Morning coffee...

During a trip to Pier 1 a couple of weeks ago ( thanks to our wonderful friends and family who purchased gift cards as our wedding gift) I stumbled upon a coffee mug that said, "Think Big". As some one who cherishes motivational quotes and does daily affirmations, I thought how perfect is this.
Every time I look at this coffee mug, when I am drinking out of it, hand washing it and putting it away or taking it out, it reminds me to look at the bigger picture. To put life into perspective.

All the doom and gloom going on right now in the world (layoffs, cost of gas and food, foreclosures on homes). Plus E gone so much out of the week with his work schedule coupled with his commuting to his base in Chicago. We are starting to feel the pinch. My own questions about my career are starting to perk up. It is so easy to get so bogged down in the yuckiness of everything. This "think big" mug helps me see beyond what it is currently going on. To be the best I can be and to rise to the occasion. It gives me fire and determination.

Last new years, E and I made a promise to each other that at the beginning of the year, we would set both couple goals and individual goals. In order to keep us moving forward as a couple and as individuals. Over the weekend, I took a look at the goals we set as a couple and my own personal goals. My one of many personal goals, which the one I blogged about earlier in the year, is becoming a career/life coach. I still want to achieve this goal. I know in the last 6 months, I've pushed this on the backburner for one reason or another. However, over this last week, I've started to visualize this new venture. Which caused me seek out folks and information to help me get started. I don't know how long it will take me to achieve this goal. But I do have my daily dose of fire and determination to get me there.

Camera tips--what I know

Thanks so much for all the picture compliments! You all made me feel so good!!!
I have to say with those pictures it is all about the "mode". We have a basic digital camera--Hp photosmart. Nothing fancy at all. However, sitting down with Urs,she showed me the different picture modes she uses with her camera.

So for example, the sunset pictures from the previous post. I took them with the "sunset" mode. Then I played with the color options--b&W, etc to get a more interesting look. I would think every digital camera has mode and color options. It took me awhile to figure out how to find it as it isn't as apparent on my camera as it is on Urs's. She has a much better camera than we do.On close ups, like I took with the roses, I used the "macro" setting.

The header picture and the one with the bird--I think I just got really lucky on top of using the different picture modes :)

Definitely still a novice with this so I would love to share tips and tricks! Hope this helps!

If I build it, would you come?

Some of you know, I am a recruiter. I have been in the recruiting industry for about 9 years now. I was an in-house recruiter for two years, then went to work for a recruitment adveritsing agency in account management for three and now for the last four years, a 3rd party recruiter.

My dream is to become a life/career coach. I've been putting this dream on the back burner for awhile and now I am wondering if I should start taking steps to get closer to that dream. I just got off the phone with my sister in law (brother's wife) in counseling her on resume writing, interview techniques and advice on working with a 3rd party recruiter. As I got off the phone, I started thinking about my personal blog and whether or not I should start a recruiting advice corner blog. I know I am not the first of its kind out there so it begs the question should I even start one. If I did, I would need to make it relevent or maybe even nichy so it stands out.
So, dear internet, what topics as it relates to job hunting, interviewing, resume writing, career change, getting back into the work force would be of interest to you? What burning questions are out there that you would be dying to ask a recruiter.

Let's ponder this, shall we?