It has been quite a while

I finished beauty school as of June 2012. I got a job in my field and it was going great. Working the spa in the Salon of a retail store. It was nice. Great place to learn and get experience and work with clients. And then our store went in to remodel. My spa room was going to be taken out and replaced with a smaller "pod" geared towards faster services.

During the remodel, my salon manager didn't want me to transfer to another store, so she was having me moved to cosmetics until the salon was rebuilt. The acting manager at the time (the store manager had just barely gotten back from maternity leave) was not happy about that, as I found out. She claimed she kept forgetting to put me on the schedule and tried to demand that I transfer, which was what my salon manager did not want me doing at all.

After working there for almost a year and putting up with her refusals for 3 weeks with combined 15 hours (all thanks to my SM), I put in my resignation. I couldn't wait around to hope that I get on the schedule. So I called my old AM, who was now the Store Manager.

So, I'm back at my old job now, but I'm a supervisor. I get more consistent hours and higher pay. It...it feels like I'm back where I was the last time I posted on here, though. That I don't know where I'm going with my job, but there is good news on other fronts.

Nearly a year ago, two little furballs came to live with us.

The little butts are Aziraphale and Crowley and they fit their names too well for our sanity. We got our little buggers from a ferret shelter near us. They had just gotten in from a pet store because they had been returned and were too old to be sold as babies. We couldn't have asked for a better fit. They are my babies and always will be. I even got their little feets tattooed on my foots. I love them to death.

And speaking of tattoos. I got my first one the August after I graduated. And the second one two months later. So as of now, I'm up to 4 and in the next few weeks, I'll be up to 5. 7 if I get enough cash together after a consult with my artist. From first to last: Dark Mark on my biceps, Sailor Moon silhouette with Bat symbols on my shoulder blade and two sets of paw prints, one on the top of each foot with the respective baby's name. The next one will be a wristlet of the phases of the moon. I drew out a rather simple design that I really love. I maaay have an addiction.

For an unfortunately brief time, while I was at the salon, I had long green mermaid hair. It was the only thing I missed about having long hair. It took a while to get it where I liked it, but it was still very pretty and I miss it every day. But at the fabric store, funky colored hair is not allowed. Which is only a small problem, considering I accidentally dyed part of it blue last night. It's easy to tuck out of the way though and I can part my hair over it for the time being. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it as of yet. Growing it out for sure, but whether or not I shave it remains to be seen. It's easy to hide either way.

And now for the big, big news. I proposed to my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years on Christmas. The ring I gave him was...just perfect. When I saw it, I knew it was right. It's simple, but perfect. Our plans for our future are more solid now. We have a more definite time line and can actually put things in order. His job is set in motion to get him onto a full career and where he wants to be in the gaming industry. He's the perfect match for me in every way. Not saying he's perfect, just perfect for me. It feels like everything is falling into place.

So it's kind of bittersweet. My job life is trash, but my personal life is going fantastically. As it has for the last 3 1/2 years. I couldn't be happier about that.

5 years ago, I couldn't have imagined I'd be where I am today. The fact that I had made it through high school at all was mind boggling. I spent that New Years Eve looking for the perfect time to head off to bed with a bottle of pain killers. It's strange thinking about how far I have come and how much I have changed from the person I was. Looking back on it...I'm not even remotely the same person.

5 years ago, tomorrow, I created this blog because I made it though that night. I created to have something to leave behind when I did kill myself. It's incredibly disconcerting and morbid to think about that. Because this blog became something else. It's just an odd sensation. That person from 5 years ago doesn't exist anymore and I can't even remember ever feeling like that.



While this kind of turned a bit serious at the end, I am in the best place I have ever been. I have a decent job, a wonderful boyfriend and two little spoiled furbabies. All the crap I've been through is so far behind me I can't even see it. So, here's to a better and brighter future and a fantastic New Year!

About ready to quit...

Hit the last straw with my boss...I don't work Sundays. I haven't worked a Sunday in a year and a half. I worked Christmas Eve and I'm scheduled for New Years Eve. My boss decided to be a dumbass and schedule me for New Years day. Which is both 1) a Sunday and 2) I already worked both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. She even asked which I wanted to work and I said Eve! I called out of work today just because I don't have any motivation to go in any more. And I don't want to close with her twice in one week. My AM was very understanding on the matter. I was shaking I was so angry when I saw the schedule for next week...She called me and left a message to call her back. I don't think I'm going to. I keep thinking I "have" to do something. But the thing is, I don't care if I get fired. Yeah it won't look great on my record, but I don't think that my boss is capable of actually firing me. Because she needs me. I'm not saying that to be cocky. I'm one of the best workers there. It's after the holiday season, but she'd be in a bit of a bind without me. She has only fired 2 people in the last year. 1 was for a very good reason, but she didn't even tell the girl she was fired. She let her come in and see her name crossed off the schedule. And the other person, we all love her but she couldn't do the work any more. She really couldn't. That was probably difficult for her to do, but it had to be done. I'm doing my job and doing it well. I've just called out more in the last 4 months than I have in the last 3 years. So there's that. She also called me on her cell...Which I refuse to answer if she called on her cell. I don't know...I don't know if I can stand going in to work on Thursday and close with her. I can just tell her that I was in bed all day. Asleep. Yeah. I don't care if she doesn't believe it. I'd LOVE to see her fire me. Seriously.

School update!!

I should be starting school on the 10th of January. All I need is one piece of paper faxed from my mom. My registration appointment is the 2nd of January. And I should have all of the papers I need! I'm freakishly excited! If I get enough money from financial aid, I can quit my job!! I'm going to keep it for a little while to set aside some money for buying some make up for my kit. Like foundation and some more variety in eye shadows. So...There's that. I'm so freakin' happy!

Taco Soup

On my old hunk of junk desktop that's slower than frozen molasses because my bf's  laptop fried, so I can't get access to my vaca photos. So a recipe!

Taco Soup
This soup is insanely easy to make and really really good because it tastes even better as leftovers. It makes a lot though. Even with just a few cans of stuff. If you're making it for less than 4 people, prepare to be eating it for a while. It is great to have on hand for cold rainy days or when you just don't feel like cooking, because it's pretty healthy. Not much fat in it.

Serves: A lot...
Ingredients:

• 1 package Taco seasoning
• 1 pound ground meat (optional)
• 1 large can of diced or crushed tomatoes (crushed makes a thicker consistency)
• 1 can of yellow corn
• 1 can of white corn
• 2-3+ cans of beans (kidney, black, red, chili, etc. What ever kinds you like.)
• Cornbread, box mix or from scratch, or tortilla chips.

Directions:

Optional: Cook the meat in the bottom of a large pot (don't add oil) and add the taco seasoning to it.

1. Open all the cans and dump everything in to a large pot. If you didn't add meat, add the taco seasoning now.
2. Heat through.
3. Done. I said it was easy.

Also optional, but highly recommended: Bake up some corn bread while the soup/stew is heating.

Serving suggestions: Put a piece of cornbread in the bottom of the bowl and pour soup over top. You can add sour cream or cheese if you'd like. I personally prefer it with out.

P.S. You can easily double (or triple) this for a potluck or large gathering. Just add more cans of everything!

Florida: A summary (Long photo collage)

Quicky Update

Still haven't done anything else off the list, but I'm not complaining. The red skirt and the candy corn dress don't really need to be done. I haven't been wearing hardly anything I've made lately. I've just been in a rut. Just wearing jeans and tshirts when I'm not in my work clothes. Its probably the stress of work and my boyfriend trying to get a new job and planning on going to school and...everything. Things have just been stressful. At least I did finish my Halloween costume (Well, 99% done, just need to attach the straps). It's my version of Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. And I put in a serious amount of work and got it all done in about a week and a half. It has a full sparkly yellow petticoat, a paneled mismatched fabric circle skirt and the top/dress is entirely pieced together from 6 different fabrics. No base fabric, just random chunks and pieces stitched together. I let the shape of the top come together organically. I did have general measurements to follow, but the final shape was done entirely by accident and it came out WONDERFULLY. The hem is crooked and longer in the back, with an off the shoulder neckline. With the petticoat the skirt is completely unnecessary. I ecstatic that it came out as well as it did! And I have a party to wear it too. I lost the cord to my camera so I had to order a battery charger, but once that gets here, I'll have my bf help me take pictures. And I'll take some pics of the test run for the make up.


I also went to Florida last month. We went to Disney World (Epcot, Magical Kingdom, Downtown Disney, Hollywood Studios) and Universal (Islands of Adventure) and it was amazing. So much walking...My feet were KILLING me. They hurt so bad. Mostly because I was stupid and didn't bring sneakers. But it was worth it. It was insane amounts of fun. It was kind of a surreal experience for me because it was something I never thought in a million years I'd be able to do. I was giddy the whole time and probably came off as high to bystanders. Harry Potter World was a bit disappointing, well, actually, Islands of Adventure was as a whole compared to Disney World. It was still fun, but nowhere NEAR as amazing as Disney World. The shops was teeny tiny, the actors were pretty sad and the whole atmosphere screamed "LOOK AT ME!! LOOK AT ME!! AREN'T I AS COOL AS BIG BRO DISNEY?!" The comic book area was awesome though. The Wolverine and Cyclops were HILARIOUS. My bf wanted a pic with Wolverine and when Wolvy looked up and saw Cyclops 30 feet down the way, he panicked and little and ran after him like a little puppy. And all I could hear in my head was "Scotty-bear!!" in a Carol Channing voice. The huge ass Rouge was awesome too. The comic book stuff was what had me running around like an excited child. Seriously the best part for me. And the Wolverine just...words cannot describe the hilarious adorable-ness that was the Wolverine. It was like the Hello Kitty fluffy version of Wolverine. I want to hug him.

As for the school thing which ties into another thing. I want to go to school for aesthetics. That's facials and waxing for the most part. It just seems like the right fit. In the last year or so, I've really gotten in to make up. I've invested a lot of money into my make up too. And yet, that's not what I want to major in, it's just a side thing I really love. So if the school I chose has a make up class, I will probably take it. Which brings me to my next thing. I just spent $82 dollars on some really really amazing make up. Sugarpill. If you love bright colors, these eye shadows are amazing. The pigmentation is ridiculous. On a whim I tried to find a "bad review" of Sugarpill and came up with more proof of how amazing they are. I haven't used them or seen them in person, but with all the reviews out there, you really can trust in the quality of these. They are pricey for someone who has never paid more than a few dollars for any make up, but in the realm of high end make up, they are probably the best deal you will ever find. Plus, they have a true, eye-safe red, that according to a youtube make up guru I really trust, does not irritated people allergic to red coloring. Again, great value since the shadows are more the double the amount of say Mac or Make up Forever and are a way better price. Sorry, going on a bit of a tangent. Mostly because I've never really liked mattes, but with the sheer intensity and quality, I will be able to do some much more. I'm just trying to slowly build up my kit for at least eye make up. I don't have hardly any foundations. Just a mineral and a new cream one for myself. Maybe some day I'll splurge and get a foundation palette or something. I'll do a full review when my order comes in though.

On a more immediate note, I am currently on day 5 of a cold and on my second day I had to call out of work. I worked yesterday, but it wore out my throat too bad to go in today. Hopefully I can go in Friday. I've missed at least 1 day a week fro the last 3 weeks. And right now, my bf has yet to work at all this week. He's off work for sure until Friday, if not Monday. So there's that stress. But at least he had a promising job interview today. Crossing fingers.