Just NB

New wardrobe "basics" Makeup lesson New makeup New makeup brushes to apply makeup with Accessories for new wardrobe (I am now a Stella & Dot consultant if anyone wants to buy anything….basically I just joined so I could get a lot of accessories that were fashionable at the consultant price. But should you want to buy something, here's my ID Code184132 Silk long underwear to wear underneath my work clothes because I'm freezing all the time New work boots (that were so far out of budget) New work pumps New work casual shoes New work winter boots (not yet found) New work winter coat (not yet found) New work winter hat (not yet found) New rims to go with old winter tires (not work related) Coffee and a muffin 4x this week because I'm stressed and want to have a fun breakfast     I knew that coming back to Canada and getting equipped for office life would cost a lot of $$$$. But seriously??? All of this ...

Confidence. It's a funny thing. Well, not funny ha-ha but odd-funny. I've always felt most confident in my work life. In a world where debits equal credits and the variance is researched & explained (although I don't do any actual accounting work).  I've gone through a very long period where my confidence has been shaken...or maybe beaten out of me. But it's started to come back. And I really like the feeling. I'm still guilty of having many moments, hours, or days of insecurity, but slowly, my confidence is starting to peak through, and it's awesome.  I know it sounds petty, but my new "look" has helped a lot. I look the part (at least on the weekdays). I speak up and ask questions or add comments in meetings without triple questioning myself. I talk to people at lunch and even strike up conversations with people walking to the train (ok this happened once, just now, with a guy from work that I've met before. But still. I'm all social ...

I’m starting to feel like I kinda know what’s going on in my life. * Knock on wood *. There’s plenty of stuff going on that I’m not thrilled with (Louis leaving the country for one), that I’m still adjusting to (hello  05:10 AM  wakeup call), that I’m really starting to like (seriously, I’ve never dressed/looked this fancy pants in my life & it’s fun on the weekdays!!) (And even better when I look like a hobo on the weekends),  and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get this whole downtown living. I  still don’t understand how I’ll ever manage to get anything done and be able to relax on the weekends. I’m thankful that we I had a two week adjustment period before the girls live with us again…because last night I had smoked salmon for supper and Louis had leftover frozen pizza. Like JUST smoked salmon on a plate. I worked late (I will every 2 nd Wednesday), I chatted with Louis too long, I finished working out at my bedtime and it was either salmon or bed without supper. I’m...

  Last week: Total chaos. Expected myself to just fall into this job without such a huge transition. Kept fighting to keep with those expectations. Considered quitting job on 3 rd day and trying to see if the other job was still available. Total meltdown on Monday. Total anxiety at work on Friday as I rush to meet a deadline that I don't even anything about (and was the responsibility of someone else but I thought I'd take it on…). Come Saturday, I was burnt out, confused, emotional, wondering how I'll ever get through this adjustment…   Saturday: Have a meeting of the minds, make plans to lower my stress during the week, create a list of tasks and ideas that will help me cope and remember that it's not a new job I'm adjusting to, it's a new LIFESTYLE and that takes time. I may as well be back in Madagascar my first week, because things are just that different here.   This week: Total meltdown (after work) Monday (yesterday). At work, make progress, h...

I am so overwhelmed with all of the changes in my life that I'm not even sure where to start. I think if I made a list of all the changes in my life….I'd just be more overwhelmed.   The only good thing that I can say at the moment, is that I'm very overwhelmed, but still far from defeated. Yay for that.

Overnight oats are freaking fantastic and taste just like this bircher muesli that I had in Zurich. Overnight oats are whatever mix you like, I'm doing old fashioned oats (lightly cooked because of some health reason that my friend told me about that I don't totally remember), greek yogurt, frozen berries, stevia, and cinnamon. sooooooo good. I'm like, dressing the trendiest I have ever in my life. I'm wearing suede over the knee boots; black very thick leggings with (fake) leather detailing down the side; a looser, longer white blouse with silver zippers on the pocket, an animal/dark print scarf; silver jewerly from my travels. Last night I was dancing with myself in the mirror doing all kinds of weird moves because I've just never seen myself like that before. I got the flu shot at work yesterday and didn't expect any symptoms, but last night my whole body ached. Louis still comes and lays with me for a few minutes at night because I don't feel lik...

I've seen icky shit in my life. I think the most traumatizing still to this day is when I tried to help my boss' driver & I had to carry him & then he died. Obviously I'm freaking exhausted but just to put things in perspective.  On the way to the train tonight I saw one guy attack another guy, knock him to the ground, & continually yell how he's going to kill him, while the other guy pleaded for him to stop. For me, this falls into the same category as icky shit, I want to stay and help...but I know that in the big city life...you don't hang around. I looked around, saw that there were a few people hanging around talking on their cell phones, so I assume they are calling the police...and I kept walking. I honestly feel like pond scum walking away from this situation but it scares the ever living crap out of me. And this is why I am a country mouse. This kind of stuff probably happens where I live too...but I get WAY to effected by it & I'll thin...

I'm on the train (which is extremely exciting because Louis found this way for me to get to work where it's just train & no metro or bus!!) coming home from my first day of work! It's a pretty good feeling...even though I didn't contribute much. Well, & I don't expect to for a bit since its a very complex company going through a lot of changes & I actually got lost going to the washroom... Anyway, I like everything so far. Which is a good sign I'm guessing. The while commuting thing sucks, even with the train. I work 8 hours, eat for 30 minutes, but because of the travel it works out to a 12 hour day door-to-door. This is quite normal for hundreds of thousands (or more) people but really a new concept for me, & I find it the hardest thing to adapt to.  Also is the fact that I'm working like one block from like THE street in downtown Montreal! It's hard to process as I see the historic buildings (including the one I work in) & walk aro...

It has been EIGHTEEN MONTHS since I've had a full-time job. Holy freaking sh&t. I thought I'd take about six months off. Instead, I traveled a lot more than I planned, I moved back to Alberta, I settled back in Alberta (kinda), then my knight in shining armor came back and we rode into the sunset (or into my little Honda Civic) all the way back to Montreal. Then summer came. Looking for a job in the summer in Quebec IS POINTLESS. It's like the world shuts down over here. Nothing happens. Yes, summer in quite the thing in Montreal and I have to admit I liked it A LOT more than any summer in Alberta because it's hot, humid, and there's no snow. I'm still trying to adapt to Canadian temperatures...so I need the +32*C plus humidity for me to turn the heat off in my car. So now, I have secured a job. Not only have I secured a job, but my DREAM JOB. My boss is awesome. The company is awesome, complex, with plenty of unique challenges and opportunities. It was ...