My Hair

I'll post the pictures when my dad gets them developed, but for now I'll just have to tell you all- my long hair is gone! I went to Great Clips and got it hacked off today for Locks of Love. It was so easy to do- to just not get my hair cut, and it can really help a cancer patient who needs a wig, so you all should do it! It feels so odd to have it gone. I keep trying to pull it back and there's nothing there. That just shows that it was habitual rather than practical that I tried to smooth my hair. It was nice to put on my coat without having to flip my hair out. It gets so static-filled since its so fine and thin. I wanted to get it done this week because I am going up to International Aid for my project tomorrow and I want to present as professional an image as I can. They are trusting me with a big project and I'm a little freaked out by it, and I think it'll help me psychologically to look put together tomorrow too.

I may get lost tomorrow because I'm going to Spring Lake after work, and then I'm driving from their to either Stacie's house to carpool, or to a coffee house in Allegan for Mallory's jazz concert. You may never see me again. I'll simply be wandering up and down the pinky side of the mitten forever.

This is going to sound really odd about a blog, but since I've come to "So Very Carrie" and determined to not complanin about things so much, my blog has been rather self-centered. Although the purpose of a blog may be to share your life with others, I looked at the titles I've had so far and they seem somewhat self-aggrandizing. Don't know exactly what to do about it though.

I miss my Super Heros

This morning i drove to work thinking about a white chocolate mocha. I had decided to stop and pick up some sort of coffee drink on the way home. I was in Before School Program when in pops Miss Lisa with Hot Chocolate! I was so thankful for that warm hot liquid running down my throat. I miss the days that Miss Lisa and I taught our "Super Hero" class of preschoolers. The both of us would be exhausted (for various reasons) and would inevitably make our way to the pop machine for something to help us make it through the long afternoons, or eat some leftover snack. At the beginning of the year I hated that class because I was so used to being with Miss Melissa, and the kids really didn't get the whole school concept initially, but by the end of the year I think it was my favorite. We were more relaxed and our kids were so unique and funny. That was a good time-- I kind of miss the structure of being in a preschool class every day, and I miss Lisa being our daycare director or lead daycare teacher and the little encouraging notes that she would drop us for no reason. I do love the opportunity for publication that working less has given me, and I am so excited to finally be reaching for my calling, but I can't help but look back on those days with fondness.

Carrie, The Brilliant Author

I am doubly blessed! Today I spoke with Gloria Wiersma from International Aid about my senior project writing for them, and it sounds like a tremendous opportunity. I will be writing information that will go to hospitals and doctor offices here in the USA and to nurses in the Philippines who are prospective participants in their nursing exchange program. Recruiters often travel to the Philippines to find nurses, but often abuse the contracts that they have the nurses sign. Authorities have found nurses working in the recruiters homes as housekeepers and nannies, and they are often duped out of thousands of dollars in their salaries. International Aid is trying to helpend this by providing an alternative agency to work with that insures that they are fairly treated. I will defiently tell you more about this after I travel up there this Friday to look at the facilites and speak with employees.

I also (drum roll please) have been hired by Suite101.com as their new "Daycare Expert" writer to share what I have learned over 4.5 years at CFK/SMLS. I will be writing an article a week, as well as a more informal blog post. I'll also be maintaining my topic's discussion section. The money that I make will be based upon traffic, so if ya'all have some free time, please check it out when its up and running in a couple weeks. Yay!

Campaign For Real Beauty

Hey-
You may have seen a commercial during the Super Bowl for Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty. They are partnering with the Girl Scouts to increase girls's self confidence and show beauty that is against the sterotypical idea of it portrayed by the media. Its at www.campaignforrealbeauty.com. Its a really cool site, but I was suprised to see a picture featuring nudity (albeit small nudity) in their gallery of "Real Beauty" I suppose it comes down to the freedom of artistic expression. It isn't in a showy way, but the site is supposed to be appropriate for girls to visit as well, so some moms might take issue with it.

Edited Later: Okay, now I've looked at more of the photos, and there is at least one of close up, completely nude woman. The caption says that the subject is the photographer's daughter. My mom and I are close, but not that close.

My Old Blog

I forgot to say that my old blog is at:

www.soapychick.blogspot.com

(I know you can find it from here, but I'm making it easier on you)

Le Premiere

Hey-
I got tired of having to explain the name of my other blog to people and why it references soap ( i make glycerin soap) Also, its a little out of date because I rarely make soap anymore. I'm now mainly expressing myself through my writing (duh, for those who know me) making jewelry, painting, decoupage and cooking. So here it is: I'll try to redirect people to this site, but I may end up back over there.