I live in my TOMS and now they’ve extended their line to sunglasses. Today Nordstrom and TOMS had the long-awaited unveiling of TOMS’ next step.
For every pair of sunglasses purchased, a child will receive a) medical treatment b) prescription eyeglasses or c) a sight-saving surgery.
What an amazing addition to the One for One movement. Stoked to purchase mine. Same price as Ray Bans, but with a cause. And if their quality is anything close to their footwear, I’m sold.
Today, I received an email from Nordstrom Recruiting. I usually receive 3-4 emails per day regarding new openings. The emails are not based on your qualifications, but rather positions you listed you would be interested in. Anyone who knows me, especially those who have had a substantial conversation with me, know how obsessed I am with the Nordstrom company. As a regular customer since practically birth, it only seemed logical that I find a job for Nordstrom.
During the winter season in Florence, I was offered a Summer Fashion Merchandising Internship at the Nordstrom in Arcadia, Calif.
From that momentous point on, I had learned the ins and outs of a company that I had already loved and admired. Every opportunity I had to share something about Nordies, I wouldn’t hesitate. It happened so often, I didn’t even realize how crazed I was sounding. I sounded like I was part of a cult – that’s how much I had immersed myself into the company.
Sadly, I was unable to continue my time with Nordstrom since I was still a student at PUC, located in the middle of nowhere. Having to leave Nordies was a sad day because I had made so many contacts in such a short time and I knew by leaving, I was risking the opportunity to be at the front of these important people’s minds when better opportunities would arise. But instead, I was determined to finish school (no question about it) and hoped a Bachelor’s degree would make me a more valuable candidate for a full-time position.
Okay, getting to the point of this post. Today, as every other day, the Nordstrom Recruiting emails came in. Lo and behold, the idealized career every young PR girl could dream of right out of college was available: Fashion Public Relations Specialist IN Seattle! The job could not be a more perfect fit for my next step.
I eagerly rushed back to my room to start writing my cover letter and tweaking my resume. After spending a good 45 minutes doing so, I proceed to apply online. And then the sentence hits me like a ton of bricks:
Requirements:
Umm, yeah. Don’t have that. I have experience communicating and using the skills I’ve acquired from my public relations classes, but none of it was ever seen outside of IH 323.
I’m starting to feel the antagonizing Catch-22 crush my naive young college grad (almost) mentality. I need experience, but the jobs that are above minimum wage require experience. At this point, I know I am under-qualified for this position, but ever since freshman year and people asked what I wanted to do with PR, I’d enthusiastically reply, “Fashion PR!"
I’m really hoping and praying I’ll get a chance at something I know I will kick butt doing.
(And no, this isn’t the only job I’ve applied for … but it just seemed so suiting to my freshman year career fantasies.)
Back to studying and patiently waiting for the next step.
Tay
Praying praying praying for everyone taking finals this week. It’s kinda funny because I’ve been so diligent to finish my projects with 100% effort and study better than I have all quarter, but then I keep remembering that I’m graduating no matter what … and then it all doesn’t seem to matter so much anymore. Hah.
But for the time being, it’s probably important to keep focused during these anxiety-filled times. Study well, get some shut eye, eat at least at some point during the day, depend on God and finish this year strong! (Oh and probably resist Tumblr and Facebook until Thursday ;))
Tay
Today marked my last official day of classes. Unlike any other “last day of class” from previous years, the sky was gloomy and the air was damp instead of the scorching 90º heat most PUC-ites are used to. Aside from preparing for my last day of classes, I was also busy scrambling around campus making withdrawals from our class account to start preparing for Graduation and then running around Napa/Fairfield purchasing those necessary items.
I’m not too worried about finals, only two per day. I’m more nervous for what happens after finals are over. My last day of finals is Wednesday and Kaliko, my best friend who lives in Hawaii, will be flying in. Thursday is going to be a perfect day to relax and enjoy it with my friends before the Graduation craziness begins. And then what?
The importance of today didn’t really hit me until that green light on my phone kept going off – another email. All day my inbox was flooded with information about caps and gowns, graduation practice, honor cords, the graduation program. All the emails I had been accustomed to receiving were never as important as the ones I received today because all were in preparation for NEXT weekend. Not three months from now, not even three weeks from now. Everything became real. Don’t even get me started when I hear Pomp and Circumstance.
It would be safe to say that I am nervous because I’m still figuring out what I will be doing for my “first real job.” But at the same time, I’ve already made/booked plans up until June 29, so I guess that doesn’t really give me an option to start working right after Grad. Honestly, I think it’ll be good for me to settle back down and enjoy the rewards of a very meaningful accomplishment.
In June I already have two trips to Vegas booked, a 5-day business trip to Indianapolis, two Graduation dinners with different sides of my family, all the while hosting Kaliko. This is going to be a jam-packed summer!
Steven has been more than what an average supportive boyfriend is expected of. Every step of the way through my senior year, he’s been by my side. Literally. I don’t know how many times he got dragged into helping set up, promoting events, staying late to help clean up, and everything else an officer is expected to do. Aside from that, when no one else is around, he’s there to listen to me vent and cry and sometimes, just rest my head. I feel an instant calm whenever I think about him. Tonight, we celebrated our 21 months and my last day of classes at Morimoto’s in Napa. We definitely ate our hearts out with our 3-course meal. Just earlier this week, we had another 3-course meal at Meadowood with some friends. Who says college students can only afford crappy food to eat? We both work hard and rewarding ourselves with decadent meals is only fair … right? 😉
Starting Sunday, it’s game time. Here’s to finishing the year strong while soaking in our final days at PUC. Eight more days.
Keeping all the seniors (and everyone else going through finals) in my prayers,
Taylor
My Bucket List:
Go Skydiving.
Heck yeah, babyyyyy! This is something I’ve wanted to do for years. It’s not like I’m not afraid of heights either. I’m terrified. But jumping out of a plane, from 13,000 feet at 122 mph (well, my tandem master said we were actually going closer to 110 mph because I was too light) was just something I had to do. Steven was on board so we went with two friends, April and Graham, and had the times of our lives. I was the first to jump and wasn’t given a second to rethink my decision. Bud, my tandem master, scootched (?) me up all the way to the edge and the last thing he said, “Don’t hit your head on your way out. It’ll hurt like hell.” And before I knew it, we were freefalling. When I post more pictures, you can see ICICLES on my nose. It was FREEZING … -13º!! I loved every second until Bud released the parachute and as we were calmly descending, he realizes Steven (who jumped after me) was already passing us so in order to “beat him”, he yanked on the parachute and sent us SPIRALING down for a good 5-7 seconds. I nearly threw up. Screaming for him to stop. When we finally stop, the whole way down I was preparing myself (and him) for my impending projectile of vomit. Luckily, we made it down, very smoothly, but I was struck with nausea for about 20 minutes.
One of the best experiences of my life. It was an added pleasure to have done it with those three!
Two weeks until graduation. Savoring every fleeting second.
Love, Taylor
Purchased an early graduation present to myself 20 minutes after Women’s Half Yearly started last night. And guess what? It’s already sold out! Always trust your instincts…especially with shopping ;). If you can’t put it down or close the browser window after staring at it for 10 minutes, just treat yourself to something special and buy it.
You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
John 14:13-14
delight & dwell 