Goodbye Restaurant Industry!!

Saturday was my last serving shift (ever?? Too early in life to tell if that's the case, but man I hope so!). I foodran last night (I know I went out with a bang!) and now I'm done! It's an awfully bittersweet thing. I'd venture to say that serving is one of the hardest professions to quit--the good money, the cash, the flexible scheduling, the camaraderie you have with your coworkers in the industry. That's why I've been doing it for 8 years! But I also know if I don't just make a break and get out now, I'll be doing this forever. This rest of this post is rather sappy about leaving the business and all-- the sting and melancholy about the whole thing is still pretty fresh. So I've interspersed some of my most favorite videos that break down the many, many reasons that I am happy to be out of the serving world.

(I've literally had these conversations. Many times.)

It seriously makes me feel panicked, even though I've not NEEDED to pick up a shift the entire time I've been juggling Cheesecake and my full time job (and my freelancing and my Etsy shop...). In the back of my head I always said, "I need to keep on at Cheesecake just in case we need extra money for some reason." And you know what? I've never once had to pick up a shift because I actually needed to. I've also come to realize and understand and believe that since I've been there for so long and am leaving on good terms--I can always come back! People do it all the time--seasonally or moving back in town after living somewhere else for awhile. 


But even Saturday (after being called in as a standby to work on New Year's Day!) I found myself wavering about whether or not I should quit. I said goodbye to Roy, a regular who sits at the bar, and he teared up and was so sad to see me go! He said he so looks forward to our chats on Saturday mornings and it about broke my heart. I didn't foresee anyone being that sad I was leaving. So I gave him a big hug and a business card so he can read my blog (Hi, Roy, if you ever read this!) and that was that. 

(Classic)

Another thing about serving that made me waver today was the realization that in no other profession can you meet such an array of people in such a short amount of time. I met two of someone else's regulars today and it might turn into a freelance editing job at some point in the future. They were such wonderful, nice people and it was great to meet them. We decided that they were meant to be in my section today instead of their usual server's so that we could exchange information about her book for the future. It's the networking and coincidences and contacts and friendships that you make that has me finding it so hard to leave. (I attribute my current full-time job to a couple in the company I served when they came in to celebrate a family birthday. Let me know if you're interested in that story.)

(This is brilliant for so many reasons: secret shoppers, lemonade, etc.)

One thing I'm super excited for? Knowing that I can plan anything for the future. I don't have to worry if I requested a day off in time. Or if I'll be scheduled on a holiday because we can't request off. It feels so freeing to know that my time is really now my own. And the nights and weekends are just open with no guilt strings attached. When I get rid of shifts I feel an enormous sense of guilt because I just think about the money I could have been making. I don't have to worry about that anymore! :) 


Cheesecake Factory has really been the best place I've ever served. There have definitely been challenges, but it was leaps and bounds above everywhere else I've served as far as atmosphere, professionalism, management, co-workers, etc. The good thing is that, as we all know, I currently eat at Cheesecake Factory more than I serve there anyways! :) So I'm sure I'll be able to strike a nice balance in the future. 

Put it all on the Table

For the past six weeks at church we've been talking about putting everything on the table. All our possessions, jobs, spouse, pets, kids, house. EVERYTHING. On the table. It means that you're putting it all on the table for God. You're saying, "Hey, I realize you gave this to me because you're kind and you love me and you can have it back whenever you decide you want it back...because it's not even mine to begin with!"

Nope. This handsome man is not mine. On the table, Brian! 

Isn't that mind boggling? It's something I've really latched on to. I am such a control freak about life. I want to plan every detail of everything. I make to-do lists. And then sometimes I add things to the list I've already done just so I can have the satisfaction of crossing it off. I've tried so hard to mellow out and not be a worrier or a planner and just let things happen. Not be so disappointed when plans go differently. But nothing I've tried or thought has really worked, until now. 

My little babies. On the table. 

Things have just really seemed to click. I'm excited about the future. I'm excited to see what happens. I'm excited to see what is in store for me. I wonder if doors will be closed, and if God will open others for me. Or not! Who says He has to open other doors? I personally believe that no matter what happens, ever, under any circumstances, there will be something for me later. Maybe it will be better or more fulfilling or more fun than what I'm experiencing right now. Who knows. But right now the anticipation of what could be in store for me is just amazing. I'm so excited for life right now. 

Lovely apartment. On the table.

I think part of my excitement is because I just finished reading The Shack with our small group. That book has given me so much to think about. The ideas the author lays out really resonated with me. I love all the images he describes, and his interpretation of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I really need to read it again. I think I'll get even more out of it the next time. So that book combined with our recent 6-week journey at church has really given me a wonderful perspective on life. And I think it's prepared me for whatever life or God might want to throw my way--or take off the table. 

It's only just begun! But it's on the table. 

So yay for life. And yay for choices. And yay for having no control over anything that happens to me, ever. :) I can just sit back and relax and enjoy life while God figures it all out. Have a wonderful evening!

Not Far from Friday: New Cards

Hi guys. It's been a week. Ew. I was doing so well with posting regularly--sometimes multiple times in one day! I really love the blog A Cup of Jo. What I especially love is how she posts short and sweet little tidbits of cool information or photos or things to think about. So I've been trying to emulate that style a bit recently. It's kinda working? I just find it hard to make the writer in me shut up sometimes. The business thing I'm most excited about is the fact that I've gotten to just make some non-holiday cards to up the items for sale in my shop. It was pretty hard to make the time with an order or two I was working on, but it felt great to do what I do--just make some cards!


So without further ado, I introduce to you (Heh, that rhymes) my inspirational Bible verse cards.

Matthew 7:7

Isaiah 49:16

Matthew 11:28

Psalm 118:24

Joshua 24:15

I have one more card to make (1 Corinthians 1:4) and then the "set" will be complete! It has really been wonderful making these cards. I've picked out my most beautiful papers and reading these verses over and over again has been a joy. My idea with these is that they should be so beautiful and inspirational that you want to display them every day like this fun idea below: 

Fancy yourself with a set of framed coordinating Bible verses for your home (or to give as a very special gift?) send me an email or leave a message!  

I'm going to be a very busy lady with my other jobs for the next couple days so I'll be overloading you with at least two more posts tonight (dare I say possibly 3??) for your interwebs reading pleasure till we meet again. 

What's Your Dream Job?

Another quick thought after reading this article: what IS a dream job? For me I know for sure it isn't about money. It does have to do with flexibility and time commitments. It has to do with the passion I have for the job. It has to do with how I feel when I go home at the end of the day, and my state of mind on the drive in each morning. It includes a team, creativity and excellence. There is lots of laughter and innovative people. But beyond that, I'm hesitant to nail down anything more specific. My dream job could be anything. And that's kind of an exciting thing to think about. What will it end up being? And when will it be revealed to me? 

Thanks for the photo! According to this we should all be moving to Boston!

PLAY

So the most recent series at church has been about PLAY (they had it in all caps so I feel compelled to do the same). And the last week was about how a day of rest was created for a purpose. And sometimes we just need to sit around and relax for our overall well-being. If you know me even a little bit you know that's incredibly hard for me to do, but I figured I'd give it a shot.


And I think I took it a bit too far. All our fall shows have started in the past two weeks or so, I've been pretty tired, and my business has been feeling a little overwhelming (lots of work + not so much sales = discouragement) and band season is well under way (etc. etc. insert more excuses here). And the moral of the story is I haven't been on my Etsy shop in a week. A whole week. Not a good feeling. So now I really need to get to work and nose to the grindstone and all that good stuff and get some items made and my name back in the rotation of new items on Etsy searches. When you value normal sleeping hours it's really hard to juggle so many jobs. But one thing is for sure--there will be much less tv watching in my future from here on out.


And speaking of the Etsy shop, there are so many things that one should do to fully promote one's store. It's exhausting. It's all such good advice but I simply do not have hours every day to dedicate to researching blogs and making connections and getting my name and products out on other people's blogs. It's such an important aspect but I don't know how to fit it in on top of actually making products to sell. I'll figure it out eventually.


In other news, did not get the job I applied for at my current company. I said from the start if I didn't get it then that means I'm supposed to stay where I am and pay off my student loans more quickly with the promotion/extremely generous raise I just got. But when you've been secretly hoping you got the job more than you've let on, and then you don't get it, it's very hard to put that in to practice and truly believe it. But, once those loan totals start slowly going down even more, I'll understand how exciting that can be--possibly even more exciting than starting a job that you would have loved and that could have propelled you on to other jobs you would have loved.


Everything happens for a reason and I'm sure there's lots for this one. Hope you all have had good weeks....it's almost Friday!!! LaSalle has their band invitational all day Saturday so I'll be the "Timing Judge" for that. (Sounds official...in reality not so much) :)

Birth. Day.

So today was perhaps the most unclimactic, uneventful birthday I've ever had--and I turned 25! I should have thrown a party of something but life is so busy (and that would be weird to throw my own party, right?) I did take the day off work, which was nice. But it flew by. And since it's nearly impossible for me to STOP WORKING AND DOING THINGS I had a list of about 10 to-do's made by noon. And then did exactly none of them which makes me feel all jittery and anxious.


Instead of doing productive things I layed on the couch and finished a book Mary loaned me (Mennonite in a Little Black Dress--amazingly funny memoir. Laugh out loud funny). And then went out to lunch with Ashley to Arthur's in Hyde Park Square for the first time (fantastic cod sandwich). And then came home and layed on the couch with the kittehs some more and watched DVR'd shows. 


Here's photos from my day: 

It's freezing in the house. Vivienne is so happy it's blanket weather again! I think she's spent the last 24 hours under covers. 

Could this little doll be any cuter!?!?! I mean honestly. He looks like a little angel.

They like to have us all connected. one will often reach out and just "hold hands" with the other or twist their tails together, etc. This was Vivy making sure she was still connected with little Finny. :)

Now, off to finish my wine, have some homemade hot chocolate, watch DWTS (Dancing with the Stars for you weirdos who don't watch...) and wait for my lovely husband to get home who bought me beautiful flowers today. :)