25th

25th what you might ask? Well, my 25th birthday was last night (and last year, technically speaking). Birthdays are usually a sore spot for me- I hate planning for NYE and friends are usually with their significant others (gag). I remember one birthday in high school only one person showed up for my birthday. My mom drove us to Taco Bell for lunch and we ate at my house while watching TV. It was so awkward and I was thinking to myself that I really HATE my birthday being on a day where people so easily brush you off for other plans.

Not to say that other birthdays haven't been good but the 25th has been a hard one to swallow.... I did actually plan a dinner on the 30th. 12 of my closest friends that I have had the pleasure of getting to know in the past 2 years I have been in Orange County. I am so blessed to have them in my life and am so grateful for all the times they have supported me through the good and bad. Anyways, we wined and dined in Laguna Beach, went to my favorite gay club/bar, and called it a night before it even hit 12. Yes, I am a grandma! Then at 4am shit hits the fan. I have food poisoning.........just my luck! My stomach is in shambles (and still is!!) and all I can do is lay in bed. The occasional birthday text or call would come in while I literally spent my birth-DAY in bed. Come around 5pm, I popped some pain pills and forcibly got ready for the night ahead. I was able to eat dinner and a few beers without halt. The rest of the night was in DT Fullerton- I was drained....pain pills were wearing off....I wanted to opt out of my red dress and wear my pjs. Aside from the physical pain I was also dealing with the lingering emotional pain of the last guy I dated. From our last conversation he said he was going to call me on my birthday. Alas, I get nothing. No call/text/acknowledgement? Nothing. I ultimately wanted to use the time to finally close this ugly chapter of my life but that last call about 3 weeks ago will just have to suffice. Birthdays are about celebration but for the most part of my 25th-it was straight up suffering.

You know it's nothing new/Bad news never had good timing - John Mayer "The Heart of Life"

Idealistically speaking, the new year is the mark of new and better and passing with the old. For me, I am still living in 2011. I live in the hurt and pain BUT time heals all. 2012 will be a rebuilding of sorts. I have a lot of things in the horizon (new job opportunities/travels/etc). As I get older, change and growth are so hard but I have to embrace it all. God has a bigger and better plan for me!

He will wipe away your tears and return your wasted years/This is Our God
And he brings peace to our madness and comfort in our sadness/This is Our God
A fountain for the thirsty, a lover for the lonely/This is Our God - Chris Tomlin "This is Our God"

2011 in Recap

Last post was in 2010? Oops, time to recap on 2011 now! Thanks to Facebook Timeline, I can easily remember what has gone down this past year :)

1) A full year at my current job (not ING)- a lot of changes, a lot of new faces, and a changed mentality to roll with the punches. Though not my ideal position, I am thankful for a job and to be able to financially support myself.

2) Travels!! Boston/Maine in May, DC in Sept, Seattle in Oct, oh and 2 Vegas trips in between (if that really counts!). Traveling has renewed my appreciation for the family and friendships I have in my life. Boston/Maine was with my sister, aunt, and mom. Our foodie adventures (especially to Red's Eats!) are things that I will always cherish. DC was with my old HS pals Kevin and Brian. It's so funny because we NEVER spoke a word to each other in our teens! We were all so different and hung out in different crowds. Now we are all in the working world and can bond over past memories of Mills, our college experiences, and of course our love for food. Seattle was with my really good friend Lisa. We so happened to go during Seattle Restaurant Week so that was an added plus! Really not that much to see but I had awesome company and the Seattle eats scene is not too shabby either. Oh yeah, and Vegas, well, was Vegas. Bumping into old friends in the club and drinking til we pass out. Good times.

3) I cut my hair 10-12 inches shorter. A much needed change!! I love it and don't think I will be having long hair for a while.

4) Relationships (cynical me has put this as 4 which in Chinese closely mimics the word death, heh heh). This has been a tough one for me this year. Figuring out my life without C and finally breaking off something that needed to be broken off since the end of 2010. I didn't realize how toxic that relationship was for him and I but also my friends suffered as well. I put them in compromising situations and let myself be taken full force by a naive and tumultuous first love. To make matters worst, and I think it was karma playing an evil trick on me- I dated soon after C and got my heart broken. A short stint of the kind of person that I should of been dating in the first place. Obviously, it was too good to be true- ended with my tires screeching and in lack of better terms, getting the fuck of out his life.

This year has been interesting to say the least. Good times mixed in with a whole lot of not-so-good. It's tough to let go of the past but it all works out (for the better) in the end. It's 2 weeks until my birthday and the new year could not of come at a more opportune time. 2012 will be better, I am making that promise to myself.

July!

Wow, it is already July. Pardon the lack of posts. I work 50-60 hours a week. I am so tired everyday. To make matters worse I actually went to the E.R. today. I had some stomach problems that escalated and I felt like vomiting this morning. I was prescribed some antibiotics and now I feel a whole lot better.

Though I am really busy, I realize that prioritizing is SOOOO important! If I don't set goals and deadlines for myself, I will forget what is important and never get it done! This is definitely something I need to work on and continue to get better at. ING is on the backburner but I want it to be at the forefront. I need to make things happen for myself despite my natural tendencies to let things run passively.

On another note, have you heard about Mint.com? I totally love this site because it helps you budget and see where your money is going. There are cool pie charts so you can see what percentage of your money is going where. For me, 50% is going to rent :( I need to fix that! I am moving apartments at the end of August so I am definitely looking to reduce my rent by at least $100-200/month.

Finally, with summer in full swing- what are your plans? I am looking forward to sitting poolside soaking up the rays. I am tempted to take vacations because of all the great deals I see on Travelzoo but I know I have to save. Deals will always be around so I shouldn't be taking them needlessly and spending where I shouldn't. What is something free you like to do in the summer?

'Til next time, have a Happy (and safe!) 4th of July!

Angela

Life Lesson

First off, I'm on the ING website!! Yay!

I realize that I am blessed to have 2 jobs. My new one is totally chill- I get to go on Twitter and Facebook. I get to find tidbits of useless information but also totally cool stuff like making $5 dinners! ING has been going well. Mid-May and prospects are turning into clients.

Life lesson learned this past Mother's Day weekend: Don't let others dictate your life. I get a lot of crap from people saying being licensed in life insurance is not a 'real' job. It discouraged me but I know what I do is legitimate and helps a lot of people. I wouldn't be in the job otherwise. I am not a natural at sales!! (Why would I be wasting my time!?) This is fuel for me to work harder and prove myself. When I roll in mounds of green don't come knocking at my door! Millionaire here I come!

Haha, well maybe not in 10 years....

'Til next time!

Angela

MAY!

It's already MAY!! Time flies!!

As for work, ING has been a super support system in my new career. I have new confidence in my abilities to succeed and realize the potential I have yet to achieve.

ING has a great new product out called the Global Index Universal Life (GIUL). It is indexed to the S+P 500 as well as 2 other international markets. This is a great tool to utilize the ups of the market (NO CAP on interest earned!!) but protect you from the downs (GUARANTEED 1% return). Ask me if you want more info! I am going to switch my policy to this one because it is a great retirement tool as well as building up my savings.

Other news: I picked up another job on the side to help me with living expenses. I will be starting work next week. Kind of excited. I will be a Sales and Marketing Assistant for an Online Accounting Software company.

Life is full of new things in store.

I hope to make the most of my time and help people along the way.

I leave you with an article about SS. Baby boomers are eating up the money saved for everyone for retirement. In the best case scenario, people in their 20s and 30s will see about 30% of their SS income. SUCKS right!?! Take a look here. Consider building your own SS Fund so that you can combat the losses and have money for retirement.

Cheers!

Angela

The Fifty Success Habits

While in Sydney I met a woman named Judy. She was soooo nice and she took me to church on Easter Sunday. It was such a blessing. While parting our ways she talked about a man named Craig Harper. He is a motivational speaker and is pretty famous in Australia.

I had the chance to look at his website (www.craigharper.com.au) and I came across the article that Judy had talked to me about. Take a look. The 50 Success Habits. Today in my weekly Monday ING meetings I learned about forming good habits- prospecting, making appointments, closing sales. With structure and routine in your day, success will come.

Despite the crappy day I had today, I have to pick myself up. I realize where I need to direct my energies and hopefully the rest will follow. The 50 Success Habits can be used for anyone and for any situations- Judy used it to help her lose weight. For me, I see myself relating to the habits in helping me with my career.

The road to success is not easy but having a roadmap can make it a heck of a lot easier.

Big Girls Don't Cry

Oh oh oh oh oh how discouraged I am right now.

I know now why you have to have a 'tough skin' in the business. People give you some of the greatest happiness but also give you this biggest headache.

I guess I can't be so surprised that things aren't easy- though it did seem so in the beginning. Too easy in fact. I should of not set up my expectations- now I am back at zero- a big and hurtful tumble to the ground.

Ahh life is full of ups and downs. My bubble of happiness was left in Sydney, a sort of escape- though I didn't know it was that until now.

I did cry- shed a tear- maybe many but on the bright side- from rock bottom you can only go up. Press on! Success is persevering through what you think you cannot. I will be stronger, I WILL.