In the Thick

Courtesy of Tea n Honey Bread

- More photos from Naturals Night Out via Karen of Naturally Beautiful Hair Blog. My 'fro was completely doing its own thing due to some interesting results from some leave in conditioner, but I rocked it anyway. I love seeing everyone's point of view when they post their pictures, and I love when I find myself in them.

Hanging with Fatemeh of Fatemeh's Jewelry and Accessories

- I'm pretty unaffected by the death of Osama Bin Laden, except to say that the shock of some to the reactions of some is very interesting. Facebook was ablaze with status updates of disgust with the fact that we as Americans were not viewing Bin Laden as a human being, who was killed. We were instead celebrating the fact that it was us who killed him. While I agree that we really haven't gained anything to celebrate by Bin Laden's death, the act of standing around with pitch forks is nothing new in this country. I just hope that all who think Bin Laden's death means the "end" of something are not that foolish.

- Speaking of the government, Emma began standardized testing this week. Her thoughts on it:

"There will be questions that we wont know because the questions were created by people in the government who aren't in any schools. They don't know what 2nd graders know. 2nd graders know more about what we know than the government does." *tear*

Obviously her teacher has given the class a little low down on what lies beneath these tests. Nonetheless, she found the first day of testing to come easily.

- A little over a month left until the freedom of summer! Everybody wants to know what Emma will be doing for the summer. They wanna know which high priced camps she'll be attending. Listen, we're both looking forward to lounging and hanging. We miss days at the beach and fun at the water park. This is what we do during the summer time. We enjoy each other! I wont say that a camp is completely out of the question, but I wont be booking her entire summer with them.

- This end of this month marks 1 year post 2nd big chop for me! I still can't believe I'm coming up on a year of growth. With all of the fly low cuts around here, I'm both surprised and proud of myself for resisting the urge to go back to feeling the sun on my scalp. I've had a lot of inspiration though from watching the growth of so many others. I watch them and notice just how much my own hair has grown during this year period. I think I have a good 3 1/2 inches going on. I'm planning a blow out and length check to celebrate!


What's going on with you?

A Week in Review

Courtesy T. Allen-Mercado

- I've gotten requests for 4 slouch hats this week. All stemming from the slouch hat and neck warmer that I made for Emma.


I'm excited about the possibility of this hat becoming a favorite at Baby Squares. I enjoy making them. I am going to start making more of an effort to promote Baby Squares. I need to start growing my brand, and a huge part of that is to start viewing it as a brand! Good thing I have great women artists such as Tameka of Pretty in Peace, Tie of Fly Tie Clothing, and Rachel Steward of Rachel Stewart Jewelry to look to as great examples of how things in the craft world should be done! Thank you ladies for leading the way.

- My 2 eyes are about to become 4. According to the findings of my eye exam, I have a renegade left eye. I figured that much, since my vision is a little blurry in that eye, and my migraines also start there. I have astigmatism, and a couple of tiny holes near the retina and blood vessel, along with Sarcoidosis. The doctor says that it appears to have been there for a while and wants to see me back in 6 months. Guess that's what happens when you go 10+ years without having your eyes checked. Ooops. I got a prescription for some glasses, which I am looking forward to. I have been dying for some cute readers (although the doc didn't recommend any reading glasses for me).

- I braved Back to School night and I'm glad I did. Emma's teacher is great. Its going to be a very different year than last. Her teacher this year is experienced, and is very confident about her curriculum. It doesn't hurt that she has a degree in Botany either. Emma loves science and math, the placement couldn't have been more perfect. I think she is going to walk away with some tremendous growth at the end of the year!


What have you been up to?

A Week in Review

Courtesy of T. Allen-Mercado

- I returned to the organization that I've been working with toward job readiness and securing housing to claim my gift card for getting a job. They have a list of services that they provide once you are employed, as well as a host of services to prepare you for employment, such as interview clothing. I chose a gift card to Ross so that I could add a couple of pieces to my work wardrobe. In addition to that, I learned that I was entitled to shop for clothing at the local thrift shop, AND get a new pair of shoes from the local Payless Shoesource. Score! Its been a while since I've done any thrift shopping and was surprised at all I found. I even had to put a few items back because they went over budget. I was able to snag a pair of dress pants that fit much better than the ones I bought for my first day of training, a button down shirt, a nice belt, a cute dress, and a super cute and trendy purple blazer. I am awaiting the call of the intake specialist to let me know when I should go down to the organization to pick them up!

- I've been working on repairing and building relationships. Well, really just one relationship in particular. So far, so good.

- I finally got myself an eye exam scheduled, at no cost to me. I could have cried after finding out that my medical insurance is now being accepted for eye exams at the Eye Care Clinic on my college campus. Because of the state's budget, vision and dental coverage have been eliminated for adults. I have been in need of an eye exam for a looooog time. I have the migrains to prove it. Now, those cute pair of readers that I want wont only exist in my fantasies. Furthermore, I got in contact with another organization that can hook me up with the Sears Optical department for a FREE pair of glasses. I'm telling you, I have been on the grind ya'll, for real!

- Remember the $25 gift certificate from Pretty in Peace that I blogged about last week? Well, I WON!! That bit of news made my day. Tameka has such beautiful collections, I will be honored to spot her wares. I already know which pair of earrings I will be getting, and I even let Emma pick a pair of posts for herself. I'll share with you when we receive them. Be sure to head over and check out the greatness that is Pretty in Peace.


What have you been up to?

A Week In Review

Courtesy of T. Allen-Mercado

- I finished my Job Prep Workshop. Days 4 and 5 rendered some useful information, like, what comes next after this initial step in regaining my footing. I'm proud of myself for not losing momentum. I got a certificate out of the deal, a better understanding of how to sell the skills I have, some tools to help me get the skills I don't have, and the comfort of seeing my support team expand.

- As the workshop was nearing a close on Friday I got the call I was looking for. One from the recruiter with the temp agency I'm registered at. I was supposed to be heading down to their office to sell myself in hopes of being chosen for a receptionist position. Long story short, I was told that I was not chosen, and then called back that evening and told that I in fact had been chosen. Confusion on the part of the recruiter. I spent my Saturday trying to get all of my ducks in a row to be as prepared as possible for today's training. That's right, today is my very first day of work!

- I'm nervous and anxious about what I will be walking into. Its been over 2 years since I've been a part of an office. But that's why training exists, right? At the end of the day, the folks that I will be sharing an office with are just people, who hopefully will not bite as they teach - I will learn.

- I'm just about finished with Emma's school shopping. I started making her neck warmer to go with her beret. I'm considering making a flower attachment to add to her hat. I think that will be extra cute! I got my second haircut since my second big chop. Not exactly a haircut, but just a fresh line to help define my style. Does this mean that I am growing my TWA again? I don't know. I'm rolling as the hair spirits move me. I will be regrowing, I just don't know if that will be right now or come Dec/Jan.

What have you been up to?

A Week In Review

Courtesy of T. Allen-Mercado

- I attended an employment and housing orientation to learn more about services offered by a local organization. I had such anxiety sitting there, taking everything in. The majority of my assistance search has resulted in me finding out that, in order to be assured the help I was seeking, I either had to be a battered woman trying to escape her abuser or have a drug addiction. Just being a regular old plain jane, down on her luck isn't always enough to qualify for certain programs. Luckily, I didn't meet those challenges with this particular program. I have a 5 day Job Prep Workshop to look forward to next week. And then on to vocational counseling, employment services, and housing, with hopefully some mental health assistance thrown in there too. The road to wellness is how I'm viewing it.

- My granddad finally made it back home. He hadn't even taken a nap yet before he and my grandma were in the car and gone. Things to do and people to see. To ignore your limitations is to be both admired and cautioned.

- Emma is officially headed toward puberty. I've been keeping an eye on her little buds for a while now, but last night, we went from colorful boob humor to full on conversations of breast development. Complaints of breast pain, and the sight of swelling landed us in the doctor's office today. Nothing abnormal was found or immediately expected, but considering all the facts, including her age, she got a Bone Age X-ray. The doctor wants to be sure that there isn't anything serious contributing to her early development.

- Got another email response back to a position that I applied for a couple of months ago. It was an office position in a very familiar setting. One I think I would have been happy with, BUT, they too decided to go with someone else. They said they had 300 resumes to review, and there were candidates who better fit the position than I did. Again, this was a position that I was confident I'd be great in. The bigger picture here is that I probably need to be looking in other fields, but I'm made for an office position, so that's where I will continue to try to get my foot in the door.


What have you been up to?

A Week in Review

Courtesy of T. Allen-Mercado

- With the approaching return home of my granddad, and the impending relocation of my grandparents to their new home in Vegas, my laptop has been in constant use this week. There is a lot to figure out. Generating income, locating a new place to live, carving out a nook to work on and grow my Baby Squares business; and more immediate responsibilities, such as getting Emma prepared for 2nd grade (revisiting math, reading and writing), and putting a wellness plan in place for myself.

- I've applied for a few more jobs since learning that I had not gotten one I was hoping to get. And learned of a few that are available with my county. The application process for county jobs is about 3+ months long, but the salary and benefits are decent, and once you have your foot in the door, you're in.

- I contacted an agency that provides housing assistance, and will be meeting with them on Wednesday. I am hoping that I walk away a little more confident that we will be going to bed under a roof that we can call all our own soon. I'm hoping that I walk away from next week on a new path and out of this damn circle.

- It would be great if, when I check back with my daughter's before and after-school program, they tell me that we've been selected to continue being subsidized. If not, no child care, which means that I will have an even harder time finding work. I am trying to collect all of my positive vibes and send a little in every direction. We need things to work out.

What have you been up to this week?