Another Day, another Quarantine

Day 36.

Extremely hard to believe that it’s been more than a full month of this quarantine stuff. And oddly enough, I’m getting used to it.  

You know the gif with the dog and everything is on fire? Yea, that’s me.

But, I do have to put a disclaimer that I am quarantined with my boyfriend, my brother and his girlfriend and my parents, so it’s like an epic Asian saga every day in our household.

So why am I writing this? Well, for my sanity and in pretending that I’m talking to a mass amount of people, I’m going to write down a few Q U A R A N T I N E  F A V O U R I T E S like I’m a Youtube Vlogger to share with you the stuff that’s CARRIED my sanity.

BACK POSTER CORRECTOR (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07F91NB45/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1): okay this sounds so dumb, but hear me out. If you’re like me working from home, CLEARLY your posture sucks. And it’s gotten increasingly worse with this quarantine. My brother’s girlfriend used this first and then I thought “Damn she looks dumb.” Then I saw my posture in the bathroom, and thought “wow, I’m actually dumb.” So now we’re both wearing it and lookin’ like we found some newfound confidence. 10/10 would recommend, especially if all you’re doing is really sitting on a chair scrolling through cat videos.

ALLRECIPES/TASTY.COM: I know, it’s a weird one, but let’s face it. We’re all getting fat. Might as well get fat together and eat some good food while we’re at it. I took a stab at a few recipes on these two sites, and I actually am not a terrible cook! It was also great in shaving off a few hours in the day to feed a family, and it’s honestly very rewarding. So would recommend taking some time to pretend you own your own Michelin Star restaurant.

THE BODY PROJECT: With self-isolation it’s definitely hard to go outside. We do sometimes go out to get some fresh air or for a walk, but with the weather these days and the increasing threat of COVID, we’ve decided to definitely limit our time outside. So now we’re doing indoor exercises! We came across this group on Youtube – not hard at all, low impact but great to do with the family for 30 minutes. It was a great way to get my mom to actually get up and stop watching Asian dramas. There’s a lot of content on there and you will build a sweat!

IPHONE GAMES: This is legit so dumb, but maybe it’s me, but I’ve given HOURS OF MY LIFE playing IPhone Games. Some fan favourites: Delicious World and AE Mysteries. Cooking and mystery games, I love them! So yea, if you’re feeling bored, download a game, and guaranteed you will be entertained for at least a few more days.

That’s about it in my agenda, but thanks for stopping by. What are your Q U A R A N T I N E  F A V O U R I T E S?

js

 

Things I’m doing and thankful for (during quarantine)

Anyone else thought they’d be super productive and learn a lot of hobbies during this pandemic?

Anyone else also did not actually do anything and just slept and ate all day?

Yea.

That was me.

It’s been almost an entire month since this started, and I AM DONE. I’m ready to start my new life and new job, not be at home 24/7 praying the virus away.

There’s so many things that are happening right now that I think I may be slowly losing my mind, if it weren’t for the new job, a clear obsession of finishing the House TV series, and the resurgence of Diablo 2 in my house.

So here’s a post of things that I’m doing to pass the time, and well, what I should be thankful for, even in these unprecedented times.

1. Lots and lots of House. As an avid user of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Crave, there’s a lot to keep me going. I got back into House after Youtube recommended me a plague video (go figure) on Youtube, and ever since then, I’ve decided to play Doctor in my own house. “It must be Lupus!”
2. Diablo 2 – oh mama – if you were a loser child like me, then Diablo 2 was your haven. It’s only $12 for the base pack and another $12 for the Expansion. And I have to say? Worth every penny. I was going to buy Animal Crossing, but a stroll down memory lane was well worth it. You can also play with friends too – so if you’re into RPG fantasy games, would recommend you downloading this! Oh, and since the game came out 20 years ago, any of your computers would be able to play it. After this, it’s off to Starcraft 2!
3. Walking/Jogging. If you’re like me and have grown to become a potato, then it’s great to get some fresh air and walk around the neighbourhood. Of course, keep physical distancing, and limit your time outside, but it’s definitely good for the sanity. It’s also a great way to get your steps in, especially if your steps have been like mine, and borders in the 500s. A walk around my neighbourhood brings me back up to 2,000 – still pretty bad, but not AS bad.
4. Cooking! Call me Chef Boyardie up in here. Since we have so much time now, it gives us the luxury of trying new recipes each day – I actually think I’m eating even BETTER than when I did before. We’ve had Korean Pork Bone Soup, sushi, Scalloped potatos, sweet potato fries – the list goes as expansive as my waistline. But hey, I figured that if I’m getting fat, the rest of the world is too, so there is no judgement allowed in the post-apocalyptic world.

Amidst all the chaos with my new place, old place, new job, old job, etc – there’s a lot of things I should be thankful for:

• Family: I get to spend more time with my family – really shows the importance of having each other.
• Job: I have a job, and will continue to make an income. Again, some people are not as lucky.
• Health: Super important, everyone I know and love are healthy and we will for sure keep it that way.
• Boyfriend/Friends: We’re facetiming more often, my boyfriend is here with me, self-isolating with my family.

So yea, things do some bleak, and if you’re like me and over-stress over the littlest things, really take the time to sit back and realize what you have to be thankful for.

I hope you’re all also staying inside and saying healthy. Let’s hope this passes soon, and we can learn to love life a little more.

js

Thank you Kellogg Canada.

How and where do I even begin?

There’s so much I want to say, and wish I could’ve said more about my time here. Amidst all of the chaos and the uncertainty, one thing that remained constant during this past year and half was my admiration for the company and its people that drive the Kellogg name.

I may seem biased in this article, but I genuinely wanted to take the time to write about my experiences here at the organization and why I feel, that this is one of the best companies I’ve ever had the pleasure of working for.

I came into the CPG realm extremely new – I only had 6 months of post-graduation experience, and no real understanding of how major consumer good companies worked. At the same time, I had no idea what Shopper Marketing even was!

I have to say, that they took a chance on me, and I’m extremely glad that they did.

So, how did I get here?

Application:

Their website was extremely intuitive – I applied through the website back in September 2018, and received a prompt HR phone call with someone from the US. She was extremely personable and showed me that this organization really valued my time in taking this call. From there, I was supposed to have two interviews (one with the manager, and a separate one with the Director), but was actually given only one interview. It was great; very conversational and showed me that these were the people I really wanted to work with. I did my interview on Friday, and got the call on Monday.

Some advise? Research, research, research! I didn’t know what Shopper Marketing was until I did some online research – enough to give me context and it told me that this was something that I would value as a person that was biding their time to get into Brand. I’m glad I took this role, because it told me A LOT about the ins-and-outs of retail.

My Day-to-Days:

So, this was a whirlwind, but a weird whirlwind that I loved. In Shopper Marketing, you work with every single department in the organization: legal, demand planning, brand, sales, etc. You name it, I definitely worked with them. It taught me that collaboration is something you require immensely in order to succeed in an environment such as this. It also showed me the many different cogs and gears that get the engine going, and for that, I’m extremely thankful to have this information.

I got to be a brand planner, an analyst, a sales-person, a creative director – I wore so many different hats in this department that I truly think Shopper Marketing is a great place to start to understand exactly what type of hat-wearer, or (a person that stays as a different hat-wearer), you are.

I worked with iconic brands that I grew up with. Yea, Toucan Sam? I met him. Tony the Tiger? He’s my bud. Eggo Waffles? In my belly.

It’s enlightening to know that I got to work with brands such as these that have helped me grow to the person I am today – and that I can help realize these dreams with another kid in Canada.

The Perks:

When Kellogg’s says that culture is important, they mean it. They allow for great perks such as two WFH days a week, which really helped me as I commuted 2 hours and 3 buses just to get into the office. They also have an on-site gym that I frequented every lunch hour and after work – so even though I’m eating way too much snacks at the office, I counteract it (somewhat) at the gym. They also have Summer Hours, so you can have half-day Fridays.

 

Lastly, and I know, this sounds so cliche, but the people. I’ve been in a few organizations, but I can’t say I’ve ever met a better group of smart and amazing personalities in the office. I can be talking about the most randomest things with one colleague, and then ranting with someone else. It’s just so easy to talk to every single person in the organization and I’m thankful that they didn’t see me as ‘just the Shopper Marketing Specialist’ but an equal. I’ve felt this from my counterparts and the Kellogg Canada President himself.

So why are you leaving then, Jasmine?

I think I’m ready. You know, Kellogg’s is kind of like my Dad. In the span of 1.5 years, he’s shown me how the world works, what to expect, how to survive and dream. Now that I feel that I’m ready, I want to try to take the world on my own, without Dad’s help.

Yes, weird analogy, but to summarize – I’ve always wanted to do brand. I’ve always loved the haircare and beauty industry – and an opportunity arose to do just that.

However, you never know what the future holds. If you’re a person that’s interested in CPG and in food, Kellogg’s is a great place to grow and build a career. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

I’ll never forget Kellogg’s and my experience here. Even as I’m writing this, it doesn’t even feel real to me that I will be leaving behind a great organization and fellow friends. It’s frightening.

But I feel ready. And excited. And nervous.

Thank you Kellogg Canada for helping me shape who I am today. I’m internally grateful to have this as a page of my life – and I look forward to a new one.

Your friendly neighbourhood ex-Shopper Marketing Specialist,

js

Quarantining – My Day-to-Day

I remember thinking to myself a few weeks ago, “I wish I can just relax and chill for a few weeks”.

Well guys.

This was not what I was wishing for.

It’s been absolutely surreal these past few weeks. I remember thinking a little over a week ago, that this was so far away – that the outbreaks were increasing on the other side of the world, but Toronto would be untouched.

Oh Jasmine, how wrong you were.

Well, it’s now currently the official Day 4 of self-isolation, and I might be slowly losing my sanity (and my stocks, rip).

Amidst the chaos that is currently going on in my mind (which, I will talk about another day) – I think we’re doing our best so far from a governmental response. A huge shout out to all of the remarkable people that are still working on the front lines during this time.

Keep washing your hands and self-isolating.

Now, what am I doing? Well, we have 6 people in the house now – my parents, my brother, his girlfriend, myself and my boyfriend. So at least, it’s sort of a mini party in our own house?

We’ve only gone out to get coffees, extra groceries, and the most vital, alcohol (shoutout to the LCBO/Beer Store employees!).

So, what does our day-to-day look like, and how are we coping during this time?

8:30 – 9:00AM: Read the news, cry, and get ready to go to my office.

9:01AM: The office is my table beside my bed. So, start grinding and working!

9:30 – 9:45AM: Getting coffee from Starbucks, making sure to wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer. Shoutout to the Starbucks workers that are working!

9:45 – 5:00PM: Keep working away while I still am at Kellogg’s.

5:00 – 6:30PM: Trying to work out, going out for a run or doing home exercises.

6:30 – 7:00PM: Bonding with family time

7:00 – 7:30PM: Prepare dinner

7:30 – 8:30PM: Dinner/bonding with family

8:30 – 10:30PM: We downloaded A LOT of games – so we’ve been playing Minecraft for the past few nights. Now we’re onto Gang Beasts and other PS4/Switch games.

All in all, it’s important to stay calm and to spend time with the family. I think this may be a good time to remind ourselves to take a break and just appreciate the things we have.

Hope you all stay safe, and hope this situation clears up soon!

js

It begins, again.

Hello there. My name is Jasmine, and who am I?

Well, the person that has been SEVERELY neglecting this blog post. So why am I starting this back up again?

1. Definitely need some type of outlet.
2. More interesting stuff has happened to me.
3. And people that I didn’t think were interested in this blog, actually wanted to know more about it.

I took the time to read my old posts, and I have to say, it’s nice hearing my own thoughts 2+ years ago and how different I’ve become from there. That being said, I’m still the lame, goofy oddball, but with a full time job and horrendous commute.

As to #1:

Well, I think it’s important to not talk someone’s ear off about all the misgivings and weird ideas you have in your head. I think this place is a great way to show my personality and the things that I’m randomly thinking of. And hey, if I can be as elderly as a raisin and be able to look back at this blog, I think that’s pretty neat.

As to #2:

Can’t really say yet, but watch out for April – got some NEWS FOR YOU!!! Life-changing news. Huge. Bigly. Really.

As to #3:

Also can’t say, but you know, bigly news in April.

 

So yea, just an update on things I’ve done since my last post wayyyyyy in the yonder of April 2018.

• Started at Kellogg’s – wild ride, but super fun! Been there for almost 1.5 years now. Crazy to see that time has FLEW like someone’s wig.
• Got to go on vacations! Went to Palm Springs with my mom, then LA with my boyfriend, then Antigua (10/10, shoutout to St. James Club) with my boyfriend and his family, and a cruise trip in January with my family.
• Started vlogging! If you don’t follow me on Instagram (@shekit), please do (she said quietly and desperately)
• I HELD A SLOTH AND MONKEY!
• & some more stuff, but I’ll keep that on the DL for now. 😉

 

That’s it! Again, will try to update (once in a blue moon), but definitely feels good to start writing all of thoughts in my head here. 🙂

 

Ciao!

js

What have I been up to?

Happy November 14th everyone!

The past couple of weeks have been one heck of a ride, and I feel like I owe an update to a blog I USED to dedicate a lot to. (Let’s be honest, I’m just going to log on here once and a while, like a few things, and maybe post a picture or two – I’m an adult people, psh /s).

The biggest thing was my transition from a media agency to client-side, and not only any client-side, but Kelloggs. If you know me personally, I used to advocate like crazy to be on the CPG side – lord knows how I got into media, but let me tell you my two cents about it.

When I first got my role at Touche, no one really gave a crap, and to be honest, it’s because it wasn’t a big name. Even I personally was caught off guard by how little-known this company was when it came to school. However, as soon as I got through those doors, the respect I have now for people that work in agencies, is INTENSE.

I 100% believe if you want to really understand the struggles of marketing, this is where you start. Sure, on the client-side, you come up with the ideas and you work with the numbers, but if you really want this to come to life, your agencies is where it’s at – and I don’t think people give workers in this industry enough credit.

What I mean is this; imagine this, you have 4 clients you’re juggling – all with significant investments and you are a team of maybe 5 people working on 4 accounts with millions in investments – each one asking you to give them your time and day at all times. Your 9-5pm? Yeah, that’s not gonna fly. If you really want to impress your clients and make sure they’re happy, you’re pulling a few more hours than that. Not to say that’s what I did, but I see my Directors and they are staying in until 7-8pm every day.

On top of that, you also have to make sure your campaigns are solid, and not only solid, but makes enough sense to sell back to the client. You’re sales-people 50% of the time, because you’re pitching new mediums and researching new tactics that your client has never seen before – and you’re asking them to invest in it. And, if you 10000% believe in it, and your client doesn’t, then that’s business that’s lost (faith AND media).

You’re also used to everything running at 1000% of the pace – meaning you’re given a brief and oh look, only given 2 days to execute it, versus the 2 weeks you’re allotted to have. As an agen

cy, you can’t really push back – business needs are business needs, so everything was due yesterday and you’re running around and people in the office are wondering why you’re running, Jasmine.

To sum it up, I made it sound kind of awful, but it has it’s perks. It taught me to have a damn backbone, how to be efficient and how to really back up my thinking – traits that I’ve sort of developed in my co-ops, but definitely increased during my time in a media agency. On top of that, I also made some invaluable friends, laughed and cried with my team, and got invited to A LOT of parties (Snapchat, Globe and Mail, Twitter, you name it). To be honest, if I hadn’t already had my mind set on CPG (when I was still in school), I could’ve seen myself at that company for years.

Now what am I up to now? Well, if you got that nice Linkedin, I’ve been at Kellogg’s for almost 3 weeks now. Feeling pretty noob-ish, but everyone here is super nice and passionate about their brands. I obviously can’t go into a lot of detail, but I’ll keep you posted on any new and cool things Kellogg’s will be doing.

Aside from career, I honestly have not done anything, so that’s the end of my update.

If you are looking into career options, or have more questions when it comes to a media agency, give me a shout out. I can tell you, it was an absolute STRUGGLE to find a full-time job – so don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out right away. People always say millennials are always looking for instant gratification, and let me tell you – they are right. Eventually, things will work out – you just have to hold out.

Thanks for reading, guys!

js

“What have I been up to. Part 2”

Hi everyone!

First off, I want to apologize to past Jasmine that was way too hopeful that I could keep this up. I’m not going to lie, there were instances where I was like “oh damn, I should probably update this blog” and then I promptly went to ignore all of that.

But, now that I’m sitting at a Freshii, re-evaluating my life choices, I figured today is a good time to get back into the rhythm. So,

Jasmine, what on earth have you been up to?

So, my last update was in November (yay a solid 6 months later, I’m giving ya’ll an update). What happened then? Well, my transition to Kellogg’s, mainly. AND WHAT ELSE?

Nothing.

Yea, hard to believe 6 months past and, well, nothing really changed. Not anything note-worthy anyway. But like I said, I’m going to have dig to keep you guys entertained. Har Har.

But yes, work. So, when I first started this role, I was actually hired contract. So the whole shabang – no benefits, no paid vacation (outside of % pay) and stuff like that. In the beginning, I didn’t mind especially being with a huge organization like where I am. Now, I can say that I’ve been accepted as full time! TO THE DENTIST I GO!!!!

Outside of work, I’ve been with my boyfriend of 9 months now. Surprised he’s still here – guess I didn’t scare him……………………………..yet. (jk, maybe).

What else? It’s vacation time in 23 days! I CANNOT WAIT. I feel like I need a good solid 2 years of vacation with the amount of grey hairs that I accumulated in the past few months. But, yes, I’ll post updates on what exactly I’m going to be doing. I’m delving into vlogging more, but pretty excited to head on out.

Other than that, not too much. (Wow I’m so boring). I’ll post random tidbits of random stuff, but other than that, I won’t be as frequent as I was when I first started. (more active on Insta, trying to get that sponsorship $$$$$$$$$$).

 

Thanks everyone! See you soon!

js

May Favourites

Good morning staff and students!

Shoutout to all of the people following the blog. 😉 Been a little bit more active on Instagram so if you miss me, you can follow me there (hint hint nudge nudge).

Back to some monthly favourites!

1. Blanket Scarf (from Aritzia, $45 [yaaaay deals])The amount of treacherous times when I’m freezing in the office is beyond me. It’s getting to the point where I’m here in Antarctica and my coworkers feel like I’m over exaggerating. It could be the low iron, who knows, but my God, having a blanket scarf you leave at your desk will save souls. Blessed be, blanket scarf. Blessed be.
2. Black Flats (from Winners, $29.99)Yeah, I’m basic. DEAL WIT IT. At first, I didn’t see these on the shelf, but then I saw a girl trying them out and I was steadily creeping hoping she wouldn’t take them in the end. Like literally, I was creeping behind shelves and pillars hoping I could snatch them her feet. She put it in empty shopping cart that was to the side. I THEN DIVED AND DID A DOUBLE-TWIST BODY ROLL and found out they weren’t my size. I walked away but then realized there was a pair in my size literally in the shelf over lol. Oh yea, and that empty shopping cart? Yea her mom was using it. So HEY, we both got the shoes we wanted (yayyyyy).
3. The Office (on Netflix)IT’S BEEN MY LIFE MISSION TO FINISH THIS SERIES. Just kidding, I only knew about this show cause someone told me about it in the beginning of the month. I knew what the Office was before, but I got way too hooked. It’s now been less than a month, and I’m already on Season 8 (send help).

That’s all so far guys. I’ve been a pretty boring soul this past month, but hopefully when the Sun comes out, Jasmine would be ready to tango as well. 😊

js

The “Adult” Life

Hey guys.

First off, I do have to apologize for not being as active as I should be AND I WISH I COULD SAY IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS BUSY, but I just literally don’t know what happened these past few weeks. It’s been an absolute blur.

But Jasmine’s back now, on the blog, and ready to shed some light on the world that is adulting.

I make it sound like I’m super old, but it’s only been three weeks since I started my full-time job, and to be honest, it feels so weird. Why you may ask?

Well, to be frank, it’s a weird transition. You’re not ever going to feel like you’re finally an adult, no I just feel like I’m still on co-op, ready to go back to school after these 4 or 8 months are back up, and I’ll still see all of my professors and still die over studies. But this isn’t the case. My mind is having a hard time trying to grip with this reality.

Second, you actually have to start thinking about savings. And yeah, I used to save for school, but now I have to save for a house, car, bills, rent, etc. This isn’t just a co-op anymore, it’s an actual job/career that will help build your entire life. Am I overreacting? Most definitely yes. But you should know by now this is who I am. *shrugs*

Third, you feel so disconnected, and I don’t know if that’s just me, but I don’t feel connected in school anymore. I have friends telling me what’s happening on campus and club stuff and whatnot, but even though I’m still technically involved, I don’t feel like I’m the same go-to, super involved person anymore. I always thought that after, what, 10 years of being involved in extra-curriculars (holy, it’s been 10 years…) I would miss it, but it’s a weird focus shift now.

I honestly don’t know what I feel right now. It’s just such a weird transition and I’m still in this limbo. I can’t really give any solid advice other than the fact that you will have an internal battle during this time. You’ve been in school for so long now, that when you are finally out, you kind of fumble around, not 100% sure how to act or what to do in fear that you remain in that student mindset.

I’ll keep you guys in the loop, but for now, I’m going to enjoy the free breakfast we have here at Touché!

DM me if you want to know more about the feats of Jasmine, but for now, see you guys on the flip side!

js

PS: Thanks for all the influx of email subscribers! It means a lot to know that I still have an audience, even if I`m slacking. ALSO, I`m thinking of starting a Youtube channel to sate my internal turmoil of `what to do, what to do.` Let me know if that’s a good idea or not. 😉

Thank you TD.

It was the beginning of October 2015 when I got a call from Shelley, the manager at TD, to work for her and the 1844 branch.

And I was stoked.

Both my mom and my brother worked for TD, and it was amazing to know I’d be able to be a part of the holy Shek trinity and to work for TD as well. It took a few tries, not going to lie, and lowkey was ready to leave the Best Buy life (sorry not sorry).

I started as a measly little 19 year-old, thinking to myself “Hell yeah I can talk to customers and ya for cash and life will be dandy.” Little did I know some customers can really be jarring. There were some shifts where I actually cried. Looking back at it, and if you work in retail, don’t even sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, if you know that you’re doing what is right for the customer, don’t let them chastise you. It took me a good year and a half to get this, but you will get there. But generally, customer service is no joke. It takes the patience of a saint and the attitude of a charity worker to really understand where people come from.

Anywho, other than my PRAISE THE LAWDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, I truly want to thank my team at 1844. The guys I’ve worked with (and I’ve worked with a variety of different people) are one of the funniest, animated, and amazing people I know. They know how to have fun and at the same time understand what customers need, and honestly you don’t really see that nowadays. Big shoutout to all of the people I’ve worked with, because you’ve helped me understand what it is like to be a hard worker and a great one at that.

To my managers, Danie, Shelley, Fareha, and Sarah, you guys have been amazing. I know it’s not easy to have to do retail banking but you four have really become my rocks during my time at 1844. You guys are honestly so sweet and have no qualms about my lame and not intentional jokes.

I count my lucky stars (I say this a lot) but truly, absolutely, everyone at this branch has shaped me to become the person I am today. Even the customers that come in and remember my name, gift my flowers and chocolates (goodbye hips) and even the ones that yell. I can confidently say that it’s helped me become a better person and to constantly look forward.

April 19th, 2018 was my last shift at TD Canada Trust, 1844.

Thank you second family, and I hope we can connect as the weeks progress into years. Thank you for everything and I will bring everything that I’ve learnt back to my job right now.

Thank you.

js