Summer Cobblers
When feeding friends and co-workers this summer at home—or at an office party—look no further than fruit-based cobblers and crisps to wow them with your culinary prowess. These desserts are quick and nearly effortless to make, leaving you with time to cook and savor a glass of wine between work and the time guests arrive.
The Best Hotels for Working Out
Anyone who’s been to a subpar hotel “fitness room” knows how difficult it can be to get in a good workout while traveling. Fortunately, a host of hotels have started providing clientele with fitness options that’ll make guests excited about exercise. Here, five hotel chains whose gym options are worth getting up early for.
10 Ways to Save Money Now!
Brace yourself ladies, we’re in a recession. The price of gas is up, the price of food is up, and they’re limiting how much rice you can buy at Costco. It’s a sad, sad time.
Talking About Money
There’s the friend who complains about never having enough money yet has a closetful of designer bags. Or the old colleague who suggests splitting the bill evenly every time you meet for sushi. When it comes to prickly cash flow conversations, how can you avoid offending friends or looking like a cheapskate? Here, a few common cash conundrums and how to handle them—with your dignity and pocketbook intact.
How to Compare Credit Cards
Should you go for great rewards, free travel benefits, or just a low interest rate? When you start credit card shopping, you’ll find the options are seemingly endless. Here, what you need to know to make sure the next piece of plastic you add to your wallet is a perfect fit.
Complain With Confidence
For some women, “complain” is a four-letter word. True, from the time we were little girls, society did its best to rid us of this nasty habit. Complaining, whining, nagging, ranting, raving—often all are lumped together in a most unladylike fashion. Unfortunately, this is where society got it wrong. While whining, nagging, ranting, and raving may not be the most productive uses of your time, complaining can be. If done efficiently, complaining can help you fight for your rights and get what you deserve. Here’s how to keep your cool while doing so.
Easy Summer Meals
Once summer heats up there are lots of days where it’s just too hot to fire up the stove and fix yourself dinner—especially when you’ve just spent 14 hours at the office. But days of salad and takeout can get boring (and expensive) quickly. Plus, you’ve got to eat something healthy before you crack open the ice cream!
Host a Pizza-Grilling Party
Sure, you could have friends and coworkers over for a backyard barbecue, offering them chicken and burgers and a thirst-quenching beer. But for a twist on the traditional BBQ, why not host a DIY pizza party?
Summer Beach Reads
The long Fourth of July weekend is a great time to relax and catch up our your summer reading. Here, our favorite beach reads.
Vacationing in Your Own City
With the cost of gas, flights, and food, it’s hard to imagine planning a summer vacation that doesn’t involve a lot of stress and a massive credit-card bill. (And since everyone in your office is trying to take time off, your own summer sojourn might consist of one long weekend.) How about this alternative—take a staycation. Sounds weird, right? But it can be oh-so-fun if done correctly. Here’s how.
Get Out of Credit Card Debt
A high credit card balance can happen fast, and then take months to pay off, especially if your measly salary is already stretched. If you’re struggling with lingering debt, follow these steps to a debt-free future.
Budget Spa Treatments
Every girl loves a trip to the spa to relax after a long week, but not every budget has room for that luxury. While a massage and a manicure are fabulous ways to unwind, at many spas services can be quite expensive. With a little creativity and a few minutes of research, you can get spa-quality treatments for at-home prices.
Host a Retro Dinner Party
A well-planned dinner party need not feel like a corporate luncheon or a stiff, formal affair filled with stark white china, multiple courses, and dull conversation between guests. No, a great party should instead leave the pomp and circumstance well enough alone, and use a carefully selected theme, colorful decor, fabulous soundtrack, and fantastic eats and drinks to spark conversation and create a memorable night for your guests.
Get Enough Sleep!
Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia as men are, and if you’re one of those women then you know how exhausting the workday can be. You’re ready to curl up in bed by mid-afternoon, but once you finally go to bed at night, you’re wide awake.
Start a Wine Collection
Most women have a few wines stashed at home for their next dinner party or a relaxing evening in. But few can lay claim to having a wine cellar.
Host a Memorial Day BBQ!
Memorial Day is almost here, which means it’s time to move the party outside and host the first celebration of the summer season. Make your mark by serving something besides the usual burgers and dogs. Shish Kebabs with Yogurt and Mint Dipping Sauce are easy to make, fun to eat, and very hard to mess up.
Brown Bag Lunches
Bringing lunch to work is depressing, isn’t it? No matter what you pack, it just can’t compare with the delicious soups and sandwiches that the deli down the street serves up.
Traveling on a Budget
Even if you set a spending limit before you go, traveling can get expensive—fast. Airport meals, extra drinks, and higher-than-expected hotel prices can bring you back broke, if you let them. And with budgets tight and bonuses nonexistent, cheap vacays are not just a want, but a need. Do a little planning before you go and you’ll return with a tan and extra pesos (or yen), which can definitely ease the back-to-work blues. Here, five smart ways to save when traveling.
Start Saving!
The monthly paycheck you get (cha-ching!) is a reflection of your hard work. While setting aside part of your salary may sound important, it can be hard to figure out just where to put your extra dollars (especially when you’d rather use the money to buy an expensive handbag). Read on for a breakdown of savings options.
Pay Off Your College Debt
Getting a degree is a big boost for your career: Statistics show college grads earn more, on average, than others. But while it may feel like your college days flew by, those tuition bills can linger for decades. Here, a guide to help you gain control of your student loans and pay them off ASAP.
Start with a plan. If you’ve taken out more than one type of loan, it can be hard to keep track of the different interest rates and payment schedules…
Fight Jet Lag
It doesn’t matter if you are flying across the pond or across the country. Anytime you switch multiple time zones you can be hit with jet lag, the physical and mental disorientation that comes with crossing several time zones. The shift disrupts your body’s natural rhythms (sleep, temperature, metabolism, digestion) and can leave you feeling very out of whack. Here, tips on how to lessen jet lag’s effects…
Spring-Clean Your Apartment
There’s something about springtime air and all that sunshine that can make your apartment feel grungy, dusty, and in need of a major deep clean! But who wants to waste time scrubbing and scouring on a beautiful day, especially one that doesn’t require you to be in the office? Never fear, here’s five simple things you can do in two hours on a Saturday morning to make your home life sparkle and shine like the brightest spring day.
Deep-clean the kitchen…
Building a Backyard Garden
Two years ago, you didn’t even know what microgreens were. Now you want to grow them alongside snap peas and squash in your garden. The issue? Your so-called backyard is a plot of land the size of a postage stamp, more useful for housing a garbage can and recycling bin than for harboring a till-the-earth kind of project.
Be a Better Negotiator
Did you ever wish you could be one of those people who love negotiating and get a discount on everything? Well, you can. All it takes is some knowledge of basic negotiating tactics and a little bit of guts. Follow these strategies and you’ll be happily haggling in no time.
It’s Easy Being Green
Green lifestyle choices are all the rage right now—everything from driving a hybrid or forgoing water bottles. But technology is also a serious energy sucker. By making a few green lifestyle changes in the office, at home, and on the road, you can drastically decrease your impact. Here, WORKS’ list of lifestyle changes that will start you on a greener path.
Five Tax Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
You’re hunched over a desk, buried in paperwork, when you’d rather be out enjoying the first signs of spring: Welcome to tax time. Before you mail Uncle Sam his dues on April 15, double-check the numbers and information you’re sending, especially if you choose to do your own taxes. Here, five common errors to look for.
Host A Brunch
Weekend brunch is the best—that is, when you don’t have to stand in line, wait too long for the waitress to refill your coffee, and then get scooted out the door before you’ve even had time to crack open the Style section.
But have you ever thought about making brunch at home? Sure, it involves a little work, but it’s so much more relaxing. It’s also a great excuse to have friends or co-workers over and can be much easier to pull off than a full-fledged dinner party…
Surviving the Recession
For the past few months, the word recession has been hitting the news wires almost as often as Britney’s custody battles. Experts use all sorts of indicators to determine when a recession hits. Perhaps the most common one is the GDP, or gross domestic product. GDP measures, in dollars, the value of all goods and services produced in a country.
Retire Rich
“Retire? But I just started my career!” you say, somewhat incredulously. Yes, while retirement seems far-off (and it is!), you can take steps now to plan for it. (After working hard for decades, you don’t want to be on food stamps in your golden years, do you?) Here are four tips to get you started.
What to Eat When You’re Sick
There’s quite possibly nothing worse than being sick and not having Mom around to make you feel better. But you’re a big girl now (like it or not), and you’ve got to take care of yourself.
Throw A Progressive Dinner Party
Sometimes the effort that goes into hosting a party for friends from the office just isn’t worth the time and trouble. The food prep, the decorations, the drinks, making sure your home looks presentable—it’s overwhelming just thinking about it.
Find a Personal Trainer
You’re logging crazy hours at the office and haven’t seen the inside of a gym in months. Sounds like it might be time for you to invest in a personal trainer. Not only will they teach you how to get the best, most effective workout within the time you do have, but there’s a monetary incentive as well.
Beating the Winter Blues
There’s an inevitable letdown after the parties and presents of the holiday season have passed, and by mid-February your mood can be downright dreary. When that alarm goes off every workday morning, you so do not want to get out of bed.
You aren’t alone. Lots of people suffer from the Winter Blues. Here, some easy tips to keep you happy, healthy, and inspired as winter continues on its blustery path.
Know the SAD signs…
Build A Budget
If you’re like me, you hear the word “budget” and think “ugh.” Who wants to skip the Starbucks or eat home every night? But budgets don’t have to be a bad thing—especially if creating one means you can finally leave a job you hate and start your own business. Here, steps to getting started.
Figure out your income. First, the easy part: Take a look at how much you rake in each month. Look at your paycheck or checking account statement. Add in any extra cash you bring in…
Host a Valentine’s Day Soiree!
It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, and it doesn’t matter if you have a mate. Rock the worlds of your favorite couples, your die-hard single buddies, and your hopelessly romantic friends by throwing a fun Valentine’s Day mixer.
Easy Healthy Lunch Food
Bringing lunch is no fun, right? Who has the time to prepare an elaborate, good-for-you meal in the morning? And once lunchtime rolls around, that sandwich or salad you slapped together five hours ago just isn’t as appealing as the delectable options your co-workers have carted back from your favorite take-out joint. But brown-bagging it doesn’t have to be boring or time-consuming…
Throw A Superbowl Party
You may not be sure who’s actually playing in the Superbowl, but that doesn’t mean you can’t throw a party. You’ll win major points by inviting your friends or co-workers over for kickoff and serving up a super-easy Mexican feast. (Yes, a margarita recipe is included.) Go team!
At-Home Spa Treatments
Ah, the spa—a working woman’s version of utopia. Unfortunately, time and money can be the tag team that keeps you from visiting a day spa, but don’t let these forces of evil defeat you. The next time you feel like you need a little pick-me-up, just head to your kitchen. (Though you’ll want to check with your doctor or dermatologist first if you have allergies or sensitive skin.) The following scrubs and rubs are easy to make: No pricey products required…
The Scoop on Subprime
It rang in as the “word of the year” in 2007, according to the American Dialect Society. And chances are, you’ll spot “subprime” popping up even more during 2008. Just what is the buzz about? And more importantly, what does it mean for you? Here’s the scoop on subprime and how it will affect you this year.
Host A Swap Party
January is the perfect time to start fresh. That means cleaning out the closet, dusting off those bookshelves, and getting rid of housewares that you no longer use. While you could take last year’s sweaters to a consignment shop or post your used books online, hosting a swap party is a good way to get rid of a bunch of items at once and trade them for new ones.
At Home Bar Basics
Whether you’re hosting a casual movie marathon, a glamorous girls’ night, or an impromptu dinner party for co-workers and their significant others, you’ll want to stock up on a few things for the bar (or kitchen counter, as the case may be).
Credit Cards: Read the Fine Print!
Search online for a credit card and you’ll find tantalizing features: 0% interest for six months, no annual fees, cash-back offers, and more. Behind those benefits, however, are pages of fine print. One glance at those can be enough to make you vow to pay cash for the rest of your life.
The fine print doesn’t have to be your enemy, though. Understand the terms used in credit-card offers and you’ll be able to find the best plastic to add to your wallet…
Detox Diet
The New Year often arrives with a serious need for some restraint. We’re ready to forgo fat, martinis, chocolate, and the entire cheese plate. While you might not be able to make it to one of those ritzy spas in Arizona to flush yourself out, you can still eat simply and healthfully. These simple dishes are chock-full of lovely veggies and Asian flavors, making for a stunningly modern entry into a fresh new year.
Self-Defense Tips
You probably don’t need shocking statistics or gory descriptions to get the point: The world is not necessarily a safe place. Whether you live in a manic metropolis or a tiny town, the possibility that you could fall prey to a violent crime is a real one—especially when you’re leaving work at a late hour and find yourself walking alone through a dark parking lot or street. Thankfully you don’t need to be GI Jane to ward off a would-be assailant…
Throw a Cookie Swap
Sure, a cookie swap seems a little grown-up, à la Martha or Mom, but with your hippest friends and a signature cocktail to share (I like glasses of sparkling wine with a few pomegranate seeds dropped in), you’re in for a relaxing afternoon of fun.
Here’s how to do it: Invite a few friends over and ask them to bring their favorite holiday cookies. They should make one dozen cookies for each person participating in the swap…
Best Sites to Get Last Minute Gifts
It’s funny how a season that’s supposed to be based on love and family can turn into a full-blown anxiety fest. It seems there’s never enough time—let alone money—to get that perfect gift for all of your family and friends. And if you’re prone to waiting until the last minute to purchase your presents, then this article is for you. Here, some of the best places on the Web to buy last-minute gifts.
Unicahome…
Easy Edible Gifts
While you’d love to buy your friends and family something deliciously extravagant this year, extravagant just isn’t in your budget. Delicious, however, is always an option. As you attempt to hit everyone on your list, forgo the crowded department stores and do your holiday shopping right in your own kitchen. These four easy-to-make treats are surely worth more to your loved ones than a fancy tie or handbag. They taste better, too…
Meet Your Deadlines
Working 9 to 5…must have been the luxury of another era. These days we work long, odd hours. But whether you’ve got the night shift, frequently stay late at the office, or are simply behind schedule, these retailers will cater to your needs round the clock.
Want to ship a package, make photocopies, or print a brochure…
Buying For Your Boss
It could be the most difficult gift purchase of the holiday season: what to give The Boss. She (or he) pushes through your paycheck and dishes out the praise. The gift has to say so much: Thank you, please give me a raise, I’m classy yet poor. It has to be personal, but not too personal. The whole concept is enough to keep you awake for hours, scouring websites for just the right thing.
Relax, we’ve got it covered—a gift for every boss and personality type on your list…
Holiday Party Eating
Even the best holiday bashes can be laden with awkward, meaningless conversation and devilish little hors d’oeuvres that can put your diet in danger. Here are some simple tricks to avoid the food traps at your next fete.
Portable Party Food
You’re sick of bringing the same tired (and cheap) bottle of wine to every holiday party, but after putting in a full day at the office, you don’t have the time—or the refrigeration techniques—for much else. To save you from a lifetime of predictable party prep, we came up with four finger-food recipes that are simple to make and travel well. Just pack these puppies with your lunch, then unwrap them once you arrive at your after-hours event. Your hostess won’t know what hit her. (Until she opens up that bottle of bubbly brought by someone else…)
Holiday Weekend Reads
The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to catch up on your reading (especially if you’re not willing to brave the crowds on Black Friday). After the hustle of the holiday meal—and the ensuing cleanup—is over, kick back with one of these books.
P.S. I Love You, by Cecelia Ahern. (Hyperion; $13.95) Hilary Swank stars in the screen version of this tearjerker, out next month, but the book is worth picking up beforehand…
Thanksgiving Made Easy
With airline prices on the rise, not everyone can afford to go home for the holidays. Which means you might find yourself in charge of cooking this year’s Thanksgiving bird. While spending the holidays with a few close friends sounds cozy and charming (none of Aunt Jill’s endless questions about your job and romantic life), cooking one of the biggest feasts of the year can be completely overwhelming. That’s why WORKS has done it all for you: A simple turkey, festive salad, roasted yams, and to-die-for pumpkin bread pudding make for a delicious Thanksgiving Day, indeed.
Eat Smart While You’re Out
It’s been a long day, and it’s not over yet—you’ve got a client dinner at one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Good news for your taste buds, but not so great for your growing waistline. These days business meals are a must for a successful career, but you don’t have to sabotage your healthy eating habits to get ahead.
Romantic Reads
As the weather turns cooler, there’s no better way to spend a weekend afternoon than curled up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and a good book. And if long hours have curtailed your love life for now, these reads are sure to set your heart aflutter.
The Great Pumpkin
You see pumpkins everywhere in October (mostly as Halloween jack-o’-lanterns), but this versatile fruit not only looks good enough to eat—it is! And we’re not just talking about pie. Pumpkins are delectable for dinner, too. Here, four recipes starring this orange original.
Going Green at the Office
Green is a trendy color these days—from Vanity Fair’s Green Issue to Oprah’s episode on how to be environmentally conscious, people all over the country are pitching in to do their part. While you might be making all the right changes at home, the buck doesn’t always stop with you at work.
Game Day Grub
Fall is here and you know what that means: weekends full of football. In order to spend quality time with your boy or even your dad, you may need to hunker down and watch the passing of the pigskin, an activity infinitely more enjoyable if you have yummy snacks to munch on. Here, a few of our favorites: No utensils required! Game on!
Ready For A Dog?
After a long trudge home from the subway station, you finally arrive at your door. As you insert your key in the lock, you imagine for a second what it might feel like to be greeted by an enthusiastic four-legged pal and not the ticking of your kitchen clock. But with the long hours you keep at your job—and the necessary amount of schmoozing you need to do at after-work events—can your lifestyle accommodate a canine?
Relocating 101
Let’s face it: If you want a high-flying career, you may not be able to stay in one place (or one country, for that matter). But whether it’s a lateral jump to a sister city or a promotion to a new branch halfway around the world, the idea of relocating is enough to freak even the most ambitious women out.
Tasty Tomato Dishes
Tomatoes are one of the best and most bountiful vegetables in season right now, and basil is their perfect companion. Don’t worry about visiting the garden plot or farmer’s market to find this happy couple. Your local grocery store should offer fresh, ripe, luscious tomatoes in all shapes and sizes and leafy bunches of basil.
Make Your Weekends Count
It’s been a long week and you can’t wait until closing time on Friday. Actually, that’s how you feel every Monday morning. After countless hours of answering to other people, the weekend is your time to focus on your own agenda. Trouble is, you blink just after happy hour on Friday and before you know it you’re back at work. Why do the weekends go so quickly? It is possible to make the most out of Saturday and Sunday…
Meals to Take You Through the Week
When you work 14-hour days, it’s no wonder you don’t feel like cooking when you come home. But while takeout is quick and requires little cleanup (open up trash can, insert container), a constant diet of fast food can make your waistline bigger and your bank account much, much smaller.
Manage Your Multitasking Habit
The other day, I rushed off to power-yoga class for a much-needed break from my never-ending to-do list. As if the universe was sending me a karmic message, the instructor told us to “be in the moment” instead of worrying about what happened before we came to class, or what will happen when it was over.
Lighten Your Load
No one wants to be described as overweight, even if it’s in reference to your suitcase and not your waistline. Unfortunately, on a recent trip to London, I was on the receiving end of that word when the flight attendant told me that my Samsonite exceeded the 50-pound weight allowance at New York’s LaGuardia airport.
Throw A Party In A Pinch
It’s a glorious day, and you don’t want to waste it by spending the evening alone on your couch in front of the TV. So you e-mail your girls and let them know that you’re throwing a last-minute soiree.
How Healthy Are Your Snacks?
We all know that potato chips and doughnuts have little nutritional value, but some of the snacks that we think are healthy—smoothies, reduced-fat cookies, yogurt—are actually loaded with calories and sugar. (No wonder those pants are still a little snug.) But we here at WORKS don’t plan on giving up snacking anytime soon, so we took a look at why your favorite eats aren’t doing your body any good. Then we came up with healthier—yet still tasty—options…
Tips on Tipping
Many of us have experienced that pit-of-the-stomach feeling at a restaurant, spa, hotel, or airport when we receive a service small or large. It goes like this: Am I supposed to leave a tip? And if so, how much? No one wants to be a cheapskate, but no one wants to overpay, either. What’s the right thing to do?
Summer Beach Reads
The summer months are a great time to catch up on your reading. And no, we don’t mean devouring Us Weekly. We guarantee you’ll have your nose buried in these books, long after the sun’s gone down.
A Summer of Spending
Popular wisdom holds that consumers spend the most money during the holiday season. That makes sense in theory, but it doesn’t explain why our bank accounts are at an all-time low in June, July, and—yup—August, too…
Entertaining Your Co-Workers
You like the people you work with. You like to throw parties. So it’s not surprising that you’re thinking about combining the two and hosting a simple summer soiree. But having your colleagues—or better yet, your boss—over to your home is a bit more complex than inviting your friends over…
What Your Wine Choices Reveal
We’ve all been there. You’re bringing clients—or your boss—out to dinner and you desperately want to make the right impression. So to prepare for the big evening, you’ve carefully selected that new French-Asian fusion restaurant, triple-confirmed with the reservationist, and sent out a reminder e-mail to the invitees. Everything is going along perfectly until it’s time to order the wine. You might not know it, but what you drink says a lot about who you are. As a sommelier, my goal is to make sure that the wine that people order pairs not only with the food but also with the person. Want to know what your taste buds can say about you? Read on.
The Dirty Roommate
We’ve all had inconsiderate housemates, and some of us (myself definitely included) have even been one. But late-night noise and annoying habits aside, one thing that’s sure to rattle even the most compatible cohabitants is the cleaning issue…
Cookbooks You’ll Actually Use
As girls, most of us were too busy planning our corporate ascent to bother with cooking lessons from Mom. But suddenly it’s hip to be a foodie, and with an appreciation of good grub comes some subtle expectations: One, you should know how to make something in the kitchen. And two, it should be sort of spectacular. Yikes! Luckily, there are tons of tomes out there to help you on your path to culinary enlightenment. Here are five that no kitchen cabinet should be without…
Time Away From The Office
If you’re looking to push back your start time to 10 a.m. so you can hit the gym, or you want a three-month sabbatical to travel through Thailand, it doesn’t mean the end of your career. If you think your boss simply won’t budge—that you’re too indispensable to take time away from work—think again.
Giving Up the Almighty Cup
For as long as I can remember, my impetus for getting up in the morning has been that first, piping hot, creamy, milky smooth latte. Eliminating coffee from my morning routine is not something I imagined I could do or ever wanted to do; nor, quite frankly, is it something I would ever do again…
Know What’s Up?
With a busy life it is hard to keep up to speed on current events and happenings. But it’s an important thing to do. Here are some sneaky ideas for staying well-informed on the fly…
Friends On The Ladder
As you make your way up the ladder – where you stack up in relation to your friends can dictate the dynamic of the relationship. It’s an issue that rears its ugly head for nearly every woman at some point in her career…
Get Your Game On
Girl gamers have more sex!
According to a survey of 200 women conducted by Gametart, a game rental service in the United Kingdom, women who played video games on average had sex 4.3 times per week, compared to non-gamers who reported having sex 3.2 times per week.
Wow. If that’s not incentive to get on the waiting list for a Wii, I don’t know what is…
Give it Up: Cell Phones
Is it my imagination or is everyone, everywhere, talking to someone on their cell phone? Although I have never been a math or science type, I decided to prove my assumption with a quantitative measure. Walking down the main street in my neighborhood, I counted fifteen people connected to their headpieces. I live in Hoboken, New Jersey, a mile square town, 15 blocks from top to bottom. My sample of one block projected over the 15 blocks in town would add up to 225 people on the main street alone…
Buying Your First House
Like most New Yorkers, Michelle Howry lived in an apartment that she had been renting for years. But in the fall of 2003, Howry, who shared a place with her sister, finally had her fill of the landlord/tenant relationship. “Our electricity had gone out and our landlord was horrible to deal with,” says Howry, a book editor who, a year before had toyed with the idea of buying real estate. ” The whole experience made me feel really energized to start looking for a place of my own…
Power Eating from 7am to 11pm
Let’s be honest. How many mornings, (does 10:30 sound about right?) have you sat at your desk, completely ravenous? I’m betting at least once in the past week. And what about the mid-afternoon slump?
Me Time: Priorities
Am I the only career girl out there who feels like I don’t have enough time on my hands? I’ve spent most of my twenties trying to “have it all.” And now there are moments I wonder if I really want it: the 45 hour work week, the commute, the endless to-do list and busy engagement calendar. Some mornings when my alarm goes off I lie in bed for an extra thirty minutes simply because I know this is the only stress-free time during my day (sad, but true)...
Spring Fling
The winter season has dragged on long enough, and you’re beginning to think that groundhog back in February lied. Wait, are you seriously cursing winter over a groundhog? Definitely a sign you need a vacation. If you’ve got the inclination and the cash, there’s no better cure for the winter blahs than high-tailing it out of town in search of sun and sand and fruity umbrella drinks…
The Power of a Thank You Note
We’ve all been there-staring at a blank card, pen in hand, trying to compose the perfect, brief-yet-thoughtful thank you note. All of a sudden, what seemed like a simple task becomes a painful chore, and you end up scribbling something lame and childish. Why is it so hard to say thank you? Whether it’s for a gift, a gesture, or an interview, thank you notes aren’t just good manners…
Spring Reinvention
Spring is in the air, and with it comes a desire to throw off what’s old and embrace what’s new. In the spirit of the “Weekend Transformation,” call off your date and turn off your cell phone – you’ve got some reinventing to do!
Commuter Etiquette
You stand on the platform waiting for the earliest train. You’ve been up since 4:30 a.m. The icy morning air bites at your bare legs, and the bump on your knee (from running into your bedside table while still half asleep) is beginning to throb. Just as your caffeine headache kicks in, the train arrives, blaring. Battling your fellow passengers (who wouldn’t surrender a seat to a pregnant woman on crutches…
The Hassle-Free Hostess
Whether it’s a black-tie affair, or hosting a ‘Dr. McDreamy’ viewing party, with a little finesse and forethought, even you can plan the kind of party both hostess and guests will enjoy.
Power Couples: Whose Career Takes Priority?
Having trouble balancing two high-octane careers? One of you has a great opportunity… a state away? How do modern power couples make it work?
Recently, I was wondering the same thing. I am lucky enough to have a boyfriend who cares almost as much about my career as he does his own. Together we are hardworking, ambitious and successful, and our friends often refer to us as a “power couple”...
Pinpointing Your Passion
It’s the most exciting process to witness. A young woman lamenting on how she can’t find her passion, only to be asked, “What topic of conversation do you absolutely have to participate in?” Suddenly, she’s got 10, 15, 20 answers. Her face lights up and she lists off ideas faster than she can speak. Inevitably, her brow soon furrows. She stops. “But this is just about conversation. I need to find my P-A-S-S-I-O-N…