Lots of Lasts

This week has been a weeks of lasts.  Last day of classes, last college presentation, last test, last paper, last study day eve, possibly even my last blog (haha) the list goes on and on.  It is such a bitter sweet feeling.  I never knew what I would feel when these last few days rolled around.  I am happy to never do another pointless homework assignment, but not so sure how I feel about the real world approaching.  I am ready to get out of Peoria (for once) and have a new experience, but not ready to start paying my own way though.  Everything is going to be so different.  No more relying on mom to transfer money when rent and utulities are due.  Since I have a job right after graduation, I have found myself constantly asking myself the same question, will all these classes I have taken the past four years be the proper preparation I need for a real job?!

I know these thoughts are all so scattered and random, but I figure most of you who take the time to read this are thinking some of the exact same things.

On a lighter note, I got the opportunity to go to West Des Moines this weekend and find an apartment! After two long, stressfuldays of apartment hunting I found one that is a perfect fit for me.   I am obsessed with the town and am ready to start fresh and embark on the next journey in my life =) 

Are the gas prices REAAALLLY necessary?!

I'm sure you all can share my frustration with the ridiculous price of gas!!!! It has been driving me nuts!! I feel over half of my money is going to filling up my tank because I have to drive back and forth to work about every day.  I have always driven a small car since I have got my license.  I remember when it used to take about 25 dollars to fill up my entire tank (and back then I had a gas card, so I didn't pay much attention to how much I aws spending).  Now, I am lucky if that fills up half of my tank. So frustrating.  When I was driving to work the other day I heard this guy on the radio saying how AAA business has gone up about 18% due to the sole fact that people are refusing to fill up their tanks till they are on empty, and thus more people are running out of gas while driving.  I know I am one of those who refuse to fill up my tank till my "low fuel" signal comes on.  I avoid it as much as possible!! I know this is sad that I am complaining about such a minor thing, but once I heard that fact on the radio, it really started getting to me.

On a lighter note, last full week of classes!!!! Can't believe finals are next week.  So so much to do in sooo little time!! Best of luck to everyone with these last few weeks :)

Sir Elton John, a truely memorable experience

Sir Elton John's performance was such a transformational experience for me.  For years now I have been a huge fan of the living legend. My father passed away two years ago this May.  Music was one of his biggest passions, which him and I both share.  He told me that one concert you should see, if you get the chance, is Elton John.  He was right, it was well worth every minute there sharing it with my mom, brother and sister.  I have never been to a concert at the Civic Center where each and each and every seat was filled.  The concert was supposedly sold out within 8 seconds of them going on sale.  My family, friends, and I were so fortunate enough to get a chance go see him live.  I couldn't help but either smile, shed a tear, or sing along to about each one of his songs. 

On a more fun note, my friend and I went to about 4 different stores to find some sweet shades to wear during hte show.  If you know anything about Sir Elton, he is well known for his crazy glasses :) 

SOOOO Happy after the show :)

Workin for the weekend

You know when you have those big events coming up during the weekend and you feel that the week is just going to drag on by, with work about everyday, group projects, tests, etc...?  Well, that's what I thought the case would be this week but was surprisingly wrong.  On Monday, one of my friends offered me an extra ticket to the Jason Derulo and Mike Posner concert...for FREE.  It wasn't thaaat great of a show, but hey it was free and any excuse to listent to live music I take.  Also, gives me an excuse to go out a bit during the week, which will not be an option once this semester is over.  And to make things go by even quicker, I got called off work on Friday, which means the WEEKEND IS HERE.  I have friends coming into town tomorrow, our sorority's last formal on Saturday and going to see ELTON JOHN on Sunday!! Hope you all have a fun and safe weekend as well.  I'll let you all know of amazing Elton is live :)

budget????

The other night I was sitting down with my mom researching potential apartments and places to live in West Des Moines. If it wasn't already stressfull enough, she brought up the one word I had never really even begun to think about, BUDGET.  We had to sit down and make a list of all the necessary things I will need to set aside money for from my paycheck: rent, utulities, gas, groceries, toiletries, the list goes on and on.  Those little things that was always given to me are now all on me.  I was so excited when I first started to figure out what I will take hom each month, but as I started to subtract all the necessary costs, it was depressing. Haha I know that I won't be saving much to begin with, but I think it will be a great feeling to know that I am fully supporting myself, paying for my housing, my food, my gas, etc.  The days till graduation and my big more are slowly approaching.  Time to buckle down these last two months and make the best, but also focus on what's coming ahead.

Apartment Search

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I will be moving to West Des Moines, Iowa! Finally getting a chance to get out of Peoria.  My start date is June 6th, which will be here before I know it!  I feel like there is never enough time. Searching for a place to live through the internet is extremely hard without being able to walk around and get a real feel for the place.  There are so many things to look into, short-term vs. long-term leases; is there a washer/dryer; how much do utitlies run; the list goes on and on.  There are so many things going on this last month its hard finding time to even get down there.  Reality is starting to hit even harder as I start making my lists of what needs to be done by when! Time to buckle down and prioritize and keep a positive attitude to work through this :)

GOT THE JOB

My previous blog talked about how fortunate I was to get to interview over Spring Break at Von Maur's corporate offices.  Yesterday I got the call offering me the job!!!!! I was overwhelmed with happiness.  It was such an amazing feeling.  I am officially accepting the offer and finalizing all the details today.  They have placed me in their West Des Moines location in Men's Sportswear.

I have been asked countless times by family and friends what plans are after graduation and now I have a solid answer to tell them.  It has given me such a big peace of mind to be able to know I have a set plan after graduation.  I had to wrok hard to get this job, making sure I attended each job fair, constantly following up, sending thank you's, and really expressing my interest in their company.  I highly recommend to do all of these things with any job you are looking into in the future. 

Blessing in Disguise

This is my first year that I have never gone anywhere with my friends or family for spring break in college. All of my money was gone back in January when I traveled to London for three weeks.  I figured that this break would be just complete torture being stuck in Peoria where all my other friends are vacationing elsewhere, but little did I know it would be a blessing in disguise.  On Monday I got a call from Von Maur to set up a third and final interview in person at their headquarters in Davenport, IA.  I luckily had the day off work and set up the date the very next day! They were very impressed with my quick and eager response to get there.  The interview went great and I hear back in a couple of weeks! All in all it was nice to relax and work a lot during this past week and not have to worry about much.  Now I get the joy of seeing all of my friend's pictures from spring break, caaan't wait...

Watch what your Facebooks and Twitters

In one of my classes, three women who work for the Peoria Chamber of Commerce came to talk to our class about networking as we are approaching graduation and job-searching.  One topic they hit hard on was keeping your Facebook and other social media forms like Twitter and Blogs clean.  They gave numerous examples of how people have been exactly what they want in an employee and they simply lost the opportunity because of the inappropriateness of their Facebook.  I am always trying to watch what I post and keep it clean, but you also have to keep in mind what other people post on your wall.  We are all associated with some idiots on facebook who feel it is necessary to post about their drunken lives.  Just felt I'd share this as we are all in the process of finding a job and let you know how important it is to keep it private, clean, and watch who you accept as friends!!

Cabin Fever

This past weekend I got the chance to get attend a East Peoria's first annual indoor music festival, Cabin Fever.  I never say pass up an opportunity to go listen to live music, so I gave it a shot.  I have been to many shows around here and done the camping experience, but never have I been to an indoor music festival.  They had a total of 20 bands that played throughout the weekend.  Some people camped out inside the area, but we thought that seemed a bit weird.  Overall, it was a different experience, but I always have a great time when I am with good friends.  For it being the very first trial they did a pretty good job, a few things could be changed if they decide to do it next year. 

We have school this week?

Going to a full week of school seems to be quite a change from last week.  I never thought I would see the day where we had not one, not two, but THREE snow days!!!!! It was unreal; we survived our very first blizzard experience in Peoria.  Peoria weather seems to always over-exaggerate when they predict a snow storm, but they hit the nail right on the head this time.  I had to attend a total of two classes all of last week.  It was great.  Makes the count down of school days to our graduation date go by that much faster.
This week has already been jam packed with school, work, group projects, the job fair, and my second interview.  Making it go by fast, without a second to spare.

Our days our numbered.....

So the other morning I had my very first phone interview for a job post-graduation with Von Maur for their Executive Training Program.  I was so nervous, I could barley sleep the night before.  Turns out, it went very well and I just found out today they are asking me for the second round of interviews!! I couldn't be happier, just makes me realize how quickly the real world is approaching, such a bitter-sweet feeling.  I am ready to move forward with my career path but I just don't want to grow up and face the real world quite yet. I decided to share this on here because I know so many of us are feeling the same thing with majority of the class being seniors. Who wouldn't give anything to go back to freshman year, living the life back in U Hall, those were the days.

First Blog Post

Hello fellow bloggers.  Hence the title, this is my very first experience with internet blogs.  We were assigned to create a blog for the entire semester, so here I am.  I am not very up-to-date on many of the current social media forms such as twitter, linkendon, and now blogspot.  I am excited to become more advanced and "in touch" with all these new forms for this class.  I swear my future blogs will be more interesting.  I am just starting to put the finishing touches on my pages.  That's all for now!