new go to products you're loving?
Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers~~Tam

crazy week...leads to bright future

What a crazy week at work! We were short one person down at the end of a quarter...stressful for sure, but overall our little office pulled together and got stuff handled. We've got until Wednesday to see how we did for the quarter total, but I think it's looking good.

Now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel I'm looking forward to getting my life back. Some of things I'm looking forward to in the next couple of months are:

• Getting back to YBB at Heartbeat House, over in LA/Atwater...Love dancing with Luisa and Kristen teaching!
• Meeting up with the Pilates trainer.  Just going to look at the cost as an investment in me.  I really like this quiet little studio in La Verne, Equilibrium Fitness.  I've been working with Becky, but everyone seems nice.
• Would like to schedule a little trip in there somewhere too...so many ideas up in the air.  Suggestions for solo travels anyone?
• Getting together with friends for some lovely summer nights!