Menu Plan Monday

Friday: Grilled Salmon, Rice Pilaf, Asparagus

Saturday: Homemade Pizza, Salad

Sunday: Grilled Beef and Chicken Kabobs, Roasted Potato Salad, Asian Slaw (recipe coming soon!)

Monday: Chicken, Mushroom, and Brown Rice Bake

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Pasta and Veggies in Lemon-Parmesan Sauce

For lots more recipes and menu plans, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Food Waste Friday

This week was a pretty bad one in terms of food waste. It was also a bad week in terms of menu planning and cooking frugally. Note to self: when going out of town, plan ahead and plan accordingly!

This week we wasted:

• Most of 16 oz container of strawberries that had been sitting in the fridge for an unspecified amount of time
  
• About ¼ cup of some very sad, dried out parsley
  
• 3 green onions
  
• Almost an entire package of pita bread that I had forgotten about
  

Of everything, I'm most upset about the pita. I love sandwiches made with pita bread and I meant to make some pita chips before it got so hard, but I forgot. We bought some wraps at the store today. Hopefully they won't meet the same fate as the pita bread.

For more of Food Waste Friday, visit The Frugal Girl!

Recipe: Chicken, Mushroom, and Brown Rice Bake

I found this recipe way back in December and it's taken me this long to try it, adapt it, and share it.  That shouldn't be any indication that I didn't like it, because this is one delicious recipe.  My family raved about it and, for once, had no suggestions to improve it.  I found this recipe at Finding Joy in My Kitchen and SnoWhite adapted it from Amy's version at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, where it was first adapted from a Rachel Ray recipe.  So this recipe has gone around the block.  I imagine there are tons of different ways to make it, but I meshed both versions together to get the one I like the best.  Adding in broccoli makes it a one-dish meal, but feel free to leave it out and serve a salad or veggie on the side.  

Chicken, Mushroom, and Brown Rice Bake - 6-8 servings

2 1/3 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups brown rice

1 tablespoon butter

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

8 oz sliced button mushrooms

2-3 tablespoons white wine

Kosher salt, to taste

12 oz frozen chopped broccoli, thawed 

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken

1 cup chicken broth

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 cup heavy cream, divided

1/4 tsp white pepper

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Bring 2 1/3 cups of chicken broth to a boil in the microwave.  Spread rice evenly over the bottom of a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.  Pour boiling broth over rice and cover tightly with 2 layers of foil.  Bake for 30 minutes.

While rice is baking, melt butter (and a little olive oil if you like, I do) in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped onions and cook until soft and translucent, 5-8 minutes.  Add in garlic and cook for another minute.  Add in mushrooms and cook until liquid has evaporated (mostly), about another 8-10 minutes.  Deglaze pan with white wine.  Stir in broccoli, chicken, 1 cup broth, salt, and white pepper; bring to a low simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes. 

Place cornstarch in a small bowl and combine with 1 tablespoon of cream until cornstarch is disolved and mixture is thick.  Add remaining cream to skillet and stir to combine.  Add in the slurry and stir until mixture is thickened, 3-5 minutes.  

Remove rice from oven and pour chicken/mushroom/broccoli mixture over.  Do not stir.  Cover tightly again and bake for 25-30 minutes or until all the liquid is gone and the dish is bubbly. 

Remove from oven and uncover.  Add the cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes or so to allow the cheese to melt and brown.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

Note: Amy uses leeks in place of the onion and garlic.  It's a nice touch if you prefer the flavor of leeks over onions and garlic.  Use two large leeks and clean them thoroughly.  Proceed as directed.  

I borrowed this picture from SnoWhite, because I forgot to take a picture and she has amazing photos of all her recipes!

Sizzling Summer Book Club

A few weeks ago I asked for book recommendations for my summer reading list.  I'm still poking around and looking for books to add to my official summer reading list and I will be posting my list as soon as I make my decisions.  However, I have also decided to join a summer book club!  I will be participating in Smart Bitch Sarah's Sizzling Summer Book Club on Smart Bitches, Trash Books, one of my favorite websites.  If you are not familiar with SBTB, it's a website run by two brilliant women who just happen to love reading romance novels.  They review books, conduct interviews with authors, have contests and giveaways, and basically share their love of all things romance.  They are also the authors of Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches' Guide to Romance Novels, which is a hilarious look at the romance genre as a whole.  

One book will be selected every two weeks and there will be a live chat discussion on each book.  The club is being sponsored by AllRomanceEbooks and they are offering a 50% discount if you purchase the ebook through them.  I've never read a book on my computer, and since I don't have an ereader that's the way it's going to have to work for me.  I'm willing to try it though to take advantage of the great price.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to get the book from paperbackswap.com or the library in time to read it and participate.  So I will be looking for the best price and it looks like the ebook version is my best bet.  

The first book of the summer is Tessa Dare's new release One Dance with a Duke.  I've never read anything by her, but I'm excited and I love historical romance! 

So if you love romance or even if you would just like to try out the genre while taking advantage of a cheap book, stop AllRomaceEbooks bookclub page for more information.  If you are thinking of participating, let me know!

A Bright Spot in an Otherwise Dark Library World

Lately all I see are libraries closing, budgets being stretched impossibly thin, and librarians loosing their jobs.  It's depressing to read about and must be terrible to experience.  I've been looking for something to brighten up such a bad situation.  Today, while roaming the blogosphere, I came across this article about an Alabama library that received an awesome literacy grant from Dollar General.  It's not a ton of money, when you think about the size of some grants out there, but I know that this is not exactly a happening area of the state and they could really benefit from a summer literacy program.  Reading this a few days after some local library branches may be facing closures in the near feature makes me smile.  It's good to know that even in tough times, some libraries are experiencing change and exciting new events.  

Have you heard anything good about libraries lately?  Please share!

Menu Plan Monday: The No Plan Edition

The end of last week and the beginning of this week are a little crazy.  I usually plan my menus for the upcoming week on Thursdays because my mom grocery shops on Friday afternoons.  This week however, my mom left for a girls weekend on Thursday and I left for a bachelorette weekend on Friday; neither one of us returned until late yesterday.  No menu plan was made and no grocery shopping was done.  I trust my dad, but not enough to send him unaccompanied to the grocery store to buy a week's worth of groceries.  Thus, we have very little in the way of food in the house.  Mom was going to make a small grocery run today or tomorrow to pick up a few things, but I have a feeling that this week will be mostly a loss when it comes to budget cooking.  On the plus side, my food waste may be considerable less this week if we aren't cooking very much.  

Tonight we are having pasta with homemade sauce that we had in the freezer and I have all of the ingredients for Creamy Slow-Cooker Chicken because that got bumped last week.  There is very little in the way of fresh produce and the only meat we have is chicken.  A grocery store run is necessary this week if we are going to eat anything but take out. 

Do you ever have weeks like this?  How do you handle last minute menu planning and shopping?

Menu Plan Monday is brought to you by I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Recipe: Sour Cream Pound Cake

I love a good pound cake.  I actually established myself as a good baker by successfully making a pound cake, from scratch, on my first try.  That pound cake was an early edition of this one, but made in a loaf pan.  I prefer pound cakes made in tube or bundt pans, mostly because you get more! I also like the way it looks cooling on the counter.  I wish I had a picture to share, but I haven't made a sour cream pound cake in a while.  The last time I made a pound cake, it was this one.  Which was delicious, although a little dry, which is a problem with chocolate pound cakes.  

The trick to a good pound cake is not to over beat it when you start adding in the flour.  You want to do it small additions and beat only until combined.  Pound cakes are easiest when made in the stand mixer, but can also be made using a hand held mixer and some patience.  I like this particular cake served slightly warm with strawberries and cool whip, or with a big scoop of ice cream. 

Sour Cream Pound Cake - Adapted from Paula Deen

2 sticks of butter, softened 

3 cups of granulated sugar

1 cup sour cream

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 large eggs

1 teaspoon of your favorite flavoring (I like vanilla or almond here)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.  This is an important step; don't skip it!

Cream butter and sugar together until light colored and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.  Add in the sour cream and mix to combine.  Sift the flour and baking soda together.  Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, mix to combine.  Add 2 eggs, stir until the yolks just disappear.  Repeat twice more, alternating the flour and eggs, and mixing just to combine.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack, in the pan, for 15 minutes before removing from pan.  Allow cake to cool completely before storing.  

Library Budget Cuts Revisited

Back in March I wrote about the economic situation in Arizona and how that the city had chosen to dramatically cut the budgets for libraries, transportation, and senior centers.  One city administrator compared libraries to cosmetic surgery, stating that libraries are only there to make you look good and are not a viable operation during times of crisis.  Since I wrote that, public libraries have only continued to take a beating.  

The latest news comes out of Los Angeles.  Public libraries in LA already have reduced hours (they went from 7 days a week to 6 this year already) and now they are facing the loss of 100 jobs and the reduction of branch library operation days from 6 days a week to 5.  Naturally, the library community and book lovers in LA are up in arms about this dramatic change.  Staff members of the LA public library protested a few weeks ago in the middle of Hollywood at rush hour in order to get the most attention.  While they succeeding capturing the attention of the media, it failed to prevent the city council from reducing hours and cutting jobs.

Budget cuts in libraries affect everyone, contrary to Jay Leno's monologue from last week.  More than 9 people are affected Jay, just FYI.  I was really frustrated to hear about this, because libraries need advocates in the media, not dissers.  People like Jay Leno and broadcasters at CNN would fall apart without librarians to do their research and pull relevant archival materials for them.  They may not think so, but I guarantee they couldn't do half the research librarians can.  If we start acting like libraries don't matter, then more libraries are going to be facing cuts.  City councils, county commissions, and voters look at the media for influence.  If LA can get away with cutting hours so much, what's next? The Library of Congress?  

People use libraries.  In times of crisis, it is important to look at what services provide the most bang for your buck and what patrons use the most, as the Annoyed Librarian suggested today.  Something I've learned over the past few weeks in my new job as a solo medical librarian, it's important to show your value to those who dictate your budget.  Demonstrating my value is not that much different than a public library demonstrating its value; we have to show those in charge that people use our services.  If we can prove that and prove that cutting hours or cutting staff will hurt our users, then we stand a much better chance in staying open, having a solid budget, and keeping our staff.

What do you think about LA cutting two days out of the library's operating hours?  What's your reaction to Jay Leno making fun of the problem?  If you work in a library facing budget cuts, how do you show your value? 

Recipe: Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

I always link to this recipe from Southern Living when I have it on my menu plan, but after making it last night, I realized that I have adapted it considerably over the past few times of making this.  Adding in more oil and chicken broth helps to create a light sauce that coats all the pasta and tastes great when mopped up with bread.  

This is an incredibly simple dish and can be prepped and prepared in the time it takes the water to boil and the pasta to cook.  It's the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal.  If I had ever thought of it before now, throwing in some Simple Sauteed Chicken would be delicious as well.

Mushroom and Spinach Pasta - Makes 6-8 servings

1 16 oz box of your favorite short pasta (I like penne or bow ties)

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

8 oz sliced mushrooms

3-4 garlic cloves (depending on size and taste preference), minced

1/4 cup julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes (not the kind in oil)

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup chicken broth

4-6 oz fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped

1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  While water is heating, mince the garlic cloves, chop the spinach, toast the nuts (if using), and gather the rest of your ingredients.  

Once water has come to a full boil, dump in a liberal amount of salt (remember this is your only chance to flavor your pasta) and the pasta.  Cook for one minute less than the package directions, drain.

Melt butter and one tablespoon of oil in deep skillet; saute mushrooms until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are brown and soft, about 5-6 minutes.  Deglaze the pan with the wine and stir to scrap up all the tasty bits on the bottom of the pan.  Add in remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, salt, and pepper; cook for 1 minute or until garlic is fragrant.  Stir the broth.

Add cooked, drained pasta, chopped spinach, and toasted pine nuts to pot.  Stir until pasta is coated and the spinach is wilted, about 1-2 minutes.  Toss with cheese and serve, passing additional cheese if desired.

Note: If you choose to add in cooked chicken (probably 2-3 chicken breasts, or 1 1/2 cups), add it along with the garlic and tomatoes to allow the flavors to marry before adding pasta and spinach.
 

Menu Plan Monday

Friday: Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta, French Bread

Saturday: Going to a wedding, no dinner plans

Sunday: Grilled Steak, Grilled Vidalia Onions, Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes

Monday: Spinach-Mushroom Pasta Toss

Tuesday: Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken, Rice, some sort of veggie

Wednesday: Herbs de Provence Chicken, Sauteed Squash and Zucchini

Thursday: Leftovers

As always, Menu Plan Monday is sponsored by I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Social Networking, or Lack Thereof

There are many things I like about my new job.  The people I work with, getting to run my own library, have a large, decluttered office all to myself, etc.  But there is one thing I really don't like.  I have zero access to several of my favorite websites, namely Facebook, Twitter, and Pandora.  Thankfully, I can still access my non-work email, my Google reader, my blog, and a few other places, but not being able to stay socially connected is really bothering me.  I'm a huge Facebook user and have been ever since it debuted my freshman year of college.  I started using Twitter because I thought it was fun, and I really like to listen to my Pandora stations while I work.  I also love to gchat (Google's instant messaging feature) with my friends while we are at work, but even that is blocked.  I don't think restricting access to these sites is keeping me from doing quality work, but it does allow me to stay connected throughout the day outside of email and texting.  Not that I mind doing either one of those, I would just rather chat (and peruse Facebook).

I understand that I work for a large corporation and in a hospital, so using these sorts of sites probably isn't in the best interest of the company and our patients.  But I don't think that limiting where I can visit online is going to make me a more efficient librarian.  I am part of the internet generation.  I learned to be a good student, and now a good employee, during the rise of social networking, blogging, and way too much internet use.  In spite of this, I still manage to get things done (in a timely and efficient manner I might add).  I, as well as most of my generation, are multitaskers.  I can perform literature searches for patrons while gchatting with my best friend, I can answer the phone while blogging, and I'm pretty sure that I could listen to a Pandora station while cataloging.  Social networking has become huge in the library world and limiting my access is actually hurting my career (maybe. I could be making that up =) ).   

To combat this lack of connectivity to the outside world during working hours, I have been thinking of getting an iphone.  It's very expensive and with just starting a new job, it's probably not the best use of $200 plus the $30 a month data plan.  However, 3G coverage would allow me to access all the sites I can't get to at work and allow me to stay more connected with my friends and colleagues during the day.  I haven't been able to totally justify the expense other than how much I want one and how much I could use it at work.  

What do you think?  In a world of multitasking employees with smartphones that can access the full internet all day long, do you think it's worth banning social networking sites at large companies?  Are you encountering this same problem at work?  How do you deal with it?  Is getting an iphone the right decision for me?

Food Waste Friday - Two Weeks Edition

I didn't share my food waste from last week, one because I didn't prepare a blog, and two because I was super embarrassed.  Last week's food waste was horrible.  Absolutely horrible.  In more ways than one.  Last week I wasted:

• almost an entire 5 pound bag of potatoes 
• 2 onions
• 1 container of strawberries
• 1 apple

The reason I wasted all of this food was because it had all GONE BAD.  No joke.  I went to open the container of strawberries to make some muffins and every single one had mold growing on it.  For two days I hunted a mysterious smell in the pantry only to find that a potato had rotted and exploded.  Ever seen an exploded potato?  Not a pretty picture.  Ever smelled one?  Please don't.  Every potato in the bag, minus about 4, were covered in potato-explosion-mess.  I couldn't handle the smell enough to go through them all to see which ones were still good, so the whole bag went in the trash.  The onions were incredibly soft, mushy, and had gotten stuck at the bottom of the basket for an unspecified amount of time.  They, along with an apple that had rotted from the inside out for no apparent reason, went into the compost.  I have no idea what went wrong other than all of this produce came from a different grocery store than our usual one.  I will not be shopping for produce there anymore.

This week was much better.  I haven't thrown anything out, but there is some smoked salmon dip, goat cheese, and shriveled grapes left over from last Thursday's party that may be making a trip to the garbage before the weekend is out.  

This is super embarrassing to share, especially the fact that I let all of that produce go to waste.  Working full time is no excuse to waste food!  Here's to doing better next week.  How did you do?

Food Waste Friday is brought to you courtesy of The Frugal Girl.

Full Time Librarian = Exhausted

I want to begin by apologizing for not blogging since last Wednesday.  Between Cinco de Mayo and helping my mom host a reception, last week got away from me.  This week, on the other hand, has been a different story.  

Starting to work full time has been way more stressful and tiring than I every anticipated.  My body must have forgotten what it was like when I was in grad school when I left the house before 8 and didn't return until after 9 at night.  I feel completely unprepared for the added stress of working full time, still trying to cook dinner, and maintain a semi-social life.  

Yes, I'm still cooking most nights.  I realized that my father can only prepare a few (although very tasty!) dishes and most of them are pasta-based.  As much as I like pasta, I can't eat it every night, nor do I think that is particularly healthy.  However, I can no longer expect myself to work all day then go home to fix complicated meals; therefore, my week night menu plans from now on will include at least one meal cooked by my father and a leftover night, which could also be substituted for everyone fending for themselves.  My mother has taken on the cooking during the weekends, which I very gladly surrendered to her.  If you have any simple, quick, healthy, frugal meals to share, please do so in the comments!

But back to not blogging...I write this sitting at my desk enjoying the quiet morning.  I spent most of the week in orientation, meeting with various members of the hospital administration, or decluttering my office.  Now that those major tasks are done, I can move a little slower, and concentrate on bigger (and more library-related) things.  I'm hoping to get back in the routine of blogging at night and scheduling the post ahead of schedule.  I feel guilty (probably unnecessarily) for blogging at work, but I knew that I really needed to write something. 

So I'm sorry for skipping out on blogging for over a week, but plan to be better!

Recipe: Simple Sautéed Chicken

Whenever I need cooked chicken for casserole or other dish, I try to never boil my chicken. I think that is so plain and tasteless. I discovered poultry seasoning after listening to Rachel Ray talk about it over and over (and over) again. I started cooking chicken breasts this way as a fast, easy accompaniment to some veggies when I wanted a real meal in grad school. Shortly after that I realized that it was the perfect way to cook chicken whenever a recipe called for cooked chicken. Butter provides flavor and olive oil provides the high cooking temperature needed to get a nice "crust" on the outside of the chicken.

Do yourself a favor and stop boiling chicken. Your taste buds will thank you.

Simple Sautéed Chicken

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to a uniform size

Poultry seasoning, to taste

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with desired amount of poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook chicken in butter/olive oil for 10-12 minutes or until done, turning occasionally. You want the chicken to be nice and golden on both sides and just barely done in the middle. By just barely done, I mean no pink, but still very, very juicy. Allow to cool before cutting up to use in a recipe or serve immediately.

Cook's Note: If you are planning on using this chicken in a casserole or something, I suggest undercooking just slightly. (Not enough so you are in danger of food poisoning or anything.) The point is to keep the chicken from drying out while it cooks for a second time.

Cook's Note 2: To change this up slightly to serve right away, I like to coat the chicken in the poultry seasoning, salt and pepper, and then dip it in balsamic vinegar. Continue with cooking instructions. You can also make a quick pan sauce with by deglazing the pan with white wine and stirring in some flour and chicken broth. Serve immediately over the chicken.

Summer Reading

Summer is rapidly approaching. Well, it is here in Alabama (otherwise known as the most humid place on earth). For most of you, there's still another month left of school and the weather really won't be getting hot for another few weeks. But around here, school is wrapping up and it's expected to hit 90° this week.

Since it feels so summery outside, it makes me think of summer reading. Last summer I set out to make myself more well-rounded as far as reading goes, and I think I did a pretty good job. This summer, I'm looking to do the same as well as read some really good books. Unfortunately, I don't know what I want to read this summer! Therefore, I'm asking you, dear readers, for book suggestions. Please email me or leave a book suggestion (and author if you can remember) in the comments. I am looking forward to seeing your suggestions!

To give you a better idea of what I like to read, here are some of the books I've read most recently:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather Armstrong

The first 4 Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan (I'm planning on reading more this summer)

Captain Jack's Woman by Stephanie Laurens

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

Why Evolution is True by Jerry A. Coyne

These are the books that I read last summer. As you can tell, I have fairly eclectic taste in books. I adore romance, like reading fantasy and some young adult, I will read the occasional non-fiction title if I find it interesting.

Please share your favorite books! I'll be posting a list of the books I decide to read this summer soon! Thanks in advance!


 

Menu Plan Monday

Friday: Peel 'Em and Eat 'Em Shrimp, Baked Potatoes, Sliced Cucumbers

Saturday: Out to dinner to celebrate my new job!

Sunday: Penne with Almond Sauce, Peach and Strawberry Crumble

Monday: Beef Stroganoff (If it's good, I'll post the recipe!), Broccoli Slaw

Tuesday: Chicken and Brown Rice Bake

Wednesday: Leftovers for my parents; I'm going out for Cinco de Mayo!

Thursday: No dinner because we are giving a party

Friday: Artichoke Chicken and Parmesan Orzo

Since this is my last week as the unemployed librarian (yay!), I plan on doing lots of baking and freezing of baked goods to get us through the next few weeks. This week I plan on baking:

Strawberry Poppy Seed Muffins

French Bread

Wheat Sandwich Bread

Menu Plan Monday is brought to you by I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Simple Sunday

Today I slept late, read the Sunday paper, and clipped coupons. I had lunch with my mom while discussing the menu for a party we are having on Thursday night. We spent a good part of the afternoon looking at recipes and trying to finalize our plans. I'm also planning on baking some bread and dessert for tonight, as well as making dinner.

It's a pretty quiet day around here. We are expecting thunderstorms any minute, so any plans for outdoor activity has been cancelled. We need the rain so I'm not complaining!

How did you spend your simple Sunday?

I Am No Longer the Unemployed Librarian

Tuesday I posted that I had a job interview. Yesterday, while I was at work, the HR department called and offered me the full-time librarian position at the hospital I am currently working at. I am super excited about this job. It's nothing I ever expected, but I'm excited about all the prospects it presents and all the changes I hope to make. I start full-time a week from Monday after a brief orientation to learn about my benefits and all that fun stuff.

Working full-time comes with it a whole slew of new questions and problems including moving. Right now, I've decided to focus on work and settling in to my new job for two months. Then in July, we will revisit the topic and make some decisions. My parents would like me to buy a house since interest rates are low and it is a buyer's market. I have some money saved, but there are other budget issues to settle first (like having an emergency fund) before I can work on saving towards a down payment. I know the right solution to rent or to buy will present itself in due time.

I'm so excited to have finally found a job. Especially one that I like. It's been a long haul, but I'm satisfied with the results. To all those unemployed librarians out there, keep job searching! Don't get discouraged. You will find a job; it make take lots of time but stay positive. Network all you can (that's how I got the part-time job that led to full-time work) and don't be afraid to take something part time or below your pay grade. You never know what it could turn into!