When your feeling sad

Why is it when we are depressed or sad most of us regress to doing unhealthy activities. Why cant I binge on veggies when I am upset instead of ice cream and chips or why cant I go jogging when I am depressed instead of sitting on the couch or in my bed. Being depressed sucks enough but to add weight gain to it...bleh.

A Job!

I got a job on Saturday. I have been working on the weekends for my husband at his work but it is long hours and hard to find sitters that will watch the kids for that long. I am going to be working at a winery that is 5 minutes from my house. So close I can easily bike to it! I am starting in the wine shop but since they are such a small winery (5 employees- 2 of whom are the owners) I may be able to make my own position within their growing company. Its ideal right now I would get part time hours in their wine shop and then if I want to work more on my own, whether it be sales or event management or cellar work, that would be up to me. So a pretty sweet deal. Now I just need to find out about the other courses I applied for.

Job Interviews!

This week I have three job interviews, all at wineries. I knew from the beginning that I could get a wine retail job no problem, but I didn't think I would be out of work until nearly May when they start hiring for the summer season. I interviewed with a winery yesterday. They are looking for someone part time, they would like to be able to keep the person on all year long, they provide uniform and there is the wine bonus, plus its really close to my house. Ideal. But wait and see... I have an interview today for a winery that has stores within grocery stores (weird Ontario laws). They are open longer then a regular winery because they match the hours of the stores they are in and I think I would get less hours overall. But they are going to guarantee me the same amount of hours all year round. Finally, on Saturday I have an interview with another winery. A friend of my Dads is the winemaker. I imagine I will get a job offer but I don't know if they can afford to keep me on year round. They are a pretty small winery.

Setbacks galore!

So I have hit a few snags on the road to change. I haven't found a job yet but I have been working for the company my husband works at to make some extra money. I also had my application to school denied. That was a huge setback. I never thought that I would not get into school. My 72% doesn't meet their requirement of a 75% minimum. To top it all off I have gained weight......like 10lbs. My goodness, I worked so hard to lose a whole bunch of weight last year and now I am putting it all back on again.....please, nice weather come soon so I can get outside and be gardening instead of snacking! So what I am doing now is trying to get into a few different universities, really what I should have done in the first place instead of putting all my hopes on one. I am still looking for a job and I am trying not to snack (easier said then done!). The universities courses options online are a bit confusing so I am having a hard time navigating those ones. I have applied at two universities for online BA's and I contacted one about a course I was interested in taking. I am getting antsy though because I haven't heard from any of them and it has been a week now since I applied. I hate waiting, I really have no patience. Maybe this is the universe telling me I need to work on that.

hard times

Its all been rather hard lately. Our finances are starting to get really tight and there is no end in sight. Its stressing me out a lot. I have applied to a bunch of jobs for everything from housekeeper to pizza manager trainee to assitant vineyard manager and I have either had interviews and not been hired or just not even been contacted for jobs I figured I was a sure bet for. I am still waiting to find out about school and that is driving me mental. I just wish I had some answers, this waiting isnt working. My husband and I are starting to get into debt with credit cards and it is something we need to avoid. I have been so good with watching when I use electricity, cutting coupons and making more food at home but we still cant keep up and its obvious I need a job. I just cant get one. I dont know why, I have never interviewed for a job and not gotten it. Now I am up to four, I have had four interviews and no luck. I wonder if this is the universe testing me somehow, is there something else I am supposed to be doing? I just cant figure the universe to be one for bringing someone so low. I am getting into a really blue funk and I cant shake it. I just want to ignore it all and stay in bed. I know this will pass but it is so hard being in it right now.

The beginning

I have always known that I needed more schooling. I was in the middle of a diploma when I got pregnant with my first child. I quit school with full intentions of going back, but as it does, life got in the way- financial issues, daycare issues and time issues. So I decided to stay home with the kids and have an in home daycare so I could care for my children but also make some money. I knew this wasn't something I wanted to do long term but I never thought beyond once the kids were old enough to start school.

Once my oldest started school I felt it was time to go into the workforce full time. I closed my in home daycare and started a job at a local flower shop. At first I loved the job, I got to make beautiful things with flowers. I was promised a promotion which only made the job more enjoyable. But all the while my direct supervisor was harassing me. I figured since everyone knew how she was and that I wasn't the only she was harassing that she wouldn't last long. I was wrong and when I brought my concerns to the owners they disregarded me and my concerns. So I left that job, I felt there was no reason why I should be talked to like I was worth nothing by a girl that is younger then me and only earning minimum wage to boot.

The decision to leave has made my lack of schooling situation only more obvious so it was time to sit down and figure out what to do. I spent a lot of time doing research. I knew what I was interested in doing because I had taken some continuing education courses in subjects I was interested in at my local college. That gave me great insight into what I really could see myself doing and helped me to narrow down from subjects I found a passing interest in to ones I could make a career out of.

I also visited a lot of employment websites, mostly government ones. They had career quizzes to help see where your strengths lay and the sites give lots of information on future in demand careers. I also went on a lot of university websites to see what schooling I needed to get my Masters- this is the education level I am striving for- and what formats their schooling was delivered in- the university near me is a more science focused school whereas I am interested in the social sciences so I have been looking at what I can achieve online.

Online seemed to be the best format for me, it would enable me to still be at home with the kids so we wouldn't have to worry about daycare and I can do a part time job to help with our financial responsibilities. I found a school that had exactly the program I was looking for and I discussed with their admissions counsellors whether my educational goals were feasible as a distance education. I was excited to hear that I can get the bachelors degree that I want online and I can do my masters in one year instead of the two they usually require because of the course I was going to apply for.

I applied immediately after I had satisfied all my questions and now I am waiting to hear if my application will be accepted.

So my first steps were: Take some continuing education courses at my local college
Research! - future job demand, career quizzes, universities and
colleges that offer the degree you are interested in, government funding
Discuss whether full time if a feasible option or look into other options
such as online or part time nights depending on your situation