Barista...yay! 30 hours...no!

That's right!  I am officially a Starbucks Barista.  I'm learning a lot.  I even made drinks for customers today!  Finally.  I am working at Starbucks.

I am truly happy about my job.  I love learning how to make good coffee.  I love making people's day with coffee.  It's definitely nice to have extra spending money.

The only thing I am struggling with is the amount of hours.  Now I realize most of you guys who read my blog have fulltime jobs.  That's amazing.  I applaud you for that.  I just can't do it.  It's just really a challenge for me to work 30 hours a week.  I am working 1-8pm shifts.  It works out great for my workout schedule.  It doesn't work out so great for seeing Hubs.  He usually leaves around 4:30 am and doesn't return until after 6:00pm.  Because he has to get up so early, he goes to bed around 8:30pm...the time I get home from work.  It would be fine if it was only 2 or 3 days a week, but it's every day.  I now struggle to find time to finish my final online class, do grocery shopping, and run errands.  The poor puppy has to be locked up for the majority of the day now.

I just started so I don't really want to complain either.  I'm just going to have get used to this whole working thing.  I'm hoping to talk with my supervisor next week about scheduling me for fewer hours.  I'm a total people pleaser and hate confrontation of any way shape or form, so this conversation is already making me nervous.  Please pray that I have the right words to say and that my supervisor is sympathetic and understanding.  When I agreed to the job, I was under the impression that part time meant 15-20 hours a week, not 30-35.  I just hope she understands.  

Simplicity Simplicity

Today I read Ashley's post on The Shine Project.  I was inspired.  As much as I hate to admit it, my life is cluttered and mediocre.  Because I want to do so many things, I end up doing too much and not doing my best at anything.  It's especially hard for me not to have a schedule anymore.  I am not in school at Calvin so I don't have a class schedule to plan my days around.  I don't have an internship or a job anymore so I can't plan my days around that schedule either.  This results in me thinking that I have more time than I originally thought I had.  I end up wasting my valuable time instead of using it wisely.  Then I end up feeling like my head is spinning because I have so many things I am trying to accomplish.  I often can't fall asleep because I am thinking about all the things that need to get done.  There are so many things I want to do but I don't have the time, energy or motivation to accomplish them all.  I look at my list and become overwhelmed and thus unmotivated.

I need to refocus on the things that are important--not the newest craft on Etsy, not the latest outfit on Land's End Canvas, not even the many wonderful blogs I ready daily.  I need to refocus on what's important in my life and give those things the time and energy they deserve.  As suggested on The Shine Project, I've decided to make a list of what's most important to me so I can start to simplify my cluttered life.  

Here's my list:  my attempt to make things simpler
My relationship with Jesus:  I haven't been that good at keeping up with my personal devotions lately
Hubs:  we need to work on spending quality time together
16 credits worth of online courses:  although I don't love these classes, they're important for me to really finish school and get my teacher's certificate
Craft/Blog/Decorate/Me time:  I don't make time to do things for myself.  I often feel guilty if I spend my time doing
My Family & my puppy:  I will not always have the privilege of living so close to (or in this case with) my family.  I need to take advantage of the time we have together.  Othello is the newest addition to our little family and I love him dearly.  I just want to love him and train him.  




What are the most important things in your life?  What do you need to get rid of?