Life Update: Where and What I’ve Been Up To Recently…

Townhouse Detroit

I think it’s say to say that I’ve started my last few blog posts with “Sorry I’ve been MIA, I promise I’ll be better… starting now.” The timestamps speak for itself, and turns out I was kinda in need of a month long blogging break… Let me explain.

Ironically enough, a couple days after I wrote this post about all of my best tips for working from home (my full time job is in technology consulting and I had been on an internal and virtual project at my company for about a year and half, the only full time job I had ever known since I graduated college), my team got word that our project was being brought to an indefinite pause. It was shocking to me, it was a massive project and would have been the biggest implementation of its kind; however, this kind of thing happens in consulting all the time, apparently. But I was shook; I was so accustomed to working from home, and knew that whatever my next project ended up being, it was gonna be a heck of a lot harder than I previously had it. Don’t get me wrong, there were stressful times, but in addition to not having to go to an office every day, or travel, the day to day was a cake walk. Had I been bored AF the last few months and feeling stuck and unmotivated in my career, yes! But did that matter to me for the sake of convenience, no! I was happy to stay lounging on the couch in my sweatpants everyday.

But, I didn’t really have a choice. I was told my official “roll off” date on my old project, and just like that, left on my own to find my next move. I had no idea how long I would be searching, or what I would end up doing, but I told myself that this was a clear “one door closes, another opens,” kind of situation. I took it as a potential turning point in my career, a newfound opportunity to push myself, get ahead, learn new skills, form important new connections, all that jazz. As luck would have had it, I got an email about a potential business analyst role at a automotive plant up in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Despite knowing what this would entail for me, I was so impressed by the two senior managers I spoke with on the team; they seemed like really great guys, I was told the team was made up by some of my firm’s best, and my gut just kinda screamed at me to take it. So I did.

It’s crazy how everything can change in a blink. I went from spending all my time at home, sleeping in till 7:30 every day, getting to hang out with my babe as soon as he finished work every day, getting to go to weeknight blogging events, having excess free time to work on the blog in general, to waking up at 5 AM every Monday to head to the airport to catch a 7 AM flight. I land in Detroit and take a 20 min shuttle ride to the rental cars, where I pick up my car for the week and drive another 20 min to the middle-of-nowhere plant I now work in, where I have to wear safety goggles anytime I’m out on the floor, had to have a buddy with me at all times for the first couple weeks due to the likelihood of me getting lost because the place is MASSIVE and filled with conveyor belts, equipment, axles and engines, forklifts, actual pedestrian footpaths because of how much random shit could just come flying from around the corner and knock you silly. My work days are now around 12 hours, and are a definition grind. I have been given a ton on my plate, and it’s awesome. Nothing is worse than being bored at work, and I have yet to be bored once. The days actually kind of fly by because of how much I have to do, and just because the plant is actually… kinda riveting and exciting. We normally have a team dinner every week but besides that, my time is free to do whatever I want; on Monday I drive to whichever hotel I’m staying at and check in. Wake up at 6:30 to get up and get ready for work! Thursday night I head to the airport and finally head home.

Since it’s inception, The Blonde in Pink first and foremost has been a place where I share details of my life, everything else comes second. As my life has changed drastically, and it has, no dramatics intended, I can feel my desires and priorities shifting about what I want to write here. Tops for spring under $50 and the best sale roundups posts don’t seem to cut it like it used to- I almost feel like my brain just doesn’t have the capacity to cover that. Excessively, at least; I’ll still be posting all things fashion and style here, I just don’t want to force it or write about something I don’t genuinely feel passionate about writing, if that makes sense?

Anyway, as I’ve gotten more used to the new dynamics in my life and schedule and taking on this extra responsibility and demand within my career, I’ve started to feel SO fired up about sharing what I’m experiencing with you guys. All of the funny stories that have happened so far, the loneliness and feelings of self-doubt I experienced my first day, how my Sundays have changed since I started having to wake up at 5 and head to the airport every Monday…. It’s all buzzing in my head and it’s all I can think about writing about. As always, Instagram will always be the best platform to peep my daily outfits, and get a taste of my style; I also will plan on adding lots of extra goodies and #OOTDs you don’t see on Insta in the Like to Know it App, so be sure to follow me!

I know there are major takeaways and learning lessons to come, and although I am literally two weeks into this and by means NO expert, I just really really want to share it all with you; if I can help just ONE of you on your own career adventure, then I will have done my job. From airport travel, staying healthy on the road, adjusting and refocusing during tough and stressful times, to even how I’ve been finding my voice and confidence in my new office setting with all super senior folks, there’s a ton I want to dig into with you guys. I hope you join me on this little adventure 🙂

To be continued…