5 Things I'm Loving This Week

I've decided to start a new blog theme called 5 Things I'm Loving This Week.  I'll write this blog on  either Saturday or Sunday every-other week, discussing the top 5 things I fell in love with that particularly week! Here is the first addition!

5.) The new Caribou Coffee in Ankeny, IA
It's super cute and I walked out not only with a coffee (and a soulmate for my coffee, also known as a pastry item) but also a bunch of cute decorating ideas and things to think about. They have a chalk board for customers to write on called Chalk Thoughts, this week the Chalk Thoughts theme was to define relax. I wrote "putting yourself in a place where you do not have the ability to complete or further work projects"  & I just love how Caribou's coffee cups and napkins have cute sayings, my favorite one today was "Accidentally" let your dog have a bite.  Some of the sayings can really make you think & you can never have too many hhmmmmm moments!

4.)  Goodreads 

I know another social networking site is seriously the last thing anyone needs right now but, this site is sort of like browsing shelves from my own couch! Goodreads <- click on the link to check it out and if you want to connect with me my username is niccilynnwhit.

3.) Pictures of Awesome Libraries 

They just make me smile and feel at peace.

2.)  The Godmother

A soap that smells like bubble gum and leaves me never wanting to get out of the shower! YUM!

1.)  Life In General

Even though life lately has been filled with a lot of stress and uncertainty, I'm not sure I would change it for the world.  The challenges that lay ahead of me are going to help mold who I am and what my future family is meant to become.  It's going to land me (and us) in a solid place with a new adventure and I couldn't ask for more than that. No matter how often I'm reminded it's not perfect or met people who serve as challenges with the intention of tearing me down, life is still good and I know God has a purpose, a plan, and a timeline. And for that? I'm grateful.

One Step at a Time

I have recently become very concerned with the sustainability of our world and way of life.  Unfortunately, I am really uneducated about this issue.  Luckily, I am currently taking a course entitled Technology and Social Change with a focus on Global Sustainability.  I hope to gain a lot of true, factual information from this course but have promised to not stop learning and being passionate about this issue after the course is over.

One tiny step I have taken is switching to an all natural milk product that comes in recyclable glass containers.  This milk is farmed in Guthrie Center Iowa by Sheeder Cloverleaf Diary and tastes amazing! Check out their website http://www.sheedercloverleafdairy.com/

My Extreme Couponing

Saving money is always awesome for a poor college student, so I just had to blog about my CVS Pharmacy steal!

CVS Pharmacy just recently opened a new location in Ankeny, IA.  A week or so ago I received an ad for their opening which included a few awesome coupons so, I decided to go and check them out.

I ended up getting all of the items above for $10.38! Which isn't the only great part about the experience.

A few of the coupons were for certain brands that they ended up being out of and as I'm figuring this out I'm getting a little bummed.  There is even another customer who is shopping with the same ad and figuring this out with me. We kept bumping into each other and laughing about the situation.

Eventually I go to check out, I hand the ad to the clerk and she asked if I found everything for all these coupons. I said no, and explained to her that they were out of a few of these items.  She said no problem just grab the same product in any other brand and we will honor the coupon! What customer service! 

The girl I kept bumping into happens to be behind me hearing this so we both get excited and go grab the rest of the products together!

I will definitely keep going to CVS Pharmacy! The store was really cute too! :D

A Must See

When the movie Bully was released in select theaters I knew I had to go see it.

When I left the movie theatre my makeup was rolling down my face and my emotions were all over the place.

Here is my main feeling...

I really think that the problem starts at home.  Parents teach their children how to treat others.  They do this by modeling behavior not only towards other adults but also towards their own children.  The song Daughters by John Mayer comes to mind.  

"Fathers, be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers

So mothers, be good to your daughters too"

When I look back on my public school experience and think about the students that were true bullies (not just caddie girls, students having bad days, or the kid who makes a smart or even rude comment every once in awhile but, TRUE bullies) I realize they all had one thing in common withdrawn, inactive, un-poised parents.  

As mentioned in the documentary some parents just don't care and they aren't going to do anything about this issue.  And this is why schools have to step up and fill the void.  Unfortunate, but true.  

I propose that schools consider courses or activities that can help students grow deeper with one another.  I'm not sure what this would really entail, curriculum specifics, etc. but I can vision it. :D

I'm not sure if I ever want to have children but if I do I pray that I set good examples for them.  And that I teach them the deeper meaning of things.  It's not just that bullying is wrong-don't do it, it's that bullying can negatively effect so many peoples lives.  That we are all God's children, loving others is honoring God. 

I also believe that a relationship with God could help this issue... but unfortunately I can't vision this actively inside our schools to the extent it needs to be but, a girl can dream. And pray.

I hope that everyone takes the time to see this movie and talks to the children in their lives about this issue. 

Social Network Marketing

Right now I am working with a couple of small businesses on their marketing.  Recently I have been paying special attention to their Social Networking procedures. 

Have you ever wondered when the best time was to get your message out? How about how many times you should tweet per hour in order to have the most effective amount of communication with your potential customers? 

It turns out that 5pm, Eastern time, on a Wednesday will be the most effective time to Tweet. If you want your information shared on Facebook, aim for around midday on Saturday. Take a look below at the research done by KISSmetrics.

Number 22

22) Come up with amazing answers for interview questions (mock interviews)

The interview is the most important step in your search for employment. You will want to be as thoroughly prepared for your interview as a successful salesperson is during a sales call. When you are face-to-face with an interviewer, you are a salesperson... selling yourself! Today I chose to practice my “sales pitch” in a mock interview. Interviewing is like anything else, the more you practice the better you become! (That's the idea anyways)

My interview went really well!  My feedback was that I seem like a really confident, poised, and outgoing person.  All of my answers were great but I could always dig deeper/expand on a few and to think about about how to answer the "What is your greatest weakness" question as well as the "Do you have any questions for me" question.

After thought and reflection (I can't believe I'm going to blog about my greatest weakness!) I've came across an answer that I think would be acceptable but also true (being honest is important to me and if you get the position they're going to find out anyways) so here it goes...my greatest weakness... I take on many tasks, some that could easily be delegated to someone else.  Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still important for me to be confident when assigning others work.  This semester I have already been working on this, in two different classes I have been appointed "team leader" and have been the delegating queen! :D

As for the second question here is a list of what I think are good questions;
1.)  Is this a new position?  If not, what did the previous employee go on to do?
2.)  What doe the training look like for this position?
3.)  Could you describe a typical work day for this position?
4.)  What do you really enjoy about working for this company?

5.)  How does this company show that it values its employees?

6.)  What is the company's culture like?

These questions could really be used for any position, I think it is also important that while in the interview to think of a more personalized question or two based off of what you know about the company, things said in the interview, and the honest questions that come to mind during it.

After the mock interview career services told me to check my twitter account! So I grabbed my phone and saw a tweet from them saying I had won a $250 gift card to Khols! SO AWESOME! New clothes for career fair- I think so! :D

Mock Interview = SUCCESS 

Donations Needed

DONATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR MISSION NAVAJO

If any of you missed my last blog post please read it! :D

If any of you feel lead to help send donations for this mission trip I would be more than happy to be the liaison with your donations or even go shopping with you! Just contact me! Here is a list of donations that would be perfect!

CARNIVAL
Carnival Prizes-  ages preK-teen Small prizes/trinkets to give away, like hot wheels, craft items, subway  gift cards, etc.

Bingo Prizes- for adults/elders picture frames, christian books, etc.

Auction Items- for all ages, Basic need items like flashlights, tools sets, handcrafted items, Christian themed items, cookware sets, basketballs, sports equipment, gift cards (Applebees, Cracker barrel, ITunes), etc.

CAMPUS:
Kitchen:
Granola Bars
Coffee - Folgers
Neosporin
Tylenol (adult)
Children's Tylenol
Band-aids
Aluminum Foil (1000sq ft)
Plastic Food Wrap (18" x 200)
Freezer Ziploc Bags (1 gallon)
Vinyl Gloves (Food service, powder free)
Foam Cups (8 oz)
Foam Plates Divided Compartments
Sporks
Large Ice Chest
Large Roasters (2)
Sam's Club or Wal-Mart Gift Cards - for large canned foods and stock up paper products

NEW LADDERS - (2) 6ft, (2) extension* (*Ideally, provide a gift card to Lowe's to purchase in New Mexico)

TOOLS - basic tools to help support their maintenance person and incoming work crews.

SCHOOL UNIFORM TOPS - polo tops with collars, solid colors only.  All youth sizes, K-5th grade.  New or gently used.

TEACHER REQUESTS:
Kindergarden:
Color Pencils (15)
Action Figures
Cars, Boats, Planes
Dolls, Doll Clothes
Barbies
Play Dough
Cookie Cutters
Plastic Play Food

1st Grade:
Water Color Paper
Water Color Paint Sets (15)
Paint Brushes (25)
Manuscript Paper
3M Transparency Paper
Small Computer Desk
Color Markers (25)
Scissors (25)

2nd Grade
World Map - Large
Globe

3rd Grade
Spiral Notebooks - Wide Rule
Dry Erase Markers - Red an Black
Tempera Washable Paint
Puzzles - 100 pieces
Water Color Paper

4th Grade
Listening Center
15 Dictionaries

5th Grade
Computer Mouse (5)

Because we are limited on trailer space we will need to buy several things down in Arizona/New Mexico, please consider a gift card to Wal-Mart, Sam's Club or a monetary donation to Mission Navajo. :D

Jamie and I are so excited to be a part of this! We will deff. come home with plenty of pictures to share with everyone! Please continue to pray for all those going on mission Navajo and of course the Navajo people!