week in review {1.}...

I honestly do not think I have EVER been so excited to see it be Friday! This week was bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s. So, I am not sure if I have shared on my blog that I have a new job. Yep...another one. Let me break it down for y'all. In July I nabbed a super great job working for the county as a Substance Abuse Counselor. I loved that job. I mean I loved it with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. It was a field I never really considered entering, especially working in a treatment court program, but it was an amazing opportunity and I learned so much during the six months I worked for Drug & Alcohol Services. However, in December I was encouraged *cough* forced *cough* to apply for a position that was open in Mental Health Services. How it works with the county is we have the entire Health Services Agency, many departments fall under that category. Mental Health Services and Drug & Alcohol Services are combined under the umbrella of Behavioral Health (even though we share a building it is two totally different departments). Anywho, I was basically stolen from my happy D&A home and moved over to Mental Health. I was NOT happy about that little situation.

Basically because I have OCD organization skills and I work super hard at my job, they wanted me in Mental Health in order to be on the ground floor of developing a pilot project for how smaller counties in California will be handling health care reform when it comes into play in 2014. Hi. I am SO not qualified to be in charge of something this HUGE. I mean...I don't think I can stress how big of a deal this project, and the grant that is paying for it, is. I don't think I want to even try because just thinking about it makes me get gray hairs and frown lines. Yikes. Am I overwhelmed? Yuuup. Is is a stellar opportunity? Hells-to-the-yeah.

Okay, so moving on from complaining. It is a great job. I am going to learn so much. It is going to look killer on an all future resumes. I am trying really hard to be positive about the situation. I miss my old job, and coworkers, but I still see them when I am in the other office building and my new coworkers are pretty alright people. Plus, I really went to school to be in the mental health field anyhow.

So last week my new supervisor set me up with a shadow schedule. She wants me to see EVERYTHING that Mental Health does, so that I can have a full grasp of what the services are, how they are administered, how/if they need to be changed, and what else needs to be added.

Since I have already written a freaking novel (sorry guys, I understand if you don't read all of this) I will just give you the highlights of my first week as a employee at Mental Health Services.

{Monday}: I was bitter this entire day. My main beef was that I was moved to a different office building. We have two main buildings for Behavioral Health, the O-town building (my former home base) and the W-town building (which is so stressful and uptight and where the BIG time bosses work). Guess which is my new home base? Yep...the uptight one. Awesome. I spent the entire eight hours of my day talking to our department head, and reading a 168 page grant. Kill me now folks...

{Tuesday}: Tuesday was SUCH an improvement from Monday. I got to shadow one of our clinicians, who is amazing. She is about 28 and shares my love of all things designer...we were basically pals from the moment we started talking purses. I got to shadow Steph throughout her day. We went out in the field, and I went on some client home visits with her, I met some very interesting people. We had super delish turkey burgers for lunch, took some crisis calls, chilled at the hospital with a guy who was in crisis, then met with a 6 year old little boy whose mother called that he was in crisis. His mom brought him in and it was...whoa. I honestly don't think I have the words. He was a scary little kid. I am not going to go into too much detail, because of confidentiality laws, but holy crap I was scared this boy was going to hurt one of us in that room with him. It was very alarming.

{Wednesday}: Wednesday I had my appointment to sign up for health benefits, life insurance, union stuff, oh my! Then I scurried out of that appointment with the quickness so I could run off to the O-town office, and catch the end of our staff meeting. This meant I was in my old home base! I got to see my mentor Susan, and chat with her, she put my complaining ass in check, and then I was back to shadowing Steph again. We went to our drop in center, and I sat in on a 'Hope and Healing' group , it was a great group.

{Thursday}: Thursday was chill. I chatted with my boss, then headed to the O-town office to have group supervision with all the clinicians, case managers, and whatnot. It was great. Then I had one on one supervision with my direct supervisor...I love her so bad. She is awesome. I of course snuck over to see Susan and the DH Girls in my spare time. Susan and I grabbed lunch. Then I went to Juvenile Drug Court because I was shadowing Tania...it was great. I really enjoyed seeing the juvenile treatment court program, because it is so different than what I did with adults in treatment court.

{Friday}: Basically I spent my morning doing more shadowing, and that's it. Then I left the W-town office to go to O-town because my supervisor is LEGIT! She allowed me to take 3 1/2 hours in order to be at the DH Girls graduation. I was SO happy she said yes. I know I don't work on that side of things anymore, but I love those women and their children. I wanted to be there to honor them, and they told me that if I wasn't there they would hate me forever. It was an amazing, tear filled ceremony, Susan gave a great speech to them, and both graduates gave speeches that warmed my heart. I made a teeny tiny speech, just to let them know that I respect them and that I honor them for all their hard work. Then Susan goes and busts out a certificate to me for my dedication to the women of Discovery House. It was a total surprise, and so very sweet. Yes. I did cry if you were wondering.

Holy crap. I am so sorry I wrote so freaking much. I guess I just needed to vent/share a bit of what week one was like. I am thinking I may do this on Friday's if exciting things happen during my work days. I promise they will be WAY shorter than this one.

Here is to everyone having a very happy weekend! My plans? Sleep...and a ton of it.

xoxo

and the award goes to...

So, I was gifted with two very high honors; the Kreativ Blogger award, and the Beautiful Blogger award! Yay, for awards! So since I have already been granted the Kreativ Blogger award (feel free to go and read those interesting facts if you are so inclined), I am only going to do the Beautiful Blogger award! Thanks to my online lovah Sam for passing this award my way! He is pretty much legit and my twss-partner-in-crime. This is the utmost truth. Go and read his hilarity if you do not already do so!

Here are the rules for the Beautiful Blogger award:

1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award.

2. Paste the award on your bloggity blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for the award

4. Share 7 interesting facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

Now here go 7 'interesting' things about yours truly:

{1.} My favorite scent in the world is the smell of a new plastic shower curtain. Yep. You did read that correctly. I pretty much enjoy the smell of plastic in general. Shower curtains, pool floaties, you get the idea. I l-o-v-e it. No joke.

{2.} I am sort of a neat-freak. This is not news to many of you. However, there is one household chore that makes me cringe. I absolutely despise vacuuming. I will put it off for as long as humanly possible. I dislike it so much that I think I would rather be water-boarded (okay that may be a LITTLE dramatic, but y'all get the idea). Alex+vacuum=pissed. The end.

{3.} I own some of the most ginormous purses that have ever graced this lovely universe of ours. I adore purses. They are my favorite. I typically make sure to purchase bags that can double as a purse and a backpack. You know room for the essentials: binder, highlighters, planner, pens, pencils, post-its, school books, recreational books, bottle of water, sunglasses, wallet, ipod, flip-flops, keys, a few of Bug's toys. Like I said...the essentials. No joke, I could probably survive a nuclear holocaust with the contents of my purse. Truth.

{4.} I bite my nails. Okay, so yes this probably does not qualify as an 'interesting' fact...but hey you all pretty much know everything about me already. So, I am working with a limited information pool. So, yes. I bite my nails and I have done so for as long as I can remember. It is such a sicknast habit. I have been trying really hard to stop. However, I do really well until I get stressed. Basically, my nails grow and the look lovely then I have a test and the moment the test is over I realize I have just chewed my nails to the skin. Lame.

{5.} I am obsessed with flamingos. Yep. That is correct. I collect anything and everything that has a flamingo on it, like a 75 year old Florida woman. Basically, my room is covered in flamingo awesomeness. Why? I have no clue. One day I think I just decided that I love them. I even have Vans Slip-ons with pink flamingos on them. If I ever get hitched...I will wear those shoes. I have passed this flamingo adoration on to my niece...although she prefers to call them, 'mamingos' because she is legit.

{6.} I have had the same car since I was 16 years old. I was gifted with a 1995 Nissan 200SX by my dad when I got my license. It is purple. When I say purple...I mean like Barney the flippin' dinosaur purple. It is a hideous car...but I absolutely adore it. I have SO many good memories from cruising around in 'The Struggle-Buggy'. I am sad that I have to get rid of it...like I will cry when it finally sells. I am sure of this. However, my new wheels have been given the name, 'The Struggle-Buggy Jr.'...

{7.} I am a note taking fool. I take notes about everything. Even if I am just reading a 'for fun' book...I have been known to write in the margins or on a piece of paper I stick in the book. Sometimes I make family trees if they are billions of characters to keep straight. I blame my high school honors English teacher. He was a note enthusiast and brainwashed me into being the exact same way. You should see my binders when school is in...they are insane.

Now it is time for me to bestow this honor on 7 of your lovely folks. I am going to TRY to pick some fresh faces...so if I give it to you and you have already done it I apologize in advance! Here we go...

{1.} Sam from 'Simply Sam'

{2.} Kat from 'A Day in the Life'

{3.} Ash from 'Ash Att's Randomness'

{4.} Kristin from 'Lost in a Dream'

{5.} Lynn from 'lynn lost in love'

{6.} Sarah from 'Sar-Uh bright-SKI'

{7.} Mar from 'Sketches of a Twenty-Something Life'

And there we have it! Thanks again Sam for the lovely award!

and the award goes to...

I have put off posting about these lovely awards given to me by two of my all-time favy blog friends! So this post is going to be a two-for-one, sort of like we are at the Oscars and I won 'Best Actress' AND 'Best Supporting Actress'...don't laugh...someday it will happen.

Here is award #1!

The first award was given to me by the always inspiring Ashton Dene (she is awesome; we are going to create 'Butterbeer' and become millionaires together). Thanks Aston! This is the 'Kreativ Blogger' award...

There are of course rules:

-Share 7 things that you don't already know about me.

-Name 7 other blogs to receive this award.

-Thank the person who gave me the award.

So, seven things that you do not already know about me is kind of hard because I talk a lot...and tell people everything but I shall try.

Seven things you may or may not know about me:

{1.} I give money to homeless people 95% of the time. Before you tell me that they are probably billionaires who scam people for a living let me just say, I am sure some people don't actually need the money that they beg for...but some do. I would rather give money/food to someone who is scamming me then not give money/food to someone who is truly in need of it.

{2.} I am attracted to men with red hair. Weird, right? Most people are not into 'gingers' but I am! Although, only certain red-headed men are attractive...I will not go into the distinction between a hot red-head and a not-so-hot red-head because I don't want to make anyone feel bad! 'Nuff said...

{3.} I have a tattoo on my foot that I am not all that fond of. I have mentioned that before on this blog...but it is really starting to bug me.

{4.} Even though I hate my foot tattoo I am considering getting another one. I am dying to have 'Let It Be' on my side in like SUPER tiny font. Preferably the saying repeated in peace sign shape form...does that make sense? No? Okay picture a peace sign...now picture said peace sign composed of 'Let It Be' written over and over...get it?

{5.} I listen to my iPod while driving. I know it is 'technically' against the law but I do it anyways...because I love to turn it up as loud as possible and sing with it and pretend I am ACTUALLY the one singing. I do this with musical soundtracks...it. is. awesome.

{6.} I own seven pairs of Vans slip-ons. I love them something fierce. I have polka-dot ones, striped ones, flamingo ones...the list goes on and on and on. They are tacky and I embrace it...

{7.} I don't want to have children. Unless you count the ones I already have. If you are wondering what I am talking about...refer here. Please, do not patronize me and tell me that I will change my mind...that may be true...but probably not.

Alright...now it is time for award #2!

The lovely Connie gifted me with the 'Happy 101' award. Connie is one of the first blog friends that I made...and she is an absolute doll! Thanks Connie!

The rules for this award are short and sweet.

-List ten things you are happy about.

-Pass the award along to ten other bloggers.

Ten things I am currently happy about (in no particular order):

{1.} I am happy that the craft blog, 'Three Crafty Biiitches' looks like it may be a hit! After months of discussing it with my two favorite crafters (my pal Jil & my Mama) we finally have something up and running! Also, if any of YOU have some ideas of what you would like to see in our little shoppe please share (why yes I did use 'shoppe' instead of 'shop' because it looks far more awesome)!

{2.} I am happy that I purchased the cutest boyfriend blazer ever. I haven't worn it yet but I am in some serious love with it...

{3.} I am happy that this semester is over in two weeks. Halle-freakin-lujah! I am so over this semester I cannot even begin to explain...

{4.} I am happy that even though I despise group projects I finally am part of a group that is not made up of slackers. They are actually doing their fair share of the work and I heart them for it...

{5.} I am happy that Christmas is right around the corner and I have some really amazing gifts to give! Yeah, Mother yours is awesome...I hope you are dying to know what it is!

{6.} I am really happy that I decided to start a blog. I feel like I have made some really awesome new friends in the short time I have been doing this. I heart you ALL!

{7.} I am happy that I have an amazing family who makes even the hardest of situations bearable. As distasteful as it is a few weeks ago after my Dad's funeral we were all still cracking jokes and making each other laugh.

{8.} I am happy that Robert Pattinson's parents decided to get busy 24 years ago and create him. I mean really the whole female race should be ecstatic about that...

{9.} I am happy that I am now the proud part owner of a 'Cricut'(my mother and I share one) ...this baby is going to make scrapbooking so much more enjoyable. That is, as soon as I figure out how to operate the darn thing!

{10.} I am happy that my internet is FINALLY fixed. It was down the entire weekend and I almost perished because of it...

Here is the thing, I am not picking just ten people to share these awards with. I am breaking the rules! I am gifting them to ALL of you. If you do decide to post them let me know so I can make sure to read what you write!

Or...just leave a comment and tell me some secrety-secret things about YOU or share what YOU are happy about!

my first ever blog award...

I have received my first blog award. I am super excited about it...and it is all thanks to the absolutely hilarious Maya over at 'Straitjackets Are Slimming'. Her blog makes me come thisclose to peeing my pants from laughter every time I read it...and she is one honest lady (which I love!).

The Honest Scrap Award comes with a few rules…I have to divulge 10 honest things about myself. Then I have to pass the award on to 7 bloggers that I adore...and who I believe will be 100% truthful!

Everyone likes to say that they 'admire' honesty. I have found that the majority of the time this is not true. I however, do love it. Alright let the honesty commence (I am totally ashamed of some of these) ...

1. I am a bleeding heart liberal. I voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 election. I also voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 election.

2. I re-read the Harry Potter Series every summer. I have read each book over ten times.

3. I find Bill Maher to be incredibly sexy. I am probably the only person who thinks this.

4. I don't want children. I also have no desire to get married. I sometimes feel that those two facts make me a bad person.

5. I have never had my hair dyed. Ever.

6. I judge anyone who wears a hair scrunchie. For real. If I see you rocking one I will automatically assume you have zero fashion sense.

7. I am watching 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' as I type this post.

8. I am a hypochondriac. If you even suggest an illness within a minute I will have convinced myself that I have it. True story.

9. I would never date someone who was younger than me. Or shorter than me.

10. I have an obsession with designer sunglasses. I also examine peoples eye wear to see what brand it is.

There you have it. 10 completely honest facts all about yours truly. Hopefully you all still like me after some of my admissions!

Now it is time for me to invite 7 bloggy pals to receive The Honest Scrap Award. I choose...

Amy from 'My LaLa Land'

Kimberly from 'William & Kimberly'

Allison from 'A Bite of Allison'

Amanda from 'Amanda's Musings'

Ivy from 'Inspirations by Ivy'

Lauren from 'Thats What She Said...'

Vanessa from 'Caramel Covered Photographs'

Ok ladies now it is YOUR turn! All of the 7 I picked will hopefully post their own 10 things on their blog and pass the award along to others! Also, I could only choose 7 people...but I wish I could have picked ALL of you. So, please feel free to comment with at least ONE honest thing about yourself!