brokebitch scenerio #501: broke-beach ;)

Everyone needs a break even brokebitches. I worked extra hours on 4th of July to get the money to split a cheap hotel on the beach with friends. It's amazing the clarity I had while breathing in the seabreeze and hearing the calm waters roll in to the shore of Carolina Beach. Sometimes stepping outside your bubble can put you staring at your bubble and figuring out what works and what does'nt work. Being broke-beachy for a weekend felt amazing. I read The Secret again by Rhonda byrne and was reminded of what I need to be doing in my life. My thoughts were trapped in the negative prison of my everyday struggles. As I was changing my thoughts to equal the things I wanted, I realized I wasn't doing the things needed to make those thoughts come true. You should phrase sentences like you've already reached your dreams. For instance, reaching my goal weight of 135 pounds is so important to me. However changing my thoughts to "I feel great at 135 pounds" and Picturing myself at 135 pounds isn't enough. My actions need to match my thoughts. I need to go to the gym and do it consistantly 3 times a week. I need to eat healthy. I need to regularly attend my Weight Watcher's meeting! For me, being on the cover of Weight Watcher's Magazine would be as successful as graduating from Ball State University. I will grace the Weight Watcher's magazine. Maybe I'll focus on this for the next 30 days and move onto another area of my life. It's one step at a time. Otherwise I throw my hands up in the air and eat a pint of ice cream! Frankly, it's very hard to eat a pint of ice cream when my hands are in the air so I'd rather not do this. ;) I'm changing the name of my blog because I'm going through this brokebitchdom to get to richbitchdom. I need to change the title to read brokebitch to richbitch. ;) It's like Henry Ford said "if you think you can't you can't" I think I can and I can! Dreaming as a broke-beach this weekend makes me believe in my everyday.

xoxo
Mandi

brokebitch scenerio #22888 land of the free

so, I realized in the cosmetics biz, foreign clients who insist on getting a "free gift" any time of the year regardless if we have one going on, misunderstand the United States being the "land of the free". They think they get free things when they come here. I guess they are free to think that and they may be on to something! You'd be surprised how many free items you'd get if you asked! The cosmetics business for one always has samples of something. The gym industry is another place you can negotiate. I recently went to Gold's Gym and talked them down a little in price but in the end they wanted more than I had to give. So I moved on to another gym and am getting $10 a month at Planet Fitness. Your phone bill is negotiable as well. My verizon bill was over $200 one month and I realized I went over my minutes for the first time in two years. So I called and asked if they could cover the $80 as a courtesy. They said no. Not so fast, I'm a brokebitch I gotta get this done! I then asked to speak to a manager. She refused so I said goodbye. I then called back and spoke to another agent. I then asked the new agent for a manager to cover that portion of my bill as a courtesy for being a loyal customer. The manager stalled but ended up negotiating, paying 50% of the overage fee. Another opportunity is oil changes. I saved over $10 on an oil change and tire rotation at Midas with a coupon on the back of my grocery bill. So be aware of those coupons! When I wrecked my car I took it to a local shop, Foster's collision and when I was gonna pick it up I checked their website for their hours. I there found an ad giving customers $200 off for an estimate over $2,000. So the next day I asked the girl at the front desk if I was eligible for the discount and she said yes and instead of a $500 deductible I paid $300!!! Obviously sign your email up for groupon.com and living social cause I get to go to restaurants because I get them 50% off there! My vegitarian friend bit into bacon in her vegitarian salad,um, not good. The manager brought over a new salad and said is there anything else I can do? she said no. I said yes,with a giggle and a wink ;), a round of drinks would help! He laughed. I then said or atleast a free drink for her! she enjoyed a nice brewski that night on me, I mean the restaurant! ;) The key is being nice about asking for the freebies. Always assume they need you as a customer, it's a tough economy on you and them! It's as simple as supply and demand. They have the service but need you to want it and be able to afford it. So, maybe we are the land of the free(bies). ;)

xoxo

MM

Brokebitch scenerio #1028 workcation.

So last week I was supposed to be on a vacation in Atlanta in a brokebitch friendly Free Cabin with my bestie. fail. complete fail. The vacation turned into a suckcation. I realize life is what you make of it. I KNOW. However, I couldn't find peace with my two month planned vacation failing. I work hard. I work three jobs on my way to making my radio dream come true. I'm willing to wait for the right radio gig,but all this dream catching is making me wanna take a nap.;) All I wanted was a week to push pause. Push pause on my frustrations, my work ethic, my lonelieness of following my dream, my struggles, my failed bank account...just wanted to push pause just for one week. God didn't give me that, he gave me another obstacle. A brokebitch doesn't have the resources to take a last minute flight home or a last minute vacation replacement. I was stuck in my own prison of struggles. All I could see is a vision of me throwing my fist in the air and asking Why!?

The suckcation, I decided to venture to the movies by myself. I forgot there was a beach music festival in North Raleigh and walked into hoards of people with no makeup and yoga pants on! I proceed into the movie theatre and realize I will now need to get a small loan to pay for my ticket and jumbo cellulite fulfilling popcorn(um I did drink diet coke, lol) Then after sitting in my perfect seat,to clarify, it's the back row one open seat on each side and kid free. I just wanted to peacefully be entertained at an intrest rate of 22%. Oh no, after the movie started a mother and daughter walk all the way up and into the middle of the back row making me move my purse to the bacteria laced theatre floor. Then leans over and says "who's that character in bed with that guy" Um. Do I look like I sit in this theatre everyday and know who the hell she is after the first scene? If Kristen wiig could be a fly on the wall in my viewing of "Bridesmaids" she'd have the plot to her next movie! ;)Suckcation I tell you. suckcation. ;)

I've worked hard for everything I've gotten. My radio boss left for a bigger better opportunity and it made me reflect on how she gave me a break. I remembered how I got that opportunity. I walked into her number one radio station and asked for a job! She was the only program director to see me. I took a leap and she caught me. Not literally, cause that would be a little awkward and I'm still holding onto a little holiday weight from...well... 2009 lol;) But for real, I made that happen! Everything I've ever said that's mine has ended up being mine. I'm determined. I'm driven. I've just hit rough patch on my drive...but maybe it's not as far off as I thought?

Today I went back to work afer a disappointing suckcation. I thought it would be horrible. Great, I get to go back to my 60 hour work week with no relaxtion from my suckcation. I was wrong. What I needed was a suckcation to realize my workcation was there the whole time. Workcation by Mandi's dictionary is when one realizes their spirit, soul and happiness is fufilled by one's success at their place of work using their talents wisely. I'm not saving lifes but I'm making women walk away with a smile. Lisa hugged me today. Who's Lisa? She's a client who came in today wanting to buy more of the stuff that made her skin look and feel better. She's a woman who wanted to buy from me because I made her feel special. She can't feel as special and as I felt today when she hugged me. I needed the suckcation to show me that I'm lucky to get a workcation 50 weeks out of the year. I play with makeup for 35 hours a week! Now you may wonder does this make me want to turn around on my road to being a full time radio personality? Hell to the no! I ain't gonna waste this loud say anyting that comes to me even if it ends up with my foot in my mouth kinda talent! It would be unfair to God and humanity! ;)

Here's what my workcation made me realize. I know I've got lots of talents. I'm not just a radio personality. I'm a makeup artist. I care about people. I want them to be the most beautiful they can be so they can achieve THEIR DREAMS just like I'm going to do in radio. I needed a suckcation to appreciate my workcation. I'm lucky ya know cause people have hobbies but my hobbies are my work. I will make lots and lots of money cause I'm totally over this brokebitch status ;)Oh and my favorite 90's super group said it best, "noone can change your life except for you...open your mind..things will change, things will go your way if you can hold on for one more day" ~Wilson Phillips ♥

oh, I'm holding on but for real this holiday weight from 2009 really sucks and hurts while holding on for the dream so um, lets reach our destination soon, please and thank you. ;)
xoxo
Mandi

Brokebitch scenerio #777 lucky worker...

I waited to the last possible minute to file my taxes because I knew I'd owe my Uncle. Uncle Sam has never been my favorite relative because all he does is take my money. ;) Today I had someone say "well you have to pay more taxes but, you're lucky to have a job" I'm here to tell you it is never luck that someone has a job. You create your own luck. I have three jobs because I'm a good worker. I'm talented and work hard to be the best at all three jobs. I don't show up and do 50% of what's asked of me. I do 110%. I earn my job. I'm not perfect but I really put my heart into anything I do. If it has Mandi attached to the job then it will be done to the best of my ability. I'm not lucky to have a job. I'm lucky I work hard to keep my job. I know sometimes people get cut even if they did do a good job but if they are good, can't they get another job? Life isn't fair but it does give you many opportunities to make a life for yourself. Sure, Starbucks wasn't my favorite job but it paid my bills until I found a better job. So do I feel lucky to work at two great places? Absolutely! However, am I lucky to have job? Absolutely not! I'm lucky to have a good work ethic to keep my jobs. I'm lucky my Grandpa, Papal Bud gave me the good work ethic gene! Papal Bud built Bud Alexander's Cafeteria(my first job)and was a self-made millionaire. That's a relative I can respect! Uncle Sam could learn from him, ;)
xoxo,
Mandi

Brokebitch scenerio # 1040 easy work ethic

Dear Mandi,

you amaze me with your work ethic. When you get your taxes done you'll see how hard you've worked to show people it can be done! You've proven this recession didn't make you wanna take a recess. You cleaned the drains at Starbucks showing those who are sulking at home about not getting the right job,that you courageously took the right now job. If one didn't have obstacles to get to a dream then everyone would do it. Maybe you are not everyone, you are someone! Your light is breaking through the cracks... of life. Someday you will get you more than a crack...maybe you'll get a huge break and then your light will explode! You learned in these last two years of brokedom that you have more talents than your voice. You are one of the top Clinique salespersons and makeup artists for the number 1 cosmetics company in the world.
<3 MM alter ego ;)

Is this what I dreamed of as a kid with my double cassette tape player, playing radio? Absolutely not. I thought I'd go to college get a degree and play radio or tv news forever. I have the degree and I'm over the moon proud. It took lots of sweat, tears and multiple choices to get my four year degree from Ball State University. For four years I learned about focus. I learned to socially get along with others in numerous group projects. I learned determination. I graduated with the exact amount of credits needed, not one more than 126 to graduate that December! I experienced culture when I studied in Mexico for 7 weeks. my BA degree=priceless.

I worked in small market radio for years and was so talented, I had numerous listeners question why I was in small town Richmond radio. So I took a leap of faith and with perservearence; walked into Randi West's #1 radio station, G105 and asked for a job. In April 2009 I took the part-time job. I took this job because I knew I'd learn and grow into the right full time radio job.

I took a job a Starbucks because they had health insurance benefits for part time employees. However it didn't pad my wallet. So I turned to my secret talent, makeup! I've always been obsessed with any new makeup colors or tricks. So I walked into MAC, my favorite eye shadow place and they had no openings. So then I went to Clinique, my favorite skincare and they were hiring....ME! I tracked the manager, Mary down asking when could I get an interview? She said tomorrow. I got the job.

I'm currently keeping my eyes open for a great radio gig not just the right now radio gig. What I've learned is that I'll never be the out of work radio goddess because I've learned I can be just fine and pretty with Clinique! ;)

Sometimes you forget how many talents you have hidden inside you! Persevearence got me here. Why stop now? Look out radio, you are going to be blown away!

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. ~William Feather
hanging on,
xoxo MM

brokebitch scenerio #5,000: mama was right, be responsible...

so when it came time to enroll in insurance, I did. Even though it subtracted almost $100 from my meniscal paycheck. Then I had to go to the emergancy room, $5,000! I paid $200. However, I got upteen bills. Lab sent me a bill for $700 saying my insurance didn't cover the bill. I started to freak out and scream when I remembered Insurance companies aren't gonna jump up and down and pay everything immediately. Could you really picture an insurance company sending me a thank you card for costing them over 5 grand?! That I'd love to see! So I called and said this should be apart of my emergancy room coverage. They realized my emergancy room stay hadn't been processed. ah, ha, moment! They didn't process the claim because they didn't get it was connected to the emergancy coverage. This happened 8 months ago but I just paid my $200 deductable for the emergancy room. A brokebitch who uses her smarts is way better than one who sits on her arse. "you've got a brain in your head and feet in your shoes, you can go wherever you choose!" ~Dr. Seuss

Xoxo
MM

brokebitch scenerio #778: keep celebrating a birthday

You only get one birthday! Let's clarify just because it happened on one day does not literally mean you get one celebration. Point in case I was born in the matter of seconds. So does that mean I only get sung half the birthday song cause that's the time it took for me to come in to the world? I say you celebrate the many friends you've gained over the years so therefore many celebrations are in order! If it takes a month well...then this brokebitch evies you. I had filet, chinese, fried banana, chips and salsa, chicken, brownie, 12 shots of liquor (not all at once), pancakes, cheesecake and a portabello mushroom sandwich. All free!!! Why? Because like you I'm important. I deserve to be appreciated and you do too but the key is to tell people you want appreciation. Apprciation doesn't always come in the form of a free meal...sometimes the best appreciation is someone taking the time to say I like you because....and I'm glad you were born.

Happy birthday to me!
Dreaming makes me believe in the everyday and makes me glad I was born...so I can dream.

~X0x0 Mandi