30 before 30

well, it appears there are 442 days remaining until my 30th birthday. since my life tends to revolve around to-do lists... why not have a 30 before 30 to-do list! so, here we go! feel free to give suggestions to any of these!

1. buy new towels for the bathroom & throw out the old ones
2. go to a nice restaurant downtown wearing a cocktail dress
3. run a 5K straight without walking
4. visit 1 (maybe 2) new states
5. go to see a play/musical/ballet/opera
6. treat myself to a massage
7. read 10 new books
8. get my next tattoo to celebrate the 10yr anniversary of my surgery
9. go on a trip with my sister (without the nieces)
10. take a dance class – something new
11. complete a bike/run race (muddy buddy will suffice)
12. cook thai food at home by my self
13. lose 10 pounds
14. create a morning schedule and stick to it
15. sew a pair of pants that fit correctly
16. go out of the country (preferably someplace new)
17. go skiing
18. do a 50s pinup photo shoot (the classy kind though)
19. start writing the book i’ve been talking about for years
20. spontaneously take a weekend road trip (no planning whatsoever)
21. take an art class – the real kind
22. make fresh homemade bread
23. find a good dermatologist
24. start an etsy shop for grits&lime
25. mail my postsecret
26. make a meal for my family – holiday style
27. host a party
28. complete a sprint triathlon
29. create a real savings account and leave it alone
30. buy something nice for myself from tiffany’s (it is my namesake after all)

small obsessions are a good thing, right?

one of the great things about my "day job" is that i can truly do what i love and be myself 100% which is admittedly quite quirky and precisely what has inspired this post.

a large part of my quirkiness is that i have some fairly random obsessions. i was reminded of a few of them recently, so i thought i'd welcome you into my world!

i absolutely love to cook. it's yet another way for me to be crafty and try new things. don't get too excited... that's not the obsession. it's my choice of cooking utensils. i am in love (aka have a deep obsession) with wooden cooking utensils. it seems you can't have too many. at least not in my world. i found these gems over the weekend from crate&barrel! so pretty!!!



i've also always had a little obsession with buttons. i don't actually collect many things. however, buttons are definitely one of them! i have jars of buttons. i buy buttons, save buttons, pick up buttons that i find. i know, i know... random. but i warned you!



the last of my tiny obsessions that i'll share (before i scare you off...) is journals/notepads. i've always had a fascination with paper products! ironically, one of my best friends was a print management major in college so she was always working on projects for school that quickly became little gems for tiffany! today, i game across these beautiful journals and desk sets at papercrave. yes, please!!! they're gorgeous!!!



so what little obsessions do you have?

also posted on grits&lime!

a continued effort

Okay.... So I may be slacking at the posting of my days... But I'm still keeping up with them! New years resolution continues!

Day 66. Had a great revelation that there is no need to put a title on something that's great.
Day 67. It never ceases to amaze me the unprofessional ism of some candidates. One wanted to reschedule 45 minutes before their scheduled interview. Another accepted a different position but still wants to come in for an interview...
Day 68. I had a really great conversation with someone I really care about. Walls are down.
Day 69. I love my artwork and it's very hard to give it away even if I know they will take care of it.
Day 70. I decided to take a nap at lunch. THAT was a GREAT idea!
Day 71. For the first time ever. I did not pre-pack for a weekend trip. I'll just do it in the morning.
Day 72. I went home to Savannah for the first time in years to celebrate St. Patty's!
Day 73. I got to see my sister at work. It was very exciting to see her in that role.
Day 74. I was reminded that something as small as a hand-written note can really lift your day.
Day 75. I shared a very personal story with the executive and senior management teams and felt very proud of who I am.
Day 76. I finished the train the trainer program for our new values initiative.
Day 77. I made five job offers in four days and then received another four staff reqs the same day...
Day 78. I do not deal well with rejection mostly because I'm so considerate. I know I need to work on that but not sure which part.
Day 79. Having my best friend in town is the best medicine and distraction.
Day 80. I went to "the dump." I was not impressed.
Day 81. I missed my flight to Chicago. That has never happened before... I was able to stay calm and it really paid off because great Delta folks helped me out and got me on a flight!

There's more... But I didn't want this post to be too long....

continued growth

We've moved into the third month of the year which is the time when most people start slacking on their new year's resolutions. I'd like to note that I'm still going strong!

Day 52. I treated myself to some new work clothes with my newly won LeasePlan money!
Day 53. Sometimes its worth putting your opinion out there because you never know who's listening.
Day 54. Successfully started to tear down some walls.
Day 55. I trumped the expressway entry from the last time... Make that... I successfully drove on the expressway during a snow storm!
Day 56. I nearly doubled the number of participants at the Chicago Career Fair compared to last year.
Day 57. I visited West Palm Beach, FL for the first time. This trip was also a huge leap in faith that I haven't been willing to take in a long, long time.
Day 58. A rainy day in Florida equals a GREAT movie day!
Day 59. I had the best date night EVER!
Day 60. I realized that, sometimes, home is not where you live...
Day 61. I was nominated for a front-row parking spot by a front line employee who appreciated the career fair. I felt so honored.
Day 62. I drafted my first sales offer letter complete with a confidentiality agreement.
Day 63. I bowled my all time high score - 153!!!
Day 64. I was reminded that I should focus on the things that I can control.
Day 65. I pulled out my paint brushes for the first time in months and created two new pieces!

astronomical insight

I know its been a bit since I've actually posted about my new year's resolution, but I assure you that I've been keeping up with it. Taking the time to go on vacation was great for me, but what I've learned about myself since that time has been astronomical.

Day 38. I don't typically back down from a fight. But this time I did, offered a peace offering, and still feel really good about it.
Day 39. Taking steps to build my recruitment network. Big steps for me since I've always been scared to...
Day 40. Trying to be tech savvy... and adding new things to my blog (you can now ask me anything)
Day 41. Completed the full cycle of an interview process in one day. phew!
Day 42. Negotiated my first salary deal. Took some hard work but we came to the best resolve!
Day 43. First time in a long time... Went with a gut feeling and told someone how I really feel about them.
Day 44. Sometimes its best to just be yourself and let it shine through loud and clear.
Day 45. Had a valentine for the first time in years.
Day 46. Realized that my passion is noticed by others and valued.
Day 47. Even great people in the organization got there by chance.
Day 48. Be prepared for anything and stay calm (the apartment flooded).
Day 49. A peer asked to meet with me for advice on her career. I feel very honored.
Day 50. The next step in my career is on the horizon. I'll find out next week what that looks like.
Day 51. Drove on an expressway in Chicago (if you know how much I hate driving, you'd understand the importance of this experience).

a break FOR inspiration

I took the last week to finally take a vacation. I went on a cruise to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. This break was the perfect time to reflect on who I am as a person, enjoy the company of some amazing people, and get some additional inspiration for grits&lime. Of course, I kept up with my New Year's resolution and really put myself outside my box and had a blast doing it!

Day 27. Got a phone call from my sister and it really was my niece asking for me. My sister and both of her beautiful daughters are soooo very special to me.
Day 28. Great planning makes even the most hectic of days go smoothly.
Day 29. One of my special talents is packing. I managed to pack 6 days of clothes in 1.5 carry on bags.
Day 30. I took my first vacation in 1.5 years. This trip was much needed.
Day 31. I put myself really outside my comfort zone and hit on a guy! woo!
Day 32. Went to Grand Cayman for the first time. I also sang karaoke for the first time. I sang Donna Summer's "Last Dance" and it was soooo much fun!
Day 33. We returned to Cozumel and I drove our Jeep around the island. Thank God I know how to drive a manual!
Day 34. I took a moment in time to acknowledge and stand up for who I am, what I believe in, and my expectations.
Day 35. I started reading an inspiration book and found a quote that reminded me to not be afraid to be by myself. This is the best time to find out who I am.
Day 36. I logged into my work email to catch up even though it was my day off... And actually restrained myself from actually doing any work. That's a first!
Day 37. I spent the day in my pjs and completely ignored my to-do list. For those that know me, know exactly how out of the box that is for me.

I should also note that while on vacation I came up with three new dress designs for grits&lime. Taking a break was an amazing time for inspiration!

a little inspiration: with a twist

This blog was originally created to provide tips, feedback, new ideas, and suggestions about recruiting, training, and career development as a whole. Some of the information is geared toward my fellow recruiters and trainers, although even more so for my fellow followers, friends, and those looking to distinguish themselves. More importantly, this blog was designed to be a creative outlet for myself. In a way, it was really a chance for me to distinguish myself.

In recent months, I've come to realize that I am, in fact, a creative person. Not only do I thrive in situations where I am continually learning something new, but in situations where I can be creative and put my hands to work. I've been sewing as long as I can remember and have always loved making gifts for my family. Most recently, I started painting which has been an amazing release for me. Now, you may be asking yourself why I'm so surprised at realizing this about myself... Well, I'm always great at using the analytical side of my brain. I've always been good at math, love working with spreadsheets, and even come up with random equations in my head while running (trust me, I know how odd that sounds). My entire family is like this and I've always been steered in that direction because its what made the most sense.

Well, it may have taken almost 28 years to figure this out about myself, but I couldn't be more excited. Actually, let me rephrase that. I couldn't be more inspired. That inspiration has lead me to work with one of the dearest and most creative friends I know, Nicole, to start grits & lime. So follow us @gritsandlime for updates on what's to come and check out {nicole galletta} for a great explanation of how we came up with the name!

another top 10

Have you ever left an interview and thought to yourself, "Dang, I had the perfect answer for that!" knowing that you completely froze when you were asked it... Well, the key to a great interview is being prepared. Take the time to actually write out your answers to these top ten interview questions, and it wouldn't hurt to practice in the mirror either. Trust me! It helps!

Top Ten Interview Questions to Prepare For

1. Tell me about yourself.
Tip: Talk about a couple of your key achievements making sure to focus on highlights of your resume.

2. Tell me about your current/last position. What did you like best about it? Least?
Tip: Be prepared to provide specifics.

3. What is your greatest strength? Weakness?
Tip: Discuss your number one strength making sure to provide a good example. For your weakness, find something that you are currently working on. Provide an example of how you’re working to improve on it.

4. Can you provide me an example of when you provided great customer service?
Tip: Explain the problem/project, discuss the action you took, and provide what the results were.

5. What motivates you in the workplace?
Tip: Challenge, creativity, success, and opportunity are the most used. You can also mention specific skills that you enjoy using such as problem solving, decision making, listening, or counseling others.

6. Did you gain any relevant experience during this time period?
Tip: Most likely, they’re referring to gaps in your work history. Keep your answers professional and work-related. Talk about skills you developed, gained, or worked on while un-employed. You may want to talk about time management skills, how to deal with adversity, problem solving, decision making, etc.

7. What is the most difficult situation you’ve ever faced?
Tip: Pick an example which you successfully resolved a tough situation in the work place. Tell the story briefly and try to reveal as many good qualities as possible. The interviewer is looking for qualities such as perseverance, good judgment, and maturity in a work situation.

8. What experience do you have that will make you the ideal candidate for this position?
Tip: This is a great opportunity to sell you. Talk about your strengths (including ones you did not mention previously) and how they fit the needs of the company. Do your research on both the company and the position before going into the interview.

9. What is the most important thing you are looking for in a job?
Tip: Figure out what it is that you value most in a company and position. You may value challenge, good working conditions, training, or friendly co-workers. Talk about one or two of those items.

10. Have you ever been convicted by any Federal, State or any other law enforcement authorities for any violation of Federal, State, County, or municipal law, regulation, or ordinance?
Tip: This may appear on your application. If so, answer truthfully. If you are offered the job, they will most likely do a background check and its better to be forth-coming with this information. For many companies, this does not omit you as a candidate for the position. If asked about it during the interview, find the positive and talk about how you have moved on from this discretion. There is no need to go into detail. If the interviewer is concerned about your credibility, mention that you can provide a list of professional references that would be able to vouch for your character.

a little inspiration goes a long way

My friend, Nicole, has recently been on this huge kick of finding something positive in all this doom and gloom, and I've decided its about time to join her!

Even more recently, Nicole (yeap! the same one!) has been let go from her job. Although this was a swift kick in the gut (as I'm sure it would be for anyone out there going through a similar situation), Nicole has taken on an immensely positive attitude. Nicole looked at her situation, not as a mark of bad fortune, but as an opportunity and is taking life into her own hands.

Although the afore-mentioned job was here in Alpharetta where we both reside, we call Savannah home. Nicole's been comtemplating her move back to Savannah for some time now, and losing her job really and truly did offer her the right timing and opportunity to make this work for her.

In the past two weeks, I've watched Nicole take the next step (and a giant one at that) in her career. She's put herself in an opportunity to be very happy in the town we both love and call home and make herself known in the industry she loves and (i know) she will thrive in. She's already applied for a few jobs in the Savannah area that are right up her alley and exactly what she wants to be doing. Not only that, but 1) she's teamed up with two other talented individuals to create their own team to design websites, 2) she's being asked by companies what her consultative fee is for marketing advice, 3) she's already been asked to plan a wedding, and 4) a press release she wrote at the afore-mentioned job was just picked up by msnbc!

It's people like Nicole that inspire me to keep doing what I love! Good things CAN happen, even in crappy times like these. Like I always say - the decision is yours! What are you going to do with your career? What opportunities have just been presented to you?