Sunday, January 27, 2013

Beginning the Job Search

This week I sat down with my teacher to go over my resume. I've been using the same resume for years, because it works for me. Any time I've sent it out to multiple jobs, I always get at least a couple of interviews. But since the healthcare field is so different from what I'm used to in the business world, I just felt that I needed his professional viewpoint on what all I needed to include. He really loved my resume though and honestly felt that I needed very few changes, which really surprised me! We actually use a form of resume called a vitae. Has anyone ever heard of that before? It basically is just a more thorough resume with paragraphs explaining your experience instead of bullet points. It is the perfect format for me considering that is exactly how my resume already was!

Then we discussed what I will do after graduation. I am going to register for two summer classes and finally get on my way towards completing my bachelor's degree! I cannot wait until May 2014! My teacher is a great advisor and friend. He knows that despite my personal motivation to continue my education, I also need a big push to actually achieve my goals. I don't plan to stop with just a bachelor's degree. I told him that I never planned to even be in this situation. I dreamed of going off to college and eventually moving to a big city or another country. I never planned for my PaPa to die two months into my college career and to end up in a 6 month long bout of depression that I vaguely remember. I never planned to move back home when I was 20 years old, or even to get a full-time job making the move so permanent. And I certainly never planned to enroll in community college for a degree in anything medical. My life is so opposite of what I ever expected it to be. I told him that, and how I felt so behind all of my friends who have moved to those bigger cities and who have real jobs making lots of money. They get to travel with their friends and families and go out to try new things. I feel like I am a level below them because I am still a college student at the age of 24. Seriously? That sounds so awful for me to basically admit that I'm jealous of what they have. But it's all very true.

But because my teacher has also become a good friend, he pushed me to express what I really want to accomplish in my life. I never want to be just a respiratory therapist. Once I get my bachelor's, I want to get my master's in healthcare management. I eventually want to be in management, possibly owning a business related to the field. But I even shared with him that I still have dreams of going to law school and being a lobbyist. I still love business and law and government and politics. Those will always be a part of me. He assured me that all of these things do make sense together and my dreams aren't out of left field! But his best advice, and something that will always stick with me, is not to compare myself to what others have. They have finished school and are now in what is the rest of their life. But I have not finished school, and clearly my educational goals are nowhere near complete. So how can I compare my life, where I am still climbing the ladder, to someone who has already reached the top of their ladder. I currently don't see an end to my ladder! And I hope that it continues to be that way throughout my life. I'm admitting that I am going to be one of those lifetime learners who never stops setting new goals and achieving bigger and better things!

found here



Thursday, January 24, 2013

Walmart vs. Aldi

As most of you know, I love getting a deal on anything from food to clothes and even toilet paper. I'll admit I have an issue haha! I don't go grocery shopping very often, some due to the fact we are broke the majority of the time but mostly because I buy at lower prices and stock up. We did a big trip a little over a month ago getting enough produce and other necessities to last for a couple weeks. But it ended up lasting a month. There were a  couple of runs to the store for bananas, milk, and bread though. I eat a banana almost every single day. And I don't like them yellow. I want them green! This past Monday, on my wonderful day off school and work (and not because of the holiday), I had time to actually get some groceries. We had gone to Walmart the night before to get a few items that we absolutely needed, but I saved the rest for Aldi. I just wanted to show you guys a comparison between the two and how much I got at each store. A lot of people don't like Aldi, I guess because they don't have many name brands. But I threw brands out the window a long time ago. There are very few brands, as far as foods go, that I must have! Maybe this will make you want to give Aldi a whirl.

Walmart
Poptarts 16 ct. $3.50
Mott's AppleSauce $2.68
Drainpro $2.97
Gain Dish Detergent $1.97
Great Value Pancakes $3.24
(4) Diet Caffeine Free Sundrop $1.00 each
(2) Diet Rite Cola $1.00 each
Animal Crackers $2.48
Great Value Marshmallows $.96
Tony's Pizza $1.36
Rice Krispies $2.98
Bananas 2.71 lbs. $1.54
Total: $30.79



Aldi
Sweet Potatoes 3 lbs. $1.69
Red Potatoes 5 lbs. $1.49
(2) Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix $.49 each
Lunchmate Ham & Turkey Sub Kit 20 oz. $4.99
(2) Libby's Pumpkin Pie Mix $1..45 each
(2) Bread Crumbs $.89 each
Tomatoes 3 pack $1.19
Skim Milk gallon $3.49
Sirloin Tip Steak 2 lbs. $10.03
          $2 off coupon = $8.03
(2) Bugles $.99 each
(2) Fit & Active Turkey Hotdogs $1.29 each
Coconut Flakes $1.49
Blueberries $1.59
(2) Mushrooms $.79 each
Frozen Peaches 1 lb. $1.99
Frozen Strawberries 1 lb. $1.99
(2) Fruit Gushers $1.49 each
Turkey Tenderloins 2 lbs. $4.99
Peppers 3 pack $1.99
Total $50.82



I know this isn't a direct comparison because I obviously bought very different items from each place. But I feel like I got so much more for only $20 more! Not to mention I bought 6 lbs. of meat at Aldi, and mostly got extras at Walmart. The produce at Aldi is unbeatable in price. It is always the cheapest as far as everyday pricing goes. And just to throw this in, I usually buy milk from wherever. The milk at Walmart was $4.23 a gallon! I refuse to pay that much right now. We go through a gallon a week, so that's over $50 for the year!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Menu Plan Monday 1/21-1/27


Monday: Sandwiches
Tuesday: Sour Cream Chicken with Butterbeans and Corn Pudding
Wednesday: Fish Tacos with Refried Beans and Brown Rice
Thursday: Grilled Skirt Steak with Sweet Baby Carrots and Creamy Crockpot Ranch Potatoes
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Honey Dijon Turkey Tenderloins with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Green Peas
Sunday: Leftovers

Monday, January 14, 2013

Menu Plan Monday 1/14-1/20


Monday: Cube Steak Fingers with Gravy with Baked Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Squash and Onions
Tuesday: Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki with Brown Rice and Sweet and Sour Cauliflower Bites with Low-Fat Ranch
Wednesday: Barbecued Pork Chops with Green Beans and Corn Casserole
Thursday: Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Turkey Hotdogs with Crinkle Fries and Baked Beans
Sunday: Leftovers