Last Wednesday, I was a told that my part time position of 15 hours had been cut from the budget. Needless to say, it feels very strange not to go to work. It's also a little disconcerting not to have an income coming in. I will be applying for unemployment, the first time ever, but it still feels weird. I posted on Facebook that I was laid off and one of my friends mentioned asking the universe for the same set up "ask and you shall receive". I honestly thought about that before she even commented about it. The other thing I thought about in the same vein is, maybe I should thing about doing something more creative. Maybe my unemployment checks will help to feed my family while I start working on a more creative endeavor than social work. The other ironic thing with regards to this is another Facebook comment from my husband's cousin. I have made a few new bags and am really enjoying sewing and posted a picture of a cute quick envelope clutch that I made for my husband's reunion. The comment was that I should make more and sell them. Maybe that is the next step I should be taking. Could the lay off be a blessing in disguise?
I have been wanting to open an etsy shop for a while. A bunch of friends either have one or have recently opened one. Is this the time now for me? I am so scared that it will fail, but what if it doesn't? What if I can find a good niche to get into? I have been wondering if a good niche would be the fusion of recycle/up-cycled and natural materials with new synthetic materials. First it would go with the whole trying to be green in my life, then using recycled materials would hopefully be cost effective, and given the whole push for others to go green, just maybe this would be a decent niche. It would also be the fusion of old and new. Should I look at another areanof creativity? Is this crazy on my part?
I am reall seriously considering doing this as well as doing craft fairs. I would love to have a partner in all of this, but I'm not sure who. Maybe having a partner is a bad idea. I guess I really need to make a decision and just go for it if I decide that I really want to do this! So as my Facebook friend said "just put it out to the universe, ask and you will receive!"
I am asking "should I use this time to try to follow one of my dreams and see if I can help to provide for my family using my creativity?"
Amy
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Careers
I never thought that I'd admit this, but I really don't mind going to work. I wish I didn't have to, but I am overall enjoying my job. Though, I have to admit, I had a situation at work recently that really makes me wonder if I really want to continue down the road of social work. The situation wasn't directly related to my job, but it reminded me of some of the politics regarding utilization of people's insurance and the questionable ethics of some nursing homes. I have seen it before, and I know it often happens, I just hate that business gets involved in people's lives. I won't say more than that except, it is making me think that I really want to branch out on my own and do something that utilizes my social work background, but that maybe uses my love of creativity.
I often write about how I love to be creative and how I wish that I could make a living at this. I do like working with people, so I don't think that I just want to pursue an artist's life in a studio by myself. I have these visions of working with people using creativity as a therapeutic tool, just not in a clinical way. I would love to show people that finding a way to be creative can help with stress. I actually wrote a paper in grad school about using scrapbooking/journaling as a therapeutic tool in working with older adults and their families and those dealing with end of life issues. I was actually able to tie it into the therapeutic modalities that I believed that I would use in practice. At this point though, I'm not sure that I want to deal with the whole insurance situation. I would rather use my social work background as a way to work with people, again not clinically, but I would at least be able to refer someone if I thought they needed more help.
Sometimes I think I would love to go back to school and get out of social work all together. I think I would love to pursue a career that is more of a holistic nature, even though as a social worker you are to look at the whole person. In reality though, that doesn't happen the way I would want it to. I want to learn more about cooking and eating healthy (eventhough I don't always follow my own advice), aromatherapy and how it can benefit mind/body/soul, art therapy, journaling as therapy, yoga and other mind body activities, and anything else that is similar in nature.
I really do like my job and the agency that I work for. I love the hours and the people I work with. This is one of the few times that I can say that even though I don't like going to work, it's not because I don't like the job. The reality is that I don't like going to work because life would be easier if I only had to take care of my kids. Unfortunately, I need to go to work to help pay for things, and it is nice to actually use the degree that I spent time and money getting.
One day I really will figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
Amy
I often write about how I love to be creative and how I wish that I could make a living at this. I do like working with people, so I don't think that I just want to pursue an artist's life in a studio by myself. I have these visions of working with people using creativity as a therapeutic tool, just not in a clinical way. I would love to show people that finding a way to be creative can help with stress. I actually wrote a paper in grad school about using scrapbooking/journaling as a therapeutic tool in working with older adults and their families and those dealing with end of life issues. I was actually able to tie it into the therapeutic modalities that I believed that I would use in practice. At this point though, I'm not sure that I want to deal with the whole insurance situation. I would rather use my social work background as a way to work with people, again not clinically, but I would at least be able to refer someone if I thought they needed more help.
Sometimes I think I would love to go back to school and get out of social work all together. I think I would love to pursue a career that is more of a holistic nature, even though as a social worker you are to look at the whole person. In reality though, that doesn't happen the way I would want it to. I want to learn more about cooking and eating healthy (eventhough I don't always follow my own advice), aromatherapy and how it can benefit mind/body/soul, art therapy, journaling as therapy, yoga and other mind body activities, and anything else that is similar in nature.
I really do like my job and the agency that I work for. I love the hours and the people I work with. This is one of the few times that I can say that even though I don't like going to work, it's not because I don't like the job. The reality is that I don't like going to work because life would be easier if I only had to take care of my kids. Unfortunately, I need to go to work to help pay for things, and it is nice to actually use the degree that I spent time and money getting.
One day I really will figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
Amy
Friday, August 6, 2010
Progress?!
I have often been writing about my desire to be healthier. I have started making some small changes in my life that I hope will become more of a lifestyle than a short term investment. I have started exercising at least 3 times per week. My husband and I started walking a DCR area in our town that was about 3 miles and very hilly. Unfortunately, my older son got sick and we slacked a little and then i got sick and we slacked again after just getting back on track. Finally my summer cold/almost sinus infection has mostly passed and we have gotten back on track again. Since my husband is having isuues with shin splints, we have changed our walking routine to the bike path out of Peabody. Wednesday, we walked 3 miles, maybe even a little over, and today we did 4 miles. I am actually really sore, but in a good way. I never thought that I would enjoy getting back to walking as much as I have recently.
I am trying much harder to be better at cooking from scratch. I got a couple of recommendations to get the Joy of Cooking cookbook, which is on my list of books to buy as well as cookbooks on how to get veggies in sneakily. I have made some things with veggies from our garden, which is so much fun. We are still waiting for the tomatoes to ripen and we have a bunch of eggplant that are growing. I would have to say that tomatoes and eggplant have been our best crop this year. We haven't done horrible with zuchinni, but could do better. We also have had issues with animals eating our veggies. We put up a fence, but it seems like there are still issues where what ever it is is getting at the squashes. Also, our watermelon seems to be doing ok, but they are not quite ready.
I have started a new part time job, which I think is going well so far. I am enjoying getting back into the workforce and I seem to have great co-workers. I am not loving the stress of getting a new routine down, but I'm sure that with time, the routine will get establishes and things will go much smoother.
I have a ton of projects to work on, but given the sickness in the house and the new job, they are being put on the back burner. I am working on a handmade mei tai baby carrier. I love the material, but I can't seem to find the time to actually sit down and work on it. I want to make some pocket diapers, but again, I can't seem to find the time. I think I even have the material, for the most part and since we bought 6, I really like them. I am planning on making them with fleece instead of PUL so that they are more breathable. Hopefully that will help with the rashes that we are constantly fighting.
My flower gardens are starting to look a little sad. It has been so dry here in MA, that things just seem to be withering away! I have some work to do on moving some flowers and bunching them more together. I think that way it will look better and then next year, I can look at planting more flowers. I hate to admit taht I need to deal with some insects that seem to be eating my plants. I hate to use insecticides, btu I don't know what else to use. I will have to do some research to find natural ways of dealing with bug eaten plants.
So, that is my progress at this time. I still have a ton of work to get to where I want to be. I still need to figure out if I want to try an etsy.com website. Do I even have time to do something like that? I need to make sure I find time to exercise and eat right. I need to ensure that I get me and my family on a good routine/schedule so that the house runs smoothly.
Amy
I am trying much harder to be better at cooking from scratch. I got a couple of recommendations to get the Joy of Cooking cookbook, which is on my list of books to buy as well as cookbooks on how to get veggies in sneakily. I have made some things with veggies from our garden, which is so much fun. We are still waiting for the tomatoes to ripen and we have a bunch of eggplant that are growing. I would have to say that tomatoes and eggplant have been our best crop this year. We haven't done horrible with zuchinni, but could do better. We also have had issues with animals eating our veggies. We put up a fence, but it seems like there are still issues where what ever it is is getting at the squashes. Also, our watermelon seems to be doing ok, but they are not quite ready.
I have started a new part time job, which I think is going well so far. I am enjoying getting back into the workforce and I seem to have great co-workers. I am not loving the stress of getting a new routine down, but I'm sure that with time, the routine will get establishes and things will go much smoother.
I have a ton of projects to work on, but given the sickness in the house and the new job, they are being put on the back burner. I am working on a handmade mei tai baby carrier. I love the material, but I can't seem to find the time to actually sit down and work on it. I want to make some pocket diapers, but again, I can't seem to find the time. I think I even have the material, for the most part and since we bought 6, I really like them. I am planning on making them with fleece instead of PUL so that they are more breathable. Hopefully that will help with the rashes that we are constantly fighting.
My flower gardens are starting to look a little sad. It has been so dry here in MA, that things just seem to be withering away! I have some work to do on moving some flowers and bunching them more together. I think that way it will look better and then next year, I can look at planting more flowers. I hate to admit taht I need to deal with some insects that seem to be eating my plants. I hate to use insecticides, btu I don't know what else to use. I will have to do some research to find natural ways of dealing with bug eaten plants.
So, that is my progress at this time. I still have a ton of work to get to where I want to be. I still need to figure out if I want to try an etsy.com website. Do I even have time to do something like that? I need to make sure I find time to exercise and eat right. I need to ensure that I get me and my family on a good routine/schedule so that the house runs smoothly.
Amy
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wishcasting Wednesday
Jamie Ridler at jamieridlerstudios.ca once again asks a great question.
"WHAT DO YOU WISH TO KNOW"
I wish to know what direction my life should be heading and am I moving in the right direction. I have a great life right now. I am married to the man of my dreams, I have 3 beautiful children, I get to stay at home and raise them myself rather than put them in daycare (daycare is great, but my goal was to be able to raise my children), I have my MSW.
I have been interviewing for a part time position that I had applied for back in January. It's a great fit time wise, but I so wish I wasn't interviewing right before summer was to start. It would be so nice to have extra money coming in, but I so don't want my summer to be affected. At least if I had started back in the winter, I would already have been in the routine by now, not starting a new routine that limits what we can do as a family during the summer.
Should I take this job and continue my career as a social worker or should I be at home and raise my children and learn a new skill so that when it is time to return to the work force, I will be able to enter a new career? Part of me says I don't want this job, bet then another part of me says take it for the money and deal with not having the summer that I had planned. Maybe take the job and still think about pursuing something else? Do I want a career that is more creative in nature or do I want to keep that as a hobby separate from my career life? Do I want to remain a social worker? Do I want to work while my children are young? Is there something else I can do to make money that won't impact my family life this summer? I should just be happy that I have the opportunity to interview and wait to see if I even get a job offer and if it is worth accepting the position.
What do you wish to know?
Amy
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Outdoor Project Updates
As you know, my husband and I have been working on a bunch of outdoor projects. We have completed a butterfly garden and are just waiting for it to bloom more! I have been working on our front gardens and I'm sure that next year they will need to be done again. I have a bunch of bulbs and annuals planted, so I think I will need to plant more perennials so that they will come back year after year. This way we'll save money and I will just need to do up keep vs continuously planting every year. My husband is also working on the swing set we bought for the kids. There are so many pieces that it is taking forever to put together.
Our big project, our veggie garden, still looks the same. Tom still has to till in the fertilizer, then we need to plant. We spent a ton of money this weekend, buying plants and seeds. I am amazed that you can still plant veggies from seed. I am so looking forward to this garden. I know that the kids are little, but I am so ecstatic that we get to show them a garden and where their food comes from. I am trying really hard to eat healthier. Unfortunately, I have gotten away from eating beans and have started eating more meat. I really don't like that. I don't know why all of a sudden I started craving meat again. I had been doing so well eating less meat and want to get back to that way of eating again. I have put a pork loin in the slow cooker for dinner tonight, but have frozen most of the other meat that I have recently bought. I probably should have portioned it out so that I only had to take out a small amount at a time. I am so looking forward to being able to just walk outside to my garden for veggies. I am hoping that I will not have to frequent the grocery store this summer and hopefully I will be able to save enough to eat some through the winter.
These are pictures of the different plants that we bought for out veggie garden. We have a bunch of different kinds of veggies and herbs plus seeds! I can't wait to plant them!
butterfly garden taken today
gardens in the front of the house (looking kind of pathetic)
All 3 gardens have some seed that are just starting to get real leaves, so I'm hoping that it will look better once they grow and bloom.
Our big project, our veggie garden, still looks the same. Tom still has to till in the fertilizer, then we need to plant. We spent a ton of money this weekend, buying plants and seeds. I am amazed that you can still plant veggies from seed. I am so looking forward to this garden. I know that the kids are little, but I am so ecstatic that we get to show them a garden and where their food comes from. I am trying really hard to eat healthier. Unfortunately, I have gotten away from eating beans and have started eating more meat. I really don't like that. I don't know why all of a sudden I started craving meat again. I had been doing so well eating less meat and want to get back to that way of eating again. I have put a pork loin in the slow cooker for dinner tonight, but have frozen most of the other meat that I have recently bought. I probably should have portioned it out so that I only had to take out a small amount at a time. I am so looking forward to being able to just walk outside to my garden for veggies. I am hoping that I will not have to frequent the grocery store this summer and hopefully I will be able to save enough to eat some through the winter.
I know have to find time for my creative outlet. I have so many projects, it's just hard to
find the time to complete them. I know that I have repeatedly said that I need to watch less tv, but I really do. That will give me so much more time. It's kind of nice that the season is coming to an end and the nice weather is here. Hopefully I'll get away from the tv and have more time for other interests.
There are so many things that I want to learn and do. Right now time and money are the things that are holding me back. I only hope that some day, I will find something that I love to do and be able to make money at it. I am looking forward to Wishcasting Wednesday over at jamieridlerstudios.ca tomorrow. It always makes me think. I also need to go back and look at what I have written in the past and see what I have wanted!
I went on a job interview yesterday. I applied for the job back in January and finally got an interview. I am so disappointed that I may get a job for the summer and beyond. I know that it would help financially, I just wish that I was able to get through this summer without working. It will be in my field, but I am thinking that I would like to do something outside the box. Maybe I'll just have to wait til the kids are older and maybe even in school. Oh, well. Wish me luck in making whatever decision is best for my family!
Hope you are able to enjoy some nice weather. We should be close to 90 degrees here in MA and hopefully we can keep cool.
Amy (who is totally craving some iced coffee. I may be back on the coffee bandwagon at least for the summer)
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