Happy Tuesday and A New Beginning...

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Beginning of the work week after a long holiday weekend.  If you're like me you're probably feeling like its Monday and trying to get back into your routine.  My Tuesday actually was a productive and positive day that is bringing a definite change to my routine.  I got a job today!!

 

I quit my previous job in April because I had a family emergency, and the job was miserable.  I felt I was better off  living off of my financial aid then staying at a job I despised and that wasn't paying me anything.  Sometimes literally.  In August I found out that my school had basically wasted my financial aid leaving me without a way to finish.  So I withdrew and started the transfer process to a local school which I'll start in January.  In the meantime, I needed a job.  I really hate job hunting.  That was part of what kept me at my old job.  I did get a couple of interviews last year but to be honest, I wasn't that serious.  I knew this time I had to be much more persistent. So about three weeks ago I started seriously sending out resumes.

I saw this one and applied.  I was shocked to get the interview right away and then be offered the job.  I feel lucky and blessed.  Finding a job in California is never easy.  I'm working customer service for a wireless company so this should be interesting.  But I am grateful and thank God that he has provided me with this opportunity.

So, now I not only get to finish school, soon I'll be able to shop again.  Did I mention that the office is right next to a shopping center and a mall?

Why I love Yoga

Hello Lovelies! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!  Here in Cali its hot and humid and just plain ugly.  A really lazy and sort of depressing kind of day.  This got me thinking about things that cheer me up on a day like this.  Shopping of course, but what about when shopping isn't an option?  The first thing that came to mind was yoga.  I started doing yoga about a year ago.  I was under a lot of stress and wanted to try exercising to let off some steam.  Not being all that motivated when it comes to working out I chose yoga thinking it would be "easy."  HA!  Easy is not a word I would use to describe yoga.  Nonetheless, I fell in love and have never looked back.  Now being broke and on a budget taking a class wasn't an option.  No worries, Youtube has a million ways to practice yoga, (and any other workout you may be interested in).  I honestly had no idea what I was doing and then I found Tara Stiles.  If you've never heard of her, she runs Strala Yoga in NYC, and is nicknamed the Yoga Rebel because of her innovative approach to yoga.  Tara has several videos just for beginners.  Short and to the point they are easy to follow and a great way to begin.  I was hooked and was soon doing Tara routines daily. 

 I soon found that not only did I have less stress, but my posture was better, I was sleeping and eating better and I felt overall just better.  I had this inner peace that I hadn't had before.  After awhile I was doing yoga in the morning, after work and before bed.  I started branching out and trying new types of yoga, longer practices and even got into Pilates.   Its been a year, and I'm still doing yoga.  I do yoga first thing in the morning, then an afternoon practice and a stretch before bed.  Shopping is still my number one go to stress reliever anxiety reducer, but Yoga is the place I go to just, well, breathe.  Theres a myth about yoga that you have to be super flexible to do it.  Not true at all.  It doesn't matter how flexible you are its about breathing.  Flexibility builds the more you practice.  Try it you might just fall in love with it too!  So is there a workout that you would recommend?  Send me a message and let me know.  Namaste

Changes

Hello Lovelies!  I hope everyone is having a great Monday.  Since my last post I've made some changes to my life that I'm hoping will be for the better.  I've been working at the same job for six years this month.  I have never loved it, but for the last year or so it has become almost unbearable.  I blame this on being taken over by a new company,  I used to be able to go to work and get through the day fine.  My job was boring but easy and the people I worked with were great.  Then the devil bought the company and the place literally went to hell.  I won't go into details but it is a miserable place to work.  I found myself having anxiety attacks and looking for reasons not to go.  When my son got sick last summer I took a six week leave and noticed that even without the paycheck I was calmer and happier.  I went back to work and the stress started again.  In January my son's health problems started again, my mother became ill and a 6 year relationship ended.  Stress doesn't begin to describe what I was going through.  Long story short I had to make a change and I knew it.  Sooooo last Monday I quit my job. 

I had been thinking about it for awhile and I knew it was time to make a change.  The thing is if something is making you so miserable and its something you can change, I think you definitely should make that change.  If you stay with anything that makes you unhappy after awhile you are choosing your own unhappiness.  What I realized is that my son needed me at home more than I needed to be at a job that was making me miserable. There are a million jobs out there that can pay me just as little as this one.  Difference is that there will be one that won't make me as unhappy. 

I truly believe that you have to take a chance once in awhile.  Yes I gave up a paycheck to live on financial aid from school for awhile, but I know I made the right decision just by how much better I feel.  Since I quit work I've started a regular workout routine, I go for walks and spend time with my son.  Of course I shop.  That will never change.  As a matter of fact as I'm writing this I'm trying to decide whether to buy the three cute dresses I found at Wet Seal.  But, I also know I'll have to slow down on the shopping.  That will be hard but worth it.

So basically that's where I'm at right now.  I firmly believe that God nudges us in the direction we are supposed to go in.  If we don't listen He gives us a push.  I think that He's been nudging me for awhile and I finally decided to listen.  So now I'm taking time for me.  I'm finally healing from my breakup, I'm trying new things.  I'm focusing on my son and school and am going to start going back to church.  I know this won't be easy and finding a job in Cali is no small feat these days.  But life is too short to stay in a place that literally sucks your soul away.  So yes, I think I made the right choice.

 

Just Bought..

Hello lovelies! Happy Monday! Perfect Spring day and a perfect day for shopping. Today I shopped at my own Zindigo shop. I kept it simple and decided on two pairs of pants. The first pair is ENGINEER STRIPE BOYFRIEND FIT PANTS - KENT AVE. On sale for $49.60. https://www.zindigo.com/sharer.php/1/0/1982/7907 Perfect for spring and later on or Fall. The second, The ELISHA PANT also on sale for $44.50. https://www.zindigo.com/sharer.php/1/0/1982/8810 I absolutely love these! With the discount I received I ended up only paying $56.00 for both! I LOVE shopping especially when I get a gret deal like this one!! Take a look at these and more at https://amb.zindigo.com/optin/Robyns-Zindigo-Boutique-1 Take 25% off just enter Robyn2007 at checkout For a Limited Time Free Ground Shipping on all orders

New Venture

Hi everyone!  Happy weekend!  I'm excited to announce that I have decided to become a Zindigo Ambassador.  Zindigo is the authorized brand partner of amazing fashion collections.  I decided to do this because as you already know I love fashion and shopping.  I'm currently in school and this will give me the opportunity to indulge both of my passions and still have time to focus on school. Please check out my store and let me know what you think.  If you're interested let me know and I can send you discounts, gift cards or information on how to become an Zindigo Ambassador yourself.

My Zindigo

Shopping is Therapy...

Its been awhile since I've been able to post here.   Every time I think things are slowing down and I'll actually be able to keep up with this life has a way of proving otherwise.  School, work, family emergencies, exes showing up and leaving again and most recently the death of a family friend have thrown my life into a tailspin...again.  So what does a shopaholic do when life gets tough?  Shop of course!  I had sworn to take a break from shopping, telling myself that I really didn't need anything an I could wait.  I kept that vow for about a week before I gave into temptation.  It started small.  A bra and a couple of tee shirts from Victoria' Secret.  I justified this as necessary because I needed new workout clothes and they were on sale.  As things kept piling up there were more justifiable purchases.  From makeup to vitamins to herbal teas, anything to get a shopping fix. Finally I started on clothes.  I justified this as needing Spring clothes.  I also started splurging on my son justifying this as he deserved new things because he had been sick.  When things calmed down I took a step back and thought about my purchases.  Yes, I had bought alot.  But overall they were things that we needed or were good for us.  I also realized that unlike my past stress shopping sprees, I hadn't gone crazy and just grabbed things that I later regretted.  I actually thought about the things I was buying and most of them were needed and will last.  What I realized is that yes, I am a shopaholic.  I also realized that I have learned how to shop smarter.  I also realized that everyone deals with stress differently.  I shop.  It does help me to relax and takes my mind off things for awhile.  No, it doesn't solve anything, but lets face it, meditation, yoga even talk therapy don't actually solve your problems either.  They also make you feel better and get your mind off your problems for awhile.   So, I've decided to stop beating myself up over my stress shopping.  I still do yoga and meditation to relax, but sometimes there is nothing like a little retail therapy to fix what ails you.  So, as long as I continue to shop smart and don't go overboard, shopping is my therapy of choice. 

After Chriatmas Spree

Hello Lovelies!  Happy Monday! As you all know I've been going through kind of a rough spot both personally and financially.  Fortunately for me, I got a much needed lift when my financial aid came through just in time for the holidays.  I was relieved that not only could I pay my bills but I would also have enough left over for Christmas gifts, necessities and a mini splurge.  Vowing to wait to shop for myself until after Christmas I put myself on a strict budget.

Sooo what does a shopaholic do when the man she's been with for six years suddenly needs a break to focus on school and for years her emotional outlet has been shopping?  Well of course she shops.  I'm proud to say that yes I did shop, but I kept my vow to wait until after Christmas.  It was tough, but manageable.  The way I did it was to remind myself that my urge to shop was just a reaction to an emotional upheaval.  I didn't need to shop I just wanted an escape from pain.  I also reminded myself that the sales would be better after Christmas and I would have gift cards so I could buy more.  It worked remarkably well.  I even held out until New Years Eve to go on my spree.  I know this sounds like such a little thing to most people, but for a diehard shopaholic that reacts to stress with shopping sprees this was a huge step.  I know I've got a long way to go before I could say my habit has been broken, and honesty, I know I'll never completely stop shopping, and wouldn't want to.  But, I can honestly say I am learning patience, and sales resistance.  I'm also learning other ways to deal with stress besides whipping out the credit cards.  So yes I came home with a haul, but I'm proud to say that I had money left over that carried me through the slow season at work.  So now for a new test.  I got my tax refund last week and my hours have picked up at work.  Lets see how long I can hold out this time.....................

The Job Search Is On!

Hello everyone and Happy Thursday!  Thank goodness the weekend is almost here!  So, I've been working at the same place for quite awhile now.  It used to be an ok place to work.   It was great if you were in school like I am.  But, the company was bought out and everything changed.  Hours were cut, incentives were taken away and it has become almost unbearable to go to work everyday.  On top of that the new company is doing some pretty shady things actually some downright illegal things.  So, I've decided its time to move on.  I've spent the past week sending out resumes and looking online at every available position.  Then I started thinking.  Now would be a good time to look for a job that I would actually like.  I'm in school so I really only need something part time.  I'll hopefully be working in a law office within the next few years, so why not put my love for fashion to work? 

So I started sending resumes to different stores in my area.  To my surprise I actually got called for an interview yesterday.  Its been awhile since I've had a job interview so I was a little nervous.  And I started second guessing my decision.  When I walked in the store I knew I was home.  All the beautiful new Fall styles were calling to me.  The atmosphere was perfect.  I knew in that moment I had made the right choice.

The interview seemed to go well.  I won't know for another week if I made it to round two.  That's fine.  I'm just glad to have made it to round one, because whatever happens with this job, I know this is what I want to do while I'm finishing school.  I honestly wish I had done this sooner, maybe when the place I work for started acting shady or eve n before that, like when I found my current job.  Its ok though.  I'm doing it now and that's what matters. 

We'll see how this goes.  I'll be posting updates on the search.  It may or may not turn into a career who knows?  But for a broke fashionista, retail is the perfect job to get through school.


All pictures are from Google..