Some Random Somethin’-Somethin’…

I can’t believe it’s already almost half way through February. Wow!!!!!

I need to take a break from homework, so what better time to do a little bit of blogging?

I’m finally starting to get a better feel for what I actually want to go into in the advertising industry. It’s a BIG industry, with so many paths one could take… I don’t have just ONE area in mind, but I have gotten a few choices that are at the top of my list. Hopefully, I can make it in either public relations, some form of marketing, or start out as an account executive. Maybe even creative, which would require me to get a jump-start on busting out a portfolio… I had considered media (planning/buying), but I’ve learned it’s not really something that would be well suited to me… (I’d have a good laugh if that’s where I end up though! I’m just horrible with numbers and formulas…)

Looking at different job opportunities and agencies has made me realize how many of these amazing agencies have offices in places like Vancouver, New York, and in London (UK, not Ontario). These are three places that I’ve wanted to live. I’ve been to New York and to London, never to Vancouver though. Maybe I’ll take a trip out there eventually. I’ve wondered what it would be like to just pack up, and move to a different province or country. I don’t really have anything to tie me down here, which is new for me. It’s almost liberating in a cheesy movie kind of way.

Which makes my mind wander to vacations. (Gotta love how the mind works…) Let’s see… I’ve been south to hot places like the Carribean, Mexico, and Miami. In Europe, I’ve been to Paris, Barcelona, and London. I’ve been to Greece (WOW! Breathtaking views on top of The Acropolis of Athens! One of the most beautiful places I’ve been to, hands down). I’ve been to Egypt (what a different experience). I’ve been to Rome (packed as much sightseeing into one day as humanly possible).

With reading week coming up, I’m tempted to actually go somewhere for a weekend. If I do, it’ll be my first time travelling alone, so I don’t think I’d want to venture to anywhere to exotic. Also, considering I almost got my bag stolen in Barcelona, I probably won’t go there alone either. Maybe I’ll end up just taking a bus to New York, or a flight out to Montreal. Who knows! (Well, I’ll actually probably end up just staying home and exploring the city a bit more haha! )

Well, it’s been a few minutes since I started this entry about pointless babbling… So on the note of daydreaming about vacations, I will end this entry! Have a great day everyone!

-Nikki

 

Merry Christmas!

Or whatever else you celebrate!

So, 2011 has been one crazy year. Let’s see… Well, I’m back in Toronto (yay!), I’m almost finished school (double yay!), and I’m no longer working at the grocery store (sad yay…).

There’s been many other things happening, good and bad, but I won’t bore anyone with the details here! Let’s just say, I’m kinda happy that 2011 is drawing to a close, however there are still some good memories that I will hold close to my heart.

2012 is looking good from where I stand, even though I can’t tell the future. Having this couple of weeks off of school for the break is great, but bittersweet because I’ve realized that this is pretty much the last “break” I will have until I retire. That being said, I can’t WAIT to be working full time again. As much as I LOVE school, and I love learning new things, I really miss being a “professional”.

Hmm… What else to write in this blog? I don’t write in here much, but maybe as a New Years resolution I’ll start. I’m starting my Cook With Nikki blog back up, slowly… Now that I’ve added some decorations to my new kitchen (oh it’s horrid, but the wonders that a can of paint can achieve!), I will be cooking a bit more! I’m also trying my hand at some “vlogging”, so we’ll see how that goes… Check out my other blog to view my first few vlog posts!

Well, that’s all for now folks! I’m outtie for now… Until next time!

Year Two – Time To Start Fresh

Well, the summer holidays passed by quickly! I didn’t have much luck finding a full time job, because, well… There really isn’t much in Milton. I did get a lot of shifts at my grocery store job though, which was great! I even got to move around the store a bit, doing cashier, labels, training new cashiers, and working over-ride/customer service shifts. I’ve learned a lot more in the past year at this job, and gotten so much more experience, then I have at some other places I had been at longer. And all of that out of a part time job that I was just working at by chance because I was lucky enough to see that they were hiring for the new store opening…

Now I’m starting my second month of school year #2, and the homework is already rolling in. It’s tiring, but great! It feels really good to be back. Though now I remember what it feels like to not have much of a life.

As for life in Milton, well… Some things have changed, as things usually do in life, and I’m going to be moving back to either Toronto or Mississauga for the rest of the school year. It’s funny… The older I get, the more accepting I become of life being fluid. I also realize that I don’t know as much as I thought I did ten years ago. It’s somewhat comforting though… I don’t know how to explain it really… But sometimes, I feel like I’m discovering parts of myself that I never knew existed. I like it.

Anyways, It’s late, and I have class at 9:00am. Which means, I leave at a disgustingly early hour in order to get to school.

Good night internet.

Summer Time!

So now year one of school is done. Yay!!!!! I made it this far!

My GPA for the second semester was a happy little 4.0, bringing me to a cumulative GPA of 3.83. I’m pretty content with that, especially considering I didn’t think I’d get anything over a 3.0! (Guess I’m smarter than I thought? )

This “summer” has been alright so far… Looking for a full-time job (not much luck though, as there’s not much in the Milton area), and still working part-time at the grocery store. It’s been a little boring around here, because the husband’s been really busy at work. I haven’t seen much of him actually, so I’ve been finding ways to amuse myself. I guess that’s what happens though, people’s lives get busy and you just see less of each other. C’est la vie! (Thankfully I have Buddy to keep me company! He’s loving that I get to take him for walks so much through out the day!)

I decided to venture out to the Milton Farmers Market on this long weekend. I walked from my house, to the market, and then back home. It took about an hour each way, which is nice. The day before, I got a pretty nasty sunburn, so on my market day I loaded up on the SPF. (When I got home, I still passed out from too much sun, but at least there wasn’t any new sunburn!) The market was okay, but not as impressive as I had hoped. It’s still early in the season, so there’s not as much produce as I would have liked. Soon enough, soon enough…

I did try this one cafe on Main Street in Milton though… It’s called A Country Mile, and they have the best espresso chocolate shortbread. Such nice people who work there too! I love that place, it’s so cute. It’s also a cute little gift shop! I also bought some raspberry flavoured honey from the Bee & Me booth at the farmers market. So my adventure out to the market wasn’t totally in vain.

It’s strange… As much as I’m loving not having to study for any tests or work on any assignments, I actually MISS school. I’m pretty anxious for September, because I’m really enjoying the courses. It’s a lot of hard work, but totally worth it. And I know that the sooner I’m finished this program, the sooner I can get my foot into some work that I’ll really enjoy. Although, I am enjoying the break and summer weather…

As for today, well today is a holiday here, and nothing is open. Maybe I’ll paint, or cook. Who knows. That’s all for now

A New Life…

…Or So It Seems.

Things have changed so much in the past six months. The husband and I have moved into our new home, I’ve left my old job and been in school full-time for one semester. I’m currently half-way through my second semester. The grades have been pretty good, I ended the first semester with a 3.67 gpa. I’m happy with that. I’m enjoying the Advertising program, and I’ve made some friends that I’m happy to have met. I’ve learned a lot of new things, have gotten more comfortable with presenting in front of people, and finally feel that I’m working my brain instead of letting it turn to mush while I sit at a desk all day and do mindless work. (Not to insult my last job, but it left a lot to be desired in terms of creativity, and I really felt that I wasn’t being used to my full potential. I’m smart, and capable of so much more than data entry.)

I don’t have much of a social life at the moment… Mainly because I’m in school from Monday to Thursday, then I work from after school until 11:00pm on Thursday, then I work from 7:00am to 2:00pm on Friday. So Friday’s pretty much a write-off, and then Saturday and Sunday are devoted to homework and studying.

I’m still finding time to work out, and do a bit of cooking, but I’m tired. I’m not complaining though, I enjoy it quite a bit! I’m even going to be volunteering with some events hosted by the school, which is always good…

Life moves so quickly, and sometimes I have to just sit and allow everything to soak in. For a while, I felt like I was letting the artistic side of me slip away. My solution was a committment to doing one full painting over reading week. (This week that just ended.) So I went to the DeSerres art store, and bought some canvas and oils. I got a large rectangular canvas (24″ x 48″), and went to town on it. I spent three full days on it, and was so happy when I was finished. I missed that feeling of just stepping back from the painting, and thinking to myself “damn, I dig it”. Of course I made a bunch of changes to it as I went along, but luckily oils are very forgiving.

Here’s a picture of it:

It’s not really supposed to be anything, I just kind of went with the flow. I had a few preliminary sketches, but nothing concrete. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like it. In the end, that’s all that really matters, right? I’m not doing paintings for anyone else, so the beauty of it is that this is one thing where judgement issued by others doesn’t really matter. I still feel like it’s unfinished somehow; there may still be a need for some geometric images in the yellow area, though I may just leave it be. Who knows.

Well, that’s all for now internet. I’m going to bed!

October

Moving… Leaving my current job… Starting a new part-time job… Starting school… Moving again {the BIG move!}…

I have never been so anxious for the Autumn to come! So many things happening, and I’m so excited… But I’m also so tired! I just want all of this “transitional phase” stuff to be done so I can relax.

October will be a great month… I can’t wait to cook in the new kitchen…

Dive Into Endive

At the St.Lawrence Market this past weekend, I got super excited when I purchased a few (heads?) of endive. I have never had the stuff before, but was set on making some braised Belgian endive au gratin for dinner.

One night passed…Busy, cooked nothing.

Another night passed…Busy, cooked nothing, again.

ANOTHER night passed… I went into the fridge, and was greeted by some slightly browned and soggy endive. A very sad day for me, indeed… Lesson learned: endive probably shouldn’t be kept for much longer than a couple of days at most. Cook it the same night you buy it!

All is not lost though! Well, the endive is lost… But not the urge to cook with it! Hopefully I can find some again next week, and get to cook and taste it!

There will be a post in my cooking blog for this stuff soon!