tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21066927985522630062024-02-19T17:10:17.405-08:00Soul and ArtA twenty-something reflects on life through her random musings, artsy posts, and media reviews.Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-12522341436133484752014-01-31T16:47:00.002-08:002014-01-31T16:48:28.783-08:00Final January NaBloPoMo entry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<li><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you good at influencing other people? </span></b></li>
<li><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you could persuade people to do one thing right now, what would it be? </span></b></li>
<li><b style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you feel a lot of pressure with January's NaBloPoMo?</span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I have been missing in action these past three days but I wanted to finish up the <span style="line-height: 22px;">NaBloPoMo January challenge by answering the last few questions listed below! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">1. I would like to think that I am good at influencing people as I am now in sales/recruiting. I am just starting off in the field though so I hope I continue to improve my influencing ability. As I mentioned earlier I am naturally an introvert but I enjoy connecting and influencing other people. I just need my alone time to recharge now and then!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">2. If I could persuade people to do one thing right now it would be to ship me some chocolate and free clothes for being awesome! OK, just kidding. I would persuade negative people to be more understanding and considerate of others. I have seen too much negativity lately and I think life is too short for that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">3. Surprisingly, I did not feel a lot of pressure with January's NaBloPoMo. I thought I would but my blogging has slowly become a habit. Except for the last three days of course! I will cut myself some slack since this was my first week on the new job. In fact, I enjoyed this month's challenge so much that I am going to sign up for February! Plus, it's a shorter month!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Happy Friday, all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Rahel</span></div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-39853521502323692742014-01-27T22:37:00.001-08:002014-01-27T22:43:47.151-08:00Responsibilities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><b>Which of your responsibilities stress you out the most?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">Right now I am fortunate to be at a point in my life when I don't have a whole lot of responsibility. I guess that's part of being in your 20s? Also, I still live at home with my family which cuts back a lot of things I would otherwise have to take care of. I do pitch in around the house though! ;) </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">I just started a new job today and while I am apprehensive about the next few weeks getting adjusted, I am optimistic. Today was a good first day on the job and I am going to take it in baby steps. This is a new perspective for me as I usually put a lot of pressure on myself from the get go as I did in my last job. It takes time to learn and adapt to a new work environment though. So, I am going to practice self -love and trust that I will pick things up in time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">This entry reminds me of a little song by the one and only Miss Whitney Houston entitled "Step by Step." </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">I'm takin' it step by step/bit by bit/stone by stone yeah/brick by brick. Step by step/day by day/mile by mile yeah/go your own way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">Rest in Peace, beautiful Whitney. </span></span><br />
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-67214224324678539652014-01-26T21:13:00.002-08:002014-01-26T21:13:41.398-08:00Perfection doesn't exist <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>What puts more pressure on you: time constraints or achieving perfection?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Time constraints put pressure on me, not achieving perfection. </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.999998092651367px;">I have come to the conclusion that perfection is non-existent. Don't get me wrong, I do have perfectionist tendencies. Instead of aiming for perfection though, I try to aim high and be the best version of me. I think that the quest for perfection is useless and that all we can do is our personal best. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.999998092651367px;">Are any of you familiar with Don Miguel Ruiz's <i>The Four Agreements</i>? I am a big fan of his work advocating personal freedom from beliefs that create unhappiness in our lives. They are listed below.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Be impeccable with your word.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Don’t take anything personally.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">3. Don’t make assumptions.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">4. Always do your best. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">If everyone abided by these agreements, I feel like the world would be a better place! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">With all of the images of "perfection" in the media that we encounter on a daily basis, I have to make a point to remind myself that perfection does not exist! The perfect looking woman on the advertisement has been retouched and has tons of makeup on. The perfect looking family has their own set of problems and issues to deal with. The perfect home in the magazine is not always well kept and sparkling clean. Perfection is an illusion. </span></span></div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-58619452924971575502014-01-24T18:28:00.001-08:002014-01-24T18:32:47.461-08:00Channeling anger through exercise + Turning over a new leaf re: procrastination in 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Never fear fellow NaBloPoMo bloggers, I haven't disappeared! Just took a brief hiatus yesterday and now I'm doubling up on the entry for today. </div>
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<b style="line-height: 22px;">Do you think it's possible to control your temper when facing enormous pressure?</b></div>
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It is possible to control your temper when facing enormous pressure although it certainly makes it much more difficult! Even as an "easygoing" person I remember often times crumbling under stress when I was in high school. My high school years were very challenging academically as I took several advanced level classes each semester for college credit. There were times when I lashed out passive aggressively at my family when really all I needed was an outlet to release stress. Now, I have learned to channel any frustration and anger into exercise. Zumba and Dance cardio classes at my local YMCA are my personal favorites!</div>
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<b style="line-height: 22px;">Does pressure ever make you want to rebel and do the exact opposite of what is being asked of you?</b></div>
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At work, no. I know I can't afford to rebel or else risk losing my job! In school and at home, I think procrastination is often a form of rebelling and avoiding pressure. I put off math homework in high school especially as it was not a favorite subject of mine. Then at the last minute I would try to cram everything in for a test which just led to increased stress. I shaped up in college and began tackling my tougher subjects like math in more incremental doses so it wasn't too much in the end. I need to work on this at home too as I will often put off household chores I don't want to do. Then, at the last minute when I am forced to do it I can get into a panic mode. Not healthy, I know. Perhaps 2014 can be a turning point for me in not procrastinating!<br />
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Hope everyone has a great weekend and stay warm! You know it's bad when schools in the South shut down because of icy roads. No school for the kiddos today in our neighborhood!<br />
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-18373706727405878522014-01-22T14:21:00.002-08:002014-01-22T14:21:49.321-08:00Controlling those lovely things we call emotions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;"><b>Do you have a bad temper? How often do you lose your temper?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">I don't have a bad temper and I am generally pretty easy going. I am a very passive-aggressive person though. I tend to keep things bottled up in order to avoid conflict. Then every once in a blue moon, I will unleash some of the feelings I bottled up. Usually those bottled up feelings will come out in tears when I am alone in my bedroom. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">This is not a particularly good system and perhaps I <i>should</i> lose my temper every now and then to release some pent up frustration!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">I really pride myself on keeping my cool in the workplace though. I once cried in front of one of my first bosses for an internship in D.C. and regretted it deeply as I had let her mean words get to me. I swore to myself that I would never again let that happen. I would much rather cry it out at home or have a drink after work and talk it out with a friend. My boss doesn't control my emotions, I do! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">What about you, fellow bloggers, how do you release your anger? Maybe I can steal some of your ideas...;)</span></span></span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-25147642540236608172014-01-21T23:10:00.001-08:002014-01-21T23:11:31.076-08:00Perfection is overrated <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">Do you feel pressure to be perfect? How much of it is tied to what you see online?</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">We as women tend to be very self-critical, myself included. I wonder how much of this self-criticism stems from being exposed our whole lives to the airbrushed images of models in the media. I used to feel more self-conscious about my looks, especially when I was in college. I would compare myself constantly to other girls and wonder why I couldn't look as good as them or receive as much attention from guys as they did. I am slowly learning to embrace my imperfections though. I am not one hundred percent there and I don't know that I will ever be. Like most other 20 somethings, I am an avid social media user and maintain accounts on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. I often find myself comparing my life to a peer through looking at their postings on social media. This is especially true with Facebook. I have to tell myself that I do not and never will know a person's whole story judging from what they choose to share on social media. So even if I wanted to compare, I couldn't! Still, I catch myself wondering why my hair can't look like someone else's, why I can't find a guy like that and why my life doesn't look nearly as exciting. I know it is human nature to compare but I need to remember that no one is perfect, especially me. So, why waste my precious energy? Plus, it's our imperfections and quirks that make each one of us unique. Living in a world full of Barbie dolls would be boring. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.19999885559082px;">Do any of you recall the 2008 Dove film/commercial, "Onslaught" which presented the impact that the media/beauty industry can have on young girls? Well, I found it to be very insightful and relevant to our prompt's "pressure to be perfect" theme. I believe it was a part of Dove's ongoing Campaign for Real Beauty. Check it out below and let me know what you think!</span><br />
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-77170440418348000142014-01-20T18:35:00.001-08:002014-01-20T18:38:59.607-08:00Conformity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Do you still feel pressure of conform? If no, what age did it stop?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">As human beings I think we all feel pressure to conform to a certain extent. And we should. In our daily lives we all adhere to certain norms in order to gain acceptance from society. I get dressed every morning and brush my teeth to conform to what is expected of me as a person. And if I didn't, I would hurt a lot of people's feelings! We abide by traffic rules and regulations to ensure the safety of our fellow human beings on the road. If I drove on the left side of the road tomorrow morning I would be a huge safety hazard to all. And I would be given the bird by fellow drivers and rightly so! Conformity is not a bad thing; it all depends on context. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">To turn the table a little on conformity, I no longer feel pressure to conform to others expectations of how I should act. I am by nature a quiet introvert. I digest information differently than extroverts do. I used to question why I couldn't be more talkative or outgoing like my younger sisters. I think I have embraced my introversion over the past few years. I am much more comfortable in my skin as an introvert. In fact, about 30 minutes into my last job interview, my interviewer asked if I was an introvert to which I proudly said yes. And I got the job! For all of my fellow introverts out there, I suggest you pick up the acclaimed <i>New York Times</i> bestselling book <i>Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Stop Talking </i> by Susan Cain. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt empowered after reading the stories of other quiet people navigating the often high charged world of work. Below is a link to the author's website--check it out!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/" style="font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 22px;">The Power of Introverts- Susan Cain</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fellow bloggers, what do you think about the pressure to conform? </span></div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-32946508790565528892014-01-17T12:24:00.000-08:002014-01-17T12:25:25.301-08:00Handling pressure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><b>Do you think you handle pressure well, or do you usually fall apart?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">I like to think I am better at handling pressure now than I was in the past. I mentioned in an earlier post that I am a natural born procrastinator. I <i>can</i> thrive on pressure when it comes to working against a deadline. The key word there is 'can.' It really depends on the assignment/project I am working on. For example, I thrive under pressure for writing assignments but for an oral presentation I would need significantly more time to prepare. I am not a natural public speaker by any means. If I waited until the night before to write a speech I would likely melt on stage. Likewise, in my cold calling job I had to prepare ahead of time to reach my goal. Preparation and hard work were key to fighting against the intense pressure I felt from my boss to meet my number each month. If I had waited until the last week to meet my target, I would have most certainly fallen apart not to mention receive a good ole' pink slip!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">For assignments I really enjoy though such as these blog entries, I can wait until right before midnight to post for the day and be fine cranking out an entry for you fine folks! Then again, maybe my entries would be better if I started earlier. I'm going to try posting earlier this next week so (knock on wood) my entries might be even better! Also, I just started a fiction writing course and I have an assignment due for my class next Thursday. My first inclination is to wait until Wednesday night but I am going to fight that urge this time and see if I can come up with an even better story. Wish me luck! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">And Happy Friday everyone!</span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-59623551380561802092014-01-16T22:08:00.001-08:002014-01-16T22:09:13.381-08:00Pressure from within<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><b>Who puts the most pressure on you -- yourself or others?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;">This one is easy for me! I am my biggest critic by far. I am sure others of you can identify with this. I am the oldest among my three sisters and by nature, the oldest child can tend to be an achiever. I actually just read a great article in the Huffington Post about how birth order affects personality. (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-gail-gross/how-birth-order-affects-personality_b_4494385.html">Huff post article by Dr. Gail Gross</a>) As the eldest child I fit the mold for the most part. I am a perfectionist, an approval seeker and a mini-parent. My parents never had to put much pressure on me to study and do well in school. I put the pressure on myself. It also helped that I went to a highly competitive high school and was surrounded by the type of people who did homework at lunch instead of just socialize. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even now, I put pressure on myself to succeed as an adult. I want to earn a living and simultaneously live a life of meaning. After being out of work for three months, I can proudly say I just got a job offer this week. So I feel like I am on the right road now, but I want more out of life this year. I want to cultivate interests outside of work like my blog and writing in general. I want to continue to make time to exercise through Zumba and maybe even include a cycling class in my regimen. I also want to nurture my friendships outside of work and find a church home. And I hope I can even find a special someone this year. ;) These are all goals I want to achieve for myself. Perhaps I could call my self-motivation internal pressure? Regardless, I am motivated to live a life that I can be proud of for </span><i>me</i>, not others. </span></span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-8604553080416051362014-01-15T22:27:00.000-08:002014-01-15T22:34:52.931-08:00Grace under pressure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.1875px;"><b>"Courage is grace under pressure" is a famous quotation by Ernest Hemingway. Tell us about a personal moment of your grace under pressure.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my last job grace under pressure or courage was essential for success. I cold called up to 50 different companies a day. My job was to hook the person on the line through my introduction to our company and services. If I reached a receptionist or 'gatekeeper' my job was to 'break through' them and get to the decision maker. My goal for each call was to set an appointment for the salesperson to provide further information/pricing to them. This appointment was classified as a sales lead. Needless to say, I encountered a lot of people who were annoyed with my calling during the day and let me know it. I can't blame them as I would probably react the same way to a telemarketer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goal was to get 30 appointments/leads per month for the team which was not an easy task. I set a weekly goal for myself each Monday and worked towards it the whole week. Pressure? Yes. I found the old saying that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar to be very true in this role. I learned creative ways to counter the refusals and objections on the other end of the phone. I remained cool under pressure which put my prospect at ease along with my team and myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took time to learn this kind of grace as it didn't come natural to me at first. I am naturally a very nervous person. Through the job, I learned how to channel my nerves and calm myself down in order to reach my goal. When I first started calling, I was easily rattled by someone who was even slightly annoyed with me. A year into the job, I could have cared less if the person on the other end raised their voice at me. "On to the next one!" became my motto. I hope to use this skill of maintaining grace under pressure in future work endeavors and hopefully relationship endeavors as well! ;)</span></div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-91764249066790693212014-01-14T22:56:00.002-08:002014-01-14T23:07:00.325-08:00Queen Bey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Marge Piercy said: "A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done." Tell us about a time when you did what couldn't be done.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I don't have an answer to this right now although it is a great prompt and something I hope to answer personally at the end of 2014. I want to do something unique and "something that others are determined not be done." If God gives me the grace, I hope to complete a historical fiction novel of my own.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I do however have many female role models, both celebrity and non-celebrity, who have done something that others determined not be done. One of these role models for me is none other than superstar Ms. Beyonce Knowles. </span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">As many of you know, Queen Bey dropped her album on Dec 14 just after midnight on the east coast. She debuted her 14-track self-titled album on itunes. There was no pre-promotion or singles to promote the album. She did what had never been done before. And her album has been at the top of the album charts for weeks now. My mind is still boggled by how she kept recording such a huge album secret. Not to mention all of her video shoots for the visual component of the album.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I have appreciated Beyonce's music since her Destiny's Child days. I remember dragging my poor Mother to Wal-mart for a chance to see Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle at the 'Survivor' album debut. Why do I love Beyonce so much? She is not only beautiful and talented but a strong, positive role model for women. She has succeeded on her on own terms in the music industry. I think her most recent album is her best so far. The album, like Beyonce the artist, is intelligent, vulnerable, honest, creative, fierce, sensual and yes, sexual. She is a feminist and defines the term in her song "Flawless" through </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">an excerpt from</span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;"> author </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's</span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;"> writing. </span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">One line that I love from Chinamanda's excerpt: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;"> "We raise girls to be competitors not for jobs or accomplishments which I think would be a good thing but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Beyonce set a new precedent with this surprise visual album drop on itunes and I wouldn't be surprised if her peers follow suit with this model. </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I expect that Beyonce will continue to do things that others say cannot be done in the music world. Go get 'em, Queen!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Bey in concert!<br />By Cornel Pex from La Senia, Spain (File:Beyonce 2.jpg) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-24414037002742386742014-01-13T22:00:00.001-08:002014-01-13T22:00:38.757-08:00Escaping a close call<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Eleanor Roosevelt said: "A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." Tell us about a time you felt your strength.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this quote from Ms. Roosevelt. I felt my strength seep out in hot water when I first arrived in Barcelona for a semester long study abroad program in January 2008. Stepping off the plane, I was </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">simultaneously</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> excited and scared out of my mind. I was in a new foreign country by myself for the first time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon landing I called my parents assuring them that I had landed safely. My Dad warned me to keep an eye out at the airport. After checking in with my program and meeting a few other students in my program at the airport, I headed toward the airport exit to catch a taxi to my home stay. I was pushing a cart stacked high with luggage with my laptop bag on top. Upon exiting I was stopped by woman asking me a question. She spoke in fast Spanish and I felt bad that I couldn't understand her. "Lo siento, no comprendo," I said with regret. I continued walking and was then stopped by a man who was told me where to go for the taxi line. As I was about to reply in my broken Spanish I saw a tall man in a black trench coat and top hat out of the corner of my eye. I watched as he swiftly snatched by laptop bag by the handle and walked away. I sense of panic spread across my body. I acted on my initial reaction and lunged forward grabbing the bag back. "Excuse me!," I exclaimed as I took back my bag filled with my laptop and all my electronics. The man who had been talking to me slowly slumped away. My terror dissipated into shock and relief. I finally hailed a taxi and loaded my precious cargo into the trunk. I breathed a sigh of relief. I gave the taxi driver my home stay's address and we sped off into the city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will always look back on this incident and think about what could have happened. Had I not grabbed my bag back, I would have lost hundreds of dollars in electronics and been without technology for a good part of my stay. I felt my strength that day and I thank God that He gave me that strength.</span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-63724511297714810402014-01-10T13:14:00.000-08:002014-01-10T13:40:33.573-08:00Acupressure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 22px;"><b>Have you ever tried acupressure to treat a problem? What was your experience with it?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 22px;">Yes, I have gone for acupressure treatment in the form of Reflexology. My mother convinced my sisters and I to go for two sessions. The first time we went I was under the impression that this would simply a massage on the upper part of my body. I didn't realize that it would be a full body massage! (I was glad I got to keep my clothes on though!) It was very relaxing though and I definitely felt a sense of calm after the treatment. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a way to relieve stress and/or soothe tired muscles. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">For those of you who don't know, that acupressure method focuses on meridians in the body. The idea is to break up patterns that cause blockages and release them which in turn allows energy and blood flow in the body to improve. The result is reduced stress and better circulation. It has even been known to help with hormonal imbalances, migraines and digestive disorders. I am obviously not an expert though and for more information I would suggest searching on good ole' Google. If you haven't been for acupressure treatment before though, I would highly recommend Reflexology! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>REFLEXOLOGY</b><br />
By Stacy Simone [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-39164077196873915452014-01-09T23:07:00.001-08:002014-01-09T23:10:59.903-08:00Pressure points<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>A pressure point translates in Japanese to "tender spot." What are your pressure points?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I like to think of myself as easy to get along with but I do have a couple tender spots that will set me off. OK, more than a couple, a few!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">1. <b>Overhearing guys make derogatory comments about women.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">This is by far my worst pressure point. I especially hate the common usage of words such as "bit*h" and "slut." I can tolerate them when used by women casually but when men refer to women like this in a demeaning way I can get hostile.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">2. <b>People who complain to no end.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I am human and I like to complain once in a while. I am a realist and I know that no one can be happy 100% of the time. This week has been very cold and I have logged in my fair share of complaints. However, I do not like to be around people who are constantly whining about something. We all have troubles in life and I respect people who can keep their complaining to a minimum. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">3. <b>People who spread negative gossip about others.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">We have all been around those people who are always in everyone's business. Nosy people are fine by me but it's the gossipy ones that can get my riled up. Sure, we all spread juicy tidbits about others every now and then. When the negative gossip from you exceeds a certain level though, I start to question whether you are spilling my bad news too.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Do any of you identify with these pressure points? Or, are yours entirely different than mine?</span></span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-78328940512432123162014-01-08T22:46:00.000-08:002014-01-08T22:49:43.115-08:00Peer Pressure: A Two-Way Street<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.1875px;"><b>Can peer pressure be positive? Why or why not?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.1875px;">I believe that peer pressure can be either positive or negative depending on the context and situation. For example, I was pressured by my peers in my challenging, top ranked high school to study hard and take schoolwork seriously. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.1875px;">It was almost cool to be a nerd. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.1875px;">My smart peers influenced me to do well in school. I wasn't nearly as intelligent as my fellow classmates but their dedication pushed me to do better. My college coursework was easier to handle after my rigorous high school academic life. I now consider myself a life long student. Even now that I am not in school, I enjoy keeping up with current events, reading new books and learning new things. Of course, we all know the flip side of peer pressure in high school where kids get involved with a bad crowd and in turn jeopardize</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.1875px;"> their futures. Peer pressure is a two-way street.</span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-42046506010138762432014-01-07T19:19:00.002-08:002014-01-07T19:24:05.334-08:00College sans alcohol<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Tell us about a time when you didn't bend to peer pressure, and you swam against the stream.</b></span><br />
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The first few weeks of college usually conjures up images of new classes, bonding among fellow classmates, and drunken debauchery. Well the first two applied to me and the the latter not so much. <br />
My freshman year of college I chose to be on a substance-free hall. Our dormitory hall was encouraged to have fun without the social lubricant that is alcohol. I was just 17 when I started college and I was intent on meeting people and having fun without drinking. And I did meet people! I made friends who chose to drink and friends who didn't. I didn't take part in wild parties like most other freshmen but I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza parties and movie nights with the people on my floor. Perhaps my anti-alcohol stance until 21 can be attributed to my upbringing in church or the morals that my parents instilled in me, but mostly I think it's just that I wanted to be in control and I didn't want to break the law. I didn't want to wake up wondering what I had done last night or throw up in the courtyard. I enjoyed being a nerd in college and I didn't care if that made me different. Sure, sometimes I felt like the odd one out when everyone else was discussing the wild frat party but in the end, I wanted to have fun on my terms. <br />
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I studied abroad at age 20 in Spain where drinking was permitted for 18+. The fact that I had not drank before (outside of sips of my parents' drinks) made the Spanish sangria even tastier. And when I turned 21, I used my ID for the first time to buy none other than a margarita! Was it worth the wait? Yes. <br />
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What about you fellow bloggers? Are there instances when you swam against the stream?<br />
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Rahel</div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-52738255346470825522014-01-06T20:44:00.001-08:002014-01-06T20:45:01.390-08:00Thoughts On Being Yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since we are on the topic of peer pressure, here is a video from one of my favorite you-tubers, Jenna Marbles, on being yourself. I love it!<br />
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"The single greatest gift you could ever give the world is to be exactly who you are and that that is your whole journey here on planet Earth as a human in the human experience."-Jenna Marbles<br />
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"You are the only you that there is, you are the most rare and majestic you there ever was and ever will be." -Jenna Marbles<br />
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Awesome!</div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-9693974990465801832014-01-06T04:33:00.002-08:002014-01-06T04:35:52.478-08:00Bending to peer pressure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Tell us about a time you bent to peer pressure.</b></span><br />
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Happy Monday, fellow NaBloPoMo bloggers! I can feel the holiday rush lifting as everyone returns back to work. Yes, I am up at 6 am typing this. And no, I am not a morning person so please forgive any incorrect grammar usage!</div>
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I would like to think of myself as a lofty individual who has always taken pride in being unique. But, alas, I was just like any other kid, susceptible to following the latest trends. I bought into the trends in middle school especially when all I wanted was to fit in. Do you all recall gelly roll pens and beanie babies? Oh, and giga pets? All my friends had them so I had to also! Yes, I was just a money sign in the eyes of companies aiming at the 'tween' demographic. None of this 'consumerism' peer pressure resulted in any dire consequences for my young life but I'm sure my parents' wallet could have done without it! </div>
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When I first saw this prompt though the first instance that came to mind was in second grade. I had gone to a pool party for a little friend's birthday. I was impressed by all my friends doing jumps, flips and dives into the pool. I watched in amazement while I doggy paddled in the shallow end. A classmate dared me to dive into the pool. I resisted but she kept pressing me to do it even though I told her I had never dived in before. We compromised on me doing a 'twist' jump into the water. I also saw that I had gained an audience and I didn't want to disappoint. Casting aside my fear, I jumped into the air twisting my body as I fell to the water. Seconds later, my chin hit the brick siding of the pool busting it open and leaving a gaping wound. I remember crying and calling my Mom to come get me. I went to the ER and spent the rest of that afternoon getting stitches in my chin. Fun? No. A valuable lesson? Yes. I thought twice before taking a dare from anyone again. Turns out peer pressure can hurt!</div>
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What are your stories of peer pressure? Did your choice(s) have consequences?</div>
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Rahel</div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-60406814720022326412014-01-03T13:11:00.001-08:002014-01-03T13:11:43.734-08:00Procrastination vs. To Do Lists<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><b>Do you have a tendency to procrastinate, or do you like checking things off your to-do list?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">As I mentioned in my earlier post, I do have a natural inclination to procrastinate. Procrastination was my middle name last year. And on top of that, I rarely maintained a to-do list. Well, good bye 2013! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">This year, I want to check things off my to-do list like I used to. Back when I was in school, I was the queen of to-do lists. I got immeasurable joy from checking items off my extensive lists. Don't get me wrong, I would still procrastinate in school but I knew what had to get done and by when. There was a method to my procrastination madness! The 24 hour computer lab by my dorm was my best friend. So, in addition to getting my tech life organized, I am going to start 2014 off by writing a daily to do list. Most likely this will end up being a weekly list but hey, it is better than nothing. And even if I do procrastinate on it, at least I will have the joy of checking items off eventually!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">How about my fellow bloggers? Do you have a daily or weekly to-do list? How do you hold yourself accountable for things that need to get done?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Hope y'all have a great weekend. Happy Friday!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial;"><span style="line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Rahel</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPi3OFMcm6AodsY6ebTx5q66UrnswBDavNAAzzcAXy5gjBVv-SUjDvqRiz7FnxTYpFEiBMda-jWo03F01fm1sjqOCuRneX3odNH8d-vPp4XcqYqZ-wzrlD5FgheoZSbEjmBd3Icf_tz0/s1600/Photoshoot13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPi3OFMcm6AodsY6ebTx5q66UrnswBDavNAAzzcAXy5gjBVv-SUjDvqRiz7FnxTYpFEiBMda-jWo03F01fm1sjqOCuRneX3odNH8d-vPp4XcqYqZ-wzrlD5FgheoZSbEjmBd3Icf_tz0/s1600/Photoshoot13.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's me posing outside my beloved 24 hour Computer Lab in college. </td></tr>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-60129046084100230842014-01-02T15:07:00.001-08:002014-01-02T17:18:02.792-08:00Happy New Years!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello to all on the second day of 2014! <br />
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I had a great New Years' celebrating with family at home. We had some delicious food/drinks to help us ring in the New Year.<br />
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Here are a few treats I helped to create along with the ingredients below. I decided to keep it simple after royally messing up some Nutella cookies for Christmas. The Nutella cookies recipe was from a British blog and more complex to make than I had anticipated. My cookies ended up tasting like flour and my family voted to trash them. <br />
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Luckily, my New Years' food contributions turned out exceedingly better and I was able to redeem myself somewhat. My motto for cooking is to keep it simple and go with recipe sources you can trust. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCS1fTKkrxPzIgxldxmkrjyjWJKCVqTi2l8dqFH0EQ_z-Bf3EwQcewPcuB26zIF8UbX8hSJcoFeluJ2KmPh29STIrICwSfZiIcpG-4HfjCg3qlKUVkfNo-hjh58aqCbKbtj5Lkc-kccw/s1600/Brownies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCS1fTKkrxPzIgxldxmkrjyjWJKCVqTi2l8dqFH0EQ_z-Bf3EwQcewPcuB26zIF8UbX8hSJcoFeluJ2KmPh29STIrICwSfZiIcpG-4HfjCg3qlKUVkfNo-hjh58aqCbKbtj5Lkc-kccw/s320/Brownies.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My New Years' Brownies! (OK fine, they were from a package but I still had to make them!)</td></tr>
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You too can make these delicious Hot Chocolate brownies with marshmellow swirl in less than an hour with the help of my good buddy, Betty Crocker.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrE0tlJOctw6GGg4p-vnp7kjapQWvp_U2j3P0RvgBVTz6PNnI3CGgyqBwYiAzYFRc1f_NZ49UuHcuIcNdGtaIzITQvRofDiVFvOLNU1WYQSvMJ6VsSCKufebE48_0tOC-KhOdwX_cHAI/s1600/Betty+Crocker+brownie+mix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrE0tlJOctw6GGg4p-vnp7kjapQWvp_U2j3P0RvgBVTz6PNnI3CGgyqBwYiAzYFRc1f_NZ49UuHcuIcNdGtaIzITQvRofDiVFvOLNU1WYQSvMJ6VsSCKufebE48_0tOC-KhOdwX_cHAI/s320/Betty+Crocker+brownie+mix.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you, Betty.</td></tr>
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We also decided to ring in the new year with a healthy fruit salad which was easy to make and a crowd pleaser. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdAcs3Qadbb5cCgFIEOLhD3W8ZPmGAghCY1GcJjwwy_JWvy73U0Vm25EtBdwAfS6rl3KTEHjdHgQqJmc1KTRDMLp7HnhJl-VAdTe6UFAmB3t1S_eykxq9zYGKkpfe2yujKe5DLVopeTc/s1600/Fruit+salad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdAcs3Qadbb5cCgFIEOLhD3W8ZPmGAghCY1GcJjwwy_JWvy73U0Vm25EtBdwAfS6rl3KTEHjdHgQqJmc1KTRDMLp7HnhJl-VAdTe6UFAmB3t1S_eykxq9zYGKkpfe2yujKe5DLVopeTc/s320/Fruit+salad.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mango, strawberry, blueberry, grape, raspberry salad.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And last but certainly not least, we rang in the new year with homemade mimosas which consisted of a blend of champagne, orange juice, sparkling soda, and sliced oranges for aesthetic appeal. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVSvXFyLsDLCAOgcdLYmCU9kWUpq3Jx7ShwEzb83hy3UXt9ZoOlKUR65Df75uIuhIjvamfBZ_NOusBhw7ILXHROL8Y7IMp4T0kpzvGygUVr7cERSZzaRaoJvKdz05Cj4jj7Zv5sjmTp4/s1600/Mimosas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVSvXFyLsDLCAOgcdLYmCU9kWUpq3Jx7ShwEzb83hy3UXt9ZoOlKUR65Df75uIuhIjvamfBZ_NOusBhw7ILXHROL8Y7IMp4T0kpzvGygUVr7cERSZzaRaoJvKdz05Cj4jj7Zv5sjmTp4/s320/Mimosas.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing in the new year right!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Now, to answer the NaBloPoMo question of the day, I am currently feeling pressure to organize my tech life in 2014. By that I mean I need to: 1) back up all of my files from my laptop, 2) sort through old e-mails I never delete and 3) look into getting a new computer. I have never been that tech savvy and doing all of this is a chore but I know that it will pay off in the long run for me to be organized. I have to keep my eyes on the prize. It will also make my blogging life more pleasant! I currently have a Dell laptop that makes a loud vacuum sounding noise every 5 minutes and takes forever to load. Do any of you work from a laptop/desktop that you love? If so, would your recommend it? I am open to suggestions although leaning toward a Mac right now since my sisters both have a Mac and love it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hope you all are having a great start to the New Year! What is it that you are feeling pressure to do this year that you don't particularly enjoy? How to you plan to make it more enjoyable?</span></span></div>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-59753028704162443992014-01-01T20:23:00.004-08:002014-01-01T20:27:36.228-08:00Jan 1, 2014- Beginning NaBloPoMo- Blog Her<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">Happy New Year, all! </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">January 1, 2014. I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones. Like most people, I love the feeling of beginning a new year and starting a new chapter. Of course with a new year comes change and for me, with change comes anxiety. </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I am a creature of habit and a person who loves the familiar. My big resolution this year is to embrace change better. To quote someone famous whose name I cannot recall, "Change is the only constant in life." </span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">I am also resolving to drink more water and hopefully (knock on wood) do some serious stomach toning in the new year. I ate my weight in food over the holidays so Lord knows I need some of that!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">By signing up for this NaBloPoMo I hope to achieve another big resolution to get my blog up and rolling this year! It was great to find</span><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;"> a community of fellow bloggers in BlogHer that will inspire my writing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">To answer the first prompt of the month, I do work well under pressure<i> in some cases.</i> Writing is one of those cases. In college, I was the chick who stayed up all night in the 24 hour computer lab working on her research paper assigned at the beginning of the semester. I fueled my body with bottles of Coca-Cola and junk food. (Not fitting for my stomach toning resolution!) Having a deadline for my writing motivated me and often times resulted in my best work which is what I hope will happen here! My strategy of procrastinating and waiting until the last week/few days before a deadline worked wonders for most of my liberal arts courses in college. This strategy did not work, however, with my more challenging subjects such as Calculus and Chemistry where I needed weeks of review to manage even a B on the test!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: latoregular, Arial; line-height: 21.993749618530273px;">So, in sum, the pressure cooker works well when I am completing assignments that I enjoy or excel in. In other areas, not so much. So, fellow bloggers bring on the pressure!!</span></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-63771383758285718152013-12-30T12:18:00.002-08:002013-12-30T12:18:42.824-08:00Blog Lovin!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11484619/?claim=kvjcaj8x533">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-84700659591393563562013-12-29T23:45:00.002-08:002013-12-30T00:08:31.619-08:00Lessons Learned + Holiday Cider <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello Blog Dearest,<br />
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Well, we are past the Christmas holiday and on the road to New Year's now. Christmas was at our house this year and included a full feast in the evening with my aunt, uncle and cousins. The highlight for me was getting gifts from my sisters since we are all at the age now where we can buy separate gifts. The highlight of the meal my Mom prepared was the Turducken with crawfish stuffing we ordered. (For those of you who don't know, Turducken is turkey inside of a duck inside of a chicken.) Mmm delicious. I also enjoyed the cider punch I threw together at the last minute. I will include the approximate recipe below for those who are interested!<br />
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I am looking forward to ringing in the new year in two days and starting with a clean slate on Jan 1, 2014. After I lost my job at the end of October, my Dad suggested that I make a chart/list of the ways I gained, grew and what I in turn, would be able to transfer to a new employer as a result of my 1.5 years at the company.<br />
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So, here goes...<br />
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<u>What I gained (Personal, Interpersonal)</u>:<br />
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-I learned to not take things as personally. I am naturally a sensitive person but I have learned not to let what other people say <i>at work</i> get under my skin. Cold calling all day has helped with that.<br />
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-I learned to interact well with people of all ages and backgrounds. I tried to sit with different people in the office for lunch in order to expand my horizons. In cold calling I spoke with every kind of person under the rainbow. You catch people in all kinds of emotional states when you call them out of the blue! And the response you get can vary from very negative (i.e. "Never call me again!") to very positive. Cold calling was like a box of chocolates, I never knew what I was going to get. <br />
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<u>How I grew (How I see the world differently)</u>:<br />
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-I am.....More willing to speak up in a team setting.<br />
.....More aware of the inner workings of the corporate world.<br />
-I came to the realization that no one has it all figured out and no one is perfect.<br />
-There is nothing wrong with being lighthearted while working. As my Pops says, "Take things personally, but don't take yourself personally!"<br />
-I have decided that people are inherently selfish and look after their own interests, myself included. And there is nothing wrong with that!<br />
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<u>What is transferable to a new employer or possibly my own business</u>:<br />
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-My persistence<br />
-Hard work ethic<br />
-Organizational skills<br />
-Ability to call anyone and everyone over the phone<br />
-Enhanced interpersonal skills face to face<br />
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And of course, my cider recipe below!<br />
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<u><b>Hot Holiday Cider recipe</b></u><br />
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Half gallon apple cider<br />
8 ounces orange juice<br />
3 cinnamon sticks<br />
Star anise to flavor<br />
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-Mix all ingredients above in pot then heat on stove until desired temperature is reached. </div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-11232993443638841532013-12-16T21:14:00.002-08:002013-12-16T21:14:35.141-08:00Getting in that Christmas spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Only 7 more shopping days til Christmas! <br />
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I went out shopping with my sister on Saturday at both Target and Ross. It was every man/woman for himself/herself. People were scrounging among the discount items like wilder beasts after the last piece of prime rib. Ok maybe I took my analogy too far but it was packed like no other in Ross. The check out line snaked around half of the store! Target was just as packed and we could hardly find a parking spot in the lot. We ended up having to walk half a mile to the store. I may be exaggerating just a little.<br />
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I am relating to you my chaotic shopping Saturday to say that it when it comes to Christmas shopping, it's a jungle out there. Have we lost sight of the meaning of Christmas in all of our rampant consumerism? Has the hustle bustle of the nation's peak shopping time disguised the true meaning of the holiday? Why are we all acting as if stores will run out of goods? When I was younger I would laugh off questions like this writing the commentators off as grumpy adults who didn't like to shop. I guess now I am one of those grumpy adults! Or maybe as you get older just see things in a different light. Don't get me wrong though, I will still take the brand new purse and makeup, Mom!<br />
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<3 RK</div>
Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2106692798552263006.post-70078057249965812252013-12-08T22:34:00.001-08:002013-12-08T23:17:55.060-08:00Last day on the job: Going out MC Hammer style <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Blog,<br />
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In my previous entry I said that I would relate to you the details of my recent layoff. At the time it was terrible but now that I look back on it, it is a rather amusing story.<br />
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It was Blast from the Past day at work. The theme was to wear something from a decade past. This was the third 'Spirit day' we were having at the office. This day was preceded by 'Head to Toe Day' where we wore crazy socks/hats and Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Day. As with the other office Spirit days, I took this day very seriously. My team of course consisted of all men and I was the only one who participated in any of this. Not that I cared anyway. I had decided that I was going to fully take advantage of any dress up days I was ever afforded at work. <br />
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So, on the morning of October 25, 2013, I strolled into work as MC Hammer from the 90's. I donned a bandanna printed with dollar bills, a baggy sweatshirt, parachute pants, boots, several gold bead necklaces, and a chain that read "BOSS." Yes, boss was written in all capital letters. It is important to take into account that I am a short, petite woman and the exact opposite of MC Hammer. When I got to the office, my friend who had helped me put my outfit together was intent on taking pictures in the hallway. She was dressed up as Janet Jackson and we took pictures with another girl who was dressed up as the one and only Whitney Houston.<br />
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The rest of the morning in the office was uneventful and outside of the occasional co-worker stopping by to compliment my outfit, I went about my work day with little to no interruptions. I stepped away from my desk for something and came back to a missed call on my phone. I looked at my computer only to find an instant message from HR head, Dan,* asking me to come to his office. I didn't think too much of it as I had just opted into my company's insurance plan and thought he may have had some questions for me. Or, perhaps I would be getting a promotion?! I did feel mildly ridiculous for having my crazy outfit on. <br />
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"There is no easy way to say this but today will be your last day here," Dan said. I paused to let the words sink in. This was not what I had expected at all. <br />
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All I could think of was how crazy I looked in my MC Hammer get-up. The next few minutes seemed to trickle by as I pondered how I could take off the money bandana on my forehead. I slowly reached up to take the bandana off. I still had my chain on though. The one day in my life I chose to wear a BOSS chain and here I was being fired! Dan made no comment on my attire.<br />
<br />
My boss, Robert*, on the line while working from his remote office in the Northeast, explained that my position was not generating enough revenue for the team and that they were going to take a different approach to their marketing efforts after looking at the budget. Really? I couldn't believe it. I told my boss and the HR director that it was a pleasure working with them. Dan asked for me to give my key card back as well as the key to my desk drawers. He said that it was company policy for me to gather my things and leave the premises immediately. <br />
<br />
I boxed up my things in a daze hoping to make a quiet departure without attracting too much attention. My Janet Jackson co-worker asked what I was doing for lunch and I told her what had happened. She was just as surprised as I was. I told her that I regretted my outfit choice. I went down the hall to my other friend's cubicle in HR who said that she would walk me out to my car. As I stood by the car, I told her that it had been a good year and a half at the company and that it had become like a second family to me. My eyes welled up with tears. She said that we would still keep in touch.<br />
<br />
I stopped at McDonald's to gather myself and order a McFlurry and fries to soothe my pain. The drive home felt like a dream. I held in all my emotions but I was still in a state of shock. <br />
<br />
Mom was at home and she welcomed me in with a hug. I relayed the story to her in full detail. Despite my sadness of being laid off unexpectedly, I realized that I was actually glad I had worn my MC Hammer outfit that day. At least I had gone out in style!<br />
<br />
<3 RK<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKPMfXhjLO6RLLwVuDEO8j9-N6F5Hmm5OwDDZlZeljX1lhXnHw-tvQiTLmxOxZI9FvoTXbbebnk_MeAlZW18qzpECiCVVpA46mE0ahWdb8z12rhrOUqw-i_bo0aKHmiRwvH_tt7ZerQ0/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKPMfXhjLO6RLLwVuDEO8j9-N6F5Hmm5OwDDZlZeljX1lhXnHw-tvQiTLmxOxZI9FvoTXbbebnk_MeAlZW18qzpECiCVVpA46mE0ahWdb8z12rhrOUqw-i_bo0aKHmiRwvH_tt7ZerQ0/s400/photo+(5).JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely BOSS chain: Going out in style</td></tr>
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Rahelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13381123681940634391noreply@blogger.com0