Throwback Thursday - my first adult job interview

Welcome to my first Throwback Thursday post, you guys!!

Memories, light the corners of mind! Not really, because I have a terrible memory.  But some, SOME memories live vividly in my mind. 

This one takes place in the summer of 2008.  I had just graduated from college, ready to conquer the professional world and I had no idea what to do with my life.   So, with a BA in musical theatre and a minor in public relations and advertising I decided to look for job prospects in the entertainment industry. On Craigslist.  

While I'm sure there are MANY a solid job to be had on Craigslist today, I just can't be sure that in 2008 it was all that legit. Either way, Craigslist always makes for an interesting story, no?

So, I make my way through all the "scam" posts and find what I am certain is a great job opportunity. As I'm reading through the job specs I realize this it is a PERFECT fit for me.  

They're seeking someone who has studied Marketing and PR - check.

 Someone familiar with the entertainment industry - uh, duh.   

AN ENTRY LEVEL PROFESSIONAL -  HELLLOOOO totally me. 

I quickly emailed my resume and eagerly awaited their call.  Much to my delight they called me the very SAME day!! I spoke with a man who sounded extremely professional who tells me that my resume looks great and that I'm exactly the type of candidate they're looking for.  

SCORE!!!

He tells me a bit about the company: they handle events, marketing, and PR for several different brands and companies.  Sounds AMAZING.  So we set up my initial interview and I immediately begin planning how I'll spend my first paycheck. Obviously.  

Cut to the following week, the day of my interview.  I am looking my business casual best as I strut into the offices of my first adult job interview...

And I am immediately underwhelmed.  Wah wah wah.

While I am expecting a grand office with granite pillars, fountains, and perhaps complimentary coffee, I find myself standing in an office that makes Dunder Mifflin look like Donald Trump's office.

If it had been Dunder Mifflin though, I wouldn't have been mad about it. 

Ok, well.  Image isn't everything, right? Unless you happen to be in the business of marketing and PR......weird.  

After I check in with the receptionist I'm quickly greeted by Mr. Professional (the man that I spoke with on the phone.)  He leads me to a conference room and begins to explain exactly what the company is all about and what they're looking for. He asks me a few standard questions, and when I'm done he immediately says that I sound like a great fit for the company and that he'd like to introduce me to their leading marketing representative and have me shadow her for the day!! 

This is when I start to feel a little unsure about all of this. I remember thinking to myself, "It doesn't even happen this quickly in the movies! This can't be real life."  

He brings in a young girl, whom I can only imagine is there to sell us Girl Scout cookies, when he introduces her as the LEADING MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE.  

So here I am with Mr. Professional and Skipper from Troop 101,  wondering what it is this company even does, but not totally giving up hope when Mr. Professional invites me to shadow Skipper for the day at one of their other office locations. 

Ooook. Now we're talking.  NOW we're going to the big fancy office and things are about to get real. 

So I say, sure, I'd love to! 

And we're on our way!  I'm driving, still feeling confused but following Skipper anyway...when she turns into a strip mall parking lot and parks in front of Staples.  Being the rational thinker that I am, I assume that she has to get some office supplies. Right? I mean....RIGHT? What else could we be doing here? 

She comes back out,  I don't notice any shopping bags in her hand, but I do notice a Staples employee carrying a folding table following her. He sets up the said folding table right outside of the entrance.  I'm still sitting in my car wondering what this is all about when Skipper waves me to come over to the table

So I do...I'm headed over there and I notice her setting things up on the table.  I reach the table and she states, "This is where we'll set up for the day!"

I'm sorry. WHAT?

WHHHATTT? What psycho planet am I on?

I cannot even form words in order to ask her the millions of questions that are running through my mind .  I'm just watching her lay out brochures and pens and coupon books and I LITERALLY HAVE NO WORDS. 

I think Skipper can sense my confusion as she begins to cheerfully explain that she loves interacting with people and offering them such great deals to things like baseball games, bowling alleys, and events! She continues to explain that the coupon books cost $30 but are worth over $300 in savings!  

Oh. my. gosh. How is it possible that I literally had no idea what was happening up until this point? And not only that, but how am I supposed to sit here for an ENTIRE day and shadow this leading marketing representative?? 

Did I mention that it was August? Sweltering August? And I am in business attire? OUTSIDE??

Entertainment coupon books, you guys.

A few people come up to the table and ask about the coupon books while I'm still trying to sort out my thoughts. But I know one thing's for sure, I cannot stay here all day.  I CAN. NOT.  

I'm trying to find the right words to tell her that, although I said I would be shadowing her all day, I most certainly will not be shadowing her all day and I AM LEAVING IMMEDIATELY.   It was a good 30 minutes before I'd worked up the courage to say something and then another interested party approaches the table and begins speaking with Skipper.  

But I had already given myself a pep talk, worked up the courage, and I absolutely could not wait one more second to get in my car with AIR CONDITIONING and drive away from whichever twilight zone I had stepped into.  

So I quietly gathered my things and began to come out from behind the table.  Skipper catches my eye while she's repeating her sales pitch and I mouth and motion the following words to her:

 "I'm gonna go.  This isn't for me."

She seems confused, so I try again:

"I'm leaving.  Thank you and BYYYEEEEEE."  

And I quickly make my way to my get away car.  

I have never been so relieved to make an exit.

Craigslist isn't for everyone, folks.  Namely those fresh outta college 21 year olds who are looking for a dream job.  Craigslist is DEFINITELY not for you :)

But if you're into comedy and ironic situations, it seems like a perfect fit.

Thanks for the good times, Craigslist. Until next time...

- Brit 

  

Conquering the bucket list!

I am feeling SUPER motivated these days and am taking advantage of this motivation by conquering BUCKET LIST ITEMS!! Last December I happily marked one item off of my bucket list, which you can read about HERE.

Now I've got my eye on CROSSFIT!

To be clear, my bucket list states "become a Crossfit machine", so I'm confident that it will take some time (like, 2 or 3 weeks, right??).  But we all start somewhere, ehhhh?

And by "start somewhere" I mean, like...I can't even do an assisted pull-up. YET.

We started taking Crossfit classes last week and I am LOVING it.  I realize it's only been a little over a week, but I'm pretty excited about it, even after leaving every class exhausted and SO SORE. Like...SO sore. And with BLISTERS. I have delicate hands y'all.

My obsession with Crossfit started about 3 years ago when I was flipping through all of the many channels that are available when you have a precious gift called cable (I haven't had cable for the last 2 years...I only really miss ESPN, TLC, and ABC Family...but MAN I miss them!) and I came across the Crossfit games.  I ended up watching the games for 3 hours!! I was in awe of their raw physical power and their intensity! I knew I wanted to try it then, but at the time I wasn't aware of any Crossfit gyms in the area.  Now, there are several within a 5 mile radius so there's just no excuse for me not to give it a try.  So try I shall!!

I'll keep y'all posted on my progress.  I'm hoping to be at like, 5% body fat by the end of the month.

I kid, I kid.  I'm just hoping to make it through every class and still be able to walk the next day.

I am ready for a change, y'all. 

A letter

This morning I went for a run (ok, a jog/walk) in Cherokee park, which was one of my mom's favorite places.  She loved to take me and my sisters there.  I was there this morning, thinking about one year ago and wondering how it can feel like a thousand years ago and like it was yesterday all at the same time. 

So many emotions and memories flood my mind when I think about one year ago.  But what I've really been trying to focus on is a truth that God made clear to me recently:  I had my mom for 27 years. Everyday for 27 years she belonged to me and my sisters.  When I think of it that way, our time doesn't seem so short. When I think of all the conversations we had, the laughs we shared, the memories that we created, and even the trials that we endured together, I know that we were richly blessed with that time. It's very hard for me to accept that not all of those memories and moments with my mom are happy ones. When I'm going through the catalog of stored memories in my brain, there are some too dark to look at.  But all of the days, the minutes, and the hours we shared: the good, the bad, and the ugly; they're ours.  And I'm grateful for all of them. 

As a way of sharing my mom's heart with others at her memorial, I read a letter that she wrote to Ryan and I on our wedding day.  It is so precious to me, not only because it offers some solid marriage advice but because it truly shows her spirit and loving heart.  I know there are many who I love and cherish who didn't have the opportunity to know my mom, so I'd like to share this piece of her heart with you, as well:

Dearest Brittany and Ryan,

My heart is so filled with joy at this moment.  I am so proud of you both and very proud and happy to have you, Ryan, as part of our family.  I think you will be a wonderful son in law and husband.

My eyes are also filled with tears as I write this and think about you, Brittany, in how you have grown into such a wonderful and beautiful woman with such a good soul and big heart.  You are still and always will be my baby.  I think of you as a little girl and what a joy you were and always so funny, making me laugh. 

Now it's time to think about the future, and I just wanted to share some thoughts on your new life:

Always remain best friends and never forget to have fun.  Don't let the stress of marriage ever pull you down by outside elements.  Always communicate with each other about your day or your hopes for the future.  Communicate and share in solving your problems.  Never go to bed angry with each other.  These are things I have learned through the years of mistakes and trial and error that I wish I could do over again.

Depend and always be willing to talk to the families if your problems become too big, even the little ones.  We will always be here for you both.  Take care of each other.  Treat every day together as a gift from God.  You are both blessed, as we all are, to have this marriage take place.  So be good to each other every day of your life.  Surprise each other once in a while.  See and do as much as you can in this world.  Try not to get into a same thing every day routine.  Life is too short for that, be adventurous. 

Most of all, know how loved you both are so very much.  I will always be here for you both and know that this day is one of the happiest days of my life.

All my love and God's blessings,

Mom

Bucket List Item: Check!

If you'll notice, there is a Bucket List page on my blog (for all you technically challenged people click HERE), so obviously when I get to mark things off of said bucket list it's a blog worthy ordeal!!!!

Bucket list item achieved: visit NYC at Christmas time.

WE SPENT THE ENTIRE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER IN NEW YORK AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!

Yes that sentence required all caps. Yes it was everything I thought it would be. Yes it was magical. Yes it was crowded but I DO. NOT. CARE.

So many lights. So many beautiful lights!

Thanks to our Hostesses with the Most(eses) we were able to stay FOR FREE.  And thanks to many of our fabulous friends we had excellent tour guides.

Highlights were:

-Seeing lots of my friends from college that I love and miss so much.

- TOP 'O THE ROCK!

B-E-A-Utiful!!! 

- The Christmas lights of Dyker Heights.  This is a must see. Truly ridiculous and amazing and I can't even begin to wonder how much money is spent on these Christmas light displays but I thank these generous jolly folks from the bottom of my heart for their Christmas spirit.

I mean, realllllly?! Look at this insane yet amazing display of Christmas cheer!! I can't imagine the electric bill. 

-  Seeing PIPPIN!

-  Seeing PETER AND THE STARCATCHER!

- Having magical moments in the snowy city.

- Tiffany and Co <3 <3 <3

- Did I mention my awesome friends?

Some of my lovelies enjoying the Christmas lights! 

- and walking 10,000 + steps per day burning lots of calories and then immediately negating those burned calories with cheesecake and pizza and FOOD. Just so much food!!

We had a blast and I'm so glad that I got to experience Christmas time in the city with my love and some of my favorite people!

Take THAT bucket list! 1 down...an endless amount to go!

- Brit

Mom

So, it’s been a while, huh?

It’s now 2014 and my last blog is dated June 2013.

Wow. My life has drastically changed since then and I actually just couldn't figure out how to write about it. But I miss blogging/writing so here we are.

My beautiful mother suddenly passed away August 19th this past year. It has been a really terrible, awful, and excruciating time. But it’s also been a time to lean on those that I love and lean on God.




There’s nothing else I can really say about it except that losing my mom has broken my heart into a million pieces, but God has blessed me with His grace and love as well as so many wonderful friends and family that are helping my sisters and I put the pieces back together again. When something is shattered it never quite gets put back together in the same way, it’s forever changed, but it can become whole once again.

So I’d just like to continue into 2014 by not wallowing in grief, but by sharing my mom’s heart. She had a lot of struggles: physical, mental, personal. But she never struggled to love or support my sisters and I. Never once. She was our biggest supporter in everything that we did or wanted to do. I have never, nor will I ever, doubt the love that my mother had for us.

While my mom struggled through a lot in her life she remained such a compassionate and beautiful person. She always talked about wanting to help the homeless, or take care of veterans, or help women that have been abused. While she would mention things that she desired like a new car or a mansion, the majority of her desires revolved around wanting to help others (OK, maybe her love and desire of French Vanilla Cappuccinos outweighed the helping) and that says a lot about her heart.

Everything my sisters and I did had her beaming with pride. It actually wouldn’t matter if I had completed a crossword puzzle or won the Nobel Peace Prize, mom would gush equally over our achievements. She was also our #1 supporter in all of our dreams and goals. If my sisters and I had a dream or told her that we wanted to do something, mom was the first one to back us up, ask us how our goals were coming, tell us how great we were doing, or do anything she could to help us reach our goals.

Thinking back on that day and the days leading up to her memorial, I'm flooded with so many emotions. Loss, sadness, grief, longing.....but also a heart full of those who rushed to our sides (physically as well as figuratively) and how truly blessed we are with so many that love and support us. I have some pretty special people in my life that have given me so much love, support, wisdom, prayers, encouragement through cards, flowers, phone calls, texts.....you name it, they did it. I'll never fully be able to express my gratitude for these actions, but I thank God for all of you. Truly.

I will obviously never forget losing my mom...but I'll also never forget how loved we felt during that time.

I don't understand much in this life. I don't understand why our mom only lived to the age of 51. I don't understand how I have been so abundantly blessed with so many people who love me. The only thing that I know to be true is that God is in control. He is good. He is perfect and His love endures forever. That's all I know and that's enough.