31 Work Days Closer to Retirement

Sorry for my absence but I had to time my next post accordingly. I'm in a fairly good mood today with a hopeful outlook on my future (which is not as rare as I'm making it seem!) but I figured I would regret any of the posts that are currently saved in my drafts... sometimes a girl has to vent!

This is my seventh week being in New York and I can't believe I'm still adjusting. Everyday on my walk from Grand Central to Times Square I force myself to keep my eyes up and repeat over and over, this is my city now. No matter how hard I try, I still feel the need to poke my head out of the taxi cab window and  I can't resist taking pictures of Times Square- as if I'm never going to see it again.

I am still staying with my best friend's family just outside of the city on the hunt for an apartment I literally will never be able to afford. I must say I have been so incredibly blessed with this family. Without them I would have lost it 5 weeks ago...and yesterday....and today...

I catch the morning express train 7:30am and I'm usually getting off on the opposite side of the track around 7:30pm. The 12 hours days can be draining but at least the days don't drag by. I always have a new project on my desk that, more often than not, comes with no explanation. My work day is filled with trial and error and an ongoing list of questions. Thankfully I work with amazing young women who are so incredibly supportive and always seem to invite me on a Starbucks break at just the right time.

This transition into the real world has been a challenge for sure but what better place to embrace it than Glamour Magazine?

Trick- or -Treat

...The infamous saying we are all accustomed to during Halloween. Usually you think of happy children at their neighbor's door, waiting to be be awarded with some sort of treat. I can't help but apply it to the present stage in my life.

I will start with the latter.

The Treat:

For Khiara; she has fulfilled our blog's #1 mission - land a job. Not only in NYC but at Glamour Magazine.

For myself; I had an interview. Not only in NYC, but at MTV Networks ! AND just had a phone interview this morning with an HR from Hill Holliday.

The Trick:

For my Co- Blogger; To survive- literally. After college loans, NY taxes and train fees, her allocated budget alone to find a place to live, never mind eating , is scary.

For myself; The horrific feeling of actually being unemployed for the first time. With the golf course coming to a close, my source of income will also. I have been proud of the money I have saved all season, but in reality, without additional income it will be spent fast. Watching Khiara struggle financially frightens me. As elated as I would be to get a job in the city, I could be in the same situation if an offer comes too late and my "cushion fund" is gone. Not to mention the feeling after one interview after another - the phrases such as, " keep on checking in to see if a position opens" feels like a trick. Is anyone really hiring!?!

All I know is- ghost and goblins are not the things frightening me around this time of year. The only dressing up I have been doing...is putting on heels and business suits AND I continue to knock on doors.

Empire State of Mind

I GOT THE JOB AT GLAMOUR MAGAZINE IN NYC!!!!!!!

Friday night Gessenia, Dave and I rushed out of work to meet at my house to celebrate the good news. It was a whirlwind of squealing, "OMGs", and champagne toasts.

The big day is on October 24th and I have quite a bit to do before the big move. For now, I'm leaving out the "what ifs" and the answer to "what happens now" and I'm just going to enjoy this moment.

All the stress, hard work, and persistence has paid off...and it was so well worth it.

City Lights

Here we are back at Sophies. Walking in from the torrential down pour we couldn't help but reflect on our first meetings here at the beginning of the summer. It really put the time that has passed into perspective comparing our cold shiver to the heat we were trying to escape just a few months ago.

Today's goal- make business cards. (Don't get me wrong, there's a list of 50 other things behind that) We've been brainstorming for nearly an hour now. How can we be creative while portraying the right message? What will differentiate us from the millions of others while still being professional?

...That's what we've come up with so far, but no purchases have been made yet.

This coming week is the FutureM in Boston. Gessenia and I are registered for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for awesome events involving Sports and Entertainment, Branding, Social Media and virtual workshops as well. While the intentions behind this production is to educate marketers and keep them on the forefront, we want to take it as a networking opportunity and be as prepared as possible.

It's been a hectic week of playing catch up all the while trying to stay ahead of the game. My trip to Oklahoma was just what the doctor prescribed. I enjoyed spending time with my family, clearing my head and finally having time to relax. I soaked it for all it was worth because the fantasy world came to an abrupt end as soon as I returned home. Wednesday morning I was off to New York for yes, my interview at GLAMOUR MAGAZINE! That day I spent 8 hours traveling for a 45 minute interview and to me, it made perfectly good sense. Thanks to the "I'm Awesome" chart Gessenia and I had worked on just a few weeks prior, some serious research on the company and a good friend in NY, I walked out of the interview beaming. Finally an interview I had no hesitation when saying it went really well. Not only that, the role of Promotion Assistant turned out to be one that I genuinely believe I could thrive in- Creative proposals, budgets, event planning, even stuffing bags- it's a position that would get me excited. I can just see it now......*sigh* (daydreaming)

Before I left the city, my sister and I had the perfect dinner date at Alice's Tea Cup on the corner of Lexington and 64th. The tiny place sweeps you into a fairy tale as soon as you step in. Fairy dust is sprinkled everywhere, the food is exotic and tasteful,and the waitstaff are super sweet.



The whirlwind of my return didn't stop there. I afforded myself 5 hours of sleep when I finally got home only to make my way up to Boston for an all day Brand Camp at Jack Morton. SO worth the lack of sleep!

...more to follow

A Quick Hello from OK!

Thank goodness for my BFF, Gessen. While I am away for a week with limited internet access- she of course is constantly keeping me in the loop (and sane) by tweeting job opportunities and sharing her job search status via #GraduateSwagg. What would I do without her?!

During the first 20 minutes I had a chance to get on my laptop, I opened my inbox to a formal invitation to Jack Morton's Brand Camp September 1st. More than a little excited!! ....as well as tip that there may be a job opening at Glamour Magazine in NY! I said I wasn't going to limit myself...so let's put that to the test! I forwarded my resume... and we'll see what happens next.

I've only been gone for a day.