Monday, March 28, 2011

Thrifting a Go-Go

Daisies

I have a thing for daisies. Have for years and years. I just love them all all their kitschy delishisness.

I had drinks with my BFF, Reechie, and she was excited to give me something she had found while she was being dragged into thrift stores by her son (she does NOT share the thrifting-joy).

Check it out!
Still in their original 60s packaging. Swooning I am. Seriously adorable. And kinda creepy in their relevance since I am now working for a company that manufactures thermal drinkware. CREEPY the universe can be!

Unrelated, yet from same day, check out this weirdness I spotted.
Sometimes I just wonder what's going on in the world.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Hot Men Friday

Johnny Depp

He's just so damn cool.

 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor

Every day in suburbia, there was a little girl with dark hair and blue eyes that would wait for her momma's Photoplay or her dad's Life magazine to arrive at the house.

She would search out photos of her favorite stars; Marilyn Monroe, Veruschka (super model from the 60s), Gloria Steinem (she fascinates!), and Elizabeth Taylor.

She would stare at photos of Elizabeth, look at the color of the eyes, then look in the mirror and try to convince myself that her eyes were as violet as those were. That any other human on earth could look like her. She didn't believe any did.
 This movie had better NEVER be remade. Elizabeth IS Maggie the Cat.

 Even this diamond doesn't overshadow her beauty IMHO.

I remember reading about the filming of this movie and the love affair she had with Richard Burton. I didn't actually see the movie until I was much older. We didn't go to many movies in those days!

The scandal this couple caused was way worse than any Jolie/Aniston/Pitt thing of today. I recently saw Debbie Reynolds somewhere and she told the story of how she and Elizabeth buried the hatchet from that hurt.

 I never missed The Oscars (still don't truth be told) and I totally remember sitting in our paneled rumpus room an inch away from our new COLOR TV watching her give an award in this dress. The color blue of that dress and her tan made me swoon.

 That was the night this happened. Does anyone remember streaking?

Saturday, March 19, 2011

What You're Doing*

*Still on the Beatles kick - maybe forever. Or until I run out of titles. Which may take a while.

It may or may not surprise some of you, but I'm a quick-witted, shouldn't-have-said-that kind of girl. Often. Way too often.

You know, once it's out of your mouth, there is no taking it back. I don't know how to fix that. The shots burble up out of nowhere and spew! Sigh and rats.

So, imagine being this way every day. Think of the people you can piss off or the people you can confuse or the people you may hurt the feelings of.

I fear I worry about it too much.

Now, imagine being the first week on the job.

I kept the beast tromped down. I stifled as best I can. I didn't swear. I didn't sing. I didn't blurt.

Well, maybe just once.

Adorable Girl Training Me: How did the demo go with the rep yesterday? I hate that stuff and start blanking on the words after awhile {a common designer trait I have found}.

Me: It was good! I could follow about every third word!

laughter . . .

ADTM: Yes, I usually let The Boy {other designer} handle the tech stuff. He's a genius at that stuff.

Me: Yes, The Boy really is. So after a while I found myself concentrating only on the rep's lips. He looked a bit like Alec Baldwin so I indulged myself.

Adorable Girl: Oh . . .

Now imagine a look on a face. A look that maybe said, "did she just say she was looking at the rep's lips? Did she just say that?"

And imagine wearing a new creamy yellow sweater from Ann Taylor that left tufts of fuzz on every surface you sat on, walked near, leaned on, talked to.

I may be worrying too much! HA and hehehe.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Sputnik

Is it weird to love a fixture this much?

It looks very cool at night when lit. Casts a good light, yet not intrusive. I generally hate overhead fixtures because NOTHING looks good with overhead lighting. Ha!

~~~~~~~~~~

Totally forgot it is Friday!

Here's a recycled hot one. Because who can resist Brian McNight?

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Mary Ann Is Still Hot.


If I had known this back when I might have made more potato salad instead of buying it from the deli.

Thanks Lorenzo for the link!

This is a special post for RJ since he's been discovering the joy of cooking and the agony of smart asses.

And a special thank you to Di from The Blue Ridge Gal for her template feedback. Thanks Di!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Eight Days a Week


First Days on the Job - Advice

Have a Positive Attitude
Nothing works better - in all situations - than having and expressing a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and the organization show to everyone you interact with. And always leave non-work problems at home.

Dress Professionally/Blend in with Co-workers
You should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally in your new job. And in the beginning, even if your department has casual days, you should dress professionally because you never know when you'll be called out to meet a top manager or key client. Dress how you want people to perceive you because it plays a huge role in how you are initially treated. Perfectly groomed means efficient and reliable in work; unkempt means disorganized and therefore difficult to trust with different assignments. After awhile, people realize these things do not necessarily correspond, but initially, your looks and dress are your representation to them.

Show Your Team Spirit
You are now part of a work team, and teams work together to solve problems and get the job done. Show loyalty to your co-workers and focus more - initially at least - on sharing any recognition you get with the team. Always give credit to the team.

Learn Co-workers' Names Quickly
No one expects you to have everyone's name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Certainly, as soon as possible, learn the names of every member of your team. And if you are in a situation in which you forget a person's name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask the person's name again.

Ask Questions/Ask for Help
No one expects you to solve all the organization's problems on your first days on the job - nor that you know everything - so, relax a bit, and always ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that it's better to ask before you've completed the task the wrong way and wasted all that time. "Be open-minded," suggests an English language and literature grad. "I think when you are just starting out, it is easy to feel somewhat competitive; you may feel that you have something to prove. In effect, that kind of thinking will probably land you in the unemployment line again. Be co-operative, LISTEN, ask questions - no one expects you to know everything - and communicate openly with colleagues and supervisors."

Take Notes/Go to Orientation
Unless you have a photographic memory - and few of us do - consider taking notes on all the various systems and rules of the organization. And no matter how boring they may sound, attend all orientation sessions. Nothing gets old faster than someone repeatedly asking how something works; such behavior shows a lack of attention to detail.

Be a Self-Starter; Take Initiative
In most situations, in your first days on the job, you will be given small doses of work - to let you get your feet wet. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative and ask for more assignments. Whatever you do, don't just sit there waiting for your next project. Agrees Ali von Staudach, senior account executive for CNET Networks, "Be proactive. Don't wait for an assignment. Stick up your hand and ask for something to do," advises von Staudach, a communication studies grad.

"Volunteer for things even though you don't know how to do it or what needs to be done to accomplish it," suggests Stephen Magennis, whose first job out of college was as a benefits analyst for Hewitt Associates, Orlando, FL. "There will be people [who need] help, and they will appreciate your efforts to start making an immediate impact. Many times, there may be some tasks that you can accomplish with a little guidance, which will probably free up time for someone who needs to work on more important items," Magennis offers.

Discover Everything About Your New Employer
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always more to learn now that you are on the inside. "Get an employee handbook" exhorts a MBA grad with an information-technology concentration. "Don't act or think you know more about everything than your peers." In addition, gather all those reports and company literature and read up and become an expert on your organization.

Work Full Days
"Be on time, come in early, stay a little later," suggests von Staudach. "Even though I have a 9 to 5 job, it has been expressed to my co-workers and me that our director expects us to be in at 8:30 and stay past 5 p.m. because it looks like we are go-getters and into our jobs." There's nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first days/weeks on the job, be sure you get to work early and leave no earlier than when the majority of your co-workers leave. An engineering grad adds, "Be dedicated and flexible. Once you have established yourself, you can leave early, go out for lunch, shift your hours, or take work home with you. But in the beginning, be totally dedicated to being there all the time and picking up as much as you can possibly handle."

Establish a Good Attendance Record
Just as with working full days, it's important to show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there will be emergencies, and yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try to make it to work every day during those first weeks/months on the job.

Avoid Office Politics and Gossip
As with any social organization, the workplace is full of rumors and gossip. Your mission is to keep your nose clean of all of it - and be sure not to associate too often with the office gossips or risk having your image associated with them. "DO NOT get involved in any trash talking around the office," says an English education grad. "Don't - repeat - don't solicit gossip."

Magennis agrees: "Stay out of the office politics for as long as possible," he says. "It's inevitable that you will be exposed to them sooner or later, and you will most likely participate in them as well as it's human nature. But stay out of the game for the first few months."

Keep Personal Business on Company Time to a Minimum
Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal business on company time - checking email, making dinner reservations, buying stuff online. Your goal is to keep your personal business to a minimum and stay focused on work.

Take Advantage of After-hours Activities
Many organizations have formal or informal after-hour activities, such as sports leagues. Get involved - even if only as a cheerleader - because these types of activities are great ways to bond with your co-workers. Do be on your best behavior during these outside-work activities, though. "If attending happy hours with co-workers, never drink more than one drink," suggests Anne Johnson, senior corporate relations coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Johnson, an economics grad from the University of Dallas, goes on to recall, "A co-worker that started about four months after me came to a happy hour with us and had too much to drink. Now, no one will invite her again. You don't want to make a stupid mistake like that."

Listen More than Talk
"Listen, Listen, Listen . . . don't act like a know-it-all right off the bat," cautions one entry-level worker. "The idea is to communicate that you have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your skills to help the organization achieve success." One of the hardest skills to learn for some of us - especially extroverts - is that, when we are new to the organization, it's better to listen then talk. You don't want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all - or worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing those first days on the job.

Track Accomplishments
It's up to you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking your accomplishments is great for any number of reasons - for your personal satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting.

Show Appreciation
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the job - from your co-workers to receptionists to the human resources folks.

Find a Mentor
You don't need to jump on this task your first day, but as you get introduced to senior staff, begin thinking about developing a mentoring relationship with a member of management above you - and outside your department - in the organization. Mentoring has numerous benefits, from a simple sounding board to someone who helps direct and advance your career within the organization.

Get and Stay Organized/Set Goals
If you're one of those super-organized people, this tip will be easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organizer or planner and keep on top of all your work. You certainly don't want to miss an early key deadline or meeting. And as you look ahead, set goals for yourself - and then strive to achieve them. "I set goals for myself," notes a 2001 education grad. "I wanted to appear professional in my dress, posture, and speech. I wrote that goal on index cards and put them everywhere."

Keep Your Boss Informed - of Everything
Your boss is not a mind-reader, so keep him/her informed of how you are doing. Especially in those early days, meet with your boss to further establish a rapport and relationship. "Request meetings with your boss on a consistent basis to review performance. Express interest in moving ahead and ask what else you can be doing to get to that next step," advises von Staudach. Be sure she/he knows you are a self-starter and hard-worker. Just don't bring the boss every little problem; instead, for minor issues, ask for help from co-workers.

Meet and Network with Key People in Organization & Profession
"Network," advises von Staudach. "Join an organization outside of work. Take additional classes to stay ahead in your field. Take advantage of every opportunity to network with key people in your organization and profession - attend staff meetings, professional organization conferences, trade shows - every opportunity to meet colleagues in your field. Just because you have a new job does not mean you suspend your network; constantly manage and grow your network of contacts because you never know when a problem or opportunity will arise. And networking with key people can also help you in finding one or more mentors.

Similarly, a psychology grad cautions against getting too comfortable: "Keep setting goals, networking, and keeping your ears open. Most college grads will switch positions or companies many times before the age of 30."

Final Thoughts
Being the newest member of the organization - the rookie - is both challenging and exciting. You'll be faced with both difficulties and opportunities, and your goal should be to make the most of all situations. These 20 tips should help provide you with some insights and direction as you approach that new job, but don't worry if you don't make a perfect first impression in those early days on the job - few of us ever do. Remember to relax, keep your mind open, get to know your team members, and do your work - and you should go far in making a lasting impression and reputation.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

One More from the Phone - Forgive

Cat wearing a hat.

For you Lorenzo.

Monday, March 14, 2011

What's on My Phone?

Getting a few things for the manse. Trying like HELL to restrain myself. I'm impulsive at times and conversely very slow on styling. Not a good combo!

I bought the fur skin and had NO IDEA what I was going to do with it, then saw the wicker bowl chair and BAM, love it! Crappy early morning Blackberry shot just for reference.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A Day in the Life

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream
~A  Day in the Life - The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.
~Robert Orben

If you have a job without any aggravations, you don't have a job.
~Malcolm S. Forbes

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
~Howard Aiken

The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form.
~Stanley J. Randall

Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.
~Douglas Adams

The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning, and does not stop until you get into the office.
~Robert Frost

If you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.
~Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas.
~Paula Poundstone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I'll be working for a small, family-owned biz as a Production Artist/Graphic Designer (I've been doing stuff like this for over 18 years - I'm a little nonplussed by that!) and I've been thinking about having a job after all this time.

I can't lie; just the interviewing process (phone interview, face-to-face #1, and face-to-face #2 - holy hannah!) was enough to leave me weak-kneed, so actually starting on Tuesday will be an experience! I feel very comfortable with everyone there so I'm thinking the transition will be fun and interesting because where would life be without a few catch-your-breath moments?

It will be awesome I'm certain. I'm excited to stretch my design limbs in the workplace.

Smooches my hooches.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Hot Men Friday

David Letterman

Sometimes laughing is pretty darn sexy.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

I'm Happy Just to Dance with You

Fashion Plate Announcement!

Birds are singing . . .
Heavens are opening . . .
Miracles happen . . .
clever alliteration, yes? - maybe a loose interpretation? okay, fine!
 I got a job.
I do! I do!

Yes, I interviewed, met peeps, impressed with my fantastikness and style . . .
And they still made me an offer. Whooo ha!

I hope they know what they are getting into!
This is my first-day outfit I have planned in my head.