Closet Rehab

We're Moving To....

2011-10-04T09:49:00.004-05:00

Buffalo, NY!!!

It may have seemed like I dropped off the face of the earth, but I've actually been very busy packing and making moving arrangements. My family and I will be moving to Buffalo towards the end of this month. We were fortunate to find a 3 bedroom home in the town of Cheektowaga. My biggest concern was getting there and having no where to stay and we didn't want to impose on family. I absolutely hate the idea of living somewhere I've never even seen before. But for now, the judgment of my mother in law is going to have to be enough.

I will post again soon. I am especially looking forward to blogging during my move- the drive is absolutely beautiful.

This summer I plan on making my first ever trip to New York City, which is about 6 hours from Buffalo. And Buffalo is less than a half hour from Niagara Falls =)

What Not To Wear

2011-08-31T20:41:00.001-05:00

I’ve been meaning to start getting dressed on a regular basis. I mean really getting dressed- looking presentable rather than like a tired ol’ mom. It’s been easier said then done. And to make it even more difficult, Walmart had leggings on clearance for $2.00 each. So, of course, I had to get 5 pairs. But, I don’t think I will be wearing them much because they’re full length leggings, not cropped like I thought. Still, $2.00 is worth it.

My son and I had to run to Walmart to grab a few groceries and I wanted something quick and easy. I guess I should have looked in the mirror before we left because not only did I look like I threw on something quick and easy, I looked frumpy at best.

Mind you, this photo was taken after a near nervous breakdown. Not that it would have made that much of a difference had I taken the photo beforehand.

I look awful. I think my outfit looks awful. But I’m posting this anyway. Why? I think it will encourage me to dress better, to take more time getting ready, to really take the time to make myself look nice, to help me realize what looks good on me and what doesn’t. Additionally, I’m hoping I will eventually make enough progress in regards to my weight loss that I can look back and be proud of my accomplishments.

Top – Apt.9
Denim Capris- Fashion Bug
Black Wedge Sandals – Sketchers (DSW), $34.95

I realize (now) that these shoes kind of seem “old lady-ish” but they are super comfy. As much as I love them (for their comfort) I am definitely trying to break out of the comfort zone. There are comfortable shoes out there that are more age appropriate. Thank goodness I will be able to retire them soon!

20% OFF At ULTA Stores

2011-08-29T19:41:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I love ULTA. If you haven’t been to ULTA, you are seriously missing out. It’s like a candy store but instead of candy, it’s filled with cosmetics, hair and beauty products, perfume and so on.

This 20% OFF ULTA coupon is good from now until 9/3/2011. You could use this coupon online, but I would definitely recommend using it in-stores because the in-store selection has so much more.

Happy shopping!

The Waiting Game

2011-08-28T18:53:00.001-05:00

Today, my husband and father drove off to far South Texas as part of a mission trip for our church. At 4am this morning, our 3-year old jumped out of bed all wide-eyed and said “I fell out of bed!” He never went back to sleep.

Did I mention I never fell asleep last night? I have been awake since yesterday morning.

I’m exhausted. I won’t be able to go to bed for another 2-3 hours.

And when you’re completely tired, what better thing to do than this:

Color your hair. The dye called for 30 minutes. So, of course I looked at my phone to see what time I needed to rinse. I cannot for the life of me remember what time. I thought I had to rinse at 6:37. But that didn’t seem right. Did I put it in at that time? I don’t think so because it’s 6:46 now and it takes me awhile to saturate all of my hair.

It’s all a mystery to me.

Sometimes when you’re tired, you should take pictures of yourself. You should also take pictures of you doing things you shouldn’t be doing when there’s a good chance you’re half asleep. You should also growl at the camera.

And when it comes to posing, when in doubt, just chew on the inside of your cheeks. Because it’s just oh so attractive. I better go rinse. Then….sleep. Almost.

Not Your Mother’s: BeachBabe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray Review

2011-08-28T17:51:00.001-05:00

What Is It?

An amazing (not to mention affordable) texturizing spray infused with dead sea salt and sea kelp.

They Describe It As:

Now everyday can be a day at the beach…minus the sunburn. BEACH BABE has everyone fooled into thinking you just left the beach (you little liar!). It adds sexy, tousled waves and a lite matte finish to any hair type. Infused with natural dead sea salt and kelp this salon formula has you and your hair on the boardwalk all year long.

Overall Opinion:

This is by far my favorite texturizing spray! My hair type is considered to be long & thick as well as coarse and a combination of curly/wavy. If you have thin and straight hair, this might sound appealing but it is anything but. My hair is unmanageable and frizzy at best. Hair gels and mouse only make my hair worse. It’s very difficult to achieve a consistent curl or wave- that is, until I discovered NYM’s Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. I’ve only applied it to my wet hair, although I hear it delivers great results on dry hair as well. When I use this spray, I am able to achieve a nice soft, bouncy wave.

There isn’t anything about this product that I don’t like. It smells wonderful! Actually, it has a light and fresh coconut scent which reminds me of the beach. I love, love love the way it smells! It’s not greasy, heavy or sticky like other hair products.

The mist application allows for a light and even application. You can add more as needed without having to worry about using too much. It is super easy to use. Simply spray the desired amount and scrunch with fingers- that’s it! It also seems to provide a volume boost, yay!

This product is a must have for everywoman. It is my go-to hair product. I’m a busy mom who doesn’t always have 2 hours to spend straightening my hair. On days when I’m running behind or just want a quick style, I use Not Your Mother’s Sea Salt Spray and I’m out the door in a matter of minutes.

Rating:

Product: 5 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5
Would I buy again? Absolutely!
Price: Varies by store ( I paid less than $6.00 at Walmart)

Where To Buy:

Select Walmart stores
Ulta
For a complete list of stores, please visit Not Your Mother’s Hair Care

* This product was purchased by me for personal use and review only. I was in no way compensated. The views & opinions expressed are purely my own.

What I Wore To The Gym 8/24

2011-08-25T00:05:00.001-05:00

This is not the outfit I wanted to show you. But, I figured I have been procrastinating enough so I wanted to post some type of outfit. Hopefully, this will encourage me to post other outfits (assuming I actually put one on).

Shirt: Danskin/ Capri’s: Danskin/ Ankle Socks: No Nonsense

And since I’m trying to lose 100lbs, I thought it would be nice to mention the size of the clothes I’m wearing. Hopefully, in 6 months from now I can look back and say wow, I can’t believe I’m a size “x” now. Anyway- I have on XXL pants, and an XL top. And just in case you’re wondering, the socks I’m wearing are part of the No Nonsense “extended sizes” line and I wore Nike tennis shoes in a women's size 12.

If you have a diet and/or weight-loss blog, please feel free to share in the comments below. I could definitely use the inspiration and I think we can all use the encouragement =)

Gym Etiquette 101

2011-08-23T23:55:00.001-05:00

I entered the gym this evening and hopped onto my “usual” elliptical trainer. There was only one other woman using the elliptical and she was at the opposite end of me. From the looks of it, I am going to have an awesome workout. So there I was- peddling my ass off when suddenly a strong, overpowering, terrible stench took over my senses. The ~~disgusting smell~~ woman climbed onto the machine directly next to mine.

Great. Just friggin’ great.

Typically, I am able to adjust to new aromas. You know- you smell something you don’t like but if you’re around it long enough you forget it’s even there. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. It’s like the longer we were there, the more pungent the smell became. She also felt inclined to make a phone call to what seemed like a long lost friend because they had so much to catch up on. Hello?! This is not your home gym! If that’s not bad enough- this particular woman kept eyeballing the stats on MY machine. Yes, I’m fat. And yes, if this were a competition, I would be winning.

I’m a pretty easy going type of gal and it really takes a lot to annoy me. But when I spend all day taking care of a toddler, the last thing I want to do is go to the gym and take care of you too. So, this got me thinking… Although there are no written rules (at least not at my gym), there are definitely some unspoken rules we should all be familiar with.

Practice Good Hygiene

Going to the gym is not an excuse to be lazy. We don’t expect the gym to smell like Starbucks (though that would be nice), and we certainly don’t expect to be able to smell whatever it is you ate for lunch. So please brush your teeth before heading out and don’t forget the antiperspirant.

Don’t Marinade in Perfume

Coming from a person who suffers from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), I can understand why someone would feel the need to use perfume at the gym. But the gym is NOT the place for perfume. A good deodorant will suffice. If you sweat a lot, and feel like you need to wear something, use a light body spray/mist instead. It’s not as strong as a perfume and is less likely to irritate the senses of fellow gym-goers. Tip: Secret Deodorant has the strongest active ingredients. Plus, they have a line specifically designed for women who sweat excessively. Use their Clinical Strength at night and a stick/spray during the day. I love their aerosol pre-workout!

Clean Up After Yourself

You’d think this is common sense, but working out months in the gym proves otherwise. You wouldn’t like to stick your hand in a puddle of sweat, just like I don’t want to touch yours. Be considerate and wipe up your sweat before moving on to your next routine. Additionally, when your water bottle is empty, it is not okay to leave it in the cup holder- throw it in the trash.

With the exception of sweat, it is nice to share. When you’re doing multiple sets, don’t rest for five minutes while people are waiting for that machine. Offer to let them have a turn while you rest. Don’t sit on the bench watching Jersey Shore while people are waiting to use it. And for the love of God, please stop texting between sets.

Also- many gyms have a time limit on cardio equipment during peek times. Please be mindful and respectful of this.

Limit Cell Phone Use

This one irritates me the most. Unless it’s an emergency, save it for after your workout. There is nothing more distracting the person next to you chatting away. Using your cell phone in the sauna is a huge no-no.

What’s the worst gym etiquette you’ve seen?

That had absolutely nothing to do with gym etiquette, but who wouldn’t want to see a picture of Ryan Reynolds shirtless?

Week ? Weigh In

2011-08-19T14:53:00.000-05:00

It may just be me, but the last thing I want to do during summer is spend my time behind a computer screen. That being said, I’m so behind on my weigh-ins. I’ve spend most of my time freaking out about losing my hair. However, I am very pleased with my weight loss efforts.

It’s been about 4 weeks since I initially weighed in. Then, I was 246.00 pounds. Here’s where I’m at now:

8/19 Weight: 233.00 lbs.

Chest: 45
Neck: 15.5
Forearms: 10
Biceps: 14
Waist: 44
Hips: 48
Thigh: 27
Calf: 16.5

TOTAL WEIGHT LOST—13 POUNDS

I’m very happy with my results. I have been working my ass off in the gym. I’m still working on changing my eating habits. Because of my PCOS, I’m supposed to watch my carbohydrate intake and it’s been very difficult but I am slowly making progress. So far, I’ve cut back on sugar, started drinking more water, stopped eating out so much and started replacing spaghetti noodles with spaghetti squash. I had never even heard of spaghetti squash until I saw Tina make it- it’s better than pasta. Seriously, you have to try it!

My doctor wants me back on Metformin. I’m going to start taking it next week so that should help with my weight loss.

Do you remember me burning my face with a home chemical peel? Well, it’s finally starting to get better. Only, it’s peeling and looks like a horrible sunburn. I’ve been embarrassed to go in public (you would be amazed at how easily and frequently people stare) which is why I haven’t been to the gym in a week. I plan to workout everyday from now until next weekend because my husband and father are going on a mission trip and I won’t be able to workout because I have no sitter.

Daily outfits? Well, one would have to get dressed to be able to share. As bad as it sounds, I have spent most my days in yoga capri pants and sports bras. When the weather is in the 100’s and you stay at home cleaning and taking care of a family- it’s easy to do. And I’m sure you’re not interested in my bra and pants. If I’m wrong, let me know and I would be happy to share I’ve been reading some of the best plus size fashion blogs trying to find some inspiration. I promise to have something soon!

40% OFF at City Chic

2011-08-15T20:53:00.001-05:00

City Chic is offering a 40% discount once they reach 40,000 likes on Facebook. Now, I know that may seem like a lot, but they already have a whopping 33,602 likes!

If you don’t like them already, go ahead and do it now. After you like them, be sure to tell your friends and family too. Because everyone loves a great sale!

If you’re not sure what City Chic is all about, head on over to their website to find out more. They have the latest trends and fashions for plus size women, sizes 14+.

Like them at: www.facebook.com/citychiconline

Shop at: www.citychiconline.com

Chemical Peel Nightmare

2011-08-15T20:11:00.001-05:00

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons defines a chemical peel, also called chemexfoliation or derma peeling, as a one of the least invasive ways to improve the appearance of your skin. A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to smooth the texture of your skin by removing the damaged outer layer.

Among the many types of skin peels, TCA Peel (Trichloroacetic acid) sounded most appealing to me. “Fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, acne as well as an uneven skin tone can all serve to benefit from a TCA Peel. It’s supposed to improve skin tone, texture and clarity. TCA may increase collagen and elastin production. Trichloroacetic Acid is also beneficial for gradually removing unwanted freckles, tattoos and scars.”

Sounds great. Let’s do this!

Before we get started, we should learn more about the side effects. Right? Well, those include a temporary burning sensation upon initial contact as well as heightened skin sensitivity, flaking, light frosting, redness and swelling. Vigilant broad-spectrum sunscreen use is crucial for post-peel success.

Okay, well, those side effects sound reasonable. I’ve certainly had to experience far worse. So far, so good.

I tried the peel last night. I followed instructions. I applied to one cheek and began to apply to the other cheek when suddenly they both started burning. It wasn’t a light burn but a scorching burn. My husband tells me today that it looks like someone took a blowtorch and ran it across both sides of my face. That’s exactly how it felt last night.

It doesn’t feel much better today. It’s still stinging very badly, it’s swollen and the color seems to be getting darker. I’m beside myself right now. I had no idea this would be such a traumatic experience. I need more time to let this settle in. I pray the results are only temporary side effects and not permanent. Luckily, I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow regarding something else and I should be able to get a better idea on what’s happening with my face.

The reason of this article is to warn other women curious about performing an at home chemical peel. Initially, I didn’t think applying it would be a big deal. In my mind, it would be like trying a new moisturizer or hair color. I don’t know if my results are typical but they are real. Please be very cautious the next time you consider a home peel.

My face is far much worse in person. My camera is ~~a piece of crap~~ not the greatest and I had a heck of a time trying to capture the burns.

Have you ever had a chemical peel (either professional or at-home)? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience below.

Technorati Claim–Just Ignore

2011-08-15T16:12:00.000-05:00

J4HNJFBWNBQH

Shocking Reality

2011-08-12T20:28:00.001-05:00

Hi y’all

I am so glad the weekend is finally here. And what a ~~month~~ week this has been!

I mentioned earlier on Facebook that blogging as a hobby gives you the freedom to blog whenever you feel like it without the pressure of deadlines. Even so, I originally “planned” to write at least 4 posts per week. I even wrote a post about what I would be blogging about as a guide for everyone, myself included. One of the topics on that list was a daily outfit. I tried, I really did. But most of my days have been spent wearing yoga pants and fitted tees as well as workout apparel. I didn’t want to scar anyone, so I omitted those types of pictures. Skipping writing on those days just made me think about how bad I really could use some closet rehab.

But there is something bigger going on. I don’t want to say I have been depressed, but I’m certain I haven’t been myself. I can’t believe I’m going to announce this online but I want to be 100% honest in everything I say and do.

Here goes nothing.

I have been losing my hair. And not the type of hair loss that occurs with aging. I am a ripe ol’ 26 year old. The average person loses around 100 strands of hair on a daily basis. In my case, it’s far much worse. I have always considered myself lucky when it comes to Polycystic Ovarian Sydrome and it’s terrible symptoms because while I suffer from most of them, I have avoided the one that bothers me most which is hair loss otherwise known as androgenic alopecia.

Photo Credit: CafePress

My hair has been falling out in handfuls. As a young woman, this is simply horrifying. I hate washing my hair because that’s when the bulk of it comes out. But, I can’t not wash my hair so I have been trying to do it every other day or every two days. I’m scared to brush my hair. I’m afraid to style it. I haven’t a clue on what to do. I don’t even know how to explain it. To give you a better idea, I have always had a pretty low self esteem. My hair is my one attribute that I actually ~~liked~~ loved. I cried at the thought that I used to joke about wanting to wear wigs. I used to think it would be fun to have a different color hair or a different hair style on any given day.

Lately, I’ve been pretty hard on myself. I gained 90 pounds during pregnancy and although I lost about 30 pounds, I have gained it all back (if not more). One of the other symptoms of PCOS is the inability to lose weight. It also causes weight gain. All of my other symptoms have worsened- weight gain, excess hair (hirsutism), no period in 3+ months, skin problems, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Because of this, I have been busting my ass in the gym. I have been going quite often and even more so now that I have the “you have to workout hard or you will go bald” motivation.

Then, it dawned on me.

I have been losing my hair for about a month now. Isn’t that about the same time that I began taking my new beta blocker, Altenonol , to help control my blood pressure? “Does Altenonol cause hair loss?

After doing some investigative research, I discovered the answer to that is yes- Altenonol does cause hair-loss. :/

I immediately scheduled an appointment to see my physician. I know many times a medication is prescribed because the benefits are greater than the side effects. As a woman, I think I would rather keep my hair and have high blood pressure (even though it may seem vain). I am ~~hoping~~ praying that we can try a new blood pressure medication. Because if the medication causes hairloss, I can always try something new. If it’s due to PCOS, than there is nothing I can do about it.

I hate to leave on such a negative note, so I will say something positive regarding my experience. Women with PCOS can have children. My doctor (not my current doctor, of course) told me I would never have kids. Well, how can you when you don’t ovulate? When I lost 30lbs, I immediately became pregnant. I am the proud mother of a 3 year old little boy. Additionally, I have found that symptoms become worse with the more extra weight you have and they decrease when you are closest to your “ideal” weight. =)

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Please wish me luck for my doctor’s appointment this week.

Sorry for the lack of pictures- I will be posting more very soon!

Week 1 Weigh In

2011-06-27T23:13:00.001-05:00

Week 1 Weigh in.

Sort of.

In all honestly, I have been trying to lose weight since the birth of my baby. Turns out when they’re three, it no longer counts as “baby fat”. One of the topics I wanted to write about regularly is diet/exercise/weight loss. So technically, this is week 1. Since I did so crappy in all of the past weeks, I will log everything here, and hopefully the future will bring better results.

I hate that I’m going to announce my weight but it’s all about accountability, right? Okay, so before I tell you my weight from today, I think it’s only fair for me to say I used to be thin. I was 160 pounds pre-baby. Sure, that’s not super thin, but with my height and build, it was perfect for me.

Pre-Pregnancy

Very Pregnant

Can you tell I’m nervous? Okay- here it goes….

And Now

Starting weight: 246.00 lbs.

Chest: 44
Neck: 16
Forearms: 11
Biceps: 14
Waist: 46
Hips: 49
Thigh: 28
Calf: 17

My ultimate goal is not to lose a specific amount of weight. It’s not even to get to a certain size jeans. Realistically, I just want to get to a healthy point. I tried to give blood at a local Dallas blood drive the other day but my blood pressure was 180/120. That is scary high! It has certainly been a reality check for me. I know I’m overweight and I hate it. But now I have much more to worry about then trying to fit into an old pair of jeans.

Saturday Sit-Down: Getting To Know You (Me)

2011-06-25T21:43:00.001-05:00

Blogging is so much more fun than doing laundry. Wouldn’t you agree?! Okay, so I’m stuck doing laundry but I am sneaking away for a little break.

Since this blog is new, I thought starting a new meme, Saturday Sit-down, would be a fun way for you to learn more about me and visa versa. If you have a blog, please feel free to join along. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments below so we can get to know YOU better too.

1.) Where are you from and have you lived there all of your life?

I am originally from a Dallas suburb known as Mesquite, TX. I have lived in several cities in or around Dallas such as Lewisville, Carrollton, Garland, Dallas and currently Rockwall. I have also lived in Jackson MS, Richmond VA, and Buffalo NY. Only God knows where I will eventually settle but my guess is either Texas or North Carolina (where my husband’s from).

2.) Do you have any children?

Why yes I do! I have a 3yr old little boy and two step-children (11yr old girl and 15yr old boy).

3.) What is your favorite topic to blog about?

There are many topics I feel passionate about such as PCOS, alcoholism ( my mother is an alcoholic), and, beauty and fashion.

4.) And your least favorite topic to blog about

Don’t take this the wrong way, but it would have to be my kids. I’m not one of those moms who blogs about every exciting little thing that her son/daughter did that day. I hate posting pictures of them. Don’t get me wrong, they are cute as hell, but with all of the child predators and perverts out there, I couldn’t talk about them and post pictures of them on a regular basis and feel good about it. Other topics I will rarely talk about are politics because we all can’t wait to get president Obama out of office (right?), and religion.

5.) What’s your biggest pet peeve?

I hate when other driver’s don’t use their blinkers. Apparently, Cadillac’s don’t have blinkers so just ignore them when they don’t signal to get over.

6.) Is there anything else we should know about you?

I hate this question but it presents the perfect opportunity for me to tell you about my A.D.D. or attention deficit disorder. Normally, I don’t go around announcing this to everyone but it makes perfect sense in this situation. Basically, it means I have a difficult time concentrating. I can go from doing one thing, to another to another. I will do my best to stay on topic, but if I’m talking about something I wore that day don’t be surprised if I tell you about a sale last week…and everything in-between. =)

If you have a specific question you would like to ask me, please click here. Otherwise, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Daily Outfit–6/23/2011

2011-06-23T12:38:00.001-05:00

One of my main goals of this blog is to record my daily looks. In order to do that, I need to stop wearing yoga pants! But when you’re doing housework all day, it’s just easier to be super comfy. On this day, I had a few errands to run. I wanted to be comfortable and cool since the temperatures are in the 100’s here.

I always wear underwear. For no apparent reason, today, I didn’t. Big mistake! It did seem cooler out, but I thought it was because of the recent rain we had. I was wrong.

White Tank – Walmart, $6
Denim Capris- Target, $19.99
Purple & White Cardigan – Target, $5.49 (clearance)
Black Wedge Sandals – Sketchers (DSW), $34.95

Sorry about the mess-- I forgot to snap a picture so I took this later that night after my workout! I definitely won’t be wearing these capris again but I love the sweater (it’s so soft and lightweight) and the shoes are the unbelievably comfortable!

No Bake Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

2011-06-23T11:21:00.001-05:00

Is Strawberry Shortcake even baked? I haven’t the slightest idea! But this “recipe” is a no-bake version and it’s super easy!

Before I share this recipe, let me just say that I am no chef. I can cook, but I prefer to cook things that are quick, easy, and include very few ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, I hate to measure! I will give you a general idea but, honestly, you can use as little or as much as you like. This recipe is nearly impossible to mess up. My mom and stepdad used to make this when I was younger. Tonight, I had a craving for hot wings. We don’t have a deep fryer, so I thought of this (talk about opposites).

Strawberries dessert shells and whip cream make for an affordable, delicious, and light tasting dessert. This recipe would work well with almost any berry or a mix of berries. You may also substitute sugar for your favorite sweetener such as splenda, stevia, etc..

The sponge cake dessert shells used in this recipe are typically found in your grocery store's produce section or bakery. Each package comes with 6-shells and you can usually find them in two varieties: regular shells and sugar free dessert shells.

What You’ll Need:

1lb strawberries
6 dessert shell cups
cool whip or whip cream
sugar (I used about 1 cup but you may choose to use less… or more)

What You’ll Do:

First, wash the strawberries. Cut off stems and slice strawberries into 1/4 inch slices.

Next, add strawberries to a large pot. Top with sugar.

Stir to coat evenly. Simmer while stilling occasionally. You’ll know it’s done once all of the sugar has dissolved (usually about 5-10 minutes).

When ready to serve, divide strawberries evenly among dessert shells.

Go ahead and add a little more because you know you want more!

Top each dessert shell with a a scoop of cool whip or whip cream, whichever you prefer. I know mine looks like ice cream, but I decided to make this on a whim so the cool whip was still partially frozen.

Don’t forget to add extra for your husband/boyfriend/significant other!

Interviewing Tips, Advice and More…

2011-06-20T10:02:00.001-05:00

For the past two years, I have lived/worked as a stay at home mom. My husband and I have had many discussions and feel it’s best if I begin working again. I recently had my first interview which coincidentally was the first job I applied to.

Fast-forwarding…

I had my interview Friday. It was awful. I tried to prepare myself – went shopping for a padfolio, new shoes, jewelry, a blouse, and even a cute new Nine West handbag. Apparently a trendy wardrobe is not enough! Okay, but joking aside, I did read over a few “common interview questions” and thought about the answers I would give. I printed my resume on fancy resume paper, stocked my purse with plenty of pens and continued going over questions and answers I might give.

I’m not even going to go into the details about how it was 104° outside and I was beginning to sweat before I even stepped foot indoors. I won’t tell you how I thought the interview was a traditional one-on-one interview when it was, in fact, an ~~interrogation~~ interview filled with lieutenants, captains, directors and supervisors. I will say that as prepared as I thought I was, I obviously was not. I could not believe how nervous I became. It was ridiculous-- silly actually.

It’s obvious I was not as prepared as I thought I was. I do have anxiety and I thought that preparing daily would only cause me to worry and obsess, which is why I waited until the last minute to really prepare for the interview. I don’t think you can ever be over-prepared. Next time I won’t make the same mistake. After I arrived home from my interview, I did an online search for “thank you letters” to send. I thought, somehow, it could make up for my nervous/embarrassing interview (yeah, it was that bad). While searching I came across this AMAZING website/blog called Ask a Manager.

{Photo Credit: Askamanager.org}

Ask a Manager is written by Alison – a manager, turned consultant, turned pure genius. I’m so glad I found her blog, but I’m upset I didn’t find it sooner! She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s honest and she knows her stuff. If you’re looking for a job, definitely browse around her site for useful tips and info. If you have a job – still check it out. Her blog is full of information for both the employed and unemployed.

A few helpful posts that may interest you:

Should recent grads have a resume objective?

The 10 interview questions you’re most likely to be asked

Should I include a job I was fired from on my resume?

Okay…. that’s it. The more I talk about this, the more depressed I seem to get. I’m about 88% sure I did not get this job. I may talk more about it later. But it was bad and I do not want to discuss it right now. Go check out Ask a Manager, and I’m sure you will find something useful!

A New Beginning

2011-06-14T20:52:00.001-05:00

Hey there! Many of you probably don’t know me yet, but some of you may remember me from the blog Review Retreat- a mom blog/ product review and giveaway blog. I’m not quitting my other blog, but I am taking a temporary leave of absence. I never planned to quit blogging, but several unfortunate events began to occur one after another. So, I’m trying to figure out a new direction for that blog but you can find out more about that here.

As far as Closet Rehab, my mind is completely open. The one thing I know for sure is that I want this blog to be a reflection of myself. My other blog consumed my time and most of that time was spent writing for companies- I always had to watch what I said, how I said it and so on. I want the freedom to truly express myself – that’s exactly what I will do here.

A few topics you will definitely see on Closet Rehab are:

- Weight: {preferably weight loss but it could go either way} I gained 90lbs during my pregnancy. My son is three. Haha! I also have PCOS which contributes to weight gain and makes it more difficult to lose than the average women. My overall goal is to lose 100 pounds but we’ll take it day by day.

- My daily look: Said pregnancy has ~~deformed~~ changed my body and I have become all too comfortable wearing yoga pants and fitted t’s. I am by no means a fashion expert, but I will give it my best shot.

- Video posts/ Vlogs: Sometimes I don’t always feel like writing but I always have something to say! Plus, I enjoy watching video blogs – they should be fun to make/watch =)

- ~~Complaining~~ Talking about my workouts: I actually like working out, sometimes. But talking about my workout doesn’t seem interesting unless I include comments about everyone working out around me.

- Cooking: In other words, I will attempt to cook and take pretty pictures of my ~~catastrophes~~ creations.

Other topics you might see here:

- PCOS: I have it and it sucks. It sucks more to know so many women suffer from it too, so I may, from time to time, talk about it.

- My family: Touchy subject for me. I AM a mom who blogs but this is NOT a mom blog. I love my husband and son but I don’t like the feeling of announcing our lives to the world. I may share something cute or funny on occasion but this will NOT be a regular topic.

- Addiction: Alcoholism to be more specific. I may or may not talk about this. Alcoholism runs through generations in my family. Thank God, I broke the cycle. My mother is an alcoholic. I struggle with our relationship or lack thereof. I don’t plan to talk about this topic but it always comes up/ is always on my mind/ seems to get the best of me/ so if I’m having a moment – I’ll talk about it.

- Speaking of God: I am religious- Baptist. If I wanted to start a religious blog, I would have but I didn’t. I may write “thank God” or “I’ve been praying about…” but that is the extent of it. I don’t like to touch on the subject of religion because it’s no doubt a controversial topic. I don’t like controversy.

One more thing… I may have A.D.D or Attention Deficit Disorder. I’ve never been tested but it runs like wildfire through my family. I have the symptoms. I will do my best to stay on topic but no promises. If you’re not sure what I mean an example would be me talking about a great price I got on a cardigan to talking about how I used to fear cardigans because they reminded me of grandmas then jumping into a conversation about me as a kid and the adventures I had with grandma. Like I said, I do my best to avoid this.

I’m off to try Subway’s Turkey and Bacon Sub with Avocado. Not exactly diet food but, hey, I never said I was perfect!