Amber's First Campaign Launch

Even though this will be posted on Monday - I'm loving that I'm able to sit here in my office and soak up the last hour or so of what's been a fantastic weekend, and overall - a really great, but busy week.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I absolutely LOVE my new job. The work I'm doing, for the first time in my career, is extremely diverse, and I'm working for an organization that I feel is extremely passionate about what they do. That alone feels wonderful and refreshing. I'm not going to be making a habit of talking about my work here - but I do feel more compelled to share what I'm working on more than before.

Which brings me to this week. My first campaign launch, my first press conference, and subsequent things that went wrong. The campaign I've had the privilege of working on is Stop Sex With Kids. It's a touchy subject, of course - and it had it's fair share of challenges to go with it. But I'm very happy with it, and proud of what is now posted on billboards, buses, posters and pins all over Winnipeg. I was blown away by some of the things I learned in the information I was given throughout the process - astounding things that just made me cringe. I hope this campaign really helps bring awareness to a growing problem in Winnipeg, and all over.

We had our big launch on Wednesday - which was supposed to be Monday, but changed very last minute. Thank goodness. A little extra time to prep is never a bad thing. We had a great turnout from the media, and everything went really smooth. Then I noticed the incorrectly posted billboards on the way back to work, uh ohhhhh. Then the first email comes in that the video files of our PSAs don't work on the Media DVDs. Oh NO!

Some quick calls, and a visit to our very helpful IT department, and everything was solved in an hour or so. But holy cow, the stress!

At the end of the day, I was very much looking forward to going home, setting up my DVR to record as many news programs as I could, and see what kind of coverage we got. I even considered stopping to buy a new pair of shoes I had my eye on on the way.

But, that's not quite what happened.

Instead, I witnessed a woman have a serious wipe-out on her scooter. Shoes flying off, scooter scraping the pavement and hitting a parked car, and a woman shaking and convulsing in the middle of the street - and not responding to me at ALL.

I couldn't help but think of William Shatner and all the episodes of 'Rescue 911' I watched as a kid. And the call didn't really go any different than they showed on TV. A few minutes later, I heard the sirens, and help was on their way.

I was happy to have been there to help this woman, and happier still when I got a phone call that evening from the police officer I'd spoken to at the incident. He got a statement from me again, and informed me that the woman was ok. She came to in the ambulance, and they were going to be sending her home in the morning.

I was able to relax the rest of the night, and the rest of the week went way more smoothly. This weekend was SO unbelievably lazy, and it felt great. The rain we've had just made it that much more cozy. I'm looking forward to starting a new week, and a new month - I can't believe it's already MAY!

Oh hai!

Hello friends, remember me?

Two-and-a-half months later, and I'm finally saying hello. How rude, I know. Let me tell you though, life's been buuuuuuuuuuuusy! Holy smokes.

Let me catch you up a bit, shall I?

First up, I love my new job. It's great, and I work for a fantastic organization. Funny thing though: almost six years of working with an outdoor advertising company...and what's the first big assignment I get at my new job? Yep - an outdoor campaign. Haha, I can't divulge the campaign just yet (the official launch is tomorrow!), but as well as that outdoor design, I also got to create the rest of the components to go with it. A big undertaking, but I definitely feel like my career (and career choice) is going in the right direction again.

With the good has come my share of bad as well. Just over a month ago, my grandpa passed away. Although he'd been sick for a while, and knew what the near future had in store - it was pretty hard to take. I've never lost any of my grandparents before Grandpa Ross. I felt so sad about losing him, of course - but I also felt so helpless. I saw and heard my dad hurting, and it broke my heart. He's so much better now, as I knew he would be, but that level of concern and worry is something I haven't felt in so long. I know it'll be back sometime, but hopefully it's long from now.

I was planning on filling you in more on what's been happening - but I fell that the story that's next deserves a post all on it's own. So you're going to have to wait, while I go to sleep and prep myself for what's bound to be a busy press release day tomorrow.

Soon friends, soon :)

A Last Minute Post

My plane is scheduled to leave in 1 hour, 15 minutes. The past few days have been busy with last minute preps to go on a mini vacation to Calgary to visit friends and family, and a couple mountains. Housesitters, lists, and things I had to do have been consuming me.

But, I didn't want to NOT tell you the Big News...I've been offered a job! Yaaaaaay! Turns out, a blizzard and a cancelled first interview were good luck :) I start the very next day after I get back. Whew! What a whirlwind that's going to be.

I'm SO excited, it's been a while coming, but this opportunity is fantastic. I can't wait to get started (and head out shopping for some new work clothes!).

I just. Don't. Know.

It was a busy day today, to say the least. A lot to take in, that's for sure.

And it's put me in this mood tonight that's just not very good, to be honest. It's not that there wasn't good parts to my day (lunch with mom, and a quick visit and chat with Lindsay, among other things) - but I just feel like I'm in system overload. There were a lot of things learned, and a lot of questions asked, and a lot of emotions felt all in the span of less than 12 hours.

I had interview number two today, and although I think it went well - I just don't know what to think about it. I know second interviews are tougher than the first, but I honestly don't know where I stand with them. My stomach feels like it's in one big knot.

I don't feel like being alone here tonight, but I also don't feel like leaving the comfort of my home. My mood is just so WEIRD. Anxiety? Probably. I hate it.

Ok. I can breathe now.

It really seems like the weekend just flew by. They always do, I know. But this one especially.

Friday night began with an unexpected trip to the hospital. Not for me, but to help out and visit my good friend Christine, who was. The good part was being able to help a friend that needed it, and also being able to have an unexpected little visit with both her and Lindsay – who'd just gotten back from holidays hours before. The bad part is being worried about my friend of course, no one likes being in the hospital, or having someone they care about in there.

I'll be having a few words with her about how stubborn she's being, but the good news (again) is that Christine was home the next day.

Saturday was a tad lazy to begin with, but quickly picked up the pace come mid-afternoon. The Boy and I had a 60th birthday party to attend, and I had to make myself pretty :)

It was a fabulous time, and a chance for me to get to know his childhood and close family friends and their wives and girlfriends better. Before I knew it, about 7 of us girls were running up to the bar to quickly grab another drink and jumping back on the dance floor. And did I mention that the dessert table was catered by Dessert Sinsations? Because even if I wasn't in the presence of fantastic company, the two pieces I had of their Berry Torte (my favourite) would have definitely ensured I had a good time anyway. Oh my God that cake is good.

Sunday was BUSY day. Up early, and straight to work on a project I needed to have done for Monday morning. A couple hours later, I was off to volleyball (and winning! Go Ninjas!), and then dashing back home to make dinner for my mom, dad and brother. (Whew!)

My dad is more than a little great. He's come to help me out sooo many times with this new place of mine, I can't even count. I appreciate him so much. Thanks to his quick handywork, I now have lights, a mirror and a brand new towel rack all installed in my freshly-painted bathroom. And I'd be willing to bet a pretty penny that they are all level to an exact if you were to test them. All of that with only a few swears uttered :)

Once The Family had headed home, I was back to the office to finish my project. Aaaaaaand, no wonder I didn't set an alarm this morning. Good thing I had a client to wake me with some changes at 8 this morning.

But I leave you all with some more good news - at least for me...I have a second job interview this week! Wednesday afternoon to be exact, so I really hope the weather cooperates this time.

Wish me luck! I'm pretty excited.

Friday Smile

I'm stealing the Friday Smile idea today, from my dear friend Lindsay (who I'm actually supposed to be leaving to pick up right about now).

My smiles today come from:

All the support comments I've gotten from yesterday's post, you all are awesome, thank you so much!

The fantastic week I've had. From a great interview yesterday, to a fully painted bathroom (with just some fix-ups and finishing touches to add before posting photos).

I got to have a lovely dinner here at my place with my parents on Tuesday night. I love that I have my place that's closer to them now, and that because I don't have to worry about doing laundry at their place - we can trade off the visits, and they can come here instead.

My dad's help on said Tuesday night. When taking things off the wall in the bathroom required tools I didn't have, he was here to help - and always is. I appreciate his help SO much, and even though my mom likes to tease me about it (and how I kinda have this priority level with him, hehe).

I found a thank you card for my dad today (yes, I love to give cards) that says, "If I were a monster, I'd be Thankenstein". I bought three, just in case of future thank-yous needed down the line :)

Happy Friday everyone, hope you all have a great weekend!

Goal: 40 Pounds Down

I don't usually make new year's resolutions. So this isn't a post that's a month late - this is me setting some goals for myself.

I've been feeling like crap lately, and I know that it's because I've gained weight. People have said I look fine, look great, etc - but I just. Don't. Feel it. I'm not the heaviest I've ever been, either - no where near. I'm still about 40 pounds below that mark. But part of the bad feeling is the fear of sloooowly creeping back up, there's no way I can let that happen. I worked hard to lose that weight, dammit!

Sooo, what's my problem then?

I put so many other things first. I'll procrastinate like no one's business. I know I make excuses, when I should really just power through a workout and get it done. I know I can do it, I have before. Two years ago, my boyfriend and I decided to try out P90X. It worked like nothing ever has for me before. I was down to my lowest weight ever, my pants for the first time since I was in the single-digit grades were in single digits! I could do CHIN UPS! With no support chair! I felt great.

But I got sick of it. I got tired of listening to the same guy on the DVDs, the same jokes, same everything. I stopped. And I've never really done consistent workouts since. I try to start again, and I don't finish.

I lost my job in October, and although it sucked, and I wasn't happy about it - I don't think I was depressed. I think it was kinda the opposite. After a few hours of self-pity, I realized it was time to move on from that job anyway. I felt revived in my career choice. Design was exciting for me again. With the help of some key freelance work, I was doing well for myself, and not worried about finding a new job right away.

But at the same time, I was working from home - and getting a little stir crazy. So, I'd go out and meet friends for lunch, because I had the time. Or meet a friend for coffee and a Starbucks-style snack in the afternoon. Not usually on the same day, but some times. That's where it started to add up. These social eating meetings have been terrible to me. Combined with actually being so busy with work at home - again, workouts got shuffled aside. I would do a few a week, but not enough to combat the poor eating.

So now it's time for me to make a change. I need to. If I don't, my mood is not going to get better, and neither is my health.

With that said, I would like to lose 40 pounds this year. I think by starting early in the year, it's attainable, and a healthy goal.

I'm hoping through this blog, and the support of you that read it, it will help me stay on track. I'm hoping you'll talk with me about what you all do to keep fit, or reach your goals. And hopefully you don't mind me suggesting things to you. Maybe it's healthy recipes, or things I do in my workouts, and even just progress marks.

Monday is February first, it's the day I get serious.

Here's my list of things to do to really kickstart this goal:

Workout, minimum 5 days a week

Ideally, it's 6. With a mix of P90X workouts for strength and toning, and Insanity workouts on alternate days for cardio.

Drink more water

I don't drink nearly enough, and it's already bitten me once. Goal starts at 1.5 L per day.

Eat better

This is where I've slacked the most. Nothing unhealthy will come into my house. Meals will be planned, and recipes will be healthy. I will allow myself one cheat day per week - because balance is key.

Weigh myself only once per month, at the END of the month

I so easily get off track when I see that I've made progress, or discouraged when I don't. I can't do this anymore.

Take a self-photo at the beginning, and at the end of each month

These will NOT be posted on the internet. I have limits, people. It's a pretty big step for me to even be talking this personally on here. I may get more confident as months pass.

Blog

What I've done, good or bad, for myself each day. Maybe if I see it in writing, it'll hit home faster. I hope so.

I think those are good starting points to aim for, and I have others in mind already for the next step. Do you have any others for me? I'm really hoping for all the support I can get here :)