Let’s start with the purse itself. I love this purse so, so much. I purchased it from Etsy from a shop called Two Tree Designs, who make these messenger bags by hand. I had been on a huge hunt for a purse with a long strap that wasn’t incredibly ugly. I generally like big handbags, but thanks to my overall lack of shoulders, they always wind up becoming a huge hassle (and a literal pain in the neck!) I can put tons of stuff in here without feeling like I’m carrying around a bowling ball with straps. My only beef with it is that part of it is white, so even though I JUST washed it, it’s already gotten more crap on it. I see myself ordering more bags from Two Tree in the future though, so I’ll just stay away from white next time.

Notebook—Apparently now water-damaged, my notebook is so handy and dandy! This notebook helped me prepare myself for my job interview, and I have used it ever since, whether it be for grocery lists, keeping track of various lines of HTML code, or doodling. Who doesn’t like doodling? It’s also pink with a skull on it, because I’m bad-a like that.

Pentel’s Energel Liquid Gel 0.7mm ink pen, Needle Tip—I work in an office supply store. That means that I get to use all sorts of different supplies and try them on for size. I have dubbed this pen as THE pen, the best pen of all the pens we sell. At first I liked the metal tip version, but soon enough, like a drug addict, I was jonesin’ for the needle. My preferred color is blue, but black is good, too.

Coffee Stirrers—Lindsey told me to grab some one day after using a Starbuck’s gift card she had gotten for Christmas. She said they might come in handy one day. I’m still waiting to figure out what they might be good for.

Giant Safety Pin—This was a gift from Joey for my birthday last year. It was during the time The Ex and I were in the process of breaking up (which was long and arduous, since he flat-out refused for quite a long time). All of my friends and I went out for my birthday to karaoke, and we left The Ex at home, because since he wasn’t supposed to be there anyway, he wasn’t invited. This led to one of the most awkward moments of my life, as we all got back home, buzzed, ready to watch The Brave Little Toaster together (one of my birthday requests), and there he was, at 3 am, awake and making sure to get in the way as much as possible. But before all of the horribleness happened, I had a pretty good time at my karaoke “Everyone Must Wear a Cool Hat” party. Joey found this giant safety pin at the flea market and got it for me because it said “28”, and I was turning 28. It now serves as my good luck charm (and a holder for my hand sanitizer—bought at Bath & Body Works during the amazing New Wave Weekend last week, and my flash light, which was a Christmas gift from my mom and dad.).

Love is a Mix Tape—I’m reading them backwards, but I just finished reading Rob Sheffield’s Talking to Girls about Duran Duran. I often find myself identifying with authors, but Rob Sheffield feels like a kindred spirit, a long lost uncle I never knew I had. Talking to Girls was incredibly funny and interesting. This one, about the loss of Sheffield’s wife, is a little more sad.

Electronic Cigarette:  Because I’m trying to quit. No, really!

Business Cards: “Hi, my name is Jessica. Oh, you need business cards made? Oh, you need banners/brochures/fliers printed? Oh, you need some paper towel dispensers and toilet paper for your business? Oh, you are looking for some leather chairs? I can help!”

Drugs: These were sprinkle containers that I re-purposed for pill bottles after making cake pops. I have bad eyesight and I’m clumsy, so Ibuprofen and Excedrin are two good friends of mine. I’m hardcore, I know.

Makeup Bag: I rarely wear it, but makeup and pens are two things I can never have enough of. I keep a small bag of basics for on-the-go, you know, just in case. Certain times of the month, I have a smaller bag like this for tampons (because they always get loose from their wrappers and look all disgusting if you don’t keep them zipped up in something!).

USB Flash Drive: You can store your life on one, and you never know when you might need it. It’s tiny, it’s portable, and it will fit into almost any computer. I actually used it for these very pictures: took them at The Junktion, stored them on the card, and unloaded and uploaded them at work. My only concern with this one is it’s too tiny…something as small as and clips like a paper clip will probably get lost like one, too.

Smell-Good Stuff: Because it’s nice to smell pretty. And you don’t know when you might stop smelling that way. I bought these on that same trip to the Bath & Body Works Outlet. I like that the lotion is pink with a skull on it, so it matches my notebook. I’m kooky that way.

Smartphone: I finally upgraded to a smartphone! It only took me three years. This one is a prepaid one from Straight Talk. It’s not as nice as some of the ones I’ve tested, but it’s not as crappy as the one I had from Cricket. And there’s a whole other post about what kind of crap I keep on there!

So…what’s in your purse?

And then my friend David sent me a message about a Craigslist posting. I can’t tell you how many Craigslist postings I have answered, as well as ones from the Labor Department, newspaper, and anywhere else. As much as I love and can keep busy doing freelance, it just isn’t consistent enough to provide any kind of steady income.

I have gotten my hopes up many times over supposed dream jobs, only to be rejected or never contacted at all. Nonetheless, I thought “what the heck?” and sent a resume and Power Point presentation of how awesome I am (no, seriously. I really did).

The position was for a webmaster/designer at a local office supply company. Okay first of all, I freaking adore office supplies. “Back to School Shopping” was always my favorite holiday growing up. I would rather have pens and pads of paper than I would jewelry or something like that. I’m also weird, I know.  And I have been designing websites for people, but to do it as an actual job? Pretty nifty, in my opinion.

I got called soon afterward, and instead of being nervous about it, I went in with the attitude that they were crazy if they didn’t hire me. That’s a weird mentality for me to adopt, but it seems to work for other people, and it really cut down on paralyzing nerves I can sometimes get.

I got hired on the spot and started the next day!  For the first time in my life I’m actually working a full-time job that’s 8-5 M-F. So, the hours are pretty sweet, the job itself is pretty rockin’, income is steady, and pay is….well, at least there’s pay. Being a smaller business there are no benefits, vacation, or overtime even though I always have to stay over, but at this point, I don’t care. I really am just so happy.

Amazingly, my other ventures have started picking up, too. I definitely stay busy between working, the American Idol blog, eBay, making hats, photo shoots, and freelance design jobs. For a long time I didn’t break up with The Ex because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it on my own. I cannot thank my family and friends enough who have helped me out with lodging and food and driving me back and forth until I can find a newer car.  I finally feel like life is getting back to where it should be, and in all honesty it’s a lot better than it has been in a long time.

Tomorrow’s another Social Media Alliance of Chattanooga meeting (which I now get paid to go to as part of my job! How cool is that!?). And for the first time, I will have an answer for them when people ask, “What do you do?”