Scary but so very exciting...

The fashion course started last night...it was awesome. I'm making a little dress with bell sleeves - bit 60's, very cool. My biggest regret in my life was not pursuing fashion as a career, and last night, I felt a bit excited about the future again. But also really scared at the prospect of an almighty change in my life. I think it's a bit of "scared of what I might be able to achieve", rather than being scared of failing. By the same token though, I still have to remain realistic - I still have to earn a living while learning this new skill, so the job search continues...

Optimism, anyone?

Is it me, or does it feel that the sun has brought with it a little optimism to the world? I've read several stories in the press about "green shoots", and I feel a bit better generally - is anyone else feeling a little less grim? 

Let's hope I actually use this workout DVD

So, this morning I won a DVD on ebay for the bargain price of £10.50 all in - "The Tracy Anderson Method" Dance workout, or words to that effect. I figure that if I'm going to be out of work, then I might as well get a buff body while I can. Now, I don't know if anyone has seen this woman, but by God, if I look half as good as her, then I'll be super-happy. She's Madonna and Gwyneth's trainer - now, I'd like to state that I don't want to develop muscles like Madonna. I'm looking to become a bit stronger all round - plus, exercise is good for the spirit as well as the thighs, and I'll take any help going in both of those areas! 

Wish me luck...

Another lightweight TV programme I'm hooked on..

I am already hooked on The Hills and The City. I'm an educated woman, so goodness only knows why I'm hooked, but I am. Pure escapism. And I have another to add to that list - Running With Heels. Just saw an episode - hook, line and sinker. 

It's totally because it has fashion and New York - at least I recognise my own weaknesses...

New Opportunities

So, something cool happened. I got offered a free - yes, free - place on a 10 week fashion design course at a local design college. This is freaking amazing. You see, I always thought I should have been a fashion designer. As a young 'un, I would constantly be drawing dresses, shoes, bags etc, and even won national competitions and had designs made up into actual garments...but never pursued it any further than that. 

Why? Well, I think I probably listened to all those people who tell you to stop being a dreamer - the ones who said stuff like "Designing dresses will never pay your mortgage you know" - yeah, tell that to Karl Lagerfeld, pal. Anyway, I went down the corporate route, built up a pretty good career, which has just pretty much fallen apart, thanks to this lovely economy. 

But, was I happy? Was I hell. I pretty much detested what I'd become, not because of the organisations that I was working within or the people I worked with, but because I didn't feel the passion in what I was doing - it was like dating some guy that was "kinda ok" - believe me, this career I had was no heartbreaker. 

So now I find myself at the crossroads - and look what turning just opened up - the fashion highway....

April goals

I'm pretty much obsessed with personal finance blogs at the moment (as you will see from my blog reel to the right). I find myself even more prone to pouring these sites for hours on end now that I find myself in the league of millions - yes, unemployed. 

So, of course, every penny counts now, so am really trying to concentrate efforts and look for ways to cut costs but not have to live like a complete pauper. I'm really lucky as having been made redundant before in 2007, I was very sensible and kept my settlement (a not-at-all-misery sum) safe away in a savings account - so I have some breathing space, and can really look at what I want to do with my future. 

With time on my hands during the job search, I've seen how alot of you PF bloggers do your monthly goals - Im loving this approach, as it totally works for anything, and being a bit of a Monica Gellar-type, I love to organise myself and keep things on track - so here goes, April goals as follows:

1. Get a job - if only for a few hours a week, I need to get something, as I feel uncomfortable having no incomings at all at the moment
   
2. Do my mileage/expenses reclaim - as you can claim up to 40p per mile done for busines purposes, I can claim up to that back - previously was paid 12p per mile
3. Volunteering - something I've wanted to do for a long time, so want to have an interview set up with the local volunteering co-ordinating office before the end of the month
4. Switch BT line rental to broadband provider - will save a couple of quid a month - no catches
5. Cancel bank account - not as weird as it looks, I currently have one of those added benefits current accounts that you pay a monthly fee for - I am mystified how I ever justified it to myself...
6. Car boot sale - the season is here, ladies and gents - dig out your wallpapering tables, get up at the crack of dawn to stand in a muddy field and fend off the hagglers (How much is this? It's 50p. Oh, will you take 40p? Jeez...)
7. Convert small bedroom to home office - its currently a dumping ground - not great or productive for anyone
8. Blog more regularly, and try to get more followers

And there we have it - I will probably develop a few more as the month goes by, but this is an interesting exercise for me - I respond well to goals, and i think the whole "I dont have a routine during the day at all" thing will grind me down eventually, so I need to keep on top of it.