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Archive for the ‘My Two Cents’ Category

My Two Cents: 9/11, 10 Years Later

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

Disclaimer: This has nothing to do with fashion or beauty, but in the same way that I am a little all over the place, figured my blog may as well follow suit. To not somehow commemorate the 10th Anniversary of September 11th feels weird to me, even if doing so on my girly blog with a pink logo, rounded fonts and images of lipglosses and flare leg denim everywhere is an odd place for it. As I have said before, I work with what I’ve got.

On September 11, 2001 I was twenty-two years old, bright eyed, super excited to be living on my own in New York City. I had landed a highly coveted job at American Express, an amazing apartment on the 28th floor with views as far downtown as the eye could see, my entire post-Penn life in front of me, unscripted.

How vividly I recall that morning is part of why it is so hard to believe ten years has gone by. But I guess that is how it goes with days where your life forever changes unexpectedly. I can remember the conversations I had with my dad the day he passed away, and, on a happier note, the details of the night I met my husband.

I got dressed up in my “AmEx” best- grey capri trousers, a plum BCBG mohair knit sleeveless turtleneck , and Donald J. Pliner kitten heels. Always punctual, I hopped on the N/R around 8:30am, hoping to make it to the World Trade Center stop by 8:45 so I could pop into an eyeglass store in the downstairs mall and pick out new frames before walking over to my cubicle in the World Financial Center.

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My Two Cents: Great Career Lessons Learned I May As Well Share

Monday, November 8th, 2010

On Saturday I was invited to speak on a panel at the New York Women in Communications Foundation annual Student Communications Career Conference, and the timing was actually really great because I completely re-energized me about my career. Seeing all of these young women so excited and interested to learn about the field that I must admit, I sometimes take for granted, was an incredible reminder of how lucky I am to be a part of it.

The panel that I spoke on was about Communications Entrepreneurship, and the other women sitting up there with me included media personality Hariette Cole (who I have run into at many a green room over the years so it was very cool to finally officially meet her and hear her story), Dorothy Crenshaw, CEO  and Creative Director of Crenshaw Communications, and Suzanne Kantra, founder of Techlicious.com.

Figured it may be interesting to share a few points that really resonated for me personally as I listened to the others and shared my crazy path that landed me where I am today:

  • Decide what you want your brand to be, and always put that first. Understand- and be okay with the fact- that you may constantly need to reinvent yourself- but that is just part of it, and try and look at it as a fun opportunity to fine tune and evolve.
  • There may be some skills you have that you don’t want other people to know about because you don’t want a job that focuses on them- but keep them tucked away somewhere because they will come in handy. For example- Harriette taught herself to type ridiculously fast. But she didn’t want to be a secretary- so she kept it on the DL. But it came in handy big time when she needed to crank out her first book at night while still maintaining her day job. Even those little things you learn and master along the way can serve you well as you develop your career the way you want it to be.
  • There will always be grunt work. So whether you are sorting mail at entry level or filing expense reports as the head of your own company, learn to deal with it.
  • Don’t be embarrassed to ask for what you are worth. I am still struggling with this- so any advice you guys have to share, please do- but I think especially as a woman in business, it gets awkward, and it shouldn’t.
  • Declare what you are, follow through with it by working hard and learning everything you possibly can about your craft, and once you put it out there and truly believe it (or can at least convince others- convincing yourself may take more time) it just kind of happens.

I could go on for pages sharing thoughts and tips and tricks- all will be shared in due time! Thank you so much to Rachel Bowie for including me in such an inspiring afternoon.

My Two Cents: Bullying PSA from Someone Who Has Been There

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

This is not related to fashion or beauty or anything I usually blog about- but in light of all the horrible events we are seeing in the news lately related to bullying, I felt compelled to write something just in case even one girl who reads this blog knows what it feels like to be harassed and tormented by “mean girls” at school.

I was bullied viciously on several occasions throughout middle school and high school. Older girls who didn’t like the fact that I was dating someone in their grade, girls my age who decided randomly one day they didn’t want me in their “clique” anymore- all things that are so clearly silly but at the time seem like the biggest deal in the world.

I remember coming home from school on many occasions in tears- and to think how much worse it would have been if Facebook was around then and the nastiness could live online 24/? It makes me shudder to even imagine it to be honest. Hearing the stories of teenage girls who took their own life because they couldn’t handle it hit very close to home. While for me it never got to that extent (thanks to very supportive parents and a safe haven to escape to at home), I can’t help but to wonder if the torment was also allowed to spill from the hallways and playground to my (and everyone else’s) home computer, would I have been able to handle it? I really am not sure.

Girls can be mean. Really mean. And I can only guess that when they can hide behind their computers and type their torture, they can exponentially worse.

I have zero desire to re-live my middle and high school years. My 20′s and so far my 30′s have been amazing- and I do have to admit I get a slight thrill checking out the bullying offenders on Facebook and seeing just how little they have accomplished since their glory days peaked at age 17.

I remember my parents telling me this would all blow over and I would forget about it one day- or look back and laugh- and I couldn’t imagine that would possibly be true. At the time, I wanted to move away, go to boarding school, or at least call in and use a sick day. Now, I realize how right they were- and as I prepare to have a daughter, I can’t pretend that the thought of her experiencing those tough years doesn’t cross my mind regularly.

So, whether or not anyone reads this- just felt like it was two cents I had to give. Being bullied sucks, big time. It feels like the end of the world, but it isn’t. Not even close.

And take it from me, it feels damn good to have those same girls coming back around 15 years later emailing you to catch up over coffee because they saw you on such-and-such TV show or heard you work in such-and-such business. And promptly hitting delete :)

My Two Cents: The Emmys

Monday, August 30th, 2010

I was abnormally excited to watch the Emmy Awards on Sunday night. By the time we get to the Oscars I tend to get a little bored by the whole red carpet ritual- but since the Emmys always fall right when I am feeling a little starved for fresh glamour (love that it is before Fashion Week this year, actually- gets me warmed up) I watched with full focus, paying attention to every detail.

Below- my two cents. Sorry I didn’t insert images but mind you I am still kind of new at this blogging thing and wasn’t quite sure how to get them in neatly. Also- if you read my blog, I am guessing you watched the awards and have been scoping out photos ever since- because that is just the kind of people we are, right? Oh- and curious to hear your thoughts- so please comment below. I get lonely :)

HITS:

  • Lea Michele: Her body looks amazing, her hair stunning, and really adoring her matte finish foundation and lip with a heavily lined, but not quite smokey, eye.
  • Stephanie Pratt: I feel ridiculous even typing her name under a header called Emmys, but she did look gorge. I am really into the simple, flawless, slightly bronzed complexion with a matte nude lip. Sarah Lucero, Stila Celebrity Makeup Artist who created the look, told me she used Stila Lip Enamel in Nirvana with Convertible Color in Gerbera on top.
  • Kyra Sedgwick: The wavy, simple hair is so pretty, and you can never go even close to wrong with anything by Monique Lhuillier.
  • Julie Benz: The white dress is statuesque and fit so perfectly. And I always love a sleek ponytail (albeit with what I suspect is a massive clip in hair extension) paired with a gown.
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus: She always brings it on the red carpet. And every year for some reason I am surprised- I really shouldn’t be. Her hair looks so healthy, I don’t mind that it is kinda slicked down. But what really did it for me- the jewelry. The green jade earrings are pretty damn amazing. If I had those, I would wear them literally every single day. (I hope my husband is reading this.)
  • Jennifer Carpenter: The silhouette of her dress was simple and conservative, but the fact that it was covered in sequins made it elegant and interesting. Also really into her beautiful curls, cascading over a shoulder thanks to a perfectly placed side part.

NOT SO MUCH:

  • January Jones: I always feel like she tries a little too hard to make an edgy fashion statement. One thing I can never stand- people trying too hard. At anything.
  • Christina Hendricks: The dress was really milk-maid like. And she really needs her teeth whitened. Sorry, I hate being mean but hey, when it comes to celebs who literally do live the most charmed lives ever, I don’t feel too terrible so may as well be honest.
  • Kelly Obsourne: She needed blush, big time. Her body, on the other hand- wow. Inspiring transformation.
  • Rose Byrne: I am certainly not of the school that not a hair should be out of place on the red carpet- but her insane amount of matted frizz was a bit too much for me. Some nice texture along the hairline, I’ll take it. But this? Birds may have taken up residence in there.
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