Doing it, I’m quitting my job…

Making a big change.  For the past three years I’ve worked as a design consultant for CDI (Custom Decorators Inc.), using my degree in Interior Design, a passion.  It’s an exciting job and no two days are alike, rode a Cat Trak to work one day (lodge in the mountains).  I’ve worked with some fun designers and I've had great clients (most days), and managers, a nice company to work for.  It started as a part time job to work while my kids were in school, perfect, until it got overly busy.  I became certified in more areas and was one of the top designers in our state, days filled with Webinars, Certifications, training new designers, Paperwork, and Scheduling appointments, along with all the driving and time with clients.  Of course I’ll miss most of it, especially the yearly week-end Escape for the designers in the US and Canada, and Premiers twice a year.  I enjoyed my job, but I need to put my family first.  I put in my two weeks a little while ago, gave them extra time to train someone else while I wrap things up.  I was grateful to hear my supervisor (from Washington) tell me there is an open door and I am always welcome back.  I also have my own business doing the same thing, so if I ever get bored (ha, ha), or later in life, I can do it on my own if desired, or go back to CDI.  I learned a lot, became more professional and confident in my work, became more computer savvy used my laptop in clients home, and enjoyed helping my clients.  I have no regrets (except I’ve seen some wear on the girls with me being so busy) and I'm so grateful for the opportunity, but there is a time and place for everything, and I don't want to miss out on being a mom while my children are still young.
 

just got my shutters & drapes, it adds so much to the room!

I'm looking forward to catching up and getting more involved in things at home~ make better dinners, good reading, have time to work out, get more involved in my kids schools, charity work, and mainly enjoy my family while they’re still young…  I even let my cleaning lady go, not easy.  I’m grateful to be a full time mom again and for the support and hard work my husband always gives.  I won’t worry about getting bored, 2 days after putting in my 2 weeks, I got a new job in my ward (church) as Camp Director… Girls Camp is next month, yikes.  It’s a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it.  Of course this job is volunteer.   

more time for this… after school snacks for the kiddos to come home too

If I haven’t lost all my blog readers by now, blogging wasn’t high on my list while I was working, I’m planning to keep up on it better, especially for the girls.

from Miss Domesticated for now

Escape to Long Beach~ {Sunday Snapshot}

Once a year my work puts on a huge design convention- “Escape,” here was last years in Portland…

This year we met in Long Beach. The theme was “Empower the Designer”, last years- “We’re not participating in the Recession” :). It’s a fun business trip to take refresher classes, update technology, meet other designers, visit vendors, share ideas and participate in focus groups. Plus, feel a little pampered with banquets, prizes/awards, and a nice break from everyday work.

the highlight was dinner & dancing on the Queen Mary

Designing Women, it was great having all 6 designers from our state come this year, here’s a few of us

Well, we should let our boss in. Nice hat Frankie!

It was a delightful week!

Before returning, we stopped at a few design places we don’t have at home, of course we had to stop at Trader Joe’s. There’s a story behind this card I bought, I’ll have to share later so I don’t get sidetracked. I picked up some nice souvenirs to bring home to my family, wish they could’ve joined me. Although I really look forward to this yearly event, it’s never easy leaving my family.

Way to go Paul! for getting the girls ready for their fairy party, and doing their hair each morning, I know that may have been the biggest challenge while I was gone, you did great! I’m so thankful for Paul & Josh (17) for doing double duty and taking care of things while I was gone, I know it was a lot of work and running around, but everyone was in good hands and I appreciate your support and help, and hearing about the good times you had. And thanks Grandma for helping on Friday. It was so nice coming home to my happy family!

Click above for other Sunday Snapshots

Escape to the Nines- {Sunday Snapshot}

Portland is beautiful this time of year. We stayed at “The Nines” above Macy’s, pretty chic!

Elegant room, fresh European design with a splash of color. Our days were filled with classes, banquets, visiting vendors, meeting other designers and CDI staff, along with Hunter Douglas, and many hands on displays, and awards assembly. The last night we enjoyed a formal dinner and dancing (if you can imagine about 100 designers, mainly women, dancing to some good music w/ a DJ, great workout, I love to dance!) Laryl was the grand prize winner at the drawing- woot woo!, it was comical trying to get her extra large boxes home on the plane, but we did it with style, kind of. And I was honored to be nominated as “Rookie of the Year”, thanks Frankie! The winner went to a designer from New York, hard to compete with that :). But very nice to be nominated and got a nice spiff and certificate.

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I am now certified to sell drapes, excited. Here’s some I liked on display. Nice 3 finger pleat panels with decorative rods and rings. Goblet pleat with buttons, and the popular Grommet style with Roman Shades beneath. View album for a closer look, they look much better up close. This is something I’ll enjoy helping my clients with.

Self photo from the plane. We'll make a tradition of this each year, looking forward to next years in Long Beach :) It was nice coming home to my family. Thanks Paul for your wonderful support and taking great care of things at home, and Josh for filling in when dad couldn't, I knew everyone was in good hands. It was great coming home to my man and happy kids that were thrilled to see their mom, and wife.

Click below for Stafanie’s and others Sunday Snapshots.