Posts Tagged ‘unemployment’

Breaking Up Is Not Hard To Do | Thankful Thursday June 5, 2014

Hello Friends and Happy Thankful Thursday.

Today I can say that I am thankfully blessed for being steadily employed in Corporate America since 1984, and even though I was laid off in 2005, I am now a contractor for that same company. A job loss can be devastating in so many ways but today’s post is addressing the loss of a wardrobe style.

In the 80’s women were trying to get ahead in corporate America so the power suit became fashionable, and women dressed to impress in the workplace. The stand-out piece of the power suit was the jacket, often boxy and long, with big shoulder pads and worn with matching knee-length skirts.

In the 90’s, the power suit became a bit more relaxed and more colorful, the long boxy jackets got shorter and the shoulder pads smoothed down. I remember hubby buying me expensive suits although he knew I had a thrifter’s taste, or as it likes to call me “cheap”…anywho, a lot of those suits have been donated.

With the change in Corporate attire to Corporate Casual I no longer buy or thrift power suits. However, I do have one that I kept solely because of the color, and because of the color I choose not to wear it together as a suit, I had to break them up.

I broke them up and wore the jacket with a pencil skirt and polka dot top thrifted from Goodwill

I broke them up and wore the skirt with a sleeveless tank thrifted from Goodwill

Earring and necklace set from Avon

Color block purse was purchased at Spence’s Bazaar, a flea market in Dover

Breaking up a suit is not hard to do and it actually gives you more wardrobe options.

What are your thoughts?

Color block flats are from CitiTrends

Necklace was new, thrifted from Goodwill

Today I am also thankful for my family, friends and of course my faith. I am extremely thankful that this color has come back in style and the suit still fits!

What are you thankful for this week?

Have a great day and we’ll chat tomorrow.

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!

14 Comments

Retire or Regroup | Encore Entrepreneur April 15, 2014

Hello Friends and Happy Tax Day Tuesday!

If you’re anything like me no matter what year in your career you’re in, the countdown to retirement has begun. I never told hubby, but when he signed his retirement papers on the 28th of February I was extremely jealous! It’s not that I’m ready to sit home and do nothing or pack my bags and start traveling, I am just looking forward to the day when I have the option to work or NOT!

At this point in my life I am too young and active to retire or at least retire without a plan, which is why this blog is part of a bigger 5-year plan. I’ve thought about starting a small business, but it would have to one of little to no stress and definitely little to NO commuting involved!

Ideally, I would love to sit on the dock of a bay with a laptop or tablet writing and creating. Perhaps I’ll have a little shack where tourist can purchase fishing bait and tackle!

http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/

There was an article published in USA Today that caught my attention, it stated that “more older entrepreneurs are starting businesses after they’ve worked and retired from other careers”. They have been labeled “encore entrepreneurs”. An encore entrepreneur is someone over the age of 50 who starts a small business or begins a new career. Some of these small businesses are non-profits that provide a social need such as job training for the unemployed. Others turn their hobby or passion into an income stream which is part of my 5-year plan.

Of course as with any new start-up there are obstacles and challenges, but with age comes wisdom and knowledge both of which are a plus for the encore entrepreneur. Job layoffs, supplementing or replacing income are just a few reasons for starting a business after the age of 50.

However, with people living longer becoming an encore entrepreneur gives us an opportunity to stay active and do something that perhaps we’ve always wanted to do.

What about you, are you ready to retire or regroup and become an encore entrepreneur?

19 Comments

#Blog4Good May 5, 2013

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!

I live in DE not DC but am supporting my fellow DC bloggers for a cause that I think is important.

Goodwill Industries Week

You know Goodwill, they’re the folks you donate all your old stuff to. They also have all those stores where you can find some great deals on someone else’s stuff. But, do you know why Goodwill accepts your donations? Do you know where the proceeds from those retail sales go? Simply put – they help people find jobs. Not just any people – people who live in our community, people whose kids go to our schools, people who are sitting next to you on Metro or bus.

Goodwill of Greater Washington’s primary mission is to provide job training and employment services to people with disadvantages and disabilities. Their goal is to give the populations they serve the tools they need to become self-sufficient.

People like Nadine, who had been living on the streets since she was 12 years old. She was shot three times and stabbed while literally fighting to survive, until she found Goodwill. Nadine is now fully employed and has her first apartment!

People like Patricia— she was unemployed, living on welfare and trying to raise three children. After graduating from a Goodwill training program, Goodwill decided to hire Patricia. She is doing great and was recently promoted!

And Vander’s story is amazing, he has a disability that prevented many businesses from considering him for jobs. After completing Project Search, Vander landed a full-time job with the Department of Education. In his spare time, he likes to advocate for people with disabilities.

These are real people who now have real jobs and real lives – thanks to the incredible work done by Goodwill of Greater Washington. They are now positive, contributing members to our community. All they needed was a helping hand – A helping hand given to them by Goodwill that was made possible by your donations.

In 2012, Goodwill directly affected the lives of more than 3,200 of our neighbors. These are people who have re-found the dignity that comes with being a contributing member of our society. Goodwill also diverted over 20 millions of trash from local landfills through their donation program. In addition to training people for jobs, placing them into jobs, providing consumers with access to quality, low cost goods, and acting as one our region’s largest recyclers, Goodwill is also a job developer. With each new store and donation center that Goodwill opens, 25-30 new jobs are created.

Goodwill of Greater Washington’s mission is summed up by its tagline – “Transforming lives and communities”. Now you know how they do it. If you’d like to learn more about Goodwill of Greater Washington, find their nearest store or donation center, or get involved, please visit www.dcgoodwill.org or download their free mobile app from the iTunes app store.

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