Holiday Skating Party

I thought I should post after experiencing my first official Starfish event.  While I didn't really plan the event, I DID order and pick up the cake! :)  We were expecting around 90 guests (that's scholars, mentors, and their guests).  However, over 180 people showed up!!!  It was a GREAT turn out.  From what I hear, it's the best they've had EVER.  The cake I bought was only suppose to feed 96 people... With some help from Bethany, we made it work.

I'm glad I was able to get to know the scholars, mentors, and a board member or two.  I'm now starting to feel like I'm a part of Starfish and that what I'm doing is actually helpful.

On that note, I'm off... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Las Vegas in 3 days!!!!!!!!

Back at work

After a wonderful 5 day Christmas vacation in Tinley Park, it's back to Indy and more work at Starfish. With an eventful week behind me (filled with family festivities, IKEA trips, and impromptu high school reunions) my Monday back has been relatively tame. More magical invitaions and sheet cake ordering, but nothing all that exciting. I've tied fabric all day, to the point that my fingers are raw and I'm still not finished. I'll be taking that home with me... :( Something I don't want to do at all... While I love what I'm doing, I don't get paid and REALLY don't want to bring work home or do much overtime.

Well, the skating party is tomorrow night... wish me luck! And then I have another 2 day break, work Friday and then VEGAS!!!! WOO HOO!!

one more thing...

Las Vegas countdown... 11 days!!!

MAGIC AND INVITATIONS!!!!

Almost time for a little Christmas vacation up in Tinley Park. But I still have to get through today... Nothing too bad, just the usual. You know, booking magicians, making magic tricks look like dinner party invitations... soooooooo stressful... :)

Just a quick overview of the last few days:
Friday I got lost in Avon for an hour trying to find the JoAnn's Fabrics. The internet doesn't even know where the store is!!! The directions it gave me took me to a different town! But my weekend was wonderful... Girls' Night featuring "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" and pizza, Saturday Butler Basketball Game, Straight No Chaser concert (FREE!), and Sunday movie night when Jarod got home (we watched Mamma Mia... The live musical is sooooo much better). Yesterday, wasn't too bad. Everything is falling into place and things are going well. My only job for the skating party is to order a sheet cake! Woo Hoo!!

That's about it. I'm heading up to Tinley tomorrow for Christmas. Starfish is closed tomorrow through Friday.

Merry Christmas to everyone!!

One week down!

I've been at Starfish for a week and a half now. I love it here! I'm so happy to be at a place where I actually feel like I'm accomplishing something. The pharmacy I was at before I started VISTA was nowhere near to what I wanted to do with my life. It also helps to be with people that want to make a difference as much as I do. I am so greatful to have found this job and to be out of the pharmacy!

While my first week was a little rough, I feel so much better about what I am doing. I'm still anxious about this holiday skating party, but once it's over it'll be smooth sailing. Honestly, last week I was being put in an awkward position because two staff members have two VERY different directions they want to go with this party. Since I had just started here and the party was essentially planned, I had hoped that I would be told what exactly needed to be done for the skating party and I'd start from the beginning with an event that hadn't really been planned yet. While it looked like it would happen that way, I soon got stuck in the middle of two employees butting heads. It was an uncomfortable situation. From what I know, it's getting worked out. I just need to get a real answer as to what I'm suppose to be doing for December 30th.

Anyway, this week has started out just fine... besides the fact that I've caught a cold. (Achy body and extremely soar throat.) On the upside, I've started a countdown to my Las Vegas vacation!!! 17 DAYS!!!!! We're even thinking about going to the Grand Canyon! I'm really excited!!

Getting to know Starfish

What a difference one day makes!

After much thought last night, I came up with a game plan for my work day today. I met with my VISTA supervisor and the person that has been planning an event for January. I realized that the reason I was getting so flustered was the fact that I didn't know what normally goes on at Starfish parties and events. I had a meeting yesterday that didn't really answer any of my questions. I walked out of the office with no more knowledge then I did when I walked in. Today, I am feeling more at ease with the 2 upcoming events that I have been given. I know the direction I need to take and I'm ready to go.

Now, it's surprising to me that I'm more nervous about the Holiday skating party then I am about the Mentor Appreciation Dinner. I want to kids to have fun and get to know each other... but I was in high school not too long ago and I remember thinking that parties organized by adults were usually LAME!! I need ice breakers and mixers that can be done on and off roller skates. No big worries though. I'm feeling good today!!! :)

First-time blogger

Hello to all that are reading this blog!

I have never blogged before, so the world of blogging is very new to me. I've started this blog to document my year of service as an AmeriCorps*VISTA working at the Starfish Initiative in Indianapolis. It's been 3 days since I started my life as a VISTA...

Last week was Pre-Service Orientation up in Chicago. Here, we were given a crash course in poverty in the US and non-profits/capacity building. On Friday, December 5th, I was sworn into office (we took the same oath that the presient takes) and on the 8th I officially started my service at the Starfish Initiative. For those of you that haven't heard my VISTA spiel, here it is...

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national service program implemented to fight poverty in the United States. AmeriCorps hires volunteers that donate a year of full-time service to a non-profit organization that helps fight poverty in their community. VISTAs do not get paid (salary or hourly), we recieve a living stipend which is set at poverty level of the community that we serve in. As I said before, I'm working with the Starfish Initiative. The organization mentors low-income high school students to help them prepare for college. We're fighting generational poverty! My specific job is Event Planner.

My responsibilities are picking up fast! While I'm extremely excited to be here, I am DEFINITELY nervous. I'm getting thrown into an event that takes place in about 2 weeks! All the big things are already booked and taken care of, but I have to make it fun for the students and keep things organized... I know it'll be fine, I'm just a little apprehensive because this is my first event and I don't want to screw things up. However, I AM happy that I'm getting pushed head first into this... It may be a brutal ice breaker, but I can handle it.

The past few days have been very different from any other job I have had in the past. I am looking forward to this next year of my life and I promise to keep you all posted.