In 2009 I learned...

-Moving halfway across the country entails a lot more emotional strength than I ever imagined (culture shock times 100)

-Not everyone cares how much education you have, or even experience, even how hard you work, as long as you can talk the talk and walk the walk, you're in!

-I'm allowed to ALWAYS re-invent myself

-You can't expect everyone to be nurturing. My previous supervisors were all very nurturing, something I took all too much for granted

-That I'm going to be a damn good mom!

-Fashion and design is truly a passion of mine, I don't just love shoes and accessories, I LOVE shoes and accessories

-I'm passionate about being an independent professional and I shouldn't let it pass me by

-I have the most amazing husband-to-be EVER. We're "that couple" you wish you could be. Not perfect but filled with lots of love. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

-I have the most amazing family and friends EVER...seriously...EVER!

-I'm not just obsessed with social media and the new trends in marketing, PR and advertising I have a deep passion for it. And one day, I'm going to change the world with it. (Ok a girl can dream can't she?)

-That Blogspot is so 2009 and Wordpress is very 2010...so folks that is where I'm headed with Damsel in a Dress.

It is a new chapter in Damsel in a Dress that I'm very excited to start. A lot of new improvements and a lot more posts about everything. Fashion, life, my passion for social media, my transition to the south and don't forget...the wedding!

Stay tuned...

I'm baaaaaack!

After much time and thought and maybe a little soul-searching I decided to bring my personal blog back! I mean why not? To be honest a lot has changed in my life over the last 5 months since I posted. However, a few things have not. The first being that I still have not yet found a job here in Greenville. To say that I'm beyond frustrated is being nice. And a big reason why I decided to blog again was simply because I was not finding any other outlet to vent my frustrations. I also have yet to find many folks out there I can relate to on these subjects and beyond.

My situation is also a bit rare in that I made the move with a significant other for his employment. (Ah yes ladies, the things we do for love.) We're getting married next June and while most would assume planning a wedding is the time of your life, when you are jobless, its not all its cracked up to be.

So the list making gal that I am decided to come up with a few ideas for future blog posts you'll see here soon:

1.) The quandary I find myself as a master's degree educated young person who struggles to find a job for even a foot in the door. (I've given up the dream of making close to $50K in my given field, or have I?)

2.) My never-ending effort to not be known as the "loud and opinionated (somewhat annoying) girl from Buffalo" but instead "the gal with the know who and the know how to succeed in a place not quite fit for her" (Get my drift?)

3.) To stay in Greenville, SC or not stay in Greenville...that is the question and quite frankly I'm still searching for the answer

4.) Why skinny girls constantly need to talk about their weight around the fat chick (i.e. ME)

5.) My search for the perfect wedding dress

6.) My struggle to lose weight and keep it off before the "big day" and beyond

7.) Why I still am not on the Obama train....yet. (And you thought I was going to stray from my political rants...oh no no)

8.) My undying love for everything Buffalo and why one day...I will be back to run for mayor!

9.) The greatest and best ways I'm trying to cut costs and save some change while job hunting. Take for example the awesome bowling alley around the corner that only charges $6 for four games/per person! And my Dollar Tree excursions!

10.) My love/hate relationship with social media. While I think its absolutely the best thing since sliced bread, I see parts of it being taken to an immature and somewhat "high schoolish" game of being in or out. I also don't believe in social media rock stars. We're all rock stars. (Especially me)


So to my returning readers, all 5 of you. (Even you too mom!) Welcome back! To those just joining me, get ready. I don't apologize for who I am and I don't hold back. I have opinions, as I'm sure you do too. I do ask however that you refrain from name-calling and making personal attacks at me. I may be loud and proud but I don't personally attack any one person on this blog. Even you, Mr. Obama. :)

Ready...set...LIVE!

RIP: Damsel in a Dress

So after careful thought and consideration I've decided to put to rest the Damsel in a Dress blog.  

Ok I lied I made the decision today and really didn't think long and hard at all.  

I feel as though this Damsel in a Dress blog has never exactly brought me great success or positivity.  And quite frankly, no one really reads this anyways.  Am I right?  

So Damsel is putting her dress on the hanger and the kitten heels back in the box.  Not really sure what is going to happen with my writing but I guess we'll just wait and see.  

But thanks to all 2 of you who have taken the time to read this blog! It is appreciated!  

Cheers! 

Love thy city as thyself?

Ok so yes,  I'm a bit defensive about my dear city of Buffalo.  I get offended when people hate on my city.  I know some of you may feel the same way.  

Living in Greenville (which BTW, do not make the mistake of calling Greenville, Greenvegas on Twitter...you will start a riot) has been an adjustment for me.  My passion was (and still is) Buffalo.  I have yet to find that same passion in Greenville.  Sorry folks, I've been here 3 months, give me a little room!  

However, when I was in Buffalo and met a Buffalo hater I did my best to show them the good side of the city I love.  Whether it was taking them out to a new great hangout or recommending some restaurants (as we know Buffalo is famous for them!)  I just did my best to be a great ambassador for the city.  

Folks this is why I'm certain some metro areas are suffering.  Because those living in those cities are not becoming accommodating to us new folks?  I take that back, I've met some great people. I have and I'm very lucky to have found them.  

However,  some of you need to calm down.  Instead of blasting a person for taking a little longer to realize the great in a place, how about let her in and show her your fun side.  

Let's not take it to Twitter people.  I really dislike it.  And if you know me, you know that's not always a good thing.  

True Life: Greenville

Alright so its been, what...3 months?

You know, we really fell in love with Greenville and we still do enjoy it. There are lots to do and see, great restaurants and did I mention the weather? When I move to a new city I do my part to be a tourist and experience as much as possible.

A few of my favorite things so far:

Falls Park at the Reedy River, downtown G-ville (my oasis)

Smoke on the Water Restaurant (Eclectic Southern Cuisine and cheap! SO GOOD!)

Greenville Public Library (preferably Hughes-Main in downtown)

and again did I mention the weather?

Oh and one more thing, Greenville is booming with the creative-types. In fact through Twitter alone in the past few weeks I've come across a lot of fun folks. I've also discovered my niche. Social media!

Now let's get back down to reality a bit. I haven't had much luck in finding a job.

"You mean you don't have a job? What do you do with yourself?!?!!!"

I sit home and eat bon-bons. That's what I do.

No, I work my butt off to do what I can and make something happen. A few things seem promising and in the meantime I've developed my own web site for some freelancing, Glass Half
Full Communications

Mind you, its not much. Give me a week, we'll have the guts finished.

I've constantly read the articles,the blogs and done everything possible to land some sort of employment. I'm realizing now, maybe this is my "break" The break to be me for awhile. Some people take it after high school before running off to college, some right after graduating said college and some do it at 50. It'll be a blip in what I ensure will be a long and successful career. Have no doubt, Damsel in a Dress will make waves and take names.

In the meantime I've been able to learn some great meditation techniques at the Greenville Center for Mindfulness, right here in Greenville! Dr. Dale Dingledine is the founder and probably one of the best resources in the region. I can't say enough about my experience, probably because I'm only halfway through the stress management program. I know now it has been my saving grace.

Greenville may not be my dream home, but its home for now. At least its a journey I was willing to take. And a risk I jumped into, head first.


.....I'm still icing the bump on my head....

You will dislike me after this...

Sorry...I got this email today and well...I just have to share.

Maybe you'll understand me more and maybe you'll hate me more. Either way move on.

I recently asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be
when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President some day.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats,were standing there, so I asked
her,'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'
She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'

Her parents beamed.

'Wow! What a worthy goal.' I told her, 'But you don't have to wait until
you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the
lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll
take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and
you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house.'

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in
the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the
work, and you can just pay him the $50?'

I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.'

Her parents still aren't speaking to me.

The REAL social standards of Social Networking

I love social networking. I love new, online and digital media. I hate faxing a press release or even putting one together in general. I think they are useless. I think they will be useless completely in a good 10 years.

However, where are the social and etiquette practices of networks like Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and yes, even MySpace. I treat each of those type of networks like I would someone I trusted as a friend. Quite frankly, I've done some friend purging every so often. If I haven't talked to you in a few months, you most likely don't really care about my life both professional and personal. And really you are looking for a way to cyber-stalk me. Yes...I mean you.

Now what do you do if someone wants to follow you on Twitter and really they were never that friendly to you in person anyways?

First I got the Facebook following and now its the Twitter thing.

(I'd like to add that nor do I claim to have a "following" in any aspect of my life, both on social networks and real life, but you know where I'm going)

Do we go so far as to ask, "What are your exact reasons you feel the need to add me as a friend?" I don't so much do this for someone I've never met before in my life, to be honest I've forged some really great connections and relationships with those who just liked my blog or followed my Tweets, more on the professional front.

What about those people that you've actually met sometime in your life whether professionally or personally and maybe you never saw eye to eye or you in fact never trusted them? IF and this is a big IF I find someone who I knew in a past lifetime, I do the common courtesy to actually make a personal note. I think that's just good etiquette. Same goes with professional contacts.

While I love this social networking boom, I think it may just be one way that people can stalk one another. I don't like people stalking me. Which is why I make my Facebook and MySpace private.

So stalker or follower?

You decide.