WELL I HOPE ALL MOMS HAD A WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY OVER THE WEEKEND!
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE MOMMY MAKEOVER CONTEST………..
AND IT IS……………
PAULA !!!!!
BELOW IS HER ENTRY LETTER THAT SHE SUBMITTED AND IT HAD ME, JULIE (OWNER OF BEAUTIQUE SALON) AND THE JUDGES IN TEARS!
READ BELOW :::
“Hi Nikki
How are you? My name is Paula, my daughter Karissa was featured in your Easter ad with the bunny!!!!
Here is my story:
I had a great job 7 minutes from my house where I thought I’d be for the rest of my career. I loved what I did and enjoyed going to work every day. Unfortunately it was at a mortgage company and we were starting to feel the effects of the market crisis. Bonuses stopped being paid out, morale was horrible, and it was as though one day I was in heaven and the next I had stepped into hell. But we were promised that nothing would happen and we would ride out the storm.
The stress of the holiday was upon us, my husbands company was behind on commissions and we weren’t sure what we would do. My mom watched my daughter while we worked, but we had to stop paying her because of the financial crunch we were feeling. So everyday I had to live with the guilt and stress of that on top of everything else.
Christmas time came and on Christmas night we received the most shocking gift of all….
I was pregnant again!!!!!! The joy of this surprise was quickly covered with fear, guilt, stress and the “OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO NOW” thoughts!!!!
Knowing my company was having issues, I immediately went in to tell my boss thinking if they were to do layoffs, he’ll know I am expecting and maybe it will buy me some time.
I told my boss on December 31st and on Jan 3rd I received a pink slip.
Now here I am, I have a house, bills, a child, one on the way and I’ve just lost my job.
Stress is the one thing they tell you to control when your pregnant, yet nothing in this world could have kept me calm on this dreadful day.
Something kept telling me my pregnancy had something to do with my layoff. It was an emotional time for me, especially thinking about all of my hard work and dedication I had put into the company for so long, yet it was easy for them to just let me go.
I spoke with people from the States Attorney’s office and learned that in our state your job is never secure and protected. You can be laid off for any reason, it all comes down to what they put on the pink slip. It was most likely because I was pregnant, yet he covered himself by putting “workforce reduction”.
As of today, they are still in business.
So here I am, career woman all of a sudden turned into stay at home mom! What a difference in job title!! Especially going through terrible 2’s!!
I have been desperately trying to find a job since January. I am coming upon my 6th month and its near impossible to land something. I walk into interviews and they just take one look at me and say “we’ll call you”!
We have depeleted our savings accounts and retirement accounts to stay afloat.
I have had to explain to my daughter there will be no camp and play groups this summer but she keeps asking when the first day of playgroup will be. To a mother, this is devastating.
We turned her world upside down by taking her baby set (crib, etc) and moving it into the new room in an effort to save money and not buy a new baby set. Our family did come together to by her a new “big girl” bed but the transition has been very hard for her and us.
My husband landed a new job but with it came an extensive amount of travel. He’s gone for the week as I type this. This is the 6th trip in 3 months.
It has been a whirlwind of events. My head is still spinning when I think about all that has happened and continues to happen since January.
I have been put on bed rest once already, I am sure due to the stress.
My mom and dad have been saints financially as well as how much they have helped out around our house. My mom comes to clean once a week and tries to spend as much time with me and my daughter during the day to keep things evenly paced.
I have had to give up monthly nail appts and have not had a hair cut since September.
I used to use my gym time as solitude and mind clearing time, but that had to be stopped until after I deliver.
I even resorted to Sunday trips to Stop & Shop alone to do groceries to have some time to myself. But now we buy as we need in little spurts so I don’t even have that time.
I am just at a road block, a loss for words, as to what I will do job wise and what my future holds for my fanily and I.
I wish I could stop being so stressed out. I wish I could stop myself from crying long enough to enjoy a game of sidewalk chalk or a walk in the park with my daughter.
It all has taken such a toll on me physically and mentally.
I have yet to even enjoy my pregnancy because so much other stuff is consuming me right now.
The thought of a makeover just sends chills up and down my spine!
And when I think of a picture session, I picture my daughters little hands on my belly, my hands over hers, experiencing a connection that only she and I will remember forever.
I don’t usually do these types of things. And I never want anyone to feel sorry for me, especially with the way the market is right now. I am one of thousands out of work. But I need this. I need to get myself back on soild ground, to be a better mother, to both my children. I need something to help me relax, to de-stress and to just be happy!!!!
Good luck with your contest.
I hope to talk to you soon!!!
Paula “
HERE IS A PHOTO THAT PAULA SENT OVER TO ME OF HER AND HER DAUGHTER
IN ADDITION TO PAULA GETTING A COMPLETE HAIR MAKEOVER AND MASSAGE AND A PHOTO SESSION WITH ME AND HER FAMILY ……. WE ARE ALSO GIVING HER MOTHER A HAIR MAKEOVER AND A 3 GENERATIONS PHOTO SESSION!
I CALLED PAULA ON FRIDAY TO TELL HER AND IT MADE HER WEEKEND AND ALSO MINE!
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SESSION AND MAKEOVER PAULA!!!!
CONGRATS ON WINNING!!!
NIKKI NICOLE
