officially unemployed

I can have a baby now, I worked my last day of work today! In my secret double life, I also work as the stylist for E! News Weekend on the E! Network.  The show is hosted by Arisa Cox and Jason Ruta, and airs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Arisa and Jason are amazing, funny people both on camera and off.  I recommend you watch it!  As far as Canadian entertainment news show hosts go, bias or not, I think Arisa and Jason are the best in the nation. 

I’ve had the job for the past year, and it’s been a fantastic compliment to my life as a fashion designer. I started right after my collection was finished for the New Labels Competition and the job has essentially paid for my line since the moment I really needed funding for production. Life was occasionally insane designing a collection and also styling three days a week, but them’s the breaks!

I’d say one of the top five tasks in the job description for a stylist is “schlepping stuff”, and it hasn’t been getting any easier. I was starting to feel a little crazy for still doing the job at 38 weeks pregnant. The whole Canwest possible bankruptsy, and potential sale of the E! network has held me back from training anyone new. But alas, I couldn’t wait anymore, it was time for me to go! Luckily for Nadia Pizzimenti  , who happened to be in the right place at the right time. She borrowed some Butikofer for a creative she was styling a few months ago, and I was like, “Heyyy, do you want a job?” and she was like “Surrrre”.  She’s going to be great, she is far more driven to have a career as a stylist than I ever was or ever will be. Unemployed stylist no more! 

Insert sad emoticon here.

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I am really going to miss my job. Arisa, Jason and everyone else on the crew have been a great group of people to work with.  I loved the job, too.  Styling is fun! I’ve hopefully evolved a little from the timid/awkward self I was when I started. Realistically, I will always be a little awkward, but it was definitely good for me to get out of the solitary confinement of a fashion designer’s life a few times a week. The job has changed me, and expanded my interest and experience in the fashion industry in a great way.

Insert  mad (?) emoticon here.

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Stephen Harper should really make good on his promises. I was somewhat excited when I heard about his election platform of maternity leave for the self-employed, unfortunately the follow through has been a little lacking. Boo.

Ah, well. Good-bye E News! I love you, and shall miss you and your funny, sarcastic self. I’ll be watching. In my pajamas.