A new, new job

Let's cut to the chase.

My new job two weeks ago? It is no longer. Don't worry, no drama ensued... We just didn't click. I was disappointed after so much excitement to finally work again, and it caused me some anxiety that week. But at the week's end, I got the call that I really wanted all along. I knew in my heart that this new, new job was it. Only a week into the new, new job this week and it clicks. I am happy.

That's all that needs to be said about that.

Oh, and my new work digs? Uh-maze-balls. I mean, those ceilings! At some point I expect to see Dumbledore walk around the corner...

Now on to winter recess. Ah yes, the major perks of working in academia... Today is the last day my office is open until the New Year. Pretty sweet gig, eh? :)

In between baking and eating Christmas goodies, I will be a busy little bee during my time off. I have the past year to reflect upon and write about (stay tuned!), as well as planning to do for the New Year. Lots to do!

I may not see you back here until after Christmas, so if you celebrate, have a very Merry Christmas!

 xoxo

J

Phase I

I'm finally, finally, making some changes around here, as you might have noticed. I'm editing and rearranging and trying to figure out how to get my blog to look exactly as I envision it in my head. Easier said than done, sheesh. I'm definitely a less is more kind of gal, but it is definitely lacking some pizzazz by way of graphics. For now, I'm limited to using the Blogger templates because I'm not as tech savvy as I'd like to be in the designing-and-spiffing-up-my-own-blog department. So here we are, Blog Refresh Phase I.

In other news...

Hubby and I are officially in our new digs! I love our little apartment. More details coming later this week.

Also to come... In addition to the aesthetic changes around here, content is changing a bit as well. This is to coincide with my recent new life adventures, as well as a new little project, which I will unveil tomorrow (so excited!). I'm narrowing the focus of le blog to matters related to dance, fitness, food and health, with random musings on life mixed in from time to time.

So, what do you think about my changes thus far? Yay or nay? Thoughts and suggestions welcome!

 xoxo

J

Aaaaand, we're back! Five After 5!

Some Five After 5 goodness comin' at ya... Today's Five After 5 is all about the random.

I chopped my hair off.

Why: just because. I wanted to see if I could really pull off short hair... and because Boyfriend looooves short hair. I also wanted retro flare to my hair. This is the result:

Kinda 1930s, no? I don't have a better one at the moment, but you get the idea. You like?? Boyfriend gives it an A+. Yay!

It's crunch time.

While I didn't enroll in classes this semester, I am doing a ballet pedagogy (teaching) certification with the ballet professor at CSU. I've completed all my teaching rotations and now I'm working on the written and oral exams. I'm stressed. I'm trying not to panic but I have two weeks to write and prepare and there is a lot to this. It took a friend of mine over 2 hours to present her oral exam. Holy whoa...

Nike pointe shoes?!

Have you seen these?? (See this link.)

I haven't read much about them yet, but from what I can tell from my quick glance is that they're just a concept at this point. Aesthetically, I love them. And they're Nike, which you know is my fave label. But I have very little pointe experience myself, so I hesitate to form an opinion from a dance perspective quite yet. I'm very curious to know my ballet prof's thoughts, of course, as well as other dancers out there...?

Name change: yay or nay??

As I make changes around here, I'm tossing around the idea of changing my blog's name, too... Is this a really bad idea?? The reason I'm considering this is because the focus of my blog is evolving a bit. When I started writing, I had a focus and the name of my blog reflected that. As my life evolved, so did le blog and it's focused widened - it kind of became a jane-of-all-trades lifestyle blog where I talked about whatever tickled my fancy in the moment (case in point: this post). But my life is evolving yet again and as it does, I want my blog to return to a specific focus. As I process and work through changes to le blog, a name change is beginning to seem necessary. But you tell me: will that throw you off? Annoy you? Do share and please be honest. I don't want to charge ahead without thinking of you, my dear readers!

Focus Jessi!

Like I said, time to focus back in. I have yet to figure out a neat 'n catchy little description, but... dance, fitness, health, nutrition, all from a dancer's perspective and experience. Ya dig?

Happy Tuesday, y'all! 

 xoxo
J

Five After 5

Hold on to your iPads because tonight's Five After 5 is a bit on the epic side. There have been some significant shifts in the Jessi Universe recently...

#1
I quit a job today.

"A" job, because of course I have (had) more than one. This decision was inspired by an epiphany about a week and a half ago that I am unhappy and unsatisfied because I have allowed myself to be distracted {yet again} from doing what I should be doing. Today I took a leap of faith so I can get back on track.

#2
Le blog is getting a makeover

Related to #1, things are going to start be a little different around here, from looks, to feel, to focus. Stay tuned and please pardon the mess.

#3
No, thank you

I suffer from a bad disease called Guilt-Induced Yesitis. After some solid reflection, I realized that many of my commitments were for others and not myself, so some serious housekeeping has ensued. This is still in-process and some conversations have yet to take place, but so far so good. "No, thank you" is quite healing.

#4
I will not be graduating this May

I did not return to school this semester. I only have a few classes to go, but for now it's on hold. I'm not stressed about this. If it's supposed to happen, it will. And my path to a dance career is not dead-ended, it's just detoured down a different route.

#5
I'm moving across the country!!!

In t-minus 5 months, I will be packing up and heading east to Pittsburgh, PA! Boyfriend received acceptance with full-funding (a very big deal!) to Carnegie Mellon University for a PhD program, and I will be accompanying him to Pitt. This is huge. I've lived in Colorado my entire life. Despite the big change, though, I am very excited for this adventure and new zip code!

Happy Monday!

xoxo
J