Feeling good tonight. I redesigned the blog all on my own after playing around with settings and a tutorial I made my own blog header in Photoshop Elements (I am so happy Dane brought this program home! It's so cool the more I learn) It's not perfect and by no means professional but it's closer to looking more refined and I did it myself! I'm sure as I learn more it ill get better and better. The colors are the colors we chose for our wedding, the navy blue and the coral orange pink.
I also set up my own newsletter in the same mail blast program I use for work. I'm excited to start sending out my newsletter. I am working on making images for the design and getting some guests to posts some motivational stories, thoughts, quotes or poems. If you would like to be a part of the newsletter, please let me know, leave a comment or email me, text or call! Also you can sign up to receive it in the side bar over there ----------------------------------------->
I feel accomplished tonight and that always keeps me motivated. Plus my babe is feelng better, although we are still waiting on some test results and we have a few appointments coming up to get an asnwer as to whats wrong with him. I'm just happy he is more and more back to his usual self.
Well, off to bed! Goodnight :)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
That Resume
The most annoying and most important part of the job hunt process is... that resume. They intrigue me and they intimidate me. Although I am not currently in the market, as I have a great job right now that I enjoy and that I am also lending to and learning from, I still think about my resume all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. I think if I wasn't so intent on being someone who can help kids like the kid I was, that maybe my life would have something to do with human resources and resume writing and helping with job searches and career plans. I just have so much fun thinking about it. I am weird, I know.
Lately I have written, and re-written my resume several times. It's been proofed by extra eyes, edits have been suggested, attended to,and looked at again. I am treating it like a manuscript being sent off to a publisher. It's a big deal. Sometimes mine feels bare and boring and lonely, because I haven't had tons of experience in the field in which I hope to work... and of course the required education still needs to happen so it can take it's rightful place in my resume.
Recently I've reached out to a few people because I wanted my resume to be formatted and laid out neat and tidy, modern and cutting edge and still professional, but unique. Although many were enthusiastic to help, I wasnt sold on purchasing services, because I am a show and prove type. I need something tangible so that I know what I am paying for is what I am hoping to receive. I'm also a very get it done type of person, and so I decided to take up teaching myself how to do the things I need.
I've scoured blog after blog, talked with some professional resume writers from LinkedIn (whose services at this time are not something I would budget for, let alone do I think my career is at a place where they're needed...but as I climb whichever ladder I need to climb, I will keep a service like this in mind -- its hundreds of dollars, and would definitely be worth if it if it could exponentially increase my income and land me in my dream career.
I took a photoshop beginners course online and learning a lot of the basic stuff was really helpful. Dane came home from work a few days in wit a copy of Photoshop Elements (the lighter version of Photoshop, but it seems to contain everything I need for what I want to learn to do. I've also be scouring the web for free Microsoft word tutorials and templates and I have to say, with these late nights where Dane hasn't being feeling well, we've been lazing around on the couch and I've spent that time learning a lot.
I work in Word and Excel a lot with my job, but never really dove into designing a layout for anything, just reports and letters and spreadsheets. But I opened my own eyes to a lot of things I could accomplish in Microsofts suite. I love when I teach myself new things.
I think the visual appearance of my resume and other materials in which I use to market myself are just as important as the content. I have to say I am proud of some of the pieces I am creating now that I have a new few weapons in my arsenal. As the content grows I feel confident that I will have expanded my knowledge of the designing and the writing in order to grow with it.
I'm still so super excited about that damn resume.
Lately I have written, and re-written my resume several times. It's been proofed by extra eyes, edits have been suggested, attended to,and looked at again. I am treating it like a manuscript being sent off to a publisher. It's a big deal. Sometimes mine feels bare and boring and lonely, because I haven't had tons of experience in the field in which I hope to work... and of course the required education still needs to happen so it can take it's rightful place in my resume.
Recently I've reached out to a few people because I wanted my resume to be formatted and laid out neat and tidy, modern and cutting edge and still professional, but unique. Although many were enthusiastic to help, I wasnt sold on purchasing services, because I am a show and prove type. I need something tangible so that I know what I am paying for is what I am hoping to receive. I'm also a very get it done type of person, and so I decided to take up teaching myself how to do the things I need.
I've scoured blog after blog, talked with some professional resume writers from LinkedIn (whose services at this time are not something I would budget for, let alone do I think my career is at a place where they're needed...but as I climb whichever ladder I need to climb, I will keep a service like this in mind -- its hundreds of dollars, and would definitely be worth if it if it could exponentially increase my income and land me in my dream career.
I took a photoshop beginners course online and learning a lot of the basic stuff was really helpful. Dane came home from work a few days in wit a copy of Photoshop Elements (the lighter version of Photoshop, but it seems to contain everything I need for what I want to learn to do. I've also be scouring the web for free Microsoft word tutorials and templates and I have to say, with these late nights where Dane hasn't being feeling well, we've been lazing around on the couch and I've spent that time learning a lot.
I work in Word and Excel a lot with my job, but never really dove into designing a layout for anything, just reports and letters and spreadsheets. But I opened my own eyes to a lot of things I could accomplish in Microsofts suite. I love when I teach myself new things.
I think the visual appearance of my resume and other materials in which I use to market myself are just as important as the content. I have to say I am proud of some of the pieces I am creating now that I have a new few weapons in my arsenal. As the content grows I feel confident that I will have expanded my knowledge of the designing and the writing in order to grow with it.
I'm still so super excited about that damn resume.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Prayer
Lately my fiance Daniel has been becoming increasingly ill. Without going into much detail right now, today we are headed in to speak with a new specialist and have some tests done. I just am asking for prayer that they find out whatever it is, and that whatever it is, the doctors can be equipped to properly care for him with the know how and wisdom of their training. But mostly I am begging and praying, hoping and believing for healing. For whatever is ailing my sweet love to disappear! For him to be back to himself 110% and for all to end well.
Whether healing comes from miraculous removal of whatever "it" is, or through the compassion and skilled care of his medical team, I pray it is quick but in God's timing for my sweet Dane. He's such a trooper though. He's been pushing through and up until yesterday has been going to work every day and everything.
Let's pray that he can return to work and daily activities soon, without much ado.
I love you Daney!!
Whether healing comes from miraculous removal of whatever "it" is, or through the compassion and skilled care of his medical team, I pray it is quick but in God's timing for my sweet Dane. He's such a trooper though. He's been pushing through and up until yesterday has been going to work every day and everything.
Let's pray that he can return to work and daily activities soon, without much ado.
I love you Daney!!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
On this life...
So I totally tanked in my idea to start a daily motivator email this week, but its still on my to-do list. We just have SO much going on right now that I am working on posts for. Lots of big things happening, including of course the biggest of them all is our wedding. A BIG purchase just was completed this month which I've been itching to share. BIG changes for my little life all in a matter of months. I'm excited and am full speed ahead.
So some things get backlisted. But they're still on the list. I just need to delegate them a bit better. With all the changes going on in such a short time period, I have been intensely focused on "our life" as a couple more than anything else. Mostly, I am working on getting our budgets and finances laid out in a system that works best for US. Organizing my lists and my lists for my lists and making time for social activities and friends between work, school, and wedding planning.
If 5 years ago someone told me that THIS would be my life, I would not have believed them, at all. I sometimes feel like I am in a perpetual dream-state. To think back to all the times I was told or taught to believe I was worthless and useless and unloved and unlovable and that I would amount to nothing... sometimes I really wish I could go back and show people who doubted and those who let me down and those who tried to ruin me by the things they did to me or didn't do to me or took from me, LOOK AT ME NOW.
I want to give this same motivation to other girls who come from what I come from, because it's the BEST feeling ever and when you don't have anyone telling you and showing you that you CAN, sometimes your fire might die. I am so glad that mine didn't.
I am so blessed and so thankful for the people I met along the way who became my family and for my fiance who has been my right hand. Just blessed beyond measure.
This post doesn't have a point really. I was just reflecting and feeling thankful. But I'll be back with much to discuss! I am trying to focus this blog better. Originally it was for my school journey but as my plans morphed, so I has my motivation to blog... stay tuned!
So some things get backlisted. But they're still on the list. I just need to delegate them a bit better. With all the changes going on in such a short time period, I have been intensely focused on "our life" as a couple more than anything else. Mostly, I am working on getting our budgets and finances laid out in a system that works best for US. Organizing my lists and my lists for my lists and making time for social activities and friends between work, school, and wedding planning.
If 5 years ago someone told me that THIS would be my life, I would not have believed them, at all. I sometimes feel like I am in a perpetual dream-state. To think back to all the times I was told or taught to believe I was worthless and useless and unloved and unlovable and that I would amount to nothing... sometimes I really wish I could go back and show people who doubted and those who let me down and those who tried to ruin me by the things they did to me or didn't do to me or took from me, LOOK AT ME NOW.
I want to give this same motivation to other girls who come from what I come from, because it's the BEST feeling ever and when you don't have anyone telling you and showing you that you CAN, sometimes your fire might die. I am so glad that mine didn't.
I am so blessed and so thankful for the people I met along the way who became my family and for my fiance who has been my right hand. Just blessed beyond measure.
This post doesn't have a point really. I was just reflecting and feeling thankful. But I'll be back with much to discuss! I am trying to focus this blog better. Originally it was for my school journey but as my plans morphed, so I has my motivation to blog... stay tuned!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Motivation
I'm one of those people that loves quotes. The uplifting, the motivation, the cheesy, the thought provoking, the corny, I love em all! Give them to me!! If they come neatly designed in a little graphic that I can attach to an email, or a blog post, or to a social networking profile, even better!
There's something magical to me about a few simple words, thoughtfully given out, or sometime haphazardly spilled that can invoke a renewed sense of calm, or diligence, or bring comfort and peace, or perspective. I especially, as of late, am drawn to the quotes that light a fire under my rear. I'm 23. I'm getting married in a few short months. I haven't quite figured out what I want to be and who I am (and I hear thats a never-ending journey) and so in trying to define my path, those little motivators get me going.
 |
| This was my mantra this season |
I have a notebook, cause I'm a pen and paper kind of gal, and I draw and doodle and write quotes as I hear them or see them. From the net, from books, tv shows and movies, from motivational quote posters. I just love them.
Being a child of the Foster Care system who aged out without having been adopted can sometimes make you feel as if you belong nowhere or to everyone. Your sense of identity can be misshapen to fit what has happened TO you. I've been learning, as an adult to not let what has happened TO me, define me. I am NOT my circumstances.
I have dealt with feelings of abandonment, and of not being wanted. I have dealt with anger and depression. I've been lonely and I have also been loved and cherished and adored. I am the sum of many parts, not just the labels, or the case folder that often laid forgotten on a lazy social workers desk. I'm not just a mouth that needed to be fed, that put a few dollars in someone's bank account every month. I'm not just a victim of abuse. I'm not just an abandoned child.
I'm also a daughter, although my definition of that is quite broad given my past. I am a sister, with my own definition as well. I am a fiance! I am a friend. I am a lover. I am fighter. I am a dreamer. I am a really organized neat freak. I'm a young woman exploding with ambition and ideas looking to define myself for me.
In trying to pave this new path, and keep my sights set on my next goal, instead of being crippled by any of my issues that sometimes come up to haunt or taunt or tease and frighten or anger me, I often look to my cheesy motivational quotes. I remind myself that I am greater than the small parts of me, I am the sum of ALL these things, the good the bad, the great, the ugly, the scary, the sad, the awesome, the wonderful, the quirky, the annoying, the neat and tidy, the reckless, the free spirit, the chatter box, the lover, the friend, the nightmares and the dreams.
I thought I might try to start sharing a motivator at least every few days. I was also thinking of sending out a daily motivator email to everyone in my contact list (unless you request to be removed) and if you would like to be added, send me a note to iamcattywright (@) gmail (•) com and I'll add you in!
I feel like sometimes those little sparks of motivation can really turn your plans, or your day around if things are going off in a bad direction. I also love when someone thinks of me, and sends me a little note or word of encouragement and I want to pay it forward.
I also hope that in sending these emails it will better help me to narrow myself down to topics and points and help in my writing! So I'm excited to start doing this and I hope if you are in my email list, that you will be receptive to this and enjoy it as much as I would if you were sending them to me!!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
On the road again...
ha ha I am such a cheeseball!
Anyway, I'm just a ball of excitement (I'm some kind of ball!) today was so great. I have had so many blog posts in the works (you should see all the drafts) but I just cant seem to get any finished. I have sooo much going on. But first and foremost I want to update on the biggest news of my life so far and thats the wedding planning! Gosh I am just so excited.
We went cake tasting today. Talk about sugar and yumm overload. I was in HEAVEN! There were so many awesome flavors (and the display cakes and sample photos were beautiful!!!) and I couldn't decide. We tried like everything: traditional yellow, traditional chocolate, this triple chocolate with this ganache, german chocolate, banana, red velvet, blue velvet (her own creation - so good!), strawberry, cherry cordial, lemon, white, coconut, a really desserty carrot cake, almond, buttercream, I dont know, I don't remember they were all so good. I am no where near closer to coming to a decision but thank God we have time! A fw months still! Although it's sneaking up on us.
With the Holidays approaching (and everyone KNOWS how psycho I go over holidays and planning and all of that) as soon as the hullabaloo (i'm such a cheeseball for these words today) is over, we have to jump full steam ahead into finishing touches for the wedding. Finalizing details, finishing invitations, stationary, dress, and attire, guests, venues all of that has to be secure. January and February I am not going to sleep a bit! I just know it. Plus I am starting classes too? am i crazy, you bet!
So today after we got back from the cake tasting, I sat down with hubby to be and discussed everything I htink we need to do. I downloaded some helpful wedding planning sheets online and then I cried and moaned over the fact that I don't know how to design my own stuff and want to take a class!! lol.
So after that we browsed color schemes and pinterest and I found our PERRRRRRRRRRFECT wedding colors and theme. We were both sold immediately, without even saying anything to the other, we found ourselves drawn to it all and we are sooo super excited (okay I'm excited and Dane is all like "okay babe cool") so our wedding colors are set in stone. I will NOT change my mind. It's so perfectly suits us! I can't wait. It's feminine and masculine at the same time. It's perfect!!
But here's some eye-candy, all photos courtesy of Google
Pinterest and then courtesy of wherever they weere found before Pinned! (I loooove Pinterest, omg)
.jpg)
Anyway, I'm just a ball of excitement (I'm some kind of ball!) today was so great. I have had so many blog posts in the works (you should see all the drafts) but I just cant seem to get any finished. I have sooo much going on. But first and foremost I want to update on the biggest news of my life so far and thats the wedding planning! Gosh I am just so excited.
We went cake tasting today. Talk about sugar and yumm overload. I was in HEAVEN! There were so many awesome flavors (and the display cakes and sample photos were beautiful!!!) and I couldn't decide. We tried like everything: traditional yellow, traditional chocolate, this triple chocolate with this ganache, german chocolate, banana, red velvet, blue velvet (her own creation - so good!), strawberry, cherry cordial, lemon, white, coconut, a really desserty carrot cake, almond, buttercream, I dont know, I don't remember they were all so good. I am no where near closer to coming to a decision but thank God we have time! A fw months still! Although it's sneaking up on us.
With the Holidays approaching (and everyone KNOWS how psycho I go over holidays and planning and all of that) as soon as the hullabaloo (i'm such a cheeseball for these words today) is over, we have to jump full steam ahead into finishing touches for the wedding. Finalizing details, finishing invitations, stationary, dress, and attire, guests, venues all of that has to be secure. January and February I am not going to sleep a bit! I just know it. Plus I am starting classes too? am i crazy, you bet!
So today after we got back from the cake tasting, I sat down with hubby to be and discussed everything I htink we need to do. I downloaded some helpful wedding planning sheets online and then I cried and moaned over the fact that I don't know how to design my own stuff and want to take a class!! lol.
So after that we browsed color schemes and pinterest and I found our PERRRRRRRRRRFECT wedding colors and theme. We were both sold immediately, without even saying anything to the other, we found ourselves drawn to it all and we are sooo super excited (okay I'm excited and Dane is all like "okay babe cool") so our wedding colors are set in stone. I will NOT change my mind. It's so perfectly suits us! I can't wait. It's feminine and masculine at the same time. It's perfect!!
But here's some eye-candy, all photos courtesy of Google
Pinterest and then courtesy of wherever they weere found before Pinned! (I loooove Pinterest, omg)
.jpg)
Is this not to die for? I searched Coral & Navy in Google and these came up. THIS is my bouquet for SURE!!
PERFECT for Spring! And the best part is the bridesmaids dresses can be worn again
vavavoom
maybe for the bridal shower??
obsessed
I am so ready to jump full swing into this. I just wish I knew how to design and what to use to make really pretty paper goods! I am on the hunt for a good designer. I dont want to use vistaprint again, we used it for our save the dates (which totally dont match our theme now at all! LOL) but I wasn't thrilled with it, and it didn't feel uniquely ours.
The look I want to go for is overstated elegance, with a casual flaire (does that make ANY sense?) So we are thinking now to balance the bold coral and navy that we will do a neutral color, not stark white. So either NUDE, or a taupey grey. I'll figure it out as we go along. AHHH I AM SO EXCITED!
In other news:
Speaking of designing, I need a really sharp Resume Design. I have reached out to a few people and am looking to see who can best help me for what I am after. If you do resumes or know someone who does, please contact me and I would love to see samples to know that I am paying for the right stuff!! :-) The content is already written, so I am more looking for eye-pleasing layout and design. I use WORD all day at work but all I can come up with is so basic and bland to me! I am about to figure out how to do this stuff becuase I want to be the master of all my plans. Can you imagine all the pretty charts and lists I could make if I learn design software??
Off to research! and PIN and PLAN!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Off course!
No, that's not a typo! I am OFF COURSE, of course. lol. I am funny to me, usually only me, but I laugh nonetheless!
So here's the happenings as of right now. After last nights engagement party lovingly and beautifully put together by Alecia, I am sooo ready to start the wedding planning. I had a relaxed day today so I spent all of it with my laptop! I've been getting ideas for the wedding and also researching my school choices. I'm off course for the time being because I am not attending any school this semester as I originally thought.
I will elaborate more on school in a post I am working on. I have received a lot of advice and encouragement and wisdom and opinions and I cherish everyone, people closest to me and complete strangers for their part in lighting my path. I am officially NOT going to be enrolling at ITT Technical institute. The two biggest contributing factors were cost and accreditation. The cost is ASTRONOMICAL compared to a traditional university. I don't even think Harvard or Yale costs that much. I had NO idea. I really thought it was going to be CHEAPER to go there. The second is something I had NO CLUE about until this week and that was accreditation. Apparently this place is not regionally accredited and therefore my degree would not be as welcome or recognized or transferable. Dane plans to return to school next fall (a year from now) for his Masters and being able to transfer credits or have my degree recognized by other schools is a REALLY big deal if I were to want to do the same once I finish my bachelors.
Lastly, I don't think Criminal Justice is going to be the program for me. My hearts desires look better suited to pursue social work and figure out what else to do with it. I am not looking to become wealthy from my career. I want to do what I LOVE and I want to HELP our youth. Being a product of the system myself, I know where I can be of use to this fragile and sometimes lost population. But I digress. This was not the topic of today's post. I will get more on that later.
I had a weekend of awakenings! Also, last night Daniel (Dane) and I agreed that September now seems so far away and are considering changing our wedding date. If the money looks right we are thinking before summer instead of after! THIS MAKES ME SO EXCITED. I mean, you can't even imagine. I am doing jumping jacks inside of myself. Ali is super dupe pumped too because she is totally my wedding planner.
We have a little money set aside... gifted to us... for this wedding and are going to pay for the rest ourselves so we aren't too worried about it. We have a budget max and Ali and I are totally going to make it WORK. We don't have enough to hire a "professional" planner. But let me tell you, after seeing the dinner Ali put together for us last night and I've been to a couple baby showers she's done, girl friend has a gift and she knows ME so she's all I need to make this day the day ofmy our dreams.
So bear with me, because this blog is going to become a hodge podge of my school and career obsessed posts as well as planning my wedding posts. We are now thinking April or May instead of September. That is of course only if the desired venues for the ceremony and reception are available to us.
I already have my color theme top 3 and I'm waiting for Dane to tell me which one he likes best and then I am full steam ahead. So excited! I am figuring out how to make those board thingys and then I will post three with my color theme ideas!
So here's the happenings as of right now. After last nights engagement party lovingly and beautifully put together by Alecia, I am sooo ready to start the wedding planning. I had a relaxed day today so I spent all of it with my laptop! I've been getting ideas for the wedding and also researching my school choices. I'm off course for the time being because I am not attending any school this semester as I originally thought.
I will elaborate more on school in a post I am working on. I have received a lot of advice and encouragement and wisdom and opinions and I cherish everyone, people closest to me and complete strangers for their part in lighting my path. I am officially NOT going to be enrolling at ITT Technical institute. The two biggest contributing factors were cost and accreditation. The cost is ASTRONOMICAL compared to a traditional university. I don't even think Harvard or Yale costs that much. I had NO idea. I really thought it was going to be CHEAPER to go there. The second is something I had NO CLUE about until this week and that was accreditation. Apparently this place is not regionally accredited and therefore my degree would not be as welcome or recognized or transferable. Dane plans to return to school next fall (a year from now) for his Masters and being able to transfer credits or have my degree recognized by other schools is a REALLY big deal if I were to want to do the same once I finish my bachelors.
Lastly, I don't think Criminal Justice is going to be the program for me. My hearts desires look better suited to pursue social work and figure out what else to do with it. I am not looking to become wealthy from my career. I want to do what I LOVE and I want to HELP our youth. Being a product of the system myself, I know where I can be of use to this fragile and sometimes lost population. But I digress. This was not the topic of today's post. I will get more on that later.
I had a weekend of awakenings! Also, last night Daniel (Dane) and I agreed that September now seems so far away and are considering changing our wedding date. If the money looks right we are thinking before summer instead of after! THIS MAKES ME SO EXCITED. I mean, you can't even imagine. I am doing jumping jacks inside of myself. Ali is super dupe pumped too because she is totally my wedding planner.
We have a little money set aside... gifted to us... for this wedding and are going to pay for the rest ourselves so we aren't too worried about it. We have a budget max and Ali and I are totally going to make it WORK. We don't have enough to hire a "professional" planner. But let me tell you, after seeing the dinner Ali put together for us last night and I've been to a couple baby showers she's done, girl friend has a gift and she knows ME so she's all I need to make this day the day of
So bear with me, because this blog is going to become a hodge podge of my school and career obsessed posts as well as planning my wedding posts. We are now thinking April or May instead of September. That is of course only if the desired venues for the ceremony and reception are available to us.
I already have my color theme top 3 and I'm waiting for Dane to tell me which one he likes best and then I am full steam ahead. So excited! I am figuring out how to make those board thingys and then I will post three with my color theme ideas!
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