A New Chapter

What Has Happened

For 2.5 years I've worked at a nonprofit organization housed in a historic school. My job as Rentals Manager allowed me to play Tetris with rooms, buildings, and times to help people schedule their meetings, classes, and events in the old classrooms, teacher's lounge, and auditorium while bringing revenue into the organization.

An amazing view of Green Lake from one of the buildings at the PNA

As a recovering Event Planner this job was perfect for me, it was just what I needed. It's a six minute drive from home. The dress code (ha!) and culture are as laid back as they come. I wanted to work somewhere where I could have both a LIFE and a good job and it truly gave me the opportunity to do so. I was no longer the person who was onsite for evening or weekend events. I was so grateful to find staffing for those shifts and feel like a person with a normal work schedule for the first time in my 12+ year career. 

I had and still have a part-time job at an indoor cycling studio, a rental space in my house to manage, and this blog! These things all managed to fit carefully into my life and around my aggressive travel schedule. 

Our organization is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, as we all are. A week ago I got the news that I'd be laid off and today is my first day without that job. 

I am grateful that I was able to work at the Phinney Neighborhood Association. I learned so much from my team and our renters, many of which have their own businesses and side hustles. My colleagues have always, ALWAYS been accommodating and understanding of life in a way that no job ever had for me before. 

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What's Next

I've been unemployed many times before, this doesn't scare me. 

Shit, I moved to Hawaii at 22 years old without a job! I've quit jobs that I loved and others that I'd outgrown. I've been fired. Once I took a one-year position that promised nothing beyond a 12 month contract. It was exciting, scary, and a great challenge! 

I don't know exactly what the next step in my career will be but I'm excited to find out. 

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In the Meantime 

I'm excited for this in-between time, I won't lie. My life needs a little break from the hamster wheel.

I'm relieved to be able to print photos for the first time in a decade, to get to the home projects that have been ignored, and to enjoy more living room yoga and long walks with Bryce and our dog.

I'm making little improvements to my daily habits. Just today I actually got out of bed without scrolling social media AT ALL, ka-chow! I'm continuing to read a page from the Daily Stoic and use my Notes from the Universe on Abundance cards on most days. 

Of course I am grateful to have more time to spend on Figs and Flights, my baby, my brand.

Let's do a quick recap:

• The year I turned 30 I started this blog, left a job I hated, and quit eating meat
• Last year Figs and Flights {events} launched, bringing the motto of life fueled by food and travel to real life events in Seattle
• This year Figs and Flights videos came to life, telling the stories of my travels together with Bryce and all of our shenanigans together

Here's what I hope to do with Figs and Flights now and into the future:

• Get back to my roots as a food blogger! Remember Aloha: Yinz Mangia?
  • Share recipes using simple, seasonal, and fresh ingredients
  • Create resourceful content for your kitchens: cooking, grocery shopping, food storage, etc.
  • Unpack the WHY and HOW of vegetarian and pescatarian eating
• Keep the videos coming and expand the content
  • Eventually catch up to real-time and share videos of recent and current travels
  • Share FOOD STORIES like the sausage smoothie and when Bryce dropped my cupcakes!!
  • Expand to more topics like home tours and cooking videos 
• Resume Figs and Flights {events} when it's safe to meet in groups again
  • Karaoke HAS to be the next one
  • I've been dreaming of a summer dinner party
  • Tie in a recipe exchange, charity element, and more

​We are all constantly changing and growing. I hope you're doing well in these uncertain times and prioritizing what you want, need, and eat. ​

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