Smiles and Rants

Buffalo Wild Wings Donates 10% 2/29--Edwardsville, IL

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:27:00 +0000

Buffalo Wild Wings in Edwardsville, IL is going to donate 10% of sales between 6 and 8 pm on Wednesday, February 29th to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center. All you need to do is print this with this the Admit 1 ticket and present it to your waiter or waitress. It's that easy. You get great food. You don't have to worry about making dinner. Just show up. Enjoy great wings in a great atmosphere. And in the end, you help a worthy cause.

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center interviewed 481 children who were physically or sexually abused in 2011 alone. The CAC was able to help 481 helpless children who faced horrifying situations. However they can't continue to help unless we help them first. They need funds and donations. By using this voucher, you can make a difference and help child abuse victims since Buffalo Wild Wings already promised to donate 10% of sales. All you have to do is go out to eat.

So Be It!

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Can I be super excited? Because I am. Today was awesome. I've been watching sales grow for a client to record breaking numbers. My coworkers humored my love of baking. I start the doctoral program tomorrow. Yeah--I'm excited!

So I love work. It's like an addiction to me. The goal is to prove my worth with a high ROI and record breaking sales. Reporting those numbers feels awesome. I get such a kick out of it. So getting to work between 5 and 6 is so worth it. It's awesome. Seeing those numbers go up is why I do what I do...that and I love my clients.

My office is awesome. I have gotten in the habit of baking for birthdays. I let the birthday person pick what I make for their special day. Today was apple pie. Looks like I will bake pies more often for my dear coworkers since it was gone within a couple of hours. Their enjoyment is enough to keep me baking...that and baking is a release for me.

But what I'm kind of excited...well...really excited about...is starting the Doctorate in Business Admin tomorrow. I feel like all my goals comes down to this. The challenge of going to school and working and growing as a person and an employee--here is the ultimate challenge. It will kick my butt. I'll work harder than I've ever worked. But I think...I think I can pull this off. I've been rather successful thus far. There is no reason for me not to be able to do this. I have a great support system of family and friends. And I think I can pull it off in 3 years. It will require LOTS of coffee and late nights, but I can do it. I do everything quickly anyway. There is no reason why this should be any different :).

My friends and family laugh at me because my life changes on a daily basis (similar to online marketing by the way). Well, when change does happen, it keeps me on my toes and ready for a new challenge. I like challenges because it keeps life interesting. And if baking working hard makes my life interesting, so be it!

Doctoral Goodness

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:49:00 +0000

This is my last weekend "free" before I start class. That's right. I'm finally starting the Doctorate in Business Admin program next week with University of Phoenix. I have been on the phone with my advisors and graduation team all week preparing for next week. It didn't really sink in until yesterday. I will admit, I had a tiny anxiety attack when I finally realized that I will no longer have a "life" for the next 3 (possibly 4) years.

This is a longtime coming. I was going to start this program last year and didn't. Life got in the way. And honestly, last year was so crazy hectic, there was no way I could have devoted time to it. But now is the right time. I'm clear headed. My life is always hectic with work, but it's a good hectic. It feels --dare I say--calmer. I don't have any major distractions.

My mom always knew I was going to do this. She knew when I was in kindergarten, when we first came to the States. I remember her telling me I was going to go to school and make money and take care of myself. And I suppose I am fulfilling that. This started as a mother's dream for her daughter. And now, it's become my dream. When I finished undergrad, mom quickly started talking about getting my masters. And even before I graduated with my MBA, mom started talking about my doctorate. And about two years later, here I am...about to go back. :)

I'll admit that I was bit over confident since I went through the MBA program with UoP. I thought that the doctoral program was going to be hard work, but nothing too difficult--at least what I consider difficult. But after this week, I'm realizing that the level of work and time is going to exceed what I did with the MBA. I started to worry about failing and not being successful. Thank God for my friends and support system. They laughed because they're awesome and believe in me more than I do sometimes. Yes, I can do this. And I will do it with precision and dedication. But for a moment--a brief moment--I panicked.

The first class will be easy. The class following is three weeks, which I hear is really hard. It weeds out a lot of students. I'm told that my class for the entire UoP student population all year will consist of 16 or so students. Classes after this class are eight weeks. One class at a time. I do have a one week break between each class. This is to prevent burn out. I have my residency in Atlanta in June. My academic team did a really good job of setting expectations.

There will be some major changes after next week. My time is really precious. I'm not going to have the flexibility to indulge in a social life. I'm accepting that my social interactions are going to structured around the weeks I do have a break. And even then, I'm going to use my time wisely to unwind. I already have a schedule that I'll stick to on a daily basis. And in terms of traveling for pleasure-- yeah that's probably not going to happen. My family knows that if they want to see me, they'll have to come to St. Louis and pay me a visit.

I am going to take this last weekend to decompress and get organized. Cleaning always makes me feel good, although I don't have much to clean. I have an apple pie to bake for a coworker's birthday Monday. By way, I will continue to bake for the office. It makes me happy and helps me clear my head. Today, I got the best thank you email for the pie and cake I made earlier. I'll definitely keep baking.

And yes, I'm a little excited to start class. It's a goal that I will happily cross of my list. If I can pull this off by my 30th (realistically 31st) birthday, I'll be ecstatic. Then I can focus on settling down and starting a family. In the meantime, I'm going to focus on my career and school. Everything else isn't nearly as important. So here's to staying sane and happy the next three years :).

USPS Going Down Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:23:00 +0000

I saw a disturbing post today on Facebook. My friend from high school, Sara Koropchak posted a story about her experience with the United States Post Office. Her story makes me sad because it just proves that eventually, the post office will go away. And with stories like Sara's, it may happen sooner than later.

Sara was moving and shipped 10 boxes of books on December 7, 2011. It is now almost the end of February and she still hasn't received all her books. Sara was tracking all her packages and the USPS managed to loose 20% of her packages. One box disappeared. Another was destroyed because someone (not Sara) listed the books as perishable goods. There is no excuse for that. Sara said the call center is horrible. That shouldn't be a surprise considering the USPS has made such a mess of this.

What makes this sad is that this probably happens all the time. Someone's belongings--life possessions are entrusted with the USPS and just disappear. Those are people's memories. I think the USPS has some explaining to do. This shouldn't happen to anyone. I'll think twice before shipping my belongings with the USPS. Maybe you should too.

Good Times Helping Child Abuse Victims 2/25 #STL

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Listen up residents of Madison County, Illinois and surrounding areas! The 7th Annual Madison County Child Advocacy Center Trivia is where it's it for a fun night for a good cause. You and a group of 7 of your friends can become a team and show up at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bethalto, IL. You'll have fun and you'll be supporting a good cause. Now, you don't need a team of 8, but that is the max. Either way, you're sure to have a good time.

Doors open at 6, but trivia won't actually start until 7. I recommend getting there at 6 so you can bid on silent auction items. I have to tell ya--it's going to be a good auction. The Madison County Child Advocacy Center has been super busy getting some fabulous goods.

For the St. Louis Sports' Fans

There will be plenty of sports memorabilia for all you St. Louis Cardinal's fans or St. Louis Blue's lovers. Yes, that includes tickets to see the Cardinal's and Blue's play. I hear there are even Cardinal's jerseys up for auction. These will go fast.

For the Ladies

Would you get super excited if I told you that you could bid on a super cute Coach purse? I'm excited just writing about it. Maybe you've been wanting/needing a new bag. And if you don't really need a new purse, bidding on one to help a good cause wouldn't hurt. You'll gain a pretty fabulous accessory to match the stylish diva you know you are. :).

Trip for Two

You and your honey deserve a nice vacation. What if I told you that you could bid on Funjet Airline Tickets to Cancun? All you have to do is book your hotel and bring enough green for food and fun and you're set. I think you've worked really hard and deserve a nice vacation with that special someone. Besides, St. Louis has been chilly this week. A vacation to Cancun where it's warm sounds perfect!

Over 21

Now here's one that I wish I could've bid on myself last November when my little brother turned 21. A VIP Tour for 10 for Shlafly Brewery is up for auction. Yes, you read that correctly. It said VIP. Now that is a good time. Just make sure there is designated driver.

The CAC trivia night really is a lot of fun. Beer and popcorn will be provided. You can bring your own snacks. There will lots of laughter. People are usually smiling and joking. There might be some stiff competition for silent auction items. By the way, there are lots more great items up for bid. What I mentioned is just a sampling of what you can expect to find.

I will say this. What makes the CAC trivia night so fun is the fact that you are doing something good. You are spending a little money to help those who can't help themselves. Today, I heard a story on the news about a man from Alton, IL who sexually abused a 4 year old. I don't know if the CAC had any part of this prosecution, but I will tell you that is the type of work they do. They interview child abuse victims only once and then the multidisciplinary team goes to work. Madison County prosecutors are part of that team. That 4 year old little girl couldn't fight him off. She couldn't control the situation. But adults like us can support the CAC so they can continue to help children like this 4 year old. Yes, you can ignore the story. Or you can make the choice to help those who can't help themselves by doing something easy and fun by attending the Madison County 7th Annual Trivia Night on February 25th. Do yourself a favor and signup. You'll be glad you did.

Eat Cupcakes on 2/13 and Help Child Abuse Victims in Edwardsville, IL

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Long title, yes. But it says it all. How would you like to indulge in a yummy cup cake and help child abuse victims at the same time? It's actually possible thanks to The Cup in Edwardsville, IL. I've mentioned before how the Madison County Child Advocacy Center needs our help to continue serving child abuse victims in Madison County area. Well, wonderful members of the community, like The Cup, pitch in. 10% of purchases made at The Cup in Edwardsville, IL will benefit the Madison County Child Advocacy Center on February 13th.

It's part of The Cup's Baking a Difference. The minute I heard about it, I thought it was pretty awesome. On the second Monday of every month, The Cup will donate 10% of proceeds to a local charity. Luckily for the Madison County CAC, they're the non-profit organization for Edwardsville, IL.

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center works hard to be the voice for child abuse victims in the Madison County, IL area. Child abuse victims only share what happened to them once. Most of the time, child abuse victims have to share their story multiple times. But thanks to technology, the Madison County CAC records one interview. Then the child advocate heros go to work. A group of special individuals make up the multidisciplinary team, which consists of healthcare professionals and law enforcement. This team seeks justice for the abused child. They provide hope and the opportunity to heal. Without the Madison County CAC, abused children in the area would continue to suffer in unsafe environments with their abusers. The way I see it, the CAC team are angels sent to be the ray of hope for helpless child victims who can't stop them abuse themselves. Kids can't control what adults do. But good adults can help by rescuing them from their situation and providing tools needed to overcome such a traumatic experience.

I commend The Cup for choosing the Madison County Child Advocacy Center. What a wonderful way to really help those in who need it most.

So if you are in Edwardsville, IL Monday, February 13th, make sure you stop and get a cupcake or two. You can find The Cup in Edwardsville at 1057 Century Drive, Edwardsville, IL. Don't forget the Trivia Night on February 25th as another way to help.

Smiling Pooches Kind of Week

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:23:00 +0000

I had a house guest this week. And this house guest brought back one of the original Smiling Pooches. That's right--Ms. Mable Marie spent the week with me, Peaches and Lyn. My friends that I love my dogs. They're not just dogs to me. They are my daughters (since I don't have children of my own at the moment). And I love that my vet (Animal House in Arnold, MO) calls them kids.

This week was consumed with all things Smiling Pooches. Peaches and Lyn had their annual vet appointment at Animal House in Arnold, MO. I love Dr. Sherry Torregrossa. Because she owns Animal House, she gives you that one-on-one attention you expect. She takes time to explain things so you understand them. And she treats my Smiling Pooches with the same love I give them. I trust her to take care of my girls. I don't care where I'm living in the St. Louis area, I'm taking my dogs to her.

Peaches and Lyn actually behaved pretty well. Granted, while we were waiting, they sat by the door, ready to leave. They were pretty good. Poor Peaches had her ears examined, blood drawn, and shots. Pure torture, although she did give me a kiss while she was getting all this done. Lyn was a good sport too.

And then Peaches and Lyn had a week of fun with Mable. The three Smiling Pooches had fun driving me nuts. Mable's bark is pretty loud. And at 3 or 4 in the morning, you can't help but wake up. Mable is known for getting on counters and eating everything in sight. This lab is almost two. I was told that labs calm down after two. We'll see with Ms. Mable. She wasn't too bad this week tough. She did chew on my kitchen towels and got into cake mix tonight. But other than that, she was pretty good.

The best part--this morning my house guest let the girls out of the kitchen. So I woke up to Lyn on my left, Peaches standing on my chest, and Mable on my right--all giving me Smiling Pooches smooches. Although I was slightly annoyed at the moment, I absolutely loved it! I love my girls. And Mable will always be my baby girl.

Peaches and Mable have been having fun. When we first got Mable, I thought her and Peaches would have fun playing. This week, Peaches and Mable chased each other around the house, playing with toys. If Mable had a toy, Peaches would try to steal it. But since Mable is so bigger than Peach, she would just stand over her. It was kind of funny. Mable loved the toy basket. She got out every toy. I found them in every room of the house.

So this week, my heart smiled because I had my Smiling Pooches home with me. It was so nice. I joke that I don't need a guy when I have the Smiling Pooches. They're so much easier than men. Kidding of course. But dogs make me smile, especially my girls.

Thank You: Donations for Child Advocacy Trivia Night

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:46:00 +0000

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center Trivia Night is a couple weeks away (February 25th). I spent yesterday collecting last minute donations and dropped them off. I'd like to take some time to say thank you to two businesses in the St. Louis area.

The Old Spaghetti Factory on the Landing in St. Louis has donated to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center trivia night in the past. I sent Donna, the manager, a letter early fall. She called me Thursday and told me the donation was ready. Every year, the Old Spaghetti Factory donates a signature tumbler and gift certificate. Not only does Donna and her team care about the St. Louis community, but they also provide great service with excellent food. As a patron, I can tell you that I have yet to eat something I haven't loved. Their Chicken Marsala is fabulous, as is the Baked Lasagna. The building, by the way, is beautiful-- great atmosphere. Check out the Old Spaghetti Factory on the Landing.

My next thank you goes to Starbucks. I've been hard on Starbucks since corporate has been pretty bad about our office coffee orders. But I won't hold that against individual locations. The Starbucks in Edwardsville, IL donated two gift bags to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center trivia night. I hand delivered a letter back in October. And since I was in the area yesterday, I thought I'd stop by and see if they still wanted to donate. I got my tall, skinny, white chocolate mocha and went on my way with two generously loaded gift bags. So thank you Starbucks.

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center helps child abuse victims get help once it has been reported. With one interview, perpetrators get prosecuted and the child abuse victim gets the help he or she needs to overcome their horrifying experience. But the Madison County CAC needs our help. With limited funding, they need to raise funds to stay open. The trivia night is just one way you can help. Gather a group of 8 and come for a night of fun, trivia, and beer, and great silent auction items. Register for the Trivia Night today. We'll see you February 25th!

Dragons and Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

I've been doing a LOT of writing these past few weeks on the upcoming Chinese New Year Monday. Actually, festivities start tomorrow night, New Year's Eve. This year is the year of the water dragon. I'm almost to the point where I feel like I know more about Chinese culture than I know about Romanian culture. That's pretty sad, but part of the job. :) I'm a fulltime nerd. I love learning new things, and right now, looks like I'll continue to learn all sorts of things about the Chinese culture.Writing about the Chinese New Year and what the Chinese zodiac means has me thinking about this year.

I have made some changes. Late last year, I decided that I was going to start seeing a therapist to work through everything that happened in 2011and stay healthy mentally. Other than my sinuses, I have a clean bill of health (thank God!). So I wanted to make sure that I stay healthy in every way possible. There is this stigma to admitting going to counseling or seeing a therapist. And honestly, I think it's safety check. We internalize so much and it can affect us in ways in odd ways. I feel myself growing and maturing. And yeah, I thought I was pretty good before I started going. And for the most part I was fine. I think going to therapy is helping make sure 2012 is awesome.

So dragon years are known to be very lucky. In fact, parents time the birth of children around dragon years. People born in dragon years are successful, lucky, wealthy, and natural leaders. That's not to say that other Chinese zodiac animal suck, because they don't. For instance, I'm wood rat. People born in 1984 are wood rats. It sounds awful, but it's not. If you're curious about what all this means, Google it. You know I've had to in order to write all the articles and blog posts. Anyway...Dragons are good. Rats are good. Every sign is really-- good. I don't think any sign can be really horrible.

Anyway--so according to the Chinese zodiac, 2012 will take on traits of the water dragon. Dragons, as lucky as they are, can also be destructive and implusive. So many people will have a little bit of a hard time this year. And I'm instantly thinking of my friends and former coworkers where I used to work. Many of them will be out of work as of March 31, 2012. So far, 2012 for some has totally sucked. And after reading all sorts stuff, I'm not surprised. But the rest of the year holds semblance of hope. Get the bad out of the way early and have the good later. By the way, if anyone knows of online marketing jobs (SEO or PPC) in St. Louis, contact me. It makes me sick knowing that my friends might be facing some not so fun times ahead.

For many people, 2012 will be awesome. Of course right? It's been awesome for me. And my friends who've had a hard year last year are seeing the light. I'm definitely more confident. Last year, I compromised a lot. That's not to say compromise is bad. I just chose the wrong situations to compromise on. For instance, I'm not going to compromise in what I want out of a life partner. I did that and it turned out badly. I'm not going to be shy about getting what I want anymore either. If I deserve something (because I work hard for it), I'm going to make sure I get it. Oddly enough, the water dragon is known for compromising. This chic however, will only compromise in certain situations. :).

I have a few things in my line of vision at the moment. I'm working super hard (odd hours) to make sure I accomplish goals this year. My goal is to cross a few things off my list by June. And at the rate I'm going, I will. Anyway...I promise no more predictions about 2012. Just know it will be an interesting year. :)

Not Going for the Record

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

So if I spend too much time away from my laptop or cell phone, I get twitchy. My friends make fun of me for it all time. If I go anywhere, I checkin on Foursquare. If I'm waiting in line, I get on Twitter. And on weekdays, I like to work...a lot so I'm in front of my computer by 6 at the latest. I get to work super early. And when I get home, I work on my friends' websites until about 8 or 9, sometimes later.

The word of the year at the office is "passionate" because all of us are pretty passionate about our jobs. I think I take that to a slight extreme because I come home and continue working. But my passion for online marketing is wearing me out.

Last Thursday, I spent 16 hours in front of a computer. When I was getting my MBA, I think I spent an average of 10. But now, I can get to work as early as I want. Back then, I couldn't get in the office until 7. If I feel like getting in at 5, I can. I like it because I catch up on industry news in the mornings.

And then I come home and work some more (not necessarily remoting in) about 8 or 9. I'll randomly check my email or website stats after that. Or I'll write a blog...or an article.

Yesterday I spent 14 hours in front of a computer. And then I got harassed by mom for not getting enough rest. So no, I'm not going for a record. Although it won't surprise me if I do go over 16 hours, especially once I start class.

I am getting tired. But on weekends I don't spend nearly as much time working so I get somewhat of a break. And I think I'll probably get a break tomorrow with the Internet Blackout strike against SOPA. I am going to try and spend less time online. We'll see if I have it in me to unplug.

Smiling Pooches Ruin Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:40:00 +0000

Since I deleted Smiling Pooches, those blog posts will be now be here, on Smiles and Rants. Work was so productive today. I looked forward to being productive at home too. My guy friend was coming over to work on his website, Noah's Arcade. I had some Cruse Entertainment stuff to do too.

So I got home and let the dogs out. I changed out of my business casual duds and checked on the Beagles. Sure enough, Peaches overturned the neighbors trash and got all over the porch. I'm used to this by now. But this is twice in two days.

So the dude and I work on some keyword research for his website and hung out. I was explaining keywords and the strategy behind it. It was nice to share with him what I do for a living. I love my day job so much, I do it at home too. I think after two years, he finally understood part of what I do...kind of. It's excited...I'm excited.

So while we work, we take breaks for dinner and I start making a dark chocolate torte. I'm in a chocolate cake mood so I was going to make it for the office. My dear work peeps get all my baked goods when I'm in the baking mood. I don't think they mind. :)

They torte was done...layers finished ready for the last layer of cream. Lyn was with me in the kitchen, she got under my feat, and I tripped. The cake didn't survive. But such is life. Looks like there will no cake tomorrow. I think I'll make pie tomorrow night instead though.

A Big Smile at Laughing Man

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

I have been quite lucky so far in 2012. One of the many highlights of this week is Laughing Man. They are the nonprofit coffee company who donates 100% of profits to charity. They're going to donate a hat to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center trivia night. It's in the mail :).

Laughing Man found me on Twitter after I posted a tweet asking about a new coffee distributor for my office. Sorry Starbucks, but you're service sucks. We weren't getting deliveries on time and we can't have that with an office full of coffee snobs. So Laughing Man did what any good company using Twitter does. They monitored keywords and reached out to people who they thought would be their target market.

So I checked them out and fell in love immediately. I love companies that give back to make the world a better place. And that's what Laughing Man does. One person at a time, one day at a time, they make the world more beautiful sharing love and generosity. Plus, their slogan is All Be Happy -- I think I heard angels sing. :) I would do my famous "Ahhh" in my soprano singing voice which sounds pretty good, but that would be silly since you can't hear me. :).

I was convinced I needed to buy my coffee from them. I'd be supporting a company who promotes smiley faces and all things wonderfully happy. Plus, they help good causes. And they're coffee is really reasonable. I pay more for my coffee now.

So then I had a brilliant idea. I asked if they'd be willing to donate to the Madison County Child Advocacy Center Trivia Night February 25th. They said yes! An All Be Happy Hat is on it's way to the center.

I'm going to repeat myself a little bit for my new readers. The Madison County CAC is amazing and the staff and multi-disciplinary team holds a special place in my heart. You see, I was one of those kids who was subject to routine beatings. Only, I didn't have a CAC to help me through it. I had to tell my story multiple times. It was quite painful. But what makes this CAC so wonderful is that kids only have to tell it once because interviews are recorded. That recording gets viewed by health professionals and legal staff. The child gets all the help they need, plus their abusers pay the consequences. These poor kids get justice. I believe in everything the CAC does which is why I suport them. I donate items every year to the trivia night silent auction. So when others donate too, especially when they're not even local, that just makes my heart smile.

So I want to give Laughing Man a great big virtual hug for donating to the CAC and making the world more beautiful with their generosity. There is so much negativity in the world today that it's refreshing to see a company focused on sharing some love.

Now, do yourselves a favor and visit livelaughingman.com and support them with a purchase so they can continue to serve others. Oh...and you may find it interesting that Hugh Jackman is associated with Laughing Man. He helped start it. So now you really can go add a pound of coffee to your cart or buy a hat :).

A Smiling Pooches Beginning to 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

What a New Years! I about flipped out just a little when I got a call from my mom in the afternoon of New Year's Eve. My stepdad was in the hospital for his heart. He has a-fib, but he's doing fine. At the moment, I felt like 2011 was taking one last jab.

But ringing in 2012 was actually nice. Me and the guy had reservations at Drunken Fish. It was fabulous. We got the same waiter we had on my birthday, Bill. I told him I wanted something fizzy and fun and he came back with the Kinky Kimo. It was yummy. Dinner itself was nice. Together, we're sarcastic and goofy. He's a total dork, and I'm a total dork so it was an interestingly funny dinner.

We went home fairly early and cuddled with the dogs and watched a movie. I felt like 2012 was going to be different...perhaps it was wishful thinking. But either way, ringing in 2012 with this particular young man was nice. We're good friends and no matter what happens, it will be good :).

Our dogs played together all weekend. Peaches is normally independent and a bum. But this weekend, she livened up...a lot. She played with his dog and was all about showing me and the guy some love too. Today for instance, she jumped on my lap while I was working in office. She hasn't done that in ages! It made this Beagle mama smile. The best part of the weekend--cuddling with all three dogs on the couch when he was out. I had one dog by legs, one guy to my right, and one to my left.

2012 will be awesome. The Smiling Pooches and the guy made this weekend awesome. I'm looking forward to all the fun and new experiences 2012 has to offer.

2012 Smiling Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:24:00 +0000

The other day, I helped a friend move some pretty heavy machinery and I think that and cleaning this evening was a little too much for my back. So being that tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I am oh so eager for 2012 to arrive, I thought I'd think of some New Year's resolutions while resting.

1. I will find balance between work, school, and my social life. This will be hard because I like working. I may not be working at my day job all day, but I do work on side stuff that is marketing related. Marketing is also my hobby. There does come a point though, where I am so burned out, the last thing I want to do is look at a computer screen. And that point is fast approaching I'm afraid. I need to slow down and relax, but I'm really having a hard time doing that. Even now, I should be watching TV instead of exercising my brain. I really want to write a few more blog posts tonight. Maybe I'll get too tired and quit. But either way, I will need to find that balance in 2012 or something will give in. And my health and sanity are not an option. I was thinking of working/studying every night until about 9:30 and then making myself relax for 30 min to 1 hour a night before bed. But that might be a asking too much.

2. I will buy my coffee from Laughing Man coffee. My mom told me today I need to drink more decaf and I laughed. No mother, that is not an option. I got hooked on coffee back in high school, on days I was not in choir or when I needed a quick boost of caffeine. Back then, 1 cup was fine. Now I need more like 5 in a day, although per doctor's orders, I have cut back a little. Laughing Man is who I will buy my coffee from here on out because I love their motto: "All Be Happy." There. You now understand why I fell instantly in love. :)

My own motto: "Be Joyful Always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16) has met it's match. How can I not like a company with "All Be Happy" as their motto? Life is too short and far too precious to not be happy. It's about seeing the good and DOING good to make the world a better place. It would be fitting if the Jaci Velasquez song, We Can Make a Difference-- one of my all time favs by the way-- was playing right now.

Laughing Man is a non profit, associated with ever so handsome humanitarian and actor, Hugh Jackman and a team of passionate individuals who really want to make a difference. 100% of proceeds go to charity. So not only do they have an awesome motto, but they're giving and supportive of all things good. I'd be a fool not to support them. So by drinking a cup of coffee from them, I'm doing my part to make a difference. That's pretty easy, don't you think? And it's not expensive either. I suggest you check them out. shoplaughingman.com.

So I do have to tell you how I found them...or rather...they found me. I posted a tweet earlier this week looking for a coffee distributor in St. Louis for work to replace Starbucks. They're not in St. Louis, but once I visited their website and few tweets later, I figured it was worth pitching to the bossman next week. Are you really that surprised that through twitter, I was able to connect with such an awesome company? I use twitter for almost everything. It's served me well and connected me with some pretty fabulous people. I'm glad @laughingman reached out to me. I'll be making my personal purchase within the next few weeks.

3. I promise to let my passion and love for marketing transcend grad school...meaning I have to pitch my dissertation idea to my board in June and it will probably revolve around social media and online marketing. I love it so much, I think it will be easy to spend hours and hours on it. Might was well pick something I love. Again...the whole work thing is becoming an obsession. The balancing thing might be a bit hard.

4. I will take more time to make sure I'm healthy. I had a wake up call in 2011. I'm going to try and be as healthy as possible. I have to cut out carbs, slow down with coffee, and exercise more frequently. I start off doing great and then I get busy and stop. Come spring I'll want to be outside with the beagles anyway so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm going to get those routine checkups and blood work (although I know I don't have the cancer gene, I'd rather be safe than sorry).

5. I'm going to be more comfortable saying the word "no." I've noticed that I get myself in situations that are awkward or where I'm miserable because I feel bad saying"no." I'll start using "no, thank you" or the equivalent. My plate is already so full and if I'm not 150% comfortable, I will start saying it more often. I much rather make everyone else happy or I'm afraid of hurting feelings and then I get into trouble (I learned that in 2011 too)...it's just not healthy for me or fair to others involved. So if you're on the receiving end of a "no thank you" from me, I apologize, but I gotta do it.

Mom was telling me that it sounds like 2011 was a hard year for many people. I'm glad to see it go too. But I'm thankful for the lessons and experiences because I'm richer for them. I will "be joyful always" and I'll help spread the "all be happy" mantra. I think 2012, like any new year, is full of promise and potential to be amazing. I'll be starting the year eating sushi and spending it with a dear friend--a guy who has a just as hard of time saying no as I do, who helps others with his entire soul because it's the right thing to do. I sometimes joke that he and I can save the world together, one person at a time, one day at a time. Cheesy and unrealistic--yes. But we can still try :). Happy New Year everyone. Hope you are all safe and happy, and yes...smiling :).

Goodbye 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:05:00 +0000

I know it may come as a shocker to some of for me to say this...others of you who were actually here with me are not so surprised...but it's safe to say that 2011 for the most part--sucked! Seriously...I never want another year like this ever, EVER again.

I do believe that every experience is supposed to teach us something. And until we learn whatever lesson we're supposed to learn, we'll keep experiencing the same thing. I think I've learned those lessons.

Don't worry...this won't be a rant. It's not my style to end things on a negative note. But maybe you'll understand why I'm so glad 2011 will soon be over.

1. Let's start the year with my mom having a hysterectomy that went horribly bad. She had it in February and she's still in pain from it. Thank God she finally listened and is suing her doctor. Her lesson (and mine): research doctors and never trust a small town doctors with crappy attitudes. I live in St. Louis. I have access to excellent health care. Mom ended up having to be transferred from Carbondale Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL to Barnes Jewish in St. Louis. She should have just come to St. Louis in the first place.

2. I thought I had cancer. I had two surgies and genetic testing. I was actually waiting for them to tell me I had it...not because I'm a pessimist, but because of my family history--hence the genetic test. Mom was always harping on me to get it checked. It was our worst nightmare that almost came true. I was spared. And I'm grateful. Lesson: take better care of my health.

3. I broke up with an amazing guy. Ha! I know some of you are so laughing. When things were bad, they were really bad. He did things (and I did things) that were down right unforgivable...or so we thought. I'm not going to get into too much detail because a certain group of readers will only get too excited about this post, but I will say that despite everything, he and I don't hate each other. In fact, we still care very deeply. And the lesson: love does conquer all with time and wounds can heal. Love is the miracle of all miracles. I thought I'd hate him forever. But I don't. And I don't think he does either. What will happen I'm not sure, nor will any of you know the details...at least not on here.

4. Let's go back to go cancer. Two separate groups of friends experienced cancer. One of my best friend's father in law died of cancer this year. Watching her and her husband go through it broke my heart. I wanted to take that pain away so badly.

5. My best friend from college got diagnosed with breast cancer this year. She has since had a mastectomy and seems to be doing okay. Something tells me she's cancer free though--call it a hunch.

6. The most shattering--a family friend, a mentor, and just the most amazing woman I have ever met lost her battle with a rare ... you guessed it...cancer. I thought I was a fairly strong person after everything I went through as a kid...but I was wrong. This broke me. It affected me more than I thought it would. I think my relationship would have had a fighting chance of working out if I didn't experience this loss. She was there before my parents divorced, gave me the fundamentals of my faith, and helped me through adolescence. Words cannot describe how much I loved her. She was an angel here on Earth within months, she was gone. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to finally say thank you before she passed. By the way, she passed the weekend I had my second surgery. Mom came and picked me up from surgery and the next day, I drove myself to the memorial service and the funeral the next day. I barely took pain pills so I could drive.

Now, there were good things about this year. I landed a great job. I hope to be there quite a long time. I have a great boss and a great group of coworkers. I absolutely love baking for them. It's been a joy so far.

So the lesson of 2011-- Don't take anything for granted. I did. I got complacent and I stopped trying, which is so unlike me. I wasn't all smiles this year. Sorry. I did put on a brave face, which did get me through the year, but it was rough. So one of many resolutions for 2012 is to embrace all life has to offer and take nothing and no one for granted. I'll post a 2012 resolution blog post tomorrow.

Changes for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:51:00 +0000

I'm going to be very busy in 2012. I am for sure going back for my doctorate this Spring and I need trim the fat so to speak. For the next few years, my friends will see me on a rare occasion, I will probably go back to my home town even less often than I do now, and my blogs...well... I'm trimming them. I will still however, continue to be a workaholic. I may take on a few more writing projects, but nothing else I take one will be done pro bono...Sorry. My time is money at this point.

Sorry Vinni, but Smiling Pooches will no longer exist. Although Peaches, Lyn and Mable will always be Smiling Pooches. I just don't have time to write for it anymore.

I'll still keep Smiles and Rants, Smiling Marketress, and Smiling Marketress Cooks. Posts may not be as frequent after the March or so. Although I think I might actually write more for Smiling Marketress then. As I'm researching for school, I'll probably have a few things to say. I will start a series on Smiling Marketress about promoting yourself professionally since I'm seeing a need to remind young professionals of the do's and don'ts of online behavior. Smiles and Rants is my first blog-child so it will always be around.

Oh and I know some of you, especially my readers in the St. Louis Metropolitan area of Madison County, are itching to know what's going on with my personal life. Well, I guess you'll have to wait and find out. That too changes pretty regularly :).

Lots of good things for 2012 ahead though. The biggest being a cancer free year...I hope. And I'm not just talking about me. I'm in the clear thank God. But I have friends and family going through it so my concerns are with them. I waited two years after my BA to start my MBA. I guess it's about the right timing to start my DBA since I graduated in 2010 with my MBA. We all knew it was coming. And yes, I will go to University of Phoenix. I did my homework and their accreditation will allow me to teach. By that point, I'll have about 10 years experience in Marketing, and will have reached my career aspirations. I'll be ready to take my career to the next level and teach. Although, I'll probably still consult and run Smiling Marketress too.

2011 was about learning life lessons that I needed to learn so I could be ready for big changes in 2012. Granted, 2011 had some big changes too...some not so pleasant. There were a lot of tears in 2011. But I think we learn from our experiences. I'm thankful for each experience and ready to take 2012 to a new level of Smiling goodness.

Needing Donations for the Madison County Child Advocacy Center 7th Annual Trivia Night

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:08:00 +0000

I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. After having my tree up for over a month, I'm taking it down today.

I found myself thinking about the Madison County Child Advocacy Center. It's been a little while since I last wrote about them. The 7th Annual Trivia Night and Silent Auction is February 25th, 2012. I was going to email them and setup a time to drop off some more donations when I thought I'd reach out one more time and see if anyone else wanted to donate.

So...instead of returning your unwanted xmas gifts, why not donate them for the silent auction? When I was xmas shopping and found good deals, I bought more to donate. If you'd like to donate new items, please email me. I'll be happy to arrange pickup. I was going to call the CAC after the New Year and drop off donations.

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center in Wood River, IL is gem in the St. Louis metropolitan area. I wholeheartedly believe in the work they do. The CAC helps abused children find a voice and seeks to help them survive their traumatic experience and seeks justice against their offenders. And they do this with one interview, limiting further trauma. The CAC has helped so many kids so far. If you pay attention, you'll notice. Every time there is a case of sexual abuse or child abuse in Madison County and the perp goes to jail, chances are, the CAC's team was behind it.

By the way, if you'd like to attend, you can download the form above at the CAC's Facebook page under events.

The Real Gift of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:46:00 +0000

It's a known fact that my life changes quickly... by the second...almost literally. Why should this week be any different? Without revealing too much, all I can tell you is that I was blessed beyond comprehension.I have had quite the year and um...I'm pleased to say that Santa delivered an early Christmas present Monday night and this will be around for I hope a LONG time. I gave up believing that even existed. I thought it was only a fairytale.

It's funny because I've been saying how Christmas is the season to show some love. Well...I guess I was foreshadowing without even realizing it. They say that love just hits you out of nowhere. I just never thought it could possibly be true. It's a saying that people say to feel good. But it's real and it's little surreal. I'm waiting for someone to wake me up.

This week has changed the way I view things. Silly like things like miracles do exist as far as I'm concerned. I believe God is going to deliver many miracles this Christmas season, especially tomorrow. I believe prayers are going to be answered. I believe best friend will be cancer free after tomorrow. And I believe that this Christmas will the most amazing Christmas to date for me and a special someone, although I'm sure there will be many amazing Christmases to come.

God showed us His love when Christ was born so long ago. And it's up to us to keep that love going. Whether is a romantic love, which is beautiful and oh so magical. Or whether it's a love that heals and takes away all pain between family and friends. It's love binds us together to accomplish the most amazing things. It's people working together, transcending race, religion, and all differences. God loves us all so much. And it may seem like things are too hard and that He's forgotten us. But he hasn't. He's right there.

So as everyone starts celebrating Christmas, let's remember that it's not about the presents under the tree. It's really about love, the most amazing gift ever, given to us by an amazing and powerful God. Merry Christmas from the Smiling Marketress.

In the Midst...You Smile of Course!

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:50:00 +0000

One of my best friends commented today that she has a hard time keeping up with me because things happen seven times faster with me. This is true. Life is about change. And I'm always looking to improve and make mine better. And change for me happens rather quickly.

My dad brought my family to the United States a little over 22 1/2 years ago. And although his life may not be what he envisioned, I think I'm fulfilling what he wanted for his children--a better life and all of that, the American dream. So I'm doing things like working all the time and going to school to provide the life that my dad intended for me to have. He may not agree with me working and going to school, but I'm doing it anyway. And I'll have what I need and what makes me happy because of it.

So earlier this year, and I think last year too, I discussed going back for my PhD. Well, stuff happened this year and it didn't happen. I had two surgeries this summer along with some other stuff and school was not even in my mind. It took me two years after my BA in English to go for my MBA. It seems right it would take me another two years to be ready for my PhD. Only...I'm well aware of the hard work required for me to get to the end and quite frankly, I'm already exhausted. :). But...it's only inevitable that I do go back. Once something is ingrained in my head, I usually follow through. I want something, I get it--not because I'm spoiled, but because I work really hard to get what I want. I don't want something handed to me. I want to earn it. That's why I suck at brown nosing. Why should I tell you I'm amazing if I can show you? If I deserve recognition or whatever then I'll get it. If not, I'll work harder. I don't need to tell you I'm awesome when you should see it. Yes nice guys finish last and all that, but I do believe in karma. If you work hard enough, you'll get what you what you want out of life...even if it takes a little longer than you want it to...it will happen. You have to have faith that it will happen.

If you've read my this blog before, you know that I'm ready for 2011 to be over because aside from a few small victories, 2011 has been all about cancer and illness, and other icky sad stuff. I'm naturally a positive person and despite all of it, I'm still smiling. Well, 2011 isn't over and I'm expecting more news involving the "C" word. I'm hoping I'm wrong, but at this point, it wouldn't really surprise me. Somewhere there is a lesson in all this. I'm not sure what it is. I know the lesson is different for everyone affected. But I'm not sure what it is for me. Is cancer somehow supposed to make me stronger? Does loosing someone to cancer make me stronger? What am I supposed to learn from my best friend having cancer? What lesson do I need to learn if my mom has cancer? I don't get it. But I trust God and have faith that everything happens for a reason, according to His will even if I don't understand now. I'm praying for understanding and I'll continue to smile because not smiling will make things worse.

Despite all of this cancer talk, this weekend has been pretty good. I've been so happy the past two days that I started baking when I swore I wouldn't bake until February (office birthdays). But I made clatiti (Romanian crepes). I'm not going to reveal why quite yet. It's special and close to my heart. But I am happy. That's all you need to know :).

Mama Said

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:33:00 +0000

My mom gave me strict orders to pamper myself today. And you'd think that with my previous blog post and new blog background that I haven't been listening. But working on my blog and playing on the internet is indulging. It's not work, but play.

Today I'm 27. I started celebrating my birthday Friday morning, when I got to work (at 6) and found this:

My coworker and I are on the birthday committee. He does this and gets everyone to sign a card and I bake a birthday cake/treat (whatever the birthday wants). Totally surprised because my birthday is today, not Friday and I'm taking tomorrow off. So Friday was my birthday at work. Friday was also the day I got everyone in the office together to make Christmas ornaments. I took everyone's picture, bought cookie cutters, and Friday, we all gathered in the conference room for arts and crafts. It was fun.

Later that night, an old friend stopped by and we hung out and he brought his dog. Ughh...he will rename nameless for a while. Peaches loves her; Lyn...not so much. But it was a nice quiet night.

Yesterday I went to the Blue's game with my friend Sara, her husband, Becca, and her friend Jenny. The Blue's won, although I was disappointed in the lack of fights. There were plenty of opportunities, but the refs wouldn't have it. I then went home and mopped my kitchen floor. I like things clean :).

Today, my actual birthday, I'm lounging in pjs, working on Smiles and Rants, drinking coffee, and enjoying some quiet time. This week is crazy busy. Client meetings, concerts (Too Short 12/16 featuring Cruse Entertainment). It's going to be a busy, but fabulous week. Tonight, the same old friend :) is taking me for Sushi. I'm pretty happy...but then you wouldn't expect me to say anything else. :)

To be honest, for awhile, I dreaded my birthday. I would get depressed because something bad or tragic always happened on my birthday. And it wasn't until 2010 (hahaha my quarter life crisis when I got divorced) that my birthday blues went away. Since then, birthdays have been pretty good. Last year, John and I went to a Blue's game. And this year, I have a weekend filled with more happy memories.

@Charter Sings Me Happy Birthday :)

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:39:00 +0000

So I like to work. And even today, on my birthday, I'm kinda working...on Smiles and Rants. In this post, I'd like to discuss my most recent experience with Charter Communications, my internet provider.

It's also a known fact that I am a horrible driver, but even worse in the snow. I hate driving in snow, therefore, this hate for driving in snow has led me to not like snow so much period. It's so pretty, but it's a pain to get work in the snow. I like it if I'm snuggled at home, with my beagles. So, working from home when it snows and ices is a good thing for me. I don't use PTO. And I'm even more productive...aka I start my day early when I wake up at 4 am.

So the wonderful guys at work setup my Mac with VPN and remote access. I can work from home in when it snows and when I'm sick. The problem--I couldn't login remotely from home. I was able to login remotely from where else I tried. So after testing, we thought it was my home wireless network.

I called Charter last week. And at first I was rather disappointed. The first two techs I talked to were idiots and didn't even try to help. I immediately got in Twitter.I had to talk to their supervisor and after begging her to check the settings, she noticed that my modem did not support VPN. Imagine that!? So, the supervisor, Tanya, setup an appointment for me to get a new modem that supports VPN. I was very grateful. She called me the next day to confirm my appointment.

So yesterday was supposed to be the day of my appointment. 4:00 pm came around and I hadn't heard from the tech so I called. The rep, Joseph was super nice. I told him I had plans and needed to leave the house by 5:30 pm to start celebrating my birthday. He then sang me Happy Birthday :), which was a new experience. I've never had a customer service rep sing me Happy Birthday. It was nice. And he kept tabs on the tech and called me with updates. After the tech finished, he called to make sure I was happy the service. And I was. So to Charter, I smile and thank you for the extra attention you gave me last week.

I should add-- Charter does a GREAT job with social media. They were quick to respond to my tweets and preserve their online reputation.

Tis the Season to Show Love

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:05:00 +0000

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year. You know--we go through our lives and it's so incredibly focus on ourselves, our own problems, our own goals, that it's easy to forget to do something for others. Christmas is so very commercialized that we tend to think about spending money and giving the best gifts. But Christmas isn't about the gifts. It's about love.

Now I'm a Christian...perhaps not a very good Christian. But my faith is mine and although I don't to go to church every Sunday, I believe in the true meaning of Christmas. Christ was born for us and He died for us. He died for those who don't even believe in Him. And because of His grace, we can go about our day knowing there is a place for us in heaven. To me, Christmas is about sharing Christ's love. I know one particular person who would argue that religion has brought more war than it has peace. And I'm not going to debate any of that. But it is my opinion, and the opinion of other Christians out there, that God is Love. God loved us enough to send His son here to save us. And so now at Christmas, what we really celebrate is love.

Love transcends everything. It doesn't matter what religion you are, where you are from. Love doesn't discriminate. Love is healing and it's powerful. And we can radiate love by doing the simplest things.

Cruse Entertainment's, Rob Cruse, is showing the love. He came to me with the idea of giving back to the community. So tonight he and I devised a plan. And tomorrow, we'll go about our day and make this plan happen. We're thinking of helping the Salvation Army. Somehow, we'll give them what they need and reach out to our brothers and sisters in St. Louis and help an organization who helps others. It's the right thing to do. It's the season when people go hungry. And the season where people freeze because they can't afford power and gas. Kids go without the simple joys of Christmas. Cruse Entertainment is going to try and help. Even if we help just one family, one person, we've done our job. Tis the Season to Show the Love. Stay tuned for more information. I'll either post it on here or on Smiling Marketress.

You know, even if you don't help via Cruse Entertainment, I challenge to find time this holiday to somehow give back to the community. Pass along your blessings to others. It's a great feeling knowing you helped someone. What makes it worth it for me is imaging all the smiles. They smile because they're thankful. So show the love this holiday season.

Tis the Season to Be Joyful

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:55:00 +0000

Christmas is by far one of my favorite times of year. Celebrating Christ's birth is so special because in the end, Christ was born to forgive our sins. And if you're not a Christian, it's a time of gift giving and merriment. To me, Christmas is about love--showing others you love them, showing the world ultimate kindness in a period filled with cold dreary weather that leaves so many out the in cold.

I admit, I may take it bit far. I'm naturally happy to begin with, but at Christmas, I'm a bit overly filled with the Christmas spirit. I start the day after Thanksgiving, putting up the tree. I usually host a holiday party for my friends the first weekend in December. And this of course means I start baking. I haven't stopped baking since before Thanksgiving.

So this weekend, I have my holiday party. But tomorrow, I'm decorating my office with a few volunteers. I do this every where I work. I get the office filled with Christmas spirit. And I warned them, they may think I'm a bit nutty when I show up for work dressed in Christmas fabulousness. But it's fun. And it makes people smile. And you all know I'm all about the smiles. So yes, I will share the Christmas love tomorrow. I have been baking for days and I'm still not done. Tomorrow I'm taking sugar cookies and Cream Cheese Balls to feed those amazing volunteers. We'll also be making ornaments for every employee. I make ornaments for my family. My work family deserves them too.

Now that I've baked my self tired, I'm off to bed. Merry Christmas!

Absolutely Fabulous 2012--I Think So!

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000

Oh I know I said I wouldn't try and predict what will happen in 2012, but I can't help it. And I know I'm optimistic about every new year, but I can totally feel that 2012 will be absolutely fabulous. So from now on, "absolutely fabulous" will be the phrase for 2012. I have to think positive thoughts otherwise I'd go just batty!

Back in the day, I went to Lewis School in Carbondale, IL. I will always remember the principal, Mrs. Virginia Troutman. She implemented a program called Positive Action that rewarded kids for being good. Every time you did something nice or were good, you got a gold slip. Kids wrote their name on the slip and were entered in a massive drawing each week during the Friday assembly. Kids got rewarded for being good.

Life is like a one big Positive Action. The more good you do, the more rewards you get. That's how I feel about 2012. I've busted my bum working--school, my career. And things are coming together perfectly and I couldn't be happier.

I'm not going to tell you what I think will happen. I'm just going to tell you that things can only get better.

High Standards are Okay

noreply@blogger.com (Andreea Cojocariu) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:56:00 +0000

I read the December To-Don't List today from Health Magazine today stating that people who don't set high standards are much happier. I can see why that could be true. I guess some people are never happy with what they have and are pretty discontent. It can be stressful and overwhelming.

Some people though, like me, need to set high standards because we want a better quality of life. My dad brought my family here from Romania in hopes of giving us that better life. And although my childhood was filled with challenges, those high standards to got me where I am today. High standards fuel my drive. I always want better. One of my mentors from SIUE told me that I should never settle. And I won't.

Today, of all days--a day of thanks and being grateful for what we have--I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these standards.

I will admit, work is consuming my life lately. The thing is, I get bored. So am I really going to sit at home and watch TV? I can't sit on the couch and do nothing. Right now, I'm watching Chelsea Lately and writing. I was catching up on my tivo earlier while working on Cruse Entertainment. Besides my day job, Cruse Entertainment is my life outside work. It sounds sad that I'm so bored that I want to work. But that's not 100% true. I love marketing so much that working on projects like promoting St. Louis rap artist, Rob Cruse doesn't really feel like work.

Cruse Entertainment actually has an event tomorrow. It's the Black Friday Skating Party in at the St. Louis Skatium Rink. You should check it out if you're in St. Louis area and want to listen to original St. Louis rap. Rob Cruse is pretty good. My favorite songs are Secret and Welcome to St. Louis.

Now, Rob is awesome because he too sets high standards. We laugh because I said I wasn't going to work today, but did anyway. Not that he thought I was really going to sit still not work. He's as guilty of working all the time as I am. He has an amazing vision for his record label, Cruse Entertainment. And I think that because he works so hard, because he's putting all that work and positive energy out there, he will make Cruse Entertainment a success. I'm definitely going to help him.

So here's to setting high standards and never settling. :)