Back in Business

People would call me crazy for this, but during my holiday from my full time job I'm helping out at the shop I worked for when I was a student. 
Portobello is a clothing store for men and I always loved working here! Suits, shirts, sweaters, you name it! I will sell it to you!
After 2,5 years, I'm back! I worked my first day and it feels like I just went on a looong vacation. I have truly missed this! I'm so happy right now, although my feet hurt from a long day of running around for customers.

X-Mass / Going Away Party

My last day ended with a great X-Mass Party. The perfect occasion to make it my going away party, because most of my colleagues attended this event.
I got flowers :-)...
I'm going to miss everyone very much and I had a very nice time here, but it's time for a new chapter. New year, new start, new challenge.
GO GO GO!

New Challenge 2014

Since I got back from Thailand I had thrilling news, but I just couldn't tell anyone yet! 

Not many people knew this, but I decided to look for a new job a few weeks before our trip. I wasn't able to react on invites for an interview in Thailand, so I only did one job interview. One week before we had to go back home I got an email telling me they wanted me aboard and that they would send me an offer. I was sooo happy, but couldn't tell anyone! 

But now it's all official and the word is out, so now I can finally express my happiness!
My new challenge of 2014: Marketing Assistant and Dealer Coordinator.
Although I'm going to miss my colleagues, this is really the best choice for me right now. At this company I will get the chance to learn a lot and develop my skills.
Tomorrow is my last day, because I already had some days off work planned. The company I'm currently working for is throwing a Christmas party... The perfect occasion to say goodbye to everyone and to explain why I'm leaving.
The dress I was working on last week is finished and I will be wearing it tomorrow :-)...

Back to Work

First day of work after our holiday.
I'm glad that I don't have a huge pile of work. It gives me time to get used to my desk again :-)...

Traditional Game Night

I organised a traditional game night at work together with a colleague.
I learned to play a new game: Caylus. Although I lost the game, I had so much fun playing it! I thought Settlers of Catan was a tactic game, but this one's much worse!
Our game night was a great success, so I hope we can set a new date for a sequel!

Presentation Skills

I had to present our event planning today at our general meeting together with another colleague. I was really nervous, but once I was standing in front of the public and started to talk, I just went for it. I even liked it, to be honest!
I got really good comments from my colleagues on my presentation skills, so that's nice. I was quite worried I would be talking too fast or that my accent would be too obvious. Everything turned out fine! I even got an applause for a joke I made!
Hooray for me!
A presentation you need to see about presentations: You Suck At Powerpoint!
 
Now I really have to go to sleep. My boyfriend needs to go to the hospital tomorrow to remove his wisdom teeth. Fingers crossed I won't faint!
X L.

Barcelona Work Trip Part 1

So far so good.
Our flight took off at 6.30h so I got up at 3.30h to leave for our office at 4h to arrive at 4.30 to carpool with my colleague to the airport.
This early morning wasn't pleasant, especially now! I had a few drinks and I'm sitting in a cab on our way to the hotel as we speak.
We had a lot to eat (wow good food) and a few drinks. I'm going to sleep now because I have an early morning. I'll try to tell you more about it tomorrow.
Ow, I also did a quick shop stop.
More about this tomorrow.

6 Kilos

I'm leaving on a business trip to Barcelona tomorrow. Quite the challenge because I can only take 6 kilos of hand luggage with me (laptop excl.)!
But I managed to pack only the necessary...
Beauty products: for showering, sunscreen, toothbrush,...
Clothing: blouse, pants, dress, cardigan, fancy shoes (my lovely Noiselles) and Allstars.
Underwear and socks.
Weight: 5 kilos
This was the perfect exercise for our trip to Thailand!

Assertiveness Training Part 2

We had our second session of the assertiveness training.
I still don't know what to say about it. Our HR manager, who leads this training, has a great perspective on how your beliefs influence your behaviour and how to form you believes to something new to let you be more assertive.
For example, I have troubles with standing up to my superiors, because I fear for my job and because I think you have to respect them and you have to do what they say. Apparently my values are respect and acknowledgement and my believes of respecting hierarchy are wrong in a way.
I will have to train on forming these believes to something realistic.
Heavy shit for a Thursday night, but very informative!

Event Planning on Post-its

I had a meeting on event planning at work today. 
We wrote all our ideas down on Post-its. 
I love Post-its :-) ! They make everything uncomplicated!

Assertiveness Training: Part 1

The company I work for organizes a lot of knowledge sharing sessions with a diversity of subjects. Sometimes technical for our consultants, sometimes sessions where anyone can benefit from. 

I joined a two part session about assertiveness today and I was stunned on how deep this goes. All the way to your feelings, your beliefs and your values. 

I have to get my head around it before i can tell you more about it. But I'm intrigued, that I can tell you. Next week's Thursday is the follow-up session. More on my personal difficulties then ;-) !

Have a good night!

xL.

Summer Drink Goodie Bag

Just before summer holidays, our company organizes a summer drink every year.
We got a goodie bag to take home with us with two bottles of wine, a towel and sunscreen.
I'm not the wine type, but very handy to bring along when we're invited to a BBQ!
Let the sun come our way! We are prepared!

Free Ice Cream

Work was great today!

The Combell ice cream car drove by today!

Combell is a hosting and webhosting company and last year they drove around Flanders with an ice cream car as a publicity stunt. They visited some SMB's and larger companies, where employees got their free ice cream. In return, they had to get their picture taken and tag themselves on Facebook.

Because their publicity stunt was quite a success, they did the same this year. If you really wanted the ice cream man to come over to your company, you had to register.

As a good colleague (and a big fan of free ice cream), I told them to stop by our building.

There weren't as much colleagues at the office as I thought and not everyone was as enthusiastic as I was (see picture), but still everyone enjoyed a fresh and cool snack on a hot day like today.

Good job L.! Scored some points there!

Exams

Facebook, the perfect source to remind me how fun work life is!
All those students stressing out by posting 9gag jokes. Efficient studying...

Microsoft Food

I had a meeting at Microsoft headquarters at Schiphol, The Netherlands. 
One word: Impressed!

The interior is quite cozy and modern, but that didn't impress me the most. What did impress me was their lunchroom! They have an even bigger lunch room than my Ctac colleagues in Den Bosch, where you can eat EVERYTHING that comes to mind AND they have a coffee 'corner'. I felt like standing in line at Starbucks. It wasn't as good as Starbucks, though, but it was OK. I took a Frozen Cappuccino with whipped cream and caramel. At lunch I ate wok with noodles, chicken, prawn crackers and a peanut sauce accompanied with a kiwi smoothie. Bad combo, I know, but I wanted it sooo bad!
Jumjum!

Part Time

Yes! I just realised that for the next three weeks, I will only be working four days instead of five because of all the holidays! Something to look forward to!

Weekend Work Trip Part 2

I am having a blast on adventure weekend! Who would have thought?!
I woke up with a bit of a headache this morning. I had a bit too much to drink yesterday night. Normally, I'm not that much of a drinker, but yesterday night was such fun!

Today I went death riding! I never thought I would do this! What a kick! I went down, screaming like a kid!

Another super fun day! Tomorrow it's homewards!

Weekend Work Trip Part 1

I'm on a two day trip with work. It's an adventure weekend in Durbuy. 

Like I told you in one of my previous blog posts, I'm not the adventurous type. But I have to get out of my comfort zone and get adventurous! And so I did today.

The first activity on the agenda was a challenger track. We had to get from one point to another with our ropes and snap links. 

I have a fear of heights, so the word 'challenger' fits right into place. 

I was totally freaking out at the first track (high above the ground), but I did it anyway (with a few fear-tears)!

I'm so proud of myself!

The second track was easier and not high at all.

The second activity was a laser battle. 

I was on the blue team and we totally rocked this game! 

Up to the next day!

All the Best to Uncle K.!

Bad news today.
One of my colleagues left our company. 
We didn't always shared the same thoughts, but I think he was a really good colleague and I feel with him right now.
I wish him all the best and I hope he will find a new job very soon!

I just sweated all my frustrations out of my system at my spinning class!

Pricing

I worked all day :-) !
After my day job, I went to my sister to work on her new price list for her beauty farm. 
She added a few more treatments to her portfolio, so I have to set-up new flyers and edit her website.
My brother-in-law treated me with a Spaghetti Scampi in return!