Happy Weekend

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Simply Styled

It’s been sunny and gorgeous in San Francisco, but I’ve heard the rain is coming in next week. LOT’S of rain! I plan to take advantage of the crisp sunny weather with a hike in Marin, and a breakfast alfresco. We also have Monday off for Martin Luther King day, so I will use that to be productive – getting my wardrobe ready for Sundance next weekend (yippie) and finally sanding down the bedroom furniture.

Have a happy weekend to all!!

Painting courtesy of www.kathryntrotterart.com

Wish I were Here!!

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Simply Styled

The high today in San Francisco is 50 degrees. The to-do list at work is about a mile long. One of my client’s refuses to answer my emails. It’s 10am and I could really go for a pina colada on THIS beach. Dear scientists of the world… please figure out this time travel thing a little faster, and transport me to this beach in Samara, Costa Rica right… now.

With this one…

A very Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Simply Styled

There is so much to be thankful for – a good job, a wonderful boyfriend, a loving family, and good health. May 2012 bring more blessings into my life.

SOO ready for the eating to begin!!

…And in the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Simply Styled

Kris gets one too!

Let me back up the story for a second. For my birthday back in March, I asked Kris for the new iPhone 5 when it came out. Well after months of delays, Apple announces that the iPhone 5 won’t be out for months still, so they are releasing the 4S. Same thing to me! 8 months later, I get my shiny new present – just a week before Kris’ birthday. I told him he couldn’t get one for himself once I got mine for my birthday present, becuase then it wouldn’t be as special. He does not quite understand this, but after having an outdated flip phone for years, I just want to be the one with the cool new gadget for a while.

Anyways, being the sweet thing that he is, he agreed not to get it for himself…

Little does he know, I am getting him the black one for his birthday… he is going to be SO surprised. I cannot WAIT to see the look on his face. Priceless.

My New Little Toy

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Simply Styled

I LOVE THIS THING!! Quite the upgrade from my cracked, red, Samsung flip phone circa 2001 (may she rest in peace)

The BIG Move

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Simply Styled

The move is less than a week away now and I am really starting to feel the pressure! We signed the lease over a month ago, and the waiting is just killing me. Ever since I was a little girl, I have never done well with changes – our weekend vacation in Clear Lake would end and I would cry the entire way home, the last day of school – more tears, moving off to college – hysterics as I waved goodbye in the UCSB parking lot. No shame.

While I am so thrilled that we are starting the next chapter of our lives in a new place together, it hit me last night that this is my last week that I will be living with my best friend. Probably the last week I will ever live with girlfriends. The chapter of my life in my carefree twenties, eating ramen (yes I still do), stretching pennies, and sharing clothes is closing, and having loved it so much, this life change is so bittersweet. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping – actually this morning there was a HUGE earthquake around 5am, and I just couldn’t get back to sleep. I layed there thinking about all the things I have to do – the packing, the hiring movers, the laundry, the cleaning, patching holes, matching paint, and THEN… more cleaning, organizing, unpacking, sorting, and revamping in the new place. I wish this move was over and done with so I could get back to me regular nine hours of sleep! The anxiety is killing me!

It’s a Women’s World

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Simply Styled

Or is it??

I was recently reading an article NPR put out earlier this year titled, Ask for a Raise? Most Women Hesitate. As you might expect, it was about women hesitating to ask for the compensation they deserve simply because they were too timid. Of course, I find this extremely interesting as I recently found myself in this situation – the hardworking, but ultimately under-compensated woman who was not going to sit quiet for any longer.

This article shocked the pants off me!! Despite widespread gains in the workplace, women still earn on average about 78 cents to a man’s dollar. Research shows men are four times more likely than women to ask for a salary raise. Economist and Professor, Linda Babcock of CMU, tells her students that by not negotiating their job at the beginning of their career, they’re leaving anywhere between $1 million and $1.5 million on the table in lost earnings over their lifetime. After reading stats like this, not only was I alarmed, but it really made me think. I work in advertising – a traditionally male driven vocation – that in the last decade has become a largely female driven profession. Rationally you’d think that I was being paid market standards, however after a bit of digging, realized that because I have worked at the same agency since I began in media, I was being severely under-paid and under-recognized for my expertise.

To hear that I could be ultimately missing out on big bucks in the long run, I sucked it up, put on my bravest face, and went into my VP’s office. The article hits it dead on – you need to put a price on how much you are worth, and it is intimidating, and I felt really guilty and greedy to ask for more money when I had been recently promoted.

While uncomfortable, it was also really easy. I calmly explained that I knew I was under-compensated for my work, and while I was happy in my job, with my team, and with my role in the company, that at the end of the day, I needed to think about myself, and my future, so if it was not fiscally realistic for FY11, that I would have to start looking elsewhere. Two weeks later, I got my first negotiated raise, and I have to say, it was empowering, and feels so good.

If that’s not enough to get you ladies out there asking for what you rightfully deserve, take a look at these other articles for some ammunition:

– Despite New Law, Gender Salary Gap Persists

– How Rich People Ask for More Money

– Seven No-Nos When Asking For A Raise

– A Toolkit for Women Seeking a Raise

– How to Ask for a Raise

Post Vacation Blues

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Simply Styled

Now that we have been home from our trip to Hawaii for several days, I am experiencing the post-excitement let down. The excitement of having something to look forward to has passed, but the silver lining here is that I have been spending hours pouring over all the pictures we took.

I could be a member of the paparazzi for the number of photos I ended up snapping. Kris kept making fun of me, but years from now, we will look back with our kids on this fun impromptu trip, our great tans, and our the fabulous sunsets. Seriously – everything was better in Hawaii – even the license plates had rainbows on them!

Nine days is the perfect amount of time to be in Hawaii. We were able to split our time between the two islands, and while there is a ton to do, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want. We stayed close to Diamond Head on Oahu, and while we never ventured over to the beaches, or hiked to the top, it was so relaxing to be out of the hustle-bustle of the downtown in Waikiki. We got up early each day, sat out on the deck, laid out on the beach, and soaked up the sun (and mai-tais). The surf was great while we were there, and I even got to rent a board and take a private lesson… (private lesson with my honey bunny that is). He was a great teacher – very patient, and of course very cute 🙂

Maui on the other hand was pure relaxation… the sunsets were absolutely breathtaking, and this part of the trip was really about re-connecting, and re-charging. Kris is not the type to sit on a beach (or by a pool) with a book, but we napped, relaxed, and ate… A LOT. The main event for the evenings was watching the sunset with a cocktail, and listening to the live music in time to the waves. Kaanapali is absolutely fabulous, and we’d walk along the promenade passing the main hotels and condos near Whalers Village, indulged in plenty of shave ice and frozen yogurt. The snorkeling was extremely cool – we saw sting rays, sea turtles, and a plethora of tropical fish. Luckily, I invested in a waterproof camera, and CANNOT WAIT to see if those photos came out!

Some favorite moments….

DNA = Art?

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Simply Styled

Who knew?!

This super smart international company, DNA11, has taken DNA (super impersonal) and made it into art (EXTREMELY personal). You can literally send in a sample of your own DNA and have a custom piece of art made out of it – I love that every single piece they produce is one of a kind since its made of you… or your family… or your dog! Über modern, and usually, I’d say that is not at all my taste, but the black and white makes it more abstract, and actually kind of cool! I think I also just like the idea that my genetics is made into something visual… that is so futeristic.

Apparently the guys that started this company are smarty pants (and not at all bad looking!) I should tell Kira… anyways, one has his degree in molecular genetics, and the other… just looks pretty? I’m not fully sure, but they certainly have one successful business! Recently, they’ve been featured on Wired, New York Times, NBC, Today Show, BBC, and the list goes on!

LOVE it!!
http://www.dna11.com/default.asp