Day 12

Things are settling down a bit after the 1,000-mile-drive. I have a new bed, my things are unpacked, and my bedroom is looking more organized. I'll be setting up my computer and other office-y items this week in a space that will hopefully inspire many more writings, both paid and unpaid. In the meantime, I'm currently set up at the kitchen table with a vanilla chai.

So I moved home. Now what?

My day starts at 6:30am when I crawl out of bed and go to the neighbor's house to make sure their daughter makes the bus to go to school. It's an hour in the morning making sure the child is fed and it gives me time to read. Not a bad deal.

Last week, I started my new job. I'm working as a Guest Coordinator at Evan Todd Aveda Salon near campus. The first week was super busy and all over the place, but by Friday, I felt like I was really grasping my job duties and the workings of one of the best salons in the Midwest (no joke). The people are super nice and everyone has been patient with me as I learn the ropes. I'm also learning patience with this job in that I need to pace myself. There's no way I'll learn everything all at once; it's a process that takes time. At least I'm having fun at work learning about Aveda products (which are amazing, when you buy Aveda, you're helping the world. Seriously.). It's also inspiring me to make some drastic hair changes, so we'll see how that goes!

As far as living at home, it's not too bad. Not much has changed. It's weird not having my sister living here anymore. I kind of understand how it was for her when I went away to college. But, she lives close enough that it's nice to be able to go hang out with her for a bit after I get done with work.

It's also great to be close to some good friends. This weekend was a fellow Purdue alumna's bachelorette party. Had I still been in Florida, there's no way I could have made it. It was a fun girls' night out, complete with little black dresses and rounds of shots for all. I'll admit it: I feel like I need another day to recover, which makes me feel old. I guess it was going to happen eventually.

So this blog was started as a way to keep my family and friends updated on my life in Florida. I'm thinking this will be going in a new direction (with my recent relocation, that was probably a given). There will still be the day-to-day life updates, but look forward to reading about work events and my journey through the beauty industry. This will be an interesting year; probably pretty comparable to the last year I've had.

Not-So-Personal Belongings

When I moved to Florida last July, I packed up two suitcases and jumped on a plane. The rest of my things slowly made their way down via my wonderful grandparents who make the drive from Indiana fairly regularly. Now I'm getting ready to pack up my car to drive home in a few days. And I've come to the conclusion that moving as a grown-up sucks.

I don't even have that much stuff. I don't need a moving truck (at least at this point, I don't think I do). My furniture is going to a good home here. I'm donating some things. I've packed my books, DVDs, some kitchen things, and my bathroom things. So that should leave clothes and shoes, right?

Apparently I have more things than I thought. And less boxes than I thought.

Moving makes you realize the beauty of living as simply as possible. I was all ready to just throw out the things that don't really matter, that I can just buy new when I get my own place again. Moving in with Mom and Dad means I don't need much. There are things I'm hanging on to because I have some sort of attachment to them. And I'm trying to tell myself that so much of this stuff is just that: stuff.

But what if it's stuff my Mom bought me because my parents are wonderful and helped me get on my feet here? What if it's stuff that my family gave me because at some point I actually liked it? What if it's stuff that I just don't know how to deal with?

*Deep Breath*

Some day there will be another apartment that will need new things. The things I have for this apartment were for this apartment. Who knows if I'd even want it later? It's too expensive to move it and I don't want to store it; I'd rather it be used. Even though it's just stuff, why is it so difficult to decide what to do with it?

I guess the question is this: will I miss my stuff as much as I miss my friends and family right now?

Answer: I highly doubt it.

Music Therapy

I consider myself a music junkie in the sense that I love music. I may not be knowledgeable of under-the-radar bands, but I do have an appreciation for all kinds of music. If you ever want to talk music or introduce me to some new tunes, I'm game.

With that said, after joining 20-something Bloggers, I stumbled on some FREE tunes thanks to Urban Outfitters. All you had to do was visit the site and say, yes, please pour your sweet sounds into my iTunes. We're talking 25 songs of delicious, new, and funky noise to dance around the living room to.

Music therapy is one of my favorite things (a close second to shoe therapy, which I can check off my list for today). During the stressful time of packing up my life, arranging for my furniture to be taken away, and closing up shop with my job at JA, music was just what this girl needed. And now I'd like to share my happiness with the world in the form of YouTube videos so you, too, can appreciate these bands and what they have to say (or sing). Enjoy!





And this last one wasn't included in the freebies, but it's a recent love of mine:



Can't wait to make some cds for the 18-hour car ride home!

Clicking my ruby slippers

I'm quitting my job.

That's no typo. The job I was so excited to have 10 months ago is the same job I'm officially leaving on the 14th. (Enter WTF?!?! moment here)

Last year, I arrived with the intention of figuring it out. I wanted to work at Disney. That didn't work. I worked at a bar and did some writing. Then JA offered me a great position to work hard to help kids. The writing has continued through all of my ventures. I've contributed to fashion and women's health publications and have loved every minute of it. But the thought of having to put it on the back-burner when my schedule is hectic during the school year wasn't sitting well with me. My work load lessened a bit this summer, allowing me to really take time to reflect on my life here. In the spring, I was getting the feeling that Florida wasn't the place for me and that I wanted to get out, but at the time I was prepared to just wait it out. Then this summer, I had an AHA! moment.

I want to work in the fashion industry. I want to write about it. It fascinates me on a daily basis. I love talking to designers. I love watching trends. I love sharing my observations with the masses. My favorite part of the past two years has been my writing. So, after some soul-searching, I've come to a conclusion. I'm not happy here, so I need to make a change. I'm also broke, and will be broke for quite some time if I stay here. So what's my next move?

I'm moving home. Yeah, I never thought I'd say that, either. I'll be working for an Aveda salon utilizing my customer service skills, marketing creativity, and genuine interest in health and beauty. I'll be continuing my web column, which will concentrate on trends in Indianapolis. I'll be pursuing other writing endeavors in Indianapolis and Chicago. And most importantly, I'll be closer to the friends and family I've missed during my time being over 1,000 miles away.

As my grandmother said, I gave it the old college-try. I came down here to figure things out, and I have. This will be a big change, but a needed change. And while I know I'm leaving behind a wonderful community of people, I know that my path is headed in the best direction for me.

I'm nervous. I'm a little sad. And I can't wait to go home.