Working with kids makes you feel old

I don't know why but working with the kids makes me feel older every single day. I'm just not able to keep up with them as much as I'd like to. This is especially true with my kindergarteners, I love those little guys but I cannot chase them for a full hour like they want! Thank goodness for my partner in crime, Eric, he does most of the chasing. He is known as "the monster" and I am known as "Miss Big Fishie".

Here's the story behind the name, because I know you're wondering:

The kids on one of the first days were using the jump ropes as fishing poles. So I decided to play along and grab the end hanging off the playground and be the fish. Well they loved it so much, they decided I was the big fish and they needed to catch me. I think I might have added the "miss" part but either way they love it. They don't even call me Jen anymore, simply Miss Big Fishie. They have all become my little fishies too. It is actually adorable and I love that they are still excited to see Miss Big Fishie, because I love seeing all my little fishies just as much :)

So that is the story behind my nickname! Even the older kids think its funny and they'll call me it. They're just being funny, so it doesn't bother me.

Anyways, the point of this post was for me to comment on how well my make-up held up after today. My nose is a little red and my under eye concealer is faded but hey, not bad for running around with 1st and 2nd grade girls today!

 Oh to be young again.

Boring Mondays

This weekend has been so quiet and boring and I sort of hated it. There really isn't anything wrong with a quiet weekend but when all there is to do is homework and you can't concentrate...it is the worst.

Thankfully, I saw Shaun on Friday night and I hung out with him Sunday night but we didn't do much. The first two days of work were long for me, I'm just not used to the schedule yet and this week will be my first real jump into it. 

So what did I do all weekend? Homework and work on my new website!

Why do I have a website? Well let me explain...

I know that my future is still a little up in the air, I don't know exactly which job I will fall into once everything is said and done and I'm prepared for that. It is a little scary but these days it is more common to make the work happen in the areas you like. You don't need a college degree to do the things you want to do, and even with one I can still do so much more!

I want a space that I can call my own and show people all the different things I can do or am learning to do. I don't want to limit myself to only political science, just because that is my degree. I am capable of much more and if I had the time I'm sure I'd be making money of those things right now. I'd love to be able to build websites for people or be a community manager for start-up or work in public policy or be a writer! 

The nice thing is that I could do all of that. 

So yeah that is why I built myself a website, and no worries Some Blissful Chaos is here to stay and as my schedule is constantly changing I will try to work on this blog as much as I can. 

Here is a sneak peek!

strained eyeballs

I honestly couldn't think of a great title to this post, so bear with me. I just had an appointment with the eye doctor and I had to get my eyes dilated...no fun.

So this past week has been a whirlwind of things to do, that is mostly because I actually worked full time last week. I was filling in for the nurse at the summer camp so that meant giving up my half days! I was happy to help out and the extra money will be nice, but my classes took a hit. I did not do well on my exams at all this past Friday. There was simply not enough time to do two classes worth of work and studying and work full time, and try to take some time off for myself. I give an insane amount of credit to any of my classmates who work full time and do school. I'm sure some of them even have kids on top of it!

The crunch in time always takes a toll on me, because I get stressed out and then somehow I end up not feeling well. I hope this week to get back on track and really take the time to learn the material...my degree sort of depends on it!

Speaking of degrees...I'm still up in the air about graduate school, but the full-time job search is not very successful at all. I'm at a standstill right now and those student loans are staring me right in the eye at this point.


Well this was just a small update and hopefully I'll be able to post soon! Back to work for me!

Beginning of Summer Update

Well the beginning of my summer also marks the beginning of some new things happening. Sadly, it includes me working and still taking classes. Yes, that is right, I am already in week number 3 of summer classes. I have 3 more weeks of Empirical Political Inquiry and Writing for the Professions, and then I start another two classes for another six weeks. Yikes.

I'll also be working a new job schedule, but it won't be all summer, which means I am on the hunt for a second job :( In some ways it is good because I need the money, but it makes less time to get all the things I need to do done.

I am also in week two of my internship (officially). If you want go check out Citelighter.com! I've done five knowledge cards already! Martinique, Gaza Strip, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and Sulfates (yes I know the last one is random). It is awesome to see my work go live on a website. I have my new topics for this week already picked out so we'll see how that goes. I have been thinking about a lot of ideas for the company and the website, I'm thinking about maybe making time to go to the office in NYC to meet everyone and talk to my boss about what I'm thinking. It would be awesome to do.

Let me see...what else? Well on the health front my whole family is pretty much cruddy :/ Both my parents have been fighting off some bug. My dad has to get a root canal. I just found out I have an ulcer in my mouth which has been causing the pain. Oh and I pinched a nerve in my shoulder stretching...once again I prove I am a danger to myself haha

I need to wake up for work in like 7 hours so I will end this post with a puppy picture!

Charlie looks so happy in this picture! He turned 9 months old yesterday :)

Happiness: Where has it gone?

     I just started reading a book called "The Happiness Project", by Gretchen Rubin. I have to say I really like what I've read so far. Here is the synopsis on the back cover, since I think it gives a better description than I can:

"Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. 'The days are long, but the years are short', she realized. 'Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter.'In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project. 


In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference."

     So as I sit here eating a bowl of Cheerios, no milk, I can't help but wonder about my own happiness. If I look at my life as a whole, I'd probably say I was content. Looking at different aspects of my life though, I would say differently.

     My family, my boyfriend, and my dog? I'm extremely happy, I couldn't start to think about my life without them. Work, school, how I feel most days? Not so great. I do like my job, but it is part-time and it isn't what I plan on doing for the rest of my life. The job search is more difficult than ever right now, and for a student almost ready to graduate with very little experience...well you get the picture.  School? I'm at a crossroads right now about whether or not to get my graduate, and I am not even sure what I'd go for yet. Plus, I technically should have been graduating this May but alas it won't happen until December.

     As far as how I feel? Honestly, I feel like crap. I've been physically drained and emotionally drained. I am always tired because I'm constantly running from thing to thing. I'm always in pain because of my Fibromyalgia plus my shoulder hasn't been getting better as fast as I'd hoped. I don't complain to much about it, maybe a comment here or there, but I know that complaining does nothing good for me.

     So maybe Gretchen Rubin is on to something. Maybe we should all take the time to examine our happiness and make a plan to fix what we are unhappy with. As I am starting to learn from her book, most problems come from within. We can't change anyone else, but we can change ourselves and that may be a project I have to take on.

Surprise! I'm baaack...

Well, well, well, we meet again old friend. Okay so yes, I've taken a long break from this but I'm back and ready to roll. There have been a bunch of things happening so I will do a recap.

First of all, I'd like to mention that I'm dying for the umpteenth time this year. I tried a new foundation on Monday and I instantly broke out in hives and redness. It is Wednesday night and I'm still broken out and itchy as itchy could be. I honestly would rather be in pain right now, than itchy, the problem is that it is everywhere. Ears, face, neck, legs, back, eyes and yeah you get the picture.

Other than dying a slow and itchy death, I've been hard at work trying to get this semester done and over with. There is 10 more days and I will have a month off before Summer classes...boo. However, that means I only have 8 classes left in my degree!

In other school related news, I found my ultimate dream masters program. It also happens to be at my dream school: NYU. The program is a joint MA in International Politics and Journalism...um can you say AMAZING?!? I would absolutely die if I could get into that program. However, I'm still a ways away from that :(

I had my 2nd interview on the 3rd with Public Allies! It went really well, I was happy with it even if it was a 3 hour group interview. Major downside? I have to wait until the end of May to hear anything...

Work is work and now that it is nicer out it seems as though it is getting a little more crazy. I think end of the school year fever is starting to affect the children. But there really is no blaming them, we all are starting to feel that way.

Things haven't been going amazing lately, we've been getting some not so good news on the health front as far as my family goes. My dad is having major issues with his back, and my mom needs surgery again eventually. My shoulder is still not where it should be either which is pretty disappointing. My family goes through hell, but we manage to keep together either way, and I'm thankful for that.

I have had a lot on my mind lately, and I feel like I need to come back and write again. Even if it has nothing to do with what is going on, writing is therapeutic. It helps me forget things and it helps me focus too. Sometimes, all you want to do is talk to that one person but it is just a whole lot easier to talk to a blank page or screen. It isn't as intimidating, at least for me. It is a fresh start in a world where that rarely ever happens...

Wednesday: Randomness

Ah Wednesday...today is my random, talk about whatever I want post. Thing is, I don't know what I want to talk about. My brain has been turned to mush by the 5/6 hours of Chemistry homework I've done today. I took off my afternoon shift just so I could get it done.

The only interesting things I managed to do today was 1. pay 23 bucks to get Charlie's nails cut (such a rip off!) 2. turn in a bunch of scratch offs that I won $42 on (yay!) and 3. pick up my brother from school and bring him back home.

I feel like I need another 10 hours of sleep though, which I will not get since its 10 pm and I have to wake up for 6:20 am tomorrow. I'm just looking forward to the weekend. I get to officially celebrate Valentine's Day with my boyfriend :) I don't exactly know what that means...we might just go out for dinner but either way it makes me happy. Sadly though, my homework is no where near done. I have to do a small writing assignment on 10 pages worth of reading. I have to do discussion replies, and start prepping for an essay due in less than a week.

It makes me so tired and angry just thinking about it, especially since I just registered for four Summer classes today. 3 political science classes and one english class to finish off my literacy requirement. Yeesh, and I will have 4 more classes left come fall semester. That diploma should be mine no later than December.

I got the interview I've been wanting! I know that is random,  but school might play a part in whether I get this job. It's for a company called Public Allies, where I will get a job through them with a non-profit. It's really exciting so hopefully it'll all work out. They just say they'd rather the applicants not be in school, but this job won't start until September, and I will only have less than 3 months to go in school. Since, I'm online hopefully they'll make an exception!

I am going to go look up crafts for work, I'm probably running an art class for 4 Fridays in March, and I need to have projects to present to my boss! Have a good night :)

Tuesday: Happy Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I know this is going up after midnight but oh well, I just got home. Since today was crazy busy and I spent the night with my boyfriend, I'm excusing myself from the regular Tuesday post. I will post tomorrow's regular post and a catch up post for Tuesday later on today (Wednesday). So I hope you all had a good Valentine's day! ^ Those are the flowers Shaun gave me tonight :) 

Today I saw a lot of mixed feelings about Valentine's day. At work, the kids were incredibly excited and revved up. On Facebook, half the people were happy and the other half cursed the holiday. I personally, enjoy this holiday. Sure it sucks if you don't have a significant other, but you know what? That isn't what it is all about. You get to stop and think about all the different love in your life. I get to reflect on the love I have from my brother and my parents. Honestly, I have the best and most supportive parents in the world, and I get to really remember how much they love me today. 

I get to think about my friends, even though most of them are out of state at the moment, I know that if I need them they are there for me. I get to see little kids at work get excited because they got a bunch of Valentines, and maybe that one special little boy or girl gave them candy and that made the entire day better. I honestly wish people would celebrate the love they have in their lives like this everyday. Today is not the only day someone can make a grand gesture. Go buy your mom or girlfriend flowers just for the hell of it. I promise you, you will see a smile so big it'll make your own heart grow a little. (Yes, I know how corny that sounds...give me a break) Why wait til Valentine's day to buy a little gift for someone, or take them out on a nice date? 

We are all so preoccupied by life, stress, and whatever else that sometimes we forget to show appreciation for the little things we have. I know I can do that myself. I've had some rough months with the surgery and being sick, but I had parents who did everything in their power to make sure I was okay, a boyfriend who would come see me and hold me even with a big stupid brace on, and a puppy who would make me smile. Not everyone is so lucky, and those who are should always take the time to remember that. 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone, I love you all :)