Homemade Give away...

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something homemade by me! Like any good giveaway, there are restrictions and limitations, as follows:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. I get to choose, you just get to receive!

2. What I create will be made just for you......one of a kind!

3. It will be done this year.....hopefully sooner, rather than later. (Please don't expect anything until after April 15th :)

4. The gift may or may not be edible, wearable or recyclable!

5. In order to be a winner, you must re-post this on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me you did will receive one FABULOUS homemade gift by me! After I choose the winners, you can send me your mailing address!

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you receive it!

Am I crazy?

Sometimes, I wonder if I am crazy especially recently when I called the law firm and withdrew my name from a potential job that pays way more than what I made last year with even better benefits and perks. True stability...I am crazy to give that up in this economy...right? But I have a passion and a love for what I do and that's meeting planning. I have decided to go freelance full force with my business Northwest Green Event Management (GEM). We were going to wait until Ben gets a job, which is also very unsure...but also it just felt right to do it now. Of course with this crazy life changing decision comes the loss of a very beautiful house that was being built for us. We called our Realtor on Thursday and told him of the job loss and that we are pulling out of the deal. We were trying to hold on and possibly get that job. But then it became more...like I am only taking this job to get the house and then but why are we buying a house when we don't know where Ben is going to get a job. We might have to move and then we have this house. It has also become a question of this market, would the house that is actually appraising for 10K more now, lose 5 to 20% more value in the next few years. No one truly knows what is going to happen...so let's stay safe. Do we want to commit to something when our lives our so up in the air. Nothing makes me more sad, but strangely at the same time I have peace and know that there is a greater plan being worked here. The timing of it all is just too right.

Updates....

So all this waiting is proving to be quite difficult in my life since I am a planner. Everything seems to be in a holding pattern. My 2nd job interview with the law firm went well. And they have confirmed with me that they would like me to come to the 3rd interview which will be a panel of people including a tele-conference with several people from their other offices. No pressure or anything! That should be sometime this week. I have applied for one other job this week for a hotel group, but I am just not sure I want to go back to that life. My goal still remains to go full force into building Northwest GEM. But alas we are waiting and seeing if I get this job because it would be better that I have full time work until Ben gets something permanent. Ben has starting applying for a few positions. He has ONLY 5 weeks of full time school left. Then he just has one class next term before he graduates!!!
The house is more on hold then ever as well. If I get the job then we get the house...right? Well life is proving not to be that easy. We are re-evaluating how to move forward because of this market. The house will be finished March 25th, so we have about a month to decide. Again, no pressure or anything.
All this waiting and seeing, has really just helped us to become closer to the Lord because it is really all about trusting in him and knowing that our plan will unfold soon enough.
In the mean time, it has kind of been fun to be home when Ben gets home from school and to attempt to finish many projects I have had to keep on hold because I was too busy working. Fun times!

25 Random Things....

So I posted this on Facebook...but a few of you are not on it. Cool idea. So I guess this would be double dipping, or double posting? Whatever, I have nothing else to do :)

1. I love cake. All kinds, I don't discriminate against any cake except cake that is soaked in things like milk or coffee or rum because I think it strips the cake of its cakey texture, it becomes soggy cake...its not right.
2. I love that I have a job that allows me to travel. I love traveling because it gives me an excuse to buy things, not just for myself but for other people, any excuse to buy things is good. Although there are other reasons that I love traveling too...
3. I think I have a shopping problem, I mean seriously #2 ??? There are much better reasons to love traveling. But of course with the shopping addiction comes a buying and returning skill as well. I don't think there is anything wrong with shopping if you return it :)
4. I seriously would like a new hairstyle since I have had this one for at least 15 years, but it scares me to cut it.
5. I have a new painting hobby. I am learning to oil paint. I was signed up for a class, but then got laid off so I dropped it and got my money back. At least I went to the first class and got some good tips and the free supplies. Like shopping, but free! Should I have some remorse about this?
6. I also have a new hobby of sewing. I really just like going to the fabric store, I love all the colors and patterns and when they have sales, I sometimes get to buy the fabric. Too bad you can't really return it after it is cut :( The cutting of patterns out part is really over-rated too. But it is fun if I actually finish something. For Christmas I made all my nieces and nephews aprons. Fun times!
7. I have a bad habit of not finishing things, this closely relates to the above. Lots of ongoing projects in my house, not a lot of finished projects in my house.
8. I love being married, but looking back I loved being single too. I had some good times. Although when I was in it, I hated being single. So really I just love being married....to Ben.
9. I am freaked out to have a child or two (or according to Ben three, secretly not gonna happen). I am sure it is great and all after, but I don't think it is right for something that size to come out of something significantly smaller????
10. My husband plays WOW (World of Warcraft) and I am embarrassed for him .....and me.
11. My friend Tev likes to take all of the free stuff they give you when you stay in a hotel (or anywhere else for that matter)...I used to laugh at her. But now I join in the fun. When you travel as much as I do you realize that you should take advantage of being in other places and having amenities such as these. Now you know that if you ever stay at my house, part of your turn down service is a whole line of bath products complimentary from the wonderful hotels I have stayed at. (again kind of like shopping but free, maybe it is not such a problem)
12. I have been on more diets than Oprah (or so I feel)...someone once told me that if you take the word "diet" and cross out the "t" you get the word "die". What does that mean exactly?
13. My favorite part of putting on my make-up in the car is my eyes...they have to be done at a stop light. I love eye shadow and I religiously buy the Mac holiday eye shadow set every year. This year I was in Savannah when it came out and I had to make an emergency call to my friend to go buy it for me. She laughs at me, because I ended up returning it because the colors were so close to last year.
14. I have virgin hair...never been dyed.
15. I ran Hood to Coast this year. (14 something miles, not in a row) It was the time of my life! But I still do not consider myself a runner, more of a wogger.
16. I miss my friends, I have friends all over. Chicago, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Texas, Cali...I guess when you have lived lots of places your friends are more dispersed. In my opinion, they should all move to Portland. It would be so much fun!!!!
17. Green...word of the year right? Well I just hope it sticks. On my first date with my husband, he pretty much insulted me because I had a case of water bottles in the back of my car. Wow, I had know idea they had such an impact on the world. Green makes the world go round.
18. Tev and I are going to write a book about traveling. I will be hitting you all up on your own personal tips. (T, get ready) Is this another project?
19. I wear earplugs at night. Sometimes just one, but since I have been married... two. Sometimes I fear this is doing damage to my brain or ears or something I am unaware of. Is this a habit I need to break????
20. In my opinion I have too much stuff...probably a result from the shopping and unfinished project habits. I know this because every time I move it feels wrong that we are moving so many boxes for one person. Now that Ben and I are together there are maybe 4 more to add to my 50+. I wish I had the will power to donate everything and start fresh. But alas, I can't bare to part with it.
21. I love water...I constantly have a water bottle (now a reusable one) with me. I feel parched without it.
22. I wish I knew where my life is going and where Ben will be working when he graduates and what are kids will look like and what life will be like in 5, 10, 15, 30 years???? As a planner, not knowing things urks me.
23. I love the smell of Eucalyptus trees, it reminds me of the drive between San Jose and Monterey, California. It brings back many childhood memories.
24. When my husband brings me flowers, I cry. I think it is the most thoughtful thing someone can do for another.
25. And last but not least...the mark on my forehead that most people cannot see because of make-up, IS a birthmark, not a scar from a curling iron like my sister has convinced me of for the last 20 years.

Cruise 09

Jamaica mon!

My expression of missing Ben...awww

All lined up...ours is the first one, this was Grand Cayman.

Tev and I going to "elegant night".

Love those Palm Trees...

Fellow Alpha Phi met on boat...Kathy (she knows all my friends too, wierd...small world)

This was truly the most perfectly timed vacation that I have ever planned and even 7 months in advance. It was so nice to soak up some sun and escape from the world. Not even a cell phone, kind of like camping but much more luxurious. After a red eye flight we boarded the ship and headed down to Key West. Cutest town ever. Lots to see and the shopping was great. Then we had a fun day at sea. The next morning we stopped in Grand Cayman. Small Island, really devistated by the storm a couple years ago. I was quite dissapointed really, but it is probably my fault that I did not pay to go diving. Instead I tried to snorkel off the beach...nothing to see :( The next day we stopped in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was a beautiful island and we had a very relaxing day. Lots of harrassing though, me a Tev kept close to shore and did not take any taxi's, we heard some pretty crazy stories and just wanted to be safe. One more day back at sea and then we landed back in the US. It was so relaxing and I can't wait until our next one...next time I will be sure to take my husband :) He would have loved the unlimited buffet food! So back to reality and the fact that I do not have a steady job. Although I am keeping quite busy with my client SACUBO. And I have another interview Friday. It is all a waiting and seeing game now. Thanks for the votes, I think I will go with number one for now since over 70% of you said you preferred that one. Wish me luck!

The Verdict is in...

Yes, the worst but not so bad has happened. I was laid off today. And actually eventhough I was quite a mess prior to the notice with all the waiting (I was the last to find out). I felt a lot of peace afterwards. I do have an interview Friday, but honestly I as I drove off into the sunset today I felt quite the excitement of building my consulting business full time. Ben and I will not make any major decisions right away but we are okay with walking away from the house. It is such an unpredictable market right now and we think it might be the best decision for us and our future. So we will keep you posted. For now I am off to the Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica for the most perfectly timed vacation ever!

Cast your votes now for my new comany logo...

Logo #1

Logo #2

Up in the air...

That is our life right now. Many of you saw on my facebook status or received calls from us regarding are current situation which is quite up in the air at the moment.

Here is a play by play...

Thursday 3pm-My boss brings Corrin (the other meeting planner who has been at Henry V 5 years) and I (only a year under my belt, but none the less a rock star) into the conference room and proceeds to tell us that with the recent news of Intel, Northface, Adidas and Freightliner (our clients) all cutting back on not only staff but meetings they need planned, that this very much effects us at Henry V. That even though we have already made three rounds of lay-offs, that we are probably going to make more. He wanted to have this meeting to get us to start thinking of creative ways to make cut-backs without hopefully laying off the whole company since we are down to 12 anyways. Some of their current ideas are: have employees volunteer to take unpaid time off, go down to a 3 or 4 day work week and supplement with unemployment, and find more ways to bring in money.

Thursday 3:23pm-Post meeting, I freak out.

Thursday 3:24pm-Leave message for Ben...."CALL ME BACK ASAP...need to talk"

Thursday 3:26pm-Like a good husband, he called back. Inform him of situation...think about house and losing house and losing job...start weeping..pull it back together...

Thursday 3:31pm-Go back to work...LOOK BUSY!

Thursday 3:32pm-Bring up Internet and apply for every travel director position I know of (4 completed)

Thursday 5:30pm-Go to gym, kickbox my stress away...well kind of away.

Thursday 7:00pm-Get home, hug Ben (and he had dinner ready :)

Thursday 7:30pm-Discuss options (below), too many variations to deal with (below)

Thursday 9:00pm-Look for jobs, found one (ONLY 1!!!), applied.

Thursday 10:30pm-Go to bed depressed because there are no jobs out there.

Friday through Monday AM-Doing okay in light of the situation. Mostly because we are so unsure of what is really going to go down this week.

Monday 10:46am-Corrin is pulled into conference room with Katja (another director). She reports afterwards that Katja informed her that she is safe that she should not be looking for other jobs and that Jerry (our boss) should have had said that "it would not be a bad idea to look for other opportunities". Hmmmmmm....I did not get a special meeting, what does that mean????? Exactly what I suspected.

The three possible scenarios:

#1, They lay me off. I take my SACUBO client with me and will make same amount until April (not so bad), no job after April except any contract-travel director (which is basically an on site only meeting planner) work I get, but Ben will hopefully be working by then. In this scenario we lose the house unless I can find another job ASAP which is not likely. But you never know the one job I applied could call?

#2, they cut my hours or my pay, I would receive supplemental unemployment for 1 to 2 days a week (Oregon program, know nothing about it). If I can keep 32 hours a week, I would get to keep benefits I think. It would insure a steady smaller paycheck until at least April. If market does not improve then in my opinion I would still be cut after April. You see, currently they are getting the revenue for the SACUBO meeting I brought to them (about $19K). Also could give me the freedom to still get contract work. Henry V would basically put me on an hourly base.

#3 they keep me on full time, this would be ideal, not sure if this is likely??? But I did not get the special meeting telling me I'm safe :(

In the mean time to lessen the thoughts and possible scenarios I have taken up oil painting. Here is what I am painting compliments of my friend/wedding photographer Steve Wagner. I hope mine looks this beautiful...doubt it but I will try!







Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!