My New Obsession

I can admit that I did not get my mom's good cookin' trait. My brother did, but I didn't... isn't that sad? Anyways, I have been really trying to cook since I moved to Hawaii because going out to eat is so expensive. Although I hate to admit this... Nathan is actually quite the chef and he cooks for us most days. When I cook it's like an experiment of a recipe I found. He doesn't need a book of recipes, he's like every person with cooking skills... they have this common sense of cooking and toss a little of this, a tad bit of that, and know exactly how long it should cook and the result is awesome. I don't have that... at all. But I figure if I need to start somewhere, that cookbooks are a good option.
I probably will have to use cookbooks for the rest of my life because I can see myself leaving out an ingredient if I go by memory alone. BUT... I have found the greatest recipe website EVER! So, now I don't think I'll have the impulse of going out and buying recipe books. I have a collection of cook books, some that I've never even made one recipe from. I just love to BUY the cookbooks with the intentions that it will have awesome recipes that I can make, then I store it in the cabinet with such delight and then... never use them. WELL, since I've come to Hawaii I have made quite a few. Just to show you a bit of my cookbook purchasing habit, I moved to Hawaii June 23rd. When I arrived at our condo, I had TWO cookbooks waiting for me that I ordered from amazon, since then I have purchased 3 MORE. So, I have 5 cookbooks that I have added to my collection in a matter of less than 2 1/2 months, not including the many that I have in Texas. I also have an obsession with amazon.com , I can spend HOURS just browsing and reading reviews on all kinds of books and CDs. But I can proudly say that I HAVE been using these cook books and that I've made several great meals.
Well, I might reduce my cookbook purchases, that's if I don't just stop completely. I found this website http://www.recipezaar.com/ it is AWESOME. People upload their very favorite recipes on here and then regular people like you and me go and make it for themselves then go back to the website and write a review on it and say how many stars they give it, and leave comments on any additions, subtractions, or substitutions they made and how it taste. I am so excited about this because it is a plethora of recipes. I mean you can type in chicken and get THOUSANDS of recipes with just chicken recipes. Then I usually type in what I want to search. I typed "tuna" to see all that came up and then I hit sort by: RATINGS. That means they will give you the recipes in order of the ones that got the best reviews to the least. THEN... I discovered that people actually upload their own cookbook with their favorite recipes. For example, for people that actually are really great at cooking and have recipes that have been passed down to them or has great recipes from their mother-in laws, neighbors, co-workers... you name it, they put the recipes under their own cookbook and you can view their personal cookbook of their favorite recipes. I can't rave enough about this website. The only problem is that I spend hours looking at it and saving the recipes but then don't get up to go buy the groceries to make it, haha. But today I am, I have saved quite a few of the ones I want to try and now it is time to try them. I just wanted to share this website because it's awesome and it's like getting thousands of cookbooks for FREE. You can get a membership that let's you save your favorite on their website let's you add notes to those recipes and things like that, but for now I'll go for the free and have access to all the recipes. So, try it out and see what you think! I made a Weight Watcher's Key Lime Pie recipe this week and it was delicious... so they have all kinds of recipes there!

New Haircut

I was getting tired of having the same ol' look but still wanted my length so I decided that maybe getting bangs would give me a new look without having to do something drastic. Well, I love it! I got side swept bangs with long layers. It's funny because anyone who knows me, knows that I put no effort into my hair. But now I have bangs that I have to straighten every day, but obviously it's not a big deal but it's funny because that's as much effort as I put into my hair. However, maybe this is a baby step to me using a bit of more products and playing with my hair some.

I was so nervous in trying to find a stylist to cut my hair. My mom as yall know is the one that always cuts my hair. Last summer when I went to Italy was the first time some other person had cut my hair besides my Mom. I googled forever trying to find a stylist and read reviews, I didn't really have much luck. I decided to hit up the mall... I know that sounds scary to get a hair cut in the mall but actually it turned out great.

Sexy huh?

I had a really bad feeling something was not right when I woke up the following morning and my neck hurt in every direction. I was really hoping that I didn't have "whiplash" and just happened to be sore. I decided that me not being able to turn my head or look down without sending a shocking pain was not normal. So I decided to go to a chiropractor and get it checked out. Well, to my dismay I indeed did have whiplash. After I dislocated my shoulder over 2 years ago and leaving it untreated for so long and still suffering because I didn't catch it early on, I refuse to do the same with my neck which is much more sensitive. So, I am having to go to the chiropractor on a daily basis for right now (hopefully this doesn't last long). The chiropractor showed me the X-rays and there are 2 slips on two of my disk that slip more when I look downward but still apparent when looking in all directions. So, I have been instructed to put an icepack on it and take it easy, and wear this attractive neck brace. I know things could have been a lot worse but gosh... this really ... is more that annoying!

First Day of Work

I was excited to hear the phone ring this morning and being asked if I could come in to work today. I jumped out of bed and tried to get ready as soon as I could. I was excited that the next day after putting in my official paperwork I called into to sub. Hopefully I get called in often enough to pay for all my bills... that's the drawback to being a sub. Anyways, I had a great day. I got placed with a teacher to be an aid in a special needs classroom and when I got there I had no idea what to expect. I arrived to meet a super friendly and helpful teacher along with 5 preschool cuties. What a day in the park it was... in comparison to having 22 students by myself... I had 5 students with a teacher in the same room. Anyways, I had a good first day of work and was introduced to a lot of teachers that wrote my name and phone down so that they could possibly call me if they need a substitute. Luckily, I was placed with a great teacher today, she showed aloha spirit and introduced me to everyone and gave me a tour of the school. My day was going great and I headed home in hopes to go to this beach that the teacher recommended I go to, but then my day turned for the worst... Nathan and I got into a car accident while heading to the beach. More details will be posted on http://natnnate.blogspot.com/ later.

Working Woman

I will have to admit that I haven't written in a while because I have been sort of sad due to my failure of finding a job. Nathan kept assuring me that I had only been searching for a job for about 2 weeks or so and not to get down on myself because I hadn't found anything yet. It felt like it had been a LONG MONTH of me searching and submitting a million resumes and not hearing anything from employers. I decided I needed to go to a staffing agency and see if they perhaps could help me out. I didn't even have much luck finding these places. May I just say this... that Honolulu is AWFUL with downtown parking and as a result I had a hard time even finding these temp agencies. I was about to give up... I couldn't find a job on my own and here I am a professional with a degree yet I feel that it is useless here, then once I decide to go through a temp agency... I can't find the darn buildings and if I happen to find them... I can't park. I finally was able to locate and park at one and arrived just in time to where I could finish the entire "interviewing process" in one day. I have always thought to be good at computers. And by good I mean, I use them on probably an hourly basis .. haha.. and that I feel secure about using Microsoft Word and not a complete stranger to Excel. I felt like I had a great basis and that I could be a good receptionist. So, the receptionist at the temp agency directed me to a computer and told me that I would be taking several test testing my computer skills, starting with my typing skills. Well, as it turns out my typing... is not good enough. I can type well when I look at the screen the entire time and sort of type what is in my head, but when it comes to copying a document and having to look away from the screen and going back and forth from the screen to the paper... I lose my place and I type AWFUL! Especially since they time you on these things and I just sit there trying to find the line I was typing in the midst of this size 10 single spaced font full page paragraph. Moving on, they test my Microsoft Work skills. I thought, "Finally, something I know well!". Oh, boy was I wrong! This program was my lifesaver while I was teaching and I felt like I knew a bit more than just the basics. Well, as it turns out that there are functions on Word that I never even knew of and it wasn't covered in my computer class in high school so... the one program I felt like I knew to the T... I didn't. I was sitting in this chair just losing about 5% of my confidence with every wrong answer. Even getting the correct answers weren't good enough to cheer me up... I was so down and upset. I did so-so on the Word test, but I was upset because I thought I was going to do great. Moving on to the Excel portion of the test... OK Excel is a lot more advanced than word, everyone knows that. I know how to insert data, use the basic functions, and make a graph and make it look nice. But of course that would not be good enough, I have to know about macros and I don't know what else they asked me. So obviously, that part of the exam did not go very well although I surprisingly guessed correctly on some of the questions. I think at this point God just wanted to give me some peace because I was just in disbelief at my lack of skills. Sadly, the only skills I scored 100% was those that I would hope everyone would get... basic addition and alphabetical order. Upon finishing these test I was just wondering why the heck I was having to go through all of this... I feel I'm a smart, professional, hard working, and loyal person yet it seemed no one would even call me to set up an interview with me. I suppose being a teacher doesn't say much to these people and all my other jobs were college part time jobs that were nothing special at all. Finding an entry level job that paid enough to pay my rent and bills was going to be tough. I waited a bit, then I was interviewed by some girl from New Mexico. She was nice and gave me some hope about finding a job that paid decently. In the meantime she asked me if I wanted to take this one job where I would call people and ask for donations of their time for the MDA association which would be for about a month. I thought to myself, "Am I going to be one of those people that get hung up on a hundred times a day or get told 'no thanks' and do that all day long. It didn't sound promising and decided to call back the next day and turn the offer down.

So, this temp agency was not very helpful and I started thinking that perhaps I should be a waitress. I was thinking that perhaps I could make good tips and I would be alright. Then I started thinking about substitute teaching again. I had ruled it out before because I was hoping to find an entry level job doing or helping with HR/PR and that it could be something I could add to my resume and follow up on in Texas. But obviously this was not going to work out as it turns out people from here are very weary about hiring anybody from the "mainland". So, although I knew that substitute teachers didn't get any medical benefits... at this point I just needed a job.
So I decided to hit the website again and see what the first step was to become a substitute teacher. There was something about a 30 hour class I needed to take, along with a $50 test, and before I even considered taking the 30 hour course I had to be sponsored by an administrator at a school that would approve me to even be considered to take the course. Schools here have their own individual substitute list, not like at the school district where I worked where you were submitted for the entire district. You have to go to the schools individually where you would like to possibly work and see if they have any openings on their sub list to add you. I decided to go for it anyways and see what would become of it.
I went to a nearby school but it seemed that because the Vice principal wasn't there, they didn't know much about the substitute program and I left without any answers. I went to another school and I am happy to say that they were happy to sponsor me. The principal was so nice and friendly and he even offered me an extra possible job of tutoring after school if I felt I didn't make ends meet or whatever because I had expressed my concern of not having a stable income with substitute teaching. He also asked me if I was willing to substitute for aides who were in charge of special education students. While I have no prior experience with SPED kids, I figured it wouldn't hurt to add it to my resume for later and it would give me more of a chance to get called in for a job. So I accepted, I don't know what I got myself into but I pray that it will all work out. I'm still nervous because like I mentioned, substitute teaching isn't a set job Monday through Friday. So, my money is based on other teachers getting sick or unable to go to school and giving me the chance to work. I hope to get on 3 schools' list to substitute and hope that it will provide enough work. The principal said that he sees me being a pretty constant sub once the teachers get to know me and add me to their personal list if they happen to be off. I hope so... this job is risky but at this point like I said I just need a job. So, yall pray for me and that this will work out. I thought about being a waitress like part time since school is over at 3, but I'm not sure if I want to spend most of my time working... then what was the point of moving to Hawaii if it was just going to move to work a lot and pay for the ridiculous rent and leaving me no play time. I'll obviously have to see how it goes because if this sub thing doesn't work out then I obviously have to think of something else, but hopefully after I get my transcript the ball starts rolling and I can get called in to sub and enter the substitute teaching world... which scares me because I here it's completely different than being a classroom teacher but oh well...it will have to work. Oh, and as it turned out that I found out that I am exempt from the 30 hours course and the test, YAY!!

What a bummer...

I was so excited when I heard my phone ring and the caller ID showed an 808 number. I thought to myself, "Yay, someone is calling me about my resume I submitted". I even answer it saying, "This is Natalie *****". That was sort of unnecessary but I figured it sounds more professional. I couldn't hear the lady very well that was talking on the other end, I sort of missed the whole introduction of who the company was and didn't get to really key in till she said, "Are you still looking for a job". Then alas I heard her and said, "Yes, yes I am". She asked me to tell her a little about myself and why I think I would be good for the job. Or this is what I thought I heard. I'm either going more deaf by the hour or the connection was pretty bad, both are a great possibility. I went on about how I am a teacher and that I have a lot of qualities and experience that can transfer over to the office workplace. She sort of kept quiet so I suppose that meant... "keep sharing". In attempting to "sale myself" I mentioned how I was a kindergarten teacher and that in itself shows the ability to be able to multi-task. She said that she would like to set up an an interview for the following day at 11:45 at their office. I asked if this was in Pearl City because I first thought maybe this position was the State Farm Insurance position I applied for and she politely said it was located in Honolulu. At this point I realized it was the Foster Care Agency position that I had applied for because I hadn't really submitted any resumes because I haven't been able to find that many positions that I feel would suit me well. I was excited because this job deals with children and I could still make a difference in their lives in a different way. As she started to give me the directions I scrambled to try to find blank paper and was unsuccessful and ended up writing the directions on the white frame of the closest newspaper, she said I would be receiving an e-mail from them later that day. I was so excited! I wrote up my cover letter and my reference page. Thinking about what I was going to wear and I knew that this job was going to pay enough for me to stay on track with my budget.
I checked my e-mail over and over that day waiting for the e-mail so that I could see if there was any extra information on how to arrive there since my chicken scratch on the newspaper was confusing even to me. I didn't seem to get an e-mail from the agency but I did get this e-mail from some insurance company saying how they are looking forward to meeting with me at our appointed interview time. I was so confused, I let Nathan look at it and asked him what he thought that meant because I KNEW I hadn't made an interview with them. I decided to call the number that called me earlier, it was after hours and as I expected it went to the company voicemail. Well, turns out the same company that e-mailed me was the same company that called me. Wow... how the heck did I just assume it was the foster care agency calling me. I suppose because I really had only put in for those 2 jobs and I think this company sort of called me after viewing my resume online and never even considered that an option. I started to feel uneasy about the interview because I had no idea what this company REALLY did. My boyfriend told me to go anyways to just check it out. I couldn't help but be disappointed but I figured I'd try it out. That morning I woke up and decided to Google more about this company. I type in "I worked for American Income" just to see if anything popped up. Well, it did and the first result was "American Income: a fraud?". I thought to myself, "GRRREAT!". I read a lot of comments of people that had tried the company and others that were thanking the people that let them know to not waste their time going to the interview where they only try to get you to join this company who actually IS a Fortune 500 company but its based on a pyramid sort of scheme, so it's based on making more people join and who knows having to invest money to take their test. Anyways, I had heard enough... this was obviously a waste of my time, gas, and energy. I told Nathan I wasn't going to go because it was a bogus company. He text me back saying I should go anyways but just not to buy anything if they wanted to sell me anything. GOSH... I didn't see the sense in it. He probably just wanted me to get out of the house and give me something to do. Well, I really didn't want to go but oh well... I decided to do it anyways.
So, I started to get ready and really putting more effort into looking nice for my driver's licence picture. So, I get ready and type in the address in my GPS system where it takes me straight over there without any problems. Well there was a problem, but not one that my GPS system could help me with. Parking... oh my goodness this is one of the things that can be very annoying about Hawaii... the lack of parking. I hardly ever have to deal with this issue because I have covered reserved parking for my apartment, I brag about this because sadly some apartments say that parking is not included. But the day of this interview I am in this unknown place with no parking spots left. I circled around so long and had to go around so many blocks to see if maybe I could walk to the office from a distance. But I couldn't even park far away, at this point I was irritated and decided to call the office to let them know I am unable to find parking and to see if they have any suggestions. Ring.. ring... voicemail picks up. OK, I'm sorry but if a company doesn't seem to have a receptionist than I don't want to work there. I left a message that I would be canceling my appointment due to the lack of parking. I really didn't care about this job so I was glad to finally get out of there.
I headed straight to retake my driver's written exam. I passed this time...phew. So, I have my Hawaiian driver's licence now which I think is cool except they took my Texas DL away.
So, no job yet...

Job hunting

I'm not going to lie, I admit I was taking it easy since I arrived in Hawaii. Getting a job was on my list of "things to do" but it was something I was going to get around to doing after I accomplished my priority of taking my much deserved break. I would say that the break is over now unfortunately and it is time to start looking for a job. I started thinking and realized that basically every job I have had was because of a connection I had. I never had to turn in a resume or get in my car and go from place to place. This inexperience of acquiring a job makes it that much more difficult. I can't even hop in my car and drive around to areas I think might have openings because well... I'm in Hawaii and I don't know the area well.

I've posted my resume on a few websites that employers browse through (hope so at least). I've sent off a few resumes so hopefully I will get a nibble. It's difficult to get a job that pays enough to make sure all my bills are paid every month. It's even harder finding a job that wants people with 2+ years experience working in an office setting. I obviously have no office experience and I'm having a hard time selling myself with my elementary education degree. I say I'm having a hard time, but I just started these past couple of says so maybe I'm being too hard on myself because I haven't heard from an employer yet. Anyways, I hope someone sees my potential and can give me an opportunity at proving that my skills as a teacher can transfer to an office job as well. So keep me in your prayers that I find a good job.