Our Cottage Near the City

We are here. The disarray of our new house makes me want to hyperventilate but I am too tired to do anything about it. A couple of life lessons learned in this move:

1. Stop accumulating misc.crap. It's seriously lame moving boxes of junk from one place to the next.
2. 2-year-olds adjust way quicker to their surroundings than their elders. They are ready to run around the house naked and switch on the gas stove within the first 24 hrs. of residence.
3. Heating a 70 year old house is a daunting task. No central heat means getting really creative with warmth. Never pictured myself using a wood burning fireplace on a daily basis.
4. Old oak floors don't show dirt. I have not even touched my broom yet and they look pretty darn great. Just don't wear your bright white socks in my house.

I would just like to throw it out there that I am in denial that I will be returning back to an office setting for the first time in 2.5 years on Monday morning. Excited about trading in my ratty lululemons for some sleek threads. Not super excited about waking up in the wee hours of the morning just to share my air with passengers on cramped public transit. Thrilled that Lil will be able to spend lots of one-on-one time with her dad over the next couple of years. Bummed that I couldn't be there every moment too... but I will deal. The fact that I have a free lunch at a swanky restaurant my first day on the job helps with the pain, just a little bit.

On with the next life Chapter... stay tuned.

Live, Love, Trust

I am back! After a brief October hiatus, I am ready to share my thoughts, kid pics and bizarre tidbits of info.

The other day I had a close friend email me and ask 'so, you have not updated the blog for a long time? What's actually going on?' Ahh... this sweet friend knows me so well. There has actually been a lot going on in our lives during the month of October and quite frankly I do not usually share the inner workings of my personal life via social media.

When I take a break from blogging it's usually because I am concentrating on 'life' stuff and unable to share openly. I am  not one of those people that announces to the world over facebook updates like 'I just got in the biggest fight of my life and now my husband is leaving me.' THAT DEFINITELY DID NOT HAPPEN- just an example of the types of updates I have actually read. I think that when people update in this manner they are either 1. lonely 2. a bit narcissistic 3. just really, really open with their personal stuff.

Onto, my update.
As many of you know I have been hunting for a job for about three months. When Ben decided that he wanted to pursue law school, I said 'cool, let's figure out how to pay the bills.' I have been blessed to be able to work for myself through http://www.twistconsulting.com/ over the last couple of years, but it made me quake in my pants to think that I would be soley responsible for my family's livelihood based off of being self-employed. So, I am basically a wuss and decided to figure out another work situation. I have been praying over the last several months very specifically about what I wanted 1. A job that was fun (I can't be bored out of my mind). 2. A job that will adequately take care of our finances. 3. A job with a decent work/life balance (so I can still see my kid every so often. )

I am thrilled to say that we have been completely taken care of and I just landed my dream job that perfectly meets my criteria. Starting mid-November I will be commuting into San Francisco and working for a multi-national cosmetics company doing their marketing. I couldn't be happier! There have been many ups and downs in this process but I feel immensely blessed and totally provided for.

Next on the agenda.... looking for a new house! We need to be closer to a BART station (that's the subway system to those of you Canadian readers) so that I don't have to spend all of my days commuting.

Twist

OK, here is the reason why I have not posted in over a week. I am pleased to announce the official launch of my company, Twist Communications Consulting! You can check out all of the action on my new site at www.twistconsulting.com

Ever since I decided upon my career path people have asked me 'what exactly do you do?' A Marketing Communications Specialist sounds like a made-up job doesn't it? Here is a what I do (put in simple terms). Anytime you read an article in the newspaper about a company, celebrity or a product, often times there is a person behind the scenes (besides the reporter) who has tried to make the coverage come to fruition. I am that person. I write press releases and call/email reporters with story ideas about my clients. I also do things like writing for websites, writing brochures and coordinating clients' booths at trade shows.

Even though our family will soon be re-locating to the San Francisco Bay Area, I can take on clients in both Canada and the US. The beauty of my business is that I just need access to a phone and my computer. I can work anywhere in the world while bumming around in my pajamas until noon. I happen to do some of my best work in my favorite lululemon workout pants.

I have also started up another blog on my company's website that you can check out here
I will also have it listed under 'Blogs We Lurk' sidebar, so you will be able to see when I update things. My work blog will mostly be a place for me to post about new projects, clients and also Tips/Tricks of my trade.

Now back to my other full-time job. Out of the corner of my eye I just saw Lily drinking out of a day-old bottle and dancing around without her diaper. My career as a MOTHER is definitely my most challenging role yet..

Introducing Twist

As many of you can see from the size of my 'baby,' my maternity leave is quickly coming to an end. The Canadian Government has ever so graciously bestowed upon me a 'Be a Mom at Home' check twice a month for the duration of my leave. It rocks. Receiving 'free' money to stay at home in my pajamas with my child. Alas, those days are soon gone and I am excited to announce that my career has taken a new turn.

I have officially given my notice at the advertising company that I have been with since 2005. They gave me a chance to prove myself when the company was still tiny and I was blessed to be able to grow alongside them. After a year away from the office I still miss the hectic pace and my colleagues, but it was time to move on.

Which segues into my big news... I have opened my own company called Twist Communications Consulting. Twist specializes in Media Relations, Media Training, Corporate Event Planning and Marketing. Don't bother to look for a site yet, it does not exist. I know, I know... you are asking yourself 'how can you be a PR professional and not even have your own site?' The answer to that is that I have already started my first contract and I don't currently have time to properly market myself. As soon as my site is live I will post a link for all to see.

I am at a good place right now. Working for myself allows me the flexibility to stay at home with Lil while simultaneously pursuing what I am passionate about. It is a win, win, situation. So if you know anyone that has communications needs (ahem, blatant self-plug), feel free to refer them my way.

Cheesy old work shot.

January Sucks

Did that title catch your attention? I apologize if I sound abrupt but January is hands-down my least favorite month of the year. Christmas is over, the parties have come to a halt, the weather is dark and damp and it all makes me feel a little down. I am usually a cup half full kind of gal, but January drains my cup altogether.

The one positive thing about this horrific month is that it makes me dream about the future. I love change and new adventures so during this dreary time I like to think ahead. Inevitably, it also leads me to thinking about my job. In the past, even if I am completely content in my career, for some reason January puts me on the hunt for something new. Nothing has ever come out of these musings because by February I feel like a new woman again.

I thought I would share with you some of the career paths I find intriguing in the month of January.
1. Dermatologist. I know this might sound odd but I am intrigued by skin. If I had any math skills at all I would have wanted to be a skin Dr.
2. Hair Stylist. I like the idea of talking to people all day and making them feel attractive. Again this is a complete 180 from what I do now!
3. News Anchor. This is not totally off the beaten path considering I have dabbled in television before. I am just not willing to make a start in little podunk towns for the sake of trying to make it big in my career. I want the big leagues or nothing.
4. Missionary. Ben and I have talked about this one in the past. Sell all of our earthly belongings and live somewhere that God calls us to minister. I know that you can be a missionary in your own town, but there is something more dramatic about selling all you own and trekking into jungles of South America to reach indigenous tribes.
5. Aerobics Instructor. I enjoy exercising and I would enjoy people paying me to exercise with them. This is one job that I might actually try to do in the future. Not exactly the same amount of schooling required as becoming a dermatologist.
6. Real Estate Agent. Now that the market is crashing this is probably not an ideal career path. But I love the game of real estate and would like to try it out one day.

For the next few months my current employer requires bottles, diaper changes and lots of hugs. So for her sake I am going to grin and bear it and pretend that it is July.