Up and running!

Hello Friends,

Sorry I have been neglecting you. I've been busy! Most of my time has been spent apartment hunting (more on that later), and being way more social than usual. Seriously, in the past few weeks I've spent more time with friends than I had in the previous 3 months! It has been grand and is really helping me pass the time during my least favorite season.

But the real reason I am posting today is to tell you I have also spent a considerable amount of time getting my new blog up and running. Please head on over to Hips and Hangers and become a follower!

New Year, New Blog

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone had a wonderful winter solstice/ Christmas/ Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa/ Festivus/ etc. I am back in Boston after spending 12 days in Central Ohio with my family. I'll post more pictures later, but here's one of my favorites:

My sister and I on Christmas morning

Before I left for Ohio, I made a big decision. I need a hobby! I love having this blog as a place to put down a hodgepodge of things/ keep friends informed about my life, but I want to make blogging more of a hobby and that requires focus on a specific topic.

I have always loved fashion and design. When I was little I would spend hours drawing designs using a set of fashion stencils. I aspired briefly to be a fashion or costume designer, before realizing I am not skilled in the drawing or sewing arenas. I never pursued a career in fashion merchandising or styling because of how body conscious the industry is. However, putting together outfits has always been a hobby. I am constantly inspired by the fashion bloggers that I follow, so I think it's about time I joined them! Keep an eye out for my new blog: Hips and Hangers coming to a computer near you in early January. 

Hips and Hangers will feature 3-4 outfit posts a week, as well as information on where I get the inspiration for each outfit, shopping stories, and whatever other fashion related things strike my fancy.

I still plan to keep Eating Feelings alive, and I will continue my "Tips from HR" series next Wednesday. Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

25 by 25 Update 12/5

25 goals I plan to complete by my 25th birthday. So 25 goals I will achieve by May 5th, 2012.

I think I'm doing alright with this list. I clearly need to do a lot more reading and travelling. 

1. Get a new job. 
2. Visit 3 U.S. States I've never been to.
3. Post 50 blog entries between 5/5/11 and 5/5/12.  (This post is #29)
4. Get 40 followers for Eating Feelings (I'm at 15 now, invite your friends!)
5. Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean.
6. Obtain a passport.
7. Visit Canada.
8. Cook with 5 ingredients I've never used.
Hard cider
9. Move into the city of Boston and out of the suburbs!
10. Read 10 books or plays.
Triumph: Life After the Cult, a Survivor's Lessons by Carolyn Jessop
Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
11. See all of the 2012 Best Picture Oscar Nominees before the Oscars.
12. See a concert.
13. See a play.
I saw All's Well that Ends well on the Boston Common
14. Buy 3 things from Etsy.com
Skindura Secret Shield
This necklace as a gift for my sister's 16th birthday
15. Go to the dentist for the first time in over 5 years.
16. Get back on the pill.
17. Participate in the 2012 AIDS Walk Boston and raise more than the $100 I raised in 2011.
18. Get two haircuts. (This may seem like a small task, but it's been over a year since my last one)
I got one!
19. Take 4 day trips to places I can't get to on the subway.
Plymouth
Salem
George's Island

20. Tour the Sam Adams Brewery.
21. Make tortillas from scratch.
22. Get my first tattoo.
23. Get a good pair of dressy winter boots.
24. Complete CPR and CPR Instructor certification.
I will be done with my instructor certification at the end of this week!
25. Make a list of 26 goals to accomplish by my 26th birthday!

How are you doing on your goals for this year?

Tips from HR Part 1: Resume and Cover-Letter

I'd like to bring back my Work-it Wednesday feature with a 4 part series called "Tips from HR". Anyone who follows me on facebook knows that I like to periodically post these "tips" as things come up in my job. I don't consider myself an HR expert or even a recruitment expert, but I have two years of recruitment experience and I've learned enough from viewing resumes and doing interviews to give some decent advice.

Part One: First Impressions- the Resume and Cover-Letter

Writing a strong resume is the most important part of any job search. It is your first impression on potential employers and your chance to get a foot in the door. Here are 3 tips to bear in mind when writing your resume and cover letter. 

1. Include your contact information, and make sure it is correct.

This seems like a no-brainer, but I can't tell you how many resumes I've received that have no phone number or email on them. 

• Make sure you include your address, phone number and email. 
• Use a professional email that includes your name or initials. The person screening your resume is going to judge you if your email is "bigboi999@yahoo.com". 
• Make sure your phone is ready to take professional calls by getting rid of any ring back tones and setting up your voice mail with a professional recording.
• You don't have to include your whole address if you don't want to, but at least include the city and state. 
• Double and triple check that you spelled everything correctly!

2. Keep the resume to one page. Keep the cover letter to one page. 

Unless you have a considerable amount of experience in the field it is never necessary to include more than one page of information on your resume. Anything you don't cover in that page can be in the cover letter, just don't go over a page on that either!

3. Know your audience.

• Reflect the language and requirements of the job description in your resume and cover letter. 
• Research the company and mention something you like about them in your cover letter or objective.
• Address your cover letter to a specific person if you can. NEVER put "Dear Sir". 

10 Day You Challenge: 1 Picture

Day 10: One Picture

This picture is from Christmas 20 years ago, it's really hard to believe that I'm old enough to remember a Christmas from 20 yeas ago, but I remember this one pretty vividly. I'm holding my brand new Baby Alive from Santa, and modeling some powder blue footie pajamas. I was so excited about that gift she drank from a bottle of water and wet her diaper. She also had some pre-recorded noises and phrases. (I told you I've always wanted to be a mommy!)

I chose this picture because I cannot wait for it to be Christmas! I haven't seen my family in almost a year, so going to Ohio for Christmas is going to be a real treat. I can't wait to bake cookies and watch holiday movies with my mom and sister.

Eating Thanks

Image from HERE

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!  

I am in Pelham, NY spending the Thanksgiving weekend with my beau and his family, so I probably won't do another entry until Sunday night or next week. In the mean time, here are 5 things that I'm thankful for this year.

1. My Job
Working for an organization I respect and having a job that pays me a living wage have made a world of difference in my quality of life. I am eating better, getting more sleep, living in a better apartment, and starting to get my finances back in order all because of this job.

2. My Health
At my annual physical a few months ago I had my iron, glucose and cholesterol levels checked. I also had my annual PAP and STD testing, had my blood pressure checked, and talked to my doctor about my weight. She gave me a clean bill of health! Outside of a few menstruation related issues and the occasional migraines, I am super healthy. At 5'7" and 205lbs I think I'm living proof that you can be healthy at any size! Now I just need to get fit...

3. Living in Massachusetts
As much as I complain about the weather in Boston, it's really growing on me. I love living in a state that has such fantastic laws in place to protect its people and their quality of life. I like waking up in the morning and knowing that I'm not going to pay sales tax on clothing or food and that if I go to an ER they aren't going to badger me about my insurance status, and if I decide I want to marry a woman I totally can:)

4. Fashion blogs. 
I didn't really get into fashion blogs until this year, but over the last 9 months or so I've started following dozens of them. There are a handful of blogs have really inspired me and revolutionized the way I think about dressing my curves. My current favorite is Girl with Curves. 

5. Unlimited text messages.
I kind of hate talking on the phone, but texting is so easy! I use texts to keep in touch with everyone from my bff in California to my 69 year old Grandmother in Ohio. 

What are you thankful for?

10 Day You Challenge: 2 Songs

Day 9: Two Songs

These are the two songs that are getting the most rotation on my ipod right now. 

 Moves Like Jaggar by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

This song is super infectious and peppy. It puts me in a good mood and makes me want to wiggle my butt. Adam Levine being shirtless in the video doesn't hurt either :)

Leaves that are Green by Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel are one of my favorite bands (duos?). It's no secret that I hate winter. Every fall I listen to this song on repeat.  It's a kind of depressing song, about change and loss but I love it.