Ladies (and fellas who like fellas).... this one's for you.

When I sat down tonight to write, I decided that I wanted to share something personal with you that I feel very passionately about. 

Beards. 

That's right. There is nothing that gets my motor running like a nicely trimmed, sexy beard. I like them with glasses, with a guitar, with a hammer, even a ginger one, once.

All it takes is a moment on Google to find out that there are oodles of crazy cats out there, just like me who love the feel and look of a soft, well-maintained beard ;) click here for beard- themed gifts (seriously)

I even found an Australian band who did a killer song called  "You should consider having sex with a bearded man".

But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. What constitutes a good, sexy beard? 

Well, let's first see what happens when 

beards go horribly wrong......

Exhibit A. 

ZZ Top. Guys seem to think they're cool. They've certainly had some good songs. But, let's be serious. Sexy? I don't think so.

                                     

                            Now, the fun part. When beards go horribly RIGHT......

                                            Whew! You might need a smoke after that!

In this crazy world we live in, we must take a stand for what we believe in. We must consider what's important in this life and shout it from the roof tops.

My name is Amanda Rae and I am a Beardaholic! 

Ladies, I rest my case.

The Little Island Girl That Could

Let's face it. This year has kicked my little french ass. There is no nice way of putting that. I don't feel the need to rehash all the gory details but it's enough to say that I have experienced love in a way that I never thought possible and have lost more than I thought I could bear. 

Most recently, I lost a dear friend to a terrible disease. She left me with a wonderful lesson, though. No matter how many times her plans fell apart (and, oh, she was always full of fail-proof plans!) it never stopped her. She would just brush herself off and go back to the bank with another equally fail-proof plan. She inspired me to stop being a victim in my own life and start living it!

What am I doing? Who do I choose to be? What is possible for Amanda Rae?

The only answer that I am willing to consider is that anything is possible for Amanda Rae. 

I am going to sing and tell my silly stories and make you laugh. 

I'm going to be a over the top, unapologetically. 

I am going to save up every spare dollar I have and  have a wild adventure abroad. 

And I am going to, thoroughly, enjoy every carb that crosses my path!

Honestly, I don't know the how or the when of any of this but, no matter. A very wise woman once told me that it's not my job to figure out the how, just the what. 

In the coming months, You will be hearing and seeing a lot more of me. I'm just getting started!

p.s.Thanks, Kerry Anne MacDougall for the great blog title and the kick in the pants that I needed. Another thanks to Michael Duhaney for your wonderful coaching, kind words, and understanding.

My Snazzy Resume (A.K.A. Am I the gal for you?)

Career Objectives

I can't lie. I've tried a lot of different jobs throughout my adult life. My key areas, however have remained the same: building relationships with and for my clients. Through mutual respect and my genuine desire to share my passion and creativity, my clients know that they can trust me. I am now looking for the right company for me to commit to 100%. 

Skills Profile 

Creativity 

· Social media enthusiast (Blogging, Twitter with over 800 followers, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) 

· Advertising experience (print ads, online, and posters) 

· Merchandising clothing, footwear, home decor, windows, seasonal, and eye wear 

· Managed the online presence of BrownsVW in social media and our company website 

· Event planning (staff parties, fundraiser, private functions) 

· Social butterfly 

Administration 

· Excellent phone skills 

· Computer skills 

· Able to diffuse volatile situations 

Management 

· Over 10 years of retail experience (including management) 

· Dealing with cash, credit, debit etc.. 

· Responsible for opening, closing, scheduling, shipping and receiving 

· Training my staff members for their position and patients in the care and handling of contact lenses 

Purchasing 

· Buyer for optical products and home decor 

· Trend watcher and researcher Client service 

· Exceptional and intuitive customer service 

· A very adaptable and responsible nature 

· Hard working and honest 

· Works well in a group or independently 

Experience 

Lou Lou Clothing and Home Decor
May 2012-Present
Charlottetown, PE    Manager
Scheduling, all aspects of staffing, customer service training, team building and staff mentoring, receiving and pricing product, handling returns and damages, dealing with all customer issues and concerns, merchandising and window displays, bookkeeping and reconciling cash at day-end.
 
Brown's Volkswagen                                                              
June 2011-March 2012                                                                       
Charlottetown, PE         Car Sales Consultant, Social Media Manager                          

Dealing with all aspects of the buying experience, from prospecting cold calls to delivery and after care. Handling the brand image and creating my own sales brand using social media, planning and seeing through all details of VW events (including a very successful fundraiser for Anderson House), attending all pertinent social events to prospect and create a positive image for the company and myself. 

Charlottetown Vision Care                                                 
September 2006 –2011                                                           
Charlottetown, PE                     Optometric Assistant/Customer care                                          

Pre-testing, guiding patients through the process of choosing frames, lenses and coatings. Taking all appropriate measurements. Contact lenses training. Meeting with and purchasing from product reps, inventory control, reconciling statements, inventory, reception and general office work, dealing with telephone triage, advertising and promotions, and all in-office displays, reconciling day end cash/credit/debit. 

Vogue Optical                                                       
February 2005 – September 2006                                                                        
Charlottetown, PE                                                 Sales Representative                                               

Guiding patients through frame, lens, and coating choices, shipping and receiving, directing calls, inventory, reconciling day end cash/credit/debit. 

Hearth and Home                                                       
December 2002 –  May 2004                                                                     
Charlottetown, PE                          Manager and Sales Representative   

Decorating consultant, Custom gift basket design, gift wrapping, in store display and signage, window display, inventory, reconciling day end cash/debit/credit. 

Samuel & Co. and Indigo Books                       
September 2002 – January 2003                                                  
Charlottetown, PE                                                  Sales Representative                                                 

Eclipse                                                                          
September 2001- August 2002                                                                                 
Charlottetown, PE                                                                      Manager                                                                        

Staff hiring and training and evaluation, in store display based upon charts from head office, scheduling, day end cash and general paperwork, meeting sales goals, all inventory issues. 

Second Glance Interiors                                        
March 2001 – September 2001                                                   
Charlottetown, PE                                                   Sales Representative                                                     

Decorating consultant, merchandiser, designing signage, receiving product 

Qualifications 

Joe Verde Sales Training - Online in and Halifax, N.S.                          
June 2011 – March 2012 

Optometric Assistant Course -  Correspondence Course                                
October 2007-2008 

Graphic Design at Holland College - Charlottetown, PE           
September 1996 – January 1998 
Westisle Composite High School - Elmsdale, PE             
Grade 12 French Immersion Academic Diploma 1996 

Really Fun Stuff 

Professional Vocalist                                                                                                 Ongoing Singer, entertainer at private functions, weddings, funerals, cocktail hour, PEI Shellfish Festival, Savour Food and Wine show, to be continued.... 

References 

  Happily available upon request

Pssst......Pass this along to someone who doesn't "know"

Not really sure why you should care about this whole Social Media thing? Maybe you have a Twitter account or a Facebook page but don't really have the time to deal with it?

Let's talk.

Using Facebook, Twitter, blogging, YouTube, whatever, is an incredibly efficient and low cost  way of reaching the newest growing markets but you don't have to feel overwhelmed by trying to do it yourself.

That's where I come in.

As an enthusiastic member of your team, I have the tools to use these sites to create an online presence for you and your product. I've done it for myself, as a musical performer to promote my events. I've even successfully used social media to connect with new people and book gigs that I never would have gotten through traditional methods.

At Brown's Volkswagen as their Social Media Manager, I was able to interact with people who would have never even considered buying a VW. During my time with that company, I was able to engage people in such a way that when they thought of who they wanted to buy their next car from, they would think of me.

  

They sought me out because I had earned their trust.

I can do all this for you and more.

I also believe that a vital part of success in a small market, like PEI, is community involvement. So, you can be sure that I try to hit every mixer and event that I can to promote my own brand and the company that I work for. I have recently become a member of the Social Media planning committee for Transform A Street, which is taking a week in May to beautify a downtown street and bring the community together. I believe, strongly, that if you support and love your community, they will support and love you. I would love to sit down with you and discuss all that I can offer, to help you and your business flourish in our beautiful province and beyond.

Optimistically yours,

Amanda Rae Gallant

And I begin, again.

For the last few months, I have been quietly struggling with a question that, I suspect, we have all asked ourselves at one point. What motivates me? 
I thought that money was a pretty damn good motivator but that didn't make me want to go to work. 
What about status and prestige? The possibility of a fancy house and a boat? Didn't get me going.

When I took a long hard look at myself and my experiences over the past few years, it wasn't the money that made me work hard. It was the possibility of making a difference; of adding a little happiness and beauty into the world.


I remember the single mom that I sold a car to, who cried with joy. That was a moment worth remembering.  


So now the moment has come to help myself and to stop denying who I really am. I am an artist. As impractical as that may be, that is who I am.
I am a singer, storyteller, designer, painter, decorator, problem-solver, and an idea woman. I am excited to learn and grow and begin again. That's not to say that I'm not scared. I am. But that's how I know that I am on the right path. I feel more inspired than I have in years.


Is it time for you to take a chance, too?

WANTED........one passionate piano player

WANTED

So, since the last time I wrote anything here, my life has changed, dramatically.

I love my new life. It's challenging and more exciting than I ever expected.

The only problem is that I had to step back from my music. Now, I feel like I'm starting over from square one. I now need to re-invent myself onstage, in the same way as I did in my "real life".

This is where I have been......

But where am I going to go|?

Today, I decided.

I love the over-the-top melodrama of a woman and a piano, in a cabaret, singing into the wee hours, in a fancy dress. There is no music style that's off limits. The voice and the piano create a style that disregards the labels that have been put on me. I want to sing Etta James, and Adele. James Taylor and Frank Sinatra. Foo Fighters and Johnny Cash. Everything.

If you have been looking for a project to challenge you and free you to be as creative as you'd like....

If you have no desire to sing Brown Eyed Girl or Summer of 69.......

If you love music......

Then, let's start with you and I and a piano and see what we can create from there. This is a full-on musical experiment that will, no doubt, include other guest musicians and some hits and misses. If you are up to the challenge, let me know. I am ready!

Looking for something to do, Friday the 13th?

Click here for more info!

 Next Friday, Jon Rehder and I will be performing a lively musical show during the cocktail hour at the Alibi Lounge (77 University Avenue) between 6:30 ish and 9:30. You know how it is with musicians? We never start anything on time. That way, you will have time to come in, order a drink and a gnosh and settle in a a rolicking good time! I highly reccomend any of their pizzas. But warning: they MAY be addictive!
  Jon and I started doing these Friday night shows a bit more than a year ago and in the beginning, I couldn't imagine filling up 3 hours with music and stories. Now, I find the whole night just zips right by! I just can't get enough of singing and laughing with Jon (and at myself!).
  As if that wasn't enough, in a attempt to make the experience EXTRA special for all of you guests, I do promise at least 1 costume change at some point in the evening. Including crazy hat- like creations. God, I LOVE my life!
  Sooooooo, the moral of the story is, if you like fun people, acting silly, singing songs from every decade that you know and love, then I'm your gal! You can RSVP with The Alibi at 626-1651.
  Looking forward to knockin' your socks off!