Dressing, dressing, who’s got the dressing?!
Last night I stood in front of my refrigerator for, no lie, 4 minutes searching for the salad dressing I wanted to pack for lunch today. At 4 minutes and 1 second, I finally found it RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. Why are the obvious items always the hardest to find?! Sheesh!
Ohhh anyways…happy Monday! You ready for a new week?! I’m kicking mine off with breakfast on-the-go:
Featuring a Blueberry Chobani Greek Yogurt.
I nearly fainted from excitement when I saw a 3/$1 sign next to these babies at the grocery store yesterday. I threw ~20 into my cart…only to find out that the expiration date was for 10/5 – aka – THIS TUESDAY! I know yog/milk is usually good after it’s marked exp date, but there’s no way I was going to be able to eat as many as I grabbed in a safe amount of time. I put 16 back… 
Rounded out with a BBBP. Banana + Barney Butter Packet.
Super easy to eat on the go. Just bite, squeeze, and repeat!
I packed a ginormous Kitchen Sink Salad with all the fixins’ for lunch.
In the mix:
- Dole Very Veggie Salad Mix
- Tomato
- Celery
- Carrots
- DiLusso Low-Sodium Deli Turkey
- Dried cranberries
Here’s the elusive salad dressing I was after! I like this dressing because I recognize all the ingredients in the ingredient list, and it tastes really good. On par with Annie’s Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette – my previous Rasp Vin of choice!
To be rounded out with some leftover carrots & celery from my Cozy Lunch at Home lunch party and a mini Cashew Cookie Larabar. Good!
In other news…
I’ve done a lot of cool things over the past year. Such as creating my own flavor of ice cream.
![IMG_0014_thumb1[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_0014_thumb11.jpg "IMG_0014_thumb1[1]")
Appearing in a Claritin D allergy ad in Fitness Magazine (nerd alert!)
Winning a free year’s supply of eggs.
Getting a bird’s eye view of Iowa,
and even exploring Rome.
Well, today marks the beginning of another adventure in life – I’m starting a new job! 
Just a little background – I graduated with a bachelors degree in Marketing and since graduating I’ve worked in the interactive marketing industry for digital agencies and, most recently, a publishing company. I’ve done everything from maintaining websites, to email marketing and everything in between.
The opportunity that I’ve been presented with is to bring my experience in the interactive industry to a local, non-profit museum that I absolutely adore and 100% believe in. I believe in what it does for my state, the Midwest and the experience it provides our community. Plus I’m a hardcore history nerd at heart, so this is right up my alley. Right now, for privacy reasons, I’d prefer to not specifically name the museum, but let me tell you – it’s a lot of fun. 
When you’re working 8-10+ hours a day, usually longer than you’re actually at home, I think at some point it’s important to find a job and/or career that you strongly like – a job that fulfills you on a personal level (ie, my Dad leaving the business world he found completely unfulfilling after 30 years, to become a teacher!)
Also, I say strongly like instead of love because I’m practical. Not everyone is going to love everything about their job every single day, however, knock on wood, I think I’m going to strongly like this job a lot. I’m excited to use what I know for a company that I whole heartedly believe in.
Wish me luck – be back tonight with deets!
~~~~~
Do you like what you do? Do you think you need to find a job that you “strongly like” in order to be fulfilled in life?
Have a wonderful first day!
I think you know I just quit my job… so I will be loving what I do in 2 weeks!
Congrats and good luck! I do think having a job you strongly like is important. I actually just wrote a little piece about that myself on my blog! I think like the people as well as being appreciated is a huge deal. No one will ALWAYS have the perfect day, but if you have a job where you can always aim for the perfect day, I say it’s a winner!
Congrats on the new job!
yayyy that is so exciting!! hoping you have the best first day ever! im envious – i would love to find a job i “strongly like” but i know i should just thank my lucky stars that i have one at all. im in marketing too (at a pharma staffing company), and it definitely not what i want to do for the rest of my life. but it’s experience, and it pays the bills
New jobs are so exciting! Congratulations again
i completely agree! if you hate your job then that attitude and negativity can transfer to the rest of your life… no fun for you or your loved ones! way to go
If your new job is where I suspect it is – I think you’ll be very happy! Good luck on your first day!
And to answer your question, I … strongly dislike the job I’m in right now. Hoping to find something more fulfilling soon!
YES! I strongly believe you need to “strongly like” your job. It’s something I keep in the forefront of my mind as I’m graduating this year and applying to jobs. I also think that so much of whether you like the job is the people you work with, so I’m very focused on finding a company where I feel like I “fit!”
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Justin Wise, Kristin. Kristin said: The Start of a New Adventure http://tinyurl.com/26y22x4 [...]
Congrats on the new gig! I hope your first day goes well!
Good luck today! I just started a new job in May and love it so far! I work for a non-profit as well and completely agree with their programs and what they are doing.
Also, Hy-Vee must have had a huge overload of Chobani because I did the same exact thing as you when I saw they were dirt cheap at my local Vee. Then after checking the expiration date, realized it was too good to be true!
you have to really like your job to survive going there everyday
I work for a non-profit as well, and definitely strongly like my job! I’ve been thinking about leaving for more financial lucrative waters, but I’m going to stay. I love what they’re (we’re!) doing here, and what the organization stands for. I can’t imagine finding another job that would be worth it. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts on fulfillment in your job!
Congrats!! I have a few guesses, but will keep quiet.
I hope you strongly like it as much as you think you will! I totally agree about the hours spent working/needing to enjoy what you do ratio, but I really like your ‘strongly like’ perspective. Always important to remember no job is perfect.
I’m seeking out jobs at some of the colleges and universities in the DM area. For a variety of reasons, I am positive the positions I’m pursuing are precisely what I need to feel fulfilled.
Ha ha! I did the same thing at Hy-Vee with the Chobani yogurt. I was really sad when I looked at the expiration date.
Good luck on your first day! I “strongly like” my job and I feel lucky that I do – some people hate going to work every day and that would be a horrible feeling to wake up to.
Good luck! Its wonderful that you are doing this while you are young. After you have kids, etc, you can get STUCK very easily. I am in IT, I love what I do, maybe just not where I do it. Not very glamorous and I have a boss who is very Unplugged, to work anyway… So… it is great that you took the plunge now!
I wish you all the luck!!!
Good luck today! I hope this is an awesome change for you
Congratulations! As some other people commented, I also have a good idea where. Love that place and what it represents. Always enjoy going there and taking my son. Good luck!
My heart would have done a god double flutter at the sight of 3/$1 Greek yogurt! Glad you checked the expiration date before loading up, though.
Good luck with the new job. I’ll be interested to hear more, but it sounds as though it will be challenging AND fun. Win-win.
I know that I want a career that keeps me challenged, engaged and inspired. We spend so much of our lives working, that I just have to enjoy it!
Good luck with your new job! So excited for you, and can’t wait to hear all about it!
Have a great first day Kristin! I’ve been struggeling with finding a job I strongly LIKE….so I’m inspired that you found one! There is hope:) hahahahaha…
I love what I do…I’m a stay-at-home mom! I wouldn’t trade my job for any other and feel very grateful I’m able to do what I do.
Good luck today!
Awww….good luck!!!
After 10 years in the corporate world, I am back in school (while still working full time) to get my Masters in Education to also become a teacher! I understand your Dad’s passion!
I strongly like what I do and I LOVE the organization I work for and sector I work in (non profit arts). It’s a good feeling and I agree, it’s really important for me to feel this way about what I’m doing for the majority of my week!
congrats on the awesome sounding new position!!
Congrats on the new job!! I love starting new jobs, especially exciting ones like you’re about to
My brother works in a museum and he seriously loves it, I hope you do too!
Congrats on the new job! Funny you should mention jobs & liking them and all…Today happens to be my 6th anniversary with my current employer. I’ve held a couple different positions within the company, and while my move to where I’m at now wasn’t exactly the best of situations, I’ve grown to really like my job & the department I’m in. I wouldn’t say I love my job, but most days, I actually look forward to going to work (except today, because it’s the first day back after being on vacation!).
congrats on the new job…you’ve certainly had a very eventful year!!!
i’ve been at my job for 4 years now. woah. while i don’t love it, i don’t hate it either. i love the schedule i have. it’s a consistent M-F job. which i never had before. i love that i know when i’ll be working, and when i’ll be off, and i’m allowed to make plans more than a week or two in advance. in the past having a week to week schedule drove me crazy!
Congratulations! Hope your first day is going exceptionally well!
Omg, I’ve seen that claritan ad! So jealous girl! =) Thats so awesome! Good luck at your new job!
Yay!!! Hope you had a great day today! I think that having a job you like is very important because I’m one of those people who tends to “bring my work home”; ie if something bad happens at work, it affects my mood bigtime. I’ve also worked for several nonprofits now where you pretty much live the mission, not like when I worked at a hardware store eons ago and could hang my apron up after I clocked out… That’s so funny you are in a museum. My dream job is to be a museum registrar but I’ve had no luck with applying for open positions…so I’m back to school for something new now! It’s so cool to see all the awesome things happening for you this year!!!
Congrats to you. I want to strongly like my job because of my coworkers and the organization’s mission. I can’t put 100% of my hard work and passion into a job I just don’t believe in.
Sooo – how’d it go? How cool is that to be working for a museum! Awesome place to have that awesome lunch!
It depends on the person and the job they’re doing – mm – look at P JP2 – imagine working for the Nazis – who keep looking for you, because you’re doing seminary work – and reading and writing the whole time – I wonder if he felt fulfillment or relief!
There’re times I love this school, and times I have to be dragged (drug?) out of bed to come in here!
so jealous that you found Chobani for that cheap! I would’ve done the same thing you did
hope your first day was awesome; can’t wait to read about it!
Best of luck on your first day! I wish I loved my job like that! So exactly how many cartons of eggs have you guys gone through?
Best of luck! I LOVE what I do–SAHM and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Yes, I have to be passionate about my job otherwise I feel useless. I love the hot air balloon picture–that’s on my family’s list of things we must do.
oooh congrats on the new adventure
I’m so happy that you were able to find something that will make you smile! I’ll still looking but I know one day I’ll find it
AW congrats on the new job and good luck! You’ll do great
Well, its gotta be 6 – 7:00 where are the deets?
I hope your first day went GREAT! I can’ wait to read about it. Looooove your blog SO much:) Keep up the excellent work IG!
Congrats on the new job! So exciting!
I left the business world a year ago to go back to school to become a teacher. I just started Thursday and LOVE it! Change can be scary, but I’m so glad I made the leap of faith
I think it’s awesome that your dad left the business world to be a teacher. I’m a teacher myself, and it took me longer than I would have liked to figure out what I wanted to do. However, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else…except baking all day:) Congrats on the new job.
Congrats on the new job!
And I’ll second a previous comment that I’m with your dad on the fulfilling job thing. I left a job in corporate America 3+ years ago (for which I had already gotten an MBA!) to go back to school for a PhD in order to be able to teach college classes. I’m still finishing my dissertation but I’m teaching at a local college this year and I STRONGLY LIKE it (I’d dare to see I love it a lot of days…).
I thought I would enjoy teaching, and I do, but I especially love teaching college kids. We all remember how the world looks from that perspective, and it’s fabulous. It’s fun to be along on a journey with students when they’re in that place in life!
Congratulations on the job! I’m going to come right out and say it, I LOVE what I do. Though I tend to be exaggeratingly optimistic and I’ve only been there three months. I was blessed to get a job right after college, working for a general contractor, which is exactly what I wanted. It’s a really wonderful, family-oriented company, that’s busy (even in these tough times!) and has been around for 100 years. Everyone I work with absolutely loves their job and a majority of the employees have been there over 20 years! I have at least one “i love my job!” moment every day. AND it’s giving me skills and knowledge (and savings account) to someday work for a non-profit like Habitat for Humanity.
Congrats! I’m excited for you!
I definitely left my job as a financial advisor because I did not “strongly like” it.
I switched jobs earlier this year and it is amazing what an effect it had on my life outside of work. I am happier, healthier, and I have more time to do the things I actually love doing. Realistically I probably won’t have a paying job doing what I love (unless Martha Stewart’s position opens up) but in the meantime I agree that doing something you strongly like is sooooo important. Congratulations on the move!
So awesome that you’re doing what YOU want to do – I think it’s super important to find a job you like, but like my mom says, your job doesn’t HAVE to be your life! You have family, friends, hobbies, etc. that really make your life!! That being said, I still want a job I’m going to enjoy which is why I’m throwing caution to the wind next semester and changing my major to Dietetics!! 8 science classes and an extra year of school…bring it on!!
Congrats on your new job, Kristen!! I am so happy you have found something you think you will “strongly like”!!
[...] of loads of laundry. Glamorous, no? Oh and wish me luck – I give (ok, tag along on) my first museum tour tomorrow – eek! [...]