I am a baking machine...

As I sit here watching the end of a LOST episode... I smell my banana muffins with streusel topping. They are yummy and moist (I had to use that adjective, even though you probably know that I hate that word) due to the applesauce instead of oil and thanks to my sous chef Brian. Here is a picture of them.

I have a job hope. It is to be a financial counselor for a bankruptcy counseling organization. We will see what come from this... It pays well, but I will have to work 1.5 Saturdays a month. I am more than a little frusterated with finding a job.

Brian has applied for two more library jobs. I hope one of them pans out. Bri has a big work meeting/party for worker appreciation tomorrow. His boss mentioned that there may be a possible bonus involved but we are trying to not get our hopes up.

On other news, Potter has a sweatshirt. I know, I know. I never thought I would be the kind of person to dress up my dog.... but, it was on sale at Old Navy. (And she looks so adorable)

Everybody's working for the weekend.....!

Unemployment...

"If you've rewritten that résumé several times and sent out dozens of applications but your job search still shows no promise, you might not be the problem.

One frequently overlooked but critical factor in finding a new job is your state's unemployment rate. You can have the experience and skills of an employer's dream, but they won't do you any good if there just aren't enough jobs available.

The unemployment rate is the percentage of job seekers in the work force who are still looking for work. The higher the percentage, the more difficult it is to find a job. The national unemployment rate is 5 percent, based on the most recent
data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you're looking for a job, you should see how your state compares to the rest of the country. Here are the 10 worst statesto find work ranked by their unemployment rates.

#1. Michigan-
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent, Population: 10,071,822, Mean annual wage: $41,230"

That is a quote from an article on cnn.com about the worst states for job hunting. Oh, how it lifted my spirits and made me so much better about finding a job.
Other than that, things are good. We had a nice, relaxing weekend. I wish every weekend was a long weekend.

I just finished making some yummy snickerdoodles. And now I am off to read one of the books I just checked out from the library. Goodnight!

The beginnings of a very long (and hopefully good) weekend...

Brian was feeling the burnout so he took Friday and Monday off work. This works out perfectly because currently I only work three days a week and none of which are Monday or Friday!!!!! So begins our mini vacation. We are hoping to get some free museum passes from the library for the weekend... to add to our cultural education.


Job update: Brian has been having a good week. He has fun friends he eats with at lunch and a nice boss. I have applied to 26 jobs this week. That is a lot of jobs and alot of cover letters. If I don't start getting some interviews, I may become a stay at home mom for Potter.

For dinner I made that Italian beef Aunt Barbie makes in the crock pot... it was delicious and now our little apartment smells like meat.

I will end with a picture of Bri and my's current favorite tv show...

I hope you have a great weekend......

Bad News

Well, I found out today that I will not be getting a second interview for the Security Job at the Ann Arbor Library. The main reason is because I have class on Wednesday night, and they have a big meeting every other Wednesday night.

Life goes on...

Brian

Weekend Smeekend...

Well, it is the end of a good weekend. My dad and his wife, Ginny, came to Michigan. We met them at Spring Arbor and hung out at my sister's house. It was a relaxing, fun weekend. Potter stayed at the LaBenne's for the weekend. She was very excited to see us, but made herself at home there. They wondered where she disappeared to and then Jim found her laying on their bed. What a silly, shedding dog.

I am a little stressed out tonight. I NEED a job, why does no one want me? (It may be time for me to start applying to even low paying jobs...)

I am also stressed because we have been thinking about buying a house... a house! The idea is stressful, as well as everything that goes along with. (Isn't this house cute?! )

No one knows what the future holds. I just wish I wasn't the kind of person to always worry about it.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

-Matthew 6:34

Good night! Time to watch Law and Order....

Happy Valentines Night...

Well, we just arrived home from a wonderfully fattening meal at the good 'ole Olive Garden. It was delicious and we both ate our weight in garlic bread. My stomach hurts but it was well worth it. Guess what my wonderful Brian got me for V-Day?... A beautiful Quartz ring...it lookes like this.

He is nice and so is Potter. She was probably the cutest and most excited ever when we got home. She jumped and jumped and now she is so tired and looks like this...

I had to work all day today and I must say it is getting so frusterating. At Old Navy we now have to ask customers THREE times if they want to open an Old Navy card. It is called the "three no" policy. Isn't that rediculous. Why would someone change their mind after the first two nos??? I would absolutely HATE it if people asked me three times. For example, I ask if they want to save 10% today, then I ask if they want to save $10 (if their purchase was $100), and then I ask if they are sure... AHHH! The good thing is that I opened our only two credit cards today, the bad thing is it makes me feel like an annoying, bad person. Especially now that I just finished reading a book on credit reports.

Brian had a long day today. It consisted of meetings, more meetings and talks of politics. All his coworkers assumed that he is a Republican. He took it as an insult (just kidding!) and so went the discussion.

Well, I should start sipping my champagne. It looks like this...

LOST is on tonight, and we are very excited for it. Brian, Potter and I wish you a merry valentine's day. We love you and look like this...

(We are smooshing her face!) Good night.............

Jobs and Such...

This is poor, little Potter. She is sad that it is snowing again.

I figure that if I apply to at least three jobs a day, that means at least 15 jobs a week. Do you realize how difficult it is to find 3 quality jobs a day to apply to? I usually end up settling... I did just find a job that looks really good. They are hiring a couple of people to be financial counselors in Farmington Hills. I am qualified, it pays well and I think that it would be a challenging job.

Brian is gulping down some Airborn. He is feeling lousy. He has an interview tomorrow, we are nervous!