Yes, It's True ...

I quit my job job (working in the HR department of a Canadian fashion retailer) for my favorite job (being a Mama). 

A little over a month ago, I did it. I emailed my resignation to my boss and simply said I wasn't returning to work post my maternity leave. It wasn't a shock by any means. We chatted about it, tried to come up with alternative solutions, but ultimately - the decision was made by Ryan and I (after creating excel budget spreadsheets, pros & cons lists and constant battles about whether this was the "right" thing to do).  It was as simple & as complicated as that. 

I loved my HR job. I started off at the company as a Sales Associate when I was 18 years old. Became a Floor Manager while completing my undergrad & took an Associate Manager position post university. I didn't see myself ever becoming a Store Manager - though that was the natural progression. So when some info leaked about the HR team hiring, I jumped at the opportunity - with both feet. I was at the right place at the right time and things for my "career" feel into place. My job from day one was challenging. Working in a remote support office (our counterparts are in Vancouver, 3 hours behind) definitely had its fair share of challenges. For a long time, I was the HR team out East - just me, myself and I. It got lonely but I loved it. I occupied myself with a lot of unfinished projects, spend some time drafting and creating new initiatives and read up on HR practices, hoping to maybe pursue my CHRP at some point. I loved the satisfaction of "winning a case" and getting kudos for it too!

And then came our Director, my new boss. We had a wicked relationship. It was nice to finally have some mentorship, someone to learn from on a day to day basis. Our time together was short lived since I was due to leave to mat leave about 6 months after she came on board. But the learning experience was beyond measurable. 

I am definitely sad about leaving the company. I have met some of my best (life) friends there. We always joke about how we literally grew up with the company - from wearing terry cloth track suits, spending Monday nights eating pounds and pounds of wings and pretty much having no cares in the world (well, except for our wardrobes & boyfriends) to having careers, marrying those boyfriends, being homeowners &  having babies! I will miss the culture, the lingo & the fashion. But most definitely - the people. What a way to spend a decade.

I posted this last week on my Instagram & meant every word.

So, what now? 

Well my new title, as society defines it is "Stay at Home Mama". Where these guys are my new coworkers, LOL.

Now, I get to focus on creating and designing. I am forever thankful that Ryan has been able to make this possible & definitely consider us blessed that we're able to make it work for our family with one income. I will continue to have my little shop with hopes of expanding my product line & will continue to take orders for custom work (invitations & stationary) with my brother here. I get to do what I love with who I love. So really, I prefer "Work at Home Mama" :) Of course, I also get to do all the laundry, cook our meals, sweep & mop the floors, scrub the washrooms & toilets ... all that lovely glamourous stuff that comes with my society defined title. Haha - let the adventure begin!  

Belly Friendly Fashion

Or maybe I should have titled my post as lack of! My clothes crisis has definitely climaxed. Even with carefully planning (at least thinking about what I could wear the night before), the execution doesn't always work out as planned. Actually, I have been struggling & that's an understatement. I have accumulated a nice chunk of clothing allowance and haven't done much damage at the store because I my new chest doesn't seem to want to cooperative with me and nothing fits properly. I also feel like I have most of the launch in a different colour or in last year's version (I guess that's what happens when you work for the same company for almost 8 years - ek!). I've been able to pick up pieces here and there, but haven't had much luck in the shopping department.

The weather plays a huge part in all of this. Last week, we had temperatures of 23 plus degrees in Toronto (the sweet smell of summer) and today, well the forecast called for snow. I'm yearning for the warmer weather so I can spend my days in maxi dresses - all day, everyday. But for now, I have to get creative with my wardrobe in hopes that something will pay off. Today, I got myself in my leather leggings (didn't think I could!) and a bright royal blue unstructured blazer. Thought it was worth a photo!

Side note: this photo trips me out a little. At first glance, it made me think that I forgot to wear my wedding rings today. But really, the mirror flips the image and my rings are on my hidden hand ... or maybe I'm slightly going crazy (mainly because I need a break from work) or maybe because my preggo brain is getting the best of me. At this point, who knows ...

My ultimate plan is to still stock up on floor length dresses in breathable fabrics. Ninety percent of my wardrobe consists of silk, which I'm completely over right now. I miss cotton, and hoping to find pieces I can work with that I don't have to hand wash (since I'm a little lazier these days) and or dry clean (that's definitely the last thing I want to be doing). 

Crossing my fingers for some success on my next shopping adventure! Or else I will start coming to work and venturing out in public in a brown paper bag ... with maybe some accessories.

east office

Sunny days puts everyone in such a better mood.

Loving the weather that we've been having as of late, it even makes the commute into work a little better as well.

It may be a little odd, but from Monday to Friday - this is where I spend most of my day. This is where I work. My office is an upstairs bedroom that gets a significant amount of daylight. Much different from the offices out West, bu it's definitely a cozy environment.

four really means one

I can't seem to decide my entire life all in on sitting. Sometimes I wish I was just destined to do something, that I had some sort of concrete plan towards my happiness ... or maybe, sometimes I even wish, someone chose something for me. Ok, scratch that last thought, I lied.

How do I say no to something / someone that always was supposed to be my meant to be. This is supposed to be my "next step" ... how do I regretfully decline?

Excuse me while I write a cover letter,

Oh I loathe career making decisions.

december daily: day fifteen

Minus my Mat Leave last year, I have spent the past 5 years at Aritzia for the holidays. It's a time when we are the busiest, when I see my coworkers more than my own family and when customers are either jolly and blissful or irate and unmanageable. It doesn't even matter how many wonderful customers to encounter, it takes just one person to totally ruin your day. As much as I don't want to admit it, I'm not the kind of person that I want to be during the holidays at work because of being tired, overworked and anxious. It's no excuse, but it happens. Being pushed to work 10 hour days, almost 6 days a week ... it takes a toll on anyone!

On a bigger and brighter note, our holiday season windows definitely put a smile on my face, especially with catch phrases such as: "promise the moon" & "wish upon a star". I miss feeling like a kid for Christmas.

I was on the Ariztia website today & downloaded the "Happy Holidays" cd by YBB. Some of the tunes that keep me sane during my working days :)

finally, a day off from the maddness!

I have no idea how I'm going to be able to work full-time post graduation. Working FT for the past 4 weeks has been exhausting, mentally, emotionally and most of all physically. I'm making a New Years resolution, but keeping it to myself - you never know who's stalking your blog, :P

On the up side, finally got to check my Fall 2009 grades. GPA of 3.7, ain't to shabby :)

Three more classes & I'm finally done, finally. Highly anticipating, super exited, can't wait for what's next. 2010 will be BIG, I can feel it.