Flagstaff is Cool

So we went to Flagstaff this weekend.  It was my first A/B Volleyball tournament which was pretty exciting.  No, we did not win the gold, but we didn't get killed either :) From starting to play 6 months ago I will say I've come a long way. I'm sure alot of my Phoenix friends will attest to that haha. It was a great day, we had a minor interruption with some rain, but it quickly cleared up and we got to finish the tourney.  Great play by all, I love volleyball and our community! 

You know what else is cool? Flagstaff, land of pine trees, snowboarding in the winter, and hippies is just 2ish hours away.  AZ is so diverse that way. So many cool places to visit within driving distance or at least a quick flight away.  On our way up there, my Michigan friend Ashley asked me (who had been there before), Theresa, does Flagstaff remind you of Michigan at all? My response was, hmm, I guess, it is alot greener up here isn't it...  

As the weekend went on, the vibe I was getting from Flagstaff did start to remind me of Michigan. Some friends were discussing Flagstaff and another girlfriend Serina said, yeah, Flagstaff is alright, as long as you like snow and drinking, otherwise there isn't much else to do. And then I thought to myself, ah yes, that's why it reminds me of Michigan, ha. 

All jokes aside, it's a cool little town, lots of hole in the wall places to eat, and older buildings which are a love of mine. For example I adore houses with built ins like bookshelves, drawers, heck, I even love the wall paper. (Don't judge me!)  The house where alot of the players stayed was a 6 bedroom house rental. I loved it! I'm a total house explorer.  The bathroom even had a laundry chute.  If I stay in Phoenix through the years, I would love to buy a house like that, although I'm not sure they exist here, seems most homes are pretty new in Phoenix. Maybe I will just have to have one custom built with my built in bookshelves :)

Here is my advice to those who have not been - (Or am I the last to have finally made it up there lol) Flagstaff is cold! Even in the summer. It actually seems to go back and forth. On the tourney day it started out warm, low 80s, but then it rained and the temperature got down to the 50s.  My Costa Ricafied turned Phoenician self was freeeezing. Next time I shall bring multiple layers, a blanket (Yes a blanket. I was sooo jealous of those who had come prepared) and some corduroy Rocket Dog boots that I recently purchased on sale even though it's 110 degrees right now in Phoenix :D

Oh Did You Know?

That my car now has sweat and sand stain on the driver's seat? ick lol. I can't decide if I should be divulging this somewhat self compromising fact, but I guess it's too late now isn't it :) Which brings me to my real plight. I need a new car!! 

Besides the fact that my volleyball antics seem to be ruining my driver's seat fabric interior, I have been driving a 2000 Toyota Echo since my college days, and unfortunately it has taken a beating over the years. That, and let's be real, I'm 26, (lol I almost wrote I have 26 years, yay, still thinking a bit in Spanish) and I think it's about time for an upgrade. I finally feel somewhat adultish, and in about 6-8 months, I expect to be in a (much awaited) position to be able to make that purchase. 

Now, on to what to buy. I seem to gravitate towards yellow (ish) colors for the past couple years, although reason tells me I might want to avoid bright colors since they probably get more attention from those people we call cops? Or is that just red? How does the color thing work. Or maybe it's just an old wives tale and I can just pick whatever color I want.  The funny thing is, for the longest time, my favorite color was purple.  Now all I want to buy is yellow. Yellow shoes, yellow clothes, I want a yellow kitchen someday, etc.  Do favorite colors change normally? 

Next requirement. I want it to have good gas economy or to use the trending buzz word, for it to be 'green.'  While of course I enjoy the savings that my little Toyota offers, I also just feel compelled to take responsibility for my footprint on the environment. I have always been a big recycler, ask my mom, when I was a kid, I wouldn't say I was obsessed, but I was definitely more concerned/aware than my peers. I just feel if we have the ability to take control and do better, we should. 

The last thing is not so much a need, but more of a want. I like the idea of having a vehicle that has four wheel drive/more space for going on outdoor adventures. Maybe something like the Toyota Fortuner? Don't call me out on this in case it's like the worse gas economy ever or something. I have really not done any homework, just briefly done a google image search. What do I mean by outdoor adventures you ask? Oh you know, hiking, camping,  maybe fishing/hunting? I'm not really a huge fisher, but I'm OK as long as I have a beer in my hand :) Hunting - don't know a thing about it. I just like the idea of living off the land. Pretty sure I could handle it though. Other activities would be mountain biking and off-roading. We used to go off-roading in the rainforest in Costa Rica and picnicking. I would love to do that sort of thing maybe up north in Fossil Creek/Strawberry.  (Joiners?) The thing is, I never drove during those off-roading adventures, although perhaps it's time I learn.  

Oh oh, one more thing. To lease or to buy. Which is better these days? Anyone care to offer insight and your experiences?

Do you want your children to be Entrepreneurs?

So as some of you know, I do some marketing/writing/social media on the side for a firm that does business advising. We are all about propelling small businesses, getting them structured, and pushing those entrepreneurs to their full potential.  One of the fun things I get to do for them is blog once in a while.  Below is one that I wrote the other day.  Thought I would share it with my social circle as well.  I hope you find it thought provoking and enjoyable :) ---


I read an interesting article today, entitled "How to teach your kids to be Entrepreneurs." The document embodied the idea of reaching out to entrepreneurs and showing them commonalities that research had found amongst entrepreneurs, and encouraging them to cultivate the qualities in their children's lives so that they could one day also become entrepreneurs. One particular quote really started to turn my wheels: "In other words, if you can't grow up to become Bill Gates, it's not so bad to be his entrepreneurial father William H. Gates, Sr."

It got me thinking, so the first choice is to be a Bill Gates, and then in comes second to be an entrepreneur? Last I checked, there are many hugely successful entrepreneurs, and that while it will certainly require hard work, the reward can easily be huge as well. I began to mentally answer the question of if I would want my (possible) children to be entrepreneurs. The immediate answer was well of course if I would. It doesn't even seem like a question. To me the word 'entrepreneur' brings ideas to mind like opportunity, determination, thinking outside the box.  All positive notions.  But I suppose there is the other side to it, where being an entrepreneur can be a challenge, and maybe not always one that is comfortable. Some days there may be struggle, financially, or just trying to figure out your niche in the world of business.  But then, isn't anything worth having, worth working (hard) for?

And then I got to thinking, this really is the time for us to teach the next generation the way to thinking outside the box, to question business norms, to search for opportunity.  As the article suggests, it all starts during child development. Who they become, how they think and problem solve.  We are seeing now more than ever companies having to cut short their benefit packages.  Or maybe you don't get any sick days until after a year of employment. Many outside sales jobs who used to pay gas, and dare I say a company vehicle, now communicate that these are just the nature of the job and you make what you make despite the expense. With these current economical challenges in the business world, it does seem that entrepreneurship could be the key to opening many new doors and opportunities. To solving a lot of problems. I suppose the question is, will we step up to the challenge and show our children the entrepreneurial way?

Change Is A Comin

Okay, I'm all situated. I find that I work better in coffee shops or other locales that offer upright sitting furniture and/or a desk. At home I just don't seem to be productive. Does anyone else have this issue? I just left Paradise Bakery who has failed me now a second time with their supposed wifi ability.  I do so love their fresh salad/soup/sandwich combo options, now if they could just get their internet in order! I had to relocate to the ol' standby Starbucks.  A giant corporate monopoly, and yet, they are consistent and dependable. What can ya do. 

So I've been itching to write and post again, but wasn't quite sure how often you are supposed to blog before people get tired of you.  Once a week? Twice a week? I think once a week is a healthy goal, and then every once in a while if I'm just bursting at the seams there might be a bonus post here and there :)  Today I am supposed to be packing and getting organized since I totally blew it off yesterday at the pool enjoying this amazing weather that AZ seems to be able to offer just about every day :)  Just as soon as I get some stuff done here I'll get back to it.  I think. 

Oh yes, did I mention I'm moving? Let's back up a bit.  Before I moved to AZ, I had kind of put the word out that I was coming back to the US and was looking to live somewhere warm and any known job openings would be most helpful.  I had a few people respond, one of my good friends Katie in particular was the one who got me all set up working with her at a remodeling company.  And so I set out and drove from Michigan to Arizona.  That was a long drive let me tell you. I am so glad I'm part of a generation that flies.  It's so much more affordable to hop a plane than it used to be.  If and when I am ever a parent with a bunch of hooligans running around let me tell you, unless it is 5 hours or less in the car, we will be flying.  I am just not the road trip kind of gal. I just sit there while I'm driving thinking about how I might be getting muscular atrophy and what is happening with my circulation right now? Plus you just want to get to wherever you are going without stopping much, so you eat like crap and stop at fast food all the way. Ugh, its just not a good cycle for me. Oops I detoured off subject. Anyway, Katie was a doll and basically had the job waiting for me when I got here. What a blessing. It really made moving seamless for me.  I stayed with her for a bit in Tempe while I was figuring out where to live.  The job was working out in Peoria (West Valley Phoenix) at the design center.  It was a good hour drive every morning each way to get to work from Tempe, and I made the decision to not commute that every day.  Katie warned me my social life would take a toll if I lived in the west valley, but I stubbornly insisted on it.  She was right. Wow do I drive alot to hang out with friends. (No offense to my current westie friends ;) However, I don't think I would have done it differently though. Being from Michigan, I had never commuted more than 20 minutes to a job, so an hour each way was just out of the question.  I think about things like the statistics and odds of my being in an accident that come with being on the road for more hours out of the day. My snowboard instructor once told me that I think too much. It's probably be true, but it's what I do. 

Anyway, that's all about to change now! I officially gave my two weeks notice to my current job on Friday, and I'll begin a new job in sales in Mesa (East Vally Phoenix) on July 9th.  I'm pretty psyched.  My first job out of college was working as a custom vacation planner, ie sales, while I was living in Costa Rica.  My sales manager during my first review told me that if/when I ever moved on to bigger and better things that I should definitely still work in sales and that it was just my personality. It was a compliment I didn't really know what to do with at the time. I continued on for a couple years down there, but in the end I started to get burnt out. (You must think I'm crazy to have gotten burnt out living in paradise right, lol.  Another blog post for the future).  I felt like I was just repeating myself every day like a broken record. I knew Costa Rica like the back of my hand, and no longer felt challenged.  And that's when I realized, it was time to come back.  When I first moved to CR, people had asked me, well for how long do you plan to be down there? And I didn't really know.  I had just said, for as long as I'm happy and feel challenged/am learning new things.  I think that goes to say for anything really. 

So now I'll be entering the world of sales again.  I like it.  I am a naturally competitive person. I am looking forward to the team environment and positive work culture this new company seems to offer.  We will have different types of clients as well, so it won't be as repetitive, awesome. From what I can tell, my hours will be somewhat flexible as well, and I'll have more freedom again.  Oh glory be :) (In Costa Rica we had the leisure of taking vacation time pretty much whenever we wanted).  (When I moved back to the US it and started to work here, the lack of vacation time was a bit of a shock to my system). My current job does not offer PTO until after a year of employment, and they are set hours of 10-6.  If you love to sleep in, it's perfect, but I like to get alot out of my days and I'd much rather start in the morning.  With this new position my day will start between 5:30am and 7:30am, so I guess I got my wish lol.  Time to start changing that bed time. But I'll be out so much earlier and off to evening volleyball I'll go :) 

I'll be moving to Scottsdale on June 30th with a friend from the volleyball circle, hooray :) I'm such a happy camper right now.  So many fun things to do in that area.  (Scottsdale is where alot of the vball goes down.) For a while I was playing vball 3-4x a wk, but I've recently cut that back in an effort to not drive/spend so much on gas. It won't be an obstacle much longer.  And there's more than vball! I'll be closer to the cactus and chapparal lap pools. I have also been googling adult hip hip dance class, we'll see if I can find something. Hillary if you're reading this, I so miss our dance days. I've also researched those pole dance classes.  (Is it bad to post that online?) I think they look like so much fun haha.  Pure barre is another one I've had my eye on. And then there's yoga too.  Oh so much I want to do!!

My Background

How do you start a blog? I don't really know.  I do know that it seems like a good idea.  So many people I would like to communicate with, and yet as we grow older my friends and family seem to be more and more spread apart. Thank goodness for this thing we call the world wide web.

Today I am going to give you a little background on who I am and where I come from. Originally I'm from Michigan, it's where I grew up and went to school.  Spending four years in Grand Rapids at GVSU served me well. Not so much degree wise, (did I really need to spend so much $$ on a piece of paper?), but more so that school kept me disciplined and out of trouble.  Or at least mostly :) Allowed me to grow up too.  But we'll save that topic for another post. During my time at school, I decided it would be a good idea to study abroad and really tighten up those Spanish skills. I landed on Costa Rica, and wow did I love it there. Spent four months of being completely immersed, living with a family and traveling every weekend. At 21 I was a busy girl, running around with school full time, working full time in a bar, doing those extracurricular which ranged from intramural crew, to dance troupe, and more that I can't really remember, and then of course going out.  Wow did I love going out.  Bars, parties, it's a wonder I made it out alive.  So you can see that I really didn't have alot of time to research in depth all these possible locations.  Costa Rica was in my budget, they had the classes I wanted, had beaches, and I was sold. Ok, bags are packed. When do I leave?

Well, my classes would be at a university called ULACIT.  A school I would later find out actually had a really good reputation, mostly had dental students, but a handful of us international students, and what's that? This school is located in the city two hours away from the nearest beach? And here is where you can see my first surprise, and how I might have looked at a map of the country before heading down there to live for four months.  I still remember my first night there and handling the shower. Many homes down there have a shower that has been nick named the "suicide shower." The reason for this nick name is because it is in fact electric! There is a module connected to the shower head that actually heats up the water before it comes out.  Keeps the bills down not having a water heater I suppose, but seems a bit scary at first. Well I jumped in ready to go, and guess what, that water was cold. I shouldn't say cold cold, but it was not warm. At all.  Yikes. So I finished up and got the heck out of there. Didn't say anything to my family though as I didn't want to seem like a pain. Heck, I just thought they took cold showers and that was the way things were.  I should mention I arrived to CR three days before my program actually started. Fast forward three days later and during our orientation they explain to us that the module on the shower actually has a switch and can be adjusted. ADJUSTED. I had just taken three days worth of cold showers thinking to myself, I don't know if this is going to work out.  This is going to make me awfully grumpy at the start of every day. How did my family not mention this to me? Geez.

Well, after four months in Costa Rica, I pretty much fell in love with it. Did not want to leave. I was bored with the US and what I had been doing back there. Wasn't ready for the real work world yet.  But as much as I tried to graduate down there, I needed one class that was only available back in Michigan.  So back I went for one more semester to get that piece of paper.  During my last few months of school, I still felt the same.  I wanted to be back in Costa Rica. I began researching and reading every night to see if it was even possible. Could I find a job? Was it legal? Could I survive down there? Well, finally one day I made a decision. Yes. And if not... I would just come back. What was the harm? Two weeks later I was on a plane. I still remember my mother's words to me.  "Theresa, I knew that this was going to happen (my moving to another country.  I have always had a curiosity for travel and cultures), but I thought I had more time."

I remember saying goodbye to family & friends, one of my best girlfriends crying, which of course made me cry, and it was hard but exciting at the same time. Alot of people asked me "why?" (regarding my choice to move to Costa Rica). And I remember thinking "why not?" and not really knowing how to answer them.  It was an unrelatable subject for most of my friends at the time. When I came back to visit time and time again, I actually would avoid the subject with alot of people, because when I told them about what I was up to, they didn't know what to say.  Things have changed now.  People get older and more mature.  We're more interested in each others' lives and don't always feel the need to talk about our own.  It's a nice change :)

I was there in Costa Rica this time for 2.5 years. So much to tell. We'll save that topic for another post(s) in the future.  But the thing is, I'm back now.  I came back to the US mid July of 2011.  I spent some time catching up with family and friends in Michigan, and then made my way out to Phoenix in late September.  And here I am now, its been almost year and I can't even believe it. So this blog will basically be an insight for you about what I'm doing, thoughts, things I'd like to share and discuss. Transitioning back to American life.  (Is it weird I'm still transitioning?). I'm not sure I'll ever get the hang of twitter, or smart phones, but I tell you I sure will try :)