About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
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July 11, 2008
Wachovia has a 7 month CD at 4% APY and a 12 month CD for 4.25%. That’s a good percent above my highest earning savings account, so I was about to commit to the 7 month CD last night.
Then I realized:
1. It’s a minimum $5000 deposit.
2. You must have a Wachovia checking account.
3. My E-fund is 5 months’ worth of expenses. If I lock up a third of it for a maturity date of 7 months from now, I’ve got a rather large gap of time that’s not covered by cash in hand. It’s not that I couldn’t break the CD, but I would lose at least half of the interest earned. That would completely defeat the purpose of having it in there to earn more money.
It’s best that I hold off on this until the job situation is settled one way or another. But perhaps this CD will be helpful for someone else!
This blog, though renamed, has been around a shade more than two years now. That’s pretty cool, and it’s been fun, helpful, and informative for me. I hope that y’all are having fun, too! Have a great weekend, all!
FB’s post on her list of shopping wants and Penny’s post on buying a new suit restoked my internal suit debate. (Thanks to Paranoid Asteroid for the link to Penny!)
Just last night, the black pinstriped suit came out of the dress bag so that I’ll remember to drop it off for dry cleaning this Saturday.
It struck me that I’ve been wearing this suit since …. October 2005. I’ve worn it to 2-4 professional meetings a year, where I usually see at least some of the same people. Obviously, my colleagues are usually the same. I’ve supplemented with nice, basic skirts and blazers. I’ve got three basic black skirts, one black 3/4 sleeve less structured jacket that passes for a blazer, and a brown checked blazer.
I usually rotate several tops through to make various combinations of business dress.
The real question is: at what point does it become just plain tacky that I don’t have another suit in the rotation?
Yes, new suit!: It’s been four years. Enough already.
No new suit: I’m the mouse that wants more than just a cookie. If I get another suit, wouldn’t it make sense to have a third? Most of our events require three days’ worth of business wear. Oh wait, I’m trying to leave this job.
Yes, new suit!: I’m trying to find a better environment. Need an interview suit.
No new suit: $400. (or $800. For two suits. š )
Since we’re evenly tied at this point, I’m considering a minor amendment to the PPP money flow. After every $200 cycle, $50 will be diverted to a suit fund. That’s only going to take forever, though, and I’m hearing rumblings that lead me to believe I’m going to need an interview suit in the next three months, not three years.
I have got to stop thinking about clothes today!
Macy’s has been emailing about sales and clearances constantly, and I finally got curious and clicked. I realized that my first instinct is to be drawn towards things that are comfortable and functional, which does not frequently mesh with my need for more professional clothing. For example:
They also come in a plaid (pink or blue):
They look comfortable and they’re not tennis shoes, which are my favorite shoes to wear but have been sworn off for work ….
Uh, I’m totally talking myself into getting them. See, here’s the thing. I have one pair of leather flats that I’ve been wearing to pieces. Literally. They’re getting really shabby, but they’re the only pair of closed toe flats that I have. But, I really think these are only ok to wear with jeans, they’re not going to be paired with any other trousers.
Does anyone have better pairing ideas? They’re $19.99, and I have a Macy’s GC so it’s not out of budget. If not, I should probably skip them and wait for a pair of flats that can be paired with jeans and trousers.
July 10, 2008
Yay, I was able to add another $27.50 to my DP fund. Some old posts were approved and paid for recently. I really like this idea of saving for two goals from one source of income, and alternating between the two.
$100 increments are satisfying enough that I feel like I’m making progress but not so much that I feel stuck in one gear for too long.
BF pulled it off: he found a round trip itinerary for which we could redeem his free ticket voucher, so I’m going to Oregon to see my cousin in August!
It’ll be a long weekend for me, but unfortunately something came up at work and she has to go in, after all. Boooo. Perhaps I can bring her lunch at work. š
We’ll probably go out on the town one night, and I hope we’ll go hiking on Saturday. Because I’m flying United, I’m already trying to mentally maximize my carry-on luggage and minimize the amount of stuff I’ll have to bring.
I’ll be staying at her house, and she has more toiletries and make-up than I’d know what to do with, so I don’t have to waste room on those things. Just the basics, really, two pairs of jeans and three tops. Appropriate shoes.
So excited!!
July 9, 2008
It’s called dressing for the job you want. We’ve all heard that maxim, I think, but it’s easier said than done.
I’ve recently taken steps to be more formal than jeans-casual (which is perfectly acceptable here), but I can always use more polish to take the rough off my fashion edges.
Some of the advice is standard and classic, tailored to four different professions as your suits should be tailored to your body, but mentions of running around in Louboutins all day, with Oscar de la Renta flats in between are just a little too much brand naming for me. And, um, a nude G-string? Ewwww…. I’m definitely not cut out for the model lifestyle or workstyle.
Real Estate Agent
FORMALITY FACTOR:(8.5/10) “There are no casual Fridays, even on a construction site.”
THE GOAL: “If you’re showing people beautiful properties all day, aesthetics are obviously important. Your clothes signal to clients that they can trust your taste. That said, real-estate development is so male-dominated that women have to work harder to be taken seriously. Dress in a way that’s distracting and you become easy to dismiss.”
THE MUST-HAVES: “A charcoal, black, or navy suit with a single pop of color ā it’s classic, with a twist. I’m an urban nomad, chasing taxis and navigating construction sites, so my shoes have to hold up. I live in these black Louboutins because they’re not too high. And as I work 12-plus-hour days, I always slip on the Oscar de la Renta flats between appointments.”
Financier on Wall Street
FORMALITY FACTOR:(10/10) “Nothing less than impeccable is what flies on Wall Street. If your lipstick’s a mess or your skirt is too trendy, it instantly devalues you. Wall Street may be 95 percent men, but don’t dress like one ā but don’t dress like a girly-girl either.”
THE GOAL:”Like their male colleagues, women need great-looking go-to suits and several pairs of killer classic shoes.”
THE MUST-HAVES: “Three good suits ā black, gray, and brown ā off the rack that a tailor can make into great suits. Pay special attention to fit, fabric, and sleeve-cuff length: When your arm is straight down, the cuff should stop between your wrist bone and the top of your hand. And a quality watch ā nothing too flashy.”
Gallerista
FORMALITY FACTOR: (5/10) “This is a creative environment; you can do skinny jeans and vests. A button-down shirt or a suit would be too boring.”
THE GOAL: “When we’re trying to recruit important or upcoming artists, it’s crucial to represent the gallery. Of course, no one shows up in an avant-garde tutu ā it’s still a job, not a fashion show.”
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: “I have hundreds of dresses and tons of shoes, and every day I look forward to putting together my outfit. I play around with different colors and textures just like a painter does. If you have fun getting dressed, it will show in your outfit.”
Model
FORMALITY FACTOR: (1/10) “For go-sees with potential clients, less is more: Wear a fitted T-shirt or tank with skinny jeans or shorts.”
THE GOAL: “You have to look confident at all costs. The nature of modeling is to be judged on your looks; you can’t take it personally.”
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: “Since you have to be prepared to try on all types of clothes ā even bathing suits ā always wear a Calvin Klein nude G-string, the industry staple given to the models at most major fashion shows.”
