Unemployed

On January 31st, we opened our doors for the last time at Ann Taylor. I found out last October that we would be closing. It wasn't a huge shock. I knew that our 10 year contract was expiring the end of January, so I assumed it would happen. We were one of the lowest volume stores in the company, so it didn't make sense to me to resign. We have fiercely loyal clients, so even though it was expected, it was really hard. We just needed about 3 times the clients we had to keep us going, but there were many that thought by their spending habits alone, they were keeping us in business. Unfortunately, not so. I thought that we would be moving to Pennsylvania for Matt's job and it would be perfect timing, but then we found out we would not move. So, I am currently unemployed. It has actually been really nice. I have been able to workout whenever I want to. I have filled my time by volunteering for various things such as the bishop's storehouse and recording my voice for BYU International TV to voice-over a spanish TV program. I've gone to Vegas for a weekend and Boise, spending time with family. Today is the first day that I have felt REALLY bored. I'm sure you've all noticed that we have not posted on the blog for more than 3 weeks (f.y.i. I started this post on the 31st like a good girl, but today is actually the 16th of February). Well, I have no excuse anymore, so I am getting it done! Here are some pictures of some memories from Ann Taylor and the girls I have made friends with over the last 3 1/2 years. I will miss Ann Taylor - the clothes, the people that worked and shopped there.

Me, Lauren, Leslie, Shauna, & Pam at Ottavio's for Leslie's bridal shower

Me, Tammy, Kelly, Alisa (my friend who actually worked at AT before I did and told me they were hiring a manager), Pam, Leslie Jones, and Shauna at Leslie Friel's wedding

Pam, Leslie, Kristen, Tammy, LaHella, Me, Rachelle, and Shauna at my bridal shower

Bethany, Pam, and Megan at a Bethany's house for a birthday part for Kristen

Sitting at the cashwrap during down time (crazy bangs - never again - this picture will be my reminder of why I should never cut bangs - knowing I will be tempted in another few years!)

Megan, Kristen, Kelly, Me, Catherine, Brianne, Pam, Susan Garris, Danielle, and Leslie at Thanksgiving Point for an AT reunion dinner

Nicola (the manager at Gateway) and I after our 5k Race for the Cure

Tamara dressed up and working on Halloween

Leisa, Lauren, and I eating ice cream sandwiches one night - we stayed open until 10 p.m. one night for an outreach event for NuSkin and no one showed up - so we ate ice cream instead!

April trying on clothes and being silly!  I think this is her version of dancing!

Chelsea and Wendy - love my girls!

Me behind our beauty set-up.  Our store was #1 to our goal in the entire company for a 3-month contest during the summer!  Go team!

We won a $500 store fund and went out for pedicures and the the Cheesecake Factory for dinner and dessert!

Holly and Susan G. getting pedicures

Pam, Me, Shauna, Catherine, and Kelly at Bombay House 

Susan W., Juliet, Me, and Julie (my management team and district manager) posing like mannequins - after the movers took everything away and we were left with an empty store :(

Me, Susan, and Juliet trying to pose like Charlie's Angels!

Thanks for all the good times girls!  I noticed I don't have any pictures of Christie Mason (my store manager when I started at AT).  This would be because she made me delete every picture I ever took of her even though she is gorgeous!  Love you Christie!  This was my favorite job because I got to work at my favorite store - getting a great discount, and I was able to make great friends.  Previous to working at Ann Taylor, I had a hard time making good girlfriends.  I had best friends that were girls, but I often opted to interact with guys.  My biggest hesitation at working here was the fact that I had to work with all women - I am just not a drama queen and I knew that girls = drama. I definitely had my fill of drama - believe me.  I also made many lifelong friends.  

Hope in a Can

I don't know if it's a new marketing ploy or sheer coincidence, but the new Pepsi logo looks eerily familiar. Here it is:


Here's a very similar logo:




The second logo is that of our soon-to-be annointed President and A-list god incarnate, Barack HUSSEIN Obama. The two logos are sufficiently different, of course, but they're both pretty darn similar. If Pepsi utilizes a marketing plan similar to Obama's campaign strategy, they will craft catchy one line slogans to captivate masses of mental light weights who don't care about the product they're buying nearly as much as the promises it makes. BURN!

It's Official!

I got email confirmation that my video will be on Leno tonight! Make sure you tune in.

My Big Break

That might be an exaggeration, but it's probably the closest I'll ever come to stardom.  My sister already scooped me on this story by posting it on her blog, but as it's really mine to tell I'll let everyone know.  I got an email from an underling from the Jay Leno Show yesterday.  She said she wants to include my youtube video (of the Diet Coke & Mentos rocket) on a feature they call Internet Successes and Failures.  The first question I asked was whether my video would be a success or a failure.  Naturally, it's a success since my video has now eclipsed 2,000,000 views.  It's not a guarantee the video will make the cut, but she told me she feels very confident it'll make it.  So watch the Jay Leno show on Wednesday night to see if you can spot my video.  If I find out beforehand that it'll be on, I'll let everyone know.  

This week's travels include: Texas (Houston and Abilene), New York City (cesspool of the country), and Nebraska (state slogan: "Don't bother").